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WHEELING, W.Va. , Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- WesBanco, Inc. (Nasdaq: WSBC), a diversified, multi-state bank holding company, announced today the appointment of Jan Pattishall-Krupinski to the role of Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, effective immediately. This strategic move underscores the organization's commitment to advancing its leadership structure to support sustainable long-term growth and align with evolving business and stakeholder needs. In her new role, Pattishall-Krupinski, a WesBanco veteran, reports directly to WesBanco President and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Jackson and oversees bank and loan operations, customer service, corporate strategy and project management. Her expanded structure and scope reflect WesBanco's focus on operational excellence and strategic alignment, which is designed to drive greater agility and accelerate the execution of organizational goals. "Jan's promotion to Chief Administrative Officer recognizes her exceptional leadership and strategic contributions over her past 13 years of service to our organization," said Jackson. "Her expertise has been instrumental in guiding transformative initiatives, including leadership roles in multiple acquisitions, our core banking system transformation and advancements in technology and operations. This new role elevates the importance of integrating business operations and strategy at the executive level, ensuring we continue to be positioned for success in a dynamic marketplace." Pattishall-Krupinski joined WesBanco in 2011, most recently serving as Executive Vice President and Director of Operations. "I am honored to step into the role of Chief Administrative Officer as WesBanco continues its growth and transformation. This opportunity is a testament to the collaboration and excellence of our teams, who have been instrumental in shaping our success. I look forward to building on this foundation to drive operational excellence, embrace innovation and enhance the customer experience in every interaction," said Pattishall-Krupinski. Pattishall-Krupinski has a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Penn State University and graduated from the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School . She serves on the boards of Crittenton Services, Leadership West Virginia and The Junior League of Wheeling . She is based at WesBanco's corporate headquarters in Wheeling, West Virginia . About Wesbanco, Inc. With over 150 years as a community-focused, regional financial services partner, WesBanco Inc. (NASDAQ: WSBC) and its subsidiaries build lasting prosperity through relationships and solutions that empower our customers for success in their financial journeys. Customers across our eight-state footprint choose WesBanco for the comprehensive range and personalized delivery of our retail and commercial banking solutions, as well as trust, brokerage, wealth management and insurance services, all designed to advance their financial goals. Through the strength of our teams, we leverage large bank capabilities and local focus to help make every community we serve a better place for people and businesses to thrive. Headquartered in Wheeling, West Virginia , WesBanco has $18.5 billion in total assets, with our Trust and Investment Services holding $6.1 billion of assets under management and securities account values (including annuities) of $1.9 billion through our broker/dealer, as of September 30, 2024 . Learn more at www.wesbanco.com and follow @WesBanco on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wesbanco-inc-names-jan-pattishall-krupinski-as-chief-administrative-officer-302315495.html SOURCE WesBanco, Inc.Let’s cut right to the chase: What the analysis made public yesterday by the Chief Actuary of Canada shows is that if Alberta were to split from the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) it would only be entitled to 20 to 25 per cent of the CPP investment fund, or about $120 billion to $150 billion. In other words, the 2023 report by the Lifeworks consulting firm commissioned and heavily promoted by the United Conservative Party Government that concluded Alberta would be entitled to walk away with 53 per cent of the $575-billion investment fund, about $334 billion, turns out to be just as it appeared, too good to be true. So the complaint by Alberta Finance Minister Nate Horner’s spokesperson that “we received their interpretation of the legislation, but it did not contain a number or even a formula for calculating a number” turns out to be not completely accurate. Yes, the government received the report. And, yes, the report didn’t do the math for readers. Nevertheless, upon reading it, Alberta Finance Department experts should have had no difficulty coming up with the conclusions above. Now that the Office of Chief Actuary Assia Billig has publicly released the report , Alberta voters can read it for themselves. Its title may not be all that riveting, but the conclusions of Chief Actuary Position Paper – Subsection 113(2) of the Canada Pension Plan are both clear and persuasive. Section 113(2) of the legislation that created the Canada Pension Plan , by the way, “outlines the calculation that the Minister of Finance shall apply in determining the amount that would be transferred to the Government of Alberta,” the position paper explains. So figuring out what it means, quite literally, is the money question! A very helpful commentary was posted yesterday afternoon on social media by University of Calgary economics professor Trevor Tombe, who is cited in the report as being one of many experts Billig’s staff consulted who reached similar conclusions. In particular, the report pointedly endorses the conclusion published by Dr. Tombe in December 2023 , that the LifeWorks estimate of Alberta’s entitlement was wrong, and the right number is in the 20- to 25-per-cent range. If the same approach were applied to both Alberta and Ontario, Dr. Tombe noted in that 2023 paper, “then it would result in more assets being paid out than actually exist within the CPP.” Needless to say, such an outcome would not just strain Confederation, it would be politically impossible in Canada outside of Quebec, which with its own grandfathered pension has no dog in this fight. “The Chief Actuary’s position, although independently developed, is consistent with the findings of the IAP and the method presented in Dr. Tombe’s paper,” the position paper states – the IAP being the Independent Advisory Panel of actuaries created by her office to gather independent views. While it may not seem completely reassuring, it is said here the Finance Minister’s press secretary can probably be forgiven for not properly understanding the position paper, which, while clearly written, requires a certain level of actuarial expertise not typical of political staffers. Anyway, the Chief Actuary sided with the majority of experts when it came to rejecting the LifeWorks claim the province would be entitled to as much interest as it would have collected if it had set up its own pension plan in 1966. This does not mean the UCP’s pension scheme is not viable, Dr. Tombe noted in his Bluesky commentary, but it does indicate the much smaller contribution rates claimed by the government are not possible. Responding to a commenter, Dr. Tombe concluded that “reading carefully the various pieces of analysis now publicly available would lead to the conclusion that the LifeWorks interpretation will not withstand careful judicial review.” This is an opinion, but obviously a well-informed and important one. Mount Royal University political science professor Duane Bratt weighed in on Bluesky with the opinion that “the Smith government will quietly abandon the APP when there is a change in the federal government. The APP rears its head when there are Liberals in Ottawa, and buries its head when the Conservatives are in office.” I am not so sure. The UCP brain trust has been singularly focused on the huge sums that could become available to prop up Alberta’s oil and gas sector if it got its paws on CPP assets, so don’t expect this divisive scheme to go away any time soon. Support rabble today! We’re so glad you stopped by! Thanks for consuming rabble content this year. rabble.ca is 100% reader and donor funded, so as an avid reader of our content, we hope you will consider gifting rabble with a donation during our summer fundraiser today. Nick Seebruch, editor Whether it be a one-time donation or a small monthly contribution, your support is critical to keep rabble writers producing the work you’ve come to rely on as a part of a healthy media diet. Become a rabble rouser — donate to rabble.ca today. Nick Seebruch, editor Support rabble.ca
Rays will play 13 of first 16 games at home and 47 of 59, then have 69 of last 103 on roadCitius Oncology, Inc. Reports Fiscal Full Year 2024 Financial Results and Provides Business Update
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ROUYN-NORANDA, Quebec, Nov. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Abcourt Mines Inc. (“Abcourt” or the “Corporation”) (TSX Venture: ABI) (OTCQB : ABMBF) announces its results for the first quarter ended September 30, 2024. All monetary values in this press release are expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise indicated. Financial statements and management discussion and analysis are available on SEDAR+. Highlights for the Quarter ended September 30, 2024 Exploration: Exploration work totaling $2,603,486 for the quarter, mainly consisting of prospecting and evaluation expenses incurred on the Sleeping Giant property for the underground drilling campaign for an amount of approximately $2,386,014. During the quarter, the Corporation completed 1,127 metres of definition and exploration drilling at the Sleeping Giant mine on the 4 upper levels, in order to refine the geological model on these levels and to support engineering planning towards a pre-feasibility economic study. From December 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024, the Corporation completed 4,270 metres of definition and exploration drilling at Sleeping Giant. Highlights of the results obtained during the drilling campaign on the Sleeping Giant property in the 20 West Zone area on the 235 level during the quarter are as follows: 125.67 g/t Au over 0.5 metre in hole 23-489. 46.08 g/t Au over 1 metre in hole 23-485 During the quarter, sales of approximately 189 ounces of gold at an average realized price of $3,181 (US$2,322) per ounce. Gold sales were from gold recovery on the Sleeping Giant property and the residual from the 5,000 tonne bulk sample from the Courville property (Pershing Manitou). During the quarter, the Corporation carried out stripping work on the Flordin property in the Cartwright area. Stripping work on 3 zones exposed the high-grade gold mineralized zone, and subsequently over 200 metres in distance, during a second round of stripping at the end of the quarter, and channel sampling of the newly exposed mineralized zone. The work completed during the quarter, and the results obtained from drilling in November 2023, support the Corporation's assumption that the high-grade gold mineralization associated with pyrite bands would be continuous over more than 2 km between the Cartwright deposit and the South Zone discovered by Cambior in 1988. On June 17, 2024, the Corporation entered into an option agreement with Québec Lafleur Minerals Inc. ("LaFleur") under which Abcourt granted LaFleur the right to acquire a 100% interest in 141 mining claims held by the Corporation and covering approximately 5,579 hectares. The optioned property includes portions of the Courville and Abcourt Barvue projects, namely the Jolin (Courville) and Bartec (Abcourt-Barvue) sectors and contiguous to the Swanson property. On July 8, 2024, LaFleur elected to accelerate the exercise of the remaining conditions of the option agreement by proceeding with the payment by the issuance of shares of its share capital for a total amount of $1,500,000, allowing it to acquire the remaining 75% interest in the property. LaFleur issued 4,299,211 shares to Abcourt at a deemed price of $0.3489 per share. The amount of $1,500,000 was recognized in net income in exploration and evaluation expenses under the heading disposal of a property. Financial: On July 24, 2024, the Corporation closed a non-brokered private placement of 112,500,000 units at a price of $0.04 per unit for total gross proceeds of $4,500,000. Net loss of $1,839,901, or a loss per share of $0.00, compared to a net loss of $2,449,243, or a loss per share of $0.01, for the same period in 2023. As at September 30, 2024, negative working capital of $2,358,485, compared to negative working capital of $4,947,411 as at June 30, 2024. During the quarter, Abcourt improved it's working capital by $2,588,926. Corporate: On August 1 st , 2024, the Corporation granted a total of 3,500,000 stock options to a director and certain employees of the Corporation. The private placement closed on July 24, 2024 resulted in the creation of a new controlling shareholder (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) due to the issuance of 100,000,000 units to Noureddine Mokaddem, for a total consideration of $4,000,000. The latter participated in the private placement in order to support the short- and medium-term growth of the Corporation. He intends to hold his securities for investment purposes and may, depending on certain circumstances, including market conditions, increase or decrease his beneficial ownership of or control over the common shares, Warrants or other securities of the Corporation. On July 24, 2024, Noureddine Mokkadem was appointed director of the Corporation. Mr. Mokaddem is a mining engineer with approximately 40 years of professional experience in Africa and North America. He has successfully led all the stages of the implementation of several projects, ranging from feasibility studies to the start-up of production units of different sizes. On July 24, 2024, Daniel Adam resigned as director of the Corporation, to leave a vacancy for Mr. Mokaddem. About Abcourt Mines Inc. Abcourt Mines Inc. is a Canadian gold exploration company with properties strategically located in northwestern Quebec, Canada. Abcourt owns the 100% owned Sleeping Giant Mine and Mill, where it focuses its operations. The Sleeping Giant Mine has a mining lease and environmental certificates of authorization to extract up to 800 tonnes per day from its underground mine. For more information about Abcourt Mines Inc., please visit our website and view our filings under Abcourt's profile on www.sedarplus.ca . FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Certain information contained in this news release