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Comcast’s spinoff of the majority of its NBCUniversal cable network portfolio will be named Versant, the company said Tuesday, ending a monthslong process to select a new corporate moniker.The new company chose Versant (pronounced like the root of the word “conversant”) to emphasize its versatility and its familiarity with multiple subjects, according to Chief Executive Officer Mark Lazarus, who spoke in an interview.Versant, which had been called SpinCo until a permanent name was chosen, will own cable networks including USA, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and Golf Channel. It will also house digital assets Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass and…

Nearly three-quarters (72%) of Master of Accounting programs in the U.S. reported increased application levels in 2024, according to a study by the Graduate Management Admission Council.The GMAC surveyed 297 business schools, representing 1,090 programs, for its latest report on trends in graduate business school programs.This figure represents a five-year peak in applications and is up from 43% of programs in 2023. Meanwhile, the data found that 2% of Master of Accounting programs reported that application levels were flat, and 26% reported declined applications.  “The resurgence in applicant interest in master of accounting programs is another encouraging sign for the…

A pair of Senate bills would coordinate Pell Grants with the American Opportunity Tax Credit, and provide a tax deduction for overtime wages.Senate Finance Committee members Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, introduced bipartisan legislation Tuesday that would coordinate Pell Grants with the AOTC, and fully exclude Pell Grants from taxable income, while Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Alabama, and Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, separately introduced a bill related to President Trump’s campaign promise on exempting overtime pay from taxes.The first bill, known as the Tax-Free Pell Grant Act, aims to iron out the current Tax Code to enable qualifying students…

Igor Golovniov | Lightrocket | Getty ImagesThe Philadelphia home of the NBA’s 76ers and NHL’s Flyers is getting a new name.Beginning in September the sports and entertainment venue in South Philadelphia will be named the Xfinity Mobile Arena, rebranding from the current Wells Fargo Center. The new name will remain through the 2030-2031 season. Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.The change was announced on Tuesday by Comcast Spectacor — the division of cable giant Comcast that owns the Flyers and their home arena, among other assets — as well as Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, or HBSE, Josh Harris…

The Internal Revenue Service lost 31% of its auditors from buyouts and layoffs tied to Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, departures that are likely to hamper the agency’s ability to go after tax cheats.More than 3,600 revenue agents — responsible for collecting tax payments — have left the IRS, according to an IRS watchdog report.In addition, 18% of revenue officers, who oversee challenging tax cases, and 10% of tax examiners — front-line employees who review returns — have also left the agency, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration said in a recent report.The IRS downsizing is due to…