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RICHMOND, Vt. (AP) — Residents of a small community in Vermont were blindsided last month by news that one official in their water department quietly lowered fluoride levels nearly four years ago, giving rise to worries about their children’s dental health and transparent government — and highlighting the enduring misinformation around water fluoridation.
Katie Mather, who lives in Richmond, a town of about 4,100 in northwestern Vermont, said at a water commission meeting this week that her dentist recently found her two kids’ first cavities. She acknowledged they eat a lot of sugar, but noted that her dentist recommended against supplemental fluoride because the town’s water should be doing the trick.
Her dentist “was operating and making professional recommendations based on state standards we all assumed were being met, which they were not,” Mather said. “It’s the fact that we didn’t have the opportunity to give our informed consent that gets to me.”
The addition of fluoride to public drinking water systems has been routine in communities across the United States since the 1940s and 1950s but still doesn’t sit well with some people, and many countries don’t fluoridate water for various reasons, including feasibility.
Critics argue that the health effects of fluoride aren’t fully known and that its addition to municipal water can amount to an unwanted medication; some communities in recent years have ended the practice. In 2015, the U.S. government lowered its recommended amount in drinking water after some children got too much of it, causing white splotches on their teeth.
While such splotches are primarily a cosmetic problem, the American Dental Association notes on its website that fluoride — along with life-giving substances including salt, iron and oxygen — can be toxic in large doses.
But in the recommended amounts, fluoride in water decreases cavities or tooth decay by about 25%, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which reported in 2018 that 73% of the U.S. population was served by water systems with adequate fluoride to protect teeth. So for some people in Richmond, it was a shock to hear their water wasn’t meeting the standard.
Kendall Chamberlin, Richmond’s water and wastewater superintendent, told the Water and Sewer Commission in September that he reduced the fluoride level because of his concerns about changes to its sourcing and the recommended levels.
He said he worries about quality control in the fluoride used in U.S. drinking systems because it comes from China — an assertion that echoes unfounded reports about Chinese fluoride that have circulated online in recent years.
And, he said, he doesn’t think the state’s recommended level of fluoride is warranted right now.
“My duty is to take reasonable care and judgment for the protection of public health, safety and the environment of my customers,” he said, adding that “to err on the side of caution is not a bad position to be in.”
Chamberlin did not respond to an Associated Press email seeking comment.
Two of the three fluoride additives U.S. water systems can use do, in fact, come from China because they have no domestic manufacturers, but all are subject to stringent standards, testing and certification to ensure safety, CDC spokesperson Tracy Boehmer said in an email. Spokespeople for the Vermont Department of Health concurred that all additives must meet those national standards.
Chamberlin’s decision flabbergasted residents and doctors.
“For a single person to unilaterally make the decision that this public health benefit might not be warranted is inappropriate. I think it’s outrageous,” retired Dr. Allen Knowles said at the Sept. 19 meeting. He said he has an 8-month-old granddaughter he thought was getting adequately fluoridated water.
“Fluoride, again, is one of the most successful and important public health measures that has ever been undertaken in this country,” Knowles said. “The reduction in dental disease is just inarguable. You don’t establish safety based on one person’s opinion or one study or this or that.”
Most water naturally contains some fluoride, but typically not enough to prevent cavities.
The mineral was first added to public water in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1945. Now it’s commonplace, although more prevalent in some states than others; Oregon, New Jersey and Hawaii have the lowest percentage of residents with fluoridated water, according to the United Health Foundation.
Fluoride is also added to toothpaste and other topical products and is in some foods.
In sparsely populated and largely rural Vermont, 29 of the 465 public water systems voluntarily fluoridate, and just over half of residents served by a public system get fluoridated water, according to the Vermont Department of Health. The state’s standard level is based on federal recommendations.
Towns that fluoridate must maintain levels within the state’s recommendations and submit monthly reports to the state Health Department.
The state’s former fluoride program manager, who retired in 2019, had tried working with Chamberlin and his team in Richmond, “and things would improve for a while, but drop back down again,” Robin Miller, the director of the Office of Oral Health, wrote in an email to the AP.
Miller said she didn’t realize the town’s fluoride number had been consistently low for so long until March this year. After a site visit by the state in April, the levels did not improve, so Miller contacted the Richmond town manager in June, who requested she attend the meeting in September, she said.
At the second meeting Monday, the one at which Katie Mather raised concerns about her children’s teeth, Chamberlin — who doesn’t live in town and appeared online — read a statement of apology.
“Words cannot express how sorry I am for causing this controversy,” he said. “Believe me when I say I have always only had good intentions based on a misunderstanding. I promise I will make sure nothing like this ever happens again.”
A former Richmond employee who worked under Chamberlin pointed out the monthly report is reviewed by the town manager and goes to the state.
“It’s not just one guy doing what he wants. He’s bringing these reports to his boss, who signs them,” said Erik Bailey, now the village manager in Johnson.
Town Manager Josh Arneson said Chamberlin or other staffers always told him levels were acceptable. He said he first heard from the state in June about the consistently low levels.
The commission voted to return the water to full fluoridation. It’s not clear whether anyone could face professional repercussions; personnel issues were discussed in a closed session. | 2022-10-09T06:53:30+00:00 | nwahomepage.com | https://www.nwahomepage.com/lifestyle/health/ap-health/ap-town-employee-quietly-lowered-fluoride-in-water-for-years/ |
DUBLIN, Ohio (WJW) – Wendy’s is getting into the Christmas spirit: for the first time ever, the chain is offering a Peppermint Frosty!
“The Peppermint Frosty is our latest flavor innovation on the iconic Wendy’s Frosty that fans have come to know and love for over 50 years,” said John Li, Vice President of Culinary Innovation for the Wendy’s Company. “It’s the classic thick and creamy Frosty that our fans crave with bursts of fresh peppermint – every sweet bite will put you in the holiday spirit.”
The new addition will be on menus starting Nov. 15 and will be available for a limited time.
“Wendy’s is helping to make the most wonderful time of the year even sweeter by introducing an all-new Peppermint Frosty to enjoy during the holidays,” said Carl Loredo, U.S. Chief Marketing Officer for the Wendy’s Company.
Frosty Key Tags are also back for purchase from Nov. 21 through January 29, 2023. For $2, you can get 365 days of Junior Frosty treats with a Frosty Key Tag. | 2022-11-11T05:25:04+00:00 | wboy.com | https://www.wboy.com/news/national/wendys-iconic-frosty-gets-a-twist-for-the-holidays/ |
SINGAPORE (AP) — Singapore’s gay community Monday hailed a plan to decriminalize sex between men as “a triumph of love over fear” but warned there is still a long way to equality and new bans on same-sex unions could entrench discrimination against them.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong caught many by surprise when he announced in his National Day Rally speech Sunday that the government would repeal Section 377A of the Penal Code, a colonial-era law that made sex between men punishable by up to two years in jail.
Since 2007, when Parliament last debated whether to repeal Section 377A, its position was to keep the law but not enforce it. But Lee said societal norms have shifted considerably and many Singaporeans will now accept decriminalization.
Lee, however, vowed the repeal will be limited and not shake Singapore’s traditional family and societal norms including how marriage is defined, what children are taught in schools, what is shown on television and general public conduct.
He said the government will amend the constitution to “safeguard the institution of marriage” and prevent any constitutional challenge to allow same-sex unions.
The timing of the repeal or the constitutional change was not disclosed.
More than 20 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups — including Pink Dot SG that organizes an annual rally that attracts thousands of supporters — said the repeal was long overdue to show that “state-sanctioned discrimination has no place in Singapore.”
They called it a “hard-won victory, a triumph of love over fear” that will finally enable victims of bullying, rejection and harassment to heal. However, the groups said the repeal was merely “the first step on a long road towards full equality for LGBTQ people” amid other areas of discrimination they face at home, in schools, workplaces, and in housing and health systems.
They expressed disappointment with the government’s plan to introduce further legislation or constitutional amendments to ban same-sex unions that signal LGBTQ people as unequal citizens.
Such a decision will “undermine the secular character of our constitution, codify further discrimination into supreme law and tie the hands of future Parliaments,” they warned.
Religious groups were guarded in their reaction to Lee’s comments, saying the changes mustn’t hinder their religious freedom to articulate views on public morality nor cause any “reverse discrimination” on those who doesn’t support homosexuality.
Christian and Muslim groups said heterosexual marriage must be protected in the constitution before Section 377A is repealed and that there should be no further liberalization of policies.
“We seek the government’s assurance that the religious freedom of churches will be protected as we continue to teach against same-sex sexual acts and highlight such acts,” the National Council of Churches said in a statement. Pastors and church workers must be protected from charges of “hate speech” and not be compelled to adopt solely “LGBTQ-affirming” strategies in their counselling, it said.
The council expressed concerns the repeal could lead to LGBTQ culture expanding and called for redress for Christians who face “reverse discrimination.”
The Alliance of Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches of Singapore, which represents over 80 local churches, was more blunt, calling it a “an extremely regrettable decision.”
“The decision to remove a moral marker as weighty as S377A signals a rewriting of acceptable sexual relationships, and celebrates homosexuality as being characteristic of a mainstream social environment,” it said.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore said the church is not seeking to criminalize the LGBQT community but to protect the family and marriage and its rights to teach and practice on such topics unhindered.
Singapore’s top Islamic leader, Mufti Nazirudin Mohd Nasir, said the repeal was a “tough balancing act” and steps to preserve traditional values were crucial.
“Even as we hold on to different values, aspirations and orientations, I don’t think we should let hate and contempt for differences to win,” he told Channel News Asia.
Section 377A was introduced under British colonial rule in the 1930s. Version of the law remain in other former British colonies, including neighboring Malaysia.
But laws have liberalized in recent years in Asia. India’s top court decriminalized gay sex in a 2018 ruling. Taiwan became the first Asian government to legalize gay marriage in 2019, and Thailand recently approved plans allowing same-sex unions.
National University of Singapore sociologist Tan Ern Ser said the repeal could set the scene for future challenges to the constitution.
“On the surface, it does look like one step forward, two steps backward, but my sense is that the repeal could be seen as a foot in the door, which could pave the way to future challenges to the constitution on the current definition of family and marriage,” Tan said.
___
Ng reported from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. | 2022-08-22T17:07:49+00:00 | wdtn.com | https://www.wdtn.com/news/u-s-world/ap-international/gays-hail-singapore-sex-ban-repeal-see-long-way-to-equality/ |
SALT LAKE CITY, June 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Recursion (NASDAQ: RXRX), the clinical-stage biotechnology company industrializing drug discovery by decoding biology, today announced its participation in the following upcoming investor conferences:
- Jefferies Healthcare Conference — June 8 through June 10, 2022
- Goldman Sachs Annual Global Healthcare Conference — June 13 through June 16, 2022
- Morgan Stanley's Putting the Tech in Biotech Conference — June 28, 2022
About Recursion
Recursion is the clinical-stage biotechnology company industrializing drug discovery by decoding biology. Enabling its mission is the Recursion Operating System, a platform built across diverse technologies that continuously expands one of the world's largest proprietary biological and chemical datasets, the Recursion Data Universe. Recursion leverages sophisticated machine-learning algorithms to distill from its dataset the Recursion Map, a collection of hundreds of billions of searchable inferences across biology and chemistry unconstrained by human bias. By commanding massive experimental scale — up to millions of wet lab experiments weekly — and massive computational scale — owning and operating one of the most powerful supercomputers in the world, Recursion is uniting technology, biology and chemistry to advance the future of medicine.
The company is proudly headquartered in Salt Lake City, where it is a founding member of BioHive, the Utah life sciences industry collective. Recursion also has offices in Toronto, Montréal and the San Francisco Bay Area. Learn more at www.Recursion.com, or connect on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Media Contact
Media@Recursion.com
Investor Contact
Investor@Recursion.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This document contains information that includes or is based upon "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, those regarding early and late stage discovery, preclinical, and clinical programs; licenses and collaborations; prospective products and their potential future indications and market opportunities; Recursion OS and other technologies; business and financial plans and performance; and all other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements may or may not include identifying words such as "plan," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "believe," "potential," "continue," and similar terms. These statements are subject to known or unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements, including but not limited to: challenges inherent in pharmaceutical research and development, including the timing and results of preclinical and clinical programs, where the risk of failure is high and failure can occur at any stage prior to or after regulatory approval due to lack of sufficient efficacy, safety considerations, or other factors; our ability to leverage and enhance our drug discovery platform; our ability to obtain financing for development activities and other corporate purposes; the success of our collaboration activities; our ability to obtain regulatory approval of, and ultimately commercialize, drug candidates; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and force majeure events; our ability to obtain, maintain, and enforce intellectual property protections; cyberattacks or other disruptions to our technology systems; our ability to attract, motivate, and retain key employees and manage our growth; and other risks and uncertainties such as those described under the heading "Risk Factors" in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our Annual Report on Form 10-K. All forward-looking statements are based on management's current estimates, projections, and assumptions, and Recursion undertakes no obligation to correct or update any such statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.
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SOURCE Recursion | 2022-06-02T12:47:27+00:00 | wlox.com | https://www.wlox.com/prnewswire/2022/06/02/recursion-participate-upcoming-investor-conferences/ |
NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until January 30, 2023 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Generac Holdings Inc. (NYSE: GNRC), if they purchased the Company's shares between April 29, 2021 and November 1, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
What You May Do
If you purchased shares of Generac and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-gnrc/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by January 30, 2023.
Generac and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.
On October 19, 2022, the Company released dismal preliminary financial results for 3Q2022 including a $55 million pre-tax charge relating to its clean energy product warranties and expenses, due to a distributor that had filed for bankruptcy. On this news, shares of Generac fell by $37.44 per share, or 25%. Then on November 2, 2022, the Company released its third quarter earnings and significantly lowered full-year guidance on sales by its solar energy business of approximately 40% due to the loss of a major customer and $37.3 million worth of clean energy product warranty-related issues. On this news, shares of Generac fell an additional $8.99 per share, or 8%.
The case is County Voluntary Employees' Beneficiary Association and Oakland County Employees' Retirement System v. Generac Holdings Inc., No. 22-cv-1436.
KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients – including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors – in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.
To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com.
Contact:
Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner
lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com
1-877-515-1850
1100 Poydras St., Suite 3200
New Orleans, LA 70163
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SOURCE Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC | 2023-01-21T14:44:56+00:00 | kxii.com | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/01/21/generac-holdings-shareholder-alert-by-former-louisiana-attorney-general-kahn-swick-amp-foti-llc-reminds-investors-with-losses-excess-100000-lead-plaintiff-deadline-class-action-lawsuit-against-generac-holdings-inc-gnrc/ |
With Tyus Bowser set to make his season debut, Justin Houston finally healthy and second-round David Ojabo fully practicing, Odafe Oweh can appreciate the state of the Ravens’ outside linebacker depth chart. For once, there’s actual depth there.
“We have rotations now,” Oweh said Wednesday. “Earlier, we didn’t. It was just two guys busting our [butts], man.”
Oweh chuckled; he knew because he was one of those two guys. But as the Ravens (5-3) prepare for their “Monday Night Football” matchup against the New Orleans Saints (3-5), their pass rush is growing in numbers and ability. A once-limited defensive front could have enviable flexibility over the season’s second half.
The biggest help will come from Bowser, who led the Ravens in sacks and was the defense’s best linebacker in coverage last year. He was activated to the team’s 53-man roster Tuesday and was a full participant in practice all week, a milestone in his recovery from the torn Achilles tendon he suffered in the Ravens’ season finale 10 months ago.
While Bowser was noncommittal after practice Saturday about whether he expected to play Monday in New Orleans — “If you see [No.] 54 on the field, that’s when you’ll know” — he said he felt “good” and “confident.”
“I’ve been working hard this entire time, and my only focus is just getting better each and every day,” Bowser said. “Like I said, I’m confident in where I am. That’s pretty much where I’m going with it right now.”
Even without Bowser, the Ravens’ pass rush has been trending up in recent weeks. Over its first five games, the defense ranked 29th in the NFL in pressure rate (26.5%) and 25th in sack rate (4.9%), according to TruMedia. Since Week 6, the Ravens are 20th in pressure rate (31%) and second in sack rate (10.9%), behind only the Dallas Cowboys, despite ramping up their blitz rate only slightly (21.5% to 24.8%).
In their Oct. 27 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Ravens finished with three sacks and six quarterback hits against Tom Brady, one of the NFL’s most quick-trigger passers. Days later, the team activated Bowser and Ojabo, whose NFL debut might come after the Ravens’ Week 10 bye, and traded for All-Pro inside linebacker Roquan Smith, another talented pass rusher.
“I think we’re on our way,” defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald said Friday. “Like, the vision of how we want to operate — are we at the level yet? No. I think that’s kind of been the message since I’ve sat up here, since we got here. So it’s still an evolving process. Now that we have more guys that are able to do different things, I think you’ll start to see it come into focus a little bit more.”
The Ravens had slim pickings a month ago. In their Week 4 collapse against the Buffalo Bills, Oweh played all but three defensive snaps, while new outside linebacker signing Jason Pierre-Paul got all but nine. Inside linebacker Malik Harrison featured prominently in the Ravens’ edge defender rotation. So did practice squad call-up Brandon Copeland (Gilman).
In the weeks since, the Ravens’ pass-rush pieces have fallen more into place. Pierre-Paul continued to work his way into shape and took down Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow in only his second game back. Defensive lineman Justin Madubuike set his career high in sacks in Week 6; he now has 3 1/2 sacks and six quarterback hits, continuing his emergence as one of the NFL’s most well-rounded interior linemen.
In Week 7, Houston returned from a groin injury that had sidelined him since late September. There was no drop-off from his early-season form; the 33-year-old totaled four sacks in 40 defensive snaps over the Ravens’ back-to-back wins. Houston’s now averaging one sack every 20.5 pass-rush snaps, according to Pro Football Focus, one of the NFL’s best rates.
“Sometimes the sacks come your way,” Harbaugh said Monday. “He’s still very talented. That’s the thing about Justin; I know he’s been in the league for a long time, but he’s still gifted. He’s powerful, he’s explosive, he has strong hands, throws guys around, he has leverage, he has really good feet, he still can move. He’s still got it, and it’s showing up.”
Bowser’s return will boost the Ravens at strong-side outside linebacker, where he’s shown flashes of Pro Bowl-level production. Bowser had seven sacks, 26 quarterback pressures and two forced fumbles in 2021, all career highs, and nearly matched his career best with four passes defended.
That should free up Oweh to play more as a defensive end, where he’s most comfortable. While he has just one sack this season, he’s grading out as a better pass rusher than he did as a rookie, according to PFF, when he had five sacks in 15 games.
Even more speed is on the way. In Patrick Queen (career-high 3 1/2 sacks), the Ravens already had one of the NFL’s most productive pass-rushing inside linebackers. In Smith, they gave him a partner with the best sack rate (6.4%) among linebackers since 2018, according to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats. Ojabo, who was expected to be a first-round pick before tearing his Achilles tendon at Michigan’s pro day in March, ran a 4.55-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine.
“We’re fast, we’re explosive, we play with tenacity and physicality,” defensive lineman Calais Campbell (three sacks) said Wednesday. “This defense can be really, really special. … We’ve just got to put it together.”
Week 9
Ravens at Saints
Monday, 8:15 p.m.
TV: Ch. 13, ESPN
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
Line: Ravens by 2 1/2
()
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Atlas V precisely delivered the last of six SBIRS missions to orbit completing the constellation in support of the warfighter
CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION, Fla., Aug. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying the Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous Earth Orbit-6 (SBIRS GEO 6) mission for the U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command lifted off on Aug. 4 at 6:29 a.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. To date ULA has launched 152 times with 100 percent mission success.
"Thank you to our U.S. Space Force and industry partners for their outstanding teamwork in successfully delivering the sixth and final SBIRS satellite to orbit," said Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of Government and Commercial Programs. "We are proud of our role in supporting the warfighter by launching the entire SBIRS satellite constellation, a critical constellation of missile warning satellites that expands the U.S. military's situational awareness on the battlefield and beyond."
"This launch marked ULA's 95th U.S. National Space Security launch," added Wentz. "As the Air Force is gearing up to celebrate its 75th anniversary, we are honored to have been entrusted to deliver the vast majority of our nation's critical assets to orbit. Our customer's missions are vital to ensuring the safety of our women and men in harm's way serving our country."
Leveraging a legacy of 100 percent mission success launching more than 150 missions to explore, protect and enhance our world, ULA is the nation's most experienced and reliable launch service provider with world-leading reliability, schedule confidence, and mission optimization. We deliver value unmatched by any launch services company in the industry, a tireless drive to improve, and commitment to the extraordinary.
For more information on ULA, visit the ULA website at www.ulalaunch.com, or call the ULA Launch Hotline at 1-877-ULA-4321 (852-4321).
Photos available on the ULA Flickr page.
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SOURCE United Launch Alliance (ULA) | 2022-08-04T18:05:24+00:00 | wlox.com | https://www.wlox.com/prnewswire/2022/08/04/united-launch-alliance-successfully-launches-missile-warning-satellite-us-space-force/ |
MORIOKA – Days after Iranian climber Elnaz Rekabi caused an international incident by not wearing her country's mandatory headscarf while competing abroad, her fate is top of mind for the world's best climbers.
“It has made me ill — nauseous,” said American Brooke Raboutou, speaking to The Associated Press on Friday at a World Cup climbing event in northern Japan.
“I support her 100 percent and I’d like to think I can speak on behalf of most of the athletes,” she added. “I’ve reached out to her, just asking if there is anything we can do to help, to support. I know that she’s fighting a really hard battle and doing what she can to represent the women in her country.”
Raboutou said she had not received a reply.
Rekabi, 33, competed Sunday without her headscarf, or hijab, in Seoul during the finals of the International Federation of Sport Climbing’s Asia Championship. She was immediately embraced by those supporting the weekslong demonstrations in her country over the hijab that increasingly include calls for the overthrow of the country’s theocracy.
She returned home to a crowd of cheering protesters, including women not wearing the required head covering. In an emotionless interview before leaving the airport terminal, she told state television that competing without her hair covered was “unintentional.”
In an Instagram post early Saturday, Rekabi said she was “endlessly grateful for the support of you, all the people of Iran, the most decent people of the planet, athletes and non athletes, and all your supports in international community.”
“I sincerely thank all those who came to the airport for welcoming me, I love you,” she wrote. She did not address her current condition in Iran.
Sports in Iran, from soccer leagues to Rekabi’s competitive climbing, broadly operate under a series of semi-governmental organizations. Women athletes competing at home or abroad, whether playing volleyball or running track, are expected to keep their hair covered as a sign of piety. Iran makes such head coverings mandatory for women, as does Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
Rekabi's act of what seemed to be open defiance has been described as a lightning-rod event in Iran. Activists say it lends support to the antigovernment protests sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who had been detained by the country's morality police over what she was wearing.
In the tight-knit climbing community, she's become an inspiration for many athletes who barely know her — or only know of her.
“I feel I cannot understand how it feels,” French climber Oriane Bertone said. “Athletes from that country (Iran) are obligated to wear something. I feel like this is something she did knowing perfectly that she was risking something. And that must have been really hard.
“We’re trying to be her voice because it’s not only concerning her, it’s concerning everyone in the country,” Bertone added.
Bertone was asked if she believes Rekabi is safe.
“She’s definitely not. She’s not safe right now,” Bertone said. “When we watched the (television) interview she did, she was trembling.”
Rekabi's case has drawn comparisons to that of Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai.
Peng wrote publicly a year ago about being sexually assaulted by a former high-ranking Chinese Communist Party official. She quickly disappeared from public view, tried to recant, and is reported to have come under crushing pressure as China was preparing to hold the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. She is rarely seen in public and doesn't leave China, although she took part in some orchestrated events around the Olympics.
Then there's sprinter Krystsina Tsimanousksya. She criticized her Belarusian team officials, then was forced to flee to Poland during last year’s Tokyo Olympics. She feared returning home and now has Polish citizenship.
Iranian athletes did not compete at the climbing event in Japan. The field was made up of largely Europeans, Americans and Japanese. The only athletes from a Muslim-majority country were two brothers from Indonesia.
The International Federation of Sport Climbing, the government body, has echoed similar statements made by the International Olympic Committee, saying it has assurances that Rekabi “will not suffer any consequences and will continue to train and compete.”
Neither the IOC nor the climbing federation has said how it will track how Rekabi is treated in Iran.
The IOC and its President Thomas Bach have repeated similar messages in the cases of Peng and the Belarusian-Polish sprinter. Bach has been criticized for looking away from well-documented human-rights abuse in Olympic host countries like China and Russia. Both nations spent billions to host recent Winter Olympics — while other nations have backed out of bids because of high costs.
American Natalia Grossman said other climbers at the event in Japan were thinking of Rekabi, and trying to find ways to support her. She said she did not know Rekabi well and had “not talked to her too much. But everyone in the climbing community is close in one way or another.”
Grossman said she wasn't certain if Rekabi intentionally competed without the hijab. But she has her suspicions.
"I can’t know because I’m not her and I haven’t spoken to her,” Grossman said. “But every day you wear it, and you just don't forget one day.”
Like several other climbers, Grossman argued that sports and politics could not be separated — and shouldn't be.
“I don't really think you can keep them apart,” she said. “I don't think we should have to keep them apart. You should be able to make whatever statement.”
Japanese climber Miho Nonaka, who won an Olympic silver medal a year ago in Tokyo, said she was trying to understand Rekabi's plight.
“There is some physical distance, so in terms of actual support, I think the most immediate thing I can do is share it on (social media) as much as possible, or obtain the correct information and spread it to many people," she said in Japanese.
Marco Vettoretti, a spokesman for the climbing federation, described the climbers as “a young, cohesive and a diverse group.”
“We have Muslim athletes competing almost everywhere,” he said. “But it's bigger than us sometimes. You try to respect everyone. Then sometimes it’s bigger than the athletes. It’s bigger than us when it comes to religion and politics.”
Vettoretti said the climbing federation expected Rekabi to be back competing in the northern hemisphere this spring.
Japanese climber Ai Mori seemed to have the same expectation, addressing her best wishes to the Iranian.
“You are not wrong," she said in Japanese. "So do your best to come back to climbing to compete again. We’ll be waiting for you.”
___
Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report. | 2022-10-22T14:59:47+00:00 | wsls.com | https://www.wsls.com/sports/2022/10/21/irans-rekabi-latest-female-athlete-at-risk-in-home-country/ |
Paul Rudd FaceTimed 12-year-old when classmates refuse to sign his yearbook
Published: Jul. 12, 2022 at 11:23 AM CDT|Updated: 18 minutes ago
(CNN) - A young boy who was being alienated at his middle school in Colorado was treated to a FaceTime call with actor Paul Rudd.
Brody Riddler, 12, made headlines in his hometown of Westminster after his mother revealed on Facebook that his classmates refused to sign his yearbook.
As it turns out, Brody’s favorite superhero is Ant-Man, which is played by Rudd in the Avengers franchise.
When Rudd heard the boy’s story, he reached out to the family and arranged a FaceTime call.
Rudd followed the call up with a signed Ant-Man helmet and a handwritten note, which Brody’s mom posted to social media.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | 2022-07-12T16:42:02+00:00 | kfyrtv.com | https://www.kfyrtv.com/2022/07/12/paul-rudd-facetimed-12-year-old-when-classmates-refuse-sign-his-yearbook/ |
(NewsNation) — An alarming new study has found no rainwater anywhere on Earth is safe to drink anymore, as “forever chemicals” are appearing around the globe.
Those forever chemicals – known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – stem from products including fast food containers and wrappers, cleaning products, water-resistant clothing, and personal care products such as shampoo. There are thousands of PFAS known to man, none of which are naturally occurring and many of which can take decades to degrade.
Ian Cousins, a professor of environmental studies at Stockholm University, said the results of the study, which he helped author, were startling.
“I was surprised that even in the remotest areas on Earth, that the levels in rainwater, for example in Antarctica and on the Tibetan plateau, are above the recently set U.S. EPA health advisories for drinking water,” Cousins said.
The reduced effects of vaccines in children has been the main driver of the EPA standards for rainwater being lowered, Cousins said. Severe impacts like cancers and liver enlargement occur at much higher levels of exposure to the forever chemicals.
“The safe levels have dropped over the last 20 years as we’ve gradually gotten a better understanding of the toxicity of these substances,” Cousins said. “The safe levels keep dropping with time.”
The problem of chemicals in drinking water is one Cousins says society will have to live with for the foreseeable future.
“I don’t think any of us can avoid this low-level exposure,” Cousins said.
PFAS are used in nonstick frying pans, water-repellent sports gear, stain-resistant rugs and countless other consumer products. The chemical bonds are so strong that they don’t degrade or do so only slowly in the environment and remain in a person’s bloodstream indefinitely.
Scientists at Northwestern University say they have devised a method for breaking apart some of the infamously unbreakable toxins. Using low temperatures and inexpensive reagents, scientists have found they can break down two major classes of PFAS, while leaving behind only harmless byproducts.
The Associated Press and The Hill’s Sharon Udasin contributed to this report. | 2022-08-21T20:37:44+00:00 | localsyr.com | https://www.localsyr.com/news/national/forever-chemicals-taint-all-of-earths-rainwater-study-finds/ |
After a home upset at Husky Ballpark on Friday night and the series at stake, the Washington baseball team found a way to come out on top.
An impressive offensive showing kept Rhode Island from taking the lead even once in Washington’s 12-6 win.
Redshirt junior Stu Flesland III got the start on Saturday, but it only took one pitch before Rhode Island’s Mark Coley blasted a home run. Fortunately for the Huskies (13-4, 2-1 Pac-12), the Rams’ (4-10) next three batters fell short, giving UW a chance to answer back.
Washington took full advantage with a run of its own in the bottom of the frame. After two consecutive strikeouts made things look bleak, redshirt junior Johnny Tincher evened the score with a home run to left field.
Flesland mowed down the next three Rhode Island batters in the second frame, setting the stage for the Huskies to add a few more runs to the board. Redshirt junior Michael Snyder notched a triple to begin the action before scoring off a base hit from freshman Sam DeCarlo.
Up by one run, UW’s bats remained hot in the bottom of the third, beginning with a home run from sophomore Cam Clayton to provide the Huskies with a comfortable two-run lead.
However, the score was leveled again in the fourth inning when URI’s Addison Kopack came through with a right-field homer to reduce Washington’s advantage. After an error and an additional hit, Flesand escaped a bases-loaded jam, leaving the score at 3-3 after two consecutive strikeouts.
As they did in the first inning, the Huskies retaliated, securing an additional five runs. Snyder launched a two-run moonshot, followed shortly by back-to-back doubles from Clayton and redshirt junior Will Simpson.
UW tacked on two more runs in the sixth inning after Tincher and junior Coby Morales added another two hits.
Flesland powered through six innings until right-hander Reilly McAdams came in relief. The redshirt sophomore gave up just one hit in the ninth inning before freshman Isaac Yeager came in relief to secure the game’s final few outs. However, a few slip-ups allowed the Rams to plate three more runs.
Washington concluded the afternoon with 14 hits in the six-run victory.
UW will look to take the series in the finale against Rhode Island on Sunday, March 19, at 1:05 p.m. at Chaffey Field.
Reach reporter Evie Mason at sports@dailyuw.com. Twitter: @eviesmason
Like what you’re reading? Support high-quality student journalism by donating here. | 2023-03-19T18:54:03+00:00 | dailyuw.com | https://www.dailyuw.com/sports/washington-evens-the-series-against-rhode-island/article_eef30344-c61b-11ed-9b75-47e22cb55724.html |
CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago White Sox star Tim Anderson was ejected Wednesday in a 7-3 viictory over the San Francisco Giants after thinking he was quick-pitched by Logan Webb.
The White Sox were up 2-1 in the third when Anderson came to bat. With a 1-2 count, he was in the batter’s box but not settled into his stance when Webb began his delivery with 11 seconds left on the pitch clock.
Anderson stepped out and was already walking toward the home dugout when Webb threw strike three down the middle. Plate umpire D.J. Reyburn called Anderson out on strikes, and Anderson then turned back toward Reyburn to argue.
Anderson pointed at his eyes several times, then shouted some profanities — apparently at Webb — from the dugout. He was ejected as teammate Luis Robert Jr. got called out on strikes.
“He says that he wasn’t alert yet, he hadn’t put his eyes on the pitcher and he just stepped out,” Chicago manager Pedro Grifol said. “Probably could have called time or whatever, but it didn’t happen. And then, when he got in the dugout, it’s that passion he’s got — that passion and fight for the game. I don’t have an issue with it.”
Anderson did not make himself available to reporters after the game. The ejection was his first this season and eighth of his career.
Webb insisted he wasn’t trying to quick-pitch him and that they had made eye contact. As for what happened after that?
“He was yelling at me from the dugout for five straight pitches so I looked at the dugout more than a couple of times — once during that rubber event and then after that rubber event,” Webb said. “You can probably see what I said and then he was just yelling back at me. I don’t necessarily think he should have gotten tossed. He was talking to me; he wasn’t talking to the umpires.”
Baseball instituted new rules this season designed to speed up the game, including a pitch clock. And players are adjusting.
“There’s still a learning curve,” Chicago’s Gavin Sheets said. “I think that Tim felt like the pitcher wasn’t looking at him so he kind of stepped out. Obviously, with this clock, you’ve got to be on high alert at all times.”
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2023-04-06T19:58:14+00:00 | keloland.com | https://www.keloland.com/sports/ap-sports/white-sox-star-anderson-ejected-from-game-against-giants/ |
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Daniel Gafford had a season-high 21 points to go with 12 rebounds and five blocked shots, and the Washington Wizards beat the reeling New Orleans Pelicans 113-103 on Saturday night for their fifth straight victory.
Bradley Beal scored nine of his 16 points in the fourth quarter and Deni Avdija scored 13 for Washington, which also won its fourth straight on the road while sending New Orleans to its seventh straight loss overall.
Washington led most of the game and by as many as 16 points when Kendrick Nunn’s driving layup made it 96-80 with 8:16 to go.
That’s when the Pelicans suddenly seized momentum with a 10-0 run that included Brandon Ingram’s fadeaway and Herb Jones’ breakaway dunk.
New Orleans appeared to have a chance to pull within three when officials initially called a foul on Washington during Jose Alvarado’s drive to the hoop. But the Wizards challenged the call and it was overturned. Moments later, Beal hit a pullup as he was fouled by Ingram and completed the three-point play to make it 100-92.
The Pelicans did not get within six points after that.
Corey Kispert and Nunn each scored 12 for Washington, while Kyle Kuzma added 10 points.
CJ McCollum scored 24 points for the Pelicans. Brandon Ingram, playing in his second game since missing 29 straight with a left large toe injury, scored 22 points on 8-for-22 shooting.
New Orleans had to play most of the game without top rebounder Jonas Valanciunas, who was ejected after a his elbow struck Taj Gibson in the head as the Pelicans center made a move toward the basket with the ball in his hands. Valanciunas said contact was inadvertent, but officials ruled it a Flagrant-2 foul after video review.
Valanciunas laughed incredulously as he walked to the tunnel leading to the locker room.
Gafford had 14 of his points in the first half, highlighted by his soaring alley-oop jam of Beal’s lob, which the center caught with one hand high above his head and slammed down hard in one motion.
Washington led much of the first half, when the Wizards outrebounded New Orleans 29-19 and turned nine offensive rebounds into 17 second-chance points.
McCollum had 14 of his points in the opening two periods to help keep the Pelicans within single digits.
Delon Wright’s driving finger roll as time expired made it 59-50 at halftime.
TIP-INS
Wizards: Kristaps Porzingis missed a third straight game with an ankle injury. … Monte Morris returned from a sore right hamstring that sidelined him in Houston on Wednesday and scored 10 points. … Gibson grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked a shot to go with nine points. … Outrebounded New Orleans 53-42 … Converted 13 offensive rebounds into 25 second-chance points. … Shot 45.5% (40 of 88), including 11 of 36 from deep.
Pelicans: Trey Murphy III, who scored 10 points, missed a two-handed alley-oop dunk attempt in transition early in the fourth quarter. … Ingram has reached 20 points in nine of the 17 games he’s played in this season. … New Orleans shot 42.4% (39 of 92), including 8 of 29 from 3-point range. … All-Star power forward Zion Williamson missed his 13th straight game with a right hamstring injury.
UP NEXT
Wizards: At San Antonio on Monday.
Pelicans: At Milwaukee on Sunday.
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2023-01-29T04:27:17+00:00 | seattletimes.com | https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/gafford-double-double-leads-wizards-past-pelicans-113-103/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
KIMT News 3 - With recent fatal motorcycle involved crashes, Minnesota Department of Public Safety is reminding drivers and bikers to be alert.
DPS Office of Traffic Safety's motorcycle safety coordinator, Jay Bock says motorcycle fatalities in Minnesota also been trending up in recent years.
Helmets are the number one protective gear a motorcyclist can wear, Bock encourages riders to wear protective jackets and pants too.
If you're a rider, he says be prepared for your ride by wearing your protective gear and be alert of surroundings.
Drivers should also be alert of cyclists at all times and don't drive distracted.
“Since we are harder to see we are smaller, if you take your eyes off the road for just that instant, than a motorcycle can be there and appear very quickly,” explains Bock.
He says it's never a bad idea to practice your riding skills.
“Take courses to improve your skillset. A lot of the crashes… approximately half of them are happening with a single motorcyclist on the corner,” he adds.
If interested in sharpening your skills, you can view some of the courses the Minnesota DPS has to offer here. View Iowa biker resources here. | 2022-08-17T18:32:53+00:00 | kimt.com | https://www.kimt.com/news/motorcycle-safety-reminders-following-recent-fatal-motorcycle-crashes/article_ace73a78-1dbb-11ed-a879-636b114e361a.html |
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — As efforts continue by tech companies to lure employees back to the office following three years of remote and hybrid work, one San Francisco tech company is reportedly trying to appeal to employees’ charitable side. Business software giant Salesforce is offering to pay $10 a day to the charity of an employee’s choice for each day they come into the office, according to a report in Fortune.
A separate report from Gizmodo said the program to incentivize workers to return to the office was being implemented globally and was known as “Connect for Good.” Fortune cited an internal Slack channel in which it was detailed that each employee who comes into the office between June 12 and June 23 will make Salesforce donate $10 to a local charity.
Under certain circumstances, the company will also donate $10 for employees who attend virtual Salesforce events. The company reportedly hopes to raise between $1 million and $2.5 million through the initiative. The idea is for staff to vote on their favorite local charities to receive donations.
“Giving back is deeply embedded in everything we do, and we’re proud to introduce Connect for Good to encourage employees to help raise $1 million for local nonprofits,” said a Salesforce spokesperson cited by Gizmodo. | 2023-06-08T22:15:07+00:00 | kron4.com | https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/salesforce-to-donate-10-a-day-to-charity-for-employees-that-come-to-office-reports/ |
Disabled Wisconsin voters say absentee law not followed
By SCOTT BAUER
Associated Press
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Disabled voters who need assistance submitting absentee ballots say local election leaders across Wisconsin are not following federal law during early voting in the high-stakes state Supreme Court race. They say election officials are incorrectly telling them they they can’t have another person return their ballot for them. Absentee ballots, and who can return them, has been a political flashpoint in battleground Wisconsin, which is known for razor-thin margins in statewide races. The April 4 election will determine majority control of the state Supreme Court, with abortion access and the fate of Republican-drawn legislative maps on the line. The state elections commission has implored local officials to follow the law. | 2023-03-24T20:58:24+00:00 | krdo.com | https://krdo.com/news/ap-national-news/2023/03/24/disabled-wisconsin-voters-say-absentee-law-not-followed/ |
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement was issued by Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), in response to President Biden's State of the Union address tonight:
"Incredulously, President Biden, who came to office two years ago with some of the lowest levels of illegal immigration in modern history, largely ignored the historic border crisis he created by devoting only a few lines to it in his State of the Union address. Nevertheless, he attempted to shift the blame for the crisis, saying problems will not be fixed until Congress acts. No, the border problems won't be fixed until he and his Administration commit to ending the crisis that began under their watch. In all of FY2020, 400,000 illegal aliens were encountered at the southern border – a total that has been frequently eclipsed, even in a period as short as six weeks.
