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Knicks’ Jalen Brunson sits for Dallas reunion with sore hip
DALLAS (AP) — Jalen Brunson missed his first Dallas reunion after the New York Knicks point guard was ruled out of a meeting with the Mavericks with a sore right hip.
The club announced the decision not long before the start of Tuesday night’s game. Brunson played when the Knicks lost to the Mavericks 121-100 in New York in early December. The rematch was his first missed game of the season.
Brunson was drafted in the second round by Dallas in 2018, the same year Mavs superstar Luka Doncic went third overall.
A two-time NCAA champion at Villanova, Brunson grew into quite the sidekick for Doncic before signing with the Knicks as a free agent this past summer.
Wearing a baby blue hoodie on the Knicks bench, Brunson watched a tribute video after the first quarter and waved to the cheering crowd afterward. He hugged several members of the Dallas staff on his way to the locker room at halftime.
Brunson played a pivotal role in the Mavericks winning a first-round series against Utah last season when Doncic missed the first three games in the six-game series due to a calf strain.
The Mavericks reached the Western Conference finals, losing to Golden State, which won the title.
Brunson blossomed as a starter alongside Doncic in coach Jason Kidd’s Dallas debut last season, but was interested in being the lead point guard somewhere else.
Brunson had strong ties to the Knicks. His dad, Rick Brunson, is an assistant coach and former player for New York. His dad’s agent, Leon Rose, is president of the Knicks.
New York played in Dallas six days after the NBA docked the club a second-round pick in the 2025 draft for engaging in talks with Brunson before free agency opened June 30.
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More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | 2022-12-28T03:13:49+00:00 | kob.com | https://www.kob.com/sports-stories/ap-basketball/knicks-jalen-brunson-sits-for-dallas-reunion-with-sore-hip/ |
Heavy clashes have been reported across Sudan for the fourth day running as a power struggle between the country's two top military commanders has descended into deadly violence. Sudan's Ministry of Health announced today that 270 people have been killed and more than 2,600 wounded. In a sign of the deteriorating security situation in the capital, a U.S. diplomatic convoy came under attack on Monday, a day after the European Union's ambassador was assaulted in his residence.
General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, head of the Sudanese army, and General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, leader of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are former allies. The two generals united to overthrow Sudan's former dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019 as well as dissolving the subsequent transitional government in 2021. The uneasy alliance between the two leaders has now imploded, threatening to destabilize the country and wider region.
Civilians in the capital are bearing the brunt of the clashes, with millions trapped in their homes, humanitarian workers unable to deliver supplies and medical facilities under attack.
NPR spoke to Dr. Ghazali Babiker, country director for medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières in Sudan, who is in Khartoum.
What's happening where you are?
The situation is very tense and chaotic. There has been an increase in the intensity of fighting since Saturday with Khartoum and the region of Darfur witnessing the worst. We have five teams in Khartoum which have been separated and unable to move due to the bombardment by aerial forces, tanks in the streets and heavy artillery movements. Our main concern is access to health care for civilians and the security of our staff.
Is it possible to move around the city?
There is fighting in the streets and snipers on top of buildings. The humanitarian assistance has been completely jeopardized. We have medical supplies, but we can't move them. The situation is too unpredictable, we can't take the risk to move our staff when we have zero guarantee of their safety. Most people are sheltering wherever they were on Saturday, so in the worst areas people have been trapped for four days. In other areas movement is possible but limited due to armed vehicles roaming around the neighborhood.
Are hospitals functioning?
Some hospitals are being targeted by the warring parties, forcing patients to leave still with intravenous tubes connected to their bodies. [There have been reports that wounded soldiers have been filling hospitals, which have also been hit by shelling.] We hear that ambulances have been turned back and shot at while transferring patients. Health workers are fearing for their own lives. The doctors' union are reporting that many hospitals in Khartoum are out of service. At others, supplies are dwindling, and staff are tired or leaving as there is nobody to replace them. It's going to be more difficult in the coming period. If this keeps up, many more hospitals won't be operational.
What is the risk to civilians?
The majority of the injuries to civilians are from bullets and shrapnel, from people being caught in the crossfire. The heavy use of artillery and street fighting is also preventing the injured to reach hospitals. There are dead bodies lying in the streets and nobody can retrieve them. We have received 183 wounded patients at the MSF-supported hospital in El Fasher in North Darfur. Eleven have died.
Has there been looting of your medical facilities?
MSF premises in Nyala, South Darfur have been looted, including one of our warehouses. This is a structure that should be protected, it's for humanitarian purposes, there is no justification for it to be targeted.
Is there water and electricity in Khartoum?
In my office we have electricity, but stray bullets have hit the water pipes. Other parts of the city have had no electricity or water for four days. I saw people queuing for water yesterday, despite the risk of crossfire. So far, the phone network is operational, though sometimes weak. But without electricity people can't charge phones. Even if you have a generator, it is difficult to refuel it as gas stations are not open. If this situation continues the suffering will increase.
Has there been any information from the government?
The only instructions we have received is to stay indoors and away from the windows.
Meanwhile we have heard reports about attacks on diplomats, as well as videos of shelling and stray bullets going through people's houses. The clashes have been very loud since Saturday. While I'm talking to you, I am hearing anti-aircraft fire.
Are citizens in the city able to access supplies?
The fighting erupted suddenly early Saturday morning, so it was a shock and surprise for everyone. Nobody had time to stock up for an extended period. We are now on the fourth day and supplies have been depleted. Medicine access is very difficult. Food was partially available in the first two days but all the stocks in markets and small shops have finished without being able to be replenished. If this continues, we will have food shortages and most people will try to leave the city to the villages if they can.
What next?
Our priority is to get our staff from the intense fighting areas and restore access to health facilities. We are ready and prepared; we have stocks [of medical supplies] and manpower but very little access. We are on standby for whenever a humanitarian corridor opens.
Andrew Connelly is a British freelance journalist focusing on politics, migration and conflict.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2023-04-18T16:46:25+00:00 | iowapublicradio.org | https://www.iowapublicradio.org/news-from-npr/2023-04-18/i-am-hearing-anti-aircraft-fire-says-a-doctor-in-sudan-as-he-depicts-medical-crisis |
The lone volunteer in a gene-editing study targeting a rare form of Duchenne muscular dystrophy likely died after having a reaction to the virus that delivered the therapy in his body, researchers concluded in an early study.
Terry Horgan, 27, of Montour Falls, New York, died last year during one of the first tests of a gene-editing treatment designed for one person. Some scientists wondered if the gene-editing tool CRISPR played a part in his death. The tool has transformed genetic research, sparked the development of dozens of experimental drugs, and won its inventors the Nobel Prize in 2020.
But researchers said the virus — one used to carry treatment into the body because it doesn’t usually make people sick — combined with his condition, triggered the problems that ultimately killed him.
Horgan appears to have had a more severe immune reaction “than others receiving similar or slightly higher doses” of the virus, the authors wrote in the study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed.
Horgan was enrolled in an early-stage safety trial approved by the Food and Drug Administration. It was sponsored by Cure Rare Disease, a Connecticut-based nonprofit founded by his brother, Rich, to try and save him from the muscle-wasting disease caused by a mutation in the gene needed to produce a protein called dystrophin.
In a statement, Rich Horgan thanked the research team led by the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School and Yale University for a “thorough, comprehensive” investigation that provided valuable insights. He added, “On a personal note, this study is another important step toward honoring Terry’s legacy and his commitment, as well as our entire family’s, to the rare disease community.”
The therapy Horgan got aimed to use CRISPR to increase a form of the dystrophin protein. The process began with suppressing Horgan’s immune system to prepare his body for the therapy, which was delivered by IV with “a high dose” of what’s known as an adeno-associated viral vector, or AAV, according to Cure Rare Disease.
But Horgan soon began experiencing problems, went into cardiac arrest six days after the treatment and died two days later from organ failure and brain damage. Because of the timing of symptoms, and the fact researchers could find little of a gene-editing enzyme in his body, they concluded that the therapy hadn’t been activated yet.
This isn’t the first time viral vectors have been implicated in a gene therapy trial death. In a major setback for the field, 18-year-old Jesse Gelsinger died in 1999 during a study aimed at combatting his rare metabolic disease. Scientists later learned that his immune system overreacted to the virus used to carry the treatment. The virus used in Horgan’s trial is considered safer but it is not without problems.
“People have been trying to make safer vectors … but they still remain challenging,” said Arthur Caplan, a medical ethicist at New York University who was not involved in the study but has followed the case closely. “We don’t really understand why some people run into trouble and others don’t. We don’t know whether it’s their underlying disease, some co-morbidity, or some strange immunology.”
Rich Horgan said they plan to submit the study to a peer-reviewed journal. Meanwhile, Cure Rare Disease said it will use alternative viruses for the other treatments it is trying to develop.
Dr. Terence Flotte, dean of the UMass medical school and senior author of the study, said he hopes it leads “to further research into how to identify subsets of patients who might be prone to severe, unexpected reactions like this.”
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content. | 2023-06-01T19:51:34+00:00 | wcia.com | https://www.wcia.com/health/ap-health/researchers-link-death-in-gene-editing-study-to-a-virus-used-to-deliver-the-treatment-not-crispr/ |
Yellowstone National Park partially reopened on Wednesday after floods closed the park for more than a week. Only limited numbers of people are being let in with limited services available.
Copyright 2022 NPR
Yellowstone National Park partially reopened on Wednesday after floods closed the park for more than a week. Only limited numbers of people are being let in with limited services available.
Copyright 2022 NPR | 2022-06-22T21:12:30+00:00 | kunm.org | https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2022-06-22/after-catastrophic-flooding-in-montana-yellowstone-partially-reopens |
Red Sox vs. Diamondbacks Predictions & Picks: Odds, Moneyline, Spread - May 27
Saturday's contest between the Arizona Diamondbacks (29-22) and the Boston Red Sox (27-24) at Chase Field is expected to be a competitive matchup, as our computer prediction projects a final score of 6-4, with the Diamondbacks taking home the win. Game time is at 7:15 PM ET on May 27.
The Red Sox will give the nod to Garrett Whitlock (1-2, 6.19 ERA), who is eyeing win No. 2 on the season, and the Diamondbacks will counter with Zach Davies.
Red Sox vs. Diamondbacks Game Info & Odds
- When: Saturday, May 27, 2023 at 7:15 PM ET
- Where: Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona
- How to Watch on TV: FOX
- Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo!
Bet on this matchup with BetMGM, the King of Sportsbooks!
Red Sox vs. Diamondbacks Score Prediction
Our prediction for this game is Diamondbacks 6, Red Sox 5.
Total Prediction for Red Sox vs. Diamondbacks
- Total Prediction: Over 9.5 runs
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Red Sox Performance Insights
- In three games over the last 10 matchups when favored by sportsbooks, the Red Sox have a record of 2-1.
- Boston and its opponents have combined to hit the over four times in its last 10 games with a total.
- The Red Sox covered the spread in its most recent opportunity.
- The Red Sox have entered the game as favorites 19 times this season and won 11, or 57.9%, of those games.
- Boston has a record of 8-4, a 66.7% win rate, when favored by -125 or more by bookmakers this season.
- The bookmakers' moneyline implies a 55.6% chance of a victory for the Red Sox.
- Boston has scored the fourth-most runs in the majors this season with 269.
- The Red Sox have the 25th-ranked team ERA among all MLB pitching staffs (4.76).
Diamondbacks Performance Insights
- The Diamondbacks have played as the underdog in four of their past 10 games and have gone 3-1 in those contests.
- In its last 10 games with an over/under, Arizona and its opponents have combined to eclipse the total four times.
- The Diamondbacks' record against the spread is 1-2-0 over their previous 10 matchups (bookmakers set spreads in three of those matchups).
- The Diamondbacks have been victorious in 17, or 56.7%, of the 30 contests they have been chosen as underdogs in this season.
- This season, Arizona has come away with a win 13 times in 24 chances when named as an underdog of at least +105 or worse on the moneyline.
- The moneyline set for this matchup implies the Diamondbacks have a 48.8% chance of coming away with a victory in the contest.
- Arizona is the seventh-highest scoring team in MLB, averaging 5.1 runs per game (259 total).
- The Diamondbacks have pitched to a 4.58 ERA this season, which ranks 23rd in baseball.
Put your picks to the test and bet on with BetMGM Sportsbook.
Red Sox Schedule
Diamondbacks Schedule
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | 2023-05-27T19:16:12+00:00 | atlantanewsfirst.com | https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/sports/betting/2023/05/27/red-sox-diamondbacks-mlb-picks-predictions/ |
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) – City officials are working to update the Uptown Greenville parking plan to accommodate for economic growth in the area.
The city started this process back in 2019, but their plans were halted in 2020 due to the pandemic. Now they’re getting more public input on a plan that could get go into effect as early as this fall.
Under the proposed plan, drivers will pay $1 per hour to park on the street for up to three hours. Street parking is currently free for two hours.
For surface parking lots and parking decks, the first hour will be free to park with a 75 cent charge per hour after that. That’s similar to current rates.
“We’d like to put something in place now and just tweak it as we go, something that will be in place for the next five, 10, 15, 20 years to be able to compensate for the growth we expect,” said Michael Cowin, Greenville deputy city manager.
Cowin said the change is also needed to better enforce the rules and have better turnover rates in order to make businesses more easily accessible.
“So we don’t have somebody just sitting there all day long or taking advantage of the face they have on street parking and it’s free,” he added.
Some Greenville community members voiced their thoughts in a public input session Tuesday.
“I understand that the goal it is to have a lively Uptown area that embraces people to come and frequent its shops, its clubs and its restaurants,” said Marion Blackburn, a Greenville community member and recent city council-elect. “What I see here is a plan that is going to really put the brakes on that.”
As it stands,, the proposed parking plan would be in effect 24 hours a day.
“The 24-hour enforcement would highly deter those people in not coming back,” said Brianna Long, general manager of Pitt Street Brewing Company.
That’s something Cowin said they heard concerns about and can look into changing.
“The stakeholders we heard from want to look at the time-frame that are in place,” Cowin said. “So should it be 7 to 9 p.m. at night?”
The plan also includes increases to residents and employee parking passes. To view the full plan, click here.
The city will host a second input session Thursday, June 2 at 12:30 p.m. in Greenville City Hall. | 2022-06-01T03:35:26+00:00 | wnct.com | https://www.wnct.com/local-news/greenville/officials-consider-raising-uptown-greenville-parking-rates/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — The Free Application for Federal Student Aid filing season starts Oct. 1 for the 2023-2024 school year. If you plan to attend college next year, experts say you might want to fill out the FAFSA application as close to the opening date as possible.
Many institutions award financial aid on a first-come, first-serve basis. Karen McCarthy, vice president of public policy and federal relations from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, recommends students get started.
“It is a good idea to do it on the earlier side,” said McCarthy. “Whenever (colleges) run out of money, then that’s all the funding they have for the year.”
Whether this is your first or fifth time filling out the application, here are some recommendations and background for completing this process and getting financial aid for your college career.
—HOW DOES FAFSA WORK?
The FAFSA is a free government application that uses financial information from you and your family to determine whether you can get financial aid from the federal government to pay for college.
The FAFSA will send your financial information to the schools listed in the application that you are interested in attending — up to 10 schools. Each school that admits you will send you a financial aid package. The amount of financial aid you get depends on each institution.
This application is also used to determine eligibility for other federal student aid programs, like work-study and loans, as well as state and school aid. Sometimes, private, merit-based scholarships also require FAFSA information to determine if you qualify for their specific aid.
“Completing the FAFSA is probably the single most important thing you can do to get in line for scholarships, grants and other federal financial aid for college,” said Rick Castellanos, vice president of corporate communications at Sallie Mae.
Nitro College, a website that offers advice for college students, has a step-by-step guide listing all the questions in the FAFSA.
—WHO SHOULD FILL OUT THE FAFSA?
Anyone planning to attend college next year. Many decide not to apply thinking their family’s income is too high to be considered, but McCarthy recommends all students fill out the application.
“There’s no commitment, there’s no charge,” said McCarthy. “See what happens, you may be surprised. And if not, you have it on file in case you change your mind.”
Students and parents can use the federal student aid estimator to get an early approximation of their financial package.
—HOW DO I FILL OUT FAFSA?
The first step is to create an FSA ID to help you log into your account electronically. If you are a dependent student, your parents will also need to create an account.
Before starting your application, McCarthy recommends using your permanent personal email, one that is “available to you and that you check regularly.”
Here are the documents you will need to fill out your FAFSA application:
—Your Social Security Number
—Your driver’s license number, if you have one
—Your Alien Registration Number, if you are not a U.S. citizen
—Your federal income tax returns, W-2s, and other records of money earned.
—Your bank statements and records of investments.
—Your records of untaxed income.
The application offers the option to get your federal tax return information from the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.
McCarthy also recommends students use their physical Social Security card when they fill out the application, not only to make sure they use the right number. but to double check their name.
“It’s much easier to avoid an issue in the first place,” said McCarthy. Some students who use their middle name in their daily lives make the mistake to list it as their first name on the application, she said. This causes issues with the application that will need to be resolved.
—WHEN SHOULD I FILL OUT FAFSA FOR FALL 2023-2024?
Meeting deadlines is important to avoid missing out on any possible financial aid you might receive. Aside from the federal deadline, students need to know if their state also has a deadline to be considered for financial aid.
The FAFSA application for the 2023-2024 year opens on Oct. 1 and must be submitted by June 30, 2024.
Each state has different deadlines for financial aid. For example, California has a March 2, 2023 deadline and Florida has a May 15, 2023 deadline for state financial aid programs.
You can check your state’s deadline here.
—DO I HAVE TO RENEW MY FAFSA?
The FAFSA needs to be filled out every year you plan to attend college. However, it usually becomes easier to navigate the process after you’ve done it once.
“I feel a lot faster every year,” said Haley Campbell Garcia, 28, who filled out the FAFSA for the first time in 2013 and has filled it out every year since, for her undergraduate and graduate degrees.
When you renew your application, some information is already pre-filled, but tax information and other items need to be updated.
—WHAT INFORMATION DO I NEED FROM MY PARENTS FOR FAFSA?
If you are filing as a dependent student, you’ll need to provide the financial information of at least one parent. If you list both parents, you need to know how they filed their tax return — jointly or separately — and their official marital status, said McCarthy.
“It seems like it should be obvious, but sometimes people don’t necessarily know whether their parents are separated or actually divorced,” said McCarthy. You can find the official marital status of your parents by checking their tax return.
Parents need to create their own FSA IDs. When your parents fill out the application, they can manually input their tax return information or use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.
Parents will need this information to fill out the FAFSA:
—Social Security number or Alien Registration number (if they are not U.S. citizens).
—Federal income tax returns, W-2s and other records of money earned.
If a student is applying for the 2023-2024 school year, parents need to use their 2021 federal tax return information.
If you have questions about income information, you can call the federal student aid office at 1-800-433-3243.
—WHAT IF MY PARENTS ARE NON CITIZENS WHEN I FILL OUT FAFSA?
Your parents’ citizenship status does not affect your eligibility for student aid. The application doesn’t ask for your parents’ legal status in the country.
If your parent does not have a Social Security number, students should enter all zeros on the application. Also, parents without a Social Security number won’t need to create a FSA ID, but will need to sign the application by printing and mailing it to the financial aid office so the student’s application gets processed.
For more details on non-citizen parents you can visit studentaid.gov.
—HOW CAN I SPEAK WITH MY PARENTS ABOUT FAFSA WHEN THEY’VE NEVER DONE IT BEFORE?
Whether you are a first generation college student or your parents are immigrants, having to explain FAFSA to them can be challenging.
The way Jessica Sansarran, a 25-year-old resident of Orlando, approached this issue was by reading FAFSA guides to her parents and communicating her frustrations with the process.
“I told them ‘you know, this is complicated for me too’,” said Sansarran, whose parents are from Guyana.
Anastasia Acerno, 21, approached this process similarly.
“I would just ask my parents for all their tax documentation, wait for them to find it, and then just ask them the questions myself, instead of having them go through the application,” said Acerno, who graduated from the University of Albany.
—WHAT IF MY FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE CHANGED SINCE 2021?
If your (or your family’s) financial situation has drastically changed, you need to contact the specific institution that you are planning to attend. Each college handles special circumstances differently, said McCarthy.
—WHEN WILL I RECEIVE MY FAFSA FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE?
FAFSA applications take three to five days to process, according to the student aid website. However, when you receive your financial aid package will depend on your institution. Usually, students get their financial aid package shortly after their admission offers.
—WHAT IF I MADE A MISTAKE IN MY FAFSA?
If you made a mistake filling out your application, you need to correct your FAFSA form. You can do this by logging in with your FSA ID, go to the “My FAFSA” page and select “make corrections.”
In some instances, if the changes cannot be done through the FAFSA portal, students will need to reach out to their institution’s financial aid office to make corrections.
—WHAT IF MY FINANCIAL AID IS NOT ENOUGH TO PAY FOR MY COLLEGE?
If the financial aid package from the college you plan to attend will not cover your college expenses, there are alternatives.
You can look into scholarships that might help lower the cost of attending college or student loans. There are two types of student loans: federal and private. Federal student loans usually offer lower interest rates than private loans.
—WHERE CAN I FIND MORE HELP TO FILL OUT FAFSA?
A lot of information about FAFSA can be found on the studentaid.gov website, but if you have more specific questions, you can speak with the financial aid office of your desired institution.
From filling out basic questions to a more in-depth understanding of your financial aid package, your college or community college’s financial aid office can help.
In Yvette Solano’s case, she requested help from someone in the financial aid office that spoke Spanish.
“For me, it was about feeling comfortable asking questions and understanding the information,” said Solano, 25, who attended San Diego City College and graduated from Cal State, Los Angeles this summer. “You shouldn’t be ashamed of asking for help.”
McCarthy also recommends looking for college access organizations that provide free help completing the FAFSA.
Students or parents can also call, email or live chat with the Federal Student Aid Information Center.
___
“The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.” | 2022-09-28T10:50:25+00:00 | pahomepage.com | https://www.pahomepage.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-fafsa-season-starts-what-you-need-to-know-for-financial-aid/ |
Winning Powerball numbers for Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022
The Powerball has reached the second-highest prize in the game's history and currently holds a place at No. 5 on the list of all-time U.S. lottery jackpots.
Did you pick the right numbers?
The lottery balls have been chosen for the Saturday, Oct. 29 jackpot worth an estimated $825 million, with a cash option of $410.2 million.
Mega Millions:Winning numbers for Friday, Oct. 28, 2022. No winner, jackpot rises to $87M
Powerball winning numbers
The winning numbers for Saturday night's drawing are 19, 31, 40, 46, 57, and the Powerball is 23. The Power Play was 3X.
How many numbers in Powerball do you need to win a prize?
You only need to match one number in Powerball to win a prize. However, that number must be the Powerball worth $4.
What do I win if I get 2 numbers on Powerball?
Matching two numbers won't win anything in Powerball unless one of the numbers is the Powerball. A ticket matching one of the five numbers and the Powerball is worth $7.
When is the next Powerball drawing?
Drawings are held three times per week at approximately 10:59 p.m. ET every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
How to play Powerball
Here's how to play Powerball:
Powerball's last jackpot winner
Here is the list of 2022 Powerball jackpot wins, according to powerball.com:
- $632.6 million — Jan. 5; California, Wisconsin.
- $185.3 million — Feb. 14; Connecticut.
- $473.1 million — April 27; Arizona.
- $366.7 million — June 29; Vermont.
- $206.9 million — Aug. 3; Pennsylvania.
Powerball winning numbers:Results for Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022. No winner, jackpot grows to $825M
Top 10 Powerball lottery jackpots
Here are the all-time top 10 Powerball jackpots, according to powerball.com:
- $1.586 billion — Jan. 13, 2016; California, Florida, Tennessee.
- $825 million — Oct. 29, 2022; TBD.
- $768.4 million — Mar. 27, 2019; Wisconsin.
- $758.7 million — Aug. 23, 2017; Massachusetts.
- $731.1 million — Jan. 20, 2021; Maryland.
- $699.8 million — Oct. 4, 2021; California.
- $687.8 million — Oct. 27, 2018; Iowa, New York.
- $632.6 million — Jan. 5, 2022; California, Wisconsin.
- $590.5 million — May 18, 2013; Florida.
- $587.5 million — Nov. 28, 2012; Arizona, Missouri.
Top 10 U.S. lottery jackpots
Here are the nation's all-time top 10 Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots, according to powerball.com:
- $1.586 billion, Powerball — Jan. 13, 2016; California, Florida, Tennessee.
- $1.537 billion, Mega Millions — Oct. 23, 2018; South Carolina.
- $1.337 billion, Mega Millions — July 29, 2022; Illinois.
- $1.05 billion, Mega Millions — Jan. 22, 2021; Michigan.
- $825 million, Powerball — Oct. 29, 2022; TBD.
- $768.4 million, Powerball — Mar. 27, 2019; Wisconsin.
- $758.7 million, Powerball — Aug. 23, 2017; Massachusetts.
- $731.1 million, Powerball — Jan. 20, 2021; Maryland.
- $699.8 million, Powerball — Oct. 4, 2021; California.
- $687.8 million, Powerball — Oct. 27, 2018; Iowa, New York.
Chris Sims is a digital producer at Midwest DOT. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisFSims. | 2022-10-30T03:48:02+00:00 | indystar.com | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2022/10/30/powerball-winning-numbers-lottery-jackpot-drawing-results-saturday-10-29-22-october-29/69600138007/ |
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Question: Regarding the kupuna driver’s license, my license will expire at the end of this year (2022), when I will be away on an extended trip. If I wait to renew it until I get back (early 2023), will I get a two-year license or the new four-year license?
Answer: You would receive a four-year license, assuming that you are younger than 80 when you renew, according to Honolulu County’s Department of Customer Services. Keep in mind that your current license will not be legal for driving once it expires, and you should bring another form of identification on your trip because your expired license may be treated as invalid for other purposes as well, such as passing through security checkpoints.
You may renew your Hawaii driver’s license up to 90 days past its expiration date without financial penalty; after that a $5 late fee applies monthly, according to the department. The late-renewal option ends after a year, at which point you must take the written and road tests, it says.
You are one of many kupuna trying to time their driver’s license renewal to capitalize on a state law that extends the renewal period from two years to four years for drivers ages 72 to 79. This law takes effect Jan. 1, 2023. The department says:
>> All Hawaii driver’s licenses issued or renewed in 2022 for that age group will be for two years. Those issued or renewed in 2023 (and later) will be for four years.
>> Expiration dates of existing licenses won’t be automatically extended under this law. The license holder will need to renew their license. Some readers have asked because expiration dates were extended early in the pandemic, but that was a different situation.
We’ve heard from numerous kupuna like the first reader, whose licenses expire near the end of 2022; they’re weighing the pros and cons of renewing late to get a four-year license next year.
On the other hand, we’ve also heard from kupuna who prefer to renew at the earliest opportunity, which is six months ahead of the expiration date. That’s not advised this year for those who could renew next year at age 72 to 79 and receive a four-year license, without having their license expire in the meantime.
New passport service
People who need a U.S. passport may apply for one by appointment at the Ala Moana satellite city hall starting Aug. 1, which will offer the service as part of a pilot program, Honolulu County’s Department of Customer Services announced Friday.
Go to alohaq.honolulu.gov/ to make a reservation; when we checked Friday, appointments were available Aug. 1 to 12.
This service will be for new passports (form DS-11), not renewals, the department said. Besides the application, you’ll need to provide valid photo ID, original proof of U.S. citizenship, passport photo and fees. You won’t be able to take your photo on site. For detailed instructions, see 808ne.ws/passfaq or go to the department’s homepage, honolulu.gov/csd and click on the passport link under “More Services.”
With routine processing, it will take eight to 11 weeks to receive your passport.
Mahalo
A big mahalo to the lovely young couple dining at Teishoku Restaurant on Thursday evening who quietly paid for our meal before leaving. What a wonderful surprise for this grateful senior couple. We will be paying it forward for sure. — Jimmy and Sandy
Mahalo
I had locked myself out of my car near Foodland Farms in Pearl City. I tried many times to contact someone at home without success. A young man and his mom were nearby and offered their help. Mom tried to contact AAA for help but decided it would be faster to offer me a ride home. The young man did so. How grateful I am for the kindness of these two people! — L.S.
Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 7-500, Honolulu, HI 96813; call 808-529-4773; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com. | 2022-07-24T10:47:16+00:00 | staradvertiser.com | https://www.staradvertiser.com/2022/07/24/hawaii-news/kokua-line/kokua-line-when-can-i-get-a-longer-drivers-license/ |
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations chief warned on the eve of World Press Freedom Day that the media is under attack in every corner of the world and urged all nations to stop the targeting of truth and those who report it.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the 50% increase in the killing of media workers in 2022 “unbelievable,” stressing that freedom of the press “is the foundation of democracy and justice” and it is under threat.
At least 67 media workers were killed in 2022. In addition, digital platforms and social media have made it easier for extremists to push false narratives and harass journalists.
“Truth is threatened by disinformation and hate speech seeking to blur the lines between fact and fiction, between science and conspiracy,” Guterres said in a video message for the U.N. commemoration of 30th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day. It was first proclaimed by the U.N. General Assembly in December 1993 and authorized to be held every May 3.
Guterres said the collapse of the media industry, which has led to closures of local news outlets and consolidation of media “into the hands of the few,” is threatening freedom of expression.
So are threatening new laws passed by governments worldwide, such as Russia’s 2022 law that anyone publishing information about its military that Moscow deems to be false could face up to 15 years in prison.
Russia detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in late March, accusing him of spying. Journal publisher Almar Latour vehemently denied the accusation at Tuesday’s commemoration.
He said the Journal is “tremendously grateful” that President Joe Biden is personally working to secure Gershkovich’s release. He added that his Russian lawyers have said, “Evan is thankful and reading every letter that he’s getting at the moment.”
Former journalist and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Samantha Power, who now heads the U.S. Agency for International Development, accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of not only wrongfully arresting Gershkovich but of targeting journalists elsewhere, including Ukraine, “where his forces have shelled broadcasting towers, seized editorial offices, and killed nine journalists” since the invasion on Feb. 24, 2022.
Secretary-General Guterres strongly criticized the targeting of media workers both on and offline, saying they are routinely harassed, intimidated and detained. He added that nearly three-quarters of women journalists have experienced violence online and one-quarter have been threatened physically.
The secretary-general said the world must unite to stop threats, attacks and imprisonment of journalists for doing their jobs, and stop the lies and disinformation.
“As journalists stand up for truth, the world stands up with them,” he said.
Audrey Azoulay, director-general of the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which organized the commemoration, said the advent of the digital era has changed the entire information landscape.
While digital platforms have provided new ways for expression and information, she said, “they are also proving fertile ground for those who sow disinformation, hate speech and conspiracy theories.”
“We find ourselves at a new crossroads,” Azoulay said. “Our current path is leading us away from informed public debate … towards even more polarization,” she warned. “The other path is one we must imagine together, to ensure information can remain a public good, accessible to all.”
Azoulay said UNESCO in 2021 launched a model curriculum for teachers on media and information literacy “to develop critical mindsets to navigate these new flows.”
Given that the business models of digital platforms are based on the number of clicks, she said, they “all too often favor sensationalism over truth.”
That’s why UNESCO in February organized a global conference aimed at ensuring that technology promotes human rights and shared values “rather than harming them,” which was attended by over 4,000 interested parties, Azoulay said. UNESCO plans to publish a set of guidelines later this year on the moderation and selection of online content — just as it did for broadcasting nearly 20 years ago, she said.
UNESCO media expert Guilherme Canela De Souza Godoi told a news conference that Tuesday’s commemoration is a kickoff for more than 60 events in 60 countries and over 40 events in New York City to highlight World Press Freedom Day and the unacceptable trend of declining media freedom and increasing attacks.
He cited UNESCO statistics released last year that 85% of the world’s population experienced the downsizing of their freedom in the last five years.
A recent UNESCO survey found that journalists covering protests in 65 countries in all regions have been attacked, Canela said.
Other recent data shows that judicial systems increasingly harass journalists in all regions, “with 160 countries still keeping freedom of expression under criminal codes” which can lead to journalists’ imprisonment, he said.
The presidents of the U.N. General Assembly, Economic and Social Council, UNESCO General Conference, and Human Rights urged governments and all organizations to ensure “a safe and enabling environment for journalists to perform their work independently and without undue interference.”
The Wall Street Journal’s Latour said that while the risks for journalists are increasing, “we cannot withdraw from reporting about the world.”
“There’s probably no better answer to autocracies that are trying to squash and diminish journalism than to offer great journalism to the world,” he said. “It is not just press freedom that’s at stake. … The fight for Evan’s release is the fight for everybody’s freedom.” | 2023-05-03T14:25:48+00:00 | fox59.com | https://fox59.com/news/politics/ap-politics/un-chief-urges-all-nations-to-stop-targeting-media-and-truth/ |
New Album "Mission Peace" Dropped Friday August 26, 2022
ASPEN, Colo., Aug. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mission Peace is the second album to be released by the Staunch Moderates Movement, considered to be a "Chapter Two" chronicling of the Movement's latest missives and endeavors performed through the Movement's familiar melodious R&B, jazzy cool hip-hop spoken word first introduced in its 2021 debut album The First Realm. As with the debut album, Mission Peace is representative of the Movement's belief that it can reach a broader, more diverse audience through various creative mediums, and it's working for them. The Movement recently crested over 36 million (more than 10% the US population) total streams and views of its audio and visual content, is consistently increasing its following across social and digital outlets and has been growing rotation on numerous traditional radio and cable outlets across the country.
The album's nine new tracks were written and performed by Staunch Moderates co-founder Gregory T. Simmons and rapper Casanova Ace (a.k.a. Clemmie Garard), with contributions once again from notable producer/musicians Jeffery "Skunk" Baxter, lead guitarist for the Doobie Brothers and founding member of Steely Dan and CJ Vanston, former keyboardist for Tears for Fears who also has collaborated with many of the greats throughout his career (Dali Lama, Ringo Star, Joe Cocker, etc.). The album is also morally supported by the Movement's bigger than life mascot, DJ Staunch, the eight-foot-tall Bigfoot character who embodies the Movement's home base of Independence Pass, Continental Divide, Colorado. DJ Staunch is the face of the Movement's musical endeavors, not only spinning its beats but also hosting concerts and marches to spread the word. The first single promoted from the album is the first track, "Love."
Each of the nine tracks carry its own level of importance to the Movement, but of particular note is the album's third track, "Bigfoots Football," which details the Staunch Moderates' take on a new professional expansion football team. To coincide with this song's release, the Movement is also releasing a "Bigfoots Football" documentary series through its Staunch Moderates News Television studio, providing a behind-the-scenes look into the development and execution of this trademarked sports concept. The documentary/music clips began airing August 1st on the Movement's YouTube channel Staunch Moderates News.
The complete track listing for Mission Peace is as follows:
Credits:
ARTIST NAME: Staunch Moderates
FEATURING: DJ Staunch, Casanova Ace
SONGWRITERS: Gregory Todd Simmons, Clemmie Gerard
PRODUCTION CREDITS:
- Executive Producer - Gregory Todd Simmons
- Chorus Director - Jayson Kramer
- Supervising Producer - Meshach Lewis
- Producer - Rico Tolbert
- Editing – Rico Tolbert, Lorenzo Wolff, Terry Yerves
- Mixing – Craig Alvin
- Mastering – Shelley Anderson
PERFORMANCE CREDITS: Casanova Ace, Gregory T. Simmons
©2022 GTS Productions, LLC
Label: Staunch Moderates
Mission Peace is available NOW on all major music streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes, Amazon Music, Facebook Music, Pandora, SoundCloud, and YouTube, along with an additional 54 outlets globally. Media samples upon request.
About Staunch Moderates
Staunch Moderates are an Intellectual Movement that addresses our country's current intellectual and political divide and strives for both national and world peace. Formed in December of 2019, the Movement hit the ground running, campaigning for their messages throughout the 2020 Election Year. They actively campaigned in sixteen different states by hosting 35 vital societal issue forums, conducting polls and producing several interviews with different political celebrities during the conventions and debates. With Casanova Ace rapping, the team even hosted a live Election Day Show with a panel of ten of their closest political celebrity friends, including former Congressman Barry Goldwater, former bodybuilding champion Lou Ferrigno, Olympian Maggie Connor and former White House press office Edward P. Lozzi, among others. For fans, constituents and the curious, check it all out at StaunchModerates.org or any of their social media channels.
Follow Staunch Moderates:
Website: http://www.staunchmoderates.org/ www.StaunchModerates.org
Facebook: Facebook.com/staunchmoderates
Instagram: staunch_moderates
Twitter: @SModerates
YouTube: Staunch Moderates News
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/staunchmoderates
View original content:
SOURCE Staunch Moderates | 2022-08-29T16:46:13+00:00 | wymt.com | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2022/08/29/staunch-moderates-intellectual-movement-rapper-casanova-ace-dj-staunch-release-sophomore-album-mission-peace-doubling-down-movements-intellectual-political-philosophy-moderation-over-extremism/ |
As 16 green balloons rose into the stormy, dark gray Arlington sky Friday night, Roshone Jacob stood silent with tears in her eyes.
On that day, Jacob should have been celebrating her son Ja’Shawn Poirier’s 17th birthday. Instead, she was standing with family and community members outside Lamar High School, where about 70 people joined together to mourn and remember Ja’Shawn’s life.
