Latest news with #SandySprings
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Horror hooks movie-goers, injecting cinemas with fresh energy
STORY: Move over Superman, there's a new hero at the box office. Horror movies. Murderous toys, vampires and zombies are killing it in movie theaters, at a time when saviors, sequels and reboots have grown stale among audiences – entertainment industry veterans say. Jason Blum is a producer. 'What you can't do at home is sit in a dark room with a hundred other people, not on your phone, and jump. I think horror movies have really become an experience that can only be really felt outside the home in a movie theater.' This year, 17 percent of tickets bought in North America have been for scary movies. That figure was 11 percent in 2024, and 4 percent a decade ago, Comscore data compiled exclusively for Reuters shows. Cinema owners have plenty of reasons to celebrate with box office performances like 'Sinners' and 'Final Destination: Bloodlines'. And there are new instalments of popular horror franchises coming soon like 'The Conjuring: Last Rites.' 'One of the knocks on Hollywood and movies that we rely upon is that they just lack creativity. People are just trying the same old formulas that maybe worked five years ago but not necessarily working now. And I feel like today it's these horror directors that are really some of the most creative minds out there and they're taking chances that others aren't.' Brandt Gully owns a cinema in Sandy Springs, Georgia. 'The horror customers, at least ours, tend to go to the movies more often than others. And I think it's because they're not as dependent on word of mouth or they don't need to know it's an Academy Award-winning potential hit before they commit to, you know, dropping money to go see it, they just are excited that there's a new, creative horror movie out there and they wanna come see it.' Producers, studio execs and theater owners say horror has historically provided a safe outlet for people to cope with contemporary anxieties. And let's face it - there is no lack of material to choose from: the aftershocks of a global pandemic, paranoia over AI and resurgent racism. The productions are often low-budget, and allow greater risk-taking than higher-cost, higher-stakes films. That creative freedom has attracted big name directors like Guillermo del Toro and Danny Boyle. And audiences are responding. Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners' is this year's third highest-grossing movie in the U.S. and Canada, Comscore says. Horror has been a cinematic staple from its earliest days, when Thomas Edison filmed 'Frankenstein' on his motion picture camera in 1910. But it didn't always get Hollywood's respect. Perceptions began to change with the critical and commercial success of films like 'Psycho,' 'The Exorcist' and 'The Shining.' The genre broke the $1 billion box office barrier in the U.S. and Canada for the first time in 2017. The film adaptation of Stephen King's novel, 'It,' and Jordan Peele's 'Get Out' were big contributors. Fast forward to 2024 – and the number of U.S. horror films that went into production was up 21 percent from the year before, researcher Ampere Analysis found. And scary movies have been scooping up statues at the biggest awards ceremonies recently. Movie theaters are still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, which sped up a shift towards watching at home over going out to the movies. But many industry professionals say horror is a genre that manages to get people off their couch and into a theater where the environment heightens the experience. 'Now I think more than ever, to get people here in theaters, people want a good story. They love, you know, things like 'Barbie', where they know what's gonna happen. But for the most part, people want really good stories that engage them. And it feels like that's the genre where we're getting the most of that from.'
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Vast majority of HSA savers skip the investing option
Health savings accounts are a small but mighty tool when it comes to saving and investing money for retirement. Yet a vast majority of savers do not invest their HSA funds, according to a report from the Employee Benefit Research Institute. The research, looking at more than 14.5 million HSA accounts, found that 85% of account holders do not invest their HSAs in assets other than cash. Financial advisors say that figure isn't surprising. A combination of factors, including clunky investment platforms, balance thresholds and a general lack of understanding, all contribute to the high share of account holders who don't invest their HSA funds, advisors say. READ MORE: How HSAs pay off in retirement — with caveats "Many companies require employees to utilize a captive custodian, and there is a lot of paperwork and separate accounts and then transfers required to begin the investment process," said Sammy Grant, principal at Homrich Berg in Sandy Springs, Georgia. "So, it's not a lack of interest or desire but a frustration with the hassle factor or a lack of investment options with the employer's chosen provider." While rules vary, many HSA custodians also require a minimum balance, typically between $1,000 and $2,000, before allowing account holders to access investment options. This requirement effectively excludes most HSA users from investing, as 51% of accounts hold less than $1,000, according to the EBRI. The institute's research indicates that employer contributions could play a role in boosting HSA investment. Accounts with invested assets saw a higher average employer contribution of $1,041, in contrast to accounts without invested assets, which averaged $694 in employer contributions. "This result suggests that having an employer contribution could make account holders feel more comfortable investing at least some portion of their HSAs or that account owners with higher balances are more engaged because they have more at stake," EBRI researchers Jake Spiegel and Paul Fronstin wrote. "This could also indicate that these employers are more engaged with helping employees see the value of using HSAs as longer-term savings vehicles." READ MORE: With Trump admin rule rollback, will 401(k)s see more crypto options? Data shows that accounts with invested assets had an average balance of $23,583, more than sevenfold the $2,795 average for accounts without invested assets. Researchers say that difference is likely driven by a variety of factors, including the worker's ability to contribute and save more of their income. "Account holders with invested assets may be in a better position to invest precisely because they are able to contribute more," researchers wrote. While employer contributions could encourage HSA investing, researchers note that such contributions are not a "magic bullet." "Providing an employer contribution to an HSA will not automatically turn that account holder into an investor who uses