BOSTON (AP) — A Massachusetts judge dismissed criminal charges Monday against a backer of Karen Read who admitted placing dozens of yellow rubber ducks and fake $100 bills around town in support of Read. Richard Schiffer Jr. had argued in Stoughton District Court that he had a First Amendment right to support the defense theory that Read — accused of ramming into her boyfriend John O’Keefe with her SUV and leaving the Boston police officer to die in a snowstorm — has been framed in the polarizing murder case. Schiffer's attorney Timothy Bradl said Monday that the judge made the right call by quickly tossing the felony witness intimidation and criminal harassment charges against Schiffer. The ruling comes as another judge decided Monday to push back Read's retrial to April after a mistrial was declared in July when jurors couldn’t reach an agreement. Read was facing second-degree murder charges and two other charges. Her attorneys have argued that other law enforcement officers were responsible for O’Keefe’s death. Regarding Schiffer's charges, Bradl said, “There wasn't a leg to stand on.” “Hats off to the judge. He didn’t make everyone wait and ruled from the bench. Everything was completely protected by the First Amendment. This was political speech," Bradl said. The Norfolk District Attorney’s office declined to comment. Schiffer has said he got the ducks idea after thinking about a defense lawyer’s closing argument that Read was framed . Alan Jackson told jurors that “if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it’s a duck.” Schiffer's actions did not rise to the level of witness intimidation and criminal harassment "nor does his speech, or in this case his written word on fake currency and use of rubber toys, which are afforded the protections of the First Amendment," Judge Brian Walsh wrote. “It is the view of this Court that the defendant's conduct and speech, though a rather sophomoric expression of his opinion, is nonetheless protected speech,” he wrote. Walsh concluded the two-page ruling with quotes from Indiana poet James Whitcomb Riley, believed to have coined the “walks like a duck” phrase, and Robert McCloskey, author of the children's book “Make Way For Ducklings.” The defense alleged that O’Keefe was actually killed inside the home of his fellow Boston officer Brian Albert and then dragged outside. They argued that investigators focused on Read because she was a “convenient outsider” who saved them from having to consider law enforcement officers as suspects. Schiffer has been among the dozens of Read supporters who accuse state and local law enforcement of a widespread cover-up. Their demonstrations have led to confrontations, especially in the town of Canton where the murder happened, between those who support Read and others who believe she is guilty. Schiffer, who owns Canton Fence and has said that he knows practically everyone in town through his contracting work, was accused of placing some of the ducks outside a pizza shop run by Brian Albert’s brother, Canton Selectman Chris Albert. Other ducks appeared in O’Keefe’s neighborhood.
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The British wife of ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad is a sanctioned individual and is “not welcome here in the UK”, the Foreign Secretary has said. David Lammy’s comments come after the Prime Minister said it was too early to say whether the Government would strip Asma Assad of her British citizenship. Mrs Assad was born in London in 1975 and was raised and educated in the city. She is now believed to be in Moscow with her husband, where the overthrown leader has fled. The rapid collapse of the Assad regime saw a coalition of rebel groups seize control of Damascus on Sunday. Responding to questions in the Commons on Monday evening, Mr Lammy said: “I’ve seen mentioned in the last few days, Asma Assad potentially someone with UK citizenship that might attempt to come into our country, and I want it confirmed that she’s a sanctioned individual and is not welcome here in the UK.” Asked about the possibility of the Government stripping Mrs Assad of her British citizenship, Sir Keir Starmer told broadcasters: “We are far too early in any decisions about anything. “At the moment we are hours, days into a fast-moving situation and that’s why it’s very important for us to continue to talk to our allies, including here in discussions I’ve been having today, to make sure that what happens next is peaceful. “There’s a lot of moving parts in that, a lot of risks, I absolutely accept, and challenges, but they are going to be best met if we work with our allies towards that peaceful resolution and the rejection, the utter rejection, of terrorism and violence.” Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme earlier on Monday that the Government has had “no contact or no request” for Mrs Assad to come to the UK. It is understood that referrals were made to the Metropolitan Police’s war crimes team in relation to Mrs Assad in 2020 and 2021, but the matter was subsequently dropped.Jay-Z has strenuously denied the recent allegations made in a lawsuit that he drugged and raped a 13-year-old girl along with Sean “Diddy” Combs during an MTV Video Music Awards afterparty in 2000. The 55-year-old rap superstar, whose real name is Shawn Carter, branded the legal action as a “blackmail attempt.” In a fiery statement, he warned the lawyers who brought about the filing: “You have made a terrible error in judgment thinking that all ‘celebrities’ are the same.” While Carter is now distancing himself from Combs, the two New York-born music moguls have crossed paths many times during their respective lengthy careers at the pinnacle of pop culture. They have collaborated on music, made joint charitable donations and praised each other for their success in becoming self-made billionaires. Here’s a timeline of Carter and Combs’s friendship over the decades. 1990s Combs founded his record label Bad Boy Entertainment in 1993, and he soon had an influential hit on his hands when The Notorious B.I.G. released his debut single “Juicy” in August 1994. When Jay-Z put out his debut album Reasonable Doubt in 1996, he playfully sparred with Combs’s biggest star on a joint track called “Brooklyn’s Finest.” The Notorious B.I.G., whose real name was Christopher Wallace, was murdered in controversial circumstances in March 1997 . After Wallace’s death, Combs poured his grief over the loss of his friend into his debut album No Way Out , which he released under the name Puff Daddy and the Family. Jay-Z guests on the track “Young G’s,” alongside a posthumous appearance from Wallace. Later that same year, Combs repaid the favour by appearing on Jay-Z’s second album, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 , co-writing the track “I Know What Girls Like” with Carter and Lil’ Kim. In 1999, they collaborated again on “Do You Like It... Do You Want It...” from Combs’s second album Forever . 2000s Jay-Z met his now-wife, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, around the turn of the millennium. After gaining fame with her group Destiny’s Child, Beyoncé released her debut solo album Dangerously in Love in 2003. It was introduced by her massive global hit “Crazy In Love,” a collaboration with Jay-Z, while the B-side of that single featured “Summertime,” a collaboration with Diddy . In 2005, after Hurricane Katrina caused devastation in New Orleans, Jay-Z and Diddy made a joint donation of $1 million to the American Red Cross. In a statement to the Associated Press at the time, Carter said: “This is our community. When I turn on CNN, I see a lot of black people on the streets. I know it’s other people too, but those projects have been hit hard.” Combs added: “We are all descendants from each other’s families. When you hear black people say ‘brothers’ and ‘sisters,’ it’s really true. These are all people that I know I’m related to somehow, some way — the human race family.” In August 2007, Jay-Z and Diddy performed together at the touring hip-hop festival Screamfest alongside headliners 50 Cent and TI. The performance gained notoriety after footage emerged appearing to show Diddy slapping Jay-Z twice on the backside. In 2023, after serious allegations against Diddy became public, 50 Cent continued his longrunning feud with Combs by posting the video on social media with the caption: “Diddy in the Back, pattin on n****s butts. Nah I ain’t wit it, I ain’t never been wit it.” In 2009, Diddy was asked during an interview about a photograph of himself and Jay-Z speaking at one of his parties. “That was at one of my birthday parties, and I was just telling him I appreciate him coming,” he said. “He was on tour, and he flew in private after one of his shows just to come to that party. Then he had to fly back out. I was just telling him how much I appreciated it and how much I value our friendship. People see us as competitors and different icons in the hip hop game but that was just a moment of two Black brothers telling each other how much they appreciate each other.” Diddy’s former partner Kim Porter, who died of pneumonia in 2018, added: “We call that picture a secret society, all we ask is trust!” 2010s In 2010, Forbes magazine released a hip-hop rich list which listed Jay-Z in first place, having made $63 million in the previous year, and Diddy in second place with earnings of $30 million. The publications praised both men for diversifying their income streams, with Jay-Z touring and owning a stake in the 40/40 nightclub chain and the NBA’s New Jersey Nets. Diddy was making money from Ciroc vodka and his role in the comedy Get Him to The Greek. The two moguls continued to dominate Forbes hip-hop lists over the next few years. In 2012, Diddy topped their rich list with an estimated total worth of $550 million while Jay-Z was in second place with $460 million. In 2016, they reunited on stage in New York during the Puff Daddy and The Family Bad Boy Reunion Tour. Although Jay-Z was never signed to Diddy’s label, Diddy announced onstage: “Bad Boy’s celebrating 20 years of hits, but this is extended family,” referring to Jay-Z stood next to him. “Whenever I get in trouble, this is the one I call. This is my strategist right here. This is my brother!” 