A 7-year-old dispute between tech leaders Elon Musk and Sam Altman over who should run OpenAI and prevent an artificial intelligence "dictatorship" is now heading to a federal judge as Musk seeks to halt the ChatGPT maker's ongoing shift into a for-profit company. Musk, an early OpenAI investor and board member, sued the artificial intelligence company earlier this year alleging it had betrayed its founding aims as a nonprofit research lab benefiting the public good rather than pursuing profits. Musk has since escalated the dispute, adding new claims and asking for a court order that would stop OpenAI’s plans to convert itself into a for-profit business more fully. The world's richest man, whose companies include Tesla, SpaceX and social media platform X, last year started his own rival AI company, xAI. Musk says it faces unfair competition from OpenAI and its close business partner Microsoft , which has supplied the huge computing resources needed to build AI systems such as ChatGPT. “OpenAI and Microsoft together exploiting Musk’s donations so they can build a for-profit monopoly, one now specifically targeting xAI, is just too much,” says Musk's filing that alleges the companies are violating the terms of Musk’s foundational contributions to the charity. OpenAI is filing a response Friday opposing Musk’s requested order, saying it would cripple OpenAI’s business and mission to the advantage of Musk and his own AI company. A hearing is set for January before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland. At the heart of the dispute is a 2017 internal power struggle at the fledgling startup that led to Altman becoming OpenAI's CEO . Musk also wanted the job, according to emails revealed as part of the court case, but grew frustrated after two other OpenAI co-founders said he would hold too much power as a major shareholder and chief executive if the startup succeeded in its goal to achieve better-than-human AI known as artificial general intelligence, or AGI. Musk has long voiced concerns about how advanced forms of AI could threaten humanity. “The current structure provides you with a path where you end up with unilateral absolute control over the AGI," said a 2017 email to Musk from co-founders Ilya Sutskever and Greg Brockman. “You stated that you don't want to control the final AGI, but during this negotiation, you've shown to us that absolute control is extremely important to you.” In the same email, titled “Honest Thoughts,” Sutskever and Brockman also voiced concerns about Altman's desire to be CEO and whether he was motivated by “political goals.” Altman eventually succeeded in becoming CEO, and has remained so except for a period last year when he was fired and then reinstated days later after the board that ousted him was replaced. OpenAI published the messages Friday in a blog post meant to show its side of the story, particularly Musk's early support for the idea of making OpenAI a for-profit business so it could raise money for the hardware and computer power that AI needs. It was Musk, through his wealth manager Jared Birchall, who first registered “Open Artificial Technologies Technologies, Inc.”, a public benefit corporation, in September 2017. Then came the “Honest Thoughts” email that Musk described as the “final straw.” “Either go do something on your own or continue with OpenAI as a nonprofit,” Musk wrote back. Musk didn't immediately respond to emailed requests for comment sent to his companies Friday. Asked about his frayed relationship with Musk at a New York Times conference last week, Altman said he felt “tremendously sad” but also characterized Musk’s legal fight as one about business competition. “He’s a competitor and we’re doing well,” Altman said. He also said at the conference that he is “not that worried” about the Tesla CEO’s influence with President-elect Donald Trump. OpenAI said Friday that Altman plans to make a $1 million personal donation to Trump’s inauguration fund, joining a number of tech companies and executives who are working to improve their relationships with the incoming administration. —————————— The Associated Press and OpenAI have a licensing and technology agreement allowing OpenAI access to part of the AP’s text archives.IBD 50 Bitcoin Play Tops Buy Zone As Trump Favors Crypto
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After nearly three years of lobbying by politicians, models and other supporters, the Fashion Workers Act has been signed into law by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. When it goes into effect in June, it will strengthen the labor rights of models, content creators and other freelance talent in New York’s fashion industry. Hochul made it official Saturday. More than anything, the new law will hold modeling agencies and management companies accountable for certain contractual requirements just as talent agencies have enforceable labor protections. The legislation will regulate management agencies and provide oversight in the industry. The aim is to ensure workers receive contracts, payment within 45 days and that they are protected from harassment, discrimination and unsafe working conditions. With Hochul’s signed approval, agencies will have a fiduciary responsibility to models, industry hairstylists, content creators, artists and other creatives. It is also designed to prohibit any unreasonably high commissions and fees. Supporters have claimed it would deter predatory behavior by management agencies in that operate without oversight in the $2.5 trillion fashion industry. Hochul said that she fully supported the goals of the legislation to provide protections for fashion workers “who have too often been subject to unfair working conditions, or [have] been exploited in the workplace. However, changes are necessary to clarify the duties of management companies and brands to ensure they engage in contract transparency, as well as provide a safe and non-exploitive working environment for models.” The fashion industry is an economic engine in New York State, with the semiannual New York Fashion Week generating about $600 million in revenue each year. About 180,000 people work in New York’s fashion industry, which amounts to nearly $11 billion in total wages. The legislation was sponsored by State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal and is meant to be more than a reminder that workers across the industry have labor rights. Well-known models like Karen Elson, Carrie Otis, and others helped to champion the legislation. The Model Alliance’s founder Sara Ziff was a diehard proponent, and her organization touted the news Monday via its social media channels. The Model Alliance has staged various rallies to draw attention to the legislation including one with in April and another one with models at on the day before in May. The legislation moved to Hochul’s desk in June, after the New York Assembly and Senate both passed it. In addition to safeguarding models from abuse and prohibiting any retaliatory action for filing complaints, the new law calls for written consent for the creation or use of a model’s digital replica, and highlighting the scope, purpose, rate of pay and duration of such use. In addition, agencies can no longer charge models interest on the payment of their earnings. The law will mandate that model management companies in New York be registered with the state for the first time. That aims to protect aspiring models from fraudulent predators, a decades-old problem that has been amplified by social media, which some imposters use to contact models directly to avoid any contact with their agencies. Going forward, management companies have a legal obligation to act in the best interests of the people they represent, as noted by the on Monday. “Notably, models will also have first-ever protections against the misuse of artificial intelligence,” she said. In a message on the Model Alliance’s site and Instagram, Ziff said that passing the Fashion Workers Act is, in some ways, the culmination of her career in the industry, which started in New York when she was just 14. She continued, “I saw up close the way in which the massive power imbalance between models and their management agencies led directly to sexual abuse. When I started speaking out and organizing my peers, I was treated like a pariah. We had a lot of structural sexism to overcome, but I knew we were right, and our concerns were legitimate.” Thanking all the participants in the alliance’s campaign, especially its Worker Council, Ziff said, “Whether you spoke out at a press conference, or called your elected officials, you did this. It’s no small thing to risk your livelihood to stand up for what’s right. In an industry that often left us feeling mute and isolated, we raised our voices collectively. I feel proud to have accomplished this together.” She saw firsthand some of the potential hazards that models can face. Last spring Ziff filed a lawsuit in New York State Supreme Court alleging that the former head of Miramax in Italy, Fabrizio Lombardo, raped her when she was a 19 years old. In the complaint, Lombardo is accused of assaulting Ziff in a New York City hotel room in 2011. A working and an aspiring actress at the time, Ziff alleged that Lombardo invited her to join him and brothers for a drink, but the Weinsteins were not there when she arrived. Sign up for . For the latest news, follow us on , , and .
