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Tag: Worth
Candice Storey Lee believes Vanderbilt’s new facility will make “journey” to success worth it
Nashville–This time last year Vanderbilt had a different feel about it, so did the feeling around the job that Vanderbilt Athletic Director Candice Storey Lee was doing.
At that point Vanderbilt was coming off of a 2-10 football season in which it lost every conference game by 15 points or more and was in the midst of a men’s basketball season that would ultimately end with less than 10 wins and a “mutual parting of ways” between the program and then head coach Jerry Stackhouse.
A year later the department’s 2024 rèsumè includes a bowl-eligible season, a football win over No. 1 Alabama, a 15-4 start in men’s basketball and a basketball win over No. 6 Tennessee. It’s also bolstered the overall health of its men’s and women’s basketball programs with the completion of a “state of the art” practice facility.
That facility took years of construction, as have Vanderbilt’s programs. Storey Lee believes each step of the build came as a lesson.
“We’ve been on a journey for awhile,” Storey Lee said on Friday. “Last year was a great opportunity to grow and to learn. There’s no parts that have been easy. Even the most challenging times have been rewarding. I didn’t sign up for easy. I do feel that we have and we are moving in the direction to have everything that we need to compete at the highest level.”
A year ago today a statement like that would’ve been laughed off as a spin job from Vanderbilt’s higher ups. Like ‘of course she has to say that’, right?
Now it feels as if Storey Lee has evidence to back up her claim. She believes she got to that point as a result of what her department experienced a year ago.
“You can’t get to this year without last year,” Storey Lee said. “There’s no regrets. It’s just continuous learning.”
The learning curve for Vanderbilt has historically come slowly in regards to its facilities, but its multi-year process is finally complete. As Vanderbilt’s coaches, which Storey Lee says are the “right” ones, look around at what’s been built next to Memorial Gymnasium believe the process was worth it.
“I think it’s the best facility in the country,” Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach Shea Ralph said. “This gives us the opportunity to go out and recruit the best student athletes in the country.”
Sustainability in recruiting–and results for that matter–has often been hard to come by around these parts. Ralph’s program hadn’t made the NCAA Tournament since 2014 before making it as a first-four team last season and Byington’s hasn’t made it since the 2016-2017 season.
The hope around Vanderbilt’s newly-built Huber Center is that it could impact winning for an extended period of time. That comes with the reality that facilities have had to take on a different role in the current landscape of college athletics. They’re still valuable, but Byington–like many others–has shifted his mindset elsewhere.
“If you said what’ No. 1 and what’s No.2? NIL is No. 1,” Byington said. “You need everything, if you’ve got top-notch facilities already then you pour into NIL. We were just lacking in a training facility.”
The days of Byington and Ralph’s teams having to practice in an unbearably warm gym in the summertime, the AC in Byington’s offense going out and the teams having to plan their practice schedules around each other are over. That doesn’t mean things are neccessarily holly and jolly on West End.
It does mean that Vanderbilt has caught up in some ways, though. At the very least it sends a message.
“I just think the signal that it sends is so important,” Storey Lee said. “It can be hard to quantify, but the signaling and the credibility that come with showing you have made an investment [are important] that backs up [what you’re saying]. You can have the aspirations, but you have to have the resources that support the aspirations and I think this clearly signals that.”
Vanderbilt University’s new state-of-the-art athletic facility is a game-changer for the school’s sports programs, and Vice Chancellor for Athletics and University Affairs Candice Storey Lee believes it will make the journey to success all the more worth it.In a recent interview, Lee expressed her excitement about the new facility, which includes a football operations center, a basketball practice facility, and a sports science center. She believes that the investment in these facilities will not only benefit current student-athletes but also attract top talent to Vanderbilt in the future.
Lee emphasized the importance of creating an environment where student-athletes can excel both on and off the field. She believes that the new facility will provide the resources and support necessary for athletes to reach their full potential and achieve success in their respective sports.
Overall, Lee is confident that the new facility will elevate Vanderbilt’s athletic programs to new heights and make the journey to success all the more rewarding for student-athletes, coaches, and fans alike.
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- Vanderbilt University
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- Vanderbilt athletics
#Candice #Storey #Lee #believes #Vanderbilts #facility #journey #success #worth
Tim Weah proving his worth, wherever Juventus play him
Tim Weah’s name carries a lot of weight in Italian football. His father, George Weah, was an AC Milan icon and one of the best to ever play in Serie A. When Tim joined Juventus in the summer of 2023, the Italian press couldn’t help themselves from comparing father and son, calling it “Una Storia di Famiglia” on the front page of one newspaper.
Those comparisons don’t do Tim any favours. To this day, his father is the only African player to have ever won the Ballon d’Or. George Weah is still spoken about as one of the greatest players to have worn the famous rossoneri. This, however, shouldn’t diminish Tim’s growing role in black and white.
Against his father’s former club last weekend, Weah made a profound impact, scoring in a 2-0 win for Juventus over AC Milan. His directness and speed in behind the opposition defence gave Juve an extra attacking dimension and was key to the Old Lady recording a potentially season-changing result.
Juve’s 2024/25 campaign has been a paradox. While Thiago Motta’s side are still unbeaten in Serie A, they are 13 points off the pace being set by Napoli at the top of the table. They have drawn an astonishing 13 of the 21 matches they have played this season as Motta has struggled to mould Juventus in his own image.
The 2-0 win over AC Milan was the culmination of a process many have questioned since Motta’s arrival in Turin last summer. Juve controlled the majority of the match. They stopped the Rossoneri from posing any sort of meaningful threat on the break, but were lacking dynamism in the final third until Weah’s introduction at half time.
