c%wR��3������#��F�'U��6w� k�i0�;/����Q���#`����Ns�oeyu#�w%�K 3����K����;�޶d}`�zZ�]j&u~E�Vr��7ҋ*�}�ˆ{�B^�w����.�^��`��kex�;�0"�e��#\Q?��4���+k��vְ�dBR_�]}]Y~�76�3�'f�,���Ez��y��#"�m�e�Y��i�#�(��4���S�`�

NoneThis story will be updated. AUGUSTA, Maine — The Legislature’s watchdog committee cannot force the state to hand over confidential files from high-profile child death cases, Maine’s high court ruled Thursday. The 26-page ruling from the Maine Supreme Judicial Court ended a yearslong dispute between the administration of Gov. Janet Mills and the Government Oversight Committee, which has led the Legislature’s investigations of the embattled child welfare system. It has been a major area of focus for Maine’s policymakers since two high-profile child deaths in 2018. A study found that Maine had the highest rate of child maltreatment among states in 2020. More than 100 child welfare workers called on Mills last week to replace their boss, ensuring that the subject area will be on the agenda again for lawmakers in 2025. The legal dispute between lawmakers and the state goes back to the summer of 2022, when the state rejected the oversight committee’s subpoena for confidential files on four children who were under the age of 4 when they were killed by parents during the previous year. The state argued that the oversight committee’s staff — not the lawmakers who direct them — could view the confidential files and said that releasing them could imperil prosecutions that were ongoing at the time but have since finished with guilty verdicts. Lawmakers sued, saying that ignoring their subpoena violates the constitutional separation of powers. A lower-court judge sided with the state, prompting the legislative committee to appeal in 2023 to the high court. It upheld the ruling on slightly different grounds, citing legislative history and court precedent to argue that only legislative staff are allowed to see confidential material. “Each entity is prescribed a distinct role, and their respective roles inform the nature and scope of access to confidential information and records such as those at issue here,” the court ruled. More articles from the BDNc%wR��3������#��F�'U��6w� k�i0�;/����Q���#`����Ns�oeyu#�w%�K 3����K����;�޶d}`�zZ�]j&u~E�Vr��7ҋ*�}�ˆ{�B^�w����.�^��`��kex�;�0"�e��#\Q?��4���+k��vְ�dBR_�]}]Y~�76�3�'f�,���Ez��y��#"�m�e�Y��i�#�(��4���S�`�。

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READER POLL: How would you grade the Orioles’ signing of Tyler O’Neill?Tesla Inc TSLA is the top stock pick in the automotive sector for 2025, Morgan Stanley analysts led by Adam Jonas said in a note covering electric vehicles (EVs). Tesla Top Stock Pick: Jonas’ note came ahead of Tesla hitting new all-time highs Wednesday. Jonas reiterated an Overweight rating on Tesla and raised the price target from $310 to $400. "Elon Musk's entry into the political sphere has expanded investor thinking around Tesla's fundamental outlook," Jonas said of Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Tesla stock rallied since the 2024 presidential election. The big question is whether the move is temporary or the start of more to come. "Will Tesla begin to play a greater role in the US renewable/autonomous industrial complex?" Jonas asks. Jonas said client conversation see enthusiasm for AI, data centers, renewable energy and robotics. The conversations acknowledge that it's important for the U.S. to be a leader in these sectors, Jonas added. "Based on our discussions, at least, Tesla is very frequently excluded from the potential paths of expression in a portfolio." Tesla's total addressable market outside of its core automotive market is likely to expand. It might not be included in financial models for the stock, Jonas said. Jonas said there could be risks on Tesla's autonomous vehicles and more items over time. But the close relationship between Musk and President-elect Donald Trump could prove key to unlocking value. Government and industrial partnerships could prove key for growth in EVs, autonomous vehicles and robotics, Jonas added. "Elon Musk's emergence from a political ‘outsider' to having a voice in potential policies may, at some level, accelerate Tesla's journey beyond autos." You may not be a billionaire like Elon Musk, but you can uncover hidden gems in the stock market using our proprietary data and pattern recognition — check out five stocks flying under the radar that deserve your attention. Other Auto Picks: Outside of Tesla, Jonas and team see a "bumpy road" ahead for EVs and autonomous vehicles. "The US election result has extended the ‘ICE is Nice' trade for a bit longer but keep on the lookout for hidden value in the EV ecosystem into the 2H," Jonas said. Jonas upgraded General Motors GM from Underweight to Equal-Weight and raised the price target from $46 to $54. The analyst said smaller EV companies could be the most at risk with the new administration. Trump promised to end EV credits . "While Tesla may see share gain long term even with a less supportive EV regulatory backdrop, smaller scale EV start-ups Rivian and Lucid may see greater risks to production." Jonas has an Equal-Weight rating on Rivian Automotive RIVN and an Underweight rating on Lucid Group LCID . Rivian's valuation has the appropriate risk/reward for the balance between trying to achieve profitability and trying to get value out of its technology, the analyst added. Price Action : Tesla stock closed Wednesday 5.93% higher at $424.77, hitting new all-time highs of $424.88 during the trading session. Tesla stock is up 71% year-to-date in 2024. Read Next: Tesla Q3 Earnings Highlights: EPS Beat, Revenue Miss, Shares Climb On 2025 Timeline For Lower-Cost EVs Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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SANTA CLARA — Jake Moody missed another goal attempt in Week 17, setting social media and talk radio ablaze. Time for the 49ers to get a new kicker, or at the very least some competition during training camp in 2025. Not necessarily, even if coach Kyle Shanahan threw his tablet on the sidelines in frustration after Moody missed a 41-yard attempt in a 29-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins. “I believe we’ve got the right guy,” Shanahan said Thursday as the 