2020s In 2020, Diddy and Jay-Z both celebrated their continued success at a Black Billionaire brunch hosted by Jay-Z’s label Roc Nation. Diddy spoke at the event, saying: “It’s 2020, y’all, and it is different than when it was 2016. The game has been elevated. As you know, there no expense has been spared. We had a Black billionaire lunch year, understand, right? And, we’re here together in keeping staying together. We’re getting tighter, and united we stand.” In April 2022, Jay-Z and Diddy were again pictured together on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as DJ Khaled received his star. However, since Diddy’s homes were raided by federal agents on March 25, 2024, Jay-Z has stayed quiet about the series of serious allegations against his sometime friend and collaborator. The following day, 50 Cent trolled the pair by taking to Instagram to post a picture of a milk carton with Jay-Z’s picture appearing under the word: “MISSING.” “Anybody seen Jay LOL,” wrote 50 Cent, joking that Combs would feel he “ain’t answering his phone.” When a federal lawsuit was refiled yesterday, December 8, to name Jay-Z alongside Diddy as having drugged and raped a 13-year-old girl in 2000, Jay Z was adamant in his denial. “I’m a young man who made it out of the project of Brooklyn,” he wrote in a statement. “We don’t play these types of games. We have very strict codes and honor. We protect children, you seem to exploit people for personal gain. Only your network of conspiracy theorists, fake physics, will believe the idiotic claims you have levied against me that, if not for the seriousness surrounding harm to kids, would be laughable.”None
B ashar al-Assad’s downfall came not with a bang but a whimper. The Syrian dictator reportedly fled his home in the wake of a blitzkrieg advance by a coalition of anti-government rebels. By Sunday morning he was gone – leaving armed groups as the country’s dominant political players. A spirit of anti-Assad sentiment surged across Syria, manifesting itself through displays of both celebration and defiance. The question now is whether this unleashed energy – brutally suppressed by fear and authoritarian control – will become a unifying force in building a new nation or, rather, a precursor to deeper divisions. The fall of the House of Assad, which has ruled Syria for more than half a century, should be a warning to dictatorial regimes. Mr Assad’s departure underscores a broader truth: societies cannot indefinitely tolerate systemic abuses, such as state-sponsored propaganda, corruption and violence . The fish rots from the head down. Mr Assad’s Syrian state collapsed from within, having spent more than a decade pursuing a reign of terror that only fuelled the very unrest it sought to suppress. The regime’s collapse raises pressing questions about Syria’s future. With weak institutions and a frail civil society, the risk of disintegration looms large. Syria’s prospects depend on both internal and external forces, and notably on Abu Mohammed al-Jolani , the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al-Qaida offshoot turned moderate Islamist faction. Credited with Mr Assad’s overthrow, Mr Jolani drove the strategic shift from jihadism to national liberation. In 2021 , he declared that he had no intention of waging war against the west, and for the past five years he has overseen a semi-technocratic government in Idlib province for 3 million people under Turkish protection. HTS has avoided extreme sharia interpretations, but remains designated a terrorist group. Critics say it is corrupt and intolerant of dissent. However, Mr Jolani’s outreach to tribes, minorities and former foes has bolstered his national legitimacy, while even Moscow – once Mr Assad’s protector – may engage to secure its military bases. Mr Jolani relies on allies, including the Turkish-backed militia groups collectively called the Syrian National Army, which has a thuggish reputation . Re-elected on a pledge to return 3 million refugees, Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, seeks stability in Syria, but fears that US-backed Kurdish regions in Syria may stir autonomy demands at home. Israel sees an Islamist-led Damascus as a threat, but finds comfort in Hezbollah’s inability to defend the Assad regime, as it prioritises the defence of its Lebanese bases. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, with their financial resources, could aid Syria’s reconstruction, but their past support for Mr Assad complicates their role. Encouragingly , Arab leaders said they would seek to avoid reigniting a 13-year-old civil war after talks in Qatar. Syria will never be the same. Ordinary Syrians have endured unimaginable horrors under the Assad regime. But they have written this chapter of history. Their newfound freedom is shadowed by the daunting task of rebuilding lives and infrastructure. A shared hope to avoid violent vendettas must guide efforts toward a just settlement. The Syrian people were often forsaken. In this moment of fragile hope, the world must not fail them again. A concerted international effort toward political stability, reconciliation and reconstruction is essential to ensure their sacrifices lead to a lasting peace.