“As I let these balloons go, I just wanted to let my son know that I love him so much, and I miss him,” Jacob said.
Ja’shawn was killed in a shooting outside the school on the morning of March 20. Police say he was sitting on the front steps around 6:55 a.m. when a car drove by and someone opened fire. Another student suffered minor injuries.
Last month’s shooting rocked the school community. And so even though Ja’Shawn was taken back to the family’s hometown of Pontiac, Michigan for a funeral, Friday night’s vigil was one small way Jacob said she could help Lamar students collectively grieve.
“I did it for the kids,” Jacob said. “They were asking for a funeral, and we buried him back home, so I did this for the kids because a lot of kids wanted this.”
Ja’Shawn was remembered as a kindhearted teen who loved sports, family and friends. His mother called him “goofy,” and “a loved, kind, sweet boy.” The release of the 16 green balloons was symbolic: Ja’Shawn was 16 years old when he was killed, and green was his favorite color.
Though Jacob said she didn’t hold the vigil for herself or her family, it clearly had an impact on the still-grieving mother. She stood solemn when presented with the last painting Ja’Shawn painted in art class. She sang quietly when Lamar High School Director of Choirs Greg Haugen stood at the podium to lead attendees in a rendition of “Amazing Grace.”
The moment was poetic toLamar High School Principal Andy Hagman.
“I was looking up at the sky, and the dark clouds, and it made me think about life, and how we experience dark clouds, turbulence, and difficulties,” he said, “but we also experience beautiful sunshine and cool breeze.”
The accused gunman, a 15-year-old fellow student, was arrested hours after the shooting and charged with capital murder and aggravated assault. Three days later, the boy’s father was also arrested and faces federal charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to court records first reported by The Dallas Morning News. Police say they found three illegally obtained guns in his home.
The teen has been in juvenile detention since his arrest. Last week, Judge Alex Kim ruled the boy will remain in custody after a series of minor infractions.
“Being this is so serious, I have to be heightened,” Kim said at the hearing. “Even the small rules are much bigger.”
Ja’Shawn’s mother said besides the arrests, she hoped for legislative changes focused on gun control and school safety.
“The government needs to do better on gun violence, stop all this gun violence, and protect our kids better,” Jacob said. “The school needs to protect our kids better by putting up more cameras and more security.”
Lamar High School sophomore Taniya Banks echoed that statement.
Banks, who was in the same world history class as Poirier, said students should feel safe coming to school. She wants more protection for her and her fellow students.
She spoke fondly as she recalled all the qualities she loved about Ja’shawn.
“He was such an amazing kid, oh my goodness,” Banks said. “His grades were good… just him in general, he was just amazing.”
“Ja’shawn, I love you,” Banks added.
Matthew Sgroi is a reporting fellow for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at matthew.sgroi@fortworthreport.org. Juan Salinas II is a reporting fellow for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at juan.salinas@fortworthreport.org or on Twitter. | 2023-04-30T22:40:12+00:00 | fortworthreport.org | https://fortworthreport.org/2023/04/30/arlington-community-mourns-lamar-high-school-shooting-victim-on-teens-birthday/ |
Tips for getting dogs used to new yards
Bringing a dog home can change your life, but your pet needs to adapt to new surroundings. You might be wondering how to get your new dog acquainted with your yard safely and responsibly.
Taking your time to get your dog comfortable in your yard is key. Some dogs are naturally confident, while others need more time. You can also make your yard a fun space to spend time in and offer plenty of encouragement and positive reinforcement.
In this article: PetSafe Automatic Tennis Ball Launcher, Seresto Large Dog Flea and Tick Collar and High-Tech Pet Power Pet Electronic Pet Door.
How to get a new dog used to your yard
Take it slowly
First, take your new dog out on a leash to explore the yard. Let your dog sniff around and become familiar with the new surroundings. As confidence builds, consider switching to a long dog training leash. This gives dogs more space to roam and explore without being loose and potentially able to get into trouble.
Provide supervision
Don’t just let your dog loose in the yard without any supervision. For the first week or two, whenever your dog’s in the yard, you should be there, too. Not only will this boost your dog’s confidence, but it also lets you spot any potential hazards. For instance, you might notice your dog picking up rocks from your flowerbeds and realize you’ll either need to move them or train your dog not to pick them up.
Make the yard fun
Spend time in the yard with your dog, playing games and giving treats. This will help your dog associate the yard with positive experiences. You can also provide interactive dog toys that your pup can play with solo.
Use positive reinforcement
If you notice any issues your dog has in the yard, use positive reinforcement training to tackle them. This involves giving dogs treats, praise or other rewards when they get something right rather than punishing them for getting it wrong. Positive reinforcement works well for many common issues dogs can face in the yard, such as digging and excessive barking.
Have physical boundaries
Ideally, your yard should have a secure physical boundary to keep your dog in, such as a fence or a hedge. However, when this isn’t possible, you can use an invisible fence as a last resort. This can be useful for renters or people who live somewhere fences are prohibited due to home owner’s association rules.
Provide for your dog’s needs
Make sure your dog has what it needs when outside, such as a dog bowl filled with water or a flea collar to protect against critters in the yard. If there isn’t natural shade in your yard, consider buying a dog house or shade sail to provide a sheltered spot.
Best products to settle your new dog into your yard
This versatile toy is a great choice for dogs who like to play with their humans, as well as dogs who happily play alone. You can throw it or fill it with treats for dogs to discover and dogs can also use it as a chew toy.
PetSafe Automatic Tennis Ball Launcher
Automatic ball launchers are great for dogs who like to play fetch. This one can keep going long after your arm starts feeling tired. It has nine distance settings to launch balls between 8 and 30 feet.
Sold by Amazon
Clickers help with positive reinforcement training. So, whether you’re trying to keep your dog from chasing neighborhood cats or barking at people who walk past your yard, a clicker is an excellent training aid.
Sold by Amazon
Merrick Power Bites Dog Treats
While getting your dog settled, it’s a good idea to have a healthy selection of treats. They’re perfect for positive reinforcement training. These ones are soft, chewy and tasty enough to motivate your canine companion.
If you want to let your dog safely explore your yard before you’re comfortable ditching the leash altogether, this training leash is ideal. It comes in lengths from 15 to 100 feet, so there’s something suitable for most yards.
Sold by Amazon
Seresto Large Dog Flea and Tick Collar
Fleas and ticks lurk in the grass, so your dog should have some kind of flea protection when out in the yard. This flea collar is an alternative to topical flea treatments and tablets.
Sold by Amazon
PetSafe Stay and Play Compact Wireless Pet Fence
While a physical fence is better, this wireless pet fence is an alternative when that’s not possible. With some training, this invisible fence keeps dogs safe and secure in the absence of a boundary fence.
High-Tech Pet Power Pet Electronic Pet Door
A dog door gives your furry friend free access between your yard and your house. This one has an electronic collar system so that it stays locked until your dog approaches, keeping your home secure.
Sold by Amazon
AmazonBasics Stainless Steel Dog Bowl
Thanks to its rust-resistant stainless steel design, this is a durable bowl for outdoor use. Keep it filled with water to make sure your dog stays hydrated.
Sold by Amazon
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Lauren Corona writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | 2023-04-04T02:19:26+00:00 | cenlanow.com | https://www.cenlanow.com/reviews/br/pets-br/training-br/how-to-get-your-new-dog-acquainted-with-your-yard/ |
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Monday evening's drawing of the Washington Lottery's "Lotto" game were:
01-04-26-34-43-49
(one, four, twenty-six, thirty-four, forty-three, forty-nine)
Estimated jackpot: $1,100,000
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Monday evening's drawing of the Washington Lottery's "Lotto" game were:
01-04-26-34-43-49
(one, four, twenty-six, thirty-four, forty-three, forty-nine)
Estimated jackpot: $1,100,000 | 2022-10-04T04:59:04+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Lotto-game-17485062.php |
US, Russian astronauts will swap seats on rockets again
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - NASA astronauts will go back to riding Russian rockets under an agreement announced Friday, and Russian cosmonauts will catch lifts to the International Space Station with SpaceX beginning this fall.
The agreement ensures that the space station will always have at least one American and Russian on board to keep both sides of the orbiting outpost running smoothly, according to NASA and Russian officials. The swap had long been in the works and was finalized despite tensions over Moscow’s war in Ukraine, a sign of continuing Russia-U.S. cooperation in space.
U.S. astronaut Frank Rubio will launch to the space station from Kazakhstan with two Russians in September. That same month, Russian cosmonaut, Anna Kikina, will join two Americans and one Japanese aboard a SpaceX rocket flying from Florida. Another crew swap will occur next spring.
No money will exchange hands under the agreement, according to NASA.
NASA astronauts routinely launched on Russian Soyuz rockets — for tens of millions of dollars apiece — until SpaceX started flying station crews from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in 2020. Russian cosmonauts rode to the space station on NASA’s shuttles back in the early 2000s. Before that, during the 1990s, astronauts and cosmonauts took turns flying on each other’s spacecraft to and from Russia’s Mir station.
Friday’s news came just hours after the blustery chief of the Russian space agency, Dmitry Rogozin, was replaced by President Vladimir Putin, although the move did not appear to have any connection to the crew swap. Rogozin was expected to be given a new post.
NASA said the agreement will "ensure continued safe operations" of the space station and protect those living on board. Seven people are up there right now: three Americans and one Italian who flew up with SpaceX and three Russians who arrived in a Soyuz. | 2022-07-16T12:48:10+00:00 | fox29.com | https://www.fox29.com/news/us-russian-astronauts-will-swap-seats-on-rockets-again |
FDA warns stores to stop selling Elf Bar, the top disposable e-cigarette in the US
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday said it has sent warning letters to dozens of retailers selling fruit- and candy-flavored disposable e-cigarettes, including the current best-selling brand, Elf Bar.
It’s the latest attempt by regulators to crack down on illegal disposable vapes that have poured into U.S. stores in recent years.
Last month, the FDA issued orders allowing customs officials to seize shipments of Elf Bar, Esco Bar and two other brands at U.S. ports. None of the products have received FDA authorization and they come in flavors like cotton candy, which regulators say can appeal to teenagers.
In the latest action, the FDA said it issued warnings to 189 convenience stores, vape shops and other retailers.
“We’re not going to stand by as bad actors are profiting off the sale of illegal products that are addicting our nation’s youth,” Brian King, the FDA’s tobacco center director, said in an interview. “Today’s action is just part of our long-standing efforts to address those products, particularly flavored disposable products.”
The FDA has tried for years to regulate the multibillion-dollar vaping industry, but separate data released by government researchers Thursday shows unauthorized e-cigarettes continue to launch.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analysis showed the number of e-cigarette brands in the U.S. grew from 184 in early 2020 to 269 by late 2022.
The rise coincided with the growing popularity of disposable e-cigarettes. The analysis showed disposables’ share of vaping sales more than doubled from 24.7% in early 2020 to nearly 52% by late last year.
Researchers from the CDC and a nonprofit, Truth Initiative, analyzed data from IRI, which collects sales records from convenience stores, gas stations and other retailers.
Elf Bar was the best-selling disposable in the U.S. and the third-best selling e-cigarette by late last year. Only the reusable e-cigarettes Vuse, from Reynolds American, and Juul had higher sales.
The FDA and CDC also cited Elf Bar in a separate report about thousands of calls to U.S. poison centers concerning e-cigarettes, mainly involving children under age 5.
When accidentally ingested, liquid nicotine can cause seizures, convulsions, vomiting and brain injury. Reports of nicotine poisoning have gone up and down over the past decade, but government scientists said calls increased more than 30% between last spring and March this year.
Brand information was not reported in 95% of cases, but when it was, Elf Bar was the most frequently named product.
Despite the missing data, FDA’s King called the high number of reports involving Elf Bar a “canary in the coal mine.”
“What we want to do is nip things in the bud before they’re allowed to expand even further,” King said.
Manufactured by a Chinese firm, iMiracle Shenzhen, Elf Bar is part of a wave of copycat e-cigarettes that have followed a path paved by Puff Bar, a popular brand of disposables that briefly racked up hundreds of millions in sales after regulators cracked down on older vaping products like Juul.
In early 2020, the FDA restricted flavors in cartridge-based reusable e-cigarettes like Juul to just menthol and tobacco, which are more popular with adults. But the flavor restriction didn’t apply to disposable e-cigarettes, which are thrown away after use.
After the FDA tried to force Puff Bar off the market, the company relaunched and said it was now using laboratory-made nicotine, which didn’t fall under FDA’s original oversight of tobacco-derived nicotine. Most disposable makers followed the same playbook.
Congress closed the loophole last year. Under the law, companies were supposed to remove their vapes from the market and file FDA applications, but new products continue to launch.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2023-06-23T00:02:14+00:00 | kmvt.com | https://www.kmvt.com/2023/06/22/fda-warns-stores-stop-selling-elf-bar-top-disposable-e-cigarette-us/ |
WAUKESHA, Wis., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Generac Power Systems, Inc., (NYSE: GNRC) a leading global designer and manufacturer of energy technology solutions and other power products, today announced that it has been named one of America's Greatest Workplaces for Diversity by Newsweek.
The list of America's Greatest Workplaces for Diversity was identified through a review of publicly available data and interviews with HR professionals. Additionally, companies with over 1,000 employees completed an anonymous online survey of a diverse pool of employees. A total of over 350,000 company reviews were submitted. Respondents were asked questions about corporate culture, working environment and other subjects at their own companies and others they were familiar with.
"Our diverse workforce is one of our greatest strengths as a company, bringing innovation, creativity and a more inclusive and welcoming environment," said Rhonda Matschke, executive vice president of Human Resources at Generac. "Generac's recognition as one of America's Greatest Workplaces for Diversity is a well-deserved acknowledgment of the great people who make up our company."
Generac was recognized in the Energy, Resources and Industrials category, one of the six industry categories in Newsweek's inaugural list. In total, 1,000 companies were recognized, including 219 in the Energy, Resources and Industrials category.
Generac is committed to continuing and expanding upon DE&I efforts in the workplace. As a Company, Generac aims to foster a culture of diversity and engagement, while supporting achievement, equity, inclusivity, and good corporate citizenship globally. For more information, visit www.generac.com.
About Generac
Generac Power Systems, Inc. (NYSE: GNRC) is a leading energy technology company that provides advanced power grid software solutions, backup and prime power systems for home and industrial applications, solar + battery storage solutions, virtual power plant platforms and engine- and battery-powered tools and equipment. Founded in 1959, Generac introduced the first affordable backup generator and later created the category of automatic home standby generator - a market in which nearly eight of ten generators sold is a Generac. The company is committed to sustainable, cleaner energy products poised to revolutionize the 21st century electrical grid.
Media Contact: Stephanie Rodgers
Stephanie.Rodgers@Generac.com
Phone: 262.544.4811 Ext. 4456
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SOURCE Generac Power Systems, Inc. | 2023-05-16T13:06:09+00:00 | kmvt.com | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2023/05/16/generac-named-newsweeks-2023-list-americas-greatest-workplaces-diversity/ |
TOKYO – A historic baseball stadium in Tokyo where Babe Ruth played could be demolished, part of a disputed redevelopment plan harshly criticized by environmentalists.
Ruth played at the Meiji Jingu Stadium in 1934 on a barnstorming tour with other American stars that included Lou Gehrig, Lefty Gomez and Jimmie Foxx. Ruth homered several times before 60,000 fans in games at the stadium, which is still home to the Japanese league champion Yakult Swallows.
Only three other major ballparks remain where Ruth played: Fenway Park, Wrigley Field and the Koshien Stadium in Kobe, Japan. Wrigley and Fenway have been renovated, but plans to save Meiji Jingu have been dismissed by developers and politicians.
The stadium was opened in 1926 in an area known as Meiji Gaien, a green patch in central Tokyo that's famous for an avenue lined with about 150 ginko trees. Plans call for razing the ballpark and a neighboring rugby stadium and rebuilding them in different spots in the reconfigured space, making room for a pair of towering skyscrapers and a shopping area.
“I really think we shouldn't sacrifice nature in order to get short-term economic growth,” said Natsuka Kusumoto, a university student campaigning against the redevelopment. “In order to stop global warming we have to face how to balance economic growth and nature conservation.”
She said real estate developers, construction companies and Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike “don't hear the voice of the people who live in this town.”
“Around this area in Jingu Gaien there are lots of trees that have been living for 100 years,” she said. “They will cut the old trees in order to build skyscrapers or rebuild this baseball stadium.”
The new baseball stadium will be built flush against the ginko trees, which environmentalists say will damage the complex root system and kill or damage the trees.
Opponents of the project have gathered about 180,000 signatures on petitions, and on Sunday hundreds protested in front of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building.
A Tokyo Shimbun poll last year showed 69.5% against the project.
The massive project could take 13 years to complete and the baseball stadium will stand for several more years. But the clock is ticking.
Koike, the Tokyo governor, is at the center of the storm. Activists believe she has the power to cancel the project but has given developers the go-ahead to start preliminary construction. The city's Environmental Assessment Committee is still studying the project and has raised questions.
Famous Japanese composer and musician Ryuichi Sakamoto, days before his death on March 28, sent an emotive letter to Koike to oppose the project as his last cause.
“We should not sacrifice the precious trees of Jingu that our ancestors spent 100 years protecting and nurturing, just for quick economic gain,” Sakamoto wrote, according to the Japanese news agency Kyodo.
Koike touched on the redevelopment — being led by real estate company Mitsui Fudosan — at a press conference two months ago. She was a driving force behind the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but has not been implicated in the widespread corruption around the Games.
The presence of the Olympics helped the city pass an ordinance lifting height restrictions in the area, enabling plans for the new skyscrapers.
Koike said the number of trees in the area would increase from 1,904 to 1,998 through the redevelopment, and that "green area coverage” could increase from 25% to 30%.
“However, not all trees are equal. Huge 100 year-old trees provide significantly more CO2 sequestering and cooling effect than small new saplings,” said Rochelle Kopp, who runs a Tokyo management consulting company and is a leader of the protest movement.
She also said Koike was misleading to say “green area coverage” would increase.
“Although the surface area of green will increase, the volume of green will go down significantly due to the felling of large trees.”
Kopp said an injunction to stop preliminary work could be filed in the next few weeks. She also said 27 members of Japan's national parliament have begun to examine the project. She said parts of the planning were complete, but much was still pending.
Koike has tried to distance the Tokyo city government from the project, suggesting it was an outside initiative. However, Kopp said records from a meeting in 2012 indicate the city government had proposed switching the location of the two stadiums to the national government.
Japan's mainstream newspapers have given little coverage to the issue, although the left-leaning Asahi Shimbun has called for a major review of the project “on grounds it could result in significant environmental damage.”
Activists say lifestyles have changed since the pandemic, putting into question the need for more office space.
“When I was a child I played in Jingu Gaien,” area resident Mao Kawaguchi said at the weekend protest. “I think the forest in Jingu Gaien belongs to everybody. Frankly, I feel like my ability to live is being threatened, just for the interests of a very small number of companies. They want to change the place so they can squeeze as much money out of it as possible.”
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Follow Japan-based AP Sports Writer Stephen Wade on Twitter at http://twitter.com/StephenWadeAP
___
More AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
— | 2023-04-12T15:16:15+00:00 | ksat.com | https://www.ksat.com/sports/2023/04/12/japan-stadium-where-babe-ruth-played-may-face-wrecking-ball/ |
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Rescuers on Monday evacuated about 1,000 people trapped by seawater 3.6 meters (12 feet) deep along western Myanmar’s coast after a powerful cyclone injured hundreds and cut off communications. Six deaths were reported, but the true impact was not yet clear in one of Asia’s least developed countries.
Strong winds injured more than 700 of about 20,000 people who were sheltering in sturdier buildings on the highlands of Sittwe township, such as monasteries, pagodas and schools, according to a leader of the Rakhine Youths Philanthropic Association in Sittwe. He asked not to be named due to fear of reprisals from the authorities in the military-run country.
Seawater raced into more than 10 low-lying wards near the shore as Cyclone Mocha made landfall in Rakhine state Sunday afternoon, he said. Residents moved to roofs and higher floors, while the wind and storm surge prevented immediate rescue.
“After 4 p.m. yesterday, the storm weakened a bit, but the water did not fall back. Most of them sat on the roof and at the high places of their houses the whole night. The wind blew all night,” the rescue group leader said.
Water was still about 1.5 meters (5 feet) high in flooded areas later Monday, but rescues were being made as the wind calmed and the sun rose in the sky. He asked civil society organizations and authorities to send aid and help evacuate residents.
Six deaths were reported by Myanmar media and rescue groups. Several injuries were reported in neighboring Bangladesh, which was spared the predicted direct hit.
Mocha made landfall near Sittwe township with winds blowing up to 209 kilometers (130 miles) per hour, Myanmar’s Meteorological Department said. By midday Monday, it had weakened to a tropical depression, according to the India Meteorological Department.
The State Administration Council issued disaster declarations for 17 townships in Rakhine state.
High winds crumpled cell phone towers, but in videos collected by local media before communications were lost, deep water raced through streets and wind blew off roofs.
Myanmar’s military information office said the storm had damaged houses and electrical transformers in Sittwe, Kyaukpyu, and Gwa townships. It said roofs were torn off buildings on the Coco Islands, about 425 kilometers (264 miles) southwest of the country’s largest city, Yangon.
Volunteers previously said shelters in Sittwe did not have enough food after more people arrived there seeking help.
Mocha largely spared the Bangladeshi city of Cox’s Bazar, which initially had been in the storm’s predicted path. Authorities had evacuated hundreds of thousands of people before the cyclone veered east.
A Bangladesh government official, Enamur Rahman, said the damage was still being assessed, but that about 2,000 homes had been destroyed and 10,000 others were damaged on Saint Martin’s Island and Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar district.
He said no deaths were reported.
About a dozen people were injured on Saint Martin’s Island, the Prothom Alo newspaper reported.
U.N. agencies and aid workers in Bangladesh had prepositioned tons of dry food and dozens of ambulances in the refugee camps that house more than 1 million Rohingya Muslims who fled persecution in Myanmar.
In May 2008, Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar with a storm surge that devastated populated areas around the Irrawaddy River delta. At least 138,000 people died and tens of thousands of homes and other buildings were washed away.
Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune city, said cyclones in the Bay of Bengal are becoming more intense more quickly, in part because of climate change.
Climate scientists say cyclones can now retain their energy for many days. Cyclone Amphan in eastern India in 2020 continued to travel over land as a strong cyclone and caused extensive devastation.
“As long as oceans are warm and winds are favorable, cyclones will retain their intensity for a longer period,” Koll said.
Tropical cyclones, which are called hurricanes or typhoons in other regions, are among the world’s most devastating natural disasters when they hit densely populated coastal areas. | 2023-05-15T17:25:06+00:00 | kron4.com | https://www.kron4.com/science/ap-science/powerful-cyclone-mocha-floods-streets-cuts-communications-in-western-myanmar-at-least-3-killed/ |
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana on Friday became the first state in the nation to approve abortion restrictions since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, as the Republican governor quickly signed a near-total ban on the procedure shortly after lawmakers approved it.
The ban, which takes effect Sept. 15, includes some exceptions. Abortions would be permitted in cases of rape and incest, before 10-weeks post-fertilization; to protect the life and physical health of the mother; and if a fetus is diagnosed with a lethal anomaly. Victims of rape and incest would not be required to sign a notarized affidavit attesting to an attack, as had once been proposed.
Under the bill, abortions can be performed only in hospitals or outpatient centers owned by hospitals, meaning all abortion clinics would lose their licenses. A doctor who performs an illegal abortion or fails to file required reports must also lose their medical license — wording that tightens current Indiana law that says a doctor “may” lose their license.
“I am personally most proud of each Hoosier who came forward to courageously share their views in a debate that is unlikely to cease any time soon,” Gov. Eric Holcomb said in the statement announcing that he had signed the measure. “For my part as your governor, I will continue to keep an open ear.”
His approval came after the Senate approved the ban 28-19 and the House advanced it 62-38.
Indiana was among the earliest Republican-run state legislatures to debate tighter abortion laws after the Supreme Court ruling in June that removed constitutional protections for the procedure. But it is the first state to pass a ban through both chambers, after West Virginia lawmakers on July 29 passed up the chance to be that state.
“Happy to be completed with this, one of the more challenging things that we’ve ever done as a state General Assembly, at least certainly while I’ve been here,” Senate President Pro-Tem Rodric Bray told reporters after the vote. “ I think this is a huge opportunity, and we’ll build on that as we go forward from here.”
Sen. Sue Glick of LaGrange, who sponsored the bill, said that she does not think “all states will come down at the same place” but that most Indiana residents support aspects of the bill.
Some senators in both parties lamented the bill’s provisions and the impact it would have on the state, including low-income women and the health care system. Eight Republicans joined all 11 Democrats in voting against the bill, though their reasons to thwart the measure were mixed.
“We are backsliding on democracy,” said Democratic Sen. Jean Breaux of Indianapolis, who wore a green ribbon Friday signifying support for abortion rights, on her lapel. “What other freedoms, what other liberties are on the chopping block, waiting to be stripped away?”
Republican Sen. Mike Bohacek of Michiana Shores spoke about his 21-year-old-daughter, who has Down syndrome. Bohacek voted against the bill, saying it does not have adequate protections for women with disabilities who are raped.
“If she lost her favorite stuffed animal, she’d be inconsolable. Imagine making her carry a child to term,” he said before he started to choke up, then threw his notes on his seat and exited the chamber.
Republican Sen. Mike Young of Indianapolis, however, said the bill’s enforcement provisions against doctors are not stringent enough.
Such debates demonstrated Indiana residents’ own divisions on the issue, displayed in hours of testimony lawmakers heard over the past two weeks. Residents rarely, if ever, expressed support for the the legislation in their testimony, as abortion-rights supporters said the bill goes too far while anti-abortion activists expressed it doesn’t go far enough.
The debates came amid an evolving landscape of abortion politics across the country as Republicans face some party divisions and Democrats see a possible election-year boost.
Republican Rep. Wendy McNamara of Evansville, who sponsored the House bill, told reporters after the House vote that the legislation “makes Indiana one of the most pro-life states in the nation.”
Outside the chambers, abortion-rights activists often chanted over lawmakers’ remarks, carrying signs like “Roe roe roe your vote” and “Build this wall” between church and state. Some House Democrats wore blazers over pink “Bans Off Our Bodies” T-shirts.
Indiana’s ban followed the political firestorm over a 10-year-old rape victim who traveled to the state from neighboring Ohio to end her pregnancy. The case gained attention when an Indianapolis doctor said the child came to Indiana because of Ohio’s “fetal heartbeat” ban.
Religion was a persistent theme during legislative debates, both in residents’ testimony and lawmakers’ comments.
In advocating against the House bill, Rep. Ann Vermilion condemned fellow Republicans who have called women “murderers” for getting an abortion.
“I think that the Lord’s promise is for grace and kindness,” she said. “He would not be jumping to condemn these women.”
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Arleigh Rodgers 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 at https://twitter.com/arleighrodgers
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Find AP’s full coverage of the overturning of Roe v. Wade at: https://apnews.com/hub/abortion | 2022-08-06T13:00:33+00:00 | localsyr.com | https://www.localsyr.com/news/national/indiana-house-passes-abortion-ban-sends-to-senate/ |
Stocks drop deeper into bear market ahead of big Fed news
NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is dipping further Tuesday in its first trading after tumbling into a bear market on worries that high inflation will push central banks to clamp the brakes too hard on the economy.
The S&P 500 was 0.5% lower in afternoon trading as investors brace for the Federal Reserve’s announcement on Wednesday about how sharply it will raise interest rates. Earlier in the day, it wobbled between modest losses and gains after a couple big companies flexed financial strength with stronger profits and payouts to shareholders.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 173 points, or 0.6%, at 30,347, as of 3:32 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was little changed after swinging between a gain of 1.1% and a loss of 0.4%.
Trading across markets nevertheless was calmer than during Monday’s worldwide rout, which sent the S&P 500 down 3.9%. Stocks fell more than 1% in Tokyo and Paris but rose that much in Shanghai. A measure of nervousness among investors on Wall Street was easing, even as Treasury yields again pierced their highest levels in more than a decade.
“No one’s going to take meaningful positions today ahead of what could be a rip-roaring day” with the Fed’s announcement, said Katie Nixon, chief investment officer for Northern Trust Wealth Management.
Cryptocurrency prices continued to swing. They’ve been among the hardest-hit in this year’s sell-off for markets as the Federal Reserve and other central banks raise interest rates to rein in inflation and forcefully turn off the “easy mode” that helped prop up markets for years. Bitcoin was down 4.3% in afternoon trading and sitting at $22,207, according to CoinDesk. It fell overnight to nearly 70% below its record of $68,990.90 set late last year.
Offering some support to the market was a report that showed inflation at the wholesale level was a touch lower in May than expected, though it remains very high. It could be an indication that wholesale inflation peaked in March, according to Jack Ablin, chief investment officer at Cresset Capital Management.
But economists said the data won’t keep the Federal Reserve from hiking its key interest rate on Wednesday by a larger-than-usual amount. Investors are now largely expecting the biggest increase since 1994, a hike of three-quarters of a percentage point, or triple the usual amount.
A week ago, such a mega-increase was seen as only a remote possibility, if one at all. But a market-bludgeoning report Friday on inflation at the consumer level has seemingly pinned the Fed into getting more aggressive. It showed inflation for the consumer price index got worse in May, instead of slowing as hoped.
“”It’s really a split decision in terms of the market as to whether that will be a good thing or a bad thing,” Nixon said of a big rate increase. “It certainly opens the door to additional big hikes in the future.”
Treasury yields were churning and near their highest levels in more than a decade. They also had a relatively reliable warning signal of recession in the bond market flashing on and off.
In afternoon trading, the yield on the two-year Treasury had fallen back below the 10-year yield, at 3.43% versus 3.48%. That’s typically how things look in the bond market.
In the unusual circumstances where the two-year yield tops the 10-year yield, some investors see it as a sign that a recession may be hitting in about a year or two. It’s called an “inverted yield curve,” and it’s been flashing on and off intermittently over the last day.
On Wall Street, Oracle soared 9.2% after it reported stronger revenue and earnings for its latest quarter than analysts expected. FedEx jumped 13.3% after it boosted its dividend payout by more than 50%.
It was the first trading for U.S. stocks after the S&P 500 closed Monday at 21.8% below its record set early this year. That put it in a bear market, which is what investors call a drop of 20% or more.
At the center of the sell-off is the U.S. Federal Reserve’s effort to control inflation by raising interest rates. The Fed is scrambling to get prices under control and its main method is to raise rates, but that is a blunt tool that could slow the economy too much and cause a recession.
“The real calm in today’s market is driven very significantly by the focus on this week’s Fed decision.” said Greg Bassuk, CEO of AXS Investments. “Today’s is either the calm before the storm or the calm that will hopefully represent an extended period of calm.”
Other central banks worldwide, including the Bank of England, have been raising rates as well, while the European Central Bank said it will do so next month and in September.
The war in Ukraine is sending oil and food prices sharply higher, fueling inflation and sapping consumer spending, especially in Europe. COVID infections in China, meanwhile, have led to some tough, business-slowing restrictions that threaten to restrain the world’s second-largest economy and worsen snarled supply chains.
The shift by central banks, especially the Fed, toward higher interest rates has reversed the spectacular rise in stock prices spurred by massive support for markets after the pandemic hit in early 2020. The S&P 500 more than doubled from late March 2020 thorugh its peak in January. It was the shortest bull market on record going back to 1929, which followed the shortest bear market on record, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices.
Higher interest rates typically make investors less willing to pay high prices for risky investments. That’s why some of the biggest stars of the earlier low-rate era have been some of the worst hit in this year’s rout, including bitcoin and high-growth technology stocks. Netflix is down more than 70% in 2022.
___
AP Business Writer Yuri Kageyama contributed.“No one’s going to take meaningful positions today ahead of what could be a rip-roaring day” with the Fed’s announcement, said Katie Nixon, chief investment officer for Northern Trust Wealth Management.
Cryptocurrency prices continued to swing. They’ve been among the hardest-hit in this year’s sell-off for markets as the Federal Reserve and other central banks raise interest rates to rein in inflation and forcefully turn off the “easy mode” that helped prop up markets for years. Bitcoin was down 4.3% in afternoon trading and sitting at $22,207, according to CoinDesk. It fell overnight to nearly 70% below its record of $68,990.90 set late last year.
Offering some support to the market was a report that showed inflation at the wholesale level was a touch lower in May than expected, though it remains very high. It could be an indication that wholesale inflation peaked in March, according to Jack Ablin, chief investment officer at Cresset Capital Management.
But economists said the data won’t keep the Federal Reserve from hiking its key interest rate on Wednesday by a larger-than-usual amount. Investors are now largely expecting the biggest increase since 1994, a hike of three-quarters of a percentage point, or triple the usual amount.
A week ago, such a mega-increase was seen as only a remote possibility, if one at all. But a market-bludgeoning report Friday on inflation at the consumer level has seemingly pinned the Fed into getting more aggressive. It showed inflation for the consumer price index got worse in May, instead of slowing as hoped.
“It’s really a split decision in terms of the market as to whether that will be a good thing or a bad thing,” Nixon said of a big rate increase. “It certainly opens the door to additional big hikes in the future.”
Treasury yields continued to climb, with the two-year yield touching its highest level since November 2007, before the financial crisis, according to Tradeweb. The 10-year yield reached its highest level during the day since April 2011.
They also had a relatively reliable warning signal of recession in the bond market flashing on and off. In afternoon trading, the yield on the 10-year Treasury had climbed back above the two-year yield, at 3.49% versus 3.43%. That’s typically how things look in the bond market.
In the unusual circumstances where the two-year yield tops the 10-year yield, some investors see it as a sign that a recession may be hitting in about a year or two. It’s called an “inverted yield curve,” and it’s been flashing on and off intermittently over the last day.
On Wall Street, Oracle soared 9.2% after it reported stronger revenue and earnings for its latest quarter than analysts expected. FedEx jumped 13.3% after it boosted its dividend payout by more than 50%.
It was the first trading for U.S. stocks after the S&P 500 closed Monday at 21.8% below its record set early this year. That put it in a bear market, which is what investors call a drop of 20% or more.
At the center of the sell-off is the U.S. Federal Reserve’s effort to control inflation by raising interest rates. The Fed is scrambling to get prices under control and its main method is to raise rates, but that is a blunt tool that could slow the economy too much and cause a recession.
“The real calm in today’s market is driven very significantly by the focus on this week’s Fed decision.” said Greg Bassuk, CEO of AXS Investments. “Today’s is either the calm before the storm or the calm that will hopefully represent an extended period of calm.”
Other central banks worldwide, including the Bank of England, have been raising rates as well, while the European Central Bank said it will do so next month and in September.
The war in Ukraine is sending oil and food prices sharply higher, fueling inflation and sapping consumer spending, especially in Europe. COVID infections in China, meanwhile, have led to some tough, business-slowing restrictions that threaten to restrain the world’s second-largest economy and worsen snarled supply chains.
The shift by central banks, especially the Fed, toward higher interest rates has reversed the spectacular rise in stock prices spurred by massive support for markets after the pandemic hit in early 2020. The S&P 500 more than doubled from late March 2020 thorugh its peak in January. It was the shortest bull market on record going back to 1929, which followed the shortest bear market on record, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices.
Higher interest rates typically make investors less willing to pay high prices for risky investments. That’s why some of the biggest stars of the earlier low-rate era have been some of the worst hit in this year’s rout, including bitcoin and high-growth technology stocks. Netflix is down more than 70% in 2022.
___
AP Business Writer Yuri Kageyama contributed.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2022-06-14T19:57:11+00:00 | wymt.com | https://www.wymt.com/2022/06/14/stocks-drop-deeper-into-bear-market-ahead-big-fed-news/ |
Arkansas freshman star Nick Smith Jr., arguably the best NBA prospect in men's college basketball this season, won't play in the Razorbacks' season opener against North Dakota State on Monday night because of precautionary measures for his right knee.
There is no timetable for his return, the school said.
Smith, a 6-foot-5 guard, is ranked No. 4 in ESPN's latest 2023 mock draft -- the highest-ranked college player. He was the No. 3 prospect in the ESPN 100 for the 2022 high school class and was a standout performer on last spring's high school all-star game circuit.
Coming off back-to-back Elite Eight appearances, Arkansas is ranked No. 10 in the preseason AP poll. The Razorbacks bring in the nation's No. 2-ranked recruiting class, featuring Smith and two other five-star prospects, Anthony Black and Jordan Walsh.
After the North Dakota State game, they play home games against Fordham and South Dakota State before heading to the Maui Invitational on Nov. 21. | 2022-11-07T23:41:09+00:00 | espn.com | https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/34973646/nick-smith-jr-arkansas-season-opener-due-knee |
Direct Colors National Debut on Designing Spaces on Lifetime TV
SHAWNEE, Okla., April 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Decorative concrete industry leader Direct Colors® is featured in a televised home makeover series Designing Spaces on Lifetime TV, airing April 7th at 7:30 am ET/PT.
Direct Colors project specialists collaborating with concrete contractor CSI Bonita, helped revitalize a Florida home impacted by Hurricane Ian just months prior. The transformation was made possible after Sherry Anderson, the homeowner, won Direct Colors' curb appeal makeover contest by submitting photos of her unique property.
