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(NEXSTAR) – Your late Christmas gift may be delivered even later this year.
Christmas falls on a Sunday this year, which means any day-of regular mail deliveries or last-minute trips to the post office are out of the question – the United States Postal Service observes every Sunday as a day off.
But since the holiday falls on a Sunday, the United States Postal Service is also taking the Monday after, Dec. 26, as a day off. That means regular mail won’t be delivered Monday, and post offices will be closed. Only Priority Mail Express mail will be delivered “in limited locations,” the USPS says.
“If a holiday falls on a Sunday, for most USPS employees, the following Monday will be treated as a holiday for pay and leave purposes,” the agency explains. If a holiday happens to fall on a Saturday, then most employees will get the day before (Friday) off.
Christmas Eve, which falls on Saturday this year, isn’t a holiday observed by the post office, so regular mail will be delivered. That being said, local post offices may be operating limited hours. Mail at blue collection boxes may also be picked up earlier, so the USPS suggests dropping off any mail before noon.
The USPS posts its full list of observed holidays on its website. During a normal week, when there are no holidays, mail is delivered Monday through Saturday. | 2022-12-23T16:20:09+00:00 | ksn.com | https://www.ksn.com/news/national-world/will-mail-be-delivered-christmas-eve-the-day-after-christmas/ |
When the closely watched Georgia Senate race went to a runoff, nonprofit organizations that educate voters strained to ramp up operations again after Election Day.
“It’s not just, ‘Find new canvassers and recruit new volunteers.’ It’s also, ‘Find new money,’” said Kendra Cotton, CEO of New Georgia Project — founded by Stacey Abrams, the Democrat who lost her second campaign to become the state’s governor last month. The project’s goal was to raise $1 million to inform voters about the runoff, help them find out where and how to vote through phone banking and text banking, as well as voter protection at the polls. As of Monday, they have raised $797,000.
Grassroots groups have missed the mark in educating donors, Cotton said, explaining that she’ll hear from even high dollar donors that they don’t need to donate to her group because they’ve already given to Abrams or to Democrat Sen. Raphael Warnock, who will take on Republican challenger Herschel Walker in the runoff.
Many don’t understand, she said, that their political donations do not trickle down and that grassroots nonprofits cannot work with campaigns or advocate for candidates.
However, the group believes their efforts are essential, especially in this case. Many voters don’t know there is a runoff and are confused about whether they are eligible to vote in it, Cotton said. Canvassers will say, “’Yes, ma’am or yes sir, you might have already voted on November 8th, but there is another election on December 6th,’ and they’re like, ‘What the hell? Between who?’” Cotton said.
In Georgia, where district boundaries and voting rules have changed since 2020, this kind of voter outreach and education is vitally important and not something most political campaigns focus on, she said. Her organization put together a map of the hours and locations of early voting sites in every county, which numerous other nonprofits are using.
Other grassroots organizations like Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta are also involved in voter education, targeting what Phi Nguyen, the organization’s executive director and a civil rights attorney, called “high potential, low propensity” voters, especially in Asian American and Latino communities.
“We will be knocking on doors, we’ll be texting, we’ll be phone banking, and we’ll be doing election protection,” said Nguyen, whose sister Bee Nguyen was the Democratic nominee for secretary of state in Georgia. In that race, the incumbent Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger was reelected.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta also provide interpreters for people at polling sites in 10 counties, including five in the Atlanta area.
The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta and the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) support dozens of organizations like these in five southern states. In June 2020, SPLC announced it would grant $30 million from its endowment to fund grassroots organizations “to increase voter registration and participation among people of color with a lower propensity to vote.” Last December, it added another $100 million over 10 years, again from its endowment, to its Vote Your Voice grant program, which the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta is overseeing.
The project is part of SPLC’s mission of achieving racial justice in the South, said senior advisor Amy Dominguez-Arms. Contributions to SPLC more than doubled from 2016 to 2017, the year Donald Trump was elected president, from $58 million to $136 million according to nonprofit information source Candid.
Philanthropic funding for tax exempt nonprofits that do nonpartisan voter registration or mobilization is often concentrated in the two months before Election Day, but this support is long term. Participation in a democracy doesn’t just happen when it’s time to vote, Dominguez-Arms said.
Major philanthropic conveners like the Funders’ Committee for Civic Participation are encouraging donors who want to fund civic engagement or democracy portfolios to unlink their funding from the political calendar.
“Organizations, if they’re really going to be building civic engagement in democracy, small ‘d’ democracy, the money is needed year round,” said Paul Ryan, deputy executive director of the FCCP.
Political donations that are not tax exempt are also pouring into the Georgia runoff, even though Democratic control of the Senate is already decided. The IRS rules that govern nonprofit activity allow nonpartisan voter registration and mobilization as well as things like education on the voting process, creating candidate questionnaires and supporting or opposing ballot measures.
Nonprofits are prohibited from supporting political campaigns in any way whether that is through donations, the sharing of resources or written or verbal endorsement.
The rules for nonprofit activity around elections have come under scrutiny especially after Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan made a $400 million donation in 2020 to two nonprofits that then granted funds to help elections officials administer the vote during the pandemic when neither vaccines nor effective treatments were available.
Lawson Bader, president and CEO of DonorsTrust, whose mission is to safeguard the philanthropic intent of self-described conservative and libertarian donors, said his organization hasn’t tracked an increase in donations around the midterms, though he wouldn’t be surprised if there was more interest in helping elections become more efficient.
He said it’s worrisome that frustration with money’s influence in politics has spilled over from the world of political action committees and 501(c)4 nonprofits, whose work is not tax exempt, into nonpartisan work.
“I don’t think anyone disagrees that it would be great if this didn’t have to be philanthropy and it could be resourced through the government. But unfortunately, that’s not where we’re at,” said Ashley Spillane, senior advisor at Power the Polls, an initiative that started in 2020 to help recruit poll workers when the pandemic was keeping many, especially older poll workers, from participating.
Her organization recruited potential poll workers on Election Day this year and is continuing to recruit for the runoff in Georgia.
Voters have less than three weeks to receive and return absentee ballots and at least five days of early voting during the last week of November. That’s a narrow timeframe, Spillane said.
“Voters in Georgia are going to have to show up to polling locations,” Spillane said. “And making sure that they are incredibly well staffed and that there aren’t any gaps or polling location closure closings is absolutely critical in an election like that.”
The Warnock campaign sued successfully to allow for early voting on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, though only some decided to open polling stations that day, leading to long lines and hours-long waits.
Political affiliations vary among the communities that Nguyen’s organization reaches, she said, given the range of ethnicities, languages and migration backgrounds that shape people’s worldviews.
“When we’re out there doing nonpartisan voter registration and getting out the vote, it really could be that the person is voting for anyone,” she said, adding, “It’s absolutely a nonpartisan issue to want every Georgian and every eligible voter to be able to access the ballot.”
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Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy. | 2022-12-02T22:34:00+00:00 | ksn.com | https://www.ksn.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-nonprofits-strain-to-support-voters-in-georgia-senate-race/ |
MILAN (AP) — The leader of Italy’s Democratic Party warned Saturday of the threats that Italy’s right-wing nationalistic parties pose to European democracy in a video released in multiple languages, and promised that his party would keep Italy at the center of the European Union if it wins the country’s early parliamentary election next month.
The video by Democratic Party leader Enrico Letta comes days after the leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, did a multilingual video of her own to dispute suggestions that her election as premier would endanger democracy in Italy and threaten the management of EU pandemic funds. Meloni, whose party controversially uses the symbol of a flame borrowed from a neo-fascist party, said in an Aug. 10 video that the Italian political right has “unambiguously” condemned the legacy of fascism.
At the moment, the center-left Democratic Party and the Brothers of Italy are the leading parties in opinion polls going into Italy’s Sept. 25 parliamentary election. Neither looks assured of having enough votes to govern alone.
While the right-wing has created a solid coalition, bringing together Brothers of Italy, Matteo Salvini’s right-wing League party and Silvio Berlusoni’s center-right Forza Italia party, the left has been foundering in this election campaign.
Letta’s deal with a would-be kingmaker fell apart within a day and his relationship with former Premier Matteo Renzi, who heads a tiny but potentially influential party, soured when Renzi maneuvered him out of the job of premier in 2014.
Letta underlined the danger to European solidity posed by vetoes and demands of unanimity posed by right-wing leaders like Hungary’s Viktor Orban, who he noted is “a friend and ally of the Italian right.” Orban has used these tools to “defeat sanctions against Russia and on migration issues,” Letta said.
Letta also said the right-wing had not supported the EU pandemic funds in the European Parliament, and that Italy’s right-wing had voted against a new treaty between France and Italy aimed to put the ties at the same level as the historic Franco-German relationship that has been the engine of post-war European peace and prosperity.
“Europe has always been part of our DNA, because we believe that cooperation between countries and finding common solutions is better than finding solutions that are only national or nationalistic,’’ Letta said.
Letta launched the video in French, Spanish and English on Italy’s Ferragosto weekend holiday, when most Italians are enjoying beach or mountain vacations to mark the Aug. 15 Feast of the Assumption. | 2022-08-13T14:36:23+00:00 | seattletimes.com | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/world/italys-letta-italian-right-wing-threatens-europe-democracy/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
Kendall Jenner is smitten! A source tells ET that The Kardashians star is really into her relationship with Devin Booker, so much so, she’s willing to put it on display for the world to see, with the source adding they’ve “never seen Kendall like this.”
Kendall, 26, and Devin, 25, packed on the PDA while taking in the Men’s Finals match at the US Open over the weekend. The model and the basketball player sat in a suite and were spotted sneaking kisses and leaning close as they watched the game.
"They were all over each other at the tennis [match] -- holding hands and kissing. They didn't care that everyone could see them," the source says. “She is really into him. She’s always had love for him, even when they were separated, but she is more into him now than ever.”
The night prior, the pair sat front row at the Marni NYFW show.
According to the source, Devin and Kendall’s on-again, off-again romance has changed her perspective on relationships and she’s more serious than ever.
"Despite all her sisters being moms and settling down, Kendall was never interested in that,” the source adds. “She's always been focused on her career and her friends, but lately her priorities have shifted, and she's made space for Devin."
The two were first romantically linked in June 2020. In the years since, the couple has called time on their relationship for brief periods, before getting back together. Last month, following reports of their reconciliation, a source told ET that the pair’s schedules sometimes get in the way, but they always find their way back to each other.
"Their work, travel schedules and balancing their professional lives with their personal lives can get overwhelming at times," the source said. “But their love for one another draws them back to each other."
RELATED CONTENT: | 2022-09-13T22:38:21+00:00 | ktvb.com | https://www.ktvb.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-tonight/kendall-jenner-is-more-into-devin-booker-than-ever-before-source-says/603-45814a2e-4fb3-40a0-a25d-acd31e205542 |
Trader Joe’s recalls cookies that may contain rocks
Published: Jul. 24, 2023 at 9:38 AM CDT|Updated: 25 minutes ago
(Gray News) – Trader Joe’s announced a recall Friday of some of its cookies because they may contain rocks.
The cookies subject to recall are:
- Trader Joe’s Almond Windmill Cookies (SKU# 98744) with sell by dates of Oct. 19, 2023, through Oct. 21, 2023
- Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Chunk and Almond Cookies (SKU# 82752) with sell by dates of Oct. 17, 2023, through Oct. 21, 2023
Trader Joe’s said all potentially affected products have been pulled from store shelves. If you have purchased the affected products, the chain urges customers not to eat them.
Customers with any questions can call Trader Joe’s Customer Relations at (626) 599-3817.
Further information was not available. It’s unclear how rocks may have gotten into the cookies.
Copyright 2023 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2023-07-24T15:05:03+00:00 | wlox.com | https://www.wlox.com/2023/07/24/trader-joes-recalls-cookies-that-may-contain-rocks/ |
PARIS (AP) — French film legend and amateur race car driver Jean-Louis Trintignant, who earned acclaim for his starring role in the Oscar-winning film “A Man and a Woman” half a century ago and went on to portray the brutality of aging in his later years, has died. He was 91.
Trintignant died in his home in southern France, according to Bertrand Cortellini, who operated a vineyard with the actor and visited him Thursday before his death. He did not divulge details. French news reports said Trintignant had prostate cancer.
In a career that started when he was 19, Trintignant appeared in more than 100 films. He was one of France’s premier actors in the post-war era — and one of the last remaining performers of his generation.
Tributes poured in after his death was announced Friday. France’s national Cinematheque museum called him “one of the greatest actors in the history of French cinema.”
Born Dec. 11, 1930 in Piolenc in southern France, near where he died, Trintignant started out acting in the theater but gained broader fame in cinema, notably starring with Brigitte Bardot in “And God … Created Woman” in 1956. The two had an unabashed, off-screen love affair that shocked many.
He described turning to acting to overcome intense shyness. An actor “is to be a blank page, starting from nothing, from silence. From there, you don’t need to make a lot of noise to be listened to,” he was quoted as saying in Le Monde.
He starred in Italian films and several films by legendary French director Claude Lelouch, most famously “A Man and a Woman” in 1966, which won the Oscar for best foreign film. Trintignant played a race car driver — a passion he pursued off-screen — in a complex romance alongside Anouk Aimee.
Trintignant stopped performing for nearly a decade after the loss of his daughter Marie, also an actor, in 2003. Her boyfriend, popular French singer Bertrand Cantat, beat her to death during a dispute in a hotel room in Lithuania, where she was making a film.
Trintignant continued acting on stage and on screen into his 80s, and earned new international attention in Michael Haneke’s 2013 Oscar-winning drama “Amour,” a raw depiction of an aging couple and the ravages of Alzheimer’s on their love.
In his final role on film, Trintignant reunited with Lelouch and Aimee in “The Best Years of a Life,” in 2019.
Among survivors are his wife Mariane Hoepfner, a former race car driver, and his son Vincent Trintignant and grandson Jules Benchetrit, also actors. | 2022-06-18T14:46:23+00:00 | wcia.com | https://www.wcia.com/entertainment-news/french-film-titan-trintignant-of-a-man-and-a-woman-dies/ |
‘Jackpot!’ | Atlanta police find automatic weapons, marijuana in car search
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Three men were arrested in Atlanta after police found automatic weapons and marijuana in their car.
On July 7, an Atlanta Police Department officer stopped a car at a BP gas station that allegedly smelled of marijuana. Body camera footage shows officers pulling four guns out of the car — two of which were equipped with switches, making them fully automatic weapons, the police statement said.
“Jackpot!” one of the officers exclaims in the video, which the department posted to Facebook.
Officers also found 3.75 grams of marijuana.
Police arrested Ta’vorris Williams, Darnell Ellison, and Jonathan Dolly, the three men in the vehicle. Williams had a previous warrant for false imprisonment and Dolly had a previous warrant for probation.
Copyright 2023 WANF. All rights reserved. | 2023-07-13T19:06:29+00:00 | atlantanewsfirst.com | https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/07/13/jackpot-atlanta-police-find-automatic-weapons-marijuana-car-search/ |
Mauna Loa is erupting, prompting an ashfall advisory for Hawaii’s Big Island
By Monica Garrett and Dakin Andone, CNN
An ashfall advisory is in effect Monday for Hawaii’s Big Island and surrounding waters until 6 a.m. HST (11 a.m. ET) after Mauna Loa, the world’s largest active volcano, began erupting in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Up to a quarter inch of ashfall could accumulate on portions of the island.
“People with respiratory illnesses should remain indoors to avoid inhaling the ash particles and anyone outside should cover their mouth and nose with a mask or cloth,” the National Weather Service in Honolulu warned.
“Possible harm to crops and animals. Minor equipment and infrastructure damage. Reduced visibility. Widespread clean-up may be necessary,” it added.
The eruption is not threatening downhill communities or flights to the Island of Hawaii, the Hawaii Tourism Authority tweeted Monday morning.
Lava flows are contained in the summit area and do not threaten downslope communities, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said. Winds may carry volcanic gas and fine ash downwind.
“Based on past events, the early stages of a Mauna Loa eruption can be very dynamic and the location and advance of lava flows can change rapidly,” the observatory said, adding, “If the eruption remains in Moku’āweoweo, lava flows will most likely be confined within the caldera walls.
“However, if the eruptive vents migrate outside its walls, lava flows may move rapidly downslope.”
The eruption began in Moku’āweoweo, the summit caldera of Mauna Loa, on Sunday around 11:30 p.m. HST (4:30 a.m. ET Monday), according to the observatory.
Mauna Loa, which covers half the island of Hawaii, has erupted 33 times since 1843, the volcano’s first “well-documented historical eruption,” according to the US Geological Survey. It last erupted in 1984, making this prolonged quiet period the volcano’s longest in recorded history.
The volcano has recently been in a heightened state of unrest, per the agency, which pointed in an update late last month to elevated seismic activity and increased earthquake rates.
Earthquake activity increased from five to 10 earthquakes a day since June 2022 to some 10 to 20 earthquakes a day in July and August, according to the US Geological Survey. Peak numbers of more than 100 earthquakes a day were recorded on September 23 and September 29, CNN has reported.
The increased activity prompted Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in October to close the Mauna Loa summit to all backcountry hikers until further notice, though the US National Park Service said the main section of the park has remained open.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the Eastern Time equivalents for the ashfall advisory and eruption.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | 2022-11-28T13:27:57+00:00 | localnews8.com | https://localnews8.com/news/2022/11/28/mauna-loa-is-erupting-prompting-an-ash-fall-advisory-for-hawaiis-big-island/ |
The ownership group led by the Bonderman family will donate $32,000 each home game to a non-profit in the Pacific Northwest region
SEATTLE, May 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Seattle Kraken announced that they will honor and celebrate a community hero and a non-profit of their choice with a grant of $32,000 at every Kraken regular season home game, starting next season.
The Kraken Unity Fund Together with Starbucks marks the evolution of the highly successful Starbucks Community Stars program, introduced during the team's inaugural season.
The donation, by the Kraken ownership group led by David Bonderman and Samantha Holloway, showcases the franchise's commitment to community and the Pacific Northwest. Fans will be asked to nominate people who exemplify the values of the Kraken's non-profit, One Roof Foundation, are inspirational leaders in their neighborhoods and help bring us together. Starbucks will host a day of community service at the beginning of each season and celebrate the recipients and their chosen non-profits at an annual event held at the end of each season.
"My family has always believed that the power of the Kraken organization and One Roof Foundation is that it is rooted in our community and can be a way to bring people together and recognize their goodness," said Holloway, chairperson of the Seattle Kraken Executive Committee. "That is why we want to honor heroes and organizations that make a difference across the Pacific Northwest. There are so many inspirational stories, and it is our privilege to be able to tell them."
The first round of nominations will be accepted between May 24th and August 1st and nominees can come from throughout the Kraken territory of Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho and Montana. Selection will be led by the One Roof Foundation board, together with the Kraken and Starbucks. The nomination form and more information can be found here.
"Being a part of the Kraken's inaugural season in our hometown, Seattle, was a privilege this past year," said Camille Hymes, Vice President, U.S. Community Impact at Starbucks. "As a part of our continued Community Impact Partnership, we're looking forward to growing and evolving our community recognition program under the new name, Kraken Unity Fund Together with Starbucks, to uplift and support so many great nonprofit organizations in the Pacific Northwest."
"Welcoming the Starbucks Community Stars honorees to our games this season has created many magical moments," said Seattle Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke. "We know that the Pacific Northwest is home to both people and organizations doing amazing work to unite our community. Our ownership group is dedicated to this region and making us better together and I am excited to see the impact of the grants."
$32,000 will be awarded in representation of the Seattle Kraken becoming the NHL's 32nd franchise and to represent the 32,000 fans who put down a deposit for a then unknown, un-named team in March 2018.
About Seattle Kraken
The Seattle Kraken are the National Hockey League's newest franchise, heading into their second season playing at Climate Pledge Arena. Visit www.nhl.com/kraken for the latest news and information including press releases, multimedia content and the latest hires.
About Starbucks
From one store in Seattle's Pike Place Market in 1971, to nearly 34,000 stores serving customers globally – for 50 years, Starbucks has always been about so much more than great coffee. After all, our mission at Starbucks is "to inspire and nurture the human spirit, one cup, one person and one neighborhood at a time."
We have a responsibility to strengthen our communities. And know Starbucks impact in communities is most meaningful when our efforts begin with our partners who know their neighbors best.
Nowhere is that truer than our hometown of Seattle – where we've worked with our neighbors and partners to help strengthen our community for 50 years.
About One Roof Foundation
The Seattle Kraken and Climate Pledge Arena joined forces to create One Roof Foundation, which serves as the philanthropic arm of both organizations. One Roof Foundation unites the Seattle Kraken, Climate Pledge Arena, and our community under one roof to create a more equitable society and a healthy planet where all people can realize a brighter future. One Roof Foundation works to ensure all kids have a roof over their head, access to play, clean air to breathe. For more information about One Roof Foundation please visit www.onerooffoundation.org
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SOURCE Seattle Kraken | 2022-05-24T14:07:27+00:00 | live5news.com | https://www.live5news.com/prnewswire/2022/05/24/seattle-kraken-announce-fund-honor-community-excellence/ |
If summer had to be narrowed down to one flavor, we’d have to pucker up for lemon. Its citrus kick just spreads a big ray of sunshine on desserts and drinks for the ultimate summer sensation.
And, while a tall glass of lemonade feels refreshing on a hot day, sometimes the adults want a drink of their own to celebrate the season at a cookout or party. How about mixing up a lemon drop martini at your next get-together for a classic drink with a citrus twist?
We like to refer to this drink as a grown-up version of lemonade, and it’s the perfect summer drink not just for its sweet-tart flavor, but also because it’s so simple to make. Most recipes for a lemon drop martini require only a few ingredients. That means you can whip up a bunch in a flash and keep the party going.
According to The Kitchn, the origins of the lemon drop martini aren’t fully known, and the only things it has in common with a classic martini are the glass it’s served in and the fact that it contains vodka. As a result, many beverage experts refer to this drink simply as the lemon drop.
Whatever you want to call this drink, we know you’re going to love adding it to your summer beverage menu. Make sure you add the sugar to the rim of the glass for that extra touch of flair!
Before you make the recipe from The Kitchn, you’ll want to make sure you have fresh-squeezed lemon juice, vodka, orange liqueur, such as Cointreau or Grand Marnier, and simple syrup on hand.
You will want to squeeze the lemons yourself for the freshest, best-tasting juice for your lemon drop martini. If you’re making individual servings, a hand juicer will do the job well. However, if you decide to make a pitcher of lemon drop martinis, consider a manual juicer or an electric model to save time.
Read The Kitchn’s full recipe for a lemon drop martini here.
When you’re done, you’ll have the perfect drink to toast a beautiful summer day or evening!
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Checkout Simplemost for additional stories. | 2022-07-25T18:29:57+00:00 | kgun9.com | https://www.kgun9.com/lemon-drop-martini-recipe-summer |
ASTI, Italy (AP) — Pope Francis honored his northern Italian roots on Sunday by celebrating a special Mass in his father’s hometown and encouraging younger generations to not be indifferent to the poverty and misery all around them.
Thousands of people turned out to greet Francis during his rare personal weekend getaway to the province of Asti, near Turin, and he returned the favor by taking a long popemobile ride around town.
On Saturday, he made a private visit to relatives who still live in the area and celebrated the 90th birthday of his second cousin. On Sunday, he was given the honorary citizenship of Asti and celebrated Mass in the city’s cathedral, where he assumed the role of a local parish priest ministering to his flock.
“From these lands, my father set out as an immigrant to Argentina, and to these lands, rendered precious by the rich fruits of the soil and above all by the native industriousness of their people, I have now returned to rediscover and savor my roots,” he said at the start of his homily.
Asti Bishop Marco Prastaro told Francis he is always welcome back home and recalled that when he was elected pontiff in 2013, Francis quipped that his fellow cardinals had gone to the “ends of the Earth” to find a new pope.
“Today we’d like to think that Asti, the land of your family roots, is the beginning of the world,” Prastaro said as the pope chuckled.
Francis hasn’t returned home to his own birthplace in Buenos Aires since assuming the papacy nearly 10 years ago and he rarely speaks about his family, siblings or childhood. The exception is his frequent reference to the important role his paternal grandmother, Rosa, had in his upbringing and in passing along her Catholic faith.
Francis used some of the Piedmont dialect Rosa taught him in thanking the people of Asti for welcoming him and urged young people in particular to not “stay still thinking about ourselves, wasting our lives and chasing after comfort or the latest fads, but to aim for the heights, get on the move, leaving behind our own fears to take someone in need by the hand.”
Francis’ grandmother, Rosa Vassallo and the pope’s grandfather ran a café in Turin and left Italy to join family members who had settled in Argentina, part of the mass migration of Italians to the Americas at the start of the last century. They and their only son, the pope’s father, Mario Jose Francisco Bergoglio, arrived in Buenos Aires in early 1929.
Once there, Mario Bergoglio met another descendant of Italian immigrant stock, Regina Maria Sivori, whom he married in 1935. A year later, the first of their five children was born: Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the future pope.
The Bergoglio family had originally planned to set sail from Italy at the end of 1927 on the Principessa Mafalda ocean liner, but their departure was delayed as they sold off their home and the Turin cafe. In the end, the Mafalda sank off Bahia, Brazil, on Oct. 25, 1927, killing at least 300 of its more than 1,000 passengers and crew. The Bergoglios set sail the following year, on the Giulio Cesare liner, and have always “thanked divine providence” that they didn’t leave on the Mafalda, the future pope wrote in 1990.
According to family legend, grandmother Rosa stepped off the Giulio Cesare in Buenos Aires wearing a full-length fox-trimmed coat, even though it was the height of summer in the southern hemisphere. In his biography of the pontiff “Pope Francis: Untying the Knots,” historian Paul Vallely explained: “Sewn into its lining was the entire proceeds of the sale of the family’s home and café back in Piedmont.”
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Winfield reported from Rome. | 2022-11-21T09:41:54+00:00 | ourquadcities.com | https://www.ourquadcities.com/news/ap-top-headlines/ap-pope-honors-family-roots-in-northern-italy-with-rare-outing/ |
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks with Heather Conley, president of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, about the Biden administration's approach to diplomacy with Russia.
Copyright 2022 NPR
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks with Heather Conley, president of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, about the Biden administration's approach to diplomacy with Russia.
Copyright 2022 NPR | 2022-10-30T12:23:21+00:00 | iowapublicradio.org | https://www.iowapublicradio.org/2022-10-30/understanding-the-biden-administrations-approach-to-diplomacy-with-russia |
Ticket-splitters are poised to play a pivotal role in a handful of key battleground states, like Pennsylvania and Georgia, where signs are growing that voters may be willing to cross party lines for certain candidates.
In Georgia, where voters will choose their next governor and U.S. senator next week, polling has routinely shown Gov. Brian Kemp leading his Democratic rival Stacey Abrams by distinct margins, while Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) has maintained a narrow edge over Herschel Walker, the Republican Senate nominee.
A similar dynamic is playing out in Pennsylvania, where Democrat Josh Shapiro has opened up a sizable advantage over Republican Doug Mastriano in the race for governor. Meanwhile, in the state’s Senate race, Democrat John Fetterman has seen his once-yawning lead over Republican nominee Mehmet Oz evaporate, leaving the two candidates virtually deadlocked.
Taken together, the polls suggest that voters who cast their ballots for candidates of different parties could make the difference in some of the nation’s premier races, despite a decades-long decline in ticket-splitting and heightened political polarization.
“I think that the benefits of being hyperpartisan are starting to fall off,” said Keith Naughton, a veteran Republican strategist. “For both parties, it’s doing as much to drive their opponents’ turnout as it does their own. So it’s going to come down more to a more moderate, middle grouping of the public that’s willing to split their votes.”
Some strategists said that the potential for ticket-splitting this year shouldn’t come as a total surprise.
Voters tend to be less likely to vote according to party lines in midterm elections compared to presidential election years when partisan sentiments tend to run higher. At the same time, factors like incumbent advantages and concerns about candidate quality may be driving some Americans to split their votes.
Kemp, for instance, has maintained an above-water approval rating for much of his first term in the governor’s mansion. And despite his pursuit of a hard-line conservative agenda, there are signs that he’s managed to attract the support of some moderates and independents with popular policies like tax cuts and pay raises for teachers and state employees.
Walker, meanwhile, has seen his campaign ravaged by gaffes and controversies, including allegations that he paid for his now-ex-girlfriend to have an abortion in 2009. And while his race against Warnock remains tight, he’s polling several points behind Kemp in most public surveys, suggesting that voters that are committed to backing Kemp may have some reservations about Walker.
“I think at the end of the day, there are a lot of people who see Brian Kemp and Raphael Warnock as relatively stable figures,” one Democratic strategist who has worked on Georgia campaigns said. “Herschel Walker is a mess. Voters see that. And Stacey — she’s a good candidate, but it’s just hard to convince people to throw Kemp out of there.”
“I think voters are being more discerning about all of this than a lot of the political class, the media gives them credit for,” the strategist added.
That dynamic has played out repeatedly in polling. A Marist College survey released on Friday found Warnock and Walker deadlocked at 48 percent support among likely Georgia voters, while Kemp led Abrams by 8 points.
But when it comes to independents, they appear poised to break for the incumbents. Forty-eight percent said they’re supporting Kemp compared to 42 percent who are backing Abrams. Warnock, meanwhile, has the backing of 49 percent of independents, compared to Walker’s 42 percent.
Naughton also chalked the strength of candidates like Kemp and Shapiro up to the fact that they’re both current state officials seeking state-level offices. Kemp is seeking reelection to the governor’s mansion, while Shapiro is still serving out his second term as Pennsylvania’s attorney general.
Naughton said that unlike Senate races, which tend to be dominated by national — and often polarizing — issues, contests for governor’s mansions often hinge more on state and local issues.
“There’s a split between state and federal races. You have state-level politicians who are dealing with less ideological, more local concerns,” he said. “These races will turn on what they’ve done, what they’ve delivered.”
While split-ticket voters could potentially swing the outcomes in Georgia and Pennsylvania, there are similar trends playing out in other states. In Ohio, for instance, Gov. Mike DeWine, who’s seeking reelection this year, is running nearly 10 points ahead of Republican Senate nominee J.D. Vance, according to FiveThirtyEight’s polling average of the two races.
Likewise, in New Hampshire, Gov. Chris Sununu, a popular Republican incumbent, is widely favored to win his reelection bid, while Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) appears to have a slight edge over Republican Don Bolduc in the Granite State’s closely watched Senate race.
With Election Day just a few days out, candidates in tough races are acutely aware that they’ll need to rally the support of ticket-splitters if they want to make it across the finish line next week. Facing the potential for defeat, Fetterman’s campaign aired an ad recently tying Oz to Mastriano, saying that he would allow politicians like the Republican gubernatorial candidate to “ban abortion without exception.”
Abrams employed a similar tactic during a debate with Kemp late last month, saying that the Georgia governor “defended Herschel Walker,” whom she referred to as Kemp’s “running mate.”
Chuck Clay, a former state senator and Georgia GOP chair, said that Kemp and Warnock’s relative strengths in their races are simply evidence of Georgia’s growing status as a battleground, where candidates can’t rely solely on a party-line vote to win.
“Georgians are going to vote the way they’re going to vote,” Clay said. | 2022-11-06T19:48:58+00:00 | wwlp.com | https://www.wwlp.com/hill-politics/ticket-splitters-could-play-key-role-in-battleground-states/ |
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Attorneys for a Republican prosecutor urged a judge Thursday to toss out a lawsuit seeking to repeal Wisconsin’s 174-year-old abortion ban, arguing that a newer state law permitting pre-viability abortions complements the ban rather than supersedes it, as Democrats maintain.
Wisconsin lawmakers passed a law in 1849 that outlaws abortion except to save the mother’s life. The U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Roe vs. Wade decision in 1973 that legalized abortion statewide effectively voided the ban. It was held in abeyance for nearly five decades until the high court struck down Roe vs. Wade last year. The decision reactivated the ban.
State Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat, filed the lawsuit in Dane County circuit court last June seeking to repeal the ban. Kaul argues that the 1849 law is so old it was essentially adopted without the people’s consent; or alternately, that more permissive restrictions on abortion enacted in Wisconsin in 1985 to comply with Roe v. Wade supersede the older statute. The 1985 legislation permits terminating pregnancies up until a fetus can survive outside the womb
Kaul has named three district attorneys in counties that were home to abortion clinics as defendants, including Sheboygan County’s Republican prosecutor, Joel Urmanski. He filed a motion to dismiss the case in December.
Dane County Circuit Judge Diane Schlipper listened to more than 90 minutes of oral arguments on the motion Thursday. She didn’t issue a decision from the bench, and it’s unclear when she might release a ruling.
Urmanski’s lead attorney, Matthew Thome, first argued that Kaul lacks the legal standing to challenge the ban because it doesn’t affect his ability to perform his duties as attorney general.
Kaul’s argument that the ban is so old it’s unenforceable is a “stretch,” Thome added. Laws don’t vanish from the books, and the only reason the ban wasn’t enforced was that the original 1973 Roe v. Wade decision blocked it, he said.
He also maintained that legislators never repealed the ban. Modern-day laws restricting abortion, including the 1985 post-viability restriction , co-exist with the ban in “harmony,” he said. The new laws give county prosecutors charging options, he said.
Assistant Attorney General Hannah Jurss maintained that the ban clearly conflicts with modern-day laws that permit abortion in some circumstances, creating confusion that only a judge can clarify. Kaul has legal standing because he’s Wisconsin’s top law enforcement official, and he needs to know what laws apply in the state, she said.
The modern laws don’t mean anything if the ban allows an abortion only to save the mother’s life, she added.
“It can’t be that the law says something is illegal and legal at the same time,” Jurss said.
She acknowledged that the argument that the ban is too old to be enforced has little precedent in Wisconsin. But she said the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade was unprecedented as well.
Schlipper offered few hints on which way she is leaning. She did take Thome to task over his contention that prosecutors can pick and choose which abortion laws to enforce.
“So, we’re back to doctors should choose their counties carefully?” the judge said. “People have a right to know which law applies where.”
She also questioned Jurss on whether the doctrine of implied repeal applies in the case. The doctrine is a legal concept that states’ newer laws supersede old ones.
Jurss responded that modern abortion laws address the same issue as the ban so the doctrine applies. Thome urged the judge to “get back to principles,” pointing out again that the Legislature has chosen not to repeal the ban and Schlipper shouldn’t substitute her judgment for that of policymakers.
The case carries so much weight that no matter what happens in Schlipper’s courtroom or at the appellate level, it will almost certainly end up at the state Supreme Court.
That plays to Kaul’s advantage because liberal-leaning justices will hold a 4-3 majority on the court after Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Janet Protasiewicz is sworn in this August. Protasiewicz signaled repeatedly during her campaign that she supports abortion rights, an unprecedented approach in a judicial race. | 2023-05-04T19:59:10+00:00 | kron4.com | https://www.kron4.com/news/national/ap-us-news/wisconsin-judge-to-hear-first-arguments-in-abortion-lawsuit/ |
SALEM, N.H., Nov. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Standex International Corporation (NYSE: SXI) announced today that David Dunbar, President & CEO, will be presenting at Baird's 2022 Global Industrial Conference in Chicago on Thursday, November 10, 2022.