Few believe Weah will ever be a central pillar of Motta’s team. Those roles belong to the likes of Manuel Locatelli, Teun Koopmeiners and Gleison Bremer with Khéphren Thuram and Andrea Cambiasso also players who have clearly earned the trust of the manager. Weah ranks only 13th among his Juve teammates for minutes played in the league this season.
Nonetheless, Weah has proven his value as a do-everything attacking versatility man on more than one occasion this season. He’s played on the right wing, like he did in the second half against AC Milan. He’s also played on the left wing. The 24-year-old has even filled in as a centre forward when Dušan Vlahović missed a couple matches through injury.
When Weah arrived at the Allianz Stadium from Lille, he was widely seen as a wing back. That was the role many envisaged he would play for Max Allegri who favours a back three. Indeed, the majority of Weah’s 1,249 minutes in Serie A last season came as the fifth member of the Juventus defensive line.
Now, there is a sense that Weah has been liberated. Motta clearly sees the USA international as an outright attacker and has used Weah to keep Juve’s season moving forward when it easily could have veered off course. He might not be a central pillar of Motta’s team, but he is certainly a load-bearing one.
Of course, Weah isn’t the only American to have earned his place at Juventus this season. Weston McKennie is another US men’s national team member whose versatility has been tested with the 26-year-old – a midfielder by trade – deployed at right back in the recent win over AC Milan. This came after a run of games at left back. He has played over the pitch for the Old Lady.
Weah vs. McKennie stats comparison, Serie A 2024/25 McKennie, like Weah, has faced questions over his future as a Juventus player. The pair, however, have won over their doubters even if recent speculation has linked Everton with a January move for Weah. Eintracht Frankfurt and RB Leipzig are also believed to be interested in the winger who Juve could entertain offers for due to their fragile financial position.
This season will be remembered as a transitional one for Juventus. The Turin club have backed Motta to reshape the squad after years of stagnation under Allegri and have recognised that progress will be slow and painful. Money has been spent in the transfer window and further squad reconstruction will happen over the next few windows.
Weah might ultimately find himself a victim of that rebuild if Juventus receive a satisfactory offer for him, but the American has played an important role in the resurgence of one of Italy’s biggest clubs. There might well be more moments like the one delivered by Weah against AC Milan last weekend. He might not be his father, but Tim is making a name for himself in Turin.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
You can follow every game from Serie A on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.
Tim Weah is showing his worth no matter where Juventus puts him on the field. Since joining the club in 2019, Weah has consistently impressed fans and critics alike with his skill, versatility, and determination.Whether he’s playing as a winger, striker, or attacking midfielder, Weah always gives his all and makes a significant impact on the game. His pace, dribbling ability, and eye for goal have made him a valuable asset to the team.
Despite facing stiff competition for playing time at a club like Juventus, Weah has managed to carve out a space for himself in the starting lineup and has proven that he belongs at the highest level of football.
With each game, Weah continues to show why he is considered one of the most exciting young talents in the game. His performances on the field speak for themselves, and it’s clear that he has a bright future ahead of him at Juventus and beyond.
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Tim Weah, Juventus, soccer, proving worth, forward, versatility, performance, talent, skill, success, impact, playing position, position versatility, football, young talent, rising star.
#Tim #Weah #proving #worth #Juventus #playFlau’jae Johnson’s mom Kia Brooks drops 4-word reaction to $450 million worth Kevin Hart’s monologue
Flau’jae Johnson’s mother Kia Brooks tends to be very active on social media. One of her latest interactions involved a video featuring celebrity Kevin Hart, one of the richest people in the United States with a net worth of $450 million, per Celebrity Net Worth.
Brooks reacted to a video posted to Instagram last December, which had Hart explain why he surrounds himself with people who are winners. He claims they helped him grow and become more ambitious in his ideas, allowing him to take his craft more seriously over time.
She reacted to the video with a story post that summed up her reaction to what Hart said in four words.
“It’s just that simple!!” Brooks said.
Kia Brooks reacts to Kevin Hart’s video. (Instagram) Flau’jae Johnson revealed her favorite NFL team
Flau’jae Johnson is paying more attention to the NFL when she’s on her days off from LSU women’s basketball.
Johnson gave an explanation about her current favorite NFL team, which is none as she tried being a supporter of the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints over the past couple of seasons. She explained as much in an Instagram reel from the “Best of Both Worlds with Flau’jae Johnson” podcast.
“Y’all, I have a curse. Last year, I didn’t have an NFL team. Falcons, they just embarrassed me every year, I’m done with that. So I’m like, I’m gonna be a Saints fan bro. As soon as I turned into a Saints fan, they started losing,” Johnson said.
“You know me, I’m a bandwagon. I’m about to go. I hop on the Eagles. As soon as I joined the Eagles, bro, they started losing. I’m talking about, you remember, they lost all them games back to back to back? That was me.”
Johnson has performed at a high level for the LSU Tigers this season. After 20 games, she is averaging 19.9 points, six rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game. She boasts shooting splits of 49.2% shooting from the field and 37.1% from beyond the arc.
Following Friday’s matchup with the No. 2 South Gamecocks, the No. 5 Tigers will return home to host the Texas A&M Aggies at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Jan. 26 at 4 p.m. ET.
Dawn Staley, Geno Auriemma, or Kim Mulkey – who is NCAAW’s highest-paid coach? Find out here
Edited by Akshay Saraswat
“Kia Brooks reacts to Kevin Hart’s monologue”
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- Flau’jae Johnson
- Kia Brooks
- Kevin Hart monologue
- $450 million
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- Viral moment
#Flaujae #Johnsons #mom #Kia #Brooks #drops #4word #reaction #million #worth #Kevin #Harts #monologue
What projects in the AI + gaming sector are worth paying attention to?
