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Walters: State auditor report pinpoints California’s high-tech failures

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:51:37 GMT

California is the world capital of high technology, but one of the most puzzling – and infuriating – aspects of its government is a stubborn failure to employ technology effectively.It’s particularly vexing because 10 years ago, the head of California’s government, Gavin Newsom, published a book, “Citizenville: How to Take the Town Square Digital and Reinvent Government,” that touted the use of technology to improve government efficiency and responsiveness.Just before then-Lt. Gov. Newsom’s book appeared, then-Gov. Jerry Brown had created a new state agency, the California Department of Technology, or CDT, charged with cutting through bureaucratic bungling on use of information technology, which had led to multiple projects wasting untold millions of dollars without becoming effective tools.CDT now has about 1,000 employees and a nearly $1 billion annual budget, but has not produced the high-tech nirvana envisioned in Newsom’s book, even though his election as governor gave him the ...

Severe solar storm creates dazzling auroras farther south, including California

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:51:37 GMT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — An intense solar storm has the northern lights gracing the skies farther south than usual.A blast of superhot material from the sun late last week hurled scorching gases known as plasma toward Earth at nearly 2 million mph (3 million kph), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Monday.Earth felt the brunt of the storm Sunday, according to NOAA, with forecasters warning operators of power plants and spacecraft of the potential for disruption.An aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, is seen in the night sky in the early morning hours of Monday, April 24, 2023, near Washtucna, Wash. An intense solar storm has the aurora borealis gracing the skies farther south than usual. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)The northern lights are seen over a farm near Pulaski, Wis., on Sunday, April 23, 2023. An intense solar storm has the aurora borealis gracing the skies farther south than usual. (Sarah Kloepping/The Post-Crescent via AP)A woman watches nor...

When it comes down to a veteran agent or a relatively new one

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:51:37 GMT

Q: We interviewed three agents to sell our house. The dominant agent in our area is a seasoned agent who does not work weekends. On Monday, he returns messages. He has colleagues host his weekday broker tours and weekend open houses. The second agent works weekends. However, she also has others host her broker tour and open houses. The third agent is relatively new to real estate and personally hosts open houses. This realty newcomer also hosts his broker tours. As clients, we will be a high priority with the new agent. Would you agree that hiring the new agent is worth the risk?A: Yes, I agree. Please remember that the new agent has a supervising sales manager at his firm. He has a mentor at the office. The synergy between the new agent and his mentor can be dynamic. Full stop. A prominent Silicon Valley real estate attorney thinks an earnest new agent bests the seasoned agent who rests on laurels.Seasoned agents must understand how powerful weekday broker tours and weekend open ho...

Corning: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:51:37 GMT

CORNING, N.Y. (AP) — CORNING, N.Y. (AP) — Corning Inc. (GLW) on Tuesday reported first-quarter net income of $176 million.The Corning, New York-based company said it had profit of 20 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs and restructuring costs, were 41 cents per share.The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of seven analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 39 cents per share.The specialty glass maker posted revenue of $3.18 billion in the period. Its adjusted revenue was $3.37 billion, also topping Street forecasts. Five analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $3.33 billion.For the current quarter ending in June, Corning expects its per-share earnings to range from 42 cents to 49 cents.The company said it expects revenue in the range of $3.4 billion to $3.6 billion for the fiscal second quarter. Analysts surveyed by Zacks had expected revenue of $3.75 billion._____This story was generated by Automated Insights...

