text stringlengths 80 124k | date_download stringdate 2022-04-02 20:48:07 2023-07-31 23:59:06 | source_domain stringclasses 387 values | url stringlengths 21 528 |
|---|---|---|---|
Due to its excellence in leadership, diversity and top women performers, Tampa General has climbed 12 spots from the 2021 ranking earning the top distinction.
TAMPA, Fla, July 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tampa General Hospital has earned the distinction of being No. 1 in the country on Forbes' America's Best Employers for Women list. Forbes recognized the academic medical center for its commitment to advancing women at all levels of the hospital.
"Tampa General has a deep commitment to diversity and the inclusion of all team members, regardless of gender, race or sexual orientation. This recognition showcases our commitment by highlighting the support we specifically provide to women," said John Couris, president and CEO of Tampa General. "Our priority is to understand what all our team members need and what is important to them in their lives so in return, we can provide support in ways that are most impactful to them."
Forbes magazine teamed up with market research company Statista to identify the companies liked most by female workers and looked at numerous dimensions. In the areas of atmosphere and development, image, working conditions, workplace, diversity, likelihood to recommend, family support, flexibility, representation and career and pay equity, Tampa General scored well over the 80th percentile.
One of the methods Tampa General utilizes to understand the needs of team members is through regular evaluations conducted by third-party professional surveyors. In 2021, the hospital's team member engagement survey and a 2022 benefits survey (in which team members self-identified their gender), showed that the top three most valued attributes by women within Tampa General were flexibility, growth and development opportunities, and health, wellness and benefits programs.
"Tampa General values every team member and their unique needs," said Qualenta Kivett, executive vice president and chief people and talent officer, Tampa General. "As a result, we use a variety of approaches to ensure that we are creating a fair, equitable and just culture, as well as fostering a sense of belonging. We know that our commitment to fairness and equity will continue to lead to a diverse workforce and catalyze the best possible patient outcomes."
Grounded in Tampa General's belief in caring for the whole person and understanding that team members have lives outside of work, the hospital continues to evolve programs that can be beneficial to the needs of women.
- Flexibility: Tampa General offers a competitive time-off policy as well as remote working options and flexibility for part-time positions. Over the past two years, the hospital's team members have increasingly expressed a desire for part-time work schedules and those have been accommodated where possible.
- Growth and Development Opportunities: In addition to competitive tuition reimbursement and clinical and non-clinical ladders that support skills enhancements, the hospital also offers scholarships. For example, more than $100,000 in nursing scholarships were awarded to Tampa General team members in 2022. Clinical and non-clinical ladders are structured systems to advance career development while the team member remains in a current position.
- Health, Wellness and Benefits: In addition to competitive medical benefits, the hospital also provides team members access to wellness activities and tracking through a free app, an onsite gym, and online classes through the TGH Fitness Center. Additionally, Tampa General provides support in a variety of ways, including lactation rooms, team member lounges along with a spacious area to help team members decompress that includes massages chairs, and behavioral health support, both live and virtually.
- Family Support: The academic medical center offers a team member emergency fund to support team members in crisis. In 2020 and 2021, a $600 grant per eligible team member for back-to-school supplies has helped parents purchase essentials such as clothes, backpacks, tablets and laptops. An onsite day care center provides families with an education and development curriculum for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years.
Tampa General also focuses on education and professional development with programs unique to the academic medical center – the People Development Institute (PDI) offers classes through a partnership with the University of South Florida (USF) Muma College of Business at no charge. Thanks to a Tampa General Foundation grant, all Tampa General team members can access classes on topics such as technical and emotional skills, finance, and leadership competencies. Geared for Tampa General team members who are early in their careers or desire more training, the free LEAD (Leadership Enrichment and Development ) TGH program spans 12 months and creates career pathways and identifies future leaders. A Modern Advances in Leadership series facilitated through the University of Tampa's Sykes College of Business is designed to provide transformative and interactive learning experiences to advance the skills of current and future leaders. Several programs across the categories are supported through the Tampa General Foundation.
Kivett added that part of Tampa General's philosophy is to continuously develop and expand programs that support the needs of team members. "Part of our ability to do that is recognizing the unique needs of our diverse population and support them in the workplace, at home and in school, in a way that is meaningful to them. We strive to create a world-class environment for our patients and our team members," she said.
The list was compiled by surveying 50,000 Americans, including 30,000 women, working for businesses with at least 1,000 employees in their U.S. operations. The evaluation was based on four criteria:
- Direct recommendations — General work topics: Employees were asked to give their opinion on a series of statements surrounding the likelihood of recommendation, atmosphere and development, image, working conditions, salary and wage, workplace, and diversity regarding their own employer.
- Direct recommendations — Topics relevant to women: Women were asked to rate their own employers regarding parental leave, family support, flexibility, discrimination, representation and career and pay equity.
- Indirect recommendations: Participants were given the chance to evaluate other employers in their respective industries that stand out either positively or negatively with regard to diversity. Only the recommendations of women were considered.
- Diversity among top executives/board: Based on extensive research, an index was built based on the share of women in executive management or board positions. At Tampa General, women comprise 50% of corporate suite executives and 70% of our senior vice president team.
This is not the first such accolade for Tampa General. In 2021, Forbes ranked the hospital 13th nationally in its review of America's Best Employers for Women, moving it up from 24th in the nation in 2020.
Forbes champions success by celebrating those who have made it, and those who aspire to make it. Forbes convenes and curates the most influential leaders and entrepreneurs who are driving change, transforming business and making a significant impact on the world. The Forbes brand today reaches more than 140 million people worldwide through its trusted journalism, signature LIVE and Forbes Virtual events, custom marketing programs and 32 licensed local editions in 71 countries. Forbes Media's brand extensions include real estate, education and financial services license agreements. For more information, visit the Forbes News Hub or Forbes Connect.
Tampa General Hospital, a 1,041-bed, not-for-profit, academic medical center, is one of the largest hospitals in America and delivers world-class care as the region's only center for Level l trauma and comprehensive burn care. Tampa General Hospital is the highest-ranked hospital in the market in U.S. News & World Report's 2022-23 Best Hospitals, and is tied as the third highest-ranked hospital in Florida, with seven specialties ranking among the best programs in the United States. Tampa General Hospital has been designated as a model of excellence by the 2022 Fortune/Merative 100 Top Hospitals list. The academic medical center's commitment to growing and developing its team members is recognized by two prestigious Forbes magazine rankings – first nationally in the 2022 America's Best Employers for Women and third out of 100 Florida companies in the 2021 America's Best Employers by State.Tampa General is the safety net hospital for the region, caring for everyone regardless of their ability to pay, and in fiscal year 2020, provided a net community benefit worth more than $182.5 million in the form of health care for underinsured patients, community education, and financial support to community health organizations in Tampa Bay. It is one of the nation's busiest adult solid organ transplant centers and is the primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. With six medical helicopters, Tampa General Hospital transports critically injured or ill patients from 23 surrounding counties to receive the advanced care they need. Tampa General houses a nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center, and its 32-bed Neuroscience, Intensive Care Unit is the largest on the West Coast of Florida. It also is home to the Jennifer Leigh Muma 82-bed Level IV neonatal intensive care unit, and a nationally accredited rehabilitation center. Tampa General Hospital's footprint includes 17 Tampa General Medical Group Primary Care offices, TGH Family Care Center Kennedy, TGH Brandon Healthplex, TGH Virtual Health, and 21 TGH Imaging powered by Tower outpatient radiology centers throughout Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Palm Beach counties. Tampa Bay area residents also receive world-class care from the TGH Urgent Care powered by Fast Track network of clinics, and they can even receive home visits in select areas through TGH Urgent Care at Home, powered by Fast Track. As one of the largest hospitals in the country, Tampa General Hospital is the first in Florida to partner with GE Healthcare and open a clinical command center that uses artificial intelligence and predictive analytics to improve and better coordinate patient care at a lower cost. For more information, go to www.tgh.org.
Media Contact:
Karen Barrera
Assistant Director of Communications & Partnerships
(813) 844-8725 (direct)
(813) 928-1603 (cell)
kbarrera@tgh.org
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Tampa General Hospital | 2022-07-27T18:52:16+00:00 | live5news.com | https://www.live5news.com/prnewswire/2022/07/27/tampa-general-hospital-named-no-1-best-employer-women-nation-2022-by-forbes/ |
WFO SEATTLE Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Saturday, November 5, 2022
_____
FLOOD WARNING
Flood Statement
National Weather Service Seattle WA
218 AM PDT Sat Nov 5 2022
...The Flood Warning is cancelled for the following rivers in
Washington...
Tolt River Above Carnation affecting King County.
.The Tolt River has fallen below flood stage and will continue to
recede today.
...FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED...
The Flood Warning is cancelled for
the Tolt River Above Carnation.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- At 1:15 AM PDT Saturday the flow was 2090 cfs.
- Forecast...The river crested near 5000 cfs and has recede to
near 2000 cfs.
- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
_____
Copyright 2022 AccuWeather | 2022-11-05T10:18:40+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/weather/article/WA-WFO-SEATTLE-Warnings-Watches-and-Advisories-17560590.php |
Professional financial adviser urges workers to protect their earning power
ATLANTA, May 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Losing the ability to work is one of the greatest risks to financial stability of adults who support themselves, says certified public accountant Rebecca Pavese.
Pavese, a senior client service manager for Palisades Hudson Financial Group LLC, warns that even robust emergency funds typically only cover three to six months of expenses. This may not provide enough of a cushion to recover from a serious illness or injury, even if you eventually recover. For formerly working adults who become permanently disabled or chronically ill, losing earning power can be a serious blow to their financial future.
In an article from Palisades Hudson's newsletter (available online at https://www.palisadeshudson.com/2021/02/insuring-your-own-earning-power/), Pavese observes that medical insurance can help individuals cover the costs of hospital stays and outpatient treatment, but it does not replace income. This means that sole or primary earners may struggle to cover rent, utilities and other essentials – unless they carry disability insurance.
"Without disability insurance, the expenses of daily living can eat through any savings cushion you've set aside," Pavese writes. "You may have to take on burdensome credit card debt if you run out of savings, or the financial burden may fall on your family or friends. Disability coverage can remove this prospective stress."
Pavese advises first checking to see if your employer offers disability insurance. Next, check with organizations you participate in, such as medical or legal associations. If you can't access coverage this way or these options don't provide the coverage you need, you may end up shopping for individual long-term disability coverage.
"Disability prices are fixed by law, so be aware that working through an independent broker will not cost more than buying a policy directly from an insurer," Pavese notes.
Rebecca Pavese has served as a client service manager for more than 15 years, and has been part of the Palisades Hudson team for more than 20. While she is based in the firm's Atlanta office, she serves clients nationwide. A recognized expert on tax and other financial topics, Pavese has been quoted by leading publications including The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. She also contributed chapters to Palisades Hudson's books "The High Achiever's Guide to Wealth" and "Looking Ahead: Life, Family, Wealth and Business After 55" (both available on Amazon).
Contact: Amy Laburda, amy@palisadeshudson.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Palisades Hudson Financial Group LLC | 2022-05-25T21:12:08+00:00 | kwtx.com | https://www.kwtx.com/prnewswire/2022/05/25/dont-overlook-disability-insurance/ |
MASAKHANE, South Africa (AP) — Living in the shadow of one of South Africa’s largest coal-fired power stations, residents of Masakhane fear job losses if the facility is closed as the country moves to cleaner energy.
A significant polluter because it relies on coal to generate about 80% of its electricity, South Africa plans to reduce that to 59% by 2030 by phasing out some of its 15 coal-fired power stations and increasing its use of renewable energy. Its target is zero carbon emissions by 2050.
After receiving pledges of $8.5 billion at last year’s global climate summit in Scotland, South Africa’s plan to transition away from coal was widely endorsed at the COP27 climate conference in Egypt where officials signed agreements for some parts of the loan funding.
The move from coal will be difficult for the continent’s most developed economy. South African homes and businesses are already suffering daily scheduled power cuts — often more than seven hours a day — because the state-owned power utility, Eskom, cannot produce adequate supplies of electricity.
But the change has started. The Komati power station in Mpumalanga province has been decommissioned and $497 million will be used to convert it into a plant using renewable sources and batteries, according to an announcement this month by the World Bank.
Masakhane township, also in Mpumalanga province, sits dramatically at the base of mountains of coal mined nearby and then burned at the Duvha power station.
Residents say they’re worried that if the coal-fired plant is closed they’ll lose jobs, a serious concern in a country where the unemployment rate is above 30%.
The 3,600 megawatts Duvha power station supplies jobs ranging from contract work at the plant to related employment in the transport and food industries.
Selby Mahlalela, 38, moved to Masakhane in 2006 and has had various maintenance jobs as a contract worker for the state-owned power utility Eskom.
“It is the one place that the majority of people from here rely on for job opportunities, despite them not being permanent workers. This happens a lot especially when there are shutdowns or maintenance work,” said Mahlalela.
The transition remains a contentious issue, even within President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Cabinet.
This week, Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe told lawmakers that the transition to cleaner energy should not happen at the cost of people’s livelihoods and the country’s energy security.
“I am one of the people who say we can have a transition. But that coal is not about just numbers, it is about human beings. It is (about) 10 towns in Mpumalanga,” said Mantashe.
In one of those towns, Silindile Kheswa has found work with short-term contracts at the Duvha power station and said he fears the transition away from coal.
“Some of our brothers are involved in the trucking of coal, transporting it to various power stations,” said Kheswa. “So if you are saying no more coal, that means we can’t put food on the table.”
___
Follow AP’s climate and environment coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment
___
Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about AP’s climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. | 2022-11-20T10:56:18+00:00 | mytwintiers.com | https://www.mytwintiers.com/news-cat/world-news/ap-international/ap-south-africa-faces-challenges-in-transition-away-from-coal/ |
MOSCOW (AP) — The upper house of Russia’s parliament on Wednesday swiftly approved a bill that would allow authorities to issue electronic summonses to draftees and reservists amid the fighting in Ukraine.
The Federation Council’s vote was the last step needed before the bill goes to President Vladimir Putin, who is expected to quickly sign it into law.
Lawmakers in Russia’s lower house, the State Duma, passed the measure on Tuesday. The legislation was put on fast track as the Russian military is preparing for an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive, which Ukraine and its Western allies say could start within weeks.
Russia’s current military service rules require the in-person delivery of notices to conscripts and reservists who are called up for duty. In the past, many Russians avoided the draft in the past by staying away from their address of record. The proposed bill would close that loophole.
Under the new bill, the notices issued by local military conscription offices will continue to be sent by mail but they would be considered valid from the moment they are put on a state portal for electronic services.
Recipients who fail to show up would be prohibited from leaving Russia, have their drivers’ licenses suspended and be barred from selling their apartments and other assets.
Kremlin critics and rights activists denounced the new legislation as a step toward a “digital prison camp” that gives unprecedented powers to the military conscription offices.
When the Federation Council considered the bill Wednesday, Lyudmila Narusova, the widow of Anatoly Sobchak, the former mayor of St. Petersburg who was Putin’s mentor, was the only house member who spoke against the measure.
Narusova charged that the bill contradicts the country’s constitution and various laws, and strongly objected to its hasty approval.
The swift passage of the bill fueled fears of the government initiating another wave of mobilization following the one that Putin ordered in the fall.
The authorities have said that another mobilization isn’t planned. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that the proposed bill was needed to streamline the outdated call-up system in view of the flaws that were revealed by last fall’s partial mobilization.
Peskov said Wednesday that the quick passage of the bill was prompted by the “need to streamline the system of military records and draft.”
“There was a lot of mess in military conscription offices,” he said in a conference call with reporters. “The purpose of the bill is to clean up this mess and make the system modern, effective and convenient for citizens.”
Putin announced a call-up of 300,000 reservists in September after a Ukrainian counteroffensive that pushed Russian forces out of broad areas in the east.
The mobilization order prompted an exodus of Russian men that was estimated to number in the hundreds of thousands. | 2023-04-13T12:04:04+00:00 | ourquadcities.com | https://www.ourquadcities.com/news/ap-top-headlines/russia-bill-to-allow-electronic-conscription-notices-passes/ |
The 15th annual Academy of Country Music Honors will air at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022, on Fox.
The show was held Aug. 24 in Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee.
The program, according to the academy, celebrates “recipients of the Academy of Country Music’s Special Awards, Songwriter of the Year Award, Studio Recording Awards, and Industry Awards from the 57th ACM Awards cycle.”
Show host is reigning ACM Female Artist of the Year and four-time ACM Award-winner Carly Pearce.
Performers and presenters, according to the academy, “include Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, The Warren Brothers, Brooks & Dunn, Dan + Shay, Jordan Davis, ERNEST, Jesse Frasure, Vince Gill, Ashley Gorley, Mickey Guyton, HARDY, Wynonna Judd, Avril Lavigne, Little Big Town, Morgan Wallen, Lainey Wilson and more.”
Those being honored include ACM Triple Crown Award recipient Miranda Lambert, Icon Award recipient Connie Bradley, Lifting Lives Award recipients Paul Barnabee and Dwight Wiles, Milestone Award recipient Morgan Wallen, Service Award recipient Duane Clark, Spirit Award recipient Chris Stapleton, Poet’s Award recipients Sonny Throckmorton and Shania Twain, Film Award recipient Yellowstone and Songwriter of the Year HARDY. | 2022-09-13T19:44:16+00:00 | pennlive.com | https://www.pennlive.com/life/2022/09/how-to-watch-the-academy-of-country-music-honors-tonight-91322-free-live-stream-time-channel.html |
The remains of a sailor from Massachusetts who died when the USS Oklahoma was struck by multiple torpedoes during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 are being buried at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday.
The interment comes more than 80 years after the attack that drew the U.S. into World War II and nearly four years after the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced that Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class Roman W. Sadlowski, of Pittsfield, had been accounted for using advanced DNA and anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial and material evidence.
About 15 family members from Massachusetts, Texas and Florida are scheduled to attend the ceremony that was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, said Joe Makarski Jr., who is Sadlowski’s nephew and who supplied a DNA sample about a decade ago that was used to help identify the remains.
“We’re quite excited,” Makarski, 81, said in a telephone interview. “It’s been a long time, and I am glad to be alive to finalize it.”
Makarski never met his mother’s brother, but he grew up hearing about him.
“I remember my Dad and Mom speaking about him, and they always spoke very highly of him,” he said. “I know he worked at General Electric and he did the books for my mother’s little beauty salon in Pittsfield. Growing up, I always saw his picture at my grandmother’s house.”
Sadlowski, 21, enlisted in the Navy on July 31, 1940, according to the Navy’s Office of Community Outreach.
As an electrician’s mate his duties included maintaining, operating and repairing the battleship’s electrical systems, motors, generators and alternators.
The USS Oklahoma was among the first vessels hit during the Japanese attack on Dec. 7, 1941, struck by three aerial torpedoes just before 8 a.m. when many sailors were still asleep below deck, according to Navy accounts.
The port side was torn open and within 15 minutes of the first strike, it had rolled over completely, trapping hundreds of crew members. Two members of the crew earned the Medal of Honor for their efforts trying to save their fellow sailors, and a third was awarded the Navy Cross.
Sadlowski was among 429 USS Oklahoma sailors and marines who died.
Of those who died, 388 could not be identified and were buried at the Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.
The process of disinterring the remains for DNA analysis began in 2015, and since then 355 have been identified, according to the Navy.
Sadlowski’s family debated where to have the remains buried, Makarski said. They considered veterans’ cemeteries in Massachusetts and Florida, and even considered his hometown of Pittsfield, although there are no known family members still living in the western Massachusetts city.
“We talked a lot about it, and decided on Arlington because of its prestige,” he said. | 2022-09-18T19:01:18+00:00 | seattletimes.com | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/sailor-who-died-at-pearl-harbor-to-be-buried-at-arlington/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_nation-world |
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Timo Meier scored a tiebreaking, power-play goal with 2:47 remaining, and the San Jose Sharks beat the Vegas Golden Knights 5-2 on Tuesday night.
The Sharks handed Vegas its second straight home loss after it had won nine straight, including six on the road.
Luke Kunin, Matt Nieto, Logan Couture and Mario Ferraro also scored for San Jose, while James Reimer made 22 saves.
Jack Eichel and Jonathan Marchessault scored for Vegas. Logan Thompson, who had his six-game win streak snapped, stopped 24 shots.
After Meier's eighth goal this season made it 3-2, Couture and Ferraro added empty-netters to provide the final margin.
Just after the Golden Knights killed off a penalty, Eichel scored his 10th goal of the season when he one-timed a pass from Shea Theodore from the far side of the left circle to give Vegas a 1-0 lead with 3.9 seconds left in the first period. It was Eichel’s 400th career point.
The Sharks tied it midway through the second period when Erik Karlsson’s laser from the blue line caromed straight to Kunin, who was there to bury a one-timer from the right circle. It was Kunin’s 100th career point.
Vegas got its one-goal lead back when Marchessault finally solved Reimer after being stymied three times earlier. Marchessault caught Reimer cheating off the post while the Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro anticipated a pass to William Karlsson. Instead, Marchessault’s short-side blast put the Knights in front 2-1.
Nieto wiggled his way in front of the net, where he took a pass from Alexander Barabanov and backhanded the puck past Thompson just 1:04 into the third period to tie the game again.
UP NEXT
Sharks: Host Detroit on Thursday.
Golden Knights: Host Arizona on Thursday.
___
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2022-11-16T06:16:20+00:00 | sfgate.com | https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Meier-puts-Sharks-ahead-to-stay-in-5-2-win-over-17588299.php |
White Castle, the restaurant chain famous for the mini-burgers affectionately dubbed belly bombs, says the new health law will miniaturize its profits, too.
House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), who helped lead the Republican opposition to President Obama's health overhaul, says the Ohio-based company claims a penalty on employers that don't offer health coverage to workers would be "devastating," cutting its profits in half. Boehner shared the worry in a press release recently.
The hoo-hah is just one example in the battle for public opinion that has raged since the health bill became law. In this case Boehner jumps on the firm's concerns to paint the law as a job killer.
White Castle spokesman Jamie Richardson asserts that the eatery would have to pay $3,000 in annual penalties to the government for each employee whose share of health care premiums exceeds 9.5 percent of income. Those penalties would add new costs that would take a 55 percent bite out of the burger purveyor's profits. Richardson tells Shots, "It's pretty dire."
Indeed, if employees turn down employers' offers of health coverage to get new government subsidies, companies will have to pay the $3,000 penalty to help cover the cost of the taxpayer-funded subsidies. (Here's a quick explainer from an accounting firm.)
But, Boehner's press release doesn't point out White Castle would no longer be paying for health insurance for those workers. The average premium for families that get insurance from their employers was more than $12,000 in 2007.
For White Castle to lose money because of the provision, it would have to spend less than $3,000 on health benefits for each employee. Richardson declined to discuss the details of health expenses because the firm is private, he said, but all full-time employees are offered insurance. Total spending on benefits was $55 million last year.
Paul Van de Water, of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, said it was hard to see how the White Castle's gloomy calculation could add up. But, he acknowledged: "Fast food restaurants may have to raise the price of the hamburgers by a few cents to pay for health insurance for their workers.” (See Van de Water's analysis of the employer penalties.)
White Castle happens to have another connection with the White House beyond fretting the overhaul. Kalpen Suresh Modi , known in Hollywood as Kal Penn, starred in the 2004 film, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, before joining Obama's staff as associate director of public engagement last year. The movie, perhaps the all-time zenith of product placement, follows the quest of two New Jersey stoners to get their hands on some White Castle burgers.
Richardson said the film is "really a love letter to us." Modi, who is reportedly leaving his White House post, can add to his resume that his performance as Kumar landed him a place in White Castle's "Cravers Hall of Fame," a fan club.
Copyright 2023 Kaiser Health News. To see more, visit Kaiser Health News. | 2023-05-27T02:19:35+00:00 | wboi.org | https://www.wboi.org/npr-news/2010-05-19/white-castle-health-law-hurts-profits |
Belle Smith was using heroin a few years ago and didn’t have access to a clean syringe. A needle broke in her arm and caused an infection.
Smith went to a nearby hospital in South Carolina, where she said staff refused to give her anesthesia and opted to use a local numbing agent while they tried to get the needle out.
“I looked up at one of the nurses, obviously in pain,” Smith said. “And she said, ‘Well, then maybe you just shouldn't do heroin.’ And I just remember just like silently crying while they dug in my arm.”
Research suggests Smith is not alone. Most health care professionals hold negative attitudes toward patients with substance use disorders, according to a 2013 systematic review of more than two dozen studies. These attitudes can result in patients receiving suboptimal care.
Fatal overdoses in the U.S. have risen over the years, as the opioid epidemic continues to ravage communities. Drug overdose deaths have quintupled since 1999, and from 2019 to 2020, the rate of deaths involving opioids increased by 38 percent.
Throughout society, stigma continues to surround people living with addiction. Experts say in order to combat the opioid crisis, there needs to be greater societal understanding about addiction and more empathy toward people with substance use disorders.
One strategy, spearheaded by researchers in the Midwest, involves using personal narratives to address stigma and biases held by medical professionals.
The power of story to eliminate stigma
Smith’s negative experiences in health care settings led her on the path to becoming an occupational therapist. She hopes to help people navigate life without misusing substances after they leave inpatient treatment, rehab or incarceration, and also advocate for the rights of people with substance use disorders.
While in grad school, Smith came across work from Sally Wasmuth, an assistant professor of occupational therapy at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis. Part of Wasmuth’s work focuses on reducing stigma in medical settings toward people who use substances.
Smith reached out and shared her story with Wasmuth.
As part of her research, Wasmuth has collected the stories of dozens of people who have experience with substance use and addiction.
Wasmuth works with Summit Performance Indianapolis, a theater company, to turn those stories into monologues. Professional actors perform the monologues and the team creates films that are screened for audiences of health care professionals.
In one of the recordings, actor Ryan Ruckman portrays a man who recounts having a rough time as a teen. He started to drink alcohol and smoke cannabis everyday with his friends, and he struggled to imagine life without substances.
“Me and my friends, we do drugs,” Ruckman said in the monologue. “And I am feeling so numb and good and perfect. And I turn to them and I said, ‘I’m doing this for the rest of my life. I’m doing this every single day for the rest of my life.’”
Each production includes five or six monologues showing the diversity of people’s experiences with substance use. Wasmuth said the goal is to normalize people with substance use disorders and help health care providers relate to them.
One monologue that usually stands out to providers, because of how relatable it is, portrays a woman with alcoholism who also struggles with an addiction to sugar.
“It wasn't about, like, using cocaine or something,” Wasmuth said. “She just describes very clearly what happens to her, what happens to her psyche, how she pops that bite of cookie dough in her mouth and how that just starts this whole spiral of thinking and feeling not OK.”
A different kind of implicit bias training
Wasmuth suspects that helping providers better relate to people with substance use disorders can help decrease stigma and bias and improve the quality of care patients receive.
The films’ emphasis on storytelling can be a more effective training method for implicit bias training than traditional approaches, she said, by helping people understand their unconscious stereotypes.
”We think that using narratives and using things like theater and film can help people receive the information or empathize with the stories because their guard is down,” Wasmuth said. “They’re just kind of relaxing and listening to people's stories.”
Wasmuth is in the process of collecting data to determine whether viewing the productions leads to a measurable reduction in stigma among health care workers.
Before and after the film, researchers survey participants about their views on addiction.
The results are preliminary – not yet published – but Wasmuth said they are promising. On average, after health care workers watch the production, they have a slightly less negative attitude toward people who use substances.
Next steps for the research include tracking whether that reduction in negative attitudes persists long-term, and measuring whether patients who use substances feel more satisfied with the care they receive after their providers receive the training.
So far, more than 5,000 hospital and health care staff across the country have viewed the monologues as part of training offered by their employers, she said.
‘These conversations open up a door’
After the film screening, a panel discussion features people with lived experience with addiction, including Kristy Shene, a peer recovery coach at Dove Recovery House for Women in Indianapolis.
Shene said everyone deserves to be treated like a person when they seek medical care.
“All of these people are humans, and they all need care,” Shene said. “When we decide who needs more care than someone else, whose sickness is more real than someone else's, that's when we get into dehumanizing people and hurting people.”
Shene believes in order to reduce stigma, people need to be exposed to lived experiences and have open and honest conversations. She believes the training involving the film screening and panel discussion is a good way to do that.
“We all have bias, and we may not be aware of our internal biases,” Shene said. “These conversations open up a door for people to be mindful and aware of [biases] that they may not even know that they have.”
Rachel McFadden, an occupational therapist at Eskenazi Health in Indianapolis, said once she learned about Wasmuth’s research, she signed up to facilitate the training at her hospital.
McFadden agrees the productions help humanize an oftentimes uncomfortable and taboo topic.
“It's not just a topic,” McFadden said. “It's actual people. They're real people, with real feelings. They have loved ones that care about them. They have lives and goals that they want to accomplish.”
She said the productions have potential to make for more compassionate health care professionals by offering the opportunity “to hear the perspective of someone else and know the power that our words have."
Wasmuth said she’s hopeful because more people are at least thinking about stigma and how it can affect the care they provide. And that’s the first step in reducing stigma.
This story comes from Side Effects Public Media — a health reporting collaboration based at WFYI in Indianapolis. We partner with NPR stations across the Midwest and surrounding areas — including KBIA in Missouri, Iowa Public Radio and WFPL in Kentucky. Follow Darian on Twitter: @HelloImDarian.
Copyright 2023 Side Effects Public Media. To see more, visit Side Effects Public Media. | 2023-01-26T15:22:39+00:00 | iowapublicradio.org | https://www.iowapublicradio.org/health/2023-01-26/hospitals-look-to-storytelling-to-reduce-stigma-toward-people-with-addiction |
The electric Ford F-150 Lightning will remain quicker than the rest of the F-150 lineup for the near future.
At the 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R launch, Ford Performance boss Carl Widmann didn’t mince words: Electrification, be it hybridization or all-electric, isn’t in the Raptor lineup’s cards.
Raptor sticking with the ICE
The reason? Widmann said the internal-combustion engine is “the best tech to operate at full power in deep sand, bar none.”
“The truck (the Raptor) brings that engine to life. You can do things so rapidly,” Widmann said. He noted that it’s not hard to turn off the Raptor R’s traction control system and shoot a rooster tail with a jab of the right foot.
The Raptor R’s supercharged V-8 adds about 100 lb total to the pickup over a turbocharged V-6-powered Raptor while adding 250 hp and 130 lb-ft of torque.
The silver-haired performance enthusiast, who’s responsible for ridiculous machines including the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor, and the third-generation Ford F-150 Raptor, said his team has driven the GMC Hummer EV. “They are good for a shot, but not something you would run at Baja.” Widmann laughed while noting the Hummer weighs in at more than 9,000 lb.
Widmann said electric vehicles (specifically referring to off-road-capable trucks) aren’t as nimble as a V-8-powered vehicle due to all the extra weight of the batteries.
As for hybridization, the change would need to add benefit to the customers. “What is the benefit as it comes to weight?” Widmann asked, adding there’s simply no way around the added weight from the battery and electric motor, which reduces agility.
No Godzilla
When the 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty lineup was introduced in 2019 it brought forth a clean-sheet 7.3-liter V-8 dubbed Godzilla. Ford rated the Super Duty’s 7.3-liter V-8’s output at 430 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque.
When it was revealed, Ford spokesperson Mike Levine confirmed to Motor Authority the Godzilla engine would technically fit in both the F-150 Raptor and Mustang engine bays—though Levine noted that the large engine was designed for trucks and features a heavy iron block. But there was a question as to whether it would end up in the Raptor.
Standing next to the Raptor R, Widmann pointed to the supercharged 5.2-liter V-8 and said, “this is the most power you can pack for the power into the truck’s front end,” noting that Godzilla is simply too heavy.
Related Articles
- Ringbrothers reveals a 1948 Chevy “super truck” called Enyo
- Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter, Ferruccio Lamborghini movie: Today’s Car News
- Xpeng car-copter completes successful maiden flight
- Dodge Banshee concept, Ford Ranger Raptor: Car News Headlines
- Toyota Trailhunter aims for overlanding from the factory | 2022-11-02T21:49:27+00:00 | wcia.com | https://www.wcia.com/automotive/internet-brands/ford-f-150-raptor-wont-be-electrified-anytime-soon/ |
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP)TCU fans serenaded Adam Flagler with chants of ”air ball!, air ball!” every time he touched the basketball after an early miss. Baylor’s veteran guard put an end to that after halftime.
Flagler finished with a season-high 28 points, including 16 in a row for the 14th-ranked Bears during the stretch when they overcame a 10-point deficit in the second half to beat No. 17 TCU 72-68 on Saturday.
”We felt at the end of the day it was time to buckle down and as a team we wanted to be connected,” Flagler said. ”A lot wasn’t going our way.”
Even without leading scorer Mike Miles Jr. for the fourth game in a row, and also without injured big man Eddie Lampkin Jr., TCU had a chance to tie or take the lead in the final seconds.
Flagler had a turnover with 8.1 seconds left, when smothered by Damion Baugh and Shahada Wells in front of the Horned Frogs bench. Officials initially gave the ball to Baylor, but reversed that call after an extended replay review and discussion.
Baugh, who finished with 16 points and 10 assists, then missed a jumper with three seconds left. Flagler hit two free throws after being fouled while rebounding the missed shot.
LJ Cryer had 23 points for the Bears (19-6, 8-4 Big 12), who on Jan. 4 at home against TCU blew a 17-point lead in an 88-87 loss. They have won nine of their last 10 games.
”That’s Big 12 basketball,” Baylor coach Scott Drew said. ”We all know the importance of good guard play and LJ and Adam really came through.”
Jakobe Coles had 15 points and Emanuel Miller 10 for the Frogs (17-8, 6-6) Frogs, who have lost four of five.
”We should have gotten it done tonight without two starters, but we didn’t,” TCU coach Jamie Dixon said.
Flagler’s three free throws with 2:42 left, after being fouled trying another 3-pointer, put Baylor ahead to stay at 64-62. He then had a layup that ended his personal scoring streak.
Cryer made two free throws with 19 seconds left after being fouled under the TCU basket when Chuck O’Bannon reached around him.
The Bears used a 9-0 run to get within 56-55 with 5:14 left, on a Flagler 3-pointer. TCU pushed the ball quickly up court for a layup by Coles before back-to-back 3s by Flagler.
TCU regained the lead at 62-61 on a slam by Coles with 2:58 left, before Flagler’s three free throws.
ON THE BOARDS, IN THE PAINT
TCU dominated with a 50-26 scoring average in the paint, and finished with a 32-26 rebounding edge that was bigger until the final minutes.
”Rebounding, that was our goal, that was our emphasis,” Dixon said. ”The other emphasis was guarding the three, which we didn’t get done early and then obviously late.”
BIG PICTURE
Baylor: Another tough road win for the Bears, who are 26-9 against Top 25 teams the past four seasons – 16 of those wins coming on the road. They are 25-7 in Big 12 road games over the same span.
”I feel like Coach Drew coaches for moments like this, to go on the road when everybody’s against but we know who we’re playing for at the end of the day,” Flagler said. ”It just prepares us for the long haul, what we want to do when March Madness comes.”
TCU: Miles, who averages 18.1 points a game, could be close to returning for the first time since a hyperextension of his right knee in the opening minutes at Mississippi State two weeks ago. Lampkin has missed four of the last six games while dealing with a left high ankle sprain.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Baylor could move up a spot or two and closer to being back in the top 10. The Frogs will certainly slide down in the new AP poll Monday, and could fall all of the way out of the Top 25 after a school-record streak of 10 consecutive polls ranked.
UP NEXT
Baylor goes for a regular-season sweep of West Virginia at home Monday night.
TCU plays Wednesday night at No. 11 Iowa State, which won 69-67 in Fort Worth on Jan. 7.
—
AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 | 2023-02-12T22:06:22+00:00 | krqe.com | https://www.krqe.com/sports/ncaa-mens-basketball/flagler-scores-28-no-14-baylor-rallies-to-beat-no-17-tcu/ |
Trash Pandas fall 4-2 to Smokies
Southern League North Division Series moves to Game Three Friday
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) - The Rocket City Trash Pandas struggled offensively and were unable to hold a one-run lead in the middle innings, falling 4-2 to the Tennessee Smokies in Game 2 of the North Division Series on Thursday night in the first playoff game in Toyota Field history.
With the win, the Smokies evened the series at one game apiece, setting up a decisive Game 3 on Friday night. The winner of Friday night’s game will advance to the Southern League Championship Series.
Trash Pandas starter Chase Silseth began the night in dominant fashion, retiring the Smokies one, two, three in the first. He got into trouble in the second as a walk and a single put runners on first and second with one out.
In the third, Tennessee broke the scoreless deadlock. Zach Davis led off with a walk and promptly stole second and third. Yonathan Perlaza followed with a double down the right field line, giving the Smokies the 1-0 lead. Silseth limited the damage to the one run by getting Bryce Ball to fly out to center and Nelson Maldonado to ground out, keeping the deficit at one.
Rocket City tied the game with one thunderous swing in the bottom half. With two outs and nobody on, Zach Neto crushed Ben Brown’s first offering 367 feet over the left field fence for the first playoff home run in Toyota Field history, a solo shot to even the score 1-1 and send Toyota Field into a frenzy.
An inning later, Rocket City took the lead for the first time, with Ryan Aguilar’s single to left plating Aaron Whitefield on a close play at the plate for a 2-1 Trash Pandas edge. Rocket City nearly added on with the bases loaded and two outs. With reliever Bailey Horn in the game, Bryce Teodosio struck out to end the inning, stranding the runners.
Silseth held the lead in the fifth, retiring the Smokies in order. In the sixth, he struck out Bryce Ball to start the frame. Nelson Maldonado reached on an error, and that would bring an end to Silseth’s night. Kolton Ingram (L, 0-1) entered and allowed a single to Cole Roederer. Chase Strumpf then connected on a three-run home run, giving the Smokies the lead back at 4-2.
Trailing by multiple runs for the first time all night, Rocket City couldn’t take advantage of a leadoff walk in the sixth, as Horn (W, 1-0) struck out the next three hitters to hold the lead.
Sean McLaughlin kept the deficit at two with a clean seventh. Again, Rocket City was stumped offensively, this time by Blake Whitney, who struck out the side in order. The scene repeated in the eighth, with McLaughlin and Whitney matching zeros to send the game to the ninth.
There, Jack Dashwood set the Smokies down in order. Down to their final out, the Trash Pandas stayed alive with Jeremiah Jackson’s double to deep center against closer Zac Leigh (S, 1). As the tying run, Teodosio lifted a drive to deep right, where a tremendous leaping catch from Perlaza in front of the wall saved at least one run and finished the win for Tennessee.
The Trash Pandas were held to four hits in the loss, with Neto’s home run and Jackson’s double being the only extra-base knocks. For Tennessee, the pitching quartet of Brown, Horn, Whitney, and Leigh combined to strike out 16 Trash Pandas.
The season comes down to a decisive Game 3 on Friday night at Toyota Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM.
Copyright 2022 WAFF. All rights reserved. | 2022-09-23T04:41:17+00:00 | waff.com | https://www.waff.com/2022/09/23/trash-pandas-fall-4-2-smokies/ |
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan has considerable control over infectious diseases but now struggles against cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer as causes of early deaths, according to a new study published Thursday.
The Lancet Global Health, a prestigious British-based medical journal, reported that five non-communicable diseases — ischaemic heart disease, stroke, congenital defects, cirrhosis, and chronic kidney disease — were among the 10 leading causes of early deaths in the impoverished Islamic nation.
However, the journal said some of Pakistan’s work has resulted in an increase in life expectancy from 61.1 years to 65.9 over the past three decades. The change is due, it said, “to the reduction in communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases.” That’s still 7.6 years lower than the global average life expectancy, which increased over 30 years by 8% in women and 7% in men.
