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ASHBURN, Va., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - DXC Technology (NYSE: DXC) announced today that Pinkie Dent Mayfield has been elected to the Board of Directors. Ms. Mayfield will serve on the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee of the Board.
"We are pleased to announce Pinkie's election to the DXC Board," said Mike Salvino, DXC chairman, president and CEO. "She is a seasoned leader with broad experience across numerous executive roles. The Board and the management team are looking forward to working with her and benefitting from her expertise and insights as the Company continues to evolve."
"Since August of 2020, we have appointed eight new Board members to DXC, adding depth to the Board's skills in areas such as finance, IT and talent management while bringing new skills to the Board in ESG, policy and communications," said Raul Fernandez, chair of the Board's Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee. "We have also improved the diversity of DXC's Board in a myriad of ways. With 64% of the Board identifying as diverse, the Company will continue to benefit from the broad and fresh perspectives along with the deep and abiding experience these individuals bring as Directors."
Ms. Mayfield is the Chief Communications Officer and Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Graham Holdings Company (formerly The Washington Post Company), a diversified conglomerate whose principal operations include education and media. In her current role since 2015, Ms. Mayfield is responsible for corporate affairs, public relations, communications and strategic initiatives. Since joining Graham Holdings in 1998, she has held several executive leadership positions. Prior to joining Graham Holdings, Ms. Mayfield was a Vice President and Trust Officer at NationsBank (now Bank of America) in the Investment Services Division. A director of Founders Bank, a Washington D.C.-based community bank, she has chaired the audit committee since joining the board in 2020. Ms. Mayfield also currently serves as a member of the board of directors of Ready Capital Corporation and as the treasurer of the board of directors of the District of Columbia College Access Program and a trustee of the Philip L. Graham Fund. Ms. Mayfield graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in business administration from Trinity Washington University and earned an M.B.A. from the University of Maryland University College.
DXC Technology (NYSE: DXC) helps global companies run their mission-critical systems and operations while modernizing IT, optimizing data architectures, and ensuring security and scalability across public, private and hybrid clouds. The world's largest companies and public sector organizations trust DXC to deploy services to drive new levels of performance, competitiveness, and customer experience across their IT estates. Learn more about how we deliver excellence for our customers and colleagues at DXC.com.
All statements in this press release that do not directly and exclusively relate to historical facts constitute "forward-looking statements." These statements represent current expectations and beliefs, and no assurance can be given that the results described in such statements will be achieved. Such statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such statements, many of which are outside of our control. For a written description of these factors, see the section titled "Risk Factors" in DXC's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, and any updating information in subsequent SEC filings. No assurance can be given that any goal or plan set forth in any forward-looking statement can or will be achieved, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements which speak only as of the date they are made. We do not undertake any obligation to update or release any revisions to any forward-looking statement or to report any events or circumstances after the date of this report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events except as required by law.
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SOURCE DXC Technology Company | 2023-07-26T22:12:01+00:00 | wsfa.com | https://www.wsfa.com/prnewswire/2023/07/26/pinkie-mayfield-elected-dxc-technology-board-directors/ |
Jose Siri Player Prop Bets: Rays vs. White Sox - April 28
Published: Apr. 28, 2023 at 3:27 PM EDT|Updated: 2 hours ago
The Tampa Bay Rays and Jose Siri, who went 0-for-3 last time in action, take on Lucas Giolito and the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field, Friday at 7:10 PM ET.
He had a hitless performance in his last game (0-for-3) against the Astros.
Jose Siri Game Info & Props vs. the White Sox
- Game Day: Friday, April 28, 2023
- Game Time: 7:10 PM ET
- Stadium: Guaranteed Rate Field
- Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo!
- White Sox Starter: Lucas Giolito
- TV Channel: NBCS-CHI
- Hits Prop: Over/under 0.5 hits (Over odds: -133)
- Home Runs Prop: Over/under 0.5 home runs (Over odds: +500)
- RBI Prop: Over/under 0.5 RBI (Over odds: +240)
- Runs Prop: Over/under 0.5 runs (Over odds: +165)
Looking to place a prop bet on Jose Siri? Check out what's available at BetMGM and sign up with this link!
Jose Siri At The Plate
- Siri has two doubles, two home runs and two walks while hitting .259.
- Siri has picked up a hit in six games this season (75.0%), including one multi-hit game.
- He has homered in two of eight games played this year, and in 6.7% of his plate appearances.
- Siri has had at least one RBI in 62.5% of his games this season (five of eight), with more than one RBI three times (37.5%).
- He has scored at least one run four times this year (50.0%), including one multi-run game.
Ready to play FanDuel Daily Fantasy? Get in the game using our link.
Jose Siri Home/Away Batting Splits
White Sox Pitching Rankings
- The White Sox pitching staff leads the league with a collective 10 strikeouts per nine innings.
- The White Sox have the 29th-ranked team ERA among all league pitching staffs (5.76).
- White Sox pitchers combine to give up 38 total home runs at a clip of 1.5 per game (second-most in baseball).
- The White Sox will send Giolito (1-2) out for his sixth start of the season. He is 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 28 2/3 innings pitched.
- His most recent time out came out of the bullpen on Monday when the right-hander tossed 2/3 innings against the Toronto Blue Jays while giving up hits.
- This season, the 28-year-old ranks 55th in ERA (4.50), 35th in WHIP (1.179), and 38th in K/9 (9) among pitchers who qualify.
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | 2023-04-28T21:08:32+00:00 | wcjb.com | https://www.wcjb.com/sports/betting/2023/04/28/jose-siri-mlb-player-prop-bets/ |
INDIANA, USA — The oldest hand car wash in Indianapolis has shut down after taking major damage from strong winds in downtown Indy's latest round of storms.
The building at 10th and Senate streets partially collapsed and Indianapolis Fire Department had crews put red tape around the building.
Swancy's has been around since 1942, and debris from the historic building could be seen scattered across the street.
Other parts of downtown were were also damaged in the storms.
Tree limbs were snapped in half by the American Legion Mall, 700 N. Pennsylvania, with some of them falling over onto streetlamps. Several streetlamp covers were also blown around.
13News is reaching out to the owners of Swancy's to see if they plan on rebuilding or relocating. This story will be updated when that information becomes available. | 2023-07-02T14:30:37+00:00 | wthr.com | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/storm-damage-closes-indys-oldest-hand-car-wash-swancys-auto-indianapolis/531-5f2b8f95-1cf4-434a-a3e8-b81bc15f7973 |
Build-A-Bear® brings fun for the whole family at Fan Engagement Zone
ST. LOUIS, Sept. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Build-A-Bear Workshop announces it has officially opened a new store at the Fan Engagement Zone at The Hall of Fame Village, located at 2101 Hall of Fame Way in Canton, Ohio, north of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This Workshop offers the signature Build-A-Bear Make-Your-Own experience, including the iconic Heart Ceremony, with an assortment of furry friends, accessories, and products that appeal to kids, teens and adults alike.
This unique and one-of-a-kind Build-A-Bear Workshop will feature football inspired graphics throughout the store as well as fun football themed photo opportunities. The store will offer an expansive selection of professional and college football merchandise for a wide assortment of plush bears.
"We're so excited to bring the fun of Build-A-Bear and be part of this incredible sports and entertainment destination centered around the love of football," said Chris Hurt, Chief Operations and Experience Officer. "For the past 25 years, the Build-A-Bear experience has had the power to add a little more heart to life in a unique way, and we are so excited to provide a full fan experience at this location."
"Sports entertainment extends well beyond the playing field and we're proud to bring one of the most iconic interactive brands in Build-A-Bear to our campus along with a unique sports twist to its beloved family-centric workshop experience," said Mike Levy, HOFV president of operations.
The Fan Engagement Zone at the Hall of Fame Village is a sports and entertainment-themed, 82,000-square-foot promenade, offering rooftop views of Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, which will be an active hub for fans to go before, during and after events to have fun, dine, and socialize.
Build-A-Bear Workshop reported record-setting profitability in fiscal 2021 and an all-time high for revenue and profitability in its fiscal 2022 first quarter. The company's strategic growth plans are focused on advancing a broad-ranging and comprehensive digital transformation while continuing to leverage its expanded omnichannel capabilities, evolve its retail experience and add new store locations. This workshop is one of approximately 20 stores that Build-A-Bear previously announced it planned to open in fiscal 2022 through a combination of its corporately-managed and third-party retail models.
At Build-A-Bear Workshop, kids — and kids at heart — engage in a hands-on entertaining process to create their very own, personalized furry friends. The experience begins by choosing from a wide array of plush animals and then stuffing them with love with the assistance of a BEAR BUILDER® associate including participating in Build-A-Bear's iconic Heart Ceremony. A wide range of clothing and accessories allows each new friend to be customized and unique. The process completes when Guests fill out a birth certificate and then take the new furry friend home in a signature Cub Condo™ carrying case. The personal nature of the interactive experience often fosters a lasting and emotional brand connection.
More information about Build-A-Bear Workshop stuffed animals, gifts, events and deals can be found at buildabear.com. Follow and share your stories with the brand on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.
Build-A-Bear is a multi-generational global brand focused on its mission to "add a little more heart to life" appealing to a wide array of consumer groups who enjoy the personal expression in making their own "furry friends" to celebrate and commemorate life moments. Nearly 500 interactive brick-and-mortar retail locations operated through a variety of formats provide guests of all ages a hands-on entertaining experience, which often fosters a lasting and emotional brand connection. The company also offers engaging e-commerce/digital purchasing experiences onhttps://www.buildabear.com/ buildabear.com including its online "Bear-Builder", the animated "Bear Builder 3D Workshop" and its age-gated adult-focused "Bear Cave". In addition, extending its brand power beyond retail, Build-A-Bear Entertainment, a subsidiary of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., is dedicated to creating engaging content for kids and adults that fulfills the company's mission, while the company also offers products at wholesale and in non-plush consumer categories via licensing agreements with leading manufacturers. Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE: BBW) posted total revenue of $411.5 million in fiscal 2021. For more information, visit the Investor Relations section of buildabear.com.
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SOURCE Build-A-Bear Workshop | 2022-09-16T13:03:13+00:00 | wbrc.com | https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2022/09/16/build-a-bear-workshop-opens-new-location-football-hall-fame-village/ |
RADNOR, Pa., Jan. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (www.ktmc.com) informs investors that a securities class action lawsuit has been against Freshworks Inc. ("Freshworks") (NASDAQ: FRSH). The action charges Freshworks with violations of the federal securities laws, including omissions and fraudulent misrepresentations relating to the company's business, operations, and prospects. As a result of Freshworks' materially misleading statements and omissions to the public, Freshworks' investors have suffered significant losses.
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR FRESHWORKS LOSSES. YOU CAN ALSO CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK OR COPY AND PASTE IN YOUR BROWSER: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/freshworks-inc?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=freshworks&mktm=r
TO VIEW OUR VIDEO, PLEASE CLICK HERE
LEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE: JANUARY 3, 2023
CLASS PERIOD: SEPTEMBER 22, 2021 THROUGH NOVEMBER 1, 2022
CONTACT AN ATTORNEY TO DISCUSS YOUR RIGHTS:
Jonathan Naji, Esq. at (484) 270-1453 or via email at info@ktmc.com
Kessler Topaz is one of the world's foremost advocates in protecting the public against corporate fraud and other wrongdoing. Our securities fraud litigators are regularly recognized as leaders in the field individually and our firm is both feared and respected among the defense bar and the insurance bar. We are proud to have recovered billions of dollars for our clients and the classes of shareholders we represent.
FRESHWORKS' ALLEGED MISCONDUCT
Freshworks, headquartered in San Mateo, California, provides customer engagement software for businesses. On or about September 22, 2021, Freshworks conducted its IPO, offering 28.5 million shares of its common stock to the investing public at a price of $36 per share (the "Offering Price"). Freshworks anticipated generating gross proceeds of over $1 billion from the IPO.
According to the Registration Statement and Prospectus filed by Freshworks (collectively, the Offering Documents"), Freshworks' business had "grown rapidly" in the lead up to the IPO. As a result, the company's growth rates and purportedly "healthy" net dollar retention rates, reflecting the usage of its products from existing customers and the sale of additional products to these customers, reached levels not previously achieved, and there was no indication that either was decelerating. In fact, the Offering Documents repeatedly and prominently touted Freshworks' 118% net dollar retention rate for the period ended June 30, 2021, which represented a noteworthy increase from the 107%, 111%, and 112% net dollar retention rates achieved as of June 30, 2020, December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, respectively, as well as Freshworks' year-over-year revenue growth rate of 53% (as of June 30, 2021), which likewise represented a significant increase over the Company's 45% year-over-year growth rate for the period ended December 31, 2020. Unbeknownst to investors, at the time of the IPO, Freshworks' revenue growth and billings had encountered obstacles.
Freshworks' stock declined after the Company announced its fourth fiscal quarter of 2021 earnings on February 10, 2022, during which it reported flat calculated billings growth and revenue growth deceleration of only 44% year over year.
Then, on May 3, 2022, after the market closed, Freshworks reported its first quarter 2022 financial results, reporting a third quarter of decelerating revenue growth and billings that missed consensus estimates and declined 13% quarter over quarter. Many analysts immediately responded by reducing their price targets.
By the filing of the complaint, Freshworks' shares traded as low as $10.51 per share, a decline of nearly 70% from the Offering Price.
WHAT CAN I DO?
Freshworks investors may, no later than January 3, 2023, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP encourages Freshworks investors who have suffered significant losses to contact the firm directly to acquire more information.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE CASE
WHO CAN BE A LEAD PLAINTIFF?
A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff.
ABOUT KESSLER TOPAZ MELTZER & CHECK, LLP
Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country and around the world. The firm has developed a global reputation for excellence and has recovered billions of dollars for victims of fraud and other corporate misconduct. All of our work is driven by a common goal: to protect investors, consumers, employees and others from fraud, abuse, misconduct and negligence by businesses and fiduciaries. The complaint in this action was not filed by Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP please visit www.ktmc.com.
CONTACT:
Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP
Jonathan Naji, Esq.
(484) 270-1453
280 King of Prussia Road
Radnor, PA 19087
info@ktmc.com
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SOURCE Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP | 2023-01-02T15:12:39+00:00 | wymt.com | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2023/01/02/final-deadline-kessler-topaz-meltzer-amp-check-llp-reminds-investors-lead-plaintiff-deadline-securities-fraud-class-action-lawsuit-filed-against-freshworks-inc-frsh/ |
This rebroadcast originally aired on February 14, 2021.
This is Part I of our series More than money: The cost of monopolies in America. Find Part II here.
Corporate monopolies exercise a lot of power in U.S. markets.
They dominate many industries, including beef.
“You have cattle ranchers going broke while consumers are paying all-time record prices for beef,” Bill Bullard, head of the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, says.
In ways you see, and don’t:
“It’s failed consumers on one end of the supply chain, and it’s failed the American family farmer and rancher on the other,” Bullard says.
Today, On Point: A discussion on monopolies and meat processing kicks off our special series More than money: The cost of monopolies in America.
Guests
Bill Bullard, head of Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, an advocacy group. His organization is a plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit that accuses meatpackers of manipulating prices.
Claire Kelloway, program manager for fair food and farming systems at the Open Markets Institute, a nonprofit anti-monopoly organization. (@clairekelloway)
Jack Beatty, On Point news analyst. Author of the Age of Betrayal: The Triumph of Money in America and editor of Colossus: How the Corporation Changed America.(@JackBeattyNPR)
Also Featured
Jeanie Alderson, fourth generation rancher from Birney, Montana. Member of the Northern Plains Resource Council, a grassroots conservation and family agriculture group.
Sarah Little, spokeswoman for the North American Meat Institute, a Washington lobbying group representing packers and processors.
Aaron Metz, fourth generation rancher from the Badlands of Western North Dakota.
Show Transcript
Part I
MEGHNA CHAKRABARTI: There’s a small Montana town that’s as small as it gets, population 110 to be exact. No stores or restaurants. The only business in town is the Post Office. But, it does have lots of grassland. And …
JEANIE ALDERSON: In a state like Montana, there’s more cows than people.
(Credit: Northern Plains Resource Council)
CHAKRABARTI: Jeanie Alderson is a fourth generation rancher. She grew up in that tiny town, Birney, in southeastern Montana.
ALDERSON: We’re on our ranch today. It’s at the confluence of two creeks, which is really special, that means we’ve got water. This is the high northern plains kind of terrain. Wonderful grasslands, but it’s dry.
CHAKRABARTI: Jeanie’s family has owned the Bones Brothers Ranch since 1889. More than 130 years.
ALDERSON: Ranching is what this community is, and it’s who we are.
CHAKRABARTI: She’s wondering, though, how long will it stay that way? Ever since Jeanie took over the family business, she’s seen things change, and rapidly.
ALDERSON: You know, when I was growing up, there were two little grocery stores in this town, and now all you can buy in Birney is a stamp.
CHAKRBARTI: This is On Point. I’m Meghna Chakrabarti. Ranchers like Jeanie are so integral to the western United States, they’re indistinguishable from it. But there are half a million fewer ranching families now. That’s 40% less than there were in the 1980s. That’s partly because of a long-term change mostly hidden from public view in the structure of the beef industry. To consumers, it looks like a pretty open market. A lot of ranchers, selling a lot of beef, that ends up in a lot of grocery stores.
But the beef industry is really more like an hourglass. Between the ranchers and the shoppers there’s an iron fist consolidating, and squeezing the meatpacking market down to a virtual monopoly. That heavily influences prices paid to ranchers for their cattle. So more than ever, ranchers like Jeanie Alderson are having a hard time hanging on.
ALDERSON: Agriculture has always been the hub, the center, the heart. And when you look around these little communities and you see all the boarded up businesses, you realize that when ranching and farming are on hard times, it’s hard on all the other businesses and all the communities around that.
CHAKRABARTI: All the communities around that. Well, for more than 50 years, American antitrust regulation has followed a basic premise: Are consumers being harmed? But now there’s a new sheriff in town, and her name is Lina Khan. She’s the chair of the Federal Trade Commission, and Khan wants to rethink the entire definition of harm when it comes to monopolies.
LINA KHAN [Tape]: Monopolies are bad, not simply because they threaten to, you know, lead to higher consumer prices or even necessarily undermine productivity and growth. But monopolies are bad because they’re bad for democracy.
CHAKRABARTI: Today, we’re launching a weeklong special series called More than money: The cost of monopolies in America. And we’ll be exploring the idea of whether it’s time to look more closely at what monopolistic consolidation does, not only to the markets those companies are in, but to the societies they’re into.
(Credit: Northern Plains Resource Council)
CHAKRABARTI: Jeanie Alderson runs the Bones Brothers Ranch with her husband, her two teenage sons and her 91-year-old father. He raised the cattle before her.
ALDERSON: Well, we’re feeding a bunch of our wagyu beef cattle. And we feed them in the wintertime, and they’re out on pastures all summer. And today we bought them some hay. They’re happy to have it.
ALDERSON: In many ways, I belong to this place kind of more than it belongs to me, and that’s something that’s sort of hard to explain. But I feel this immense responsibility to care for it, and to hold it together.
ALDERSON: So we love this. This is our solar well, water our cattle and get drinking water sometimes if we lose power at the ranch.
(Credit: Northern Plains Resource Council)
You know, when I was growing up, I don’t remember thinking about, Are we going to get a big enough sale to pay all our bills and stay in business? That is looming more and more.
CHAKRABARTI: There are four major corporations in the American meatpacking industry. Tyson Foods, Cargill and two owned by Brazilian corporations, National Beef Packing Company and JBS. In 1977, the Big Four, as they’re commonly called, owned just 25% of the market. Many mergers later, the Big Four now control 85% of all meat packing in America. Cattle beef are a $67 billion industry in the U.S.
Cattle ranchers used to receive 62 cents for every consumer dollar spent on beef. Today, that’s dropped to less than 37 cents on the dollar. Meanwhile, the Big Four have tripled profits in the past two years alone.
ALDERSON: I’m just using a pitchfork to throw a little bit of hay for these horses. They’ll mostly graze, but I just give them a little extra.
CHAKRABARTI: By controlling almost the entire meatpacking market, the Big Four exercised enormous leverage over prices they’ll pay for livestock.
ALDERSON: We wait for a middleman to come and say, OK, I’m going to give you such and such price for your calves. It’s not like we get to set the price. We are given a price and we have to take it or leave it. It’s stressful because we know how much we have to make on a calf. But we also, because of where we live in the wintertime, we could say, OK, we can’t get a good enough price. We’ll just keep them and we’ll sell them. The next year, we’ll sell them as yearlings. But then we have all these costs of feeding them all through the winter. And who knows if the market’s going to be any better the next year? We’re really trapped in this system. We don’t have another place to go. That’s the other thing that I think a lot of people don’t understand. We don’t have another market to go to.
CHAKRABARTI: There was a time and a place where cattle markets were much more competitive, dynamic and transparent: At the public auction.
Today, less than 30% of cattle sales passed through the typical cash auction. The rest go through contract sales with the Big Four meatpackers. Jeanie Alderson says that means the company’s lock up 70% of cattle sold at prices they impose, and they do so out of public view.
ALDERSON: There’s this huge amount of wealth that’s being extracted from the cattle that we’re raising, and they’re kind of being stolen from us. And we’re not asking for a lot. We’re really just asking for a fair and open and transparent market, some competition in the market and for some laws to be enforced.
CHAKRABARTI: And what if that doesn’t happen? What if the Big Four meatpackers further consolidate into the big three, two or one?
ALDERSON: We’re not going to have the kind of ranching that we know now. If we don’t change things, we’re just not going to have these ranches. … And that’s such a huge cost to all of us in this country.
CHAKRABARTI: Jeanie Alderson. She’s a fourth generation rancher at the Bones Brothers Ranch in Birney, Montana. She’s also a member of the Northern Plains Resource Council, a grassroots conservation and family agriculture group.
Well, let’s turn now to Bill Bullard. He heads the advocacy group Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund. He’s also a former rancher, and he joins us from Billings, Montana. Bill, welcome to the show.
BILL BULLARD: Hello, Meghna.
CHAKRABARTI: So there’s a lot to dig into. Because I really want to help listeners understand as much as they can about how the beef industry works, you know, from ranch to dinner table. So first of all, can you give us a picture of where we are now? Number of head of cattle in the United States, number of ranches, et cetera? How would you describe that?
BULLARD: Well, we have about 729,000 independent cattle producers to ranchers left in the United States, and that’s a decline from 1.3 million head just a few decades ago. Today, we have six million head fewer cattle in our cattle herd than we had in just the four decades ago. And so our industry is shrinking. And one of the marketing outlets that’s critically important to ranchers like Jeanie is the cattle feeding sector. And we’ve lost 75% of all the independent cattle feeders in this industry just since 1996.
And so that’s in about 25 years. And so the entire industry is contracting at an alarming rate, and that’s because the government has de-emphasized the family farm and ranch system of agriculture that is a disaggregated system, and has earned the envy of the entire world for producing an abundant, affordable and safe food supply.
And instead, there’s been catering to the large corporate agribusinesses in pursuing the largeness of scale. And as a result, we’ve seen these monopolistic structures within the industry that’s essentially purged competition from throughout the entire industry. And that’s why you could say that cattle producers are dropping like flies right now. We’re losing our competitive infrastructure within the entire marketing system. And if something isn’t done very, very quickly, we’ll soon reach the point of no return, as Jeanie indicated.
CHAKRABARTI: And when you say if something isn’t done very quickly, I mean, how quickly are you talking about? I mean, if we look five, 10 years into the future, what do you see?
BULLARD: Way too late. We’ve got to do something this year. We’ve got to restore competition. Because there are ranchers that are going bankrupt, that are selling out. We’ve got additional feedlots that are closing their doors. And once you lose the competitive infrastructure, it’s game over for the entire industry. And we’ll look like the hog industry, where 90% of all the producers in business just 40 years ago are gone today. And that’s because the corporate agribusinesses have essentially controlled that industry from birth to plate, as they have in the poultry industry.
So the ranching industry is the last frontier, and meaningful reforms need to be implemented immediately or we will soon become, as Jeanie said, unlike what we know the ranching industry today. It will be completely different.
CHAKRABARTI: When we come back, we’re going to talk a lot more about exactly what the choke points are, where this consolidation is happening most rapidly in the beef and ranching industry. Today is part one of our special weeklong series called More than money: The cost of monopolies in America. We’ll have more when we come back.
____
Part II
CHAKRABARTI: This is On Point, I’m Meghna Chakrabarti. And today is part one of our special week-long series that we’re calling More than money: The cost of monopolies in America, where we’re taking a look at the idea now championed by the chair of the Federal Trade Commission, that monopolistic business practice isn’t just bad for consumers, but it may be bad for American democracy. So that’s what we’re taking a look at over the course of this week.
And today we’re focusing in on what’s happening right now in the American beef industry, specifically. All the way from cattle ranchers, to what happens in the supermarket. And I’m joined today by Bill Bullard. He heads the advocacy group the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund. And they brought a class action lawsuit against meatpackers in America, and we’ll talk about that in just a minute. So, Bill, tell me a little bit more. Let’s get a good understanding of how the process works right now. So the ranchers raise the cattle, and then where do the cattle go next?
BULLARD: Well, there are several segments of the live cattle supply chain. So ranchers like Jeanie will raise a calf off of the mother cows that she will care for throughout the year. And that calf would be sold, perhaps by Jeanie, in the fall. Weighing between 400 or 500 pounds. It would then move to an intermediary segment of the industry that will grow that calf for several more months, maybe another six months. And then the calf will ultimately weigh 800 to 900 pounds, [and] would be brought to the feedlot sector of the industry. And that’s where the animal is fed the concentrated diet, gains weight at a very fast pace. And then when the animal weighs approximately 1,300 pounds, it will be sold directly to the packers. And as you indicated, there’s four packers controlling 85% of that market.
CHAKRABARTI: Let’s talk a little bit then about how Tyson, Cargill, National Beef Packing Company and JBS became the dominant force in the meatpacking industry. Wasn’t it about, I don’t know, 40-ish years ago that it was a lot more distributed across the United States? Because it was just back in the 1980s, as I said earlier, that they had, what, 25% of the industry. So how did that change so rapidly?
BULLARD: Well, that’s because the corporate agribusinesses went to Congress and the executive branch and convinced them that what the American family farm and ranch system could do well, they could do better. And so they pursued this ideal of largeness of scale. The larger the enterprise, the greater the efficiency, and the more consistent the quality. And as a result, we began losing hundreds of thousands of cattle producers all across the country. Because there was a paradigm shift in the laws, and regulations and policies that provide the framework of this industry. And those laws, and regulations and policies catered to the interests of the multinational meatpackers. To the disadvantage of the producers, the cattle producers, as well as to the consumers.
CHAKRABARTI: Well, there is, though, a law, speaking of laws and regulations, that’s been on the books since 1921, right? The Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921. And if I read that properly, this is a law, it’s century-old now, that was supposed to keep exactly the kind of consolidation we’re talking about, well below 40%.
BULLARD: That’s right, it went beyond what our U.S. antitrust laws did. Because not only did it prohibit monopolistic practices in the industry, but it was designed to protect the interests, the financial interests of actual farmers and ranchers. It was designed to ensure that the meat packers would not engage in deceptive, or discriminatory or unfair practices against producers. As well as that the packers would not provide undue preferences or advantages to some of the feedlot sectors, to the disadvantage of others. In other words, if they’re given sweetheart deals to some of the largest formula feeders, cattle feeders that have close alliances with the packers. And that’s why we’ve seen our smaller, independent, family-sized feedlots go by the wayside. We’ve lost over 83,000 of them in just 25 years.
CHAKRABARTI: But tell me more, though. I mean, ostensibly when we have a law that’s on the books that says consolidation shouldn’t go above 40%, and then it skyrockets from 25% in the early 80s to 85% 40 years later, something has gone wrong regarding regulatory enforcement.
BULLARD: Well, that’s right, there is lack of enforcement. In fact, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, that was charged with implementing and administering the Packers and Stockyards Act, never even wrote rules to clarify what Congress meant by protecting producers against unfair, and deceptive and discriminatory practices. And so the packers were left to operate with impunity in the marketplace. And the Packers and Stockyards Act was not enforced.
CHAKRABARTI: OK, so tell me a little bit more. Again, for people who aren’t familiar with this. In the first segment, we talked about how the belief among cattle ranchers, what you’re seeing now is that because of this pinch point in the middle of the process with the four big meatpackers — And by the way, we did reach out to Tyson, Cargill, National Beef Packing Company and JBS. They did not get back to us.
Bill, how is it that you say that they’re able to essentially set prices? Clarify that.
BULLARD: Well, because of the dominant market position that they enjoy in the cattle industry, they can act as gatekeepers to the market. And they can decide who does and who does not have timely access to the market. And as a result, they can provide preferences to their large, closely aligned feedlots. And completely deprive the independent cattle feeder of the same types of prices and terms in terms of selling cattle. So that’s one way that they were able to. The other way is they’ve implemented new cattle procurement tools, tools with which to purchase cattle.
And what they’ve done is they’ve shifted large volumes of cattle out of the competitive cash market, which is the industry’s price discovery market. And they place those cattle in underpriced forward contracts. We call those captive supplies. The industry wants to call them alternative marketing arrangements, because they sound better. The fact of the matter is is they are the instrument of choice by the packers to leverage down the cattle prices that they pay to U.S. producers. And that’s exactly what’s happened in our industry.
CHAKRABARTI: How much have they been able to leverage it down?
BULLARD: Well, consumers need to know that they are paying super inflated prices for beef today in the grocery store. And yet cattle producers continue to receive seriously depressed prices. And so they have depressed prices from $167 per hundred weight for an animal, down to we were as low as $100 per hundred weight within the last few years. And very recently, cattle prices have started to increase. Now up to around $140 per hundred weight.
But very importantly, based on USDA data, that means the independent feeder has, over the past seven years, has lost on average $69 per head of every animal they fed and sold to the packers. So that explains why we’ve lost so many independent feeders. And so what’s happened in the industry is the consumers are being exploited on one end of the supply chain, and cattle producers are being exploited on the other end. And as you indicated, the middlemen are making record profits.
CHAKRABARTI: You know, I’m looking at a USDA chart here. And it’s like a visual representation of what you exactly described there, Bill. That from 2010 to roughly 2015, in a sense, the price that ranchers got per hundred weight, and the price of beef in the consumer market, kind of tracked pretty closely. But then starting in 2015, we have this giant divergence, just like crashing of cattle prices. And a steady and then rising rate for the price of beef. So it’s that divergence that’s driving the ranchers out of business, is what you’re talking about.
BULLARD: That’s right, there’s always been a harmonious, synchronous relationship between beef prices and cattle. And that makes sense, because the only ingredient in beef is cattle. But after 2015, we saw cattle prices inexplicably collapse for over a year. And we saw it beginning in 2017, we saw these two price points moving in absolutely opposite directions. We saw consumer beef prices rising to all-time record highs. And at the same time, we saw cattle prices stair stepping downward. And that indicates that competition has been purged from the entire live cattle supply chain.
CHAKRABARTI: And you’re saying that the delta goes into the profit of the Big Four.
BULLARD: The meatpackers are making all-time record margins, and have been for many years. While cattle producers are struggling just to receive the cost of production from the marketplace. Many are failing to do so. Meanwhile, consumers continue to pay these super inflated prices for beef.
CHAKRABARTI: So I want to get your response to some of the things that the meatpacking industry has said in response to these criticisms. Again, just want to remind everyone we did reach out to Tyson, Cargill, National Beef Packing Co. and JBS. Did not hear back from them. But, there has been a lot of testimony on Capitol Hill about this. Shane Miller is group president of Tyson Fresh Meats, and he testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in July of just last year. And here’s how he answered a question from Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley about that meat packing company profit-taking.
SEN. CHUCK GRASSLEY [Tape]: Cattle producers struggle to break even, receiving average bids of approximately $118 per hundred weight. The gross packer market exceeded $1,000 per head. How do you justify making such low bids when you’re turning such a significant profit?
SHANE MILLER: What we pay Iowa cattle feeders truly depends on the market conditions. But how they end up deciding to sell their cattle, whether they want to negotiate or put them on an AMA, is totally up to them.
CHAKRABARTI: So Bill Bullard, the AMA there he’s mentioning, being that alternative meat market. He’s saying that the ranchers, the cattlemen and women out there have a choice.
BULLARD: And they certainly do not, and that’s because of the perishable nature of cattle. Once cattle have reached that optimum weight of approximately 1,300 pounds, there’s a narrow window of opportunity to sell those animals, and it’s about a two to three week window. If you go beyond that, the animal begins to degrade in quality and the cattle feeder is uneconomically continuing to feed those cattle, they become overweight and the cattle producer loses money. Now the meatpackers know this, and they have a tremendous bargaining advantage over the independent producer.
Because again, you have four packers acting as gatekeepers. They can decide who does and who does not have timely access to the marketplace, so they create market access risk for producers. And of course, in our lawsuit, we’ve alleged that the meatpackers have conspired to reduce the slaughter volume in order to balance supply and demand. To ensure that there is never more demand for cattle than there is in available supply.
And we talk about these AMAs because what happens when the meatpackers shift cattle out of the cash market, and when they avoid the cash market, they back up cattle that the independent cattle feeders feeding. And that incentivizes that feeder to do one of two things. Either to sell for a low, low price or jump into one of these AMAs in order to gain timely access to the marketplace, regardless of what the price is going to be. Because no price is determined at the time of the transaction.
CHAKRABARTI: Yeah. You know, the meatpackers say that basically the problem isn’t the consolidation and their market dominance. The problem is all of these other factors that are out of their control. I mean, for example, here is Dustin Aherin. He’s now director of strategy at Tyson Fresh Meats. June of last year, he was with Rabo AgriFinance. And that month, he testified before the Senate Ag Committee on what he says really drives cattle prices in the U.S.
DUSTIN AHERIN [Tape]: A working market sends price signals to adjust. These same price signals created record high cattle prices and record packer losses in 2014 and 2015. The biology and natural time delays of the beef industry make it slow-moving and capital intensive, adjustments take years. While recent unforeseen events have exacerbated the situation, free market signals, economic losses, drought and the natural cattle cycle laid the foundation for today’s circumstances over several decades.
CHAKRABARTI: What’s your response to that, Bill?
BULLARD: Well, what’s missing here is that we do not have consumers sending demand signals upstream in the beef supply chain. And they cannot, because there is no indication as to the country of origin on the beef. And without that country of origin label, the meatpackers can substitute imported products from over 20 countries, and displace the American cattle producers access to their own domestic market. And that’s what we’ve seen. Because we cannot have consumers indicating that they want cattle produced from American cattle producers. The meatpackers have been free to import large quantities of beef and cattle from foreign countries such as Namibia, Africa, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and pass that off to unsuspecting consumers. But the effect of that is … to reduce demand for domestic cattle, and that reduced demand in the competitive cash market is what helps drive the prices down.
CHAKRABARTI: Well, here’s the outcome of some of this. We also talked to Aaron Metz of Wishek, North Dakota. He’s a fourth generation rancher, and he and his wife are selling their cattle herd off today.
AARON METZ: It hasn’t really hit me hard yet, because the cows are still here. But on Monday, when they go … I don’t know what’s going to happen to me. I’ll probably fall apart. When you see years and years of genetics that you have worked for. You have froze for. You have sweated for. You have bled for. Going down the road is … heart wrenching.
CHAKRABARTI: Aaron says that this was one of the hardest decisions he’s ever had to make. But when he sat down and ran the numbers last month, he realized he could not afford to own the cows anymore.
METZ: Where I’m sitting right now, I’m looking out my window. And I can see my barn. And up on my barn is my brand. My brand was my grandpa’s, in the family 120 years, that one brand. And my plan was to pass it on to my son. And when you look at that brand, that’s the symbol of the legacy of my family. My grandpa came over here on a ship from Germany. You know, he homesteaded, 16-years-old. So that tells you a lot about the people that are doing this and the heritage that’s behind it. It’s kind of a sad deal to even sit here and look [at] it. Because that might not be in the family much longer.
CHAKRABARTI: That brand he’s talking about, by the way, is the symbol of the Green Lake Angus Ranch. And Aaron told us ranching is all he and his family know. But he thinks that by the end of this year, all of that’s going to change.
METZ: Once the cows are gone, and we have a production sale in March, decision has to come. What’s next? Do we sell the land off and move to town? Or do we stay here and scale? You know, just do a hobby deal, and still work in town? Or do we just just go a whole different direction? There’s a lot of tough decisions to be made. You know, at this point, it’s kind of looking like we’re going to probably end up going and getting a job somewhere. Whether we live on the farm place and we do something with the land or whatever, it’s kind of looking like we’re going to town. You know, it shouldn’t be that way, where you have to leave your place to make a living. You should be able to make a fair enough living off of your farm or ranch, to take care of your family. It should just be that way. Things have really, really changed in the last 30 some odd years.
CHAKRABARTI: Fourth generation rancher Aaron Metz, in North Dakota. When we come back, we’re going to be talking about some solutions and the pushback against the monopolization in the beef industry. This is On Point.
____
Part III
CHAKRABARTI: Today is day one of our special weeklong series that we’re calling More than money: The cost of monopolies in America, where we’re taking a look at this idea now championed by the chair of the FTC, Lina Khan, that monopolies in America don’t just harm consumers, they harm democracy.
And so today, in part one, we’re taking a close look at the radical and rapid changes that have happened in the beef industry in the past 40 years, and what impact that’s having on ranchers, consumers and also more broadly on democracy. And Bill Bullard joins us. He’s head of the advocacy group the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund. Also, a former rancher himself, is with us from Billings, Montana. And I want to play a little bit of tape from just last month because this issue has gone all the way to the White House. Here’s President Biden at a virtual roundtable with farmers and ranchers in January.
