Some tech industry leaders are pushing the incoming Trump administration to increase visas for highly skilled workers from other nations. Related Articles National Politics | In states that ban abortion, social safety net programs often fail families National Politics | Court rules Georgia lawmakers can subpoena Fani Willis for information related to her Trump case National Politics | New 2025 laws hit hot topics from AI in movies to rapid-fire guns National Politics | Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen National Politics | Exhausted by political news? TV ratings and new poll say you’re not alone The heart of the argument is, for America to remain competitive, the country needs to expand the number of skilled visas it gives out. The previous Trump administration did not increase the skilled visa program, instead clamping down on visas for students and educated workers, increasing denial rates. Not everyone in corporate America thinks the skilled worker program is great. Former workers at IT company Cognizant recently won a federal class-action lawsuit that said the company favored Indian employees over Americans from 2013 to 2022. A Bloomberg investigation found Cognizant, and other similar outsourcing companies, mainly used its skilled work visas for lower-level positions. Workers alleged Cognizant preferred Indian workers because they could be paid less and were more willing to accept inconvenient or less-favorable assignments. Question: Should the U.S. increase immigration levels for highly skilled workers? Caroline Freund, UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy YES: Innovation is our superpower and it relies on people. Sourcing talent from 8 billion people in the world instead of 330 million here makes sense. Nearly half our Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children. Growing them also relies on expanding our skilled workforce. The cap on skilled-worker visas has hardly changed since the computer age started. With AI on the horizon, attracting and building talent is more important than ever. Kelly Cunningham, San Diego Institute for Economic Research YES: After years of openly allowing millions of undocumented entrants into the country, why is there controversy over legally increasing somewhat the number having desirable skills? Undocumented immigration significantly impacts lower skill level jobs and wages competing with domestic workers at every skill level. Why should special cases be made against those having higher skills? Could they just not walk across the border anyway, why make it more inconvenient to those with desirable skills? James Hamilton, UC San Diego YES: Knowledge and technology are key drivers of the U.S. economy. Students come from all over the world to learn at U.S. universities, and their spending contributed $50 billion to U.S. exports last year. Technological advantage is what keeps us ahead of the rest of the world. Highly skilled immigrants contribute much more in taxes than they receive in public benefits. The skills immigrants bring to America can make us all better off. Norm Miller, University of San Diego YES: According to Forbes, the majority of billion-dollar startups were founded by foreigners. I’ve interviewed dozens of data analysts and programmers from Berkeley, UCSD, USD and a few other schools and 75% of them are foreign. There simply are not enough American graduates to fill the AI and data mining related jobs now exploding in the U.S. If we wish to remain a competitive economy, we need highly skilled and bright immigrants to come here and stay. David Ely, San Diego State University YES: Being able to employ highly skilled workers from a larger pool of candidates would strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. companies by increasing their capacity to perform research and innovate. This would boost the country’s economic output. Skilled workers from other nations that cannot remain in the U.S. will find jobs working for foreign rivals. The demand for H-1B visas far exceeds the current cap of 85,000, demonstrating a need to modify this program. Phil Blair, Manpower YES: Every country needs skilled workers, at all levels, to grow its economy. We should take advantage of the opportunity these workers provide our employers who need these skills. It should be blended into our immigration policies allowing for both short and long term visas. Gary London, London Moeder Advisors YES: San Diego is a premiere example of how highly skilled workers from around the globe enrich a community and its regional economy. Of course Visa levels need to be increased. But let’s go further. Tie visas and immigration with a provision that those who are admitted and educated at a U.S. university be incentivized, or even required, to be employed in the U.S. in exchange for their admittance. Bob Rauch, R.A. Rauch & Associates NO: While attracting high-skilled immigrants can fill critical gaps in sectors like technology, health care and advanced manufacturing, increasing high-skilled immigration could displace American workers and drive down wages in certain industries. There are already many qualified American workers available for some of these jobs. We should balance the need for specialized skills with the impact on the domestic workforce. I believe we can begin to increase the number of visas after a careful review of abuse. Austin Neudecker, Weave Growth YES: We should expand skilled visas to drive innovation and