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☆ Amid a Fraught Process, a Philadelphia Museum Entombs Remains of 19 Black People
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Campbell Robertson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

There was very little that could be said about the 19 people who were eulogized on Saturday morning in a service at the University of Pennsylvania. Their names were lost, and not much about their lives was known beyond the barest facts: an old age spent in the poorhouse, a problem with cavities. They were Black people who had died in obscurity over a century ago, now known almost entirely by the skulls they left behind. Much more could be said about what led to the service. Jesse Wendell Mapson, a local pastor involved in planning the commemoration and interment of the 19, “has not come without some pain, discomfort and tension.”On this everyone could agree.

Persons: ”, Jesse Wendell Mapson, “ Organizations: University of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology

☆ The relentless focus on White Christian nationalism is spreading a racist myth
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( John Blake | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

That’s how critics have described White Christian nationalism, a deviant strain of religion that has infected the political mainstream. But there is another cost to the spread of White Christian nationalism that no one mentions. The relentless coverage of White Christian nationalism is spreading a racist myth: that Whiteness is the default setting for evangelical Christianity. In a February 2023 survey, nearly two-thirds of White evangelical Protestants qualified as sympathizers or adherents to Christian nationalism. However, he rejects the political beliefs associated with White Christian nationalism.

Persons: CNN — It’s, ”, Pastor Peter Lim, ” Lim, he’s, “ It’s, It’s, White, Carolyn Chen, Ella Sophie Bessette, you’re, “, Walter Kim, Tom Lin, William Barber II, Chen, Trump, John Minchillo, browning, — it’s, John C, Richards, Jr, Jim Crow, Mark Noll, ” Richards, “ I’m, John Onwuchekwa, Lyndon B, Johnson, Lady Bird Johnson, Hubert Humphrey, Edward Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Onwuchekwa, ” Maria Antonetty, Tina Fineberg, don’t, Lim, William J, Barber, Oliver Contreras, We’re, John Blake Organizations: CNN, White, Christianity, of Atlanta, Berkeley Center, Republican, Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, UC Berkeley, Oral Roberts University, National Association of Evangelicals, InterVarsity, USA, Christian, MLK, Saint Mark Baptist Church, White Americans, Liberty, New, Southern Baptist Convention, Cornerstone Church, Primitive Christian, Washington Post, Asian Pacific American Religions Research Initiative Locations: America, White, American, Korean, Taiwanese, Asian, Africa, Silicon Valley, Taiwan, Korea, Mexico, Little Rock , Arkansas, Georgia, New York, New York City, Crete, Atlanta, Asia, Washington , DC

Biden's support among Black voters has waned considerably since he assembled his winning coalition four years ago. Lackluster turnout among Black voters in South Carolina’s primary could signal a broader dip in enthusiasm. Biden will need to energize Black voters in the key swing states of Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. South Carolina school districts reported over 1,600 teacher vacancies at the beginning of the 2023-24 school year, a 9% increase from the year before, according to a report from the South Carolina Education Association. Joshua Singleton, a 19-year-old sophomore at South Carolina State, shared the sentiment: “We should have, you know, younger presidents to represent us."

Persons: Democrats ’, Joe Biden, What’s, Biden, That’s, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Moore, “, Olivia Ratliff, ”, Ratliff, Kailyn Wrighten, Wrighten, —, we’ve, Sheridan Johnson, Johnson, Laverne Brown, there’s, — Biden, Charles Trower, Joshua Singleton, Seth Whipper, ” Biden, Harris, Tony Thomas, Saundra, Austin Nichols, ” Nichols, ” LaJoia Broughton, Broughton, don’t, Dr, Byron L, Benton, Joseph Biden, Emily Swanson, Jonathan Logan Organizations: —, Democrats, Democratic, Black, AP, Associated Press, NORC, for Public Affairs Research, Republican, South Carolina State University, Supreme, South Carolina Education Association, Biden, South Carolina State, Trump, America, Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, Mother Emanuel AME Church, Jonathan Logan Family Foundation Locations: CHARLESTON, S.C, South Carolina, South, Georgia , Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Columbia, Orangeburg, Charleston, Carolina, American, U.S, Blythewood , South Carolina, “, Blythewood, North Charleston