The home features two concrete driveways and a prominent walkway, which caught the attention of Direct Colors General Manager Justin Richardson. Richardson noted that the concrete surfaces were rougher than initially anticipated but remained enthusiastic about the project. The renovation involved preparing, coloring, and sealing the concrete and adding a few paint touches to the house's trim and entryway. The result was a modern, clean, and cohesive appearance.
The Designing Spaces segment demonstrates the potential of decorative concrete to enhance a home's exterior and explains the three key steps in any concrete project: surface assessment and preparation, concrete staining, and sealing.
"This has far exceeded all of my expectations, I love Direct Colors' products and how they brought my home to life", said homeowner Sherry Anderson.
Richardson expressed that Direct Colors' participation in Designing Spaces was a unique opportunity to assist the Andersons in updating their home, while also showcasing to viewers the simplicity and affordability of achieving substantial improvements with decorative concrete products.
For more information about this project and Direct Colors visit www.directcolors.com/designing-spaces.
The segment will re-air at 7:30 am ET/PT on Thursday, April 13, and can be viewed anytime at www.designingspaces.tv.
About Direct Colors®
Proudly made in the USA since 1997, Direct Colors® offers the largest selection of premium concrete colorants, products, and supplies. Their award-winning customer service and how-to guides have helped over one million DIYers, contractors, and many others create unique designs that stand the test of time. For more information or a free project consultation visit www.directcolors.com.
About Designing Spaces
Designing Spaces™ is an award-winning home improvement show that travels the country to remodel, redecorate and redesign the spaces we call home. The entertaining, educational show features innovative decorating ideas, do-it-yourself projects, and step-by-step transformations that inspire women everywhere to tackle home improvement challenges and decorating dilemmas. From mortgage tips to bathroom overhauls, Designing Spaces covers the whole house, soup to nuts.
Media Contact:
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SOURCE Direct Colors | 2023-04-07T03:22:08+00:00 | waff.com | https://www.waff.com/prnewswire/2023/04/07/decorative-concrete-curb-appeal-makeover/ |
The average life expectancy for Americans shortened by over seven months last year, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
That decrease follows an already big decline of 1.8 years in 2020. As a result, the expected life span of someone born in the U.S. is now 76.4 years — the shortest it has been in nearly two decades.
The two reports, released by the CDC on Thursday, show deaths from COVID-19 and drug overdoses, most notably synthetic opioids like fentanyl, were the primary drivers of the drop in life expectancy.
"It's not a good year for the data, let's put it that way," says CDC statistician Kenneth Kochanek.
It's rare to see such big changes in life span year to year, but the pandemic claimed nearly 417,000 lives last year — more than even the year before — making COVID-19 the third leading cause of death for the second consecutive year.
Kochanek and his colleagues had hoped the release of new vaccines might make for a healthier 2021, and didn't anticipate deaths from COVID-19 would top the prior year. But they were wrong. In fact, COVID-19 accounted for about 60% of the decline in life expectancy.
Preliminary data from 2022 so far indicate deaths from COVID-19 are on the decline, but Kochanek says that doesn't mean life expectancy will rebound quickly in years to come, because COVID-19 was, by no means, the only contributor to the higher death toll in 2021.
Heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S., along with other top killers like cancer, diabetes and kidney disease also proved more lethal in 2021.
Meanwhile, deaths from Alzheimer's, flu and pneumonia declined, perhaps because the coronavirus hit the elderly population particularly hard.
The new numbers also speak to the acute mental health crisis that's run parallel to the pandemic: Deaths from drug overdoses reached over 106,000 last year — another major factor reducing life expectancy, according to the second CDC analysis released on Thursday.
Deaths by suicide and from liver disease, or cirrhosis, caused by alcohol also increased — shortening the average American life span.
"The majority of those deaths are to younger people, and deaths to younger people affect the overall life expectancy more than deaths to the elderly," Kochanek says.
Men and women saw a similar decline in life expectancy last year, but women are living, on average, until over 79 years old, which is about six years longer than men
The CDC also found that death rates for certain racial and ethnic groups actually decreased last year, specifically among Hispanic and Black men. Death rates increased for almost all other groups, although it was most pronounced among white men and women, as well as American Indian or Alaska Native women.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2022-12-22T07:36:03+00:00 | kcbx.org | https://www.kcbx.org/npr-top-news/npr-top-news/2022-12-21/american-life-expectancy-is-now-at-its-lowest-in-nearly-two-decades |
Sen. Debbie Stabenow’s (D-Mich.) decision to retire already has Democrats scrambling to find a successor as they brace for a brutal Senate map in 2024.
A slew of high-profile Michigan names have already been floated to replace Stabenow. A source close to Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) told The Hill that the congresswoman is seriously considering launching a Senate bid. At the same time, Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) is also said to be considering a run.
Various state officials have also been floated, including Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, Attorney General Dana Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s (D) name has also come up, but she has suggested she plans to serve a full four-year term.
“Anybody who has watched Michigan over the past couple of years knows that we have a deep, deep bench of highly qualified folks,” said Lavora Barnes, chair of the Michigan Democratic Party.
News of Stabenow’s retirement comes after Michigan Democrats, including Whitmer, Benson and Nessel, defied expectations in November’s midterm elections, winning a number of statewide and congressional races.
“In 2022 Michigan Democrats won resounding statewide victories, and we are confident Democrats will hold this Senate seat in 2024,” said David Bergstein, a spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
On top of that, Democrats also have a leg up given the state’s past electoral history. The last time a Republican won a Senate seat in Michigan was in 1994, when former Sen. Spencer Abraham took the seat. He himself was the first Republican to win a Senate race since 1972. Stabenow defeated Abraham in 2000.
“Michigan is a purple state, but it leans blue,” said Michigan-based Democratic strategist Adrian Hemond. “Democrats have a great shot at this, especially if they nominate the right candidate.”
However, Republicans still say they view the race as a potential pickup opportunity, pointing to Michigan’s status as a swing state.
In 2016, former President Trump flipped the state by roughly 10,000 votes. Four years later, in 2020, Trump lost the state by just over 2 points. And past Democratic victories in the state’s Senate contests have also been hard-fought: Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) defeated now Rep.-elect John James (R-Mich.) in 2020 by just under 2 points. And in Stabenow’s last reelection bid, she defeated James in 2018 by roughly 6 points.
Republicans and Democrats concur that Stabenow is a strong political figure in Michigan, which has thrown a bit of a wrench into the state’s political dynamic.
“Senate Democrats don’t even have a campaign chair yet and they are already dealing with a major retirement,” said Mike Berg, communications director at the National Republican Senatorial Committee. “We are going to aggressively target this seat in 2024. This could be the first of many Senate Democrats who decide to retire rather than lose.”
And Republicans also say they have a deep bench of potential candidates to choose from.
Despite losing two Senate bids, James has been floated, and so has Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.). Former Rep. Peter Meijer (R-Mich.), who was defeated in a primary battle last year following his vote to impeach Trump in 2021, along with former Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), who also voted to impeach Trump but did not seek reelection, have been suggested. Upton was also floated as a potential option for House Speaker this week as Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) struggled to get his party to coalesce behind him.
But there are questions as to whether moderates like Meijer and Upton could survive a GOP primary.
Republican insiders also point to former gubernatorial candidates Kevin Rinke and Perry Johnson. Rinke lost in the state’s GOP primary last year, and Johnson was disqualified from running after election officials found issues with petition signatures his campaign submitted. Former gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon, who lost to Whitmer in November, has also been named.
“The Dems on the Senate side have always been better positioned than we have,” one Michigan Republican strategist told The Hill. “And now I don’t know if you can say that. They’ve got strong candidates, but we’ve got strong candidates too.”
Barnes said she expects it will be a “tough race” but said she feels confident Democrats run a strong campaign.
“Whoever is running will not be Sen. Stabenow with the terrific record that she had with the hard that she has done on behalf of this state,” she said. | 2023-01-08T13:26:15+00:00 | ksn.com | https://www.ksn.com/hill-politics/stabenow-retirement-scrambles-calculus-for-michigan-democrats/ |
By JOCELYN NOVECK
AP National Writer
They’ll have what she’s having.
The 1989 rom-com “When Harry Met Sally” is one of 25 films chosen this year to enter the National Film Registry, a list that ranges from Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” to a 1898 silent documentary, long thought lost, about the Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans.
Also chosen this year for preservation: Marvel’s “Iron Man,” John Waters’ “Hairspray,” Brian de Palma’s “Carrie” and the 1950 “Cyrano de Bergerac” starring Jose Ferrer, whose performance made him the first Hispanic actor to win a best actor Oscar.
The registry is housed at the Library of Congress, which since 1988 has selected movies for preservation based on their cultural and historic importance. This year’s picks bring the total number of films in the registry to 850 — many of which are among the 1.7 million films in the library’s collections.
The oldest film selected this year is the 1898 “Mardi Gras Carnival,” a silent era documentary with the earliest known footage of the carnival in New Orleans. A copy was recently found at the Eye Filmmuseum in the Netherlands. Showing floats, spectators and marchers at a parade, the film is one of nine documentaries chosen, covering topics like the Attica prison rebellion, female union workers, mental health treatment, LGBTQ history and others.
And the most recent film on this year’s list is the 2011 “Pariah,” by Dee Rees, a coming-out story about a lesbian teen in Brooklyn that’s considered a prominent film in modern queer cinema.
Among a number of other LGBTQ-themed films chosen this year is the 1967 student short film “Behind Every Good Man” by Nikolai Ursin, a look at Black gender fluidity in Los Angeles. Another: the 1977 “Word is Out: Stories of Some of Our Lives,” which interviewed over two dozen gay people about their lives, becoming a landmark of the early gay rights movement.
“We are proud to add 25 more films by a group of vibrant and diverse filmmakers to the National Film Registry as we preserve our cinematic heritage,” said Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden.
Among the films entering the registry:
— “When Harry Met Sally” (1989), Rob Reiner’s much-loved rom-com starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan with a script by Nora Ephron, and one of the best scenes ever filmed in a deli.
— “Iron Man” (2008), the Marvel superhero film starring Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow, directed by Jon Favreau.
— “Carrie” (1976), the Brian de Palma horror classic about a teen outcast (Sissy Spacek) with telekinetic powers.
— “Hairspray” (1988), the John Waters version of the story about teenagers in Baltimore, starring Ricki Lake, Debbie Harry, Jerry Stiller, Sonny Bono and Divine. The film would go on to become a successful Broadway musical.
— “Charade” (1963) by Stanley Donen, the only movie to pair Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn.
— “Cyrano de Bergerac” (1950) directed by Michael Gordon, the first U.S. film version of Rostand’s 1897 French play. It made Ferrer an Oscar winner for best actor.
— “The Little Mermaid (1989), the classic Disney production with the Alan Menken and Howard Ashman songs (“Part of Your World” and “Under the Sea,” for example) about Ariel, who lives under the sea but wishes she were human.
The library said that Turner Classic Movies would host a TV special on Dec. 27, screening a selection of this year’s movies entering the registry.
Also being preserved: “Cab Calloway Home Movies” (1948-1951), Scorpio Rising (1963), “Titicut Follies” (1967), “Mingus” (1968), “Manzanar” (1971), “Betty Tells Her Story” (1972), “Super Fly” (1972), “Attica” (1974), “Union Maids” (1076), “Bush Mama” (1999), “The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez” (1982), “Itam Hakim, Hoplit” (1984), “Tongues Untied” (1989), and “House Party” (1990).
Online: https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | 2022-12-14T13:39:07+00:00 | wtmj.com | https://wtmj.com/national/2022/12/14/when-harry-met-sally-iron-man-added-to-film-registry-2/ |
Conservative mega-donor Harlan Crow purchased three properties belonging to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and his family, in a transaction worth more than $100,000 that Thomas never reported, according to the non-profit investigative journalism organization ProPublica.
The 2014 real estate deal shines a new light on Thomas's decades old relationship with Crow, a real estate magnate and longtime financier for conservative causes. That relationship and the material benefits received by Thomas have fueled calls for an official ethics investigation.
ProPublica previously revealed that Thomas and his wife Ginni were gifted with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of annual vacations and trips by Crow for decades — including international cruises on his mega-yacht, private jet flights and stays at Crow's invitation-only resort in the Adirondacks. But the 2014 real estate deal is the first public evidence of a direct financial transaction between the pair.
SEE MORE: Democratic senators urge chief justice to probe Thomas trips
Citing state tax documents and property deeds, ProPublica reported that one of Crow's companies paid $133,363 for the home in Savannah, Georgia where Thomas' mother was living, along with two nearby vacant lots that belonged to Thomas' family members. Thomas mother remained living in the home, which soon underwent tens of thousands of dollars in renovations.
Federal officials, including Supreme Court justices, are required to disclose the details of most real estate transactions with a value of over $1,000. Thomas would not be required to report the purchase if the property was his or his spouse's primary personal residence, but this stipulation does not apply to this purchase, which Thomas did not report.
Both Thomas and Crow have released statements downplaying the significance of the gifts, with Thomas maintaining that he was not required to disclose the trips. Crow responded to the latest disclosure with a statement to ProPublica saying that he approached Thomas about the purchase with an eye on honoring his legacy.
"My intention is to one day create a public museum at the Thomas home dedicated to telling the story of our nation's second black Supreme Court Justice," the statement said. "Justice Thomas's story represents the best of America."
Thomas' office did not respond to an Associated Press request for comment.
Trending stories at Scrippsnews.com | 2023-04-14T14:07:15+00:00 | ksby.com | https://www.ksby.com/report-thomas-sold-real-estate-to-donor-didn-t-report-deal |
A look at what’s happening around the majors on Friday:
___
FREDDIE’S READY
Freddie Freeman is sure to get a huge ovation when he returns to Truist Park for the first time since helping lead the Atlanta Braves to the World Series championship.
Now with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the star first baseman and the NL West leaders open a weekend series at his former home.
Freeman was the longtime beloved face of the Braves franchise. After a dozen years in Atlanta, he became a free agent and signed a $162 million, six-year deal with the Dodgers.
At 32, he’s hitting .303 with eight home runs and 45 RBIs. He homered and drove in three runs Thursday in a 10-5 win at Cincinnati.
“I haven’t really thought about it yet,” he said after the victory. “Just looking forward to getting home and seeing my family. They’ve been in Atlanta for a couple days. I’ve been asked a couple times, and I just kind of say no, not (talking) right now. All I care about is getting home to my family. Tomorrow you can ask me those questions, and I’ll see what kind of emotions I have going on tomorrow.”
FANTASY FACEOFF
The last time Joc Pederson of the Giants and Tommy Pham of the Reds were on the field together, it didn’t go so good. That was three weeks ago in Cincinnati when Pham slapped Pederson in the face before a game because of a dispute over fantasy football.
Pham was suspended for three games by Major League Baseball.
The outfielders will see each other again when the Reds visit San Francisco for a weekend series. Pederson said he hopes that Giants fans don’t take it too far when Pham is playing at Oracle Park.
“It’s an unfortunate incident, and I feel like we’ve moved past it,” Pederson said. “It was an off-field issue, handled and moved on. It’s in the rear-view mirror.”
Pederson added he’s had no contact with Pham since the incident.
Cincinnati has lost seven in a row.
TROUT’S CLOUTS
Mike Trout absolutely hammered the Mariners last weekend and now gets to face them again when the Los Angeles Angels host Seattle.
Trout is fresh from hitting five home runs in a five-game series at Seattle. He’s hit 52 homers in his career off the Mariners, matching Rafael Palmeiro for the most by anyone against them.
The three-time AL MVP didn’t play Wednesday and the Angels were off Thursday, so he should be well rested.
Also back from a day off will be Shohei Ohtani, the two-way star who put on a pair of dazzling performances for the Angels this week.
On Tuesday night, Ohtani hit a pair of three-run homers and drove in a career-high eight runs, the most by a Japanese-born player in the major leagues. On Wednesday night, he struck out a career-best 13 strikeouts while pitching eight scoreless innings of two-hit ball against Kansas City.
WELCOME BACK
Astros ace Justin Verlander (8-3, 2.30 ERA) pitches at Yankee Stadium for the first time since Game 5 of the 2019 AL Championship Series, a 4-1 Houston loss.
Verlander is just 3-4 with a 4.02 ERA in 10 career starts at the park, but he’s had some high moments, too. In 2018, the two-time Cy Young Award winner pitched one-run ball into the seventh, then sarcastically tipped his cap to booing fans.
Verlander will face New York righty Luis Severino (4-1, 3.27) in the second night of a four-game set between the AL East-leading Yanks and AL Central-leading Astros.
THE FRANCONA BOWL
A pair of surging teams that Terry Francona has managed meet up at Progressive Field when the Boston Red Sox play Cleveland.
Rafael Devers, J.D. Martinez and the Red Sox have won eight of 10 to move a season-high eight games over .500. The Guardians lead the AL Central, boosted by their 17-5 stretch.
Red Sox right-hander Nick Pivetta (7-5, 3.31) starts the opener of the three-game series against righty Cal Quantrill (4-4, 3.77).
Francona won two World Series championships while managing the Red Sox, including the 2004 victory that ended the team’s 86-year drought. Cleveland hasn’t won the crown since 1948.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2022-06-24T19:28:14+00:00 | upmatters.com | https://www.upmatters.com/sports/ap-sports/leading-off-freeman-returns-to-atlanta-pham-sees-pederson/ |
Locals remember former UK basketball player Mike Pratt
HAZARD, Ky. (WYMT) - Former Kentucky basketball player and radio color analyst Mike Pratt died this morning. He was 73.
Pratt was not just a phenomenal athlete that played basketball with Kentucky’s all-time leading scorer Dan Issel and under Hall of Fame coach Adolph Rupp, he was a member of the community.
“I think with Mike (Pratt), after he met you a second time, he became your friend,” said Curtis Burch, Network Manager for UK Sports Network .
That was for anybody that came across Pratt. He was a color analyst for the official Kentucky basketball radio broadcast, and he knew what kind of impact he could have in that role and as a former player.
“He was an ambassador for the state, the school and the program, and I think he lived up to all of those expectations and exceeded them in a lot of instances,” Burch said.
Whether in Rupp Arena or in a small town like Hazard, he enjoyed every interaction with fans. He and Voice of the Wildcats Tom Leach launched their book tour at Read Spotted Newt, a small bookstore in Hazard.
“I got that sense that he was a true basketball fan, and he truly enjoyed hearing everybody’s experience here,” said Mandi Sheffel, the owner of the Read Spotted Newt.
Those memories are proof that while Pratt may not physically be among us now, his legacy will carry on for a long time.
Copyright 2022 WYMT. All rights reserved. | 2022-06-17T18:13:34+00:00 | wymt.com | https://www.wymt.com/2022/06/17/locals-remember-former-uk-basketball-player-mike-pratt/ |
Jones brings leadership, analytics, and digital experience to the company
LEHI, Utah, Dec. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Nature's Sunshine Products, Inc., (NASDAQ: NATR), a leading natural health and wellness company manufacturing high-quality herbal and nutrition products, today announced that Shane Jones has been named Chief Financial Officer, effective December 30, 2022.
Jones brings over 25 years of finance experience, having previously served as the Chief Financial Officer at well-known companies like West Marine, 1-800 Contacts, and Backcountry.com. He also held senior-level finance roles at several notable companies, including Amazon, L Brands, and YUM! Brands.
Most recently, Jones joins Nature's Sunshine from FullSpeed Automotive, one of the nation's largest franchisors and operators of automotive aftermarket service facilities, where he served as the company's Chief Financial Officer.
"We are pleased to have someone with Shane's strong background join our team," said Terrence Moorehead, President, and Chief Executive Officer. "His proven track record of creating high-performing teams, while working collaboratively to achieve business objectives, will play an important role in ensuring we continue to drive growth across the business."
Jones will report directly to the CEO and serve as a key member of the Company's Executive Committee. He will also work closely with the company's Operating Business Units, IT, and Supply Chain team to identify operating efficiencies and drive sustainable, profitable growth.
"Nature's Sunshine has an incredible history and is well-positioned for the future," said Jones. "I look forward to working closely with Terrence and the rest of the leadership team to execute the company's strategies, accelerate growth, and drive value for our customers and shareholders."
A Utah native, Jones holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Brigham Young University.
Jonathon Lanoy, the Company's interim CFO since September 6, 2022, will continue as Senior Vice President of Finance and Corporate Controller. He will also serve as a member of the Company's Executive Committee.
About Nature's Sunshine
Nature's Sunshine Products (NATR), a leading natural health and wellness company, markets and distributes nutritional and personal care products in more than 40 countries. Nature's Sunshine manufactures its products at its state-of-the-art facilities to ensure its products continue to set the standard for the highest quality, safety, and efficacy on the market today. Additional information about the Company can be obtained at its website, www.naturessunshine.com.
Contact:
CODY SLACH
cody@gatewayir.com
(949) 574-3860
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SOURCE Nature's Sunshine | 2022-12-06T17:19:54+00:00 | wcjb.com | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/12/06/natures-sunshine-names-shane-jones-chief-financial-officer/ |
Patricia “Pembie” Erickson
Published 1:50 pm Tuesday, June 20, 2023
Patricia “Pembie” Buckman Erickson passed away at her home at St. John’s Water’s Edge on Monday, June 19, 2023, of leukemia.
Pembie was born September 5, 1945, in Mpls., Minn., to Philip and Mariam (Eriksen) Buckman. She grew up in Le Center where she graduated in the high school class of 1963. She graduated from Augsburg College in 1968 with a degree in art education.
On December 20, 1969, she married Joel Erickson at Le Center, Minn. She later went on to earn a Masters degree in Guidance Counseling from Illinois State University.
Pembie was a vivacious, creative spirit who employed a variety of materials to sculpt, carve, draw, paint and sew unique works of art. One of her specialties was hand-made cards for family and friends. She decorated her home like an art gallery and she loved the color red.
Pembie was also enthusiastic about tent camping, Bible studies, hospitality, staying in touch with classmates and spending time with her grandchildren.
Despite experiencing permanent, life-altering health complications in 2013, Pembie still remained active with her portable oxygen pack and mobility scooter or walker. She and Joel enjoyed many camping trips in their R-Pod. She was happiest in the midst of nature.
Pembie is survived by her husband Joel, daughter Natasha (Kevin) Land of Edina, son Jeshua (Jennifer) Erickson of Albert Lea, grandchildren Nathan (Coyla Horon, fiance), Rachel and Owen Land, and Axel and Trixie Erickson, sister Carolyn “Ti” (Michael) Nickerson of Tucson, Ariz., brother Tom (Jan) Buckman of Hager City, Wisc., brother-in-law Bruce Erickson of Albert Lea, sister-in-law Debby Grendahl of Vail, Ariz., and numerous nieces and nephews.
Pembie was preceded in death by her parents Philip and Mariam Buckman, in-laws Berdine and Dorothy Erickson, and infant daughter Johanna Erickson.
A funeral service will be held at 11 am on Saturday, June 24, at Grace Lutheran Church in Albert Lea with Pastor Dean Smith officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.
Memorials to Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge or Grace Lutheran Church preferred. | 2023-06-20T19:20:23+00:00 | albertleatribune.com | https://www.albertleatribune.com/2023/06/patricia-pembie-erickson/ |
Memo reveals why DOJ cleared Trump in Russia probe
WASHINGTON (AP) - Justice Department officials who evaluated then-President Donald Trump's actions during the Russia investigation concluded that nothing he did, including firing the FBI director, rose to the level of obstruction of justice and that there was no precedent for a prosecution, according to a memo released Wednesday.
The nine-page memo, prepared for then-Attorney General William Barr by a pair of senior Justice Department officials, offered a legal analysis on whether Trump had criminally obstructed the investigation into potential ties between Russia and his 2016 presidential campaign. Barr agreed with the conclusions of the March 24, 2019, memo and announced that same day that he had concluded that Trump's conduct did not break the law.
Though the decision to clear Trump of obstruction has been well-documented, the newly disclosed memo offers additional details about how two of the department's senior-most leaders arrived at that conclusion. The department's decision was notable because special counsel Robert Mueller, who led the Russia investigation, declined in his 448-page report to decide whether Trump had obstructed justice but pointedly did not absolve him either.
RELATED: Barr affirms Mueller probe found no evidence of Russia-Trump collusion; releases report
The Mueller report scrutinized 10 instances in which Trump lashed out or otherwise injected himself into the Russia investigation. Those include his May 2017 firing of then-FBI director James Comey; his request to Comey three months earlier to drop an investigation into his administration's national security adviser Michael Flynn; and his subsequent efforts to have Mueller fired.
In their memo, the two officials, Edward O'Callaghan and Steven Engel, asserted that none of those acts amount to criminal obstruction of justice and said evidence suggested that Trump took the steps he did "not for an illegal purpose" but because he believed the investigation was politically motivated and hampering his ability to govern.
In the case of Comey's firing, for instance, they wrote that the "driving force" was anger over Comey's refusal to publicly declare that the FBI was not investigating Trump himself rather than an effort by Trump to derail the investigation.
And in other instances, they said, none of Trump's requests or directives to "change the supervision of the investigation" — including telling his White House counsel to engineer Mueller's firing — was ever actually carried out.
"After the President provided his direction, in each instance, the orders were not carried out," the memo states. "Of course, it is true that an act may constitute an attempt or an endeavor, even if unsuccessful. But the facts that the President could have given these directions himself, and did not remove any subordinate for failing to convey his directions, weigh against finding an intent to obstruct justice."
They argued that the facts in the Trump investigation did not match up with any other prior obstruction prosecutions. Most of the obstruction cases cited by Mueller, they said, involved instances in which there was an inherently wrongful effort to hide or destroy evidence or to thwart the investigation of an underlying crime. Those factors do not exist here, they wrote.
RELATED: Mueller concludes Russia probe, delivers report to AG Barr
"The Report identifies no obstruction case that the Department has pursued under remotely similar circumstances, and we have not identified any either," the lawyers wrote, referring to Mueller's report.
The department released the memo on Wednesday following an appeals court ruling from last week that said the document had been improperly withheld from a government watchdog group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, that had sued for it.
In a statement Wednesday, the group criticized the memo as presenting a "breathtakingly generous view of the law and facts for Donald Trump."
"It significantly twists the facts and the law to benefit Donald Trump and does not comport with a serious reading of the law of obstruction of justice or the facts as found by Special Counsel Mueller," the statement said. | 2022-08-25T03:31:05+00:00 | fox10phoenix.com | https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/memo-reveals-why-doj-cleared-trump-in-russia-probe |
New executive brings commercialization expertise to ground-breaking digital therapeutics company
KIRKLAND, Wash., June 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Freespira, Inc., maker of the first FDA-cleared digital therapeutic treatment for panic attacks, panic disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), today announced the appointment of Joseph Perekupka as Chief Executive Officer.
With nearly 20 years of established commercial leadership, Perekupka will oversee the next stage of growth for Freespira. Perekupka previously held executive roles in digital health and life science organizations, including serving as the Senior Vice President of North America for Brainsway, a global leader in advanced noninvasive neurostimulation for mental health disorders. At Brainsway, Perekupka was responsible for building out the company's U.S. subsidiary and leading a successful sales operation to four years of consistent revenue growth, as well as playing a critical role in completing Brainsway's U.S. initial public offering in 2019.
"Freespira's mission – to provide relief for people suffering from the life-impairing symptoms of panic disorder and PTSD – has never been more urgent," said Perekupka. "I'm thrilled to lead the team as we accelerate Freespira's growth and ensure that our clinically proven, life-changing digital therapeutic reaches more patients and empowers millions to live the better, fuller lives they deserve."
Most recently, Perekupka served as Chief Commercial Officer at Eversana, a pioneer in next generation commercial services for the global life sciences industry. "Their Complete Commercialization program provides a unique partnership with startup organizations to create a successful launch strategy," Perekupka said. Perekupka has also served in contributing roles for the Digital Therapeutics Alliance and DTx societies.
"Joe is an innovation-focused leader with a track record of success in behavioral health, medical device and digital therapeutics commercialization," said Russell Siegelman, Chairman of the Board, Freespira. "His industry knowledge, combined with his passion for the work that we do, will help us reach our goal of making Freespira more broadly accessible to patients seeking an effective, medication-free approach to address their panic disorder and PTSD symptoms."
Freespira is transforming the treatment of panic disorder and PTSD by addressing the underlying physiological cause of these conditions. As an alternative to medications and therapy, the treatment normalizes breathing irregularities developed in response to underlying carbon dioxide (CO2) hypersensitivity, which contributes to the symptoms of panic disorder and PTSD. Freespira provides users with real-time physiological feedback-based training to regulate their respiration rate and exhaled CO2 levels. Telehealth coaching also guides patients through the care journey to deliver maximum benefit from the twice-daily treatment, which is completed in 28 days.
Freespira, Inc. is the maker of Freespira, the only FDA-cleared digital therapeutic proven to significantly reduce or eliminate symptoms of panic attacks, panic disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in just 28 days by training users to normalize respiratory irregularities. Health plans, self-insured employers and the Veteran's Administration provide the company's drug-free solutions to improve quality of life, reduce medical expenditures and support the appropriate use of valuable healthcare resources. Find out how at freespira.com.
Media Contact:
Todd Stein
Todd Stein Communications
510-417-0612
Todd@ToddSteinCommunications.com
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SOURCE Freespira, Inc. | 2022-06-07T13:27:59+00:00 | wafb.com | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2022/06/07/freespira-appoints-joseph-perekupka-chief-executive-officer-fuel-continued-growth/ |
China said Wednesday it has dispatched navy ships in preparation for joint exercises with Russia’s sea forces, in a sign of Beijing’s continuing support for Moscow’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine.
The move comes despite the growing economic and humanitarian repercussions of the bloody 16 month-old air, sea and ground assault.
China claims to be neutral in the conflict, but has accused the U.S. and its allies of provoking Russia and has maintained robust economic, diplomatic and trade ties with Moscow. The exercise involves more than 10 ships and 30-plus aircraft, according to China’s Xinhua News Agency.
The ministry and Xinhua gave no details, but the exercises are believed to be set for parts of the Sea of Japan in coming days.
China has reliably backed Russia in opposing U.S. condemnation of the Ukraine invasion in international forums, but says it won’t provide arms to either side in the war.
The Defense Ministry said in a news release Wednesday that Chinese ships had linked up with their Russian counterparts at noon. Those included the guided missile destroyers Qiqihar and Guiyang, the guided missile frigates Zaozhuang and Rizhao and the supply ship Taihu. The Chinese ships carried four helicopters, the report said.
Russian participants included the frigates Gromkiy and Otlichnyy, which have been hosting visitors for a week in the financial hub of Shanghai, China’s largest city and biggest port.
A pair of Russian navy ships are visiting China as the countries reaffirm their military ties amid the war in Ukraine.
The joint drills focus on ship-to-ship communications, maneuvering in formation and maritime search and rescue, according to Chinese reports.
The visit follows a meeting in Beijing between China’s defense minister and the head of Russia’s navy, the first formal military talks between the friendly neighbors since a short-lived mutiny by the Russian mercenary group Wagner.
China has reassured Russia of its continued support since the uprising. Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu told Russian Adm. Nikolai Yevmenov that China hoped for increased exchanges, joint exercises and other forms of cooperation to help defense ties “reach a new level,” the Chinese Defense Ministry said.
China operates the world’s largest navy by number of hulls and vastly outstrips Russia’s navy in both size and technical ability. The countries’ fleets have held a series of exercises and joint maneuvers since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, as have their air forces. | 2023-07-19T15:40:10+00:00 | texomashomepage.com | https://www.texomashomepage.com/news/international/ap-china-prepares-for-naval-drills-with-russia-in-sign-of-continuing-support-amid-ukraine-conflict/ |
Q: I’ve gone to bed angry with losses to the Pistons, Wizards and the shorthanded Grizzlies, but the loss to a bad Lakers team, I went to bed hurt, with the realization that this team doesn’t have a passion for the game. Truly unprofessional to approach any game like that. This is just a bad season. – Marc, Arlington, Texas.
A: Worse than even a bad season (remember, the Heat do own their own first-round pick this season) is a mediocre, road-to-nowhere season. That appears to be where the Heat are trapped at the moment. The NBA season is similar to the best NBA offenses, where you want to narrow to two options. With offenses, it’s layups or 3-pointers. With the NBA season, it’s lottery tanking or championship contention. The Heat appear stuck in the middle. That can make for uninspiring moments, and you have to wonder if the players are starting to get the same sense, as well.
[ Submit your "Ask Ira" question here! ]
Q; Apathy, that’s what this team plays like, and what this fan feels like. – Javier.
A: I’m not sure that is the case. Most, if not all, on this roster are driven to succeed. But with the divergent breakdown of older veterans and younger neophytes, it’s as if there are dueling perspectives. For some, every moment is the most important. For others, it’s about pacing to the finish line. Again, it ultimately leaves the sense of being stuck in some type of middle.
Q: I’m trying to figure out how Tyler Herro can be that bad, like he was against the Lakers. – Dexter.
A: Part of it is the respect that Tyler Herro has earned this season and on this trip. That, in turn, has led to increased defensive attention. Against the Lakers, it appeared as if there was a box-and-one against Tyler, which has to be the ultimate sign of respect. Now the next step for Tyler is to adjust to these latest attempts at deterrence. This is the very intersection of NBA star and NBA All-Star. | 2023-01-06T11:23:52+00:00 | sun-sentinel.com | https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/heat-blog/fl-sp-miami-heat-ask-ira-bad-losses-20230106-vn44kqgxrralbpshdhgs4ezi7q-story.html |
ABINGDON, Va. (AP) — Two inmates who fled a southwest Virginia jail were being held without bond on Saturday after they were captured in northeast Tennessee, authorities said.
Officers located Johnny Shane Brown and Albert Lee Ricketson in a barn on Friday in Rogersville, Tennessee, and arrested them without incident, the sheriff’s office in Washington County, Virginia, said in a news release.
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The barn was about 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) from a stolen SUV that the sheriff’s office said it believed was used by the inmates. They were captured roughly 60 miles (97 kilometers) from the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority in Abingdon, where the sheriff’s office said they left a recreational yard on Thursday afternoon.
Ricketson, 31, of Abingdon, had been convicted on two counts of first-degree murder, according to the Virginia sheriff's release. He was in the Hawkins County, Tennessee jail on Saturday, according to a sheriff's officer there.
Brown, 51, of Rogersville and identified as a federal inmate, was held Saturday in the Washington County, Tennessee, detention center, an officer said.
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Authorities had considered the two inmates, who had been wearing red jail jumpsuits, armed and dangerous. | 2023-01-28T17:55:53+00:00 | seattlepi.com | https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/authorities-capture-2-virginia-inmates-in-17748263.php |
The move back to being a quarterbacks coach is a natural progression for Ron Whitcomb, a quarterback by nature and by trade.
Whitcomb is weeks into his new role with the University at Buffalo football team. He spent the last three seasons as its tight ends coach, even though he was a quarterback at East Rochester High School and then the University of Maine. Then he coached quarterbacks at Old Dominion – including current Atlanta Falcons quarterback Taylor Heinicke – from 2007-19.
But was it a seamless transition for Whitcomb and his charges?
Whitcomb faced an initial challenge when he took over as UB’s quarterbacks coach, after the Bulls parted ways with offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Shane Montgomery earlier this year.
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“It’s your ability to connect, and having validity with the players,” Whitcomb said. “By myself, poring into the position, within the first week, they immediately knew the experience I have and the way I teach, that’s going to benefit them, in the long run.”
UB's quarterbacks have a new look, with Whitcomb at the helm, and with only two returning players from last year in Cole Snyder and Mike DePillo. The spring, for everyone in the quarterbacks room, means learning a new style of coaching, learning about new teammates and new position competition, and absorbing the nuances of a new offensive scheme.
Snyder, a Southwestern High graduate, was second in the Mid-American Conference in 2022 in passing yards (3,030) and passes attempted (461), and third in passing yards per game (233.1). Joining Snyder and DePillo, a redshirt freshman who was elevated to the No. 2 spot for the Camellia Bowl, are CJ Ogbonna, a transfer from Southeast Missouri State, and California junior-college transfers Gunnar Gray and Richie Watts.
Aside from Snyder, UB’s quarterbacks have little live experience. DePillo became Snyder’s backup after quarterbacks Matt Myers, Casey Case and Brian Plummer announced they’d entered the transfer portal following the regular season. DePillo has yet to throw a pass at the college level.
Gray is a pro-style quarterback from San Diego Mesa College who threw for 1,653 yards and 14 touchdowns in seven games last season. Watts threw for 2,148 yards and 21 touchdowns in 13 games last season at College of San Mateo.
Compound that with the fact that the quarterbacks are part of a new offense that new offensive coordinator DJ Mangas is installing in his first months on the job.
There’s still some heavy lifting that needs to be done this spring, before UB's spring game April 23.
Snyder is prepared for the change. Whitcomb will be the fourth quarterbacks coach he has worked with since 2019, including Snyder’s first three seasons at Rutgers from 2019-21.
“Any time you get a new coach, you feel out and figure out how they’re going to coach you, and listen to what they’re teaching you,” Snyder said. “We connect really well, and I’m really excited about this quarterback room, and our goal is to be the best quarterback room in the country.”
Snyder and DePillo say Whitcomb brings intensity and sharply critiques quarterbacks, with an emphasis on growth at the position.
“Every day is game day here,” DePillo said. “You come onto this practice field, and he makes sure we are ready to compete, every day. It makes it fun and ultimately, it gets you ready to go into the game.”