49ers (6-9) began preparations to host the Detroit Lions (13-2). “He’s showed that at times. I thought he showed that at times in his rookie year. I thought he showed that in being 12 of 13 to start the year and I think he’ll show that in the future.” But rest assured that Moody will be watched closely to see how he performs in the final two weeks of the season, beginning with a spotlight game on Monday night in a rematch of last year’s NFC Championship Game won 34-31 by the 49ers. Since the game is at Levi’s Stadium, Moody should enter with some confidence. He’s 23-for-30 on field goal attempts a 76.7 rate that’s unacceptable in today’s NFL, let alone for a kicker who was selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. But all seven of his misses have been on the road — one in Miami, two in Buffalo in the snow, three in Tampa Bay in the sunshine and one in Los Angeles. Which apparently came as news to Moody. “I actually didn’t know that,” Moody said. “That’s pretty interesting. I don’t think that necessarily has anything to do with it, being home or away. It’s just the misses, I’ve got to hit better kicks. It’s not any specific reason why I miss. I’ve just got to make sure I’m dialed in on my form.” Moody is 15-for-15 in field goal attempts at home, starting off 6-for-6 in the opener against the New York Jets. But Moody sustained a high ankle sprain on his right kicking foot in Week 5 against Arizona, missing three games as the 49ers cycled through Matthew Wright (also injured on a kick return) and Anders Carlson. “Since he’s come back, he hasn’t been as consistent, obviously,” Shanahan said. “I think a lot of it probably has to do with (the injury), just common-sense wise. Hopefully he can get to this offseason, heal up and find a stroke again.” Having a midseason injury was a “learning experience,” according to Moody. “Whether or not that was an issue, I don’t know. I’m still doing the best I can trying to keep everything what it was prior to the injury,” Moody said. “It’s not like you can really blame something.” While tempted to alter his approach and preparation, Moody thought better of it. He considers kicking similar to golf, and said it can take years for golfers to master a swing change. “In this business you don’t have that much time to try and dial something in and do big changes like that,” Moody said. “You’ve got to be consistent and not be changing too many things or you’ll be overwhelmed by everything.” While the 49ers may bring another kicker into camp just for an extra leg, Shanahan didn’t sound as if he was looking to set up a competition for No. 1. “I think you’ve got the wrong guy if you have to,” Shanahan said. “You do that when you don’t think you’re going to have a guy, but when those guys miss too much you go get a new one usually. And that’s what’s tough about the kicker position.” Shanahan hinted strongly Monday that linebacker Dre Greenlaw wouldn’t play in the last two games, saying he’d wait until talking to him before making it official. “He’s not going to play in these two games,” Shanahan said Thursday. “He understood.” Left tackle Spencer Burford (calf) did not practice and Shanahan thought there was a chance he’d be ready to face Detroit with Trent Williams and Jaylon Moore both on injured reserve. Left guard Aaron Banks (knee), who hasn’t yet been placed on IR, did not practice and neither did edge rusher Robert Beal Jr. Those who were limited were safety Ji’Ayir Brown (ankle), running back Isaac Guerendo (foot/ankle). Nick Bosa (hip/oblique) was off the injury list. Veteran offensive lineman Matt Hennessey was added to the roster with Williams going on injured reserve, with Sebastian Gutierrez joining the practice squad. Shanahan will try to piecemeal an offensive line heading into Detroit, with newcomer Charlie Heck also in the mix. “We’ve got to mix and match a number of guys,” Shanahan said. The 49ers activated the practice clock on rookie linebacker Tatum Bethune, who has been out with a knee injury in hopes of getting him back before the end of the regular season. Detroit Dan Campbell thinks last year’s loss to the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game helped prepare them for taking another run at this season. “I think we’re really more mature,” Campbell told the Detroit media. “Every year you learn something about winning and losing. And when you take an `L’ like we did last year you learn from that . . . I think we’re much more prepared than at that time. You feel like you’re (prepared) but you get into that with a heavyweight that’s been there numerous times, you don’t always know. I think that as an experience has served us well moving into this year.” The Lions have also taken notice of what happened to the 49ers in 2022 when Brock Purdy tore the UCL in his throwing elbow in the NFC title game against Philadelphia and didn’t have a viable quarterback. Veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was signed to the roster, giving the Lions three quarterbacks along with starter Jared Goff and backup Hendon Hooker. — Tight end George Kittle (68 receptions, 967 yards) needs 33 yards receiving to reach 1,000 for the fourth time in his career and second in succession. With eight touchdown receptions, he’s three shy of his career high of 11 set in 2022. — Wide receiver Jauan Jennings (63 receptions, 856 yards) needs 144 yards in his last two games to reach 1,000 for the first time in his career. His six touchdown receptions are a career best. — Bosa has has seven sacks and needs three over the last two games for his fourth consecutive season in double figures. Bosa had 15 1/2 in 2021, 18 1/2 in 2022 (winning NFC Defensive Player of the Year) and 10 1/2 last season. First, Bosa is thinking about his eighth sack. “Just trying to get to the next one,” Bosa said. “But it would be cool.” — Defensive end Leonard Floyd has 8 1/2 sacks and needs 1 1/2 over the last two games to reach double figures for the second consecutive season and for the fourth time in his career. — Middle linebacker Fred Warner (117 tackles) needs 21 in his last two games to exceed his career high of 137 in 2021. Warner has exceeded 100 tackles in each of his seven seasons. — Purdy has 31 rushing first downs, three more than Colin Kaepernick had in 2013 and 2014.