NEW HARTFORD — Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES Automotive Technology instructor John Stratton was recently named as the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence’s (ASE) 2024 CCAR/Electude/ASE Instructor of the Year. Stratton was among 59 automotive professionals recognized on November 20 during the ASE Service Professionals Awards ceremony held at the 2024 ASE and ASE Education Foundation Fall Board Meetings in New Orleans, LA. “These awards represent outstanding achievement in many areas of ASE Certification,” said Dave Johnson, ASE president and CEO. “The individuals being honored have demonstrated their knowledge by placing among the highest scoring automotive professionals holding ASE credentials. This, along with their exemplary performance each and every day, makes them exceptional examples of our industry to the public we serve. Together with our industry partners and award sponsors, we salute the best of the best.” Stratton joined the OHM BOCES Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center as an Automotive Technology instructor in 2003. He brings more than 27 years of experience working in the automotive industry to his classroom, where he enjoys seeing students from diverse backgrounds become lifelong friends, knowing students have become successful in their careers and having former students give back to the program by serving on the consultant committee. Stratton is ASE certified as a Master Automotive Technician, and in Maintenance and Light Repair and Advanced Engine Performance. He serves as co-advisor for the OHM BOCES chapter of SkillsUSA and also as the mechanical contests cluster manager for the New York State SkillsUSA Conference. He is a member of the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), the North American Council of Automotive Teachers (NACAT) and the National Auto Service Task Force. Prior to joining the OHM BOCES, Stratton was employed as a technician, shop foreman and service manager. Stratton attended high school in New Hartford, earned his associate of applied science degree from SUNY Canton and furthered his education at SUNY Polytechnic Institute and SUNY Oswego. Individually, Stratton has been named the recipient of the 2018 NACAT/Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Award, the 2020 SkillsUSA New York State Advisor of the Year, the 2021 SkillsUSA Region 1 Advisor of the Year, and the recipient of the 2022 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Award for Teaching Excellence. Under Stratton’s guidance, the OHM BOCES Automotive Technology program was recognized by Tomorrow’s Technician magazine in 2019 as the top automotive program in the northeast and one of the top four high school and post-secondary programs in the nation.

DexCom Inc. stock underperforms Friday when compared to competitorsThe China Fund, Inc. Announces Date of Annual Meeting of StockholdersConte’s last public act as Spurs head coach after a 3-3 draw at St Mary’s in 2023 was to launch a furious tirade against his own “selfish” players who he claimed “don’t want to play under pressure” before he seemed to turn on the board as he questioned the club’s ongoing trophy drought. Eight days later Conte had left Tottenham by mutual consent after a whirlwind 16-month period, with Postecoglou his eventual permanent successor. Postecoglou has been in charge of the Premier League club for two months longer than the Italian, but managed 12 fewer matches and is currently in the middle of an injury crisis which has resulted in a drop in form, with Spurs only able to claim one victory from their last eight fixtures. However, when Postecoglou was asked if he would jump ship in the wake of making remarks like Conte did in March, 2023, he said: “Look, I don’t think it’s fair to comment. “Antonio is a world-class manager and has his own way of doing things, his own reasons for doing that. “I am here, I am in for the fight. I am in a fight, for sure. For better or worse I am not going anywhere at the moment because everything is still in my power and my responsibility. “I still have a real desire to get us through this stage so that people see what is on the other side. My resolve and determination hasn’t wavered one little bit. “I love a fight, I love a scrap, I love being in the middle of a storm when everyone doubts because I know what it is on the other side if you get through it. My job is to get through it.” Postecoglou was Celtic boss when Conte’s extraordinary 10-minute press conference made waves around the world, but acknowledged being aware of his predecessors’ comments and attempted to explain the psyche behind why a manager would make such a move. “I was on Planet Earth at that time, and yes I was well aware of it,” Postecoglou smiled. “I think you know when a manager gets to that point that there’s obviously some underlying issues. “I think most of the time when managers do that they’re trying to get a reaction, trying to get some sort of impact on the team. “In difficult moments, what you want from your leaders is action rather than inaction of just letting things drift along. He did it to try and get a positive impact on the group, one way or another. We’ve all been in that situation as a manager where you feel this is time to send a message.” Postecoglou sent out his own message on Thursday after a 1-1 draw away to Rangers when he insisted Timo Werner’s display “wasn’t acceptable” at Ibrox. Werner was replaced at half-time following an error-strewn performance, but was not alone in being below-par in Glasgow. A day later Postecoglou explained how with Spurs missing several key first-teamers, the onus is on their fit senior players to deliver a level of application and commitment – and admitted Werner will be required at St Mary’s on Sunday. “I’ve got no choice. Who else am I going to play? I’m pulling kids out of school, I literally am,” Postecoglou mentioned in reference to 16-year-old duo Malachi Hardy and Luca Williams-Barnett, who have recently made the bench. “That was the reasoning for me pointing it out last night. We need Timo. We need all of them. “In normal times if you have a poor game, there’s a price to pay. It doesn’t exist right now. We need everybody we’ve got.”