Whitcomb has a philosophy that he took from coaching UB’s tight ends, that he’s applying to working again with quarterbacks.
“Do simple, great,” said Whitcomb, who has been on UB’s staff since June 2020 when he joined former UB coach Lance Leipold, now the head coach at Kansas. “Double down on simple. Double down on having a standard that you try to uphold.”
Simplicity, DePillo explained, means making the smart play, and making the right play in a situation.
“If you don’t like it, don’t force it,” DePillo said. “You don’t have to do something that’s in a gray area, that you don’t like. Take your one-on-one and simple-down the game, as much as you can.”
UB’s quarterbacks also have to follow a certain learning curve this spring.
As UB’s third offensive coordinator in four years, Mangas’ offense is made up of new terminology and new personnel.
“It’s upbeat. It’s high-paced. Explosive,” Snyder said.
The biggest change in that new offense, Whitcomb said, is improving the ability to get the ball downfield. While UB’s passing yardage totals improved over the last four seasons, from 1,795 yards in 2019 to 3,059 yards in 2022, the Bulls averaged 6.6 yards per passing attempt in 2020, a drop from 8.5 yards in 2020 and only a slight uptick from 6.5 yards in 2019.
“We take a lot of the same principles that Coach Mo teaches the team and we just apply it to the group,” Whitcomb said, referring to third-year UB head coach Maurice Linguist. “It’s nice having a lot of new faces, because with a new offense, we’re all growing together. Having a new offense, a new coordinator, a new quarterback coach, we’ve all been able to work day by day to improve, together.” | 2023-04-11T14:46:52+00:00 | buffalonews.com | https://buffalonews.com/sports/college/ub-football-quarterbacks-coach-ron-whitcomb-make-spring-changes-to-prepare-for-2023-season/article_b38d9428-d7e0-11ed-a729-db42880d5544.html |
Top Player Prop Bets for Cavaliers vs. Knicks NBA Playoffs Game 1 on April 15, 2023
Donovan Mitchell and Julius Randle are among the players with prop bets on the table when the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks square off at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on Saturday (opening tip at 6:00 PM ET).
Bet on this matchup or its props with BetMGM, the King of Sportsbooks!
Cavaliers vs. Knicks Game Info
- Date: Saturday, April 15, 2023
- Time: 6:00 PM ET
- How to Watch on TV: ESPN
- Location: Cleveland, Ohio
- Venue: Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse
NBA Props Today: Cleveland Cavaliers
Donovan Mitchell Props
- The 28.3 points Mitchell has scored per game this season is 1.2 fewer than his prop total set for Saturday (29.5).
- Mitchell's per-game rebound average -- 4.3 -- is 0.2 less than his prop bet over/under in Saturday's game (4.5).
- Mitchell has averaged 4.4 assists per game, 0.1 less than Saturday's assist over/under (4.5).
- Mitchell's 3.6 made three-pointers per game is 0.1 more than his over/under in Saturday's game (3.5).
Check out the latest odds and place your bets on player props with BetMGM Sportsbook.
Evan Mobley Props
- The 14.5-point total set for Evan Mobley on Saturday is 1.7 less than his season scoring average.
- He averages 0.5 more rebounds than his prop bet Saturday of 8.5.
- Mobley's assists average -- 2.8 -- is 0.3 higher than Saturday's over/under (2.5).
- He has connected on 0.3 three-pointers per game, 0.2 fewer than his over/under on Saturday.
Darius Garland Props
- The 21.6 points Darius Garland scores per game are 0.1 more than his over/under on Saturday.
- Garland averages 0.2 more rebounds than his over/under on Saturday (which is 2.5).
- Garland averages 7.8 assists, 0.3 more than Saturday's over/under.
- Garland averages 2.4 made three-pointers, which is less than his over/under on Saturday (2.5).
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NBA Props Today: New York Knicks
Julius Randle Props
- The 24.5-point over/under set for Randle on Saturday is 0.6 lower than his scoring average of 25.1.
- Randle has grabbed 10 boards per game, 2.5 more than his over/under for Saturday's game.
- Randle's assist average -- 4.1 -- is higher than Saturday's assist prop bet (3.5).
- Randle has hit 2.8 three-pointers per game, which is more than his over/under on Saturday (2.5).
Put your picks to the test and bet on Cavaliers vs. Knicks player props with BetMGM Sportsbook.
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | 2023-04-15T11:57:36+00:00 | ksla.com | https://www.ksla.com/sports/betting/2023/04/15/cavaliers-vs-knicks-nba-playoffs-game-1-player-prop-bets/ |
RANTOUL, Ill. (WAND) - The Rantoul Village Administrator has resigned after charges were filed stemming from an alleged domestic incident.
Scott Eisenhauer, 58, was arrested Monday night for domestic battery.
The News Gazette reports Eisenhauer called the Village President informing him of his resignation minutes before emailing his letter of resignation.
The village board will be discussing the resignation at tonight's meeting.
Eisenhauer was arrested at his home on Champaign Avenue at 6:45 p.m. The News Gazette reports he was arrested for hurting his wife, who called 911.
Police said they saw red marks on her face that were consistent with being battered.
The News Gazette said Eisenhauer told deputies that he and his wife were both shoving each other and that he tried to stop her from calling police. He said he did not recall slapping her.
Rantoul Police have asked the sheriff's office to handle the investigation.
Eisenhauer was hired by the village in November 2018.
He previously served four terms as the Mayor of Danville.
At a meeting of the Rantoul Village Board, the board did not accept Eisenhauer's resignation.
Copyright 2023 WAND TV. All rights reserved. | 2023-06-14T22:15:46+00:00 | wandtv.com | https://www.wandtv.com/news/rantoul-village-administrator-arrested-for-domestic-battery-village-board-refuses-resignation/article_957c4c06-09f2-11ee-a07f-a73232536dd4.html |
Those headed to the polls early on Election Day may be in for a visual treat. A total lunar eclipse will be visible throughout the United States on Nov. 8, with the peak occurring just as polls open in the eastern U.S.
The peak will be around 6 a.m. ET, and 3 a.m. PT. The lunar eclipse can be seen anywhere the moon is visible.
A lunar eclipse occurs when the earth gets directly in between the sun and the moon. The Earth’s shadow will make the moon appear blood red during totality.
The next lunar eclipse visible from America will be March 14, 2025. | 2022-10-20T17:04:17+00:00 | news5cleveland.com | https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/national/major-celestial-event-to-coincide-with-election-day |
Archaeologists in Livorno, Italy, are putting together the pieces of a great mystery that began with a stunning find.
While hiking in a cleared area of a Tuscan forest northeast of Livorno, a member of the Livorno Paleontological Archaeological Group spotted a few glimmering coins in the dirt in November 2021. Upon closer inspection and excavation, researchers determined that the find included 175 silver Roman denarii coins. Nearly all were in good condition, making this one of the few hoards of ancient coins found intact, according to the group.
But the discovery prompted a number of questions: Whose treasure was it? Who were they hiding it from? And why didn't they come back for it?
The archaeological group, along with the archaeologist official for the provinces of Pisa and Livorno, Dr. Lorella Alderighi, has spent more than a year measuring, weighing and documenting the coins, according to a news release posted on its Facebook page. Now, the researchers think they have some answers.
"This treasure is about a person's life, the savings of a soldier's life and his hopes for building his farm," Alderighi said via email. "However, it also tells a sad story: (T)he owner of the coins died before he could make his dreams come true using his savings. The coins tell his story."
It's impossible to know exactly who buried the coins, Alderighi said, but the coins would most likely have been the treasure of a former soldier who served during Rome's Social War from 91 to 88 BC and during the civil war between Sulla and the Marians from 83 to 82 BC.
The owner of the hoard buried it in a terra-cotta pot, which served as a sort of piggy bank. The earliest coins in the stash dated to 157 or 156 BC, and the latest up to 83 or 82 BC, according to the archaeological group's release.
During that time, 175 denarii would have been a soldier's salary for about a year and a half, Alderighi said. Now, the treasure has a value of around 20,000 to 25,000 euros, she added.
The coins were preserved well in their buried state. Only two are fractured, but they can be reassembled, the release noted. Studying them could provide scholars with more background on the history of coins and how people used them and could even lead to changes with the fundamental typology — created in 1974 and still used today — to identify and date Roman coins, she added.
"It is one of the very few hoards of ancient coins found intact and provides a lot of numismatic, historical and social information," Alderighi said. | 2023-05-01T11:21:18+00:00 | albanyherald.com | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/buried-treasure-including-nearly-200-roman-coins-found-in-italy/article_944935f1-023c-5843-a8f1-35839fd3def1.html |
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Tuesday that the deaths of migrants who were in the back of a tractor-trailer in Texas was “horrifying and heartbreaking.”
“While we are still learning all the facts about what happened and the Department of Homeland Security has the lead for the investigation, initial reports are that this tragedy was caused by smugglers or human traffickers who have no regard for the lives they endanger and exploit to make a profit,” he said in a statement shortly after arriving in Spain on the second stop of a trip in Europe.
Biden added, “Exploiting vulnerable individuals for profit is shameful, as is political grandstanding around tragedy, and my administration will continue to do everything possible to stop human smugglers and traffickers from taking advantage of people who are seeking to enter the United States between ports of entry.”
At least 50 people died after being left in the back of a tractor-trailer in San Antonio, and authorities said they were likely being transported as part of a smuggling operation. They were found on Monday, when temperatures in the area approached 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) on Monday.
The tragedy, among the worst suffered by people being snuck across national borders around the world, swiftly became a vehicle for political attacks on the Biden administration.
“These deaths are on Biden,” tweeted Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, within hours of the grisly discovery. “They are a result of his deadly open border policies. They show the deadly consequences of his refusal to enforce the law.”
Many of former President Donald Trump’s strict border policies — including Title 42, which prevents many migrants from seeking asylum during the public health emergency caused by the coronavirus — have remained in place under Biden, who is a Democrat.
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy director at the American Immigration Council, suggested it was rigid, not lax, enforcement that contributed to the tragedy.
“With the border shut as tightly as it is today for migrants from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, people have been pushed into more and more dangerous routes. Truck smuggling is a way up,” he wrote on Twitter.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters aboard Air Force One — where Biden was flying between summits in Germany and Spain — that the administration was focused on the victims and holding human smugglers accountable.
“The fact of the matter is, the border is closed, which is in part why you see people trying to make this dangerous journey using smuggling networks,” she said. “Our prayers are with those who tragically lost their lives, their loved ones as well as those still fighting for their lives. We’re also grateful for the swift work of federal, state and local first responders.” | 2022-06-28T17:50:29+00:00 | fox44news.com | https://www.fox44news.com/news/national-world-news/biden-calls-migrant-deaths-horrifying-and-heartbreaking/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — Maybe it makes sense that Emma Raducanu would try to find something positive from becoming only the third woman in the professional era to lose in the U.S. Open’s first round one year after winning the championship.
Maybe, too, it seems like a bit of a stretch.
Still, whether she was trying to convince others or herself, that was how Raducanu spoke about moving on from bowing out 6-3, 6-3 against Alizé Cornet on Tuesday night in her opening match at Flushing Meadows in 2022 following that remarkable run to the trophy as an unseeded 18-year-old qualifier in 2021.
“It is a clean slate. I can just start again. I don’t know what my ranking will be. Probably pretty low down,” Raducanu said. “With perspective, actually, as a 19-year-old, I’ve had not a bad year. To be top 100, if you told me that a year ago, I’d take it. But, like, I think it would be nice, in a way, to kind of just start over, start fresh.”
The other defending champions who went home this quickly at the American Grand Slam tournament were Svetlana Kuznetsova, who won it in 2004, and Angelique Kerber, who won it in 2016 (and lost in the first round in 2017 to Naomi Osaka, who had yet to win any of her four major trophies).
Raducanu said she was disappointed to join that small group.
She also sounded somewhat relieved.
“I mean, in a way,” said the British player, who is 15-19 since her triumph in New York, “the target will be off my back slightly.”
Raducanu dealt with blisters on her racket-holding right hand, as she had earlier this year, and took a medical timeout after the first set for treatment from a trainer.
She also was simply outplayed by Cornet, a 32-year-old from France who beat past major champions Simona Halep at the Australian Open, Jelena Ostapenko at the French Open and Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon, ending the No. 1-ranked woman’s 37-match winning streak at Wimbledon.
“This year I’m kind of the upset girl. I pull out an upset on every Slam,” the 40th-ranked Cornet said after disrupting her opponent with a constantly shifting mix of defense, strokes that pushed Raducanu deep behind the baseline and well-placed drop shots. “I was like, ‘OK, I did it on the three previous Grand Slams, so why not this one?’”
Now add Raducanu to the list.
“I’m sorry, guys. I know you really like Emma,” Cornet told the crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium. “She’s a great player and a great person.”
A year ago, at age 18, Raducanu arrived at Flushing Meadows ranked 150th to participate in only the second major tournament of her nascent career. She wound up making it through qualifying and winning 10 matches in a row — all in straight sets — en route to becoming the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam title, defeating another unseeded teen, Leylah Fernandez, in the final.
Raducanu came into the U.S. Open seeded 11th after second-round losses at each of the first three majors of 2022.
“She didn’t win a Slam for nothing,” Cornet said. “I know how she can play.”
Cornet is playing in her record-setting 63rd consecutive Grand Slam event. She’s only reached the quarterfinals at one of them — this year’s Australian Open.
But she also owns six victories over opponents ranked in the top 20 this season.
“I’m handling my emotions better,” said Cornet, who actually was angered when the Armstrong roof was closed during the course of play early in the second set. “I guess I’m getting old. I’m getting mature. … It’s good, because I’m 32. I guess it’s better late than never.”
___
More AP coverage of U.S. Open tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/us-open-tennis-championships and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2022-08-31T18:54:41+00:00 | upmatters.com | https://www.upmatters.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-raducanus-us-open-title-defense-ends-with-loss-to-cornet/ |
INDIANAPOLIS — Adam De Both spent more than eight years as a sheriff’s deputy patrolling Bartholomew County after breaking in with the Indiana University Police Department.
Now De Both is a patrolman on IMPD’s Southeast District, enticed by better pay and the opportunity to leave Columbus for Indy.
“Coming from a smaller agency there are some constraints on what you’re able to do just off the crime that’s in that area,” said De Both, reflecting on his law enforcement career before taking his first shifts in Indianapolis. ”Depending on what beat area, what zone you’re in, it’ll be a completely different population type. You’ll go from trying to deal with someone speaking Spanish to someone who speaks Burmese. Every run, every call, depending on what beat you’re on, is a completely different world.”
De Both is one of more than a dozen veteran officers this last year who entered IMPD’s lateral transfer program which fast-tracks cops who have been already trained to fill the jobs left open by retired and separated patrolmen and women in Indianapolis.
”At the end of the year, we’re planning on having 1,591 sworn officers. We’ve had approximately 134 separations expected at the end of the year,” said Sgt. Genae Cook. ”Having one more officer helps fill the shoes of those 134 that are retiring or separating from IMPD for one reason or another.”
IMPD hired only 75 new recruits this year to replace the veterans who left the department, with just over two dozen new officers in the current recruit class that’s only half of its typical strength.
The department recently launched its “Why We Serve” campaign to step up recruitment and place billboards in target cities throughout the immediate Midwest.
”We’re also seeing people from the areas where we placed billboards calling us, looking into our positions, trying to find out about our department and putting in applications,” said Cook.
New officers can expect to earn more than $70,000 their first year on the job at IMPD, not to mention the overtime the department pays to work shifts left empty by thinning ranks.
Mayor Joe Hogsett has authorized IMPD to employ 1,843 officers.
By the end of this year, the Metro PD expects to have just 1,591 men and women on the force.
De Both said he is proud to be one of the lateral transfer recruits who has stepped up to fill those gaps.
”It feels great to be part of a well-established department with a phenomenal culture that I learn something new about every day,” he said. ”I get people constantly asking me, ‘If you look back and you had to do it all over again, with what you know now, would you still do it?’ and I say, ‘Absolutely, no question about it.’” | 2022-12-13T22:12:50+00:00 | fox59.com | https://fox59.com/indiana-news/impd-boosts-ranks-with-transfers-from-other-departments/ |
WHO: 1 child has died in mystery liver disease outbreak
BERLIN (AP) - The World Health Organization says at least one death has been reported in connection with a mysterious liver disease outbreak affecting children in Europe and the United States.
The U.N. health agency said late Saturday that it has so far received reports of at least 169 cases of “acute hepatitis of unknown origin” from a dozen countries.
The cases were reported in children aged one month to 16 years old, and 17 of those who fell ill required liver transplants. WHO didn’t say in which country the death occurred.
The first cases were recorded in Britain, where 114 children have been sickened.
“It is not yet clear if there has been an increase in hepatitis cases, or an increase in awareness of hepatitis cases that occur at the expected rate but go undetected,” WHO said in a statement.
Experts say the cases may be linked to a virus commonly associated with colds, but further research is ongoing.
“While adenovirus is a possible hypothesis, investigations are ongoing for the causative agent,” WHO said, noting that the virus has been detected in at least 74 of the cases. At least 20 of the children tested positive for the coronavirus.
WHO said affected countries are stepping up their surveillance of hepatitis cases in children.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2022-04-24T15:59:26+00:00 | kmvt.com | https://www.kmvt.com/2022/04/24/who-1-child-has-died-mystery-liver-disease-outbreak/ |
Dream vs. Lynx: Odds, spread, over/under and other Vegas lines - July 18
On Tuesday, July 18, 2023, two of the WNBA's top scorers -- Rhyne Howard (10th, 18.5 points per game) and Napheesa Collier (fourth, 21.3) -- square off when the Atlanta Dream (11-8) host the Minnesota Lynx (9-11) at 7:00 PM ET on NBA TV, BSSE, and BSNX.
You will check out odds, spreads, over/unders and more across multiple sportsbooks for the Dream vs. Lynx matchup in this article.
Click on our link to sign up for a free trial of Fubo, and start watching live sports without cable today!
Dream vs. Lynx Game Info
- Game Day: Tuesday, July 18, 2023
- Game Time: 7:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: NBA TV, BSSE, and BSNX
- Location: College Park, Georgia
- Arena: Gateway Center Arena
Dream vs. Lynx Odds, Spread, Over/Under
See the odds, spread and over/under for this WNBA matchup at several sportsbooks.
Dream vs. Lynx Betting Trends
- The Dream have compiled an 11-6-0 ATS record so far this year.
- The Lynx have covered 10 times in 20 chances against the spread this season.
- Atlanta has covered the spread once this season (1-1 ATS) when playing as at least 5.5-point favorites.
- When playing as at least 5.5-point underdogs this year, Minnesota has an ATS record of 5-3.
- In the Dream's 18 games this season, the combined scoring has gone over the point total 11 times.
- A total of 10 Lynx games this season have hit the over.
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | 2023-07-18T16:33:14+00:00 | live5news.com | https://www.live5news.com/sports/betting/2023/07/18/dream-lynx-wnba-odds-spread-over-under/ |
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Foes of a proposal that would make it harder for citizens to amend Ohio's constitution vowed Tuesday to unleash the same broad activist coalition against it that delivered a scorching rebuke to a Republican-backed anti-union law last decade.
Opponents including the union-backed group We Are Ohio held a Statehouse news conference on Tuesday and criticized what Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose has dubbed the Ohio Constitution Protection Amendment as hypocritical, disturbing and “a slap in the face” to the people.
The Ohio Council of Churches, Common Cause, the League of Women Voters of Ohio, Innovation Ohio and the Ohio Organizing Collaborative also were represented.
The joint resolution containing the proposal, sponsored by GOP state Rep. Brian Stewart, is scheduled for its first hearing Thursday.
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It would place a constitutional amendment on 2023 ballots calling for requiring a 60% supermajority of voters to approve citizen-initiated amendments in the future. The same standard would not be applied to amendments advanced by the state Legislature, where the required supermajorities needed to make the ballot are controlled in both chambers by Republicans.
"As I look at this joint resolution, I see that there are a few people in this state who are determined to reject, and to stamp out, the voices of the rest of us, and we just cannot permit that to happen,” said the Rev. Amariah McIntosh, of the church council.
Opponents hope to quash the resolution before it leaves the Legislature, whose current session ends next month, rather than having to mount a campaign against it next year.
Jen Miller, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Ohio, said, ”“We’re trying to communicate to supporters of HJR 6 that a ‘yes’ campaign would be very difficult and very expensive, because we have the people on our side.”
Dennis Willard, of We Are Ohio, said that group will do what it must to see the measure defeated. He said a letter signed by 140 organizations opposed to the resolution was sent to LaRose and lawmakers Tuesday.
“We're just getting started,” said Willard. “We are only going to get bigger, stronger and more united.”
We Are Ohio led the 2011 charge against Senate Bill 5, an Ohio law signed by then-Republican Gov. John Kasich that would have baned public employee strikes and restricted collective bargaining rights for more than 350,000 teachers, police officers, state employees and others.
Marked by parades, demonstrations, sit-ins and and rallies across the state, the campaign ended in a 62%-38% vote to repeal the law. Kasich said he had heard voters and would regroup.
When he announced the supermajority proposal on Nov. 17, LaRose argued that requiring 60% of voters to amend Ohio’s constitution would be “a win for good government” and assure a broad base of support to make changes to the state’s founding document. He said that such a threshhold would assure bipartisan consensus and prevent special interest groups from buying their way in.
His effort comes as Republicans have been pushing back nationally against the citizen-led initiative process, which has allowed Democratic-aligned groups to force public votes on issues ranging from legalizing marijuana to expanding Medicaid to raising the minimum wage. A similar constitutional amendment failed in Arkansas on Nov. 8, while Arizona voters approved an amendment that will require future measures involving a tax to meet the 60% threshold.
In Ohio, increasing the vote margin for passing constitutional amendments comes as advocacy groups have been speaking openly about advancing measures to codify abortion rights and reform a redistricting system that failed to produce constitutional maps. Abortion rights measures passed in Kansas in August with 59% of the vote and in Michigan on Nov. 8 with not quite 57% of the vote.
The American Policy Roundtable, a conservative group that has promoted a host of successful amendments to Ohio's constitution — on subjects ranging from taxes to education policy to casino gambling to term limits — also opposes LaRose's proposal.
“The secretary’s proposal to the Legislature to amend the Constitution regarding constitutional amendments is more than short-sighted,” vice president Rob Walgate said in a statement. “Requiring a 60% voter supermajority to pass a ballot measure breaks the intention and balance of the Ohio Constitution, which has been working effectively since the early 1900′s. There is no citizen outcry for such a measure. This is strictly inside-baseball among the political elites in Columbus.” | 2022-11-29T23:00:47+00:00 | wcfcourier.com | https://wcfcourier.com/news/national/groups-to-defend-citizens-power-to-amend-ohio-constitution/article_d368f224-aa04-5e73-9244-5ca377d1ebe0.html |
CLEVELAND (AP) _ The winning numbers in Friday evening's drawing of the Ohio Lottery's "Pick 3 Evening" game were:
5-9-1
(five, nine, one)
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100 craft beers available at Hops in the Hangar aircraft-themed event... | 2022-08-20T00:41:22+00:00 | daytondailynews.com | https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/ohio/winning-numbers-drawn-in-pick-3-evening-game/6HUOXM77RZA3FP4M37NKVRNEII/ |
Wrought-iron pitching was the order of the day when Humboldt stopped Hampton-Dumont-CAL to the tune of a 15-0 shutout in an Iowa high school softball matchup on May 26.
You're reading a news brief powered by ScoreStream, a world leader in fan-driven sports results and conversation. Help us collect and deliver more game results from your favorite teams and players by downloading the ScoreStream app. Nearly a million users nationwide share team scores and player performance stats with this convenient free app. | 2023-05-27T06:47:31+00:00 | wcfcourier.com | https://wcfcourier.com/sports/high-school/softball/girls/humboldt-refuses-to-yield-in-shutout-of-hampton-dumont-cal-15-0/article_8d25c8b6-7dbb-561c-bdfe-429c2811272a.html |
CAMBRIDGE, England and ESPOO, Finland, Jan. 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- VividQ™, the pioneer of holographic display technology for AR gaming, and Dispelix, the world's leading waveguide designer and manufacturer, have today announced achieving what leading industry figures described as 'quasi-impossible' only two years ago. The two companies have designed and manufactured a 'waveguide combiner' that can accurately display simultaneous variable-depth 3D content within a user's environment. For the first time ever, users will be able to enjoy immersive AR gaming experiences where digital content can be placed in their physical world and they can interact with it naturally and comfortably.
The two companies have also announced the formation of a commercial partnership to develop the new 3D waveguide technology towards mass production readiness. This will enable headset manufacturers the ability to kick-start their AR product roadmaps now.
Early augmented reality experiences seen so far through headsets such as Magic Leap, Microsoft HoloLens, Vuzix, and others, produce 2D stereoscopic images at fixed focal distances, or one focal distance at a time. This often leads to eye fatigue and nausea for users and doesn't offer the necessary immersive three-dimensional experiences - for example, objects cannot be interacted with naturally at arm's length, and they are not placed exactly within the real world.
In order to deliver the types of immersive experiences necessary for AR to reach mass-market adoption, consumers need a sufficient field of view and the ability to focus on 3D images at the full range of natural distances - anywhere from 10cm to optical infinity, simultaneously - in the same way they do naturally with physical objects. A waveguide combiner is the industry's favoured method of displaying AR images in a compact form factor. This next-generation waveguide and accompanying software are optimised for 3D applications like gaming, which means that consumer brands around the world can unlock the market's full potential.
"There has been significant investment and research into the technology that can create the types of AR experiences we've dreamt of, but they fall short because they can't live up to even basic user expectations," said VividQ CEO, Darran Milne. "In an industry that has already seen its fair share of hype, it can be easy to dismiss any new invention as yet more of the same, but a fundamental issue has always been the complexity of displaying 3D images placed in the real world with a decent field of view and with an eyebox that is large enough to accommodate a wide range of IPDs (interpupillary distance, or the space between the user's pupils), all encased within a lightweight lens. We've solved that problem, designed something that can be manufactured, tested and proven it, and established the manufacturing partnership necessary to mass produce them. It is a breakthrough because without 3D holography, you can't deliver AR."
Milne continues, "To put it simply, while others have been developing a 2D screen to wear on your face, we've developed the window through which you'll experience real and digital worlds in one place."
VividQ's patent-pending 3D waveguide combiner is designed to work in harmony with the company's software, both of which can be licensed by wearable manufacturers in order to build out a wearable product roadmap. VividQ's holographic display software works with standard games engines like Unity and Unreal Engine, making it very easy for games developers to create new experiences. The 3D waveguide can be manufactured and supplied at scale through VividQ's manufacturing partner Dispelix, a leader in see-through waveguides for wearables.
Antti Sunnari, CEO & Co-Founder of Dispelix, adds: "Wearable AR devices have huge potential all around the world. For applications such as gaming and professional use, where the user needs to be immersed for long periods of time, it is vital that content is true 3D and placed within the user's environment. This also overcomes the issues of nausea and fatigue. We are very pleased to be working with VividQ as a waveguide design and manufacturing partner on this breakthrough 3D waveguide."
In its Cambridge (UK) HQ, VividQ is able to demonstrate its software and the 3D waveguide technology for leading device manufacturers and consumer tech brands, who it is working closely with to deliver next-generation AR wearables.
About VividQ
Based in Cambridge and London, VividQ is the pioneer of holographic display technology, which is pivotal in augmented reality. The company was founded in 2017 and has raised over $20m in VC funding to date. The company licenses its technology to consumer device manufacturers, who can then build consumer-ready AR wearables that usher in a new generation of gaming experiences.
About Dispelix
Dispelix is an advanced waveguide designer and manufacturer delivering next-generation visual solutions for consumer as well as enterprise AR and MR wearables. The company's patented single-layer waveguides are the thinnest on the market and do not compromise full color, image quality, clear eye contact, and field of view. They bring unmatched image quality, performance, and visual fidelity combined with mass manufacturability to scale for even the largest vendors. Led by the world's most sought-after experts in optics, photonics, and manufacturing, Dispelix is headquartered in the technology hub of Espoo, Finland with field offices throughout the United States and China.
Contacts
VividQ: Neil Cooper, neil.cooper@vividq.com, +44 7463 336274
Dispelix: Riku Rikkola, riku.rikkola@dispelix.com, +358 50 470 9800
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SOURCE Dispelix Oy | 2023-01-17T13:17:37+00:00 | kwtx.com | https://www.kwtx.com/prnewswire/2023/01/17/breakthrough-ar-optics-means-that-3d-holographic-gaming-now-reality/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — When the government issues the November jobs report on Friday, it could provide clarity on whether hiring and pay growth are gradually cooling — a trend that the Federal Reserve sees as vital in its fight against high inflation.
In a closely watched speech Wednesday, Fed Chair Jerome Powell pointed to a robust job market as a key driver of higher prices, particularly in services industries, ranging from restaurants and health services to entertainment and pet care.
Powell said the Fed would like to see slower job growth and more modest wage gains in the coming months. The cost of such goods as used cars, furniture and appliances, Powell noted, are easing, and housing costs will likely slow next year. That leaves price acceleration in much of the economy’s vast service sector as the most likely source of persistent inflation pressures. Those price spikes, the Fed chair said, largely reflect rising pay.
“We want wages to go up strongly, but they’ve got to go up at a level that is consistent with 2% inflation over time,” he said.
Yet for now, paychecks are growing at about a 5% annual pace, among the fastest in decades, and about 1.5 percentage points higher than what the Fed would prefer. Wages still trail inflation, which was 7.7% in October, near a four-decade high.
Job growth has slowed this year, from a monthly average of 540,000 from January through March, to 289,000 in the three months that ended in October. But that pace is still strong — much more than the Fed would like. Powell noted in his speech Wednesday that the economy requires only about 100,000 added jobs a month to keep pace with population growth.
Any hiring above that level means that demand for workers is outpacing supply and that the job market is still running hot, said David Wilcox, a former Fed economist who is now at Bloomberg Economics and the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
Economists surveyed by data provider FactSet have predicted that employers added 200,000 jobs last month. That would amount to the lowest total since December 2020 yet would still represent a solid gain. The unemployment rate is expected to stay at 3.7%, near a half-century low.
The U.S. economy continues to show signs of surprising resilience 18 months after inflation first rocketed toward its highest levels in 40 years as the economy roared out of the pandemic recession. In response, the Fed has raised interest rates relentlessly higher.
Last quarter, the economy expanded at a brisk 2.9% annual rate after having shrunk in the first six months of the year. Consumer spending picked up, and a spike in exports helped boost growth.
Americans kept increasing their spending in October — even after accounting for inflation — the government reported Thursday. Consumers stepped up their purchases of cars, restaurant meals and other services.
Although steady hiring and rising wages are fueling more spending, Americans are also turning increasingly to credit cards to keep up with higher prices. Many are also digging into savings, a trend that cannot continue indefinitely.
Other signs of weakness have sparked concerns about a likely recession next year, in part because many fear that the Fed’s surging rate hikes will end up derailing the economy. Particularly in the technology, media and retail industries, a rising number of companies have made high-profile layoff announcements.
In addition to job cuts from tech behemoths like Amazon, Meta and Twitter, smaller companies — including DoorDash, the real estate firm Redfin and the retailers Best Buy and the Gap — have said they will lay off workers.
And in November, a measure of factory activity dropped to a level that suggested that the manufacturing sector is contracting for the first time since May 2020. | 2022-12-02T05:49:49+00:00 | seattletimes.com | https://www.seattletimes.com/business/jobs-report-to-show-whether-hiring-is-slowing-as-fed-wants/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_nation-world |
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) — KCAU 9’s Sophie Erber was live at the Hy-Vee location on Gordon Drive Tuesday to raise awareness for the 8th Annual Stuff the Stroller campaign.
The campaign is a joint effort between KCAU 9, Siouxland OBGYN, Prairie Pediatrics and the Crittenton Center. The drive began April 11 and ends May 6.
Sophie joined us from the Hy-Vee located at 3301 Gordon Drive in Sioux City where she was joined by Kim Scorza from the Crittenton Center.
Sophie said that the turnout for donations Tuesday have been great with Siouxlanders filling the donation box as well as part of a shopping cart.
Scorza said the donations are incredibly awesome for the Crittenton Center and Siouxland families.
“All of the diapers, all of the wipes, all of the gift cards and donations go directly to serving Siouxland families and their kiddos. It’s just an awesome opportunity to be able to care for people you normally wouldn’t be able to care for,” Scorza said.
Another point brought is that as prices rise, gas cards and gift cards make for great donations to help families.
“You know, the ease of having a gift card for food like Hy-Vee gift cards and gas cards. It’s so easy for us to be able to store the, be able to give them to families so they can make their medical appointments, they can go to therapy, they can go do whatever they need to like go to work sometimes. Gift cards are just super easy for us to support families,” said Scorza.
Some Siouxlanders have also brought in homemade goods such as hats and blankets.
Participating Hy-Vee locations include Hy-Vee on 12th Avenue SW in Le Mars and Sioux City’s Gordon Drive, Sergeant Road, and Hamilton locations.
Shoppers at the 4 Hy-Vee locations can drop off baby items at drop-off boxes or make a cash donation at the stores. There will also be bins at Siouxland OBGYN and Prairie Pediatrics.
Diapers are the most needed item for new mothers, along with formula, baby wipes, and other baby products and all five locations are currently accepting donations.
Those locations can be found below:
KCAU 9’s Sophie Erber will also be at differing Hy-Vees for three more afternoons to encourage donations.
- 4500 Sergeant Road, Sioux City – April 26
- 2827 Hamilton Boulevard, Sioux City – May 6
If you want to make a donation directly to the Crittenton Center, you can donate here. | 2022-04-19T23:14:41+00:00 | siouxlandproud.com | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/stuff-the-stroller/stuff-the-stroller-donations-can-include-gas-cards-crafted-items/ |
The Vikings traded down, then up, to nab a pair of Louisiana State defenders, then took one of the best running backs in college football last season with their last pick in the 2023 NFL draft.
“We had a really good Day 3,” general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said.
After trading down from the 119th overall pick in Round 4, the Vikings used the 134th overall pick to select defensive back Jay Ward, then traded up to select LSU defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy in the fifth round.
Ward, 22, finished 2022 with 60 total tackles, one interception and a fumble recovery. In his college career, he intercepted six passes and broke up 17 while playing cornerback, safety and slot safety.
Adofo-Mensah said after evaluating Ward, scouts deemed he could start at cornerback, safety or slot safety.
“When people write that his best possible option is any of three positions, it’s likely he figures out one of them,” the GM said.
Ward is listed as 6-foot-1, 188 pounds and was part of the Tigers’ 2019 NCAA championship team as a freshman. He said he’s ready to play anywhere the Vikings might need him.
“The NFL judged me as a versatile player,” Ward said. “Most teams see me as a nickel corner or nickel safety. So, either way, I knew I would be playing two positions.”
Roy is a 6-3, 305-pound tackle who could help fill the void left by Dalvin Tomlinson, a starter when healthy who left as a free agent this spring. Roy began his LSU career as a 3-technique lineman but moved primarily to nose tackle for his junior season.
“Honestly, I can play anywhere from a zero up to a 4 (technique), whichever needs are going to be there,” Roy said. “I’m going to put my best foot forward and just be ready to get to work.”
With their last pick, 222nd overall in the seventh round, the Vikings selected Alabama-Birmingham running back DeWayne McBride, who led all FBS backs with a 7.4-yard average per carry.
McBride, 5-10, 209 pounds, set UAB single-season records with 1,713 rushing yards and 19 rushing scores. He was a third-team AP All-American and first-team all-conference honors by setting UAB single-season records with 1,713 yards, second in FBS, and 19 rushing scores in 11 games (nine starts).
Adofo-Mensah said the fact that McBride barely figured into UAB’s passing attack, as well as some ball security issues, might have kept him from being take earlier.
“We had him fairly high on our board,” he said. “Kind of a starter-grade (player).”
The Vikings signed Alexander Mattiston to a two-year, $7 million contract extension this spring and will bring back second-year running back/returner Kene Nwangwu in 2023. They also have starter Dalvin Cook on the books at $10.4 million but are debating whether to release him.
The fact that Cook and rush end Za’Darius Smith haven’t been traded by now indicates the Vikings’ options are to either keep them at their current salaries for another season or release them, which would incur dead cap space penalties.
“We’re keeping an open dialogue with both guys,” Adofo-Mensah said Saturday. “We’re working to find solutions for both them and us. The dialogue will remain open with them.”
Ward and Roy were teammates for three seasons, and Vikings defensive backs coach Deronte Jones was LSU’s defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach in 2021.
“I played under him one year, and I love coach Jones,” Ward said. “It was always bigger than on the field with him, and we had a close relationship at LSU. We were tight, and I’m glad I can reunite with him and he can keep molding me to be a better player.”
Ward joins a secondary group that includes veteran corners Byron Murphy and Joejuan Williams, and safety Harrison Smith, but features a lot of young inexperienced players such as Akayleb Evans, Andrew Booth, Lewis Cine, and now Blackmon and Ward.
The Vikings sent their fifth-round pick (No. 158) and a compensatory sixth-round pick (No. 211) to Indianapolis in order to move up to get Roy.
“He’s a player we’ve been on for a while, a player who has versatility within our scheme,” assistant director of player personnel Chisom Opara said. “The more versatile players you have, the more you can be the one calling the shots and keeping an offense guessing.”
