California Water Service Group exec Michael Luu sells $50,727 in stock
Greater Sudbury marks HIV Awareness Week, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
BEIRUT —Tensions in northeast Syria between Kurdish-led authorities and Turkish-backed groups should be resolved politically or risk "dramatic consequences" for all of Syria, the United Nations envoy for the country Geir Pedersen told Reuters on Monday. Hostilities have escalated between Syrian rebels backed by Ankara and the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces in the northeast since Bashar al-Assad was toppled on Dec. 8. Syrian armed groups seized the city of Manbij from the SDF on Dec. 9 and could be preparing to attack the key city of Kobani, or Ayn al-Arab, on the northern border with Turkey. "If the situation in the northeast is not handled correctly, it could be a very bad omen for the whole of Syria," Pedersen said by phone, adding that "if we fail here, it would have dramatic consequences when it comes to new displacement." The SDF - which is spearheaded by the Kurdish YPG - has proposed to withdraw its forces from the area in exchange for a complete truce. But Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, speaking alongside Syria's de facto new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on Sunday in Damascus, said the YPG should disband totally. Turkey regards the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants who have fought an insurgency against the Turkish state and are deemed terrorists by Ankara, Washington and the European Union. Pedersen said a political solution "would require serious, serious compromises" and should be part of the "transitional phase" led by Syria's new authorities in Damascus. Fidan said he had discussed the YPG presence with the new Syrian administration and believed Damascus would take steps to ensure Syria's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday the country will remain in close dialogue with Sharaa. Kurdish groups have had autonomy across much of the northeast since Syria's war began in 2011, but now fear it could be wiped out by the country's new Islamist rule. Thousands of women rallied on Monday in a northeast city to condemn Turkey and demand their rights be respected. Pedersen said Sharaa had told him in meetings in Damascus last week that they were committed to "transitional arrangements that will be inclusive of all". But he said resolving tensions in the northeast would be a test for a new Syria after more than a half-century of Assad family rule. "The whole question of creating a new, free Syria would be off to a very, extremely ... to put it diplomatically, difficult start," he said. —ReutersOf Diplomacy and Gaffes: Making Sense of Prabowo and Anwar’s China Visits
Electromed Stock Soars to All-Time High of $30.17 Amidst Robust Growth(The Center Square) — California’s senators have sent a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg requesting last-minute federal funding for the state’s high-speed rail project before the Trump administration takes office in January. This move comes amid concerns that the incoming administration might pull federal funding from the now $135 billion project, and use California as a national example for redirecting federal funds from Democratic priorities. Once complete, the project is supposed to carry passengers from San Francisco to Los Angeles in under three hours, with one-way tickets priced at $86. It’s unclear how competitive this will be with air travel; one-way flights booked more than two weeks in advance currently cost $59 on Southwest, which includes two checked bags. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), proposed by the incoming Trump administration, aims to reduce what it views as wasteful government spending, recently spotlighted the project, and Congressmen Kevin Kiley, R-California, announced his bill to eliminate federal funding for the endeavor. Amid the state’s financial foes, a pause or withdrawal of federal funding could leave the state with no choice but to put the project on hold. During the spring, the California High Speed Rail Authority requested the use of state rainy day funding to plug the $8 billion to $10 billion funding shortfall for the system’s initial $30 billion to $33 billion, 171-mile segment connecting the cities of Bakersfield and Merced in the relatively sparsely populated Central Valley. But with the state’s legislative analyst now finding the state has “no capacity” for new spending and projecting annual deficits will soon rise to $30 billion, enhanced state support for the project is unlikely, leaving federal funding as the only option to fill the gap. The letter , signed by Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, and Reps. Pete Aguilar, Zoe Lofgren, and Jim Costa, requests an additional $536 million to join $134 million in state funds to complete a 30%, or preliminary, design of one tunnel in Southern California and one tunnel in Northern California. The letter also recounted the federal government’s existing $6.8 billion in support for the project, and $22 billion from California for the project thus far. “By preparing for future final design and construction of complex tunnels in this corridor, the Project will advance both state and federal goals to improve safety, expand economic strength and global competitiveness, address equity issues, and implement sustainability practices to confront climate change,” wrote the federal legislators. “These investments will continue to support living wage jobs, provide small business opportunities, and equitably enhance the mobility of communities in need – including disadvantaged agricultural communities – all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.” In 2012, the state legislative analyst’s office found the bullet train would increase overall greenhouse gas emissions for the first 30 years of its operation, putting the project’s emissions impact — and state funding based on emissions reductions — into question. Kiley, who is aiming to pass a bill in Congress ending federal support for the project, said even if a grant is approved, he hopes to keep that money away from California’s bullet train. “A small group of CA Democrats is asking Biden to send even more money for High-Speed Rail ... before Congress can pass my bill to deny further funding,” said Kiley on X. “If Biden complies, we will make sure that the grant is promptly revoked.” Because U.S. Congress holds “power of the purse,” Kiley’s bill could allow the federal government to withhold any further funding from the project – even spending that is already approved. However, it's less clear whether the Trump administration could unilaterally halt funding. As a discretionary grant under the Department of Transportation, such a decision might fall within its authority, but political and legal challenges could arise.