"Other than a call for additional manpower (to process migrants) and equipment to 'secure' our borders, Biden said nothing about his failed policies that have resulted in more than a quarter of a million illegal aliens breaching our borders in a single month. At the same time, he reiterated his call for a mass amnesty that will serve as yet another magnet for even greater illegal immigration in the future.
"This is all by design. Keep in mind that on Day One, President Biden began dismantling border security and immigration enforcement, and, to the great detriment of the American people, he has largely succeeded in his clear mission. Two years into his presidency, we are approaching 6 million illegal entrants, the vast majority of whom have been released under the pretense that they will be removed some time in the future. We all know they won't.
"President Biden sought to portray his flagrantly illegal abuse of parole as an effective border enforcement strategy. With no statutory authority, he has created a parallel immigration system that allows 360,000 otherwise inadmissible aliens from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to enter each year, all while boasting that he has cut illegal entry by citizens of those countries by 97 percent. That is like raising the speed limit to 150 mph and bragging that you have dramatically reduced the number of drivers cited with speeding tickets.
"Subtly, but unmistakably, President Biden's agenda has effectively abolished statutorily mandated border and immigration enforcement and replaced it with border and immigration management. No longer do the American people and their elected representatives get to determine who or how many people settle in this country, and under what conditions. Under the Biden Immigration Doctrine, circumstance dictates who and how many, and the role of our government is simply to manage the flow as best as possible.
"The goal of U.S. immigration policymaking under the Biden Administration is clear: Open borders for all who want to settle here, and amnesty for everyone who is already here illegally. All manner of enforcement is out and endless accommodation is in."
Contact: Ron Kovach, 202-328-7004 or rkovach@fairus.org.
ABOUT FAIR
Founded in 1979, FAIR is the country's largest immigration reform group. With over 3 million members and supporters nationwide, FAIR fights for immigration policies that serve national interests, not special interests. FAIR believes that immigration reform must enhance national security, improve the economy, protect jobs, preserve our environment, and establish a rule of law that is recognized and enforced.
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SOURCE Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) | 2023-02-08T10:47:37+00:00 | wlox.com | https://www.wlox.com/prnewswire/2023/02/08/biden-largely-ignores-border-crisis-he-created-while-calling-amnesty-illegal-aliens-charges-fair/ |
DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) – It’s a little piece of history in Danville and a delicious pizza slice.
Jocko’s sits on the corner of Williams and Oak streets and you wouldn’t know by looking at it, but inside…
“It’s kind of like a scrapbook in a building,” Kimberly Watson, general manager said.
That’s because what used to sit there is an old train depot. A spot that would bring people to any town.
You can choose between thin or thick-crust pizza and all the toppings imaginable.
Learn more about Jocko’s by visiting their website, here. | 2023-02-27T23:06:57+00:00 | wcia.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/cifavorites-jockos-pizza/ |
Eula Joy King
Eula Joy King, age 69, resident of Cordova, Tennessee, departed this life Tuesday afternoon, June 7, 2022 at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
Joy was born June 18, 1952 in Selmer, Tennessee, the daughter of the late James Loyell King and Hazel Katherine Guinn King. In earlier years, she took piano lessons, played softball, bowling and was a basketball cheerleader for Special Olympics. She lived at the Nat T Winston Developmental Center then moved to her own apartment in 1997. Joy was employed for the State of Tennessee shredding papers and was employed in the stock room at CVS. She also made bracelets and necklaces then sold them at doctor appointments and her places of employment.
Joy was a member of Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova. She attended the Joy Class regularly and often attended Bible Study at Faith Baptist Church in Bartlett. She was very active and enjoyed being on the go. She loved 60’s and 70’s music and the Beatles and Elvis Presley were her favorites. Joy enjoyed fishing and going out to eat.
Miss King is survived by two sisters, Barbara Peel (Bobby) of Cordova, TN and Martha Johnson of Piperton, TN; three nieces, Tasha Eason of Scotts Hill, TN, Patti Eason of Cordova, TN and Amy Bomar of Oakland, TN; and many cousins who she dearly loved.
Funeral Services for Miss King will be held at 1 P.M. Wednesday, June 15, 2022 at the Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland. The officiating minister will be Pastor Julie Riley of Apostolic Ministry Fellowship and special remarks will be given by Janice Duncan. Interment will follow in the Arlington Cemetery in Arlington, Tennessee. A visitation for Miss King will be from 12 to 1 P.M. Wednesday, June 15, 2022 at the Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland.
The family would like to thank the many caregivers that took care of Joy over the years. Joy dearly loved each one.
Condolences may be left on our online guestbook at www.PeeblesFuneralHome.com. | 2022-06-10T00:06:33+00:00 | wbbjtv.com | https://www.wbbjtv.com/2022/06/09/eula-joy-king/ |
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean police have detained several dozen truckers for blocking traffic and disrupting the movement of goods near factories as a nationwide strike extended into a fourth day.
The truckers are urging the government to provide a minimum wage in the face of soaring fuel prices that are squeezing their finances.
As of Friday morning, police had taken about 30 truckers into custody since the strike began Tuesday, the National Police Agency said. Sporadic clashes broke out around the country, including near an alcoholic beverages factory outside Seoul where 15 people were detained for allegedly obstructing business.
Lee Eung-joo, a representative of Cargo Truckers Solidarity, said police have released 29 out of 40 truckers who had been detained as of Friday evening. He said at least nine truckers were slightly hurt in scuffles with police, but none was hospitalized.
About 7,500 truckers joined the strike, demanding that the government extend temporary rules guaranteeing minimum freight rates which are set to expire at the end of 2022.
Government officials and business leaders worry the strike may further strain an economy strapped by inflation and possibly hit global supply chains by slowing shipments of semiconductors and other major South Korean exports.
However, disruptions seemed limited since companies ordered supplies in advance in anticipation of the strike. Officials also sought to keep shipments moving by providing police escorts and temporarily allowing private trucks to move industrial goods.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has been negotiating with the truckers over the minimum wage scheme. It said the overall utilization rate of containers at ports and other major logistics hubs was 70.7% as of Friday afternoon, above the usual rate of 65.8%.
But it said shipments were slowed in the southern ports of Ulsan and Busan due to disruptions from the strike, which has mainly affected the automobile, steel and cement industries. | 2022-06-10T13:22:51+00:00 | seattletimes.com | https://www.seattletimes.com/business/dozens-of-s-korean-truckers-detained-in-strike-over-wages/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_nation-world |
SEATTLE, Jan. 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Seabourn, the leader in ultra-luxury ocean voyages and expedition travel, invites guests to enjoy the "suite" life and sail in style with its second annual "The Suite Life Event," featuring incredible savings on Seabourn sailings through 2024, including Seabourn Pursuit, the second of the line's two new purpose-built expedition vessels scheduled to launch in 2023.
Guests who take advantage of "The Suite Life Event" can enjoy the following exceptional offers:
- up to 15% off Seabourn's ocean voyages
- up to 25% off on expedition voyages
- a 15% deposit (valid only in US, Canada and Australia markets)
Seabourn's second annual "The Suite Life Event" is currently live and will run through February 28, 2023.
"As the new year calls for new adventures, our Suite Life Event is the perfect time to make exciting travel plans in 2023," said Josh Leibowitz, president of Seabourn. "What better way to explore the world than on a Seabourn voyage, where our phenomenal team will provide unforgettable 'Seabourn Moments' and guests will experience life-changing moments as they sail the high seas in ultra-luxury style."
Seabourn's The Suite Life Event applies to more than 600 worldwide 2023-2024 voyages, visiting hundreds of destinations on all seven continents. Destinations include Alaska, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Australia and New Zealand, the South Pacific, Asia, Arabia & India, the Caribbean, Panama Canal, South America, Canada & New England, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, and the Transatlantic, as well as expedition voyages on Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit to the Arctic, Antarctica, British Isles, Amazon and more. A complete listing of the sailings, savings and amenities can be viewed on Seabourn's website.
Sample sailings available with "The Suite Life Event" include:
- 7-Day Alaska Fjords & Canadian Inside Passage: Seabourn Odyssey will sail from Juneau to Vancouver on June 2, 2023, visiting various locations in Alaska such as Tracy/Endicott Arm, Wrangell, Rudyerd Bay (Misty Fjords), and in Canada such as Prince Rupert, and Alert Bay, and beyond.
- 14-Day North Cape & Majestic Fjords: Seabourn Ovation will depart from Copenhagen, Denmark on June 11, 2023, and sail to Norway exploring ports in Tromso, Storstappen Island, Stavanger and more with scenic cruising through fjords such as Nordfjord and Sognefjord.
- 15-Day Greenland & Iceland: Vikings & Volcanoes: Guests will sail roundtrip from Reykjavik, Iceland, aboard Seabourn Venture and sail off to explore Norse archaeological sites, Greenland's icebergs and deep-cut fjords, massive glaciers and more alongside the ship's Expedition Team. Departure dates: June 17 and July 29, 2023.
- 7-Day Mediterranean Medley: Departing from Barcelona on October 29, 2023, Seabourn Ovation will explore a number of charming ports and destinations along the Rivieras in Spain, France and Italy.
For even greater value, "The Suite Life Event" may be combined with other Seabourn promotions, including "Seabourn Club Savings," offering 5% savings on select sailings for Seabourn Club Guests.
Seabourn represents the pinnacle of ultra-luxury ocean and expedition travel and operates a suite of six modern ships with one under construction. The all-inclusive, boutique ships offer all-suite accommodations with oceanfront views; award-winning dining; complimentary premium spirits and fine wines available at all times; renowned service provided by an industry-leading crew; a relaxed, sociable atmosphere that makes guests feel at home; a pedigree in expedition travel through the Ventures by Seabourn program and two new ultra-luxury purpose-built expedition ships, including Seabourn Venture that launched in 2022 and Seabourn Pursuit scheduled to enter service in 2023. Seabourn takes travelers to every continent on the globe, visiting more than 400 ports including marquee cities and lesser-known ports and hideaways. Guests of Seabourn experience extraordinary offerings and programs, including partnerships with leading entertainers, dining, personal health and wellbeing, and engaging speakers.
For more details about Seabourn, or to explore the worldwide selection of Seabourn cruising options, contact a professional travel advisor, call Seabourn at 1-800-929-9391 or visit www.seabourn.com.
Seabourn is a brand of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL and NYSE: CUK).
Find Seabourn on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest.
Seabourn is consistently ranked among the world's top travel choices by professional critics and the discerning readers of prestigious travel publications such as Departures, Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler. Its stylish, distinctive cruising vacations are renowned for:
- Intimate ships with a private club atmosphere
- Intuitive, personalized service provided by staff passionate about exceeding guests expectations
- Curated voyages to all seven continents delivering award-winning experiences
- All ocean-front suites, luxuriously appointed
- Complimentary premium spirits and fine wines available on board at all times
- Welcome Champagne and complimentary in-suite bar stocked with your preferences
- Tipping is neither required, nor expected
- Finest resort at sea that is masterfully designed
- World-class dining, further enhanced through a culinary partnership with Chef Thomas Keller
- All dining venues are complimentary, dine where, when and with whom you wish
- Seabourn Conversations, connecting with visionary experts
- Ventures by Seabourn™, optional shore excursions, enhance and extend your experience in select destinations*^
- Spa & Wellness with Dr. Andrew Weil, featuring an exclusive mindful living program*
- An evening entertainment experience in collaboration with Sir Tim Rice, produced exclusively by Belinda King Creative Productions †
- Committed to environmental stewardship and sustainability
*Optional programs, for additional charge
^Available on Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Sojourn, Seabourn Quest, Seabourn Encore, Seabourn Ovation
†Not available on board Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit
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SOURCE Seabourn | 2023-01-05T19:53:30+00:00 | uppermichiganssource.com | https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/prnewswire/2023/01/05/seabourn-announces-suite-life-event-offering-savings-up-25-all-suite-categories-select-sailings-through-2024/ |
SAN FRANCISCO — The odds are slimmer than slim, but the Giants have not been eliminated from playoff contention yet.
The Giants’ 10-4 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night — along with a Milwaukee Brewers win and Philadelphia Phillies loss — kept alive their season. That the second game of the Phillies’ double-header on Friday was rained out helped a bit, too.
But the Giants will need to win out their remaining five games and the Phillies and Brewers must lose all of their games for the Giants to make the postseason.
Unlikely, sure, but adds some spice to the remainder of the season. The Giants will play two more against the Diamondbacks before a final road trip to face the San Diego Padres, who are clinging onto a second NL wild card spot.
To keep their season alive, the Giants turned the tables on Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly, a pitcher who had them in a chokehold entering Friday’s game.
By the third inning, the Giants had scored more runs (7) against Kelly than he’d allowed over his previous five starts against them (6). And the Giants weren’t subtle about it.
Evan Longoria hit two home runs — his 21st career multi-homer game and second this year. Mike Yastrzemski homered, too. Joc Pederson tripled off the brick wall and scored on the same trip around the bases with some defensive ineptitude from the Diamondbacks.
The Giants scored eight runs against Kelly, who came out of the game just two outs into the fifth inning.
Alex Cobb gave up four runs and struck out five in his five innings. Thomas Szapucki and Alex Young pitched three scoreless out of the bullpen. | 2022-10-01T05:35:30+00:00 | santacruzsentinel.com | https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2022/09/30/giants-postseason-hopes-technically-alive-after-win-against-arizona/ |
PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Prince George County residents living in the Beechwood Manor neighborhood can expect to have their water shut off through this afternoon as the county utility service performs pipe-cleaning activities.
The cleaning is scheduled for today from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. During these hours, the county says the water will be turned off to limit the amount of sodium solution entering the service lines.
Residents in the neighborhood are still being advised to boil their tap water before drinking and cooking it and can expect to be informed by the county later today when the water boil advisory is lifted.
The county notes that failure to follow the boil water advisory could result in stomach or intestinal illness. | 2022-11-02T14:17:59+00:00 | wric.com | https://www.wric.com/news/prince-george/prince-george-shuts-off-water-for-beechwood-manor-residents-boil-water-advisory-in-effect/ |
As he accepted an innovator's award named for him, Dr. Dre mused about what he had in common with many of the people he saw from the Grammy Awards stage.
“Where would a lot of people in here be without hip-hop?” the r enowned rapper, producer and entrepreneur said.
The 2023 Grammy Awards may ultimately be remembered as the year the music industry's top event tried to embrace rap, whose leaders have regarded the institution with suspicion for almost as long as the 50 years of history that were celebrated on Sunday.
It was only four years ago that song of the year winner Childish Gambino boycotted the show over perceived disrespect for rap. Kanye West and Eminem were among past stars with groundbreaking work overlooked for more middling fare and, for years, rappers complained their work was banished from TV.
The 15-minute Questlove-curated travel through time was a joy that brought dozens of stars to the stage, including Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, Run-DMC, Public Enemy, Ice T, Missy Elliott, Queen Latifah, Method Man, Salt-N-Pepa ... the list goes on, and still there were those you wished were there.
Nearly as important was the eight-minute version of DJ Khaled's “God Did” that closed the show — Khaled took public note of the length — that featured a spellbinding appearance by Jay-Z.
Quavo's tribute to Takeoff of Migos was arguably the highlight of a packed and memorable “in memoriam” segment to artists who died over the past year.
Kendrick Lamar gave an incisive acceptance speech after “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers” won a Grammy for best rap album, his third trophy in this category.
It was a night it seemed the Grammys finally accepted rap as music's dominant form. Will rappers finally accept the Grammys? That remains to be seen.
QUEEN BEY'S HAUL
Beyoncé took a place in history on Sunday when her four Grammys gave her a career total of 32, better than anyone else.
And yet...
The Grammys have a clear pecking order, with four of its awards the most prestigious: song, record and album of the year, and best new artist. Beyoncé has won only one of those awards, when “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” was named top song in 2010.
She's been nominated eight times for record of the year, and never won. Her most memorable Grammy moments came when two peers stood onstage with their own trophies and saluted her: when A dele said Beyonce's “Lemonade” should have won instead of her in 2017, and Sunday when Lizzo spoke of skipping school in fifth grade to see Beyoncé perform.
Thirty-two trophies. It's still hard to shake an empty feeling.
TRIVIA QUESTION
Whose record did Beyoncé beat? That would be classical composer George Solti.
RAITT'S TRIUMPH
It may take Bonnie Raitt a few days to lose that look of shock. The 73-year-old guitarist won best song for “Just Like That,” a piece inspired by a story of a heart transplant, where she tried to emulate the writing style of the late John Prine. It was especially gratifying because Raitt is more of an interpreter. “I don't write a lot of songs, but I'm proud that you appreciate this one,” she said. It was 33 years after “Nick of Time” was named album of the year.
NOAH'S NIGHT
Show host Trevor Noah skillfully played the role of a fan, instead of serving snark from the stage, moving through the audience “like a floating Chinese balloon,” he said. And why not? With Adele, Lizzo, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles and the like around, there was plenty of star power. Noah was neither insulting nor obsequious. And one delightful device — having fans talk about their favorite albums — paid off when a memorable grandma got to announce Styles' album of the year win.
HARRY'S STYLE
OK, while he was performing “As it Was” Styles was dressed a little like one of those holiday tinsel decorations you thought you'd put away. The smooth pop composition clearly served him well. Later, he marveled at the quality of the competition and how hard it is to pick a winner. “You never know with this stuff,” he said backstage. “I don't think you can look at any of the nominees and not feel as if they're deserving. I'm really grateful they chose us.”
PETRAS' MOMENT
In accepting a Grammy for her duet on Sam Smith's “Unholy,” Kim Petras proudly took note of her status as a transgender woman and paid tribute to heroes like the late transgender singer Sophie and Madonna. The latter returned the favor by introducing a performance of the song. Petras and Lizzo, who won record of the year for “About Damn Time,” made strong, joyful statements about accepting differences. “I felt on the outside looking in and I stayed true to myself because I wanted to make the world a better place,” Lizzo said.
INTRODUCING...
One element that worked less well was an effort to have family or friends introduce performances. You lose the idea of “real people” when Madonna is one of the choices. The best was the first — Catherine Shepherd, the proud wife, and the two children of Brandi Carlile (the kids also debuted in a hotel ad). “I'm a very, very lucky queer,” Carlile said backstage.
WHY AM I HERE?
The Rock as one of the Grammy presenters? Jill Biden? James Corden? At least the outgoing talk show host noted the incongruity of him giving an award for dance and electronic music. There's enough musical firepower in the room that would surely relish the opportunity to present an award. And while we're asking why someone was there, Ben Affleck turned himself into an unwanted internet star when the camera panned to him in the audience and it seemed like he'd rather be anywhere else. Don't actors know how to fake looking like they're having a good time?
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Associated Press writer Beth Harris in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
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For more coverage of this year’s Grammy Awards, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/grammy-awards | 2023-02-06T09:27:36+00:00 | local10.com | https://www.local10.com/entertainment/2023/02/06/grammys-moments-a-rap-tribute-for-the-ages-beyonce-triumph/ |
Record number of unaccompanied migrant children entered U.S. shelters in 2022
Nearly 130,000 migrant children entered the U.S. government’s shelter system in fiscal year 2022, an all-time high driven by record arrivals of unaccompanied minors along the southern border, according to internal federal figures obtained by CBS News.
The tally surpassed the 122,000 unaccompanied minors that federal shelters received in fiscal year 2021, when the Biden administration found itself unprepared for a sudden, sharp increase in child migration that led to severe overcrowding in border facilities, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) data show.
It also eclipsed the number of migrant children transferred to HHS in 2014 and 2019, when the Obama and Trump administrations struggled to process what at the time were historic numbers of unaccompanied minors entering U.S. border custody.
Under law, HHS’ Office of Refugee Resettlement is charged with housing unaccompanied children who lack a legal immigration status until they turn 18 or can be released to a sponsor, who is typically a parent or another close relative living in the U.S. Historically, the vast majority of minors received by the agency are migrant teenagers who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border without their parents or legal guardians.
The record number of unaccompanied minors processed by federal immigration officials over the past 12 months is part of a broader, unprecedented influx of migrants along the southern border that has created dire humanitarian, operational and political challenges for President Biden’s administration.
Federal officials along the U.S.-Mexico border processed migrants over 2 million times in fiscal year 2022, the highest level recorded by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Roughly a quarter of all migrant apprehensions involved repeat crossings by the same individuals, the CBP data shows.
Like the broader recent increase in illegal migration, the record arrivals of unaccompanied children along the southern border can be partly attributed to poverty, domestic and gang violence and other deteriorating conditions in Central America, where the vast majority of these minors hail from, migration analysts said.
A desire to reunite with family members in the U.S. has for years been a major factor driving child migration to the southern border. According to government estimates, approximately 80% of the Central American unaccompanied children who enter federal custody have relatives in the U.S. who can sponsor them.
Migrant smugglers in the region and migrants who successfully enter the U.S. have also relayed to Central American families and teenagers in poor and working-class communities that unaccompanied minors are virtually guaranteed an opportunity to stay in the U.S. after crossing the southern border.
“Absent policy changes, we’re likely to see a large number of unaccompanied minors for the foreseeable future,” said Andrew Selee, president of the Migration Policy Institute, a non-partisan think tank. “Given the conditions in Central America, it makes sense for young people to try and make it to the U.S. to help their families or for families that are already here to bring their children.”
While U.S. border officials have several legal authorities to quickly deport adults — and even families traveling with children — who enter the country unlawfully, a Bush-era law designed to protect minors from trafficking bars the quick deportation of unaccompanied youth who are not from Mexico. It also requires they be transferred to HHS while their immigration court cases are reviewed, a process that typically takes years to complete.
The Trump administration suspended this process in 2020, using a coronavirus-era public health order known as Title 42 to rapidly expel more than 15,000 unaccompanied migrant children from the U.S. But the Biden administration exempted unaccompanied minors from Title 42 on humanitarian grounds.
Some migrant children in U.S. custody arrived at the southern border with non-parental relatives, such as adult siblings, aunts or uncles, rendering them unaccompanied children under U.S. law. Others traveled to the U.S. with parents, but were separated from them for different reasons, including concerns they would be sent back to Mexico if they crossed together.
Francisco, 15, Carlos, 13, and Diego, 4, spent several months in HHS custody this year after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border late last year. It wasn’t until last month that the three brothers from Honduras were released to their mother in New York City, government documents reviewed by CBS News show.
Doris, their mother, said she fled Honduras with her children after receiving death threats from her eldest daughter’s estranged and abusive husband. She said they journeyed north together, but became separated in northern Mexico after being chased by Mexican officials.
“I told them, ‘run forward,'” Doris recounted in Spanish, saying Mexican officials tried to prevent her family from crossing into the U.S. “It was very difficult for me to be separated from my children.”
Francisco said he helped his younger brothers cross into the U.S., where Border Patrol processed the siblings as unaccompanied minors before transferring them to HHS, which placed them in shelters in Florida and New York. CBS News is not disclosing their surnames because they are minors.
When they swam across the Rio Grande, it was Francisco’s responsibility to care for Diego, the youngest brother. “I was not thinking about myself. I was thinking about the kid, because he did not have a jacket and it was at night,” Francisco said in Spanish.
Doris, meanwhile, said she tried to cross into the U.S. multiple times to reunite with her sons, but was repeatedly expelled to Mexico. She said she felt “dead” while waiting months in Mexico without her children.
It wasn’t until this June that Doris said she was granted a humanitarian exemption to Title 42 and allowed to enter the U.S. after connecting with Each Step Home, a U.S.-based group that helps migrant children in U.S. custody reunite with their families.
But even after Doris entered the U.S., it took months for HHS to release her children because she was living in a shelter for homeless adults and did not have a permanent address. “I almost had a heart attack,” she said, describing the moment she reunited with her sons last month.
The family is now living in a room inside a Brooklyn shelter housing other migrant families. Despite the small living space, Doris said her sons are happy to be with her. She was able to enroll Francisco and Carlos in a local public school, where they are learning English.
“I want to study and be able to work one day,” Francisco said.
But Doris said it’s been difficult to find a job, since she does not have a work permit. Her hearing in immigration court, where she can ask for asylum to try to block her deportation, is scheduled for March 2023.
In a statement to CBS News, the Office of Refugee Resettlement confirmed it received a record number of unaccompanied children in fiscal year 2022. The agency said it was working to set up new shelters and add beds at 220 existing housing facilities to accommodate additional border arrivals of migrant children.
“ORR continues to build capacity that enhances our ability to accept referrals from the Department of Homeland Security in a timely manner by expanding bed capacity, minimizing the amount of time children stay in congregate care settings, and safely placing children with vetted sponsors,” the agency added.
While the number of unaccompanied children received by HHS in fiscal year 2022 reached an all-time high, the Biden administration did not face the same level of operational and humanitarian setbacks processing these minors as last year.
In the spring of 2021, thousands of unaccompanied children became stranded in overcrowded Border Patrol tents and detention facilities because HHS did not have enough bed space in its shelter system to house them.
To reduce overcrowding at border facilities, HHS set up more than a dozen makeshift shelters at military sites, convention centers and work camps. While conditions varied across the emergency facilities, children housed at some of the sites reported substandard services, as well as mental health concerns and prolonged stays.
Over the past year, however, HHS closed most of its emergency sites and improved conditions at the ones that remain operational. It also dramatically expedited releases of children to sponsors, including by eliminating some steps in the sponsorship process and hiring additional case managers to place minors with sponsors.
Migrant children are currently spending an average of 29 days in HHS care, down from 37 days in fiscal year 2021, federal statistics show.
At one point in the spring of 2021, HHS was caring for more than 22,000 unaccompanied minors, a record high. As of Thursday, the agency was housing fewer than 10,000 unaccompanied minors, according to government data. | 2022-10-14T12:19:48+00:00 | wsgw.com | https://www.wsgw.com/record-number-of-unaccompanied-migrant-children-entered-u-s-shelters-in-2022/ |
Emmy night was a big one for a lot of different shows: Squid Game, Succession, Ted Lasso, The White Lotus. There were very strange music choices (why did Jesse Armstrong collect an Emmy for writing Succession and walk on stage to "Shake Your Booty"?) and bits that dragged on too long (especially Jimmy Kimmel's play-dead routine that lasted right through Quinta Brunson's win for comedy writing for Abbott Elementary). But there were also great speeches and encouraging wins, and we're here to look at five takeaways from the ceremony as a whole. (Here's a complete list of winners.)
1. The great Sheryl Lee Ralph won the night.
There are years when you have to try to figure out what was the best moment of the ceremony; this was not one of those years.
When Sheryl Lee Ralph accepted the award for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series for Abbott Elementary, her speech was not only the best moment of the night, but it's up there for the best moment of the Emmys... maybe ever?
Ralph took the stage and sang Dianne Reeves' "Endangered Species" a cappella — something few people could do effectively. She then spoke rousingly, beautifully and encouragingly about the importance of never giving up your dreams and how you should value all the people who take care of you. It's worth downloading the whole speech to your phone so that you can play it for yourself the next time you are discouraged, but really, it belongs uniquely to her and the power of her talent and her history. Her career in TV stretches back to the 1980s, but with this award she became only the second Black woman to win in the category (after Jackée Harry for 227). While it was overdue, it was great to see.
2. The show still needs more time for speeches and less for montages and scripted banter.
This particular Emmy ceremony, with a couple of notable exceptions, seemed to be playing people off quickly, even though some of them, like Jennifer Coolidge, was very entertaining. Coolidge won best supporting actress in a limited series for her work in The White Lotus; after trying and trying to get the show to let her say a couple more things, Coolidge heard "Hit The Road, Jack" start up and, rather than hurrying off stage, she danced, to a roar from the crowd.
At the same time winners fought for spare seconds, dull montages that were little more than "here are some TV shows" were allowed to linger, as were scripted bits that seemed less satisfying than the cut-off speeches, even when those sketches were performed by able comedians like host Kenan Thompson and the very funny Bowen Yang. Awards show producers seem convinced that people want all the stuff in between the awards more than they want the awards; betting on the charm of a speech instead of another montage will rarely be the wrong decision.
3. There weren't a lot of big surprises.
Ted Lasso and Succession were both expected to win their respective categories of comedy series and drama series...and they did. The White Lotus cleaned up in the limited series awards with wins for Coolidge and Murray Bartlett in the supporting categories and for Mike White in directing and writing.
Yet none of those shows swept the awards. Amanda Seyfried took lead actress for The Dropout and Michael Keaton won for lead actor in Dopesick. Lee Jung-jae won lead actor in a drama series for Squid Game, the first Asian man to ever be so honored. This might be a surprise, since it's the first time someone has won for a performance where they didn't speak English, but the sheer phenomenon of the show and its big haul of nominations had suggested it had a good shot at doing well.
Perhaps the nicest surprise was Lizzo's Watch Out For The Big Grrrls, which broke RuPaul's Drag Race streak of four wins in the reality competition category. That win led (of course) to a powerful and joyful speech from Lizzo about the importance of representation — a running theme over the course of the evening.
4. There's still plenty of repetition.
Even with competition running hot in almost every category and a lack of shows dominating the awards the way sitcoms like Frasier and Modern Family once did, there were lots of repeat winners.
Saturday Night Live won again in the variety sketch category (its only rival was A Black Lady Sketch Show); it was its sixth win in a row, a pretty boring outcome. Succession repeated its 2020 win in the outstanding drama series category, and Ted Lasso won outstanding comedy series after it also won last year. Plus, Ted Lasso actors Jason Sudeikis and Brett Goldstein won again in the lead and supporting categories.
That wasn't all. Zendaya, who won the award for outstanding lead actress in a drama series for Euphoria two years ago, won again. Jean Smart won for Hacks for lead actress in a comedy series for the second year in a row. Perhaps most impressive of all, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver won its seventh straight award for outstanding variety talk series, continuing to beat The Daily Show as well as all of network late night.
5. People want to see new winners have a real chance.
It's more an observation of public reaction than of the show itself, but standards seem to have changed for when a show has won "too much." Back in the days when there were far fewer shows to choose from, it wasn't until something racked up five or six wins — that pressure started to mount to get something else, anything else, up on stage with a win.
But now, with so much out there and so much that's good, even two wins for Ted Lasso seems repetitive, particularly when there's a show that feels as fresh as Abbott Elementary.
The Emmys are starting to have an enviable problem: Even when people disagree with the outcome of a contest, it might be less that a show is undeserving and more that there's simply something else that deserves a shot in a stacked category. Even the great Jean Smart, beloved by so many over such a tremendous career and absolutely marvelous on Hacks, might not have been the first choice of many people. That's not because of her ability; it's because this was a year where she faced opponents like Brunson, who is a new face, and Issa Rae, who's been nominated for Insecure several times but has never won. This is one of the reasons the Squid Game wins feels invigorating — the show is new.
It's one thing for a win to feel deserved; it's another for it to feel exciting. Even a second or third win can seem rote by now, so bring on the new contenders, and we'll be glad to see them.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2022-09-13T07:17:49+00:00 | kgou.org | https://www.kgou.org/arts-and-entertainment/arts-and-entertainment/2022-09-13/five-takeaways-from-the-2022-emmy-awards |
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve on Wednesday intensified its drive to tame high inflation by raising its key interest rate by three-quarters of a point — its largest hike in nearly three decades — and signaling more large rate increases to come that would raise the risk of another recession.
The move the Fed announced after its latest policy meeting will increase its benchmark short-term rate, which affects many consumer and business loans, to a range of 1.5% to 1.75%.
The central bank is ramping up its drive to tighten credit and slow growth with inflation having reached a four-decade high of 8.6%, spreading to more areas of the economy and showing no sign of slowing. Americans are also starting to expect high inflation to last longer than they had before. This sentiment could embed an inflationary psychology in the economy that would make it harder to bring inflation back to the Fed’s 2% target.
The Fed’s three-quarter-point rate increase exceeds the half-point hike that Chair Jerome Powell had previously suggested was likely to be announced this week. The Fed’s decision to impose a rate hike as large as it did Wednesday was an acknowledgment that it’s struggling to curb the pace and persistence of inflation, which has been worsened by Russia’s war against Ukraine and its effects on energy prices.
Borrowing costs have already risen sharply across much of the U.S. economy in response to the Fed’s moves, with the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate topping 6%, its highest level since before the 2008 financial crisis, up from just 3% at the start of the year. The yield on the 2-year Treasury note, a benchmark for corporate borrowing, has jumped to 3.3%, its highest level since 2007.
Even if a recession can be avoided, economists say it’s almost inevitable that the Fed will have to inflict some pain — most likely in the form of higher unemployment — as the price of defeating chronically high inflation.
Inflation has shot to the top of voter concerns in the months before Congress’ midterm elections, souring the public’s view of the economy, weakening President Joe Biden’s approval ratings and raising the likelihood of Democratic losses in November. Biden has sought to show he recognizes the pain that inflation is causing American households but has struggled to find policy actions that might make a real difference. The president has stressed his belief that the power to curb inflation rests mainly with the Fed.
Yet the Fed’s rate hikes are blunt tools for trying to lower inflation while also sustaining growth. Shortages of oil, gasoline and food are propelling inflation. The Fed isn’t ideally suited to address many of the roots of inflation, which involve Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, still-clogged global supply chains, labor shortages and surging demand for services from airline tickets to restaurant meals.
Expectations for larger Fed hikes have sent a range of interest rates to their highest points in years. The yield on the 2-year Treasury note, a benchmark for corporate bonds, has reached 3.3%, its highest level since 2007. The 10-year Treasury yield, which directly affects mortgage rates, has hit 3.4%, up nearly a half-point since last week and the highest level since 2011.
Investments around the world, from bonds to bitcoin, have tumbled in recent months on fears surrounding high inflation and the prospect that the Fed’s aggressive drive to control it will cause a recession. Even if the Fed manages the delicate trick of curbing inflation without causing a recession, higher rates will nevertheless inflict pressure on stock prices. The S&P 500 has already sunk more than 20% this year, meeting the definition of a bear market.
Other central banks around the world are also acting swiftly to try to quell surging inflation, even with their nations at greater risk of recession than the U.S. The European Central Bank is expected to raise rates by a quarter-point in July, its first increase in 11 years. It could announce a larger hike in September if record-high levels of inflation persist. On Wednesday, the ECB vowed to create a market backstop that could buffer member countries against financial turmoil of the kind that erupted during a debt crisis more than a decade ago.
The Bank of England has raised rates four times since December to a 13-year high, despite predictions that economic growth will be unchanged in the second quarter. The BOE will hold an interest rate meeting on Thursday.
The 19 European Union countries that use the euro currency endured record inflation of 8.1% last month. The United Kingdom notched a 40-year high of 9% in April. Though debt service costs remain contained for now, rising borrowing costs for indebted governments threatened the eurozone with a breakup in the early part of the last decade.
Last week, the World Bank warned of the threat of “stagflation” — slow growth accompanied by high inflation — around the world.
A key reason why a recession is now likelier is that economists increasingly believe that for the Fed to slow inflation to its 2% target, it will need to sharply reduce consumer spending, wage gains and economic growth. Ultimately, the unemployment rate will almost certainly have to rise — something the Fed hasn’t yet forecast but could in updated economic projections it will issue Wednesday. | 2022-06-15T20:05:06+00:00 | localsyr.com | https://www.localsyr.com/news/national/fed-attacks-inflation-with-its-largest-rate-hike-since-1994/ |
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A nine-person jury was seated Tuesday to hear a trial that will determine whether Tesla CEO Elon Musk cheated investors by asserting in 2018 tweets that he had lined up financing to take the electric automaker private.
The five-hour process set the stage for opening statements to begin Wednesday in the case, which is expected to include testimony from Musk to explain his thinking while engaged in one of his favorite activities — tweeting on the Twitter service that he now owns.
In the Tesla case, Musk’s tweets fueled a rally in the company’s stock price that abruptly ended a week later after it became apparent that he did not have the funding for a buyout after all. Investors then sued him, saying that Tesla shares would not have swung so widely in value if he had not dangled the prospect of buying the company for $420 per share.
Musk’s tweet also attracted the attention of securities regulators, who concluded that it was improper and that he was lying. In a settlement, they forced him to pay $40 million and required him to step down as Tesla chairman.
He has since contended that he entered the settlement under duress and maintains that he believed he had locked up financial backing for the buyout during meetings with representatives from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
Even while he has been making major changes at Twitter, Musk continues to serve as CEO at Tesla and derives most of his wealth and fame from the company.
The trial hinges on an Aug. 7, 2018, tweet in which Musk claimed he had lined up financing to pay for a $72 billion buyout of Tesla, which he then amplified with a follow-up statement that made a deal seem imminent.
But the buyout never materialized, and now Musk will have to explain his actions under oath in a federal court in San Francisco. The class-action lawsuit was filed on behalf of investors who owned Tesla stock for a 10-day period in August 2018.
The trial’s outcome may turn on the jury’s interpretation of Musk’s motive for the tweets, which U.S. District Judge Edward Chen has already decided were false.
The judge dealt Musk another setback on Friday, when he rejected Musk’s bid to transfer the trial to a federal court in Texas, where Tesla moved its headquarters in 2021. Musk had argued that negative coverage of his Twitter purchase had poisoned the jury pool in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The challenge of finding jurors without strong feelings about Musk became evident during Tuesday’s painstaking selection process.
At one point, the judge flagged some prospective jurors who had expressed extreme misgivings or enthusiasm about Musk in pretrial questionnaires. Seven jurors were questioned individually, away from the rest of the jury pool, to reduce the chances of influencing the opinions of others in the courtroom.
Chen and lawyers for both the shareholders and Musk ended up grilling seven of those jurors, who variously described Musk as “arrogant,” “narcissistic,” “unpredictable,” “a little off his rocker,” “a mercenary” and “a genius.”
Musk’s leadership of Twitter — where he has gutted the staff and alienated users and advertisers — has proven unpopular among Tesla’s current stockholders, who are worried that he has been devoting less time to automaker at a time of intensifying competition.
Those concerns contributed to a 65% percent decline in Tesla’s stock last year that wiped out more than $700 billion in shareholder wealth — far more than the $14 billion swing in fortune that occurred between the company’s high and low stock prices from Aug. 7 to Aug. 17, 2018, the period covered in the lawsuit.
Tesla’s stock has split twice since then, making that $420 price worth $28 on adjusted basis now. The shares closed last week at $122.40, down from the company’s November 2021 split-adjusted peak of $414.50.
After Musk dropped the idea of a Tesla buyout, the company overcame a production problem, resulting in a rapid upturn in car sales that caused its stock to soar and made Musk the world’s richest person until he bought Twitter. Musk dropped from the top spot on the wealth list after a stock market backlash to his handling of Twitter.
The trial is likely to provide insights into Musk’s management style, given that the witness list includes some of Tesla’s current and former top executives and board members, including luminaries such as Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison and James Murdoch, the son of media mogul Rupert Murdoch.
