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Pelosi: China cannot stop US officials from visiting Taiwan
TOKYO (AP) — U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Friday that China will not isolate Taiwan by preventing U.S. officials from traveling there.
She made the remarks in Tokyo on the final leg of an Asia tour highlighted by a visit to Taiwan that infuriated China.
The Chinese have tried to isolate Taiwan, Pelosi said, including most recently by preventing the self-governing island from joining the World Health Organization.
“They may try to keep Taiwan from visiting or participating in other places, but they will not isolate Taiwan by preventing us to travel there,” she said.
Pelosi said her trip to Taiwan was not intended to change the status quo for the island but to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait. She also praised Taiwan’s hard-fought democracy, including its progress in diversity and success in technology and business, and criticized China’s violations of trade agreements, proliferation of weapons and human rights problems.
Pelosi, the first House speaker to visit Taiwan in 25 years, said Wednesday in Taipei that the U.S. commitment to democracy on the island and elsewhere “remains ironclad.”
Pelosi and five other members of Congress arrived in Tokyo late Thursday after visiting Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan and South Korea.
In Taipei on Wednesday, Pelosi said the American commitment to democracy in Taiwan and elsewhere “remains ironclad.” She became the first House speaker to visit the island in 25 years.
China, which claims Taiwan and has threatened to annex it by force if necessary, called her visit to the island a provocation and on Thursday began military drills, including missile strike training, in six zones surrounding Taiwan, in what could be its biggest since the mid-1990s.
Pelosi said that China had launched the “strikes probably using our visit as an excuse.”
Earlier Friday, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that China’s military exercises aimed at Taiwan represent a “grave problem” that threatens regional peace and security after five ballistic missiles launched as part of the drills landed in Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
Kishida, speaking after breakfast with Pelosi and her congressional delegation, said the missile launches need to be “stopped immediately.”
Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said five missiles landed on Thursday in Japan’s exclusive economic zone off Hateruma, an island far south of Japan’s main islands. He said Japan protested to China, saying the missiles “threatened Japan’s national security and the lives of the Japanese people, which we strongly condemn.”
The Defense Ministry later said it believed the other four missiles, fired from China’s southeastern coast of Fujian, flew over Taiwan.
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, attending a regional meeting in Cambodia, said China’s actions are “severely impacting peace and stability in the region and the international community, and we demand the immediate suspension of the military exercises.”
Japan has in recent years bolstered its defense capability and troop presence in southwestern Japan and remote islands, including Okinawa, which is about 700 kilometers (420 miles) northeast of Taiwan. Many residents say they worry their island will be quickly embroiled in any Taiwan conflict. Okinawa is home to the majority of about 50,000 American troops based in Japan under a bilateral security pact.
At the breakfast earlier Friday, Pelosi and her congressional delegation also discussed their shared security concern over China, North Korea and Russia, and pledged their commitment to working toward peace and stability in Taiwan, Kishida said. Pelosi was also to hold talks with her Japanese counterpart, lower house Speaker Hiroyuki Hosoda.
Japan and its key ally, the U.S., have been pushing for new security and economic frameworks with other democracies in the Indo-Pacific region and Europe as a counter to China’s growing influence amid rising tensions between Beijing and Taipei.
Days before Pelosi’s Taiwan visit, a group of senior Japanese lawmakers, including former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, visited the island and discussed regional security with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. Ishiba said Japan, while working with the United States to prevent conflict in the Indo-Pacific, wants a defense agreement with Taiwan.
On Thursday, the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven industrialized nations issued a statement saying “there is no justification to use a visit as pretext for aggressive military activity in the Taiwan Strait.” It said China’s “escalatory response risks increasing tensions and destabilizing the region.”
China cited its displeasure over the statement for the last-minute cancellation of talks between the Chinese and Japanese foreign ministers on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting in Cambodia on Thursday.
Pelosi held talks on Thursday in South Korea, also a key U.S. ally, which stayed away from the Taiwan issue, apparently to avoid upsetting China, focusing instead on North Korea’s increasing nuclear threat.
In recent years, South Korea has been struggling to strike a balance between the United States and China as their rivalry has deepened.
The Chinese military exercises launched Thursday involve its navy, air force and other departments and are to last until Sunday. They include missile strikes on targets in the seas north and south of the island in an echo of the last major Chinese military drills in 1995 and 1996 aimed at intimidating Taiwan’s leaders and voters.
Taiwan has put its military on alert and staged civil defense drills, while the U.S. has numerous naval assets in the area.
China also flew war planes toward Taiwan and blocked imports of its citrus and fish.
China sees the island as a breakaway province and considers visits to Taiwan by foreign officials as recognizing its sovereignty.
The Biden administration and Pelosi have said the United States remains committed to the so-called one-China policy, which recognizes Beijing as the government of China but allows informal relations and defense ties with Taipei. The administration discouraged but did not prevent Pelosi from visiting.
Pelosi has been a long-time advocate of human rights in China. She, along with other lawmakers, visited Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in 1991 to support democracy two years after a bloody military crackdown on protesters at the square.
As leader of the House of Representatives, Pelosi’s trip has heightened U.S.-China tensions more than visits by other members of Congress. The last House speaker to visit Taiwan was Newt Gingrich in 1997.
China and Taiwan, which split in 1949 after a civil war, have no official relations but multibillion-dollar business ties.
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Associated Press writers Hyung-jin Kim in Seoul, South Korea, and Huizhong Wu in Taipei, Taiwan, contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2022-08-05T06:42:24+00:00 | wafb.com | https://www.wafb.com/2022/08/05/pelosi-china-cannot-stop-us-officials-visiting-taiwan-2/ |
The palatial Huntington Hotel — along with its restaurant The Big 4 — is in the middle of yet another dramatic transition — one that could determine the San Francisco property’s livelihood.
A new buyer is in the final stages of purchasing the Nob Hill property and its $56.2 million delinquent mortgage from Deutsche Bank, as first reported by the San Francisco Business Times. It’s the third change in ownership for the San Francisco icon in just over a decade. The buyer is expected to be announced any day this month.
Shuttered since 2020, the 135-room hotel and its adjoined restaurant and spa have undergone a tumultuous financial period marred by a loan default and a tax lien against the property. Owner Woodridge Capital Partners, a real estate hedge fund based in Los Angeles, acquired the property in 2018, and Deutsche Bank is the lender on the debt.
Earlier this year, it came to light that Woodridge was defaulting on its loan, spurring speculation across the local real estate market.
Future plans for the property are currently unknown. Some have suggested it could return to its apartment roots — it was first constructed as an apartment complex — since it is zoned for high-density residential use. The hotel is not registered as a historical landmark, but city officials are indicating they consider it as such, which could influence what happens next.
“We’re fairly confident that if we were to get a proposal to tear it down to, hyperbolically speaking, create a used car lot, there would be a significant concern from a historical perspective,” Planning Department chief of staff Daniel Sider told SFGATE.
There’s also the outstanding question of the hotel and restaurant’s out-of-work employees. Unite Here Local 2, the San Francisco hospitality union that represents the hotel and restaurant’s 115 laid-off workers, is meeting with the new buyer this week. Union spokesperson Ted Waechter told SFGATE that Local 2’s collective bargaining agreement, along with California’s “Right to Recall” law, protects hotel and restaurant workers even while they’re laid off. They reserve the right to be rehired through the end of 2024.
The new owner of the Huntington and The Big 4 isn’t just acquiring a brick building in a Georgian architecture style — they’re accepting a piece of bygone San Francisco that captured hearts and appetites across its 100-year legacy.
“The Big 4 was our favorite restaurant for a moment in time,” said Fritz Maytag, former owner of Anchor Brewing Company. He and his wife stayed at the Huntington as part of their honeymoon in 1987.
“In those days, I was running Anchor and traveling a lot. It’s hard to get a decent dinner at a restaurant when you land late from the East Coast. … It was our late-night dining joint, and the piano player had a whole list of our favorite songs to play when we arrived.”
Recent conversations with other patrons and past employees revealed a deep, rich history at the hotel and restaurant, one that former frequenters are desperate to recapture in some form.
Old World hotel
Glamour and a dedication to details were baked into the Huntington upon its construction in 1922. Originally the Huntington Apartments, it was heralded as the first steel and brick high-rise on the West Coast.
Real estate developer Eugene Fritz bought the property in 1924 and converted the apartments into a hotel. The Fritz family maintained ownership for the next 87 years.
The Huntington took a lavish turn in 1950 when Fritz’s daughter Dolly and her husband, Newton Cope, renovated the hotel and adorned its walls and rooms with antiques. Designer Anthony Hail decorated rooms with unique furniture from the lost eras of San Francisco.
“It was that Old World feeling, that pre-war feeling where things were elegant and you dressed nicely when you went downtown,” said Dolly’s daughter Isabelle Fritz-Cope Higson, who worked at the hotel in room service before managing the restaurant.
The Big 4 restaurant and dimly lit piano bar opened in 1976 and continued a tradition of yesteryear elegance. Its name alluded to the railroad industry’s tycoons: Leland Stanford, Mark Hopkins Jr., Charles Crocker and the hotel’s namesake, Collis Potter Huntington. The restaurant celebrated a golden era of opulence. The booths and chairs featured enchanting emerald green upholstery. A portrait of actor Walter Pidgeon was a centerpiece among salon walls featuring antiquated advertisements for liquor and snapshots of old San Francisco. A bust of Huntington was by the bar.
No one honored the rich culture of the property better than its head waiter and in-house historian Ron Henggeler. His personal website is a treasure trove of historical and local intrigue. Henggeler worked the breakfast and lunch shifts for a couple of years after starting in 1984 and then returned in 1999 until its final days. “If you were a Bogart and Hepburn, the only place you stayed was the Huntington,” Henggeler said. “It felt like staying at someone’s home.”
Movie stars and even European royalty were no strangers in the hotel lobby during its midcentury era. Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon stayed at the Huntington during their visit to San Francisco in 1964, and the hotel was where the Rolling Stones decamped after their doomed Altamont rock festival in Livermore in 1969.
Once, Katharine Hepburn, smitten by Henggeler’s service, invited him for a ride down Highway 101 to Los Angeles … but the waiter said he couldn’t get his shift covered.
Mixed with the celebrities at The Big 4 were regular San Franciscans who had a venue to rub elbows with Nob Hill socialites. “You got the feeling that you were in a private club. It felt like you were a part of high society and that robber baron culture,” said Mark Ritchie, a longtime regular and a commercial real estate broker who lived nearby. “The Big 4 had the perfect balance: You could walk in from the street into a piano bar. It was pitch-black in there; I used to say it was always midnight at The Big 4.”
During the holidays, the Huntington stood shoulder to shoulder with Nob Hill’s other mainstay hotels, like the Fairmont and the Mark Hopkins, and played a vital role in enhancing the neighborhood’s flair.
United hospitality
The timelessness of the hotel and restaurant was mirrored by consistency in the staff.
Management would come and go (Henggeler reckons he went through 16 restaurant managers, five executive chefs and four general managers), but the staff remained recognizable, in part because they were members of the local hospitality union. Henggeler said the union and management were often at odds over pay and health care benefits, adding that he received upward of $2,000 a month just for health care.
But Local 2’s Waechter discredited any accusations that unions are to blame for business troubles and noted that the terms of employment at the Huntington are equal to the terms at other major Nob Hill hotels actively in business, such as the Mark Hopkins, Stanford Court and the Fairmont.
Ritchie said it’s an uphill battle for any hotel to stay financially solvent and nearly impossible to have a successful business model. “Hotels are like a tuning fork — they have to be absolutely perfect to make money,” he said. “The Huntington was a romance hotel. There was no meeting space, and the only way for a hotel to make money is through conferences.”
He noted that The Big 4 was one of the first restaurants he saw serving a $30 burger in San Francisco. But the cost came with clear benefits.
“That’s why you had service like Ron [Henggeler],” Ritchie said. “He was very protected and well taken care of.”
Some of the union workers have retired since the restaurant’s closure in 2020, but others are waiting to see what develops with the new buyer. Georgette Steudlein worked as a server at The Big 4 for seven years and is now at Original Joe’s in North Beach.
“In our mind, we’re all still employed by them,” she said. “We have not resigned or haven’t been paid out on our vacation money. We’re hoping we’ll get our jobs back. Now that somebody has taken the mortgage over, we’re all wondering what’s going to happen.”
End of era
The property’s first transition of ownership in the modern era was triggered by Cope’s death in 2005. His stepdaughter Higson saw firsthand the effort to swiftly sell.
Higson said she and her siblings did not have a controlling stake in the property, but Cope’s biological children did. When they inherited the Huntington, it was promptly put on the market.
The Huntington and The Big 4 were sold in 2011 to Singapore-based luxury hotelier Grace International for a reported $42 million. The hotel closed in January 2014 for a $15 million renovation and reopened later that spring as the Scarlet Huntington.
The redesign left many employees and regulars cringing.
“It was a tragedy when the Singapore group took it over,” Higson said. “They got rid of everything. They turned it into Pee-wee Herman’s playhouse meets bordello.”
Henggeler joked that he referred to the new owners as “dis-Graceful International’’ and noticed an immediate shift in quality at The Big 4. “They started dumbing it down,” he said. “They spent less money on ingredients, and the grade of the meat went down. There was no stock in silverware and plateware. It was a nightmare.”
Inside the hotel, the antiques were discarded and replaced with bright colors and lacquered furniture. The change in ownership also seemed to align with a shift in the industry as a whole. Henggeler began noticing a change in attire among the clientele and a disregard for the restaurant. “We started seeing people wearing flip-flops or ordering pizza from outside the hotel,” he said. “It changed the nature of staying at the Huntington.”
Eventually, in 2018, Grace International sold the property for $51.9 million. The new buyer, Woodridge Capital, was already well positioned in Nob Hill accommodation. The LA investors previously owned and sold the Fairmont and the Mark Hopkins and currently own Stanford Court.
Woodridge Capital CEO Michael Rosenfeld was enthusiastic about acquiring the Huntington. “I’ve had a love affair with Nob Hill since I was a very young man,” he told the San Francisco Chronicle in 2018. “It’s just such a privilege to be involved with these landmark properties that represent a significant chapter of San Francisco’s history.” (SFGATE and the San Francisco Chronicle are both owned by Hearst but operate independently of one another.)
Rosenfeld dined at The Big 4 soon after the purchase, and Henggeler recalls meeting the new boss and walking away feeling hopeful for the future. “I sat at Michael’s table and gave the history. They were totally entranced and interested. When they finally came up with a plan to remodel and renovate, it was all going to be about history. The theme was ‘Huntington bella,’” he said. “Woodridge had full intention of spending millions to turn back the golden years. And then the pandemic hit, and everything fell apart.”
“Perfect the way it was”
Since the onset of the pandemic, the Huntington and The Big 4 have essentially slowed to a dramatic stop. The vivacious green ivy that once garnished the building’s brick facade has become brown detritus. Glass from a car break-in is strewn on the sidewalk near where the valet once thrived. Curiously, on a recent weekday morning, numerous lights were lit up in the windows2, but the lobby and restaurant were deserted.
The hotel’s management has also been in disarray. In September, the Mercury News reported that the hotel owners were defaulting on their mortgage. Documents filed in August with the San Francisco County recorder’s office indicated that the default totaled $56.2 million. Deutsche Bank was seeking to foreclose.
Moreover, the city’s tax collector slapped a lien on the property in September and demanded an $806 registration and lien release fee.
The new owners are assuming all of these costs and more. Ritchie hopes a buyer like Waldorf Astoria could come in and restore the hotel to its glamour. “There needs to be a bottomless pocket who sees the romance of San Francisco,” he said.
Higson is hopeful that the Huntington can return to its Old World charm, where characters played by Cary Grant or Grace Kelly could stroll in at any moment. She still has excess rolls of the parliament green Naugahyde fabric that defined The Big 4’s decor and is saving it because it’s impossible to replace.
“I stored it with our upholstery guy. I told him, just hold onto it, they’ll never be able to find it. I called the Singapore people and the new people multiple times, but nope, nobody cared,” she said. “You can’t recreate that. It was perfect the way it was.” | 2022-12-16T13:48:28+00:00 | sfgate.com | https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/sf-huntington-hotel-big-4-17656786.php |
BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Mali’s military junta said Friday that it’s organizing a referendum on a new constitution for June 18, a key step towards a return to constitutional rule and a new presidential election expected next year in the West African country.
The referendum, in which voters can choose to either accept or reject a draft already contested by political opponents, was due to have taken place in March, but was postponed.
The announcement of the new date was made on national television by the government spokesman, Minister Abdoulaye Maiga. The draft constitution released by the junta in March of this year would considerably strengthen the power of the president. The head of state, rather than the government “determines the policy of the nation,” appoints the prime minister and ministers, and has the right to terminate their functions, according to the proposal.
Armed movements who fought for independence for Mali’s north but agreed to a peace deal in 2015 say the draft constitution wouldn’t take into account the provisions of the peace agreement. Mali has been ruled by a military junta since a 2020 coup against an elected president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. It has faced destabilizing attacks by armed extremist groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group since 2013.
In 2021, France and its European partners engaged in the fight against extremists in Mali’s north withdrew from the country after the junta brought in mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner Group. | 2023-05-06T10:53:39+00:00 | qcnews.com | https://www.qcnews.com/news/world-news/malis-junta-releases-timeline-for-constitutional-referendum/ |
Injective Pro rebrands to Helix with new features, advanced trading capabilities, and an intuitive convert interface
NEW YORK, Sept. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Injective Pro, a decentralized derivatives exchange, has announced a rebrand to "Helix" while also introducing a wide array of new features and advanced trading capabilities.
Helix launches in pursuit of bringing a premier decentralized trading experience to the masses. Helix holds the record of becoming one of the fastest growing exchanges upon launch, reaching over $1 billion in cumulative trading volume in just one month. Since then Helix has catapulted to new heights, attaining over $7 billion in cumulative trading volume across spot and perpetual markets.
Helix launches with advanced trading capabilities such as stop-limit orders, which allow a position to be automatically closed upon the asset reaching a predetermined price. Helix is powered by Injective which, following the recent $40M funding announcement from Jump Crypto and Brevan Howard, has continued to push forward as a blockchain for finance. Injective's CosmWasm smart contract layer allows for a multitude of new applications, such as Helix, to be built on-chain.
Helix also introduces a new Convert interface for everyday users to swap digital assets on a simplified interface. Novice traders will now be able to place spot market orders easily on a decentralized order book exchange with this new Convert feature.