Summit Therapeutics's SMMT short percent of float has risen 5.27% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 16.84 million shares sold short , which is 14.17% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 10.62 days to cover their short positions on average. Why Short Interest Matters Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. Short selling is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises. Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish. See Also: List of the most shorted stocks Summit Therapeutics Short Interest Graph (3 Months) As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Summit Therapeutics has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted. Comparing Summit Therapeutics's Short Interest Against Its Peers Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis. According to Benzinga Pro , Summit Therapeutics's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 4.49%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers. Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it. This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.“Cassoulet, that best of bean feasts, is everyday fare for a peasant but ambrosia for a gastronome.” ~ Julia Child When winter heads our way, bringing chilly temperatures and close, dark nights, my thoughts turn to Cassoulet, the iconic comfort food from southwestern France. It has it all – juicy beans, duck leg confit, sausages and sometimes pork or lamb, slowly simmered in well-seasoned broth, then baked in a wide-mouthed, glazed terra-cotta dish called a cassole . Like any truly traditional dish, there are multiple versions, all claiming to be the “authentic one.” Cassoulet originated in southwestern France. Toulouse claims it — and so does Castelnaudary and Carcassonne — and the recipes vary. Toulouse adherents eschew adding cubed pork. Castelnaudary purists add a bit of lamb, while Carcassonne’s adds partridge. In most restaurants, cassoulets are served in an individual cassole , bubbling with hot juices,and with a bit of duck leg peeking through the top. But at Hostellerie Etienne , a vast indoor- outdoor restaurant on the edge of a forest near Castelnaudary, the cassoulets come to the table in family-size cassoles , big enough to serve two, four, six or even 10 people, so you can share the dish with your dining companions. I don’t know if Etienne’s even has a single-serving bowl size. I didn’t see one, when I was there as the guest of a bean trader from Castelnaudary. According to him, Etiennne’s has the best cassoulet anywhere, and they use the Lauragais lingot beans known as the Castelnaudary bean. Copious doesn’t begin to describe the cassoulet scene there, with stacks of cassoles lined up in Etienne’s kitchen, next to caldrons of simmering beans, ready to be filled and popped into the vast ovens. Here in the Bay Area, we have our own go-to restaurants for cassoulets. Some, like the Left Bank Brasseries in San Jose, Menlo Park, Oakland and Larkspur, and Reve Bistro in Lafayette, only serve it during the winter months as a special. (Reve will be serving cassoulet Dec. 10-14, for example, and Jan. 7-11; reserve it when you reserve your table.) Others, such as Bistro Jeanty in Yountville and Le Central in San Francisco, always have it on the menu. Both Reve Bistro and Bistro Jeanty use cassoles made by potter Kathy Kernes at her Crockett Pottery in Crockett, and they are every bit as beautiful and as practical as those you’ll find in southwestern France. Kernes’ makes cassoles in six sizes ($38-$210), ranging from individual to “extra large plus,” which is very large indeed. (Browse the possibilities at www.crockettpottery.com.) Reve Bistro offers take-out cassoulets if you pre-order the week the dish is on the menu. Pick it up — in a takeout container, not a cassole! — then heat it at home. Just note that chef-owner Paul Magu-Lecugy only makes a limited number of portions. “It’s time consuming,” he says, noting for him, it is a two-day process. Le Central’s cassoulet is one of the more elaborate around, with lamb, pork shoulder and boudin blanc, as well as the all-important duck leg confit and slightly garlicky Toulouse sausage. Left Bank uses chef-owner Roland Passot’s recipe (see below) and keeps it simple, limiting the meats to duck leg confit and Toulouse sausages. (Don’t panic. If you’re making this at home, some specialty markets sell duck confit.) The beans are key to cassoulet. Once cooked, they should not be mushy, but hold their shape after the long cooking. In France, tradition calls for either Tarbais beans, a plump, white bean, or lingot beans — a strain of cannellini beans — in making cassoulet. As Passot suggests in his recipe below, you can substitute cannellini beans or Great Northern beans. Rancho Gordo produces a variety called cassoulet , a West Coast-grown bean from the Tarbais strain. Cassoulet isn’t difficult to make. It just requires time and patience. You can make it a couple of days ahead, refrigerate it and then slowly reheat it. That way, there’s nothing to do on the day of but sip a glass of wine while the beans and meats slowly heat to bubbling. Add a green salad and some crusty bread, and you’ll have the perfect winter meal. Or put your coat on and head to one of our local restaurants, where the cooking is done for you. All you need is a reservation. Left Bank Brasserie Cassoulet Serves 6 to 8 INGREDIENTS Beans: 4 cups dried lingot beans (white kidney, cannellini or Great Northern, will all work) 1 small carrot, peeled and chopped 1 small onion, diced (about 3⁄4 cup) 1 clove garlic, chopped 1 pound slab bacon or extra thick-cut bacon, cut into 1-inch cubes 2 sprigs of thyme 1 bay leaf Cassoulet: 1⁄4 cup duck fat (lard will do in a pinch) 2 pounds pork butt cut in 2-inch cubes 1 cup onions, diced small 4 cloves garlic, chopped 1⁄4 cup tomato paste 1 small can diced tomatoes 11⁄2-2 cups reserved bean water 6 Toulouse sausages 1 small garlic sausage 4 confit duck legs, purchased or homemade (see note below) 1 cup panko bread crumbs 1 teaspoon garlic, chopped 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped 1⁄4 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil Note: If you are making your own duck confit, start the night before by rubbing the duck legs with a “green salt” mixture — kosher salt, parsley, a couple of bay leaves and thyme ground together. The next day, rinse the duck legs well, pat dry and place in an oven-safe cooking vessel with enough duck fat to cover the legs. Roast in a 225-degree oven for 21⁄2 to 3 hrs. DIRECTIONS The night before, place the beans in a deep pot and add enough water to cover by 2 inches. Let beans soak overnight. The next day, rinse the beans well. Add the rinsed beans, carrots, onions, garlic, bacon, thyme and bay leaf to cold water and cook, over low heat, until the beans are tender. Strain the beans, saving the water, and set aside the beans. In a large braising pan, melt the duck fat over medium high heat. Once the pan is hot, brown the pork butt pieces without stirring. When beginning to brown, start stirring, making sure you scrape the bottom if it starts to caramelize. The pork doesn’t need much color, but it does need to cook in the duck fat for a while. Add lots of salt and pepper. This is not a shy dish. When the pork is nice and brown on all sides, add the 1 cup onions and garlic, and sauté until the onions are soft and cooked through. Add the tomato paste, diced tomatoes and reserved liquid from the beans. Stir, using a rubber spatula to clean the side of the pot. Preheat your oven to 250 degrees. Bring the heat under the braising pan up to high. Once at a rolling boil, turn down to low heat and add all the sausages. When they are cooked through, remove and set aside. Slice the garlic sausage in half and cut into 1-inch pieces. Return the whole and sliced sausages back to the pot along with the cooked beans. Continue to cook on low heat until the pork is cooked through. Taste for seasoning; add more salt and pepper if needed. Transfer the beans and pork to a heavy, wide mouth, earthenware, clay or cast iron baking dish that can hold 5 to 6 quarts. Bake at 250 degrees for about 11⁄2 hours, checking at least every 30 minutes. It may require a bit more time. If the dish is starting to look too dry, add a small amount of reserved bean broth or chicken stock. Add warmed duck legs to the cassoulet and make a breadcrumb topping by combining the panko, garlic, parsley, thyme and extra virgin olive oil. Return the dish to the oven and continue baking until the crumbs brown on the top. — Courtesy Roland Passot, Propriétaire, Chef Culinary Officer, Vine Hospitality
