Daily Archives: April 9, 2022

Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is airborne. That simple declaration from the White House is what some experts around the world have known since 2020 and it could have major implications for U.S. businesses and organizations.

Dr. Alondra Nelson, head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and deputy assistant to President Joe Biden, announced the highly-awaited words in a recent statement.

"The most common way COVID-19 is transmitted from one person to another is through tiny airborne particles of the virus hanging in indoor air for minutes or hours after an infected person has been there," she said.

That single sentence confirms what was first uncovered in a March 2020 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIH) officials. However, that information was not relayed to Americans until several months later.

It took even longer for both the CDC and WHO to acknowledge COVID's spread via aerosols, despite growing evidence.

"SARS-CoV-2 remained viable in aerosols throughout the duration of our experiment (3 hours)" and was more stable on non-porous surfaces, the study said.

The latter point was emphasized by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) a month later, without acknowledging the former. Eventually, the U.S. adopted the idea that transmission in the air was dominant, but through larger particles, or droplets, in the summer of 2020.

Why droplets were favored over aerosols has to do with the difference in the way aerosol experts and public health experts define the size of the particle. A tug-of-war between both sides made headlines in the first few months of the pandemic and have continued under the radar ever since.

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden listens to Dr. Alondra Nelson, his pick for OSTP Deputy Director for Science and Society (Reuters)

Deeming the coronavirus airborne places a burden on businesses, schools, and other indoor venues to ensure proper masking when COVID-19 levels are high in an area. In addition, it also presents the problem of revamping air systems or adding filtration and ventilation.

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Marina Jabsky, an industrial hygienist with the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health, explained how to think about it.

"If you've ever been in the same room as somebody who's smoking, regardless of how far apart form them you're standing, you're gonna smell the smoke, right? Because the air particles will expand to fill the space," Jabsky said.

And size matters. The larger the space with fewer people in it, the lower the concentration is going to be.

"If you do not have a solid, well-functioning ventilation system, you're going to have a buildup of concentration of particles, and that's where the risk really increases," Jabsky said.

That's the reason behind the push for better quality masks, which the U.S. government has provided to Americans via retail pharmacies and community health centers for free. It's also why the American Rescue Plan (ARP) included $122 billion for schools and $350 billion for state, local and Tribal governments to help provide better ventilation systems.

One industry in particular was forced to quickly figure out how to keep its employees safe. After facing a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) at the start of the pandemic, hospitals are now able to regularly supply PPE to their staff. However, the cost of that PPE has gone up significantly compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Hospitals also adapted by either putting in better filtration systems, adding ventilation, or increasing the number of isolation rooms as needed. The steps to ensure filtration and ventilation came after it was discovered the virus was airborne.

"If it were droplet, and only droplets, then some of the masking requirements and some of the ventilation requirements might not be necessary," said Nancy Foster, vice president of quality and patient safety policy at the American Hospital Association.

Foster told Yahoo Finance that for droplets, proper masking is still be necessary, but some of the bigger facility upgrades might not be.

A person wearing a mask walks out of a store past a "Wear a face mask" sign, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., February 9, 2022. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

There is lingering pressure from some experts to maintain droplets as part of the definition of how the virus is transmitted. And that can impact the difference in which protective gear is used by health professionals.

Dr. Abraar Karan, an infectious disease doctor at Stanford, explained why.

He said droplets may not be the primary route, but they aren't excluded in the range of particle sizes.

Scientists have noted "both droplets and aerosols, and particles of sizes in between the two" hold the potential for spread, Karan said.

"People can still have larger droplets that land in their mucosa or land in other exposed areas. So it doesn't make sense to completely remove the idea of droplets," he said.

In a February interview with Yahoo Finance, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky didn't call it airborne, but noted Sars-Cov-2 was like any other respiratory virus and that masking and ventilation are essential to curb transmission.

Kim Prather, an aerosol expert at UC San Diego, is another expert who has consistently asked for widespread acknowledgement of airborne transmission, pointing to another coronavirus, SARS, noting it was airborne as well.

"One of the biggest lessons learned (then) was you've got to follow the precautionary principle. If you think it has any chance of being airborne, that has to be out there....whether it's the dominant (pathway) or not," she said.

OSTP's Nelson agreed, citing the CDC's latest definition of the spread of the disease that included "small droplets and aerosol particles that contain the virus."

It's why in her statement, Nelson included ways to cost-effectively upgrade air systems for businesses.

"Were saying it more loudly now and with a unified voice across the federal government that the most important mitigation measures for restaurants and businesses are masking, distancing, and dilution or removal of COVID-19 virus particles in the air. These actions are more effective at reducing the spread of COVID-19 than sanitizing surfaces, which the CDC has said is not a substantial contributor to new infections," Nelson said.

But, according to Dr. Georgia Lagoudas, sanitizing is still a useful strategy.

"Over the past two years, we've had to deal with an evolving virus and learning new science," said Lagoudas, OSTP's Senior Advisor for Biotechnology and Bioeconomy.

In April 2020, (the same day former President Donald Trump infamously suggested digesting disinfectant to get rid of COVID-19), DHS acting under secretary Bill Bryan said the virus could survive on surfaces for up to 18 hours in low humidity, low temperature environments.

The idea of aerosolized virus staying suspended for up to three hours wasn't discussed. Officials were mostly focused on symptomatic or asymptomatic spread, in addition to figuring out how to detect and curb transmission, as well as identify what substances break down the viral particles.

However, identifying aerosols became especially important after it became clear asymptomatic spread was occurring at a higher rate than expected. It's why masking was recommended soon after Bryan's presentation.

"Those two things have made the difference for this over every other disease process that we've seen in our lifetimes," said Dr. Joe Vipond, an emergency room doctor in Calgary, about asymptomatic and airborne spread.