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN [Tape]: Back in July, I signed an executive order to promote competition across the economy. And too many industries, a handful of giant companies dominate the market. And too often they use their power to squeeze out smaller competitors and stifle new entrepreneurs, making our economy less dynamic, giving themselves free rein to raise prices, reduce options for consumers or exploit workers. The meat industry is a textbook example, on the price side. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Capitalism without competition isn’t capitalism, it’s exploitation.
CHAKRABARTI: President Biden just last month. The Biden administration has proposed better enforcement around things like the Packers and Stockyards Act that we talked about. And $1 billion to expand independent meat processing capacity. And $100 million to support hiring the workers that would be needed for an increased number of meat packing facilities. Will it make a difference, Bill?
BULLARD: The problem is that you do not first address the abuse of market power being exercised in the marketplace today. We’re likely to see a repeat of the ’80s, which was considered a merger mania decade. And that’s because the meatpackers used their leverage in order to force all of the local and regional packing plants out. So having more packing plants will increase capacity. And some will survive, but some are going to be subjected to the same kind of monopolistic-type conduct in the marketplace. Unless we first aggressively enforce the antitrust laws, the Packers and Stockyards Act. And in fact, this crisis is so severe it’s now become a national food security issue. And Congress needs to act decisively in order to immediately restore competition to the industry.
CHAKRABARTI: OK, so specifically, then what would that mean? I mean, you have a lawsuit working its way through the courts now. But ideally, enforcement could come independent of that.
BULLARD: Well, that’s right. And for ranchers like Aaron, it’s too late. And his story is being replicated all across the United States. And as I said earlier, we’ll soon reach the point of no return. And so lawsuits take a long time. Congress needs to act decisively. They know there’s a problem. The president has identified the problem, and articulated it. Congress needs to act right now to prevent any further ranchers from having to exit the industry, simply because the marketplace is fundamentally and systemically broken. Because the regulators have not enforced antitrust laws, or the Packers and Stockyards Act, for decades.
CHAKRABARTI: Well, as I said, we did speak with the North American Meat Institute. They represent a lot of meatpackers. And spokeswoman Sarah Little told us that the Meat Institute does not think that the Biden plan or the additional $1 billion of government funding to expand meat packing capacity, doesn’t think that that will work.
SARAH LITTLE: The first problem with spending that money to invest in extra capacity is, Is it sustainable? Where will they get the labor to operate this new capacity, given the nationwide labor shortage? What will happen is they will create too much packing capacity, and we will not have enough cattle to run through those facilities. The herd size is shrinking. USDA reports each month on the herd inventory in America. And it has been consistently falling. So we’re just saying that the new capacity supported by the government is not the answer to better prices for livestock producers.
CHAKRABARTI: That’s Sarah Little, a spokeswoman for the North American Meat Institute. … [Joining us now] is Claire Kelloway, program manager for fair food and farming systems at the Open Markets Institute. She’s with us from Minneapolis.
… First of all, I mean, just respond quickly to what you heard Sarah Little say. It sounds like they’re asserting that it’s not at all capacity, or an expansion of capacity, that will solve the problem. What do you think?
CLAIRE KELLOWAY: I mean … what kind of capacity are you talking about? I think the system that we currently have proved very fragile. And we do see that large meat packers, when they don’t face sufficient competition, don’t have that incentive to invest in their capacity and critically invest in resiliency, and have backups and contingency plans. They both, as Bill has been talking about, have an incentive for there not to be a lot of excess processing capacity. So they can really control the supply of cattle. But they also are under a quite restrictive system that is really focused on operating at full capacity all the time. And what we’ve seen is a resilient meat supply system really requires a diversity of both scale and some large plants. But also large plants owned by multiple packers, and more medium-sized plants that can fill in when some of these large plants go down.
CHAKRABARTI: Yeah. So it’s interesting to me. Because this consolidation in the middle of that supply chain, between ranchers and the grocery store was allowed to happen, right? I mean, we went from that 25% among the Big Four to the 85%, it was allowed to happen. And how different is that Claire, if at all, from … other types of food, poultry, pork?
KELLOWAY: Yeah, the beef packing industry is certainly more consolidated than pork and chicken. They obviously all have slightly different supply chains, but there definitely has been an overall trend across meat processing and food processing generally towards consolidation. Sort of aligned with when merger policy was really less restricted, and more mergers were permitted across the industry. So certainly beef is both more concentrated, but also all industries are tending towards concentration.
CHAKRABARTI: And just to be clear and correct me if I’m wrong, but for example, in poultry, what you have is really vertical consolidation. Is that right?
KELLOWAY: Yes, vertical consolidation. But also there are high degrees of horizontal consolidation at the regional level. So about half of all chicken farmers report having just one or two chicken processors to sell to.
CHAKRABARTI: Got it. OK. We’re running out of time here. So Bill, let me just get down to essentials here. First of all, we should acknowledge that Senator Chuck Grassley is trying to get legislation through Congress that would, for example, require that 50% of cattle go through open public auctions, versus the smaller percentage now. Would that help?
CHAKRABARTI: Absolutely. That is how we could restore competition for domestic cattle in the U.S. marketplace. We must force the packers to again begin competing in the competitive marketplace. So the Senator Grassley’s bill, is Senate Bill 949, is critically important. But the other measure is we have to empower consumers to begin sending those demand signals throughout the supply chain. And the only way they can do that is with a mandatory country of origin label. So they can choose to support the domestic supply chain, the American cattle farmer or rancher, or choose to buy beef produce under some other country’s food safety regime. Such as Namibia, Africa or Uruguay or Costa Rica, Nicaragua or any one of the 20 countries.
And so those are the two triage measures that are needed immediately in order to begin restoring competition to the marketplace. And one important factor here. The cattle industry is the single largest segment of American agriculture. Meaning it’s vitally important to rural communities all across America. But it’s also unique because it under-produces for the domestic market. And so our industry is shrinking in terms of number of producers, number of cattle, number of feedlots. And at the same time, imports are increasing. And so they’re displacing and essentially preventing the U.S. cattle industry from even growing. And so that’s the fallacy behind the North American Meat Institute’s statement, is that there is demand for beef. It’s simply being brought in offshore, as opposed to being produced here in America.
CHAKRABARTI: Well, Bill Bullard with the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund. Joining us from Billings, Montana. Bill, thank you so much for being with us today.
BULLARD: My pleasure. Thank you.
CHAKRABARTI: Claire, I’ve got one more question for you, before we have to turn a corner here. You know, our big picture analysis across this week is trying to explore the assertion that the current FTC chair, Lina Khan has. That monopolies are not just bad for consumers, but bad for democracy. That’s a very big statement. Do you think that rings true or not in the case of what we’re talking about with the beef industry?
KELLOWAY: I think it does. And I think it’s really connected to the antimonopoly tradition in the United States, and the reasoning behind some of these laws being introduced way back when. But, really, corporate power in the terms of economic power and the size that some of these corporations have accommodated to, also translates into political power. And we’re seeing right now just how challenging it is to regulate what is very clearly an issue with skyrocketing prices, with all the disruption we’ve seen, with farmers seeing such persistent low prices. The evidence is clear. And yet it is such a political struggle to enforce laws that are on the books and reform the system. So I think absolutely concentrated corporate power translates into political power. And that’s a threat to enacting democratic policies that people, ranchers, consumers are asking for.
CHAKRABARTI: Well, Claire Kelloway, with the Open Markets Institute. Thank you so much for joining us.
KELLOWAY: Yes, thanks for having me.
CHAKRABARTI: Let me turn now to Jack Beatty, On Point news analyst. He’s going to be with us throughout this week. Hello there, Jack.
JACK BEATTY: Hello, Meghna.
CHAKRABARTI: OK, so you’ve been listening along, Jack. I mean, how do you see what’s happening with the beef industry in the broader picture of American corporate power in the past 20, 25 years?
BEATTY: It’s really the story of what’s happened to American corporate power. According to one study, 75% of industries saw more concentration, just in the last 15 years. These include lighting and bulb manufacturers, four companies controlled 90% of the market. Tires, four companies, 90%. Household appliances, four companies, 90%. Sanitary paper manufacturers, four companies, 92%. Beer, one company has 70%. And of course, there’s big tech, we’re going to get into tomorrow. But wherever you look in the American economy, this is an age of oligopoly and/or monopoly.
CHAKRABARTI: Well, you heard Bill talk about the fact that there are laws already on the books right now that could be enforced, that might have headed off this consolidation in the beef industry. So again, it just always requires regulatory and political will. Do you see that potentially emerging in the face of this tsunami?
BEATTY: One would like it to be, but it’s far too seek. You know, polls of what people think of big business shows basically half and half. Half like it, half don’t. But you know, there was a kind of road test in the last campaign of, Do you want to break monopolies? That was the foundation of Elizabeth Warren’s campaign. She came fourth in New Hampshire. She came third in her own state. People weren’t listening. It wasn’t what they thought of as the major problem.
Maybe one problem with her position and with, you know, ripping up public support for this is the connection with inequality. Are the two things related? You know, the concentration of industry and the share of national income going to the top 1%. In 1969, that was 8% of national income went to the top 1%. Today, it’s a quarter, 25%. Are the two things related? Are all of us somehow being impoverished by this great concentration at the top? We’ll have to see how that debate goes.
CHAKRABARTI: Jack, give us like a like a one minute preview of what’s coming down the pike next week, specifically on this point. Because you have written entire books about the political culture at the heart of the previous great wave of antitrust action in this country a century ago. How different is the culture that you just talked about now, the political culture versus then?
BEATTY: The big difference is ideas have changed. And we’re going to get into this. The role, particularly of the Chicago School of Economics, on jurisprudence and understanding what antitrust is. Everything now in the legal profession comes down to, Is it a monopoly if the price is remains low? If the consumer gets a bargain, there’s no harm done. And the leader of this, of course, was Robert Bork, whose book was massively influential. And it is still the case that the courts are the gatekeepers here. And the courts are permeated, pervaded by people, by judges, lawyers, the establishment bar that believe that idea. That antitrust is a faded passion, as Richard Hofstadter called it, a fading passion of American reform. We don’t need it. We’re getting cheap goods. That’s enough. No other harm arises from monopoly, huh?
CHAKRABARTI: Well, as Jack said, tomorrow we’re going to be looking at the tech sector, specifically. Because FTC Chair Lina Khan has actually made her career focusing on monopolistic practices in the tech sector. So we’ll be talking about what the proposed merger between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard might tell us. Jack is joining us for the full hour on Wednesday, where we’re going to go back in time, a century or more. And talk about the previous big waves of antitrust fervor in this country. And then as Jack mentioned, on Thursday, we’re doing a show that’ll take a look at Robert Bork’s influence on how antitrust is defined in the United States. And then on Friday, we’re going to ask this question about whether Lina Khan and Elizabeth Warren are asking the right question about problems with democracy, problems with inequality. But is focusing on monopolies the wrong solution to the right question? So Jack, are you looking forward to it?
BEATTY: I am. I’m keen.
CHAKRABARTI: OK, well, we’ll be hearing from Jack every single day this week during our special series More than money: The cost of monopolies in America. I’m Meghna Chakrabarti. This is On Point.
This transcript has been edited and condensed for clarity.
From The Reading List
BIG by Matt Stoller: “Beef Is Expensive. So Why Are Cattle Ranchers Going Bankrupt?” — “During the Covid pandemic, Americans went to the supermarket and found something that hadn’t happened for decades – a meat shortage. There was plenty of cattle, but the beef wasn’t getting to the supermarket shelves.”
TIME: “U.S. Food Prices Are Up. Are the Food Corporations to Blame for Taking Advantage?” — “2021 was a bad year for grocery bills. Shoppers paid 6.4% more for groceries in November 2021 compared to November 2020, according to the consumer price index.”
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2023-01-05T07:54:12+00:00 | kosu.org | https://www.kosu.org/2022-12-26/more-than-money-the-monopoly-on-meat |
The following is attributed to FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D.
SILVER SPRING, Md., July 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is working closely with Pfizer to assess the impact of the damage at Pfizer's Rocky Mount, North Carolina, facility. Over the next few days, we will complete a more extensive assessment of the products that may be impacted and the current available supply of those products. This assessment also will evaluate what is in Pfizer's other warehouses and what is stocked by wholesalers and distributors, if those companies are willing to share that information with the FDA.
Importantly, we do not expect there to be any immediate significant impacts on supply given the products are currently at hospitals and in the distribution system, but this is a dynamic situation and FDA staff are in frequent communication with Pfizer and other manufacturers. The FDA will work closely with partners in government, industry and the broader health care system to minimize impact on patient care.
Notably, while Pfizer has one third of the total sterile injectable drug market for hospitals in the U.S., and this facility only makes 25% of Pfizer's total product for this market – not the entire market. This means 8% of U.S. consumption is supplied by this site. While disclosure laws prevent the FDA from providing a complete list of products made at the facility, there is redundancy in the supply chain due to other manufacturers. Our initial analysis has identified less than 10 drugs for which Pfizer's North Carolina plant is the sole source for the U.S. market, however, a number of these are specific formulations for which there should be substitutes or for which many weeks' worth of stock should be available in Pfizer's other warehouses.
For those products produced at this facility that are already in, or may be, at risk of shortage, the FDA has initiated mitigation steps, such as looking for additional sources and asking other manufacturers to prepare to ramp up production, if needed.
To have equitable distribution of the products and ensure availability to those in most need, as well as to avoid hoarding, Pfizer has put the inventory of many products on strict allocation. These allocation measures could lead to localized supply disruptions depending on contractual relationships for supplies. Health care systems that have trouble in obtaining a particular drug should contact their distributor or Pfizer directly.
We will share additional information as it becomes available.
More broadly, this incident underscores that a robust, resilient and safe drug supply chain is essential for public health and national security. Redundancy of manufacturing locations, which can include domestic locations, and of suppliers is important to mitigate risks to supply that can occur from natural disasters, geopolitical conflicts, or other less predictable events.
We remain committed to partnering across government, academia, and industry to strengthen and diversify the supply chain and ensure Americans continue to have access to drugs that are high quality, safe and effective.
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The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.
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SOURCE U.S. Food and Drug Administration | 2023-07-22T00:44:55+00:00 | mysuncoast.com | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2023/07/21/fda-provides-update-regarding-storm-damage-pfizer-facility-north-carolina/ |
Launch follows Syte's win of the 2023 RetailTech Breakthrough Award for its AI-powered technology and the role it plays to enhance customer loyalty
TEL AVIV, Israel, May 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Syte, the leading visual-AI-powered Product Discovery Platform for retail, today announced the launch of its AI innovation initiative, Syte Labs. The new division will be led by Syte's CTO, Yair Green, who will guide the team to ideate on new innovations that complement Syte's core visual AI technology and benefit its customers and partners as well as the broader retail industry. The launch of Syte Labs follows the RetailTech Breakthrough Awards naming Syte the 2023 Overall Customer Loyalty Solution Provider of the Year.
In the face of a difficult economic climate, retailers and brands are challenged with evaluating and scaling their technology stacks to ensure that it's optimized to perform. As AI moves from just a buzzword to a reality, Syte Labs will be a dedicated research team within Syte to further leverage its proprietary visual AI technology and expertise in the field to address the challenges related to driving business performance and growth, increasing efficiencies, and providing shoppers with experiences catered to their varied preferences and behaviors.
"AI has the dual capability of improving customer experience while increasing efficiency – when implemented correctly. Consumer behaviors continue to change at a breakneck pace, and retailers and brands need to ensure their AI technological deployments resonate with the current, rapidly changing environment," said Yair Green, CTO of Syte. "Our DNA is to constantly innovate our products based on customers' needs and industry developments, creating Syte Labs was a natural progression of this approach."
With an emphasis on finding synergies between Syte's core visual AI engine and new technological developments – like generative AI and predictive AI – Syte Labs will focus on exploring the endless possibilities AI is capable of to benefit both the product discovery experience for the customer and operational and merchandising experiences for retailers. Syte's tech teams are also emphasizing responsible AI as a guiding principle for new developments.
Some of the first innovations Syte Labs has set its focus on are the combination of visual AI and generative AI to auto-create product titles and descriptions from catalogue images, and multisearch, where customers can use interactive search to support shopping and styling journeys. Syte is also using this forum to further improve its unique visual AI enrichment capabilities, which can use multiple images to extract product tags, adding new dimension and accuracy to automated merchandising.
For more information about Syte's visual AI technology, please visit https://www.syte.ai/.
About Syte:
Syte empowers shoppers to instantly find items they'll love with inspiring, visual product discovery journeys that drive conversion. As the world's first Product Discovery Platform, Syte uses visual AI to create intuitive search and discovery experiences for all types of shoppers. Syte's solutions include visual search, out-of-stock and shop similar recommendations, and smart merchandising tools, like automated product tagging, thematic curation, and more. Brands and retailers like Farfetch, Prada, SHEIN, Signet Jewelers, H. Samuel, Coleman Furniture, and Hibbett, partner with Syte to boost revenue and drive business growth. To learn more about Syte's solutions, products, technology, and patents, visit www.syte.ai.
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SOURCE Syte | 2023-05-08T14:45:08+00:00 | kmvt.com | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2023/05/08/syte-launches-syte-labs-doubling-down-ai-innovation/ |
(WHNT) — The resurgence of a social media trend has become a nightmare for several families who have lost children to the “game,” with reports of more children dying.
The “blackout challenge,” also known as the “choking game” or “pass-out challenge,” encourages users to choke themselves with belts, purse strings or other similar items until passing out. It dates back to at least 2008, when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that 82 children across 31 states died from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s as a result. Most of the kids who died were between 11 and 16.
The CDC said, “The choking game involves intentionally trying to choke oneself or another in an effort to obtain a brief euphoric state or ‘high.'”
In 2021, the challenge resurfaced on TikTok, which led the viral video app to ban #BlackoutChallenge from its search engine.
Then, according to a November 2022 Bloomberg Businessweek report, at least 15 deaths in children ages 12 and younger were linked to the challenge within 18 months, with another five deaths among 13 and 14-year-olds.
A more recent death attributed to the challenge happened last week. On Jan. 13, a 12-year-old girl reportedly died in Argentina after trying the challenge, according to local news outlet El Litoral.
TikTok, no stranger to dangerous viral challenges (dry-scooping, climbing on tall stacks of milk crates, etc.), is already facing a wrongful death lawsuit after a 10-year-old Italian girl was declared brain dead in January 2021. She had allegedly tied a belt around her throat to self-asphyxiate.
Officials across the country have encouraged parents to be aware of when their children are on social media and what they’re using it for, along with paying attention to any viral trends on different platforms.
According to the CDC, signs your child might be attempting the challenge include:
- Bloodshot eyes
- Marks on their neck
- Severe headaches
- Being disoriented after spending time alone
- Having ropes, scarves and belts tied to bedroom furniture or doorknobs or found knotted on the floor
- Having unexplained items such as dog leashes, choke collars and bungee cords
Communication is key, experts say, encouraging parents to have open conversations with their kids about the dangers involved and the implications of peer pressure.
TikTok users are encouraged to flag anybody engaged in the challenge by clicking the “Report” button.
Nexstar has reached out to TikTok for comment regarding the apparent resurfacing of the challenge. | 2023-01-21T14:10:20+00:00 | qcnews.com | https://www.qcnews.com/nexstar-media-wire/deadly-social-media-blackout-challenge-resurfaces-more-child-deaths-reported/ |
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas is hosting Western Kentucky safety A.J. Brathwaite for an official visit this weekend.
Brathwaite, 6-0, 195, battled injuries in 2022 following an outstanding 2021 season. Injuries limited him to eight games in 2022 with 17 tackles, 12 solo, one for loss and an interception.
In a 2021, Brathwaite started all 12 games. He had 64 tackles, two for loss, a sack, two pass breakups, one interception and a forced fumble. His best output of the season came against Indiana when he totaled 15 tackles, including a sack and a forced fumble, all of which earned him C-USA Defensive Player of the week.
He played in four games in 2018 as a true freshman thus retaining his redshirt season. He then played in 13 games in 2019 and 11 in 2020. He started against UCA in 2019 and came off the bench against the Razorbacks to record one tackle in a 45-19 win.
He played high school football at Miami (Fla.) Central. He committed to Florida International on May 8.
Arkansas will host Delaware safety Amonte’ Strothers, 6-1, 195, for an official visit next week, possibly beginning Monday. Strothers had 31 tackles, 22 solo, three for loss, one sack, an interception, three pass breakups and a quarterback hurry in 2022.
In addition to Louisiana Tech defensive tackle, Keivie Rose, 6-3, 303, the Hogs hosted Louisville tight end Francis Sherman, 6-3, 234, for an official visit that ends today. Sherman caught one pass for 13 yards in 2022.
The Hogs have also jumped into the mix for Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College center Amaury Wiggins, 6-3, 290. He played high school football at Pensacola (Fla.) Pine Forrest. He will graduate from Coffeyville this month and then is eligible to transfer immediately with three years remaining.
Wiggins has gained offers from Arkansas, Texas A&M, LSU, Mississippi State, Tulsa, Memphis, Maryland, Illinois, Troy, Miami, Temple, Wyoming, Toledo, Utah State, FIU, Buffalo, Eastern Kentucky, Temple, Texas Southern, Alabama State, Jacksonville State, Liberty, Texas State, Middle Tennessee, Alcorn State, Old Dominion and Tennessee Tech.
At this time, Arkansas has six scholarships remaining for the Class of 2023. If they land Rose then the needs will be one offensive lineman, 2-3 secondary and then best available. | 2023-05-12T18:58:44+00:00 | nwahomepage.com | https://www.nwahomepage.com/sports/pig-trail-nation/hogville-hog-recruiting/hogs-hoping-to-land-a-j-brathwaite-to-help-secondary/ |
NEW YORK – New DC Studios bosses James Gunn and Peter Safran debuted their plans for a revamped and newly unified DC Universe of films and television series, including a new Superman film in 2025, a Wonder Woman prequel and a Batman movie that won't star Robert Pattinson.
In all, Gunn and Safran laid out plans for five new films and five new series in a presentation Tuesday that they said would constitute much of the first chapter — themed as “Gods and Monsters” — in an ambitious eight- to 10-year plan to reshape the DCU. After years of fitful success and some much-maligned duds, Gunn and Safran are making their bid for some cohesion and fresh creativity in Warner Bros.' comic book empire.
After a several inherited projects debut in the next two years — including “The Flash,” with Ezra Miller, which Gunn said “resets the entire DC Universe” — their slate will launch with “Superman: Legacy" on July 11, 2025. Gunn is writing that film, which is described as about Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. No casting has yet been announced, though Henry Cavill has departed the role despite a recent cameo in 2022's “Black Adam” — a sequel to which also isn't part of Gunn and Safran's plans despite Dwayne Johnson's impassioned lobbying.
Who's in and who's out at DC has been the subject of much conjecture since October, when Gunn and Safran were named co-chairmen and co-chief executive officers of DC Studios. Among those making the cut: Viola Davis' Amanda Waller, the Swamp Thing and a Batman and Robin film.
First, Robert Pattinson's Batman will return in Matt Reeves' “The Batman Part II,” opening Oct. 3, 2025. That film, though will lie outside the DCU and — like Todd Phillips 2024 “Joker” sequel — be labeled “DC Elsewhere" to signify that it stands outside the central, overlapping DC universe. Another Caped Crusader film, though, is coming at an unknown date: “The Brave and the Bold,” a Batman and Robin tale inspired by Grant Morrison's comic series.
Also coming is “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow,” based on Tom King's comics, and a big-screen standalone for the Swamp Thing. The all-women island birthplace of Wonder Woman will also be the setting of a drama series titled “Paradise Lost.” Some series will mix animated and live-action interpretations of DC characters. The animated “Creature Commandos," the first season of which was written by Gunn, features Davis' Waller and a black ops team, while the live-action “Waller” will star Davis and be written by Christal Henry ("Watchman" ) and Jeremy Carver ("Supernatural"). The planned series “Lanterns” will feature multiple Green Lanterns.
Gunn first came to DC after directing Marvel's well-regarded “Guardians of the Galaxy” films. When the Walt Disney Co. temporarily dropped Gunn, he jumped to DC and made the supervillain film “The Suicide Squad,” a kind of blockbuster do-over that followed David Ayer's much-maligned “Suicide Squad." He and the veteran producer Safran came aboard with several upcoming DC films already on their way to theaters, including “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” (out March 17), “The Flash" (out June 16) and “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” (Dec. 25).
In a taped video message post on social media, Gunn pledged that the new DC Universe will be characterized by filmmaker freedom and distinctive narratives.
“I knew that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that's very different,” Gunn said. “One of the things that's very important for me in all of these movies and TV series is that the director's vision and the vision of the writers and all of the creators is unique and something special. Storytelling is always king. That's all that matters to us.” | 2023-01-31T20:05:49+00:00 | ksat.com | https://www.ksat.com/entertainment/2023/01/31/gunns-new-dc-slate-features-superman-supergirl-and-batman/ |
Georgia football trails Missouri 16-6 at halftime of its second SEC matchup. Here are some observations from The Red & Black:
Slow start for the Bulldogs
The offense struggled to move the ball in the first half, failing to register a first down through its first three possessions in the game. The running game wasn’t particularly effective, totaling only 28 yards on the ground. The majority of the team’s yards came from a 35-yard Kendall Milton run which ended in a fumble.
The passing game wasn’t much better. Stetson Bennett only completed one pass in the first quarter, fumbling the ball later in the period and looking much less confident than he has all season. Ladd McConkey had a repeat performance of the Kent State game. He dropped his first target, a catch which would have resulted in Georgia’s initial first down. Brock Bowers, who has been Georgia’s best receiver through four games, didn’t touch the ball until the second quarter.
That would all be bad enough for Georgia, ignoring the fact that the team was held scoreless for the entire first quarter. That’s the first time this season that the offense hasn’t scored in the opening frame, and it couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Bulldogs.
Cooking the Bulldogs
Georgia entered the game allowing 170 passing yards per game to its opponents, good for the 21st best mark in the NCAA. Brady Cook nearly outdid that in the first half, throwing for 129 yards against the defense.
To be fair, a significant portion of that yardage came from 36 and 37-yard passes to Dominic Lovett, both of which moved the Tigers into the redzone. That doesn’t excuse the defense - giving up multiple 30-yard gains is never a good thing - but it does mean that the Tigers weren’t moving the ball as consistently as the numbers suggest.
The Bulldogs were gashed in the run game, as well. Cody Schraeder broke out for a 63-yard rush in the second quarter, the longest of his career. Georgia allowed three separate explosive plays in the first half, and each of them resulted in a score for Missouri. That’s something that troubled the team against Kent State, when the team allowed a 56-yard touchdown reception.
The streak is over
When the team flew into Missouri, Georgia hadn’t spent a second trailing in the 2022 college football season. Harrison Mevis made a field goal with 4:11 remaining in the first quarter of tonight’s game, and that streak - 65 minutes of football and counting - was over.
It got worse from there for Georgia. Missouri scored again, and then Georgia failed to move the ball, and then the Tigers scored again, and soon, the Bulldogs were in a 13-0 hole.
Missouri wasn’t perfect during the game, failing to score on multiple drives throughout the first half, but Georgia’s mistakes gave the opponent a massive opportunity. Dropped passes, poor decisions, fumbles and more; if you can name an issue, the Bulldogs were guilty of it in the first half, and as a result, they find themselves with the toughest challenge they’ve faced all year. | 2022-10-02T02:01:09+00:00 | redandblack.com | https://www.redandblack.com/gameday/halftime-observations-missouri-leads-georgia-16-6/article_4fecc4fc-41ef-11ed-96ed-f72b28d90a26.html |
HAMILTON BERMUDA, Bermuda (AP) — HAMILTON BERMUDA, Bermuda (AP) — Assured Guaranty Ltd. (AGO) on Tuesday reported fourth-quarter net income of $94 million.
The Hamilton Bermuda, Bermuda-based company said it had net income of $1.52 per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring gains, were 22 cents per share.
The insurance holding company posted revenue of $292 million in the period.
For the year, the company reported profit of $124 million, or $1.92 per share. Revenue was reported as $723 million.
Assured Guaranty shares have climbed slightly since the beginning of the year. The stock has risen nearly 1% in the last 12 months.
_____
This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on AGO at https://www.zacks.com/ap/AGO | 2023-03-01T11:18:58+00:00 | expressnews.com | https://www.expressnews.com/business/article/assured-guaranty-q4-earnings-snapshot-17812561.php |
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ The winning numbers in Saturday evening's drawing of the Indiana Lottery's "Lotto Plus" game were:
02-03-06-11-22-26
(two, three, six, eleven, twenty-two, twenty-six)
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ The winning numbers in Saturday evening's drawing of the Indiana Lottery's "Lotto Plus" game were:
02-03-06-11-22-26
(two, three, six, eleven, twenty-two, twenty-six) | 2022-11-06T05:20:42+00:00 | lmtonline.com | https://www.lmtonline.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Lotto-Plus-game-17562063.php |
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
News Advisory:
EVENT: Journalists Jason Rezaian and Rana Ayyub will discuss press freedom in India and other issues in a conversation livestreamed from the Club's studios.
The link for the livestream is:
http://www.press.org/newsroom/conversation -between-rana-ayyub-jason-rezaian
Details:
Ayyub is the 2022 John Aubuchon Press Freedom Honoree. She is the first Indian journalist to win a major award from the National Press Club. She is rarely in the U.S. in part because of travel restrictions imposed by the Indian Government. She is a contributor to Washington Post Opinions.
Rezaian is a 2015 John Aubuchon Press Freedom Honoree. He was Tehran Bureau Chief for the Washington Post when he was imprisoned under false charges and held hostage by the Iranian government for 544 days. He has written about this situation in newspaper articles as well as a book and podcast. Rezaian currently works for Washington Post Opinions.
Contact: Bill McCarren, 202-662-7534 for the National Press Club
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SOURCE National Press Club | 2022-12-12T15:58:10+00:00 | uppermichiganssource.com | https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/prnewswire/2022/12/12/national-press-club-aubuchon-honorees-ayyub-rezaian-conversation-today/ |
The Master Group's strategic partnership with RSC brings together two industry leaders who share a commitment to excellence, quality management, and customer dedication.
BOUCHERVILLE, QC and VALLEY VIEW, Ohio, March 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - The Master Group, Canada's largest and one of North America's leading independent HVAC-R industry distributors, announced today the acquisition of Refrigeration Sales Corporation (RSC) based in Ohio.
RSC, founded in 1945, is an independent distributor specializing in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration products, earning a remarkable reputation as a trusted HVAC-R supplier, serving Ohio and Western Pennsylvania through its Whole Server mission of Service, Speed, Expertise, and Relationships.
The acquisition provides The Master Group with extensive coverage in Ohio and Pennsylvania and represents a significant expansion of the Canadian group's footprint marking its second acquisition in the United States.
"Our vision is to become the leading HVAC-R distributor in North America, and when we considered strategic partners in the United States, RSC's reputation for excellence, quality management, and alignment with our core values made them a natural choice," says The Master Group CEO, Louis St-Laurent.
Neil McDougall, President of The Master Group, notes, "For nearly 80 years, RSC has built its reputation by relentlessly serving customers. I am extremely excited to work with their great team and help supercharge their growth aspirations."
The Master Group has committed to expanding its presence in the North American HVAC-R market, having secured significant growth capital from its long-term partnership with Novacap. This significant investment is fueling their latest strategic partnership with Ohio-based Refrigeration Sales Corporation (RSC), cementing The Master Group's position as a leader in the HVAC-R industry.
RSC will continue to operate independently across Ohio and Pennsylvania with the current management team led by Rhonda Wight, President and CEO. "This strategic partnership with The Master Group offers many exciting opportunities. We share a passion for the industry and providing exceptional service. The RSC management team is confident that together we can do great things for our valued customers and partners," adds Rhonda Wight.
The Master Group and RSC's partnership will enable both companies to enhance their products, services, and value proposition to their customers. The partnership reflects the companies' shared commitment to quality, customer satisfaction, and innovation, and the acquisition is expected to create a significant growth opportunity for both organizations.
The Master Group is Canada's largest and one of North America's leading heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration industry distributors. The company celebrated 70 years in business in March 2022 and has been named one of Canada's Best Managed Companies since 2010. Today, the company employs over 1,300 dynamic and dedicated team members. Together, the Master team serves the industry from 75 branches and 5 distribution centres across Canada and the United States. For more information visit www.master.ca
Refrigeration Sales Corporation (RSC) is a wholesale distributor of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration equipment. The Company is headquartered in Valley View, OH and operates out of 10 locations in Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. RSC serves as a critical link between more than 200 suppliers and 2,800 customers. www.refrigerationsales.net.
Founded in 1981, Novacap is a leading North American private equity firm with over C$8B of AUM that has invested in more than 100 platform companies and completed more than 150 add-on acquisitions. Applying its sector-focused approach since 2007 in Industries, TMT, Financial Services, and Digital Infrastructure, Novacap's deep domain expertise can accelerate company growth and create long-term value. With experienced, dedicated investment and operations teams as well as substantial capital, Novacap has the resources and knowledge that help build world-class businesses. Novacap has offices in Montreal, Toronto, and New York.
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SOURCE Novacap Management Inc. | 2023-03-02T11:41:08+00:00 | kcbd.com | https://www.kcbd.com/prnewswire/2023/03/02/master-group-announces-strategic-partnership-with-ohio-based-rsc-expand-footprint-us-hvac-r-industry/ |
MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bio-Techne Corporation (NASDAQ: TECH) today announced that Jim Hippel, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will present at the 2022 Wells Fargo Healthcare Conference on Wednesday, September 7, 2022, at 9:10 a.m. EST. A live webcast of the presentation can be accessed via the IR Calendar page of Bio-Techne's Investor Relations website at https://investors.bio-techne.com/ir-calendar.
Bio-Techne Corporation (NASDAQ: TECH) is a leading developer and manufacturer of high-quality purified proteins and reagent solutions - notably cytokines and growth factors, antibodies, immunoassays, biologically active small molecule compounds, tissue culture reagents, T-Cell activation and gene editing technologies. Bio-Techne's product portfolio also includes protein analysis solutions, sold under the ProteinSimple brand name, offering researchers efficient and streamlined options for automated Western blot and multiplexed ELISA workflow. These reagent and protein analysis solutions are sold to biomedical researchers as well as clinical research laboratories and constitute the Protein Sciences Segment. Bio-Techne also develops and manufactures diagnostic products including FDA-regulated controls, calibrators, blood gas and clinical chemistry controls and custom assay development on dedicated clinical instruments. Bio-Techne's genomic tools include advanced tissue-based in situ hybridization assays (ISH) for research and clinical use, sold under the ACD brand as well as a portfolio of clinical molecular diagnostic oncology assays, including the ExoDx® Prostate test for prostate cancer diagnosis. These diagnostic and genomic products comprise Bio-Techne's Diagnostics and Genomics Segment. Bio-Techne products are integral components of scientific investigations into biological processes and molecular diagnostics, revealing the nature, diagnosis, etiology and progression of specific diseases. They aid in drug discovery efforts and provide the means for accurate clinical tests and diagnoses. With thousands of products in its portfolio, Bio-Techne generated approximately $1.1 billion in net sales in fiscal 2022 and has approximately 3,000 employees worldwide.
Contact: David Clair, Vice President, Investor Relations
david.clair@bio-techne.com
612-656-4416
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SOURCE Bio-Techne Corporation | 2022-08-29T12:28:30+00:00 | kcrg.com | https://www.kcrg.com/prnewswire/2022/08/29/bio-techne-present-2022-wells-fargo-healthcare-conference/ |
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CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — Soon, many Americans will be hitting the road to visit family and friends for Thanksgiving, and according to GasBuddy, they’ll be facing the highest “Turkey Day” gas prices ever.
Come Thanksgiving, GasBuddy projects the average national price of gasoline will be $3.68 per gallon, up nearly 30 cents from 2021 and more than 20 cents higher than the previous Thanksgiving Day record high of $3.44 in 2012.
The high price tag doesn’t appear to be deterring too many travelers though, with 20% more Americans planning to drive to their Thanksgiving destinations this year, according to GasBuddy.
The company offered tips for saving money on gas over the holiday weekend, including shopping around for the best prices, slowing down to reduce gasoline consumption and paying attention to state lines.
When it comes to state lines, gas prices can vary quite a bit depending on proximity to oil refineries and state gas taxes. AAA data shows that, generally, if your destination is farther north, you’ll likely be paying more for gas, but if you’re headed south, you’ll likely be paying less at your destination.
Incidentally, there is no gas tax on Native American reservation lands, where state laws generally do not apply.
Another way to save is to take advantage of gas station rewards programs, which can save drivers several cents per gallon.
Gasoline is not the only thing Americans will be paying more for this Thanksgiving. Financial experts at Wells Fargo’s “Food for Thought” released an analysis suggesting that high grocery store prices due to inflation and supply chain issues may mean the traditional Thanksgiving meal may be cheaper at a restaurant than at home this year. | 2022-11-17T16:49:02+00:00 | keloland.com | https://www.keloland.com/news/national-world-news/thanksgiving-gas-prices-projected-to-hit-record-high/ |
The accelerator program supports early stage women founders working in any industry.
HOUSTON, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- DivInc, the premier startup accelerator for people of color and women entrepreneurs, is proud to announce the launch of its first Women in Tech Accelerator made possible through Houston title sponsor, SheSpace.
DivInc's Fall 2022 Women in Tech Accelerator fueled by SheSpace supports women-led startups approaching industry challenges in innovative ways. The program is designed to address the challenges unique to female founders, including dependent care, in addition to providing the access to capital, mentors/advisors, and networks that DivInc programming is known for.