Incumbent Board has Destroyed Stockholder Value and Imperiled AIM’s Future through Breaches of Fiduciary Duty and Bad Faith Actions Stock Price has Declined by More than 99%, Clinical Strategy has Failed and AIM is on the Brink of Insolvency Act Now to Save AIM Before it is Too Late – The Kellner Group Can Turn AIM Around and Finally Start Creating Value for Stockholders Vote “ FOR ” All Four Kellner Group Nominees for Urgently Needed Change Kellner Group Owns 5.04% of Outstanding Shares and is Fully Aligned with Stockholders NEW YORK, Dec. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dear AIM Stockholders: Ted Kellner, as the nominating stockholder and a nominee, together with his other nominees, Todd Deutsch, Robert L. Chioini and Paul W. Sweeney (collectively, the “Kellner Group,” “we” or “us” and, as nominees, the “Kellner Group Nominees”), are issuing this open letter to stockholders regarding the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of AIM ImmunoTech Inc., a Delaware corporation (“AIM” or the “Company”), to solicit your vote to elect each of us to AIM’s Board. We urge you to carefully read our proxy statement and our subsequent communications because they contain important information. Our proxy statement and our other communications are available at https://okapivote.com/AIM/ . Substantial and Immediate Overhaul of the AIM Board is Critical The urgent need for drastic, immediate transformation within the AIM Board is indisputable. Each of the three leading independent proxy advisory firms have acknowledged this in recommending for the election of Mr. Kellner. Two of the three firms acknowledged that the incumbent Board cannot remain in control and recommended for the election of both Mr. Kellner and Mr. Sweeney and against Mr. Equels. 1 Incremental change would be wholly inadequate in this situation. This is not a case of competing visions or differing opinions on AIM’s strategic direction. The incumbent Board has no vision for AIM’s future and no coherent strategy to move the company forward. The scale of value destruction under the incumbent Board’s leadership, combined with their blatant breaches of fiduciary duties (as found by the Delaware Supreme Court), unethical actions, and brazen disregard of stockholders and corporate governance norms, is unprecedented. We urge you to take decisive action by voting on the Gold card for all of the Kellner Group Nominees. The Incumbent Board has Completely Failed and Destroyed Stockholder Value The incumbent Board has controlled AIM for almost nine years since 2016 and failed epically, and dating back even further, Equels (16 years on the Board), Mitchell (26 years on the Board) and Appelrouth (13 years on the Board and consulting) each played a central role in leading AIM down the path of failure and value destruction. 4 When given the opportunity to show they could be responsive to stockholders and fulfill their promise to appoint two new independent directors, the incumbent Board failed yet again. Instead, they appointed Bryan – hand-picked by Equels, without an independent search firm, based solely on a pre-existing relationship with AIM and Equels. This appointment was rubber-stamped by Mitchell and Appelrouth, and Bryan has predictably fallen right in line with their failed leadership. 5 ISS accurately noted that “AIM shareholders did not get an independent voice they were hoping for with Bryan’s appointment.” 6 This is just another example of the incumbent Board’s consistent failure to act in the best interest of stockholders. The following two facts demonstrate beyond question the utter and complete failure of the incumbent Board: AIM’s stock price has declined by over 99% since 2016 when Equels became CEO and Equels, Mitchell and Appelrouth took control of the Board . 7 AIM’s financial condition has deteriorated to the point of functional insolvency, with substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern, insufficient stockholders’ equity to comply with NYSE American listing standards and a lack of viable financing options . 8 The manner in which the incumbent Board brought AIM to this very dire position is even more troubling: They have utterly failed to advance AIM’s clinical program . 9 They have failed to bring a single trial to completion and failed to achieve any FDA approvals. The incumbent Board has consistently neglected to invest in R&D for Company-sponsored clinical trials, and there is no clear strategy or follow-through. Instead, they shift focus aimlessly, chasing fleeting publicity with press releases that are empty of substance, while neglecting to drive trials to completion, secure approvals, or pursue commercialization with any sense of urgency. They delivered zero material process on any of the key clinical indications of Ampligen, failing to advance even a single company-sponsored study to completion. The incumbent Board attempts to hide their failures behind a veil of opacity, but the truth is unmistakable: a stalled program with no direction or visibility or timeline to approvals or revenues. This lack of transparency is, in effect, the only “strategy” the incumbent Board has for its clinical program – and it is failing. They have wasted funds on compensation and unethical litigation to entrench themselves and overseen massive, and increasing, losses . 11 Net losses have totaled over $120 million since 2016 and have accelerated. This is driven by increased G&A, increasing by 2.5x from 2021 to 2023, to support excessive compensation and unethical entrenchment efforts. G&A has been approximately double R&D in recent periods, a totally inappropriate and irresponsible ratio for a clinical stage biotech firm. The incumbent Board, with an average tenure of over 10 years, has not only violated their fiduciary duties but has also shamelessly paid themselves excessive compensation while the stock price has plummeted to less than a quarter. Their failure to act in the best interests of stockholders has directly contributed to the destruction of value, enriching themselves at the expense of AIM’s future. Their corporate governance practices have been abysmal, demonstrating a complete failure of leadership and accountability . 13 These practices include (1) ignoring the will of stockholders by completely disregarding three consecutive failed “say-on-pay” votes, with no meaningful action taken to address the overwhelming disapproval of their compensation practices, (2) making hollow promises to add two new independent directors and review executive compensation, only to betray stockholders by appointing a pre-selected, hand-picked director with deep ties to AIM and Equels, bypassing any independent search process, then engaged the same compensation consultant that had previously recommended excessive pay to conduct a shallow, self-serving review, (3) maintaining a non-stockholder approved poison pill for over 25 years, a blatant disregard for stockholder rights that continues to entrench their control and harm AIM’s long-term value; and (4) launching an aggressive and harmful campaign against stockholders, relentlessly attacking those who seek change and severely damaged the Company financially and strategically and disenfranchised its stockholders. They have violated their fiduciary duties and conducted an egregious self-interested entrenchment campaign that has results in massive waste and destroyed virtually all stockholder value. 16 The Delaware Supreme Court ruled in 2024 that the incumbent Board breached its fiduciary duties. In describing the Board’s adoption of amended bylaws, the court stated that the “ primary purpose was to interfere with Kellner’s nomination notice, reject his nominees, and maintain control ” and that the bylaws were “ product of an improper motive and purpose, which constitutes a breach of the duty of loyalty .” 17 (emphasis added) This illegal behavior by the AIM Board was not an isolated incident. A federal district court in Florida sanctioned AIM and its counsel in 2024 in its Section 13(d) claims against members of the Kellner Group and others – claims that have been dismissed multiple times – for pursuing arguments that were “factually and legally frivolous and advanced for an improper purpose .” 