Author: Cookie, BlockBeats
From AI Meme to AI Agent to AI technology frameworks, the narrative of AI in the Crypto world has rapidly evolved. Now, attention is shifting to the next evolutionary point of AI narratives, focusing more on specific application narratives, such as DeFAI or AI + gaming. So, which AI gaming projects are worth our attention?
Parallel Colony
Parallel is a TCG (trading card game) on the Base chain, belonging to the Echelon Prime Foundation. In 2021, Parallel completed a $50 million funding round led by Paradigm, with other investors including YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley, Focus Labs, OSS Capital, and Yunt Capital.
Parallel is already available for players. Beyond Parallel, the Echelon Prime Foundation is also developing a survival game called Parallel Colony, which integrates ERC-6551 technology and allows players to collaborate with AI. Players can assign tasks to AI Agents, which will complete them independently, communicate with other AI Agents, and share their game ideas with players. AI Agents will also engage in trading autonomously within Parallel Colony.
This game will open for testing in the first quarter of this year. In addition to Parallel Colony, Parallel has also created an AI-driven full-chain automated trading tool @AIWayfinder, which has a strong resemblance to all-in AI.
Smol Worlds
Smol Worlds is an AI game being developed under the core PFP project Smol Brains of the Treasure DAO ecosystem, led by the well-known Shaw in the AI Crypto space, who was originally a developer in the Treasure DAO ecosystem.
In Smol World, each Smol Brains will be able to act as an AI Agent for on-chain gaming, capable of stealing each other’s assets for PvP, and the game will integrate with the Eliza framework.
Eternum
This is an on-chain sandbox strategy game in the Loot (Realms) ecosystem, on the StarkNet network.
Its founder @lordOfAFew proposed a system called Daydream, which allows AI Agents to play games on-chain. The uniqueness of Daydream lies in that it does not rely on pre-coded instructions for AI to operate like a robot, but rather allows AI to have autonomous awareness.
In simple terms, first, AI is not told by humans in code form “the game is like this, you should do this,” but instead understands the game mechanics on its own and takes corresponding actions, even writing relevant code. Secondly, if the game mechanics are updated, AI Agents do not need to restart; they can enhance their capabilities by proposing to merge PRs to humans.
In the upcoming Season 1 game, Eternum will inject hundreds of AI Agents into the game through Daydream, coexisting with players as PVE or NPC characters in a competitive gaming environment.
AI Arena
This is an AI gaming project we introduced back in 2022 (Related reading: AI Arena, NFT AI Arena led by Paradigm).
In AI Arena, NFT game characters will engage in platform fighting games similar to “Super Smash Bros,” where the first to knock the opponent off the map wins. The biggest difference from “Super Smash Bros” is that players cannot control their NFT game characters during the battle; all actions are driven by AI.
This game project has now been shaped into a larger brand called ARC Agents, aimed at enhancing AI’s reasoning and adaptability to the real world through the study of game AI Agents. ARC Agents announced a strategic partnership with Eliza Labs on January 7.
Super Champs
The above projects directly integrate AI technology into games, while some blockchain games themselves do not incorporate AI but rather approach market trends in a positive manner, as the quality of the games themselves is still quite good.
Super Champs is such a blockchain game, backed by Joyride Games, which announced over two years ago that it had secured $14 million in funding from investors like Coinbase Ventures, Animoca Brands, and Dapper Labs.
They have developed an AI that can live-stream commentary on games and interact with the audience, although it currently only comments on their own games. In the future, they plan to train the AI to comment on other games, and those wanting to hire their AI commentary IP will need to use their tokens, which is a logically coherent narrative…
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The AI and gaming sector is constantly evolving and many exciting projects are emerging that are pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the world of gaming. Here are some projects that are worth paying attention to:1. OpenAI’s GPT-3: OpenAI’s GPT-3 is a language model that has been trained to generate human-like text. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the way games are developed by enabling developers to create more immersive and interactive gaming experiences.
2. Google’s DeepMind: Google’s DeepMind is a research lab that is focused on creating artificial intelligence that can learn and adapt to new tasks. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the way games are played by creating more intelligent and challenging opponents.
3. NVIDIA’s DLSS: NVIDIA’s DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) technology uses artificial intelligence to upscale lower-resolution images to higher resolutions in real-time. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the way games are rendered by enabling developers to create more visually stunning and immersive gaming experiences.
4. Unity’s ML-Agents: Unity’s ML-Agents is a toolkit that enables developers to train intelligent agents in virtual environments using machine learning algorithms. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the way games are designed by creating more dynamic and adaptive gaming experiences.
Overall, the AI and gaming sector is full of exciting projects that have the potential to shape the future of gaming. Keep an eye on these projects as they continue to develop and push the boundaries of what is possible in the world of gaming.
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#projects #gaming #sector #worth #paying #attention
Ozempic’s health benefits keep growing, but are the risks worth it?
One in eight adults in the U.S. has taken Ozempic or another type of GLP-1 drug, surveys show — and now a major new study has revealed a long list of benefits and some little-known risks.
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1) agonists — which contain either semaglutide or liraglutide — are prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity, but previous studies have linked the drugs to other, unexpected benefits.
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the Veterans Affairs (VA) St. Louis Health Care System studied the health outcomes of more than two million veterans with diabetes who took Ozempic or another type of GLP-1 drug between Oct. 1, 2017 and Dec. 31, 2023, according to a university press release.
OZEMPIC ‘MICRODOSING’ IS THE NEW WEIGHT-LOSS TREND
They then compared those outcomes to veterans who took non-GLP-1 diabetes medications.
