LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams keep doing just enough to win, and a team that appeared to be rebuilding this season has climbed all the way to the brink of another playoff berth. The Rams improved to 9-6 and took control of the NFC West on Sunday with their fourth straight victory since Thanksgiving. Their 19-9 win over the New York Jets in sub-freezing temperatures was not dominant — they trailed 9-6 entering the fourth quarter, and they were outgained by nearly 100 yards — but Los Angeles still matched its largest margin of victory this season and continued to look like a looming nightmare for any postseason opponent. The Rams have now won eight of 10 since their bye week, when they were 1-4 and the NFL world wondered whether they would trade Super Bowl MVP receiver Cooper Kupp or even quarterback Matthew Stafford to spur their roster reboot. Los Angeles decided not to punt its season, and Sean McVay's team has driven from last to first. “You don’t want to ride the emotional roller coaster that these games can take you on,” McVay said Monday. “You do have the ability to stay steady, to stay the course and try to right the ship. Certainly that’s not complete by any stretch, but our guys have done an excellent job of not allowing the way that we started, especially in those first five games, to affect what we did coming off that bye.” The Rams also have clinched their seventh winning record in eight regular seasons under McVay — an achievement that shouldn’t get lost in the recent successes of a franchise that had 13 consecutive non-winning seasons before it rolled the dice and hired a 30-year-old head coach back in 2017. After winning it all in February 2022 and then having the worst season by a defending Super Bowl champion in NFL history, the Rams have made the most of their time in between true powerhouse status and a major rebuild. They also started slowly last year, entering their bye at 3-6 before a 7-1 finish. The Rams can become the first team in NFL history to make back-to-back postseason appearances after being three games under .500 each year. These Rams don't stand out on either side of the ball, although their talent level appears to be higher on offense than defense. Instead, they've mastered a delicate balance of complementary football — the offense and defense covering each other's weaknesses and setting up their teammates for success. The Rams have scored more than 30 points just once all season, and they managed only 31 points in their last two games combined. Their defense has allowed only one touchdown in the past two games — but right before that, Josh Allen and the Bills racked up 42 points and 445 yards in the most recent of a few defensive stinkers from LA this season. The Rams keep winning anyway, and now they can clinch McVay's fourth NFC West title by beating Seattle in two weeks. “Fortunately, we’re in a position where you don’t necessarily have to rely on other things to happen if you just handle your business,” McVay said. Kyren Williams and the offensive line are driving the Rams' offense. After a slow start caused partly by McVay being forced to abandon the running game when the Rams repeatedly fell behind early, the 2023 Pro Bowler has surged to career highs of 1,243 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns with his 122-yard performance in New York. Stafford's 110 yards passing were his fewest with the Rams and the second-fewest in his 16-year career from a full game. Sunday's weather was a major factor, but the Rams must throw the ball effectively to somebody other than Puka Nacua. Kupp has just 193 yards receiving in his past five games combined. Defensive back Jaylen McCollough made a career-high nine tackles in only 31 snaps. The undrafted rookie continues to be a remarkable find, earning playing time alongside veteran safeties Quentin Lake and Kam Curl and fellow rookie Kam Kinchens. CB Cobie Durant didn't play for the second straight week despite being cleared to return from his bruised lung. Veteran Ahkello Witherspoon got every snap in place of Durant, who started LA's first 13 games. McVay praised Witherspoon's recent play when asked why Durant didn't get on the field in New Jersey. The Rams' improved health, particularly on both lines, is the key to their surge. McVay reported no new injuries out of the road trip following Tyler Higbee's successful season debut. 12-1 — The Rams’ record in December with Stafford as their starter over his four years in LA. The Rams need to win at least one of their final two games to wrap up their first NFC West crown since 2021. They host eliminated Arizona on Saturday night, but can't clinch the division unless the Seahawks lose to moribund Chicago. The Rams are currently the NFC's third seed, but that doesn't matter a whole lot because both the third and fourth seeds will have to play one of the NFC North's two powerful wild-card teams in the opening round. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL
Here at the port of Nogales, on the southern edge of the United States, deadly drugs hide among the $22 billion in goods that enter annually. A high-stakes sorting game plays out every day: discerning what needs more inspection without grinding global commerce to a halt. Last fiscal year, the 12,000 pounds of fentanyl that customs officers seized in Arizona was more than at the rest of the country’s ports and border sectors combined. And within Arizona, the government says, the port of Nogales seized the most. “I think we’re doing a great job, but we can always use more people,” says Michael Humphries, the port director. But to conquer the epidemic, he says, “It’s going to take more than law enforcement.” Fentanyl, up to 50 times more potent than heroin, is what the Drug Enforcement Administration calls the country’s “greatest and most urgent drug threat.” It’s also an issue President-elect Donald Trump says he’ll tackle through tariffs, terrorist designations, and military might. Meanwhile, individuals tasked with tracking down the synthetic opioid are testing a range of solutions, from incorporating facial-scanning technology at ports of entry to investigating money laundering by criminal groups that traffic fentanyl in bulk. Beneath the blaze of the Arizona sun, a customs official unboxes flour tortillas. He bends them back and forth, and their soft middles give. Proof that the stack hasn’t been hollowed out to hide drugs. Across the border region in this state, powder and pills have been found inside the panels of cars. Stuffed in spare tires. Strapped to a teenager’s thighs with tape. Here at the port