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UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting considered targeted attack, police say

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UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting considered targeted attack, police say – CBS News


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Warning, some images and information could be disturbing. UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed in New York City on Wednesday, in what police are calling a targetted attack. CBS News’ Meg Oliver and Anna Schecter have more on the suspect and the investigation.

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Why you should open a long-term CD before the December Fed meeting

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By opening a long-term CD before the December Fed meeting, savers can secure a high return on their money.

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December is often a time filled with holiday gatherings, shopping and cooking. This year, however, it also may be a smart time to reevaluate your finances. 

This may mean moving your money from some traditional, low-interest earning accounts to different, higher-earning ones. With inflation down significantly from its 2022 high point and two Federal Reserve interest rate cuts already issued in 2024, the returns on high-yield savings and certificates of deposit (CD) accounts have started to decline. And with the strong likelihood of an additional interest rate cut for when the Federal Reserve meets for the final time in 2024 on December 17 and 18, the window of opportunity could soon be closed. 

To take advantage while they still can, then, savers should strongly consider opening a long-term CD now, before that December Fed meeting. Below, we’ll explain why.

Not sure if a CD’s still worth it for you? See how much more you could be earning here.

Why you should open a long-term CD before the December Fed meeting

Here are three reasons why savers may find it beneficial to open a long-term CD (with a term longer than 12 months) in advance of the December 2024 Fed meeting:

Rates may start declining in advance

It’s important to remember that lenders don’t need to wait for a formal Fed action to start changing their offers to savers. They can — and often will — adjust their rate offers in anticipation of a formal rate hike or cut. And with the CME Group’s FedWatch tool pegging a 25 basis point cut at an 86% likelihood now, many will start lowering their rates now. 

Waiting, then, won’t make sense. With 18-month CD rates around 4.30% and 2-year CD rates at 4.25% right now, it can be advantageous to lock these returns in while they’re still available. If the Fed cuts rates when they meet later in December, you may regret not having acted earlier in the month.

Get started with a top long-term CD online today.

Opening a CD now can prevent holiday overspending

Are you concerned about going over budget this holiday season? With expectations that holiday spending will exceed that from 2023, it may make sense to add an incentive to limit your shopping tendencies. And a CD is a great way to do just that, thanks to its early withdrawal penalties for savers who access their funds prematurely. 

By depositing some of your money into one of these accounts now, you can more easily prevent holiday overspending than you would have by maintaining the same ease of access. Consider moving the funds now, then, before the Fed cuts what you otherwise could have earned. 

Rates will be fixed

Arguably the most important reason to open a long-term CD now, before December 18, is to take advantage of a high, fixed rate for a long time. You can lock in an elevated CD rate before any Fed rate cuts – and keep it for 18 months or 10 years or somewhere in between. This will ensure elevated returns for years to come, regardless of any volatility or additional interest rate cuts issued during that period. Because of that fixed rate, you’ll be able to predict exactly how much you’ll be able to earn with the account, unlike regular savings or high-yield savings accounts that have variable rates subject to bounce up and down based on the wide rate climate.

The bottom line

With rates set to decline even before the Federal Reserve gathers again this month, the strong temptation to overspend during the holidays and a high (fixed) interest rate, many savers can benefit from opening a long-term CD right now. Before doing so, however, be sure to calculate exactly how much you can afford to deposit to circumvent having to pay an early withdrawal penalty in 2025 (or sooner).

Learn more about your current CD account options here.



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Former FBI special agent on hunt for shooter of UnitedHealth CEO

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Former FBI special agent on hunt for shooter of UnitedHealth CEO – CBS News


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Former FBI special agent Doug Kouns joined CBS News 24/7 to discuss the latest revealed clues in the shooting of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson and how they may help in the search for the gunman.

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USDA announces federal order for national milk testing to monitor bird flu in dairy herds

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a new federal order requiring raw, unpasteurized milk samples nationwide to be tested, federal officials announced Friday. 

The move is part of the department’s announcement of its “National Milk Testing Strategy,” which builds on previous actions taken for the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI H5N1, in dairy cattle that was first detected in March, according to a news release from the department.

The bird flu virus has been spreading rapidly, particularly in California, where nearly 500 of the more than 700 infected U.S. herds have been detected.

Health officials raised the alarm last month after more than 50 human cases of a bird flu variant were confirmed across seven states this year. The virus has infected 57 people in the U.S. this year, including 31 in California, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Mild illnesses have been seen in dairy and poultry workers who had close contact with infected animals. In two cases, no known source of the illnesses have been identified, which has worried infectious disease experts about the possibility of human-to-human transmission, which could trigger a pandemic. 

While no cases of bird flu virus have been confirmed in people who drank raw milk, health officials have long warned against consuming unpasteurized milk because it can contain illness-causing bacteria. Pasteurized milk, which is heat-treated to kill the virus, remains safe to drink. 

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in the release the new milk testing strategy, which is set to begin the week of Dec. 16, will “give farmers and farmworkers better confidence in the safety of their animals and ability to protect themselves, and it will put us on a path to quickly controlling and stopping the virus’ spread nationwide.”

According to the release, the federal order includes three new requirements:

  1. It requires the sharing of raw milk samples, upon request, from any entity responsible for a dairy farm, bulk milk transporter, bulk milk transfer station or dairy processing facility that sends or holds milk intended for pasteurization
  2. Requires herd owners with positive cattle to provide epidemiological information that enables activities such as contact tracing and disease surveillance
  3. Requires that private laboratories and state veterinarians report positive results to USDA that come from tests done on raw milk samples drawn as part of the national testing program 

In a federal order issued in April, the USDA started requiring the dairy industry to test milk-producing cows for infections from HPAI H5N1 before they’re moved between states.



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