"But neither of these changes, by the WHO or the CDC, were done in an open fashion," Vipond added.

Linsey Marr, an aerosol expert and professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Virginia Tech, noted the reliance on droplets missed the mark of how easily and effectively COVID-19 transmits.

Nelson used "strong, powerful, clear words that we should have heard from the CDC two years ago," Marr said.

Saskia Popescu, an assistant professor in the biodefense program at George Mason University, recently told Yahoo Finance the topic remains important.

"We definitely need to talk about aerosol transmission," she said.

"We need to make it very clear to people you can get infected by breathing it," Popsecu added.

Dr. Leyla Asadi, an infectious disease doctor, expressed a similar sentiment.

I think that the word airborne is very straightforward. It gives you a really excellent mental model, you dont need a complicated chart," she said.

Jose-Luis Jimenez, an aerosol expert and chemistry professor at the University of Colorado, has been one of the leaders of the effort to ensure global understanding of the virus's route of transmission.

He and Marr penned a recent op-ed highlighting the problem now is too many people will remember what they were first told which was that the virus didn't spread far. This is why the combination of COVID-fatigue and politically-aligned resistance to mask use will remain an obstacle for ending the pandemic, they wrote.

However, the outlook isn't entirely grim. With the White House now behind the push, improving indoor air quality is a goal that can be worked toward beyond COVID.

It's "something we should be thinking about not just because of COVID, but because of general health," Popescu said.

There have long been studies showing those in urban or lower-income areas suffer from chronic health issues related to poor air quality. With upgraded air systems, that could improve overall health.

Its a chronic problem of not investing in infrastructure, not investing in ventilation, NYCOSH's Jabsky said.

Prather noted, "We clean our water, we will not drink unfiltered water, but we will breathe unfiltered air. I mean, how does that make sense? We need cleaner indoor air."

Jabsky hopes the pandemic acts as a catalyst for the cause.

At this point, if were having a global pandemic that is due to a disease that is airborne (and that is) not incentive enough to deal with our ventilation issues, I just dont know what is going to be the stimulant, she said.

Marr explained what's needed is an overhaul of regulations and standards.

"I think there's longer term changes, in terms of how we design and operate our buildings that we should be thinking about. And, ultimately, to put some teeth into this, there will need to be standards and regulations. And those will take years," she said.

Follow Anjalee on Twitter @AnjKhem

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US, WHO officials and experts agree (sort of) on how COVID-19 spreads - Yahoo Finance

(Reuters) -Spirit Airlines would start talks with JetBlue Airways Corp on its $3.6-billion offer, the budget carrier said late on Thursday as it could likely lead to a "superior proposal" to the one from Frontier Group Holdings.

JetBlue made an unsolicited offer of $33 per share in cash earlier this week, beating a near $25 per share cash-and-stock bid from Frontier made in February.

"We look forward to engaging with the Spirit Board to finalize our combination, to create a national low-fare challenger to the four large dominant U.S. carriers that will result in lower fares and better service for customers," JetBlue Chief Executive Robin Hayes said.

Frontier did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Spirit said the discussions with JetBlue would be in keeping with the terms of its merger agreement with Frontier.

Denver-based Frontier and JetBlue are in a tug of war for Florida-based Spirit to capture a larger share of the leisure market and better compete with legacy carriers.

The moves towards consolidation come at a time when the pandemic battered airlines industry is working through higher fuel and labor costs to keep up the demand from travelers.

Either deal is sure to invite a close scrutiny from U.S. antitrust authorities, who have taken an aggressive stance under the Biden administration toward deals that reduce competition and raise prices.

JetBlue is already facing an antitrust lawsuit over its partnership with American Airlines Group Inc. The suit filed in September alleges the deal would lead to higher fares in busy northeastern U.S. airports.

Shares of Spirit have lost 1.5% since JetBlue made its bid on April 5, while those of JetBlue have dropped 11.4%.

(Reporting by Nilanjana Basu and Abinaya Vijayaraghavan in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)

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Spirit Airlines to start talks with JetBlue on its $3.6-billion bid - Yahoo Finance

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Yahoo, the premier global media and technology company, today announced a partnership with Cross Screen Media, a tech firm specializing in optimized local TV and CTV ad planning and measurement, to enable more strategic planning, efficiency and measurement for advertisers ahead of 2022 midterm campaigns. Yahoo will also be Cross Screen Medias first programmatic partner to utilize the companys new measurement solution, ScreenImpact, which will enhance Yahoos market-leading end-to-end advanced TV product suite and make the Yahoo demand side platform (DSP) an even stronger platform for political advertisers.

2022 midterms will be focused on federal, statewide and local elections, with competitive races up and down the ballot. For political campaigns, understanding audience screen preference and cost efficiencies is a critical component to optimizing budgets and reducing excess targeting. Through the partnership, advertisers will gain localized political campaign insights from Cross Screen Media as well as cost and reach analysis of Yahoos DSPs inventory across CTV, digital and linear to more efficiently and effectively reach voters. The 2022 midterm elections are expected to be one of the first campaign cycles where CTV will take a more significant share; roughly $1.5 billion.1

The Cross Screen Media platform enables advertisers to plan, activate, and measure CTV, linear TV, and digital video down to the hyper-local level. Brands and agencies benefit from unified planning with high value inventory, and full visibility into how each campaign performed across all screens. Networks and inventory partners can quickly highlight the highest value inventory for their customers to effectively reach their custom audience.

ScreenImpact, Cross Screen Medias new measurement solution, displays frequency and deduplicated reach at the total level and is split out by screen type and network. Users can seamlessly toggle between digital metrics like CPMs and linear TV metrics like GRPs for every output, empowering marketers with all levels of experience to leverage these insights. The measurement solution builds upon Yahoos robust suite of planning and measurement tools by amplifying Yahoos ability to provide zip code-level insights, which are critical to political campaigns.