With the combination of advanced conditional orders and an intuitive Convert interface, Helix is aiming to break new ground with everyday and institutional traders alike.
"Helix has been meticulously designed to enable any user to seamlessly trade crypto assets across both spot and perpetual markets," said Eric Chen, co-founder and CEO of Injective Labs. "The trading environment is further helped by the institutional gateways we are able to open via our custom API that is built with top tier financial firms in mind."
Helix also features some of the lowest fees on any exchange, centralized or decentralized, with up to -1 bps maker fees on governance approved market listings. Over the coming months, Helix plans to introduce a series of upgrades to continue its ascent.
To learn more about Helix, follow @HelixApp_ on Twitter or visit www.helixapp.com.
About Helix
Helix is the premier fully-decentralized order book exchange for trading cryptoassets.
It features an easy-to-use interface for novice and native crypto traders alike, helping to bring DeFi trading to the masses. Helix offers best-in-class security with near zero fees, lightning fast speeds, and unmatched rebates to create the most vibrant trading environment.
About Injective
Injective is an open, interoperable, layer 1 blockchain built for finance applications.
It provides a powerful smart contracts platform tailored for DeFi developers to quickly build and launch dApps for widespread use. Injective uniquely provides traditional finance infrastructures, such as an order book module, on-chain and is highly interoperable with prominent layer 1s, including Ethereum and Cosmos.
Injective is built with the Cosmos SDK and utilizes a Tendermint proof-of-stake consensus for secure transactions with instant finality.
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SOURCE Injective | 2022-09-01T18:31:17+00:00 | wlbt.com | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/helix-launches-injective-bring-crypto-masses/ |
SAINT PAUL, Minn. (AP)Franco Fragapane scored early in the first half, Jonathan Gonzalez added an insurance goal in the second and Minnesota United defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-0 on Sunday to clinch a playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Minnesota United (15-14-6) came into the match needing a win or tie to advance and improved to 3-0-2 all-time against Vancouver (12-16-7) at home. The Whitecaps needed a victory to grab a playoff berth.
Minnesota United entered play with just one point in its last six matches (0-5-1) before beating Vancouver for a second time this season. It marked the first time one team beat the other twice in the same season.
Emanuel Reynoso notched his 11th assist to go with 10 goals. He is one of three players to reach double figures in both categories this season – joining Nashville’s Hany Mukhtar and Carlos Vela of LAFC.
Dayne St. Clair stopped six shots to earn a clean sheet for Minnesota United. Thomas Hasal had three saves for the Whitecaps.
Vancouver closed out its season with three straight home wins, but the Whitecaps were 0-5-3 in their final eight road matches.
—
More AP MLS: https://apnews.com/hub/major-league-soccer and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports | 2022-10-10T22:36:29+00:00 | krqe.com | https://www.krqe.com/sports/mls-soccer/minnesota-earns-playoff-spot-with-2-0-victory-over-vancouver/ |
LONDON (AP) — Qatar Airways and Airbus have reached a settlement in a longstanding legal dispute over the safety of the A350 jetliner and billions of orders for other planes.
The companies said in a joint statement Wednesday that the settlement was “amicable and mutually agreeable.’’
“A repair project is now underway and both parties look forward to getting these aircraft safely back in the air,’’ the companies said in a statement.
Qatar Airways had grounded Airbus A350s over what it described as fuselages “degrading at an accelerated rate” in the long-range aircraft. The airline had raised questions about the A350s’ carbon composite fuselage, designed to make the twin-aisle aircraft lighter and cheaper to operate by burning less jet fuel.
In December 2021, Qatar’s national carrier announced it was suing Airbus in London over what it described as the “accelerated surface degradation” of the wide-body A350.
The next month, European planemaker Airbus terminated a multibillion-dollar order by Qatar Airways for 50 of its smaller single-aisle in-demand A321neo jets. The termination of the contract for the Airbus 321neos followed Qatar Airways’ refusal to take any more A350s until the problem was fixed.
Now that the dispute has been resolved, Airbus will “reintegrate” Qatar’s 50 A321neo orders, with deliveries due to resume in 2026, Airbus spokesman Justin Dubon said. The Toulouse, France-based planemaker also will resume deliveries this year of 23 A350s that that airline had put on hold because of the dispute, he said.
The details of the settlement are confidential, and there was no admission of liability.
“This agreement will enable Qatar Airways and Airbus to move forward and work together as partners,” the companies’ statement said. | 2023-02-02T02:59:07+00:00 | upmatters.com | https://www.upmatters.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-qatar-airways-airbus-reach-settlement-in-a350-legal-case/ |
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – On Thursday, there were only a few customers coming and going from Shroom House in Portland, Oregon.
Friday was a different story.
Nexstar’s KOIN observed people standing in long lines outside of the business that day, waiting for a chance to purchase psilocybin mushrooms.
As KOIN previously reported, however, state officials say the sale of psilocybin mushrooms is illegal in Oregon — now and in the future.
That fact may be confusing to some, especially since Oregon voters passed Measure 109 in 2020, effectively creating a two-year development period during which Oregon Psilocybin Services (OPS) has worked to set up systems and processes for the licensing and regulation of psilocybin products and provision of psilocybin services.
But in those cases, the use of psilocybin must be overseen by licensed therapeutic professional. The state also doesn’t even start accepting applications until next year, meaning there are no licensed facilitators or service centers at this time.
That apparently isn’t stopping the Shroom House, whose owner denied operating a dispensary but rather a “health and wellness shop.”
Customers, too, didn’t seem phased while waiting in line.
“I personally experimented with mushrooms as a way to treat bipolar type two as well as depression,” said Jesse, a customer at the store. “There’s been a lot of studies showing that consumption of psilocybin can lead to the disintegration of entrenched brain channels.”
Others told KOIN they were there to use the psychedelics recreationally.
“Well, I voted for psilocybin mushrooms in the election in 2020. And so I’m here to take part in that,” said Jesus Bogas, another customer at the Shroom House. “I understand there’s some legal technicalities with it, but I’m here to see what that’s all about. It’s an enlightenment and it’s what I like to do.”
KOIN obtained documents from Shroom House from a former employee, including the form the store instructs customers to fill out before a purchase. In it, there’s a waiver to sign, making the customer acknowledge that Shroom House “makes no guarantee or medical claims” and they’re not responsible for anything that happens with the purchase of psilocybin.
The paperwork asks for confirmation of a diagnosis of ailments, ranging from ADHD, anxiety, headaches, depression, OCD, PTSD, sleep disorders and addiction, but employees and customers have said this portion isn’t strictly enforced.
Other documents reveal Shroom Houses’ “sales tactics,” and that they “offer everything from chaga, reishi, lions mane and psilocybin.”
Their business document also says “Shroom House is not like any other psilocybin dispensary. The Shroom House is a mushroom naturopath.”
It proceeds to explain to the employee what different doses to offer people so that can experience “letting loose” or doses that are “good for parties, beach days, and social gatherings.”
Customers were curious to see for themselves.
“I’ve never even seen this stuff before. So I’m trying,” said Scott Yon, a customer at Shroom House. “I understand it may not be legally up yet, but in Portland, it doesn’t seem like people get arrested for anything.”
A former employee had previously revealed to KOIN that he thought the business was operating legally, but soon learned that wasn’t quite the case.
“I was led to believe by management at Shroom House that this was the first, medically licensed and sanctioned place to buy psychedelics in the state of Oregon,” the employee said. “They’re breaking all sorts of laws over there.”
Even though the Oregon Health Authority and police say sales of psilocybin mushrooms are not legal, the long lines seen outside the store show the simple economics of supply and demand.
Portland police and the DEA are aware of the location.
The Portland Police Bureau confirmed that the Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit is aware of the allegations against the store. The DEA is also aware of the location. | 2022-12-03T22:08:20+00:00 | ktalnews.com | https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/shroom-house-lines-form-at-oregon-business-selling-psilocybin-mushrooms/ |
7-year-old gives gift of life to teen brother battling leukemia
DALLAS - Brothers Preston and Cameron Pipkins have been inseparable from the start. It’s no surprise that when Preston needed Cameron the most, the 7-year-old was "grateful" to give the ultimate gift.
Their mother Rachael Pipkins said it all started in September 2022, when Preston, 13, wasn’t feeling well. It would be another two or three weeks before the family realized "something was really wrong," she told FOX TV Stations.
Preston was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia on September 27. Without a bone marrow transplant, doctors said he wouldn’t survive. After more than three months in the hospital, there were no viable matches on the national registry — Preston’s only match was his little brother.
READ MORE: 'Get certified': Stranger saves 10-day-old baby with CPR at restaurant
And so began their journey to transplant surgeries at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas. Fittingly, the extraordinary act of love happened on Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day and National Donor Day.
Preston will be in the hospital for six to eight weeks after the transplant surgery, followed by close observation for up to a year and regular check-ups for the rest of his life. His parents are hopeful the transplant will cure Preston’s cancer.
"He has endured many obstacles and overcome them all with a level of maturity unheard of for a new teen and heart of gold," Rachael said. "Preston says ‘to take it day by day and don't get overwhelmed with all the possibilities.'"
READ MORE: Georgia boy with inoperable brain tumors has life-long dream come true
Admittedly, it’s been hard to follow her son’s advice at times, as it’s "been the most difficult challenge of our lives." Rachael said she gets through it by finding the positive in every situation.
"Even in times of great sadness there is good around us — hold on to that," she said.
Friends and family have set up a fundraising page to help the Pipkin brothers as they recover. | 2023-02-24T16:15:59+00:00 | fox6now.com | https://www.fox6now.com/news/cameron-pipkins-donates-bone-marrow-brother-preston-childrens-medical-center-dallas |
NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- S&P Dow Jones Indices (S&P DJI) today released the latest results for the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Indices, the leading measure of U.S. home prices. Data released today for November 2022 show that home price gains declined across the United States. More than 27 years of history are available for the data series and can be accessed in full by going to https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/index-family/indicators/sp-corelogic-case-shiller/.
YEAR-OVER-YEAR
The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index, covering all nine U.S. census divisions, reported a 7.7% annual gain in November, down from 9.2% in the previous month. The 10-City Composite annual increase came in at 6.3%, down from 8.0% in the previous month. The 20-City Composite posted a 6.8% year-over-year gain, down from 8.6% in the previous month.
Miami, Tampa, and Atlanta reported the highest year-over-year gains among the 20 cities in November. Miami led the way with a 18.4% year-over-year price increase, followed by Tampa in second with a 16.9% increase, and Atlanta in third with a 12.7% increase. All 20 cities reported lower price increases in the year ending November 2022 versus the year ending October 2022.
MONTH-OVER-MONTH
Before seasonal adjustment, the U.S. National Index posted a -0.6% month-over-month decrease in November, while the 10-City and 20-City Composites posted decreases of -0.7% and -0.8%, respectively.
After seasonal adjustment, the U.S. National Index posted a month-over-month decrease of -0.3%, and the 10-City and 20-City Composites both posted decreases of -0.5%.
In November, all 20 cities reported declines before seasonal adjustments. After seasonal adjustments, 19 cities reported declines, with only Detroit increasing 0.1%.
ANALYSIS
"November 2022 marked the fifth consecutive month of declining home prices in the U.S.," says Craig J. Lazzara, Managing Director at S&P DJI. "For example, the National Composite Index fell -0.6% for the month, reflecting a -3.6% decline since the market peaked in June 2022. We saw comparable patterns in our 10- and 20-City Composites, both of which stand more than -5.0% below their June peaks. These declines, of course, came after very strong price increases in late 2021 and the first half of 2022. Despite its recent weakness, on a year-over-year basis the National Composite gained 7.7%, which is in the 74th percentile of historical performance levels.
"All 20 cities in our November report showed price declines on a month-over-month basis, with a median decline of -0.8%. Moreover, for all 20 cities, year-over-year gains in November were lower than those of October, with a median year-over-year increase of 6.4%. Interestingly, home prices in San Francisco were down by -1.6% year-over-year, the first negative result for any city since San Francisco's -0.4% decline in October 2019. This is the worst year-over-year result for San Francisco in more than 10 years (since a -3.0% result in March 2012). West coast weakness was not limited to California, as San Francisco was followed by Seattle (+1.5%) and Portland (+3.9%) at the bottom of the league table.
"In contrast, November's best-performing cities were clustered in the Southeast. Miami (+18.4%) was the best performer, followed by Tampa (+16.9%). November is the eighth consecutive month that one of our Florida cities has been the national leader. The month's bronze medal went to Atlanta (+12.7%), narrowly edging out Charlotte (+12.6%). Unsurprisingly, the Southeast (+15.1%) and South (+14.3%) were the strongest regions and the West (+4.0%) was the weakest.
"As the Federal Reserve moves interest rates higher, mortgage financing continues to be a headwind for home prices. Economic weakness, including the possibility of a recession, would also constrain potential buyers. Given these prospects for a challenging macroeconomic environment, home prices may well continue to weaken."
SUPPORTING DATA
Table 1 below shows the housing boom/bust peaks and troughs for the three composites along with the current levels and percentage changes from the peaks and troughs.
Table 2 below summarizes the results for November 2022. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Indices could be revised for the prior 24 months, based on the receipt of additional source data.
Table 3 below shows a summary of the monthly changes using the seasonally adjusted (SA) and non-seasonally adjusted (NSA) data. Since its launch in early 2006, the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Indices have published, and the markets have followed and reported on, the non-seasonally adjusted data set used in the headline indices. For analytical purposes, S&P Dow Jones Indices publishes a seasonally adjusted data set covered in the headline indices, as well as for the 17 of 20 markets with tiered price indices and the five condo markets that are tracked.
For more information about S&P Dow Jones Indices, please visit https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/.
ABOUT S&P DOW JONES INDICES
S&P Dow Jones Indices is the largest global resource for essential index-based concepts, data and research, and home to iconic financial market indicators, such as the S&P 500® and the Dow Jones Industrial Average®. More assets are invested in products based on our indices than products based on indices from any other provider in the world. Since Charles Dow invented the first index in 1884, S&P DJI has been innovating and developing indices across the spectrum of asset classes helping to define the way investors measure and trade the markets.
S&P Dow Jones Indices is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), which provides essential intelligence for individuals, companies, and governments to make decisions with confidence. For more information, visit https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
April Kabahar
Global Head of Communications
New York, USA
(+1) 212 438 7530
april.kabahar@spglobal.com
S&P Dow Jones Indices' interactive blog, IndexologyBlog.com, delivers real-time commentary and analysis from industry experts across S&P Global on a wide-range of topics impacting residential home prices, homebuilding and mortgage financing in the United States. Readers and viewers can visit the blog at www.indexologyblog.com, where feedback and commentary are welcomed and encouraged.
The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Indices are published on the last Tuesday of each month at 9:00 am ET. They are constructed to accurately track the price path of typical single-family homes located in each metropolitan area provided. Each index combines matched price pairs for thousands of individual houses from the available universe of arms-length sales data. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index tracks the value of single-family housing within the United States. The index is a composite of single-family home price indices for the nine U.S. Census divisions and is calculated quarterly. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 10-City Composite Home Price Index is a value-weighted average of the 10 original metro area indices. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-City Composite Home Price Index is a value-weighted average of the 20 metro area indices. The indices have a base value of 100 in January 2000; thus, for example, a current index value of 150 translates to a 50% appreciation rate since January 2000 for a typical home located within the subject market.
These indices are generated and published under agreements between S&P Dow Jones Indices and CoreLogic, Inc.
The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Indices are produced by CoreLogic, Inc. In addition to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Indices, CoreLogic also offers home price index sets covering thousands of zip codes, counties, metro areas, and state markets. The indices, published by S&P Dow Jones Indices, represent just a small subset of the broader data available through CoreLogic.
Case-Shiller® and CoreLogic® are trademarks of CoreLogic Case-Shiller, LLC or its affiliates or subsidiaries ("CoreLogic") and have been licensed for use by S&P Dow Jones Indices. None of the financial products based on indices produced by CoreLogic or its predecessors in interest are sponsored, sold, or promoted by CoreLogic, and neither CoreLogic nor any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, or predecessors in interest makes any representation regarding the advisability of investing in such products.
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SOURCE S&P Dow Jones Indices | 2023-01-31T16:53:05+00:00 | live5news.com | https://www.live5news.com/prnewswire/2023/01/31/sampp-corelogic-case-shiller-index-continued-decline-november/ |
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NEW YORK (AP) — A lawyer for Donald Trump signaled Wednesday that the former president is unlikely to attend a civil trial next week in which a columnist has accused him of raping her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s.
Attorney Joe Tacopina asked the judge who will preside over the trial starting Tuesday if he would tell jurors that Trump's absence was designed to avoid logistical burdens that New York City and the court system would face if Trump were present.
Tacopina did not rule out that Trump could still attend the trial, saying jurors should be told that his “presence is excused unless and until he is called by either party to testify.”
Judge Lewis A. Kaplan had instructed attorneys to say by Thursday whether their clients will appear for all or a portion of the trial.
E. Jean Carroll, who for the first time publicly revealed the rape claims in a 2019 memoir, has said through her lawyers that she will attend the entire trial.
Trump has repeatedly insisted he never met Carroll at the store and that he didn’t know who she was.
Tacopina said in a letter to Kaplan that Trump “wishes to appear at trial,” but jurors should be told that while no litigant is required to appear for a civil trial, “the absence of the defendant in this matter, by design, avoids the logistical burdens that his presence, as the former president, would cause the courthouse and New York City.”
Carroll's attorney, Roberta Kaplan, mocked the request that jurors should be told Trump is not attending the trial “as some sort of favor to the City of New York.”
She noted that New York City and the Manhattan federal courts have hosted major trials, including some pertaining to notorious terrorists, without incident. And she said she won't be calling Trump to the stand to testify as a witness because she can rely on showing jurors portions of his four-hour videotaped deposition.
“If Mr. Trump decides not to appear at his own trial for sexual assault and defamation, the jury may draw whatever inferences it chooses,” wrote the lawyer, who is not related to the judge.
She added that it was difficult to credit his arguments in light of his recent travel schedule.
"If Mr. Trump can find a way to attend wrestling championships, political conventions, civil depositions, and campaign functions, then surely he could surmount the logistics of attending his own federal trial," she said. | 2023-04-19T23:28:47+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/trump-likely-won-t-attend-trial-over-rape-claim-17907326.php |
NEW YORK (AP) — After three years, the pandemic-era freeze on student loan payments will end soon. Student loan interest will start accruing on September 1 and payments are starting in October.