of Nogales, on the southern edge of the United States, the deadly drugs hide among the $22 billion in goods that enter annually. A high-stakes sorting game plays out every day: discerning what needs more inspection without grinding global commerce to a halt. Last fiscal year, the 12,000 pounds of fentanyl that customs officers seized in Arizona was more than at the rest of the country’s ports and border sectors combined. And within Arizona, the government says, the port of Nogales seized the most. “I think we’re doing a great job, but we can always use more people,” says Michael Humphries, the port director. But to conquer the epidemic, he says, “It’s going to take more than law enforcement.” He cites “the whole of government, along with the medical community, along with counseling – and really, everybody” as stakeholders. The synthetic opioid is so strong that the port stocks an overdose-reversing spray for its staff, the public, and its drug-detection dogs. It’s true: Arizona port authorities are catching prodigious amounts of fentanyl, making these ports responsible for more than half the seizures across the country by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It’s also true: Fentanyl, and the chemicals that make it, gets in between the ports. Driven up interstates. Flown overhead on cargo flights. And still: No one knows how much illicit fentanyl enters the U.S. all told. But synthetic opioids are linked to tens of thousands of deaths each year, of people addicted and not. Some fentanyl isn’t found at all. Not until it appears in coroner reports. Fentanyl, up to 50 times more potent than heroin, is what the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) calls the country’s “greatest and most urgent drug threat.” It’s also an issue President-elect Donald Trump says he’ll tackle, through tariffs, terrorist designations, and military might. On Truth Social, he’s said he’ll work on a “large scale United States Advertising Campaign” on the dangers of the drug. Supporters say imposing new penalties on enablers of the supply is justified, given the unrelenting stakes. Despite recent progress, the U.S. tracks more deaths involving synthetic opioids each year than the country’s deaths from the Vietnam War. Critics say it’s unfair for Mr. Trump to link illegal migration at the southern border with drug smuggling, given the bulk of fentanyl that is seized is found at official ports. Plus, they point out, most sentenced fentanyl traffickers are U.S. citizens. Mr. Trump enters his second term at a time when Border Patrol encounters of unauthorized immigrants along the southern border are hovering around four-year lows, after historic highs under the Biden administration. Deaths involving fentanyl nationally also appear on the decline. Still, the ubiquity and lethality of the human-made drug remain a critical U.S. challenge. “There is no single solution to this problem,” says David Luckey, a Rand senior researcher. He led a team that drafted a 2022 commission report on combatting fentanyl trafficking. What’s required, he says, is a “concerted effort across all three dimensions: supply reduction, demand reduction, and harm reduction.” How did we get here? Some analysts trace the opioid crisis back decades. Back to a five-sentence note. The New England Journal of Medicine published a brief letter to the editor in January 1980. The authors wrote that, based on data they examined on painkiller use in hospitals, “The development of addiction is rare in medical patients with no history of addiction.” Experience taught Americans that isn’t true. Researchers have found that the letter, a single paragraph, was “widely invoked” and “uncritically cited” as evidence that minimized risk of opioid addiction. An oversupply of prescription opioid pain medication followed in the mid-1990s, exposing millions of Americans to the drugs. Strong synthetic opioids, mostly illicit fentanyl, began to flood U.S. drug markets by around 2014, notes the commission report from Mr. Luckey’s team. As American demand for opioids spread, international actors cashed in. Fentanyl used to come primarily from China, authorities say, but a 2019 crackdown there led producers to pivot. Now, they say, precursor chemicals shipped from China are used to make fentanyl in Mexico, which is then brought into the U.S. The DEA says two Mexican criminal networks are largely responsible for funneling in fentanyl – the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels. Part of the problem: Production is cheap. Fentanyl, which is synthetic, doesn’t require growing seasons like poppy-based heroin does. And its potency allows small quantities to yield high returns for criminal groups. Drug overdose deaths peaked in the U.S. in 2022 with over 111,000, a figure higher than the deaths that year from car crashes and guns combined. Modest progress, based on provisional data, was announced this spring. The federal government estimates that 2023 saw 107,543 drug overdose deaths – a 3% decline from the year prior. Though 7 in 10 of those deaths still involve synthetic opioids, last year’s decrease in overdose deaths was the first since 2018. Additional data through part of 2024 seems to support this downward trend. Expanded access to naloxone, an opioid overdose-reversing drug, is credited with helping lower deaths. The DEA has touted arrests of Mexican criminal leaders and a dip in the potency of fentanyl-laced pills. Despite growing social awareness of fentanyl’s risks, stigma persists. Some people who’ve lost loved ones prefer the term “poisoning” to “overdose,” to shift blame off victims who may have assumed a pill was safe. That was the case for Weston, says Anne Fundner. In 2022, the California mother lost her high schooler son to a drug poisoning involving fentanyl, following what she says was peer pressure. Ms. Fundner repurposed her grief to speak at the Republican National Convention in support of Mr. Trump. She has amplified his call for heightened border security and urged families to be on alert. Without sufficient action from the government, she says, it’s fallen on parents to do what they can. “I was very angry for a while,” she says. Now, through her activism, she points to a feeling of peace. “My son’s life is saving other lives.” At the port of Nogales, the search for the hidden drugs churns on. Mr. Humphries watches trucks heave to a halt at checkpoints, and then growl past. He ambles by towers of avocado crates pulled aside for more inspection – if not for drugs, then for pests and disease. At the port of Nogales, tens of millions of pounds of produce enter every