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MONTREAL , Dec. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - SRTX, a leader in material innovation and manufacturing, announced the launch of SRTX Origins , a first-of-its-kind incubator program designed to empower material startups with the tools and resources they need to succeed. SRTX Origins will provide groundbreaking startups with tailored support—including pre-paid purchase orders, manufacturing resources, or expert collaboration—based on their individual needs to reach the next stage of their growth and innovation. "At SRTX, we're not just tinkering at the edges of the apparel industry—we're rebuilding it," said Katherine Homuth , CEO of SRTX. "With SRTX Origins, we're creating the kind of platform I wish I'd had in my early days as a founder. It's not just about supporting new ideas—it's about creating the infrastructure for a truly sustainable future. For investors and innovators alike, this is where bold ideas turn into scalable businesses." The first startup to join SRTX Origins is MycoTMFutures , a company developing a sustainable leather alternative made from mycelium—the root system of fungi. After hearing Homuth speak at the MaRS Women in Cleantech event, MycoTMFutures co-founder Stephanie Lipp pitched her idea for mycelium leather over coffee at Toronto's Soho House. By the end of the day, SRTX committed $100,000 in pre-paid purchase orders, offered manufacturing space at their Montreal facility, and began collaborating to launch Myco's first product. "When I met Stephanie, her samples blew me away—but what stood out most was her grit and readiness to move fast," said Homuth. "I've been that founder, needing real help but getting polite 'nos' instead. So instead of vague advice or endless hoops, we decided to show up with real support. Three weeks later, Myco is already scaling production and launching its first product on the back of receiving their first official commercial order—a milestone that signals to investors and partners that this is just the beginning." "SRTX Origins gave us the lifeline we needed to bring Myco Futures to the next level," said Stephanie Lipp , co-founder of Myco Futures. "Their belief in our vision, paired with hands-on support, has allowed us to move faster than we ever thought possible." SRTX Origins is now accepting interest from startups ready to transform industries through sustainable material science. For investors looking to back innovation with real momentum, SRTX Origins offers a unique opportunity to partner with the pioneers building the materials of tomorrow. With the launch of this program, SRTX continues to champion innovation, collaboration, and infrastructure-building that drives the next generation of materials. Be among the first to experience the future of sustainable materials and pre-order the Myco Travel Pouch by SRTX today . About SRTX SRTX is a material innovation company committed to revolutionizing industries through cutting-edge technologies and sustainable solutions. With a focus on rebuilding the apparel and material industries, SRTX combines advanced manufacturing, science-driven design, and a deep commitment to empowering the next generation of innovators. About Myco Futures MycoTMFutures is a sustainable materials startup developing leather alternatives made from mycelium, the root system of fungi. With a focus on innovation, sustainability, and quality, MycoTMFutures aims to transform the material industry with scalable, eco-friendly solutions. SOURCE SRTX Inc.DENVER , Dec. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - The Board of Trustees (the "Board") of Principal Real Estate Income Fund (the "Fund"), announced today that it has approved a renewal of the Fund's share repurchase program. Under the share repurchase program, the Fund may purchase up to approximately 2.1% of its outstanding common shares beginning January 21, 2025 , in the open market, until January 21, 2026 . As part of its evaluation of options to enhance shareholder value, the Board has authorized ALPS Advisors, Inc. (the "Advisor") to repurchase the Fund's common shares at such times and in such amounts as the Advisor reasonably believes may enhance shareholder value. The Board and the Advisor continually analyze options to enhance shareholder value and potentially reduce the discount between the market price of the Fund's common share and the net asset value per share ("NAV"). The Board and the Advisor believe that the share repurchase program may further these goals because the program allows the Fund to acquire its shares in the open market at a discount to NAV, which will increase the NAV and thereby benefit remaining shareholders while potentially providing additional liquidity in the trading of the fund shares. The Board will monitor the repurchase program and will continue to consider strategic options to enhance shareholder value in the long-term. The Fund's repurchase program will be implemented on a discretionary basis under the direction of the Advisor. There is no assurance that the Fund will purchase shares at any specific discount level or in any specific amount or that the market price of the Fund's shares will increase as a result of any share repurchases. RISKS An investment in the Fund is not appropriate for all investors and is not intended to be a complete investment program. The Fund is designed as a long-term investment and not as a trading vehicle. Investing in the Fund involves risks, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment or that you may lose part or even all of your investment and exposure to below-investment grade investments (i.e., "junk bonds"). The Fund's net asset value will vary and its distribution rate may vary and both may be affected by numerous factors, including changes in the market spread over a specified benchmark, market interest rates and performance of the broader equity markets. Fluctuations in net asset value may be magnified as a result of the Fund's use of leverage. Therefore, before investing you should carefully consider the