The drama may shed light on Musk’s relationship with his brother, Kimbal, who is also on the list of potential witnesses. The trial is expected to last until early February. | 2023-01-17T23:33:33+00:00 | localsyr.com | https://www.localsyr.com/news/national/ap-elon-musks-next-drama-a-trial-over-his-tweets-about-tesla-2/ |
The National League Iron Man of Baseball Highlights Benefits of Plant-Based Products for Athlete Recovery; Level Select The Fastest Growing CBD Brand at Kroger
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Sept. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kadenwood (the "Company"), a leading plant-based wellness company dedicated to fostering consumer trust and transparency in CBD, announced today that Co-Founder and Head of Sports Partnerships, Steve Garvey is set to represent the Company at the Kroger Wellness Festival on September 23-24 in Cincinnati, OH, where he will showcase the role of plant-based wellness products for their role in athlete relief and recovery.
The panel, entitled "Top of Their Game," will run from 3:15 pm - 4:00 pm ET on Saturday, September 24. Garvey, a former professional MLB All Star, and National League (NL) Most Valuable Player in 1974 and National League Championship Series MVP in 1978 and 1984, and World Series Champion in 1981. Garvey will join Olympic Gold medalist Mary Wineberg and NFL Hall of Famer Anthony Muñoz, a professional football legend, on the panel for a discussion on the rising role of plant-based wellness among professional athletes in major league sports, sponsored by Pepsi Zero Sugar.
"As someone who has dealt with pain throughout my career, and tried everything to manage it while maintaining my ability to perform well, I am excited to share my thoughts and experience using plant-based products and provide those suffering with similar situations true relief that actually works," said Steve Garvey, Co-Founder of Kadenwood. "When I played professional baseball, these products were not an option for me, so that's why I've put so much dedication into LEVEL SELECT, and am thrilled to see how sports have evolved into acceptance. Seeing that plant-based wellness products work, and there are so many benefits – I can't wait to share them with everyone at the Kroger Wellness Festival."
The event will take place at Laura's Lean Stage on the festival grounds which are open to the public free of charge. Garvey will represent Kadenwood's flagship brand LEVEL SELECT, which is currently one of the fastest growing CBD products at Kroger.
"Steve's upcoming panel at the Kroger Wellness Festival gives us a unique opportunity to showcase the role that plant-based products can play in empowering active and healthy lifestyles," said Kadenwood Co-Founder and CEO Erick Dickens. "We are honored and grateful to those who have believed in our LEVEL SELECT products, to be Kroger's number one selling CBD wellness brand on their shelves this year. It stands as a testament to the power of plant-based wellness. We can't wait to represent the brand and spread the word even further - that plant-based wellness is the future of health, especially for athletes seeking relief."
Plant-based wellness, specifically CBD, is in highest demand in the health and wellness category, with a market size expected to reach $47.22 billion by 2028, according to Vantage Market Research. With the CBD wellness market projecting an annual growth rate of 21.3 percent, Kadenwood is at the forefront of category growth as it continues to support the success of its portfolio brands.
In creating LEVEL SELECT, Kadenwood worked with a team of medical experts and doctors to ensure that products have high enough levels of CBD to deliver results consumers can feel. In contrast, other plant-based CBD products can contain levels of CBD that are too low to have any meaningful effect, and are rarely third-party tested for quality, safety and efficacy.
The Kroger Natural Wellness Festival is a free festival focusing on food and wellness that will take place at The Banks on Freedom Way in Cincinnati, OH. The Kroger Wellness Festival is a public event designed to raise awareness of Kroger and the products they offer, while also sharing a vision of physical and mental health for all. 2022's event is bound to be the biggest festival yet, and you can enjoy it all in downtown Cincinnati. View the 2022 festival event schedule here.
Founded in 2019, Kadenwood, Inc. is a privately held consumer products company relentlessly focused on creating a trusted and safe mainstream plant-based wellness category. To drive this mission, Kadenwood is backed by decades of CPG marketing and category innovation expertise and industry-leading, vertically integrated CBD manufacturing to ensure quality CBD oil from seed-to-shelf that contains 0.0% THC. In 2019, Kadenwood launched its first branded products under LEVEL SELECTTM in personal care. In late 2020, Kadenwood launched the Purity PetTM business, as well as Purity Organic® hot teas, to add to its portfolio of CBD brands. Kadenwood expanded its global presence in Summer 2021 with the acquisition of Healist Advanced Naturals, an innovative CBD wellness brand focused on high quality botanical ingredients, along with Social CBD, a brand committed to delivering calming formulas with the added benefit of CBD. Since then, Kadenwood has become the first plant-based wellness company to have a portfolio of multiple brands across approximately 22,000 retail stores. To learn more about Kadenwood, please visit https://www.kadenwoodbrands.com.
The Kroger Co. is the founder of The Kroger Wellness Festival. At The Kroger Co., we work every day with a very specific purpose in mind: to Feed the Human Spirit™. With nearly half a million associates serving over 9 million customers daily at 2,800 retail food stores, we're serving America through food, inspiration and uplift, and we're creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities by 2025.
Kroger Health, the health care arm of The Kroger Co., also supports The Kroger Wellness Festival to further promote our belief in Food as Medicine. That means we're dedicated to nutrition, education and personalized approaches to eating and enjoying food, leading to healthier lives and illness prevention.
Media Contact:
Cassandra Dowell
CMW Media
kadenwood@cmwmedia.com
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SOURCE Kadenwood, Inc. | 2022-09-21T18:28:52+00:00 | newschannel10.com | https://www.newschannel10.com/prnewswire/2022/09/21/kadenwood-co-founder-steve-garvey-speak-kroger-natural-wellness-festival-showcase-rising-role-plant-based-wellness-among-athletes/ |
FREMONT, Calif. (AP) _ Synnex Corp. (SNX) on Tuesday reported fiscal third-quarter profit of $148.8 million.
The Fremont, California-based company said it had profit of $1.55 per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to $2.74 per share.
The results fell short of Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of five analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $2.75 per share.
The high-tech contractor posted revenue of $15.36 billion in the period, surpassing Street forecasts. Four analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $15.11 billion.
For the current quarter ending in November, Synnex expects its per-share earnings to range from $2.70 to $3.10.
The company said it expects revenue in the range of $15.2 billion to $16.2 billion for the fiscal fourth quarter.
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This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on SNX at https://www.zacks.com/ap/SNX | 2022-09-27T12:34:35+00:00 | sfgate.com | https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Synnex-Fiscal-Q3-Earnings-Snapshot-17469398.php |
Federal prosecutors will urge a judge Thursday to keep behind bars a Massachusetts Air National guardsman accused of leaking highly classified military documents, arguing he may still have access to secret national defense information he could expose.
In court papers filed late Wednesday, the Justice Department lawyers said releasing 21-year-old Jack Teixeira from jail while he awaits trial would be a grave threat to the U.S. national security. Investigators are still trying to determine whether he kept any physical or digital copies of classified information, including files that haven't already surfaced publicly, they wrote.
“There simply is no condition or combination of conditions that can ensure the Defendant will not further disclose additional information still in his knowledge or possession,” prosecutors wrote. “The damage the Defendant has already caused to the U.S. national security is immense. The damage the Defendant is still capable of causing is extraordinary.”
A detention hearing is scheduled for Thursday in the federal court in Worcester, Massachusetts, for Teixeira, who has been in jail since his arrest earlier this month on charges stemming from the highest-profile intelligence leak in years.
Prosecutors said in their filing that Teixeira's attorneys have indicated they will urge the judge to release him to his father's home. As of late Wednesday, Teixeira's attorneys hadn't filed court papers arguing for his release.
Teixeira has been charged under the Espionage Act with unauthorized retention and transmission of classified national defense information. He has not yet entered a plea, and his attorney declined after last week’s hearing to speak to reporters.
He is accused of distributing highly classified documents about top national security issues in a chat room on Discord, a social media platform that started as a hangout for gamers. The leak stunned military officials, sparked international uproar and raised fresh questions about America’s ability to safeguard its secrets.
In describing Teixeira as a danger to the community, prosecutors wrote that the suspect, who owned multiple guns, repeatedly had “detailed and troubling discussions about violence and murder” on the platform where authorities say he shared the documents. In February, he told another person that he was tempted to make a minivan into an “assassination van," prosecutors wrote.
Prosecutors also disclosed that Teixeira was suspended during high school when a classmate overheard him discussing Molotov cocktails and other weapons and racial threats.
Prosecutors alleged in their filing that Teixeira took steps to destroy evidence after news outlets began reporting on the documents leak. Authorities who searched a dumpster at his home found a smashed laptop, tablet and Xbox gaming console, they said.
Teixeira's detention hearing was supposed to be last week but was delayed at the last minute after defense attorneys said they needed more time to "address the issues presented by the government’s request for detention.” Teixeira, who has been in jail since his April 13 arrest, did briefly appear in court in Boston last week to waive his right to a preliminary hearing.
The leaked documents appear to detail U.S. and NATO aid to Ukraine and U.S. intelligence assessments regarding U.S. allies that could strain ties with those nations. Some show real-time details from February and March of Ukraine’s and Russia’s battlefield positions and precise numbers of battlefield gear lost and newly flowing into Ukraine from its allies.
Authorities have not disclosed an alleged motive. Members of the Discord group have described Teixeira as someone looking to show off, rather than being motivated by a desire to inform the public about U.S. military operations or to influence American policy.
The Justice Department has said its investigation is continuing, and the Pentagon has said it would conduct its own review of access to sensitive intelligence to prevent a similar leak in the future.
Billing records the FBI obtained from Discord were among the things that led authorities to Teixeira, who enlisted in the Air National Guard in September 2019.
His specialty in the Air National Guard was as a “cyber transport systems specialist,” essentially an IT specialist responsible for military communications networks. In that role, Teixeira would have had a higher level of security clearance because he would have also been tasked with responsibility to access and ensure protection for the network, a defense official told the AP.
Investigators say Teixeira was the leader of an online private chat group on Discord called Thug Shaker Central, where enthusiasts talked about their favorite types of guns, shared jokes and held a running discussion on wars that included talk of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
A Discord user told the FBI that a username linked to Teixeira began posting what appeared to be classified information roughly in December.
Teixeira was detected on April 6 — the day The New York Times first published a story about the breach of documents — searching for the word “leak” in a classified system, according to court papers. The FBI says that was reason to believe Teixeira was trying to find information about the investigation into who was responsible for the leaks.
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After the initial selected subscription period your subscription rate will auto renew at $12.00 per month. | 2023-04-27T04:51:38+00:00 | timesdaily.com | https://www.timesdaily.com/news/nation/releasing-leak-suspect-a-national-security-risk-feds-say/article_8495afc4-3891-5840-acac-fa76791c146b.html |
US will stretch monkeypox vaccine supply with smaller doses
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health officials on Tuesday authorized a plan to stretch the nation’s limited supply of monkeypox vaccine by giving people just one-fifth the usual dose, citing research suggesting that the reduced amount is about as effective.
The so-called dose-sparing approach also calls for administering the Jynneos vaccine with an injection just under the skin rather than into deeper tissue — a practice that may rev up the immune system better. Recipients would still get two shots spaced four weeks apart.
The highly unusual step is a stark acknowledgment that the U.S. currently lacks the supplies needed to vaccinate everyone seeking protection from the rapidly spreading virus.
That includes 1.6 million to 1.7 million Americans considered by federal officials to be at highest risk from the disease, primarily men with HIV or men who have a higher risk of contracting it. Vaccinating that group would require more than 3.2 million shots.
White House officials said the new policy would immediately multiply the 440,000 currently available as full doses into more than 2 million smaller doses.
“It’s safe, it’s effective, and it will significantly scale the volume of vaccine doses available for communities across the country,” Robert Fenton, the White House’s monkeypox response coordinator, told reporters.
The Biden administration declared monkeypox a public health emergency last week in an effort to slow the growing outbreak that has infected more than 8,900 Americans. Officials announced a separate determination Tuesday that allows the Food and Drug Administration to expedite its review of medical products or new uses for them, such as the dose-sparing technique for Jynneos.
The FDA authorized the new approach for adults 18 and older who are at high risk of monkeypox infection. Younger people can also get the vaccine if they are deemed high risk, though they should receive the traditional injection, the agency said.
FDA officials stressed that the second dose is critical to ensuring protection.
“We feel pretty strongly that the two doses are necessary because, in part, we don’t have any evidence that three, six, eight months later people will be adequately protected by a single dose,” said Dr. Peter Marks, the FDA’s vaccine chief.
Regulators pointed to a 2015 study showing that inoculation with one-fifth of the traditional two-dose vaccine generated a robust immune-system response comparable to that of the full dose. About 94% of people receiving the smaller dose had adequate levels of virus-fighting antibodies, compared with 98% of those receiving the full dose, according to the study funded by the National Institutes of Health.
The NIH is planning an additional trial of the technique in coming months. And Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky said her agency is already starting to track real-world effectiveness in U.S. communities, though initial estimates will take time to generate.
But some experts and advocates worried that with little data to support the policy, it could backfire if it reduces vaccine effectiveness.
“We have grave concerns about the limited amount of research that has been done on this dose and administration method, and we fear it will give people a false sense of confidence that they are protected,” said David Harvey of the National Coalition of STD Directors, in a statement.
The smaller doses also require a different type of injection that penetrates only the top layer of skin, rather than the lower layer between the skin and muscle. That’s a less common technique that may require training for some health practitioners. It’s also associated with more side effects such as redness, itchiness and swelling.
The shallower injection is thought to help stimulate the immune system because the skin contains numerous immunity cells that target outside invaders.
The CDC it will provide educational materials on the technique along with a broader awareness campaign for U.S. health departments.
Rationing vaccine doses is common in Africa and other parts of the world with limited health resources. In recent years the World Health Organization has endorsed the approach to address outbreaks of yellow fever, polio and other diseases.
“This is not an uncommon situation” said Dr. William Moss of Johns Hopkins’ Vaccine Access Center. “It comes down to the public health decision-making: In the midst of an outbreak where you have insufficient supply, do you make this tradeoff?”
Both the U.K. and Canada have adopted a single-dose vaccine strategy prioritizing people who face the highest risk from monkeypox. And health departments in several large U.S. cities adopted a similar strategy amid limited supplies, including New York, San Francisco and Washington.
U.S. officials have shipped more than 617,000 full vaccine doses to state and local health departments. So far the shots have been recommended for people who have already been exposed to monkeypox or are likely to get it due to recent sexual contacts in areas where the virus is spreading.
The Biden administration has come under fire for not quickly marshaling millions more doses from the nation’s strategic national stockpile. Officials have ordered 5 million shots since July, but most aren’t expected to be delivered until 2023. Under the new dosing strategy that would represent 25 million doses.
The U.S. government owns bulk vaccine ingredients equivalent to 16.1 million doses under contracts with Danish manufacturer Bavarian Nordic. But the material needs to be sealed in vials, a process that’s expected to take months as the small company fields orders from other nations.
The FDA approved the Jynneos vaccine in 2019 to prevent smallpox and monkeypox based, in part, on studies in monkeys. Animals that received the two-dose vaccination were more than twice as likely to survive than those who didn’t after being infected with monkeypox, according to the FDA labeling.
Additional human studies showed people who received Jynneos had an immune response similar to those who received an older smallpox vaccine. But Jynneos hasn’t been tested in humans with either monkeypox or its relative smallpox, which was eradicated decades ago.
___
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.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2022-08-09T21:56:01+00:00 | wnem.com | https://www.wnem.com/2022/08/09/us-will-stretch-monkeypox-vaccine-supply-with-smaller-doses/ |
Matt Olson Player Prop Bets: Braves vs. Athletics - May 30
Published: May. 30, 2023 at 6:24 AM CDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
On Tuesday, Matt Olson (.703 slugging percentage in past 10 games, including five home runs) and the Atlanta Braves face the Oakland Athletics, whose starting pitcher will be JP Sears. First pitch is at 9:40 PM ET.
He hit a home run while going 1-for-3 in his last game against the Athletics.
Matt Olson Game Info & Props vs. the Athletics
- Game Day: Tuesday, May 30, 2023
- Game Time: 9:40 PM ET
- Stadium: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
- Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo!
- Athletics Starter: JP Sears
- TV Channel: NBCS-CA
- Hits Prop: Over/under 0.5 hits (Over odds: -182)
- Home Runs Prop: Over/under 0.5 home runs (Over odds: +375)
- RBI Prop: Over/under 0.5 RBI (Over odds: +175)
- Runs Prop: Over/under 0.5 runs (Over odds: +110)
Looking to place a prop bet on Matt Olson? Check out what's available at BetMGM and sign up with this link!
Discover More About This Game
Matt Olson At The Plate
- Olson is batting .238 with 10 doubles, a triple, 17 home runs and 38 walks.
- Among qualified hitters in MLB action, his batting average ranks 119th, his on-base percentage ranks 37th, and he is 12th in the league in slugging.
- Olson has gotten a hit in 33 of 54 games this season (61.1%), including 12 multi-hit games (22.2%).
- He has hit a home run in 27.8% of his games this season, and 7% of his trips to the dish.
- Olson has had an RBI in 25 games this season (46.3%), including 11 multi-RBI outings (20.4%). He has also driven home three or more of his team's runs in five contests.
- In 33 of 54 games this season, he has scored, and 11 of those games included multiple runs.
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Matt Olson Home/Away Batting Splits
Athletics Pitching Rankings
- The 7.8 strikeouts per nine innings put together by the Athletics pitching staff ranks 27th in the league.
- The Athletics have the last-ranked team ERA across all MLB pitching staffs (6.78).
- The Athletics give up the most home runs in baseball (97 total, 1.7 per game).
- Sears makes the start for the Athletics, his 11th of the season. He is 0-3 with a 4.70 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 53 2/3 innings pitched.
- The left-hander's last time out was on Friday against the Seattle Mariners, when he threw five innings, surrendering one earned run while allowing three hits.
- In 10 games this season, the 27-year-old has a 4.70 ERA and 8.7 strikeouts per nine innings, while allowing a batting average of .240 to opposing batters.
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | 2023-05-30T12:34:35+00:00 | wbrc.com | https://www.wbrc.com/sports/betting/2023/05/30/matt-olson-mlb-player-prop-bets/ |
OSSAA announces brackets Class A, B for 2022 Oklahoma high school baseball state tournaments
The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association released the Class A and B baseball state tournament brackets on Monday.
Quarterfinals for all tournaments will take place on May 5, semifinals are scheduled for May 6. All state title games will be played on May 7.
All Class A games will take place at Shawnee High School. The Class B quarterfinal and semifinal games will take place at Palmer Field at Dolese Youth Park and the championship game will take place at Shawnee.
Last year's champions:
Class A: Canute
Class B: Roff
Check out the brackets for the year's tournaments below:
More:Which OKC-area high school baseball teams are state championship contenders?
Class A
Thursday's Quarterfinal Games
At Shawnee High school
Dewar vs. Sterling, 11 a.m.
Canute vs. Hydro-Eakly, 1:30 p.m.
Red Oak vs. Pioneer-Pleasant Vale, 4 p.m.
Tushka vs. Rattan, 6:30 p.m.
Friday's Semifinal Games
At Shawnee High School
Canute-Hydro-Eakly winner vs. Dewar-Sterling winner, 11 a.m.
Red-Oak—Pioneer-Pleasant Vale winner vs. Tushka—Rattan winner. 1:30 p.m.
Saturday's State Championship Game
At Shawnee High School
Championship, Noon
More:OSSAA announces brackets for 2022 Oklahoma high school slowpitch softball state tournaments
Class B
Thursday's Quarterfinal Games
At Palmer Field at Dolese
Caney vs. Glencoe, 11 a.m.
Roff vs. Granite, 1:30 p.m.
Tupelo vs. Lookeba-Sickles, 4 p.m.
Boswell vs. Fort Cobb-Broxton, 6:30 p.m.
Friday's Semifinal Games
At Palmer Field at Dolese
Roff—Granite winner vs. Caney Glencoe winner, 11 a.m.
Tupelo—Lookeba-Sickles winner vs. Boswell—Fort Cobb-Broxton winner, 1:30 p.m.
Saturday's State Championship Game
At Shawnee High School
Championship, 3 p.m.
James D. Jackson covers high school sports across the Oklahoma City metro and state. Have a story idea for James? He can be reached at jjackson@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @JamesDJackson15. Support James' work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com or by using the link at the top of this page. | 2022-05-02T20:41:09+00:00 | oklahoman.com | https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/high-school/baseball/2022/05/02/oklahoma-high-school-baseball-2022-ossaa-class-a-b-state-brackets/9619982002/ |
Gov. Chris Sununu has ordered state agencies to develop curricula that would add instruction about the dangers of social media to all K-12 health classes in New Hampshire.
The executive order issued by the Republican governor Wednesday instructs the departments of education and health and human services to create guidelines for a curriculum to be submitted to the state Board of Education within 90 days.
NH GOV. SUNUNU FLAMES 'THREE-TIME LOSER' TRUMP AFTER DECLINING 2024 BID: HE COULD HAND US 'PRESIDENT' HARRIS
Sununu said the order was based on an investigation by the attorney general that began in late 2021 into the harmful effect that social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram can have on children’s mental health.
"New Hampshire’s children are the future of our state and our nation, and we are making every effort to ensure necessary changes are made to prevent harm by these platforms," he said in a statement.
NEW HAMPSHIRE GOV. SUNUNU OFFERS PATH TO LEGAL POT DAY AFTER EFFORT DIED IN LEGISLATURE
The order also requires the establishment of a website within 60 days to provide parents, youth and others with information about the potential harmful effects of social media and suggestions for how to reduce the time children spend using it. It also directs state agencies to develop a media campaign with similar information within 30 days.
Sununu’s order comes two weeks after the U.S. surgeon general issued a report calling on policymakers to address the harms of social media the same way they regulate things like car seats, baby formula, medication and other products children use.
Warning there is not enough evidence to show that social media is safe for children and teens, Dr. Vivek Murthy also is urging tech companies to share data and increase transparency with researchers and the public and prioritize users’ health and safety when designing their products. | 2023-06-09T00:14:38+00:00 | foxbangor.com | https://www.foxbangor.com/news/national/nh-gov-sununu-orders-lessons-on-social-media-dangers-to-be-added-to-k-12/article_91917207-e14e-586d-bb80-70337e2432a1.html |
NEXTGEN TV Delivers Enhanced Broadcast Video and Audio Features, Future Interactive Applications and Upgradable Technology
NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- New Orleans television viewers can now experience the future of broadcast television as six local TV stations join to launch NEXTGEN TV. Delivering more expansive audio and video options, as well as other innovative capabilities, NEXTGEN TV brings an enhanced live broadcast viewing experience to more than 660,000 households, according to Nielsen media data, in the metro and outlying areas of New Orleans.
New Orleans viewers can now find six channels over-the-air with NEXTGEN TV: TEGNA's WUPL (MyNetwork; channel 54), which is serving as the shared signal for the market, and WWL (CBS; channel 4); Gray Television's WVUE (FOX; channel 8); Hearst Television's WDSU (NBC; channel 6); Nexstar Media Inc.'s WGNO (ABC; channel 26) and WNOL (CW; channel 38). Viewers watching these channels can look forward to enhanced television viewing provided by NEXTGEN TV as a complement to streaming platforms, as NEXTGEN TV doesn't compete for household bandwidth with over-the-top content, but is provided as a free over-the-air service to viewers.
NEXTGEN TV is the first major overhaul to the Advanced Television Systems Committee's standard for receiving over-the-air (OTA) signals in 25 years. Now broadcasting in more than 50 markets, NEXTGEN TV is expected to reach 60% of U.S. television households by the end of 2022.
NEXTGEN TV also enables New Orleans broadcasters to strengthen its emergency alert systems, helping to make area communities safer during natural disasters or severe weather events. The new standard enables improved location-targeting with notifications sent to precise areas and viewers can choose the language in which they want to receive the emergency information. Multimedia files can also be added, upgrading the alerts with details such as maps or images. In times of crisis, NEXTGEN TV's sophisticated emergency alerting will enable viewers in that market to get all the information they need without affecting those not in the path of the emergency.
"Local broadcast stations play an important news and information role in the communities we serve," said Anne Schelle, managing director of Pearl TV. "With changes in the broadcast television market over time, the value in bringing more innovation to newsrooms and viewers with smart solutions like NEXTGEN TV is crystal clear. Launching NEXTGEN TV enables broadcasters to deliver the latest news and emergency alerting information, which is critical in a geography such as New Orleans, where extreme weather events are common and local news updates and information is vital."
Viewers can find NEXTGEN TV-enabled televisions from Hisense, Sony, LG Electronics and Samsung at local and national retailers, starting at $599. While features available on NEXTGEN TV will vary by device and broadcaster as commercial service launches in local markets, it is designed to be upgraded, enabling a viewer's television set to advance seamlessly with the latest technology—in addition to sophisticated day-one video and audio features.
NEXTGEN TV delivers:
- Stunning 4K, High Dynamic Range (HDR) video
- Consistent volume across channels
- Added voice clarity with Dolby's Voice +
- Movie theater-quality sound
- Enhanced internet content on demand
- Advanced emergency alerts and information
- Expanded and hyperlocal news
- Dual language capabilities
Associated with NEXTGEN TV is the RUN3TV web platform that brings interactive experiences and streaming content to over-the-air viewers. Built by broadcasters for broadcasters, RUN3TV's web-based platform architecture enables stations to easily develop, innovate, and differentiate at the application services layer, allowing a consistent viewer experience across all NEXTGEN TV devices. The broadcaster can leverage advanced advertising in live and streaming content, audience insights, and premium content distribution thanks to the new platform.
"New Orleans will now get the most out of live news, events and sports programming, while giving its broadcasters a more compelling and interactive way to deliver their content," continued Schelle. "These stations all share a commitment to provide their viewers with the best content and service and the launch of NEXTGEN TV enables that by creating a more inspired and personalized viewing experience."
The participating stations have worked together to ensure that current programming remains available to all viewers, regardless of whether their television service is provided over-the air or by a cable or satellite company. Antenna viewers can simply rescan their TV sets to ensure full service. Rescan instructions are available at: www.fcc.gov/rescan. Cable and satellite subscribers do not need to take any action.
New Orleans viewers can learn more about NEXTGEN TV by visiting www.WatchNextGenTV.com, which offers a guide to cities carrying the service, as well as links to available NEXTGEN TV models.
About Pearl TV:
Pearl TV is a business organization of U.S. broadcast companies with a shared interest in exploring forward-looking broadcasting opportunities, including innovative ways of promoting local broadcast TV content and developing digital media and wireless platforms for the broadcast industry. Pearl's membership, comprising more than 820 TV stations, includes eight of the largest broadcast companies in America: Cox Media Group, Graham Media Group, Gray Television, Hearst Television Inc., Nexstar Media Group, Sinclair Broadcast Group, the E.W. Scripps Company, and TEGNA Inc.
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SOURCE Pearl TV | 2022-12-15T18:56:28+00:00 | wlox.com | https://www.wlox.com/prnewswire/2022/12/15/six-new-orleans-television-stations-launch-nextgen-tv-broadcasts/ |
CT Boston/Norton MA Zone Forecast for Saturday, October 15, 2022
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403 FPUS51 KBOX 160801
ZFPBOX
Zone Forecast Product for Southern New England
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
400 AM EDT Sun Oct 16 2022
CTZ002-162000-
Hartford CT-
Including the cities of Hartford and Windsor Locks
400 AM EDT Sun Oct 16 2022
.TODAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 60s. Northwest winds
around 5 mph.
.TONIGHT...Partly cloudy. A slight chance of showers after
midnight. Lows in the mid 40s. Southwest winds around 5 mph.
Chance of rain 20 percent.
.MONDAY...Showers, mainly in the morning. Patchy fog in the
afternoon. Highs in the lower 60s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph
with gusts up to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80 percent.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Showers likely. Lows in the mid 40s. Southwest
winds around 5 mph, becoming west after midnight. Chance of rain
70 percent.
.TUESDAY...Partly sunny with a 50 percent chance of showers.
Highs in the mid 50s. West winds 5 to 10 mph.
.TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Patchy frost. Lows
in the lower 30s. Highs in the lower 50s.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the
upper 30s. Highs in the upper 50s.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 60s.
$$
CTZ003-162000-
Tolland CT-
Including the cities of Union and Vernon
400 AM EDT Sun Oct 16 2022
.TODAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 60s. Northwest winds
around 5 mph.
.TONIGHT...Partly cloudy. A slight chance of showers after
midnight. Lows in the mid 40s. West winds around 5 mph, becoming
south after midnight. Chance of rain 20 percent.
.MONDAY...Showers. Patchy fog in the afternoon. Highs in the
lower 60s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph.
Chance of rain 90 percent.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Showers likely. Lows in the mid 40s. Southwest
winds 5 to 10 mph, becoming west after midnight. Chance of rain
70 percent.
.TUESDAY...Showers likely. Highs in the mid 50s. West winds 5 to
10 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.
.TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Patchy frost. Lows
in the lower 30s. Highs in the lower 50s.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 30s.
.THURSDAY...Sunny. Patchy frost. Highs in the mid 50s.
.THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows around
40. Highs in the upper 50s.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 60s.
$$
CTZ004-162000-
Windham CT-
Including the cities of Putnam and Willimantic
400 AM EDT Sun Oct 16 2022
.TODAY...Sunny this morning, then becoming partly sunny. Highs in
the mid 60s. North winds around 5 mph, becoming west around 5 mph
this afternoon.
.TONIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s. Southwest winds
around 5 mph.
.MONDAY...Showers. Highs in the lower 60s. Southeast winds 5 to
10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90 percent.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Showers likely. Lows in the upper 40s. Southwest
winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.
.TUESDAY...Showers likely. Highs in the mid 50s. West winds 5 to
10 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Cooler with lows in the mid 30s.
.WEDNESDAY...Sunny. Patchy frost. Highs in the lower 50s.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the
upper 30s. Highs in the upper 50s.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 60s.
$$
For the latest updates...please visit our webpage at
You can follow us on Facebook at
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@NWSBoston
_____
Copyright 2022 AccuWeather | 2022-10-16T09:13:47+00:00 | seattlepi.com | https://www.seattlepi.com/weather/article/CT-Boston-Norton-MA-Zone-Forecast-17512549.php |
President Biden pledged to let the Federal Reserve do whatever it takes to bring inflation down.
The political implications could be dire.
Fed officials have vowed not to let up in their fight against inflation, even if it means driving the economy toward a recession. The central bank has already boosted interest rates to a range officials believe will slow the economy — and it plans to raise them again before the end of the year, even at an expected cost to the job market.
“If unemployment goes up, that’s unfortunate. If it goes up a lot, that’s really very difficult,” said Charles Evans, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, during a Monday conference.
“But price stability makes the future better,” Evans added.
As the U.S. economy slows and the global one faces deeper peril, Biden is facing growing pressure to avert a major slowdown without allowing inflation to spiral higher. But doing so would risk violating his pledge not to interfere with the Fed’s plans — a precedent set by several of his predecessors.
The Fed’s leaders have all but given up on averting an economic slowdown caused in large part by their aggressive interest rate hikes and failure to begin them sooner.
Fed Chairman Jerome Powell, a Republican reappointed by Biden this year, acknowledged there would be “pain” as the bank boosts rates high enough to bring inflation down from four-decade highs. While he said a potential recession may still be mild, he indicated there was no way for the Fed to avert job losses as it ramps up pressure on inflation.
Fed officials have made clear that they will keep raising interest rates until inflation comes down regardless of its impact on the unemployment rate, which they expect to rise next year.
Fed officials see the jobless rate rising to 4.4 percent by the end of 2023, according to projections released last month, up nearly 1 percentage point from the 3.5 percent unemployment rate in September.
That would force at least 1 million Americans out of their current jobs and consign countless more to fewer hours and stagnant wages — all while prices continue to rise.
While a recession is unlikely before the November midterm elections, a downturn in 2023 could be devastating for Biden’s potential reelection bid and the Democratic Party’s congressional hopes.
And though the Biden administration does not control the Fed, the president appointed five of its seven board members to their current positions, tying him to the fate of the bank’s battle against rising prices.
Biden’s political fortunes and the economy at large have already been tested by stubbornly high inflation.
Prices were up 6.2 percent on the year in August, according to the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, the Fed’s preferred gauge of inflation. The Fed aims for annual inflation of 2 percent — less than a third of the current rate.
Monthly inflation also accelerated in August, and economists are bracing for the Thursday release of new consumer price index (CPI) data for September. While the Fed ties its inflation fight to the PCE index, the bank also pays close attention to the CPI for its broader influence over businesses and financial markets.
“Inflation is swiftly moving through the real economy, causing rents to move higher at a time when real wages remain flat at best. These dynamics require the Fed to lift its policy rate,” wrote Joe Brusuelas, chief economist at audit and tax firm RSM, in a Friday research note.
Republicans have been quick to declare the U.S. economy is already in a recession as the midterm elections approach, blaming Biden for high inflation and the rising risks of a downturn.
“The economy is shrinking, inflation is raging, and job growth is slowing,” said Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas), ranking member on the House Ways and Means Committee, in a Friday statement.
“No wonder so many Americans have lost faith in President Biden’s competence to heal the economy.”
The White House and Democrats acknowledge that inflation is a problem, but have pointed to a historically strong job market, steady consumer spending and prospects of lower prices ahead to dispel GOP claims of doom. The U.S. has added 420,000 jobs on average each month in 2022, and total employment is well above its pre-pandemic level.
“Our economy created 263,000 jobs last month. That’s 10 million jobs since I’ve come into office. That’s the fastest job growth at any point of any president in all of American history. Historic progress,” Biden touted in a Friday speech after the release of the September jobs report.
While the Fed is set to stay on track for higher rates, some U.S. officials both within and outside of the bank have raised the chance it may need to ease its fight against inflation.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who chaired the Fed from 2014 to 2018, warned last week that the bank’s rate hikes “can have international spillovers,” causing deeper pain and another drag on the U.S. economy through a global recession.
Fed Vice Chair Lael Brainard also nodded toward the risks abroad posed by the bank’s interest rate hikes, which could come home and hurt the U.S. if the global economy turns south.
“The combined effect of concurrent global tightening is larger than the sum of its parts,” Brainard said.
“The Federal Reserve takes into account the spillovers of higher interest rates, a stronger dollar, and weaker demand from foreign economies into the United States, as well as in the reverse direction.” | 2022-10-11T13:26:23+00:00 | myfox8.com | https://myfox8.com/hill-politics/biden-finds-himself-tethered-to-feds-inflation-fight/ |
MERCER COUNTY, Ohio (WDTN) — A multi-agency drug takedown task force arrested three men Thursday on drug and weapons charges.
According to the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, three men were arrested on Thursday, Oct. 13, after multiple agencies conducted saturation patrols in an effort to intercept the transportation of illegal drugs.
Paul Michael Hiser, 47, of Fort Recovery, has been charged with a third degree felony of Having Weapons Under Disability. The gun Hiser had in his possession was reportedly stolen from Darke County.
St. Mary’s residents Adam J.M. Beckman, 33, and Donnie L. McCoy, 39, have both been charged with a fifth degree felony of drug possession. Officers found 30 credit cards in their vehicle that were not registered to them.
The Heroin Interdiction Team (HIT) made 11 traffic stops, issues 4 citations for Driving Under the Influence and 7 written warnings on Thursday. | 2022-10-14T16:02:50+00:00 | wdtn.com | https://www.wdtn.com/news/crime/3-arrested-on-drug-weapon-charges-in-celina/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — WWE’s WrestleMania, the Super Bowl for the sports entertainment company, arrives this weekend to a massive audience and vastly larger sponsorship revenue as it seeks to establish itself as a serious contender for major dollars from such partnerships.
Craig Stimmel, WWE’s senior vice president and head of global sales and partnerships, told The Associated Press in an interview that sponsorship revenue for this year’s event has doubled to more than $20 million, a record for any WWE event.
Those numbers are critical in light of the return in January of Vince McMahon, the founder and majority shareholder of WWE, who said the sports entertainment company could be up for sale.
There are numerous rumors circulating about who might be willing to buy WWE and for how much, and it’s unknown if anyone has stepped forward with a bid yet. But the company’s broadening presence everywhere from TikTok to streaming channels could lift its asking price.
Marketing experts see WWE as a prime venue for brands due to the makeup of its core audience. That audience ranges from minors to seniors, has a wide range of incomes, it’s global, and it’s fervently devoted to the craft, said T. Maxwell, a partner at Max Sports Marketing.
“WWE fans are fiercely loyal and dedicated, they are hooked, they crave storytelling and will be WWE fans for life,” Maxwell said. “This creates an amazing opportunity for savvy brands to connect with a unique audience for life.”
The company, based in Stamford, Connecticut, is increasingly leaning into its marketing potential and finding new ways to resonate with fans and sponsors.
For the first time at a premium live event in January, WWE incorporated a single company’s branding (Mountain Dew) on the ring canvas, in post-show press conferences and elsewhere. WWE also played off the product the company was introducing to consumers, a drink called “Pitch Black.” The match was held in the dark, in a ring with fluorescent ring ropes and gear.
During last year’s WrestleMania, wrestlers Shinsuke Nakamura and Rick Boogs incorporated the colors used by Mike’s Hard Lemonade to launch a new drink into the gear they wore in the ring.
Stimmel said WWE will incorporate corporate brands into this year’s WrestleMania in a multitude of ways, including a match sponsorship, a “blurring of the fourth wall” between what home viewers see vs. what live audience members observe and an augmented reality experience.
“We try to find the perfect marriage of brand and story,” Stimmel said.
WrestleMania 39, a two-day event that begins Saturday at SoFi Stadium outside of Los Angeles, has 12 sponsors, half of them returning from last year’s event.
While there has been pushback by fans in some sports leagues that have tried to introduce more advertising, it does not appear to be an issue for WWE.
“I think WWE fans are much more accepting of (sponsors) than the traditional sports,” Maxwell said.
Sponsors are keen to take advantage of WWE’s push into social media as the company pursues a multifaceted online effort to reach viewers on YouTube, TikTok and elsewhere.
The company surpassed 16 billion social video views in the final quarter of last year. It has nearly 94 million YouTube subscribers and has more than 20 million followers on TikTok. Its female wrestlers comprise five out of the top 15 most followed female athletes in the world, across Facebook, Twitter & Instagram, led by Ronda Rousey with 36.1 million followers.
WWE had more than 7.5 billion digital and social media views in January and February of this year, up 15% from the same time frame a year ago.
The size of the net that WWE is throwing out to capture viewers has been noticed by retail analysts.
“WWE has multiple channels to connect with customers which is important for sponsors who don’t want to rely on just one medium,” said Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData. “It basically gives brands multiple bites of the cherry to reach customers. WWE has built out an entire entertainment ecosystem which brands can tap into and use to push their marketing messages.”
Even the timing of WrestleMania in early April, which falls between the end of the National Football League season and early days of the Major League Baseball season, puts WWE in a position to capture more sponsors.
“WrestleMania is our Super Bowl,” said Stimmel. | 2023-03-30T11:59:38+00:00 | pahomepage.com | https://www.pahomepage.com/uncategorized/wwes-wrestlemania-extravaganza-draws-more-sponsors-to-the-ring/ |
GUANGZHOU, China, July 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 11th, the 25th China (Guangzhou) International Building Decoration Fair, also known as the CBD Fair (Guangzhou), along with the first Guangzhou International Bath and Sanitary Ware Fair, concluded successfully in Guangzhou.
The CBD Fair (Guangzhou), held at the Canton Fair Complex from July 8 to 11, covered a total area of about 400,000 square meters, an increase of nearly 100,000 square meters compared to 2022. With the participation of nearly 2,000 companies, the event hosted around 100 high-end conferences and forums, including five special design exhibitions and nearly 30 design conference forums. Over four days, the exhibition attracted a total of 255,078 high-quality professional visitors.