Interested parties may access the Company's presentation on the Investor Relations section of Standex's website under the subheading, Events and Presentations, located on the Company's website standex.com.
Standex International Corporation is a global multi-industry manufacturer in five broad business segments: Electronics, Engraving, Scientific, Engineering Technologies, and Specialty Solutions with operations in the United States, Europe, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Mexico, Brazil, Turkey, South Africa, India and China. For additional information, visit the Company's website standex.com.
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SOURCE Standex International Corporation | 2022-11-09T16:11:40+00:00 | kwtx.com | https://www.kwtx.com/prnewswire/2022/11/09/standex-present-bairds-2022-global-industrial-conference/ |
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — It was a Christmas miracle for a Winston-Salem pastor who has faced hardship after hardship.
Bishop Charles Edward Gwynn, Jr. has faced many obstacles in life.
He says he lost his mother and dogs back in 2018 and a year before that, his home caught fire, ruining much of what's on the inside.
Since then, he has been living in apartments.
In 2019, he was homeless and living on the street for about a year. Now, he struggles, living paycheck to paycheck.
Recently, Pastor Gwynn needed some work done on his car. He took it to a close friend of nearly 25 years, Jeff Moser at R&R Automotive and tire.
After all, was said and done, the bill was hefty, nearly $1,200.
Gwynn didn’t know how he would be able to afford it and even thought about leaving the car in the shop until he could pay to get it out.
Thankfully, he didn’t have to worry about that for long.
Moser paid the entire bill for Gwynn so he could take the car home that day.
“They are working on your heart, because this is a new side of the United States of America, for everybody works together. Everybody has a true natural love for one another,” Pastor Gwynn said.
Moser says he just wants to help people and tries to help as many people as he can.
“It makes me feel good emotionally. It touches my heart to help people. I just love to help people,” Moser said.
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Amazon Fire TV: Search for WFMY to find the free app to add to your account. You can also add the app directly to your Fire TV through your Amazon account. | 2022-12-24T21:31:24+00:00 | wcnc.com | https://www.wcnc.com/article/life/heartwarming/winston-salem-car-shop-pays-bill-for-pastor-in-need/83-a3438acc-ec3b-4e87-a79b-b55a90f097ad |
Renting for a cause
LOS ANGELES, June 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Yanni Raz announces a new collaboration with two of the most powerful nonprofit organizations in California, committed to finding a home for low-income families and individuals. Brilliant Corners and PATH.
Raz, also known as "The King of Hard Money," said that renovations are under way in a 16-unit building in the heart of Montebello. CA. The units are also already being shown to individuals in federal, as well as local housing vouchers that will call this place home.
With these efforts we are not just offering shelter, we are creating permanent housing for people that otherwise would end up on the streets, said Yanni Raz, a Hard Money Lender and Real Estate Investor, that is concerned about the homelessness situation in our State. The reason I decided to join PATH and Brilliant Corners, is because they are not just interested in finding a place for low-income residents, they go above and beyond in their efforts to provide a safety net for people with mental health and other diagnoses. My vision, Raz added, is a safer community for everyone.
Committed to help the community, Raz will soon break ground on three other projects in the San Fernando Valley, a multi-million-dollar development that will have the capacity to house at least 50 families and individuals.
Yanni Raz is the CEO of HML Investments a Hard Money Lending company founded in 2014 and is based in the San Fernando Valley.
Media Inquiries:
Mirthala Salinas
mirthala@hmlinvestments.com
818-434-1333
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SOURCE HML Investments | 2023-06-26T14:00:38+00:00 | kswo.com | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/06/26/yanni-raz-king-hard-money-takes-steps-end-homelessness-los-angeles-county/ |
How credit scores are evolving to improve access to credit
NEW YORK (AP) — A lowcredit score can hurt your ability to take out a loan, secure a good interest rate, or increase the spending limit on your credit card.
Some reasons for a low score are out of your control — such as unexpected medical debt or a lack of credit history.
Credit rating agencies are working to improve access to credit by giving people more time to pay medical bills before the debt appears in reports, and by removing other debt completely. They’re also making it easier to count rent, utility payments, and other recurring bills — a boon for those who need credit the most.
Here’s what to know:
WHAT IS A CREDIT SCORE AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
Put simply, a credit score is a formula that lenders use to decide how likely you are to pay back a loan. If you’re considered a risky bet, you will pay more to borrow or may not be able to borrow at all.
The factors that go into calculating your score are complicated, and advocates say it’s a positive that ratings agencies have started making it easier for consumers to prove that they’ll able to pay back money they borrow. It’s especially important for so-called “thin file” consumers — those with a lack of extensive credit history, who are often younger or lower income.
“I do see that efforts are being made in order to equalize the credit score,” said Rosalyn Glenn, a financial advisor at Prudential who focuses on expanding financial access. “For instance, adding rental payments to credit reports, because there is a segment of the population that rents and does not own. That’s exciting — because the score can give them an opportunity for better rates on things like insurance and loans. I do believe progress is being made there.”
WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH MEDICAL DEBT?
After conducting industry research during the pandemic, the three most-used credit rating agencies found that consumers with medical expenses were just as likely to be creditworthy as those without.
Effective July of last year, paid medical collection debt is no longer included on consumer credit reports, and the time period before unpaid medical collection debt appears is now a year, up from six months. That gives people more time to work with insurance and healthcare providers to pay off the debt.
In the first half of 2023, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion will also remove medical collection debt under $500 from credit reports.
When Jonnathan Alvarado, 25, was in a car accident this past year, he knew health expenses wouldn’t be the only hit to his finances. A landscaping contractor in Plainfield, New Jersey, who prides himself on careful financial behavior, Alvarado faced knee surgery at the beginning of his busiest work season, which hurt his productivity.
Alvarado said he only realized in retrospect the consequences for his access to credit. Even after insurance, Alvarado still owed in the vicinity of $1,200, which he took several months to pay off. During that time, his credit score dropped to 680, still considered good, but lower than it had been. When he finished paying the debt, it jumped to 775, the highest it had ever been.
It was only when Alvarado looked into what caused the decline and rebound that he learned the lingering medical debt had been responsible.
“A difference of almost a hundred points,” Alvarado said. “I would have paid it off sooner, if I had known.”
David Anthony, 43, who drives a service truck in Baltimore, only learned that medical debt was dragging his credit down when an employer pointed out the high interest rate he was paying on an auto loan. After looking into his score, Anthony disputed certain medical bills, some of which had been paid, eventually bringing his score up from the 500s to above 700.
“I got a great loan on the cars that I have now,” he said. “That first car — it was a 17 percent interest rate. That’s what raised the red flag to my employer.”
Anthony is now down to a single-digit interest loan.
HOW ELSE CAN I INCREASE MY CREDIT SCORE?
Although consumers have long been able to add rent and utility bill payments to their credit files, the bureaus have made these additions easier and less costly in recent years.
Experian, for example, has an option for consumers to opt into a service, “Experian Boost,” that counts these kinds of payments without charging a fee. (In some other cases, companies may charge the renter or landlord for the trouble of filing the additional information in credit reports, since it isn’t automatically included as a matter of course. Those who use the program often see an increase in their scores.
“You’re making a payment once a month for a service you receive — very much like getting a loan,” said Rod Griffin, financial health advocate at Experian. “What we found in our research was that those kinds of pieces of information do indicate that a person may be a better credit risk than their report might show if they have very little credit.”
For people with thin credit files or scores below 680, Experian sees an average increase in the neighborhood of 19 points, according to Griffin. Others might see their scores increase 12 or 13 points. About two-thirds of people see an improvement in their scores, but the tool helps even those who don’t build a longer credit history, Griffin said.
To use the tool, you give Experian permission to capture your monthly payment history and bank information — whether that’s a cellphone plan, water bill, streaming service subscription, or rent.
For Brandon Reese, 41, a financial planner in Dallas, Texas, it made sense for him to help his 20-year-old daughter, a nursing student in San Antonia, opt in.
“When she first opened a line of credit, her score dropped,” he said. “But with this, we were able to get it about 15 percent higher.”
Reese said he also advises his retired clients to use the programs.
“For older people, they have low credit scores, too, because they’ve paid everything off,” he said. “So their credit goes down. But now — Verizon, AT&T. Hulu, the Disney bundle, Netflix, your gas bill — fintech companies can justify those as payment histories.”
Tech companies that provide similar services to Experian Boost, either at low or no cost, have proliferated.
“That is now one of the number one things we encourage people to do,” said Silvio Tavares, CEO of VantageScore, another provider of national consumer credit scores. Like FICO, VantageScore uses the credit reports compiled by Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to calculate a rating of credit-worthiness using its own algorithm. “If you’re engaging in credit-worthy behavior — like paying rent and utilities on time, you want to include that.”
HOW DO I OPT IN?
To include alternative credit information on your report, you have several options. One is to opt-in to ExperianBoost or Ultra FICO by going to the companies’ websites and granting permission for them to access your checking, savings, or money market accounts. This will allow the credit bureau or scoring company to analyze your spending, saving, and consistent payment histories. While other financial tech platforms provide similar services, these two options do not charge fees.
___
The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2023-02-22T15:56:31+00:00 | newschannel6now.com | https://www.newschannel6now.com/2023/02/22/how-credit-scores-are-evolving-improve-access-credit/ |
Man arrested after leading state police on car, foot chase on Detroit's west side
Charles E. Ramirez
The Detroit News
A man was arrested early Monday after he ran from police who stopped him on Detroit's west side for driving an SUV with a stolen license plate, officials said.
Troopers tried to stop the Jeep at about 1:50 a.m. on westbound Interstate 96 near Greenfield Road because it had a license plate that had been reported stolen and the vehicle matched the description of a Jeep involved in a shooting, they said.
Police said the driver drove away from troopers, who pursued him. The chase ended when the suspect got out of the Jeep near Sussex Street and Grand River Avenue and ran. Troopers chased the man, who hopped over several fences. Troopers who arrived at the scene caught and arrested the man, 31.
cramirez@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @CharlesERamirez | 2023-02-06T13:40:20+00:00 | detroitnews.com | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2023/02/06/man-arrested-after-leading-state-police-on-car-foot-chase-on-detroits-west-side/69875848007/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — More than 40 million Americans could see their student loan debt reduced — and in many cases eliminated — under the long-awaited forgiveness plan President Joe Biden announced Wednesday, a historic but politically divisive move in the run-up to the midterm elections.
Fulfilling a campaign promise, Biden is erasing $10,000 in federal student loan debt for those with incomes below $125,000 a year, or households that earn less than $250,000. He’s canceling an additional $10,000 for those who received federal Pell Grants to attend college.
It’s seen as an unprecedented attempt to stem the tide of America’s rapidly rising student debt, but it doesn’t address the broader issue — the high cost of college.
Republicans quickly denounced the plan as an insult to Americans who have repaid their debt and to those who didn’t attend college. Critics across the political spectrum also questioned whether Biden has authority for the move, and legal challenges are virtually certain.
Biden also extended a pause on federal student loan payments for what he called the “final time.” The pause is now set to run through the end of the year, with repayments to restart in January.
“Both of these targeted actions are for families who need it the most: working and middle-class people hit especially hard during the pandemic,” Biden said at the White House on Wednesday afternoon.
The cancellation applies to federal student loans used to attend undergraduate and graduate school, along with Parent Plus loans. Current college students qualify if their loans were issued before July 1. For dependent students, their parents’ household income must be below $250,000.
Most people will need to apply for the relief. The Education Department has income data for a small share of borrowers, but the vast majority will need to prove their incomes through an application process. Officials said applications will be available before the end of the year.
Biden’s plan makes 43 million borrowers eligible for some debt forgiveness, with 20 million who could get their debt erased entirely, according to the administration. About 60% of borrowers are recipients of federal Pell Grants, which are reserved for undergraduates with the most significant financial need, meaning more than half can get $20,000 in relief.
Sabrina Cartan, a 29-year-old media strategist in New York City, is expecting her federal debt to get wiped out entirely. When she checked the balance Wednesday, it was $9,940.
Cartan used the loans to attend Tufts University, and with Biden’s plan she will be able to help her parents repay the additional thousands they borrowed for her education. As a first-generation college student, she called it a “leveling moment.”
“I know there are people who feel that this isn’t enough, and that is true for a lot of people,” said Cartan, who already has repaid about $10,000 of her loans. “I can say for me personally and for a lot of people, that is a lot of money.”
For Braxton Simpson, Biden’s plan is a great first step, but it’s not enough. The 23-year-old MBA student at North Carolina Central University has more than $40,000 in student loans. As an undergraduate student she took jobs to minimize her debt, but at $10,000 a semester, the costs piled up.
As a Black woman, she felt higher education was a requirement to obtain a more stable financial future, even if that meant taking on large amounts of debt, she said.
“In order for us to get out of a lot of the situations that have been systemically a part of our lives, we have to go to school,” Simpson said. “And so we end up in debt.”
The plan doesn’t apply to future college students, but Biden is proposing a separate rule that would reduce monthly payments on federal student debt.
The proposal would create a new payment plan requiring borrowers to pay no more than 5% of their earnings, down from 10% in similar existing plans. It would forgive any remaining balance after 10 years, down from 20 years now.
It would also raise the floor for repayments, meaning no one earning less than 225% of the federal poverty level would need to make monthly payments.
As a regulation, it would not require congressional approval. But it can take more than a year to finalize.
Biden’s plan comes after more than a year of deliberation, with the president facing strong lobbying from liberals who wanted sweeping debt forgiveness, and from moderates and conservatives who questioned its basic fairness or said it does nothing to fix the debt crisis.
“In my view, the administration should have further targeted the relief, and proposed a way to pay for this plan,” said Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo. “While immediate relief to families is important, one-time debt cancellation does not solve the underlying problem.”
Once a popular campaign promise during the presidential primary, the issue created an almost unwinnable situation. Still, many Democrats rallied around it, including support from those who wanted Biden to go beyond $10,000.
“I will keep pushing for more because I think it’s the right thing to do,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who had urged Biden to forgive up to $50,000 a person. “But we need to take a deep breath here and recognize what it means for the president of the United States to touch so many hard-working middle class families so directly.”
Proponents see cancellation as a matter of racial justice. Black students are more likely to take out federal student loans and at higher amounts than their white peers.
The NAACP, which pressed Biden to cancel at least $50,000 per person, said the plan is “one step closer” to lifting the burden of student debt.
Derrick Johnson, the group’s president, urged Biden to cancel the debt quickly and without bureaucratic hurdles for borrowers.
Biden’s decision to impose an income cap goes against objections from some who say adding the detailed application process to verify incomes could deter some borrowers who need help the most.
The Biden administration defended the cap as a gate against wealthier borrowers. Politically, it’s designed to counter arguments from critics who call debt cancellation a handout for the wealthy. Republicans hit hard with that argument on Wednesday despite the cap.
“President Biden’s inflation is crushing working families, and his answer is to give away even more government money to elites with higher salaries,” Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell said. “Democrats are literally using working Americans’ money to try to buy themselves some enthusiasm from their political base.”
One of the chief political sticking points has been the cost: Biden’s new plan, including debt cancellation, a new repayment plan and the payment freeze, will cost between $400 billion to $600 billion, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonprofit that advocates for lower deficits.
Asked about the cost Wednesday, Susan Rice, Biden’s domestic policy adviser, said, “I can’t give you that off the top of my head.”
There are also lingering questions about the administration’s authority to cancel student loan debt. The Justice Department released a legal opinion concluding that the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act gives the education secretary the “authority to reduce or eliminate the obligation to repay the principal balance of federal student loan debt.”
The legal opinion also concluded that the forgiveness could be applied on a “class-wide” basis in response to the coronavirus pandemic, a national emergency..
Lawsuits are likely nonetheless. The Job Creators Network, which promotes conservative economic policies, said it was considering legal options, with president and CEO Alfredo Ortiz calling the president’s effort “fundamentally unfair” to those who never took out loans for college. | 2022-08-25T20:00:36+00:00 | wishtv.com | https://www.wishtv.com/news/politics/student-loan-forgiveness-could-help-more-than-40-million/ |
Five years ago this month, Illinois lawmakers passed legislation that overhauled the way public schools in the state are funded.
The so-called Evidence Based Funding formula, or EBF, was designed to calculate the actual cost for each district to provide the kind of education the state expects, and then gradually increase the share of that cost that’s paid for by the state.
Over time, it was also supposed to narrow the disparity between the best-funded and worst-funded districts in the state, with the hope of lowering property taxes and improving academic achievement in the most underfunded districts.
Five years later, huge disparities still exist among districts, both in funding and academic performance, but lawmakers from both parties who were part of negotiating the new law say it has provided huge benefits, especially to those schools that were most underfunded.
“I use the example of East St. Louis, that I think at the time had the highest property tax rate but was nowhere near adequate spending,” said Andy Manar, a former state senator and now deputy governor who was a chief architect of the plan.
“And if you did the math at the time, the math would show that East St. Louis literally could not tax itself enough to generate the funds needed to say that the school district has an adequate level of spending to achieve the results that we as a state expect of that school district. They literally could not tax themselves into equity. It was mathematically impossible.”
In fiscal year 2018, the first year under the formula, the East St. Louis district was funded at 66 percent of adequacy. This year, it is funded at 96 percent of adequacy.
Republican state Sen. Chapin Rose, who represents a largely rural area in east central Illinois, said many of the districts in his area faced the same challenge.
“I do think that for many of the areas I represent, it was a lifeline,” he said. “It's kept doors open and, in some instances, provided a much needed infusion, because they simply couldn't keep going back to the property tax well. That was dried up.”
History of inequity
Illinois has traditionally relied on local property taxes to fund most educational spending. That has automatically led to built-in inequities because districts with relatively low levels of property wealth per-pupil must levy higher tax rates to raise the same amount of money as wealthier districts.
To offset those differences, prior to adoption of the EBF formula, the state used a complex formula to distribute state aid that was supposed to guarantee districts with modest tax bases a certain minimum level of “foundational” funding, although even the wealthiest districts received aid under that formula, even if they were more than able to raise adequate funding on their own.
Many districts complained that the formula never lived up to its promise of guaranteeing adequate funding to all districts, in part because the General Assembly did not fully fund the formula. Instead, it distributed “prorated” amounts, based on how much money was available in the state budget at the time.
Manar cited the example of Harrisburg High School, in southern Illinois, where the ceiling of the library had been removed because the district didn’t have enough money for basic repairs and maintenance.
“And, you know, we held a town hall on school funding in that library – the location underscored the need for the bill,” he said. “And Harrisburg High School wasn't unlike so many other places across Illinois, not just rural parts of the state. It was a result of years of proration of general state aid, and years of the inability to tackle the very complicated nature of school funding.”
For decades, school districts across Illinois tried to turn to state courts to correct the inequities, arguing among other things that the 1970 Illinois Constitution provides that, “The State has the primary responsibility for financing the system of public education.”
But state courts have consistently declined to get into the school finance fray. As far back as 1973, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that that provision was merely “a hortatory expression of a goal to be achieved” and not a mandate for the state to take over school funding.
In 1990, a group of 50 school districts calling themselves the Committee for Educational Rights sued the state claiming the system produced vast disparities in educational resources between rich and poor districts in violation of several provisions of the Illinois Constitution, including its equal protection clause and a clause requiring the state to provide “an efficient system of high-quality public educational institutions and services.”
But when that case reached the Illinois Supreme Court six years later, the justices ruled there were no judicial standards to determine whether the state was providing “high-quality” education and that the decision about how to fund schools – and how to balance the competing interests of equity and local control – was a legislative matter, not a judicial one.
The EBF formula
After more than a year of negotiations, Illinois lawmakers finally struck a deal that would, over a period of years, put more state money into public schools to bring the least-funded districts up to a level of adequacy – assuming, of course, that the General Assembly lives up to its obligations.
The final vote came during a special summer session in August 2017, during which lawmakers also ended the two-year budget stalemate with Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.
The goal of the new formula is to gradually bring all districts up to an “adequate” level of funding, or having enough resources to cover the cost of providing the educational services the state expects. That takes into account a district’s total enrollment, poverty rate, the number of English language learners and a host of other factors.
Each year, under the law, the state is to add at least $350 million in new funding for schools, with the bulk of that money going to those furthest from adequacy. But the law provided that no district would see a reduction in funding from the final year before its passage, a so-called “hold-harmless” provision that meant even the wealthiest districts would continue to receive state aid.
People on both sides of the aisle said that was necessary because without a hold-harmless provision, the bill never would have passed.
“It's a living breathing formula, and it changes year to year, and so the mechanics of the formula eventually fade that out,” Manar said. “But I think it brought a level of certainty. It brought a level of guarantee and, frankly, a level of comfort to a very complicated question of how we reform a very complicated and important system. …So a lot of people didn't like it. I personally did not. But it was necessary to get it done.”
Republican Sen. Jason Barickman, of Bloomington, who was also a key negotiator in the process, agreed that it was politically necessary.
“It was a politically practical, pragmatic decision,” he said. “I was very focused on getting something done. And it was very apparent to me that we weren't going to get something done without a hold-harmless. So while I think a hold-harmless has policy challenges, we weren't going to let perfection get in the way of getting something done.”
So far in the first five years, the state has met or exceeded that funding target in all but one year, raising the state’s share of school funding from $6.9 billion in fiscal year 2017, the last year under the old formula, to $9.8 billion allocated this year.
It also drove the state’s percentage of K-12 education upward, according to ISBE data. In FY 2017, the state provided 24.4 percent of K-12 funding. In FY 2020, the latest year for which audited numbers are available, that number rose to 27 percent.
Signs of progress
According to data from the Illinois State Board of Education, it would still take another $3.6 billion in state funding this year alone to bring all districts up to 90 percent of “adequate” funding, a goal set in statute. But the state has made some progress toward addressing the needs of the least-funded districts.
In the first year of evidence-based funding, there were 168 districts that were funded at less than 60 percent of adequacy. Those were the ones that were first in line for new funding when the EBF formula took effect.
For the upcoming year, there are only two districts below that level – Washington Community High School District 308 in Tazewell County and Chaney-Monge School District 88, an elementary district in Will County. Both are funded this year at 59 percent of adequacy.
The gap between the least-funded and best-funded districts has also narrowed, if only slightly. During the first year, funding levels ranged from a low of 47 percent to a high of 288 percent of adequacy. This year, the gap ranges from 59 percent to 270 percent.
Gov. JB Pritzker said during a recent news conference he believes the state must continue to increase its investment in education to increase outcomes and decrease reliance on property taxes.
“A lot of good has been done, there's no doubt about it,” he said. “And as you know, Evidence Based Funding was both necessary to get money to the schools that needed it most and to make sure that we're improving the education funding overall, across the state of Illinois. I personally think that we need to fund our education system even more.”
So far, though, there is little evidence that the new money has helped improve academic performance for students because the COVID-19 pandemic severely interfered with annual testing in 2020 and 2021.
Prior to the pandemic, though, the connection between school funding and student achievement was evident.
For example, in 2019, the last year before the pandemic, Central City School District 133, an elementary district in Marion County, was the least-funded district in the state at 52 percent of adequacy. That year, only 26.8 percent of its students met or exceeded state standards in English language arts, and only 8.5 percent did so in math.
By contrast, Rondout School District 72, an elementary district in Lake County, was the best-funded district, at 280 percent of adequacy. There, 65.1 percent met or exceeded state standards in English language arts while 49.4 percent did so in math.
Like many states, Illinois did not administer state assessments in 2020 due to the pandemic, and results from the 2021 tests are believed to have been affected by the pandemic. Results of the 2022 tests will be released later this year.
Barickman recalled there was a debate over whether to tie increased funding to improved student outcomes, to hold districts accountable for the new money they would receive. In the end, he said, lawmakers chose to go another route by pairing the new funding system with a form of taxpayer-supported scholarships for private schools, what is now known as the Invest in Kids Act.
“No one was fully, you know, exactly happy, which generally means we probably did a decent job, I suppose,” he said. “But we chose not to penalize failing school districts, but to equip children and families with resources that might give them a choice on their educational experience. And I think we've seen a lot of success with that program.”
Manar, meanwhile, argued that the achievement gaps are the result of many factors, including decades of inequitable funding, which the state has only recently started to address.
“What would those test scores have been had the least equitable system of school funding in the country been allowed to continue?” he asked.
He said as more money was put into the old formula, it made the inequity gap wider.
“So you know, those stats and that data aren't gathered in a sterile, perfect environment. There's a lot of things happening in 850 some-odd school districts in the state that have an impact on that too.”
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government that is distributed to more than 400 newspapers statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation. | 2022-08-24T16:47:46+00:00 | nprillinois.org | https://www.nprillinois.org/illinois/2022-08-24/as-evidence-based-funding-formula-turns-5-lawmakers-reflect-on-historic-legislation |
MOSCOW (AP) — Hundreds of people lined up Tuesday to pay tribute to the daughter of a leading right-wing Russian political thinker following the 29-year-old woman’s death in a car bombing that Moscow blamed on Ukrainian intelligence.
Speaking during a farewell ceremony held at a Moscow broadcast production center, Alexander Dugin said with his voice breaking that his daughter, a commentator with a nationalist Russian TV channel, “died for the people, died for Russia.”
“The huge price we have to pay can only be justified by the highest achievement, our victory,” Dugin said. “She lived for the sake of victory, and she died for the sake of victory. Our Russian victory, our truth, our Orthodox faith, our state.”
Darya Dugina was killed when a remotely controlled explosive device planted in her SUV blew up on Saturday night as she was driving on the outskirts of Moscow, ripping the vehicle apart and killing her on the spot, authorities said.
Her father was widely believed to be the intended target. Dugin is a philosopher, writer and political theorist who ardently supports Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to send troops into Ukraine. Russian media quoted witnesses as saying that the SUV belonged to Dugin and that he had decided at the last minute to travel in another vehicle.
During the memorial service at the Ostankino television center, Dugin shared what he said were his daughter’s last words to him, spoken at a nationalist festival they both attended just before her death: “Father, I feel like a warrior, I feel like a hero. I want to be one, I don’t want any different fate. I want to be with my people, with my country.”
The car bombing, unusual for Moscow since the gang wars of the turbulent 1990s, triggered calls from Russian nationalists to respond by ramping up strikes on Ukraine. Ukraine has denied any involvement in the bombing.
Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, reaffirmed the denial late Monday, saying that “our special services have no relation to that.”
Leonid Slutsky, the head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the lower house of Russia’s parliament, attended Tuesday’s farewell ceremony for Dugina. Slutsky, who took part in several rounds of talks with Ukrainian negotiators in March, indicated the killing would have repercussions for the conflict in Ukraine.
“We see that Kyiv isn’t inclined to have talks, and my own position as a member of the negotiation team is that it would be hard to engage in talks after that horrible tragedy,” he said.
Putin on Monday sent a letter of condolences to Dugin and his wife, denouncing the “cruel and treacherous” killing and saying that Dugina “honestly served people and the Fatherland, proving what it means to be a patriot of Russia with her deeds.” He posthumously awarded Dugina the Order of Courage, one of Russia’s highest medals.
Russia’s Federal Security Service, or FSB, the main successor to the KGB, said Dugina’s killing was “prepared and perpetrated by the Ukrainian special services.”
The FSB charged that a Ukrainian citizen, Natalya Vovk, carried out the killing after arriving in Russia in July with her 12-year-old daughter and renting an apartment in the building where Dugina lived in order to shadow her. It said that Vovk and her daughter were at a nationalist festival that Dugin and his daughter attended just before the killing.
The agency said that Vovk drove to Estonia after the killing, using a different license plate for her vehicle.
Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu dismissed the Russian claim, saying in televised remarks that “we regard this as one instance of provocation in a very long line of provocations by the Russian Federation, and we have nothing more to say about it at the moment.”
Dugin, dubbed “Putin’s brain” and “Putin’s Rasputin” by some in the West, has been a prominent proponent of the “Russian world” concept, a spiritual and political ideology that emphasizes traditional values, the restoration of Russia’s global influence and the unity of all ethnic Russians throughout the world.
Dugin helped popularize the “Novorossiya,” or “New Russia” concept that Russia used to justify the 2014 annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula and its support of separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine. He has urged the Kremlin to step up its operations in Ukraine.
Dugin has also promoted authoritarian leadership in Russia and spoken with disdain of liberal Western values. He has been slapped with U.S. and European Union sanctions.
His daughter expressed similar views and had appeared as a commentator on the TV channel Tsargrad, where Dugin had served as chief editor.
Dugina herself was sanctioned by the U.S. in March for her work as chief editor of United World International, a website that Washington has described as a source of disinformation.
___
Jan M. Olsen contributed from Copenhagen. | 2022-08-23T14:55:54+00:00 | pix11.com | https://pix11.com/ap-international/mourners-pay-tribute-to-nationalist-killed-by-car-bombing/ |
The Browns added a historic, Hall-of-Fame twist for Day 2 of mandatory minicamp Wednesday as the team bussed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame for a day of team bonding and learning about the past legends of the game.
Rather than practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus and conduct normal team meetings in Berea, the Browns opted to take the hour-long drive south for a light 30-minute walkthrough practice, followed by a special presentation on "The Forgotten Four" and a team tour through the Hall.
"It's important for all of us in any walk of life to know the people that walked that path before you," Stefanski said. "I really try to take advantage of every one of these practices and every one of these minutes to remind ourselves — me and our players — about the people that came before us in not just the NFL, but our storied franchise."
The history-based experience started before the Browns stepped foot in Canton, too — they watched the "A Football Life" documentary on Jim Brown for their bus ride to Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, where they then conducted a short, helmetless practice in T-shirts and shorts on the turf.
"I've seen (the documentary) before," Stefanski said, "but it just felt important that the entire team saw that."
Check out photos of players and coaches working throughout the offseason
Many players hadn't previously visited the Hall of Fame, and the experience to walk the halls and practice at the stadium with their teammates made the experience even more special.
That was the case for Anthony Walker Jr., a six-year veteran who is entering his second season with the Browns. He previously asked Ron Brewer, the director of player engagement, if he knew anyone at the Hall because he wanted to visit.
Brewer smiled and told him to wait. The team hadn't yet announced their plans.
"I'm very excited," Walker said. "Understanding the players that come before you and have played this game, it's always a blessing. I've always prided myself on holding up that legacy on the hardwork and everything those players stood for. I'm trying to become the best player I can be with the hopes of getting to that point one day."
The visit was one of multiple activities and trips the Browns have organized this year to build team camaraderie.
Last week, they skipped their final day of organized team activities and traveled to the Cavaliers' practice facility for a shootaround and 3-point competition, an idea from Stefanski that stemmed from the amount of players who have been shooting on a basketball hoop at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus after practice.
QB Deshaun Watson organized a trip with the offense to the Bahamas, and DE Myles Garrett took the defense on a trip to Miami. Those have been some of the highlights of an offseason program where team bonding has been one of, if not the top priority.
It was even apparent in the light practice that the team was becoming a tighter-knit group. Several players exchanged jokes and danced to the rap music that played on the stadium speakers between drills. The defensive line also ended practice with a game of "pepper," where players had to catch and toss a ball around in a circle with one hand. If someone dropped the ball, they were out of the game, which almost always led to a big reaction from the group.
"To be a great team, you have to have that camaraderie," Walker said. "You have to have that team mindset because when you go through the dark days — sometimes when you lose — or the dog days of camp, the dog days of this grind, minicamp, and everything like that, you need that team brotherhood and team bond to bring the team together."
A trip to Canton will certainly help with that.
"It's such an amazing venue with the history of football in our backyard," Stefanski said. "We're very appreciative of them having us down here." | 2022-06-16T05:58:31+00:00 | clevelandbrowns.com | https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-visit-pro-football-hall-of-fame-for-day-2-of-minicamp |
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — A public hearing on the North Bend Wind project proposed for Hughes and Hyde Counties might be unnecessary.
Michael Bollweg and Judi Bollweg along with their businesses Bollweg Family LLLP and Tumbleweed Lodge have withdrawn as the only intervenors.
Their withdrawal was filed with the state Public Utilities Commission on Tuesday morning.
Brett Koenecke, a Pierre attorney representing North Bend, told the commission the settlement agreement with the Bollwegs was reached Monday night.
Koenecke said the commission’s staff prompted the parties to settle and also has offered to settle with the applicant.
“I don’t see roadblocks in the future on that,” Koenecke said. He expects a settlement agreement with the staff to be filed soon. But, he added, “I don’t want to give up next week’s hearing dates yet.”
The commission’s evidentiary hearing is set for December 13-14.
“I think this is coming to a settled conclusion. That’s my take on it,” Koenecke said.
Commission chair Chris Nelson agreed that the hearing dates should remain in place. Koenecke said his goal is to have the paperwork done this week. “I don’t want to pressure anybody else on that, but I’m hopeful,” Koenecke said.
James Malters, the Worthington, Minnesota, attorney representing the Bollwegs, told the commission they wouldn’t have any more to say about the matter at this point.
Amanda Reiss, a commission staff attorney, said proposed conditions were sent to North Bend and those would likely alleviate the staff’s concerns. She said the two days set for the hearing wouldn’t be needed and the matter could be handled after a commission meeting. | 2022-12-06T19:13:28+00:00 | keloland.com | https://www.keloland.com/news/capitol-news-bureau/bollwegs-withdrawal-clears-way-for-north-bend-wind/ |
A NEW TYPE OF LOVE STORY FOR COUPLES AT EVERY STAGE OF LIFE AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 3
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Jan. 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Karen Abercrombie's latest movie, "Heaven Sent," is destined to debut exclusively on Pure Flix on February 3, 2023.
The new romantic comedy shares stories of three couples at different stages of life and is a journey through finding love, hope and joy after loss.
"The theme is love – romantic love and the love of God," said Karen Abercrombie, who plays Elise and co-wrote the film. "It's about trusting God's plan and allowing Him to lead you through transitions in your life."
Here's the synopsis: Elise, a grandmother hurt by her past, and Patrick, a widowed pastor, have closed the door on love. But with faith and a little help from technology, will their live-streamed romance find a way?
"Entertainment is such a great way to teach the message of God's love," Abercrombie continued. "People turn on the television and look to be entertained and it disarms them to step into these stories. It opens a door for them to receive the message of those stories in a way they might not otherwise get."
"Heaven Sent" stars Karen Abercrombie (WAR ROOM, DISCARDED THINGS, AN ANGELIC CHRISTMAS, GOD'S COMPASS), Jemarcus Kilgore (DISCARDED THINGS, Black Lightning), J. Leon Pridgen II (DISCARDED THINGS, P-Valley, TRINITY GOODHEART), Charlene Tilton (Dallas), Michael J. Patterson, Maurie Moore, Elizabeth Byland and Gary Dourdan (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation). Abercrombie co-wrote and executive-produced the movie, which was directed by Joanne Hock.
Watch the trailer for "Heaven Sent" here.