The study says “despite periods of political and economic turbulence since 1990, Pakistan has made positive strides in improving overall health outcomes at the population level and continues to seek innovative solutions to challenging health and health policy problems.”
The study, which was based on Pakistan’s health data from 1990 to 2019, has warned that non-communicable diseases will be the leading causes of death in Pakistan by 2040.
It said Pakistan will also continue to face infectious diseases.
“Pakistan urgently needs a single national nutrition policy, especially as climate change and the increased severity of drought, flood, and pestilence threatens food security,” said Dr. Zainab Samad, Professor and Chair of the Department of Medicine at Aga Khan University, one of the authors of the report.
“What these findings tell us is that Pakistan’s baseline before being hit by extreme flooding was already at some of the lowest levels around the globe,” said Dr. Ali Mokdad, Professor of Health Metrics Sciences at IHME. “Pakistan is in critical need of a more equitable investment in its health system and policy interventions to save lives and improve people’s health.”
The study said with a population approaching 225 million, “Pakistan is prone to the calamitous effects of climate change and natural disasters, including the 2005 Kashmir earthquake and catastrophic floods in 2010 and 2022, all of which have impacted major health policies and reform.”
It said the country’s major health challenges were compounded by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and last summer’s devastating flooding that killed 1,739 people and affected 33 million.
Researchers ask Pakistan to “address the burden of infectious disease and curb rising rates of non-communicable diseases.” Such priorities, they wrote, will help Pakistan move toward universal health coverage.”
The journal, considered one of the most prestigious scientific publications in the world, reported on Pakistan’s fragile healthcare system with the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington’s School of Medicine. The study was a collaboration with a Karachi-based prestigious Aga Khan University and Pakistan’s health ministry.
The study also mentioned increasing pollution as one of the leading contributors to the overall disease burden in recent years. Pakistan’s cultural capital of Lahore was in the grip of smog on Thursday, causing respiratory diseases and infection in the eyes. Usually in winter, a thick cloud of smog envelops Lahore, which in 2021 earned it the title of the world’s most polluted city. | 2023-01-19T23:22:35+00:00 | mytwintiers.com | https://www.mytwintiers.com/news-cat/world-news/ap-international/ap-study-non-infectious-diseases-cause-early-death-in-pakistan/ |
PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron's alliance gets most seats but loses parliamentary majority, projections show.
- Father wanted in son's death arrested
- 67-year-old man found dead off 359
- Man in critical condition following near drowning
- Five arrested at Medusas for impersonating security guards
- Assistant City Manager Kristina Hale resigns
- Nuevo Laredo celebrates its 174th anniversary
- LMC delivers its first-ever quadruplets
- LPD: Multiple women accosted while walking outdoors
- 5th arrest made in murder, 2 charged already released
- Shots fired in central Laredo in gas station parking lot
- Affidavit: Teen tried hiding in store restroom after causing crash
- Affidavit: Contractor left project unfinished
- Affidavit: Woman damaged $400 TV during domestic disturbance
- Fourth person in custody in fatal shooting
- COVID seeing uptick in both Laredos
MOST POPULAR | 2022-06-19T18:40:13+00:00 | lmtonline.com | https://www.lmtonline.com/news/article/Alert-French-President-Emmanuel-Macron-s-17252076.php |
Sofia Kenin 2023 Wimbledon Odds
Sofia Kenin enters Wimbledon following her Viking Open Nottingham finished with a defeat at the hands of Sonay Kartal in the qualification. Kenin's opener is versus Irina Falconi (in the qualifying qualification round 1). Kenin has +6600 odds to be crowned champion at AELTC Wimbledon Qualifying and Community Sports Ground.
Find all the latest odds for 2023 Wimbledon and place your bets with a new user bonus from BetMGM.
Kenin at 2023 Wimbledon
- Next Round: Qualifying round
- Tournament Dates: June 25 - July 16
- Venue: AELTC Wimbledon Qualifying and Community Sports Ground
- Court Surface: Grass
Watch live sports without cable! Sign up today for a free trial to Fubo!
Kenin's Next Match
In her opener at Wimbledon, Kenin will meet Falconi on Tuesday, June 27 at 8:30 AM ET in the qualifying qualification round 1.
Sofia Kenin Grand Slam Odds
- Wimbeldon odds to win: +6600
- Wimbledon odds to win: +6600
Want to bet on Kenin? Head to BetMGM using our link for a bonus bet special offer for new players!
Kenin Stats
- Kenin dropped her most recent match, 2-6, 6-7 against Kartal in the qualifying round of Viking Open Nottingham on June 10, 2023.
- The 24-year-old Kenin is 13-20 over the past year and is still seeking her first tournament title.
- Kenin is 0-1 on grass over the past year.
- In her 33 matches over the past year, across all court surfaces, Kenin has averaged 21.4 games.
- In her one match on a grass surface over the past year, Kenin has averaged 21.0 games.
- Over the past year, Kenin has been victorious in 29.3% of her return games and 68.3% of her service games.
Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER.
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | 2023-06-26T19:37:29+00:00 | wfsb.com | https://www.wfsb.com/sports/betting/2023/06/25/sofia-kenin-wimbledon-betting-odds/ |
WFO BINGHAMTON Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, May 2, 2023
_____
FLOOD WARNING
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Flood Warning
National Weather Service Binghamton NY
403 AM EDT Mon May 1 2023
...The National Weather Service in Binghamton NY has issued a Flood
Warning for the following rivers in New York...
Chenango River At Greene affecting Chenango County.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
Additional information is available at www.weather.gov.
...FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THIS MORNING TO LATE TONIGHT...
* WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast.
* WHERE...Chenango River At Greene.
* WHEN...From this morning to late tonight.
* IMPACTS...At 13.0 feet, Flood stage. River overflows onto low
spots across Water Street near the gauge house, and spreads into
the ball flats.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- At 2:00 AM EDT Monday the stage was 11.3 feet.
- Forecast...The river is expected to rise above flood stage
late this morning to a crest of 13.3 feet this afternoon. It
will then fall below flood stage late this afternoon.
- Flood stage is 13.0 feet.
- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
...FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THIS AFTERNOON TO LATE TONIGHT...
* WHERE...Chenango River At Sherburne.
* WHEN...From this afternoon to late tonight.
* IMPACTS...At 8.5 feet, Water spreads throughout agricultural lands
nearest the river on the West side of Sherburne.
- At 3:30 AM EDT Monday the stage was 7.5 feet.
this afternoon to a crest of 8.6 feet this afternoon. It will
then fall below flood stage late this afternoon.
- Flood stage is 8.5 feet.
_____
Copyright 2023 AccuWeather | 2023-05-01T09:09:38+00:00 | sfgate.com | https://www.sfgate.com/weather/article/ny-wfo-binghamton-warnings-watches-and-17999575.php |
Strategic acquisition will provide rapid technology innovation to create new solutions that address teaching, learning, and collaboration needs
SEATTLE, Nov. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Promethean®, a leading global education technology company, today announced it has acquired substantially all of the assets of Explain Everything, a leading digital whiteboard platform for creating engaging lessons, activities, and interactive presentations. The Explain Everything app provides users with an infinite canvas to draw, animate, create videos, and collaborate and is available on all mobile platforms. With the new acquisition, Promethean will merge the existing Explain Everything team and platform into its standing operations and portfolio.
Promethean's award-winning technology solutions deliver a robust, seamless, and secure experience, with features that respond to educators' and workplace users' unique needs around the globe. Its comprehensive edtech solution also includes superior professional development and customer support.
Learning and collaboration are essential to progress in any field, and Promethean's mission is to transform them for the better. As education and the workplace evolve, Promethean is dedicated to bringing new product offerings, alliances, and partnerships to help our customers get the most from cutting-edge technology and ensure they're ready for what's next. The inclusion of Explain Everything's digital whiteboard platform into Promethean's product portfolio will build upon both companies' visions in edtech and beyond.
"As technology evolves, Promethean continues to look to the future to provide the best solutions to transform learning experiences. Joining the Explain Everything team with ours is part of our commitment to continuously innovate and work towards providing a superior interactive experience from anywhere," said Vin Riera, chief executive officer at Promethean. "This exciting opportunity and new relationship for both companies will allow us to expand our already robust offerings to better serve customers' needs."
"We're thrilled to now be part of the Promethean team," said Reshan Richards, co-founder and chief executive officer at Explain Everything. "Explain Everything's mission to impact teaching and learning in all settings is in perfect alignment with Promethean's more than 25 years of education technology leadership. Together, we will continue to provide the most effective interactive learning tools for students and teachers around the world."
For more information on Promethean, visit PrometheanWorld.com.
About Promethean
Promethean is a leading education technology company working to transform the way the world learns and collaborates. From our founding in Blackburn, England, more than 25 years ago to our global operations in 22 countries today, we've continued to explore, innovate, and inspire —designing learning and collaboration tools that are built for breakthroughs. Our award-winning interactive display, ActivPanel, and lesson delivery software, ActivInspire and ClassFlow, were designed to engage students, connect colleagues, and bring out the brilliance in everyone. With headquarters in Seattle, Washington, and offices worldwide, Promethean is a member of the NetDragon Websoft Holdings Limited (HKSE: 0777) group of companies. Visit us at PrometheanWorld.com.
©2022 Promethean. All Rights Reserved. Promethean, the Promethean logo, ActivPanel, ActivSync, ActivInspire, ActivConnect, ActivSound, ClassFlow, and Vellum are trademarks or registered trademarks of Promethean Limited in the United Kingdom, United States, and other countries around the world. All other product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Unless specifically identified as such, Promethean's use of third-party trademarks does not indicate any relationship, sponsorship, or endorsement between Promethean and the owners of these trademarks.
About Explain Everything
Explain Everything is a leading whiteboard platform designed to help teachers and students create and complete engaging lessons and assignments, video capture, and collaborate. With over 20 million downloads of its native applications worldwide, the software continues to be one of the top educational tools on both Apple and Google platforms and was recognized as one of the Apple App Store's Best of 2020 for Leading the Classroom.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Promethean | 2022-11-28T13:49:20+00:00 | wafb.com | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2022/11/28/promethean-acquires-explain-everything-continue-delivering-transformational-collaboration-learning-experiences/ |
WASHINGTON — The Senate moved quickly Thursday to avert a rail strike that the Biden administration and business leaders warned would have had devastating consequences for the nation's economy.
The Senate passed a bill to bind rail companies and workers to a proposed settlement that was reached between the rail companies and union leaders in September. That settlement had been rejected by some of the 12 unions involved, creating the possibility of a strike beginning Dec. 9.
The Senate vote was 80-15. It came one day after the House voted to impose the agreement. The measure now goes to President Joe Biden's desk for his signature.
“I’m very glad that the two sides got together to avoid a shutdown, which would have been devastating for the American people, to the American economy and so many workers across the country,” Democrat Schumer told reporters.
Schumer spoke as Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized to Democratic senators that rail companies would begin shutting down operations well before a potential strike would begin on Dec. 9.
Shortly before Thursday's votes, President Joe Biden — who had urged Congress to intervene earlier this week — defended the contract that four of the unions had rejected, noting the wage increases it contains.
“I negotiated a contract no one else could negotiate,” Biden said at a news briefing with French President Emmanuel Macron. “What was negotiated was so much better than anything they ever had.”
Critics say that contract that did not receive backing from enough union members lacked sufficient levels of paid leave for rail workers. Biden said he wants paid leave for “everybody” so that it wouldn’t have to be negotiated in employment contracts, but Republican lawmakers have blocked measures to require time off work for medical and family reasons. The U.S. president said that Congress should now impose the contract to avoid a strike that Biden said could cause 750,000 job losses and a recession.
Railways say that halting rail service would cause a devastating $2 billion-per-day hit to the economy. A freight rail strike also would have a big potential impact on passenger rail, with Amtrak and many commuter railroads relying on tracks owned by the freight railroads.
The rail companies and 12 unions have been engaged in high-stakes negotiations. The Biden administration helped broker deals between the railroads and union leaders in September, but four of the unions rejected the deals. Eight others approved five-year deals and are getting back pay for their workers for the 24% raises that are retroactive to 2020.
On Monday, with a Dec. 9 strike looming, Biden called on Congress to impose the tentative agreement reached in September. Congress has the authority to do so and has enacted legislation in the past to delay or prohibit railway and airline strikes. But most lawmakers would prefer the parties work out their differences on their own.
The intervention was particularly difficult for Democratic lawmakers who traditionally align themselves with the politically powerful labor unions that criticized Biden’s move to intervene in the contract dispute and block a strike.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., responded to that concern by holding a second vote Wednesday on a bill that would add seven days of paid sick leave per year for rail workers covered under the agreement. The call for paid sick leave was a major sticking point in the talks along with other quality-of-life concerns. The railroads say the unions have agreed in negotiations over the decades to forgo paid sick time in favor of higher wages and strong short-term disability benefits.
The unions maintain that railroads can easily afford to add paid sick time when they are recording record profits. Several of the big railroads involved in these contract talks reported more than $1 billion profit in the third quarter.
The House passed the legislation enacting September's labor agreement with broad bipartisan support. A second measure adding seven paid sick days for rail workers passed on a mostly party-line vote in the House, but it fell eight votes short of a 60-vote threshold needed for passage in the Senate. | 2022-12-01T22:32:04+00:00 | 11alive.com | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/nation-world/rail-strike-senate-votes-thursday/507-809c9eff-acf2-4332-914e-4e225a9fc9b6 |
More than $18 million of opioid settlement money is headed to communities across Colorado to help fight the epidemic.
The Colorado Opioid Abatement Council, chaired by state Attorney General Phil Weiser, approved requests from local governments. Municipalities agreed to specific uses of the settlement funds, including things like addiction treatment, recovery and prevention programs.
“The release of these funds is an important step forward in our efforts to address the opioid crisis,” said Weiser in a statement. “This crisis continues to take a toll on Coloradans.”
The bulk of the settlement money comes from Johnson & Johnson and three major drug distributors. But millions are also coming from Purdue Pharma and the Sacklers; Teva/Allegan; Mallinckrodt; and McKinsey & Company.
The council will make distributions to 19 regions and two federally recognized Colorado Tribes. But cities and counties in only 12 regions requested money for this first round. Sixty percent of nearly $400 million in settlement money is designated for regional governments. Twenty percent will go to local governments. The state and statewide infrastructure will get 10 percent each.
Denver requested and will receive $4.7 million dollars this round. The city and county will see $33.8 million over 18 years from the settlements.
“My administration is committed to seeing these dollars directed toward a full continuum of care for people experiencing addiction, from treatment to addressing stigma and other barriers, to recovery, with an emphasis on meeting people where they are with the help they need,” said Denver Mayor Michael Hancock in a release.
Region 18, which includes Saguache, Mineral, Rio Grande, Alamosa, Conejos, and Costilla counties will receive $187,000.
“This process and funding have brought groups together with renewed energy to serve individuals, families, and this at-risk population,” said Alamosa County Commissioner Lori Laske, member of the Colorado Opioid Abatement Council, in a statement.
“I can foresee the impact on the San Luis Valley region, from bringing back prevention education to our youth to creating recovery and treatment options for the community, and I am excited to see what it does for the state.”
The council was created by the state to oversee the opioid funds and make sure the distribution complies with the terms of the settlement.
You want to know what is really going on these days, especially in Colorado. We can help you keep up. The Lookout is a free, daily email newsletter with news and happenings from all over Colorado. Sign up here and we will see you in the morning!
Colorado Postcards are snapshots of our colorful state in sound. They give brief insights into our people and places, our flora and fauna, and our past and present, from every corner of Colorado. Listen now.
It takes a good day’s drive to cover Colorado, but we’ll help you do it in a few minutes. Our newsletters bring you a closer look at the stories that affect you and the music that inspires you. | 2022-09-30T03:53:41+00:00 | cpr.org | https://www.cpr.org/2022/09/29/18-million-in-opioid-settlement-money-awarded-to-colorado-communities/ |
(NerdWallet) – The 2020s have mistreated home buyers. 2023 could mark a turning point in which the housing market gives them a fairer shake. Here are real estate trends to watch for in the coming year.
Reasons for optimism
The outlook for home buyers is brighter than it has been since the beginning of the pandemic.
“There will be some things for buyers to look forward to in 2023,” Danielle Hale, chief economist for Realtor.com, wrote in her housing forecast. “There will be more homes for sale, homes will likely take longer to sell, and buyers will not face the extreme competition that was commonplace over the past few years.”
Matthew Speakman, senior economist for Zillow, noted that competition has lessened and negotiating power is flowing from sellers to buyers. “This means that in many cases, buyers don’t have to settle for the first house they can win a bid on, and inspection and finance contingencies are back on the table,” he said via email.
Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist for Bright MLS, a multiple listing service in mid-Atlantic states, cautions that even if buyers have more negotiating power than they had in 2021, “it is still very much a seller’s market.” It’s vital, she says, for buyers to secure mortgage preapprovals before making offers.
Buyers may find it worthwhile to seek deals on newly constructed homes because builders are likely to reduce prices or offer incentives such as rate buydowns. Here’s why: Builders faced growing numbers of cancellations in 2022 as mortgage rates rose dramatically while houses were under construction. Buyers signed purchase contracts when rates were low, but rates had risen past the point of affordability by the time the homes were completed.
Mortgage rates could flatten or even fall
This year, the Federal Reserve hoisted the federal funds rate 4.25 percentage points to restrain inflation. Mortgage rates rose by a lesser amount: The 30-year mortgage averaged 3.21% in the first week of January, peaked above 7% in October and November and fell to 6.34% in the second week of December.
These high mortgage rates pushed many would-be buyers to the sidelines, and home sales plunged because fewer people could afford to buy. Some forecasters believe lower rates might resuscitate those homebuying dreams in 2023.
Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the National Association of Realtors all forecast a gradual decline in mortgage rates in 2023, with the 30-year mortgage averaging between 6.1% and 6.5% in the fourth quarter.
The Mortgage Bankers Association forecasts a more abrupt decline, with the 30-year mortgage averaging 5.2% in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Regard these predictions skeptically. These forecasters were way off the mark a year ago, when they predicted that the 30-year mortgage would average from 5% to 5.3% in the fourth quarter of 2022. They didn’t foresee how aggressively the Fed would raise interest rates and the accompanying rise in mortgage rates.
No clear trend yet on prices
Home prices, unlike mortgage rates, vary substantially from place to place and season to season, making it tricky to forecast them. For simplicity, we’ll look at national forecasts that predict what will happen to home prices from the end of 2022 to the end of 2023. The forecasts vary to a perplexing degree.
On one end of the spectrum, Realtor.com predicts that the median home price will rise 5.4%. The National Association of Realtors forecasts a price increase of 2.5%.
Sturtevant, of Bright MLS, predicts that prices will rise 0.3%. She thinks we could see an upswing in demand from “folks who have taken a wait-and-see approach at the end of 2022 coming back into the market next year” as interest rates stabilize. These buyers would compete for a limited supply of homes for sale, placing a floor under prices.
On the other end of the spectrum, John Burns Real Estate Consulting predicts that home prices will fall 20% to 22% from their peak in spring 2022, and Zonda, a real estate consulting firm, forecasts a 15% drop from the peak. These companies don’t expect the entirety of the declines to happen in 2023; prices may fall through 2024.
Rick Palacios Jr., director of research for John Burns, noted in a podcast interview that the median existing home price rose about 40% from spring 2020 to spring 2022. The way he sees it, a drop of 20% wouldn’t be surprising after such a swift run-up in prices.
“We squeezed a decade of home price appreciation into two years,” Palacios said on the Altos Research “Top of Mind” podcast.
‘Rate lock-in’ will depress inventory
About 75% of outstanding mortgages have rates under 4%, Sturtevant says. It would “take a lot of enticement” for these owners to sell their homes and trade their low-rate mortgages for home loans with rates of 6% or higher. In real estate lingo, this phenomenon is called “rate lock-in,” and it has at least two notable effects.
First, it contributes to “a marked decline in existing houses entering the market as for-sale inventory,” Zillow’s Speakman said. When people keep their homes off the market, they reduce the supply of homes for sale. If demand stays the same, home prices will resist falling.
Second, homeowners might be tempted to become landlords, wrote Taylor Marr, deputy chief economist for Redfin, in the real estate brokerage’s 2023 forecast. “Many homeowners will rent out their homes rather than sell because they don’t want to lose a low rate. There will be an influx of single-family homes for rent,” he predicted.
What will make sellers successful
Most prospective sellers will have to confront rate lock-in and resign themselves to trading a low-rate mortgage for a higher-rate loan. That’s not the only psychological hurdle that successful sellers will leap over.
“Sellers in this environment will likely have to readjust their expectations and meet buyers where they’re at if they want to make a quick sale,” Speakman said. “The days where sellers could ask nearly any price and sell in days, if not hours, are behind us. The record-breaking levels of appreciation we’ve seen over the last three years means there is plenty of room to cut prices and still realize major gains on their property.”
Sturtevant says it’s important to price a home “appropriately — to this market, not to last year’s market.” Buyers will make offers based on recent sales, which are likely to be lower than prices in spring or summer 2022.
Sellers already have been accepting contingencies for appraisals, financing and inspections, Realtor.com’s Hale wrote in her forecast, and they’ve been more willing to pay buyer closing costs and compromise on the timing of closings.
And buyers are insisting that sellers vacate their homes in good condition. “Of note, recent sellers more often reported making repairs before listing and were also more likely to make or pay for repairs during the contract period,” Hale wrote. “In short, buyer budgets are stretched to the max and sellers who understand this and help buyers get a move-in-ready home will have an edge.”
Finally, Jerimiah Taylor, vice president of real estate and mortgage services for real estate marketplace OJO Labs, recommends buying when one is ready to buy instead of waiting for prices to fall to their lowest level of the cycle.
“Ultimately, the biggest mistake that I see potential home buyers make is waiting and trying to time the market,” he says. The home’s value will almost certainly be higher in seven or 10 years, obscuring hills and valleys in price along the way, he says. | 2022-12-25T20:51:00+00:00 | texomashomepage.com | https://www.texomashomepage.com/news/national-news/for-home-buyers-2022-was-brutal-why-23-could-be-a-bit-better/ |
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — A fire set off by stored gasoline in a residential building killed 21 people Thursday evening in a refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, the territory’s Hamas rulers said, in one of the deadliest incidents in recent years outside the violence stemming from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The blaze erupted on the third floor of a three-story building in the crowded Jabaliya camp, according to the Palestinian militant group Hamas. No one inside the house survived.
The Civil Defense in Gaza, which is run by Hamas, attributed the cause of the fire to gasoline that was being stored in the building. It was not immediately clear how the gasoline ignited. Officials said an investigation was underway.
Flames were seen spewing out of the windows of the burning floor as hundreds of people gathered outside on the street, waiting for fire trucks and ambulances.
Gaza, ruled by Hamas and under a crippling Israeli-Egyptian blockade, faces a severe energy crisis. People often store cooking gas, diesel and gasoline in homes in preparation for winter. House fires have previously been caused by candles and gas leaks.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas offered condolences to the families of the dead and declared Friday a day of mourning.
Tor Wennesland, the United Nations’ Middle East peace envoy, expressed “heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, relatives and friends of those who died in the accident; the Government, and the Palestinian people.”
Hussein Al-Sheikh, a senior Palestinian Authority official, called on Israel to open its border crossing with Gaza to allow for the evacuation of those injured who need advanced medical care to Palestinian hospitals in the West Bank and Jerusalem. It was later confirmed that all in the house had died.
COGAT, the Israeli body controlling the Erez Crossing with the Gaza Strip, did not comment.
But Israel’s Defense Minister Benny Gantz sent his condolences to the Palestinians, writing on Twitter that “we have offered our assistance in evacuating injured civilians to hospitals via COGAT. The State of Israel is prepared to provide life-saving, medical aid to Gaza residents.” | 2022-11-18T13:13:07+00:00 | wwlp.com | https://www.wwlp.com/news/ap-international-news/ap-palestinian-officials-say-house-fire-in-gaza-strip-kills-21/ |
Oklahoma's Catholic Church wants to open the U.S.'s first religious charter school. It hopes to jump its first regulatory hurdle Tuesday. Public school advocates and the state's AG are pushing back.
Copyright 2023 NPR
Oklahoma's Catholic Church wants to open the U.S.'s first religious charter school. It hopes to jump its first regulatory hurdle Tuesday. Public school advocates and the state's AG are pushing back.
Copyright 2023 NPR | 2023-04-10T22:09:29+00:00 | nepm.org | https://www.nepm.org/national-world-news/national-world-news/2023-04-10/oklahoma-catholic-church-hopes-to-open-first-publicly-funded-religious-charter-school |
BLAIRSTOWN, N.J. (AP) — A girl who was dubbed Princess Doe after her remains were found 40 years ago in a New Jersey cemetery has been identified as a Long Island teenager, authorities announced Friday.
Charges have been filed against the man they believe killed Dawn Olanick, 17, of West Babylon, New York, the Warren County, New Jersey, prosecutor’s office announced. The suspect, Arthur Kinlaw, 68, is currently serving 20 years to life in Sullivan County, New York, on two first-degree murder convictions.
Kinlaw tried to lure Olanick into prostitution and killed her after she refused, authorities said, according to Lehigh Valley Live. Her remains were found July 25, 1982, in Cedar Ridge Cemetery in Blairstown, in northwestern New Jersey near the Pennsylvania border. Authorities have said she was beaten beyond recognition.
Residents of the area gave her a burial, and she became known as Princess Doe, a name given to her by investigators who sought to identify her. Her burial site contains a gravestone that reads: “Princess Doe. Missing from home. Dead among strangers. Remembered by all.”
Information about a lawyer who could speak on Kinlaw’s behalf about the new charges wasn’t immediately available.
Olanick’s identity was finally confirmed April 29, authorities said.
“For 40 years, law enforcement has not given up on Princess Doe,” Warren County Prosecutor James Pfeiffer said Friday during a news conference with New Jersey State Police and other law enforcement and assisting agencies.
Kinlaw confessed to the Princess Doe slaying in written statements dating to 2005, authorities revealed Friday. But the prosecutor said that determining the victim’s identity was crucial to assembling a solid case. | 2022-07-16T17:20:09+00:00 | everythinglubbock.com | https://www.everythinglubbock.com/news/national/princess-doe-identified-40-years-after-remains-were-found/ |
Degree® and Tyler Cameron are Partnering to Challenge Self-Doubt and Motivate Marathon Runners to Take a Second Chance at Completing 26.2 Miles at the 2022 San Francisco Marathon
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., July 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Degree®, the world's #1 antiperspirant brand, aims for a world where everyone has the confidence to move more by smashing the barriers that hold them back – including self-doubt. In fact, self-doubt is a key factor that prevents people from finishing marathons. That is why Degree® is introducing the Not Done Yet Marathon Team and giving them a second chance to run the 26.2 miles at the 2022 San Francisco Marathon on July 24.
The Degree® Not Done Yet Marathon Team is comprised of three inspiring everyday athletes from varying backgrounds who experienced challenges when previously running marathons, causing them to not complete their races:
- Sagirah Ahmed Norris (Houston, TX) – A Chicago native who started running as a coping method after losing her father, and was soon after diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Upon being told she would lose her ability to walk, Sagirah sought out an alternative treatment that has given her the ability to keep running. Unfortunately, a malfunction prevented her from completing her last marathon attempt. Sagirah is eager to run the San Francisco Marathon and inspire others to have the tenacity to keep pushing through their limits.
- Michael Zampella (Philadelphia, PA) – A New York native who suffers from a degenerative eye disease and was forced to leave his career as a public-school administrator after losing his vision. After powering through a unique set of training obstacles to ensure his ability to run his first marathon, an injury stopped him from reaching the finish line. Michael is excited to be running the San Francisco Marathon to prove what people with his disease can do.
- Ashley Zirkle (Seattle, WA) – A Florida native who was in search of ways to give back to her community and came across the story of a stranger who was in need of a lifesaving transplant. Ashley took this opportunity to donate her own kidney. She was forced to withdraw from her last marathon, after realizing she needed more time to recover post-donor surgery. The San Francisco Marathon is Ashley's opportunity to show what can come from persevering through adversity.
To help amplify each of the Not Done Yet Marathon team member's unique stories, Degree® has created individual pieces of video content which can be viewed on the brand's YouTube channel.
"We hope that the powerful stories of the Not Done Yet Marathon Team members will inspire more displays of courage and perseverance in movers of all ages," said Desi Okeke, Director of Degree® North America.
Degree® tapped marathon runner, author, and television personality Tyler Cameron, to lead the team and serve as the Not Done Yet Team Trainer. In this role, Cameron will share personal tips from his own marathon experience with the runners to help motivate them and prepare for the race. Cameron will also be onsite day-of to celebrate their achievements.
"Finishing a marathon is one of the most challenging, yet rewarding experiences I've had," said Cameron. "Running has helped me through tough times in my life, despite feeling like I wanted to give up in those moments. Through my partnership with Degree® and as the Not Done Yet Team Trainer, I hope to be able to encourage others to do the same – to keep moving and take one step at a time, regardless of what barriers are standing in their way."
To further the commitment to champions of movement and the campaign, the brand is supporting non-profit Achilles International, an organization that transforms the lives of people with disabilities through athletic programs and social connection. Degree® will be donating $50,000 to non-profit Achilles International to help up to 100 athletes get to the start of a running race.
"The generous donation from Degree® Deodorant will empower more Achilles athletes with disabilities to get to the start line and achieve their race goals. Like Degree®, we're committed to breaking down barriers to achievement," said Emily Glasser, President and CEO of Achilles International.
The brand is encouraging supporters to share personal stories of times they've embodied the
"Not Done Yet" mindset in the comments section of the following brand partner's posts to help fuel the donation:
- Tyler Cameron, Television Personality & Author
- Ali Kreiger, Professional Soccer Player, National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) & United States Women's National Team (USWNT)
- Amy Purdy, Paralympic Snowboarder
- Ashlyn Harris, Professional Soccer Player, National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) & United States Women's National Team (USWNT)
- Blake Leeper, Paralympic Track and Field Athlete
- Sam Mewis, Professional Soccer Player, National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) & United States Women's National Team (USWNT)
Additionally, Degree® will select two commenters from across all brand partner posts who will be given the opportunity to meet Tyler Cameron via a 1:1 video call for a motivational chat and provided a year's supply of Degree® product.
Those who are interested in learning more about the Degree® Not Done Yet Marathon Team and sampling Degree® products can visit the brand tent onsite at the 2022 San Francisco Marathon 'Finish Line Festival' located behind the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Sunday, July 24th. Product available while supplies last. The Degree® Not Yet Marathon Team is an official sponsor of the 2022 San Francisco Marathon.
The campaign is part of Degree®'s larger brand mission to inspire the confidence to break barriers. Degree® has committed more than $5 million over the next five years to inspire more people to move beyond their limits as part of its broader global Breaking Limits program. This program supports those who face the biggest barriers to being active – whether those barriers are due to race, sexual orientation, ability level, gender, age and more - and provides them access to coaches and mentors, along with safe spaces to move. The program is meant to support the brand's long-term commitment to help millions of young people transform their lives through the power of movement by 2030.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. The Degree Not Done Yet Contest is sponsored by Conopco, Inc., d/b/a Unilever. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. & D.C., 18 & older. Begins at 12:00 a.m. ET on 7/19/22 & ends 11:59 p.m. ET on 7/24/22. For official rules, visit unileversweepsrules.com/notdoneyet.
Degree® deodorants and antiperspirants are designed to inspire the confidence in everyone to move more. We make it our business to know more about sweat, and what we learn informs every product innovation to help you keep moving. As a brand designed for and dedicated to promoting movement, Degree® has always believed in the power of movement to enhance our wellbeing. Yet, we know that the opportunity to move is not distributed equally, which is why we have made a commitment to ensure everyone has the freedom to move and help youth transform their lives through the power of movement. We are bringing this commitment to life through a variety of ongoing partnerships and programs that strive to help everyone find the confidence to move beyond limits.
Visit www.degreedeodorant.com and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to learn more.
Unilever is one of the world's leading suppliers of Beauty & Personal Care, Home Care, and Foods & Refreshment products, with sales in over 190 countries and products used by 3.4 billion people every day. We have 148,000 employees and generated sales of €52.4 billion in 2021. Over half of our footprint is in developing and emerging markets. We have around 400 brands found in homes all over the world – including iconic brands like Dove, Knorr, Hellmann's, Magnum, Axe, Ben & Jerry's, Degree, Seventh Generation, St. Ives, Suave, TRESemmé, and Vaseline.
Our vision is to be the global leader in sustainable business and to demonstrate how our purpose-led, future-fit business model drives superior performance. We have a long tradition of being a progressive, responsible business. It goes back to the days of our founder William Lever, who launched the world's first purposeful brand, Sunlight Soap, more than 100 years ago, and it's at the heart of how we run our company today.
The Unilever Compass, our sustainable business strategy, is set out to help us deliver superior performance and drive sustainable and responsible growth, while:
- improving the health of the planet;
- improving people's health, confidence, and wellbeing; and
- contributing to a fairer and more socially inclusive world.
While there is still more to do, in the past year we're proud to have achieved sector leadership in S&P's Dow Jones Sustainability Index, 'Triple A' status in CDP's Climate, Water and Forest benchmarks and to be named as the top ranked company in the GlobeScan/SustainAbility Sustainability Leaders survey, for the eleventh consecutive year.
For more information about Unilever and our brands, please visit https://www.unilever.com/.
Achilles International transforms the lives of people with disabilities through athletic programs and social connection. Since our founding in 1983, we have empowered over 150,000 athletes of all ages and ability levels to participate in endurance events around the globe.
For more information about Achilles International, please visit https://www.achillesinternational.org/. Follow Achilles on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Degree | 2022-07-19T15:35:08+00:00 | wlbt.com | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/19/degree-deodorant-introduces-their-not-done-yet-marathon-team-give-second-chances-runners-who-previously-didnt-finish-marathons/ |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nick Barragan is used to wearing a mask because his job in the Los Angeles film industry has long required it, so he won’t be fazed if the nation’s most populous county reinstates rules requiring face coverings because of another spike in coronavirus cases across the country.
“I feel fine about it because I’ve worn one pretty much constantly for the last few years. It’s become a habit,” said Barragan, masked up while out running errands Wednesday.
Los Angeles County, home to 10 million residents, is facing a return to a broad indoor mask mandate later this month if current trends in hospital admissions continue, county health Director Barbara Ferrer said this week.
Nationwide, the latest COVID-19 surge is driven by the highly transmissible BA.5 variant, which now accounts for 65% of cases with its cousin BA.4 contributing another 16%. The variants have shown a remarkable ability to get around the protection offered by vaccination.
With the new omicron variants again pushing hospitalizations and deaths higher in recent weeks, states and cities are rethinking their responses and the White House is stepping up efforts to alert the public.
Some experts said the warnings are too little, too late.
“It’s well past the time when the warning could have been put out there,” said Dr. Eric Topol, head of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, who has has called BA.5 “the worst variant yet.”
Global trends for the two mutants have been apparent for weeks, experts said — they quickly out-compete older variants and push cases higher wherever they appear. Yet Americans have tossed off their masks and jumped back into travel and social gatherings. And they have largely ignored booster shots, which protect against COVID-19′s worst outcomes. Courts have blocked federal mask and vaccine mandates, tying the hands of U.S. officials.
“We learn a lot from how the virus is acting elsewhere and we should apply the knowledge here,” said Ali Mokdad, a professor of health metrics sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle.
White House COVID-19 coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha appeared on morning TV on Wednesday urging booster shots and renewed vigilance. Yet Mokdad said federal health officials need to be push harder on masks indoors, early detection and prompt antiviral treatment.
“They are not doing all that they can,” Mokdad said.
The administration’s challenge, in the view of the White House, is not their messaging, but people’s willingness to hear it — due to pandemic fatigue and the politicization of the virus response.
For months, the White House has encouraged Americans to make use of free or cheap at-home rapid tests to detect the virus, as well as the free and effective antiviral treatment Paxlovid that protects against serious illness and death. On Tuesday, the White House response team called on all adults 50 and older to urgently get a booster if they haven’t yet this year — and dissuaded people from waiting for the next generation of shots expected in the fall when they can roll up their sleeves and get some protection now.
Requiring masks again “helps us to reduce risk,” Ferrer told Los Angeles County supervisors. She is expected to discuss details of the potential new county mandate during a public health briefing Thursday afternoon.
“I do recognize that when we return to universal indoor masking to reduce high spread, for many this will feel like a step backwards,” Ferrer said Tuesday.
For most of the pandemic, Los Angeles County has required masks in some indoor spaces, including health care facilities, Metro trains and buses, airports, jails and homeless shelters. The new mandate would expand the requirement to all indoor public spaces, including shared offices, manufacturing facilities, warehouses, retail stores, restaurants and bars, theaters and schools.
It’s unclear what enforcement might look like. Under past mandates, officials favored educating people over issuing citations and fines.
Sharon Fayette ripped off her mask the moment she stepped out of a Lyft ride in Los Angeles Wednesday and groaned when informed another universal mask requirement might be coming. “Oh man, when will it end?” she wondered about the pandemic.
Fayette said she was exhausted by shifting regulations and dubious another mandate would be followed by most residents. “I just think people are over it, over all the rules,” she said.
Barragan said he learned a harsh lesson about the effectiveness of masks when he went without a face covering at a film industry mixer last month in Los Angeles. “I thought it would be fine because we were all outdoors,” said Barragan, 35. A few days later he started feeling sick and, sure enough, tested positive.
He’d avoided catching the virus for more than two years because he was religious about masking up. “The one time I took it off, I caught it!” he laughed.
The nation’s brief lull in COVID deaths has reversed. Last month, daily deaths were falling, though they never matched last year’s low, and deaths are now heading up again.
The seven-day average for daily deaths in the U.S. rose 26% over the past two weeks to 489 on July 12.
The coronavirus is not killing nearly as many as it was last fall and winter, and experts do not expect death to reach those levels again soon. But hundreds of daily deaths for a summertime respiratory illness would normally be jaw-dropping, said Andrew Noymer, a public health professor at the University of California, Irvine. He noted that in Orange County, California, 46 people died of COVID-19 in June.
“That would be all hands on deck,” Noymer said. “People would be like, ‘There’s this crazy new flu that’s killing people in June.’”
Instead, simple, proven precautions are not being taken. Vaccinations, including booster shots for those eligible, lower the risk of hospitalization and death — even against the latest variants. But less than half of all eligible U.S. adults have gotten a single booster shot, and only about 1 in 4 Americans age 50 and older who are eligible for a second booster have received one.
“This has been a botched booster campaign,” Topol said, noting that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still uses the term “fully vaccinated” for people with two shots of Moderna or Pfizer. “They haven’t gotten across that two shots is totally inadequate,” he said.
Noymer said if he were in charge of the nation’s COVID response he would level with the American people in an effort to get their attention in this third year of the pandemic. He would tell Americans to take it seriously, mask indoors and “until we get better vaccines, there’s going to be a new normal of a disease that kills over 100,000 Americans a year and impacts life expectancy.”
That message probably wouldn’t fly for political reasons, Noymer acknowledged.
It also might not fly with people who are tired of taking precautions after more than two years of the pandemic. Valerie Walker of New Hope, Pennsylvania, is mindful of the latest surge but is hardly alarmed.
“I was definitely concerned back then,” she said of the pandemic’s early days, with images of body bags on nightly news broadcasts. “Now there’s fatigue, things were getting better and there was a vaccine. So I would say from a scale between one and 10, I’m probably at a four.”
Even with two friends now sick with the virus, and her husband recently recovered, Walker says she has bigger problems.
“Sometimes when I think about it I still put a mask on when I go into a store, but honestly, it is not a daily thought for me,” she said.