18 The cost of these bad faith actions has been staggering and directly and severely harmed the Company. We estimate the incumbent Board spent between $15 to $20 million in the past two-plus years in pursuit of its self-interested entrenchment campaign . 19 The purpose of this waste was to prevent a meaningful stockholder vote – to deprive stockholders of their basic right to have a say in who represents them on the Board. Now that the incumbent Board has exhausted litigation options to prevent a vote, they have attempted to pad the vote by awarding fully vested shares to executives before the record date, as an advance on future pay – something there is no rational justification for and is a clear continuation of their bad faith and improper purpose. This is shocking and unconscionable behavior – blatantly putting their own self-interest ahead of the Company and its stockholders – to a degree that we have never seen before. The Kellner Group Nominees are the Only Viable Path to Rescue, Rebuild and Revive AIM Collectively, the Kellner Group Nominees will bring a wealth of business, financial, clinical trial, life science and corporate governance experience and much needed credibility to the Board. The incumbent Board does not have the skill set that the Kellner Group does and has no plan to change course . Against all reason, despite overwhelming evidence of their incompetence, and unethical and self-serving actions, they simply ask stockholders to place blind trust in them and their same empty promises that progress is right around the corner. But after nearly nine years of treating AIM like their personal piggy bank, the incumbent Board’s complete and total failure is indisputable. Faced with this harsh reality, they have resorted to attacking us with misleading narratives and outright lies to divert attention from their own disastrous and self-serving record. Here is the undeniable truth: Mr. Kellner and Mr. Deutsch are two of AIM’s largest and long-standing stockholders. We have invested a significant amount in AIM and our sole motivation is to improve performance and create value for all stockholders. We are fully aligned with stockholders and committed to their success . The false narrative being pushed by the incumbent Board – suggesting Mr. Kellner is motivated by personal financial gain to seek reimbursement or will exploit company resources – could not be further from the truth. These claims are completely divorced from reality. Mr. Kellner has spent decades building his business reputation as a trusted investment fiduciary, and this reputation is a testament to his integrity and commitment to the best interests of the investors. All of the Kellner Group Nominees are committed to acting as responsible fiduciaries, focused on financially stabilizing AIM and creating value for all stockholders. This stands in stark contrast to the incumbent Board members, who have egregiously violated their fiduciary duties by prioritizing their own self-interest, resulting in gross waste and destructive value erosion. Similarly, the incumbent Board’s deceitful misrepresentations of settlement discussions is nothing more than bad faith, deliberate attempt to mislead and distort facts. These discussions are a direct result of the incumbent Board’s unlawful entrenchment efforts and involve numerous lawsuits and people unrelated to the Kellner Group. Mr. Kellner remains fully committed to AIM and to using his resources and network to create value if the Kellner Group Nominees are elected . Mr. Kellner and Mr. Sweeney have been transparent about their business relationship – it was disclosed in detail in our proxy statement and Mr. Kellner’s notice. 21 They have long and proven track records of successful investing and running businesses, earning them the trust of their respective investors through exceptional performance and responsible stewardship over many years. Their demonstrated success is a significant strength of our slate and exactly the kind of leadership AIM desperately needs to address its desperate financial situation and secure its successful future. There are absolutely no third parties involved in our efforts that have not been publicly disclosed. None of the participants in our solicitation have any criminal history whatsoever. The incumbent Board’s claims that criminals are involved in the Kellner Group are completely baseless, desperate and outright false . But the incumbent Board needs to look in the mirror – AIM continues to utilize and pay a CRO that was co-founded by a convicted felon, recently convicted of securities fraud related deceiving investors about FDA submissions. This individual was quoted in several AIM press releases in recent years, including promoting clinical progress that did not occur. The parallels are extremely troubling. AIM also resorted to seeking usurious financing from an individual whom the SEC labeled a “recidivist violator of the federal securities laws.” AIM also grossly mischaracterizes Mr. Chioini’s history at Rockwell Medical. Mr. Chioini founded Rockwell and served as CEO for 23 years, and under his leadership became the 2nd largest dialysate supplier in the US with four manufacturing facilities and 330 employees, executed multiple large clinical trials that resulted in multiple FDA approvals, commercialized products, obtained funding through multi-million dollar licensing deals with large pharmaceutical firms and built a business that had a market cap of almost $1.0 billion at its peak. Since Mr. Chioini left Rockwell in 2018, the stock price has declined significantly, losing approximately 95% of its value (Nasdaq: RMTI). AIM also continues to willfully and falsely insist that Mr. Chioini was fired, despite a public record that clearly disproves this claim, including the incumbent Board sitting through a trial that directly dispelled this claim. The truth is that he reached a settlement agreement that resulted in a significant payment to him after a dispute with conflicted board members involving whistleblower retaliation claims made by both him and Rockwell’s former CFO. The incumbent Board’s deliberate misrepresentation of these facts is an outright distortion of the truth, further reflecting their pattern of dishonesty. None of the successes Mr. Chioini achieved at Rockwell have materialized at AIM under the incumbent Board’s leadership, so his proven ability to drive growth, secure FDA approvals, and create value is exactly what AIM urgently needs to turn things around and deliver meaningful results for stockholders. The degree of dishonesty that we have seen from the incumbent Board is staggering . As just one example, they shamelessly attempted to deceive stockholders that the AIM stock price did not decline by over 99% by displaying a 2016 document referencing an unadjusted stock price that did not account for subsequent 1-for-528 reverse stock splits. When we pointed out this blatant misrepresentation, they had the audacity to call us liars. This kind of behavior is not only bizarre, but it shows you can’t believe anything these say – it is like the pot calling the kettle black, and then claiming the sky is not blue. This is their consistent approach – their entire campaign against us revolves around attacking our qualifications, characters, motivations and relationships. But none of it is based in reality whatsoever and it is an intentional, brazen attempt to mislead stockholders and distract from the incumbent Board’s catastrophic failures. The reality is simple: Nothing from the incumbent Board should be trusted . Our Plan will Create Value for Stockholders The Kellner Group is committed to implementing a bold, focused, responsible plan to reverse AIM’s downward trajectory by stabilizing its financial situation, revitalizing its clinical program and restoring real value to stockholders. First and foremost, the Kellner Group will stabilize AIM and ensure it has the financial resources required to continue operations. It is imperative that AIM raise substantial funding in a sustainable way given the catastrophic damage the incumbent Board has inflicted on the Company’s financial health. The Kellner Group Nominees have each successfully raised significant capital, and collectively, have raised over $1.0 billion in investment capital over the years. We have the resources, networks, and credibility to successfully raise the necessary funds and provide the essential runway to finally create value for stockholders and invest in the future of Ampligen. In stark contrast, the incumbent Board simply does not have the credibility, expertise, networks and resources to secure the capital that AIM desperately needs. The incumbent Board’s financing efforts have been disastrous – extremely dilutive and reliant on ATMs, equity lines and excessive warrant coverage. 