economic growth. Individuals who perform high-skilled work in labor-restricted industries or graduate from respected colleges with relevant degrees should be prioritized for naturalization. We depend on immigration for GDP growth, tax revenue, research, and so much more. Despite the abhorrent rhetoric and curtailing of visas in the first term, I hope the incoming administration can be persuaded to enact positive changes to a clearly flawed system. Chris Van Gorder, Scripps Health YES: But it should be based upon need, not politics. There are several industries that have or could have skilled workforce shortages, especially if the next administration tightens immigration as promised and expected. Over the years, there have been nursing shortages that have been met partially by trained and skilled nurses from other countries. The physician shortage is expected to get worse in the years to come. So, this visa program may very well be needed. Jamie Moraga, Franklin Revere NO: While skilled immigration could boost our economy and competitiveness, the U.S. should prioritize developing our domestic workforce. Hiring foreign nationals in sensitive industries or government-related work, especially in advanced technology or defense, raises security concerns. A balanced approach could involve targeted increases in non-sensitive high-demand fields coupled with investment in domestic STEM education and training programs. This could address immediate needs while strengthening the long-term STEM capabilities of the American workforce. Not participating this week: Alan Gin, University of San DiegoHaney Hong, San Diego County Taxpayers AssociationRay Major, economist Have an idea for an Econometer question? Email me at phillip.molnar@sduniontribune.com . Follow me on Threads: @phillip020JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its position in Eagle Materials Inc. ( NYSE:EXP – Free Report ) by 60.3% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,735,133 shares of the construction company’s stock after purchasing an additional 652,836 shares during the quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. owned approximately 0.05% of Eagle Materials worth $499,111,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. CIBC Asset Management Inc raised its stake in Eagle Materials by 3.7% in the third quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 1,032 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $297,000 after buying an additional 37 shares in the last quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Eagle Materials by 1.4% during the 3rd quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,981 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $858,000 after acquiring an additional 41 shares in the last quarter. Financial Strategies Group Inc. lifted its stake in Eagle Materials by 4.4% during the third quarter. Financial Strategies Group Inc. now owns 1,022 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $304,000 after purchasing an additional 43 shares during the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System boosted its holdings in Eagle Materials by 0.6% in the second quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 9,644 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $2,097,000 after purchasing an additional 56 shares in the last quarter. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI boosted its holdings in Eagle Materials by 1.5% in the third quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 3,872 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $1,114,000 after purchasing an additional 57 shares in the last quarter. 96.07% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Analyst Ratings Changes EXP has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group cut shares of Eagle Materials from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $330.00 to $310.00 in a report on Monday, December 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Eagle Materials from $290.00 to $310.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 27th. Truist Financial upped their price objective on shares of Eagle Materials from $320.00 to $330.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, November 4th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on Eagle Materials from $277.00 to $317.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Loop Capital cut Eagle Materials from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $315.00 target price for the company. in a research report on Monday, November 25th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Eagle Materials currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $304.89. Eagle Materials Stock Down 1.0 % Eagle Materials stock opened at $249.43 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.62 and a beta of 1.33. The company has a current ratio of 2.34, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $289.03 and a two-hundred day moving average of $265.02. Eagle Materials Inc. has a twelve month low of $195.93 and a twelve month high of $321.93. Eagle Materials ( NYSE:EXP – Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 29th. The construction company reported $4.31 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.75 by ($0.44). Eagle Materials had a net margin of 21.32% and a return on equity of 35.79%. The firm had revenue of $623.62 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $651.46 million. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $4.28 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up .2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts expect that Eagle Materials Inc. will post 15.24 earnings per share for the current year. Eagle Materials Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, January 13th. Investors of record on Monday, December 16th will be given a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 16th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.40%. Eagle Materials’s payout ratio is currently 7.06%. Insider Buying and Selling at Eagle Materials In related news, Director Richard Ross Stewart sold 3,577 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $300.30, for a total value of $1,074,173.10. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 1,100 shares in the company, valued at $330,330. This trade represents a 76.48 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link . Also, SVP Tony Thompson sold 1,401 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $314.00, for a total transaction of $439,914.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 13,212 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,148,568. This trade represents a 9.59 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 16,866 shares of company stock valued at $5,205,311. 1.60% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Eagle Materials Profile ( Free Report ) Eagle Materials Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells heavy construction materials and light building materials in the United States. It operates in four segments: Cement, Concrete and Aggregates, Gypsum Wallboard, and Recycled Paperboard. The company engages in the mining of limestone for the manufacture, production, distribution, and sale of Portland cement, including Portland limestone cement; grinding and sale of slag; and mining of gypsum for the manufacture and sale of gypsum wallboards used to finish the interior walls and ceilings in residential, commercial, and industrial structures, as well as well as containerboard and lightweight packaging grades; manufacture and sale of recycled paperboard to the gypsum wallboard industry and other paperboard converters; the sale of readymix concrete; and mining and sale of aggregates, such as crushed stone, sand, and gravel. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EXP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Eagle Materials Inc. ( NYSE:EXP – Free Report ). 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Club Chairman Andrew Moses welcomed the members and guests and extended thanks on behalf of the Club to the sponsors of the club events. He then invited Frank Rushton Derbyshire who kindly judged the Club’s annual Flock competition to announce the results and present the awards. Frank commented on the high standard of stock presented and thanked everyone for their warm welcome and hospitality. The Club extend their thanks to Seamus McCormick and Danske Bank for their ongoing generous sponsorship for the competition. Result NI Texel Breeder’s Flock Competition Judge: Frank Rushton Derbyshire Sponsor: Danske bank Flock Category Small Flock: 1 John Trimble, Curley Flock; 2 Andrew Kennedy, Maineview Flock; 3 Philip Whyte, Innishrush Medium Flock: 1 Alan Glendinning, Lylehill Flock; 2 Philip Dodds, Tullybrannigan Flock; 3 Naomi O’Hare, Millburn Flock Large Flock: 1 Martin Millar, Millars Flock; 2 Roger Strawbridge, Tamnamoney Flock; 3 Alastair Gault, Forkins Flock Pen of Ewe Lambs Small: 1 Martin McConville, Glenhone Flock; 2 Jack Gault, Cherryvale Flock; 3 John Trimble, Curley Medium: 1 Philip Dodds, Tullybrannigan; 2 Philip Whyte, Innishrush; 3 Naomi O’Hare, Millburn Flock Large: 1 Alastair Gault, Forkins Flock; 2 Jonny Cubitt, Drumcon Flock; 3 Andrew Kennedy, Maineview Flock Best Junior Stock Ram: 1 Martin Millar with Glenhone Hit Me Up; 2 Andrew Kennedy with Oberstown Hercules; 3 David Chestnutt Drumcon Humdinger Best Senior Stock Ram: 1 Alastair Gault with Douganhill Gangster (Joint owned with Ballynahone, Tamnamoney and Whitepark Flocks); 2 Roger Strawbridge with Ballynahone Foreman (Joint owned with Millars and Whitepark Flocks); 3 Alan Glendinning with Lylehill Gunshot Overall Champion Danske Flock: Martin Millar, Millars Flock Overall Reserve Danske Flock: John Trimble, Curley Flock NI Texel Sheep Breeder’s Club Show Flock of the Year Sponsor Galloway & MacLeod Ltd Special Prizes Aged Ram: Jacob Henry, Federnagh Flock Aged Ewe: Alastair Gault, Forkins Ewe Lamb: Martin McConville, Glenhone Flock Shearling Ewe: Martin McConville, Glenhone Flock Ram Lamb: Naomi O’Hare, Millburn Flock Galloway & Macleod Reserve Champion Show Flock: Martin McConville, Glenhone Flock Galloway & MacLeod Champion Show Flock: Alastair Gault, Forkins Flock Texel Young Breeder: Ivanna Strawbridge Congratulations goes to all breeders on their success. 