Pure Flix is your home for faith and family-friendly movies and shows where you can confidently stream with the entire family. With new premium and exclusive original entertainment choices every week, you can strengthen your faith and family with Pure Flix – a streaming service that inspires, uplifts and entertains.
You'll get access to the largest variety of high-quality wholesome movies, series and kids' content at one low price. Experience the difference that positive, encouraging entertainment can have in your home.
Pure Flix is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment.
CONTACT:
Angela Sullivan
angela.sullivan@pureflix.com
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SOURCE Pure Flix | 2023-01-18T16:36:56+00:00 | wsfa.com | https://www.wsfa.com/prnewswire/2023/01/18/heaven-sent-new-karen-abercrombie-romantic-comedy-debut-exclusively-pure-flix/ |
Panel rules Justice Dept. improperly withheld memo in Russia probe
(AP) - The Justice Department under Attorney General William Barr improperly withheld portions of an internal memorandum Barr cited in publicly announcing that then-President Donald Trump had not committed obstruction of justice in the Russia investigation, a federal appeals panel said Friday.
The department had argued that the 2019 memo represented the private deliberations of its own lawyers before any decision had been formalized and was therefore exempt from disclosure. A federal judge previously disagreed, ordering the Justice Department to provide it to a government transparency group that had sued for it, prompting an appeal last year by the Biden administration to a higher court.
Attorneys for the Justice Department didn’t immediately respond to an email message seeking comment on the ruling. The department can appeal the ruling to the full court.
At issue in the case is a March 24, 2019, memorandum from the head of the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel, or OLC, and another senior department official that was prepared for Barr to evaluate whether evidence in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation could support an obstruction of justice prosecution of the president.
Barr has said that he looked to that opinion in concluding that Trump did not illegally obstruct the Russia probe.
The Justice Department turned over other documents to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington as part of the group’s lawsuit but declined to give it the memo. Government lawyers said they were entitled under public records law to withhold the memo because it reflected internal deliberations among lawyers before any formal decision had been reached on what Mueller’s evidence showed.
But U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson said last year that those arguments were disingenuous because the memo was prepared for Barr at about the same time as a separate Justice Department letter informing Congress and the public that Barr and other senior department leaders concluded that Trump had not obstructed justice.
She said the memo could therefore not have been “predecisional” in nature if the Justice Department had already decided that there would be no obstruction case.
The government said it had indeed already concluded that there would be no obstruction prosecution since Justice Department legal opinions say a sitting president cannot be indicted. But it said the memo concerned a separate issue: whether the evidence Mueller had collected could support a conclusion that Trump had obstructed justice.
In its ruling Friday, the appellate panel wrote that, had Justice Department officials made clear to the court that the memo related to Barr’s decision on making a public statement about the report, rulings in the case may have been different.
“Because the Department did not tie the memorandum to deliberations about the relevant decision, the Department failed to justify its reliance on the deliberative-process privilege,” according to the ruling, by an unsigned panel of judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Barr and other senior officials concluded that Trump’s actions didn’t amount to obstruction, and the attorney general shared that assessment with Congress soon after the memo was complete. Mueller’s team did not reach a conclusion on whether Trump had obstructed justice.
Appellate judges also noted that their ruling was “narrow,” saying that it should not be interpreted to “call into question any of our precedents permitting agencies to withhold draft documents related to public messaging.”
___
Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP.
___
Eric Tucker contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2022-08-19T17:17:40+00:00 | wsfa.com | https://www.wsfa.com/2022/08/19/panel-rules-justice-dept-improperly-withheld-memo-russia-probe/ |
PITTSBURGH, June 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "I wanted to ensure that your voice is clear and easy to understand while wearing a protective face mask," said an inventor, from Lehigh Acres, Fla., "so I invented the SPEAKER MASK. My design could help to prevent confusion and misunderstandings caused by voices being muffled behind face masks."
The patent-pending invention provides an effective way to communicate when wearing a face mask. In doing so, it helps to prevent the voice from sounding muffled. As a result, it eliminates the need to lower the mask to talk and it provides added protection and peace of mind during the current pandemic. The invention features a compact design that is easy to use with disposable or reusable masks so it is ideal for the general population.
The original design was submitted to the Naples sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 20-NPL-396, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.
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SOURCE InventHelp | 2022-06-22T16:26:00+00:00 | wlox.com | https://www.wlox.com/prnewswire/2022/06/22/inventhelp-inventor-develops-mask-accessory-enhance-verbal-communication-npl-396/ |
WASHINGTON — While Mother's Day is an integral part of American culture, few may know how the national holiday started — and why the woman who made it happen ended up regretting it.
Consumers this year are projected to spend a record $35.7 billion on Mother's Day this year, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights and Analytics. The group said flowers, greeting cards and special outings were the most frequently-purchased gift categories.
When is Mother's Day?
This year, Mother's Day is celebrated in the U.S. on Sunday, May 14, 2023.
Is Mother's Day the same day every year?
No, the date for Mother's Day changes from year to year because it's always on the second Sunday in May.
How did Mother's Day start?
According to the Library of Congress and other sources, Anna Jarvis is credited with the campaign that led to a nationally-celebrated Mother’s Day. Jarvis's mother was known for organizing women's groups to promote health and friendship.
In the wake of her mother's death in 1905, Jarvis wanted to set aside a day to honor the sacrifices of mothers for their children. In May 1908, she organized the first official Mother’s Day celebration at a Methodist church in Grafton, West Virginia, according to history.com. Since then, the church has been dubbed "The International Mother's Day Shrine."
As the annual celebration gained traction, West Virginia passed a law designating the holiday in 1910 and other states followed suit. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson made it a national holiday to be observed on the second Sunday in May.
While Jarvis succeeded in making the national holiday a reality, she would soon come to hate it.
Around 1920, Jarvis started to denounce the commercialization of the day and urged people to stop buying Mother’s Day flowers, cards and candies, History.com reports. During her campaign to stop profiteers, reports state she filed lawsuits against groups that used the name "Mother's Day."
Before she died in 1948, Jarvis is said to have disowned the holiday and had actively lobbied the government to take it off the calendar as a national holiday in America.
Although it's a profitable day for retailers, phone companies, and florists, the spirit of celebrating moms on Mother's Day is still what Jarvis intended.
WHAS11 contributed to this report, which was originally published Apr. 28, 2023. | 2023-05-14T22:46:01+00:00 | wfmynews2.com | https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/nation-world/when-is-mothers-day-2023-history-of-the-holidays-origin/507-a6eb5c21-44fe-4bd4-8ea6-f7aca0a2adc5 |
The Miami Marlins secured a late walk-off win on Wednesday night on a truly brutal error from St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Jordan Hicks.
Joey Wendle hit a short bouncing ball right at Hicks in the bottom of the ninth inning at Loan Depot Park with the Marlins down 9-8. Hicks had a very simple chance to just toss the ball over to first base, where he would have recorded the second out of the inning and stop the Marlins from tying up the game.
Instead, Hicks completely sailed first base and sent the ball flying way past the bag and into the outfield. That allowed Garrett Hampson and Yuli Gurriel to score and take the 10-9 win, and sparked a huge celebration on the field.
Just watch:
HOW DO YA LIKE THAT?!?!?!??!?!?!
— Bally Sports Florida: Marlins (@BallyMarlins) July 6, 2023
THE MARLINS WALK IT OFF AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!@Marlins | #MakeItMiami pic.twitter.com/QPsFitCWmT
While it was an easy mistake to make, Hicks did so at the absolute worst possible time on Wednesday night.
It came after the Cardinals forced the bottom half of the inning in the first place, too. The Cardinals entered the top of the ninth inning trailing 8-7 before Jordan Walker hit a two-run shot to center field with two outs and a full count.
Ninth inning. Two outs. Full count.
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) July 6, 2023
Enter Jordan Walker.#STLCards pic.twitter.com/6tU229f7Og
The Cardinals have now lost three straight to the Marlins and have lost six of their last eight games. They hold a 35-51 record, the worst in the NL Central and one of the worst in the National League as a whole.
The Marlins, despite being swept by the Atlanta Braves last weekend, have won nine of their last 13 games. They trail the Braves by eight games in the NL East standings with just four games left before the All-Star break. | 2023-07-06T21:23:35+00:00 | whio.com | https://www.whio.com/news/national/marlins-stun/7DZBDVQ3VLD7QZUPSEYELGTPLA/ |
Collins, Jimmie Myzel
Age 86, of Beavercreek, OH, passed away June 29, 2023. Public visitation Thursday July 6, 2023 1:00 pm until 2:00 pm Newcomer, Beavercreek, OH.
Collins, Jimmie Myzel
Age 86, of Beavercreek, OH, passed away June 29, 2023. Public visitation Thursday July 6, 2023 1:00 pm until 2:00 pm Newcomer, Beavercreek, OH. | 2023-07-03T05:54:57+00:00 | daytondailynews.com | https://www.daytondailynews.com/obituaries/collins-jimmie/Q2PVSM22EFEXNNWMNEJVPUAUDU/ |
University of Wisconsin's lifecycle assessment found greenhouse gas emissions to be 24% lower on organic dairy farms as compared to conventional US dairy averages* due in large part to carbon sequestration benefits of organic pastures.
LA FARGE, Wis., Aug. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study in the August issue of the Journal of Cleaner Production reveals that it is possible for farms to sequester carbon and reduce their overall greenhouse gas emissions. A University of Wisconsin Madison research group unveiled a dairy lifecycle assessment conducted on Organic Valley farms that shows small organic dairy farms, which focus on grazing and organic production techniques, are low greenhouse gas champions.
The peer reviewed study uses a breakthrough methodology that includes accounting for the carbon sequestration benefit of grazed pastures. Led by Dr. Horacio Aguirre-Villegas, Scientist III at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the research team conducted a first-of-its-kind study in the U.S. that considered the positive carbon sequestration results of cows spending time out on pasture.
"The study proposes a method to include carbon sequestration not only in organic but all dairy farm-related LCA studies. This method is based on the amount of carbon staying in the soil from above ground residue, below ground residue, and manure," Aguirre-Villegas said. "The effect of management practices affecting the carbon stock are also considered, such as tillage, land use regime, management, and input of organic matter into the soil based on farm and region-specific variables such as the level of activity and temperature."
The modeling assessment was done with farm-specific input provided by Organic Valley and reflects the nature and style of production common within the co-op's dairy membership. Other factors contributing to the low greenhouse gas emission results included the avoidance of synthetic crop inputs and use of organic crop amendments, the longevity of cattle, and prevalent use of manure as a fertilizer source.
"This LCA represents the baseline carbon footprint of our dairy member farms today. The science proves out what we all intuitively knew was the case, when you have pasture-based systems and organic crop production you have a smaller carbon footprint," said Nicole Rakobitsch, director of sustainability at Organic Valley. "We are proud that farms in our cooperative average the lowest known carbon footprint of any U.S. dairy supply, but we are not going to rest on that outcome.
"We are committed to helping our farmers and all of dairy continually lessen our GHG emissions. It's the right thing to do and consumers are looking for food that is good for the planet and their health."
The study of Organic Valley milk is ongoing and the remaining 40% of Organic Valley's milk supply will be assessed by the end of 2023. Organic Valley is also launching a new carbon insetting program which purchases carbon reduction from its farmers and helps producers implement site-specific projects like agroforestry, enhanced manure management, and on-farm renewable energy.
The research team measuring and analyzing the carbon impact at UW-Madison includes Dr. Rebecca Larson, associate professor at UW-Madison; Dr. Erin Silva, UW-Madison associate professor and Extension specialist in Organic Agriculture; Dr. Michel Wattiaux, UW-Madison professor in Dairy Systems Management; and Rakobitsch.
Organic Valley is passionate about doing what's right for people, animals, and earth and is committed to bringing ethically made organic food to families everywhere. Organic Valley is the largest farmer-owned organic cooperative in the U.S. and one of the world's largest organic consumer brands. Founded in 1988 to sustain family farms through organic farming, the cooperative represents nearly 1,800 farmers in 34 U.S. states, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit ov.coop/impact. Organic Valley is also @OrganicValley on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Twitter.
SOURCE: Regional analysis of greenhouse gas emissions from USA dairy farms: A cradle to farm-gate assessment of the American dairy industry circa 2008, International Dairy Journal
Media Contact:
Elizabeth McMullen
elizabeth.mcmullen@organicvalley.coop
608-625-3549
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SOURCE Organic Valley | 2022-08-18T20:41:21+00:00 | kalb.com | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2022/08/18/organic-dairy-farming-can-store-carbon-reduce-greenhouse-gas-emissions-according-new-study-journal-cleaner-production/ |
“How worried are you about climate change?”
On Jan. 26, students and faculty filed into Stevenson Event Center and were immediately presented with this question. The answer was unanimous — everyone was afraid.
This was the Decarbonization and Electrification Task Force’s (D&E) inaugural Town Hall. The agenda: communicate plans for the decarbonization of the UCSC campus and garner feedback from the community. Climate Coalition member and UCSC assistant professor Jason Samaha explained that this massive undertaking would require strategic planning to mitigate interruptions to campus activity.
“It’s going to be a massive infrastructure project that’s going to affect everyone on campus in some way or another,” Samaha said. “We need to set an example for the other UC’s. If anyone is able to do it, it should be us.”
Sustainability director Elida Erickson and Associate Vice Chancellor Tony Cobb spearheaded the event. The presentation also featured an array of voices ranging from members of UCSC’s Climate Coalition to Executive Vice Chancellor Lori Kletzer.
The concrete plans for decarbonizing UCSC are expected to be completed by June 2023, a little less than a year after the initial public pressure and creation of the D&E Task Force. In addition to specific ways the UC can reduce emissions, the fast action plan must also account for possible infrastructural developments, budgeting, and project feasibility.
“I think it’s really easy to get into that gloom and doom social media cycle of like, there’s nothing we can do,” said fifth-year Lila Roginski, Assistant Program Manager at the Student Environmental Center. “But as students, there’s so much we can do.”
“As students, there’s so much we can do.”
— Lila Roginski
The D&E Task Force was initially created by Chancellor Cynthia Larive after receiving pressure from students in EnviroSlug and the Climate Coalition to address UCSC’s emission levels, which have increased sixteen percent since 1990.
Campaigns led by the UCSC Climate Coalition culminated in last year’s climate rally on Earth Day, which demanded concrete administration plans to decarbonize the campus, among other things.
Past efforts, such as former UC President Janet Napolitano’s 2013 push for the UC system to halt greenhouse gas emissions by 2025, have focused entirely on carbon neutrality through the use of offsets. While offsets ultimately do not limit our own emissions, they fund projects that reduce emissions elsewhere, such as reforestation or renewable energy sources.
Speaking at the event, Climate Coalition member Tramanh Mai explained that offsets are ultimately difficult to verify and don’t halt our own emissions at the source. Instead, she emphasized decarbonization entirely.
“We can’t wait. We need to take action and do our part because, if we reach the tipping point, the effects of global warming will accelerate faster than our ability to solve it,” said Mai.
Decarbonization, as the name suggests, refers to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, specifically carbon. At UCSC, this would mean halting fossil fuel consumption entirely.
“Sixty-four percent of our natural gas emissions are in that cogeneration plant up on north campus, and it’s going to be a huge effort to find a technological solution to replace that and maintain resiliency,” said Water & Climate Action Manager Ellen Vaughan.
The cogeneration plant runs on methane gas to produce heat and electricity for the school. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the gas has contributed significantly to the climate crisis.
“Methane has accounted for roughly 30 percent of global warming since pre-industrial times,” UNEP stated in their Global Methane Assessment.
The effects of global climate change are evident locally with increases of extreme weather events such as droughts, wildfires, and floods. This has resulted in the displacement of vulnerable populations and a general lack of resources, both in Santa Cruz and nationally.
“How much does it really cost to pollute?” Samaha said. “It’s not just the cost of burning fossil fuels. It’s also the health implications and the environmental implications of burning fossil fuels.”
Moving Forward
Potential ideas are being generated by examining data from UC Berkeley and UC Davis. Berkeley has led the charge to decarbonize their own campus, hoping to be the first carbon-free UC research institution. Their initiative is projected to cost anywhere from $800 million to $1 billion, with $250 million successfully secured from the state of California thus far. While UCSC’s project would be significantly less costly due to a smaller population, the project will ultimately require the procurement of large sums.
Three members of UCSC’s Climate Coalition, Jason Samaha, Tramanh Mai, and Ian Cowan will remain on the D&E Task Force until the plan is complete. In addition to being involved in the overview of project development, they plan on inviting community engagement through upcoming town halls.
“The plan is being developed now, I’m really confident that [the plan] will come out and we’ll have a number of reasonable options. On actually implementing the plan, I think ‘cautiously optimistic’ is the right word to use,” said Samaha.
Towards the end of Town Hall, Executive Vice Chancellor Lori Kletzer took the stage to make final remarks. She emphasized, above all, that students are the catalyst.
“This is an incredibly heavy lift in every dimension, engineering, technical, legal, behavioral, managerial and financial. It is the challenge of our lives,” Kletzer said. “This would not have happened at the compressed timescale it did without the student push to say carbon neutrality is not enough.”
The importance of student involvement was reiterated throughout the entire meeting, with several speakers attributing the entire initiative to the public pressure generated by student activism.
The Climate Coalition hopes to keep this engagement up throughout the planning process. They encourage students interested in the Decarbonization and Electrification Task Force to visit their website to share potential ideas, get updates on progress, or ask questions related to the project. Similarly, they hope to increase the number of students attending the next Town Hall meeting, projected to occur in May.
Speaking on her hopes for the future, Lila Roginski said, “The University will listen to us if we come united, as one student body.”
Read more coverage from City on a Hill Press | 2023-02-04T06:01:32+00:00 | cityonahillpress.com | https://cityonahillpress.com/2023/02/03/activism-heats-up-to-cool-climate-down/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=activism-heats-up-to-cool-climate-down |
PITTSBURGH, Dec. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --..."I wanted to create a safe and efficient way to braid hair without hurting the fingers or cuticles," said an inventor, from Indianapolis, Ind., "so I invented the BRAID GUARD GRIP GLOVES. My design would not restrict movement and it could offer greater accuracy, comfort and flexibility."
The patent-pending invention provides an effective way to protect a hairstylist's fingers, hands, and cuticles while braiding clients' hair. In doing so, it helps prevent soreness, throbbing, and pain. As a result, it enhances safety and comfort. The invention features a practical design that is easy to use so it is ideal for hairstylists, barbers and salons. Additionally, it is producible in design variations.
The original design was submitted to the Indianapolis sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 21-SGM-131, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.
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SOURCE InventHelp | 2022-12-22T21:00:51+00:00 | wlbt.com | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/12/22/inventhelp-inventor-develops-braid-guard-grip-gloves-hairstylists-sgm-131/ |
WASHINGTON — Sophia Smith, the season’s Most Valuable Player, scored early and the Portland Thorns won their third National Women’s Soccer League championship Saturday night with a 2-0 victory over the Kansas City Current.
The Thorns also won NWSL championships in 2013, the league's inaugural season, and again in 2017. The three titles are the most for any team in the league.
The Current had a costly turnover before Smith went down the field, maneuvered around goalkeeper Adrianna Franch and deftly scored in the fourth minute.
Smith nearly had another goal in the 27th minute, but her shot went just wide. Smith is the second MVP recipient to score in the championship game, joining Lynn Williams for North Carolina in 2016. At 22, she's also the youngest player to score in a league final.
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Smith was honored as MVP earlier this week after scoring a club-record 14 goals during the regular season.
An own goal off Kansas City's Addisyn Merrick doubled Portland's lead in the 56th minute. Moments later, Morgan Weaver had a shot from distance but Franch got a hand on it before it hit the crossbar and caromed away.
Audi Field was nearly sold out for the game, which was broadcast in primetime on network television for the first time.
The NWSL was rocked this month by an investigation that showed systemic abuse and misconduct, spanning multiple teams, coaches and victims.
The investigation, led by former acting US Attorney General Sally Yates, was launched last year after two former players came forward with allegations of harassment and sexual coercion dating back a decade against former North Carolina Courage coach Paul Riley.
Riley, who was fired, denied the allegations. He was one of five coaches in the league who were dismissed or stepped down last year amid claims of misconduct.
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The Yates report detailed how the Thorns mishandled complaints about Riley when he coached the team in 2014-15. In the wake of the report, the Thorns fired two team executives. But some fans have called on owner Merritt Paulson to sell both the Thorns and the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer.
Some fans at Audi Field held a sign that read: “Support The Players.”
The Thorns advanced to the championship game with a 2-1 victory over the San Diego Wave last Sunday. Crystal Dunn scored in stoppage time for the win.
The Current earned their berth with a 2-0 victory over the top-seeded OL Reign, surprising the winners of this season’s Supporters Shield.
The Current began play in 2021 as an expansion team, with many of its players coming over from the defunct Utah Royals. Last season they finished in last place in the league.
The Washington Spirit won last year’s NWSL championship. | 2022-10-30T03:28:04+00:00 | bostonglobe.com | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/10/29/sports/mvp-sophia-smith-scores-portland-thorns-beat-kansas-city-current-nwsl-title/ |
Tens of thousands wait at border for asylum limits to end
By MORGAN LEE, GIOVANNA DELL’ORTO and REBECCA SANTANA
Associated Press
EL PASO, Texas (AP) — Migrants along the U.S. border with Mexico sought shelter from the cold early Wednesday as restrictions that prevented many from seeking asylum in the U.S. remained in place beyond their anticipated end.
The U.S. government asked the Supreme Court on Tuesday not to lift the limits before Christmas, in a filing a day after Chief Justice John Roberts issued a temporary order to keep the pandemic-era restrictions in place. Before Roberts issued that order, they had been slated to expire Wednesday.
Just after midnight, when Title 42 was supposed to be lifted, all was quiet on the banks of Rio Grande in El Paso where the Texas National Guard was posted. Hundreds of migrants had gathered by the concertina wire put up by the Texas National Guard but left earlier in the evening after being told by US officials to go to a gate to be processed in small groups.
First Sergeant Suzanne Ringle said one woman went into labor in the crowd on the riverbank and was assisted by Border Patrol agents. She added many children were among the crowd.
In the Mexican city of Juarez, across the border from El Paso, hundreds of migrants remained in line hoping that the restrictions would be lifted and they would be let through.
In Tijuana, which has an estimated 5,000 migrants staying in more than 30 shelters and many more renting rooms and apartments, the border was quiet Tuesday night as word spread among would-be asylum seekers that nothing had changed. Layered, razor-topped walls rising 30 feet along the border with San Diego make the area daunting for illegal crossings.
Under the restrictions, officials have expelled asylum-seekers inside the United States 2.5 million times, and turned away most people who requested asylum at the border, on grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19 under a public health rule called Title 42. Both U.S. and international law guarantee the right to claim asylum.
The federal government also asked the Supreme Court to reject a last-minute effort by a group of conservative-leaning states to maintain the measure. It acknowledged that ending the restrictions will likely lead to “disruption and a temporary increase in unlawful border crossings,” but said the solution is not to extend the rule indefinitely.
With the decision on what comes next going down to the wire, pressure is building in communities along both sides of the U.S-Mexico border.
In El Paso, Democratic Mayor Oscar Leeser warned that shelters across the border in Ciudad Juárez were packed to capacity, with an estimated 20,000 migrants prepared to cross into the U.S.
At one point late Tuesday, some migrants were allowed to enter in batches through a gate in the border wall between two bridges that connect downtown El Paso with Ciudad Juarez, which is not uncommon at this spot on the border. Word that the gate was opening sent hundreds of people scrambling along the concrete banks of the Rio Grande, leaving smoldering campfires behind.
The city rushed to expand its ability to accommodate more migrants by converting large buildings into shelters, as the Red Cross brings in 10,000 cots. Local officials also hope to relieve pressure on shelters by chartering buses to other large cities in Texas or nearby states, bringing migrants a step closer to relatives and sponsors in coordination with nonprofit groups.
“We will continue to be prepared for whatever is coming through,” Leeser said.
Texas National Guard members, deployed by the state to El Paso this week, used razor wire to cordon off a gap in the border fence along a bank of the Rio Grande that became a popular crossing point for migrants who waded through shallow waters to approach immigration officials in recent days. They used a loudspeaker to announce in Spanish that it’s illegal to cross there.
Texas said it was sending 400 National Guard personnel to the border city after local officials declared a state of emergency. Leeser said the declaration was aimed largely at protecting vulnerable migrants, while a statement from the Texas National Guard said the deployment included forces used to “repel and turn-back illegal immigrants.”
In San Diego, a sense of normalcy returned to the nation’s busiest border crossing despite uncertainty leading up to Roberts’ decision. The San Ysidro Chamber of Commerce said it learned from U.S. Customs and Border Protection that the more modern, western half of the airport-sized pedestrian crossing would reopen to U.S.-bound travelers Wednesday at 6 a.m. The lanes, which lead to an upscale outlet mall, have been closed to almost all migrants since early 2020 to accommodate Title 42 processing.
The reopening comes “just in time for last-minute shoppers, visiting family members and those working during the holidays,” the chamber wrote to members. It said it didn’t know when the area would reopen to travelers going to Mexico from the United States.
Immigration advocates have said that the Title 42 restrictions, imposed under provisions of a 1944 health law, go against American and international obligations to people fleeing to the U.S. to escape persecution, and that the pretext is outdated as coronavirus treatments improve. They sued to end the use of Title 42; a federal judge sided with them in November and set the Dec. 21 deadline.
Conservative-leaning states appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that an increased numbers of migrants would take a toll on public services such as law enforcement and health care and warned of an “unprecedented calamity” at the southern border. They said the federal government has no plan to deal with an increase in migrants.
The federal government opposed the appeal, and told the court Tuesday that it has marshaled more resources to the southern border in preparation for the end of Title 42. That includes more Border Patrol processing coordinators, more surveillance and increased security at ports of entry, according to President Joe Biden’s administration.
About 23,000 agents are currently deployed to the southern border, according to the White House.
“The solution to that immigration problem cannot be to extend indefinitely a public-health measure that all now acknowledge has outlived its public-health justification,” the Biden administration wrote in its brief to the Supreme Court.
Yet the government also asked the court to give it some time to prepare if it decides to allow the restrictions to be lifted. Should the Supreme Court act before Friday, the government wants the restrictions in place until the end of Dec. 27. If the court acts on Friday or later, the government wants the limits to remain until the second business day following such an order.
At a church-affiliated shelter in El Paso a few blocks from the border, the Rev. Michael Gallagher said local faith leaders have been trying to pool resources and open up empty space. On Tuesday, a gym at Sacred Heart Church gave shelter to 200 migrants — mostly women and children. Outside the church early Wednesday, dozens of people slept on the street.
Title 42 allows the government to expel asylum-seekers of all nationalities, but it’s disproportionately affected people from countries whose citizens Mexico has agreed to take: Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and, more recently Venezuela, in addition to Mexico.
___
Santana reported from Washington, D.C. Juan Lozano in Houston and Alicia Fernández in Ciudad Juárez contributed to this report. | 2022-12-21T08:40:15+00:00 | localnews8.com | https://localnews8.com/news/ap-national/2022/12/21/tens-of-thousands-wait-at-border-for-asylum-limits-to-end/ |
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A fuel leak interrupted NASA's launch countdown for its new moon rocket early Monday, reappearing in the same place that saw seepage during a dress rehearsal back in the spring.
Launch controllers halted the tanking operation, which already was running an hour late because of thunderstorms offshore. They slowly resumed the process to confirm that it was, indeed, a hydrogen fuel leak and not faulty sensors, but alarms forced another temporary pause as precious minutes in the countdown ticked away.
The 322-foot (98-meter) rocket is the most powerful ever built my NASA, out-muscling even the Saturn V that carried astronauts to the moon a half-century ago.
This test flight, if successful, would put a crew capsule into lunar orbit for the first time in 50 years.
No astronauts were inside the Orion capsule atop the rocket at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Instead, three test dummies were strapped in for the lunar-orbiting mission, expected to last six weeks.
Even with no one on board, thousands of people jammed the coast to see the Space Launch System, or SLS, rocket soar. Vice President Kamala Harris flew into Orlando with her husband, but had yet to make the hourlong drive to Cape Canaveral for the planned liftoff.
The next launch attempt wouldn’t be until Friday at the earliest.
Hydrogen fuel leaks marred NASA's countdown test back in April, prompting a slew of repairs. The demo was repeated with more success in June, but that, too, experienced some leakage. Managers said they would not know for certain whether the fixes were good until attempting to load the rocket's tanks with nearly 1 million gallons of super-cold fuel on Monday.
Launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson and her team also had to deal with a communication issue involving the Orion capsule.
Engineers scrambled to understand an 11-minute delay in the communication lines between Launch Control and Orion that cropped up late Sunday. Although the problem had cleared by Monday morning, NASA needed to know why it occurred before committing to launch.
This first flight of NASA's 21st-century moon-exploration program, named Artemis after Apollo's mythological twin sister, is years overdue. Repeated delays have led to billions in budget overruns; this demo alone costs $4.1 billion.
Assuming the test goes well, astronauts would climb aboard for the second flight and fly around the moon and back as soon as 2024. A two-person lunar landing could follow by the end of 2025. NASA is targeting the moon's south pole.
During Apollo, 12 astronauts landed on the moon from 1969 through 1972, with stays of no more than a few days. NASA is looking to establish a lunar base during Artemis, with astronauts rotating in and out for weeks at a time. The next step would be Mars, possibly in the late 2030s or early 2040s.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Credit: John Raoux
Credit: John Raoux
Credit: John Raoux
Credit: John Raoux
Credit: John Raoux
Credit: John Raoux | 2022-08-29T08:38:23+00:00 | springfieldnewssun.com | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/nation-world/fuel-leak-interrupts-launch-countdown-of-nasa-moon-rocket/FHUEGY7K6ZDGLMYNGDRHKNDMHM/ |
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: LYV), the world's leading live entertainment company, today announced it will be presenting at the 2022 Liberty Investor Meeting at approximately 7:30 a.m. PT on Thursday, November 17, 2022. During the presentation, the company may discuss its financial performance, operational outlook, and other forward-looking matters.
A live webcast of the presentation will be accessible from the "News / Events" section of the company's website at investors.livenationentertainment.com.
Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world's leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts and Live Nation Media & Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com.
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SOURCE Live Nation Entertainment | 2022-11-03T20:56:36+00:00 | kcrg.com | https://www.kcrg.com/prnewswire/2022/11/03/live-nation-entertainment-present-2022-liberty-investor-meeting/ |
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — A favorite that many families, friends and workplaces love to do, white elephant! As Christmas inches closer, you might be scratching your head trying to figure out the best gift for the game.
No need to get scared silly! NewsChannel 9 has put together some of their favorite white elephant gift ideas!
Puffin Koozie
For people who love the outdoors and like to have a good laugh, this is a great gift for them!
Buy this can koozie called the Puffy from Puffin! It is definitely a great way to start a conversation and it will surely keep your can cool.
Coffee Mug Warmer
All those coffee lovers out there can keep their drinks nice and warm during the busy work hours.
This desk mug warmer even has an automatic on/off switch to make sure the temperature is perfect for coffee or tea.
We’re Not Really Strangers Card Game
For people who love getting to know others on a deep level, this is the perfect game for them.
The card game gives prompts that players must answer and at the end, you are sure to understand each other much more.
Milk Frother
Does your special someone love to make their own specialty coffee? Then they might want one of these!
This milk frother is sure to create the fluffiest, creamiest foam to top any cold brew or espresso.
Astrology Book
For the astrology lovers out there, this is a perfect book that talks about each zodiac sign in focus!
The book also provides instructions on how to create your own astrology chart to give you a deeper understanding of your own nature.
Cocktail Kit
This cocktail kit from the Cocktail Box Co. makes three drinks so simple and perfect! Coming in many different varieties, you’ll have a cocktail ready in no time.
The kit includes a custom-designed bartender’s spoon and muddler, three cocktail picks and a hand-knit cocktail napkin for spillage.
Indoor Smores Maker
It’s hard to be a smores lover all year round in Central New York when the cold weather hits, but not anymore!
This indoor concrete smores maker is perfect for a kid’s night! It uses bioethanol, which releases only a small amount of water vapor when it burns, so you don’t have to worry about smoke and ashes.
Electric Wine Opener
This sleek cordless electric bottle opener takes the cork out of wine bottles in seconds!
The product can open up to 30 bottles on a single charge with a simple push of a button. If you know someone who loves wine, this is the gift for them.
Wireless Bluetooth Microphone
This portable karaoke microphone lets you sing your heart out wherever you want!
Along with a Bluetooth speaker, and voice changer, this is perfect for singing, interviews, and even blasting music.
The microphone also has lights that go to the rhythm of the music that’s playing, which creates the ultimate aesthetic.
Muscle Foam Roller
Roll out tight muscles with this environmentally conscious Trigger Point Performance GRID foam roller.
Perfect for all athletes, this roller has a 3D surface pattern that offers muscle repair assistance when they’re training hard.
Stanley Cup
This 40-oz. tumbler is perfect during gym workouts or extra-long car rides.
It has double-wall vacuum insulation that keeps drinks hot or cold. The Stanley cup estimates two days iced, 11 hours cold and seven hours hot. Plus it’s dishwasher-safe!
Holiday Squishmallow
Everyone should know by now that Squishmallows are the perfect gift for any kid, but honestly anyone!
Hermey the Elf from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is super soft, cuddly and quite literally adorable.
National Parks Playing Cards
Any nature lover, who also loves games is sure to enjoy these sustainable playing cards from the Parks Project.
The Parks Project’s mission is to leave nature better than they found it. by protecting and preserving parklands for generations to come by educating, advocating, volunteering, and activating park supporters to get involved in conservation. | 2022-12-14T21:44:53+00:00 | ksn.com | https://www.ksn.com/home-for-the-holidays/white-elephant-gifts-that-people-will-actually-want/ |
Event to take place Sunday at SBCC
The Santa Barbara Kite Festival is ready to take flight.
The 36th annual event will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday in the Great Meadow on the west campus lawn of Santa Barbara City College.
The Great Meadows are located next to the Garvin Theatre at 721 Cliff Drive.
“Up” is the theme of this year’s festival, which was selected as a positive statement of change in the community and the return of the festival after a two-year hiatus. Sunday’s forecast of sunny skies and cooler temperatures should be perfect for this fun-family event. Just add the wind.
The Children’s Kite Tail Chase will feature the master of kite flying, Rakesh Bahadur.
The festival will also feature friendly competitions: “Best of Fest,” “Best Ground Display,” “Youngest & Oldest Kite Flyers,” “Most Unique/Unusual Kite,” “Funniest Kite,” “Most Un-flyable Kite,’ “Most Beautiful” (handmade and commercial), “Highest Flying,” “Largest & Smallest Kites,” and “Sport Flying.”
Prizes will be awarded to all contest winners.
Admission to the festival is free. Parking is available on both the west campus and the main campus. Kites, food and beverages can be purchased at the festival.
All current state and county health and safety protocols will be in place at the event.
