On Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET, the 10-3 Bills and 12-1 Lions will kick off in Detroit, and at the same time the 10-3 Steelers and 11-2 Eagles will kick off in Philadelphia. That gives the NFL a great pair of late-season games, the likes of which football fans rarely get to experience. The last time the NFL had two different games matching up teams with double-digit wins in Week 15 or earlier was in 1985. That year, Week 15 saw the 13-1 Bears beat the 10-4 Jets, while the 10-4 Dolphins beat the 10-4 Patriots. Bills-Lions and Steelers-Eagles are a great pair of games, but the unfortunate thing is that they kick off simultaneously, meaning football fans can’t give their undivided attention to both. Many fans will watch on two screens with one showing Bills-Lions on CBS and the other showing Steelers-Eagles on Fox, but it would have been great to have at least one of those games in prime time. These are two of the best games of the season, with major implications for playoff seeding in both conferences. And they might just be a preview of the Super Bowl.
LightPath Technologies Introduces New Optical Gas Imaging Camera for Ammonia and SF6 DetectionBy Noam N. Levey, KFF Health News Worried that President-elect Donald Trump will curtail federal efforts to take on the nation’s medical debt problem, patient and consumer advocates are looking to states to help people who can’t afford their medical bills or pay down their debts. “The election simply shifts our focus,” said Eva Stahl, who oversees public policy at Undue Medical Debt, a nonprofit that has worked closely with the Biden administration and state leaders on medical debt. “States are going to be the epicenter of policy change to mitigate the harms of medical debt.” New state initiatives may not be enough to protect Americans from medical debt if the incoming Trump administration and congressional Republicans move forward with plans to scale back federal aid that has helped millions gain health insurance or reduce the cost of their plans in recent years. Comprehensive health coverage that limits patients’ out-of-pocket costs remains the best defense against medical debt. But in the face of federal retrenchment, advocates are eyeing new initiatives in state legislatures to keep medical bills off people’s credit reports, a consumer protection that can boost credit scores and make it easier to buy a car, rent an apartment, or even get a job. Several states are looking to strengthen oversight of medical credit cards and other financial products that can leave patients paying high interest rates on top of their medical debt. Some states are also exploring new ways to compel hospitals to bolster financial aid programs to help their patients avoid sinking into debt. “There’s an enormous amount that states can do,” said Elisabeth Benjamin, who leads health care initiatives at the nonprofit Community Service Society of New York. “Look at what’s happened here.” New York state has enacted several laws in recent years to rein in hospital debt collections and to expand financial aid for patients, often with support from both Democrats and Republicans in the legislature. “It doesn’t matter the party. No one likes medical debt,” Benjamin said. Other states that have enacted protections in recent years include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. Many measures picked up bipartisan support. President Joe Biden’s administration has proved to be an ally in state efforts to control health care debt. Such debt burdens 100 million people in the United States, a KFF Health News investigation found . Led by Biden appointee Rohit Chopra, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has made medical debt a priority , going after aggressive collectors and exposing problematic practices across the medical debt industry. Earlier this year, the agency proposed landmark regulations to remove medical bills from consumer credit scores. The White House also championed legislation to boost access to government-subsidized health insurance and to cap out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors, both key bulwarks against medical debt. Trump hasn’t indicated whether his administration will move ahead with the CFPB credit reporting rule, which was slated to be finalized early next year. Congressional Republicans, who will control the House and Senate next year, have blasted the proposal as regulatory overreach that will compromise the value of credit reports. And Elon Musk, the billionaire whom Trump has tapped to lead his initiative to shrink government, last week called for the elimination of the watchdog agency . “Delete CFPB,” Musk posted on X. If the CFPB withdraws the proposed regulation, states could enact their own rules, following the lead of Colorado, New York, and other states that have passed credit reporting bans since 2023. Advocates in Massachusetts are pushing the legislature there to take up a ban when it reconvenes in January. “There are a lot of different levers that states have to take on medical debt,” said April Kuehnhoff, a senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center, which has helped lead national efforts to expand debt protections for patients. Kuehnhoff said she expects more states to crack down on medical credit card providers and other companies that lend money to patients to pay off medical bills, sometimes at double-digit interest rates. Under the Biden administration, the CFPB has been investigating patient financing companies amid warnings that many people may not understand that signing up for a medical credit card such as CareCredit or enrolling in a payment plan through a financial services company can pile on more