22 They have failed to secure long-term financing, leaving AIM burdened with massive overhang that has only driven down the stock price. When they have raised capital, they squandered it on self-serving entrenchment efforts, and wasteful G&A and compensation, rather than on meaningful and strategic clinical efforts. 23 The Kellner Group Nominees will draw on their decades of collective experience in generating value for investors, and the trust, credibility and relationships they have built over the years, to attract long-term investment to AIM. We will direct that funding into a sharply focused clinical program. By being transparent with stockholders about AIM’s clinical program and setting clear, achievable goals and timelines, we are confident we can rebuild investor trust of investors and continue to attract capital. The contrast with the incumbent Board could not be more glaring. Once AIM’s financial condition stabilized, the Kellner Group Nominees will take decisive action and implement their plan to revitalize AIM’s clinical program. We will conduct a comprehensive review of the available data on Ampligen, as well as the status of the various ongoing and past trials. This work will begin immediately and will proceed with the urgency it deserves. We will collaborate with AIM’s existing personnel, but will also bring in outside experts in oncology and other relevant fields to ensure AIM’s success. We bring a vast and powerful network of scientific and industry expertise, forged through Mr. Chioini’s extensive career in biotech and pharmaceuticals and Mr. Kellner’s leadership on numerous boards, including the Wisconsin Medical College Board. This network will be instrumental in driving AIM’s turnaround and ensuring its success. Even more compelling, in the past week, we announced the full support of the co-inventor of Ampligen and former CEO of AIM, Dr. Carter, and another former AIM executive, Mr. Springate. Both of these individuals reached out to us due to their deep experience with AIM and Ampligen and their desire to help us deliver the fundamental change AIM so urgently needs. These powerful endorsements underscore the credibility and trust that our team has within the industry and further validates our plan to turn AIM around. This is clear indication that our group has the proven ability to attract the right people, with the right expertise, to collaboratively and effectively work toward turning AIM around and generating meaningful, long-term value for stockholders. The pillars of our clinical program will be as follows: ME/CFS – We will assess whether initiating another Phase 3 trial is viable in the near term, based on the FDA's feedback from 2013. This could potentially accelerate progress and bring us closer to commercialization. Alferon N – We will evaluate the feasibility of restarting production and commercialization of this FDA-approved product, which could generate revenue and strengthen our financial position. Ampligen in Argentina – We will examine whether regulatory and operational efforts can be expedited to launch commercial sales, potentially creating meaningful revenues in the short term. Lastly, but by no means least, we will implement governance reforms and investor outreach that have been completely absent under the incumbent Board. The incumbent Board has not only utterly failed to establish an effective governance structure, but has fostered a toxic, dysfunctional environment marked by unethical conduct, disloyalty to the Company, a constant financial crisis, missed opportunities, and gross mismanagement. Their actions have created a culture of neglect and self-interest that has left AIM in a state of perpetual instability and underperformance. We are committed to making the necessary changes, starting immediately: Board Composition and Independence . We will identify and appoint an additional independent director, with a focus on finding a candidate with no prior history with AIM, with scientific or other relevant expertise, and with a diverse background that reflects a forward-thinking perspective. Compensation Overhaul . We will engage a new, independent compensation consultant to completely restructure AIM’s compensation practices. Our focus will be on slashing guaranteed compensation, reducing executive and director fixed and cash pay, and implementing a performance-driven incentive-based compensation structure with objective performance measures. Poison Pill Review . Review AIM’s poison pill, which has been in effect for almost 25 years without stockholder approval, with consideration of putting it to a stockholder vote if it will be maintained long-term. Investor Communications. Initiate outreach in a transparent manner to stockholders and new investors to tell our story and keep them informed. Unlike the incumbent Board, we will not make empty promises – we will deliver on these critical commitments overhaul the governance structure at AIM to ensure transparency, accountability and long-term stockholder value. The incumbent Board has destroyed stockholder value and imperiled AIM’s future through breaches of its fiduciary duties and bad faith conduct. Stockholders must act now to save AIM before it is too late. We urge stockholders to vote “ FOR ” all four Kellner Group Nominees for urgently needed change. We believe that if the Kellner Group Nominees are elected, AIM’s future will be bright and we stand ready and able to lead a turn around and create value for all stockholders. But if the Kellner Group Nominees do not control the Board, stockholders can expect more of the same value destruction and self-dealing from the incumbent Board and we fear that AIM will have no future at all. Thank you for your support and consideration. The Kellner Group THE KELLNER GROUP URGES ALL STOCKHOLDERS TO VOTE ON THE GOLD PROXY CARD TODAY TO ELECT TED D. KELLNER, TODD DEUTSCH, ROBERT L. CHIOINI AND PAUL SWEENEY If you have any questions, require assistance in voting your GOLD proxy card, or need additional copies of the Kellner Group’s proxy materials, please contact Okapi Partners at the phone numbers or email address listed below. Please also visit https://okapivote.com/AIM/ for additional information. Contact: Okapi Partners LLC 1212 Avenue of the Americas, 17th Floor, New York, New York 10036 Stockholders may call toll-free: (844) 343-2621 Banks and brokers call: (212) 297-0720 Email: info@okapipartners.com Important Information and Participants in the Solicitation The Kellner Group has filed a definitive proxy statement and associated GOLD proxy card with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to be used to solicit votes for the election of its slate of highly-qualified director nominees at the upcoming annual meeting of stockholders of AIM. Details regarding the Kellner Group nominees are included in its proxy statement. THE KELLNER GROUP STRONGLY ADVISES ALL STOCKHOLDERS OF AIM TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER PROXY MATERIALS AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Information regarding the identity of participants in the Kellner Group’s solicitation, and their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is set forth in the Kellner Group’s proxy statement and additional proxy materials filed with the SEC. Stockholders can obtain a copy of the proxy statement, and any amendments or supplements thereto and other documents filed by the Kellner Group with the SEC for no charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov . Copies will also be available at no charge at the following website: https://www.okapivote.com/AIM . Investors can also contact Okapi Partners LLC at the telephone number or email address set for the above. _____________________________________________ 1 The third proxy firm, Glass Lewis, did not meet with us. 2 Permission to use quotations from ISS was neither sought nor obtained. 3 Permission to use quotations from Egan-Jones was neither sought nor obtained. 4 See the definitive proxy statement filed by the Kellner Group with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on November 6, 2024 (the “Proxy Statement”), pg. 17. 