Thanks to a 2007 Santa Barbara City Council proclamation, April is officially recognized as “Kite Month” in Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara’s kite month is promoted in coordination with the National Kite Month of April — co-established by the American Kite Flyers Association and the Kite Trade Association International .
For more information, visit www.sbkitefest.net, www.nationalkitemonth.org and www.kite.org. For more about the festival, call 805-637-6202.
email; kzehnder@newspress.com | 2022-04-09T16:27:14+00:00 | newspress.com | https://newspress.com/kite-festival-to-soar-again/ |
There’s the paper-pushing spy-agency liaison known only by his last name, Knighton (Eddie Marsan); the debonair-as-Devonshire-cream team leader Nathan Jasmine (Cary Elwes); the deadly/dashing field agent Orson Fortune (Jason Statham); and his two trusty operatives — sex and smarts combined in the package of computer whiz Sarah Fidel (Aubrey Plaza) and the muscle of weapons expert JJ Davies (rapper-actor Bugzy Malone).
My second thought? “Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One” doesn’t open until July.
Ah, well. For now, this will have to do.
Statham’s Fortune is a poor man’s Ethan Hunt, a cucumber-cool undercover agent whose idea of using his noggin is to head-butt someone, or maybe throw him off a tower. As for Plaza, a welcome if unorthodox casting choice, I stopped believing in her character as soon as she sat down in front of an encrypted laptop, went clickety clack with a few keystrokes and uttered the words, “ … aaaand I’m in!” Malone, for his part, comes in handy whenever someone needs to be shot before the story can move on to the next scene.
But dear God, this thing is more derivative than a credit default swap.
The bare bones of the story — directed by Guy Ritchie, who co-wrote the screenplay with frequent collaborators Ivan Atkinson and Marn Davies — might sound familiar: A terrible new weapon, terrifyingly code-named the Handle, has been stolen in Odessa by unknown parties and is en route, via arms dealer Greg Simmonds (Hugh Grant, hiding under greasy hair, BluBlockers, a perma-tan and a cockney accent) to a nameless buyer or buyers. To infiltrate Simmonds’s inner sanctum, Fortune pretends to be the business manager of the billionaire gun runner’s favorite movie star, Danny Francesco (Josh Hartnett), whose cooperation has been leveraged by blackmail.
Cue more clickety clacking of keyboards, some high-tech voice cloning, a bit of boom-and-bang here, some head-butting there — along with a car chase featuring a bulletproof, candy-apple-red Mustang and a plot that jet-sets from London to Morocco to Madrid to Burbank and to Cannes before settling down for the climax in Antalya, Turkey — and you have a recipe for, well, a movie we’ve all seen before.
Look: Jason Statham can be a kick to watch. Who doesn’t like Aubrey Plaza? And Hugh Grant seems to be having more fun than any 62-year-old man reasonably should. Spring may be around the corner, but it still feels like winter in my heart. Is “Operation Fortune” a cure for the blues? No. It’s an appetizer for better things to come, an amuse-bouche at best — at worst, a placeholder meal of cinematic comfort food, tiding us all over until it’s summer blockbuster season again.
R. At area theaters. Contains strong language and violence. 114 minutes. | 2023-03-01T15:49:36+00:00 | washingtonpost.com | https://www.washingtonpost.com/movies/2023/03/01/operation-fortune-ruse-de-guerre-movie-review/ |
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Democratic Gov Tim Walz signed a bill Tuesday that requires Minnesota utilities to get 100% of their electricity from carbon-free sources by 2040, saying he’s confident it will stand up against a threatened lawsuit from coal and gas producing North Dakota.
“I am not a lawyer but I am surrounded by very good ones,” Walz told reporters after signing the bill into law. “I trust that this bill is solid. I trust that it will stand up because it was written to do exactly that. And just to be clear, Minnesota’s not staking our future on coal and carbon.”
Walz added that he thought it was “unfortunate” that Burgum is ready to litigate, and that it would be more productive if North Dakota joined Minnesota and the rest of the country instead.
“The fact of the matter is, Minnesota is moving into the future and they’re going to have to come sometime,” Walz said.
The Minnesota Senate passed the plan 34-33 along party lines Thursday after the House approved it 70-60 the week before. Republican lawmakers said it would raise costs for consumers while undermining the reliability of the power grid. Rural utilities said they’ll have trouble complying.
According to the Clean Energy States Alliance, 21 other states have already established 100% clean-energy standards or goals, most with target dates between 2040 and 2050. Minnesota’s previous standard, set in 2007, aimed to cut overall statewide greenhouse emissions to 80% by 2050.
“The adoption of 100% clean energy goals by an increasing number of states has been one of the most important energy policy developments of recent years,” Warren Leon, the alliance’s executive director, said in a statement. “Minnesota’s addition to the ranks of those states is especially noteworthy, because the state has historically been a leader in clean energy policy and its new goals are ambitious and meaningful.”
At a meeting of the North Dakota Industrial Commission on Monday, Burgum said the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution and other laws bar Minnesota from having a say over how North Dakota businesses operate.
“By regulating the percent of electricity sold, they’re essentially overreaching and affecting North Dakota companies,” the Bismarck Tribune quoted Burgum as saying. The commission allocated $1 million to pay for any litigation and voiced support for asking legislators for $3 million, the newspaper reported.
But Burgum also told the commission — which is made up of him, North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring — that officials from their state would continue trying to reach an agreement with Minnesota to avoid a lawsuit, the Tribune reported.
In a letter to their Minnesota counterparts last month, Burgum and the other commissioners said Minnesota’s plan threatens the tax revenue stream from North Dakota's energy industry that they’re counting on to fund their state’s carbon-capture,hydrogen power and other initiatives to “decarbonize” their energy sources
They also noted that federal courts ruled against Minnesota when North Dakota and its utilities challenged a part of the 2007 Minnesota Next Generation Energy Act that tried to ban importation of power that would increase statewide carbon dioxide emissions from the sector. The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals said in 2016 that Minnesota could not do that without congressional approval.
San Francisco-based Climate Cabinet Action, a political action committee that backs candidates who support fighting climate change, said Burgum’s threat is part of a new trend of fossil-fuel industry backlash against states or communities that pass pro-climate measures.
“States suing other states for passing pro-climate policy is just another tactic by fossil fuel lobbyists to protect their special interests and their bottom line,” Caroline Spears, the group’s executive director, said in a statement.
The group said those court challenges don’t work, citing a lawsuit by the state of Utah and fossil fuel companies against a San Francisco Bay community that banned the handling and storage of coal and petroleum coke. Under a 2021 settlement, a private port operator in the city of Richmond, California, that handles the fuels was given until 2027 to continue those operations.
And it pointed to a 2012 U.S. Supreme Court decision to bar Wyoming and Montana from suing Washington state for denying a key permit to build a coal export dock that would have sent coal to Asia. The two major coal mining states have sought to boost exports to prop up an industry that’s in decline as U.S. utilities switch to gas-fired power and renewable energy. | 2023-02-07T22:58:45+00:00 | washingtonpost.com | https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/minn-governor-trusts-energy-law-will-survive-nd-suit-threat/2023/02/07/17d8ba70-a735-11ed-b2a3-edb05ee0e313_story.html |
Weight loss surgery extends lives, study finds
Compared with those of similar weight, people who underwent 1 of 4 types of weight loss surgery were 16% less likely to die from any cause, the study found
Compared with those of similar weight, people who underwent 1 of 4 types of weight loss surgery were 16% less likely to die from any cause, the study found
Weight loss surgery reduces the risk of premature death, especially from such obesity-related conditions as cancer, diabetes and heart disease, according to a new 40-year study of nearly 22,000 people who had bariatric surgery in Utah.
Compared with those of similar weight, people who underwent one of four types of weight loss surgery were 16% less likely to die from any cause, the study found. The drop in deaths from diseases triggered by obesity, such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes, was even more dramatic.
"Deaths from cardiovascular disease decreased by 29%, while deaths from various cancers decreased by 43%, which is pretty impressive," said lead author Ted Adams, an adjunct associate professor in nutrition and integrative physiology at the University of Utah's School of Medicine.
"There was also a huge percentage drop — a 72% decline — in deaths related to diabetes in people who had surgery compared to those who did not," he said. One significant downside: The study also found younger people who had the surgery were at higher risk for suicide.
Supports earlier research
The study, published Wednesday in the journal Obesity, reinforces similar findings from earlier research, including a 10-year study in Sweden that found significant reductions in premature deaths, said Dr. Eduardo Grunvald, a professor of medicine and medical director of the weight management program at the University of California San Diego Health.
The Swedish study also found a significant number of people were in remission from diabetes at both two years and 10 years after surgery.
"This new research from Utah is more evidence that people who undergo these procedures have positive, beneficial long-term outcomes," said Grunvald, who co-authored the American Gastroenterological Association's new guidelines on obesity treatment.
The association strongly recommends patients with obesity use recently approved weight loss medications or surgery paired with lifestyle changes.
"And the key for patients is to know that changing your diet becomes more natural, more easy to do after you have bariatric surgery or take the new weight loss medications," said Grunvald, who was not involved in the Utah study.
"While we don't yet fully understand why, these interventions actually change the chemistry in your brain, making it much easier to change your diet afterwards."
Despite the benefits though, only 2% of patients who are eligible for bariatric surgery ever get it, often due to the stigma about obesity, said Dr. Caroline Apovian, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and co-director of the Center for Weight Management and Wellness at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. Apovian was the lead author for the Endocrine Society's clinical practice guidelines for the pharmacological management of obesity.
Insurance carriers typically cover the cost of surgery for people over 18 with a body mass index of 40 or higher or a BMI of 35 if the patient also has a related condition, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, she said.
"I see patients with a BMI of 50, and invariably I will say, 'You're a candidate for everything — medication, diet, exercise and surgery.' And many tell me, 'Don't talk to me about surgery. I don't want it.' They don't want a surgical solution to what society has told them is a failure of willpower," she said.
"We don't torture people who have heart disease: 'Oh, it's because you ate all that fast food.' We don't torture people with diabetes: 'Oh, it's because you ate all that cake.' We tell them they have a disease, and we treat it. Obesity is a disease, too, yet we torture people with obesity by telling them it's their fault."
Both men and women can benefit
Most of the people who choose bariatric surgery — around 80% — are women, Adams said. One of the strengths of the new study, he said, was the inclusion of men who had undergone the procedure.
"For all causes of death, the mortality was reduced by 14% for females and by 21% for males," Adams said. In addition, deaths from related causes, such as heart attack, cancer and diabetes, were 24% lower for females and 22% lower for males who underwent surgery compared with those who did not, he said.
Four types of surgery performed between 1982 and 2018 were examined in the study: gastric bypass, gastric banding, gastric sleeve and duodenal switch.
Gastric bypass, developed in the late 1960s, creates a small pouch near the top of the stomach. A part of the small intestine is brought up and attached to that point, bypassing most of the stomach and the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine.
In gastric banding, an elastic band that can be tightened or loosened is placed around the top portion of the stomach, thus restricting the volume of food entering the stomach cavity. Because gastric banding is not as successful in creating long-term weight loss, the procedure "is not as popular today," Adams said.
"The gastric sleeve is a procedure where essentially about two-thirds of the stomach is removed laparoscopically," he said. "It takes less time to perform, and food still passes through the much-smaller stomach. It's become a very popular option."
The duodenal switch is typically reserved for patients who have a high BMI, Adams added. It's a complicated procedure that combines a sleeve gastrectomy with an intestinal bypass and is effective for type 2 diabetes, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
A serious complication
One alarming finding of the new study was a 2.4% increase in deaths by suicide, primarily among people who had bariatric surgery between the ages of 18 and 34.
"That's because they are told that life is going to be great after surgery or medication," said Joann Hendelman, clinical director of the National Alliance for Eating Disorders, a nonprofit advocacy group.
"All you have to do is lose weight, and people are going to want to hang out with you, people will want to be your friend, and your anxiety and depression are going to be gone," she said. "But that's not reality."
In addition, there are postoperative risks and side effects associated with bariatric surgery, such as nausea, vomiting, alcoholism, a potential failure to lose weight or even weight gain, said Susan Vibbert, an advocate at Project HEAL, which provides help for people struggling with eating disorders.
"How are we defining health in these scenarios? And is there another intervention — a weight-neutral intervention?" Vibbert asked.
Past research has also shown an association between suicide risk and bariatric surgery, Grunvald said, but studies on the topic are not always able to determine a patient's mental history.
"Did the person opt for surgery because they had some unrealistic expectations or underlying psychological disorders that were not resolved after the surgery? Or is this a direct effect somehow of bariatric surgery? We can't answer that for sure," he said.
Intensive presurgery counseling is typically required for all who undergo the procedure, but it may not be enough, Apovian said. She lost her first bariatric surgery patient to suicide.
"She was older, in her 40s. She had surgery and lost 150 pounds. And then she put herself in front of a bus and died because she had underlying bipolar disorder; she had been self-medicating with food," Apovian said. "We as a society use a lot of food to hide trauma. What we need in this country is more psychological counseling for everybody, not just for people who undergo bariatric surgery."
Managing weight is a unique process for each person, a mixture of genetics, culture, environment, social stigma and personal health, experts say. There is no one solution for all.
"First, we as a society must consider obesity as a disease, as a biological problem, not as a moral failing," Grunvald said. "That's my first piece of advice.
"And if you believe your life is going to benefit from treatment, then consider evidence-based treatment, which studies show are surgery or medications, if you haven't been able to successfully do it with lifestyle changes alone." | 2023-01-29T04:55:04+00:00 | wyff4.com | https://www.wyff4.com/article/weight-loss-surgery-extends-lives-study-says/42695958 |
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — When Joseph Kibbe attended the first Boise Pride Festival in 1989, he and about two dozen other participants wore paper bags over their heads to hide their faces from potentially violent onlookers.
At the first festival parade two years later, Kibbe and his friends were greeted by protesters with nooses in front of the Statehouse.
“Boise was a very different place back then — it was not a safe time to be LGBTQIA,” he said.
Still, for Kibbe — then a junior high student who faced frequent beatings at school, now the vice principal of the Boise Pride Festival board — the event was the one place where he felt like part of a community.
“I could come and be who I wanted to be here, who I actually was,” Kibbe said on Friday, just a few hours before this year’s festival was set to begin. “That was a huge morale booster, and why I’m so passionate about what we’re doing today.”
But this year, a roughly half-hour program on the three-day-long festival schedule called “Drag Kids” has prompted a wave of political pressure and anonymous threats.
Festival organizers envisioned a short performance where kids could put on sparkly dresses and lip-sync to songs like Kelly Clarkson’s “People Like Us” on stage. But others, including Idaho Republican Party Chairwoman Dorothy Moon, expected a lurid scene where children would “engage in sexual performances with adult entertainers.”
The event garnered national attention from far-right websites and podcasts, and by Tuesday organizers realized this wasn’t the “normal” amount of opposition, said festival president Michael Dale.
“The sexualization of children is wrong, full stop,” the Idaho GOP wrote on Twitter. “Idaho rejects the imposition of adult sexuality & adult sexual appetites on children.”
Moon and the Idaho GOP sent out statements directing constituents to ask the festival’s corporate sponsors to pull support. A few did, at least partly — removing their logos from festival fencing and canceling plans for booths. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare announced it was pulling $38,000 in funding along with resources focused on tobacco-cessation and HIV/AIDS prevention.
A conservative pastor from California began rallying like-minded congregations, asking members to tell the Ada County Sheriff to arrest any festival organizer who “contributes to the delinquency of minors.” A group known for armed protests told followers to show up Sunday.
Others, though, rallied to support Boise Pride. Four Democratic state lawmakers pledged their own financial support, and released a joint statement criticizing what they called “the false, dangerous claims from Idaho GOP Chair Dorothy Moon that stoke violence.” New business sponsors stepped up to fill vacancies.
But the political maelstrom was growing more intense by the hour, and five kids were stuck in the middle. Riley Burrows, a full-time drag entertainer from Boise who was co-producing the Drag Kids event, began getting death threats on social media.
“It’s: ‘We’re going to show up at this festival,’ ‘We’re coming after you,’ ‘I hope you know you have a target on your back,’ and ‘You’re going to be found in a tree,'” Burrows said. “It’s gotten so repetitive.”
On Thursday afternoon, festival organizers made the decision to postpone the kids’ performance.
“We wanted to ask these kids first and foremost, because it affects them, and their confidence and their lives. And they still wanted to do it,” Dale said, fighting back tears. “But it came to be an issue of their health, their wellbeing, and that of the festival-goers.”
Anti-LGBTQ rhetoric has been increasing in Idaho and around the U.S. in recent months, and earlier this year 31 members of a white supremacist group were arrested outside of a northern Idaho Pride event for allegedly planning to riot. The Boise Pride organizers have been working with Boise Police to boost security since the northern Idaho arrests in June.
None of the five young performers are new to drag shows. The youngest is 10, and was inspired by watching her mom get ready to perform.
“She really wanted to copy me and just do the makeup and have fun with it,” said Harley Innocent, who goes by her stage name. Innocent is one of many cisgender women who participate in drag, sometimes referred to as “AFAB” or “Assigned Female At Birth Queens.”
Her daughter’s first performance was in 2019, in the rural Idaho town of Emmett. She loved it, Innocent said.
“She was really looking forward to being able to do it on the Pride main stage — it was a big opportunity for her to share her talent.”
Innocent says her daughter does a “porcelain doll” makeup look, wears a wig and chooses a song that fits her mood.
It’s similar to a glitzy beauty pageant, Innocent said, but more laid back. “In drag you don’t have to be perfect. We’re just trying to have fun and welcome them to this art form.”
Burrows, the Drag Kids co-producer, said the kids are just having fun on stage in pretty outfits.
“It’s like if you were to send your kid to a school of dance, and the performance theme was rainbows — big tutus, bows and fun hair.”
That’s different from an adult drag show, which can have heavier themes, more revealing costumes and be geared toward more mature audiences, Burrows said: “It’s like the difference between a kid’s TV show and an adult TV show.”
Youth performances can give kids a sense of belonging, he said, adding that “it’s not scary to be gay when you’re surrounded by love and acceptance.”
There’s a lot more support available for LGBTQ kids today, said Kibbe, but it was still heartbreaking to tell them the event was being postponed until organizers could find a safer, more supportive venue.
“The actions of whatever small minority group don’t reflect how the majority of people feel, but we haven’t figured out how to counterbalance that yet,” Kibbe said. “The kids that were going to be performing in that show, they were literally just trying to let others know, ‘Hey, you’re OK, this is what a supportive parent looks like, this is what a friend looks like.’” | 2022-09-10T15:06:34+00:00 | cbs4indy.com | https://cbs4indy.com/news/national-world/ap-us-news/ap-political-pressure-over-drag-kids-event-rocks-boise-pride/ |
McCarthy sends letter to Biden urging more robust negotiations on the debt ceiling
By Alayna Treene, CNN
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy urged the White House in a letter sent Tuesday to start more robust negotiations over raising the nation’s borrowing limit, the first major action in weeks on either side of the debt ceiling issue.
McCarthy writes “with each passing day, I am incredibly concerned that you are putting an already fragile economy in jeopardy by insisting upon your extreme position of refusing to negotiate any meaningful changes to out of control government spending.”
McCarthy also proposed a series of places to start saving money including reclaiming unspent Covid-19 relief funds and strengthening work requirements for social programs.
McCarthy, shortly after the letter went out, criticized Biden for refusing to sit down with him.
“I’m concerned more than I’ve ever been about getting this debt ceiling done,” the California Republican said on CNBC, due to the lack of conversations and negotiations.
The White House said they do not want to continue negotiations until Republicans are ready to offer a counter proposal to the White House’s budget request, which the Biden administration unveiled earlier this month.
In a statement, the White House said, “It’s time for Republicans to stop playing games, agree to a pass a clean debt ceiling bill, and quit threatening to wreak havoc on our economy. And if they want to have a conversation about our nation’s economic and fiscal future, it’s time for them to put out a Budget — as the President has done with his detailed plan to grow the economy, lower costs, and reduce the deficit by nearly $3 trillion.”
Republicans have yet to release their plan, as they continue struggle to find an agreement between the different factions in their narrowly divided majority.
However, McCarthy told CNBC that House Republicans are prepared to lay out $4 trillion in cuts in his next meeting with Biden.
“If the president would have a meeting I would have all the $4 trillion sitting there and provided to you … the difference, is he wants to play politics and I do not. I think we should be adults here,” he said.
The-CNN-Wire
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CNN’s Lauren Fox contributed to this report. | 2023-03-28T16:54:28+00:00 | krdo.com | https://krdo.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2023/03/28/mccarthy-sends-letter-to-biden-urging-more-robust-negotiations-on-the-debt-ceiling/ |
The Oklahoma City Thunder have surprised this season despite not having rookie Chet Holmgren available, working their way into the playoff hunt with some impressive victories.
One team they haven’t solved is Western Conference-leading Denver Nuggets, who have won the first three meetings between the teams and will go for the season sweep when they host the Thunder on Sunday night.
Holmgren, the 7-footer who was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 draft, went down with a foot injury over the summer and had season-ending surgery. The Thunder have found their way behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who leads the team in scoring at 30.6 points a game. He had 37 in a 118-113 loss at Sacramento on Friday that snapped a four-game winning streak.
“The team always runs through the finish line,” Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said. “Great competitive level. We played exceptionally hard. … Certainly a relevant game we can learn from.”
Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging nearly twice as many points as the Thunder’s second-leading scorer, Josh Giddy, who is at 16.0 per game. Gilgeous-Alexander has been solid against Denver this year, averaging 32.0 points and 7.0 assists in the three games.
Oklahoma City nearly took the last meeting between the teams on Nov. 23, but the Nuggets rallied from 15 down in the fourth quarter and won 131-126 in overtime. Nikola Jokic had 39 points in that game without Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. available.
Friday was the Nuggets’ third game without head coach Michael Malone, who was placed in health and safety protocol on Tuesday.
Murray and Porter are back healthy while Jokic sat out Friday’s 134-111 win over Indiana with left hamstring tightness as the Nuggets extended their winning streak to nine games.
“It’s good to get one without him,” Nuggets rookie Christian Braun said about winning without Jokic. “He really doesn’t miss too many games, so just seeing that we can play without him and playing with him on the bench is good.”
Even if Jokic does sit out Sunday, the Thunder will have a tough time slowing down the streaking Nuggets, who also have won 16 in a row at home. Murray was the star Friday night when he notched his first career triple-double — 17 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds — while Denver got contributions throughout the lineup.
Aaron Gordon had a game-high 28 points and continued his strong season.
“We’ve talked a lot about Aaron Gordon being a possible All-Star. We’re the No. 1 team in the West, so if Jamal Murray isn’t in the conversation, then you don’t value winning,” said assistant coach David Adelman, who has served as the acting head coach for three games. “All three of those guys have been so consistent throughout the whole year — Nikola, Aaron, Jamal. They deserve the accolades that they’re getting.”
The Nuggets hope Malone and Jokic can return, if not Sunday then on the upcoming three-game road trip through New Orleans, Milwaukee and Philadelphia.
–Field Level Media | 2023-01-22T08:12:52+00:00 | siouxlandproud.com | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/sports/nba/nuggets-to-put-winning-streak-up-against-thunder/ |
For years Sen. Klobuchar has been pushing to close the 'boyfriend loophole' Published June 27, 2022 at 2:58 AM EDT Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 5:37 NPR's Leila Fadel speaks with Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar about the bipartisan gun safety bill passed by the Senate. Copyright 2022 NPR | 2022-06-27T17:19:33+00:00 | wbfo.org | https://www.wbfo.org/2022-06-27/for-years-sen-klobuchar-has-been-pushing-to-close-the-boyfriend-loophole |
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DETROIT (AP) — Dominik Kubalik scored the go-ahead goal with 4:07 remaining and the Detroit Red Wings snapped a six-game skid with a 4-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night.
Jake Walman, Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond also scored for Detroit. Ville Husso made 39 saves.
Taylor Raddysh scored twice and Joey Anderson also scored for Chicago. Alex Stalock stopped 15 shots.
Raddysh scored his first goal of the game on a power play off a pass from Lukas Reichel.
Raddysh's 16th goal of the season came after Detroit turned the puck over in its own zone. He took a shot from the right circle that beat Husso on the short side. Cole Guttman recorded his first career assist on the play.
Larkin was awarded a penalty shot in the final minute of the period when Blackhawks defenseman Caleb Jones covered the puck in the crease. Larkin tried to beat Stalock with a low shot, but Stalock made a pad save.
Walman scored his seventh goal early in the second to cut Chicago's lead to 2-1. Walman's shot from the point deflected off a defender's stick and over Stalock's left shoulder.
Larkin tied the game late in the period on a power play. Alex Chiasson set up Larkin's team-high 24th goal with a nifty between-the-legs pass.
Anderson's third goal gave Chicago a 3-2 advantage at 6:10 of the third. After Jujhar Khaira won a faceoff in the Red Wings' zone, Anderson wristed a shot from the left side that eluded Husso's glove.
Raymond scored for the first time since Jan. 21 and tied the game at 3. He tipped in Robert Hagg's shot from the point at 12:35.
Kubalik scored the decisive goal, his 18th, after Detroit won a draw in Chicago's zone. He beat Stalock on the glove side with a shot from the right side.
ICE CHIPS
Chicago D Andreas Englund, who injured his hamstring against Ottawa on Monday, was not active. ... Detroit RW Robby Fabbri suffered a lower-body injury in the first period and did not return. ... Larkin has 23 power-play points this season. ... Chiarot recorded his 100th career assist on Raymond's goal. ... The Red Wings' victory was just their fifth in the last 17 meetings with the Blackhawks.
UP NEXT
Blackhawks: Visit Florida on Friday.
Red Wings: Play a home-and-home set against the NHL-leading Bruins, beginning with a road game on Saturday afternoon.
___
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2023-03-09T04:12:52+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/sports/article/red-wings-edge-blackhawks-4-3-end-six-game-slide-17828370.php |
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — A nurse who previously worked at a Florida hospital has been sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison for stealing fentanyl and replacing the powerful pain medication with saline.
Monique Elizabeth Carter, 36, of Middleburg, was sentenced Tuesday in Jacksonville federal court, according to court records. She pleaded guilty in April to tampering with a consumer product.
According to the plea agreement, Carter was working in the neural intensive care unit of Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville last September when a hospital pharmacist examining the ICU wing’s inventory of fentanyl found a syringe missing a tamper-proof cap but with some form of foreign adhesive remaining at the tip. A second fentanyl syringe had a cap that appeared to have been glued back onto the syringe, it said.
Authorities said a pharmacist supervisor reviewing hospital records found a pattern of Carter checking out doses of fentanyl for patients but then canceling the transactions and checking syringes back into the hospital’s inventory. Records showed that Carter did so 24 times over the preceding month.
When confronted with the findings, Carter eventually admitted that she had been stealing fentanyl for personal use for several months, officials said. Carter denied injecting herself with the drug while on duty. Law enforcement officers reported finding needles, saline syringes and adhesive in her bag.
As a registered nurse, Carter knew that her actions likely resulted in critically ill patients receiving diluted fentanyl that was not safe and effective, prosecutors said. Having been deprived of sterile, medically necessary medication, such patients were exposed to possible infection and endured unnecessary pain and suffering, officials said. They said the failure to anesthetize or control pain in intensive care unit patients can also increase the risk of illness or death from respiratory, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal complications. | 2022-07-21T16:04:46+00:00 | valleycentral.com | https://www.valleycentral.com/news/health/ap-health/nurse-gets-year-in-prison-for-replacing-fentanyl-with-saline/ |
AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) — The roads in Aurora’s Prides Crossing neighborhood are severely iced over, and residents are fed up with it.
The roads are caked so thick with ice, residents say people are getting stuck daily, including school buses, UPS trucks and mail carriers.
South Bahama Way, where Chris Williams lives, barely looks like a roadway.
“It’s pretty frustrating,” Williams said. “We haven’t really had winters this bad in a long time, but every year it’s like this. There’s not a lot of sun on this side and it’s terrible. It just ices up and packs down, pretty much.”
Despite sliding cars, no plows
Williams’ wife is disabled and said that’s presented its own issues.
“I work two jobs so I’m gone all day. So just her getting out and going to the store. Luckily, she hasn’t had any doctor’s appointments during this, but even if she had, she wouldn’t have been able to get there.”
Now, they’re worried about the snow coming next week and how it could worsen the road.
He simply wants the ice gone, and while he said they’ve reached out to 211, they haven’t seen any action.
“I hope we don’t get a dump on us, but it’s just terrible,” Williams said. “It’s all the side streets. I mean, the main streets are good, but the side streets are terrible, and there’s no way that cars can get through here. They just spin, spin. We just need someone to come out and plow through here.” | 2023-01-28T07:01:43+00:00 | kdvr.com | https://kdvr.com/news/local/aurora-neighborhood-fed-up-with-iced-over-roads/ |
MOSCOW — After almost 10 months of war, sanctions, nuclear threats and the constant monitoring of the Russian security state, some American and European citizens continue living and working in Russia, drawn in many cases by professional opportunities and higher salaries.
Some Western athletes, businesspeople and artists chose to stay even as Russian authorities arrested and jailed American basketball player Brittney Griner in February on a minor drug charge. On Thursday, she was freed and sent back to the United States in a prisoner exchange for a notorious Russian arms dealer, Viktor Bout, in a move that some Republican politicians and analysts have said puts other Americans at risk of being wrongfully detained for political gain.
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Griner’s detention has injected a complex new factor into the calculation of whether to travel to, or work in, Russia, an already fraught decision with the war in Ukraine as a backdrop.
More than 1,000 multinational firms have curtailed their operations in Russia since the invasion, with foreign managers often being the first to go. The vast majority of Western universities have halted student-exchange programs with Russian peers.
And most major European and American cultural institutions have ended collaborations with Russian theaters and museums, including the Bolshoi in Moscow and the Mariinsky in St. Petersburg, two of the world’s most storied houses for opera and ballet.
But in other areas, the numbers of Westerners have held steady or even grown since Griner’s arrest. Most choose to come or stay to advance careers, but there are also examples of Americans who made Russia their home for political reasons. Most famously, they include actor Steven Seagal and former intelligence analyst Edward Snowden, who just this month took an oath of Russian citizenship.
Athletes have long provided one of the biggest streams of prominent Westerners to Russia. Players “whose careers were declining went there to maintain the same level of income that they were accustomed to,” said Bill Neff, an agent with clients across the world.
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After the outbreak of the war, the Russian teams in the Continental Hockey League, which includes Russia and its neighbors, lost nearly half of its foreign players. Finns and Swedes led the exodus, largely abiding by their countries’ hard-line stance toward Russia’s aggression.
But after the initial outflow, some of the European vacancies are being filled by American and Canadian players. They include Scott Wilson, a Canadian who won NHL championships with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and an American, Alexander Chmelevski, both of whom joined Russian teams this fall.
There are now an estimated 42 Americans playing or planning to play in Russia’s premier men’s basketball league, up from 30 just a few months ago, according to tallies by American sports agents. An analysis of team rosters shows that there are an additional 29 American and Canadian hockey players who signed with premier Russian teams this season, with some joining after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. There’s even an American playing for the same Russian women’s basketball team that Griner represented before her arrest.
These athletes have stayed despite warnings from the U.S. State Department, which is advising all Americans to leave Russia immediately, weighing the risks of playing in Russia against professional and financial opportunities in a major sports market.
Many agents representing American athletes did not respond to queries about Griner’s detention in Russia. Those who did said the prisoner swap that brought her home had no impact on their work or their clients.
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“Griner’s case has to do with things that have nothing to do with basketball,” said David Carro, a Spanish sports agent representing four male American basketball players in Russia. “We never had any problems when Brittney Griner was there, and now, even less so.”
“Our Americans get paid promptly and are living very well in Russia,” he added.
Many American basketball players come to Russia to make money in the offseason or to prolong their careers. Because Russia covets top-level “name” players, they often pay high salaries. Athletes can earn more than $1 million and often receive free housing and cars.
Neff, who represents about 30 professional basketball players, said Griner’s freedom does not lessen his caution in sending players to Russia during the conflict with Ukraine. He has discouraged his clients from going there and does not currently have any players in Russia.
“I don’t think it changes anything,” Neff said of her release. “If you send someone to Russia, you know there are risks. Is the increased money worth the risk? That’s the choice you’re making.”
American basketball player K.C. Rivers, 35, came to Russia in August, while Griner was on trial, to play for the team of Samara, a provincial capital more than 500 miles east of Moscow.
“At this point, I didn’t really have so many options coming my way,” Rivers said in an interview in September. “What’s the best thing for me right now, towards — I ain’t going to say the end of my career — but in my career at this point? Financially, what makes sense?”
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The Russian basketball clubs are playing fewer games this season because of their suspension from Euroleague competition, a penalty that has diminished the quality of players the league has attracted, Neff said. And Russia’s hockey league this month voted to slash the number of foreigners that will be allowed on each team starting next season, an example of wartime nationalism sweeping the country.
There are still a few Americans imprisoned in Russia. One is Paul Whelan, who was detained in December 2018, convicted of espionage and sentenced to 16 years in a penal colony; the U.S. State Department says he has been wrongfully detained. Marc Fogel, a 60-year old history teacher, was detained in 2021 for having about a half-ounce of medical marijuana. He was sentenced in June to 14 years in a penal colony.
During a visit to Kyrgyzstan on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin commented on the possibility of new prisoner exchanges with the United States.
“Everything is possible and contacts continue through the special services,” he said at a news conference.
George Beebe, a former director of the CIA’s Russia analysis and a Russia adviser to Vice President Dick Cheney, said that although there are risks for Americans in Russia, he did not think the Bout-Griner swap had increased the chances of an American getting arrested on trumped-up pretexts.
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“For American citizens that are living and working in Russia, I wouldn’t say that there is no danger,” Beebe, program director at the Quincy Institute think tank, said in a phone interview. “Certainly there is. The Russian government is not likely to be at all lenient in dealing with Americans. They’re not going to give any Americans the benefit of the doubt.”
However, he said, “I don’t think it increases the likelihood that the Russian government is going to arrest Americans.”
But Andrei Soldatov, a Russian journalist who specializes in the security services, said it is hard to make predictions when the rules of the game are constantly changing. During the Cold War era, he said, the rules were defined and predictable. But with the war in Ukraine continuing to escalate, diplomacy is entering uncharted territory.
“We all have this temptation always to compare this to the Cold War, but this is nothing like that,” he said in a phone interview.
“The Cold War was a period when nobody wanted or was actually interested in a hot war. And now we have a really big war which might get bigger,” he said. “Nobody can actually rationalize or predict and develop a strategy accordingly — that’s a problem.” | 2022-12-10T18:25:14+00:00 | bostonglobe.com | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/12/10/world/brittney-griner-swap-puts-spotlight-americans-russia/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks that traded heavily or had substantial price changes Tuesday:
Gitlab Inc., up $3.62 to $41.95.
The software company reported strong third-quarter financial results.
NRG Energy Inc., down $6.16 to $34.68
The utility company is buying Vivint Smart Home for $2.8 billion in cash, along with $2.4 billion in assumed debt.