This year, the CBD Fair (Guangzhou) showcased five major themed areas covering customization, system, intelligence, design, and material. In response to the growing trend of whole-house customization, the first Guangzhou International Bath and Sanitary Ware Fair was held concurrently. By displaying the latest achievements and trends in the field of customized bathroom solutions, the fair highlighted the industry's expertise and innovation, providing precise empowerment for bath and sanitary ware enterprises to explore the depth of the home decoration market.
Such a 5+1 exhibition layout showcases the dawn of a new era in whole-house customization, which has emerged as a prominent force in the home decoration industry. This trend not only fuels the growth of market demand but also steers the industry toward a path of high-quality development.
The CBD Fair (Guangzhou) also played a pivotal role in empowering the industry, showcasing its position as a key platform for debuting new products, designs, materials, technologies, strategies, and industrial innovations. It also served as a hub for exploring business and cooperation opportunities while fostering the growth of the design ecosystem. It focused on pressing topics such as the new direction of development in the home decoration industry and the emerging trends in the circular development of the industrial chain. By doing so, it presented fresh opportunities for high-quality development and intelligent upgrading.
The event comprehensively demonstrated the strong recovery of the home decoration industry, effectively gathering market opportunities, boosting market confidence, and driving market consumption. Moreover, it made substantial strides toward fostering innovation, coordination, and fostering high-quality growth within the industry.
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SOURCE The China (Guangzhou) International Building Decoration Fair | 2023-07-24T05:31:56+00:00 | kwtx.com | https://www.kwtx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/24/25th-cbd-fair-guangzhou-1st-guangzhou-international-bath-sanitary-ware-fair-wrap-up/ |
DALLAS, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. (NYSE: AHT) ("Ashford Trust" or the "Company") today announced the tax reporting (Federal Form 1099-DIV) information for the 2022 distributions on its Series D, F, G, H, I and J preferred shares.
The amounts below represent the income tax treatment applicable to each distribution that is reportable in 2022. The preferred distributions that the Company paid on January 14, 2022 to stockholders of record as of December 31, 2021 are reportable in 2022. The preferred distributions that the Company paid on January 17, 2023 to stockholders of record as of December 30, 2022 will be reportable in 2023.
The income tax treatment for the 2022 distributions for Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. Series D Cumulative Preferred Stock CUSIP #044103406 traded on the NYSE under ticker symbol "AHTPrD" is as follows:
The income tax treatment for the 2022 distributions for Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. Series F Cumulative Preferred Stock CUSIP #044103604 traded on the NYSE under ticker symbol "AHTPrF" is as follows:
The income tax treatment for the 2022 distributions for Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. Series G Cumulative Preferred Stock CUSIP #044103703 traded on the NYSE under ticker symbol "AHTPrG" is as follows:
The income tax treatment for the 2022 distributions for Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. Series H Cumulative Preferred Stock CUSIP #044103802 traded on the NYSE under ticker symbol "AHTPrH" is as follows:
The income tax treatment for the 2022 distributions for Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. Series I Cumulative Preferred Stock CUSIP #044103885 traded on the NYSE under ticker symbol "AHTPrI" is as follows:
The income tax treatment for the 2022 distributions for Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. Series J Preferred Stock (CUSIPs #04410A400 and 04410A863) is as follows:
In accordance with IRS Code Section 6045B, the Company will post Form 8937, Report of Organizational Actions Affecting Basis of Securities, which may be found in the Corporate Actions section of the Company's website. This form provides detailed information on the return of capital amount of the preferred share distributions.
The Company encourages stockholders to consult with their own tax advisors with respect to the federal, state and local, and foreign income tax effects of these dividends.
* * * * *
Ashford Hospitality Trust is a real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on investing predominantly in upper upscale, full-service hotels.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements and assumptions in this press release contain or are based upon "forward-looking" information and are being made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, among others, statements about the Company's strategy and future plans. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. When we use the words "will likely result," "may," "anticipate," "estimate," "should," "expect," "believe," "intend," or similar expressions, we intend to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to numerous assumptions and uncertainties, many of which are outside Ashford Trust's control.
These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including, without limitation: the impact of COVID-19, and the rate of adoption and efficacy of vaccines to prevent COVID-19, on our business and investment strategy; our ability to repay, refinance, or restructure our debt and the debt of certain of our subsidiaries; anticipated or expected purchases or sales of assets; our projected operating results; completion of any pending transactions; our understanding of our competition; market trends; projected capital expenditures; the impact of technology on our operations and business; general volatility of the capital markets and the market price of our common stock and preferred stock; availability, terms and deployment of capital; availability of qualified personnel; changes in our industry and the markets in which we operate, interest rates or the general economy; and the degree and nature of our competition. These and other risk factors are more fully discussed in Ashford Trust's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The forward-looking statements included in this press release are only made as of the date of this press release. Such forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions, and expectations of our future performance taking into account all information currently known to us. These beliefs, assumptions, and expectations can change as a result of many potential events or factors, not all of which are known to us. If a change occurs, our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans, and other objectives may vary materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements. You should carefully consider these risks when you make an investment decision concerning our securities. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company can give no assurance that these forward-looking statements will be attained or that any deviation will not occur. We are not obligated to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances, changes in expectations, or otherwise, except to the extent required by law.
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SOURCE Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. | 2023-01-26T23:03:27+00:00 | kmvt.com | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2023/01/26/ashford-hospitality-trust-announces-tax-reporting-information-2022-preferred-share-distributions/ |
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG) – A few feet from the banks of Kilowatt Lake in North Memphis, Tennessee, sits the small neighborhood of New Chelsea. In six years living there, neighbors have gotten used to one thing.
“Smells horrible,” one woman told Nexstar’s WREG.
She never thought much of it and didn’t think she could do anything about it. She also never goes past the end of her block into the small industrial district between her neighborhood and the lake.
People in the industrial area can smell it too.
“Like rotting disgustingness. It’s just awful,” another woman said. Both have smelled the stench for years.
In the industrial area, they figured it came from Dino’s Meats, a wild game processing facility. But they never suspected much more, until someone noticed hundreds of deer carcasses piled up and left to rot in a lot behind Dino’s.
“You’ll literally see dogs running by with bones in their mouths and they’re like wild dogs that are aggressive,” said a woman who works in the area.
WREG tried multiple times to speak with someone at Dino’s but no one came to the door or returned calls. A large holding company called AyCorp, based in Missouri, owns Dino’s Meats.
AyCorp owner Barry Aycock said: “I don’t know anything about deer carcass dumping in Memphis. That business is leased to a third party.”
Dino’s Meats is licensed through the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. In a routine December inspection, the state found multiple critical and repeat violations, including unsanitary conditions inside and outside the facility. Still, they gave Dino’s a passing grade with a score of 79%.
They also wrote “carcass remains [were] bagged and placed in the dumpster.” The inspector noted he saw people “hauling trash outside and loading hides into the bed of a pickup.”
It’s unclear whether carcasses were already being dumped in the nearby lot during the December inspection.
(WREG)
WREG sent the Tennessee Department of Agriculture photos of the piled-up carcasses taken less than three months after their inspection, and asked if the photos showed a violation of state law.
The state later performed a follow-up inspection, where records showed Dino’s operator Jeff McBride said he hadn’t utilized a carcass removal dumpster for two years and had been discarding the carcasses on another lot he owns, even though records showed that land was part of a public right-of-way. Department of Agriculture officials said they told him he had to put the animal remains in covered containers.
McBride promised to “have a company bring in a bulldozer and cleanup equipment” to remove the carcasses in the next week.
But a week later, nothing had changed.
“That’s obviously totally unacceptable,” said Ruhan Nagra, director of the environmental justice clinic at the University of Utah.
Nagra has worked on cases around the country where pollution threatens people’s health, usually in historically marginalized communities like New Chelsea, where neighbors didn’t know the source of the stench or question it.
“In this situation where you have a predominantly Black community next to the site where deer carcasses are being disposed, it’s in many ways a classic environmental justice issue,” Nagra said. “The dumping of animal carcasses raises several public health concerns.”
Those health concerns include:
- Smell affecting quality of life by keeping people from being able to go outside
- Bacteria released from decomposing carcasses that can contaminate the water supply
- Carcasses spreading diseases like salmonella and chronic wasting disease
“[Chronic wasting disease] is a neurodegenerative disease that causes brain tissue to break down so animals’ brains become sponge-like and filled with holes,” Nagra said. “So far, there’s no evidence chronic wasting disease can spread to humans but some scientists have pointed out that could change.”
“This is an issue for the whole city,” said Frank Johnson, a local environmental justice advocate and the executive director of the Depot Communities United.
Johnson has had trouble getting help with potential dangers in his neighborhood near the old defense depot in South Memphis. He wants more people in Memphis to know about the risks.
“We’ve been trying to get a knowledge campaign, to let people know what you’re smelling, dealing with, is not what you think it is,” he said.
People who work in the area think authorities would have been more responsive if the issue happened in a predominantly-white neighborhood.
“This smell, in East Memphis, probably would’ve been complained about the first day, not two years later,” one woman said.
When Dino’s didn’t clean up the carcasses, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture said there was nothing else they could do since the carcasses were dumped on a separate plot of land. They referred WREG to multiple other entities: the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the city of Memphis.
Spokespeople for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency told WREG carcass dumping on private property is permitted in the state so long as you’re not violating other health or environmental ordinances.
A spokesperson for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation told WREG it instructed Dino’s to clean up the carcasses.
A spokesperson for the city of Memphis said this issue was not in the city’s jurisdiction related to storm water regulation.
“I think it’s really disturbing local and state authorities haven’t immediately acted on this,” Nagra said.
When pressed about whether they had any departments that could further investigate, Memphis officials said code enforcement had cited Dino’s for dumping and given them a date in environmental court.
Four days later, WREG found the lot clear of carcasses with fresh dirt piled on top. But nearby business employees said they think Dino’s buried the carcasses, rather than removing them.
McBride told an environmental court judge Monday he paid a company to have them removed. The city asked for proof and reset the case for May 1. | 2023-03-28T16:24:53+00:00 | texomashomepage.com | https://www.texomashomepage.com/news/national-news/hundreds-of-deer-carcasses-dumped-in-memphis-lot/ |
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Emmy-winning actress Emilia Clarke, best known for her role as Daenerys Targaryen in the HBO hit series “Game of Thrones,” says she survived not one but two aneurysms back in her early days of shooting.
In an interview, Clarke says some parts of her brain no longer function as they used to. She now struggles with memory loss. As an actress, she forgets her lines and at times even her own name.
News 8 spoke with Michele Gliddon, stroke program Manager at Eskenazi Health, about the actress’s condition and why 20% of all aneurysms result in death.
“With her being young and otherwise healthy, I can make an assumption that it runs in her family because there is a strong genetic component to it,” she said. “”The blood vessel actually breaks open. It’s like if you have a water balloon that pops. It kind of goes like that, and if that aneurysm ruptures or pops, the mortality rate does go up significantly.”
For older populations without genetic predispositions, risk factors include high blood pressure, smoking, and drug use. | 2022-07-21T01:06:41+00:00 | wishtv.com | https://www.wishtv.com/news/medical/game-of-thrones-star-suffered-two-aneurysms-while-filming-hit-series-says-she-lost-brain-function/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — The order came before he arrived. French fries and a glass of milk.
Jonathan Majors shortly after slides into a table in the back of the bar at the Chelsea Hotel in Manhattan. On the table he places a small cup off to the side. In his backpack he has pens, a notebook he writes poetry in, a clown nose, the book he's reading (James M. Cain's "The Postman Always Rings Twice") and a speaker for music. He doesn't go anywhere without Paulo Coelho's "Warrior of the Light."
Majors points to the cup. This one he’s had since Yale, where he attended the graduate acting program. It’s one of four he rotates, a symbol of his mother’s long-ago advice: “Don’t let anyone fill up your cup.” And those things in his backpack? Totems not unlike the lucky stones and sticks he used to gather as a kid, he says, “to keep my frequency where I want it to be.”
There's much in Majors' life right now buzzing at a high frequency. In the days prior to meeting a reporter, Majors had been at t he megawatt premiere of "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania." He was courtside at the NBA slam dunk contest, sitting near Spike Lee. After casting Majors in "Da 5 Bloods," Lee took to calling him "Morehouse" for his character's T-shirt. Now, Lee calls him "Big Time."
“I woke up this morning and thought: I’m very exposed. Everything’s very exposed,” Majors says. “But there’s also a great deal of confidence because it’s like I’m ahead of it. It’s like I’m watching it in slow motion.”
To everyone else, Majors is moving very fast, indeed. After breaking through in 2019's "The Last Black Man in San Francisco," the 33-year-old Majors has been steadily bulking up as an actor, expanding his formidable screen presence in "Devotion," "The Harder They Fall" and "Lovecraft Company," which earned him an Emmy nomination.
But 2023 is the year Majors turns heavyweight.
Majors is the new movies-spanning villain of Marvel-dom: the time-traveling supervillain Kang the Conqueror. He's Michael B. Jordan's friend-turned-foe in "Creed III," which opens Friday in theaters. And in Elijah Bynum's prize-winning Sundance entry "Magazine Dreams," Majors – in a performance that could well earn him an Academy Award nomination next year – is an amateur bodybuilder warped by childhood trauma.
Majors’ ascendance, to anyone who’s been watching, is not even a little surprising. The Texas son of a pastor, a Yale School of Drama-trained theater actor, a published poet, a classical and soulful performer, Majors is in a weight class by himself. Uncommonly sensitive as an actor, lyrical and loquacious as a person, Majors, a profound admirer of Sidney Poitier, is a rare and potent combination of serious thespian, thirsted-after hunk and devoted artist. And he's now stepping into, as Spike said, the big time. Global, magazine-cover fame is rapidly descending.
“Though I’ve not seen the boogeyman, I know it’s out there,” Majors says, smiling. “And I’ve been around to know it’s comin’. I won’t go down my rabbit hole of death, but it’s comin’. But you outrun it. You just stay out of the frame. I’ll stay out of the frame, make my work.”
For each role this year, Majors has physically transformed himself. A diet of six meals a day and intense workouts made him a muscular mass. Yet the eye-catching metamorphosis belies the steadfast interiority of Majors' performances. Each character – a brawny but tender trio stretching from villain to antihero – is leaden with pain. The discomfort is what attracted him to the roles, especially Killian Maddox of “Magazine Dreams.”
“I was curious if I could actually do that. Not even do it. If I was brave enough to go there for myself,” Majors says. “To feel something that’s inside of all of us, that rage, that awkwardness, that constant heartbreak that I do carry. I can’t hide from it. I have a beautiful daughter. I have a beautiful life. But there’s something inside that’s extremely unsatisfied. Extremely.”
Where Majors’ pain comes from and how it applies to his acting is something you can’t help watching him in “Magazine Dreams” (Searchlight Pictures will release it later this year) or in “Creed III,” in which he plays a man newly freed from prison after a long incarceration for a violent but justifiable crime.
Majors, who has a 9-year-old daughter, grew up poor. His family were at times briefly homeless. His father was absent for most of his life. But putting that rags-to-riches narrative — that frame — around his journey as an actor is something that doesn't quite fit. Majors has no “insta-trauma,” he says, to fuel him.
“I have no moment in my life where I go: That’s what I pull from all the time. I was afraid of that in drama school. My dad just vanished when I was 9 years old,” Majors says. “Yeah, you’re working through that stuff. But I remember saying very clearly: What’s going to happen when I no longer have that pain? When that thought of my dad doesn’t break my heart? Because we grow up. At some point it won’t mist you. What are you going to do then?”
That doesn’t mean he doesn’t still sometimes sound haunted. “How could the best father in the world leave me? How could that happen?” says Majors. “My dad was a great guy. I have no bad memories of that man. I actually have no bad memories of my father, just his absence.”
But Majors’ focus is more outward.
“When you open up your life — any of us — to the suffering of what’s really happening, it gets deep,” he says, rattling off a list of everything from the history of slavery to the George Floyd movement to the heartache of raising a child. “All those things break your heart if you care. And I care a great deal. I don’t know the level to which other people care because I’m not in their skin. But I know the stakes are always extremely high for me. It’s always life or death.”
That, too, was Bynum’s experience working with Majors on “Magazine Dreams." Their long talks, he says, weren’t therapy sessions. To Bynum, Majors is “a conduit for human empathy."
“The intelligence that he has and the instincts he has an actor are one thing, and those are wonderful,” says Bynum. “But his understanding and feeling for people is really what separates him."
“He’s a pretty singular individual and incredibly cerebral and has been that way before any sort of attention has come his way for being that way,” Bynum adds. He's not concerned about what fame might do to Majors, but he is worried about his schedule. “Making another movie is going to be tough," says Bynum, "because he’s locked up in Marvel Land for God knows how long.”
But there aren't too many in the MCU who are simultaneously publishing poetry. Majors has had two poems recently in The New Republic and is planning to publish a collection soon. In some of them, you can see reflections of Majors' character work. In "On an Aeroplane" he writes, "It becomes clear to me/ How society converts a hero/ How the villain finds virtue."
“Writing’s interesting because it’s the subconscious made clear,” Majors says. “You can examine it. What poems warn you not to do is explain it. Not explaining it and living in the ellipses, you get infinite understanding. Yeah, writing is an integral part to my existence but also to crafting characters.”
What’s clear is that Majors’ mind is always working. Even in the background right now, in between late-show appearances and premieres, part of his focus is on his next role in an adaptation of Walter Mosley’s “The Man in My Basement.” The building of a character, Majors says, is gentle. But it's constant.
“I actually work very slow,” he says. “I just don’t stop working. I am always working. And my body knows when it’s go-time.”
All the other stuff ultimately has no bearing on where Majors' head is at. To explain it, he goes back to a formative moment for him, when he realized he wanted to be in actor. It was watching his theater teacher in a Dallas regional production of “The Last Days of Judas Iscariot.” It struck Majors like a thunderclap how his teacher transformed with laser-like focus into someone else on stage.
“I thought: Holy smokes. I want to do that,” says Majors. “That’s where I’m at these days. I’m not shy, but I don’t really like to be bothered. I kind of stick to my stuff. I can be out and chatting and it doesn’t take away from what I’m going to do on screen. It makes no difference.”
___
Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP
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Credit: AP | 2023-03-01T21:12:52+00:00 | springfieldnewssun.com | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/nation-world/jonathan-majors-flexes-his-acting-muscle-turns-heavyweight/R6AMMTBYLFDUZD2PCW562M7OJY/ |
- Brainomix awarded a world-first, nationwide tender for its e-Stroke platform, which will be deployed across all stroke centers in Hungary as part of the National Institute for Health Development initiative to improve stroke care
- Funded under the EU4Health programme, it is the first national tender of its kind where one stroke AI imaging platform will be deployed across an entire national healthcare system
OXFORD, England, Sept. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Brainomix, the AI-powered medtech solutions company, today announces that it has been awarded the national tender in Hungary to deploy its AI stroke imaging software across all stroke centers in Hungary as part of the National Institute for Health Development initiative to improve stroke care.
Awarded following a competitive process, the 5-year program is funded under the EU4Health programme and is the first time that a single stroke AI imaging platform will be deployed across an entire country.
This latest tender will build upon an earlier EU grant that had funded the installation of Brainomix's flagship e-Stroke platform in10 hospitals in and around the Hungarian city of Pécs. It will enable e-Stroke to be deployed across the remaining 28 stroke centers in Hungary's national healthcare system, with the support of eRAD, who will be serving as a technological partner.
e-Stroke is a collection of tools that use state-of-the-art AI algorithms to support doctors by providing real-time interpretation of brain scans to help guide treatment and transfer decisions for stroke patients, allowing more patients to be treated in the right place, at the right time.
The initiative to use AI to improve stroke care and patient outcomes for the benefit of all stroke patients in Hungary was driven by world leading neuroscientist, Prof Dr István Szikora of the National Institute of Mental Health, Neurology and Neurosurgery, (OMIII) in Budapest, which will serve as the national stroke center with full oversight for the program.
The Hungarian e-Stroke program was unveiled at the start of the Hungarian Stroke Society xvi. Congress and XIII Conference of the Hungarian Society of Neurosonology, being held in Siófok, 1-3 September 2022(1).
Launching the program, Prof Dr Szikora said, "Each year more than 20,000 stroke patients are admitted to hospitals across Hungary. e-Stroke has been shown to enable faster treatment times facilitating better patient outcomes, as experienced in single sites here in Hungary and reported in other countries including the UK and Poland.
In our earlier experience with e-Stroke we were particularly impressed by its comprehensive suite of imaging solutions, with the ability to be used in small general hospitals as well as large stroke centres. We are glad that, with the support of an EU grant (EFOP 5.2.6-20), this option now will be available in multiple stroke centers throughout the country."
The e-Stroke platform will support both specialist and non-specialist clinicians to interpret stroke brain scans in real-time, and to identify patients who need urgent treatments or transfer to a specialist hospital. Using the e-Stroke mobile app, doctors can securely share brain scans with specialists at other hospitals, bringing expert decision making to all hospital Emergency Departments 24/7.
The e-Stroke platform has been in use at Semmelweis University Hospital, Budapest, for the past four years, where the primary stroke center treats more than 700 stroke patients each year. Dr Bence Gunda, a Neurologist and Associate Professor based at the Department of Neurology at Semmelweis, has previously shown that treatment rates for stroke patients improved and treatment times were reduced following the installation of Brainomix's e-Stroke.
Dr Gunda said, "Our results are indicative of the impact that Brainomix's technology can have on a stroke network, helping physicians make faster decisions so that more patients can get the optimum treatment. e-Stroke facilitates the diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke by quantifying the extent of ischemic damage, indicating where there are occluded vessels and assessing the status of collateral circulation. The CT perfusion module is very helpful in assessing the eligibility of late-time-window patients for thrombectomy."
In addition to the full national tender for Hungary, e-Stroke has been adopted by other countries in Europe, including across Andalucía in Spain and, in 2021,Brainomix was awarded the national tender for 17 of Poland's largest comprehensive stroke centers. In the UK, Brainomix won an NHS Artificial Intelligence in Health and Care Award to deploy e-Stroke across a number of UK stroke networks and evaluate its impact on stroke care across NHS regions.
Since its launch in 2015, e-Stroke is now used in over 330 hospitals in 30 countries, and it is estimated that every 4 seconds a stroke patient benefits from the insights its AI-powered software provides.
Dr Michalis Papadakis, Brainomix's Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, commented, "We are absolutely delighted that e-Stroke has been chosen to help improve stroke care in Hungary. It demonstrates further the superiority of our e-Stroke platform and solidifies our position as market leader in Europe. Roll out across Hungary has already begun, with plans for installation and training in all 38 hospitals over the coming months, underlining the speed and ease of installation and our ability to deploy e-Stroke at scale."
"AI is transforming healthcare in many ways, and we are proud to be pioneering AI-enabled imaging solutions in precision medicine for better treatment decisions not only in stroke, but also in other indications including lung fibrosis and cancer" added Dr Papadakis
(1). Brainomix Symposium, 1 September 2022, 10.15-11.15, the Hungarian Stroke Society xvi. Congress and XIII Conference of the Hungarian Society of Neurosonology, Siófok (Hungary).
To learn more about Brainomix and its technology visit www.brainomix.com, and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.
Contacts:
At Brainomix
Jeff Wyrtzen, Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer
jwyrtzen@brainomix.com
M +44(0)7927 164210
T +44(0)1865 582730
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SOURCE Brainomix | 2022-09-01T10:30:59+00:00 | wcjb.com | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/brainomixs-ai-software-be-rolled-out-across-hungarys-entire-national-healthcare-system-improve-stroke-care/ |
- Revenue of $2.5 billion, down 4% on an as-reported basis and down 1% on an FX-Neutral basis
- Gross Merchandise Volume of $18.2 billion, down 12% on an as-reported basis and down 6% on an FX-Neutral basis
- GAAP and Non-GAAP EPS per diluted share of $1.23 and $1.07, respectively, on a continuing operations basis
- GAAP and Non-GAAP operating margin of 22.5% and 29.9%, respectively
- Returned over $419 million to shareholders in Q4, including $300 million of share repurchases and $119 million paid in cash dividends
- Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share, a 14% increase from the prior quarterly dividend
SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- eBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY), a global commerce leader that connects millions of buyers and sellers around the world, today reported financial results for its fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2022.
"In 2022, we made significant progress on our multi-year strategic journey," said Jamie Iannone, Chief Executive Officer at eBay. "Our focus category playbook continues to drive underlying growth in our business and the investments we've made in core technology are enabling us to innovate on behalf of our customers more quickly. We have a talented team, a strong strategic vision and a persistent focus on operational excellence that will create long-term value for our shareholders in the years ahead."
"Our Q4 results demonstrate the continued resilience of our marketplace amid economic uncertainty," said Steve Priest, Chief Financial Officer at eBay. "I'm extremely proud of our teams for delivering on their quarterly financial commitments, maintaining prudent cost discipline, and executing key deliverables in support of our strategy."
Fourth Quarter Financial Highlights
- Revenue was $2.5 billion, down 4% on an as-reported basis and down 1% on a foreign exchange (FX) neutral basis.
- Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) was $18.2 billion, down 12% on an as-reported basis and down 6% on an FX-Neutral basis.
- GAAP net income from continuing operations was $671 million, or $1.23 per diluted share, primarily driven by the change in fair value of our equity investments.
- Non-GAAP net income from continuing operations was $581 million, or $1.07 per diluted share.
- GAAP and Non-GAAP operating margin was 22.5% and 29.9%, respectively.
- Generated $686 million of operating cash flow and $533 million of free cash flow from continuing operations.
- Returned over $419 million to shareholders, including $300 million of share repurchases and $119 million paid in cash dividends.
- Issued $1.15 billion of senior unsecured notes in November 2022.
Full Year Financial Highlights
- Revenue was $9.8 billion, down 6% on an as-reported basis and down 4% on an FX-Neutral basis.
- GMV was $73.9 billion, down 15% on an as-reported basis and down 11% on an FX-Neutral basis.
- GAAP net loss from continuing operations was $1.3 billion, or $(2.28) per diluted share, primarily driven by the change in fair value of our equity investments.
- Non-GAAP net income from continuing operations was $2.3 billion, or $4.11 per diluted share.
- GAAP and Non-GAAP operating margin was 24.0% and 30.0%, respectively.
- Generated $2.6 billion of operating cash flow and $2.2 billion of free cash flow from continuing operations.
- Sold shares in Adevinta, Adyen and KakaoBank for cash proceeds of $1.1 billion in the aggregate.
- Returned over $3.6 billion to shareholders, including $3.1 billion of share repurchases and $489 million paid in cash dividends.
Business Highlights
Revenue Initiatives
- eBay's first party advertising products, primarily driven by Promoted Listings, delivered $276 million of revenue in the fourth quarter, up 19% on an as-reported basis and up 27% on an FX-Neutral basis.
- The company's total advertising offerings generated over $319 million in revenue in the fourth quarter, representing roughly 1.8% of GMV.
- For sellers who use Promoted Listings Advanced, eBay launched Quick Setup, a one-click campaign creation solution where eBay automates and optimizes the campaign structure, ad groups, targeting and keyword bids. The company also introduced multi-user account access across the full suite of Promoted Listings, which enables eBay sellers to delegate campaign management to trusted third-parties like brands or ad agencies.
- During the quarter, eBay introduced split payments in the U.S. for transactions over $1,000, enabling buyers to spread large purchases across two credit cards.
- In Australia, eBay launched ZipPay and ZipMoney as additional Buy Now, Pay Later options for eligible customers. With the introduction of ZipMoney, eBay buyers can enjoy up to six months of interest-free payment installments for items like luxury handbags, smartphones and car parts.
Tech-Led Reimagination of the Platform
- eBay and Nike commemorated 20 years of the Nike SB Dunk with a general re-release of the "eBay Dunk." The companies auctioned 10 exclusive, limited edition tribute pairs, with proceeds benefiting the Bodecker Foundation.
- eBay opened a pop-up Luxury Exchange store in New York City, where shoppers were invited to have their jewelry, handbags and watches appraised and exchanged for "closet currency" to purchase authentic items from eBay's top luxury sellers.
- To further improve trust for Motors Parts and Accessories (P&A) buyers, eBay launched a "Fits Your Vehicle" badge that clearly indicates if a part fits their vehicle. The badge is displayed prominently throughout the buyer's journey across search, merchandising, view item and checkout.
- In Q4, eBay Motors began a major evolution of its tire installation capabilities, broadening its network of installation partners to better serve P&A buyers in more locations. The company is also making installation more visible on the View Item page and prompting buyers to select installation at checkout on desktop and mobile web.
- eBay Motors sponsored Sarah and Bridget Burgess for their October 14 ARCA Menards West Series race, which marks the first time in NASCAR and ARCA history that a mother and daughter raced each other in the sport.
- eBay hosted Love Island U.K. Ambassador Tasha Ghouri's Store of Preloved Sparkle, showcasing a curated collection of party clothes, refurbished tech and Authenticity Guaranteed handbags and watches to promote non-new gifting and party wear.
- In February 2023, eBay acquired 3PM Shield, a provider of advanced AI-based marketplace compliance solutions. This acquisition further enhances eBay's world-class monitoring solutions with technologies designed to prevent the sale of counterfeit items, unsafe products and illegal goods, and is part of eBay's ongoing commitment to provide sellers and buyers with a safe and trusted platform.
Impact
- In 2022, eBay generated $4.6 billion in positive economic impact through the sale of pre-loved and refurbished goods. This activity avoided 1.6 million metric tons of carbon emissions and kept 73,000 metric tons of waste from going into landfills.
- In recognition of the company's sustainability efforts, eBay was included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North American Indices as well as CDP's A List for 2022. Additionally, eBay ranked number one on Cross-Border Commerce Europe's list of the Top Sustainable Marketplaces Operating in Europe.
- During the quarter, eBay published its inaugural Small Business Report, which examines how sellers start their businesses on eBay and the important ways in which the marketplace has fueled their growth while enabling community and global reach.
- eBay released its U.S. Women-Owned Small Online Business Export Report, which details how women entrepreneurs on eBay are building successful business enterprises for the long haul by exporting to new global markets.
- The company launched the eBay Academy for Japan, which teaches Japanese sellers of all levels how to take advantage of the tools at their fingertips by providing them with e-learning materials, online seminars, workshops and the eBay Talks podcast.
- The eBay Foundation granted nearly $23 million in 2022, primarily to non-profit organizations advancing inclusive entrepreneurship and through the company's employee matching gifts program.
- eBay for Charity contributed more than $35 million globally during the quarter and more than $163 million in 2022.
Other Selected Financial and Operational Results
- Operating margin – GAAP operating margin decreased to 22.5% for the fourth quarter of 2022, compared to 26.3% for the same period last year. Non-GAAP operating margin decreased to 29.9% in the fourth quarter of 2022, compared to 31.6% for the same period last year.
- Taxes – The GAAP effective tax rate for continuing operations for the fourth quarter of 2022 was 19.1%, compared to 23.1% for the fourth quarter of 2021. The non-GAAP effective tax rate for continuing operations for the fourth quarter of 2022 was 16.5%(1).
- Cash flow – The company generated $686 million of operating cash flow and $533 million of free cash flow from continuing operations during the fourth quarter of 2022.
- Capital returns – The company repurchased $300 million of its common stock, or roughly 7 million shares, in the fourth quarter of 2022. The company's total repurchase authorization remaining as of December 31, 2022 was more than $2.8 billion. The company also paid cash dividends of $119 million during the fourth quarter of 2022.
- Cash and cash equivalents and non-equity investments – The company's cash and cash equivalents and non-equity investments portfolio totaled $5.9 billion as of December 31, 2022.
Business Outlook
eBay is providing the following guidance for continuing operations for Q1 2023.
Dividend Declaration
- eBay's Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.25 per share of the company's common stock. The dividend is payable on March 24, 2023 to stockholders of record as of March 10, 2023.
(1) We use a non-GAAP effective tax rate for evaluating our operating results. Based on our current long-term projections, we are using a non-GAAP tax rate of 16.5%. This non-GAAP tax rate could change for various reasons including significant changes in our geographic earnings mix or fundamental tax law changes in major jurisdictions in which we operate.
Quarterly Conference Call and Webcast
eBay Inc. will host a conference call to discuss fourth quarter and full year 2022 results at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time today. Investors and participants can access the call by dialing (888) 655-9638 in the U.S. and (646) 960-0687 internationally. The passcode for the conference line is 7435074. A live webcast of the conference call, together with a slide presentation that includes supplemental financial information and reconciliations of certain non-GAAP measures to their nearest comparable GAAP measures, can be accessed through the company's Investor Relations website at https://investors.ebayinc.com. In addition, an archive of the webcast will be accessible for at least three months through the same link.
eBay Inc. uses its Investor Relations website at https://investors.ebayinc.com as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Accordingly, investors should monitor this website, in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls and webcasts.
About eBay
eBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY) is a global commerce leader that connects millions of buyers and sellers in more than 190 markets around the world. We exist to enable economic opportunity for individuals, entrepreneurs, businesses and organizations of all sizes. Founded in 1995 in San Jose, California, eBay is one of the world's largest and most vibrant marketplaces for discovering great value and unique selection. In 2022, eBay enabled nearly $74 billion of gross merchandise volume. For more information about the company and its global portfolio of online brands, visit www.ebayinc.com.
Presentation
All growth rates represent year-over-year comparisons, except as otherwise noted. All amounts in tables are presented in U.S. dollars, rounded to the nearest million, except as otherwise noted. As a result, certain amounts may not sum or recalculate using the rounded dollar amounts provided. References to "revenue" refer to "net revenues" as reported in the company's consolidated statement of income.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release includes the following financial measures defined as "non-GAAP financial measures" by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC): non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP earnings per diluted share, non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP effective tax rate, free cash flow and FX-Neutral basis. These non-GAAP financial measures are presented on a continuing operations basis. These measures may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. The presentation of this financial information, which is not prepared under any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles, is not intended to be considered in isolation of, or as a substitute for, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). For a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures, except for figures in this press release presented on an "FX-Neutral basis," to the nearest comparable GAAP measures, see "Business Outlook," "Non-GAAP Measures of Financial Performance," "Reconciliation of GAAP Operating Income to Non-GAAP Operating Income," "Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Non-GAAP Net Income and Reconciliation of GAAP Effective Tax Rate to Non-GAAP Effective Tax Rate" and "Reconciliation of Operating Cash Flow to Free Cash Flow" included in this press release. For figures in this press release reported "on an FX-Neutral basis," we calculate the year-over-year impact of foreign currency movements using prior period foreign currency rates applied to current year transactional currency amounts. We define Organic FX-Neutral revenue growth as reported revenue growth, excluding incremental revenue from acquisitions or dispositions for the twelve-month period following such acquisitions or dispositions and foreign exchange rate effects.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to, among other things, the future performance of eBay Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries that are based on the company's current expectations, forecasts and assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the future performance of eBay Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, including management's vision for the future of eBay and our ability to accomplish our vision, expected financial results for the first quarter and full year 2023 and the future growth in our business, the effects of geopolitical events and inflationary pressure on our business and operations and our ability to respond to such effects, operating efficiency and margins, reinvestments, dividends and share repurchases. Actual results could differ materially from those predicted or implied and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. Other factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: changes in political, business and economic conditions, including impacts from the ongoing war in Ukraine, rising inflation and interest rates, decreases in consumer confidence, the effects of COVID-19 on our business and operations and on the general economy, including effects on our sellers and customers, any regional or general economic downturn or crisis and any conditions that affect e-commerce growth or cross-border trade; the company's ability to realize expected growth opportunities in payments intermediation and advertising; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; the company's need to successfully react to the increasing importance of mobile commerce and the increasing social aspect of commerce; an increasingly competitive environment for its business; changes to the company's capital allocation, including the timing, declaration, amount and payment of any future dividends or levels of the company's share repurchases, or management of operating cash; the company's ability to increase operating efficiency to drive margin improvements and enable reinvestments; the company's ability to manage its indebtedness, including managing exposure to interest rates and maintaining its credit ratings; the company's need to manage a large enterprise with a broad range of businesses of varying degrees of maturity and in many different geographies; the ability to successfully intermediate payments on our marketplace platform; the company's need and ability to manage regulatory, tax, data security and litigation risks; the ultimate resolution of ongoing investigations and other legal matters involving the Company; the company's ability to timely upgrade and develop its technology systems, infrastructure and customer service capabilities at reasonable cost while maintaining site stability and performance and adding new products and features; and the company's ability to integrate, manage and grow businesses that have been acquired or may be acquired in the future.
The forward-looking statements in this release do not include the potential impact of any acquisitions or divestitures that may be announced and/or completed after the date hereof.
More information about factors that could affect the company's operating results is included under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, copies of which may be obtained by visiting the company's Investor Relations website at https://investors.ebayinc.com or the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements in this press release, which are based on information available to the company on the date hereof. The company assumes no obligation to update such statements.
eBay Inc.
Business Outlook
The guidance figures provided below and elsewhere in this press release are forward-looking statements, reflect a number of estimates, assumptions and other uncertainties, and are approximate in nature because the company's future performance is difficult to predict. Revenue guidance is provided on an FX-Neutral basis and excludes incremental revenue from acquisitions or dispositions for the twelve-month period following such acquisitions or dispositions. Such guidance is based on information available on the date of this press release, and the company assumes no obligation to update it.
The company's future performance involves risks and uncertainties, and the company's actual results could differ materially from the information below and elsewhere in this press release. Some of the factors that could affect the company's operating results are set forth under the caption "Forward-Looking Statements" above in this press release. More information about factors that could affect the company's operating results is included under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in its most recent annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, copies of which may be obtained by visiting eBay's investor relations website at https://investors.ebayinc.com or the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
eBay Inc.
Non-GAAP Measures of Financial Performance
To supplement the company's condensed consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, the company uses non-GAAP measures of certain components of financial performance. These non-GAAP measures include non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP earnings per diluted share, non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP effective tax rate, free cash flow and figures in this press release presented on an "FX-Neutral basis." These non-GAAP financial measures are presented on a continuing operations basis.
These non-GAAP measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative to, measures prepared in accordance with GAAP and may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies. In addition, these non-GAAP measures are not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. Non-GAAP measures have limitations in that they do not reflect all of the amounts associated with the company's results of operations as determined in accordance with GAAP. These measures should only be used to evaluate the company's results of operations in conjunction with the corresponding GAAP measures.
Reconciliation to the nearest GAAP measure of all non-GAAP measures included in this press release, except for figures in this press release presented on an "FX-Neutral basis," can be found in the tables included in this press release. For figures in this press release reported "on an FX-Neutral basis," the company calculates the year-over-year impact of foreign currency movements using prior period foreign currency rates applied to current year transactional currency amounts. The company defines organic FX-Neutral revenue growth as reported revenue growth, excluding incremental revenue from acquisitions or dispositions for the twelve-month period following such acquisitions or dispositions and foreign exchange rate effects.
These non-GAAP measures are provided to enhance investors' overall understanding of the company's current financial performance and its prospects for the future. Specifically, the company believes the non-GAAP measures provide useful information to both management and investors by excluding certain expenses, gains and losses, or net purchases of property and equipment, as the case may be, that may not be indicative of its core operating results and business outlook. In addition, because the company has historically reported certain non-GAAP results to investors, the company believes that the inclusion of non-GAAP measures provides consistency in the company's financial reporting.
For its internal budgeting process, and as discussed further below, the company's management uses financial measures that do not include stock-based compensation expense, employer payroll taxes on stock-based compensation, amortization or impairment of acquired intangible assets, impairment of goodwill, amortization of deferred tax assets associated with the realignment of its legal structure and related foreign exchange effects, significant gains or losses from the disposal/acquisition of a business, certain gains and losses on investments including changes in fair value, changes in foreign currency exchange rates and the impact of any related foreign exchange derivative instruments, gains or losses associated with a warrant agreement that the company entered into with Adyen, restructuring-related charges and the income taxes associated with the foregoing. In addition to the corresponding GAAP measures, the company's management also uses the foregoing non-GAAP measures in reviewing the financial results of the company.