may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by forward-looking terminology, such as "plans", "aims", "expects", "projects", "intends", "anticipates", "estimates", "could", "should", "likely", or variations of these words and phrases or statements specifying that certain acts, events or results "may", "would", "would", "would", "would", "would", "occur" or "be achieved" or other expressions Similar. Forward-looking statements are based on Abcourt's estimates and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Abcourt's actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements are subject to business, economic and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements, including the relevant assumptions and risk factors set out in Abcourt's public filings, are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca . There can be no assurance that these statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Although Abcourt believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Except as required by applicable securities laws, Abcourt disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any of these forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Father who pleaded with pediatrician ex-wife not to 'chemically castrate' their son, 9, is dealt crushing blow By ALYSSA GUZMAN FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 21:51, 23 November 2024 | Updated: 21:51, 23 November 2024 e-mail View comments A Texas father who tried for years to stop his ex-wife from allowing his pre-teen child, who now identifies as 'Luna,' to be chemically castrated has been dealt a blow in California court. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mark Juhas ruled that Jeff Younger's ex-wife Anne Georgulas would be granted full custody of his 12-year-old son James and would be able to allow him to transition. It comes as a blow to Younger, 59, who announced on X that he 'lost all parental rights' over his twins and wished his children goodbye. 'Goodbye, boys. Perhaps, we will meet when you are adults,' he said in the post . He was granted 'supervised' visitation, but the father said he 'won't do that.' Younger said he does 'send letters and gifts to my sons,' but his ex-wife is not required to make sure the boys receive them. 'Let my story be a cautionary one for young men. Fathers have no rights to their children. Do not enter the family law system,' he said. 'California Judge Juhas gave my ex-wife authority to castrate my son, James.' Chemical castration involves a child taking puberty-blocking medication to stop the sex hormones from being produced. It is not the same as surgical castration. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mark Juhas ruled that Jeff Younger's ex-wife Anne Georgulas would be granted full custody of his 12-year-old son James and would be able to allow him to transition (pictured: Jeff Younger with James) Chemical castration is reversible, but the side effects of long-term usage of hormones blockers is currently unknown. Last year, Younger begged his ex-wife not to chemically castrate their son after she moved to California. Younger revealed a video of his child claiming he's a girl on Tucker Carlson Tonight . When asked if he was a boy, James told his dad in the video: 'No, I'm a girl.' In the video, which is several years old, the young boy claimed his mother, who is a pediatrician, told him he was female because he 'loved girls' and would dress him up in 'dresses.' He claims Georgulas moved to California from Texas to seek gender treatment for their son in 2022. A court has previously ruled Georgulas cannot seek 'transitioning' treatment of their son and she has 'freely acknowledged' the order. The Supreme Court of Texas ruled in December 2022 that she 'lacks the legal authority to consent to such therapy.' 'My blood ran cold when I realized what she had planned for that boy,' Younger told Carlson at the time. He claims the boy's mother 'started transitioning him when he was two' and 'tried to enroll him in a gender clinic when he was five.' Younger said doesn't think the mother's relocation to California was 'an accident.' A court has previously ruled Georgulas, a doctor, cannot seek 'transitioning' treatment of their son, who she claimed is a transgender girl named Luna after seeking medical advice In 2019, Younger was granted joint custody of their children, which included a say in medical decisions related to the child, including treatment regarding gender transition. In 2021, a judge gave Georgulas full custody over James, including his medical care. But that ruling said the control did not extend to extend to hormone-suppression therapy, puberty blockers or transgender reassignment surgery. Permission for any of those treatments must also be obtained from the boy's father, the initial ruling said. The ruling noted that full custody was given to the mother in part because Younger 'failed to timely make the payments of child support, medical support and interest as ordered and only paid his past due support after the motion for enforcement was filed.' An attorney for Georgulas said at the time the case is 'not about the child's gender issues' and said there were 'issues with regards to Jeff's parenting abilities.' Younger had asked the Texas Supreme Court to ban the mother from relocating to California over fears she would be able to take advantage of the new sanctuary law, but judges threw out his claim. The Texas Supreme Court said: 'Under an existing Texas court order that Mother agreed to and that Mother acknowledges is binding on her, Mother lacks the legal right to consent to gender-transition therapy for her son. 'This legal disability is just as real in California as it is in Texas, and Mother readily acknowledges this as well.' It comes as a blow to Younger, 59, who announced on X that he 'lost all parental rights' over his twins and wished his children goodbye. 'Goodbye, boys. Perhaps, we will meet when you are adults,' he said in the post It added that the court order in Texas that would prevent Georgulas from getting gender-transition therapy for her son without Younger's permission remain in effect nationwide. The court said: 'The only court to have acted so far has preserved Father’s right to withhold consent to gender-transition therapy for his son. That right is enforceable in California, where Mother lacks the legal authority to consent to such therapy for the child, both before and after SB 107 [the sanctuary law].' California's sanctuary law protects transgender children and their families who flee from 'Alabama, Texas, Idaho or any other state criminalizing the parents of trans kids for allowing them to receive gender-affirming care.' 'If these parents and their kids come to California, the legislation will help protect them from having their kids taken away from them or from being criminally prosecuted for supporting their trans kids’ access to healthcare,' State Senator Scott Weiner said in a statement. The sanctuary law went into effect on January 1, 2023. Younger also claimed the child's school district 'tried to secretly transition' James and forced the father to dress his son in girl's clothes. 