Through the partnership, both Yahoo and Cross Screen Media advertisers benefit from the companies robust data insights, which can be activated across CTV and all digital channels within Yahoos omnichannel DSP. Advertisers will be able to effectively expand the on-target reach and measurement of each campaign through access to Yahoos premium inventory.

The 2022 midterms will capitalize on the surge in CTV viewership, programmatic flexibility and targeting prowess, said Ivn Markman, Chief Business Officer of Yahoo. Together with Cross Screen Media, were helping clients uncover coveted audience insights and providing the necessary tools to effectively budget and forecast campaigns.

Yahoos unified advertising technology stack facilitates both buy and sell-side capabilities as well as an exchange -- all tightly integrated to work better together. As an end-to-end, full-stack technology partner, Yahoo can uniquely support publishers and advertisers in unlocking the full value of their content and marketing, while putting consumer experiences first. Yahoo is a trusted partner for political campaigns, bringing sustainable identity solutions and access to a full spectrum of CTV supply to support advertisers in reaching relevant voters with key messages.

Yahoo shares our commitment to constantly improve planning and measurement technology to maximize advertisers success, said Michael Beach, CEO of Cross Screen Media. Yahoo is on the forefront of innovation in CTV and digital video, and we are thrilled to partner with their team to drive value and results for advertisers ahead of 2022 elections.

About Yahoo

Yahoo is a global media and tech company that connects people to their passions. We reach nearly 900 million people around the world, bringing them closer to what they lovefrom finance and sports, to shopping, gaming and newswith the trusted products, content and tech that fuel their day. For partners, we provide a full-stack platform for businesses to amplify growth and drive more meaningful connections across advertising, search and media. To learn more, please visit yahooinc.com.

About Cross Screen Media

Cross Screen Media is a marketing analytics and software company empowering marketers to plan, activate, and measure Connected TV and audience-driven Linear TV advertising at the local level. Our closed-loop solutions help brands, agencies, and networks succeed in the Convergent TV space. For more information, visit CrossScreenMedia.com.

1AdImpact, 2021

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Yahoo and Cross Screen Media Partner to Enable Greater Political Campaign Insights, Efficient Measurement Ahead of 2022 Midterms - Business Wire

Each week during the 2021-22 NBA season, we will take a deeper dive into some of the leagues biggest storylines in an attempt to determine whether the trends are based more in fact or fiction moving forward.

[ Last time on Fact or Fiction: The Phoenix Suns are championship favorites ]

We are approaching the two-month mark since the Philadelphia 76ers traded Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two first-round picks to the Brooklyn Nets for James Harden. Simmons has not yet played for the Nets, and somehow we are left wondering if the Sixers would take a mulligan on the trade.

Harden is not the same top-three MVP candidate he was for four straight seasons from 2016-20, when his general manager informed us, "It's just factual that James Harden is a better scorer than Michael Jordan."

That same executive, Daryl Morey, left Houston for Philadelphia in 2020, spent his first two seasons with the 76ers trying to reunite with Harden and succeeded at this year's trade deadline. Morey either ignored Harden's production in the meantime or felt confident the 10-time All-Star was sandbagging the rest of us.

From 2016-20, 28.4 of Harden's league-leading 32.4 points per game (55.4 effective field-goal percentage) came inside of 8 feet, on pull-up 3-pointers or at the free-throw line. He was a one-man offense, spending possessions breaking down his defender off the dribble, looking for a step into a layup or out to a jumper.

Losing a step is a bigger deal when one in either direction was your signature.

Harden's points from inside of 8 feet, pull-up 3s and free throws are down to 19.5 per game (49.6 eFG%) this season. Of the 294 players who have attempted at least 200 shots inside of 8 feet, Harden's 48.8% success rate ranks 273rd, right between Devonte' Graham and Dennis Smith Jr. Among the 72 players who have attempted at least 100 pull-up 3s, Harden's 33.7% shooting ranks 39th. His free throws, which had risen to 11.8 per game in 2019-20 the most by a guard since Jordan's 11.9 in 1986-87, are down to 8.3.

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Where once Harden was a historic foul-drawing machine and an exceptional scoring guard at high volume from both beyond the arc and at the rim, he is now a mere mortal at getting to the free-throw line, a below-average shooter from distance and a poor finisher around the basket. That combination is a slippery slope.

One-time NBA MVP James Harden is limping into a pivotal postseason. (Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

Harden's first three games with the Sixers were encouraging, if you were one who held out hope his statistical decline was the result of his disinterest in playing for the Rockets and Nets. He averaged a 26.7 points (on 60/41/91 shooting splits), 7.3 rebounds and 12 assists in a trio of wins. Since then, his averages have dipped to 20-7-10 on 36/30/89 splits over his last 16 games. Philadelphia's only victory against a top-five seed in the Eastern Conference during that span came when Harden rested against the Miami Heat.

In two recent games against the Toronto Raptors, the Sixers' first-round opponent if the playoffs started today, Harden combined for 30 points on 8-for-24 shooting from the field (1 for 8 from 3-point range). Philadelphia lost both games when the gap between peak Harden and this version was all the difference.

First, it was a right hamstring strain at the end of last season that slowed him at the start of this regular season. Now, it is left hamstring tightness that has slowed at the end of it. Sixers coach Doc Rivers suggested in late March that Harden still needed three weeks to "be there at 100%." We will see if he can flip a switch in the playoffs, but history tells us he has had a hard time doing that even when healthy.

There is a chance that Harden is feeling the effects at age 32 of being so durable for the first 11 years of his career. He has twice led the league in minutes and did not miss more than 10 games in a season until last year. Harden's decline begs the question of why he is averaging 37.2 minutes per game third in the NBA behind Toronto's Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam when his performance is said to be injury-related. Harden's 32,579 career minutes fall in the range of when superstars of years past have called it careers.