The company excludes the following items from non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP earnings per diluted share, non-GAAP operating income and non-GAAP effective tax rate:
Stock-based compensation expense and related employer payroll taxes. This expense consists of expenses for stock options, restricted stock and employee stock purchases. The company excludes stock-based compensation expense from its non-GAAP measures primarily because they are non-cash expenses that management does not believe are reflective of ongoing operating results. The related employer payroll taxes are dependent on the company's stock price and the vesting of restricted stock by employees and the timing and size of stock option exercises, over which management has limited to no control, and as such management does not believe it correlates to the company's operation of the business.
Amortization or impairment of acquired intangible assets, impairment of goodwill, certain amortization of deferred tax assets and related foreign exchange effects, significant gains or losses and transaction expenses from the acquisition or disposal of a business and certain gains or losses on investments. The company incurs amortization or impairment of acquired intangible assets and goodwill in connection with acquisitions and may incur significant gains or losses from the acquisition or disposal of a business and therefore excludes these amounts from its non-GAAP measures. The company also excludes certain gains and losses on investments. The company excludes the non-cash amortization of deferred tax assets associated with the realignment of its legal structure, which is not reduced by the effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and related foreign exchange effects. The company excludes these items because management does not believe they correlate to the ongoing operating results of the company's business.
Restructuring. These charges consist of expenses for employee severance and other exit and disposal costs. The company excludes significant restructuring charges primarily because management does not believe they are reflective of ongoing operating results.
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SOURCE eBay Inc. | 2023-02-22T22:50:31+00:00 | wcjb.com | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2023/02/22/ebay-inc-reports-better-than-expected-fourth-quarter-2022-results/ |
On the day after his confirmation as chief executive of the U.S. Agency for Global Media in June 2020, Michael Pack met with a career employee to discuss which senior leaders at the agency and the Voice of America should be forced out due to their perceived political beliefs.
"Hates Republicans," the employee had written about one in a memo. "Openly despises Trump and Republicans," they said of another. A third, the employee wrote, "is not on the Trump team." The list went on. (Firing someone over political affiliation is typically a violation of federal civil service law.)
Within two days, Pack was examining ways to remove suspect staffers, a new federal investigation found. The executives he sidelined were later reinstated and exonerated by the inspector general's office of the U.S. State Department. Pack ultimately turned his attention to agency executives, network chiefs, and journalists themselves.
The report, sent to the White House and Congressional leaders earlier this month, found that the Trump appointee repeatedly abused the powers of his office, broke laws and regulations, and engaged in gross mismanagement.
USAGM oversees the Voice of America and other international broadcasters funded by the federal government, such as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia and Radio Television Martí. The networks are charged with providing straight news for societies where independent news coverage is either repressed or financially unfeasible and with modeling the value of pluralistic political debate within that coverage.
"It just takes one's breath away."
"This report is remarkable in its breadth and depth and detail of the wrongdoing that was underway at these agencies in the last six months of the Trump administration," says David Seide, an attorney with the Government Accountability Project, a nonprofit public interest law firm which has represented more than 30 whistleblowers at USAGM, VOA and its sister networks since Pack took office. "It just takes one's breath away."
The 145-page report independently corroborates many of the whistleblower complaints. It also lends new weight and depth to earlier reporting by NPR, inquiries by a U.S. inspector general and rulings by a federal judge and a local District of Columbia judge.
Taken together, they depict Pack's brief tenure as an ideologically driven rampage through a government agency to try to force its newsrooms and workforce to show fealty to the White House.
Pack punished executives who objected to the legality of his plans, interfered in the journalistic independence of the newsrooms under his agency, and personally signed a no-bid contract with a private law firm to investigate those employees he saw as opposed to former President Donald Trump. The law firm's fees reached the seven figures for work typically done by attorneys who are federal employees.
In Trumpian flourish, Pack promised "to drain the swamp"
In a conversation with the conservative news outlet The Federalist, Pack characterized his moves with a Trumpian flourish: "to drain the swamp, to root out corruption and to deal with these issues of bias." Pack did not respond to NPR's requests for comment.
Pack is a conservative documentarian and former official at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. His appointment was held up for two years in the U.S. Senate over concerns about his highly ideological approach and whether he had been candid over the finances of his business. (His production company ultimately agreed to transfer $210,000 back to a nonprofit that he also controls, which was itself subsequently compelled to dissolve under a legal settlement he reached last year with the D.C. Attorney General's office.)
Pack, a slight man with an unassuming manner, had tight ties to major conservative figures. He briefly led the Claremont Institute in California, which is influential in Republican circles; he previously developed two documentaries for public television that Steve Bannon helped to produce. Bannon later became Trump's campaign manager and chief White House political strategist.
In early 2020, his nomination still languishing, Pack released his documentary about U.S. Justice Clarence Thomas, based on extensive interviews with the jurist and his wife, the conservative activist Ginni Thomas. He reportedly became friends with the Thomases, writing a book with the former White House attorney who helped smooth Thomas' path to confirmation in 1991.
Pack's own prospects for confirmation revived in spring 2020 when Trump's White House attacked the Voice of America, in almost unprecedented fashion. The White House publicly alleged the news service uncritically relayed Chinese propaganda about the nation's efforts to combat the outbreak of the Covid-19 coronavirus.
A litany of abuses substantiated by federal investigation
The inquiry was conducted by three outside consultants hired by USAGM and endorsed by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, the agency that investigates federal whistleblower complaints. The report concludes that Pack:
Violations found of journalistic independence and the civil workforce's professionalism
Not all of the actions under investigation amounted to an abuse of power, a gross waste of federal funds, or a violation of the law. For example, the inquiry found that it was within Pack's authority to remove the heads of the networks, despite objections and protests.
Even in some of those instances, however, Pack was found to have acted improperly, as when he fired the head of Radio Free Asia and directed her replacement to force her out of her subsequent, contractually protected position of executive editor at the network. "CEO Pack's actions were inconsistent with the statutory mandate that he respect the networks' journalistic integrity and independence," the report states.
Nearly every outfit overseen by the USAGM was affected by his actions — or, at times, his inactions. Pack remained mute when his newly installed VOA leaders demoted a reporter who covered the White House for pressing then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for answers about the January 6th, 2021 siege of the U.S. Capitol; he took no action when the acting chief of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting provided a Trump political aide with a link to its content to distribute to a U.S. audience shortly before the 2020 elections, despite laws preventing such dissemination; and he failed to assign a standards editor for Voice of America after reassigning the longtime news executive for four months.
That last maneuver, the report found, constituted gross mismanagement.
NPR has previously reported on many of the matters under investigation, and some others that did not receive official scrutiny.
Based on exchanges among USAGM staffers, NPR previously reported that McGuireWoods intended to charge hundreds of thousands of dollars more than the $1.6 million billed but stopped invoicing the agency late that fall. Pack was about to lose his perch and his patron, as Joe Biden won election in November. Biden would order Pack to resign as one of his first formal acts in office. A spokesperson for McGuireWoods did not return a detailed message seeking comment.
Pack refused special counsel's authority to order an investigation
The inquiry itself was instigated by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel. It received the whistleblower complaints and directed USAGM to conduct the investigation.
In one of his final actions in office, Pack wrote that he did not accept the agency's authority to instruct him to initiate the investigation. He called the agency's structure "unconstitutional" and said of those who lodged complaints against him, "They have an axe to grind." That refusal, too, was seen as a breach of Pack's duties.
The Office of Special Counsel appointed a panel of three outside experts, including the former acting chief of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, a former senior executive of the Export-Import Bank, and a former investigative reporter who has worked for the special counsel's office.
NPR spoke to seven current and former staffers at USAGM and outlets and outfits it funds. Each said the report reflected a climate of crisis, fear and reprisal.
In sum, Pack's seven-and-a-half month stint running the agency exemplified Trump's contempt for the press and for the professional federal workforce that prides itself on nonpartisanship. (Pack echoed Trump's designation of that workforce as the "Deep State.")
Yet the people with whom NPR spoke also, independently, noted this account of Pack's tenure may not represent only a past era.
On May 10, Congressman Andy Ogles, a Republican from Tennessee, introduced legislation to prohibit any federal funding for the Open Technology Fund, as Pack had sought to do. Trump announced his support for Ogles' 2024 re-election bid on the next day.
And the conservative Heritage Foundation has drawn up proposals for whom should be hired at federal agencies, should Trump or another Republican win the White House in 2024.
Among the project's leaders is John McEntee, the former personnel chief in the Trump White House who helped set up the cadre of partisans that formed Pack's inner circle at USAGM.
Disclosure: This story was reported by NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik and edited by NPR Deputy Business Editor Emily Kopp. Because of NPR CEO John Lansing's prior role as CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, no senior news executive or corporate executive at NPR reviewed this story before it was published.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2023-05-21T11:54:03+00:00 | iowapublicradio.org | https://www.iowapublicradio.org/news-from-npr/2023-05-21/federal-inquiry-details-abuses-of-power-by-trumps-ceo-over-voice-of-america |
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration hopes to make getting a COVID-19 booster as routine as going in for the yearly flu shot.
That’s at the heart of its campaign to sell the newly authorized shot to an American public that has widely rejected COVID-19 boosters since they first became available last fall.
Shots of the updated boosters, specifically designed by Pfizer and Moderna to respond to the omicron strain, could begin within days. U.S. health advisers recommended today that most Americans get the modified doses and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to adopt those recommendations. The U.S. government has already begun shipping some of the 170 million shots it purchased and is emphasizing that everyone will have free access to the booster.
White House COVID-19 coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha said this latest round of shots will offer protection during the busy cold and flu season, with the hope of transitioning people to get the vaccine yearly. Typically, at least half of U.S. adults get a flu shot.
“We expect them to provide more durable protection over time,” Jha said in an interview Wednesday with The Associated Press. “The goal very much is to get to a point where people get their COVID shot on a regular basis, the way they do their flu shot.”
Community health workers in North Carolina, home to the country’s lowest COVID-19 booster rate, like the strategy, especially because of confusion among some people about vaccine schedules.
“I believe in keeping things simple,” said Marty Stamey, an outreach coordinator for the Mountain Area Health Education Center in western North Carolina. “I’ve heard a lot of people say, ‘I think I’ll just wait and try to do it like the flu shots.’”
The White House plan also relies in part on local health departments, providers and community groups to reach out and encourage people to get the updated booster. Pharmacies, health providers and state or local health departments are preparing to send text messages to millions of people that will encourage them to get a booster this fall, White House officials said.
Jha said he recommends most Americans get the booster by the end of October.
Still, this latest vaccination campaign faces several challenges.
A majority of Americans got their first and second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine when it was released last year but they’ve been more reluctant to get a booster jab, with less than half getting their first booster since it became available late last year.
Congress also has not moved forward on President Joe Biden’s $22.5 billion request earlier this year for the COVID-19 response. Republicans criticized the request, pointing to the $1.9 trillion already spent on responding to the pandemic. Running short on funds, the government announced it would stop shipping COVID-19 tests to people’s homes after Friday.
And COVID-19 funding is drying up for many of the community groups that received millions of federal tax dollars to hire workers who spent months reaching deep into neighborhoods with door knocks, mobile vaccine clinics and posters encouraging people to inoculate against COVID-19.
White House officials say those local leaders deserve a lot of credit for stamping out misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine and convincing many around the country that the shot will protect them.
“Those are the really critical messengers,” Jha said.
That on-the-ground work has been crucial to getting people vaccinated in the rural, Spanish- and Haitian-speaking communities that the Migrant Clinicians Network has reached throughout Texas, California and Maryland with its $8.5 million federal grant.
“Simply having the vaccines available is one thing, but getting the shots in the arms is another,” said Amy Liebman, a chief program officer for the nonprofit group.
Some of those local health organizations, too, are now stretched as they work to get low vaccination rates among children under 12 up. Only a third of 5- to 11-year-olds received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine since becoming eligible late last year. Meanwhile, just 7% of children under 5 have gotten a first dose since it was made available this summer.
Dr. Niharika Khanna at the University of Maryland School of Medicine has just started making progress on convincing new mothers that the vaccine is safe and effective for their babies.
Her program, which has hired more than 269 health workers and administered more than 12,000 vaccinations and boosters across Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, isn’t quite ready to transition back to pushing COVID-19 boosters.
“All of these people, all of these relationships we’ve carefully cultivated are at risk for falling apart,” Khanna said. “Today if you were to say to me switch to booster, I’d say no. I need another two to three weeks to really get these people going.”
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AP White House Correspondent Zeke Miller contributed to this report. | 2022-09-04T14:07:49+00:00 | wivb.com | https://www.wivb.com/news/political-news/ap-politics/ap-white-house-to-encourage-covid-boosters-flu-shot-this-fall/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — Kawaski Trawick’s interaction with the police lasted less than two minutes. Starting with a door knock, it ended with the 32-year-old Black man shot dead by a white New York Police Department officer in his own apartment, the killing caught on body camera and surveillance video.
An internal NYPD investigation found no wrongdoing on the part of the officer or his partner. The district attorney in the Bronx, where the shooting took place in 2019, declined to bring charges.
Now, four years after Trawick’s death, a civilian agency tasked with oversight of the NYPD is pursuing a last-ditch attempt to get the department to discipline the officers.
An administrative trial starts Monday to determine whether either violated department rules during the encounter.
The Civilian Complaint Review Board will argue that Officer Brendan Thompson, who fired both his Taser and his handgun at Trawick, used an improper amount of force, and both he and his partner, Officer Herbert Davis, didn’t promptly seek medical care for the dying man.
If found by an NYPD judge to have violated department rules, the officers could face penalties including firing, though a final decision about discipline will be left to Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell.
An accusation of improperly entering Trawick’s apartment was dismissed by the trial judge.
Trawick’s family and community advocates have been vocal in their calls for the officers to be fired for the death of the Georgia native, who moved to New York City a few years before his death to pursue his dreams of dancing stardom.
“He was working toward … getting himself to a place where he was known for what he loved to do,” said his mother, Ellen Trawick. “Not for being murdered by two police officers.”
The leadership of the Police Benevolent Association, the union representing patrol officers and which is paying for the officers’ attorneys, called Trawick’s death an “undeniable tragedy” that was being exploited by “anti-police activists.”
“The case was thoroughly investigated by both the Bronx district attorney and the NYPD’s Force Investigation Division, which found no evidence of wrongdoing by these police officers,” PBA President Pat Lynch said in a statement. “CCRB is not claiming it has any new evidence that would change those findings.”
On the night he died, Trawick had locked himself out of his apartment at a supportive housing facility in the Bronx for people experiencing issues including substance abuse or living with certain health conditions.
He called 911, falsely saying the building was on fire. Other people in the building made calls to 911 about him, complaining he was being disruptive.
The Fire Department responded first. Shortly before 11 p.m., firefighters got his door open without incident. Trawick, seen on surveillance camera footage carrying a knife and a stick, said goodbye to the firefighters, went inside and closed the door.
A few minutes later, the two police officers arrived at his door. As seen on surveillance video and Thompson’s body camera footage, what followed was this: Davis, a 16-year veteran at the time, knocked and when the door moved ajar, pushed it open further, bringing Trawick into sight standing at his stove in his underwear with the knife and stick still in his hands.
The officers repeatedly told Trawick to put down the knife.
Trawick, annoyed, repeatedly asked the officers why they are there.
“I’ve got a knife because I’m cooking!” he said.
Trawick was standing still, muttering to himself, when Thompson abruptly fired his Taser, dropping him to the floor.
Screaming in pain and anger, Trawick rose, yelling at the officers to get out of his home.
As officers backed out of the apartment, Davis, who is Black, can be seen on the video briefly pushing his white partner’s gun down, telling him, “Don’t, don’t, don’t.”
A moment later, Trawick moved toward the officers, yelling, “I’m gonna kill you all!” while still holding the knife. Thompson fired four shots, killing him.
Thompson radioed for help and emergency medical technicians arrived within two minutes but couldn’t help Trawick.
In the day after Trawick’s death, senior NYPD officers said the shooting appeared to be justified, and that he had been “charging” the officers when he was shot. It wasn’t until more than a year and a half later that the full video footage became public after a legal push from nonprofit groups.
In a report explaining her decision not to bring criminal charges, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, who is Black, said that while Trawick’s death was “profoundly tragic,” her office wouldn’t be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Thompson’s use of deadly force was unjustified.
Loyda Colon, executive director of Justice Committee, an organization that advocates against police abuse of power, said the video shows the officers did not follow the department’s protocols for how to engage in situations like Trawick’s.
Trawick “is unfortunately one of too many people whose death at the hands of the NYPD was completely avoidable,” Colon said.
Like many police departments, the NYPD has struggled with incidents in which people in psychological crisis have been killed by officers in situations that — in retrospect — seemed avoidable.
The department offers training in “de-escalation” tactics, through which officers are supposed to try to defuse encounters by talking calmly, rather than barking orders, and isolate a disturbed person who is not following instructions rather than resort to threats or violence to get them to comply.
The disciplinary trial is scheduled to last for several days, with some testimony occurring this week and more in May, after a break due to scheduling conflicts. | 2023-04-24T21:49:25+00:00 | wnct.com | https://www.wnct.com/news/national/4-years-later-a-disciplinary-hearing-in-fatal-nypd-shooting/ |
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni fired his son as commander of the nation’s infantry forces Tuesday after the son tweeted an unprovoked threat to capture the capital of neighboring Kenya, drawing widespread concern in East Africa.
Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, dubbed ‘the tweeting general’ of Uganda, in recent months had sparked anger among some Ugandans who see his frequent posts on Twitter as provocative and sometimes even dangerous.
He has tweeted in support of the Tigray rebels fighting Ethiopian federal troops. He’s voiced support for violent rebels fighting in eastern Congo. He said all Africans support Russia in its war in Ukraine. Bizarrely, he recently said he was offering 100 long-horned cattle — apparently as bride price — for Italy’s incoming female prime minister.
Some of Kainerugaba’s supporters say his tweets are attempts at humor and shouldn’t be taken seriously. But many others see a bigger problem. As an army officer, he is constitutionally barred from engaging in partisan politics and some Ugandans point out that any other soldier tweeting like Kainerugaba would be court-martialed.
“It wouldn’t take us, my army and me, 2 weeks to capture Nairobi,” he tweeted Monday.
That threat to seize the capital of Kenya went too far for his father, an authoritarian leader who has held power since 1986.
Kenyan President William Ruto, who took power last month, is friendly with Museveni, whom he described as the region’s “father” during his inauguration.
Kainerugaba’s tweets exasperated many Kenyans, and the foreign minister tweeted Tuesday that he had a meeting with the Ugandan ambassador. Uganda’s foreign ministry dismissed Kainerugaba’s tweets in a statement that spoke of a “harmonious relationship that we value.”
Kainerugaba, the pillar of his father’s personal security apparatus, has been the de facto head of Uganda’s military, with his allies strategically deployed in command positions across the security services, according to observers. Although he was sacked from his post as head of Uganda’s infantry forces, Kainerugaba still was promoted to a five-star general and will remain a military adviser to his father, according to a statement issued by the military Tuesday. He was replaced as infantry commander by Lt. Gen. Kayanja Muhanga.
Many Ugandans believe Kainerugaba is being groomed to replace Museveni as president, allegations the president has long denied.
Kainerugaba’s associates describe him as a dedicated military officer who often eschews ostentatious displays of power and wealth. He attended military schools in the U.S. and Britain before taking charge of a presidential guard unit that has since been expanded into an elite group of special forces. | 2022-10-04T20:27:01+00:00 | valleycentral.com | https://www.valleycentral.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-ugandas-president-fires-military-son-after-offensive-tweets/ |
More peanut butter products are being recalled this week because of the risk of salmonella contamination, following last month's Jif peanut butter recall.
F&S Produce recalled a limited quantity of its Protein Power Snacks on Tuesday, and Taharka Brothers recalled its peanut butter cup ice cream on Monday.
The Protein Power Snacks each contain a 0.75 ounce cup of Jif peanut butter, according to a company announcement posted on the FDA website. The product was distributed at Walgreens stores in New York and New Jersey, and it has been pulled from the shelves, according to the release. The last lot affected is dated "Best By: 05/28/22" on the front label.
Affected Taharka Brothers ice cream was distributed by grocery stores, restaurants, "scoop shops," and through direct delivery in the D.C. and Maryland area between March 1 and May 28.
No illnesses have been linked to the protein snack or the ice cream, but the peanut butter used to produce them does have associated illnesses.
J.M. Smuckers recalled several Jif products in May due to potential contamination with salmonella. There have been 16 illnesses and 2 hospitalizations associated with the outbreak.
Since the initial announcement, more than a dozen recalls related to the peanut butter have been issued. You can view the full list at the FDA's website.
Salmonella can cause serious and even fatal infections in children, elderly people and those with weakened immune systems. Symptoms can include fever, vomiting and diarrhea.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2022-06-09T15:44:37+00:00 | delawarepublic.org | https://www.delawarepublic.org/npr-headlines/npr-headlines/2022-06-09/more-peanut-butter-products-have-been-recalled-after-jif-pulled-some-of-its-jars |
Multiple backflow valves stolen from Pueblo parks, costing the city over $15,000
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO)--In the last two months, eight backflow valves from five different parks and a median on the south side of Pueblo have been stolen, according to Pueblo Parks and Recreation.
Mike Taft, Parks Supervisor for the City of Pueblo, said it costs $2,000 to replace a backflow valve.
Now, the city has to pay over $15,000 to replace all eight backflow valves. Taft said the city does not have the money to budget for this type of loss.
He said if they don't have these systems then they can't keep the parks looking nice.
"It's just like everybody's lawn at home. If you don't water it, it's going to turn brown and die. And then that takes an extra time and money to get back where it needs to be," said Taft
Parks and Rec said it costs $10-$15 to sell the backflow valves for scrap.
"It's not much value to it for as far as scrap metal, but to the parks and rec. there's a lot of money involved, not just a replacement valve, but the labor," said Patrick Fleming, Park Ranger Coordinator.
The most recent theft happened on Monday at Stauter Field at 2:30 p.m., according to Pueblo Police (PPD). Sgt. Frank Ortega, Public information officer for PPD said a neighbor in the area turned in Ring doorbell footage to the Parks and Recreation Department and then later forwarded it to them.
The Ring doorbell video shows two suspects running from the backflow valve cages to their car and putting a backflow valve in their trunk.
The PPD said the thieves are also causing damage to the protective metal cages around the valves which costs the city more money to replace.
Taft said parks staff have taken further measures to secure the cages where the backflow valves are located.
Now, PDD is asking for the community's help to identify the thieves in the video.
If you have any idea who they might be, you're advised to call the Pueblo Police Department. | 2023-05-26T00:47:51+00:00 | krdo.com | https://krdo.com/news/crime/2023/05/25/multiple-backflow-valves-stolen-from-pueblo-parks-costing-the-city-over-15000/ |
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STOCKHOLM (AP) —
Hundreds of activists, among them Greta Thunberg, marched through the Swedish capital to a court Friday to file a lawsuit against the Swedish state for what they say is insufficient climate action.
More than 600 young people under the age of 26 signed the 87-page document that is the basis for the lawsuit which was filed in the Stockholm District Court. They want the court to determine that the country has violated its citizen's human rights with its climate policies.
“Sweden has never treated the climate crisis like a crisis,” said Anton Foley, spokesman of the youth-led initiative Aurora, which prepared and filed the lawsuit. “Sweden is failing in its responsibility and breaking the law.”
The action comes as scientists warn that chances are slipping away to limit future warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) since pre-industrial times.
At a recent U.N. climate conference in Egypt earlier this month, leaders tried to keep that goal alive but did not ratchet up calls for reducing carbon emissions.
Another activist, Ida Edling, said that Sweden "is pursuing a climate policy the research is very clear will contribute to a climate disaster in the future.”
Sweden's parliament decided in 2017 said that by 2045, the Scandinavian country is to have zero net emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and is to have 100% renewable energy.
Swedish broadcaster TV4 said the government declined to comment on ongoing legal action.
Climate campaigners have launched numerous lawsuits against governments and companies in recent years, with mixed success.
In one of the most high-profile cases, Germany’s top court ruled last year that the government had to adjust its climate targets to avoid unduly burdening the young. The German government reacted by bringing forward its target for ‘net zero’ emissions by five years to 2045 and laying more ambitious near-and-medium term steps to achieve that goal. | 2022-11-25T15:35:40+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Swedish-activists-sue-state-over-its-climate-17610100.php |
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy was forced to return to the NFC championship game on Sunday with an injured right elbow after backup QB Josh Johnson was also hurt in the third quarter.
Purdy was drilled in the arm in the first quarter by Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Haason Reddick on a play that was ruled a fumble. The Eagles recovered and Purdy was examined on the sideline.
Purdy was replaced by Johnson, a journeyman QB who signed with the 49ers in December.
Johnson was hit on his throwing arm with the 49ers trailing 21-7 in the third. Johnson was evaluated for a concussion.
Purdy made an improbable rise this season, going from the last player picked in the NFL draft to opening the season as San Francisco’s third-string QB. But injuries to Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo pressed Purdy into service.
Purdy was the third rookie quarterback ever to win two NFL playoff starts, the fifth to reach the conference title game as a starter and was trying to become the first to reach the Super Bowl.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | 2023-01-30T03:53:35+00:00 | ksn.com | https://www.ksn.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-49ers-qb-purdy-suffers-elbow-injury-in-nfc-championship-game/ |
Executive produced by Holly Madison, the former Playboy model and ex-girlfriend of the magazine's founder, Hugh Hefner, The Playboy Murders is an all-new, six-part true-crime series that delves deep into the many tragedies associated with the longtime brand.
"Each part is about a different murder that somehow involved someone within the Playboy world," Madison tells ET, referring to models Carole Gold, Christine Carlin-Kraft, Jasmine Fiore, Stacy Arthur and others who are the focus of the episodes. From murder to rape accusations to conspiracy, these women got caught in unbelievably true and wild turn of events that have left a stain on Playboy's legacy.
"I think these stories are really important stories to tell," Madison says, noting that not all of them have been covered before. "They were stories I hadn't even heard of, and I thought I knew everything about Playboy history and what happened to all the Playmates."
While these stories might shine a negative light on Hefner's empire, Madison believes that he would want people to know about the truth of what happened. "I think he'd want them to be told, too," she says, adding that "these were real people, some of whom worked for him and they deserve justice and they deserve to have their stories told."
Madison also believes that this series will help pull back the veil on these people's lives -- and help erase "all kinds of preconceived notions" people have about them or even her. "I kind of feel like I was put on this earth to show people that there's nuance to a story and not everything is black and white," she says while also noting that "people perceive sexuality as a dangerous thing sometimes and it can lead to a lot of blurred lines."
But just because these women were Playboy models doesn't mean what happened to them isn't relatable. "I feel very emotionally connected to these stories, and I think a lot of other people will too because this is the kind of thing that could really happen to anyone, you know," Madison says.
"There are so many stories that happen within relationships or from stalkers," she continues. "And this kind of thing could really happen to anybody. And I think that's what makes these stories so compelling."
The Playboy Murders premieres Monday, Jan. 23 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on ID and is available stream on Discovery+ the same day.
RELATED CONTENT: | 2023-01-20T03:03:28+00:00 | 9news.com | https://www.9news.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-tonight/playboy-murders-ep-holly-madison-says-hugh-hefner-would-want-these-stories-told-exclusive/603-3b4076b3-b281-41af-986c-739ba758fd9e |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Control of Congress hung in the balance early Wednesday, with both parties notching victories in some of the most competitive races in a midterm election that centered on voter frustration over high inflation and the sudden rollback of abortion rights.
Democrats held a crucial Senate seat in New Hampshire, where incumbent Maggie Hassan defeated Republican Don Bolduc, a retired Army general who had initially promoted former President Donald Trump’s lies about the 2020 election but tried to shift away from some of the more extreme positions he took during the GOP primary. Republicans held Senate seats in Ohio and North Carolina.
A district-by-district fight was underway for control of the House, where Democrats held closely watched seats in moderate suburban districts from Virginia to Kansas and Rhode Island. Rep. Elaine Luria, a Navy veteran who serves on the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection, was the first Democratic incumbent to lose a highly competitive House district. Many of the districts that could determine House control in states like New York and California had not been called.
The outcome of races for House and Senate will determine the future of President Joe Biden's agenda and serve as a referendum on his administration as the nation reels from record-high inflation and concerns over the direction of the country. Republican control of the House would likely trigger a round of investigations into Biden and his family, while a GOP Senate takeover would hobble Biden's ability to make judicial appointments.
Democrats were facing historic headwinds. The party in power almost always suffers losses in the president's first midterm elections, but Democrats had been hoping that anger from the Supreme Court's decision to gut abortion rights might energize their voters to buck historical trends.
In Pennsylvania, Democratic Attorney General Josh Shapiro beat Republican Doug Mastriano to keep the governorship of a key presidential battleground state blue. Shapiro's victory rebuffed an election denier who some feared would not certify a Democratic presidential win in the state in 2024. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, two future possible Republican presidential contenders, beat back Democratic challengers to win reelection in the nation’s two largest red states.
In Georgia, Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker were vying for a seat that could determine control of the Senate.
AP VoteCast, a broad survey of the national electorate, showed that high inflation and concerns about the fragility of democracy were heavily influencing voters.
Half of voters said inflation factored significantly, with groceries, gasoline, housing, food and other costs that have shot up in the past year. Slightly fewer — 44% — said the future of democracy was their primary consideration.
Overall, 7 in 10 voters said the ruling overturning the 1973 decision enshrining abortion rights was an important factor in their midterm decisions.
VoteCast also showed the reversal was broadly unpopular. About 6 in 10 say they are angry or dissatisfied by it, while about 4 in 10 were pleased. And roughly 6 in 10 say they favor a law guaranteeing access to legal abortion nationwide.
There were no widespread problems with ballots or voter intimidation reported around the country, though there were hiccups typical of most Election Days.
Voters also were deciding high-profile races for Senate or governor in places such as Pennsylvania, Nevada, Wisconsin, Arizona and Michigan. Contests also were on the ballot for secretaries of state, roles that typically generate little attention but have come under growing scrutiny as GOP contenders who refused to accept the results of the 2020 campaign were running to control the management of future elections.
In the first national election since the Jan. 6 insurrection, some who participated in or were in the vicinity of the attack on the U.S. Capitol were poised to win elected office, including several running for House seats.
In Ohio, Rep. Marcy Kaptur defeated Republican J.R. Majewski, who was at the U.S. Capitol during the deadly riot and who misrepresented his military service.
Democratic Reps. Abigail Spanberger and Jennifer Wexton held off spirited Republican challengers in Virginia districts the GOP had hoped to flip.
The 2022 elections are on track to cost a projected $16.7 billion at the state and federal level, making them the most expensive midterms ever, according to the nonpartisan campaign finance tracking organization OpenSecrets.
All House seats were up for grabs, as were 34 Senate seats — with cliffhangers especially likely in Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arizona.
Trump lifted two Republican Senate candidates to victory in Ohio and North Carolina. JD Vance, the bestselling author of “Hillbilly Elegy,” defeated 10-term congressman Tim Ryan, while Rep. Ted Budd beat Cheri Beasley, the former chief justice of the state Supreme Court.
Thirty-six states were electing governors. The GOP faced unexpected headwinds in flipping the governor’s office in conservative Kansas. Democrats, meanwhile, were nervous about their prospects in the governor’s race in Oregon, typically a liberal bastion.
Democrats easily repelled Republicans backed by Trump in several left-leaning states, while tougher tests that could decide control of Congress and the future of Biden’s presidency awaited in more competitive territory.
Despite their liberal history, states like Massachusetts, Maryland and Illinois have elected moderate Republican governors in the past. But the Republicans this year appeared to be too conservative in these states, handing Democrats easy victories in midterm elections that could otherwise prove difficult for the party.
Massachusetts and Maryland also saw historic firsts: Democrat Maura Healey became the first woman elected as Massachusetts governor, as well as the first openly lesbian governor of any state, and Wes Moore became the first Black governor of Maryland.
Healey bested Geoff Diehl in Massachusetts and Moore beat Dan Cox in Maryland, while Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker defeated state Sen. Darren Bailey. Bolduc, Cox and Bailey were among the far-right Republicans that Democrats spent tens of millions of dollars to bolster during the primaries, betting they would be easier to beat in general elections than their more moderate rivals.
An especially strong election for the GOP could have put pressure on Biden to opt against a reelection run in 2024. Trump, meanwhile, may try to capitalize on GOP gains by formally launching another bid for the White House during a "very big announcement" in Florida next week.
The former president endorsed more than 300 candidates in the midterm cycle and is hoping to use Republican victories as a springboard for a 2024 presidential campaign.
“Well, I think if they win, I should get all the credit. And if they lose, I should not be blamed at all. But it will probably be just the opposite,” Trump said in an interview with NewsNation.
It could be days or even weeks before races — and potentially, control of Congress — are decided. Some states with mail voting, such as Michigan, saw an increase in ballot returns compared with the 2018 midterm. Those votes can take longer to count because, in many states, ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday but might not arrive at election offices until days later. In Georgia's Senate race, the candidates must win at least 50% of the vote to avoid a Dec. 6 runoff.
___
Associated Press writers Corey Williams in Southfield, Mich., Anita Snow in Phoenix, Claudia Lauer in Philadelphia and Jacquelyn Martin contributed to this report.
___
Follow the AP's coverage of the 2022 midterm elections at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections. And learn more about the issues and factors at play in the midterms at https://apnews.com/hub/explaining-the-elections.
Credit: Jay LaPrete
Credit: Jay LaPrete
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Credit: Julio Cortez
Credit: Rebecca Blackwell
Credit: Rebecca Blackwell
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Credit: Matt Slocum
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Credit: Michael Dwyer
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Credit: Bryan Woolston
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Credit: Matt Rourke
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Credit: David J. Phillip | 2022-11-09T05:35:53+00:00 | daytondailynews.com | https://www.daytondailynews.com/nation-world/gop-democrats-notch-victories-in-competitive-midterm-races/TZPNPERENZHVHMBMCJ5QOTVY4M/ |
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Welcome to Year 7 of High School Confidential, powered by Danville Area Community College. It's an award-winning project made possible by aspiring student journalists from every corner of our circulation area. Each Thursday through April, they’ll tell us what’s happening in their hallways at news-gazette.com.
At least once a week, we’ll also hand over our Snapchat account (News-Gazette) to our correspondents for behind-the-scenes tours.
Feedback? Email N-G/VP Jim Rossow at jrossow@news-gazette.com.
On to this week's holiday report:
Cover story: DeLand-Weldon's annual Christmas Dinner.
Academy High
Students in the humanities studio module are adding final touches to their art for their showcase titled “Passions.” Humanities studio is a space for students to spend time focusing on their creative passions like art, music and writing. Pictured: artwork by junior Jamari Stori and senior Jazz Jahiel.
— Rosie Atkinson
Arcola
The football team held its banquet last Sunday where it recognized achievements of various players, including seniors (pictured).
— Karina Warfel
BHRA
Students Alexis Gerdes and Maggie Lewis traveled to New York City to take part in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The dancers from the Laurel School of Dance, run by Lauri Davis, performed in the parade with a 750-member group from Spirit of America Productions. Their six-day trip included a viewing of "MJ: The Musical" and meeting the cast. They also met the Rockettes and visited the Sept. 11 memorial.
— Cody Drake
Blue Ridge
Two valued members of the community who passed away in fights with cancer were remembered. Last Thursday, students and staff wore pink for beloved former staff member Janice Harden. “Our hearts are heavy, but we will carry on with Janice’s love for her students and her kindness for all as our inspiration.” That same day, at the boys' basketball home opener, a plaque was dedicated to Greg Michaels, father of Colin Michaels, a member of the basketball team. The plaque will remain on the scorer’s table in his honor for the next two years — until Colin graduates.
— Cadin Dozier
Champaign Central
The Future Business Leaders of America chapter began its fundraiser for March of Dimes, a nonprofit organization that fights for the improved health of mothers and babies. Sponsor Eric Fagerlin said it is also the national FBLA’s flagship charity. Last year, proposed by former Community Service Committee head Angela Nguyen, FBLA sold candy grams during Valentine’s Day to raise money. Their efforts resulted in second place in earning the most money for the cause at the state level. This year, the chapter hopes to assemble personal care kits for parents in the NICU. These kits will include care products such as shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste and soap. To be able to afford the materials, the chapter is asking for $15 dollar donations from students, staff and the community. Along with posters hung up around the school to promote their cause, members of the chapter also pass out forms to garner more donations. Pictured: the poster created by Committee Head of Community Service Samaira Sandil.
— Janani Pattabi
Centennial
The cafeteria was the site of a craft fair as students and clubs sold their work. Pictured: Korean club.
— Elena Reifsteck
Chrisman
STEM club set up a series of displays at the elementary school to provide students with a greater knowledge of science and technology. The younger set enjoyed the slime, ice pack and lava lamp experiments the high-schoolers shared.
— Reese Anderson | 2022-12-08T11:51:57+00:00 | news-gazette.com | https://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/community-events/2022-23-high-school-confidential-week-12/article_2238d6a2-5e3e-5894-93b4-6f805978d937.html |
NEW YORK, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Design Therapeutics, Inc. ("Design" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: DSGN). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.
The investigation concerns whether Design and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.
On or around March 24, 2021, Design conducted its initial public offering ("IPO"), selling 12 million shares of stock priced at $20.00 per share. Then, on December 7, 2022, Design reported initial data from a Phase 1 trial of DT-216 in patients with Friedreich ataxia. Among other results, Design said 16 patients on DT-216 and eight on placebo reported at least one treatment-emergent adverse event. On this news, Design's stock price fell sharply during intraday trading on December 8, 2022.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.
CONTACT:
Robert S. Willoughby
Pomerantz LLP
rswilloughby@pomlaw.com
888-476-6529 ext. 7980
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SOURCE Pomerantz LLP | 2023-01-04T08:20:58+00:00 | kxii.com | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/01/04/shareholder-alert-pomerantz-law-firm-investigates-claims-behalf-investors-design-therapeutics-inc-dsgn/ |
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif., June 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (SBCSS) Ted Alejandre was awarded State Superintendent of the Year by the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA).
"I am extremely honored and humbled by this accolade," said County Superintendent Ted Alejandre. "I could not have achieved this recognition without the support and dedication of the staff at County Schools, our students, families, community partners and the remarkable educators I've had the honor of working alongside throughout my professional journey."
With more than 30 years of experience in public education, Alejandre now holds the prestigious title of Superintendent of the Year in the 2022 Statewide Awards Program. The state award recipients represent the excellence and commitment of California's educators.
On May 2, Alejandre was honored as Superintendent of the Year for the San Bernardino County region at the ACSA Region 12 Spring Celebration Awards. Alejandre will be recognized for the State Superintendent of the Year Award at the ACSA Leadership Summit in San Diego on Nov. 4, 2022.
As county superintendent, Alejandre works collaboratively with educators, families, and other agencies and stakeholders to provide advocacy, leadership and services for and on behalf of more than 400,000 K-12 students attending public schools in San Bernardino County.
Among his many achievements, Alejandre was commended by ACSA for his contributions and collaboration with key partners to build, sustain and implement the San Bernardino County Cradle to Career roadmap. The roadmap includes key indicators of success for all students in both academics and social/emotional readiness. Districts and cities have adopted this roadmap, and as a result, graduation rates and other key indicators continue to improve.