debt. If the CFPB efforts stall under Trump, states could follow the lead of California, New York, and Illinois, which have all tightened rules governing patient lending in recent years. Consumer advocates say states are also likely to continue expanding efforts to get hospitals to provide more financial assistance to reduce or eliminate bills for low- and middle-income patients, a key protection that can keep people from slipping into debt. Hospitals historically have not made this aid readily available, prompting states such as California, Colorado, and Washington to set stronger standards to ensure more patients get help with bills they can’t afford. This year, North Carolina also won approval from the Biden administration to withhold federal funding from hospitals in the state unless they agreed to expand financial assistance. In Georgia, where state government is entirely in Republican control, officials have been discussing new measures to get hospitals to provide more assistance to patients. “When we talk about hospitals putting profits over patients, we get lots of nodding in the legislature from Democrats and Republicans,” said Liz Coyle, executive director of Georgia Watch, a consumer advocacy nonprofit. Many advocates caution, however, that state efforts to bolster patient protections will be critically undermined if the Trump administration cuts federal funding for health insurance programs such as Medicaid and the insurance marketplaces established through the Affordable Care Act. Trump and congressional Republicans have signaled their intent to roll back federal subsidies passed under Biden that make health plans purchased on ACA marketplaces more affordable. That could hike annual premiums by hundreds or even thousands of dollars for many enrollees, according to estimates by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a think tank. And during Trump’s first term, he backed efforts in Republican-led states to restrict enrollment in their Medicaid safety net programs through rules that would require people to work in order to receive benefits. GOP state leaders in Idaho, Louisiana, and other states have expressed a desire to renew such efforts. “That’s all a recipe for more medical debt,” said Stahl, of Undue Medical Debt. Jessica Altman, who heads the Covered California insurance marketplace, warned that federal cuts will imperil initiatives in her state that have limited copays and deductibles and curtailed debt for many state residents. “States like California that have invested in critical affordable programs for our residents will face tough decisions,” she said. ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.AKRON, Ohio , Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BIT Mining Limited (NYSE: BTCM) ("BIT Mining" or the "Company"), a leading technology-driven cryptocurrency mining company, today announced that it will hold its annual general meeting of shareholders at 428 South Seiberling Street, Akron, Ohio , US on January 7, 2025 at 10:00 a.m., New York time. Holders of record of ordinary shares and Class A preference shares of the Company at the close of business on December 20, 2024 , New York time (the "Record Date") are entitled to receive notice of, and to attend and vote at, the annual general meeting or any adjournment thereof. Holders of the Company's American Depositary Shares ("ADSs") who wish to exercise their voting rights for the underlying ordinary shares must act through the depositary of the Company's ADS program, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas. The notice of the annual general meeting, which sets forth the resolutions to be submitted to shareholder approval at the annual general meeting is available on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at https://ir.btcm.group . The Company filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on May 15, 2024 . Shareholders may obtain a copy of the Company's annual report, free of charge, from the Company's website at https://ir.btcm.group and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov , or by contacting BIT Mining Limited at 428 South Seiberling Street, Akron, Ohio , US, attention: Victor He , telephone: +1 (330) 676-2680, email: ir@btcm.group . About BIT Mining Limited BIT Mining (NYSE: BTCM) is a leading technology-driven cryptocurrency mining company with operations in cryptocurrency mining, data center operation and mining machine manufacturing. The Company is strategically creating long-term value across the industry with its cryptocurrency ecosystem. Anchored by its cost-efficient data centers that strengthen its profitability with steady cash flow, the Company also conducts self-mining operations that enhance its marketplace resilience by leveraging self-developed and purchased mining machines to seamlessly adapt to dynamic cryptocurrency pricing. The Company also owns 7-nanometer BTC chips and has strong capabilities in the development of LTC/ DOGE miners and ETC miners. Safe Harbor Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will", "expects", "anticipates", "future", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", "target", "going forward", "outlook" and similar statements. Such statements are based upon management's current expectations and current market and operating conditions and relate to events that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control, which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under law. For more information: BIT Mining Limited ir@btcm.group ir.btcm.group www.btcm.group Piacente Financial Communications Victor He Tel: +1 (330) 676-2680 Email: BITMining@thepiacentegroup.com View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bit-mining-limited-to-hold-annual-general-meeting-on-january-7-2025-302327447.html SOURCE BIT Mining Limited
Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. stock falls Thursday, underperforms marketCMC Recognized as One of America's Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek for 2025NFL ends investigation into sexual assault allegations against Browns QB Deshaun Watson CLEVELAND (AP) — The NFL has closed an investigation into sexual assault allegations against Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, who is ending the season on injured reserve for the second year in a row. Tom Withers, The Associated Press Dec 6, 2024 2:24 PM Dec 6, 2024 2:35 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message FILE - Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson talks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Oct. 13, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File) CLEVELAND (AP) — The NFL has closed an investigation into sexual assault allegations against Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, who is ending the season on injured reserve for the second year in a row. The league has been reviewing the case for months , trying to determine whether Watson should be punished. “The matter is closed,” league spokesman Brian McCarthy said Friday in an email to The Associated Press. “There was insufficient evidence to support a finding of a violation of the personal conduct policy.” Watson, who served an 11-game suspension in 2022, was accused of assault in Texas by a woman in September. She was seeking more than $1 million in damages before the sides reached a confidential settlement. Watson strongly denied the allegations through his attorney, Rusty Hardin. The 29-year-old Watson suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon rupture in October. He's been rehabbing the injury in hopes of returning next season. The Browns still owe Watson $46 million in each of the next two seasons after they traded three first-round picks to Houston and signed him to a five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million contract that has backfired. Watson has only played in 19 games over three seasons due to the suspension and injuries. He was acquired by the Browns, who were comfortable with his character despite Watson being accused of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct during massage therapy sessions while he played for the Texans. While he's in the clear with the league, Watson's future with Cleveland isn't so certain. His massive contract — and its salary-cap ramifications — has put the Browns in a bind in terms of trying to improve their roster. Cleveland has had a disappointing season after making the playoffs a year ago and could move on from Watson, but the cost would be exorbitant if the team just releases him. The Browns signed Jameis Winston for one season to be Watson's backup. Winston has gone 2-3 as a starter since taking over and he's put some life into Cleveland's offense, which didn't score 20 points or gain 300 yards with Watson before his injury. His 2023 season was ended by a broken bone in his shoulder, requiring surgery. Winston has indicated he would come back, and he could be a viable option as a starter even if the Browns draft a young QB. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Tom Withers, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Football (NFL) Bills' push for AFC top seed continues with visit to Rams, who need to keep pace in NFC West Dec 6, 2024 1:49 PM Vikings rule CB Stephon Gilmore out against Falcons with hamstring injury Dec 6, 2024 1:46 PM NFL ends investigation into sexual assault allegations against Browns QB Deshaun Watson Dec 6, 2024 1:43 PMNone
Luigi Mangione, charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York , penned a 262-word manifesto railing against the health insurance industry , which has been published in full for the first time. The manifesto was obtained by police when they arrested Mangione on Monday at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Below, find the full manifesto written by Mangione. The document was published to Substack by journalist Ken Klippenstein and law enforcement sources confirmed the text to TMZ. "To the Feds, I’ll keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country. To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn’t working with anyone," began Mangione. "This was fairly trivial: some elementary social engineering, basic CAD, a lot of patience. The spiral notebook, if present, has some straggling notes and To-do lists that illuminate the gist of it." Luigi Mangione pictured in 'suicide prevention gown' as he's charged with CEO killing Luigi Mangione’s explosive nine-word rant as cops drag him by neck and slam him into courthouse door "My tech is pretty locked down because I work in engineering so probably not much info there. I do apologize for any strife of traumas but it had to be done," he continued. "Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming. A reminder: the US has the #1 most expensive healthcare system in the world, yet we rank roughly #42 in life expectancy." "United is the [indecipherable] largest company in the US by market cap, behind only Apple, Google, Walmart," he added. "It has grown and grown, but as our life expectancy? No the reality is, these [indecipherable] have simply gotten too powerful, and they continue to abuse our country for immense profit because the American public has allowed them to get away with it." "Obviously the problem is more complex, but I do not have space, and frankly I do not pretend to be the most qualified person to lay out the full argument," stated Mangione. "But