risks that you assume when you invest in the Fund's common shares. Securities backed by commercial real estate assets are subject to market risks similar to those of direct ownership of commercial real estate assets including, but not limited to, declines in the value of real estate, declines in rental or occupancy rates and risks related to general and local economic conditions. The Fund's investment objectives and policies are not designed to seek to return the initial investment to investors that purchase shares. An investor should consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. To obtain an annual report or semi-annual report which contains this and other information visit www.principalcef.com or call 855.838.9485. Please read them carefully before investing . Shares of closed-end investment companies frequently trade at a discount from their net asset value and initial offering prices. NOT FDIC INSURED | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee The Fund is a closed-end fund and does not continuously issue shares for sale as open-end mutual funds do. Since the initial public offering, the Fund now trades in the secondary market. Investors wishing to buy or sell shares need to place orders through an intermediary or broker. The share price of a closed-end fund is based on the market's value. ALPS Advisors, Inc. is the investment adviser to the Fund. Principal Real Estate Investors LLC is the investment sub-adviser to the Fund. Principal Real Estate Investors LLC is not affiliated with ALPS Advisors, Inc. or any of its affiliates. ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. is the FINRA Member firm. About SS&C Technologies SS&C is a global provider of services and software for the financial services and healthcare industries. Founded in 1986, SS&C is headquartered in Windsor, Connecticut , and has offices around the world. Some 20,000 financial services and healthcare organizations, from the world's largest companies to small and mid-market firms, rely on SS&C for expertise, scale, and technology. Additional information about SS&C (Nasdaq: SSNC) is available at www.ssctech.com . About SS&C ALPS Advisors SS&C ALPS Advisors, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SS&C Technologies, is a leading provider of investment products for advisors and institutions. With over $26.24 billion under management as of September 30, 2024 , SS&C ALPS Advisors is an open architecture boutique investment manager offering portfolio building blocks, active insight and an unwavering drive to guide clients to investment outcomes across sustainable income, thematic and alternative growth strategies. For more information, visit www.alpsfunds.com. About SS&C Technologies Principal Real Estate Investors manages or sub-advises $102 billion in commercial real estate assets, as of September 30, 2024 . The firm's real estate capabilities include both public and private equity and debt investment alternatives. Principal Real Estate Investors is the dedicated real estate group of Principal Global Investors, a diversified asset management organization and a member of the Principal Financial Group ® . PRE000436 12/18/2025 View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/principal-real-estate-income-fund-continues-share-repurchase-program-302335508.html SOURCE Principal Real Estate Income FundArsenal make Mikel Arteta proud after smashing Sporting LisbonChildren of the wealthy and connected get special admissions consideration at some elite U.S. universities, according to new filings in a class-action lawsuit originally brought against 17 schools. Georgetown’s then-president, for example, listed a prospective student on his “president’s list” after meeting her and her wealthy father at an Idaho conference known as “summer camp for billionaires,” according to Tuesday court filings in the price-fixing lawsuit filed in Chicago federal court in 2022. Although it’s always been assumed that such favoritism exists, the filings offer a rare peek at the often secret deliberations of university heads and admissions officials. They show how schools admit otherwise unqualified wealthy children because their parents have connections and could possibly donate large sums down the line, raising questions about fairness. Stuart Schmill, the dean of admissions at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, wrote in a 2018 email that the university admitted four out of six applicants recommended by then-board chairman Robert Millard, including two who “we would really not have otherwise admitted.” The two others were not admitted because they were “not in the ball park, or the push from him was not as strong.” In the email, Schmill said Millard was careful to play down his influence on admissions decisions, but he said the chair also sent notes on all six students and later met with Schmill to share insight “into who he thought was more of a priority.” The filings are the latest salvo in a lawsuit that claims that 17 of the nation’s most prestigious colleges colluded to reduce the competition for prospective students and drive down the amount of financial aid they would offer, all while giving special preference to the children of wealthy donors. “That illegal collusion resulted in the defendants providing far less aid to students than would have been provided in a free market,” said Robert Gilbert, an attorney for the plaintiffs. Since the lawsuit was filed, 10 of the schools have reached settlements to pay out a total of $284 million, including payments of up to $2,000 to current or former students whose financial aid might have been shortchanged over a period of more than two decades. They are Brown, the University of Chicago, Columbia, Dartmouth, Duke, Emory, Northwestern, Rice, Vanderbilt and Yale. Johns Hopkins is working on a settlement and the six schools still fighting the lawsuit are the California Institute of Technology, Cornell, Georgetown, MIT, Notre Dame and the University of Pennsylvania. MIT called the lawsuit and the claims about admissions favoritism baseless. “MIT has no history