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Opinion: Diversity is going from a virtue to a vice on college campuses

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:00:39 GMT

The politically craven assaults on diversity, equity and inclusion on college campuses in Florida and Texas are embarrassing. Unless you’re an opportunist looking for a leg up in a possible run for governor. Then, the attacks are inspiring.Case in point: Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is now demanding information on what the state’s public universities are spending on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, including staffing, the names and aims of the programs.“These programs are particularly concerning when taxpayer funds are used to enforce the type of intellectual and political conformity that appears to be the hallmark of many campus DEI initiatives,” wrote Jones in a letter to University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue. Jones is being mentioned as a possible GOP candidate for governor in 2026.Perdue drew Jones’ wrath for criticizing the Legislature’s $66 million cut to the higher education budget, telling The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “This is an incredibly dis...

Why the Warriors need Jordan Poole to let it fly against the Los Angeles Lakers

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:00:39 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — The Warriors had nine seconds left to tie Game 1 back up. After a 14-0 run punctuated with a Steph Curry 3-pointer that erased a deep fourth quarter deficit, the Chase Center crowd had every reason to believe a victory was in reach.The Lakers had reclaimed the lead with a D’Angelo Russell driving layup and a free throw with plenty of time for a Warriors counter. They trapped Curry up top, leaving Jordan Poole wide open on the other side of the wing.About a half-second separated Draymond Green’s swing pass and Poole’s shot release from 27 feet out. The ball bounced off the side of the rim, all but securing the Warriors’ 117-112 loss to the Lakers on Tuesday night. And, no, Poole didn’t see Lakers head coach appearing to wave his hand in front of him as he took the shot.After his rough series against the Sacramento Kings, Poole’s gutsy 3-point attempt might’ve made Warriors fans groan. But a Poole with space and rhythm to...

Opinion: Will you need the latest COVID booster? It depends

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:00:39 GMT

As the Biden administration prepares for the federal COVID-19 public health emergency to end on May 11, the new normal is markedly better than the earlier phase of the pandemic in which we lost more than a million American lives. We’ve gone from the 2021 peak of an estimated 3,000 Americans dying daily from the infection to about 250 a day now. But this “normal” still includes more than 30,000 COVID-19 deaths since the beginning of 2023, and the virus remains a leading cause of fatality in the United States. This is not acceptable.We face confusing realities: The pandemic’s acute phase is over, but COVID remains a significant cause of death. New variants always loom. Any long-term approach to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 will require periodic boosters — yet as of March, fewer than 1 in 5 eligible Americans got the booster that was made available in September, suggesting that interest in the shots has dipped alongside the virus’ toll.The newest available mRNA vaccine is the bivale...

2 men from Oxon Hill killed hours apart in separate Prince George’s Co. crashes

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:00:39 GMT

Two men from Oxon Hill died hours apart after separate crashes in Prince George’s County, Maryland, on Tuesday, police say.Several others, including children, were also injured in the crashes and taken to area hospitals, according to Maryland State Police — the agency leading both investigations.The first two-vehicle crash happened just before 6 a.m. at the intersection of southbound Crain Highway and Brandywine Road, police said in a news release.A Lexus traveling east on Brandywine Road entered the intersection at the same time as a Honda that was traveling south on Crain Highway.The driver of the Lexus, Aaron Lewis Johnson of Oxon Hill, was taken to the hospital, where he later died.The driver in the Honda was also taken to the hospital. Two girls, ages 5 and 3, inside the car were taken to a children’s hospital to be treated for their injuries.The road was closed for roughly two hours after the crash.The second two-car crash happened a few hours later at 12:45 ...

Malibu Boats: Fiscal Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:00:39 GMT

LOUDON, Tenn. (AP) — LOUDON, Tenn. (AP) — Malibu Boats Inc. (MBUU) on Wednesday reported fiscal third-quarter profit of $51.9 million.On a per-share basis, the Loudon, Tennessee-based company said it had net income of $2.51. Earnings, adjusted for stock option expense and non-recurring costs, were $2.59 per share.The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of four analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $2.37 per share.The maker of performance sports boats posted revenue of $375.1 million in the period, which also beat Street forecasts. Four analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $345.2 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on MBUU at https://www.zacks.com/ap/MBUUSource

McDonald’s franchisee employed 10-year-olds, US Labor Department says

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:00:39 GMT

A McDonald’s franchisee in Kentucky employed two 10-year-old children in violation of federal labor laws, the Department of Labor said Tuesday.Bauer Food, LLC, a Louisville-based operator of 10 McDonald’s franchise locations across two states, employed the children, the DOL said in a news release.Officials said the children were not paid, yet sometimes worked as late as 2 a.m. and they “prepared and distributed food orders, cleaned the store, worked at the drive-thru window and operated a register.” Investigators learned that “one of the two children was allowed to operate a deep fryer, a prohibited task for workers under 16 years old.”Bauer Food franchise owner Sean Bauer told CBS News that the children were visiting their parent, who works as a night manager. He said the kids were not approved to be in that part of restaurant by franchisee organization management and that any work the children did was at the direction of, and in the presence of,...

Neurocrine: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:00:39 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — SAN DIEGO (AP) — Neurocrine Biosciences Inc. (NBIX) on Wednesday reported a loss of $76.6 million in its first quarter.On a per-share basis, the San Diego-based company said it had a loss of 79 cents.The results fell short of Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of 10 analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 26 cents per share.The biopharmaceutical company posted revenue of $420.4 million in the period, exceeding Street forecasts. Eleven analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $413 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on NBIX at https://www.zacks.com/ap/NBIXSource

Horizon Therapeutics: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:00:39 GMT

DUBLIN (AP) — DUBLIN (AP) — Horizon Therapeutics Public Limited Company (HZNP) on Wednesday reported first-quarter profit of $54.7 million.On a per-share basis, the Dublin-based company said it had profit of 23 cents. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, were 83 cents per share.The results fell short of Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of four analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $1.17 per share.The drugmaker posted revenue of $832.1 million in the period, which also missed Street forecasts. Five analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $896.2 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on HZNP at https://www.zacks.com/ap/HZNPSource

Phillips 66: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:00:39 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — HOUSTON (AP) — Phillips 66 (PSX) on Wednesday reported first-quarter net income of $1.96 billion.On a per-share basis, the Houston-based company said it had net income of $4.20. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, came to $4.21 per share.The results topped Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of seven analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $3.58 per share.The oil refiner posted revenue of $35.09 billion in the period, also topping Street forecasts. Four analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $29.76 billion._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on PSX at https://www.zacks.com/ap/PSXSource

Verisk: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:00:39 GMT

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) — JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) — Verisk Analytics Inc. (VRSK) on Wednesday reported first-quarter net income of $56.3 million.On a per-share basis, the Jersey City, New Jersey-based company said it had profit of 37 cents. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were $1.29 per share.The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of nine analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $1.18 per share.The insurance data provider posted revenue of $651.6 million in the period, also surpassing Street forecasts. Seven analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $631.9 million.Verisk expects full-year earnings in the range of $5.20 to $5.50 per share, with revenue in the range of $2.59 billion to $2.63 billion._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on VRSK at https://www.zacks.com/ap/VRSKSource