☆ Biden campaign faces its greatest test: rebuilding his 2020 coalition
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Jeff Zeleny | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

This time around, he believes at least one thing is different: Biden can’t win through voters’ fear of Trump alone. Here in Michigan, which the president visited Thursday, rests one of the biggest tests of his campaign. Trump narrowly carried the state over Hillary Clinton in 2016 – by 10,704 votes – and four years later Biden defeated Trump by about 154,000 votes. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gather in Warren, Michigan, on February 1, 2024, outside the venue where President Joe Biden was speaking. But, he said, the burden was on Biden and his campaign to spell out what he would do in a second term.

Persons: Charles Williams, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, Trump, ”, Williams, “, ” Williams, Jay, –, Hillary Clinton, “ He’s, Adam Abusalah, Abusalah, ” Abusalah, Biden ”, Jeff Kowalsky, Karine Jean, Pierre, Kevin Munoz, Sens, Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, Gretchen Whitmer, ” Biden, wouldn’t, Emani Williams, “ ’ Sleepy Biden ’, they’ve, ” Dante Parker, ” Parker, “ We’ve, Norman Clement, We’re, ” Clement, Biden hasn’t, Clement, “ I’m, didn’t Organizations: Detroit CNN —, Biden can’t, Historic King Solomon Baptist Church, Biden, White, Trump, Arab, Muslim, ”, Palestinian, Getty, “, CNN, Democratic, Michigan Gov, Renaissance High School, Detroit Change Locations: Detroit, Michigan, –, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, America’s Great, Dearborn, Israel, Warren, Macomb County, United States, Warren , Michigan, AFP, Gaza

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis called his new home the Death Star in 2020 — and the name stuck. The futuristic stadium takes center stage on Feb. 11 when the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers meet in the first-ever Super Bowl in Las Vegas. Last year's Super Bowl host, the Arizona Cardinals' stadium, uses a similar transfer system. Players slipped on that grass in the Super Bowl, which the Chiefs won 38-35 over the Philadelphia Eagles. The NHL's Vegas Golden Knights and the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces also had the honors after winning their leagues' championships.

Persons: Mark Davis, ”, Jeff Miller, Al Davis, Mike Tyson, John Madden, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Joseph “, ” Simmons, Allegiant, ___ Organizations: LAS VEGAS, Las Vegas Raiders, “, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, NFL, Arizona Cardinals, Super, Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, Raiders, Henderson, Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Aces, — Locations: —, Las Vegas, Glendale, Oakland , California, Henderson , Nevada

Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X met. It was on March 26, 1964, and the two civil rights leaders were both in Washington for a Senate debate on the Civil Rights Act. The moment is also depicted in the new installment of National Geographic's “Genius” anthology series called “ Genius: MLK /X," premiering Thursday. Kelvin Harrison Jr. (King) and Aaron Pierre (Malcolm X) now can be at ease about being scheduled to shoot the scene on the first day of filming. Their hope is that with “Genius: MLK/X," viewers will recognize the contributions of both men to civil rights and U.S. history.

Persons: Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X, Kelvin Harrison Jr, Aaron Pierre, ”, Harrison, “, Pierre, Gina Prince, Reggie Rock Bythewood, we’re, Malcolm, Martin, Albert Einstein, Pablo Picasso, Aretha Franklin, Bythewood, Coretta Scott King, Betty Shabazz, King, ” Harrison, ‘, “ Malcolm X, Malik el, Shabazz Organizations: Civil, Civil Rights Movement Locations: Washington, curriculums, Birmingham

Some of the biggest analyst calls on Monday focused on a dollar store stock and a major U.S. airline. She assigned a $235 price target, which suggests shares could climb about 23.5%. The analyst maintained his buy rating and raised his price target by $30 to $455, which implies 15.4% potential upside from Friday's close. His $175 price target — down from $185 — implies 25.3% downside for the stock from Friday's close. The bank upgraded the airline to buy from neutral, raising its price target to $20 from $14.