One in eight adults in the U.S. has taken Ozempic or another type of GLP-1 drug, surveys show. (iStock)
The study, published in the journal Nature on Jan. 20, identified “widespread associations” between Ozempic and some significant health benefits.
Those benefits included reduced risks of neurocognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s and dementia, seizures, and addiction to harmful substances such as alcohol, cannabis, stimulants and opioids.
Other positive health effects included lower risks of suicidal ideation, self-harm, bulimia and psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia.
OZEMPIC COULD HELP REDUCE ALZHEIMER’S RISK FOR SOME, STUDY SUGGESTS: ‘SHIFTING THE PARADIGM’
“GLP-1s have many benefits for at least 42 conditions beyond weight loss – from addiction disorders to memory/cognition problems, blood clots, and infections,” lead study author Ziyad Al-Aly, clinical epidemiologist at Washington University in St. Louis, told Fox News Digital.
Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs act on receptors in the brain that are involved in impulse control, reward and addiction, Al-Aly noted, which could explain why they are effective in reducing cravings for food and addictive substances.
“GLP-1s have many benefits for at least 42 conditions beyond weight loss.”
“These drugs also reduce inflammation in the brain and result in weight loss; both of these factors may improve brain health and explain the reduced risk of conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia,” he added.
They also found, however, that GLP-1 drugs were linked to several adverse side effects.
Novo Nordisk is the maker of Ozempic, which is approved for type 2 diabetes treatment and reduced risk of cardiovascular events. (Getty Images)
The risk of gastrointestinal problems — including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and a rarer paralysis of the stomach — were widely known before this new study, the researcher noted.
The new finding, however, was that these drugs can negatively affect the pancreas and kidneys. They were also linked to a higher chance of developing arthritis.
DIABETES AND WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS SHOWN TO REDUCE ALCOHOL-RELATED HOSPITALIZATIONS, STUDY FINDS
“While these adverse effects are uncommon, they can be very serious; physicians must be vigilant for signs of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) and monitor kidney function among people taking GLP-1RA medications,” Al-Aly stated in the press release.
“Kidney problems can occur without symptoms until the condition is at an advanced stage with limited treatment options.”
Decreased obesity has long been linked with less inflammation in every body system, an expert pointed out. (iStock)
The study, which was funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, did have some limitations, the researchers acknowledged.
“This is a discovery approach involving more than two million people and is not a randomized trial,” Al-Aly told Fox News Digital.
“People with real weight loss are happier overall — they feel empowered.”
Seth Kipnis, MD, medical director of bariatric and robotic surgery at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center, was not involved in the study but said it confirms what he has seen in his own clinical practice.
“People with real weight loss are happier overall — they feel empowered that they can finally control their weight,” he said in a statement sent to Fox News Digital.
The risk of gastrointestinal problems — including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and a rarer paralysis of the stomach — were widely known before this new study. (iStock)
Decreased obesity has long been linked with less inflammation in every body system, Kipnis pointed out.
“GI problems and renal problems will always be seen if people are not eating correctly and maintaining hydration,” he said. “If you take these medications without nutritional education, they can be harmful.”
Recommendations and predictions
Based on the findings, the researchers noted, people should be aware that these drugs have not only a “broad beneficial profile,” but also important risks.
“People should use the information to discuss with their provider whether GLP-1 is the right medication for them,” Al-Aly recommended.
“A person with a lot of GI issues may find these meds intolerable.”
“A person who is trying to lose weight and quit smoking or drinking may find GLP-1s especially useful – helping hit two birds with one stone — but a person with a lot of GI (gastrointestinal) issues may find these meds intolerable,” he went on.
“Each person’s health profile is different. Pros and cons should be discussed with the provider.”
CHEAP OZEMPIC KNOCK-OFFS HAVE RISEN IN POPULARITY
Given their effectiveness at causing weight loss and improving health, GLP-1 drugs will likely become more common and increase in use, Hackensack’s Kipnis predicted.
“We have been prescribing many long-term drugs for hypertension, heart disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, arthritis, reflux and many other diseases without hesitation,” he said.
The new study revealed that GLP-1 drugs could negatively affect the pancreas and kidneys. (iStock)
“This new class of drug, as it lowers obesity, has the potential to lower the use of every other drug that is used to treat obesity-related conditions.”
Not every doctor should prescribe these medications, however, according to Kipnis.
“Doctors with weight management programs and nutrition education programs would likely have better outcomes and fewer side effects,” the doctor said.
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Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic (approved for type 2 diabetes treatment and reduced risk of cardiovascular events) and Wegovy (approved for weight management and reduced risk of cardiovascular events), provided the following statement to Fox News Digital.
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“Semaglutide has helped millions of people fight chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity. As we look to help even more people with chronic diseases, we are exploring the potential of semaglutide in several other disease states.”
Wegovy, also made by Novo Nordisk, is FDA-approved for weight management and reduced risk of cardiovascular events. (Steve Christo – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)
“Patient safety is of utmost importance to Novo Nordisk,” the company also said.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health
“The known risks and benefits of semaglutide medicines are described in their FDA-approved product labeling, and we work closely with authorities and regulatory bodies worldwide to continuously monitor the safety profile of our products.”
“Patient safety is of utmost importance,” said Novo Nordisk in a statement to Fox News Digital. (iStock)
The company added that the “totality of data” from previous studies “provides reassurance of the safety profile of semaglutide.”
Ozempic, a popular medication used to treat type 2 diabetes, has been making waves in the medical community for its impressive health benefits. From lowering blood sugar levels to aiding in weight loss, Ozempic has been proven to be an effective tool in managing diabetes.However, as with any medication, there are potential risks and side effects to consider. Some common side effects of Ozempic include nausea, diarrhea, and stomach pain. More serious risks include pancreatitis and thyroid cancer, although these are rare.