Harden's former Rockets teammate Chris Paul suffered a similar hamstring injury in the 2018 playoffs, limped through the next season and amounted to a salary dump at the end of his tenure in Houston. He adopted a plant-based diet and has enjoyed a career resurgence ever since, rejoining the All-NBA elite.

Chances of Harden embracing a similar lifestyle change seem slim, given his response to adversity in Houston and Brooklyn. He is a regular on the NBA's traveling nightlife scene, and he has shown up to his past two training camps out of shape. The party has not stopped as he recovers from his latest injury.

It would be fascinating to know what the communication was like between Morey and Harden over the last two years. Did Morey blindly trust that Harden's late arrival to Houston last season and his two-week hiatus from Brooklyn were just blatant attempts to force breakups and not indicative of a broader issue? Or was Harden in his ear, dismissing the mounting injuries, reminding him of what was and what could be again?

Barring a drastic turnaround, the Sixers will not survive the Eastern Conference playoff gauntlet and maybe not even the first round, not with this edition of Harden and the absence of the depth they dealt to get him.

Whether or not Morey regrets trading for Harden already, the deal is done. He can not reset the clock on a less expensive CJ McCollum deal or wait on better offers for Simmons and significantly more assets in the offseason. Morey must now decide whether Harden is worth the massive contract he will seek this summer.

There are questions about how and why the paperwork to pick up Harden's $47.4 million was not filed on time. Answers vary, depending on who you ask. Harden has indicated he plans to stay in Philadelphia. There is some speculation that he could decline his option, allowing Morey to create cap room for a third star in a shallow free-agency market, and then re-sign for a lower annual salary. That would be a first for Harden and requires an awful lot of trust in a player who reportedly broke his word to re-sign in Brooklyn.

Fool me once and all that.

Harden is eligible for a four-year extension that would pay him more than $60 million at age 37 in 2026-27. Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix recently reported that some within the Sixers organization are "wary" of giving Harden that contract, which if you are not wary of that deal, you have not been paying attention. Tying the remainder of Joel Embiid's prime to an overindulged Harden could eventually cost them Embiid.

Only, the Sixers have invested significantly in Harden already. Simmons held value, however far it had fallen, as did Curry and both first-round picks, the second of which outlasts Embiid's recent extension. As soon as Harden signs his next contract, he becomes near-impossible to trade, based on the money alone. If his performance this season is any indication of what to expect, his contract would easily be the NBA's worst.

Pay Harden if you believe he can win a title, but there is mounting evidence that Harden cannot achieve in Philadelphia what eluded him in his Houston prime no matter how extraordinary Embiid has been.

If the end result of trading an All-NBA player, one of the league's best shooters, a quality backup center and two first-rounders is an albatross contract, you lost the trade, regardless of what becomes of Simmons. The entire of point of waiting to deal Simmons was to ensure the Sixers extracted maximum value, and Morey convinced himself Harden was the missing championship piece, only they are still a long shot in the East.

Executives always face an internal battle between analytics and relationships. We will find out how much Morey values both, and the future of the Sixers will hang in the balance of the decision between them.

Determination: Fact

Ben Rohrbach is a staff writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at rohrbach_ben@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @brohrbach

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NBA Fact or Fiction: The James Harden conundrum - Yahoo Sports

Talk of a looming recession is rampant around the globe, and now a major U.S. bank has issued its own dire forecast for the global economy.

Its been over a month since Russia invaded Ukraine, leading to an unforeseen and prolonged fallout for the global economy. Combined with an inflation problem that was already spiking the prices of virtually every commodity, global institutions have begun ringing the alarm bells that we are on the brink of a long-anticipated recession.

In an investment strategy report sent to clients on Thursday, Bank of America analysts warned that inflation always precedes recessions and that tighter monetary policies being put in place to control surging prices make a recession shock very likely.

Inflation has been the bane of the U.S. economy for months, and rates have hit new highs since the war began. The annual inflation rate jumped to 7.9% in February, the highest its been in four decades, and the latest forecasts suggest Marchs rate could reach 8.5%, according to investment bank UBS. Such a rate would be the highest since 1981.

The Federal Reserve has been laser-focused on the problem for months, and the central bank began hiking interest rates weeks ago in an effort to temper demand and counter runaway inflation.

Higher interest rates have led to an inversion of the so-called yield curve, which means that short-term yields have suddenly become much more attractive than the traditionally higher long-term ones. A surge in short-term yields is an indicator that investors believe the immediate future of the market is better than the long-term view.

BofA analysts say this inversion is a sign that a recession is nigh.

Yield curves always steepen as recessions begin, the report read.

BofA has joined a chorus of financial institutions warning about the likelihood of an immediate recession.

Market-watchers have cautioned that an economic slowdown is the reasonable outcome to assume, given current low unemployment numbers in the U.S. and rising inflation rates. And a growing list of billionaires, global investors, and Wall Street personalities have expressed more and more certainty that the trends we are seeing point to one clear conclusion: A recession is close.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com

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Recession shock: Bank of America is the latest major institution to deliver a grim warning for the future - Yahoo Finance

U.S. first-time unemployment claims fell much more than expected last week to reach the lowest level since 1968, with the rate of new layoffs and firings staying low compared to pre-pandemic averages.