1 . Pic4_Reserve Champion Flock.jpg John Trimble, Curley Flock, accepts the NI Texel Sheep Breeder’s Club Reserve Champion Flock award from Judge Frank Rushton at the recent Awards ceremony. Photo: freelance 2 . Pic2_Champion and Reserve Champion Show Flock.jpg Champion Show Flock winner 2024 Alastair Gault, Forkins Flock and Reserve Champion Flock winner 2024, Martin McConville Glenhone Flock accepting their awards at the annual dinner dance recently. Photo: freelance 3 . Pic4_Reserve Champion Flock.jpg John Trimble, Curley Flock, accepts the NI Texel Sheep Breeder’s Club Reserve Champion Flock award from Judge Frank Rushton at the recent Awards ceremony. Photo: freelance 4 . Pic5_Young Breeder.jpg Ivanna Strawbridge, Lynbrook Flock accepts the NI Texel Young Breeder’s Award at the recent Awards ceremony Photo: freelanceJPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its position in shares of Healthpeak Properties, Inc. ( NYSE:DOC – Free Report ) by 23.2% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 21,561,640 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock after buying an additional 4,056,931 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s holdings in Healthpeak Properties were worth $493,115,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Principal Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Healthpeak Properties during the third quarter worth $18,736,000. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Healthpeak Properties during the 3rd quarter worth $745,000. Retirement Systems of Alabama purchased a new stake in shares of Healthpeak Properties in the 3rd quarter worth about $12,765,000. Franklin Resources Inc. acquired a new stake in Healthpeak Properties in the 3rd quarter valued at about $3,224,000. Finally, Tidal Investments LLC purchased a new position in Healthpeak Properties during the 3rd quarter valued at about $1,586,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.57% of the company’s stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Healthpeak Properties from $23.00 to $22.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. Scotiabank increased their target price on Healthpeak Properties from $23.00 to $24.00 and gave the company a “sector outperform” rating in a report on Monday, September 9th. Robert W. Baird boosted their price target on Healthpeak Properties from $24.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Evercore ISI increased their price objective on Healthpeak Properties from $25.00 to $26.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, September 16th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of Healthpeak Properties from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $23.62. Healthpeak Properties Price Performance Healthpeak Properties stock opened at $20.08 on Friday. Healthpeak Properties, Inc. has a 1 year low of $16.01 and a 1 year high of $23.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 1.31 and a current ratio of 1.31. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $21.59 and a 200 day moving average price of $21.42. The company has a market cap of $14.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 42.72, a PEG ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 1.13. Healthpeak Properties ( NYSE:DOC – Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.12 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.44 by ($0.32). The company had revenue of $700.40 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $682.51 million. Healthpeak Properties had a net margin of 12.10% and a return on equity of 3.53%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 25.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.45 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that Healthpeak Properties, Inc. will post 1.8 earnings per share for the current year. Healthpeak Properties Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 4th were paid a $0.30 dividend. This represents a $1.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.98%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 4th. Healthpeak Properties’s dividend payout ratio is currently 255.32%. About Healthpeak Properties ( Free Report ) Healthpeak Properties, Inc is a fully integrated real estate investment trust (REIT) and S&P 500 company. Healthpeak owns, operates, and develops high-quality real estate for healthcare discovery and delivery. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DOC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Healthpeak Properties, Inc. ( NYSE:DOC – Free Report ). 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Federal appeals court upholds law requiring sale or ban of TikTok in the US A federal appeals court panel on Friday unanimously upheld a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok in a few short months, handing a resounding defeat to the popular social media platform as it fights for its survival in the U.S. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the law - which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance or be banned by mid-January — is constitutional, rebuffing TikTok’s challenge that the statute ran afoul of the First Amendment and unfairly targeted the platform. TikTok and ByteDance — another plaintiff in the lawsuit — are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Professor John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor was on Friday inducted as the new Vice Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies (UPSA) at a ceremony in Accra. Prior to his appointment, Prof Mawutor was a professional Accounting and Finance practitioner with over 17 years of experience in higher education and the financial sector. Prior to his appointment Prof Mawutor served as the Dean of graduate studies for six years (2016-2022). He is an Associate member of the Institute of Fraud Examiners (USA), a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana (ICAG), and has been a member of the University’s Academic Board as well as a member of the Executive