Judge says lawsuit over former NFL player Glenn Foster Jr.'s jail death can proceed
2 big winners reported at East Peoria casinoThe Kaduna State government has warned its political appointees to desist from random and irresponsible posts on social media, saying such comments can be misconstrued as official viewpoint, thereby causing reputational damage for the State Government or public outcry against it. The warning was given at a two-day capacity building workshop, which was organised by the Office of the Head of Service and the Principal Private Secretary to Governor Uba Sani in Kaduna at the weekend. A communique issued after the workshop noted that Kaduna State Public Service is strictly guided by ‘Scheme of Service’, ‘Stores Regulations’, ‘The Guide to Administrative Procedures’, and ‘Financial Instructions’. The communique recommended that the Department of Printing Services (Government Printer) should produce the Statute/Regulatory Books and sell to public servants at affordable prices. The communique, which was jointly signed by Alhaji Waziri Garba and Malam Ibraheem Musa, the Senior Special Assistant on Administration and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, respectively, stated that the capacity-building was organised for employees of Government House. The communique noted that Kaduna State has one of the most vibrant civil services in the country as other states regularly send delegations to understudy its operations, especially in the area of accountability. Participants at the workshop commended Kaduna State Government, under the leadership of Governor Uba Sani, for organising the workshop, which they described as the “first of its kind in the history of the state.’’ The communique stated that, “Public Servants must be disciplined, loyal to the Government of the day, show courtesy in the discharge of their duties, cooperate with one another and be honest in all their official engagements. “It is also essential for Public Servants to adhere to laid down procedures in the conduct of Government business as failure to do so leads to systemic decay of the service and corruption.’’Rupert Murdoch fails in bid to change family trust, according to reports
PNC Financial Services Group Inc. grew its position in Digital Realty Trust, Inc. ( NYSE:DLR – Free Report ) by 8.9% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 40,320 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock after purchasing an additional 3,284 shares during the quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc.’s holdings in Digital Realty Trust were worth $6,525,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of DLR. Meeder Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in Digital Realty Trust in the 2nd quarter worth $25,000. Gradient Investments LLC boosted its stake in shares of Digital Realty Trust by 75.2% in the second quarter. Gradient Investments LLC now owns 177 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 76 shares during the period. American Capital Advisory LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Digital Realty Trust during the second quarter worth about $27,000. Private Ocean LLC bought a new stake in Digital Realty Trust during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Finally, Asset Dedication LLC purchased a new position in Digital Realty Trust in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $31,000. 99.71% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Digital Realty Trust Stock Up 1.3 % Shares of NYSE DLR opened at $189.84 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $62.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 159.53, a PEG ratio of 4.97 and a beta of 0.59. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $169.56 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $156.43. Digital Realty Trust, Inc. has a 1 year low of $130.00 and a 1 year high of $193.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a current ratio of 1.61 and a quick ratio of 1.61. Digital Realty Trust Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 17th. Investors of record on Friday, December 13th will be issued a dividend of $1.22 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 13th. This represents a $4.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.57%. Digital Realty Trust’s payout ratio is 410.08%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of Digital Realty Trust from $180.00 to $185.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on shares of Digital Realty Trust from $195.00 to $205.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday. Evercore ISI increased their price objective on shares of Digital Realty Trust from $160.00 to $175.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 23rd. HSBC upgraded Digital Realty Trust from a “reduce” rating to a “hold” rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $124.00 to $160.00 in a research report on Friday, October 4th. Finally, Scotiabank lifted their price objective on Digital Realty Trust from $157.00 to $178.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $170.37. Read Our Latest Stock Report on Digital Realty Trust Digital Realty Trust Profile ( Free Report ) Digital Realty brings companies and data together by delivering the full spectrum of data center, colocation, and interconnection solutions. PlatformDIGITAL, the company's global data center platform, provides customers with a secure data meeting place and a proven Pervasive Datacenter Architecture (PDx) solution methodology for powering innovation and efficiently managing Data Gravity challenges. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DLR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Digital Realty Trust, Inc. ( NYSE:DLR – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Digital Realty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Digital Realty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Howe & Rusling Inc. grew its holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. ( NYSE:JPM ) by 4.