I’m A Celebrity suffers very awkward tech blunder after Melvin’s exit leaving Ant McPartlin frustratedchoi dongsu/iStock via Getty Images If you read my last analysis of Amazon.com, Inc. ( AMZN ), you'll see that as a long-term investor, I value certain characteristics such as innovation, opportunities to explore new markets, and wide moats. Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of GOOGL, AMZN either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Smith scores 23 in Furman's 69-63 win against Princeton

Cheers and beers for Ruud van Nistelrooy as Leicester reign starts with win

and will battle it out for €50 million-rated , while free agent has been linked with a return to France. Join us for the latest transfer news, gossip, and rumors from around the globe. TOP STORIES - - - TRENDING RUMORS - are open to letting captain leave the club but will demand a €50 million fee from any interested party, according to . The Frenchman is highly regarded by several European sides and could leave San Siro as early as this January. Hernández's current contract is set to expire in June 2026, meaning Milan have a narrow window in which they can command a large transfer fee for the player. With talks having stalled over a contract extension, and are now said to be considering a move for the 27-year-old. - are weighing-up an audacious move for free agent Paul Pogba, reports. The side are said to be big admirers of the midfielder, who is aiming to return to the national team in the future. As such, the 31-year-old is receptive to the idea of joining Marseille, which could provide Pogba with a platform to showcase his talents. However, the transfer has also been described as "difficult" by the outlet, with the 2018 winner's salary being one potential stumbling block. - are keeping a close eye on and could launch a bid for the Real Madrid youngster next summer, according to . The 19-year-old has found first-team minutes hard to come by since joining Real in 2023 from . While the Spanish giants have no intention of letting Güler go in January, a summer move in 2025 could materialize if he grows frustrated with his current situation. The international is under contract at Real Madrid until 2029. - , alongside several other top European clubs, are keeping tabs on defender , according to . Reds head coach Arne Slot is said to be a long-term admirer of the Dutchman, who joined Bologna from in 2023. The side have ruled out a January exit for their star defender, but the report says that a summer transfer in 2025 could be possible if Liverpool stump up a fee of at least €25m. Real Madrid and are also said to be monitoring Beukema's progress. - has completed a medical at and will soon join the Hungarian side on a one-year loan deal, according to . The former Liverpool midfielder has struggled massively since joining in the summer of 2023, playing just five games. A deal is now in place for Keïta to join the , which also includes a clause to make the transfer a permanent one at the end of his loan spell.Ocean of peace in a world of a war

Capital project: plugging in profits from a big batterySouthampton fans have mocked Jamie Carragher after he appeared to criticise their new boss, Ivan Juric , for 'choosing' not to manage the Saints against Fulham on Sunday. Juric, 49, has replaced Russell Martin at St Mary's, with the south-coast club rock bottom of the Premier League. The experienced Croatian watched from the stands at Craven Cottage as Southampton earned a hard-fought 0-0 draw. That was after Juric had been announced as the Saints' new manager on Saturday evening, signing an 18-month contract. Before kick-off, while punditry duty for Sky Sports , Liverpool legend Carragher said: "It's the one thing that always fascinates me when new managers are appointed and they don't get involved straight away. "I just think if it was my team - I understand he hasn't trained with them or maybe picked the team - but I just think if I was in that situation, I'd be picking the team and saying, 'Okay, I'm speaking to them before the game, what I'm looking for'. "Go in and give a message at half-time. What are you waiting for? The quicker this starts getting going and this guy, they believe, can give them a fighting chance of maybe staying in the league or make them more competitive, I'd be straight in there." After Carragher's comments were shared on Sky's social media channels, Southampton supporters were quick to tell the ex- England defender exactly why Juric was unable to officially start work. The former Roma manager was actually still waiting on his work permit which eventually came through on Monday. One fan posted in the replies section of Sky's post: "His work permit hasn't been approved, so bit of a silly thing for him to say." Another said: "Probably didn't want to break the law Jamie." A third added: "What's he waiting for? Probably the legal right to be able to work within the country." A fourth sympathised: "Come on Jamie I really like you but do your research. WORK PERMIT." Will Ivan Juric keep Southampton in the Premier League? Give us your prediction in the comments section . The same Southampton fan then joked: "Only a small minor detail, outrageous from Juric #JuricOut." Juric spoke to the media on Monday ahead of Southampton's Boxing Day clash with West Ham , and he insists that his new side can do 'something exceptional' by pulling off a great escape. "I am optimistic. I'm really optimistic," the former Croatia midfielder declared. "Even the other day, I saw their mentality, and it's the first step to doing better. I think we can do something exceptional. The guys have to be very motivated to do something that never, nobody did. They don't know me but I know them. I said that I believe in them, they have quality, they can do it. Be positive, work hard, and everything is possible." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Amazon's Prime Video is broadcasting the Premier League Boxing Day round of fixtures on December 26-27. Each match can be streamed free with an Amazon Prime subscription or by signing up for an Amazon Prime 30-day free trial .

