ALERT: Rowley Law PLLC is Investigating Proposed Acquisition of Interpublic Group
Six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick interviewed for the head-coaching job at North Carolina, Inside Carolina and the Raleigh News & Observer reported Thursday. According to the News & Observer, Belichick "blew them away in the interview," yet he is not likely to move forward because he is pushing 73 years old and has no experience in the college game. After he and the New England Patriots agreed to part ways following a 24-year stint, Belichick interviewed for the head job with the Atlanta Falcons, who instead hired Raheem Morris. The North Carolina interview is the first known instance of Belichick showing interest in a college position. Belichick is expected to draw interest for NFL openings in the upcoming hiring cycle. The Tar Heels retained an outside advisory firm to identify coaching candidates to replace Mack Brown, whom they fired at the end of the regular season. North Carolina went 6-6, including 3-5 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. "We've had a tremendous response of people across the country, of agents calling us, coaches, people calling on behalf of other people that are in the industry," North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham said in an in-house interview the school posted online earlier this week. "We are very optimistic of where we are, the interest in our program is just extraordinary, and we'll get a great coach to lead us. Who can lead us in the next three, five, 10 years? We need somebody that can come in and take us from good to great." --Field Level MediaGet essential daily news for Fort Worth area Sign up to receive insightful, in-depth local stories today. 📩 United Way of Tarrant County’s board of directors has announced the selection of Adam Powell as its new president and CEO. Powell, who earned his master’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington, started his North Texas nonprofit career at Arlington Life Shelter in 2007 before venturing into other leadership roles. He will lead United Way of Tarrant County following the departure of former CEO and President Leah King , who announced in September that she would step down after five years to join JPS Foundation as its new president. United Way of Tarrant County, founded in 1922, focuses on developing initiatives to improve social, economic and health access to underserved communities. The nonprofit reported over $25.3 million in revenue in 2023. King previously told the Fort Worth Report she has decided to transition roles as a way to broaden her mission of improving health care for all. Regina Williams, chief impact officer of United Way, served as interim CEO during the search process. Get essential daily news for the Fort Worth area. Sign up for insightful, in-depth stories — completely free. Powell said he’s honored to join United Way of Tarrant County with its “long history of impact in the community.” “Returning to Tarrant County, where I began my career in nonprofit service in Texas, makes this transition even more meaningful to me. I look forward to working collaboratively with UWTC’s stakeholders and talented staff,” Powell said in a statement. Powell comes to United Way of Tarrant County from Communities In Schools of the Dallas Region where he has served as its president and CEO since September 2019. Communities In Schools, or CIS, is a dropout prevention program funded in part by the Texas Legislature and administered by the Texas Education Agency. There are 27 different CIS programs in Texas. During his tenure with CIS of Dallas, he grew the organization’s impact and nearly tripled its revenue. The Dallas region reported a total revenue of over $11.5 million in 2023 — a jump from $5.1 million in 2020, according to 990 tax filings. Steve Bobb, board chair of United Way of Tarrant County, said Powell’s nonprofit experience and results demonstrate “his focus on positive community impact.” “I, along with the rest of the board, am excited about his ability to connect with stakeholders across Tarrant County and his record of securing investments to help our organization continue to innovate, thrive and grow,” Bobb said in a statement. United Way of Tarrant County recently celebrated the graduation of 120 individuals through its community doula program. The community doula program marks a major milestone in United Way’s initiative to improve maternal and infant health in Tarrant County, which reports higher maternal mortality rates than the national average . Powell will begin his duties with United Way of Tarrant County Jan. 13. David Moreno is the health reporter for the Fort Worth Report. His position is supported by a grant from Texas Health Resources. Contact him at david.moreno@fortworthreport.org or @davidmreports . At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here . Related Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative for adhering to standards for ethical journalism . Republish This Story Republishing is free for noncommercial entities. Commercial entities are prohibited without a licensing agreement. Contact us for details. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License . Look for the "Republish This Story" button underneath each story. To republish online, simply click the button, copy the html code and paste into your Content Management System (CMS). Do not copy stories straight from the front-end of our web-site. You are required to follow the guidelines and use the republication tool when you share our content. The republication tool generates the appropriate html code. You can’t edit our stories, except to reflect relative changes in time, location and editorial style. You can’t sell or syndicate our stories. Any web site our stories appear on must include a contact for your organization. If you use our stories in any other medium — for example, newsletters or other email campaigns — you must make it clear that the stories are from the Fort Worth Report. In all emails, link directly to the story at fortworthreport.org and not to your website. If you share our stories on social media, please tag us in your posts using @FortWorthReport on Facebook and @FortWorthReport on Twitter. You have to credit Fort Worth Report. Please use “Author Name, Fort Worth Report” in the byline. If you’re not able to add the byline, please include a line at the top of the story that reads: “This story was originally published by Fort Worth Report” and include our website, fortworthreport.org . You can’t edit our stories, except to reflect relative changes in time, location and editorial style. Our stories may appear on pages with ads, but not ads specifically sold against our stories. You can’t sell or syndicate our stories. You can only publish select stories individually — not as a collection. Any web site our stories appear on must include a contact for your organization. If you share our stories on social media, please tag us in your posts using @FortWorthReport on Facebook and @FortWorthReport on Twitter. by David Moreno, Fort Worth Report December 9, 2024Ghana opposition leader Mahama officially wins electionShould a cherished children’s tradition be interrupted by the conflicts of adults? The Burlington Public Library has decided that it should not. In the month of November 2024, the Burlington Public Library announced on their website that they will be continuing their Letters to Santa program despite the nationwide Canada Post strike that has been ongoing since November 15, 2024. Each of the six library branches in Burlington has put out a special red mailbox for this purpose. Families, as an enjoyable Christmas-themed activity this holiday season, are invited to bring their children to any of the libraries to get the task of letter-writing done. Children will be offered letter templates and pens and pencils so they can write to Santa Claus at the North Pole, report on their good behaviour throughout the year, and request a special list of gifts. The Burlington Public Library has taken measures to ensure children receiving a reply doesn’t depend on Canadian national politics. “At present, we are continuing to mail the letters in the hope that an agreement will be reached, ending the strike. While less magical, we do have a backup plan in case the postal strike continues,” says Krista Schwab, marketing and communications manager at the Burlington Public Library. “BPL will offer the option for parents and caregivers to stop by a branch and pick up a non-personalized response letter so that kids can receive a reply before the holidays. We will communicate this option if we need to act on it.” A letter to Santa is children’s literature that actually comes directly from the hands of children. Since the Victorian age, with the rise of Christmas as a cultural phenomenon in the West, children have voluntarily composed letters to the jolly bearded man in red as a means for practicing their alphabet and getting their voices heard by an adult with the power to grant them what they want. It can even be argued that a letter to Santa is a budding writer’s first persuasive essay. They have to convince Santa that they’ve earned the presents they’re asking for, with a year’s worth of general good conduct. It is a treasured activity in a child’s education. “While the focus of the Letters to Santa campaign is to inspire joy and to build a sense of community, writing these letters, whether by a child or with their caregiver, supports early literacy skills by helping children recognize the sounds and meanings of letters and words,” says Schwab on how writing a letter to Santa Claus impacts a child’s developing literacy. Letter writing has become something of an obsolete skill as the educational system transitions to teaching students more digital means of communication. There are resources for parents to consider if their children are having difficulty approaching how to write a letter, and the solution itself can be digital. Parents and children can go online for instructional material or even consult YouTube tutorials on how to write a letter to Santa. The Burlington Public Library has public computers that can be accessed with a library card. Unlike the Letters to Santa program, several library services have been suspended due to the library’s inability to receive or distribute mail. Interlibrary loans, physical copies of new issues of magazines, and mailed customer notices will not be available for the duration of the strike. Letters to Santa envelopes can be dropped off at any of the following library branches: Aldershot, Alton, Brant Hills, Central, New Appleby, and Tansley Woods. Letters will be accepted until December 5, 2024.