Committee. Speaking after the induction , Prof Mawutor pledged to pursue five thematic aspirations to transform the university into a world-class professional institution in Africa and beyond. The aspirations, he said were to leverage technology; promote interdisciplinary research; promote entrepreneurship, innovation and volunteerism; and uphold, protect and enhance the culture and brand of the university. Prof. Mawutor said he would build on the solid foundation laid down by his immediate predecessor, Prof. Abednego Feehi Okoe Amartey, who had improved the academic standing of the university in the last eight years. “We will work tiredly to ensure that students get the needed resources and support to reach their full potential. For our faculty and staff, it is your dedication and expertise which is the foundation of the university and so I look forward to working and supporting you to grow the fortunes of the university. “As an institution of reach, we pledge to work with the new government to achieve its objective. We also pledge to produce graduates with employable skills that will be relevant to the country,” Prof Mawutor stated. Prof Mawutor who is also an alumni of the university, stated that his leadership would be grounded on God Almighty and be guided by His timeless principles and values. “I see my role as a steward of your collective aspirations. My leadership will be grounded on GOD Almighty, and I stand here to pledge that there will be no middle ground,” he said. He said to leverage on this achievement, his strategic focus on information technology would ensure that students learn coding skills and develop at least a software application in their respective areas of study. “Upgrade UPSA’s learning management system for greater efficiency, and develop unique accounting software for UPSA financial operations. Introduce artificial intelligence programmes and increase the number of online courses by 50 per cent,” he said. Pin Attendance were the Deputy Minister of Education, John Ntim Fordjour; Chairman of UPSA Council, Dr Kofi Hene Konadu; outgoing Vice Chancellor; Professor Abednego Feehi Okoe Amartey; Chair of the Church of Pentecost Apostle Eric Kwabena Nyamekye; Editor, Graphic, Theophilus Yartey; clergy, traditional leaders, staff of the university and other dignitaries. BY CECILIA YADA LAGBABOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — Adam Jones ran for 197 yards and two touchdowns and Montana State ran over Montana 34-11 on Saturday to reclaim the Brawl of the Wild trophy. The Bobcats (12-0, 8-0 Big Sky Conference) wrapped up the 123rd meeting in this rivalry with 420 yards, 326 on the ground. Montana State capped its first unbeaten season and can match the school record for consecutive wins with a playoff win in two weeks. The Bobcats, ranked second in the FCS coaches poll, should be the top seed in the playoffs after top-ranked North Dakota State lost its finale to fifth-ranked South Dakota. Montana (8-4, 5-3), ranked 10th, is expected to add to its record 27 FCS playoff appearances but will not have a first-round bye in the 24-team bracket. Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott was 6-of-12 passing for 94 yards with a touchdown in poor conditions and added 50 yards and a touchdown on the ground. He has helped the Bobcats score at least 30 points in every game this season Mellott had a 5-yard touchdown run on MSU's first possession and Mellott found Jones for a 35-yard touchdown early in the second quarter for a 14-3 lead. Myles Sansted had two field goals in the final two minutes, including a 49-yarder as time expired for a 20-3 halftime lead. Jones dominated the second half and scored two short touchdowns. Eli Gillman scored on a 1-yard run for Montana's touchdown between the Jones' touchdowns. The Grizzlies had just 234 yards and went 2 of 12 on third down. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football . Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25

Italian journalist arrested in IranHave you ever seen a mother hen clucking to keep her chicks together? That’s a lot like what party leaders in politics do—they try to keep their members from wandering off. But sometimes, politicians, or netas , decide to switch teams. And that’s where the drama begins! In Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) gave six politicians who had joined them from other parties a big reward: tickets to run in the assembly elections. These six had actually lost to AAP in earlier elections, but now AAP is betting on them to help fight something called “anti-incumbency.” That’s when voters get tired of the leaders currently in power. AAP thinks these fresh faces will help keep their team strong. But here’s the catch: what happens to the AAP members who didn’t get picked? They might feel upset and decide to join another party! In politics, switching sides—called “defection”—is pretty common. Parties often “poach” members from other teams, hoping to weaken their competition. It’s like a game where everyone is trying to grab the best players. But just like in a kitchen, not all eggs come out sunny side up! Some politicians, like Bihar’s Jitan Ram Manjhi, are masters of this game. He’s switched sides many times, jumping between parties but always staying in power for over 40 years. At the end of the day, political parties have to work hard to keep their members happy. If they don’t? Well, those “chicks” might just fly the coop—and come back to cause trouble!