___
Johnson, AP Medical Writer, reported from Washington state. Associated Press writers Bobby Caina Calvan in New York and Zeke Miller in Washington contributed.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. | 2022-07-14T17:32:44+00:00 | nwahomepage.com | https://www.nwahomepage.com/lifestyle/health/ap-health/masks-could-return-to-los-angeles-as-covid-surges-nationwide/ |
*Subject to change*
(WJMN) – The more the merrier! WJMN has announced the airdates to celebrate the 2022 Holiday collection with movies and specials.
Thursday, November 24
- Basket of Blessings
- 4:00 a.m.
- Praise of Thanksgiving
- 4:30 a.m.
- Tradition of Thanks w/ Stanford Olson
- 5:00 a.m.
Saturday, November 26
- Happy Holiday America
- 10:00 a.m.
- Spirit of the Season
- 10:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 27
- Tradition of Thanks w/ Stanford Olson
- 7:00 a.m.
- Praise of Thanksgiving
- 7:30 a.m.
- Christmas Across America Small Town/Big Deals
- 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 10
- A Country Fix Christmas
- 11:00 a.m.
Sunday, December 11
- Christmas Across America
- 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, December 22
- Songs of the Season – Part 1
- 7:00 – 7:30 pm
Friday, December 23
- Songs of the Season – Part 2
- 7:00 pm -7:30pm
- Christmas in the Air with Tom Brokaw
- 11:00 p.m.
- Carols Then and Now with Natalie Cole
- 11:30 p.m.
- An American Christmas with PJ Rasmussen
- 1:00 a.m.
Saturday, December 24
- An American Christmas with PJ Rasmussen
- 4:00 a.m.
- Red Boots for Christmas
- 10:30 a.m.
- The Puzzle Club Christmas Mystery
- 11:00 a.m.
- The City That Forgot About Christmas
- 11:30 a.m.
- Songs of the Season Part 1 & 2
- 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
- Little Shepherd
- 12:00 p.m.
- Spirit of the Season (Air Force Band)
- 12:30 p.m.
- A Dickens Christmas with John RhyDavis
- 5:30 pm
- We Need a Little Christmas with Angela Lansberry
- 11:00pm
- A Dickens Christmas with John RhyDavis
- 11:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 25
- A Tradition Christmas
- 12:00 a.m.
- Christmas Day in the Morning – Richard Thomas
- 12:30 p.m.
- Spirit of the Season ( Air Force Band)
- 1:00 a.m.
- Carols Then and Now with Natalie Cole
- 1:30 a.m.
- Happy Holiday America (Ent Studio)
- 2:00 a.m.
- A Dickens Christmas with John RhyDavis
- 3:00 a.m.
- The Spirit of Giving with Jane Seymour
- 3:30 a.m.
- Red Boots for Christmas
- 4:00 a.m.
- The City that Forgot About Christmas
- 4:30 a.m.
- The Yule Log
- 5:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
- Christmas Day in the Morning – Richard Thomas
- 9:00 a.m.
- Christmas In the Air with Tom Brokaw
- 9:30 a.m.
- Songs of the Season Parts 1 &2
- 10:00am -11:00 am
- Spirit of the Season ( Air Force Band)
- 11:00 a.m.
- A Country Fox Christmas
- 2:00 p.m. | 2022-11-21T21:23:10+00:00 | upmatters.com | https://www.upmatters.com/wjmns-2022-holiday-schedule/ |
FBI closes investigation into John Albers shooting
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (KCTV) - The Justice Department announced Friday that it would not pursue federal criminal civil rights charges against the Overland Park police officer who fatally shot John Albers.
A nearly two-year investigation into the shooting that occurred Jan. 20, 2018, found insufficient evidence to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that the officer willfully committed a violation of the federal criminal civil rights statute.
John Albers was 17-years-old when police showed up at his home responding to a mental health call on Jan 20, 2018.
When John tried to leave the house in a minivan, an Overland Park police officer fired two shots. The minivan then did a U-turn, and the officer fired 11 more times. John was hit six times and did not survive.
The DOJ investigation reveals 11 of the 13 shots were fired in three seconds.
“There is insufficient evidence to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that the officer willfully committed a violation of the federal criminal civil rights statute,” the release concluded. “Specifically, the evidence does not clear the high bar that the Supreme Court has set for meeting this standard, and the department has therefore closed its investigation into this matter.”
The Albers family released a statement Friday following the DOJ’s announcement.
“This was not the outcome we envisioned while seeking justice for John,” it read. “The lack of an indictment under federal law does not change the fact that we need significant changes to the system that investigates these tragedies and for our local leaders to promote the community-based evolution of law enforcement.”
The release draws a fine line between federal charges which require willfulness and possible state charges of criminal negligence or recklessness which were never pursued.
READ MORE: Overland Park fatal police shooting criticized in Washington Post documentary
However, District Attorney Steve Howe publicly cleared the officer about a month after the shooting, saying it was justified.
What happened that night has been the source of nationwide criticism and a civil lawsuit as critics say the investigation into the shooting was designed to clear the officer and shrouded in secrecy.
Officer Clayton Jenison was quietly paid $70,000 in severance to leave the department.
The Albers family reached a civil settlement with the city of Overland Park for $2.3 million. In the family’s statement, the family noted the difference in treatment it received from the DOJ in comparison to the Overland Park Police Department.
“The transparency, empathy and compassion the professionals at DOJ and the FBI exhibited helped us feel supported -- and it honored John,” the statement from Albers’ mother Sheila said. “Again, this was not the treatment we received from our local law enforcement and city leaders, who chose to dishonor our son.”
The Overland Park Police Department now offers more crisis training for officers.
This is a developing story. KCTV5 will have updates as they come.
Copyright 2022 KCTV. All rights reserved. | 2022-09-09T21:13:28+00:00 | kwch.com | https://www.kwch.com/2022/09/09/fbi-closes-investigation-into-john-albers-shooting/ |
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate
BANGKOK (AP) — Shares fell Thursday in Asia after Wall Street gave back some of its recent gains on persisting uncertainty over interest rates and inflation.
Benchmarks declined in Tokyo, Seoul and Sydney but rose in Hong Kong and Shanghai.
Wall Street retreated Wednesday following a set of mixed earnings reports. The pullback also followed comments Tuesday by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who signaled that an exceptionally strong U.S. jobs report last Friday would not oblige the central bank to return to a more aggressive stance on raising interest rates to tame inflation.
Another Fed official, John Williams, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, said Wednesday that he still thinks the Fed’s main interest rate hitting a target of 5% to 5.5% by the end of the year is “a very reasonable view.” The federal funds rate is now at a range of 4.50% to 4.75%. Williams spoke at a CFO Network summit hosted by the Wall Street Journal.
“Traders are keeping a close eye on policymakers’ remarks to position accordingly ahead of key upcoming inflation figures and job market data before next month’s rate decision," Anderson Alves of ActivTrades said in a commentary.
Tokyo's Nikkei 225 fell 0.4% to 27,510.17 and the Kospi in Seoul lost 0.1% to 2,482.03. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 declined 0.6% to 7,487.30. Shares also fell in Bangkok, Taiwan and Singapore.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng index gained 0.3% to 21,352.10, while the Shanghai Composite index advanced 0.6% to 3,252.02.
On Wednesday, the S&P 500 fell 1.1% to 4,117.86 and the Nasdaq fell 1.7% to 11,910.52. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gave back 0.6% to 33,949.01.
The Fed has been saying that it plans to hike interest rates a couple more times and then hold them at a high level at least through the end of the year. Williams warned that interest rates may need to go higher if stock prices rally and bond yields fall too much, among other loosening financial conditions, because that could drive inflation higher.
Companies have so far been reporting relatively lackluster earnings for the last three months of 2022, as rising costs eat into their margins.
Entertainment giant Walt Disney rose 5.5% in afterhours trading after it reported surprisingly good fiscal first-quarter financial results, but it gave up nearly all of that gain after it said it will cut about 7,000 jobs as part of a “significant transformation” announced by CEO Bob Iger. The job cuts amount to about 3% of the entertainment giant’s global workforce.
Chipotle Mexican Grill fell 5% after it reported weaker profit and revenue for the latest quarter than Wall Street expected.
Jack Henry & Associates, a company in the financial technology industry, sank 9.3% for one of the biggest drops in the S&P 500 after it reported weaker results than expected and trimmed financial forecasts for the full fiscal year.
Lumen Technologies tumbled 20.8% despite reporting stronger results than expected. Its forecasts for some financial measures in 2023 fell short of analysts' expectations.
On the winning side was CVS Health, which gained 3.5% after topping Wall Street’s forecasts for revenue and profit. It also said it would buy Oak Street Health, a primary care company, in a deal it valued at about $10.6 billion.
U.S. benchmark crude oil shed 6 cents to $78.41 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It added $1.33 on Wednesday to $78.47.
Brent crude, the pricing basis for international trading, also gave up 6 cents to $85.03 per barrel.
The U.S. dollar slipped to 131.38 Japanese yen from 131.42 yen. The euro rose to $1.0732 from $1.0742.
___
AP Business Writers Stan Choe and Damian J. Troise contributed. | 2023-02-09T05:14:23+00:00 | expressnews.com | https://www.expressnews.com/news/world/article/asian-shares-mixed-after-wall-st-gains-on-fed-17770881.php |
Request unsuccessful. Incapsula incident ID: 1525000400065114252-196738480401091089 | 2023-02-24T18:39:51+00:00 | bizjournals.com | https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2023/02/24/5-things-to-know-today.html |
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate
BUTHA-BUTHE, Lesotho (AP) — While millions across Europe sweat through a summer of record-breaking heat, they're skiing in Africa.
Don't worry. This isn't another sign of climate change but rather the fascinating anomaly of Lesotho, a tiny mountain kingdom completely surrounded by South Africa. Lesotho has an obscure geographical claim to fame: It's the only country on Earth where every inch of its territory sits more than 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) above sea level.
That gives Lesotho snow in the southern hemiphere's winters. And while cold winters aren't rare in southern Africa, snow is and ski resorts are even rarer. At an altitude of 3,000 meters (9,842 feet), Afriski in Lesotho's Maluti Mountains is Africa's only operating ski resort south of the equator.
“I've never seen snow in my life,” said Kafi Mojapelo, who traveled the short distance from South Africa for a skiing vacation she never thought she'd take. “So, this is a great experience.”
Bafana Nadida, who comes from the sprawling urban township of Soweto in Johannesburg, was delighted with putting ski boots on for the first time. He planned a day of ski lessons, taking pictures and just playing about in the snow.
Skiers and snowboarders lined up to rent the proper gear. Some were given pointers by Hope Ramokotjo, who is from Lesotho and has worked as a self-taught ski and snowboard instructor for 12 years. His wide smile and deep, reassuring voice puts beginners at ease.
“Push your heals out. Don’t pull your shoulders," Ramokotjo called out to his class of keen yet inexperienced African skiers as they wobbled along on the snow. "Here you go! Nice!”
Afriski's Kapoko Snow Park is the only freestyle snow park on the continent. Competitors lined up last month for the annual Winter Whip Slopestyle snowboard and ski competition. Sekholo Ramonotsi, a 13-year-old from the Lesotho city of Butha-Buthe who practices regularly at Afriski, won the junior snowboard and ski divisions.
“I would really like to ski in Europe,” he said.
London-born Meka Lebohang Ejindu said he has taught skiing and snowboarding in Austria for more than a decade and this is his first season in the southern hemisphere. He has family roots in Lesotho.
“For a competition like this to happen in southern Africa is so heartwarming,” he said.
Afriski may not be at the level of Europe's vast Alpine resorts but a love of winter sports is catching.
At Afriski's Sky Restaurant and Gondola Cafe, happy hour starts at 10 a.m. and skiers and boarders show off their winter fashions and party to house music, beers in hand. Some claim the bar is the highest in Africa, although that's challenged by the Sani Mountain Lodge, 130 kilometers (80 miles) to the east on the Lesotho-South Africa border.
What no one can dispute is this crowd went skiing in Africa. | 2022-08-07T07:43:57+00:00 | sfgate.com | https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Tiny-African-kingdom-has-skiing-as-Europe-sweats-17357201.php |
BOSTON (AP) — David Pastrnak scored two goals as the Boston Bruins tied the NHL record for most consecutive home wins to open a season with 11 by beating the Chicago Blackhawks 6-1 on Saturday night.
Patrice Bergeron, Jake DeBrusk, Taylor Hall and David Krejci also scored, and Charlie McAvoy had four assists to help Boston equal the season-opening home mark set by the Blackhawks in 1963-64 and matched by the Florida Panthers last season.
It was the sixth straight victory for the Bruins (16-2-0). Boston hits the road for two games this week — against Tampa Bay and Florida — before returning home to host Carolina for its annual Black Friday matinee.
“It’s unfathomable that we were going to have this start,” Boston’s first-year coach Jim Montgomery said. “So we’re enjoying the ride right now, but we know our schedule is getting really hard. It’s nice to be part of the record books.”
Behind a fired-up TD Garden crowd that broke into numerous chants of “Let’s Go Bruins,” Boston jumped to a 2-0 edge early in the second period en route to matching its season-high for goals in a game.
“You can see how close everyone is in this room, how everyone plays for each other,” McAvoy said. “We’re pulling from experiences we’ve had so far. … It’s a great attitude and vibe in the room right now. We’ve just got to ride these waves.”
Playing his first game since leaving with a left knee injury from a collision with Bergeron, Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman made 17 saves.
“It’s been great,” Bergeron said. “We’re trying to focus on what brings success right now, and be in the moment.”
Taylor Raddysh scored a power-play goal for Chicago and Petr Mrazek stopped 37 shots. The Blackhawks have lost three straight.
“I don’t think anyone is lacking a lot of confidence, but when goals start going in maybe guys are not making as much of confident plays,” Chicago defenseman Connor Murphy said.
With Boston on the power play, Pastrnak took a cross-ice from Brad Marchand just inside the right circle and slipped a wrister that slipped under the pads of Mrazek 4:53 into the game.
The Bruins led 1-0 after one period and it could have been a lot more because they outshot Chicago 15-3 and had a handful of excellent close chances.
Bergeron one-timed McAvoy’s pass inside the left post, making it 2-0 at 4:28 of the second.
Raddysh, positioned in the slot, tipped Max Domi’s shot into the net for a power-play score that sliced it to 2-1
But DeBrusk and Krejci scored a little over a minute apart late in the second, making it 4-1. Pastrnak’s second came midway into the third.
“Credit to them, they play fast and they capitalize on those chances,” Blackhawks defenseman Jarred Tinordi said. “We didn’t take care of the puck tonight and it hurt us.”
HOW THE WEST WAS WON
The Bruins improved to 8-0 against Western Conference teams.
NOTES
Bergeron needs one point for 1,000 in his career. He’d become the fourth Bruins player all-time to reach that mark. … Chicago forward Patrick Kane turned 34 on Saturday. … The Blackhawks had killed off all their penalties in the previous four games before Boston scored on its first power play. … Both teams wore reverse retro jerseys. … Mrazek played his 301st career game.
UP NEXT
Blackhawks: Host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday.
Bruins: At the Tampa Bay Lightning Monday.
___
More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2022-11-20T12:41:43+00:00 | localsyr.com | https://www.localsyr.com/sports/sports-news/ap-bruins-tie-nhl-mark-for-home-start-beat-blackhawks-6-1/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will meet Monday with President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of next week’s Group of 20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia, a face-to-face meeting that comes amid increasingly strained U.S.-China relations, the White House announced Thursday.
It will be the first in-person meeting between the leaders of the world’s two biggest economies since Biden became president in January 2021 and comes weeks after Xi was awarded a norm-breaking third, five-year term as the Chinese Communist Party leader during the party’s national congress.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement the leaders will meet to “discuss efforts to maintain and deepen lines of communication between” the two countries and to “responsibly manage competition and work together where our interests align, especially on transnational challenges that affect the international community.”
The White House has been working with Chinese officials over the last several weeks to arrange the meeting. Biden on Wednesday told reporters that he intended to discuss with Xi growing tensions between Washington and Beijing over the self-ruled island of Taiwan, trade policies, Beijing’s relationship with Russia and more.
“What I want to do with him when we talk is lay out what each of our red lines are and understand what he believes to be in the critical national interests of China, what I know to be the critical interests of the United States,” Biden said. “And determine whether or not they conflict with one another.”
The White House sought to downplay expectations for the meeting, telling reporters there was no joint communique or deliverables anticipated from the sit-down.
“I don’t think you should look at this meeting as one in which there’s going to be specific deliverables announced,” White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said. “Rather the two leaders are going to give direction to their teams to work on a number of areas, both areas where we have differences and areas where we can work together.”
Biden and Xi traveled together in the U.S. and China in 2011 and 2012 when both leaders were serving as their respective countries’ vice presidents, and they have held five phone or video calls since Biden became president in January 2021. But the U.S.-China relationship has become far more complicated since those getting-to-know-you talks in Washington and on the Tibetan plateau a decade ago.
As president, Biden has repeatedly taken China to task for human rights abuses against the Uyghur people and other ethnic minorities, Beijing’s crackdowns on democracy activists in Hong Kong, coercive trade practices, military provocations against self-ruled Taiwan and differences over Russia’s prosecution of its war against Ukraine.
Weeks before Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine, the Russian president met with Xi in Beijing and the two issued a memorandum expressing hopes of a “no limits” relationship for their nations.
China has largely refrained from criticizing Russia’s war but thus far has held off on supplying Moscow with arms.
“I don’t think there’s a lot of respect that China has for Russia or Putin,” Biden said Wednesday. “And in fact, they’ve been sort of keeping the distance a little bit.”
The leaders were also expected to address U.S. frustrations that Beijing has not used its influence to press North Korea to pull back from conducting provocative missile tests and to abandon its nuclear weapons program. Biden was set to discuss threats from North Korea with the leaders of South Korea and Japan a day before sitting down with Xi.
Sullivan said Biden would meet with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Seok Yeol on Sunday on the margins of the East Asia Summit in Cambodia, where North Korea’s saber rattling is expected to be the focus of talks.
Xi’s government has criticized the Biden administration’s posture toward Taiwan — which Beijing looks eventually to unify with the communist mainland — as undermining China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Chinese president also has suggested that Washington wants to stifle Beijing’s growing clout as it tries to overtake the U.S. as the world’s largest economy.
Tensions over Taiwan have grown since House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in August.
Biden said that he’s “not willing to make any fundamental concessions” about the United States’ Taiwan doctrine.
Under its “One China” policy, the United States recognizes the government in Beijing while allowing for informal relations and defense ties with Taipei. It takes a stance of “strategic ambiguity” toward the defense of Taiwan — leaving open the question of whether it would respond militarily were the island attacked.
Asked about the anticipated meeting, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a Thursday news briefing that China was looking for “win-win cooperation with the U.S.” while reiterating Beijing’s concerns about the U.S. stance on Taiwan.
“The U.S. needs to stop obscuring, hollowing out and distorting the One China principle, abide by the basic norms in international relations, including respecting other countries’ sovereignty, territorial integrity and noninterference in other countries’ internal affairs,” he said.
Biden caused a stir in Asia in May when at a news conference in Tokyo, said “yes” when asked if he was willing to get involved militarily to defend Taiwan if China invaded. The White House and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin were quick to clarify that there was no change in U.S. policy.
Beijing sees official American contact with Taiwan as encouragement to make the island’s decades-old de facto independence permanent, a step U.S. leaders say they don’t support. Pelosi is the highest-ranking elected American official to visit since then-Speaker Newt Gingrich in 1997.
Xi has stayed close to home throughout the global COVID-19 pandemic, where he has enforced a “zero-COVID” policy that has resulted in mass lockdowns that have roiled the global supply chains.
He made his first trip outside China since start of the pandemic in September with a stop in Kazakhstan and then onto Uzbekistan to take part in the eight-nation Shanghai Cooperation Organization with Putin and other leaders of the Central Asian security group.
U.S. officials were eager to see how Xi approaches the meeting after being newly empowered with a third term and consolidating his position as the unquestioned leader of the state, saying they would wait to assess whether that made him more or less likely to seek out areas of cooperation with the U.S.
They emphasized that party congress results reinforced the importance of direct engagement with Xi, rather than lower level officials whom they’ve found unable or unwilling to speak for the Chinese leader.
Sullivan says it “remains to be seen” what impact Xi’s cementing another five years as Communist Party leader will have on his approach to the U.S.-China relationship. | 2022-11-10T22:22:39+00:00 | everythinglubbock.com | https://www.everythinglubbock.com/news/politics/ap-biden-to-meet-chinas-xi-on-monday-for-taiwan-russia-talks/ |
BERLIN (AP) — A court in Germany has rejected a married couple’s request to legally change their Russian-sounding surname due to negative repercussions they said they had experienced since the start of the war in Ukraine.
The couple had sought to force officials in the southwest German state of Rhineland Palatinate to authorize the change, claiming that they and their daughter had suffered in their daily lives because of their last name.
The regional administrative court in Koblenz did not provide the couple’s surname in line with German privacy rules.
The court said Tuesday that judges dismissed the Germany-born couple’s request on the grounds that the reasons they gave for the change were insufficient.
“The fact that a family name is of foreign origin or doesn’t sound German is in itself generally not an important reason for a name change,” the court said in a statement.
It said the negative treatment the couple claimed to have experienced since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine wasn’t serious enough to warrant the name change, noting that the family’s economic situation hadn’t been affected.
The couple can appeal the ruling.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | 2023-04-25T19:14:31+00:00 | texomashomepage.com | https://www.texomashomepage.com/news/international/court-reject-familys-bid-to-change-russian-sounding-surname/ |
An app designed to help you find the purr-fect pet to adopt is now even easier to use just in time for NBC and Telemundo’s annual Clear the Shelters initiative.
It’s the WeRescue app, which now has a dedicated tab for Clear the Shelters, allowing users to search by ZIP code to find participating rescue organizations near you. That way, you can see listings for all of the animals available for adoption.
There’s also a news feed feature in the app which now gives users the ability to upload pictures of their pets to share with the entire WeRescue community.
Clear the Shelters
In addition, users will be able to see photos of other people’s rescued fur babies, read their adoption stories and comment on them. It’s a fun way to connect with other pet parents about the joys of animal adoption, while also drumming up excitement about Clear The Shelters.
“The WeRescue app team is proud to support the Clear The Shelters event for the fourth year — working with dedicated rescue shelter volunteers, foster parents, and NBCUniversal Local staff across the country to find forever homes for these amazing pets,” said WeRescue CEO Mark Wade. “There’s no greater joy than seeing a happy family walk out with a new rescue pet which they will love and cherish for years to come.”
The WeRescue app can be downloaded for all iPhone and iPad devices running version iOS 15.0 and above here.
This year’s Clear the Shelters event runs from Aug. 1 through Aug. 31. | 2022-08-06T14:59:35+00:00 | wdtn.com | https://www.wdtn.com/clear-the-shelters/find-adoptable-pets-in-your-area-using-the-werescue-app/ |
Just a year ago, Chukurah Ali had fulfilled a dream of owning her own bakery — Coco's Desserts in St. Louis, Mo. — which specialized in the sort of custom-made ornate wedding cakes often featured in baking show competitions. Ali, a single mom, supported her daughter and mother by baking recipes she learned from her beloved grandmother.
But last February, all that fell apart, after a car accident left Ali hobbled by injury, from head to knee. "I could barely talk, I could barely move," she says, sobbing. "I felt like I was worthless because I could barely provide for my family."
As darkness and depression engulfed Ali, help seemed out of reach; she couldn't find an available therapist, nor could she get there without a car, or pay for it. She had no health insurance, after having to shut down her bakery.
So her orthopedist suggested a mental-health app called Wysa. Its chatbot-only service is free, though it also offers teletherapy services with a human for a fee ranging from $15 to $30 a week; that fee is sometimes covered by insurance. The chatbot, which Wysa co-founder Ramakant Vempati describes as a "friendly" and "empathetic" tool, asks questions like, "How are you feeling?" or "What's bothering you?" The computer then analyzes the words and phrases in the answers to deliver supportive messages, or advice about managing chronic pain, for example, or grief — all served up from a database of responses that have been prewritten by a psychologist trained in cognitive behavioral therapy.
That is how Ali found herself on a new frontier of technology and mental health. Advances in artificial intelligence — such as Chat GPT — are increasingly being looked to as a way to help screen for, or support, people who dealing with isolation, or mild depression or anxiety. Human emotions are tracked, analyzed and responded to, using machine learning that tries to monitor a patient's mood, or mimic a human therapist's interactions with a patient. It's an area garnering lots of interest, in part because of its potential to overcome the common kinds of financial and logistical barriers to care, such as those Ali faced.
Potential pitfalls and risks of chatbot therapy
There is, of course, still plenty of debate and skepticism about the capacity of machines to read or respond accurately to the whole spectrum of human emotion — and the potential pitfalls of when the approach fails. (Controversy flared up on social media recently over a canceled experiment involving chatbot-assisted therapeutic messages.)
My worry is [teens] will turn away from other mental health interventions, saying, 'Oh well, I already tried this and it didn't work.'
"The hype and promise is way ahead of the research that shows its effectiveness," says Serife Tekin, a philosophy professor and researcher in mental health ethics at the University of Texas San Antonio. Algorithms are still not at a point where they can mimic the complexities of human emotion, let alone emulate empathetic care, she says.
Tekin says there's a risk that teenagers, for example, might attempt AI-driven therapy, find it lacking, then refuse the real thing with a human being. "My worry is they will turn away from other mental health interventions saying, 'Oh well, I already tried this and it didn't work,' " she says.
But proponents of chatbot therapy say the approach may also be the only realistic and affordable way to address a gaping worldwide need for more mental health care, at a time when there are simply not enough professionals to help all the people who could benefit.
Someone dealing with stress in a family relationship, for example, might benefit from a reminder to meditate. Or apps that encourage forms of journaling might boost a user's confidence by pointing when out where they make progress.
Proponents call the chatbot a 'guided self-help ally'
It's best thought of as a "guided self-help ally," says Athena Robinson, chief clinical officer for Woebot Health, an AI-driven chatbot service. "Woebot listens to the user's inputs in the moment through text-based messaging to understand if they want to work on a particular problem," Robinson says, then offers a variety of tools to choose from, based on methods scientifically proven to be effective.
Many people will not embrace opening up to a robot.
Chukurah Ali says it felt silly to her too, initially. "I'm like, 'OK, I'm talking to a bot, it's not gonna do nothing; I want to talk to a therapist," Ali says, then adds, as if she still cannot believe it herself: "But that bot helped!"
At a practical level, she says, the chatbot was extremely easy and accessible. Confined to her bed, she could text it at 3 a.m.
"How are you feeling today?" the chatbot would ask.
"I'm not feeling it," Ali says she sometimes would respond.
The chatbot would then suggest things that might soothe her, or take her mind off the pain — like deep breathing, listening to calming music, or trying a simple exercise she could do in bed. Ali says things the chatbot said reminded her of the in-person therapy she did years earlier. "It's not a person, but, it makes you feel like it's a person," she says, "because it's asking you all the right questions."
Technology has gotten good at identifying and labeling emotions fairly accurately, based on motion and facial expressions, a person's online activity, phrasing and vocal tone, says Rosalind Picard, director of MIT's Affective Computing Research Group. "We know we can elicit the feeling that the AI cares for you," she says. But, because all AI systems actually do is respond based on a series of inputs, people interacting with the systems often find that longer conversations ultimately feel empty, sterile and superficial.
While AI may not fully simulate one-on-one individual counseling, its proponents say there are plenty of other existing and future uses where it could be used to support or improve human counseling.
AI might improve mental health services in other ways
"What I'm talking about in terms of the future of AI is not just helping doctors and [health] systems to get better, but helping to do more prevention on the front end," Picard says, by reading early signals of stress, for example, then offering suggestions to bolster a person's resilience. Picard, for example, is looking at various ways technology might flag a patient's worsening mood — using data collected from motion sensors on the body, activity on apps, or posts on social media.
Technology might also help improve the efficacy of treatment by notifying therapists when patients skip medications, or by keeping detailed notes about a patient's tone or behavior during sessions.
Maybe the most controversial applications of AI in the therapy realm are the chatbots that interact directly with patients like Chukurah Ali.
What's the risk?
Chatbots may not appeal to everyone, or could be misused or mistaken. Skeptics point to instances where computers misunderstood users, and generated potentially damaging messages.
But research also shows some people interacting with these chatbots actually prefer the machines; they feel less stigma in asking for help, knowing there's no human at the other end.
Ali says that as odd as it might sound to some people, after nearly a year, she still relies on her chatbot.
"I think the most I talked to that bot was like 7 times a day," she says, laughing. She says that rather than replacing her human health care providers, the chatbot has helped lift her spirits enough so she keeps those appointments. Because of the steady coaching by her chatbot, she says, she's more likely to get up and go to a physical therapy appointment, instead of canceling it because she feels blue.
That's precisely why Ali's doctor, Washington University orthopedist Abby Cheng, suggested she use the app. Cheng treats physical ailments, but says almost always the mental health challenges that accompany those problems hold people back in recovery. Addressing the mental-health challenge, in turn, is complicated because patients often run into a lack of therapists, transportation, insurance, time or money, says Cheng, who is conducting her own studies based on patients' use of the Wysa app.
"In order to address this huge mental health crisis we have in our nation — and even globally — I think digital treatments and AI can play a role in that, and at least fill some of that gap in the shortage of providers and resources that people have," Cheng says.
Not meant for crisis intervention
But getting to such a future will require navigating thorny issues like the need for regulation, protecting patient privacy and issues of legal liability. Who bears responsibility if the technology goes wrong?
Many similar apps on the market, including those from Woebot or Pyx Health, repeatedly warn users that they are not designed to intervene in acute crisis situations. And even AI's proponents argue computers aren't ready, and may never be ready, to replace human therapists — especially for handling people in crisis.
"We have not reached a point where, in an affordable, scalable way, AI can understand every sort of response that a human might give, particularly those in crisis," says Cindy Jordan, CEO of Pyx Health, which has an app designed to communicate with people who feel chronically lonely.
The hype and promise is way ahead of the research that shows its effectiveness.
Jordan says Pyx's goal is to broaden access to care — the service is now offered in 62 U.S. markets and is paid for by Medicaid and Medicare. But she also balances that against worries that the chatbot might respond to a suicidal person, " 'Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.' Or worse, 'I don't understand you.' " That makes her nervous, she says, so as a backup, Pyx staffs a call center with people who call users when the system flags them as potentially in crisis.
Woebot, a text-based mental health service, warns users up front about the limitations of its service, and warnings that it should not be used for crisis intervention or management. If a user's text indicates a severe problem, the service will refer patients to other therapeutic or emergency resources.
Cross-cultural research on effectiveness of chatbot therapy is still sparse
Athena Robinson, chief clinical officer for Woebot, says such disclosures are critical. Also, she says, "it is imperative that what's available to the public is clinically and rigorously tested," she says. Data using Woebot, she says, has been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. And some of its applications, including for post-partum depression and substance use disorder, are part of ongoing clinical research studies. The company continues to test its products' effectiveness in addressing mental health conditions for things like post-partum depression, or substance use disorder.
But in the U.S. and elsewhere, there is no clear regulatory approval process for such services before they go to market. (Last year Wysa did receive a designation that allows it to work with Food and Drug Administration on the further development of its product.)
It's important that clinical studies — especially those that cut across different countries and ethnicities — continue to be done to hone the technology's intelligence and its ability to read different cultures and personalities, says Aniket Bera, an associate professor of computer science at Purdue.
"Mental-health related problems are heavily individualized problems," Bera says, yet the available data on chatbot therapy is heavily weighted toward white males. That bias, he says, makes the technology more likely to misunderstand cultural cues from people like him, who grew up in India, for example.
"I don't know if it will ever be equal to an empathetic human," Bera says, but "I guess that part of my life's journey is to come close."
And, in the meantime, for people like Chukurah Ali, the technology is already a welcome stand-in. She says she has recommended the Wysa app to many of her friends. She says she also finds herself passing along advice she's picked up from the app, asking friends, "Oh, what you gonna do today to make you feel better? How about you try this today?"
It isn't just the technology that is trying to act human, she says, and laughs. She's now begun mimicking the technology.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2023-01-19T20:59:28+00:00 | kcbx.org | https://www.kcbx.org/npr-top-news/npr-top-news/2023-01-19/therapy-by-chatbot-the-promise-and-challenges-in-using-ai-for-mental-health |
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Mark Kotsay will keep searching for the small bright spots as his Oakland Athletics stumble day after day, making sure they maintain their fight. He will celebrate a defensive play here, an at-bat there, a big catch or mighty throw.
Hunter Brown struck out a career-high 10 over seven innings and retired 16 straight during one stretch, Corey Julks drove in three runs and the Houston Astros bounced back from being shut out the two previous games to beat the A’s 5-2 on Friday night.
Oakland (10-43) now has the most losses over the first 53 games since 1900. The 1932 Red Sox won their 53rd game to move to 11-42, then lost the next eight and 13 of 14.
“This start can test your character, for sure,” said Kotsay, Oakland’s second-year manager. “If we sit here and dwell on the negatives, there’s no chance for us to turn this thing around. Focusing on the positives through a difficult time, it’s not fake because there are positives. The more we can continue in that direction, the more we can build on those positives, for me it’s the right way to think instead of the negative thought.”
The Astros were blanked in back-to-back games at Milwaukee following an eight-game winning streak. After Esteury Ruiz singled to leading off the A’s first, Brown (5-1) didn’t allow another baserunner until Nick Allen drew a one-out walk in the sixth.
Jose Altuve returned to the lineup after exiting Tuesday against the Brewers feeling ill, playing just his fifth game since coming off a season-opening stint on the injured list with a fractured right thumb.
After Hector Neris struck out two in the eighth, Ryan Pressly pitched the ninth for his ninth save in as many chances.
The A’s lost their season-high ninth straight and 12th of 13 and have scored two or fewer runs in eight consecutive contests — matching the second-longest such streak since eight in a row from May 10-18, 1979.
“In hitting, it definitely can get contagious and we just don’t have enough guys in the lineup right now who can put consecutive at-bats together to build that momentum,” Kotsay said.
Seth Brown hit a two-run homer in the seventh for Oakland, just 4-20 in May. James Kaprielian (0-5) made it 12 straight losses by the A’s starters over the past 19 games since their only two wins May 5-6 at Kansas City.
“This is a challenge. This is tough. I’ve never gone through something like this, I don’t think anyone has,” Kaprielian said. “We’re historically losing games right now, unfortunately. But we’re not going to let that steer us. I think we have the ability to show up every day, have a positive attitude, try to be a good teammate and continue to help the guys around us and continue to try and get better every day.”
A’S NOSTALGIA
Astros manager Dusty Baker sat in a photo well before batting practice thinking about his time playing for Oakland to end his career in 1985-86 and how the A’s are planning to relocate to Las Vegas — saying it already “kind of hit home” when he went to Las Vegas a couple of years ago for a Raiders game.
“I can understand it business wise, but sentimentally you hope it didn’t come to this,” he said.
Reflecting still, Baker mentioned the music.
“I remember that this stadium had the best sound system in America and they still do,” Baker said. “They were always jamming here. They’re still jamming now.”
NICE ARM
Steelers running back Najee Harris, from nearby Antioch, threw out the ceremonial first pitch on a night the A’s drew a crowd of 13,345 for their first fireworks game of the year.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: LF Michael Brantley, recovering from inflammation in his surgically repaired right shoulder, is swinging again but not yet hitting. … SS Jeremy Peña got a day off that Baker had initially planned to do Wednesday but had to switch gears when Altuve was unavailable. … RHP José Urquidy (right shoulder discomfort) threw on flat ground for the first time. … RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (right elbow strain) was going to meet the team in Oakland, but instead will join the Astros back home in Houston.
Athletics: RHP Paul Blackburn is set to start Monday against the Braves in his return from a blister and fingernail injury on the middle finger of his pitching hand. … RHP reliever Dany Jiménez is still rehabilitating his strained pitching shoulder in the trainer’s room and has not yet advanced to a throwing program.
UP NEXT
Astros LHP Framber Valdez (4-4, 2.45 ERA) is coming off a shutout and looks to win back-to-back starts for the first time all season and his third straight decision.
LHP Hogan Harris (0-0, 162.00) is in Oakland ready to either start as the opener or follow an opener with multiple innings, manager Mark Kotsay said.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2023-05-28T08:49:46+00:00 | mytwintiers.com | https://www.mytwintiers.com/sports/ap-astros-send-as-to-most-losses-through-53-games-to-start-season-since-1900/ |
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (WDAF) — A traffic camera in Overland Park, Kansas, captured wild video as storms passed through the area Tuesday.
Moments into the video, which was released by police, a flash of lightning affects the traffic lights and rain and possibly hail begin to fall heavily.
Powerful winds start pushing the water in one direction before abruptly switching directions, giving indications of a power weather event in the area.
The National Weather Service is still investigating the storms and has not yet confirmed a tornado in the area.
Damage spread throughout the region, especially in Johnson County, Kansas. Nearly 50,000 people in the Kansas City area were without power Wednesday morning.
Evergy was working to restore power to everyone. | 2022-06-08T18:47:45+00:00 | wnct.com | https://www.wnct.com/weather/watch-traffic-camera-captures-powerful-kansas-storm/ |
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A Russian ammunition depot was apparently targeted by Ukrainian forces overnight, resulting in a massive blast captured on social media.
The Ukrainian military’s southern command said the rocket strike targeted the depot in Russian-held Nova Kakhovka, about 35 miles (55 kilometers) east of the important Black Sea port city of Kherson, which is also occupied by Russian forces.
Video on social media showed a massive explosion. The nature of the strike suggested that Ukrainian forces used U.S-supplied multiple-launch High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, to strike the area.
Russia’s Tass news agency offered a different account, saying that the target was a mineral fertilizer storage facility that exploded, and that a market, hospital and houses were damaged. Some of the ingredients in fertilizer can be used for ammunition.
Ukrainian authorities also said that Russian fire struck the southern city of Mykolaiv on Tuesday morning, hitting two medical facilities and residential buildings. Four people were wounded in the shelling attack, Mykolaiv regional governor Vitaliy Kim said on Telegram.
Air raid sirens sounded early Tuesday morning in the western city of Lviv and other areas of Ukraine as Russian forces continued to make advances.
According to a Tuesday intelligence briefing from the British military, Russia is continuing to make “small, incremental gains” in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, where heavy fighting led the province’s governor last week to urge its 350,000 remaining residents to move to safer places in western Ukraine.
Yet many in the Donbas, a fertile industrial region in eastern Ukraine made of the Donetsk and Luhansk provinces, refuse — or are unable — to flee, despite scores of civilians being killed and wounded each week.
The death toll in a Russian rocket attack that struck an apartment building in eastern Ukraine on Saturday has risen to 34. The head of the Donetsk regional military administration, Pavlo Kyrylenko, made the announcement on social media, saying nine wounded people had been recovered from the building in Chasiv Yar.
The British intelligence briefing said Russia had seized the Ukrainian town of Hryhorivka and continued to push toward the Donetsk province cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.
“Russian forces are likely maintaining military pressure on Ukrainian forces whilst regrouping and reconstituting for further offensives in the near future,” the intelligence briefing said.
However, Russia may be relying more heavily on private forces, like the Wagner mercenary group, to avoid a general mobilization, the British said.
___
Jon Gambrell in Lviv, Ukraine, contributed to this report.
___
Follow the AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | 2022-07-12T09:45:43+00:00 | seattletimes.com | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/world/ukrainian-rocket-strike-targets-russian-ammunition-depot/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_world |
The state Department of Transportation lifted speed limit reductions and commercial vehicle restrictions on the following interstates:
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request.