Signet Jewelers Ltd., up $11.71 to $69.54.
The owner of the Zales and Kay Jewelers chains raised its profit and revenue forecasts for the year.
Sumo Logic Inc., up 86 cents to $8.07.
The cloud-based data analytics company gave investors an encouraging financial forecast.
Funko Inc., down 1 cent to $10.38.
The maker of bobbleheads and other licensed collectible items changed CEOs in a leadership shakeup.
Textron Inc., up $3.67 to $73.57.
The maker of Cessna small planes and Bell helicopters won a helicopter contract with the U.S. Army.
Meta Platforms Inc., down $8.31 to $114.12.
Facebook’s targeted model for advertising reportedly faces potential restrictions in Europe.
Mirati Therapeutics Inc., down $21.23 to $71.52.
Investors were disappointed by a drug development update from the developer of cancer treatments. | 2022-12-06T21:36:59+00:00 | seattletimes.com | https://www.seattletimes.com/business/nrg-energy-meta-platforms-fall-textron-signet-rise/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_business |
THE SOUND MIND, SOUND BODY CONTEST WILL BENEFIT YOUTH PROGRAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
BOSTON, Feb. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, ASICS and BSN SPORTS have announced the launch of a nationwide Sound Mind, Sound Body Contest targeting youth programs from across the country. Four awards totaling $12,000 each will be distributed with a focus on teams who support the sports of cross country, track & field, volleyball and wrestling.
The entry window for the Sound Mind, Sound Body Contest is now open and will run through Friday, March 17, 2023. Twelve finalists will be selected in mid-March and the four winning teams will be unveiled in an announcement on May 1. Interested teams can nominate themselves or another deserving team by visiting www.bsnsports.com/ib/asicscontest.
"ASICS is honored to launch the new Sound Mind Sound Body Contest alongside BSN SPORTS," said ASICS Elite Athlete and Olympic Gold Medalist Valarie Allman. "Participating in youth sports was integral to the athletic successes that I have enjoyed throughout my career and we are proud to help support young athletes through these four targeted awards."
"The impact of a great coach extends well beyond the win column. Great coaches teach athletes confident leadership, effective communication skills, tools to build relationships, how to carry themselves through times of adversity and so much more. For these reasons, BSN SPORTS is eager to spotlight influential coaches leveraging the power of sport for good through the Sound Mind, Sound Body Contest. By teaming up with our partners at ASICS, award recipients will benefit from meaningful resources to continue developing well-rounded athletes and teams," said BSN SPORTS President Terry Babilla.
In addition to the monetary prize, the contest will award each winning team a free professional development session through the Believe in You Empowerment Program (valued at $1,000). The Believe in You Empowerment Program, developed by BSN SPORTS' parent company Varsity Brands, provides free resources and curriculum to guide teachers and coaches in facilitating character education and leadership development to help students unlock their potential and strive toward their goals.
For more information on ASICS, please visit, www.asics.com and for BSN SPORTS, please visit, www.bsnsports.com.
About BSN SPORTS
Dallas-based BSN SPORTS is the leading marketer, manufacturer and distributor of sporting goods apparel and equipment. A division of Varsity Brands, BSN SPORTS markets and distributes its products to over 150,000 institutional and team sports customers in colleges and universities, middle and high schools, and recreational programs throughout the United States via catalog, e-commerce, and direct sales. Focused on providing game changing solutions through local partnerships, multi-brand selection and one-stop shopping for equipment and uniforms, BSN SPORTS' more than 3,000 employees have been helping elevate participation in team sports since 1972. For more information about BSN SPORTS please visit www.bsnsports.com.
About ASICS
Anima Sana In Corpore Sano, meaning "A Sound Mind in a Sound Body," is an old Latin phrase from which ASICS is derived and the fundamental platform on which the brand still stands. The company was founded more than 70 years ago by Kihachiro Onitsuka and is now a leading designer and manufacturer of performance athletic footwear, apparel and accessories. For more information, visit www.asics.com. Follow @ASICSamerica on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for exclusive content and real-time news around ASICS products, events, and elite athletes.
Media Contact:
Lisa Bartek
lbartek@varsitybrands.com
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SOURCE BSN SPORTS | 2023-02-08T01:51:06+00:00 | kmvt.com | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2023/02/07/asics-bsn-sports-partner-launch-nationwide-contest/ |
ANN ARBOR, MI -- A store focused on plant-based, handmade soaps is set to open in Ann Arbor by the end of August.
Buff City Soap, 3143 Ann Arbor-Saline Road, Ann Arbor, will open on Thursday, Aug. 25, with a four-day grand opening event featuring a variety of giveaways and deal.
Buff City Soap handmade soaps, body butters, bath bombs, shaving bars and shower oils created directly in the store’s makery. The store also sells laundry soap made of coconut soap, baking soda and citric acid. Customers can bring their laundry soap container back to refill for $1 off.
“Literally everything that goes on the shelves will get made in our makery,” said Virginia Kamenitzer, director of marketing for Buff City Soap’s northern group.
In addition to making the store’s products, employees help customers scent individual products or create their own scents at time of purchase. Buff City Soap is also available for individual reservations or parties.
Buff City Soap, founded in 2013, aims to create plant-based products as an alternative to commercial soap products. The company’s soaps and other products are free of animal fats, parabens, phthalates and dyes.
The chain was attracted to Ann Arbor because of its community, Kamenitzer said.
“It’s an amazing city. It’s artistic; it understands handmade; it appreciates DIY,” Kamenitzer said. “It’s colorful, like we are. It just seems like the perfect place for people who want to get involved with the products they put on their bodies.”
Buff City Soap will be hosting its grand opening from Thursday, Aug. 25 through Sunday, Aug. 28. The first 50 people in line each day will get free soap for a year. Giveaways will also be hosted daily each hour, with prizes including a free bath bomb party, $100 gift box and a laundry bundle.
Buff City Soap, 3143 Ann Arbor-Saline Road, is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. Find the store online or on social media.
Read more from The Ann Arbor News:
Residents sue township north of Ann Arbor over gun range
August weather in Michigan? Here’s how it normally goes
Police seize guns from teens who attended massive rural Michigan party promoted on TikTok | 2022-08-09T19:32:24+00:00 | mlive.com | https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2022/08/plant-based-soap-maker-to-open-in-ann-arbor.html |
SAN FRANCISCO – Klay Thompson pondered the Golden State Warriors' current playoff situation and expressed some relief. In years past under the old best-of-five format, the defending champions would have been on the brink of elimination trailing 2-0.
Thompson, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green have never been in the hole like this, down by two games — and this is a group that has practically seen it all over the past decade while capturing the franchise's first championship in 40 years with the 2014-15 title and three more since, reaching the NBA Finals in five straight seasons from 2015-19 along the way.
But the upstart Sacramento Kings, coached by former top Warriors assistant Mike Brown, who helped Golden State accomplish so much as a top assistant, are coming to Chase Center on Thursday night for Game 3 of the best-of-seven first-round series with some serious momentum.
“Luckily, it's first to four. It's not the old format where it's first to three,” Thompson said, “that would be not so much fun.”
The Warriors had gone 27 consecutive playoff series during the Curry era without falling behind 2-0. Steve Kerr hadn’t seen it, either, since he began coaching the team in 2014-15. Now, this group will need a mighty comeback and will now have to do it without emotional leader Green, who was suspended late Tuesday for one game without pay after he stomped on Domantas Sabonis during the fourth quarter of Monday night's 114-106 defeat at Golden 1 Center.
Sabonis was called for a technical foul for grabbing Green’s leg and Green received a flagrant-2 foul that led to an automatic ejection and the discipline by the league. The NBA made the announcement of a decision by executive vice president and head of basketball operations Joe Dumars.
“The suspension was based in part on Green’s history of unsportsmanlike acts,” the release said.
Green has always walked a fine line with the officials and even his own team. He began the season with a short leave of absence after punching teammate Jordan Poole in the face during training camp.
Green has been called for six flagrant fouls and 27 technical fouls in 147 career playoff games. He was ejected from a playoff game against Memphis last season.
Green was suspended for a crucial Game 5 loss to LeBron James and the Cavaliers in the 2016 NBA Finals for accumulating too many flagrant fouls in the playoffs that season. The Warriors wound up losing in seven.
He's hardly the only concern right now.
So far this series, Golden State has misfired from 3-point range — a team featuring three shooters with 200 or more 3-pointers in Curry, Thompson and Jordan Poole and Thompson with an NBA-best 301 — and has been sloppy taking care of the ball.
After Monday's game, Curry challenged the Warriors to be smarter on both ends.
"You do this as long as we have, whatever it is, 28 series or whatever, we’ve never been in this situation, so you got to stay together and stay locked in on things we need to do better," Curry said of the deficit. "Embrace the challenge of protecting our home court, which we’ve been great at all year. And at the end of the day, all we got to do is win one game here, somehow, some way, whatever game it is.”
Only 26 of 334 teams that fell behind 2-0 have ever rallied to win in a best-of-seven series — a .078 percentage, according to Sportradar.
This also marks just the fifth time a defending champion has trailed 2-0 in a first-round series and all the others went on to lose. The 2012 Mavericks were swept by the Thunder 4-0; the 2007 Heat lost all four matchups to the Bulls; the 1984 76ers fell 3-2 to the Nets and the 1957 Philadelphia Warriors lost 2-0 to the Syracuse Nationals.
“The way our guys fought, they showed what they’re made of,” Kerr said. "So now it’s a matter of going home and licking our wounds a little bit. We get a little rest with a couple of days in between games and we go home and take care of our home court.”
And with Curry, Green and Thompson's experience, they never count themselves out on the big stage.
“It’s a new challenge. After the game I was thinking about that, thinking like, ‘Man, I think this is one we haven’t seen yet,’” Green said. “We’ve conquered all the rest of them so why not go conquer this one. It’ll be a lot of fun.”
This is a group that has regularly been challenged before and bounced back — even during this topsy-turvy regular season and its struggles. The Warriors dealt with injuries and Andrew Wiggins' extended absences for a personal matter to avoid the play-in game and earn the sixth seed from the Western Conference.
“It’s unfamiliar territory, but we’ve been down 3-1. We’ve been up 3-1. We’ve been through everything. So we rely on our experience," Thompson said. "We take a great off day and we recollect ourselves, and do what we do, and that’s play well at home — always.”
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2023-04-19T04:41:58+00:00 | clickorlando.com | https://www.clickorlando.com/sports/2023/04/18/warriors-in-rare-territory-trail-kings-2-0-in-nba-playoffs/ |
NEW YORK, June 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BGC Partners, Inc. (Nasdaq: BGCP) ("BGC Partners" or "BGC" or the "Company"), a leading global brokerage and financial technology company, today announced that it has updated its outlook for the quarter ending June 30, 2022.
Updated Outlook
BGC's revenue for the second quarter of 2022 is now expected to be slightly below the midpoint of the range of its previously stated outlook, while pre-tax Adjusted Earnings is expected to be around the midpoint. BGC's expected second quarter 2022 revenue would have been higher than the previously stated midpoint and in-line with the year ago period, excluding Insurance, if not for the strengthening of the U.S. Dollar during the period.
The Company's outlook was contained in BGC's financial results press release issued on May 2, 2022, which can be found at http://ir.bgcpartners.com.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This document contains non-GAAP financial measures that differ from the most directly comparable measures calculated and presented in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States ("GAAP"). Non-GAAP financial measures used by the Company include "Adjusted Earnings before noncontrolling interests and taxes", which is used interchangeably with "pre-tax Adjusted Earnings"; "Post-tax Adjusted Earnings to fully diluted shareholders", which is used interchangeably with "post-tax Adjusted Earnings"; "Adjusted EBITDA"; and "Liquidity". The definitions of these terms are below.
Adjusted Earnings Defined
BGC uses non-GAAP financial measures, including "Adjusted Earnings before noncontrolling interests and taxes" and "Post-tax Adjusted Earnings to fully diluted shareholders", which are supplemental measures of operating results used by management to evaluate the financial performance of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries. BGC believes that Adjusted Earnings best reflect the operating earnings generated by the Company on a consolidated basis and are the earnings which management considers when managing its business.
As compared with "Income (loss) from operations before income taxes" and "Net income (loss) for fully diluted shares", both prepared in accordance with GAAP, Adjusted Earnings calculations primarily exclude certain non-cash items and other expenses that generally do not involve the receipt or outlay of cash by the Company and/or which do not dilute existing stockholders. In addition, Adjusted Earnings calculations exclude certain gains and charges that management believes do not best reflect the ordinary results of BGC. Adjusted Earnings is calculated by taking the most comparable GAAP measures and adjusting for certain items with respect to compensation expenses, non-compensation expenses, and other income, as discussed below.
Calculations of Compensation Adjustments for Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted EBITDA
Treatment of Equity-Based Compensation Line Item for Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted EBITDA
The Company's Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted EBITDA measures exclude all GAAP charges included in the line item "Equity-based compensation and allocations of net income to limited partnership units and FPUs" (or "equity-based compensation" for purposes of defining the Company's non-GAAP results) as recorded on the Company's GAAP Consolidated Statements of Operations and GAAP Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. These GAAP equity-based compensation charges reflect the following items:
- Charges with respect to grants of exchangeability, which reflect the right of holders of limited partnership units with no capital accounts, such as LPUs and PSUs, to exchange these units into shares of common stock, or into partnership units with capital accounts, such as HDUs, as well as cash paid with respect to taxes withheld or expected to be owed by the unit holder upon such exchange. The withholding taxes related to the exchange of certain non-exchangeable units without a capital account into either common shares or units with a capital account may be funded by the redemption of preferred units such as PPSUs.
- Charges with respect to preferred units. Any preferred units would not be included in the Company's fully diluted share count because they cannot be made exchangeable into shares of common stock and are entitled only to a fixed distribution. Preferred units are granted in connection with the grant of certain limited partnership units that may be granted exchangeability or redeemed in connection with the grant of shares of common stock at ratios designed to cover any withholding taxes expected to be paid. This is an alternative to the common practice among public companies of issuing the gross amount of shares to employees, subject to cashless withholding of shares, to pay applicable withholding taxes.
- GAAP equity-based compensation charges with respect to the grant of an offsetting amount of common stock or partnership units with capital accounts in connection with the redemption of non-exchangeable units, including PSUs and LPUs.
- Charges related to amortization of RSUs and limited partnership units.
- Charges related to grants of equity awards, including common stock or partnership units with capital accounts.
- Allocations of net income to limited partnership units and FPUs. Such allocations represent the pro-rata portion of post-tax GAAP earnings available to such unit holders.
The amounts of certain quarterly equity-based compensation charges are based upon the Company's estimate of such expected charges during the annual period, as described further below under "Methodology for Calculating Adjusted Earnings Taxes."
Virtually all of BGC's key executives and producers have equity or partnership stakes in the Company and its subsidiaries and generally receive deferred equity or limited partnership units as part of their compensation. A significant percentage of BGC's fully diluted shares are owned by its executives, partners and employees. The Company issues limited partnership units as well as other forms of equity-based compensation, including grants of exchangeability into shares of common stock, to provide liquidity to its employees, to align the interests of its employees and management with those of common stockholders, to help motivate and retain key employees, and to encourage a collaborative culture that drives cross-selling and revenue growth.
All share equivalents that are part of the Company's equity-based compensation program, including REUs, PSUs, LPUs, HDUs, and other units that may be made exchangeable into common stock, as well as RSUs (which are recorded using the treasury stock method), are included in the fully diluted share count when issued or at the beginning of the subsequent quarter after the date of grant. Generally, limited partnership units other than preferred units are expected to be paid a pro-rata distribution based on BGC's calculation of Adjusted Earnings per fully diluted share. However, out of an abundance of caution and in order to strengthen the Company's balance sheet due the uncertain macroeconomic conditions with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic, BGC Holdings, L.P. has reduced its distributions of income from the operations of BGC's businesses to its partners.
Compensation charges are also adjusted for certain other cash and non-cash items, including those related to the amortization of GFI employee forgivable loans granted prior to the closing of the January 11, 2016 back-end merger with GFI.
Certain Other Compensation-Related Adjustments for Adjusted Earnings
BGC also excludes various other GAAP items that management views as not reflective of the Company's underlying performance in a given period from its calculation of Adjusted Earnings. These may include compensation-related items with respect to cost-saving initiatives, such as severance charges incurred in connection with headcount reductions as part of broad restructuring and/or cost savings plans.
Calculation of Non-Compensation Adjustments for Adjusted Earnings
Adjusted Earnings calculations may also exclude items such as:
- Non-cash GAAP charges related to the amortization of intangibles with respect to acquisitions;
- Acquisition related costs;
- Certain rent charges;
- Non-cash GAAP asset impairment charges; and
- Various other GAAP items that management views as not reflective of the Company's underlying performance in a given period, including non-compensation-related charges incurred as part of broad restructuring and/or cost savings plans. Such GAAP items may include charges for exiting leases and/or other long-term contracts as part of cost-saving initiatives, as well as non-cash impairment charges related to assets, goodwill and/or intangibles created from acquisitions.
Calculation of Adjustments for Other (income) losses for Adjusted Earnings
Adjusted Earnings calculations also exclude certain other non-cash, non-dilutive, and/or non-economic items, which may, in some periods, include:
- Gains or losses on divestitures;
- Fair value adjustment of investments;
- Certain other GAAP items, including gains or losses related to BGC's investments accounted for under the equity method; and
- Any unusual, one-time, non-ordinary, or non-recurring gains or losses.
Methodology for Calculating Adjusted Earnings Taxes
Although Adjusted Earnings are calculated on a pre-tax basis, BGC also reports post-tax Adjusted Earnings to fully diluted shareholders. The Company defines post-tax Adjusted Earnings to fully diluted shareholders as pre-tax Adjusted Earnings reduced by the non-GAAP tax provision described below and net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest for Adjusted Earnings.
The Company calculates its tax provision for post-tax Adjusted Earnings using an annual estimate similar to how it accounts for its income tax provision under GAAP. To calculate the quarterly tax provision under GAAP, BGC estimates its full fiscal year GAAP income (loss) from operations before income taxes and noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries and the expected inclusions and deductions for income tax purposes, including expected equity-based compensation during the annual period. The resulting annualized tax rate is applied to BGC's quarterly GAAP income (loss) from operations before income taxes and noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries. At the end of the annual period, the Company updates its estimate to reflect the actual tax amounts owed for the period.
To determine the non-GAAP tax provision, BGC first adjusts pre-tax Adjusted Earnings by recognizing any, and only, amounts for which a tax deduction applies under applicable law. The amounts include charges with respect to equity-based compensation; certain charges related to employee loan forgiveness; certain net operating loss carryforwards when taken for statutory purposes; and certain charges related to tax goodwill amortization. These adjustments may also reflect timing and measurement differences, including treatment of employee loans; changes in the value of units between the dates of grants of exchangeability and the date of actual unit exchange; variations in the value of certain deferred tax assets; and liabilities and the different timing of permitted deductions for tax under GAAP and statutory tax requirements.
After application of these adjustments, the result is the Company's taxable income for its pre-tax Adjusted Earnings, to which BGC then applies the statutory tax rates to determine its non-GAAP tax provision. BGC views the effective tax rate on pre-tax Adjusted Earnings as equal to the amount of its non-GAAP tax provision divided by the amount of pre-tax Adjusted Earnings.
Generally, the most significant factor affecting this non-GAAP tax provision is the amount of charges relating to equity-based compensation. Because the charges relating to equity-based compensation are deductible in accordance with applicable tax laws, increases in such charges have the effect of lowering the Company's non-GAAP effective tax rate and thereby increasing its post-tax Adjusted Earnings.
BGC incurs income tax expenses based on the location, legal structure and jurisdictional taxing authorities of each of its subsidiaries. Certain of the Company's entities are taxed as U.S. partnerships and are subject to the Unincorporated Business Tax ("UBT") in New York City. Any U.S. federal and state income tax liability or benefit related to the partnership income or loss, with the exception of UBT, rests with the unit holders rather than with the partnership entity. The Company's consolidated financial statements include U.S. federal, state, and local income taxes on the Company's allocable share of the U.S. results of operations. Outside of the U.S., BGC is expected to operate principally through subsidiary corporations subject to local income taxes. For these reasons, taxes for Adjusted Earnings are expected to be presented to show the tax provision the consolidated Company would expect to pay if 100 percent of earnings were taxed at global corporate rates.
Calculations of Pre- and Post-Tax Adjusted Earnings per Share
BGC's pre- and post-tax Adjusted Earnings per share calculations assume either that:
- The fully diluted share count includes the shares related to any dilutive instruments, but excludes the associated expense, net of tax, when the impact would be dilutive; or
- The fully diluted share count excludes the shares related to these instruments, but includes the associated expense, net of tax.
The share count for Adjusted Earnings excludes certain shares and share equivalents expected to be issued in future periods but not yet eligible to receive dividends and/or distributions. Each quarter, the dividend payable to BGC's stockholders, if any, is expected to be determined by the Company's Board of Directors with reference to a number of factors, including post-tax Adjusted Earnings per share. BGC may also pay a pro-rata distribution of net income to limited partnership units, as well as to Cantor for its noncontrolling interest. The amount of this net income, and therefore of these payments per unit, would be determined using the above definition of Adjusted Earnings per share on a pre-tax basis.
The declaration, payment, timing, and amount of any future dividends payable by the Company will be at the discretion of its Board of Directors using the fully diluted share count. For more information on any share count adjustments, see the table titled "Fully Diluted Weighted-Average Share Count under GAAP and for Adjusted Earnings" in the Company's most recent financial results press release.
Management Rationale for Using Adjusted Earnings
BGC's calculation of Adjusted Earnings excludes the items discussed above because they are either non-cash in nature, because the anticipated benefits from the expenditures are not expected to be fully realized until future periods, or because the Company views results excluding these items as a better reflection of the underlying performance of BGC's ongoing operations. Management uses Adjusted Earnings in part to help it evaluate, among other things, the overall performance of the Company's business, to make decisions with respect to the Company's operations, and to determine the amount of dividends payable to common stockholders and distributions payable to holders of limited partnership units. Dividends payable to common stockholders and distributions payable to holders of limited partnership units are included within "Dividends to stockholders" and "Earnings distributions to limited partnership interests and noncontrolling interests," respectively, in our unaudited, condensed, consolidated statements of cash flows.
The term "Adjusted Earnings" should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to GAAP net income (loss). The Company views Adjusted Earnings as a metric that is not indicative of liquidity, or the cash available to fund its operations, but rather as a performance measure. Pre- and post-tax Adjusted Earnings, as well as related measures, are not intended to replace the Company's presentation of its GAAP financial results. However, management believes that these measures help provide investors with a clearer understanding of BGC's financial performance and offer useful information to both management and investors regarding certain financial and business trends related to the Company's financial condition and results of operations. Management believes that the GAAP and Adjusted Earnings measures of financial performance should be considered together.
For more information regarding Adjusted Earnings, see the sections in the Company's most recent financial results press release titled "Reconciliation of GAAP Income (Loss) from Operations before Income Taxes to Adjusted Earnings and GAAP Fully Diluted EPS to Post-Tax Adjusted EPS", including the related footnotes, for details about how BGC's non-GAAP results are reconciled to those under GAAP.
Adjusted EBITDA Defined
BGC also provides an additional non-GAAP financial performance measure, "Adjusted EBITDA", which it defines as GAAP "Net income (loss) available to common stockholders", adjusted to add back the following items:
- Provision (benefit) for income taxes;
- Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries;
- Interest expense;
- Fixed asset depreciation and intangible asset amortization;
- Equity-based compensation and allocations of net income to limited partnership units and FPUs;
- Impairment of long-lived assets;
- (Gains) losses on equity method investments; and
- Certain other non-cash GAAP items, such as non-cash charges of amortized rents incurred by the Company for its new U.K. based headquarters.
The Company's management believes that its Adjusted EBITDA measure is useful in evaluating BGC's operating performance, because the calculation of this measure generally eliminates the effects of financing and income taxes and the accounting effects of capital spending and acquisitions, which would include impairment charges of goodwill and intangibles created from acquisitions. Such items may vary for different companies for reasons unrelated to overall operating performance. As a result, the Company's management uses this measure to evaluate operating performance and for other discretionary purposes. BGC believes that Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors to assist them in getting a more complete picture of the Company's financial results and operations.
Since BGC's Adjusted EBITDA is not a recognized measurement under GAAP, investors should use this measure in addition to GAAP measures of net income when analyzing BGC's operating performance. Because not all companies use identical EBITDA calculations, the Company's presentation of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Furthermore, Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to be a measure of free cash flow or GAAP cash flow from operations because the Company's Adjusted EBITDA does not consider certain cash requirements, such as tax and debt service payments.
For more information regarding Adjusted EBITDA, see the section in the Company's most recent financial results press release titled "Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders to Adjusted EBITDA", including the footnotes to the same, for details about how BGC's non-GAAP results are reconciled to those under GAAP.
Timing of Outlook for Certain GAAP and Non-GAAP Items
BGC anticipates providing forward-looking guidance for GAAP revenues and for certain non-GAAP measures from time to time. However, the Company does not anticipate providing an outlook for other GAAP results. This is because certain GAAP items, which are excluded from Adjusted Earnings and/or Adjusted EBITDA, are difficult to forecast with precision before the end of each period. The Company therefore believes that it is not possible for it to have the required information necessary to forecast GAAP results or to quantitatively reconcile GAAP forecasts to non-GAAP forecasts with sufficient precision without unreasonable efforts. For the same reasons, the Company is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information. The relevant items that are difficult to predict on a quarterly and/or annual basis with precision and may materially impact the Company's GAAP results include, but are not limited, to the following:
- Certain equity-based compensation charges that may be determined at the discretion of management throughout and up to the period-end;
- Unusual, one-time, non-ordinary, or non-recurring items;
- The impact of gains or losses on certain marketable securities, as well as any gains or losses related to associated mark-to- market movements and/or hedging. These items are calculated using period-end closing prices;
- Non-cash asset impairment charges, which are calculated and analyzed based on the period-end values of the underlying assets. These amounts may not be known until after period-end; and
- Acquisitions, dispositions and/or resolutions of litigation, which are fluid and unpredictable in nature.
Liquidity Defined
BGC may also use a non-GAAP measure called "liquidity". The Company considers liquidity to be comprised of the sum of cash and cash equivalents, reverse repurchase agreements (if any), securities owned, and marketable securities, less securities lent out in securities loaned transactions and repurchase agreements (if any). The Company considers liquidity to be an important metric for determining the amount of cash that is available or that could be readily available to the Company on short notice.
For more information regarding Liquidity, see the section in the Company's most recent financial results press release titled "Liquidity Analysis", including any footnotes to the same, for details about how BGC's non-GAAP results are reconciled to those under GAAP.
About BGC Partners, Inc.
BGC Partners, Inc. ("BGC") is a leading global brokerage and financial technology company. BGC, through its various affiliates, specializes in the brokerage of a broad range of products, including Fixed Income (Rates and Credit), Foreign Exchange, Equities, Energy and Commodities, Shipping, and Futures. BGC, through its various affiliates, also provides a wide variety of services, including trade execution, brokerage, clearing, trade compression, post-trade, information, and other back-office services to a broad range of financial and non-financial institutions. Through its brands, including FMX™, Fenics®, Fenics Market Data™, Fenics GO™, BGC®, BGC Trader™, Capitalab®, and Lucera®, BGC offers financial technology solutions, market data, and analytics related to numerous financial instruments and markets. BGC, BGC Trader, GFI, Fenics, FMX, Fenics Market Data, Fenics GO, Capitalab, and Lucera are trademarks/service marks and/or registered trademarks/service marks of BGC and/or its affiliates.
BGC's customers include many of the world's largest banks, broker-dealers, investment banks, trading firms, hedge funds, governments, corporations, and investment firms. BGC's Class A common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol "BGCP". BGC is led by Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Howard W. Lutnick. For more information, please visit http://www.bgcpartners.com. You can also follow BGC at https://twitter.com/bgcpartners, https://www.linkedin.com/company/bgc-partners and/or http://ir.bgcpartners.com/Investors/default.aspx.
Discussion of Forward-Looking Statements about BGC
Statements in this document regarding BGC that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These include statements about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's business, results, financial position, liquidity and outlook, which may constitute forward-looking statements and are subject to the risk that the actual impact may differ, possibly materially, from what is currently expected. Except as required by law, BGC undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. For a discussion of additional risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see BGC's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including, but not limited to, the risk factors and Special Note on Forward-Looking Information set forth in these filings and any updates to such risk factors and Special Note on Forward-Looking Information contained in subsequent reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q or Form 8-K.
Media Contact:
Karen Laureano-Rikardsen
+1 212-829-4975
Investor Contact:
Jason Chryssicas
+1 212-610-2426
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SOURCE BGC Partners, Inc. | 2022-06-30T23:04:01+00:00 | ksla.com | https://www.ksla.com/prnewswire/2022/06/30/bgc-partners-updates-its-outlook-second-quarter-2022/ |
Charges: Wisconsin boy, 10, killed mom over VR headset
MILWAUKEE (AP) - A 10-year-old Milwaukee boy intentionally aimed a gun at his mother, then shot and killed her, because she would not buy him a virtual reality headset, prosecutors said.
The boy initially told police that the Nov. 21 shooting was an accident, according to criminal charges obtained by the Journal Sentinel. But later he said he intentionally aimed at his mom before shooting her. The boy was charged as an adult last week with first-degree reckless homicide.
Wisconsin law requires children as young as 10 to be charged as adults for certain serious crimes, though the boy’s attorneys can seek to move the case to juvenile court. The boy, who family members said has mental health issues, is being held in juvenile detention.
“This is an absolute family tragedy,” said Angela Cunningham, one of the boy’s attorneys. “I don’t think anybody would deny or disagree with that ... The adult system is absolutely ill-equipped to address the needs of a 10-year-old child.”
The shooting occurred shortly before 7 a.m. on Nov. 21. According to the complaint, the boy initially told officers he got the gun from his mother’s bedroom and went to the basement where she was doing laundry. He said he was twirling the gun around his finger when it went off. The boy was allowed to stay with family, and an initial release from police says the shooting was caused by a child “playing” with a gun.
A day later, concerned relatives called police.
The boy’s aunt said that when she picked up the boy, he retrieved a set of house keys that contained a key to the gun’s lock box. When his aunt asked about the shooting, the boy said he pointed the gun at his mom, and that she told him to put it down.
The boy’s aunt and sister said he never cried or showed remorse. They also said he logged into his mother’s Amazon account and ordered an Oculus Virtual Reality Headset the morning after she died. That same morning, he physically attacked his 7-year-old cousin.
Relatives said the boy has a history of disturbing behavior. When he was 4, he swung the family’s puppy around by its tail, the complaint says. Six months ago, family told police, the boy filled a balloon with a flammable liquid and set it on fire, causing an explosion that burned furniture and the carpet. Relatives recalled that when asked about that, the boy said he hears five imaginary people talking to him.
After learning these new details, Milwaukee police interviewed the boy again. This time, he told detectives he aimed the gun at his mom with two hands while in a shooting stance. He said he tried shooting a wall to “scare her” when she walked in front of him and he shot her, the complaint says.
The boy told police he got the gun from the lock box that morning because his mother woke him up early — at 6 a.m. instead of 6:30 a.m. — and because she wouldn’t let him buy something on Amazon.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2022-12-01T05:40:39+00:00 | wfsb.com | https://www.wfsb.com/2022/12/01/charges-wisconsin-boy-10-killed-mom-over-vr-headset/ |
SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has compared the policies of the Bosnia Serb separatist leader to those of Russian President Vladimir Putin following his moves to curb dissent and LGBTQ rights.
Blinken tweeted late Wednesday that “Milorad Dodik’s attacks on basic rights and freedoms in Republika Srpska show he is on President Putin’s authoritarian path.”
Republika Srpska is the name for the half of Bosnia that is dominated by the country’s Serbs. Dodik is the entity’s president and leading politician who has repeatedly advocated for the breakup of Bosnia and clashed with Western officials in the Balkan country.
Earlier this month, Dodik’s government faced criticism from the U.S. and the European Union for pushing forward with a law to recriminalize libel and insult offences, which was seen as an attack on the freedom of expression and independent media.
Dodik also announced a law in the upcoming months to prohibit access for LGBTQ activists to kindergartens, schools and universities. This came only days after a group of hooligans attacked LGBTQ activists and journalists in Banja Luka, Republika Srpska’s administrative center.
Dodik, who is staunchly pro-Russia, has rejected Western criticism and said his entity would break off relations with the U.S. and British embassies in Bosnia. He has dismissed the need for U.S. support and blasted Washington’s engagement in Bosnia, including continued financial backing.
“It would have been better if they (U.S.) hadn’t given a single dollar, if they hadn’t gotten so involved,” he tweeted on Thursday.
Washington and London have imposed sanctions on Dodik and his close associates for his policies of undermining Western efforts to promote reconciliation and democracy in Bosnia following the devastating ethnic conflict. Dodik has traveled often to Moscow and met with Putin there.
Blinken said that the U.S. “represented by Amb. (Michael) Murphy, continues to advocate for the democratic and prosperous future that all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina deserve.”
Bosnia’s 1992-95 ethnic war erupted when Serbs launched a rebellion to break away from the country’s Bosniaks, who are mainly Muslims, and Croats. More than 100,000 people died in the conflict before the U.S. brokered a peace agreement in 1995.
The deal divided Bosnia in two entities but kept them together by joint institutions. Fears have grown since the war in Ukraine that Russia could seek to stir trouble in Bosnia and elsewhere in the Balkans to avert attention from its full-scale invasion. | 2023-03-31T05:12:23+00:00 | wivb.com | https://www.wivb.com/news/world/blinken-compares-bosnia-serb-leader-to-putin/ |
FAIRFAX, Va., May 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Knowesis Inc. (Knowesis) is pleased to announce its selection as an awardee of the Artificial Intelligence Talent (AIT) 2.0 Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. This prestigious contract, issued under the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC), establishes Knowesis as a trusted partner in supporting the Department of Defense's (DoD) future-state mission of responsible artificial intelligence technology adoption.
The AIT 2.0 IDIQ contract provides the Chief Digital and AI Officer (CDAO) with a vehicle through which industry experts can be contracted to support the DoD's efforts in integrating and leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies. Leveraging its extensive expertise and deep understanding of AI and ML applications, Knowesis aims to assist the government in overcoming existing and anticipated obstacles in AI adoption and utilization.
Sheilah O'Brien, Managing Principal of Knowesis Inc., stated, "Knowesis is committed to helping the government achieve its future state mission of implementing AI and ML technologies by offering specialized expertise and innovative solutions in these areas. By providing cutting-edge AI and ML technologies, consulting services, and training programs, Knowesis will empower government decision-makers with data-driven insights. We will collaborate closely with government agencies to develop tailored solutions that address specific challenges and contribute to the overall advancement of AI and ML adoption in the public sector."