day. Customs and Border Protection employs what it calls “layered enforcement,” a series of possible points of inspection. That includes license plate scans, X-rays, sniffing canines, and undercarriage mirrors. The agency, along with the wider Department of Homeland Security, has also explored uses of artificial intelligence, including a pilot of face-scan technology at the port of Nogales. A government watchdog has raised potential privacy concerns around the agency’s use of tech. Still, old-school observation plays a role. Mr. Humphries’ staff looks for drivers who appear nervous or maintain a “death grip” on the steering wheel. Court records detailing cases of alleged drug “mules” – people who transport drugs through the border – underscore the signs officials seek. One American “would not make eye contact” with a customs officer at inspection, reads a criminal complaint. U.S. citizens like her make up the vast majority of people sentenced for fentanyl trafficking – 86.4% in fiscal year 2023, reports the U.S. Sentencing Commission. Traffickers take advantage of low-income, struggling Americans whose passports might help them pass through a port easier, experts say. But some contraband is coming through the air. A Reuters investigation found that fentanyl precursor chemicals – the substances used to make the drug – often arrive to the U.S. as air cargo in packages small enough to evade a certain threshold of inspection. From the U.S., the precursor chemicals are often sent into Mexico, and then reenter the U.S. ready for consumption. When fentanyl first came on the radar of the federal postal service, a decade ago, it was mostly seized in international mail. That trend shifted in 2019, when China banned production of the drug. As of fiscal year 2024, nearly all of the 3,844 pounds of suspected synthetic opioids seized by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service came in domestic mail. Postal inspectors partner with other federal agencies in southwest border states to stave off the drug’s journey into the interior. “We don’t want to be the unwitting accomplice to narcotics being delivered to anywhere in this country,” says Daniel Adame, inspector in charge at the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. State and local law enforcement are another line of defense. In Cochise County, Arizona, Sheriff Mark Dannels says his team finds fentanyl two ways. The first is through “proactive policing,” such as at traffic stops, says the sheriff. “The second part is when we respond to a death.” The head of the Border Patrol, which operates between official ports of entry, said this month that fentanyl is a top priority. (That along with the southern border arrival of a Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, which officials across the country say is committing violent crime.) Jim Chilton tracks a fraction of all border crossers evading the Border Patrol. The Arizona rancher has seen a surge under the Biden administration – at least 3,700 people, by his count – through his motion-activated trail cameras. They enter through a gap in the border wall, often in matching camouflage, and pass through saguaros and mesquite trees on his land. He says he’s learned from the Border Patrol that some pack drugs; an agency spokesperson says they can’t confirm. “You really don’t know who all’s coming across the border, including the possibility of terrorists,” says Mr. Chilton. Along with the installation of more patrols and surveillance, he says, “I hope that Trump finishes the wall.” Beyond more border wall, Mr. Trump has signaled what else may come. He’s called for designating major drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. He’s also threatened new tariffs against China (10%) along with Mexico and Canada (25% each) unless those countries do more to stop outflows of fentanyl – and migrants, from the latter two. Faced with claims of enabling fentanyl supply, officials from both China and Mexico have reprimanded the U.S. for enabling the drug’s demand. “No one will win a trade war or a tariff war,” said a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington. In an emailed statement, they pointed to resumed communication between the countries’ counternarcotics authorities since a presidential summit in 2023 . Addressing fentanyl trafficking requires bilateral cooperation that is “respectful of the sovereignties of Mexico and the United States,” a spokesperson for the Mexican Embassy in Washington said in an emailed statement. They also noted the creation of a new national intelligence system in Mexico to enhance targeting of clandestine labs and supervision at ports. Mr. Trump’s supporters have endorsed his approach ahead of inauguration and say it’s already having an effect. Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau flew to Mar-a-Lago. A Trump call with Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo was followed by what Mexican officials said was the largest fentanyl seizure in their history. The Mexican Embassy spokesperson, however, says the operation was not a direct response to the tariff threat, but rather part of a domestic security effort. At The Heritage Foundation, Steve Yates, a senior research fellow, says funds from tariffs could be put toward expanded interdiction or families who’ve lost ones to the drug. The epidemic is personal for him; in 2023, his daughter died from a drug poisoning involving fentanyl. Regarding China, “The surest way to fail is to fall short of taking heavy action against what we know they’re doing now, without stopping,” says Mr. Yates, an informal adviser to the Trump campaign and transition team. He points to a bipartisan report released in April from the House of Representatives’ select committee on China. The report concludes that, by subsidizing fentanyl chemical exports, China is fueling the fentanyl crisis in the U.S. Such claims run “completely counter to facts and reality,” said the Chinese Embassy spokesperson. Mr. Yates says domestic drug demand needs attention, too. But he says the U.S. is playing defense “unless you can do something significant about the supply chain.” Trump critics, including several economists, argue retaliatory tariffs could harm U.S. consumers. Peter Andreas, a political scientist at Brown University, chalks Mr. Trump’s tariff talk up to “recklessly irresponsible diplomacy,” especially regarding Mexico, whose economy is dependent on the U.S. “Nothing would actually put more pressure on the border and stimulate migration more than if Mexico’s economy went south,” says Professor Andreas, author of “Smuggler