Most Popular
-
Dickson City police say man choked girlfriend in grocery store parking lot
-
Cucina Rinaldi closes in Moosic
-
West Scranton anchors, Gerrity's Supermarkets and Fidelity Bank, back NeighborWorks NEPA
-
Scranton City Council introduces legislation approving new DPW director
-
Scranton man sentenced to prison for attempted indecent assault
-
Lackawanna County Court Notes 2/22/23
-
Newton Twp. man charged in break-in
-
Old Forge council tables ordinance on businesses geared toward sex
-
Other business from Scranton City Council's Feb. 21, 2023 meeting
-
A Lehigh Valley school district is allowing an After School Satan Club. It says its hands are tied by the law
Submissions now open for the 2023 Mother's day edition.
Reader Poll
Do you live to work or work to live?
You voted: | 2023-02-23T01:45:10+00:00 | thetimes-tribune.com | https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/speed-reductions-lifted-on-interstates/article_2d81e2d8-6639-5f08-ab55-a3da835ee644.html |
When foreign countries face conflict, we are reminded of the rights and freedoms we have as Americans. Even though the conflict may be on the other side of the world, some people who immigrated to the U.S. from those countries say continuing to fight for rights is important.
Multiple billboards and jumbotrons have been placed by the Iranian American Women Foundation in major U.S. cities, including D.C., Kansas City, Los Angeles, and New York City. The hope is to bring awareness to the unrest in Iran, be the voice of the Iranian women, and influence U.S. policy to make a difference.
Tawny Mazarei immigrated to the U.S. when she was 17 to pursue education. Negeen Sadeghi-Movahed was born in the U.S., but her parents were born in Iran. Both say they're very connected to their heritage and invested in the human rights movement happening in Iran.
"The movement started with the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old young girl who was killed in the hands of the morality police in Iran for allegedly not covering every single strand of hair," Mazarei said. "She was detained and she was killed while she was in the police custody. The whole movement is not about hijab. It's about all the other rights that goes with somebody having, and especially women, having autonomy over what they wear, over how they carry themselves, over having other freedoms in their lives and in the society."
"For the last 40-some-odd years, Iran has been under a specific regime," Sadeghi-Movahed said. "The Islamic Republic and the Islamic Republic has a lot of laws in place that many disagree with just outright, but also namely really stifle women's rights."
Grateful for their rights living in the U.S., they are determined to do everything in their power to make a difference for people in Iran.
"It's extremely sad coming from a place of privilege being in the United States that I can't help more," Sadeghi-Movahed said. "We feel very guilty to kind of watch this all transpire. People who look like us being killed online and then can't do anything about it."
Due to sanctions, people from the U.S. can't send any medical supplies or financial help to people in Iran. International conflict experts say that's typically how immigrants are able to send help to people in their country of origin.
"The only thing that we do have is to become their voice," Mazarei said.
"There's a slogan for this entire movement that says, be their voice, be her voice," Sadeghi-Movahed said.
They are exercising freedoms given to Americans in the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
"I guess the leverage that I have right now is I can openly speak about this issue without fear of persecution for my life and my family in America," Sadeghi-Movahed said. "But I will say it is very scary that I could be putting my family in Iran at risk for what I say in the United States."
Sadeghi-Movahed says the goal is for politicians in the United States to take notice, so they put diplomatic pressure on the Iranian government.
"The United States, you know, for all of its bad and good, is looked at as a beacon of human rights and is looked at as an example around the world," Sadeghi-Movahed said. "And the least we can do as Americans is to make sure we're upholding the world to that standard."
They say it will take more than Iranian American women raising their voices. They are asking all Americans to participate.
"We're asking everybody who has access to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tik-Tok, any social media platform to just hashtag Mahsa Amini, hashtag Iran, and just continue to spread the word," Sadeghi-Movahed said.
So that maybe someday women in Iran can also exercise freedoms women in the U.S. already have. | 2022-11-28T20:58:11+00:00 | tmj4.com | https://www.tmj4.com/news/national/iranian-american-women-foundation-places-billboards-in-major-cities-to-raise-awareness-for-womens-rights |
Those offering dire warnings about the alleged dangers of so-called “highly potent pot” — and demanding that these products be recriminalized — are taking their cues from an age-old playbook.
From the onset of criminal cannabis prohibition, criminalization advocates have sought to rationalize their position by greatly exaggerating the supposed strength of marijuana. In the 1930s, while lobbying for the passage of the first-ever federal ban on cannabis, Bureau of Narcotics Commissioner Henry Anslinger testified to Congress that the marijuana of a century ago was so uniquely potent that it was “entirely the monster Hyde, the harmful effect of which cannot be measured.”
In an attempt to justify the marijuana crackdown of the 1980s, former Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl F. Gates opined that advanced growing techniques had increased the potency of THC, the primary psychoactive ingredient in the plant, to the point that “those who blast some pot on a casual basis … should be taken out and shot.”
A few years later, during congressional hearings on strengthening federal anti-drug laws, then-Sen. Joe Biden publicly weighed in on the issue, opining, “It’s like comparing buckshot in a shotgun shell to a laser-guided missile.”
Looking back, it is apparent that each of these previous generations’ claims was nothing more than hyperbole. Nonetheless, these sensational claims had a lasting influence on marijuana policy. The latest recycling of the “It’s not your parents’ pot” claim is a little different.
The availability of more potent cannabis products is not a new phenomenon. In fact, higher potency cannabis products, like hashish, have always been available. Typically, when consumers encounter higher potency products, they ingest lesser quantities of them. This self-regulatory process is known as self-titration.
Moreover, higher potency THC products do not dominate state-legal markets. In fact, most consumers tend to prefer and gravitate toward products of more moderate potencies, not concentrates.
That’s not to say that cannabis products cannot be overconsumed. They can. But in such instances, consumers typically experience only temporary dysphoria (commonly referred to as a panic attack) — the effects of which dissipate within a few hours. Nonetheless, to discourage overconsumption, most states regulate certain cannabis products, like edibles, to single-serving sizes.
Ultimately, proposed product bans will only perpetuate the unregulated market. That is because outlawing these products will drive their production and sale exclusively underground. This result undermines the primary goal of legalization, which is to disrupt and ultimately replace the underground market with a transparent, regulated marketplace, wherein products are tested for safety and are clearly labeled so that consumers can make educated choices.
Rather than reintroduce cannabis criminalization, regulators and other concerned parties should seek to provide the public with more comprehensive safety information about the effects of more potent products, and they should continue to ensure that legal products do not get diverted to the youth market. Such actions will ultimately be far more productive than calling for a return to the failures of marijuana prohibition.
Paul Armentano is the deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. This column was provided by InsideSources.
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. | 2022-08-15T05:43:48+00:00 | bostonherald.com | https://www.bostonherald.com/2022/08/15/armentano-marijuana-potency-warrants-more-education-regulation/ |
Here's how middle and high school students will share Broad Ripple building
Broad Ripple High School will be used for one innovation charter high school and a new middle school for the 2024-25 school year, the Indianapolis Public School Board of Commissioners agreed Thursday.
Discussions about using the former Broad Ripple High School building for a new middle school have been happening since the Rebuilding Stronger plan was announced last year, but this week IPS leaders announced more details on how the arrangement will work.
The north campus of Purdue Polytechnic High School, a charter innovation school, has been using the third floor of the school since the start of the 2022-23 school year. The agreement approved Thursday means that the high school will get to keep using the third floor until at least 2027.
The middle school will take up the first and second floors and won't open to students until the 2024-25 school year.
Education news:Indiana's largest teachers' colleges failing on teaching science of reading
The creation of a new middle school at Broad Ripple is part of the district’s Rebuilding Stronger plan to split up the district’s K-8 schools and create more stand-alone middle schools.
Along with Broad Ripple, the former Thomas Carr Howe High School building will also be brought back as a middle school for the 2024-25 school year.
The Broad Ripple middle school will be an international baccalaureate program serving grades 6-8 that can hold 1,800 students. However, IPS leaders said at Tuesday night’s school board meeting they don’t want the school to exceed 900 students.
Purdue Polytechnic at Broad Ripple serves grades 9-12 and is a STEM-focused school that has a mission of getting more students of color and other underrepresented student groups admitted to Purdue University and into STEM careers.
The high school will get to use some rooms on the second floor, like the cafeteria and auditorium, and both will be able to access the school’s athletic facilities.
Purdue Polytechnic does not have to pay a lease to IPS but will make monthly payments to cover operational costs such as utilities and custodial staff.
Private school vouchers:Here's who uses them and what schools are getting money
Students who attend middle school at Broad Ripple wouldn’t necessarily be promised a seat at Purdue Polytechnic in the same building since that school has a capacity of 500 students.
The CEO of Purdue Polytechnic High Schools, Keeanna Warren, told board members Tuesday night that she plans to work in partnership with the middle school principal and the rest of IPS administration to ensure that they are doing what’s best for all students in IPS.
Around two-thirds of Purdue Polytechnic High Schools' students come from the IPS district now, Warren said, but since they are a charter school, any student in Indiana can apply.
“With the name Purdue, it does draw in a certain crowd that are really excited about our direct admittance policy,” Warren said. “So within our priorities, we prioritize IPS as our preferred partner.”
The Broad Ripple building will see around $40 million in construction investments from the $410 million capital referendum approved by voters in May. The upgrades will go toward addressing utility concerns but also improving athletic fields and security features for the building.
Contact the reporter at317-618-5807 or CBeck@gannett.com.
This story is made possible by Report for America and Glick Philanthropies. As part of its work in Marion County, Glick Philanthropies partners with organizations focused on closing access and achievement gaps in education.
Report for America is a program of The GroundTruth Project, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening local newsrooms. Report for America provides funding for up to half of the reporter’s salary during their time with us, and IndyStar is fundraising the remainder.
To learn more about how you can support IndyStar’s partnership with Report for America and to make a donation, visit indystar.com/RFA. | 2023-06-30T11:39:01+00:00 | indystar.com | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/education/2023/06/30/broad-ripple-middle-high-school-students-will-share-ips-building/70367124007/ |
Man turns stop at grocery store into $5 million lottery jackpot
Published: Mar. 23, 2023 at 5:23 PM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
DELRAY BEACH, Fla. (Gray News) - A Delaware man turned a trip to the grocery store into a $5 million lottery jackpot.
According to the Florida Lottery, 66-year-old Peter Sullivan hit the $5 million top prize from the Gold Rush Limited scratch-off game after purchasing the ticket at a Publix supermarket in Delray Beach.
Lottery officials said the Delaware resident claimed his prize as a one-time lump sum payment of $3,960,000.
The Publix store will also receive a $2,000 commission for selling the winning ticket.
Florida officials said the $20 Gold Rush Limited game launched in September 2021. It features 32 top prizes of $5 million and 100 prizes of $1 million.
Copyright 2023 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2023-03-23T22:50:47+00:00 | wnem.com | https://www.wnem.com/2023/03/23/man-turns-stop-grocery-store-into-5-million-lottery-jackpot/ |
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin made a stop in Fresno as part of the San Joaquin Valley Town Hall speaker series.
She spoke about her life, her activism work, and breaking barriers in Hollywood including being the first network television director who is Deaf.
"The feisty pollster on the "West Wing," the tennis lineswoman and lip reader on "Seinfeld," the mother from "Switched at Birth," mentioned Academy Award-winning Actress Marlee Matlin
From those break-out roles to more recent award-winning projects like the film Coda, Marlee Matlin spoke to a crowd full of people at the William Saroyan Theatre on Wednesday
Sharing some of the struggles she has faced in the film industry and what helped her become the success she is today.
"My family's determination to include me rather than segregate me was so strong that they encouraged me to dream big with no limits to my imagination," said Matlin.
Fans inspired by Marlee were able to ask questions and were even able to gift her a painting on stage.
"I wanted to congratulate her on all her hard work she's done, she's done so much in her career so I wanted to give her this as, showing her that I'm proud and that I am proud to be a part of this community," said Chance Jones, Sophomore at Washington Union High School.
And fans learning that Marlee's husband grew up in the Central Valley made the interaction that much more special.
"I was shocked when I found out she has ties to Fresno, her husband from here, he grew up here, what," exclaimed Jones.
"Seeing Marlee Matlin in person meant more to me I think than I eternally realized," said Sarah Pullen-Harris, Theatre Teacher at Central East High School.
Growing up Deaf Sarah has had to depend on lip reading and other forms of communication,
She says her students help make the challenges in life less stressful.
"These guys are why I show up to work every day and I think today they got to live a little bit in my world maybe and see what it's like that I'm experiencing every day, because I live in their world most of the time," added Pullen Harris.
One of her big takeaways from the event was courage plus dreams equal success and she had everyone sign it all together definitely an impactful experience.
For more information on the Town Hall lecture series and future guests, click here. | 2023-04-20T02:47:44+00:00 | abc30.com | https://abc30.com/marlee-matlin-san-joaquin-valley-town-hall-speaker-series/13156695/ |
‘Rick and Morty’ creator has domestic abuse charges dropped
LOS ANGELES (AP) — California prosecutors on Wednesday dropped domestic violence charges against Justin Roiland, who created the Cartoon Network animated series “Rick and Morty” and provided the voices of the show’s two title characters.
Orange County district attorney’s spokeswoman Kimberly Edds said the two felony counts involving a former girlfriend were dropped “due to a lack of sufficient evidence beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Roiland responded to the dismissal on Twitter.
“I have always known that these claims were false — and I never had any doubt that this day would come,” he said. “I’m thankful that this case has been dismissed but, at the same time, I’m still deeply shaken by the horrible lies that were reported about me during this process.”
He added that he is “disappointed that so many people were so quick to judge without knowing the facts, based solely on the word of a bitter ex trying to bypass due process and have me ‘canceled.’”
Roiland, 43, had been awaiting trial on charges of corporal injury and false imprisonment by menace, fraud, violence or deceit against the woman, who he was living with at the time. She was not identified in court documents.
The charges dated to May of 2020, but they apparently went unnoticed by media outlets until NBC News reported on them in January of this year.
Roiland and Dan Harmon created the animated sci-fi sitcom about a mad scientist and his grandson, both voiced by Roiland. It has aired for six seasons on Cartoon Network as part of its Adult Swim nighttime programming block, and it has been renewed for a seventh.
Adult Swim and Cartoon Network cut ties with him when the charges were reported and said his roles would be recast. 20th TV Animation and Hulu Originals, which produce two other animated series Roiland worked on, did the same.
The companies declined comment on Wednesday.
In his tweet, Roiland said he is “determined to move forward and focus both on my creative projects and restoring my good name.”
___
Follow AP Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/andyjamesdalton
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2023-03-23T01:01:20+00:00 | waff.com | https://www.waff.com/2023/03/23/rick-morty-creator-has-domestic-abuse-charges-dropped/ |
After cutting ties with Argo AI last fall, Ford has decided to establish an in-house division for development of automated driving systems.
Called Latitude AI, the 550-staff division will initially focus on developing a hands-free, eyes-off driver-assist system for Ford vehicles, similar to systems such as Mercedes-Benz’s Drive Pilot and Volvo’s Ride Pilot. In contrast, Argo AI was developing a fully automated driving system to be used in a commercial service, like a robotaxi fleet.
Ford’s current BlueCruise automated driver-assist system and the related Lincoln ActiveGlide system still require the driver to monitor the road at all times. As a result, they only rank at Level 2 on the SAE scale of self-driving technology. Latitude AI is developing a Level 3 system, the first level where a driver is able to take his or her eyes off the road.
Ford owned Argo AI together with Volkswagen Group, and most of the facilities and staff at Latitude AI are former Argo AI employees, Ford said. Latitude AI’s headquarters are also in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where Argo AI was headquartered. The new company has additional engineering hubs in Michigan and California. The company will also operate a test track in South Carolina to simulate highway driving.
Heading Latitude AI is Sammy Omari, who is also head of automated driver-assist technology at Ford and was previously head of engineering at Hyundai Motor Group-backed self-driving technology company Motional. Peter Carr, a former senior engineer at Argo AI, serves as chief technology officer at Latitude AI.
After cutting its own ties with Argo AI, VW Group continues to develop automated driving technology at its in-house software division Cariad. The automaker also plans to announce a new partner for its planned robotaxi service due to launch in 2025, a service that was previously being developed with Argo AI.
Related Articles
- Ford to build 150,000 F-150 Lightning electric trucks a year
- VinFast delivers first EVs in US
- Ford F-150 Lightning production restarting March 13
- Aramco joins Geely and Renault to develop ICE, e-fuel solutions
- 2024 Countryman to be first Mini made in Germany | 2023-03-04T11:48:18+00:00 | siouxlandproud.com | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/automotive/internet-brands/fords-latitude-ai-will-develop-automated-driving-tech/ |
Next-Generation Fiber Network to Reach Over 50,000 Potential Customers in Indiana by End of 2023
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Brightspeed today announced details for its planned fiber optics network build in the state of Indiana. By the end of 2023, the company will deliver over 50,000 new fiber passings in portions of 20 counties during the first phase of construction in the state. Brightspeed plans an additional 70,000 fiber passings in subsequent years of its build plan, for a total of more than 120,000 fiber-enabled locations across its Indiana footprint.
The Indiana fiber build is the latest in a series of announcements that Brightspeed has made over the last several months outlining the company's fiber network plans for its multistate territory. In total, Brightspeed intends to invest at least $2 billion in its fiber optics transformation, which is expected to reach up to 3 million homes and businesses over the next five years in mainly rural and suburban settings where fiber and advanced technology have not historically been deployed.
Brightspeed will initially be comprised of incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) assets and associated operations of Lumen Technologies (NYSE: LUMN), which are the subject of a pending acquisition by Apollo-managed funds (NYSE: APO). The company has secured FCC approval and all necessary regulatory approvals in the 20 states in its operating footprint, and plans to close the transaction early in the fourth quarter.
"We are excited to share our fiber network upgrade plans for Indiana and are thrilled that we will be reaching so many communities during our initial build phase," said Tom Maguire, chief operating officer of Brightspeed. "Our Brightspeed team has been busy completing the design and construction preparations necessary to hit the ground running on day one of operations. We cannot wait to start delivering our ultra-fast, reliable internet connections, with an awesome, best-in-class customer experience that the people and businesses of Indiana need and deserve."
Brightspeed's 2022-23 build plan for Indiana will bring faster, more reliable internet and Wi-Fi to over 50,000 residential and business locations in markets within Adams, Carroll, Dearborn, Elkhart, Henry, Jasper, Johnson, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Madison, Marshall, Newton, Ohio, Pulaski, Randolph, St. Joseph, Starke, Switzerland, White, and Whitley counties.
"Beyond our own extensive network build in Indiana, we are looking forward to working with key state and local stakeholders, including the Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA), to pursue opportunities to further expand fiber-based broadband availability in Indiana," added Maguire.
"There are several rural counties in Indiana that are poised for growth in the next few years, but it comes down to quality of life in these rural areas," said Indiana Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch. "Access to quality education and healthcare are keys to this growth, but neither can happen without affordable and reliable connectivity. Brightspeed's investment in Indiana in the next two years will bring reliable connectivity to an estimated 50,000 businesses and households. This is what Hoosiers need!"
Brightspeed's unique next-generation FTTP architecture, supported by a portfolio of blue-chip technology partners, is engineered to help the company accelerate deployment and market availability. The company's planned XGS-PON network will be capable of delivering download and upload speeds in excess of 1Gbps, with service reliability vital to helping today's households and businesses connect, grow, and thrive.
For more information about Brightspeed, visit the company's website, www.brightspeed.com.
About Brightspeed
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C. and expected to have assets and associated operations in 20 states, Brightspeed will provide broadband and telecommunications services through a network platform capable of serving more than 6 million homes and businesses. The company aims to bridge the digital divide by deploying a state-of-the-art fiber network and a customer experience that makes staying connected simple and seamless. For more information about Brightspeed, visit the company's website, www.brightspeed.com.
Media
Erik Carlson
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
(212) 355-4449
pr@brightspeed.com
View original content:
SOURCE Brightspeed | 2022-08-30T15:01:59+00:00 | kmvt.com | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/08/30/brightspeed-announces-initial-fiber-build-markets-indiana/ |
AMES — Iowa State’s Tamin Lipsey cleaned up, cooled down and briefly basked in the afterglow of his team’s convincing 77-62 Big 12 season-opening win Saturday over then-No. 12 Baylor.
Then he strode back onto the floor of Hilton Coliseum, eager to connect with loved ones, but found himself momentarily blocked. The smooth and skilled 6-1 point guard didn’t mind a bit. He smiled instead.
“I was (like), ‘I can’t wait to see my family,’” said Lipsey, who scored eight points while dishing out a career high-tying eight assists against the Bears. “I had about 30 people wanting autographs and pictures and I was out there for like 15 minutes before I even saw my family, but I love that stuff. I love being able to make someone’s day — make a kid’s day — because I know what it’s like.”
Lipsey’s ability to defend at a high level, finish at the rim and crisply facilitate at such a young age has been a key component of early-season success for the Cyclones (10-2, 1-0), who face Oklahoma (9-4, 0-1) at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Norman. The Ames native ranks among the top seven in the league in assists per game (fourth, 4.7), assist-to-turnover ratio (sixth, 4.7-to-1.8) and steals (seventh, 2.0). Against Baylor, Lipsey ignited a 10-0 run late in the first half that helped ISU eventually snap a nine-game regular season losing steak in the series — and Bears coach Scott Drew took notice.
People are also reading…
“I think any freshman that plays in this league’s gotta be special, because you’re not gonna play a freshman and win if they’re not special,” Drew said after the game. “I think the best thing he does is take care of the basketball. He’s tremendous. Doesn’t turn it over and gets his shooters shots. And the other thing is defensively, he’s really, really good for a freshman.”
Lipsey’s just getting started, too. He’ll need to be at his best on a nightly basis and continue to prepare, practice and play like a veteran. By all accounts, he’s consistently delivering on those fronts.
“He’s a tremendous competitor,” said Cyclone head coach T.J. Otzelberger, whose team leads the nation in turnover percentage (30.7), according to KenPom. “He cares, has that sense of pride, really wants our team to do well and you could sense something in him at that point in (the Baylor) game where my team needs me right now and it’s time to step up. Credit to him for seeing it and being that intentional, and stepping up and doing it.”
Each ISU player will obviously need to do the same against the Sooners and throughout the rugged Big 12 slate. Every team in the league is among the top 44 in the NET rankings and five are in the top 26. Oklahoma’s 44th, but excels at both shooting 3-pointers (34.9 percent, ninth nationally) and defending beyond the arc (26.8 percent, seventh nationally).
“They’re going to be hungry for a win,” Otzelberger said. “Coming off a tough loss, a one-point loss (to No. 6 Texas) at home. They’ve got a lot of defensive intent and offensively they can really space the floor.”
Lipsey’s helping the Cyclones do the same — and will likely attract more post-game admirers as he builds off his early-season success.
“He plays at his own pace,” ISU senior forward Tre King said. “Nobody rattles him. Nobody gets him sped up and it’s beautiful.” | 2023-01-03T20:01:42+00:00 | wcfcourier.com | https://wcfcourier.com/sports/college/isu/college-mens-basketball-iowa-state-freshman-tamin-lipsey-is-playing-like-a-veteran/article_1b4a85c9-2f17-57a6-813b-798656cab9b3.html |
AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) – The city of Amherst kicks off Pride Month by hosting various events throughout June.
LGBTQ+ Pride Month raises awareness for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, promotes safe spaces, and aims to eradicate discrimination and violence against those in the community.
Pride Month is celebrated in June to commemorate the Stonewall riots that took place in June of 1969. At this time, police raided a New York City gay bar, the Stonewall Inn, which sparked riots by people in the LGBTQ+ community. These riots led to the gay liberation movement and the modern fight for LGBTQ+ rights in the US.
June is called “Pride” month in order to celebrate those in the LGBTQ+ community and that everyone should be proud of who they are.
People all across the United States celebrate Pride Month with events like parades, marches, concerts, workshops, and more! Here are just a few activities being held in the city of Amherst this June:
Rainbow Coffee Hour – First Tuesday of every month from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Amherst Senior Center – 70 Boltwood Walk, Amherst (July meeting is pushed to 7/11 due to 7/4)
Pride Button Making – Friday, 6/2 from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Jones Library – 43 Amity Street, Amherst
Ceremonial flagraising declaring June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month – Friday, 6/2 at 4 p.m. at Town Hall Steps – 4 Boltwood Ave, Amherst
Magnolia’s Masquerade – Thursday, 6/8 at 8 p.m. at The Drake – 44 N Pleasant Street, Amherst
Stefan Alexander with Special Guests Zoe Lemos and Lou Marie – Wednesday, 6/21 at 8 p.m. at the Drake – 44 N Pleasant Street, Amherst
For additional events being hosted in Amherst and surrounding areas this month, visit Amherst Downtown’s Event Calendar. | 2023-06-01T16:11:35+00:00 | wwlp.com | https://www.wwlp.com/news/local-news/hampshire-county/amherst-announces-events-to-celebrate-lgbtq-pride-month-this-june/ |
COLUMBIA — Halloween fun returns to the South Carolina State Museum this October with an exciting lineup of shows and events. Guests are invited to enjoy a full month of activities, including a new 4D film, Dark History Tours, a special themed “Fright” Night Laser Lights event and more.
“Our Halloween activities are always popular with guests — and staff,” says Doug Beermann, chief operating officer at the State Museum. “We look forward to bringing back our popular Dark History Tours and lighting the Jack O’ Planetarium again, plus debuting a new show featuring Scooby Doo.”
Showing daily this October only, SCOOB! 4D Experience, is an exciting new immersive film featuring Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Velma and Daphne in an all-new action-packed story. The lifelong friends face their biggest, most challenging mystery ever when they learn of a plot to unleash a wild beast from a prehistoric underworld. Including 3D animation, sensational effects such as seat movement, air blasts and more, this may be the Mystery Machine’s wildest adventure yet!
People are also reading…
The museum is also offering “Dark History Tours” all month long that explore a variety of infamous and legendary tales throughout South Carolina’s history. During this tour, guests will discover the true story of Columbia’s catacombs, hear stories from Gullah Geechee folklore and more. Educator-led tours are available each Saturday in October at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. A self-guided experience is also available every day with descriptive panels and QR codes at each "stop."
Shows and events
HalloScream Laser Lights Planetarium Experience
Showing weekends in October
See your favorite Halloween tunes, including “Thriller,” “Monster Mash” and “Ghostbusters” set to a brilliant display of dynamic laser lights inside the museum’s digital dome planetarium.
Spooky Saturdays
Sat., October 22 and 29, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Join in the family fun at the State Museum on these special days featuring the new show SCOOB! 4D Experience, Dark History Tours and more. Plus, kids are invited to get creative and wear their favorite costume on their museum visit! Kids (aged 3 - 12) in costume will receive free general admission on both Saturdays.
“Fright” Night Laser Lights: Laser Stranger Things
Fri., October 28, 6 – 10 p.m.
“Fright” Night Laser Lights returns with the debut of a new, special Halloween show that is sure to turn your world "upside down." Experience the ‘80s tunes and soundscapes from the iconic Netflix series set to a stunning display of lasers inside the museum’s 55-foot digital dome planetarium. This special evening event also includes Dark History Tours, delicious food for purchase from a featured local food truck and a cash bar. Tickets are on sale now at scmuseum.org
General admission to the South Carolina State Museum is $8.95 for adults; $7.95 for seniors; $6.95 for children; infants 2 and under are free. Planetarium experiences, 4D theater shows and tickets to Fright Night Laser Lights are an additional charge. The museum is open Tuesday- Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon – 5 p.m. | 2022-10-02T16:27:01+00:00 | thetandd.com | https://thetandd.com/lifestyles/halloween-fun-returns-to-scsm-museum-debuts-new-4d-show/article_4ff091a4-ec0e-59ee-aecb-e396c817c1bd.html |
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will spend the next two days in China for talks with senior officials.
The visit is set against the backdrop of Russia’s war in Ukraine and tensions between the United States and China.
The Secretary was set to make this trip in February but postponed it when a Chinese surveillance balloon was discovered over U.S. airspace. The balloon was ultimately shot down.
Blinken is the most senior U.S. official to visit China during President Joe Biden’s tenure in the White House and the first Secretary of State to go in five years.
President Biden himself also said he may meet again with Chinese President Xi Jinping, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"I’m hoping that, over the next several months, I’ll be meeting with Xi again and talking about legitimate differences we have but also how there’s areas we can get along," said President Biden.
Blinken's trip this week is being met with scrutiny from some top Congressional Republicans who are accusing the Biden administration of not taking a more hardline approach with China.
As the New York Times reported, GOP Congressman Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, "threatened to subpoena Mr. Blinken if he failed to produce documents by Friday evening detailing the list of retaliatory actions the U.S. government has considered against China and when they were applied."
Democrats, on the other hand, argue that communication is important to cool tensions.
Blinken is expected to prioritize open communication channels between the two nations while engaging in discussions regarding climate change and the global economy.
SEE MORE: US confirms China has had a spy base in Cuba since at least 2019
Trending stories at Scrippsnews.com | 2023-06-17T23:52:48+00:00 | wsfltv.com | https://www.wsfltv.com/blinken-makes-high-stakes-trip-to-china-in-effort-to-ease-tensions |
As the president of basketball operations for the NBA G League’s Texas Legends, Spud Webb has been in the same orbit as Mac McClung recently.
After all, McClung was the 2021-22 G League rookie of the year with the South Bay Lakers and the former Gate City High School superstar has played so well for the Delaware Blue Coats this season that the Philadelphia 76ers signed him to a two-way contract on Tuesday.
McClung can soon join Webb in the stratosphere of slam on Saturday night when he competes in the NBA dunk contest at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The 5-foot-7 Webb famously won the 1986 NBA slam dunk contest in Dallas and the former title-holder will be intently watching McClung’s jam session.
“I’ve seen some highlights on him and I’ve heard his name over the years,” Webb said on Wednesday night in a telephone interview. “He should do well. He’s got some real hops.”
People are also reading…
McClung, who stands 6-foot-2, has been showing off those hops since his days at Gate City and one of his mixtapes from his days rattling the rim in gyms throughout Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee with the Blue Devils has generated nearly three million views on YouTube.
Everybody seems to have a favorite McClung dunk … or two … or several.
“There are two for me actually,” said Scott Vermillion, McClung’s coach at Gate City. “The first was when he called off the play that I had called on an inbounds pass under the basket. Bradley Dean threw it up in the middle of the lane and Mac caught it and posterized the opponent’s center with a two-handed dunk off the oop.
“The second was when Mac was a sophomore and he caught an alley-oop in the region finals against Martinsville. Nobody saw the dunk coming and it brought the crowd to its feet.”
Most of his jams did.
In fact, McClung’s final bucket for Gate City was a reverse jam to polish off an 80-65 win over Robert E. Lee-Staunton in the 2018 VHSL Class 2 state championship game at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Siegel Center.
He delivered a dunk in his first collegiate game for the Georgetown University Hoyas a few months later.
In the one game he played for the Los Angeles Lakers last season, he punctuated a season-ending win over the Denver Nuggets with a highlight-reel flush.
Dunk contests aren’t anything new for McClung either.
He was the dunk champion at the 2018 Ballislife.com All-American Game in California, beating Miles Norris – who now plays for California Santa-Barbara – in the finals.
McClung was runner-up to Kevin Porter Jr. (now with the Houston Rockets) in the dunk contest at the Allen Iverson Roundball Classic that same year.
There was also the 2016 Arby’s Classic slamfest at Bristol’s Viking Hall where he was one of three finalists in a competition won by Shyrone Kemp from Tabernacle Baptist of the Bahamas.
Strategy can be key.
Just ask Theodore “Blue” Edwards, who finished sixth in the 1991 NBA dunk contest in Charlotte, North Carolina, during his days with the Utah Jazz.
“Having a plan is a must and a contingency plan just in case,” Edwards said. “I believe that your dunk routine should be practiced down to the T. Then go out for what you know you can do and improvise if the crowd demands it.”
Dee Brown won that dunk contest in Charlotte in 1991 and he’s familiar with McClung as well.
“I’ve seen him and have known of him,” Brown said on Thursday in a telephone interview. “My son played high school basketball, so he’s seen Mac since high school when he was an internet sensation. … Me being in the front office for NBA teams a lot, people have always known his game. He’s very athletic, a very talented player, and does some dunks in games that people are amazed at.”
Brown won his dunk crown thanks to some creativity (shielding his eyes for the title-clinching dunk) and showmanship (he unforgettably used the pumps on his Reeboks before his aerial assault) to win it all.
“You’ve got to do something people haven’t seen,” Brown said. “I’ve seen some dunks Mac’s done on social media that I haven’t seen in a dunk contest, so hopefully he can pull those out.”
McClung has always drawn big crowds, but all eyes will be on him when it comes to the dunk contest.
“Yeah, it’s a little different,” Brown said. “It’s all you. All your peers are there watching, celebrities are there. I remember before the contest. … Rex Chapman throwing up in the locker room and thinking, ‘Man, he’s nervous.’ Was I nervous? Yeah, but I was more anxious because nobody knew the dunks I had. I wanted to go out there and show the people and I am sure Mac is the same way.”
McClung’s high school teammate and best friend – Bradley Dean – will be in Utah and will likely offer assistance to Mac as they demonstrate a court connection they have shared for years. Dean departed for Salt Lake City on Thursday, one day after scoring 24 points and playing all 40 minutes for the University of Virginia’s College at Wise in a 79-76 win over Emory & Henry.
“I know Mac is going to put on a show,” Dean said. “It is an amazing opportunity for him to show the world even more of himself.”
After all, this is a dunk contest whose previous winners include the likes of Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Kobe Bryant and Vince Carter.
Who couldn’t get up for that?
“I have seen Mac McClung play,” Edwards said. “He is a phenomenal athlete. He has the versatility to win the dunk contest. Certainly he should be able to give a great performance. And he is a white guy, so that in itself adds suspense to the mix. The fans always pine for something different.”
Don’t scoff at that comment.
Only eight Caucasians have previously competed in the NBA slam dunk contest since its inception in 1984: Chris “Birdman” Andersen (2004, 2005), Brent Barry (1996), Chase Budinger (2012), Tom Chambers (1987), Rex Chapman (1990, 1991), Pat Connaughton (2020), Mason Plumlee (2015) and Bob Sura (1997) with Barry taking home the trophy 27 years ago.
There is also the height factor.
The three other competitors in this year’s field are 6-foot-10 Jericho Sims of the New York Knicks, 6-8 Trey Murphy III of the New Orleans Pelicans and 6-7 Kenyon Martin Jr. of the Houston Rockets.
“Fans want to see the smaller guys do well. They are going to think he’s the underdog,” Webb said. “They’ll probably be surprised to see him do some of the dunks I’ve seen him do.”
Folks throughout Southwest Virginia will be paying attention with their televisions tuned to TNT. Karl Malone, Dominique Wilkins, Harold Miner, Lisa Leslie and Jamal Crawford will be the judges in Salt Lake City.
Gate City High School is having a watch party in the gymnasium following the finals of the Mountain 7 District girls basketball tournament. A large screen will be set up and the viewing is free to all community members eager to root on the hometown guy.
“To be on a platform like NBA All-Star weekend is a huge opportunity that I know he cherishes and doesn’t take lightly,” said Gate City athletic director Zeke Newton. “He’s earned this opportunity and I look forward to watching as he continues to prove himself against the world’s best.”
McClung is also scheduled to compete in the Rising Stars Challenge on Friday and the G League Next Up All-Star Game on Sunday.
Rich Hofmann of The Athletic wrote a lengthy feature on McClung a couple of days ago and Shaquille O’Neal praised him as a potential dunk contest titlist Tuesday on TNT’s “Inside the NBA.”
Winning the slam dunk contest would bring even more fame to Southwest Virginia’s favorite son.
Webb played 12 years in the NBA, but he is best known for soaring into stardom on that Saturday night in 1986.
“It gets brought up in every airport, every building I go in,” Webb said. “I remember when I came back from All-Star weekend, Doc Rivers told me, ‘You know, you’ll never live that down, right?’ Everywhere you go you see people who say they saw it or were there.” | 2023-02-17T01:47:43+00:00 | heraldcourier.com | https://heraldcourier.com/mcclung-to-face-nba-spotlight-in-slam-dunk-contest/article_482433a2-ae61-11ed-aa0e-2b7add898fa3.html |
BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details
DON’T LET GREENWASHING INTERFERE WITH YOUR GOALS TO BUY GREEN PRODUCTS
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- Greenworks Pro Cordless Lawn Mower
- Green Toys Farm Playset
- Biokleen Concentrated Laundry Detergent Liquid
With climate change a major concern, people are more conscious than ever about protecting the environment. Companies are aware of this trend, too, as they compete for consumer dollars. However, some use deceptive advertising and marketing practices called greenwashing to get shoppers to buy items that may not be environmentally friendly.
If your goal is to shop online for items that won’t hurt the environment, you need to be aware of greenwashing and how to choose environmentally friendly products across numerous categories.
WHAT IS GREENWASHING?
Greenwashing occurs when a company promotes products using terms and slogans that are associated with the green movement, but in reality, it doesn’t abide by environmentally sound practices.
Words commonly used to appeal to customers who prefer to buy green products include natural, organic and nontoxic. Some companies even claim that products are sustainable or eco-friendly when in fact, they don’t live up to those claims with sustainable practices.
Not only is greenwashing bad for the environment, but it’s misleading to consumers who want to invest in products that aren’t harmful to the planet.
TYPES OF GREENWASHING
There are four key types of greenwashing to look out for as you shop.
- Persuasive imagery: Some companies use lovely photos of flowers, trees, birds and more in the marketing of their products to make them appear green. While these appealing images grab attention, they mean nothing if the company is actually polluting the earth.
- Irrelevant messaging: A claim that’s contradicting is another form of greenwashing. For example, if a cosmetic company lists that a product is free of parabens but contains other equally harsh additives, it’s not eco-friendly.
- Misleading label information: A common form of greenwashing includes claims of organic, all-natural or pure on labeling without proof to back up these claims.
- Unmentioned trade-off: You may think a product is green if it’s made of recycled materials. However, if the company is involved in other practices that pollute the planet, it’s not green.
TIPS FOR SHOPPING GREEN ONLINE
As you browse for products on your favorite online merchants’ sites, there are steps you can take to ensure that you aren’t swayed by false promises of sustainability.
Do your research. When in doubt, look online to find out more information about a company’s stance on the environment before you buy.
Read beyond the product listing. When you shop online, retailers’ websites have varying amounts of information posted about each product they sell. However, many companies offer closer views of product labeling so you can easily check out fine details such as ingredients. For example, you can find an ingredient list for products such as eco-friendly laundry detergents to help you make an informed decision.
Look for certification by key green organizations. Certifications such as Energy Star, FSC and WaterSense ensure that products meet specific green standards. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also provides information on its website about sustainable products that are made without harsh chemicals.
Opt for energy-saving products. Investing in smart thermostats, battery-powered tools, water-conserving products and solar-powered gadgets will help make your home and lifestyle greener.
BEST GREEN PRODUCTS TO BUY ONLINE
Greenworks Pro Cordless Lawn Mower
Greenworks has been a leading company in battery-powered lawn tools for years. With a powerful motor and up to 45 minutes of runtime per charge, the Pro cordless mower is the way to go for cutting your grass without producing emissions.
Sold by Amazon
Goal Zero Boulder 200 Briefcase Solar Panel
Easy to transport and set up, this foldable unit features two 100-watt solar panels for powering small appliances and devices when paired with a power station. It’s a good choice for off-the-grid adventures when you need sustainable energy on the go.
Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
Toys can be eco-friendly too! Green Toys is a sustainable brand that makes toys with 100 percent recycled plastic. This adorable set has a barnyard theme that youngsters love.
