Commercial Roofing Contractors in Murphy, TX

Moderna’s fourth-quarter profit tumbled 70% as COVID-19 vaccine sales fell and the drugmaker caught up on a royalty payment.

Heavy research and development costs also weighed on Moderna as the vaccine developer looks to strengthen an income statement currently dominated by its Spikevax coronavirus preventive shots.

Moderna said Thursday that its cost of sales jumped nearly a billion dollars to $1.9 billion in the final quarter of 2022. That included a $400-million “catch-up” payment to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for a new agreement on future royalty sales of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Moderna scientists and government researchers worked together to develop the COVID-19 vaccine at the start of the pandemic.

More than 270 million doses of the original vaccine and boosters have been administered in the United States since regulators granted emergency authorization in late 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Spikevax vaccine is Moderna's main source of revenue, outside of grants and money from collaborations. It brought in nearly $4.9 billion in sales in the fourth quarter.

That's a 30% drop from the final quarter of 2021, when the omicron variant of the virus was spreading rapidly and more people were getting either initial shots or boosters.

Research and development expenses also nearly doubled to $1.2 billion for the drugmaker. Moderna's pipeline of drugs under development includes a potential skin cancer vaccine combination it is working on with the drugmaker Merck & Co.

Researchers are testing how Moderna's potential vaccine and Merck's immunotherapy Keytruda work in improving survival before cancer returns in patients who had advanced melanoma surgically removed.

The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday gave that potential vaccine a “breakthrough therapy” designation, which is intended to speed the development and review of drugs that show signs of being an improvement over established treatments.

Moderna expects to start a late-stage study this year.

Moderna also is one of several drugmakers developing a potential vaccine for RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus. Company officials told analysts Thursday they will submit that vaccine to regulators for approval in the first half of this year.

Overall, the drugmaker’s profit fell to $1.46 billion, or $3.61 per share, in the final quarter of 2022. Total revenue dropped 29% to $5.08 billion.

Analysts expected earnings of $4.60 per share on $5.02 billion in revenue, according to FactSet.

The COVID-19 vaccine brought in more than $18 billion in sales last year for Moderna. The company has about $5 billion in sales contracted for delivery this year. But Moderna expects additional sales from the United States, Europe and Japan.

In the U.S., COVID-19 vaccines will be sold commercially for the first time later this year when the federal government stops buying the shots.

Moderna told The Wall Street Journal last month that it was considering pricing the vaccine in the range of $110 to $130 per dose.

But company leaders emphasized Thursday that people with insurance will pay nothing out of pocket for the shots. Moderna also has a patient assistance program that will provide the shots for people without coverage or who are underinsured.

Shares of Moderna Inc., based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, dropped 7% to $147.17 Thursday. The stock had already fallen 12% so far this year as of Wednesday.

Follow Tom Murphy on Twitter: @thpmurphy

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

The National Weather Service issued winter storm and ice storm warnings for North and Central Texas until Thursday morning. Roads remained icy Friday. Here’s what you need to know to stay weather-aware.

Temperatures should rise above freezing Thursday morning, said meteorologist Victor Murphy at the National Weather Service in Fort Worth. Still, “significant” ice accumulations are expected, which could result in power outages, broken trees and impassable roads.

“Since the cold air layer above us is so shallow, less than 3,000 feet, we expect freezing rain to continue overnight. Sometime tomorrow morning, we expect surface temperatures to warm above freezing, and the liquid rain will stop freezing upon contact with exposed surfaces,” Murphy said. “In essence, we’re awaiting the lower 3,000 feet of the atmosphere to warm above freezing. This will end the freezing rain. Yesterday, the warm layer above freezing wasn’t as thick, and so all the precipitation we saw was in the form of sleet.”

Temperatures first dropped below freezing at 9 p.m. on Sunday in Dallas-Fort Worth. Assuming that temperatures go above freezing about 9 a.m. Thursday, that would be 84 consecutive hours below freezing. Back in 2021, DFW had 139 consecutive hours below freezing between Feb. 13 and 19, the fifth most consecutive hours below freezing.

“Slushy roads will persist well after temperatures get above freezing,” according to NWS Fort Worth.

Freezing rain is expected to fall on Wednesday afternoon and evening, Murphy said, which could be more dangerous than the sleet we’ve gotten so far. Because roads are icy and slick across North and Central Texas, NWS cautions travel should be avoided if possible through early Thursday. As the ice melts, road conditions will start to improve around noon Thursday and travel impacts will be minimal at approximately 3 p.m.

“If you have to be out on the roads, make sure to slow down, watch for ice/black ice, and give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination,” NWS Fort Worth said. Try to avoid hills, bridges and overpasses, where ice accumulates.

An ice storm warning is in effect for DFW because of a half inch of additional ice accumulation expected Wednesday afternoon into early Thursday, which could result in tree breakage and localized power outages in addition to the hazardous travel conditions. Prepare for potential power outages by bundling up and making sure you have flashlights, batteries and a safe indoor heat source.