As part of the deal to trade down from 119 to 134 in the fourth round, the Vikings picked up a 2024 fifth-round pick from Kansas City.
Briefly
The Vikings reached agreements with 15 undrafted free agents on Saturday: Alan Ali, OL, TCU; Calvin Avery, DT, Illinois; Abraham Beauplan, ILB, Marshall; Andre Carter II, OLB, Army; Jacky Chen, OL, Pace; C.J. Coldon, CB, Oklahoma; Wilson Huber, ILB, Cincinnati; Cephus Johnson, WR, Southeastern Louisiana; Malik Knowles, WR, Kansas State; Ivan Pace Jr., ILB, Cincinnati; Jack Podlesny, K, Georgia; Ben Sims, TE, Baylor; Thayer Thomas, WR, N.C. State; NaJee Thompson, CB, Georgia Southern; Jaylin Williams, CB, Indiana.
Vikings 2023 NFL Draft Picks
Round 1: 23rd, Jordan Addison, WR, USC
Round 3: 102nd, Mekhi Blackmon, CB, USC
Round 4: 134th, Jay Ward, CB, LSU; 141st
Round 5: 141st, Jaquelin Roy, DT, LSU; 164th, Jaren Hall, QB, BYU
Round 7: 222nd, DeWayne McBride, RB, Alabama-Birmingham | 2023-04-30T05:44:36+00:00 | twincities.com | https://www.twincities.com/2023/04/29/nfl-draft-vikings-nab-pair-of-lsu-defenders/ |
(NEXSTAR) – Those working in the food service industry are, in most cases, paid a lower wage than the rest of us. It’s largely because they are expected to receive tips.
But, as many have argued, paying a server the federal minimum wage for a tipped employee, paired with the tips they receive, sometimes isn’t enough to reach the standard minimum wage of $7.25. This is pushing some restaurants to transition to a tipless style of business.
Current federal regulations require tipped employees — those who receive more than $30 in tips each month — be paid a minimum wage of $2.13. That server must then average $5.12 in tips each hour, meaning they would make the federal minimum wage of $7.25. If a server doesn’t earn enough tips in a shift to make $7.25 an hour, federal law says the employer must pay them the rest to reach that rate.
While this may differ for some states, others do follow that federal minimum requirement, including Indiana, where one business owner decided to stop accepting tips.
In 2021, Kurtis Cummings, the founder and president of Switchyard Brewing Company, decided to eliminate tipping at his Bloomington, Indiana, craft brewery. Instead, Switchyard employees are now paid at least $16.25 an hour.
“It’s the employer’s responsibility to pay their employees, not the customers,” Cummings explained to Nexstar. He also noted how factors such as the server’s gender or age, the weather, or the day of the week can impact how much – or how little – a server is tipped.
Researchers have even found the vast majority of people aren’t basing the tip they leave on service quality, they’re actually just following a social norm. And when it comes to the quality of service, Cummings said that any issues you had shouldn’t be taken out on the server’s income.
“It’s still more than likely the company’s fault because it’s the company’s job to train, right?” he explained. Plus, the promise of a tip doesn’t always guarantee good service. What does? Like any non-tipped job, it’s job security, according to Cummings.
Cummings said Switchyard’s switch to tip-free “has become a real job attractor.” Staff no longer have to worry about missing a weekend shift – shifts that typically are busier, increasing the chance at more tips – and the company can provide other benefits like paid time off.
While Cummings’ employees and most of their customers have taken to the idea of no more tipping, not everyone agrees.
Cummings explained that after Switchyard transitioned to its optional-tipping policy, some people – many from outside Indiana – began leaving one-star Google reviews for the business. It’s a relatively common trend, Mike Lynn, a professor of consumer behavior and marketing at Cornell University, told Nexstar’s KTLA.
Whether a restaurant adds a service charge or raises menu prices slightly, like Switchyard has, Lynn said that business will likely see their online ratings dip.
“It turns out that when customers evaluate restaurants’ expensiveness, they’re pretty much looking at menu prices, and that’s it,” Lynn explained. “We dismiss, or discount somehow, the fact that you’re expected to tip.”
Switchyard has been tip-free for roughly two years. Some, like Triptych Brewing in Savoy, Illinois, recently joined the movement, while others, like Optimism Brewing (which inspired Cummings) in Seattle and Zazie in San Francisco have been tip-free for years. | 2023-05-21T23:44:19+00:00 | wate.com | https://www.wate.com/news/this-brewery-made-tipping-optional-heres-why/ |
NEW YORK — The Miami Heat and New York Knicks, both fresh off thrilling first-round upsets, will clash in their second-round series starting Sunday in a new iteration of their classic 1990s rivalry.
This week, both Locked On Heat and Locked On Knicks previewed the series from their local perspectives.
In Miami, Jimmy Butler is coming of an all-time series, and now faces his longtime head coach Tom Thibodeau, now with New York.
“I wonder whether or not Thibodeau, as familiar as he is with Jimmy Butler … decides that it’s time to send a double that way,” Locked On Heat host David Ramil said on the show.
While the Knicks dominated the boards in the first round, Miami was able to slow its series against the Bucks down, limit turnovers, and win close games. Whoever wins those games within the games is likely to win the series.
“When you’re talking about the possession battle, which is something the Heat try to win … the takeaways is the big thing,” Locked On Heat host Wes Goldberg said.
From the Knicks’ perspective, with star forward Julius Randle still dealing with an injury, the team will likely lean heavily on point guard Jalen Brunson once again. Their center duo of Mitchell Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein will also be tasked with controlling the paint on both ends.
“You look at the personnel and on paper, the Knicks probably should win this series,” Locked On Knicks host Gavin Schall said. “They’re the deeper team, certainly if Julius Randle is healthy, they have a lot more scoring than Miami does, the way they played defensively they should be about as good as Miami is.”
Still, the Heat have clearly the most accomplished player in the series in Butler, and have been a consistent playoff powerhouse for years. The Knicks face an uphill battle matching Miami’s pedigree.
“In the postseason it’s about what question can you ask that they can’t answer,” Dan Devine of Yahoo! Sports said on Locked On Knicks. “I wonder if that could be the case for this Knicks team.”
The Knicks are -158 favorites to win the series on the FanDuel Sportsbook, and are getting four points at home in Game One. | 2023-04-30T15:08:03+00:00 | wthr.com | https://www.wthr.com/article/sports/locked-on/lo-new-york/knicks-show/new-york-knicks-miami-heat-eastern-conference-semifinals-series-preview/535-8a27a500-a3e8-458f-89a2-777ce3f4f900 |
MADRID (AP) — With one of Europe’s largest gay pride celebrations right around the corner, Spain’s LGBTQ community is worried that the outbreaks of monkeypox on the continent could lead to an increase in homophobic sentiment based on misunderstandings of the disease.
Spanish health authorities said Friday there were now 98 confirmed cases in the country, the highest number in Europe. The tally includes one woman, the region of Madrid said Friday. The World Health Organization has reported nearly 200 cases of monkeypox in more than 20 countries not usually known to have outbreaks of the unusual disease.
Health authorities have centered their investigations on links between a Gay Pride event in the Canary Islands that drew 80,000 people earlier this month, and cases linked to a Madrid sauna.
But some people, particularly gay and bisexual men, believe there is a touch of homophobic hysteria in the wider public’s reaction to the rare outbreak outside of Africa, where it has long been endemic.
Most of the known cases in Europe have been among men who have sex with men, according to authorities in Britain, Spain, Germany and Portugal. A top adviser to the World Health Organization said the outbreak was likely triggered by sexual activity at two recent mass events in Europe.
The outbreak in Spain comes in the run-up to Madrid’s Gay Pride celebration in July. It is expected to draw large crowds, unlike the last two years’ events, which were scaled down or canceled because of COVID-19 restrictions. Organizers say the city’s last pre-pandemic Pride celebration, in 2019, drew roughly 1.6 million revelers, though police put the figure at around 400,000.
“Pride is a huge party, it is a moment to make our voice be heard, that brings lots of people together,” Mario Blázquez, coordinator of health programs for the LGBTQ group COGAM in Madrid, told The Associated Press.
Blázquez is worried that Pride celebrations could be endangered by overzealous restrictions driven in part by prejudice and in part by the fears of another public health emergency on top of the lingering COVID-19 pandemic.
“We don’t know what will happen. We don’t know what the level of transmission of the virus will be or what legal measures could be taken. And then what stigma could be generated by these legal measures that sometimes are discriminatory,” he said.
But beyond the Pride March, Blázquez is worried that society could make the same mistake it did at the beginning of the HIV/AIDS crisis in the 1980s, when the focus on the disease among gay men obscured its spread among the wider population.
“This is a disease that any member of the population can get,” Blázquez said. “We are facing an outbreak that unfortunately once again has hit LGBTQ people, and especially gay and bisexual men. What’s happening is somewhat similar to the first cases of HIV.”
Health authorities have reported cases in Europe, North America, Israel and Australia. It’s a surprising outbreak of a disease that rarely appears outside Africa, where it has remained a serious health threat since the first cases in human were discovered in the 1970s.
Experts say anyone can be infected through close contact with a sick person, their clothing or bedsheets. Most people recover within two to four weeks without needing hospitalization. However, the WHO says in recent times 3-6% of cases were fatal.
Health officials around the world are keeping watch for more cases because, for the first time, the disease appears to be spreading among people who didn’t travel to Africa. They stress, however, that the risk to the general population is low.
As of Thursday, Italy had confirmed 10 cases of Monkeypox, some but not all in people who had traveled to Spain’s Canary Islands.
“Regarding the question of sexual transmission, I believe that we cannot yet define this strictly as a sexually transmitted disease,” said Dr. Andrea Antinori, Director of Viral Immunodeficiencies at Spallanzani hospital in Rome. “So I would avoid identifying this disease as a sexually transmitted disease at the moment.”
“We are facing a new wave (of monkeypox) that is different from how we have historically known it,” Antinori added.
Spain’s health minister, Carolina Darias, said Wednesday that her government decided to opt into the European Union’s collective purchase of monkeypox vaccine, which like the COVID-19 vaccine will be distributed based on each participating country’s population. She said government health experts are considering how to use the vaccine once it is more widely available.
Amos García, president of the Spanish Association of Vaccinology, recommended that the vaccine should only be given to people who have had direct contact with an infected person and who are vulnerable to infection, not to the general population.
“We are talking about a disease that does not have a large potential to become an epidemic,” García said, adding that most Spaniards over 40 should be protected by smallpox vaccines that were regularly administered decades ago.
____
Ciarán Giles in Madrid, Joseph Wilson in Barcelona and Trisha Thomas Rome contributed to this report. | 2022-05-28T00:06:03+00:00 | wnct.com | https://www.wnct.com/on-your-side/health-watch/spanish-lgbtq-groups-wary-of-monkeypox-stigma-as-pride-nears/ |
Hawks vs. 76ers: Betting Trends, Odds, Records Against the Spread, Home/Road Splits
Published: Apr. 7, 2023 at 8:23 AM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
The Atlanta Hawks (41-39) are 9.5-point favorites as they attempt to continue a three-game win streak when they host the Philadelphia 76ers (52-28) on Friday, April 7, 2023 at State Farm Arena. The matchup airs at 7:30 PM ET on BSSE and NBCS-PH.
Hawks vs. 76ers Odds & Info
- When: Friday, April 7, 2023 at 7:30 PM ET
- Where: State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia
- TV: BSSE and NBCS-PH
Check out the latest NBA odds and place your bets on this matchup with BetMGM Sportsbook.
Hawks Betting Records & Stats
- Out of Atlanta's 80 games with a set total, 45 have hit the over (56.2%).
- The Hawks are 36-44-0 against the spread this season.
- Atlanta has been the favorite in 46 games this season and won 28 (60.9%) of those contests.
- Atlanta has a record of 4-2 when it's favored by -500 or more by oddsmakers this season.
- The Hawks have a 83.3% chance to win this game based on the implied probability of the moneyline.
Hawks vs. 76ers Over/Under Stats
Additional Hawks Insights & Trends
- The Hawks are 5-5 against the spread and 6-4 overall over their last 10 contests.
- The Hawks have gone over the total in five of their last 10 contests.
- Atlanta owns an identical winning percentage against the spread in home games (.450) as it does in road games.
- The Hawks record 7.6 more points per game (118.3) than the 76ers allow (110.7).
- When Atlanta totals more than 110.7 points, it is 33-27 against the spread and 39-21 overall.
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Hawks vs. 76ers Betting Splits
Hawks vs. 76ers Point Insights
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | 2023-04-07T13:49:17+00:00 | atlantanewsfirst.com | https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/sports/betting/2023/04/07/hawks-vs-76ers-nba-betting-trends-stats/ |
The Tesla Cybertruck isn’t keeping the man in charge of Ford up at night.
On Tuesday, Ford CEO Jim Farley sat down with CNBC’s Jim Cramer and talked EVs, the Blue Oval’s partnership with Tesla, and the Cybertruck.
Ford’s F-Series lineup has been the bestselling vehicle in America for 41 years. It includes the F-150 Lightning electric variant, Green Car Reports’ Best Car To Buy 2023. “We are the market leader for EV trucks and vans, and we know these customers better than anyone,” Farley told Kramer.
Referring to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Farley said, “if he wants to design a Cybertruck for Silicon Valley people, fine.”
Farley expanded on the topic: “It’s like a cool high-end product parked in front of a hotel. But I don’t make trucks like that, I make trucks for real people who do real work, and that’s a different kind of truck.”
Farley told Kramer he views going to a charging station as a social experience akin to going to a gas station in the 1920s. “People go, oh, that’s a Ford. I thought everyone had to buy a Tesla. Look at that Mach-E over there.” Kramer related the concept to Ford being a Trojan horse in this situation.
In May, Ford announced it will adopt Tesla’s charge NACS port on future EVs. In addition, current Ford EVs will gain Supercharger access in 2024, adding 12,000 charging stations to the FordPass network. Farley told Kramer Musk was respectful during the negotiations of this deal, but it was more because of Henry Ford than Jim Farley.
Ford is investing in the EV future with a new Blue Oval City in west Tennessee and BlueOvalSK Battery Park in central Kentucky. Both complexes are currently under construction and the combined cost will be at least $11.4 billion.
The Blue Oval City factory and battery plant will be the home of a “radically simplified” new electric truck and three-row SUV. In March, Farley teased the next-generation electric truck, noting it will arrive in 2025 and hyping it to be the Millennium Falcon of trucks. The SUV will have 350 miles of range, but Ford’s not looking to compete in the range game. Farley has noted the automaker isn’t going to go with 600-mile range EVs.
Despite the next-gen EVs arriving in 2025, cost parity is still a ways out. At an investor conference earlier in June, Farley said for most automakers EVs will remain more expensive to manufacture than internal-combustion cars until the end of the decade. The executive predicted EVs introduced between 2030 and 2035 will “dramatically lower labor content” with simplified manufacturing requirements and parts.
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- Nio adds ET5 Touring wagon for Europe as Model 3 rival, ends free battery swapping | 2023-06-23T04:32:24+00:00 | cbs42.com | https://www.cbs42.com/automotive/internet-brands/ford-ceo-cybertruck-for-silicon-valley-people/ |
The Cubs found their shortstop in Dansby Swanson. The White Sox added an All-Star to their outfield in Andrew Benintendi. That’s just some of the activity during Major League Baseball’s offseason.
The chatter and deals were missing for a portion of the lead-up to the 2022 season, with the lockout dominating discussion. This offseason has witnessed a return of hot-stove staples such as speculation, trades and signings.
Here are some of the moves for teams in the American League and National League Central divisions.
AL Central
Chicago White Sox
The Sox addressed their most immediate need when they introduced Pedro Grifol as manager on Nov. 3. Grifol spent the previous 10 seasons in various roles with the Kansas City Royals, including serving as the bench coach from 2020-22.
He’ll try to lead the Sox to a rebound after they missed the playoffs and finished second in the division with an 81-81 record.
And Grifol has a player he coached in Kansas City to help him after Benintendi agreed to a five-year, $75 million deal on Dec. 16. It’s the largest contract in franchise history. The outfielder slashed .304/.373/.399 with 23 doubles, five homers and 51 RBIs in 126 games for the Royals and New York Yankees during an All-Star season in 2022.
Change is coming to the infield after longtime first baseman José Abreu signed a three-year deal with the Houston Astros. Abreu ranks in the top 10 in several of the team’s all-time offensive categories.
The Sox acquired reliever Gregory Santos from the San Francisco Giants for minor-league pitcher Kade McClure on Dec. 22. Santos allowed two runs on three hits with two strikeouts in 3⅔ innings in 2022.
The Sox announced the signing of starter Mike Clevinger to a one-year, $12 million contract on Dec. 4. Major League Baseball is investigating Clevinger after allegations of domestic violence and child abuse, according to a Jan. 24 story by The Athletic. The Sox, as part of a statement, said they “were not aware of the allegations or the investigation at the time of his signing” and would “refrain from comment until MLB’s investigative process has reached its conclusion.”
Cleveland Guardians
The Guardians were reportedly one of the teams pursuing Abreu, but they found their answer at first base by signing Josh Bell to a two-year deal — which includes a player opt-out after 2023 — on Dec. 12.
Bell hit a combined .266 with 29 doubles, 17 home runs and 71 RBIs in 156 games for the Washington Nationals and Padres. He earned a Silver Slugger Award at designated hitter.
He’ll try to help the Guardians return to the postseason. They won the division in 2022, finishing 11 games ahead of the second-place Sox at 92-70. The Guardians defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in an AL wild-card series before falling to the Yankees in a division series.
The Guardians reportedly were among the teams interested in catcher Sean Murphy, whom the Oakland Athletics dealt to the Atlanta Braves. Instead they signed catcher Mike Zunino to a one-year deal on Dec. 15. An All-Star in 2021, Zunino was limited to 36 games with the Rays in 2022 because of a left shoulder injury.
Detroit Tigers
The Tigers were a disappointing fourth in the division (66-96), one game ahead of the last-place Royals.
They turned to a familiar arm to aid the rotation, signing Matthew Boyd to a one-year deal on Dec. 14. The left-hander spent six-plus seasons in Detroit (2015-21). He had a 1.35 ERA in 10 relief appearances with the Seattle Mariners in 2022.
More pitching arrived on Dec. 20 when the Tigers signed Michael Lorenzen to a one-year contract. He was 8-6 with a 4.24 ERA in 18 starts last season for the Los Angeles Angels.
The Tigers traded reliever Joe Jiménez to the Braves for minor-league infielder/outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy and minor-league pitcher Jake Higginbotham on Dec. 8. Third baseman Jeimer Candelario, who spent parts of the last six seasons with the Tigers, signed a one-year deal with the Nationals on Nov. 29.
The Tigers traded All-Star reliever Gregory Soto and infielder/outfielder Kody Clemens to the Philadelphia Phillies for infielder/outfielder Matt Vierling, infielder/outfielder Nick Maton and catcher Donny Sands on Jan. 7.
Vierling slashed .246/.297/.351 with 12 doubles, six home runs and 32 RBIs in 117 games last season. Maton had a .250/.341/.514 slash line with five home runs and 17 RBIs in 35 games.
Kansas City Royals
The Royals finished last in the division (65-97) and made a managerial change, hiring Matt Quatraro. He spent the last five seasons with the Rays, serving as the third-base coach in 2018 and the next four seasons as bench coach.
The Royals signed former Rays pitcher Ryan Yarbrough to a one-year deal on Dec. 13. The left-hander went 3-8 with a 4.50 ERA in 20 outings (nine starts) last season. He had stints on the injured list from April 8-May 2 (left groin tightness) and from Sept. 23 through the end of the season (right oblique strain).
The Royals signed 12-year veteran pitcher Jordan Lyles to a two-year deal on Dec. 28. The right-hander matched a career-high with 12 victories with the Baltimore Orioles in 2022.
Relief-wise, the Royals reportedly have signed Aroldis Chapman to a one-year deal. The left-hander went 4-4 with a 4.46 ERA and nine saves in 43 appearances last season for the Yankees.
The Royals sent outfielder Michael A. Taylor to the Twins for minor-league pitchers Steven Cruz and Evan Sisk on Jan. 23. The next day, they traded shortstop Adalberto Mondesi and a player to be named later to the Red Sox for pitcher Josh Taylor.
Minnesota Twins
First it appeared Carlos Correa would join the San Francisco Giants. Then the New York Mets.
His unique journey ended Jan. 11 as the All-Star shortstop returned to the Twins on a six-year contract, reportedly for $200 million with a vesting option that could bring the total to $270 million over 10 years.
Concerns pertaining to his physicals reportedly derailed the deals with the Giants (13-year, $350 million) and Mets (12-year, $315 million). Correa hit .291 with 24 doubles, 22 home runs and 64 RBIs in 136 games for the Twins. He joined Minnesota in 2022 after spending seven seasons with the Houston Astros.
Correa comes back to an infield with some changes.
The Twins traded 2022 AL batting champion Luis Arraez to the Marlins for pitcher Pablo López and two minor leaguers: infielder Jose Salas and outfielder Byron Chourio on Jan. 20. López went 10-10 with a 3.75 ERA and 174 strikeouts in 32 starts last season. Arraez slashed .316/.375/.420 and earned AL All-Star and Silver Slugger recognition.
The Twins sent third baseman Gio Urshela to the Angels for minor-league pitcher Alejandro Hidalgo on Nov. 18. Urshela had a .285 average with 13 home runs and 64 RBIs in 144 games last season.
They traded for shortstop Kyle Farmer, sending minor-league pitcher Casey Legumina to Cincinnati. Farmer hit .255 with 14 home runs and 78 RBIs in 145 games for the Reds in 2022.
Adding Christian Vázquez provides catching depth after he signed a three-year, $30 million deal on Dec. 16. He hit .274 with nine home runs and 52 RBIs in 119 games in 2022 for the Boston Red Sox and Astros.
Joey Gallo, who brings the potential for power, signed a one-year deal on Dec. 20. He hit .160 with 19 home runs and 47 RBIs in 126 games for the Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers last season. Gallo has 170 home runs since the start of 2017, tied for 12th in baseball during that span.
Michael A. Taylor — acquired in the trade with the Royals — led all AL outfielders with 19 defensive runs saved last season, according to Fangraphs.
NL Central
Chicago Cubs
Shortstops stood out in this free-agent class. The Cubs landed one of the Big Four, agreeing to a seven-year, $177 million deal with Swanson on Dec. 17.
Swanson hit a career-high 27 home runs in 2021, helping the Braves to a championship. He had 25 homers and 96 RBIs in 2022, when he was named an All-Star for the first time.
While Swanson is the highlight of the team’s offseason, the Cubs — who finished third in the division (74-88) — didn’t stop there.
They added 2019 National League MVP Cody Bellinger on a one-year, $17.5 million deal on Dec. 6. The center fielder hit .210 with 19 home runs and 68 RBIs in 144 games last season for the Dodgers. Also in the haul: pitchers Jameson Taillon (four years, $68 million), Brad Boxberger (one year, $2.8 million) and Drew Smyly (two years, $19 million).
Taillon went 14-5 with a 3.91 ERA in 32 starts for the Yankees in 2022, while Boxberger had 29 holds, one save and a 2.95 ERA in a team-leading 70 games for the Milwaukee Brewers. Smyly went 7-8 with a 3.47 ERA in 22 starts for the Cubs.
The Cubs have options at first base and designated hitter, signing Eric Hosmer (one year) on Jan. 13 and Trey Mancini (two years) on Jan. 20.
Hosmer, a 12-year veteran and MVP of the 2016 All-Star Game, batted .268 with 19 doubles, eight home runs and 44 RBIs in 104 games between San Diego and Boston in 2022. He played 14 games for the Red Sox before going on the injured list Aug. 21 with low back inflammation and missing the rest of the season.
Mancini’s deal reportedly includes an opt-out after 2023. He hit .239 with 23 doubles, one triple, 18 home runs and 63 RBIs in 143 games between Baltimore and Houston last season. The 2021 AL Comeback Player of the Year has hit at least 21 homers in four of his six seasons.
Tucker Barnhart gives the Cubs another option at catcher after agreeing to a two-year contract with $6.5 million guaranteed. Barnhart batted .221 with one home run and 16 RBIs in 94 games for the Tigers last season. He’ll help with the depth behind the plate after Willson Contreras — one of the best offensive catchers in team history — signed with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Cincinnati Reds
The Reds were tied for last in the NL Central with the Pittsburgh Pirates (62-100) last season.
The teams conducted a trade on Nov. 18, with the Reds acquiring infielder Kevin Newman for pitcher Dauri Moreta. Newman hit .278 in 78 games in 2022. The Reds made another trade that day, sending infielder Kyle Farmer to the Twins for minor-league pitcher Casey Legumina.
The Reds signed catcher Luke Maile to a one-year deal on Nov. 28. He had three homers and 17 RBIs in 76 games for the Guardians in 2022.
Catcher Curt Casali, who played for the Reds from 2018-20, returned on a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2024. He hit .203 with five homers and 17 RBIs in 57 games last season with the Giants and Mariners.
Casali’s deal was part of a busy Dec. 22 for the Reds, who also signed first baseman/outfielder Wil Myers and designated third baseman Mike Moustakas for assignment.
Myers, who signed a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2024, hit .261 with seven home runs and 41 RBIs in 77 games for the Padres last season. He was on the IL from June 1-Aug. 1 with right knee inflammation. Moustakas batted .214 with seven homers and 25 RBIs in 78 games in 2022.
Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers made a series of trades in the offseason. They sent outfielder Hunter Renfroe to the Angels for pitchers Janson Junk, Elvis Peguero and Adam Seminaris on Nov. 22. Junk and Peguero had big-league experience the last two seasons for the Angels: Junk made six starts and one relief appearance, while Peguero has 16 relief appearances.
The Brewers acquired outfielder Jesse Winker and infielder Abraham Toro from the Mariners for second baseman Kolten Wong and cash on Dec. 2. Winker, an All-Star in 2021 with the Reds, hit .219 with 14 homers and 53 RBIs for the Mariners in 2022. Toro hit .185 with 10 home runs and 35 RBIs in 109 games.
The Brewers also took part in a three-way trade on Dec. 12, getting catcher William Contreras and minor-league pitcher Justin Yeager from the Braves and reliever Joel Payamps from the A’s as part of the deal that sent catcher Sean Murphy from Oakland to Atlanta.
Contreras, the younger brother of Willson, slashed .278/.354/.506 with 20 home runs and 45 RBIs in 97 games during an All-Star season. Payamps had a 3.46 ERA in 12 appearances in 2022.
The Brewers acquired infielder Owen Miller from the Guardians on Dec. 14. Miller batted .243 with six homers and 51 RBIs in 130 games last season.
They signed former Cubs pitcher Wade Miley to a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2024 on Jan. 9. Miley went 2-2 with a 3.16 ERA in nine games (eight starts) for the Cubs last season.
The Brewers were second in the NL Central (86-76), finishing seven games behind the Cardinals. They just missed out on the final NL wild-card spot.
Pittsburgh Pirates
After stops with four teams the last five seasons, outfielder Andrew McCutchen returned to the Pirates on a one-year deal announced Jan. 20.
McCutchen spent the first nine seasons of his big-league career with the Pirates, where he earned NL MVP honors in 2013. The outfielder is a five-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger Award winner.
“Andrew means so much to the Pirates,” Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said in a statement.
McCutchen hit .237 with 17 home runs and 69 RBIs in 134 games with the Brewers last season.
He’ll join a lineup that could also include Carlos Santana and Ji-Man Choi.
The Pirates signed Santana to a one-year contract on Nov. 29. He hit 19 home runs with 60 RBIs in 131 games for the Royals and Mariners last season.
The Pirates acquired Choi from the Rays in exchange for minor-league pitcher Jack Hartman on Nov. 10. Choi had 11 home runs and 52 RBIs in 113 games in 2022.
Pitcher Dauri Moreta, picked up in a trade from the Reds for infielder Kevin Newman on Nov. 19, had a 5.40 ERA in 35 games (one start) in ‘22. The Pirates also added first baseman/outfielder Connor Joe on Dec. 19, sending minor-league pitcher Nick Garcia to the Colorado Rockies.
Former White Sox pitcher Vince Velasquez signed a one-year deal on Dec. 13, while former Guardians catcher Austin Hedges signed a one-year deal on Dec. 20. Velasquez went 3-3 with a 4.78 ERA in 27 appearances (nine starts) in 2022. Hedges batted .163 with seven home runs and 30 RBIs in 105 games.
The Pirates signed reliever Jarlín García to a one-year contract, with a club option for 2024, on Dec. 28. He had a 3.74 in 58 appearances with the Giants in 2022.
The Pirates added more pitching Jan. 5, signing Rich Hill to a one-year contract. Hill went 8-7 with a 4.27 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 26 starts last year with Boston.
They traded right-hander Zach Thompson to the Blue Jays for minor league outfielder Chavez Young on Jan. 10.
St. Louis Cardinals
Willson Contreras will experience the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry from a new perspective after agreeing to a five-year deal — reportedly for $87.5 million — on Dec. 7.
Contreras was a three-time All-Star during his seven seasons with the Cubs. He batted .243 with 22 home runs and 55 RBIs in 113 games last season.
“Willson is a proven All-Star performer who is driven to win each and every day,” Cardinals President John Mozeliak said in a statement. “The Cardinals have had a lengthy history of standout catchers, and we feel that Willson is someone who is capable of adding his name to that distinguished list in the years to come.”
Contreras joins a team that won the division (93-69) before being swept by the Philadelphia Phillies in their NL wild-card series.
The signing comes in the aftermath of longtime Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina retiring. First baseman/designated hitter Albert Pujols also retired, but starting pitcher Adam Wainwright is returning after agreeing to a one-year deal in late October.
Sources: The Associated Press, The Athletic.
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We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. We reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions. As of June 15, 2022, comments on DenverPost.com are powered by Viafoura, and you may need to log in again to begin commenting. Read more about our new commenting system here. If you need help or are having issues with your commenting account, please email us at memberservices@denverpost.com. | 2023-01-29T10:54:25+00:00 | denverpost.com | https://www.denverpost.com/2023/01/29/what-has-happened-this-mlb-offseason-a-look-at-all-the-moves-made-in-the-al-and-nl-central-2/ |
An update on the troubled procurement of new Orange and Red Line trains from Chinese company CRRC will be provided at this month’s Board of Directors meeting, an MBTA spokesperson said.
The planned Jan. 26 update follows a scathing letter the MBTA sent to CRRC, describing its failure to produce quality trains and meet delivery deadlines, and comes amid lower service levels that are still being seen at times on the Orange Line, weeks after the agency pulled nine new cars with mechanical problems.
“The cars originally identified with the cable issue have been returned to service, following corrective actions,” MBTA spokesperson Joe Pesaturo said on Thursday. “The number of available Orange Line cars can change daily, as cars come in and out of service for scheduled inspections and/or maintenance activities.”
No additional cars were pulled from service “due to that issue” during these follow-up inspections, he said.
Pesaturo said 10 Orange Line trains were in service on Wednesday, the number needed for the MBTA’s regular subway schedule. Nine six-car trains were running during Thursday morning’s peak commuting period, he said.
“The MBTA projects that 70 new cars will be available for passenger service later this month,” Pesaturo said.
Seventy-eight new Orange Line cars have been delivered.
Pesaturo said no old Orange Line cars have been put in service since the power cable failure was detected in nine new cars. In late December, only five to seven trains were operating at times, leading to headways that were nearly twice as long.
“It is the MBTA’s intent to provide Orange Line service with new cars only,” he said. “But the MBTA is also developing a contingency plan that would involve the use of some older cars in the event they’re needed on a temporary basis.”
In its Dec. 22 letter to CRRC, which has a manufacturing facility in Springfield, the MBTA outlined a litany of issues and delays that have occurred during the new Orange and Red Line train production.
The agency instructed CRRC MA to respond with details about its plans to meet the project’s goals and delivery deadlines, as part of its roughly $1 billion contract with the T.
Pesaturo said last Friday that the MBTA received CRRC’s letter, and its “vehicle procurement team has started reviewing the response.”
He declined to provide the Herald with a copy of the letter.
An update on the new Orange and Red Line procurement was last provided in late September, when Interim General Manager Jeffrey Gonneville said CRRC had failed to meet the terms of its contract and could face daily fines of $500 per late vehicle.
CRRC is 17 and 21 months behind schedule, respectively, for delivery of 152 new Orange Line cars and 252 new Red Line cars.
A CRRC spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
Join the Conversation
We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. We reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions. | 2023-01-12T23:01:59+00:00 | bostonherald.com | https://www.bostonherald.com/2023/01/12/mbta-board-to-get-update-on-new-orange-red-line-train-procurement/ |
Not long after the rollout of coronavirus vaccines last year, women around the country began posting on social media about what they believed was a strange side effect: changes to their periods.
The data, published Tuesday in the British Medical Journal, was taken from a popular period tracking app called Natural Cycles and included people from around the world, but most were from North America, Britain and Europe. The researchers used “de-identified” data from the app to compare menstrual cycles among 14,936 participants who were vaccinated and 4,686 who were not.
Because app users tracked their menstrual cycles each month, the researchers were able to analyze three menstrual cycles before vaccination and at least one cycle after, compared with four menstrual cycles in the unvaccinated group.
The data showed that vaccinated people got their periods 0.71 days late, on average, after the first dose of vaccine. However, people who received two vaccinations within one menstrual cycle experienced greater disruptions. In this group, the average increase in cycle length was four days, and 13 percent experienced a delay of eight days or more, compared with 5 percent in the control group.
Alison Edelman, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Oregon Health & Science University, who led the study, said that for most people the effects were temporary, lasting for one cycle before returning to normal. She said there were no indications that the period side effects had any impact on fertility.
“Now we can give people information about possibly what to expect with menstrual cycles,” Edelman said. “So I hope that’s overall really reassuring to individuals.”
Researchers don’t know exactly why the vaccines seem to affecting menstrual cycles, but Edelman said that the immune and reproductive systems are linked and that inflammation or a strong immune response could trigger menstrual fluctuation.
Any change in getting your period can be stressful, triggering worries about an unplanned pregnancy or a health scare, and people have expressed frustration that public health officials didn’t warn them about a possible side effect or do more research before rolling out the vaccines.
One major limitation of the study is the fact that it included only those who were not on birth control, had regular cycles before they got vaccinated and were between the ages of 18 and 45.
The study also didn’t answer all of the questions raised by people about vaccines and periods. Ever since the vaccines began rolling out, women on social media have complained of longer, heavier and more painful periods after getting vaccinated. This study did not look at the heaviness of periods or other side effects such as cramps, but researchers said it did show that, on average, getting vaccinated did not appear to cause longer periods.
Edelman said preliminary findings from a different study suggest that getting a coronavirus vaccine sometimes may cause heavier periods. The data, collected from nearly 10,000 people, is still undergoing peer review, but it showed that getting vaccinated increased slightly the probability of having heavier bleeding.
However, she acknowledged that her studies have looked only at people with normal menstrual cycles who aren’t using hormonal contraceptives, and that individual experiences may vary widely.
Caiityya Pillai, 21, who lives in Berkeley Calif., said that for two months after her March 2021 shot, her normally light period became extremely painful and lasted twice as long.
“The pain wasn’t like a normal pain. It was to the point where I was crying and could not get out of bed,” she said.
She said she was overwhelmed with anxiety and thought something else might be wrong at the time, but after two cycles, her period returned to normal. When she got a second dose in July 2021, her period worsened again, but she said she felt calmer about it because she had seen similar stories being shared by others online.
Other research has suggested that vaccines have a variety of effects on periods. A survey published last fall collected information about periods and vaccines from 16,000 people — including transgender and postmenopausal people — and found that thousands reported heavier bleeding than usual or breakthrough bleeding.
While these observations aren’t necessarily medically alarming, Katharine Lee, an assistant professor at Tulane University who helped conduct the survey, said the information is important to help trans men plan for additional support if menstruating causes gender dysphoria and also to help people make decisions about stocking up on tampons and pads.
Lorena Grundy, 27, uses an IUD and hadn’t had her period for over three years before she got her first Pfizer shot in February 2021. The next day at work, she got her period.
“It wasn’t that the vaccine moved my period early or late — it produced one,” said Grundy, who lives in Somerville, Mass.
If she had been made aware of the side effect, she said, she would have been prepared and brought a pad to work. Her period lasted three or four days — and it came back when she got her second vaccine dose three weeks later. But it didn’t happen again when she got a booster shot last November.
“I think it’s good to validate that we should listen to women about their own bodies,” she said. “I’m still glad I got vaccinated, but I do think maybe this shows that it’s a symptom we should be preparing people for so they’re not alarmed by it.”
Although Edelman’s research suggested that period changes are temporary, some people have reported lasting shifts in menstrual cycles long after getting a shot.
Sammi Beechan, 32, of Hammond, Ore., said they used to have a “blessed, beautiful cycle” that came every 28 days “like clockwork” and resulted in mild cramps and only four days of light to medium bleeding.
After a first Johnson & Johnson shot in April 2021, nothing changed, but after getting a Moderna booster that October, Beechan noticed that their period started to come every 24 days with more than four days of heavier bleeding, more painful cramps and extreme mood shifts. Doctors have ruled out endometriosis and other potential health conditions as the cause.
Beechan said that getting vaccinated against covid is worth it but that they wish more information about period side effects had been provided ahead of the vaccine rollout. “I went from having very consistent expectations and now each month I’m like, okay, I guess this is what it is,” Beechan said.
