Daily Archives: March 20, 2021

We're finally seeing some light at the end of the tunnel.

The 2020 Friends & Family Draft was about 12 months ago, at a dark time. We weren't even sure if there would be a season. We ultimately watched a quirky 60-game sprint, later in the summer, and hashed out a roto season that was fun but not fully satisfying.

Back to the present. We're looking at six months, 162 games, and a fresh and fun season awaits. With that in mind, we assembled 16 managers and put the Yahoo Friends & Family League back into play, drafting this past Wednesday.

It's a 5x5 rotisserie league, with a transaction cap of 70. You can make roster moves every day.

It's Year 17 for this group. The Yahoo peeps have won nine titles, the guests seven. Who would you bet on this year?

Rosters and commentary follow. Follow us, fade us, learn from our mistakes, or drive into the same ditches. The choice is yours. Say hello to one new manager, Steve Psihogios of Yahoo Canada.

And away we go.

D.J. Short - NBC Sports

1. (1) Jacob deGrom (NYM - SP)

2. (32) Luis Robert (CWS - OF)

3. (33) Corey Seager (LAD - SS)

4. (64) Pete Alonso (NYM - 1B)

5. (65) Kenta Maeda (Min - SP,RP)

6. (96) Jeff McNeil (NYM - 2B,3B,OF)

7. (97) Ryan Pressly (Hou - RP)

8. (128) Ke'Bryan Hayes (Pit - 3B)

9. (129) Frankie Montas (Oak - SP)

10. (160) Jake Cronenworth (SD - 1B,2B,SS)

11. (161) Jarred Kelenic (Sea - OF)

12. (192) James McCann (NYM - C)

13. (193) Justin Turner (LAD - 3B)

14. (224) Greg Holland (KC - RP)

15. (225) Germn Mrquez (Col - SP)

16. (256) David Peralta (Ari - OF)

17. (257) Brandon Nimmo (NYM - OF)

18. (288) Justus Sheffield (Sea - SP)

19. (289) Nick Wittgren (Cle - RP)

20. (320) Tarik Skubal (Det - SP)

21. (321) Starlin Castro (Was - 2B,3B)

22. (352) Jurickson Profar (SD - 2B,OF)

23. (353) Mike Brosseau (TB - 1B,2B,3B,OF)

24. (384) Scott Barlow (KC - RP)

25. (385) Jonathan Schoop (Det - 2B)

26. (416) Odbel Herrera (Phi - 2B,OF)

D.J. Short, NBC Sports: Picking Jacob deGrom at No. 1 overall might be polarizing, but I thought I would be at too much of a disadvantage SP-wise when the board came back to me. Making up ground in homers and steals felt easier to me than finding that true no doubt fantasy ace. I think it was the right move given how my draft played out, though Im going to need some more steals at some point. I took some big swings in this draft with the likes of Luis Robert and Jarred Kelenic and Ill probably need them to pay off to make a real run. Still, I like this team a lot more than I probably have any right to.

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Steal of the Draft: Whit Merrifield at No. 51 overall. With his rebound on the steals front last year, I think he should be going at least one round earlier. That Royals lineup is pretty interesting too.

Reach of the Draft: Alex Colome at 102 stood out to me as a potential reach, as Twins manager Rocco Baldelli doesnt plan to go into the season with a primary closer. His main competition for saves, Taylor Rogers, didnt go until pick No. 207. I dont think theres a ton of separation between them.

Razzball - Donkey Teeth

1. (2) Fernando Tatis Jr. (SD - SS)

2. (31) Blake Snell (SD - SP)

3. (34) Eloy Jimnez (CWS - OF)

4. (63) Aroldis Chapman (NYY - RP)

5. (66) Gleyber Torres (NYY - 2B,SS)

6. (95) Anthony Rizzo (ChC - 1B)

7. (98) Giancarlo Stanton (NYY - OF)

8. (127) Tommy Pham (SD - OF)

9. (130) Charlie Morton (Atl - SP)

10. (159) Dylan Carlson (StL - OF)

11. (162) Craig Kimbrel (ChC - RP)

12. (191) Jorge Polanco (Min - SS)

13. (194) Andrew Heaney (LAA - SP)

14. (223) Jake Odorizzi (Hou - SP)

15. (226) Andrew Vaughn (CWS - 1B)

16. (255) James Paxton (Sea - SP)

17. (258) Kolten Wong (Mil - 2B)

18. (287) Bryan Reynolds (Pit - OF)

19. (290) Joey Votto (Cin - 1B)

20. (319) Robbie Ray (Tor - SP)

21. (322) Daulton Varsho (Ari - C,OF)

22. (351) Maikel Franco (Bal - 3B)

23. (354) Jos Quintana (LAA - SP)

24. (383) Evan White (Sea - 1B)

25. (386) Garrett Crochet (CWS - RP)

26. (415) Gregory Soto (Det - SP,RP)

Donkey Teeth, Razzball: Last year was my first season in this prestigious league and I learned a few things or at least I hope I learned a few things! Chasing saves last year with all the scavengers in this league was a nightmare made even scarier by the very limited league transactions allowed (only 70 per team for the entire season). So I bit the bullet and ponied up a fourth-round pick for Aroldis Chapman.

The strict moves limit also forces a premium on starting pitching since we can only cycle through so many arms from the waiver wire. I didn't love having to reach by spending pick No. 31 on Blake Snell, but he was the last of a tier based on my rankings. Like the age old saying goes, "When in Yahoo, do as the Yahooeans do."

Steal: Bobby Witt Jr. (18th round, Pick 285, Patrick Daugherty). Witt was at the top of my queue for several rounds but I kept kicking the can since I had already gambled on Andrew Vaughn. If Witt happens to break camp with the Royals big league club, there's a great chance he's a top 100 player this year with the possibility of much more.

Reach: Aaron Nola (1st round, Pick 14, Steve Psihogios). Even with the huge pitching premium in this draft, I can't get behind Nola in the first round.