To increase literacy rates across San Bernardino County, Alejandre worked with county partners to expand the Vision2Read initiative by launching the Footsteps2Brilliance learning platform that provides free access to tools for students to read, write and engage in key literacy skills.
He strengthened the countywide Family Engagement Network to gain input and recommendations from stakeholders. Due to the success of this network, SBCSS was selected by the state as the only county office to lead the Statewide Community Engagement Initiative, which established cohorts of school districts throughout the state that serve as models for all districts.
Alejandre emphasizes the importance of listening to student voice and creating opportunities for students to speak up. He established the first ever countywide Student Advisory Council, inviting students from high schools throughout the county to collaborate with students from other districts. At the culminating session, they presented recommendations to leaders at the local, county and state level that have influenced policies in the past.
In addition to his illustrious career in education, Alejandre is a highly decorated, retired U.S. Air Force (USAF) Lieutenant Colonel. He received the USAF Meritorious Service Award three times, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal and many other distinctions. He began his service in 1984.
For more news and information, visit the SBCSS Newsroom and follow us @SBCountySchools on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. #transforminglives.
The mission of San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools is to transform lives through education. Working in collaboration with school districts, other agencies, families and our community partners, we provide leadership, advocacy and services to ensure innovative, inspiring educational practices for the 33 K-12 school districts within the county. This endeavor is essential to the quality of life and economic vitality of our communities.
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SOURCE San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools | 2022-06-02T16:33:56+00:00 | kmvt.com | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/06/02/ted-alejandre-named-state-superintendent-year/ |
Kelly Olynyk Player Prop Bets: Jazz vs. Spurs - March 29
Kelly Olynyk's Utah Jazz hit the court versus the San Antonio Spurs at 8:00 PM ET on Wednesday.
With prop bets available for Olynyk, let's look at some stats and trends to help you find good wagers.
Kelly Olynyk Prop Bets vs. the Spurs
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Kelly Olynyk Insights vs. the Spurs
- Olynyk is responsible for taking 7.6% of his team's field goal attempts this season with 8.1 per game.
- Olynyk is averaging 3.5 three-point field goal attempts per game this season, which is 7.7% of his team's tries from beyond the arc.
- Olynyk's Jazz average 103.6 possessions per game, which ranks 13th among NBA teams, while the Spurs are one of the league's fastest, ranking fifth with 105.1 possessions per contest.
- Conceding 122.5 points per game, the Spurs are the worst squad in the league defensively.
- On the glass, the Spurs are ranked 24th in the league, allowing 44.9 rebounds per game.
- Looking at assists, the Spurs are 27th in the NBA, conceding 26.4 per contest.
- Allowing 12.4 made 3-pointers per game, the Spurs are the 16th-ranked team in the league.
Kelly Olynyk vs. the Spurs
Want another way to try to win cash prizes? Add Olynyk or any of his Jazz teammates to your lineup in FanDuel Daily Fantasy NBA contests. Use our link to sign up and get a great offer for new users. (See website for offer details, not available in all areas.)
Not all offers available in all states. Please gamble responsibly. If you or someone you know has developed a gambling problem or addiction, contact 1-800-GAMBLER.
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | 2023-03-29T19:36:23+00:00 | kmvt.com | https://www.kmvt.com/sports/betting/2023/03/29/kelly-olynyk-nba-player-prop-bets-jazz-vs-spurs/ |
FAIRFIELD, Conn. (AP)Caleb Fields scored 18 points to help Fairfield defeat Sacred Heart 61-59 on Wednesday night.
Fields had six rebounds for the Stags (4-6). Supreme Cook scored 15 points and added 13 rebounds. Chris Maidoh shot 3 of 4 from the field and 3 for 5 from the line to finish with nine points.
The Pioneers (5-5) were led by Bryce Johnson, who posted 13 points and nine rebounds. Mike Sixsmith added 13 points and six rebounds for Sacred Heart. Nico Galette also recorded 10 points, two steals and two blocks.
—
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. | 2022-12-08T18:09:29+00:00 | siouxlandproud.com | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/sports/ncaa-basketball/fields-18-lead-fairfield-over-sacred-heart-61-59/ |
Lommel is a small city in northeast Belgium, known for sand mining to the extent that it is known at all. The football team there, Lommel S.K., was formed in 2003. Previous incarnations date to 1927. In all that time, it has never played in Belgium's first tier.
Until 2020, when the club was acquired by the Manchester-based City Football Group, there was no reason for anyone outside Belgium to be aware of Lommel S.K.'s existence. Even today, as part of the most valuable conglomeration of football assets in the world, only one of its players is estimated to be worth more than $500,000. But Lommel's advantages over its competitors are more subtle than the size of its transfer budget.
One June morning, Lommel's performance director, James McCarron, joins a videoconference call to discuss summer recruitment. Brian Marwood, the group's managing director of global football, leads it from a conference room in the City Football Academy on the Etihad campus. On the call are Gavin Fleig, City Football Group's director of talent management; Gary Worthington, who has worked for Manchester City's player recruitment team for more than a decade; and Joshua Leunissen, a Netherlands-based scout. All three might have contributed to a similar call with Txiki Begiristain, Manchester City's sporting director. Or with David Lee of NYCFC. Or executives from any of the other eight clubs in which the City group has an ownership stake.
The first piece of business is a reserve goalkeeper. Worthington has just returned from Dublin, where he watched a talented Montenegrin play for his country's Under-21s. The player already has been vetted by the group's analytics team, which confirms that he is comfortable with the ball at his feet, a necessary skill at a CFG club. After hearing Worthington's positive assessment, Marwood asks McCarron to "finish the transaction."
- O'Hanlon: Will Haaland smash goals records this year? (E+)
Next they discuss a Congolese-born Belgian wing-back playing in Italy's Serie B. Signing him would give Lommel a home-grown player toward the league's quota. It also would provide competition for Caio Roque, Lommel's starting left-back. If Roque is shifted to a more competitive situation in January, his replacement will already be at the club. But before making a move, Marwood wants McCarron to ask Lommel's coaches whether the presence of a competing wing-back will motivate Roque or destabilize him. "We like Roque a lot," Marwood stresses.
At dinner in Manchester the previous night, NYCFC's Lee had told Marwood that an Ecuadorian defender, who has an inexpensive release clause at a club in his home country, might have the ability to play in MLS. His name comes up on the call. Marwood tells the group that Lommel "could be a good landing spot for him, in terms of development," but there's a complication. The group's South American scouts, who are headquartered at CFG's Montevideo City club, report that the defender has been living at an academy in Guayaquil in his early teens. Relocating to Lommel would be a jarring cultural shift. Before they make a move, Fleig suggests, a scout should assess his readiness to be on his own.
A recruitment meeting on the scale of this one would be unlikely to happen inside even Belgium's biggest clubs, Anderlecht, Standard Liege or Club Brugge. But like all of City Football Group's holdings, Lommel is run less like a football club than a branch office of a major corporation.
"There is no way that a team like Lommel would have a fraction of the access that it has right now to a global network of data, from Melbourne to Montevideo to Italy," says Khaldoon Al Mubarak. The chief executive of one of the world's largest investment companies, Al Mubarak has served as chairman of Manchester City's board of directors since 2008. "The value is in the data," he says. "The value is in the system that puts it all together and makes it useful to everybody."
The meeting ends. Marwood looks at his phone. He's due shortly in a conference room downstairs, where he'll meet the new director of Mumbai City, CFG's team in India. Later, he'll huddle with Begiristain and Pep Guardiola to discuss summer transfer targets for Manchester City. "Building clubs, developing broken or undernourished clubs, players, coaches, sporting directors, it all gives me a buzz," he says. "It doesn't matter if it's Manchester City or Mumbai. The budgets are different, but the principles are the same."
That philosophy has led to unparalleled success. So far, CFG remains an outlier. But it's hard not to wonder what will happen if that success becomes a blueprint for similar groups. Is football ready for a business model in which players are deployed like middle managers across a vast conglomerate?
And if that does becomes the industry standard, will anyone else be able to compete?
City Football Group owns all or part of 11 clubs worldwide. It controls the contracts of more football players than any other entity. Other investors and investment groups have multiple clubs, but none operates at a similar scale and none has accomplished nearly as much.
Since 2013, when CFG was formed, its teams have won leagues in six countries. In 2022 alone, those included the Premier League, MLS, Australia's A-League, and India's Super League. Manchester City, the flagship, still doesn't own a Champions League title. But it has everything else, including a domestic treble in 2019.
Unlike Red Bull, which has put versions of its energy drink logo on football clubs in Leipzig, Salzburg, New York and beyond, CFG is a holding company, not a consumer brand. "It does not exist from a consumer perspective," says Ferran Soriano, its chief executive.
Instead, the link between its clubs is subtle. It includes a light-blue color scheme and similar crests, but only at clubs that had little or no history when they were acquired, such as New York, Melbourne and Mumbai. When City adds a team that has a strong identity, its branding is retained. "What we hope is that the fans understand that it will have City inside," he says, "the way you have Intel inside your computer."
Most intriguingly, CFG's teams have a consistent way of playing, one that has come to be associated with Guardiola's Manchester City: constant pressure on the ball, short passes, building from the back.
"Style of football, that's non-negotiable," Marwood says. "Now granted, to deliver that in Manchester because you've got Kevin de Bruyne and Bernardo Silva is something different than a player from India who may be rough around the edges, or a kid coming out of college in the U.S., but the style is our identity."
When he visits one of the group's properties, Marwood watches not only the first team, but the youth academy teams and the women's team. "The one thing I will always jump on is the wrong style of football," he says.
Criticism of City Football Group naturally concerns the enormous sums of money the company has spent. The purchase of Manchester City cost about $250 million, including existing debt, but the total investment exceeds $2 billion. Javier Tebas, the chief executive of La Liga, criticized CFG as "money destroyers" who send player salaries and transfer fees spiraling upward. He referred to Manchester City's ability to get inflated sponsorship sums from Emirati companies, which was at the heart of the Financial Fair Play complaint, as financial doping.
UEFA felt the same. Its sanctions against Manchester City, including a two-year Champions League ban, were overturned in 2020 by the Court of Arbitration for Sport because the five-year statute of limitations had expired. (The club was still forced to pay a €10m fine for failing to cooperate with the investigation.)
Much less is said about CFG's ongoing corporatization of world football, though the number of stand-alone clubs is dwindling by the month. As of 2017, 26 top-flight European clubs were owned by entities that also had investments in other clubs. By 2020, even with the pandemic raging, that number had more than doubled. In Belgium alone, one of the top per capita talent-producers in Europe, at least a dozen clubs have ties to others in Europe or the United States. Today, more than 100 clubs worldwide are part of some sort of group or partnership. (Todd Boehly, Chelsea's new CEO, even mentioned a multi-club vision as something he is considering.)
"It is ripping the soul out of what we're all about a little bit," says Peter Moore, the former Liverpool CEO. Yet for all that, what City and the others are doing is not new. The template has been there for decades, hidden in plain sight.
"We have not invented this," says Soriano. "This is how many industries work. The magic is to do it in an industry that has never done it before."
The origin of City Football Group begins with Soriano. In 2005, while serving as the vice-chairman and CEO at F.C. Barcelona, he successfully pitched MLS executives, including commissioner Don Garber, on the idea of a second team in New York.
New York F.C. would be owned by Barcelona. It would have the same azulgrana color scheme as the parent club. For Barcelona, it would serve as an affiliate where emerging talents could develop; as a marketing vehicle, it would energize Barcelona's presence in the United States. And because it would give Barcelona's millions of American fans a reason to care about MLS, "it would have cost us nothing," Soriano says.
But the idea met resistance back home. One board member asked Soriano, "How are we going to explain to our fans that we're going to deviate money and effort to New York?" Another one, a good friend, looked him in the eye and said that there was only F.C. Barcelona "and it plays in Barcelona." Soriano remained convinced that a European club creating an MLS affiliate remained a good idea, but Barcelona wasn't the place to implement it.
- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, more (U.S.)
In 2008, Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the brother of the current president of the United Arab Emirates, bought Manchester City. He installed Al Mubarak to run it. Since the club had been founded in 1880, it had enjoyed limited success. It hadn't been England's champion since World War II. As late as 1999, it was playing in the country's third tier. It had never made the Champions League.
The club's chief executive, Garry Cook, stayed on to oversee the transition and when he left in 2011, Al Mubarak launched a worldwide search for a successor. Al Mubarak had worked in banking, energy and finance: he expected the best football clubs to attract similar executive talent. "It shocked me when I came in," he says. "There was a huge mismatch. There were a bunch of sports guys, many who had come directly from football. They didn't have good management or strategic skills. It was far less developed than I thought it would be."
In his first three years with the team, Al Mubarak authorized spending hundreds of millions of dollars on transfers. The acquisitions that ultimately transformed the club into a winner were those that prompted the UEFA sanctions. "You had to pay a premium to convince guys like Yaya Toure and David Villa to come," admits Omar Berrada, who runs football operations under Marwood. "There was a period of investment when we had a big loss."
To Berrada, that was the only way Manchester City could get to a point at which it could compete in the Premier League. "There has been no case -- not a single one -- of a club that has grown organically and consolidated their position at the top," he says. "It's almost impossible."
In 2011, Manchester City qualified for the Champions League for the first time and also won its first F.A. Cup since 1969. The following season, it would win the Premier League title. But Al Mubarak had his sights set on the biggest clubs, and he realized Manchester City couldn't compete by working in the traditional way. "We were just too far behind," he says. "So I understood that we needed to do something different. I just didn't understand what different meant."
Three years earlier, after leaving football to run Spanair, a Barcelona-based airline, Soriano had written a book, Goal: The Ball Doesn't Go In By Chance. It applied football lessons to business management. It also examined how football clubs could apply sound business practices. "The big football clubs have names that are recognized all over the world, they have the know-how to create successful teams," he wrote. "So why don't they create different franchises and have teams that play in other leagues, like the Japanese or North American leagues?"
In January, 2012, Al Mubarak interviewed Soriano in a conference room at the Mandarin Oriental in Paris. Within half an hour, he knew he'd found his man. At one point, after Al Mubarak had asked him what went wrong at Barcelona, Soriano mentioned his failed attempt to create an MLS team. Al Mubarak was fascinated. "We spent an hour talking about it," he says. "The conversation kept going. 'What if it's actually not just MLS? What if we look at ourselves as a group that owns clubs all around the world: Asia, Africa, Europe?'"
Al Mubarak hadn't read Soriano's book, but it was as if he was quoting from it. He immediately understood the synergistic possibilities. "We started thinking about this concept almost like venture capitalists," he says. It was a comparison that could strike football executives as inspirational or chilling, depending on their perspective.
Soriano knew that Manchester City had a rich and colorful past. Its fan base was devoted, though the previous half-century had given it "more downs than ups," he says. But clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United had an international presence, while Manchester City had only minimal support beyond its urban core.
Not incidentally, those superclubs also had narratives of historical success. "We didn't," Soriano says, "so we had to go to the market and sell something different. We couldn't be the club of the past, so we had to be the club of the future. We had to innovate. And the bold thing we did was create this group."
- O'Hanlon: Ranking the Champions League field from 32 to 1 (E+)
On his second day at Manchester City, Soriano traveled to New York to meet with Garber. He learned that an MLS franchise was still available, but there were other prospective owners. For Al Mubarak to get it, he'd have to pay the league's expansion fee of $100 million. As at Barcelona, some of the club's executives didn't see the point. Why divert resources across the ocean when you're working to build a champion at home?
Al Mubarak and the club's directors didn't hesitate. On May 21, 2013, NYCFC was announced as MLS's 20th franchise. It was branded in Manchester City blue.
City Football Group was created as an umbrella organization overseeing what were anticipated to be multiple holdings. "A layer of management added to the way we sign and sell players," says Berrada.
In January, 2014, Melbourne Heart, an existing A-League club, was acquired and rebranded as Melbourne City. In 2015, the club purchased a 20% share of Japan's Yokohama F Marinos. By 2020, CFG had an interest in 10 clubs, all folded into the group run by Soriano. "Economy of scale," Al Mubarak says.
Other clubs, notably Chelsea, have mastered the technique of stockpiling young talent and distributing it across lesser leagues domestically and abroad on loan deals, but the evolution of those players depends on where they're sent. Even if teams are carefully chosen, conditions can change. "If I send a player to the Championship and they sack the manager and install a different system, I've wasted a year of the development of the player," says Begiristain. "Having control is very important."
The breadth of clubs in CFG's portfolio also helps convince young prospects to come. By the time that Talles Magno, a striker who debuted in Vasco da Gama's first team as a 17-year-old, was ready to leave Brazil in the spring of 2021, his talents were no secret. He had enticing offers from the Netherlands and Portugal, but City's recruiters convinced Magno that he wasn't ready for a first-tier European club. They believed they had a better option for him than a second-tier club, where coaching and facilities might be sub-optimal. "It was 'don't go to Europe now. Come to New York,'" Soriano says. "'And if you make it there, we'll take you to Europe.'"
- MLS Power Rankings: NYCFC in trouble?
City paid $10 million to acquire Magno -- a lot for an untested Brazilian forward, but a minimal investment for a player who might end up at the Etihad. Last season, he scored the winning goal in NYCFC's Eastern Conference final against Philadelphia. This year, he has started 25 games and scored six goals. He's only 19. "We think he has the possibility to get to Manchester," Soriano says.
Soriano admits that the odds of any one CFG player ending up on Guardiola's team sheet are low. Nobody on the current Manchester City roster came through the pipeline. Currently, six players with Manchester City contracts who have come up through the system are out on loan. Leeds winger Jack Harrison is the biggest name in another group of players that were brought to Manchester and sold elsewhere in Europe.
Soriano considers several others currently at CFG teams as prime prospects to get to the Etihad. "If one makes it," he says, "that pays for all the rest."
On an 80-acre urban campus that used to be a dusty field, a multi-building compound built in 2014 combines a training center and academy for Manchester City with a corporate headquarters for City Football Group. Designed in part by Marwood, the attention to detail is extraordinary. The analytics area, enclosed in glass, is positioned so players must walk past frequently. The idea is to get them inside to find out various ways they might improve. "So now, maybe someone comes past and sees a teammate in there and thinks, 'I should go in and do that,'" Marwood says.
Players with long-term injuries do their rehab in a corner of the vast gym where windows are high enough that training sessions aren't visible. "That would be demoralizing," Marwood says. As they get close to returning, they move to a light-filled area adjacent to the field. The expectation is that watching their teammates will motivate them to finish the process.
The center of the main building is called "The Heart of the City." An open-plan meeting space, it serves breakfast and lunch. Snacks and beverages are always available. Occasionally a player will pass through in his training sweats. Mostly, it's filled with staffers from various departments who gather in small groups or walk through holding coffee mugs. They could be working at a tech firm or an ad agency.
One afternoon, Roel de Vries finds a table on the far side of the room. He needs to eat a quick lunch between a Zoom meeting with executives from around the group and his weekly download to Soriano. De Vries arrived in Sept. 2020 to serve as CFG's chief operating officer. In his appearance and demeanor, he resembles a prototypical corporate executive. And for 26 years before joining City, that's exactly what he was, at Nissan Automotive. From cars to football teams, the segue has been seamless.
"The basic businesses of a large international organization," he says with a shrug. "You have talent management. You have standard processes and procedures. You have one entity learning from another entity. I think that's an enormous benefit we have over stand-alone clubs."
Small clubs typically have trouble finding smart, qualified executives. "To get a good business person somewhere like Troyes or Girona normally is not easy," de Vries says. "But we can attract talent that other clubs can't." The reason is simple: working for a CFG club is more interesting. Employees have the opportunity to contribute to group-wide projects: their ideas, on anything from holiday parties to set pieces, might easily find their way to Manchester. "The IT team, you're working with New York, you're working with France, with India, with Australia," he says.
You also might end up working in those places. When CFG bought Lommel SK, the head of Manchester City's charity foundation relocated there as CEO. "He had the ambition to run a club," de Vries says, "but Manchester was too big. He'd never dealt with match-day issues, partnerships, buying and selling players." De Vries reports now that NYCFC's head of marketing is leaving. "So I'm asking some of my Manchester people, 'Want to spend a few years in New York?'"
The success of CFG's corporate model has been noticed by other investors who have been building stables of clubs, such as Miami-based 777 Partners, which has added Genoa, Vasco da Gama, Standard Liege and Red Star to its portfolio in the past year alone. The United World group, run by Saudi Arabia's Prince Abdullah, is built around Sheffield United. David Blitzer, Real Salt Lake principal owner, has holdings in England, Germany and Spain. Red Bull has six clubs from Austria to Ghana. None of those has the same degree of integration as CFG or a similar corporate structure, but the building blocks are there.
Inevitably, there will be others. For the same $3 billion that Boehly and his partners recently paid for Chelsea, an entity could buy an MLS club and add teams in every country where CFG now operates and beyond. The ownership stakes in Palermo, Lommel, Troyes and Montevideo were acquired for a total of less than $50 million. Boehly himself seems interested in adding several smaller clubs to create a similar stable.
Every so often, though, the football world pushes back against such corporate machinations. In 2018, RB Leipzig needed a win to help its qualification chances for the Europa League's knockout stage. Its opponent, Salzburg, was already almost certain to advance. The problem was, the clubs effectively had the same owner, so the prospect of collusion loomed like a dark cloud over the match. UEFA, which limits each ownership group to one club in European competition, allowed both clubs to play in that tournament because of a technicality. But when each qualified for the Champions League that season, it threatened to ban Leipzig if structural changes within the Red Bull group weren't made.
With Girona's promotion to LaLiga, City now has three clubs eligible for UEFA competitions. Lommel and Italy's Palermo would join them if they get promoted. And with Standard Liege and perennial European qualifier Sevilla in the same orbit, 777 would seem even more vulnerable to multiple qualifications. At some point, with one group or another, it is inevitable.
Sometimes, too, the pushback comes from local markets. When City announced plans to buy Holland's 110-year-old NAC Breda for $7.5m earlier this year, it didn't appear to be a controversial transaction. The local investors who had saved the club from economic ruin were ready to move on. "They wanted someone to come in and get it back to the top division," de Vries says. "They needed real expertise, real knowledge, and some investment."
Manchester City seemed an ideal suitor. Several Breda players had been loaned out to City clubs around the world. "But the more passionate the supporters, the more history a club has, the more challenge you get," de Vries says.
When it came time for the sale to be finalized, Breda's football community vowed not to let it happen. The protests weren't limited to Holland; groups also traveled to Lommel and Manchester to publicize their cause. One paraded a banner outside City's Etihad before a game. "Stay out of our territory," it read. "NAC is not a City Group story."
De Vries, who grew up in the Netherlands, was sent to Breda to assess the situation. He assured the supporters that the club's identity wouldn't change, but they were unmoved. "If all of the soccer world is going to look like just a few networks of clubs, we won't let that happen without a fight," Leon Deckers, a member of one of the Breda fan groups told a website affiliated with Arizona State's Global Sport Institute. "Your club gets stripped down and rebuilt. It loses all of its local flavor."
Faced with the process of an unfriendly takeover, CFG withdrew.
On the days when Yankee Stadium is temporarily transformed into an MLS venue, the team shop is filled with NYCFC-branded items. Surprisingly, there's not a Manchester City shirt or scarf in sight.
Soriano has a reason. Many soccer fans in New York have established European rooting interests, he explains before an NYCFC game on a July evening. "It could be Bayern Munich or Inter Milan or Arsenal. We want to make them all feel welcome."
Only seven years have passed since NYCFC's first home game in March, 2015. That night, Soriano took a walk around Yankee Stadium as fans were starting to arrive. With him was one of those Manchester City executives who had been unconvinced about the value of the project. "We saw long lines of people dressed in blue," Soriano recalls. "I had tears in my eyes. I turned to the person I was with said, 'How would you feel if all these people were dressed in red, and we were going to watch a New York United game?' And he told me, 'I get it now.'"
When NYCFC won MLS last year, it validated the vision that coalesced in Paris nine years before. To win the Premier League, Manchester City used an open checkbook, but MLS operates with tight salary restrictions. NYCFC's payroll of just under $13 million ranked tenth in the league. As of today, 26 players make more than defender Thiago Martins, NYCFC's highest earner. "Everything in MLS depends on getting the best value," says David Lee. "It may not be the best player, but the best value in the market. That's where our scouts and connections really, really help."
From the owner's box, surrounded by Yankee paraphernalia, Soriano watches NYCFC advance the ball with a series of short passes. Even dressed in the same shade of blue, nobody would confuse the team's level of talent with that of Manchester City. Still, the patterns are the same. "We want to have possession of the ball," Soriano says. "We want to play with high defensive lines. We want to play with open wingers. We want to recover the ball fast."
NYCFC's best player is Taty Castellanos, but only until the end of the night. The league's leading scorer in 2021, he will leave the next day to join Girona, which was promoted into LaLiga in June. "We brought him here when he was very young, just a kid," Soriano says. "Now he's a man and he needs another challenge. And now that we have a team in LaLiga, it's the perfect place."
That's an unfortunate side effect of having NYCFC serve as a feeder club to Europe's top leagues. Would any other MLS team move its best player halfway through its season? Yet for Castellanos, Soriano insists, a move is the natural course of events. "The players who make it here, they want to go to Europe," he says. "And we can't stop it."
When NYCFC signed Magno, they promised him that Castellanos would leave within a year and he would inherit the position of striker. "If we don't do it, if when Castellanos is ready to go we don't let him, I'm breaking the system," Soriano says. "And Talles Magno can say, 'You lied to me.'"
On the field below, Magno moves forward with the ball. With a burst of speed, he catches a defender flatfooted. Then he sends a deft pass to Castellanos on his right. From just those few moments, his potential is evident. "Look at him!" Soriano gushes. "You can see he has the talent to get to Manchester. Will he be able to convert it to goals and assists? That remains to be seen. But he has the talent."
The ball ends up over the end line, but Soriano grins. The system is working. | 2022-09-14T17:43:06+00:00 | espn.com | https://www.espn.com/soccer/blog-espn-fc-united/story/4744770/if-man-citys-global-conglomeratecity-football-groupis-the-future-of-soccer-can-anyone-else-compete |
Teacher poured chemical on teen’s hand to wake him, family says
THURSTON, Ore. (KEZI) - An Oregon father is calling for charges after he says a high school teacher poured the chemical hydrogen peroxide on his son’s hand in class to wake him up.
Tuesday started as just a normal day for sophomore Landon Navarro as he went to his chemistry class at Thurston High School. However, he claims that around 9 a.m., his teacher poured hydrogen peroxide on his hand as a way to wake him up.
“It was burning super bad,” Landon Navarro said. “I saw my hand just starting to burn up, and it started itching really bad.”
After the confrontation, Landon Navarro sent pictures of his hand to his father, Shane Navarro. He alerted Springfield Police to the alleged incident and went to the high school to bring his son home.
“My first, initial reaction was anger,” Shane Navarro said. “This is very wrong. He [the teacher] is supposed to be a peer to these children, not to show pranks or do funny things that kids get in trouble for anyway. But he used a chemical on my son’s hand, making my son’s hand burn. It was very upsetting.”
Landon Navarro says the incident made him feel uncomfortable and embarrassed.
“Out of all people, why did my teacher do that, even if it was a joke? He’s supposed to be there as a teacher and someone we can trust, not be scared of,” he said.
Shane Navarro says that after speaking with police, he wishes to proceed with charging the teacher. He says that through his actions, the teacher has lost the trust of parents with children at the school.
Brian Richardson, the director of communications for Springfield Public Schools, says they are currently looking into the incident and cooperating with the police.
“We want parents to know there was an alleged incident. We’re looking into that,” he said. “We’re going to make sure that we take any corrective actions, and we also want parents to be assured that their students are safe here.”
Police say they are aware of the situation but cannot share any additional information because it involves a minor.
Copyright 2023 KEZI via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | 2023-04-13T10:17:18+00:00 | kswo.com | https://www.kswo.com/2023/04/13/teacher-poured-chemical-teens-hand-wake-him-family-says/ |
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Anaheim Ducks have hired Colorado Eagles coach Greg Cronin to be their new head coach.
Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek announced the decision Monday to hire the 60-year-old Cronin, who will be a first-time NHL head coach.
Cronin has 12 years of experience as an NHL assistant with the Toronto Maple Leafs and in two stints with the New York Islanders. The Massachusetts native has been the head coach of the AHL's Colorado Eagles, based in Loveland, since 2018, and he spent six years as a collegiate head coach at Northeastern.
Verbeek called Cronin “the ideal fit” to take over a young, rebuilding team.
“I felt we needed a teacher of the finer points of the game, and someone who has worked extensively over time with talented young players, helping them develop into successful NHL players," Verbeek said. “Greg has done all that and more.”
Cronin replaces Dallas Eakins, whose contract wasn't renewed in April after the Ducks finished their fourth consecutive losing season of his tenure. Anaheim finished in last place in the overall NHL standings at 23-47-12.
The Ducks never finished higher than sixth in the Pacific Division during Eakins’ four years in charge. They’ve missed the playoffs in a franchise-record five straight seasons, and Anaheim was the NHL’s worst defensive team of the 21st century by several measures during the just-completed season.
Cronin takes over a struggling team that is still loaded with young talent, including the No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming draft and a wealth of farm prospects seemingly ready to break into the NHL. Anaheim has a solid long-term base with playmaking center Trevor Zegras, two-time All-Star Troy Terry and promising forward Mason McTavish.
Cronin has never led an NHL bench, but he interviewed for the Boston Bruins' vacancy a year ago.
He becomes only the Ducks' fourth permanent head coach since Henry and Susan Samueli bought the franchise from Disney in 2005, joining Randy Carlyle, Bruce Boudreau and Eakins.
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SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Sports | 2023-06-05T17:33:25+00:00 | 9news.com | https://www.9news.com/article/sports/nhl/anaheim-ducks-colorado-eagles-coach-greg-cronin/73-7132933b-4c48-4daa-974e-cec4459a5adc |
VIDEO: Bear spotted swimming at beach among summertime crowd
(Gray News) - Friendly reminder: If you see a bear at the beach, keep your distance.
Not everyone followed that advice this weekend. To be fair, they were probably dazzled by the sight of a bear swimming in the Gulf of Mexico at Destin, Florida.
A video appears to show a couple of beachgoers get close to it. The bear took the initiative in getting out of people’s way as best as it could, moving from the water onto the beach.
The National Park Service recommends keeping your distance from a bear.
“If a bear changes its behavior because of your presence, you are too close!” the park service said.
Among the U.S. Forest Service’s advice for coping with bears, the agency recommends not running away. Instead, back away slowly and stay calm.
Copyright 2023 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2023-06-12T17:30:07+00:00 | waff.com | https://www.waff.com/2023/06/12/video-bear-spotted-swimming-beach-among-summertime-crowd/ |
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — A U.N. official is urging tech companies to do everything possible to stop the onslaught of hate speech fueling the war in Ethiopia’s north, where a violent war pits federal troops and their allies against Tigray’s rebellious leaders.
Inflammatory language by political leaders and armed groups in the Tigray conflict “continues unabated,” Alice Wairimu Nderitu, U.N. special adviser on the prevention of genocide, said in a statement Wednesday.
“There is discourse often propagated through social media, which dehumanizes groups by likening them to a ‘virus’ that should be eradicated, to a ‘cancer’ that should be treated because ”if a single cell is left untreated, that single cell will expand and affect the whole body” and calling for the “killing of every single youth from Tigray” which is particularly dangerous, the statement said.
Fighting resumed between Tigray forces and federal troops in August, bringing an end to a cease-fire since March that had allowed much-needed aid to enter the region. Eritrean troops are fighting on the side of Ethiopia’s federal military.
Fighting has intensified in recent weeks as federal troops try to take control of towns in Tigray. Earlier this week they took control of three towns, including one hosting a large number of internally displaced people in the Shire area.
Aid distributions are being hampered by a lack of fuel and a communications blackout in Tigray. The AP reported Saturday that a U.N. team found there were “10 starvation-related deaths” at seven camps for internally displaced people in northwestern Tigray, according to an internal document.
The conflict, which began nearly two years ago, has spread from Tigray into the neighboring regions of Afar and Amhara as Tigray’s leaders try to break the blockade of their region.
The head of the continent-wide African Union and the U.N. secretary-general are urging the warring parties to stop fighting and meet for peace talks that were meant to start earlier this month in South Africa. The talks were delayed because of logistical issues.
“The conflict has reached new worrying levels of violence,” with widespread rape and sexual violence, Nderitu said in the statement that cited “horrifying levels of hate speech and incitement to violence.”
“The atrocious abuses taking place are spurred by the deluge of ethnically motivated hate speech that is propagated online,” the statement said, urging tech companies and their social networks to use “all tools available to stop the spread of hate speech that could constitute incitement to discrimination, hostility, or violence on their platforms.”
Millions of people in Tigray, Amhara and Afar have been uprooted from their homes and tens of thousands of people are believed to have been killed in the conflict that started in November 2020. | 2022-10-20T11:48:07+00:00 | valleycentral.com | https://www.valleycentral.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-un-genocide-official-hate-speech-is-fueling-ethiopias-war/ |
WASHINGTON — The nation’s employers kept hiring briskly in November despite high inflation and a slow-growing economy — a sign of resilience in the face of the Federal Reserve’s aggressive interest rate hikes.
The economy added 263,000 jobs, while the unemployment rate stayed 3.7%, still near a 53-year low, the Labor Department said Friday. November’s job growth dipped only slightly from October’s 284,000 gain.
Last month’s hiring amounted to a substantial increase. All year, as inflation has surged and the Fed has imposed ever-higher borrowing rates, America’s labor market has defied skeptics, adding hundreds of thousands of jobs, month after month.
The strength of November's hiring gain will raise concerns that the Fed may now have to keep rates high even longer than many had assumed. The reaction on Wall Street was immediate, with Dow Jones Industrial Average futures tumbling nearly 400 points.
As employers have continued hiring, wage gains have followed. In November, average hourly pay jumped 5.1% compared with a year ago, a robust increase that could complicate the Fed’s efforts to curb inflation. This week, Fed Chair Jerome Powell stressed in a speech that jobs and wages were growing too fast for the central bank to quickly slow inflation. The Fed has jacked up its benchmark rate, from near zero in March to nearly 4%, to try to wrestle inflation back toward its 2% annual target.
In the meantime, the steady hiring and rising paychecks have helped U.S. households drive the economy. In October, consumer spending rose at a healthy pace even after adjusting for inflation. Americans stepped up their purchases of cars, restaurant meals and other services.
After having contracted in the first six months of the year, the U.S. economy expanded at a brisk 2.9% annual rate last quarter. In addition to strength from consumer spending, a spike in exports helped boost growth.
Though steady hiring and rising wages have fueled their spending, Americans are also turning increasingly to credit cards to keep up with higher prices. Many are also digging into savings, a trend that cannot continue indefinitely.
Some signs of weakness have sparked concerns about a likely recession next year, in part because many fear that the Fed’s surging rate hikes will end up derailing the economy. Particularly in the technology, media and retail industries, a rising number of companies have made high-profile layoff announcements.
In addition to job cuts from tech behemoths like Amazon, Meta and Twitter, smaller companies — including DoorDash, the real estate firm Redfin and the retailers Best Buy and the Gap — have said they will lay off workers.
And in November, a measure of factory activity dropped to a level that suggested that the manufacturing sector is contracting for the first time since May 2020. | 2022-12-02T15:44:35+00:00 | wfmynews2.com | https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/nation-world/november-jobs-report/507-93a88fbb-7dd8-49f0-abee-40d52051f3c9 |
FILE - Republican Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds delivers her inaugural address, Jan. 13, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa. An Iowa court ruling expected Friday, June 16, 2023, could outlaw most abortions in the state or keep the procedure legal up to 20 weeks of pregnancy, at least for now. Reynolds is looking to reinstate the blocked 2018 “fetal heartbeat” law that does not allow abortions once cardiac activity can be detected, usually around six weeks of pregnancy and before many women know they are pregnant. Currently, abortions are allowed up to 20 weeks of pregnancy.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s high court refused Friday to unblock a strict ban on most abortions, rebuffing Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds and, for now, keeping the conservative state from joining others that have severely limited access to the procedure.
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accounts, the history behind an article. | 2023-06-16T14:22:09+00:00 | timesdaily.com | https://www.timesdaily.com/news/nation/iowa-high-court-refuses-to-unblock-strict-ban-on-most-abortions/article_468f41c9-e19e-526d-b99d-46f2995c3c3b.html |
More than two years after rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, prosecutors have now charged more than 1,000 people in relation to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack.
These hundreds of people encompass "the most wide-ranging investigation" in the history of the Justice Department. NPR has been tracking every case related to the attack as they move through the court system, from the initial arrest to sentencing.
How much work has this been for the federal government?
The investigation has been a massive undertaking, both in its scope and cost. Every U.S. Attorney's office has been involved, as well as every FBI field office. As part of the $1.7 trillion government spending package passed in December, $2.6 billion was allocated to the U.S. Attorneys, in part to support the Jan. 6 prosecutions.
In order to bring charges, the Justice Department is sifting through mountains of evidence and chasing down tips. The FBI says it has been reviewing almost four million files, including 30,000 video files. Those include police body-worn camera footage from five different law enforcement agencies, surveillance footage from the building, as well as the many videos on seized cell phones and posted online.
"For context, these files amount to over nine terabytes of information and would take at least 361 days to view continuously," the FBI reported when it marked the attack's second anniversary.
The sprawling investigation has already doubled the FBI's domestic terrorism caseload, yet the Justice Department has indicated that it believes around 2,000 people were involved in the attack. In other words, the department may not even be halfway through its investigation.
Who are the 1,000 alleged rioters?
The defendants – who came from nearly all 50 states – are a tough group to generalize. Most of them appear to be white men, though not entirely.
About 15% of the defendants have a background in the military or law enforcement. For context, about 7% of the U.S. population are military veterans. Police and sheriff patrol officers make up less than 1% of the population.
The difficulty in categorizing this group has caused some experts concern. One in four defendants are facing assault or some other violent charge, yet the vast majority of people facing charges – nearly 85% – do not have any known connection to extremist groups.
"It's not like they all had previous convictions for violence or this kind of long running history of violent assault against political individuals or law enforcement. They were just willing to commit violence on that day," says Jon Lewis, a research fellow at George Washington University's Program on Extremism. "They truly thought the election was stolen. They truly thought that was their day in the sun, that they were the patriots. They were the heroes of that story."
"It's not just the scary Oath Keepers and Proud Boys. Communities are learning that one does not have to be so far gone, and such a follower of extremist movements, to still be animated to some pretty dangerous efforts to undermine our democracy," adds Oren Segal, vice president of the Anti-Defamation League's Center on Extremism. "Does that mean extremism is becoming mainstream, which sounds a little bit like an oxymoron? Does it mean that the in-roads, the agendas, of those who are the farthest, most extreme, are now becoming normalized? I think the answer is yes."
An overview of the cases so far
What are the judges saying to the defendants at sentencing?
Nearly all of these cases are being heard by 21 judges in the federal district court in Washington, D.C. They were appointed by presidents from both parties from President Reagan to President Biden.
It's difficult to compare the rulings of judges because every case is different, but there are common themes in what the judges have been saying to the defendants before them. For one, the judges aren't looking at these crimes in isolation. The significance of Jan. 6, as an attempt to undermine democracy, is playing a part.
"The defendant was an active participant in a mob assault on our core democratic values and our cherished institution," Judge John Bates, appointed by President George W. Bush, told Thomas Fee. "I cannot ignore that, cannot pull this misdemeanor out of that context."