'I'd bring my son to school in boy's clothes and they'd give him a dress and make him use the girls' restroom,' the father-of-two claimed on Carlson's show. Georgulas had the boy registered in school as a girl, according to Younger. Younger said his case was a 'cautionary' tale for 'young men.' He said: 'Fathers have no rights to their children. Do not enter the family law system' Georgulas had long argued that James is transgender and wanted her child to transition to a girl named Luna. Her ex-husband, however, did not believe James has gender dysphoria and that his child was just experiencing some confusion with gender. He accused Georgulas of forcing James to socially transition into a girl by making the child wear dresses. However, she claimed three mental health professionals had diagnosed James with gender dysphoria and that therapists had recommended they start using the name Luna instead of James. Georgulas and Younger married back in 2010 when they were members of the Orthodox Church. They went through IVF to have twins and requested their gender be male before they were born in 2012. The couple's marriage was annulled several years ago over claims Younger had lied to Georgulas about a previous marriage and his employment. Arguments over their child's gender began when Georgulas took James to see a gender therapist at the Children's Hospital Center. She claims she had noticed James requesting girl-themed toys, that the child was imitating female Disney characters and had been asking to wear dresses. The therapist recommended James start social transitioning by wearing dresses to school and going by a different name. Share or comment on this article: Father who pleaded with pediatrician ex-wife not to 'chemically castrate' their son, 9, is dealt crushing blow e-mail Add comment
Donald Trump's TikTok Standoff: Supreme Court ShowdownJones, Mellott help Montana State run over Montana 34-11The French government has been toppled in a vote of no confidence Wednesday, plunging the euro zone’s second-largest economy into a period of deep political uncertainty. A total of 331 lawmakers from both the leftwing New Popular Front (NFP) alliance and the far-right National Rally (RN) supported a no-confidence motion in the country’s lower house, far exceeding the 288 votes needed to pass the motion. Motions had been tabled by both the left and rightwing blocs on Monday after Prime Minister Michel Barnier used special constitutional powers to without a vote. National Rally had said it would vote for both its own “motion de censure” against the government, as well as lending its support to the NFP’s motion. Either motion needed the support of at least 288 deputies, out of 574 deputies in the National Assembly, . Combined, the far-right bloc and leftwing alliance have roughly 333 lawmakers in Parliament, although some lawmakers had been expected to abstain from the vote. During a debate ahead of the vote, Barnier told lawmakers he was “not afraid” of being voted out but called on parties to work together and to “go above the general interest” to overcome divisions. He said it had “been an honor” to serve as prime minister, before receiving a standing ovation from French politicians. Losing the confidence vote means Barnier will be forced to tender his resignation to French President Emmanuel Macron just three months after he was installed as premier on Sept. 5; Barnier’s administration will be the shortest-lived in France’s Fifth Republic, which began in 1958. The prime minister’s downfall comes after several weeks of negotiations with opposition parties to try to find agreement over just one part of the wider 2025 budget, which included 60 billion euros ($63 billion) worth of spending cuts and tax hikes seen as necessary to tame France’s budget deficit which is . In the end, however, Barnier’s minority government failed to win over opponents on either side of the political spectrum. It faced the prospect of more haggling over the broader budget that had to be passed by Dec. 21, and was vulnerable to the whims of the National Rally, . The appointment of Barnier — a right-leaning conservative with Les Républicains party — was controversial from the off in September as it came after the RN and NFP won respective rounds of a parliamentary election held in June and July. On Wednesday, the ideologically-distant blocs’ shared antipathy toward Barnier, the government and its budget plans brought them together, in what some analysts described as an “unholy alliance” of political foes. Barnier is expected to resign immediately although Macron is likely to ask him to continue as a caretaker prime minister while he searches for a replacement. New parliamentary elections cannot take place until next June-July, 12 months on from the last vote. As for the budget, the fall of Barnier and the government means that “all their unfinished legislative business falls with them,” according to Mujtaba Rahman, managing director of Europe at Eurasia Group. An emergency budget is likely be passed within the month, effectively rolling over 2024 tax legislation until a 2025 budget is agreed, Rahman said in emailed comments Monday. But time is of the essence to appoint a new prime minister, as a 2025 budget cannot be passed by a caretaker government. That puts pressure on Macron to select a new prime minister quickly. Government formation will be watched closely, according to Carsten Nickel, deputy director of research at risk consultancy Teneo, “including the degree of Macron’s personal involvement in the process.” Nickel warned that Barnier’s caretaker status could drag on, as new elections are not possible before the summer. Barnier’s fate will be a strong warning to whoever Macron picks as his next prime minister as to the hazards and tripwires he or she will face when trying to reach a consensus over the budget, and other major policy decisions, given deep divisions in French politics laid bare since Macron’s ill-judged decision to call snap elections earlier this year. Macron returned from a three-day state visit to Saudi Arabia Wednesday evening, having kept a low profile in recent weeks amid the ongoing political turmoil engulfing the government — turmoil that ultimately resulted from his own decision-making. Now, Macron will face pressure over his appointment of a new prime minister, and over his own position. “Macron can appoint any Prime Minister that he chooses to replace Barnier — including Barnier himself,” Rahman said, but France’s Parliament can also “censure his new choice whenever it wants to,” Rahman added. “But both Macron and the much-divided parliamentary majority which opposes him have to calculate their strategy carefully,” Rahman said. “The left and the far right must ... be cautious. If they censure the new PM, there will be no legal authority to propose a rolled-over, stopgap budget. Government could, in theory, close on 1 January if there is no legal basis to raise taxes to pay for pensions or police or health care or defence — or [National] Assembly deputies’ salaries,” he noted. In the meantime, the president is likely to face demands from the left and right that he resign in order for a new presidential election to be held far earlier than the one slated for 2027. Resignation by Macron would trigger presidential elections within 35 days, analyst Carsten Nickel noted, adding that “while this seems unlikely, the snap polls earlier this year should at least serve as a reminder of Macron’s penchant for lonely decisions.” Macron will likely ignore all pressure to resign, according to Eurasia Group’s Mujtaba Rahman, but “the new crisis puts him at the centre of the political game once again.”