Y! - Dalton Del Don

1. (3) Gerrit Cole (NYY - SP)

2. (30) Brandon Woodruff (Mil - SP)

3. (35) Tyler Glasnow (TB - SP)

4. (62) Javier Bez (ChC - SS)

5. (67) Yon Moncada (CWS - 3B)

6. (94) Kenley Jansen (LAD - RP)

7. (99) Byron Buxton (Min - OF)

8. (126) Victor Robles (Was - OF)

9. (131) Kevin Gausman (SF - SP,RP)

10. (158) Travis d'Arnaud (Atl - C,1B)

11. (163) C.J. Cron (Col - 1B)

12. (190) Nick Senzel (Cin - OF)

13. (195) Kyle Schwarber (Was - OF)

14. (222) Miguel San (Min - 1B,3B)

15. (227) Jake McGee (SF - RP)

16. (254) Myles Straw (Hou - SS,OF)

17. (259) Chris Taylor (LAD - 2B,SS,OF)

18. (286) Mauricio Dubn (SF - 2B,SS,OF)

19. (291) Justin Upton (LAA - OF)

20. (318) Alex Reyes (StL - RP)

21. (323) Brandon Belt (SF - 1B,OF)

22. (350) A.J. Puk (Oak - RP)

23. (355) Lorenzo Cain (Mil - OF)

24. (382) Kyle Crick (Pit - RP)

25. (387) Corey Knebel (LAD - RP)

26. (414) Brandon Workman (ChC - RP)

Dalton Del Don, Yahoo: Ive been going pitching-heavy in all my leagues this year. Its a bit different in this format with 16 teams and an innings limit, but I think the strategy worked mostly the same. Yahoos position eligibility being so generous certainly helps.

I raised an eyebrow when Mark Melancon went in round 8 given the crowded bullpen situation in San Diego, but Laz followed that up a few rounds later by swooping Shohei Ohtani (Batter) when I had my heart set on him. Ohtani becomes more valuable in daily formats, and hes looked terrific this spring. The Angels have the best park in baseball for lefty power, will no longer use a humidor this season, and Ohtani will run too. He was an absolute steal here.

Starting pitching was in high demand early, including Gerrit Cole coming off the board with the third overall pick. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

NBC Sports - Patrick Daugherty

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Fantasy Baseball: Steals, reaches and takeaways from the 2021 Friends and Family draft - Yahoo Sports

Special to Yahoo Sports

With March Madness here, some hoop-heads may shift their focus away from fantasy basketball to their beloved (and not-yet-busted) brackets. Should that be the case for opposing teams in your league, the waiver wire would provide an excellent opportunity to get ahead of the game or gain some ground.

There have only been nine nights of games since the NBA All-Star break. For the sake of avoiding repetition, this weeks article wont feature any of the players mentioned in my two most recent pieces.

Ingles poured in career highs of 34 points and eight treys, to go along with five boards, two assists and two steals across 33 minutes in Thursdays loss to the Wizards. Already extremely efficient in previous seasons, this year Ingles has taken his game to another level in that regard, sporting career-high shooting percentages from the field (53.4% FG), beyond the arc (48.0% 3PT), and the charity stripe (87.8% FT). Despite a slight reduction in playing time (26.7 MPG) compared to the last three campaigns, Ingles remains a steady source of counting stats, with per-game averages of 12.0 points, 4.3 dimes, 3.5 boards, 2.6 threes (career high), 0.5 steals and 0.3 blocks through 36 appearances. He isnt quite as valuable when Mike Conley is in the lineup, but Ingles should still be rostered in most leagues.

Joe Ingles needs to be rostered in more fantasy baseketball leagues. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Beyond the first four games of the season, Bogdanovic has been either injured or disappointing. On Thursday night, however, he went off for a season-high 23 points (9-14 FG, 5-9 3Pt) while chipping in six boards and three assists across 29 minutes. Picking up a talented player with a somewhat-proven track record often pays off, and the 28-year-old wing was a well-rounded offensive contributor over the previous two seasons.

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Brown burst onto the scene against the Bulls earlier this week, exploding for 20 points, 16 rebounds and five rejections in 30 minutes. If Al Horford, who was held out of that game, is traded prior to the March 25 deadline, Brown would likely stand to benefit the most given that hes the only young traditional big man on the roster. Isaiah Roby (9% rostered) and Kenrich Williams (3% rostered) would probably get a bump, as well, especially since Darius Bazley (shoulder) is without a clear timetable to return.

Martins highlight dunks, blocks, and overall energy level have been quite a sight for sore-eyed Rockets fans amidst an 18-game losing streak. Following a lengthy absence that has coincided with the losing streak, Christian Wood (ankle) recently rejoined the rotation. However, for one game at least, it didnt stifle Martin, who produced 13 points and nine rebounds in 30 minutes against the Warriors on Wednesday.

Howard has posted a double-double in consecutive contests, as well as in three of the last five games, hes still a sturdy rim protector (nine blocks in the last six matchups). Hell hurt your teams free-throw percentage a bit, but Howard is absolutely worth adding while Joel Embiid (knee) is out for at least the next couple of weeks.

Detroit is clearly committed to developing its young talent, and Bey has reached double figures in scoring during 15 of his last 17 appearances. Furthermore, Bey has now amassed at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in the same game three times following Wednesdays showing against the Raptors, in which the rookie turned in 28 points (8-14 FG, 6-10 3Pt, 6-6 FT), 12 rebounds, two assists and two steals across 39 minutes. If you can deal with some subpar shooting nights, Bey figures to be heavily involved for the remainder of the year. And while were discussing Pistons wings, Josh Jackson (28% rostered) is also worthy of consideration.

Burks has managed double-digit point totals in five straight games and pitched in 21 points, 10 rebounds, two dimes and one block in 33 minutes during Thursdays win over the Magic. With Derrick Rose (protocols), Elfrid Payton (hamstring) and Immanuel Quickley (ankle), among others, sidelined, Burks is a good short-term option. He also has some long-term upside if the Knicks dont make any major moves prior to the trade deadline, given New Yorks place in the standings and coach Tom Thibodeaus tendency to rely on veterans.

Poole splashed a career-high six treys in Wednesdays win over the Rockets. Golden State is starved for scoring when Stephen Curry (tailbone) sits, and hes listed as doubtful for Fridays game against the Grizzlies. Across the last five matchups, Poole has averaged 19.0 points (54.0% FG, 45.9% 3PT, 83.3% FT), 3.4 threes, 2.2 assists, 1.8 rebounds, 0.6 steals and 0.2 blocks in 22.6 minutes. Whether you subscribe to the hot hand theory or not, at the very least Poole makes for an intriguing short-term add.

