(Matthew Du, NewsUSA Reporter) - Judge Lewis Kaplan ordered the jury in Sam Bankman-Fried’s trial to return Friday morning after dismissing them earlier Thursday. 

Kaplan presides over the trial of Bankman-Fried, who currently faces charges that include wire fraud, securities fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering about the operation of crypto exchange FTX.

The defense has questioned the former CEO on several topics. Still, foggy memory seems to be a common theme amongst many of Bankman-Fried’s answers, which comes in stark contrast to the claims that Bankman-Fried had made following the collapse of FTX and before his criminal charges. 

(NewsUSA) - Extended families are further apart than ever before, a trend that is only increasing each year. According to the latest report by the Pew Research center, only 27% of Americans live near some extended family, with 24% saying they live near a few and 20% saying they don’t live near any at all. Considering this distance, coupled with the desire to be together this time of year, it's no wonder that the holidays are the busiest travel season.

Unfortunately, not everyone is able to make a trip, whether it's due to flight cancellations, poor weather or even the cost of transportation. Thanks to the digitally advanced world we live in, we can still connect with family in real time through apps like FaceTime and WhatsApp. 

Meeting virtually is becoming an increasingly popular way to stay connected with friends and family who live in different parts of the country. Connecting via the internet gives us the chance to socialize with loved ones without the need for transportation, which can be a major barrier for many families.

However, for the 46 million Americans residing in rural parts of the country, fiber or wireline connectivity is often unavailable. Here, satellite internet plays a crucial role in connecting them to family, friends, business opportunities and education. Satellite internet is widespread, reliable and available in remote areas that cable or fiber providers will often overpass. And thanks to new technology and innovations, satellite internet continues to improve.

Recently, Hughes, the original pioneer of satellite internet, introduced new Hughesnet^® service plans that are redefining connectivity and accessibility for rural America and feature unlimited data, increased speeds and reduced latency. By leveraging capacity from JUPITER^™ 3, the most advanced commercial communications satellite ever built, as well as new multipath technology through Hughesnet Fusion^® plans, Hughes is offering customers more ways to connect, stream and play.

As the holiday season begins, and people look to connect with distant family and friends, they increasingly rely on email, social media and video chats to remain present in each other's lives. Satellite internet enables those personal connections to remain strong, no matter how much distance separates us from loved ones. So, this season, whether they’re looking to FaceTime their grandchildren or play a multi-player game with cousins, families know that satellite internet is there to help connect virtually to what matters most.

(NewsUSA) - Maaco is Inviting Customers to HEAR How Great the Upside of Uh-Ohs can be by giving away 35 pairs of AirPods^®

Charlotte, N.C. (December 18, 2023) – Maaco, North America’s body shop, is celebrating the end of the year with an AirPods^® giveaway to help customers groove into the new year in style.

Beginning today, customers will have the chance to win a pair of Maaco-branded second-generation AirPods^® by visiting this website. To enter, customers will share what they are looking forward to in 2024, their first and last name, email, and mailing address. Following the sweepstakes, the 35 lucky winners will be randomly selected from the total entrant pool.

“At Maaco, we’re always focused on better,” said Daryl Hurst, president, Maaco. “Better technology, better customer experiences, and better ways to connect with our community. With this exciting community initiative, customers can truly HEAR how great the Upside of Uh-Ohs can be!”

Entries will be monitored from Monday, December 18 through Friday, December 29, 2023, 11:59 p.m. EST. Only entrants from this eligibility period will be entered to win and winners will be contacted through their email address used to enter.

“As we enter our 52nd year of providing dedicated service to our valued customers, I am excited to connect with more members of the community and be a trusted partner for any dents, dings, paint needs and any other Uh-Ohs that come their way,” said Daryl Hurst, president, Maaco. “This end of year initiative is another way to say, ‘thank you’ to the customers who have supported us in the past, present, and now, into the future.”