NoneAmerican Airlines stock slides 1.9% after technical glitch briefly impacts flight operations on Christmas Eve
NEW YORK , Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Report with market evolution powered by AI - The global TV and Movie merchandise market size is estimated to grow by USD 103.5 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 9.45% during the forecast period. Growth of e-commerce platforms is driving market growth, with a trend towards entertainment companies capitalizing on merchandise sales. However, uncertain economic conditions poses a challenge.Key market players include 41 Entertainment LLC, Aardman Animations Ltd., Amazon.com Inc., AT and T, Banijay Group, Charter Communications Inc., Comcast Corp., Grindstore Ltd., Hasbro Inc., iMPACTFUL Group Inc., LEGO System AS, Mattel Inc., Netflix Inc., Paramount Global, RTL Group SA, Sony Group Corp., Striker Entertainment LLC, The Walt Disney Co., WildBrain Ltd., and World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.. AI-Powered Market Evolution Insights. Our comprehensive market report ready with the latest trends, growth opportunities, and strategic analysis- View Free Sample Report PDF The TV and movie merchandise market is booming, with trends including toys, apparel, collectibles, comic books, action figures, artwork, home décor, accessories, video games, and more. Both kids and adults are driving demand for these products, fueled by streaming services, social media, and ecommerce. Nostalgia-driven merchandise is a significant trend, with collectibles leading the way. However, challenges such as counterfeiting, high marketing costs, and oversaturation persist. Costumes, movie scripts, and licensed sellers are also part of the mix. Consumers prefer online shopping for convenience, but offline retailers still hold appeal for fan interaction and celebrity endorsement. Purchasing habits vary, with community engagement and viral sensations influencing sales. Product quality, health, and environmental concerns are also important factors. E-commerce expansion continues, with fast delivery options and smart home products gaining popularity. Entertainment companies have shifted their focus from relying solely on ticket sales to generating revenue through merchandise. With declining DVD sales and a stagnant global box office, studios like Disney's Marvel Cinematic Universe are turning to merchandise as an alternative revenue stream. Consumer products now significantly impact moviemaking decisions, leading to sequels and franchises. Notably, some films have earned more revenue from merchandise sales than box office collections. This trend underscores the importance of merchandise in the entertainment industry. Insights on how AI is driving innovation, efficiency, and market growth- Request Sample! • The TV and movie merchandise market is a thriving industry, catering to the demands of kids and adults alike. Toys, apparel, collectibles, comic books, action figures, artwork, home décor, accessories, video games, and more, all generate significant revenue. However, challenges abound. Counterfeiting is a major concern, leading to high marketing costs to ensure authenticity. Nostalgia-driven merchandise continues to be popular, but oversaturation and storage constraints can limit growth. Purchasing habits vary between online shopping websites and offline retailers, with fan interaction and celebrity endorsement driving sales. E-commerce expansion is crucial, but product quality, health, and environmental concerns must be addressed. Smart home products, wearables, and fast delivery options are key trends. Collectors seek authenticity, while cultural phenomena and viral sensations create sudden demand. Overall, the market requires careful management to navigate these challenges and capitalize on opportunities. • The economic instability in various countries could negatively impact the TV and movie merchandise market. Vendors, advertisers, affiliates, suppliers, retailers, insurers, and theater operators may experience reduced sales due to weak or uncertain economic conditions in key markets like China , India , and Brazil . Volatility in the global economy, caused by governmental actions in countries such as Russia and Venezuela , further complicates the situation. These economic uncertainties could potentially hinder the growth and profitability of businesses in this sector. Insights into how AI is reshaping industries and driving growth- Download a Sample Report This tv and movie merchandise market report extensively covers market segmentation by 1.1 Offline retail 1.2 Online retail 2.1 Apparel 2.2 Toys 2.3 Accessories 2.4 Video games 2.5 Others 3.1 North America 3.2 Europe 3.3 APAC 3.4 South America 3.5 Middle East and Africa 1.1 Offline retail- The offline retail sector continues to be a significant player in the global TV and movie merchandise market. Consumers preferring a tactile shopping experience account for a substantial portion of sales. Offline retail formats such as specialty stores, hypermarkets, supermarkets, convenience stores, clubhouse stores, and department stores dominate merchandise sales. The benefits of offline retail include immediate product customization and inspection. Despite the revenue decline due to online shopping trends, retailers are expanding their physical stores in local and regional markets to boost customer participation. Additionally, the rise of personalized gift outlets in shopping malls and hypermarkets is fueling sales of photo products and merchandise. The supply chain network enhancements enable offline retail to act as a catalyst for market growth. Download complimentary Sample Report to gain insights into AI's impact on market dynamics, emerging trends, and future