"What happened that day was, in some ways, as serious... an offense as there can be, given that it threatened the peaceful transfer of power from one president to another. The damage that was done on that day was both tangible and intangible," Judge Timothy Kelly, appointed by President Trump, said while sentencing Tam Dinh Pham. "Without people like you, the collective force of the mob that day would not have been the same."
The judges have also emphasized that being "sucked into a vortex of misinformation" does not absolve someone of their actions.
"No one was swept away to the Capitol. No one was carried. The rioters were adults," Judge Amy Berman Jackson, appointed by President Obama, told Russell James Peterson. "This defendant, like hundreds of others, walked there on his own two feet and he bears responsibility for his own actions. There may be others who bear greater responsibility and who also must be held accountable, but this is not their day in court, it is yours."
Judges are also interested in accountability — and whether or not a defendant has made an authentic expression of remorse. That seems to be in part because some of the judges do worry this could happen again.
"Every day we're hearing about reports of anti-democratic factions of people plotting violence, the potential threat of violence, in 2024," Judge Tanya Chutkan, appointed by Obama, said while sentencing Robert Palmer. "It has to be made clear that trying to violently overthrow the government, trying to stop the peaceful transition of power and assaulting law enforcement officers in that effort is going to be met with absolutely certain punishment. Not staying at home. Not watching Netflix. Not doing what you were doing before you got arrested."
"If people start to get the impression that you can do what happened on Jan. 6, you can associate yourself with that behavior and that there's no real consequence, then people will say why not do it again," Judge Reggie Walton, appointed by President George W. Bush, told Mariposa Castro.
Despite the harsh words delivered at sentencing, the judges collectively have actually given less prison time than what prosecutors have sought in around two thirds of the cases. For sentences through February of this year, there have only been six cases in which judges sentenced defendants to prison time even if prosecutors had not sought it. Chutkan, who has given time behind bars in every Jan. 6 case she's heard, was the judge in four of those cases.
More than half of the people sentenced to longer prison terms, such as two or more years, have been convicted of assault or injuring others.
The defendants who haven't received any prison time are often fined, and sentenced to a combination of probation, community service and home confinement, depending on the nature of the case. The vast majority of these defendants are charged only with "parading or demonstrating in a Capitol building," which is a misdemeanor.
Could another incident like the Capitol riot happen again?
There are still major efforts to rewrite history, including from members of Congress who have repeatedly claimed Jan. 6 was not as violent as it clearly was. Just this month, House Republicans announced plans to "reinvestigate" Jan. 6.
Mary McCord, executive director of the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown Law, says she doesn't worry about another attack on the Capitol itself, but says we're perhaps in a worse position now than we were before the insurrection.
"That's because it didn't end after Jan. 6," she says. "Those people are still out there eating this up and consuming this. And not all of them saw Jan. 6 as, 'Oh my gosh. Wow. Okay, boy, now I realize democracy is at stake here. I'm going to shake this off and I'm going to quit ingesting this kind of disinformation.' That's not what we saw at all. We saw a doubling down. And it's made worse because elected officials, elected officials at high levels in Congress and in the states, have doubled down."
There have been federal efforts to combat anti-democratic sentiment. Late last year, the bipartisan House Select Committee issued its final report on Jan. 6, ultimately concluding that Trump was at least in part responsible for the riot and recommending him and others for prosecution. That report is now in the hands of U.S. special counsel Jack Smith at the Justice Department, who is tasked with investigating the former president.
Lewis, of George Washington University, says holding the rioters on Jan. 6 accountable for their actions that day is necessary, but he says we also need to hold responsible the leaders who got all those people to the Capitol that day in the first place.
"A lot of it now does come down to the special counsel and to the DOJ more broadly to recognize that if you're just going to keep arresting, you know, the 925th guy who just walked into the Capitol, took some photos and walked out, it risks missing the forest for the trees," he says. "It's just becoming whack a mole at a certain point."
NPR's Barrie Hardymon edited this story for radio and digital, and NPR's Barbara Van Woerkom contributed research.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2023-03-25T10:17:20+00:00 | delawarepublic.org | https://www.delawarepublic.org/npr-headlines/2023-03-25/1-000-people-have-been-charged-for-the-capitol-riot-heres-where-their-cases-stand |
This is the fourth year the iconic brand has been honored at the top of the list
HOLLYWOOD, Fla., July 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the J.D. Power 2022 North America Guest Satisfaction Study announced that for the second year in a row, Hard Rock Hotels has been ranked the number one brand among Upper Upscale Hotels. This is the fourth consecutive year the iconic brand has been honored with Outstanding Guest Satisfaction among Upper Upscale Hotel Chains by leading data and analytics company J.D. Power and the third time the brand ranked as number one*. The study analyzes over 34,000 guest responses to survey questions and ranks over 100 hospitality brands across eight market segments to measure guest satisfaction, advocacy and loyalty.
"It's with the utmost pride that Hard Rock Hotels is recognized yet again for its exceptional guest services and guest satisfaction for the fourth year in a row," said Jon Lucas, Chief Operating Officer at Hard Rock International. "Exceptional team members are the key to great guest service, and we are so grateful to each and every one at Hard Rock who helps provide the one-of-a-kind, authentic experiences our guests have come to love about staying with us. Hard Rock was founded on a set of core values including Love All Serve All and Take Time to be Kind, which has always been important for us to continuously reflect through our hospitality and service."
In 2022, Hard Rock was ranked #1 in five factors including arrival/departure; guest room; food & beverage; hotel facilities; and cost & fees which are each components of the memorable and unique experiences Hard Rock provides for their guests.
Hard Rock Hotel properties continue to create award-winning hospitality for guests by providing adventure, excitement, intrigue and music and entertainment infused experiences. The brand caters to modern travelers who seek a reprieve from traditional, predictable hotel experiences and offers signature brand programs such as the Sound of Your Stay®, a complimentary program designed to create discovery and interaction with music as well as wellness offerings like Rock Om and Body Rock. Each property is also accentuated with a priceless music memorabilia collection that tells stories of musicians far and wide, complimentary to the brand's contemporary designs and well-appointed guest rooms. Additionally, hotels worldwide offer an exceptional array of culinary and beverage offerings, one-of-a-kind wellness and fitness programs, extensive kids and family activities, plus endless entertainment through both live performances and curated content. Furthermore, the brand remains committed to guest health and safety through its SAFE + SOUND program developed in 2020 with global health and sanitization specialists.
Hard Rock continues to meet demands of expanding the Hard Rock experience across the globe and recently opened the upscale Hard Rock Hotel New York in the heart of Music Row in Manhattan. Hard Rock Hotel Marbella, located a few steps away of the renowned Nueva Andalucia Beach, is set to open in mid-July. Looking ahead, Hard Rock also recently announced property expansion in Las Vegas, set to open in 2025, and Athens in 2026.
As Hard Rock concludes its 50-year anniversary, the recognition of the J.D. Power 2022 Study continues to show the brand's commitment to guests and fans around the globe.
For more information on Hard Rock Hotels visit https://www.hardrockhotels.com/.
*Scored highest in 2019, 2021-2022. Ranked second in 2020.
About Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos®
Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos is internationally recognized as a leader in the hospitality industry – offering world-class entertainment, contemporary designs, incomparable service and one-of-a-kind brand amenities, catering to modern travelers who seek a reprieve from traditional, predictable hotel experiences. Driven by integrity, philanthropy and unparalleled guest experiences, the brand adorns 27 distinctive Hotels and 9 Hotels & Casinos in the world's most enviable destinations. Hard Rock Hotels provide amazing live music, dining options that make guests' taste buds sing, head-to-toe wellness services and many more amenities, in addition to offering best in class protocols for health and safety which Hard Rock deems SAFE+ SOUND. For more information on Hard Rock Hotels, visit hardrockhotels.com.
About Hard Rock®
Hard Rock International (HRI) is one of the most globally recognized companies with venues in over 70 countries spanning 265 locations that include owned/licensed or managed Rock Shops®, Live Performance Venues and Cafes. HRI also launched a joint venture named Hard Rock Digital in 2020, an online sportsbook, retail sportsbook and internet gaming platform. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world's largest and most valuable collection of authentic music memorabilia at more than 86,000 pieces, which are displayed at its locations around the globe. In 2022, Hard Rock was honored as one of Forbes Magazine's Best Employers for Diversity and a Top Large Employer in the Travel & Leisure, Gaming, and Entertainment Industry. Hard Rock was also designated as a U.S. Best Managed Company by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal and ranked the top performing hotel brand in J.D. Power's North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Study for the fourth consecutive year in 2022. In 2021, Hard Rock was named Forbes Magazine's Top Employers for Women for the third consecutive year. The brand is owned by HRI parent entity The Seminole Tribe of Florida. For more information on Hard Rock International, visit www.hardrock.com or shop.hardrock.com.
About J.D. Power J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services and data and analytics. A pioneer in the use of big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic modeling capabilities to understand consumer behavior, J.D. Power has been delivering incisive industry intelligence on customer interactions with brands and products for more than 50 years. The world's leading businesses across major industries rely on J.D. Power to guide their customer-facing strategies.
J.D. Power has offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. To learn more about the company's business offerings, visit JDPower.com/business. The J.D. Power auto shopping tool can be found at JDPower.com.
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SOURCE Hard Rock International | 2022-07-13T14:35:38+00:00 | kxii.com | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/13/hard-rock-hotels-tops-charts-again-1-guest-satisfaction-2022-jd-power-study/ |
BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union lawmakers stepped up the fight against global warming Wednesday by requiring deeper emission cuts from power plants, factories and planes in the EU and by endorsing an unprecedented import tax.
The European Parliament advanced draft climate legislation that would slash the EU greenhouse gases by at least 55% in 2030 compared with 1990 rather than by a previously agreed 40%.
The legislation also includes a tool that would allow the EU to raise the prices of some imported goods — including steel and aluminum — that are spared the climate-protection costs faced by manufacturers in the 27-nation bloc.
The overall goal is to put the EU on track to become climate-neutral in 2050 and to prod other major polluters, including the United States and China, to follow suit.
Final approval of the legislative package, which has been on the table since July 2021, would require the European Parliament to iron out differences with the bloc’s national governments over various details, a process likely to last several more months.
“We are doing a big step for the climate,” German lawmaker Peter Liese, who helped steer the package through the EU assembly in Brussels, said. “We are doing the right thing.”
Non-profit group Germanwatch said the draft legislation didn’t go far enough and expressed disappointment over the plan to continue giving companies free emissions certificates for 10 years, albeit under stricter conditions.
“Still, by giving away the certificates, the EU and its member states are losing billions that could otherwise be used as investment aid to transform industries,” said Anne Glaeser, the group’s expert on carbon pricing.
Germanwatch welcomed the agreement on the import tax, tougher rules for shipping and the inclusion of garbage incineration in the bloc’s emissions trading system starting in 2026.
The EU is seeking to maintain a leadership role in the worldwide battle against the increasingly frequent and intense heat waves, storms and floods caused by global warming. A key United Nations climate conference is scheduled for November in Egypt.
The more ambitious EU climate legislation is part of a clean-energy push that has gained political momentum as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with the bloc pledging to wean itself off Russian fossil fuels no later than 2027.
The EU has agreed to ban imports of Russian coal starting in August and to impose an embargo on most oil from Russia gradually over the coming eight months. Meanwhile, Russia has reduced natural-gas supplies to five European countries, including Germany and Italy, and cut off deliveries to six EU member nations.
The tougher EU climate targets have raised concerns about further energy price increases, which have sent inflation skyrocketing and prompted the European Central Bank to commit to raising interest rates for the first time in 11 years starting next month.
In this context, the European Parliament also endorsed the creation of a fund to help vulnerable households cope with the planned energy revamp.
Two weeks ago, the 705-seat assembly approved deeper cuts in carbon dioxide from cars, including an EU ban in 2035 on the sale of new cars with combustion engines.
The Parliament is expected to vote later this year on more ambitious bloc-wide targets for developing renewable energy sources, including wind and solar power.
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Follow AP’s coverage of climate issues at https://apnews.com/hub/climate
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Frank Jordans in Berlin contributed to this report. | 2022-06-23T10:27:50+00:00 | cbs4indy.com | https://cbs4indy.com/business/ap-business/in-climate-fight-eu-lawmakers-back-stricter-emission-caps/ |
LONDON (AP) — It’s unusual to throw a birthday party for a health care system, but that’s exactly what the U.K. did for the National Health Service, a beloved but increasingly creaky institution that turned 75 on Wednesday.
The date was marked with charity tea parties, royal visits and a service of thanksgiving at London’s Westminster Abbey complete with hymns and prayers. It was a fitting tribute for an institution that is often likened to Britain’s secular religion — though one in which some people are losing faith.
Backlogs, treatment delays, funding gaps and an unhappy workforce have created an increasingly threadbare and overstretched system. Three respected health think tanks warned Wednesday that the NHS is “in critical condition” and won’t make it to 100 without more money and better long-term planning.
“Pressures on services are extreme, and public satisfaction is at its lowest since it first began to be tracked 40 years ago,” the King’s Fund, Health Foundation and Nuffield Trust said in an open letter. But, they added, “despite this, public support for the NHS as an institution is rock solid.”
Britain’s affection for what politicians call “our NHS” is striking, and at times puzzling, to outsiders. Dancing nurses pushing children on hospital beds formed a key part of the opening ceremony for the 2012 London Olympics, to the bemusement of many non-British viewers.
Founded in a country determined to build a fairer society out of the ruins of World War II, the NHS provides free health care to citizens and residents, funded through taxation.
Its anniversary is also the 75th birthday of Aneira Thomas, the first person born into the new health service, just after midnight on July 5, 1948.
“I used to be introduced by my mother as ’This is my National Health baby,’” said Thomas, whose parents named her after the country’s postwar health minister, Aneurin “Nye” Bevan, considered the father of the NHS.
“As a child, I didn’t understand the significance of it,” she said. “It was when I had children myself that I appreciated the care that I had.”
Ellie Orton, chief executive of NHS Charities Together, a network of groups that supports the health service, said the NHS regularly comes up on top when people are asked “what’s the thing that they hold most dear in the U.K.”
“And when we ask them what’s the career that they hold in the highest esteem, they say it’s the NHS workforce,” she said.
Critics say that affection prevents discussion of the flaws of an unwieldy behemoth that employs more than 1 million people and has struggled for years to cope with increasing life expectancy, rising demand and fluctuating political priorities.
Sajid Javid, who served as health secretary under former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, argued this week that the service was “unsustainable” but politicians are afraid to say so because most proposals for change — whether fees, higher taxes or major restructuring — are politically unpalatable.
“Without fundamental change, the supply of health care will continue to be unable to keep up with surging demand,” Javid wrote in the Times of London, calling for an independent commission to look at reform options.
The U.K. is not alone in having a health care system under increasing pressure. Most wealthy Western countries — bar the United States — have built their health systems on a form of socialized medicine. The U.K. model is unusual in relying almost entirely on taxation rather than insurance or a blend of the two.
Since a Conservative-led government introduced public spending cuts in 2010 in the wake of the global financial crisis, NHS funding has grown by about 1% a year in real terms, apart from a surge during the coronavirus pandemic. But demand is growing much faster, as the British population grows larger and older.
The pandemic also sucked up resources, drained staff physically and emotionally, and created a huge backlog of delayed tests and treatments.
Britain’s departure from the European Union in 2020, which ended the automatic right of EU citizens to live in Britain, made it harder to recruit medical staff from other European countries to fill staffing gaps.
The King’s Fund compared health systems in almost 20 nations and found the NHS at best placed in the middle of the pack.
“The U.K. performs well on protecting people from some of the financial costs of ill health but lags behind its peers on important health care outcomes, including life expectancy and deaths,” the health charity said in a report published last week.
All the main U.K. political parties pay tribute to the NHS and promise to protect it. Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the son of a doctor and a pharmacist, gave a Bible reading at Wednesday’s Westminster Abbey service, where the NHS was hailed by its chief executive, Amanda Pritchard, as “a cornerstone of national life and our shared identity.”
But Sunak’s government has been at loggerheads for a year with unions representing nurses, doctors and ambulance crews, who have staged a series of strikes to seek pay raises to match surging inflation.
Thomas, the NHS baby, worked as a mental health nurse in the NHS and remains a passionate advocate for the service. It treated her children when they were seriously ill and allowed her family a quality of care it could once only have dreamed of in the coal mining valleys of Wales.
“My own grandparents, I never knew them. Both sets died between the ages of 30 and 50,” Thomas told The Associated Press. “In comparison, my own mother lived into her 96th year, and she would often say, ‘Look what the NHS has done for me. I’ve lived to this age, I’ve seen my seven children grow up, my 21 grandchildren and 65 great- and great-great grandchildren.’
“It should be preserved, protected and cherished at all costs. It touches all our lives at some point.”
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An earlier version of this story misspelled the last name of NHS founder Aneurin Bevan. | 2023-07-05T22:38:37+00:00 | nwahomepage.com | https://www.nwahomepage.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-condition-critical-britains-beloved-but-battered-national-health-service-turns-75/ |
HAMILTON, ON, Feb. 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - A recent report by Bigger Garden has shown that gardening has become one of the most popular hobbies in America, with 55% of American households actively gardening. In fact, over 71.5 million households, or over 185 million people, now enjoy the benefits of gardening.
One of the main drivers of this increase in popularity has been the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw 18.3 million people take up gardening as a way to pass the time and stay productive while at home. Not only has gardening provided an enjoyable and fulfilling pastime, but it has also helped to alleviate some of the financial stress faced by families containing out of work adults, who were almost twice as likely to struggle with grocery bills.
The impact of gardening on the economy has also been significant, with American adults spending over $47 billion dollars on gardening supplies like outdoor tools and hydroponic kits for indoor growing. Online sales doubled over the pandemic, demonstrating a clear shift towards e-commerce.
Gardening has been shown to have a positive impact on mental health, physical health, and the environment. Despite the initial cost of gardening supplies, gardening households only spend an average of $70 per person per year on their hobby. And with 37.6 million U.S. homes containing at least one indoor plant, it's clear that Americans are investing in their well-being and the world around them.
The Bigger Garden research report also revealed that Gen Z represent a substantial 44% of the new pandemic gardeners, with Millennials making up almost a third of all gardeners. Gen X now makes up around 34% of new gardeners. On the other hand, Baby Boomers are gardening less than they were a few years ago, down around 10% as they age into downsizing their homes and gardening space.
The Bigger Garden research report underscores the fact that gardening is an inclusive and accessible hobby, which benefits individuals, families, and the community as a whole. As we look towards a post-pandemic future, it's clear that gardening will continue to play an important role in our daily lives.
For more information, please contact:
Bigger Garden Media Relations
https://biggergarden.com/
press@biggergarden.com
+ 1 805-309-2491
For direct quotes contact:
Brock
Brock@biggergarden.com
linkedin.com/Brock-Ingham
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SOURCE Bigger Garden | 2023-02-24T22:25:01+00:00 | kxii.com | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/02/24/bigger-garden-2023-research-report-shows-that-gardening-is-more-popular-than-ever/ |
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell was inactive for Sunday’s NFC championship game because of a groin injury.
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Mitchell rushed for 279 yards and two touchdowns in only five games in the regular season. He added 51 yards in last week's playoff win against Dallas. The 49ers promoted veteran running back Tevin Coleman from the practice squad to the active roster.
As expected, San Francisco 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey was active after playing through a calf injury during a divisional-round win over Dallas. He hadn't practiced this week.
McCaffrey leads the 49ers with 1,403 yards from scrimmage and 12 TDs in the regular season and playoffs despite not joining San Francisco until Week 7. He has scored at least one touchdown in eight straight games.
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Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo remains out with a foot injury, but could be available as a backup if San Francisco reaches the Super Bowl.
Cornerback Ambry Thomas, running back Tyrion Davis-Price, offensive lineman Nick Zakelj, tight end Ross Dwelley and defensive end Drake Jackson also were inactive for 49ers.
There were no surprise inactives for the Eagles. Quarterback Ian Book, cornerback Josiah Scott, running back Trey Sermon, Anthony Harris, linebacker Kyron Johnson and guard Josh Sills did not play for the Eagles.
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AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | 2023-01-29T21:22:24+00:00 | seattlepi.com | https://www.seattlepi.com/sports/article/49ers-mitchell-to-miss-nfc-title-game-with-groin-17749925.php |
Which infrared heating pad is best?
Heating pads are a great item to have on hand for both comfort during the colder months and their therapeutic properties. Infrared heating pads are even better than standard heating pads, penetrating the skin more deeply for more significant healing effects.
Many people swear by infrared heating pads to help manage pain and stiffness. The UTK Jade and Tourmaline Heating Pad is a versatile, mid-sized heating pad that eases pain and soreness and is easy to use.
What to know before you buy an infrared heating pad
Heat therapy
Heat therapy can be useful for everything from back pain and muscle strain to chronic pain and severe injuries. On the most basic level, applying heat to an area of the body increases blood flow, speeding up healing and bringing more proteins and oxygen to the area.
It can also help with stiffness and range of motion. Heat therapy can also be useful in conjunction with medication or other treatments.
Infrared heat
Most standard heating pads can help with surface-level pain. Infrared heat differs because it penetrates more deeply into the body and provides longer-lasting pain relief. Infrared heat is also known as radiant heat, meaning it’s diffused, using solid objects to generate and emit heat into the body.
What to look for in a quality infrared heating pad
Stones and crystals
Though not important to everyone, many die-hard users of infrared heating pads swear by the inclusion of stones and crystals — often jade, tourmaline or amethyst — which allegedly emit negative ions and have unique restorative properties.
Including these stones can drive up the cost of the heating pad, but there are many different stone options available. Fans of crystal and stone healing claim that they increase circulation and lymph flow when combined with infrared heat and cancel out the supposedly negative electromagnetic frequencies present in electrical objects.
Size
Heating pads range in size from very small pads intended for use on one part of the body to heating pads large enough for a full-grown adult (or two) to stretch out on. Most people find mid-sized pads to be the most useful, as they’re large enough for the back or torso but still small enough to be moved easily and not so heavy.
Very large heating pads are generally of limited utility to all but the most die-hard of heat-therapy users. Small pads can be especially good to travel with and are good for those who only plan on using them on a small area of the body and want to spend less.
Portability
Many infrared heating pads, particularly smaller ones, come with carrying handles or cases so they can be taken on the go. Larger pads rarely have this functionality, but it can be convenient.
How much you can expect to spend on an infrared heating pad
Infrared heating pads aren’t cheap. Expect to spend $50-$250 for a standard-sized, quality heating pad and up to over $1,000 for very large heating pads with special features and add-ons, like more precious stones.
Infrared heating pad FAQ
Is it safe to use an infrared heating pad?
A. Generally speaking, yes. Infrared pads often allow for higher temperatures than standard heating pads, and any heat therapy can come with some dangers and difficulties. It’s important not to overuse heat therapy. This can be hard on the body and even dangerous. Most infrared pads come with a controller that allows the user to control the heat setting and an automatic shut-off function.
What’s the best infrared heating pad to buy?
Top infrared heating pad
UTK Jade and Tourmaline Heating Pad
What you need to know: This versatile infrared heating pad is studded with jade and tourmaline stones. It has an easy-to-use controller with a built-in memory function.
What you’ll love: Reviewers love the warm, penetrating heat and found that the pad helped heal their aches and pains. It comes with a carrying case for easy transport.
What you should consider: Some reviewers concerned about electromagnetic frequency found that the heating pad is not EMF-free as it claims to be. The stones on the surface mean it’s not as comfortable to sit or lean on as others.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top infrared heating pad for the money
What you need to know: This affordable infrared heating pad has jade and tourmaline. It claims to have a measured negative ion level.
What you’ll love: It gets very hot and comes at a lower price than other similar heating pads.
What you should consider: Some users found it to be less durable than comparable heating pads. The stones are on the large side and can make it difficult to roll or bend.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Thermotex Far-Infrared Heating Pad
What you need to know: This soft, comfortable infrared heating pad uses a carbon fiberglass mat rather than stones for a slightly different infrared heating pad experience.
What you’ll love: It can easily be wrapped around parts of the body and is more soft and comfortable than heating pads that use stones.
What you should consider: The heat setting is not adjustable and has no automatic shut-off, making it much less versatile than many other models.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | 2023-01-07T10:51:27+00:00 | qcnews.com | https://www.qcnews.com/reviews/br/health-wellness-br/massage-relaxation-br/best-infrared-heating-pad/ |
Published: May. 4, 2022 at 6:30 AM CDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
Aerospace-driven growth continues, with ongoing focus on ramp readiness to support customers
Sales of $834.1 million, 9% above fourth quarter 2021 and 20% higher than prior year
Net income attributable to ATI of $30.9 million, or $0.23 per share
Repurchased 3.5 million shares of ATI stock for $90 million, averaging $25.57/share
Non-GAAP information
PITTSBURGH, May 4, 2022/PRNewswire/ -- Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (NYSE: ATI) reported first quarter 2022 results, with sales of $834.1 million and net income attributable to ATI of $30.9 million, or $0.23 per share. First quarter 2022 results include a $25.1 million partial non-cash loss on the pending sale of the Sheffield, UK operations, which is projected to close in the second quarter of 2022. Results also include $28.7 million (pre-tax) of benefits related to U.S. government-sponsored COVID-19 relief including the Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection Program and employee retention credits. The company benefited from these subsidies largely for preserving jobs throughout the global pandemic-related economic downturn, to enhance ATI's ability to remain ramp-ready for its customers.
Adjusted earnings per share* was $0.40, and ATI Adjusted EBITDA* was $125.0 million, or 15% of sales. Adjusted results exclude the partial loss on the pending Sheffield sale, a $6.8 million gain on the sale of the Pico Rivera, CA operations, which was completed in the first quarter 2022 as part of the exit from standard stainless products, an $8.6 million charge for litigation reserves, and a $1.1 million benefit for changes to previously recorded restructuring costs.
* Detailed reconciliations of the reported information under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP) to adjusted non-GAAP figures are included in accompanying financial tables.
"Our robust first quarter results were driven by the ongoing expansion in our commercial aerospace market as well as growth in other key end markets. Our year-over-year and sequential earnings improvements include benefits derived from our commitment to remain ramp-ready for our customers and maintain appropriate employment levels throughout the pandemic," said Robert S. Wetherbee, Board Chair, President and CEO. "Our team worked diligently to control costs and reduce the impacts from supply chain challenges and covid-related disruptions at many of our facilities in the first quarter. We're ensuring adequate supply of raw materials, increasing prices where needed to offset inflation. We've also been successful hiring new employees to help us profitably meet future demand growth opportunities."
HPMC's first quarter 2022 sales increased 9% compared to the fourth quarter 2021 as commercial aerospace sales increased 20%, led by demand for aero engine products, which represented more than 50% of total HPMC sales in the quarter. Sales to energy markets also increased 13% sequentially led by higher export sales to Asia. Sales improved 42% compared to the first quarter 2021, reflecting higher sales across nearly all end markets, led by commercial jet engines.
HPMC segment EBITDA was $68.1 million, or 19.9% of sales. Results in the first quarter 2022 include $21.9 million of benefits from the Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection program and employee retention credits, partially offset by labor and other costs related to ramp readiness. In the first quarter 2022, rapidly rising raw material costs outpaced quarterly index pricing mechanisms for mill product sales, resulting in margin compression compared to prior periods.
AA&S first quarter 2022 sales increased 9% compared to both fourth quarter 2021 and the prior year. Compared to the fourth quarter 2021, sales to the aerospace and defense markets increased 29%, while increasing 47% year-over-year, due to significant growth in commercial airframe demand resulting from recent OEM and other share gains. Sales to the energy markets were 3% lower on a sequential basis, with lower project-based oil & gas demand partially offset by higher sales for chemical and hydrocarbon industry applications. Increased sales prices, resulting from higher base prices and elevated raw material pass-through mechanisms, also drove revenue increases compared to both prior periods and help to offset inflationary impacts.
AA&S segment EBITDA was $75.3 million, or 15.3% of sales. Compared to the prior year periods, results reflect a stronger mix of nickel-alloy mill products as our footprint transformation following the exit of standard stainless sheet products nears completion. Sales of exotic materials from our Specialty Alloys & Components business also drove AA&S segment margin growth. First quarter 2022 segment EBITDA includes $6.8 million of employee retention credits, partially offset by labor and other costs related to ramp readiness.
Corporate Items and Cash
First quarter 2022 results include a $25.1 million partial non-cash loss on the pending sale of the Sheffield, UK operations, primarily related to its long-lived assets, as required under U.S. GAAP. As previously announced on March 3, 2022, ATI's Board of Directors approved the sale of this business, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, which remain in process. ATI expects to recognize an additional non-cash loss of approximately $110 million when the sale process is completed, primarily relating to a UK defined benefit pension plan and cumulative foreign currency translation losses. The remaining assets and liabilities of this business are classified as held-for-sale as of March 31, 2022.
The sale of the Pico Rivera, CA operations was completed in the first quarter 2022 as part of the strategy to exit standard stainless products, resulting in a $6.8 million gain.
Restructuring and other charges were $7.5 million. This included an $8.6 million increase to reserves of the ATI Titanium LLC subsidiary for ongoing litigation related to its indefinitely idled Rowley, UT titanium sponge production facility. First quarter 2022 items also included a credit of $1.1 million to prior restructuring reserves for lower severance-related costs.
Corporate expenses in the first quarter 2022 were $17.0 million, compared to $14.9 million in the fourth quarter 2021, and $12.2 million for the prior year quarter. Compared to prior periods, expense increases primarily related to business transformation initiatives and incentive compensation programs.
First quarter 2022 results include a $4.9 million income tax provision, primarily related to our Asian precision rolled strip business. ATI maintains a valuation allowance on its U.S. deferred tax assets and does not expect to pay any significant U.S. federal or state income taxes for the next several years due to net operating loss carryforwards.
For the first quarter of 2022, cash used in operating activities was $217.2 million, primarily related to higher accounts receivable and inventory balances due to increased operating levels and input costs. Additionally, raw material inventory levels were increased to ensure an adequate supply of inputs given the recent commodity market volatility brought on by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Managed working capital increased to 41.3% of sales. Capital expenditures were $26 million in the first quarter.
Cash on hand at March 31, 2022 was $316.7 million, and available additional liquidity under the asset-based lending credit facility was approximately $370 million. ATI used $89.9 million to repurchase 3.5 million shares of its common stock, for an average price of $25.57 per share, in the first quarter 2022. Among other impacts, the Company's repurchases are expected to help mitigate dilution from the expected conversion to ATI stock of the 4.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2022, which mature on July 1, 2022 at a conversion price of $14.45 per share.
Outlook
"Looking ahead to the second quarter, we expect continued growth in our most significant end markets. In this environment, our lean cost structures will give us the advantage to improve earnings and margins versus the prior year. We'll continue to improve inventory efficiency, balanced with ensuring an adequate supply of input materials to achieve growth," said Wetherbee. "Recognizing the current geopolitical volatility in Europe and Asia creates both challenges and long-term opportunities for ATI, we're working closely with our customers and suppliers to ensure we are in the best position to effectively accelerate our business velocity and reward our stakeholders over time."
***********
Allegheny Technologies will conduct a conference call with investors and analysts on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. ET to discuss the financial results. The conference call will be broadcast, and accompanying presentation slides will be available, at ATIMetals.com. To access the broadcast, click on "Conference Call". Replay of the conference call will be available on the Allegheny Technologies website.
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Certain statements in this news release relate to future events and expectations and, as such, constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements, which may contain such words as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "would," "should," "will," "will likely result," "forecast," "outlook," "projects," and similar expressions, are based on management's current expectations and include known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which we are unable to predict or control. Our performance or achievements may differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements due to the following factors, among others: (a) material adverse changes in economic or industry conditions generally, including global supply and demand conditions and prices for our specialty metals; (b) material adverse changes in the markets we serve; (c) our inability to achieve the level of cost savings, productivity improvements, synergies, growth or other benefits anticipated by management from strategic investments and the integration of acquired businesses; (d) volatility in the price and availability of the raw materials that are critical to the manufacture of our products; (e) declines in the value of our defined benefit pension plan assets or unfavorable changes in laws or regulations that govern pension plan funding; (f) labor disputes or work stoppages; (g) equipment outages and (h) business and economic disruptions associated with the currently ongoing COVID-19 pandemic or other similar widespread public health crises that may arise in the future and (i) other risk factors summarized in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and in other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We assume no duty to update our forward-looking statements.
ATI: Proven to Perform. ATI (NYSE: ATI) is a $3 billion global producer of high performance materials and solutions for the global aerospace and defense markets, and critical applications in electronics, medical and specialty energy. We're solving the world's most difficult challenges through materials science. Our proprietary process technologies, unique customer partnerships and commitment to innovation deliver materials and solutions for today and the evermore challenging environments of tomorrow. We are proven to perform anywhere. We partner with our customers to deliver extraordinary materials that enable their greatest achievements: their products fly higher and faster, burn hotter, dive deeper, stand stronger and last longer. Learn more at ATIMetals.com.
The above press release was provided courtesy of PRNewswire. The views, opinions and statements in the press release are not endorsed by Gray Media Group nor do they necessarily state or reflect those of Gray Media Group, Inc. | 2022-05-04T12:43:45+00:00 | kfyrtv.com | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2022/05/04/ati-announces-first-quarter-2022-results/ |
LANSING, Mich., May 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AF Group has announced Jordan Lotsoff as vice president of Fundamental Underwriters, establishing new leadership in the organization's growing brand which offers insurance products designed for trucking accounts, healthcare and non-profit organizations.
With over 30 years of experience in the P&C market, Jordan most recently served as divisional chief underwriting officer for Everest Insurance Company. He previously served in leadership roles with other national carriers, including the Hartford, Swiss Re Group, Liberty International Underwriters and Aon Risk Services.
"We're so pleased to welcome Jordan to the Fundamental team," said Kelly Fusner, president of Specialty Lines for AF Group. "As we continue to build the capabilities of Fundamental Underwriters, Jordan's strong industry knowledge will benefit our agent partners as we explore new opportunities and solutions for our shared customers."
Lotsoff earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Illinois University, and he is a graduate of the Center for Creative Leadership. He currently serves as chairman of the Loss Prevention Committee for Delta Upsilon International Fraternity and is a former board member, secretary and chairman of the Legal and Claims Committee for the FGIP, an insurance captive.
About Fundamental Underwriters
Fundamental Underwriters, a division of AF Group, provides specialty insurance solutions with expertise in commercial auto. Offering competitive pricing, coverages, and partnership needed to keep operations in motion, Fundamental delivers individual underwriting solutions, consultative loss control programs, and rapid claims resolutions for risks with superior safety cultures. Fundamental Underwriters is a division of AF Group. All policies are underwritten by a licensed insurer subsidiary. For more information, visit afgroup.com. © AF Group.
Contact:
Marissa Sura
(517) 896-3707
marissa.sura@afgroup.com
AFGroup.com
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SOURCE AF Group | 2023-05-31T12:44:00+00:00 | wlbt.com | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2023/05/31/jordan-lotsoff-named-vice-president-fundamental-underwriters/ |
CHICAGO (AP) — A judge on Monday sentenced a man to life in prison for killing six members of his family, including two young boys, inside their Chicago home in 2016.
A jury last month found Diego Uribe Cruz guilty of six counts of first-degree murder in the slayings in the victims’ bungalow in the Gage Park neighborhood on the city’s Southwest Side.
During his trial, prosecutors alleged Uribe Cruz shot his aunt, 32-year-Maria Martinez, after he tried to rob her on Feb. 4, 2016, before he fatally stabbed her sons, ages 10 and 13, and stabbed or beat to death other relatives to make sure there were no witnesses.
Evidence against Uribe Cruz included DNA recovered from under Martinez’s fingernails and a small amount of blood that matched that of Uribe Cruz. Prosecutors also showed the jury a video in which Uribe Cruz confessed some of the details to Chicago police detectives.
Also, Uribe Cruz’s former girlfriend, Jafeth Ramos, 25, testified against him. Ramos, who was originally charged with murder along with Uribe Cruz, testified as part of a plea deal that called for her to plead guilty to armed robbery and agree to cooperate with authorities.
Investigators said DNA tests linked Uribe Cruz to the crime. They said cellphone records also connected both Uribe Cruz and Ramos to the scene.
Ramos in her testimony described how Uribe Cruz methodically killed each victim. She’s expected to be sentenced next month.
Uribe Cruz declined to give a statement before he was sentenced.
His attorneys said in court that they intend to appeal. They said during his trial he could not have killed all six people by himself. They suggested he was present when the family was killed in a robbery by four masked men. | 2022-11-08T06:21:52+00:00 | texomashomepage.com | https://www.texomashomepage.com/news/national/ap-chicago-man-gets-life-in-prison-for-killing-6-family-members/ |
Ye-asy come, easy go! Kanye "Ye" West and Chaney Jones have called it quits.
A source tells ET, "Things between Kanye and Chaney fizzled out" after four months of dating.
"They were never super serious to begin with," the source says. "He has been doing his own thing and has been dating around since his divorce with Kim [Kardashian]."
"[Kanye] is trying to do his own thing and surround himself with people that make him happy and figure out what he wants in a partner before completely settling down," the source adds.
The pair was first spotted together in early February when they stepped out for dinner at Nobu in Malibu. The model drew particular attention as she bears a striking resemblance to Kanye's estranged wife, Kim Kardashian.
In March, the Donda rapper made headlines when he gifted Chaney a very special Birkin bag. A source told ET at the time that West "purchased an extremely rare version of the Birkin bag for Chaney Jones for $275,000 from Privé Porter."
That wasn't the first time West had given out Birkin bags as gifts for his girlfriends. In early February, West bought baby Hermès Birkin purses for his ex-girlfriend Julia Fox -- as well as for several of her pals -- as a birthday gift. West sparked a romance with Fox shortly after his ex-wife began dating Pete Davidson.
Check out the video below to hear more.
RELATED CONTENT: | 2022-06-08T06:43:36+00:00 | 9news.com | https://www.9news.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-tonight/kanye-west-and-chaney-jones-break-up-source-says-they-were-never-super-serious/603-778a4640-26fe-4ca3-8379-c285fb611755 |
Scary moments: Dog helps save owner in backyard bear attack, police say
MEDFORD Ore. (KPTV/Gray News) - Officials say a bear has been killed after it attacked a woman and her dog in southern Oregon over the weekend.
KPTV reports the incident happened on Sept. 4, when the animal attacked the woman and her dog while the two were in their backyard in west Medford.
The Medford Police Department estimated the bear weighed between 150 and 200 pounds.
Authorities said the woman and her dog suffered injuries in the attack. The woman’s left arm and leg were injured, but she is expected to survive after her dog helped scare the bear away.
Police initially said they couldn’t find the bear, but it was eventually spotted on Tuesday by a neighbor in a nearby yard.
On Wednesday, Medford police said officers shot and killed the animal, as it’s their policy that any bear which is a threat to human life must be killed and not relocated.
Authorities said they collected evidence from the attack and matched it with the bear.
Copyright 2022 KPTV via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2022-09-07T20:22:03+00:00 | waff.com | https://www.waff.com/2022/09/07/scary-moments-dog-helps-save-owner-backyard-bear-attack-police-say/ |
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — With the prospect of a sixth consecutive failed rainy season in the east and Horn of Africa, Kenya’s president is hoping the heavens will finally open with the help of a national day of mass prayer on Tuesday.
William Ruto announced the plans for the country’s first ever day of prayer on Sunday at a service in the drought-stricken city of Nakuru, some 100 miles (160 kilometers) from the capital Nairobi. It follows a joint call by the country’s spiritual leaders to dedicate an entire day to prayer to ease drought conditions in the nation.
Ruto’s own ambitious economic revival strategy for the country is also dependent on a successful rainy season.
