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Oral and Poster Presentations to Highlight Clinical Data for I/ONTAK (E7777) Study in Relapsed or Refractory Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma on December 11, 2022
CRANFORD, N.J., Nov. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Citius" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: CTXR), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development and commercialization of first-in-class critical care products today announced that abstracts for I/ONTAK (E7777) for the treatment of relapsed or refractory cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) have been accepted for presentations at the prestigious 64th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting, to be held in New Orleans, December 10-13, 2022.
Dr. Francine Foss, Professor of Medicine in the Section of Medical Oncology at the Yale Cancer Center, and world-renowned expert in T-cell lymphomas, will deliver an oral presentation reviewing the efficacy and safety results of the completed I/ONTAK (E7777) Phase 3 study.
Dr. Christiane Querfeld, Professor of Dermatology and Dermatopathology at City of Hope Cancer Center, and Director of City of Hope's multidisciplinary Cutaneous Lymphoma Program will present a poster highlighting the safety and tolerability data of I/ONTAK (E7777) in patients with relapsed or refractory cutaneous T-cell lymphoma from Study 302. Dr. Querfeld is one of the world's foremost experts in the diagnosis and management of cutaneous lymphomas.
"We look forward to sharing additional efficacy and safety data for I/ONTAK with the medical community at this year's ASH meeting. With I/ONTAK's differentiated mechanism-of-action, we believe CTCL patients could benefit from this promising therapeutic option, if approved. Based on the clinical data from our recently completed Phase 3 trial, we submitted a biologics license application (BLA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in late September 2022, and look forward to engaging with the FDA during their review process," stated Dr. Czuczman, Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
The oral presentation and poster will be available on Citius' website once the event commences.
I/ONTAK is a recombinant fusion protein that combines the interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor binding domain with diphtheria toxin fragments. The agent specifically binds to IL-2 receptors on the cell surface, causing diphtheria toxin fragments that have entered cells to inhibit protein synthesis. I/ONTAK, a purified version of denileukin diftitox, is a reformulation of previously FDA-approved oncology treatment ONTAK. ONTAK was marketed in the U.S. from 1999 to 2014, when it was voluntarily withdrawn from the market. Manufacturing improvements resulted in a new formulation, which maintains the same amino acid sequence but features improved purity and bioactivity. The new formulation received regulatory approval in Japan in 2021 for the treatment of CTCL and peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). In 2011 and 2013, the FDA granted orphan drug designation (ODD) to I/ONTAK for the treatment of PTCL and CTCL, respectively.
Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is a type of cutaneous non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that comes in a variety of forms and is the most common type of cutaneous lymphoma. In CTCL, T-cells, a type of lymphocyte that plays a role in the immune system, become cancerous and develop into skin lesions, leading to a decrease in the quality of life of patients with this disease due to severe pain and pruritus. Mycosis Fungoides (MF) and Sézary Syndrome (SS) comprise the majority of CTCL cases. Depending on the type of CTCL, the disease may progress slowly and can take anywhere from several years to upwards of ten to potentially reach tumor stage. However, once the disease reaches this stage, the cancer is highly malignant and can spread to the lymph nodes and internal organs, resulting in a poor prognosis. Given the duration of the disease, patients typically cycle through multiple systemic agents to control disease progression. CTCL affects men twice as often as women and is typically first diagnosed in patients between the ages of 50 and 60 years of age. Other than allogeneic stem cell transplantation, for which only a small fraction of patients qualify, there is currently no curative therapy for advanced CTCL.
Citius is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development and commercialization of first-in-class critical care products, with a focus on oncology, anti-infectives in adjunct cancer care, unique prescription products, and stem cell therapies. The Company's diversified pipeline includes two late-stage product candidates, Mino-Lok®, an antibiotic lock solution for the treatment of patients with catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs), which is currently enrolling patients in a Phase 3 Pivotal superiority trial, and I/ONTAK (E7777), a novel IL-2R immunotherapy for an initial indication in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), for which a BLA has been submitted. Mino-Lok® was granted Fast Track designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). I/ONTAK has received orphan drug designation by the FDA for the treatment of CTCL and peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). In the first half of 2022, Citius initiated a Phase 2b trial for Halo-Lido, a topical formulation for the relief of hemorrhoids. The Company anticipates completing enrollment in the Halo-Lido trial by the end of 2022. For more information, please visit www.citiuspharma.com.
This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements are made based on our expectations and beliefs concerning future events impacting Citius. You can identify these statements by the fact that they use words such as "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "plan," "should," and "may" and other words and terms of similar meaning or use of future dates. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could negatively affect our business, operating results, financial condition and stock price. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated are: the FDA may find inadequacies and deficiencies in our BLA for I/ONTAK, including in the data we submit, and may decide not to accept the BLA for filing; our need for substantial additional funds; our ability to successfully undertake and complete clinical and non-clinical trials and the results from those trials for our product candidates; the estimated markets for our product candidates and the acceptance thereof by any market; our ability to commercialize our products if approved by the FDA; our dependence on third-party suppliers; the ability of our product candidates to impact the quality of life of our target patient populations; risks relating to the results of research and development activities, including those from existing and new pipeline assets; uncertainties relating to preclinical and clinical testing; the early stage of products under development; market and other conditions; our ability to attract, integrate, and retain key personnel; risks related to our growth strategy; patent and intellectual property matters; our ability to obtain, perform under and maintain financing and strategic agreements and relationships; our ability to identify, acquire, close and integrate product candidates and companies successfully and on a timely basis; our ability to procure cGMP commercial-scale supply; government regulation; competition; as well as other risks described in our SEC filings. These risks have been and may be further impacted by Covid-19. Accordingly, these forward-looking statements do not constitute guarantees of future performance, and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Risks regarding our business are described in detail in our Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings which are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov, including in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2021, filed with the SEC on December 15, 2021 and updated by our subsequent filings with the SEC. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and we expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.
Investor Contact:
Ilanit Allen
ir@citiuspharma.com
908-967-6677 x113
Media Contact:
STiR-communications
Greg Salsburg
Greg@STiR-communications.com
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SOURCE Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 2022-11-09T14:13:38+00:00 | mysuncoast.com | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/11/09/citius-pharmaceuticals-announces-efficacy-safety-data-its-iontak-e7777-phase-3-study-treatment-cutaneous-t-cell-lymphoma-be-presented-64th-american-society-hematology-ash-annual-meeting/ |
BOSTON (WWLP) – A puppy found on the street in East Boston is being treated for parvovirus.
Boston Animal Control contacted MSPCA-Angell after a puppy they name “Tuesday” was found outside Monday night suffering from parvo. The parvovirus causes a dog to get sick very quickly with symptoms including vomiting and diarrhea. A puppy can die within 48 hours after the onset of symptoms.
“The call was about a puppy that appeared sick on Saratoga Street in the East Boston neighborhood,” said Mike Keiley, director of adoption centers and programs at the MSPCA-Angell. “We immediately agreed to take him and get him into treatment at our Angell Animal Medical Center, where as of this moment he is stable.”
Some signs of parvo typically begin within 7-14 days following exposure include:
- lethargy
- loss of appetite
- abdominal pain
- fever or low body temp
- vomiting
- severe, bloody diarrhea
It’s highly contagious and a potentially fatal infectious disease that affects mainly younger or unvaccinated dogs. It occurs after exposure to contaminated feces. The virus can live in the ground for up to a year and it’s resistant to weather changes, and most cleaning products. You could also put your dog at risk if you walk into your home after stepping on infected feces. Infection occurs following exposure to contaminated feces.
“Tuesday was very likely not vaccinated against parvo,” said Keiley. “We are pulling out all the stops to get him well and assuming he recovers, we’ll ensure he’s fully inoculated before placing him into an adoptive home.” | 2022-11-29T20:37:13+00:00 | wwlp.com | https://www.wwlp.com/news/massachusetts/puppy-named-tuesday-found-on-street-with-parvovirus/ |
BANGKOK (AP) — The bitter battle to name Thailand’s next prime minister took a major turn Wednesday as Parliament voted to deny Pita Limjaroenrat, whose progressive Move Forward Party won a surprise victory in May’s election, a second chance to be confirmed for the post.
Pita had assembled a coalition of parties holding a majority in the House of Representatives. But his nomination for prime minister was defeated in a joint vote of the House and Senate last week, with conservative military-appointed senators mostly refusing their support.
A joint session debated Wednesday whether Pita could be nominated for a second time, and House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha put the question to a vote. A motion to deny him a second chance was passed 395-312 with eight abstentions, dashing the hopes of Pita’s millions of supporters. The speaker told reporters that the second round of voting was scheduled for July 27.
Thai politics experts said Pita’s fall was virtually preordained by the 2017 constitution, enacted under military rule and designed to undermine challenges to the established royalist order with measures such as giving the non-elected senators a role in confirming prime ministers. The charter’s specific target was the political machine of billionaire populist Thaksin Shinawatra, whom the army ousted in a 2006 coup, but the rules can be used against any threat.
“The 2017 constitution was designed to protect conservative interests in Thai politics, and what we are seeing is the Constitution in action. Pita’s fate, or that of any progressive movement, was largely sealed long before this election,” said Jacob Ricks, a political science professor at Singapore Management University.
It was the second blow suffered by Pita on Wednesday, after the Constitutional Court suspended him from Parliament pending its ruling on whether he violated the constitution by running for office while holding shares in a media company, a charge he has denied.
The court’s announcement would have still allowed Pita’s nomination and selection as prime minister. That is now ruled out by Parliament’s action, and Pita remains in legal jeopardy, subject to a possible jail term if the court rules against him.
“The key issue here is that Thailand’s conservative establishment is unable to win power by competing in elections,” said Petra Alderman, a research fellow at England’s University of Birmingham and author of a book about the military’s authoritarian politics. The junta that took power after a coup in 2014 “created a highly undemocratic political system that is designed to prevent the ‘wrong’ party — in the eyes of the conservative establishment — from taking power.”
“To cover all your grounds, you further empower unelected and highly unaccountable watchdog institutions — namely the Election Commission and the Constitutional Court — to make it easier for them to disqualify and/or ban popular politicians and dissolve popular political parties,” Alderman said in an email interview.
Pita, during the debate on whether he could legally be renominated, said he would comply with the court’s order to step down from his parliamentary post.
“I think Thailand has changed, and will never be the same, since May 14,” said Pita, referring to his party’s election victory. “The people have won half the way. There’s another half left. Although I still won’t get to perform my duty, I’d like to ask all members to help take care of the people from now on.”
“Thank you very much,” he said before leaving the chamber to the applause of his supporters.
Pita’s chances of being named prime minister had already looked slim. He was rebuffed by all but 13 members of the appointed Senate, which along with the military and courts represents the country’s traditional conservative ruling class.
His party has pledged to amend a law that makes it illegal to defame Thailand’s royal family. Critics say the law, which carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, is often abused as a political weapon.
Move Forward, whose agenda appealed greatly to younger voters, also seeks to reduce the influence of the military, which has staged more than a dozen coups since Thailand became a constitutional monarchy in 1932, and big business monopolies.
Pita had announced Monday that he would allow a candidate from another party in his coalition to try for the post of prime minister if he failed to attract substantially more votes on Wednesday. The media’s focus has already shifted to possible replacements for Pita as the nominee.
The candidate will come from the Pheu Thai party, which won 141 seats in the election, just 10 less than Move Forward’s 151.
In last week’s vote of the House and Senate, the eight-party coalition received 324 votes, well short of the necessary half of the combined chambers’ 750 seats. With Pita’s suspension and a senator’s resignation, the number of votes needed to prevail was 374, according to House Speaker Wan Noor.
Pita was Move Forward’s only candidate, while Pheu Thai registered three names: real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin; Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by a 2006 military coup; and Chaikasem Nitsiri, the party’s chief strategist.
Srettha, who has emerged as the favorite, entered active politics only last year and on Tuesday won Paetongtarn’s endorsement.
If a Pheu Thai candidate cannot win parliamentary approval, there will be pressure to assemble a new coalition, adding less liberal partners while dropping Move Forward because its position on royal reform is seen as the stumbling block to a compromise.
Move Forward has declared it has no interest in serving in a government with parties tainted by links to nine years of military-backed rule.
The prospect of Pita being denied the prime minister’s job has riled his supporters and pro-democracy activists, who called for demonstrations on Wednesday. About 600 gathered peacefully at Bangkok’s Democracy Monument, a traditional protest venue, by Wednesday evening. | 2023-07-19T19:49:56+00:00 | kdvr.com | https://kdvr.com/news/nationalworld-news/ap-international/ap-thai-election-winner-set-to-make-last-stand-in-contentious-bid-to-become-prime-minister/ |
A new display at the College of Health Sciences Building on the University of Wyoming campus will commemorate UW's COVID-19 vaccination efforts. According to a press release, students from the schools of Nursing and Pharmacy, along with college faculty members and Laramie health care workers, anchored about 500 emptied vaccine vials to a wooden frame. The frame is in the shape of UW's bucking horse and rider. All of the volunteers who helped assemble the vaccine display autographed the back.
A traveling educational lab that promotes learning about science, technology, engineering and mathematics was in Laramie last week. The Laramie Boomerang reports the Curiosity Cube gave kids the opportunity to explore their own microbiome, or the bacteria inside the human body. The station uses local scientists and volunteers to connect with the community.
A Rock Springs native has been selected for the Team USA Wheelchair Basketball Team. Sweetwater Now reports that Mandy Willmore is one of 12 athletes who will go to Sao Paulo, Brazil in early July for the world qualifiers. If the team qualifies in Brazil, they will head to Dubai for the World Championships in November. | 2022-06-30T16:23:47+00:00 | wyomingpublicmedia.org | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-06-30/thursday-june-30 |
In the world of global manufacturing, China is the undisputed champion. But on its doorstep lies a huge country vying to become the world's next high-tech factory for the world: India.
Copyright 2023 NPR
In the world of global manufacturing, China is the undisputed champion. But on its doorstep lies a huge country vying to become the world's next high-tech factory for the world: India.
Copyright 2023 NPR | 2023-03-10T10:24:07+00:00 | kanw.com | https://www.kanw.com/2023-03-10/what-would-it-take-for-india-to-become-the-factory-of-the-world |
WILTON, Wis. (WFRV) – A 51-year-old Wisconsin man was injured after being shot by neighbors who were target practicing without a proper backstop, according to authorities.
Deputies with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office were called to a report of a shooting in Wilton on Sunday shortly after 7 p.m., roughly 45 miles east of La Crosse.
The caller reported that the shots were coming from a neighboring property, and a man had been shot in the leg. He was reportedly transported by private vehicle to a local hospital.
Investigators determined four people were target shooting at a neighboring residence without a proper backstop, allowing the bullets to travel across the roadway and endanger people from almost 1,000 yards away.
Four men, all in their 20s, were booked into the Monroe County Jail following the incident. Online court records show two of the men have each been charged with seven counts of second-degree recklessly endangering safety.
The condition of the 51-year-old victim wasn’t immediately available. | 2023-07-04T20:13:35+00:00 | wearegreenbay.com | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/national/man-injured-by-neighbors-shooting-target-practice-in-wisconsin-sheriff-says/ |
HavenCryo™ goes beyond industry standards to offer unique options for practices, aspiring parents and those who have completed their assisted reproductive therapies
HOUSTON, June 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Inception Fertility™ (Inception), a family of brands that touches every stage of the fertility life cycle, has expanded its ecosystem to include the launch of HavenCryo™, a long-term reproductive tissue and cryopreservation storage solution that offers a unique experience for fertility providers and patients.
Developed by renowned scientists and leaders in long-term reproductive tissue cryostorage, HavenCryo offers the most advanced cryopreservation available, paired with state-of-the-art storage equipment and industry-leading security technologies, allowing patients to store their reproductive tissues for as long as they need. HavenCryo's unique level of safety includes its geographic location, which is strategically based in San Antonio, Texas due to the area's environmental safety and low risk of interference from natural disasters.
HavenCryo builds on Inception's commitment to help aspiring parents build their families when the time is right for them by storing reproductive tissue, including oocytes (eggs), sperm and embryos, for an indefinite amount of time, giving patients more family-building flexibility, peace of mind and control over their reproductive choices. Unique to industry standards, HavenCryo also gives those customers who are at the end of their assisted reproductive therapies the opportunity to store reproductive tissue for as long as they desire.
HavenCryo's first customers are TJ and Margaret Farnsworth. Farnsworth is the Founder and CEO of Inception, which he launched after a two-year infertility journey left the couple wanting to improve the patient experience for future aspiring parents. Since launching Inception in 2014, the company has become the largest provider of fertility services in North America, and it provides patients with everything from diagnostics and treatments to financial accessibility and now long-term storage solutions.
For fertility clinics, HavenCryo allows them to focus on the most important part of the reproductive journey: patient care. With a centralized location and advanced transportation and cryopreservation protocols, HavenCryo's experienced staff streamlines safe and timely transfers, while its industry-leading technologies enhance the preservation process for patients who are planning for their futures.
"Inception Fertility is excited to launch yet another brand that empowers people to take greater control of their fertility through safe and reliable options that are built on advanced technologies that will produce optimal outcomes," says TJ Farnsworth, Founder and CEO of Inception Fertility. "HavenCryo extends beyond the needs of the patient and gives clinicians the opportunity to focus their efforts and expertise on providing exceptional patient care."
Clinicians and patients who are interested in learning more about their long-term reproductive storage options and how HavenCryo can meet their needs can please visit www.havencryo.com
A long-term reproductive preservation and storage solution provider, HavenCryo™ is built upon a foundation of advanced techniques, state-of-the-art security and dual monitoring technology, and world-renowned expertise.
Developed by globally recognized fertility and long-term reproductive preservation experts, HavenCryo's mission is to provide peace of mind at every step of the fertility preservation journey, from safe and timely transport to secure long-term storage.
Inception Fertility™ (Inception) is a family of fertility brands committed to helping patients build their own families. Built by patients for patients, Inception's purpose is to achieve the highest bar in experience, science and medicine in an effort to enhance each patient's experience and achieve better outcomes.
Inception's medical experts are leading pioneers in fertility care. Our doctors are some of the first to use breakthrough assisted reproductive technologies (ART) – including in vitro fertilization (IVF), pregenetic implantation testing (PGT) and fertility preservation services – and they continue to lead the industry by building on these technologies by through development, research and thought leadership.
Its growing family of national organizations is an ecosystem of care, which touches every part of the fertility journey including diagnostics and treatment to financial accessibility. Through this unique ecosystem, Inception is working to deliver on its promise to push the envelope of what is possible for exceeding patient expectations.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Mia Humphreys
Krupp
239-297-6592
kruppagency.com
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SOURCE Inception Fertility | 2022-06-02T13:27:53+00:00 | wcjb.com | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/06/02/inception-fertility-launches-state-of-the-art-long-term-reproductive-tissue-cryopreservation-storage-solution/ |
Tiger Woods toils to 6-over 78 in British Open grind
"Smile" came the plea from a wee lad in the three-rows-deep gallery as Tiger Woods, stony-faced and with his head bowed, slowly approached the fourth tee at St. Andrews.
An hour into his first round and the one major Woods just couldn't miss — a British Open at the home of golf — was beginning with a real grind.
A tough-to-watch start had seen Woods chunk his second shot into the Swilcan Burn, before he missed a short putt to run up a double-bogey. Then came a three-putt for bogey at the third hole.
By the time he had dropped two more shots at No. 7 after driving into a bunker on the adjacent hole, Woods was 6-over par and looking as forlorn as the spectator following the 15-time major winner while dressed in a tiger onesie.
He finished on that number, with the 6-over 78 matching his second-worst round at golf's oldest major and giving him a remote chance of making the weekend in what might be his final Open at St. Andrews.
Perhaps it was too much to expect Woods to contend this week, despite being one of the greatest players to pick up a golf club.
After all, he is playing on a right leg pieced together from a February 2021 car crash. It is only his third event of 2022 — all of them have been major championships — and first in nearly two months.
The 46-year-old Woods said this week he has no idea how long he'll be able to compete physically at the highest level because of his battered body. So it meant he couldn't pass up the opportunity to play St. Andrews, perhaps for one last time on the stage where he won two of his three British Open titles.
That might explain the size of the cheers he received when walking onto the practice putting green beside the first tee, where he did some light stretches for his right leg, and then the first tee itself.
Surely no other player ranked No. 996 has had such a reception.
And shouts of "Go on Tiger" followed him as he walked down the first hole, where he reached a tee shot that had settled in the middle of the fairway but in a fresh divot. Woods looked away after hitting his approach shot as dust flew up off his club face. When he turned back around, he saw his ball bounce into the burn guarding the green.
He took a penalty, pitched over the water and badly missed a putt of about 4 feet. It was a sign of things to come.
Though there was no obvious sign of a limp, Woods walked gingerly along St. Andrews' uneven terrain throughout a painfully slow round that took more than six hours to complete and was played in nothing more than a light breeze. His long, often silent waits at tees gave him time to ponder a slew of erratic shots on the front nine, which at least ended with a birdie after getting up-and-down from behind the green.
Woods displayed more emotions coming back, his competitive juices perhaps starting to flow. His frustration was evident after failing to hole a short putt for birdie at No. 12, and there was a wry smile after missing his par putt on the next.
A drive of more than 400 yards at the par-5 No. 14, which he two-putted for birdie, prompted whoops and hollers from the gallery, and there were more of them on the 18th when his drive rolled onto the front of the green, only for the ball to drop back into the Valley of Sin.
It summed up his round that he could only make par from there. | 2022-07-14T23:36:47+00:00 | wtae.com | https://www.wtae.com/article/tiger-woods-toils-in-british-open/40617511 |
Highlighting the industry's most extensive portfolio of telecom solutions and differentiated laser chips for next generation mega data centers
SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lumentum Holdings Inc. ("Lumentum"), a market-leading designer and manufacturer of innovative optical and photonic products, announced it will participate in eco-system partner demonstrations and highlight a comprehensive portfolio of optical communication solutions for current and future network applications at the European Conference on Optical Communication (ECOC) in Basel, Switzerland, from September 18 - 22, 2022 at the Lumentum stand #516 and OIF partner stand #701.
Lumentum offers an unparalleled suite of 100 to 800 Gbps optical components to customers looking for best-in-class coherent products. The company's portfolio provides performance-optimized discrete components, narrow linewidth lasers, high-baud rate coherent modulators and receivers, as well as integrated components for QSFP-DD, OSFP, CFP2, and other small-form-factor pluggable coherent transceivers.
- Ultra-narrow Linewidth Nano-Integrable Tunable Laser Assembly (nITLA): Lumentum continues to scale production of its nITLA product line, leveraging the advantages of its external-cavity-based laser into a compact form factor critical for coherent modules. The low power consumption, superior phase noise performance, and compact size ensure the nITLA can support long reach and higher baud rate applications for the next generation of coherent transmission systems.
- Digital Coherent Optics (DCO) Modules: Leveraging its industry-leading optics and depth of vertical integration, Lumentum delivers DCO modules for customers seeking turnkey solutions that support transmission rates from 100 to 400 Gbps. Lumentum effectively balances cost, power, and performance using open standard and proprietary FEC to support campus, data center interconnect (DCI), long-haul, and metro-ROADM mesh network applications.
- Tunable Transceivers: Lumentum is in the final stages of completing a significant increase in 10G T-SFP+ manufacturing capacity to support multi-service operators' transition from hybrid fiber coax to distributed access architecture. Upgrading to a single tunable module from fixed modules simplifies service providers' logistical management and reduces overall operational costs. Lumentum's tunable transceiver portfolio also includes TSFP28 solutions that support 25G data rates for expanded capacity, placing it in a leading position to fulfill market demand for these products in 5G wireless fronthaul applications.
- 400ZR Interoperability Demo: Lumentum will demonstrate 400ZR transceivers in switch/router ports and test equipment in both QSFP-DD and OSFP form factors, transmitting over an amplified 75 GHz spaced DWDM optical link compliant with the OIF 400ZR Implementation Agreement (IA). Lumentum 400ZR transceivers provide connectivity in DCI and other applications at a data rate of 400 Gbps. The electrical, thermal, and communications interfaces comply with the OIF 400ZR IA and QSFP-DD/OSFP MSAs and work with the current generation of switches and routers supporting QSFP-DD and OSFP transceivers enabling direct IP over DWDM for customers looking to expand capacity and reach.
- CMIS Implementations Demo: Additionally, Lumentum 400ZR transceivers will be demonstrating the new benefits of CMIS control through firmware upgrades via common data block commands and coherent diagnostics via the flexible coherent CMIS versatile diagnostic monitoring interface.
Enhanced and Expanded Telecom Transport Solutions
- Multiplexers, Demultiplexers, and Multicast Switches: Lumentum offers a complete line of multiplexer, demultiplexer, and multicast switch solutions as part of its comprehensive line subsystems portfolio.
- High-Port-Count TrueFlex® Twin WSS Platform: Lumentum's Twin WSS platform offers enhanced performance. Advancements to its core technology, manufacturing processes, and supply chain robustness drive cost-effective volume production within Lumentum's state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. The platform delivers a uniformly high standard of performance and supports multiple port configurations. As the platform maintains form factor compatibility with existing products, customers can rejuvenate and refresh their system's capabilities over its lifecycle for the decade ahead.
Hyperscale data centers continue to scale, driving demand for next-generation speeds. Lumentum offers a range of laser solutions to address data center networking, artificial intelligence and machine learning cluster networking, and optical I/O needs.
- 200G PAM4 Externally-Modulated Lasers (EMLs): By leveraging Lumentum's EML chips, customers can deliver high-speed modules in high volumes while reducing costs and power per bit. Lumentum's leading-edge 200G EMLs are sampling today and are expected to be in volume production by early 2023.
- 100G PAM4 Directly-Modulated Lasers (DMLs): Designed for rigorous and cost-effective applications, Lumentum's DMLs for 2x400G FR4 and 400G DR4/FR4, and 800G DR8/PSM8 improve bandwidth from previous generations. These compact chips enable lower costs and complexity relative to comparable silicon photonics-based transceivers. Beta samples are available today.
- CW Lasers: Lumentum is sampling a range of optical power CW lasers to support SiPh-based transceiver applications and external laser sources (ELS) for co-packaged optics (CPO) solutions. Utilizing Lumentum's leading indium phosphide technology platform, Lumentum offers high volume 40 mW CW lasers. Additionally, the company's new 75 mW laser integrates an on-chip semiconductor optical amplifier, allowing it to cover 2x100G lanes at high temperatures for next-generation datacenter applications. With its 350 mW ultra-high-power CW lasers, Lumentum is a leading provider of CPO applications; limited sampling is available today.
- Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers (VCSELs): Beta samples of Lumentum's 100G VCSELs are expected to be available in 2023 at 850 nm, 880 nm, 910 nm, and 940 nm wavelengths and support parallel and shortwave wavelength division multiplexing applications, including 64GFC and 128GFC, extended temperature 50 Gbps, and cost-effective active optical cables. For 25G NRZ and 50G PAM4 applications at 850 nm wavelength, Lumentum's VCSELs are available today and shipping in volume with high production capacity to meet strong cloud market demand. In addition, Lumentum's high bandwidth, wide wavelength range indium gallium arsenide PIN photodiodes for multimode receivers at data rates up to 100 Gbps are available today.
To request samples or learn more about Lumentum's solutions and technology, contact a representative at customer.service@lumentum.com.
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SOURCE Lumentum | 2022-09-15T22:16:53+00:00 | waff.com | https://www.waff.com/prnewswire/2022/09/15/lumentum-exhibit-comprehensive-leading-edge-innovations-ecoc-2022/ |
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho Supreme Court has overturned a law allowing grandparents to seek visitation rights after finding that it unconstitutionally violates the “fundamental right to parent.”
In the ruling handed down Friday, the high court said parents have a fundamental right to maintain family relationships and to the “custody, care and control” of their children. But the Idaho state law “seemingly allows grandparents to seek visitation over the objection of fit parents,” Justice John Stegner wrote for the unanimous court. That makes the visitation law unconstitutional, the court found.
The case arose in 2017 after Dennis and Linda Nelson asked a magistrate judge to award them visitation with their grandchildren after the grandchildren's parents, Brian and Stephanie Evans, cut off contact. Neither attorneys for the Nelsons nor the Evanses immediately responded to requests for comment from The Associated Press.
But the family members' relationship had been full of strife for some time, in part because the grandmother strongly objected to the parent's marriage — resulting in no communication between the two sides for nearly a year — and in part because the Evanses felt the grandmother was manipulative and repeatedly violated their boundaries.
The Nelsons and Evanses also had disputes over a jointly owned California home and over the Evanses' decision to move to Idaho, according to the ruling. The discord continued when it came to childrearing, with the grandparents taking the grandchildren on extravagant playdates to places like Disneyland and frequently returning the children home later than had been requested. The Evanses said the grandparents frequently showed up even though they hadn't been invited, and that they used emotional manipulation and pressuring tactics to get what they wanted.
“Stephanie and Brian asked the Nelsons to refrain from spending so much money and to instead go on more simple playdates such as to parks; however, these requests were frequently ignored,” Stegner wrote. “The Nelsons seemed intent on spoiling the grandchildren contrary to the expressed wishes of the Evanses.”
The lower court where the case began ruled in favor of the parents, finding that the Nelsons lacked the legal standing to seek visitation. The grandparents appealed and lost at the district court level, and appealed again to the Idaho Supreme Court. In 2020, the Idaho Supreme Court found that state law did give the Nelsons the right to seek visitation rights and bounced the case back to the lower court.
Last year, the lower court acknowledged that the grandparents had inserted themselves into the Evans family to an “exorbitant” extent, and that the grandmother's behavior had undermined the parents in the eyes of the children. Still, the lower court took issue with how the Evans family severed their children's relationship with the grandparents, saying they may not have sufficiently explained their concern to the grandparents before cutting off ties.
“Despite finding the Nelsons had harmed the grandchildren by acting in the way that they had, the magistrate court then ordered visitation,” as long as the grandparents first underwent counseling, according to court documents.
Meanwhile, the Evans family filed a motion asking the court to find the visitation law unconstitutional. They argued the law did not serve any compelling state interest and that it allowed fit parents to be hauled into court by overzealous grandparents.
The high court agreed that the law was unconstitutional, and noted the toll the case had placed on the Evans family — including more than $50,000 worth of legal bills.
“The Nelsons’ conduct in this case has placed a significant financial and emotional strain on Stephanie and Brian, and likely their three daughters as well,” Stegner wrote.
Sending the case back to the magistrate court would just result in additional litigation, the Supreme Court justices found, and so they dismissed the visitation case outright. | 2022-09-19T22:01:39+00:00 | lmtonline.com | https://www.lmtonline.com/news/article/Idaho-Supreme-Court-overturns-grandparents-17452529.php |
After storming out to a surprising start and vaulting to the top of the Western Conference a month into the season, the Utah Jazz hit their biggest slump so far.
With a good chance of ending their season-worst losing streak Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Clippers, Jazz coach Will Hardy wasn’t about to let the opportunity slide. That included him playing Kelly Olynyk, Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton for extended time while tightening up the rotation.
The move paid off for the Jazz, who are relieved to enter Friday’s contest against the Indiana Pacers in Salt Lake City on a positive note after defeating the Clippers 125-112.
“I thought those guys had good mojo tonight. It was just a feel thing,” Hardy said in Wednesday’s postgame press conference. “Nobody necessarily did anything wrong or terrible. It was just I thought that group was playing very well. I thought it was really important that we come out of tonight with a win.”
The Jazz starters who logged the most amount of floor time responded. Clarkson had a season-high 33 points. Markkanen scored 23 with nine rebounds. Sexton totaled 21 points, six rebounds and six assists, and Jarred Vanderbilt put up 14 points and 12 rebounds. Olynyk added 12 points with seven rebounds.
Vanderbilt was the only Jazz starter who saw his usual amount of action with 25 minutes. Clarkson played 40 minutes, Olynyk and Markkanen each played 36 and Sexton was on the court for 31.
The Jazz shot 54.9 percent from the field and put away the short-handed Clippers when it mattered most in the fourth quarter.
“We were playing to our style of basketball,” Markkanen said. “We were getting good looks. It didn’t really matter who’s shooting as long as it goes in and we’re getting good looks.”
The key is to string together solid performances in a row now that the schedule has turned in Utah’s favor. Friday’s game will be the third date of a six-game homestand.
Indiana is hoping to get back on track after falling to 1-2 on its challenging seven-game road trip.
The Pacers were walloped in Sacramento on Wednesday, 137-114.
“Kings outplayed us tonight,” Tyrese Haliburton said. “They’re a good team.”