Persons: Bernstein, Hershey, Alexia Howard, Howard, —, — Pia Singh, Jefferies, Brent Thill, Morgan Stanley, Norfolk, Ravi Shanker, Shanker, Raymond James Raymond James, Olivia Tong, Tong, Matthew Boss, Said, ̇, Boss, Stephen Trent, Fred Imbert Organizations: CNBC, JPMorgan, Citi, American Airlines, Hershey, Meta, Norfolk, Colgate, Palmolive, CL, American Airlines American Airlines Locations: U.S, Norfolk Southern

☆ Here are Monday's biggest analyst calls: Nvidia, Netflix, Apple, Micron, Hershey, Dollar Tree, Qualcomm & more
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

JPMorgan upgrades Dollar Tree to overweight from neutral JPMorgan said in its upgrade of the stock that it's a "self-help" story. Bernstein upgrades Hershey to outperform from market perform Bernstein said in its upgrade of the chocolate maker that market share trends are improving. " Goldman Sachs reiterates Nvidia & Micron as buys Goldman said it's standing by shares of Nvidia and Micron. Bank of America upgrades ZoomInfo to buy from neutral Bank of America said the software company is a "self-help" story. Bernstein reiterates Qualcomm as outperform Bernstein said it's bullish heading into Qualcomm earnings later this week.

Persons: Wells, Jefferies, it's, Evercore, Bernstein, Hershey, Goldman Sachs, Goldman, Raymond James, Sherwin, Williams, Morgan Stanley, William Blair, Morgan Stanley downgrades Brown, Forman Organizations: UBS, Amazon, Amazon Web Services, Citi, Air, Deutsche Bank, TFI, Deutsche, JPMorgan, Warner Brothers Discovery, Microsoft, Meta, YouTube, Nvidia, Micron, MU, Netflix, Barclays, Apple, Colgate, Palmolive, " Bank of America, of America, Beam Therapeutics, Bank of America, Builders, Devices, AMD, Qualcomm Locations: Norfolk Southern, Atlanta

The House voted 95-75 along party lines for House Bill 881, sending it to the Senate for further debate. Monday's measure removes the requirement for Supreme Court approval. Trump on Thursday joined an effort by co-defendant Michael Roman to have Willis, Wade and their offices thrown off the case. Kemp has said he prefers that the prosecutor oversight panel and not the Senate committee probe any accusations of misconduct by Willis. But Democrats warn that removing the requirement for the Supreme Court to review rules could leave the commission itself without oversight.

Persons: Fani Willis ’, Donald Trump, Bill, Brian Kemp, Joseph Gullett, Willis, “, Donald J, Trump, ”, Sam Park, Nathan Wade, Michael Roman, Wade, Ashleigh Merchant, Roman, Martin Luther King Jr, Wade —, —, Kemp, Tanya Miller, aren’t, Houston Gaines Organizations: ATLANTA, —, The, Senate, Georgia Gov, Commission, Dallas Republican, Democratic, Lawrenceville Democrat, Atlanta Democrat, Republicans, Athens Republican Locations: — Georgia, Fulton County, Atlanta, Miami, San Francisco, Wade, Athens

☆ These companies reporting earnings this week have a history of beating expectations, Bespoke says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

There are some companies reporting earnings this week with a track record of beating Wall Street expectations. This week is the busiest of the current corporate earnings season, with 19% of the S & P 500 set to report. About 72% of those companies have exceeded Wall Street expectations in their quarterly financial report. With this in mind, CNBC Pro used Bespoke Investment Group data to find stocks that tend to beat earnings expectations and rise on the back of their results. The Facebook parent has exceeded analysts' expectations for earnings and revenue 87% of the time, and has climbed about 1.9% on average following a report.