(Source: Nasdaq) Tech and growth stocks dragged Wall Street’s main indexes lower on Friday, at the end of an upbeat holiday-shortened week that was driven by expectations around a traditionally strong period for markets. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI), fell 0.82%, the S&P 500 (.SPX), opens new tab was down 1.24% and the Nasdaq Composite (.IXIC), briefly fell more than 2% and was down 1.80%. Ten of the 11 major S&P sectors, including information technology (.SPLRCT), and consumer discretionary (.SPLRCD), fell the most, down about 2% and 1.9%, after powering most of the broader market’s gains in 2024. COMMENTS: PETER TUZ, PRESIDENT, CHASE INVESTMENT COUNSEL, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA “This is end of year stuff going on people have had a pretty good year, and it’s typical year-end selling pressure caused by people taking profits, not a lot of buyers out there and not a lot of volume.“ “(There’s) no reason to jump in and buy these things at these valuations, and tax planning is on peoples’ minds this week and will be on Monday and Tuesday. I don’t attribute it to, you know, any changing outlook in anything right now.” “The Santa Claus rally is one of those historic statistics that bears watching, but because of the change in administration and the potential change in policy you’re probably seeing more action now than you would ordinarily. There’s the potential for a lot of disruption in 2025.” BRYCE DOTY, SENIOR PORTFOLIO MANAGER, SIT FIXED INCOME ADVISORS, MINNEAPOLIS “Today the market has really been reacting to the implications of taxes coming up. Tax positioning is overwhelming the other factors. But the more the Fed looks out of touch (with economic realities), the worse it is for equities...Tax trading will continue for the rest of the year.” Source: Reuters (Compiled by the Global Finance & Markets Breaking News team)
RICHMOND, Ky. (AP) — Matt Morrissey threw a 67-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Calwise Jr. that ended the scoring midway through the fourth quarter and Eastern Kentucky beat North Alabama 21-15 on Saturday for its fifth straight win. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * RICHMOND, Ky. (AP) — Matt Morrissey threw a 67-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Calwise Jr. that ended the scoring midway through the fourth quarter and Eastern Kentucky beat North Alabama 21-15 on Saturday for its fifth straight win. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? RICHMOND, Ky. (AP) — Matt Morrissey threw a 67-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Calwise Jr. that ended the scoring midway through the fourth quarter and Eastern Kentucky beat North Alabama 21-15 on Saturday for its fifth straight win. TJ Smith drove North Alabama to the EKU 45-yard line before he threw an interception to Mike Smith Jr. to end the game. Smith threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Dakota Warfield to give North Alabama a 15-14 lead with 10:37 to play. Morrissey completed 9 of 15 passes for 154 yards and added 60 yards on the ground with a touchdown run. Brayden Latham added 103 yards rushing on 19 carries that included a 2-yard score for Eastern Kentucky (8-4, 6-2 United Athletic Conference). Smith was 23-of-39 passing for 325 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions for North Alabama (3-9, 2-5). Tanaka Scott had 109 yards receiving and a touchdown catch. ___ Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season. Sign up here ___ AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football AdvertisementSenators Hold Hearing on AI Fraud and Scams, Vow to Pass AI Bills in Coming Weeks — AI: The Washington ReportPierce's 20 lead Presbyterian past Youngstown State 67-42
Actor Barry Keoghan has once again slammed claims about the relationship he has with his son. The Oscar-nominee, 32, shares his two-year-old son Brando with ex-partner Alyson Kierans, a dentist from London. He tends to keep his son away from the spotlight, but has previously claimed people assume he's absent in his life and a "lazy" father. Barry has been open about his own childhood and the impact of his mother's death from a drug addiction. The Saltburn star slammed negative comments over his own parenting and said he didn't have a "blueprint" to learn off. Last month, Barry revealed how he had been branded an "absent father" and a "deadbeat dad". He said the comments came after not posting as many pictures as he once did of his child. Barry insisted his son "isn't a talking point" because he doesn't "give the internet what they want". The actor believes it isn't his place to share photos of Brando "in this day and age" with how "sick" the internet can be. "People are so feckin' quick to judge," he told Hunger magazine . "It can really affect you, but I'm a strong person. I do some therapy. I'm a work in progress. I'm constantly evolving as an actor, as a father, as a human. I'm always trying to grow." Barry and ex Alyson co-parent Brando and announced they were expecting their child months after getting together. However, the pair split in July 2023 after two and a half years together. Following their split, Barry has been in a high-profile romance with singer Sabrina Carpenter. He recently addressed the claims about his parenting while on Spotify’s The Louis Theroux Podcast. He said: "If I didn’t have tough skin or the strength to have, I wouldn’t be sitting here. Of course, (my childhood is) going to affect me being a father when I had no blueprint to take from. People just read that (as) laziness and go, ‘Oh, that’s no excuse to be an absent father’. I’m not an absent father." He also expressed his frustration at people using his son as "ammunition", leading him to post less about his child online as he gains more public attention. "Just the audacity of some people, man. It sickens me, makes me furious," he added. "I’ve been off it [social media] because when I’m going through a role, I’m getting into character. I stay away from the internet." The Banshees Of Inisherin star opened up about the darker side of fame, saying: "But, again, when I’ve got a bit of time, I am a curious being like all of us and you want to know what (people are saying online) especially when it’s slander and when it’s bad comments attacking my appearance or attacking me as a father." He also shared his personal struggles, revealing he's "just trying to make a living, trying to get a good body of work and create safety for my child". Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .
DJ Lagway threw a touchdown pass, Trey Smack kicked four field goals and Florida's defense dominated in a 33-8 victory over Tulane in the Gasparilla Bowl on Friday in Tampa, Fla. Lagway completed 22 of 35 passes for 305 yards with two interceptions and improved to 6-1 as a starter as the Gators (8-5) won their fourth consecutive game. "We've spent three years building this thing," said Florida head coach Billy Napier, who is 19-19 in his three seasons. "I'm thankful for the leadership we got from a great group of seniors. This senior group is special -- not only talented, but elite people and elite leadership. We don't overcome the adversity we faced in the first month of the season if we don't have elite leadership and we had elite leadership from the players." The Gators allowed just 194 yards to the Green Wave (9-5), who lost their third consecutive game. Florida had three interceptions of Ty Thompson, who completed 11 of 29 for 125 yards in his first college start in place of regular-season starter Darian Mensah, who transferred to Duke. It was 9-0 Florida on three field goals after Smack kicked a 24-yarder with 9:11 left in the third quarter. On the fourth play of the ensuing possession, Thompson was intercepted by Alfonzo Allen Jr., giving Florida the ball at its 40. Seven plays later, the Gators finally reached the end zone when Lagway's 7-yard pass to Tony Livingston produced a touchdown and a 16-0 lead at the end of the third. Florida got the ball back at the Tulane 47 when Thompson was stopped for a 2-yard loss on fourth and 2. Early in the fourth quarter, Smack kicked a 30-yard field goal that increased the lead to 19-0. The Green Wave turned the ball over on downs again at their 34, and four plays later, KD Daniels picked up teammate Lagway's fumble and advanced it 27 yards to the end zone for a 26-0 lead. Anthony Rubio rushed 9 yards for the Gators' final touchdown with 1:11 remaining, and Thompson threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Mario Williams and added a two-point pass with 29 seconds left. "This isn't the outcome we wanted at all," Tulane coach Jon Sumrall said. "We didn't help ourselves in a lot of areas. (Florida) is a really talented team. I hate the way it ended. We didn't finish the season or this game very well, obviously." On Tulane's first offensive play, Thompson was intercepted by Trikweze Bridges, leading to Smack's 34-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. On the second play of the second quarter, the Green Wave's Patrick Durkin was wide right on a 35-yard field-goal attempt, and the Gators' drive led to drove to Smack's 44-yard field goal and a 6-0 halftime lead. --Field Level Media
