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Former wrestler charged in Mississippi welfare fraud case

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:00:32 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Companies run by a former professional wrestler received “sham contracts” in Mississippi and misspent millions of dollars of welfare money that was supposed to help some of the neediest people in the U.S., according to a new federal indictment.The indictment of former wrestler Ted “Teddy” DiBiase Jr., 40, of Madison, Mississippi, was unsealed Thursday, two days after it was issued by a grand jury in Jackson. During a brief court appearance Thursday, he pleaded not guilty.“Jesus loves you, brother. God bless you, man,” DiBiase told a WAPT-TV reporter outside the federal courthouse Thursday. DiBiase and his attorney offered no other comment.The indictment is the latest development in a sprawling Mississippi corruption case involving wealthy and well-connected people receiving contracts from the state Department of Human Services from 2016 to 2019.DiBiase was a WWE wrestler in the 2000s and 2010s. The indictment accuses him and co-conspirators, including former Mi...

Wyoming abortion clinic opens despite arson, legal obstacles

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:00:32 GMT

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming’s first full-service abortion clinic in years defiantly opened Thursday nearly one year after an arson attack ravaged it and despite looming laws that could shut it down with some of the toughest abortion restrictions in the U.S.The clinic in a small stucco building on a busy street in Wyoming’s second-biggest city of Casper is less than a mile (1.6 kilometers) from Interstate 25, where the occasional anti-abortion billboard stands against the open, sparsely populated landscape.Last May, a few weeks before the clinic was set to open, a fire tore through building, leaving soot-stained, smashed windows and police tape to mark the clinic site in downtown Casper. A woman who has since been arrested had broken a window, filled aluminum pans with gasoline and set it ablaze, authorities say. She told told investigators that she opposes abortion and was experiencing anxiety over the facility opening.With its fire damage repaired, the Wellspring Health Acc...

‘Overrated!’: Hawks’ Young dealing with more playoff misery

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:00:32 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Trae Young was showered with chants of “overrated!” after two dismal games in Boston. The Atlanta star will need to find his playoff groove at home if the Hawks are going to have any chance of knocking off the Celtics. Young shot just 35% (14 of 40) during a pair of double-digit losses that put the Hawks in an 0-2 hole heading into Game 3 at State Farm Arena. And the Boston fans let him have it, demonstrating they don’t have a lot of respect for the 24-year-old point guard who is supposed to be one of the league’s most dynamic young players.Atlanta coach Quin Snyder hasn’t lost faith in Young. “I want Trae to be aggressive. He knows that,” Snyder said after Thursday’s practice. “I don’t want us to be deterred by the ball not going in and stop having that aggressive mindset — Trae in particular.”Dejounte Murray, who starts in the backcourt with Young and leads the Hawks in the series at 26.5 points per game, sent his teammate a...

UConn faces major rebuild weeks after winning 5th NCAA title

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:00:32 GMT

STORRS, Conn. (AP) — UConn men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley is facing a major rebuild of his team just 17 days after guiding the Huskies to the program’s fifth national championship.Since winning the title on April 3, seven Connecticut players with eligibility remaining have announced plans to either leave the program or at least test their options.Hurley met with reporters Thursday after a workout with his remaining players and said the roster turnover was something he expected.“This is what elite programs face,” he said. “They face players leaving early for the NBA. They face players going through the draft process, maintaining eligibility. Obviously, there’s usually major staff changes, which to this point we’re fortunate to be intact there. But it’s a reality of being an elite program and that’s where we’re at. We’re going to be dealing with this every year.”Four Huskies have declared for the NBA draft.Hurley confirmed that s tars...