The Labor Department released its latest weekly jobless claims report Thursday at 8:30 a.m. ET. Here were the main metrics from the print, compared to consensus estimates compiled by Bloomberg:

Initial jobless claims, week ended April 2: 166,000 vs. 200,000 expected and a revised 171,0000 during prior week

Continuing claims, week ended March 26: 1.523 millionvs. 1.302 million expected and a revised 1.506 million during prior week

The number of new claims filed last week marked the least in more than five decades and represented a third consecutive week that new claims were below 200,000. The prior week's new claims were also markedly downwardly revised to 171,000, from the 202,000 previously reported for the end of March. Prior to the pandemic, new claims were averaging around 218,000 per week throughout 2019.

Some of the volatility in the most recent weekly jobless claims data likely reflects a change in the way the Labor Department adjusted the figures to account for seasonal factors. Starting in Thursday's report, the Labor Department returned to using "multiplicative" seasonal adjustment factors for the data. Over the course of the pandemic, the Labor Department had been using "additive" seasonal adjustment factors, which help smooth out large shifts in the data as had been the case with the anomalous spikes in jobless claims that took place during the early wave of lockdowns in 2020.

"In times of relative economic stability, the multiplicative option is generally preferred over the additive option," the Labor Department said Thursday. "However, in the presence of a large level shift in a time series, multiplicative seasonal adjustment factors can result in systematic over- or under-adjustment of the series; in such cases, additive seasonal adjustment factors are preferred since they tend to track seasonal fluctuations more accurately in the series and have smaller revisions."

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Even with the revisions, however, the underlying trend in the data still reflects an incredibly tight labor market, according to many economists.

"The trend is flattening, at an extraordinarily low level," Ian Shepherdson, chief economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, wrote in an email Thursday morning.

"The new data show that the downward trend has been steadier since the fading of the Covid Delta wave, but it is now slowing. Claims cannot fall to zero; some firms struggle even at the peak of booms," he added. "Still, the clear message here is that the bar for layoffs is very high, given the extreme tightness of the labor market."

Continuing claims, which track the total number of individuals claiming unemployment benefits across regular state programs, also unexpectedly rose in the latest report following a marked upward revision to the prior week's data. These came in at 1.523 million, rising from the upwardly revised 1.506 million continuing claims from the prior week, which were upwardly revised from the 1.307 million previously reported.

The latest weekly jobless claims data comes on the heels of another solid monthly jobs report from the Labor Department, which showed a significant rise in hirings and a drop in the jobless rate to a near 50-year low. Non-farm payrolls grew by 431,000 in March, while the unemployment rate improved by a greater-than-expected margin to 3.6%. And as of last month, the U.S. labor market was just about 1.6 million payrolls short of its pre-pandemic levels.

"No wonder inflation is out of control, the labor market is at full employment where the costs go up astronomically for companies to bring new workers in to run the factories and work the cash registers across the country," Chris Rupkey, chief economist at FWDBONDS, wrote in a note earlier this week. "The cost of living crisis is aided and abetted by the worst labor shortage that America has ever faced. Waiting for more workers to join the labor force and 'participate' in order to bring down wages and inflation is a pipe dream."

The strong labor market has also emboldened the Federal Reserve to press ahead with more monetary policy tightening, including more aggressive interest rate hikes and balance sheet reduction process starting in the near-term. Earlier this week, Federal Reserve Governor Lael Brainard said it was "of paramount importance" to get inflation down, further reinforcing the central bank was committed to focusing monetary policy efforts on bringing down prices rather than optimizing for further employment growth in an already tight labor market.

"The labor market appears to be moving past the pandemic, rapidly closing in on a complete recovery," Rubeela Farooqi, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics, wrote in a note. "Even as the labor market is tight, suggesting optimism about economic conditions, a four-decade high in prices is tempering expectations."

"Even as consumer balance sheets are healthy and virus concerns are facing, there are downside risks that could weigh on household and economic activity more broadly going forward," she added.

Emily McCormick is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter: @emily_mcck

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Jobless claims: Another 166,000 Americans filed new claims last week - Yahoo Finance

Floyd Mayweather is ready to get back in the ring.

Mayweather will take part in an eight-round exhibition match against Dangerous Don Moore next month in Dubai, according to TMZ Sports.

The actual fight itself is going to be held on a helicopter landing pad at the Burj Al Arab hotel.

Mayweeather hasnt stepped into a ring since he took on YouTuber Logan Paul in an exhibition last June. That fight went the distance, and no winner was called.

Mayweathers last official bout came in 2017 against Conor McGregor. The 45-year-old knocked McGregor out in the 10th round of that bout in Las Vegas, which officially gave him a perfect 50-0 record. The bout was one of the highest grossing boxing events in history.

While it wont count, the fight on May 14 is sure to draw plenty of attention. Moore, 42, hasnt fought since 2013 when he beat Reymundo Hernandes, which brought his all-time record to 18-0-1. Its unclear how the fight will be judged, or if a winner will be declared.

Those two arent the only big names on the card. Former UFC champion Anderson Silva is set to get back in the ring to take on Bruno Machado. Former boxing champion Badou Jack is also reportedly on the card, though its unclear who he will fight.

Floyd Mayweather will fight in an exhibition bout in Dubai next month. (Jasen Vinlove/USA Today)

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Report: Floyd Mayweather to fight Don Moore in exhibition bout in Dubai - Yahoo Sports

Combination of Discovery and WarnerMedia Creates Warner Bros. Discovery, Global Leader in Entertainment and Streaming

Warner Bros. Discovery to Begin Trading on the Nasdaq as "WBD" on Monday, April 11

NEW YORK & DALLAS, April 08, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today Discovery, Inc. and AT&T Inc.* (NYSE:T) announced that they have closed their transaction to combine the WarnerMedia business with Discovery. The combination creates a premier standalone global media and entertainment company, Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc., which will begin trading on the Nasdaq with the start of trading on Monday, April 11, under the new ticker symbol "WBD."