5 See the Proxy Statement, pg. 17. 6 Permission to use quotations from ISS was neither sought nor obtained. 7 See the Proxy Statement, pg. 13. 8 See the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets included in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 filed with the SEC on November 14, 2024 (the “2024 Third Quarter 10-Q”). 9 See the Proxy Statement, pg. 16; see also Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2022; the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2023; and the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on April 1, 2024. 10 Permission to use quotations from ISS was neither sought nor obtained. 11 See the Proxy Statement, pg. 17; see also the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 filed with the SEC on August 14, 2024; and the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets included in the 2024 Third Quarter 10-Q. 12 Permission to use quotations from ISS was neither sought nor obtained. 13 See the Proxy Statement, pgs. 17-18. 14 Permission to use quotations from ISS was neither sought nor obtained. 15 Permission to use quotations from Egan-Jones was neither sought nor obtained. 16 See Proxy Statement, pgs. 8-11. 17 Emphasis added. 18 Emphasis added. 19 Represents Kellner Group estimate based on increase in Company’s G&A expense from 2021 to 2023 and explanations provided as disclosed in AIM’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K for past two years, together with continued elevated G&A expenses in 2024 to date as disclosed AIM’s most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. 20 Permission to use quotations from Egan-Jones was neither sought nor obtained. 21 See Proxy Statement, pg. 11 and Schedule 13D/A filed by the Kellner Group on September 11, 2024, Exhibit 99.1. With no basis whatsoever, the incumbent Board has tried to claim that this relationship was not fully disclosed. Once proxy advisory firms began recommending for the election of Mr. Kellner and Mr. Sweeney, the incumbent Board leaned into this allegation that was fabricated out of whole cloth in an attempt to question their characters and deceive stockholders. Rather than honestly explain to stockholders why they believe this successful investing relationship would not be beneficial, which they could have done when it was fully disclosed in detail in the notice months ago, the incumbent Board resorts to craven dishonesty and spins false narratives. It is their modus operandi and they have done it throughout this proxy contest and their self-interested entrenchment campaign. 22 See the Proxy Statement, pgs. 15-16. 23 See the Proxy Statement, pgs. 16-18.49ers to sever ties with De’Vondre Campbell after Thursday night walkout
Kagro in the Morning podcast (AUDIO): Friday, December 13, 2024
Refresh Renovations Portland Shares Insights on the Latest Home Remodeling Trends, Establishing Itself as Portland's Expert in Home Renovation 11-21-2024 11:12 PM CET | Industry, Real Estate & Construction Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: Local SEO Help Image: https://www.getnews.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/1732225053.jpeg Refresh Renovations Portland offers valuable insights into the latest remodeling trends, positioning itself as the go-to expert in Portland for high-quality home transformations. With specialized services in kitchen and bathroom remodeling, ADUs, home additions, and more, the company brings modern design expertise and craftsmanship to local homeowners. Portland, Oregon - November 21, 2024 - Refresh Renovations, a globally recognized home renovation brand, is proud to offer its insights into the latest home remodeling trends to Portland residents. 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The company specializes in high-quality renovations, providing clients with the latest designs, materials, and solutions for their homes. Location: https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m14!1m8!1m3!1d216272.7873683749!2d-122.751011!3d45.436602!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x5495737b572d3f6b%3A0x6249a31d7c1ed19!2sRefresh%20Renovations%20Portland%20Chris%20Kuhr!5e1!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1732225124229!5m2!1sen!2sus Media Contact Company Name: Refresh Renovations Portland Contact Person: Chris Kuhr Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=refresh-renovations-portland-shares-insights-on-the-latest-home-remodeling-trends-establishing-itself-as-portlands-expert-in-home-renovation ] Phone: (800) 973-1744 City: Portland State: Oregon Country: United States Website: https://maps.app.goo.gl/fq1R3kA5a25CkTuN9 This release was published on openPR.Fifty years ago | Ban on company donations to parties to go
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans reduced its stake in shares of Banc of California, Inc. ( NYSE:BANC – Free Report ) by 6.1% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 108,153 shares of the bank’s stock after selling 7,085 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans owned about 0.07% of Banc of California worth $1,593,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of BANC. Fifth Third Bancorp grew its holdings in Banc of California by 146.3% during the second quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 2,143 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 1,273 shares during the period. Future Financial Wealth Managment LLC purchased a new position in shares of Banc of California during the 3rd quarter valued at $29,000. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its stake in shares of Banc of California by 32.3% during the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 3,005 shares of the bank’s stock worth $44,000 after acquiring an additional 734 shares during the period. Mendon Capital Advisors Corp purchased a new stake in Banc of California in the 2nd quarter worth about $102,000. Finally, Simplicity Wealth LLC bought a new stake in Banc of California in the 2nd quarter valued at about $132,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.88% of the company’s stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages have weighed in on BANC. Wedbush increased their target price on shares of Banc of California from $18.00 to $19.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Stephens lifted their price objective on shares of Banc of California from $15.00 to $16.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 24th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Banc of California from $16.00 to $17.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Raymond James lifted their price target on Banc of California from $16.00 to $17.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Finally, Truist Financial increased their price objective on Banc of California from $15.00 to $16.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, September 20th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Banc of California currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $17.30. Insider Transactions at Banc of California In related news, Director Richard J. Lashley sold 75,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $14.00, for a total value of $1,050,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 719,826 shares in the company, valued at $10,077,564. The trade was a 9.44 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website . 7.37% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Banc of California Price Performance Shares of NYSE BANC opened at $17.26 on Friday. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $15.45 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $14.24. Banc of California, Inc. has a twelve month low of $11.36 and a twelve month high of $18.08. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.74 billion, a P/E ratio of -4.04 and a beta of 1.13. The company has a quick ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. Banc of California ( NYSE:BANC – Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 22nd. The bank reported $0.25 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.14 by $0.11. Banc of California had a negative net margin of 20.75% and a positive return on equity of 2.93%. The company had revenue of $431.44 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $229.46 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.30 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Banc of California, Inc. will post 0.7 EPS for the current fiscal year. Banc of California Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 2nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 16th will be issued a dividend of $0.10 per share. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.32%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 16th. Banc of California’s dividend payout ratio is currently -9.37%. About Banc of California ( Free Report ) Banc of California, Inc operates as the bank holding company for Banc of California that provides various banking products and services in California. The company offers deposit products, such as checking, savings, money market, demand, and time deposits; certificates of deposit; retirement accounts; and safe deposit boxes. Recommended Stories Five stocks we like better than Banc of California Golden Cross Stocks: Pattern, Examples and Charts The Latest 13F Filings Are In: See Where Big Money Is Flowing What Percentage Gainers Tell Investors and Why They Don’t Tell the Whole Story 3 Penny Stocks Ready to Break Out in 2025 Should You Add These Warren Buffett Stocks to Your Portfolio? FMC, Mosaic, Nutrien: Top Agricultural Stocks With Big Potential Receive News & Ratings for Banc of California Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Banc of California and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Keith Jones has established himself as a staple in Philadelphia’s hockey, and the greater sports scene. A veteran of parts of nine NHL seasons, the Brantford, Ontario-native went on to have a successful career in both Philadelphia and national media outlets as a television and radio broadcaster. The respect he garnered from the hockey world, coupled with his extensive knowledge of the game, opened the door for the former right-winger to accept a position with the Philadelphia Flyers’ front office in 2023. Juniors Jones played three seasons of junior-level hockey in Canada before being selected by the Washington Capitals 141st overall in 1988. In two seasons, between 1985 and 1987, with the Paris Mounties of the now-defunct Niagara & District Junior C Hockey League (NDJCHL), he appeared in 60 games, recording 116 points and 197 penalty minutes. The following campaign, he joined the Niagara Falls Canucks of the Golden Horseshoe Junior Hockey League (GHL), a league that ceased operations in 2007. In 40 games, he recorded 130 points (50 goals and 80 assists) and 113 penalty minutes. This offensive breakout season caught the attention of NHL scouts and led to Jones being drafted by the Capitals. Western Michigan University Jones played four seasons with Western Michigan University. He joined the Broncos leading up to the 1988-89 season. In his freshman campaign, he appeared in 37 games, recording nine goals, 12 assists, and 65 penalty minutes. He only got better as his college career progressed. He racked up 37 points during the 1989-90 season, 49 during the 1990-91 campaign, and a college career-high 56 points during his senior season. During his fourth and final campaign, the 1991-92 season, his 25 goals, 31 assists, and 77 penalty minutes served as a strong indicator that Jones would have a shot at the NHL. His excellent play during this campaign earned him a spot on the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) First All-Star Team. Following the conclusion of the college hockey season he made his professional debut with the Capitals’ American Hockey League (AHL)-affiliate, the Baltimore Skipjacks. Washington Capitals Jones joined the Capitals’ big league roster at age 24. In parts of five seasons with Washington, he appeared in 258 games between 1992 and 1996. The Capitals made the postseason four times during his tenure. His best season with Washington came during the 1993-94 campaign when he recorded 35 points (16 goals and 19 assists), 149 penalty minutes, and a plus-4 rating in 68 games. During the Capitals’ playoff run, he appeared in 11 games. The seventh-seed Capitals upset the second-seeded Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals (4-2). Washington failed to pull off another postseason upset in the next round, as their season came to an end at the hands of the number-one seed New York Rangers in the semifinals (4-1). Over the next two seasons, Jones compiled a total of 61 points and 168 penalty minutes. During the 1996-97 campaign, he played in 11 games for the Capitals before being dealt to the Colorado Avalanche. Colorado Avalanche Jones joined an absolutely stacked Avalanche team on Nov. 2, 1996 when the Capitals dealt him with a first-round pick (Scott Parker) and a fourth-round pick ( Krys Barch ) in the 1998 Draft for Curtis Leschyshyn and Chris Simon . Over parts of three seasons in Colorado, Jones played with some of the franchise’s greats including Patrick Roy, Joe Sakic, and Peter Forsberg . In 67 games during the 1996-97 campaign, Jones scored 23 goals, tallied 20 assists, and recorded 105 penalty minutes. His plus-5 rating was a testament to the impact the left-shot forward had on a team that fell to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference Final (4-2). In six playoff games, Jones had three goals and three assists. In the following campaign, Jones appeared in only 23 games for the Avalanche and four with their then-AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears. His playing time was cut short due to a knee injury. With Colorado, he recorded 10 points and 22 penalty minutes in these limited appearances. In seven 1998 postseason games, he was pointless, recording 13 penalty minutes. The Avalanche ended the season on a disappointing note, falling to the Edmonton Oilers in a hard-fought seven-game Western Conference Quarterfinals matchup. Jones played in 12 games for the Avalanche before heading east to Philadelphia. In these limited appearances for the eventual 1999 Western Conference Final runners-up, he had four points (two goals and two assists) and 20 penalty minutes in 12 games. Prior to the trade, Jones was getting back into his offensive flow, ending his time in Colorado with a plus-6 rating. Philadelphia Flyers Jones’ career with the Flyers began on Nov. 12, 1998, when he was acquired from Colorado for Shjon Podein. In 66 games with Philadelphia, he scored 18 goals and tallied 31 assists. His 78 penalty minutes and plus-29 rating established the new winger’s popularity amongst fans and teammates alike. Jones slapped on another three points (two goals and one assist) and 14 penalty minutes in six games to his statistical totals that postseason, as the Flyers fell to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals (4-2). Jones had another quality season with the Flyers during the 1999-00 season. In 57 regular season games, he had nine goals, 16 assists, and 82 penalty minutes. In the postseason, Jones’ six points and 14 penalty minutes in 18 games helped the Flyers in their playoff run. In the Eastern Conference Final, the Flyers squared off against the rival New Jersey Devils. In Game 2 of the seven-game series, Jones had an assist on Daymond Langkow’s game-winning goal. New Jersey went on to take the classic series 4-3. Jones played his final string of NHL games during the 2000-01 season, appearing in just eight before a knee injury forced him to hang up his skates at age 34. His official retirement from hockey came on Nov. 21, 2000. His time away from the game did not last long, as Jones’ popularity as a player translated well into a career in the broadcasting field. Media Soon after his retirement from hockey, Jones began his second career as a hockey and sports analyst. Between 2000 and 2023, he served as an analyst for Flyers telecasts on NBC Sports Philadelphia. His popularity as an analyst in Philadelphia helped him to get work on national hockey broadcasts for NBC and TNT. In these broadcaster roles, he was able to cover the NHL Winter Classic and the Stanley Cup Final. Jones was also a member of the popular 94 WIP’s Morning Show in the Philadelphia sports radio market. Hockey Executive Jones was named president of hockey operations for the Flyers on May 11, 2023. In this role, he is considered a valuable part of the club’s ongoing rebuild. With GM Daniel Brière , Jones has playoff-deprived Flyers fans eager to see just what the franchise can do in the near future. This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission.