Jalen Smith and Bennedict Mathurin each scored 22 points to pace the Pacers, who nevertheless have a better record in the past 10 games than the Jazz (7-3 vs. 3-7).
Indiana coach Rick Carlisle was disappointed by how the Pacers were outscored 31-8 in fast-break points.
“Tough game. This game is on me. I didn’t have them prepared for what was coming,” Carlisle said. “The transition points really tell the story of the game. We were a step slow.”
Utah is 7-3 so far at home, while Indiana enters this matchup with a 5-5 record on the road. The Pacers kicked off their current swing in Los Angeles with a loss to the Clippers followed by a thrilling last-second win over the Lakers.
–Field Level Media | 2022-12-02T19:52:44+00:00 | siouxlandproud.com | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/sports/nba/jazz-seek-steady-play-during-homestand-welcome-pacers/ |
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo failed to score in his Saudi Pro League debut for Al Nassr, but his presence electrified fans at King Saud University Stadium as the team beat Ettifaq 1-0 to retake first place on Sunday.
Talisca headed the winner in the 31st minute when Abdulmajeed Al-Sulaiheem’s cross was too high for Ronaldo, who didn’t seem to mind as he wheeled around to celebrate with the Brazilian midfielder and the rest of his new teammates.
Al Nassr, which has played 14 games, moved a point ahead of defending champion Al Hilal, which has played a game more.
The Al Nassr fans had to wait three weeks after the announcement of one of the most surprising transfers in soccer history to see their new hero in competitive action.
On Thursday, Ronaldo played for a combined XI from Al Nassr and Al Hilal in an exhibition game against a Paris Saint-Germain team featuring old foe Lionel Messi.
Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner who starred for Real Madrid, Juventus and Manchester United, signed a deal to June 2025 with Al Nassr, apparently after rejecting offers from Europe, North America and beyond.
Media reports have claimed the Portugal star could be earning up to $200 million a year from the deal, which would make him the highest-paid soccer player in history.
Al Nassr president Musalli Almuammar would not confirm the figures in Ronaldo’s two-and-a-half-year contract but said the 37-year-old deserves to be the highest paid player on the planet.
The attention-catching deal fuels the debate about Saudi Arabia using so-called “sportswashing” to boost its image internationally. Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund owns Premier League team Newcastle, and the country is considering a bid to host the 2030 World Cup.
Ronaldo had been a free agent after his contract was terminated by Manchester United following an explosive TV interview in which he criticized manager Erik ten Hag and the club’s owners after having been repeatedly benched and even temporarily suspended by the club.
He also came off a disappointing World Cup where he was benched in the knockout rounds and left the field in tears after Portugal lost in the quarterfinals to Morocco.
While Saudi Arabia earned its biggest international soccer win ever at the World Cup in neighboring Qatar when it beat eventual champion Argentina in its first group-stage game, its domestic league has few other stars and is not watched by a major international audience.
___
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2023-01-23T09:14:24+00:00 | texomashomepage.com | https://www.texomashomepage.com/sports/ap-ronaldo-makes-saudi-league-debut-for-al-nassr-doesnt-score/ |
(The Hill) – Justice Neil Gorsuch and two partners sold a property they owned to the head of a major law firm with business before the Supreme Court days after Gorsuch’s confirmation, according to Politico.
Politico reported that Gorsuch had sought a buyer for nearly two years for the 3,000-square-foot home, located northwest of Denver, and that Greenberg Traurig CEO Brian Duffy put the property under contract nine days after Gorsuch’s Senate confirmation to the high court in April 2017.
Greenberg Traurig, which employs more than 2,000 attorneys, is regularly involved in cases before the high court.
Grand County, Colo., real estate records show that Brian and Kari Duffy, which match the names of the firm’s CEO and his wife, closed on a property sold by Walden Group, LLC, the name of Gorsuch’s company, on May 19, 2017. The sale was for $1.825 million, the records indicate.
Gorsuch reportedly owned a 20 percent stake in the company, and his two partners each owned 40 percent. Gorsuch in his annual financial disclosure that year noted he received between $250,001-$500,000 for a sale stemming from the company, but a box for the identity of the buyer is left blank.
Supreme Court justices are required to file the annual disclosures under federal law, although they are not required to follow any binding ethics code. The justices have indicated they generally consult their colleagues when deciding ethical dilemmas.
The Hill has reached out to Supreme Court and Greenberg Traurig spokespeople for comment.
Politico’s report follows heavy scrutiny on Justice Clarence Thomas after a ProPublica investigation detailed luxury trips and gifts he received over the years from GOP mega donor Harlan Crow.
ProPublica days later reported that Thomas did not disclose a 2014 real estate deal with Crow, in which his company bought a series of Savannah, Ga., properties from Thomas and his family for $133,363.
Crow reportedly later had contractors complete tens of thousands of dollars of work on the property while Thomas’s mother remained living there.
The investigation led to outrage from Democrats, who have renewed their calls for more stringent ethics rules at the high court. Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) has invited Chief Justice John Roberts, or another justice he designates, to testify before his committee next week. | 2023-04-25T20:01:39+00:00 | ksn.com | https://www.ksn.com/hill-politics/gorsuch-sold-property-to-major-law-firm-head-after-confirmation-report/ |
BERLIN (AP) — German officials urged environmental activists to engage in “constructive” protests and avoid endangering lives Friday as government-appointed experts warned that the key European Union country risks missing its climate targets for 2030.
A heated debate has broken out over activists’ methods after road blockades caused by a Monday protest delayed a specialist rescue crew from reaching a cyclist fatally injured in a traffic accident in Berlin. Some German media declared the protesters “shared the blame” for the woman’s death.
Climate activists also were criticized for gluing themselves to a dinosaur exhibit, throwing food over valuable paintings and spraying political party offices with paint.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz “supports all democratic engagement, and we have repeatedly stressed that in connection with the climate protests,” Wolfgang Buechner, the chancellor’s spokesperson, told reporters. “But the form of protest that we are seeing now, this week in particular, is not effective or constructive.”
Buechner noted Scholz had stressed Monday that protests must not lead to endangering other people.
“People’s lives must not be endangered, and so we do not accept this form of protest,” Buechner said, urging instead protests that unite society to work for faster climate change.
The chancellor’s spokesman insisted that protecting the climate was “the central concern” of the German government and said it was already working hard on “ambitious” policy aims.
“Our aim is very clear: We, as the whole German government, want to implement effective climate policy, and we are making that clear with our determination to act,” he said.
Europe’s biggest economy wants to slash greenhouse gas emissions by at least 65% from 1990 levels by 2030 and has plans in place to sharply boost renewable energy production while phasing out fossil fuels.
But the government’s own advisers cast doubt Friday on Germany’s ability to meet that target, saying the country needs to reduce its emissions twice as fast as the yearly average from over the past decade. In some sectors, such as industry and transportation, the cuts would need to be 10 times higher or more, the five-member panel said.
Its chair, Hans-Martin Henning of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, said Germany’s efforts to improve energy efficiency were being undone by higher consumption, such as from larger homes and increased mobility.
The panel’s findings are a blow to Germany’s green credentials ahead of this year’s U.N. climate talks in Egypt, which start next week.
Facing an energy crunch as a result of Russia’s war on Ukraine, the German government announced plans to reactivate old oil and coal-fired power stations, import more liquefied natural gas and extract more coal from its own mines, angering climate activists.
The government insists the measures are temporary and the overall shift to clean energy will be accelerated. On Thursday, Germany inked a preliminary deal to buy more natural gas from Egypt and to help the North African nation develop production facilities for hydrogen.
Germany has also tried to make up for its own high historical emissions by helping countries that are now bearing the brunt of global warming’s impacts. The government said Friday that it would provide Peru with about 352 million euros ($345 million) to help the Latin American nation improve its public transit system and to combat deforestation in the Amazon.
Activists from the group Uprising of the Last Generation, which staged the museum protests and road blockades, expressed sadness at the cyclists’s death Friday, but said they would continue to protest until the German government does enough to tackle the climate crisis.
The Germany daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung on Friday cited a confidential report by the emergency doctor at the scene of the crash stating that the delayed arrival of the specialist crew made no difference to the victim’s medical treatment.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of climate issues at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment | 2022-11-04T19:11:58+00:00 | kxnet.com | https://www.kxnet.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-germany-debates-climate-protests-amid-warning-on-2030-goal/ |
UPDATE:
FREEDOM, Ind. (WTHI) - The Silver Alert for an Owen County woman is cancelled after her recovery.
Zoe Neree (18) was found in Owen County just south of Freedom on the evening of Saturday, July 29th.
The incident is still under investigation and the Silver Alert has been canceled.
PREVIOUS VERSION:
FREEDOM, Ind. (WTHI) - A statewide Silver Alert has been issued for an Owen County, Indiana woman.
The Owen County Sheriff's Department is investigating the disappearance of Zoe Neree.
She is an 18-year-old black female, 5'4" tall, 115lbs, with brown hair and brown eyes.
Neree was last seen wearing glasses and all dark clothing.
She is missing from Freedom, Indiana and was last seen on Thursday, July 27 at 5:30 pm.
She is believed to be in extreme danger and may require medical assistance.
If you have any information on Zoe Neree, contact the Owen County Sheriff's Department at 812-829-4874 or 911. | 2023-07-30T23:03:31+00:00 | wthitv.com | https://www.wthitv.com/news/indiana/missing-owen-county-woman-found/article_a3274912-2d21-11ee-b306-5bb9b20442b5.html |
Singer/Songwriter, Tony Zorc announces his run for President in 2024 to serve the American people as a peaceful Revolutionary in the position of President and advance the Upgrade My Country Movement's agenda to amend the US Constitution for Term Limits and Upgraded Elections.
ELLICOTT CITY, Md., Nov. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Upgrade My Country and Tony Zorc jointly announce that Mr. Zorc is the Movement's endorsed Independent Presidential candidate for 2024. Upgrade My Country is a plan for US Citizens to take back control of their country from what it frames as a corrupt duopoly aka; the Democratic-Republican Party or "the Beast" whose primary directive is to serve itself over the American people.
Zorc stated: "Real change in Washington has to come from outside our existing system of government. Change starts with an open mind, then follows hope, and if followed by action comes real change."
The Upgrade My Country Movement claims to have a unique approach to social change through the union of pop culture and politics. To support the Movement, Zorc has recorded a music catalog of 25 songs and is releasing one song each month prior to the 2024 election. Zorc's first song Beast Congressman was released on the day following the mid-term election on 11/9/2022 in coordination with the launch of the Upgrade My Country Movement. In just a few weeks, Zorc's song and its related social media music videos have had over 300,000 views, and his social media following has increased 59.6%.
Zorc further claims he is not running as a spoiler for either the Democratic or Republican party in 2024. He believes the American People will make history in the 2024 election cycle by unifying their support to send a Revolutionary to Washington to execute the Upgrade My Country plan. He believes this will result in the awarding of the required 270 electoral votes to the Revolutionary candidate.
Tony Zorc is an Entrepreneur, Author, Singer/Songwriter turned political activist. Visit tonyzorc.com to learn more.
Upgrade My Country is a nonprofit, mission-based organization to amend the US Constitution for Term Limits and Upgraded Elections by unifying America through pop culture, including; comics, music, and film. Visit upgrademycountry.org to learn more.
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SOURCE Tony Zorc | 2022-11-30T12:46:19+00:00 | wlox.com | https://www.wlox.com/prnewswire/2022/11/30/tony-zorc-announces-run-president-united-states-2024-an-independent/ |
(The Hill) – Federal prosecutors on Monday added seditious conspiracy to the list of charges five Proud Boys leaders are facing over their alleged involvement in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
A superseding federal grand jury indictment unsealed Monday marks the second time the Justice Department has brought the serious charge following the attack.
The five Proud Boys members, including the group’s national leader, Enrique Tarrio, had been charged over the past year with conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and various other counts.
Both of the types of conspiracy charges are punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Prosecutors earlier this year charged members of the right-wing Oath Keepers militia with seditious conspiracy.
“Mr. Tarrio will have his day in court and we will vigorously represent our client through this process,” Tarrio’s lawyer, Nayib Hassan, said in an email. “Mr. Tarrio looks forward to being vindicated of these allegations.”
The new charges come as the Justice Department appears to be broadening the scope of its investigation into the attack. Former White House trade adviser Peter Navarro revealed last week that he had been subpoenaed by a federal grand jury for his communications with former President Trump.
The latest indictment doesn’t appear to add much new information to the case against the members of the Proud Boys group, who are scheduled to face a jury in August.
Seditious conspiracy involves planning to use violence to obstruct or overthrow the government. The Justice Department has historically only rarely brought such cases and have had mixed results in recent decades.
Prosecutors will now have to prove that the Proud Boys defendants conspired “to oppose the lawful transfer of presidential power by force.”
The new charges come two months after a sixth Proud Boys leader named as a defendant in earlier indictments, Charles Donohoe, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and agreed to cooperate with the investigation and testify in court if necessary.
The five members now facing new charges have all pleaded not guilty and denied conspiring to prevent President Biden from taking office. Their lawyers have argued that the group’s efforts prior to Jan. 6 were to ensure that they could protect themselves in case they were attacked by leftist activists who they had clashed with at previous demonstrations around the country.
Tarrio was arrested in March and initially charged with conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and other counts, despite not being physically present at the Capitol on Jan. 6.
He had been arrested two days before the attack on Congress on unrelated charges and ordered to stay out of the district. But prosecutors allege he played a key role in preparing the group’s followers for an effort to prevent Congress from certifying President Biden’s 2020 victory over former President Trump.
- Justices won’t hear appeal from couple who pointed guns at Black Lives Matter protesters
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“Tarrio nonetheless continued to direct and encourage the Proud Boys prior to and during the events of Jan. 6, 2021, and… he claimed credit for what had happened on social media and in an encrypted chat room during and after the attack,” the Justice Department said in March.
The other Proud Boys members had been charged last year. | 2022-06-06T21:46:37+00:00 | kdvr.com | https://kdvr.com/news/nationalworld-news/prosecutors-charge-five-proud-boys-defendants-with-seditious-conspiracy/ |
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We've placed cookies on your device to improve your browsing experience. They're safe and don't contain sensitive information. | 2022-09-27T14:14:09+00:00 | tj.news | https://tj.news/telegraph-journal/101969935 |
Which rowing machine or treadmill is best?
When it’s time for cardio, you could lace up and hit the track or settle in for a few thousand meters of rowing. Each is different and good for your body in its own way, but there are some discrepancies you should consider to get the most out of your workout.
When considering cardio, the most important aspects are whether or not the training is high or low impact, how many calories you burn, the muscle groups you activate, how long it usually takes and how easy it is.
Rowing offers a full-body workout that’s low impact but highly effective, and the Concept 2 Model D Rowing Machine is the top choice.
Treadmills for home
A treadmill primarily activates your quadriceps and hamstrings, as well as your calves and glutes. It works out all of your legs and parts of your core and back, and how your feet hit the ground and jolt your legs makes it a high-impact exercise.
While high-impact exercises help train your body, they can also hurt you if you’re not careful and properly maintaining your form and drinking water. The advantages of a treadmill mean you’ll be able to run whenever without much fear of injury or environmental factors. Plus, you’ll be able to take all extraneous factors out of the workout and focus on the run. If your goal is weight loss or being more fit, running two to four times per week for 20 to 30 minutes is enough.
OMA Treadmill pros
Adjust your speed and incline and keep track of run details on the treadmill for home. The OMA Treadmill for home is easy to assemble and takes some of the stress out of running. When you run on it, there’s a good rebound, which takes out some of the impact and makes it easier on your joints. Plus, there’s a monitor on the treadmill, making it easier to keep track of and visualize the distance you’ve run, your speed, and the calories you’ve burned.
OMA Treadmill cons
The Bluetooth speaker in the treadmill doesn’t have great sound quality, and it can be challenging to connect. Besides the fact that it comes with a dongle for attaching your iPad to the treadmill, the treadmill’s screen is very basic, but the interface appears cluttered.
Indoor rowing machine
Rowing is the full-package workout. More than just simple cardio, rowing activates nearly all of your body at once, from your calves, quads, hamstrings and glutes to your obliques, pecs, biceps, triceps, deltoids, upper back and latissimus dorsi.
The rowing motion is fluid and doesn’t cause abrupt stopping and starting that might hurt your joints. This low-impact exercise doesn’t go easy on you. However, the fact that you’re constantly working multiple muscle groups burns a lot of energy quickly so that you can shed weight and cut down fast. If you want to lose weight and get fit, consistency is key. The beauty of the rowing machine is that it’s easy on your joints, so you can do it more often. Rowing for 30 minutes four to six times weekly will yield sterling results.
Concept 2 Model D rowing machine pros
The Concept 2 Model D indoor rowing machine is the best rower you can get for the price. It has damper levels to increase the intensity of your workout. It uses an air-resistance flywheel which means you pull against air with every stroke.
Despite that it makes very little noise, and the computer interface is sparse but straightforward. It will tell you how often you go 500 meters and how long it takes you to do it. This rowing machine fits nearly all users with ergonomically designed handles, adjustable footrests and a 14-inch seat height.
Concept 2 Model D rowing machine cons
Concept 2 Model D rowing machines are more complex than treadmills. It will take some practice before you get a feel for proper form and begin to row faster with more intense dampers. Pretty much everyone can get up and run without having to be taught — not so with rowing.
You must have the proper rhythm and form to get the most out of the machine. With more resistance, rowing can become an intensely draining activity, so start slow and work your way up slowly.
Should you get the treadmill or the rowing machine?
A treadmill is a classic piece of workout machinery that’s good for any home gym, but the rowing machine is by far the more effective workout. It also takes up less space. The cardio you get from a rowing machine also has less chance of injuring you while working your entire body instead of just your legs.
By working out holistically, you’re increasing your gains because compound exercises that target multiple muscle groups make them work together and grow more, whereas isolation exercises that isolate one muscle group work less in the same amount of time.
The body types you acquire from running or rowing are different, so take that into account. If you row more often than you run, you will have a stronger body than a marathon runner because you push with your legs and pull with your arms. If you run more often, then you’re going to be leaner and burn more fat than the rowers. However, you’ll have less muscle mass because running is more cardio.
Besides, unlike most exercises, rowing has both aerobic and anaerobic benefits. This means it will help increase the efficiency with which oxygen gets to your muscles and increase their ability to deal with resistance. Besides, you can run anywhere without the need for machinery, but to row, you’d need a boat and a body of water which aren’t always available.
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Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | 2023-01-26T19:22:19+00:00 | wate.com | https://www.wate.com/reviews/br/sports-fitness-br/fitness-equipment-br/rowing-machine-vs-treadmill/ |
HARRISONVILLE, Mo. (WDAF) — A Missouri farmer admitted he killed two Wisconsin brothers who disappeared after visiting his farm in July 2019.
Garland Joey Nelson pleaded guilty Friday to two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of 24-year-old Justin Diemel and 35-year-old Nicholas Diemel, of Shawano County, Wisconsin. Their burned remains were found in Missouri and Nebraska.
During Friday morning’s plea hearing, Nelson admitted shooting the Diemels, burning their bodies in a farm pasture, and disposing of their remains.
The details were hard for relatives of the Diemel brothers to hear. Nelson admitted to disposing of one brother’s remains in a mineral supplement bucket and hiding the other’s remains in a manure pile.
A judge then sentenced Nelson to two life sentences, without the possibility of parole. The sentences will run consecutively.
“That was very important to the family,” said Brady Kopek, Caldwell County prosecutor. “They wanted to make sure he could never get out and do anything like this again.”
As part of the plea deal, Nelson avoided the death penalty and additional charges against him were dropped.
Last year a federal grand jury indicted Nelson in a cattle fraud scheme connected to the brothers’ murders.
According to the indictment, Nelson — an employee of J4s Farm Enterprises, Inc., a business started by his mother — agreed to care for cattle belonging to Diemel’s Livestock, LLC.
Nicholas and Justin Diemel were principals in Diemel’s Livestock, which invested and traded in cattle and other livestock. Nelson agreed to feed and pasture the cattle, then sell the cattle and send Diemel’s Livestock the proceeds.
The indictment claims the Diemels sent several loads of cattle to Nelson from November 2018 through April 2019. Nelson sold some loads of cattle and paid the Diemels. However, Nelson allegedly sold, traded, and/or killed many of the Diemels’s cattle without remitting the payments to the Diemels.
Nelson continued to fraudulently bill the Diemels for feed and yardage for cattle that had been sold, traded, or had died.
The Diemels visited Nelson in July 2019, in an effort to force Nelson to pay them the $215,000 he owed.
The indictment alleges Nelson killed the men in an effort to cover up the cattle scheme and attempted to dispose of their bodies.
After the brothers disappeared, investigators found human remains on Nelson’s farm in Caldwell County. Investigators said Nelson drove a truck the brothers rented from his farm to a commuter parking lot where detectives found it, abandoned.
In her statement to the judge, Lisa Diemel, wife of one of the victims, suggested that Nelson’s mother also is complicit in the murders.
“Ms. Diemel and I have talked many times about that, and at this time, I can’t comment on that,” said Mitch Allen, Caldwell County sheriff. “I will say we are, we look into everything, and we will continue to look into this.”
The Diemel brothers’ families sued Nelson for wrongful death in December 2019. The court eventually awarded the families a $2 million settlement.
While prosecutors believe the murders happened in Braymer, Missouri, a judge approved a request to move Nelson’s case to Cass County because of the amount of attention the crime received. | 2022-09-30T23:21:49+00:00 | krqe.com | https://www.krqe.com/news/weird/missouri-farmer-pleads-guilty-to-murdering-wisconsin-brothers/ |
FONTANA, Calif. (AP) — John Hunter Nemechek held off Sam Mayer and earned his third career Xfinity Series victory in a rare Sunday night race on the final NASCAR weekend at Auto Club Speedway's famed two-mile track.
Nemechek reclaimed the lead shortly after a restart with 12 laps to go and held on in his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota despite overheating on the final lap. The son of veteran racer Joe Nemechek won on the Xfinity circuit for the first time since Texas in late 2021.
Nemechek is off to an outstanding start in his new full-time Xfinity seat for JGR, finishing second last week at Daytona.
“I feel like this is one of the best opportunities that I’ve had in my lifetime,” Nemechek said. “Everything is going according to plan. ... I’m proud to be a part of this Joe Gibbs organization. Second and then first. Let’s keep it going.”
Nemechek led 49 of the 150 laps and finished strong in a Fontana race delayed for more than 24 hours after persistent rains and snow flurries during an unusual Southern California storm forced it out of its regular Saturday start time. The race began about 45 minutes after Kyle Busch claimed his fifth career victory at Fontana in the Cup Series event.
Because of the Xfinity delay, Nemechek has the technical distinction of being the final driver to win a stock car race on the two-mile track at Auto Club Speedway. NASCAR plans to tear up the beloved asphalt east of Los Angeles soon, with vague plans to build a short-track course on the site in the next two years — although NASCAR reportedly has also sold most of the land around the facility.
“It’s cool to be the final winner here,” Nemechek said. “It means a lot. Maybe when they tear this place up, they’ll send me a piece of asphalt, just for the memory."
Justin Allgaier came in third behind Mayer, who flipped over onto his roof last week at Daytona after attempting a bold move to win in overtime with a pass on Allgaier. The 19-year-old Mayer finished 0.761 seconds behind Nemechek in his JR Motorsports Chevrolet at Fontana.
“We threw the kitchen sink at it, and we ended up second,” Mayer said. “All things considered, I’m really happy and proud.”
Nemechek couldn't celebrate with a burnout, both because of the water spewing from his overheating engine and because the Xfinity teams must use the same engines and cars at Las Vegas next weekend.
“We had trash on the grill there for a while,” Nemechek said. “Hopefully it didn’t hurt the motor too bad. But the car is in one piece, and it’s fast.”
Nemechek will need all the car he can get next week — and all the truck, too. He'll race in both the Xfinity Series and the Truck Series against Busch, his boss and mentor for the previous two Truck seasons.
“What’s cool is he drove for my dad when he was about my age back in the day,” Nemechek said. “I don’t know if there’s a rivalry there or not, but I definitely want to go and try to win both races next week, and I know he’s in both races. I think it comes down to team, truck and execution.”
Cole Custer won the first two stages in his Stewart-Haas Racing Ford while bidding for two straight wins at Fontana and three in his career on his hometown track, but he went into the wall with a right front flat early in the final stage. Custer, who finished 27th, grew up in Ladera Ranch, an upscale planned community in Orange County roughly 50 miles south of Auto Club Speedway.
___
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2023-02-27T05:33:24+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/sports/article/nemechek-wins-delayed-nascar-xfinity-race-at-17807479.php |
- IEP reports first quarter net income attributable to IEP of $323 million and Adjusted EBITDA attributable to IEP of $616 million. This represents an improvement of $161 of net income attributable to IEP and $181 of Adjusted EBITDA attributable to IEP compared to Q1 2021.
- Indicative Net Asset Value increased by $1.1 billion as of March 31, 2022 compared to December 31, 2021. The change in indicative net asset value includes, among other things, changes in the fair value of certain subsidiaries which are not included in our GAAP earnings.
- Board approves quarterly distribution of $2.00 per depositary unit (the 68th consecutive quarterly distribution since 2005)
SUNNY ISLES BEACH, Fla., May 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Icahn Enterprises L.P. (Nasdaq:IEP) is reporting first quarter 2022 revenues of $4.1 billion and net income attributable to Icahn Enterprises of $323 million, or $1.06 per depositary unit. For the three months ended March 31, 2021, revenues were $3.4 billion and net income attributable to Icahn Enterprises was $162 million, or $0.65 per depositary unit. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Icahn Enterprises was $616 million compared to $435 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021.
Indicative Net Asset Value increased by $1.1 billion as of March 31, 2022 compared to December 31, 2021. The change in indicative net asset value includes, among other things, changes in the fair value of certain subsidiaries which are not included in our GAAP earnings reported above.
On May 4, 2022, the Board of Directors of the general partner of Icahn Enterprises declared a quarterly distribution in the amount of $2.00 per depositary unit, which will be paid on or about June 29, 2022, to depositary unitholders of record at the close of business on May 20, 2022. Depositary unitholders will have until June 16, 2022, to make a timely election to receive either cash or additional depositary units. If a unitholder does not make a timely election, it will automatically be deemed to have elected to receive the distribution in additional depositary units. Depositary unitholders who elect to receive (or who are deemed to have elected to receive) additional depositary units will receive units valued at the volume weighted average trading price of the units during the five consecutive trading days ending June 24, 2022. Icahn Enterprises will make a cash payment in lieu of issuing fractional depositary units to any unitholders electing to receive (or who are deemed to have elected to receive) depositary units.
Icahn Enterprises L.P., a master limited partnership, is a diversified holding company owning subsidiaries currently engaged in the following continuing operating businesses: Investment, Energy, Automotive, Food Packaging, Real Estate, Home Fashion and Pharma.
Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Results for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results for any full fiscal period. This release may contain certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, many of which are beyond our ability to control or predict. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "will" or words of similar meaning and include, but are not limited to, statements about the expected future business and financial performance of Icahn Enterprises and its subsidiaries. Actual events, results and outcomes may differ materially from our expectations due to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including risks related to economic downturns, substantial competition and rising operating costs; risks related to the severity, magnitude and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the global economy, financial markets and industries in which our subsidiaries operate; the impacts from the Russia/Ukraine conflict, including economic volatility and the impacts of export controls and other economic sanctions, risks related to our investment activities, including the nature of the investments made by the private funds in which we invest, declines in the fair value of our investments as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, losses in the private funds and loss of key employees; risks related to our ability to continue to conduct our activities in a manner so as to not be deemed an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; risks related to our energy business, including the volatility and availability of crude oil, other feed stocks and refined products, declines in global demand for crude oil, refined products and liquid transportation fuels as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, unfavorable refining margin (crack spread), interrupted access to pipelines, significant fluctuations in nitrogen fertilizer demand in the agricultural industry and seasonality of results; risks related to our automotive activities and exposure to adverse conditions in the automotive industry, including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; risks related to our food packaging activities, including competition from better capitalized competitors, inability of our suppliers to timely deliver raw materials, and the failure to effectively respond to industry changes in casings technology; supply chain issues; inflation, including increased costs of raw materials and shipping, including as a result of the Russia/Ukraine conflict; labor shortages and workforce availability; risks related to our real estate activities, including the extent of any tenant bankruptcies and insolvencies; risks related to our home fashion operations, including changes in the availability and price of raw materials, and changes in transportation costs and delivery times; and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Additionally, there may be other factors not presently known to us or which we currently consider to be immaterial that may cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Past performance in our Investment segment is not indicative of future performance. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
The Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures in evaluating its performance. These include non-GAAP EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA. EBITDA represents earnings from continuing operations before interest expense, income tax (benefit) expense and depreciation and amortization. We define Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA excluding certain effects of impairment, restructuring costs, certain pension plan expenses, gains/losses on disposition of assets, gains/losses on extinguishment of debt and certain other non-operational charges. We present EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA on a consolidated basis and on a basis attributable to Icahn Enterprises net of the effects of non-controlling interests. We conduct substantially all of our operations through subsidiaries. The operating results of our subsidiaries may not be sufficient to make distributions to us. In addition, our subsidiaries are not obligated to make funds available to us for payment of our indebtedness, payment of distributions on our depositary units or otherwise, and distributions and intercompany transfers from our subsidiaries to us may be restricted by applicable law or covenants contained in debt agreements and other agreements to which these subsidiaries currently may be subject or into which they may enter into in the future. The terms of any borrowings of our subsidiaries or other entities in which we own equity may restrict dividends, distributions or loans to us.
We believe that providing EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to investors has economic substance as these measures provide important supplemental information of our performance to investors and permits investors and management to evaluate the core operating performance of our business without regard to interest, taxes and depreciation and amortization and certain effects of impairment, restructuring costs, certain pension plan expenses, gains/losses on disposition of assets, gains/losses on extinguishment of debt and certain other non-operational charges. Additionally, we believe this information is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies that have issued debt. Management uses, and believes that investors benefit from referring to, these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing our operating results, as well as in planning, forecasting and analyzing future periods. Adjusting earnings for these charges allows investors to evaluate our performance from period to period, as well as our peers, without the effects of certain items that may vary depending on accounting methods and the book value of assets. Additionally, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA present meaningful measures of performance exclusive of our capital structure and the method by which assets were acquired and financed.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA have limitations as analytical tools, and you should not consider them in isolation, or as substitutes for analysis of our results as reported under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or U.S. GAAP. For example, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA:
- do not reflect our cash expenditures, or future requirements for capital expenditures, or contractual commitments;
- do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs; and
- do not reflect the significant interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments on our debt.
Although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated or amortized often will have to be replaced in the future, and EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements. Other companies in the industries in which we operate may calculate EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA differently than we do, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures. In addition, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect the impact of earnings or charges resulting from matters we consider not to be indicative of our ongoing operations.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not measurements of our financial performance under U.S. GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to net income or any other performance measures derived in accordance with U.S. GAAP or as alternatives to cash flow from operating activities as a measure of our liquidity. Given these limitations, we rely primarily on our U.S. GAAP results and use EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA only as a supplemental measure of our financial performance.
The Company uses indicative net asset value as an additional method for considering the value of the Company's assets, and we believe that this information can be helpful to investors. Please note, however, that the indicative net asset value does not represent the market price at which the depositary units trade. Accordingly, data regarding indicative net asset value is of limited use and should not be considered in isolation.
The Company's depositary units are not redeemable, which means that investors have no right or ability to obtain from the Company the indicative net asset value of units that they own. Units may be bought and sold on The Nasdaq Global Select Market at prevailing market prices. Those prices may be higher or lower than the indicative net asset value of the depositary units as calculated by management.
See below for more information on how we calculate the Company's indicative net asset value.
Investor Contact:
Ted Papapostolou, Chief Financial Officer
(305) 422-4100
View original content:
SOURCE Icahn Enterprises L.P. | 2022-05-06T12:44:10+00:00 | kfyrtv.com | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2022/05/06/icahn-enterprises-lp-reports-first-quarter-2022-financial-results/ |
FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Andrew Morgan had 23 points and 14 rebounds to lead North Dakota State to a 76-55 win over Crown College on Sunday night.
Boden Skunberg scored 19 points and added eight rebounds for the Bison (1-4). Tajavis Miller shot 6 for 11, including 4 for 8 from beyond the arc, to finish with 16 points.
Seth Royston led the way for the Storm, who hail from Minnesota, with 15 points, six rebounds and three blocks. Jacob Van Dam and Carter Behne added 11 points apiece.