It might seem tempting to just keep not making payments, but the consequences can be severe, including a hit to your credit score and exclusion from future aid and benefits.
More than 40 million Americans will have to start making federal student loan payments again at the end of the summer under the terms of a debt ceiling deal approved by Congress.
Millions are also waiting to find out whether the Supreme Court will allow President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan to go ahead. But payments will resume regardless of what justices decide.
That means tough decisions for many borrowers, especially those in already-difficult financial situations.
Experts say that delinquency and bankruptcy should be options of last resort, and that deferment and forbearance — which pause payments, though interest may continue to accrue — are often better in the short term.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON’T MAKE STUDENT LOAN PAYMENTS?
Once the moratorium ends, borrowers who can’t or don’t pay risk delinquency and eventually default. That can badly hurt your credit rating and make you ineligible for additional aid and government benefits.
If you’re struggling to pay, advisers first encourage you to check if you qualify for an income-driven repayment plan, which determines your payments by looking at your expenses. You can determine this by visiting the Federal Student Aid website. If you’ve worked for a government agency or a non-profit organization, you could also be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which forgives student debt after 10 years.
Carolina Rodriguez, Director of the Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program at the Community Service Society of New York, emphasizes that anyone temporarily unemployed should be able to qualify for a $0 payment plan. And many others qualify based on income and family size.
“The repercussions of falling into delinquency can be pretty severe,” Rodriguez said. “The federal government can administratively intercept tax refunds and garnish wages. And it can affect Social Security, retirement, and disability benefits. Does it make financial sense at that point? Probably not.”
Rodriguez says her organization always advises against deferment or forbearance except once a borrower has exhausted all other options. In the long term, those financial choices offer little benefit, as some loans will continue to accrue interest while deferred.
Abby Shafroth, senior attorney and director of the Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project at the National Consumer Law Center, said that, of the two, deferment is generally a better option.
That’s because interest generally does not accrue on Direct Subsidized Loans, the subsidized portion of Direct Consolidation Loans, Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans, the subsidized portion of FFEL Consolidation Loans, and Federal Perkins Loans. All other federal student loans that are deferred will continue to accrue interest.
“Forbearance allows you to postpone payments without it being held against you, but interest does accrue. So you’re going to see your balance increase every month.”
WHAT ABOUT DECLARING BANKRUPTCY?
For most student loan borrowers, it’s still very difficult to have your loans discharged, or canceled, through bankruptcy. Borrowers must prove a very hard standard of financial circumstances, called “undue hardship.”
“That doesn’t mean people shouldn’t look into it,” Rodriguez said. “But they may not be successful at discharging their loans.”
For borrowers who show that level of financial strain, chances are they have other options, Rodriguez said.
She advises that borrowers make sure they are speaking to a bankruptcy attorney who understands student loan bankruptcy, which requires a different proceeding than other types of bankruptcy.
Shafroth, of the NCLC, says that new guidance on student loan bankruptcy has been coming out in recent years.
“Though it is difficult to get your loans discharged through the bankruptcy process, an increasing number of borrowers are eligible to get their loans discharged that way,” she said. “A lot of people write that off as ‘there’s no way,’ it’s impossible.’ But it’s increasingly possible.”
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A LOAN GOES INTO DEFAULT?
When you fall behind on a loan by 270 days — roughly 9 months — the loan appears on your credit report as being in default.
“At that point, it’s not just behind, it’s in collections,” Shafroth said. “That’s when you become ineligible to take out new federal student aid. A lot of people go into default because they weren’t able to complete their degree the first time. This prevents them from going back to school.”
Once a loan is in default, it’s subject to the collection processes mentioned above. That means the government can garnish wages (without a court order) to go towards paying back the loan, intercept tax refunds, and seize portions of Social Security checks and other benefit payments.
WHAT ARE OTHER OPTIONS IF I CAN’T MAKE PAYMENTS?
Shafroth said that many borrowers may still be eligible to have loans canceled via a patchwork of programs outside of the Biden administration’s proposed debt relief program.
“If your school closed before you could complete your program, you’re eligible for relief. If your school lied to you or misrepresented the outcome of what your enrolling would be, you can file a borrower defense application, and request your loan be canceled on that basis,” she said. “If you have a disability, you can sometimes have your loans canceled on that basis.”
Shafroth encourages borrowers to look at the Student Aid website to see what their options might be before missing payments.
WHAT IF MY LOANS WERE IN DEFAULT BEFORE MARCH 2020?
Under the Biden administration’s Fresh Start program, borrowers with federal student loans who were in default before the pause have a chance to become current.
Borrowers who were in default will not be subject to collection processes or have wages garnished through about August 2024, or roughly one year after the payment freeze ends. These borrowers have also been granted permission to apply for federal student loans again, to complete degrees. Lastly, these defaulted loans are now being reported to credit bureaus as current.
That said, borrowers must take action if they want to stay out of default after this year-long leniency period ends.
To eliminate your record of default, you should contact the Education Department’s Default Resolution Group online, by phone, or by mail, and ask the group to take the loans out of default via the Fresh Start policy. In four to six weeks, any record of default will be removed from your credit report, and the loans will be placed with a loan servicer. This will also give you access to income-driven repayment plans and Public Service Loan Forgiveness, if applicable.
WHAT IF I WAS BEHIND ON PAYMENTS OR DELINQUENT BEFORE MARCH 2020?
The Fresh Start program also applies to borrowers who were delinquent prior to the payment pause. Those accounts will be considered current, and borrowers will have the option to enroll in income-driven repayment plans that can lower bills to as little as $0, or to apply for deferment, forbearance or bankruptcy.
___
The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism. | 2023-06-15T11:55:32+00:00 | valleycentral.com | https://www.valleycentral.com/news/business/ap-business/its-almost-time-to-resume-student-loan-payments-not-doing-so-could-cost-you/ |
HAMILTON, Bermuda (AP) _ Signet Jewelers Ltd. (SIG) on Tuesday reported earnings of $37.5 million in its fiscal third quarter.
The Hamilton, Bermuda-based company said it had profit of 60 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for costs related to mergers and acquisitions, came to 74 cents per share.
The jewelry company posted revenue of $1.58 billion in the period.
For the current quarter ending in January, Signet said it expects revenue in the range of $2.59 billion to $2.66 billion.
The company expects full-year earnings in the range of $11.40 to $12 per share, with revenue ranging from $7.77 billion to $7.84 billion.
_____
This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on SIG at https://www.zacks.com/ap/SIG | 2022-12-06T12:34:49+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/business/article/Signet-Fiscal-Q3-Earnings-Snapshot-17634189.php |
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — A vegan woman convicted of murder in the malnutrition death of her young son was sentenced Monday to life in prison.
Sheila O’Leary, 38, whose family followed a strict vegan diet, was convicted in June on six charges — first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, aggravated manslaughter, child abuse and two counts of child neglect — in the death of Ezra O’Leary. Her sentencing in Lee County, Florida, had previously been postponed four times.
Her husband, Ryan Patrick O’Leary, remains in jail while awaiting trial on the same charges. Investigators said the couple told them the family ate only raw fruits and vegetables, although the toddler also was fed breast milk. The 18-month-old boy weighed 17 pounds (8 kilograms) and was the size of a 7-month-old baby when he died in September 2019, a police report said.
The Cape Coral couple had two other children, ages 3 and 5, who also were malnourished, investigators said. A fourth child had been returned to her biological father during an earlier malnutrition case in Virginia, court records show. | 2022-08-30T19:38:30+00:00 | wearegreenbay.com | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/national/ap-vegan-mom-gets-life-in-prison-for-starvation-death-of-son/ |
INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P. (NASDAQ: CLMT) today announced the closing of two transactions that together fund the working capital needs of Montana Renewables LLC (MRL). A Supply and Offtake Agreement (SOA) with Macquarie Commodities and Global Markets provides inventory monetization for renewable feedstocks and products, as well as intermediation services connected with the purchase of renewable feedstocks. Simultaneously, a $90 million asset backed loan revolving credit facility (ABL) was executed with Wells Fargo Bank, NA, secured by accounts receivables and open blenders tax credit refunds.
"Now that Montana Renewables has commenced operations, these transactions ensure that our working capital needs are met going forward," said Bruce Fleming, EVP Montana Renewables. "Third party inventory financing has been in the MRL plan since day one, and we are pleased to execute on the plan as we launch operations."
More details can be found in the Form 8-K filed today with the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission.
Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P. (NASDAQ: CLMT) manufacturers, formulates, and markets a diversified slate of specialty branded products to customers in various consumer-facing and industrial markets. Calumet is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and operates twelve facilities throughout North America.
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SOURCE Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P. | 2022-11-08T01:11:45+00:00 | kwch.com | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2022/11/07/calumet-completes-working-capital-funding-montana-renewables/ |
RENO, Nev. — State lawmakers nationwide are responding to the deadliest overdose crisis in U.S. history by pushing harsher penalties for possessing fentanyl and other powerful lab-made opioids that are connected to about 70,000 deaths a year.
Imposing longer prison sentences for possessing smaller amounts of drugs represents a shift in states that in recent years have rolled back drug possession penalties. Proponents of tougher penalties say this crisis is different and that, in most places, the stiffer sentences are intended to punish drug dealers, not just users.
“There is no other drug — no other illicit drug — that has the same type of effects on our communities,” said Mark Jackson, the district attorney for Douglas County, Nevada, and president of the Nevada District Attorneys Association, which is pushing for stricter penalties for fentanyl-related crimes.
But the strategy is alarming recovery advocates who say focusing on the criminal angle of drugs has historically backfired, including when lawmakers elevated crack cocaine penalties in the 1980s.
“Every time we treat drugs as a law enforcement problem and push stricter laws, we find that we punish people in ways that destroy their lives and make it harder for them to recover later on,” said Adam Wandt, an assistant professor of public policy at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. He said people behind bars often continue getting drugs — often without receiving quality addiction treatment — then emerge to find it's harder to get work.
Since 2020, drug overdoses are now linked to more than 100,000 deaths a year nationally, with about two-thirds of them fentanyl-related. That’s more than 10 times as many drug deaths as in 1988, at the height of the crack epidemic.
Fentanyl mostly arrives in the U.S. from Mexico and is mixed into supplies of other drugs, including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and counterfeit oxycodone pills. Some users seek it out. Others don't know they're taking it.
Ingesting 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal, meaning 1 gram — about the same as a paper clip — could contain 500 lethal doses.
That's what's driving some lawmakers to crack down with harsh penalties, along with adopting measures such as legalizing materials to test drug supplies for fentanyl and distributing naloxone, a drug that can reverse overdoses.
Before this year's legislative sessions began, a dozen states had already adopted fentanyl possession measures, according to tracking by the National Conference of State Legislatures.
And in this year, in one legislative chamber of liberal Oregon and one chamber of conservative West Virginia, lawmakers have agreed upon tougher penalties. In her State of the State speech this March, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, a Republican, called on lawmakers to adopt a drug trafficking bill that includes tougher fentanyl sentences.
In Nevada, where Democrats control the Legislature, a bill backed by Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford would give one to 20 years in prison for selling, possessing, manufacturing or transporting 4 grams or more of fentanyl into the state, depending on the amount. It’s a change for Ford, who has supported criminal justice reforms including a sweeping 2019 law that, among other provisions, raised the threshold for such penalties to 100 grams. It would also remove fentanyl from the state’s “Good Samaritan” law, which exempts people from criminal drug possession charges while reporting an overdose.
“What we’ve learned is that lowering the thresholds for all drugs was overinclusive,” Ford said.
Harm reduction advocates are pushing Ford and others to rethink their support, arguing the thresholds for longer penalties can sweep up low-level users — not just the dealers the law is aimed at — as well as some who may not even know they are taking fentanyl. They warn that the state’s crime labs test only for the presence of fentanyl, not the exact amount in a mixture of drugs. Thus, people with over 4 grams of drugs containing a few milligrams of fentanyl could be subject to trafficking penalties, they say.
Rosa Johnson runs a needle exchange where she meets people who could face consequences should the stricter fentanyl bill pass. For the dozens of people that show up each day, it is rare for them to cite fentanyl as their “drug of choice.” But it’s also rare that fentanyl test strips come back negative, with the drug being “laced in a lot of things,” Johnson said.
Other lawmakers introduced two bills to create penalties for fentanyl with lower thresholds, though much of the internal debate surrounds the Ford-backed bill. Meanwhile, Nevada's Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo, a former sheriff, has vowed to introduce tougher legislation that would make possession of any amount of fentanyl the same felony threshold as fentanyl trafficking.
Both Republican-led chambers in South Carolina have passed fentanyl trafficking measures with bipartisan support, although lawmakers haven’t agreed on which version to send the governor. Senators also unanimously approved a bill allowing alleged drug dealers to be charged with homicide in overdose deaths.
House Minority Leader Todd Rutherford slammed colleagues for selling a “false bill of goods.” While Republican Rep. Doug Gilliam said he understood concerns about ambiguity, he said lawmakers had to send a “strong message” to drug dealers.
A Senate subcommittee heard emotional testimony from family members of people who died of a fentanyl overdose. Among them was Holly Alsobrooks, co-founder of an advocacy group that also supports more fentanyl test strips, opioid antidotes and rehabilitation centers. While Alsobrooks said there is no “perfect” solution, she said the fentanyl trafficking measures are the “best” answers she has heard.
“We are fully behind this bill,” she said. “And if people go to jail, they’re going to go to jail.”
Marc Burrows, who leads a Greenville-based harm reduction program that reports it has reversed 700 overdoses through the provision of opioid antidotes, said these bills could increase deaths by creating hesitancy among drug users to report overdoses.
“I just don’t know if a policy like this is the way to do it,” Burrows said.
___
Pollard reported from Columbia, South Carolina, and Mulvihill from Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Pollard and Stern are members for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit service program that places journalists in newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. | 2023-03-21T02:20:29+00:00 | ktvb.com | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/nation-world/harsher-fentanyl-penalties-states/507-000badc0-d604-48ac-adc4-798e3e054bd3 |
The City of Kenosha's Parks Commission and Public Works Committee unanimously approved two wildly popular upcoming events Monday evening.
The two bodies voted unanimously for the annual Snow Daze event held in Downtown in February and then the Wisconsin Marathon to be held in numerous locations throughout the city in May.
The city requested permission to use Sixth Avenue between 52nd Street and 54th Street for the Snow Daze event on Feb. 4, with a rain date of Feb. 11, and to place ice sculptures on the sidewalks at various businesses through Feb. 18.
The event includes ice sculptures on display and ice carving demonstrations, games, music and activities from 1 to 4 p.m. on Feb. 4. Tear down is set for 4 to 6 p.m. Thousands are expected to attend the annual winter event.
As part of the festivities, more than 40 ice sculptures are set to be placed around Veterans Memorial Park and Downtown businesses.
"This is something that Downtown really gets a great deal of benefit from," said Ald. Jan Michalski. "This is becoming a tradition and it has been well-received thus far."
Popular race returns
Both bodies also approved a request from T-Race Productions, LLC for use of Eichelman, Wolfenbuttel, Pennoyer, Kennedy, Veterans and Simmons Island parks on May 6 for the popular Wisconsin Marathon. It also requested use of Celebration Place and roadways along the lakefront.
Event hours are 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on May 6, with setup taking place May 5 starting at 8 a.m. (except for road closures). Take down will take place from 1:30 to 6 p.m. on May 6. Road closures will be in place on the event day only during event hours through take down.
Registered participants may run a marathon, half marathon or the much shorter 5K on city streets.
The start and finish area is Celebration Place, where the post-race party will be held featuring recorded music, drinks and food. Over 2,000 are expected to attend.
"This has always been one of those events that for a segment of our population brings a lot of people to Kenosha," Michalski said. "This is a full-fledged marathon just like the Boston Marathon or any other marathon."
Ald. Dominic Ruffalo said he usually participates in the event and has already signed up for this spring's marathon.
"It brings tourism into the City of Kenosha and they do a fine job," Ruffalo said.
Race director Jonathan Cain, of Des Plaines, Ill., spoke on behalf of the marathon at both meetings Monday.
"We're happy to bring the race again next spring to Kenosha and bring a whole bunch of people into the city," Cain said. "I hope they spend a lot of money Downtown and in the general area." | 2022-12-13T22:21:23+00:00 | kenoshanews.com | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/citys-parks-commission-public-works-committee-approve-winter-spring-events-for-2023/article_6869465c-7b21-11ed-a39f-bb24c4f8ef6e.html |
Request unsuccessful. Incapsula incident ID: 262000940115910399-139165822399944578 | 2023-02-01T02:48:11+00:00 | bizjournals.com | https://www.bizjournals.com/chicago/news/2023/01/31/streeterville-mixed-used-office-retail-62.html |
By HOWARD FENDRICH
AP Tennis Writer
LONDON (AP) — Roger Federer is a father of four — two girls who are 13, two boys who are 8 — and so perhaps that is why, as he wraps up his playing career, he thinks about the “GOAT” debate that has engulfed the tennis world the way parents might look at their children.
Folks love to ask: Who’s the “Greatest of All-Time” in men’s tennis, Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic?
“People always like to compare. I see it every day with my twins. Without wanting, you compare them. You shouldn’t — ever,” Federer said during an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, hours after his farewell news conference at the arena that will host the 20-time Grand Slam champion’s final competition, the Laver Cup.
“Naturally, we do the same in tennis. … I am my own career, my own player, that needed those challenges. They needed a challenger like myself,” he said, leaning back on a couch, having traded in the blue blazer and polo shirt he wore earlier for a post-practice navy pullover, white T-shirt and black jogger pants. “We made each other better. So at the end of the day, we’ll all shake hands and be like, ‘That was awesome.’ Now is somebody going to be happier than the other? I mean, in moments, maybe.”
He called the topic “a good conversation, let’s be honest” and “definitely a fun debate” that “you can endlessly talk about.”
But he also used the word “silly,” given all that he, 22-time major champ Nadal and 21-time major champ Djokovic have accomplished.
“I always say it’s wonderful to be part of that selective group,” he began, talking about the so-called Big Three rivals, then paused to sigh.
“How can you compare? What’s better? To win when you’re old or when you’re young? I have no idea, you know. Is it better to win on clay or grass? Don’t know. Is it better to have super dominant years or come back from injury? I don’t know,” he said. “It really is impossible to grasp.”
Referring to Nadal, who is 36 and is expected to be Federer’s doubles partner for his final match Friday, and Djokovic, who is 35, Federer said: “What I know is they are truly amazing and greats of the game and forever and will go down as one of the — maybe THE — greatest.”