opportunities- including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2018 - 2022) The TV and movie merchandise market is a vibrant and expansive industry, encompassing a wide range of products that cater to fans of all ages. From toys and action figures to apparel, collectibles, comic books, and artwork, there's something for every fan. Home décor and accessories are also popular choices, allowing fans to bring the magic of their favorite shows and movies into their homes. Kids can enjoy dressed up in costumes or playing with video games, while licensed sellers offer official merchandise on both online shopping websites and offline retailers. The market is constantly expanding with e-commerce growth, ensuring fans have easy access to their desired products. Product quality, health, and environmental protection are increasingly important considerations, with some companies offering plant-based products and eco-friendly packaging. Movie/show scripts are also available for fans who want to delve deeper into their favorite stories. The TV and movie merchandise market is a dynamic and expansive industry encompassing various product categories such as Toys, Apparel, Collectibles, Comic books, Action figures, Artwork, Home décor, Accessories, Video games, and more. Catering to both Kids and Adults, this marketplace thrives on the popularity of streaming services, social media, and ecommerce platforms. Nostalgia-driven merchandise continues to be in high demand, fueled by the collectibles market and fans' desire for authenticity. Counterfeiting poses a challenge, while marketing costs remain high. Costumes, movie/show scripts, and licensed sellers are integral components, with online shopping websites and offline retailers catering to diverse purchasing habits. Fan interaction, celebrity endorsement, and community engagement drive sales, but oversaturation, storage constraints, and preservation requirements are challenges. Authenticity skepticism, viral sensations, and cultural phenomena influence buying trends, with collectors embracing e-commerce expansion and prioritizing product quality, health, and environmental protection. Smart home products, wearables, and fast delivery options further enhance the shopping experience. 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation Application Offline Retail Online Retail Product Apparel Toys Accessories Video Games Others Geography North America Europe APAC South America Middle East And Africa 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Company Landscape 11 Company Analysis 12 Appendix Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE TechnavioAlbany teachers and district officials have yet to land a deal on a new contract, as the strike enters its third week. However, there was movement over the key issue of managing class size over the weekend. Last week we introduced Dusty Bryant, who police evicted from Albany's designated resting site for homeless individuals. This week, we check in to see what's happening with Dusty. In mediation updates released Sunday night, Nov. 24, by Greater Albany Public Schools, the district’s communications director Becca Mallery said the district had offered teachers a class size fund of $500,000 per year. That's up from their $300,000 offer. That fund could be tapped to staff up classrooms like by adding an educational assistant or hiring another teacher, which the district estimates would cost GAPS around $100,000. The union had previously asked for a $1.5 million fund, though late last week lowered their ask to $500,000 for the first year of any approved contract, while demanding a $1.5 million fund for the second and third years of an agreement. The GAPS bargaining team has also offered lower class size thresholds for its pre-k through eighth grade classes for core subjects like English, math and social studies. The district offered lower thresholds for Title 1 or higher poverty schools in the district. Striking teachers at West Albany High School and Memorial Middle School formed picket lines along Queen Avenue, on Nov. 12. The strike has entered its third week. Those thresholds, when surpassed, would prompt a review process from a school building committee, which would make recommendation on how to address a classroom’s size, with options like hiring additional staff and blending classrooms on the table. Those recommendations would be presented to the district’s Human Resources director, other district officials and the union’s president, who will all ultimately decide how funds are spent. Appeals to their decisions would go before the superintendent and then the school board, which would have the final say. The union has previously requested hard class size caps and has tied the issue of high-class sizes to classroom safety and challenges managing student behavior. In their own statement, the Greater Albany Education Association said “small progress” was made over the weekend, but that the process offered by the district to address class size concerns "restricts teacher voice and choice." No mediation was scheduled for Monday, Nov. 25. While the district’s nearly 9,000 students were scheduled to be off this week for parent-teacher conferences and the Thanksgiving break, conferences were canceled because of the strike. GAPS students will have been out of school for a total of three weeks since Nov. 11, missing nine school days. Albany teachers started their first strike in decades on Nov. 12 , after Veterans Day. Since then, organizations like the Boys & Girls Club of Albany have seen an uptick in demand for their services. According to an update from Albany City Manager Peter Troedsson last Friday, the school closure has also driven demand for Albany Public Library services, with staff creating 93 new accounts since the strike began — 30 of which are youth accounts — and experiencing a doubling in youth program participants. With no deal over the weekend, teachers were back at their picket lines, Monday, Nov. 25. Striking teachers also scheduled community forums Monday evening at the Linn-Benton Community College Calapooia Center at the Albany campus. Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