Nation: How Illicit Trade Made America.” At various points in history, U.S. administrations have alternately prioritized drug enforcement or migration control, says Professor Andreas. That may soon change, as the next president signals both are front-burner issues, he adds. The catch: The prior Trump and Biden administrations put drug trafficking “on the back burner,” he says, “because they needed Mexican cooperation on stopping migration.” Analysts credit Mexico’s increased immigration enforcement with helping lower illegal border crossings over the past year. At his office, Mr. Humphries displays a symbol of one of Mexico’s challenges: ammunition for a .50-caliber gun. His officers regularly seize the military-grade weaponry heading south, for presumed use by cartels. Mexico has sued U.S. gun companies with accusations that they’ve fueled illegal arms trafficking to violent criminal groups. It’s a case the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear. Mr. Humphries holds the bullet up, half the length of his face. “If we’re tasked with going after the cartels, we have to work both inbound and outbound,” he says. Beyond shifts in diplomacy, though, the military may come into play. Mr. Trump’s campaign website says he “will impose a total naval embargo on cartels.” The Republican Party platform , meanwhile, calls for “the U.S. Navy to impose a full Fentanyl Blockade on the waters of our Region – boarding and inspecting ships to look for fentanyl and fentanyl precursors.” The Trump transition team did not directly address clarifying questions about his fentanyl plans, including the use of the Navy. In response to an interview request, the Navy referred the Monitor to the U.S. Coast Guard. Essentially, the Coast Guard – not the Navy – has law enforcement authority for drug interdiction at sea, like apprehensions of suspects or vessels, says Comdr. Cory Riesterer at the Coast Guard’s Maritime Law Enforcement program. (The Navy, as part of the Defense Department, can support the law enforcement activities of the Coast Guard, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security.) However, says the commander, “We don’t see fentanyl or precursors being smuggled much in the maritime environment.” In fact, Coast Guard data reviewed by the Monitor shows zero fentanyl seizures in fiscal year 2024. And only one seizure of fentanyl – roughly a quarter of a pound – was reported since fiscal year 2017. Throughout that span of years, the agency says, it administered naloxone during its operations six times. Though the numbers are small, that means the Coast Guard responds to suspected opioid overdoses more often than it seizes fentanyl. When batches of fentanyl manage to get past the port of Nogales – or come through other routes – the enforcement efforts shift into interior states. Some corners of the country have not yet seen a reduction in overdose deaths involving fentanyl. That includes Colorado, whose health department reports a record 1,097 such overdose deaths in 2023, though initial 2024 data shows signs of a downward trend. As of early December, Denver police say they’ve seized more than 170 pounds of fentanyl in 2024. At the state level, meanwhile, the Colorado State Patrol reports seizing more than 300 pounds of fentanyl – largely along two interstates that crisscross the state. Regionally, the DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division, which covers Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado, says it has seized a record of around 2.7 million fentanyl pills in 2024. Put another way, that’s more than three per every Denver resident. Again, the profit margins are steep. The regional DEA office says fentanyl pills produced for 2 cents to 4 cents in Mexico can sell for $1 to $5 in Colorado. In northern Montana, the price can ratchet up to $60 a pill. Sellers have even sold to minors, sometimes through social media apps, after marketing pills cut with fentanyl as legitimate prescription drugs. Cartels “don’t care,” says Jonathan Pullen, special agent in charge. “It’s about greed.” Some in the state are trying to chase criminal drug money. In a high-rise office in downtown Denver, a poster above the printer reads as a morale boost. “Only an Accountant Could Catch Al Capone.” This is the Internal Revenue Service unit focused on investigating crimes. And officials here see themselves as on the front lines of deterring illicit drug flows. They are keen to tout how the IRS brought down the Chicago gangster on tax evasion nearly a century ago. Their work today has direct parallels, as they investigate activity such as money laundering by drug criminals. The idea is to target what they care about most. “There is no one peddling fentanyl without the motivation of money,” says Johnathan Towle, assistant special agent in charge for the IRS Criminal Investigation Denver Field Office. The agency has partnered here with the DEA on an outreach campaign to money-services businesses for help investigating drug proceeds. The IRS is part of a broader initiative with the Treasury Department to educate regional and local banks on the digital fingerprints that fentanyl trafficking can leave on accounts. Another complication comes from the use of common phone apps and cryptocurrency to buy and sell drugs like fentanyl. That said, the IRS has special expertise to “decode the funding,” says Mr. Towle. The belief that cryptocurrency is anonymous – and can’t be tracked by the government? “That’s wrong,” he says. “We can.”
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In a span of about 20 hours, SpaceX could manage three rocket launches and one landing of a Dragon spacecraft. It flew a Department of Defense mission from Cape Canaveral on Monday night and on Tuesday knocked out a National Reconnaissance Office mission from California and the landing of the latest cargo Dragon spacecraft off the coast of Florida. The topper will be a launch from Kennedy Space Center that would mark 90 spaceflight missions among all providers on the Space Coast in 2024. That launch would see a Falcon 9 on the mPower-E mission launching from KSC’s Launch Pad 39-A during a one-hour, 27-minute window that opens at 3:59 p.m. EST with backup during same window on Dec. 18. The payload is a pair of satellites for Luxembourg-based communications company SES headed to medium-Earth orbit. With one hour before the opening of the window, the countdown was paused for weather, and a new T-0 is pending. Space Launch Delta 45’s weather squadron forecasts a 55% chance for good launch conditions, that would improve to 65% in the event of a 24-hour