Federer, who is Swiss, grew up a basketball fan, and brought up the Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James back-and-forth from hoops.
“Who is the greatest? Probably MJ. But is it LeBron? Some stats say he is. I think it’s a phenomenon of (social) media. Everybody calling each other ‘GOAT.’ ‘GOAT.’ ‘GOAT.’ ‘GOAT.’ ‘GOAT.’ ‘GOAT.’ I’m like, Come on, OK? There cannot be possibly that many ‘GOATs,’” Federer said, then cracked himself up with a Dad joke: “In Switzerland, we have a lot of them, but they’re in the fields.”
Federer promises he won’t make a comeback; his surgically repaired right knee won’t allow it. His age, 41, doesn’t help.
He is adamant, though, that he will remain connected to tennis. That will include showing up at certain tournaments, he said, “to say farewell or goodbye, because I’ve been a part of those tournaments for 20 years.”
It will include watching on TV, some of the time, and keeping an eye on results, all of the time.
He plans to keep tabs on Nadal, who won the Australian Open and French Open this season, and Djokovic, who won Wimbledon but couldn’t enter the Australian Open or U.S. Open because he isn’t vaccinated against COVID-19 (“It’s been quite strange not seeing Novak in a lot of the draws,” Federer observed).
“At this point, once either they surpassed you, or you’re not playing anymore, it doesn’t matter how far up they go,” Federer said. “For me, as long as I could be a part of it and control some of it, I cared more.”
When it comes to the pursuit of more Grand Slam titles by Nadal and Djokovic, he said: “I hope they go and do everything they want. I really hope so. Because it would be great for the game and nice for their fans, for their family. As long as it makes them happy.”
At one point during the nearly half-hour conversation with the AP, Federer mentioned the idea of a player “falling out of love” with the game.
What did he mean by that?
Essentially: It’s not possible to always love every minute of every facet of the life of a pro tennis player.
“You go through phases. As a kid, you have this vision of the tour as this fantastic place: ‘It’s the coolest thing. I can share the locker room with the guys. I walk out to stadiums, there’s fans screaming my name. I can sign autographs, take pictures. On top of the world.’ But then at some point, comes a time, you’re like: ‘I didn’t read the small print, you know?’ Where it said: ‘And, oh, by the way, you need to do it in another language, and we need one more promo shot and you need to travel now and miss a plane and wait for hours and hours in rain delays.’ We knew it was probably going to happen, but was it going to be this intense? This is the part a lot of people don’t know about — what the athletes have to go through at that level,” Federer said.
“Not looking for any ‘Aw, you poor guys.’ We’re doing well. We’re making loads of money and we have the chance to entertain millions of people. But I’m just saying, sometimes you have to second-guess yourself. Question yourself. Like, ‘Am I truly enjoying it like I’m supposed to?’ Because it’s a dream come true,” he continued. “And here you are, living the dream, yet it doesn’t feel so special anymore, because now it’s gotten normal. ‘Normal’ can be dangerous. ‘Normal’ can be no good, you know?”
That, Federer explained, is when the trick is to make things exciting for yourself — maybe “you fake it” or maybe “you have people around you that help you.”
He gave credit to the various coaches and other members of his team through the years for helping push him.
“People see me on the court and they’re like,” he said, then lowed his voice to a whisper, “’Oh, my God! He’s so gifted! Like, he can do it all by himself!'”
That, Federer said, is nonsense.
”We need inspiration. We need motivation. We need people to kick our ass and tell you, ‘OK, put on your shoes and go for a run. Put on your shoes and let’s go practice. I know you don’t want to do it here. I actually also don’t want to be here, but let’s still do it. And then you can go relax,'” he said. “It’s a challenge. But a good one. And I would do it all over again.”
And then he smiled.
___
More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | 2022-09-21T22:44:12+00:00 | wtmj.com | https://wtmj.com/sports/2022/09/21/federer-on-goat-debate-in-ap-interview-how-can-you-compare-3/ |
AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTRA), a global leader in cell-free DNA testing, today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022 and provided an update on recent business progress and financial outlook.
Recent Accomplishments & Highlights
- Generated total revenues of $198.2 million in the second quarter of 2022 compared to $142.0 million in the second quarter of 2021, an increase of 39.6%. Product revenues grew 39.3% over the same period.
- Processed approximately 499,900 tests in the second quarter of 2022, compared to approximately 375,700 tests processed in second quarter of 2021, an increase of 33.0%.
- 2022 revenue guidance raised to $805 million – $825 million.
- Selected to participate in UnitedHealthcare's Preferred Laboratory Network after a rigorous review process.
- Publication of the Trifecta study for Prospera Kidney in Transplantation; largest prospective, multi-site, fully biopsy matched study to date.
- Completed enrollment in RenaCARE study for Renasight, with more than 1,700 patients across 30+ sites.
- Secured Medicare coverage for muscle invasive bladder cancer; fourth coverage decision for Signatera.
- Presented substantial new Signatera data sets at the 2022 ASCO Annual Meeting.
- Appointed Dr. Minetta Liu as CMO for Oncology.
- Additional equity investment in Natera by Executive Chairman Matt Rabinowitz.
"Strong momentum driven by record volume levels enabled us to again raise our 2022 revenue guidance," said Steve Chapman, Natera's Chief Executive Officer. "We are proud to have served close to 500,000 patients in Q2. As we scale the business, we now see a clear path to reach a cash flow breakeven quarter by mid-2024. A key highlight in the quarter was receiving Medicare coverage for Signatera in muscle-invasive bladder cancer, representing the fourth coverage decision by Medicare for Signatera."
Second Quarter Ended June 30, 2022 Financial Results
Total revenues were $198.2 million in the second quarter of 2022 compared to $142.0 million for the second quarter of 2021, an increase of 39.6%. Product revenues were $194.6 million in the second quarter of 2022 compared to $139.6 million in the second quarter of 2021, an increase of 39.3%. The increase in product revenues was driven by an increase in test volumes compared to the second quarter of 2021. Natera processed approximately 499,900 tests in the second quarter of 2022, including approximately 484,000 tests accessioned in its laboratory, compared to approximately 375,700 tests processed, including approximately 361,500 tests accessioned in its laboratory, in the second quarter of 2021, an increase of 33.1% for the quarter.
In the three months ended June 30, 2022, Natera recognized revenue on approximately 461,300 tests for which results were reported to customers in the period (tests reported), including approximately 446,400 tests reported from its laboratory, compared to approximately 355,700 tests reported, including approximately 342,500 tests reported from its laboratory, in the second quarter of 2021, an overall increase of 29.7% for the quarter.
Gross profit* for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 was $89.0 million and $65.9 million, respectively, representing a gross margin of 44.9% and 46.4%, respectively. Natera had lower margins in the second quarter of 2022 compared to the second quarter of 2021 primarily due to increased labor and overhead costs driven by volume growth and product support.
Total operating expenses, representing research and development expenses and selling, general and administrative expenses, for the second quarter of 2022 were $232.0 million, compared to $181.2 million in the same period of the prior year, an increase of 28.0%. The increases were primarily driven by headcount growth to support the Company's expansion, volume growth, and product development.
Loss from operations for the second quarter of 2022 was $143.1 million compared to $115.3 million for the same period of the prior year.
Net loss for the second quarter of 2022 was $145.2 million, or ($1.50) per diluted share, compared to net loss of $116.0 million, or ($1.32) per diluted share, for the same period in 2021. Weighted average shares outstanding were approximately 96.6 million in the second quarter of 2022 compared to 88.1 million in the second quarter of the prior year.
At June 30, 2022, Natera held approximately $638.7 million in cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and restricted cash, compared to $914.5 million as of December 31, 2021. As of June 30, 2022, Natera had a total outstanding debt balance of $331.1 million, comprised of $50.1 million including accrued interest under its line of credit with UBS at a variable interest rate of 30-day LIBOR plus 110 bps and a net carrying amount of $281.0 million under its seven-year convertible senior notes. The convertible senior notes were issued in April 2020 for net proceeds of $278.3 million. The gross principal balance outstanding for the convertible senior notes was $287.5 million as of June 30, 2022.
Financial Outlook
Natera anticipates 2022 total revenue of $805 million to $825 million; 2022 gross margin to be approximately 46% to 48% of revenues; selling, general and administrative costs to be approximately $560 million to $590 million; research and development costs to be $340 million to $360 million, and net cash consumption to be $370 million to $400 million**.
* Gross profit is calculated as GAAP total revenues less GAAP cost of revenues. Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by GAAP total revenues.
** Cash consumption is calculated as the sum of GAAP net cash used by operating activities (estimated for 2022 to be between $370 million and $400 million) and GAAP net purchases of property and equipment (estimated for 2022 to be approximately $60 million).
About Natera
Natera™ is a global leader in cell-free DNA testing, dedicated to oncology, women's health, and organ health. We aim to make personalized genetic testing and diagnostics part of the standard of care to protect health and enable earlier, more targeted interventions that help lead to longer, healthier lives. Natera's tests are validated by more than 100 peer-reviewed publications that demonstrate high accuracy. Natera operates ISO 13485-certified and CAP-accredited laboratories certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) in Austin, Texas and San Carlos, California. For more information, visit www.natera.com.
Conference Call Information
To access the call, please register using the link above. You will then receive dial-in details and a unique PIN needed to join the call.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements under the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical facts, including the company's financial guidance for fiscal 2022, its ability to continue to increase its revenues, its product development plans and its ability to maintain and grow its business operations in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, are forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon Natera's current plans, estimates, and expectations, as of the date of this release, and are not a representation that such plans, estimates, or expectations will be achieved.
These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including: we face numerous uncertainties and challenges in achieving our financial projections and goals; we may be unable to maintain our business and operations as planned due to disruptions and economic uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic; we may be unable to further increase the use and adoption of Panorama and Horizon through our direct sales efforts or through our laboratory partners; we may be unable to develop and successfully commercialize new products, including Signatera and Prospera; we have incurred losses since our inception and we anticipate that we will continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future; our quarterly results may fluctuate from period to period; our estimates of market opportunity and forecasts of market growth may prove to be inaccurate; we may be unable to compete successfully with existing or future products or services offered by our competitors; we may engage in acquisitions, dispositions or other strategic transactions that may not achieve our anticipated benefits and could otherwise disrupt our business, cause dilution to our stockholders or reduce our financial resources; we may need to raise additional capital to support our business plans, which may not be available when necessary or on favorable terms; we may not be successful in commercializing our cloud-based distribution model; our products may not perform as expected; the results of our clinical studies, including our SNP-based Microdeletion and Aneuploidy RegisTry, or SMART, Study, may not be compelling to professional societies or payors as supporting the use of our tests, particularly in the average-risk pregnancy population or for microdeletions screening, or may not be able to be replicated in later studies required for regulatory approvals or clearances; if either of our primary CLIA-certified laboratory facilities becomes inoperable, we will be unable to perform our tests and our business will be harmed; we rely on a limited number of suppliers or, in some cases, single suppliers, for some of our laboratory instruments and materials and may not be able to find replacements or immediately transition to alternative suppliers; if we are unable to successfully scale our operations, our business could suffer; the marketing, sale, and use of Panorama and our other products could result in substantial damages arising from product liability or professional liability claims that exceed our resources; we may be unable to expand, obtain or maintain third-party payer coverage and reimbursement for Panorama, Horizon and our other tests, and we may be required to refund reimbursements already received; third-party payers may withdraw coverage or provide lower levels of reimbursement due to changing policies, billing complexities or other factors, such as the increased focus by third-party payers on requiring that prior authorization be obtained prior to conducting a test; if the FDA were to begin actively regulating our tests, we could incur substantial costs and delays associated with trying to obtain premarket clearance or approval and incur costs associated with complying with post-market controls; litigation or other proceedings, resulting from either third party claims of intellectual property infringement or third party infringement of our technology, is costly, time-consuming and could limit our ability to commercialize our products or services; any inability to effectively protect our proprietary technology could harm our competitive position or our brand; and we cannot guarantee that we will be able to service and comply with our outstanding debt obligations or achieve our expectations regarding the conversion of our outstanding convertible notes.
Additional risks and uncertainties that could affect our financial results are included under the captions, "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our most recent filings on Forms 10-K and 10-Q and in other filings that we make with the SEC from time to time. These documents are available on our website at www.natera.com under the Investor Relations section and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by us or any other person that we will achieve our objectives and plans in any specified time frame, or at all. Natera assumes no obligation to, and does not currently intend to, update any such forward-looking statements after the date of this release.
Contacts
Natera, Inc.
Investor Relations
Mike Brophy, CFO, Natera, Inc., 510-826-2350
Media
Paul Greenland, VP of Corporate Marketing, Natera, Inc., pr@natera.com
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SOURCE Natera, Inc. | 2022-08-04T21:16:57+00:00 | wagmtv.com | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/04/natera-reports-second-quarter-2022-financial-results/ |
Delta Features CNC Controller NC5 Series Upgrade at TIMTOS 2023
TAIPEI, March 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta, a world-class provider of power management and industrial automation solutions, has announced its participation in the Taipei International Machine Tool Show 2023 (TIMTOS 2023) with the theme of "Cloud & On-Premises Integration for Sustainable Smart Manufacturing". During the exhibition, Delta is demonstrating exhibits in five topics, including "Manufacturing Operation Visualization", "CNC Industry-Specific Applications", "Smart Manufacturing Integration", "ESG Fulfillment for the Industry", and "Smart Machines". For metal machining, Delta is integrating its upgraded High Performance General CNC Controller NC5 Series and is introducing lathe, milling, wood routing, multi-spindle machinery, and other CNC IIoT solutions. The CNC controller NC5 Series' new features include built-in industry CAD/CAM and energy consumption calculation for machining to enhance productivity and yield rate, and achieve environmental sustainability. With the CNC IIoT architecture, the solutions support MES (Manufacturing Execution System) and visualization platforms to optimize management efficiency for a new era in machining.
Andy Liu, general manager of Delta's Industrial Automation Business Group (IABG), mentioned that smart manufacturing and sustainability are keywords in today's industry and are influencing the progress and direction of transformation and upgrades. As an advocate and practitioner, Delta has simulated its extensive experience in smart manufacturing and has continuously summarized actual needs in the machining scenarios. With our devotion to the CNC field, we have upgraded our CNC controller NC5 Series and developed various CNC IIoT industry-specific solutions that we are showcasing at TIMTOS 2023. Seeing the emerging post-pandemic recovery, we look forward to helping the industry bounce back and create growth with our integrated hardware and software solutions.
Delta's exhibit highlights at TIMTOS 2023 include:
- Manufacturing Operation Visualization
Observing pain points in the machining industry resulting from the lack of machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, such as inefficient management and poor data records and traceability, Delta is presenting its Visualization for Metal Machinery Smart Factory during TIMTOS 2023. Including the 3D Visualization Management System and the Scada System VTScada, machining manufacturers can choose based on their applications and production requirements. Either solution can monitor, collect, upload, and analyze machine and machining data. With clear charts, machining manufacturers can quickly find where to improve, assist decision-making, and continuously optimize the process.
- CNC Industry-Specific Applications
Delta's CNC controller NC5 Series has received much praise since its debut. Based on its powerful features of machine tool and robot arm controller integration, RTCP 5-axis processing, and more, the NC5 Series now has newly added built-in industry CAD/CAM. The software can automatically identify graphics and generate G Code with one click and it supports tool path simulation which shortens production time and enhances productivity. For the machining manufacturers with requirements to mill multiple parts simultaneously, Delta demonstrates the Multi-Spindle Machinery Solution. This solution can calibrate the tooltip position of each Z axis, and automatically compensate tool wear for high-precision and high-speed machining. Meanwhile, with the integration of the Advanced Multi-Axis AC Servo System ASDA-W3 Series, its common DC bus effectively leverages regenerative energy which helps manufacturers lower carbon emissions and achieve energy savings.
In terms of software, Delta showcases CAD/CAM specifically for the machine tool industry. The software supports standard milling and lathe controller commands and features pattern identification, machining optimization, auto tool selection, interference detection, domain know-how integration, and more. Machining manufacturers can integrate controllers, software functions, and know-how based on different industry machine requirements to enhance machine value and competitiveness.
- Smart Manufacturing Integration
Adopting industrial robots for repetitive and dangerous work is the current trend. Seeing the growing demand, Delta has developed a comprehensive product portfolio including SCARA, articulated robots, and the Modular Robot RS-M90E7 combining the advantages of industrial and collaborative robots in terms of performance and friendly operation. In addition to the robots, Delta is showcasing its Smart Screwdriving Solutions for Assembly, providing handheld and integrated robotic arm solutions with the Smart Screwdriving System to complete metal production from machining to assembly.
- ESG Fulfillment for the Industry
ESG is no doubt among the current high-awareness topics in the industry. As a pioneer advocating environmental sustainability, Delta continuously devotes innovation and research and development (R&D) to enhancing resource utilization efficiency and product sustainability to respond to global carbon reduction goals. During TIMTOS 2023, Delta is exhibiting its Smart Green Manufacturing Solution and the CNC controller NC5 Series featuring built-in energy management functions, which can generate workpiece carbon footprint reports to facilitate the industry in achieving energy savings and fulfill ESG.
- Smart Machines
Delta is joining forces with its partners to demonstrate the smart machining center, lathe machine, 3-axis milling machine, and grinding machine with NC5 Series solutions to showcase the practical applications of its RTCP, multi-axis, and multi-channel functions. In addition, Delta is presenting its Electric Servo Press AM-SAP F Series to provide a precise, accurate, and high-speed press-fitting option to optimize machining precision for complex production.
Besides the exhibits, Delta has also arranged seminars during TIMTOS 2023 to share in-depth and professional insights in the fields of CNC controller NC5 Series integrated applications. This includes software and hardware integration for turning, milling, woodworking, and other multi-axis applications, industry-specific smart CAD/CAM solution, metal machinery 3D smart factory, green boosters for machine tool industry to fulfill ESG, and electric servo press for metal part processing. Two topics are presented every day to assist the machine tool industry in achieving machinery transformation and seizing the opportunities of smart machining.
For more information on Delta's machine tool related products and solutions, please visit the Delta Virtual Expo for TIMTOS 2023: https://www.deltaww.com/event/TIMTOS/.