As open enrollment for Affordable Care Act plans continues through Jan. 15, you’re likely seeing fewer social media ads promising monthly cash cards worth hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars that you can use for groceries, medical bills, rent and other expenses. But don’t worry. You haven’t missed out on any windfalls. Clicking on one of those ads would not have provided you with a cash card — at least not worth hundreds or thousands. But you might have found yourself switched to a health insurance plan you did not authorize, unable to afford treatment for an unforeseen medical emergency, and owing thousands of dollars to the IRS, according to an ongoing lawsuit against companies and individuals who plaintiffs say masterminded the ads and alleged scams committed against millions of people who responded to them. The absence of those once-ubiquitous ads are likely a result of the federal government suspending access to the ACA marketplace for two companies that market health insurance out of South Florida offices, amid accusations they used “fraudulent” ads to lure customers and then switched their insurance plans and agents without their knowledge. In its suspension letter, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) cited “credible allegations of misconduct” in the agency’s decision to suspend the abilities of two companies — TrueCoverage (doing business as Inshura) and BenefitAlign — to transact information with the marketplace. CMS licenses and monitors agencies that use their own websites and information technology platforms to enroll health insurance customers in ACA plans offered in the federal marketplace. The alleged scheme affected millions of consumers, according to a lawsuit winding its way through U.S. District Court in Fort Lauderdale that seeks class-action status. An amended version of the suit, filed in August, increased the number of defendants from six to 12: — TrueCoverage LLC, an Albuquerque, New Mexico-based health insurance agency with large offices in Miami, Miramar and Deerfield Beach. TrueCoverage is a sub-tenant of the South Florida Sun Sentinel in a building leased by the newspaper in Deerfield Beach. — Enhance Health LLC, a Sunrise-based health insurance agency that the lawsuit says was founded by Matthew Herman, also named as a defendant, with a $150 million investment from hedge fund Bain Capital’s insurance division. Bain Capital Insurance Fund LP is also a defendant. — Speridian Technologies LLC, accused in the lawsuit of establishing two direct enrollment platforms that provided TrueCoverage and other agencies access to the ACA marketplace. — Benefitalign LLC, identified in the suit as one of the direct enrollment platforms created by Speridian. Like Speridian and TrueCoverage, the company is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. — Number One Prospecting LLC, doing business as Minerva Marketing, based in Fort Lauderdale, and its founder, Brandon Bowsky, accused of developing the social media ads that drove customers — or “leads” — to the health insurance agencies. — Digital Media Solutions LLC, doing business as Protect Health, a Miami-based agency that the suit says bought Minerva’s “fraudulent” ads. In September, the company filed for Chapter 11 protection from creditors in United States Bankruptcy Court in Texas, which automatically suspended claims filed against the company. — Net Health Affiliates Inc., an Aventura-based agency the lawsuit says was associated with Enhance Health and like it, bought leads from Minerva. — Garish Panicker, identified in the lawsuit as half-owner of Speridian Global Holdings and day-to-day controller of companies under its umbrella, including TrueCoverage, Benefitalign and Speridian Technologies. — Matthew Goldfuss, accused by the suit of overseeing and directing TrueCoverage’s ACA enrollment efforts. All of the defendants have filed motions to dismiss the lawsuit. The motions deny the allegations and argue that the plaintiffs failed to properly state their claims and lack the standing to file the complaints. The Sun Sentinel sent requests for comment and lists of questions about the cases to four separate law firms representing separate groups of defendants. Three of the law firms — one representing Brandon Bowsky and Number One Prospecting LLC d/b/a Minerva Marketing, and two others representing Net Health Affiliates Inc. and Bain Capital Insurance Fund — did not respond to the requests. A representative of Enhance Health LLC and Matthew Herman, Olga M. Vieira of the Miami-based firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP, responded with a short message saying she was glad the newspaper knew a motion to dismiss the charges had been filed by the defendants. She also said that, “Enhance has denied all the allegations as reported previously in the media.” Catherine Riedel, a communications specialist representing TrueCoverage LLC, Benefitalign LLC, Speridian Technologies LLC, Girish Panicker and Matthew Goldfuss, issued the following statement: “TrueCoverage takes these allegations very seriously and is responding appropriately. While we cannot comment on ongoing litigation, we strongly believe that the allegations are baseless and without merit. “Compliance is our business. The TrueCoverage team records and reviews every call with a customer, including during Open Enrollment when roughly 500 agents handle nearly 30,000 