Winter’s unexpected dents, dings, and chills can be harsh, but Maaco is ready to show customers how great the Upside of Uh-Ohs can truly be! As one of North America’s top performing auto paint and collision repair providers, Maaco has serviced over 20 million cars since 1972 with service and quality work customers can trust.

For more information on Maaco visit Maaco.com.

###

About Maaco

Maaco is North America’s body shop, with over 50 years of experience in providing affordable auto body repair and car painting. Maaco, with more than 400 independently owned and operated franchises across the United States and Canada, has been named a top automotive franchise numerous times by Entrepreneur Magazine in its Annual Franchise 500 ranking and Franchise Times’ list of Top 400 franchises. Maaco is a member of Driven Brands, the largest automotive services company in North America. For more information about Maaco, visit Maaco.com.

About Driven Brands
Driven Brands^™, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is the largest automotive services company in North America, providing a range of consumer and commercial automotive needs, including paint, collision, glass, vehicle repair, oil change, maintenance and car wash. Driven Brands is the parent company of some of North America’s leading automotive service businesses including Take 5 Oil Change^®, Take 5 Car Wash^®, Meineke Car Care Centers^®, Maaco^®, 1-800-Radiator & A/C^®, Auto Glass Now^®, and CARSTAR^®. Driven Brands has more than 4,900 locations across 14 countries, and services over 70 million vehicles annually. Driven Brands’ network generates approximately $2.2 billion in annual revenue from more than $6.1 billion in system-wide sales.

(NewsUSA) - The results are in for CME Group’s 20th Annual University Trading Challenge! Universidad De Guadalajara takes first place this year, marking the fourth consecutive year a team from Latin America has won first place and the second consecutive year a team from Mexico has earned top honors.

This year’s challenge brought over 400 teams across 156 universities, representing 24 countries - a testament to strong interest in the role of derivatives around the world.

Throughout the competition, both graduate and undergraduate students learn hands-on techniques for trading agriculture, energy, metals, equity indices, interest rates and foreign exchange futures contracts through CQG, a real-time simulated electronic trading platform.

"We congratulate the students from around the world who participated in our 20th CME Group University Trading Challenge,” said Anita Liskey, CME Group Senior Managing Director of Global Brand Marketing and Communications. “In today's uncertain global economy, risk management is more important than ever, and CME Group’s University Trading Challenge provides the next generation of traders and risk managers with a unique, hands-on experience to explore the world of trading and build the skills they need for future careers in finance."

Eligible winners will receive cash prizes. All participants in this year’s Trading Challenge will be invited to attend an exclusive one-day, in-person market education event.

As the world’s leading derivatives marketplace, CME Group provides a wide array of risk management education services, tools and resources for learners of all levels to immerse themselves into the world of derivatives.

CME Group is committed to educating the next generation of finance professionals of the significance of its global derivatives market and risk management. CME Group also partners with other industry organizations to offer education tools such as Futures Fundamentals, a one-stop educational resource for “Futures 101.”

Photo caption: Steffany Trinidad Razo Diaz and her professor Luis Nicolau accepting the first-place certificates for the team from Universidad de Guadalajara at the Day of Market Education dinner.

(NewsUSA) - The mission of the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to bring hope and joy to children in need through the gift of a new toy, book, or game, at Christmastime and throughout the year.

Ongoing economic hardships challenge many families across the Nation. “Every day, we’re hearing from more hardworking parents who won’t be able to give their children anything for Christmas,” says LtGen James B. Laster, USMC (Ret.), CEO of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. “We can’t let these girls and boys down.”

That is why we are asking our faithful donors to give as generously as they can in time for Christmas – so no child is forgotten. No matter how an individual, company, family, or organization donates, every supporter has a story, and everyone who contributes to our mission is a ‘Secret Santa’.

What may seem like a simple contribution of time or money can set the stage for a lifetime of hope and security.

“If children experience darkness all year long, and then someone like me, dressed in a fancy uniform, says, ‘I think we can help you a little bit,’ that can give at least some of them the hope they need, and they will go on to do great things,” says Staff Sergeant James Caldwell.

