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‘Really alarming’: Santa Cruz County nursing homes hit hard by recent COVID spike

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:26 GMT

SANTA CRUZ — Rates of COVID-19 have been steadily rising across Santa Cruz County and the nation for weeks.But as has been the case since the early days of the pandemic, the impact on elderly residents is being disproportionately felt and local health officials are concerned.Santa Cruz County Deputy Health Officer Dr. David Ghilarducci told the Sentinel that four of the county’s seven nursing homes were experiencing COVID outbreaks as of Tuesday, meaning each had three or more infections at once. He added that, tentatively, five deaths had been reported across the seven facilities in the past two weeks, though county officials are still waiting for death certificates to come through that confirm the official cause.“This is really alarming to us,” said Ghilarducci. “We think it could get a lot worse.”Lack of vaccinationsThough county officials have consistently emphasized that elderly and immunocompromised individuals are high risk for adverse outcomes from a COVID infection, Ghilard...

Opinion: Strikes show need to break up Netflix and other streamers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:26 GMT

The Hollywood writers’ strike is in its fourth month, and the actors’ strike is in its fourth week with no end in sight. Many have called the stalemate an existential crisis because it concerns new issues such as residuals from streaming services and rules for the use of artificial intelligence. These go beyond the usual labor issues such as wages and benefits and cut to the heart of an industry in which streamers such as Netflix can dominate all aspects of the business.Antitrust laws need to be invoked — as they were in the 1940s in U.S. vs. Paramount — to break up streaming services that both produce content and distribute it. This vertical integration has deeply changed the longstanding entertainment industry ecosystem, which allowed employees to survive and studios to prosper.In recent decades, U.S. antitrust law has primarily taken aim at “horizontal monopolies” in which one or two huge companies dominate an industry and can force consumers to pay more. The vertical version — c...

Plan a beautiful, clutter-free home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:26 GMT

There’s nothing quite as effective as an impending move to help a household declutter itself. But let’s be real. The household doesn’t declutter itself. The people in it do.When the impending move features a brand new house, there’s even more reason to declutter and to do it well. That’s where the time it takes to build the home comes in handy — as does a plan.The declutter processIn the existing home, tackle only one room at a time. Take pictures of each room before and after the hard work; you’ll gain a nice sense of gratification when you see the results.That way, you’re less likely to feel overwhelmed. Start with cabinets and closets, sorting items into four groups: things that should stay in that space, things that can go in another storage area in the home and items to donate or throw away.When storing items, use clear boxes or large labels with clear writing that describes exactly what’s inside.Sort out the sentimental itemsTake a closer look at sentimental items that have re...

Walmart shines in Q2 and bumps up expectations for the year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:26 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart reported strong second-quarter sales results as the retailer’s low-price model continues to attract budget conscious consumers in a tough economic environment. The nation’s largest retailer boosted its annual outlook again, sending shares up 2% before the opening bell Thursday. Walmart, based in Bentonville, Arkansas, earned $7.89 billion, or $2.92 per share, for the three-month period ended July 31. Adjusted results were $1.84 per share, or 13 cents better than Wall Street had expected, according to a survey of industry analysts by FactSet. It was also up from last year’s quarterly profit of $5.15 billion.Sale rose nearly 6% to $161.63 billion, a shade better than expected. Comparable store sales — those from established stores and online operating over the past 12 months — rose 6.4% at Walmart’s U.S. division. That compares with 7.4% in the quarter ended April and the 8.3% during the fourth quarter. Global online sales surged 24% In ...

LSI: Fiscal Q4 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:26 GMT

CINCINNATI (AP) — CINCINNATI (AP) — LSI Industries Inc. (LYTS) on Thursday reported profit of $8.4 million in its fiscal fourth quarter.The Cincinnati-based company said it had net income of 28 cents per share.The lighting and LED display company posted revenue of $123.6 million in the period.For the year, the company reported profit of $25.8 million, or 88 cents per share. Revenue was reported as $497 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on LYTS at https://www.zacks.com/ap/LYTSSource

Walmart: Fiscal Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:26 GMT

BENTONVILLE, Ark. (AP) — BENTONVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Walmart Inc. (WMT) on Thursday reported fiscal second-quarter net income of $7.89 billion.The Bentonville, Arkansas-based company said it had profit of $2.92 per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring gains, came to $1.84 per share.The results topped Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of 14 analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $1.69 per share.The world’s largest retailer posted revenue of $161.63 billion in the period, also topping Street forecasts. Ten analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $159.82 billion.For the current quarter ending in October, Walmart expects its per-share earnings to range from $1.45 to $1.50.The company expects full-year earnings in the range of $6.36 to $6.46 per share._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on WMT at https://www.zacks.com/ap/W...

Spartan Stores: Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:26 GMT

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — Spartan Stores Inc. (SPTN) on Thursday reported second-quarter profit of $19.5 million.On a per-share basis, the Grand Rapids, Michigan-based company said it had net income of 56 cents. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, came to 65 cents per share.The results beat Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 63 cents per share.The grocery store operator and grocery distributor posted revenue of $2.31 billion in the period, which missed Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $2.36 billion.Spartan Stores expects full-year earnings in the range of $2.20 to $2.35 per share, with revenue in the range of $9.65 billion to $9.95 billion._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on SPTN at https://www.zacks.com/ap/S...

Cato: Fiscal Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:26 GMT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Cato Corp. (CATO) on Thursday reported fiscal second-quarter net income of $1.1 million, after reporting a loss in the same period a year earlier.On a per-share basis, the Charlotte, North Carolina-based company said it had profit of 6 cents.The clothing retailer posted revenue of $182.9 million in the period.Cato shares have decreased 16% since the beginning of the year. The stock has dropped 42% in the last 12 months._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on CATO at https://www.zacks.com/ap/CATOSource

The Children’s Place: Fiscal Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:26 GMT

SECAUCUS, N.J. (AP) — SECAUCUS, N.J. (AP) — The Children’s Place Retail Stores Inc. (PLCE) on Thursday reported a loss of $35.4 million in its fiscal second quarter.On a per-share basis, the Secaucus, New Jersey-based company said it had a loss of $2.82. Losses, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to $2.12 per share.The results topped Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for a loss of $2.16 per share.The children’s clothing and accessories chain posted revenue of $345.6 million in the period, also beating Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $341.6 million.For the current quarter ending in October, The Children’s Place expects its per-share earnings to range from $3.55 to $3.65.The company said it expects revenue in the range of $470 million to $475 million for the fiscal third quarter._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.c...

Evogene: Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:26 GMT

REHOVOT, Israel (AP) — REHOVOT, Israel (AP) — Evogene Ltd. (EVGN) on Thursday reported a loss of $7 million in its second quarter.On a per-share basis, the Rehovot, Israel-based company said it had a loss of 17 cents.The agricultural company posted revenue of $654,000 in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on EVGN at https://www.zacks.com/ap/EVGNSource