Chemung Financial: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:00:32 GMT

ELMIRA, N.Y. (AP) — ELMIRA, N.Y. (AP) — Chemung Financial Corp. (CHMG) on Thursday reported net income of $7.3 million in its first quarter.The Elmira, New York-based bank said it had earnings of $1.54 per share.The financial holding company posted revenue of $31.7 million in the period. Its revenue net of interest expense was $25.4 million, surpassing Street forecasts._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on CHMG at https://www.zacks.com/ap/CHMGSource

5th arrest made in Alabama Sweet 16 birthday party shooting

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:00:32 GMT

DADEVILLE, Ala. (AP) — A fifth man was arrested Thursday and charged with murder in connection with a shooting at Sweet 16 birthday party that killed four young people in Alabama, authorities announced. Willie George Brown Jr., 19, of Auburn, is charged with four counts of reckless murder, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said. A total of five defendants are now facing reckless murder charges in connection to the fatal shooting. The shooting rampage at the Sweet 16 birthday killed four young people, ranging from ages 17 to 23 and shocked the small east Alabama city of Dadeville. In addition to the four slain, 32 others were injured, four of them critically. The party, at a dance studio just off the town square, was in full swing when gunfire erupted.Tyreese “Ty Reik” McCullough, 17, of Tuskegee and Travis McCullough, 16, of Tuskegee were arrested Tuesday. Wilson LaMar Hill Jr., 20, of Auburn, was arrested Wednesday. and Johnny Letron Brown, 20, of Tuskegee, was arrested Thursday. ...

Glacier Bancorp: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:00:32 GMT

KALISPELL, Mont. (AP) — KALISPELL, Mont. (AP) — Glacier Bancorp Inc. (GBCI) on Thursday reported first-quarter net income of $61.2 million.The Kalispell, Montana-based bank said it had earnings of 55 cents per share.The results fell short of Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of five analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 63 cents per share.The bank holding company posted revenue of $259.8 million in the period. Its revenue net of interest expense was $214.1 million, which also missed Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $228.9 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on GBCI at https://www.zacks.com/ap/GBCISource

OceanFirst: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:00:32 GMT

RED BANK, N.J. (AP) — RED BANK, N.J. (AP) — OceanFirst Financial Corp. (OCFC) on Thursday reported first-quarter profit of $27.9 million.On a per-share basis, the Red Bank, New Jersey-based company said it had net income of 46 cents. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, were 55 cents per share.The results missed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of four analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 66 cents per share.The holding company for OceanFirst Bank posted revenue of $141.1 million in the period. Its adjusted revenue was $100.9 million, which also did not meet Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $116.9 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on OCFC at https://www.zacks.com/ap/OCFCSource

Local travel agency closes after 45 years in operation

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:00:32 GMT

The Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) is advising the public of the closure of The Travel Broker Group Inc, which is a local travel agency specializing in custom tours and group tours for women. This comes after the company terminated its registration  under the Travel Industry Act, 2002 effective April 18, 2023.The travel agency has been in operation since 1977 and was located on 1049 Sydenham Road in Kingston. In 2002, the group founded Today’s Woman Traveller, which has also been included in the closure. TICO has released a Closure Advisory for those impacted by the news. Consumers with bookings: consumers who purchased travel services from The Travel Broker Group Inc. and who are in possession of their airline tickets are asked to contact the airline(s) involved to confirm their travel arrangements. This includes consumers who began their travel prior to the closure of the travel agency and who may still be in destination.Who can fileWho can file a claim with the On...

$100M Empower Field at Mile High renovations underway

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:00:32 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Empower Field at Mile High is getting the most expensive facelift since the Denver Broncos' home stadium was built more than two decades ago.The Denver Broncos said the renovations are the "single-largest capital improvement in the stadium’s 22-year history." The drone video provided by the Broncos in the player above shows the extent of the project. Rockies have lowest attendance in 10 years at regular home game What exactly are the upgrades? The South scoreboard is expanding by 70%, measuring 31 feet taller than the previous display.A new all-inclusive hospitality space—located on Level 0—will be built exclusively for fans to enjoy on gameday.The video control room will be rebuilt with cutting-edge technology, including a conversion to HDR, while the Tunnel Boards will also undergo significant enhancements.The South Deck of Empower Field at Mile High will now feature permanent concessions for the first time ever.The Broncos Team Store will undergo a 3,000-squar...