SSgt Caldwell is a United States Marine, and his seventeen-year connection with the Marine Toys for Tots Program and the Foster Care system goes back to his childhood, when he and his younger sister were placed in Foster Care. Now, as a Reservist, SSgt Caldwell is deeply involved with the Toys for Tots Program each Christmas. He recalls one event in particular that continues to inspire him.

“About eight years ago, I was a door greeter for a toy distribution day. I was in my dress blues, and we had a group of Foster Care children arriving. I handed a young girl a bag of toys.  She looked at me, reached into her bag and handed me a stuffed animal, and said, ‘someone needs to make sure you get a toy, too.’”

That moment when the little girl gave him one of her toys is one that SSgt Caldwell often replays in his mind, and he knows he is making a difference to boys and girls growing up in difficult circumstances similar to his.

“Everybody goes through life looking for something that will fulfill them. I was given a great opportunity as a child. So, I value the chance to give back and show these kids the possibility of a brighter future,” he says.

You too can make a difference to a disadvantaged child by being a ‘Secret Santa’.  Your donation will ensure that every child in need receives the gift of hope this Christmas.

Visit www.toysfortots.org to make a difference and change a life!

(NewsUSA) - Can you trust the financial advice you find online, including on social media? Nope. And a majority of people already don’t trust online financial advice. According to the CFP Board Consumer Sentiment Survey — Trust, But Verify, 71% of investors indicated little to no trust in the financial planning advice received from social media. There was also a high level of mistrust (51% of those surveyed) regarding advice from generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools, including ChatGPT and Google Bard. In addition, the survey found that while consumers are wary of online advice, they are far more comfortable acting on that advice if it’s been verified by a financial planner.

Psst! Want a Can’t Miss Stock Tip?

You don’t take investment tips from strangers on a street corner. And that’s what the internet is like: one big street corner full of strangers offering advice. They don’t know your financial situation, goals, age, or life stage. Online advice tends to be generic and one-size-fits-all, lacking customization to fit individual circumstances. Worse yet, you don’t know whether the online stranger has any expertise — or a secret financial incentive to steer you to one type of investment over another. The “advice” could simply be a lie.

Information vs. Advice

So, what’s the internet good for when it comes to financial advice? It’s a terrific tool to gather information as opposed to advice.

Here are three examples:

• Learn the difference between various types of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds and their performance history — not which ones to purchase.
• Learn the difference between insurance options — not which type to purchase, how much, or which company to buy from.
• Learn about the different ways to invest for college or retirement — but not which path works for your circumstances.

No matter what information you are looking for, visit multiple online platforms and compare what each says. But don’t make decisions until you get personalized advice from a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^™ professional.

The information you gather online can prepare you to ask more intelligent questions and understand your options when you sit down with a CFP^® professional. Once these experts know you, your family responsibilities and the levels of risk with which you are comfortable, they’ll offer advice tailored to your specific needs and goals. CFP^® professionals make a commitment to CFP Board to act as fiduciaries, which means they will always put your interests first when providing financial advice.

Five Tips Worth Taking

With countless influencers and self-proclaimed experts vying for your attention, it's crucial to approach online financial guidance with a discerning eye. With that in mind, check out these five tips from CFP Board’s Lets Make a Plan website to help you effectively navigate the digital realm of financial advice. Work with a CFP^® professional when you need to verify financial strategies you heard of online or when making any significant financial decisions. Find your CFP^® professional today.

(NewsUSA) - Since 1976, Diveheart founder and president Jim Elliott knew that scuba diving was therapeutic and beneficial for people in general, and especially for individuals with disabilities.

The son of an Army veteran with a disability and the father of a blind daughter, Elliott was tutored through boy scouts by a one arm scout master and walked his Cub Scout friend Timmy, who had cerebral palsy, to school to discourage bullies. These experiences gave Elliott a solid foundation for working with individuals with a variety of disabilities and the sometimes less-than-friendly world around them.