"Women-led companies are vastly underfunded by venture capital. This is a huge inequity, but it is also a huge missed opportunity for the VC community. Private technology companies led by women are more capital-efficient, achieving 35% higher ROI, and, when venture-backed, 12% higher revenue than startups run by men, according to the Kauffman Foundation," said Preston L. James II, DivInc Co-Founder and CEO. "DivInc is dedicated to creating the spaces and providing the resources women founders need to thrive. It's good for women founders and for the ecosystem as a whole."
DivInc's collaboration with SheSpace and women leaders in the Houston area will be the key to the long term success of this accelerator program and its founders.
"SheSpace leapt at the chance to partner with DivInc's Women in Tech Accelerator as women tenaciously look for responses to the systemic and unfortunate track record of underfunded women entrepreneurs and founders. No meaningful change can occur unless the people who are affected are part of the solution. Now is time to give the abundance of women with talent and potential surrounding us a head start in the founder ecosystem. This needs to be done by women who have already navigated it" said Stephanie Tsuru, Founder of SheSpace." "SheSpace is where forward-thinking females gather to embrace the power, persistence, and passion of working women. It is time to widen our net, and this accelerator is a good place to start."
Throughout the accelerator, SheSpace will work with the DivInc team on programming and thought leadership initiatives.
In total, 10 companies will be accepted to the 12-week program which will run from September through December 2022 and will be hosted at SheSpace and The Ion. Upon completion of the program, each participating company will receive $10,000 non-dilutive seed funding provided by SheSpace.
The Fall 2022 Women in Tech Accelerator fueled by SheSpace is also supported by Houston premier partners, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., Verizon, The Ion, and Mercury.
Learn more at www.divinc.org/women-in-tech
DivInc is a 501c3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to generate social and economic equity through entrepreneurship by equipping underrepresented founders with access to the critical resources they need to build investable companies. Founded in Austin in 2016, DivInc has supported 87 companies and over 100 founders. Learn more at www.divinc.org.
SheSpace is Houston's premier female-focused co-working space. Their mission is to create clear pathways for bold, unapologetic women to accomplish both professional and personal goals while surrounded by like-minded women. SheSpace provides physical space such as offices, work desks, meeting rooms and event spaces so women can focus on productivity and success while minimizing stress and wasted time. But what makes SheSpace unique is the supportive, inclusive culture and educational programming. Their focus is providing an incomparable, inspirational work, meeting, educational and networking experience in a place built for women by women. Learn more at www.shespacehtx.com.
Media Contact:
Cherise Luter
Marketing Director, DivInc
cherise@divinc.org
View original content:
SOURCE DivInc | 2022-07-14T14:34:07+00:00 | kmvt.com | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/divinc-houston-launches-inaugural-women-tech-accelerator-with-title-sponsor-shespace/ |
(iSeeCars) – The average one-to-five-year-old car cost an average of $34,291 in July according to iSeeCars.com’s latest analysis of over 1.8 million used car sales. This is up slightly from June when the average used car cost an average of $34,154, and marks the second month of slight increases after four months of slowing price growth.
Average Used Car Prices by State
Some states pay more than others for used cars. Here is a ranking of the average used car price by state by ascending order:
- Rhode Island is the state with the lowest average used car price of $31,294.
- Alaska is the state with the highest average used car price of $42,617.
What does this mean for consumers? The current state of the used car market presents a lucrative trade-in opportunity for consumers who have a used vehicle to sell. While consumers were previously advised to wait to purchase a used car if they were able to do so, the microchip shortage is expected to persist until early 2023. The best way to avoid severe price hikes for the foreseeable future is to purchase a used vehicle that isn’t in very high demand, such as a sedan, and if possible, purchase it from a state or region with lower price increases.
More from iSeeCars.com:
Methodology
iSeeCars.com analyzed over 1.8 million 1-5-year-old used car sales in July 2021 and 2022. The average listing prices of each car model were compared between the two time periods, and the differences were expressed as both a percentage difference from the 2021 price as well as a dollar difference. Heavy-duty vehicles, low-volume vehicles, vehicles discontinued as of the 2022 model year, and vehicles with fewer than 4 of the 5 model years for each period were excluded from further analysis.
About iSeeCars.com
iSeeCars.com is a car search engine that helps shoppers find the best car deals by providing key insights and valuable resources, like the iSeeCars free VIN check reports and Best Cars rankings. iSeeCars.com has saved users over $343 million so far by applying big data analytics powered by over 25 billion (and growing) data points and using proprietary algorithms to objectively analyze, score and rank millions of new cars and used cars.
This article, This is the Average Price of a Used Car By State, originally appeared on iSeeCars.com. | 2022-08-20T19:04:58+00:00 | cbs42.com | https://www.cbs42.com/automotive/this-is-the-average-price-of-a-used-car-in-each-state-4/ |
Russia official warns West of destruction for arming Ukraine
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The speaker of the lower house of Russia’s parliament warned Sunday that countries supplying Ukraine with more powerful weapons risked their own destruction, a message that followed new pledges of armored vehicles, air defense systems and other equipment but not the battle tanks Kyiv requested.
Ukraine’s supporters pledged billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine during a meeting at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Friday, though the new commitments were overshadowed by a failure to agree on Ukraine’s urgent request for German-made Leopard 2 battle tanks.
State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin said that governments giving more powerful weapons to Ukraine could cause a “global tragedy that would destroy their countries.”
“Supplies of offensive weapons to the Kyiv regime would lead to a global catastrophe,” he said. “If Washington and NATO supply weapons that would be used for striking peaceful cities and making attempts to seize our territory as they threaten to do, it would trigger a retaliation with more powerful weapons.”
Germany is one of the main donors of weapons to Ukraine, and it ordered a review of its Leopard 2 stocks in preparation for a possible green light. Nonetheless, the government in Berlin has shown caution at each step of increasing its commitments to Ukraine, a hesitancy seen as rooted in its history and political culture.
French President Emmanuel Macron, meanwhile, said Sunday that he does not rule out sending Leclerc battle tanks to Ukraine and had asked his defense minister to “work on” the idea.
Macron spoke during a during a news conference in Paris with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz as their countries commemorating the 60th anniversary of their post-World War II friendship treaty. In a joint declaration, France and Germany committed to their “unwavering support” for Ukraine.
France will make its tank decision based on three criteria, Macron said: that sharing the equipment does not lead to an escalation of the conflict, that it would provide efficient and workable help when training time is taken into account, and that it wouldn’t weaken France’s own military.
Scholz did not respond when asked about the Leopard 2 tanks Sunday, but stressed that his country already has made sizable military contributions to Ukraine.
“The U.S. is doing a lot, Germany is doing a lot, too,” he said. “We have constantly expanded our deliveries with very effective weapons that are already available today. And we have always coordinated all these decisions closely with our important allies and friends.”
Germany’s tentativeness has drawn criticism, particularly from Poland and the Baltic states, countries on NATO’s eastern flank that feel especially threatened by Russia’s renewed aggression.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that if Germany does not consent to transferring Leopard tanks to Ukraine, his country was prepared to build a “smaller coalition” of countries that would send theirs anyway.
“Almost a year had passed since the outbreak of war,” Morawiecki said in an interview with Polish state news agency PAP published Sunday. “Evidence of the Russian army’s war crimes can be seen on television and on YouTube. What more does Germany need to open its eyes and start to act in line with the potential of the German state?”
In Washington, two leading lawmakers urged the U.S. on Sunday to send some of its Abrams tanks to Ukraine in the interests of overcoming Germany’s reluctance to share its own, more suitable tanks.
“If we announced we were giving an Abrams tank, just one, that would unleash” the flow of tanks from Germany, Rep. Michael McCaul, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told ABC’s “This Week on Sunday.” “What I hear is that Germany’s waiting on us to take the lead.”
Sen. Chris Coons, a Democrat who is on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, also spoke up for the U.S. sending Abrams.
“If it requires our sending some Abrams tanks in order to unlock getting the Leopard tanks from Germany, from Poland, from other allies, I would support that,” Coons said.
Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of the Russian Security Council, said the U.S.-led meeting at the air base in Germany “left no doubt that our enemies will try to exhaust or better destroy us,” adding that “they have enough weapons” to achieve the purpose.
Medvedev, a former Russian president, warned on his messaging app channel that “in case of a protracted conflict,” Russia could seek to form a military alliance with “the nations that are fed up with the Americans and a pack of their castrated dogs.”
Ukraine is asking for more weapons as it anticipates Russia’s forces launching a new offensive in the spring.
Oleksii Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine’s Security and Defense Council, warned that Russia may try to intensify its attacks in the south and in the east and to cut supply channels of Western weapons, while conquering Kyiv “remains the main dream” in President Vladimir Putin’s “fantasies,” he said.
In a column published by online newspaper Ukrainska Pravda. he described the Kremlin’s goal in the conflict as a “total and absolute genocide, a total war of destruction”
Among those calling for more arms for Ukraine was the former British prime minister, Boris Johnson, who made a surprise trip to Ukraine on Sunday. Johnson, who was pictured in the Kyiv region town of Borodyanka, said he traveled to Ukraine at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“This is the moment to double down and to give the Ukrainians all the tools they need to finish the job. The sooner Putin fails, the better for Ukraine and for the whole world,” Johnson said in a statement.
The last week was especially tragic for Ukraine even by the standards of a brutal war that has gone on for nearly a year, killing tens of thousands of people, uprooting millions more and creating vast destruction of Ukrainian cities.
A barrage of Russian missiles struck an apartment complex in the southeastern city of Dnipro on Jan. 14, killing at least 45 civilians. On Wednesday, a government helicopter crashed into a building housing a kindergarten in a suburb of Kyiv. Ukraine’s interior minister, other officials and a child on the ground were among the 14 people killed.
Zelenskyy vowed Sunday that Ukraine would ultimately prevail in the war.
“We are united because we are strong. We are strong because we are united,” the Ukrainian leader said in a video address as he marked Ukraine Unity Day, which commemorates when east and west Ukraine were united in 1919.
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Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed.
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Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2023-01-22T18:26:54+00:00 | kcbd.com | https://www.kcbd.com/2023/01/22/russia-official-warns-west-destruction-arming-ukraine/ |
LAS VEGAS, N.M. (AP) — Schoolchildren in a northern New Mexico community that had been threatened by a wildfire were expected to resume in-person classes Tuesday while residents on the fire’s northern edges remained under evacuation orders.
The West Las Vegas School District said exceptions would be made for students still displaced by what’s the largest wildfire burning in the U.S. or those whose health has been affected by the smoke.
Meanwhile, firefighters worked in rugged terrain ahead of the massive blaze trying to clear brush and stop the flames from burning more homes in the Rocky Mountain foothills.
The wildfire — intensified by decades of drought, warmer temperatures and spring winds — has charred 308 square miles (798 square kilometers) of tinder-dry ponderosa forests. Thousands of people have had to flee the flames and some 300 structures, including homes, have been destroyed.
Crews have spent days working to protect ranch homes scattered through the area and stamping out small fires that jumped ahead of the main blaze.
“So far they’ve had great luck in catching those,” said fire information officer Joel Barnett.
Wind will continue to be a factor this week, along with low humidity, but to varying degrees depending on the day. Fire officials predicted part of the massive blaze would push north into rugged terrain that is difficult for firefighters to access.
“This isn’t a surprise to us. All the models showed this probably was going to happen,” said fire operations section chief Todd Abel.
The region’s largest population center — Las Vegas, New Mexico, home to 13,000 people — remained largely safe from the flames. Some residents were allowed to return over the weekend.
Early Monday, West Las Vegas High School was empty but for a single instructor teaching remotely. Schools in the district pivoted to remote learning, something they had planned as a contingency in case of a rise in coronavirus cases.
“I’ve been preparing, not for wildfire, but for something like this,” said mass media teacher Kenneth Bachicha.
Elsewhere in northern New Mexico, a wildfire near the federal government’s key facilities for nuclear research prompted Los Alamos National Laboratory and others in the area to begin preparing for evacuations. Officials stressed that there was no immediate threat to the lab itself.
That fire has burned nearly 64 square miles (165 square kilometers).
Officials said some medically fragile residents and large animals already have been moved out of the area to lessen the traffic congestion should evacuations be ordered. They anticipated residents would have at least a day or two notice if they need to flee.
“If the fire gets its fifth gear, it will be here sooner than we want it to be,” said incident commander Rich Harvey. “We’re doing everything we can to check it.”
Crews in Arizona were dealing with strong winds Monday as they battled a fire near the U.S.-Mexico border that forced several dozen people from their homes.
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Montoya Bryan reported from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Associated Press writer Felicia Fonseca in Flagstaff, Arizona, contributed to this report. | 2022-05-10T11:11:55+00:00 | wcia.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/national/wind-is-wild-card-in-fires-burning-in-new-mexico-arizona/ |
10-year-old shot at youth community center in critical condition, official says
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT/Gray News) - The Knoxville Police Department is investigating after a 10-year-old was shot at the YWCA Phyllis Wheatley Center, communications manager Scott Erland told WVLT Wednesday.
A 10-year-old boy was apparently accidentally shot around 9:45 a.m. and taken to a hospital in critical condition, Erland and dispatch officials said, but a 14-year-old was taken into custody for further investigation.
In a statement, YWCA spokespersons said parents were immediately informed after emergency services were called, and the children were being picked up from the facility.
Officials added that they plan to review safety protocols for the future.
“The safety of the children and staff is the utmost priority of the YWCA. YWCA will determine immediate next steps for review of safety protocols, as well as resources for children and staff following this traumatic event,” they said.
YWCA spokespersons also said that there were 43 children signed in at the center when the shooting happened.
No other injuries were reported and there’s no active threat, Erland said.
Copyright 2023 WVLT via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2023-06-28T17:42:24+00:00 | atlantanewsfirst.com | https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/06/28/10-year-old-shot-youth-community-center-critical-condition-official-says/ |
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Texans got two of the best players in the NFL draft in the first three picks. The Eagles added three more defensive standouts from Georgia.
While it takes two or three years to judge whether players panned out, it’s easy to identify the potential winners of the 2023 NFL draft.
Houston selected quarterback C.J. Stroud at No. 2 and traded up to get Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. with the third pick. In a 10-minute span, the Texans added two players who could dramatically change the future of the franchise.
Defending NFC champion Philadelphia needed to replenish the defense so it looked toward the two-time national champion Bulldogs. The Eagles moved up one spot to No. 9 for defensive tackle Jalen Carter, a player widely considered the most talented in the draft who slipped because of off-field issues.
At No. 30, Philly added edge Nolan Smith. General manager Howie Roseman still wasn’t finished. He got Georgia cornerback Kelee Ringo in the fourth round and added another former Bulldog, acquiring running back De’Andre Swift in a trade with Detroit. The Eagles have drafted five Georgia players in the past two years.
Here are AP’s early grades on each team’s overall draft:
ARIZONA CARDINALS: B
OT Paris Johnson Jr. (6) will protect QB Kyler Murray. Addressed defensive needs with DE BJ Ojulari and CB Garrett Williams. OL Jon Gaines II and LB Owen Pappoe were value picks in Day 3.
ATLANTA FALCONS: C-
RB Bijan Robinson should be a superstar but No. 8 was too high. Teams win Super Bowls with late-round picks and undrafted free agents carrying the ball. OT Matthew Bergeron and DE Zach Harrison bolster both lines.
BALTIMORE RAVENS: C+
With Odell Beckham Jr. in the flock, should’ve addressed the secondary in the first round instead of taking WR Zay Flowers at No. 22. Went defense with next three picks.
BUFFALO BILLS: B
Traded up for TE Dalton Kincaid at No. 25 despite other needs. Got better value in second round with OL O’Cyrus Torrence and third round with LB Dorian Williams.
CAROLINA PANTHERS: B-
No. 1 pick Bryce Young has superior talent but needs to overcome size concerns. WR Jonathan Mingo is a playmaker. OL Chandler Zavala highlighted Day 3 picks.
CHICAGO BEARS: A
Moved down one spot and got OT Darnell Wright (10) to anchor the O-line. DL Gervon Dexter Sr., RB Roschon Johnson, WR Tyler Scott, LB Noah Sewell and CB Terrell Smith are among an impressive haul.
CINCINNATI BENGALS: B
DE Myles Murphy (28) was projected among the top 15. Upgraded secondary with CB DJ Turner and S Jordan Battle.
CLEVELAND BROWNS: B
Didn’t pick until WR Cedric Tillman at No. 74. OT Dawand Jones and DL Isaiah McGuire bolster the trenches. CB Cameron Mitchell was solid value in fifth round.
DALLAS COWBOYS: B+
DT Mazi Smith (26) and LB DeMarvion Overshown should make immediate impact. TE Luke Schoonmaker gives Dak Prescott another playmaker.
DENVER BRONCOS: B+
Gave Russell Wilson another option with WR Marvin Mims at No. 63. LB Drew Sanders, CB Riley Moss and S JL Skinner strengthen the defense.
DETROIT LIONS: C
LB Jack Campbell (18), TE Sam LaPorta, S Brian Branch and QB Hendon Hooker help make up for reaching way too high for RB Jahmyr Gibbs at No. 12.
GREEN BAY PACKERS: B-
Added talented DE Lukas Van Ness (13), and helped Jordan Love with additions of TE Luke Musgrave, WR Jayden Reed, TE Tucker Kraft and WR Dontayvion Wicks.
HOUSTON TEXANS: A+
Stroud and Anderson are the headliners. OL Juice Scruggs, WR Nathaniel Dell and DE Dylan Horton improve a poor roster.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: A-
QB Anthony Richardson (4) is raw but has the most upside of all the QBs. Had the best Day 3, getting OT Blake Freeland, DL Adetomiwa Adebawore, CB Darius Rush, S Daniel Scott, TE Will Mallory and RB Evan Hull.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: B+
Improved offense with first three picks: OT Anton Harrison (27), TE Brenton Strange and RB Tank Bigsby. WR Parker Washington could be a steal in the sixth round.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: C+
Reached for DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah at No. 31. WR Rashee Rice and OT Wanya Morris in Day 2 fill holes.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: B+
Tyree Wilson (7) is a game-changer. TE Michael Mayer and WR Tre Tucker bolster receiving group. DL Byron Young at No. 70 is questionable.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: C+
Quentin Johnston (21) was the second WR off the board with better options available. Addressed defense on Day 2 with DL Tuli Tuipulotu and LB Daiyan Henley.
LOS ANGELES RAMS: B
Selected 14 players, including 11 on Day 3 starting with QB Stetson Bennett. Didn’t have a first for seventh straight year but added plenty of depth.
MIAMI DOLPHINS: B+
Had only four picks and no first but came away with talented CB Cam Smith, RB Devon Achane and WR Elijah Higgins.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS: A
WR Jordan Addison (23) replaces Adam Thielen. CBs Mekhi Blackmon and Jay Ward upgrade secondary.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: B+
Traded down and still got talented CB Christian Gonzalez at No. 17. Focused on defense in Day 2 with DE Keion White and S Marte Mapu. Trading up for K Chad Ryland in fourth round was baffling.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: B
DL Bryan Bresee made sense at No. 29 but DE Isaiah Foskey seemed too early at No. 40. Got value in Day 3 with OL Nick Saldiveri, S Jordan Howden and WR A.T. Perry.
NEW YORK GIANTS: A-
CB Deonte Banks (24) and OL John Michael Schmitz fill needs. Stole WR Jalin Hyatt in the third round.
NEW YORK JETS: B
DE Will McDonald IV (15) needs to perform quickly to justify going that high. OT Carter Warren, RB Israel Abanikanda and CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse highlighted an outstanding Day 3 haul.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: A+
Carter, Smith, Ringo plus OT Tyler Steen and S Sydney Brown in the third round and a trade for Swift already make Roseman a favorite for executive of the year.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS: A
Moved up for OT Broderick Jones (14). Got first-round talent in CB Joey Porter Jr. and TE Darnell Washington in Day 2.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: C-
CB Ji’Ayir Brown with their first pick at No. 87 and CB Darrell Luter Jr. in fifth round were the best picks in a draft that included K Jake Moody in the third round.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: A
Got the best players at their position with CB Devon Witherspoon (5) and WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (20) in the first round. DE Derick Hall and OL Anthony Bradford highlight a strong overall group.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: B-
Taking DT Calijah Kancey at No. 19 over Will Levis shows commitment to Kyle Trask/Baker Mayfield QB competition. OL Cody Mauch, TE Payne Durham and WR Trey Palmer graded well at their spots.
TENNESSEE TITANS: B+
Took OL Peter Skoronski over Levis at No. 11 and ended up with the QB anyway in the second round. Added RB Tyjae Spears, TE Josh Whyle, OT Jaelyn Duncan and WR Colton Dowell in an all-offense draft.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS: C+
Took Emmanuel Forbes (16) early in an excellent CB draft class. Further bolstered secondary with S Jartavius Martin in second round. Day 3 RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. has upside.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | 2023-04-30T06:47:37+00:00 | wivb.com | https://www.wivb.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-report-cards-texans-eagles-get-highest-nfl-draft-grades/ |
On Tuesday, Elon Musk said he would reverse Twitter’s ban of former President Donald Trump, who was booted in January 2021 for inciting violence at the U.S. Capitol, should he succeed in acquiring the social platform for $44 billion.
But the day before, the Tesla CEO also said he agrees with the European Union’s new Digital Services Act, a law that will require big tech companies like Twitter, Google and Facebook parent Meta to police their platforms more strictly for illegal or harmful content such as hate speech and disinformation.
The apparent contradiction underscores the steep learning curveawaiting the world’s richest man once he encounters the complexity of Twitter’s content moderation in dozens of languages and cultures. Twitter has to comply with the laws and regulations of multiple countries while taking into account the reaction of advertisers, users, politicians and others.
“He certainly wouldn’t be the first person to say, ‘I’m going to do this’ and then realize that either they don’t really want to do it or their users don’t want them to do it,” said David Greene, civil liberties director at the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
Speaking virtually at an auto conference, the Tesla CEO said that Twitter’s ban of Trump was a “morally bad decision” and “foolish in the extreme.”
“I think that was a mistake because it alienated a large part of the country and did not ultimately result in Donald Trump not having a voice,” Musk said Tuesday at the Future of the Car summit hosted by the Financial Times. He said he preferred temporary suspensions and other narrowly tailored punishments for content that is illegal or otherwise “destructive to the world.”
Earlier in the day, Musk met with EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton to discuss the bloc’s online regulations. Thierry told The Associated Press that he outlined to Musk how the EU aims to uphold free speech while also making sure whatever is illegal “will be forbidden in the digital space,” adding that Musk “fully agreed” with him.
In a video Breton tweeted late Monday, Musk said the two had a “great discussion” and added that he agrees with the Digital Services Act, which is expected to get final approval later this year. It threatens Twitter and other Big Tech firms with billions in fines if they don’t police their platforms.
Shares of Twitter dropped 1.5% Tuesday to $47.24 per share. That’s 13 percent below the offer of $54.20 per share that Musk made on April 14, a reflection of Wall Street’s concerns that the deal could still fall through. Musk emphasized Tuesday that it is “certainly not a done deal.”
“If Musk is concerned that many people were upset that Trump was banned, he should see how many more people would be upset if Trump was not banned,” said Kirsten Martin, a professor of technology ethics at the University of Notre Dame. “Musk only appears to be worried about the opinion of a small group of individuals who incite violence or perpetuate hate speech.”
Trump has previously said that he had no intention of rejoining Twitter even if his account was reinstated, telling Fox News last month that he would instead focus on his own platform, Truth Social, which has been mired in problems since its launch earlier this year.
A Trump spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment in response to Musk’s remarks.
While Trump was president, his Twitter feed offered a mix of policy announcements, often out of the blue; complaints about the media; disparagement of women, minorities and his perceived enemies; and praise for his supporters, replete with exclamation marks, all-caps, and one-word declarations such as “Sad!”
He fired numerous officials on Twitter and his posts, like his speeches at rallies, were a torrent of misinformation.
In announcing its 2021 ban of Trump, Twitter said his tweets amounted to glorification of violence when read in the context of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and plans circulating online for future armed protests around the inauguration of then President-elect Joe Biden.
Musk’s remarks Tuesday raise questions about whether those banned besides Trump could also return. The longlist of people banned from Twitter includes QAnon loyalists, COVID deniers, neo-Nazis and former reality star Tila Tequila, who was suspended for hate speech.
Other Trump allies kicked off Twitter include Michael Flynn and Sidney Powell, Lin Wood and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who was permanently banned in January for repeatedly spreading misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccine safety.
White supremacist David Duke and the often violent Proud Boys organization have been banned, along with far-right trolls like one who goes by the name Baked Alaska, who promoted anti-Semitic tropes and faces charges stemming from his involvement in the Jan. 6 attack.
Alex Jones, the creator of Infowars, was permanently banned in 2018 for abusive behavior. Last year, Jones lost a defamation case filed by the parents of children killed in the 2012 Newtown, Connecticut, school shooting over Jones’ repeated claims that the shooting was fake.
Twitter, Musk said Tuesday, currently has a strong bias to the left, largely because it is located in San Francisco. This alleged bias prevents it from building trust in the rest of the U.S. and the world, he said: “It’s far too random and I think Twitter needs to be much more even handed.”
Twitter declined to comment on Musk’s remarks.
___
O’Brien reported from Providence, Rhode Island; Krisher reported from Detroit. Associated Press writers Barbara Ortutay in San Francisco and David Klepper in Providence, Rhode Island contributed to this report.
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See all of AP’s tech coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/technology. | 2022-05-12T02:32:58+00:00 | siouxlandproud.com | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/business/running-twitter-may-be-much-harder-than-elon-musk-thinks/ |
GENEVA (AP) — Denmark will wear team jerseys at the World Cup that protest the human rights record of host nation Qatar, with a black option unveiled Wednesday to honor migrant workers who died during construction work for the tournament.
“The color of mourning,” kit manufacturer Hummel said in a post on Instagram releasing the black third-choice design.
“While we support the Danish national team all the way, this shouldn’t be confused with support for a tournament that has cost thousands of people their lives,” the company said.
The designs seem to complete a promise made by the Danish soccer federation last November to wear clothing with “critical messages” at the tournament in Qatar.
Though FIFA’s World Cup rules prohibit political statements on team uniform, the three Denmark shirt designs in all-red, all-white and all-black appear to comply with no words or symbols that are an explicit statement. The national team badge, Hummel logo and decorative white chevrons —- a famous feature of the Denmark shirt since the 1980s — are faded into the same single color as the shirt.
“We don’t wish to be visible during (the) tournament,” Hummel said. “We support the Danish national team all the way, but that isn’t the same as supporting Qatar as a host nation.”
The gas-rich emirate has been fiercely criticized in the past decade for its treatment of migrant workers mostly from south Asia needed to build tens of billions of dollars’ worth of stadiums, metro lines, roads and hotels.
Definitive numbers of worker deaths and injuries have been hard to verify with inquests not routinely held and limited data released by Qatari authorities.
World Cup organizers in Qatar disputed Hummel’s claim of thousands of deaths in construction work during preparations for the Nov. 20-Dec. 18 tournament.
“Furthermore, we wholeheartedly reject the trivializing our genuine commitment to protect the health and safety of the 30,000 workers who built FIFA World Cup stadiums and other tournament projects,” the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy said in a statement.
“The SC’s work is recognized by numerous entities within the international human rights community as a model that has accelerated progress and improved lives,” organizers said, citing the U.N.’s International Labor Organization.
Denmark, the world’s No. 10-ranked team which reached the European Championship semifinals last year, has been one of the 32 World Cup teams most likely to take a strong stance against Qatar.
The Danish federation joined a European campaign launched last week for captains to wear heart-shaped, multi-colored “One Love” armbands in World Cup games.
Danish officials also have taken a leading role in a group of European soccer federations visiting Qatar to monitor the progress of promised reforms in labor laws.
“This dialogue resulted in a better understanding of the progress made, the challenges faced, and the legacy we will deliver beyond 2022,” Qatari organizers said, urging the Danish federation “to accurately convey the outcome of their extensive communication and work with the (Supreme Committee) and to ensure that this is accurately communicated to their partners at Hummel.”
Denmark has been drawn in a World Cup group with defending champion France, which typically wears a dark blue shirt, Australia, whose first-choice color is gold, and Tunisia, which wears white.
The FIFA match schedule for the tournament lists Denmark as the home team with first choice of color only for its opening game on Nov. 22 against Tunisia.
___
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2022-09-29T04:42:41+00:00 | cbs42.com | https://www.cbs42.com/sports/ap-denmark-to-wear-world-cup-jerseys-that-protest-host-qatar/ |
Army says helicopters crashed in mountains, fair weather
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) - Two U.S. Army helicopters that crashed last week in Alaska, killing three soldiers, collided over a rugged, mountainous area, and there were no weather issues or visibility problems at the time, an Army spokesperson said Sunday.
The two AH-64 Apache helicopters were returning to Fort Wainwright from an aerial gunnery range southeast of Fairbanks when they collided.
Killed were Chief Warrant Officer 3 Christopher Robert Eramo, 39, of Oneonta, New York; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kyle D. McKenna, 28, of Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Warrant Officer 1 Stewart Duane Wayment, 32, of North Logan, Utah.
RELATED: Soldiers killed in Alaska helicopter crash identified by US Army
A fourth soldier survived and remained hospitalized Sunday, said John Pennell, a spokesperson for the U.S. Army Alaska.
Investigators planned to fly on Monday morning to the accident scene about 50 miles (80 kilometers) east of the small town of Healy, Pennell said. | 2023-05-01T04:14:00+00:00 | fox13seattle.com | https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/army-says-helicopters-crashed-in-mountains-fair-weather |
Patricia J. McCoy
BILLINGS - Patricia J. McCoy, 74, of Billings passed away June 6. Please visit www.smithfuneralchapels.com for the full obituary and service information.
Patricia J. McCoy
BILLINGS - Patricia J. McCoy, 74, of Billings passed away June 6. Please visit www.smithfuneralchapels.com for the full obituary and service information.
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Northwestern US heat wave could have hottest day on Tuesday
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The temperatures in Portland, Oregon, could top 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 Celsius) on Tuesday, making it likely the hottest day of a week-long heat wave for the Pacific Northwest region that rarely sees such scorching weather.
Forecasters issued an excessive heat warning for parts of Oregon and Washington state. Temperatures could hit the 90s (32 C) in Seattle and 110 F (43.3 Celsius) in eastern parts of Oregon and Washington.
While interior parts of the states often experience high temperatures, those kinds of hot blasts do not happen nearly as often in Portland and Seattle.
“To have five-day stretches or a weeklong stretch above 90 degrees is very, very rare for the Pacific Northwest,” said Vivek Shandas, professor of climate adaptation at Portland State University.
As the northwestern U.S. heated up, the hot spell on the East Coast appeared to have broken, with few areas east of the Mississippi River under heat advisories.
Philadelphia hit 99 degrees (37 Celsius) Sunday before factoring in humidity. Newark, New Jersey, had its fifth consecutive day of 100 degrees or higher, the longest such streak since records began in 1931. Boston also hit 100 degrees, surpassing the previous daily record high of 98 degrees (36.6 Celsius) set in 1933.
Tuesday’s forecast highs in Philadelphia, New York and Boston were all in the mid-80s (about 29 Celsius).
Residents and officials in the Northwest have been trying to adjust to the likely reality of longer, hotter heat waves following last summer’s deadly “heat dome” weather phenomenon that prompted record temperatures and deaths.
In response, the Portland Housing Bureau that oversees city housing policy will require newly constructed subsidized housing to have air conditioning in the future.
A new Oregon law will require all new housing built after April 2024 to have air conditioning installed in at least one room. The law already prohibits landlords in most cases from restricting tenants from installing cooling devices in their rental units.
The measures were in response to the heat wave in late June and early July 2021, when about 800 people died in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. The temperature soared to 116 degrees F (46.7 C) in Portland and smashed heat records in cities and towns across the region. Many of those who died were elderly and lived alone.
While temperatures this week are not expected to get that high, the anticipated number of consecutive hot days raised concerns among officials.
Portland, Oregon, could top 100 degrees F (37.8 C) on Tuesday and temperatures across wide swaths of western Oregon and Washington are predicted to be well above historic averages throughout the week.
“It’s nothing we haven’t seen before in terms of the magnitude, but the duration of the event is fairly unusual,” said John Bumgardner, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Portland.
Portland’s Bureau of Emergency Management is opening cooling centers in public buildings and installing misting stations in parks. In Seattle, community centers and libraries will serve as cooling stations.
Multnomah County, which includes Portland, will open four overnight emergency cooling shelters starting Tuesday where people can spend the night.
Officials hope the outreach efforts will help people facing the greatest heat risks — including older people, those living alone, people with disabilities, members of low-income households without air conditioning and people without housing.
Jenny Carver, Multnomah County’s Emergency Manager for the Department of County Human Services, said her work has focused on “ensuring that these sites are as low-barrier as we can make them.”
“We ask folks to just give a name and we don’t check any identification,” said Carver. “We make as many resources available as we can.”
Overnight temperatures in the Pacific Northwest may not go below the 70s, said Treena Jenson, the Portland warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service.
“In the urban areas we have the urban heat island effect that tends to keep temperatures warmer a little bit longer and can cause more heat impacts,” she said.
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Claire Rush is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow her on Twitter.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2022-07-26T12:22:47+00:00 | wfsb.com | https://www.wfsb.com/2022/07/26/northwestern-us-heat-wave-could-have-hottest-day-tuesday/ |
Legendary NFL defensive lineman J.J. Watt revealed that he recently participated in a pub crawl for "research" purposes.
Last week, Watt and his wife, former Team USA midfielder Kealia Watt, purchased a minority stake in Burnley F.C. The club is set to move to the Premiere League next season.
Watt's 12-year professional football career came to an end in January when he announced his retirement. But, the 34-year-old is certainly interested in staying involved with sports.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Watt said that he took part in the pub crawl in an effort to interact with the team's supporters and develop a deeper understanding of the club.
"I've learned that the history, tradition and supporters, it's all about respecting and honoring that," he told "BBC Breakfast" on Tuesday. "You never want to come in and try and do something that's not true to who the club is and what we're trying to do is show people what real Burnley is about.
RECENTLY RETIRED JJ WATT BLOWN AWAY BY TAYLOR SWIFT CONCERT: ‘UNBELIEVABLE’
"I did a pub crawl yesterday on my way to the stadium so I started at the Royal Dyche, worked my way down to Vintage Clarets and all my way up to Turf Moor. Just getting to know the supporters, I want to earn their trust by showing them how much we care and how passionate we are."
While gathering research may have been Watt's primary focus, he admittedly took some time to enjoy the moment.
"It's research, I'm doing research and lots of pints of Guinness along the way. But it was a lot of fun and really good to get to know them on a personal level, and hopefully they get to know us as well."
Watt was on hand as Burnley closed out the season earlier this week with a win over Cardiff City.
He had the honor of carrying the league winner's trophy to the stage during the Sky Bet Championship.
"Promotion and relegation, the highs and lows, the consequences are incredible, so we have been looking for a club for a long time," he said. "We knew that once we found the right opportunity we were going to go all-in, so we took our time. Burnley checked every single box." | 2023-05-09T21:24:46+00:00 | foxbangor.com | https://www.foxbangor.com/sports/national-sports/jj-watt-participates-in-pub-crawl-for-research-after-investing-in-premiere-league-bound-soccer/article_9a2d3f08-4f28-5f4d-a417-d1e723edf584.html |
Special Weather Statement issued July 23 at 4:10PM MDT by NWS Pocatello ID
At 409 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11
miles east of Almo, or 14 miles south of Malta, moving northeast at
25 mph. Another strong storm was located near Almo, also moving
northeast.
HAZARD…Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE…Radar indicated.
IMPACT…Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include…
Malta, Almo, Juniper, City Of Rocks, Sweetzer Summit, and Bridge.
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. | 2023-07-23T22:45:35+00:00 | localnews8.com | https://localnews8.com/weather/alerts-weather/2023/07/23/special-weather-statement-issued-july-23-at-410pm-mdt-by-nws-pocatello-id/ |
When Kaleb Brown announced his intention to transfer to Iowa back in May, it meant the most prolific wide receiver (in terms of high school evaluation) in the history of the program was going to be on the 2023 roster. He only caught one pass at Ohio State in 2022, but he might be the most hyped single reception player in the country.
A player who had scholarship offers to play for Alabama and Ohio State. The 78th overall recruit coming out of the 2022 class. An offense with virtually nothing to offer at wide receiver that finished 123rd in passing yards just got better.
Some even dubbed it a contradiction of recent history. But in reality, it was a match made in heaven for both the Hawkeyes and a player looking for a new home.
“My reason for leaving was how stacked we were at Ohio State,” Brown said of choice to enter the transfer portal.
“Two boxes were checked — quarterback and a place where I could compete for a spot. It was an easy decision.”
Brown has already found a roommate in running back Kaleb Johnson. But more importantly, the Hawkeyes’ new wide receiver has sprung a good relationship with his new quarterback, Cade McNamara.
The players are strength training during the week, but Brown and McNamara have made time to throw and catch away from mandatory lifts. Brown was even able to make the team’s trip to California a few months ago. It’s safe to say he feels at home in Iowa City.
“From my first time stepping on campus I felt this place was special,” the Chicago native said. “I like the community, honestly. It’s different than the city that I grew up in. I feel it’s a place where I can put my head down and grind.”
“He’s an athlete,” Nico Ragaini said of Brown. “When he gets the ball in his hands he can do something with it. So I’m excited to see him.”
For more Hawkeyes coverage, follow @HawkeyeHQ on Twitter and Facebook. | 2023-07-26T09:59:38+00:00 | siouxlandproud.com | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/sports/hawkeye-headquarters/kaleb-brown-ready-to-put-his-head-down-and-grind-in-iowa-city/ |
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa looked relaxed and shared a joke with journalists as he made a brief appearance Sunday at a meeting of the African National Congress party's national working committee, which is discussing his political fate.