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 202,861 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 8,709 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. makes up about 3.7% of Howe & Rusling Inc.’s holdings, making the stock its biggest position. Howe & Rusling Inc.’s holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. were worth $42,775,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Mizuho Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. in the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in the third quarter worth about $27,000. Fairway Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in the second quarter worth about $32,000. Anfield Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in the second quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, West Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. during the third quarter valued at approximately $37,000. 71.55% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research firms have issued reports on JPM. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a “hold” rating and issued a $235.00 target price on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research note on Tuesday, September 3rd. Citigroup lifted their price objective on JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $215.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 19th. Daiwa Capital Markets decreased their target price on JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $240.00 to $235.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 10th. Barclays lifted their price target on JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $217.00 to $257.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, October 14th. Finally, Baird R W cut shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $229.31. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Stock Up 1.5 % JPM opened at $248.55 on Friday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has a 12 month low of $152.71 and a 12 month high of $249.15. The company has a current ratio of 0.89, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.27. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $223.14 and its 200-day moving average price is $211.90. The company has a market cap of $699.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.83, a P/E/G ratio of 3.55 and a beta of 1.10. JPMorgan Chase & Co. ( NYSE:JPM – Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Friday, October 11th. The financial services provider reported $4.37 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.02 by $0.35. JPMorgan Chase & Co. had a net margin of 19.64% and a return on equity of 16.71%. The company had revenue of $43.32 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $41.43 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $4.33 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts expect that JPMorgan Chase & Co. will post 17.62 EPS for the current year. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 4th were paid a dividend of $1.25 per share. This represents a $5.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.01%. This is an increase from JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.15. The ex-dividend date was Friday, October 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s dividend payout ratio is 27.82%. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Company Profile ( Free Report ) JPMorgan Chase & Co operates as a financial services company worldwide. It operates through four segments: Consumer & Community Banking (CCB), Corporate & Investment Bank (CIB), Commercial Banking (CB), and Asset & Wealth Management (AWM). The CCB segment offers deposit, investment and lending products, cash management, and payments and services; mortgage origination and servicing activities; residential mortgages and home equity loans; and credit cards, auto loans, leases, and travel services to consumers and small businesses through bank branches, ATMs, and digital and telephone banking. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding JPM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for JPMorgan Chase & Co. ( NYSE:JPM – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for JPMorgan Chase & Co. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for JPMorgan Chase & Co. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Enfusion stock hits 52-week high at $10.4 amid growth optimism
NoneIn a historic victory in the just concluded , celebrated actor-turned-politician, John Dumelo has emerged as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ayawaso West constituency. Representing the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dumelo defeated the incumbent candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mrs Lydia Alhassan, in a keenly contested race that has captured national attention. The final results saw Dumelo secure 47,560 votes, significantly outpacing Mrs Alhassan, who garnered 39,214 votes. This decisive margin reflects a growing endorsement of Dumelo’s vision for transformative leadership in the constituency. Dumelo’s victory is particularly significant as it marks a comeback after his narrow loss in the 2020 elections to the same opponent. His 2024 campaign focused on pressing local issues, including infrastructure development, youth and women empowerment, education reforms, and job creation. These resonated strongly with voters, particularly young people, who were drawn to his promise of social change and community empowerment. In his victory speech, Dumelo expressed profound gratitude to the electorate, saying: “This victory is not just for me, but for the people of Ayawaso West. Together, we will build a stronger, more prosperous community. “I am committed to fulfilling every promise I made during this campaign.” The result is seen as a seismic shift in Ayawaso West, a constituency long considered an NPP stronghold. Dumelo’s achievement testifies to the growing appeal of individuals who bring relatable, issue-based campaigns to the political arena. His campaign leveraged grassroots engagement and focused on inclusivity, drawing support from diverse demographics within the constituency. This victory also signifies the rising influence of the NDC in traditionally competitive regions, signalling broader implications for the party’s momentum in the national political landscape.