Freezing rain will transition to regular rain into midday Thursday, when a rain-snow mix will be possible across North Texas.

Drier air will move into North and Central Texas by Friday, per NWS, which should allow for lots of sunshine and temperatures warming into the 40s. For those who receive significant ice, sleet or snow accumulation, the ice will not fully melt Thursday, so those areas will be slower to warm up. A clear night with light wind is expected Friday, with temperatures again falling below freezing. Some ground fog is also likely in areas with wet soils due to slow-melting ice.

This weekend, the weather will warm up, with afternoon highs climbing about 5-10 degrees warmer each day. Another cold front is expected midweek next week.

This story was originally published February 1, 2023, 3:48 PM.

Northwell’s president and CEO Michael Dowling will host the 4th Annual Gun Violence Prevention Forum on February 28, 2023. (Credit: Northwell Health)

NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Since the start of the year, there have been over 70 mass shootings – more than one a day – and thousands of other firearm deaths. To mobilize efforts and prevent more senseless acts of gun violence, business executives, clinicians, researchers, policymakers and those affected by gun deaths are coming together to take part in Northwell Health’s fourth annual Gun Violence Prevention Forum on February 28 starting at 9 a.m. E.T. The hybrid event will welcome 100 leaders in person in New York City and others can register to attend the Forum virtually at www.PreventGunViolence.com.

“It will take a collective effort to incorporate research, community outreach and new policies to spark change and curb gun access and violence that continues to be a danger to our youth.”

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Hosted by Michael Dowling, president and CEO of Northwell Health, New York State’s largest health system, the day’s events will feature panel conversations, one-on-one discussions and special breakout working sessions. To help frame gun violence as a public health crisis, an interview will take place between Vivek Murthy, MD, the U.S. Surgeon General, and Chethan Sathya, MD, director of Northwell’s Center for Gun Violence Prevention.

Convening for the first time in person will be members of the newly created National Health Care CEO Council on Gun Violence Prevention & Safety, which includes nearly 50 leaders of some of the nation’s largest health systems and hospitals. Council members have pledged to leverage their collective influence and resources to curb the historic spike in gun-related deaths and injuries by supporting public education and awareness campaigns, working with local violence intervention groups and pursuing research and other initiatives to make their communities safer. The CEOs or their appointed C-suite representatives planning to attend include those from Kaiser Permanente, CA; University of Pennsylvania Health System, PA; OhioHealth, OH; MedStar Health, MD; Johns Hopkins Health System, MD; Renown Health, NV; Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC; Tufts Medicine, MA; NYC Health + Hospitals, NY; NorthShore-Edward Elmhurst Health, IL.

“Gun violence is a public health crisis. The responsibility falls on the shoulders of the decision makers of our nation’s health systems and hospitals to change the narrative on gun safety and pursue solutions that will make a meaningful difference,” said Mr. Dowling. “Through collaborations like this Forum, the CEO Council, the Gun Violence Prevention Learning Collaborative for Hospitals & Health Systems and other joint efforts, we can create an actionable roadmap to reduce unintentional gun deaths and gun-related homicides and suicides.”

Other notable speakers at this year’s Forum include:

Guns are now the leading cause of death among children and adolescents. Addressing the power of community education, Ramon Soto, Northwell’s senior vice president and chief marketing and communications officer, will host a discussion featuring leaders of the Ad Council and Project Unloaded around the best practices and effectiveness of public awareness and education.

Mr. Soto will highlight Northwell’s recent multimedia national awareness campaign, “Doesn’t kill to ask,” which has been supported by more than 1,000 hospitals, health systems and associations across the country. Since the start of the awareness campaign in September 2022, parents who have seen the ads are three times more likely to ask fellow parents if there is a gun in the home. To learn more, go to HospitalsUnited.com.

“In just the past few years, there has been a dire uptick in the number of children we’ve had to treat with gunshot wounds,” said Chethan Sathya, MD, a pediatric trauma surgeon at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park, NY, and director of Northwell’s Center for Gun Violence Prevention. “It will take a collective effort to incorporate research, community outreach and new policies to spark change and curb gun access and violence that continues to be a danger to our youth.”

Since 2019, Northwell Health has been leading the charge to address gun violence as a public health crisis. Through Northwell’s Center for Gun Violence Prevention, the health system continues to invest in gun violence research, including screening emergency room patients about their risk of gun violence and whether they have a weapon in their home and if it is stored safely.

Continuing the much-needed gun violence prevention conversation, Dr. Sathya will speak at South by Southwest (SXSW) on March 11, the annual Austin, TX, conference and festival that brings together international experts and thought leaders from across industries. Dr. Sathya’s panel will feature former U.S. Representative Chris Jacobs (R-NY), who opted against seeking reelection after backlash he received by supporting gun safety legislation following last year’s mass shooting at a Buffalo, NY, grocery store; and Jazmin Cazares, who lost her sister in the Uvalde, TX, mass school shooting. Titled “Both Sides Now: Gun Control’s Bipartisan Future,” the panel will be moderated by CNN’s S.E. Cupp.