NEXT UP
North Dakota State plays Friday against Northern Colorado, and Crown (MN) visits St. Thomas on Saturday.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
125 words | 2022-11-21T00:32:10+00:00 | expressnews.com | https://www.expressnews.com/sports/article/Morgan-leads-North-Dakota-State-past-Crown-17599779.php |
NEW YORK (AP) — Historian George Chauncey has received a $500,000 lifetime achievement award from the Library of Congress, the John W. Kluge Prize, the first time the honor has gone to a scholar in LGBTQ studies.
The prize is given for achievement in the study of humanity. Chauncey, a professor of American history at Columbia University, is known for such books as “Gay New York” and “Why Marriage? The History Shaping Today’s Debate over Gay Equality.”
“Professor Chauncey’s trailblazing career gave us all better insight into, and understanding of, the LGBTQ+ community and history,” Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden said in a statement released Wednesday. “His work that helped transform our nation’s attitudes and laws, epitomizes the Kluge Center’s mission to support research at the intersection of the humanities and public policy.”
The Kluge prize is named for the late philanthropist and television mogul. Previous winners include Drew Gilpin Faust and John Hope Franklin.
“I am deeply honored to receive the Kluge Prize,” Chauncey said in a statement, “and grateful that the Library of Congress has recognized the importance and vibrancy of the field of LGBTQ history.” | 2022-06-22T14:47:39+00:00 | krqe.com | https://www.krqe.com/entertainment-news/george-chauncey-wins-500000-library-of-congress-award/ |
FAYETTEVILLE, Ar. (KNWA/KFTA) – The Arkansas Razorbacks fall to LSU 13-10 in the Battle for the Boot on Saturday.
The Hogs defense coming up big on LSU’s first drive of the game as Latavious Brini picks off Jayden Daniels to shut them down on their first possession.
Malik Hornsby getting the start at quarterback today for the Hogs, and the first possession for Arkansas is a quick three-and-out.
However, there next possession ends in some points. Cam Little kicks a 28-yard field goal and gives Arkansas the 3-0 lead over LSU with 4:48 left to go in the first quarter.
It’s Latavious Brini who once again comes up big for the Hogs in the first quarter as Daniels fumbles the ball at their 12-yard line and Brini recovers it to set Arkansas’ offense up.
However, LSU’s defense gets a stop on 3rd down and Arkansas decides to go for it. On fourth down, Hornsby trys to run it up the middle with no success and the Hogs turn it over on downs.
In the second quarter, Arkansas’ offense gets into a little trouble, Malik Hornsby fumbles the ball and LSU recovers it at the Hogs 37-yard line.
Arkansas’ defense comes up big though on third down, Eric Gregory sacked Daniels for a loss of 8 yards and forced the Tigers to kick a field goal to make it a tied game, 3-3 with 9:28 left to go until halftime.
However, before halftime, LSU took the lead after kicking a 29-yard field goal to put them up 6-3 going into the locker room.
The first touchdown of the game comes in the third quarter when LSU’s Josh Williams punches it in from one yard out to put the Tigers up 13-3 with 5:25 left to go in the third.
Arkansas makes a change at quarterback in the second half, Cade Fortin coming in for Malik Hornsby.
That ended up working out for the Hogs as soon after the fourth quarter begins Fortin found Matt Landers in the endzone for a 40-yard touchdown pass.
The Hogs cut LSU’s lead down to 13-10 with 13:17 left to go in the game.
It’s Arkansas’ defense that continues to make great plays. LSU decides to go for it on fourth and one, but they can’t get past the Hogs defense and turn it over on downs. | 2022-11-12T21:52:20+00:00 | nwahomepage.com | https://www.nwahomepage.com/sports/pig-trail-nation/pig-trail-nation-pig-trail-nation/arkansas-falls-to-lsu-13-10-in-battle-for-the-boot/ |
MSU president's focus: 'How to get students through this week and the next week'
Michigan State University's leaders are thinking in a series of concentric circles as they help guide the campus in the wake of a horrific campus shooting one week ago that left three dead and five injured.
Sunday's return of students to campus was the first in the ring of circles, MSU Interim President Teresa Woodruff said in an exclusive one-on-one conversation with the Free Press on Monday afternoon. Monday was the second of the circles — getting classes up and running, even as the form of those classes changed from pure academics to some combination of group mourning/grieving/listening/healing sessions.
The next ring will include the extra parts of campus — athletics, the arts and other parts of campus life. Some of those have already started — several athletic teams have resumed play. Others will restart in the coming days and weeks.
"We're still thinking about how to get students through this week and the next week and the next week," Woodruff said. "We need to ensure people feel safe in those places. (Then) we think about how to get to and beyond spring break and then to and beyond commencement and then to the fall and welcoming new students."
Monday marked one week since a shooting that left Arielle Anderson, 19, of Harper Woods, Alexandria Verner, 20, of Clawson, and Brian Fraser, 20, of Grosse Pointe, dead and five classmates hospitalized. Around 11 a.m. Monday, Sparrow Hospital officials said one student was in fair condition, two were in serious but stable condition and two remained in critical condition.
MSU's leaders aren't the only ones trying to figure out how to get from one week to the next. So are students, many of whom spent last Monday night barricaded in dorm rooms, supply closets and bathrooms, hoping they weren't going to be the next victim. MSU shut down classes for all of that week. Students who could left campus, heading to their own houses or to friends' houses. Many returned to campus Sunday to be greeted by an army of volunteers offering snacks and hugs. Those volunteers were back on campus Monday morning as classes resumed. However, many students didn't go to class — instead either skipping out totally or using online methods first used during the pandemic to join in.
MSU junior Autumn Decker and sophomore Bailey Beauchamp were in front of the MSU Auditorium on Monday, writing messages on cards.
"I do think it's too soon to return to classes for many," Decker said. "We skipped class because we just returned to campus. We're walking around and taking it all in and trying to relax and process."
Beauchamp also didn't go to class Monday.
"Our professor gave us an option not to attend classes until spring break," she said. "I chose not to go today because it'd be difficult to focus."
Several students who were in class Monday described them as surreal in conversations with the Free Press. Many said they weren't ready yet to even try to focus on academics.
More:Anxious MSU students return to class a week after shooting: 'There's no way we're ready'
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With 50,000 students on campus and all the faculty and staff needed to run the operation, MSU's leadership knows they are facing a tough challenge.
"We know we are making macro decisions" that affect the entire university, Woodruff said, "but we are thinking micro" about where each student is at in their own journey."
That means working with counselors and academic advisors to help students sort out feelings and academic questions, Woodruff said.
"We are still grieving. We are still healing," Woodruff said. "We have a lot of different ways we are working to manage" all of what happened.
Woodruff is closing in on four months in charge of MSU. She was appointed interim president when Samuel Stanley stepped down amidst conflict with the school's board over the handling of an investigation into then-business school dean Sanjay Gupta over the handling of a Title IX complaint against a faculty member.
In some moments this week, that seems like nanoseconds ago, Woodruff said. In other moments, it seems like 30 years ago.
Shortly after being named to MSU's top post, Woodruff told the Free Press she was trying to bring stability and agility to the university. Today, those words — plus the words "grace" and "empathy" — are driving her work.
That work includes lots of decisions about what's next for the campus. Woodruff and her leadership team are trying to make decisions with the best possible evidence of what works in crisis circumstances, she said, balanced by the operational capabilities of the organization.
She's also heard from other university and community leaders from across the nation that have gone through similar situations. She's been struck by advice to know that mistakes — or what some people believe to be mistakes — will be made and "what has really resonated with me was not to give way to anger or bitterness."
There are still lots of decisions to be made, she said, including discussions and reviews about how MSU reacted to the crisis and whether security policies, practices and procedures should be changed on campus. Those discussions are either ongoing or will begin soon, she said.
Lansing State Journal photographer Matthew Dae Smith contributed to this story. Contact David Jesse: 313-222-8851 or djesse@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter: @reporterdavidj | 2023-02-20T22:21:30+00:00 | freep.com | https://www.freep.com/story/news/education/2023/02/20/msu-shoooting-receovery-week-students-campus/69924788007/ |
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese automaker Nissan is revving up its electrification shift and slashing costs by using the same components across models and reducing use of expensive rare materials.
Nissan Motor Co. presented its “X-in-1” development strategy Thursday, in which the X stands for various powertrain parts such as an electric motor and inverter that can be used across models. The company said development and manufacturing costs will be reduced by 30% in 2026 compared to 2019 levels.
The Yokohama-based automaker was a pioneer in electric vehicles but rivals like Tesla and BYD of China have overtaken it.
As the move toward ecological models gains momentum around the world, driven by worries over climate change, Nissan has been eager to showcase its prowess.
Its senior vice president, Toshihiro Hirai, acknowledged that prices of rare earths and other materials needed to make electric vehicle batteries and other parts are expected to rise in coming years. That means automakers must have a solid strategy for obtaining raw materials if they hope to succeed in electrification.
“We make the most of our expertise and know-how from our more than a decadelong development and production of electrified technologies,” said Hirai.
Compared to the first-generation vehicle the Leaf, rare materials account for 25% of the weight of the 2019 Nissan Note EV. Nissan aims to make that 1% or less.
Nissan, which also makes the March subcompact and Infiniti luxury models, is working on solid-state battery technology for EVs, a move that if successful is expected to radically reduce costs.
By 2030, Nissan’s EV offerings will cost about the same at dealers as the equivalent regular gasoline-engine models, Hirai said.
The cheapest EVs like the Leaf now sell for under $30,000, although small internal-combustion engine cars are cheaper, at about $21,000 for the Nissan Sentra in the U.S.
A Tesla Model 3, a relatively affordable model for a Tesla, sells for about $43,000.
But EVs are usually eligible for tax credits and other incentives. High gasoline prices might make EVs a smart buy in the long run, although much depends on the owner’s driving habits.
A Consumer Reports analysis last year said that based on the gas price at that time of $4.31 a gallon, EV owners could save between $1,800 and $2,600 in operating and maintenance costs for every 15,000 miles they drive, compared to drivers of gas-powered vehicles.
That’s the average distance newer vehicles are driven in a year in the U.S. Gas prices have since fallen, so the savings would be lower but still significant.
Hirai said people find driving an electric vehicle less stressful because it’s quiet and delivers a smooth ride, even over rough terrain, while maintaining the fun feel of driving. One advantage of an EV is its more precise control over each wheel, which can effectively counter bumps and jolts.
Nissan has promised 27 new electrified models, including eight e-Power “series hybrid” models, which have both a gas engine and electric motor, by fiscal 2030.
___
Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter https://twitter.com/yurikageyama
Find more AP coverage of technology at https://apnews.com/hub/technology | 2023-03-09T04:51:39+00:00 | krqe.com | https://www.krqe.com/news/technology/japans-nissan-slashing-ev-costs-cuts-rare-materials-use/ |
ST. JAMES, La. (WGNO) — New changes are underway in St. James parish.
Monday, June 5th, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) along with the American Rescue Plan and Inflation Reduction Act to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) announced grant funding for the area known as caner alley.
For years the parish has fought for better air monitoring and other environmental justice issues within the area including pollution.
The $479,958 grant will go towards creating equipment that will produce real-time data on certain pollutants affecting air quality that can be accessed by community groups, churches, local governments and other project partners.
“Today we are celebrating a milestone in our ongoing efforts to protect the environment and improve the quality of life for communities in Louisiana and around the country. This grant will enable the LDEQ to establish and operate an air monitoring site in St. James Parish,” said Congressman Troy A. Carter
“This monitor is considered the gold standard for air quality monitoring and every chemical plant should have it. Let’s continue to work together, hand in hand, to build a sustainable and prosperous future for St. James Parish residents and all of Louisiana. There’s still more work to do,” continued Congressman Carter.
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Twins vs. White Sox Probable Starting Pitchers Today - July 22
Byron Buxton leads the Minnesota Twins (51-48) into a contest against the Chicago White Sox (41-58) after homering twice in a 9-4 victory over the White Sox. It begins at 7:15 PM ET on Saturday.
The probable starters are Sonny Gray (4-4) for the Twins and Dylan Cease (4-3) for the White Sox.
Bet Now: Get the latest odds for this matchup and pitcher props on BetMGM. New depositors can use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
Twins vs. White Sox Pitcher Matchup Info
- Date: Saturday, July 22, 2023
- Time: 7:15 PM ET
- TV: FOX
- Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Venue: Target Field
- Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo!
- Probable Pitchers: Gray - MIN (4-4, 3.08 ERA) vs Cease - CHW (4-3, 4.18 ERA)
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Read More About This Game
Twins Probable Starting Pitcher Tonight: Sonny Gray
- The Twins' Gray (4-4) will make his 20th start of the season.
- The right-hander's last appearance was on Tuesday, when he threw 5 2/3 innings against the Seattle Mariners, giving up five earned runs while allowing five hits.
- The 33-year-old has an ERA of 3.08, a 2.47 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a WHIP of 1.282 in 19 games this season.
- In 19 starts this season, he's earned seven quality starts.
- Gray has pitched five or more innings in five straight games and will look to extend that streak.
- In 19 appearances this season, he has finished four without allowing an earned run.
Sonny Gray vs. White Sox
- The White Sox have scored 417 runs this season, which ranks 22nd in MLB. They have 804 hits, 19th in baseball, with 110 home runs (15th in the league).
- This season, the right-hander has pitched against the White Sox in one game, and they have gone 3-for-18 with a double over five innings.
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White Sox Probable Starting Pitcher Tonight: Dylan Cease
- Cease (4-3) takes the mound first for the White Sox in his 21st start of the season. He has a 4.18 ERA in 107 2/3 innings pitched, with 129 strikeouts.
- In his last outing on Sunday against the Atlanta Braves, the righty threw five innings, giving up one earned run while surrendering three hits.
- In 20 games this season, the 27-year-old has put up an ERA of 4.18, with 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings. Opponents are batting .238 against him.
- Cease has eight quality starts under his belt this season.
- Cease is aiming for his ninth straight outing lasting five or more innings. He averages 5.4 frames per start.
- In one of his appearances this season he has not allow an earned run.
- The 27-year-old ranks 41st in ERA (4.18), 46th in WHIP (1.337), and seventh in K/9 (10.8) among qualifying pitchers in MLB play this season.
Dylan Cease vs. Twins
- He meets a Twins offense that ranks 17th in the league with 431 total runs scored while batting .234 as a squad. His opponent has a collective .410 slugging percentage (14th in MLB play) and has hit a total of 133 home runs (seventh in the league).
- Cease has pitched 10 innings, giving up five earned runs on eight hits while striking out 12 against the Twins this season.
Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER.
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | 2023-07-22T17:08:57+00:00 | wbrc.com | https://www.wbrc.com/sports/betting/2023/07/22/twins-vs-white-sox-mlb-probable-starting-pitchers/ |
FLINT, Mich., Aug. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Forum Health Modesto, a Forum Health network practice, welcomes Saira Dar, MD, MBA, MEHP, ABAARM.
Dr. Dar specializes in treating adults, children, and the geriatric population using an integrative and functional medicine approach to improve health spans. Using nutrition, lifestyle, genomics, and anti-aging medicine she individualizes care for each patient.
"I am excited to join Forum Health Modesto," said Dr. Dar. "I have been practicing in this area for years and look forward to collaborating with Forum Health's national network of providers."
The Forum Health Modesto team serves Northern California with specialties in digestive and immune health, weight loss, detoxification, pain management, hormone imbalance, emotional wellness, mental health, cardiovascular health, and the endocrine, lymphatic and musculoskeletal systems.
"Forum Health Modesto is a key clinic for us in California," said Adam Puttkammer, president of Forum Health. "With the addition of Dr. Dar, we are able to serve more patients in this region that has such a high demand."
Dr. Dar completed her education and residency at Regions Hospital in Minnesota, a fellowship in Functional Medicine through the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, and trained in reversing cognitive decline through the Institute of Functional Medicine sponsored program RECODE. Dr. Dar completed an MBA from University of Massachusetts, Amherst; and a Masters in Health Professions Education from John Hopkins University.
"We are excited to welcome Dr. Dar to our growing network," said Phil Hagerman, chief executive officer at Forum Health. "She has extensive knowledge in functional and integrative medicine, and continues as an educator putting her at the leading edge of our field."
Dr. Dar authored a medical textbook, "Clinical Mid Maps - Using the Epi-logical Approach" and teaches at the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine.
For more information on Forum Health, including how to join one of our practices, visit www.forumhealth.com.
Forum Health LLC is a nationwide provider of personalized healthcare. Steeped in the powerful principles of functional and integrative medicine, Forum Health providers take a root-cause approach to care. They listen and dig deep — exploring lifestyle, environment, and genetics to help each patient achieve their ultimate health goals. Members have access to advanced medical treatments and technology, with care plans informed by data analytics and collaborative relationships. To learn more, visit forumhealth.com.
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SOURCE Forum Health, LLC | 2022-08-25T12:58:13+00:00 | kxii.com | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/25/forum-health-modesto-welcomes-doctor-saira-dar-its-practice/ |
SEATTLE, Aug. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- With so much information being shared between home and school, it is essential that schools provide equitable school-home communications for all families. Having a consistent and efficient program in place that meets the needs and preferences of each of its members is vital in schools today. Students come into our classrooms from homes where there may be multiple languages spoken. In the United States, 13% of the population speaks Spanish at home. For students who come from Spanish-speaking homes or homes where different languages are spoken, it is essential that teachers and schools be able to keep families informed about and involved in their child's education. Without the right communication tools available, critical information will not reach families and families will not feel connected to their child's education.
With an app like Bloomz, the concern that families are missing out is cast aside because of its language functionalities. Because Bloomz offers a variety of features which focus on accessibility and fostering equitable communication, every family member is included and becomes more involved. Because of potential language barriers, having functionality such as school language translation is essential. While there are many communication apps out there, such as Class Dojo and Seesaw, that can facilitate communication from home to school, they do not offer what Bloomz does in a unified and streamlined communication platform.
Equitable school-home communications require that schools understand family needs and preferences. With more than 108 languages available, Bloomz helps to reduce any potential language barriers that may exist between schools and the families they serve. Providing two-way communication for families is essential for schools who want to foster and build family engagement and develop a more active family community with the school.
Understanding the diverse needs (languages, notification, preferences) of the families and students in our school system, will help us to provide the right space that will lead to the formation of a strong and collaborative home-to-school partnership. Promoting parental and family engagement has been shown to directly and positively impact student success, and foster a supportive home-to-school connection. Increasing engagement empowers parents and engages them closely in the learning experience of their children.
While other apps like Class Dojo may offer their services for "free," this can sometimes be a little bit misleading for schools and families. An app that is free typically does not offer as many features, especially those which promote accessibility because they come at a higher cost. However, in order to provide the most robust platform that meets the preferences and needs of all members of the school community, this is where the true value comes in.
With other communication platforms used in schools like ClassDojo or Seesaw, the cost may instead be transferred to parents which leads to inequity. Class Dojo for example, is free for teachers but the cost for premium is passed to families instead. Because of this cost issue, parents will miss out on essential and time-sensitive information from schools. Another concern is that families may miss vital information because other apps do not offer the same level of language capabilities for translation as Bloomz.
Children that come from more affluent backgrounds, have parents who become more involved in their children's education using PBIS tools and the other features, while the children of less affluent children receive less attention. Bloomz enables educators to stay connected with parents who may have limited availability for school events or meetings. It enhances the accessibility to the support and resources needed by parents, whenever they need them. Bloomz provides this and more for families.
Being able to provide families with the right information when they need it is essential. When it comes to our schools, not all families may have access to the resources that they need, particularly when it comes to languages.
Not all families speak the same language and as a result, important messages are missed. There are schools where half or more of their student population, involves a high percentage of different languages that are being spoken. Teachers may wonder how to best exchange information with families to keep them informed of student progress in class.
As an example, a friend works in a school where 70% of the students and their families that are non-native English speakers, and roughly 42 different languages are spoken. With this, finding a person to translate is time-consuming, costly and can be quite difficult depending on the language required. When communication tools have translation capabilities built into them, this helps alleviate the frustration that can come from not being able to understand a message.
Through two-way AI powered translation, Bloomz ensures that the information is received by families right from day one and in their preferred language and modality (app, email, text or voice). The original message is always available for viewing and with this capability, schools can feel more confident that the messages sent are being received, understood and accessible by all members of the school community. The auto translation feature breaks the barriers and brings non-English speaking parents into the loop.
At the school and district level, being able to provide everything that students and families need through a comprehensive program and in a manner that parents and families choose is important. Recognizing when there may be barriers that limit parental engagement, enables schools to proactively develop strategies and implement the right tool to better support families. With Bloomz, schools can be confident that when it comes to information and communication, they are fostering a culture of equity through a unified, streamlined, accessible platform.
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SOURCE Bloomz Inc | 2022-08-04T18:56:52+00:00 | kswo.com | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2022/08/04/bloomz-provides-equitable-school-communication-with-language-translation/ |
TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- It is a privilege and an honor to announce that Caitlin Korsak has been selected to receive the Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Network Foundation Scholarship. Caitlin says: "I am extremely honored and grateful to have been selected as a CREW Network Foundation scholarship recipient and I am looking forward to all of the opportunities that come with being a member of such an established organization! I want to thank the CREW Network Foundation for making this possible and I am so grateful for the opportunity to network and learn from such an amazing group of women!"
Caitlin is studying at the University of Tampa and is a founding member of their Real Estate Club. She began her journey into the industry as a Real Estate Advisor at a residential brokerage where she obtained her real estate license. She is a member of IREM (Institute of Real Estate Management) and is on the Steering Committee for ULI (Urban Land Institute). Additionally, she is a 2022 SIOR (Society of Industrial and Office Realtors) Student Scholar.
This scholarship program supports future female leaders as they pursue a college education that will segway into a career in commercial real estate. Caitlin will not only have the scholarship's financial support, but CREW's global network that provides a vast number of resources and a support system of industry experts and mentors.
With more than 300 members, CREW Tampa Bay is the leading organization for women in the Tampa Bay commercial real estate industry. As part of CREW Network, the industry's premier business organization, CREW Tampa Bay is dedicated to transforming the commercial real estate industry by advancing women globally. CREW Network's membership of 12,000 professionals in 75+ major global markets represents all aspects of commercial real estate—providing our members with direct access to real estate professionals across all geographies and disciplines.
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SOURCE CREW- Tampa Bay | 2022-08-30T14:56:42+00:00 | kswo.com | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2022/08/30/crew-tampa-bay-announces-winner-crew-foundation-scholarship/ |
It’s official! Paolo Banchero is the No. 1 pick of the 2022 NBA and headed to the Orlando Magic. Here’s your chance to get in early and get your replica jersey before the season begins.
The Paolo Banchero Orlando Magic Nike 2022 NBA Draft First Round Pick Swingman Jersey - Icon Edition is available to order now.
And check out these snappy Rock Em Socks Youth Allover Sketched Crew Socks!
You can pick up your own New Era 2022 NBA Draft 59FIFTY fitted hat available now.
And, any other Orlando Magic jersey you can dream of.
Get ready to cheer on the Magic for an exiting season to come! See the full list of gear available here. | 2022-06-25T00:05:27+00:00 | clickorlando.com | https://www.clickorlando.com/deals/2022/06/24/be-the-first-on-your-block-with-a-paolo-banchero-orlando-magic-jersey/ |
After a flurry of moves in the two days ahead of the official start of the NFL free agency period, Aaron Rodgers made the biggest news Wednesday by announcing his intention to play for the New York Jets.
Several more players switched teams, others are staying put and a few stars, including Ezekiel Elliott, will be looking for new homes in 2023.
But Rodgers is the dominant story of the offseason, and the four-time AP NFL MVP cleared things up during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on YouTube and Sirius XM a few hours before the league year started at 4 p.m. EDT.
Rodgers said the Packers assured him after the season they wanted him to return, but things changed after he emerged from a five-day darkness retreat. He said he was told by people, mostly players on other teams, that the Packers shopped him around because they want to move on and make 2020 first-round draft pick Jordan Love their starting quarterback.
Rodgers said he entered the retreat “90% retiring, 10% playing” but he has since made a decision to play this season.
“At this point, as I sit here, I think since Friday, I’ve made it clear that my intention was to play and my intention was to play for the New York Jets,” Rodgers said. “I haven’t been holding anything up at this point. It’s been compensation the Packers are trying to get for me, kind of digging their heels in.”
Rodgers, who replaced Brett Favre as the starter in Green Bay after the Hall of Famer was traded to the Jets, spent 18 seasons with the Packers and led them to a Super Bowl title following the 2010 season.
Once the teams figure out trade details, Rodgers will be following in Favre’s footsteps by going to New York and trying to lead the Jets to their first championship since another No. 12 — Broadway Joe Namath — delivered a victory that he guaranteed against the Baltimore Colts on Jan. 12, 1969.
Former No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield was among other players on the move Wednesday, agreeing to an $8.5 million, one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press. The person, along with all other unnamed sources cited in this story, spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the agreement they confirmed hadn’t been announced.
Mayfield, the top pick by Cleveland in 2018, joins his third team since last July. He gets an opportunity to compete with Kyle Trask to replace Tom Brady, who retired after three seasons with the Buccaneers.
Mayfield was 2-8 in 10 starts last season with the Panthers and Rams.
Jacoby Brissett, who replaced Mayfield in Cleveland while Deshaun Watson served a suspension, agreed to terms with the Washington Commanders on a one-year contract worth $10 million with $8 million guaranteed, according to a person with knowledge of the deal.
Brissett will compete with projected starter Sam Howell, a second-year pro. Brissett threw for 2,608 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions last season for the Browns in 11 starts.
Two 1,000-yard rushers are off the market.
Running back Jamaal Williams and the Saints agreed on a $12 million, three-year contract, a person familiar with the deal told the AP. Williams led the NFL with 17 rushing touchdowns while running for a career-best 1,066 yards with the Detroit Lions last season.
Running back Miles Sanders, coming off his best season with the NFC champion Eagles in which he ran for a career-high 1,269 yards with 11 touchdowns, is heading to Carolina.
Carolina also added former Cincinnati Bengals tight end Hayden Hurst on a three-year contract. Hurst caught 52 passes for 414 yards and two touchdowns last season with another 13 receptions for 141 yards and a TD in the playoffs.
Late Wednesday night, four-time Pro Bowl tackle Orlando Brown Jr. agreed on a $64.09 million, four-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Brown’s agent, Michael Portner, confirmed the deal to the AP. He said it includes a $31 million signing bonus. Brown goes from protecting Patrick Mahomes for the Super Bowl champion Chiefs to blocking for Joe Burrow and the AFC runnerup Bengals.
The New England Patriots made their first big pickup of free agency, adding wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. A person with knowledge of the deal said it is for three years and could be worth as much as $33 million.
Smith-Schuster confirmed the move in a post on Twitter saying he was “Excited for my next chapter in New England!”
Smith-Schuster had 78 receptions for 933 yards and three touchdowns last season for Kansas City. He was held by Eagles cornerback James Bradberry on a play that led to a go-ahead field goal late in the fourth quarter of the Chiefs’ 38-35 win in the Super Bowl.
The Browns agreed with safety Juan Thornhill on a three-year contract worth $21 million — $14 million guaranteed — a person familiar with the negotiations told the AP.
Thornhill leaves the Super Bowl champion Chiefs after four seasons. He’s the third defensive player to join the Browns in free agency along with run stopper Dalvin Tomlinson and end Ogbonnia Okoronkwo.
Six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Fletcher Cox is returning to the Philadelphia Eagles on a $10 million, one-year deal, according to a person familiar with that deal.
Veteran safety Jordan Poyer, a two-time second-team All-Pro, is staying in Buffalo on a two-year deal.
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AP Pro Football Writers Schuyler Dixon and Dennis Waszak, AP Sports Writers Tom Withers, John Wawrow, Kyle Hightower, Steve Reed, Steve Megargee, Stephen Whyno contributed.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | 2023-03-16T14:45:52+00:00 | wnct.com | https://www.wnct.com/sports/nfl/nfl-free-agency-opens-with-aaron-rodgers-other-qbs-on-move/ |
Former Defense Secretary Ash Carter died Monday at age 68. He was known for opening ground combat jobs to women and pushing the Pentagon to spend more money on technology.
Copyright 2022 NPR
Former Defense Secretary Ash Carter died Monday at age 68. He was known for opening ground combat jobs to women and pushing the Pentagon to spend more money on technology.
Copyright 2022 NPR | 2022-10-25T22:01:45+00:00 | kgou.org | https://www.kgou.org/2022-10-25/former-defense-secretary-ash-carter-dies-at-age-68 |
According To A New Poll, Over 40% Of California Residents Are Considering Leaving The State
This month’s California Community Poll revealed some startling numbers. The poll, which is produced via a partnership between the LA Times and several local nonprofits, probes resident’s feelings on California and their economic well-being. Four in ten respondents said they were thinking about leaving California, with over half of them citing the state’s high cost of living as their reason for going. The poll also showed a divide in optimism among residents on partisan and racial lines, as well as a decline over time in respondents’ sense of financial security. Participants also ranked “diversity along with a sense of safety/security and opportunities to do things they enjoy” when asked what they most value about California. Joining us to talk about the results of the survey is Dan Schnur, professor of political communication at UC Berkeley, Pepperdine, and USC. We also want to hear from you! How are you feeling about California? Are you thinking about leaving? Give us a call at 866-0893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
Scientists Agree, We Are Seeing Medical Advances Like Never Before
The last half-decade has seen remarkable advances in medical innovation. Even as we emerge from a global pandemic that killed nearly 20 million people worldwide, and millions of Americans, scientists are stunned at the changing landscape of scientific breakthroughs. More than a decade ago, we saw the emergence of CRISPR, a gene-editing technology that transformed the way we treat diseases. Most recently, the Covid-19 vaccine reminded us of the potential of mRNA vaccines. Now, scientists are exploring the potential to treat H.I.V, tuberculosis, and various cancers through mRNA applications. What is galvanizing this current momentum in scientific breakthroughs? And how long will it last? Joining us today on AirTalk to talk about the “golden age of medicine” is Dr. Kimberly Shriner, director of Infectious Disease and Prevention at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena.
Are California’s Dams Prepared To Handle The Sporadic Nature Of Our Changing Climate?
A recent piece from the New York Times, written by Christopher Cox offered insights into some of the present-day problems California has with its current dam infrastructure. The logistics of building/refurbishing dams is difficult in the sense that once they’re up, it is more of a matter of maintenance. Although this has been something that’s worked to a certain degree in the past, the floods California saw have served as a glimpse as to what can be most worrisome for state regulators, with dam issues in areas like Orville creating issues for residents.
Although this year hasn’t presented a clear-cut copy of 2017, the weather patterns we’ve seen resulting from atmospheric rivers and bomb cyclones have shown that there are chances the state can deal with heavy rainfall despite our state becoming relatively drier. So how does the state prepare for this changing climate and the new preparation it’ll require?
Today on AirTalk, we have a panel of guests to discuss the future of California’s dams and how weather will impact that. Joining us are DWR director Karla Nemeth, NASA Jet Propulsion Lab scientist JT Reager, and David Gutierrez, vice president of GEI consultants who previously worked for the state’s division of dam safety.
Listeners Share How They Grappled With Identity After Having Kids And What Made It Better
The transitions of pregnancy and early parenthood are no joke. They come with huge changes for your body, your perspective, and your identity. Many new parents can feel like they don’t recognize themselves at all. Friends and family say things like “be sure to make time for yourself.” That’s easier said than done, and even if it’s possible, it barely scratches the surface when it comes to the complex feelings of searching for who you were pre-kids. Today on AirTalk, we want to hear from listeners about their experiences in connecting with themselves after having a kid. Whether it was mental, physical, emotional – what were the biggest challenges? How did you cope? And most important, what helped you during this experience? Call us at 866-893-5722 to share on air or email atcomments@laist.com.
With files from LAist. Read the full story here | 2023-06-28T16:20:26+00:00 | kpcc.org | https://www.kpcc.org/podcast/airtalk/according-to-a-new-poll-over-40-of-california-residents-are-considering-leaving-the-state |
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A look at what's happening around the majors on Sunday:
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JUNETEENTH
The nation’s newest federal holiday is being celebrated in many ways this weekend at Major League Baseball parks.
The first 10,000 fans attending the Angels-Mariners game at T-Mobile Park will get a replica hat from the 1946 Seattle Steelheads, a team in the Negro Leagues. The Mariners wore Steelheads jerseys on Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader.
Fans who buy tickets for the St. Louis-Boston game at Fenway Park through a special offer were to receive a Red Sox jersey in Juneteenth colors featuring the Juneteenth flag.
At PNC Park, Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, who is Black, threw out the first pitch Saturday before the Pirates hosted the Giants.