calls a day. No customer is enrolled into any policy without a formal verbal consent given by the customer. If any customer calls in as a result of misleading content presented by third-party marketing vendors, agents are trained to correct such misinformation and action is taken against such third-party vendors.” Through Riedel, the defendants declined to answer follow-up questions, including whether the company remains in business, whether it continues to enroll Affordable Care Act clients, and whether it is still operating its New Mexico call center using another affiliated technology platform. The suspension notification from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services letter cites several factors, including the histories of noncompliance and previous suspensions. The letter noted suspicion that TrueCoverage and Benefitalign were storing consumers’ personally identifiable information in databases located in India and possibly other overseas locations in violation of the centers’ rules. The letter also notes allegations against the companies in the pending lawsuit that “they engaged in a variety of illegal practices, including violations of the (Racketeer Influenced & Corrupt Organizations, or RICO Act), misuse of consumer (personal identifiable information) and insurance fraud.” The amended lawsuit filed in August names as plaintiffs five individuals who say their insurance plans were changed and two agencies who say they lost money when they were replaced as agents. The lawsuit accuses the defendants of 55 counts of wrongdoing, ranging from running ads offering thousands of dollars in cash that they knew would never be provided directly to consumers, switching millions of consumers into different insurance policies without their authorization, misstating their household incomes to make them eligible for $0 premium coverage, and “stealing” commissions by switching the agents listed in their accounts. TrueCoverage, Enhance Health, Protect Health, and some of their associates “engaged in hundreds of thousands of agent-of-record swaps to steal other agents’ commissions,” the suit states. “Using the Benefitalign and Inshura platforms, they created large spreadsheet lists of consumer names, dates of birth and zip codes.” They provided those spreadsheets to agents, it says, and instructed them to access platforms linked to the ACA marketplace and change the customers’ agents of record “without telling the client or providing informed consent.” “In doing so, they immediately captured the monthly commissions of agents ... who had originally worked with the consumers directly to sign them up,” the lawsuit asserts. TrueCoverage employees who complained about dealing with prospects who called looking for cash cards were routinely chided by supervisors who told them to be vague and keep making money, the suit says. When the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services began contacting the company in January about customer complaints, the suit says TrueCoverage enrollment supervisor Matthew Goldfuss sent an email instructing agents “do not respond.” The lawsuit states the “scheme” was made possible in 2021 when Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in the wake of the COVID pandemic. The act made it possible for Americans with household incomes between 100% and 150% of the federal poverty level to pay zero in premiums and it enabled those consumers to enroll in ACA plans all year round, instead of during the three-month open enrollment period from November to January. Experienced health insurance brokers recognized the opportunity presented by the changes, the lawsuit says. More than 40 million Americans live within 100% and 150% of the federal poverty level, while only 15 million had ACA insurance at the time. The defendants developed or benefited from online ads, the lawsuit says, which falsely promised “hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars per month in cash benefits such as subsidy cards to pay for common expenses like rent, groceries, and gas.” Consumers who clicked on the ads were brought to a landing page that asked a few qualifying questions, and if their answers suggested that they might qualify for a low-cost or no-cost plan, they were provided a phone number to a health insurance agency. There was a major problem with the plan, according to the lawsuit. “Customers believe they are being routed to someone who will send them a free cash card, not enroll them in health insurance.” By law, the federal government sends subsidies for ACA plans to insurance companies, and not to individual consumers. Scripts were developed requiring agents not to mention a cash card, and if a customer mentions a cash card, “be vague” and tell the caller that only the insurance carrier can provide that information, the lawsuit alleges. In September, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the claims. In addition to denying the charges, they argued that the class plaintiffs lacked the standing to make the accusations and failed to demonstrate that they suffered harm. The motion also argued that the lawsuit’s accusations failed to meet requirements necessary to claim civil violations of the RICO Act. Miami-based attorney Jason Kellogg, representing the plaintiffs, said he doesn’t expect a ruling on the motion to dismiss the case for several months. The complaint also lists nearly 50 companies, not named as defendants, that it says fed business to TrueCoverage and Enhance Health. Known in the industry as “downlines,” most operate in office parks throughout South Florida, the lawsuit says. The lawsuit quotes former TrueCoverage employees complaining about having to work with customers lured by false cash promises in the online ads. A former employee who worked