Satoransky recently replaced Coby White in Chicagos starting five, since which the Bulls have won back-to-back games. Satoransky combined to log 65 minutes across these last two starts, and he has handed out exactly seven dimes in three consecutive contests. Another solid night or two and Satoranskys rostered percentage is likely to shoot up significantly. Assists can be especially hard to come by on the waiver wire, and Satoranskys well-rounded stat profile should afford him decent value in most leagues if he keeps earning such substantial playing time.

Green continues to earn plenty of run as a small-ball big, as hes a much more versatile defender than DeAndre Jordan at this stage of their careers. Green has earned at least 30 minutes in three straight showings, and while he remains inconsistent overall, hes not a bad option for those in deeper formats while Kevin Durant (hamstring) remains out.

Phoenixs starting five has been in a bit of a funk lately, but Sarics play off the bench has helped weather the storm. Since the calendar turned to March, Saric has been a steady source of scoring (12.8 PPG) and rebounding (5.3 RPG) and could be a decent add in deeper leagues.

Stewart has connected on at least 60 percent of his field-goal attempts in nine of the last 10 games, the lone exception being a four-of-seven (57.1% FG) showing against the Nets last weekend. Across the last nine games, Stewart has averaged 8.1 points (62.5% FG, 75.0% 3PT, 50.0% FT), 7.3 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, 1.1 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.3 threes across 22.0 minutes. His offensive efficiency and per-minute production have been very impressive of late, and if the rookies role becomes more demanding as the year continues, hell have a good chance to prove useful in more than just deep leagues.

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Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Breaking up adds into three tiers - Yahoo Sports

HOUSTON An attorney for 12 women claiming to be victims of sexual assault at the hands of Deshaun Watson said in a Friday news conference that his office has been informally contacted by the Houston Police Department and will be turning over information regarding the alleged incidents.

That claim came from Tony Buzbee a Houston attorney representing at least 12 different women filing civil lawsuits against Watson on the same day when Watsons NFL agent, David Mulugheta, stated that victims of sexual assault and victims of fabricated stories should both be heard and have justice. Mulughetas tweet appeared aimed at Buzbee, who has been seeking alleged sexual assault victims while filing seven civil suits against Watson this week. Buzbee said another five suits will be filed in the coming days against Watson, while Mulugheta appeared to suggest an element of fabrication was amidst.

Sexual assault is real, Mulugheta tweeted. Victims should be heard, offenders prosecuted. Individuals fabricate stories in pursuit of financial gain often. Their victims should be heard, and those offenders also prosecuted. I simply hope we keep this same energy with the truth.

Thats the strongest statement made by Watsons camp since the first of Buzbees seven suits were filed late Tuesday night, when Watson himself declared the move an attempt to extract a settlement and vowed to clear his name. Watson also retained high-profile Texas trial attorney Rusty Hardin.

Im extremely proud to represent Deshaun Watson and wholly stand behind him against what we believe are meritless allegations," Hardin said in a statement. "However, we will wait to comment in detail until weve completed our review of the numerous, evolving allegations from Mr. Buzbee. We will respond next week and ask you to keep an open mind until we do so.

Through the first seven civil filings, the alleged incidents one of which Buzbee says happened this month described by the women varied in details but all shared an underlying theme of alleging that Watson reached out to book personal massage services and then sexualized the sessions in a way that included some degree of assault. One woman alleges Watson forced her to perform oral sex, while others describe being touched by his genitals. One states that Watsons alleged behavior escalated to an attempted forcible kiss of a woman. Six of the first seven suits describe the encounters as one-time events, while a seventh describes being assaulted on two different occasions.

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The suits all seek trial by jury and a period of discovery, as well as unspecified damages tied to the alleged mental and physical strain on the women stemming from the incidents.

While the identities of the alleged 12 victims have been withheld, Buzbee described the women as a diverse group of African American, Latina and white women, including some who are married or engaged. The attorney also noted that several are single mothers with small masseuse businesses. Buzbee said the dozen women did not know each other and also added that a total of 22 women have come forward to speak with his office about Watson but that as of Friday, the law firm was able to vet 12 and file suits. Buzbee said the firm was continuing a dialogue with the remaining 10, with decisions about potential filings involving those women to follow.

Buzbee said Friday that he had been contacted by NFL investigators but not the Texans. He also said that he does not believe any of the women attempted to file charges against Watson in relation to the incidents, but that he was contacted by a member of the Houston Police Department in an informal manner and planned to turn over information related to the cases.

Sources from the Houston Police Department and Harris County District Attorneys office each said that there are currently no open investigations or pending charges against Watson, although a source from the HPD said that an investigation could be opened depending on the willingness of Buzbees clients to speak with authorities about pursuing charges.

Asked about the alleged victims having previously sought out police involvement, Buzbee responded, Not that I know of. Thats going to be our next step.

Ive only been reached out to informally by an individual with the Houston Police Department that Im familiar with, Buzbee said. I wouldnt say a friend, but certainly somebody I know. Our intention is to put together a package and send it to the police department. Were going to get all the [civil] lawsuits on file first, put together a package, submit it to the police department. Were not sure not every victim may want to come forward.

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As Deshaun Watsons agent sounds off, an attorney for 12 alleged victims says info will be turned over to police - Yahoo Sports

Bitcoin (BTC) appears set to challenge record highs in the wake of this weeks dovish Federal Reserve meeting.

One expert, however, is calling caution, based on his observation of price charts as bitcoin rose from lows near $43,000 seen earlier this month. The chart pattern has taken the shape of whats known as a rising wedge, a sign of uptrend fatigue.

My concern is growing that we might run into a rising wedge scenario, Patrick Heusser, head of trading at Swiss-based Crypto Finance AG, told CoinDesk in a Telegram chat. The wedges support line is pretty strong, with more than four touchpoints, and that does give me some confidence, though, if we break lower through the trendline, which is when things could get ugly.

Related: First Advisor, Scaramucci-Led SkyBridge Team Up to File for Bitcoin ETF

The rising wedge comprises converging trendlines connecting higher lows and higher highs. The converging nature of the trendline indicates the waning of upside momentum. Hence, a breakdown a move below the lower end of the rising wedge is considered a sign of bullish-to-bearish trend change.

According to Heusser, a move below $54,000 would confirm the rising wedge breakdown and open the doors for a drop to $47,000. The immediate bias will remain bullish while the wedge support is held intact.

At press time, bitcoin is changing hands near $58,900, having put in lows under $56,500 early Friday, according to CoinDesk 20 data.