Persons: FactSet, Brent Thill, Tien, tsin Huang, Huang Organizations: Dow Jones, CNBC Pro, Jefferies, Mastercard, JPMorgan, Atkore

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — President Joe Biden on Sunday extolled the existence of Black churches, saying the world would be a different place if they were not around to show people the “power of faith” during times of darkness. The Democratic president spoke at St. John Baptist Church on the final day of a two-day visit to South Carolina designed to rally Black voters before the party's primary on Feb. 3. Biden visited a predominantly Black barbershop and spoke at a state Democratic Party dinner after he flew in on Saturday. A practicing Roman Catholic who attends Mass every Sunday, Biden praised Black churches in his appearance before the Baptist congregation, saying the churches teach the “power of faith.”Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesHe asked the worshippers to imagine “what would have happened if there had been no Black church” to turn to in times of darkness. “Your prayers mean everything,” Biden said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Black, ”, Martin Luther King Jr, ” Biden, Darlene Superville Organizations: COLUMBIA, Democratic, St, John Baptist Church, Democratic Party, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Associated Press Locations: South Carolina, Jordan, Syrian, Iran, Charleston, Washington

☆ Black Pastors Pressure Biden to Call for a Cease-Fire in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Maya King | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

More than 1,000 Black pastors representing hundreds of thousands of congregants nationwide have issued the demand. The effort at persuasion also carries a political warning, detailed in interviews with a dozen Black faith leaders and their allies. Many of their parishioners, these pastors said, are so dismayed by the president’s posture toward the war that their support for his re-election bid could be imperiled. “Black faith leaders are extremely disappointed in the Biden administration on this issue,” said the Rev. He was one of the first pastors of more than 200 Black clergy members in Georgia, a key swing state, to sign an open letter calling for a cease-fire.

Persons: Biden, ”, Timothy McDonald, ” Mr, McDonald Organizations: White, Hamas, West Bank, Iconium Baptist Church Locations: Israel, Gaza, Iconium, Atlanta, Georgia

Now Jay’s case is the first of those killings to go to trial. Opening statements are set for Monday in the federal murder trial of Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington, who were arrested in 2020. Jay, born Jason Mizell, formed Run-DMC in the early 1980s with Darryl “DMC” McDaniels and Joseph Simmons, known as DJ Run and Rev. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesThey were the first rappers with gold and platinum albums and a Rolling Stone cover. He considered Jay to be family, since the DJ grew up across the street from Jordan's father, his defense wrote.

Persons: Jay, Karl Jordan Jr, Ronald Washington, “, ”, Seth DuCharme, gunning, Jason Mizell, Darryl “, ” McDaniels, Joseph Simmons, Aerosmith, ” Jay, people's, Tricky, Tupac Shakur, Prosecutors, Washington, Jordan, wasn't, Susan Kellman, Jay —, Judge LaShann DeArcy, Jordan's, Mark DeMarco, Jordan “ Organizations: Brooklyn U.S, Adidas, MTV, Roll Hall of Fame, Police, Prosecutors, DJ, Playboy, Authorities, New York Daily News Locations: Washington, Jordan, Hollis, Queens, York, Angeles, Shakur’s, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, indicting Washington, Maryland, Jordan's

☆ Wall Street analysts touted 5 portfolio stocks this week. Here’s our call on each name
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Morgan Chittum | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

In turn, Wall Street analysts made a slew of bullish calls on five of our portfolio names — all of which report earnings next week SBUX YTD mountain Starbucks (SBUX) year-to-date performance Wall Street's call: Wells Fargo forecasted an improved backdrop for Starbucks. Although the stock's been a portfolio laggard, we're bullish on management's plans to progressively expand margins in the years to come. MSFT YTD mountain Microsoft (MSFT) performance year-to-date Wall Street's call: Morgan Stanley boosted Microsoft's price target to $450 per share from $415, citing the company's strength from generative artificial intelligence efforts. Analysts issued a slew of downbeat calls at the start of 2024, causing the stock to sell off. AMZN YTD mountain Amazon (AMZN) year-to-date performance Wall Street call: Jefferies said Amazon stock has even more room to run after a great 2023.