of wealth favoritism in its admissions; quite the opposite,” university spokesperson Kimberly Allen said. “After years of discovery in which millions of documents were produced that provide an overwhelming record of independence in our admissions process, plaintiffs could cite just a single instance in which the recommendation of a board member helped sway the decisions for two undergraduate applicants." In a statement, Penn also said the case is meritless that the evidence shows that it doesn't favor students whose families have donated or pledged money to the Ivy League school. “Plaintiffs’ whole case is an attempt to embarrass the University about its purported admission practices on issues totally unrelated to this case," the school said. Notre Dame officials also called the case baseless. “We are confident that every student admitted to Notre Dame is fully qualified and ready to succeed,” a university spokesperson said in a statement. The South Bend, Indiana, school, though, did apparently admit wealthy students with subpar academic backgrounds. According to the new court filings, Don Bishop, who was then associate vice president for enrollment at Notre Dame, bluntly wrote about the “special interest” admits in a 2012 email, saying that year's crop had poorer academic records than the previous year's. The 2012 group included 38 applicants who were given a “very low” academic rating, Bishop wrote. He said those students represented “massive allowances to the power of the family connections and funding history,” adding that “we allowed their high gifting or potential gifting to influence our choices more this year than last year.” The final line of his email: “Sure hope the wealthy next year raise a few more smart kids!” Some of the examples pointed to in this week's court filings showed that just being able to pay full tuition would give students an advantage. During a deposition, a former Vanderbilt admissions director said that in some cases, a student would get an edge on the waitlist if they didn’t need financial aid. The 17 schools were part of a decades-old group that got permission from Congress to come up with a shared approach to awarding financial aid. Such an arrangement might otherwise violate antitrust laws, but Congress allowed it as long as the colleges all had need-blind admissions policies, meaning they wouldn't consider a student’s financial situation when deciding who gets in. The lawsuit argues that many colleges claimed to be need-blind but routinely favored the children of alumni and donors. In doing so, the suit says, the colleges violated the Congressional exemption and tainted the entire organization. The group dissolved in recent years when the provision allowing the collaboration expired. The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org .
HCA Healthcare Inc. stock rises Monday, still underperforms market
Kylie Robison is ’s senior reporter covering artificial intelligence. Previously, she worked at , where she covered Twitter; before that, she covered software developer culture (“a beat,” she says, “I made up and loved”) for . “I’ve always been obsessed with technology in an extremely online way,” she adds, “and is filled with people who are on the same wavelength.” We asked Kylie to tell us a bit about her home office setup. It is! I live in a studio, but when I tell people that, they say it’s a bit too big to be called that, so my friends and I joke that it’s a studio deluxe. My living room is also my bedroom, I have a dining nook that I use for my office, and my kitchen is right behind me. It’s from Ikea. I wanted something adjustable in a light oak color, and it has great cable management stuff in the back. It’s a beat-to-death standard Amazon desk chair. I should probably upgrade soon... I just bought a that I adore. I have a Dell Ultra HD 4K Monitor (that’s no longer available) and an . I have no idea how long I’ve had either or where I even got them from. I have a pair of first-gen headphones. I have two pairs of . (One is a limited-edition pair.) Last but not least, a -mandated (they told me my Blue Yeti sucked). Thank you! , I actually have another in a different color depending on my mood. It’s a nice addition to add some color. That’s Kirby! A Nintendo character that holds all my Micron pens. I got that in college. I was raised by my mom, who didn’t go to college, which qualified me as a first-generation student. I got an achievement award thanks to my work for my student publication, , where I wrote about technology in covid times. I think it helped that I had an okay GPA, too. Yes! The old-school portrait is my grandma, aka the love of my life. There’s also my mom’s high-school portrait, where she wears a T-shirt that says “girls kick ass!” — probably my favorite photo up there. There’s my grandpa holding me as a baby, photos of my friends, my preschool class, my Burning Man ID, and a wood-burned Dril tweet. I saw it online, and it was the best impulse purchase of my life. So cool. Sometimes you need some little friends to get you through your days. I just think they’re cute! They’re also really popular with young women — I live by Japantown in San Francisco, so they’re easy for me to buy. That face is from ! There’s a lot of stuff throughout my house, might be my favorite video game ever. My shelves also have a 3D-printed Moo Deng, the ; a few signed books from the industry; a Lego Nezuko from ; my college degree; a pothos plant; an AI toy (that has yet to be mass released); the dried flowers from a friend’s celebration of life; an ice cream scoop that’s engraved “Slack scoop” to commemorate all my scoopin’— there’s a lot to love up there. That’s Fang! My grandpa likes to call him Fangster. Fun fact: I named him Fang on a whim, and four years after I got him, the vet said he was having teeth problems that would require the removal of quite a few. In the end, the only teeth he got to keep were his fangs. Weird, huh? Whoever sees this — don’t yell at me about my cord setup. I gave up so quickly. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers.