Sold by Amazon
A steam mop may not come to mind when you think of green products, but the fact that it sanitizes with steam instead of chemicals makes it an environmentally friendly home cleaning tool. This top-selling model sets up in minutes and is easy to use.
Sold by Amazon, Wayfair and Home Depot
Biokleen Concentrated Laundry Detergent Liquid
This laundry detergent meets the EPA’s Safer Choice standards for its chemical-free formula, so you can feel confident using it as part of your green living plan. You can choose from three scents that are light and pleasant or a fragrance-free formula.
Sold by Amazon
We love this solar fountain’s stylish fish design that looks great in any outdoor living space. In addition to gaining its power from the sun’s rays, it also uses minimal water by recycling it through the unit.
Sold by Amazon
Jackery Explorer 240 Power Station Solar Generator
You can have power when exploring or when the power goes out with this solar generator. Simply pair it with a solar panel, and it will operate devices, lights and other small appliances. You can also charge in via a wall or vehicle outlet.
Sold by Amazon
Puracy Everyday Surface Cleaner
Made with plant-based ingredients, this cleaner doesn’t contain harsh additives such as petrochemicals that are hard on the environment. A little goes a long way with the concentrated formula that’s simple to mix and use.
Sold by Amazon
Google Nest Learning Thermostat
The Nest Learning Thermostat gets its name from the intuitive technology that learns your temperature preferences and sets itself accordingly. You’ll also know when you’re saving energy — a leaf pops up on the vivid screen to alert you when you make a smart temperature choice.
Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews.
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Jennifer Manfrin writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money. | 2023-04-24T14:34:29+00:00 | wwlp.com | https://www.wwlp.com/reviews/br/how-to-avoid-greenwashing-while-online-shopping/ |
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Senegal’s ruling coalition says it has won 30 of 46 departments in Sunday’s legislative election, giving it a majority over the opposition.
The head of the ruling coalition and former Prime Minister Aminata Toure claimed the victory late Sunday.
“Of the 46 departments in Senegal, we won 30 departments. So we gave a large majority to our president,” said Touré.
The head of President Macky Sall’s coalition, Benno Bokk Yaakar, stressed that the information is “precise, accurate, fair and not invented” with wins in Senegal’s North, West and Central areas.
“We congratulate all the citizens who voted for us,” said Yaakar.
The mayor of Dakar, Barthelemy Dias, denounced the results, claiming that “the opposition won the elections” and calling on the youth to mobilize to “preserve their victory.”
Official provisional election results are expected later this week. The Autonomous National Electoral Commission, the body responsible for monitoring and supervising the elections, declared that the ballot took place in peace and calm.
About 6.8 million voters were expected at the polls to elect 165 deputies to the National Assembly. The opposition has focused its campaign on the need to vote against the ruling coalition to prevent Sall from trying to secure a third term in the 2024 presidential elections.
Senegal’s political atmosphere is tense. Violent protests broke out last year after Sall’s main opponent, Ousmane Sonko, was arrested on rape charges and more than a dozen people were killed. Sonko, who came in third in the 2019 election, denies the allegations and his supporters have been vocal about their opposition to the president.
This year, Sonko and another of Sall’s prominent opponents were disqualified as candidates, sparking more widespread anger and protests in which three people died in June.
Senegal, with a population of 17 million, is known for its stability in West Africa where there have been coups in three countries since 2020 and where leaders have changed laws in order to remain in power for third terms.
Anger has grown in the region amid economic worries as prices for fuel and food have skyrocketed due to the war in Ukraine. | 2022-08-01T20:36:04+00:00 | wearegreenbay.com | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/international/ap-international/senegals-ruling-coalition-claims-win-but-opposition-rejects/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Average long-term U.S. mortgage rates were back up this week, just as the latest government data shows inflation has not slowed, meaning the Federal Reserve is almost certain to raise its benchmark borrowing rate later this month.
Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the 30-year rate rose to 5.51% from 5.30% last week. One year ago the average 30-year rate was 2.88%.
The average rate on 15-year, fixed-rate mortgages, popular among those refinancing their homes, rose to 4.67% from 4.45% last week. A year ago, the rate was 2.22%.
The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark rate by a half-point in May and another three-quarters of a point last month, the biggest single hike since 1994. Fed policymakers have signaled that much higher interest rates could be needed to reign in persistent, four-decade high inflation. Most economists expect the Federal Reserve to jack up its borrowing rate another half-to-three-quarters of a point when it meets later this month.
Fed officials acknowledge that their rate hikes could weaken the economy, but suggested that such steps were necessary to slow price increases back to the Fed’s 2% annual target.
The Labor Department reported Wednesday that its consumer price index soared 9.1% over the past year, the biggest yearly increase since 1981. On Thursday, Labor released data showing that its producer price index — which measures inflation before it reaches consumers — rose by 11.3% in June compared with a year earlier.
The Fed’s benchmark short-term rate, which affects many consumer and business loans, will now be pegged to a range of 1.5% to 1.75% — and Fed policymakers forecast a doubling of that range by year’s end.
Higher borrowing rates have discouraged house hunters and cooled what was a red-hot housing market, one of the most important sectors of the economy. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes slowed for the fourth consecutive month in May.
Home prices kept climbing in May, even as sales slowed. The national median home price jumped 14.8% in May from a year earlier to $407,600 — an all-time high according to NAR data going back to 1999.
Mortgage applications have declined 14% from last year and refinancings are down 80%, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported this week. Those numbers could retreat further with more Fed rate increases a near certainty.
Layoffs in the housing and lending sectors have already begun. On Tuesday, the online mortgage company loanDepot said it was cutting 2,000 jobs.
Last month, the online real estate broker Redfin said it was laying off 8% of its workers and Compass said it was letting go of 450 employees.
The nation’s largest bank by assets, JPMorgan Chase, is laying off hundreds from its mortgage unit and has reassigned hundreds of others to jobs elsewhere in the firm. | 2022-07-15T01:32:23+00:00 | everythinglubbock.com | https://www.everythinglubbock.com/news/business/average-long-term-us-mortgage-rates-bounce-back-up-to-5-51/ |
The Jets are rolling with veteran Joe Flacco to start the season. And for more than just the season opener against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
Zach Wilson just wasn’t ready to get back on the field after preseason knee surgery and said the earliest the second-year quarterback will likely start is Week 4 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, head coach Robert Saleh revealed Wednesday morning.
Saleh said he wanted to make sure Wilson is 100% before putting him out there. He said it wasn’t worth the risk with his young QB.
“We just made the decision that he’s not quite ready,” Saleh said. “Just from everything we gathered over the last couple of days, we are going to make sure both mind and body are 110% and that we do right by him.”
He did say that Wilson has not suffered any setbacks and that ideally he would have a complete week of practice before starting.
Gamesmanship and football go hand-in-hand and that’s undoubtedly what Saleh did on Monday. He knew Wilson wasn’t going to play Sunday, but there was no benefit to announcing a starting quarterback at the beginning of the week before injury reports were released. The Ravens were likely preparing for both quarterbacks but probably knew there was a good chance Wilson would miss the season opener.
It makes sense the Jets would want to protect their long-term investment. Wilson is in his second year in the league and the team didn’t want to bring him back before he’s 100% ready.
The 2022 season is a critical year for both the Jets and Wilson under center. The team needs to see if he is indeed their quarterback of the future and it’s hard to do that when he isn’t completely healthy.
Now that Wilson won’t play until Oct. 2, this will give him time to heal his meniscus and bone bruise and give him much-needed practice time that he missed throughout training camp.
Saleh said Wilson would play against the Ravens if he could, but it was a decision by the Jets’ doctors.
“He’s a competitor,” Saleh said. “If you ask him, he would tell you he could play this week. At the same time, this is the long game.
“This is a young man, we don’t want anything else happening to that knee.”
()
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. | 2022-09-07T17:25:29+00:00 | bostonherald.com | https://www.bostonherald.com/2022/09/07/zach-wilson-likely-wont-be-available-until-at-least-week-4-vs-steelers-robert-saleh-reveals/ |
(AP) – The Transportation Department is rolling out a “dashboard” to let travelers see at a glance which airlines help families with young children sit together at no extra cost.
The announcement Monday comes as the department works on regulations to prevent families from being separated on planes.
It’s the latest salvo in the Biden administration’s efforts to clamp down on what it calls “ junk fees ” and to put pressure on airlines to improve service.
The dashboard rewards airlines with a green check if they guarantee that an adult family member can sit next to their young children if seats are available. On Monday, only three of the 10 U.S. airlines listed on the website received a green check: Alaska, American and Frontier.
The site also includes links to each airline’s customer policies.
“Parents traveling with young kids should be able to sit together without an airline forcing them to pay junk fees,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a release announcing the dashboard. He gave his department credit for pressuring airlines, “and now we’re seeing some airlines start to make this common-sense change.”
Airlines “already work to accommodate customers who are traveling together, especially those traveling with children, and will continue to do so,” said Hannah Walden, a spokeswoman at Airlines for America, a trade group whose members include the six largest U.S. carriers. “Each carrier has established individual policies, but all make every effort to ensure families sit together.”
This year, several carriers have pledged to make changes in their seating policies.
Last month, Frontier Airlines said it would automatically seat at least one parent next to any child under 14.
Last week, American Airlines updated its customer-service plan with a guarantee that children 14 and under would be seated next to an accompanying adult at no extra cost.
United Airlines said it would let families with children under 12 to pick adjoining seats at no extra cost starting in early March in certain fare classes. The announcement seemed to fall short of Transportation standards however, because the department issued a notice last July that it intends to ban extra charges to have a family adult sit next to children up to age 13.
The new dashboard builds on a site that the Transportation Department started last year to detail compensation for passengers whose flights are canceled or delayed. | 2023-03-07T04:58:32+00:00 | fox44news.com | https://www.fox44news.com/news/national-world-news/amid-junk-fee-fight-us-dashboard-details-airline-family-seating-rules/ |
The House passed a resolution on Wednesday that condemns attacks on antiabortion facilities and groups, which reportedly increased in number after the draft of the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade leaked.
The measure passed in a 222-219 vote, with three Democrats — Reps. Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) — voting for the bill.
The text specifically “condemns recent attacks of vandalism, violence, and destruction against pro-life facilities, groups and churches” and “calls upon the Biden Administration to use all appropriate law enforcement authorities to uphold public safety and to protect the rights of pro-life facilities, groups, and churches.”
A draft of the Supreme Court’s majority opinion overturning Roe v. Wade leaked in May, sparking a number of attacks on pro-life groups and resource centers, according to The Washington Post. In June, before the bench issued the highly anticipated opinion, the Department of Homeland Security warned that individuals on both sides of the issues have “encouraged violence” against the government and religious and reproductive healthcare personnel and facilities.
The resolution approved on Wednesday listed a number of attacks against pro-life institutions that occurred from when the decision leaked to the day the court published its opinion — including episodes of vandalism, igniting and throwing molotov cocktails and setting an antiabortion nonprofit center on fire.
During debate on the House floor Wednesday, Rep. Ann Wagner (R-Mo.) called attention to the incidents.
“There have been now nearly 100 recorded acts of violence and intimidation against pro-life individuals and organizations by radical, pro-abortion activists since the initial leak of the draft Supreme Court Dobbs opinion,” she said.
“Following the leak and issuance of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, anti-life fanatics have targeted, destroyed, or vandalized, as I said, over 100 pro-life facilities, groups, and churches to further their radical cause,” she added. | 2023-01-11T22:41:19+00:00 | nwahomepage.com | https://www.nwahomepage.com/hill-politics/house-passes-resolution-condemning-attacks-on-antiabortion-facilities-groups/ |
WFO DALLAS / FT. WORTH Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Sunday, June 26, 2022
_____
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
950 PM CDT Sun Jun 26 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of east central Erath
County through 1030 PM CDT...
At 950 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9
miles west of Dinosaur Valley State Park, or 13 miles east of
Stephenville, moving south at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 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.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
LAT...LON 3229 9808 3237 9801 3224 9795 3216 9790
3209 9800 3215 9811
TIME...MOT...LOC 0250Z 014DEG 8KT 3223 9798
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
_____
Copyright 2022 AccuWeather | 2022-06-27T04:34:10+00:00 | sfgate.com | https://www.sfgate.com/weather/article/TX-WFO-DALLAS-FT-WORTH-Warnings-Watches-and-17267311.php |
- Schneider Electric's Carrollton facility is one of the company's largest in Texas and employs 328 workers
- Texas is home to Schneider Electric's largest footprint in the nation with 2,740 employees based in the state
CARROLLTON, Texas, Nov. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Schneider Electric, the global leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, today hosted Texas State Representative Julie Johnson (D-Farmers Branch) at its office in Carrollton, Texas. Rep. Johnson toured the recently renovated 70,000 square foot office and training lab and was briefed on the company's efforts to design, manufacture, install and service its portfolio of electrical products—from home circuit breakers to microgrids that power communities—that enable its customers to achieve a cleaner and more sustainable future.
Schneider executives also briefed Rep. Johnson on its commitment to continue investing in the Dallas region, the programs associated with workforce development and workforce diversity, and its support of local community efforts with organizations such as the American Heart Association, Habitat for Humanity, and Our Friends Place among others.
"Companies like Schneider Electric are attracted to the Dallas community because of our skilled workforce," said Texas State Representative Julie Johnson (D-Farmers Branch). "Together, we are producing technologies that will power the nation's clean energy future, right here in Texas. It will not only make our energy systems more efficient and sustainable, but also more resilient to withstand the forces of climate change."
"Schneider Electric is proud to be part of the Dallas community and we are honored to host Rep. Johnson," said Jana Gerber, President, Microgrid, Schneider Electric North America. "We continue to develop and strengthen our workforce in North Texas and across North America and look forward to our continued partnership with state and federal officials to bring good paying jobs to the region and meet market demand for digital innovations to achieve our shared goals for a clean energy future."
Earlier this year Schneider Electric announced plans to increase its domestic manufacturing capabilities, including the construction of a new manufacturing plant in El Paso, Texas which will create 400 new American jobs and speed the delivery of its products to its North American customers. The announcement follows substantial investments in existing Schneider-owned manufacturing operations in Iowa, Kentucky, Nebraska, and Texas to strengthen resilience, increase flexibility, and safeguard Schneider Electric's U.S. supply chain. It currently employs 328 employees in Carrollton, TX across engineering, sales, finance, services, marketing, and human resources. In 2020, Schneider Electric contributed $318 million to the Texas economy.
Schneider's purpose is to empower all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability for all. We call this Life Is On.
Our mission is to be your digital partner for Sustainability and Efficiency.
We drive digital transformation by integrating world-leading process and energy technologies, end-point to cloud connecting products, controls, software and services, across the entire lifecycle, enabling integrated company management, for homes, buildings, data centers, infrastructure and industries.
We are the most local of global companies. We are advocates of open standards and partnership ecosystems that are passionate about our shared Meaningful Purpose, Inclusive and Empowered values.
Follow us on: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram | Blog
Hashtags: #LifeIsOn #AccessToEnergy #SEGreatPeople #Diversity #Sustainability #CleanEnergy
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Schneider Electric | 2022-11-17T20:00:38+00:00 | wsfa.com | https://www.wsfa.com/prnewswire/2022/11/17/schneider-electric-hosts-texas-state-representative-julie-johnson-d-farmers-branch-discuss-workforce-development-workforce-diversity-jobs-training/ |
Reduced fouling in water-cooled chiller plants at 3 major universities leads to an average of 12% improvement in energy efficiency.
CORALVILLE, Iowa, Nov. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovas Technologies, a U.S. based manufacturer of energy efficiency solutions, today released data from a comparative study that combines sustainability impacts from three major US Universities resulting from the introduction of the Helios Automatic Tube Cleaning System® (Helios TCS) technology. The data highlights how the Helios provided an annual reduction of over 7,000 tons GHG emissions resulting from the introduction of the automation technology. The groundbreaking success of the Helios automation technology is empowering these Universities toward the successful implementation of their Net Zero strategies.
The study shows the potential of the Helios to contribute to the nations' carbon reduction goals by providing the capability to eliminate over 3,000,000 tons of GHG emissions annually in the commercial HVAC sector alone. Results in the HVAC sector are applicable to other industrial segments of the Global economy. The Helios Automatic Tube Cleaning System® is playing a transformational role in modernizing operations in the commercial, industrial, and institutional cooling environment.
In all three cases, the Helios TCS improved chiller energy efficiency by maintaining stable approach temperatures at or below design parameters. Where high quality source water is unobtainable even greater results were encountered. Data shows that lower approach temperatures have reduced energy consumption and increased chiller efficiency by an average of 12%. The financial and environmental savings are significant.
The Helios Automatic Tube Cleaning System® from Innovas Technologies eliminates tube fouling contributing to chilled water plant optimization. The system is proven, reliable and the install base has run millions of cycles without any process interruptions. It works by injecting cleaning balls into the entry point of heat exchanger tubes and collecting them in a trap on the exit part of the heat exchanger. The cleaning balls gently "wipe" the insides of the tubes clean, eliminating bio scale and preventing deposits from accumulating.
Headquartered in Coralville, Iowa Innovas Technologies is a leading U.S. based manufacturer of energy efficiency solutions tailored to the university, hospital, industrial, and refining sectors. At Innovas Technologies, we believe energy conservation is the largest opportunity for a sustainable future, and our products are designed to provide highly measurable environmental and financial impacts.
Visit innovastechnologies.com.
View original content:
SOURCE Innovas Technologies | 2022-11-07T20:44:33+00:00 | wymt.com | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2022/11/07/study-finds-major-sustainability-impacts-helios-tcs-3-major-us-universities/ |
Downtown Faribault sees change
‘I myself do not want to see any of the buildings tore down from the city of Faribault, but they are so bad that they need to be changed redeveloped.’
FARIBAULT, Minn. (KEYC) -The face of downtown Faribault has been changing rapidly, with several buildings being torn down over the past few weeks, and more to come.
For Brian Schmidt, the President of the Rice County Historical society, the progress carries a price.
“You can only judge a book by its cover and tell you really get into a building and and walk through it with somebody and really see how bad the building is,” explained Schmidt. “I, myself, do not want to see any of the buildings tore down from the city of Faribault, but they are so bad that they need to be changed redeveloped.”
Even Mayor Kevin Voracek acknowledged those concerns.
“You know buildings there’s buildings in our historic downtown that have been neglected by building owners,” admitted Voracek. “In the Columbia Movie Theater, that owner actually had a tree growing on the second floor because the owner had left the building in such dire condition.”
For Schmidt, it’s understanding the sacrifices they’re making to create a thriving city center, rather than one in stagnation.
“It’s the change in the times and people don’t like to see change a lot of people don’t but it’s happening all across the United States and is happening here in Faribault,” said Schmidt. “Unfortunately, taking down a building like this, but bringing back something new and something modern, and hopefully it’ll last for another 100 years and hope they’ll help Faribault in the long run.
Schmidt had some final words about bringing the community together.
“I want to leave a longevity statement in town anything that we can help to make the city bring in new people coming to town and new ideas; new businesses is a win-win,” explained Schmidt. “I think, for everybody, stagnation doesn’t help at all. So, if it requires one of these beautiful properties to be taken down, it’s unfortunate, but it’s gonna make the the city grow, hopefully, in the long run -- the next 50 years or something.”
Copyright 2022 KEYC. All rights reserved. | 2022-11-17T17:14:05+00:00 | kttc.com | https://www.kttc.com/2022/11/17/downtown-faribault-sees-change/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — Missy Elliott, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, Chaka Khan, “Soul Train” creator Don Cornelius and the late George Michael have all been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, with Kate Bush also finally reaching the top of that hill.
The Cleveland-based institution announced Wednesday the artists and groups entering the hall as the class of 2023, a list that includes The Spinners, Rage Against the Machine, DJ Kool Herc, Link Wray, Al Kooper and Elton John’s longtime co-songwriter Bernie Taupin.
“When you can go from Link Wray, who was one of the early influencers, to Missy Elliott and Kate Bush and The Spinners and Rage Against the Machine and Willie Nelson, you have a very diverse body of work. What we are always trying to show is that rock ‘n’ roll is a big tent and a lot of people belong,” said Joel Peresman, president and CEO of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation ahead of the unveiling.
Elliott, the first female rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, an MTV Video Vanguard Award recipient and a four-time Grammy Award winner, now becomes the first female hip-hop artist in the rock hall, which called her “a true pathbreaker in a male-dominated genre.”
Artists must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years before they’re eligible for induction. Eight out of 14 nominees were on the ballot for the first time, including Crow, Elliott, Michael and Nelson. This is the first year of eligibility for Elliott.
Bush was a nominee last year but didn’t make the final cut then. She got in this year due to a new wave in popularity after the show “Stranger Things” featured her song “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God).” The hall hailed her for “using lush soundscapes, radical experimentation, literary themes, sampling, and theatricality to captivate audiences and inspire countless musicians.”
Michael, first as a member of Wham! and then as a solo artist, was cited for “paving the way for a generation of proud LGBTQIA+ artists, from Sam Smith to Lil Nas X to Troye Sivan” and the 90-year-old Nelson was simply described as “an American institution.”
The hall called DJ Kool Herc “a founding father of hip-hop music” who “helped create the blueprint for hip-hop.” And Chaka Khan was described as “one of the mightiest and most influential voices in music” a “streetwise but sensual hip-hop-soul diva,” who paved the way for women like Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu and Janelle Monáe.
The Spinners became a hit-making machine with four No. 1 R&B hits in less than 18 months, including “I’ll Be Around” and “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love.” Rock guitarist Wray was said to be ahead of his time, influencing Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and Bruce Springsteen.
Taupin, who made it into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992 and has a Golden Globe and an Oscar for “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from the biopic “Rocketman,” makes it into the rock hall 29 years after his writing partner, John.
Cornelius was celebrated for creating a nationally televised platform for African American music and culture. He “became a visionary entrepreneur who opened the door — and held it open — for many others to follow him through.”
“Does a Willie Nelson fan know anything about Missy Elliott? Probably not, and vice versa,” said Peresman. “But this is an opportunity for someone who is into one of these artists to take a look at it and say, ‘Gee, I love Missy Elliott’ or ‘I love Rage Against the Machine. But The Spinners, who were they? Let me check that out.’ If that can open some minds and open some attitudes, then we’ve done our job.”
Nominees Iron Maiden, Cyndi Lauper, A Tribe Called Quest, The White Stripes, Warren Zevon, Joy Division/New Order and Soundgarden didn’t earn a spot in the hall this time. While the late Zevon has been eligible since 1994, Billy Joel led a push in vain for his entry, writing to the nominating committee urging them to consider Zevon.
Nominees were voted on by more than 1,000 artists, historians and music industry professionals. Fans could vote online or in person at the museum, with the top five artists picked by the public making up a “fans’ ballot” that was tallied with the other professional ballots.
___
Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits | 2023-05-03T13:24:17+00:00 | seattletimes.com | https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/missy-willie-and-george-michael-among-rock-hall-inductees-2/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
A tech millionaire offered to buy it. A U.S. senator suggested that the government should force manufacturers to make it.
But so far, Klondike isn’t budging from its plan to discontinue the Choco Taco.
Klondike confirmed Tuesday that the summer treat is being pulled from ice cream trucks, convenience stores and grocery shelves.
“Over the past two years, we have experienced an unprecedented spike in demand across our portfolio and have had to make very tough decisions to ensure availability of our full portfolio nationwide,” a Klondike representative said in an email. “A necessary but unfortunate part of this process is that we sometimes must discontinue products, even a beloved item like Choco Taco.”
The news came just days after ice cream maker Good Humor confirmed the demise of another nostalgia-steeped favorite: Toasted Almond Bars. Good Humor also cited production problems, saying it sometimes has to discontinue slower sellers in order to ensure distribution of more popular treats.
Klondike, which is owned by London-based Unilever, continues to sell cones, shakes and its signature Klondike bar nationwide.
The Choco Taco, invented in 1983 by a former ice cream truck driver, is a waffle cone shaped like a taco shell filled with fudge-swirled ice cream. It’s dipped in chocolate and peanuts.
The news of its demise sent some Twitter users into a meltdown.
“There are bad decisions, like getting a face tattoo or French kissing an alligator. Then there are horrifically bad inexcusable decisions like discontinuing the Choco Taco,” one fan tweeted.
Multi-millionaire Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian called out Unilever on Twitter.
“I’d like to buy the rights to your Choco Taco and keep it from melting away from future generations’ childhoods,” Ohanian tweeted. Unilever didn’t appear to respond.
U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, tweeted that he would invoke the Defense Production Act to mandate continued manufacture of Choco Tacos.
Klondike seemed to realize it had struck a nerve. In a later tweet Tuesday, the company said it was “working hard to find a way to bring Choco Taco back to ice cream trucks in the coming years.”
One place the Choco Taco might show up? Taco Bell. In February, the restaurant chain announced a collaboration with Klondike, testing Choco Taco sales at 20 locations in Los Angeles and Milwaukee. It was a welcome return for fans: Taco Bell used to sell Choco Tacos but took them off their menu in 2015.
A message seeking comment was left with Taco Bell Tuesday. Klondike also didn’t respond when asked if Choco Tacos might be sold in the future at Taco Bell. | 2022-07-27T14:53:15+00:00 | wwlp.com | https://www.wwlp.com/business/ap-business/klondike-discontinues-choco-taco/ |
of Williamsville, NY entered into rest February 16, 2023; Beloved husband of Jeanne (nee Russell) Dorn; devoted father of Jeffrey (Airi Maeno) Dorn, Jason (Gesine Heuck) Dorn, Erin and Kellen Williams; cherished grandfather of Asa, Johann and Maya Dorn; dear brother of James (Carol), John (Barbara), Andrew (Teresa), Gretchen Imerese and the late Marsha Fisher; also survived by many loving nieces and nephews. Family and friends may call on Monday, February 20th, from 4 – 8 PM at THE DIETRICH FUNERAL HOME, 2480 Kensington Ave. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, February 21st at 9:30 AM in Christ the King Church, 30 Lamarck Dr.. Please assemble at church. Flowers gratefully declined. Memorials in Jeffrey's memory may be made to St. Joseph Collegiate Institute Memorial Fund, 845 Kenmore Ave., Buffalo, NY 14223. Online condolences shared at www.TheDietrichFuneralHome.com
DORN Jeffrey T.
- Updated
- 0
Related to this story
Most Popular
A 5-year-old was rescued on Monday after he and his mother jumped into the Niagara Gorge in Niagara Falls State Park, a parks spokeswoman said.
It’s only February and the two big summer concert venues – Artpark and Darien Lake – already have announced 20 shows for the season with more to come.
If menthol cigarettes are prohibited in New York State, there are two fears: that it will open up an illegal black market for cigarettes from …
Sabres prospect and University of Minnesota defenseman Ryan Johnson will have to decide if he wants to join the organization that drafted him …
A State Police spokesman said the family involved in the incident traveled here from Illinois. | 2023-02-20T08:32:36+00:00 | buffalonews.com | https://buffalonews.com/dorn-jeffrey-t/article_efc3184a-6749-55f9-8b09-6df841e8f29f.html |
AVON, Conn. (WTNH) — A Connecticut man’s home security camera caught his fearless dog frightening and chasing a black bear in his backyard Thursday morning.
Crimson, a 7-year-old rescue from Alabama, was not happy about the visitor. The video shows the Goldendoodle chasing the bear, then standing by the edge of the Avon property to make sure the bear didn’t come back.
Avon is among the Connecticut towns with the highest number of bear sightings, with around 260 reported in 2023, according to a map maintained by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).
According to DEEP, many residences are located in or near bear habitats.
“The bear population is healthy and increasing in Connecticut and sightings have become more common,” the department said.
A sighting in Avon also made national headlines last month. On May 24, employees at the Taste by Spellbound bakery were loading cupcakes into a van to make deliveries when they were surprised by a bear, which ended up helping itself to 60 cupcakes.
Maureen Williams, an employee at the Avon bakery, said another baker eventually scared the animal away.
“We made lots of noise to try and get him to go away,” Williams told Nexstar’s WTHN. “One of our bakers got in their car and drove around the back and found him sitting there eating all of our stuff. [They] honked on the horn quite a bit to get him to go away, and finally he went away.”
DEEP recommends doing what it appears Crimson and the bakers did — make lots of noise to scare the bear and “reinforce its natural fear of people.” Instead of barking like Crimson, though, residents are advised to use such tactics as banging pots and pans, shouting or blowing a whistle or air horn. (Other tactics and advice can be found at the official DEEP website.)
Residents should also report a black bear sighting by using an online form.
In 2022, bears were reported in 158 of the state’s 169 towns and cities, according to DEEP. | 2023-06-09T16:09:44+00:00 | wcia.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/national/caught-on-camera-goldendoodle-chases-black-bear-off-connecticut-property/ |
LAKEWOOD, N.J. (AP) — An Israeli group that assists Jewish prisoners convicted in some of the country’s most notorious hate crimes has halted its fund-raising efforts through a U.S.-based Jewish charity following an investigation by The Associated Press and the Israeli nonprofit news organization Shomrim.
The fund-raising through the Lakewood, New Jersey-based World of Tzedaka had allowed American donors to make tax-exempt contributions to the hard-line Israeli group, and suggested that Israel’s far right was making new inroads into the U.S.
World of Tzedaka confirmed that it was no longer working with Shlom Asiraich, while a fund-raising link on the Israeli group’s website that connected donors to the American nonprofit has stopped working.
“We don’t do any business with them anymore, so we don’t have anything else to do with them,” said Yaakov Cohen, who identified himself as a manager for World of Tzedaka.
Shlom Asiraich, or “The Well-Being of Your Prisoners,” has been raising money in Israel since at least 2018. The group was officially registered as a nonprofit in 2020 by a group consisting mostly of Israelis from hard-line settlements in the West Bank.
According to its promotional materials, the group has provided assistance to Yigal Amir, who assassinated Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995; Amiram Ben-Uliel, who was convicted in the 2015 murder of a Palestinian baby and his parents in an arson attack; and Yosef Haim Ben David, who was convicted of abducting and killing a 16-year-old Palestinian boy in Jerusalem in 2014. The group also assists an extremist ultra-Orthodox man who fatally stabbed a 16-year-old Israeli girl at Jerusalem’s gay pride parade in 2015.
A spokesman for Shlom Asiraich slammed down the phone twice when he was called by The Associated Press for comment on Thursday.
It’s not clear when the U.S. fundraising efforts on behalf of Shlom Asiraich began. Being a relatively new organization, the group’s official filing to Israel’s nonprofit registry provides little data and does not indicate how much money it has raised. But in its promotional flyers, recently broadcast by Israeli Channel 13 news, the organization indicated it has raised 150,000 shekels, or about $43,000.
It’s also not clear how much of that money was raised in the U.S. by World of Tzedaka, a group that assists Jewish families in distress, according to its website. Lakewood, New Jersey, is home to a sizeable Orthodox Jewish community.
Cohen, the World of Tzedaka representative, said his group had raised just $200 for Shlom Asiraich before the connection was halted, though that figure could not be verified.
“It didn’t really get off the ground that much. Then we started hearing some questionable information about them. Then rabbis advised to stop doing business with them, so we did,” he said.
Just when the break happened isn’t clear. Cohen said it happened “a few months” ago after “a few people locally” brought the connection to their attention.
But he couldn’t specify when, and a link on the Shlom Asiraich website that connects to the World of Tzedaka donation page was still working when the AP-Shomrim investigation was published on Jan. 24. Another link directly on World of Tzedaka’s website has also disappeared.
“We removed them from our website, and we asked them to remove our name from their website and whatever they had and we completely separated from them,” Cohen said.
Israeli universities, hospitals and charities often have fund-raising operations in the U.S., but activities like those of extremist groups like Shlom Asiraich are rare.
It is not known whether Shlom Asiraich or World of Tzedaka broke any U.S. laws. The U.S. Internal Revenue Service’s rules for fund-raising by nonprofit organizations are vague – saying the groups cannot exert political influence or benefit private interests.
The IRS declined to comment on the case. The U.S. State Department said it was aware of the reports about Shlom Asiraich, but referred questions to the Justice Department.
“We condemn extremist violence in all its forms,” the State Department said.
The Justice Department did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new far-right government took office in late December, giving ultranationalists and extremist lawmakers unprecedented power. There is no direct link between Shlom Asiraich and the government, though its registration with Israeli authorities was handled by a top aide to Israel’s ultranationalist national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir.
___
This article was published in partnership with Shomrim, The Center for Media and Democracy in Israel. AP correspondent Ilan Ben Zion in Jerusalem contributed reporting. | 2023-02-03T17:28:06+00:00 | ktalnews.com | https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-extremist-israeli-group-halts-fund-raising-effort-in-us/ |
Which farmhouse dining table is best?
A dining table is a kitchen’s centerpiece. It’s the place where families gather and meals are shared, and it serves as the drop zone for everyday life with the comings and goings of busy people.
A farmhouse dining table is a timeless design that fits most decors. Made from wood with a distressed or unfinished top, the farmhouse style has legs on four corners for a traditional look of stability and comfort. There are different colors and bases to give each farmhouse dining table a distinctive feel just for your home. For its distressed look and expandable size, the best farmhouse dining table is the Greyleigh Zaiden Extendable Dining Table.
What to know before you buy a farmhouse dining table
What kind of wood is best?
Hardwoods, such as maple, cherry and walnut, are preferred for farmhouse tables since they resist scratches and dents and hold their look for a long time. They’re on the expensive side, though.
Softwoods like pine and oak also are good choices. They make lighter-colored tables and don’t weigh as much as hardwood. They also are less expensive. Since they are softer, however, they show marks and dents more visibly.
What are the different bases?
The base of a farmhouse dining table gives it a distinctive look. There are two types of bases.
- Legged bases are either straight or tapered. This style offers more stability because the weight is evenly distributed. There are many styles of legs that create a decorative look.
- Pedestal or trestle bases look elegant but are best suited for smaller rectangular or circular tables. Larger tables with pedestal bases have a tendency to rock where pressure is applied. Thicker pedestals are important for stabilizing larger tables.
Will you be eating at the table?
Farmhouse dining tables often have a distressed wood top with marks and holes. It’s fine to keep the original look of the wood when the table is decorative. But if you plan to eat on it, fill in the holes with a wood sealer. This will keep crumbs and spills from finding their way into the crevices and protect your table for the future.
What to look for in a quality farmhouse dining table
Leaves
Traditional farmhouse tables usually don’t have leaves because of their heavy construction, but more modern ones come with leaves to extend them. If you plan on entertaining large crowds, consider a table with a clean folding cut for placing the leaves smoothly.
Chairs
A wide variety of chairs can accompany a farmhouse table, both in wood and metal. Cross back, spindle back, rectangular and Tolix-style chairs all pair well with a farmhouse dining table. Side chairs typically don’t have armrests, but the chair at the head of the table may. Chairs are sold separately from farmhouse tables.
Benches
Benches in place of chairs are trendy and give a farmhouse table a rustic look. This allows for more accessible seating and gives the table a welcoming community feel.
How much you can expect to spend on a farmhouse dining table
Many variables affect the price of farmhouse tables. The type of wood is the starting point. Hardwood costs more than softwood. Pandemic supply chain issues also have restricted the availability of some woods, which has increased prices. The table’s size and the intricacy of the legs and base also factor in.
- Inexpensive tables cost $200-$600 and are typically rectangular and nonexpandable.
- Midrange tables are $600-$1,200 and have expandable leaves and intricate patterns.
- Expensive tables start at $1,200 with many over $2,000. These are made from hardwood and serve the largest number of people.
Farmhouse dining table FAQ
How do I prevent stains?
A. A clear topcoat applied to your table top provides lasting protection. When serving food, use hot pads and placemats.
Can you build your own farmhouse table?
A. Yes, if you are skilled at woodworking and have the right tools. There are design books and websites with detailed plans and supply lists to help you complete your DIY table.
What is the best farmhouse dining table to buy?
Top farmhouse dining table
Greyleigh Zaiden Extendable Dining Table
What you need to know: This modern farmhouse-style table is perfect for large gatherings because it has two extendable leaves.
What you’ll love: Made from solid rubberwood with a gray distressed finish, the table is 30 inches tall. The removable leaves give flexibility for six to 10 people. The corners are notched, and the top is rustic paneled planks.
What you should consider: It is very heavy and more expensive than similar tables.
Where to buy: Sold by Wayfair
Top farmhouse dining table for the money
Kelly Clarkson 59-inch Dining Table
What you need to know: This affordable farmhouse table is made from engineered and solid would.
What you’ll love: The table is simply designed with visible wood grain on top and contrasting legs below for a unique yet rustic look. It’s about 30 inches high and can seat up to six people. It comes with a six-month limited warranty.
What you should consider: Chairs are sold separately.
Where to buy: Sold by Wayfair
Worth checking out
Zinus Becky Farmhouse Wood Dining Table
What you need to know: This table is perfect for anyone on a budget who still wants a rugged look.
What you’ll love: It is made of two-tone painted wood and is 45 inches long and 29 inches tall. Affordable and easy to assemble, this table also comes with an unconditional one-year warranty.
What you should consider: It is thinner than most farmhouse tables.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews.
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Steve Ganger 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. | 2022-07-27T03:47:41+00:00 | localsyr.com | https://www.localsyr.com/reviews/br-reviews/kitchen-br/best-farmhouse-dining-table/ |
Premium Puerto Rican sipping rum brand releases exclusive access to unique single cask, unblended liquid aged up to 50 years
BAYAMON, Puerto Rico, Nov. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The premium Puerto Rican sipping rum brand, Ron del Barrilito, is proud to introduce Autobiografía Selección Exclusiva, an exclusive selection of aged rum from a single cask—unblended, pure and 100 percent authentic. Through this extremely limited single barrel program, Ron del Barrilito's legacy of unparalleled quality and taste is enhanced with the personalized selling of their finest spirits, putting the 140-year-old rum brand in the same category as the most elite scotch, cognac and bourbons on the market.
Ron del Barrilito's robust rum offerings are unique on their own based on the number of years aged in the barrels and expertly blended, but that the brand uses ex-sherry barrels—from start to finish, as opposed to a temporary cask aging or a barrel "finish" of a few months or years—resulting in a much more premium offering and imports a unique flavor. While the barrel aging is no different from the brand's primary offerings, ranging from 2-Stars to 5-Stars, with the Autobiografía Selección Exclusiva program, there is no additional blending with the liquid and the aging can be pushed beyond the standard 30 year average lifespan well into 50 years, offering a truly one-of-a-kind experience.
"Throughout our 140-year history, this marks a new and exciting moment for the brand with an offering that has been decades in the making and pushes premium to the next level," says Maggie Matias, Chief Commercial Executive at Ron del Barrilito. "The single barrel, pure and unblended rum is unique on its own, but we're proud to be able to bring an exclusive experience to connoisseurs that both celebrates our heritage and offers unique taste profiles across each barrel—something unique and limited in the category. We've always been a brand rooted in smooth, delicious sipping rum backed by an unchanged process and we're pleased to be able to bring yet another premium liquid to an exclusive subset of our audience through the Autobiografía Selección Exclusiva program."
The exclusivity of the Autobiografia Selección Exclusiva is that each barrel meets the needs of the person or group selecting it, who engage with the brand's Master Blender, Luis Planas, throughout the process and come away with a rare offering that is unique in taste profile, age, ABV% and total yield, which cannot be replicated. The barrels being selected as part of this program are practically unheard of in terms of age in the rum world, given evaporation and losses, further driving the uniqueness of the offering. Once the barrel is selected, the unblended liquid is then bottled by hand, labeled and sealed in a signature black wax standing out from the any other product in the portfolio.
To date, several single barrels have been selected and purchased, one of which was valued at $400k earlier this year and with the most recent purchase being another first for the brand—through a partnership with Dorado Beach, a Ritz Carlton Reserve property. The hotel personally selected this rum for its unique taste profile, while maintaining the allure of exclusivity of Autobiografia, with just 91 bottles in existence. Beginning the end of this year, product and a series of rum tastings will also be available to the hotel guests to experience.