delay. High winds at the launch site and concerns for booster recovery delayed launch attempts for both Space Coast missions over the weekend. When it does fly, this would be the first launch of the first-stage booster that will aim for a recovery landing downrange on the droneship Just Read the Instructions in the Atlantic. Already on Tuesday, a SpaceX cargo Dragon spacecraft made a successful splashdown off the coast of Florida to complete the CRS-31 mission. The Dragon arrived to the International Space Station with 6,000 pounds of resupply payloads back on Nov. 5 after launching from the Space Coast, and returned with thousands of pounds of supplies and science experiments. Earlier Tuesday, the company flew the NROL-149, a National Space Security Launch mission, from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base. The busy schedule began on Monday night, with what had been a secretive mission leading up to launch. That one was a Falcon 9 that lifted off on the RRT-1 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 7:52 p.m. This was the fourth launch of the first-stage booster, which made a recovery landing on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas. After launch, the Space Force revealed in a press release the RRT stood for “Rapid Response Trailblazer,” and its payload was a GPS III satellite flying under a National Security Space Launch contract that had switched from United Launch Alliance to SpaceX. It touted the launch as “a new level of readiness and resilience” for its Space Systems Command and Space Operations Command, as it took less than five months to turn around the mission from its inception to launch. Normally this sort of NSSL mission would take 24 months to execute. The prelaunch processing timeline was also sped up from a normal six-month turnaround to only three months. It took an existing satellite manufactured by Lockheed Martin from storage, sped up its integration and readiness for launch. The mission was originally tapped to fly on a ULA Vulcan rocket, but had been delayed because Vulcan has yet to be certified by the Space Force. “This launch was a remarkable achievement that highlights the Space Force’s ability to execute high priority launches of major space systems on a significantly reduced timescale,” said Col. Jim Horne, senior materiel leader of Launch Execution for the Space Force’s Assured Access to Space program. “As an added benefit, it also demonstrates flexibility to adjust our manifest to minimize the impact of Vulcan delays.” The GPS satellite, which was nicknamed “Sally Ride,” joins 31 others already active in orbit, along with seven backup satellites and three more awaiting launch. “Over six billion people use GPS on a daily basis, and we are always eager to update the global capability we provide by getting some new technology on orbit,” said Col. Andrew Menschner, Space Force Delta 31 mission commander, which acted as the space vehicle lead for the first time. -------- ©2024 Orlando Sentinel. Visit at orlandosentinel.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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SHAREHOLDER INVESTIGATION: Halper Sadeh LLC Investigates PDCO, NURO, PWOD, CARA on Behalf of ShareholdersFelton also added eight rebounds for the Pirates (5-1). Joran Riley scored 14 points while going 4 of 11 and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line and added five rebounds. Cam Hayes shot 3 for 7 (2 for 4 from 3-point range) and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line to finish with 13 points. The Hatters (1-5) were led in scoring by Mehki, who finished with 15 points and two steals. Abramo Canka added 14 points for Stetson. Jordan Wood had 12 points. East Carolina led Stetson at the half, 39-33, with Hayes (10 points) its high scorer before the break. East Carolina took the lead for good with 6:56 left in the second half on a free throw from Felton to make it a 60-59 game. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .New pro-European coalition approved in Romania amid period of political turmoil
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SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 23, 2024-- Last Wednesday, attorneys from Susman Godfrey LLP and Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff, LLP filed an antitrust lawsuit on behalf of CDS Litigation, LLC, against Align Technology, Inc. (“Align”), the American Dental Association (“ADA”), and the American Association of Orthodontists (“AAO”). The lawsuit, filed in the Superior Court of California, alleges that the Defendants engaged in a multi-year coordinated and illegal conspiracy to eliminate their most serious market competitor to protect their industry dominance at the expense of consumers’ ability to access effective, affordable, and proven orthodontic care. This lawsuit arises from evidence described in the complaint that the Defendants colluded to drive SmileDirectClub, a leading provider of affordable and effective telehealth-based orthodontic solutions, out of business. Align initially invested tens of millions of dollars in SmileDirectClub and supported its business model as an investor, board member, lender, and manufacturer. All that changed, however, after SmileDirectClub rejected Align’s proposed buyout bid and an arbitrator later forced Align out of the company entirely for improperly using its access to confidential and proprietary SmileDirectClub information to try to copy SmileDirectClub’s business. The complaint explains how Align, no longer able to profit off of SmileDirectClub’s growth, turned to colluding with the ADA and AAO on a years-long campaign to destroy SmileDirectClub. Despite SmileDirectClub’s high customer satisfaction ratings and proven track record of offering effective care, the Defendants’ coordinated actions described in the complaint ultimately required the company to cease operations, resulting in fewer choices and higher costs for consumers. Evidence Of Anti-Competitive Behavior SmileDirectClub’s innovative model disrupted the orthodontic industry and threatened the financial interests of the Defendants by offering affordable, effective, and accessible clear aligner treatment, with clinical supervision and approval by state-licensed dentists and orthodontists on a fully remote basis, thereby doing away with the need for in-office visits and eliminating key barriers of cost and geography for millions of consumers. As detailed in the complaint, Align was initially attracted to this new model, investing $59.5 million for a 19% ownership stake in SmileDirectClub and becoming the