many have illuminated the corruption and greed (e.g.: Rosenthal, Moore), decades ago and the problems simply remain. It is not an issue of awareness at this point, but clearly power games at play. Evidently I am the first to face it with such brutal honesty." In addition to the manifesto, it was reported by the arresting officer that the man was carrying a passport and $10,000 in cash, $2,000 of it in foreign currency inside of a backpack. It was also noted that, in addition to the cash and passport, Mangione was also reportedly carrying a box of blue surgical masks and a black 3D-printed pistol and a 3D-printed silencer. Despite the cutting words, Mangione never named Thompson personally. Mangione is currently fighting to be extradited to New York where he had been charged with one count of murder, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, one count of second-degree possession of a forged document and one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Just before the hearing on Tuesday, it was reported that the Maryland native, who was dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit and handcuffed, shouted and struggled with officers as he was led into a Pennsylvania courthouse. According to the Associated Press, the words shouted by Luigi Mangione were unintelligible, however, it claimed that it was something to the effect of “This is extremely unjust, and an insult to the intelligence of the American people .” DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up here to get the latest news and updates from the Mirror US straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter.FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Republican U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie of Kentucky has secured the chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which wields broad jurisdiction over issues affecting the daily lives of Americans. With the GOP set to take unified control of Congress and the White House next year, Guthrie said he's ready to work on the agenda set forth by President-elect Donald Trump and House Republicans. Guthrie's new role puts him at the forefront of some of the nation's biggest policy discussions. The Kentucky congressman will lead a committee with jurisdiction over the country’s health care system, energy and environmental policies, consumer safety, and telecommunications and technology innovation. “We must work together to restore America’s energy dominance and lower energy prices, protect children’s online safety and ensure America remains the world leader in technological innovation, and protect access to life-saving treatments while lowering health care costs,” Guthrie said late Monday. House Speaker Mike Johnson said the committee will be in “good hands” under Guthrie’s leadership, saying the Kentuckian has the experience and know-how needed to “hit the ground running.” The Kentucky Democratic Party took a dig at Guthrie, saying, in a statement, that while he "may have a new title, Kentuckians can only expect to see more of his out-of-touch agenda at work.” Guthrie's rise to the chairmanship adds to the Kentucky delegation's clout in Congress. Another Kentucky Republican, U.S. Rep. James Comer, will continue as chairman of the House Oversight Committee. Many of Trump's priorities align with the committee's jurisdiction, including his push for government efficiency, Comer said Tuesday while outlining his goals for the committee. "We will advance solutions to make the federal government more efficient, effective, transparent and accountable to the American people,” Comer said. The delegation's influence could expand more. Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Barr of Kentucky is in the running to chair the House Financial Services Committee, which has jurisdiction over the financial sector. Republican U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, a congressional mainstay from Kentucky for decades, will remain a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee. He is a former chairman of the committee. “The general election was a mandate from the American people to lower costs that are crippling family budgets and secure our borders," Rogers said Tuesday. “We must also maintain our commitment to law enforcement and fighting the fentanyl scourge, as we work to make our nation safer.” U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky will continue his push for limited government and fiscal restraint. The lone Democrat in Kentucky's delegation, U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey, will be a vice chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. McGarvey, who represents a Louisville-area district, said he will be part of a progressive pushback against "an increasingly extreme Republican majority.” Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell will lead a subcommittee overseeing defense spending as he takes on new roles after relinquishing his long-running post as Senate Republican leader. The role dovetails with his belief that America needs a bulked-up military to deter threats from its adversaries. Kentucky's senior senator also will become chairman of the Senate Rules Committee. That will put McConnell at the center of weighty topics, namely federal elections and voting rights as well as the procedures of the Senate, including the debate around the filibuster. U.S. Sen. Rand Paul will lead the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The new role will put the Kentuckian — a limited-government advocate and longtime skeptic of surveillance programs — in charge of a committee with broad jurisdiction over government operations, including the Department of Homeland Security.