Juneteenth commemorates the date when news of the Emancipation Proclamation reached enslaved people in Galveston, Texas. The proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln on Jan. 1, 1863, and declared free all enslaved people in Confederate states. Some of the newly freed weren’t aware of their freedom until U.S. Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger reached Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, to enforce the proclamation.
THANKS, DAD
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone will have family on his mind — and on his feet — on Father’s Day in Toronto.
Boone plans to wear a pair of special shoes for the series finale against the Blue Jays. Designed by Brooklyn artist Andy Freidman, the shoes feature images of Boone’s grandfather, father and brother, all of whom also played big league baseball.
“I was like ‘How about making it a family theme for me?’ with my family in baseball and incorporate my kids in it,” Boone said. “He took it from there and created this and it’s pretty cool.”
The design also incorporates images of Boone’s own children.
WELL MANAGED
The White Sox and Astros play the rubber match of a three-game set -- and it’s a major one for managers Tony La Russa and Dusty Baker, too.
The longtime skippers are 105-105 against each other in regular-season games since first facing each other in 1996. Chicago is also slated to host Houston for four games in August, but with the 77-year-old La Russa possibly on the hot seat for struggling Chicago, this could be his final matchup with the 73-year-old Baker.
ANOTHER PERFECT 10?
The Yankees are on the cusp of their second winning streak of at least 10 games this season as they send Gerrit Cole to the mound against Toronto. New York has won nine straight and 16 of 17, closing in on its season high of 11 straight victories set April 22-May 3.
Cole (6-1, 3.33) pitched six innings in a 2-0 win over Tampa Bay in his previous start. He’ll oppose Blue Jays left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (2-3, 4.80).
WELCOME HOME
Cleveland ace Shane Bieber, who's from Southern California, pitches at Dodger Stadium for the first time in the wrapup of a three-game series.
Bieber grew up an hour south of Chavez Ravine in Laguna Hills and attended Cal-Santa Barbara. He said he'd been to only a couple of Dodgers games while growing up.
“I’ve heard a lot about the atmosphere. I know the history,” said Bieber, the 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner. “I’m excited to experience it firsthand and add it to my résumé.”
Bieber (3-3, 3.01 ERA) is part of a surging uardians squad that had won five straight and 14 of their last 17 going into Saturday.
Cleveland third baseman José Ramírez didn't start Saturday's game because of a sore right thumb. He'll have it checked again before the series finale. He leads the American League with 62 RBIs.
LUCKY LOGAN
Seattle right-hander Logan Gilbert has a chance to join the major league leaders at eight wins when he faces Mike Trout and the visiting Angels.
Gilbert (7-2) has won three straight decisions, including his last outing against Minnesota when he tossed six shutout innings.
In his past four starts, Gilbert has a 1.44 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 25 innings. In his 13 starts, he has allowed more than three earned runs just once and has pitched at least five innings in every start.
The 25-year-old is in his second full season and was the AL pitcher of the month in April.
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More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2022-06-19T02:08:59+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/sports/article/LEADING-OFF-Juneteenth-around-MLB-and-Father-s-17251429.php |
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tony Sirico, who played the impeccably groomed mobster Paulie Walnuts in “The Sopranos” and brought his tough-guy swagger to films including “Goodfellas,” died Friday. He was 79.
Sirico died at an assisted living facility in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, said his manager, Bob McGowen. There was no immediate information on the cause of death.
A statement from Sirico's family confirmed the death of Gennaro Anthony “Tony” Sirico “with great sadness, but with incredible pride, love and a whole lot of fond memories.”
McGowan, who represented Sirico for more than two decades, recalled him as “loyal and giving,” with a strong philanthropic streak. That included helping ex-soldiers' causes, which hit home for the Army veteran, his manager said.
Steven Van Zandt, who played opposite Sirico as fellow mobster Silvio Dante on “The Sopranos,” saluted him on Twitter as “legendary.”
“A larger than life character on and off screen. Gonna miss you a lot my friend,” the actor and musician said.
Michael Imperioli, who portrayed Christopher Moltisanti on “The Sopranos,” called Sirico his “dear friend, colleague and partner in crime.”
“Tony was like no one else: he was as tough, as loyal and as big hearted as anyone i’ve ever known,” Imperioli said on Instagram.
Sirico was unconcerned about being cast in a string of bad guy roles, McGowan said, most prominently that of Peter Paul “Paulie Walnuts” Gualtieri in the 1999-2007 run of the acclaimed HBO drama starring James Gandolfini as mob boss Tony Soprano. (Gandolfini died in 2013 at age 51).
“He didn't mind playing a mob guy, but he wouldn't play an informant,” or as Sirico put it, a “snitch,” McGowan said.
Sirico, born July 29, 1942, in New York City, grew up in the Flatbush and Bensonhurst neighborhoods where he said "every guy was trying to prove himself. You either had to have a tattoo or a bullet hole.”
“I had both,” he told the Los Angeles Times in a 1990 interview, calling himself ”unstable" during that period of his life. He was arrested repeatedly for criminal offenses, he said, and was in prison twice. In his last stint behind bars, in the 1970s, he saw a performance by a group of ex-convicts and caught the acting bug.
“I watched ’em and I thought, ‘I can do that.’ I knew I wasn’t bad looking. And I knew I had the (guts) to stand up and (bull) people," he told the Times. "You get a lot of practice in prison. I used to stand up in front of these cold-blooded murderers and kidnapers — and make ’em laugh.”
Sirico also was cast outside the gangster mold, playing police officers in the films “Dead Presidents” and “Deconstructing Harry." Among his other credits were Woody Allen films including “Bullets over Broadway” and “Mighty Aphrodite,” and appearances on TV series including “Miami Vice” and voice roles on “Family Guy” and “American Dad!”
Sirico is survived by daughter Joanne Sirico Bello; son Richard Sirico; his brother, Robert Sirico, a priest; and other relatives. | 2022-07-09T03:32:43+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/entertainment/article/Sopranos-actor-Tony-Sirico-Paulie-Walnuts-17293900.php |
Stauer offers rare opportunity to own authenticated lunar meteorite watch
RICHMOND, Va., April 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Since humans first gazed up at the night sky, the moon has fascinated us. Now, you can carry your own piece of the moon with you everywhere you go.
A new timepiece offered by Stauer, a Richmond-based jewelry company, presents part of an authenticated lunar meteorite in its face.
What is a lunar meteorite? It's a piece of the moon that was ejected from the lunar surface following an asteroid impact. Without question, a lunar meteorite is one of the rarest substances on Earth.
The lunar meteorite featured in this timepiece was located in Mauritania's Sahara Desert and authenticated by Professor Anthony Irving of the University of Washington's Department of Earth and Space Sciences. Dr. Irving's findings underwent peer review and were published in the 108th edition of the Meteoritical Bulletin.
Sold at auction by Christie's, this meteorite has been cut and polished to reveal its matrix. For a limited time only, we're offering this meteorite in our Men's Lunar Meteorite Watch. Each of the 800 timepieces come with a numbered certificate of authenticity, ensuring the rarity of this watch.
"A watch featuring an authenticated piece of the moon is an exceptional rarity," says George Thomas, one of the world's most renowned watch historians. "To be able to own a piece of the moon is an extraordinary opportunity."
Each watch comes with a complimentary copy of "Moon: An Illustrated History," a 224-page book featuring dazzling images and illuminating text that presents 100 milestones in the moon's development.
Once these 800 watches are sold, that's it. Don't miss your chance to own one of the rarest substances on the globe.
To take advantage of this extraordinary offer, call 800-859-1843. This offer is call-in only. Satisfaction is 100% guaranteed.
#55349 Men's Lunar Meteorite Watch $780 + S&H
About Stauer:
Stauer is the country's fastest-growing destination for precious gemstone jewelry, unique luxury items and vintage-inspired timepieces. American-owned and -operated, Stauer has sold more than 1 million watches and purchases an average of more than 10 million carats of gemstones each year. By dealing directly with artisans and selling directly to customers, Stauer is able to keep costs low and pass the savings on. Stauer lives by its motto: Afford the Extraordinary.
Press contact: pr@stauer.com
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SOURCE Stauer Jewelry | 2023-04-06T19:28:36+00:00 | kcrg.com | https://www.kcrg.com/prnewswire/2023/04/06/moon-themed-watches-take-over-market/ |
HOUSTON (AP) — Mike Trout was out of the starting lineup for the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night, a day after the star center fielder was hit on his left hand by a pitch.
Team trainer Mike Frostad said an MRI on Monday was negative for a fracture and that Trout has a bruise. Frostad added Trout's return to the lineup will depend on pain tolerance.
Manager Joe Maddon said Trout is considered day to day with the injury but wasn’t sure if he’d return during this series with the Houston Astros, which ends Wednesday.
Trout said Sunday that when he first was hit, he thought he broke the hand. He had trouble seeing Spencer Patton’s pitch in the shadows at Texas and lowered his hands into the path of the ball to protect his midsection.
The three-time American League MVP is batting .222 with no homers and one RBI in eight games this season.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2022-04-19T00:24:24+00:00 | seattlepi.com | https://www.seattlepi.com/sports/article/Trout-out-of-lineup-but-MRI-negative-on-injured-17089256.php |
Through Wednesday, March 1, 2023
- Jacob's Well in Hill Country closed 'for foreseeable future'
- Dogs in fatal mauling linked to previous S.A. attacks
- Rep. Joaquin Castro diagnosed with cancer, undergoes surgery
- It’s rattlesnake season in Texas. Here’s what you need to know.
- Cruz, Abbott and others react to Castro's cancer diagnosis
- San Antonio's first car elevator is ready to start accepting cars
- Buc-ee’s planning new travel centers in Wisconsin, Florida
- Fundraiser honors San Marcos child who was struck, killed...
MOST POPULAR
- Texas A&M tops Mississippi, keeps hopes of SEC title aliveTexas A&M beats Mississippi to set a high-water mark for league wins since joining the SEC and the Aggies still have a shot at the league title, with some help.By Brent Zwerneman | 2023-03-01T16:00:05+00:00 | expressnews.com | https://www.expressnews.com/sports/article/nhl-expanded-scoring-leaders-17813035.php |
Musket fired inside Massachusetts museum during training for Patriots' Day reenactment
Two thick wooden beams inside a Massachusetts museum were pierced over the weekend by a musket ball fired from an antique weapon.
Members of the Sixth Middlesex County Regiment were practicing Sunday at the Westford Museum for the upcoming Patriots' Day reenactment when one of their loaded muskets went off, firing the projectile through a six-inch beam and a ceiling joist.
Several people were inside the museum when the shot was fired.
"They were in the back of the museum here. I was in the corner helping a visitor with a museum shop purchase and then the musket went off," said Leslie Howard, president of the museum. "And it went through the beam."
Luckily, officials say no one was upstairs when the round pierced the floor.
Westford police were called about the incident and the musket was confiscated from the reenactment group.
"Any time a firearm is involved, whether it has a live round or has cartridges, it can be very dangerous," Westford Police Department Capt. Jim Peloquin said.
"I hope that they do continue to do the reenacting because I think I enjoy seeing the reenactments. I think it can be fun for children to see and really bring history alive," Howard said. "I just hope that it doesn't bring it too alive."
The team at our sister station WCVB is seeking comment from the Sixth Middlesex County Regiment but has yet to receive a reply back. | 2023-03-22T02:16:43+00:00 | wmur.com | https://www.wmur.com/article/musket-fired-inside-massachusetts-museum-during-training-for-patriots-day-reenactment/43381099 |
Humidity bumping up as the week goes along
Wednesday and Thursday will be dry and warmer than what we should be dealing with this time of year (kind of the trend all year, really) with highs in the lower to mid 90s. It stays dry for now but the increase of moisture over the next few days may lead to some small rain chances by the end of the week... maybe... Rain chances return Friday to Sunday but most everyone stays dry. The southern portion of the area has the best chance for seeing a pop up shower or two. We aren’t expecting a cool down for the weekend with temperatures will remaining mostly in the lower to mid 90s.
There are two tropical waves in the Atlantic. One has a 40% chance of further development in the next five days. The other has a 20%. In the eastern Pacific, a trough of low pressure along the coast of southern Mexico has an 80% chance of further development in the next five days.
Will the humidity turn to rain? That’s unfortunately the pressing question that we just can’t answer just yet. The prevailing weather pattern for next week features a building ridge of high pressure across the eastern U.S. with a trough of low pressure across the Central U.S. and the Northwestern U.S. The ridge of high pressure may block the trough from digging closer to Texas so we’ll have to wait to see if a cold front will be able to break through the high and approach our area. If next week’s front were to arrive, it looks like it would move through Wednesday or Thursday with likely some scattered rain.
Copyright 2022 KWTX. All rights reserved. | 2022-09-13T21:13:49+00:00 | kwtx.com | https://www.kwtx.com/2022/09/13/humidity-bumping-up-week-goes-along/ |
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Wednesday evening's drawing of the New York Lottery's "Numbers Evening" game were:
6-8-8
(six, eight, eight)
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Wednesday evening's drawing of the New York Lottery's "Numbers Evening" game were:
6-8-8
(six, eight, eight) | 2022-07-28T03:56:06+00:00 | sfgate.com | https://www.sfgate.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Numbers-Evening-game-17334009.php |
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HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — A prominent opposition leader and lawmaker in Zimbabwe was convicted Wednesday of obstructing the course of justice for recording a video of himself accusing ruling party supporters of killing and dismembering an activist and posting the video to social media.
Job Sikhala, a Parliament member and senior official in the main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change party, was detained nearly 10 months ago. He must pay a $600 fine by Friday or face an additional six months in jail, according to the verdict by a magistrate.
Sikhala was repeatedly denied bail after his arrest in July. Critics have cited his case as another example of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s attempts to silence the opposition ahead of Zimbabwe's presidential and parliamentary elections this year.
The 80-year-old Mnangagwa became president in 2017 after a coup ended the 37-year rule of autocratic leader Robert Mugabe.
While the coup was initially welcomed by Zimbabweans and Mnangagwa promised democratic reforms, rights groups have recently accused him of being as oppressive as Mugabe.
Amnesty International and other groups have said the arrest and pretrial detention of the 50-year-old Sikhala and other activists, along with the banning of some political meetings, show Mnangagwa’s willingness to use the justice system against his political opponents.
Sikhala was arrested after his comments at a memorial service for Ali, an activist and member of Sikhala's Citizens Coalition for Change who was missing for weeks before her body was found hacked into pieces and stuffed in a well.
Police have arrested one man in relation to Ali’s slaying and say they haven’t found a political link to the killing. Opposition figures claim the arrested man is an activist with the ruling Zanu PF party.
Sikhala was the lawyer representing Ali's family during the search for her. At the memorial service, Sikhala accused ruling party members of killing Ali.
He was seen on video making the accusation and it was posted on social media. On Wednesday, Magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa ruled that “Sikhala was the one who recorded and uploaded the video” and his comments “misled” police.
Sikhala must remain in jail even if he pays the $600 fine because he is also on trial on separate charges of inciting public violence for the speech he made at the memorial service for Ali.
Sikhala has been arrested more than 65 times in the past 20 years, but his lawyers say Wednesday brought his first conviction. The verdict came days after Jacob Ngarivhume, the leader of a fringe political party, was sentenced to four years in jail for a tweet that encouraged people to participate in anti-government protests in 2020. One year of the sentence was suspended.
Zimbabwe’s general election will be in July or August. Many opposition figures say they are battling intense government repression similar to the time when Mugabe, who died in 2019, was president. Zimbabwe has had a series of violent and disputed elections since it gained independence from white minority rule in 1980.
Mnangagwa was a Mugabe ally for decades and served as a vice president during 2014-17 before being fired by Mugabe and then taking power in a coup backed by the army. Mnangagwa denies he is clamping down on the opposition and claims his government has improved the political environment.
Yet in recent months, dozens of opposition supporters, political activists, journalists, church leaders, trade union members and student leaders have been arrested on various charges that legal experts say amount to harassment.
___
More AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa | 2023-05-03T17:51:13+00:00 | sfgate.com | https://www.sfgate.com/news/politics/article/zimbabwe-opposition-figure-fined-for-slain-18076355.php |
ND Legislature passes parental rights bill
BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) - Parents could soon be formally recognized as the primary stakeholders in their children’s upbringing.
The Legislature advanced House Bill 1362 last week, which says parents maintain the right and duty to exercise primary control over the supervision, upbringing, and education of their child. While some lawmakers say this is vital legislation, others say it’s at odds with some of the laws that have already been passed.
“This bill gives us an avenue to push back on the bullies in the White House that stand against parents by labeling them extreme and calling them domestic terrorists for showing up to school board meetings. The real domestic terrorists are the ones that are bullying and blocking parents from retaining primary control over their kids,” said Representative Cole Christensen, R-Rogers.
“It seems to me we are saying that parents have a right to dictate the healthcare of their child, but only as long as the Legislature says certain things are okay,” said Representative Karla Rose Hanson, D-Fargo.
Those opposed pointed to other bills such as the one barring transgender youth from receiving gender affirming care. Now, the bill heads to the governor’s desk.
Previous Coverage: ND lawmakers consider codifying parents’ rights
Copyright 2023 KFYR. All rights reserved. | 2023-04-30T01:09:38+00:00 | kfyrtv.com | https://www.kfyrtv.com/2023/04/29/nd-legislature-passes-parental-rights-bill/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sam Reinhart tied it late in regulation, Carter Verhaeghe scored his second of the game in overtime and the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Florida Panthers beat the Washington Capitals 3-2 in Game 4 Monday night, tying the first-round series.
Verhaeghe scored 4:57 into overtime to keep the NHL’s best regular-season team from getting pushed to the brink of elimination much earlier in the playoffs than expected. It’s a best-of-three series now with Game 5 Wednesday night at Florida.
“It’s hard out there — everyone’s got to play a little harder,” said Verhaeghe, who played eight games on the Tampa Bay Lightning’s 2020 Cup run in the bubble. “We’re competing for the Cup. Nothing’s easy. Nothing’s given to you.”
The Panthers were just over two minutes away from facing the prospect of getting knocked out at home. Then, with goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky pulled for an extra attacker, Reinhart collected a loose puck after it bounced off Capitals forward Garnet Hathaway and beat Ilya Samsonov with 2:04 remaining in the third period.
“Those are the kind of situations you want to be in as a hockey player,” Reinhart said. “It’s a game that could really go either way at the end of it and we stuck with it and we’re happy with the result.”
Given the combination of nerves and playoff inexperience that contributed to Florida’s struggles in the series, Reinhart’s goal may turn out to be the one that saved its season.
Before that point, the Panthers outshot the Capitals by a wide margin, but again were unable to finish. They went 0 for 4 on the power play to make it 0 for 13 in the series and couldn’t put the puck in the net at 5 on 5.
Before Reinhart scored 6 on 5, their only other goal came 4 on 4 when Carter Verhaeghe finished a 2 on 1 rush late in the first.
Bobrovsky stopped 14 of 16 shots. Samsonov made 29 saves.
T.J. Oshie scored on the power play in the first, and Evgeny Kuznetsov put Washington ahead on a breakaway goal midway through the third.
These teams have now traded victories. The Capitals have not won consecutive playoff games since 2019.
Florida is trying to break the franchise’s playoff series losing streak that dates to 1996, when the team reached the Stanley Cup Final.
The Panthers overcame more penalty problems Monday, when they were whistled for seven minors and needed to kill 43 seconds of a 5-on-3 Washington power play. Similar disciplinary issues caused them to get knocked out in the first round last season by eventual champion Tampa Bay.
Expectations are much larger this time around after compiling 111 points during the regular season. Interim coach Andrew Brunette and players lamented an inability for the Panthers to find their game in playoff hockey, which typically features a different style and more intensity.
More intensity is what Brunette wanted to see out of his team after getting waxed 6-1 in Game 3 on Saturday. The Panthers had that at times and pushed hard early in the third period, but they needed extra time — in just the third game of 30 completed in the playoffs to go to overtime — to even the series.
NOTES: The Panthers stuck with the same lineup from Games 1-3, but moved some players around at forward and on defense. … Nicklas Backstrom’s secondary assist on Oshie’s goal gave him a team-leading five points in the playoffs.
___
Follow AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SWhyno
___
More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2022-05-10T18:05:01+00:00 | cenlanow.com | https://www.cenlanow.com/sports/panthers-beat-capitals-in-overtime-in-game-4-tie-series/ |
ELLSWORTH, Maine (AP) — A wealthy attorney who made a name for himself in the nation’s capital before returning home to Maine to run for governor vowed to seek redemption Thursday as a judge accepted his plea agreement for possession of thousands of images of child sexual abuse.
Eliot Cutler, who came close to being elected governor in 2010, said he apologized for his actions and to victims. The 76-year-old said he would devote his remaining years to redemption. Cutler added he had opportunities to reach out for help but neglected to do so and was “embarrassed, ashamed, and deeply, deeply sorry” for his actions.
“My behavior helped to support an industry built upon their abuse, and I hope with all my heart that they can find healing and dignity,” Cutler said.
The agreement calls for Cutler to serve nine months in jail after pleading guilty to four counts of possessing sexually explicit material of a child under 12.
It marked a remarkable fall for a man who once served as an aid to the late Sen. Edmund Muskie, as the top energy and environmental adviser to then-President Jimmy Carter, and launched a powerful environmental law firm in Washington, D.C.
His attorney said he hoped Cutler’s achievements wouldn’t be nullified by his addiction to pornography, while Cutler said he accepted responsibility for his actions.
Law enforcement officials said they found more than 80,000 images of children under 12 on Cutler’s electronic devices, and his lawyer said Cutler acknowledged downloading hundreds of images at a time of children being sexually assaulted.
After his arrest, Cutler spent some time in a residential treatment center for sex offenders, and his attorney said Cutler never engaged in inappropriate conduct with children.
But advocates for child sexual abuse victims were having none of it.
“No matter how you cut it, Cutler helped fund, and thus support, ongoing sexual violence against children by peering at the naked images of children forced to perform sexual acts,” said Paul Kendrick, of Freeport. “The otherwise healthy lives of victims of child pornography are wrecked forever.”
Cutler was freed after his arrest last year at his waterfront home in Brooklin, a coastal community 130 miles (210 kilometers) from Portland.
He reports to jail on June 1.
Judge Robert Murray said he is hopeful that something good could still come from the shame of Cutler’s fall from grace.
“The good which comes from this shame depends entirely upon you and how you respond. You’ve alluded to that in your remarks. I can’t measure your sincerity in that regard. That will only be proven with the passage of time.”
The terms of the plea agreement state that Cutler would be prohibited from possessing sexually explicit materials, would have his online activities monitored and would have limited ability to be around children. He would also have to register as a sexual offender for life
Cutler returned to Maine after helping to fond Cutler & Stanfield LLP, which later merged with an international law firm.
He used his personal wealth to bankroll two campaigns for governor as an independent. He narrowly lost — by less than 2 percentage points — to Republican Paul LePage in 2010 and lost again by a much larger margin in 2014.
In 2021, Cutler sold his oceanfront mansion in Cape Elizabeth for $7.55 million to a nephew of former President George H.W. Bush. After his arrest, he sold another home that he owned in Portland, Maine’s largest city.
___
Follow David Sharp on Twitter @David_Sharp_AP | 2023-05-05T17:37:21+00:00 | wjhl.com | https://www.wjhl.com/news/politics/ex-governor-candidate-pleads-guilty-to-child-porn-charges/ |
WFO SPOKANE Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Thursday, August 25, 2022
_____
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Spokane WA
516 PM PDT Thu Aug 25 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern Stevens
County through 545 PM PDT...
At 515 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 12
miles west of Chewelah, or 48 miles northwest of Spokane, moving
southeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Chewelah, Springdale and Valley.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
LAT...LON 4824 11814 4838 11796 4822 11752 4797 11778
TIME...MOT...LOC 0015Z 311DEG 24KT 4825 11800
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
_____
Copyright 2022 AccuWeather | 2022-08-26T00:48:23+00:00 | expressnews.com | https://www.expressnews.com/weather/article/WA-WFO-SPOKANE-Warnings-Watches-and-Advisories-17399002.php |
Pontotoc High School 2022 Football Schedule Courtesy Galen Holley Reporter Author email Jul 6, 2022 40 min ago Comments Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Date LocationAug 19 East Union (6:30 p.m.) Aug 26 Shannon Sept. 2 @ Grenada Sept. 9 @ Choctaw County Sept. 16 Saltillo (Homecoming)Sept. 23* IAHSSept. 30* @ New Albany Oct. 6* South PontotocOct. 14* @ Houston Oct. 21* @ North PontotocOct. 28* Ripley* Division games galen.holley@djournal.com Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Tags Pontotoc High School Sport County Schedule Football Choctaw Game New Albany Galen Holley Reporter Galen is a reporter for the Pontotoc Progress. Author email Follow Galen Holley Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Recommended for you Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. comments powered by Disqus 80° Sunny Pontotoc, MS (38863) Today Mixed clouds and sun this morning. Scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 96F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Some passing clouds. Low 77F. Winds light and variable. Updated: July 6, 2022 @ 8:13 am Full Forecast Latest e-Edition Pontotoc Progress Pontotoc Progress Latest Posts Pontotoc Progress Pontotoc Juniorette's host successful year 10 min ago Pontotoc Progress North Pontotoc 2022 Football Schedule 40 min ago Pontotoc Progress Pontotoc High School 2022 Football Schedule 40 min ago Pontotoc Progress Pontotoc and North girls hoop in summer 40 min ago Pontotoc Progress Jr. Red Sox take Tupelo tourney 40 min ago News Wicker stands up for women athletes 2 hrs ago Newsletters Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. The Daily You'll receive our top headlines each morning, seven days a week, as well as each weekday afternoon. News Alerts & Top Stories Get news sent to your inbox as it happens, as well as our top stories each week. Prep Rally Sign up to receive area high school football scores and recaps each Friday night. Daily Journal E-Edition Delivery Are you a Daily Journal subscriber? Sign up to view our e-editions each morning with just a click. Pontotoc Progress E-Edition Delivery Are you a Pontotoc Progress subscriber? Sign up to view our weekly e-editions each Wednesday with just a click. You must select at least one email list. Please enter a valid email address. Sign up Manage Lists
Galen Holley Reporter Galen is a reporter for the Pontotoc Progress. Author email Follow Galen Holley Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today | 2022-07-06T13:50:21+00:00 | djournal.com | https://www.djournal.com/pontotoc/pontotoc-high-school-2022-football-schedule/article_524be369-58a6-568e-84dc-c5f8c0b97488.html |
ROCKY HILL, Conn. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Thursday afternoon's drawing of the Connecticut Lottery's "Play3 Day" game were:
7-0-8, WB: 7
(seven, zero, eight; WB: seven)
ROCKY HILL, Conn. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Thursday afternoon's drawing of the Connecticut Lottery's "Play3 Day" game were:
7-0-8, WB: 7
(seven, zero, eight; WB: seven) | 2022-06-23T18:53:25+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Play3-Day-game-17261269.php |
Red Lion man sentenced for drug trafficking, firearms offenses
A Red Lion man has been sentenced to a year in prison for drug trafficking and firearms offenses.
Waylon Hutcheson, 22, received the sentence on Oct. 24 from U.S. District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
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Hutcheson pleaded guilty in 2021 to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and receipt or possession of a firearm in violation of the National Firearms Act, according to U.S. Attorney Gerard Karam.
The Red Lion man received the sentence as a result of an investigation into the sale of drugs from his home, Karam stated. After controlled purchases of marijuana from Hutcheson, a warrant was executed and he was found to be in possession of marijuana, oxycodone, THC, cash and drug trafficking paraphernalia. Police also recovered three self-made 9mm handguns with no serial numbers, a .22 caliber long rifle, three silencers and a 30-round magazine.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Johnny Baer prosecuted the case. | 2022-11-01T19:07:33+00:00 | yorkdispatch.com | https://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/news/crime/2022/11/01/red-lion-man-sentenced-for-drug-trafficking-firearms-offenses/69609810007/ |
ALHAMBRA, Calif. — At a Lunar New Year festival this past weekend, a couple hundred people packed under a tent to watch local leaders recognize Brandon Tsay. The 26-year-old has become an overnight national hero after disarming a mass shooter more than a week ago in the east Los Angeles County community.
Tsay has been widely praised for preventing a gunman, who had killed 11 people and injured 10 others at a dance hall in Monterey Park, from carrying out a second attack in nearby Alhambra.
City leaders presented him with a medal of courage on stage on Sunday. His actions, they said, likely saved many lives.
Becki Peng, a 41-year-old Alhambra resident in the crowd, said that as soon as she saw Tsay was going to attend the event, she knew she had to be there.
"He's a real superhero — a real Asian superhero," she said.
Tsay's spotlight hasn't dimmed yet. Next week, he'll head to the nation's capital to attend the State of the Union address as President Biden's guest of honor.
But Tsay is determined to use his newfound celebrity to refocus the attention on the victims and help his community heal.
Many people have reached out to donate money directly to him, Tsay said. In response, he and his family have opened the Brandon Tsay Hero Fund, starting with the $2,500 that's already been donated to them. Tsay has teamed up with a local nonprofit, the Asian Pacific Community Fund, to redirect donations to support the Asian American Pacific Islander community.
"I don't want to casually use this money for myself," he said in an interview with NPR's Morning Edition. "Money that comes from community should be used for the community."
Tsay said it's too early to know specifically how the money will be used. But so far, he and his family have discussed options such as contributions toward mental health, education and child care for single parents.
"We need to see how much support we're getting from the community and what their needs are," he said.
Separately, the Tsay family has raised over $1 million through a GoFundMe, from more than 10,000 individual donors, to pay for hospital bills and other needs for the Monterey Park victims and their families.
Tsay jumps into action
A dance social at Lai Lai Ballroom & Studio in Alhambra was winding down on a Saturday night, with just a few people left on the ballroom floor. Tsay, whose family owns the studio, was working at the ticket office that night. He was standing in the lobby facing the ballroom when he heard the front door shut close and the clinking of metal — the sound of a magazine-fed assault-style pistol.
"That's when I turned around and saw there was an Asian man holding a gun," Tsay told ABC's Good Morning America. "My first thought was I was gonna die here. This was it."
Tsay said he had no idea in that moment that, just a half hour earlier, the same 72-year-old gunman had walked into and opened fire at a ballroom at Star Dance Studio in nearby Monterey Park.
"It seemed like he was looking for targets — people to harm," Tsay told ABC.
While the gunman was readying his weapon, Tsay told NBC Nightly News that he used the opportunity to lunge at him in an attempt to divert the gun away from the ballroom. He became locked into a struggle with the shooter over control of the weapon. Tsay eventually wrested the gun away from the man and pointed the barrel at him, warning him he'd shoot. Tsay then called the police, gun still in hand, while the shooter fled.
The gunman later died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities said. Tsay said he emerged from the struggle with bruises on his face and neck.
Tsay's confrontation with the gunman was captured on security camera footage that circulated online.
President Biden called Tsay last week to thank him for his heroism.
"I don't think you understand how much you've done for so many people who are never even going to know you. But I want them to know more about you," the president said. "You have my respect. You are America, pal."
Tsay believes many in his community are feeling the same way he felt after the tragedy: traumatized.
"They're vulnerable. They're scared, they're fragile," he said. "I want to have efforts in supporting people that go through a traumatic experience. I just want people to know that they have people looking out for them."
Tragedy casts a shadow over Lunar New Year celebrations
The mass shooting in Monterey Park shook the area's predominantly Asian American community over Lunar New Year weekend. The New Year festival held just outside the site of the Monterey Park mass shooting was canceled after the tragedy.
At Alhambra's Lunar New Year event on Sunday, tragedy remained on festival-goers' minds, a little more than a week after the shooting. The Lai Lai studio, where the gunman almost carried out the attack, is located about a block away from the festival.
Elaine Tran, a 20-year-old junior at UCLA who is Vietnamese and Chinese American, said that she and her family have avoided the area since the incident.
"It took, like, a little bit of thinking to even go here," she said. "Just because it's, like, really, really close to home. And we were unsure if, like, something else was going to happen."
But her determination to celebrate the new year with her family and community won out.
Peng, the 41-year-old attendee from Alhambra, said she expected to be more cheerful once she arrived at the event, which had been canceled for the two previous years due to the pandemic.
"But when [local officials] mentioned the victims and just the community, it really is impacting again," she said.
Still, she's feeling encouraged.
"We're stronger in numbers," Peng said. "Feeling supported by this community and just seeing everybody — being out after a few years of not being able to celebrate Lunar New Year — it's wonderful."