Analysis: Win or lose at UNC, Belichick's NFL legacy cementedNone
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, on Thursday charged the Media to support military Operations through developmental journalism towards protecting the Nation’s territorial integrity against external forces Gen Musa made the plea in Abuja while speaking as a special quest honour at the Roundtable Discussion on Nigeria’s Security and National Interest organised by the National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC) Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), for Defence Correspondents The CDS pointed out that development journalism “seeks to promote public awareness and understanding of defence as well as security issues, while holding governments, the defence sector and other stakeholders accountable for their actions as well as informing decision-making by policymakers and defence officials. According to him, the adoption of a development journalism approach allows for a more active collaboration with journalists and media organisations, enabling them to play a more effective role in promoting national cohesion and stability thereby advancing Nigeria’s national interest. “Therefore, our national security cannot and should not solely be reliant on the strength of the Armed Forces of Nigeria rather it should be strengthened by Nigeria’s educated, healthy and socially cohesive population underpinned by development journalism. “More so, the development journalism approach will not only require collaboration and dialogue among stakeholders, it will also focus on people centrism in the accomplishment of Nigeria’s national interest. “This approach thus resonates with my leadership concept which is, “to Nurture a Professional Armed Forces of Nigeria that is People-Centric, Capable of Meeting its Constitutional Responsibilities in a Joint and Collaborative Environment” he said. He pointed out that defence beat should be tailored through a development journalism lens through various options available. The options according to him, include the continuous prioritisation of human security, adoption of investigative reporting on policy impact and the real-world implications as well as promoting dialogue, inclusivity and stakeholders’ engagement through available fora. The CDS stressed the need to advocate for sustainable practices through reporting on innovative practices in defence as well as using available data to tell the stories as evidence-based outcomes allows for a more informed public discourse. According to him, “these options will engender trust and cooperation between the military, civil society and other stakeholders and enhance contextual understanding of local dynamics for enhanced social cohesion and effective collaboration. “Today’s occasion presents me the rare opportunity to make a statement on the critical role of the media in fostering Nigeria’s national security and defence matters thus necessitating collaboration to further Nigeria’s national security interest. “The theme for the discussion; ‘National Security and National Interest: A Development Journalism Approach for the Defence Beat’ is apt. FG launches N20bn consumer credit fund for locally-assembled automobiles “This is in considering the propensity of development and sits at the intersection of national pride, global responsibility as well as the pursuit of peaceful coexistence and sustainable development,“ he added. The CDS commended the Centre for its efforts towards enhancing development journalism and urged participants to humble ideas gained at the Roundtable Discussion in their operations. Speaking easier, the National Coordinator of NCTC, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, noted that journalists were pivotal in shaping public perception and policy on critical issues of national security and interests. The National Coordinator who said that journalists had the responsibility to report with accuracy, fairness and sensitivity in an environment that was often fraught with misinformation and heightened emotions assured that the centre would continue to collaborate with the media and other critical stakeholders to achieve and sustain the destruction of terrorist propaganda. He stated the objective of this roundtable discussion was to foster an open and insightful exchange of ideas. According to him, ” by sharing your experiences, observations and challenges, together we aim to enhance collective understanding of the dynamics of terrorism and its evolving tactics and discover the ethical considerations of reporting on such sensitive issues,” he said. The Minister of Information, Muhammed Idris, represented by the Director-General, Voice of Nigeria (VON), Alhaji Jibrin Baba-Ndace, commended the centre for organising the roundtable saying that it would further enlightened , Defence Correspondents in informing the members of the public in positive perspective in their reportage He urged the centre and the military to sustain such media engagement to be able to counter the terrorists’ narratives and urged the media to maintain responsible reporting bearing in mind national security and national interest. Former Defence Spokesman, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, (rtd), in a paper he delivered at the occasion said that journalists must recognise the potential impact of their stories on public perception and national stability. He stated that defence reporting should align with the broader goal of safeguarding national unity and security against any other things! He also called for fact-checking practice in counter-terrorism reporting to avoid disseminating false or exaggerated claims that could inflame tensions or jeopardise security operations. READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE Get real-time news updates from Tribune Online! Follow us on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive stories and interviews, and much more. Join our WhatsApp Channel nowCozy winter fare: Make a French-style cassoulet at home
Quest Partners LLC Decreases Stake in BancFirst Co. (NASDAQ:BANF)The Federal Government has emphasised the need for the regulation and professionalisation of the private security sector in Nigeria. The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who stated this, said “the private security sector is an emerging sector, not just in Nigeria but across the globe.” He noted that with a country of over 200 million people, there is a need for private security to complement the efforts of the government. Dr. Tunji-Ojo made the remarks while hosting a delegation from DCAF Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance, Switzerland, led by Head, Business and Security Division, Jean-Michel Rousseau, in Abuja, a statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Ozoya Imohimi, on Friday in Abuja said. He said the motivation for opening up the space for private security is not about the proliferation of companies but about the quality of services provided. He emphasised the need for private security companies to be promoted by people of value and competence. The Minister also highlighted the importance of technology in the private security sector, citing the use of CCTVs and other equipment. He talked about the need for regulators to understand that it is not about the number of companies licensed but about the quality of those companies. Dr. Tunji-Ojo assured that the Ministry is committed to working with stakeholders to build a robust system for the private security sector. He noted that the Ministry is already collaborating with international organisations to support governance reform processes in the security sector. The Minister’s call for regulation and professionalisation of the private security sector is a significant step towards enhancing national security and providing quality employment opportunities for Nigerians. Earlier in his remarks, the leader of the delegation, Jean-Michel Rousseau, said the DCAF Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance and the African Law Foundation (AFRILAW ) recently co-organised a workshop for legislators from the ECOWAS region. He said the workshop focused on issues of private security regulation from the parliamentary side. According to him , the event was part of DCAF’s efforts to support governance reform processes in the security sector. As a Swiss foundation, DCAF provides advisory services and legal expertise to partner countries, including Nigeria. He said the workshop highlighted the growing role of the private sector in security and the need for effective regulation. Mr. Rousseau further said that with the presence of private security companies, there is a need to ensure they operate under a legal framework that gives priority to national security and public safety. READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