Delta's Booth at TIMTOS 2023
Dates: March 6 – 11, 2023
Time: 10:00 – 18:00
Location: 1F, Hall 2, Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center
Booth Number: Q0824
About Delta Industrial Automation
As a world-class industrial automation brand, we are dedicated to the development of AC motor drives, servo and motion control systems, programmable logic controllers, human machine interfaces, machine vision systems, meters and sensors, industrial control and monitoring software, and industrial robots.
Our industrial automation solutions extend to a broad range of industry applications, including electronics, textiles, food, pharmacy, rubber and plastics, packaging, printing, woodworking, and machine tools. We integrate our automation products, equipment networking, system software, IoT technology, and big data analysis to build innovative and reliable smart, green factory automation solutions for global customers, and to realize our promise of "Digitized Automation for a Changing World".
For more information, please go to:
Delta Electronics: http://www.deltaww.com/
Delta Industrial Automation: http://www.delta.com.tw/product/em/em_main.asp
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SOURCE Delta Electronics | 2023-03-06T15:57:50+00:00 | waff.com | https://www.waff.com/prnewswire/2023/03/06/cloud-amp-on-premises-integration-sustainable-smart-manufacturing/ |
- Lunit and FujiFilm Thailand to supply Lunit INSIGHT CXR and Lunit INSIGHT MMG to one of SEA's largest hospital using Microsoft Azure
- Aim to detect cancer in early stages and spearhead medical innovation through AI across the SEA region
SEOUL, South Korea, July 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lunit, a leading medical AI provider, announced that it has signed a contract with FujiFilm Thailand and Microsoft to supply AI cancer screening products to Bumrungrad International Hospital, located in Bangkok, Thailand. Under the agreement, Lunit INSIGHT CXR, a CE-marked chest x-ray analysis AI software, and Lunit INSIGHT MMG, an FDA-cleared AI solution for detecting breast cancer in early stages, are deployed in Bumrungrad hospital.
Lunit and FujiFilm Thailand supply AI solutions to Bumrungrad hospital using Microsoft Azure, a global cloud computing platform. Lunit and Microsoft have been partnering to deliver state-of-the-art medical AI technology to more diagnostic practices globally. Based on previous collaboration experiences, Microsoft Azure will enhance the operation of Lunit's software at Bumrungrad hospital.
Bumrungrad, the only Thai hospital named as 'World's Best Hospitals 2022' by Newsweek, is one of the largest private hospitals in Southeast Asia, with 580 beds and treating 1.1 million patients annually from more than 190 different countries.
Currently, the hospital is actively using Lunit AI solutions in its check-ups, intensive care units, emergency rooms, and more. Lunit INSIGHT CXR and Lunit INSIGHT MMG analyze more than 100,000 medical images that are annually taken in the hospital. Through AI, Bumrungrad aims to provide better services by timely detection of chest abnormalities and breast cancer. Lunit plans to further support Bumrungrad to drive groundbreaking medical innovation across Southeast Asia.
"Bumrungrad International Hospital, widely recognized as an international medical destination, has been creating innovative clinical experiences that can serve patients' needs and solve pain points for nearly four decades. We are delighted to introduce our AI solutions to Bumrungrad, which strives to ensure a healthier life for patients," said Brandon Suh, CEO of Lunit. "We also expect the partnership with Microsoft, a leading cloud service provider, will expand the reach of Lunit INSIGHT CXR and Lunit INSIGHT MMG into further sites across the world so that our INSIGHT suite supports more hospitals detecting critical findings."
"Medical imaging has been another area of healthcare identified as 'highly potential' for artificial intelligence (AI) applications. AI would be a support tool for human decision-making, providing a second opinion for doctors' consideration during the diagnostic process. An additional benefit we anticipate for the AI system is its ability to speed up the learning curve for junior doctors with less experience in reading images," said Dr. Teeradache Viangteeravat, Director of Research and Development at Bumrungrad International Hospital. "Lunit is a world leader in this space and can provide a suite of integrated AI solutions, which support our strategic objectives. We are proud to be working with Lunit to implement world-class medical AI imaging solutions to continue delivering high-quality support that fits our patients' and clinicians' demands."
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SOURCE Lunit | 2022-07-05T13:37:19+00:00 | kfyrtv.com | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2022/07/05/bumrungrad-international-hospital-southeast-asias-largest-hospital-deploy-lunits-ai-cancer-screening-system/ |
Todd Chrisley has his faith on his mind ahead of reporting to prison this week. The 53-year-old reality star took to his Instagram account to post a religious video on Monday night ahead of his scheduled arrival to prison.
"HE is always on time… #fightthegoodfight," Todd captioned the clip, which features Karen Peck singing "Four Days Late."
Todd's son, Kyle, commented on the post, "I love you daddy this isn’t over," while his daughter, Savannah, wrote, "I love you daddy ❤️."
Todd and his wife, Julie Chrisley, are scheduled to report to separate prison facilities on Tuesday to begin serving their combined 19-year prison sentence following their federal tax fraud case convictions.
Todd, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison, will report to Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Pensacola in Florida, a minimum security facility. Julie, meanwhile, was originally set to report to FCI Marianna in Jackson County, Florida, just two hours away, but instead will report to Federal Medical Center Lexington in Lexington, Kentucky after being re-designated to the facility on Dec. 20. FMC Lexington houses both male and female inmates requiring medical or mental health care and holds inmates of all security classifications.
The Chrisleys were sentenced back in November, nearly six months after they were found guilty of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and tax fraud. While the couple has frequently spoken about an unjust legal system, their sentence is far less than what prosecutors requested, which was 17.5 to 22 years for Todd and 10 to 12.5 for Julie.
RELATED CONTENT: | 2023-01-17T21:33:32+00:00 | ktvb.com | https://www.ktvb.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-tonight/todd-chrisley-posts-religious-message-ahead-of-reporting-to-prison/603-7b95d58a-8163-4890-9f14-4163c94c133b |
SHANGHAI, Jan. 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On January 28, JD Shop Now released the "2023 Report of on-demand Consumption in Spring Festival." During the Chinese Spring Festival, JD Shop Now sales have increased by 90% compared to the Spring Festival last year. The search volume for Spring Festival decorations such as couplets, lucky characters, and red paper cuttings has rapidly increased, more than 3.5 times that of the same festive period last year.
Data from JD Shop Now shows that gift boxes, fruits, alcoholic beverages, and mobile phones are the most popular during the Spring Festival. On New Year Eve, the consumer's order amount increased by 171% year-on-year.
Gift box sales remain popular throughout the entire Spring Festival period, with overall year-over-year growth of over 50%. Among them, sales of baijiu (Chinese liquor) gift boxes and fruit and nut gift boxes have grown more than 10 times, while sales of fruit gift boxes, baked goods gift boxes, and dried seafood gift boxes have grown more than three times.
As many areas have started to experience snow and lower temperatures, warm clothing items have also become popular, with sales of wool caps, gloves, electric blankets, and heaters increasing more than 2.5 times year-over-year.
Data from JD Shop Now shows that during the Chinese New Year period, sales of mobile phones increased by more than 70% compared to the previous year, cosmetics and perfume sales increased by more than 120%, sales of home appliances increased by 226%.
Sales of smart health monitoring products on JD Shop Now increased by more than 10 times, and sales of massagers, electric health pots, and air purifiers increased by more than 2 times. The data shows that the sales of kitchen appliances such as floor-cleaning robots, cooking machines, and air fryers experienced explosive growth, and increased by more than 8 times compared to the previous year.
In order to bring pets home for the New Year, "pet owners" ordered travel equipment for cats and dogs on JD Shop Now, with sales increasing by 176% year-over-year, and sales of cat and dog toys, pet beauty tools, and pet medical supplies all increased by more than 110% year-over-year.
About cooperation between Dada Group and JD.com
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SOURCE Dada Group | 2023-01-31T10:30:01+00:00 | wbrc.com | https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2023/01/31/jd-shop-now-sales-increased-90-during-chinese-spring-festival/ |
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — Julie Domicone from Jubie’s Creamery joined us in the Living Dayton kitchen to make some specialty ice cream and pies!
Julie talked about many different flavors of ice cream, however, the Thanksgiving Dinner Ice Cream Pie was definitely the most interesting.
Taking the form of a Thanksgiving meal, this pie is made completely of sweets! Featuring vanilla soft serve, this pie includes a graham cracker crust, caramel, chocolate hard-shell candy and much more!
Find out more in the video above! | 2022-11-07T22:25:24+00:00 | wdtn.com | https://www.wdtn.com/living-dayton/celebrating-thanksgiving-with-jubies-creamery/ |
NEW YORK, April 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --
WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Hesai Group (NASDAQ: HSAI) resulting from allegations that Hesai may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Hesai securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=13347 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.
WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On March 16, 2023, Hesai announced in a press release its unaudited financial results for the three months and full year ended December 31, 2022. The Company failed to disclose that in their fourth quarter ended December 31, 2022 ("4Q2022"), the last completed quarter before the Company's initial public offering ("IPO"), there was "lower in-house plant capacity utilization rate", which caused the increased shipments of lower-margin advanced driver assistance systems ("ADAS") and light detection and ranging ("LiDAR") products. Loss from operations widened by 84.9% in 4Q2022 compared to their fourth quarter ended in December 31, 2021.
On this news, Hesai's share price fell $1.55, or 10%, to close at $13.69 per share on March 16, 2023.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
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SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A. | 2023-04-05T20:28:30+00:00 | wlbt.com | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2023/04/05/hsai-investor-news-rosen-skilled-investor-counsel-encourages-hesai-group-investors-inquire-about-securities-class-action-investigation-hsai/ |
St. John’s earned its first ranking in seven years after matching the best start in school history, entering The Associated Press women’s basketball poll at No. 25 on Monday.
The Red Storm (11-0) equaled the 2004-05 team that also won its first 11 games with Sunday’s win over Providence. St. John’s had a victory over then-No. 13 Creighton on Dec. 4, helping coach Joe Tartamella’s squad earn its first appearance in the poll since Dec. 14, 2015.
“It’s great to be recognized and I’m proud for our kids,” he said. “We know we have a long way to go in the year. Obviously to be recognized nationally, you can’t take that for granted. It’s been a while and to know this group got us back in is pretty cool.”
South Carolina remained the top team in the poll, receiving all 28 first-place votes from a national media panel. The top five was unchanged with Stanford, Ohio State, Indiana and Notre Dame following the Gamecocks. The Irish won a showdown with then-No. 6 Virginia Tech 63-52 on Sunday. The Hokies fell to eighth. North Carolina and North Carolina State were sixth and seventh. UConn and LSU rounded out the top 10.
LSU (12-0) finished its non-conference schedule unbeaten for the first time since the 2002-03 season. The Tigers played their first Power Five opponent on Sunday, routing Oregon State by 32 points.
“We just have a confident bunch right now,” LSU coach Kim Mulkey said. “I wish we didn’t have to go home for the break. I wish we could go on and start some SEC play because that’s what builds a team.”
FEAST WEEK
There are some strong early week matchups with No. 3 Ohio State, No. 16 Oregon, No. 21 Arkansas and South Florida playing in a tournament in San Diego on Tuesday and Wednesday. No. 6 North Carolina plays No. 19 Michigan in the Jumpman Invitational on Tuesday.
HOLIDAY SEASON
It’s a short week with no teams playing Saturday or Sunday. There are only four games on Friday with Stanford-California the lone ranked game that day.
___
AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 | 2022-12-20T16:21:57+00:00 | ktalnews.com | https://www.ktalnews.com/sports/ap-st-johns-cracks-womens-ap-top-25-for-1st-time-since-2015/ |
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ The winning numbers in Tuesday evening's drawing of the Texas Lottery's "Daily 4 Evening" game were:
2-1-5-0, FIREBALL: 6
(two, one, five, zero; FIREBALL: six)
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ The winning numbers in Tuesday evening's drawing of the Texas Lottery's "Daily 4 Evening" game were:
2-1-5-0, FIREBALL: 6
(two, one, five, zero; FIREBALL: six) | 2022-12-28T01:49:57+00:00 | sfgate.com | https://www.sfgate.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Daily-4-Evening-game-17680236.php |
Roller, John "Poppy" Edward, 92. Tulsa, OK. Died Monday, December 19. A Celebration of Life will be held at Primrose Funeral Service on Wednesday, April 12, at 11 a.m. Primrose Funeral Service
Roller, John "Poppy" Edward, 92. Tulsa,
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Lists are part of global library resources on WorldCat.org
DUBLIN, Ohio, March 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- To commemorate and celebrate Women's History Month, WorldCat.org, the website that connects online searchers to the world's libraries, has collaborated with some of the most renowned women's organizations and scholars to share thought-provoking lists of important works about, by, and for women. These materials are intended to provide educators, parents, students, and the general public with an understanding of the most important and meaningful resources for Women's History Month and for women's studies throughout the year.
Celebrated in the U.S. since 1987, Women's History Month honors the brave, accomplished, and influential women whose perspectives and achievements have changed the course of the nation's history. To help make engagement in that history more accessible and actionable, WorldCat.org has collected and curated resources and expert lists on a topic page about women's lives, experiences, and contributions from some of the leading organizations and leaders in the field, including The National Women's History Alliance, which spearheaded the movement to declare March as Women's History Month, the National Women's Studies Association, and The Karson Institute for Race, Peace, and Social Justice.
The Women's History topic page contains lists of books, documentaries, films, videos, and more, curated across focus areas that include:
- 20 seminal moments from American women's history
- The fundamentals of women's history
- Women and the economy
- Women in politics
- Women in sports
- Anthologies of women writers
- Biographies and memoirs of notable women
- Popular stories and depictions of women
- Other popular searches on, or related to, women's history on WorldCat.org
"When we helped establish Women's History Month, our aim was to promote women's history through education, empowerment, equality and inclusion," said Molly Murphy MacGregor, Executive Director and Co-Founder of The National Women's History Alliance. "This unique collaboration with WorldCat.org creates a centralized, comprehensive, and accessible resource that enables people to explore the strength and inspiration of the women who came before us – and the remarkable women working among us today."
To learn more about the vital role of women in American history, visit the Women's History topic page on WorldCat.org at https://worldcat.org/topics/womens-history.
About WorldCat.org
Since 2006, WorldCat.org has been the window to the collections and resources of more than 10,000 libraries in more than 100 countries around the world. WorldCat.org is a unique destination, representing the world's largest library community on the web. WorldCat.org is an innovation of OCLC, a nonprofit global library organization that provides shared technology services, original research, and community programs to member libraries and the library community at large. OCLC, member libraries, publishers, and other partner organizations collaboratively maintain WorldCat.org. Explore WorldCat.org on the web.
About OCLC
OCLC is a nonprofit global library organization that provides shared technology services, original research, and community programs so that libraries can better fuel learning, research, and innovation. Through OCLC, member libraries cooperatively produce and maintain WorldCat, the most comprehensive global network of data about library collections and services. Libraries gain efficiencies through OCLC's WorldShare, a complete set of library management applications and services built on an open, Cloud-based platform. It is through collaboration and sharing of the world's collected knowledge that libraries can help people find answers they need to solve problems. Together as OCLC, member libraries, staff, and partners make breakthroughs possible.
OCLC, WorldCat, and WorldShare are trademarks and/or service marks of OCLC, Inc. Third-party product, service and business names are trademarks and/or service marks of their respective owners.
For more information: Contact Bob Murphy at murphyb@oclc.org or +1-614-761-5136
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SOURCE WorldCat.org | 2023-03-08T15:35:44+00:00 | mysuncoast.com | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2023/03/08/acclaimed-womens-organizations-scholars-offer-curated-lists-best-resources-honor-womens-history-month/ |
A man is accused of attempting to bring fraudulent law enforcement credentials, firearms, ammunition and a bulletproof vest on a flight from New Jersey to Florida.
During a routine screening of checked luggage, U.S. Attorney Phillip Sellinger said agents found ammunition and a ballistic vest with the words "Deputy Marshal" on it.
Sellinger said the discovery led agents to search other luggage belonging to Seretse Clouden. Agents found rifles, handguns, a taser and a spring-loaded knife, according to Sellinger.
The luggage also reportedly contained “United States Marshal” credentials with Clouden’s name and photograph. Sellinger said the U.S. Marshals Service was contacted and confirmed that Clouden is not, and was not, an employee with the agency.
The Department of Justice said in a court filing that Clouden was convicted in 2016 of unlawful possession of a weapon.
Clouden faces a maximum of 15 years in prison on the firearms and ammunition charges and another five years for allegedly being in possession of fraudulent identification documents.
Passengers are allowed to travel with unloaded firearms, but they must be packed in checked baggage.
"The case with the firearm should be brought to the airline check-in counter to be declared with the airline representative," the TSA states. | 2023-02-28T23:03:44+00:00 | fox17online.com | https://www.fox17online.com/news/national/man-accused-of-attempting-to-fly-with-rifles-handguns-ammunition-in-luggage |
Daniel Ellsberg, who leaked the Pentagon Papers that detailed U.S. actions during the Vietnam war, died Friday at this home in Kensington, Calif. He was 92. The cause, his family said in a statement, was pancreatic cancer.
In March, Ellsberg posted on his Facebook page that doctors diagnosed him with inoperable pancreatic cancer on Feb. 17 following a CT scan and MRI.
In the statement, Ellsberg family said that in the months since the diagnosis, "he continued to speak out urgently to the media about nuclear dangers, especially the danger of nuclear war posed by the Ukraine war and Taiwan."
"Daniel was a seeker of truth and a patriotic truth-teller, an antiwar activist, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, a dear friend to many, and an inspiration to countless more. He will be dearly missed by all of us," according to the statement
Ellsberg never ran for office and only occasionally appeared on TV. But he altered the course of U.S. history in a way few private citizens ever have.
As a military analyst working on a Pentagon project in 1971, Ellsberg chose to release to the public an extensive, documentary record of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. Known as the "Pentagon Papers," Ellsberg's mammoth disclosure would help to end the longest U.S. war of the 20th century. It would also prompt a landmark Supreme Court decision on freedom of the press. And it would provoke a response from President Richard Nixon that led directly to the scandals that ended his presidency.
By the time he got to the Pentagon, Ellsberg, then 40, was a Marine Corps veteran with a Harvard doctorate who had worked for the Defense and State departments and the Rand Corporation. A "hawk" before going to Vietnam in 1965, Ellsberg had since turned against the war and the official justifications given for it.
Since 1969 he had been one of dozens of analysts studying and writing about the decisions behind the escalating U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. The study covered the years from 1945 to 1968, and had first been commissioned by Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara toward the end of that period.