For more information about this year’s Gun Violence Prevention Forum program and speakers and to register your virtual attendance, please visit www.PreventGunViolence.com.

About Northwell Health Northwell Health is New York State’s largest health care provider and private employer, with 21 hospitals, about 900 outpatient facilities and more than 12,000 affiliated physicians. We care for over two million people annually in the New York metro area and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our communities. Our 83,000 employees – 18,900 nurses and 4,900 employed doctors, including members of Northwell Health Physician Partners – are working to change health care for the better. We’re making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. We're training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

City officials issued the notice on Saturday, then reported Sunday that one of 11 test sites tested positive for bacteria.

MURPHY, Texas — Editor's note: A previous version of this story said the boil water notice was issued due to E.coli being present in the water, as was stated in the press release headline sent out by the city. This story has been updated to reflect updates from city officials.

The city of Murphy rescinded its boil water notice Monday after distribution system pressures dropped over the weekend.

The city initiated the notice Saturday for the following areas:

Due to there being no contaminants in the water supply as determined by extensive testing, there is no need to change water filters or other screens. pic.twitter.com/vzMSNnoqR5

— Murphy, Texas (@murphytex) September 12, 2022

A press release from the city of Murphy (attached below) states in its headline that E. coli was present in the water. After publishing this story, city officials reached out to WFAA stating that there have been no positive test of E. coli found within the water. Rather, the release sent out is a standard message required to be sent out once water pressure goes under a certain number. City officials told WFAA tests are being done, and they hope to have finished results by midday Sunday.

By then, the city issued an updated saying one of the 11 test sites detected bacteria in the water.

For more information, you can reach out to the city at 972-468-4376.

*** Boil Water Notice impacting: Rolling Ridge, The Ranch, The Gables, Maxwell Creek North, Stratford Crossing, The Aviary, Hunters Landing, and Daniel Crossing. *** pic.twitter.com/5D4Y9aFy2P

— Murphy, Texas (@murphytex) September 10, 2022

Update regarding Boil Water Notice as of Sunday, September 11, at 2:30 pm. pic.twitter.com/YMZdSqKnT4

— Murphy, Texas (@murphytex) September 11, 2022

More Texas headlines:

Nabors Industries Ltd (NBR - Free Report) recently introduced a new vision document to guide its energy transition efforts — "Energy Without Compromise." This will showcase the company's clean energy initiatives from its core business and its new renewable energy projects.

As part of the oil and gas drilling contractor’s carbon reduction efforts, Nabors Energy Transition Corporation (NETC) — a Nabors Industries-backed special-purpose acquisition company — has joined forces with Vast Solar, an Australian provider of renewable energy. The transaction, which is anticipated to close later this year, values the combined company at approximately $305 million-$586 million. The combined company, which will be owned 8% by Nabors and 38% by Vast shareholders, will retain the Vast brand name and continue to operate from Australia. It will also be listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Vast Solar, which was founded in 2009, specializes in creating unique technologies for energy systems using concentrated solar power (CSP). CSP uses mirrors to reflect sunlight onto a receiver, which subsequently absorbs the solar energy as heat in sodium, as opposed to the typical photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, which transform light into electricity. Although the cost of wind and PV solar has greatly declined, their intermittency is a major issue that can only be solved with storage, according to Vast CEO, Craig Wood.

The company proposes to construct the utility-scale CSP facility VS1 at Port Augusta in South Australia, which will start operating in 2025. It also plans to unite its power generation technology with a green methanol production facility in the same location.

Nabors is one of the largest land-drilling contractors in the world, conducting oil, gas, and geothermal land drilling operations.The Vast transaction is Nabors’ ninth and the biggest in the energy transition space.

Nabors currently carries a Zack Rank #2 (Buy).You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Other stocks for investors interested in the energy space include Murphy USA Inc. (MUSA - Free Report) and Valero Energy Corporation (VLO - Free Report) , both sporting a Zacks Rank #1, and Halliburton Company(HAL - Free Report) , carrying a Zacks Rank #2.

Murphy USA operates stations close to Walmart supercenters and sells low-cost, high-volume fuel. This helps the company to get a lot more business than its competitors. Another significant competitive advantage for the firm is its access to product distribution centers and pipelines, which helps control costs in the intensely competitive retail sector. Over the past 30 days, MUSA has witnessed upward earnings estimate revisions for 2023 and 2024.

Valero Energy, a TX-based company, is the largest independent refiner and marketer of petroleum products in the United States. With 15 refineries spread across Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom, it has a daily refining capacity of 3.1 million barrels. Over the past 30 days, VLO has seen an upward revision in earnings estimates for 2023.

Halliburton Company, one of the major oilfield service companies in the world, provides a range of construction, engineering, and maintenance services to the energy, industrial, and government sectors. Over the past 30 days, HAL has witnessed upward earnings estimate revisions.

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