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2023-02-03T11:28:45+00:00 | kosu.org | https://www.kosu.org/u-s-news/2023-02-03/brandon-tsay-wants-to-use-his-celebrity-to-help-heal-his-community |
Jennifer Seeley was glued to her phone, safe at home but terrified nonetheless.
There was an active shooter at the Texas mall where she works as an assistant store manager. And she was searching desperately for information, praying. Was the gunman dead? Were her coworkers dead? What was happening?
So with law enforcement in the Dallas area town of Allen releasing information slowly on that horrible May 6 afternoon, she turned to social media for answers, stumbling across videos showing the bodies of some of the eight who were slain. Desperately she texted her coworkers.
“That’s where all of my information came from was what I saw on Twitter. And, you know, nobody was really releasing any information on what actually happened,” she says now, nearly two weeks later.
The shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets this month has law information public information officers from around the country talking. Social media, they say, has accelerated everything. Now everyone can post images from their phone. That means if police don’t talk, reporters and the public will simply go online, as happened in Allen.
And that presents a major problem, says Katie Nelson, social media and public relations coordinator for the Mountain View Police Department in northern California. Nelson teaches about crisis management and social media best practices. And these days, she says, when it comes to responding, “The luxury of time does not exist.”
___
POLICE APPROACHES HAVE EVOLVED
Police began to harness social media a decade ago, most famously after the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013. The four-day manhunt ended with police tweeting: “CAPTURED!!! The hunt is over. The search is done. The terror is over. And justice has won. Suspect in custody.”
It was groundbreaking at the time, says Yael Bar Tur, a police communication consultant and former director of social media for the New York City police department. Now, she says, that it is the basic level expected of law enforcement.
“It’s not enough just to be on social media, you have to be good at it,” she says. “At the end of the day, you know, we have to use this tool because if you don’t, it is going to be used against you.”
In Allen, the mall shooting happened around 3:30 p.m. Allen police sent their first tweet around 4:20 p.m., announcing simply that police were at the mall and that an active investigation was underway. Seeley continued to fear that her coworkers at the Crocs store were hiding and the gunman was still on the loose.
At nearly 7 p.m., police in Allen said an officer had “neutralized the threat.” That meant he was dead. But the often-used term can be confusing to the public, says Julie Parker, a former broadcast journalist and law enforcement public information officer who now advises government agencies on how to respond to critical incidents.
“Normal people who don’t work in law enforcement don’t know what the words neutralized means,” Parker says.
Adding to the situation, the initial news conferences were brief and infrequent. One lasted less than two minutes, and police took no questions.
Eventually she learned that her coworkers had survived, but a security guard she knew was among the dead. Twenty-year-old Christian LaCour had helped jump start a customer’s car just a few days earlier.
“Very anxiety-inducing,” Seeley said of the whole experience.
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MAKING THE BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA
How to harness social media in the best ways — and quickly — was on everyone’s mind last week as public information officers gathered at a midyear conference of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
“You had a little more time to get information out five or six years ago. The expectation wasn’t there that it would be immediate, and I think it is now,” says Sarah Boyd, who is on the executive board of the association’s group on public communication.
She says her colleagues often text each other to discuss how communications are handled after tragedies. The responsibility weighs on her; she is well aware that the messages police tweet in the midst of a mass shooting might be read by someone hiding from the shooter.
“All they’ve got is their phone, and that tweet is their lifeline,” says Boyd, a former newspaper reporter. She is now the public relations manager at the Clay County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Office in the Kansas City area.
This newest crop of public information officers, who like Boyd are much more likely to be former reporters themselves than in the past, also are demanding to have a seat at the table when officers are planning how to respond to mass casualty events and police shootings.
They note that the flow of information can go both ways, generating tips from the public, who might have cell phone or Ring doorbell video that could help investigators.
It can be challenging, though, with police nationally struggling to regain the public’s trust in the wake of George Floyd’s killing in 2020 and the protests that followed. Many factors — for example is the suspect still on the loose? — play a role in what can be released. And even if the suspect is killed, the investigation isn’t over; law enforcement still must determine whether the shooter acted alone, says Alex del Carmen, an associate dean of the school of criminology at Tarleton State University in Texas.
Missteps after the mass shooting at Uvalde, when law enforcement released shifting and at times contradictory information, show the importance of getting details right.
“People were just scratching their heads on the second or third day,” del Carmen says. He has sympathy, though, for the officers faced with communicating the unimaginable; entire careers can be defined by moments like these.
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A MODEL FOR QUICKER INFORMATION
The bulk of the nation’s police forces are small, and there are vast differences in what each state allows them to release. In Missouri, for instance, 911 recordings are inaccessible to the public.
The public itself has no such restrictions, though.
After a man killed 10 people at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado, in March 2021, an independent, part-time journalist began livestreaming on his YouTube channel before officers even arrived. The effect can be instantaneous — and, for authorities, quite dizzying.
“We’re putting out information quicker than I’ve ever seen before,” says Boulder police public information officer Dionne Waugh. Given the speed of social media, she says, there’s simply no choice.
Amid a crush of media, each victim’s family was assigned its own public information officer. All the while, what had happened was hitting Waugh personally; the victims included police Officer Eric Talley, a friend who died rushing into the store.
Though she described the experience as “life-changing” and “horrible,” she has led trainings in the years that have followed. She hopes that reliving it will help others.
Sadly, it wasn’t long after Nashville Police Department spokesperson Don Aaron asked her to speak that he faced his own mass shooting. In March, a shooter killed three children and three adults in March at a Christian school in his city before being gunned down by police.
The police tweets were fast. The very first one announced that the shooter was dead. Surveillance video was released before the 10 p.m. nightly newscast. Body camera footage came out the following morning, in line with the department’s policy of releasing such video quickly. The stream of information was fast, continual and generally accurate.
“As we have made decisions about releasing body cam in police-shooting situations, I have said to some of my colleagues across the country, especially when this first started, that I was flying a jet trying not to crash it,” says Aaron, a 32-year police veteran. “And so far, it hasn’t crashed.” | 2023-05-19T05:25:32+00:00 | wivb.com | https://www.wivb.com/news/u-s-headlines/ap-awash-in-social-media-how-are-police-learning-to-inform-the-public-better-after-shootings/ |
NEW HAVEN, Conn., June 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Research released by the National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN) reports that nearly half (47%) of U.S. families with young children struggle to afford diapers. The NDBN Diaper Check 2023: Diaper Insecurity among U.S. Children and Families, a nationally representative study commissioned by the National Diaper Bank Network, shows a significant increase (14 percentage points) in diaper need, since the first study conducted on diaper need in 2010. Multiple research studies have shown that one in three families (about 33%) cannot afford enough diapers to keep their children clean, dry and healthy. (See 2013 and 2017 studies.)
"Diaper need is a public health crisis. As the study shows, it is associated with physical, emotional and economic harm to children and families," said NDBN CEO Joanne Samuel Goldblum. "The sharp increase we see today may be a result of our evolving understanding of diaper need. Researchers are asking parents more in-depth questions about their ability to afford diapers and how diaper need impacts other areas of their lives. The rise in diaper need or diaper insecurity may be because, due to low wages, families are finding it harder to afford basic necessities. Or it is a combination of more thorough measurement and more need. One thing is certain: This is a call to action to support community-based diaper banks and advocate for public policies to end diaper need."
Respondents were flagged as experiencing diaper insecurity if they responded "yes" to questions like: Do you run out of diapers because you cannot afford enough? The study also asked parents and caregivers if they cut back on other household and/or personal expenses to afford diapers, and 46% said that they did.
"People are making difficult choices to keep their children diapered," according to the study's lead research analyst, Kelley E.C. Massengale, Ph.D. "We also saw family earnings impacted by diaper insecurity. A quarter (24.5%) of those families reporting diaper need missed work because they did not have the diapers required to send their babies to child care." In families where diaper need caused adults to miss work, they lost, on average, 5.1 workdays in the past 30 days, which means a loss of $296 per month for a parent earning the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
The most common item that families eliminated from their budgets to afford diapers was entertainment, such as a trip to a restaurant or the movies. That can have serious ramifications, said Rushina Cholera, M.D., Ph.D., a pediatrician and epidemiologist who is an assistant professor of pediatrics at Duke University. Families "are not able to spend any extra money on things that can relieve stress, which may relieve the mental health concerns that are so prevalent right now. (This) may not seem like a necessity but, for the health of families, we're always encouraging that families spend time together," said Dr. Cholera.
"Our own research showed an association between diaper need and maternal depression," said Dr. Megan V. Smith, member of the board of directors, NDBN. "In The NDBN Diaper Check, adults reported that they experience stress and doubt their own parenting skills when they cannot provide diapers for their children. Diaper need is a health-related social need like food and housing. Research continues to link diapers directly to important maternal, infant, and child health outcomes such as maternal depression and attendance at preventative pediatric care visits. NDBN's research opens up the possibilities of policy action through Medicaid to address diaper need and thereby improve maternal and child health across the U.S."
Of caregivers who reported diaper need, 82% reported feeling depression or hopelessness in the two weeks before they had taken the survey, compared with 42% of those who did not have diaper need.
NDBN plans to make The NDBN Diaper Check an annual survey and will continue to release data from the 2023 survey throughout the year. Later this year, NDBN will release a national study quantifying the economic impact of diaper distribution.
The NDBN Diaper Check showed a connection between diaper and food insecurity. When families experienced diaper insecurity, 35.4% reported cutting back on food and 27.8% of adults reported skipping meals themselves to conserve money.
"NDBN's more than 300 member basic needs banks do amazing work to rise to the challenge of diaper need," said Goldblum. "Our mission includes mobilizing a larger response. These data show a generation in true crisis. Without societal investments, the prospects for them – for our whole country – will be bleak. We've seen encouraging moves by states to pay for diapers through Medicaid or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). The federal government is piloting funding for diapers in some communities. We need to scale up proactive measures like these to ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive."
The polling firm YouGov administered the survey to a nationally representative sample. There were more than 1,000 participants. The margin of error of the survey is +/-3.91%. The survey was conducted between April 21 and May 18, 2023.
An executive summary of The NDBN Diaper Check 2023: Diaper Insecurity among U.S. Children and Families includes more information on how diaper need is affecting American families. The full executive summary, which includes a selection of charts with key findings and data points from the study, as well as downloadable b-roll with experts commenting on the findings, is available here [https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1GxrYZ76wzYmWx8SJPA5AC3zy-PhBl1Jy?usp=drive_link].
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SOURCE National Diaper Bank Network | 2023-06-15T13:47:00+00:00 | wsfa.com | https://www.wsfa.com/prnewswire/2023/06/15/ndbn-diaper-check-2023-nearly-half-us-families-struggle-afford-diapers-diaper-insecurity-food-insecurity-plague-lower-income-families/ |
MORROW, Ga. (AP) — Police charged three boys with arson in fires that destroyed three historic homes in an Atlanta suburb over the weekend.
Two 14-year-olds and one 15-year-old were arrested Wednesday at their homes in Clayton County, officials in Morrow announced. All three were taken to a juvenile detention center.
The juveniles are charged with arson, burglary, interference with government property, property damage and trespassing.
The fires burned three houses, including one dating to the 1800s, in an area near Southlake Mall that Morrow spent more than $10 million to develop as a downtown district in 2009. The development closed in late 2010 amid the pressures of the Great Recession and allegations of scandal after it was determined that structures did not meet building codes. Buildings have since been repeatedly vandalized.
The fires were investigated by local officials as well state Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner John King and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Investigators confirmed the fire was set just after midnight on Saturday morning, beginning in one building and spreading to the other two.
Interim Morrow Police Chief David Snively said investigators met with witnesses and reviewed digital evidence, leading them to the boys.
The city says it will rebuild the structures, despite investigators classifying them as total losses, and is planning a Saturday morning prayer vigil.
"The tremendous grief suffered by our community since Saturday can be somewhat resolved with the knowledge that the suspects in this case have been identified and apprehended," Mayor John Lampl said in a statement.
Lampl was investigated over the collapse of the development when he was Morrow city manager. He eventually pleaded no contest to falsifying fire reports to say buildings had commercial-grade sprinklers instead of the residential sprinklers that were actually installed. Lampl served six months of probation and paid $12,000 in fines.
Lampl was elected mayor in 2019 and has since spearheaded efforts to redevelop the area after attempts to sell it failed. | 2022-06-09T22:05:58+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/3-teens-arrested-for-fire-that-burned-3-historic-17231183.php |
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The Alabama Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that Greenetrack owes $76 million in unpaid taxes and interest in a decision that accused the dog track of using charities as a sham for a profitable electronic gambling operation.
Justices sided with the state Department of Revenue, which contended that Greenetrack’s bingo operation was not in compliance with the constitutional amendment authorizing charity bingo games in the county. Thus, they said, bingo receipts were subject to state sales tax and other taxes.
A state constitutional amendment allows non-profit organizations in Greene County to offer bingo games. Greenetrack leased parts of its bingo operation to charities— paying them $4,850 a day— while Greenetrack kept the rest of the profits, justices wrote.
“For the low cost of $4,850 a day, Greenetrack was able to use the nonprofit organizations’ licenses as a fig leaf for its own illegal -- but extremely profitable -- bingo activities,” justices wrote.
The decision reversed an earlier ruling by a state tax tribunal and a circuit judge that ruled in favor of Greenetrack. Circuit Judge William E. Hereford ruled in 2021 that a 1975 dog-racing statute exempted Greenetrack from certain taxes, and the state was trying to ignore that by speculating on legislative intent.
A lawyer representing Greenetrack did not immediately return an email seeking comment.
The ruling came after a more than decadelong fight with the state. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall praised the decision.
“Every day, all across our great state, the people of Alabama get up, work hard to make an honorable living, obey the law, and pay their taxes. And then there are the likes of Greenetrack, which scheme to make a dishonorable profit, break the law, and evade their taxes. Such a sordid state of affairs is more than merely unjust — it is hateful to the rule of law,” Marshall said in a statement.
Bingo operators and the state attorney general’s office have been in a long-running legal battle over the legality of electronic bingo games.
The state has argued the electronic games, which sometimes resemble slot machines, are not what was intended by the laws allowing charity bingo. Operators maintain the games are allowed by local constitutional amendments authorizing bingo and it doesn’t matter if the game is played on paper or on a machine. | 2022-07-01T21:56:29+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/State-Supreme-Court-Greenetrack-owes-76-million-17279964.php |
CHICAGO (AP) — An 8-year-old boy whose spine was severed in the shooting at a parade on July 4 has moved to a rehabilitation-focused hospital after spending nearly a month in a Chicago pediatric intensive care unit.
Cooper Roberts’ family said the boy was moved Sunday to the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab from the University of Chicago’s Comer Children’s Hospital. The family’s statement released Monday said Cooper’s medical team will focus on physical and occupational therapy along with other rehabilitation and mental health services.
Cooper was among the 48 people wounded when a gunman opened fire on the Highland Park Independence Day parade. His twin brother, Luke, was hit by shrapnel, and his mother was wounded in the leg.
Seven people were killed.
Since the shooting, Cooper has undergone at least seven surgeries and is paralyzed from the waist down. In previous statements, his family said he required time on a ventilator and breathing tube after some of those procedures, and he experienced high fevers and other complications.
Each sign of progress has been celebrated in the family’s public updates: Cooper’s first time consuming liquids, the first trip outside the hospital doors in a wheelchair, trips to the hospital’s play room and a reunion with the family’s French bulldog, George.
Word of Cooper’s move to the rehabilitation hospital this week sparked another burst of financial support for the Roberts family. An online fundraiser reported more than $1.7 million has been raised toward Cooper’s care.
In a statement last week, their mother Keely asked people to continue praying for Cooper and Luke.
“Their lives are so much more and better than this terrible thing than was done to them,” she said. “Their lives are not a tragedy, they are a triumph.”
Lake Country prosecutors have charged Robert E. Crimo III with 21 counts of murder, 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery, representing the seven people killed and dozens wounded in the attack. | 2022-08-03T16:09:58+00:00 | myfox8.com | https://myfox8.com/news/national/ap-us-news/boy-wounded-in-parade-attack-moves-to-rehab-focused-hospital/ |
STARKVILLE, Miss (WTVA) - Main Street programs like the one in Starkville will be benefiting from an upcoming rebranding campaign coordinated by Mississippi Main Street Association (MMSA).
The project will hire Community Branding Specialist Ben Muldrow of Arnett Muldrow and Associates to speak with local Main Street boards, economic development and tourism partners.
They will also talk to local residents to learn about the communities. They feel by doing this they will learn how to bring more interest to the downtown area.
MMSA has received $90,000 from the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area. So, with that money they can really start putting things into fruition.
Mayor Lynn Spruill says, "It's to create an environment in our downtown that allows us to have more patio seating for our restaurants and to encourage that kind of um quality of life effort for uh being downtown and gathering downtown."
Mayor Spruill says they hope to start seeing the rebranding changes by April and May. | 2023-02-06T22:45:11+00:00 | wtva.com | https://www.wtva.com/city-leaders-in-starkville-are-planning-to-re-brand-downtown-starkville/article_6558272c-a668-11ed-acde-5f8ef43f178e.html |
Deployment brings Sanctuary AI one step closer to delivering innovative labor solutions with the world's first human-like intelligence in general-purpose robots
VANCOUVER, BC, March 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sanctuary Cognitive Systems Corporation (Sanctuary AI), a company on a mission to create the world's-first human-like intelligence in general-purpose robots, today announced that it has successfully completed the first ever deployment of a unique system designed to deliver the world's first human-like intelligence in general-purpose robots at a customer commercial facility through its partnership with Canadian Tire Corporation (CTC).
The first deployment of its kind in a commercial environment took place at a Mark's retail store in Langley, BC, Canada. The week-long pilot at the CTC-owned store successfully tested the general-purpose robot in a 'real-life' store environment with 110 retail-related tasks completed correctly, including front and back-of-store activities such as picking and packing merchandise, cleaning, tagging, labelling, folding, and more. The tested tasks had previously only been performed in Sanctuary AI's labs, which accurately mirrored the commercial setting to ensure a seamless technology implementation.
"Many organizations are facing labor challenges. Our population is aging, birth rates are declining, and workers have more choice for what they do and where they work than ever in history," said Geordie Rose, co-founder and CEO, Sanctuary AI. "Through our partnership with Canadian Tire Corporation, we worked on analyzing how their work was done and what work people like and don't like doing, in both their retail and distribution center environments. In January we deployed a general-purpose robot to a retail store to attempt to perform many necessary but rudimentary tasks that people note finding unsatisfying or unfavorable. The results were spectacular. We are ecstatic to have accomplished this with Canadian Tire Corporation, one of Canada's leading companies."
"Working with Sanctuary AI has enabled Canadian Tire Corporation to further explore cutting-edge innovations and accelerate operational efficiency. With the Mark's pilot, we were able to focus human resources on higher-value and more meaningful work, like customer service and engagement," said Cari Covent, VP, Data, Analytics and AI, Canadian Tire Corporation. "By making strategic investments and working with partners like Sanctuary AI, we are furthering our customer understanding, customer experience, and operational efficiencies to drive our Better Connected strategy."
Sanctuary AI is at the forefront of a digital transformation that will help its customers operate more safely, efficiently, and sustainably. At the same time, the company is building an ecosystem of external relationships that will usher in this new paradigm and solidify Sanctuary AI as the leader and pioneer of human-like intelligence in general-purpose robots. "Sanctuary AI is strategically positioned as a powerful systems-level company that constantly evolves to integrate best-in-class hardware and AI approaches," said Geordie Rose, co-founder and CEO, Sanctuary AI. "We have created a technology platform that has a solid balance of Sanctuary AI-made components and third-party components we have sourced from outstanding companies, many of whom we have exclusivity agreements with. Our approach is built around the philosophy of always working with the best people, organizations, and technologies available."
A human-like AI controlling Sanctuary AI general-purpose robots should be able to perform physical labor across virtually every industry. Sanctuary AI has created a strong ecosystem in a brand new category that, according to Goldman Sachs, has the potential to be a market of up to US$154 billion by 2035.
Sanctuary AI is backed by a number of investors that add even greater strength to their ecosystem. The Sanctuary AI investor list includes: Bell, Canadian Tire Corporation, Evok Innovations, Export Development Canada, Magna, SE Health, Verizon Ventures, and Workday Ventures. Sanctuary AI has now received more than C$100 million in funding since its founding in Vancouver, Canada in 2018, and is active in its next funding round to fuel its mission. Interested parties can learn more at the official Sanctuary website: www.sanctuary.ai
About Sanctuary Cognitive Systems Corporation
Founded in 2018, Sanctuary AI is a Vancouver, Canada-based company. Sanctuary AI is on a mission to create the world's first human-like intelligence in general-purpose robots that will help us work more safely, efficiently, and sustainably, helping to address the labor challenges facing many organizations today. Sanctuary AI's growing list of customers and investors represents a wide variety of industries across Canada, the US, and other countries around the world.
Members of the Sanctuary team founded D-Wave (a pioneer in the quantum computing industry), Kindred (first use of reinforcement learning in a production robot), and the Creative Destruction Lab (pioneered a revolutionary method for the commercialization of science for the betterment of humankind). With experience at startups and technology leaders such as Amazon, HP, IBM, Microsoft, and Samsung, the team has experience launching market-defining innovations rooted in previously unsolved and deep scientific problems.
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SOURCE Sanctuary Cognitive Systems Corporation | 2023-03-07T15:27:33+00:00 | kcbd.com | https://www.kcbd.com/prnewswire/2023/03/07/sanctuary-ai-deploys-first-humanoid-general-purpose-robot-commercially/ |
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — On April 13, the nightmare that I’d worried about ever since we moved into our neighborhood came true.
That was the day that I learned 16-year-old Ralph Yarl was shot after mistakenly ringing a doorbell at the wrong house while trying to pick up his younger brothers from a playdate. And even as I anguished over what happened to him, one thing kept echoing in my mind: It could have been my child.
John, my older son, is 17 and attends the same high school as Ralph. It’s common for me to ask John to pick up his 14-year-old brother Jaden from various extracurricular activities. I’ve been cautious about what I ask John to do and where I ask him to go. I don’t know what might happen if he crosses paths with someone who feels threatened by the color of his skin.
That’s because the suburbs of Kansas City north of the Missouri River have long held a reputation of not being the most welcoming to Black families. While I’ve adjusted to the awkward stares and subtle racism, I’ve always had a nagging fear that something bad could happen if my sons ventured too far from home without me.
I became painfully aware that John shared that fear shortly after Ahmaud Arbery was gunned down by white men while jogging through a Georgia neighborhood in 2020. Like Arbery, John liked to jog through the neighborhood. Now, however, he was asking me to trail him in my car as he jogged through ours.
I felt like I’d failed as a mother. I had done everything I could to make him feel safe and protected, but he was afraid to run past the familiar, well-manicured lawns in the only neighborhood he’s ever known as home.
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I knew there would be challenges when we moved in as one of the only Black families in the subdivision in 2005. But I figured the benefits would outweigh the drawbacks. Besides, you can’t run or hide from racism.
My ex-husband and I bought our home when John was just six weeks old — three years before Staley High School opened — because we wanted our children to receive a quality education. Our realtor touted plans for the state-of-the-art high school campus as a selling point. We loved the layout of the home on a half acre of land, and the sprawling backyard was perfect for the Irish setter we had at the time.
Some neighbors welcomed us with housewarming gifts of flowers and baked goods. Later, we were told that one family sold their house shortly after we moved in because they didn’t want to live near Black people. At a party at a neighbor’s house not long after that, a guest wondered out loud why Black people would want to live in a predominantly white neighborhood. “Wouldn’t they feel more comfortable living around their own people?”
Then there was the time I sent my then-husband to return a casserole dish a neighbor left at my house after a party. The former neighbor, whom we’d known for years at that point, opened the door and yelled, “We don’t want any. Go Away,” and slammed the door. She didn’t take the time to make out the face on the other side of the door. She just saw Black. She apologized profusely when she realized what she had done.
It touched John from very early on, too. He was in kindergarten when I had to confront some of the realities of raising a Black child in this predominantly white suburb. Silly me. I thought I’d have more time to prepare.
We were home one evening when I overheard John yell at the TV during a game of Wii boxing. “Take that, you jigaboo!” He could tell by my face that the word was more than a casual insult aimed at his virtual opponent. It took a while for me to coax out of him that a white kid at school had called him that name.
How do you explain to a 5-year-old why someone would call him that? I fumbled through it just as I’ve learned to fumble through raising my Black sons in an environment where their skin is considered by some to be a weapon.
These things happen. You block them out and you move on, but the subtle tension remains. No one wants to talk about it. Eventually you become numb. You avoid certain situations. It’s like walking on eggshells to avoid a landmine.
It becomes exhausting to try to shield my sons from the ugliness I know exists. John is dating now. If he plans to ask a white girl out, I always ask: “Do her parents know you are Black? Are they OK with it?”
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When I heard what happened to Ralph, I cried. I haven’t slept well since, because it could have easily been John who was shot in the head after mistakenly going to NE 115th Street instead of NE 115th Terrace to pick up his brother.
Ralph’s mistake was an innocent one. In my neighborhood, address mix-ups happen all the time. Many houses are numbered identically, and sometimes the only difference in a street address is “terrace” versus “street” or “northwest” versus “northeast.”
We recently had a string of unexpected visits. Just after dawn one morning, we were awakened to men we didn’t hire inspecting tree damage in our backyard after a storm. A few days later, workers for a lawn-care company let themselves into our backyard to treat it for grubs.
The most troubling incident came when a man we didn’t know rang our doorbell in the middle of the day.
My husband and I, both working from home, couldn’t answer right away. By the time we got to the door, the man was in our backyard and fumbling around our back door. When my husband confronted him, he told us he was a contractor sent to measure our door for a replacement. We hadn’t ordered a door.
So it’s easy for me to see how mistakes happen. But it never occurred to me to grab my firearm and shoot these unexpected visitors. That simply isn’t the first option in the world that I’m working so hard to create for my family.
Since Ralph’s shooting, I’ve had a lot of friends check on us. My best friend, who lives in St. Louis, pointed out that Ralph looks a lot like Jaden, my younger son. I’d noticed the resemblance, too. I cried again.
___
I don’t regret moving here. My sons have outstanding teachers and coaches. They’ve excelled academically and developed valuable friendships with a diverse group of young people. I’ve met some of my closest friends in this neighborhood.
Yet as a Black woman in America, I rise each day knowing that I will invariably face small indignities tossed my way by white people who mistakenly believe they’re entitled to dismiss me because of my race.
I haven’t been called the “N-word,” nor have I been physically accosted. Racism in this part of the city is far more subtle, and if you’re not acutely aware of what to look for, it blows right past you.
I won’t say I’m used to misguided attempts to marginalize my presence, because I won’t accept being treated like I’m less than anyone else. But when it happens, I’m rarely surprised.
And I’ll also admit: It’s tiring for my family to have to go out of its way to make white people feel comfortable with our Blackness. We can’t peel off our skin; not that we would if we could. Everyone wants to proclaim, “I don’t see color,” when, in fact, that’s the first thing that they see when they see my sons. It’s hard to miss the only Black kid on the baseball diamond.
But on the playing field, at least, my boys generally get the benefit of the doubt that Ralph Yarl wasn’t given on that fateful night earlier this month.
___
Longtime Associated Press journalist Kia Breaux is currently Midwest regional sales director for the AP, based in Kansas City. | 2023-04-24T18:32:14+00:00 | fox59.com | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/ap-us-news/a-black-mom-in-kansas-city-always-watching-always-worrying/ |
PHOENIX, Ariz. (KNXV) — Phoenix Suns and Mercury owner Robert Sarver has been suspended for one year by the NBA after an investigation into misconduct.
During their investigation, which stemmed from an ESPN report in November 2021, the NBA found that Sarver "engaged in conduct that clearly violated common workplace standards as reflected in team and league rules and policies. This conduct included the use of racially insensitive language; unequal treatment of female employees; sex-related statements and conduct; and harsh treatment of employees that on occasion constituted bullying.”
The original report says ESPN talked to more than 70 people who worked in the organization. They painted a picture of a hostile work environment. Sarver allegedly used racially insensitive language, including the "n-word." The article included references to instances of misogyny and situations when employees felt cornered and belittled.
Among the key findings of the NBA's subsequent report:
"Mr. Sarver on at least five occasions during his tenure with the Suns/Mercury organization repeated the N-word when recounting the statements of others. Mr. Sarver engaged in instances of inequitable conduct toward female employees, made many sex-related comments in the workplace made inappropriate comments about the physical appearance of female employees and other women and on several occasions engaged in inappropriate physical conduct toward male employees. Mr. Sarver engaged in demeaning and harsh treatment of employees including by yelling and cursing at them."
The NBA today issued the following statement: pic.twitter.com/jjlBK771PT
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) September 13, 2022
A statement from the NBA says Sarver’s suspension means he can not:
“Be present at any NBA or WNBA team facility, including any office arena or practice facility.
Attend or participate in any NBA or WNBA event or activity including games practices, or business partner activity.
Represent the Suns or Mercury in any public or private capacity.
Have any involvement with the business or basketball operations of the Suns or Mercury.
Have any involvement in the business governance or activities of either the NBA or WNBA, including attending or participating in meetings of either league's Board (and their associated Board committees)”
Sarver is also fined $10 million. The NBA says they will "donate these funds to organizations that are committed to addressing race and gender-based issues in and outside the workplace.”
This story was originally reported by Clayton Klapper on abc15.com | 2022-09-13T17:41:08+00:00 | koaa.com | https://www.koaa.com/news/national/phoenix-suns-owner-suspended-for-1-year-following-nbas-misconduct-investigation |
Fire raged through a chemical company Monday night just southwest of downtown Omaha, Nebraska, forcing some nearby residents to evacuate and leaving thousands without power.
Thick smoke billowed from the Nox-Crete facility, but no injuries had been reported, according to NBC affiliate WOWT.
Battalion Chief Scott Fitzpatrick said the first call for help came shortly before 7 p.m.
Fitzpatrick said firefighters first struggled to access the fire, then realized it was bigger than first thought and pulled back knowing there were chemicals and propane bottles on site.
According to its website, Nox-Crete makes form coating and deactivator, liquid floor hardeners, joint fillers, curing and sealing compounds and water repellents. The company had not yet released a statement.
WOWT reports that explosions could be seen as part of the building collapsed and ruptured propane containers.
Omaha firefighters estimated it would be hours before the fire could be controlled.
U.S. & World
Those living nearby were initially encouraged to shelter in place, but an alert just before 9 p.m. urged residents between 13th and 20th, Leavenworth to Martha to evacuate. Those who could not evacuate were urged to stay inside with the windows closed.
Pottawattamie County Emergency Management says the smoke poses no toxicity risks.
Omaha Public Power District said more than 2,500 customers were without electricity in the neighborhoods near the fire. | 2022-05-31T08:55:42+00:00 | nbcchicago.com | https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/residents-evacuate-as-fire-rages-at-omaha-chemical-company/2845769/ |
A potential battle for the Russian-occupied city of Kherson could change the trajectory of the Ukrainian war. For those stuck there, life is hard and dangerous.
Copyright 2022 NPR
A potential battle for the Russian-occupied city of Kherson could change the trajectory of the Ukrainian war. For those stuck there, life is hard and dangerous.
Copyright 2022 NPR | 2022-11-03T21:18:18+00:00 | mainepublic.org | https://www.mainepublic.org/2022-11-03/what-life-is-like-for-those-living-in-the-russian-occupied-city-of-kherson |
BENSALEM, Pa., May 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Law Offices of Howard G. Smith announces that investors with substantial losses have opportunity to lead the securities fraud class action lawsuit against Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. ("Innovative Industrial Properties" or the "Company") (NYSE: IIPR).
Class Period: May 7, 2020 – April 13, 2022
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: June 24, 2022
Investors suffering losses on their Innovative Industrial Properties investments are encouraged to contact the Law Offices of Howard G. Smith to discuss their legal rights in this class action at 888-638-4847 or by email to howardsmith@howardsmithlaw.com.
The complaint filed alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants failed to disclose to investors: (1) that the Company's focus is to be a cannabis company lender rather than a real estate investment trust; (2) that the true values of the Company's properties are significantly lower than Innovative Industrial Properties represents; (3) existential issues in its top customers; (4) that as a result, its top customers may not be able to continue making payments to the Company, which would face significant issues replacing these customers; and (5) as a result, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.
To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action. If you wish to learn more about this class action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to the pending class action lawsuit, please contact Howard G. Smith, Esquire, of Law Offices of Howard G. Smith, 3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112, Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020, by telephone at (215) 638-4847, toll-free at (888) 638-4847, or by email to howardsmith@howardsmithlaw.com, or visit our website at www.howardsmithlaw.com.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.