Diana Bianchi, the director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, which funded Edelman’s research, said getting a significantly late period after vaccination is not necessarily cause for alarm.
“I wouldn’t recommend going to a doctor after the first time that it happens, just because all the evidence indicates that the change resolves, it’s only temporary,” she said. “If it’s a persistent change in the menstrual cycle interval, then that might be a reason to see your primary-care physician or OB/GYN.”
The National Institutes of Health has funded at least four other research projects around coronavirus vaccines and menstruation, some of which look at adolescents and people with endometriosis, with the hope of providing better information and increasing public trust in the vaccines.
Olivia Rodriguez, 26, said she doesn’t plan to get her booster shot because she had such a bad experience after her second Moderna shot in March 2021. Despite just having finished her period, she started another period within a few days of getting the shot. It lasted 10 days with heavier bleeding, she said, instead of the normal four or five days she was used to. She also experienced more-painful cramps.
Initially, she panicked, but soon found stories online of other women who had gone through similar situations. It was reassuring, but she still is wary of getting another shot.
Rodriguez, who is a member of the Osage Nation tribe, said medical researchers need to earn the trust of the Indigenous and people of color by providing more information up front about side effects.
“I never really got an explanation of why or what happened,” she said. | 2022-09-27T15:29:43+00:00 | washingtonpost.com | https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2022/09/27/covid-vaccine-period-late/ |
WFO LUBBOCK Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Thursday, May 11, 2023
_____
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lubbock TX
443 AM CDT Thu May 11 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern
Childress and northeastern Hall Counties through 500 AM CDT...
At 443 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Memphis, moving northeast at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and nickel size 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...
Memphis, Lakeview and Plaska Community.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
LAT...LON 3470 10027 3454 10064 3473 10080 3475 10077
3475 10030
TIME...MOT...LOC 0943Z 238DEG 33KT 3470 10060
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 515 AM CDT
FOR SOUTHWESTERN BORDEN...NORTHEASTERN MARTIN AND SOUTHEASTERN DAWSON
COUNTIES...
At 444 AM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from 12 miles southeast of Grassland to 9 miles northwest
of Lenorah, moving east at 35 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and nickel size hail.
IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
Ackerly and Sparenberg.
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
To report severe weather contact your nearest law enforcement agency.
They will send your report to the National Weather Service office in
Midland.
_____
Copyright 2023 AccuWeather | 2023-05-11T11:06:13+00:00 | lmtonline.com | https://www.lmtonline.com/weather/article/tx-wfo-lubbock-warnings-watches-and-advisories-18093322.php |
Strongest Tornado in Wyoming History Slammed Yellowstone in 1987
There's only been one EF4 tornado in Wyoming history and it happened in the summer of 1987. It was a rare monster high-altitude tornado that carved a path of damage from the Teton Wilderness through Yellowstone National Park.
I was not aware of this mammoth twister until I saw a share on Reddit showing the path of all tornados in Wyoming from 1950 through 2019. Pay special attention to the slash in the Yellowstone area.
Wikipedia mentions the Teton-Yellowstone Tornado that slammed the area on July 21, 1987. They state that it was the only EF4-rated tornado that's ever hit Wyoming and is considered one of if not the strongest high-altitude tornadoes in US history.
The American Meteorological Society provides even more staggering statistics about this record-setting twister. It was on the ground for 24 miles and was 1.5 miles wide at its peak.
I have been unable to locate any video of the twister which is not surprising considering it's somewhat remote location between the Teton Wilderness and Yellowstone National Park and that lack of smart phones back in 1987. But, the National Weather Service has a very in-depth paper on what conditions need to be like for a monster tornado like this to develop in our part of America.
Oh, and this EF4 Wyoming tornado in 1987 even crossed the Continental Divide. Incredible.
A TV station out of Denver also did a feature a few years ago about mountain tornadoes which is very interesting. | 2022-05-18T02:16:43+00:00 | k2radio.com | https://k2radio.com/strongest-tornado-in-wyoming-history-slammed-yellowstone-in-1987/ |
Five Vigo County high school students who completed the work-based learning program either signed apprenticeship papers or were offered full-time employment.
A total of 50 students participated in the work-based learning program this year. Many of the students have been with their employers for the whole school year, gaining experience in fields such health care, construction and carpentry.
Students in the career pathway also have an opportunity their senior year of high school to participate in an internship in their field.
Doug Dillion, the career and technical education director, said the program elevates post-high school career opportunities that are not necessarily a four-year college. | 2023-05-19T03:06:38+00:00 | wthitv.com | https://www.wthitv.com/news/5-students-complete-work-based-learning-program/article_e14e0f94-f5d8-11ed-a472-1b5510e12869.html |
HELSINKI (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that his country is “not favorable” toward Finland and Sweden joining NATO, indicating Turkey could use its membership in the Western military alliance to veto moves to admit the two countries.
“We are following developments concerning Sweden and Finland, but we are not of a favorable opinion,” Erdogan told reporters.
The Turkish leader explained his opposition by citing Sweden and other Scandinavian countries’ alleged support for Kurdish militants and others whom Turkey considers to be terrorists.
He said he also did not want to repeat Turkey’s past “mistake” from when it agreed to readmit Greece into NATO’s military wing in 1980. He claimed the action had allowed Greece “to take an attitude against Turkey” with NATO’s backing.
Erdogan did not say outright that he would block any accession attempts by the two Nordic nations. However, NATO makes all its decisions by consensus, meaning that each of the 30 member countries has a potential veto over who can join.
Russia’s aggression in Ukraine prompted Finland and Sweden to reconsider their traditions of military nonalignment. Public opinion in the two countries quickly started to shift toward favoring NATO membership after Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24.
Should the two countries proceed on that path, it would represent a blow to Russia since President Vladimir Putin cited NATO’s expansion near Russian territory as one of his justifications for invading Ukraine.
U.S. President Joe Biden held a call Friday with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and President Sauli Niinistö of Finland.
The White House said in a statement that Biden “underscored his support for NATO’s Open Door policy and for the right of Finland and Sweden to decide their own future, foreign policy and security arrangements.”
Niinistö’s office said the three leaders “shared a deep concern over Russia’s war on Ukraine.”
“President Niinistö went through Finland’s next steps toward NATO membership. President Niinistö told (Biden) that Finland deeply appreciates all the necessary support from the U.S.,” the office said in a brief statement.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday that Washington is “working to clarify Turkey’s position” and believes there is “broad support” among NATO members for Finland and Sweden to join the alliance.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to meet his NATO counterparts, including the Turkish foreign minister, this weekend in Germany.
The top American diplomat for Europe, Karen Donfried, told reporters ahead of Blinken’s trip that the United States remains supportive of Finland and Sweden’s prospective NATO membership bids. She said the U.S. remains convinced the alliance is more united than ever before because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Finland’s president and prime minister said Thursday that they were in favor of rapidly seeking NATO membership, paving the way for the country to announce a decision in the coming days. Sweden’s governing Social Democratic Party, led by Andersson, is expected to reveal its decision Sunday.
Asked about Erdogan’s comments during a press conference in Helsinki, Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said: “We need some patience in this type of process. It’s not happening in one day. This is all what I can say at the moment. Let’s take issues step by step.”
The Finnish minister said he was likely to hold discussions with his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, at the NATO meeting in Berlin over the weekend. Cavusoglu spoke Friday with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, but Turkey’s Foreign Ministry did not provide details.
Stoltenberg has said that Finland and Sweden, should they formally apply to join the world’s biggest security organization, would be welcomed with open arms.
The accession procedure could be done in “a couple of weeks,” several NATO officials have said, although it could take around six months for member countries to ratify the accession protocol.
Meanwhile, a report by the Swedish government on the changed security environment facing the Nordic country after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine says Moscow would react negatively to Sweden joining NATO and launch several counter-measures.
The Swedish government’s security policy analysis, which will be used as a basis for Andersson’s Cabinet to decide whether to seek membership in the Western military alliance, was presented to Swedish lawmakers Friday.
The report did not include a recommendation on whether or not Sweden should try to join NATO. But it pointed to NATO membership carrying a number of advantages for Sweden – above all the collective security provided by the 30-member military alliance.
At the same time, it lists numerous tactics Russia is likely to take in retaliation, including cyber-attacks, violations of Swedish airspace and threatening to use nuclear weapons.
___
Fraser reported from Ankara, Turkey. Matt Lee and Chris Megerian in Washington contributed.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of the Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | 2022-05-13T23:27:48+00:00 | siouxlandproud.com | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/international/leader-says-turkey-opposes-letting-finland-sweden-join-nato/ |
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis on Sunday appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin, imploring him to “stop this spiral of violence and death” in Ukraine and denounced the “absurd” risk to humanity of catastrophic nuclear war as tensions escalate.
Francis uttered his strongest plea yet on the seventh-month war as he addressed the public in St. Peter’s Square. It was the first time in public that he cited Putin’s leadership.
The pontiff also called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to “be open” to serious peace proposals. He exhorted the international community to “use all diplomatic instruments” to end this “huge tragedy” and “horror” of war.
“This terrible, inconceivable wound of humanity, instead of shrinking, continues to bleed even more, threatening to spread,” Francis said.
“That humanity again finds itself before the threat of atomic war is absurd,” the pontiff said. “What more has to happen, how much more blood has to flow” before the war ends? asked Francis.
The pope implored “the Russian Federation president, also for the love of his people, to stop this spiral of violence and death.”
He then urged Zelenskyy to “be open to serious proposals to peace,” and called upon ”all protagonists of international life and political leaders with insistence to do all they can to put an end to the war,” avoiding “dangerous escalation.”
Francis called for the “recourse to all diplomatic instruments to end this huge tragedy.” In his address he called war “a horror” and “madness.”
He expressed anguish that “the world is learning about the geography of Ukraine” through the names of its cities and towns, now associated with the death of civilians, including Bucha and Mariupol.
Throughout the war, Francis has denounced the recourse to arms and urged dialogue. But recently, he stressed Ukraine’s right to defend itself from aggression. | 2022-10-02T11:44:36+00:00 | wishtv.com | https://www.wishtv.com/news/international/pope-appeals-to-putin-to-end-spiral-of-violence-in-ukraine/ |
At first, it appears like a comet burning a copper flame past distant stars, glimmering on its downward trajectory into the unknown. But instead, we find ourselves in the darkest fathoms of the deep sea, observing one of the rarest creatures to ever be captured on film.
Last week the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute shared footage of a highfin dragonfish, Bathophilus flemingi, captured far below the California coast from a remote research vessel.
"In more than three decades of deep-sea research and more than 27,600 hours of video, we've only seen this particular species four times!" researchers at the MBARI tweeted alongside footage of the fish.
Closer inspection of dragonfish (family Stomiidae) reveal an HR Giger-like monstrosity, with enormous fanged jaws able to open wide, over 100 degrees, giving the apex predator the ability to consume prey 50% larger than itself, such as unsuspecting fish and crustaceans. An adult highfin dragonfish can grow up to six inches long.
"Some dragonfishes dangle a luminescent lure from their chins to entice prey," the MBARI says, "when a tasty morsel comes close, their big jaws open wide, and sharp teeth snap shut."
The rare highfin dragonfish seen last week is covered in an iridescent cloak of bronze scales. Most dragonfish, however, will never be seen, as they are pigmented with what the institute describes as some of "the blackest blacks known in nature."
While the species are believed to sometimes plunge down to 4,500 meters below the surface, the recent sighting was found at a depth of around 1,000 feet during an expedition on the Western Flyer — a large ship set up to deploy and control smaller remote vehicles that dive thousands of feet into the ocean.
Learn more about the strange, elusive creature here. | 2022-05-11T22:57:16+00:00 | sfgate.com | https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/incredibly-rare-fish-filmed-off-california-coast-17166140.php |
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - For the first time, Washtenaw County residents can type their addresses into an online map to see how and when broadband internet service will reach their homes through a series of programs aiming to have the county 100% connected by 2025.
The map is available online here and shows every occupied parcel in the county, in addition to coverage areas from five internet service providers contracted to fill gaps in rural broadband through three different programs.
Residents can get an estimate on when their property will be served through the map, and those completion dates will be updated as projects progress, according to Chris Scharrer, founder and CEO of DCS Technology Design, the firm focused on rural broadband contracted to oversee Washtenaw County’s gap-filling effort.
For now, in many cases the dates listed on the map are a “worst case” scenario showing when a particular project covering a larger area is slated to be completed, and homes could be served sooner as progress is made toward that goal, he said.
His team can update the map live using tablets in the field as they complete inspections, Scharrer said.
The county reached a major milestone when elected leaders voted last year to dedicate some $14.6 million, much of it federal COVID relief dollars, toward extending coverage to more than 3,000 homes left underserved by other federal and state grant programs.
Read more: Life in the ‘dead zone’: How thousands in Washtenaw County get by without broadband
Universal broadband access is now completely funded across the county, a significant achievement and the culmination of efforts that took root nearly a decade ago, officials said at a Sept. 26 town hall meeting on the county’s broadband efforts held in Sylvan Township.
“This is a really great example of your tax dollars at work,” said Sue Shink, chair of the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners, at the gathering.
County Commissioner Jason Maciejewski, also among the officials hosting the meeting, added Washtenaw County had completed its planning early, putting it in a better position as areas across the country compete for limited resources to expand broadband coverage.
Those efforts are years in the making. Inaccuracies in federal maps, which showed much of the county had high-speed service, led a county broadband task force to collect their own data, putting hard figures behind what it was hearing from residents.
Scharrer and his firm drove around 2,000 miles of county roads two years ago, visually identifying home-by-home where broadband service was lacking. That search came up with more than 8,000 occupied properties without reliable, high-speed broadband.
Federal programs like the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) and state initiatives like Connecting Michigan Communities (CMIC) are helping bring that figure to zero, alongside the county’s gap-filling initiative using federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars.
All of the programs are visualized on the new map, with cross-hatched parcels indicating areas where broadband infrastructure has yet to be built.
The vast majority of the new service, which comes through a handful of different providers also shown on the map, will be fiber-based internet, officials said at the town hall.
While some of the programs are still in engineering phases, others are going live now.
“There’s quite a few new addresses that are being activated,” Scharrer said, pointing to some addresses in Saline and Lodi townships where infrastructure was installed over the summer. “It’s going on as we speak.”
In Lima Township, the first home to be served as part of the county-funded gap-filling project was connected in June thanks to the efforts of Washtenaw Fiber Properties, LLC.
Jared Mauch, a Scio Township resident, founded the local internet service provider in an effort to bring fiber optic cable to his own home, before winning a major county contract to extend his network to a broader area.
Read more: Michigan man started his own internet provider. Now he’s got $2.6M to bring broadband to neighbors
Scharrer says residents with questions about the map can reach out to DCS at washtenawbroadband@outlook.com or post in a new Facebook group for answers.
For many Washtenaw County residents who live off dirt roads or rely on shaky cellular internet plans, the new map is the first time they’re getting information about exactly how their home will be connected, Scharrer said.
Early signs from the September town hall indicate that’s exactly what they want to know.
“When we adjourned there was still a line at the table up front that wanted to type in their address and see what it said,” Scharrer said.
More from The Ann Arbor News:
100th anniversary of Michigan archaeology museum focuses on history’s big questions
Fall color is here in the Ann Arbor area. Here’s where to see it on two wheels
Will Washtenaw County board stay all-Democrat? Here are the races in all 9 districts
100 birds found in rental home covered in filth spurs lawsuit for ‘horrific’ conditions | 2022-10-10T17:42:52+00:00 | mlive.com | https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2022/10/new-map-shows-progress-toward-bringing-broadband-to-all-of-rural-washtenaw-county.html |
Facility will offer farmers year-round access to grain markets
MINNEAPOLIS, May 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cargill has unveiled plans to build a new soybean processing facility located in Pemiscot County, Mo. near Hayti and Caruthersville to support growing domestic and global demand for oilseeds driven by food, feed and fuel markets. The facility will be the first of its kind for Southeast Missouri with an annual production capacity of 62 million bushels of soybeans. Cargill anticipates breaking ground on the project early next year with plans to be operational in 2026. The new facility will add approximately 45 full-time positions to the region when complete.
"Cargill's new facility, with its location on the Mississippi river, will operate year-round and provide farmers opportunity to take advantage of increased domestic demand versus relying solely on seasonal exports," said Tim Coppage, Regional Commercial Lead, Cargill Agricultural Supply Chain North America. "Access to both river and rail will provide more flexibility and market access for farmers."
"Missouri currently ranks sixth in the United States for soybean production," said Missouri Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe. "The location of the new facility will expand the $94 billion economic impact of Missouri agriculture, our state's top industry, accelerate economic development and enhance workforce opportunities in the Bootheel."
"Missouri Soybeans is very pleased with the new build of a soybean crush facility in Pemiscot County and the direct impact it will bring to our farmers in Southeast Missouri," said Gary Wheeler, Missouri Soybeans CEO and Executive Director. "In an effort to increase opportunities for our growers, Missouri Soybeans has been working collaboratively with several partners for more than two years to achieve this lofty goal and create a needed market for their soybeans. Born and raised in the Bootheel, I know first-hand this is a great opportunity for our soybean farmers and local community."
The new location expands Cargill's efforts to modernize and increase capacity across its North American oilseeds network. Last year, Cargill announced a series of projects across North America including significant improvements to its soybean crush facility in Sidney, Ohio and construction of a new canola processing facility in Regina, Sask.
Cargill has had a presence in Missouri since 1936 and currently operates across 11 locations in the state and employees nearly 1,200 people.
Cargill's 155,000 employees across 70 countries work relentlessly to achieve our purpose of nourishing the world in a safe, responsible, and sustainable way. Every day, we connect farmers with markets, customers with ingredients, and people and animals with the food they need to thrive. We combine 156 years of experience with new technologies and insights to serve as a trusted partner for food, agriculture, financial and industrial customers in more than 125 countries. Side-by-side, we are building a stronger, sustainable future for agriculture. For more information, visit Cargill.com and our News Center.
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SOURCE Cargill, Inc. | 2022-05-17T16:21:14+00:00 | wagmtv.com | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/05/17/cargill-build-new-soybean-processing-facility-southeast-missouri/ |
FDA advisers to consider whether omicron-specific coronavirus vaccines are needed
The United States is preparing for the possible need to update its COVID-19 vaccines.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's independent Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee is set to meet Tuesday to discuss whether the composition of COVID-19 vaccines should be modified to target a specific coronavirus strain, and if so, which strain should be selected.
That means the COVID-19 vaccinations that people receive in the future could be somewhat or completely different formulations than what are administered now. The current vaccines are based on the coronavirus that emerged in late 2019, but the experts will discuss Tuesday if vaccines should also target the omicron variant.
In their meeting, VRBPAC members will vote on the question: "Does the committee recommend inclusion of a SARS-CoV-2 omicron component for COVID-19 booster vaccines in the United States?"
This is a moment of transition for the approach to the coronavirus vaccines. Anticipation is mounting that vaccinations could be needed annually — similar to how seasonal flu shots are administered each year.
"There's anticipation that we would need a fall booster and what that framework would look like and if a vaccine is needed due to a different variant," Lori Tremmel Freeman, chief executive officer of the National Association of County and City Health Officials, told CNN.
"This becomes challenging, because is it really a booster if it's not the same formulation? And should we be talking about it in that way or is it simply a new vaccination?" Freeman added. "We don't discuss that we have received boosters of flu shots over the years. It's just part of getting your flu shot every year. So this transition is an important one."
In May, a trio of top FDA officials wrote in the medical journal JAMA that the United States might need to update its COVID-19 vaccines each year and "a new normal" may include an annual COVID-19 vaccine alongside a seasonal flu shot.
"By summer, decisions will need to be made for the 2022-2023 season about who should be eligible for vaccination with additional boosters and regarding vaccine composition," wrote Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research; Principal Deputy Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock; and FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf.
"Administering additional COVID-19 vaccine doses to appropriate individuals this fall around the time of the usual influenza vaccine campaign has the potential to protect susceptible individuals against hospitalization and death, and therefore will be a topic for FDA consideration," they wrote.
'This is going to be ... a transitional year'
The FDA's vaccine advisers previously met in April to discuss how the composition of COVID-19 vaccines could change to target any new and emerging coronavirus variants. The committee agreed that there needs to be a framework for how and when such changes take place.
FDA's Marks has called this year a "transitional" one in how we view the evolving COVID-19 vaccine schedule.
"The hypothesis now is that this is going to look somewhat like influenza. In this 2022-23 season, instead of just getting vaccinated against influenza, you'll also get your booster for COVID-19. And we'll see how that goes," Marks told Bloomberg in an opinion article earlier this month.
"If people who get that boost do well and we seem to have avoided another big wave from October to March-April of next year, we will have gotten people used to that," he said.
People age 5 and older are already eligible for booster doses, and certain immunocompromised people and adults 50 and older are eligible for additional doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
"We have to start thinking about vaccines that we can adjust strains of once a year and make it more of a flu model rather than saying, OK, every five months or four months, you'll get another booster," Marks told Bloomberg. "The idea here is that next year we have one campaign, and we don't have to follow it up with another booster campaign. Ultimately, next-generation vaccines would ideally help hold us for that full year."
Currently, the original versions of the Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccines are used in the United States — but vaccine makers have been working on updated versions of their vaccines.
Moderna has developed a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine booster, named mRNA-1273.214, which the company announced this month has been shown to elicit "potent" immune responses against the omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5. This bivalent booster vaccine candidate contains components of both Moderna's original COVID-19 vaccine and a vaccine that targets the omicron variant.
On Saturday, Pfizer and BioNTech said their two COVID-19 vaccine boosters targeting omicron showed a substantially higher immune response than its current COVID-19 vaccine, and preliminary lab studies suggest the vaccines could neutralize the omicron BA.4 and BA.5.
Another vaccine maker, Novavax, has received VRBPAC's support for emergency use authorization in the United States, but has not not yet been authorized by the FDA. Novavax scientists also have been developing variant-specific updated versions of their COVID-19 vaccine as well as a COVID-19 and flu combination vaccine.
'Booster uptake so far isn't that great'
Public health experts worry that there might be a sluggish uptake of any modified COVID-19 vaccines in the future.
"Our booster uptake so far isn't that great, and so another booster is not going to necessarily cause people to run out and get the boosters they've already missed," Freeman said.
About two-thirds of the U.S. population — 67% — is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with at least their initial series of vaccine, but less than a third — 32% — have received their booster, according to data from the CDC, as of Friday.
Vaccination rates for children still lag far behind other age groups — just 30% of children ages 5 to 11 and 60% of those ages 12 to 17 are fully vaccinated, compared with nearly 77% of adults. National data on vaccination rates for children under 5, who became eligible this month, will likely not be available for a few weeks.
The CDC still considers receiving two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines or a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as being fully vaccinated. Any additional doses are called "boosters," and completing all recommended boosters of vaccine is considered being "up to date."
But that language and messaging around completing booster doses — and considering them as being up to date instead of as part of being fully vaccinated — "is not working," said Dr. Peter Hotez, vaccine scientist and dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, told CNN. That is evident in the slow uptake of additional doses.
"Since the beginning of January 2021, I've said this was always a three-dose vaccine," he said.
Now, people who have not yet completed their booster doses are becoming more vulnerable to COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations and deaths.
"There's heavy consequences because we're starting to see not only breakthrough hospitalizations, but even breakthrough deaths in people getting only two doses of the vaccine and not getting the booster — especially those over the age of 65 — so this is more than a theoretical discussion. Lives are being lost because of the messaging," Hotez said.
At the moment, vaccine-induced protection against COVID-19 seems to not stay durable for as long as vaccine experts would hope, but it is not so clear why. Waning protection could be due to the vaccines themselves or due to the emergence of coronavirus variants evading the vaccines.
Hotez said that he thinks the White House should convene a panel of vaccine experts — outside of FDA's VRBPAC — in a special meeting to determine whether the COVID-19 vaccine technology has a weakness when it comes to durability and what that means for future vaccine strategies.
"There's two things happening at once. There could be waning immunity," Hotez said, but at the same time, there have been variants like delta and omicron arriving on the scene.
"If all we had to worry about was delta, would we be having a problem? Or would things have held up? And so I don't know the answer to that," Hotez said. "That's why you want to convene the experts." | 2022-06-28T16:13:03+00:00 | koat.com | https://www.koat.com/article/fda-advisers-consider-omicron-specific-coronavirus-vaccines-needed/40436706 |
Updated July 16, 2023 at 8:29 AM ET
TEL AVIV, Israel — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was discharged on Sunday after an overnight hospital stay for check-ups and monitoring following a dizzy spell.
Netanyahu, 73, was rushed to Sheba Medical Center on Saturday after feeling mild dizziness. His office said he had left the hospital around midday after stating earlier that his test results were normal and that he was feeling "very good."
The medical center said Netanyahu was in "excellent" condition after a series of tests, including cardiovascular ones. It said doctors implanted a "subcutaneous Holter," a monitoring device placed under his skin, to allow Netanyahu's medical team to keep a close watch on his heart activity. It declined to disclose additional details about the device, saying it was for "routine monitoring" and was a "customary" step.
Netanyahu's office said he had spent the previous day at the Sea of Galilee, a popular vacation spot in northern Israel where temperatures climbed to about 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) amid a stifling country-wide heat wave. After a series of tests, the initial assessment was that the veteran Israeli leader was dehydrated.
After being hospitalized, Netanyahu released a video on social media Saturday night. Smiling, he said that he had been out in the sun on Friday without wearing a hat and without water. "Not a good idea," he said.
Doctors ordered him to remain in the hospital overnight for further observation, and his weekly Cabinet meeting was delayed by a day and rescheduled for Monday, his office said.
Netanyahu is Israel's longest-serving leader. He has served multiple terms stretching over 15 years in office. His current far-right government, a collection of religious and ultranationalist parties, took office last December.
Netanyahu is said to be in generally good health, though he was briefly hospitalized last October after feeling unwell during prayers on Yom Kippur, a day when observant Jews fast.
The Israeli leader faces pressure on multiple fronts.
He is on trial for multiple corruption charges in a case that has bitterly divided the nation. His government's hard-line policies toward Palestinians have drawn international criticism and antagonized relations with the United States, Israel's closest and most important ally.
At home, tens of thousands of Israelis have held weekly demonstrations against Netanyahu's government to protest his plan to overhaul the country's judiciary.
Netanyahu's allies say the plan is needed to rein in the power of unelected judges. But his opponents say the plan will destroy the country's fragile system of checks and balances and concentrate power in the hands of Netanyahu and his allies.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2023-07-16T13:24:34+00:00 | knkx.org | https://www.knkx.org/2023-07-15/israels-netanyahu-is-discharged-from-the-hospital-after-an-overnight-stay |
SINGAPORE, Sept. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Until the end of AMAX#1 mining on September 16, Armonia's first mining pool made a great hit, which broke the industry record and also led "Everything Farmable" to become an industry hot topic. It is estimated that up to 410,000 Accounts have engaged in the AMAX#1 mining, among which the strongest miners mined 220.6 AMAX with 130,900 APL, and 5000APL tier mining pool rewards were snapped up within 3.5 hours. This outstanding success of Armonia AMAX#1 highlights the unique value of Armonia's concept of "Everything Farmable", and also shapes the prosperous future of "Everything Farmable" in the blockchain industry.
The dual flywheel model boosts users to participate in mining enthusiastically
As the height of the mainstream blockchain like BTC and EOS continues to rise, the mining arithmetic power is becoming more and more concentrated. Along with this, it leads to the increased difficulty of mining and the threshold of participation. In order to address the pain points of the current blockchain industry and endow more people with opportunities to participate in the construction of blockchain, Armonia innovates the traditional mining model and realizes "Everything Farmable" through converting user ecosystem behavior to ecosystem construction.
As it is known, the realization of Armonia's "Everything Farmable" relies on a dual flywheel model. On the one hand, users get APL rewards by using xChain, APLink,NFTOne, MetaDAO and other Armonia ecosystem applications or picking apples in the "farm". On the other hand, users can put APL into the ecosystem construction mining pool to get AMAX rewards. As the Armonia ecosystem applications become richer and richer, users can get APL in more diverse ways, and they will earn more lucrative AMAX rewards by putting APL into the ecosystem mining pool. All participants can share the dividends of the development of the Armonia ecosystem, thus creating a virtuous cycle of Armonia's ecosystem building.
Driven by Armonia's dual flywheel model, users enthusiastically participated in the mining campaigns. Armonia AMAX#1 mining pool, since its official launch on August 28, has quickly lifted a mining rush among users and set off a boom in the blockchain mining industry. In this mining campaign, the 5000APL and 500APL tier mining pools were the most popular, of which the 5000APL tier mining pool was the first to be mined and the reward finished its claim within 3.5 hours, setting a new record for the industry mining. The top 10 miners redeemed a total of 765,400 APL with an additional reward of 57 AMAX of each, demonstrating the hardcore strength and activeness of miners, and showing that the majority of users are optimistic about the prospects of the Armonia ecosystem application.
AMAX#2 mining pool is ready to go
Standing at the new outlet of the industrial revolution, Armonia is continuously increasing its investment in technology research to solve cross-chain security issues. Through its child and parent chain platform technology, Armonia creates a muti-application ecosystem, bringing rich and diversified application scenarios for global blockchain users.
According to the ecosystem construction plan, Armonia ecosystem mining pool will be opened from time to time, which is expected to open once every quarter. As xChain, APLink,MetaDAO, NFTOne and other ecosystem applications launch online in the subsequent plan, users are encouraged to experience these ecosystem applications to obtain and accumulate more APLs. By then, the AMAX#2 mining pool will be officially opened for mining, and users will have the opportunity to redeem in priority and get the best benefits first.
In the future, Armonia will continue to work with more developers to develop ecosystem applications and join hands with more users to participate in Armonia's ecosystem construction, making "Everything farmable & Everyone mining" become a new lead in the blockchain industry.
More about Armonia
Website:https://www.amax.network/
Twitter:https://twitter.com/Armonia_AMAX
Telegram:https://t.me/ArmoniaMetaChain
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SOURCE Armonia | 2022-09-23T14:30:44+00:00 | wymt.com | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2022/09/23/up-410000-accounts-have-engaged-amax1-mining-armonia-lifted-an-everything-farmable-trending-wave/ |
Harvard University is facing a civil rights investigation into its legacy admissions practices.
The federal civil rights complaint challenges Harvard’s alleged practice of giving preferential treatment in admissions to children of wealthy donors and alumni, Lawyers for Civil Rights said in a statement. The complaint stated that preferences go overwhelmingly to White applicants and systematically disadvantage applicants of color. The complaint said the practices are discriminatory.
Lawyers for the groups — Chica Project, ACEDONE and the Greater Boston Latino Network — say that Harvard’s practice of preferences for legacy admissions illegally discriminated against Black, Hispanic and Asian students in favor of wealthy students who were less qualified.
The filing comes a month after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the race-conscious admissions programs at Harvard and the University of North Carolina were unlawful, curtailing affirmative action in higher education.
SEE MORE: Divided on affirmative action, Asians unite against personal scores
Trending stories at Scrippsnews.com | 2023-07-25T22:20:07+00:00 | abc15.com | https://www.abc15.com/harvard-facing-civil-rights-complaint-over-legacy-admissions |
Less than a year before he opened fire and killed 10 people in a racist attack at a Buffalo grocery store, 18-year-old Payton Gendron was investigated for making a threatening statement at his high school.
New York has a “red flag" law designed to keep firearms away from people who could harm themselves or others, but Gendron was still able to legally buy an AR-15-style rifle.
The “general” threat at Susquehanna Valley High School last June, when he was 17, resulted in state police being called and a mental health evaluation at a hospital. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul told Buffalo radio station WKSE-FM that Gendron had talked about murder and suicide when a teacher asked about his plans after school ended, and it was quickly reported but the threat wasn’t considered specific enough to do more. No request was made to remove any firearms from the suspect, New York State police said Monday.
The revelations are raising new questions about why the law wasn't invoked and how the effectiveness of “red flag laws” passed in 19 states and the District of Columbia can differ based on how they're implemented.
WHAT ARE RED FLAG LAWS?
Typically, red-flag laws, also known as extreme risk protection orders, are intended to temporarily remove guns from people with potentially violent behavior, usually up to a year. In many cases, family members or law enforcement must petition the court for an order, though New York is a rare state in which educators can also start the process.
Removing weapons for that long, however, requires a hearing in which prosecutors must convince a judge that the person poses a risk. Most states also block the person from buying more guns during that period.
Red-flag laws are often adopted after tragedies. Florida did so after the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland that killed 17 students. Law enforcement officials had received numerous complaints about the 19-year-old gunman’s threatening statements.
“This is actually one of the very few policies we have available where it actually builds on this vanishingly small point of common ground between public health people who want to stop gun violence and gun owners and the gun industry,” said Jeffrey Swanson, a professor in psychiatry at Duke University who researches gun violence.
But, Swanson added: “The issue is it's so easy for people to get guns anyway. ... It’s not a one-thing problem, and there’s not one solution to it either.”
WHAT DOES NEW YORK’S FLAG LAW SAY?
The 2019 law allows family members, prosecutors, police and school officials to ask courts to order the seizure of guns from someone who poses a danger to themselves or others. The subject of the court action is also prohibited from buying guns while the order is in effect.
An explanation of the law on a state government website says the law made New York the first state to give teachers and school administrators the ability “to prevent school shootings by pursuing court intervention.”
The online description, crafted before the Buffalo shooting, expresses optimism about the law’s impact, saying it would both safeguard gun rights “while ensuring that tragedies, like the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, are not repeated.”
The question is why one wasn't used in Gendron's case.
WHAT’S THE PROCESS OF REQUESTING AN ORDER?
Someone seeking an order files a simple, two-page application with the primary county court. It’s considered a civil case, with no criminal charge or penalties involved.
A judge decides whether to issue a temporary order on the same day the application is filed, according to a New York courts website. If it is issued, police take the guns.
A hearing, involving witnesses and evidence, is set within 10 days. If the judge decides to issue a permanent order, it would remain in effect for a year. The petitioner can ask for an extension.
HAS THERE BEEN PUSHBACK TO THE LEGISLATION?
Some opponents of the red-flag legislation in New York feared it could lead to false accusations by family members or others with a grudge against a gun owner.
Legislators in New York and elsewhere were aware of the potential legal pitfalls and drafted laws in such a way to avoid constitutional challenges, said Eric Ruben, a fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice who also teaches law at SMU Dedman School of Law in Dallas.
Among the safeguards in New York, he said, is a relatively high standard of proof — clear and convincing evidence — required to secure a final, yearlong order, he said. The law also includes penalties for false applications.
DO RED-FLAG LAWS SAVE LIVES?
The law, Ruben said, “poses significant obstacles” for someone under a red-flag order wanting to buy firearms because they are entered in the background check system as long as the order is in effect. “It wouldn’t stop someone from illegal purchases, however.”
Experts in red-flag laws contend that the laws have undoubtedly saved lives, be it in cases involving planned mass shootings, suicides or potentially deadly domestic violence cases.
“Certainly, red-flag laws are more than anything else aimed at trying to stop mass shootings,” said Dave Kopel, research director at the Colorado-based libertarian think tank Independence Institute, which supports gun rights. “But they can be and should be used for more than just that. A handful of killings or suicides is horrific enough.”
Swanson worked on a study that estimated Connecticut prevented one suicide for every 10 to 20 people subjected to gun seizures. A 2019 California study found it was used in mass-shooting threats 21 times. Maryland authorities granted more than 300 petitions in the three months after its law went into effect, including at least four threats of school violence.
That research shows the laws have worked, said Allison Anderman, senior counsel for the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, though absolute proof can be tough.
“It’s very hard to prove a law is effective based on things not happening," she said. “We still have a problem where we have more guns than people in this country, and this patchwork system of laws and our overall weak laws." | 2022-05-17T04:24:54+00:00 | sfgate.com | https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Buffalo-shooter-s-previous-threat-raises-red-flag-17177766.php |
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Nothing about Meat Loaf made any sense.
He sang lengthy, operatic songs, was named after a ground meat dish, and had the look of a shaggy NFL offensive lineman at a time when the leading rock and roll sex symbols looked like Robert Plant or Andy Gibb.
But one man, Steve Popovich -- a New York City record executive who helped guide the careers of Boston, The Jacksons and Cheap Trick -- got it. Popovich aspired to return to Cleveland and form his own record label, for which “Bat Out of Hell” would become the centerpiece.
The album, released on Cleveland International Records, would go on to sell more than 40 million copies worldwide, changing the careers of everyone involved.
The album is the focus of “45th Anniversary of Bat Out of Hell: Celebrating the lives of Meat Loaf, songwriter Jim Steinman, and Steve Popovich” taking place at the Music Box Supper Club on Oct. 21.
The night’s panel will feature Popovich’s son Steve Popovich Jr., Meat Loaf’s daughter Pearl Aday, Ellen Foley (the female voice on Meat Loaf’s 1977 duet “Paradise by the Dashboard Light”), radio executive John Gorman, and two members of Meat Loaf’s tour group for “Bat Out of Hell,” Joe Stefko and Karla DeVito.
The panel will be hosted by cleveland.com life and culture reporter Troy L. Smith and recorded as part of the CLE Rocks podcast. Tickets are $19.77 with proceeds benefitting the Steve Popovich Scholarship Fund.