For more information on Ron del Barrilito, please visit rondelbarrilito.com and check out on Instagram at @RondelBarrilito.
ABOUT RON DEL BARRILITO
Ron del Barrilito is the oldest Puerto Rican rum brand still in production. Since 1880, it has been made by the Fernández family at Hacienda Santa Ana in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. To learn more, visit www.rondelbarrilito.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Ron del Barrilito | 2022-11-18T16:01:33+00:00 | mysuncoast.com | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/11/18/ron-del-barrilitos-autobiografia-seleccion-exclusiva-program-offers-exclusive-selection-single-cask-aged-rum-spirits-connoisseurs/ |
SHENZHEN, China, May 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TD Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: GLG) (the "Company"), a commodities trading service provider in China, today announced that it has entered into a strategic cooperation agreement (the "Agreement") with Chongqing Call Me Travel Network Technology Co., Ltd. ("Call Me"), a shared ride platform that provides full-service solutions, to develop smart digital logistics and establish an industrial logistics system. The core team of Call Me are top-tier internet industry talents in China. They previously worked in prestigious sizeable Chinese Internet companies and investment institutions, including Tencent, Ant Group, Zhubajie Co., Ltd. (formerly known as Chongqing Zhubajie Network Limited Company), Shenzhen Rongchuang Investment Co., Ltd., Sensegain Asset Management Group Co., Ltd., etc.
Pursuant to the Agreement, Call Me agrees to provide the Company with existing technology platforms and upstream and downstream resources in the new energy vehicle industry to facilitate the Company's business development. The Company agrees to introduce customer resources to Call Me to promote the platform's development. In addition, both parties mutually agree to establish a mechanism that promotes cooperation and negotiation. Each party will designate a supervisor to organize, coordinate, and drive efforts to encourage collaboration between the two parties.
Ms. Renmei Ouyang, the CEO of the Company, commented, "We are highly optimistic about the partnership. Our strategic partnership with Call Me is designed to enhance the Company's operational performance to be globalized, diversified, and industrialized, which will undoubtedly boost our profitability. We aim to build a comprehensive industrial logistics platform that seamlessly integrates online and offline services, using information technology and industrial logistics to create a powerful business ecosystem."
About Chongqing Call Me Travel Network Technology Co., Ltd.
Established in May 2016, Chongqing Call Me Travel Network Technology Co., Ltd. is a shared ride platform that provides full-service solutions for scenarios within the 0-200km range. With a focus on light-asset operation and a broad driver network, the company's core strengths lie in its data, product development, and operational capabilities. Through collaborations with various traffic partners, Call Me offers both urban and inter-city ride-hailing services and additional value-added ecological services, creating a distinctive business model that has successfully achieved rapid and profitable growth. Currently, the company holds operating licenses in over 170 cities throughout China and is linked to almost 20 ride-hailing platforms.
About TD Holdings, Inc.
TD Holdings, Inc. is a service provider currently engaging in the commodities trading business and supply chain service business in China. Its commodities trading business primarily involves purchasing non-ferrous metal products from upstream metal and mineral suppliers and then selling to downstream customers. Its supply chain service business primarily has served as a one-stop commodity supply chain service and digital intelligence supply chain platform integrating upstream and downstream enterprises, warehouses, logistics, information, and futures trading. For more information, please visit http://ir.tdglg.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release may contain certain "forward-looking statements" relating to the business of TD Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiary companies. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein are "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects" or similar expressions, involving known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements: there is uncertainty about the spread of the COVID-19 virus and the impact it will have on the Company's operations; the demand for the Company's products and services, global supply chains and economic activity in general; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances; and other risks and uncertainties described herein, as well as those risks and uncertainties discussed from time to time in other reports and other public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission by TD Holdings, Inc. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in the Company's periodic reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on its website at http://www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, the Company does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.
For more information, please contact:
Ascent Investor Relations LLC
Ms. Tina Xiao
Email: tina.xiao@ascent-ir.com
Tel: +1 917 609 0333
View original content:
SOURCE TD Holdings, Inc. | 2023-05-08T14:19:20+00:00 | wymt.com | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2023/05/08/td-holdings-inc-announces-partnership-with-ridesharing-platform-develop-smart-digital-logistics-establish-an-industrial-logistics-system/ |
By Morf Morford, Tacoma Daily Index
It might be sign that I have hit a certain age, but the things that horrify me most about young people is their inability to DO anything. Yes, they can manage apps and do all kinds of tech contortions few if any could do just a few years ago. But when it comes to managing an independent life, or keeping a budget or preparing food, or washing clothes (or dishes) or even operating standard office machinery (like copiers or scanners) the vast majority of those just entering the workplace are stymied – and horrified – at how little practical knowledge they hold.
There’s even a term for this deer-in-the-headlights frozen panic of meeting grown-up technology – tech shame.
And if you thought being an “old” person asking a child to help you with your smart phone is embarrassing, put yourself in the place of a young adult, new at the job, not knowing how to use a scanner. Or office phone system. You can see more on the dynamics of this dilemma here .
Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. – Thomas A. Edison
My absolutely biased position is that easy apps and AI are making us more boring, less capable, less creative and vastly more helpless and vulnerable than humans have ever been.
AI, for example operates on a very simple premise; it can scour all of human recorded knowledge at blazing speed and then, based on that data, make reasonable conclusion or projections about what is likely to come next. In other words, machine knowledge is vast, fast and stupid. Or at least undiscerning – literally not knowing right from wrong or “good” information from bad.
For better or worse, that is not how human or at least creative humans, function. Humans, do, or reach or envision, the impossible and unlikely. And sometimes the ridiculous. Learning is clumsy, awkward and often embarrassing. We learn from our mistakes – and often make accidental discoveries along the way. And the trajectory of our learning is very much our individual experience of encounters with books, ideas, friends and much more.
But machine intelligence only “knows” what is already known. And what has already been done. And even all of that is filtered through what other machines (or perhaps humans) have made accessible to it.
Humans learn from all kinds of serendipitous encounters and conjunctions of memory, reading and lived experience. Our learning is far more than a screen or printed page. We, at our best and fullest, make leaning our own.
You can see an article on what machine intelligence is doing to us here.
Tech shame 2.0
You might think that bridging that gap between Tik-Tok and the office copy machine is difficult enough, but, as a late-night infomercial might put it, wait, there’s more.
It might feel like some of us are, or should be, surgically attached to our phones (and some say we will soon have that option), as young people in particular know, you don’t just need a phone to be recognized and welcome – it has to be “the right phone”. In more and more circles, social and professional, if it’s not an Apple, it doesn’t register.
It used to be said that “clothes make the man” but in the 2020s, the device makes the person.
The entire smartphone market is essentially evenly divided between Apple – and everyone else.
Even though Apple products tend to cost about three times as much, Apple’s market share increased from 35 percent in 2019 to 50 percent in 2022. Apple products were designed and intended for use within an Apple “eco-system”. And they do.
Consider this; Apple sells 26 iPads, 17 Apple Watches, and 35 pairs of AirPods for every 100 iPhones. In contrast, Samsung sells fewer than 11 tablets, 6 smartwatches, and 6 earbuds for every 100 phones. In short, from the very beginning Apple products have been aspects of a constellation – even a culture – of complementary devices and services.
You are your device
Young people spend an average of six hours a day on their phones and are in public holding them constantly if not obsessively- but they won’t be Androids.
Gen Z (those born between the mid-1990s and 2010 or so) might be considered the most inclusive and diverse generation when it comes to race, religion and gender identity, but not when it comes to phones; Apple is THE phone. And the system is unforgiving – it’s common for Android users to be kicked out of group chats. You can see an exploration of this “shunning” dynamic here.
A previous generation used to say “you are what you eat”, but in the current marketplace, “you are your device”. | 2023-03-23T00:00:35+00:00 | tacomadailyindex.com | https://www.tacomadailyindex.com/blog/tech-shaming-its-not-just-for-old-people/2466248/ |
Leyden High School District 212 recently signed an intergovernmental agreement with the Northlake Police Department, allowing for the installation of a license plate reader camera on Wolf Road at West Leyden High School.
“We work really well with District 212,” said Northlake Police Chief Ken Beres. “They’re always very cooperative and they love the school resource officer who’s at the high school.”
SD212 Superintendent Nick Polyak echoed the sentiment.
“We have always had a wonderful working relationship with the Northlake Police Department and we are happy to partner with them on public safety.”
The Northlake Police Department soon will be using new technology cameras they say will help them identify the vehicles of alleged offenders and serve as a crime deterrent.
Ten high-tech Automatic License Plate Reader cameras will be installed on Wolf Road, North Avenue and other locations in the city, according to Beres.
“These ALPRs do not capture faces, just license plates,” the chief said. “They are used only for reactive investigative purposes, such as a search for a stolen car or a suspect vehicle involved in an incident.”
Flock Safety, of Atlanta, Georgia, manufactures the cameras, which use optical character recognition, a technology the company says can accurately identify the license plate numbers of a car driving past at a high rate of speed.
Beres said the new technology cameras will allow more effective police investigations.
“Recently, a camera on a house in Northlake recorded the grainy image of a dark-colored SUV that did a drive-by shooting,” he said. “If one of these new license plate-reading cameras had been used, we could search images and filter for a dark SUV with a Ford emblem, for example. It’s pretty impressive technology.”
Gary Gibula is a freelancer. | 2023-02-13T17:23:31+00:00 | chicagotribune.com | https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/franklin-park/ct-fhj-district-212-license-plate-reader-police-tl-0209-20230213-wd7akyg4ebg4ldugckaj5gmvge-story.html |
NEW YORK, July 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of CareDx, Inc. (NASDAQ: CDNA) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.
This lawsuit is on behalf of all persons or entities who purchased CareDx common stock between February 24, 2021, and May 5, 2022.
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: July 22, 2022
No obligation or cost to you.
Learn more about your recoverable losses in CDNA:
https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/caredx-inc-loss-submission-form?id=29464&from=4
CareDx, Inc. NEWS - CDNA NEWS
CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that CareDx, Inc. made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) defendants had engaged in a variety of improper and illegal schemes to inflate testing services revenue and demand, including pushing a surveillance protocol through inaccurate marketing materials, offering extravagant inducements or kickbacks to physicians and other providers, and improperly bundling expensive testing services with other blood tests as part of the Company's RemoTraC service for remote, home-based, blood-drawing; (2) these practices, and others, subjected CareDx to an undisclosed risk of regulatory scrutiny; (3) these practices rendered the Company's testing services revenue reported throughout the class period artificially inflated; and (4) as a result, defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.
WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in CareDx you have until July 22, 2022 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased CareDx securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the CDNA lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/caredx-inc-loss-submission-form?id=29464&from=4.
ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM
J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
J. Klein, Esq.
Empire State Building
350 Fifth Avenue
59th Floor
New York, NY 10118
jk@kleinstocklaw.com
Telephone: (212) 616-4899
www.kleinstocklaw.com
View original content:
SOURCE The Klein Law Firm | 2022-07-05T10:07:27+00:00 | wlox.com | https://www.wlox.com/prnewswire/2022/07/05/cdna-alert-klein-law-firm-announces-lead-plaintiff-deadline-july-22-2022-class-action-filed-behalf-caredx-inc-shareholders/ |
Achieves Record Quarterly Revenues and Strong Gross Margin
Increases 2022 Guidance and Reiterates Adjusted EBITDA Breakeven Expected Exiting 2023
HOD HASHARON, Israel, Nov. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Valens Semiconductor Ltd. (NYSE: VLN), a premier provider of high-speed connectivity solutions for the audio-video and automotive markets, today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022.
"Q3 2022 revenues were a record for Valens Semiconductor, reflecting the growing demand for our industry leading connectivity products," said Gideon Ben-Zvi, CEO of Valens Semiconductor. "Our audio-video business continued expanding into new applications and verticals - from corporate, education, and industrial, to medical and more. In automotive, we expect to double our revenues in 2022 compared to 2021 and expect to further double in 2023 compared to 2022. Also exciting in the automotive space, we received initial RFIs for our VA7000 A-PHY chipsets, an important milestone towards the expected adoption of this advanced connectivity solution, as potential automotive OEM and Tier 1 customers make continued progress in their evaluations. We are on track for first design wins next year with mass production expected to start in 2025.
"Since going public in the third quarter last year, we have exceeded our business targets and made significant progress executing against our business targets and growth strategy, which is supported by our solid balance sheet. We believe we have sufficient resources to continue to invest in and expand our competitive advantages, enhance our product portfolio, and grow our market presence. We remain focused on the best opportunities which we believe will drive sustainable long-term growth and profitability for the company and all its stakeholders."
Key Financial and Business Highlights
- Record quarterly revenues of $23.1 million, up 21.3% from Q3 2021 and up 2.9% from Q2 2022
- Q3 2022 GAAP gross margin was 69.7% compared to 72.4% in Q3 2021, reflecting a higher portion of revenue coming from the company's automotive business (non-GAAP gross margin was 70.5% compared to 72.7% in Q3 2021)
- Q3 2022 GAAP Net Loss was $(5.3) million, compared to Net Loss of $(8.5) million in Q3 2021, and Adjusted EBITDA loss in the third quarter was $(1.7) million, compared to $(2.7) million in Q3 2021
- Working capital of $166.6 million, including $152.9 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term deposits, with no debt, as of September 30, 2022
- Audio-video:
– The audio-video business grew on the top line and generated strong margins, with a healthy mix of customers, industries, and geographies
– Increased revenue contribution from sale of automotive products for audio-video applications
- Automotive:
– Received initial RFIs from potential customers for the MIPI A-PHY compliant VA7000 chipset family
– The VA7000 (MIPI A-PHY) ecosystem continues to expand
- Announced a new collaboration with Intel Foundry Services to develop MIPI A-PHY-compliant automotive technologies for Intel's customers
- Successfully completed the industry's first multi-vendor interoperability test between a Valens Semiconductor VA7000 receiver and a Sony Semiconductor Solutions prototype of an integrated sensor and transmitter
- Partnered with Leopard Imaging to design a camera module that will enable automotive OEMs and Tier 1s to significantly reduce time to market for their next-generation systems
- Released the company's inaugural Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report
Financial Outlook[1]
"We exceeded the high end of our revenue, gross margin, and Adjusted EBITDA guidance for Q3 2022, the main driver leading us to raise our revenue, gross margin and Adjusted EBITDA guidance for the full year 2022," said Dror Heldenberg, CFO of Valens Semiconductor.
"For the fourth quarter of 2022, revenues are expected to range between $23.1 million and $23.2 million. Gross margin is expected to range between 66.1% and 66.5%, and Adjusted EBITDA loss is expected to be in the range of $(9.7) million to $(9.0) million. The projected increase in research and development expenses in Q4 is mainly due to our plan to tape-out our automotive VA7000 chipset family, to deliver richer feature set and better performance. This is another crucial step toward our customers' mass production plans. For the full year 2022, the company now expects revenues to range between $90.3 million and $90.4 million, up from the prior range of between $89.1 million and $89.8 million. Gross margin for the full year 2022 is expected to range between 69.3% and 69.4%, up from the prior range of 68.0% to 68.5%, and adjusted EBITDA loss is expected to be in the range of $(20.0) million to $(19.3) million, substantially better than our previous guidance of $(25.7) million to $(24.2) million. This improvement in adjusted EBITDA is driven mainly by aligning our product roadmap to our customers' needs and is also supported by the expected benefit from the strong USD on our Israeli shekel-based expenses.
"We remain confident in our ability to reach Adjusted EBITDA breakeven by the end of next year, and to be cashflow positive starting in 2024," concluded Heldenberg.
Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure. See the tables below for additional information regarding this and other non-GAAP metrics used in this release.
Conference Call Information
Valens Semiconductor will host a conference call today, Wednesday, November 9, 2022, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) to discuss its third quarter 2022 financial results and business outlook. To access this call, dial (at least 10 minutes before the scheduled time) +1 (888) 642-5032 (U.S.), 0 (800) 917-5108 (UK), 03 918 0609 (Israel) or +972 3 918 0609 (all other locations).
A live webcast of the conference call will be available via the investor relations section of Valens Semiconductor's website at Valens - Financials - Quarterly Results. The live webcast can also be accessed by clicking here. A replay of the conference call will be available on Valens' website shortly after the call concludes.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "estimate," "plan," "project," "forecast," "intend," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "seek," "target" or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our anticipated future results, including financial results, currency exchange rates, and contract wins, and future economic and market conditions. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of Valens Semiconductor's ("Valens") management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Valens Semiconductor.
These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including the cyclicality of the semiconductor industry; the effects of health epidemics, such as the recent global COVID-19 pandemic; the impact of the global pandemic caused by COVID-19 on our customers' budgets and on economic conditions generally, as well as the length, severity of and pace of recovery following the pandemic; competition in the semiconductor industry, and the failure to introduce new technologies and products in a timely manner to compete successfully against competitors; if Valens fails to adjust its supply chain volume due to changing market conditions or fails to estimate its customers' demand; disruptions in relationships with any one of Valens' key customers; any difficulty selling Valens' products if customers do not design its products into their product offerings; Valens' dependence on winning selection processes; even if Valens succeeds in winning selection processes for its products, Valens may not generate timely or sufficient net sales or margins from those wins; sustained yield problems or other delays in the manufacturing process of products; our ability to effectively manage, invest in, grow, and retain our sales force, research and development capabilities, marketing team and other key personnel; our ability to timely adjust product prices to customers following price increase by the supply chain; our ability to adjust our inventory level due to sudden reduction in demand due to inventory buffers accrued by customers; our expectations regarding the outcome of any future litigation in which we are named as a party; our ability to adequately protect and defend our intellectual property and other proprietary rights; the market price and trading volume of the Valens ordinary shares may be volatile and could decline significantly; political, economic, governmental and tax consequences associated with our incorporation and location in Israel; and those factors discussed in Valens' Form 20-F filed with the SEC on March 2, 2022 under the heading "Risk Factors," and other documents of Valens filed, or to be filed, with the SEC. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that Valens does not presently know or that Valens currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect Valens' expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. Valens anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause Valens' assessments to change. However, while Valens may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Valens specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Valens' assessment as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.
About Valens Semiconductor
Valens Semiconductor pushes the boundaries of connectivity by enabling long-reach, high-speed video and data transmission for the Audio-Video and Automotive industries. Valens' HDBaseT® technology is the leading standard in the Audio-Video market with tens of millions of Valens' chipsets integrated into thousands of products in a wide range of applications. Valens Semiconductor's Automotive chipsets are deployed in systems manufactured by leading customers and are on the road in vehicles around the world. Valens is a key enabler of the evolution of ADAS and autonomous driving and its advanced technology is the basis for the MIPI A-PHY industry standard for high-speed in-vehicle connectivity. For more information, visit https://www.valens.com/.
[1] Although we provide guidance for Adjusted EBITDA, we are not able to provide guidance for projected Net profit (loss), the most directly comparable GAAP measures. Certain elements of Net profit (loss), including share-based compensation expenses and warrant valuations, are not predictable due to the high variability and difficulty of making accurate forecasts. As a result, it is impractical for us to provide guidance on Net profit (loss) or to reconcile our Adjusted EBITDA guidance without unreasonable efforts. Consequently, no disclosure of projected Net profit (loss) is included. For the same reasons, we are unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information.
For more information, please contact:
Daphna Golden
VP Investor Relations
Valens Semiconductor Ltd.
investors@valens.com
Moriah Shilton
Financial Profiles, Inc.
Valens@finprofiles.com
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1517334/Valens_Logo.jpg
View original content:
SOURCE Valens Semiconductor | 2022-11-09T12:26:43+00:00 | wcjb.com | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/11/09/valens-semiconductor-reports-third-quarter-2022-results/ |
"Dad, I can't breathe."
That's how Dr. Marc Auerbach's 8-year-old son woke him up one night last year.
Their family was on vacation in the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York – hours from Yale New Haven Children's Hospital, where Auerbach works in pediatric emergency medicine.
Like so many parents whose children have become seriously ill with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Auerbach recognized that high-pitched, wheezing sound his son was making. It was a sign his airway was becoming obstructed. He knew they needed to go to the nearest emergency department, right away.
But as Auerbach loaded his son into the car and started driving through the dark mountain roads, he had no idea if the local ED would be fully equipped to treat his child.
"I was quite nervous going in, as a pediatric emergency physician," he recalled. "Frankly, am I gonna have to treat him myself? Are they even going to have the equipment?"
These days, staff at many children's hospitals are breathing a sigh of relief. The brutal surge of pediatric illnesses over the fall and early winter – propelled by a tidal wave of common bugs like RSV and influenza – has waned. But for parents who waited hours, or even days, for their child to get a hospital bed, one thing became clear: There just weren't enough of them.
Even during the best of times, children's hospitals can find themselves stretched thin, due to years of cutbacks and an ongoing health care staffing crisis. And experts say this latest season exposed what happens to the U.S. health care system when there's a major crisis of seriously sick children.
"During a surge, when [patient] volumes may double or even more in some communities, that leaves a gap — a major gap," says Dr. Larry Kociolek, medical director of infection prevention and control at Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago. "And children suffer the consequences of that."
Many EDs are unprepared to care for kids
Auerbach had reason to be wary about taking his kid to an unfamiliar emergency department.
He knew a child's survival rate is four times higher at an ED that's well-prepared to care for critically-ill kids. And he knew that too many emergency departments fall short.
In fact, emergency departments receive what's called a "weighted Pediatric Readiness Score." It's a way to assess whether a department has the right equipment, staffing, training policies and patient-safety protocols to care for severely-ill and injured children.
According to a 2015 analysis, the median score is equivalent to a D.
A study published earlier this year, looking at close to 1,000 EDs, found more than 1,400 children's deaths could have been prevented over a six-year period, if every department had been well-prepared for pediatric cases.
Auerbach stresses that most children do get good care – and parents shouldn't hesitate to bring their kids in if there is an emergency – but the reality is that children "were not at the focal point " of the country's ED system as it developed. In general, EDs treat far more adults than kids.
While children account for 30% of all emergency department visits in the U.S., most of them are seen in EDs that care for fewer than 15 kids per day. That's why many end up transfering kids to children's hospitals, which have the resources to treat kids in critical condition, Auerbach says.
But during this most recent wave of illnesses, those specialized hospitals were quickly overwhelmed. "We were seeing that a patient that might require time-critical interventions, was now waiting for those interventions, sometimes six, eight, 12 hours in that community [emergency department] setting," Auerbach says.
A surge hits after years of cutting pediatric beds
Over the fall and winter, some children's hospitals doubled-up patient rooms and stretched their limited staff and equipment – all in a desperate attempt not to turn kids away. But they couldn't undo the years of underinvestment that had whittled away the country's supply of pediatric beds and trained staff.
Between 2008 and 2018, U.S. hospitals cut nearly 20% of pediatric inpatient units (meaning departments with more than one pediatric bed, such as pediatric intensive care units.) The number of children's beds dropped by almost 12% – and many of the remaining beds are now concentrated in urban areas, making it even harder for rural families to access care.
Finances – more than anything else – had led hospitals to downsize their pediatric care; hospital beds with children don't bring in as much money as adult beds do. For example, more than one in three kids are covered by Medicaid. And while Medicaid's reimbursement rate for hospitals varies widely depending on location, it can often be lower than what hospitals get from caring for an adult who has Medicare or commercial insurance.
"Adult care is often more complex, more chronic, might involve more medications...[and] might be more lucrative," says Auerbach.
That's not lost on hospital administrators, Kociolek says.
"That [financial] margin is higher [for hospitals] if you preferentially invest in adult health care," he says. "So while the adult health care community may benefit from that, the pediatric health care community is left behind."
How bad will it get next time?
It's hard to know whether hospitals will see a repeat of this past season anytime soon, says Dr. Kris Bryant, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Norton Children's Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky.
"But I suspect all of those viruses will continue to circulate and cause their own surges. And if they all happen at the same time, we will be pressed for beds again," she says.
Infants are at especially high-risk for severe RSV, but Kociolek says the fact that older kids were also getting really sick put added pressure on the health care system.
"Two- to three-years-old with RSV were doing much worse with that virus than they would have done in 2018 or 2019," he says.
That could be because those toddlers hadn't been exposed to RSV and other common viruses after a year or more of social distancing and pandemic precautions, says Bryant. "We had a couple of years in which we didn't see a lot of respiratory virus circulation."
So while it's possible the next fall and winter will look different, Bryant says the health care system needs to take steps now to prepare.
She says getting more kids vaccinated is one way to keep kids out of the hospital. "If we don't increase the number of kids who are vaccinated, we'll see outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases," she says, citing the recent measles outbreak in Columbus, Ohio that sickened nearly 100 kids and hospitalized more than 30.
In the meantime, better treatments are also on the horizon: The Food and Drug Administration could approve Pfizer's RSV vaccine later this year, and other antibody therapies are likely to become more widely available.
But making sure kids can get the best possible care will also require big, systemic changes. "I don't see how our pediatric health care system can be sustainable without major financial reforms," Kociolek says. That includes changing how pediatric care is reimbursed, making it more affordable for medical students to choose a career in pediatrics and investing more hospital resources into caring for kids.
In the meantime, community hospitals and smaller emergency departments can essentially serve as "lifeboats" that help out during a storm, Kociolek says. For example, during this past surge, some children's hospitals used telemedicine to give virtual, round-the-clock assistance to rural or smaller hospitals and EDs.
And emergency departments don't have to invest in costly specialists or add pediatric beds in order to be better prepared to treat critically-ill and injured children. Most emergency medicine physicians already have some significant training in pediatric care, Auerbach says. Often the biggest improvement comes from designating a staffer to be the pediatric care coordinator — someone whose job is to make sure every aspect of emergency care, from disaster drills to equipment checks, is done with kids in mind.
To Auerbach's relief, the hospital in rural New York where his son was treated had taken just these kinds of steps. It had partnered with a big university hospital and had the right equipment, the right policies, the right staff training, to handle seriously sick kids.
If every ED was like that, he says, it could save thousands of children's lives.
"They rapidly assessed him, [and] began very appropriate breathing treatments and medical treatments," Auerbach says. "And after about six hours of observation, we were able to actually stop at Dunkin Donuts on the way home and come and see his mom and his brother."
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2023-03-03T12:42:51+00:00 | klcc.org | https://www.klcc.org/npr-health-fitness/2023-03-03/a-surge-in-sick-children-exposed-a-need-for-major-changes-to-u-s-hospitals |
Injuries to key players were the norm for the Miami Dolphins in 2022.
And you know what?
The injury situation might not improve in 2023.
Just as it happened this season, there’s a chance quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead, Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard, edge rusher Bradley Chubb and running back Raheem Mostert (if he returns) won’t be healthy for the playoffs next season.
Heck, the Dolphins might even acquire another key player or two through free agency or the draft that has an injury history.
“I think you can’t be scared with [injury] stuff,” general manager Chris Grier said.
That’s a good philosophy if that’s the route they choose.
Go for it. Now.
Some disagree with that strategy.
However, the window of opportunity is small, one or two years, or more optimistically, three years with this group. You’ve got to squeeze all you can through that window.
It’s too late to turn back.
Injuries and injury histories be damned, to a certain extent.
Let’s be clear — that’s me speaking, not the Dolphins.
But, hopefully, that’s how they see the situation.
Now, let’s not go totally crazy here.
Let’s not jeopardize the next five years with a one-year “go for broke” attitude.
At the same time, if you swing and miss this year and next year, and it takes you a year to recover, maybe two years, so be it.
For the foreseeable future the Dolphins will battle Kansas City, Cincinnati and Buffalo to get to the Super Bowl, and the 2022 season told us the Dolphins, even with improved health, are a long way from those teams.
Remember, the Dolphins were 9-8 last season and lost six of their last seven games, including the 34-31 wildcard playoff loss at Buffalo.
And who knows how far some of the AFC teams at the Dolphins’ level, say, Jacksonville, New England, the New York Jets and the Los Angeles Chargers, climb the ladder next year.
It’s important to note taking a risk on a player with an injury history doesn’t mean a $100 million contract. After all, the Dolphins, according to overthecap.com, would be $22.6 million over the 2023 salary cap. Grier isn’t concerned about that. He said the Dolphins have flexibility.
Taking a risk could mean acquiring a mid-level starter, say, a guard, or a rotational player, or a third-round draft pick. The Dolphins, by the way, don’t have a first-round pick this year.
Ideally, you’d like to see the Dolphins limit their injury risk as much as possible in free agency and the draft. They’re already carrying a heavy load.
Armstead is in his 10th year. Howard turns 30 in July. Chubb has missed roughly 30 percent of his games during his five-year career, most of them due to knee and ankle injuries.
Tagovailoa missed four starts last season due to concussions. He hasn’t had an injury-free season in the past four years, including college.
On and on it goes. Even 23-year-old right tackle Austin Jackson is an injury risk after missing almost the entire 2022 season with ankle injuries.
But you’ve still got to take some chances in free agency and the draft.
You always enter the season knowing all of your key players won’t be available in December and January, when you need them most. Injuries happen. That’s the NFL.
And when you acquire players with an injury history, you’re playing with fire so you expect some burns.
Look, you don’t want a team full of key players with injury histories. On the other hand, you’re looking for talent more than perfect health.
Buffalo gave 32-year-old edge rusher Von Miller a six-year, $120 million deal in March and got burned by his late-season knee injury. He wasn’t there for the playoffs. That happens sometimes when you sign 32-year-old playmakers with lots of mileage.
It was still worth the calculated risk.
Plus, missed games don’t tell the whole story for a few players with injury histories.
Guys bring valuable intangibles to the table.
That’s one of the things the Dolphins said they consider.
“It’s [more] far-reaching than if they miss a game or two here,” Grier said.
You know about Armstead’s influence and leadership. You know Mostert, well-liked and well-respected in the locker room, rushed for a career-best 891 yards. As for Chubb, Grier said after they acquired him the Dolphins moved into the top eight or 10 in the league in six of the 12 metrics they use to measure their defense.
Here’s something else about Chubb.
“He’s another one that people said was a good player, and the right type of person that you bring into the building for a young team to help impact,” Grier said.
It’s worth repeating that the Dolphins have opened a one- or two-year window of opportunity, possibly even three years, to win a Super Bowl, and they must do all they can, within reason, to take advantage.
And consider this: Tagovailoa is still on his rookie contract so it’s easier to build. He’ll cost $9.6 million against the salary cap in 2023. His fifth-year option, if it’s picked up, goes into effect in 2024, and costs about $22 million. A contract extension that begins in 2025 might cost about $30 million per year. It gets tougher to build when those numbers enter the budget.
So, yeah, it’s OK for the Dolphins to take an injury risk here or there in the offseason in the name of trying to win a Super Bowl.
Sometimes you have to take chances.
()
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. | 2023-01-26T16:34:06+00:00 | bostonherald.com | https://www.bostonherald.com/2023/01/26/chris-perkins-dolphins-must-go-for-it-now-and-that-might-mean-taking-some-risks/ |
Take a look at demographics and data over the past decade, and one thing stands out about central Pennsylvania: Cumberland County is growing and fast.
It, by far, is not alone. Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon and York counties all experienced significant growth in the past decade, according to U.S. Census data. But Cumberland has stood above the rest.
It had the highest percent change in population in Pennsylvania between 2010 and 2020, with the county growing by 10.2%. No. 2 in growth, Dauphin County, is more than 3 percentage points behind Cumberland.
Cannot see the graphic? Click here.
It has ranked in the top 10 in a number of studies. SmartAsset, a hub for consumer finance information, frequently analyzes public data to tell the financial story of each county in the country. One of its latest studies showed that Cumberland County is one the 10th wealthiest county in the state.
It is also, according to SmartAsset it is ...
- One of the best places to get a mortgage approval
- One of the most paycheck-friendly counties in the state
- Where residents receive the largest annual Social Security payments
- Where one of the best places to retire in the state is located
- One of the top 10 counties in the state regarding incoming investments (It did get a Trader Joe’s after all)
- Its residents are among the most generous in the state
- Its residents have some of the least credit card debt per capita in the state
Cumberland County’s growth over the past decade has brought a number of new businesses to central Pennsylvania, and its rapid growth was noted as far back as 2015. In addition to Trader Joe’s, it is now home to chains such as Primanti Bros., Dave & Busters and Blaze Pizza. The first Harrisburg-area Wawa is slated to open in Enola, if approved.
“All of these things are just validation of our county and local community’s role in the regional economy and recognition that south-central Pennsylvania is definitely the place to be,” Gary Eichelberger, chairman of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners, said in March as the Trader Joe’s opened.
A 2021 article stated that Cumberland County has always had one of the lowest unemployment rates in Pennsylvania, as well as being a desirable location for warehousing.
The county has grown more diverse in the past decade, with increases in its Black, Asian and Hispanic/Latino populations. It still lags, however, behind neighboring Dauphin County. Use the dropdown menu in the graphic below to compare Cumberland County with other counties in Pennsylvania.
Cannot see the graphic? Click here.
RELATED:
Women’s clothing boutique opens next to H&M at Capital City Mall
Take a look at Harrisburg courthouse’s proposed luxury apartment makeover
New Cumberland County business offers candle-making workshops | 2022-07-12T10:24:49+00:00 | pennlive.com | https://www.pennlive.com/data/2022/07/this-county-in-central-pa-is-topping-the-charts-as-one-of-the-best-places-to-live.html |
CCSD Superintendent Jesus Jara eyed job in Florida, now staying put
Updated May 9, 2023 - 6:20 pm
Clark County School District Superintendent Jesus Jara confirmed Tuesday he had been eyeing a superintendent position in Florida but now wants to remain in Southern Nevada.
The South Florida Sun Sentinel reported Tuesday that Jara asked the school board chair for Broward County Public Schools in Fort Lauderdale to be considered for the superintendent’s job.
But in a statement Tuesday provided to the Review-Journal, Jara said that — while he was “urged” to apply for the job — he ultimately had informed the Clark County School Board that he would remain in the district “to continue the work I started five years ago.”
“Clark County is my home, and I am committed to this community and our kids,” Jara said in his statement. “We are designing systems that previously did not exist and have assembled the team with the skills and talents to serve our kids and raise their academic performance.”
The Broward County School Board is reopening its search for a new superintendent after extending its April 27 application deadline to May 16, according to the Sun Sentinel.
Broward County is the nation’s sixth-largest school district, with about 256,000 students. That’s slightly smaller than Clark County, which has more than 300,000 students.
District spokesman Tod Story said Tuesday that a Broward County school board member had reached out to Jara about the opportunity.
Ultimately, Jara decided to withdraw from consideration for the position, Story said.
Jara previously was deputy superintendent of Orange County Public Schools in Orlando, Florida, before he came to Clark County in 2018.
His tenure has been tumultuous in recent years. The Clark County School Board voted 4-3 to terminate his contract in October 2021, and then reversed course the following month.
The board voted 4-3 in October 2022 to extend Jara’s contract through June 2026 and increase his salary by $75,000 to $395,000 a year.
Under Jara’s contract, if the board decides to terminate the agreement, the district would need to pay out the remainder of the salary and benefits owed to him through the end of his contract term.
The Clark County Education Association released results of a survey last month saying 75 percent of teachers who responded have no confidence in Jara to make decisions on how to spend additional proposed state education dollars.
Contact Julie Wootton-Greener at jgreener@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2921. Follow @julieswootton on Twitter. | 2023-05-10T01:46:19+00:00 | reviewjournal.com | https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/education/ccsd-superintendent-jesus-jara-eyed-job-in-florida-now-staying-put-2774829/ |
Do you really know someone? These days you can never be too careful when it comes to properly screening others and discovering their true identity.
Many companies and/or individuals are guilty of fraud, cybercrime, bribery, corruption, and more. No wonder more and more people are developing trust issues.
Thanks to the internet it’s possible to pull someone's criminal history, police arrests, financial documents, court appearances, traffic violations, and other public records – all for free! This can be done for clients, customers, colleagues, potential hires, or even a new partner.
Here’s how…
What is a Background Check?
First, what even is a background check?A background check provides a mix of public records and private data, including employment and criminal history, credit score, education, financial records, past activities, and further methods to help validate one’s identity. All items can be found online. The results are then used to make an informed decision and verify that the person is who they claim to be.
There are many types of backgrounds checks that are used for different purposes. Here are the common ones:
• Employment Background Check
• Criminal History Background Check
• Universal Background Check
• Tenant Screening Background Check
• Fingerprint Background Check
• International Background Check
• Personal Background Check
• Professional Licenses Background Check
Online free background checks sites are used for varying reasons, but most have the common goal to get more information on the person in question.
Why is a Background Check Important?
Background checks provide critical information and should be used as a valuable screening tool to gain insight into someone’s past and present life. It could reveal a clean record, or it could return some incriminating information. Either way, an online background check can be used to your advantage, helping to avoid risk and dodge future problems.The fact of the matter is a comprehensive background check will thoroughly measure an individual’s past for criminal behavior, like financial malfeasance of fraud, theft, and/or embezzlement, through public records and some private records as well.
This can even help to reduce the chance of interacting with someone who has a history of violence or behaving in an alarming behavior. When properly screening someone, you are protecting yourself from a dangerous and/or costly situation.
In fact, some individuals find it beneficial to perform a background check on themselves. This can help when interviewing for a new job, requesting a loan from a financial institution, applying for a new apartment, etc. This will allow you to see exactly what the individual or company pulling the information will see and can help to prepare you for any follow-up questions they may have.
Services for Criminal Records Online, Court, and Background Checks
While it’s definitely possible to compile some of the information included in a background check yourself since most of it is pulling from varying public records online. Though, access to certain documents and data can be limited and the process can be very time-consuming. Because of these constraints, it can be much harder to make an informed and accurate decision.Luckily, there’s an easy solution – online services that are designed specifically to perform background checks.
Resources like Truthfinder, InstantCheckMate, and Intelius will find criminal records, court documents, financial information, and all the information necessary to properly vet another person.
Truthfinder: How to Get an Online Background Check
What is Truthfinder?
Truthfinder is an online background search website that gives their customers an easy, safe, and quick way to search for family, friends, colleagues, employers, employees and more.The service scans millions of public records, social media data, public information, and more to provide a complete report about the searched person. It can even shed light on previous arrests, which is an absolute must-have when evaluating someone’s character. Additionally, the service can give contact information, address of residency and employment, and online social media profiles, depending on whether it's available public information.
The only information required to look someone up is their first and last name, city (optional), and state (optional).
You can also do a reverse phone or email lookup, which will help if you’re receiving phone calls or emails from an unknown person. In that case, all you have to enter is the phone number and/or email address in question.
Try TruthFinder now >
What Information Does the Background Check Include?
Truthfinder utilizes the deep web to uncover information that a normal search engine wouldn’t catch. This is then used to provide the user with a detailed report.Results may include:
• Birth and death records
• Potential relatives
• Possible friends, roommates, exes, associates, etc.
• An address history report
• Contact information, like a phone number and email address
• Criminal history, including arrests and traffic violation records
• Education and past/current places of employment
• Social media accounts
• Dating profiles
• Assets, like owned property and automobiles
• Photos and/or videos
• Bankruptcies, liens, etc.
Is a Truthfinder Online Background Check Free?
You can see basic information, like a person’s name and the last 4 digits of their phone number, for free.But it's not all free. You will have to pay to see most of the information provided in the background check. The exact cost depends on the membership purchased, though the most standard package will give you unlimited searches and reports.
InstantCheckMate: How to Get an Online Background Check
What is Instant CheckMate?
Instant CheckMate is a website that uses their data and technology to deliver useful, detailed, and important information on just about anyone. You can easily search for people and quickly receive a thorough, comprehensive background report in about 10 minutes.Try InstantCheckMakte now ?