Contacts
Law Offices of Howard G. Smith
Howard G. Smith, Esquire
215-638-4847
888-638-4847
howardsmith@howardsmithlaw.com
www.howardsmithlaw.com
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SOURCE Law Offices of Howard G. Smith | 2022-05-19T18:44:07+00:00 | live5news.com | https://www.live5news.com/prnewswire/2022/05/19/iipr-investors-have-opportunity-lead-innovative-industrial-properties-inc-securities-fraud-lawsuit/ |
LONDON – Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson deliberately misled Parliament about the lockdown-flouting parties that undermined his credibility and contributed to his downfall, a committee of lawmakers said Thursday after a year-long investigation.
A scathing report from the House of Commons Privileges Committee found that Johnson’s actions were such a flagrant violation of the rules that they warranted a 90-day suspension from Parliament. While a damning indictment of the former prime minister’s conduct, the recommendation is largely symbolic because Johnson angrily quit as a lawmaker Friday after the committee informed him of its conclusions.
Johnson, 58, last week described the committee as a “kangaroo court” that conducted a “witch hunt” to drive him out of Parliament. A majority of the panel’s seven members come from Johnson’s Conservative Party.
The report is just the latest episode in the “partygate” scandal that has distracted lawmakers since local news organizations revealed that members of Johnson’s staff held a series of parties in 2020 and 2021 when such gatherings were prohibited by pandemic restrictions. The full House of Commons will now debate the committee’s report and decide whether it concurs with the panel’s findings and recommended sanctions.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.
LONDON (AP) — Lawmakers are expected to release a long-awaited report Thursday on whether former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson deliberately misled Parliament over COVID lockdown-flouting parties at his Downing Street office.
Parliament's Privileges Committee has spent 14 months investigating Johnson's conduct over “partygate,” a series of boozy gatherings in his office that broke strict COVID-19 restrictions that his government had imposed on the country.
Johnson, 58, angrily quit as a lawmaker on Friday after the committee informed him in advance that he would be sanctioned. He described the seven-member committee — which included both the ruling Conservatives and opposition party members — as a “kangaroo court,” and accused political opponents of driving him out in a “witch hunt.”
On Wednesday, the eve of the report's publication, Johnson also called for the panel's most senior Conservative member, Bernard Jenkin, to resign over claims that he had broken pandemic restrictions himself.
Daisy Cooper, deputy leader of the opposition Liberal Democrats, said the move was a “typical distraction tactic from Boris Johnson that doesn’t change the fact he broke the law and lied about it.”
If found to have lied and been in contempt of Parliament, Johnson would have been suspended from the House of Commons. A suspension of 10 days or more would have meant that Johnson’s constituents in his suburban London seat could have petitioned to oust him and elect a new lawmaker.
Johnson’s move to quit Parliament means he can no longer be suspended, and his seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip will be contested in a special election next month.
Johnson and his wife, Carrie, were fined by the Metropolitan Police last year for breaching COVID laws at a birthday party for Johnson in his Downing Street residence and office in June 2020.
Current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was also among dozens of people issued with fixed-penalty notices for a series of office parties and “wine time Fridays” in 2020 and 2021 across government buildings.
Revelations of the booze-fueled gatherings, which took place at a time when millions were prohibited from seeing loved ones or even attending family funerals, angered many Britons and added to a string of ethics scandals that spelled Johnson's downfall. Johnson resigned as prime minister last summer after a mass exodus of government officials protesting his leadership.
Johnson has acknowledged misleading lawmakers when he assured them that no rules had been broken, but he insisted he didn’t do so deliberately.
In March he told the committee he “honestly believed” the five gatherings he attended, including a send-off for a staffer and his own surprise birthday party, were “lawful work gatherings” intended to boost morale among overworked staff members coping with a deadly pandemic.
He also said that “trusted advisors” assured him that neither the legally binding rules nor the government’s coronavirus guidance had been broken. | 2023-06-15T08:24:52+00:00 | wsls.com | https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2023/06/15/uk-lawmakers-prepare-to-release-their-report-on-boris-johnson-and-partygate/ |
CommUnity Champion revisited: Wynona Harper
Harper has held numerous events to support people in Penn Hills after her son's death.
Harper has held numerous events to support people in Penn Hills after her son's death.
Harper has held numerous events to support people in Penn Hills after her son's death.
This week marks nine years since Jamar Hawkins was fatally shot in Penn Hills after an argument at a grocery store.
In the time since, Hawkins' mother, Wynona Harper, has been serving her community in her son's honor. She started a nonprofit called Jamar Place of Peace.
"It's a difficult time for me," Harper said. "That was my only son. How I honor him is how I heal."
Pittsburgh's Action News 4 spoke with Harper ahead of a Saturday event at the Penn Hills Library. The Community Love: Fall Fest will have a free turkey dinner, a youth bakeoff, music, a Thanksgiving turkey distribution and more.
"One thing people take from these events is a lot of love and respect," Harper said.
A 50-50 and basket raffle will go to support a winter festival, set for mid-December. There, kids will be able to select donated items to give to their parents as presents. The group is also accepting donations for items to be included in that event.
"It's called Community Love, so if we love each other, we can definitely impact the community and make a difference," she said. | 2022-11-18T14:22:01+00:00 | wtae.com | https://www.wtae.com/article/community-champion-revisited-wynona-harper/41980035 |
19-year-old charged with murder of pregnant woman at motel, police say
GREENVILLE, S.C. (WHNS/Gray News) – A 19-year-old man is facing murder charges for the shooting death of a pregnant woman at a South Carolina motel last week.
According to the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, 23-year-old Katherine Calloway called 911 on May 26, stating she had been shot multiple times at a Days Inn motel.
Calloway was rushed to the hospital but died the next day. Arrest warrants revealed she was 12 weeks pregnant when she was killed.
On Thursday, one week after the shooting, deputies arrested 19-year-old Michael Unique Washington Jr. in connection to the crime. He was charged with murder, death of a child in utero during the commission of a violent crime, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. He is being held without bond.
Deputies are still investigating a motive for the murder, but they said they do not believe Washington knew the victim before they met that night at the motel.
Copyright 2022 WHNS via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2022-06-03T20:33:11+00:00 | wlox.com | https://www.wlox.com/2022/06/03/19-year-old-charged-with-murder-pregnant-woman-motel-police-say/ |
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — An American-based aid group said that approximately $900,000 was stolen from its Congo programs by members of the organization who conspired with outsiders.
GiveDirectly said that it learned that people on its Congo team worked with people outside the organization to defraud the cash transfer program, diverting aid from more than 1,700 impoverished families over six months, starting in August 2022.
“This fraud was only possible because of a specific change we made in our payment process in order to work in this remote, insecure region of (Congo),” according to the statement from Monday. “We feel deep regret for not catching this sooner and take seriously the vulnerabilities it exposed,” it said.
GiveDirectly said that an investigation is ongoing and that it was able to recover “a very small portion of the lost funds,” but the majority of the $900,000 will likely be “uncoverable.” But the group is working to ensure that families impacted by the fraud get their money.
Roughly 1% of money delivered last year was lost to fraud, the highest amount to date, GiveDirectly said.
Eastern Congo, where the group operates, has experienced conflict for decades. About 120 armed groups are fighting in the region mostly for land and control of mines with valuable minerals, while some groups are trying to protect their communities. More than 5.5 million people are displaced in Congo, and more than 26 million are facing hunger, according to the United Nations.
The decades-long crisis and widespread poverty have fueled an environment ripe for corruption among aid organizations, analysts say.
“It is unsurprising that the development sector is a target for corruption given its prominent role in the country’s economy. Billions of development dollars flow into (Congo) every year and it is likely that a sizeable portion of this is lost to corruption,” Benjamin Hunter, Africa analyst for risk assessment firm Verisk Maplecroft, said Tuesday.
GiveDirectly delivers cash transfers globally, delivering more than $650 million to people in roughly a dozen countries, the majority in Africa. It provides aid through mobile money, a technology to send and receive funds using a SIM card, which it says avoids many forms of fraud. Once the money’s deposited, people can withdraw the cash at a mobile money station.
While the group normally registers people with an independent money agent, gives them SIM cards and deposits funds on it, due to the insecurity in eastern Congo’s South Kivu province, where it was operating, GiveDirectly said it made an exception to it’s normal procedures.
Instead of people registering with independent mobile agents, which often meant making them travel long distances, the group used its own enrollment team.
“We now know that while enrolling villages in South Kivu, some staff conspired to register payment SIMs to the recipients’ names (per the special exception granted), pocket those registered SIMs, and put different SIMs in recipients’ phones,” the organization said. GiveDirect sent cash transfers to the registered SIM cards, many of which had been stolen by the staff, who with outside help from money agents and former employees, diverted funds intended for people in need, it said.
Give Directly said that the case was concerning for three reasons:
1. “the scale of the fraud, at the expense of people in extreme poverty
2. “the number of our own team members who participated
3. “the failure of our systems to prevent it.”
The group said it has no reason to suspect this fraud extends beyond its eastern Congo programs.
However, an investigation by The New Humanitarian said that another of the organization’s programs was being audited in one of its sub-Saharan Africa operations. The Associated Press couldn’t independently verify the allegation.
GiveDirectly told the AP that “full checks have been done on all other countries and programs and have revealed no other signs of significant fraud.” | 2023-06-07T05:16:30+00:00 | texomashomepage.com | https://www.texomashomepage.com/news/business/at-least-900000-stolen-by-employees-of-us-based-aid-group-operating-in-congo/ |
CHANGSHA, China, Feb. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- This is a report from China SCIO:
Video link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ui-PG_iQiFI
While China is heading for carbon peak and neutrality, Changsha city in central China is going greener in great strides.
Charming Changsha: A city going greener
http://english.scio.gov.cn/videos/2023-02/09/content_85097558.htm
View original content:
SOURCE China SCIO | 2023-02-09T09:46:00+00:00 | kfyrtv.com | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2023/02/09/charming-changsha-city-going-greener/ |
HOUSTON, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- VLS Environmental Solutions, LLC ("VLS" or the "Company"), the North American leader in delivering innovative environmental solutions that support clients in achieving their sustainability goals, today announced that it has acquired Plaquemine Point Shipyard ("PPSY"). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Based in Plaquemine, Louisiana, PPSY is located just outside of Baton Rouge and provides full-service barge cleaning and repair along the Mississippi River. PPSY will operate within the VLS Marine Services division, and Wade Grundmeyer, VLS Regional Vice President of Southeast Louisiana, will run the business reporting to Eddie Van Huis, VLS Vice President of Marine Services.
"We are excited to expand our Specialty Cleaning and Repair Services with the acquisition of Plaquemine Point Shipyard," noted John Magee, Chief Executive Officer of VLS. "We welcome the outstanding PPSY team to the VLS organization and are excited to utilize our combined strengths to continue providing high quality service to our customers in the region."
"PPSY is a strategic acquisition that expands the geographic offering of our Marine Services business. VLS Marine has established itself as a leader along the Intracoastal Waterway, and we are excited to build upon that success with a location along the Mississippi River," said Eddie Van Huis.
This acquisition marks VLS's eighth add-on acquisition since partnering with Aurora Capital Partners in October 2017.
VLS Environmental Solutions is a leader in Marine Services with state-of-the-art barge cleaning and repair facilities for a wide variety of chemical solvents and downstream petroleum products. In addition to Marine Services, VLS also provides Waste and Railcar Cleaning Services. The Company's Waste Services division provides customized waste processing solutions, including landfill diversion and sustainability programs. The Company's Railcar Cleaning division provides specialty cleaning services for difficult-to-clean products including chemicals, hardened materials and pressurized gases using the most environmentally friendly and safe processes in the industry. Today, VLS has over 800 employees in 28 locations across the country. For more information about VLS, visit: www.vlses.com.
Aurora Capital Partners is a leading private equity firm focused principally on control investments in middle-market companies with leading market positions, stable industry dynamics, attractive business model characteristics and actionable opportunities for growth in partnership with management. Aurora provides unique resources to its portfolio companies through its Strategy & Operations Program and its team of experienced operating advisors. Aurora's investors include leading public and corporate pension funds, endowments and foundations active in private equity investing. For more information about Aurora Capital Partners, visit: www.auroracap.com.
For VLS Environmental Solutions
Keith Rensink
404-290-3182
keith.rensink@vlses.com
For Aurora Capital Partners
Taylor Ingraham / Fred Schweinfurth
ASC Advisors
tingraham@ascadvisors.com / fschweinfurth@ascadvisors.com
203-992-1230
View original content:
SOURCE VLS Environmental Solutions | 2022-06-21T19:54:28+00:00 | live5news.com | https://www.live5news.com/prnewswire/2022/06/21/vls-environmental-solutions-llc-portfolio-company-aurora-capital-partners-expands-marine-services-business-louisiana-with-acquisition-plaquemine-point-shipyard/ |
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Finland’s prime minister says she did not take any drugs during a “wild” party in a private home, adding she did nothing wrong when letting her hair down and partying with friends.
A video posted on a social media shows six people dancing and mimicking a song in front of a camera, including Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin. Later in the video, Marin, 36, is on her knees on what seems to be the dance floor with her arms behind her head dancing while mimicking a song.
“I’m disappointed that it has become public. I spent the evening with friends. Partied, pretty wild, yes. Danced and sang,” she was quoted Thursday as saying by Finnish broadcaster YLE.
“I have not used drugs myself, or anything other than alcohol. I’ve danced, sung and partied and done perfectly legal things. I have also not been in a situation where I would know that others are doing it that way,” Marin said, according to the Hufvudstadsbladet newspaper.
It was unclear when the party, which reportedly was attended by Ilmari Nurminen, a member of Eduskunta, or parliament, for Marin’s Social Democratic Party, and the Finnish singer Alma, was held.
Marin — who in December 2019 became Finland’s youngest prime minister ever — said she spends her free time with friends just like others her age and that she intends to continue being the same person as before.
“I hope that’s accepted. We live in a democracy and in elections everyone can decide these issues,” she said, according to YLE.
Critics have pointed out that Finland, which shares a 1,340-kilometer (832-mile) land border with Russia, faces high electricity prices, among other issues from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The country recently dropped its long-neutral stance and asked to join NATO.
In July, Marin attended a popular Finnish rock festival. In December she made a public apology after going out clubbing until 4 a.m. without her work phone, hence failing to be informed that she had been in close contact with a COVID-19 positive person. She didn’t test positive. | 2022-08-19T11:44:11+00:00 | wearegreenbay.com | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/international/ap-international/finnish-pm-no-drugs-just-lots-of-dancing-at-wild-party/ |
Girls Softball
OHSAA Softball Championshipsn
Division II
Bryan 6, Lima Bath 0
Maumee 6, Tontogany Otsego 5
Ontario 5, Clyde 0
Region 8n
Marengo Highland 5, Plain City Jonathan Alder 3
Division III
Region 10
Defiance Tinora 14, Pemberville Eastwood 4
Johnstown 1, Howard E. Knox 0
Region 11
Frankfort Adena at S. Webster, ppd. to May 22.
Portsmouth W. at Ironton, ppd. to May 21.
Wheelersburg at Wellston, ppd. to May 21.
Region 12
West Jefferson 9, Richwood N. Union 1
Division IV
Region 15
Manchester at Willow Wood Symmes Valley, ppd. to May 22.
Newark Cath. 13, Danville 2
Portsmouth Notre Dame at Racine Southern, ppd. to May 22.
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Kings Island’s sold-out Coasterstock includes hundreds of roller... | 2023-05-20T22:13:30+00:00 | springfieldnewssun.com | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/ohio/fridays-scores/F3M3MKN6DNBGZCSQG4W7ZYV2VY/ |
Drift Conversation Cloud Receives Differentiated Rating in Market Approach, Conversation Delivery and Performance Insights Criteria
BOSTON, Sept. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Drift, the Conversation Cloud company, today announced it has been recognized as a Leader in The Forrester New WaveTM: Conversation Automation Solutions, Q3, 2022 report. The report identified, researched and evaluated 10 service providers across 10 criteria in the Conversation Automation Solutions (CAS) market – Forrester characterizes this market by the facilitation of two-way conversations, automation and artificial intelligence (AI) to scale, and extensibility into the broader B2B technology ecosystem.
Drift was named a leader in the CAS market and cited as a best fit for "companies focused on enabling their buyers digitally." The report also notes that "marketing, sales, and virtual assistants collaborate in real time" to progress deals in the enterprise using the Drift Conversation Cloud. Drift received a differentiated rating, the highest score possible in three criteria, including conversation delivery, performance insights and market approach. According to the report, Drift "offers strong audience insights and digital experience capabilities" and "customizes type and level of interaction based on audience."
"The pandemic accelerated a shift in modern buyer expectations in the enterprise and created a new demand for personalized digital experiences – a growing market gap that we are uniquely positioned to address across the entire customer lifecycle," said Leo Tenenblat, CPO of Drift. "We believe our inclusion and ranking in this report validates the advanced AI capabilities and scalability of the Drift Conversation Cloud across marketing, sales and service teams and more importantly, our customers' ability to engage more quality leads, close more deals and drive more revenue by meeting their buyers at the right place, at the right time, with the right conversation."
Serving over 5,000 customers worldwide, Drift has revolutionized the way businesses buy from businesses. Companies use Drift to engage with their website visitors 24/7 through AI-powered conversations that are tailored to each customer's needs. Earlier this year, Drift introduced the Drift Conversation Cloud, which combines Drift's three core solutions to seamlessly integrate marketing, sales and service. The Drift Conversation Cloud empowers businesses to deliver a personalized buyer experience that spans the entire B2B customer journey and helps them improve their sales pipeline, increase revenue and attract lifelong customers.
For a copy of The Forrester New WaveTM: Conversation Automation Solutions, Q3, 2022 report, please visit: https://drift.ly/wave-2022
About Drift
Drift®, the Conversation Cloud company, helps businesses connect with people at the right time, in the right place with the right conversation. Using the Drift Conversation Cloud, businesses can personalize experiences that lead to more quality pipeline, revenue and lifelong customers. Drift brings Conversational Marketing, Conversational Sales and Conversational Service into a single platform that integrates chat, email and video and powers personalized experiences with artificial intelligence (AI) at all stages of the customer journey. More than 5,000 customers use Drift to deliver a more enjoyable and more human buying experience that builds trust and accelerates revenue. Representing less than 1% of unicorns led by Latino founders, Drift is building an equitable, enduring company to transform the way businesses buy from businesses.
For more information, visit www.drift.com and follow @drift.
Press Inquiries
Rachel Shatz
Public Relations for Drift
rshatz@drift.com
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SOURCE Drift | 2022-09-01T16:53:31+00:00 | wlbt.com | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/drift-named-leader-enterprise-conversation-automation-solutions/ |
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea on Wednesday accused U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres of “an extremely unfair and imbalanced attitude,” as it lambasted him for condemning its recent missile test but ignoring alleged U.S. hostility against the North.
The accusation came as U.S., South Korean and Japanese destroyers were holding trilateral anti-missile training near the Korean Peninsula, a move the North could regard as a provocation.
After the North’s intercontinental ballistic missile test on Saturday, Guterres strongly condemned the launch and reiterated his call for the North to immediately desist from making any further provocations. In a statement, Guterres also urged North Korea to resume talks on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
“To be most deplorable, the U.N. secretary-general is going on the rampage of illogical and miserable remarks, which are little different from those of U.S. State Department officials over the years,” Kim Son Gyong, the North’s vice foreign minister for international bodies, said in a statement carried by state media.
Kim said North Korea’s ICBM test was a response to the security threat the U.S. posed to the North by temporarily deploying long-range bombers for joint training with South Korea earlier this year. Kim said the test was also a warning to the earlier convocation of the U.N. Security Council on the North.
North Korea views U.S.-South Korea military drills as an invasion rehearsal and is particularly sensitive to the U.S. mobilization of B-1B bombers that can carry a massive conventional payload of both guided and unguided weapons. After the North’s ICBM test, the United States flew B-1B bombers again for separate drills with South Korean and Japanese warplanes.
“The U.N. secretary-general should clearly understand that his unreasonable and prejudiced stand on the Korean Peninsula issue is acting as a factor inciting the hostile acts of the U.S. and its followers against (North Korea),” Kim said.
Last November, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui called Guterres “a puppet of the United States” for condemning an earlier ICBM test by the North.
Saturday’s ICBM test, the North’s first missile test since Jan. 1, was made on a steep angle to avoid neighboring countries. The reported launch details again suggested the North has missiles that can reach the U.S. mainland. But many foreign experts say the North still must master some last remaining technologies to acquire functioning nuclear-tipped missiles, such as one shielding missiles from the harsh conditions during atmospheric reentry.
In response to the latest U.S. deployment of B1-B bombers on Sunday, North Korea said its 600-millimeter multiple rocket launcher fired two rounds off its east coast the next day. North Korea has said its rockets can carry nuclear warheads. South Korea views the weapons as a short-range ballistic missile.
In a closed-door briefing at parliament Wednesday, South Korea’s military intelligence authorities said that North Korea could conduct further provocations such as a nuclear test, a spy satellite launch or an ICBM test on a standard trajectory, according to Yoo Sang-bum, a lawmaker who attended the meeting.
South Korea and the United States are to hold a set of joint military drills in coming weeks, including a table-top exercise set to take place at the Pentagon on Wednesday.
The U.S.-South Korea-Japan exercise Wednesday took place in international waters off the Korean Peninsula’s east coast. The three countries were meant to practice procedures to detect, track and intercept missiles while sharing related information among themselves, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said. It was their first trilateral training in four months.
Last year, North Korea test-launched more than 70 missiles, the most ever in a single year, as part of its efforts to enlarge its weapons arsenal. Observers say the North would eventually want to win international recognition as a legitimate nuclear state and use that status as a way to get U.N. and other international sanctions on it lifted. | 2023-02-22T11:04:52+00:00 | qcnews.com | https://www.qcnews.com/news/world-news/ap-n-korea-calls-un-chiefs-remarks-on-missile-test-unfair/ |
Periscope adds tourism account to growing client roster
MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Periscope, an award-winning, full-service advertising agency, today announced a three-year engagement as the official creative agency of record for Meet Minneapolis, securing its first venture into the tourism space and further solidifying the agency's ties to the Twin Cities.
Periscope will lead the campaign and media strategy to attract more visitors to Minneapolis, touting the breadth of unique experiences and opportunities the city offers to visitors from across the nation as leisure travel bounces back. This win gives Periscope the unique opportunity to help revitalize tourism in its home city, and continues a growth trend with 10 clients added to the agency's roster in 2022.
"Our team has a wealth of tourism experience, and we are proud to add Meet Minneapolis as a client under the Periscope logo. We've been a part of the Minneapolis landscape for 60+ years, and we've earned the right to knock this work out of the park. We owe it to our city," said Liz Grabek, SVP, Consumer Strategy at Periscope.
This new partnership demonstrates Periscope's dedication to celebrating Minneapolis and to drive growth to local businesses that benefit the city.
"We have a unique opportunity to reintroduce Minneapolis to regional visitors that have heard a lot about us, but not a lot from us," stated Courtney Ries, Senior Vice President of Destination Branding and Strategy for Meet Minneapolis. "Periscope's keen understanding and excitement for this opportunity — coupled with their unbridled passion for the city — makes them a great partner for this work."
The full scope includes Strategy, Creative Concepting and Campaign Execution, as well as PR and Influencer Marketing managed in partnership with Minneapolis-based PR and influencer marketing agency Friend of a Friend. Work is expected to begin rolling out early in 2023.
ABOUT PERISCOPE
Periscope, a Quad company, is an award-winning agency that provides a full spectrum of integrated marketing services for a wide range of acclaimed brands. As a part of Quad, Periscope represents a key creative discipline that enables Quad to provide a full through-the-line offering and help brands reimagine their marketing experience to be more streamlined, impactful, flexible and frictionless. Learn more at www.periscope.com.
ABOUT MEET MINNEAPOLIS
Meet Minneapolis is a private, not-for-profit, member-based association. It actively promotes and sells the Minneapolis area as a destination for conventions and meetings, works to maximize the visitor experience and markets the city as a desirable tourist destination to maximize the economic and social benefit to the greater Minneapolis area. Meet Minneapolis is accredited by the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) of Destinations International.
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SOURCE Periscope; Meet Minneapolis | 2022-09-13T12:13:02+00:00 | wafb.com | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2022/09/13/periscope-appointed-agency-record-meet-minneapolis/ |
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The British government has yet to approve the sale of Premier League club Chelsea to a consortium fronted by Los Angeles Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly.
Outgoing Russian owner Roman Abramovich is not allowed to profit from the proceeds of the sale since he was sanctioned and his assets were frozen for his links to President Vladimir Putin after the invasion of Ukraine.
An update to the license allowing Chelsea to continue operating as a business is required from the government to approve the buyout. The club was put up for sale in March and a rapid process ended with Boehly's group being chosen as the new owner on May 6.
The license expires on May 31, and there's a risk to the club continuing to operate if an agreement cannot be reached over the structure of the sale.
Chelsea issued a statement this month from an unnamed spokesperson for Abramovich saying he would not ask to be repaid loans of 1.6 billion pounds ($2 billion). The government still wants those proceeds placed in a frozen account before being sure they will eventually go to charity.
Abramovich said he hopes the proceeds of the 2.5 billion-pound ($3.1 billion) sale will go to charitable causes, having previously said they would go to help victims of the war in Ukraine. The government wants assurances that Abramovich will not have a say in the foundation that is planned.
The lack of announcement of the new ownership comes with Chelsea's season about to end without a men's domestic trophy after losing the FA Cup final to Liverpool on Saturday. The women's team did win its FA Cup final on Sunday.
Abramovich was forced to offload the club after he was targeted in the British government's crackdown on wealthy Russians with ties to Putin in February. Abramovich has not condemned the war.
After several rival bids were rejected, Chelsea agreed to a deal with a consortium that features Boehly along with Dodgers principal owner Mark Walter, Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss, and funding from private equity firm Clearlake Capital.
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More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2022-05-16T18:23:46+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/British-govt-yet-to-OK-Chelsea-sale-by-sanctioned-17176268.php |
Creators' Legal Announces the Release of the Design and Development Category of Contracts
Oakland, Calif., Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Creators' Legal today announces the launch of the Design and Development Category of legal contracts.
The Design and Development Category of contracts includes legal templates for Web Designers and Developers, as well as Graphic Design Contracts. Creators' Legal makes it fast, easy, and affordable for Software Developers, Graphic and Web Designers — both agencies and freelancers — to get legally binding contracts done in minutes with their clients and collaborators.
The newest version of Creators' Legal includes a full contract editor, which gives creators the freedom to edit and customize their contracts. These brand-new features are a step towards the Creators' Legal shift to provide an entirely integrated legal platform for independent production companies, along with independent creators.
"Web Designers, Developers, and Graphic Designers are a huge part of the Creator Economy, just as much as filmmakers. podcasters, writers, and content creators. I am very excited our team was able to design real contracts for these creators," Said Eric Farber, Founder and CEO of Creators' Legal.
Creators' Legal is the first and only DIY legal platform built for the Creator Economy. With almost 50 million people in the US earning a living off content creation, Creators' Legal is quickly becoming the community's tool of choice to protect their work and build stronger collaborations. It offers an easy-to-use legal tech platform with current legal templates, an e-signature system, and a contract management platform.
Creators' Legal has over 200 contracts in more than 10 Creator categories, including Filmmakers, Musicians, NFT creators, Podcasters, Web Series, Digital Creators, and many more. Platform users can choose between getting their contracts on a per-use basis or through a subscription. Creators' Legal boasts close to 1.000 creators using the platform for their creative legal agreements. There is also an educational plan for students and faculties of creative schools and programs. All of this is available at www.CreatorsLegal.com.
Eric Farber
Eric@CreatorsLegal.com
For more information on Creators Legal:
www.CreatorsLegal.com
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SOURCE Creators’ Legal | 2022-09-14T20:08:48+00:00 | kcrg.com | https://www.kcrg.com/prnewswire/2022/09/14/creators-legal-releases-design-development-category/ |
Delegates from around the world are gathering in Montreal this week to address what United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has described as "humanity's senseless and suicidal war with nature."
The UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which kicked off Tuesday, comes at a critical time. More than a million species are at risk of extinction globally, many within decades, because of human actions. Destruction of forests, wetlands and other natural ecosystems that clean air and water for the world's now 8 billion human residents continues worldwide. Climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise.
The World Economic Forum lists biodiversity loss as one of the top three global risks, because the loss of nature doesn't just impact plants and animals.
"If there's no food, there's no clean air to breathe in, there's no water, there are no medicines which are dependent on biodiversity resources, where are we? What are we?" said Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, the executive secretary of the convention. "It means we will perish just as the animals and plants."
Here's what you need to know about the nearly two-week convention:
What is the Convention on Biological Diversity?
Remember the climate conference, COP27, in Egypt last month? The CBD is a lot like that. It's a conference of parties — more than 190 countries in total (though, notably, not the U.S.) — gathered with the intent of slowing the decline in nature.
This is the 15th meeting of the CBD. A critical one that's long-overdue. Previous planned conventions were disrupted by COVID-19, the kind of pandemic that scientists say becomes more likely as we continue to fracture and damage the natural world.
What's so special about this one?
Every ten years, the CBD negotiates something called a Global Biodiversity Framework. It sets goals for member nations over the next decade. In this case, countries will try to agree on a framework that lasts until 2030.
What are the main goals of this convention?
Generally and bluntly speaking, the main goal is to stop the bleeding.
A study published last year suggests just 3% of the world's ecosystems are still ecologically intact — meaning they still support healthy populations of their native species and haven't been tarnished by human actions.
The assessment, which was bleaker than previous studies, recommends urgent efforts to protect those areas and restore others, "while this is still possible."
A report from the world's leading scientists shows humans have significantly altered 75% of the Earth's land and two-thirds of its oceans.
"Fundamentally, we need to safeguard our life support systems in the face of accelerating nature loss," said Rebecca Shaw, chief scientist at the World Wildlife Fund. "Inaction is absolutely not an option because it will put us only at greater risks of pandemics, which none of us want, it undermines our efforts on securing our climate, and it makes our food production systems much more vulnerable."
Ok, but what specifically are they looking at?
The draft framework for the convention lists more than 20 goals (you can read it here).
The flashiest item on the list is a pledge by member countries to protect 30% of their land and water by the year 2030, a concept known as 30 by 30. The Biden administration has pledged to do that in the U.S., as have scores of other countries.
Big questions remain though about what, specifically, will count as conserved or protected land. And there are concerns from indigenous groups that the concept could be used as a pretense to displace indigenous people from their lands, similar to how the U.S. national park system was used to displace Native Americans.
"There is a lot of evidence that shows traditional lands and territories managed by indigenous peoples are the most important areas when it comes to biodiversity," said Viviana Figueroa, a legal expert at the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity, who's part of the negotiations in Montreal. "So it would be a high interest to take our land. This is something we don't want."
Wait... why isn't the U.S. part of the Convention on Biological Diversity?
The U.S. is one of just four UN members that hasn't signed on to the CBD. The reason is politics.
The CBD was ratified in 1993, with input from the U.S. The Clinton administration wanted to sign the treaty but was blocked by a Republican majority in the Senate.
Conservation groups have called on the Biden administration to join the CBD. It rejoined the Paris climate agreement after the U.S. left under former president Donald Trump.
The Biden administration has not made an effort to sign on to the treaty but is expected to have a behind-the-scenes role in the negotiations. It has made biodiversity a priority, appointing a first-ever special envoy for biodiversity and water resources, launching its America the Beautiful initiative, aimed at conserving and restoring natural ecosystems, and has started work on making nature a part of the country's economic calculus.
What are the expected tension points?
As we saw at last month's climate conference in Egypt, these conventions often end without interested parties getting everything they want. Delegates expect there to be hard negotiations over the wording and substance of all the proposed goals.
Similar to the climate conference, the biggest tension point is likely to revolve around the issue of financing. Conserving nature may be crucial to sustaining the global economy in the long-term, but it also costs money up front.
Smaller, developing nations, which are disproportionately suffering the effects of climate change and biodiversity loss, want to see stronger financial commitments from richer, developed countries, which have economically benefited from polluting the world's environment.
Richer countries have a long history of promising to help finance climate and biodiversity projects but haven't always followed through. Progress was made with the establishment of a fund for "loss and damage" — the climate impacts smaller countries are feeling right now — at the recent climate conference but questions remain about who will put money into it and when.
The first draft of the biodiversity framework identified a $700 billion annual financing gap to reverse nature's decline. Questions will undoubtedly come up over who should help pay to resolve that.