So, the question remains: are the potential risks of Ozempic worth the health benefits it provides? It ultimately depends on the individual and their specific health needs. It is important to weigh the benefits and risks with your healthcare provider to determine if Ozempic is the right choice for you.
What are your thoughts on Ozempic? Have you or someone you know experienced positive or negative effects from taking this medication? Share your experiences in the comments below.
Tags:
- Ozempic
- Health benefits
- Risks
- Diabetes medication
- Side effects
- Ozempic benefits
- Weight loss
- Blood sugar control
- Type 2 diabetes
- Medication risks
#Ozempics #health #benefits #growing #risks #worth
RFK Jr. reports up to $1.2M in credit card debt, $30M net worth
From a multimillion-dollar law firm payout to six-figure endorsements and book deals, President Donald Trump’s nominee for health and human services secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., raked in at least $12 million in total income in the past two years, new personal financial disclosure forms show.
Kennedy boasted a vast amount of wealth across various investment funds, bank accounts and real estate properties totaling between $8.6 million to $33.4 million. However, he also reported a staggering amount of liabilities — between $3.4 million and $12.7 million — which could put him in the red on paper.
Kennedy’s liabilities include up to $1.2 million in credit card debt to American Express at a 23% revolving interest rate and three 30-year mortgages worth up to $10.5 million, according to the filing.
In this Aug. 23, 2024 file photo, Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump shakes hands with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a campaign rally at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Ariz.
Evan Vucci/AP
The exact values of his total assets and liabilities are unclear because federal financial disclosures are reported in ranges.
A major chunk of Kennedy’s income since 2023 was his nearly $9 million payout from his law firm Kennedy & Madonna LLP, which is now called Madonna & Madonna LLP after Kennedy resigned last week.
His main source of income from the past year stemmed from hefty referral fees from multiple law firms, arrangements which Kennedy noted in his ethics agreement that he will terminate upon his confirmation. However, he stated he plans to retain a contingency fee interest in cases that do not involve the U.S. government.
In his ethics agreement, Kennedy disclosed that among the cases he has referred to the Wisner Baum law firm are claims filed under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP), from which he said he will divest his interest.
Kennedy, who has been a vocal supporter of cryptocurrency and has spoken at multiple Bitcoin conventions, also reported owning between $1 million to $5 million in Fidelity’s Bitcoin fund, the filing shows.
Kennedy also disclosed smaller holdings in biotech companies Dragonfly Therapeutics and CRISPR Therapeutics AG, as well as in other companies like Progressive Corp, Amazon and Apple, from which he said he plans to divest after his confirmation.
Credit card debt potentially doubled in 6 months
Kennedy’s credit card debt potentially doubled in just six months, a comparison of his liabilities in his new disclosure filing and his disclosure from last year suggest.
In July 2024, Kennedy, as a presidential candidate, disclosed having credit card debts to American Express worth $360,004 to $715,000, at roughly 23% revolving interest rate.
In his latest disclosure submitted in late December 2024 and publicly released today, Kennedy’s American Express debts snowballed into between $610,000 and $1.2 million.
It’s unclear how much, exactly, his credit card debt increased in the past few months because liabilities are reported in ranges, but the latest disclosure shows his debts have potentially grown exponentially.
Money from book deals
Kennedy is set to earn millions from multiple book deals, including up to $4 million in advances for books titled “Unsettled Science” and “A Defense for Israel.” Kennedy also earned $1,000 for an advance for a book titled “Vax-UnVax: Let the Science Speak.”
According to his disclosure, two of the three books have already been written prior to his nomination, and he does not plan to engage in “writing, editing, marketing, or promotional services” while serving as HHS Secretary.
Kennedy earned little income from the fourteen books he has already published – such as “American Values: Lessons I Learned from my Family” and “Vaccine Villains: What the American Public Should Know about the Industry” — making less than $200 from each title, according to the disclosure form.
Money from endorsements
Kennedy earned $100,000 from his endorsement of a boxing ball game called Boxbollen in a video he posted on his social media accounts last month, though he returned $50,000 after cancelling the contract following his nomination as health and human services secretary.
“Mr. Kennedy had a pre-existing contract prior to his nomination, after posting the video – he realized it was best to delete it and cancel the contract,” a source close to Kennedy told ABC News in November.
Kennedy also earned $200,000 in speaking fees during three days in November, speaking at the Rockbridge Fall Summit in Las Vegas — organized by a conservative donor network co-founded by Vice President JD Vance – and Genius Network Annual Event in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Hollywood money
Kennedy also disclosed dozens of sources of compensation from his wife Cheryl Hines, an actress best known for her role on HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife Cheryl Hines depart at the conclusion of the inauguration ceremony for President Donald Trump, Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington.
Chip Somodevilla/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
In addition to that show, Hines earns residual payments from multiple films and television shows including “Friends,” “Herbie,” “Waitress,” “The Conners,” “The Flight Attendant” and “A Bad Moms Christmas.”
Hines also received a $600,000 advance payment for her memoir “My Shade of Crazy.”
Oil rIghts, properties in Chicago
As was disclosed in his previous financial disclosure from his 2024 presidential bid, Kennedy had previously owned oil and gas rights in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida but sold them in the past year, netting roughly $55,000 from the sales, according to the filing.
He also reported owning commercial properties in Chicago worth between $700,000 and $1.5 million.
In a recent financial disclosure report, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. revealed that he is carrying up to $1.2 million in credit card debt. Despite this substantial debt, Kennedy’s net worth is estimated to be around $30 million.Kennedy, an environmental activist and attorney, has faced criticism in the past for his extravagant lifestyle and spending habits. This latest revelation of his credit card debt only adds to the scrutiny of his financial decisions.