Persons: Wells Fargo, we're, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, refreshes, Jefferies, AMZN, Twitch, they're, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim, Brendan Mcdermid Organizations: Dow Jones, Wall Street, Club, Microsoft, Big Tech, Bank of America's, Apple, Analysts, MGM Studios, Management, Bank of America, CNBC, Traders, New York Stock Exchange Locations: Fargo, China, Tuesday's, Copilot, F1Q24E, Thursday's, New York City, U.S

☆ What we know about Alabama execution of Kenneth Smith by nitrogen gas
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Elizabeth Wolfe | Dakin Andone | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Alabama inmate Kenneth Smith was put to death Thursday night by nitrogen hypoxia, marking the nation’s first known execution to be carried out using that method. The execution process began at 7:53 p.m. CT Thursday, and Smith was pronounced dead at 8:25 p.m., according to Alabama Department of Corrections officials. Smith made a lengthy statement in front of the witnesses before the execution started, according to the pool reporters. A new method of capital punishmentAhead of Smith’s execution, a tense debate unfolded about whether America’s wholly new execution method is humane and whether the procedure would cause undue pain. The family has forgiven everyone involved in the killing, including Smith, Michael Sennett said at a news conference Thursday night.

Persons: Kenneth Smith, Smith, United Nations –, William C, John Hamm, gurney, “, writhed, Hamm, ” Hamm, Jeff Hood, who’d, ” Smith, gurney ”, Hood, ”, ’, Elizabeth Sennett's, Elizabeth Sennett, Sennett, Charles Sennett, Michael, ” Elizabeth Sennett’s, What’s, ” Chuck Sennett, “ He’s, Michael Sennett, CNN’s Devan Cole, Christina Maxouris, Isabel Rosales, Lauren Mascarenhas, Jamiel Lynch Organizations: CNN, United Nations, Holman Correctional, Alabama Department of Corrections, “ Locations: Alabama, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Atmore, Alta

☆ Alabama executes a man with nitrogen gas, the first time the new method has been used
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Kim Chandler | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

It marked the first time that a new execution method has been used in the United States since lethal injection, now the most commonly used method, was introduced in 1982. After a chance to make a final statement, the warden, from another room, would activate the nitrogen gas. And experts appointed by the U.N. Human Rights Council cautioned they believe the execution method could violate the prohibition on torture. Three states — Alabama, Mississippi and Oklahoma — have authorized nitrogen hypoxia as an execution method, but no state had attempted to use the untested method until now. Smith's attorneys had raised concerns that he could choke to death on his own vomit as the nitrogen gas flows.

Persons: —, Kenneth Eugene Smith, Smith, gurney, I'm, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Jeff Hood, Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, Hood, he's, Elizabeth Sennett, Sennett, Charles Sennett Jr, Mama, Charles Sennett, John Forrest Parker Organizations: Alabama, Service, —, U.S, Supreme, Justice, Prosecutors, WAAY, Catholic, Human Locations: Ala, — Alabama, Alabama, United States, Vatican, Rome, Mississippi, Oklahoma

“This has to do with following state funds,” said Republican Sen Matt Brass of Newnan. But the committee can't directly sanction Willis, and Democrats denounced it as a partisan attempt to try to play to Trump and his supporters. People can already be prosecuted for making false statements to Georgia lawmakers. Those are among the criminal charges that Rudy Giuliani and some others face for the false claims they made to Georgia lawmakers in late 2020. Most of the top supporters are Republican lawmakers who also publicly backed Trump's efforts to overturn Georgia's 2020 election results, including Republican Lt. Gov.