Will an agreement actually slow nature loss?
That is the many dollar question. And there's reason for skepticism. The previous ten-year framework set by the CBD in 2010 established 20 conservation and nature-related targets for the year 2020. None of them were achieved.
More than 10,000 people are attending this year's CBD, including NGOs and businesses.
Shaw said the broad interest from the public and private sector is a hopeful indication that the biodiversity crisis is finally gaining broad international recognition.
"We have seen a ratcheting up in commitment and focus on climate change in the last 20 years," Shaw said. "And it's because the impacts have become unbearable globally. Like you can't ignore it anymore. We're there on the nature side."
Now, she said, it's time to act.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2022-12-07T14:28:07+00:00 | klcc.org | https://www.klcc.org/npr-science-environment/npr-science-environment/2022-12-07/a-un-biodiversity-convention-aims-to-slow-humanitys-war-with-nature |
PORTLAND, Maine —
On a breezy spring day, scientists and conservationists methodically conducted experiments near 15 North Atlantic right whales that occasionally spouted and surfaced in a bay south of Boston.
The pod of adults and calves is about 4% of the worldwide population of a marine mammal that almost disappeared from the planet after many decades of commercial whaling. There now are only a few hundred of the behemoths, which can weigh 70 tons (63.5 metric tons) and subsist on small ocean organisms.
Although right whale numbers are dwindling, conservationists attribute their continued survival to the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
The landmark federal law — a half century old this year — has forced the fishing and commercial shipping industries to take important steps to help protect the critically endangered whales. And it's spurred government agencies and scientists to undertake research.
David Wiley, research ecologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, was part of the crew that spent late March and early April testing the water off Cape Cod for the presence of a naturally occurring chemical that could help predict where right whales will congregate.
That knowledge, Wiley said, can help in forming new rules that safeguard the whales from threats such as entanglement in fishing gear and collisions with ships. While Wiley’s crew was working, a right whale was found entangled in Cape Cod Bay.
“They will go extinct in our lifetime if we don't do something,” he said. “The goal of my research is to protect animals, right whales, humpback whales.”
Numerous whale species are protected under the Endangered Species Act, including the blue, fin and sperm whale. Some, including the North Atlantic right whale, have been listed since the act passed in 1973. The law also protects other marine mammals, including some seal species, and ocean dwellers such as sea turtles.
Few animals have brought more change to marine industries than the right whale, and conservationists say survival of the species, which numbers about 340 worldwide, is testament to the act's importance.
“While they continue to decline at this very moment, I’m convinced that without the Endangered Species Act they wouldn’t be here,” said Regina Asmutis-Silvia, executive director of Massachusetts-based Whale & Dolphin Conservation USA.
But as federal regulators craft new protections for the whale and other declining marine animals, fishing and shipping industries that have been altered by decades of conservation laws are digging in for a new round of fighting for their own interests.
The U.S. lobster fishing industry, one of America's most lucrative seafood sectors, supports the act, said Beth Casoni, executive director of the Massachusetts Lobstermen's Association. But she said fishermen also need reasonable rules and some recent proposed restrictions on fishing go too far.
In recent years, disagreements over the proper way to apply the act have increasingly brought the industry into court. “We need to have realistic approaches to how environmental management is handled," Casoni said. "It becomes extremely costly for the industry to fight the ongoing litigation that's brought forth by the environmental groups."
___
Maritime industries are subject to a host of restrictions aimed at protecting the rare whales. Rules cover how fast vessels can travel and where commercial fishermen can fish. There are slow zones, protected zones and limitations on types of fishing gear.
The act has permanently protected thousands of square miles of ocean habitat to give the animals sanctuary from disturbances by human activities. The act has prompted innovations, such as ropeless fishing, designed to protect whales from becoming entangled. Compliance with the act primarily drove the use of nets with escape hatches to spare turtles from shrimp fishing on the Gulf Coast.
Fisheries for lucrative seafood species, such as scallops and groundfish, also have made changes to conform with the act. The act has brought observers onto fishing boats to make sure fishermen follow rules and it has barred fishing in places where vulnerable species are located.
“I feel like it drives technological innovation, and it also protects a whole suite of other species by reducing risks for whatever the listed species is,” said Janet Coit, assistant administrator for fisheries with NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service, which regulates commercial fishing. “The law has stood the test of time.”
___
The law's protections are set to expand in coming years. On the East Coast, NOAA is crafting new and broader fishing restrictions to reduce the likelihood whales will suffer injury or death from entanglements in gear. The agency also is considering enlarged speed restriction zones that will apply to many shippers.
On the West Coast, new protections are coming for endangered whales off California. The International Maritime Organization has adopted a U.S. proposal that takes effect this summer and would expand restrictions on vessel traffic to give endangered whales such as blues and fins more undisturbed sea.
Lobster fishers have vowed to fight new restrictions on fishing off the East Coast, which many say will put the industry out of business. Proposed restrictions necessitate new ropeless gear that isn't widely available yet, said David Cousens, a lobsterman in South Thomaston, Maine.
“The technology's not there. Common sense is what needs to prevail here, not pie in the sky dreaming,” Cousens said.
Vessels strikes and entanglements are two of the biggest threats whales face. But expansion of vessel traffic restrictions has also been met with resistance from shippers who fear compliance will be difficult, said Kathy Metcalf, president of the Chamber of Shipping of America.
“All we are trying to do is get some reasonable restrictions in place and still be able to serve the people who are waiting for their Nike sneakers and fuel oil or whatever and still serve a measure of protection to the animals,” Metcalf said.
___
Long a focus of conservationists, the plight of whales helped inspire the Endangered Species Act. Many species were devastated during the commercial whaling era, when they were hunted for meat and oil.
The gray whale, ranging from Mexico to Alaska in the Pacific, is often held up as one of the act's greatest success stories since it was delisted in 1994 after populations rebounded. The U.S. government also has removed most populations of humpback whales from the list following recovery.
“The Endangered Species Act has a legal impact. A tangible result,” said Charles “Stormy” Mayo, senior scientist at the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, Massachusetts, which works to preserve marine animals. “The Endangered Species Act has lifted our sensitivity to rare species.”
Others, like the North Atlantic right whale, have been slower to recover. The whale's population is falling in part because of climate-related warming of the ocean, which scientists say is pushing the animals outside protected zones and into harm's way in search of food. They've lost about 30% of their population since 2010.
The swift decline shows the act can't save an animal if it's not applied aggressively, said Michael Moore, director of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Marine Mammal Center in Massachusetts. “That level of collapse can hardly be seen as a success,” Moore said.
If the whale is to survive, the law will need to play a critical role, said Gib Brogan, fisheries campaign manager for the conservation group Oceana.
“The Endangered Species Act is a big hammer ... that has forced action, necessary action, to make sure that the needs of these species are taken care of both in fisheries management and other activities where otherwise they would be ignored,” Brogan said.
___
Associated Press video journalist Rodrique Ngowi and photographer Robert F. Bukaty contributed to this report from Plymouth, Massachusetts. | 2023-04-15T02:30:37+00:00 | wfmynews2.com | https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/nation-world/landmark-endangered-species-act-saved-whales-through-marine-industries-change/507-4b865c39-9161-40e7-a004-14ce7d02f012 |
TSX: MPVD and OTC: MPVDF
TORONTO and NEW YORK, Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. ("Mountain Province", the "Company") (TSX: MPVD) (OTC: MPVDF) is saddened to announce a fatal incident at the Gahcho Kué Mine.
STATEMENT FROM DE BEERS GROUP:
We are deeply saddened to confirm that an employee from a contractor partner company succumbed to injuries sustained in an incident at Gahcho Kué Mine on Thursday, 1 September. The circumstances around what happened are under investigation by the appropriate authorities. All non-essential work at the mine has been suspended.
This is an extremely tragic incident and the mine joint venture partners, De Beers Group and Mountain Province Diamonds, extend our deepest condolences to the grieving family and friends of the deceased individual.
We want to commend the individual's co-workers, the mine's Emergency Response Team, and the onsite medical team who made every effort to save their colleague's life. A grief counsellor arrived at the mine Thursday evening and additional counselling services are available to all employees.
Gahcho Kué is located in the Northwest Territories, about 280 km northeast of Yellowknife. The mine is a joint venture between De Beers Group (51% - the operator) and Mountain Province Diamonds (49%).
Contact
Terry Kruger
Tel 1 867 679 6431
Mob 1 403 835 5875
Email terry.kruger@debeersgroup.com
NOTE TO MEDIA: In consideration of the ongoing investigations, we are not in a position to provide additional information regarding the incident at this time.
****
Mountain Province Diamonds is a 49% participant with De Beers Canada in the Gahcho Kué diamond mine located in Canada's Northwest Territories. The Gahcho Kué Joint Venture property consists of several kimberlites that are actively being mined, developed, and explored for future development. The Company also controls 107,373 hectares of highly prospective mineral claims and leases surrounding the Gahcho Kué Mine that include an Indicated mineral resource for the Kelvin kimberlite and Inferred mineral resources for the Faraday kimberlites. Kelvin is estimated to contain 13.62 million carats (Mct) in 8.50 million tonnes (Mt) at a grade of 1.60 carats/tonne and value of US$63/carat. Faraday 2 is estimated to contain 5.45Mct in 2.07Mt at a grade of 2.63 carats/tonne and value of US$140/ct. Faraday 1-3 is estimated to contain 1.90Mct in 1.87Mt at a grade of 1.04 carats/tonne and value of US$75/carat. All resource estimations are based on a 1mm diamond size bottom cut-off.
For further information on Mountain Province Diamonds and to receive news releases by email, visit the Company's website at www.mountainprovince.com.
The disclosure in this news release of scientific and technical information regarding Mountain Province's mineral properties has been reviewed and approved by Matthew MacPhail, P.Eng., MBA, and Tom E. McCandless, Ph.D., P.Geo., both employees of Mountain Province Diamonds and Qualified Persons as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian and United States securities laws concerning the business, operations and financial performance and condition of Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to operational hazards, including possible disruption due to pandemic such as COVID-19, its impact on travel, self-isolation protocols and business and operations, estimated production and mine life of the project of Mountain Province; the realization of mineral reserve estimates; the timing and amount of estimated future production; costs of production; the future price of diamonds; the estimation of mineral reserves and resources; the ability to manage debt; capital expenditures; the ability to obtain permits for operations; liquidity; tax rates; and currency exchange rate fluctuations. Except for statements of historical fact relating to Mountain Province, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "anticipates," "may," "can," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "projects," "targets," "intends," "likely," "will," "should," "to be", "potential" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "should" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of Mountain Province and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct.
Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from results anticipated by such forward-looking statements include the development of operation hazards which could arise in relation to COVID-19, including, but not limited to protocols which may be adopted to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and any impact of such protocols on Mountain Province's business and operations, variations in ore grade or recovery rates, changes in market conditions, changes in project parameters, mine sequencing; production rates; cash flow; risks relating to the availability and timeliness of permitting and governmental approvals; supply of, and demand for, diamonds; fluctuating commodity prices and currency exchange rates, the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated.
These factors are discussed in greater detail in Mountain Province's most recent Annual Information Form and in the most recent MD&A filed on SEDAR, which also provide additional general assumptions in connection with these statements. Mountain Province cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. Investors and others who base themselves on forward-looking statements should carefully consider the above factors as well as the uncertainties they represent and the risk they entail. Mountain Province believes that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release.
Although Mountain Province has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Mountain Province undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Statements concerning mineral reserve and resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered as the property is developed.
Further, Mountain Province may make changes to its business plans that could affect its results. The principal assets of Mountain Province are administered pursuant to a joint venture under which Mountain Province is not the operator. Mountain Province is exposed to actions taken or omissions made by the operator within its prerogative and/or determinations made by the joint venture under its terms. Such actions or omissions may impact the future performance of Mountain Province. Under its current note and revolving credit facilities Mountain Province is subject to certain limitations on its ability to pay dividends on common stock. The declaration of dividends is at the discretion of Mountain Province's Board of Directors, subject to the limitations under the Company's debt facilities, and will depend on Mountain Province's financial results, cash requirements, future prospects, and other factors deemed relevant by the Board
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SOURCE Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. | 2022-09-02T13:49:53+00:00 | ksla.com | https://www.ksla.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/fatality-gahcho-ku-mine/ |
DALLAS, August 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AMERICA FIRST INSURANCE Group
After over a year in development, we are pleased to announce America's first conservative, nationally licensed insurance group called: America First Insurance Group ("AFIG"). As America's conservative insurance group, AFIG is committed to providing simple, high quality, and affordable insurance solutions, while fighting tirelessly for the shared values we believe in.
The initial suite of insurance and health-related products went live on the 4th of July 2022. These products include Life Insurance, Auto Insurance, Homeowners Insurance, Renters Insurance, Umbrella Liability, a Faith-Based Health Sharing plan, an Rx Savings plan, Home Warranty, and Legal Insurance. In the coming months, AFIG will introduce Pet Insurance, Medicare Supplement & Medicare Advantage plans, and Cancer Insurance.
Tony Lani, CEO of America First Insurance Group says, "America First Insurance cares about you, our shared values, and our country. Fight the left by having the right insurance through America First Insurance."
In describing what makes this business model so unique, Lani continued: "Through partnerships with high-profile media influencers who will help us reach our conservative audience, we promise to deliver affordable protection, advice, advocacy, convenience, and transparency."
A portion of every dollar AFIG earns in profit will be donated to organizations who serve Veterans, First Responders, and Faith-Based Organizations.
For more information, please visit the America First Insurance Group's website http://www.AmericaFirstInsurance.org.
To receive future announcements, email info@americafirstinsurance.org or visit our website at http://www.AmericaFirstInsurance.org
Press Contact: Tony Lani, please email: tlani@americafirstinsurance.org
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SOURCE America First Insurance Group | 2022-08-01T13:47:03+00:00 | kcrg.com | https://www.kcrg.com/prnewswire/2022/08/01/americas-conservative-insurance-group-launched-4th-july-2022/ |
Introducing REBBL Wellness with Aquamin Red Algae — The First of Its Kind
EMERYVILLE, Calif., March 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- REBBL®, an organic and plant-powered functional beverage brand, brings total wellness and gut health to its portfolio with new no added sugar Wellness Elixir innovations, Tropical Greens and Berry Roots. The two new juice-based elixirs utilize a holistic approach to wellness by harnessing the power of Aquamin™, a mineralized marine-sourced red algae.
"REBBL Wellness Elixirs deliver one-of-a-kind functionality with a phenomenal taste experience," said Andy Fathollahi, CEO of REBBL. "The infusion of Aquamin™ red algae enables REBBL to deliver nutrients and gut-health with added benefits in a natural and delicious way."
Crafted using Aquamin™, REBBL Wellness Tropical Greens and Berry Roots Elixirs are juice-based formulations optimized for gut health and a daily immunity-boosting punch. Sustainably sourced from the coastal shores of Iceland, Aquamin™ offers a unique marine multi-mineral complex with bioactive calcium, magnesium, and other key trace minerals.
Wellness Tropical Greens
Made with only the highest quality ingredients straight from the source, a blend of tropical fruits like pineapple, orange, passionfruit, spinach, and cucumber with a twist of lime delivers a bright, refreshing flavor at only 80 calories per bottle.
Wellness Berry Roots
Formulated with zinc gluconate to support immunity, Berry Roots offers a blend of antioxidant packed blueberry, raspberry, and strawberry with beets and carrots that produces a sweet, refreshing flavor with nourishing benefits and only 70 calories per bottle.
Highlights for both drinks include:
- Juice-based with only naturally occurring sugars, less than most ready-to-drink juices
- Zinc for immune support
- 4,700mg of Aquamin™ red algae to support bone, joint, and gut health
REBBL's new Wellness Elixirs will be available in convenient 12 oz, ready-to-drink varieties for $4.99 at grocery retail partners nationwide later this year.
About REBBL:
REBBL was created through functional food innovation to create a delicious, always organic, plant-based drink that provides authentic nourishment. We exist to empower all people to thrive by supporting regions of the world most vulnerable to human trafficking and to support a future without the exploitation of at-risk people and the planet. For more information, visit https://rebbl.co/.
Imagery found here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1BV8wwg1DJ7IF3K5zhc6eqERcDNikuS-v?usp=share_link
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SOURCE REBBL | 2023-03-09T16:59:24+00:00 | kswo.com | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/03/09/rebbl-brings-wellness-its-elixir-portfolio-with-two-new-juice-based-innovations-powered-by-aquamin/ |
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — American consumers and nearly every industry will be affected if freight trains grind to a halt next month.
One of the biggest rail unions rejected its deal Monday, joining three others that have failed to approve contracts over concerns about demanding schedules and the lack of paid sick time. That raises the risk of a strike, which could start as soon as Dec. 5.
It wouldn’t take long for the effects of a rail strike to trickle through the economy. Many businesses only have a few days’ worth of raw materials and space for finished goods. Makers of food, fuel, cars and chemicals would all feel the squeeze, as would their customers.
That's not to mention the commuters who would be left stranded because many passenger railroads use tracks owned by the freight railroads.
The stakes are so high for the economy that Congress is expected to intervene and impose contract terms on railroad workers. The last time US railroads went on strike was in 1992. That strike lasted two days before Congress intervened. An extended rail shutdown has not happened for a century, partly because a law passed in 1926 that governs rail negotiations made it much harder for workers to strike.
Here are some of the expected impacts of a rail strike:
$2 BILLION A DAY
Railroads haul about 40% of the nation's freight each year. The railroads estimated that a rail strike would cost the economy $2 billion a day in a report issued earlier this fall. Another recent report put together by a chemical industry trade group projected that if a strike drags on for a month some 700,000 jobs would be lost as manufacturers who rely on railroads shut down, prices of nearly everything would increase even more and the economy could be thrust into a recession.
And although some businesses would try to shift shipments over to trucks, there aren't nearly enough of them available. The Association of American Railroads trade group estimated that 467,000 additional trucks a day would be needed to handle everything railroads deliver.
CHEMICALS RUN DRY
Chemical manufacturers and refineries will be some of the first businesses affected, because railroads will stop shipping hazardous chemicals about a week before the strike deadline to ensure that no tank cars filled with dangerous liquids wind up stranded.
Jeff Sloan with the American Chemistry Council trade group said chemical plants could be close to shutting down by the time a rail strike actually begins because of that.
That means the chlorine that water treatment plants rely on to purify water, which they might only have about a week's supply of on hand, would become hard to get. It would be hard for manufacturers to make anything out of plastic without the chemicals that are part of the formula. Consumers will also pay more for gasoline if refineries shut down either because they can't get the ingredients they need to make fuel or because railroads aren't available to haul away byproducts like sulfur.
Chemical plants also produce carbon dioxide as a byproduct, so the supply of carbon dioxide that beverage makers use to carbonate soda and beer would also be restricted, even though the gas typically moves via pipelines.
PASSENGER PROBLEMS
Roughly half of all commuter rail systems rely at least in part on tracks that are owned by freight railroads, and nearly all of Amtrak’s long-distance trains run over the freight network.
Back in September, Amtrak cancelled all of its long-distance trains days ahead of the strike deadline to ensure passengers wouldn’t be left stranded in remote parts of the country while still en route to their destination.
And major commuter rail services in Chicago, Minneapolis, Maryland and Washington state all warned then that some of their operations would be suspended in the event of a rail strike.
FOOD FEARS
It would take about a week for customers to notice shortages of things like cereal, peanut butter and beer at the grocery store, said Tom Madrecki, vice president of supply chain for the Consumer Brands Association.
About 30% of all packaged food in the U.S. is moved by rail, he said. That percentage is much higher for denser, heavier items like cans of soup.
Some products, like cereal, cooking oils and beer, have entire operations built around rail deliveries of raw ingredients like grain, barley and peanuts, along with shipments of finished products.
Those companies typically keep only two to four days’ worth of raw ingredients on hand because it’s expensive to store them, Madrecki said, and grocers also keep a limited supply of products on hand.
Madrecki said big food companies don't like to discuss the threat of a rail strike because of worries about product shortages can lead to panic buying.
HUNGRY HERDS
Any disruption in rail service could threaten the health of chickens and pigs, which depend on trains to deliver their feed, and contribute to higher meat prices.
“Our members rely on about 27 million bushels of corn and 11 million bushels of soybean meal every week to feed their chickens. Much of that is moved by rail,” said Tom Super, a spokesman for the National Chicken Council, a trade group for the industry raising chickens for meat.
The National Grain and Feed Association said a rail strike now would hit pork and chicken producers in the southern U.S. hardest, because their local supply of corn and soybeans from this year’s harvest is likely exhausted and they’d have to ship feed by truck, dramatically increasing costs.
“They only have so much storage. They can’t go without rail service for too long before they’d have to shut down the feed mills and they run into problems,” said Max Fisher, the NGFA's chief economist.
RETAIL RISKS
Jess Dankert, the vice president for supply chain at the Retail Industry Leaders Association, said retailers’ inventory is largely in place for the holidays. But the industry is developing contingency plans.
“We don’t see, you know, canceling Christmas and that kind of narrative,” Dankert said. “But I think we will see the generalized disruption of really anything that moves by rail.”
David Garfield, a managing director with the consulting firm AlixPartners, said a rail strike could still impact holiday items shipped to stores later in December, and would definitely hamper stocking of next season’s goods.
Retailers are also concerned about online orders. Shippers like FedEx and UPS use rail cars that hold roughly 2,000 packages in each car.
AUTOMOBILE ANGST
Drivers are already paying record prices and often waiting months for new vehicles because of the production problems in the auto industry related to the shortage of computer chips in recent years.
That would only get worse if there is a rail strike, because roughly 75% of all new vehicles begin their journey from factories to dealerships on the railroad. Trains deliver some 2,000 carloads a day filled with vehicles.
And automakers may have a hard time keeping their plants running during a strike because some larger parts and raw materials are transported by rail.
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Associated Press Writers David Pitt in Des Moines, Iowa, and Dee-Ann Durbin in Detroit contributed to this report.
Credit: Nati Harnik
Credit: Nati Harnik
Credit: Nam Y. Huh
Credit: Nam Y. Huh
Credit: Matt Rourke
Credit: Matt Rourke
Credit: Charlie Riedel
Credit: Charlie Riedel | 2022-11-22T06:09:27+00:00 | springfieldnewssun.com | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/nation-world/explainer-rail-strike-would-have-wide-impact-on-us-economy/XYXZOFPKPRA2NDE7T42POYIB3M/ |
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Advertisements promise cash bonuses and enticing benefits. Recruiters are making cold calls to eligible men. Enlistment offices are working with universities and social service agencies to lure students and the unemployed.
A new campaign is underway this spring across Russia, seeking recruits to replenish its troops for the war in Ukraine.
As fighting grinds on in Ukrainian battlegrounds like Bakhmut and both sides prepare for counteroffensives that could cost even more lives, the Kremlin’s war machine badly needs new recruits.
A mobilization in September of 300,000 reservists — billed as a “partial” call-up — sent panic throughout the country, since most men under 65 are formally part of the reserve. Tens of thousands fled Russia rather than report to recruiting stations.
The Kremlin denies that another call-up is planned for what it calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine, now more than a year old.
But amid widespread uncertainty of whether such a move will eventually happen, the government is enticing men to volunteer, either at makeshift recruiting centers popping up in various regions, or with phone calls from enlistment officials. That way, it can “avoid declaring a formal second mobilization wave” after the first one proved so unpopular, according to a recent report by the U.S.-based think tank Institute of the Study of War.
One Muscovite told The Associated Press that his employer, a state-funded organization, gathered up the military registration cards of all male employees of fighting age and said it would get them deferments. But he said the move still sent a wave of fear through him.
“It makes you nervous and scared — no one wants to all of a sudden end up in a war with a rifle in their hands,” said the resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he feared reprisal. “The special operation is somewhat dragging on, so any surprises from the Russian authorities can be expected.”
It’s been more than a week since he handed in his card, he said, and exemptions usually get resolved in a day or two, heightening his anxiety.
Russian media report that men across the country are receiving summonses from enlistment offices. In most of those cases, men were simply asked to update their records; in others, they were ordered to take part in military training.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said last week that serving summonses to update records in enlistment offices is “usual practice” and a “continued undertaking.”
Other unconfirmed media reports say authorities have told regional governments to recruit a certain number of volunteers. Some officials announced setting up recruitment centers with the goal of getting men to sign contracts that enable them to be sent into combat as professional soldiers.
Ads have appeared on government websites and on the social media accounts of state institutions and organizations, including libraries and high schools.
One of them, posted by a municipal administration in the western Yaroslavl region, promised a one-time bonus of about $3,800 to sign up, and if sent to Ukraine, a monthly salary of up to $2,500, plus about $100 a day for “involvement in active offensive operations,” and $650 “for each kilometer of advancement within assault teams.”
The ad said the soldier would also get tax and loan repayment breaks, preferential university admission status for his children, generous compensation for his family if he is wounded or killed in action, and the status of a war veteran, which carries even more perks.
In the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, officials asked universities, colleges and vocational schools to advertise for recruits on their websites, said Sergei Chernyshov, founder of a private vocational school there.
Chernyshov posted the ad on his social media account “so that everyone knows what our city hall is up to,” but he told the AP that he doesn’t plan to put it on the school website. “It’s weird” to target vocational school students, he said.
Other efforts include enlistment officials meeting with college students and unemployed men, or phoning men to volunteer.
A Muscovite who spoke on condition of anonymity for his own safety said that he received such a call and was surprised at how polite it was: “After my ‘No,’ there were no threats or (attempts to) convince me -– (just) ‘Thanks, goodbye.’”
There have only been isolated cases of enlistment officials really pressuring men to sign up, said Grigory Sverdlin, founder of a group called Go by the Forest that helps men avoid mobilization.
The group gets up to 100 messages a day from men seeking advice on dealing with summonses or enlistment officials, he said, compared with dozens per day in recent months. In most cases, the officials wanted to update their records with addresses and phone numbers, and they might try to recruit men during that process.
But Sverdlin said some cases stand out.
In the Vologda region, about 400 kilometers (250 miles) north of Moscow, the group received messages saying that almost everyone going to the enlistment office after receiving a summons “is forced to sign a paper barring them from leaving the region,” he said.
Lawyer Alexei Tabalov, who runs the Conscript’s School legal aid group, believes there’s nothing unusual in authorities handing out summonses now. Some of the notices are traditionally served before Russia’s spring conscription draft, scheduled to begin April 1 for those eligible for mandatory service.
All Russian men from age 18 to 27 must serve one year in the military, but a large share avoid the draft for health reasons or get student deferments. The share of men who avoid the draft is particularly big in Moscow and other major cities, and many simply evade enlistment officials bearing conscription summonses.
Tabalov said that men have reported going to enlistment offices to update their records but have officials there who “beat around the bush and promote the idea of signing the contract, talk about how one should love their motherland and defend it.”
He doubted anything could make volunteering attractive after 13 months of a war that has killed and wounded tens of thousands.
“People already understand what it means to sign a contract,” he said. “Those who got burned once are unlikely to fall into the same trap.”
Tabalov said that his group continues to get messages from soldiers who want to terminate their contracts, but that isn’t legally possible until President Vladimir Putin ends the partial mobilization, which began in September, with a new decree.
“Getting out of the war automatically means criminal prosecution,” Tabalov said, adding there have been a flurry of criminal cases since December, with prosecutions of soldiers who desert or go AWOL.
The news outlet Mediazona counted 247 verdicts in 536 criminal cases on these and similar charges, adding that over a third of those convicted got suspended sentences, which allows authorities to send them back to the front line.
The current recruitment campaign is similar to one enacted last summer, before the September call-up, said Kateryna Stepanenko, a Russia analyst with the Institute of the Study of War.
Back then, authorities also used financial incentives, and various volunteer battalions were formed, but the effort clearly wasn’t successful, because Putin eventually turned to the partial mobilization.
Whether this one will succeed or not is unclear.
“They’ve already recruited a significant portion of people that were financially incentivized last summer. And they struggled to do so last year,” Stepanenko said.
The current recruitment effort shows the military’s awareness of manpower needs in Ukraine.
“What the mobilization campaign of 300,000 servicemen told us is that it’s not enough to form a sufficient strike group for Russia to push forward with its offensive operations,” she said.
___
Associated Press writer Yuras Karmanau contributed to this report.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | 2023-03-26T20:30:29+00:00 | localsyr.com | https://www.localsyr.com/news/national/new-russian-campaign-tries-to-entice-men-to-fight-in-ukraine/ |
A senior Australian government minister said Wednesday that rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, could be refused a visa due to antisemitic comments if he attempts to visit Australia.
Education Minister Jason Clare was responding to media reports that the U.S. celebrity intends to visit the family of new Australian partner Bianca Censori in Melbourne next week.
Clare said he did not know if Ye had applied for a visa but that Australia has previously refused them to people with antisemitic views.
“I expect that if he does apply, he would have to go through the same process and answer the same questions” as others who've aired such views, Clare told Nine Network television.
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Last month, Ye praised Hitler in an interview with conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. Twitter later suspended Ye after he tweeted a picture of a swastika merged with the Star of David.
Australia's Migration Act sets security and character requirements for non-citizens to enter the country. Any decision on whether Ye gets an Australian visa would be made by Immigration Minister Andrew Giles, whose office said he could not comment on individual cases due to privacy reasons.
Peter Wertheim, co-chief executive officer of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, met government officials on Tuesday to argue for an entry ban.
U.S. & World
“We had a sympathetic hearing,” Wertheim said on Sky News. “We’ve made the case that this particular individual does not meet the character test and that it would be in the national interest not to grant him a visa and we set out our reasons in some detail.”
Opposition leader Peter Dutton said if he were in government, he would be inclined to bar Ye on character grounds.
“My inclination would be not to allow him in,” Dutton told Melbourne’s Radio 3AW on Tuesday.
“His antisemitic comments are disgraceful, his conduct and his behavior is appalling, and he’s not a person of good character,” Dutton added.
Ye and Censori intend to visit her family who live in the northeast Melbourne suburb of Ivanhoe next week, Seven Network News reported.
Ye and Censori recently married less than two months after he finalized his divorce from Kim Kardashian, entertainment news website TMZ reported two weeks ago.
The AP asked Ye’s representative whether he had married Censori and planned to visit Melbourne, but did not get an immediate response. | 2023-01-25T07:16:00+00:00 | nbcchicago.com | https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/kanye-west-may-be-denied-entry-into-australia-officials-say/3054175/ |
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The man charged with kidnapping a Tennessee woman jogging near the University of Memphis last week spent 20 years behind bars for a previous kidnapping.
U.S. Marshals arrested 38-year-old Cleotha Abston on Saturday after police detected his DNA on a pair of sandals found near to where Eliza Fletcher was last seen, according to an arrest affidavit. Police also linked the vehicle they believe was used in the kidnapping to a person at a residence where Abston was staying.
While Fletcher has not been found, Memphis police said in the affidavit they believe she was seriously injured in the abduction, which was caught on surveillance video. Authorities have said Fletcher, 34, was jogging around 4 a.m. on Friday when a man approached her and forced her into an SUV after a brief struggle. Fletcher was reported missing when she did not return home that morning.
Late Monday, police tweeted that a body had been found in a Memphis neighborhood but that the identity of that person and the cause of death was unconfirmed. The tweet made no reference to the Fletcher case, saying only that the investigation was ongoing. A large police presence was reported in the area where authorities reported finding the body just after 5 p.m., local news reports said.
Abston previously kidnapped a prominent Memphis attorney in 2000, the Commercial Appeal reported. When he was just 16 years old, Abston forced Kemper Durand into the trunk of his own car at gunpoint. After several hours, Abston took Durand out and forced him to drive to a Mapco gas station to withdraw money from an ATM. At the station, an armed Memphis Housing Authority guard walked in and Durand yelled for help. Abston ran away but was found and arrested. He pleaded guilty in 2001 to especially aggravated kidnapping and aggravated robbery, according to court records. He received a 24-year sentence.
Durand, in a victim impact statement, wrote, “I was extremely lucky that I was able to escape from the custody of Cleotha Abston. ... It is quite likely that I would have been killed had I not escaped,” the Commercial Appeal reported. Durand noted that it took over a year for Abston to sign the guilty plea, calling the refusal “jailhouse braggadocio.”
Durand also detailed Abston’s lengthy history in the juvenile court system. In the years before the kidnapping, Abston had been charged with theft, aggravated assault, aggravated assault with a weapon, and rape, according to Durand’s statement.
Durand died in 2013, seven years before Abston would be released in November 2020 at age 36. In the two years since his release, there were no further documented charges against Abston in Shelby County prior to his Saturday arrest, the Commercial Appeal reported.