The cryptocurrency jumped from $55,000 to $60,000 earlier this week after the Fed signaled no interest rate hike until at least 2024, pushing back against growing fears of an early unwinding monetary stimulus.

Related: Coinbase Settles With CFTC for $6.5M Over Old Trading Practices

Also read: Nexo: $100K BTC Is Inevitable but Wont Be a Smooth Ride

Some analysts say the Feds dovish tone has put the cryptocurrency on the path to new record highs above $62,000. Patrick voiced similar opinion, while pointing to the rising wedge.

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In terms of the bigger picture, I see no change. We are still in a bullish scenario, but the consolidation phase will take a little longer and that is not a bad thing, Heusser said.

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Bitcoin Price Chart Shows Bull Fatigue as Analyst Sees Rising Wedge - Yahoo Finance

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is not being impeached yet.

Instead, with mounting sexual misconduct accusations and an alleged cover-up of nursing home deaths, Cuomo is facing an investigation from his fellow Democrats in the state Assemblys Judiciary Committee that could, conceivably, result in his removal from office. However, multiple members of the Albany Legislature are concerned the investigation is merely buying time for the governor, whose term ends next year.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday at a new COVID-19 vaccination site at the State University of New York in Old Westbury. (Mark Lennihan/AP Photo)

Yahoo News has spoken to multiple sources and obtained audio of the March 11 video conference meeting at which Democratic Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie revealed to colleagues that he had decided to launch a probe into Cuomos conduct rather than begin a formal impeachment. Heastie publicly announced the investigation following that call.

The contentious conversation between Heastie and his Democratic colleagues, which has not previously been reported in detail, revealed how New York Democrats are consumed by Cuomos conduct and are deeply divided on how to move forward. It also showed how the legislators are grappling with fears of Twitter leaks as well as concerns that more women might come forward with allegations against the governor.

During the March 11 meeting, Heastie who has represented District 83, which includes part of the Bronx, in the Assembly for over two decades repeatedly described his decision to start an investigation rather than introduce articles of impeachment as due process. At one point, he said the Assemblys Democratic conference was divided between those who want to leave it to state Attorney General Tish James to investigate Cuomos conduct, those who hope the governor will step down and those who want to see him impeached.

I try to come up with something thats best for the body. Everybody might not love it, everybody may not like it, but I try to get us to a comfortable place that protects the integrity of this house, Heastie said on the audio of the meeting obtained by Yahoo News.

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Heastie did not respond to a request for comment for this story. Multiple Assembly members told Yahoo News that he informed the conference they would not have further video meetings going forward.

An Albany source who is in regular contact with Heastie described the speaker as caught between a rock and a hard place. They argued he is trying to buy time, hoping for the pressure and scandal to die down, with the knowledge that the Judiciary Committee has not conducted any aggressive investigations in recent years.

He knows that the Judiciary Committee has no teeth, the source, who requested anonymity to discuss confidential conversations, said of Heastie.

After Heastie made his initial remarks during the March 11 meeting, other Assembly members were invited to speak for three minutes each. Some criticized Heasties decision as not moving quickly enough to oust the governor.

The idea of a committee feels like were just kicking a can, to be quite honest, Assemblywoman Jessica Gonzlez-Rojas said. I dont think the Judiciary Committee goes far enough, and I do worry were just buying time.

Assemblyman Ron Kim, an outspoken critic of the governor, described the move as an attempt to cover for Cuomo.

We have a moral duty, a constitutional duty, to remove him from office if he does not resign, Kim said. We can punt it, but everyone now is watching every single thing we do. We can make excuses, we can do a number of different things, but we know whats going on. We know what the truth is.

The majority of those who spoke on the call, however, expressed support for the speaker. None of the Democratic legislators who discussed the investigation indicated a desire to see Cuomo stay in office.

Heasties decision means the drama surrounding Cuomo wont likely end anytime soon. Faced with repeated questions about how long the investigation might take, Heastie said that was unclear.

I have no idea what the time frame is, he said. People have to be interviewed under oath. An outside firm is going to have to be hired that deals with this type of stuff.

He said that some interviews conducted by the committee would not be made public, while allowing for the possibility that some people could be called in front of the committee as part of a hearing. He also said the investigation wont necessarily result in articles of impeachment against Cuomo.

I cant predict the outcome because I dont know what this Judiciary Committee is going to find, Heastie said.

According to Heastie, the committees investigation of Cuomo will focus on three different things: the seven women who have accused the governor of assault, the nursing home deaths and the mounting questions about a massive bridge construction project.

New York state Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. (Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Hes got three major buckets of shit going on here, Assemblyman John McDonald, who expressed support for Heasties plan, said of the governor.

Cuomos office did not respond to requests from Yahoo News for comment.

At multiple points in the nearly four-hour conversation, as he advocated for due process with his Democratic colleagues, Heastie pointed out that people get accused of things, and as elected officials, they could face scandalous allegations of their own.

These days any one of us in this place could be accused, he said.

Albany has seen recurring corruption and misconduct scandals in recent years, and other legislators echoed Heasties description.

What is happening with Cuomo can happen to all of us, said Assemblyman Jos Rivera. It could happen to any one of us, so your strategy is the best one.

As with presidential impeachments, if articles are approved by the New York Assembly, then it is left to the state Senate to hold a trial.

I dont agree with the characterization of impeachment as the absence of due process. I do think that impeachment is a process, Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani said, adding, If we vote for impeachment, then it triggers the court of impeachments having the ability to collect facts and get sworn testimony, and then the Senate goes through that trial.

Heastie countered the calls for impeachment by saying that some of the allegations were based on a newspaper article or other peoples assertions. He said the Assembly should get sworn testimony before moving forward with articles of impeachment.

We need to get witness testimony. We need to hear from people who have this information. You put them under oath, Heastie explained, adding, They may have made false statements. I dont know.

Gustavo Rivera, a Democratic state senator and staunch Cuomo critic, described the due process argument as silly in a conversation with Yahoo News on Monday evening.

State Sen. Gustavo Rivera, center, during a news conference at New York City police headquarters in 2015. (Mary Altaffer/AP Photo)

First of all, anybody who says that is trying to change the subject, because due process is in reference to potential criminal liability, which is something that we do not have the authority to determine, Rivera said of the Legislature. The attorney general or ... the state police, or the Albany police or something, would be the ones to determine that. That due process will continue. This is a political process that has to do with whether he is trustworthy enough to be able to govern.