Ghana opposition leader Mahama officially wins election
Britvic plc ( LON:BVIC – Get Free Report ) shares reached a new 52-week high on Friday . The company traded as high as GBX 1,307 ($16.45) and last traded at GBX 1,307.08 ($16.45), with a volume of 7237272 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 1,305 ($16.42). Britvic Stock Performance The business’s 50-day simple moving average is GBX 1,288.85 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is GBX 1,249.61. The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 253.32. The firm has a market cap of £3.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 2,562.90, a P/E/G ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 0.60. Insider Buying and Selling In other Britvic news, insider Simon Litherland sold 18,862 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 1,292 ($16.26), for a total transaction of £243,697.04 ($306,652.88). In the last 90 days, insiders acquired 36 shares of company stock valued at $46,512. 9.20% of the stock is owned by company insiders. About Britvic Britvic plc, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells soft drinks in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, France, Brazil, and internationally. It provides fruit juices, syrups, squash, mineral water, sodas, mixers, and energy and flavored drinks. The company supplies water-coolers and bottled water; offers pension funding and financing services; and designs, installs, as well as engages in maintenance of integrated tap related solutions. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Britvic Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Britvic and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
This Cannabis REIT Offers 13%+ Yield, Safer Returns Than Fed-Backed BondsPM Dickon Mitchell to deliver keynote address at Connected Caribbean Summit
The head of the Secret Service sparred with a Republican lawmaker at a contentious congressional hearing into security failings that led to the deadly assassination attempt against President-elect Donald Trump. Ronald Rowe took pointed questions from both sides of the aisle about how the agency could have allowed a teen gunman to open fire on Trump , lightly wounding him and killing one of his supporters at a July campaign rally in Butler, Pa. The hearing turned nasty when Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas) accused Rowe of cozying up to President Biden at a 9/11 remembrance event in what he suggested was an effort to curry favor and win the top Secret Service position. “Do not invoke 9/11 for political purposes,” yelled Rowe, who responded to Ground Zero after the 2001 terror attacks. “Don’t try and bully me,” Fallon shot back. Rowe took over the reins of the Secret Service, at least temporarily, after former director Kimberly Cheatle stepped down amid widespread criticism of lax security at the rally where Trump was shot. Trump has not announced who might get the job permanently. Rowe insisted the Secret Service is “reorganizing and reimagining” its culture following the shocking Trump shooting. He promised accountability for what he called the agency’s “abject failure” to secure the rally, where a gunman managed to climb atop a nearby building that offered a clear line of sight to Trump and unload several shots. Trump was wounded in the ear, while supporter Corey Comperatore was killed in the attack. Two others were wounded before the gunman was felled by a Secret Service sharpshooter. “It is essential that we recognize the gravity of our failure,” Rowe said. The panel is expected to release a report into the Trump assassination effort by next week at the latest. Rowe was repeatedly asked by flabbergasted lawmakers how glaring and elementary security failings were allowed to happen, including communications difficulties between the Secret Service and local law enforcement, as well as the lax security of the rally perimeter. Rep. Jason Crow, a Colorado Democrat, said it was “just wild to me” that the Secret Service was using inefficient text messages and emails to communicate in real time about deadly threats. Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.) called the agency’s conduct “lackadaisical.” “It speaks of an apathy or a complacency that is really unacceptable,” Green said. Another apparent attempt on Trump’s life in September added to questions about the agency’s effectiveness. The gunman in that case lay in wait for Trump at his golf course in Florida , but a Secret Service agent spotted a firearm poking through bushes and thwarted the slay try. He was later arrested nearby and is awaiting trial.