What Information Does the Background Check Include?
InstantCheckMate pulls information from hundreds of millions of state or federal, as well as local public records when performing a background check.Results may include:
• Criminal records• Arrest records
• Phone numbers
• Address
• Demographic Data
• Census Data
• Charitable contributions
• Registered sex offender status
• Bankruptcy information
• Marriage history
Is an Instant CheckMate Online Background Check Free?
There is no free subscription service offered with InstantCheckMate. However, there is a trial offer that typically lasts around 5 days for $1. Unfortunately, it's not a free trial period.To fully utilize the vast number of features on the site, however, a paid subscription is needed. Subscriptions are fairly pricey, but you can search for reports as many times as you want. Essentially, if you need to pull multiple background checks, this paid service is probably worth it.
Intelius: How to Get an Online Background Check
What is Intelius?
Intelius is a trusted and reliable website to get an online background report on someone. Each search is private and done so 100% confidentially. This allows you to get the information you want, without having to worry about the person being notified.Intelius analyzes over 20 billion public records online and other sources to provide quality, accurate results with every background check.
Try Intelius now
What Information Does the Background Check Include?
For situations where you want to learn more about someone, Intelius suggests their background check feature.Results may include:
• Criminal records
• Marriage and divorce history
• Pending lawsuits
• Bankruptcies
• Liens against the person
• Full name
• Birthday
• Address history
Is an Intelius Online Background Check Free?
The Intelius website is not a free service. It requires a paid subscription to pull a background check. This package also includes the ability to do a reverse phone lookup. All you need is the scammer phone number to search and see who is calling you.How to Get Criminal Records, Public Records, Court, and Background Checks for Free
It is entirely possible to get a full background report for free. But, as mentioned earlier, it takes a lot of time and effort to do so properly.Step 1: Search for their Location
The first step is to identify the state and county the person is residing in. This can be done with a Google search, looking at their social media pages, or some other form of public record data.Finding the appropriate state and corresponding county can prove to be quite difficult, especially if the person has moved a lot. You should search for each location separately and add that to your research.
Step 2: Search for the County Clerk Court Records
Once you have verified their location, you can make your way to the county clerk’s website. You can search for the right website by entering “[name of state] county clerk of court records” into Google's search bar.For example, “New York county clerk of court records”. From there, the site should be one of the first few results. Be wary of fake county websites, advertising false information. Trust us, they exist. That’s why we prefer using Truthfinder, InstantCheckMate, or Intelius.
Step 3: Search the Name
Finally, you can sort through records to find the person you have been looking for. This may take a while, so buckle in. You may find past court filings in there, property and land records, and hopefully some additional documentation.Key Takeaways
Background Checks
A background check provides the information necessary to properly vet someone and judge whether they are who they claim to be. Each piece of information given in the report holds a level of value, including criminal and court records, financial information, an education and employment background, credit check, as well as some notable personal tidbits, like contact information, marital status, past bankruptcies, location history report, etc.Free Background Checks Versus a Paid Site
Performing an accurate and detailed background check is a whole other story. Doing so manually can not only be extremely time-consuming but may end up giving you incorrect information and data on the person, even though a lot of the report is of public record. This can then leave you susceptible to possible fraud, cybercrime, and more, exactly what you were hoping to avoid by doing a background check in the first place.An online background check service can help to bypass the inaccuracies and provide you with an extensive report, containing highly valuable information. Some of the best services to do so are Truthfinder, InstantCheckMate, and Intelius. For a small subscription fee, you can end up saving in more ways than one down the road.
Good luck and happy searching! | 2022-12-30T20:32:14+00:00 | metrotimes.com | https://www.metrotimes.com/sponsored/how-to-get-free-criminal-records-court-and-background-checks-26425359 |
Bob Evans recalls 7,560 pounds of sausage in fear of contamination
Bob Evans Farms has recalled approximately 7,560 pounds of Italian pork sausage in fear of their products being contaminated with extraneous materials, according to the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service.
The item was recalled after Bob Evans informed FSIS that some consumers reported finding small pieces of thin blue rubber in the product.
Last Friday, in an official announcement by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the department said, "The sausage subject to recall are: 1-lb. chubs containing "Bobs Evans Italian Sausage" with lot code XEN3663466 and a "USE/FRZ BY" date of 11/26/22, with a time stamp between 14:43 and 15:25."
Each of these products has establishment number "EST.6785" marked by the USDA.
According to the USDA, there have been no confirmed cases of adverse reactions due to the consumption of these products. It's also recommended by the USDA that any customer that purchased these products should not consume them. They suggest throwing away or returning these products to the place of purchase. | 2022-10-25T19:28:39+00:00 | wxii12.com | https://www.wxii12.com/article/bob-evans-sausage-recall/41768390 |
ROME (AP) — On the defensive after a deadly migrant boat shipwreck near an Italian beach, Italy's right-wing government is contending that Russian mercenaries in Libya are behind an uptick in migrant arrivals in alleged retaliation for Western support for Ukraine.
On Monday evening, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, a leading figure in Premier Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy party, described the recent increase in smugglers' unseaworthy boats setting out for Italian shores from Libya as “part of a clear strategy of hybrid war that the Wagner division, mercenaries paid by Russia, is carrying out, utilizing its significant weight in several African countries.”
Building on that assertion, Brothers of Italy lawmaker Silvio Giovine on Tuesday depicted the migratory flows toward Italy as “retaliation against Europe and the West."
The far-right lawmaker claimed that members of the Russian private military contractor Wagner Group in Libya aim to destabilize the North African country. For years, fighting among rival Libyan militias has left the country a largely lawless land where traffickers and smugglers can thrive.
Some analysts quickly dismissed Crosetto's assertions that the Wagner group was behind the migrant arrivals, which so far this year number roughly triple those of each of the previous two years.
“This is nonsense,” tweeted Wolfram Lacher, an analyst with SWP, a Berlin-based institute researching foreign and security policy. “The surge in migrant departures from eastern Libya over the past year is overseen by the Haftar clan” — a reference to Khalifa Hifter, a powerful Libyan mililtary commander.
Wagner mercenaries have been aiding Hifter forces and are centered mainly in central and eastern Libya.
Other Meloni allies in recent days have cited Italian intelligence services' fears that some 685,000 migrants now in Libya could soon be headed on smugglers' vessels toward Italy. But U.N. migration agency officials have called that scenario implausible, saying that while as many as 700,000 migrants might reside in Libya, many are from African countries further south and want to return home after working in Libya.
Since its inception five months ago, Meloni's coalition government, which includes anti-migrant League leader Matteo Salvini, has cracked down on humanitarian rescue boats operating in the central Mediterranean north of Libya.
Last week, a Cabinet decree targeted smugglers by making it a distinct crime if a shipwreck or capsizing results in multiple migrant deaths, with conviction bringing up to 30 years in prison.
Meloni and some of her ministers have come under fire by critics — opposition leaders and humanitarian groups — which contend the Feb. 26 shipwreck might have been avoided had Italian Coast Guard rescue vessels been quickly dispatched as soon as the migrant boat, which set had sailed from Turkey, was spotted by a patrol plane operated by the European border agency.
The premier contends she is blameless, saying on Monday night that “my conscience is clear.”
A staunch backer of military aid for Ukraine as it defends itself from Russia's full-scale invasion, Meloni cautioned against “putting one's head in the sand, letting mobsters and traffickers decide who enters our country, letting the Wagner mercenaries and the fundamentalists continue to get footholds in Africa.”
Wagner’s owner Yevgeny Prigozhin has rejected Italy's claims. In a comment posted on his messaging app channel, Prigozhin denied that Wagner had any relation to the uptick in smugglers’ boats.
“We have no idea what’s going on with the migrant crisis,” Prigozhin said. “We have nothing to do with it. We have our own business to deal with," an apparent reference to Wagner fighters' role in Russia's offensive in Ukraine.
The known death toll in the shipwreck off the “toe” of the Italian peninsula rose to 80 on Tuesday with the recovery of a man's body in the sea. Eighty people survived.
Another minister from Meloni's party, Adolfo Urso, who is a former member of the parliamentary commission on intelligence matters, noted that Wagner's role in Africa was cited in a 2021 report to lawmakers.
That report spelled out, said Urso, who is business enterprise minister, that “there was a specific strategy of Russian power aimed at controlling the country in which there was a flow of immigration that then occurred in our Mediterranean.”
___
Sam Magdy in Cairo and Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed.
___
Follow AP’s global migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration | 2023-03-14T18:28:06+00:00 | lmtonline.com | https://www.lmtonline.com/news/politics/article/italy-s-leaders-attacked-on-migrant-tragedy-17838881.php |
Groundbreaking Nuance DAX Express is the next milestone in an expanding portfolio of solutions combining OpenAI's GPT-4 with proven workflow-integrated technology to define the future of intelligence-infused healthcare experiences
BURLINGTON, Mass., March 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nuance Communications, Inc., a Microsoft Company, today announced Dragon Ambient eXperience (DAX™) Express, a workflow-integrated, fully automated clinical documentation application that is the first to combine proven conversational and ambient AI with OpenAI's newest and most capable model, GPT-4. Extending the proven Dragon Medical portfolio of solutions and building on the market-leading DAX ambient solution launched in 2020, DAX Express is the next milestone in Nuance's long-standing mission to reduce administrative burden and empower clinicians to spend more time taking care of patients and less time on paperwork. DAX Express makes available world-class AI to more than 550,000 Dragon Medical users, is enhanced by GPT-4, and amplified by the power of Microsoft Azure.
Building on the rapid success of DAX, which is currently deployed across hundreds of healthcare systems, DAX Express represents the next step in delivering AI technology that provides an immediate and highly accessible entry point for healthcare organizations to adopt at scale a new generation of AI-powered applications, leveraging their existing investments in trusted Nuance solutions. Using a unique combination of conversational, ambient, and generative AI, DAX Express automatically and securely creates draft clinical notes in seconds for immediate clinical review and completion after each patient visit in the exam room or via telehealth patient conversations. Clinicians will benefit from the seamless capabilities of Dragon Medical One, DAX, and DAX Express, which are tightly integrated into the electronic medical record, beginning from pre-visit through post-encounter, reducing cognitive burdens and helping increase the joy of practicing medicine.
"Nuance and Microsoft came together with the goal of helping to digitally transform healthcare, and today we are marking the next step forward in the ongoing evolution of AI-powered solutions for overburdened care providers," said Mark Benjamin, CEO of Nuance. "We've taken the power and advanced reasoning capabilities of GPT-4 and integrated it into our proven outcomes-focused AI technologies in a tested and responsible way. Our state-of-the-art blend of conversational, ambient, and generative AI will accelerate the advancement of the care delivery ecosystem beyond what Nuance or Microsoft could have achieved separately – expanding our comprehensive portfolio of solutions that fulfill our vision to improve care quality and support enhanced outcomes for generations to come."
Nuance is at the forefront of innovating conversational and ambient AI in healthcare – most notably with Best in KLAS Dragon Medical One and most recently with DAX – and for years has leveraged expertise in large language models and natural language processing to deliver refined, trusted AI solutions around the globe. With this new innovation, the Nuance healthcare portfolio gives customers even more flexibility to automate and enhance their clinical documentation workflows with the accuracy and reliability of Dragon Medical One, the customized, full-service experience of DAX, and the immediacy and speed of DAX Express. Nuance's solutions are a part of the Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare and amplified by the AI-optimized cloud infrastructure of Azure, expanding the impact of industry-defining AI to help transform healthcare experiences and outcomes.
"Microsoft and Nuance have been ahead of the curve in innovating AI solutions, and organizations large and small have long trusted our responsible, secure applications and infrastructure," said Scott Guthrie, Executive Vice President, Cloud + AI Group at Microsoft. "With DAX Express, we are leveraging the revolutionary capabilities of large model AI to deliver outcomes-focused healthcare applications at scale."
"Nuance continuously delivers innovations that clinicians need and want to overcome technological barriers and administrative burdens, improve care quality, and re-prioritize human relationships in medicine," said Jeffrey Cleveland, MD, FAAP, Chief Medical Information Officer, Advocate Health Southeast. "With decades of experience creating proven clinical documentation solutions, it is no surprise that Nuance is leading the way in bringing the most advanced generative AI to the exam room at scale."
BJ Moore, CIO, Providence said, "What makes this breakthrough so impactful is that the power of artificial intelligence is magnified by the unique strengths of Nuance and Microsoft. Microsoft's engineering and market resources and the scale of the Azure cloud, paired with Nuance's long-standing experience in healthcare and its commitment to patient data privacy and responsible use of AI, create an impressive foundation to significantly improve healthcare experiences and support better outcomes. They are setting the stage for innovation that will shape healthcare delivery across the industry."
DAX Express will be included for users of DAX and available as an addition to Dragon Medical One further reducing burnout-causing cognitive burdens and empowering physicians to focus on exceptional patient care, experiences, and outcomes. Consistent with Nuance's longstanding commitment to data security and privacy, DAX Express is HIPAA-compliant and developed with an approach to help create AI products that are trustworthy and safe.
At the HIMSS Global Health Conference from April 17-21 in Chicago, Nuance will showcase DAX Express and an additional set of advanced generative AI-enabled capabilities that deliver more automation and intelligence-infused experiences across the patient journey. These future workflow-integrated capabilities – built on proven AI solutions that have consistently delivered value and outcomes for physicians, nurses, radiologists, and patients for decades – further automate complex workflows and mundane tasks, surface key details, and identify missing information to support patient care. Visit Nuance's Booth #912 at HIMSS to experience the new era of intelligence-infused healthcare experiences.
DAX Express will be available in private preview this summer. To be added to the DAX Express interest list visit https://www.nuance.com/healthcare/campaign/learn-more/express.html. To hear from healthcare leaders as they discuss the opportunities for generative AI to help overcome technological barriers and administrative burdens, improve care quality, and re-prioritize human relationships in medicine, visit https://youtu.be/229EZL0xqFQ.
About Nuance Communications
Nuance Communications is a technology pioneer with market leadership in conversational AI and ambient intelligence. A full-service partner trusted by 77 percent of U.S. hospitals and more than 75 percent of the Fortune 100 companies worldwide, Nuance creates intuitive solutions that amplify people's ability to help others. Nuance is a Microsoft company.
Trademark reference: Nuance and the Nuance logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Nuance Communications, Inc. or its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners.
Media Contact:
Nuance Communications
Caitlyn Keating
Tel: +1.781.565.8926
E-mail: caitlyn.keating@nuance.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Nuance Communications, Inc. | 2023-03-20T12:18:37+00:00 | kcrg.com | https://www.kcrg.com/prnewswire/2023/03/20/nuance-microsoft-announce-first-fully-ai-automated-clinical-documentation-application-healthcare/ |
ANN ARBOR, MI -- There are a handful of construction projects in Washtenaw County that could impact commute times, traffic and road closures this week.
St. Francis Drive: The road beginning at East Stadium Boulevard running 200 feet south toward Medford Road will be completely occupied by construction crews that are completing a water main transfer. The project will start at 7 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 17, until 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21.
Southbound St. Francis Drive traffic will detour south onto Brockman Boulevard, east on Winchell Drive and back to St. Francis Drive. Another detour that southbound traffic can follow involves traveling east on East Stadium Boulevard, south on Manchester Road, west on Medford Road and then back to St. Francis Drive.
Any northbound traffic will detour west on Winchell Drive, north onto Brockman Boulevard, east on East Stadium Boulevard and then back to St. Francis Drive. An alternate detour will take traffic east on Medford Drive, north on Manchester Drive, west on Washtenaw Avenue, west on East Stadium Boulevard and then back to St. Francis Drive.
Construction will take place between approximately 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the work week with weather permitting. Local access to businesses and driveways will be maintained at all times.
Read more: These two Ann Arbor streets will see traffic restrictions for construction projects
South Maple Road: The road between Commerce Boulevard and Pauline Boulevard will experience a lane closure starting at 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 17.
Road repair work will take place in the southbound lane of South Maple Road and cause southbound traffic to shift into the left turn lane. The lane closure will be in place 24 hours a day for the duration of the work that is expected to end at 5 p.m. Nov. 4.
Platt Road and Canterbury Roads: Platt Road between Washtenaw Avenue and Canterbury Road, along with Canterbury Road between Hampshire Road and Platt Road, will see full street closures for construction.
Installation of utility mains will take place across all lanes of Platt Road between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. during each weekday the closure is in effect, which is expected to be Wednesday, Nov. 9.
Southbound Platt Road traffic will detour east on Washtenaw Avenue, south on South Huron Parkway and then return to Platt Road. Northbound traffic will detour north on South Huron Parkway, west on Washtenaw Avenue and then return to Platt Road.
Traffic traveling west on Canterbury Road will detour southwest on Hampshire Road, south on Chesterfield Drive and then east on Packard Road back to Platt Road.
Read more: Utility installation at site of new sustainable development will close Ann Arbor roads
Northbound closure of Main Street at Miller Avenue intersection: Northbound Main Street is closed at the Miller/Catherine intersection, and doesn’t plan to reopen until 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17.
All vehicles traveling north on Main Street will detour west on Ann Street, north on Ashley Street and then east on Kingsley Street back to Main Street. During this project, southbound Main Street will remain open.
Currently, Miller/Catherine at Main Street is also closed from Division to First Street. Local businesses plan to stay open and accessible during this work.
Read more: Project bringing bikeway, utilities will partially close Main Street intersection
South University Avenue and East University Avenue: South University Avenue between Church Street and East University Avenue, along with East University Avenue between South University Avenue and Willard Street, is seeing utility construction for a new 13-story high-rise building.
The contractor is installing utility leads throughout all lanes on South University Avenue and through the northbound lane on East University Avenue.
Westbound South University Avenue traffic will detour south on Church Street, to Hill Street, north on Tappan Street and then back to South University Avenue.
Those traveling east on South University Avenue will detour south on East University Avenue, east on Hill Street, north on Church Street and then back to South University Avenue. Northbound East University traffic can access South University Avenue through Tappan Street or Church Street.
Construction will take place from 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. during each weekday, and street closures will stay in place during the duration of construction work, which is expected to be Monday, Oct. 24.
Read more: New street closures coming for Ann Arbor high-rise construction project
West Madison Street: The road between South Ashley and South Main streets will see a lane closure and shift until 5 p.m. Feb. 28, as a new building is constructed at the southwest corner of South Main and West Madison streets. The work requires the group to take over the eastbound through lane of West Madison Street.
The lane closure is in effect 24 hours a day during the project. Eastbound West Madison Street traffic will shift into the left turn lane at the South Main Street intersection.
Miller Avenue and First Street: The Miller Avenue and First Street intersection will see lane closures as part of the Miller/Catherine Street Improvement Project. Eastbound Miller Avenue and southbound First Street at the intersection of Miller and First will close to traffic.
Vehicles travelling south on First Street will detour south on Ashley Street, then west on Ann Street and go back to First Street. Vehicles traveling east on Miller Avenue will detour south on Seventh Street, east on Huron Street, north on Division Street and then back to Catherine Street.
Construction is expected to be completed by 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21. Local businesses will continue to be accessible, and local traffic will continue to have access to First Street through the northbound lane. Miller/Catherine streets will also be accessible to local westbound traffic.
Miller/Catherine Street from First Street to Division Street: The area will be closed to through traffic until 5 p.m. Nov. 4, for the Miller/Catherine Street Improvement Project, which includes the installation of a water main, storm and sewer and separate bikeway.
Vehicles driving west on Catherine Street will detour north on Division Street, west on Kingsley Street and south on Fifth Avenue to Huron Street. Once the cars reach Huron Street, they will travel west and then north on First Street back to Miller Avenue.
People travelling east on Miller Avenue will detour south on First Street, east on Huron Street and north on Division Street back to Catherine Street.
Glen Avenue from Catherine Street to East Ann Street: The western southbound lane of Glen Avenue, the left turn lane of eastbound East Ann Street west of Glen Avenue and the right turn lane of eastbound Catherine Street west of Glen Avenue will be occupied while a new building is being constructed.
These lanes will be closed for the duration of the project that is slated to to end at 5 p.m. Nov. 1, 2024.
Traffic is being maintained in both directions on Glen Avenue and Catherine Street. Plans are for eastbound traffic to be maintained on East Ann Street for the duration of the lane closures.
Ann Arbor street closed for emergency repair to address nearly 2-foot bump
Events leading to street closures:
University of Michigan home football games will affect some Ann Arbor streets on Oct. 29, Nov. 12 and Nov. 19.
Some streets are closed effective three hours before a game to the end of that game.
Affected streets include East Keech Street between South Main and Greene streets, which will close and limit access to parking permit holders on Greene Street from East Hoover to Keech streets.
The westbound right turn lane on East Stadium Boulevard, south of the Michigan Stadium, will close.
South Main Street will close to both local and through traffic from Stadium Boulevard to Pauline Boulevard.
Read more: Ann Arbor OKs street closures for return of University of Michigan football
Main Street Area Ann Arbor Social District: Each week from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday to Sunday the following streets are closed for the Main Street Area Social District:
- Main Street from William to Huron
- 4th Avenue from William to Huron
- Washington Street from Ashley to 5th Avenue
- Liberty Street from Ashley to 5th Avenue
- Ashley Street from Liberty Street to Washington Street
2022 downtown Ann Arbor street closures: The following streets will be closed from 4 p.m. Thursdays to 6 a.m. Mondays between May 5 and Oct. 31:
- Main Street from William to Washington
- West Liberty Street from Ashley to Main
- East Liberty Street from Main to Fourth
- West Washington Street from Ashley to Main
To keep up with road and lane closures in Ann Arbor, visit the city’s website.
OTHER AREAS IN WASHTENAW COUNTY:
McKinley Road: The road between Cooper Ridge Drive and Waterloo Road will experience intermittent lane closure until Sunday, Oct. 23, for limestone resurfacing.
Huron River Drive: The road between Brass Creek Drive and North Territorial Road will face a daytime closure from Friday, Oct. 7, to Friday, Oct. 28.
North Territorial Road: The road between Hellner Road and Whitmore Lake Road will face intermittent lane closure from until Sunday, Oct. 30, for permit work to install a left turn lane.
Crane Road: This road between Textile Road and US-12 will have a lane closure until mid-November for sanitary installation.
Lohr Road: The road between Oak Valley Drive and Ann Arbor-Saline Road will face lane restrictions from Sunday, Oct. 23, to Sunday, Oct. 30, for road resurfacing.
Intersection of Golfside Road and Packard Road: The intersection will face a lane closure until Friday, Oct. 28, for utility replacement.
Huron River Drive: The street between Zeeb Road and Delhi Road will experience intermittent lane and shoulder closures until mid-December for non-motorized pathway construction.
Washburne Road: The road between Sharon Hollow Road and Sylvan Road will experience intermittent lane closures during the week of Oct. 17 for gravel resurfacing.
Harris Road: The road between MacArthur Boulevard and Geddes Road will be closed until November to install a left turn lane. A detour map can be found here.
Cavanaugh Lake Road: The road between Pierce Road and the city of Chelsea will face a road closure until Friday, Oct. 21, for road resurfacing. A detour map can be found here.
Harris Road: The road between Melvin Street and Wingate Boulevard will face daytime lane closure for a DTE gas project until November.
Harmon Avenue: The road between Crittendon Avenue and George Avenue will experience daytime lane closures for a DTE gas line replacement project until November.
U.S. 12 and M-17: These highways will experience some intermittent lane and shoulder closures until late October as traffic signal work is being completed.
Tuttle Hill Road: The road between Martz Road and Huron River Drive will experience a lane closure until October 28 for road resurfacing work. For more information, visit Washtenaw County Road Commission’s press release.
To keep up with road closures and other construction projects, visit Washtenaw County Road Commission’s website or MDOT’s website.
Read more from The Ann Arbor News:
Farm owner pushes back on state’s claim produce was tainted by untreated human waste
Bottoms up! New cocktail lounge, tasting room seeks city approval to open in Dexter
Church in rural Washtenaw County seeks to be ‘welcoming home’ for LGBTQ members | 2022-10-16T12:23:40+00:00 | mlive.com | https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2022/10/traffic-watch-road-construction-round-up-for-washtenaw-county-oct-16.html |
DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, Calif. -- Record rainfall Friday triggered flash floods at Death Valley National Park that swept away cars, closed all roads and stranded hundreds of visitors and workers.
There were no immediate reports of injuries but roughly 60 vehicles were buried in mud and debris and about 500 visitors and 500 park workers were stuck inside the park, officials said.
The park near the California-Nevada state line received 1.46 inches (3.71 centimeters) of rain at the Furnace Creek area. That's about 75% of what the area typically gets in a year and more than has ever been recorded for the entire month of August.
Since 1936, the only single day with more rain was April 15, 1988, when 1.47 inches (3.73 centimeters) fell, park officials said.
"Entire trees and boulders were washing down," said John Sirlin, a photographer for an Arizona-based adventure company who witnessed the flooding as he perched on a hillside boulder where he was trying to take pictures of lightning as the storm approached.
"The noise from some of the rocks coming down the mountain was just incredible," he said in a phone interview Friday afternoon.
Park officials didn't immediately respond to requests for an update Friday night.
The storm followed another major flooding event earlier this week at the park 120 miles (193 kilometers) northeast of Las Vegas. Some roads were closed Monday after they were inundated with mud and debris from flash floods that also hit western Nevada and northern Arizona hard.
Friday's rain started around 2 a.m., according to Sirlin, who lives in Chandler, Arizona, and has been visiting the park since 2016.
"It was more extreme than anything I've seen there," said Sirlin, the lead guide for Incredible Weather Adventures who started chasing storms in Minnesota and the high plains in the 1990s.
"A lot of washes were flowing several feet deep. There are rocks probably 3 or 4 feet covering the road," he said.
Sirlin said it took him about 6 hours to drive about 35 miles (56 kilometers) out of the park from near the Inn at Death Valley.
"There were at least two dozen cars that got smashed and stuck in there," he said, adding that he didn't see anyone injured "or any high water rescues."
During Friday's rainstorms, the "flood waters pushed dumpster containers into parked cars, which caused cars to collide into one another. Additionally, many facilities are flooded including hotel rooms and business offices," the park statement said.
A water system that provides it for park residents and offices also failed after a line broke that was being repaired, the statement said.
A flash flood warning for the park and surrounding area expired at 12:45 p.m., Friday but a flood advisory remained in effect into the evening, the National Weather Service said. | 2022-08-06T05:13:11+00:00 | abc30.com | https://abc30.com/death-valley-flooding-flash-flood-rain-road-conditions/12103376/ |
LAS VEGAS, March 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Intelligent Technical Solutions ("ITS"), a portfolio company of Tower Arch Capital, is pleased to announce that it has acquired Granite Computer Solutions (Tempe, AZ), BrightWire Networks (Olympia, WA), Ox Power Computing Service (Phoenix, AZ), ProTechnical (Reno, NV), and A Leap Ahead IT (Sacramento, CA) in partnership with the companies' founders.
Each of Granite, BrightWire, Ox Power, ProTechnical, and A Leap Ahead provides managed IT services in their respective geographies, further strengthening and expanding ITS's geographic footprint.
Tom Andrulis, CEO of ITS, said, "Over the past several years, we have developed strong relationships with the founders of each of these companies. I have great respect for the organizations they have built, and we are excited to be formally partnering with them. As a collective team, our priority is to continue providing best-in-class IT services to our customers. Looking forward, we are well capitalized with the support of Tower Arch Capital to continue growth through acquisition as well as investing in new and existing locations and services."
Todd Whitley, CEO of BrightWire Networks, added, "We are thrilled about our partnership with ITS. We share a like-minded approach to our work, and collectively, our footprint and capabilities will lead to significant expansion for ITS in the Western United States."
"It's been a seamless transition," Rick Thomas, Founder of ProTechnical, said. "We have very strong cultural and business alignment with Tom and the ITS team. I can't wait to launch into our next phase of growth together."
Terms of the transactions were not disclosed. Financing for the transactions was provided by Deerpath Capital. Advisors for ITS included Holland & Hart LLP, BDO USA LLP, and Farrell Advisory.
About Intelligent Technical Solutions
Intelligent Technical Solutions is a provider of IT managed services. Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Las Vegas, NV, ITS provides managed IT, cloud, cybersecurity, VoIP phone, and fiber internet services to small and medium sized businesses (20-500 seats) throughout the Midwest and Western United States. For more information, please visit www.itsasap.com.
About Tower Arch Capital
Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, Tower Arch Capital is a lower-middle market private equity firm. Tower Arch seeks to partner with and grow high-quality family and entrepreneur-owned companies to deliver long-term value for their management teams and investors. Tower Arch brings operational, consulting, and financial expertise to companies to help them improve their operations, scale, and grow. Target investments include control positions in entrepreneur and family-owned businesses with revenue between $20 million and $150 million or EBITDA between $5 million and $25 million. For more information, please visit www.towerarch.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Intelligent Technical Solutions | 2023-03-28T12:45:55+00:00 | wsfa.com | https://www.wsfa.com/prnewswire/2023/03/28/intelligent-technical-solutions-expands-acquires-five-managed-service-providers/ |
CLAREMONT, Calif., Aug. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Nonprofit Shoes That Fit is proudly celebrating their 30th Anniversary. What started as a simple gesture of kindness by their founder has grown into a national organization that has helped 1.6 million children over the last 30 years. In March 2020, when the pandemic closed schools, businesses, and nonprofits nationwide, Shoes That Fit quickly revamped their delivery model to find a way to continue to help kids during a period of increased need. At a time when many for-profit businesses were shuttering, Shoes that Fit was thriving and continuing to help our most vulnerable children across the country.
Their mission is simple: every child deserves to attend school with dignity and joy, prepared to learn, play, and thrive. For kids, a new pair of shoes helps to improve their self-esteem and participation at school by eliminating one of poverty's most visible and debilitating marks.
"It has been an honor to partner with our amazing donors and volunteers to help America's most vulnerable kids. I am so proud of the relationships we have developed over the last 30 years of helping kids. When someone hears "Shoes That Fit," I often see a question in their eyes – why shoes? It takes a beat for people to realize that there are many children across the country lacking something as basic as decent shoes that fit." –AMY FASS – CEO AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR – SHOES THAT FIT
While Shoes That Fit is immensely proud of having helped so many children, they remind us about the significant need they see every day in schools across the country. Currently, 1 in 3 American children lives in a low-income family. Parents often face the difficult choice between food and new shoes for a kid's growing feet. When Shoes That Fit gives new athletic shoes to kids, 87% of schools report an increase in self-esteem, 70% percent report an increase in physical activity and 40% report higher attendance.
Several long-term Shoes That Fit supporters, including Clayton and Ellen Kershaw through Kershaw's Challenge, comedian Alonzo Bodden, San Antonio Spurs President and Head Coach Gregg Popovich and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, are partnering with the organization throughout the month to help raise funds for the back-to-school season
Shoes that Fit works closely with thousands of schools across America and operates an impressive network of volunteer-run local grassroots chapters. Each child gets individually measured for their new shoes to ensure they are truly getting "shoes that fit." Over 2.6 million pairs of new shoes and other necessities have been raised and distributed to date, and they're not done.
Please help us continue our mission and ensure that no child misses school because they don't have shoes that fit. For more information and to donate visit
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Shoes That Fit | 2022-08-31T17:35:45+00:00 | wcjb.com | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/08/31/national-nonprofit-shoes-that-fit-celebrates-30-years-giving/ |
OWASSO, Okla. — A group of kids at Friendship Baptist Church in Owasso are helping raise money to build a children's center in Haiti.
This is not the first year the church has done this. Last year, they raised $28,000 for a similar fundraiser.
Linzy Slayden, the lead pastor at Friendship Baptist, said the church is raising money for the Kevin Falde ministry.
"We have a fundraiser every year for vacation bible school," he said. "This year it's the Kevin Falde Ministry in Haiti. And they're building a children's home. And so all the money will go toward that children's home to help Children with their difficult situations."
To raise the money, its boys versus girls as they compete to see which team will raise the most funds for the children's home.
"The losers get a pie in the face," said Mischelle Foster, the kids ministry director at Friendship Baptist.
Slayden said the kids raise the money is any way they can.
"Everything from mowing lawns to trimming trees, to clean houses, picking up trash and yard work and anything for mom and dad and grandma and grandpa around the house," he said. "They're just earning money to give to the mission."
Another fun way the church has raised money is by filling jars with dares on the front. Foster said the kids filled the jar forcing one of the senior staff members to kiss a pig.
"Our senior adult pastor Richard Edwards had to kiss the pig this morning," she added.
When the amount accumulated was revealed, the girls team lost, leaving them with whipped cream pie-filled faces.
A total of $30,045 was raised for the children's home on Haiti.
One of the pie-faced victims, Hannah Oliphant, said it was worth it because the entire event was just a way to give back to those in need. | 2023-06-09T22:22:40+00:00 | fox23.com | https://www.fox23.com/news/owasso-church-raises-more-than-30-000-to-help-build-childrens-home-in-haiti/article_cea23ff2-0706-11ee-9f5e-ab24caa33b55.html |
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) — Guyana is likely to earn more than $1 billion this year from its production share of offshore oil exports — more than it will garner from gold, bauxite, timber or any other sector, the central bank said Monday.
The production sharing agreement with American ExxonMobil, Hess Oil of the U.S. and China’s National Offshore Oil Company will give the country an estimated $1.1 billion from the 13 million barrels of oil it is entitled to this year, central bank Governor Gobind Ganga told The Associated Press.
The small South American nation, which hosts the headquarters of the 15-nation Caribbean Community, became an oil producer in 2019 when Exxon lifted the first batch of oil from the seabed — four years after it had announced a massive find about 120 miles offshore Guyana.
The consortium has already drilled more than 30 successful wells, mainly from its Liza Field in the Stabroek Block. Current production is about 350,000 barrels per day but this is expected to more than double when two other oil fields come on stream in the next three years, Exxon has said.
Until oil production began, gold and rice exports had dominated the country’s foreign exchange earnings. With global petroleum prices high, the country expects to enjoy a windfall both from direct oil sales and the massive support system for the industry, including the construction of onshore facilities.
“This is historically the largest amount of revenue we will earn from any single sector this year. This is very obvious with the price of oil today,” Ganga said. Finance Minister Ashni Singh recently projected that gross domestic product would grow by 56% this year, by far the fastest pace in the hemisphere.
The 2015 announcement by Exxon that it had found some of the world’s lightest crude oil has triggered a rush by most of the major producers, with Repsol of Spain, Tullow oil of the United Kingdom and several others either buying into existing oil blocks or negotiating their own.
Commercial oil and gas deposits have been discovered in two additional blocks neighboring Exxon’s, while companies neighboring Suriname have also found large quantities of oil and gas in the basin that the U.S. Geological Survey says contains at least 16 billion barrels of oil. | 2022-09-05T16:35:27+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Guyana-expects-billion-dollar-oil-earnings-this-17420286.php |
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A former Idaho lawmaker convicted of raping a 19-year-old legislative intern has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the crime.
Aaron von Ehlinger must serve at least eight years before he will be eligible for parole, 4th District Judge Michael Reardon said during the sentencing hearing on Wednesday.
Von Ehlinger was convicted of felony rape in April, roughly a year after he resigned from his seat in the House of Representatives after an ethics committee recommended that he be banned from the statehouse.
The judge said von Ehlinger failed to show empathy or remorse, and that it was clear he was not ready for sex offender treatment. The sentence would at least deter von Ehlinger from committing another crime while he is incarcerated, Reardon said.
“You have a pattern of explaining, excusing, deflecting and blaming others for the circumstances you find yourself in,” Reardon said.
The investigation into von Ehlinger’s actions began in March 2021 after the intern told a statehouse supervisor that the Republican from Lewiston raped her at his apartment after the two had dinner at a Boise restaurant. Von Ehlinger has maintained the sex was consensual.
The Associated Press generally does not identify people who say they have been sexually assaulted, and has referred to the woman in this case as “Jane Doe” at her request.
Doe attending the sentencing hearing, and during the proceeding the prosecutor played a recording of Doe talking about how the rape and its aftermath left her traumatized.
In the recording, Doe described how her autonomy was “ripped violently away.” She sometimes experiences panic attacks just from hearing von Ehlinger’s name, she said, and has had to install security systems and cameras outside her home. Von Ehlinger’s supporters publicized Doe’s name, photo and personal details about her life after she reported the rape, and repeatedly harassed her.
Doe said she was taking a stand “for the future of any Jane and John Doe here in Idaho.”
“I am here now. I am here scared, I am here frightened, I am so petrified, but I will not be intimidated into silence so that another rapist can slip through the cracks of this justice system,” Doe said in the recording. “I hope he rots in pieces behind those cold metal bars.”
Von Ehlinger reminded the judge that he served as a paratrooper in the Afghanistan war, and said that he was trained in the military to protect people, especially women.
“We were trained to fight against evil and fight for those who cannot fight for themselves, especially women. That is something I believe then and something I absolutely believe now,” von Ehlinger said.
He later continued, “The only thing between Afghani women and the middle ages was the American soldier and I am very proud that we were able to do that.”
He also said that he went on a pilgrimage to Israel, Jordan and Egypt before his trial.
“I was ultimately baptized in the Jordan River,” von Ehlinger said, but was first required to confess his sins. “I confessed a lot of sins your honor — I am not a perfect man — but rape was not a sin that I could confess to. It would be sin to confess to something that I did not commit.”
But the judge said von Ehlinger demonstrated a lack of empathy for the victim and had a propensity to blame her.
“You see yourself as a victim and you see yourself as a hero, and frankly I don’t see you as either one of those things,” Reardon told the defendant. “You created your own circumstances that put you here today.”
The judge also ordered von Ehlinger to register as a sex offender and placed him under a no-contact order lasting through 2055. | 2022-09-01T00:31:33+00:00 | seattletimes.com | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/former-idaho-lawmaker-sentenced-to-20-years-prison-for-rape/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — “Woman’s Choice,” the sign proclaims in bold pink letters. But despite promising abortion information and free pregnancy testing, the facility in Charleston, W.Va., is designed to steer women facing an unwanted pregnancy away from choosing an abortion.
That will become much easier now that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that states like West Virginia can make abortion illegal.
It's one of hundreds of so-called crisis pregnancy centers nationwide whose aim is to discourage women from seeking abortions. The facilities, which have been accused repeatedly of deceiving women about their true purpose, are expected to wield even more influence in states where the dwindling number of clinics are now canceling abortion appointments.
Often religiously affiliated, the anti-abortion centers are not licensed medical facilities and do not provide medical services such as pre- or post-natal care or other health care for uninsured women, unlike clinics that offer abortions — which are subject to strict government regulations and patient privacy laws. They do sometimes have nurses on staff or as volunteers.
“Basically, these centers are looking around and saying, ‘Our services are going to be needed now more than ever because there’s going to be so many pregnant people who need support during their pregnancy — particularly unintended pregnancies,’” said Andrea Swartzendruber, a University of Georgia public health professor who has helped map center locations nationwide.
Shortly after Friday's Supreme Court decision, West Virginia's only abortion clinic announced it was suspending abortion services, but continuing to provide birth control, STI treatment and other services.
The Charleston anti-abortion center, which calls itself the Woman’s Choice Pregnancy Resource Center, has been located next to the abortion clinic for years. The people who run it say their work won't change. They will continue to offer parenting and health classes, counseling for “women who regret a past decision to abort and wish to find comfort from guilt and sadness" and provide “facts about abortion risks — both physical and psychological," they said in an email to The Associated Press.
The board also said staff must complete training emphasizing the importance of clients' “right to be respected regardless of their decision.”
At the clinic next door, called the Women's Health Center of West Virginia, executive director Katie Quinonez has her doubts about such statements. She has repeatedly seen patients seeking to end their pregnancies lured into the anti-abortion center and bombarded with warnings about abortion risks. Some who found their way to her office have shared pamphlets declaring that “abortion causes new problems that can haunt a woman for the rest of her life.”