Powell Industries: Don't Chase This Rally - No Margin Of SafetyAP Sports SummaryBrief at 3:45 p.m. EST

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A pair of classical musicians, including famed British cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, cancelled a sold-out show in Toronto after Air Canada refused to allow them to board their flight with a cello, even though they'd purchased a seat for the instrument. Kanneh-Mason and his pianist sister Isata were scheduled to perform at Koerner Hall on Wednesday, but had to cancel last minute, the pair shared in "First we had delays, then a cancellation, and the day concluded by being denied boarding with the cello — despite having a confirmed seat for it — on a new, final flight into Toronto," they wrote. Although they didn't specify the airline responsible in their statement, the post included a hashtag for Air Canada and also tagged Air Canada's account. Kanneh-Mason hit the global spotlight in 2018 at the age of 19 when he played the cello during the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at Windsor Castle, a performance that was watched by more than two billion people worldwide. A spokesperson for Air Canada told CBC News in an email that the airline has a policy of accepting cellos in the cabin when a separate seat has been booked. "In this case, the customers made a last-minute booking due to their original flight on another airline being cancelled," the spokesperson said. "We are still reviewing what happened including why the cello was not successfully rebooked." The cello that Sheku Kanneh-Mason uses is more than 300 years and is on indefinite loan to the musician. (Chris O'Donovan) The cello in question is more than 300 years old, constructed around 1700 by famous Venetian luthier Matteo Goffriller. According to a short film about the instrument, it's worth more than three million euros, about $4.5 million Cdn. Air Canada's states that an extra seat must be purchased for a musical instrument that doesn't fit in the overhead bin or under the seat, and that the instrument must not exceed 162.5 centimetres in height or length or 36 kilograms in weight. It also states that "the number of musical instruments that can be accommodated on each flight is limited." This isn't the first time that Kanneh-Mason has encountered problems trying to transport his cello by air. In 2023, he on social media, alleging that he was not allowed to board with the cello despite having purchased a seat for it. At the time, Kanneh-Mason stated that this was "a common problem" for professional musicians who travel with instruments that can't be treated as checked baggage. In the Instagram post this week, the siblings, who hail from a family of musicians, urged airlines to come up with clearer policies for musical instruments. "We can only dream of a time when all airlines have a standardized, global and carefully considered approach to the carriage of precious instruments that are booked to travel in the cabin," they wrote. "In the meantime, we are working hard to find a new date to come to Toronto next year and we both look forward to seeing you then." Wednesday's performance was to include cello sonatas by Mendelssohn, Faure, Poulenc, as well as the Canadian premiere of a piece by British violinist and composer Natalie Klouda. Now it will be months before Canadians hear the duo's music. According to the Royal Conservatory's website, the concert has been to June 3, 2025.Cheers and beers for Ruud van Nistelrooy as Leicester reign starts with winThere are some sectors where large players have an edge. Here, the nature of the business is such that there are phases where the ability to stay in the game – and maintain cash on the balance sheet – matter most. Thus, when the tide turns in favor of that sector, these large companies are able to make the most of it. A sector that has gone through a phase of realignment of business and readjustment of valuations for many years – and is now