DRAPER, Utah (AP) — DRAPER, Utah (AP) — HealthEquity Inc. (HQY) on Monday reported fiscal third-quarter profit of $5.7 million. On a per-share basis, the Draper, Utah-based company said it had net income of 6 cents. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to 78 cents per share. The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of seven analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 71 cents per share. The provider of services for managing health care accounts posted revenue of $300.4 million in the period, which also beat Street forecasts. Six analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $289.3 million. HealthEquity expects full-year earnings in the range of $3.08 to $3.16 per share, with revenue in the range of $1.19 billion to $1.2 billion. This story was generated by Automated Insights ( http://automatedinsights.com/ap ) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on HQY at https://www.zacks.com/ap/HQY
Editor’s note: The views expressed in this commentary are solely those of the writers. CNN is showcasing the work of The Conversation , a collaboration between journalists and academics to provide news analysis and commentary. The content is produced solely by The Conversation. The holidays offer many opportunities for awkward moments. Political discussions, of course, hold plenty of potential. But any time opinions differ, where estrangements have caused lingering rifts, or when behaviors veer toward the inappropriate, awkwardness can set in. Awkwardness is what happens in social interactions when you suddenly find yourself without a script to guide you through. Maybe the situation is new or catches you off guard. Maybe you don’t know what’s expected of you, or you aren’t sure what role you’re playing in the social drama around you. It’s characterized by feelings of self-consciousness, uncertainty and discomfort. As a philosopher who studies moral psychology , I’m interested in awkwardness because I wanted to understand the ways social discomfort stops people from engaging with difficult topics and challenging conversations. Awkwardness seems to inhibit people, even when their moral values suggest they should speak up. But it has a positive role to play, too — it can alert people to areas where their social norms are lacking or outdated. People often blame themselves when things take a turn toward the awkward. But awkwardness is really a collective failure — people aren’t awkward, situations are. And they become awkward because you don’t have the resources to navigate your way through tricky social situations. Awkwardness is often confused with embarrassment, but the two are different in important ways, and so are their remedies. Embarrassment is a response to a personal failing or gaffe , and the right response is to acknowledge it, own it and move on . Because awkwardness is caused by a lack of social guidance, you can try to anticipate and head it off before it happens, or you can respond to it by trying to develop better or clearer social scripts to help you — and others — navigate similar situations in the future. After researching and writing an entire book on awkwardness , I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s not something we can — or should — avoid altogether. But there are a few strategies people can use to minimize awkwardness and deal with it when it does, inevitably, happen. READ MORE: When meeting someone new, try skirting the small talk Uncertainty is the oxygen of awkwardness. Before you engage in a potentially awkward or contentious interaction, ask yourself: What do I want to get out of this? When you’re clear on your goals for the interaction, not only are you better able to perform your role in it, but you’re also giving clearer signals to others, helping them perform their roles in the unfolding social drama. So, if you’re worried it’ll be awkward when your uncle starts in on his annual political rant, think about what you want the outcome to be. Do you want to convince him he’s wrong? Unlikely to happen. Do you want other family members to feel less anxious? Do you want your own views to be heard? I’m not suggesting that some forethought will make things go smoothly or guarantee that no one’s feelings will be hurt. But it will help you feel more confident in your ability to navigate toward your desired outcome. Awkward situations breed intense self-consciousness . This is both uncomfortable and counterproductive. By focusing on yourself, you’re not attuned to the people around you or the signals they’re sending — signals that could offer you a pathway out of the awkward situation. So make sure you’re paying attention to the other players in the drama, not just your own discomfort. People do so much planning in other areas of their lives, yet they expect social interactions to just flow effortlessly. But like a vacation or a hike in the woods, sometimes a conversation goes better when you approach it with a map. Have some go-to topics or questions at hand. And you don’t have to go it alone. If you’re worried about broaching a sensitive topic, or interacting with a particularly prickly guest, coordinate with a friend or relative. READ MORE: Why is it so stressful to talk politics with the other side? If you expect to see someone with whom you have an unresolved relationship — an estranged family member, an old friend you ghosted — try to do some