Under this five-year contract, Knowesis will provide personal and technical support services and products to DoD programs, the defense cyber community, and customers. These services will encompass a wide range of areas, including agile development, cyber analytics, cybersecurity and risk management, integration, Security / Development / Operations (SecDevOps), systems engineering, systems maintenance and sustainment, systems security engineering, ML model development, ML operations, applied data science, testing, graphic design, logistics, and training.
Knowesis, Inc., founded in 2007, offers services in analytics and information management, planning and operations, as well as communication and engagement from its offices in Fairfax, VA with 200+ employees. Knowesis is a Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE)-certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and SBA-certified Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB). Knowesis maintains ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 27001:2013 certifications, ensuring the highest standards of quality and information systems security. More information about the company can be found at www.knowesis-inc.com as well as Facebook and Twitter.
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SOURCE Knowesis Inc. | 2023-05-23T19:17:59+00:00 | wymt.com | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2023/05/23/knowesis-awarded-joint-artificial-intelligence-center-artificial-intelligence-talent-20-jaic-ait-20-idiq/ |
NEW YORK, July 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Jakubowitz Law announces that a securities fraud class action lawsuit has commenced on behalf of shareholders of Apyx Medical Corporation (NASDAQ: APYX).
To receive updates on the lawsuit, fill out the form:
https://claimyourloss.com/securities/apyx-medical-corporation-loss-submission-form/?id=29612&from=4
The lawsuit seeks to recover losses for shareholders who purchased Apyx between May 12, 2021 and March 11, 2022.
Shareholders interested in acting as a lead plaintiff representing the class of wronged shareholders have until August 5, 2022 to petition the court. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
According to a filed complaint, Apyx Medical Corporation issued materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) a significant number of Apyx's Advanced Energy products were used for off-label indications; (2) such off-label uses led to an increase in the number of medical device reports filed by Apyx reporting serious adverse events; (3) as a result, the Company was reasonably likely to incur regulatory scrutiny; (4) as a result of the foregoing, the Company's financial results would be adversely impacted; and (5) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.
Jakubowitz Law is vigorous in pursuit of justice for shareholders who have been the victim of securities fraud. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
JAKUBOWITZ LAW
1140 Avenue of the Americas
9th Floor
New York, New York 10036
T: (212) 867-4490
F: (212) 537-5887
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SOURCE Jakubowitz Law | 2022-07-08T10:30:23+00:00 | wbrc.com | https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2022/07/08/apyx-shareholder-alert-jakubowitz-law-reminds-apyx-shareholders-lead-plaintiff-deadline-august-5-2022/ |
California's Reparations Taskforce has issued its final recommendations for a state reparations program for the descendants of slaves. State lawmakers must now decide whether to adopt any of them.
Copyright 2023 NPR
California's Reparations Taskforce has issued its final recommendations for a state reparations program for the descendants of slaves. State lawmakers must now decide whether to adopt any of them.
Copyright 2023 NPR | 2023-07-21T21:42:00+00:00 | kcbx.org | https://www.kcbx.org/2023-07-21/if-california-decides-to-adopt-a-reparations-program-here-are-the-next-steps |
Which robotic building kit is best?
Robotics is a booming business. Learning how to design and build robots engages your child in all four areas of STEM education at once. Hands-on learning is the best way to get involved, such as buying a kit where you can build a robot yourself. When you build a robot, you learn how to read technical diagrams and follow detailed instructions.
If you are looking for a robot that requires no tools to assemble, take a close look at the UBTECH JIMU Astrobot Series Cosmos Kit. You can program this 387 piece robot with sound and light effects to pick up objects and navigate obstacles.
What to know before you buy a robot building kit
Robots use computer brains to send electrical signals to tell mechanical figures what to do.
Robot building kits teach kids a bit about computers and coding, a bit about battery-operated motors, servos, and sensors, and a bit about structural engineering.
Age
If you are buying a robot building kit for a child, take into account the two types of ages. Children have chronological ages determined by their date of birth, and they also have intellectual ages that are determined by their interests in school and STEM sciences in particular. More important than age is matching your choice of robot building kits with your child’s levels of experience, curiosity, and desire to learn new things.
Instructions
When you are looking at products that involve science, technology, engineering, and math, you are looking at complicated things that need to be explained simply. Take a look at the instructions and make sure they are clearly written and easy to understand. Keep an eye out for products that have instructional videos and videos that walk the builder through the assembly steps one by one.
Design
For a beginner, choose a robot building kit that does a simple thing or two. For a more experienced child, choose a robot building kit that performs many different functions. There are a lot of cool designs out there, so choose one that appeals to you.
What to look for in a quality robot building kit
Multiple functions
Robots that do one simple thing are easy to build but once you’ve built your robot, the project is done. Playing with your robot can be fun, but those who really want to learn robotics need greater challenges. Some robot building kits can be built in several different configurations to do many different things simply by following the instructions. At some point, young scientists are interested in robot building kits that are not prefabricated. To really understand how to design and program a robot, young scientists want a boxful of gears, motors, battery packs, arms, and wheels that they can put together following their own design.
Motors
The more motors included in your robot building kit, the more things you can command your robot to do.
Block-based coding
This is how people with limited training and skills in writing code can write programs in chunks. Instead of typing in thousands of characters of source code, kids can drag and drop blocks around the screen and put them in the desired order.
Smart navigation
With this feature, you can put your robot into motion with a set-it-and-forget-it touch. You write the program that tells your robot what to do, and you can watch while it does it.
How much you can expect to spend on a robot building kit
You can find simple robot building kits from $20-$50. From $50-$100, you will find robot building kits that are crossing over from toys for play to tools for work. Above $100, you will find specialty items and well-outfitted workshops.
Robot building kit FAQ
Can you make robots do whatever you want them to?
A. No matter how many things a robot from a kit can do, it will never be able to do much more than roll, crawl, reach, grasp, pick up and put down things small enough for it to handle.
Is building a robot kit a good way to learn to code?
A. Many robot building kits use modules that builders drag and drop from simple menus. Young scientists will see the logic in how commands are structured the same way they learned the structure of a sentence is subject-verb-object.
What are the best robot building kits to buy?
Top robot building kit
UBTECH JIMU Astrobot Series Cosmos Kit
What you need to know: You can program this robot to pick up objects, navigate obstacles and use sound and light effects.
What you’ll love: This robot building kit has five smooth motion robotic servo motors, two LEDs, an infrared sensor, speaker,s and a power adapter. Create entirely new, custom actions with the PRP (pose, record, play) function. The free app works with Apple and Android devices.
What you should consider: The 3D animated building instructions walk you through the 387 piece assembly process, which requires no tools.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top robot building kit for the money
LEGO Creator Robo Explorer 31062
What you need to know: This 3-in-1 robot building kit rebuilds into a robot dog or a robot bird.
What you’ll love: The Robo Explorer features working tracks, a rotating head, and body, posable arms with a working claw, and a searchlight. The robot dog has a light-up jetpack and the robot bird has bright green light-up eyes.
What you should consider: This budget robot building kit is only 4 inches tall.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Makeblock mBot Ultimate Robot Kit
What you need to know: Learn coding, robotics, and electronics as you use 160 mechanical parts and modules.
What you’ll love: Use this robot building kit with three powerful encoder motors to make a robotic ant, a tank with treads, a film crew camera dolly, a catapult ram, and a mobile grasping crane. Learn the basics of graphical programming with the block-based tool and Arduino and Raspberry Pi with text-based programming. You can wirelessly control all 10 robot forms through a Bluetooth connection.
What you should consider: This is a very pricey robot.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | 2022-07-17T15:43:05+00:00 | krqe.com | https://www.krqe.com/reviews/br/toys-games-br/building-sets-blocks-br/best-robot-building-kit/ |
US not yet in recession and 4 other takeaways from the Fed
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER
AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — Jerome Powell delivered a tough message at the start of a news conference Wednesday: Inflation is way too high, and the Federal Reserve is laser-focused on taming it with higher borrowing costs.
Yet despite his resolute words, the Fed chair also said for the first time that the central bank’s actions are already having an effect on the economy in ways that could slow the worst inflation the nation has endured in four decades.
With the Fed’s benchmark interest rate now at a level that’s believed to neither stimulate nor restrain growth, Powell said the pace of rate hikes could slow in the coming months. And he pointed to signs that many businesses are having an easier time filling jobs, a trend that would limit pay increases and potentially slow inflation.
“There were some hints that we’re closer to the end than the beginning” of the Fed’s efforts to tighten credit, said Michael Feroli, an economist at JPMorgan Chase and a former Fed staffer.
Powell’s suggestion that the Fed could moderate its future rate hikes after it announced a three-quarter-point hike Wednesday — its second in a row of that substantial size — helped touch off a celebratory rally in the stock market, with the S&P 500 jumping 2.6% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq rocketing 4.1%, its biggest gain in more than two years.
Some economists didn’t share the market’s optimism. They noted that Powell kept the door open to another big rate increase when the Fed next meets in September. The Fed chair also indicated that even if the economy were to fall into a recession, the central bank would keep raising rates if it deemed that necessary to curb still-high inflation.
When asked at his news conference whether a recession would alter the Fed’s course of rate hikes, Powell said simply, “We’re going to be focused on getting inflation back down.”
Here are five takeaways from the Fed’s interest-rate setting policy meeting and Powell news conference:
___
POWELL: U.S. NOT IN RECESSION
A slew of recent data has signaled the economy is weakening. Economists are increasingly forecasting a recession for later this year or in 2023. Powell, though, pointed Wednesday to the robust labor market as evidence the economy isn’t in recession, at least not yet.
Employers, he noted, added 2.7 million jobs in the first half of the year, the 3.6% U.S. unemployment rate is near a 50-year low and wage growth is strong.
“It doesn’t make sense that the economy could be in recession with this kind of thing happening,” the Fed chair said.
___
JOBS OVER GDP
On Thursday, the government will estimate second-quarter gross domestic product, the broadest measure of the nation’s output of goods and services. Some economists think the GDP report will show that the economy contracted for a second straight quarter, which would meet an informal definition of recession.
But even if it does, the definition of recession that is most widely accepted is the one determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research, a group of economists whose Business Cycle Dating Committee defines a recession as “a significant decline in economic activity that is spread across the economy and lasts more than a few months.”
Powell also noted that the government’s estimate of quarterly GDP is often significantly revised later and that the initial reports on economic growth should be taken with “a grain of salt.”
The Fed chair did sound a cautionary note, pointing out that there are signs that momentum in the job market is easing. Job openings have declined modestly, more people are seeking unemployment aid and hiring is lower than it was at the start of the year.
___
SLOWER GROWTH, HIRING GOOD
But even those signs of a slightly weaker job market are not all bad news, at least from the Fed’s perspective.
The Fed wants to cool the economy through its rate hikes, which make home mortgages, auto loans and business borrowing more expensive. As consumers and businesses spend less, the resulting pullback in demand can bring inflation down closer to the Fed’s 2% annual target.
“We think it’s necessary to have growth slow down, and growth is going to be slowing this year,” Powell said.
___
HOW HIGH WILL RATES GO?
Since early this year, the Fed has steadily ratcheted up its forecasts for how fast and how high it would have to raise rates to conquer inflation. On Wednesday, though, Powell said that estimates that Fed policymakers made a month ago for where rates would go next was still the best guide.
In June officials projected that the Fed’s key rate would reach between 3.25% and 3.5% at the end of this year, which Powell said was a “moderately restrictive” level. And at least two additional rate hikes were forecast for next year.
For the Fed to meet that year-end target would involve a half-point increase in September, and two quarter-point hikes in November and December. Such increases would represent a much more modest pace than the 2.25 percentage points of hikes the Fed has now carried out in just the past four meetings, the fastest pace since the early 1980s.
___
THE FED ISN’T ALONE
Other major central banks around the world have also been imposing big rate increases to combat inflation, which has spiked in nearly all advanced economies.
The European Union raised its short-term rate by a half-point last week. Canada’s central bank announced a full percentage point increase earlier this month. Last month, the Swiss National Bank implemented a half-point hike, its first increase in 15 years.
Although higher rates around the world could help throttle inflation, they also carry the threat of causing a global economic slowdown.
This week, the International Monetary Fund downgraded its outlook for world economic growth to 3.2% this year. That was down from a 3.6% estimate in April and much slower than last year’s 6.1% pace. | 2022-07-28T16:00:45+00:00 | keyt.com | https://keyt.com/news/2022/07/28/us-not-yet-in-recession-and-4-other-takeaways-from-the-fed/ |
SIOUX CITY, IOWA (Courtesy of The Sioux City Explorers) – The Sioux City Explorers couldn’t wake up the bats against the Kansas City Monarchs, falling 4-0 Sunday afternoon. The Monarchs had a big fourth inning, representing all the runs scored in the game despite Explorers starter Jared Wetherbee and reliever Brenden Heiss’ best efforts. Sioux City still managed to win the series after taking the first two games, but they remain in fourth place in the West Division following the loss.
The game started 47 minutes late due to a short storm prior to the game, and it took a while for the offenses to heat up as the pitchers for both teams dominated through the first three innings. Sioux City starter Jared Wetherbee, who was making his return from the Inactive List, went three perfect innings, striking out six Monarchs in the process while Kansas City starter Zach Matson started the game with three no-hit innings of his own.
The Monarchs ended the X’s perfect game in the fourth in a big way, starting with Kansas City’s Odubel Herrera reaching on an error by second baseman Kyle Kasser before Justin Wylie took a walk from Franklin Dacosta who relieved Wetherbee entering the inning. The Monarchs broke the deadlock following that when Kansas City’s Herrera came home after Chris Herrmann smoked a double to right field to make it 1-0. Monarchs Wylie came home the very next at-bat when Jan Hernandez sent a sac fly to right field, quickly extending the lead to 2-0 Kansas City. The 2-0 lead became 4-0 two batters later when Monarchs Micker Adolfo smacked a two-out, two-run bomb over the left field wall to give Kansas City firm control of the game.
The X’s finally broke up Matson’s no-hit bid in the fourth inning, thanks to Sioux City’s Tyler Rando’s leadoff double, but the Explorers continued to struggle against the righty for the rest of his appearance, not advancing a runner past first base after that. The X’s Brenden Heiss pitched stellar in relief coming in to start the fifth inning, blanking the Monarchs over his five innings of work, but his performance wasn’t enough as the Kansas City bullpen took over in the seventh inning and completed the shutout.
The Explorers will be off Monday but continue their homestand Tuesday August 1 with game one of a three game series with the second place Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. The first pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. at Mercy One Field at Lewis and Clark Park. | 2023-07-31T06:52:32+00:00 | siouxlandproud.com | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/sports/monarchs-avoid-xs-sweep-in-stout-pitching-effort/ |
Request unsuccessful. Incapsula incident ID: 8223000600101511840-312373985589268238 | 2023-04-06T20:35:26+00:00 | bizjournals.com | https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2023/04/06/bucees-travel-center-orlando-central-florida-nacs.html |
ELMIRA, NY (WETM)- NORAD is known to be the ones tracking Santa for decades, but you don’t have to be a part of NORAD to track Santa. Our own Rich Tanner is also an “official NORAD Santa tracker.”
“I’ve been one my whole life,” says Rich. His job is to help ensure that Santa has a smooth ride. Which, for Rich, is pretty easy since he works the morning shift here at WETM.
Rich started tracking Santa before the internet existed, he would listen to the Santa tracker on the radio every Christmas Eve. His favorite part about tracking Santa, and the main reason he still does it to this day is because it makes him feel like a kid again. Rich even receives an official NORAD Santa tracker shirt each year. He believes we are all Santa trackers at heart. | 2023-01-05T02:42:55+00:00 | mytwintiers.com | https://www.mytwintiers.com/news-cat/how-to-become-an-official-santa-tracker/ |
WASHINGTON — The Transportation Security Administration issued a reminder to Thanksgiving travelers this week: Before you agree to bring a favorite food item to the holiday table, be sure to plan how you're going to transport it if you're traveling by air.
Most foods can be carried through a TSA checkpoint, but there are some items that will need to travel in your checked baggage, the agency said.
"Here's some food for thought: If it's a solid item, then it can go through a checkpoint," the TSA said in a press release. "However, if you can spill it, spread it, spray it, pump it, or pour it -- and it's larger than 3.4 ounces -- then it should go in a checked bag."
Food items often need to undergo additional security screening, the TSA added. It's best to place those items in an easily accessible area of your carry-on luggage if you're taking food on the plane.
If you're not sure if your food item should be checked, you can visit the TSA homepage, which has a “What can I bring?” feature, the TSA said.
All you have to do is type in the item and find out if you can carry it through a checkpoint or if it should be checked.
Another option is for passengers to tweet their questions to @AskTSA to find out how best to travel with a specific food item or inquire via Facebook Messenger, the agency added.
Here are examples of the most commonly asked questions about which food items are permissible through a checkpoint and which ones need to get packed in checked baggage.
Thanksgiving foods that can be carried through a TSA checkpoint
- Baked goods. Homemade or store-bought pies, cakes, cookies, brownies and other sweet treats.
- Meats. Turkey, chicken, ham, steak. Frozen, cooked or uncooked.
- Stuffing. Cooked, uncooked, in a box or in a bag.
- Casseroles. Traditional green beans and onion straws or something more exotic.
- Mac ‘n Cheese. Cooked in a pan or traveling with the ingredients to cook it at your destination.
- Fresh vegetables. Potatoes, yams, broccoli, green beans, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, beets, radishes, carrots, squash, greens.
- Fresh fruit. Apples, pears, pineapple, lemons, limes, cranberries, blueberries, strawberries, bananas, kiwi.
- Candy.
- Spices.
Thanksgiving foods that should be carefully packed with your checked baggage
- Cranberry sauce. Homemade or canned are spreadable, so check them.
- Gravy. Homemade or in a jar/can
- Wine, champagne, sparking apple cider.
- Canned fruit or vegetables. It’s got liquid in the can, so check them.
- Preserves, jams and jellies. They are spreadable, so best to check them.
- Maple syrup. | 2022-11-17T16:51:37+00:00 | newscentermaine.com | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/life/holidays/thanksgiving-carry-on-foods-list-tsa/521-731400b3-2124-4c35-a34a-0f82262d8e79 |
SILVER SPRING, Md., Oct. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- October is National Seafood Month and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends eating fish as part of a healthy diet and encourages children and people who are or might become pregnant or breastfeeding to eat fish that are lower in mercury. Learn how you can make informed choices when it comes to the types of fish that are nutritious and lower in mercury with the FDA's many education resources on eating fish.
Fish provide key nutrients that support a child's brain development, such as:
- Omega-3 (called DHA and EPA) and omega-6 fats
- Iron
- Choline
- Iodine (during pregnancy)
Choline also supports development of the baby's spinal cord. Fish provide iron and zinc to support children's immune systems. Fish are a source of other nutrients like protein, vitamin B12, vitamin D, and selenium too.
The FDA has several education resources about eating fish, including:
- Two new PowerPoint slides about Eating Fish for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding and Eating Fish for Children, which can be helpful for health educators to include in presentations, such as at conferences or in community settings.
- Infographics that share information about eating fish as part of a healthy diet during pregnancy and breastfeeding and for children.
- Photonovels—or comic-style, graphic stories—that share information about eating fish while pregnant and why including fish in children's diets is important for their growth and development. Available in English, Simplified Chinese, and Spanish.
- Social Media Toolkit, which includes sample messages about eating fish as part of a healthy eating pattern for Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, along with newsletter text, infographics, and web badges.
- Translations of the fish advice and fish names. Available in Arabic, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), French, Hmong, Khmer, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese (PDF; XSLX).
The FDA/EPA advice about eating fish features a chart that describes dozens of healthy and lower mercury options. While it is important to limit mercury in the diets of those who are pregnant or breastfeeding and children, many types of fish are both nutritious and lower in mercury.
For more information, visit https://www.fda.gov/food/consumers/advice-about-eating-fish.
Contact: Media: 1-301-796-4540 Consumers: 1-888-SAFEFOOD (toll free)
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SOURCE U.S. Food and Drug Administration | 2022-10-06T15:15:14+00:00 | wymt.com | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2022/10/06/advice-about-eating-fish-your-family-this-national-seafood-month/ |
RAPID CITY, S.D. (KELO) — The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office along with many people in the Black Hills area and Wisconsin are mourning the loss of Deputy Kaitie Leising. Leising was conducting a traffic stop for a potential drunk driver on Saturday when she was shot and killed.
Senior Deputy Jim Waldrop says he saw Kaitie Leising nearly every day, when they worked together in Hill City.
When he heard the devastating news of Kaitie’s death, he couldn’t believe it.
“I was actually at an event with a supervisor with our CPD and he got an email and I was like that can’t be right and maybe I just hoped it wasn’t right,” Deputy Waldrop said.
Leising was 29 years old. She worked at the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office from February of 2020 to January of 2022.
“She will be missed and grieved and her infectious smile and bubbly personality and just her ease to be around impacted more people than we will ever know,” Deputy Waldrop said.
Leising left a lasting impact on many of her former co-workers, people in the Hill City community, and Sheriff Brian Mueller.
“Obviously our staff are deeply saddened by her passing, she had a big impact on us here at the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. We are a family and we lost a family member, we are feeling that this week and it has been pretty tough,” Sheriff Mueller said.
Sheriff Mueller says officers and deputies in law enforcement are faced with these risks every day.
“And not only are we saddened by her passing but also angered over the senseless killing of law enforcement officers across the country,” Sheriff Mueller said.
The Sheriff’s Office hopes by sharing her story, people will remember Kaitie’s positive attitude, her willingness to help, and her outstanding work in the field.
Pennington County Sheriff Brian Mueller says he plans to give his deputies time to grieve and keep their wellness in mind. He says this is a difficult time for members of the department. | 2023-05-09T14:28:33+00:00 | siouxlandproud.com | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/south-dakota-news/south-dakota-sheriffs-office-remembers-former-deputy-after-her-death/ |
Sure, “Father Stu” has great comedic moments, and you’ll laugh.
But keep the tissue handy as you watch a bittersweet but ultimately inspirational story about a boxer-turned-priest whose faith doesn’t waver during his life’s most difficult moments.
“Father Stu” is based on a true story, and the film likely will lead to an Oscar nomination for star Mark Wahlberg.
Mr. Wahlberg plays Stuart Long, who deals with the harsh reality that his boxing career is over. The Helena, Mont., resident decides to become an actor in Hollywood and lands small roles. (For example, he’s in a TV commercial.)
Then during his day job in the meat department at a supermarket, he falls in love with the woman of his dreams, Carmen (Teresa Ruiz), and pursues her all the way to her Catholic church, St. Mary’s.
To win her over, Stu joins her parish and gets baptized. He strives to impress Carmen and her family, and despite his colorful language and blunt talk, he has a heart of gold. He succeeds in winning Carmen’s heart, and the two seem destined for marriage until circumstances lead Stu to realize he should become a priest.
Stu convinces a reluctant Monsignor Kelly (Ojai actor Malcolm McDowell) to let him enter a seminary, and Stu proves to be a great preacher with his down-to-earth, honest sermons in plain words. But there are obstacles ahead, and the movie deals with them, demonstrating Stu’s tenacity and humility. What’s more, “Father Stu” shows how the priest inspires others, including his parents Bill and Kathleen Long (played by Mel Gibson and Jacki Weaver).
Director and screenplay writer Rosalind Ross pulls no punches with this film about a former boxer. Neither does Mr. Wahlberg, and the result is an honest look at emotions and struggles. Ultimately, Stu concludes it’s the endurance of struggles that brings people closer to God’s love.
email: dmason@newspress.com | 2022-06-28T22:10:59+00:00 | newspress.com | https://newspress.com/review-father-stu-proves-to-be-inspirational/ |
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The University of Arkansas will host the grand opening of its Studio and Design Center Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Fayetteville on May 6 at 10 a.m.
The facility is about 154,000 square feet. It houses programs like ceramics, painting, drawing and graphic design among others.
Kayla Crenshaw with the department says they want the public to come and see the work students are putting in.
“We want this to be a day they can come in, tour the facility, see what we have done here, see the work that the students are doing and just be part of everything that is being built,” Crenshaw said.
Students moved into the center in January. | 2023-05-05T03:33:50+00:00 | nwahomepage.com | https://www.nwahomepage.com/university-of-arkansas-news/university-of-arkansas-to-host-grand-opening-of-studio-and-design-center/ |
WFO SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, January 10, 2023
_____
AREAL FLOOD ADVISORY
Flood Advisory
National Weather Service Hanford CA
124 PM PST Mon Jan 9 2023
...FLOOD ADVISORY FOR A RELEASE AT FRIANT DAM IN EFFECT UNTIL 130 AM
PST TUESDAY...
* WHAT...Flooding caused by upstream dam release is expected.
* WHERE...A portion of central California, including the following
counties, Fresno and Madera.
* WHEN...Until 130 AM PST Tuesday.
* IMPACTS...Minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas.
Rises in small streams and normally dry arroyos. River or stream
flows are elevated.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- At 123 PM PST, An upstream floodgate release is expected to
cause minor flooding in the advisory area.
- Some locations that will experience flooding include...
Fresno and Friant.
- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
Please report observed flooding to local emergency services or law
enforcement and request they pass this information to the National
Weather Service when you can do so safely.
...HIGH SURF ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM TUESDAY TO 10 PM PST
WEDNESDAY...
* WHAT...Large breaking waves of 5 to 10 feet.
* WHERE...San Diego County Coastal Areas and Orange County
Coastal Areas.
* WHEN...From 6 AM Tuesday to 10 PM PST Wednesday.
* IMPACTS...Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and
localized beach erosion.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Surf will be 6 to 10 feet in San Diego
County, with highest waves south of Del Mar. Surf will be 5 to 8
feet in Orange County. Highest surf will be Wednesday.
Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to
dangerous surf conditions.
...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY
EVENING...
* WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall.
* WHERE...A portion of Southwest California, including the following
areas, Orange County Coastal Areas, Orange County Inland Areas,
Riverside County Mountains, San Bernardino County Mountains, San
Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys-The Inland Empire, San
Gorgonio Pass Near Banning and Santa Ana Mountains and Foothills.
* WHEN...From late tonight through Tuesday evening.
* IMPACTS...Flooding in and near burn scars, creeks, normally dry
stream beds, poorly drained intersections and urban areas.
- A strong Pacific storm will bring an extended period of
moderate to locally heavy rainfall. Excessive rainfall rates
are likely over the San Bernardino County mountains where
flooding and debris flows are most likely late tonight
through Tuesday.
- https://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood
Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared
to take action should flooding develop.
...FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PST THIS EVENING...
* WHAT...Urban and small stream flooding caused by excessive
rainfall is expected.
* WHERE...A portion of east central California, including the
following county, Mono.
* WHEN...Until 800 PM PST Monday.
Rises in small streams and normally dry creeks. Overflowing poor
drainage areas.
- At 125 PM PST, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain. This is
causing urban and small stream flooding. Between 1 and 1.5
inches of rain have fallen in the past few hours.
US-6 between Bishop and the NV stateline, Chalfant Valley,
and US-395 south of Crowley Lake.
_____
Copyright 2023 AccuWeather | 2023-01-09T22:38:29+00:00 | lmtonline.com | https://www.lmtonline.com/weather/article/CA-WFO-SAN-JOAQUIN-VALLEY-Warnings-Watches-and-17705912.php |
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris said Wednesday there is renewed cause for optimism given major U.S. laws enacted recently to tackle the global problem of climate change on multiple fronts.
Harris was the star attraction at the Aspen Ideas: Climate conference, now in its second year in Miami Beach. The event drew about 2,300 participants including other politicians, corporate CEOs, climate activists, entrepreneurs, artists and many others. Harris appeared with Miami singer-songwriter Gloria Estefan in an interview setting on stage.
The thrust of the conversation revolved around the Inflation Reduction Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law in August 2022. Despite its name, the measure is considered the biggest climate change legislation ever passed in the U.S. with some $370 billion directed to tackling the problem over 10 years. A major infrastructure bill also has numerous climate-related provisions.
The overarching goal is for a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions — from vehicle tailpipes to power plants — by 2030 to curb rising global heat.
“I think we all understand we have to be solutions driven. And the solutions are at hand,” Harris said. “We need to make up for some lost time, no doubt. This is going to have an exponential impact on where we need to go.”
The conference is located in one of the most vulnerable U.S. cities to climate-related problems including sea level rise, extreme heat, strong tropical storms and threats to vulnerable wildlife such as manatees. Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, a Democrat, said the area has more days of extreme heat than anywhere else in the country.
“We all know our environment is our economy,” Levine Cava said at a Wednesday morning conference session, noting that the county established the first official chief heat officer of any government in the world. “Two years ago, when we started, people laughed at us. No more.”
Estefan, who emigrated from Cuba as a child and has lived 38 years in Miami Beach, told Harris it's obvious to her that climate change is altering South Florida in many ways, from rising seas to the disappearance of coral reefs.
“We need an administration focused on the things that need to be fixed,” Estefan said. “We absolutely need to do something to stem the tide.”
The Inflation Reduction Act, among many other climate provisions, includes tax credits for electric vehicle purchases and investments in renewable energy such as wind and solar. There's $60 billion in business tax credits to manufacture things like solar panels and batteries and other tax credits for nuclear power and carbon capture technology aimed at reducing fossil fuel emissions. There's money to convert the entire United States Postal Service fleet to electric vehicles, pay for electric school buses, assist farmers in green agriculture practices and for trees and parks in urban areas.
Harris said the incentives for people to buy electric vehicles, including cheaper used vehicles, are an example of what the Biden administration wants to make them affordable to far greater numbers of people.
“It’s about bringing down costs,” Harris said. “I think many people have the will to participate in what we must do to reduce greenhouse gases. But not everyone has the means.”
The bill would impose a new fee on excess methane emissions from oil and gas drilling while giving fossil fuel companies access to more leases on federal lands and waters. That latter tradeoff has some climate activists concerned about continued fossil fuel exploration and the broader issue of who decides where all the money will be spent as it goes out to states.
Still, Tom Steyer, a Democratic presidential candidate in 2020, said the legislation has opened the door to more private investment in technology and other efforts to combat climate change — and that the returns will be worth it.
“If you don't do this, you're a dope,” said Steyer, co-chair of the Galvanize Climate Solutions investment firm. "It’s cheaper to be clean. It’s better business to be clean.”
Although the conference is dominated by Democrats and climate activists, conservatives were also involved. U.S. Rep. John Curtis, a Utah Republican who pointed out his district includes Carbon County, is chair of the Conservative Climate Caucus with about 80 members in the House.
“I’m a Republican. I’m here to talk climate. Republicans care deeply about the Earth. We don’t talk about it very well," Curtis said. “I believe we can have affordable clean energy. There’s more we agree on than we disagree on.”
Another Republican, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, said it's clear that climate change skepticism is largely fallen out of favor among politicians of all stripes.
“We don't have the luxury of pretending climate change doesn't affect us,” Suarez said, noting the damage from hurricanes Irma and Ian and frequent flooding in his city. “There's still a lot of work to be done. I'd like to see a world where we can reverse the damage that's been done.”
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
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Credit: AP
Credit: AP | 2023-03-09T01:13:24+00:00 | daytondailynews.com | https://www.daytondailynews.com/nation-world/at-florida-climate-change-summit-harris-stresses-optimism/HXCIZRZV35EUVCGHF3OJKE6VZY/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden underwent a root canal after experiencing some dental pain – a procedure that took him out of commission for his public events on Monday.
Biden's personal physician, Kevin O'Connor, said in a memo released by the White House that Biden reported the pain in his lower right premolar on Sunday. The president had an initial root canal that day, and he “tolerated the procedure well” with no complications, O'Connor said.
On Monday morning, Biden had “further discomfort” in his mouth, which O'Connor said was expected. An endodontal specialty team from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center was completing Biden's root canal at the White House.
The White House said Biden was not placed under anesthesia for the procedure.
He had been scheduled to appear at College Athlete Day on the South Lawn at the White House, which hosts NCAA champions from various men's and women's sports from the 2022-2023 season. Vice President Kamala Harris instead attended in Biden's place.
The White House moved two other events that were on Biden's schedule to Tuesday — a planned meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and a reception for chiefs of mission at the White House. | 2023-06-12T17:48:35+00:00 | springfieldnewssun.com | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/nation-world/biden-is-getting-a-root-canal-so-misses-public-events-at-white-house-and-reschedules-nato-meeting/QLPV7PH7P5D3NAMQIVZFO2J2WU/ |
WASHINGTON, Nov. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) is honored to announce María Eugenia Mosquera Riascos of Colombia as the recipient of the Institute's 2022 Women Building Peace Award.
"The Women Building Peace Award honors women of extraordinary commitment, leadership and impact who are working to build peace and resolve violent conflict in their communities," said USIP President and CEO Lise Grande. "This prestigious annual award celebrates women who are building peace in countries impacted by conflict."
"María Eugenia Mosquera Riascos is a champion for justice, dignity and peace in Colombia," said Grande. "She is a great peacemaker."
Mosquera Riascos is the legal representative of Comunidades Construyendo Paz en Colombia (CONPAZCOL), a grassroots network of 140 victims organizations in 14 departments across Colombia where violent conflict continues. As a peacebuilder and human rights defender, Mosquera Riascos has worked for over 30 years with women, Afro-Colombian, indigenous and small-scale farming communities that have been the victims of social and armed conflict in Colombia.
"Colombia is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for human rights and environmental defenders," said Manuel Müller, program coordinator of FOR Peace Presence, an independent organization that accompanies Mosquera Riascos to provide physical safety, political visibility and solidarity. "Despite the difficulties, María Eugenia is at the frontline defending the rights of the most vulnerable communities."
The independent Women Building Peace Council, which is made up of distinguished experts and advisers in the fields of gender and peacebuilding, guided the process of selecting six finalists from this year's nominations and chose the award winner.
In selecting Mosquera Riascos, the council cited her skills and track record in using the many instruments of peacebuilding, her effectiveness in representing traditionally marginalized communities during the peace talks in Havana, and the impact of her 30-year commitment to advancing peace in Colombia.
The award will be presented to Mosquera Riascos at a ceremony in early 2023 at USIP's headquarters on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
For information on the award, visit www.usip.org/womenbuildingpeace
For information on USIP, visit: https://www.usip.org/about
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SOURCE United States Institute of Peace | 2022-11-30T05:55:12+00:00 | live5news.com | https://www.live5news.com/prnewswire/2022/11/30/us-institute-peace-announces-mara-eugenia-mosquera-riascos-2022-women-building-peace-award-recipient/ |
PORTLAND, Ore. — At the end of a quiet residential street in north Portland, Oregon, Titan Crawford took a calming drag off his cigarette and then shuffled past the gutted shell of a stolen Nissan pickup truck and into the patch of woodlands beyond.
A little ways in, there was a Mazda sedan, flipped upside down. He passed a Cadillac Escalade, its rainbow bumper sticker one of the few features that remained intact. In the bushes nearby, there was a boat filled with furniture, tires and shoes. Crawford checked vehicle identification numbers and captured videos of an array of metal hulks along the way but came away disappointed.
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“Nothing here is salvageable,” he said.