Multiple advocates for impeachment pointed out that the attorney general released a detailed report in January on the deaths in nursing homes in New York state. That report concluded that state officials undercounted the number of coronavirus patients who died in nursing homes after the governor directed residences for senior citizens to accept patients who were being treated for COVID-19. The FBI and federal prosecutors are also reportedly investigating the nursing home deaths.

My concern is that I think we need to be moving with a little more haste, Assemblyman Khaleel Anderson said. People are saying due process, but the attorney general has already conducted a thorough report into the nursing home thing. The report is 76 pages long. I think that thats enough right there for impeachment, but I think that with this Judiciary piece were essentially buying time.

The attorney general is conducting a separate, ongoing investigation into the sexual harassment allegations, and Albany police are also investigating an allegation that Cuomo groped a staffer.

Some of the advocates for impeachment suggested during the March 11 meeting that the governor has admitted to some aspects of the allegations.

What upsets me is that we are seen to be, but in fact also are, standing by while he has admitted to some of this behavior, Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal said. No, it wasnt under oath, but he has asked forgiveness because he didnt intend it, blah, blah, blah.

Earlier this month, Cuomo said he was embarrassed by the harassment allegations. While he denied ever having touched anyone inappropriately, he suggested kissing people is his usual and customary way to greet them at events and apologized if he had made anyone feel uncomfortable. A top aide to Cuomo has also conceded that some data on nursing homes was withheld.

Many of the legislators also raised questions about Cuomos future conduct. Some argued he might attempt to hamper the investigation or disrupt ongoing budget negotiations that are vital for pandemic relief. And some suggested the governor could harm his staff while he remains in office. In addition to staff members who have accused him of harassment, multiple former aides have come forward in recent weeks describing his office as a toxic work environment.

Im worried about the staff ... and Im also very concerned about the integrity of negotiations that you will have to conduct with a wounded animal, Rosenthal said. Wounded animals go out and strike at you because theyre in pain, and thats what they do.

Assemblywoman Yuh-Line Niou similarly expressed concerns for the well-being of the governors team and the ongoing budget negotiations.

Impeachment is due process, by the way, Niou said. If this is a step towards impeachment, that is an interesting concept, but I also think that we shouldnt be buying him time. Every day he is in office, he is also a danger to his staff. Hes a danger to New Yorkers, and we cant deal or negotiate with him in good faith.

Assemblywoman Chantel Jackson said that formally beginning impeachment would force the governor to relinquish his powers for the duration of that process. She pointed out that the conference meeting was originally supposed to be about the budget and said it was so frustrating that discussion was postponed to talk about impeachment.

New York Assemblywoman Yuh-Line Niou in 2019. (Hans Pennink/AP Photo)

We just need to move to impeach because we need him to step aside. I need him to step aside, Jackson said. He needs to do it as soon as possible.

Some of the concerns expressed by lawmakers on the call stemmed from Cuomos reputation for political bullying and retaliation, they said.

Assemblyman Fred Thiele, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, went so far as to quip that the head of the Judiciary Committee, Charles Lavine, should watch his back during the probe.

Chuck Lavine is well qualified to do this, and that's the right place for this, Thiele said. I will not be starting his car in the morning, but I think he's the right guy for the job.

Mamdani, who had called for impeachment, said it is clear that Cuomo would act only in his own interests.

What do we know of his behavior in the past that would really make us think that he has a morsel of good faith, that hes concerned about anyone beyond himself? Mamdani asked.

And multiple legislators expressed concerns that the governor and his team might try to exert influence over the investigation. Jackson noted that members of Cuomos office were making calls to members of the Legislature, attempting to gauge where they were on impeachment. As she was speaking, Rosenthal pointed out that Jay Jacobs, the chair of the New York state Democratic Party and a staunch Cuomo ally, issued a statement during the conference meeting saying he agreed with Heasties approach.

You are already being co-opted, because Jay Jacobs just sent around a statement, Rosenthal said to Heastie. Was Jay Jacobs sitting in here? Why would he do this? ... They are gaming us.

Heastie was asked how Jacobs who wasn't included in the conference call, which was limited to lawmakers was aware of the decision to launch an investigation.

I dont know, Heastie said.

And Cuomo wasnt the only outside actor the lawmakers were worried about. During the call, multiple Assembly members expressed anger about leaks to the press. At one point, Heastie stopped and read aloud a tweet NY1 reporter Zack Fink had posted that quoted an anonymous legislator accusing Heastie of buying more time for Cuomo.

I want to say this, and I hope everybody is on this because I want yall to hear me and hear me good, Heastie said before reading the tweet, then added, I just want to say whoever felt like you wanted to say that, why dont you have the courage to say that to my face or say it in this room? I think whoever did that is a coward for going outside of this conference and doing something like that, and I just want to say it on the record. This shit needs to stop.

One Assembly member, who requested anonymity due to the anger over leaks, said multiple legislators had reached out to the press to frame the investigation as an impeachment inquiry because they were concerned Heastie would not use the term. Assemblyman Charles Barron, who pushed for immediate impeachment on the call, told Yahoo News on Tuesday that he believed some of the lawmakers on the call moved the leadership to talk about an impeachment investigation as opposed to just an investigation.

I think that weve got to realize that impeachment is simply a charge, Barron said. This man should have been impeached.

When pressed near the end of the call about whether he would phrase the investigation as part of an impeachment, Heastie said he would because he felt that would give the step necessary teeth.

I think in order for it to give a sense of validity and seriousness, I think the word 'impeachment' has to appear in there in the statement, he said.

The announcement Heastie issued after the meeting ultimately referred to the judiciary probe as an impeachment investigation.

Demonstrators in New York City on March 2. (Scott Heins/Getty Images)

Some of the supporters of Heasties position who called for due process noted that Democrats in New York and nationally have pushed for criminal justice reform. Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte invoked the Central Park Five, a group of young Black and Latino men who were wrongfully convicted for assaulting a white woman in the late 1980s, as she argued that Cuomo deserves a lengthy investigation. Assemblyman Al Taylor echoed her point near the end of the call and took things a few steps further as he blasted leaks and expressed support for Heastie.

I want to thank my friends and colleagues that leak to the press. Thats that sucker move, just straight up. You cant say it to anybodys face, but youre going to dish it out the back door. I want to thank those people that have texted and Twittered me talking about Ive been silent. I believe in due process, Taylor said.