Ramaphosa's future hangs in the balance as he faces calls from within the ANC and from opposition parties to step down from his position amid a scandal involving the president's animal farm.
Ramaphosa was recused from Sunday's meeting of the ruling ANC, which came days after an independent parliamentary panel issued a report that suggested he may have broken anti-corruption laws.
The report follows a criminal complaint laid by the country’s former head of intelligence, Arthur Fraser, who has accused Ramaphosa of money laundering related to the theft of a large sum of cash from his farm in 2020.
The president has denied any wrongdoing in the matter. Addressing journalists briefly on Sunday, he noted it was ANC tradition that someone should be recused from a meeting that deals with issues that affect them personally.
However, Ramaphosa confirmed he planned to attend a Monday meeting of ANC's national executive committee, its highest decision-making body within conferences. The executive committee is tasked with making a final decision on Ramaphosa's future in the party.
“Tomorrow I will attend the national executive committee meeting as well, that is how everything will flow. After that it is up to the NEC, to which I am accountable, to make a decision,” Ramaphosa said.
Ramaphosa’s spokesman, Vincent Magwenya did not respond to questions Sunday regarding reports that Ramaphosa had no intention of resigning from his position and planned to challenge the findings of the report.
South African lawmakers are expected to debate the independent report on Tuesday and then vote on whether further action should be taken against the president, including whether to proceed with impeachment proceedings.
The report questioned his explanation that the money was from the sale of buffaloes to a Sudanese businessman, asking why the animals remained at the farm more than two years later.
It also said Ramaphosa put himself into a situation of conflict of interest, saying the evidence presented to it “establishes that the president may be guilty of a serious violation of certain sections of the constitution.”
___
Follow AP's coverage of Cyril Ramaphosa's presidency: https://apnews.com/hub/cyril-ramaphosa
Credit: STR
Credit: STR | 2022-12-04T16:28:59+00:00 | daytondailynews.com | https://www.daytondailynews.com/nation-world/south-african-president-awaits-party-decision-on-his-fate/EXTM5I7TJJDIRNBB5YADL4F2WI/ |
Unlike the previous two years, the Mustangs will surely be tested in their quest for another state title in girls wrestling, but the path to a third consecutive 4A championship is certainly a navigable one.
That’s because Mountain Crest fared very well at the 4A Division B Championships, which took place last Saturday at Dixie High School. The Lady Mustangs crowned an impressive 11 champions, had six other finalists and qualified all 28 of their athletes to this week’s state tournament.
By the time the dust had settled, Mountain Crest had amassed a whopping 534 points, which was 399 more than runner-up Crimson Cliffs. Sky View was third with 119 points, followed by Logan (84), Cedar City (77) and host Dixie (50).
“I was super proud of how well our girls performed,” MC head coach Susan Dart said. “Our girls were focused and came ready to wrestle. We had so many great performances. I can’t say enough about how hard these girls work to be the very best they can be. Twenty-four out of our 28 girls placed in the top three. We had 17 girls in the finals and 11 champions. I feel that we are positioned well for the state tournament.”
The other seven 4A programs were at Snow Canyon High School for the 4A Division B Championships and, as expected, Bear River dominated with 418 points. Region 11 teams swept the top three spots as Green Canyon was second with 173 points, followed by Ridgeline with 133. Rounding out the field were Pine View (111), Desert Hills (72), Snow Canyon (46) and Hurricane (25).
Bear River crowned nine champions in Sadie Hardy (100-pound weight class), Rachel Epling (105), Livia Meeds (110), Bella Gunderson (115), Samara Ward (120), Abigail Trayhorn (140), Rhees Hatch (145), Eve Kallsup (155) and Sydnee Nielson (190), and will send a total of 24 grapplers to state.
Leading the charge for Mountain Crest at divisionals were titleists Jayci Tolman (100), Amelia Choate (105), Mattee Turnbow (110), Dani Alexander (115), Jacie Shock (120), Eastyn Nyman (130), Hailee Sharp (140), Emmalee White (145), Hadley Glenn (155), Gracie Howard (170) and Brooke Keller (190). Not only did the Mustangs finish with 11 of the 14 champions, they squared off against each other in five of the championship matches.
Mountain Crest’s six other finalists were Addilyn Baxter (100), Shelby Bevan (105), Kimberlynn Andersen (110), Kaitlin Lofthouse (125), Brooke McDougal (140) and Kalie Jensen (235). Lofthouse lost by one point to a returning 4A runner-up from Crimson Cliffs.
The Mustangs also had seven athletes who placed third in their respective weight classes in Audrey Rollins (115), Erin Smith (120), Ally Taylor (125), Anna Van Huss (135), Maggi Budge (145), Laura Stabile (155) and Rachel Godfrey (235). Additionally, Mountain Crest will be represented at state by Lizzie Evans (4th place, 130), Talya Summers (4th, 135), Paige Larson (5th, 170), Sujeili Martinez (4th, 190).
Sky View will be sending 10 wrestlers to state, led by divisional champion Marjorie Tauti (235), plus finalists Shea Buttars (130) and Catherine Fitzgerald (145). Other Bobcats who punched their ticket to state are Sable Morris (4th, 110), Hannah Belnap (5th, 120), Alanie-Jordyn Phoeut (6th, 135), Sarah Beckstead (5th, 135), Braylyn Vicars (4th, 145), Abby Hunt (5th, 155) and Danika Bair (4th, 235).
The Grizzlies had four consolation champions in Grey Stone (105), Breanna Young (110), Alaina Helm (170) and Anna Trevizo (190). Logan’s other four state qualifiers are Kelly Morales (4th, 105), Jusmyra Molina (5th, 110), MaryAnn Rincon (6th, 120) and Dasha Juarez-Martinez (4th, 125).
Meanwhile, it was a memorable Division A tourney for the Wolves, who had seven grapplers earn the right to stand on one of the top three spots of the podium. Kiah Saurey (135) and Jorilyn Herzog (170) will enter the state tournament as No. 1 seeds, while Gracie Blake (130) and Emily Cantwell (190) will be seeded second. Green Canyon’s three consolation champions were Amberly Shelley (125), Brooklyn Petersen (170) and Kaetla Pierce (190).
Rounding out Green Canyon’s state tourney roster are Onnika Christensen (5th, 110), Zoe Brown (4th, 120), Addison Hills (4th, 130), Allie Mitchell (5th, 155) and Sadie Olson (6th, 155).
“I am so proud of how hard the girls have worked to place second (at divisionals),” GC head coach Mindy Blake said. “They put our motto of ‘hard work’ into action and exhibited strength, determination and belief in themselves that showed on the mat. I feel like every girl that wrestled should feel like a champ in her own right. They all practiced, drilled, pushed their partners, worked their mindset and walked out on the mat. It is definitely rewarding, though, to watch Kai and Jori tap into their greatness to come out on top.”
Leading the way for Ridgeline were finalists Keagan Grange (105) and Emi Stahl (125), plus consolation champs Lorelai Woodard (115), Taya Crookston (120) and Breanne Lundahl (135). Grange was edged by two points in the championship round.
The Riverhawks have 11 state qualifiers, in all, with Kinley Searle (4th, 110), Tayla Warren (5th, 115), Isabel Brenchley (5th, 120), Brooklyn McBride (4th, 140), Sarah Walsh (5th, 140) and Caroline Kirk (4th, 155) also joining the fray. | 2023-02-14T01:58:35+00:00 | hjnews.com | https://www.hjnews.com/sports/school/prep-girls-wrestling-mustangs-dominate-at-4a-division-b-tourney/article_3f09d318-abfe-11ed-a83c-2f3b08565b92.html |
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Republican J.D. Vance has defeated Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan, becoming the first Ohioan to be elected to the U.S. Senate without prior political experience in decades.
Ryan conceded shortly after 11 p.m., according to both campaigns. As of 11:15 p.m., Vance, a writer and venture capitalist led Ryan, a longtime congressman from the Youngstown area, by 280,282 votes, or 54% to 46%. With control of the U.S. Senate up for grabs, the win ensures the seat currently held by retiring Sen. Rob Portman will remain in Republican hands.
“We just got a great chance to govern, and I promise to try to use it,” Vance told an audience of supporters at an Ohio Republican Party event at a hotel in Downtown Columbus. “To all my friends who are going to be at the Statehouse and in the state capitol, we need better leadership in Washington, and that’s what I promise to fight for every day.”
Striking a conciliatory tone, Ryan also called Ryan’s concession call “very gracious.”
“I know Tim Ryan, we disagree on a lot of issues. But the guy obviously loves the state of Ohio. I appreciate the effort he put in,” Vance said.
Ryan also addressed supporters at a separate campaign event in Youngstown.
Vance will succeed Portman, who shocked the Ohio political world in January 2021 when he decided not to run for reelection. Following a bruising Republican primary, which Vance won with a late endorsement from ex-President Donald Trump, the race emerged as an unexpected battleground race. It drew national attention as Democrats try to figure out whether they have a recipe to regain the ground they’ve lost in Ohio and other similar states.
Vance is the first Ohioan elected to the Senate without prior political experience since John Glenn, a Democrat and former astronaut, won a seat in 1974. But even Glenn, a national hero as the first American to orbit the Earth, ran for the office twice before eventually winning.
Vance launched what turned out to be a political career in 2016, when he published his best-selling memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy,” that later was adapted into a Netflix movie. He leveraged fame from his book, and his repeated criticisms of then-candidate Trump, into a job as a political commentator and in-demand public speaker.
Vance since has converted on Trump, saying the former president won him over with his policies. In the process, he’s taken up political views that, in contrast to the mild-mannered politics associated with Portman, pledges to do battle with progressive cultural forces that Republicans view as having taken over big business, higher education and the media.
Ryan, meanwhile, fell short in his first statewide run after flirting with doing so for nearly 20 years. During this campaign he’s tacked toward the political center, de-emphasizing hot-button social issues while trying to paint Vance as an extremist. In the process, Ryan downplayed or pivoted from more liberal positions he staked out earlier in his career, including a short-lived run for president in 2019.
Ryan was hoping to follow in the footsteps of Sen. Sherrod Brown, who in 2018 was reelected in a year Republicans won every other non-judicial statewide office.
But even in defeat, Ryan could get credit for forcing national Republicans to spend tens of millions of dollars defending a Republican-held seat that wasn’t expected to be competitive. While votes are still being counted, he looks likely to outrun Nan Whaley, the Democratic candidate for governor, by around 10 percentage points.
He also got national praise for running an energetic campaign, and he managed to use a massive fundraising advantage to make the race surprisingly competitive.
Ryan raised a record-setting $48 million for his Senate campaign, quadruple what Vance directly raised and shattering the record Brown set in 2018. Vance, meanwhile largely has relied on outside donors, getting more than $30 million from a Super PAC with close ties to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Ryan used his fundraising advantage to flood TV airwaves over the summer, attempting to brand himself as a political independent and define Vance as a phony.
But Republicans evened out the money advantage in August, when the McConnell-aligned PAC, the Senate Majority Fund, decided to get involved and aired attack ads tying Ryan to his support of President Joe Biden’s agenda.
The increased spending coincided with Vance establishing a narrow edge in the polls, with Vance’s advantage solidifying into a comfortable lead in the race’s final days.
On the Republican side, the race likely is going to get caught up in the party’s internal power struggle between McConnell and Trump.
McConnell’s allies privately have taken credit for financially rescuing Vance, putting the two candidates’ on even footing in television advertising. But Trump also held a last-minute rally for Vance near Dayton, and a pro-Trump Super PAC spent another $2 million on advertising boosting Vance.
With this year’s U.S. Senate race in the rear view mirror, Ohio’s political scene likely is soon to switch its attention to 2024, when Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown will be up for re-election.
Brown has indicated he’s likely to run, although hasn’t yet officially announced it. He’ll be one of three Senate Democrats from Trump states who will be defending their seats, making it a near-certainty the race will be under a national microscope.
Brown issued a statement Tuesday night congratulating Vance and thanking Ryan for running.
“I look forward to working with J.D. when it’s in the best interests of all Ohioans and continue the work Senator Portman and I have done to move our state forward,” Brown said. “Congratulations also to Tim Ryan for running a strong race that was centered in the Dignity of Work. Tim and his team should be proud of their campaign, and I know Tim has a bright future ahead of him, serving Ohio and fighting for working families.” | 2022-11-09T05:03:12+00:00 | cleveland.com | https://www.cleveland.com/news/2022/11/republican-jd-vance-wins-ohios-us-senate-race-defeating-democrat-tim-ryan.html |
KHERSON, Ukraine (AP) — Fleeing shelling, civilians on Saturday streamed out of the southern Ukrainian city whose recapture they had celebrated just weeks earlier.
The exodus from Kherson came as Ukraine solemnly remembered a Stalin-era famine and sought to ensure that Russia’s war in Ukraine doesn’t deprive others worldwide of its vital food exports.
A line of trucks, vans and cars, some towing trailers or ferrying out pets and other belongings, stretched a kilometer or more on the outskirts of the city of Kherson.
Days of intensive shelling by Russian forces prompted a bittersweet exodus: Many civilians were happy that their city had been won back, but lamented that they couldn’t stay.
“It is sad that we are leaving our home,” said Yevhen Yankov, as a van he was in inched forward. “Now we are free, but we have to leave, because there is shelling, and there are dead among the population.”
Poking her head out from the back, Svitlana Romanivna added: “We went through real hell. Our neighborhood was burning, it was a nightmare. Everything was in flames.”
Emilie Fourrey, emergency project coordinator for aid group Doctors Without Borders in Ukraine, said an evacuation of 400 patients of Kherson’s psychiatric hospital, which is situated near both an electrical plant and the frontline, had begun on Thursday and was set to continue in the coming days.
Ukraine in recent days has faced a blistering onslaught of Russian artillery fire and drone attacks, with the shelling especially intense in Kherson. Often the barrage has largely targeted infrastructure, though civilian casualties have been reported. Repair crews across the country were scrambling to restore heat, electricity and water services that were blasted into disrepair.
Russia has ratcheted up its attacks on critical infrastructure after suffering battlefield setbacks. A prominent Russian nationalist said Saturday the Russian military doesn’t have enough doctors, in what was a rare public admission of problems within the military.
In the capital Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy oversaw a busy day of diplomacy, welcoming several European Union leaders for meetings and hosting an “International Summit on Food Security” to discuss food security and agricultural exports from the country. A deal brokered by the U.N. and Turkey has allowed for safe exports of Ukrainian grain in the Black Sea amid wartime disruptions that have affected traffic.
“The total amount we have raised for ‘Grain from Ukraine’ is already about $150 million. The work continues,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly TV address. “We are preparing up to 60 ships. All of us together do not just send Ukrainian agricultural products to those countries that suffer the most from the food crisis. We reaffirm that hunger should never again be used as a weapon.”
The prime ministers of Belgium, Poland and Lithuania and the president of Hungary were on hand, many others participated by video. Zelenskyy said more than 20 countries supported the summit.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Ukraine — despite its own financial straits — has allocated 900 million hryvna ($24 million) to purchase corn for countries including Yemen, Sudan, Kenya and Nigeria.
Our food security summit was supported by more than 20 countries. The total amount we have raised for ‘Grain from Ukraine’ is already about 150 million US dollars. The work continues. We are preparing up to 60 ships. All of us together do not just send Ukrainian agricultural products to those countries that suffer the most from the food crisis. We reaffirm that hunger should never again be used as a weapon.
The reminder about food supplies was timely: Ukrainians were marking the 90th anniversary of the start of the “Holodomor,” or Great Famine, which killed more than 3 million people over two years as the Soviet government under dictator Josef Stalin confiscated food and grain supplies and deported many Ukrainians.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz marked the commemoration by drawing parallels with the impact of the war on Ukraine on world markets. Exports from Ukraine have resumed under a U.N.-brokered deal but have still been far short of pre-war levels, driving up global prices.
“Today, we stand united in stating that hunger must never again be used as a weapon,” Scholz said in a video message. “That is why we cannot tolerate what we are witnessing: The worst global food crisis in years with abhorrent consequences for millions of people – from Afghanistan to Madagascar, from the Sahel to the Horn of Africa.”
He said Germany, with the U.N.’s World Food Program, will provide an additional 15 million euros for further grain shipments from Ukraine.
Scholz spokes as a cross-party group of lawmakers in Germany are seeking to pass a parliamentary resolution next week that would recognize the 1930s famine as “genocide.”
Last year Ukraine and Russia provided around 30% of the world’s exported wheat and barley, 20% of its corn, and over 50% of its sunflower oil, the U.N. has said.
In a post on the Telegram social network on Saturday, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said more than 3,000 specialists for a local utility continued to work “around the clock” and had succeeded in restoring heat to more than more than 90% of residential buildings. While about one-quarter of Kyiv residents remained without electricity, he said water serviced had been returned to all in the city.
The scramble to restore power came as Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo met Saturday with Zelenskyy in Kyiv.
“This might be a difficult winter,” he said, alluding to Belgium’s contributions of generators, and support for schools and hospitals in Ukraine, as well as military aid such as “fuel, machine guns, propelled artillery and so on.”
“And by standing here, we hope that we provide you hope and resilience in fighting through this difficult period.”
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Keaten reported from Kyiv, Ukraine. | 2022-11-26T23:34:11+00:00 | cenlanow.com | https://www.cenlanow.com/international/ap-international/ap-ukraine-works-to-restore-water-power-after-russian-strikes/ |
The vast majority of candidates running to become their states’ chief election officers oppose hand counting ballots, a laborious and error-prone process that has gained favor among some Republicans embracing conspiracy theories about voting machines.
An Associated Press survey of major party secretary of state candidates in the 24 states found broad skepticism about hand counting among election professionals of all ideological stripes. Of 23 Republicans who responded to the survey, 13 clearly said they opposed implementing a statewide hand count of ballots instead of a machine count.
GOP candidates in Arizona and New Mexico have previously endorsed the idea of a hand count. But others cautioned it was a dangerous road to follow.
“Hand counting ballots is a process that requires time, manpower, and is prone to inaccuracies,” Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a Republican who is seeking re-election this year, wrote in response to the AP survey.
The desire to hand count ballots stems from conspiracy theories spread by former President Donald Trump and his allies that the electronic machines that tabulated the results of the 2020 presidential election were rigged. Now some Republicans inspired by his election lies seek to expand or require hand counting of all ballots.
Counting by hand takes longer, requires large groups of people to examine ballots, and has been found by multiple studies to be less reliable than using voting machines.
“The reason the U.S. moved to counting machines is due to both human error and fraud with hand counts, so we looked for a better way to count the vote,” said Kim Crockett, the Republican nominee for secretary of state in Minnesota, in an email. “The error rate for hand counts is higher than the error rate for ballot counters in most cases.”
Crockett, who has called the 2020 election “rigged” and echoed some of Trump’s other election falsehoods, also stressed that she thinks her state’s voting machines still need further inspection.
The process came under scrutiny last week when rural Nye County in Nevada embarked on an unprecedented full hand count of this year’s midterm votes, starting with mailed ballots and those cast early in-person. The process was painstakingly slow until it was halted by the state’s supreme court over concerns that early vote tallies could be leaked publicly.
While the AP survey found most candidates strongly favor machine tabulators, two GOP secretary of state candidates in politically pivotal states — Arizona and New Mexico — want to shift to the unreliable method of counting ballots. A third in yet another swing state, Nevada, has backed Nye County’s effort and voiced support for making that sort of procedure standard statewide.
In Arizona, Republican State Rep. Mark Finchem, who is running for secretary of state, joined his party’s nominee for governor, Kari Lake, in filing a lawsuit seeking to outlaw the use of any machine to record or tabulate votes. The case was dismissed by a judge who levied sanctions against the Republicans.
In New Mexico, GOP secretary of state nominee Audrey Trujillo has said she wants widespread hand counting of votes.
“Hand count my ballot. We already have paper ballots,” she said in an interview on the video platform Rumble. “If we had that, I guarantee you tons more people would go out and vote.”
Neither Finchem nor Trujillo responded to the AP’s survey.
Nevada’s Republican secretary of state candidate has offered conflicting responses. A campaign spokesman for Republican nominee Jim Marchant told the AP that Marchant would be fine with a machine count as long as there also are paper ballots, which are universally used in Nevada. But the prior month, Marchant told the AP in a separate interview, “My goal is to go to a hand count paper ballot system.”
Nevada’s current secretary of state, Republican Barbara Cegavske, told interim Nye County Clerk Mark Kampf to halt the hand count of early arriving mailed ballots and early in-person votes until after polls close Nov. 8 following a ruling late last week from the state’s high court. The state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union had sought to halt the hand count over concerns that observers could hear the results as they were announced, risking a potential public leak of early returns.
The nascent hand-count had been riddled with problems on its first day, with repeated delays and errors among the volunteer staff of 12 teams of five split into two different shifts. They got through 900 of 1,950 ballots on the first day, with one volunteer lamenting the slow pace: “I can’t believe it’s two hours to get through 25.”
An AP reporter observed two teams of five taking as long as three hours to count 50 ballots. When teams realized they had mismatched tallies for certain candidates, they would stop and recount the ballots for those candidates again. That effort followed a hand count in another rural Nevada county, Esmeralda, where election workers in June spent more than seven hours hand-tallying the 317 primary ballots.
Kampf said the teams improved during the second day.
Eleven candidates, mostly Republicans, did not respond to the AP’s survey, including one of the most prominent election conspiracy theorists running for the position — Republican Kristina Karamo in Michigan, a community college instructor who has spreading the lie that voting machines in 2020 were rigged.
“Election deniers are using the language of election integrity to dismantle the actual infrastructure of election integrity,” said David Becker, the co-author of “The Big Truth,” a book about the risks of Trump’s voting lies, and executive director of the Center for Election Innovation & Research. “If you want inaccurate results that take a really long time and cost a lot, then hand counting is your solution.”
Voting machines are routinely checked before and after voting to make sure they count accurately. The post-election test usually involves pulling a sample of random ballots and counting them by hand to see if the automated tally differs.
But repeated studies — in voting and other fields such as banking and retail — have shown that people make far more errors counting than do machines, especially when reaching larger and larger numbers. They’re also vastly slower.
Jennifer Morrell, a former local election official in Colorado and Utah, noted that hand counts are enormously labor-intensive. The election consulting firm where she works estimated that in a typical-sized jurisdiction of 270,000 voters, it would take 1,300 people to count the ballots within seven days.
That’s because the typical ballot has dozens of races on it, which machines tabulate automatically but humans would have to count line by line, page by page.
“Voting equipment is uniform and efficient in a way that humans will never be,” Morrell said.
___
Associated Press statehouse reporters from around the U.S. contributed to this report.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of the elections at: https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections
Check out https://apnews.com/hub/explaining-the-elections to learn more about the issues and factors at play in the 2022 midterm elections. | 2022-11-01T16:47:37+00:00 | seattletimes.com | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation-politics/most-candidates-for-top-election-posts-say-no-to-hand-counts/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
Authorities say a man accused of robbing a Fulton convenience store at gunpoint is still on the loose.
Fulton police said Tuesday that an unidentified white man wearing dark clothing and a blue ski mask robbed the Break Time convenience store on North Bluff Street late Saturday night. Investigators say the suspect pointed a gun at the cashier, demanded money and then ran away with an undisclosed amount of cash.
No arrests reported yet. | 2023-03-29T05:44:33+00:00 | kwos.com | https://kwos.com/2023/03/fulton-pd-suspect-wanted-after-weekend-armed-robbery/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — Every once in a while, Giancarlo Stanton hits a ball so hard and so far that Yankees manager Aaron Boone almost is puzzled it was humanly possible.
Stanton smashed a titanic home run to center field, Aaron Judge also went deep and Jhony Brito won his brilliant major league debut as New York beat the San Francisco Giants 6-0 on Sunday.
“Yeah, G is weird. Every time he comes in after one of those, I just tell him, ‘You’re weird. You’re different,'” Boone said.
Kyle Higashioka also homered off Ross Stripling, who served up all three long balls in his first start for San Francisco, and the Yankees took two of three in the initial series of the season.
Brito (1-0) yielded two hits — one a bunt single — over five impressive innings after needing 27 pitches to get through the first. He struck out six and walked one, showcasing a polished changeup to put away batters.
“I think he’s going to be one of those frontline starters for the Yankees years to come,” Giants first baseman J.D. Davis said. “Deadly fastball-changeup combo.”
With projected starters Carlos Rodón, Luis Severino and Frankie Montas sidelined by injuries, the 25-year-old right-hander from the Dominican Republic won a spot in New York’s rotation with a strong spring that included 5 1/3 perfect innings against Toronto his last time out.
“I thought he was fantastic,” Higashioka said. “We need guys to step up, and he definitely rose to the occasion.”
Brito went a combined 11-4 with a 2.96 ERA at Double-A and Triple-A last season.
“Very at ease out there,” Boone said. “Just a really good performance and an important performance for us.”
Stripling (0-1) escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first, but Judge lined his second home run of the season to left field in the third.
Anthony Rizzo followed with a sharp single and Stanton launched a 485-foot drive to nearly straightaway center field that soared way over the tinted restaurant windows above Monument Park. The ball even cleared the camera perch above that and landed on a pedestrian walkway in front of a bar.
Stanton lingered a bit to admire the 118-mph drive and then tossed his bat aside before rounding the bases. It was his second-longest home run since Statcast began tracking in 2015, behind a 504-foot shot at Coors Field in August 2016, and the third-longest at Yankee Stadium during that time, behind two homers by Judge in 2017 that surpassed 490 feet.
“That’s cool that it’s up there. I don’t worry about that too much. It just put us in a good spot to win,” Stanton said. “As long as it goes over the fence, that’s cool with me.”
Stanton also homered Saturday but then grounded into a game-ending double play with the bases loaded in a 7-5 loss.
Higashioka connected leading off the fourth against Stripling, who gave up four runs in five innings. The right-hander won 10 games with a 3.01 ERA for Toronto last season before signing a $25 million, two-year contract with the Giants.
New York added two runs in the seventh without a hit, thanks to three walks and three wild pitches by 6-foot-11 reliever Sean Hjelle. Rizzo drove in rookie Anthony Volpe with a sacrifice fly.
Ron Marinaccio put down a San Francisco threat in the sixth and struck out the side in the seventh. Colten Brewer worked two hitless innings in his Yankees debut to finish the three-hitter.
It’s the first time the Yankees have thrown two shutouts within the first three games of a season.
New York improved to 29-2, including the playoffs, when Judge and Stanton homer in the same game.
“We’ve got to keep doing it,” Stanton said.
CENTER OF ATTENTION
Isiah Kiner-Falefa made a good catch in the first inning and had no trouble in center field for the Yankees — his first major league appearance in the outfield.
“I felt really good,” he said.
Kiner-Falefa was New York’s primary shortstop last season but was shaky in the field and provided little offense. He has been moved to a utility role this year.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Giants: Placed catcher Joey Bart on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to March 31, with a strain in the middle of his back. “We don’t expect it to be a long-term thing,” manager Gabe Kapler said. “We discussed the possibility of like, seven days. Maybe a few more.” Hjelle was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento.
Yankees: RHP Tommy Kahnle (biceps tendinitis) will probably start playing catch in the next couple of days, Boone said. … INF DJ LeMahieu was rested.
UP NEXT
Giants: RHP Anthony DeSclafani starts Monday afternoon against White Sox RHP Michael Kopech in Chicago’s home opener. San Francisco plays nine straight day games to begin the season.
Yankees: All-Star LHP Nestor Cortes gets his first start of the season Monday night at home against NL champion Philadelphia. RHP Taijuan Walker makes his Phillies debut.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2023-04-03T20:10:38+00:00 | wjhl.com | https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-world-sports/stanton-goes-deep-judge-also-backs-brito-as-yanks-blank-sf/ |
NEW YORK, July 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Terra Property Trust, Inc. ("TPT"), a real estate investment trust externally managed by a subsidiary of Mavik Capital Management, LP ("Mavik"), today announced that it has acquired approximately 5.2% of the outstanding shares of common stock of AG Mortgage Investment Trust, Inc. (NYSE: MITT) ("MITT") as of July 24, 2023, making TPT the second-largest stockholder of MITT.
As disclosed in a Schedule 13D filed today by TPT and other reporting persons, TPT believes that MITT is undervalued and intends to consider all options to unlock this value in a constructive manner for its stockholders, including, without limitation, a strategic combination involving MITT. TPT may engage in discussions with members of management and the Board of Directors of MITT, other current or prospective stockholders, industry analysts, investment and financing professionals, equity and debt financing sources, and other third parties regarding a variety of matters relating to MITT, which may include, among other things, its business, management, capital structure and allocation, corporate governance, board composition, strategic alternatives and direction and suggestions for improving its financial and/or operational performance. TPT also may take other steps seeking to bring about changes to increase value for MITT stockholders.
TPT remains firmly committed to completing the merger contemplated by its executed merger agreement with Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation (NYSE: WMC) ("WMC") in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Important Additional Information and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed merger between WMC and TPT (the "Merger"), WMC expects to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a registration statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") that contains a prospectus of WMC that will also include a joint proxy statement of WMC and TPT (the "joint proxy statement/prospectus"). The joint proxy statement/prospectus will contain important information about WMC, TPT, the proposed merger and related matters. WMC and TPT also expect to file with the SEC other documents regarding the merger. STOCKHOLDERS OF WMC AND TPT ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS (INCLUDING ALL AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT ARE FILED OR WILL BE FILED BY WMC AND TPT WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS) CAREFULLY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE SUCH DOCUMENTS WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT WMC, TPT, AND THE PROPOSED MERGER AND RELATED MATTERS. Stockholders of WMC and TPT may obtain free copies of the Registration Statement, the joint proxy statement/prospectus and all other documents filed or that will be filed by WMC or TPT with the SEC (if and when they become available) through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of documents filed with the SEC by WMC will be made available free of charge on WMC's website at http://www.westernassetmcc.com, or by directing a request to its Investor Relations, Attention: Larry Clark at (310) 622-8223; email: lclark@finprofiles.com. Copies of documents filed with the SEC by TPT will be made available free of charge on TPT's website at https://www.terrapropertytrust.com, or by directing a request to its Investor Relations at (212) 257-4666; email: ir@mavikcapital.com.
This communication is for informational purposes only and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made, except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").
Participants in Solicitation Relating to the Merger
WMC, TPT, and their respective directors and executive officers, and certain other affiliates of WMC or TPT may be deemed to be "participants" in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of WMC and TPT in respect of the Merger. Information regarding WMC and its directors and executive officers and their ownership of common stock of WMC can be found in WMC's definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on May 2, 2023, and its most recent Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. Information regarding TPT and its directors and executive officers and their ownership of common stock of TPT can be found in TPT's definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 26, 2023, and its most recent Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. Additional information regarding the interests of such potential participants will be included in the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed Merger if and when they become available. These documents are available free of charge on the SEC's website and from WMC or TPT, as applicable, using the sources indicated above.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes "forward-looking statements," as such term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provided by the same. These forward-looking statements are based on current assumptions, expectations, and beliefs of WMC and TPT and are subject to a number of trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. TPT cannot give any assurance that these forward-looking statements will be accurate. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "target," "should," "expect," "attempt," "anticipate," "project," "estimate," "intend," "seek," "continue," or "believe," or the negatives thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. Similarly, statements herein that describe certain plans, expectations, goals, projections, and statements about the proposed Merger, including its financial and operational impact, the benefits of the Merger, the expected timing of completion of the Merger, and other statements of management's beliefs, intentions or goals also are forward-looking statements. It is uncertain whether any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do, what impact they will have on the results of operations and financial condition of the combined company. There are a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the parties' control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements included herein, including, but not limited to, the risk that the Merger will not be consummated within the expected time period or at all; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Agreement; the inability to obtain stockholder approvals relating the Merger and issuance of shares in connection therewith or the failure to satisfy the other conditions to completion of the Merger in a timely manner or at all; risks related to disruption of management's attention from ongoing business operations due to the proposed Merger; the risk that any announcements relating to the Merger could have adverse effects on the market price of common stock of WMC; the risk that the Merger and its announcement could have an adverse effect on the operating results and businesses of WMC and TPT; the outcome of any legal proceedings relating to the Merger; the ability to successfully integrate the businesses following the Merger; the ability to retain key personnel; conditions in the market for mortgage-related investments; availability of suitable investment opportunities; changes in interest rates; changes in the yield curve; changes in prepayment rates; the availability and terms of financing; general economic conditions; market conditions; inflationary pressures on the capital markets and the general economy; conditions in the market for commercial and residential loans, securities and other investments; legislative and regulatory changes that could adversely affect the businesses of WMC or TPT; risks related to the origination and ownership of loans and other assets, which are typically short-term loans that are subject to higher interest rates, transaction costs and uncertainty on loan repayments; risks relating to any future impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the responses of governments and industries, on the real estate sector; credit risks; servicing-related risks, including those associated with foreclosure and liquidation; the state of the U.S. and to a lesser extent, international economy generally or in specific geographic regions; the general volatility of the securities markets in which WMC or TPT participate; WMC or TPT's ability to maintain their respective qualification as a real estate investment trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes; and WMC or TPT's ability to maintain their respective exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. All such factors are difficult to predict, including those risks set forth in the WMC's annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K that are available on its website at http://www.westernassetmcc.com and on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov, and those risks set forth in TPT's annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K that are available on TPT's website at http://www.terrapropertytrust.com and on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof. TPT undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by applicable law.
About TPT
TPT originates, invests in, and manages loans, securities, and assets secured by commercial real estate across the US. The company has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 2016.
Media Contacts
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SOURCE Terra Property Trust, Inc. | 2023-07-25T21:45:28+00:00 | wymt.com | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2023/07/25/terra-property-trust-acquires-52-stake-ag-mortgage-investment-trust-unlock-value/ |
ATLANTA (AP) — Democrats in Georgia predict dire outcomes should Sen. Raphael Warnock lose to challenger Herschel Walker this fall and Republicans regain control of Capitol Hill.
“They’re going to take away our democratic rights one after another,” longtime state lawmaker Nan Orrock warned partisans at a birthday party for the senator, who turned 53 on July 23. “Failure,” she said, “is not an option.”
Warnock took a different tack.
“I work with anybody to get something good done for the people of Georgia,” he told the same crowd, highlighting a trio of Republican senators with whom he has made legislative deals. Warnock mentioned President Joe Biden’s name just once and referred several other times only to “the president of the United States,” trying to distinguish himself from Biden — and the rising inflation that has marked his term.
Running for his first full Senate term, Warnock is pitching himself as a senator willing to do whatever it takes to help his state. That’s a shift from his approach in what were nationally elevated twin runoff campaigns won by Warnock and fellow Georgia Democrat Jon Ossoff in January 2021, giving their party Senate control two months after Biden was elected president.
Now, with inflation up and Biden’s popularity down, Warnock requires a more nuanced argument, and he’s selling his work in Washington, especially on the economy, as something distinct from the White House and the Senate’s Democratic leadership.
Republicans sense an opportunity in a state they dominated for two decades before 2020. Walker, a first-time candidate like Warnock was two years ago, is making every effort to shape the contest as a referendum on what his campaign calls the “Biden-Warnock agenda.”
“This is still a national race,” said Gail Gitcho, a senior adviser to Walker. “The burden is on Raphael Warnock and the extremely close ties he has to Joe Biden in this environment. Herschel has put him on the defensive.”
Warnock’s strategy of playing up his “bipartisan” credentials and leaving other Democrats to attack Republicans and rally the party faithful could be the incumbent’s only shot to recreate his runoff coalition. In that election, Democrats were united and enthusiastic; Republicans were not, especially GOP-leaning moderates whom then-President Donald Trump alienated with his lies that Biden’s victory was fraudulent. Some of those voters helped Warnock to his 94,000-vote win a 2% margin. This time, Warnock cannot depend on Trump to push those key swing voters in his direction.
Attracting them again starts with not directly dignifying Republican attacks.
Asked about Walker’s broadsides, Warnock ignored specifics and bemoaned “demagogues trying to divide us.”
He pivoted again when asked about Biden’s performance. “I’m focused on the job I’m doing,” Warnock said. “When that means standing with this person or that person, it’s based on what it does for Georgia.”
Even on the president’s accomplishments, Warnock avoids partisan cheerleading. He hailed the American Rescue Plan, a coronavirus relief package passed without any Republican votes, for its tax cuts aimed at lower-income workers. He praised a long-sought infrastructure bill as a “bipartisan” success that included “the Cruz-Warnock amendment.”
“Hear me out, now,” Warnock said, laughing as some of his supporters jeered Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. The two men, Warnock explained, wanted to make the eastward expansion of Interstate 14 — now just a short stretch in central Texas — a federal priority. Because a Senate committee hadn’t endorsed the idea, the unlikely partners had to work the full Senate.
The amendment passed unanimously.
“Guess what: The highway that runs through Texas also runs through Georgia,” Warnock said. “It goes past red districts and blue districts. … Everybody needs to be able to get to where they need to go.”
Warnock noted other efforts with Republican Sens. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama and Marco Rubio of Florida. With Tuberville, he led a measure that would open European markets to peanut farmers in their two states. With Rubio, he worked on legislation to improve maternal mortality rates in the United States.
Tuberville is a staunch Trump ally. Rubio came to Georgia to campaign against Warnock at the outset of the runoff campaign. Warnock didn’t mention those details.
As for the uneven economy, Warnock notably referred to “global inflation” while sidestepping Biden.
He noted his work on a jobs and technology measure, which cleared the Senate on Wednesday with 17 Republican votes. The bill, which aims to boost computer chip production in the United States, would strengthen supply chains and expand national technology production, among other investments, Warnock explained.
The senator emphasized his proposals to cap insulin costs for people with diabetes and allow Medicare to negotiate for lower drug prices from pharmaceutical companies. He reminded supporters that he called on Congress to suspend the federal gas tax in February, early in the 2022 energy price surge.