For much of the past year, Crawford, 38, has led a growing network of volunteer sleuths who scour Portland’s streets, alleys and forests, racing against time in hopes of finding stolen vehicles before they end up shredded for parts.
There is no shortage of work to be done. Vehicle thefts in Portland are on track to reach well over 10,000 this year, more than triple the number the city recorded a decade ago, part of a nationwide trend that accelerated during the coronavirus pandemic. In Portland, the brazenness of the crimes, inattention from the police and desperation of residents who suddenly find themselves missing one of their most valuable possessions has led many to take matters into their own hands.
“It would be cool if the city could do this and I didn’t have to,” Crawford said. Similar groups have popped up and grown around the country as vehicle thefts have soared.
For Crawford’s network, the effort is less about vigilante justice — his group rules say that people who take the law into their own hands will not be tolerated — and more about community building and expanding eyes and ears around town.
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Rewards aren’t allowed either. The group wants people motivated by a desire to help rather than focusing on finding cars that might earn money.
Neighbors share pictures of license plates, keep watch during commutes to work and hunt online for reports of stolen vehicles.
Nearly every day, the group, PDX Stolen Cars, helps a resident reconnect with a vehicle in Portland or the surrounding suburbs.
“This is an army, and it’s exploding,” said Victoria Johnson, who joined the group after someone drove off with her SUV while she was helping at the scene of a car accident. “It does a body good to give back and help.”
The nation is on track to record about 1.1 million stolen vehicles this year — the highest number in more than a decade but still well below numbers set in the early 1990s, when many cars were easy to steal without a key, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, an insurance industry group that tracks claims. The trend appears to be connected in part to the pandemic, as disruptions in the supply chain have created a surge in the value of catalytic converters and other car parts and have made vehicles a more lucrative target for theft, said David Glawe, the bureau’s CEO.
Carjackings are also up significantly in many cities, including Portland, where the police said they did not keep statistics but had noticed a spike in reports.
Car thefts have lately taken a back seat to more violent offenses. Portland set a record for homicides last year and could surpass that number this year, part of a rise in crime that has deepened public unease and reverberated in the race for governor in Oregon, where a Republican has a possible path to victory for the first time in four decades. The Republicans also have their sights on three House seats in the state, where GOP candidates have focused some of their attacks on the public protests against police brutality that rocked Portland in 2020.
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The Portland Police Bureau said staffing challenges had prevented it from doing more to help solve car thefts. Last year, as the department struggled to retain and recruit officers and the city shrank the number of authorized positions, the department employed fewer sworn officers than at any point in the past 30 years, although it has recently started growing again.
Sgt. Kevin Allen said the police bureau has often had to prioritize other crimes over vehicle theft but is not ignoring them. One precinct, he said, has undertaken occasional special missions to target and recover stolen vehicles.
“Unfortunately,” he said, “it’s not hard to find them.”
Older vehicles, which often lack alarms or modern security systems that prevent hot-wiring, remain among the most popular to steal. But newer vehicles can also be snatched when people leave their key fobs inside the car, or thanks to videos that show people how to steal some vehicles with little more than a USB charging cable.
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The results can be disastrous for people with limited incomes or those who do not carry comprehensive insurance on their vehicles. A theft or a stolen catalytic converter can mean being left without a vehicle — or with a bill they cannot afford.
“That’s absolutely devastating. And we are seeing that over and over,” Glawe said.
Enter the citizen patrol.
Crawford said he first became caught up in looking for Portland’s missing cars a year ago when he was walking his dog and came across a vehicle that looked out of place. He posted a photo of it on social media and was soon gathering the many people interested in the issue into a Facebook group. What started as a membership of dozens became hundreds, then thousands, with many people trying to track down their own vehicles.
One man was able to recover a cherished motorcycle that he uses to honor veterans at military funerals. The group located the stolen car of a police officer’s wife.
Johnson found the group after losing her Lincoln Navigator during the roadside stop and went scouring online for a way to track it down. She didn’t stop there, and drove a meticulous grid through the area where her vehicle had been taken.
She didn’t find it, but she did spot another man’s vehicle that had been posted to the group, which helped him recover it. Days later, that same man texted with a surprise: He had found Johnson’s vehicle. She now spends several days a week checking her area for stolen cars and said she has discovered several.
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Nicole Heath, one of the administrators of the group, hunts for vehicles during every one of her commutes. Once, she saw and reported someone trying to break into a car with a screwdriver. Another time, some people yelled at her for examining a car that had been reported stolen. She proceeds with caution and urges others to do so, noting that one woman looking for stolen vehicles was assaulted when she was seen taking videos of cars parked in a homeless encampment.
“No car is worth your life,” said Heath, who became active in the group after her husband’s motorcycle was stolen in January. It has not been recovered.
The hunt for missing vehicles has become a second job for Crawford, who sells trucks for a living and has a deep familiarity with vehicle brands and styles from years in auto sales.
On a recent day off, Crawford was at his computer by 7 a.m., downing coffee as he reviewed emails and Facebook messages, using an online database of vehicle history reports to check vehicle identification numbers that users had shared of vehicles that seemed out of place — some with torn-out interiors, damaged ignitions or that were otherwise seemingly abandoned.
Later in the morning, Crawford got in his red pickup, which was leaking coolant from some deferred maintenance and sporting scratch marks down the side from a vehicle recovery mission that had taken him deep into the woods. He rolled down his windows, tuning in to the happenings around him and scouring side streets.
At one point, he pulled behind a Toyota SUV that was emitting an unusual buzzing noise.
“The anthem of Portland: no catalytic converter,” he said, sipping a can of Red Bull.
Minutes later, Crawford pulled up at the scene of a vehicle in northeast Portland that had been reported by neighbors, a car with no plates and a partially gutted interior. He checked the VIN, found it had recently been reported as stolen and notified the police.
He spent the rest of the day roaming through neighborhoods, capturing videos of cars that seemed out of place so he could check the license plates later. Many stolen cars that can still be recovered end up resurfacing in industrial neighborhoods, at auto supply stores, in parks or shopping centers, he said.
Homeless encampments are also a common spot, Crawford said as he cruised past one of them, taking care not to bother residents. He said some homeless neighbors have joined the group to help find cars. At the encampments, he overlooks any other minor misdeeds he may encounter.
“My only interest is stolen vehicles,” he said. “They can do whatever they want. Just don’t bother me. And don’t drive stolen cars.” | 2022-10-29T18:18:35+00:00 | bostonglobe.com | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/10/29/nation/an-army-volunteer-sleuths-are-out-hunting-your-stolen-car/ |
Aliyah Boston is now a member of the elite three-timers club.
The South Carolina star was honored for the third straight year as an All-American by The Associated Press on Wednesday. She’s just the 10th player to earn that honor three times.
Boston was joined on the first team by Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, Villanova’s Maddy Siegrist, LSU’s Angel Reese and Indiana’s Mackenzie Holmes. Boston and Clark were unanimous choices by the 28-member national media panel that votes in the AP Top 25 each week.
It’s the second consecutive season that a player joined the club. Kentucky’s Rhyne Howard did it last season.
South Carolina’s A’ja Wilson, Baylor’s Brittney Griner, Tennessee’s Chamique Holdsclaw, Duke’s Alana Beard, Oklahoma’s Courtney Paris, Oregon’s Sabrina Ionescu and UConn’s Breanna Stewart and Maya Moore are the only other players to earn first-team honors at least three times. Paris and Moore did it four times.
Boston earned second-team All-America honors her freshman year.
“Aliyah has been the best college player in, to me, as many years as she’s been honored as an All-American, but definitely the past two seasons,” South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said. “I hope that we can really give her her flowers while she’s still a collegiate athlete because I don’t think there will be another Aliyah Boston to ever grace college women’s basketball.”
Boston helped South Carolina go undefeated in the regular season and enter the NCAA Tournament as the top overall seed. She averaged 13.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.0 blocks a game. She is a big reason the Gamecocks went wire-to-wire as No. 1 in the AP poll for the second straight season.
Clark could join the three-timers club next season. The junior once again put up eye-popping numbers averaging 27.0 points, second best in the nation. She also had 8.3 assists and 7.5 rebounds per game to help Iowa win the Big Ten Tournament title for a second consecutive year.
“It’s one thing to be a first team All-American, but another to receive it in back-to-back seasons,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said. “Our program, university, and state is so proud of all the things she has accomplished thus far. There’s nobody more deserving than a generational player like Clark.”
Clark trailed only Siegrist in scoring. The Villanova star averaged 28.9 points this season and set the career Big East scoring record. She has 984 points this season and is looking to become the fifth player ever to score over 1,000 in a season. She has scored 20-plus points in 34 consecutive games which is one short of Kelsey Plum’s record set in 2016-17.
“Maddy is an All-American in every sense of the word and she is truly deserving of this honor,” said Villanova coach Denise Dillon. “On the court, the numbers she has put up this year are staggering. To lead the country in scoring and score 1,000 points in one season is amazing. We are so proud of Maddy becoming the first Associated Press All-American in program history.”
Reese had a stellar season for the Tigers, averaging 23.4 points and 15.5 rebounds while shooting 54% from the field. The sophomore forward broke Sylvia Fowles’ school record of 20 consecutive double-doubles.
“Angel Reese joined our program and has had a tremendous impact on our team,” LSU coach Kim Mulkey said. “She has a special skillset that sets her apart as one of the best players in the nation. She is definitely one of the top players in the country. We are excited to see what her future holds and the impact she will have on our team at LSU.”
Holmes helped Indiana to one of the best seasons in school history. The Hoosiers, who finished second in the AP poll, won the Big Ten regular season title. Holmes averaged 22.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and shot 68.8% from the field.
“It’s an incredible accomplishment for a gal from Maine,” Indiana coach Teri Moren said. “No one is more exited and happier for her than our staff and her teammates. It’s well deserved. She’s worked on her game since the day she arrived in Bloomington.”
Boston, Clark, Stanford’s Haley Jones, Iowa State’s Ashley Joens, Virginia Tech’s Elizabeth Kitley and DePaul’s Aneesah Morrow made up the preseason All-America team.
SECOND TEAM
The AP second team was headlined by Kitley, who was the ACC player of the year for the second straight season. She was joined by Cameron Brink of Stanford, Diamond Miller of Maryland, Olivia Miles of Notre Dame and Alissa Pili of Utah.
THIRD TEAM
The AP third team was Joens, UConn’s Aaliyah Edwards, Morrow, Jones and South Carolina’s Zia Cooke.
HONORABLE MENTION
Indiana’s Grace Berger and Florida State freshman Ta’Niya Latson and Louisville’s Hailey Van Lith were the leading vote-getters among players who didn’t make the three All-America teams. Players earned honorable-mention status if they appeared on one of the ballots.
___
AP March Madness coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 | 2023-03-16T15:57:03+00:00 | cenlanow.com | https://www.cenlanow.com/sports/boston-clark-headline-womens-ap-all-america-team/ |
COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) — Justin Herbert finally made it to the playoffs in his third year with the Los Angeles Chargers, only to see the season end again in excruciating fashion.
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Despite going 10-7 in the regular season, the Chargers will stew after blowing the third-largest lead in postseason history. The Bolts had a 27-0 second-quarter lead over Jacksonville in last Saturday’s AFC wild-card round game, only to collapse in the second half and fall to the Jaguars 31-30.
“I think we’ve got a lot better as a team. We fell short in the playoffs,” Herbert said Sunday after the Chargers had their final team meeting. “I’ll take a couple of weeks to get my body right, but next year is already on my mind, and we’ll do everything we can to be the best team we can be next year.”
Since entering the league as the sixth overall pick in the 2020 draft, Herbert is second in completions, third in passing yards, and fifth in combined touchdowns.
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Yet, the Chargers are 25-25, including the playoffs, with him as their starting quarterback.
While Herbert has shown he can be one of the league’s top quarterbacks, owner Dean Spanos will determine if the Chargers have the right coach and general manager to get Herbert and the rest of the roster to the next level.
Coach Brandon Staley has taken criticism during his two years in charge, but that has increased over the past two weeks, especially after wide receiver Mike Williams suffered a season-ending back injury in the meaningless regular-season finale at Denver.
The Chargers have yet to win a division title during Tom Telesco’s 10 seasons as general manager and have only been to the playoffs three times in his tenure. Telesco, who said before the start of the season that the true measuring stick of a GM is wins and losses, has an 81-86 record. The Bolts’ .485 winning percentage since 2013 is 19th.
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“We believe in the front office 100%. We’ve got the right pieces. We just have to put them together and execute better,” Herbert said.
STAFF CHANGES
If the Staley/Telesco partnership makes it to a third season, the most significant change to the coaching staff could be at offensive coordinator. Joe Lombardi has been second guessed throughout the season, especially regarding his decisions in the second half of games.
The Chargers were ranked ninth in total offense, but had the third-worst rushing attack in the league. A significant reason for that was the team not sticking with the run game. Los Angeles had the NFL’s second-biggest discrepancy between passing and running plays (65% pass to 35% run).
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The most-telling stat, though, might be the Chargers’ struggles in the third quarter. They were outscored 103-52 in the quarter, including the playoffs, and reached the end zone only once in the final 13 games.
ROLLERCOASTER SEASON FOR HERBERT
Herbert was second in the league in completions (477) and passing yards (4,739) this season, but this was also a season when he dealt with his most adversity.
Herbert suffered fractured rib cartilage in a Week 2 road loss at Kansas City, lost left tackle Rashawn Slater to a biceps injury in Week 3, and had two games where both Mike Williams and Keenan Allen did not play. Allen missed seven of the first nine games because of a hamstring injury, while Williams was sidelined for five, including four because of an ankle injury.
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“It was definitely a tough year, but I think adversity is a good teacher for us,” said Herbert, who has the most passing yards, completions and touchdowns in NFL history for a player in his first three seasons.
The Chargers will likely start talks with Herbert’s agent about a long-term extension during the offseason. Because he made the Pro Bowl last year, Herbert’s fifth-year option will be the franchise transition tag. Those figures will be announced early in March, but early projections are at least $30.4 million.
The Chargers might also wait to see if Cincinnati signs Joe Burrow to an extension this year, which would set the market for Herbert, Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa and Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts.
DISAPPOINTING DEFENSE
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The Chargers spent $218 million last offseason, most of it devoted to upgrading a defense ranked 23rd in 2021.
Yet, for all the attention paid to the defense, it was still one of the team’s weaknesses. The unit was ranked 20th in total defense, 21st in points allowed per game and the fifth worst against the run.
Los Angeles’ key moves were signing cornerback J.C. Jackson and acquiring linebacker Khalil Mack from the Chicago Bears.
Jackson struggled in four games before suffering a season-ending knee injury on Oct. 23 against Seattle. Mack was a bright spot with eight sacks and made the Pro Bowl.
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The Chargers have a strong core with Mack, linebacker Joey Bosa and safety Derwin James, but they need to shore up a run defense prone to giving up big plays. Los Angeles had 11 opposing running backs go for at least 100 yards on it this season, a franchise record.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | 2023-01-17T01:09:52+00:00 | seattlepi.com | https://www.seattlepi.com/sports/article/Herbert-Chargers-go-into-offseason-with-plenty-17721643.php |
By STEFANIE DAZIO
Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Two people were killed and three wounded in robberies before dawn Monday at six 7-Eleven stores in Southern California and authorities said they were seeking the same lone gunman in at least three of the crimes.
The string of violence occurred occurred within a timespan of about five hours on July 11, or 7/11, the day when the national 7-Eleven brand celebrates its anniversary. This is its 95th year and on Monday stores gave out free Slurpee drinks.
It wasn’t immediately clear to investigators what prompted the violence in the cities of Ontario, Upland, Riverside, Santa Ana, Brea and La Habra.
“I think the only person to answer that would be the suspect,” said Officer Ryan Railsback, a spokesperson for the Riverside Police Department.
But he said the date was no accident.
“There’s no way it can be a coincidence of it being 7-Eleven, July 11,” Railsback said.
7-Eleven Inc. issued a statement saying it was gathering information and working with police. “Our hearts are with the victims and their loved ones,” the statement said.
The first robbery happened at about midnight in Ontario, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) east of Los Angeles.
The masked man brandished a handgun at the store’s employee and demanded money, according to Ontario Cpl. Emily Hernandez. He did not fire any shots and the clerk was not injured. It was not immediately clear to investigators what, if anything, was stolen.
The second robbery happened about 45 minutes later in Upland, less than 5 miles (8 kilometers) away from the Ontario store.
The suspect approached the store clerk with a few items, “some drinks and things,” and brandished a semi-automatic handgun, Upland Sgt. Jake Kirk said. The man stole the items and about $400 to $500 in cash and fled. No shots were fired.
Surveillance photos, released by Upland and Brea police, show a masked man wearing a black sweatshirt with a hood over his head. The sweatshirt had white lettering with green leaves on the front.
While police in La Habra, Brea and Santa Ana have said they believe they are seeking the same suspect, officials in Ontario, Upland and Riverside have not yet made that determination though they said they were aware of the other crimes at 7-Eleven stores.
“It could potentially be the same person but we’re not confirming that at this time,” Kirk said.
About an hour after the Upland robbery and 25 miles (40 kilometers) away in Riverside, a gunman brandished a gun and robbed the 7-Eleven clerk, then turned the weapon on a customer, opened fire and fled, Railsback said. Police believe the clerk handed over cash from the register. The shooting victim was in grave condition.
“It doesn’t appear to be any reason that the suspect shot the customer,” Railsback said. “It sounds like the clerk gave him whatever he asked for.”
Railsback said criminals typically know that robberies at convenience stores rarely yield large amounts of money, especially during the overnight hours.
“If you go hit a liquor store or a 7-Eleven or a fast food place, you’re not going to get a lot of cash out of it,” he said. “It’s kind of odd that they would do this.”
Another shooting occurred around 3:20 a.m., about 24 miles (39 kilometers) away, in Santa Ana, authorities said.
Officers responding there reported gunfire and found a man dead in the 7-Eleven parking lot with a gunshot wound to his upper torso, according to Santa Ana Sgt. Maria Lopez.
“At this moment, we don’t believe he was an employee,” Lopez said of the victim. “We don’t really know yet what he was doing there in a parking lot, if he was a potential customer or just walking by.”
Surveillance video shows the suspect dropping items — believed to be the victim’s belongings — as he fled, Lopez said.
About 40 minutes later, a 7-Eleven employee in Brea was shot and killed, Brea Police Capt. Phil Rodriguez said.
Less than an hour later, officers in neighboring La Habra were sent to a reported robbery at a 7-Eleven. They discovered two gunshot victims around 4:55 a.m., according to Sgt. Sumner Bohee.
Authorities have not disclosed the victims’ conditions.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | 2022-07-12T08:52:35+00:00 | wtmj.com | https://wtmj.com/national/2022/07/11/hunt-on-for-gunman-who-killed-2-in-wave-of-7-eleven-holdups/ |
By JILL LAWLESS and DANICA KIRKA
Associated Press
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s economy faced new shocks Wednesday after the Bank of England ruled out extending an emergency debt-buying plan – and the Conservative government appeared to blame the independent central bank for the U.K.’s economic turmoil.
Prime Minister Liz Truss came under more pressure from her Conservative Party to abandon the tax-cutting economic package that sparked the market instability. Tory lawmaker Mel Stride, who heads the House of Commons Treasury Committee, said only a “clear change in tack” from the government would reassure the markets.
The pound currency sank against the dollar again and the cost of government borrowing rose after Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey confirmed that a program to buy government bonds, introduced last month to stabilize financial markets, will end Friday as scheduled.
“My message to the (pension) funds involved – you’ve got three days left now. You have got to get this done,” Bailey said late Tuesday in Washington, where he is attending the annual meeting of the Institute of International Finance.
Analysts say pension funds had lobbied England’s central bank to extend the program by two weeks.
The pound fell by almost 1% to just below $1.10 after Bailey spoke, before rallying slightly after the Financial Times reported that the bank was, after all, prepared to keep buying bonds beyond the Friday deadline. The bank quashed that report, saying its “temporary and targeted purchases” of government bonds “will end on Oct. 14.”
The U.K. 30-year yield on British government bonds, known as gilts, passed 5% on Wednesday morning amid growing unease among traders. Gilt yields, which rise as prices fall, are back close to the levels which led to the bank’s intervention last month.
The central bank took emergency action after the British government on Sept. 23 announced plans for 45 billion pounds ($50 billion) in tax cuts without saying how it would pay for them. The announcement spooked financial markets and sent the pound plunging to a record low of $1.03 against the dollar.
The Bank of England intervened to prop up the bond market and stop a wider economic crisis that particularly threatened pension funds.
On Tuesday the bank broadened its intervention, saying it will now buy inflation-linked securities — which offer protection from inflation — as well as conventional government bonds as it seeks to “restore orderly conditions” in the market.
The market turmoil has caused pain for many Britons — especially prospective homebuyers, who have seen mortgage rates soar on the increased prospect of a big rate hike from the central bank next month.
It has also put intense political pressure on the new government led by Truss, who took office in early September with a promise to boost growth through tax cuts and deregulation.
Friction has grown between the Conservative government and the independent Bank of England. Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg suggested Wednesday that market turbulence was primarily the result of the bank’s failure to raise interest rates as quickly as its U.S. counterpart, the Federal Reserve.
He said the market response was “much more to do with interest rates than it is to do with a minor part of fiscal policy.”
Many economists dispute that view and blame the government’s botched budget announcement for the mayhem. The announcement of 45 billion pounds of tax cuts — without an independent economic assessment from the Office for Budget Responsibility — came on top of a 60 billion-pound plan to cap energy prices to help shield homes and businesses from steep price rises driven by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“You’ve got a sidelined financial watchdog, you’ve got lack of a medium-term fiscal plan, one of the largest unfunded tax cuts we’ve seen since the early 1970s — it was kind of the straw that broke the camel’s back,” said Sanjay Raja, chief U.K. economist for Deutsche Bank.
In an effort to ease concerns, Treasury chief Kwasi Kwarteng said Monday that he would release the government’s detailed fiscal plans on Oct. 31, three weeks earlier than scheduled.
But the government still hasn’t detailed how it will pay for its tax cuts, except to say faster economic growth will increase tax revenue. Many economists say deep public spending cuts are inevitable unless the government reverses some of its tax cuts.
Truss said Wednesday that she was sticking to her economic plans, but also would “absolutely” keep her pledge not to cut public spending. In the House of Commons, she defended her economic plans, saying “the major part of the mini-budget” had been the measures to limit people’s energy bills.
But opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer accused the government of going “on a borrowing spree, sending mortgage rates through the roof.”
Investors are concerned that the government’s plans will increase public debt and fuel further inflation, which is already running at a near 40-year high of 9.9%.
In more bad financial news, the Office for National Statistics said Wednesday that Britain’s economy contracted 0.3% in August, down from 0.1% growth in July, with manufacturing and consumer services both recording falls.
The office’s chief economist, Grant Fitzner, said that the U.K. economy also contracted over the quarter to August.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | 2022-10-12T20:20:30+00:00 | wtmj.com | https://wtmj.com/ap-news/2022/10/12/uk-markets-roiled-after-bank-rules-out-extending-help-4/ |
PITTSBURGH, Dec. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "I wanted to create a new oral care product to thoroughly brush and clean the teeth in less time," said an inventor, from Charlotte, N.C., "so I invented the SPARKLE & SHINE. My design improves oral hygiene and it may leave the user with fresh breath, a clean feeling, and peace of mind."
The patent-pending invention provides an improved tool for cleaning the entire oral cavity. In doing so, it offers an alternative to traditional toothbrushes. As a result, it helps remove plaque and prevent cavities and it could help to whiten the teeth and freshen breath. The invention features an effective design that is easy to use so it is ideal for adults and children. Additionally, it is producible in design variations.
The original design was submitted to the Charlotte sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 21-CNC-883, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE InventHelp | 2022-12-27T16:48:11+00:00 | kwch.com | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2022/12/27/inventhelp-inventor-develops-new-oral-care-product-cnc-883/ |
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GREENSBORO, N.C. — The summer driving season is here. That means more Americans are hitting the road, which leads to more accidents and teenagers are at high risk. The Centers for Disease Control says 16 - 19-year-olds are three times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident when compared to older drivers. That’s why experts say parents need to consider the right kind of car for younger drivers.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety teamed up with Consumer Reports to create a list of safe vehicles for teen drivers.
There are 70 used and new cars ranging in price from $6,000 to $39,000 dollars. You won't find high-speed sports cars or extra-large vehicles that can be hard to control. All the cars performed well during crash tests and have high-reliability scores.
They also have electronic stability control, which can prevent an accident.
"We're trying to promote the idea that, cars for teens should have features to help them avoid being in crashes," says David Zuby, IIHS Chief Research Officer.
That can include auto-braking which is now found on many newer cars.
"We always say buy as much safety as you can afford. And automatic emergency braking is a wonderful backup for a new driver that's building that experience of braking distances," says Jennifer Stockburger, the Director of Operations at the Consumer Reports Auto Test Center.
Supply chain issues and inflation are driving up car prices. But experts say the purchase of a safe vehicle, is money well spent.
Correspondent: Bradley Blackburn/Producer: Chris Stein | 2022-06-16T21:16:49+00:00 | wfmynews2.com | https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/local/2-wants-to-know/teen-drivers-the-best-used-new-cars-for-inexperienced-drivers-consumer-reports-insurance-institute-highway-safety-70-used-new-cars-safety-features/83-be11cb3d-213d-4455-a71f-b8b982603857 |
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian shelling killed at least 10 Ukrainian civilians and wounded 20 others in a day, the office of Ukraine’s president said Friday as the country worked to recover from an earlier wave of Russian missile strikes and drone attacks.
The new deaths included at least two civilians in the southern city of Kherson, which Ukrainian troops recaptured in November, and two more in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk province. The missiles and self-propelled drones Russian forces fired Thursday hit deeper into Ukrainian territory, killing at least 11 people.
The bombardments followed announcements by the United States and Germany of plans to ship powerful tanks to help Ukraine defend itself. Other Western countries said they also would share modern tanks from their stockpiles.
Moscow has bristled at the move, and accused Western nations of entering a new level of confrontation with Russia.
Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said the Russian military used fiercely-burning phosphorus munitions in its shelling of the village of Zvanivka, about 20 kilometers north of Bakhmut, a city that has become the focus of a grueling standoff in recent months. The shelling also damaged apartment buildings and two schools in the nearby town of Vuhledar, Kyrylenko said.
The governor of the neighboring Luhansk region, Serhii Haidai, said Ukrainian shelling hit two Russian bases in the occupied towns of Kreminna and Rubizhne, killing and wounding “dozens” of Russian soldiers. His claim couldn’t be independently verified.
Further south, Russian troops resumed shelling the town of Nikopol, across the Dnieper from the Russia-held Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, damaging apartment buildings, gas pipelines, power lines and a bakery, officials said.
Separately on Friday, Russian authorities took new steps in their months-long and widely criticized effort to graft four Ukrainian provinces onto Russia’s already vast territory. They said the illegally annexed provinces would change from the time zone that covers Kyiv to the one in Moscow.
The switch in the Ukrainian southern and eastern regions that Russia declared as part of its territory four months ago — Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson — will take place “in the near future,” Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade said. The move comes as part of what the ministry called the “gradual synchronization” of Russian legislation after the “admission of the four subjects.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s highly orchestrated announcement of the illegal annexations came despite widespread international condemnation and the fact that Russia didn’t fully control the areas it annexed. Russia claims to control nearly all of Luhansk and about half of Donetsk.
Less than 1-1/2 months after the annexations, Russia lost control of the city of Kherson and broad swaths of the surrounding territory following a Ukrainian counteroffensive. Kherson was the only regional capital Russia seized since starting its invasion on Feb. 24, and its loss dealt a heavy blow to the Kremlin.
Planned Western deployments of modern tanks for Ukraine remained on many minds on Friday.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told Canada’s CTV that his country was ready to send 60 modern tanks — half of them the PT-91 model, which was built in Poland from 1994 to 2001 as a modernized version of the Soviet-era T-72M1. He said those deliveries would come on top of Poland’s plans to send 14 of its Leopard 2s, after Berlin approved other allies sending the German-made tanks to Ukraine.
On Friday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the supply of Western tanks to Ukraine would not change the situation in Kyiv’s favor, but rather “bring the countries of the West to a new level of confrontation with our country and our people.”
The German government insisted Friday that it does not see itself in direct conflict with Russia, after Moscow seized on comments by Germany’s top diplomat this week that suggested otherwise.
During a debate Tuesday with lawmakers at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Foreign Minister Annelena Baerbock said it was important for European countries to avoid a “blame game” when it comes to discussing support for Ukraine “because we are fighting a war against Russia and not against each other.”
Asked about those comments, German government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann referred to a line laid out by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and told reporters in Berlin on Friday that “the chancellor has always emphasized that NATO and Germany are not parties to this war of attack by Russia against Ukraine.”
“We support Ukraine, but we are not parties to the war,” she added.
In other developments:
– German officials said the country was targeted by a series of cyberattacks of apparent Russian origin this week following the decision to supply modern tanks to Ukraine. A spokeswoman for the Interior Ministry said the so-called denial of service attacks, in which websites or entire networks are bombarded with requests in an attempt to make them inaccessible, were observed on Wednesday and Thursday, and “were largely fought off or had no serious impact.”
– Ukrainian air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said Russia used its latest hypersonic Kinzhal missiles to strike energy facilities in Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia regions Thursday. He said Ukraine lacks defenses against the Kinzhal, adding that Russia has few such missiles and mostly uses them against priority targets.
Ihnat said in televised remarks that Russia also used Kh-55 missiles — air-launched missiles that were designed to carry nuclear warheads — with dummy warheads to distract Ukraine’s air defenses.
– Russian state-run media say the state communications watchdog has restricted access to the CIA and FBI websites for allegedly spreading materials “containing inaccurate socially significant information” and “discrediting” Russia’s armed forces. The Russian government has made it illegal to discredit its troops or spread “false information” about the military.
___
Monika Scislowska in Warsaw and Frank Jordans in Berlin contributed to this report.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | 2023-01-27T18:33:04+00:00 | wivb.com | https://www.wivb.com/news/world/ap-ukrainian-presidency-10-killed-in-latest-russian-shelling/ |
The activist beauty retailer focuses on fighting voter suppression and engaging young Americans in democracy for the second year of its youth activism campaign Be Seen. Be Heard.
NEW YORK, July 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Body Shop is proud to announce its partnership with national nonpartisan organization HeadCount to register as many first-time voters as possible and support democracy protection. These bold actions to uphold voting rights are a part of Be Seen. Be Heard, The Body Shop's joint campaign with the UN Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth, which aims to increase young people's participation in public life in more than 75 countries.
Since 2021, at least 24 states in the US have passed laws that make it more difficult to vote and at least 32 states have introduced similarly restrictive bills. These laws have profound implications for voters, especially young and first-time voters, affecting access to polling stations, transportation, the voter registration process and voter ID laws, among other key determinants for election turnout.
In partnership with HeadCount, visitors to The Body Shop's stores and website can register to vote, sign a pledge to support young people's participation in democracy, and advocate for fair and accessible elections for all voters. Visit the brand's campaign website here.
"During last year's midterm elections, youth across the US made their voices heard loud and clear," said Hilary Lloyd, vice president of marketing and corporate social responsibility for The Body Shop North America. "Young people have the courage and moral clarity to help build a better world, but our institutions are not doing enough to make sure they are seen and heard. We hope this campaign, and partnership with HeadCount, will inspire more youth to think about engaging with democracy as an ongoing practice, not just during major elections."
At its core, HeadCount believes that elections should be accessible, fair, and trustworthy for all voters. Exposing young and first time voters to the power of their vote and the process is essential to its mission to make civic participation part of everyday culture.
"We are energized by The Body Shop's commitment to ensuring young Americans are engaged in democracy," said Lindsay Berberich, Partnership and Marketing Manager at HeadCount. "We look forward to partnering with them to bring more youth into the national voting rights conversation and help ensure elections are fair, accessible and trustworthy."
Further amplifying youth voices, The Body Shop is once again enlisting the support of the brand's 'Changemakers', ambassadors who are courageous and inspiring youth activists who will help spread the message of Be Seen. Be Heard. In the US, the beauty retailer is teaming up with Gen Z Girl Gang founder and reproductive rights activist Deja Foxx and Youth Climate Save Founder and animal rights advocate Genesis Butler. Through livestreams, digital storytelling and live events, The Body Shop's 'Changemakers' will instill the importance of voting access to customers across the US and drive support for HeadCount's civic engagement work.
Together, The Body Shop and HeadCount will host a number of voter registration events this year too, including an exciting activation in New York City on September 19, 2023 for National Voter Registration Day.
The Body Shop is now in its second year of Be Seen. Be Heard, having launched last May at the United Nations. Be Seen. Be Heard. has made numerous global strides since its launch, including successfully lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 in Malaysia and encouraging the UK's House of Lords to amend two clauses in its Public Order Bill to better protect the right to protest.
To join The Body Shop in its action, visit the brand's campaign website here.
ABOUT THE BODY SHOP INTERNATIONAL
Founded in 1976 in Brighton, England, by Dame Anita Roddick, The Body Shop is a global beauty brand and a certified B Corp™. The Body Shop seeks to make positive change in the world by offering high-quality, naturally inspired skincare, body care, hair care and make-up produced ethically and sustainably. Having pioneered the philosophy that business can be a force for good, this ethos is still the brand's driving force. The Body Shop operates about 2,500 retail locations in more than 70 countries. The Body Shop is part of Natura & Co, a global, multi-channel and multi-brand cosmetics group that is committed to generating positive economic, social and environmental impact.
For more information visit, www.thebodyshop.com. To connect with The Body Shop on social media, follow @thebodyshopnorthamerica on Instagram and TikTok.
ABOUT HEADCOUNT
HeadCount is a non-partisan non-profit organization that harnesses the power of music, culture, and digital media to register voters and inspire participation in democracy. Since 2004, we've registered over 1.2 million voters through our work with musicians like Ariana Grande, Camila Cabella, Dave Matthews Band, JAY-Z and Dead and Company and brands like Spotify, Ben & Jerry's and GrubHub. Our award-winning online campaigns have been seen over a billion times, while our 60,000 volunteers can be seen at more than 1,000 live events each year. We reach young people where they already are - at concerts and online - to inform and empower.
For more information visit www.HeadCount.org. To connect with HeadCount on social media follow @HeadCountOrg on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.
MEDIA CONTACT
Jessica Trepcos
jessica.trepcos@finnpartners.com
954-368-9808
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SOURCE The Body Shop | 2023-07-06T13:33:27+00:00 | kalb.com | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2023/07/06/body-shop-us-partners-with-headcount-increase-voter-access-registration/ |
Thursday is the day, as two boys and two girls lacrosse teams vie for Mdi-Penn supremacy
• Sign up for PennLive’s new high school sports newsletter here
The conference’s boys and girls lacrosse championships will kick off from Landis Field on Thursday evening, with the girls matchup starting at 6 pm and the boys directly after at 7:30.
PennLive will be streaming both contests, with the streams available to all subscribers.