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220408005578/en/

Warner Bros. Discovery will create and distribute the worlds most differentiated and complete portfolio of content, brands and franchises across television, film and streaming. The new company combines WarnerMedias premium entertainment, sports and news assets with Discoverys leading non-fiction and international entertainment and sports businesses, including Discovery Channel, discovery+, Warner Bros. Entertainment, CNN, CNN+, DC, Eurosport, HBO, HBO Max, HGTV, Food Network, Investigation Discovery, TLC, TNT, TBS, truTV, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, New Line Cinema, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies and others.

"Todays announcement marks an exciting milestone not just for Warner Bros. Discovery but for our shareholders, our distributors, our advertisers, our creative partners and, most importantly, consumers globally," said David Zaslav, Warner Bros. Discovery chief executive officer. "With our collective assets and diversified business model, Warner Bros. Discovery offers the most differentiated and complete portfolio of content across film, television and streaming. We are confident that we can bring more choice to consumers around the globe while fostering creativity and creating value for shareholders. I cant wait for both teams to come together to make Warner Bros. Discovery the best place for impactful storytelling."

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"We are at the dawn of a new age of connectivity, and today marks the beginning of a new era for AT&T," said John Stankey, AT&T chief executive officer. "With the close of this transaction, we expect to invest at record levels in our growth areas of 5G and fiber, where we have strong momentum, while we work to become Americas best broadband company. At the same time, well sharpen our focus on returns to shareholders. We expect to invest for growth, strengthen our balance sheet and reduce our debt, all while continuing to pay an attractive dividend that puts us among the top dividend paying stocks in America.

"In WarnerMedia, Discovery inherits a talented and innovative team and a dynamic growing and global company that is well positioned to lead the transformation thats taking place across media and entertainment, direct-to-consumer distribution and technology. The combination of the two companies will strengthen WarnerMedias established and leading position in media and streaming. And our shareholders will now have a significant stake in Warner Bros. Discovery and its future successes. We look forward to seeing what the WBD team accomplishes with these industry-leading assets."

Under terms of the agreement, which was structured as a Reverse Morris Trust transaction, at close AT&T received $40.4 billion in cash and WarnerMedias retention of certain debt. Additionally, shareholders of AT&T received 0.241917 shares of WBD for each share of AT&T common stock they held at close. As a result, AT&T shareholders received 1.7 billion shares of WBD, representing 71% of WBD shares on a fully diluted basis. Discoverys existing shareholders own the remainder of the new company. In addition to their new shares of WBD common stock, AT&T shareholders continue to hold the same number of shares of AT&T common stock they held immediately prior to close.

About DISCOVERY

Discovery, Inc. (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is a global leader in real life entertainment, serving a passionate audience of superfans around the world with content that inspires, informs and entertains. Discovery delivers over 8,000 hours of original programming each year and has category leadership across deeply loved content genres around the world. Available in 220 countries and territories and nearly 50 languages, Discovery is a platform innovator, reaching viewers on all screens, including TV Everywhere products such as the GO portfolio of apps; direct-to-consumer streaming services such as discovery+, Food Network Kitchen and MotorTrend OnDemand; digital-first and social content from Group Nine Media; a landmark natural history and factual content partnership with the BBC; and a strategic alliance with PGA TOUR to create the international home of golf. Discoverys portfolio of premium brands includes Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, and the multi-platform JV with Chip and Joanna Gaines, Magnolia Network, as well as OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network in the U.S., Discovery Kids in Latin America, and Eurosport, the leading provider of locally relevant, premium sports and Home of the Olympic Games across Europe. For more information, please visit corporate.discovery.com and follow @DiscoveryIncTV across social platforms.

About Warner Bros. Discovery

Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ: WBD) is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates and distributes the worlds most differentiated and complete portfolio of content and brands across television, film and streaming. Available in more than 220 countries and territories and 50 languages, Warner Bros. Discovery inspires, informs and entertains audiences worldwide through its iconic brands and products including: Discovery Channel, discovery+, CNN, CNN+, DC, Eurosport, HBO, HBO Max, HGTV, Food Network, Investigation Discovery, TLC, TNT, TBS, truTV, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies and others. For more information, please visit http://www.wbd.com.

*About AT&T

We help more than 100 million U.S. families, friends and neighbors connect in meaningful ways every day. From the first phone call 140+ years ago to our 5G wireless and multi-gig internet offerings today, we @ATT innovate to improve lives. For more information about AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T), please visit us at about.att.com. Investors can learn more at investors.att.com.

AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc. Additional information is available at about.att.com. 2022 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the Globe logo and other marks are trademarks and service marks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

2022 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T and the Globe logo are registered trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property.

Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this communication, including any financial estimates and statements as to the expected timing, completion and effects of the transaction between AT&T, Magallanes, Inc. ("Spinco"), and Discovery constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These estimates and statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially. Such estimates and statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the transaction, including future financial and operating results, the combined Spinco and Discovery companys plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, and other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the management of AT&T and Discovery and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties outside of our control. Among the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those described in the forward-looking statements are the following: risks that the anticipated tax treatment of the transaction is not obtained; risks related to litigation brought in connection with the transaction; the risk that the integration of Discovery and Spinco being more difficult, time consuming or costly than expected; risks related to financial community and rating agency perceptions of each of AT&T and Discovery and its business, operations, financial condition and the industry in which it operates; risks related to disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the merger; failure to realize the benefits expected from the merger; effects of the announcement, pendency or completion of the merger on the ability of AT&T, Spinco or Discovery to retain customers and retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with their suppliers, and on their operating results and businesses generally; and risks related to the potential impact of general economic, political and market factors on the companies or the transaction. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic may give rise to risks that are currently unknown or amplify the risks associated with the foregoing factors.