Persons: Fani Willis, Donald Trump, ”, Republican Sen Matt Brass, Brian Kemp, Willis, “, Democratic Sen, David Lucas, Trump, Michael Roman, Nathan Wade, Ashleigh Merchant, Roman, Wade, Martin Luther King Jr, Wade —, —, Republican State Sen, Brandon Beach, Rudy Giuliani, Joe Biden, Georgia's, Burt Jones, Jones, “ I’ve, ” Jones, I’ve, ” Kemp, Josh McLaurin, ” McLaurin Organizations: ATLANTA, —, Democratic, Republican, Trump, Republican State, ”, Republicans, Democrats, Gov, New Locations: — Georgia's, Fulton County, misspent, Macon, Atlanta, Miami, San Francisco, Brandon, Alpharetta, Georgia, New Hampshire

☆ One in six Black men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. Early detection is key to saving lives
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Nicquel Terry Ellis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“That was really scary to hear.”One in six Black men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime, according to the advocacy organization ZERO Prostate Cancer. The rate of prostate cancer among Black men has been underscored in recent weeks as Dexter King, the youngest son of the Rev. And in December, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin underwent a prostatectomy to treat prostate cancer that was discovered that same month. Bugler said ZERO Prostate Cancer recommends that Black men start talking to their doctors about the risks and benefits of prostate cancer screening at the age of 40. He blames toxic masculinity and stubbornness, which he said can also play a role in preventing Black men from getting screened for prostate cancer.

Persons: Nate Battle, doctor’s, “, ‘, ”, Dexter King, Martin Luther King Jr, Lloyd Austin, aren’t, it’s, Otis Brawley, ” Brawley, Brawley, Johns Hopkins, ” Courtney Bugler, Bugler Organizations: CNN, Prostate Cancer, Research, American Cancer Society, US, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore and, ZERO Prostate, Cancer Locations: Black, barbershops, Baltimore, Baltimore and Washington

☆ Alabama execution using nitrogen gas, the first ever, again puts U.S. at front of death penalty debate
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

It marked the first time a new execution method was used in the U.S. since 1982, when lethal injection was introduced and later became the most common method. The state had predicted the nitrogen gas would cause unconsciousness within seconds and death within minutes. After he had a chance to make a final statement, the warden, from another room, was to activate the nitrogen gas. And experts appointed by the U.N. Human Rights Council cautioned they believe the execution method could violate the prohibition on torture. Smith's attorneys had raised concerns that he could choke to death on his own vomit as the nitrogen gas flows.

Persons: Abraham Bonowitz, Kenneth Smith, Kenneth Eugene Smith, Smith, gurney, Kay Ivey, Elizabeth Sennett, Ivey, Elizabeth Sennett's, Mike Sennett, Elizabeth Dorlene Sennett, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Steve Marshall, John Q, Hamm, Jeff Hood, Hood, Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, he's, Sennett, John Forrest Parker, Charles Sennett Organizations: Holman Correctional, Alabama Gov, European Union, Human, EU, U.S, Supreme, State, Justice, Catholic, Prosecutors Locations: Columbus , Ohio, Holman, Atmore , Alabama, U.S, Alabama, United States, Geneva, gurney, Hamm, Vatican, Rome, Mississippi, Oklahoma

☆ Alabama Prepares to Carry Out First Execution by Nitrogen Asphyxiation
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

By Jonathan Allen(Reuters) - Alabama plans to carry out the first known judicial execution of a prisoner using asphyxiation with nitrogen gas on Thursday evening, a closely watched new method the state hopes to advance as a viable, simpler alternative to lethal injections. Kenneth Smith, convicted of a 1988 murder-for-hire, is a rare prisoner who has already survived one execution attempt. In November 2022, Alabama officials aborted his execution by lethal injection after struggling for hours to insert an intravenous line's needle in his body. A canister of pure nitrogen will be attached to the mask, intended to deprive him of inhaling any oxygen. Jeff Hood, spiritual adviser to Smith, who will be at Smith's side, had to sign a form acknowledging the risk that the execution method poses to others.

