Facebook parent Meta posts solid 1Q results, stock soars

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:23:48 GMT

Facebook parent Meta posts solid 1Q results, stock soars Facebook parent company Meta’s first-quarter results surpassed Wall Street’s modest expectations on both profit and revenue, sending its stock soaring in after-hours trading.Meta also reported that the monthly user base of its flagship platform — Facebook — inched close to 3 billion.Meta Platforms Inc. said Wednesday it earned $5.71 billion, or $2.20 per share, in the January-March period. That’s down 19% from $7.47 billion, or $2.72 per share, a year earlier. Revenue climbed 3% to $28.65 billion from $27.91 billion.Analysts, on average, were expecting earnings of $2.02 per share on revenue of $27.67 billion, according to a poll by FactSet.Meta said it has “substantially completed” layoffs it first announced in 2022. It announced a second round of layoffs in March. “Our AI work is driving good results across our apps and business,” CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a statement. “We’re also becoming more efficient so we can build better products faster and put...

Forest rallies for 3-1 win, moves out of EPL relegation zone

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:23:48 GMT

Forest rallies for 3-1 win, moves out of EPL relegation zone NOTTINGHAM, England (AP) — Nottingham Forest climbed out of the Premier League’s relegation zone after rallying to beat Brighton 3-1 on Wednesday.The win was marred, however, by what looked like a serious injury to Forest defender Neco Williams, who was carried off on a stretcher after colliding with teammate Brennan Johnson.Forest ended a four-match losing run to climb above Everton and Leicester and out of the bottom three by one point in a tight relegation race that looks likely to go to the final weekend.Johnson had an 11th-minute penalty saved by Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele before the visitors went in front, with Facundo Buonanotte — an 18-year-old Argentine making his first Premier League start — tapping in from close range in the 38th after Solly March’s shot was parried out.Forest’s equalizer had a hint of fortune about it, with a cross from left wing back Renan Lodi deflecting in off Brighton’s Pascal Gross’ outstretched boot in the third minute of first-half stoppage ...

Conmed: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:23:48 GMT

Conmed: Q1 Earnings Snapshot LARGO, Fla. (AP) — LARGO, Fla. (AP) — Conmed Corp. (CNMD) on Wednesday reported first-quarter net income of $1.8 million.On a per-share basis, the Largo, Florida-based company said it had profit of 6 cents. Earnings, adjusted for amortization costs and non-recurring costs, came to 66 cents per share.The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of seven analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 60 cents per share.The medical technology company posted revenue of $295.5 million in the period, which also topped Street forecasts. Six analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $267.3 million.Conmed expects full-year earnings in the range of $3.30 to $3.50 per share, with revenue in the range of $1.21 billion to $1.25 billion._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on CNMD at https://www.zacks.com/ap/CNMDSource

Rollins: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:23:48 GMT

Rollins: Q1 Earnings Snapshot ATLANTA (AP) — ATLANTA (AP) — Rollins Inc. (ROL) on Wednesday reported first-quarter net income of $88.2 million.On a per-share basis, the Atlanta-based company said it had net income of 18 cents.The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of four analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 17 cents per share.The operator of Orkin and other pest and termine control services posted revenue of $658 million in the period, also beating Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $640.2 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on ROL at https://www.zacks.com/ap/ROLSource

Life in prison for man in deadly road rage shooting that killed 13-year-old

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:23:48 GMT

Life in prison for man in deadly road rage shooting that killed 13-year-old DENVER (KDVR) -- Jeremy Webster, a man accused of opening fire on a family and killing a 13-year-old boy in June 2018 was found guilty on all charges and sentenced to life without parole Wednesday.Vaughn Bigelow Jr., 13, was killed in the shooting.Webster, 27, was found guilty of 12 charges in all -- murder, multiple counts of attempted murder, multiple counts of assault and attempted assault. He was given the maximum sentence for all charges. Psychologist says man charged in road rage killing was sane Before handing out the sentence, the judge said this case was "unlike any other case" because of the level of tragedy and loss.District Attorney Brian Mason echoed this after the sentencing and called the loss to the Bigelow family unspeakable."I've seen a lot of bad cases in my career, and this is one of the worst we have ever, ever seen," he said. Before Webster was sentenced, Vaughn's mother, Meghan, asked the judge to give him the maximum sentence."The impact of what happened ca...