These risks, as well as other risks associated with the transaction, are more fully discussed in the proxy statement/prospectus included in the registration statement on Form S-4 filed by Discovery with the SEC in connection with the transaction, the registration statement on Form 10 filed by Spinco with the SEC in connection with the transaction and the information statement made available to AT&Ts shareholders in connection with the transaction. Discussions of additional risks and uncertainties are contained in AT&Ts and Discoverys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Neither AT&T nor Discovery is under any obligation, and each expressly disclaims any obligation, to update, alter, or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Persons reading this announcement are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date hereof.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220408005578/en/

Contacts

Fletcher CookAT&T Inc.Phone: (214) 912-8541Email: fletcher.cook@att.com

Brittany SiwaldAT&T Inc.Phone: (214) 202-6630Email: brittany.a.siwald@att.com

Warner Bros. DiscoveryNathaniel BrownNathaniel_Brown@discovery.com

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Discovery and AT&T Close WarnerMedia Transaction - Yahoo Finance

Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell offered a harrowing view of how much NFL teams will tolerate if a player is productive. Campbell said he coached a player with the Miami Dolphins who "came in every day just reeking of alcohol," according to Dave Birkett of the Michigan Free Press.

That was just fine, according to Campbell, because that player produced and loved football. Campbell may not have intended his story to read this way, but it paints a distressing picture.

Campbell described the player, who is not named, as "probably on a bender." But since that player didn't have any missed assignments, the team was fine with that. Campbell went so far as to say, "You'll find a way to make that guy work." He quickly tried to couch that statement, saying the Lions aren't necessarily looking for guys like that.

It should not come as a major surprise NFL teams are willing to tolerate certain off-the-field issues if a player puts up numbers on Sunday. Antonio Brown received multiple chances despite a rape allegation, an arrest and a history of burning bridges with multiple NFL teams. He wouldn't get those opportunities in another line of work, but NFL teams keep bringing him in because he can catch touchdowns.

Brown is far from the first player to stay in the league despite off-the-field troubles. Ben Roethlisberger will likely be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame despite being accused of sexual assault early in his career. Tyreek Hill signed one of the richest contracts ever by a wide receiver after being arrested for domestic abuse and child abuse. Deshaun Watson just inked a $230 million deal after facing 22 counts of sexual misconduct.

There is a difference between struggling with an alcohol issue and being accused of sexual assault, it should be noted. Neither issue seems to matter when it comes to the NFL if a player can produce. Campbell did not give any indication the Dolphins tried to help the player.

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None of this comes as a surprise, but it's still a depressing reminder of the nature of the league. Meaningful change will only come when those in power decide this attitude is no longer acceptable in the NFL.

Campbell's story illustrates the league has a long way to go before that happens.

Dan Campbell says a player on the Dolphins came to work reeking of alcohol. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

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Dan Campbell says player on Dolphins 'came in every day just reeking of alcohol' - Yahoo Sports

As we inch closer to the 2022 NFL Draft, lets take a spin around the state of the running back position to see which teams have the greatest need at the position.

One thing is pretty clear coming out of this exercise: There arent many potential smash landing spots for the incoming rookies.

They're not shocking here, considering their entire roster is mostly a mess but the Texans have the weakest running back room by a country mile. Marlon Mack and Rex Burkhead currently hold the top-two spots on the depth chart.

Thats not going to work.

If the Texans spend a high-equity pick one a running back theres a strong chance they could moonwalk into a ton of Year 1 volume. We'll just have to weigh that volume against a likely uninspiring offensive environment.

Arthur Smith unlocking the best of Cordarrelle Patterson was a beautiful albeit random development from last season. It was smart of both sides to extend their marriage after his contract ended in March. Still, the Falcons could stand to add someone to take base-down work from Patterson and free him up as a pass-catcher/slasher. Thats what we should be rooting for from a fantasy football efficiency perspective, at least. Mike Davis didnt cut it in that role.

If the Bills spend a Round 1 or 2 pick at running back that player will rocket up every fantasy ranking list. Its clear after Buffalo was this close to coaxing J.D. McKissic up north for decent money that it's hunting for a receiving type back to juice up its passing game.

Someone like Breece Hall would be quite fun. If the right guy doesnt fall to them, they can get by with another season of Devin Singletary, who ended the Bills' regular season and postseason run on a hot streak.

The Bills could be looking for someone like Breece Hall in the NFL draft. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)

The Seahawks rewarded Rashaad Pennys strong finish to 2021 with a one-year deal. Hes far from a reliable presence at this stage and Chris Carson is a massive medical question mark. Dont be shocked if a rookie joins the mix at the end of the month with a harrowing camp battle to follow.

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The Jets can probably afford to stand pat with Michael Carter, who climbed to the top of the depth chart at certain points of his rookie season. Hes a solid runner who has passing game chops. Carter averaged 4.4 yards per carry and handled 55 targets in 14 games. The Jets have so many other areas to worry about but it wouldnt be a total shock if they add another exciting young back simply because the depth behind Carter is not ideal. Tevin Coleman doesnt move the needle at this point and Ty Johnson isnt an imposing presence.

Urban Meyer curiously spent a Round 1 pick on a running back who, after spending most of his offseason being deployed at positions besides running back, suffered a season-ending injury before Week 1. Doug Pederson sounds excited to use Travis Ettiene but he certainly doesnt have the same vision for the player as Meyer.

Despite Meyers attempts to shelve him, James Robinson has been one of the all-time finds as an undrafted back. Unfortunately, he tore his Achilles at the close of last season. Jacksonville is a sneaky candidate to add a running back with a relatively consequential pick again.

The Cardinals opened up the wallet to reward James Conner for his big season after playing well under a one-year deal last season. We know Conner is an injury risk and with Chase Edmonds fleeing the nest for Miami, Arizona should be in the market for a complement. If someone is added on Day 2 or early Day 3, keep an eye on that player as a high-upside later-round fantasy draft pick as soon as this year.