With Donald Trump’s return to the White House and Republicans taking full control of Congress in 2025, the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion is back on the chopping block. By Phil Galewitz , for KFF Health News More than 3 million adults in nine states would be at immediate risk of losing their health coverage should the GOP reduce the extra federal Medicaid funding that’s enabled states to widen eligibility, according to KFF , a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News, and the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families . That’s because the states have trigger laws that would swiftly end their Medicaid expansions if federal funding falls. The states are Arizona, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Utah, and Virginia. The 2010 Affordable Care Act encouraged states to expand Medicaid programs to cover more low-income Americans who didn’t get health insurance through their jobs. Forty states and the District of Columbia agreed, extending health insurance since 2014 to an estimated 21 million people and helping drive the U.S. uninsured rate to record lows. In exchange, the federal government pays 90% of the cost to cover the expanded population. That’s far higher than the federal match for other Medicaid beneficiaries, which averages about 57% nationwide. Conservative policy groups, which generally have opposed the ACA, say the program costs too much and covers too many people. Democrats say the Medicaid expansion has saved lives and helped communities by widening coverage to people who could not afford private insurance. If Congress cuts federal funding, Medicaid expansion would be at risk in all states that have opted into it—even those without trigger laws—because state legislatures would be forced to make up the difference, said Renuka Tipirneni, an associate professor at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health. Decisions to keep or roll back the expansion “would depend on the politics at the state level,” Tipirneni said. For instance, Michigan approved a trigger as part of its Medicaid expansion in 2013, when it was controlled by a Republican governor and legislature. Last year, with the government controlled by Democrats, the state eliminated its funding trigger. Six of the nine states with trigger laws—Arizona, Arkansas, Indiana, Montana, North Carolina, and Utah—went for Donald Trump in the 2024 election. RELATED STORY: Washington power has shifted. Here’s how the ACA may shift, too Most of the nine states’ triggers kick in if federal funding falls below the 90% threshold. Arizona’s trigger would eliminate its expansion if funding falls below 80%. Montana’s law rolls back expansion below 90% funding but allows it to continue if lawmakers identify additional funding. Under state law, Montana lawmakers must reauthorize its Medicaid expansion in 2025 or the expansion will end. Across the states with triggers, between 3.1 million and 3.7 million people would swiftly lose their coverage, researchers at KFF and the Georgetown center estimate. The difference depends on how states treat people who were added to Medicaid before the ACA expansion; they may continue to qualify even if the expansion ends. Three other states—Iowa, Idaho, and New Mexico—have laws that require their governments to mitigate the financial impact of losing federal Medicaid expansion funding but would not automatically end expansions. With those three states included, about 4.3 million Medicaid expansion enrollees would be at risk of losing coverage, according to KFF. The ACA allowed Medicaid expansions to adults with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level, or about $20,783 for an individual in 2024. Nearly a quarter of the 81 million people enrolled in Medicaid nationally are in the program due to expansions. “With a reduction in the expansion match rate, it is likely that all states would need to evaluate whether to continue expansion coverage because it would require a significant increase in state spending,” said Robin Rudowitz, vice president and director of the Program on Medicaid and the Uninsured at KFF. “If states drop coverage, it is likely that there would be an increase in the number of uninsured, and that would limit access to care across red and blue states that have adopted expansion.” States rarely cut eligibility for social programs such as Medicaid once it’s been granted. The triggers make it politically easier for state lawmakers to end Medicaid expansion because they would not have to take any new action to cut coverage, said Edwin Park, a research professor at the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. To see the impact of trigger laws, consider what happened after the Supreme Court in 2022 struck down Roe v. Wade and, with it, the constitutional right to an abortion. Conservative lawmakers in 13 states had crafted trigger laws that would automatically implement bans in the event a national right to abortion were struck down. Those state laws resulted in restrictions taking effect immediately after the court ruling, or shortly thereafter. States adopted triggers as part of Medicaid expansion to win over lawmakers skeptical of putting state dollars on the hook for a federal program unpopular with most Republicans. It’s unclear what Trump and congressional Republicans will do with Medicaid after he takes office in January, but one indicator could be a recent recommendation from the Paragon Health Institute, a leading conservative policy organization led by former Trump health adviser Brian Blase. Paragon has proposed that starting in 2026 the federal government would phase down the 90% federal match for expansion until 2034, when it would reach parity with each state’s federal match for its traditional enrollees. Under that plan, states could still get ACA Medicaid expansion funding but restrict coverage to enrollees with incomes up to the federal poverty level. Currently, to receive expansion funding, states must offer coverage to everyone up to 138% of the poverty level. RELATED STORY: Americans without health insurance surged with Trump—and plummeted under Biden Daniel Derksen, director of the Center for Rural Health at the University of