One titled “Abortion — Living Without Regret” shows a woman crying on the cover and lists “abortion risks,” including “suicidal feelings,” “death” and “cervical incompetence.”
Quinonez said she worries about the dozens of patients whose abortion appointments were cancelled after the Supreme Court decision came down.
“I’m incredibly concerned," she said. “It’s possible that they could think maybe there is another provider and state that’s doing abortions. 'How about I call ‘A Woman’s Choice,’ located in Charleston?' and then they make an appointment and go there because they’ve been lied to by a fake clinic that says ‘Yes, we can provide you with care.'"
While the anti-abortion centers are mostly mum about their plans now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned, experts say they're likely to redouble efforts to persuade women not to end their pregnancies. The logistics work in their favor, since many women won’t have the legal option of abortion without leaving their state.
The centers have been expanding in every state with support from wealthy conservative donors, powerful state lawmakers and religious institutions. They've also received tens of millions of tax dollars funneled to them by conservative state leaders.
Left-leaning states have shown more willingness to regulate how the centers advertise their services. Last year Connecticut banned them from using “deceptive advertising” about the services they provide.
Connecticut had 18 health clinics that provided abortions as of 2018; there are also around 20 pregnancy crisis centers.
“As we head into this new world and into this next phase, I think it’s more important than ever for women to be able to access medically accurate information,” said Democratic Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, who sponsored the Connecticut legislation.
“The last thing we want is for women to be at what they believe to be a health clinic only to receive misinformation about their options."
Nationally, crisis pregnancy centers outnumber abortion clinics more than 3 to 1, but in Republican-led states the numbers can be far higher, according to a 2021 report from The Alliance: State Advocates for Women’s Rights and Gender Equality. Some 2,500 centers are located across the country, while there are fewer than 800 abortion clinics.
In Missouri, which has just one abortion clinic, Swartzendruber and her colleagues identified nearly 70 anti-abortion centers in 2021. The situation is similar in North Dakota, where at least seven centers operated last year and the state’s lone abortion clinic is relocating now that Roe v. Wade was overturned.
In Mississippi, there are 30 centers, while the Jackson Women’s Health Organization — a plaintiff in the legal battle that came before the Supreme Court — was the lone provider offering abortion services.
Those three states are among 13 with so-called trigger laws that banned most abortions after Roe was overturned. West Virginia doesn’t have a trigger law, but does have an old statute on the books that had been shelved while Roe was in place.
“I see states with trigger laws working to continue to fund or increase funding to crisis pregnancy centers and trying to pass new legislation that would make the centers even more prominent,” Swartzendruber said.
Earlier this month, anti-abortion leaders called on churches to support their local crisis pregnancy centers.
“I believe that we have an opportunity like never before as the church to really rush in and to make a huge difference," said Dean Nelson, vice president of government relations for Human Coalition, a national anti-abortion group that frequently directs pregnant women seeking information online to the centers and operates a handful of its own.
Some centers offer financial counseling, free diapers and food pantries for mothers after they’ve given birth. By expanding and strengthening the network of centers, anti-abortion advocates hope women will see they have resources and options.
That concerns reproductive rights advocates, who worry that without licensed abortion providers, women who become unexpectedly pregnant and desperate for help will wind up in places intent on deceiving them. Earlier this year, the Center for Countering Digital Hate, an internet watchdog group, released a report that found 1 in 10 Google searches for abortion services in states with trigger laws led people to the centers.
Amanda Furdge says that happened to her while searching for information about Mississippi's only abortion clinic in 2014. Instead, she found a listing for what turned out to be a crisis pregnancy center in Jackson.
“I went for an appointment, and they kept me there all day, traumatized me. They gave me a pregnancy test and they told me, ‘We are not going to be able to recommend any abortion services for you,’" she said. “I was clear: ‘I don’t want to carry this pregnancy. I want to terminate it.'”
By the time she found the abortion clinic, she said she decided on her own she was too far along to have the procedure. She is now happily raising her 7-year-old son.
In West Virginia, the Charleston abortion clinic has rows of hedges blocking view of the building next door to reduce confusion. In front a sign reads “WARNING: The building behind this sign is an ANTI-CHOICE, ANTI-BIRTH CONTROL Crisis Pregnancy Center. It is not affiliated with the Women's Health Center."
“You shouldn’t be able to pose as a medical facility and just straight up lie to patients,” director Quinonez said.
___
Kruesi reported from Nashville, Tennessee. Associated Press writer Emily Wagster Pettus contributed from Jackson, Mississippi. | 2022-06-27T16:46:53+00:00 | sfgate.com | https://www.sfgate.com/living/article/Anti-abortion-centers-to-grow-wield-more-17268296.php |
NEW YORK (AP) — Chatter on one of Prabha Rao’s WhatsApp groups exploded last week when India announced that it was severely curtailing some rice exports to the rest of the world, triggering worry among the Indian diaspora in the United States that access to a food staple from home might soon be cut off.
As in any crisis situation — think bottled water and toilet paper— some rushed to supermarkets to stock up, stacking carts with bags and bags of rice. In some places, lines formed outside some stores as panic buying ensued.
But Rao, who lives near Syracuse, New York, was reassured when the proprietor of her Indian market sent out an email to customers to let them know there was no need to worry: There was an ample supply of rice.
At least for now.
An earlier than expected El Niño brought drier, warmer weather in some parts of Asia and is expected to harm rice production. But in some parts of India, where the monsoon season was especially brutal, flooding destroyed some crops, adding to production woes and rising prices.
Hoping to stave off inflationary pressures on a diet staple, the Indian government earlier this month imposed export bans on non-Basmati white rice varieties, prompting hoarding in some parts of the world.
The move was taken “to ensure adequate availability” and “to allay the rise in prices in the domestic market,” India’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution announced July 20. Over the past year, prices have increased by more than 11%, and by 3% over the past month, the government said.
Non-Basmati white rice constitutes about a fourth of the rice exported by India.
“On WhatsApp, I got a lot of messages saying that rice was not going to be available. I think there was a lot of confusion in the beginning because, as you know, rice is very important for us,” Rao said.
“When we first heard the news, there was just mild confusion and people started panic buying because they thought that it may not be available,” she said.
There are scores of different varieties of rice, with people having their preference depending on taste and texture. India’s export ban does not apply to Basmati rice, a long-grain variety that is more aromatic.
The ban applies to short-grain rice that is starchier and has a relatively neutral flavor — which Rao says is preferable in some dishes or favored in specific regions of India, especially in southern areas of the country.
At Little India, a grocery store in New York City’s Curry Hill neighborhood in Manhattan, there was no shortage of Basmati rice and other varieties.
That wasn’t the case at other Indian groceries.
On its Facebook page, India Bazaar, an Indian grocery chain in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, told customers not to panic. “We are working hard to meet all our shoppers’ demands,” the post said.
Customers cleared shelves and waited in long lines to stockpile bags of rice, reported NBC Dallas affiliate KXAS.
“They really wanted to purchase ten, 12, 15 bags,” India Bazaar’s president, Anand Pabari, told the station. “It was a really crazy situation.”
India’s move came days after Russia backed out of a deal to allow Ukrainian wheat safe passage through the Black Sea, prompting warnings that the action could lead to surging prices.
Some economists say the ban might further hurt food supplies around the world, and some governments have urged the Indian government to reconsider the export ban.
At least in the United States, the supply of imported rice from India may not yet be a problem — despite the panic buying — but a long-term ban would certainly deplete that stock.
Roa says she and others will just have to adapt by purchasing rice grown in the United States or imported from other countries.
“I might have to substitute Basmati rice,” she said, “but it doesn’t taste that good, especially with South Indian dishes.”
A U.S. resident for three decades, Rao said she is accustomed to improvising.
“When we first came here, there was not even that much rice from India,” she said. “So I’ve learned to substitute, and I’m fine with the other brands that we get.” | 2023-07-30T20:19:17+00:00 | kfor.com | https://kfor.com/business/ap-business/ap-india-cuts-rice-exports-triggering-panic-buying-of-food-staple-by-some-indian-expats-in-the-us/ |
ALGECIRAS, Spain (AP) — Residents of the Spanish city of Algeciras recounted their shock after a machete-wielding attacker jumped on the altar of a church before chasing a victim into a city square and inflicting mortal wounds.
The attacks on two churches by a single assailant on Wednesday night have shaken the city, near the southern tip of Spain across from a bay from Gibraltar.
The Interior Ministry said the man killed in the attack was a sacristan, an individual who prepares Mass, at Nuestra Señora de La Palma, while a priest was wounded earlier at another church. The Algeciras town hall said the sacristan was named Diego Valencia and identified the wounded priest as Antonio Rodríguez.
Manolo Gonzalez, another sacristan at Nuestra Señora de La Palma, said he knew Valencia. The attacker climbed on the altar, Gonzalez said, and Valencia came out “and asked to know what was going on.” He was confronted by a man wielding a machete, so fled outside to a public square. The attacker pursued him and then inflicted mortal wounds.
Rodríguez remains in a serious condition.
Spain’s interior minister is due to visit the city later today, the ministry said. Flags were flown at half-staff in Algeciras, home to an important port with ferry connections to northern Africa, and a minute's silence was to be held later in the day. | 2023-01-26T10:15:31+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/community-reels-from-spanish-machete-church-17743041.php |
Updated May 8, 2022 at 10:20 PM ET
ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine — More than 60 people were feared dead Sunday after a Russian bomb flattened a school being used as a shelter, Ukrainian officials said, while Moscow's forces pressed their attack on defenders inside Mariupol's steel plant in an apparent race to capture the city ahead of Russia's Victory Day holiday.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "appalled" by the reported school bombing Saturday in the eastern village of Bilohorivka and called it another reminder that "it is civilians that pay the highest price" in war.
Authorities said about 90 people were sheltering in the basement. Emergency crews found two bodies and rescued 30 people, but "most likely all 60 people who remain under the rubble are now dead," Serhiy Haidai, governor of Luhansk province, wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
Russian shelling also killed two boys, ages 11 and 14, in the nearby town of Pryvillia, he said. Luhansk is part of the Donbas, the industrial heartland in the east that Russia's forces are working to capture.
As Moscow prepared to celebrate the 1945 surrender of Nazi Germany with a Victory Day military parade on Monday, a lineup of Western leaders and celebrities made surprise visits to Ukraine in a show of support.
U.S. first lady Jill Biden met with her Ukrainian counterpart. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau raised his country's flag at its embassy in Kyiv. And U2's Bono, alongside bandmate The Edge, performed in a Kyiv subway station that had been used as a bomb shelter, singing the 1960s song "Stand by Me."
The newly appointed acting U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Kristina Kvien, posted a picture of herself at the American Embassy, and described plans for the eventual U.S. return to the Ukrainian capital after Moscow's forces abandoned their effort to storm Kyiv weeks ago and began focusing on the capture of the Donbas.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and others warned in recent days that Russian attacks would only worsen in the lead-up to Victory Day, and some cities declared curfews or cautioned people against gathering in public. Russian President Vladimir Putin may want to proclaim some kind of triumph in Ukraine when he addresses the troops on Red Square.
"They have nothing to celebrate tomorrow," Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told CNN. "They have not succeeded in defeating the Ukrainians. They have not succeeded in dividing the world or dividing NATO. And they have only succeeded in isolating themselves internationally and becoming a pariah state around the globe."
Russian forces struggled to complete their takeover of Mariupol, which has been largely reduced to rubble. The sprawling seaside steel mill where an estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters were making what appeared to be their last stand was the only part of the city not under Russian control.
The last of the women, children and older civilians who were taking shelter with the fighters in the Azovstal plant were evacuated Saturday. Buses carrying over 170 evacuees from the steelworks and other parts of Mariupol arrived in the Ukrainian-held city of Zaporizhzhia on Sunday, U.N. officials said.
The Ukrainian defenders in the steel mill have rejected deadlines set by the Russians for laying down their arms.
Capt. Sviatoslav Palamar, deputy commander of the Ukrainian Azov Regiment, a unit holding the steel mill, said the site was targeted overnight by warplanes, artillery and tanks.
"We are under constant shelling," he said online, adding that Russian ground troops tried to storm the plant — a claim Russian officials denied in recent days — and lay mines. Palamar reported a "multitude of casualties."
Lt. Illya Samoilenko, another member of the Azov Regiment, said there were a couple of hundred wounded soldiers at the plant but declined to reveal how many able-bodied fighters remained. He said fighters didn't have lifesaving equipment and had to dig by hand to free people from bunkers that had collapsed under the shelling.
"Surrender for us is unacceptable because we cannot grant such a gift to the enemy," Samoilenko said.
The Ukrainian government has reached out to international organizations to try to secure safe passage for the defenders.
Western allies move to show support for Ukraine
On the economic front, leaders from the Group of Seven industrial democracies pledged to ban or phase out imports of Russian oil. The G-7 consists of the U.S., Canada, Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Japan.
The United States also announced new sanctions against Russia, cutting off Western advertising from Russia's three biggest TV stations, banning U.S. accounting and consulting firms from providing services, and cutting off Russia's industrial sector from wood products, industrial engines, boilers and bulldozers.
Trudeau met with Zelenskyy and made a surprise visit to Irpin, which was damaged in Russia's attempt to take Kyiv. The Ukrainian president also met with the German parliament speaker, Bärbel Bas, in Kyiv to discuss further defense assistance.
Jill Biden visited western Ukraine for a surprise Mother's Day meeting with Zelenskyy's wife, Olena Zelenska.
Zelenskyy released a video address marking the day of the Allied victory in Europe 77 years ago, drawing parallels between Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the evils of Nazism. The black-and-white footage showed Zelenskyy standing in front of a ruined apartment block in Borodyanka, a Kyiv suburb.
Zelenskyy said that generations of Ukrainians understood the significance of the words "Never again," a phrase often used as a vow not to allow a repeat of the horrors of the Holocaust.
Elsewhere, on Ukraine's coast, explosions echoed again across the major Black Sea port of Odesa. At least five blasts were heard, according to local media.
The Ukrainian military said Moscow was focusing its main efforts on destroying airfield infrastructure in eastern and southern Ukraine.
In a sign of the dogged resistance that has sustained the fighting into its 11th week, Ukraine's military struck Russian positions on a Black Sea island that was captured in the war's first days. A satellite image by Planet Labs showed smoke rising from two sites on the island.
But Moscow's forces showed no sign of backing down in the south. Satellite photos show Russia has put armored vehicles and missile systems at a small base in the Crimean Peninsula.
The most intense combat in recent days has taken place in eastern Ukraine. A Ukrainian counteroffensive in the northeast near Kharkiv, the country's second-largest city, is making "significant progress," according to the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank.
However, the Ukrainian army withdrew from the embattled eastern city of Popasna, regional authorities said.
Rodion Miroshnik, a representative of the pro-Kremlin, separatist Luhansk People's Republic, said its forces and Russian troops had captured most of Popasna after two months of fierce fighting.
The Kharkiv regional administration said three people were killed in shelling of the town of Bogodukhiv, about 30 miles from Kharkiv city.
South of Kharkiv, in Dnipropetrovsk province, the governor said a 12-year-old boy was killed by a cluster munition that he found after a Russian attack. An international treaty bans the use of such explosives, but neither Russia nor Ukraine has signed the agreement.
"This war is treacherous," the governor, Valentyn Reznichenko, wrote on social media. "It is near, even when it is invisible."
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2022-05-09T03:31:09+00:00 | mainepublic.org | https://www.mainepublic.org/npr-news/npr-news/2022-05-08/more-than-60-are-feared-dead-in-the-bombing-of-a-ukrainian-school |
KEY BISCAYNE, FLA. (WSVN) - A group of migrants have landed along the northern tip of Virginia Key.
Multiple agencies responded at around 3 p.m. Thursday.
Miami-Dade Police, Miami-Dade Fire and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission launched vessels in the area. The Coast Guard and U.S. Border Patrol are surrounding the vessel, which is located off the shore of Historic Virginia Key Beach Park.
Officials said at least 25 people made it to shore and around 40 remain on the boat. Those who made it to shore include 21 adults and four minors. One person on board was transported to Jackson Memorial and is being treated for hypothermia.
Please check back on WSVN.com and 7News for more details on this developing story.
Copyright 2023 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | 2023-01-12T22:36:05+00:00 | wsvn.com | https://wsvn.com/news/local/miami-dade/group-of-migrants-land-in-virginia-key/ |
Looking for a good deal? This weekend brings some of the biggest sales between the summer, and Black Friday in November.
At Ace Hardware, workers are getting ready for a big Labor Day weekend, as they are at many other stores.
Grills and patio accessories are among the items on markdown, as they are at Home Depot and Lowe's.
Shannon Phoenix is ready to do some shopping.
"I'll be out, most likely because it is going to be my birthday, so I am sure I am going to buy myself something nice," she said.
A look at why sales are expected to be bigger than usual
In a normal year, you'll find the largest Labor Day markdowns on summer clearance. But, retail experts say this year, stores are so overstocked with items they ordered during the pandemic. And you should find more deals than usual.
Once stimulus checks ran out, and gas prices soared, shoppers tightened their purse strings, and at the same time, stores finally got all their orders delivered.
It's almost the opposite of last year when so many items were in short supply.
Smart shopping expert Trae Bodge of TrueTrae.com says that means great markdowns on "your large appliances, your mattresses, and furniture," she said.
You will also find deep discounts on clothing, she says, more so than in most years.
"Fall clothing is coming in later than expected," Trae said. "Retailers will be looking to clear their merchandise as quickly as possible, and that means sales," she said.
Retailers lighting up their websites with big end-of-summer deals include:
So whether you're shopping for clothing, electronics, or something to spruce up your home, Vanderbilt University Marketing professor Kelly Goldsmith says this weekend is the time to buy.
"We are going to be seeing the extra inventory they have, and the role that it plays in pricing for a good long while," she said. "Specifically, we're gonna see it until they sell those goods."
So take advantage of the Labor Day savings for some great late summer deals.
Or do some early holiday or birthday shopping, as Shannon Phoenix is hoping,
"Hopefully, someone sees this and buys me some presents for my birthday," she said, tongue in cheek.
And you don't need to wait till Saturday to shop: Many stores have already begun their Labor Day sales, so you don't waste your money.
________________
Don't Waste Your Money" is a registered trademark of Scripps Media, Inc. ("Scripps").
Like" John Matarese Money on Facebook
Follow John on Instagram @johnmataresemoney
Follow John on Twitter (@JohnMatarese)
For more consumer news and money saving advice, go to www.dontwasteyourmoney.com | 2022-08-31T12:00:13+00:00 | krtv.com | https://www.krtv.com/money/consumer/dont-waste-your-money/labor-day-sales-expected-to-be-better-than-ever-this-year |
- Boomi's worldwide network of 800+ partners, including Accenture, Capgemini, Deloitte, SAP, Snowflake, Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, and Microsoft, help fuel the category-leading, global SaaS company's rapid customer growth
- Several Fortune 500 companies and notable brands globally, such as AT&T, Cisco, LinkedIn, Moderna, Novartis, and Sky, leverage the Boomi AtomSphere™ Platform to drive better business outcomes
- Boomi's enterprise-grade platform scales to support the largest customer deployments, recently processing more than one trillion documents and 65 billion integrations as demand for intelligent connectivity and automation grows
CHESTERBROOK, Pa., June 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Boomi™, the intelligent connectivity and automation leader, today announced that it has surpassed 20,000 customers, representing the largest customer base of any cloud integration platform as a service (iPaaS) provider. Fortune 500 companies and notable brands globally, such as AT&T, Cisco, LinkedIn, Moderna, and Novartis, along with leading international companies like Ampol, Australian Red Cross, the Environmental Protection Agency, and Sky, leverage the Boomi AtomSphere™ Platform to drive better business outcomes. Boomi's customers rely on the category-leading, global software as a service (SaaS) company's award-winning technology, robust community, and world-class partners to accelerate productivity, drive innovation, and thrive during change.
In addition to working with worldwide brands, Boomi also works with leading non-profit organizations that are focused on connecting the world for good, extending Boomi's mission to connect everyone to everything, anywhere. "Our team supports the people and systems that bring researchers together with the ultimate goal of curing cancer," said Craig Eisenberger, director, Enterprise Platform Services and Data Management at the American Association for Cancer Research. "Boomi enables us to create seamless and real-time connections between our systems so we can have a single, shared version of truth across our organization. Through the Boomi platform, we'll produce and distribute more accurate data, and the insights we acquire will enable our stakeholders to spend less time creating reports and more time driving our mission forward."
"Today's global organizations need intelligent connectivity and automation like never before," said Chris Port, chief operating officer at Boomi. "Supply chain disruptions have caused a projected $4 trillion in lost revenues. The Great Reshuffle and the need to support a growing hybrid and remote workforce are straining already lean resources. Silos continue to prevent companies from realizing the value of their data," added Port. "Businesses of all sizes, across all geographies and industries, turn to Boomi and our vast ecosystem to successfully solve challenges like these, quickly and easily."
Boomi's worldwide network of more than 800 partners, including Accenture, Capgemini, Deloitte, SAP, and Snowflake, as well as the three largest cloud providers — Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, and Microsoft — have helped fuel the company's rapid customer growth as demand for intelligent connectivity and automation continues to accelerate.
Boomi's low-code, cloud-native, enterprise-grade integration platform scales to support the largest customer deployments – recently processing more than one trillion documents and 65 billion integrations – enabling enterprises to quickly and easily unify their full digital ecosystems. By connecting data and systems across hybrid digital environments, organizations can break down business silos, unlock the power of data, and streamline workflows to better serve customers, employees, and partners.
As the pioneer of cloud-based iPaaS, the Boomi AtomSphere Platform serves as the backbone of innovation in organizations, saving thousands of hours in tedious development and accelerating time to value while addressing digital transformation imperatives. Boomi touts a growing user community of over 100,000 members and one of the largest arrays of global system integrators (GSI) in the iPaaS space. Positioned as a Leader in the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for enterprise platform as a service (EiPaaS)2 for eight consecutive years, the company recently received the Gold Globee® Award in the Platform as a Service (PaaS) category, and has garnered numerous awards for being an employer of choice, including a recent listing as one of Inc. Magazine's Best Workplaces.
- Read more about how our customers succeed with Boomi
- Learn more about the Boomi AtomSphere Platform
- Explore the Boomiverse Community
- Follow Boomi on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube
Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. GARTNER and Magic Quadrant are registered trademarks and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Note: Boomi was recognized as Dell Boomi from 2014 to 2019.
Boomi instantly connects everyone to everything, anywhere with its cloud-native, unified, open, and intelligent platform. Boomi's integration platform as a service (iPaaS) is trusted by more than 20,000 customers globally for its speed, ease-of-use, and lower total cost of ownership. As the pioneer at fueling intelligent use of data, Boomi's vision is to make it quick and easy for customers and partners to discover, manage, and orchestrate data, while connecting applications, processes, and people for better, faster outcomes. For more information, visit http://www.boomi.com.
© 2022 Boomi, LP. Boomi, the 'B' logo, Boomiverse, and AtomSphere are trademarks of Boomi, LP or its subsidiaries or affiliates. All rights reserved. Other names or marks may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Media Contacts:
Kristen Walker
Global Corporate Communications
kristenwalker@boomi.com
+1-415-613-8320
1 Largest customer base among iPaaS vendors
2 Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Integration Platform as a Service, Eric Thoo, Keith Guttridge, Bindi Bhullar, Shameen Pillai, Abhishek Singh, September 29, 2021
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Boomi | 2022-06-08T14:42:20+00:00 | wagmtv.com | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/06/08/boomi-surpasses-20000-customers-sets-industry-record-largest-customer-base/ |
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) — Thousands across Montgomery County were left without power after a plane crashed into power lines in Gaithersburg on Sunday evening. First responders were working to rescue a trapped pilot and passenger.
First responders said that the crash happened on Rothbury Drive and Goshen Road. They described the plane as “dangling hundred feet in the air.”
Officials said that both people in the plane were uninjured but stuck in the suspended aircraft.
Pepco’s outage map reported over 85,000 customers without power across Maryland as of 6:31 p.m.
Several roads in the area were also closed as officials responded to the scene. | 2022-11-28T11:16:59+00:00 | qcnews.com | https://www.qcnews.com/news/thousands-without-power-after-plane-crashes-into-power-lines-in-maryland/ |
LONDON (AP) — A teenage man who was reported to British anti-terror authorities by his mother was jailed for life on Friday. Matthew King, 19, will serve a minimum term of six years for plotting a terror attack on police officers or soldiers.
In what was the first terror sentencing in England and Wales to be televised, the judge praised King’s mother for taking her suspicions to the Prevent counter-terror program.
“She took the very bold step of alerting Prevent when she had concerns for her son,” Judge Mark Lucraft said during sentencing at the Old Bailey, the central criminal court in central London. “That cannot have been an easy thing to do in the first place, and in my view she absolutely did the right thing.”
In January, King pleaded guilty to the preparation of terror acts between Dec. 22, 2021 and May 17, 2022.
King, who was radicalized online during the coronavirus pandemic, had expressed a desire to kill military personnel as he prepared to stake out a British Army barracks in east London. He also expressed a desire to travel to Syria to join so-called Islamic State.
His desires were thwarted when his mother reported him. Authorities were also tipped off through an anti-terror hotline after he posted a video on a WhatsApp group in April, 2022.
The judge found that King was a dangerous offender who carried a risk of future harm to the public, despite claims by his lawyer that the defendant was on the path to deradicalization.
“It is clear that you are someone who developed an entrenched Islamist extremist mindset, extreme anti-Western views and that you intended to commit terrorist acts both in the U.K. and overseas,” the judge said.
King could be out in five years. He has already spent 367 days in prison, which will be taken into account and deducted from the length of time he has to serve. | 2023-06-03T15:12:00+00:00 | wric.com | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/british-teen-reported-to-anti-terror-police-by-mother-gets-life-sentence-with-minimum-6-year-term/ |
The 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV is a show-off. The 9,000-pound beast sprints to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. It has an air suspension that can adjust the ground clearance by 9.7 inches. Its rear-wheel steering has a Crab Walk feature that enables it to move diagonally. And it has video game graphics with a lunar theme because this terrestrial machine has yet to meet its planetary match.
So we’re told. Even for one of the world’s most off-road-capable passenger vehicles, the Earth remains an undefeated opponent. Due to record rainfall splashing on the dusty heels of a record drought in the central coast of California wine country, GMC was unable to show off the full capability of its second and more accessible Hummer EV offering, the 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV.
It’s a bizarro world, where floods overrun droughts, and a gas-guzzling tactical military vehicle repurposed for civilian life has been resurrected as the halo car as one of the world’s largest automakers pivots to an all-electric future.
Unlike the Hummer EV truck that launched in 2022, the Hummer EV SUV looks much more like the Hummer H2 that flaunted its excess in the early part of the Millennium. It’s squat and wide, with a smooshed greenhouse and brawny fenders that bulge over 22-inch wheels. It’s an American bulldog.
But GMC neutered the rear of the SUV compared to the Hummer EV pickup. The wheelbase is 8.9 inches shorter, and it’s 20 inches shorter in length. That results in a smaller 170-kwh battery pack, with 20 modules stacked 10 and 10 instead of the 24-module setup of the 205-kwh pack in the truck. From the C-pillar forward it’s the same as the pickup, but with the rear wheels pushed toward the swing gate and its full-size spare, it looks more proportional than the truck, and it’s better to fit into garages, and to clamber off-road. Allegedly.
GMC shuts down Hummer EV SUV off-road course
It was raining when we arrived in Napa, and it was raining when we left. The San Franciscans rejoiced that the drought-depleted reservoirs had refilled in just three months of rain. But the saturated soil compounded an underlayer of ash from widespread forest fires in 2020 to make the earth unstable, toppling trees and encouraging landslides. It squished underfoot.
“It was like mashed potatoes,” Sean Poppitt, director of global Buick and GMC communications, said about the conditions.
The day before we arrived, a Hummer EV SUV got stuck six minutes into a trial run up a steep incline on a hillside. Despite recovery hooks and winches on other Hummer EVs, the team needed a Bobcat for its four-hour recovery. Bear in mind, the SUV is the better off-road version of the Hummer EV. It has nearly the same approach angle as the Hummer EV truck (49.6 degrees in the SUV vs 49.7 degrees), but an improved breakover angle of 34.4 degrees (32.2 in the truck) and the stubby end makes for a much friendlier departure angle of 49 degrees (38.4 in truck).
As Plan B, GMC created a flatter off-road course showcasing the Hummer EV SUV’s capability. The heavy rains had turned the field into a mush akin to ride paddies, with the 8,700-pound Hummer EV SUV sinking if it stood still. (GMC could not confirm the curb weight of the Hummer EV SUV by press time.) We could only ride along with GMC experts, such as Aaron Pfau, the GMC Hummer EV lead development engineer. In spite of or because of the conditions, he showed off just how much the Hummer EV SUV is a show-off.
2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV digs out of mud
Pfau turned the drive mode dial on the center console to Terrain mode, and the air suspension raised the ground clearance from the standard 10.1 inches up to 11.9 inches. The three permanent-magnet synchronous motors began to deliver max torque at low speeds. The single motor up front and twin rear motors apportion up to 1,200 lb-ft of torque based on individual wheel speed, so it was much more precise and reactive than the low gear of a 2-speed transfer case. An electronic locker up front and a virtual locker at the rear can lock across each axle, and the front and rear can be locked together. All four wheel speeds are constantly measured and adjusted.
Terrain mode dislodged the Hummer SUV EV from mud that climbed about halfway up the 18-inch wheels spiked with knobby 35-inch Goodyear all-terrain tires. On deep muddy turns it took some work from the rear-axle steering to stay on course, but overall there was no need to engage Extract mode as they had to do the day before on the hillside; that raises the ground clearance to a max of 15.9 inches.
Crab Walk might have been the biggest show-off. Using the rear-axle steering that turns the rear wheels up to 10 degrees in phase with the front wheels, the Hummer EV SUV scrabbled diagonally up and down the banks of a mud pit that was essentially a half of a halfpipe. Activating it required a press and hold of the left side of the console dial until the Crab Walk icon appeared on the touchscreen. After it dinged, an underbody camera view appeared. Two cameras, one in the center behind the front axle and another at the rear axle, have built in washers that were more than necessary. They enabled us to see what we were driving over, which was a whole lotta mud. In total, 17 different camera projections give eyes where spotters can’t go, and help to see out and over the broad hood and narrow windshield.
Other vehicles have less sophisticated systems to help with off-roading, like Ford’s that locks the inside rear wheel so it essentially gets dragged around a narrow turn. The Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV has rear-axle steering that also enables sharp pivots around tight corners. Crab Walk is next level. Moving diagonally was an odd sensation, in a parking lot or in the mud. At about 180 degrees of steering wheel input, it surpasses the 10-degree threshold of rear-axle steering, so if you keep turning the steering wheel it will actually turn, but not with the same tight turning circle of 35.4 feet if it were in Normal mode. It automatically disengages at speeds over 15 mph.
The UltraVision camera system, front e-locker, and AT tires are part of the $10,000 Extreme Off-Road package (on the 3X trim; it’s $5,000 on the Edition 1) that includes five steel skid plates running from the front bumper to the rear axle and sealing off the stacked battery pack. With no locking differential hanging down like a dangling pumpkin, the flat underbody created plenty of space to clear rock and log obstacles. The mud bath seemed welcome, with the man-made lagoon water rising up to the Hummer letters on the grille, nearing the max of its 32 inches of water fording capability.
The front locker can be manually engaged with a long press of the locker button on the panel below the touchscreen (and it will automatically disengage over 25 mph), but Pfau said nine times out of 10, it’s not necessary because the modes take care of it. The five modes, including a My Mode setting, all have a different style of lunar graphics that are as sharp as PC gaming graphics. The modes affect the steering, alter the damping, tweak the traction control settings, and adjust drive noises in the cabin.
“It’s taking the native drive unit sounds and amplifying the sounds we want and layering a blending of sounds to communicate the power and torque,” Pfau explained. “Each mode has their inspirations for sound.”
The sound can also be shut off.
Unfortunately, due to the deluge, we didn’t test the Off-Road mode, which essentially acts as a higher speed Baja-type mode. It drops the air suspension down to the Normal setting, turns down the traction control setting, and the torque shifts more to the rear axle to allow for a greater yaw rate and let the big blocky tail whip. Shutting off traction control completely essentially makes for a Drift mode.
Hummer EV SUV WTF rips
The last mode available in the 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV’s propulsion arsenal is Watts to Freedom, or WTF. The inspiration for the amplified sound of this mode was the Formula E electric racing series.
To activate it, double tap the traction control toggle, then confirm Watts to Freedom in the instrument cluster. The air suspension lowers 3.5 inches, or from 10.1 inches to about 6.5 inches of ground clearance, which is lower than the entry setting. The wheel gaps disappear, the bulldog squats on its haunches, the seat vibrates to remind you of what’s happening, and the dampers go to full firm. The steering wheel must be straight. Once lowered, press and hold the brake, hammer the accelerator, and let go of the brake.
The nose raises as this block of an SUV shuttles forward, pinning you in your seat. It uses all three motors but initially retards front motor torque. Keeping the wheel straight is a challenge. It’s remarkable and unsettling, to be sitting so high and moving from 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds (3.0 in the truck). The Hummer EV can be kept in that WTF for however long you want, but it is not advisable due to the bottomed-out suspension. But it is a neat party trick.
Everyday in the Hummer EV SUV
Around town, the Hummer EV SUV casts a large presence on the road. It’s so wide it requires three amber lights up front like heavy-duty trucks and commercial vehicles. Congested urban roads can cause concern. The greenhouse is so squat, and the windshield so broad and narrow that it requires three small windshield wipers to clear away rain. It can’t come with a head-up display because there would be nowhere safe to project it.
The staggered screen layout, with a 12.3-inch instrument cluster side stepping into the 13.4-inch touchscreen eats up some visual space. The screens are simple to use with excellent graphics that show everything from which wheels are getting torque to the altitude to the pitch and yaw rates. The graphics and interface herald great promise for what may trickle down into lesser GM electric vehicles.
Another big plus is the fact that the drive mode and climate functions are not relegated to the touchscreen. A console dial controls drive modes and suspension height, and a smart climate bar with actual toggles operates the HVAC. It looks and feels like a classic truck, while still progressing fully into the next generation of automotive. It’s really well done.
The Hummer EV SUV is roomy up front, but the narrow windows and chunky A-pillars limit outward vision. The three seats in the back have less room, especially for knees. Four adults will fit fine but the rear passengers may not be up for the longest trips.
Drivers sit high and ride high, and even with active dampers and air springs at each corner, it leans into turns like a boat. The knobby AT tires get rubber ducky loud above 60 mph, and wind noise thwomps the side mirrors and pillars. At speeds under 50 mph, it’s mostly quiet.
I tested both the 2024 Hummer EV 3X SUV for $106,645, including a $1,995 destination fee, and the sold out Edition 1 for $105,595. In June, GMC stopped taking reservations for the Edition 1 SUV, and GMC jacked the price by $6,250 for EV3X, EV2X, and EV2 models. The testers were similarly equipped, with a $1,495 Infinity Roof on the EV3X with a spine down the middle and four detachable panels that can be stowed neatly in the frunk.
The Edition 1 came with the latest iteration of Super Cruise, GM’s excellent hands-free driving system now usable on more than 400,000 miles of limited-access highways. I had intermittent access on Highway 101, however, and couldn’t figure out why. The lanes were clearly marked, it wouldn’t activate even outside construction zones, and it wasn’t an off-road model with gunked up sensors. When it was enabled, it kept the lanes well, maintained speeds, and executed a lane change without driver intervention. Still, the giant size of the Hummer EV SUV prompted me to keep my hands close to the wheel.
2024 Hummer EV SUV charging
Like the Hummer EV pickup, the SUV uses a stacked battery pack that mostly runs in parallel and then switches to series for 800-volt DC fast charging. At a station that can pump out 300 kw, the Hummer EV SUV recoups 100 miles of range in about 14 minutes. GM estimates most public DC fast charges will deliver only 117 kw, however, so it would take 55 minutes to charge from 20-80%. Such are the drawbacks of a 170-kwh battery pack.
I didn’t test charging, but I did test the efficiency to the tune of 1.4 miles per kwh over 90 miles of Highway 101 and rural roads. That’s about half of what you might expect from a typical crossover EV, or worse. The climate control was off, and it climbed 950 feet but descended the same amount. I used the one-pedal regen brake setting on the steering wheel paddle, but it was erratic and jerky in such a large vehicle. It was smoother to use the L setting in the shifter, and I could’ve dialed up different regen settings in the touchscreen. Having three different places to adjust regen was overkill, but I expect owners will find and keep their preferred setting, then use the one-pedal paddle in certain situations.
New for 2024 on both the SUV and truck, a 19.2-kw onboard charger for faster 240-volt charging times comes standard on all but the base EV2. It recoups 30 miles an hour, and takes about eight hours to charge from 20% to full. Keep in mind, it requires a 100-amp circuit, so older houses may require an electrical upgrade.
The coolest thing about it, however, is that it enables vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) charging at 6 kw to any electric vehicle with a SAE J1772 five-pin connector. GMC wouldn’t disclose the cost of the adapter at press time, but in a demo, one Hummer SUV charged another Hummer SUV at a rate of nine miles an hour.
The onboard charger upgrade marks a big change in a short amount of time since the 2022 GMC Hummer EV truck debuted with an 11.5-kw onboard charger. The “old” trucks can receive a jump, so to speak, but they don’t have the capacity or hardware to charge another electric vehicle.
Both versions of the 2024 GMC Hummer EV also gain vehicle-to-load (V2L) power generation through GMC’s Power Station generator that can provide 3 kw to power tools, camping equipment, home appliances, an air compressor, or other needs with a 120-volt connection.
GMC Hummer EV SUV availability
GMC expects the SUV to account for at least 60% of Hummer sales. In this sense, the Hummer EV SUV better reorients the entire GM brand on its pivot to becoming an electric vehicle automaker.
The six-figure halo models are intended to drive excitement for GM’s Ultium propulsion system strategy on more accessible, less expensive vehicles to follow, including the eventual arrival of base Hummer EV trucks and SUVs. Next up are the fleet version of the Silverado EV, followed by the Blazer EV, the Equinox EV, the Silverado EV for retail customers, then, in 2024, the GMC Sierra EV.
It’s all about the buzz, and it appears to be working, with GMC halting reservations in September after 90,000 reservation holders raised their hands. It’s impossible to predict how many will become buyers, and GM won’t disclose production numbers, but the first 2024 Hummer EV SUVs should be delivered at the end of the month.
Yet the strategy to sustainability remains a head-scratcher. Both Hummer EVs are as inefficient with electricity as the H2 was with gas. Then there’s the painful irony we experienced. That an Earth-conquering military-inspired vehicle repurposed for an electric age amidst the swirl of climate change should have trouble tackling the very manifestation of that climate change is a sober reminder: the Earth wins. GM’s concession to this reality remains defiant.
But the Hummer EV SUV remains an impressive showcase of GM’s EV technology. We’ll see what trickles down to more accessible, sustainable vehicles.
GMC paid for lodging and airfare for Motor Authority to present this firsthand report.
Related Articles
- Review: The 2023 Defender 130 surfs the dunes
- Review: 2023-2024 Dodge Hornet freshens a muscle-car brand in transition
- Review: 2023 Genesis Electrified GV70 plays EV leapfrog
- The V-8 will live on at Dodge for now, just not in a muscle car
- 2024 Volkswagen Touareg spy shots and video | 2023-03-25T08:19:10+00:00 | ourquadcities.com | https://www.ourquadcities.com/automotive/internet-brands/review-2024-gmc-hummer-ev-suv-shows-off-what-can-be/ |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.