Award Winning Independent Agency Recognized for High Paced Growth ATLANTA , Dec. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Independent full-service advertising agency Chemistry has been recognized as one of Adweek's "2024 Fastest Growing Agencies" and as a 2025 "Agency of the Year" by Chief Marketer . With experimentation as the foundation of its methodology, the agency "blows up boring" with its rapid test-and-learn 'everything is an experiment' approach that embraces the state of constant evolution and learning. This led to massive market share wins and high cultural relevance for its clients, as well as an influx of new clients and organic growth for the agency. One of the agencies to be honored by Adweek on its list of Adweek's "Fastest Growing Agencies," Chemistry has been recognized for its significant revenue growth and its "willingness to dive headfirst into curiosity - and encourage clients to do the same" which Adweek notes has been a boon for business. Additionally, the agency has been recognized by Chief Marketer as a 2025 "Agency of the Year," as one of the top marketing and advertising firms worldwide. The agency's impressive growth rate in billings and staff, as well as work for top leading brands, were noted. With offices in Atlanta , Pittsburgh , New York , Miami , and Phoenix , the 173-person independent agency provides a comprehensive range of services, including creative, production, strategy, branding, design, social, research, analytics, media buying, web, and tech solutions. Already deeply respected for its creative work, Chemistry doubled down on its media offerings, including its proprietary Media Catalyst platform, which offers clients mark-up free programmatic plans, increasing their working budgets by as much as 40%. This resulted in Chemistry tripling its media revenue and introducing a slew of new media clients. The firm also grew its Hispanic arm, Chemistry Cultura, its digital arm, REACT, and its production unit, Test Tube Productions, which contributed to its massive growth. "We love a CMO that is ready to play offense, not defense, steal market share and kick some ass. It's time to embrace emerging technology and the new creative revolution. Too many brands are wasting money on boring ads that get no response. The smart CMOs find creative culture-shifting agencies, like Chemistry," said Tim Smith , President of Chemistry. "We squeeze creativity out of every discipline, so we learn quicker and blow shit up for our clients. We really appreciate Adweek and Chief Marketer recognizing our people for the work." MEDIA CONTACT : Caitlin Burke : caitlin@kempnercommunications.com 203-733-4085 About Chemistry : Chemistry ( www.Chemistryagency.com ) builds cultural brands with creative ideas that can't be ignored. The independent agency offers fully integrated advertising and marketing services for clients like Five Guys, Netflix, the NBA, and GoTo Foods. The shop has been named an Adweek Fastest Growing Agency, a Chief Marketer Agency of the Year, an Ad Age A-List Agency, a finalist for Campaign US' Independent Agency of the Year, and Adweek's Midsize Agency of the Year. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chemistry-named-a-2024-adweek-fastest-growing-agency-and-a-2025-chief-marketer-agency-of-the-year-302335506.html SOURCE ChemistryWith the prosecutor calling the case one of the most depraved of his career, Maurice Thomas was sentenced to 205 years to 252 years in prison Thursday. "In short, judge, Mr. Thomas is evil in the purest and simplest biblical sense of that word," Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Jason Cooper said first, calling for a life sentence. Maurice Thomas' attorney, Jon Braaten, stood on his denial of the allegations, opting not to say anything at sentencing. Thomas, 44, had faced a mandatory minimum term of 70 years on five felony charges for the sexual abuse of three young girls under the age of 10. Thomas Last month, a Lancaster County jury found him guilty of two counts of first-degree sexual assault of a child, one count of third-degree sexual assault of a child, generation and possession of visual depictions of child sexual abuse. People are also reading... Cooper, the prosecutor, said while Thomas, an eight-time convicted felon out of jail on bond for contributing to the delinquency of a minor, sexually assaulted 7-, 8- and 9-year-old girls multiple times over the course of a year just after being released for an 18- to 30-year prison sentence on theft and forgery charges. "These assaults were as cruel as they were relentless," he said. In court records, Lincoln police said that on May 30, 2023, an officer was flagged down in the street by the mother of three girls wanting to report the abuse. In an interview that followed at the BraveBe Child Advocacy Center, the oldest of the girls said the abuse had started a year earlier when Thomas asked her to kiss him and threatened to shoot her if she said no. In separate interviews, the girls described multiple incidents of sexual abuse at the hands of Thomas, a friend of the family. On Thursday, Cooper said Thomas offered some of the girls drugs or threatened them with violence and was found