You can subscribe to PennLive here and access all these meets and games, plus coverage of Mid-Penn high school sports and much more, all year long.
The girls matchup features Cumberland Valley, which finished the year 15-3, taking on Hershey, one of just three teams to top the Eagles in the regular season.
Then, directly after, an upstart Carlisle program will look to topple the Trinity Shamrocks in the boys matchup. The Herd are 13-3 on the season, while Trinity is 15-3.
Check back sooner to game time for each for individual links to the games.
-- Follow Dan Sostek on Twitter @dan_sostek | 2023-05-18T11:51:03+00:00 | pennlive.com | https://www.pennlive.com/highschoolsports/lacrosse/2023/05/mid-penn-boys-and-girls-lacrosse-championship-live-streams-heres-how-to-watch-thursdays-pennlive-streams.html |
DUKE_J.Coleman 16 run (Ham kick), 10:41.
DUKE_Waters 42 run (Ham kick), 3:17.
DUKE_Waters 3 run (Ham kick), 14:15.
NW_Hull 6 run (Stage kick), 11:19.
NW_FG Stage 33, :30.
NW_Hull 39 pass from Hilinski (pass failed), 1:46.
DUKE_Jo.Moore 8 pass from Leonard (Ham kick), 13:33.
NW_Navarro 14 pass from Hilinski (Stage kick), 5:49.
DUKE_FG Ham 18, 1:18.
___
___
RUSHING_Duke, Waters 10-91, Coleman 10-73, Leonard 7-24, Ja.Moore 5-17, Jo.Moore 1-12, (Team) 1-(minus 1). Northwestern, Hull 17-65, Porter 11-13, Clair 2-3, Hilinski 4-(minus 1).
PASSING_Duke, Leonard 14-25-1-252. Northwestern, Hilinski 35-61-1-436.
RECEIVING_Duke, Calhoun 6-108, Jo.Moore 3-26, Pancol 2-106, Dalmolin 2-3, Waters 1-9. Northwestern, Hull 14-212, Washington 7-51, Gordon 5-78, Navarro 4-30, Kirtz 2-28, Clair 2-6, Hooper Price 1-25, Gill 1-4.
MISSED FIELD GOALS_Duke, Ham 38. Northwestern, Stage 37. | 2022-09-10T20:21:42+00:00 | seattlepi.com | https://www.seattlepi.com/sports/article/Duke-31-Northwestern-23-17432709.php |
There are no details available yet, but Arizona Cardinals cornerback Antonio Hamilton, who had earned a starting job, was place on the non-football injury list, after he was was injured in a cooking accident.
On Thursday afternoon, Hamilton tweeted a photo of himself with burns on his feet that will keep him out of at least the first four games of the regular season.
“Had the greatest camp of my career & last Monday I had a accident that could’ve ended up deadly for me & my family but instead I got the short end of it by having my feet severely burned (2nd degree). It was literally a freak accident and God spared me to only have these injuries,” he tweeted.
Hamilton, 29, played for the Giants in 2018 and 2019.
He is entering his seventh NFL season and had started four of his 74 games. He has previously played for the Raiders and Chiefs, along with the Giants.
According to si.com: Last season, Hamilton played in all 17 games, starting two, and totaled 29 tackles on defense with another nine on special teams. Hamilton played in a career-high 29% of the snaps on defense and also played 47% on special teams. His previous high on defense was 13% with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020.
MORE NFL:
- Tom Brady’s wife Giselle Bundchen packs up and leaves after arguments over his un-retirement
- Ex-Eagles player starring in Netflix film about serial killer
- ESPN makes announcement regarding Eli and Peyton Manning
Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription. | 2022-09-02T11:46:17+00:00 | nj.com | https://www.nj.com/giants/2022/09/ex-giants-cornerback-badly-burned-in-freak-accident.html |
TOKYO, Sept. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- QunaSys and the University of Strasbourg launch "Quantum Computing for Chemistry – The Next Revolution," an intensive five-day industry training event that will be held from Monday Oct. 24 to Friday Oct. 28 as part of the QAREER pilot of the EU Quantum flagship's QTEdu learning ecosystem.
The workshop will be led by instructors from industry and academia specialized in quantum information, quantum chemistry, experimental and theoretical physics from QunaSys and the University of Strasbourg.
The training covers real world examples to help students understand the applicability of quantum computing in the chemistry field. Presented in a modular format, the workshop can be taken as a general overview of quantum computing and its industry applicability, a hands-on coding program to learn quantum computing algorithms and use case development, or as an end-to-end program covering both modules. Following successful completion of the training, students will receive an official certificate.
The training workshop is endorsed Japan's largest Quantum Practical Application Research Consortium (QPARC) that has retrained more than 170 students from 50 major Japanese corporations and the French Public Quantum Computing Infrastructure aQCess Atomic Quantum Computing as a Service, managed by the French National Research Agency under the Investments of the Future Program (reference ANR-21-ESRE-0032).
Training the workforce to be quantum-ready is crucial for corporations to be able to embrace the quantum revolution. Chemistry is considered one of the most promising fields for quantum computing advantage and this affects agriculture, aerospace, automotive, consumer goods, electronics, energy, or pharma. Tennin Yan, QunaSys CEO
Academia and Industry must work together to provide training opportunities in quantum that bridge foundational concepts with real-world practical applications. This is the first step towards unlocking the full potential of quantum computing for chemistry, innovative materials, and beyond. Shannon Whitlock, Professor at the University of Strasbourg
For more information please visit the workshop site, and register here.
About QunaSys Inc.
QunaSys is the world's leading developer of innovative algorithms in chemistry focused on accelerating the development of quantum technology applicability. QunaSys enables maximization of the power of quantum computing through its advanced joint research that addresses cutting-edge technologies providing Qamuy™, the most powerful quantum chemical calculation cloud software; fostering development of collaboration through QPARC industry consortium; and working with research institutions from academia and government. QunaSys software runs on multiple technology platforms with applicability in all chemical related industries to boost quantum computing adoption.
About the University of Strasbourg
The University of Strasbourg (UNISTRA) is one of the largest universities in France, with nearly 51 000 students (including 20% of international students) and over 2800 teachers-researchers. The event will take place at the ISIS institute of the University of Strasbourg and the CNRS - one of the leading research institutes in France and internationally. Founded in 2002 by Nobel Prize Laureate Mr Jean-Marie Lehn, it focuses on developing and promoting top level multidisciplinary fundamental and applied research at the interface between Chemistry, Physics and Biology. In 2019, the University of Strasbourg and the CNRS officially founded the new European Center for Quantum Sciences (CESQ) attached to ISIS, which aims to develop new lines of research and technology exploiting quantum principles, at the frontiers to chemistry, physics, materials science, and computing.
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SOURCE QunaSys Inc. | 2022-09-30T04:07:32+00:00 | wagmtv.com | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/30/qunasys-co-organizes-international-training-workshop-quantum-computing-chemistry/ |
NEW YORK, Sept. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Carvana Co. (NYSE: CVNA) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.
Class Period: May 6, 2020 to June 24, 2022
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: October 3, 2022
No obligation or cost to you.
Learn more about your recoverable losses in CVNA:
https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/carvana-lawsuit-loss-submission-form?id=31348&from=4
Carvana Co. NEWS - CVNA NEWS
CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Carvana Co. made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Carvana faced serious, ongoing issues with documentation, registration, and title with many of its vehicles; (2) as a result, Carvana was issuing unusually frequent temporary plates; (3) as a result of the foregoing, Carvana was violating laws and regulations in many existing markets; (4) as a result of the foregoing, Carvana risked its ability to continue business and/or expand its business in existing markets; (5) as a result of the foregoing, Carvana was at an increased risk of governmental investigation and action; (6) Carvana was in discussion with state and local authorities regarding the above-stated business tactics and issues; (7) Carvana was facing imminent and ongoing regulatory actions including license suspensions, business cessation, and probation in several states and counties including in Arizona, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and North Carolina; and (8) as a result, Defendants' statements about Carvana's business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.
WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Carvana you have until October 3, 2022 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased Carvana securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the CVNA lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/carvana-lawsuit-loss-submission-form?id=31348&from=4.
ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM
J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
J. Klein, Esq.
Empire State Building
350 Fifth Avenue
59th Floor
New York, NY 10118
jk@kleinstocklaw.com
Telephone: (212) 616-4899
www.kleinstocklaw.com
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SOURCE The Klein Law Firm | 2022-09-06T18:21:03+00:00 | witn.com | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/09/06/cvna-alert-klein-law-firm-announces-lead-plaintiff-deadline-october-3-2022-class-action-filed-behalf-carvana-co-shareholders/ |
2020 Huntsville murder suspect indicted by Madison Co. grand jury
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) - A man who was arrested in 2020 following a murder investigation in Huntsville has been indicted by a grand jury in Madison County.
Court records show Druvanta Love was indicted for murder for a shooting that occurred in 2020.
Love was arrested in 2020 after officers with the Huntsville Police Department discovered a man who was shot and killed in the 2700 block of Oakwood Road.
When officers were dispatched to a domestic dispute on July 31, 2020, they identified Love. Love then threw drugs that were later identified as methamphetamines on the ground. Love was then arrested for domestic violence and possession of a controlled substance.
At this time, no court date is set for Love’s murder charge.
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Copyright 2023 WAFF. All rights reserved. | 2023-05-30T16:40:01+00:00 | waff.com | https://www.waff.com/2023/05/30/2020-huntsville-murder-suspect-indicted-by-madison-co-grand-jury/ |
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A decisive win by Democrats in hotly-contested local races in Lincoln could be indicative of the party’s chances next year, including in a presidential election where Nebraska’s Omaha-centered 2nd Congressional District has twice given an electoral vote to Democratic presidential candidates.
Nebraska and Maine are the only two states that allow their electoral votes to be split in presidential elections. That system has confounded Nebraska Republicans, who have been unable to force the state into a winner-take-all system since Barack Obama became the first presidential contender to shave off one of Nebraska’s five electoral votes in 2008. It happened again in 2020, when President Joe Biden captured Nebraska’s 2nd District electoral vote.
Democratic Party leaders see an opportunity to capitalize on Republicans’ hard shift to the right, particularly on religious and culture war issues issues — including the recent push across red states to target the transgender and LGBTQ+ community members, ban books from schools and libraries and vastly restrict abortion access. Those efforts are unpopular with the majority of voters, Nebraska Democratic Party Chairwoman Jane Kleeb said Wednesday.
“Women’s reproductive freedom will continue to be a key issue that voters want a clear answer from candidates on where they stand, and Republicans are simply out of step with the majority of Nebraskans,” Kleeb said.
Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird, a Democrat, handily won a second term Tuesday, despite an aggressive push by Republicans to oust her in favor of former Lincoln state Sen. Suzanne Geist, who saw more than $1.5 million pumped into her campaign by GOP donors. That included hundreds of thousands of dollars each by the family of former Gov. Pete Ricketts and the Peed family that owns publishing company Sandhills Global, based in Lincoln.
Geist had stepped down from her legislative seat last month to focus on the mayor’s race. Campaign ads supporting her painted Lincoln as an unsafe, crime-ridden city under Baird and blanketed airways for weeks before Tuesday’s election.
Lincoln, Nebraska’s capital and home of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is one of the few communities in the conservative state where Democrats can claim regular election victories. But Tuesday’s win stood out for the number wins Democrats scored, including 3 of 4 contested City Council seats, giving Democrats a dominant 6-1 advantage. And Republicans lost all three of the contested local school board seats.
The only other area of the state where Democrats have seen some success in the last three decades is in Omaha, the state’s largest city with more than 850,000 in the city and surrounding suburbs.
“We’ve learned many lessons over the last few cycles of what works and what we need to improve on,” Kleeb said. “As the Democratic Party, we are going to continue to build in the blue dots of Lincoln and Omaha while making sure we invest in rural towns that deeply care about public schools, access to abortion and protecting our democracy.”
The Nebraska Republican Party didn’t address its Lincoln losses on its Twitter or Facebook pages, and state party chairman Eric Underwood did not immediately return a message Wednesday seeking comment.
But the party has made no secret of its frustration over losing Omaha’s electoral vote to Democrats in recent presidential elections. Republicans tried for nine years after first splitting the state’s electoral votes to revert to a winner-take-all system, but those proposals failed year after year. The effort was resurrected after Biden won the Omaha vote in 2020, but it has gained little traction. A bill introduced this year has been stuck in committee.
Republicans have instead relied on redistricting to curtail Democrats’ progress in the 2nd District, having twice redrawn the district’s boundaries since 2008 to favor Republican candidates.
But even some Republcians have said that might not be enough to overcome a turnout of voters soured on the hot-button issues targeted by GOP-led legislatures this year.
Nebraska Sen. Merv Riepe publicly warned his fellow Republican colleagues last week that efforts to ban abortion will cost them at the polls next year.
Riepe, an 80-year-old former hospital administrator, had initially signed on as a cosponsor to a Nebraska bill that would effectively ban abortions as six weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions for rape, incest and to save the life of the mother. But he later refused to give the measure the final vote it needed to survive a filibuster over concerns the ban was too strict.
Riepe pointed to his own election last year against a Democrat who made abortion rights central to her campaign, noting that his margin of victory dropped from 27 percentage points in the May primary election, which occurred before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, to under 5 percentage points in the general election after the fall of Roe.
“This made the message clear to me how critical abortion will be in 2024,” he said. “We must embrace the future of reproductive rights.” | 2023-05-04T00:55:43+00:00 | cenlanow.com | https://www.cenlanow.com/politics/ap-politics/nebraska-democrats-look-to-2024-after-tuesday-election-wins/ |
New Mexico's legislative session begins after Monday, when police arrested a failed GOP legislative candidate for conspiring to shoot up the homes and offices of several Democratic leaders.
Copyright 2023 KUNM
New Mexico's legislative session begins after Monday, when police arrested a failed GOP legislative candidate for conspiring to shoot up the homes and offices of several Democratic leaders.
Copyright 2023 KUNM | 2023-01-17T22:48:39+00:00 | wyomingpublicmedia.org | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2023-01-17/new-mexico-police-arrested-a-failed-legislature-candidate-in-relation-to-shootings |
As Thursday draws to a close in Kyiv and in Moscow, here are the key developments of the day:
The leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Romania met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, showing support for Ukraine in fending off the Russian invasion and for its path toward European Union membership. Zelenskyy had accused France, Germany and Italy of not doing enough to help defend his country. Among new promised aid packages, French President Emmanuel Macron pledged to send more truck-mounted artillery guns to the country. The EU leaders arrived by train in Kyiv to air raid sirens. They also visited Irpin, northeast of the capital, where Macron said there were signs of massacres.
Russia's central bank head warned that the country's economy is unlikely to bounce back anytime soon to prewar conditions. Russia's economic development minister said the gross domestic product will fall by 7.8% this year, as international sanctions and business pullouts take a toll.
NATO allies want to beef up deterrence along its eastern flank so Russia doesn't plan further aggression in the region. Meeting with member countries' defense chiefs in Brussels, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called for more air, sea and cyber defenses, plus prepositioned equipment and weapons. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the U.S. and its allies would place more equipment in Eastern Europe and put troops on higher alert. Baltic countries urged for more troops to be stationed there, too.
The U.S. State Department said it's in touch with families of three U.S. citizens reported missing in Ukraine. This could be the first time Americans have been captured by Russian forces during the war. Earlier, a court in a Russian-controlled region of Ukraine charged two captured British fighters and one Moroccan man as mercenaries and sentenced them to death. They were among the thousands of foreigners who have joined the fight in Ukraine. The State Department has encouraged Americans not to travel to the country.
In a new round of sanctions, the United Kingdom targeted the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, for supporting the war in Ukraine. British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said Kirill "repeatedly abused his position to justify the war." The new sanctions also include Russia's children's rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova "for her alleged involvement in the forced transfer and adoption of Ukrainian children." She is accused of facilitating the forced adoption of 2,000 Ukrainian children sent to Russia.
In-depth
Ukraine finds itself outnumbered as Russia advances in the Donbas.
Ikea packs up Russian operations and plans sale of factories.
As Russia pushes deeper into eastern Ukraine, some flee on medical evacuation train.
Special report
Russia's war in Ukraine is changing the world: See its ripple effects in all corners of the globe.
Earlier developments
You can read more daily recaps here. For context and more in-depth stories, you can find more of NPR's coverage here. Also, listen and subscribe to NPR's State of Ukraine podcast for updates throughout the day.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
Loading... | 2022-06-17T02:57:43+00:00 | klcc.org | https://www.klcc.org/npr-news/npr-news/2022-06-16/russia-ukraine-war-what-happened-today-june-16 |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Many Americans don’t expect to rely on the digital services that became commonplace during the pandemic after COVID-19 subsides, according to a new poll, even as many think it’s a good thing if those options remain available in the future.
Close to half or more of U.S. adults say they are not likely to attend virtual activities, receive virtual health care, have groceries delivered or use curbside pickup after the coronavirus pandemic is over, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Less than 3 in 10 say they’re very likely to use any of those options at least some of the time.
Still, close to half also say it would be a good thing if virtual options for health care, for community events and for activities like fitness classes or religious services continue after the pandemic.
“Rather than this either-or, I think we’re more likely to be facing a hybrid future,” said Donna Hoffman, director of the Center for the Connected Consumer at the George Washington School of Business. “People have found convenience in some of these virtual options that just makes sense, and they don’t necessarily have anything to do with like keeping you safe or the pandemic even though they came of age during the pandemic.”
Digital daily routines became the default in 2020 as the nation reacted to the rapidly spreading virus, which prompted lockdowns, closed schools and shuttered businesses. Some substitutions, like online shopping and video conference calling, already existed. Others were reimagined or popularized during the pandemic.
Either way, Hoffman said, there was “rapid” deployment and adoption of virtual services. It was a question of “how are we going to make this work?” she said.
Cornelius Hairston said his family took precautions throughout the pandemic because his wife is a first responder in the health care field.
“We tried to stay in as much as we could and only come out for essentials,” said Hairston, 40, who recently moved to Roanoke, Virginia.
Hairston joked that his twin 4-year-old boys are “COVID babies” who didn’t even go to a grocery store for much of their young lives. The family used delivery services almost exclusively to avoid venturing out to crowded stores. But going forward, he only expects to use them “from time to time.”
For Angie Lowe, the convenience of telemedicine and time saved was reason enough to do it again even though she and her husband returned to doing things in public more than a year ago.
Lowe had her first telemedicine appointment early in the pandemic when feeling “lonely” and “stuck at home” kept her from sleeping well. She was able to talk with the doctor without having to take extra time off of work to drive to and wait in a medical center.
“It was my first telemedicine appointment, but it won’t be my last,” said Lowe, 48, of Sterling, Illinois. “If I can do it, I’m going to do it.”
For many, though, drawbacks outweigh the benefits of relying on digital services in the future. Adults age 50 or older are especially likely to say they are not planning to use the virtual options asked about on the poll going forward, even though many were introduced during the pandemic to protect the at-risk population.
Despite feeling antsy about COVID-19 and infection rates in Phoenix, Tony DiGiovane, 71, said he found curbside pickup at grocery stores and restaurants to be more hassle than they’re worth.
“By the time I picked up the stuff, I needed more stuff,” he said of his grocery orders, and “something’s always missing or wrong” on takeout orders.
Karen Stewart, 63, recognizes the benefits of video calls, but she’s also found them to be limiting. That’s the case in her job organizing after school programming for kids. She also now sees some of her doctors online, one who provides virtual care almost exclusively and another who uses virtual care in between office visits.
She likes that she doesn’t have to drive, but it means a doctor or nurse can’t take her vitals or be “hands on” in her care. It was “scary,” for example, when all of her appointments in the lead-up to a surgery were online, she said.
“When I do that they they can’t take my blood pressure, my pulse. There’s things that a doctor might pick up on that they can’t see online,” said Stewart of Perris, California.
The pandemic created an opportunity to balance in-person and virtual services to support the physical and mental health of older adults, said Alycia Bayne, a principal research scientist at NORC. That “could be particularly beneficial to older adults with different health issues, mobility limitations, people who lack transportation options, people who do not have or live near a robust social networks like family and friends to lean on,” she said.
Still, there remain limitations with technology access, broadband access and digital literacy, which Bayne said may help explain why the poll finds older adults less likely to use digital services after the pandemic.
Despite the age gap on use of services, similar percentages of adults across ages say it’s a good thing for virtual options for health care, for community events and meetings and for activities to continue after the pandemic.
“They recognize the benefits of virtual services, but they’re also ready to start getting back to their pre-pandemic routines,” she said. “The silver lining, of course, is that these services are now available.”
___
The poll of 1,001 adults was conducted May 12-16 using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 4 percentage points.
___
Rico reported from Atlanta. | 2022-07-06T00:36:23+00:00 | krqe.com | https://www.krqe.com/news/technology/many-wont-rely-on-virtual-options-after-covid-ap-norc-poll/ |
The gift is the largest single unrestricted donation in the 120-year history of the North Carolina based organization.
GREENSBORO, N.C., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Children's Home Society, one of the nation's leading children and family services organizations, has received an $8M donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. The gift supports Children's Home Society's work for children and families, through innovative services that help families stay together and build resilience to navigate difficult life circumstances. The organization is also a leader in foster care and adoption across North Carolina.
"Ms. Scott's generosity comes at a critical time for our communities," said Brian Maness, President & CEO of Children's Home Society of North Carolina. "Children and families need more than ever to be seen, heard, and validated while facing the challenges of today's world. They need to feel hope for their future and that someone cares about them, particularly amidst current social inequities and the pandemic. We are so grateful to everyone who is helping and sharing in this work."
The organization recently launched an ambitious 5-year plan outlining a better future for North Carolina children and families. "Ms. Scott's donation will strengthen and help sustain this vital work as we continue to embrace our identity as a mission-driven problem solver, and promote the right of every child to a permanent, safe, and loving family. We know that no one person, organization, or gift can do this work alone, but every person – no matter their background – can make an incredible difference through positive and inspired action," Maness said.
Gifts like Ms. Scott's, as well as the consistent support from community members across North Carolina, make it possible for CHS to serve more than 15,000 North Carolina children and families annually. In 2021, more than 4,800 families were supported with parent education and support services, and a safe family placement was created for nearly 1,100 children who are in foster care. Children's Home Society has celebrated more than 16,000 adoptions since 1902.
For more information on the Children's Home Society, how to become a foster or adoptive parent, or financial support, work, and volunteer opportunities, please call 1-800-632-1400 or visit www.chsnc.org.
Children's Home Society offers a network of services and support throughout North Carolina to help establish and sustain healthy, loving relationships in every family. For 120 years, Children's Home Society has provided a broad spectrum of programs and services including adoption, foster care, parenting education, family preservation, and youth responsibility. Children's Home Society believes in the importance of family, not only in the life of a child, but also in the foundation of a community.
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SOURCE Children's Home Society of NC | 2022-06-21T15:08:28+00:00 | wymt.com | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2022/06/21/childrens-home-society-north-carolina-receives-8m-donation-philanthropist-mackenzie-scott/ |
LENAWEE COUNTY, MI – A woman in a stolen car was arrested Friday after tailgating a police officer, then intentionally crashing into the officer before leading police on a chase.
At about 7:32 p.m. Dec. 16, a Michigan State Police trooper in a marked patrol vehicle was going west on M-50 near Downing Highway in Lenawee County’s Ridgeway Township when another vehicle began tailgating him, according to Michigan State Police.
The tailgating vehicle then passed the trooper who began to slow down to see if the driver was experiencing an emergency and needed assistance, police said.
The vehicle then abruptly pulled in front of the patrol car and applied its brakes, intentionally causing a collision before immediately speeding away from the trooper, police said.
A chase ensued leading into Monroe County where officers from the Dundee Police Department and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office used stop sticks to shred the fleeing vehicle’s tires, police said.
The driver, a 34-year-old woman, was arrested without further incident and taken to the Lenawee County Jail to await charges.
The vehicle the woman was driving was discovered to have been stolen earlier in the day in Jackson County. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the theft, police said.
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44-acre property along Saline River could become latest Washtenaw County preserve | 2022-12-20T14:07:51+00:00 | mlive.com | https://www.mlive.com/news/2022/12/woman-in-stolen-car-tailgating-police-arrested-after-intentional-crash.html |
Crews locate bodies of 2 men who tried to save Milwaukee boy
MILWAUKEE (AP) — The bodies of two men who went into a rain-swollen drainage ditch in Milwaukee to try to save a 10-year-old boy have been recovered.
They were found Thursday, three days after the three people were swept into a tunnel that runs under a road. It happened shortly after a storm dropped heavy rainfall.
The body of the boy, identified as Mohammed Roshidulcah, of Milwaukee, was recovered Tuesday about a mile and a half downstream from the tunnel’s exit. Police say he ran into the ravine chasing after a soccer ball, police said.
The bodies of the child’s father and a family friend, both of whom followed the boy into the drainage ditch, were discovered several miles downstream of the tunnel.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2022-06-16T22:30:30+00:00 | wafb.com | https://www.wafb.com/2022/06/16/crews-locate-bodies-2-men-who-tried-save-milwaukee-boy/ |
OSLO, Norway, Aug. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Nordic Nanovector ASA (OSE: NANOV) ("Nordic Nanovector" or the "Company") announces its results for the second quarter and first half 2022. A presentation by Nordic Nanovector's senior management team will be held in-person today in Oslo and webcast live beginning at 8:30am CEST - details below.
Jan H. Egberts Chairman of Nordic Nanovector, commented: "The decision to discontinue PARADIGME* has been a major disappointment for everyone involved, most particularly patients. Given the difficult financing environment and the Company's current financial position, the responsible course of action is to conserve our resources while we explore all strategic options that may be available to us. We believe the restructuring we have announced, together with the appointment of Carnegie, a leading financial advisor in the Nordic region, will provide significant support in achieving the best possible outcome for our shareholders. We will provide further updates in a timely fashion as appropriate."
*PARADIGME is a global Phase 2b trial of Betalutin® (177Lu lilotomab satetraxetan) in 3rd-line follicular lymphoma (FL) patients, refractory to RTX/anti-CD20 based treatments.
Q2 2022 Highlights
- Comprehensive review of PARADIGME implemented
Post-period events
- Decision made to discontinue PARADIGME
- Board implements a restructuring of the Company with the purpose of reducing costs where necessary
- Carnegie appointed to explore all strategic options available to the Company
Financial Highlights
(Figures in brackets = same period 2021 unless otherwise stated)
- Revenues for the second quarter 2022 amounted to NOK 0.0 million (NOK 0.0 million)
- Total operating expenses for the second quarter 2022 were NOK 102.8 million (NOK 103.9 million).
- Comprehensive loss for the second quarter 2022 amounted to NOK 91.0 million (loss of NOK 101.8 million).
- Cash and cash equivalents amounted to NOK 287.4 million at the end of June 2022, compared to NOK 356.3 million at the end of March 2022, and NOK 450.1 million at the end of June 2021.
Presentation and Webcast
A presentation by Nordic Nanovector's senior management team will be held in-person and webcast live beginning at 8:30am CEST.
- Venue: Thon Hotel Vika Atrium, Munkedamsveien 45, 0250 Oslo
- Meeting Room: Bjørvika
The webcast can be accessed from www.nordicnanovector.com in the section: Investors & Media and a recording will also be available on this page after the event.
The results report and the presentation will be available at www.nordicnanovector.com in the section: Investors & Media/Reports and Presentation/Interim Reports/2022 from 7:00am CEST the same day.
For further information, please contact:
IR enquiries
Malene Brondberg, Interim CEO & CFO
Cell: +44 7561 431 762
Email: ir@nordicnanovector.com
Media Enquiries
Mark Swallow/Frazer Hall (MEDiSTRAVA Consulting)
Tel: +44 203 928 6900
Email: nordicnanovector@medistrava.com
About Nordic Nanovector:
Nordic Nanovector is committed to develop and deliver innovative therapies to patients to address major unmet medical needs and advance cancer care. The Company aspires to become a leader in radionuclide therapy of cancer. In addition to Betalutin®, for which Nordic Nanovector retains global marketing rights, the Company's novel pipeline includes Humalutin®, a radioimmunotherapy candidate based on a chimeric anti-CD37 antibody and the beta emitter lutetium-177 for NHL; Alpha37, based on a chimeric anti-CD37 antibody and the alpha emitting radionuclide lead-212, currently being explored with partner Oranomed for relapsed refractory chronic lymphocytic leukaemia; a portfolio of fully humanised anti-CD37 antibodies with potential in haematological cancers and autoimmune diseases; and a CD37 DOTA CAR-T cell opportunity in haematological cancers, which is the subject of a research collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania.
Further information can be found at www.nordicnanovector.com.
Forward-looking statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to inter alia to the business and strategies, financial performance and results of the Company. Forward-looking statements concern future circumstances and results and other statements that are not historical facts. These statements are based on Nordic Nanovector's current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Any forward-looking statements contained in this release, including assumptions, opinions and views of Nordic Nanovector or cited from third party sources, are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and events to be materially different from those expected or implied by the forward-looking statements. Nordic Nanovector cannot provide any assurance that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of opinions expressed in this release or the actual occurrence of any forecasted developments. Nordic Nanovector disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
The terms "anticipates", "assumes", "believes", "can", "could", "estimates", "expects", "forecasts", "intends", "may", "might", "plans", "should", "projects", "targets", "will", "would" or, in each case, their negative, or other variations or comparable terminology are used to identify forward-looking statements. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause these differences include, but are not limited to, risks associated with implementation of Nordic Nanovector's strategy, risks and uncertainties associated with the development and/or approval of Nordic Nanovector's product candidates, ongoing and future clinical trials and expected trial results technology changes and new products in Nordic Nanovector's potential market and industry, Nordic Nanovector's freedom to operate (competitors patents) in respect of the products it develops, the ability to develop new products and enhance existing products, the impact of competition, changes in general economy and industry conditions, and legislative, regulatory and political factors.
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
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SOURCE Nordic Nanovector | 2022-08-31T05:48:08+00:00 | kwtx.com | https://www.kwtx.com/prnewswire/2022/08/31/nordic-nanovector-asa-results-second-quarter-first-half-2022/ |
Child dies in mobile home fire; 2 others sent to hospital: ‘This was a tough day for everyone’
ST. LOUIS (KMOV/Gray News) - Authorities in the St. Louis area say a 3-year-old child died in a house fire earlier this week.
KMOV reports the fire broke out Tuesday morning in a neighborhood about 20 minutes outside of downtown St. Louis.
Firefighters said flames appeared from the mobile home’s front windows when they arrived with neighbors attempting to put out the fire.
Fire crews said they were eventually able to extinguish the flames.
“The sheriff’s office would like to thank those who bravely attempted to extinguish the fire before first responders arrived,” the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said.
According to the High Ridge Fire Department, the fire also sent the child’s mother and older sibling to the hospital.
Officials identified the 3-year-old child who died as Kaiden Strubberg.
“Our condolences are with the victim’s family as they cope with this tragedy. Our hearts also go out to the first responders and dispatchers involved,” the sheriff’s office said. “This was a tough day for everyone.”
Authorities said their investigation into the cause of the fire continues.
Copyright 2022 KMOV via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2022-10-11T23:18:10+00:00 | wsfa.com | https://www.wsfa.com/2022/10/11/child-dies-mobile-home-fire-2-others-sent-hospital-this-was-tough-day-everyone/ |
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A day after a title-clinching victory and on the eve of the NCAA Tournament selection show, Hawaii shook off a mid-match lull to close the regular season with a four-set win over Cal State Northridge on Saturday.
UH middle blocker Amber Igiede put away 19 kills on .607 hitting and her fourth ace of the match finished off a 25-18, 25-20, 18-25, 25-9 win over the host Matadors at Premier America Credit Union Arena in Northridge, Calif.
The Rainbow Wahine clinched the Big West title and the conference’s automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament with a five-set comeback against UC Santa Barbara on Friday and used the entire active roster to take the first two sets in Saturday’s regular-season finale.
After CSUN pulled away in the third set to extend the match, Igiede put away five of UH’s first six kills to spark the rout in the fourth. She added an ace to give UH an 11-3 lead and the Wahine held a team to single-digit scoring in a 25-point set for the first time this season.
“We wanted to re-establish control and take the reins,” Igiede said in a phone interview.
UH (22-6 19-1 Big West) closed the regular season with a 12-match winning streak and will learn its NCAA Tournament destination when the bracket is revealed at 2:30 p.m. today on ESPNU.
“You can soak it up right now, they deserve it,” UH coach Robyn Ah Mow said of running the table over the final six weeks of the conference season. “They worked hard, practicing, the travel, and the day-in and day-out. They deserve to soak this up for a little bit, but on Sunday everything is zeroed out.”
The Rainbow Wahine are scheduled to return to campus today and will be included in the NCAA Tournament bracket for the 29th straight season (not counting 2020, when the Big West season was canceled due to the pandemic) and the 40th time overall.
“(The team’s focus) has already turned,” Igiede said. “We’ll enjoy it a little bit tonight, but once we get on the plane it’s back to 0-0.”
Igiede had just two errors in her 28 swings and was in on six blocks as UH completed the sweep of the season series with CSUN. She hit over .600 for the third time this season and is on pace to set the school’s single-season record for hitting percentage at .439. Angelica Ljunqvist has held the current record of .417 since 1996.
Outside hitter Caylen Alexander added 12 kills on .333 hitting and posted a season-high six blocks, including two solo. Riley Wagoner finished with nine kills and had three of UH’s 10 aces.
UH setter Kate Lang had 34 assists while sharing time with senior Mylana Byrd, who had six, and the Rainbow Wahine hit .313 in the match.
CSUN setter/outside hitter Carisa Barron led the Matadors (9-23, 4-16) with 14 kills and 22 assists. CSUN hit .179 overall and peaked at .419 in the third when Barron delivered five kills and an ace to lead the Matadors to their first set win against UH this season.
‘They were serving tough and took us out of system,” Ah Mow said. “We weren’t passing very well and we just started serving lollipops, getting tentative, and quiet.”
UH reclaimed control to start the fourth with Igiede hammering two kills and landing two tips in a 6-1 opening run. The Wahine went on to hit .522 in the final set with 13 kills and one error in 23 attacks and converted on all nine sideout opportunities.
“I was happy with the win, just not happy with that (third) set,” Ah Mow said. “But glad we got to get some of the girls on the court and coming back and waking up in the fourth set.”
UH never trailed in the first two sets, taking control of the opener after CSUN rallied to tie the first set at 8-8 on an ace by Breanna Mitchell. UH went on a 6-2 run, with Braelyn Akana posting two kills and a block assist and Wagoner adding two kills.
UH served up five aces to open up an 11-5 lead in the second set and Ah Mow subbed in several of the reserves. CSUN rallied to tie the set at 19-19, but UH went on a 6-1 run to close the set, with Annika de Goede providing two kills and a block assist off the bench. | 2022-11-27T11:21:28+00:00 | staradvertiser.com | https://www.staradvertiser.com/2022/11/27/sports/everyone-plays-as-rainbow-wahine-close-out-cal-state-northridge-in-4/ |
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