Ellsberg and a Rand colleague, Anthony Russo, had access to a copy of the 7,000-pages of classified documents and historical narrative kept at Rand. The pair photocopied them at night, one page at a time over a period of months.
Ellsberg showed the material to a few senators who had been critics of the war. He said he hoped they would hold hearings, or enter the report in the Congressional Record. But they were not willing to do so, and one encouraged him to go to the New York Times.
Ellsberg did just that, contacting a legendary reporter at the New York Times whom he had known in Vietnam, Neal Sheehan. Supported by the top editors at the Times, Sheehan led a team of writers and editors in distilling the immense document for newspaper use. On June 13, 1971, the first story ran atop the front page.
Sheehan wrote that the United States had gone to war not to save the Vietnamese from Communism but to maintain "the power, influence and prestige of the United States ... irrespective of conditions in Vietnam."
Revealing a quarter century of war and denial
The report that came to be known as the Pentagon papers said the U.S. had first been involved in Vietnam during World War II, when Americans helped Vietnamese resist Japanese occupation. After the war, the U.S. supported France's attempt to reclaim its colonies in Southeast Asia, largely to keep France in the alliance against the Soviet Union.
As the French forces faltered in Vietnam, the U.S. shouldered more and more of the cost of the war. And when the French gave up and left in 1954, the U.S. remained to protect Western investments and bolster an anti-communist government in Saigon (South Vietnam) while a Communist regime in Hanoi held sway in the country's northern half.
But almost none of this was known to the American public at the time, and when John F. Kennedy became president in 1961 he extended the commitments made by previous presidents. His successor, Lyndon B. Johnson, greatly expanded these commitments, escalating the war with hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops and relentless bombing campaigns in the mid-1960s.
Richard Nixon came to office in 1969 promising to end the war, but even as he reduced the U.S. troop presence he also widened the war into Cambodia and stepped up the bombing.
The most shocking revelation in Ellsberg's report was the willingness of one president and one administration after another to continue the commitment — and the upbeat assessments of the situation — even as they each came to believe the mission would ultimately fail, that no amount of conventional military force would subdue the Vietnamese resistance.
Ellsberg later summed it up by saying: "We always knew we could never win." Yet the war went on and more lives were lost because American leaders were unwilling to acknowledge the futility of the war or to accept the humiliation of defeat.
Although he himself had been part of the war machinery for years, and remained silent even after turning against the war, Ellsberg later reported having a dramatic conversion at a conference for draft resisters at Haverford College in August 1969.
In an interview 50 years later on NPR's Fresh Air, Ellsberg said: "Without young men going to prison for nonviolent protests against the draft, men that I met on their way to prison, [there would have been] no Pentagon Papers. It wouldn't have occurred to me simply to do something that would put myself in prison for the rest of my life, as I assumed that would do."
The threat of prison was quite real
The reaction to the papers' publication was immediate. President Richard Nixon's Justice Department got a federal judge to order the Times to cease publishing the stories. But Ellsberg was able to share another copy of the report with The Washington Post, which took up where its rival paper had left off. Other papers also stepped up. Besides the Times and the Post, at least 15 other newspapers stepped up to publish the Pentagon material in the critical days following the original release.
In that month, while the FBI searched frantically for the leaker, Ellsberg managed to elude his pursuers for11 days before turning himself in. The government charged him for violating the Espionage Act of 1917, a law passed during World War I and often abused to suppress dissent in that era. The sum total of the charges against him threatened a total jail term of 115 years, prompting reporters to ask if he had second thoughts about what he had done.
"How can I measure the jeopardy I'm in," Ellsberg asked, "... to the penalty that has already been paid by 50,000 American families and hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese families?"
After his arrest, Ellsberg entered a period of legal limbo while awaiting trial, a period that would last nearly two years.
Meanwhile, the orders against the newspapers went to the Supreme Court on an expedited basis that June. The justices voted 6-3 to say "prior restraint" of publication required the government to meet a high test of necessity and irreparable harm — a test the court said had not been meant. The Times resumed publishing on July 1.
Why did Nixon pursue Ellsberg so vigorously?
The events and actions chronicled in the Pentagon Papers preceded Nixon's time in the Oval Office and could be blamed on his predecessors (most of them Democrats). But Nixon was angered and dismayed at their publication, convinced it would undercut support for the war and undermine respect for the government.
"The principle of confidentiality either exists or it does not exist," he said at a press conference. Tapes made in the Oval Office at the time recorded Nixon's profanity-laced denunciations of Ellsberg: "Let's get the son of a bitch into jail."
Nixon's national security adviser, Henry Kissinger, who had known Ellsberg as a military analyst years earlier, now labeled him "the most dangerous man in America." Both Nixon and Kissinger feared the revelations would torpedo their secret negotiations with Hanoi and Beijing. (As it happened, the Nixon administration was able to complete a withdrawal agreement for U.S. troops and a "breakthrough" diplomatic opening with China in the year after the papers were published.)
Ellsberg and others (including Nixon biographer John Farrell) have also contended that Nixon was worried by what Ellsberg would reveal about Nixon's backdoor negotiations with the Saigon government before he was president. While still a private citizen and a candidate for president in 1968, Nixon had signaled the South Vietnamese not to agree to peace terms proposed by President Johnson — promising them better terms if Nixon became president.
Whatever the source of his concerns, Nixon was not willing to wait for Ellsberg to come to trial. He directed various government agencies, including the CIA and the FBI, to find ways to discredit Ellsberg. In one conversation with his Attorney General John Mitchell (captured on the White House taping system in 1971) Nixon says: "Don't worry about his trial. Just get everything out. Try him in the press. Everything, John, that there is on the investigation, get it out, leak it out. We want to destroy him in the press. Is that clear?"
To that end, the White House created a covert squad known as "the plumbers" because they were hired to stop leaks of government documents that were embarrassing the administration — particular those leaked by Ellsberg. The operatives broke into Ellsberg's psychiatrist's office in Los Angeles but failed to find his file. When these and other illegal activities came to light, a federal judge overseeing Ellsberg's trial dismissed the charges. They were never reinstated.
While Ellsberg was still awaiting trial, the "plumbers" unit relocated from the White House to Nixon's reelection campaign organization and carried on their unlawful activities. These included two subsequent burglaries at the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee in Washington, D.C., located in the Watergate office complex not far from the White House.
On their second visit, the burglars were discovered and arrested in June 1972. Thus began the unraveling and revelation of numerous crimes, "dirty tricks" and official cover-ups known collectively as the Watergate scandal. Investigations and impeachment proceedings would push Nixon to resign in August 1974.
A quieter life with episodes of controversy
Ellsberg's name and prominence receded as time went on, and he devoted most of his time to teaching and writing. But he was often seen and heard at various protests involving war and peace, nuclear weapons and the actions the federal government took against whistleblowers.
His name became synonymous with resistance to government power, especially power exercised in secret. And he continued that career of resistance into his tenth decade of life, as an advocate for peace and a critic of government secrecy.
Ellsberg opposed the war in Iraq that began in 2003 and was a speaker at numerous rallies and events protesting that war and the suppression of its critics. In 2013 he said on Democracy Now that the U.S. had never taken responsibility for the Iraqi and Afghani lives lost in the U.S. invasions of those countries.
He also spoke out in defense of Wikileaks and its founder, Julian Assange, who has been fighting extradition to the U.S. for more than a dozen years. Ellsberg defended Wikileaks in 2010 for helping to build a better government. He also testified for Assange at an extradition hearing in 2020.
Assange has accused the U.S. of committing war crimes in Iraq and has published classified material such as diplomatic cables between the U.S. and other countries as well as documents on surveillance by the CIA and the National Security Agency. During the 2016 presidential campaign, Wikileaks released emails from the Democratic National Committee to Hillary Clinton's campaign manager.
Ellsberg also championed two of the whistleblowers Assange helped to make famous for releasing classified documents. The first was Chelsea Manning, a U.S. Army soldier and intelligence analyst who shared 750,000 records with Wikileaks in 2010. These included diplomatic cables, Army logs and diaries and videos of events such as a 2007 helicopter strike on a Baghdad street and another airstrike in Afghanistan in 2009, both of which appeared to have killed civilians.
Manning faced 22 charges, some under the Espionage Act and one of aiding the enemy, which could have carried a death sentence. She was sentenced to 35 years in confinement but had her sentence commuted by President Barack Obama in 2017 after she had served seven years.
Ellsberg also traveled to Moscow to visit and be photographed with Edward Snowden, a one-time computer intelligence consultant for the National Security Agency who had also worked for the CIA. In 2013, Snowden leaked information about surveillance programs run by the NSA and similar agencies of allied governments. Stories based on the documents involved appeared in The Washington Post, The Guardian and other publications.
Snowden was charged with stealing government property and, like Manning and Ellsberg, for violating the Espionage Act. He left the country and received temporary asylum in Russia at the time. In September 2022, Snowden was granted Russian citizenship
A life of ordinary beginnings, extraordinary events
Ellsberg was born in Chicago in 1931. His parents were European Jews who came to America and converted to Christian Science. He attended public schools in Chicago and Detroit and won a scholarship to Harvard, where he graduated summa cum laude in 1952 and won a Marshall Scholarship to attend the University of Cambridge in England. In 1954 he enlisted in the Marines and was commissioned as an officer, mustering out in 1957 and returning to Harvard to work on his doctoral degree in economics.
While still a graduate student in 1958 he began working for Rand. There, he studied nuclear defense policy, worked on an elaborate plan by which the U.S. could preserve its nuclear forces in the event of a first strike by the Soviet Unionand saw war plans drawn up in that era for striking the USSR and China. In 2017 he published a book about this phase of his career called The Doomsday Machine. In 2021, Ellsberg released documents he had from that period because he said he was concerned about mounting tensions between the U.S. and China.
Ellsberg was married twice, the first time to the daughter of a brigadier general in the Marine Corps. The couple divorced in 1965. Five years later, Ellsberg married Patricia Marx, the daughter of a wealthy toy manufacturer, Louis Marx.
NPR researchers Katie Daugert and Barclay Walsh contributed to this report.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2023-06-16T19:28:50+00:00 | klcc.org | https://www.klcc.org/npr-politics/npr-politics/2023-06-16/history-making-whistleblower-daniel-ellsberg-has-died-at-92 |
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (AP) — A motorist fleeing from Missouri police in a suspected stolen vehicle has struck and killed two people riding on a motorcycle, authorities say.
The pursuit started Wednesday night when officers spotted the suspicious Jeep Cherokee, Sgt. John Syme, an Independence police spokesman, said Thursday.
The driver is accused of swerving at oncoming vehicles, including a police cruiser, before striking the motorcycle, The Kansas City Star reports. The two victims were not immediately identified.
Instead of stopping, the motorist drove the wrong way on several roadways, including Interstate 70, Syme said. He said an officer eventually used his police vehicle to stop the SUV and arrest the driver, who had minor injuries.
The crash occurred in an area near the Kansas City and Independence city limits, where several other bystanders have been killed or hurt by fleeing motorists in recent years. Some police departments only allow police chases in cases involving violent felonies to reduce the risk of that happening. But Independence has no such restrictions. | 2023-03-24T16:35:15+00:00 | sfgate.com | https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/fleeing-driver-hits-kills-2-people-riding-on-a-17858235.php |
BENGALURU, India (AP) — Indian finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced several new clean energy initiatives in the government’s annual federal budget speech on Wednesday, saying “green growth” is a top priority for the country.
More than $8 billion dollars were announced for projects like mangrove restoration which help suck carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, converting waste into biogas and speeding up renewable energy initiatives. But details of how the funds will be spent are yet to be disclosed.
The minister said the injection of 35,000 crore rupees ($4.3 billion) into India’s energy transition will be channeled through the ministry of petroleum and natural gas to help India reach its goal of net zero emissions by 2070. India is currently the world’s third highest-emitting nation.
The new funds form part of the government’s $550 billion budget aimed at ramping up spending to spur economic growth and create jobs ahead of the general election next year. Sitharaman mentioned the scaling up of clean energy for the economy and jobs within the first few minutes of her speech.
Sitharaman also proposed government incentives for energy storage systems in India that would aid round-the-clock renewable energy use and announced a new framework for pumped storage systems for hydropower.
She set out an additional 20,700 crore rupees ($ 2.5 billion) to facilitate new clean energy production in the Himalayan region of Ladakh, where electricity grid infrastructure remains a key sticking point.
Other programs to incentivize the use of alternative, less-polluting fertilizers and to cut down on chemical fertilizers were also announced, but details of how much will be spent were unclear.
Import taxes for components required to produce lithium-ion batteries, a key component in many electric vehicles, will be slashed, Sitharaman said. But no exemption was provided for protective taxes in the solar power sector.
The budget will now be debated by both houses of parliament before it can be enacted, which is likely to happen as Modi’s party holds a strong majority.
The move toward clean energy and away from fossil fuels has increasingly become a priority for India and nations around the world as countries try and limit global warming.
India’s government recently announced a green hydrogen initiative for clean fuel and a climate action program to encourage more sustainable lifestyles. But the country is still heavily dependent on planet-warming coal burning for its energy needs.
___
Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about AP’s climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. | 2023-02-01T20:40:14+00:00 | wate.com | https://www.wate.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-india-finance-minister-announces-new-clean-energy-funds/ |
BEIJING, Dec. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has said China will continue to enhance cooperation with Arab states under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and the Global Security Initiative (GSI).
He made the remarks during his meetings with Arab states' leaders ahead of the first China-Arab States Summit and the China-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit, both of which kicked off on Friday in the Saudi capital Riyadh.
In his talks with leaders of Arab states, Xi has constantly emphasized the vital importance of sovereignty and territorial integrity, economic development and international cooperation.
President Xi put forward the GSI while delivering a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2022. Xi advocated six principles, including that countries should respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, uphold non-interference in internal affairs, reject the cold war mentality and oppose unilateralism so that countries can together promote security for all in the world.
In his meetings with over ten political leaders of Arab states, including Palestine, Egypt, Sudan, Kuwait, Tunisia, Iraq, Xi said China sees Arab states as important forces in the multipolar world and attaches great importance to developing strategic partnerships with them.
The current international and regional situations are undergoing profound and complex changes, and China firmly supports all Arab states in safeguarding their national sovereignty, security and stability, and backs the Arab world in following the development paths that suit their national conditions. China also unswervingly opposes external interference in their internal affairs, Xi said.
Xi said that no matter how the international and regional situation changes, China always firmly supports the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore the legitimate rights and interests of their nation. The international community should prioritize the Palestinian issue on the international agenda, keep to the direction of the two-state solution and the principle of "land for peace," and facilitate the resumption of peace talks based on relevant UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative, the Chinese president added.
He also said that China supports all parties in Sudan in continuing to push for a steady political transition through dialogue and consultation, opposes interference by external forces in Sudan's internal affairs, and supports all factions in Iraq to strengthen unity and cooperation.
President Xi proposed the GDI in September 2021 in the face of the severe shocks of COVID-19. He believes that the world should put development high on the global macro policy agenda and strengthen policy coordination among major economies to better ensure policy continuity, consistency and sustainability. In 2013, China launched the BRI to enhance global connectivity, communication and cooperation, and foster a more balanced and equitable world system.
In his meetings with Arab states' leaders, Xi pledged that China would further work with Arab states to deepen and expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields, including energy, infrastructure, medical care, aviation, finance, 5G communication, e-commerce and marine economy.
He pointed out several countries' national development strategies, including Saudi Vision 2030, Middle East Green Initiative, Kuwait Vision 2035, Djibouti Vision 2035, Qatar National Vision 2030 and Emerging Comoros Plan for 2030, saying that China will further align China's development policies and the implementation of the outcomes of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum and Forum on China-Africa Cooperation with these states' development strategies, to bring cooperation between China and Arab states to a new and higher level.
Xi said China would continue to provide developing Arab states with assistance within its capacity, and encourages Chinese enterprises to invest so as to improve local people's livelihood and boost their economic and social development.
During his meetings with Arab states' leaders, Xi pledged that China would continue to cooperate with its Arab counterparts in fields including anti-terrorism and poverty eradication.
Over the years, China has assisted Mauritania in advancing road, bridge, hospital and other major projects that benefit people's wellbeing, Xi emphasized, adding that China will continue to encourage Chinese enterprises to take an active part in Mauritania's energy, infrastructure and other sectors to bring benefit to the Mauritanian people.
Acknowledging the Somali government's task of fighting terrorists, Xi said China supports the Somali government in enhancing its ability to maintain stability and fight against terrorism.
Noting China has carried out a number of health, sports and human resources training projects in recent years in Tunisia, Xi said China is ready to steadily advance cooperation with Tunisia in such areas as healthcare, infrastructure and high and new technologies, expand exchanges between human resources as well as local and non-governmental exchanges, and welcome more marketable products and specialties from Tunisia to China.
China and Arab states have strengthened cooperation in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, Bahrain was one of the first countries in the world to approve a Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine.
China would also like to enhance medical and health cooperation, and promote the Chinese language education in Bahrain, Xi said.
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SOURCE CGTN | 2022-12-10T15:08:39+00:00 | kcbd.com | https://www.kcbd.com/prnewswire/2022/12/10/cgtnchina-step-up-cooperation-with-arab-states-under-bri-gdi-gsi/ |
LANCASTER, Pa., Dec. 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Eastern Alliance Insurance Group ("Eastern"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of ProAssurance Corporation, is celebrating its 25th anniversary of providing workers' compensation products and services for businesses and organizations.
Eastern began as a small start-up insurance operation located above a tattoo parlor in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Its first policies were written in December 1997. Today, Eastern has over 240 employees and writes more than 13,000 policies located in the East, South and Midwest regions of the United States.
"As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, we're grateful for the deep relationships we have with our employees, business associates, agency partners and their clients," said Kevin Shook, President of Eastern. "I am honored to work alongside the most talented and passionate professionals in the workers' compensation industry."
"The City of Lancaster sends its congratulations to Eastern on its 25th anniversary. I am delighted to recognize the achievements of Eastern as a local business that helps power Lancaster's economy," said Lancaster Mayor Danene Sorace.
Shook said Eastern's growth and success results from their commitment to long-term partnerships, workplace safety, and "returning injured workers to wellness and the dignity of work."
"We're proud to continue our history of best-in-class service to agency partners, policyholders and injured workers in the communities we are privileged to serve."
Throughout its geographic expansion, Eastern has continued its presence within the City of Lancaster. In 2002 the carrier moved to its current location on Race Avenue, after partnering in the rehabilitation of the building, a former Hamilton Watch factory previously owned by the city.