with hundreds of severely graphic images of sexual abuse on his phone. "And that's just trial," he said. Then there were the uncharged allegations. Thomas was accused of forcibly raping an 18-year-old woman, recording her while she cried and begged him to stop, and a 15-year-old runaway. He said one of Thomas's victims cried in a conference room months before trial, feeling the weight of the responsibility to protect her sisters. Another froze at the courtroom door at the thought of being in the same room with Thomas, "but bravely told the jury what happened." Cooper said, despite a jury finding Thomas guilty on all counts and Thomas being clearly depicted in videos committing several of the acts, Thomas takes no responsibility. In a presentence interview, Thomas said: "It's all lies." "I'm getting life for some s*** I didn't do," he reportedly said. Cooper called Thomas a serial child rapist and said he "did more damage in a year than most criminals can do in a lifetime." "He deserves much more than to spend the rest of his life in prison, so please don't give him anything less," he told Lancaster County District Judge Matthew Mellor. Mellor said there isn't much more nefarious than what Thomas has done. "What's even more signaling to this court ... is that you have never and will never take control of your sexual urges," the judge said, referring to Thomas making sexual advances on the female probation officer during his presentence interview. He said he is under no impression it would ever stop. "What weighs heaviest though is you've taken something from these victims that they'll never get back, and that's immeasurable," Mellor said, handing down the sentence. A woman in the front row clapped as guards moved to escort Thomas out. Top Journal Star photos for November 2024 Lincoln firefighter Andrew Brenner sprays water from the top of a ladder truck on to the roof of a former Village Inn at 29th and O streets Wednesday morning. Luca Gustafson, 6, rides to school Tuesday with the bike bus at Riley Elementary School. Each Tuesday, students can bike to school with adult chaperones along a specific route. Wahoo's Braylon Iversen celebrates with Warrior players after they defeated Auburn in a Class C-1 state semifinal game Friday in Wahoo. Lincoln Fire Fighters Association member Andy Evans works to assemble a headboard during a bed-building day hosted by Sleep in Heavenly Peace on Saturday at Hampton Enterprises. Volunteers helped build 20 beds for children in need. Second-time mother giraffe Allie nuzzles her new calf in the giraffe experience enclosure on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at the Lincoln Children's Zoo. Nebraska celebrates during the first set of the match against Minnesota on Thursday at the Devaney Sports Center. Iris Gonnerman, 8 (from right), her brother Oliver, 6, and cousin Noreen Milana, 9, wave flags while watching Veterans Parade outside the state Capitol on Sunday. Nebraska's Connor Essegian scores against Bethune-Cookma on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Covered by a canopy of changing leaves, a car cruises along A street in a neighborhood north of Downtown Lincoln on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. Mild temperatures continue into the mid weeks of November. Wednesday calls for a chance of rain showers before noon with gusty winds. Most days this week are expected to be accompanied by mostly sunny skies and consistent breezes. Norris' Anna Jelinek (left) lifts the the Class B championship trophy alongside Rya Borer on Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center. Lincoln Lutheran players embrace one another as threy celebrate defeating Thayer Central in four sets to win the Class C-2 championship match Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center. Superior players celebrate their three set win over EMF during the Class D-1 championship match Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center. Reflected in a ceiling beam, Leyton takes on Shelton in the first set of the Class D-2 championship match Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center. Omaha Skutt's Nicole Ott (left) and Addison West react after a point in the second set during a Class B semifinal match Friday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Hasan Khalil, owner of Golden Scissors, trims the beard of Vitaliy Martynyuk on Friday at his barbershop in Lincoln. Southwest fans Kylea Stritt (from left), Peg Rice, and Stacey Wilson cheer on their team as the "horsemen" during a Class D-1 first-round match Thursday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Millard West players dogpile on the floor after defeating Lincoln Southwest in five set match during a Class A first-round match Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Lincoln Southwest's Shelby Harding dives to save the ball from hitting the ground in the first set during a Class A first-round match Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Second graders Eli Gonzalez (left) and Shrutoshome Datta look at drawings that first and second grade students made at the Monster Jam Art Show on Wednesday at Elliott Elementary School. The elementary school