It is unclear how Kennedy accumulated such a large amount of credit card debt, but it serves as a reminder that even those with significant wealth can struggle with financial management.
As Kennedy works to address his debt and improve his financial situation, it will be interesting to see how he navigates this challenge and what steps he takes to secure his financial future.
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#RFK #reports #1.2M #credit #card #debt #30M #net #worthHow to ring in the Lunar New Year in Dallas-Fort Worth
On Jan. 29, the Year of the Snake will begin as millions of people around the world celebrate the start of the Lunar New Year in accordance with the Chinese lunar calendar. The holiday kicks off the 15-day Spring Festival and welcomes prosperity, good fortune and family reunions.
“This is the most important holiday in China,” says Yifeng Ren. Ren, 67, was born in China and recently moved to Plano. “No matter which place you work, you have to come back to your hometown to be with your parents [and] family members to celebrate.”
Lunar New Year is celebrated in China and in other Asian countries including Mongolia, Vietnam, and North and South Korea. In one of the world’s largest annual migrations, millions of observers travel to be with family for the holiday. Reuters reported that a record 9 billion trips are expected in China this year during the travel season around the festival.
Welcome the Year of the Snake with these Lunar New Year’s celebrations around North Texas The significance of the holiday is similar to the importance of Thanksgiving and Christmas in America, Ren says. She plans to host nearly 30 people to celebrate in Plano this year.
Revelers celebrate with fireworks, families eat fish for prosperity, and relatives give money and wish for abundance, wealth and good fortune. A television show broadcast in China and around the globe on the eve of the holiday is considered one of the most-watched programs in the world. The color red, rounded shapes and lanterns are all important symbols for the holiday.
The lunar calendar has 12 animals, and this year marks the Year of the Snake. Events around Dallas-Fort Worth will ring in the new year and mark the transition between winter and spring.
Plano invites the community to celebrate the Year of the Snake at its Lunar New Year festival on the last weekend of January. The outdoor event will take place on Jan. 25 at McCall Plaza.
Michelle Hawkins, the downtown manager for Plano, helped plan the event. The festival will include a lion dance performance, Chinese calligraphy demonstrations, a DJ, a face painter and temporary tattoos, she says.
A photo opportunity at the plaza will be up for several weeks, Hawkins says. Angel Touch Kitchen will serve halal Indonesian food.
“Going to different cultural events is just always exciting to me to see how other people celebrate and [to] celebrate with other communities,” Hawkins says. “It’s just so eye-opening, because I think that some of our traditions here get watered down. To see such strong traditional ties is always fun.”
This is the city’s first Lunar New Year festival, Hawkins says. The event was planned for last year, too, but was rained out.
Details: Jan. 25 from noon to 4 p.m. at McCall Plaza, 998 E. 15th St., in downtown Plano. Free.
Here are other ways to celebrate the holiday around Dallas-Fort Worth.
- Celebrate lunar New Year at the Kimbell, Jan. 24 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Kimbell Art Museum, 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth. Free.
- Frisco Lunar New Year Festival, Feb. 8 from 3 to 8 p.m. at Simpson Plaza, 6101 Frisco Square Blvd., Frisco. Free.
- Galleria Dallas Lantern Festival, nearly 250 Chinese lanterns are on display over the ice rink through Feb. 17. Author Isabelle Engler will share music and stories on Feb. 6 at 10:30 a.m. on Level Three near the Children’s Play Place. A lion dance will be Feb. 8 at 2 p.m. on Level One near Sephora. Through Feb. 17 at Galleria Dallas, 13350 Dallas Parkway, Dallas. Free.
- Lunar New Year festival, Feb. 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at DFW Chinatown, 400 N. Greenville Ave., Richardson. Free.
- Lunar New Year Celebration, Jan. 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at NorthPark Center, 8687 N. Central Expressway, Dallas. Free.
- Lunar New Year Festival: Year of the Snake, Feb. 1 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Grandscape, 5752 Grandscape Blvd., The Colony. Free.
- Lunar New Year Celebration, Feb. 8 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Carrollton Town Center, 2540 Old Denton Road, Carrollton. Free.
- Southlake Spring Festival, Feb. 1 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Southlake Town Square, 1400 Main St., Southlake. Free.
- 18th annual Lunar New Year, Year of the Wood Snake, Jan. 17-19, Jan. 24-26 and Feb. 1-2 at Asia Times Square, 2625 W. Pioneer Parkway, Grand Prairie. Free.
- 2025 Asian Lunar New Year Art Festival, Feb. 8 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the University of Texas at Dallas Edith O’Donnell Arts and Technology Building, 800 W. Campbell Road, Richardson. Free.
The Go See DFW calendar is a partnership between KERA and The Dallas Morning News.
Arts Access is an arts journalism collaboration powered by The Dallas Morning News and KERA.
This community-funded journalism initiative is funded by the Better Together Fund, Carol & Don Glendenning, City of Dallas OAC, Communities Foundation of Texas, The University of Texas at Dallas, The Dallas Foundation, Eugene McDermott Foundation, James & Gayle Halperin Foundation, Jennifer & Peter Altabef and The Meadows Foundation. The News and KERA retain full editorial control of Arts Access’ journalism.
The Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, is a vibrant and festive celebration that is observed by millions of people around the world. If you’re in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and looking to ring in the Lunar New Year in style, here are some tips on how to make the most of this auspicious occasion:1. Attend a Lunar New Year festival: One of the best ways to experience the Lunar New Year in Dallas-Fort Worth is by attending a local festival. These events typically feature traditional performances, delicious food, and colorful decorations. Check out the annual Asian Lunar New Year Festival in Richardson or the Lunar New Year Festival in Garland for a taste of the celebrations.
