Bank of America signs again with FIFA for US-hosted Club World Cup that still has no TV dealsHUNTINGTON, W.Va. , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Energy Services of America Corporation (the "Company" or "Energy Services") (Nasdaq: ESOA) has completed the previously announced purchase of Tribute Contracting & Consultants, LLC ("Tribute"), an underground utility contractor that employs approximately 90 construction workers and primarily specializes in water and wastewater system installations in Ohio , Kentucky , and West Virginia. As previously noted, Energy Services purchased substantially all of the assets of Tribute for $22 million in cash, less any assumed debt and working capital adjustments, and $2.0 million of Energy Services' common stock. Todd Harrah and Tommy Enyart will continue their employment with Energy Services' new subsidiary and commented on the announcement, "We are excited to join forces with Energy Services and look forward to contributing to the company's continued success." Douglas Reynolds , President, commented on the announcement. "We are excited to add Tribute to the Energy Services team. This acquisition is consistent with our strategy of buying companies that are familiar to us and further enhances our presence in the water distribution and wastewater categories." About Energy Services Energy Services of America Corporation (NASDAQ: ESOA), headquartered in Huntington, WV , is a contractor and service company that operates primarily in the mid-Atlantic and Central regions of the United States and provides services to customers in the natural gas, petroleum, water distribution, automotive, chemical, and power industries. Energy Services employs 1,200+ employees on a regular basis. The Company's core values are safety, quality, and production. Certain statements contained in the release including, without limitation, the words "believes," "anticipates," "intends," "expects" or words of similar import, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements of the Company expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, general economic and business conditions, changes in business strategy or development plans, the integration of acquired business and other factors referenced in this release. Given these uncertainties, prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any such factors or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events or developments. View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/energy-services-of-america-completes-acquisition-302319926.html SOURCE Energy Services of America Corporation
By HALELUYA HADERO The emergence of generative artificial intelligence tools that allow people to efficiently produce novel and detailed online reviews with almost no work has put merchants , service providers and consumers in uncharted territory, watchdog groups and researchers say. Related Articles National News | Bill Clinton is hospitalized with a fever but in good spirits, spokesperson says National News | Why Finland is vaccinating farmers against bird flu — but California isn't National News | Bluesky finds with growth comes growing pains — and bots National News | Mega Millions jackpot nears $1 billion ahead of Christmas Eve drawing National News | 2 US Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in apparent ‘friendly fire’ incident, US military says Phony reviews have long plagued many popular consumer websites, such as Amazon and Yelp. They are typically traded on private social media groups between fake review brokers and businesses willing to pay. Sometimes, such reviews are initiated by businesses that offer customers incentives such as gift cards for positive feedback. But AI-infused text generation tools, popularized by OpenAI’s ChatGPT , enable fraudsters to produce reviews faster and in greater volume, according to tech industry experts. The deceptive practice, which is illegal in the U.S. , is carried out year-round but becomes a bigger problem for consumers during the holiday shopping season , when many people rely on reviews to help them purchase gifts. Fake reviews are found across a wide range of industries, from e-commerce, lodging and restaurants, to services such as home repairs, medical care and piano lessons. The Transparency Company, a tech company and watchdog group that uses software to detect fake reviews, said it started to see AI-generated reviews show up in large numbers in mid-2023 and they have multiplied ever since. For a report released this month, The Transparency Company analyzed 73 million reviews in three sectors: home, legal and medical services. Nearly 14% of the reviews were likely fake, and the company expressed a “high degree of confidence” that 2.3 million reviews were partly or entirely AI-generated. “It’s just a really, really good tool for these review scammers,” said Maury Blackman, an investor and advisor to tech startups, who reviewed The Transparency Company’s work and is set to lead the organization starting Jan. 1. In August, software company DoubleVerify said it was observing a “significant increase” in mobile phone and smart TV apps with reviews crafted by generative AI. The reviews often were used to deceive customers into installing apps that could hijack devices or run ads constantly, the company said. The following month, the Federal