As a young journalist at the College of DuPage, Elliott had no special interest in scuba diving, but took a scuba class in case he ever had to interview someone like the famous diver Jacques Cousteau. It was love at first dive!  By 1997, Elliott had spent decades guiding and teaching blind skiers; he then became a scuba diving instructor and worked with people with a variety of disabilities.

In 2001, Elliott founded Diveheart, a non-profit dedicated to serving children, veterans, and others with all types of disabilities, using adaptive scuba and scuba therapy as tools to help them “Imagine the possibilities” in their lives. Elliott never thought that Diveheart would be more than a small local charity. However, by the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020, Diveheart was operating approximately 200 pool programs and scheduled to lead 14 adaptive scuba trips for people with disabilities.

The forced closures during the pandemic allowed time for reflection, and Elliott and colleagues conceived a plan for the world’s deepest warm water therapy pool facility. This facility would be a destination to be used for research, rehabilitation, education, training, and provide vocational opportunities for veterans and others, not only with disabilities, but of all abilities.

Fast forward to 2023! Two patents later and millions of dollars in pro-bono services and land donation guarantees, Diveheart has completed a feasibility study and revealed its deep pool design in the hope of garnering millions of dollars to build the world’s first deep warm water therapy pool facility in the United States.

To learn more about this multimillion-dollar project that will change the world for those with disabilities, visit www.Diveheart.org.

(NewsUSA) - How a Pennsylvania Trade School Achieved a 100% graduation and pass rate on the NOCTI state exam

As the U.S. workforce struggles to fill a massive labor gap in the skilled trades industry, the fact that many skilled tradespeople are approaching retirement age only amplifies the problem.  As older workers retire, there need to be more younger workers to replace them; workers that feel confident and ready for entry-level roles in the trades.

The Indiana County Technology Center (ICTC), located in Indiana, Pennsylvania, is filling this void of candidates in the HVAC field by teaching students with a best-in-class training approach.

DJ Mumau, HVAC instructor at ICTC, noticed the skill gaps issue when he previously worked in the industry and realized that at the age of 30, he was the youngest person amongst his coworkers.

When he joined ICTC, he faced several challenges. Student knowledge was hard to assess, personalized feedback was hard to deliver, lesson planning was time-consuming and student follow-through was unmanageable. As program enrollments grew, Mumau experienced challenges with the reach, scalability and effectiveness of course instruction. 

Recognizing the need for additional resources, Mumau researched supplemental training tools to prepare his students for HVAC roles upon graduation and landed on Interplay Learning, an online provider of training for skilled trades that includes virtual reality and 3D simulations.

“I realized it had everything I needed; I didn’t have to reinvent the wheel,” he said. “I started with a handful of seats for a few students to trial, and today, each one of my students has an Interplay account that they start using from day one through to graduation,” he said.

Mumau teaches his students in the classroom or does a lab demonstration, then assigns them an Interplay course where they can interact with the same concepts through images, videos and diagrams outside of the classroom. Students then apply what they have learned in hands-on shop sessions.
Integrating Interplay’s simulation courses into the curriculum gives students a clear and objective roadmap to practice their skills and competencies, preparing them to pass state exams and credentialing requirements, achieve multiple industry certifications, and land entry-level jobs.

On-going practice and repetition of fundamentals in a 3D environment accelerate the student’s ability to work with specialty tools and live HVAC/R equipment in the lab. 

Key successes of the program include improved student learning retention with online, supplemental HVAC courses that reinforce lectures and lab assignments, elevated lab performance, successful outcomes in state exams and increased post-grad job placements.

By supplementing classroom training, Mumau has lightened his administrative load.  He automates assignments and tracks grading and student evaluations in one place. He was also able to decrease damage to lab equipment and reduce materials costs through the use of immersive equipment simulators.