To celebrate its 25th anniversary and commitment to Lancaster, Eastern announced its founding sponsorship of the city's new public arts fund. The sponsorship is in conjunction with the carrier's support of the city's new Welcoming Mural, a community-informed work honoring Lancaster's history of welcome and inclusiveness.
"Eastern's commitment to public art in our city is an example of what makes Lancaster such a special place. Generosity, partnership, and creativity continue to shape Lancaster in beautiful ways. Thank you, Eastern," said Mayor Danene Sorace.
"Lancaster is a great place to live and work, with a vibrant community spirit," said Shook. "We are thrilled to help create a fund that will enrich this community for years to come."
About Eastern Alliance Insurance Group
Eastern is a domestic casualty insurance group specializing in workers' compensation insurance products and services for businesses and organizations in the East, South and Midwest regions of the United States. Eastern is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ProAssurance Corporation, with offices in Lancaster and Wexford, Pennsylvania; Charlotte, North Carolina; Richmond, Virginia; Carmel, Indiana; Franklin, Tennessee; and, Madison, Mississippi. Eastern's Web address is www.easternalliance.com.
Media Contact:
Bob Gilpin, SVP, Marketing
bgilpin@eains.com
(717) 239-1641
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SOURCE Eastern Alliance Insurance Group | 2022-12-05T23:43:14+00:00 | kcrg.com | https://www.kcrg.com/prnewswire/2022/12/05/eastern-alliance-insurance-group-celebrates-25-years/ |
BEGINNING FRIDAY, JUNE 24, HOLLYWOOD BECOMES "MINIONWOOD" FOR THE ENTIRE WEEKEND!
EVENTS INCLUDE: THE WORLD FAN PREMIERE OF MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU, A HAND-AND-FOOT CEREMONY AT THE LEGENDARY TCL CHINESE THEATRE, A POP-UP "DESPICABLE DISCS" RECORD STORE, A MINIONS SKATE EXPERIENCE FEATURING A DJ SET BY RZA AND MUCH MORE!
On Friday, June 24, the Minions will have their hands and feet immortalized in cement at the Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Blvd., with franchise star Steve Carell and Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri in attendance.
Friday evening, Milk Studios Los Angeles will host celebrity guests and their families for The Skate Experience in Minionwood.
On Saturday, the World Fan Premiere of Minions: The Rise of Gru will take place at the Chinese Theatre, followed by a guest reception at Ovation Hollywood featuring a Minions-themed arcade and activities.
"Despicable Discs," the pop-up record store, will allow fans to buy albums from artists featured on the film's '70s-era soundtrack at 1970s prices!
All weekend, fans can enjoy Minions photo opportunities and activities under the famous Ovation Hollywood Arch at Hollywood Blvd. and Highland Ave.
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., June 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Illumination's Minions are taking over Hollywood to celebrate the July 1 release of the new chapter from the biggest animated global franchise in history, Minions: The Rise of Gru. Beginning Friday, June 24, Hollywood becomes "Minionwood" for the entire weekend, with multiple events and activities for Minions fans of all ages.
Illumination's Minions: The Rise of Gru tells the origin story of how the world's greatest supervillain first met his iconic Minions, forged cinema's most despicable crew and faced off against the most unstoppable criminal force ever assembled. Set in 1970s suburbia, when future supervillain Gru (Oscar® nominee Steve Carell) is just a 12-year-old boy, the film features more spectacular action than any film in Illumination history and is packed with the franchise's signature subversive humor. Minions: The Rise of Gru stars a thrilling new cast and features a killer '70s soundtrack courtesy of legendary Grammy-winning music producer Jack Antonoff.
On Friday, June 24, at 11 a.m., the Minions' hands and feet, represented by Minion Bob, will be immortalized in cement at an official ceremony at the legendary TCL Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Blvd. The ceremony will be attended by Oscar® nominee Steve Carell, who has voiced the character of Gru in every Minions and Despicable Me film, and by Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri.
On Friday evening starting at 6 p.m., Milk Studios Los Angeles will be transformed into the The Skate Experience in Minionwood, an invitation-only event. Celebrities and their families, media and creators will attend a special roller-skating event featuring a DJ set by Rise of Gru co-star RZA.
On Saturday, June 25 at 11 a.m., the Minions take over Ovation Hollywood, the premiere entertainment complex in the heart of Hollywood at Hollywood Blvd. and Highland Ave., with the unveiling of "Despicable Discs," a pop-up record store designed and created for the event. "Despicable Discs" is a fully immersive 1970s record store where guests who pre-register will be able to buy a record from artists on the upcoming Minions: The Rise of Gru soundtrack at 1970s prices, which is only $5! The vibrant, Minions-themed store features two secret rooms that house immersive photo spaces and a listening station, complete with Minion-ized artwork straight from the '70's musical era. "Despicable Discs" will be open all weekend, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Appointments can be scheduled at www.despicablediscs.com beginning Thursday, June 16 at 12 noon pacific.
Then, on Saturday afternoon is the World Fan Premiere of Illumination's Minions: The Rise of Gru at the TCL Chinese Theatre. Starting with red-carpet arrivals at 12 noon, the film will premiere in four theaters simultaneously at 1 p.m. The four screenings will take place at the Chinese Theatre itself, plus in three theaters at the TCL Chinese 6. The invitation-only, pre-premiere reception at Ovation Hollywood will include a Minions-themed arcade and a host of mischievous activities. Following the Worldwide Fan Premiere, all premiere attendees can attend a post-premiere reception in the arcade as well.
On Sunday, the Minions-themed arcade will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and, throughout the weekend, the famous Ovation Hollywood Arch and courtyard will feature fun Minions activities, photo opportunities and more!
A high-resolution JPG of the Minionwood logo can be downloaded from the following link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/imwlgnzu13w25ui/AAAy0NEIAM4WKz95Wku4Od56a?dl=0
About Minions: The Rise of Gru
This summer, from the biggest global animated franchise in history, comes the origin story of how the world's greatest supervillain first met his iconic Minions, forged cinema's most despicable crew and faced off against the most unstoppable criminal force ever assembled in Minions: The Rise of Gru.
Long before he becomes the master of evil, Gru (Oscar® nominee Steve Carell) is just a 12-year-old boy in 1970s suburbia, plotting to take over the world from his basement.
It's not going particularly well. When Gru crosses paths with the Minions, including Kevin, Stuart, Bob, and Otto—a new Minion sporting braces and a desperate need to please—this unexpected family joins forces. Together, they build their first lair, design their first weapons, and strive to execute their first missions.
When the infamous supervillain supergroup, the Vicious 6, oust their leader—legendary martial arts fighter Wild Knuckles (Oscar® winner Alan Arkin)—Gru, their most devoted fanboy, interviews to become their newest member. The Vicious 6 is not impressed by the diminutive, wannabe villain, but then Gru outsmarts (and enrages) them, and he suddenly finds himself the mortal enemy of the apex of evil. With Gru on the run, the Minions attempt to master the art of kung fu to help save him, and Gru discovers that even bad guys need a little help from their friends.
Featuring more spectacular action than any film in Illumination history and packed with the franchise's signature subversive humor, Minions: The Rise of Gru stars a thrilling new cast, including, the Vicious 6: Taraji P. Henson as cool and confident leader Belle Bottom, whose chain belt doubles as a lethal disco-ball mace; Jean-Claude Van Damme as the nihilistic Jean Clawed, who's armed (literally) with a giant robotic claw; Lucy Lawless as Nunchuck, whose traditional nun's habit hides her deadly nun-chucks; Dolph Lundgren as Swedish roller-skate champion Svengeance, who dispenses his enemies with spin kicks from his spiked skates; and Danny Trejo as Stronghold, whose giant iron hands are both a menace to others and a burden to him.
The film also stars Russell Brand as Young Dr. Nefario, an aspiring mad scientist, Michelle Yeoh as Master Chow, an acupuncturist with mad kung fu skills, and Oscar® winner Julie Andrews as Gru's maddeningly self-absorbed mom.
Steered by the franchise's original creators, Minions: The Rise of Gru is produced by visionary Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and his longtime collaborators Janet Healy and Chris Renaud. The film is directed by returning franchise filmmaker Kyle Balda (Despicable Me 3, Minions), co-directed by Brad Ableson (The Simpsons) and Jonathan del Val (The Secret Life of Pets films), and features the iconic voice of Pierre Coffin as the Minions and a killer '70s soundtrack courtesy of legendary Grammy-winning music producer Jack Antonoff.
About Illumination
Illumination, founded by Academy Award® nominee Chris Meledandri in 2007, is one of the entertainment industry's leading producers of event-animated films, including Despicable Me, the most successful animated franchise in cinematic history. The company's releases include two of the top 10 animated films of all time, and its iconic, beloved franchises—infused with memorable and distinct characters, global appeal and cultural relevance—have grossed more than $6.4 billion worldwide.
Illumination, which has an exclusive financing and distribution partnership with Universal Pictures, is the creator of the world of Despicable Me. The franchise includes Minions, the fourth-highest-grossing animated film of all time and the most profitable film in Universal's history, as well as the Academy Award®- nominated Despicable Me 2 and Despicable Me 3, which made more than $1 billion at the global box office.
Illumination has launched two additional original franchises that have captivated audiences worldwide. The first Secret Life of Pets film achieved the best opening for an original movie, animated or otherwise, in U.S. history, and the studio followed that success in 2019 with The Secret Life of Pets 2. Illumination's smash hit, Sing, has now became the studio's latest global franchise with Sing 2 in December 2021. In addition, Illumination's Dr. Seuss's The Grinch continues to hold the record for the biggest opening weekend of any Christmas-themed movie in history. Illumination's upcoming films include Minions: The Rise of Gru on July 1, 2022 and a new Super Mario Bros. film in April 2023.
About Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures is a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is part of NBCUniversal. NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group and world-renowned theme parks. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.
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SOURCE Universal Pictures | 2022-06-14T18:42:27+00:00 | kfyrtv.com | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2022/06/14/illuminations-minions-take-over-hollywood-celebrate-release-minions-rise-gru/ |
INDIANAPOLIS — Hoosiers ages 5-11 are eligible for a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine following authorization this week from the U.S. FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Indiana Department of Health is advising vaccine providers that they can begin administering boosters of the Pfizer pediatric vaccine to children in this age group whose last dose was administered at least five months ago. The Pfizer vaccine is the only one currently authorized for children ages 5-11.
Booster doses have been shown to increase protection from hospitalization and death from COVID-19 and the Omicron variant of the virus.
To find a vaccine location, go to www.ourshot.in.gov or call Indiana 211 (866-211-9966) for assistance. Any site that administers pediatric doses can administer a pediatric booster dose. Most sites accept walk-ins. | 2022-05-20T17:50:45+00:00 | tribstar.com | https://www.tribstar.com/news/local_news/hoosier-kids-ages-5-11-are-eligible-for-a-booster-dose/article_021b1be6-7e68-59d0-a2d4-4a6bed60d012.html |
BERLIN (AP) — Prominent members of German mainstream parties have expressed alarm at a new poll that shows support for the far-right Alternative for Germany at a record high.
The DeutschlandTrend survey, conducted monthly by infratest dimap for public broadcaster ARD, that was released on Thursday puts voter support for Alternative for Germany at 18%, on a par with Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats. In the 2021 election, Scholz’s party received 25.7% of the vote, while Alternative for Germany, or AfD, got 10.3%.
“This (…) is a disaster and should be understood as an alarm signal for all parties of the center,” said Norbert Roettgen, a senior lawmaker for the main opposition Christian Democrats, whose support stood at 29% in the poll of 1,302 voters conducted from May 30-31. The margin of error was up to 3 percentage points.
Roettgen said his own center-right party should ask itself why it hasn’t profited as much from voters’ unhappiness at the government.
His party colleague Serap Guler said the strong support for AfD should alarm all democratic parties.
“We bear responsibility for changing this again quickly,” she said late Thursday.
AfD previously hit 18% in the DeutschlandTrend survey in September 2018 amid discord in then Chancellor Angela Merkel’s coalition government.
Scholz’s three-party coalition with the environmentalist Greens and the libertarian Free Democrats has faced strong headwind recently over high immigration and a plan to replace millions of home heating systems in the country. Germany’s military support for Ukraine’s defense against the Russian invasion is also rejected by a sizeable portion of the populace, though it has majority support.
AfD and its affiliates have come under scrutiny from the country’s domestic intelligence agency, BfV, for its ties to extremists. The head of the agency warned recently of “astonishing parallels” between the present and the 1920s and 1930s, which saw a rise in political extremism and authoritarianism that culminated in the Nazi dictatorship.
About two-thirds of those who supported AfD in the poll said they did so in protest over other parties, rather than because they were convinced by the far right’s policies. Still, AfD stands a chance to win in three state elections in eastern Germany next year, which would put mainstream forces in the awkward position of having to form a broad coalition against the strongest party.
A leading member of the Free Democrats, Bijan Djir-Sarai, said that the strong support for AfD was shocking.
“It should prompt self-criticism from all democratic parties,” he told German news agency dpa on Friday. Djir-Sarai said that it was important to win back frustrated voters and take their concerns seriously.
Sawsan Chebli, a member of the Social Democrats, tweeted after the polls were published: “The AfD is at 18 percent. People, wake the hell up!” | 2023-06-02T17:15:40+00:00 | wcia.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/international/centrist-parties-alarmed-as-poll-shows-growing-support-for-german-far-right/ |
AURORA, Colo. — A man arrested in Utah in connection with an Amber Alert related to the disappearance of an Aurora girl in November 2021 was sentenced Monday to more than a decade behind bars.
Navarro Cathey pleaded guilty to two counts of felony sexual exploitation of a child in October of last year. The other charges against him were dismissed as part of the plea agreement, according to court records.
He was sentenced Monday to 12 years in the Department of Corrections and 13 years for the second count, court records show.
The girl was reported missing on Nov. 23, 2021, from her home by her mother, Aurora Police said.
A week before, on November 16, the girl's mother confronted her about a package she received that contained a cellphone, an affidavit supporting Cathey's arrest says. That resulted in a fight between them and her mother eventually contacted police, the affidavit says.
The mother reported to police that her daughter had received a cellphone from an "unknown person" whom she had been talking to over the internet, the affidavit says.
When she reported her daughter missing on Nov. 23, the girl's mother provided detectives with a string of emails between her daughter and the suspect, who identified himself as Nathaniel McKinley in the emails and said he was 28.
According to the affidavit, the conversations "quickly" became sexual in nature, and the man arranged to meet the girl, who said in the email exchanges that she was 13.
Investigators reached out to Amazon about the package that was sent to the girl and determined which account purchased the phone, the affidavit says. That led them to Cathey, whose middle name is Nathaniel.
The next day, Aurora Police were notified by the Utah Highway Patrol (UHP) that they had stopped the vehicle and that Cathey was in custody. UHP said the girl was safe and had been found under some blankets in the back seat of the car, the affidavit says.
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Investigations & Crime | 2023-01-10T14:50:23+00:00 | 9news.com | https://www.9news.com/article/news/crime/aurora-amber-alert-sentencing/73-41755a7c-acc7-49ee-85b5-bb095a3a4e5d |
The 7
Wednesday briefing: Debt ceiling; North Carolina abortion ban; Philadelphia primary; Jake Sullivan; NBA draft lottery; and more
- The agreement: California, Arizona and Nevada would voluntarily conserve a major portion of their river water in exchange for over $1 billion in federal funds.
- Why it’s needed: To keep the crucial river from drying up. It supplies water and hydropower for tens of millions of people, but there’s not enough to go around after decades of drought.
6
The San Antonio Spurs won the NBA draft lottery last night.
- What that means: The Spurs have the No. 1 pick in the June 22 draft. The team will almost certainly select Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4, 19-year-old French phenom.
- Last night: The Denver Nuggets defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 132-126, in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.
- Tonight: Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals is in Boston, with the Celtics facing the Miami Heat.
7
Apple will soon let your iPhone speak in your voice.
- How it works: First, you’ll have to provide 15 minutes of spoken samples. Then you’ll be able to type messages on your phone and hear your voice say them out loud.
- Why it’s useful: The feature, expected this fall, could help people who can no longer speak with the clarity or confidence they once did to interact more easily.
And now … planning a summer vacation? Try one of these nine less-crowded destinations. Plus, why hotel showers are so ridiculously complicated.
Want to catch up quickly with “The 7” every morning? Download The Post’s app and turn on alert notifications for The 7 or sign up for the newsletter. | 2023-05-17T12:09:06+00:00 | washingtonpost.com | https://www.washingtonpost.com/the-seven/2023/05/17/what-to-know-for-may-17/ |
Atlanta police motorcycles burned in fire started by ‘incendiary devices,’ officials say
ATLANTA (WANF/Gray News) - “Incendiary devices” were found after an early morning fire inside the parking deck of an old Atlanta Police Training Academy Saturday morning, the Atlanta Fire and Rescue Department said.
Crews responded to 180 Southside Industrial Parkway at around 2:20 a.m. after reports of a multi-vehicle fire, they said. When they got there, firefighters said they found multiple motorcycles on fire.
They were able to put out the fire and then said they discovered “incendiary devices,” which are used to set fires.
It is unknown if authorities believe it is a case of arson or if any suspects were taken into custody. The fire department said they continue to investigate.
WANF is working to learn more and has reached out to the Atlanta Police Department, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for a statement.
This location is not to be confused with the planned Atlanta Police training facility that has yet to break ground in DeKalb County. That project has been the subject of protests, some violent, over the past year. It has been dubbed “Cop City” by those against the project. This fire, though, comes at the end of the “Defend the Forest” protesters’ “week of action.”
Atlanta police said another vandalism incident involving their property was reported at around 1 a.m. When officers arrived at 890 Memorial Drive, they located three APD vehicles that had been damaged.
In a statement in response to the incident, Gov. Brian Kemp said the “attacks on public safety resources are outrageous and completely inexcusable” and called the incident a planned attack that endangered lives and community assets.
“Those are the tactics of organized criminals, not protestors, and their supporters should ask themselves if they truly want to be associated with such radical and violent people,” Kemp said. “Working with state, local, and federal law enforcement partners, we will find these criminals and bring them to justice.”
Copyright 2023 WANF via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2023-07-02T13:35:24+00:00 | ksla.com | https://www.ksla.com/2023/07/02/atlanta-police-motorcycles-burned-fire-started-by-incendiary-devices-officials-say/ |
In a Facebook post, Egypt's National Nutrition Institute wanted people to switch to chicken feet as a low-cost alternative for protein by using a photoshopped image of Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo.