students made drawings of monsters to be turned into different types of art by Lincoln High School students. Norris players celebrate a point against Lincoln Pius X in a Class B state volleyball tournament match, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer (right) talks with supporters, including Darlene Starman of Lincoln, at her campaign office on Tuesday in Lincoln. A cutout of Jesus watches over voters on Tuesday at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lincoln. Abigail Webb votes on Tuesday at F Street Community Center. Nebraska's Rollie Worster (24) shoots a layup while defended by Texas Rio Grande Valley's Marshal Destremau (left) and Trey Miller (right) on Nov. 4 at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Nebraska's Allison Weidner (left) autographs a poster for Freeman Public Schools student Godwil Muthiani, 12 (center), after the game against UNO on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Muthiani's sign says, "#3 Allison Weinder is the GOAT! Sorry I'm only 12." Nebraska Head Coach Matt Rhule speaks to an official after a targeting call on Nebraska during the first quarter of the game against UCLA on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. The call was overturned after review. Nebraska's Dante Dowdell scores against UCLA in the fourth quarter on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Cadet Elena Burgwald (left) and Cadet Mason Beck look up as a B-1B Lancer flies over Memorial Stadium before the UCLA game against Nebraska on Saturday. UCLA's K.J. Wallace (7) defends Nebraska's Jacory Barney (17) as he makes a diving 40-yard catch in the second quarter on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Lincoln Southeast quarterback Tre Bollen (left) and Tate Sandman react after losing a Class A football playoff game against Millard North on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at Seacrest Field. Millard North won 10-3. After the field clears, Norris' Jarrett Behrends (17) kicks his helmet after the Titans fell to Waverly 16-17 in a Class B football playoff game on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at Waverly High School. A line of people waiting to vote has been normal at the Lancaster County Election Commission Office at 601 N. 46th St., as it was Friday afternoon. The office will be open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to allow voters to cast an early ballot. If they wait until Election Day, they will need to go to their precinct or drop off their ballots at one of five drop boxes across the city. For more stories about about Tuesday's election, go to Journalstar.com . Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Courts reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Children of the wealthy and connected get special admissions consideration at some elite U.S. universities, according to new filings in a class-action lawsuit originally brought against 17 schools. Georgetown’s then-president, for example, listed a prospective student on his “president’s list” after meeting her and her wealthy father at an Idaho conference known as “summer camp for billionaires,” according to Tuesday court filings in the price-fixing lawsuit filed in Chicago federal court in 2022. Although it’s always been assumed that such favoritism exists, the filings offer a rare peek at the often secret deliberations of university heads and admissions officials. They show how schools admit otherwise unqualified wealthy children because their parents have connections and could possibly donate large sums down the line, raising questions about fairness. Stuart Schmill, the dean of admissions at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, wrote in a 2018 email that the university admitted four out of six applicants recommended by then-board chairman Robert Millard, including two who “we would really not have otherwise admitted.” The two others were not admitted because they were “not in the ball park, or the push from him was not as strong.” In the email, Schmill said Millard was careful to play down his influence on admissions decisions, but he said the chair also sent notes on all six students and later met with Schmill to share insight “into who he thought was more of a priority.” The filings are the latest salvo in a lawsuit that claims that 17 of the nation’s most prestigious colleges colluded to reduce the competition for prospective students and drive down the amount of financial aid they would offer, all while giving special preference to the children of wealthy donors. “That illegal collusion resulted in the defendants providing far less aid to students than would have been provided in a free market,” said Robert Gilbert, an attorney for the plaintiffs. Since the lawsuit was filed, 10 of the schools have reached settlements to pay out a total of $284 million, including payments of up to $2,000 to current or former students whose financial aid might have been shortchanged over a period of more than two decades. They are Brown, the University of Chicago, Columbia, Dartmouth, Duke, Emory, Northwestern, Rice, Vanderbilt and Yale. Johns Hopkins is working on a settlement and the six schools still