Speaker, I stand with you 1,000 percent. ... Without due process they killed Emmett Till. They were allegations and they hung him. The exonerated five spent 15 years in jail without the proper due process, Taylor added. I represent Harlem and Washington Heights. If you got a problem with me and you want to bring your folks, come on up here.

Amid all the various disagreements, as the Democrats debated Cuomos impeachment there was one clear point of consensus. Many of the lawmakers were certain that absent major pressure Cuomo isnt leaving office anytime soon. Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz, a former staffer of his, suggested shed heard this message from the governor himself.

I can tell you, Ive had conversations with him, Ive had conversations with the teams, Cruz said of Cuomo. Hes not going anywhere. He doesnt want to come off that pedestal.

Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty Images, Roy Rochlin/Getty Images, Getty Images (2)

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Inside the New York Democrats' messy fight over whether to impeach Andrew Cuomo - Yahoo News

Smart stock investing shouldnt be emotional, but investors are only human, after all, making it difficult to follow a rational trading strategy.

Investors should remember the advice of Warren Buffett: We simply attempt to be fearful when others are greedy and to be greedy only when others are fearful. What Buffett is advocating is the oldest of market advice: buy low and sell high.

Taking this into consideration, we set out on our own search for compelling investment opportunities trading at a discount. Using TipRanks database, we were able to find 3 stocks that are down from their recent peaks, while some Wall Street analysts are recommending to buy the dip. Let's take a closer look.

Teladoc Health (TDOC)

We'll start with Teladoc, a remote medical care service, which makes use of online networking to connect patients with doctors for non-emergency matters, including ear-nose-throat issues, lab referrals, basic medical advice and diagnoses, and prescription refills for non-addictive medications. In the companys words, its remote house calls by primary care doctors, using digital technology to offer an old-fashioned service.

Teladocs service is in high demand, and the corona year saw the company thrive its business model was a perfect fit for COVID-19 pandemic conditions. Full-year revenues in 2020 grew 98% year-over-year, to 1.09 billion, and total patient visits increased by 156%, to 10.6 million. In addition, the company in October completed its merger with competitor Livongo, in a deal worth $18.5 billion. Teladoc shareholders now control 58% of the combined company.

While the move adds to Teladocs capabilities and potential patient base, it also meant the company incurred large costs during Q4. Teladoc had to pay up in cash for the merger, and as a result, the Q4 earnings results showed a heavy EPS loss of $3.07 per share.

In addition to the Q4 net loss, investors are also worried by the 2021 membership guidance. Specifically, the figure is likely to be between 52 million and 54 million, which implies growth of +3.4-7.4% year-over-year. This is way down from +40% in 2020 and +61% in 2019.

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The stock has slipped 37% since its recent peak in mid-February, but Canaccord's 5-star analyst Richard Close says to 'buy this dip.'

Bright spots such as multi-product sales, increasing utilization, new registration strength, and visit growth in noninfectious areas trump the membership metric when all is said and done. Opportunities have presented themselves in the past to jump into (or accumulate shares of) Teladoc -- we believe this is one of the opportunities, Close confidently noted.

Close backs these comments with a Buy rating and $330 price target that implies an upside of 78% in the coming 12 months. (To watch Closes track record, click here)

Overall, Teladoc has engendered plenty of Wall Street interest. There are 21 reviews on the stock, of which 13 are to Buy and 8 are to Hold, giving TDOC a Moderate Buy consensus rating. The stock is selling for $185.43, while its $255.05 average price target suggests a one-year upside of ~38%. (See TDOC stock analysis on TipRanks)

Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM)

From medical care we'll move on to the mining industry, because sometimes owning a gold mine is the next best thing to owning the gold. Agnico Eagle is a Canadian gold miner in the business for over 60 years. The company has active mining operations in Canada, Mexico, and Finland, and showed strong production in 2020. The companys Q4 report detailed over 501,000 ounces of gold produced, at a production cost of $771 per ounce against an all-in sustaining cost of $985 per ounce.

That quarterly performance was duplicated for the full year 2020. Total gold production came in at more than 1.73 million ounces, the top end of the previously published yearly guidance, and the production cost per ounce, $838, was well below the years all-in sustaining cost of $1,051 per ounce.

High production the fourth quarter number was a company record led to high income. Agnico reported Q4 net income of $205.2 million, which came out to 85 cents per share. For the full year, income came in at $511.6 million, or $2.12 per share. This figure included the 9-cent per share loss in Q1, and was still 6% higher than the 2019 figure.

Despite the strong 2020 full-year figures, AEM shares have slipped since the earnings release, falling some 21% of their value. While the company is profitable, and production is meeting expectations, earnings in Q4 were down 7.6% sequentially and 38% year-over-year.

Covering this stock for CIBC, analyst Anita Soni writes, In our view, the market reaction on the back of quarterly earnings was overdone and we would recommend investors add to positions on the dip We continue to favor Agnico for its track record of prudent capital allocation, largely organic growth strategy, exploration expertise (evident in the strong reserve replenishment and resource additions in a COVID impacted year), project pipeline, and strong management.

In light of these comments, Soni set a price target of $104 to go along with an Outperform (i.e. Buy) rating. Her target implies a one-year upside potential of 73% from current levels. (To watch Sonis track record, click here)

Overall, Agnico Eagle gets a Strong Buy analyst consensus rating, based on 12 recent reviews that include 9 Buys against 3 Holds. The shares are priced at $60.12 and their $85.62 average price target implies a 42% upside potential for the coming year. (See AEM stock analysis on TipRanks)

Redfin (RDFN)

Last but not least is Redfin, a Seattle-based, online real estate broker, with a business model based on modest fees (in the 1% to 3%) for sellers to list their homes and for closing the sale. The company aims to make the home tour, listing debut and escrow processes faster and easier.

Redfin reported a 4.7% year-over-year revenue gain in Q4, with the top line reaching $244 million. EPS, at 11 cents, was far above the 8-cent net loss recorded in the year-ago quarter. Both numbers beat the Wall Street estimates by substantial margins. For the full year 2020, the net loss came in at $18.5 million, or less than one-fourth of the 2019 figure.

Since the earnings were released, RDFN shares are down 25%. Investors are somewhat spooked by the companys Q1 guidance, for a quarterly loss in the $36 million to $39 million range. This is higher than 2020s total loss, and there is some worry that Redfin is slipping away from profitability. The company is facing growth headwinds from two factors, a lack of agents and a lack of properties to list. The first factor can be met by a hiring drive, but the second is out of the companys control and only partly compensated for by higher property values.