LightPath Technologies Introduces New Optical Gas Imaging Camera for Ammonia and SF6 DetectionSchool-record conference win streak comes to an end for Queensbury girls' basketball — Thursday's Section 2 scoresNews Stoinis named new Melbourne Stars BBL skipper The 35-year-old takes over from Glenn Maxwell who resigned at the end of last season after five years in the role Alex Malcolm 10-Dec-2024 • 1 hr ago Marcus Stoinis takes over as Melbourne Stars captain • Cricket Australia via Getty Images {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"ImageObject","contentUrl":"https://img1.hscicdn.com/image/upload/f_auto/lsci/db/PICTURES/CMS/373400/373404.1.jpg","caption":"Marcus Stoinis takes over as Melbourne Stars captain"} Marcus Stoinis has been confirmed as the new Melbourne Stars captain for the upcoming BBL season, replacing long-time skipper Glenn Maxwell who resigned at the end of last summer. Stoinis, 35, has led Stars once previously in Maxwell's absence last season. He had been a candidate to be interim captain when Maxwell missed the entire 2022-23 BBL season due to his broken leg but Stars opted to give the role to Adam Zampa. Stoinis is only the second player behind Maxwell to play 100 BBL matches for Stars and signed a three-year contract extension at the end of last season, meaning he will remain at the club until the end of 2026-27. Related Melbourne Stars sign Adam Milne for pre-Christmas BBL stint Injury hits Maxwell's Shield hopes, leaves race for BBL Stoinis said he was honoured to take over the role. "I had a little bit of a taste of captaining the side in Maxi's absence last year and loved the opportunity so to be given the role full-time is a great honour," Stoinis said. "The Stars have been such a constant in my life every summer for the last 10 years and I truly believe that the group we have assembled both on and off the field can bring some long overdue success to the club." Stars General Manager Blair Crouch acknowledged Maxwell's contribution as the leader over the past five seasons. "First of all, I want to acknowledge and thank Glenn Maxwell for all his efforts in leading the side over the past five seasons and he will continue to be a wonderful resource for everyone at the club," Crouch said. "Marcus demonstrated his leadership ability last year and has been a senior member of the side for a long time. "It's wonderful to have someone who has been at the Stars almost from our inception lead our club in BBL14." Stoinis is likely to lead a depleted line-up in the early part of the season. It is unknown when Maxwell will return from his hamstring injury but he seems unlikely to play in the first match of the season at least. Scott Boland and Beau Webster are also set to miss out while with Australia's Test squad. Overseas signings Ben Duckett and Osama Mir will also miss the first three games of the season. Meanwhile, Victoria duo Marcus Harris and Xavier Crone have been signed by Melbourne Renegades to complete their list for the upcoming BBL. Brisbane Heat have signed allrounder Jack Wildermuth in the final spot on their list. But Heat will add three local replacement players in the coming week with Michael Neser set to miss the early part of the season due to a hamstring injury, while Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne are unavailable until the end of the Australia-India Test series on January 8. Marcus Stoinis Glenn Maxwell Marcus Harris Xavier A Crone Michael Neser Melbourne Stars Big Bash League Alex Malcolm is an associate editor at ESPNcricinfo