“When you look back on this particular album, I don’t believe there’s been anything that comes close to the impact it made on both a domestic and global scale,” says Popovich Jr. " Again, we talk about ‘Bat Out of Hell,’ and it being so left of what was being released at the time in the mainstream, it truly is a phenomenon to see it still stand the test of time some 45 years later.”
Like a Bat Out of Hell
The year was 1977. Album-oriented rock had become a force on the radio with a who’s who of legendary acts releasing seminal albums.
“1977 was the most competitive year in rock and roll,” says Gorman, who worked as WMMS’ program director at the time. “Both Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumours” and the Eagles’ “Hotel California” were released, and both became two of the most successful albums of the decade. So, consider the environment and competition and the year in rock and roll, dominated by the debut of superstars in addition to major releases by established superstar rockers.”
But something was taking place in the nation’s capital that few saw coming. The musical, “Neverland,” a futuristic rock take on the story of Peter Pan, debuted at the Kennedy Center Music Theatre Lab in Washington, D.C. Its writer and composer Jim Steinman and musical collaborator Meat Loaf (who was working as an understudy for John Belushi on the National Lampoon’s touring show) used the music from “Neverland” as inspiration for a seven-song project that would morph into an album.
Songs like “Bat Out of Hell”, “Heaven Can Wait” and “All Revved Up with No Place to Go” weren’t just long by 1970s standards. They were peculiar hybrids of progressive rock and the opera, containing the passion of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run” but unlike anything else in mainstream music in the 1970s.
“The magic between Steinman and Meat is still none like any other from a creative standpoint,” says Popovich Jr. “They were musical soul mates. It would never have worked if those two weren’t connected.”
All Revved Up with No Place to Go
“Bat Out of Hell” still needed a home. Steinman and Meat Loaf wrote and recorded the album that would become “Bat Out of Hell” with Todd Rundgren as producer in 1975. They then spent two and half years being rejected by record label after record label.
The album eventually made its way to Popovich, who had just formed Cleveland International Records as a subsidiary of Epic Records. Popovich was on the hunt for an album that could set his label apart. He took one listen to the spoken word intro on “You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)” and agreed to release “Bat Out of Hell” on Cleveland International.
“They say timing is everything and I really believe that,” says Popovich Jr. “Here you have my dad leaving CBS and Epic Records, the No. 1 record company in the world and at the height of their career and who was responsible for signing some of the biggest artists in the world saying, ‘Screw it,’ and moving back to Cleveland to start his own venture.
“I think he was tired of building something that wasn’t his. I believe he wanted to create his own legacy where no one could take responsibility or credit for what he did. “Bat Out of Hell” became his calling card for life.”
In a 1978 interview with the German music television show Rockpalast, Steinman said he envisioned “Bat Out of Hell” as “seven visions or dreams.” It was an adventure of teenage angst featuring motorcycles, violence and romance. And Meat Loaf delivered every note with soaring passion.
But Popovich still had to convince everyone else they had something, including the most influential radio stations in the country.
“I got to know Steve Popovich when he was at Epic Records,” Gorman recalls. “Being a Cleveland native, he paid close attention to WMMS. Popovich played me ‘Bat Out of Hell’ weeks before the release date. The songs were long; almost too long for radio, especially from a new artist doing music that hadn’t been heard on rock radio before.
“With Meatloaf, it was a true rock opera. Every track was like a musical and the content, the subject matter hit home. I was absolutely blown away by the album, and I had to temper my thoughts with how this music would fit with all the other great new rock and roll albums being released.”
Focusing on the relatable themes of “Bat Out of Hell’s passionate rock anthems, Gorman and his disc jockeys were able to incorporate Meat Loaf into WMMS’ format. Gorman also did Popovich the favor by calling programming directors at other radio stations and giving them pointers on how they could work the album’s lengthy tracks into their formats as well.
Heaven Can Wait
Public response to “Bat Out of Hell” was slow, to say the least. Cleveland International’s parent label Epic Records hated the album and underpromoted it.
However, the early music videos from “Bat Out of Hell” began to take off overseas. The radio push in the United States picked up. By the summer of 1978, Meat Loaf’s debut album was rubbing elbows on the Billboard 200 with the likes of Springsteen, Billy Joel and Bob Seger.
“I would rate “Bat Out of Hell” in a three-way tie with ‘Hotel California’ and ‘Rumours’ as the biggest rock and roll album of 1977,” proclaims Gorman. “Not only did it break through. But it also became one of the biggest selling albums of the decade, let alone the year.”
And “Bat Out of Hell” never stopped selling. It ranks among the 15 biggest albums of all time, reaching its peak on the Billboard 200 in February 2022 following Meat Loaf’s death at the age of 74.
Cleveland International would go on to release albums for Ronnie Spector, Ian Hunter, B.J. Thomas and others. However, the label’s growth was slowed due to the financial strain of paying back CBS/Epic -- the label that wanted nothing to do with Meat Loaf -- for the album’s overhead.
Popovich would finally get his financial and moral victory when he sued Sony Music (which became Cleveland International’s new parent label) in 1995 for unpaid royalties and removing Cleveland International’s logo from reissued CD copies of “Bat Out of Hell.”
The case was settled out of court for nearly $7 million. Popovich sued again after Sony failed to place Cleveland International’s logo on the CDs and was awarded another $5 million in damages in 2005.
Popovich passed away in 2011 at the age of 68. But his legacy lives on via Cleveland International Records, now run by his son.
“No other independent label that I am aware of can say they signed and broke an album so obscure into becoming one of the top-selling albums of all time,” says Popovich Jr. “An incredible testament to his vision and determination in proving people wrong.” | 2022-10-16T12:09:22+00:00 | cleveland.com | https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2022/10/meat-loafs-bat-out-of-hell-turns-45.html |
Four families are getting new homes with Habitat for Humanity in North Naples.
One of the four families became homeowners Thursday as they purchased their new home in Whippoorwill Neighborhood.
“Relief is all I really feel today because I know how hard my mom worked for this day,” Matteo Diaz said.
The condo-style homes are designed to offer a unique housing option to local families. Three-bedroom, two-bath affordable homes with not interest mortgages.
“I moved from Brazil when I was 19, 23 years ago. And I lived in California for 21, which was never possible in California. It’s very expensive. So I’m very happy. It’s the real American dream,” Remily Brito said.
Brito, her two kids and her dog are moving from a cramped two-bedroom apartment into a home of their own.
“A lot of happiness and excitement because my process was a little longer than expected. But we are super happy and blessed and thankful and very thankful to everyone who helped us through the way,” Brito said.
“I was just waiting for that exact moment that I got the key and we signed the papers. And that moment I just felt the air come out of my breath… saying finally… I get my own room,” Diaz said.
Families interested in working with Habitat first have to apply, then interview and wait to be approved. They also must complete 500 sweat equity hours before moving in.
For more information, click here. | 2023-06-29T22:28:30+00:00 | winknews.com | https://winknews.com/2023/06/29/naples-families-move-into-homes-made-by-habitat-for-humanity/ |
Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., a division of manufacturer Ball Corp. (NYSE: BALL), has completed critical design review of the Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 spacecraft, which it is building for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Completing the review means that Ball is clear to begin production and testing of the spacecraft.
The space-weather spacecraft is expected to launch in 2025. It will collect solar wind data and coronal imagery to monitor and forecast impacts from solar storm activity, according to a press statement.
“The impacts of solar events such as coronal mass ejections can be significant, from knocking out communications satellites to disrupting the power grid,” Makenzie Lystrup, vice president and general manager of Civil Space for Ball Aerospace, said in a statement. “SWFO will be an important tool in NOAA’s mission to monitor space weather, provide timely and accurate warnings, and help minimize the impact of these events on our infrastructure and economy.”
NASA selected Ball Aerospace for the project in partnership with the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Ball will also perform satellite-level testing, help train the flight operations team, check out the satellite in orbit and support mission operations.
Ball Aerospace is also building an operational environmental satellite for the U.S. Space Force Space and Missile Systems Center called the Weather System Follow-on — Microwave. That satellite will host an energetic charged particle space weather sensor in addition to its primary instrument to measure ocean surface vector winds and tropical cyclone intensity, the press statement said.
This article was first published by BizWest, an independent news organization, and is published under a license agreement. © 2022 BizWest Media LLC. | 2022-06-16T00:19:40+00:00 | dailycamera.com | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/06/15/ball-completes-design-review-of-new-weather-satellite/ |
SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio police are investigating a murder after two masked men broke into an apartment and shot a man on the far North Side.
Officers were called at 2 a.m. Saturday to an apartment complex in the 16400 block of Henderson Pass for a shooting.
According to SAPD, two masked suspects broke into an apartment by kicking down a door and demanding money from the victim.
After pistol-whipping the man, the suspects then shot him once in the torso.
When police arrived, they found the victim deceased inside of the apartment. The suspects took off before officers arrived.
Authorities are still working to gather more evidence and track down the suspects. The investigation continues. | 2022-07-23T16:48:09+00:00 | ksat.com | https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2022/07/23/sapd-masked-men-on-the-run-after-breaking-into-far-north-side-apartment-killing-tenant/ |
Iga Swiatek vs. Elina Svitolina: Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch | Wimbledon
Published: Jul. 10, 2023 at 9:34 AM MDT|Updated: 38 minutes ago
The quarterfinals at Wimbledon will feature Iga Swiatek and Elina Svitolina battling for a spot in the semifinals on Tuesday, July 11.
The Swiatek-Svitolina match can be watched on ESPN, so tune in to take in the action.
Sign up for ESPN+ to watch Wimbledon matches live, plus on-demand access to replays and classic tennis matches.
Iga Swiatek vs. Elina Svitolina Date and TV Info
- Round: Quarterfinal
- Date: Tuesday, July 11
- TV Channel: ESPN (Watch on Fubo)
- Court Surface: Grass
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Swiatek vs. Svitolina Matchup Info
- In the Round of 16 on Sunday, Swiatek took down No. 14-ranked Belinda Bencic, 6-7, 7-6, 6-3.
- Svitolina took down Victoria Azarenka 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 in the Round of 16 on Sunday.
- In Viking Classic Birmingham, Svitolina's last tournament, she went head to head with No. 57-ranked Linda Fruhvirtova in the round of 32 on June 19 and was beaten 2-6, 0-6.
- Swiatek and Svitolina competed in the quarterfinals at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia on May 15, 2021. Swiatek won the match 6-2, 7-5.
- Swiatek and Svitolina have matched up for two sets, and Swiatek has won them all.
- Swiatek has taken 13 games against Svitolina, good for a 65.0% winning percentage, while Svitolina has claimed seven games.
Swiatek vs. Svitolina Odds and Probabilities
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | 2023-07-10T16:13:01+00:00 | kmvt.com | https://www.kmvt.com/sports/betting/2023/07/11/iga-swiatek-vs-elina-svitolina-tennis-how-to-watch-online-live-stream-wimbledon/ |
(NEXSTAR) – The “Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act” was introduced in the House earlier this month, as progressives try for a second time to shorten the standard workweek from 40 hours to 32.
The bill, introduced by Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), proposes amending the Fair Labor Standards Act to shorten the standard workweek by eight hours for non-exempt employees. (A non-exempt employee is someone who is currently entitled to overtime when they work more than 40 hours in a week.)
It would effectively mean either shorter workweeks or more overtime pay for hourly workers. While the law, if passed, wouldn’t immediately impact salaried workers in office and tech jobs, Takano told the Washington Post he believed it would contribute to a culture shift across all industries.
“The 32-hour workweek discussion is already occurring in certain sectors of the economy. … Panasonic went to a 32-hour workweek. Kickstarter is a company that has explored this and one of their executives is a cheerleader for this whole movement,” he said. “What we need to examine is how this can become the norm across the various workforces in America.”
The bill would need to pass out of the House Education and the Workforce Committee to advance toward becoming law. Takano, a Democrat, is a member of the committee. The committee’s chair is Republican Virginia Foxx of North Carolina, who signaled she’s not a fan of the “top-down” legislation.
“One of my top priorities as the Chairwoman of the Education and the Workforce Committee is the creation of policies that promote flexibility and choices for workers and job creators,” Foxx said in a statement to Nexstar. “However, blanket federal regulations often cause more harm than good and do not account for the unique needs of industries, communities, and small businesses. Main Street America is still recovering from pandemic-era shutdowns—it does not need more top-down federal mandates.”
When the bill was first introduced in July 2021, it was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, but didn’t go anywhere from there.
Since then, Republicans have taken control of the House, making the bill’s path forward even more challenging.
Proponents say early studies of four-day workweeks have resulted in quality-of-life improvements for workers without sacrificing productivity.
They point out the length of the workweek hasn’t changed since 1940, despite massive improvements in technology that allow higher output across industries.
“For too long, our country has prioritized corporate profits over working people and Americans have been forced to work longer hours, sacrificing time with loved ones. While policies enacted by President Biden and Democrats have finally started to raise wages for workers across multiple industries, it’s vital that health, well-being, and basic human dignity are valued over employers’ bottom lines. Establishing a 32-hour work week would go a long way toward finally righting that balance,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, in a statement.
The bill is endorsed by 4 Day Week Global, a nonprofit that helps companies implement shorter workweeks, as well as several labor unions. | 2023-03-17T13:24:41+00:00 | kdvr.com | https://kdvr.com/news/nationalworld-news/32-hour-workweek-bill-reintroduced-in-congress-will-it-pass/ |
Ashanti celebrated her 42nd birthday on October 13 and set the Internet ablaze with a sultry bikini photo that shows off her incredible body. And it’s safe to say 42 never looked so good.
Ashanti made headlines dozens of times this year, which she seems to reflect on in a vulnerable caption to accompany her sun-kissed visuals.
“It has been an incredible year filled with peaks and valleys… I must say my heart was pierced quite a few times.. but it healed and was filled with love again… I was able to celebrate the 20th anniversary of my first album “Ashanti” and in the same week receive a star on the Hollywood walk of fame.. released my first children’s book “My name is a story” did a UK tour and shot two movies,” she wrote.
In the recently released Gotta Move On (Queens Remix) featuring Yung Miami, Ashanti seemingly responds to Irv Gotti, who revealed intimate details about their alleged relationship over 20 years ago.
“It’s giving obsessed, it’s giving you stressed / It’s giving you pressed, it’s giving this n***a missing the best / But it’s been 20 years, please cry less / We can see you and your tears,” she sings.
Ashanti covered our InterludesLIVE cover and headlined the performance in June. In our cover story, she reflected on her decades-long career. “I had no idea. You just go into the studio as a young girl writing these records from my heart to millions of people.”
Happy Birthday, Ashanti!
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42 Never Looked So Good: Ashanti Shows Off Her Beach Body For Her Birthday was originally published on hellobeautiful.com | 2022-10-17T01:29:24+00:00 | hot1009.com | https://hot1009.com/3451868/42-never-looked-so-good-ashanti-shows-off-her-beach-body-for-her-birthday/ |
DALLAS, Aug. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Match Group (NASDAQ: MTCH) announced today that Gary Swidler, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer, will participate in a fireside chat at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference on Wednesday, September 14th at 11:30 a.m Pacific Time (2:30 p.m. Eastern Time). A live webcast and replay of the fireside chat will be available at https://ir.mtch.com/news-and-events/events.
Match Group (NASDAQ: MTCH), through its portfolio companies, is a leading provider of digital technologies designed to help people make meaningful connections. Our global portfolio of brands includes Tinder®, Match®, Hinge®, Meetic®, OkCupid®, Pairs™, PlentyOfFish®, OurTime®, Azar®, Hakuna Live™, and more, each built to increase our users' likelihood of connecting with others. Through our trusted brands, we provide tailored services to meet the varying preferences of our users. Our services are available in over 40 languages to our users all over the world.
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SOURCE Match Group | 2022-09-01T01:27:44+00:00 | mysuncoast.com | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/31/match-group-present-goldman-sachs-communacopia-technology-conference/ |
Happy first day of meteorological summer!
We’ve arrived, y’all! With the flip of the calendar over to June, it’s now officially the first day of meteorological summer! In the Northern Hemisphere, meteorological summer is the hottest 3 month period (June, July, and August) and is typically used when talking about climatology since the date doesn’t change like astronomical summer does (which starts June 21st at 4:14 AM). It’s going to feel like summer for the foreseeable future outside of tomorrow and Friday when a weak cold front swings through. Today’s forecast is about the same as yesterday with morning temperatures in the mid-to-upper 70s under mostly cloudy skies giving way to some sunshine this afternoon as highs reach the low-to-mid 90s. There’s a chance for a quick splash-and-dash morning shower and also a chance of a pop-up thunderstorm near and east of I-35 this afternoon. The best rain chances, however, arrive late tonight and early Thursday as the front actually pushes in.
Tonight’s rain chances are only near about 30% to 40%, mainly for the northern half of our area, arriving after midnight as the front nears the area. The front sneaks through Thursday morning so rain chances will stay near 40% for the first half of the day with rain chances dropping to 30% in the afternoon. Although we’re only expecting less than a half-inch of rain (except within thunderstorms), we’re all expected to cool off with highs in the 80s Thursday! We’ll stay in the upper 80s for a high Friday with only a 20% chance of rain returning thanks to Thursday’s front stalling to our south. We’ll shake the “cooler” weather late Friday and then the heat is back after that. High temperatures will reach the mid-to-upper 90s this weekend with near triple-digit highs early next week.
Today is the start of the Atlantic Hurricane Season (which runs through November 30th) and it’s the first season over since 2014 where a tropical depression or storm did not form before the season officially began. Although we’re technically starting out “slow” based on the last few years, the first named storm of the season, Alex, could form near the Yucatan Peninsula or southern Gulf of Mexico late this week. The storm should move toward South Florida this weekend and is no threat to Texas. We’ll be keeping an eye on that system and all the others in what is expected to be a very busy hurricane season.
Copyright 2022 KWTX. All rights reserved. | 2022-06-01T10:56:57+00:00 | kwtx.com | https://www.kwtx.com/2022/06/01/happy-first-day-meteorological-summer/ |
Club Q shooting survivors press Congress to act on guns
WASHINGTON (AP) — Survivors of last month’s deadly mass shooting at a Colorado gay nightclub testified Wednesday to Congress about the onslaught of threats and violence against members of the LGBTQ community as they urged lawmakers to pass a law banning some semiautomatic weapons.
Michael Anderson, a 25-year-old bartender at Club Q, described how his place of work was a safe haven for him and many others before a 22-year-old shooter turned a drag queen’s birthday celebration into a massacre on Nov. 19. Five people were killed and 25 were injured before the shooter armed with an AR-15-style semiautomatic weapon was subdued by patrons.
“This shooter entered our safe space and our home with the intention of killing as many people as possible, as quickly as possible,” Anderson said. “They used a military-style weapon that exists solely for the intention of killing other human beings, and began to hunt us down as if we were disposable, as if our lives meant nothing.”
James Slaugh testified about watching his sister, Charlene, bleed on the nightclub floor after a bullet ripped through her right arm. “My heart melted as she tried to dial 911 with her good arm. I called out to her and I heard no response,” he said. The siblings were there to celebrate Transgender Day of Remembrance before several pops rang out in between the pounding club music. James Slaugh also was among those shot.
Wednesday’s testimony to the House Oversight Committee came as lawmakers race to finish their work for the year. To the frustration of many Democrats, the year-end agenda doesn’t include legislation to ban semiautomatic firearms due to firm Republican opposition.
The House passed legislation in July that would ban assault weapons for the first time since 2004, but it failed to pass in the Senate. Republicans dismiss the bill as an attack on Second Amendment rights.
Wednesday’s hearing also came on the 10-year anniversary of the mass shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, that took the lives of 20 students and six teachers. Mass shootings haven’t abated since then, with another deadly attack at a school occurring just this summer in Uvalde, Texas.
In the weeks after the attack in Texas and a grocery store shooting in Buffalo, New York, Congress made its most far-reaching response in decades to the nation’s run of brutal mass shootings by passing a package of bills that would toughen background checks for the youngest gun buyers and keep firearms from more domestic violence offenders, among other things.
But Democrats, including President Joe Biden, say far more action on guns is needed, particularly given that mass shootings frequently target specific ethnic groups and religions.
Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., the chairwoman of the Oversight committee, said the hearing Wednesday was meant to show that violence against LGBTQ people does not happen in a vacuum.
“The attack on Club Q — and the LGBTQI+ community — is not an isolated incident, but part of a broader trend of violence and intimidation across the country,” Maloney said. She pointed to the hundreds of anti-LGBTQ bills passed in statehouses across the U.S. since 2018.
Matthew Haynes, the founding owner of Club Q, said the political rhetoric targeting the LGBTQI+ community can have deadly consequences due to the availability of semiautomatic weapons.
“We were lucky that night that the casualties were not much higher,” Haynes said.
Haynes, who is gay, was among the thousands of people who gathered Tuesday at the White House to watch Biden sign historic legislation protecting same-sex marriages.
“It was honestly the first joy and pride I have felt since the horrific shooting at Club Q,” Haynes said. But he criticized the 169 Republicans in the House who voted against the legislation.
“To the members of this committee I humbly ask, are LGBTQ people not part of your constituency?” he asked the panel. “Do you not represent us? While we wait for you to answer, we are being slaughtered and dehumanized across this country, in communities you took oaths to protect. LGBTQ issues are not political issues.”
In his opening statement, Rep, James Comer of Kentucky, the committee’s top Republican, said Republicans condemn all violence and hate, including the recent attack in Colorado.
But Comer accused Maloney and other Democrats on the panel of using the mass shooting at Club Q as a political tool to attack Republicans across the aisle, instead of focusing on rising crime.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2022-12-14T21:44:51+00:00 | kttc.com | https://www.kttc.com/2022/12/14/club-q-shooting-survivors-press-congress-act-guns/ |
WATERLOO — The Waterloo-Cedar Falls metro area has known for years it has a racial equity problem.
Now, Veridian Credit Union is working through a two-year racial economic equity incubator with Filene Research Institute, an American credit union and consumer finance think tank, to see if what it and its partners are doing can be done even more effectively.
The organization plans on holding town hall meetings, putting out surveys, and doing as much as it can to engage its own community in order to better understand the needs, but also hopes its work with Filene can translate to helping other credit unions in similar markets.
Lekeisha Veasley, Veridian’s community inclusion strategist, said in a recent interview after its first meeting with Filene that its work will determine how best to move the area forward in addressing gaps specific to homeownership and access to consumer lending.
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“It’s making sure we are understanding how to get to that next level and how do we really move the needle to the point where we’re seeing outcomes and impacts that are transformative,” she said.
In the metro area, homeownership is at a rate of 31% for African Americans, versus 72% for white Americans.
That is the statistic that got Filene Research Institute’s attention when Veridian applied, according to Veasley, and now is the reason it’s one of eight credit unions leading incubators across the country.
While hopeful the think tank research and eventual report will offer a way forward for the metro area, she says the goal is to help others also in similar markets “without feeling like they’re starting from sum zero” and “to develop replicable models” that will lead to systemic change.
Veridian already has developed plenty of tools to help address the gap.
One is the financial inclusion mortgage to address lower credit scores and issues around debt-to-income ratios and ensuring those people have enough for the down payment toward a home out of early recognition that homeownership is the only way to establish long-term, sustainable wealth.
“The only funds that really needed to be brought to the table was closing costs,” she said.
The individual development account is another example. People can apply for the dollar-for-dollar match savings program of up to $2,000 applicable for six months to two years of saving. Ultimately, the $4,000 is seen as a way to help with the down payment and closing costs on a home, or just to help increase a person’s credit score and/or lower their debt-to-income ratio in order to qualify for a mortgage.
“These are things we are currently doing, and the incubator is going to help us figure out if those are the things we need to be doing to help overcome the barriers, as well as what specific things we need to be addressing,” said Angela Weekley, community inclusion manager.
Along the way, Veridian is picking the brains and thinking of potential strategies related to its nonprofit partners, including Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity’s Blueprints, 24/7 BLAC’s Project HOME and House of Hope’s Driving Hope, and trying to improve what programs it makes available to them.
“We’ve been a leader in the diversity, equity and inclusion space since the early 1990s,” said Weekley. “I worked at the credit union in the 1990s and we had what was called then diversity training and nobody was doing that. And our department is a first of its kind in the credit union industry. This is another opportunity for us to make a difference in the equity space.” | 2023-04-18T13:12:35+00:00 | wcfcourier.com | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/veridian-leaders-reflect-on-early-stages-of-new-racial-economic-equity-incubator/article_21e18a55-41a6-51db-a881-bd0907f1423d.html |
Cleveland Guardians (45-47, second in the AL Central) vs. Texas Rangers (54-39, first in the AL West)
Arlington, Texas; Sunday, 2:35 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Guardians: Tanner Bibee (5-2, 3.34 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 71 strikeouts); Rangers: Martin Perez (7-3, 4.81 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 60 strikeouts)
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Rangers -131, Guardians +110; over/under is 9 1/2 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Cleveland Guardians look to break a three-game slide with a victory over the Texas Rangers.
Texas has a 54-39 record overall and a 29-18 record in home games. Rangers hitters have a collective .463 slugging percentage to lead the AL.
Cleveland has a 45-47 record overall and a 21-25 record in road games. The Guardians have a 10-3 record in games when they hit at least two home runs.
Sunday's game is the third time these teams meet this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Corey Seager has 28 doubles and 13 home runs for the Rangers. Adolis Garcia is 11-for-39 with two doubles and four home runs over the past 10 games.
Jose Ramirez has 23 doubles, four triples and 14 home runs while hitting .284 for the Guardians. Josh Naylor is 16-for-39 with three doubles and two home runs over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Rangers: 4-6, .282 batting average, 5.34 ERA, even run differential
Guardians: 5-5, .269 batting average, 4.80 ERA, outscored by seven runs
INJURIES: Rangers: Josh Sborz: 15-Day IL (biceps), Jacob deGrom: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jake Odorizzi: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Brett Martin: 60-Day IL (shoulder)
Guardians: Shane Bieber: 15-Day IL (elbow), Triston McKenzie: 60-Day IL (elbow), Cal Quantrill: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Peyton Battenfield: 60-Day IL (shoulder)
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. | 2023-07-16T08:46:21+00:00 | daytondailynews.com | https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/ohio/guardians-aim-to-break-3-game-losing-streak-take-on-the-rangers/NI6W5SI7WBC6TOVSECMOUZYNRQ/ |
GRAPHIC: Amid chaos, some at July 4 parade ran toward gunfire to help
GRAPHIC WARNING: The details of this story may be disturbing to some.
HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (AP) — Bobby Shapiro ran down Central Avenue in socks, moving toward the street corner where gunfire had erupted just moments before. At first, he only wanted to confirm that what he was hearing was real — a mass shooting at a July 4 parade in Highland Park.
Any sense of disbelief vanished with the sight of bone fragments, blood and pieces of flesh lying in the street where a parade was marching just minutes before. Then he saw the bodies.
“It was pure horror. It was a battle zone,” Shapiro, 52, said in an interview. When the gunshots first went off, he had been changing out of his cycling shoes about 100 yards away.
Emergency vehicles and first responders were not yet at the scene, so Shapiro, a tech salesman with no medical training, began doing whatever he could to help.
From the bystanders who tied tourniquets and administered CPR to the fleeing paradegoers who rescued and cared for an orphaned 2-year-old covered in blood, people from every corner of the Highland Park community sprung into action on July 4 in the wake of unspeakable tragedy.
Nearly a dozen people, including off-duty doctors, nurses and a football coach, were among the first to administer lifesaving assistance to victims of the parade shooting.
“Things happen so quickly that your brain can’t possibly comprehend that there is an active shooter in your town, in your sleepy little neighborhood,” said Dr. Wendy Rush, an anesthesiologist with decades of experience working in trauma centers.
Rush joined Shapiro in trying to save an elderly man who had a gunshot wound in his thigh and another that left a gaping hole in his abdomen.
While Rush used a ventilation mask and bag to help the elderly man breathe, Shapiro and another bystander took turns giving chest compressions and holding pressure on his wounds.
All the while, “We didn’t know where the shooter was. We knew he wasn’t dead,” Rush said.
Nearly 30 minutes later, Rush boarded an ambulance alongside the dying man, and Shapiro, in shorts stained with blood, walked back to the bench where he’d been changing his shoes what felt like hours earlier.
The man died at the hospital, and was later identified as Stephen Straus, an 88-year-old financial advisor.
Rush’s husband and son were also on the scene. As members of Highland Park’s Community Emergency Response Team, both men have training in first aid and basic life support. They were working the parade expecting to assist with the regular crowd control and the occasional lost child.
Rush’s son cared for people with less critical gunshot wounds, applying tourniquets and pressure to stop their bleeding. Her husband, Rush said, spent most of his time caring for Keely Roberts, a school superintendent shot twice in her foot and leg.
Roberts’ 8-year-old son Cooper, shot in the chest, remains in serious condition at University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital with a severed spine.
His twin brother, Luke, was nearby.
“I’ll never forget his face. He was just hysterical. He kept saying, ‘Don’t let my mommy die, don’t let my mommy die. Don’t let her lips turn blue like my brother.’ It was the worst you could ever imagine,” Eddie Rush told Fox 32 Chicago.
Football coach Brad Hokin was at his usual spot at the beginning of the route when the shooting started. He took off running down the bloodied street past those with minor injuries and toward the people he could tell needed assistance most urgently.
When his wife, nurse practitioner Jacquie Toia, called from their seats about a quarter mile away to make sure he was OK, Hokin simply told her, “Get up here. We need you.”
Toia, 64, hurried to the scene still unsure of what was happening. When she saw the destruction, her instincts kicked into gear. As a nurse for 36 years, Toia had experience working in an emergency setting.
By that point, paramedics on scene had equipment, and Toia and another nurse on the scene began to administer IVs.
Meanwhile Hokin, with no prior medical training, was holding pressure on gunshot wounds and helping EMTs load the wounded onto gurneys until all the victims were safely en route to hospitals.
“We did what we could to take care of the immediate needs, and that’s probably the real tragedy – we didn’t have enough hands to do what needed to be done,” Toia said. Responders were overwhelmed by the sheer number of casualties.
“Thirty-six years in medicine is enough that loss is not a stranger to me,” Toia said. “This was so different. This was hell.”
Dr. David Baum, an OBGYN and longtime attendee of the parade, was sitting with his family when the shooting started. The doctor rushed to help, and found bodies destroyed by bullets. Baum recalled trying to move people to ambulances and seeing wounds unlike anything he’d dealt with before.
“These were wartime injuries,” Baum said.
Baum and Toia both expressed their frustrations that the shooter had such easy access to high-capacity weapons. “You should never have to worry about being killed in your street on the Fourth of July at a parade,” Toia said.
Dr. Rush’s son, Shane Selig, said everyone is still processing what happened.
“There are those that feel guilty they didn’t do more,” he said, while adding, “at least I could do something.”
But it is hard, this aftermath. People, he said, will be “forever scarred by this.” And it makes him angry.
The images of the hurt and dying haunt those who ran to help.
Shapiro wakes up and when he opens his eyes, “It’s the ‘bang, bang, bang, bang, bang’ of the shooting and initial panic again.”
For Toia, “The children’s faces running and screaming and crying and falling will never escape me.”
Still, Hokin says it won’t deter him next year from joining with the community he loves.
In his 58 years, he’s been to the parade 52 times. Even during the pandemic when the parade was canceled, he went out just to say he was there.
“I’m sure next Fourth of July, I’ll be on the corner at 8 o’clock, waiting for the parade.”
____
Associated Press reporters Heather Hollingsworth, Grant Schulte, and Claire Savage contributed to this report. Venhuizen reported from Madison, Wisconsin; Hollingsworth from Kansas City; Savage from Chicago; and Schulte from Lincoln, Nebraska.
Savage and Venhuizen are corps members 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 Venhuizen on Twitter.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2022-07-09T17:39:52+00:00 | wlox.com | https://www.wlox.com/2022/07/09/graphic-amid-chaos-some-july-4-parade-ran-toward-gunfire-help/ |
Thousands of unauthorized vapes are pouring into the US despite the FDA crackdown on fruity flavors
Washington — The number of different electronic cigarette devices sold in the U.S. has nearly tripled to over 9,000 since 2020, driven almost entirely by a wave of unauthorized disposable vapes from China, according to tightly controlled sales data obtained by The Associated Press.
The surge stands in stark contrast to regulators’ own figures, which tout the rejection of some 99% of company requests to sell new e-cigarettes while authorizing only a few meant for adult smokers.
The numbers demonstrate the Food and Drug Administration’s inability to control the tumultuous vaping market more than three years after declaring a crackdown on kid-friendly flavors. Most of the disposable e-cigarettes, which are thrown away after they’re used up, come in sweet and fruity flavors like pink lemonade, gummy bear and watermelon that have made them the favorite tobacco product among teenagers.
They are all technically illegal, but their influx has turned the FDA’s regulatory model on its head. Instead of carefully reviewing individual products that might help adult smokers, regulators must now somehow claw back thousands of illegal products sold by under-the-radar importers and distributors.
Most disposables mirror a few major brands, such as Elf Bar or Puff Bar, but hundreds of new varieties appear each month. Companies copy each other’s designs, blurring the line between the real and counterfeit. Entrepreneurs can launch a new product by simply sending their logo and flavor requests to Chinese manufacturers, who promise to deliver tens of thousands of devices within weeks.
Once a niche market, cheaper disposables made up 40% of the roughly $7 billion retail market for e-cigarettes last year, according to data from analytics firm IRI obtained by the AP. The company’s proprietary data collects barcode scanner sales from convenience stores, gas stations and other retailers.
More than 5,800 unique disposable products are now being sold in numerous flavors and formulations, according to the data, up 1,500% from 365 in early 2020. That’s when the FDA effectively banned all flavors except menthol and tobacco from cartridge-based e-cigarettes like Juul, the rechargeable device blamed for sparking a nationwide surge in underage vaping.
But the FDA’s policy, formulated under President Donald Trump, excluded disposables, prompting many teens to simply switch from Juul to the newer flavored products.
“The FDA moves at a ponderous pace and the industry knows that and exploits it,” said Dr. Robert Jackler of Stanford University, who has studied the rise of disposables. “Time and again, the vaping industry has innovated around efforts to remove its youth-appealing products from the market.”
Adding to the challenge, foreign manufacturers of the prefilled devices don't have to register with the FDA, giving regulators little visibility into a sprawling industry centered in China’s Shenzhen manufacturing center.
Under pressure from politicians, parents and major vaping companies, the FDA recently sent warning letters to more than 200 stores selling popular disposables, including Elf Bar, Esco Bar and Breeze. The agency also issued orders blocking imports of those three brands. But IRI data shows those companies accounted for just 14% of disposable sales last year. Dozens of other brands, including Air Bar, Mr. Fog, Fume and Kangvape, have been left untouched.
The FDA's tobacco director, Brian King, said the agency is “unwavering" in its commitment against illegal e-cigarettes.
“I don’t think there’s any panacea here,” King said. “We follow a comprehensive approach and that involves addressing all entities across the supply chain, from manufacturers to importers to distributors to retailers.”
The IRI data obtained by the AP provides key insights beyond figures released last week by government researchers, which showed the number of vaping brands in the U.S. grew nearly 50% to 269 by late 2022.
IRI restricts access to its data, which it sells to companies, investment firms and researchers. A person not authorized to share it gave access to the AP on condition of anonymity. The company declined to comment on or confirm the data, saying IRI doesn't offer such information to news organizations.
To be sure, the FDA has made progress in a mammoth task: processing nearly 26 million product applications submitted by manufacturers hoping to enter or stay on the market. And King said the agency hopes to get back to "true premarket review” once it finishes plowing through that mountain of applications.
But in the meantime disposable vape makers have exploited two loopholes in the FDA's oversight, only one of which has been closed.
The FDA’s authority originally only referenced products using nicotine from tobacco plants. In 2021, Puff Bar and other disposable companies switched to using laboratory-made nicotine.
Congress closed that loophole last year, but the action gave rise to another backlog of FDA applications for synthetic nicotine products. Under the law, the FDA was supposed to promptly make decisions on those applications. The agency has let most stay on the market while numerous others launch illegally.
An earlier loophole came from a decision by Trump’s White House, which was made without the FDA’s input, according to the previous director of the agency’s tobacco program.
“It was preventable,” said Mitch Zeller, who retired from the FDA last year. “But I was told there was no appeal.”
In September 2019, Trump announced at a news conference a plan to ban non-tobacco flavors from all e-cigarettes — both reloadable devices and disposables. But political advisers to the president worried that could alienate voters.
Zeller said he was subsequently informed by phone in December 2019 that the flavor restrictions wouldn’t apply to disposables.
“I told them: ‘It doesn’t take a crystal ball to predict that kids will migrate to the disposable products that are unaffected by this, and you ultimately won’t solve the problem,'” Zeller said.
Juul's fall and the flood of disposables
In retrospect, the government’s crackdown on Juul now seems relatively simple.
In September 2018, FDA officials declared teen vaping an “epidemic,” pointing to rising use of Juul, Reynolds American’s Vuse and other brands.
Within weeks, FDA investigators conducted an unannounced inspection of Juul’s headquarters. Congressional committees launched investigations, collecting hundreds of thousands of company documents.
By October 2019, Juul had dropped most of its flavors and discontinued all advertising.
“In a way, we had it good back then, but no one knew,” said Dorian Fuhrman, co-founder of Parents Against Vaping E-cigarettes.
Parents, health groups and major vaping companies essentially agree: The FDA must clear the market of flavored disposables.