Alexandra Samuels is a national political reporter and contributor to the Daily Dot, where she started as an intern covering politics in the summer of 2016. She enjoys all things Marvel, keeping up with the latest TikTok trends, long walks with her pup, and reading murder-mystery novels.
Despite some disagreements, city councillors swiftly approved Richmond’s proposed capital budget for 2025. On Monday evening, councillors at the finance committee discussed and carried next year's $152.6 million budget for 78 capital projects – Coun. Michael Wolfe was the only councillor who was opposed. Discussion around the construction of pickleball courts took some of the spotlight in the meeting. The capital budget includes an $800,000 project to construct four new pickleball courts at South Arm Community Park. The staff report reads “pickleball is the fastest growing sport in North America,” as it features a low barrier to entry and a social playing environment. This project will bring the total number of public pickleball courts in Richmond to 13. Coun. Bill McNulty opened the floor on the pickleball discussion by asking staff if there was any possibility to build more courts with the $800,000 price tag. “Will that $800,000 go further? Can we squeeze more courts in for that?” he asked – to which staff responded the infrastructure to support the courts is a factor that drives up costs. Staff added constructing four courts for that price tag is already a squeeze, as the new courts will be located near existing pickleball-court infrastructure. “It’s a pity we can’t afford more at this time,” said Coun. McNulty. Coun. Alexa Loo also questioned staff on the price and on the possibility of building more courts. “It seems expensive; it seems to me we were able to build that pump track that seemed to have a lot more stuff going on for a lot less money,” said Loo. “Four pickleball courts basically fit on a tennis court, so is it gold?” Staff reiterated components such as sound attenuation, location, surfacing, lighting and proximity to amenities comes at a higher dollar value than a typical park project. Loo also compared the price tag of the pickleball court project to the curling club. “There’s 700 (pickleball) members, so for $800,000 you can get a whole bunch of them playing,” she said. “Versus if we look at how much the curling club is, it’s $4 million and there’s fewer than 300 members; so we’re spending a lot of money on a few people.” Coun. Kash Heed closed the pickleball discussion by encouraging other councillors to move forward with the budget. “I don’t agree with everything for 2025, but at the end of the day I think this is a decent capital budget put forward by our staff,” said Heed. “We can study the depth of pickleball courts for years, it’s $800,000, we’ve agreed to it, let’s move forward.” All councillors voted in favour of the capital budget except Wolfe, citing two reasons. The first was because of the funding source of a proposed $5 million fire vehicle replacement reserve purchases project in the budget, which will replace four front-line fire vehicles and a high-flow industrial pumper. According to the staff report, the total replacement cost for the vehicles is $11 million, but additional funding of $5 million is needed to complete previous submissions due to price escalations. This additional funding will be sourced from the emergency response fuel facility reserve. “As I mentioned a few weeks ago, it’s not the $5 million cost... it’s the funding source,” said Wolfe. “I don’t see why there was any need to use the emergency response fuel facility reserve... we’re draining $5 million out of something that was intended for something else.” The second was the inclusion of phase one of a $2.5 million public safety camera system (PSCS) consisting of installing 48 high definition cameras at 10 intersections across Richmond – this first phase will have an annual operating budget of about $180,000. “I’m not supportive of the capital budget because it includes that,” said Wolfe. “And it’s just phase one of what I anticipate will be a $13 million or more total project with a very high operating budget impact going forward.” Other projects highlighted in the 2025 capital budget included $7 million to install electric vehicle stations throughout Richmond, $4.5 million to renew the Richmond Ice Centre’s interior and $1.5 million to renew the Hugh Boyd Community Park playground. The capital and operating budgets are also on the agenda for Monday's city council meeting . - with files from Valerie Leung and Maria Rantanen Got an opinion on this story or any others in Richmond? Send us a letter or email your thoughts or story tips to [email protected] . To stay updated on Richmond news, sign up for our daily headline newsletter . Words missing in article? Your adblocker might be preventing hyperlinked text from appearing.NoneNoneSophia Cohen and Harrison Waterstreet say there’s always been an invisible string between them—even before they were born. In 1992, when Sophia’s father, financier and New York Mets owner Steve Cohen, married her mother, a friend gave them a portrait painted by Harrison’s father, artist John Alexander, as a wedding gift. Yet it would be two decades before they officially met. Sophia had just finished her freshman year at Brown University and decided to head out to the Hamptons with her roommate, Eugenia. Eugenia’s brother texted them to come to a house party—where, it turns out, Harrison was too. They briefly talked that night, but nothing more. Three years and a college graduation later, Sophia started a job at The