How does this investment into supplemental tools translate into measurable results?  100% of students graduated with at least one industry-recognized certification, 100% of graduates passed the state NOCTI exam with Advanced or Proficient overall scores and 81% of graduates continue in the HVAC field or post-secondary education!

“We’re not a huge town, but there’s a decent amount of companies around, and we try our best to do our part to prepare and place kids into the workforce,” says Mumau.

As other trade skills programs look to be a credible provider of qualified candidates to fill the workforce void, equipping instructors with training tools that engage students and complement classroom training is a powerful path to producing the best program outcomes.  Interplay’s easily accessible platform allows students to view, train, and practice their skills on any device, or in virtual reality. “The result is a highly trained employee who is job-ready in weeks, not years,” according to the company. 

You can learn more about Interplay Learning here.
Austin-based Interplay Learning is the industry leader in immersive training solutions for the skilled trades.  Featuring expert-led videos, hands-on 3D simulations, knowledge checks, and personalized learning paths, Interplay’s training platform is more scalable and engaging than traditional training. Leveraging advanced technologies like AI and VR, Interplay is reshaping the future of online skilled trades training, delivering highly effective learning experiences that result in better careers and better lives. 

(NewsUSA) - How a Pennsylvania Trade School Achieved a 100% graduation and pass rate on the NOCTI state exam

As the U.S. workforce struggles to fill a massive labor gap in the skilled trades industry, the fact that many skilled tradespeople are approaching retirement age only amplifies the problem.  As older workers retire, there need to be more younger workers to replace them; workers that feel confident and ready for entry-level roles in the trades.

The Indiana County Technology Center (ICTC), located in Indiana, Pennsylvania, is filling this void of candidates in the HVAC field by teaching students with a best-in-class training approach.

DJ Mumau, HVAC instructor at ICTC, noticed the skill gaps issue when he previously worked in the industry and realized that at the age of 30, he was the youngest person amongst his coworkers.

When he joined ICTC, he faced several challenges. Student knowledge was hard to assess, personalized feedback was hard to deliver, lesson planning was time-consuming and student follow-through was unmanageable. As program enrollments grew, Mumau experienced challenges with the reach, scalability and effectiveness of course instruction. 

Recognizing the need for additional resources, Mumau researched supplemental training tools to prepare his students for HVAC roles upon graduation and landed on Interplay Learning, an online provider of training for skilled trades that includes virtual reality and 3D simulations.

“I realized it had everything I needed; I didn’t have to reinvent the wheel,” he said. “I started with a handful of seats for a few students to trial, and today, each one of my students has an Interplay account that they start using from day one through to graduation,” he said.

Mumau teaches his students in the classroom or does a lab demonstration, then assigns them an Interplay course where they can interact with the same concepts through images, videos and diagrams outside of the classroom. Students then apply what they have learned in hands-on shop sessions.
Integrating Interplay’s simulation courses into the curriculum gives students a clear and objective roadmap to practice their skills and competencies, preparing them to pass state exams and credentialing requirements, achieve multiple industry certifications, and land entry-level jobs.

On-going practice and repetition of fundamentals in a 3D environment accelerate the student’s ability to work with specialty tools and live HVAC/R equipment in the lab. 

Key successes of the program include improved student learning retention with online, supplemental HVAC courses that reinforce lectures and lab assignments, elevated lab performance, successful outcomes in state exams and increased post-grad job placements.

By supplementing classroom training, Mumau has lightened his administrative load.  He automates assignments and tracks grading and student evaluations in one place. He was also able to decrease damage to lab equipment and reduce materials costs through the use of immersive equipment simulators.

How does this investment into supplemental tools translate into measurable results?  100% of students graduated with at least one industry-recognized certification, 100% of graduates passed the state NOCTI exam with Advanced or Proficient overall scores and 81% of graduates continue in the HVAC field or post-secondary education!

“We’re not a huge town, but there’s a decent amount of companies around, and we try our best to do our part to prepare and place kids into the workforce,” says Mumau.