“Somebody must have been listening,” Warnock said, because Georgia’s Republican administration suspended the state gas tax in March and “the president of the United States is now on record saying we should suspend the gas tax” nationally.
Warnock reminded reporters that he came out swinging when Biden’s budget plans called for closing the Pentagon’s combat readiness center in Savannah. “I stood up against the administration” and “a terrible idea,” Warnock said, taking a position that aligns him with the Republicans in the state’s congressional delegation.
Additionally, he said he’s “pushing the president of the United States right now” on student loan cancellations for some borrowers. Biden’s Department of Education already has eased some rules on debt repayment, and the president is still considering a more blanket forgiveness up to a cap. The White House has said a decision on the amount could come in August.
In Walker’s camp, Gitcho relishes the thought of Warnock replicating scenes from the two-month runoff blitz, when Biden traveled twice to Georgia and shared stages with Warnock and Ossoff. “The best surrogate Warnock could have,” she said of the beleaguered president. “But we know that won’t happen.”
Warnock instead appears ready to brandish his party credentials carefully. In fundraising solicitations and online ads, Warnock says he’s “running to keep Georgia blue.” But the campaign targets those to reliable Democratic voters.
Standing over birthday cakes and candles, the senator fondly recalled his runoff victory and thanked Georgians who “gave us the narrowest majority.”
“Think about what would have happened had it gone the other way,” he allowed. But at his crescendo 15 minutes later, the Baptist minister went bigger — and perhaps toward a potentially decisive middle.
“We are one nation,” he said, voice rising. “We are one people. And come November, Georgia is going to do it one more time.”
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Follow AP for full coverage of the midterms at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections and on Twitter, https://twitter.com/ap_politics | 2022-07-31T12:31:53+00:00 | seattletimes.com | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation-politics/sen-warnock-cites-bipartisanship-avoids-biden-in-georgia/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
WASHINGTON — Some of the hard-right lawmakers opposing Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., for speaker have nursed grudges against him for years. Others have not even been sworn in to Congress yet.
The revolt against McCarthy, who for years had been considered the obvious choice for speaker should Republicans win control of the House, has been led by a small coterie of ultraconservative lawmakers who have been the most outspoken about their opposition to him. It also includes a larger but quieter group of lawmakers who have long agitated for changes in the way the House operates, and a set of newcomers who have remained largely silent but are weighing their options.
With a razor-thin majority and Democrats all but certain to oppose him unanimously, McCarthy must secure near total support among Republicans to win the top post.
He has made a cornucopia of concessions in an attempt to sway his detractors, most notably by agreeing to a rule that would allow a snap vote at any time to oust the speaker. But the rebels have remained unmoved, even after prodding from former President Donald Trump, the most popular figure in the party, and a colleague, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia.
These are the House Republicans imperiling McCarthy’s bid for speaker:
The ringleaders
A group of five lawmakers were early leaders of the charge against McCarthy, with Reps. Matt Gaetz of Florida and Andy Biggs of Arizona, the former Freedom Caucus chair, emerging as the most vocal. The pair were two of Trump’s most aggressive allies during his presidency.
The group also includes Reps. Matt Rosendale of Montana, Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Bob Good of Virginia. Norman, an ultraconservative lawmaker, wrote to Mark Meadows, then Trump’s chief of staff, days before President Joe Biden’s inauguration advising him to urge Trump to “invoke Marshall Law,” as reported by Talking Points Memo.
Good, a self-described “biblical conservative” and former administrator at Liberty University, ascended to power after winning a primary against an incumbent Republican conducted by drive-through convention. He mounted the challenge after the incumbent, Denver Riggleman, himself an arch-conservative, faced backlash in his district for officiating a same-sex wedding for two of his campaign volunteers.
The ideological hard-liners
Fueling the fight against McCarthy is a group of hard-liners who have long complained that the House’s power structures give leaders too much influence and have argued for changes that would make it easier for small factions of dissenters to obstruct and change legislation.
Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, the wonky former chief of staff to Sen. Ted Cruz who is steeped in procedural knowledge, has been among the most vocal advocates of such an overhaul. So has Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, the current Freedom Caucus chair who played a key role in an unsuccessful plot by Trump to fire the acting attorney general who stood by the results of the 2020 election.
Another key player is Rep. Dan Bishop of North Carolina, who was the architect of his state’s “bathroom bill,” which required transgender people in public buildings to use the bathroom corresponding with the gender on their birth certificate.
The incoming freshmen
No Republican member-elect has yet declared opposition to McCarthy. But a few incoming members from deeply conservative districts have hinted at it or publicized their skepticism about his leadership, and others have stayed silent about how they plan to vote.
Reps.-elect Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, Eli Crane of Arizona and Andy Ogles of Tennessee have all signed on to letters indicating that they are unsatisfied with McCarthy’s concessions thus far.
“I’ve gotten a lot of emails from people telling me that they don’t want me to vote for Kevin McCarthy, and I do listen to what my constituents say,” Luna, who worked at Turning Point USA, the hard-right activist network for young conservatives, told Steve Bannon on his podcast over the weekend.
Crane, a former member of the Navy SEALs, has styled himself in the image of Trump, campaigning as an “America First candidate who is pro-life, pro-Second Amendment and has the courage to take a stand against cancel culture and the radical left.” He has also denounced an “invasion” at the U.S. border with Mexico.
Ogles is a former mayor who has called for the impeachment of Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
There are many of other incoming freshmen from ruby-red seats who could also defect, including Rep.-elect Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma. Brecheen promised voters he would resist being “groomed for conformity into moderate positions” in Washington and told a local paper last month that he was praying about whether to support McCarthy for speaker.
c.2022 The New York Times Company | 2023-01-03T15:35:16+00:00 | sun-sentinel.com | https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/ct-aud-nw-nyt-kevin-mccarthy-speaker-bid-20230103-driixddmg5gsrbjq377iieq6zm-story.html |
Multiple injured in shooting at N.C. college homecoming concert
SALISBURY, N.C. (WBTV/Gray News) - An altercation on the campus of a North Carolina college led to two people being shot during a homecoming concert, according to police
The Salisbury Police Department says officers arrived on the Livingstone College campus around 11 p.m. Saturday night. Officers found two people had been shot and several others had injuries from attempting to flee the scene.
Officials say there is no active threat to the college or the surrounding community.
Livingstone College said the people shot were not students, but members of the community attending the concert. Two Livingstone College students were injured attempting to flee from the altercation.
According to the department, the investigation indicates that there was no exchange of gunfire by those involved in the altercation. Investigators believe a person who is not a student at the college fired one or more shots. Police also say no suspects have been arrested at this time.
“Tragically, gun violence is a reality in every city and town in America. Unfortunately, a homecoming event for our alumni, students and friends turned violent when two members of the local community had a verbal altercation that led to shots being fired,” said Livingstone College President Dr. Anthony J. Davis.
Officials have not specified the extent of the others injured in the incident.
“Our students, alumni and their families did not deserve this. My prayer is that the perpetrators be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law swiftly and decisively,” Davis added.
The Salisbury Police Department is still investigating and encourages anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the department at (704) 638-5333.
Copyright 2022 WBTV via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2022-10-17T01:15:46+00:00 | newschannel10.com | https://www.newschannel10.com/2022/10/16/multiple-injured-shooting-nc-college-homecoming-concert/ |
LONDON DIARY: Reflections from the queue to mourn the queen
LONDON (AP) — A foreign correspondent, a consultant, a businessman, a retired accountant and his wife stand in a line for nearly eight hours.
That is how this story begins, once I claim my spot among a growing queue of mourners coming from all corners of the United Kingdom and the world to pay their last respects to Queen Elizabeth II in England’s capital.
It ends when the five of us exit the majestic hall — each in awe, in our own individual way, of the forces of change that swirl around us.
One step into the line, a volunteer named Kofi jots down my number; a wristband later confirms I am No. 3,017 in the queue.
I look back, and the chain of people has already grown by a dozen. It will stretch for miles along the south bank of the River Thames toward Westminster Hall, where the late queen is lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday.
We were told to expect this. Long waiting times, potentially for 30 hours, in lines that could stretch more than five miles.
A single-zip backpack was all we were allowed to bring; food and drink would be tossed before entering the hall. I packed as I would for a hostile assignment: Layers and waterproofs to account for the notoriously moody weather. Protein bars and a fully charged power bank. An obscene number of pens. And good shoes.
___
The first challenge is finding the end of the ever-moving queue. I start from the beginning, near the Albert Embankment, and work my way through the sea of humans from all walks of life who are lined up in single file.
My fellow queuers and I assess each other silently. There is Ramakant and his wife Usha, a retired pair with a passion for mountains. Daniel, a jolly businessman from Essex, specializes in office refurbishment. There is a consultant whose identity I’ve sworn to secrecy because she was skipping work to stand in line.
In the course of our normal lives, we are unlikely to ever cross paths. But the forces of history have somehow bound us together, at least for these next few hours. Quietly, not explicitly, a sense of community has mysteriously formed between us.
We have different reasons for coming. Ramakant and Usha adored the queen. Daniel admired her dedication. For the unnamed consultant, saying goodbye to the queen was something she had to do “for myself.”
Me? I was curious. Death has been on my mind lately.
A week prior, I had been in southern Iraq to witness thousands of pilgrims make their way to the holy city of Karbala to mark the Shiite religious observance of Arbaeen — a 40-day mourning period to commemorate the death of Imam Hussein, Prophet Mohammed’s grandson.
I watched an endless procession of pious Iraqis recreate scenes from seventh-century Islam under the scorching 105-degree (40 degrees Celsius) sun. Men rode camels in Hejazi regalia and black-clad youth waved religious flags. Food stalls that dotted the many miles to the shrine gave out rice and beans.
Now I am witness to a dramatically different queue of mourners, there to mark the passing of a monarch whose 70-year reign encompassed the end of an empire. Unlike in the parched terrain of Iraq, people here are fearful it may rain.
___
The queue, observed: Readers engrossed in thick novels. Groups of friends chatting and sharing large bottles of champagne. A woman practicing tai chi.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Ramakant says.
Usha marvels at how Elizabeth worked up until hours before she died, handling the transition of power from Boris Johnson to Liz Truss two days before her demise.
“Imagine all the things she has done behind the scenes, in the background, none of us know anything about,” she says.
They can’t believe Elizabeth is dead, despite the fact they knew she could not live forever. “Did you notice her fingertips?” Daniel says of Elizabeth’s last appearance two days before her death. “They were see-through almost, weren’t they?”
We are silent, listening to the gentle soundtrack of the Thames.
It’s a good thing, he adds, that she died soon after Prince Philip, her husband of 74 years. It had been the same with his parents; they died within two weeks of each other. “It’s the best death, really.”
The consultant ducks to avoid a TV crew. Later she scrolls social media, hoping not to find herself on international news broadcasts. A colleague calls, and she tells them she is just “getting lunch.”
I ask: Why not just tell them you are here?
“It’s just one of those things I want to do for myself, and not have to explain.” ___
Suddenly, the line is moving. The queen’s coffin has arrived in the Hall.
Everything that follows is the epitome of order. The line snakes quickly around the bank, down to the embankment, where we watch boats cruise by. Before us, in the late-afternoon sun, the gothic complex of Westminster glimmers.
Ramakant was an accountant and has spent his retirement years traveling the world with his wife. From Niagara Falls to Mt. Kilimanjaro, they have been everywhere. “The key,” says Usha, “is not to wait until tomorrow.”
“You might be dead,” Ramakant says. To our left is the National COVID Memorial Wall, with one heart for each life lived and lost.
The consultant has to use the bathroom, but the line is now moving rapidly. So we share our location with her and, moments later, wave when we are many yards ahead and are reunited.
At the final stretch, we eye the security check just before the hall entrance. We are surprised by how fast the line has moved. A woman behind me complains to the volunteers who come to take away drinks: “I’ve got 30 hours’ worth of alcohol in here!”
Ramakant is stopped from taking off his shoes before the X-ray. “This isn’t like Gatwick!” jokes one policeman, invoking the name of one of London’s airports.
Inside the hall, all falls silent and still. We look up at the lofty wood-beam ceilings. We look down, and there it is — the queen’s coffin on a raised platform, surrounded by honor guards. On top, the imperial state crown glitters with its 3,000 diamonds.
The line divides in two, and each of us is given three seconds to pay last respects. A man in a tartan kilt and with a walking stick salutes. An elderly woman rises from her wheelchair and makes the sign of the cross. Daniel gets on one knee. Ramakant and Usha bow their heads. Then it is my turn. Outside, the sun is setting.
“We probably would never have met if it weren’t for this,” Daniel says afterward. Everyone exchanges numbers. “Even in death, she’s still doing her work.”
Total time elapsed: Just over 7½ hours.
Ramakant turns to me. “So,” he says. “What will you write about us?”
___
Samya Kullab, Iraq correspondent for The Associated Press, is on assignment in London covering the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/samya_kullab
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | 2022-09-16T09:30:32+00:00 | kob.com | https://www.kob.com/news/us-and-world-news/london-diary-reflections-from-the-queue-to-mourn-the-queen/ |
BAALBEK, Lebanon (AP) — Lebanon’s renowned Baalbek festival is back, held in front of a live audience for the first time since 2019, despite the country’s economic meltdown and the coronavirus pandemic.
French pianist Simon Ghraichy performed in front of a full house on Sunday night in what organizers described as a night of hope for Lebanon’s revival. The annual festival in the ancient northeastern city of soaring Roman columns has long attracted celebrities from around the world.
It had taken a major hit as a result of Lebanon’s ongoing, nearly 3-year economic crisis and the pandemic, which had forced organizers to broadcast live from the site without an audience in 2020 and 2021.
Inside the city’s mesmerizing acropolis, French-Iranian oriental dancer Rana Gorgani twirled to Ghraichy’s piano playing.
“I’m so proud to be here in this place full of history and beauty,” Ghraichy, who is of Lebanese and Mexican heritage, told The Associated Press.
Since 1956, the Baalbek International Festival has hosted icons from Lebanon and the rest of the world, including world-renowned artists like French singer Charles Aznavour in 1999, English musician Sting in 2001, France’s Johnny Hallyday in 2003 and tenor Placido Domingo a year later. It was also home to concerts by Lebanon’s diva Fayrouz and Egypt’s Umm Kulthum.
The festival suffered a 23-year hiatus during Lebanon’s civil war and resumed in 1997. Both residents and tourists attended in large numbers every summer. This year, the festival comes at a challenging time as Lebanon struggled with an unprecedented economic crisis, described by the World Bank as one of the worst in modern history.
For many among the audience — which also included Lebanese officials and foreign dignitaries — the evening was a welcome escape.
“Baalbek is back, and we want Lebanon to return to the way we used to know it, which is the Lebanon of art, culture, openness, and moderation,” said former lawmaker Henri Helou. | 2022-07-19T11:03:07+00:00 | siouxlandproud.com | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/entertainment-news/lebanons-baalbek-festival-back-despite-economic-collapse/ |
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — A shutout win wasn’t enough for a No. 2 Georgia coming off its impressive opener when it scored touchdowns on its first seven offensive possessions.
The reigning national champions fell short of that lofty standard against FCS Samford.
Stetson Bennett still passed for 300 yards while throwing and running for touchdowns and No. 2 Georgia’s rebuilt defense delivered another dominant performance in the Bulldogs’ 33-0 win on Saturday.
One week after giving up only a field goal in a 49-3 rout of then-No. 11 Oregon, Georgia (2-0) held Samford (1-1) to 128 yards and three first downs.
The offense, however, settled for four field goals — including on its first two possessions after moving the ball inside Samford’s 10.
“We didn’t score touchdowns,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “… You come off a week like Oregon where every opportunity to score a touchdown, we score a touchdown. And then we take a huge step back and have to kick field goals. Good teams, you can’t do that. You have to be able to execute well. … We have to do a better job.”
Bennett completed 24 of 34 passes, including a 3-yard scoring pass to freshman Dillon Bell. Even so, he wasn’t satisfied.
“I think we’re all upset we didn’t execute as well as we could have in the first half,” Bennett said, adding “Too many field goals.”
There were no complaints on defense, where Georgia has reloaded after losing eight players in this year’s NFL draft, including five in the first round. Overall, Georgia had a record 15 players taken in the draft.
One year ago, Samford gave another SEC East team a scare, leading Florida 42-28 in the first half before the Gators rallied for a 70-52 win. Samford couldn’t repeat that offensive showing against Georgia.
Tight ends Darnell Washington and Brock Bowers had big gains, each leaping while making catches for 28 and 26 yards, respectively.
Georgia gave up only one first down in the first half and led 30-0 at the break. Late in the third quarter, Carson Beck replaced Bennett and Georgia’s third quarterback, Brock Vandagriff, completed the game.
Samford’s second possession ended with Georgia safety Dan Jackson forcing a fumble by quarterback Michael Hiers. Xavian Sorey’s recovery set up the second of four field goals by Jack Podlesny.
Another defensive highlight was freshman defensive end Mykel Williams’ first sack.
Samford’s Michael Hiers completed 13 of 21 passes for 62 yards.
Samford coach Chris Hatcher was upbeat despite the lopsided loss.
“I thought defensively there were times we just shut them down,” Hatcher said. “We get back into playing our level of competition, I expect us to come back better and faster and meaner and tougher than ever on Monday.”
THE TAKEAWAY
Samford: Hiers, who was impressive in a season-opening win over FCS Kennesaw State was unable to establish consistent offense. The visiting Bulldogs were held to 59 yards in the first half. Backup Quincy Crittendon’s 36-yard pass to Ty King in the fourth quarter was the biggest gain of the day.
Georgia: There was no evidence of Georgia looking ahead to next week’s Southeastern Conference opener at South Carolina — or looking back at its rout of Oregon. The only disappointment was the Bulldogs’ inability to reach the end zone when they moved inside Samford’s 10 on their first two possessions. The only bad news came when receiver Adonai Mitchell limped off the field during the Bulldogs’ opening drive and was ruled out with a left ankle injury.
RUNNING AWAY FROM RAIN
Kendall Milton led Georgia with 85 yards rushing on 10 carries. Kenny McIntosh had a 1-yard scoring run and caught five passes for 61 yards.
Georgia prepared to emphasize its ground game, especially with expectations for rain.
“Going through this week, we knew we were going to have to run the ball,” Milton said. “We actually were expecting it to be a rainy day so we were kind of already expecting for it to be a big running day.”
Georgia ran for 127 yards and two touchdowns, but Milton’s 19-yard gain was the only big play on the ground.
“The backs did a nice job of running downhill, we just didn’t have a big home-run hitter,” Smart said.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Georgia should hold its No. 2 spot in the AP Top 25 and could receive more support for the top spot following No. 1 Alabama’s 20-19 win over unranked Texas.
NO CELEBRATION
There were few visual reminders of Georgia’s 2021 national championship in its first home game. A “2021” was added to the “1942” and “1980” on Georgia’s national championship signage on a Sanford Stadium facade. Also, a 2021 championship flag was raised atop the east end zone stands.
Players were awarded their championship rings in the spring, and Smart said it’s time to move on.
“It’s really not fair for this team to celebrate that because this year’s team didn’t do that,” Smart said. “Last year’s team did that.”
UP NEXT
Samford: Plays at Tennessee Tech, a member of the FCS Ohio Valley conference, next Saturday.
Georgia: Opens SEC schedule at South Carolina next Saturday. The Bulldogs have won the last two games in the series, including a 40-13 home win last season.
___
More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/ap_top25. Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://bit.ly/3pqZVaF | 2022-09-11T16:17:30+00:00 | wdtn.com | https://www.wdtn.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-no-2-georgias-defense-dominates-in-shutout-of-samford/ |
BOSTON -- Garrett Whitlock is on the mound for the Red Sox on Monday night as they open a seven-game homestand with a matchup against the Astros.
Whitlock is 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA (5 earned runs in 15 innings) in four starts since being moved into the rotation. He’ll start opposite righty Jake Odorizzi in a rematch of last year’s ALCS.
Kiké Hernández is leading off for the Red Sox while Trevor Story is hitting sixth. Franchy Cordero is starting at first base with a right-hander on the mound for Houston and Christian Vázquez is catching Whitlock.
First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET. The Sox and Astros will match up three times before Boston welcomes Seattle into town for a four-game series starting Thursday.
Houston Astros (23-12) vs. Boston Red Sox (13-21) · Fenway Park · Boston, MA
FIRST PITCH: 7:10 p.m. ET
TV CHANNEL: NESN, MLB Network
LIVE STREAM: fuboTV - If you have cable and live in the New England TV market, you can use your login credentials to watch via NESN on mobile and WiFi-enabled devices. If you don’t have cable, you can watch the game via fuboTV, in New England | Watch NESN Live | Watch MLB Network Live
RADIO: WEEI 93.7 FM
PITCHING PROBABLES: RHP Jake Odorizzi (3-2, 3.38 ERA) vs. RHP Garrett Whitlock (1-1, 2.19 ERA)
RED SOX LINEUP:
1. CF Kiké Hernández
2. 3B Rafael Devers
3. DH J.D. Martinez
4. SS Xander Bogaerts
5. LF Alex Verdugo
6. 2B Trevor Story
7. 1B Franchy Cordero
8. C Christian Vázquez
9. RF Jackie Bradley Jr.
ASTROS LINEUP:
1. 2B Jose Altuve
2. LF Michael Brantley
3. 3B Alex Bregman
4. DH Yordan Alvarez
5. 1B Yuli Gurriel
6. RF Kyle Tucker
7. CF Chas McCormick
8. C Jason Castro
9. SS Mauricio Dubón
Related links: | 2022-05-16T23:20:25+00:00 | masslive.com | https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2022/05/garrett-whitlock-on-mound-for-boston-red-sox-to-open-homestand-vs-astros-franchy-cordero-at-first-base-lineups.html |
LIDO, Venice, Italy – “Master Gardener,” a steamy, continually surprising romantic drama teaming Sigourney Weaver and Joel Edgerton, is writer-director Paul Schrader’s latest Hitchcockian puzzle.
At 76, Schrader remains celebrated for provocative, violent thrillers like “Cat People” or “American Gigolo.” “Gardener” finds mystery and power dynamics in the relationship between Weaver’s mistress of the manor and Edgerton’s titular character, a man with many secrets — and revealing tattoos.
Edgerton’s Narvel Roth is the horticulturalist in charge of the sumptuous Gracewood Gardens estate of Weaver’s demanding owner Norma Haverhill.
She calls Norma, “A lusty woman and one of the best roles I’ve ever had.”
For Schrader, Narvel’s a man’s man, a tough guy of few words. “A big slab of beef.”
For Australia’s Edgerton, 48, Schrader’s classic “Taxi Driver” and “Raging Bull” screenplays remain revelatory. “Guys like me in drama school,” he said, “we were looking at guys like Robert De Niro — and it didn’t occur to us at the time that the performances are as indelible as they are because of the writing in them. Paul’s behind some of my thoughts about becoming an actor.”
Edgerton (the Disney+ “Obi Wan Kenobi,” “The Green Knight”) views “Gardener” as, “A familiar vein in Paul’s work: tranquility colliding with chaos. Particularly, a man hiding from his past who finds a way to navigate with another person things that happened before.”
“The script was so different from any I’ve ever read,” Weaver said. “It was very simple on top but so much detail and passion.”
“I don’t know about everybody else but listening to discussions about plants and their evolution and decay,” Edgerton offered, “it reminds me in the confidence of the writing of this. Everyone can see that you find your own way through this story. I found myself thinking about the potential for violence.”
Weaver noted, “Narvel says, ‘Gardening is a belief in the future.’ That illuminated the script for me. I felt it was going to be about love in the end.”
Schrader, more reflective and mellow, added, “I’m from the generation that came in riding the coattails of violence — and that time is kind of gone.
“So the notion of how — and if — we can participate in our redemption evolves. A young man’s notion of Christian redemption is through the blood, like Christ. ‘I’ll be redeemed. If I can’t do that I’ll, shoot somebody.’
“In my film ‘First Reformed,’ he blows up. In ‘The Card Counter’ it happens offscreen. And in this film the song, which was written by a friend, is ‘I never want to leave this world without saying I love you.’” | 2023-05-19T05:33:22+00:00 | bostonherald.com | https://www.bostonherald.com/2023/05/19/joel-edgerton-sigourney-weave-dig-into-master-gardener-roles/ |
(The Car Connection) — Is it heresy that there’s no 911, Corvette, or Mustang in this slot? The Car Connection’s Best Performance Car To Buy 2023 wears an appropriate brand—but there’s almost no heritage behind its model name.
We’re good with that, because the Porsche Taycan electric sedan cracks off near-impossible feats of grip that have left grins on our faces two years after we drove it for the first time. It brims with personality, from its 2.6-second peak acceleration from 0-60 mph to its sleek, fanged look.
Whether it’s a GTS sedan or a Cross Turismo hatchback, the Porsche Taycan bristles with Porsche identity. Those prominent LED headlights cut through differently than the ones on a Panamera or 911, but the sleek sideview’s completely compatible with those class benchmarks. The interior lays everything where it should be without the artificial drama of a yoke steering wheel or a full-width screen; it just works, and it works even better when it’s wrapped in the showiest shades from the Porsche leather and trim palette.
Fresher than a Tesla Model S but not quite as quick, and slightly off the Lucid Air’s pace, the Taycan nails what neither of them can claim to have conquered: handling. The Taycan steers and rides with the fluid grace of a 911 and with most of its nerve-ending responses, too. It’s nearly the perfect drift car, stable and utterly predictable as it scorches its path across asphalt or ice. Base cars sport a 79.2-kwh battery pack and a single rear motor with a 2-speed transmission for a 0-60 mph time of 5.1 seconds; with the larger 93.4-kwh battery and a second motor in the front, the 750-hp Taycan Turbo S can launch to 60 mph in 2.6 seconds.
The compromises to make with the Taycan are typically Porsche. The rear seat’s barely adequate for two adults, and the base price of $88,150 really ends up at more than $100,000 by the time you add the $1,680 19.2-kw onboard charger, the $460 150-kw DC charger, and the perfect upholstery and trim. Even then you can rightfully claim it’s a bargain–at least compared to the $200,000 or more Taycan Turbo S.
With no limits on price or performance, we were very much shaken by the Lucid Air and the promise of its upcoming Sapphire edition, by the Honda Civic Type R, and even by a nutso off-roader, the Ford Bronco Raptor. In the end, the Taycan’s vivid mission statement—the best of all worlds, efficiency included—rang the most true.
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Read about the segment winners of The Car Connection’s Best Car To Buy 2023 awards, and find out which vehicles took home top honors from our sister sites, Motor Authority and Green Car Reports. | 2023-01-04T18:18:24+00:00 | kron4.com | https://www.kron4.com/automotive/porsche-taycan-best-performance-car-to-buy-2023/ |
JACKSON COUNTY, MI – Portions of U.S. 127/M-50 in Jackson County will see more single lane closures.
The Michigan Department of Transportation is closing a single-lane of southbound U.S. 127/M-50 at 7 a.m. Wednesday, July 19, from Parnall Road to Springport Road for median work. The lanes are expected to reopen at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 22.
MDOT is also closing a portion of southbound U.S.127/M-50/West Avenue between the I-94 westbound exit to Boardman Road from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 19, through Wednesday, July 26, for sidewalk work, officials said.
Drivers are advised to seek alternate routes to avoid backups.
Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free “3@3 Jackson” daily newsletter.
More from the Jackson Citizen Patriot:
Jackson man killed in crash as car catches fire
Bridge building will back up traffic as U.S. 127 ramp closes in Jackson County
Executive director leaves Ella Sharp Museum, search for replacement underway
‘Reconnect on Campus’ aims to bring adults back to school in Jackson County
34 hot air balloons, food and fun: Your guide to the 2023 Jackson Hot Air Balloon Jubilee | 2023-07-19T12:01:54+00:00 | mlive.com | https://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/2023/07/commuters-beware-more-closures-coming-to-us-127-in-jackson-county.html |
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — An Indianapolis doctor who performed an abortion on a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio is suing Indiana's attorney general, seeking to block him from using allegedly “frivolous" consumer complaints to issue subpoenas seeking patients' confidential medical records.
The lawsuit targeting Attorney General Todd Rokita was filed Thursday in Marion County on behalf of Dr. Caitlin Bernard, an Indianapolis obstetrician-gynecologist, her medical partner, Dr. Amy Caldwell, and their patients.
It alleges that Rokita has issued subpoenas seeking the medical records of patients based on complaints from people who have never been a patient of either Bernard or Caldwell and “who lack any personal knowledge of the alleged circumstances giving rise to the complaints."
The suit contends that Rokita has “completely ignored" a state requirement that his office first determine that consumer complaints have “merit" before he can investigate physicians and other licensed professionals and that his conduct “violates numerous Indiana statutes."
“The Attorney General has wholly ignored the General Assembly’s fine-tuned structure for handling consumer complaints regarding licensed professionals and has engaged in precisely the type of overbearing, harassing conduct that the General Assembly sought to prohibit," the suit states.
Bernard received widespread attention after she gave an interview to The Indianapolis Star about the 10-year-old girl, who traveled to Indiana from Ohio for the abortion after a so-called fetal heartbeat law took effect in Ohio in June after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Such laws ban abortions from the time a fetus' cardiac activity can be detected, which is typically around the sixth week of pregnancy.
A 27-year-old man was charged in Columbus, Ohio, with raping the girl, confirming the existence of a case that was initially met with skepticism by some news outlets and Republican politicians.
After the news of the 10-year-old's abortion broke, Rokita told Fox News he would investigate whether Bernard violated child abuse notification or abortion reporting laws. He also said his office would look into whether anything Bernard said to The Indianapolis Star about the girl's case violated federal medical privacy laws. Rokita offered no specific allegations of wrongdoing.
Records obtained by The Associated Press and local news outlets show Bernard submitted her report about the girl’s abortion July 2, which is within Indiana’s required three-day reporting period for an abortion performed on a girl younger than 16.
Bernard's lawsuit asks a court to issue temporary and permanent injunctions to block Rokita from starting or conducting an investigation of a consumer complaint “without first making an initial determination that the consumer complaint has merit."
It also seeks such injunctions to block him from issuing subpoenas related to an investigation based on a consumer complaint “without first making a valid and proper determination that the consumer complaint has merit," and to prevent Rokita from “violating confidentiality provisions imposed by law."
The suit names as defendants Rokita and Scott Barnhart, the chief counsel of the state attorney general's office and also director of its office of consumer protection.
It alleges that the “improper conduct" by Rokita and Barnhart “threatens patients seeking legal abortions that their most personal and private medical records and health care decisions could be exposed as part of a meritless investigation."
Rokita’s press secretary, Kelly Stevenson, said Thursday in response to a request for comment on the lawsuit that the attorney general’s office investigates “thousands of potential licensing, privacy, and other violations a year.”
“A majority of the complaints we receive are, in fact, from nonpatients. Any investigations that arise as a result of potential violations are handled in a uniform manner and narrowly focused,” she added in a statement.
Bernard's attorney, Kathleen DeLaney, signaled in a July court filing that she planned to sue Rokita. That "tort claim notice" was filed just days after DeLaney sent a cease and desist letter asking Rokita to stop spreading false or misleading information about Bernard. | 2022-11-03T20:08:32+00:00 | daytondailynews.com | https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/ohio/abortion-doctor-sues-indiana-ag-over-bids-to-access-records/BZOWZ6M7INGVTJOXOQQPF5FUGY/ |
BRAINTREE, Mass. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Friday evening's drawing of the Massachusetts Lottery's "Numbers Evening" game were:
3-5-7-5
(three, five, seven, five)
BRAINTREE, Mass. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Friday evening's drawing of the Massachusetts Lottery's "Numbers Evening" game were:
3-5-7-5
(three, five, seven, five) | 2022-11-19T03:57:33+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Numbers-Evening-game-17596575.php |
LSP: 18 suspects wanted in connection to vehicle theft investigation; 16 others arrested
Information provided by Louisiana State Police:
BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - In January of 2022, detectives assigned to the Louisiana State Police Insurance Fraud and Auto Theft Unit began investigating disparities in numerous transactions at Public Tag Agencies (PTA) and Auto Title Companies (ATC) across the state. Over the course of the investigation, detectives identified 34 suspects who were found to have collectively transacted 180 vehicles using altered or fraudulent documents. The suspects used the altered or fraudulent documents to undervalue the vehicle’s actual cost to avoid taxes. Detectives also learned that some of these vehicles, previously reported stolen, were located in the civilian market with their identifiers altered or concealed. The total value of vehicles involved in this investigation is currently estimated at over $9.8 million. The total estimated amount of tax fraud is over $300,000.
As detectives continued their investigation, it was learned that these individuals were working together as a criminal organization. Through their actions, the involved parties worked individually and collectively to commit acts of fraud and theft within the State of Louisiana for monetary gain. Louisiana State Police has obtained full extradition arrest warrants for 18 suspects still at large. See below for suspects still at large:
The following 16 individuals have been arrested for the charges of Forgery, Filing False Public Records, and Felony Theft:
- 35-year-old Errean Centeno of Covington, LA
- 35-year-old Tashia Hubbard of Willis, TX
- 30-year-old Willie Tolbert of Cleveland, TX
- 46-year-old Kenneth Redding of Houston, TX
- 33-year-old Leigha Garner of Conroe, TX
- 31-year-old Alaric Cowart of Houston, TX
- 56-year-old Raynaldo Hernandez III of Houston, TX
- 34-year-old Samuel Thompson of Conroe, TX
- 20-year-old Angel Gamino of Houston, TX
- 40-year-old Maria Cantu of Houston, TX
- 26-year-old Shawn Carden of Humble, TX
- 31-year-old Amber Archer of Belleview, FL
- 39-year-old Tabatha McMullan of Houston, TX
- 27-year-old Joshua Gipson of Humble, TX
- 34-year-old Jacquez Evans of Corpus Christi, TX
- 25-year-old Jacob Hurtado of Humble, TX
Investigations, especially at this scale, take time and a coordinated team effort. The Louisiana State Police would like to thank the following agencies for their assistance throughout this investigation; Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles, Louisiana Department of Revenue, National Insurance Crime Bureau, Houston Police Department (TX), Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office (TX), and numerous other local law enforcement agencies. Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact the Louisiana State Police – Insurance Fraud and Auto Theft Unit (Breaux Bridge Field Office) at (337) 332-8080 or via email at LSP.Insurance.Fraud.Unit@la.gov. This investigation is still on-going and additional charges for all involved parties may be forthcoming.
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Copyright 2023 WAFB. All rights reserved. | 2023-07-28T17:18:08+00:00 | wafb.com | https://www.wafb.com/2023/07/28/lsp-18-suspects-wanted-connection-vehicle-theft-investigation-16-others-arrested/ |
"FASHION ICON," EPISODE 10 FROM THE WEBBY-AWARD-WINNING
WEB SERIES BOB MARLEY - LEGACY PREMIERES TODAY
ON BOB MARLEY'S OFFICIAL YOUTUBE CHANNEL
BOB MARLEY ONE LOVE EXPERIENCE 12-WEEK ENGAGEMENT OPENS IN
LOS ANGELES FOR ITS U.S. DEBUT
ZIGGY MARLEY PERFORMS TWO SOLD-OUT LIVE TRIBUTES TO HIS FATHER
IN CELEBRATION OF MARLEY'S 78TH BIRTHDAY
BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS RELEASE REIMAGINED VERSION OF
"STIR IT UP" IN COLLABORATION WITH GHANAIAN RAP ICON, SARKODIE
VIA ISLAND RECORDS
BOB MARLEY'S 78TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS STREAM LIVE ON FEBRUARY 6, INCLUDING A SERIES OF EVENTS CULMINATING IN A CONCERT FIT FOR THE REGGAE LEGEND VIA THE OFFICIAL TUFF GONG TV YOUTUBE CHANNEL
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Marley Family, Tuff Gong, and UMe commemorate Bob Marley's 78th birthday by honoring his life and musical heritage by announcing twelve limited-edition Bob Marley vinyl L.P.s, each numbered and pressed exclusively at the legendary Tuff Gong International headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica, featuring nine original studio albums and two original live albums, plus the world's best-selling reggae album, Legend, all including a highly-desirable Tuff Gong stamp. Additionally, Catch A Fire, initially recorded by The Wailers in Jamaica and eventually released with overdubs and a mix overseen by Island founder Chris Blackwell at the label's London headquarters, will only be available in its original Jamaica-recorded version, with two extra tracks from the sessions and some tracks with longer fades. Produced entirely by Bob Marley & the Wailers and mixed by longtime Marley associate Errol Brown, this Jamaican version are now on vinyl for the first time. Watch the trailer for the Jamaican Pressings HERE
The limited-edition albums were pressed at Tuff Gong's newly refurbished vinyl pressing plant, which re-opened in the summer of 2020 and has an annual capacity of 250,000 units. Each album was mastered by Dave Cooley at Elysian Masters in Los Angeles. To view the complete list of details for the limited-edition Jamaican L.P.s, click HERE. To preorder, please click HERE.
"Fashion Icon," the tenth episode of the Webby-award-winning,* 12-part documentary series Legacy, premieres today on Bob Marley's Official YouTube Channel. Supported by visuals throughout his career, interviews with those close to him, and from established voices in the fashion and music industries, "Fashion Icon" paints a picture of how Marley's life shaped his wardrobe and how his evolution as a creator solidified his status as a global, and cultural ICON.