Trade Commission sued the company behind an AI writing tool and content generator called Rytr, accusing it of offering a service that could pollute the marketplace with fraudulent reviews. The FTC, which this year banned the sale or purchase of fake reviews, said some of Rytr’s subscribers used the tool to produce hundreds and perhaps thousands of reviews for garage door repair companies, sellers of “replica” designer handbags and other businesses. Max Spero, CEO of AI detection company Pangram Labs, said the software his company uses has detected with almost certainty that some AI-generated appraisals posted on Amazon bubbled up to the top of review search results because they were so detailed and appeared to be well thought-out. But determining what is fake or not can be challenging. External parties can fall short because they don’t have “access to data signals that indicate patterns of abuse,” Amazon has said. Pangram Labs has done detection for some prominent online sites, which Spero declined to name due to non-disclosure agreements. He said he evaluated Amazon and Yelp independently. Many of the AI-generated comments on Yelp appeared to be posted by individuals who were trying to publish enough reviews to earn an “Elite” badge, which is intended to let users know they should trust the content, Spero said. The badge provides access to exclusive events with local business owners. Fraudsters also want it so their Yelp profiles can look more realistic, said Kay Dean, a former federal criminal investigator who runs a watchdog group called Fake Review Watch. To be sure, just because a review is AI-generated doesn’t necessarily mean its fake. Some consumers might experiment with AI tools to generate content that reflects their genuine sentiments. Some non-native English speakers say they turn to AI to make sure they use accurate language in the reviews they write. “It can help with reviews (and) make it more informative if it comes out of good intentions,” said Michigan State University marketing professor Sherry He, who has researched fake reviews. She says tech platforms should focus on the behavioral patters of bad actors, which prominent platforms already do, instead of discouraging legitimate users from turning to AI tools. Prominent companies are developing policies for how AI-generated content fits into their systems for removing phony or abusive reviews. Some already employ algorithms and investigative teams to detect and take down fake reviews but are giving users some flexibility to use AI. Spokespeople for Amazon and Trustpilot, for example, said they would allow customers to post AI-assisted reviews as long as they reflect their genuine experience. Yelp has taken a more cautious approach, saying its guidelines require reviewers to write their own copy. “With the recent rise in consumer adoption of AI tools, Yelp has significantly invested in methods to better detect and mitigate such content on our platform,” the company said in a statement. The Coalition for Trusted Reviews, which Amazon, Trustpilot, employment review site Glassdoor, and travel sites Tripadvisor, Expedia and Booking.com launched last year, said that even though deceivers may put AI to illicit use, the technology also presents “an opportunity to push back against those who seek to use reviews to mislead others.” “By sharing best practice and raising standards, including developing advanced AI detection systems, we can protect consumers and maintain the integrity of online reviews,” the group said. The FTC’s rule banning fake reviews, which took effect in October, allows the agency to fine businesses and individuals who engage in the practice. Tech companies hosting such reviews are shielded from the penalty because they are not legally liable under U.S. law for the content that outsiders post on their platforms. Tech companies, including Amazon, Yelp and Google, have sued fake review brokers they accuse of peddling counterfeit reviews on their sites. The companies say their technology has blocked or removed a huge swath of suspect reviews and suspicious accounts. However, some experts say they could be doing more. “Their efforts thus far are not nearly enough,” said Dean of Fake Review Watch. “If these tech companies are so committed to eliminating review fraud on their platforms, why is it that I, one individual who works with no automation, can find hundreds or even thousands of fake reviews on any given day?” Consumers can try to spot fake reviews by watching out for a few possible warning signs , according to researchers. Overly enthusiastic or negative reviews are red flags. Jargon that repeats a product’s full name or model number is another potential giveaway. When it comes to AI, research conducted by Balázs Kovács, a Yale professor of organization behavior, has shown that people can’t tell the difference between AI-generated and human-written reviews. Some AI detectors may also be fooled by shorter texts, which are common in online reviews, the study said. However, there are some “AI tells” that online shoppers and service seekers should keep it mind. Panagram Labs says reviews written with AI are typically longer, highly structured and include “empty descriptors,” such as generic phrases and attributes. The writing also tends to include cliches like “the first thing that struck me” and “game-changer.”