in the company’s Deerfield Beach office was quoted in the lawsuit as saying that senior TrueCoverage and Speridian executives “knew that consumers were calling in response to the false advertisements promising cash cards and they pressured agents to use them to enroll consumers into ACA plans.” A former human resources manager for TrueCoverage said sales agents frequently complained “that they did not feel comfortable having to mislead consumers,” the lawsuit said. Over two dozen agents “came to me with these complaints and showed me the false advertisements that consumers who called in were showing them,” the lawsuit quoted the former manager as saying. For much of the time the companies operated, the ACA marketplace enabled agents to easily access customer accounts using their names and Social Security numbers, change their insurance plans and switch their agents of record without their knowledge or authorization, the lawsuit says. This resulted in customers’ original agents losing their commissions and many of the policyholders finding out they suddenly owed far more for health care services than their original plans had required, the suit states. It says that one of the co-plaintiffs’ health plans was changed at least 22 times without her consent. She first discovered that she had lost her original plan when she sought to renew a prescription for her heart condition and her doctor told her she did not have health insurance, the suit states. Another co-plaintiff’s policy was switched after her husband responded to one of the cash card advertisements, the lawsuit says. That couple’s insurance plan was switched multiple times after a TrueCoverage agent excluded the wife’s income from an application so the couple would qualify. Later, they received bills from the IRS for $4,300 to cover tax credits issued to pay for the plans. CMS barred TrueCoverage and BenefitAlign from accessing the ACA marketplace. It said it received more than 90,000 complaints about unauthorized plan switches and more than 183,500 complaints about unauthorized enrollments, but the agency did not attribute all of the complaints to activities by the two companies. In addition, CMS restricted all agents’ abilities to alter policyholders’ enrollment information, the lawsuit says. Now access is allowed only for agents that already represent policyholders or if the policyholder participates in a three-way call with an agent and a marketplace employee. Between June and October, the agency barred 850 agents and brokers from accessing the marketplace “for reasonable suspicion of fraudulent or abusive conduct related to unauthorized enrollments or unauthorized plan switches,” according to an . The changes resulted in a “dramatic and sustained drop” in unauthorized activity, including a nearly 70% decrease in plan changes associated with an agent or broker and a nearly 90% decrease in changes to agent or broker commission information, the release said. It added that while consumers were often unaware of such changes, the opportunity to make them provided “significant financial incentive for non-compliant agents and brokers.” But CMS’ restrictions might be having unintended consequences for law-abiding agents and brokers. A story on Nov. 11 quoted the president of the Health Agents for America (HAFA) trade group as saying agents are being suspended by CMS after being flagged by a mysterious algorithm that no one can figure out. The story quotes HAFA president Ronnell Nolan as surmising, “maybe they wrote too many policies on the same day for people who have the same income or they’re writing too many policies on people of a certain occupation.” Nolan continued, “We have members who have thousands of ACA clients. They can’t update or renew their clients. So those consumers have lost access to their professional agent, which is simply unfair.”Steelers star T.J. Watt resistant to position switch, insider says
The holidays have brought an extra dose of joy to the family of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore . Their daughter Tallulah Willis recently announced her engagement to musician Justin Acee . The 30-year-old shared the exciting news on social media, giving followers a glimpse of the stunning engagement ring that seals their commitment. Justin Acee popped the question during a cozy stay at his family home in Idaho. Though Tallulah kept many details of the proposal private, a video shared by Justin offered a look at the heartwarming setup. The room was adorned with a trail of red rose petals illuminated by candles, leading to a fireplace where Justin got down on one knee to profess his love. Of course, Tallulah said yes! The newly engaged couple marked the occasion with photos, including a close-up of her engagement ring—a diamond band set in yellow gold that Tallulah proudly displayed in her post. She captioned her gallery of images simply with the words "every day" and tagged her new fiancé. Jennifer Garner sparks engagement rumors with new ring Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco are getting married! Here's an estimate of her engagement ring Simone Biles: all about the engagement ring valued at more than 300 thousand dollars A Family Filled With Love The Willis-Moore family was quick to celebrate the happy news. Rumer Willis , Tallulah's older sister, expressed her joy with a heartfelt comment: "The most beautiful love to witness and watch grow. I love you both so much. Justin I’m so lucky I get to call you my brother. Baby Lula my gift my queen my heart is so full. Obsessed with you both." Rumer also shared a congratulatory photo of the couple on her Instagram Stories. At the same time, middle sister Scout Willis chimed in with her excitement, posting: "My angels are engaged," along with a ring and crying