Arizona, said it’s unlikely Arizona would move to eliminate its trigger and make up for lost federal funds. “It would be a tough sell right now as it would put a big strain on the budget,” he said. Medicaid has been in the crosshairs of Republicans in Washington before. Republican congressional leaders in 2017 proposed legislation to cut federal expansion funding, a move that would have shifted billions in costs to states. That plan, part of a strategy to repeal Obamacare, ultimately failed. KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF . Subscribe to KFF Health News' free Morning Briefing. This article first appeared on KFF Health News and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Stocks were choppy Tuesday as investors looked ahead to this week's key events on the economic calendar , which include a Wednesday afternoon appearance from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and the Friday morning release of the November jobs report. The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished the day down 0.2% at 44,705. However, the S&P 500 (+0.05% at 6,049.88) and the Nasdaq Composite (0.4% at 19,480) held on for a win, with both notching new record closing highs. Wall Street kept a cautious eye on global markets, though developments overseas did little to move the needle here at home. Most notably, South Korea's president, Yoon Suk Yeoul, declared martial law early Tuesday in order to eradicate "pro-North Korean forces." However, the country's parliament quickly – and unanimously – voted to end the order and President Yoon eventually agreed. Subscribe to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail. Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail. Job openings, quits were higher in October In economic news, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said this morning that job openings rose to 7.7 million in October from 7.4 million in September. Professional and business services saw the largest increases (+209,000), while the federal government saw the biggest decline (-26,000). The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) release also showed that hires fell to 5.3 million from 5.6 million the month prior. Total separations edged up to 5.3 million from 5.2 million as quits rose 2.1%. "The labor market continues to look cooler, but not in trouble," says Elizabeth Renter , senior economist at NerdWallet. "Despite some month-to-month volatility, the number of job openings and hires continue to trend downward. This is happening at the same time as a low rate of layoffs." The job openings data hits just ahead of the Labor Department's monthly nonfarm payrolls report, which is due Friday morning. Shruti Mishra , an economist at BofA Securities, expects the report to show the U.S. added 240,000 new jobs in November – a sharp rebound from October's addition of just 12,000 jobs. "This above-consensus forecast is driven by expected payback for the temporary drag on payrolls in October due to Hurricane Milton and the Boeing ( BA ) strike," Mishra writes in a note to clients. However, the economist notes that a strong November jobs report "is unlikely to derail" a rate cut by the Fed at its December meeting, "but an upside surprise in November inflation could do the trick." According to CME Group's FedWatch Tool , futures traders are currently pricing in a 74% chance the Fed will cut interest rates by a quarter-percentage point at its meeting later this month – up from 62% yesterday. AT&T makes shareholder-friendly promises In single-stock news, AT&T ( T ) continued its red-hot run, rising 4.6% to bring its year-to-date gain to 40%. The telecom is headed toward its best calendar-year performance since 2019 and this latest surge comes courtesy of the company's shareholder-friendly initiatives. Specifically, at its annual Analyst & Investor Day, AT&T said it expects to accumulate at least $50 billion in free cash flow over the next three years, $40 billion of which will be returned to shareholders through dividends and stock buybacks . "Under this capital return plan, the Company expects to maintain its current annualized common stock dividend of $1.11 per share," AT&T said in a press release . "This plan would result in $20 billion+ in total dividend payments, with capacity for about $20 billion in share repurchases, from 2025-2027." Credo stock soars after earnings Credo Technology Group ( CRDO ) was another big winner, surging 47.9% after the maker of high-speed connectivity solutions for artificial intelligence (AI) data centers reported its fiscal second-quarter results. For the three months ended November 2, the company disclosed earnings of 7 cents per share on revenue of $72 million, beating analysts' expectations. Credo also forecast fiscal third-quarter revenue of $115 million to $125 million, with the midpoint of this range exceeding Wall Street's outlook for $120 million. "For the past few quarters, we have anticipated an inflection point in our revenue during the second half of fiscal 2025," said Credo Technology CEO Bill Brennan in the earnings release . "I am pleased to share that this turning point has arrived, and we are experiencing even greater demand than initially projected, driven by AI deployments and deepening customer relationships." Related content The Best Retail Stocks to Buy This Holiday Season Roth IRA vs. Traditional IRA: Which is Better? What Is an Index Fund and Should I Invest in One?