company’s exclusive third-party supplier of clear aligners. This partnership granted Align extensive access to SmileDirectClub’s confidential business information, as well as a seat on its board of directors. But as the lawsuit explains, after SmileDirectClub rejected Align’s $1.5 billion buyout offer, Align instead used the confidential information it had learned from SmileDirectClub and opened a series of copycat “Scan Shops” modeled directly on SmileDirectClub’s innovative SmileShops. SmileDirectClub brought an arbitration against Align because of Align’s violation of the restrictive covenants it had previously agreed to, and the arbitrator ruled in SmileDirectClub’s favor in early 2019. The ruling ordered Align to divest its stake in SmileDirectClub at a steep discount, costing Align hundreds of millions of dollars. The arbitrator also enjoined Align from opening competing stores until August 2022. At this point, the complaint alleges that Align pivoted and launched its new strategy to eliminate SmileDirectClub as a competitor and secure a monopoly in the clear aligner market. The complaint details allegations as to how Align worked in concert with the ADA and AAO to spread false and misleading claims about SmileDirectClub’s safety and efficacy to damage its reputation with consumers and industry professionals, filed baseless complaints with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and leveraged exclusive agreements with dental support organizations - while also interfering with other third-party relationships - to block SmileDirectClub from accessing vital market opportunities. According to the lawsuit, these actions represented a calculated and coordinated effort by the Defendants to stifle competition and innovation in orthodontic care as part of their conspiracy to monopolize the industry and prevent consumers from accessing additional proven treatment options at more affordable prices. The lawsuit also shows how these actions directly contradicted the positions two of the conspirators—Align and the ADA—had taken up until the point when Align’s efforts to buy or copy SmileDirectClub failed. As the lawsuit explains, prior to embarking on the conspiracy, Align’s own CEO had forcefully debunked the exact same false assertions about SmileDirectClub’s services that Align and its coconspirators would repeatedly promote once Align shifted from trying to copy or buy SmileDirectClub to trying to destroy it. Similarly, as the lawsuit shows, the ADA expressly supported and endorsed “asynchronous” teledentistry (i.e., dentists treating patients without having to meet with them live) for years, only to reverse course right when it began conspiring with Align to falsely denigrate SmileDirectClub’s business model. Consumer Impact The alleged actions of Align, the ADA, and the AAO significantly reduced competition, requiring consumers to pay higher prices for orthodontic treatment while limiting their access to proven and less expensive alternative solutions. Before its bankruptcy, SmileDirectClub provided millions of consumers with an affordable and effective telehealth solution for clear aligner treatment, receiving high customer satisfaction ratings and helping those who used the company’s products achieve successful outcomes. Despite its effectiveness and proven product quality, the filing explains that SmileDirectClub was forced into bankruptcy and ceased operations in 2023 as a result of the Defendants’ systematic anticompetitive actions. The Plaintiff in this case, CDS Litigation, LLC, has the right to pursue litigation claims held by SmileDirectClub against the Defendants. ADA/AAO Involvement The filing describes the pivotal roles the ADA and the AAO played in the conspiracy to destroy SmileDirectClub, leveraging their positions as influential trade associations and active market participants to shield giant sponsors - like Align - and block disruption in the industry. The complaint alleges that the ADA and AAO participated in this monopolistic conspiracy by using their position as both market participants and powerful trade associations to preserve the profits and dominance of entrenched industry leaders and ensure that disruptive innovations – like SmileDirectClub’s affordable and accessible care model – could not succeed. About Susman Godfrey The lawsuit is being led by the team at Susman Godfrey that secured a $787.5 million settlement on behalf of Dominion Voting Systems in its defamation case against Fox News. “The filing alleges that Align Technology abused its market dominance to systematically crush competition and protect its monopoly at the expense of consumers,” said Stephen Shackelford, Partner at Susman Godfrey LLP . “According to the complaint, after Align was forced to give up its ownership interest in SmileDirectClub, it suddenly changed its tune as to SmileDirectClub’s model and conspired with the ADA and AAO to spread falsehoods, disrupt SmileDirectClub’s business relationships, and block its access to essential equipment and partnerships. Align’s conduct alleged in the complaint was anticompetitive, calculated, and illegal. The allegations in the complaint show how the entrenched and powerful incumbents in Big Dentistry manipulated the system to collude against a revolutionary and otherwise successful competitor, restrict affordable and effective options for consumers, and inflict lasting reputational damage through their dissemination of demonstrably false claims.” “As explained in the complaint, the Defendants didn’t just target their main competitor - they targeted the millions of consumers who stood to benefit from the affordable and accessible orthodontic care the competitor offered. The effectiveness of SmileDirectClub’s model and products threatened the Defendants’ market and financial interests, who, according to the filing, conspired to destroy the company rather than compete with them fairly,” said Davida Brook, Partner at Susman Godfrey LLP . “This complaint presents a textbook example of how dominant players collude to maintain market power, stifle competition, and harm consumers.” Susman Godfrey LLP is a leading national trial firm with an unmatched track record in high-stakes litigation. The firm has earned recognition as a fearless advocate for fairness, representing clients seeking justice against entrenched industry leaders. About Benesch Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff joins Susman Godfrey as co-counsel and is being led by a team that has extensive experience representing SmileDirectClub. “Having previously litigated and won against Align, we are all too familiar