prep work in advance. Emails or letters can give people a chance to process reactions without putting them on the spot. Even having a scripted activity on deck can make things less awkward. It doesn’t have to be anything formal, like a board game. Just keep some tasks available for guests who might otherwise lurk uncomfortably — like shaking up the salad dressing or putting forks on the table. If, despite your best efforts, awkwardness does strike, offer people a way out — they’ll probably grab it. This doesn’t need to be momentous; it could be a little joke, a small-talk topic, or even — and only if things get very desperate — knocking a spoon off the table to break the silence. READ MORE: Personality traits drive our ideas about fairness and sharing These strategies might help you avoid awkwardness. But take a moment to consider whether you really want to. Awkwardness is the result of social uncertainty; it slows things down and curbs your confidence. In its absence, other emotions can set in. Having things out in the open can be a relief, but it can also lead to anger, sadness and other feelings that might best be saved for another occasion. So if things are awkward, it’s worth looking around to see what role that awkwardness is playing, and what might take its place if it’s gone. Alexandra Plakias is an associate professor of philosophy at Hamilton College. Her research focuses on issues in moral psychology, such as the role of evolution and culture in our moral values. Plakias does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.VANCOUVER, BC , Dec. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Seaspan Corporation (Seaspan), world leading independent containership lessor, has signed an agreement to equip its fleet with the OneWeb advanced low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite offering from KVH Industries. This marks the next step in Seaspan's drive to deliver shore-like internet connectivity at sea, supporting its digital transformation strategy and augmenting its fleet's existing LEO services. As an early adopter of LEO technologies, Seaspan is the first major owner/operator of containerships to partner with KVH for its OneWeb solution. Seaspan's OneWeb rollout will further strengthen the fleet's data connectivity infrastructure, enabling Seaspan to leverage advanced technologies and high bandwidth-demanding applications, including solutions such as cloud-based software as a service (SaaS) technology that were previously unsuitable for maritime use. "Our partnership with KVH for OneWeb services aligns with our strategy of providing a best-in-class communication experience across our fleet," said Garret Wong , Seaspan's Vice President of Information Technology. "This initiative brings us closer to realizing shore-like connectivity at sea while enhancing efficiency, safety, and seafarer welfare." Adrian Alb, Senior Manager of IT Operations at Seaspan, added "LEO satellite technologies have set a new benchmark for vessel communications, offering high-bandwidth, low latency, and reliability far beyond traditional marine satellite solutions. This collaboration with KVH aligns with our goal of enhancing provider diversity and minimizing geographical blackout zones, further bolstering the robustness of our satellite communications infrastructure." Chad Impey , Senior Vice President for Global Sales at KVH, commented, "We are proud to support Seaspan with the planned deployment of OneWeb service and hardware as part of our integrated KVH ONE multi-orbit, multi-channel network solution." With the integration of OneWeb LEO technology from KVH Industries, Seaspan continues to demonstrate its commitment to adopting cutting edge technologies enabling its fleet to meet the demands of modern maritime operations. About Seaspan Corporation Seaspan is the world's leading maritime asset-owner and operator focussed on long-term, fixed-rate leases to the world's most prominent shipping lines. As of September 30, 2024 , Seaspan's operating fleet consisted of 218 vessels, pro forma for undelivered newbuilds including PCTCs, with a total fleet capacity of approximately 2.3 million TEU on a fully delivered basis. For more information, visit seaspancorp.com . About KVH Industries, Inc. KVH Industries, Inc. is a global leader in maritime and mobile connectivity delivered via the KVH ONE® network. The company, founded in 1982, is based in Middletown, RI , with research, development, and manufacturing operations in Middletown, RI , and more than a dozen offices around the globe. KVH provides connectivity solutions for commercial maritime, leisure marine, military/government, and land mobile applications on vessels and vehicles, including the TracNetTM, TracPhone®, and TracVision product lines, the KVH ONE OpenNet Program for non-KVH antennas, AgilePlans® Connectivity as a Service (CaaS), and the KVH Link crew wellbeing content service. KVH Industries, Inc., has used, registered, or applied to register its trademarks in the USA and other countries around the world, including but not limited to the following marks: KVH, KVH ONE, TracVision, TracPhone, TracNet, and AgilePlans. Other trademarks are the property of their respective companies. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/seaspan-corporation-signs-agreement-with-kvh-to-equip-fleet-with-oneweb-low-earth-orbit-solution-302326768.html SOURCE Seaspan Corporation