Persons: Jonathan Allen, Kenneth Smith, Smith, gurney, Jeff Hood, Maya Foa, Foa, Elizabeth Sennett, Charles Sennett, Mama, Diane Craft Organizations: Reuters, United Nations, 11th Circuit U.S, Appeals, U.S, Supreme, Besides Alabama, Holman Correctional Facility Locations: Alabama, U.S, Besides, Oklahoma, Mississippi, New York

Analyst Ronald Epstein downgraded the stock to neutral from buy and lowered his price target to $225 from $255. The new price target implies just 5% upside from Wednesday's close. Analyst Jed Kelly has an outperform rating and $44 price target on shares, implying 14.4% upside potential since Thursday's close. Analyst Wamsi Mohan reiterated his buy rating on the stock and raised his price target to $200 from $170. Analyst Michael Sison lowered his price target to $69 from $85, implying just 7.5% upside from Wednesday's close.

Persons: Hertz, Ronald Epstein, Epstein, — Hakyung Kim, Oppenheimer, Jed Kelly, Kelly, DraftKings, aren't, Wamsi Mohan, Mohan, JPMorgan's Brian Essex, David Vogt, Essex, Vogt, Wells, DuPont Wells, —, Michael Sison, Sison, Kim, Downside, Tesla, Tesla's, Morgan Stanley's Adam Jonas, Jonas, Joseph Spak, inched, TSLA, Spak, Goldman Sachs, Mark Delaney, Dan Levy, Levy, Colin Langan, Langan, Toni Sacconaghi, Bernstein, JPMorgan downgrades, Ryan Brinkman, Fred Imbert Organizations: CNBC, Tesla, EV, Hertz, JPMorgan, Bank of America, Boeing, Alaska Airlines, of America, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, IBM, UBS, PTI, bps, DuPont, DuPont de Nemours, Barclays, JPMorgan downgrades Hertz Locations: Alaska, Draftkings, Essex, Wednesday's, Wells Fargo, China, 2H24, Europe

The execution will be the first attempt to use a new execution method since the 1982 introduction of lethal injection, now the most common execution method in the United States. After he is given a chance to make a final statement, the warden, from another room, will activate the nitrogen gas. Three states — Alabama, Mississippi and Oklahoma — have authorized nitrogen hypoxia as an execution method, but no state has attempted to use the untested method until now. They stabbed her — multiple times.”The state has predicted the nitrogen gas will cause unconsciousness within seconds and death within minutes. Much of what is known about death by nitrogen gas comes from industrial accidents or suicide attempts.

Persons: Kenneth Eugene Smith, Smith, “, ”, Jeff Hood, Elizabeth Sennett, Sennett, gurney, Steve Marshall, Liz Sennett, Smith’s, ” Marshall, Charles Sennett Jr, Smith “, Mama, Robin M, Maher, Philip Nitschke, Nitschke, ” Nitschke, Robert Grass, Charles Sennett, John Forrest Parker Organizations: United States, Supreme, U.S, Prosecutors, WAAY, Circuit, Alabama, Associated Press, Veterinary Medical Association, United Nations Human Rights Locations: MONTGOMERY, Ala, Alabama, United, United States, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Colbert County

☆ Kenneth Eugene Smith execution: Alabama set to carry out first execution by nitrogen gas
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Dakin Andone | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Alabama is poised to carry out the first known execution using nitrogen gas Thursday to put Kenneth Smith to death for his role in a 1988 murder for hire. The state, in court records, indicated the redactions were made to maintain security. Smith’s team again Thursday morning appealed to the US Supreme Court and requested a stay of execution. “But the way that they’re constructing this, the way that they’re doing it, the way that they’re being silent, the way that they’re holding back information, yes, it’s incredibly concerning. Smith was convicted and sentenced to die, but an appeals court overturned the initial outcome and ordered a new trial.