In addition to Bob Marley's extensive global impact on music, "Fashion Icon" examines Marley's creative influence on the fashion world, his style's evolution throughout his career, and his far-reaching and unwavering impact on global culture and fashion. The episode explores how Marley's journey from growing up in Jamaica and the years following, including his illustrious music career, influenced his style. In "Fashion Icon," members of the Marley family reveal their perspectives on how Bob's style shaped their appreciation for fashion and how it has influenced others since. The episode is narrated by Cedella Marley and features appearances from Ky-Mani Marley, Rohan Marley, and Skip Marley, as well as insights by famed art director and designer Neville Garrick, Hip-Hop Legend and activist Chuck D. In addition, designers Paul O'Neill (Design Director, Levi's), Aurora James (Creative Director and Founder of luxury accessories brand Brother Vellies), Edvin Thompson, Designer and Creative Director of Theophilio), and Anik Khan, Bangladeshi-American musician & entrepreneur also provide invaluable input on Marley's contribution to the fashion culture. Watch Episode 10, "Fashion Icon," and the previous Legacy Episodes 1-9 on Bob Marley's Official YouTube Channel HERE
Subscribe to Bob Marley's Official YouTube Channel and never miss an update.
The Official Bob Marley One Love Experience recently made its U.S. debut at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA. The 12-week engagement showcases never-before-seen Marley photographs and memorabilia while immersing visitors in a journey through his life, passions, influences, and enduring legacy. After a successful 2022 tour through London and Toronto, the experience allows visitors to venture through the One Love Forest, visit the Soul Shakedown Studio and delve into the multi-sensory experience celebrating one of the world's most beloved and unifying musical figures. Purchase tickets HERE
Adding to the birthday festivities, Ziggy Marley will help celebrate the Grand Opening of The Sound, a brand-new venue in Del Mar, CA. Ziggy and his band will perform an extraordinary live tribute to his father, breathing new life into Bob Marley's most iconic songs for two sold-out shows - tonight, February 3, and tomorrow, February 4. For more information on Ziggy Marley's tour dates, please click HERE
Plus, Island Records recently released a reimagining of the Bob Marley and The Wailers classic "Stir It Up" in collaboration with one of the most successful African rappers of all time, Ghanaian rap icon Sarkodie. The Caribbean and Africa unite on one of the most recognizable songs in the world to give us romance and nostalgia. Produced by MOG, this song combines the signature guitar strums and soothing bounce we know and love with Sarkodie's iconic flow. The official music video for 'Stir It Up' showcases the vibrant relationship between Jamaica and Ghana. With Sarkodie leading on creative direction, these Ghana-shot visuals authentically explore identity, unity, and community. Watch the video or stream 'Stir It Up' by Bob Marley and Sarkodie now HERE
Lastly, inspired by its breezy vibe, tropical rhythms, and easy-going decree, the Marley family, friends, and fans worldwide will celebrate Bob Marley's 78th Earthstrong under the theme, "Easy Skanking." The virtual celebration will include messages from the family and a series of events culminating in a concert fit for the reggae legend. The annual festivities held at the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston, Jamaica, will highlight a star-studded show that will be streamed "live" on the Tuff Gong TV YouTube channel. The concert will feature a slew of popular Jamaican entertainers, including Beenie Man, Patra, Mortimer, Luciano, Lady G, and Khalia, as well as two very special tributes for Wailers member Tyrone Downie and Jo Mersa Marley. Footage from the opening of Bob Marley Experience in Los Angeles will also be available for viewing. Adding to the festivities, SiriusXM will include a previously recorded live concert recorded the Tuff Gong Studio on January 29, 2023, which previously aired exclusively on Bob Marley's Tuff Gong Radio (SiriusXM, ch. 19) in North America. Join the Bob Marley 78th birthday celebrations LIVE on Monday, February 6, 2023, on the Tuff Gong TV YouTube channel. To watch the live stream or for more information on all Bob Marley birthday festivities, please click HERE
ABOUT BOB MARLEY
Bob Marley, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, is notable not only as the man who put reggae on the global map but as a statesman in his native Jamaica; he famously brought together the country's warring factions. Today, Bob Marley remains one of the 20th century's most important and influential entertainment icons. Marley's lifestyle and music continue to inspire new generations as his legacy lives on through his music. In the digital era, he has the second-highest social media following of any posthumous celebrity. The official Bob Marley Facebook page draws more than 74 million fans, ranking it among the Top 20 of all Facebook pages and Top 10 among celebrity pages. Marley's music catalog has sold millions of albums worldwide. His iconic collection LEGEND holds the distinction of being the longest-charting album in the history of Billboard magazine's Catalog Albums chart and remains the world's best-selling reggae album. Marley's accolades include inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1994) and ASCAP Songwriters Hall of Fame (2010), a GRAMMY® Lifetime Achievement Award (2001), multiple entries in the GRAMMY® Hall Of Fame, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (2001). For more information, visit bobmarley.com and facebook.com/bobmarley.
* Bob Marley: Legacy "Rebel Music" – 2022 Webby Award Winner – Music Video
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE UMe | 2023-02-03T14:37:43+00:00 | kalb.com | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2023/02/03/celebration-bob-marleys-78th-birthday-marley-family-tuff-gong-ume-release-bob-marley-limited-edition-vinyl-series-pressed-tuff-gong-international-jamaica-available-march-24/ |
The Nashville Zoo welcomed two leopard cubs on June 30.
They weighed less than a pound each at birth and measured four inches in length. While that seems small, the zoo says that is much larger than the average cub.
The cubs are still being hand-raised by the zoo's veterinarian staff to give them the best chance at survival.
The male and female are the first clouded leopard cubs to be born at the zoo since 2019.
"They are considered vulnerable to extinction according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature due to deforestation, poaching and pet trade," the zoo said.
The zoo now has 16 clouded leopards in its care. | 2022-07-08T17:19:54+00:00 | wrtv.com | https://www.wrtv.com/news/national/nashville-zoo-welcomes-leopard-cubs |
ATLANTA (AP) _ Invesco PLC (IVZ) on Wednesday reported second-quarter net income of $180.2 million.
The Atlanta-based company said it had net income of 26 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs and amortization costs, came to 39 cents per share.
The results missed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of six analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 52 cents per share.
The investment management company posted revenue of $1.53 billion in the period. Its adjusted revenue was $1.17 billion, which also fell short of Street forecasts. Four analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $1.19 billion.
_____
This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on IVZ at https://www.zacks.com/ap/IVZ | 2022-07-27T12:06:53+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/business/article/Invesco-Q2-Earnings-Snapshot-17331748.php |
Nicky Lopez Player Prop Bets: Royals vs. Guardians - July 8
Published: Jul. 8, 2023 at 2:28 PM CDT|Updated: 46 minutes ago
The Kansas City Royals and Nicky Lopez, who went 0-for-4 last time out, battle Gavin Williams and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field, Saturday at 4:10 PM ET.
He had a hitless showing in his previous game (0-for-4) against the Guardians.
Nicky Lopez Game Info & Props vs. the Guardians
- Game Day: Saturday, July 8, 2023
- Game Time: 4:10 PM ET
- Stadium: Progressive Field
- Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo!
- Guardians Starter: Gavin Williams
- TV Channel: BSGL
- Hits Prop: Over/under 0.5 hits (Over odds: -161)
- Home Runs Prop: Over/under 0.5 home runs (Over odds: +1200)
- RBI Prop: Over/under 0.5 RBI (Over odds: +300)
- Runs Prop: Over/under 0.5 runs (Over odds: +190)
Looking to place a prop bet on Nicky Lopez? Check out what's available at BetMGM and use bonus code "GNPLAY" when you sign up with this link!
Read More About This Game
Nicky Lopez At The Plate
- Lopez is hitting .219 with five doubles, three triples and 19 walks.
- Lopez has reached base via a hit in 21 games this year (of 48 played), and had multiple hits in five of those games.
- He has not hit a home run in his 48 games this season.
- In seven games this season (14.6%), Lopez has picked up an RBI, including two games with multiple runs batted in.
- He has scored at least once 11 times this year (22.9%), including four games with multiple runs (8.3%).
Ready to play FanDuel Daily Fantasy? Get in the game using our link.
Nicky Lopez Home/Away Batting Splits
Guardians Pitching Rankings
- The pitching staff for the Guardians has a collective 7.9 K/9, the third-worst in MLB.
- The Guardians' 3.79 team ERA ranks fifth among all league pitching staffs.
- Guardians pitchers combine to surrender 89 home runs (one per game), the fourth-fewest in the league.
- Williams gets the start for the Guardians, his fourth of the season. He is 0-1 with a 3.79 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings pitched.
- In his last appearance on Monday, the righty went 6 1/3 innings against the Atlanta Braves, allowing four earned runs while surrendering seven hits.
- The 23-year-old has a 3.79 ERA and 5.7 strikeouts per nine innings in three games this season, while giving up a batting average of .185 to opposing hitters.
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | 2023-07-08T20:14:39+00:00 | kwch.com | https://www.kwch.com/sports/betting/2023/07/08/nicky-lopez-mlb-player-prop-bets/ |
WINTERVILLE—Pitt Community College’s efforts to provide quality educational programming in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to new instructional delivery methods and collaborations.
A prime example came in August, when the college’s Paralegal Technology curriculum partnered with its Fire-Rescue continuing education program to offer a highly-sought “Law and Administration” course. Even though both programs are part of PCC’s Public Services & Fine Arts Division, collaborations between degree curricula and continuing education professional development programs are rare.
PCC Paralegal Technology Instructor Chris Young taught the course to more than 30 students, using a hybrid flexible (or HyFlex) format that gives students the option of attending class 100% in person or entirely online synchronously. Roughly half of Young’s class came to the classroom while the rest participated remotely via video conferencing technology.
“I believe that this is the first time any school has given students the option to attend the ‘Law and Administration’ course in person or remotely,” Young said. “… I have been teaching like this in our curriculum program for quite a while. The pandemic has required a lot of creativity from instructors, and we have been lucky to have the [technological] means to do what has been needed.”
Like many continuing education courses required for professional certifications, Young says “Law and Administration” is in high demand. He explained that it’s a standard certification class that the state’s Code Officials Qualification Board requires code enforcers to complete in order to perform building inspections within their technical fields. The course consists of 15 instructional hours that must be taught by an attorney licensed by the North Carolina State Bar and certified by the N.C. Department of Insurance.
Mekenzie Newkirk, PCC Director of Fire & Emergency Services Training, invited Young to offer the course shortly after her department merged into the Public Services & Fine Arts Division.
The idea paid off.
“All of the materials for the course were available to students electronically. They could access everything from the computers in our lab or their own devices at home or at work,” Newkirk said, adding that student reviews of the course were “universally positive.”
For Young, “Law and Administration” is only the beginning. He’s working on a suite of courses for lawyers and paralegals to satisfy annual certification requirements, particularly in the areas of technology and ethics.
“I’m a big believer in cross-divisional and interdisciplinary education and projects,” he said. “Any time I get a chance to branch into other areas, I take it. I’m looking forward to continuing ‘Law and Administration’ and implementing more courses to serve the legal education needs of the community.”
Dr. Dan Mayo, dean of PCC’s Public Services & Fine Arts Division, says the “sky is the limit” with regard to future training possibilities.
“We are so excited; this is only the tip of the iceberg,” Mayo said. “We’re lucky to have dedicated education professionals and subject matter experts, like Mekenzie and Chris, leading the way in these kinds of collaborative efforts. More certification courses, continuing education for attorneys and paralegals, and customized field-specific training are all possibilities here.” | 2022-09-09T00:53:56+00:00 | wnct.com | https://www.wnct.com/on-your-side/school-watch/pcc-programs-form-rare-partnership-to-offer-much-needed-course/ |
Sage Stossel is an Atlantic contributing editor and author of the children’s book “On the Loose in Boston.’’ Follow her on Twitter @sagestossel.
EDITORIAL CARTOONS
Sage Stossel is an Atlantic contributing editor and author of the children’s book “On the Loose in Boston.’’ Follow her on Twitter @sagestossel. | 2023-06-02T22:24:04+00:00 | bostonglobe.com | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/06/02/opinion/boston-calling-2023/ |
More than 3 million babies are born in America each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
For many Americans, the birth experience is in a nearby hospital. But for millions of Americans, obstetrics care includes a road trip. Fifty-two rural counties lost local, hospital-based obstetric services from 2014 to 2018. Yet, rural hospitals, clinics, and communities are defying national trends of obstetric closures in rural communities by maintaining pregnancy and childbirth locally.
Caitlin Wieder travels 50 minutes each way for her newborn daughter, Ava, to see a doctor. She made that decision because she wanted her daughter to have the best care possible.
For some mothers, 50 minutes drives aren't a choice— it's all that's available.
“I had two doulas that recommended this hospital in Baldwin, Wisconsin, and I didn’t even know that they had a hospital here,” Wieder said.
Eilidh Pederson is Western Wisconsin Health's C.E.O. She’s worked in health care for years and sees how rural hospitals continue to close. But she also sees how many stay open by closing their most costly unit, obstetrics.
“In Vermont, I worked for a community rural hospital, and we had a neighboring hospital that was 45 minutes north that had to shut their doors to delivering babies. They couldn’t make it work financially,” Pederson said. “We were the only hospital in the southern part of the state of Vermont to be able to deliver babies.”
Researchers at the University of Minnesota recently surveyed nearly 100 rural hospitals. One in four were unsure they would continue providing obstetric services. Experts point to higher malpractice costs and fewer reimbursement dollars from insurance. Obstetrics also requires specialized workers who see enough regular patients to remain skilled at their jobs.
“Every hospital CEO, as they look at their bottom line and look to see how we make ends meet today, is going to look at their obstetrical department. That is going to be a hard choice that they make,” Pederson said.
Western Wisconsin Health has doubled down on birthing care. They employ OBGYNs and family practice physicians. They recruit certified nurse-midwives. The investment has paid off in the many expectant moms who make the drive. However, not every mom can and not every rural hospital can afford to go big.
“Hospitals can only make these types of internal investments for so long. The system has to change in order for this problem to be resolved,” Pederson said. | 2022-06-01T21:23:02+00:00 | wkbw.com | https://www.wkbw.com/news/national/two-americas/saving-rural-maternity-wards |
WASHINGTON, April 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On the heels of the House Judiciary Committee's approval of a landmark bill that would deter mass illegal immigration, end asylum abuse and rein in the Biden administration's abuse of parole authority, the House Homeland Security Committee has rolled out a bill that would deliver much needed resources to secure our southern border.
The Border Reinforcement Act adds manpower, technology and physical infrastructure needed to regain control of our borders. It would require that money dedicated to border enforcement be used for just that -- not for processing, releasing and flying illegal migrants around the country, as the Biden administration has been doing. The bill also requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to collect and disseminate vital information about the people who are encountered crossing the border illegally.
Among the key provisions of the Border Reinforcement Act:
- Requires DHS to resume construction of the border security wall along no less than 900 miles of our southern border.
- Requires that DHS increase manpower to a total of 22,000 Border Patrol agents.
- Provides additional technology at border ports of entry to detect and prevent the entry of narcotics, contraband and illegal migrants.
- Significantly adds aerial and ground technology to surveil the entire southern border.
- Limits the use of DHS's CBP One phone app to inspection of perishable cargo only.
"Nearly 7.5 million people have crossed our southern border illegally since President Biden took office. That staggering figure alone bears testament to the fact that our borders are not secure, no matter how many times the White House or Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas tell us they are," said Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).
"The Biden administration has repeatedly claimed it needs more resources to secure the border. The Border Reinforcement Act delivers those resources, but with the caveat that the money, technology and manpower be employed to prevent and deter illegal immigration rather than facilitate it, which has been the administration's policy.
"FAIR applauds the Homeland Security Committee for delivering a bill that would provide actual homeland security and urges a swift markup and committee approval as the bill makes its way to the floor for passage by the full House of Representatives," concluded Stein.
Contact: Ron Kovach, 202-328-7004 or rkovach@fairus.org.
ABOUT FAIR
Founded in 1979, FAIR is the country's largest immigration reform group. With over 3 million members and supporters nationwide, FAIR fights for immigration policies that serve national interests, not special interests. FAIR believes that immigration reform must enhance national security, improve the economy, protect jobs, preserve our environment, and establish a rule of law that is recognized and enforced.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) | 2023-04-24T17:07:21+00:00 | kswo.com | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/04/24/house-homeland-security-bill-would-deliver-meaningful-resources-border-says-fair/ |
Multiple agencies rescue man pinned under construction equipment in Hill County
Published: Jan. 1, 2023 at 8:31 PM CST|Updated: 11 minutes ago
HILL COUNTY, Texas (KWTX) - Multiple agencies in Hill County responded to a man who was trapped under a piece of construction equipment, according to the Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.
It happened in the 200 block of county road 1369, outside of Osceola at 4:38 in the afternoon.’
Hill County deputies, multiple fire departments and Careflite ground and air responded to the scene.
The man was freed and airlifted to Fort Worth. The injury did not appear to be life threatening but due to the nature, and distance to a trauma center for this type injury, he was taken by aircraft.
Copyright 2023, KWTX. All rights reserved. | 2023-01-02T02:44:16+00:00 | kwtx.com | https://www.kwtx.com/2023/01/02/multiple-agencies-rescue-man-pinned-under-construction-equipment-hill-county/ |
President Joe Biden issued the first veto of his presidency on Monday, March 20, protecting his administration’s rule about investment choices for retirement plans.
The current Department of Labor rule allows retirement fund managers to take into account environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors when making investment choices.
Some lawmakers, including Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tx.) and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), have claimed Biden’s veto of Congressional legislation allows financial institutions to prioritize “woke” political goals over Americans’ financial security. The legislation passed in both the Republican-controlled House and Democratic-majority Senate before Biden vetoed it.
A VERIFY reader asked if Biden’s veto requires pensions to be invested in ESG funds.
THE QUESTION
Does President Biden’s veto require pensions to be invested in ESG funds?
THE SOURCES
- U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) regulation
- Timothy Hauser, deputy assistant secretary for program operations of the DOL’s Employee Benefits Security Administration
- Alana Benson, investing writer with NerdWallet specializing in ESG and socially responsible investing
- American Retirement Association, a nonprofit professional organization
THE ANSWER
No, Biden’s veto does not require pensions to be invested in ESG funds.
The veto preserved a Biden administration rule that allows private-sector retirement plan managers to consider ESG factors in their investment choices, but they aren’t required to do so.
WHAT WE FOUND
A Biden administration rule allows managers of private-sector retirement plans to consider environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors when making investment decisions, but it’s not a requirement, the nonprofit American Retirement Association (ARA) and other experts told VERIFY.
ESG factors are a set of criteria used to evaluate investments, according to NerdWallet investing writer Alana Benson. This framework allows investors to “gauge an investment’s risk in the face of climate change and other modern challenges,” she said.
An ESG score is a “measure of how well a company addresses risks with respect to environmental, social and governance issues in its day-to-day work and operations,” Jason Krychiw, an ESG consultant for Conservice, explains in a blog post. These issues include topics such as climate change adaptation, energy efficiency, employee wellbeing, and diversity, equity and inclusion, among others.
A regulation from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), which took effect under the Biden administration in January 2023, reversed a Trump-era rule that required retirement fund managers to base investment decisions only on what would bring in the highest financial returns, and not other factors such as ESG criteria, Benson explained.
Congress passed a bill that overturned the ESG consideration rule, but after Biden’s veto, the rule still stands.
The current rule clarifies that retirement plan managers can consider ESG factors in their investment choices, but they aren’t required to do so, Timothy Hauser with the DOL’s Employee Benefits Security Administration said during a February interview.
Retirement fund managers are still obligated to uphold their fiduciary duty, “meaning that they must choose investments based on the best interests of their clients,” Benson explained.
“So if ESG investments are not the best choice, fund managers won’t choose them,” she said.
So what does this rule mean for you? Benson explained that most people don’t have control over what their 401K or retirement plan is invested in, though this may vary based on the fund manager or brokerage.
“But if you don't want to be invested in ESG investments – or any other type of investment for that matter – and you are concerned that you might be through your workplace retirement account, it doesn't hurt to call your fund manager and ask and see if you can exclude those from your plan,” Benson said. | 2023-03-23T22:54:25+00:00 | 11alive.com | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/verify/money-verify/biden-veto-does-not-require-pensions-retirement-plans-invest-esg-funds-fact-check/536-095b3dcf-8ea7-4c63-a834-27e743ac75b4 |
Federal authorities arrived at the home of former Vice President Mike Pence Friday morning.
The FBI showed up around 8:45 a.m., law enforcement sources confirmed. The residence borders both Zionsville and Carmel; the Carmel Police Department has blocked off the entrance. Carmel police said they were in the area for traffic control and were “not involved in assisting the FBI.”
Federal authorities haven’t confirmed the reason for Friday’s search. The Associated Press, citing “people familiar with the search,” said it was related to the classified records investigation surrounding the former vice president.
Last month, Pence’s attorneys handed over a small number of classified documents that had been discovered at the residence. The former vice president said he took “full responsibility” for the documents and promised to cooperate with the investigation.
National outlets reported last week that the FBI was planning to search Pence’s home for additional documents, as well as his office in Washington, D.C.
Marc Short, Pence’s former chief of staff, told CNN that Pence would give the FBI access to the residence in order to look for any additional classified material.
Short told CNN’s Jake Tapper earlier this week that such a search was “not too far off into the future,” according to The Hill.
Pence has also been subpoenaed by the special counsel overseeing investigations into efforts by former President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
We have reached out to the Department of Justice for comment. | 2023-02-10T17:24:54+00:00 | wate.com | https://www.wate.com/news/national-world/federal-authorities-arrive-at-home-of-former-vice-president-mike-pence/ |
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LONDON (AP) — The latest scandal to hit British Prime Minister Boris Johnson deepened Tuesday as a former top civil servant publicly said Johnson’s office wasn’t telling the truth about how he handled allegations of misconduct against a senior member of his government.
Johnson has been under pressure to explain what he knew about previous allegations of misconduct by lawmaker Chris Pincher since Thursday, when Pincher resigned as deputy chief whip amid complaints that he groped two men at a private club.
The government’s explanation has shifted repeatedly over the past five days, with ministers initially saying Johnson wasn’t aware of earlier allegations of sexual misconduct in February, when he promoted Pincher to the post of deputy chief whip. By Monday, a spokesman said Johnson knew of allegations that were “either resolved or did not progress to a formal complaint.”
That did not sit well with Simon McDonald, the most senior civil servant at the Foreign Office from 2015 to 2020. In a highly unusual move, he said Tuesday that the prime minister’s office still wasn’t telling the truth.
In a letter to the parliamentary commissioner for standards, McDonald said he received complaints about Pincher’s behavior in the summer of 2019, shortly after Pincher became a Foreign Office minister. An investigation upheld the complaint and Pincher apologized for his actions, McDonald said.
McDonald also disputed suggestions that Johnson was either unaware of the allegations or that they could be dismissed because they were either resolved or had not been made formally.
“The original No. 10 line is not true and the modification is still not accurate,” McDonald wrote. “Mr. Johnson was briefed in person about the initiation and outcome of the investigation.
“There was a ‘formal complaint.’ Allegations were ‘resolved’ only in the sense that the investigation was completed; Mr. Pincher was not exonerated. To characterize the allegations as ‘unsubstantiated’ is therefore wrong.”
When asked about the letter, Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said he didn’t know whether Johnson had been told about the Foreign Office investigation. Raab was foreign secretary at the time and worked with McDonald on the inquiry.
“That’s news to me,” Raab told the BBC when asked about McDonald’s assertion that Johnson was told about the investigation. “I wasn’t aware of that, and it’s not clear to me that that is factually accurate.”
The latest revelations are fueling discontent within Johnson’s Cabinet after ministers were forced to publicly deliver the prime minister’s denials, only to have the explanation shift the next day.
The Times of London on Tuesday published an analysis of the situation under the headline “Claim of lying puts Boris Johnson in peril.”
The scandal comes a month after Johnson survived a vote of no confidence in which more than 40% of Conservative Party lawmakers voted to remove him from office. Concerns about Johnson’s leadership were fueled by the prime minister’s shifting responses to months of allegations about lockdown-breaking parties in government offices that ultimately resulted in 126 fines, including one levied against Johnson.
Two weeks later, Conservative candidates were badly beaten in two by-elections to fill vacant seats in Parliament, adding to discontent with Johnson’s leadership.
Pincher resigned as deputy chief whip, a key position in enforcing party discipline, on Thursday, telling the prime minister that he “drank far too much” the previous night and had “embarrassed myself and other people.”
Johnson initially refused to take the further step of suspending Pincher from the Conservative Party, but he relented after a formal complaint about the groping allegations was filed with parliamentary authorities.
Critics suggest Johnson was slow to react to the scandal because he didn’t want to risk forcing Pincher to resign, setting up another potential special election defeat for the Conservatives.
Even before the Pincher scandal, suggestions were swirling that Johnson may soon face another vote of no confidence.
In the next few weeks, Conservative lawmakers will elect new members to the committee that sets parliamentary rules for the party. Several candidates have suggested they would support changing the rules to allow for another vote of no confidence, which is barred for 12 months under the existing rules.
Senior Conservative lawmaker Roger Gale, a long-standing critic of Johnson, said he will now support a change of the rules of the Conservative 1922 Committee to allow the vote.
“Mr. Johnson has for three days now been sending ministers — in one case a Cabinet minister — out to defend the indefensible, effectively to lie on his behalf. That cannot be allowed to continue,” he told the BBC. “This prime minister has trashed the reputation of a proud and honorable party for honesty and decency, and that is not acceptable. | 2022-07-05T12:45:28+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/New-Johnson-scandal-deepens-with-claims-by-17284694.php |
Laszlo Bock, co-founder of Humu, steps into a new role as Executive Chairman with Scott Chancellor succeeding him as CEO.
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Humu, an HR technology company that uses science-backed nudges to help managers develop high-performing teams, today announced that Scott Chancellor will join as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), starting August 29. Chancellor succeeds Laszlo Bock, who co-founded Humu and served as its CEO since 2017. Bock will be stepping into an Executive Chairman role, presiding over Humu's Board of Directors.
Chancellor joins Humu from Apptio where he spent the past three years in the role of Chief Product & Technology Officer. During his time there, he oversaw a period of rapid product and revenue growth for the company, leading its expansion into the Cloud Financial Management and Enterprise Agile Planning markets, while modernizing and revitalizing Apptio's core product offering.
Prior to joining Apptio, Chancellor spent over seven years at Amazon Web Services, where he founded and led the company's AWS Insights organization as General Manager and was responsible for several of AWS's most used services, including all of its cloud financial management services.
Chancellor has also held roles at Hewlett-Packard, Wachovia Securities, and the United States Department of Defense. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Washington, where he studied accounting and computer science, and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.
"As a leader, I am excited by opportunities for spectacular growth—through building exceptional products that enable organizations to live up to their values," said Chancellor. "I am inspired by Humu's mission to make work better and by the chance to guide the team in helping the world's largest companies empower their managers and accelerate their employees' success."
"It's rare to find a leader who excels in business growth and product innovation, and deeply values shaping a great organizational culture," said TCV Venture Partner Jessica Neal and board member at Humu. "After running an extensive search process, we are thrilled to have Scott join as CEO and believe he is the best possible person to lead Humu into this next chapter."
With Chancellor leading the company as CEO, Laszlo Bock will still play an active role in Humu as the board's Executive Chairman, and as an advisor and spokesperson. "Over the past five years, it's been a privilege to build the foundation of Humu and lead it through transformational growth," said Bock. "I'm excited for my new role in the company and this next chapter under Scott's leadership. His track record of scaling user and revenue growth will bring us even closer to achieving the mission that we set five years ago: make work better."
About Humu
Humu works with the world's largest companies to deliver timely, personalized coaching that makes it easy for managers to improve team performance, retention, and employee experience. For more information or to view open positions, visit humu.com.
Media Contact
Lucy Stenzel-Poore
Mission North for Humu
humu@missionnorth.com
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SOURCE Humu | 2022-08-24T19:48:42+00:00 | kalb.com | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/humu-announces-scott-chancellor-its-new-chief-executive-officer/ |
- Their state-of-the-art R&D Center will focus on research and development products to global appeal
- A series of brand expansion, including the launch of herbal beverage HSW and new KORESELECT products, etc.
- In partnership with brand consulting groups, plans to expand distribution channels.
- Strengthens marketing with selection of Hollywood star, Arden Cho to be the brand ambassador.
CERRITOS, Calif., March 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Korea Ginseng Corp., the world's #1 ginseng brand, has been busy transforming itself into a comprehensive global health foods company. Last year, Korea Ginseng Corp. launched their new KORESELECT product line to meet the specific needs of the American consumer. This year, with the grand opening of their new U.S. R&D center, Korea Ginseng Corp. will dramatically expand that commitment.
According to the market research analysis firm Grand View Research, the global dietary supplement market is forecast to grow by leaps and bounds, reaching USD 327.4 billion in 2030. Chul-ho Her, CEO of Korea Ginseng Corp., noted at the opening ceremony, "The U.S. is a promising region for us, with growing interest in functional foods and preventive health care. The opening of this center demonstrates our commitment to becoming a global health food company."
As part of these expansion plans, Korea Ginseng Corp. recently unveiled several new products at the largest natural, organic and healthy products event, Natural Products Expo West 2023. These included five new HSW red ginseng-based herbal drinks, and KORESELECT products such as blood sugar support, muscle health support (Muscle Rejuv), and a sleep and mood support (Stress Ease) which its benefits are coming into the limelight after the pandemic. With the opening of the new R&D Center, Korea Ginseng Corp. will focus on meeting the unique preferences of the U.S. consumer, in the form of innovative gummy, jelly sticks, nutrition bars, and powders.
Korea Ginseng Corp. intends to boost their marketing activities to match, selecting Korean-American actress Arden Cho to be their new brand ambassador. Arden, whose Hollywood resume includes The Honor List, Teen Wolf, Chicago Med, and CSI: NY, recently played the leading role in the Netflix legal drama Partner Track. She began her full-fledged ambassadorial activities in February, filing the upcoming KGCUS "The Secret to My Health and Beauty" advertising campaign.
In partnership with a brand strategy consulting group, Korea Ginseng Corp. is equally committed to growing its distribution channels.
"This will be a momentous year for our global business," noted Heung-sil Lee, CEO of Korea Ginseng Corp. US, and added "as we meet the unique needs of our U.S. customers by actively developing products specifically tailored to their lifestyles."
About Korea Ginseng Corp.
Korea Ginseng Corporation (KGC) is the world's number one ginseng brand and herbal dietary company. Established in 1899, it is one of the most proven and trusted herbal dietary supplement manufacturers, providing the highest quality, traditionally harvested Korean Red Ginseng products to support health and well-being. KGC runs four regional headquarters in the United States, China, Japan, and Taiwan, in addition to South Korea, and exports products to over 60 countries. With over 40% world market share, its presence spans Asia, Europe, the Middle East region and the U.S. KGC's family of brands include KORESELECT, CheongKwanJang, Good Base, and Donginbi. The KGC brands, inclusive of over 250 products, use the most exceptional ginseng combined with the finest herbs and ingredients to deliver superior products to meet everyone's needs.
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SOURCE KGC (Korea Ginseng Corp.) | 2023-03-15T05:23:31+00:00 | kswo.com | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/03/15/worlds-1-ginseng-brand-cheongkwanjang-opens-us-rampd-center-major-push-expand-its-american-market-share/ |
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — In a victory for abortion-rights supporters, the Republican-led but closely divided New Hampshire House on Thursday rejected multiple bills to further restrict abortion access while also approving legislation to protect it.
The eight abortion-related bills came up for a vote during what has been a hectic week for abortion policy nationwide. Nine months after the U.S. Supreme Court ended a nationwide right to an abortion, court fights are playing out on multiple fronts, states dominated by Democrats are seeking to protect access and Republicans are trying to tighten restrictions.
In New Hampshire, Republicans hold a 201-198 majority in the House, with one seat vacant. That has made attendance on session days extra important, as evidenced by the vote on a measure Thursday that ended in a tie.
The proposal in question, backed by virtually all Democrats, would have repealed the state’s ban on abortion after 24 weeks of pregnancy. The bill was tabled after the 192-192 tie.
Democrats succeeded, however, in sending the Senate a bill that would remove the civil and criminal penalties associated with the ban, a change Republican Gov. Chris Sununu supports. The House also voted to add an explicit right to abortion up to 24 weeks to state law, though the Republican-led Senate already has defeated a similar bill.
“New Hampshire is one of only three states where abortion is legal but not protected,” said Rep. Alexis Simpson, a Democrat from Exeter. “Today we can send a message to Granite Staters – a clear, purposeful message – that the New Hampshire House supports and affirms an individual’s right to an abortion and the tenets of Roe v. Wade.”
The House rejected a bill that would ban abortions after the first detectable “fetal heartbeat.” Cardiac activity can be detected as early as six weeks into pregnancy, before many women know they’re pregnant. It also rejected a bill that would have required medical treatment for all infants born alive, including after an attempted abortion, along with measures that would have imposed a waiting period for those seeking abortions and additional audits for abortion providers.
A bill that would have asked voters to weigh in on adding “reproductive autonomy” to the state Constitution failed, however. The House voted 193-191 in favor of the bill, but proposed constitutional amendments need a three-fifths majority to advance.
Rep. Bob Lynn, a Republican from Windham and former chief justice of the state Supreme Court, said changing the constitution would effectively throw the issue to the courts.
“Is there any reason to believe that the court is somehow better equipped to make decisions on these issues than we are? I submit to you that the answer is no,” he said. “Unlike unelected judges, we are the branch of government that is most accountable to the people. If we get it wrong, the voters will let us know about it soon enough at the next election.” | 2023-03-23T22:19:08+00:00 | sfgate.com | https://www.sfgate.com/news/politics/article/abortion-rights-supporters-prevail-in-new-17856888.php |
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
© 2022 Good Karma Brands Milwaukee, LLC. | 2022-07-13T13:11:45+00:00 | wtmj.com | https://wtmj.com/entertainment/2022/07/13/ap-top-entertainment-news-at-253-a-m-edt-3/ |
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla., July 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The renowned Southern rock quartet Gov't Mule, led by GRAMMY ® Award-winning vocalist, songwriter and guitar legend Warren Haynes is coming to The Jones Assembly in Oklahoma City on September 20, 2022, presented by Stability Cannabis.
To commemorate the special event, Stability Cannabis has cultivated and released a one-of-a-kind cannabis strain named Black Horizon, in honor of Gov't Mule's latest album release, Heavy Load Blues, featuring the popular track "Black Horizon". The exclusive Black Horizon strain can be purchased only at Stability Cannabis dispensaries in Oklahoma City while supplies last. Each purchase of the private strain qualifies for an entry in a free ticket giveaway for the show on September 20th. In total four winners will win two tickets each, along with an exciting prize packet courtesy of Stability Cannabis.
"We are proud to partner with The Jones Assembly and help promote world class live music in Oklahoma. While times are stressful, the Stability Cannabis brand is about helping people at our core. An evening with the iconic Gov't Mule is an ideal way to make memories with friends and fans, while discovering a moment to relax and restore" said David Lewis, chief operating officer of Stability Cannabis.
Gov't Mule features Warren Haynes (vocals, guitar), Matt Abts (drums), Danny Louis (keyboards, guitar), and Jorgen Carlsson (bass). The band is led by Warren Haynes who has assembled a prolific career as part of some of the greatest rock groups in history – Allman Brothers, Gov't Mule and the Dead.
Tickets are now on sale at www.TheJonesAssembly.com. The Jones Assembly is a popular American restaurant and one of Oklahoma's most immersive concert venues.
Oklahoma City based Stability Cannabis operates one of the largest cannabis cultivation, processing and retail operations in the American Midwest. Learn more at StabilityCannabis.com.
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SOURCE Stability Cannabis | 2022-07-20T13:20:25+00:00 | witn.com | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/07/20/stability-cannabis-presents-govt-mule-jones-assembly-september-20-2022/ |
The decision of the House Jan. 6 committee to recommend that the Justice Department pursue potential criminal charges against Donald J. Trump is not binding on the department, which in any case is already investigating “whether any person or entity unlawfully interfered with the transfer of power following the 2020 presidential election” under the leadership of a special counsel.
Still, the panel’s recommendation Monday that the department pursue four potential charges against Trump — including inciting, aiding or giving aid and comfort to an insurrection — is a powerful statement. Equally important, it is based on a voluminous and damning record amassed in hearings at which some of the most damaging witnesses were Trump’s own appointees.
For anyone not blinded by partisanship or in thrall to the cult of Trump, the facts assembled by the panel, and contained in an executive summary of its report released on Monday, are shocking and shameful. They fully justify the dramatic step of a criminal referral of a former president.
Yes, such a recommendation is revolutionary, but as Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, the committee chairman, aptly explained, “We’ve never had a president of the United States stir up a violent attempt to block the transfer of power.”
To its credit, the panel — launched after Senate Republicans stymied the creation of an independent commission to investigate the insurrection — viewed its mandate as more than a forensic investigation of the violent events of a uniquely dark day in American history. Horrific as it was, the violence on Jan. 6 was the culmination of a prolonged and multifaceted effort by Trump and his enablers to seize on spurious claims of voter fraud to maintain Trump’s hold on the White House.
Led by Thompson and Vice Chair Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, a Republican with impeccable conservative credentials, the panel rightly placed the riot at the Capitol and Trump’s dereliction of duty on that day in that broader context. In doing so it compiled a historical record that will be of inestimable value to prosecutors as well as the public.
The scheme to overturn the election collapsed when Vice President Mike Pence rejected the idea that he could refuse to count electoral votes fairly won by President-elect Joe Biden. But it was a sprawling conspiracy and, the committee persuasively suggests, a criminal one.
The breadth of the campaign to overturn the 2020 election is reflected in the charges the committee asked the Justice Department to consider. The committee filed criminal referrals for Trump on three charges in addition to insurrection: obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to make a false statement and conspiracy to defraud the United States.
