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Signet Group President on jewelry trends, consumer behavior

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:02:26 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Signet Jewelers Ltd., considered the world’s largest retailer of diamond jewelry, still shines in a sector where stubbornly high inflation has tempered shoppers’ overall willingness to spend on baubles.Like many jewelry chains, Signet has seen some shoppers, particularly in the lower-income bracket, pull back. But the chain, which operates 2,800 stores under such banners as Kay Jewelers, Zales and Peoples, reported in March fourth-quarter earnings results that beat analysts’ expectations, and it offered a solid annual profit forecast. It’s also focusing on higher-income consumers as the economy weakens. In April, the Bermuda-based company said its goal is to reach as much as $10 billion in annual sales within the next five years, up from $7.8 billion in the latest year ended Jan. 28 That growth should be fueled by a continued rebound in U.S. engagements and demand for pricier jewelry. Shares of Signet are up 2% so far this year.Signet’s ...

What is horse racing doing to prevent catastrophic injuries?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:02:26 GMT

The deaths of seven horses at the home of the Kentucky Derby has once again intensified the debate over the safety of horse racing.Two of the deaths occurred as the result of race injuries on Derby day, when more than 150,000 people jammed Churchill Downs. “While each incident reported has been unique, it is important to note that there has been no discernible pattern detected in the injuries sustained,” the track said in a statement that called the incidents “unacceptable.” In recent years, the industry has instituted a series of veterinary and medication reforms, which led to the fatality rate dropping. Here’s a look at what horse racing is doing to try to prevent injuries and deaths.HOW COMMON ARE INJURIES AND DEATHS?The deaths at Churchill Downs gained greater attention because they occurred in the week leading up to the Kentucky Derby.There have been spates of deaths in recent years, most notably 30 at Santa Anita in California in 2019. Those led to a series of safety ref...

NBA Playoffs: Jokic, Booker posting stats never seen before

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:02:26 GMT

Nobody ever finished an NBA playoff game with at least 30 points, 17 rebounds and 17 assists.That is, until Nikola Jokic did it on Friday.Nobody ever finished an NBA playoff game with 53 points and 11 assists, either.That is, until Nikola Jokic did it on Sunday.And the Denver Nuggets went 0-2 in those games anyway, those stat lines — and some incredible numbers from Devin Booker, too — mostly overshadowed by Jokic getting into a bit of a thorny situation during Game 4 with a fan who just happened to be Mat Ishbia, the new owner of the Phoenix Suns.The Suns-Nuggets Western Conference semifinal series is tied at 2-2, in large part because Booker cannot miss. He shot 20 for 25 in Game 3, 14 for 18 in Game 4 — the first player in NBA playoff history to shoot that well in back-to-back games while taking that many shots.Booker leads the playoffs with a 36.8-point scoring average, and he’s on pace to be the first player to shoot 60% from the field, 50% from 3-point range and 85% from...

Hoops Hall of Famer Ray Allen receives degree from UConn

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:02:26 GMT

STORRS, Conn. (AP) — Twenty-seven years after hitting his last jump shot in the building, Ray Allen walked back into Gampel Pavilion on Sunday wearing a cap and gown. The 47-year-old basketball Hall of Famer sat in the stands with other graduating students, under a banner commemorating the retirement of his UConn jersey, then took his place in the procession t o receive his bachelor’s degree in general studies.The two-time NBA champion was greeted with a loud ovation as he was handed his diploma and gave a thumbs up to his family.“It’s never too late to learn,” Allen told the Hartford Courant. “This day isn’t about me, it’s about the people that helped me along the way to finish this mission, be on this journey to graduate from college.”Allen, who averaged 19 points during his three seasons at UConn, left school early for the NBA. He began taking classes again during the second half of his 19-year pro career. He said he got serious about finishing his degree during the h...