Gagosian Gallery. She quickly struck up a friendship with a co-worker around her age, Lily Mortimer. One day, Lily said she wanted to introduce Sophia to a close friend of hers: Harrison, who was now an agent at CAA. Sophia was seeing someone at the time, so she and Harrison instead built up a friendship over the next few years. (That’s not to say there wasn’t a spark —in fact, it was very much apparent. “Harrison would shamelessly flirt with me even though I was in another relationship,” Sophia says, laughing.) Yet the invisible string kept tugging: One night, Sophia attended a dinner for her friend, artist Alexander Berggruen. Sat next to her was a talented ceramicist. Despite being strangers, they instantly hit it off. “Towards the end of the evening, the artist said, ‘I don’t usually do this, but I would love to set you up with my son.’ She then proceeded to show me a picture of...Harrison,” Sophia says. Sophia, engaged at the time, politely declined. But several months later, she found herself single again just as the pandemic hit. When the summer started and it felt okay to socialize, Lily—as well as friends Bunny and Jake—pushed Sophia to finally consider the man who had been in her orbit for so long. “We finally went on our first date and never looked back,” she says. Three years later, Harrison proposed to Sophia at her family home in Connecticut amid a semi-circle of candles. On October 26, 2024, Sophia and Harrison wed at the Madison Club in La Quinta, California. The whole weekend, planned by Melissa Sullivan of Studio Sully, had the ambience of what the couple describes as a “1960s Palm Springs fever dream.” It started with the rehearsal dinner at Tommy Bahama Miramonte, where the bride wore a vintage ivory silk strapless column dress along with a diamond-and-pearl Harry Winston choker. The next night, they held tiki-themed welcome drinks at a family friend’s house in La Quinta—a nod to the many Polynesian-inspired bars in the Palm Springs area. Guests donned their retro finest, with Sophia playing hostess in a cream-color 1950s sleeveless chiffon dress with marabou feather trim, a pair of colorful gemstone and diamond earrings, and lime green Loewe heels. Harrison, meanwhile, wore a pale blue double-breasted suit from Tom Ford. The ceremony itself was inspired by the mid-century modern movement, as well as several of the couple’s favorite artists. “We wanted to encapsulate everything that is mid-century. We felt particularly inspired by some of the mid-century rock houses of the time that were built into a rock face,” Sophia says. “Our ceremony featured small boulders lining the aisle and culminated in a beautiful chuppah composed of two large boulders. The white slab overhead created the ‘canopy’ needed to create a chuppah, which featured a skylight overhead, allowing the sunset light to seep in—an ode to James Turrell.” (The rocks also referenced Michael Heizer's work, “Levitated Mass” . Sophia, who now runs her own art advisory firm Siren Projects, wanted to include as many nods to her favorite artists as she could.) The bride, who walked down the aisle arm-in-arm with her parents, wore a gown by Blanc Wear, a cathedral-length veil, and vintage pear-shaped drop diamond earrings with a chandelier oval-diamond necklace she sourced from an auction. Waiting at the other end was Harrison in a Ralph Lauren Purple Label white dinner jacket and dark blue tuxedo pants. After their vows, they exchanged Belperron rings. “It was palpable how much love there was present. As the sun was setting, the light funneled through the chuppah canopy and created an aura around us,” Sophia says. “We felt totally at peace, totally in love, and just drowned out the crowd as if it was just the two of us on stage.” Afterward was a tennis-themed cocktail hour on the grounds of the Madison Club, complete with courtside benches and vintage slingback chairs. Guests drank honey deuces and ate hand rolls from Sōgo in Los Angeles as the temperature cooled and the sun set behind them. Then came the sudden announcement that it was time for dinner, upon which a large set of doors opened to reveal the reception site: a grand glass structure made to resemble a mid-century home. “Many of the chairs were sourced from old movie sets, giving it a real home feel. It felt as if this structure was permanently there,” Sophia says. She put on a pair of long, white gloves to further elevate her wedding gown for the night. Guests dined on pasta from Jon & Vinny’s as a rotating stage revealed a number of performances throughout the night, covering everything from bossa nova to The Supremes. Yet for all that entertainment, the couple say that dancing with their parents felt like the highlight of the night. “Our dances with our parents were so meaningful both in general and because it was the first wedding for both of our families,” Sophia says. (The highlight for the guests, on the other hand, might have been the many bars, among them two secret speakeasies flanking the stage.) Then it was time for the after-party back at their family friend’s house, which was inspired by Roger Vadim’s classic 1968 movie Barbarella . “We transported guests to a sci-fi 1960s night club,” says Sophia, who changed into a Wiederhoeft corset for the occasion. Sofi Tukker and DJ Bender—whose music Sophia fell in love at Burning Man—both played electric sets that kept the party going late into the night. Now that it’s all over, the couple is still elated. “Our objective for our wedding was to throw not just a great event, but one that would stay in the minds of our guests forever,” Sophia says.