The insurrection charge is the most dramatic. The House in 2021 impeached Trump, accusing him of “incitement of insurrection” (the Senate failed to convict). A criminal incitement conviction might be harder to secure because Trump may claim that his statements were protected by the 1st Amendment and that he never advocated violence.
Still, the committee has established a powerful case for pursuing prosecution on that and the other charges. The Justice Department already has successfully prosecuted foot soldiers in the Trump-orchestrated war on democracy. As we observed in an earlier editorial, it’s critical that the ringleader who exhorted his followers to march to the Capitol to “take back our country” also be held accountable.
Whatever the outcome of any criminal prosecution, the Jan. 6 committee irrefutably established, as Cheney eloquently put it, that Trump “is “unfit for any office.” Whatever happens in court, Trump has disqualified himself from any sane or patriotic voter’s consideration.
—Los Angeles Times
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MCALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The grilled sandwich restaurant Jersey Mike’s Subs is opening a second location in McAllen.
“When we chose this location in McAllen, we felt it would be the ideal spot to open our newest Jersey Mike’s Subs store,” franchise owner Nathan Garn said.
Jersey Mike’s Subs’ grand opening happens Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 814 E. Expressway 83 in McAllen. Restaurant hours are from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
The new restaurant will be Jersey Mike’s fourth location in the Rio Grande Valley.
Jersey Mike’s Subs started in a small shop in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, in 1956. Today, the franchise has more than 2,500 restaurants opened or under development, according to the company’s website.
The restaurant is known for its red wine vinegar and olive oil blend, freshly grilled and sliced meats, crisp vegetables, daily oven-fresh bread, and quality ingredients.
Customers can place orders in-store, curbside, or for pickup through the Jersey Mike’s Subs website or app.
During the McAllen store’s opening Wednesday, Jan. 11 through Jan. 15, the restaurant will host a fundraiser in support of the Vannie E. Cook Jr. Children’s Cancer and Hematology Clinic.
Customers who receive the fundraising coupon can make a minimum of $2 contribution in exchange for a regular sub, but they must have a coupon to be eligible. | 2023-01-09T00:07:38+00:00 | valleycentral.com | https://www.valleycentral.com/news/local-news/jersey-mikes-subs-expands-to-second-mcallen-location/ |
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The many appalling problems newly revealed about the Navy’s handling of its drinking water at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH) demand swift corrective action, with improvement benchmarks that must be insisted upon by regulators and the public.
An investigation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, done in April but quietly posted on its website just this month, found that the Navy potentially violated state and federal laws relating to safe drinking water in its operation and maintenance at JBPHH (see 808ne.ws/EPAnavywater). The system serves about 93,000 people, primarily military families — but as shown by the November Red Hill fuel leak that contaminated JBPHH drinking water and sickened hundreds, it also affects public schools, private preschools and civilian businesses.
Among the system’s many defects, the EPA found:
>> Rusted pump shafts and rusted pipes in the Waiawa and Aiea-Halawa shafts, two of the three water wells the Navy relied on to supply the JBPHH water system. The third, the Red Hill shaft, still had a visible sheen on the surface of a tunnel and smelled of fuel in April.
>> Exposed wiring, rusting, flaking paint, leaking oil and abandoned pumps.
>> Lack of a preventative maintenance program, resulting in a reactionary approach to maintenance.
>> No operator safety training program and insufficient operating procedures.
>> Incorrect and sloppy storage of chemicals, and rusting and pitting water storage tanks. In one tank, an unsealed roof hatch enabled geckos to nest inside.
>> Numerous deficiencies with the Red Hill water tanks; one tank, installed in the mid-1990s, had never been cleaned and had a significant amount of sediment at the bottom.
The EPA investigations into the JBPHH water system, and the Army’s smaller Aliamanu Military Reservation system, were launched this spring, after the Red Hill fuel leaks occurred last year. That fuel-contamination crisis is now leading to the imminent closure of the World War II-era, 20-tank underground storage facility — a process that also demands close oversight, even as it needs to be expedited faster than the Navy’s two-year time frame.
As for the military’s mishandling of crucial drinking-water systems: It should not have taken an EPA investigation spurred by a fuel-leak crisis to uncover the breadth of deficiencies that clearly have been ongoing for years. In light of the findings, the EPA said, the Navy and the Army have taken steps to address problems, and “have submitted plans they will take to address all of EPA’s findings.”
Stay on them to see these through. Military families, and civilians, who are drinking this water deserve to know fully what those actions are — and how these water systems are being improved for their health and safety. | 2022-08-27T11:46:37+00:00 | staradvertiser.com | https://www.staradvertiser.com/2022/08/27/editorial/our-view/editorial-more-problems-for-navy/ |
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Cash-strapped and nuclear-armed Pakistan will impose new taxes of 170 billion rupees this month in a bid for massive bailout officials and analysts said Monday, even as they warned the new taxes could accelerate the country’s spiraling inflation.
The dire outlook from economists and political analysts comes after the International Monetary Fund delayed the release of a crucial $1.1 billion portion of a 2019 deal worth $6 billion, on hold since December over Pakistan’s failure to meet the terms. The latest round of the talks between Pakistan and the IMF concluded last week, with the fund recommending steps including imposing new taxes.
“The imposition of more taxes means tough days are ahead for the majority of the people in Pakistan who are already facing higher food and energy costs, but there is no other way out if Pakistan needs the IMF loans, and Pakistan desperately needs it,” said Ehtisham-ul-Haq, a veteran economist.
The stalemate in talks between IMF and Pakistan was seen as a blow to the government of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif who is struggling to avoid a default amid a worsening economic crisis amid a surge in militant violence. Pakistan already is struggling with the recovery from record-breaking floods, which killed 1,739 people last summer and destroyed 2 million homes.
Last month, dozens of countries and international institutions at a U.N.backed conference in Geneva had pledged more than $9 billion to help Pakistan recover and rebuild from devastating summer floods, but economists and Pakistani officials say those funds will be given for the projects, and not in cash.
Since then, Pakistani Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has said that his experts were preparing to impose additional taxes and slash subsidies on electricity, gas and more to meet the deal’s terms.
Haq, the economist, said Pakistan’s inflation rate of 26% will jump to 40% after the imposition of new taxes. But, he said in an interview, “life will become more difficult for the common man if Pakistan fails to revive the IMF bailout without any further delay.”
Officials say several friendly countries like China, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had assured Sharif’s government that they will financially help Islamabad — but they too wanted Pakistan to complete the 2019 IMF program.
Imtiaz Gul, a senior Pakistani political analyst, said Sharif’s government is likely to raise taxes on those who are already paying taxes. “There is a need to broaden the tax base,” he said, but raising taxes “will trigger an increase in the prices of all essential items.”
The government insists that it will impose new taxes in such a way that poor people are not affected. The new taxes will be imposed on those who can afford to pay additional taxes to save the economy, the government said.
Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves have fallen to slightly over $2 billion. That’s enough only to pay for imports for 10 days. Officials say Pakistan’s talks with IMF will resume virtually later Monday or Tuesday. Sharif last week warned that Pakistan would have difficulty complying with the IMF’s conditions.
Sharif’s predecessor, Imran Khan, now the opposition leader, since his ouster through no-confidence in the parliament in April, has been warning that Pakistan could face a Sri Lanka-like situation because of the deepening economic crisis. He has publicly warned that Pakistan could be blackmailed by the world community over the country’s nuclear program if Pakistan defaults in the near future.
Khan insists his government was ousted under a U.S. plot, a charge Washington denies. | 2023-02-14T05:00:14+00:00 | nwahomepage.com | https://www.nwahomepage.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-nuclear-armed-pakistan-reaches-for-imf-loan-to-avoid-default/ |
ST. LOUIS (AP) — A plan to divide more than a half-billion dollars in settlement money for the departure of the NFL’s Rams from St. Louis received final approval Wednesday.
The board of the St. Louis Regional Convention and Sports Authority, which owns the domed stadium where the Rams played before leaving for Los Angeles in 2016, approved an agreement announced Nov. 22.
The city of St. Louis will receive $250 million, St. Louis County will get $169 million and the RSA will receive $70 million. Another $30 million will help pay for an expansion of the America’s Center convention center, which is attached to the dome. Although the dome is in the city of St. Louis, county taxpayers helped pay for it.
St. Louis interests sued the league and Rams owner Stan Kroenke after NFL owners approved the team’s move to Los Angeles in 2016. They sought more than $1 billion in damages.
A $790 million settlement was reached in November 2021. About $275 million went to attorney fees. That left $512 million, and interest brought the total to around $519 million.
The suit claimed the NFL violated its own relocation guidelines, and that the league and the Rams enriched themselves at the expense of the community they abandoned. | 2022-12-01T04:45:52+00:00 | kxnet.com | https://www.kxnet.com/sports/ap-deal-finalized-to-divide-rams-settlement-money-in-st-louis/ |
Sox play Rangers on anniversary of Ryan vs. Ventura originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
On this day in 1993, White Sox infielder Robin Ventura was plunked by Texas Rangers Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan, which led to an all-out brawl. Ironically, the White Sox begin a four-game series against the Rangers on Thursday.
A clip forever remembered in sports history, Ryan struck Ventura with a pitch in the back. Ventura, former Sox player and manager, paused for a moment before charging towards the mound. Ryan immediately caught Ventura in a headlock and punched him multiple times in the head before the benches cleared and the scrum finished.
The moment is forever relived by baseball fanatics and ironically remembered on Thursday, the same day the current Sox play the Rangers in Texas. Johnny Cueto has the mound against Cole Ragans, who is making his MLB debut.
RELATED: White Sox are notorious for crushing pitchers making their MLB debut
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Hopefully, no one charges Cueto or Ragans on Thursday's game.
The Sox defeated the Kansas City Royals and are now two games over .500 for the first time since April (when they were 6-4). They are two games back on the Minnesota Twins and one game back on the second-place Cleveland Guardians. | 2022-08-04T16:10:23+00:00 | nbcchicago.com | https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/white-sox-face-rangers-on-29-year-anniversary-of-nolan-ryan-vs-robin-ventura/2906796/ |
Census wants to know how to ask about sexuality and gender
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - The 2020 census questionnaire drove Scout crazy. With no direct questions about sexual orientation and gender identity, it made him feel left out of the U.S. head count.
Among LGBTQ people, the census only asked about same-sex couples living together, and Scout didn’t live with his partner. So to compensate, he hounded his gay, cohabiting neighbors in Providence, Rhode Island to respond and provide at least some visibility for the community.
“I was stalking them to fill out the census form because mine didn’t make a difference,” said Scout, a transgender man who uses one name. “There’s no question I’m absolutely made invisible by the census.”
This could change soon. Recognizing the difficulty of persuading people to reveal information many find sensitive, the U.S. Census Bureau is requesting millions of dollars to study how best to ask about sexual orientation and gender identity. The results could provide much better data about the LGBTQ population nationwide at a time when views about sexual orientation and gender identity are evolving.
“Change is in the air,” said Kerith Conron, research director at the UCLA School of Law’s Williams Institute, which researches these issues. “It’s exciting.”
The Census Bureau’s request comes as President Joe Biden declared June as LGBTQ “Pride Month,” and as U.S. passports now offer an “X” in addition to “M” or “F”, for non-binary or intersex individuals. It is taking place as some Republican-dominated state legislatures restrict what can be discussed about sexual orientation and gender identity in schools and banned transgender girls from competing in girls’ sports.
“We are seeing that numbers matter when politicians are demeaning and conducting culture wars against people,” said Gina Duncan, a transgender woman who advocates in Orlando with Equality Florida.
As the nation’s largest statistical agency, the bureau sets an example for how other agencies and businesses ask these questions, she noted.
The most common terms used for sexual orientation are lesbian, gay, bisexual or straight. Gender norms are typically understood as male, female, both or neither.
The $10 million would be spent over several years to fund Census Bureau field tests of different wording and placement of questions that would appear on its annual American Community Survey.
The bureau is particularly interested in examining how answers are provided by “proxies” such as a parent, spouse or someone else in a household who isn’t the person about whom the question is being asked.
Other federal agencies already ask about sexual orientation, primarily in health surveys conducted by trained interviewers with respondents answering for themselves. The much more widely circulated Census Bureau surveys tend to rely on proxies more.
Wording and design matter since they can affect accuracy.
A confusing layout on the 2010 census form led some census takers to misreport the genders of opposite-sex couples, falsely inflating the number of same-sex households. Studies also have shown that some transgender people are more likely to leave gender questions blank or check both “male” and “female.”
Some respondents might not want to share such personal information, or may be unsure of how to answer. And some proxies might not know the sexual orientation and gender identity of everyone in their household. In places like New Zealand and the United Kingdom, surveys don’t allow proxy reporting for sexual orientation questions because of concerns about accuracy and confidentiality.
The federal statistical system currently is unable to provide high-quality information about sexual and gender minorities without improving and expanding data gathering on this topic, the Census Bureau said in its 2023 budget submission.
“This research can help us measure the growing and diverse LGBTQ population in the United States,” a Census Bureau statement said.
Next week, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform is discussing legislation that would require data on sexual orientation and gender identity to be collected voluntarily in federal surveys.
Federal data collection traditionally has treated sexual orientation and gender identity as binary — gay or straight, male or female — but this can mask greater complexities and wide-ranging identities, according to a report the National Academies of Sciences, Medicine and Engineering released this spring.
The once-a-decade census, the yearly American Community Survey and the annual Current Population Survey now allow same-sex couples a chance to answer if they are in a marriage or domestic partnership. But that omits LGBTQ people who are single or not living in the same household with their partner, and for the gender question, “male” and “female” are the only options.
Because the same-sex response is limited to individuals living together, it captures only a fifth of the nation’s LGBTQ population, Conron said.
Only the bureau’s online Household Pulse Survey, created at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, includes “transgender” and “none of these” alongside the “male” and “female” options. It also allows respondents to identify as gay, straight, bisexual, “something else” and “I don’t know.” However, the Household Pulse Survey is categorized as experimental and may not meet some of the bureau’s statistical quality standards.
Other nations that already ask about sexual orientation in their data collection include Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the countries of the United Kingdom.
A report from a working group of U.S. agencies recommends that sexual orientation be asked separately from gender identity and that language used for older adults be tweaked when asking teens questions, since their preferred terminologies, like “queer,” may be different. Cultural, regional and language differences also must be considered. Some Native Americans may identify as “two-spirit” rather than gay or bisexual, and in Spanish, “heterosexual” was found to reduce confusion over “straight, that is, not gay” which doesn’t translate directly, the report said.
“Each new generation is more diverse in its sexuality and gender,” Duncan said. “The Census Bureau should stay up to date with that evolution.”
___
Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeSchneiderAP
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2022-06-12T09:11:12+00:00 | kswo.com | https://www.kswo.com/2022/06/12/census-wants-know-how-ask-about-sexuality-gender/ |
PHOENIX (AP) — Republican Kari Lake and supporters of her failed campaign for Arizona governor are attacking Democratic Secretary of State Katie Hobbs as having a conflict of interest for overseeing the election she won.
Secretaries of state across the country routinely oversee their own races, and Republicans had no such criticism when one of their own was secretary of state in Georgia and oversaw his own election for governor four years ago. The criticism on Hobbs has persisted after one heavily Republican rural county declined to certify its own election results, forcing Hobbs to sue.
Lake said in a video posted to social media this week that Hobbs “is now threatening counties with legal action if they do not crown her governor by certifying the election that she botched. You simply can’t make this stuff up.”
Hobbs defeated Lake by a little more than 17,000 votes, and there has been no evidence that voters were disenfranchised, or that the result was in any way inaccurate. Every county in the state except one — Cochise County, in the state’s southeast corner — has certified its results. Hobbs’ lawsuit against the county has its first hearing on Thursday.
While most Republicans around the country who lost after spreading baseless claims about the 2020 presidential election conceded, Lake has not. She has embarked on a campaign on social media and conservative outlets to claim the election was tainted by problems in Maricopa County, which includes the Phoenix area and accounts for more than 60% of the state’s registered voters. County officials say everyone was able to cast a ballot and that all legal votes were counted.
Trey Grayson, a Republican who served two terms as Kentucky’s secretary of state, noted that he oversaw two of his elections — his re-election as secretary of state and then a bid for U.S. Senate.
“The system is designed so that there aren’t conflicts of interest,” Grayson said. “I can understand why Kari Lake might ask the question. But if you look at the actual division of labor, there is not a conflict.”
Grayson said he did not think an appearance of a conflict justified elected official recusing themselves from the process, pointing to various safeguards built into the system. The secretary of state merely administers laws passed by the legislature, he said, and courts can step in if someone tries to influence an election.
“If everyone has to recuse on the mere perception of a conflict, our system would fail,” he said. “There is no evidence that is necessary.”
Similar claims surfaced in 2018 when then-Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp and then-Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, both Republicans, were both running for governor in their respective states. While Kobach lost his bid, Kemp won amid criticism from his Democratic opponent, Stacey Abrams, for refusing to step down from his position before the election.
“Brian Kemp oversaw for eight years the systematic and systemic dismantling of our democracy and that means there could not be free and fair elections in Georgia this year,” Abrams told MSNBC in an interview shortly after the 2018 election.
Earlier this year, a federal judge ruled against a group associated with Abrams in a four-year-old lawsuit that had challenged various aspects of the state’s voting practices.
Kemp resigned soon after Election Day in 2018, and an interim secretary of state later certified the results.
Across the country this year, 15 secretaries of state were on the ballot — running for re-election or another office. Just before the Nov. 8 election, a nonpartisan group that advocates for election reforms called on the officials to recuse themselves from certifying themselves as the winner in a close election. The Election Reformers Network had previously drafted proposed legislation that would, among other steps, prohibit a state election official from overseeing elections in which they are on the ballot.
“Although many secretaries of state manage such situations of potential conflict of interest with integrity, the current environment of partisan animosity and voter distrust calls for proactive efforts to ensure voter confidence in results,” Kevin Johnson, the group’s executive director, said in a statement at the time.
This year, most of those contests were not close, but Hobbs won by less than 1 percentage point in the Arizona governor’s race. The secretary of state there certifies election results in the presence of the governor, the state attorney general and the chief justice of the state Supreme Court.
This week, Johnson said Hobbs should explore whether state law allows her to recuse herself from certifying her own race.
Hobbs’ spokeswoman, Sophia Solis, emphasized that the secretary of state does not handle ballots or play a direct role in vote tabulation, and said that neither the courts nor precedent in the state require Hobbs to recuse herself “based on purely speculative claims.”
“In fact, Arizona has a history of state officials who have been tasked with overseeing election administration or certifying election results who have continued to ethically perform their duties while on the ballot,” Solis said.
While Hobbs plays an important role in certifying an election, the procedure is routine and ministerial, meaning she is compelled to sign off on the results unless a judge has intervened in the process.
Nevertheless, the issue was raised by many of the dozens of speakers who urged supervisors in counties across the state not to certify the vote tallies in their jurisdictions.
“In my opinion, that opens the door to fraud because she’s in charge of an election in which she is a candidate,” Lawrence Neigel of Prescott told Yavapai County supervisors, saying Hobbs should have recused herself. “I mean, that’s crazy.”
In Cochise County, two Republican supervisors on the three-member board voted not to accept the election results on Monday, the deadline under state law, prompting Hobbs’ lawsuit and another representing voters in the county. On Wednesday, a Tucson civil rights lawyer filed a notice of claim with Cochise County, saying it was the first step toward a class action lawsuit on behalf of all 47,000 voters who are at risk of not having their votes counted.
The supervisors did not cite any concerns with the vote count but said they want to hear more during a Friday meeting about debunked concerns that ballot counting machines were not properly certified for use in an election.
The county attorney has refused to defend the supervisors, saying their refusal to certify is illegal. The supervisors voted Tuesday to instead hire a Phoenix lawyer who represented the firm Cyber Ninjas, which led a widely mocked partisan review of the 2020 election in Maricopa County.
It’s not clear whether the lawyer, Bryan Blehm, is willing to take the case. The supervisors were unable to reach him before voting to hire him.
Blehm and Cochise County Administrator Richard Karwaczka did not respond to emails Wednesday asking whether Blehm had agreed to represent the supervisors.
Two prominent former prosecutors asked the attorney general and county attorney to investigate whether the two Republican supervisors, Tom Crosby and Peggy Judd, should be criminally charged for failing to carry out their election obligations.
“We take no pleasure in making this prosecution recommendation, but we believe deeply that the rule of law dictates that public officials be held accountable when they refuse to comply with their legal obligations,” former state Attorney General Terry Goddard, a Democrat, and former Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley, a Republican, wrote in their letter.
___
Cassidy reported from Atlanta. | 2022-12-01T20:23:20+00:00 | valleycentral.com | https://www.valleycentral.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ap-in-arizona-losing-candidate-points-to-perceived-conflict/ |
LONDON (AP) — King Charles III has made his youngest brother the Duke of Edinburgh, passing on a title held by their late father, Prince Philip.
Buckingham Palace said the title was conferred on Prince Edward on Friday, his 59th birthday.
Edward is the youngest of the four children of Philip and the late Queen Elizabeth II. His wife Sophie will now be known as the Duchess of Edinburgh, and their 15-year-old son James becomes Earl of Wessex, the title Edward previously held.
Prince Philip was made Duke of Edinburgh when he married the then Princess Elizabeth in 1947, and he held the title until his death in 2021 at the age of 99. It had been Philip’s wish that Edward should get the dukedom after he and the queen had both died. Elizabeth died in September at age 96.
One of Philip’s legacies is the Duke of Edinburgh awards, a popular youth activities program set up in 1956.
The palace said that “the new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are proud to continue Prince Philip’s legacy of promoting opportunities for young people of all backgrounds to reach their full potential.”
The announcement comes after another title change this week when Prince Harry and Meghan began officially using the titles Prince and Princess for their children Archie and Lilibet. | 2023-03-11T11:22:34+00:00 | qcnews.com | https://www.qcnews.com/entertainment/uk-has-new-duke-of-edinburgh-as-king-gives-his-brother-title/ |
Betty Beauty Survey Proves Increasing Male Desire to Groom in Order to Anti-Age and Boost Confidence; New First-of-its-Kind Cover your gray™ - betty for men Facial & Body Hair Dye Launches to Meet this Need
NEW YORK, Dec. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- bettybeauty, inc., the creator of award-winning betty - color for the hair down there™, a division of Fisk Industries, has released a new survey revealing unexpected sentiments and habits regarding men's beard and pubic hair. bettybeauty, inc. also launched Cover your gray™ - betty for men today, the first & only safe-to-use hair dye specially formulated for men's beards, mustaches and body hair including pubic hair, available on Amazon (Black; Brown) and bettybeauty.com ($14.99 each).
Nancy Jarecki, founder & CEO of bettybeauty, inc., said: "Melanocytes, or pigment-producing cells, can wear out faster in your beard and body hair than in your head hair, not necessarily because you're getting old, but also due to genetics. Our survey shows that men as young as 30 feel older than they are and want to anti-age by dyeing their beard and body hair. We're excited to launch betty for men to help men feel more confident about themselves; it's an important, safe-to-use solution that meets an unmet need."
This news is also timely as celebrities such as Joe Jonas and Pete Davidson destigmatize anti-aging and manscaping for men. By 2024, the global male grooming market is estimated to be worth about 81.2 billion U.S. dollars.
A survey of 800 US men aged 30 and older with gray head, beard, chest and/or pubic hair, conducted by bettybeauty, inc. in October 2022, found that:
• 57% of respondents are interested in dyeing their beard:
○ 31% would or currently dye their beard hair
○ 26% would consider it if doing so were safe and easy
• 62% are interested in dyeing their pubic hair:
○ 41% would or currently dye their pubic hair
○ 21% would consider it if doing so were safe and easy
• 50% are self-conscious about their gray beard hair, saying it ages them
• 39% are self-conscious about their gray pubic hair, saying it ages them
• On why men would dye their beard:
○ 57%: to look younger
○ 26%: to match their head hair color
○ 17%: to boost confidence
• On why men would dye their pubic hair:
○ 49%: to boost confidence
○ 22%: to look younger
○ 20%: to match their head hair color
○ 8%: to boost their sex life
• 74% manscape:
○ 58% manscape monthly
○ 34% weekly
○ 8% multiple times per week
bettybeauty, inc.'s specialty hair color kits for "down there" have been meeting women's needs for 16 years, as the first and only safe way to cover gray in the most sensitive area. Now, betty™ & Cover Your Gray have united to create a facial & body hair coloring product specifically designed for the needs of men. Men no longer need to be self-conscious; they can enjoy Cover your gray - betty for men's anti-aging and confidence-boosting benefits.
Cover your gray - betty for men color kits are strong enough for coarse beard and mustache hair, safe enough for chest and arm hair, and gentle enough for hair down there. These dyes naturally color, cover grays, and enhance, to match the head hair color above.
Unlike current hair dyes on the market, betty products are formulated with non-allergenic and natural ingredients, plus skin conditioners. All betty™ colors are ammonia and paraben-free, keeping betty safe-to-use. These no-drip, soothing dyes' natural ingredients include elder flower, cherry bark, chamomile, comfrey, black walnut, rosemary and aloe. A welcome alternative to current category-leading, harsh hair dyes, Cover your gray - betty for men is gentle and conditioning. It is demi-permanent, creating a more natural look, and it works in minutes.
About bettybeauty, inc.
bettybeauty, inc. is a specialty beauty company started by Nancy Jarecki in 2006 in NYC to develop and manufacture innovative beauty products for hair down there. WINNER of CEW's coveted "indie" award. WINNER of 3 Innovation Awards/Best Product Awards - ICMAD (now IBA). WINNER of an Independent Innovation Beauty Award. WINNER of a Business Retail Magazine Retail Product Award. Jarecki saw an opportunity in a non-traditional and neglected category. While sitting in a hair salon in Rome, she noticed women leaving the salon with little paper bags. She was told that these gifts from the colorist were 'per sotto per farli combaciare' (to match down there). It dawned on Jarecki that if women in Rome were finding ways to match their hair, then women all over the world would want to do it. Her hunch was correct, but no safe product existed on the market. Jarecki recruited a toxicologist, manufacturer and gynecologist to begin creating a completely safe formula. Unlike current hair dyes on the market, betty products are formulated with non-allergenic and natural ingredients, plus skin conditioners. All betty colors are ammonia and paraben-free, keeping betty safe-to-use.
Media Contact:
Jourdann Lubliner of Electrify PR: jourdann.lubliner@electrify-pr.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Betty Beauty | 2022-12-13T14:58:04+00:00 | uppermichiganssource.com | https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/prnewswire/2022/12/13/recent-mens-survey-reveals-half-are-self-conscious-about-their-beard-hair-shocking-62-are-interested-dyeing-their-pubic-hair/ |
(The Hill) — The vaccination advisory panel for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday voted in favor of recommending vaccines for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) to be administered to seniors.
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted in favor of recommending RSV vaccines for adults over the age of 65.
The committee also voted in favor of permitting individual adults between the ages of 60 and 64 to receive an RSV vaccine with “clinical decision making,” meaning they would discuss their need for such an immunization with their healthcare provider.
RSV vaccines manufactured by Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) were both considered on Wednesday. These vaccines have already been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in older adults to prevent RSV infections.
Data presented during the meeting found the RSV vaccines provided strong protection of more than 80 percent. Both vaccines are administered in single doses and the studies presented by the companies indicated they could be safely administered alongside common flu vaccines.
These are the first RSV vaccines to be made available. Most adults who are not immunocompromised will recover from RSV infections with rest and self-care.
Representatives from GSK said their RSV vaccine would be priced between $200 and $295. Pfizer gave the CDC a price range of between $180 to $270 for their RSV vaccine, though they said this range was not guaranteed as they were in the midst of “competitive price negotiations.”
RSV is a common virus that typically causes flu-like symptoms. Young infants and older adults can develop severe cases, however. In 2022, the U.S. saw a surge in RSV cases among young infants who were not previously exposed to RSV.
Most children are normally exposed to RSV, known as a “daycare disease” before the age of two.
The influx of cases last year brought heightened attention to RSV, particularly the lack of options when it came to preventing and treating infections. Advisory panels for the FDA have recently voted in favor of recommending RSV vaccines and treatments for young infants as well. | 2023-06-22T14:45:45+00:00 | cbs4indy.com | https://cbs4indy.com/news/national-world/cdc-panel-recommends-rsv-vaccines-for-seniors/ |
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Dr. Frank Annie sees desperation in his hospital, where 30- and 40-year-olds come in with organ failure after injecting opioids with dirty needles. Joe Solomon finds it in the faces of those who line up in the church gyms and parking lots where he passes out overdose reversal drugs. Sheena Griffith encounters it on the streets she navigates with a car packed with HIV test kits and disinfectant for sanitizing syringes.
Annie is a Republican, Solomon a Democrat and Griffith an independent. All three are running for city council in the capital city of battle-scarred West Virginia, where the devastating toll of the opioid crisis transcends party politics.
“There’s so much unchecked pain, and it’s exhausting,” said Griffith, a recovery coach who’s battled substance use herself. “If we are a God-fearing state, a God-fearing country, where is God in the city of Charleston?”
More than a year after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared Charleston the scene of the country’s “most concerning HIV outbreak” due to IV drug use, the three candidates say not enough has changed. And with millions of dollars from legal settlements with opioid manufacturers and pharmacies on the way specifically for treatment and recovery, they also feel the urgency of getting things right locally, where it matters most.
But people are divided, even if not on party lines. Against CDC guidance, state and local officials voted last year to criminalize programs that give people who inject drugs clean syringes to prevent the spread of HIV and hepatitis C. A proposal for a low-barrier shelter using COVID-19 relief money that would allow residents experiencing homelessness to receive substance use disorder treatment — initially endorsed by the city’s Democratic mayor — was tabled after people complained about the potential impact on nearby schools and businesses.
Charleston, which leans more liberal than the rest of West Virginia, did invest several million dollars in COVID relief funds to support a women’s shelter, a program that helps people get access to permanent housing and a food truck run by a local soup kitchen, but most of the money has gone to economic development initiatives.
Annie said the city is more focused on trying to rebrand and rebuild after the decline of the coal industry and the pain of the opioid epidemic, and has yet to truly address the underlying issues, including the needs of people who have long been exploited.
“We’re going through a very uncomfortable transitional era in West Virginia, basically for the soul of West Virginia,” said the research scientist specializing in cardiovascular health at Charleston Area Medical Center Memorial Hospital. “This level of pain and mistrust is nothing new. The question is, what we do about it now. Do we ignore it continuously, or do we try and be proactive and trust science finally?”
Solomon, a trained social worker, co-runs the nonprofit Solutions Oriented Addiction Response. He said members of his organization felt a sense of urgency in 2020 when they began setting up tents in church parking lots and handing out sterile syringes.
Syringe access programs are CDC-recommended and scientifically proven methods to prevent disease transmission. At SOAR’s health fairs — located in the part of Charleston with the highest percentage of emergency overdose calls — they conducted HIV testing and distributed naloxone, an overdose reversal drug. They also helped connect people with recovery resources.
But some people in the city were wary. They complained about needle litter, and said the program let people who use drugs keep using. They said the health fairs were introducing new challenges, such as homelessness and mental health issues, to residential neighborhoods.
Jennifer Pharr, a fellow Democrat who is running in the same race as Solomon for one of six at-large seats, said SOAR didn’t spend enough time getting community buy-in and explaining what it was doing before it started handing out needles. It didn’t help that the majority-white-run organization also set up health fairs in the Charleston neighborhood with the highest concentration of Black residents, said Pharr, who is Black.
Pharr, who lost her brother to an overdose, said the issue is personal to a lot of people and she understands their fear.
“You really need to go and knock on the neighbors’ doors and let them know what you’re doing,” she said. “There’s always going to be a collateral circumstance that happens from any good intention.”
State lawmakers responded to the situation by passing new regulations requiring syringe providers to be licensed and needle recipients to show a state ID — something many unhoused people lack — and bring back each needle after use.
The city council followed with an ordinance making it a misdemeanor criminal offense to run an exchange program violating the restrictions, adding fines of $500 to $1,000 per offense.
SOAR shut down its syringe exchange; new HIV cases continued to be reported.
Traveling around the city for three days with a backpack, eating at soup kitchens and sleeping under bridges and in parking lots this past summer, Solomon interviewed residents about the changes they’d like to see. He said many people “just need basic dignity and basic services,” something the city has a rare opportunity to provide.
“They’ve never had more money in the history of money in this city, and you could make the case that there’s never been more stigma in the history of stigma,” said Solomon. “How bad does the pain have to get until the city says we need to have a vision for a city of mercy, for a city of solutions?”
Annie said he wishes every city official could spend time in his hospital intensive care unit.
“Sometimes it feels like they live in a very different reality than what’s really going on, or they choose not to acknowledge it,” he said.
As a Republican, he’s tried to stress the financial burden of caring for people when addiction goes unaddressed. From 2008 to 2015, Annie’s hospital lost over $13 million treating patients suffering from infective endocarditis, a life-threatening heart inflammation that’s relatively rare outside IV drug users. Many of them are uninsured and have to remain in hospital beds for weeks at a time.
He wants the city and the hospital system to join forces on a harm reduction program — something hospital leadership previously expressed interest in. He said the debate on the legislation restricting syringe exchanges was rife with “misconceptions” and “antiquated notions” about harm reduction and syringe services.
He said it frustrates him when he hears people say more data is needed on HIV and other opioid-related issues in the city, since he’s been the one collecting it.
“We’ve had the data for years,” he said. “It’s just there’s no will.”
Griffith, who works at the same hospital as Annie, sees the way people live once they leave. Driving around in her Nissan Maxima, she searches for people in tent encampments, in abandoned houses, in alleyways and offers them food, blankets and support.
“Every day I go out, and I try to help someone save someone, say something that’s going to change their mind and save their life and make them want to be better,” she said. “And every day that I do that, I’m drowning, because it is such a repetitive thing.”
Griffith, now in recovery after years of struggling with substance use and homelessness, said she’d probably be dead if it weren’t for a program that offered clean syringes. When she lost everything, it was a worker she’d met at the syringe exchange who helped her get treatment.
She said people who try to address the problem by criminalizing addiction simply don’t understand it.
“They don’t know about sleeping on the street and wondering where you are going to eat that night,” she said. “Let people who have lived a real life, who come from the streets, try to change things. Our city is dying of drug addiction, so let people who care about what our city is dying from fix the problem.” | 2022-11-06T17:23:27+00:00 | seattletimes.com | https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/west-virginias-opioid-crisis-transcends-partisan-politics/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_nation-world |
Georgia boy, 11, pulled from bike and attacked by 'loose' pit bulls loses part of ear, most of his scalp
GROVETOWN, Ga. - An 11-year-old boy is missing 70% of his scalp after he was pulled from his bicycle and attacked by three loose pit bulls while on a ride through the neighborhood.
The boy, Justin Gilstrap, was missing half of his ear, had bites on his leg, and had much of his scalp ripped off by the time police arrived on the scene.
Justin’s cousin, Mason Aguilar, 11, made the 911 call Friday when the three dogs launched their brutal attack, eventually dragging the young boy into a ditch on the side of the road.
"All I hear is screaming ‘help, help, help,’" Mason said. "I thought my cousin was at his house playing a game. Then I see him sitting there in the ditch with three dogs and blood everywhere, saying, ‘Mason help, Mason help, Mason help.’"
Justin Gilstrap (Courtesy of the family)
Burt Baker III, the owner of the dogs, told police his dogs enjoy chasing people on bicycles. Baker was arrested shortly after and charged him with reckless conduct.
"There isn’t an inch of his body that doesn’t have a cut or bruise," Justin’s mom, Ericka Gilstrap, told WRDW. "His life will never be the same again."
Mason’s mother, Kellie Aguilar, said this isn’t the first time the family has filed a complaint about Baker’s dogs.
"Nobody’s ever done anything," Ericka added. "They just run loose. They’re not behind the fence. They’re not tied up. They run loose 24/7.″
According to Ericka Gilstrap's Facebook, Justin has been suffering a fever and just left surgery where some of his skin from his leg and scalp were removed. Doctors say they are optimistic the integra graft will begin soon.
"We want to thank everyone for their support! It means so much." Ericka Stevens told Fox News Digital.
A GoFundMe has been established to help offset the medical costs for Justin. It has currently raised $150,000. | 2023-01-14T18:32:49+00:00 | fox6now.com | https://www.fox6now.com/news/georgia-boy-11-pulled-bike-attacked-pit-bulls-loses-ear-scalp |
Body found in waste tank at water treatment plant
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. (AP) — Police in West Virginia are investigating the discovery of a body at a water treatment plant Thursday.
The city of Martinsburg said in a statement on Facebook that the body was found in a waste tank adjacent to the treatment plant by staff when they arrived at work.
The waste tank contains materials and impurities that are removed before the purification and distribution processes. The statement said none of the water in the waste tank is reintroduced into the drinking water.
The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office and emergency medical services were contacted after the body’s discovery, the statement said.
The city said it has consulted with regulatory agencies to confirm the safety of the drinking water.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2023-04-14T17:01:03+00:00 | wfsb.com | https://www.wfsb.com/2023/04/14/body-found-waste-tank-water-treatment-plant/ |
With dating data showing an increase in singles and loneliness, Blush awakens your inner siren to revisit the world of intimacy and get America dating again
SAN FRANCISCO, June 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the team behind Replika, the AI friendbot that has become an integral part of over 2 million people's lives, unveiled Blush, an AI dating app designed to give people relationship confidence and reignite the desire to date and strengthen the bonds and intimacy for active couples. Launching in open beta, Blush is a safe, non-judgmental place to hone relationship and intimacy skills and rediscover the positivity and jubilation of that first date or falling in love.
"At Blush, we believe that AI can enable romantic exploration, boost confidence, and increase our awareness of relationships," said Rita Popova, Chief Product Officer, Replika. "Hopefully, through practice and play, Blush users will feel empowered to show up more authentically in their real-world relationships and experience a deeper sense of connection with others."