Ygal Arounian, 5-star analyst with Wedbush, wrote a note on Redfin titled, Buy the Dip, Theres a Lot to Like Here.

The strength in the housing market is continuing to drive material benefits to Redfin, where it is having trouble keeping up with demand. Customers seeking service from agents was +54 y/y, even after Redfin made changes to its site that discouraged customers from requesting tours when an agent was unlikely to be available," Arounian wrote.

The analyst added, "Redfin still doesn't have nearly the amount of agents it needs for the level of demand it is seeing and is hiring aggressively to get there. Agent recruiting increased by ~80% for lead agents in Dec/ Jan vs. Sep/Oct. Redfin is also seeing increasing repeat rates and referrals, which can support growth for longer.

To this end, Arounian put a $109 price target on the stock, indicating his confidence in a 57% one-year upside, and backing his Outperform (i.e. Buy) rating. (To watch Arounians track record, click here)

Redfins shares have 10 recent reviews on file, with a break down of 4 Buys and 6 Holds, for an analyst consensus rating of Moderate Buy. The average price target is $87.71, implying a 27% upside from the $69.22 trading price. (See RDFN stock analysis on TipRanks)

To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.

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Analysts Say Buy the Dip in These 3 Stocks - Yahoo Finance

Tech giant Google (GOOG, GOOGL) on Thursday announced it will spend $7 billion this year on an expansion of its U.S. facility footprint, adding at least 10,000 jobs across a host of cities, among them Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and New York.

The investment defies concerns over a potential tech pullback in 2021 as widespread vaccination allows Americans to spend more time outside their homes, and it positions Google as a major private sector contributor to the economic recovery from the COVID-19 downturn.

Plus, the move pours funds into diverse metropolitan areas beyond Silicon Valley, helping the company hire a more inclusive workforce; all while reaffirming its commitment to California, where Google will invest $1 billion, Google CEO Sundar Pichai wrote in a blog post on Thursday.

"We're investing aggressively in the U.S. in 2021," Ruth Porat, the Chief Financial Officer of Google's parent company Alphabet, told Yahoo Finance in a new interview. "We're both building on our existing major centers, as well as expanding across the US."

"We're not only increasing the number of jobs across the U.S., but in particular, we're bringing more jobs and investment to diverse communities across the U.S.," she adds.

The investment will allow Google to establish a workforce in New York in 2028 twice as large as it was 10 years prior, the company said. More broadly, the company will spread the funds across 19 states, including data center expansions in Nebraska, South Carolina, Virginia, Nevada, and Texas.

Image: Google

Even as she praised the announcement's potential benefits for Google's diversity, Porat acknowledged that the company still has a lot to improve in that area.

A diversity report released by Google last year found that Black employees make up just 3.7% of the overall workforce and 2.6% of leadership positions; meanwhile Latinx employees account for just 5.9% of the workforce and 3.7% of leadership slots.

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"There's quite a bit of work to be done," Porat says. "We're continuing to ensure that we're putting all the elements in place, so that we can steadily grow a workforce that reflects the world around us."

"It's a journey and one that is of the highest priority for us," she adds. "We're continuing to work at it."

Google enjoyed strong performance in the second half 2020 due in part to a rebound in ad revenue from search and YouTube with hundreds of millions of Americans stuck at home on digital devices. The company capped the year with staggering revenue in Q4, pulling in $56.9 billion, which marked a 23% increase over the same period last year.

But the company also faces three antitrust lawsuits, including one from the Department of Justice and another from 38 attorneys general.

Porat spoke to Yahoo Finance Editor-in-Chief Andy Serwer in an episode of Influencers with Andy Serwer, a weekly interview series with leaders in business, politics, and entertainment.

She joined Google as CFO in 2015, after more than a decade in senior banking roles at Morgan Stanley. While helping Google navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, Porat has drawn on her background in managing crises.

To start her career, she took a role at Morgan Stanley weeks before the October 1987 market crash; and she later advised the Treasury Department on the takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the New York Federal Reserve Bank on AIG during the 2008 financial crisis.

Speaking with Yahoo Finance, Porat said the surge of investment in the U.S. will not detract from Google's plans to expand operations abroad.

"We definitely are continuing to grow globally," she says. "I would underscore that we're just very proud of the ongoing growth that we have here in the U.S."

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After 14 years, Curt Schilling is saying goodbye to Boston.

The former Boston Red Sox pitcher, who has lived about 30 miles outside of Boston since 2007, told USA Today on Thursday that he and his family are leaving the city behind and moving to Tennessee just as soon as his wife Shonda has finished receiving treatment for breast cancer.

Shes battling, Schilling said of his wife. It kind of came out of nowhere. So shes finished her chemo, shes halfway through radiation. Were moving to Tennessee when her radiation is done.

Schilling, who was part of the 2004 Red Sox team that ended the city's 86-year World Series drought, didn't get very specific about why he's leaving, but he did give a vague reason.

Outside of our circle of friends, it hasnt been a real pleasant experience in Boston, Schilling told USA Today. So were just trying to find a place to live out our lives with happiness with people that are nice, and Tennessee is it.

Why hasn't it been "pleasant" in Boston for Schilling? His extreme right wing rhetoric might have something to do with it. He's been highly criticized for his anti-transgender comments (which got him fired from ESPN in 2016), his collection of Nazi memorabilia, and his posts on social media. On Twitter, he's posted Islamophobic tweets (in which he compared Muslims to Nazis), tweets in support of lynching journalists, and he publicly supported the Jan. 6 terroristic riots at the U.S. Capitol.

It certainly seems like Schilling is saying he's packing up his family because the passionate, hearty people of Boston and the surrounding areas weren't "nice" to him. As to whether Schilling has considered the part his words and actions have played in that, the answer is probably no, but we'll never know for sure.