Persons: Kenneth Smith, Smith, Smith’s, Steve Marshall, ”, “, Smith –, Jeff Hood, ” Hood, ” Smith’s, Elizabeth Sennett, Charles, Charles Sennett, Sennett, CNN’s Isabel Rosales, Devan Cole, Chris Youd, Olivia LaBorde Organizations: CNN, US, Supreme, Wednesday, ” Locations: Alabama

☆ Here are Wednesday's biggest analyst calls: Apple, Netflix, Nvidia, Uber, Tesla, Microsoft, Amazon & more
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Here are Wednesday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Citi reiterates Chipotle as buy Citi raised its price target on Chipotle to $2,699 per share from $2,292. "We are launching coverage of NKLA with an Outperform rating and a $2 price target." Polestar : On a Road to Nowhere - Initiating Coverage with a target price of $1.15, Underperform." Citi upgrades Sunoco to buy from neutral Citi said the oil and gas company is "compelling." Citi reiterates Microsoft as buy Citi raised its price target on the stock to $470 per share from $432 and said "ramping GenAI should keep growth accelerating."

Persons: Chipotle, Daiwa, Wells, Morgan Stanley, it's, Baird, Nikola, Bernstein, Biogen, Webster, Redburn, Tesla, Apple, Morgan Stanley downgrades PagerDuty, Gordon Haskett downgrades Uber, Gordon Haskett, Oppenheimer, PulteGroup, Wolfe Organizations: Citi, Verizon, Netflix, Amazon, EV, Devices, AMD, UBS, Apple, Uber, Deutsche Bank, Deutsche, Barclays downgrades, Barclays, Microsoft, BMO, HSBC, Stellantis, Entertainment, Nvidia, Wolfe Alpha, Valero, Phillips Locations: H1'24, Nowhere, China

Kess raised his price target to $47 from $36, suggesting 11% upside from Tuesday's close. His price target, cut to $276 from $311, implies roughly 10% downside from Tuesday's close. "We upgrade SUN to Buy and lift our [target price] to $65 following several cash flow accretive transactions," Dounis wrote. "The January 11th transactions drive ~25% of the target price increase; the NS Acquisition drives the remaining ~75% increase." NKLA mountain 2020-07-01 NKLA since 2020 Still, the analyst's $2 price target implies the stock could surge more than 200% from here.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Daiwa, Jonathan Kees, Kess, — Michelle Fox, Jon Tower, Chipotle, Sarah Min, Gordon Haskett downgrades Uber, Gordon Haskett, Robert Mollins, Uber, Mollins, — Jesse Pound, Colin Bristow, Bristow, Michael Tyndall, Stellantis, Tyndall, — Sarah Min, Pierre Ferragu, Lisa Su, Ferragu, Sunoco, Spiro Dounis, Dounis, Baird, Nikola, Ben Kallo, NKLA, Kallo, it's, Jessica Reif Ehrlich, Morgan Stanley's Benjamin Swinburne, Swinburne, Goldman Sachs, Eric Sheridan, Erik Woodring, Woodring, Fred Imbert Organizations: CNBC, Big Tech, Wall Street, NewStreet Research, Verizon, Daiwa, Verizon Communications, VZ, Citi, Mexican, UBS downgrades, UBS, HSBC, AMD, Research, NuStar Energy, Zenith Energy, Energy, Netflix, Bank of America, Apple Apple, Edge, Apple Locations: Seattle, Biogen, Skyclarys, Stellantis, Europe, China

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