face emoji. A Second Chance at Forever This isn't the first time Tallulah has celebrated an engagement. In 2021, she was briefly engaged to Dillon Buss , who proposed with an emerald-cut diamond ring. While that chapter didn't lead to forever, Justin's thoughtful proposal and the similarities in her new ring reflect her enduring tastes and readiness to embrace love again. As the family gathers to celebrate the holidays, they now have one more reason to toast to joy and togetherness. Congratulations to Tallulah and Justin on this exciting new chapter! Can Bruce Willis attend their wedding? In December 2024, Demi Moore opened up about Bruce Willis' health. The "Substance" star gave an update on her ex-husband's aphasia diagnosis, whichled him to have frontotemporal dementia. The former couple, which remained close following their split, share three daughters, 36-year-old Rumer, 33-year-old Scout, and 30-year-old Tallulah. "Given the givens, he's in a very stable place at the moment," the actress revealed during an interview with CNN . "And I've shared this before, but I really mean this so sincerely: It's so important for anybody who's dealing with this to really meet them where they're at," she added. "And from that place, there is such loving and joy," Demi said, explaining that his health situation is "very difficult" and "not what I would wish upon anyone," as it also comes with a "great loss." "But there is also great beauty and gifts that can come out of it," the actress declared. "That has been very important to me even from when Bruce and I separated and divorced, is the recognition that we're a family, and we'll always be a family, just in a different form," she said. .(All times Eastern) Schedule subject to change and/or blackouts Wednesday, Dec. 25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S) 1:30 p.m. ESPNU — Diamond Head Classic: Loyola of Chicago vs. Murray St., Seventh-Place Game, Honolulu 3:30 p.m. ESPNU — Diamond Head Classic: Charleston vs. Charlotte, Fifth-Place Game, Honolulu 6:30 p.m. ESPN2 — Diamond Head Classic: Oakland vs. Hawaii, Third-Place Game, Honolulu 8:30 p.m. ESPN2 — Diamond Head Classic: Oregon St. vs. Nebraska, Championship, Honolulu NBA BASKETBALL Noon ABC — San Antonio at New York ESPN — San Antonio at New York 2:30 p.m. ABC — Minnesota at Dallas ESPN — Minnesota at Dallas 5 p.m. ABC — Philadelphia at Boston ESPN — Philadelphia at Boston 8 p.m. ABC — L.A. Lakers at Golden State ESPN — L.A. Lakers at Golden State 10:30 p.m. ABC — Denver at Phoenix ESPN — Denver at Phoenix NFL FOOTBALL 1 p.m. NETFLIX — Kansas City at Pittsburgh 4:30 p.m. NETFLIX — Baltimore at Houston The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive TV listings provided by LiveSportsOnTV .Tiger Woods makes Hero World Challenge decision sure to disappoint fans
London honored for supporting student mental health and eliminating barriers to care NATICK, Mass. , Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Boston Business Journal honored Uwill founder and CEO Michael London as part of its 2025 Innovators in Healthcare list . Honorees represent a cross-section of Boston -based innovators addressing some of the most urgent and pressing challenges in the health care industry. London is the founding CEO of Uwill , the leading mental health and wellness solution proudly supporting more than 3 million students at 400 institutions globally. Utilizing its proprietary technology and counselor team, Uwill pioneered the first student and therapist matching platform. The solution offers an immediate appointment with a licensed counselor based on student preferences, all modalities of teletherapy, a direct crisis connection, wellness programming, realtime data, and support. "It's truly an honor to be recognized among this incredible group of innovators," said Michael London , Uwill founder and CEO. "At Uwill, our mission is to break down barriers to mental health care, delivering immediate and accessible support to students worldwide. This recognition reflects more than innovation—it underscores our unwavering commitment to addressing a vital need for students everywhere." London is a recognized thought-leader and pioneer within social impact entrepreneurship, having created more than one billion dollars in company value throughout his career. In 2013, he founded Examity, a leader in learning validation and online proctoring. Prior, London led Bloomberg Institute, an EdTech start-up funded by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg . Earlier in his career, he founded College Coach and co-founded EdAssist, both acquired by Bright Horizons Family Solutions. In 2019, he was a finalist for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award and held a position on the Massachusetts Governor's Commission for Digital Education and Lifelong Learning. Michael is a current Trustee at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. He is a Member of the Advisory Board at Babson College where he graduated with honors. He also received his MBA from Boston University . About Uwill: Uwill is the leading mental health and wellness solution for colleges and students. As the most cost-effective way to enhance a college's mental health offering, Uwill partners with more than 400 institutions, including Princeton University , the Ohio State University , Santa Fe Community College , and University of Alabama - Online. Uwill is also the exclusive teletherapy education partner for the Online Learning Consortium and teletherapy education partner of NASPA. For more information, visit uwill.com . Contact: Brett Silk bsilk@uwill.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/uwill-founder--ceo-michael-london-named-innovator-in-healthcare-302338655.html SOURCE Uwill, IncHigh schools Monday: Ella Pelletier leads Oxford Hills to girls basketball win