Financial Highlights : 4 th Quarter consolidated sales of $446.7 million; $1.80 billion for fiscal 2024 Outstanding debt reduced by $53.8 million during the quarter Cost reduction actions progressing well Company sets adjusted EBITDA guidance for fiscal 2025 Webcast: Friday, November 22, 2024, 9:00 a.m., (201) 689-8471 PITTSBURGH, Nov. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matthews International Corporation (NASDAQ GSM: MATW) today announced financial results for the quarter and fiscal year ended September 30, 2024. In discussing the Company’s results, Joseph C. Bartolacci, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated: “Our consolidated operating results for the fiscal 2024 fourth quarter reflected another quarter of solid performance by our core businesses and, consistent with prior quarters, was impacted by continuing customer delays in our energy business. Our previously announced cost reduction program is now underway, as evidenced by the charges reflected in our GAAP results this quarter, and progressing well. Overall, we were pleased with the consolidated operating results as we again demonstrated the resilience of Matthews and our employees in mitigating the challenges faced by one of our segments. For the year ended September 30, 2024, consolidated adjusted EBITDA was $205.2 million. “The Memorialization segment reported higher adjusted EBITDA for the current quarter despite lower unit volumes, which were related to a decline in U.S. deaths compared to a year ago. Ongoing cost control efforts combined with improved price realization were the key drivers in the improvement in operating margins. This segment has done a tremendous job of maintaining its level of performance over the past several years despite the declines in unit volume following the pandemic. “We are also pleased to report that our SGK Brand Solutions segment reported another consecutive quarter of year-over-year sales growth. This segment has stabilized nicely over the last two years with modest improvements in margins and is continuing its recovery following the global impacts of the pandemic and the European impact of the Russia-Ukraine war. Sales for the segment increased compared to a year ago primarily reflecting improved pricing to mitigate inflationary cost increases, higher sales for the merchandising and private label businesses, and growth in the Asia-Pacific market. “Sales for the Industrial Technologies segment for the fiscal 2024 fourth quarter declined from a year ago primarily resulting from further customer delays in our energy business. The current quarter also reflected a continued soft warehouse automation market; however, order rates have been improving recently which could bode well for a good recovery next fiscal year. “With respect to our cost reduction program, current quarter charges include non-cash goodwill impairment and other asset write-downs primarily in connection with our European operations, in addition to severance and other costs. The program is also targeting general and administrative cost reductions. For our fiscal 2024 fourth quarter, we reported another quarter of lower corporate and non-operating costs compared to a year ago. For the year, corporate and non-operating costs were approximately 5% lower than last year. “During the fiscal 2024 fourth quarter, we reduced our outstanding debt by $53.8 million. In addition, we completed the refinancing of outstanding senior notes due December 1, 2025. Due to current interest rates and the ongoing strategic review of our business portfolio, we opted for a shorter-term bond (three-year maturity) with an ability to call in one year. We are projecting higher operating cash flow next year as our working capital investments in fiscal 2024 begin to convert to operating cash flow, which will be partially mitigated by costs in connection with our cost reduction program. “Looking forward to fiscal 2025, we continue to face the uncertainty of project timing in our Industrial Technologies segment, specifically relating to our energy business. While we currently expect deliveries to be substantially completed during the year, quarterly timing is still difficult to forecast. Our cost reduction programs should mitigate some of this impact. “We expect another solid performance for our Memorialization business in fiscal 2025 as U.S. deaths appear to have generally normalized following COVID and we are projecting continued growth in our cremation-related products sales. Continued growth is also projected for our SGK Brand Solutions segment reflecting ongoing improvement in U.S. market conditions, more stable conditions in Europe, and further growth in the Asia-Pacific region. In the Industrial Technologies segment, our product identification business is projecting growth next year and we should start to realize benefits from the launch of a new printhead product, which is currently scheduled for the latter half of the fiscal year. Also, as noted earlier, recent improving order rates for warehouse automation solutions should support recovery in this business. With these considerations in mind, we remain cautious and are projecting adjusted EBITDA in the range of $205 million to $215 million for fiscal 2025. “Lastly, as growth opportunities for the Industrial Technologies segment continue to emerge, the Company has been exploring strategies with respect to its portfolio of businesses. Accordingly, we have retained J.P. Morgan to support the evaluation of potential strategic alternatives.” Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2024 Consolidated Results (Unaudited) Consolidated sales for the fiscal 2024 fourth quarter were $446.7 million, compared to $480.2 million for the fiscal 2023 fourth quarter, representing a decrease of $33.5 million. Net loss attributable to the Company for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 was $68.2 million, or $2.21 per share, compared to net income of $17.7 million, or $0.56 per share, for the same quarter last year. On a non-GAAP adjusted basis, earnings for the fiscal 2024 fourth quarter were $0.55 per share, compared to $0.96 per share a year ago. The net loss on a GAAP basis in the current fiscal quarter primarily reflected asset write-downs, including a goodwill impairment charge, and charges in connection with cost reduction programs. Adjusted EBITDA (net income before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, and other adjustments) for the fiscal 2024 fourth quarter was $58.1 million, compared to $61.9 million a year ago, primarily reflecting lower adjusted EBITDA in the Industrial Technologies segment. Fiscal 2024 Consolidated Results (Unaudited) Consolidated sales for the year ended September 30, 2024 were $1.80 billion, compared to $1.88 billion a year ago, representing a decrease of $85.2 million, or 4.5%, from the prior year. Net loss attributable to the Company for the year ended September 30, 2024 was $59.7 million ($1.93 per share), compared to net income of $39.3 million ($1.26 per share) for fiscal 2023. On a non-GAAP adjusted basis, earnings for the year ended September 30, 2024 were $2.17 per share, compared to $2.88 per share last year. The net loss on a GAAP basis for the current fiscal year primarily resulted from asset write-downs, including a goodwill impairment charge, and charges in connection with cost reduction programs. Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended September 30, 2024, was $205.2 million, compared to $225.8 million a year ago. The decrease reflected lower adjusted EBITDA for the Industrial Technologies and Memorialization segments, offset partially by higher adjusted EBITDA for SGK Brand Solutions and lower corporate and other non-operating costs. Webcast The Company will host a conference call and webcast on Friday, November 22, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time to review its financial and operating results and discuss its corporate strategies and outlook. A question-and-answer session will follow. The conference call can be accessed by dialing (201) 689-8471. The audio webcast can be monitored at www.matw.com . As soon as available after the call, a transcript of the call will be posted on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.matw.com . About Matthews International Corporation Matthews International Corporation is a global provider of memorialization products, industrial technologies, and brand solutions. The Memorialization segment is a leading provider of memorialization products, including memorials, caskets, cremation-related products, and cremation and incineration equipment, primarily to cemetery and funeral home customers that help families move from grief to remembrance. The Industrial Technologies segment includes the design, manufacturing, service and sales of high-tech custom energy storage solutions; product identification and warehouse automation technologies and solutions, including order fulfillment systems for identifying, tracking, picking and conveying consumer and industrial products; and coating and converting lines for the packaging, pharma, foil, décor and tissue industries. The SGK Brand Solutions segment is a leading provider of packaging solutions and brand experiences, helping companies simplify their marketing, amplify their brands and provide value. The Company has over 11,000 employees in more than 30 countries on six continents that are committed to delivering the highest quality products and services. Forward-looking Information Any forward-looking statements contained in this release are included pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies of the Company regarding the future, and may be identified by the use of words such as “expects,” “believes,” “intends,” “projects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “plans,” “seeks,” “forecasts,” “predicts,” “objective,” “targets,” “potential,” “outlook,” “may,” “will,” “could” or the negative of these terms, other comparable terminology and variations thereof. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company’s actual results in future periods to be materially different from management’s expectations, and no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove correct. Factors that could cause the Company's results to differ materially from the results discussed in such forward-looking statements principally include changes in domestic or international economic conditions, changes in foreign currency exchange rates, changes in interest rates, changes in the cost of materials used in the manufacture of the Company's products, any impairment of goodwill or intangible assets, environmental liability and limitations on the Company’s operations due to environmental laws and regulations, disruptions to certain services, such as telecommunications, network server maintenance, cloud computing or transaction processing services, provided to the Company by third-parties, changes in mortality and cremation rates, changes in product demand or pricing as a result of consolidation in the industries in which the Company operates, or other factors such as supply chain disruptions, labor shortages or labor cost increases, changes in product demand or pricing as a result of domestic or international competitive pressures, ability to achieve cost-reduction objectives, unknown risks in connection with the Company's acquisitions and divestitures, cybersecurity concerns and costs arising with management of cybersecurity threats, effectiveness of the Company's internal controls, compliance with domestic and foreign laws and regulations, technological factors beyond the Company's control, impact of pandemics or similar outbreaks, or other disruptions to our industries, customers, or supply chains, the impact of global conflicts, such as the current war between Russia and Ukraine, the outcome of the Company's dispute with Tesla, Inc. ("Tesla"), and other factors described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and other periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures Included in this report are measures of financial performance that are not defined by GAAP, including, without limitation, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and EPS, constant currency sales, constant currency adjusted EBITDA, net debt and net debt leverage ratio. The Company defines net debt leverage ratio as outstanding debt (net of cash) relative to adjusted EBITDA. The Company uses non-GAAP financial measures to assist in comparing its performance on a consistent basis for purposes of business decision-making by removing the impact of certain items that management believes do not directly reflect the Company’s core operations including acquisition and divestiture costs, ERP integration costs, strategic initiative and other charges (which includes non-recurring charges related to certain commercial and operational initiatives and exit activities), stock-based compensation and the non-service portion of pension and postretirement expense. Constant currency sales and constant currency adjusted EBITDA remove the impact of changes due to foreign exchange translation rates. To calculate sales and adjusted EBITDA on a constant currency basis, amounts for periods in the current fiscal year are translated into U.S. dollars using exchange rates applicable to the comparable periods of the prior fiscal year. Management believes that presenting non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors because it (i) provides investors with meaningful supplemental information regarding financial performance by excluding certain items that management believes do not directly reflect the Company's core operations, (ii) permits investors to view performance using the same tools that management uses to budget, forecast, make operating and strategic decisions, and evaluate historical performance, and (iii) otherwise provides supplemental information that may be useful to investors in evaluating the Company’s results. The Company's calculations of its non-GAAP financial measures, however, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. The Company believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures, when considered together with the corresponding GAAP financial measures and the reconciliations to those measures, provided herein, provide investors with an additional understanding of the factors and trends affecting the Company’s business that could not be obtained absent these disclosures. * Depreciation and amortization was $7,368 and $6,646 for the Memorialization segment, $6,028 and $5,600 for the Industrial Technologies segment, $9,724 and $11,299 for the SGK Brand Solutions segment, and $1,209 and $1,172 for Corporate and Non-Operating, for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Depreciation and amortization was $27,768 and $23,738 for the Memorialization segment, $23,772 and $23,184 for the Industrial Technologies segment, $38,667 and $44,842 for the SGK Brand Solutions segment, and $4,563 and $4,766 for Corporate and Non-Operating, for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. ** Acquisition costs, ERP integration costs, non-recurring/incremental COVID-19 costs, and strategic initiatives and other charges were $1,309 and $22 for the Memorialization segment, $40,069 and $614 for the Industrial Technologies segment, $307 and $3,878 for the SGK Brand Solutions segment, and $6,784 and $2,502 for Corporate and Non-Operating, for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Acquisition