First Commonwealth Financial: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:51:37 GMT

INDIANA, Pa. (AP) — INDIANA, Pa. (AP) — First Commonwealth Financial Corp. (FCF) on Tuesday reported first-quarter earnings of $30.2 million.The Indiana, Pennsylvania-based bank said it had earnings of 30 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, came to 45 cents per share.The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of four analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 37 cents per share.The financial holding company posted revenue of $137.6 million in the period. Its revenue net of interest expense was $117.3 million, falling short of 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 FCF at https://www.zacks.com/ap/FCFSource

JetBlue: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:51:37 GMT

LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y. (AP) — LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y. (AP) — JetBlue Airways Corp. (JBLU) on Tuesday reported a loss of $192 million in its first quarter.The Long Island City, New York-based company said it had a loss of 58 cents per share. Losses, adjusted for non-recurring costs, came to 34 cents per share.The results beat Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of six analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for a loss of 38 cents per share.The airline posted revenue of $2.33 billion in the period, also exceeding Street forecasts. Five analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $2.32 billion.For the current quarter ending in June, JetBlue expects its per-share earnings to range from 35 cents to 45 cents.The company expects full-year earnings in the range of 70 cents to $1 per share._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on JBLU at https://www.zacks.co...

Falta de días libres por enfermedad y un horario inflexible están entre las duras condiciones de trabajo que pueden afectar la salud mental, según un informe

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:51:37 GMT

(CNN) — Ciertas condiciones de trabajo, incluidos los horarios inflexibles o nocturnos y la falta de días libres remunerados por enfermedad, pueden tener un efecto significativo en la salud mental, según un nuevo informe de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC) de EE.UU.En 2021, aproximadamente 1 de cada 37 adultos que trabajaban experimentó angustia psicológica grave o sentimientos negativos que fueron lo suficientemente graves como para afectar el funcionamiento social y ocupacional y requerir tratamiento, muestra el informe. Los hallazgos se basaron en una muestra representativa de adultos de 18 a 64 años que respondieron a la Encuesta Nacional de Entrevistas de Salud del Centro Nacional de Estadísticas de Salud.Las respuestas, recopiladas durante el segundo año de la pandemia de covid-19, mostraron que aproximadamente 1 de cada 17 personas que tuvieron que trabajar cuando estaban físicamente enfermas reportaron angustia psicológica grave, tres v...

Moody’s: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:51:37 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — NEW YORK (AP) — Moody’s Corp. (MCO) on Tuesday reported first-quarter net income of $501 million.On a per-share basis, the New York-based company said it had profit of $2.72. Earnings, adjusted for amortization costs and restructuring costs, were $2.99 per share.The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of six analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $2.31 per share.The credit ratings agency posted revenue of $1.47 billion in the period, which also topped Street forecasts. Seven analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $1.43 billion.Moody’s expects full-year earnings in the range of $9.50 to $10 per share._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on MCO at https://www.zacks.com/ap/MCOSource

Fiserv: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:51:37 GMT

BROOKFIELD, Wis. (AP) — BROOKFIELD, Wis. (AP) — Fiserv Inc. (FISV) on Tuesday reported first-quarter profit of $563 million.On a per-share basis, the Brookfield, Wisconsin-based company said it had net income of 89 cents. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were $1.58 per share.The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of 11 analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $1.56 per share.The financial services technology company posted revenue of $4.55 billion in the period. Its adjusted revenue was $4.28 billion, which also beat Street forecasts. Eleven analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $4.16 billion.Fiserv expects full-year earnings in the range of $7.30 to $7.40 per share._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on FISV at https://www.zacks.com/ap/FISVSource

GM boosts outlook after US sales fuel first quarter profits

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:51:37 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Strong sales in the U.S. helped General Motors increase its first-quarter net profit 19% over a year ago, leading the company to raise its full-year profit guidance based on expectations demand for its vehicles will remain robust.The Detroit automaker made $2.37 billion from January through March, up from $1.99 billion in the previous year. Excluding a $900 million charge to pay severance packages to about 5,000 white-collar workers who took buyouts during the quarter, GM made $2.21 per share, soundly beating analyst estimates of $1.72, according to FactSet.Revenue for the quarter came in just shy of $40 million, up 11% from a year ago and beating projections for $38.55 billion. The company, after the strong start to the year, raised its pretax profit guidance for 2023 to a range of $11 billion to $13 billion. Previously it was $10.5 billion to $12.5 billion.Shares of General Motors Co. rose more than 3% before the opening bell Tuesday. Chief Financial Officer Paul Ja...