with the sort of abusive anticompetitive acts alleged in the Complaint against Align and other dominant players in the traditional dental market. SmileDirectClub pioneered the use of teledentistry to advance oral care with over 2 million satisfied customers, and the Complaint details the astonishing tactics the Defendants devised to run SmileDirectClub out of business,” said David Rammelt, a Partner at Benesch and Co-Chair of its Litigation Group. Benesch’s award-winning Litigation Practice Group has secured multibillion-dollar wins for plaintiffs and defendants in precedent-setting cases. An Am Law 200 firm, Benesch is nationally recognized by Chambers USA, Benchmark Litigation, and Best Law Firms “Best Lawyers” for earning a place of distinction representing mid-size to Fortune 100 companies in high-stakes litigation and jury trials across the country. Founded in 1938, Benesch has grown to more than 400 attorneys across six U.S. offices. Over the last five years, Benesch’s Litigation Practice Group has expanded by 40% to more than 170 attorneys, making it among the fastest-growing practices in the country. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241223208613/en/ Jeremy Adler,jeremy@uplandworkshop.com KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: LEGAL PROFESSIONAL SERVICES HEALTH DENTAL SOURCE: Susman Godfrey LLP Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/23/2024 02:30 PM/DISC: 12/23/2024 02:30 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241223208613/en
Share Tweet Share Share Email Data is often referred to as the new oil. Like crude oil, raw data has little value until it is processed, analyzed, and utilized. Data monetization, or the process of turning data into financial gain, is emerging as a lucrative opportunity for individuals and businesses alike. For personal finance enthusiasts, leveraging this trend could pave the way for additional income streams . Understanding Data Monetization Data monetization involves the transformation of information into economic value. Organizations collect, analyze, and sell data to improve decision-making, enhance customer experiences, and increase profits. While businesses have been doing this for years, individuals now have opportunities to monetize their data as well. Types of Data Monetization Direct Monetization: Selling data to third parties or using it to generate direct revenue. For example, some platforms pay users for their browsing data. Indirect Monetization: Using data insights to improve services, build better products, or optimize operations, indirectly boosting income potential. By understanding these types, individuals can identify where their personal data fits into the broader monetization terrain. Why Data Is Valuable The value of data lies in its ability to inform decisions. Businesses pay top dollar for insights that help them predict consumer behavior, optimize marketing strategies, and refine product offerings. Even seemingly insignificant pieces of information—like browsing habits or shopping preferences—can provide valuable insights into consumer trends. For individuals, this means that the data you generate every day could have untapped financial potential . How Individuals Can Monetize Their Data Participate in Paid Surveys and Research One of the simplest ways to monetize your data is by participating in surveys or research studies. Websites like Survey Junkie, Swagbucks, and Toluna pay users for sharing their opinions on various topics. These platforms often target specific demographics, so your unique perspective might be in high demand. Tips for Maximizing Earnings: Sign up for multiple platforms to access a wider range of opportunities. Dedicate a set amount of time each week to completing surveys. Sell Your Browsing Data Certain platforms pay users for their browsing data. Tools like Brave Browser and Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel reward users for sharing anonymous browsing habits. These services anonymize data before selling it, protecting your privacy while allowing you to earn money. Considerations: Review privacy policies to ensure your data remains secure. Use these tools on devices where you spend most of your online time. Leverage Wearable Technology Wearables like fitness trackers and smartwatches generate valuable health data. Companies such as Evidation Health pay individuals for sharing this data, which can be used in healthcare research or product development. Benefits: Earn passive income by simply wearing your device. Contribute to advancements in health and wellness. Monetize Social Media Content Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube allow users to monetize their content through sponsorships, ad revenue, or affiliate marketing. By analyzing audience data, content creators can tailor their strategies to maximize engagement and income. Steps to Succeed: Use analytics tools to understand your audience. Focus on creating high-quality, engaging content. Collaborate with brands aligned with your niche. Join Data Monetization Platforms Platforms like Datacoup and Gener8 allow users to sell their personal data directly to companies. These services often provide dashboards where you can control which data is shared and track your earnings. Key Features: Transparency in how data is used. Flexibility to choose what you share. The Role of Blockchain in Data Monetization Blockchain technology is revolutionizing data monetization by enabling secure, decentralized transactions. Platforms like Ocean Protocol and Streamr allow users to sell their data directly to buyers without intermediaries, ensuring greater privacy and fair compensation. Advantages: Enhanced security through encryption. More control over who accesses your data. Potential for higher earnings due to reduced middlemen. Risks and Ethical Considerations While data monetization offers exciting opportunities, it also comes with risks: Privacy Concerns Sharing personal data can expose you to identity theft or misuse if not handled securely. Always research platforms and ensure they use robust security measures. Ethical Dilemmas Some argue that selling personal data commodifies privacy. Before diving in, consider whether you’re comfortable with how your data will be used. Market Volatility The value of data fluctuates depending on demand and market conditions. Stay informed about trends to maximize your earnings. Tips for Safe Data Monetization Use trusted platforms with transparent policies. Regularly update your device’s security settings. Monitor your earnings and adjust strategies as needed. Stay informed about data privacy laws in your region. Personal Finance Benefits of Data Monetization Incorporating data monetization into your personal finance strategy can have several benefits: Supplemental Income Data monetization offers a way to earn extra money without significant upfront investment. This additional income can help you pay off debt, build an emergency fund, or invest in other ventures. Passive Earnings Some methods, like selling browsing data or using wearables, generate passive income. This means you can earn money with minimal effort, freeing up time for other activities. Financial Awareness Engaging in data monetization can increase your awareness of how data is valued in the market, which might inspire you to adopt other innovative financial strategies. The Future of Data Monetization As technology advances, new opportunities for data monetization will emerge. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are driving demand for high-quality data, making it more valuable than ever. Additionally, the rise of decentralized platforms ensures greater transparency and control for individuals. Trends to Watch: Increased use of AI in analyzing and monetizing data. Growth of decentralized data marketplaces. Stricter regulations around data privacy and security. Conclusion Data monetization represents a promising avenue for boosting personal finance. By leveraging your everyday data, you can create new income streams and gain valuable insights into the digital economy. However, it’s crucial to approach this opportunity with caution, ensuring your privacy and security are protected. Start small by exploring platforms that align with your comfort level and financial goals. Over time, you’ll discover which methods work best for you. In today’s data-driven world, turning information into income isn’t just a possibility—it’s a smart financial move. Related Items: Data Monetization , personal finance , Turning Information Into Income Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you How Do People Balance Budgeting and Maintaining a Good Quality of Life? Ocean Protocol: Top 3 Uses in Data Monetization Empowering Personal Finance: AI Revolutionizing Financial Management Comments
Why Google's quantum breakthrough is 'truly remarkable' - and what happens nextUPDATED with sentence: Carlos Watson , the founder and former CEO of Ozy Media , was sentenced to 116 months, or nearly ten years, in prison for conspiracy to commit securities fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in an unusual case that briefly captivated the media world. Watson launched the digital lifestyle and news site in 2012. The term was handed down this week by United States District Judge Eric R. Komitee in federal court in Brooklyn following Watson’s conviction in July after an eight-week trial. While hefty, it was well below the 17 years that prosecutors had requested. Additional penalties of forfeiture and restitution from Ozy Media will be imposed at a later date. The trial showed that between 2018 and 2021 Watson and Ozy Media co-conspirators orchestrated a scheme to defraud investors out of tens of millions of dollars through fraudulent misrepresentations and omissions about Ozy’s financial performance, including revenue, cash on hand and profit, ongoing business relationships with celebrities, acquisition prospects from high- profile technology and media corporations, contract negotiations and other corporate metrics. Court filing showed that Watson and his co-conspirators, who were being tried separately, lied to prospective investors about who else might be investing in Ozy, the existence and size of acquisition offers received by Ozy, the existence and timing of financing rounds, and the existence and terms of Ozy’s business contracts, directing Ozy employees to create fake contracts with forged signatures to provide in due diligence. One of the strangest claims was that on multiple occasions, when faced with questions from lenders or potential investors, Watson and his co-conspirators assumed the identities of and impersonated actual media company executives to cover up their prior fraudulent misrepresentations. In particular, Ozy co-founder and chief operating officer Samir Rao had misrepresented himself on a call with Goldman Sachs by pretending to be a YouTube executive, Alex Piper. The idea was to put Ozy in a positive light as it sought an investment from the bank. “Watson’s scheme caused actual investor losses in excess of $60 million and intended to deprive potential investors of hundreds of millions more on the basis of his and his co-conspirators’ lies and misrepresentations,” said the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York in a statement, announcing the sentence. “Carlos Watson orchestrated a years-long, audacious scheme to defraud investors and lenders,” it said. “His incessant and deliberate lies demonstrated not only a brazen disregard for the rule of law, but also a contempt for the values of honesty and fairness that should underlie American entrepreneurship. On far too many occasions, Watson chose deceit over candor, grasping for the illusion of business success and personal acclaim at any cost.” PREVIOUSLY: A jury in federal court in Brooklyn on Tuesday found Ozy Media founder and CEO Carlos Watson guilty of securities fraud, identity fraud and other charges that carry a penalty of up to 37 years in prison. Sentencing is in November. The verdict marks the end of a two-month trial for Watson, who founded the digital news and lifestyle startup in 2012. It seemed to be doing fairly well, a façade that exploded in 2021, when an article in the New York Times revealed that Ozy co-founder and chief operating officer Samir Rao had misrepresented himself on a call with Goldman Sachs by pretending to be a YouTube executive, Alex Piper. The idea was to put Ozy in a positive light as it sought an investment from the bank. The executives lied to Goldman Sachs, saying giant YouTube wanted to buy the rights to The Carlos Watson Show . Watson was also charged with misrepresenting the company’s finances and audience numbers to backers and investors. The revelations were followed by a criminal indictment and Watson’s arrest in February 2023. The site, which had been up and down after the NYT story, shuttered after that. “We decided that I would fake the reference call and pretend to be Alex,” Rao said on the stand, according to news reports today. Rao and former chief of staff Suzee Han both pleaded guilty to charges last year and are cooperating with the government. They were named alongside Watson in a separate SEC lawsuit.