As other trade skills programs look to be a credible provider of qualified candidates to fill the workforce void, equipping instructors with training tools that engage students and complement classroom training is a powerful path to producing the best program outcomes.  Interplay’s easily accessible platform allows students to view, train, and practice their skills on any device, or in virtual reality. “The result is a highly trained employee who is job-ready in weeks, not years,” according to the company. 

You can learn more about Interplay Learning here.
Austin-based Interplay Learning is the industry leader in immersive training solutions for the skilled trades.  Featuring expert-led videos, hands-on 3D simulations, knowledge checks, and personalized learning paths, Interplay’s training platform is more scalable and engaging than traditional training. Leveraging advanced technologies like AI and VR, Interplay is reshaping the future of online skilled trades training, delivering highly effective learning experiences that result in better careers and better lives. 

(NewsUSA) - A Gigantic Leap: First Contact by David Brown

What happens when a Galactic Federation of peaceful planets offers humanity a chance to join them and with it a gigantic leap into a bright future filled with all the marvels a billion-year advance of technology and intelligence can offer?

All we have to do is renounce violence, embrace peace, and evolve into a higher consciousness. But if we don't, we may soon find ourselves quarantined, or worse, eradicated like a virus to prevent our violent ways from spreading across the galaxy.

The clock is ticking. Now it's on the shoulders of a few unlikely heroes to save the day before it's too late. It won't be easy because they quickly discover that our world isn't quite ready to give peace a chance, even when it means a choice between paradise on Earth or the cataclysmic consequences. Purchase at https://amzn.to/46Rkktn.

GO: Living Wisdom for Those Willing to Live by Shyan Selah

GO is a collection of inspirational and motivational quotes from the multi-talented creative artist and entrepreneur, Shyan Selah. Created as a daily support tool for those looking to remain motivated, GO is driven by one central and enduring theme: no matter the goal, circumstance, skill set, or talent, nothing can change for the better until one takes action.

Each quote contained in this book is an original piece of wisdom generated directly from Shyan Selah's own unique life and is designed to ignite that spark one needs to boldly step out of procrastination and stagnation and simply GO!

The author also operates The Shyan Selah Foundation, a non-profit organization that produces special events, workshops, and showcases for youth that promote higher education and which he produces and tours throughout middle schools, high schools, and college campuses.Purchase at https://amzn.to/3rLMqr5.

Sanity: It’s Optional in Today’s Culture by Domenic Zarrella

Born in 1961 at a time when mental Illness wasn't talked about and the treatments were almost medieval, Domenic Zarrella had no idea that what afflicted him upon graduating from college was major depression. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder with psychotic features in 1995 at the age of 34, Domenic suffered the sadness, fatigue, and self-medication through alcohol for 12 years until being diagnosed after a manic psychotic episode.

His insights into the mystery of mental illness can benefit anyone afflicted by this menace, or their loved ones. Domenic can help readers understand what is going on inside the mind of a loved one when they do all those crazy things. But most important is his message of hope that the mentally ill can triumph through the advancements achieved in medications, counseling and awareness.  Purchase at https://bit.ly/3ZYeFiZ.

The Dark Side of Agile Coaching: Unmasking the Codependent Coach by Angela Doyle

In the ever-evolving landscape of business and technology, agile practices have emerged as a beacon of adaptability and responsiveness. At the heart of this transformative movement stand agile coaches, who guide teams and organizations toward the holy grail of agility. Yet, amidst the noble pursuit of agility, beneath the surface can be an undercurrent of anti-patterns that inadvertently hinders the overall business and organizational goals.

Readers embark on a journey of discovery, shedding light on this troubling aspect of agile and business coaching.  Agility coaching has the power to unlock the full potential of teams and organizations to accelerate their corporate goals.  In the “Dark Side of Agile Coaching:  Unmasking the Codependent Coach” the readers are taking on a journey to cultivating healthy coaching relationships. Purchase at https://www.inoatar.com/agilecoachingbook.