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AURORA, Colo. (AP) — An apartment building that was the scene of a viral video that led former President Donald Trump to claim a Denver suburb had been taken over by a Venezuelan gang will likely close early next year, an official said Friday. The city of Aurora is seeking to close all but one building at a six-building complex where armed men were seen entering an apartment in August shortly before a fatal shooting outside, claiming the property has seen too much violent crime in addition to poor living conditions, Aurora City Attorney Pete Schulte said. While the property's owners, CBZ Management, have said they were unable to provide maintenance because a notorious Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua , took over the buildings, the city says the company essentially abandoned maintaining and running them, creating a vacuum that allowed crime to flourish. “They created an environment where the criminal element could move in and be unchecked,” said Schulte, who said gangs were responsible for some of the crime but that a lot of it was not gang-related. Schulte declined to say how much of the crime was specifically due to Tren de Aragua. He said that gang is known to “travel light and move often" and believes its members have likely moved on. Telephone messages seeking comment left for CBZ Management and its lawyer in the case were not immediately returned. During a court hearing on the criminal-nuisance action brought by the city Thursday, the owners said they agreed the buildings should be closed, Schulte said. Given that, he expects a judge to issue an order to close the buildings at the next court hearing in the case on Jan. 13. After a final decision, the city would give residents 30 days notice that they need to move, he said. During the hearing, the owners did not respond to the allegations that the property became a crime hub, Schulte said. Given that, there is potentially a chance they could ask for a trial instead, delaying any closure. Three of the six men shown in the video have since been arrested, according to Aurora police. Two of them were taken into custody in New York City under a federal arrest warrant last week. A statement from Immigration and Customs Enforcement said both were members of Tren de Aragua. According to Colorado court documents, the same rifle seen in the video was used in the fatal shooting about 10 minutes later outside the apartment complex. It was found disassembled in an oven in one of the apartments, according to an arrest warrant. One of the six buildings at the complex will not be closed because it is owned by a different branch of CBZ. It is being managed by an official appointed by the court at the request of the mortgage lender who is making improvements to the building, Schulte said. Colleen Slevin, The Associated Press

Tech and growth stocks have dragged Wall Street's main indexes lower at the end of an upbeat holiday-shortened week that was driven by expectations around a traditionally strong period for markets. Yields on some US Treasury notes were higher on the day, with the ones on the benchmark 10-year note hovering near an over seven-month high they hit on Thursday. The yields on the benchmark 10-year note were last at 4.587 per cent. Rate-sensitive growth stocks dropped with Nvidia down three per cent and Tesla off by 3.8 per cent, while Microsoft shed two per cent. Ten of the 11 major S&P sectors, including information technology and consumer discretionary fell the most, down about two per cent and 1.9 per cent, after powering most of the broader market's gains in 2024. "Tech, which has had a tremendous run, is starting to pull back. It is the beginning of a healthy correction that will get focused in on over the next four to eight weeks as we switch administrations," said Jay Woods, Chief Global Strategist at Freedom Capital Markets. In early trading on Friday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 329.50 points, or 0.76 per cent, to 42,996.30, the S&P 500 lost 70.22 points, or 1.16 per cent, to 5,967.60 and the Nasdaq Composite lost 356.63 points, or 1.77 per cent, to 19,665.01. As of Thursday's close, the S&P 500 had recovered most of last week's losses that stemmed from the US Federal Reserve projecting fewer interest rate cuts in 2025 and hurting risk appetite. All three indexes are still set for weekly gains, with the benchmark index now about 2.3 per cent below its all-time high of 6,099.97 points clinched on December 6. With three sessions left to close out the year, markets are in the stock-buying season called the "Santa Claus rally" - the last five sessions of December and the first two of January. Since 1969, the S&P 500 has climbed 1.3 per cent on average in the seven-day trading period, according to the Stock Trader's Almanac. US equities have broadly extended their gains from a stellar November, when Donald Trump won the US presidential election, as hopes of pro-business policies under the incoming