California urges Buttigeg to grant last-minute cash for LA-SF bullet train as DOGE loomsIndiQube Spaces Ltd. filed its preliminary papers with capital markets regulator SEBI on Tuesday to raise up to Rs 850 crore via an initial public offering. The public offer will include an offer for sale of up to Rs 100 crore and fresh issue worth Rs 750 crore. Rishi Das and Meghna Agarwal are the promoters of the company offloading shares in the OFS, according to the draft red herring prospectus. The equity shares are proposed to be listed on the National Stock Exchange and BSE. ICICI Securities Ltd. and JM Financial Ltd. are the book-running lead managers for the issue and Link Intime India Pvt. will be the registrar of the issue. The Bengaluru-based company may consider raising Rs 150 crore as a pre-IPO placement. If such placement is completed, the fresh issue size will be reduced. The co-working space firm will use Rs 462.7 crore to fund establishment of new centres and Rs 100 crore for pre-payment in full or part of certain borrowings availed by the company. The amount pending will be used for general corporate purposes. The company, founded in 2015, is backed by WestBridge Capital and individual investors Ashish Gupta. The firm, as of June 30, has managed 103 centers across 13 cities with a portfolio of 7.76 million sq. ft. of built-up area. The clientele includes global capability centres, unicorns, Indian corporates and startups like Zerodha, NoBroker, Redbus and Siemens. "Markets such as Chennai, Bengaluru, and Pune emerged as best-performing cities among Tier I cities in terms of current vacancy levels during the first half of 2024," it said in its DRHP. The company has reported a revenue of Rs 867.6 crore in financial year 2024 up from Rs 601.2 crore in financial year 2023. Its operating income, or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation was at Rs 263.4 crore.
Daines, Zinke secure priorities in EXPLORE actNot having big expectations isn’t always a bad thing. The pressure was amplified last year as North Ridgeville was the preseason favorite to win the Southwestern Conference. Because of injuries and ultimately the pressure, the Rangers fell short and finished fifth in the SWC with an overall record of 13-10. Ridgeville needed to replace four starters this offseason, including its talented three-man senior class. Now without the preseason expectations, the Rangers will fly under the radar and are poised for a bounce-back year. “It’s nice not having the expectation and the target on our back,” North Ridgeville coach Ben Chase said. “I feel like the last two years, the pressure on the kids, not to mention from outside, getting picked to win the league. Our kids knew that if you’re getting picked to win the league, you can’t lose. That created a lot of pressure.” North Ridgeville had star players Jake Boynar and Griffin Turay to rely on over the past two seasons. There isn’t a go-to guy on this year’s squad. However, the Rangers have strong depth and several players who can produce. This version of the Rangers has size and athleticism. Additionally, Chase says this is the smartest team he has coached in his four years at the helm. “I think people might underestimate us a little bit,” Chase said. “But if you watch us practice and watch us scrimmage, those kids have really good chemistry, which is exciting. When I took over as the head coach, these were the freshmen that came in. This is four years of hard work for these kids and they’re excited to show what they can do.” Last year’s SWC race came down to the final game as Elyria edged Berea-Midpark for the outright title. Those two teams are slated to be at the top once again. But everything else is wide open. The Rangers drew the short straw losing as much production as they did, but they expect to be in it this year. Owen Pawul is the lone returning starter and Charlie Steinmetz also played significant minutes. The Rangers’ ceiling this year hinges on the others who will have expanded roles. Miller has waited for his chance to become the point guard, and he has now earned that spot. Fellow seniors Dean Ighneim, Brett Lienerth and Ndeh Tuma all return along with junior Cole Miller and sophomore Luke Rowe. “I’ve been playing with these guys as long as I can remember,” Miller said. “We have such good ball movement right now, you can see it every practice. This team just seems special, we work really well together.” Depending on how teams fit together, not having a main option can ruin a season. That won’t be the case here. It’s to the Rangers’ benefit to not have a go-to scorer because what could make this team special is the ball movement. There not be a target on their backs this year, but there’s still a program standard to maintain. Last season’s struggles have motivated this group. “You’ll always face injuries, you’ll always face adversity,” Steinmetz said. “You just have to work together as a team through those moments and keep going. I would say we have a lot of guys that can move the ball, are fast and hard-working. I feel like we all can share the ball and make some plays for the team.” North Ridgeville opens up its season against Lorain at Midview’s DiFranco Classic on Nov. 27. It will be an early test for the new-look Rangers to go up against the Titans’ athleticism. A new era starts with a new mentality for the Rangers. “We are just continuing to tell them ‘process over results’,” Chase said. “I feel like we talked about the result a little too much over the past couple of years because there of the expectations. We’re really just focusing on making sure that we’re doing everything we do to the best of our ability and at the highest level.”
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