“As a government we have set out elaborate plans for food security, we have seeds, ample fertilizer, and water harvesting strategies including dams. We now need God to send us the rain,” Ruto said. “I urge all people from all faiths … to pray for our country.”
Kenya and other east African nations have been experiencing some of the worst drought conditions in decades, causing crop failure, loss of livestock, wildlife and biodiversity, and malnutrition. Domestic agriculture is a large part of Kenya’s economy.
The U.N. humanitarian agency has termed the ongoing drought in the region a “rapidly unfolding humanitarian catastrophe.”
Meteorologists say human-caused climate change has been exacerbating the extreme conditions.
“It is time we started including climate change as factor in our development plans,” Evans Mukolwe, former director of the Kenyan and U.N. weather agencies, told The Associated Press. “The current drought which we warned about some years ago has wider ramifications on the social economic conditions of the region including peace, security, and political stability.”
Mukolwe added that climate change has contributed to below average rainy seasons in the region for about three decades.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development’s climate center said that since 2020, five rainy seasons have failed, affecting over 50 million people. The center will release its projections for the long rains season, typically from March to May, later in February. Early projections from other meteorological groups are not optimistic.
Around the world people from different faiths have often sought divine intervention for rain or other favorable weather. Last summer Milan’s Archbishop made a pilgrimage to three churches in hopes of ending the country’s dry spell and Utah’s governor called for citizens to pray for rain ahead of a weekend of extreme heat.
Some Kenyans intend to heed the president’s call.
Nairobi business owner Millicent Nyambura said she supported the idea, “even though it will affect my colleagues in the flower business who expect to boost sales on Valentine’s Day.”
___
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. | 2023-02-14T18:35:41+00:00 | kfor.com | https://kfor.com/news/ap-top-headlines/ap-kenya-seeks-divine-help-to-end-crippling-ongoing-drought/ |
CUTE: Husky becomes neighborhood watchdog on roof
PHOENIX, Ariz. (KNXV) – A dog that loves to hang out on the roof of her house is becoming the talk of the town in Arizona.
Nala the husky scales the balcony in her backyard to get up on the roof, and it’s drawn the attention and concern of people passing by.
The envy can be seen from lap dogs across the street as Nala is clearly the most popular girl on the block. Her owner, Jason Camarena, said a lot of people love her.
“Honestly, they want to take pictures every time they see her,” he said.
Nala isn’t a typical pet. She takes being “man’s best friend” to the next level and acts as full security detail.
“One person actually came and knocked on her door and thought she was a statue because she just stood there like she did not move at all,” Camarena said.
Her owners have posted on social media that she’s not stuck on the shingles, but that hasn’t stopped the gawkers.
Even law enforcement showed up, with Glendale police arriving for a call about Nala while KNXV was there.
True in form, Nala can be seen looking down from the rooftops, prompting neighbors to give her the nickname “Pigeon.”
“It’s funny because when she’s up there they’re still up there,” Camarena said. “The pigeons.”
When other family members couldn’t provide the backyard Nala needed, Camarena and his mom offered their home two years ago.
He said she’s liberally taken to that freedom.
“Now she’s very happy and outgoing,” Camarena said. “We try to give her a limit, like, maybe like 20 minutes, half hour, but during the winter she could stay out there as long as she wants. we don’t mind. At the end of the day, you know, she’s just enjoying the view up there.”
Her owners said Nala also has a pool in her backyard where she loves to take breaks to cool off.
Copyright 2022 KNXV via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | 2022-09-18T16:24:28+00:00 | wafb.com | https://www.wafb.com/2022/09/18/cute-husky-becomes-neighborhood-watchdog-roof/ |
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — A city in northern Michigan has a new Mother’s Day memory: A 350-pound bear was in a tree for hours, watched by dozens of people, before it fell asleep and dropped onto mattresses below.
“It’s like the best block party ever,” Annette Andersen said.
The drama in Traverse City began when wildlife experts responded to a morning call about a bear in a leafy tree. They fired at least four tranquilizer darts into his butt. The bear snoozed on a thick limb before finally dropping to the ground by early afternoon Sunday.
Ashlea Walter hauled mattresses from her house to soften the fall, the Traverse City Record-Eagle reported.
Spectators sitting on lawns or in chairs held their phones up to take pictures and video.
“They’re a tough animal,” said Steve Griffith, a state wildlife biologist. “Obviously they are in trees all the time, and they do have accidents in the wild. … They can take a pretty good fall.”
The bear was transferred on a tarp to a cylindrical bear trap after his vital signs and airway were checked.
Next stop: a long drive and release in a wooded area, “probably 50-60 miles at minimum,” Griffith said. | 2023-05-16T14:17:30+00:00 | kfor.com | https://kfor.com/strange/ap-strange-news/bear-in-a-tree-holds-michigan-city-in-suspense-for-hours-on-mothers-day/ |
- Cronometer users in the United States can now import Dexcom CGM data and self-reported insulin data into their Cronometer accounts.
- Cronometer Gold subscribers can take advantage of Custom Charts, which will allow users to chart glucose or insulin data against intake of specific nutrients to identify trends associated with their diet.
REVELSTOKE, BC, Jan. 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Leading nutrition tracking app, Cronometer, will now integrate with Dexcom, the global leader in real-time continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). In the latest version of the Cronometer app, users residing in the U.S.A. will be able to import Dexcom CGM data and self-reported insulin data into their Cronometer accounts.
The integration will allow Cronometer users to chart their glucose levels and insulin use over time. Cronometer Gold subscribers will also be able to use the Custom Charts feature to plot glucose or insulin data against specific nutrient intake, such as carbs, to help identify trends associated with their diet.
"By combining Dexcom CGM data with Cronometer's wealth of nutrition information, we hope to impact the lives of millions of people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes." says Cronometer's Chief Technology Officer, Brian Doherty. "With a Cronometer account, you've always been able to quickly check the carbs in an apple, but with integrated Dexcom CGM data, users can now see detailed trends of glucose levels against specific nutrients over time which we believe will be an invaluable tool to help manage their condition."
About Cronometer Software Inc.: Cronometer is a leading health and nutrition tracker with a comprehensive nutrition database. Unlike other tracking apps, the nutritional data is curated from verified, lab-analyzed sources. Cronometer was originally developed by CEO Aaron Davidson in 2005 and started as a personal side project. Over the years it has transformed from a hobby into a thriving business with over 6 million users worldwide. They are a proudly Canadian company with a head office based in the small mountain town of Revelstoke, British Columbia.
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SOURCE Cronometer | 2023-01-31T13:52:03+00:00 | wsfa.com | https://www.wsfa.com/prnewswire/2023/01/31/cronometer-x-dexcom-integration-revolutionizing-digital-health-people-with-diabetes/ |
Rock Island knocked off East Peoria 67-57 in an Illinois boys basketball matchup.
In recent action on January 28, Rock Island faced off against Bloomington . For results, click here. East Peoria took on Morton on February 4 at Morton High School. For a full recap, click here.
You're reading a news brief powered by ScoreStream, a world leader in fan-driven sports results and conversation. Help us collect and deliver more game results from your favorite teams and players by downloading the ScoreStream app. Nearly a million users nationwide share team scores and player performance stats with this convenient free app. | 2023-02-12T05:54:08+00:00 | pantagraph.com | https://pantagraph.com/sports/high-school/basketball/boys/rock-island-outduels-east-peoria-in-competitive-clash-67-57/article_7a83973e-9065-55bc-bcb8-c07f4699371f.html |
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon avocado or olive oil
- 1 bag shredded Brussel sprouts
- 2 cups shredded coleslaw mix OR 1 cup each of shredded cabbage and carrots
- 1/2 cup Primal Kitchen Sesame Ginger Dressing
- 1 cup pomegranate arils
- 1/2 cup cashews
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat; add avocado oil and let heat.
- Carefully add the Brussel sprouts, coleslaw mix and dressing; stir over heat for 5-7 minutes or just until vegetables soften.
- Remove vegetables to a medium bowl; top with pomegranate arils and cashews.
- Serve immediately. | 2023-01-05T22:04:42+00:00 | everythinglubbock.com | https://www.everythinglubbock.com/kiss-the-cook/kiss-the-cook-warm-winter-salad/ |
2 killed, 5 wounded in Memphis restaurant shooting
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC/Gray News) - Memphis Police Department said they responded to a shooting at a restaurant that killed two people and injured five.
The shooting occurred at 11:17 p.m. Wednesday outside of Prive, a restaurant located in the Hickory Hill area.
According to Memphis Police Department, one man was found dead on the scene.
Another man was taken to the hospital in critical condition, but he did not survive his injuries.
Police say five more victims, four men and one woman, arrived at a hospital in their own vehicles.
Preliminary information indicates that the shooting stemmed from an altercation that started inside, police said.
There is no suspect information at this time.
Copyright 2023 WMC via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2023-03-30T18:17:33+00:00 | wafb.com | https://www.wafb.com/2023/03/30/2-killed-5-wounded-memphis-restaurant-shooting/ |
DETROIT (AP)Dan Campbell still hadn’t forgiven himself 24 hours later for the Detroit Lions’ 28-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
The coach decided to have his kicker try a 54-yard field goal with 1:14 left. It missed, giving Minnesota the ball at its 44 and needing only about 20 yards to have a shot at a tying field goal.
Instead, Kirk Cousins hit K.J. Osborn for a pair of 28-yard gains, the second giving Minnesota the winning touchdown.
”I can’t sleep on Sunday nights, whether we win or lose,” Campbell said. ”I got about an hour last night, and I spent the rest of the night thinking about what I could have done better.
”Kicking was a major mistake, and I have to do better than that. I have to learn from it, just like our players.”
What frustrated Campbell was that he changed his base philosophy to kick the field goal.
With 2:36 to play, the Lions stopped the Vikings on downs, giving them the ball at the Vikings 47. Campbell played things conservatively, forcing Minnesota to use up its final timeouts.
A 10-yard run by Jamaal Williams gave the Lions fourth-and-4 at the Vikings 36. Campbell let the play clock run down, then called Detroit’s final timeout with 1:14 to play.
It seemed obvious what he would do. He had already gone for it on fourth down six times in the game and succeeded on four of the attempts.
A first down would end the game, and a miss would still force the Vikings to start from deep in their territory. Even punting would have worked – Jack Fox is one of the league’s best at pinning teams inside their 20.
But Campbell chose the 54-yard field goal, even though Austin Seibert had missed from 48 earlier in the game.
He missed again, and the Lions were 1-2.
”I’d give him another shot to kick from there – he missed the first one, but he came back and made one (from 40 yards) later,” Campbell said. ”But, full disclosure, he’s sore today so we’ll see what happens with him.”
WHAT’S WORKING
The Lions’ running game wasn’t as explosive as it had been against the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders, but still put up 139 yards and two touchdowns. In three games, Detroit has rushed for 511 yards at 5.9 yards per carry and scored five times.
That’s with De’Andre Swift only carrying the ball 27 times because of ankle and shoulder injuries – Campbell said he might sit out a couple of games to heal up – and the Lions juggling their offensive line to find five healthy players.
WHAT NEEDS HELP
Jared Goff is in his second year as Detroit’s quarterback, but he’s still struggling to give the Lions any kind of vertical passing threat. His yards per completion is up from 9.8 last year to 11.3 this season, but his receivers gained 136 of their 277 yards after the catch Sunday.
That means, on average, they were catching the ball just 5.6 yards downfield. Cousins wasn’t much better, averaging 5.9 yards, but he was able to get the ball deep to Osborn twice in the final minute.
STOCK UP
With Swift banged up, Jamaal Williams has stepped up to carry a bigger share of the load. He’s not as explosive as Swift, but had 87 yards rushing and two touchdowns Sunday and caught two passes for 20 yards.
STOCK DOWN
CB Amani Oruwariye had a strong 2021 season, serving as the No. 1 cornerback with Jeff Okudah out with injuries, but that hasn’t carried over to this season. Okudah is back and has successfully taken top receivers out of Detroit’s first three games, but teams have just switched to picking on Oruwariye.
Adam Thielen didn’t have a huge statistical game, catching six passes for 61 yards and a touchdown, but Oruwariye committed six penalties in coverage.
INJURIES
Swift missing two games would be a significant blow to the Lions, but losing S Tracy Walker for the season with an Achilles tendon injury will be a bigger problem.
”That hurts us for multiple reasons,” Campbell said. ”Since I walked in the door last year, Tracy has been all in, and he’s been one of our team captains. Nobody puts in more work than he does, and he’s one of the smartest players we have on defense. We’re losing a big cog in our machine.”
KEY NUMBER
303 – The average offensive yards put up by opposing quarterbacks through three games, including rushing, passing and sacks. Jalen Hurts, Carson Wentz and Cousins have also combined for six touchdowns while only turning the ball over once.
NEXT STEPS
Forget about last season’s 51-29 loss in Seattle – a game the Lions trailed 38-7 at one point – and focus on the Seahawks as a very beatable team at home. Russell Wilson went 20 for 29 for 236 yards and four touchdowns, but Detroit will be facing Geno Smith this time.
—
More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP-NFL | 2022-09-27T15:37:59+00:00 | krqe.com | https://www.krqe.com/sports/nfl-football/campbell-frustrated-by-strategical-error-in-lions-loss/ |
Jackie Robinson’s used All-Star Game bat sells for $1.08 million
Published: May. 2, 2022 at 1:28 PM CDT|Updated: 1 hours ago
(CNN) – Baseball legend Jackie Robinson’s All-Star Game bat sold for $1 million in an auction Saturday.
Goldin Auctions announced the sale of the 1949 bat, which came directly from Rachel Robinson, Jackie Robinson’s widow.
While it is rare for a baseball bat to fetch more than $1 million, the sale was not an all-time record.
That record belongs to the bat Babe Ruth used to hit his first home run for the Yankees, which sold for $1.2 million.
The single-most expensive piece of Jackie Robinson memorabilia is a game-worn Brooklyn Dodgers Jersey. His famous number 42 Jersey sold for more than $4.2 million last year.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | 2022-05-02T20:09:51+00:00 | newschannel6now.com | https://www.newschannel6now.com/2022/05/02/jackie-robinsons-used-all-star-game-bat-sells-108-million/ |
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- OPINION: Guest columnist Michael Reagan writes: Whatever you think about his style and personal... | 2023-02-27T19:21:07+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/sports/article/nascar-xfinity-laps-in-top-15-17808723.php |
(NEXSTAR) – It’s almost unthinkable that Up With People has been invited to perform at the Super Bowl on five separate occasions, and yet Taylor Swift never once headlined the Halftime Show.
Her fans, however, are convinced that 2023 is looking like her year, thanks to a couple of “clues” they believe the NFL and Apple Music dropped overnight.
The Super Bowl Halftime Show, which was most recently presented by Pepsi, has picked up a new sponsor in Apple Music, the NFL announced Friday. To coincide with the announcement, both the NFL and Apple Music shared social-media posts announcing their partnership at the stroke of midnight.
In doing so, they also set Swifties salivating.
The timing of the midnight posts, fans believe, is a reference to Swift’s upcoming album “Midnights,” which is due on Oct. 21. Some were also convinced that the font featured in the announcements matched that of her “Midnights” album cover.
“That’s 100% a Taylor Swift superbowl halftime show hint. Posted at midnight. In the Midnights font. SEE YOU IN FEBRUARY,” wrote one fan on Twitter.
“Super chaotic that the NFL announced the Super Bowl sponsor at midnight, so we all collectively knew it was going to be Taylor Swift playing the show. I love it so much,” another tweeted.
As pointed out by Variety, TMZ, and several other major entertainment outlets, Swift has also famously endorsed Diet Coke — a fact which wouldn’t have made her an ideal choice for a halftime performer between 2013 and 2022, when Pepsi was the event’s official sponsor.
Apple Music, on the other hand, was previously the exclusive home of Swift’s entire music catalog. Swift also starred in a 2016 commercial for Apple Music, in which she painfully faceplants on a treadmill.
Despite the speculation, neither Apple Music nor the NFL have confirmed Swift’s involvement at the 2023 Super Bowl Halftime Show. Variety, meanwhile, is already reporting that “it’s happening,” citing three “sources close to the situation.” People magazine, on the other hand, claims they have learned just the opposite — that Swift is in no way scheduled to perform.
In any case, one thing is certain this early ahead of the 2023 Super Bowl Halftime Show: Up With People is almost certainly still available. | 2022-09-24T23:41:55+00:00 | siouxlandproud.com | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/is-taylor-swift-headlining-the-super-bowl-halftime-show-in-2023-fans-are-convinced-theyve-found-clues/ |
Microsoft reported a 20% spike in quarterly profits Tuesday, helping to fuel its battle to get ahead of rivals like Google, Amazon and Facebook parent Meta in selling the latest artificial intelligence technology.
The software giant said its fiscal fourth-quarter profit was $20.1 billion, or $2.69 per share, beating analyst expectations for $2.55 per share.
It posted revenue of $56.2 billion in the April-June period, up 8% from last year. Analysts polled by FactSet Research had been looking for revenue of $55.49 billion.
CEO Satya Nadella said the company remains focused on “leading the new AI platform shift,” though its push to add AI features to its existing products — among them cloud computing services, workplace software and its Bing search engine — are not yet making an obvious mark on its financial results.
Microsoft was an early mover in this year’s hype around “generative AI” tools that can help people write documents and create new images and other media. It capitalized on its multibillion dollar investments in ChatGPT-maker OpenAI to launch a Bing chatbot and similar tools tailored to its business customers. It said last week that it would start charging $30 per user for business accounts that sign up for its new AI “Copilot” that integrates with existing software such as Word, Excel and email.
“Organizations are asking not only how – but how fast – they can apply this next generation of AI to address the biggest opportunities and challenges they face – safely and responsibly,” Nadella said in a prepared statement.
Despite beating Wall Street analyst expectations for profit and revenues, Microsoft’s stock dropped slightly in after-hours trading after it released its financial report upon the market’s close Tuesday.
Macquarie analyst Sarah Hindlian-Bowler said investors have been focused on Microsoft’s early revenue from those artificial intelligence investments, the performance of the Azure cloud computing platform and the likelihood that Microsoft will close its deal to buy video game company Activision Blizzard, which could help boost gaming revenue and drive more users to the Xbox game system and other Microsoft platforms.
More than 18 months after announcing the $69 billion deal, Microsoft is still negotiating with a British antitrust regulator over concerns it will harm competition. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission also opposed the transaction but lost a court fight to stop it.
“We still expect a successful close as the company works toward an amenable solution that satisfies the U.K.’s concerns,” Hindlian-Bowler said in an analyst note ahead of Tuesday’s earnings.
Quarterly sales were highest in Microsoft’s cloud business segment, which the company said grew 15% from the same time last year to $24 billion. Much of that was driven by its flagship Azure platform “and other cloud services revenue,” which grew 26%.
Microsoft doesn’t reveal the total revenue for its Azure business, though a document inadvertently disclosed during its recent court fight with the FTC showed it as $34 billion last year, Hindlian-Bowler said. Microsoft has declined to comment on that number. It’s long been seen as the runner-up to Amazon’s dominant cloud platform, Amazon Web Services.
Microsoft’s second-biggest business segment — centered on productivity software led by its Office suite of workplace products — grew 10% to $18.3 billion in sales for the April-June quarter.
While AI has captivated the attention of the public and investors, Microsoft is also still heavily reliant on its personal computing business centered around the licensing fees paid by the makers of computers running its Windows software.
Microsoft made $13.9 billion from its personal computing business segment in the quarter, down 4% from the same time last year. While that segment also includes other products, including Xbox games and consoles, it’s been the Windows revenue dragging the overall numbers down.
Worldwide shipments of PCs from various manufacturers in the April-June quarter dropped 16.6% from the same time last year, marking the seventh consecutive quarter of year-over-year decline, according to market research group Gartner. However, the market is starting to stabilize and demand could grow again in 2024, Gartner said.
With most of its revenue coming from sales to business clients, Microsoft hasn’t been as affected by economic troubles that have hit consumer-focused sectors or advertising-dependent tech rivals like Google and Meta. But Microsoft has still laid off hundreds of workers in recent months, including many around its headquarters in Redmond, Washington, according to notices it sent to government agencies. That’s on top of the 10,000 employees, almost 5% of its workforce, that it cut earlier this year. | 2023-07-26T00:13:11+00:00 | fox44news.com | https://www.fox44news.com/news/tech-news/ap-microsoft-reports-20-1b-quarterly-profit-as-it-promises-to-lead-the-new-ai-platform-shift/ |
Revenue from Travel & Tourism will make up almost 10% of U.S. economy
New National Travel and Tourism Strategy welcomed but not enough, says WTTC
Despite positive growth, falling international traveler spending leaves U.S. Travel & Tourism lagging behind other countries after pandemic
DALLAS, June 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The latest Economic Impact Report (EIR) from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, reveals that the U.S. Travel & Tourism sector is projected to contribute over $2.6 billion in gross domestic product (GDP) to the U.S. economy over the next decade.
By 2032, the U.S. Travel & Tourism sector is expected to make up 9.2% of the entire U.S. economy based on an average annual growth rate of 3.9% – nearly double the anticipated 2% growth rate of the U.S. economy overall.
According to the forecast, produced in partnership with Oxford Economics, between 2022 and 2032, jobs in the U.S. Travel & Tourism could grow at an average rate of 3.9% annually, representing a 47% increase from 2022 expected job levels.
Whilst the global tourism body welcomes the new National Travel and Tourism Strategy, which aims to ensure the future growth of Travel & Tourism in the U.S. and create new jobs, WTTC says only immediate action now can secure the long-term recovery of the sector and create more than 6.3 million jobs over the next decade.
For 2022, WTTC projects that the sector's GDP contribution will grow by more than 42% versus 2021, reaching more than $1.8 billion by the end of this year and accounting for 7.6% of the entire U.S. economy.
By year-end, the global tourism body forecasts that employment in the sector could increase as much as 28%, reaching 13.5 million jobs nationwide, from a high of 16.8 million in 2019.
"The long-term recovery of the U.S. Travel & Tourism sector looks positive, bringing more than 6 million new jobs to the U.S. economy over the next 10 years," said Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO. "But the landscape is highly competitive, and the U.S. is losing out on international visitors."
Simpson continued: "Full recovery of Travel & Tourism relies on a significant rebound of international travel. While the new National Travel and Tourism Strategy is a step in the right direction, 2021 was another difficult year for the U.S. economy and the millions of livelihoods who rely on it.
"Many countries' Travel & Tourism sector is bouncing back to pre-pandemic numbers next year, but the U.S. is not expected to recover until 2025."
Despite strong projected growth in employment and GDP contribution over the next 10 years, WTTC's data indicates that pressure created by slow international traveler spending in the U.S. will continue to drive a significant performance gap in the sector's recovery this year.
At the current pace of the recovery, the U.S. international spending would not return to pre-pandemic levels until 2025, showcasing the urgency of opening borders to international travelers.
In fact, international traveler spend to the U.S. remains far below pre-pandemic levels, resulting in a slower-than-expected recovery of international tourism revenue.
In 2021, international visitor spending grew a modest 1.4%, reaching $40.3 billion but falling far short of 2019's total of $190.9 billion.
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) represents the global travel & tourism private sector. Members include 200 CEOs, Chairs and Presidents of the world's leading travel & tourism companies from all geographies covering all industries. For more than 30 years, WTTC has been committed to raising the awareness of governments and the public of the economic and social significance of the travel & tourism sector.
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SOURCE World Travel & Tourism Council | 2022-06-08T19:23:23+00:00 | live5news.com | https://www.live5news.com/prnewswire/2022/06/08/travel-amp-tourism-set-inject-over-26-billion-into-us-economy-over-next-decade/ |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Fed up by an enormous pothole in his Los Angeles neighborhood, Arnold Schwarzenegger picked up a shovel and filled it himself.
The actor and former California governor tweeted a video Tuesday of him and a helper using packaged concrete to repair the road in the Brentwood area.
“Today, after the whole neighborhood has been upset about this giant pothole that’s been screwing up cars and bicycles for weeks, I went out with my team and fixed it,” he wrote on Twitter. “I always say, let’s not complain, let’s do something about it. Here you go.”
A neighbor rolled down her car window and shouted her thanks at the action movie star.
“You’re welcome,” said Schwarzenegger, decked out in work boots, a leather jacket and shades reminiscent of his role in “Terminator.”
“You have to do it yourself. This is crazy. For three weeks I’ve been waiting for this hole to be closed,” he said.
Daniel Ketchell, a spokesperson for Schwarzenegger, said Brentwood residents made repeated requests for repairs since winter storms opened up potholes and cracks on local roads.
Mayor Karen Bass last week announced a plan to address what she called an unprecedented number of damaged streets across the city. Since Dec. 30, Los Angeles has received 19,692 service requests for repairs, and as of April 6, crews had filled at least 17,549 potholes, officials said.
The Department of Public Works did not immediately respond to an email asking whether the pothole Schwarzenegger filled had been scheduled to be repaired. | 2023-04-12T02:47:21+00:00 | cenlanow.com | https://www.cenlanow.com/ap-strange-news/fed-up-by-la-pothole-arnold-schwarzenegger-fills-it-himself/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is poised to vote Wednesday to repeal the 2002 measure that greenlighted the March 2003 invasion of Iraq, which would end more than 20 years of authorization for U.S. presidents to use force in that country and return those war powers to Congress.
The Iraq War ended years ago and the repeal is not expected to affect any current troop deployments. About 2,500 U.S. troops remain in Iraq at the invitation of the Iraqi government and assist and advise local forces.
The bipartisan legislation would also repeal the 1991 measure that sanctioned the U.S.-led Gulf War.
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Lawmakers in both parties are increasingly seeking to claw back congressional powers over U.S. military strikes and deployments, and some lawmakers who voted for the Iraq War two decades ago now say it was a mistake.
Iraqi deaths are estimated in the hundreds of thousands, and nearly 5,000 U.S. troops were killed in the war after President George W. Bush’s administration falsely claimed that Saddam Hussein was stockpiling weapons of mass destruction.
“Americans want to see an end to endless Middle East wars,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, adding that passing the repeal “is a necessary step to putting these bitter conflicts squarely behind us.”
Supporters, including almost 20 Republican senators, say the repeal is crucial to prevent future abuses and to reinforce that Iraq is now a strategic partner of the United States. Opponents say the repeal could project weakness as the U.S. still faces conflict in the Middle East.
“Our terrorist enemies aren’t sunsetting their war against us,” said Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who is at home recovering from a fall earlier this month and will miss the vote. “When we deploy our servicemembers in harm’s way, we need to supply them with all the support and legal authorities that we can.”
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While it is expected to easily pass the Senate on Wednesday, the repeal’s future is uncertain in the House, where 49 Republicans joined with Democrats in supporting a similar bill two years ago. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., has suggested he is open to supporting a repeal even though he previously opposed it, but Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has indicated he would like to instead replace it with something else. It is unclear what that would be.
Sens. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Todd Young, R-Ind., said they believe that a strong bipartisan vote would send a powerful message to Americans who believe their voices should be heard on matters of war and peace. The two men have been pushing to repeal the measures for several years.
“I think that the more time goes by the more people realize that a whole lot of mischief can happen with authorizations that just stay on the books,” Kaine said. “And so it’s been slow, but I’ve always felt like I was picking up more bipartisan support every year, slowly."
President Donald Trump’s administration cited the 2002 Iraq war resolution as part of its legal justification for a 2020 U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassim Soleimani, but the two war powers resolutions have otherwise rarely been used as the basis for any presidential action. A separate 2001 authorization for the global war on terror would remain in place under the bill, which President Joe Biden has said he will support.
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The October 2002 votes to give Bush broad authority for the invasion were a defining moment for many members of Congress as the country debated whether a military strike was warranted. The U.S. was already at war then in Afghanistan, the country that hosted the al-Qaida plotters responsible for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, something Iraq played no part in.
The Bush administration had drummed up support among members of Congress and the American public for invading Iraq by promoting what turned out to be false intelligence claims about Saddam’s weapons of mass destruction. And after the initial March 2003 invasion, American ground forces quickly discovered that the allegations of nuclear or chemical weapons programs were baseless.
The U.S. overthrow of Iraq’s security forces precipitated a brutal sectarian fight and violent campaigns by Islamic extremist groups in Iraq. Car bombings, assassinations, torture and kidnapping became a part of daily life in Iraq for years.
Some GOP senators opposing the repeal, including McConnell, raised concerns about recent attacks against U.S. troops in Syria. A drone strike last week killed an American contractor and wounded five troops and another contractor, then a rocket attack wounded another service member. Iranian-backed militants are believed responsible for the attacks.
Biden and his administration have argued that the repeal would not affect any response to Iran. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, both said at a Senate hearing last week that American troops are authorized to protect themselves and respond to attacks, including under Article 2 of the Constitution, which gives the president the authority to protect troops from attack.
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The pushback from McConnell comes amid a growing rift in the Republican Party on the U.S. role in the Middle East, with some echoing Trump’s “America First” message to argue against military intervention abroad. Other Republicans are concerned Congress is giving too much leeway to the president in matters of war.
“I think a lot of lessons have been learned over the last 20 years,” said Young, the Indiana senator who is the lead Republican sponsor of the repeal. He said that those supporting the legislation “want to ensure that the American people can hold us accountable, rather than delegating those important authorities to an executive branch and then lamenting the unwitting wisdom of the executive branch if things don’t go well.” | 2023-03-29T04:43:56+00:00 | bostonglobe.com | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/03/29/nation/senate-poised-vote-repeal-iraq-war-powers/ |
(NEXSTAR) – The winning numbers for the $2 billion Powerball jackpot have been drawn. Didn’t match all six numbers? Have no fear, there are other ways your ticket could still make you some money.
There are nine ways in which you can win with a Powerball ticket. The largest is, of course, the jackpot. To hit that grand prize, you have to match all five white numbers and the Powerball number.
If you don’t land the jackpot, your ticket may still have won you a prize. Your chances of winning any money while playing Powerball is 1 in 29, according to the lottery game’s website.
Let’s start at the smaller end of the scale. If you match the red Powerball number, or match one white ball number and the Powerball number, you win $4. If you opted into Power Play when buying your ticket, your prize could grow to $8, since the Power Play multiplier was 2X in the latest drawing.
A Power Play, which costs an extra $1 per play, can increase your non-jackpot prize by 2, 3, 4, 5, or 10 times. The multiplier is randomly selected before each drawing, and the 10X multiplier is only available when the jackpot is advertised at $150 million or less.
If you match two of the main numbers and the Powerball or three main numbers, you will win $7. The multiplier would increase that to $14.
Matching three main numbers and the Powerball or four main numbers without the Powerball means you’ve won $100. The Power Play multiplier would increase that to $200.
If your ticket matches four numbers and the Powerball, you win $50,000. The Power Play multiplier increases that prize to $100,000.
Tickets that match all five main numbers but don’t match the Powerball are still worth $1 million. When your Power Play matches that of the drawing, your prize doubles to $2 million. During Saturday’s drawing, 16 tickets matched five numbers and won $1 million each, and one winner from Kentucky matched five numbers and the Power Play, landing them $2 million.
If any of your numbers match, hang onto your ticket and sign it. If you were to lose your winning ticket and another person finds it, they can claim it – unless you’ve signed it. Where you can claim your prize and the length of time you have to collect it will vary by jurisdiction.
Powerball is one of the most popular lottery games in the U.S. and is played in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The game has been played since 1992. The next drawing will be held at 10:59 p.m. ET Wednesday. | 2022-11-08T16:58:34+00:00 | kfor.com | https://kfor.com/news/didnt-win-the-powerball-jackpot-you-may-still-have-won-money-heres-how/ |
-- One of the Largest Commercial Payers in the U.S. Expands Access to Phexxi® for Women Seeking FDA-Approved, Hormone-Free Contraception --
SAN DIEGO, Sept. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Evofem Biosciences, Inc. (OTCPK: EVFM) today announced another new insurance win that gives millions of additional women access to Phexxi® (lactic acid, citric acid, potassium bitartrate) for the prevention of pregnancy.
"Evofem's diligent efforts to expand access to Phexxi nationwide continue to pay off," said Saundra Pelletier, Chief Executive Officer of Evofem. "We are thrilled that another highly respected national-level payer is now covering Phexxi, allowing women to fill their prescriptions immediately. The Phexxi claim approval rate reached a new high for 2022 at more than 72% for the month of July, and we expect this will continue to increase with this and other recent payer wins."
This win, adding nearly four million covered lives, continues Evofem's strong success record with health insurers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to increase a woman's ability to obtain Phexxi. In 2022 alone, Evofem has opened avenues with the following payers to cover Phexxi:
- One of the largest PBMs in the U.S.
- One of the largest payers in California, with no copay for patients
- One of the largest payers in Utah, with no prior authorization
- One of the largest payers in Hawaii, with no copay for Phexxi patients
In July of this year, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury released guidance regarding birth control coverage clarifying that group health plans and insurers must cover contraceptives at no cost to individuals. Evofem consistently engages with these payers to ensure they comply with these guidelines in covering Phexxi.
Phexxi is an on-demand method of birth control used to prevent pregnancy. Phexxi is not effective when used after sex. For more information about Phexxi, talk to your healthcare provider and see full Product Information at www.phexxi.com.
- Rare cases (0.36%) of bladder and kidney infections have been reported. If you have a history of urinary tract problems that keep coming back, you should not use Phexxi.
- Contact your healthcare provider if you are experiencing genitourinary side effects such as vaginal burning, itching, discharge, genital discomfort (including in male partners), yeast infection, urinary tract infection, or bacterial vaginosis.
- Phexxi does not protect against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
Please report side effects by contacting Evofem Biosciences toll-free at 1-833-EVFMBIO or contact FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Intended for United States residents only.
Evofem Biosciences, Inc. is developing and commercializing innovative products to address unmet needs in women's sexual and reproductive health, including hormone-free, woman-controlled contraception and protection from chlamydia and gonorrhea. The Company's first FDA-approved product, Phexxi® (lactic acid, citric acid and potassium bitartrate), is a hormone-free, on-demand prescription contraceptive vaginal gel. It comes in a box of 12 pre-filled applicators and is applied 0-60 minutes before each act of sex. The Company expects to report top-line data in October 2022 from its registrational Phase 3 EVOGUARD clinical trial evaluating Phexxi for two potential new indications – prevention of chlamydia and prevention of gonorrhea in women. Learn more at phexxi.com and evofem.com.
Phexxi® is a registered trademark of Evofem Biosciences, Inc.
This press release includes "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including, without limitation, statements related to the anticipated impact of the new payer win on Phexxi prescriptions and claim approval rate. Various factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements, including market and other conditions, and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are current only as of the date of this press release. Each of these forward-looking statements involves risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements, or that could impair the value of Evofem Biosciences' assets and business, are disclosed in the Company's SEC filings, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on March 10, 2022, its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 filed with the SEC on August 12, 2022. and subsequent filings. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by such factors. The Company does not undertake any duty to update any forward-looking statement except as required by law.
Contacts
Investors:
Amy Raskopf
SVP, Investor Relations
Evofem Biosciences, Inc.
araskopf@evofem.com
(917) 673-5775
Media:
media@evofem.com
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SOURCE Evofem Biosciences, Inc. | 2022-09-16T13:56:32+00:00 | kwch.com | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2022/09/16/large-commercial-payer-adds-phexxi-formulary-standard-plans-nationwide/ |
BEIJING – Chinese tech giant Huawei said Friday its revenue fell in the first half of 2022 but new ventures in autos and other industries helped to offset a decline in smartphone sales under U.S. sanctions.
Revenue fell 5.9% from a year earlier to 301.6 billion yuan ($44.8 billion) in the six months through June 30, according to the company, the biggest maker of network gear for phone and internet carriers. It gave no profit but said its profit margin was 5%, which would be about 15 billion yuan ($2.2 billion).
Huawei Technologies Ltd., China's first global tech brand, has struggled since then-President Donald Trump blocked access to U.S. processor chips and other technology in 2019. The company denies American accusations it is a security risk and might facilitate Chinese spying.
Huawei, headquartered in Shenzhen, near Hong Kong, has stepped up development of network technology for autos, hospitals, mines and manufacturing. It says that is now less vulnerable to U.S. sanctions.
“While our device business was heavily impacted, our ICT infrastructure business maintained steady growth,” Ken Hu, one of three executives who take turns as chairman, said in a written statement.
The first-half sales decline was an improvement over a 14% drop reported for the first three months of the year. The profit margin was wider than the first quarter’s 4.3%.
Sales by Huawei’s device unit, which includes smartphones, fell 25.3% from a year earlier to 101.3 billion yuan ($15 billion). Sales of network equipment to telecom carriers and companies rose.
Huawei reported a 113.7 billion yuan ($17.8 billion) profit last year but said revenue plunged 28.6% from 2020.
Its auto venture has played a role in five models released by three Chinese automakers. Huawei supplies components and software for navigation, dashboard displays, managing vehicle systems and other services.
Huawei, founded in 1987, says it is owned by the Chinese citizens who make up half of its global workforce of 195,000. It started announcing financial results a decade ago in an effort to defuse Western security concerns about the company.
Also Friday, Huawei expressed concern about a new U.S. law, the “CHIPS and Science Act,” which promises aid to companies that invest in processor chip production in the United States. It is intended to reduce U.S. reliance on Taiwan, which produces most of the world’s high-end chips, and China, which assembles most smartphones and other electronics.
Any measure that reduces global industry collaboration “will greatly hinder scientific and technological innovation,” Huawei said in a statement. | 2022-08-12T08:19:58+00:00 | clickorlando.com | https://www.clickorlando.com/tech/2022/08/12/chinas-huawei-says-sales-down-but-new-ventures-growing/ |
The remains of a United States Air Force pilot have been identified almost 80 years after he helped save the lives of seven airmen during World War II, officials announced this week.
Lt. William B. Montgomery, a 24-year-old from Ford City, Pennsylvania, died in the summer of 1944, according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, a branch of the U.S. Department of Defense that focuses specifically on recovering missing American military personnel. DPAA confirmed in a news release that Montgomery was accounted for in January, nearly eight decades after investigators declared his body non-recoverable while conducting land surveys in the years that followed the war.
Montgomery was killed on June 22, 1944, when the aircraft he was piloting went down near the coast of the United Kingdom. At the time, he was assigned to a bomb squadron within the Army's Eighth Air Force, according to DPAA. On the day of his death, Montgomery was piloting a B-24H Liberator bomber, carrying 10 crew members including himself.
After a raid on a German airfield in Saint-Cyr-l'École, near Versailles, France, Montgomery's crew was struck by anti-aircraft that damaged the plane. But the lieutenant was still able to fly the aircraft until it reached the U.K., a feat that officials say was possible because of Montgomery's "piloting skill." He then ordered the crew to exit the plane before it crashed into a farm in West Sussex, England.
"Despite the damage to the B-24 Liberator, Montgomery's piloting skill allowed him to nurse the aircraft until it was over the English coast, whereupon he ordered his crew to bail out," DPAA wrote in its announcement confirming Montgomery had been identified. "Seven of the airmen parachuted successfully while the other three crew members, including Montgomery, were still on board. Two of the crew witnessed the aircraft crashed into a farm in West Sussex, England."
Several attempts to recover human remains and aircraft remnants from the crash site in the decades since the crash were unsuccessful. Montgomery's remains were among those eventually found during a DPAA investigation conducted in 2021, the agency said. Scientists at the agency used mitochondrial DNA analysis, "anthropological analysis as well as material evidence" to confirm his identity.
Montgomery will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia at an undetermined future date, the agency said. | 2023-03-16T18:13:13+00:00 | ktvq.com | https://www.ktvq.com/news/national-news/remains-of-wwii-pilot-who-saved-7-airmen-identified-after-79-years |
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