Market Watch

Despite a nationwide underperformance by Republicans, North Carolina Republicans made meaningful gains, picking up two seats in both the state Senate and House. The change in legislative composition presents additional opportunities for lawmakers to continue their decade-long record of successful governing and increasing freedom for all North Carolinians. As is the case every two years, the John Locke Foundation produces a legislative agenda featuring the most critical issues legislators need to focus on to keep North Carolina on its prosperous track. Backed by research and careful consideration, these policy recommendations would help make our state the freest in the union. Locke’s 2023-2024 policy agenda comprises many issues we have championed in the past. Regarding fiscal policy and taxes, the General Assembly should continue keeping the growth of government in line with inflation and population growth , as well as look to repeal unnecessary taxes, such as the privilege tax . In education, lawmakers should protect and expand school choice programs and pass a parental bill of rights that prioritizes transparency and accountability. To support a growing economy and workforce, lawmakers should look for ways to make it easier for workers to utilize their skills free from undue burden and […]

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The Virginia Statehouse on the eve of the 2020 legislation session in Richmond, VA. A Virginia legislative panel formed to study campaign finance reform failed to deliver its final report on Wednesday in yet another setback for advocates who say the cost of elections in the commonwealth is untenable. Virginia’s rules governing election spending are among the least restrictive in the country, with virtually no limits on the amount of money individuals and corporations can donate to state politicians. The General Assembly created the subcommittee almost two years ago to review potential reforms, including limits on political donations and new disclosure requirements. The panel was initially scheduled to complete its work in 2021, but state lawmakers granted it a 12-month extension early last year citing delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The subcommittee was due to release a final report of its findings and recommendations at the start of the 2023 legislative session on Jan. 11. That deadline has now come and gone. While the subcommittee did issue a draft report in October 2021, it never held a vote, as required by law, to formalize the recommendations. It then went through 2022 without holding a single meeting. Neither state […]

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Randolph, NJ: County College of Morris (CCM) is offering an opportunity to take advantage of in-demand careers as it prepares students to become certified drone pilots. The Drone Pilot Certification course, which runs from January 24 to April 29, teaches students what they need to know to work as commercial drone pilots. The course offers drone-flight lessons, drone-pilot readiness training and in-class preparation for the certification exam administered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Interested members of the community are invited to meet the drones up close and talk with the instructors on Saturday, January 14, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at CCM’s Health and Physical Education building, near Parking Lot 7. Sign Up for FREE Morristown Newsletter Certified drone pilots Kelvin King, Carlos Velasquez, Andrew Flor and Devon Keena teach the course and instruct students in both the practice and theory of piloting commercial drones. “Drone pilots are in high demand in industries such as photography, real estate, forestry, logistics and distribution, emergency management, surveillance and agriculture,” says King, who is also an airline pilot. “This course allows CCM students to be among the first in New Jersey to earn drone pilot certification.” The course is taught […]

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Summary Time, not timing was the secret to success. Simple behaviors consistently practiced over time can be much more powerful than the most sophisticated knowledge and analysis. Reversion to the mean is a powerful force in markets. The market currently favors companies that pursue profits most aggressively – we expect this to continue, and it could take more pain for managements to adequately adjust. Galeanu Mihai Annualized Performance (%) as of 12/31/22 QTD YTD 1-Year 3-Year 5-Year 10-Year Since Inception (12/30/99) Opportunity Equity (gross of fees) 2.11 -35.51 -35.51 -4.57 1.43 10.36 6.375 Opportunity Equity (net of fees) 1.85 -36.18 -36.18 -5.52 0.41 9.27 5.69 S&P 500 Index 7.56 -18.11 -18.11 7.66 9.42 12.56 6.28 “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” – Seneca A new year, a new beginning. People often appreciate the prospect of starting fresh, the possibility that comes with change. New Year’s resolutions bring hope and promise. For most, the biggest challenge isn’t figuring out what to do, but doing it consistently. Resolutions are made, but not kept. We know we should eat healthy and exercise, be kind and patient with loved ones and buy low and sell high. Somehow, the knowing doesn’t […]

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WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – A North Dakota-based sporting goods store is set to open its second location in Kansas this summer. Ahead of SCHEELS’ launch in Wichita , the company is in need of hundreds of workers. This weekend, SCHEELS is holding a career expo in downtown Wichita. The company aims to fill 500 positions , including full and part-time for its store at Town East Square. The store is slated to open July 1. The career expo began Friday and continues Saturday, Jan. 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Page Court Building at the Garvey Center, 220 West Douglas, in Wichita. Among the job applicants attending the first day of the career expo was Kareema Williams, an educator who said she’s learning about the employment process, not only as a potential side job, but also for opportunities for her students. “It gives you an opportunity to come in and practice some of the interviewing skills we do in class and earn a little paycheck. So, why not?,” she said. The employee-owned all-sports retailer’s space in Wichita will take up about 230,000 square feet, featuring more than 75 specialty shops focused on outdoors, sports, fashion, and […]