The Ravens have J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards returning from 2021 preseason ACL tears. They could add depth but, when healthy, thats a nice tandem.

Chuba Hubbard didnt impress in his relief duty for Christian McCaffrey as a rookie. But the Panthers have a bevy of needs and a lack of resources. Cant see more than a pick in the final few rounds being spent at running back.

Austin Ekeler had his best season with 20 combined scores. Hes a perfect figurehead for this backfield and there are some guys who can rotate in behind him.

If Mike McDaniel brings the 49ers way with him to Miami, some Day 3 draft pick will be running ahead of free-agent adds Raheem Mostert and Chase Edmonds by Week 1.

On a serious note, that level of a draft pick is all we should expect them to add here.

Mark Ingram gave the team some punch behind Alvin Kamara in his return to the club last October. Kamara has some off-field troubles to deal with this offseason but New Orleans isnt a candidate to add a significant back.

The Eagles retained Boston Scott, who always fills in nicely for them when called upon. Starter Miles Sanders is still in place despite not scoring a touchdown in 2021.

Well see how much Deebo Samuel plays in the backfield this season. Not counting his role, Elijah Mitchell was one hell of a find for this team as a rookie. Theoretically, Trey Sermon still holds a roster spot for the 49ers.

The Titans certainly didnt enjoy riding the vagabond running back carousel during life without Derrick Henry last season. The running game is such a huge part of their identity. Youd think theyd want to add an above-average backup to the mix as Henry ages.

The Titans experienced life without Derrick Henry last season. Expect them to upgrade the depth behind him. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

There are some whispers Washington wasnt totally happy with Antonio Gibson last year amid fumbles and constant injuries. Still, he has immense promise as a starter so its tough to envision them adding more than light depth. J.D. McKissic has returned to reprise his role as an obvious passing down back.

Starter David Montgomery is a rock-solid three-down player and the Bears hit on Khalil Herbert as a rookie last year. Herbert rushed for 344 yards on 78 carries over a four-game injury absence for Montgomery. This is one of the few positions Chicago can feel good about, entering 2022.

Joe Mixon is one of the top-10 backs in the NFL right now and is coming off a strong season. His college backfield mate, Samaje Perine, has emerged as a solid pro-level compliment to Mixon. Even Chris Evans flashed a bit in the passing game last season.

The Browns have the NFLs most stacked backfield with Nick Chubb leading the way at RB1. If any team wanted to boost their own running back stable via trade, Cleveland would probably get the first call. DErnest Johnson showed he can play last year and could be a reasonable, cheap trade target or even step into Kareem Hunts role if the veteran is dealt instead. Odds are the Browns bring all three onto the Week 1 roster.

The Cowboys are still tied to Ezekiel Elliott and his albatross contract. He was good in fantasy last year before suffering a PCL injury and is still a solid player overall. Backup Tony Pollard remains an intriguing change-of-pace option.

Second-year runner Javonte Williams is going to be everyones favorite breakout pick this year provided Melvin Gordon doesnt re-sign. Even if he does, Williams is an explosive talent ready to take the next step. Reserve back Mike Boone is a passable No. 2 guy if Gordon isnt brought back.

We know DAndre Swift can ball we just need him to play for a full 17-game season this year. Swift caught 62 passes in 13 games last year and he could easily clear 80 in 2022. Jamaal Williams is the type of unsexy but solid back that coaches absolutely love. Some of the guys like Craig Reynolds, Godwin Igwebuike and Jermar Jefferson have flashed a bit too.

You can easily make the case that Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon are one of the top-three running back duos in the NFL right now. The real question is how the work will be distributed between the two of them this season.

Jonathan Taylor is a mega-star and Nyheim Hines is a fantastic and underrated role player in this offense. Enough said.

The Chiefs arent exactly great at running back but dont really have a need to add a player with a significant draft asset. Ronald Jones and Clyde Edwards-Helaire will spend 2022 forming one of the weirdest backfield tandems in recent memory. Both players have their strengths but have been NFL letdowns and dont really complement each other. The Chiefs can get by with this for now.

The Raiders have plenty of guys in their backfield. Josh Jacobs is at least a solid starter and Kenyan Drake is a useful guy too, even if the previous Raiders brass seemed to have no plan for him despite paying him big money. Keep an eye out for Brandon Bolden as a utility man after he made the move from New England to Vegas with Josh McDaniels.

We certainly didnt get the best version of Cam Akers in the Super Bowl run but it was a minor miracle he was even playing. He should be ready to roll as the RB1 in this backfield and backup Darrell Henderson is a starting-level running back himself.

Fantasy gamers know that Alexander Mattison is a locked-in RB1 any time starter Dalvin Cook a very good player misses time. The Vikings are set here.

The Patriots retained long-time favorite James White to work as the passing down back and have a pair of strong early down bangers in Rhamondre Stevenson and Damien Harris. This is a position of strength for New England.

The team seemed open to dealing Saquon Barkley this offseason had the right offer come along. That should tell you they think they can get better, and certainly cheaper, at running back. Some depth competition will at least be considered to go along with veteran Matt Breida, who followed Brian Daboll from Buffalo.

You could argue the Steelers could add some juice behind Najee Harris but the guy basically never leaves the field. He played more than 80 percent of the snaps in 12 games last year. Pittsburgh needs to add some bulk up front if they want their run game to be high-quality.

The grand return of Tom Brady got Leonard Fournette back into the fold after a dynamic season for the Bucs. The former fifth-overall pick has emerged as a target magnet out of the backfield and is a solid rusher. Keyshawn Vaughn looks ready to assume the minor change of pace gig Ronald Jones left behind.

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NFL Draft: Which teams need the most running back help and why? - Yahoo Sports