costs, ERP integration costs, non-recurring/incremental COVID-19 costs, and strategic initiatives and other charges were $3,514 and $1,002 for the Memorialization segment, $54,357 and $4,108 for the Industrial Technologies segment, $3,001 and $10,905 for the SGK Brand Solutions segment, and $10,290 and $3,201 for Corporate and Non-Operating, for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. † Strategic initiatives and other charges includes charges for exit and disposal activities (including severance and other employee termination benefits) totaling $41,353 and $6,003 for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. $29,283, $1,492, and $10,578 were presented in cost of sales, selling expense, and administrative expense for the three months ended September 30, 2024, respectively. Charges of $4,925 and $1,429, and a credit of $351 were presented in cost of sales, selling expense, and administrative expense for the three months ended September 30, 2023, respectively. Strategic initiatives and other charges includes charges for exit and disposal activities (including severance and other employee termination benefits) totaling $45,705 and $13,210 for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. $32,526, $1,379 and $11,800 were presented in cost of sales, selling expense, and administrative expense for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024, respectively. $9,028, $1,925 and $2,257 were presented in cost of sales, selling expense, and administrative expense for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, respectively. Accrued severance and other employee termination benefits totaled $42,245 and $7,321 as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Matthews International Corporation Corporate Office Two NorthShore Center Pittsburgh, PA 15212-5851 Phone: (412) 442-8200
As “ Wicked ” gets ready to take theaters by storm this weekend, many online are pointing to the Hollywood adaptation of the hit broadway musical as having an added political significance just 18 days after Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris in the Presidential election. While he was a guest on an upcoming episode of IndieWire’s Filmmaker Toolkit podcast , “ Wicked ” director Jon M. Chu acknowledged the politics of the story of the Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum) and Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West ( Cynthia Erivo ), joking, “A charismatic leader who gaslights a community that this woman is wicked just because she’s standing up for a marginalized group of people in the society, how could that be [political]?” Chu embraces that his movie will take on a new layer of meaning for many audience members after the re-election of Trump, but noted that impact is in part because politics has been baked into “Wicked” since its inception. Gregory Maguire’s 1995 book “Wicked” is a meditation on resisting fascist movements, a not-so-subtle theme that carried into its musical adaptation by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman. A major underlying storyline of “Wicked” is how leaders, who claim to have the people’s best interest at heart, attack the educated — represented by professor Dr. Dillamond, a talking goat voiced by Peter Dinklage — as they try to rewrite the history of animals and humans co-existence in an effort to strip the animals of their rights, and demonize them as the source of the people’s problems. Through this lens, Chu acknowledged his film is prophetic, but only because the underlying IP is prophetic. Chu argued the original “ Wizard of Oz ” movie — released on the heels of the 1930s Dust Bowl (the drought-stricken storms of the Depression), during the rise of fascism, and on the eve of World War II — has always spoken to America in a time of transition. He personally experienced it at two very different political moments that “Wicked” entered his life. “When I saw it in 2002, I was in college, so I was still growing up,” said Chu while on the podcast. “I was seeing the world for the first time a year after 9/11, we’re going into war, America’s in transition, and everything is scary all around. And when in scary situations, people go towards strongmen who just take the reins.” Chu first saw the original staged musical in the Bay Area, where he grew up, before it hit Broadway to become a $6 billion global sensation. It would come back around to him 18 years later, now a successful Hollywood director being approached about helming its big screen adaptation. “I got this movie when we were in [COVID] lockdown,” said Chu. “So at that moment, those words ‘Defying Gravity,’ [Elphaba’s gravity-defying musical number after learning the truth about the Wizard], when she says, ‘Something has changed within me, something’s not the same, I’m through with playing by the rules of someone else’s game,’ to me, I felt like the whole world feels like this.” Chu does see “Wicked” through the eyes of being the son of immigrants. Chu’s mother was born in Taiwan, his father in Sichuan, China. He brings this perspective to all of his projects, and it’s a big reason Lin-Manuel Miranda selected the “ Crazy Rich Asians ” director to adapt “ In the Heights ,” a musical about Miranda’s Dominican and Puerto Rican immigrant neighborhood of Washington Heights. “The American fairy tale, they always say it’s put together with American parts: Resilience, self-reliance, and optimism, and I love that as the starting point [for ‘Wicked’],” said Chu, who personally draws inspiration from Elphaba’s “Defying Gravity” musical and metaphysical response to learning the truth about the Wizard at the end of the first movie, but part of what he finds moving about it is the underlying hard question of that moment. “The storyteller has been unveiled and now the story we’re sitting in, we’re wondering, ‘Was this ever true?’ Is the yellow brick road that my parents talked to us plenty times about in the ‘Wizard of Oz,’ when I was growing up as immigrants, was that a real thing? Or maybe it was never made for us?” For Chu, Elphaba’s discovery that there is no wizard who is going to fix all our problems naturally leads to an important realization: “We’ll have to fix them ourselves.” Chu went on to explain, “It’s not even about the truth... It’s when you find out the truth, when you wake up, what are you going to do? What’s your decision? Are you an Elphaba, or are you a Glinda (Ariana Grande)?” That that’s where the first of two “Wicked” movies leaves off will feel eerily prescient for many in the audience, who Chu knows will feel as if we are politically at the same crossroads as the two best friends just days after the election. “I’ve thought a lot about this, the timeless thing about it, that never ends, is the resilience of human beings and what we can do, and what we can get through. Because when the path doesn’t seem like ours, we always rise above and sometimes we even find that we could fly,” said Chu. “That is what we need now more than ever. I didn’t know that that’s what was happening, but that is kind of the process and tradition of freedom.” In acknowledging the film will play differently for many after the election — and likely knowing the film will need both red and blue state audiences to embrace its universal messages to dominate the box office, as is being predicted — Chu said he thinks Glinda and Elphaba, the two roommates who hate each other before forming a sisterly bond, only to be forced apart by the politics of Oz — could serve as a model. “Technology has brought us all into the same dorm room,” Chu said, drawing an analogy. “We’re suddenly all roommates, and we are not alike, and that person’s messy, and that person smells, and that person does this, and ‘holy shit, we have to get along.’ And now it’s like college, the only way to actually find peace between us is maybe yell at each other, maybe say the things that we need to say, and actually forgive each other and give some grace, because the only way out is through, and so this has so many ties to where we’re at right now. Look for IndieWire’s Toolkit upcoming episode with Jon M. Chu’s on Spotify and Apple Podcasts .YourUpdateTV Speaks with Toy Trends Specialist Jennifer Lynch from the Toy Association