Online court records do not show if Abston has a lawyer who can comment on his behalf. An arraignment has been set for Tuesday.
Fletcher is the granddaughter of the late Joseph Orgill III, a Memphis hardware businessman and philanthropist. The family has released a video statement asking for help in finding Fletcher and offered a $50,000 reward for information in the case. | 2022-09-06T14:50:53+00:00 | mlive.com | https://www.mlive.com/news/2022/09/man-charged-in-abduction-of-memphis-jogger-spent-years-in-prison-for-kidnapping-attorney.html |
Once Tina Sloan Green took over the lacrosse program at Temple University in the years after the passage of Title IX, the landmark gender-equity law, she never stopped thinking about the girls who weren’t playing.
At practices during the 1970s, Sloan Green, the first Black woman to coach a college lacrosse team, noticed neighborhood kids peering through the fences at her players as guards kept them out. And when high school athletes were welcomed on the university’s fields for training camps, most were white and from predominantly white suburban schools.
“That was very, very disturbing to me to see that,” she said. “And that was — that was the reality that I had to face … Title IX was a complete help for women in sports but in my mind, there were still disparities.”
For girls of color, some women’s college sports, such as lacrosse, equestrian, rowing or even softball, are ones they are unlikely to be exposed to in grade school. The reasons vary, though availability and costs can be major challenges for youth programs.
Thursday is the 50th anniversary of Title IX and in the years since the landmark law was passed, profound strides have been made in women and girls’ participation in sports. Women now make up 44% of all NCAA athletes, compared to just 15% in 1971, according to the Women’s Sports Foundation. Nearly 3.5 million high school girls play sports, compared to less than 300,000 in 1972.
For Black women and other women of color in sports, those gains have not been equally shared, reflecting the limitations of a policy that only addresses equity on the basis of sex and gender.
“We say very often that sport is a microcosm of society,” said Karen Issokson-Silver, vice president of research and education at the Women’s Sports Foundation. “Whenever systemic racism occurs in the broader society, in addition to gender discrimination, it’s reflected in the sport ecosystem.”
An early barrier to pursuing athletic opportunities in college and beyond is as simple as exposure to the sport.
Natasha Watley, a Black woman who is a two-time Olympic medalist in softball, started playing when she was 5. She did not have a Black teammate until she was a teenager and said there were so few girls of color who played with her and went on to college teams that she could count them on one hand.
After the UCLA graduate returned from the 2008 Olympics, Watley recalled speaking to young girls about her experience.
“This one young girl I’ll never forget — a young little African American girl, she raises her hand and she’s like, ‘Ms. Natasha, your story sounds amazing, but what is softball?’” Watley said. “She had no idea what softball was.”
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, median household income in 2020 for white, non-Hispanic families was $74,912 compared to $55,321 for Hispanic families and $45,870 for Black families. Factors like income contribute to a racial clustering phenomenon where women of color are overrepresented in sports like track and field that have a lower entry cost, said Courtney L. Flowers, associate professor of sport management at Texas Southern University.
“Even middle class families aren’t sending their kids to schools that have access to an equestrian team,” she said. “We typically are pushing African American women to women’s basketball and track and field because of those reasons.”
The inequities carry over into leadership roles. While 34% of head coaches for women’s teams are white women, just 7% are women of color. Among athletic directors, just 4% are women of color compared to 20% for white women.
Candice Storey Lee, the first Black woman to be athletic director at Vanderbilt University, said that a single policy like Title IX, without subsequent action, could not be expected to bring equity to the field.
“We know a law alone does not change behavior,” she said. “You have to have people who are committed at every level to get the outcome you want. And so I wouldn’t blame Title IX for that, but I would say we still have work to do in our own communities to ensure that there is access for everyone.”
Those disparities in leadership and college athletic opportunities begin early in life, said Neena Chaudhry, general counsel and senior advisor for education at the National Women’s Law Center. A study published by the center found that 40% of the country’s public high schools are highly segregated, serving either 90% students of color or 90% white students.
At schools that predominantly serve students of color, there are far fewer opportunities to play sports, and disparities between boys and girls are more stark — 40% of high schools that predominantly serve students of color have large opportunity gaps for girls in sports, compared with 16 % of heavily white schools. The opportunity gap is the difference between the percentage of spots on teams allocated to girls and the percentage of students who are girls, with differences of more than 10 points considered a large opportunity gap.
Research shows that in addition to physical health, girls who play sports are more likely to have higher levels of self-esteem, stronger collaborative skills, and greater academic achievement. But disparate access to athletics, through both community centers and the rising cost of youth sports, makes schools a key place to engage young girls of color in athletics, Chaudhry said.
“All students are required to go to school, and that’s really a place to provide opportunities that some students wouldn’t otherwise get,” she said. “Not everybody can afford to pay for sports outside of school … It’s really important to provide those opportunities through school equally. It’s both important and it’s the law.”
Sloan Green, who in 1992 co-founded the Black Women in Sport Foundation, said that expanding access to young girls of color, especially between pre-kindergarten and eighth grade, is crucial. At Temple, she expanded her camps and recruiting to communities that had been overlooked, including the children in the neighborhood. Having role models that reflect girls of color and widely sharing their successes is also critical to getting girls onto the playing field, Sloan Green said.
In Southern California, Watley started the Natasha Watley Foundation to introduce girls in marginalized communities to softball, which serves about 1,000 girls each year. Beyond the cost, the main concern she hears from parents is that they aren’t sure the sport would welcome their daughters. Watley said she wanted young girls to know that the sport could be a place for them to thrive, in college and beyond.
“More than anything, I wanted to make sure that girls were getting introduced to the game, that they understood that the game was for them, that it was a place for them,” she said. “There are opportunities far beyond their imagination that this game can take them.”
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For more on Title IX’s impact, see AP’s full package: https://apnews.com/hub/title-ix Video timeline: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdgNI6BZpw0
___
Ma, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, writes about education and equity for AP’s Race and Ethnicity team. Brunt reported from Oklahoma City. AP Sportswriter Teresa M. Walker in Nashville, Tennessee, contributed to this report. Follow Ma on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/anniema15. Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP
___
The Associated Press’ reporting around issues of race and ethnicity is supported in part by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. | 2022-06-23T09:51:04+00:00 | pahomepage.com | https://www.pahomepage.com/sports/title-ix-strides-for-women-of-color-in-sports-lag-under-law/ |
WFO EUREKA Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Saturday, February 11, 2023
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WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Eureka CA
212 PM PST Fri Feb 10 2023
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST SATURDAY
ABOVE 3000 FEET...
* WHAT...Snow expected above 3000 feet. Total snow accumulations
of up to 4 inches. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph.
* WHERE...Northern Trinity County.
* WHEN...Until 10 AM PST Saturday.
* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous
conditions could impact the evening commute.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Slow down and use caution while traveling.
The latest road conditions for the state of California can be
obtained by calling 1-800-GAS-ROAD.
_____
Copyright 2023 AccuWeather | 2023-02-10T23:57:09+00:00 | expressnews.com | https://www.expressnews.com/weather/article/ca-wfo-eureka-warnings-watches-and-advisories-17777570.php |
2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic Betting Odds, Favorites & Insights – Round 1
Tony Finau, the defending champ, is the favorite (+1200) at the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic ($8.8M purse), from June 29 - July 2 at Detroit Golf Club in Detroit, Michigan.
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Rocket Mortgage Classic First Round Information
- Start Time: 6:45 AM ET
- Venue: Detroit Golf Club
- Location: Detroit, Michigan
- Par/Distance: Par 72/7,370 yards
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Rocket Mortgage Classic Best Odds to Win
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Rocket Mortgage Classic Odds (Rest of Field)
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | 2023-06-27T20:10:16+00:00 | wbrc.com | https://www.wbrc.com/sports/betting/2023/06/29/rocket-mortgage-classic-pga-tournament-betting-odds-round-1/ |
SEATTLE (AP) — Gov. Jay Inslee’s appointments to an obscure regulatory panel have cost Washington state $70,000 in a public records lawsuit settlement — and forced the governor to name new appointees.
The dispute centered on Inslee’s handling of appointments to the Washington State Building Code Council, which establishes minimum standards for new construction, including rules for energy efficiency, plumbing and fire safety, The Seattle Times reported.
State law says two of the council’s 15 members must be nominated by trade associations representing residential and commercial builders. But Inslee last year ignored builder group recommendations and instead named two of his own picks.
The Building Industry Association of Washington and the Associated General Contractors of Washington sued over the appointments and filed another lawsuit saying the governor’s office failed to turn over relevant documents after a public records request.
The state later admitted that a member of Inslee’s staff had made a material false statement in a sworn court declaration by saying one of Inslee’s nominees had been put forward by another building trade group, when he had not.
In a Dec. 10 court hearing, Thurston County Superior Court Judge James Dixon called that misrepresentation “at a minimum … negligent. It may have been reckless, it may have been intentional.” But he declined to immediately impose sanctions against the state over it.
In April, the state and the builder groups agreed to a single settlement agreement of both lawsuits.
The settlement required Inslee’s appointees to resign and for the governor to name two new members to the council from a list of nominees provided by the groups. Inslee named the two new members this month. The agreement also required Inslee’s office to pay $70,000 to settle the public records case.
The builder groups say it should not have taken litigation to get Inslee to follow the law.
Inslee spokesperson Mike Faulk noted in an email Friday the settlement stipulated the governor’s office did not act “in bad faith” on either the appointments or the records. | 2022-05-28T18:32:54+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Inslee-settles-lawsuit-over-building-council-17205514.php |
The summer movie season is off to a blockbuster start thanks to “ Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness.” The superhero extravaganza grossed an estimated $185 million in ticket sales in its first weekend in U.S. and Canadian theaters, the Walt Disney Co. said Sunday.
Not only did it more than double the opening of the first “Doctor Strange,” which opened to $85 million in 2016, it’s also the biggest opener of the year, ahead of “The Batman’s” $134 million; the second biggest of the pandemic, behind “Spider-Man: Far From Home’s” $260.1 million; and the sixth biggest of all time globally.
Internationally, it’s doing even better with an estimated $265 million since opening Wednesday. In total, “Doctor Strange 2” has already made $450 million.
Spider-Man is at least partially to thank for the massive debut. Benedict Cumberbatch’s powerful sorcerer appeared prominently in “ Spider-Man: No Way Home,” which has become the third biggest movie of all time since opening in December. “Doctor Strange 2” picks up several months after the events of “No Way Home,” and brings in Elizabeth Olsen’s Wanda Maximoff, who became even more popular thanks to the recent Disney+ series “WandaVision.”
The film also has a gigantic footprint. It’s playing in 4,534 theaters in the U.S. and Canada alone, which according to Disney is the seventh widest opening ever. Premium format screens, including IMAX and 3D, accounted for 36% of the overall box office.
“Summer blockbuster season is off to a roaring start with ‘Doctor Strange’ — an excellent sign for the phenomenal slate ahead,” Rich Gelfond, the CEO of IMAX, said in a statement.
Hollywood’s summer movie season typically kicks off in early May and runs through the end of August and — aside from the last two years — regularly accounts for over $4 billion in ticket sales (or about 40% of the year’s grosses).
Sam Raimi stepped up to direct “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” which reportedly cost around $200 million to make — though that number doesn’t account for the many more millions spent on marketing and promotion.
Over the weekend, the film has trended on social media for everything from its many cameos to a spirited debate over its PG-13 rating and whether or not the horror elements warranted something more restrictive.
“This is a total win for the industry for whom the last two summers almost didn’t exist in terms of box office,” said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore. “Marvel has been kicking off summers for over a decade. This is a return to normalcy.”
There was little left for other movies playing in theaters. Part of that is due to the fact that many multiplexes chose to pack their theaters with wall-to-wall “Doctor Strange” screenings. Film Critic Matt Singer tweeted a photo a Manhattan AMC offering 70 screenings on Thursday alone.
Universal and DreamWorks Animation’s “The Bad Guys” fell to second place in its third weekend with an estimated $9.8 million, while “Sonic the Hedgehog 2,” from Paramount, landed in third with $6.2 million.
“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” took fourth with $3.9 million, bringing its domestic total to $86 million. And in fifth place was another multiverse-themed film, “Everything Everywhere All At Once.” It had a slight dip in its seventh weekend, but is still speeding along with an additional $3.3 million from 1,542 screens in its seventh weekend in theaters. The A24 film has grossed $41.6 million total.
The success of “Doctor Strange 2” only helps build momentum for the big summer movies on the way, like “Top Gun: Maverick” on May 27.
“We’ve got a real summer movie season on our hands, something we couldn’t have imagined two years ago,” Dergarabedian said. “It’s been a long time coming.”
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” $185 million.
2. “The Bad Guys,” $9.8 million.
3. Sonic the Hedgehog 2,” $6.2 million.
4. “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore,” $3.9 million.
5. “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” $3.3 million.
6. “The Northman,”$2.8 million.
7. “The Lost City,” $2.5 million.
8. “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent,” $1.5 million.
9. “Memory,” $1.2 million.
10. “Father Stu,” $800,000. | 2022-05-09T17:37:27+00:00 | siouxlandproud.com | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/entertainment-news/doctor-strange-2-conjures-up-biggest-box-office-opening-of-the-year/ |
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The ongoing bird flu outbreak has cost the government roughly $661 million and added to consumers’ pain at the grocery store after more than 58 million birds were slaughtered to limit the spread of the virus.
In addition to the cost of the government response that the USDA tallied up and rising prices for eggs, chicken and turkey, farmers who raise those animals have easily lost more than $1 billion, said an agricultural economist, though no one has calculated the total cost to the industry yet.
The bad news is that with the outbreak entering its second year and the spring migratory season looming, there is no end in sight. And there is little farmers can do beyond the steps they have already taken to try to keep the virus out.
Unlike past years, the virus that causes highly pathogenic avian influenza found a way to survive through the heat of last summer, leading to a rise in cases reported in the fall.
The outbreak is already more widespread than the last major bird flu outbreak in 2015, but it hasn’t proven as costly yet partly because the government and industry applied lessons learned eight years ago.
“The past year has been devastating for the turkey industry as we experience, unequivocally, the worst HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) outbreak in the industry’s history,” National Turkey Federation spokeswoman Shelby Newman said.
In the current outbreak, 58.4 million birds have been slaughtered on more than 300 commercial farms in 47 states. That is because any time the virus is detected, the entire flock on that farm — which can number in the millions — must be killed to limit the spread of the disease. Only Hawaii, Louisiana and West Virginia have yet to report a case of bird flu. Iowa — the nation’s biggest egg producer — leads the nation with nearly 16 million birds slaughtered.
In 2015, about 50 million chickens and turkeys were slaughtered on more than 200 farms in 15 states.
That previous outbreak remains the most expensive animal health disaster in U.S. history. The federal government spent nearly $1 billion to deal with infected birds, clean up barns and compensate farmers. It cost the industry roughly $3 billion as farmers incurred additional costs and lost money when they didn’t have any birds on their farms.
This bills continue to pile up this year as cases spread, and that includes the cost to consumers.
Egg prices shot up to $4.82 a dozen in January from $1.93 a year earlier, according to the latest government figures. That spike prompted calls for a price-gouging investigation although the industry maintains that the combination of bird flu and significantly higher feed, fuel and labor costs is what’s driving prices so high.
The price for a pound of chicken breast was $4.32 in January. That’s down slightly from last fall when the price peaked at $4.75, but it is up significantly from the year before when chicken breasts were selling for $3.73 per pound.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn’t track retail turkey prices the same way as part of its inflation data, but the Agriculture Department says the wholesale price of turkey went from $1.29 per pound last January just before the bird flu outbreak began to $1.72 per pound last month.
The number of birds slaughtered peaked last spring at almost 21 million in March, leaving farmers leery of what they must face in the months ahead. University of Georgia virus researcher David Stallknecht said there is some hope that this spring might not be quite as bad because turkeys and chickens may have developed some immunity to the virus.
The key problem with bird flu is that the highly contagious virus is spread easily by wild birds through their droppings and nasal discharges. Despite the best efforts of farmers, it is hard to keep the virus out.
Farmers have gone to great lengths by requiring workers to shower and change clothes before entering barns, sanitizing trucks that enter a farm and investing in separate sets of tools for every barn. Some farms have even upgraded barn ventilation and installed laser systems to discourage wild birds from congregating.
“We recommend all producers redouble their efforts to protect their birds through good biosecurity practices,” said Lyndsay Cole, a spokeswoman for the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service that’s leading the government’s response.
Farmers began following those steps after the 2015 outbreak, and this outbreak has only reinforced the need to tighten biosecurity.
“America’s egg farmers continue to double-down on biosecurity protocols to protect our flocks and maintain a stable egg supply. We are grateful that there has been little to no farm-to-farm spread in this current outbreak,” said Oscar Garrison, senior vice president of food safety and regulatory affairs at the United Egg Producers trade group.
Poultry and egg producers, partnering with the government, are parsing this outbreak for new lessons in keeping birds healthy.
“That’s really the key – early detection. It’s kind of like a forest fire – the earlier you detect it, the easier it is to contain and eradicate,” National Chicken Council spokesman Tom Super said.
Officials say bird flu doesn’t represent a significant threat to human health. Human cases are extremely rare and none of the infected birds are allowed into the nation’s food supply. And properly cooking poultry to 165 degrees Fahrenheit will kill any viruses.
There has only been one human case of bird flu confirmed during this outbreak and that was a man who had been helping slaughter and remove infected birds from a Colorado farm. He recovered from the illness after a few days. | 2023-02-19T23:06:30+00:00 | pahomepage.com | https://www.pahomepage.com/uncategorized/no-end-in-sight-for-bird-flu-outbreak-causing-sky-high-egg-prices/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Computer engineers and tech-inclined political scientists have warned for years that cheap, powerful artificial intelligence tools would soon allow anyone to create fake images, video and audio that was realistic enough to fool voters and perhaps sway an election.
The synthetic images that emerged were often crude, unconvincing and costly to produce, especially when other kinds of misinformation were so inexpensive and easy to spread on social media. The threat posed by AI and so-called deepfakes always seemed a year or two away.
No more.
Sophisticated generative AI tools can now create cloned human voices and hyper-realistic images, videos and audio in seconds, at minimal cost. When strapped to powerful social media algorithms, this fake and digitally created content can spread far and fast and target highly specific audiences, potentially taking campaign dirty tricks to a new low.
The implications for the 2024 campaigns and elections are as large as they are troubling: Generative AI can not only rapidly produce targeted campaign emails, texts or videos, it also could be used to mislead voters, impersonate candidates and undermine elections on a scale and at a speed not yet seen.
“We’re not prepared for this,” warned A.J. Nash, vice president of intelligence at the cybersecurity firm ZeroFox. ”To me, the big leap forward is the audio and video capabilities that have emerged. When you can do that on a large scale, and distribute it on social platforms, well, it’s going to have a major impact.”
AI experts can quickly rattle off a number of alarming scenarios in which generative AI is used to create synthetic media for the purposes of confusing voters, slandering a candidate or even inciting violence.
Here are a few: Automated robocall messages, in a candidate’s voice, instructing voters to cast ballots on the wrong date; audio recordings of a candidate supposedly confessing to a crime or expressing racist views; video footage showing someone giving a speech or interview they never gave. Fake images designed to look like local news reports, falsely claiming a candidate dropped out of the race.
“What if Elon Musk personally calls you and tells you to vote for a certain candidate?” said Oren Etzioni, the founding CEO of the Allen Institute for AI, who stepped down last year to start the nonprofit AI2. “A lot of people would listen. But it’s not him.”
Former President Donald Trump, who is running in 2024, has shared AI-generated content with his followers on social media. A manipulated video of CNN host Anderson Cooper that Trump shared on his Truth Social platform on Friday, which distorted Cooper’s reaction to the CNN town hall this past week with Trump, was created using an AI voice-cloning tool.
A dystopian campaign ad released last month by the Republican National Committee offers another glimpse of this digitally manipulated future. The online ad, which came after President Joe Biden announced his reelection campaign, and starts with a strange, slightly warped image of Biden and the text “What if the weakest president we’ve ever had was re-elected?”
A series of AI-generated images follows: Taiwan under attack; boarded up storefronts in the United States as the economy crumbles; soldiers and armored military vehicles patrolling local streets as tattooed criminals and waves of immigrants create panic.
“An AI-generated look into the country’s possible future if Joe Biden is re-elected in 2024,” reads the ad’s description from the RNC.
The RNC acknowledged its use of AI, but others, including nefarious political campaigns and foreign adversaries, will not, said Petko Stoyanov, global chief technology officer at Forcepoint, a cybersecurity company based in Austin, Texas. Stoyanov predicted that groups looking to meddle with U.S. democracy will employ AI and synthetic media as a way to erode trust.
“What happens if an international entity — a cybercriminal or a nation state — impersonates someone. What is the impact? Do we have any recourse?” Stoyanov said. “We’re going to see a lot more misinformation from international sources.”
AI-generated political disinformation already has gone viral online ahead of the 2024 election, from a doctored video of Biden appearing to give a speech attacking transgender people to AI-generated images of children supposedly learning satanism in libraries.
AI images appearing to show Trump’s mug shot also fooled some social media users even though the former president didn’t take one when he was booked and arraigned in a Manhattan criminal court for falsifying business records. Other AI-generated images showed Trump resisting arrest, though their creator was quick to acknowledge their origin.
Legislation that would require candidates to label campaign advertisements created with AI has been introduced in the House by Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., who has also sponsored legislation that would require anyone creating synthetic images to add a watermark indicating the fact.
Some states have offered their own proposals for addressing concerns about deepfakes.
Clarke said her greatest fear is that generative AI could be used before the 2024 election to create a video or audio that incites violence and turns Americans against each other.
“It’s important that we keep up with the technology,” Clarke told The Associated Press. “We’ve got to set up some guardrails. People can be deceived, and it only takes a split second. People are busy with their lives and they don’t have the time to check every piece of information. AI being weaponized, in a political season, it could be extremely disruptive.”
Earlier this month, a trade association for political consultants in Washington condemned the use of deepfakes in political advertising, calling them “a deception” with “no place in legitimate, ethical campaigns.”
Other forms of artificial intelligence have for years been a feature of political campaigning, using data and algorithms to automate tasks such as targeting voters on social media or tracking down donors. Campaign strategists and tech entrepreneurs hope the most recent innovations will offer some positives in 2024, too.
Mike Nellis, CEO of the progressive digital agency Authentic, said he uses ChatGPT “every single day” and encourages his staff to use it, too, as long as any content drafted with the tool is reviewed by human eyes afterward.
Nellis’ newest project, in partnership with Higher Ground Labs, is an AI tool called Quiller. It will write, send and evaluate the effectiveness of fundraising emails –- all typically tedious tasks on campaigns.
“The idea is every Democratic strategist, every Democratic candidate will have a copilot in their pocket,” he said.
___
Swenson reported from New York.
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The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about AP’s democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
___
Follow the AP’s coverage of misinformation at https://apnews.com/hub/misinformation and coverage of artificial intelligence at https://apnews.com/hub/artificial-intelligence | 2023-05-15T11:31:26+00:00 | myfox8.com | https://myfox8.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ai-presents-political-peril-for-2024-with-threat-to-mislead-voters-were-not-prepared-for-this/ |
German media reported that at least six people were killed in a shooting in the northern German city of Hamburg, the second-largest city in the country.
The city's fire service confirmed the number of dead, but it was unclear if there were any people taken to area hospitals, the Guardian reported, citing Focus Online.
German news outlet Deutsche Welle cited police information reporting that law enforcement converged on the city's Alsterdorf area. Reports said that police also announced a "large-scale operation" was carried out in the city's Gross Borstel district nearby.
Germany's RTL News reported, citing officials, that the shooting happened at around 9 p.m. local time when a person or multiple people inside a place of worship began firing upon those inside.
DW reported that the location of the shooting was a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses on Hamburg's Deelböge street.
Police asked residents in the area to evacuate, according to reports.
Authorities in Hamburg used cell phone push alerts to warn residents that the suspects were on the run and had fled the scene after the shooting. | 2023-03-09T23:29:53+00:00 | koaa.com | https://www.koaa.com/news/world/six-reported-dead-in-germany-shooting |
NEW YORK, Dec. 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Rite Aid Corporation ("Rite Aid" or the "Company") (NYSE: RAD) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and docketed under 22-cv-04201, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired Rite Aid securities between April 14, 2022 and September 28, 2022, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials.
If you are a shareholder who purchased or otherwise acquired Rite Aid securities during the Class Period, you have until December 19, 2022 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.
Rite Aid, through its subsidiaries, operates a chain of retail drugstores in the U.S. The Company operates through two segments, Retail Pharmacy and Pharmacy Services. The Pharmacy Services segment provides integrated suite of pharmacy benefit management ("PBM") offerings through, inter alia, the Company's Elixir subsidiary, including technology solutions, mail delivery services, specialty pharmacy, network and rebate administration, claims adjudication, and pharmacy discount programs.
In Rite Aid's Q4 2022 earnings call on April 14, 2022, Rite Aid's President and CEO, Defendant Heyward Rutledge Donigan ("Donigan"), addressed the growth of Elixir's PBM services business during the selling season ending January 1, 2023, stating that (i) in the past few months, Elixir had already "sold 35,000 new members" (as against a total of 55,000 new members in the prior year), (ii) Elixir was a finalist for 150,000 additional new members, and "results have shown that once we get to finalist, we're winning deals 35% of the time," and (iii) Elixir had "a current pipeline of nearly 1 million members and growing."
In a letter to shareholders, dated June 10, 2022, appearing in Rite Aid's 2022 Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement, Defendant Donigan stated, "[o]ur Elixir account and sales teams are gaining momentum, and we are executing more efficiently by consolidating functions. And the market is noticing—we have added 34,000 individuals covered by Elixir's PBM services since January 1, 2022, with many more in the pipeline."
In Rite Aid's Q1 2023 earnings call on June 23, 2022, Defendant Donigan stated concerning the PBM services business that "[o]ur strong network contracts, new rebate capabilities, innovative clinical services and expertise in government programs have enabled us to add 80,000 new lives for January 1, 2023 start date. These are more new lives than we sold last year. And additionally, the selling season is still in progress, and we've got close to 1 million lives remaining in the pipeline for January 1, 2023." On the same call, Elixir's COO, Defendant Chris DuPaul, advised that "we've had a pretty strong start to our selling season, particularly on the health plan side," and "we're feeling really good about where our lives are headed going into [1/1/23]. . ."
The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) despite representations to the contrary, the number of new members (i.e., "lives") that the Elixir PBM services business was adding during the selling season ending on January 1, 2023 was in material decline; (ii) Rite Aid was likely to recognize a significant charge for the impairment of goodwill related to Elixir due to a decrease in "lives" covered by Elixir's PBM services business; and (iii) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
On September 29, 2022, Rite Aid announced a $252.2 million charge for the impairment of goodwill related to the Company's Elixir subsidiary. On an earnings call held later in the day, Rite Aid's Chief Financial Officer, Matt Schroeder, explained that the large impairment charge was related to Elixir based on "an update to our estimate of lives for 2023 based on the latest selling season," and that Rite Aid "expected[ed] lives to go down."
On this news, Rite Aid's stock price fell $1.97 per share, or 28.02%, to close at $5.06 per share on September 29, 2022.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, 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 | 2022-12-05T07:40:23+00:00 | wymt.com | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2022/12/05/shareholder-alert-pomerantz-law-firm-reminds-shareholders-with-losses-their-investment-rite-aid-corporation-class-action-lawsuit-upcoming-deadline-rad/ |
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Bowling Green, Kentucky -- Whenever Jamarion Sharp walks into the gym at Western Kentucky, Division I basketball's tallest player always brings his puppy.
For the 7-foot-5 center and last year's top shot-blocker (4.6 BPG), his dog Joker -- a mixed breed he purchased with his name, image and likeness cash two weeks ago -- is a best friend and a responsibility. Sharp said he hopes the puppy will help him mature.
"It's like having a child," said Sharp, who is taking Joker to the vet for the first time on Saturday. "He's a quiet dog, actually. I thought, 'I have the money right now and I want a puppy.' I have everything I need for a puppy, so I went and got one."
Sharp, who averaged 8.2 points per game last season, said he named his puppy Joker because his brother Trevon, who died in 2010 of sickle cell disease, also had a dog named Joker. When Sharp was young, his mother wouldn't allow him to have dogs because they reminded her of his brother.
But Sharp said his new puppy is his connection to his sibling.
"I always wanted a dog growing up but I never got one [after my brother died]," Sharp told ESPN.
Joker is a handful, albeit a cute one, for the entire Hilltoppers men's basketball program. He attends every practice, where trainers and others all help care for him while Sharp works on his game. If you see Sharp, however, you will also see Joker. They are inseparable.
"It's a good feeling because I have someone that's going to be loyal to me all the time, for the rest of my life, for the rest of his life," Sharp said. "All I have to do is feed him, love him and take him out and play with him." | 2022-10-14T19:56:10+00:00 | espn.com | https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/34795732/jamarion-sharp-buys-puppy-nil-money |
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma Department of Corrections Director Scott Crow, who helped oversee the state's return to carrying out the death penalty after a nearly seven-year hiatus, announced Monday he's stepping down.
In a statement announcing his resignation, Crow did not cite a reason for stepping down, but called it “one of the most difficult decisions I've ever encountered."
Crow, who was appointed director by Gov. Kevin Stitt in 2019 following nearly 25 years with the agency, helped oversee the state’s return to carrying out lethal injections. In 2020, he joined Stitt and then-Attorney General Mike Hunter in announcing that the state had secured a source for the lethal injection drugs and planned to move forward with executions that were put on hold following a series of death-chamber mishaps.
Crow was inside the death chamber for the last four lethal injections in Oklahoma, including the October 2021 execution of John Marion Grant who convulsed and vomited on the gurney as he was executed.
During testimony before a federal judge earlier this year, Crow confirmed that the state used the wrong drug labels during three recent executions, but said despite the error, he remained “100% confident" the proper drugs were used.
“I was not at all happy about that development," Crow said during the hearing.
Crow joined the agency in 1996 after a career in law enforcement. His last day as director will be Oct. 31. | 2022-08-09T00:03:07+00:00 | lmtonline.com | https://www.lmtonline.com/news/article/Oklahoma-prisons-director-who-oversaw-executions-17360235.php |
NEW YORK, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Benjamin, an innovative startup led by industry veteran Erno Tauriainen, proudly announces its public launch.
Following a successful beta test with over 6,000 users and $25 million in transactions, Benjamin is now expanding its unique cash back rewards system to the remainder of its 15,000-person waitlist and beyond.
Benjamin has adopted strategies from the gaming industry and formed partnerships with top Finnish game developers to gamify the user experience. This approach includes tiers, badges, and daily reward claims, resulting in an engaging rewards platform with unprecedented retention numbers, allowing users to climb reward tiers and access the highest cash back rewards in the industry.
"The launch of Benjamin marks a paradigm shift in the rewards sector," stated Erno Tauriainen, founder and CEO of Benjamin. "The overwhelmingly positive response during our beta testing phase, and the exceptional user retention we've seen due to our gamified rewards system, fills us with excitement as we bring our unique services to an extended audience."
The Benjamin app, designed with users at the forefront, enables them to effortlessly maximize their cash back earnings. By simply linking any of their existing cards to the app, users can tap into the unique gamified "claim cash" feature to earn additional cash back rewards with every purchase, over and above their existing card rewards.
Currently, Benjamin delivers a variety of earning opportunities, boasting over 60,000 online and in-store offers, a mobile Safari extension, and rewarding surveys.
Tauriainen explained, "In our research of the card market, we discovered that many card programs and neobanks face difficulties with monetization. Therefore, we started with a rewards-first approach to generate value for users and revenue for merchants. The next step is launching Ben One Debit and Credit Cards, offering unlimited, highest cash back in the market."
"Our platform addresses a significant market gap, providing unparalleled value for both users and merchants," Tauriainen elaborated. "We found that small merchants were overlooked in cash back initiatives. Benjamin disrupts this norm, offering an inclusive, performance-based solution for merchants of all sizes to launch their own cash back campaigns."
Backed by some of the most prestigious strategic partners in the fintech and payment industry, Benjamin is perfectly positioned for rapid, scalable growth. "I'm thrilled by the caliber of partners we've been able to bring on board," Tauriainen concluded.
Contact: Erno Tauriainen, erno@benjaminone.com
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SOURCE Benjamin | 2023-07-26T17:39:53+00:00 | witn.com | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2023/07/26/disrupting-cash-back-norms-benjamin-launches-engaging-app-redefining-rewards/ |
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