fighting the lawsuit are the California Institute of Technology, Cornell, Georgetown, MIT, Notre Dame and the University of Pennsylvania. MIT called the lawsuit and the claims about admissions favoritism baseless. “MIT has no history of wealth favoritism in its admissions; quite the opposite,” university spokesperson Kimberly Allen said. “After years of discovery in which millions of documents were produced that provide an overwhelming record of independence in our admissions process, plaintiffs could cite just a single instance in which the recommendation of a board member helped sway the decisions for two undergraduate applicants." In a statement, Penn also said the case is meritless that the evidence shows that it doesn't favor students whose families have donated or pledged money to the Ivy League school. “Plaintiffs’ whole case is an attempt to embarrass the University about its purported admission practices on issues totally unrelated to this case," the school said. Notre Dame officials also called the case baseless. “We are confident that every student admitted to Notre Dame is fully qualified and ready to succeed,” a university spokesperson said in a statement. The South Bend, Indiana, school, though, did apparently admit wealthy students with subpar academic backgrounds. According to the new court filings, Don Bishop, who was then associate vice president for enrollment at Notre Dame, bluntly wrote about the “special interest” admits in a 2012 email, saying that year's crop had poorer academic records than the previous year's. The 2012 group included 38 applicants who were given a “very low” academic rating, Bishop wrote. He said those students represented “massive allowances to the power of the family connections and funding history,” adding that “we allowed their high gifting or potential gifting to influence our choices more this year than last year.” The final line of his email: “Sure hope the wealthy next year raise a few more smart kids!” Some of the examples pointed to in this week's court filings showed that just being able to pay full tuition would give students an advantage. During a deposition, a former Vanderbilt admissions director said that in some cases, a student would get an edge on the waitlist if they didn’t need financial aid. The 17 schools were part of a decades-old group that got permission from Congress to come up with a shared approach to awarding financial aid. Such an arrangement might otherwise violate antitrust laws, but Congress allowed it as long as the colleges all had need-blind admissions policies, meaning they wouldn't consider a student’s financial situation when deciding who gets in. The lawsuit argues that many colleges claimed to be need-blind but routinely favored the children of alumni and donors. In doing so, the suit says, the colleges violated the Congressional exemption and tainted the entire organization. The group dissolved in recent years when the provision allowing the collaboration expired. The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org .
As Americans are beyond burned out, Tricia Hersey’s Nap Ministry preaches the right to restCLEVELAND (AP) — Germain Ifedi became the fourth left tackle to start this season for the Cleveland Browns, lining up Thursday night against the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers. Ifedi moved up the depth chart and into the lineup after starter Dawand Jones broke his left leg last week at New Orleans and had surgery. He'll be responsible for blocking quarterback Jameis Winston's blindside. Jedrick Wills Jr., who had lost his starting job to Jones, figured to start against the Steelers (8-2), but was ruled out Wednesday with a knee injury that has bothered him for weeks. A first-round pick in 2020, Wills recently caused a stir by saying he made a “business decision” to sit out a game on Oct. 27 against Baltimore because of his knee. Coach Kevin Stefanski said Wills used a “poor choice of words.” James Hudson started Cleveland's first two games at left tackle while the Browns (2-8) waited for Wills to recover from knee surgery in December. The first-place Steelers were without outside linebacker/edge rusher Alex Highsmith, who missed his second straight game with an ankle injury. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Sports on TV for Thursday, Dec. 19The Dallas Cowboys ruled out right guard Zack Martin and cornerback Trevon Diggs with injuries on Saturday, one day prior to a road game against the Washington Commanders. Martin has been dealing with ankle and shoulder injuries and didn't practice at all this week before initially being listed as doubtful to play on Friday. He also physically struggled during Monday night's loss to the Houston Texans. Martin, who turned 34 on Wednesday, has started all 162 games played in 11 seasons with the Cowboys. He's a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and a seven-time first-team All-Pro. Diggs has been dealing with groin and knee injuries. He was listed as questionable on Friday before being downgraded Saturday. Diggs, 26, has 37 tackles and two interceptions in 10 games this season. The two-time Pro Bowl pick led the NFL with 11 picks in 2021 and has 20 in 57 games. The Cowboys elected not to activate receiver Brandin Cooks (knee) for the game. He returned to practice earlier this week and he was listed as questionable on Friday. Dallas activated offensive tackle Chuma Edoga (toe) and defensive end Marshawn Kneeland (knee) off injured reserve Saturday, placed safety Markquese Bell (shoulder) on IR and released defensive end KJ Henry. Tight end Jake Ferguson (concussion) was previously ruled out. Tight end Princeton Fant was elevated from the practice squad to replace him. Cornerback Kemon Hall also was elevated from the practice squad. --Field Level Media