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Without many weapons around him, New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler couldn’t capitalize on his opportunity for a nationally televised showcase. One week after leading four straight scoring drives in a 20-19 loss to the Washington Commanders, the fifth-round pick from South Carolina didn’t produce any points as the Saints fell 34-0 to the Green Bay Packers on Monday night, the first shutout in the NFL this season. The Saints (5-10) were shut out for the first time since falling 13-0 to San Francisco on Nov. 27, 2022. Rattler has started four games in his rookie season, and the Saints have lost each of them by at least 18 points. But he showed promise in his last appearance, when he came off the bench to replace an ineffective Jake Haener and orchestrated a comeback against the Commanders. That performance earned Rattler another start in place of the injured Derek Carr, but Rattler wasn’t nearly as effective Monday night. He went 15 of 30 for 153 yards with an interception and a fumble. The Saints were playing without five-time Pro Bowl running back Alvin Kamara (groin) and receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (chest/illness). Receivers Rashid Shaheed (knee) and Chris Olave (head) and tight end Taysom Hill (knee) have been sidelined for multiple weeks. The Saints lost center Erik McCoy to an elbow injury during Monday's game. Rattler was facing a Green Bay defense missing four starters: linebacker and leading tackler Quay Walker, two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander and rookie safeties Evan Williams and Javon Bullard. New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler (18) throws a long pass downfield during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. Credit: AP/Mike Roemer But the Packers still had plenty of answers for Rattler and the Saints. New Orleans was shut out in the first half for a second straight game, the first time the Saints have been scoreless at halftime of back-to-back games since 1997. On New Orleans’ first series, Rattler failed to connect with Kevin Austin on third-and-7 from the Green Bay 40. The Saints initially lined up to go for it on fourth down but opted to punt after a false-start penalty pushed them back 5 yards. New Orleans already trailed 21-0 when Rattler got the Saints inside the Green Bay 30 late in the second quarter. That drive ended when Keisean Nixon sacked Rattler and forced a fumble that Rashan Gary recovered. Green Bay Packers linebacker Eric Wilson (45) stops New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler (18) on a carry during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. Credit: AP/Morry Gash The Saints got to Green Bay’s 34 before a sack by Devonte Wyatt pushed them out of field goal range in the closing seconds of the half, leading to an unsuccessful Hail Mary attempt. That drive also included a clock management miscue. The Saints allowed about 24 seconds to run off the clock after Austin recovered his own fumble before New Orleans finally called a timeout with 15 seconds left. With the Saints trailing 24-0 in the third quarter, Rattler got New Orleans into scoring position again before Zayne Anderson picked off a first-and-10 pass from the 22. That was as close as Rattler and the Saints got to scoring.
This equity large and mid cap fund has generated 22.7% returns in last 5 years: Should you invest?At some point over turkey and mashed potatoes, it seems, President Joe Biden decided to jettison months of definitively, unambiguously, absolutely answering “no” to the repeated question of whether he planned to pardon his son, Hunter, and put the freedom of his troubled, law-breaking son above the rule of law in the United States. That action, which made his political defenders, his press secretary and the numerous MSNBC and CNN commentators who had blathered on about how Biden “lived the rule of law” look like sycophantic fools, was an astonishing event, coming as it did as many families drove or flew home after the Thanksgiving holiday, or drove their adult children back to the airport. It was as if Biden, embittered and angry at how his party — indeed America writ large — had treated him, had a thought process that went somewhere along these lines: “I was old so you cast me aside. You still lost. I was reminded at Thanksgiving how my family still loves me the best and it is my duty as a father to care first for them.” “Deal with it, suckers.” Had Joe Biden expressed his decision in those terms, he might have enjoyed more credibility than his new argument about how Hunter Biden had been prosecuted simply because of his relationship to him, which is, of course, precisely the same argument made by President-elect Donald Trump, who also said he had been selectively prosecuted for political reasons and whom Joe Biden called a liar and a felon and a criminal and a hypocrite more times than we can count. Both Trump and Joe Biden, of course, had good reason not to refer to the actual crimes themselves, even though the crimes are what actually matter here. When you choose to enter the political fray, or are born into its privileges, you can reasonably expect more scrutiny than the average American. If you want to avoid so-called selective prosecution, pursued by your political enemies, the best strategy is to follow the law. That’s what the rest of us have to do. Granted, most loving American parents, given the chance to rub out the legal troubles of their now seemingly reformed offspring, would probably do what Biden did Sunday, if they could. But the point here is that they cannot. Most American parents are not president of the United States, a job description that comes with such useful perks as the ability to offer presidential pardons but also includes the moral imperative of the office. Presidents are supposed to uphold the integrity of institutions and the rule of law, whatever the personal cost. One useful analogy to this situation is a parent sending a child in the military to a wartime combat zone: they and