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Big stores including Walmart, Home Depot facing ‘historic’ levels of theft Home improvement retailer Home Depot is making a nationwide change to how it pays hourly employees next week. "As laws, technology and workplace practices continue to evolve, we’re changing our practice nationwide effective Jan. 16, 2023, to pay hourly associates to the nearest minute based on exact time punches," a Home Depot spokesperson confirmed to FOX Business . The new policy will mark a switch from its current practice, which the spokesperson said "has been to round total shift time up or down to the nearest 15 minutes." That "has been a common industry practice for many years," according to the spokesperson. Home Depot store in West Berlin, N.J. with rental trucks parked outside, Dec 25, 2022. (Fox News) The move was first reported Wednesday by Business Insider. The practice of rounding is permitted in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), with the law noting some industries tend to round to the "nearest 5 minutes, or to the nearest one-tenth or quarter of an hour." It must be "used in such a manner that it will not result, over a period of time, in failure to compensate the […]

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Thom Browne can keep his stripes, the jury has ruled. After a nine-day trial, the New York luxury brand has been found not liable for damages or profits made from the sales of its four-striped products in its case against Adidas over the stripe . Adidas sued Thom Browne for nearly $8 million in damages and profits, arguing that Thom Browne’s stripes “imitate” its own branding, citing its Three-Stripe trademark. Unable to settle outside of court, the brands first appeared in front of Judge Jed Rakoff on Tuesday 3 January. On Thursday, just hours after closing arguments, the jury ruled in favour of Thom Browne. “We are pleased that the jury found that at no time did Thom Browne, Inc. infringe on any of Adidas’s trademarks,” a spokesperson for Thom Browne said in a statement. “For over 20 years now, Thom Browne has been a pioneering force in luxury fashion, bringing a wholly unique and distinctive design aesthetic that combines classic tailoring with American sportswear sensibilities. We look forward to continuing to design and provide the creative products that have become the hallmark of the Thom Browne label.” Adidas’s argument was that Thom Browne’s use of stripes, particularly in […]

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WEAR ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. — A few dozen feet is what is preventing an Escambia County man from expanding his business. Daniel Demeter owns The Grid Arcade off of North Pace Boulevard. The county is not allowing him to sell beer inside the arcade, because his business is within a thousand feet of a child care facility. He went before the county’s Board of Adjustments to try and plead his case, but has had no luck. WEAR News spoke with him Thursday about how he’s moving forward. The Grid Arcade has everything a retro game enthusiast could ask for. "A lot of our games comes from the early 70s and 80s, got everything you can think of — Donkey Kong, Galaga, Space Invaders," Demeter said. Demeter is trying to expand his business and enhance his licensing so he can sell his beer through the arcade. However, a day care center down the road is standing in his way. Current county ordinance prevents businesses from selling alcohol if a child care facility is within a thousand feet from the front door. "Their latest measurement came out to 915 feet, but if you use a measuring wheel it came out to […]

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Sam Bankman-Fried arrives at Manhattan federal court on January 3. Bankruptcy lawyers said Sam Bankman-Fried’s Alameda had access to a $65 billion credit line from FTX. The customer loans were made available via a backdoor created by FTX cofounder Gary Wang, they said. The money was used for luxury purchases like planes, parties, and political donations, the court heard. Sign up for our newsletter for the latest tech news and scoops — delivered daily to your inbox. Something is loading. Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you’re on the go. Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Sam Bankman-Fried instructed his FTX cofounder Gary Wang to create a "secret" backdoor to enable his trading firm Alameda to borrow $65 billion of clients’ money from the exchange without their permission, the Delaware bankruptcy court was told Wednesday. Wang was told to create a "backdoor, a secret way for Alameda to borrow from customers on the exchange without permission," said FTX lawyer Andrew Dietderich. "Mr. Wang created this back door by […]

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New York CNN — Pepsi Zero Sugar will soon taste different. The sugar-free soda unveiled a new recipe that uses a “new sweetener system” that gives it a more “refreshing and bolder taste profile” compared to its previous iteration, Pepsi announced Friday. Pepsi (PEP) didn’t reveal what specifically changed in the formula, though the company told CNN it reduced the amount of caffeine, which now mirrors the amount in regular Pepsi (PEP) . However, the company said that its customer research of the new flavor said it tastes more refreshing with a “real cola taste.” The company “leveraged the best new beverage technology to upgrade our Pepsi Zero Sugar product to give fans the best tasting cola in the zero-sugar category,” said Todd Kaplan, Pepsi’s chief marketing officer, in a release. The new recipe has begun rolling out to store shelves, and the packaging design remains the same. Pepsi did add a “new improved taste” badge to help shoppers identify the new formula. Users on Reddit who discovered the new formula a few weeks ago said it tastes “way sweeter” and no longer has a “weird after taste” compared to its predecessor. Pepsi is putting some marketing muscle behind […]

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