But lobbying by tobacco giant Reynolds American, maker of the best-selling Vuse e-cigarette, has made some advocates hesitant about pushing the issue.
Reynolds and Juul have seen sales flatline amid the surge in disposables, according to the IRI data. Disposable e-cigarettes generated $2.74 billion last year.
The economic barriers to entry are low: Chinese manufacturers offer dozens of designs and flavors for as little as $2 per device when ordering 10,000 or more. The devices sell in the U.S. for $10 to $30.
“If you have $5 billion you probably can’t start a traditional cigarette company,” Jackler said. “But if you have $50,000 you can just send your artwork and logo to one of these companies and it will be on a pallet next week.”
Esco Bars comes in flavors like Bubbleberry, Citrus Circus, Bahama Mama and Berry Snow.
The Austin, Texas company behind the brand, Pastel Cartel, racked up more than $240 million in disposable sales before the FDA blocked its Chinese imports last month.
CEO Darrell Surriff says his company has gone to great lengths to comply with the FDA, spending $8 million on an application that the agency refused to accept. He’s appealing that decision and considering challenges to the import ban.
“We’re a company that does very positive things for society and the community, and the government just attacked us,” said Surriff, who added that he recently purchased new cars for several longtime employees.
Import alerts are one of the FDA's strongest tools to block illegal products, but industry experts say they're easy to skirt.
“Chinese companies tend to just rename their products and change their shipping address so then the products can easily be marketed again,” said Marc Scheineson, a former FDA attorney who now consults for tobacco clients.
The FDA’s import ban against Chinese manufacturer Elf Bar, the best-selling disposable in the U.S., demonstrates the weaknesses of the whack-a-mole approach. The alert doesn't mention several other brands made by the company, including Lost Mary and Funky Republic.
Made by iMiracle Shenzhen, Elf Bar alone has generated nearly $400 million in U.S. sales since late 2021, the IRI data shows. The company recently renamed its products in the U.S. to EB Design, due to a trademark dispute.
IMiracle criticized the FDA's recent actions on imports and warning letters in an emailed statement, saying the agency is “dead-set on eliminating all vaping products from the U.S. marketplace." The company said it would defend its adult customers by “fighting back” against the FDA's regulation.
National retail chains tend to avoid stocking disposables. But new distribution networks have sprung up, according to those in the industry. A wholesaler will import a shipping container of disposables and then sell the contents to smaller distributors, who then sell the products to local stores out of vans or trucks.
Outdated and unfinished rules
The 2009 law that gave the FDA authority over the tobacco industry was focused on cigarettes and other traditional products made by a handful of huge U.S. companies.
The aim was to subject tobacco manufacturing and ingredients to the same kind of scrutiny and inspections as foods and medical supplies. Today’s vaping manufacturers, based almost exclusively in China, weren’t part of the discussion.
Fourteen years later, the FDA hasn't finalized manufacturing rules that would extend its authority to foreign vaping factories. In fact, regulators only released a draft regulation in March.
“FDA theoretically has the authority to inspect foreign manufacturing facilities,” said Patricia Kovacevic, an attorney specializing in tobacco regulation. “But practically speaking, the inspection program that the FDA has in place only happens in the U.S.”
Of more than 500 tobacco-related inspections conducted since the FDA gained authority over e-cigarettes, only two were in China, according to the agency's public database. Those two inspections took place at Shenzhen factories used by major U.S. vaping firms, which have filed FDA applications for their products.
Currently, those applications are essentially the only way that FDA learns exactly where and how e-cigarettes are produced. Many disposables have simply skipped the process altogether.
The FDA itself recognizes the problem, stating in its proposed guidelines: “Covering foreign manufacturers is necessary to assure the protection of the public health," and noting “numerous reports of battery fires and explosions,” with Chinese e-cigarettes.
The agency has been playing catch-up on the vaping issue for over a decade.
The FDA announced plans to start regulating the products in 2011, and it took regulators another five years to finalize rules.
Once implemented in August 2016, no new e-cigarettes were supposed to enter the U.S. and companies on the market had to submit applications for review by September 2020. Only products that could help smokers — by reducing cigarette exposure — while not appealing to youngsters were supposed to win authorization.
With limited resources, the FDA used “discretion” to delay decisions on many applications, allowing products — including major brands like Vuse — to stay on the market for years.
The backlog now includes thousands more e-cigarettes using synthetic nicotine. To date the FDA has only authorized about two dozen e-cigarettes from three manufacturers. None are disposables.
“Any product that doesn’t have authorization is on the market illegally,” King says.
Industry representatives say the FDA’s refusal to approve more options has forced it into an untenable position.
“When an agency declares that everything on the market is illegal, it puts itself in the position of being completely unable to enforce its own regulations,” said Tony Abboud, of the Vapor Technology Association.
Split views on a solution
Even with broad agreement that flavored disposables are a problem, there’s little consensus on the solution.
In February, Reynolds petitioned the FDA to begin subjecting disposables to the same flavor restrictions as Vuse and other older products. Three weeks later, legislation that would have the same effect appeared in the U.S. House. (A Reynolds spokesman said the company did not lobby for the bill's introduction.)
Anti-vaping groups note that the company’s Vuse, still available in menthol, was the second most popular e-cigarette among teens last year.
“They want groups like ours to call for a ban on all Chinese vapes so that they can take over the market,” said Fuhrman, of Parents Against Vaping E-cigarettes. “We’re not calling for that. We’re calling on the FDA to do its job.”
Indeed, the FDA's King says the agency already has ample authority to regulate disposables.
“There’s no loophole to close,” King said, pointing out that FDA has recently shifted its focus to target disposable manufacturers.
But that assertion has stoked frustration about why the agency hasn’t been more aggressive in using the legal tools it has available, including fines and court orders. Former agency officials note that some legal actions require cooperation from other agencies, including the Justice Department.
If there’s less urgency around underage vaping than a few years ago that’s likely because government data suggests an improving picture.
Since 2019, the government’s annual survey has shown two big drops in vaping among middle and high school students, and FDA officials no longer describe the issue as an “epidemic.”
Educators say vaping is still a big problem.
At Mountain Range High School near Denver, art teacher Kyle Wimmer says about 20% of his students report regularly vaping when he polls them using the classroom’s anonymous computer system.
“Esco Bars and Elf Bars are absolutely taking over right now,” he said.
Last school year, Wimmer collected 150 e-cigarettes from students who handed them over hoping to quit. Most don’t make it more than a few weeks.
“The success rate is not very high,” Wimmer said. “They don’t want to do it anymore, but they can’t stop because the nicotine is too high.”
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content. | 2023-06-27T16:17:57+00:00 | detroitnews.com | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/nation/2023/06/27/disposable-e-cigarettes-unauthorized-vapes/70360102007/ |
FOOTHILL RANCH AND IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., is returning to the AIMExpo show floor, February 15-17, 2023, in Las Vegas with its Dealer Development & Training team to connect and strategize with potential new dealers as it begins to grow its dealer network.
"To be able to meet, face-to-face, with hundreds of dealers from across the country as we kick off the sales year is a tremendous opportunity," said Kawasaki's Alan J. Schapel, senior manager, Dealer Development & Training. "Dealers are often the first point of contact for our consumers — especially new riders — making them one of the most important ambassadors of our products, therefore, it is our priority to ensure that we select only the best new dealers to represent the Kawasaki brand."
Commanding more than 250,000 square-feet of exhibit space at the Las Vegas Convention Center, AIMExpo will also feature a comprehensive education schedule focused on providing dealers with actionable content and information that they can use the moment they return to their shops.
"We are excited to have Kawasaki join us for AIMExpo 2023," said Cinnamon Kernes, vice president of market expansion. "Kawasaki, one of the earliest members of the Motorcycle Industry Council and a long-time industry leader, has always been at the forefront of powersports trends and innovation. Their planned use of this show as a platform to connect with dealer prospects and focus on the B2B side of their business is exactly what AIMExpo is about – connecting the industry with the industry."
AIMExpo, the premier powersports trade event, is produced by the Motorcycle Industry Council. MIC exists to preserve, protect, and promote motorcycling through government relations, communications, media relations, statistics and research, aftermarket programs, data communications standards, and involvement in technical and regulatory issues. As a not-for-profit national industry association, the MIC seeks to support motorcyclists by representing manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and retailers of motorcycles, scooters, ATVs, ROVs, motorcycle/ATV/ROV parts, accessories, and related services, and members of allied trades such as insurance, finance and investment companies, media companies, and consultants. The MIC is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., with a government relations office in metropolitan Washington, D.C. First called the MIC in 1970, the organization has been in operation since 1914. Keep up with the industry association on Twitter @followMICand at MIC.org.
Kawasaki started full-scale production of motorcycles over a half century ago. The first Kawasaki motorcycle engine was designed based on technical know-how garnered from the development and production of aircraft engines, and Kawasaki's entry into the motorcycle industry was driven by the company's constant effort to develop new technologies. Numerous new Kawasaki models introduced over the years have helped shape the market, and in the process have created enduring legends based on their unique engineering, power, design and riding pleasure. In the future, Kawasaki Motors, Ltd. is committed to maintaining and furthering these strengths which will surely give birth to new legends.
Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. markets and distributes Kawasaki motorcycles, ATVs, side x sides, and JET SKI® watercraft through a network of approximately 1,100 independent retailers, with close to an additional 7,700 retailers specializing in general purpose engines. Kawasaki and its affiliates employ nearly 3,100 people in the United States, with approximately 260 of them located at Kawasaki's Foothill Ranch, California headquarters. Kawasaki's tagline, "Let the good times roll.®", is recognized worldwide. The Kawasaki brand is synonymous with powerful, stylish and category-leading vehicles. Information about Kawasaki's complete line of powersports products and Kawasaki affiliates can be found on the Internet at www.kawasaki.co
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SOURCE Motorcycle Industry Council | 2022-11-30T20:17:44+00:00 | wlox.com | https://www.wlox.com/prnewswire/2022/11/30/kawasaki-keys-new-dealer-prospects-it-returns-aimexpo-2023/ |
Dealership owner, salesman rolled back mileage on cars before reselling them, police say
OWENSBORO, Ky. (WFIE/Gray News) – Two men in Kentucky were arrested Thursday after police say they rolled back mileage on used cars at a dealership before reselling them.
The Owensboro Police Department said officers received information in February that workers at Discount Motors in Owensboro were tampering with odometers.
Investigators said they determined that dealership owner Eddie Howard and salesman Donald Adams were involved in the fraud.
During a search of the business on Thursday, investigators seized $350,000 in cash, three guns, more than 100 oxycodone pills, two vehicles and electronic devices used to carry out fraud.
Howard, 63, and Adams, 60, were both booked into the Daviess County Detention Center.
Both men were charged with 20 counts of tampering with a motor vehicle/odometer. Both men were also charged with trafficking in controlled substances and prescription controlled substances not in a proper container.
Copyright 2023 WFIE via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2023-04-14T19:35:29+00:00 | wcjb.com | https://www.wcjb.com/2023/04/14/dealership-owner-salesman-rolled-back-mileage-cars-before-reselling-them-police-say/ |
HONG KONG — For the first time in three decades, there will be no organized memorial to the Tiananmen Square crackdown in Hong Kong, the last place on Chinese territory where any kind of commemoration was possible.
The church’s move comes after the candlelight vigil that once featured thousands marking the anniversary at an outdoor park was canceled in 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic, authorities said at the time. The Catholic Churches’ memorial Masses, which persisted until this year, were the last form of organized commemoration in the city.
In a response to The Post, the diocese said that it does not “mean to disapprove of the memorial Mass” and that there are different meaningful ways to commemorate the deceased according to the Catholic faith, such as “praying for the deceased in private or in small groups.”
“However, our front-line colleagues … are concerned that such activity, if held this year, might violate the national security law now in force,” the response read.
The decision comes two weeks after the seizure of 90-year-old Cardinal Joseph Zen, who was briefly detained by the national security police, along with four others for their involvement in a humanitarian relief fund that provided financial assistance to those arrested in the 2019 pro-democracy protests.
The move to cancel the memorial Mass this year was to avoid controversies that could further split the church, said Francesco Sisci, an Italian China expert affiliated with Settimana News, a Catholic research center based in Italy.
Sisci said that the diocese is “walking on very thin ice,” and sought to calm the situation.
Hong Kong authorities said they have not received applications for “non-designated events” this year from any organization or individual on June 4 in Victoria Park, the past location for the candlelight vigil, but added that they are not accepting “other usage” bookings, citing public health concerns due to the pandemic.
Hong Kong’s candlelight vigil, the only large-scale organized commemoration of the Tiananmen crackdown on Chinese soil, was also banned in 2021, but seven Catholic churches continued to publicly honor the victims and commemorate the massacre through special Masses. Even non-Catholics, lined up for a seat ahead of time and attended the Mass.
The Catholic community in Hong Kong comprises about 400,000 people, which is about 5 percent of the city’s population.
Despite the ban in 2020, thousands joined the candlelight vigil at the time and courts later charged and jailed protest leaders who took part.
Since the passage of the national security law in June 2020, the police have arrested 175 people under the security law and charged more than 110 of them as of March 31, according to official figures. | 2022-05-24T11:56:46+00:00 | washingtonpost.com | https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/05/24/hong-kong-catholic-church-tiananmen/ |
squawkbox@albanyherald.com
A gigantic thank you to Albany and the surrounding area for making Theatre Albany’s “Matilda the Musical” a phenomenal success. Watch for more great shows this season.
squawkbox@albanyherald.com
A gigantic thank you to Albany and the surrounding area for making Theatre Albany’s “Matilda the Musical” a phenomenal success. Watch for more great shows this season.
How do landlords and people that rent apartments and houses or duplexes expect us to pay $700 to $1,800 dollars or more a month for rent when some make only $11 an hour? Somebody please make it make sense. We can’t find a decent place to live now.
I was there, too, Fletcher, and you’re right. These wonderful songs performed by this amazing artist was an emotional rollercoaster as I too remembered important times in my life. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
When Herschel Walker said, “I will debate Rev. Warnock anywhere anytime,” did he really mean “as long as there is no media or public access?”
The Editorial Board nailed it: Walker is afraid to debate Warnock because Walker is a mush-mouth with no clue of the actual issues that face our government. Come on, Herschel, you said any time, anywhere. Put up or shut up.
Thanks for your service, Hope Campbell. But Albany isn’t interested in preserving things from the past that were a part of what made it once great.
I so loved the wonderful article on O’She, a young lady I admire greatly. Her talent is obvious; this article offers an inside look at her life. Thank you for sharing.
There is great sin in denying help and compassion to the terrorized, desperate and deserving. For these, Carlton is absolutely right. Without law, leadership and structure, however, there is great wrong, chaos, more suffering and inhumanity, a breeding ground for the fall of a nation.
The fact that there’s a highway to hell and only a stairway to heaven says a lot about anticipated traffic numbers.
Just a word of advice to anyone who wants to vote in the upcoming election: If you want to make sure that your vote counts, you better be sure to vote in person and not with a mail-in ballot. The way the postal service operates today, you cannot trust them to get your ballot where it needs to be on time. It might be delivered sometime in 2023 if at all.
You would love a flamboyant, homosexual singer. If I’d owned any of Elton John’s albums or CDs in the ’70s, I would have trashed them the minute he said he was gay.
Trumpsters, do you support QANON, because your leader does? What is wrong with you people?
Your story about O’She answered a lot of questions I had about her. She is very talented, and I thank her for opening up and letting all of us in on her life.
Poor Donald. The walls are closing in on him, and pretty soon they’re going to be prison walls. That Vaccinated Man
Most of us have never been fired. I have fired people. Most know it’s coming, so hard feelings are avoided. But there are those who on the way out steal everything that’s not nailed down. Can say I’ve never had one steal company documents. Donald, you can keep the stapler, but we sent the FBI for our documents.
Herschel Walker ain’t afraid of Raphael Warnock, and he’ll prove it at the Oct. 14 debate in Savannah. I’ve got a feeling our current senator is going to get the surprise of his life.
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A receipt was sent to your email. | 2022-09-26T11:56:10+00:00 | albanyherald.com | https://www.albanyherald.com/features/squawkbox/article_c2fbead6-3d12-11ed-9ca7-c7846ac1c60e.html |
Brisk but better day ahead for New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — It’s going to be a brisk but better day ahead for New Mexico as temperatures and winds will be chilly but it will be sunny again.
Most people will see the sunshine and temperatures not really getting to the 60s, or even the 50s.
Be careful with the fog and slick roads as you head out the door Wednesday morning.
Steve Stucker shares more of what you can expect in the full forecast, in the video above. | 2023-02-08T14:35:28+00:00 | kob.com | https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/brisk-but-better-day-ahead-for-new-mexico/ |
NEW YORK, Dec. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- InvestorsObserver issues critical PriceWatch Alerts for CORZ, LCID, IQ, GMBL, and TAL.
To see how InvestorsObserver's proprietary scoring system rates these stocks, view the InvestorsObserver's PriceWatch Alert by selecting the corresponding link.
- CORZ: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=CORZ&prnumber=122720224
- LCID: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=LCID&prnumber=122720224
- IQ: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=IQ&prnumber=122720224
- GMBL: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=GMBL&prnumber=122720224
- TAL: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=TAL&prnumber=122720224
(Note: You may have to copy this link into your browser then press the [ENTER] key.)
InvestorsObserver's PriceWatch Alerts are based on our proprietary scoring methodology. Each stock is evaluated based on short-term technical, long-term technical and fundamental factors. Each of those scores is then combined into an overall score that determines a stock's overall suitability for investment.
InvestorsObserver provides patented technology to some of the biggest names on Wall Street and creates world-class investing tools for the self-directed investor on Main Street. We have a wide range of tools to help investors make smarter decisions when investing in stocks or options.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE InvestorsObserver | 2022-12-27T19:48:41+00:00 | kcrg.com | https://www.kcrg.com/prnewswire/2022/12/27/thinking-about-buying-stock-core-scientific-lucid-group-iqiyi-esports-entertainment-or-tal-education/ |
FOREST HILL, Md., July 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cadmium has confirmed that Artesha Moore, FASAE, CAE, president and CEO of Association Forum, will deliver the keynote address at their annual conference, Cadmium Spark. The address, which will explore the future of associations and other content-driven organizations, is scheduled for Monday, July 25, 2022, from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM EDT, at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.
Moore brings with her more than 20 years of association management, including healthcare, engineering, and scientific research institutions. Her recent accomplishments include being selected as an ASAE Fellow and serving as a member of ASAE's Foresight Works Advisory Group. She has served as president and CEO of Association Forum since February 14, 2022.
"We're delighted that Artesha Moore will deliver the keynote address at our annual conference," says Cristyn Johnson, Director of Education and Engagement at Cadmium. "Moore is among the most inspirational leaders in the association space, and we look forward to the insights she will provide to Cadmium Spark attendees."
Entitled "Looking Ahead at the Future of Associations," Moore's keynote address will propose solutions for the challenges currently facing content-driven organizations. These challenges include shifts in funding priorities, a drive for increased transparency, and rapid changes in technology.
Cadmium Spark marks the company's second annual conference since it was formed through the acquisition and merger of five leading software providers in the events, learning, and video technology industry. The conference will provide priceless educational and networking opportunities for users of Cadmium products and other industry professionals.
Select sessions at Cadmium Spark have been approved by the Events Industry Council (EIC) as qualifying for CMP continuing education credit. Interested individuals can explore the schedule or register here. For more information on CMP credits, including a listing of all qualified sessions, click here.
About Cadmium
Cadmium simplifies the production of live, hybrid and virtual events and maximizes the value of online learning with a single, flexible platform designed to capture the chemistry of people, ideas and knowledge. The company's software products are trusted by more than 1000 content-driven organizations worldwide to generate revenue, drive customer retention, and lower operational costs for their events and education initiatives. For more information, visit https://gocadmium.com.
Contact:
Jessie Reyes | Cadmium
jessie.reyes@gocadmium.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Cadmium | 2022-07-12T18:10:01+00:00 | wlbt.com | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/12/artesha-moore-deliver-keynote-address-cadmium-spark/ |
In a five-justice panel’s unanimous decision, the Montana Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a district court decision to block three abortion restriction laws from taking effect while the case proceeds. The high court said the case between Planned Parenthood of Montana and the state of Montana, defended by Attorney General Austin Knudsen, can continue in the Yellowstone County district court where it began.
The 33-page opinion was written by Justice Beth Baker and signed by Justices James Shea, Laurie McKinnon, Dirk Sandefur and Jim Rice.
The case debates the constitutionality of three laws signed by Gov. Greg Gianforte last April. House Bill 136 prohibits abortions after 20 weeks gestational age. House Bill 140 requires providers to offer patients an ultrasound before an abortion. HB 171 adds numerous requirements to medication abortions, including that providers report specific demographic information about patients to the state’s public health department. That law also bans the use of telehealth appointments and the mail delivery of abortion pills for earlier-term procedures.
In October, District Court Judge Michael Moses temporarily enjoined the laws, writing that the abortion providers suing the state successfully argued that the policies appear unconstitutional under the state’s constitutional rights to privacy, individual dignity and equal protection. That “at-first-glance” standard is sufficient in Montana to prevent a law from taking effect while litigation continues.
In the state’s appeal, Knudsen tried to convince the higher court that Moses used the wrong legal standard for temporarily enjoining laws. He said Planned Parenthood of Montana should have been required to show it was likely to succeed on the merits of the case, an argument the state Supreme Court rejected based on a hundred years of precedent.
“Based on its application of our existing precedent and the record before it, we conclude that the District Court did not commit an error of law or manifestly abuse its discretion,” the ruling said.
Since at least 1912, Baker said, Montana has required plaintiffs in similar cases to prove “a showing of entitlement to temporary relief,” but does not require them to prove they can win their case outright.
“The State conspicuously argues that Providers should be required to prove that the challenged laws are unconstitutional at the preliminary injunction stage,” Baker’s opinion said. “There is no support in the plain reading of the statute or in any of our precedents for this interpretation.”
Knudsen’s office also argued that the state Supreme Court should overrule its bedrock abortion rights case, Armstrong v. State, which found the procedure to be constitutionally protected. The court rejected that appeal, too, saying a preliminary injunction was not the time or place for such a deliberation.
“As we do not determine the ultimate merits of a case on appeal from a preliminary injunction, we decline to overrule precedent in such an appeal, when the very purpose of a preliminary injunction is to maintain the status quo pending that final determination.”
The attorney general’s office criticized the ruling in a statement Tuesday evening.
“The current standard for preliminary injunctions is so low that it’s not really a standard at all. As a result, constitutional laws like these may be blocked for months — or even years — before courts ever decide cases on the merits,” said Department of Justice spokesperson Emilee Cantrell. “Armstrong was wrong the day it was decided and its use in delaying these commonsense laws that protect the health and safety of Montana women makes that even more clear.”
Cantrell called the court’s decision not to consider the merits of Armstrong at this point “unfortunate,” and a reaffirmation of the “radical” and “made-up” 1999 decision.
Gianforte, who also asked the state Supreme Court to reconsider the Armstrong precedent in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, said on Twitter that the state Supreme Court’s decision “kicked the can down the road today on Armstrong.”
“With Roe overturned, the Montana Supreme Court must revisit its decision in Armstrong, and I look forward to it doing so promptly,” Gianforte said.
Martha Fuller, the CEO and president of Planned Parenthood of Montana, said on Tuesday that her organization welcomed the court’s decision.
“We are pleased that the Montana Supreme Court ruled today to uphold the preliminary injunction put in place by the district court in the fall. This means that three anti-abortion laws remain unenforceable, including a 20-week ban,” Fuller said. Because the court did not overrule Armstrong, Fuller said, “abortion remains legal in Montana, protected by our constitutional right to privacy. This is a victory for our right to make personal medical decisions, free from the interference of government.”
latest stories
Montana SOS joins pushback against presidential voter access order
Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen recently joined an effort to challenge a 2021 executive order from President Biden on voter access, one that undercut several new state laws her office is slated to defend next week.
After a slow start, fire season in Montana is underway
Compared to last summer, when extensive drought conditions fueled an early start and late end to a season in which about 940,000 acres burned, 55,616 acres have burned this season as of Aug. 9, according to Montana’s Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.
Tranel, Zinke, and Lamb spar over abortion, climate and energy
The three candidates for Montana’s newly created western congressional district squared off in person for the first time at a candidate forum in Missoula, landing glancing blows and setting the stage for a race that will elevate Montana issues to the national stage and localize national political dynamics as the major parties vie for control… | 2022-08-10T01:48:46+00:00 | montanafreepress.org | https://montanafreepress.org/2022/08/09/montana-abortion-laws-will-remain-on-hold-state-supreme-court-says/ |
COLUMBIA STATION, Ohio (WJW) — Joe Hama has no problem admitting that his three bulldogs have made becoming an empty nester easier.
“They are a part of my family, he told Nexstar’s WJW, describing them as being “like my kids.”
The Hama family says they receive packages on a daily basis. Every time, the delivery driver is met with at least one of the three Hama family dogs.
The encounter has always gone well. That is, until this past weekend.
“The outcome could have been horrifying, so thinking about what could have happened does make me frustrated,” Hama explained.
On Saturday morning, the Hama family’s Ring camera captured an encounter that has left them frustrated.
The video shows a delivery driver dropping off a package to their home before being chased back into his car by one of the bulldogs. All three dogs appeared not to be restrained, and two others can be seen following closely behind the first.
Hama admits his dog should not have acted the way it did.
“I think on our part, we learned we need to change our ways,” Hama said.
But what happened next is also behavior Hama wants to see change.
Instead of backing out of the driveway and leaving, this driver did the exact opposite, appearing to drive forward. Hama believes this driver intended to hit his dog.
“If I was to talk to the driver, I’d say I get it. You can be frustrated, but you have to be able to step back from the situation.”
On Monday, Hama says his family received several apologies from Amazon’s staff.
The family emphasized that they do not want to see this driver lose his job. They just want him to learn from this situation, like they have.
“Absolutely. It was a learning lesson for the both of us,” said Hama.
Amazon didn’t immediately respond to WJW’s request for comment. | 2023-04-24T23:33:17+00:00 | keloland.com | https://www.keloland.com/news/national-world-news/amazon-driver-allegedly-tried-to-hit-dogs-after-chase-company-apologizes-family/ |
The New York Post ignited a controversy Sunday when it published a story titled "NYC rules crack down on coal-, wood-fired pizzerias — must cut carbon emissions up to 75%." The article accused climate change activists of threatening a beloved culinary staple.
But the regulation proposed by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection would not actually apply to carbon emissions. It would instead require businesses with coal- and wood-fired ovens to "hire a professional engineer or registered architect to assess the feasibility of installing emission controls on the cook stove to achieve a 75% reduction in particulate emissions." Such emissions, like soot, have been shown to be harmful to human health.
The Post's mischaracterization of the pending regulation was repeated by outlets including the Daily Beast, the Daily Mail, the Blaze, National Review, and the Washington Examiner. On Tuesday, Fox News, which, like the Post, is owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, aired 52 minutes of coverage of the Post's pizza story. One conservative activist lobbed slices of pizza at New York City Hall on Wednesday, shouting "Give us pizza or give us death."
The Daily Caller attributed the rule to "climate extremists," and Twitter owner Elon Musk complained that the "utter BS" regulation "won't make a difference to climate change."
While the proposal could impact how some pizza restaurants in the city operate going forward, the focus on climate change is misplaced.
The proposal is intended to clean up local air
The entire text of the proposed rule does not mention climate change, climate pollution, global warming, or carbon.
"Particulate pollution and carbon pollution are not the same thing," the newsletter Heated explained. "Particulate pollution refers to the tiny pieces of solids and liquids that we can breathe into our lungs."
Whether it's from a wildfire in Canada or a pizza oven in New York City, particulate matter can cause health problems ranging from respiratory irritation to heart attacks.
How the rule would work
If an assessment finds that it is feasible to install pollution controls, they would have to be added within six months. Paul Gianone, owner of a pizza restaurant in Brooklyn that installed the technology in 2019, told the Post that it cost $20,000. (A restaurant could instead switch to an electric or gas oven, but commercial models may also cost more than $10,000.)
If the assessment finds a reduction of 75% is impossible, the professional assessor either finds a way to reduce emissions by 25%, or explains to the city why no emissions controls can be installed.
Although many stories presented the rule as already being in effect, it has not been finalized, and some local politicians are calling for revisions or subsidies to ease the financial burden on restaurants.
Why the rule is being proposed
It is part of the implementation of a law passed by the New York City Council in 2015.
"We're talking about the wildfires and bad air from Canada? Workers with these coal-and wood-oven fired pizzerias are breathing in a wildfire every day," Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, who wrote the bill when he was on the council, told the Post.
Who it affects
Some commentators claimed the majority of the city's pizzerias use wood- or coal-fired ovens, but the proposed rule would only apply to "under 100" restaurants, according to the Post. The New York City Department of Health says there are 1,315 pizza restaurants in the five boroughs, so less than 8% of them would be affected.
No surprise, that is incorrect. The majority of pizza places in NYC do not use wood burning ovens. Those that do and have added filters find that (1) the pizza is still great and (2) their neighbors are happier bcs they don't smell the smoke all day long. Go back to Colorado. https://t.co/e5cZqEBZPU
— Jo Anne Simon 文雅麗 🟧 (@JoAnneSimonBK52) June 27, 2023
The filtration system is in the smokestack, not the oven
One unnamed restaurateur was quoted by the Post saying installing pollution controls would result in "ruining the taste of the pizza totally destroying the product." Similar concerns were expressed by commentators such as Piers Morgan.
But removing pollution from smoke doesn't change the taste of the food in the oven. The air filtration systems are already widely used in Italy (although pizzeria owners there have also objected to the cost of installing them).
“If someone is trying to say that putting the scrubber in changes the flavor of the pizza they’re just trying to save themselves $20,000,” Gianone said. “No, it doesn’t affect what’s going on inside the oven.”
Gianone said adding the filter was “a huge hassle” but that his neighbors have stopped complaining about the smoke from his shop since he installed it. | 2023-06-30T20:52:20+00:00 | wsbtv.com | https://www.wsbtv.com/news/national/new-york-city-pizza/2BS6CLTQ3IUA7JR2ISJ54R3TFQ/ |
Cam Moses and Ethan Fair led Jacksonville Christian to a 53-40 road win over Gaston on Tuesday. Moses scored 17 points and added four rebounds and one assist to his stat line. Fair contributed 15 points, five boards, four assists and one steal to the win. JCA (2-1) plays again Tuesday at Wellborn.
Other leading performers for Jacksonville Christian:
—Jordan Garner, eight points, five rebounds
—Tyler Doggrell, six points, nine rebounds, six steals, four assists
—Cooper Bates, five points, three rebounds
Plainview 53, Jacksonville 50: At Rainsville on Tuesday, Plainview outscored the Golden Eagles 18-9 in the second quarter for a 30-20 halftime lead. After each team scored 16 points in the third quarter, the Eagles outscored the Bears 14-7 in the fourth but their rally fell short.
Caden Johnson, Devin Barksdale and John Broom led Jacksonville in scoring. Johnson had 17 points and grabbed four rebounds. Barksdale contributed 14 points and two assists. Broom scored 12 points, pulled down six rebounds and handed out four assists. Jacksonville opens area action Tuesday with a home game against White Plain.
Faith Christian 75, Glencoe 65: Thomas Curlee’s 32-point performance helped Faith Christian past the Yellow Jackets on the road Monday. Twelve 2-point field goals and eight free throws accounted for Curlee’s production.
Other leading performers for Faith Christian:
—Conner Richerzhagen, 10 points
—Yashua Arevalo, eight points
Donoho 84, Woodland 53: Drew Williamson scored 34 points to pace the Falcons. He nailed five 3-point baskets and was 3 of 4 at the free throw line. Christian Beam led the Bobcats with 32 points and was 8 of 9 at the line. Donoho hosts Winterboro in an area game on Dec. 1.
Other leading performers for Donoho:
—Jordan Cameron, 16 points, two treys
—Isaiah Smith, 12 points, three triples
Other leading performer for Woodland:
—Malakai Drummond, 11 points, three 3-point baskets
Sports Correspondent Rip Donovan: 256-236-1551 or 256-235-3557. | 2022-11-24T02:10:28+00:00 | annistonstar.com | https://www.annistonstar.com/sports/high_school/boys-prep-basketball-roundup-jca-faith-donoho-pick-up-wins/article_819a5db2-6b8d-11ed-b0e7-df962548ea9b.html |
Which paddle board for kids is best?
Paddle boarding is a hybrid of surfing and kayaking. You stand on a paddle board as you would on a surfboard and paddle as you would a kayak. Also called stand-up paddle boarding, it’s a great way to have fun on the water while getting a full-body workout.
The biggest difference between paddle boarding, surfing and kayaking is that surfers and kayakers can handle waves and rough water, but paddle boarding is typically an activity that needs smooth water to have the most fun. If you are looking for a lightweight inflatable paddle board, take a look at the Atoll 11-Foot Inflatable Stand-Up Paddle Board.
What to know before you buy a paddle board for kids
Paddle boards are also called stand-up paddle boards and are referred to by insiders as SUPs. They’re a great way to get out and have fun on the water. Before you choose one, here are some things to take into account.
Inflatable or rigid?
- Inflatable paddle boards blow up like beach rafts — the more air you put in, the stiffer they get. Hand or foot pumps are usually included, as are repair kits. Inflatable paddle boards are the easiest to transport and store.
- Rigid paddle boards are made of fiberglass, epoxies and resins that are more durable and offer better performance than inflatables because their shapes are sleeker. A few are made of aluminum.
Dimensions
- Length: All paddle boards are measured by how long they are. Lengths range from as short as 6 feet to as long as 15 feet.
- Width: Generally speaking, a paddle board’s width is proportionate to its length. Wider paddle boards are more stable while longer ones are easier to paddle.
What to look for in a quality paddle board for kids
Paddle boards come in four basic shapes, each designed for a different activity. Most kids want full-sized paddle boards and the industry labels most paddle boards as for kids and adults.
All-around paddle boards
This is the most popular type of paddle board and is great for beginners. All-around boards are 10 or 11 feet long, have rounded noses and come in inflatable and rigid versions.
Touring paddle boards
This design is a compromise between speed and stability. Touring boards are typically 12 to 13 feet long. Their long decks have plenty of room for bringing along camping gear. Touring boards may be rigid or inflatable.
Surfing
These are the shortest of the four types, usually 8-10 feet long. They have pointed noses and hulls made to skim on the surface of the water. Serious surfers use only rigid paddle boards.
Racing
These are the longest and skinniest of the paddle boards, 11 to 14 feet long, with pointed noses and narrow tails. Because they are so narrow, they are the easiest to tip over. Most serious racers use rigid paddle boards.
Paddles
- Length is the key to being able to maintain proper, efficient paddling form. Look for paddles that are long enough that you don’t have to stoop over to paddle.
- Blade size and shape determine how much energy it takes to paddle through the water. Choose paddles for kids that are easy to use.
- Materials determine the weight and stiffness of a paddle. Lightweight paddles are the best for kids.
How much you can expect to spend on a paddle board for kids
Most standup paddle boards cost from $100-$300. Racing boats cost in the thousands.
Paddle board for kids FAQ
Are all paddle boards inflatable?
A. No, but because they are cushiony, cost less to make and ship and are easy to transport, inflatables have taken over the paddle board industry.
Who invented paddle boarding?
A. Legend tells that back in the 1940s, Hawaiian surf instructors stood up on their boards to better instruct student surfers. The addition of a paddle let them speed up or slow down and also was useful as a balancing device.
What is the farthest anyone has gone on a paddle board?
A. According to the Guinness Book of Records, Shilpika Gautam traveled 1,641 miles along the Ganges River in India to raise awareness of the need for clean water.
What’s the best paddle board for kids to buy?
Top paddle board for kids
Atoll 11-Foot Inflatable Stand-Up Paddle Board
What you need to know: This ultralight board is 32 inches wide, weighs only 19 pounds and has a tri-fin design for maneuverability.
What you’ll love: You get a heavy-duty travel backpack with mesh sides that allow water to drain away. Inside is a reinforced three-piece travel paddle, leash, and repair kit and the whole thing breaks down and sets up quickly.
What you should consider: Some say its light weight makes it hard to handle in windy conditions.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top paddle board for kids for the money
Cooyes 10-Foot Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board with Premium SUP Accessories
What you need to know: This 10-foot, 6-inch board is 30 inches wide and holds up to 300 pounds.
What you’ll love: The removable center fin slides in and out and the bungee cords on the nose of the board hold your gear. The anti-slip pad is comfortable on your feet and knees and the whole rig fits neatly into the backpack.
What you should consider: Some say the bag is poor quality.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Bluefin Cruise Package Stand-Up Inflatable Paddle Board with Kayak Conversion
What you need to know: This 32-pound board converts from a stand-up paddle board into a kayak in seconds.
What you’ll love: You can clip on the comfortable padded seat and swap the stand-up paddle for a kayak blade you can use while seated. The rail layers and paddles are made of carbon fiber, and this ultra-rigid board has a separate central air chamber. The bungee cords on deck hold your gear securely.
What you should consider: The added weight does not appeal to small kids.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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David Allan Van writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | 2022-09-16T19:27:40+00:00 | pahomepage.com | https://www.pahomepage.com/reviews/br/camping-outdoors-br/beach-br/best-paddle-board-for-kids/ |
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