Curt Schilling is done with Boston and is moving his family to Tennessee. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

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TipRanks

Sometimes, popular sentiment fuels a market boom, and nowhere is that more evident than in the legal marijuana industry. However, cannabis remains illegal in the US at the Federal level, rendering the various state-level legalization regimes a patchwork of disconnected policies. Still, there is hope that the current Congress may pursue a Federal legalization bill but before that happens, investors are watching to see which state or states will enact full legalization next. And high on that list is New York. BTIG analyst Camilo Lyon has been following the marijuana legalization movement in New York, and sees positive developments down the road. "Currently, we are modeling adult use sales in NY to begin in 4Q22, however, given the pace and focus cannabis reform is being given by the state legislature, we could see our timeline for legal adult use sales advance to 1Q22. We estimate this would increase our NY market revenue assumption to $749M from $187M, an increase of $562M. More importantly, we estimate 2023 sales would grow to $3.8B in recreational sales, that is $2.8B greater than what our current timeline would suggest," Lyon opined. To this end, Lyon has picked out two cannabis stocks that have already built a presence in New York State, and could surge over 60% in the year ahead. After running both tickers through TipRanks database, we found out that the rest of the Street is also on board, as each sports a Strong Buy consensus rating. Curaleaf (CURLF) Well start by going big, and looking at Curaleaf. This companys $10.9 billion market cap and $670 million annual revenues make it the worlds largest cannabis company. Curaleaf has a wide reach, with headquarters in Massachusetts and operations in 23 states. These operations include 23 cultivation facilities, 30 processing facilities, 101 dispensaries, and over 1,800 wholesale dispensary accounts. Even though the US cannabis market is fragmented, Curaleaf showed steadily rising revenues and year-over-year gains in each quarter of 2020. Starting with $104 million in Q1, the company reached $240.4 million in top-line revenues by Q4, a 201% year-over-year (yoy) gain. This was driven by a 242% yoy gain in quarterly retail revenue, which reached $164.9 million, and a whopping 578% yoy gain in wholesale revenue, which came in at $64.4 million. New York State makes up a small part of Curaleafs total business. Per the states current regulation, Curaleaf has the maximum of 1 cultivation/processing facility in New York, along with 4 dispensary licenses, all operating for the medical cannabis market. Still, this gives Curaleaf an established footprint from which to expand should the state legalize for recreational use. In his coverage of this stock, BTIGs Lyon writes, We believe CURAs diverse geographic footprint will be the key growth driver supporting annual sales growth of 87% for the next two years. Importantly, we estimate CURA turned free cash flow positive last year and will continue to generate sufficient FCF over the next two years to fund investments in its broad 23 state footprint. To this end, Lyon rates Curaleaf a Buy rating, and his price target, at C$35 (US$28) suggests an upside of 75% for the coming year. (To watch Lyons track record, click here) Wall Street seems to agree with Lyons bullish call on this stock, as shown by the unanimous Strong Buy consensus rating based on 9 Buy reviews. The stock is selling for US$15.99 and its US$22.26 average price target suggests it has room for 39% growth by years end. (See Curaleaf stock analysis on TipRanks) Green Thumb (GTBIF) Next up is Green Thumb, a Chicago-based medical and consumer marijuana company with a network of facilities across 12 US states. These facilities include 13 manufacturing operations and 97 retail locations. The companys retail products include edibles, vapes, and pre-rolled cannabis cigarettes, as well as CBD wellness items for the home health market. Like Curaleaf above, Green Thumb has a footprint in New York, within that states regulatory limits. The activities include three dispensary licenses, but no cultivation facility. The company, however, has already experienced transitioning a medical-use-only operation to a recreational model in the state of Illinois, and so has an organizational template should New York make a similar legal change. Green Thumb has released Q4 numbers on Wednesday, delivering better than expected topline growth. Specifically, revenue grew 13% QoQ to $177.2 million, beating consensus estimate of $166.7 million. EBITDA was also better than expected, growing 23% to $65.4 million, compared to the Street's estimates of $58.3 million. Camilo Lyon covers Green Thumb, and writes of the company and its New York prospects: Local news reported in January that [Green Thumb] may be planning to build a distribution facility in Warwick, NY (~50 miles north of Manhattan). According to reports, the distribution facility would include three buildings, two at 100,000 square feet and one at 200,000 square feet at the Warwick Technology Park. This news is particularly important as we believe NY could legalize adult-use as early as this year, and [Green Thumb] investing in new distribution capacity ahead of legalization should give it an edge to meet what should be overwhelming demand by recreational customers. To this end, the analyst puts a Buy rating on this stock, and his C$73 (US$58 price target suggests a 69% one-year upside potential. (To watch Lyons track record, click here) All in all, Green Thumb has 8 Buy reviews, adding up to unanimous Strong Buy consensus rating. The stock is selling for $34.49, and its $47 average price target implies a 36% 12-month upside from that level. (See Green Thumb stock analysis on TipRanks) To find good ideas for cannabis stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.

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Nearly 10% of the $380 billion in stimulus checks may be used to buy bitcoin and stocks: survey - Yahoo Finance

After three decades of coaching in college football, Urban Meyer has moved to the NFL ranks. He's not a fan of at least one aspect of his new job.

The Jacksonville Jaguars' new head coach gave reporters a review of his first foray into NFL free agency Friday. It's safe to say he disliked the process, specifically the legal tampering period when most deals are struck.

Here's Meyer, from ESPN:

"Yeah, that was awful. I don't agree with it, but no one asked my opinion. I guess in the old days you could bring them in and meet them, have dinner with them, you find out the football intellect, find out their character. The thing you don't [do], I found out, is call someone who has skin in the game because they're going to not quite I don't see honest as a very appropriate [word]. So we did a deep dive. Every guy that we signed, we did. ...

"To answer your question, that was awful, and I don't believe it should be that way. Not when you're making organizational decisions. I'm not sure how that rule came about, but to me that's not good business."

It's worth noting that this was another unusual year for NFL free agency, as teams are still unable to do the usual in-person meetings with interested players, making the change even more jarring for Meyer in his first year as an NFL head coach.

Meyer missing the world of college recruiting isn't a surprise. The former Ohio State and Florida coach was among the best recruiters in modern college football history, and losing that advantage in the more equitable free agency can't be a good feeling. There is also something to be said about the personal connection of recruiting, though it's a bit rich to hear a coach with Meyer's past complain about not being able to gauge character.

Meyer's Jaguars have been an active team in the five days since the NFL's legal tampering period opened. Among the team's notable deals are cornerback Shaquill Griffin (three years $44.5 million), safety Rayshawn Jenkins (three years, $35 million) and wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (two years, $14.5 million).

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One free agent signing Meyer should be familiar with is running back Carlos Hyde, who played under the coach at Ohio State and agreed with the Jaguars on a two-year, $6 million deal. ESPN also notes that five more of the Jaguars' 11 free agents have played under Meyer's assistant coaches.

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