With inflation high and Social Security only covering a small portion of what seniors end up spending during their golden years, retirement is no longer the surefire financial reality it used to be. For decades, older people relied on pensions, but they now often have to strategize their retirement savings to make it through their later years. But some states have it easier for retirees, according to a new study from SellMyTimeshareNow.com. Based on key economic and social factors like average salary, monthly housing costs, crime rates and medical costs, the timeshare resale marketplace ranked the 50 states and found some were especially difficult for retirees. Mississippi was crowned the worst state in which to retire, as it had some of the highest crime rates and the lowest average salary of $45,180. Due to this low income, seniors may struggle to save for retirement and also face more of a crime risk. Next on the list was Alabama, which had only a slightly higher average salary of $50,620 and crime rate of 3,127 per 100,000 people. Medical costs also were high yearly, at an average of $9,280. "Southern states generally have higher poverty levels due to lower median incomes," Kevin Thompson, finance expert and founder/CEO of 9i Capital Group, told Newsweek. "The majority of those states boast a higher percentage of residents relying on government benefits like Medicaid and SNAP." In third place, Idaho saw some of the worst retirement circumstances, in large part due to the rising cost of housing, according to the report. Those with fixed incomes may find it especially difficult to afford a retirement in the state due to this. The other worst rated states for retirement were Iowa and Arkansas, which both had low average yearly salaries. Iowa saw some of the highest property taxes, while Arkansas had a high total crime rate of 3,428 per 100,000 people. Florida, long considered the quintessential retirement state, did not crack the top 10 or bottom 10 of the marketplace rankings. Best States to Retire While much of the South saw a less retiree-friendly environment, some states fared better on the ranking list. Alaska was deemed the most retirement-friendly state, with an average salary of $66,120, significantly higher than the national average. The state also doesn't have an income tax, and seniors are able to avoid high taxes on their homes. New York and Colorado came in shortly after as the second and third best states to retire. New Yorkers had an average salary of $74,870, which was the highest in the nation. That means more retirement savings for seniors. Generally, they also saw a lower total crime rate of just 1,747 incidents per 100,000 people. Thompson said Alaska and New York's high ratings were surprising, given their climates and cost of living. "New York seems very surprising as many people traditionally leave the state for less costly alternatives like Florida and warmer climates," Thompson said. "Alaska is another one as the cost of living remains quite high due to its remote nature." Still, for those saving for retirement, states with high job salaries may be the way to go. "While we're so often told that states in the Southeastern United States are best for retirement because of their low cost of living, the earning potential in these states doesn't always produce the savings needed to make retirement feasible," Alex Beene, financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek. "Other states - like New York - may have a higher cost of living but also come with higher paying positions that can produce a more robust retirement fund." In third place, Colorado also had a high average salary of $67,870 and relatively low crime levels. Seniors may also be drawn to the state's mountains and recreational pursuits. Washington and Oregon were also ranked high for their average salaries and moderate crime rates. Housing and medical costs were also middle of the road, which made retirement less burdensome for older people. "Retirement planning involves considering various factors beyond how much a household can save," an expert at SellMyTimeshareNow.com said in a statement. "Cost of living, healthcare expenses, and crime rates significantly impact where retirees choose to settle. States that offer higher average salaries and lower taxes can provide a more comfortable retirement, but it's essential to balance these with living costs and personal preferences." Beene said for most retirees, your expected expenses for retirement will matter greatly when it comes to choosing the best place to live. "If you're planning to keep the cost of living low, odds are incomes in Mississippi and Alabama can still produce a decent savings rate for retirement given the lower costs in those states," Beene said. "However, if you're hoping to maintain the same standard of living you currently enjoy, it may be time to reconsider not just your approach, but your location, as well."