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Commerce Bank raised its stake in shares of Delta Air Lines, Inc. ( NYSE:DAL – Free Report ) by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 28,910 shares of the transportation company’s stock after purchasing an additional 263 shares during the period. Commerce Bank’s holdings in Delta Air Lines were worth $1,468,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Senator Investment Group LP lifted its stake in Delta Air Lines by 90.0% in the 2nd quarter. Senator Investment Group LP now owns 475,000 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $22,534,000 after buying an additional 225,000 shares in the last quarter. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. lifted its position in shares of Delta Air Lines by 5.4% in the third quarter. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. now owns 268,636 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $13,644,000 after acquiring an additional 13,802 shares in the last quarter. KBC Group NV boosted its stake in shares of Delta Air Lines by 143.7% in the third quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 56,611 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $2,876,000 after acquiring an additional 33,378 shares during the last quarter. Olstein Capital Management L.P. increased its position in shares of Delta Air Lines by 32.6% during the third quarter. Olstein Capital Management L.P. now owns 175,000 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $8,888,000 after purchasing an additional 43,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, River Road Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in Delta Air Lines by 22.8% in the 3rd quarter. River Road Asset Management LLC now owns 130,608 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $6,634,000 after purchasing an additional 24,249 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.93% of the company’s stock. Insider Activity at Delta Air Lines In other news, SVP William C. Carroll sold 21,530 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.62, for a total transaction of $1,305,148.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 19,756 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,197,608.72. The trade was a 52.15 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Also, CEO Edward H. Bastian sold 68,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $56.33, for a total transaction of $3,830,440.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 439,819 shares in the company, valued at approximately $24,775,004.27. This trade represents a 13.39 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last quarter, insiders sold 140,240 shares of company stock worth $8,044,893. Corporate insiders own 0.96% of the company’s stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on DAL Delta Air Lines Stock Performance NYSE:DAL opened at $63.34 on Friday. Delta Air Lines, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $35.46 and a fifty-two week high of $66.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 0.34 and a current ratio of 0.39. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $55.01 and a 200 day moving average price of $49.13. The stock has a market capitalization of $40.87 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.80, a PEG ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 1.33. Delta Air Lines ( NYSE:DAL – Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 10th. The transportation company reported $1.50 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.52 by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $15.68 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.65 billion. Delta Air Lines had a net margin of 7.71% and a return on equity of 29.93%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.03 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Delta Air Lines, Inc. will post 6.07 EPS for the current year. Delta Air Lines Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 31st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 10th were paid a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.95%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, October 10th. Delta Air Lines’s payout ratio is 8.33%. Delta Air Lines Company Profile ( Free Report ) Delta Air Lines, Inc provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Airline and Refinery. Its domestic network centered on core hubs in Atlanta, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Detroit, and Salt Lake City, as well as coastal hub positions in Boston, Los Angeles, New York-LaGuardia, New York-JFK, and Seattle; and international network centered on hubs and market presence in Amsterdam, Bogota, Lima, Mexico City, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Sao Paulo, Seoul-Incheon, and Tokyo. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Delta Air Lines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Delta Air Lines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .The hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO’s elusive killer yields new evidence, but few answers