Blush lets people work on their small talk and flirting while navigating complex relationship moments like disagreements or misunderstandings. Blush models are trained on user feedback from successful conversations rather than scripted simulations to foster meaningful connections while encouraging personal growth and emotional well-being.
"As someone who has dedicated my career to improving mental health and creating innovative solutions, I am honored to collaborate with the talented designers of Blush to help users embrace their true selves and confidently explore their relationship patterns and identity," said Melissa McCool, licensed psychotherapist.
Now available on IOS, Blush features personalized dialogue, memory recall, and many more features, improvements, and updates to come, including intimacy wellness guidance. For an elevated experience, the app offers a premium version at $99/year, empowering users to ignite their connections and elevate their intimacy and romance.
Upcoming Blush Features:
- Library - A curated collection of articles on dating and relationships developed in partnership with our consulting therapist, providing practical tips and empowering users to confidently navigate diverse dating scenarios and allowing them to practice these tactics in conversations with Blush characters.
- Create your own character - An innovative approach enabling users to harness their creativity and artistic flair in collaboration with AI technology to craft unique characters and engage in conversations with highly personalized matches, elevating the user experience to new heights.
- Reply suggestions - We are tackling one of the most crucial challenges in dating - "What do I say next?" - by incorporating AI-generated response suggestions. This feature offers users the ability to select a reply, explore its impact on the conversation, and ultimately enhance their communication experience.
The Blush app is available in the App Store. For more information about Blush, visit https://blush.ai.
About Blush
Blush is the latest app from the team that created Replika, the world's most popular friendbot. Founded by Eugenia Kuyda in 2017, Replika was the first AI to provide companionship to millions of people worldwide. Luka, the company behind Replika is a venture-funded private company, headquartered in San Francisco, with investors that include Khosla Ventures and ACME.
Media Contact
press@replika.ai
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SOURCE Luka, Inc. | 2023-06-07T13:05:33+00:00 | live5news.com | https://www.live5news.com/prnewswire/2023/06/07/introducing-blush-ai-that-improves-romantic-intimacy-gives-real-life-dating-boost/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio was ordered Thursday to pay $475,000 by a city ethics board that found he misused public funds on a police security detail during his failed presidential bid.
The hefty fine is the largest ever handed out by New York’s Conflicts of Interest Board, capping off a yearslong investigation into the two-term mayor’s use of taxpayer dollars to cover the travel costs of NYPD officers who accompanied him on cross-country campaign stops.
Under the ruling, which he has vowed to appeal, de Blasio, a Democrat, will be forced to reimburse the city for $320,000 spent on the officers’ flights, hotels, meals and rental cars during the four-month campaign. He will also have to pay a fine of $25,000 for each of the security detail’s 31 out-of-state trips, amounting to $155,000.
The order was handed down by the Conflicts of Interest Board Chair, Milton Williams, who found that de Blasio “plainly violated” the city’s prohibition on using public resources to advance a political campaign. De Blasio was advised of this rule prior to his campaign, but “disregarded the Board’s advice,” Williams wrote in his ruling.
In a statement, an attorney for de Blasio, Andrew G. Celli Jr., described the ruling as “reckless and arbitrary,” arguing that recent acts of political violence underscored the security needs of public servants.
“In the wake of the January 6th insurrection, the shootings of Congressmembers Giffords and Scalise, and almost daily threats directed at local leaders around the country, the COIB’s (Conflicts of Interest Board’s) action – which seeks to saddle elected officials with security costs that the City has properly borne for decades – is dangerous, beyond the scope of their powers, and illegal,” he wrote.
De Blasio has faced previous allegations of misusing his security detail. Months before he left office in 2021, a report by the city’s Department of Investigation found he treated the officers as a “concierge service,” using them to move his daughter into an apartment and shuttle his son to college.
De Blasio did consult with the Conflicts of Interest Board about the costs of his security prior to announcing his presidential campaign in May 2019. He was told the salaries for NYPD officers would be covered, but that all other costs associated with their travel would not, the board said.
During interviews with investigators, de Blasio said he did “not have a 100% clear understanding” of the guidance, and “suggested that it was an issue for others to resolve,” according to Kevin Casey, an administrative law judge that recommended the fine imposed by the Conflicts of Interest Board.
Casey accused de Blasio of showing a “deliberate indifference” to the city’s ethics board, then blaming his own employees for the error.
“It is troubling that during his DOI (Department of Investigation) interview respondent repeatedly attempted to shift blame to his lawyers and campaign staff, while failing to recognize his personal responsibility for following the law,” Casey wrote.
In an interview with New York Magazine published earlier this week, de Blasio described his White House bid as a mistake.
“I think my values were the right values, and I think I had something to offer, but it was not right on a variety of levels,” he said. “I think I got into a place of just extreme stubbornness and tunnel vision.” | 2023-06-15T22:55:50+00:00 | myfox8.com | https://myfox8.com/news/ap-top-headlines/ex-nyc-mayor-bill-de-blasio-ordered-to-pay-475k-for-misusing-public-funds-on-failed-white-house-bid/ |
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – A Louisiana mother is demanding answers after her daughter was attacked at pre-school. She says the incident happened a week ago at Angel’s Haven Daycare in New Orleans’ Hollygrove neighborhood.
“To relive it is just a horror,” Cymande Ford said.
Ford is talking about the moment she was reunited with her daughter, 19-month-old Harley, at Angel’s Haven Daycare Feb. 9.
Minutes earlier, she received a call from the school’s director, asking her to come to the school.
“I see [Harley’s] face, and it looks like she’s been mauled by a cat, so I start screaming, I’m crying, I dropped my purse, and I ask what happened,” Ford explained. “I took Harley, and I’m just asking [the school’s director] what happened.”
Ford says she was told Harley was involved in a “tussle” with a 1-year-old at the school.
The school’s director and daughter, who works there, reportedly went with Ford to the emergency room to get Harley examined.
“Seven bites up one arm. She has a couple bites up the other arm. She has pants on, but [the 1-year-old] has bitten through her pants on both legs,” Ford said. “You can see the teeth marks. They’re clear and visible.”
While at the hospital, Ford says the nurse started to ask questions to find out what happened.
“So, [the nurse] says, ‘What time did this happen?’ I say, ‘11 o’clock’ because that’s the time they called me,” Ford said. “[My daughter] says, ‘Oh no, it happened a little bit before 8 [a.m.]’”
Ford says she wasn’t given an explanation as to why it took them so long to call.
WGNO called Angel’s Haven Daycare to see if they would like to share their side of the story. The director said “No,” and hung up.
“It was hard enough for me to send my child to daycare because I’m a business owner. This is just crazy for this to be happening on her third day after something that I already fought myself with so much,” Ford said.
A report was filed with the New Orleans Police Department, and the Department of Children and Family Services is investigating the incident. | 2023-02-18T02:42:02+00:00 | keloland.com | https://www.keloland.com/news/national-world-news/new-orleans-mother-wants-answers-after-baby-is-attacked-at-daycare/ |
Kroger has announced its plans to buy fellow grocery store giant Albertsons in a deal valued at $24.6 million. When the merger is approved, it would see the second and fourth largest grocers become one, with a combined workforce in excess of 700,000 across nearly 5,000 stores.
The proposal is expected to face difficulty in getting approval from regulators at the FTC. Bloomberg senior editor Mike Regan joins Here & Now‘s Deepa Fernandes for more.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2022-10-14T18:56:04+00:00 | nepm.org | https://www.nepm.org/2022-10-14/kroger-agrees-to-buy-rival-grocery-company-albertsons |
FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WKRN) – When a mansion in Franklin, Tennessee caught fire online for being physically on fire in its Zillow listing, Mike Thakur and his family saw potential.
The home, a 25-year-old mansion nestled in the hills of Williamson County, caught fire amid renovations and was largely destroyed in the subsequent blaze.
The Zillow listing went viral when the previous owners used a photo of the home with flames erupting from the roof as part of the listing with the caption, “TRAGIC TOTAL LOSS by FIRE, of a CLASSIC MANSION!!! Sold As is!!”
But while a significant portion of the home was burned to the ground and the rest affected by smoke damage, Thakur saw the property and thought his family could use the bones to make their new family home.
The family was thinking of moving to Tennessee from their Houston, Texas, home after visiting previously and falling in love with the area.
“We toyed with the idea of building a home for ourselves, so we always knew that, whatever we did next, we wanted the ability to make it our own and not just live with the decisions of what other folks had made. You can try and remodel, but it can be a little harder,” Thakur told Nexstar’s WKRN.
There is plenty of potential in the home, Thakur said.
“Just driving up to the property, it’s got a real presence. It sits high up on a hill with these big ole columns that are very fitting for this middle Tennessee area. It just looks like a great house when you drive up,” he said. “It’s that kind of dream home idea that we could live in something magnificent.”
When they first came to see the home, it was still largely blocked by fire crews after extinguishing the flames. The family wasn’t able to fully enter the home, but they took some peeks inside where they could and saw how much work had previously been put into the home before the fire.
“Somebody’s put so much thought and care into it, and we thought we can salvage these pieces and bring some of the old house back but still kind of make it a new, modern twist version of that,” Thakur said.
Demolition is ongoing for all the parts that can’t be salvaged. Construction crews with Sage Construction in Nolensville will spend about two weeks tearing down molded insulation, ripping out smoke-damaged drywall and flooring and sweeping out soot and ash-covered debris. Then, Thakur will work with architects to see what needs to be completely removed and what can be reutilized in the new version of the home.
“Our goal is we really want to be in the house by Thanksgiving as a family, or at least by Christmas. That’s kind of our mental goal. I don’t know that anybody else thinks that’s possible, but that’s what Mikey says,” he added.
Renovations of the home won’t fully restore the home back to exactly how it was; rather, Thakur and his family will transform the home into their personal family home. Ideally, he told WKRN, the home would have a little bit more of an open plan, or be more “free-flowing” than it previously was. The basement will have a studio for Thakur to film YouTube videos and a gym.
“We’re a pretty together family, so we like to be able to hang out,” he said, noting that the kitchen area will be an important one.
While he likes a clean, minimalist design, one more ornate feature that he’s thinking of keeping is the wrought iron staircase railing. Moving up the staircase, one side of the railing is a single piece of iron and was joint in place, according to Thakur. But design choices are a long ways away, especially given the state of some areas of the home.
Thakur said he was mostly struck when they initially saw the charred remains of the closet where fire investigators believe the blaze began.
“When you drive up to the house, you see this corner and it’s just not there. It’s just gone. You come into the house, and you stand there, and everything’s black. All the wood is charred and singed,” he said. “I think that’s the piece that stands out most for me is just how severe that damage was. Then you flip that and compare it to the other half of the house that the fire didn’t even get there and touch it. It’s almost crazy that this much of the house still remains when that much of it just disappeared.”
Thakur has also been documenting the sale and renovation process on his YouTube channel. YouTube is what he calls a “hobby,” and he primarily makes tech reviews on his main channel, but he created a side channel specifically to document the Franklin house project.
While he and his oldest son, who works for him full time, were looking at the home, they decided to go ahead and invite people to “come along for the ride.”
“Why don’t we see if anybody’s interested and see if they want to tag along,” he asked himself. “Maybe we’ll get some great ideas. Maybe we’ll get some help if we get stuck with an idea of how to do something. If we get lucky, maybe somebody will help us figure out how to pay for some windows as well. We just thought it could be neat.”
His first video about the house, “I Bought A Burned Down Mansion,” has over 38,000 views so far, and his channel has nearly 5,600 subscribers. But while the online following is nice, Thakur has been most impressed with the people in his new neighborhood who have offered their assistance and welcomed him into the area.
“We’ve had a lot of folks who have been really, really nice just in the local area,” he said. “Lots of folks welcoming us to the neighborhood, saying it was great to see the house get bought. We’ve had some folks reach out to see if we want some help, and we’ve met some contractors and things through that, which has been great.”
In fact, Thakur told WKRN, his current construction team doing demolition work was one he came into contact with because of his initial video.
“The thing that’s blown us away the most has been how friendly Nashville and Franklin has been towards us. It’s really been a blessing,” he said.
To follow along on Thakur’s home remodel journey, you can follow him on YouTube here. | 2023-03-01T02:17:58+00:00 | wnct.com | https://www.wnct.com/news/national/tennessee-mansion-shown-burning-in-zillow-listing-gets-new-life-youtube-channel/ |
GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — The Greensboro Science Center is mourning the loss of an iconic resident.
According to a release from the center, their green anaconda Babalou passed away overnight between September 4 and 5. She was around 30 years old.
“Babs” went to live at the GSC in November of 1993. “For those that worked with her and those that visited her,” said Sarah Halbrend, Aquatics Curator, “Babalou will leave a snake-sized hole in all our hearts.”
GSC says that the average lifespan of a green anaconda in the wild is about 10 years. They live much longer in human care, with some reports of anacondas averaging 20-30 years old. A necroposy was performed Monday and initial results showed Babs may have had cancer.
Dr. Sam Young, the Greensboro Science Center’s VP of veterinary health, believes the masses to be sarcomatoid neoplasm. It will be several weeks before the GSC knows for sure.
Dr. Sam says, “Babalou was well past life expectancy and at that advanced age, the body is not as good at repairing itself and removing abnormal cells. This is why we see a higher likelihood for cancer in older animals.”
The GSC team is grateful for the public’s compassion and understanding during this difficult time. | 2022-09-06T19:38:45+00:00 | wnct.com | https://www.wnct.com/news/greensboro-science-center-mourns-loss-of-babalou-the-green-anaconda/ |
Editor’s note: The estimate of inflationary effects of an executive order would be required before the order is enacted. An earlier version of this story mischaracterized a portion of the bill.
The House on Wednesday passed a bill that would require the Biden administration to provide estimates on how “major” executive orders signed by the president would impact inflation, a direct response to the rise in costs over the past year that Republicans have pinned on the White House.
The legislation, titled the Reduce Exacerbated Inflation Negatively Impacting the Nation (REIN IN) Act, passed in a 272-148 vote. Four Republicans — Reps. Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Bob Good (Va.), Matt Rosendale (Mont.) and Chip Roy (Texas) — voted against the measure, while 59 Democrats supported it.
House Republicans brought the measure to the floor roughly two weeks after the Labor Department announced consumer prices increased by 0.5 percent in January and 6.4 percent annually, a higher-than-expected rise. Annual inflation is, however, on the decline from its apex of 9.1 percent in June, which was the highest rate seen in 40 years.
Republicans for months have blamed the Biden administration and Democratic politics for the rise in prices. Since winning the majority in November, the House GOP leaders have made strengthening the economy a core tenet of their agenda.
Biden, however, has pointed to the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as key factors behind the inflation increase.
House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), the sponsor of the bill, reiterated GOP points about what she called “Bidenflation” during debate on the floor Tuesday, contending that her legislation is a way to ensure “transparency” from the White House.
“By passing the REIN IN Inflation Act, House Republicans will demand transparency for the American people by revealing how much Biden’s executive orders are costing hardworking families and the painful impact it has on inflation,” Stefanik said. “This is about transparency for the American people.”
The legislation would mandate that the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers draw up reports on the inflationary impacts of “any major executive order,” which lawmakers defined as any measure that would be projected to have an annual gross budgetary effect of at least $1 billion. The estimate would be required before the order is enacted.
Emergency assistance or relief provided in response to requests from state or local governments, however, would not be subject to the review, in addition to measures that are “necessary for the national security or the ratification or implementation of international treaty obligations.”
Democrats criticized Republicans for proposing the bill, contending it won’t have any effect on inflation.
“Today on the floor we’re going to be considering something called the REIN IN Act. This is the grand Republican plan on the economy. It’s three pages. It calls for reports that many people believe to be duplicative and unnecessary. That’s their plan,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said during his weekly press conference.
The legislation is unlikely to go anywhere in the Democratically-controlled Senate.
Lawmakers approved a number of amendments to the bill, including one, introduced by Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), that would also require inflation estimates for executive orders that have an annual gross budgetary effect of at least $1 million. Another approved amendment, introduced by Rep. Michael Cloud (R-Texas), would direct the administration to incorporate the inflationary impact of debt servicing costs.
Biden has signed 107 executive orders thus far in his White House tenure, according to The American Presidency Project. For comparison, former President Trump issued 220 executive orders in his single-term presidency, and former President Barack Obama signed 147 executive orders in his first term. | 2023-03-01T17:45:25+00:00 | wnct.com | https://www.wnct.com/hill-politics/house-passes-bill-to-require-inflation-estimates-for-executive-orders/ |
How to Watch the Nuggets vs. Timberwolves: Streaming & TV Channel Info for NBA Playoffs Game 1
Published: Apr. 16, 2023 at 4:31 PM EDT|Updated: 18 minutes ago
The Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves square off in Game 1 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
Keep reading for everything you need to know about this matchup between the Nuggets and Timberwolves, including how to catch the action live with a free trial to Fubo.
Watch live sports and TV without cable on all your devices with a seven-day free trial to Fubo!
Nuggets vs. Timberwolves Game Info
- When: Sunday, April 16, 2023 at 10:30 PM ET
- Where: Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado
- TV: Bally Sports
- Watch Nuggets vs. Timberwolves with Fubo
Watch the NBA and tons of other live sports without cable! Use our link to get a free trial with Fubo.
Nuggets Stats Insights
- This season, the Nuggets have a 50.4% shooting percentage from the field, which is 3.3% higher than the 47.1% of shots the Timberwolves' opponents have made.
- Denver is 45-15 when it shoots better than 47.1% from the field.
- The Timberwolves are the 23rd-ranked rebounding team in the league, the Nuggets sit at 18th.
- The Nuggets put up the same amount of points as the Timberwolves allow (115.8).
- Denver is 38-4 when scoring more than 115.8 points.
Timberwolves Stats Insights
- The Timberwolves are shooting 49% from the field, 1.2% higher than the 47.8% the Nuggets' opponents have shot this season.
- Minnesota has put together a 28-14 straight-up record in games it shoots above 47.8% from the field.
- The Timberwolves are the 23rd-ranked rebounding team in the league, the Nuggets sit at 16th.
- The Timberwolves average just 3.3 more points per game (115.8) than the Nuggets allow their opponents to score (112.5).
- When it scores more than 112.5 points, Minnesota is 29-16.
Nuggets Home & Away Comparison
- The Nuggets are scoring 119.4 points per game in home games. In road games, they are averaging 112.2 points per contest.
- Defensively Denver has played better in home games this year, surrendering 109.6 points per game, compared to 115.3 when playing on the road.
- The Nuggets are averaging 12.4 three-pointers per game with a 39% shooting percentage from downtown in home games, which is 1.1 more threes and 2.3% points better than they're averaging away from home (11.3 threes per game, 36.7% three-point percentage).
Timberwolves Home & Away Comparison
- At home the Timberwolves are better offensively, averaging 115.9 points per game, compared to 115.6 on the road. They're also better defensively, allowing 115 points per game at home, and 116.6 away.
- Minnesota is allowing fewer points at home (115 per game) than away (116.6).
- This season the Timberwolves are averaging fewer assists at home (26 per game) than away (26.3).
Nuggets Injuries
Timberwolves Injuries
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | 2023-04-16T20:52:02+00:00 | uppermichiganssource.com | https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/sports/betting/2023/04/16/nuggets-vs-timberwolves-nba-playoffs-game-1-live-stream-tv/ |
Gun, high-capacity magazine found at school in Connecticut, police say
HAMDEN, Conn. (WFSB/Gray News) - A man was arrested after a gun with a high-capacity magazine was found in a closet at a school in Hamden.
Police were called to the Hamden Collaborative Learning Center just after 8:30 a.m. Tuesday because of a reported fight.
Officer Keron Bryce from the Hamden Police Department spoke with school staff, which said the incident was a physical altercation between Kahlil Davis-Yancey and a 16-year-old student.
The 18-year-old Davis-Yancey was a student at the school, the Associated Press reported.
According to school officials, the teen sustained minor injuries during the altercation.
Davis-Yancey was arrested and charged with third-degree assault and disorderly conduct.
Hamden police were called back to the school around 11:30 a.m. because school security found a gun in the closet of one of the classrooms.
The 9mm handgun and the magazine were placed there by Davis-Yancey, Bryce said. It’s not known what he planned to do or why he had the gun there.
They only said that he had the altercation with the student earlier in the day.
Davis-Yancey was located shortly after and was charged with carrying a pistol without a permit, negligent storage of a firearm, first-degree reckless endangerment, possession of a weapon on school grounds, and illegal possession of a large-capacity magazine.
Davis-Yancey was held on a $150,000 bond.
Police said there was no threat to students or staff, but increased their presence at the school.
School resource officers also to planned meet with students and staff every day.
Copyright 2023 WFSB via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2023-02-08T17:36:08+00:00 | kttc.com | https://www.kttc.com/2023/02/08/gun-high-capacity-magazine-found-school-connecticut-police-say/ |
Chick-fil-A employee recognized for heroic actions to thwart carjacking attempt
FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. (Gray News) – A Chick-fil-A employee in Florida is being recognized for his heroic efforts to help a mom with a baby avoid a potential carjacking.
Mykel Gordon ran to a woman who was screaming for help when authorities say William Branch, 43, approached her wielding a stick and demanding her keys.
When she didn’t comply, Branch grabbed the keys from the waistband of her pants, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.
Gordon was punched in the face as he fought Branch to the ground, authorities said.
The Chick-fil-A employee was not seriously injured in the incident, part of which was captured on video by a witness.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office honored Gordon with a Community Service award, a special coin and a personal thank you for his quick response to seeing someone in danger.
“We’re grateful for the courage of people like Mykel,” the sheriff’s office said in a post on Facebook.
Branch was charged with carjacking with a weapon and battery. According to Gordon, he had been involved in another incident shortly before the carjacking attempt.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2022-09-16T20:41:39+00:00 | kwch.com | https://www.kwch.com/2022/09/16/chick-fil-a-employee-recognized-heroic-actions-thwart-carjacking-attempt/ |
Push to change Indiana property taxes to benefit charter schools triggers alarm in IPS
This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Republican lawmakers are advancing major changes to the state’s school funding system to benefit charter schools and districts with relatively low property tax values.
The proposed Republican House budget, along with a newly amended GOP Senate bill, would rework Indiana’s property tax system to pump more funding into charters and level what lawmakers say is an unfair playing field for charters and traditional public schools. Lawmakers also might create a dedicated funding stream for charters’ capital expenses that would replace the so-called “$1 law.”
But the proposals have been sharply criticized by Democrats and traditional public school leaders, who argued that the changes would come at the expense of thousands of students in traditional public schools.
The bills channel issues at the heart of a recent dispute over tax revenue in Indianapolis Public Schools. The district withdrew its plan to ask voters for new property taxes on the May ballot, amid criticism from charter school supporters that the draft ballot measure did not provide charters enough money. If the proposals become law, they could change the long-term balance of fiscal power within the state’s public education system.
Together, House Bill 1001 and Senate Bill 391 would do the following to boost funding for charters and school districts with low property values:
- Provide $1,400 per charter school student from the state in fiscal year 2024 and $1,500 in fiscal year 2025, replacing a state program that provides $1,250 per student to compensate for a lack of property tax revenue.
- Provide $20 million in next year’s budget for charter schools’ capital needs.
- Require school districts in Marion, Lake, St. Joseph, and Vanderburgh counties to share with charter schools any revenues from ballot measures passed to support operating or school safety expenses after June 30, 2023. Virtual charters and adult high school charter schools would not receive such funding. A fiscal analysis says the revenue would be shared “proportionally.”
- Provide state funding for school districts that are unable to raise at least $1,400 per pupil from its operating fund in 2024 and $1,500 in 2025. The funding would supplement existing property taxes to get to those baselines each year.
In addition, the budget bill would require traditional school districts to reduce their maximum tax rate for operation expenses to 40 cents per $100 of net assessed value by 2031.
Unlike Indiana’s traditional public schools, charters generally do not receive property tax revenues. The one exception is for those considered part of Indianapolis Public Schools, which has opted to share some property tax revenue with its affiliated charters.
Nevertheless, Indianapolis charter school leaders have repeatedly said that the gap between funding for traditional school students and charter students is over $7,000 per student.
“What the House is trying to do is trying to look at charters in parity with the other public schools,” Rep. Bob Behning, the Republican leader of the House education committee, told Chalkbeat. “How do we get them closer to parity with the traditional public schools in terms of funding?”
The proposals would mean significant changes for IPS, where there are over 25 charter schools in the district’s Innovation network and just over 30 other independent charters within district boundaries.
Indianapolis Public Schools would lose $30 million over the next three years under the proposals, IPS Superintendent Aleesia Johnson told lawmakers last week at a hearing on Senate Bill 391. That loss would increase to $220 million by 2031, equivalent to about 500 teaching positions, she said.
Johnson testified that it would harm taxpayers “whose schools will see less dollars as a result of the passed House budget, and who ultimately will be asked to take on an even greater tax obligation on behalf of even more schools because of the system that this state has created.”
Most Marion County districts, including IPS, have an operating tax rate of more than 40 cents that officials would need to cut by 2031.
Charter proponents support sharing
Janet McNeal, president of the Herron Classical Schools charter network, said Senate Bill 391 would alleviate costs that its schools currently face.
When Herron High School moved into the Herron School of Art building, the network had to cut expenses “in every way we could” to prepare the building’s interior, McNeal told the House education committee last week. Nearly two decades later, the school is facing millions of dollars worth of badly needed upgrades to its roof and HVAC system.
“We can’t afford it — we just can’t,” she said. “Thus, we are forced to continue patching the roof, which leaks into our classrooms during heavy rains, and continue to make repairs on our HVAC system — and the repairs are, individually, costly.”
But Democrats in the statehouse say charter backers want more money without the responsibility that should come with it.
“We have groups that don’t want the authority of the school board,” Rep. Ed DeLaney told Chalkbeat. “They don’t want to be tied to the district where the property is located, but they want the money.”
Operating tax rate capped
The Republican budget also caps the rate at which school districts may tax property for operating expenses.
That means four Marion County school districts would collect less than they are currently projected for 2024, according to projections from the Indiana Legislative Services Agency.
Indianapolis Public Schools, for example, would receive $2.5 million less in property tax revenues in 2024, and by 2026, it would receive $16.5 million less.
At the same time, the proposed budget gradually reduces the amount of property tax revenue that is restricted under the state’s property tax cap. This would allow districts to collect more in property taxes each year.
Lawmakers ‘give up’ on $1 law
The Senate bill would also eliminate the state’s $1 law by July 2025.
The law requires school districts to offer “vacant or unused” school buildings to charter schools or state educational institutions for the sale or annual lease price of $1. Enacted in 2005, it was meant to provide charter schools easier access to buildings without the support of property tax revenue.
But the law’s vague wording has led to legal battles between charter schools that want those buildings and traditional school districts that argue they are still in use.
The state attorney general’s office, which is responsible for investigating claims that school districts are not following the $1 law, has ruled against traditional school districts in just one of the nine individual complaints publicly documented so far.
Behning said he does not think the law has worked as anticipated.
“I’m saying I give up,” he said at the House education committee meeting last week. “You are seeing a white flag.”
Instead, the budget bill includes a $20 millionfund that would support capital needs for charter schools.
The proposed House budget is making its way through the Senate. Senate Bill 391 is now in the House Ways and Means Committee.
Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news organization covering public education. | 2023-04-06T19:46:38+00:00 | wishtv.com | https://www.wishtv.com/news/push-to-change-indiana-property-taxes-to-benefit-charter-schools-triggers-alarm-in-ips/ |
(The Hill) – The Girl Scouts organization is “extremely disappointed” with one of its two primary cookie bakers, as it continues to face inventory and supply chain problems, according to reports.
The Little Brownie Bakers (LBB), which produced cookies for the Girl Scouts’ annual fundraiser, suffered weather-induced power outages at its factory in Louisville, Ky., last weekend, further worsening previous production problems.
“We are extremely disappointed that LBB is again having challenges with managing their production,” a Girl Scouts spokesperson said, per CNBC. “We will address these issues with our baker partner in the future and we are keeping all options open to do right by our girls.”
LBB previously faced mechanical problems with its Samoa cookie production and has reportedly experienced production issues over the last three years, CNBC reported.
Girl Scouts receives its cookies from both LBB and ABC Bakers for the popular fundraiser, with slight differences in the products from the two bakeries.
After the organization’s newest cookie, the Raspberry Rally, quickly sold out this year, a resale market developed to sell the cookies for as much as five times their original price, according to The New York Times.
“While we are happy that there’s such a strong demand for our cookies year over year, we’re saddened that the platforms and the sellers are disregarding the core mission of the cookie program and are looking to make a profit off of the name without supporting our mission,” the Girl Scouts said in a statement to the Times. | 2023-03-10T13:28:23+00:00 | ktalnews.com | https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/girl-scouts-extremely-disappointed-with-cookie-baker-amid-inventory-supply-chain-problems/ |
President Biden on Tuesday took a swipe at Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) for his remarks a day earlier on Wall Street in which he laid out a plan for raising the debt ceiling into next year while also capping federal spending.
“Yesterday, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, went to Wall Street,” Biden said in remarks from the Rose Garden. “He did not tell the wealthy or the powerful on Wall Street that it was finally time for them to start paying their fair share in taxes. That didn’t come up, other than saying they’re going renew the $2 trillion tax cut.”
“Instead, he proposed huge cuts to important programs that millions of Americans count on. He threatened to become the first Speaker to default on our national debt, which took over 230 years to accumulate,” Biden continued. “He’s threatened to be the first one to default on the debt, which would throw us into a gigantic recession and beyond unless he gets what he wants in the budget. Folks, you’ve got to ask yourselves, what are MAGA Republicans in Congress doing?”
The comments are the latest in an ongoing back-and-forth between the White House and McCarthy over the debt ceiling, which Congress must raise in the coming months or risk an economically damaging federal default.
McCarthy on Monday visited Wall Street in New York City, where he criticized Biden for a lack of communication on the issue.
The Speaker went on to say the the House Republican Conference would move forward with its own measure in the coming weeks to stave off a national default, but that outline quickly fell flat with the administration and congressional Democrats.
McCarthy said the House would vote to lift the debt ceiling into 2024, which would punt the issue into the heart of campaign season. He also said the forthcoming plan would seek to limit federal spending, with proposals to return discretionary funding levels to 2022 levels “and then limit the growth of spending over the next 10 years to 1 percent of annual growth,” without “touching Social Security and Medicare.”
Negotiations between the White House and House Republicans over how to act on the debt limit, which caps how much money the Treasury can owe to cover the country’s bills, are at a standstill.
Biden and Democrats have pushed for a clean bill to raise the debt ceiling, insisting negotiations over government spending be carried out separately from debt limit talks.
But Republicans see the debt ceiling as a leverage point to secure concessions from Democrats that could help curb spending. The party has vowed to increase fiscal discipline and carry out significant spending reforms upon reclaiming control of the House earlier this year.
It’s unclear if McCarthy will be able to wrangle enough support for his plan even within his own party. Republicans only have a four-member majority in the House, setting up for tense negotiations within the GOP.
Despite hopes by McCarthy to push a bill on the matter to a floor vote as early as next week, several Republicans on Tuesday said they were not ready to support McCarthy’s plan so far. | 2023-04-18T20:59:23+00:00 | valleycentral.com | https://www.valleycentral.com/hill-politics/biden-dings-mccarthy-for-wall-street-speech-what-are-maga-republicans-in-congress-doing/ |
MALVERNE, N.Y. (AP) — A street that honored a leader of the Ku Klux Klan in New York has a new name after a yearslong campaign led by high school students.
The village board of Malverne, on Long Island, voted last year to rename Lindner Place, named after Paul Lindner, a banker who helped develop the village more than a century ago and also served as great titan of the New York State Klan.
The change became official last week when Lindner Place became Acorn Way.
“The true meaning of justice is righting the wrongs that came before you,” Malverne High School sophomore Olivia Brown told WCBS.
Brown was part of a group of students who began researching Lindner in 2020 and learned he was a Klan leader.
Students pressed for the street name to be changed in school forums and with the village board, which voted to change the name in September 2022.
They cheered as the new Acorn Way signs were unveiled Jan. 26.
Malverne High School senior Jamila Smith told WCBS, “This whole initiative showed me I do want to step up and be a leader.”
Lorna Lewis, Malverne’s schools superintendent, told the Long Island Herald, “I believe you’ve just witnessed the power of the Maverick public education and what our students can do when supported in their pursuit of civic engagement.”
Many Americans associate the Ku Klux Klan with the South, but the group’s rallies and cross burnings drew large crowds in New York in the 1920s. The Klan of that era targeted Catholic and Jewish communities, as well as Black people. | 2023-02-03T15:18:44+00:00 | siouxlandproud.com | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/ap-top-headlines/ap-street-honoring-kkk-leader-renamed-after-student-led-effort/ |
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski answered questions from reporters on Thursday as the Browns held their final day of mandatory minicamp at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Here’s a transcript, as provided by the Browns’ media relations department:
Opening statement:
“Good to see you guys. Great finish to the offseason program. Really appreciate this group and how they worked going back to April 19 in the snow globe, of you remember. The guys have done a really, really nice job. We have taxed them physically, we have taxed them mentally and really, we got a lot done. Are we where we need to be? No, but now is the time where we can take a break, go charge the battery and get ready to roll come July. We were fortunate to have some alumni out here today to visit with us, which we felt was really important. We have talked a lot about our alumni over the course of these weeks so to be able put some faces to the names and introduce the guys to some of these great players was a big deal. We are going to head inside and have a barbeque with the team with some of the alumni in there, as well.”
On CB Denzel Ward’s status:
“No. No update. I do not have enough details to say yet, but we will update you.”
On his final message to the team to close veteran minicamp and the offseason program:
“No. 1 is to be safe. As a coach, you hate when your team is traveling all into the globe and you want everybody to be safe – you want them to have fun, like I mentioned you want them to charge the battery but definitely be safe and make great decisions when they are away from here. Then they have to come back in the best shape of their lives. That is kind of what you have to do every time you are getting ready to start training camp.”
On what the next few weeks will look like for the Browns coaching staff:
“Get away. The coaches do a great job, and they have done a really nice job this offseason. Very pleased with the work that the guys have gotten done. Now is the time to charge the battery, reconnect with the family, go make some visits and those type of things.”
On where he will be vacationing this offseason:
“Location undisclosed so you won’t bother me (laughter).”
On Browns players not inviting him to player-organized workouts potentially meaning he won’t invite the players on his own vacation:
“I am respectful of their time so I will leave them alone.”
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On QB Josh Dobbs seeming to be ‘a genius’:
“I do not know what the definition is, but he is pretty darn close. He is a really good guy. Just enjoy being around Josh. He knows a lot about football, and he knows a lot about a lot, also. A really impressive young man.”
On the development of the QB room during the offseason program:
“They came very, very far in the nine weeks that we were together just from an understanding of the scheme, the operation of things, the functioning in and out of the huddle, different snap counts and different concepts. We have thrown a lot at them. We have not held back. They have done a nice job. They worked really hard.”
On what the Browns learned about QB Jacoby Brissett during the offseason program:
“He is a good basketball player – he won our shooting contest down there at the Cavs facility. I learned that. He is a good person. We knew that doing our homework on him. I have just been really impressed with how he prepares and how he operates in practice – he really treats it game-like.”
On Brissett saying he wants to master the offense and if that can be done during the offseason program:
“No, I do not think you can. I think you can introduce it and I think you can get comfortable with it, but we do want to become masters of the offense by the time Week 1 rolls around. It is a process. You can’t just plug something into the back of your head and get it. You have to work at it and spend some time with it.”
On the biggest difference this year compared to the past two offseason programs when COVID-19 protocols were in place:
“The offseason, the way we structured it to make sure that we were safe in everything we did, make sure it was competitive and make sure we had fun. I think the guys had fun. They had fun competing and pushing each other, but I think ultimately we got a lot of work done but we did it in a safe manner.”
On T Jedrick Wills Jr. during the offseason program:
“I think Jed is right where we need him. He has worked extremely hard this offseason. I thought he came back in really, really good shape so it is just a continuation of that work, and I think he will be right where we need him to be.”
On if the process of getting QB Deshaun Watson comfortable within the offense is complete:
“No, I think that is ongoing. Any time you add a player, you study all of their tape and you kind of get a sense for what they are comfortable with, and then you get around the player, you talk through concepts and then you start to adjust. When we start Week 1 to Week 17, the offense evolves. You add plays. There are plays that we have not installed that I am sure that we are going to run next year. It is really just trying to make sure throughout the season that you are constantly searching for unique ways to get a different guy the ball and unique ways on third down to get a first down. That really is always evolving but certainly with the quarterback in what his comfort level is.”
On WR David Bell during the offseason program:
“A very, very diligent worker. Wants to be good at this so you see him working. He is the guy who gets extra. He will be in the facility at all hours working really hard with coach (pass game coordinator/wide receivers coach Chad) O’Shea to refine the game. He is a rookie so he has plenty of room to grow and will have time to do that, but he is doing a nice job. He is working hard.”
On what the Browns learned about WR Amari Cooper during the offseason program:
“I think for anybody that first meets him, Amari’s size. He is a big, physical player – maybe not 6′6″ but you see how strong he is. That has been impressive just seeing how he operates on the field. A really impressive worker in the classroom. He is a pro’s pro. I do not think there is anything that we have challenged him with mentally that he does not just get immediately. His intelligence/football intelligence is very impressive.”
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If you or a loved one has questions and needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call the Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-589-9966 or the National Council on Program Gambling Helpline (NCPG) at 1-800-522-4700. | 2022-06-16T18:45:44+00:00 | cleveland.com | https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2022/06/kevin-stefanski-discusses-browns-qbs-end-to-minicamp-transcript.html |
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