Published 3:36 pm Saturday, November 30, 2024 By Staff Reports According to our computer model, the Minnesota Vikings will defeat the Arizona Cardinals when they square off at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 1 (at 1 p.m. ET). We have a complete breakdown, regarding the point spread, total and final score, available in this article. Looking for NFL tickets? Head to StubHub today and see your team live. Defensively, the Vikings have been a top-five unit, ranking fifth-best by surrendering only 17.9 points per game. They rank ninth on offense (24.9 points per game). With 22.2 points per game on offense, the Cardinals rank 16th in the NFL. On defense, they rank 11th, surrendering 21.5 points per game. BetMGM is one of the most trusted Sportsbooks in the nation. Start with as little as $1 and place your bets today . Ready to make your pick? Head to BetMGM using our link and start betting today. Watch this game on Fubo (Regional restrictions may apply) Rep your favorite NFL players with officially licensed gear. Head to Fanatics to find jerseys, shirts, hats, and much more. Catch every NFL touchdown with NFL RedZone on Fubo. Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER .
The annual Survivor Series event is upon us, and that means it's time for (read the next word in William Regal's voice) WarGames. This stipulation dates back almost 40 years to 1987. Only 43 of these bouts have taken place before this weekend, and it's easy to see why. The match requires two rings to be set up next to each other and surrounded by a single cage. A lot of arenas don't have the space to accommodate everything, so WWE has only used it once a year since bringing it back in 2017. Saturday's PLE will feature two WarGames matches. One will feature two teams of five women with various scores to settle, and the other will see the new and OG Bloodline groups do battle. Let's take a look at everything you need to know for this year's Survivor Series PLE. Venue: Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Start Time: 5 p.m. ET (Kickoff), 6 p.m. ET (main show) How to Watch: Peacock, WWE Network for international fans and select PPV providers For fans in the United States, WWE Network's hub on the Peacock streaming service is where to watch Survivor Series: WarGames. International fans can use the standard WWE Network. A list of devices that support Peacock TV can be found here . The kickoff will be available on most social media platforms, including YouTube and WWE Network through Peacock. A select few cable and satellite providers still carry WWE pay-per-views, but most people will watch the show on a streaming device. Here is a list of the devices that support the streaming service for international fans, according to WWE.com : Here is a look at the full lineup for Survivor Series: WarGames: Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode below.For ‘Nosferatu,’ Bill Skarsgård Is Dressed to Kill in Mick Jagger-Inspired Trousers
Bangladesh asserts no systematic attacks on minorities amid UN concerns
Published 3:36 pm Saturday, November 30, 2024 By Staff Reports According to our computer model, the Minnesota Vikings will defeat the Arizona Cardinals when they square off at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 1 (at 1 p.m. ET). We have a complete breakdown, regarding the point spread, total and final score, available in this article. Looking for NFL tickets? Head to StubHub today and see your team live. Defensively, the Vikings have been a top-five unit, ranking fifth-best by surrendering only 17.9 points per game. They rank ninth on offense (24.9 points per game). With 22.2 points per game on offense, the Cardinals rank 16th in the NFL. On defense, they rank 11th, surrendering 21.5 points per game. BetMGM is one of the most trusted Sportsbooks in the nation. Start with as little as $1 and place your bets today . Ready to make your pick? Head to BetMGM using our link and start betting today. Watch this game on Fubo (Regional restrictions may apply) Rep your favorite NFL players with officially licensed gear. Head to Fanatics to find jerseys, shirts, hats, and much more. Catch every NFL touchdown with NFL RedZone on Fubo. Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER .Cowboys G Zack Martin, CB Trevon Diggs out vs. Commanders
For first time in the modern era, the coaching carousel runs through North Carolina after firing Mack BrownQuest Partners LLC Purchases Shares of 26,146 Columbia Banking System, Inc. (NASDAQ:COLB)Cuala support hailed as Dublin club makes history in Croke Park nailbiter