their children are taking a mutual risk, making a sacrifice, for a cause they believe to be greater than their own familial affections. If they followed the Biden logic here, they’d demand their children come home. The president is commander in chief. Biden has to know that some in the armed forces will not salute him in the future with the same enthusiasm. Some made the argument Monday that Biden is no different from others. Before he left office, former President Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother, Roger Clinton Jr., from a 1985 cocaine possession and drug-trafficking conviction. Trump not only pardoned Charles Kushner, the father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, from his tax evasion and illegal campaign donations convictions but has said he wants Kushner to serve as ambassador to France. And, of course, we have yet to learn what future pardons Trump might issue since he hasn’t taken office. It seems to us likely that Joe Biden read up on the new Trump appointees, including the track record of Kash Patel, Trumps’s famously aggressive choice as director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and reached the conclusion that there would be further politicized hell to pay for Hunter and himself if he did not act while he had the power. That’s all important context, although it’s worth noting that both Charles Kushner and Roger Clinton served time in jail. Unlike Hunter. And it’s further worth noting that Joe Biden issued a blanket pardon for all crimes that were or even might have been committed since 2014, meaning that Hunter recieves a get-out-of-jail-free card not just for what he appears to have done but also for what has yet to come to light, if anything does. And given his years of addiction and the records of his behavior, that is no small distinction, as the elder Biden surely knows. Some of Joe Biden’s fiercest detractors have also argued that the pardon likely will accrue benefits not just to Hunter but to his father. Aside from all that, there can be no question that the pardon will have consequences beyond whatever Hunter Biden manages to achieve for the rest of his life. It’s a stain on Biden’s legacy, which had already taken a precipitous dive with his refusal to leave the presidential race after the effects of his aging had become clear. It will make it more difficult for Democrats to fight against any future Trumpian corruption with any moral authority, especially as it pertains to the Department of Justice. It will make it near impossible for the Democrats to argue they are the sole defenders of normalcy, democracy and the rule of law against an administration that may well imperil all three. Biden has now revealed himself to be as transactional as those he has criticized. He also has left himself open to the charge that he is a dissembler, saying one thing while he was running for office and doing another after he loses. Plainly stated, he lied to the American people. That might sound harsh to some readers: Biden is an old man who loves his son and chose to protect him above all else from a world he no doubt thought was amassed against them both. That’s true and a cue for more sadness than anger among those of us who value the integrity of American institutions such as the justice system and hope to protect their essential neutrality and fairness for all Americans. Biden’s actions are a further blow to their credibility and to the moral authority of an assembling Democratic opposition likely to be called upon in 2025 to stand up for the rule of law and against acts of personal benefit or vengeance. That job will be harder now. Pardoned or not, Hunter still has a lot for which to answer. So too does his father. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com .NoneArcutis Biotherapeutics exec buys $7,766 in stock
WR Berkley's WRB short percent of float has fallen 13.25% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 3.95 million shares sold short , which is 1.31% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.31 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 WR Berkley Short Interest Graph (3 Months) As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for WR Berkley has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted. Comparing WR Berkley'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 , WR Berkley's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 1.88%, which means the company has less 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.
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Ruud van Nistelrooy ‘disappointed’ and ‘hurt’ after cutting ties with Man UtdDec. 24—Besieged by injuries for the past few weeks, the Steelers are getting a bit healthier for their biggest game of the year. Receiver George Pickens, safety DeShon Elliott, defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi and cornerback Donte Jackson do not have injury designations for Wednesday's game against the Chiefs and are expected to be in the starting lineup. Backup quarterback Justin Fields is questionable, and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and receiver Ben Skowronek have been ruled out. Pickens has missed the past three games with a hamstring injury, and the Steelers offense struggled mightily with him out of the lineup, scoring 13 and 17 points in their past two games, both losses. Ogunjobi (groin) and Elliott (hamstring) missed the past two games, and Jackson could not play in Saturday's game against the Ravens due to a back injury. James Pierre is likely to get a second consecutive start in place of Porter. He started against the Ravens when Jackson was out. Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said on Tuesday that Cory Trice Jr. also will play. (c)2024 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Visit the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at www.post-gazette.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Chelsea fans love what Jadon Sancho did to Tottenham corner flag in unseen moment
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