Suspected car thief who led police on cross-county chase captured south of Sunrise Blvd.; 2nd car thief still at large

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:23:48 GMT

Suspected car thief who led police on cross-county chase captured south of Sunrise Blvd.; 2nd car thief still at large A suspected car thief is now in custody after leading police on a cross-county chase before a foot chase where he wound up cut and cuffed at apartment complex Broward. Late Wednesday afternoon, police were seen combing over the stolen vehicle for clues in the parking lot of the complex.It began around 2 p.m., as Miami-Dade Police officers and Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies joined forces in the pursuit of a stolen red Mercedes-Benz G Wagon heading northbound on Interstate 75, which crossed into Broward County, Wednesday afternoon. The pursuit started in Miami-Dade County, where two cars were reported stolen from a residence in the South West Miami-Dade.A second vehicle is believed to have been a Rolls Royce, which police recovered, but the thief who stole it remains at large. The G Wagon was followed by unmarked police cruisers before it began speeding in excess of 100 mph, weaving through traffic.Toward the end of the chase, the G Wagon exited on Sunrise Boulevard and the d...

2 men convicted in ‘Xbox killings’ back in court for resentencing

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:23:48 GMT

2 men convicted in ‘Xbox killings’ back in court for resentencing VOLUSIA COUNT, Florida (WESH) — Two of the four men convicted in the 2004 Deltona mass murders are back in a Volusia County courtroom for resentencing.A jury sentenced Troy Victorino and Jerone Hunter to death but a judge overturned those sentences because the jury recommendations were not unanimous.That’s what the prosecution wanted.The new law allows juries to recommend death with an 8-4 vote but Judge Randall Rowe, presiding, ruled this hearing started before the new law was passed so the jury will have to be unanimous to recommend death.“They thought about it, intended to do it, killed 6 innocent victims,” prosecutor Andrew Urbanek said.The killers took metal bats and knives into the house on Telford Lane in August of 2004, murdered Erin Belanger, Michelle Nathan, Francisco Ayo-Roman, Anthony Vega, Roberto Gonzalez and Jonathan Gleason.Their dog was stomped to death. It’s a massacre so horrific, there was blood evidence in every room.Prosecutors say...

Local leaders, students join thousands in celebration of Israel’s 75th Independence Day at loanDepot Park

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:23:48 GMT

Local leaders, students join thousands in celebration of Israel’s 75th Independence Day at loanDepot Park Thousands of South Floridians came together at loanDepot Park in Miami to celebrate Israel’s 75th Independence Day.Wednesday’s celebration was a joyous occasion that brought together people of all ages, filled with performances, special guests and a whole lot of energy.“We’re celebrating Israel’s birthday,” said a young attendee.“The idea is, really, to celebrate our own community and connect in celebration and solidarity with Israel,” said event organizer Tila Falic-Levi.Among those in attendance was Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who said she is proud of her connection.“I celebrate intercultural, multi-denominational, multi-religious connections every day. I’m here for everyone, but I’m also proud to be [Miami-Dade County’s] first Jewish mayor,” she said.The event also drew students from 22 different schools across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.Each local school represented a differ...

A man has been arrested in decades-old rapes in Michigan and Pennsylvania after DNA from a coffee cup linked him to the crimes, officials say

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:23:48 GMT

A man has been arrested in decades-old rapes in Michigan and Pennsylvania after DNA from a coffee cup linked him to the crimes, officials say (CNN) — A Michigan man is facing felony charges after DNA from a coffee cup linked him to two rapes in different states from more than 20 years ago, a prosecutor said.Alan Kurt Rillema, 51, was arrested last week and arraigned in Michigan on charges of first- and second-degree criminal sexual conduct. He also faces felony charges in Pennsylvania, according to court documents.The charges are the latest stemming from advances in investigative genetic genealogy leading authorities to a suspect in a decades-old cold case.The first rape Rillema is accused of was reported at a golf course in Michigan in 1999. Someone came in through an employee-only door and sexually assaulted a young woman who was working at the course’s food stand, said Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard at a news conference last week.Investigators at the time obtained DNA but didn’t have a suspect, the sheriff said.Then, another rape was reported in 2000 at a golf course at Penn State University,...

Court ruling raises questions about breathalyzer tests in tens of thousands of Mass. OUI cases 

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:23:48 GMT

Court ruling raises questions about breathalyzer tests in tens of thousands of Mass. OUI cases  Tens of thousands of drivers who plead guilty or who were convicted of being drunk behind the wheel are getting a second chance thanks to a decision from Massachusetts’ highest court that has thrown breathalyzer tests into question. The ruling comes after one woman decided to keep fighting her case after she was stopped at a sobriety checkpoint in Beverly roughly 10 years ago. The woman’s attorney, Murat Erkan spoke with 7NEWS, saying his client took a breathalyzer test. “Not only did the machine say she failed, it said that she failed quite spectacularly,” Erkan said. “That caused her to doubt herself — ‘I mean the machine says I did it.’”Erkan said he advised the woman to plead guilty, which she did. Years later, though, they learned the breath machines were not routinely calibrated, raising questions about their accuracy. Erkan and his client decided to appeal the 2013 drunk driving case.“She understood how the public was harmed and the public trust...