2. Enjoy a delicious meal: Food plays a central role in Lunar New Year celebrations, so why not indulge in some authentic Chinese cuisine to mark the occasion? Head to one of Dallas-Fort Worth’s many Chinese restaurants for a feast of dumplings, noodles, and other traditional dishes.
3. Visit a temple or cultural center: Paying a visit to a local temple or cultural center is a great way to immerse yourself in the traditions of the Lunar New Year. Many of these venues host special events and performances during the holiday, giving you the chance to learn more about the customs and rituals associated with the festival.
4. Watch a dragon or lion dance: One of the most iconic elements of Lunar New Year celebrations is the dragon and lion dance. These performances are believed to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits, making them a must-see during the holiday. Keep an eye out for local dance troupes performing at malls, restaurants, and other venues around Dallas-Fort Worth.
5. Exchange red envelopes: In Chinese culture, it is customary to give and receive red envelopes filled with money as a symbol of good luck and prosperity. If you’re celebrating the Lunar New Year with friends or family, consider exchanging red envelopes as a gesture of goodwill and best wishes for the year ahead.
By following these tips, you can ring in the Lunar New Year in Dallas-Fort Worth with joy, prosperity, and plenty of festive cheer. Happy New Year!
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No. 12 Kansas Heads to Fort Worth Wednesday for a Big 12 Road Tilt at TCU
LAWRENCE, Kan. — No. 12/11 Kansas (13-4, 4-2 Big 12) will play at TCU (10-7, 3-3 Big 12) on Wednesday, Jan. 22. The contest will start at 6 p.m. CT and be televised on ESPN2.
Kansas is coming off an 84-74 win against Dillons Sunflower Showdown foe Kansas State on Jan. 18. TCU has won two of its last three after its 74-71 win at No. 25 Baylor on Jan. 19.
Kansas leads the overall series with TCU, 26-4, including a 10-2 mark in Fort Worth meetings and an 8-2 record in Schollmaier Arena.
KU is No. 9 in the NET report by the NCAA through games of Jan. 19. The No. 9 rank is third in the Big 12 behind No. 3 Houston and No. 6 Iowa State.
Kansas averages 76.5 points per game and has a +13.0 scoring margin. KU pulls down 39.2 rebounds per contest with a +6.1 rebound margin. Kansas is making 47.8% from the field, including 33.2% from three-point range. KU ranks second in the Big 12 and ninth nationally in field goal percentage defense at 37.6% and leads the league, 11th nationally, in assists average at 18.0. KU also averages 6.6 steals and 5.1 blocked shots per game.Following his 25 points against Kansas State (1/18), graduate C Hunter Dickinson leads Kansas in scoring at 15.8 ppg and rebounding at 10.2 rpg, which leads the Big 12 and is 11th nationally. A three-time Big 12 Player of the Week, Dickinson is also first in the Big 12 in double-doubles (9), which is eighth nationally. Dickinson also leads KU with 26 blocked shots and he is second on the team with 22 steals. Senior G Zeke Mayo is next in scoring at 15.0 points per contest after his 24 points, including 4-of-7 from 3FG, against Kansas State (1/18). A two-time Big 12 Newcomer of the Week, Mayo has made a team-high 39 threes. He is second on the team with 51 assists and pulls down 4.1 rebounds per contest.
Graduate G Dajuan Harris Jr. is a four-year starter who is averaging 10.1 points per game after his 15 points against Kansas State (1/18). Harris is third in the Big 12 in assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.50, which is 13th nationally, and third in the conference in assists per game at 5.4, which is 40th nationally. Senior F KJ Adams is a starter who is scoring 8.2 points per game. Adams pulls down 4.6 rebounds per game and has 37 assists and 16 blocked shots.
Junior G AJ Storr eclipsed 1,000 points for his career at Iowa State (1/15). He has started four games and he is scoring 6.7 points per contest. Junior G Rylan Griffen is second on the team with 19 threes. Griffen is averaging 6.5 ppg and has started seven games this season. Freshman F Flory Bidunga has 13 blocked shots in his last five games, including four at Iowa State (1/15). His 23 blocked shots are second on the team and he is also second on the team with a 5.2 rebound average. Bidunga averages 6.2 points per game and is shooting 80.0 percent (48-for-60) from the field.
Senior G David Coit has three starts and he is third on the team with 17 threes made. Coit averages 4.2 points per game. Other KU regulars include graduate G Shakeel Moore (4.1 ppg), redshirt-junior F Zach Clemence (1.4 ppg) and freshman G Rakease Passmore (1.1 ppg). Moore has started the last five games for Kansas and is averaging 6.4 ppg and 2.8 assists in that span.
UP NEXT
Kansas returns home to host No. 8/10 Houston on Saturday, Jan. 25. The contest from Allen Fieldhouse will start at 5:30 p.m. CT and will be televised on ESPN.
Kansas leads the all-time series with Houston, 6-3, including a 3-1 record in Lawrence, all in Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas has won four of the last five meetings with Houston.
The No. 12 Kansas Jayhawks are gearing up for a tough road test as they head to Fort Worth on Wednesday to take on TCU in a crucial Big 12 matchup.Kansas is coming off a dominant 80-61 victory over Oklahoma State, improving their record to 13-5 on the season. Led by star guard Ochai Agbaji, who is averaging 19.2 points per game, the Jayhawks will look to continue their winning ways against the Horned Frogs.
TCU, on the other hand, is coming off a tough loss to Texas Tech and currently sits at 9-6 on the season. The Horned Frogs are led by guard Mike Miles, who is averaging 15.8 points per game.