administration stoked optimism. Trading volumes in this holiday-shortened week have been below the average of the last six months and are likely to remain subdued until Jan. 6. The next major focus for markets will be the December employments report due on Jan. 10. Among individual movers, Amedisys gained four per cent after the home health service provider and insurer UnitedHealth extended the deadline to close their $US3.3 billion ($A5.3 billion) merger. Declining issues outnumbered advancers by a 3.01-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and by a 3-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq. The S&P 500 posted two new 52-week highs and two new lows, while the Nasdaq Composite recorded 44 new highs and 35 new lows.Are Smart Coffee Tables Worth It? What You Need To Know Before BuyingShould the U.S. increase immigration levels for highly skilled workers?As he delivered his postgame speech after the Vikings escaped with a 23-22 win over the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday, head coach Kevin O’Connell locked eyes with undrafted defensive tackle Jalen Redmond. ADVERTISEMENT After watching Redmond explode into the backfield on multiple occasions, making a couple of tackles for a loss in the process, O’Connell wanted to make it known how much he appreciated his impact on the game. So, as he handed out game balls like he typically does after each win, O’Connell made sure Redmond got the recognition he deserved. “Sometimes we start feeling a guy’s energy,” O’Connell said. “Just highlighting that.” Redmond was caught off guard in the locker room at U.S. Bank Stadium, joking that he almost started to get emotional when he heard O’Connell say his name aloud. ADVERTISEMENT “It meant a lot,” Redmond said. “It was a special moment.” It was a stark contrast to back in training camp at TCO Performance Center when Redmond got kicked out of practice by O’Connell in response to a scuffle after the whistle. He remembers leaving that particular summer practice a little bit unsure about his future with the Vikings. “When I was walking off I was like, ‘Oh man. What did I do? I messed up,’ ” Redmond said. “The rule was not to fight, and I know that, so I was, like, ‘Man. I can’t be doing this stuff. I’m barely here.’ ” Fortunately for Redmond, O’Connell was forgiving in the immediate aftermath, and he got to keep his spot on the roster. Fortunately for the Vikings, Redmond has made the most of his opportunity, and he has slowly started carving out a niche for himself this season. ADVERTISEMENT “There’s a reason why he made our team,” O’Connell said. “He’s a perfect fit for our scheme with the way we move those guys up front.” The fact that Redmond has proven skills as interior pass rusher is something defensive coordinator Brian Flores has tapped into even more he’s found places to insert him into the game on a weekly basis. “The athleticism jumped out immediately,” Flores said. “This guy can run.” ADVERTISEMENT That has long been a calling card for Redmond. He was an explosive athlete in college at Oklahoma, and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.81 seconds, proving he had the twitchiness to play at the next level. After signing with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent, Redmond arrived at rookie minicamp hellbent on proving everybody wrong. He got cut after training camp despite showing flashes of his potential. “It crushed me,” Redmond said. “I didn’t know if I was ever going to get another shot.” As he sat at home wondering what was next for him, Redmond randomly got a call from the legendary Bob Stoops, the former head coach of Oklahoma, who is now the head coach of the Arlington Renegades of the UFL. ADVERTISEMENT “It was wild,” Redmond said. “I look at my phone and see the name. I was like, “Why is Bob Stoops calling me?’ I answered it and he asked if I wanted to play on his team.” After growing up in in Oklahoma, Redmond was not about to say no to a legend. He joined the Arlington Renegades and eventually parlayed that into a cup of coffee with the Vikings ahead of training camp “I went there with the mindset that I was going to make the best of it and try to get back to where I wanted to be,” Redmond said. “I had a lot of fun there, and it helped get me to where I am now.” ADVERTISEMENT Though he wasn’t exactly a household name, Redmond did enough to make the team out of training camp. “Whenever I walk through those doors and my code still works, I don’t take it for granted,” Redmond said. “I put in everything I can to everything I do here because I’ve been on the other side of it.” Now he’s starting to look more and more like somebody who could emerge as a key contributor for the Vikings down the road. “That’s all I wanted to do when I got here,” Redmond said. “Just prove that I can play at this level.” He can. He has a game ball as proof. “I was so happy for him,” Flores said. “I think he’s got a long career in front of him.” ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here .