their HSA as a long-term savings vehicle instead of a short-term spending vehicle," researchers wrote. "Indeed, account holders with employer contributions still take larger distributions than their counterparts who did not receive an employer contribution." Advisors say that insufficient cash flow is one of the more obvious barriers preventing many savers from investing their HSA funds. "My clients understand the long-term benefits of investing their HSA, but the main barrier is usually cash flow," said Dave Flegal, founder of Flegal Financial Planning in Cleveland, Ohio. "If they can't afford to cover medical expenses without tapping into their HSA, they're hesitant to invest those funds." For clients who may need to take distributions from their HSA, advisors say that keeping the funds in cash can be a smart decision. "I only have clients invest the portion of the account that exceeds their annual deductible on their health insurance," said Filip Telibasa, owner of Benzina Wealth in Sarasota, Florida. "This way, if they have unexpected medical expenses, the funds are not invested and exposed to short-term market risk. The remainder of the account should be invested similarly to retirement accounts, as it has a long time horizon and grows tax-deferred and tax-free if used for medical expenses. By taking more risk with this portion of the account, we maximize our long-term benefits without compromising risk over the short term." READ MORE: Which portfolio withdrawal strategy is best for retirees? Some planners advise their high-earning clients to pay for medical expenses with their regular savings, leaving HSA funds free to be invested tax-free as an additional retirement account. The account name itself — health savings account — also confuses many savers, advisors say. "Many people are unaware that investing their HSA funds is even an option," said Hardik Patel, founder of Trusted Path Wealth Management in Santa Rosa, California. "Some mistakenly believe HSAs operate like FSAs [flexible spending accounts], assuming it's a 'use-it-or-lose-it' arrangement. This misunderstanding discourages long-term planning." While advisors can't overcome all the financial barriers that prevent many HSA account holders from investing their funds, education alone can make a difference for some savers. "Once clients understand how these accounts work in plain English and comprehend their substantial benefits, they typically have an eye-opening experience," said Kevin Feig, founder of Walk You To Wealth in Boston. "Explaining the potential for them to never pay taxes often elicits a strong reaction." Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Metro Atlanta Georgia Lottery player wins $150K jackpot in Fantasy 5
There were some big winners who played the Georgia Lottery this week and last. On Monday, a Winston resident won $50,000 in the Powerball drawing with a ticket bought through the Georgia Lottery mobile app. The winner matched four of the five white ball numbers and the Powerball. That same day, two Georgia FIVE players won $10,000. Those winners bought their tickets in Centerville and Columbus, Georgia. Last Wednesday, a Georgia Lottery player won the $150,000 jackpot playing Fantasy 5. That winner bought their ticket at the Publix store on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs. And a Hiram resident won the jackpot for $130,635 that same day, playing Quadruple Win Quick Win in the Georgia Lottery mobile app. Winners have 180 days from the drawing date to claim their prizes. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Trump announces travel ban and restrictions on 19 countries set to go into effect Monday Case of mistaken identity ends with young mother killed in alleged Atlanta gang shooting Doorbell camera captures man dragging dog down street in Fulton County [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Mercedes-Benz moving key corporate operations to metro Atlanta
This story was originally published on Automotive Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Automotive Dive newsletter. Mercedes-Benz is consolidating key corporate operations to Sandy Springs, Georgia, which will now serve as its North American headquarters, the company announced May 22. While the move will bring up to 500 additional jobs to the 800 already employed by the automaker in Sandy Springs, it will lead to the closure of the company's Farmington Hills, Michigan office, where many corporate functions and financial services roles are currently based, Melinda Mernovage, a spokesperson for Mercedes-Benz said in an email to Automotive Dive. The company, however, will maintain 180 research and development roles in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which eventually will grow to up to 200 jobs, she said. Some of the financial roles based in Farmington Hills will also be moved to Fort Worth, Texas, Mernovage said. Technical teams from various U.S. locations will move to a new R&D hub near Sandy Springs, where Mercedes-Benz will make a multi-million-dollar investment in a future research and development facility, according to a release from Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. The automaker said consolidating corporate functions to metro Atlanta strengthens its position for growth and reinforces its commitment to the U.S. 'Bringing our teams closer together will enable us to be more agile, increase speed to market and ensure the best customer experience,' Jason Hoff, CEO, Mercedes-Benz North America said in a statement. The company, which opened its Sandy Springs office in 2018, expects the job transfers to be completed by August 2026. Mercedes-Benz also said bringing R&D functions to the Atlanta area will allow it to leverage the region's engineering and talent pool from institutions including the Georgia Institute of Technology. It also could help create additional opportunities to collaborate with the area's thriving startup ecosystem and established tech sectors, per the release. Recommended Reading Mercedes-Benz to produce a new 'core-segment' vehicle in Alabama Sign in to access your portfolio
Axios
29-04-2025
- Business
- Axios
UPS to cut 20,000 jobs amid Amazon shift
UPS will cut 20,000 jobs, or 4% of its workforce, and close more than 70 buildings to offset a planned drop in Amazon packages and murky macroeconomic conditions. Driving the news: UPS CEO Carol Tomé announced the cuts during a Tuesday investor call that covered the Sandy Springs, Georgia-based global shipping company's thinking on tariffs, automation and more, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Zoom in: The job cuts will be spread throughout the nearly 500,000-employee workforce, UPS CFO Brian Dykes said on the call. Two-thirds of the building closures would occur in the eastern U.S., he said, though he did not share specifics. Catch up quick: UPS will reduce the number of Amazon packages it carries by more than 50% by the second half of next year, the company announced in January.