This matchup is sure to be a battle as both teams fight for positioning in the competitive Big 12 conference. Can Kansas continue their winning streak on the road, or will TCU pull off the upset at home?
Be sure to tune in on Wednesday as these two teams clash in what is sure to be an exciting and competitive game. Go Jayhawks! #RockChalkJayhawk
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#Kansas #Heads #Fort #Worth #Wednesday #Big #Road #Tilt #TCU
Prediction: 2 AI Stocks That Will Be Worth More Than BigBear.ai 2 Years From Now
Innodata and Serve Robotics could eclipse the underdog AI software maker.
BigBear.ai‘s (BBAI 12.50%) stock price has rallied about 120% over the past 12 months, but it’s still trading nearly 70% below its all-time high from April 2022. The AI software developer bounced back as its revenue growth stabilized and its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) improved.
Many of its investors initially fled when its revenue growth flatlined in 2023 as it struggled with macroeconomic headwinds, tough competition, and the bankruptcy of its major customer Virgin Orbit. But under Mandy Long, a former IBM executive who took over as its CEO in late 2022, it stabilized its business by acquiring the AI vision firm Pangiam in an all-stock takeover, securing new government contracts, and trimming its workforce. It also secured more data-sharing deals for its AI analytics modules, which can be directly plugged into an organization’s existing software and edge networks.
Image source: Getty Images.
For 2024, analysts expect BigBear.ai’s revenue to grow 8% to $168 million with a negative adjusted EBITDA of $1 million. For 2025, they expect its revenue to rise 14% to $193 million with a positive adjusted EBITDA of $5 million under Kevin McAleenan, Pangiam’s founder who recently succeeded Mandy Long as BigBear.ai’s new CEO.
But with enterprise value of $1.13 billion, BigBear.ai stock isn’t cheap at 6 times its projected sales for 2025. So instead of wondering if it can keep growing into its rising valuations, investors should check out two smaller AI stocks that might become even more valuable over the next two years: Innodata (INOD 3.97%) and Serve Robotics (SERV 6.30%).
Innodata
Innodata, an analytics company that went public in 1993, was once considered a slow-growth underdog in a crowded market. But all that changed when it launched a suite of task-specific microservices for preparing data for AI applications in 2018.
When a large company develops a new AI project, it can spend 80% of its time preparing the data and just 20% of the time training the AI algorithm. That’s an inefficient use of time for companies that are constantly feeding massive amounts of data into their large language models (LLMs) and other AI tools. To streamline that process, five of the Magnificent Seven companies started to use Innodata’s new AI microservices to clean up their data.
As a result, Innodata’s revenue grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12% from 2019 to 2023. But as the booming AI market expands, analysts expect its revenue to rise at an even faster CAGR of 42% from 2023 to 2026. They also expect it to turn profitable in 2024 and grow its earnings per share at a CAGR of 21% over the following two years.
That incredible acceleration makes it one of the market’s fastest-growing AI stocks. But with an enterprise value of $1.07 billion, it still trades at less than 5 times its 2025 sales. As more growth-oriented AI investors start paying attention to Innodata, it could easily outperform BigBear.ai and eclipse its enterprise value within the next two years.
Serve Robotics
Serve Robotics, a developer of autonomous delivery robots, was founded in 2017 within Postmates, the food delivery service that was acquired by Uber Technologies in 2020. Uber spun off Serve in 2021, but it continued to use its delivery robots for Uber Eats in select areas of Los Angeles. Its newest Gen 3 robots can travel at a max speed of 11 mph, last up to 48 miles on a single charge, and carry 15 gallons of cargo. They’re also resistant to heavy rain and extreme temperatures.
Serve owns a fleet of 100 robots, but it only operated 59 active robots across the L.A. area for Uber Eats in the third quarter of 2024. It went public through a reverse merger with a blank-check company in 2023, but it’s barely generating any revenue.
For the full year, analysts expect Serve to generate just $1.9 million in revenue with a net loss of $34.3 million. So at first glance, it might seem absurd that Serve has an enterprise value of $803 million — or 423 times its estimated sales for 2024.
However, it could scale up its business over the next few years. Uber Eats plans to deploy up to 2,000 of Serve’s robots across the L.A. and Dallas-Fort Worth metro areas in 2025. If it achieves that ambitious expansion, analysts expect its revenue to surge to $59.5 million in 2026. Based on that forecast, Serve doesn’t seem extremely expensive at 13 times its 2026 sales — so its enterprise value might just surpass BigBear.ai’s over the next two years as Uber Eats rolls out more of its delivery robots.
Leo Sun has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends International Business Machines, Serve Robotics, and Uber Technologies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
As the artificial intelligence industry continues to grow and evolve, there are a number of exciting companies that are poised to see significant growth in the coming years. While BigBear.ai is currently a leader in the AI space, there are two other companies that I believe have the potential to surpass BigBear.ai in value within the next two years.The first company is NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA). NVIDIA is a leading provider of graphics processing units (GPUs) for AI applications, and has been at the forefront of AI technology for years. The company’s GPUs are widely used in data centers and AI systems, and its recent acquisition of Arm Holdings has further solidified its position in the market. With a strong track record of innovation and a growing customer base, I believe that NVIDIA has the potential to become a major player in the AI space in the coming years.
The second company is Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL), the parent company of Google. Google has been investing heavily in AI technology in recent years, and its AI-powered products and services, such as Google Assistant and Google Photos, are widely used around the world. With its vast resources and talented team of AI experts, I believe that Alphabet has the potential to see significant growth in the AI space in the near future.
While BigBear.ai is currently a leader in the AI industry, I believe that both NVIDIA and Alphabet have the potential to surpass it in value within the next two years. Investors looking for exposure to the AI space may want to consider adding these two companies to their portfolios.
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