Dianna Agron responde a una década de especulaciones sobre su relación con Taylor Swift

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:02:26 GMT

(CNN) — Hace más de una década se especuló que la estrella de “Glee” Dianna Agron y Taylor Swift podrían haber tenido una “Historia de Amor”.Ahora, Agron acaba de abordarlo.En una entrevista publicada recientemente en Rolling Stone, se le preguntó a la actriz por ser una supuesta inspiración para el single de Swift de 2012 “22” del álbum “Red”, ya que Agron aparece en las notas de acompañamiento.Agron respondió: “¿Yo? ¡Oh, ojalá!”.Taylor Swift y Joe Alwyn se separan después de seis años“Eso es más por una amistad que por ser la inspiración de la canción”, dijo. “Pero yo no sería la persona indicada para preguntar sobre eso. No puedo afirmarlo”.La pareja salió un poco entre 2011 y 2012 y la publicación también le preguntó acerca de ser “shipped”, es decir, retratada como si estuviera en una relación por algunos fans e informes.“Eso es muy interesante. Yo… quiero decir, hu...

L.S. Starrett: Fiscal Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:02:26 GMT

ATHOL, Mass. (AP) — ATHOL, Mass. (AP) — L.S. Starrett Co. (SCX) on Monday reported earnings of $7.5 million in its fiscal third quarter.The Athol, Massachusetts-based company said it had profit of 99 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for pretax gains, came to 35 cents per share.The measurment and cutting tool company posted revenue of $61.7 million 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 SCX at https://www.zacks.com/ap/SCXSource

These Colorado companies are planning mass layoffs, records show

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:02:26 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- As inflation continues to rise across the country, having concerns about money and job security are understandable.The good news is that there is a law the requires your employer to inform you if they are planning layoffs. Is your industry at risk for layoffs? According to the United States Department of Labor, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act is a law that requires employers to provide employees experiencing employment loss with a 60-day notice prior to a layoff. "The criteria are complex, but some basic levels are layoffs of 50 or more workers at a single site, where 50 is at least one-third of the total full-time workforce at that site, or any layoffs of 500 or more workers at a single site. Other times employers may publicly announce layoffs through the media," the U.S. DOL said about WARN notices. View active WARN notices in Colorado The company with the most layoffs so far in 2023 is Wanzek Construction, which laid off 666 employees in January.Whic...

Why flags will be flown at half-staff through Thursday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:02:26 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Gov. Jared Polis has ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff until sunset on Thursday.Flags will be flown at half-staff on all public buildings in honor and remembrance of the mass shooting in Allen, Texas where eight people were killed at an outlet mall. A gunman stepped out of a silver sedan and started shooting people at the Dallas-area outlet mall Saturday, killing eight and wounding seven others — three critically — before being killed by a police officer who happened to be nearby, authorities said. ‘Then we heard people crying for help’: Witness of HVAC collapse feels lucky her family left unscathed Polis is lowering flags as proclaimed by President Joe Biden.As a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on May 6, 2023, in Allen, Texas, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall b...

Far-right Israeli minister was going to an EU event — so they canceled it

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:02:26 GMT

The EU’s mission to Israel announced Monday it was canceling a reception it was hosting in Tel-Aviv after far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said he would attend and give a speech.“The EU Delegation to Israel is looking forward to celebrating Europe Day on May 9, as it does every year,” the mission said in a statement on Twitter.“Regrettably, this year we have decided to cancel the diplomatic reception, as we do not want to offer a platform to someone whose views contradict the values the European Union stands for,” the statement said.A member of parliament from the ultra-nationalist Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party, Ben-Gvir became minister last December, after his party entered a coalition with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud to form what has been described as Israel’s most right-wing government ever.Ben-Gvir is a notorious hard-liner on security issues, and known for controversial statements he has ma...

Attleboro police investigate early morning armed robbery at local business

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:02:26 GMT

Police in Attleboro are investigating an early morning armed robbery and are looking to identify the suspects involved.The police department said a business on Washington Street was targeted around 4 a.m. on Monday in South Attleboro.In a tweet, Attleboro PD provided images of what appeared to be a man with facial hair, a black hoodie and grey pants walking through the business’s front entrance, as well as a figure in a similar hoodie, black pants and a face covering that resembled a ski mask.Image provided by the Attleboro Police DepartmentNo other details were provided.The police department asks that anyone with information on the incident or the suspects contact Detective Lt Brian Kelley at 508-222-1212.https://twitter.com/AttleboroPolice/status/1655566601431687171