Stock market today: Wall Street hits more records following a just-right jobs reportAs he delivered his postgame speech after the Vikings escaped with a 23-22 win over the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday, head coach Kevin O’Connell locked eyes with undrafted defensive tackle Jalen Redmond. After watching Redmond explode into the backfield on multiple occasions, making a couple of tackles for a loss in the process, O’Connell wanted to make it known how much he appreciated his impact on the game. So, as he handed out game balls like he typically does after each win, O’Connell made sure Redmond got the recognition he deserved. “Sometimes we start feeling a guy’s energy,” O’Connell said. “Just highlighting that.” Redmond was caught off guard in the locker room at U.S. Bank Stadium, joking that he almost started to get emotional when he heard O’Connell say his name aloud. “It meant a lot,” Redmond said. “It was a special moment.” It was a stark contrast to back in training camp at TCO Performance Center when Redmond got kicked out of practice by O’Connell in response to a scuffle after the whistle. He remembers leaving that particular summer practice a little bit unsure about his future with the Vikings. “When I was walking off I was like, ‘Oh man. What did I do? I messed up,’ ” Redmond said. “The rule was not to fight, and I know that, so I was, like, ‘Man. I can’t be doing this stuff. I’m barely here.’ ” Fortunately for Redmond, O’Connell was forgiving in the immediate aftermath, and he got to keep his spot on the roster. Fortunately for the Vikings, Redmond has made the most of his opportunity, and he has slowly started carving out a niche for himself this season. “There’s a reason why he made our team,” O’Connell said. “He’s a perfect fit for our scheme with the way we move those guys up front.” The fact that Redmond has proven skills as interior pass rusher is something defensive coordinator Brian Flores has tapped into even more he’s found places to insert him into the game on a weekly basis. “The athleticism jumped out immediately,” Flores said. “This guy can run.” That has long been a calling card for Redmond. He was an explosive athlete in college at Oklahoma, and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.81 seconds, proving he had the twitchiness to play at the next level. After signing with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent, Redmond arrived at rookie minicamp hellbent on proving everybody wrong. He got cut after training camp despite showing flashes of his potential. “It crushed me,” Redmond said. “I didn’t know if I was ever going to get another shot.” As he sat at home wondering what was next for him, Redmond randomly got a call from the legendary Bob Stoops, the former head coach of Oklahoma, who is now the head coach of the Arlington Renegades of the UFL. “It was wild,” Redmond said. “I look at my phone and see the name. I was like, “Why is Bob Stoops calling me?’ I answered it and he asked if I wanted to play on his team.” After growing up in in Oklahoma, Redmond was not about to say no to a legend. He joined the Arlington Renegades and eventually parlayed that into a cup of coffee with the Vikings ahead of training camp “I went there with the mindset that I was going to make the best of it and try to get back to where I wanted to be,” Redmond said. “I had a lot of fun there, and it helped get me to where I am now.” Though he wasn’t exactly a household name, Redmond did enough to make the team out of training camp. “Whenever I walk through those doors and my code still works, I don’t take it for granted,” Redmond said. “I put in everything I can to everything I do here because I’ve been on the other side of it.” Now he’s starting to look more and more like somebody who could emerge as a key contributor for the Vikings down the road. “That’s all I wanted to do when I got here,” Redmond said. “Just prove that I can play at this level.” He can. He has a game ball as proof. “I was so happy for him,” Flores said. “I think he’s got a long career in front of him.”Meet Jalen Redmond, the undrafted free agent carving out a niche with the Vikings