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Barabak: Lawmakers in states are handcuffing voters, ignoring election results

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:20 GMT

Earlier this month, a group of Oregon lawmakers walked off the job, bringing the state Senate to a halt.The move came after Democrats in the House passed bills on abortion, gun safety and medical care for transgender people that Republicans, a minority in Oregon’s Legislature, strongly opposed.There is ample room for discussion on each of these issues. The process is not always pretty. Compromise is often frustrating, leaving no one fully satisfied; it can be particularly tough when your party is in the minority and you’re routinely outvoted.But that’s how our system works. Or, at least, how it’s supposed to. Elections, as they say, have consequences, along with winners and losers.Increasingly, however, state lawmakers are ignoring election returns and looking to override popular sentiment to impose their own will instead.In Oregon, you have 12 Republican senators and an independent acting like children who’ve taken their ball and gone home, stalling action on hundreds of bills and ...

Gov. Newsom signs bill establishing 20-year cardroom moratorium in California

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:20 GMT

California is pausing opening new cardrooms for the next two decades.On Monday, May 22, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 341, which establishes a moratorium on California issuing new cardroom licenses for the next 20 years. Smaller existing cardrooms will be allowed to add limited new tables in the meantime.The bill was introduced by Assemblymember James Ramos, D-San Bernardino.“I am happy to have brought the tribes and cardrooms together in a historic consensus that has resulted in the bipartisan AB 341 becoming law,” Ramos is quoted as saying in a news release issued Tuesday. “I deeply appreciate Gov. Newsom’s support for AB 341, which will help ensure the vitality of the gaming industry by allowing for measured cardroom growth without overexpansion over the next 20 years.”RELATED: In a gentrified Bay Area, the former ‘Rottenest City’ fights to preserve its historyThe bill effectively restarts a moratorium first established by the Gambling Control Act of 1997, wh...

California couple, known for YouTube videos, sentenced for causing crashes to collect insurance money

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:20 GMT

A Yucaipa couple was sentenced this week after an investigation revealed they intentionally caused collisions to collect insurance payouts and posted videos of crashes and road-rage incidents on YouTube, officials said on Wednesday.Christopher Phelps, 41, and his wife, Kimberly Phelps, 40, pleaded no contest to felony counts of insurance fraud, child abuse and assault with a deadly weapon, according to the California Department of Insurance. They were sentenced Monday in San Bernardino County Superior Court.The couple was arrested in March after an investigation by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department led authorities to a YouTube channel connected to Christopher Phelps under the username “BLU3 GHO57.” The 41-year-old had previously been arrested in February after he posted a dashcam video that involved a suspicious collision where he appeared to stop for no reason and caused a truck pulling a trailer to rear-end his car, authorities said.In total, around 162 dashcam videos...

Stock market today: US futures mixed as worries persist over US debt; Germany slips into recession

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:20 GMT

Trading on Wall Street was mixed early Thursday as markets watched for signs of progress on a deal to avert a default on U.S. government debt. Futures for the Dow were off 0.3% and the S&P 500 rose 0.6%.Nasdaq composite futures jumped 1.8% boosted by Nvidia, whose shares climbed about 28% in premarket after the chipmaker forecast a huge jump in revenue next quarter, mostly on chip demand for AI-related products and services. Nvidia said it expected sales of $11 billion in the current quarter, up from $6.7 billion in the second quarter a year ago.The U.S. government could run out of cash to pay its bills as soon as June 1 unless Congress allows it to borrow more. The widespread belief on Wall Street is that Congress will come to an agreement at the 11th hour, as it’s done several times before, because a default would benefit no one and could cause tremendous disruptions to the economy and financial markets.“As the early-June deadline ticks closer, only a concrete resolution may p...

US Patent Office denies Washington Commanders’ trademark, team remains confident

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:20 GMT

The Washington Commanders are expected to soon be under new ownership, but the NFL team is now facing a new challenge over its name.The franchise’s request to trademark the name “Washington Commanders” has been denied by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.The May 18 decision was made due to what the USPTO called “likelihood of confusion” between the team and the Commanders Classic college football game between the Air Force and Army.In addition, D.C.-area resident Martin McCaulay already submitted trademark applications for the names “Washington Space Commanders” and “Washington Wolves Commanders,” in hopes of guessing the NFL team’s name.McCaulay previously told The Washington Post that he planned to work with the franchise and will turn over any trademarks at no cost.Meanwhile, trademark attorney Josh Gerbin tweeted that he’s confident confusion with the college football game and matters tied to McCaulay will be cleared...

Toronto-Dominion: Fiscal Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:20 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) on Thursday reported fiscal second-quarter net income of $2.47 billion.The company said it had earnings of $1.27 per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, came to $1.43 per share.The results fell short of Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $1.52 per share.The retail and wholesale bank posted revenue of $17.88 billion in the period. Its revenue net of interest expense was $9.12 billion, beating 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 TD at https://www.zacks.com/ap/TDSource

Dollar Tree: Fiscal Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:20 GMT

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (AP) — CHESAPEAKE, Va. (AP) — Dollar Tree Inc. (DLTR) on Thursday reported fiscal first-quarter earnings of $299 million.The Chesapeake, Virginia-based company said it had profit of $1.35 per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to $1.47 per share.The results did not meet Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of 12 analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $1.51 per share.The discount retailer posted revenue of $7.32 billion in the period, exceeding Street forecasts. Eleven analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $7.27 billion.For the current quarter ending in July, Dollar Tree said it expects revenue in the range of $7 billion to $7.2 billion. Analysts surveyed by Zacks had expected revenue of $6.77 billion.The company expects full-year earnings to be $5.73 to $6.13 per share, with revenue ranging from $30 billion to $30.5 billion._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com...

Hamilton Lane: Fiscal Q4 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:20 GMT

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. (AP) — CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. (AP) — Hamilton Lane Inc. (HLNE) on Thursday reported fiscal fourth-quarter profit of $31.1 million.On a per-share basis, the Conshohocken, Pennsylvania-based company said it had profit of 82 cents. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, came to 96 cents per share.The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 77 cents per share.The private-market investment firm posted revenue of $112.8 million in the period, missing Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $116.9 million.For the year, the company reported profit of $109.1 million, or $3.01 per share. Revenue was reported as $528.8 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on HLNE at https://www.zacks.com/ap/HLNESource

Thermon Group: Fiscal Q4 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:20 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Thermon Group Holdings Inc. (THR) on Thursday reported earnings of $7.7 million in its fiscal fourth quarter.The Austin, Texas-based company said it had profit of 23 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were 41 cents per share.The maker of heat tracing products posted revenue of $122.5 million in the period.For the year, the company reported profit of $33.7 million, or $1 per share. Revenue was reported as $440.6 million.Thermon Group expects full-year earnings in the range of $1.66 to $1.82 per share, with revenue in the range of $455 million to $485 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on THR at https://www.zacks.com/ap/THRSource

CSW Industrials: Fiscal Q4 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:20 GMT

DALLAS (AP) — DALLAS (AP) — CSW Industrials Inc. (CSWI) on Thursday reported earnings of $27.1 million in its fiscal fourth quarter.On a per-share basis, the Dallas-based company said it had net income of $1.74.The industrial products and coatings maker posted revenue of $195.7 million in the period.For the year, the company reported profit of $96.4 million, or $6.20 per share. Revenue was reported as $757.9 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on CSWI at https://www.zacks.com/ap/CSWISource