The NCAA, Pac-12 Conference and USC are seeking the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by former Trojans star running back Reggie Bush on the grounds that his claims of antitrust violations and lost name, image and likeness compensation from his Heisman-winning tenure at USC come “at least a decade and a half too late.” Bush filed the lawsuit in September , alleging that his school, its former conference and the sport’s governing body had all “profited from uncompensated use” of his NIL during and after his dazzling tenure at USC “without compensating Bush one penny.” In a news release announcing the lawsuit, Bush’s attorneys claimed he should be paid “to address and rectify ongoing injustices stemming from the exploitation of Reggie Bush’s name, image and likeness during his tenure as a USC football player.” But in filings this week with the Los Angeles Superior Court, attorneys for the NCAA, Pac-12 and USC set out to dismantle those claims, arguing that Bush’s “effort to wind back the clock” should be barred by the statute of limitations, which is typically four years in antitrust cases. Bush last played at USC in 2005. “Any such claims accrued no later than 2005, meaning that his suit comes at least a decade and a half too late,” the NCAA’s attorneys wrote. “And while [Bush] gestures at several exceptions to the statutes of limitations [in his lawsuit], he offers no well-pleaded allegations showing a plausible entitlement to any of them.” The NCAA’s attorneys argue that not only was Bush’s lawsuit filed too late, but that it’s also “legally insufficient” with “few facts at all beyond a summary of [Bush’s] playing career.” “Such a bare-bones complaint does not suffice under California law,” the attorneys wrote. Additionally, they claim Bush is bound by previously litigated claims against the NCAA regarding access to NIL and his place as member of a certified class in past lawsuits, including O’Bannon vs. NCAA, “makes it inexcusable for him to have waited over a decade more to bring a similar claim yet again.” USC said in a statement it was “proud of the exceptional support it offers its current and former student-athletes, including Reggie Bush, whose efforts to recover his Heisman Trophy we fully and publicly supported.” “The claims in the lawsuit, however, date back nearly 20 years, are completely barred by the statute of limitations and, regardless, lack any legal or factual merit. USC has asked the court to dismiss these claims as a matter of law, and we will continue to defend ourselves in court.” In suing the NCAA, Bush’s attorneys said he hoped to “pave the way for a system where athletes are rightfully recognized, compensated and treated fairly for their contributions.” During his three seasons at USC, no college athlete in America was more recognizable than Bush, whose electric ability helped lead the Trojans to a national title in 2004 and earned him the Heisman Trophy as the best player in college football in 2005. But in 2010, long after Bush had left for the NFL, the NCAA found that Bush and his family had accepted improper benefits during his college tenure and imposed harsh sanctions on USC , including a total disassociation from Bush , whose name and image was scrubbed completely from the school and its record books. Bush was also forced to relinquish his Heisman Trophy , as the Heisman Trust refused for over a decade to acknowledge him as one of its winners. That changed earlier this year after a lengthy campaign from Bush and his attorneys, as the Heisman Trust reversed course on its long-standing decision. The trophy was returned in April to Bush , who immediately turned his ire to the NCAA. He vowed to fight until his records from 2004 and 2005 were reinstated, along with USC’s wins during its 2004 championship season. “This is just the beginning of the journey to getting full justice,” one of Bush’s attorneys, Ben Crump, said at the time. Bush’s legal team sought USC’s help in that fight this past fall. They asked that the school “get behind” Bush’s efforts to get his records reinstated and also reimburse Bush for his attorneys fees. A few weeks later, Bush filed his lawsuit , naming the school as one of its defendants. The school found out via the news release from Bush’s legal team. “Reggie Bush received all the accolades a college football athlete could receive during his three years playing football at USC,” the lawsuit stated. “And while Bush received the accolades, Defendants NCAA, USC, and the Pac-12 Conference received all the money.” How much Bush is asking for in restitution from the three defendants is still unclear. In an interview with The Times, one of Bush’s attorneys said experts told him USC made “hundreds of millions” off of Bush during his tenure as a Trojan. But the topic of back NIL pay had never been broached with USC before the lawsuit was filed. And the complaint itself is largely devoid of specifics as it relates to revenue or NIL estimates. As part of the lawsuit, Bush’s legal team did request a trove of documents, according to court filings, including revenue figures from jersey sales, video games sales and TV deals, as well as any communication between the NCAA, USC, Pete Carroll or the Heisman Trust. Attorneys for the defendants dismissed the request for documents as “needlessly burdensome.” The legal teams on both sides of Bush’s lawsuit met last week via video conference to discuss the complaint and hash out their differences. But no agreement could be reached, according to court filings.