Copyright 2022 NPR
In a Facebook post, Egypt's National Nutrition Institute wanted people to switch to chicken feet as a low-cost alternative for protein by using a photoshopped image of Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo.
Copyright 2022 NPR | 2022-12-28T11:42:17+00:00 | kpcc.org | https://www.kpcc.org/2022-12-28/campaign-to-get-people-to-try-chicken-feet-used-a-fake-photo-of-soccer-star |
1-for-10 Reverse Stock Split Effective December 21, 2022 for Trading December 22, 2022
LAS VEGAS, Dec. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Remark Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: MARK), today announced a reverse stock split of its issued and outstanding shares of common stock at a ratio of 1-for-10 and that it had filed a Certificate of Amendment of its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to effect the reverse split. The reverse split will be effective after the market closes on December 21, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Beginning with the opening of trading on Thursday, December 22, 2022, Remark's common stock will continue to trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol "MARK," but will trade on a split-adjusted basis under a new CUSIP number, 75955K300.
Remark's stockholders approved the reverse split at a special meeting of stockholders held on December 6, 2022. In connection with approving the reverse split, Remark's stockholders granted authority to the company's Board of Directors to determine, in its sole discretion, the exact ratio of the reverse split within the range of 1-for-10 to 1-for-20. The Board of Directors approved the reverse split on September 15, 2022, and the ratio of 1-for-10 on December 9, 2022.
As a result of the reverse split, every 10 pre-split shares of common stock issued and outstanding will automatically combine and convert into one new share of common stock without any action on the part of the holders and with no change in the par value per share of $0.001. The reverse split will proportionately reduce the number of shares of common stock available for issuance under Remark's equity incentive plans and proportionately reduce the number of shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options and upon the release of restricted stock units outstanding immediately prior to the effectiveness of the reverse split.
The reverse split reduces the number of shares of Remark's issued and outstanding common stock from approximately 112 million pre-reverse-split shares to approximately 11.2 million post-reverse-split shares. No fractional shares will be issued as a result of the reverse split. Owners of fractional shares outstanding after the reverse split will be entitled to receive cash for such fractional shares based upon the closing sales price of the common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market on December 21, 2022.
The company's transfer agent, Computershare, Inc., is acting as the exchange agent for the reverse split and will provide instructions to stockholders regarding the process for exchanging their pre-split shares for post-split shares. Additional information about the reverse split can be found in the company's definitive proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 24, 2022, a copy of which is available at www.sec.gov and on the company's website.
Remark Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: MARK) delivers an integrated suite of AI solutions that help organizations monitor, understand, and act on threats in real-time. Remark consists of an international team of sector-experienced professionals that have created award-winning video analytics. The company's GDPR-compliant and CCPA-compliant solutions focus on market sectors including retail, federal and state governmental entities, public safety, hospitality, and transportation. Remark maintains its headquarters in Las Vegas, Nevada with an additional North American office in New York, New York and international offices in London, England and Chengdu, China.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including information relating to future events, future financial performance, strategies, expectations, competitive environment and regulation. Words such as "may," "should," "could," "would," "predicts," "potential," "continue," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," and similar expressions, as well as statements in future tense, identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including those discussed in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors in Remark Holdings' Annual Report on Form 10-K and Remark Holdings' other filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements reflect Remark Holdings' current views with respect to future events, are based on assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Given such uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which represent Remark Holdings' estimates and assumptions only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, Remark Holdings undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements after the date hereof, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
For more information, please visit us at remarkholdings.com or contact us at IR@remarkholdings.com.
Company Contacts
Fay Tian
Vice President of Investor Relations
F.Tian@remarkholdings.com
(+1) 626-623-2000
(+65) 8715-8007
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SOURCE Remark Holdings, Inc. | 2022-12-21T18:50:27+00:00 | wbrc.com | https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2022/12/21/remark-holdings-announces-reverse-stock-split/ |
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile that landed near Japanese waters Friday in its second major weapons test this month that showed a potential ability to launch nuclear strikes on all of the U.S. mainland.
While it's unclear whether North Korea possesses functioning nuclear-armed missiles, some experts say Friday’s launch involved its longest-range missile, which is still under development and is designed to carry multiple nuclear warheads to overcome U.S. missile defense systems.
North Korea’s recent torrid run of weapons tests aims to advance its nuclear arsenal and win greater concessions in future diplomacy. It comes as China and Russia have opposed U.S. moves to toughen U.N. sanctions aimed at curbing North Korea’s nuclear program.
The United States quickly condemned the launch and vowed to take “all necessary measures” to guarantee the safety of its territory and its allies South Korea and Japan. Vice President Kamala Harris met with the leaders of those countries and of Australia, Canada and New Zealand who are attending a regional forum in Bangkok to discuss the launch.
“We again call for North Korea to stop further unlawful, destabilizing acts. On behalf of the United States, I reaffirm our ironclad commitment to our Indo-Pacific alliances,” Harris said at the start of the meeting. “Together the countries represented here will continue to urge North Korea to commit to serious and sustained diplomacy.”
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the ICBM launch from North Korea’s capital region around 10:15 a.m. Japan said it appeared to fly on a high trajectory and land west of its island of Hokkaido.
According to South Korean and Japanese estimates, the missile flew 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) with a maximum altitude of 6,000-6,100 kilometers (3,600-3,790 miles).
Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said that depending on the weight of a potential warhead, the missile had a range exceeding 15,000 kilometers (9,320 miles), “in which case it could cover the entire mainland United States.”
Kwon Yong Soo, a former professor at Korea National Defense University in South Korea, said he believes North Korea tested a developmental Hwasong-17 missile, which he said can carry three to five nuclear warheads and fly as far as 15,000 kilometers (9,320 miles).
North Korea has two other ICBMs — Hwasong-14 and Hwasong-15 — and their test launches in 2017 showed they could potentially reach parts or all of the U.S. homeland, respectively. But Kwon said North Korea needs a longer-range missile like the Hwasong-17 capable of flying a lengthier route to the American mainland to evade current U.S. missile defense systems.
The exact status of North Korea’s nuclear and missile technologies is shrouded in secrecy.
Chang Young-keun, a missile expert at Korea Aerospace University in South Korea, said North Korea has shown that its missiles have ICBM-class flight ranges but has yet to publicly prove that warheads will be able to survive the harsh conditions of atmospheric reentry. Some experts believe North Korea has likely acquired such technologies.
Chang said Friday's launch was successful and that the flight details indicated it was the same type of missile that North Korea tested in March, when North Korea claimed to have launched a Hwasong-17, but South Korea insisted it was a Hwasong-15.
U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the launch “needlessly raises tensions" and shows that North Korea is prioritizing unlawful weapons programs over the wellbeing of its people. “Pyongyang must immediately cease its destabilizing actions and instead choose diplomatic engagement,” Watson said.
In his opening comments at the meeting in Bangkok, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called the launch “utterly unacceptable," saying the missile fell inside Japan’s exclusive economic zone west of Hokkaido. South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said the international community must work together to get North Korea to realize that each of its provocations only deepens its international isolation and economic hardship.
Later Friday, South Korea's military said its F-35 fighter jets conducted drills simulating aerial strikes on North Korean mobile missile launchers at a firing range near its land border with North Korea. It said a group of eight South Korean and U.S. fighter jets separately performed flight training off the Korean Peninsula's east coast.
The exercises “showed we have a strong resolve to sternly deal with an ICBM launch and any other provocations and threats posed by North Korea, and the allies' overwhelming capacity and readiness to launch precision strikes on the enemy,” South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.
Japan and the United States held separate joint exercises involving their fighter jets in response to the North Korean launch, according to Japan's Defense Ministry.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol earlier ordered officials to boost security cooperation with the United States and Japan and push for strong international condemnations and sanctions on North Korea, his office said.
In recent months, North Korea has performed dozens of shorter-range missile tests that it called simulations of nuclear attacks on South Korean and U.S. targets. On Nov. 3, North Korea also launched a suspected Hwasong-17 missile, but experts say that weapon failed to fly its intended flight and fell into the ocean after a stage separation.
North Korea halted weapons launches for about a week before it fired a short-range ballistic missile on Thursday. Before that launch, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui threatened to launch “fiercer” military responses to steps by the U.S. to bolster its security commitment to South Korea and Japan.
Choe was referring to President Joe Biden’s recent meeting with Yoon and Kishida on the sidelines of a regional gathering in Cambodia. In their joint statement, the three leaders strongly condemned North Korea’s recent missile tests and agreed to work together to strengthen deterrence. Biden reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to defend South Korea and Japan with a full range of capabilities, including nuclear weapons.
Choe didn’t describe what steps North Korea could take but said that “the U.S. will be well aware that it is gambling, for which it will certainly regret.”
North Korea sees the U.S. military presence in South Korea and Japan as proof of American hostility. It has said its recent series of weapons launches were a response to what it called provocative military drills between the United States and South Korea.
There have been concerns that North Korea might conduct its first nuclear test in five years as its next major step in strengthening its military capability against the United States and its allies.
North Korea has been under multiple rounds of United Nations sanctions over its previous nuclear and missile tests. But no new sanctions have been applied this year as it has conducted dozens of ballistic missile launches, which are banned by U.N. Security Council resolutions.
China and Russia, two of the Security Council’s veto-wielding members, oppose new U.N. sanctions. Washington is locked in a strategic competition with Beijing and in a confrontation with Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. | 2022-11-18T17:46:46+00:00 | tmj4.com | https://www.tmj4.com/news/national/north-korea-test-fires-icbm-with-range-to-strike-entire-us |
LONDON — The death of Queen Elizabeth II set in motion a tightly choreographed series of ceremonial and constitutional steps, as Britain undergoes a period of national mourning and enters the reign of King Charles III.
Thursday, Sept. 15
— The queen’s coffin lies in state in Westminster Hall in London for the first of four full days. Thousands of people joined a huge line to pay their respects to their late monarch. By midday, the queue had grown to 4.4 miles (7 kilometers), winding past Tower Bridge.
Friday, Sept. 16
— The king and queen consort will visit Wales, the last leg of their royal tour of the four nations that make up the United Kingdom.
— On Friday night, the king and his three siblings — Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward — will hold a 15-minute vigil around the queen’s coffin as it lies in state.
Sunday, Sept. 18
— Britain holds a “national moment of reflection” with 1 minute of silence at 8.p.m. (1900 GMT, 3 p.m. EDT).
Monday, Sept. 19
— The queen’s lying in state period finishes early Monday morning.
— The king will lead the royal family in a procession that takes the queen’s coffin from Westminster Hall to nearby Westminster Abbey for a state funeral that begins at 11 a.m. Leaders and dignitaries from around the world are expected to attend.
— Two minutes of silence will be observed across the U.K. at the end of the funeral.
— The funeral marks the end of 10 days of national morning, and the day will be a public holiday across the U.K.
— A committal service for the queen takes place at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor on Monday afternoon. She will be interred alongside her late husband, Prince Philip, in the chapel in a private service later that night.
___
Follow AP stories on the death of Queen Elizabeth II at https://apnews.com/hub/queen-elizabeth-ii | 2022-09-15T13:49:26+00:00 | washingtonpost.com | https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/whats-next-for-the-uk-as-queen-elizabeth-ii-laid-to-rest/2022/09/15/3b77c85c-34f5-11ed-a0d6-415299bfebd5_story.html |
NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball views expanded playoffs as the more the merrier. Not for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals.
The National League’s four winningest teams failed to reach the League Championship Series, six months of accomplishment undone in just a few days.
Philadelphia is vying to become the first third-place team to reach the World Series after clinching the 12th and final playoff spot on Oct. 3, three weeks after the Dodgers locked up the first.
Years of expansion have turned the Fall Classic into a month-plus tournament and the 162-game season into a postseason prologue.
“The hot team is really difficult to beat in general,” Houston pitcher Justin Verlander said. “And then so you take the best teams in the regular season, have them take off five days, which we’re not used to, and then have the hot team keep playing … I think you can see how easily you can lose that series.”
Philadelphia, with the National League’s sixth-best record, opened the NLCS with a win at San Diego, which was No. 5.
Houston, the American League’s winningest team, opens the ALCS on Wednesday night against the New York Yankees, who had the No. 2 record.
All remaining teams are among the top nine payrolls: the Yankees third ($254 million), Phillies fourth ($237 million), Padres fifth ($221 million) and Astros ninth ($186 million).
From 1903-68, the teams with the top record in each league advanced directly to the World Series.
Then playoffs were added and only 15 teams with their league’s top record won the World Series from 1969-93, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. After a second round of playoffs was introduced, just six clubs with their league’s top mark took the title from 1995-2011 and five have won it all since wild-card games started in 2012.
And this year included an entire wild-card round that led to byes for the four top teams — along with five off days.
“Just adding more teams to the mix makes it more difficult of a road,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Especially in baseball probably a little bit more so than other sports, kind of any team can win on a given day.”
Four of the six winningest regular-season teams failed to reach this year’s LCS. The Dodgers (111) and Braves (101) lost in the best-of-five Division Series. The Mets (101) and Cardinals (93) were knocked out in the best-of-three wild-card round.
“You could be the best team and your season comes down to a three-game series. I don’t like that format going forward for a 162-game season,” pitcher Max Scherzer said last October.
The postseason doubled to four teams in 1969 with the start of the LCS, doubled again to eight in 1995 with Division Series, increased to 10 in 2012 with wild-card games and to 12 this year.
Only two teams with winning records failed to make the playoffs, Milwaukee and Baltimore — and they would have if the players’ association had agreed to Commissioner Rob Manfred’s 14-team plan.
Among the players’ proposals was expanding the Division Series to best-of-seven with reseeding after each round. They also said they would consider MLB’s proposal for a 14-team postseason if it included giving the higher seed a “ghost win” — starting with a 1-0 series lead.
“It makes no sense to go to 14 teams at all,” said Yankees reliever Zack Britton, a member of the union’s executive subcommittee. “More teams that are average are going to get in, and then you just dilute the postseason. It’s not worth it understanding the reasoning is TV money.”
Still, MLB’s 40% of teams making the playoffs is a smaller slice than the NFL (14 of 32), NBA (16 of 30) and NHL (16 of 32).
Since the wild-card era started in 1995, only four World Series have been between each league’s top regular-season team: 1995, 1999, 2013 and 2020.
Twelve wild cards have reached the World Series, and seven have won the title: Florida (1997 and 2003), Anaheim (2002), Boston (2004), St. Louis (2011), San Francisco (2014) and Washington (2019).
“I don’t know if the league sees what happens and maybe wants to make tweaks,” Verlander said. “I don’t know what those tweaks would look like. But expanding the playoffs, it brings in a lot of revenue, so I don’t think it’s going to go backwards.”
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2022-10-19T18:02:16+00:00 | seattletimes.com | https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mlb/as-mlb-playoffs-expand-regular-season-success-matters-less/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, 866-366-3723, uses a risk-based inspection reporting process for restaurants and other food handlers.
Derry Township
Philly Cheesesteak Co. on the Roll, 6 Briarcrest Sq, July 25, Pass. No violations.
East Hanover Township
Nut N Pickle, 1975 Laudermilch Rd, July 29, Pass. No violations.
Harrisburg City
Chan’s Chinese Restaurant, 2000 N 6th St, July 27, Pass. A temperature measuring device for measuring manual warewashing wash and sanitizing water temperatures is not available. Food Employee is not using available sanitizer test strips or test kit to determine sanitizer concentration. Grease collection on hood and cooking surfaces. Non-food contact surfaces not cleaned at a frequency to preclude accumulation of dirt and soil. Food safety certification is expired. The food facility does not have a handwash sink located in the food prep / warewashing area. Old food residue, dishes and utensils observed in the handwash sink, indicating uses other than handwashing. An insect control device (flypaper) located in prep area area with potential to contaminate food, equipment, and / or utensils. The handwash sink in the prep area does not have single use towels, continuous towels, or air drying device. Paper towel dispenser empty at the handwash sink in the prep and bathroom area.
China Express, 1819 Paxton St, July 27, Follow Up, Pass. Temperature measuring device for ensuring proper temperature of equipment is not available or readily accessible in all equipment.
Lower Paxton Township
McDonald’s, 1043 Briarsdale Rd, July 26, Complaint, Pass. No violations.
Hong Kong Ruby, 2308 Patton Road, July 29, Follow Up, Pass. No violations. | 2022-08-05T11:09:24+00:00 | lancasteronline.com | https://lancasteronline.com/business/restaurant_inspections/no-hand-washing-sink-in-food-prep-area-dauphin-county-restaurant-inspections-aug-5/article_879e5a36-1347-11ed-a47e-73f1b302cb4a.html |
Trump appeals New York contempt ruling, $10K per day fine
NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump has appealed a New York judge’s decision to hold him in contempt of court and fine him $10,000 per day for failing to adequately respond to a subpoena issued in the state attorney general’s civil investigation into his business dealings.
Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba, filed a notice of appeal Wednesday with the appellate division of the state’s trial court, making good on her pledge to challenge Manhattan Judge Arthur Engoron’s ruling, issued Monday.
Habba questioned the legal basis for holding Trump in contempt, arguing in court papers that he responded properly to the subpoena and that the attorney general’s office had failed to show his conduct “was calculated to defeat, impair, impede, or prejudice” the investigation and refused to engage in “good-faith discussions” before seeking to have him fined.
“All documents responsive to the subpoena were produced to the attorney general months ago,” Habba said in a statement after Engoron’s ruling.
Engoron said a contempt finding was appropriate because Trump and his lawyers hadn’t shown they had conducted a proper search for records sought by the subpoena.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, had asked the court to hold Trump in contempt after he failed to produce any documents to satisfy a March 31 court-imposed deadline to meet the terms of the subpoena.
Trump, a Republican, has been fighting James in court over her investigation, which he has called a politically motivated “witch hunt.”
James has been conducting a lengthy investigation into the Trump Organization, the former president’s family company, centering around what she has claimed is a pattern of misleading banks and tax authorities about the value of his properties.
The contempt finding by the judge came despite a spirited argument by Habba, who insisted repeatedly that she went to great lengths to comply with the subpoena, even traveling to Florida to ask Trump specifically whether he had in his possession any documents that would be responsive to the demand.
Habba noted that Trump does not send emails or text messages and has no work computer “at home or anywhere else.” She described the search for documents as “diligent.”
Investigators for James have said in court filings that they uncovered evidence that Trump may have misstated the value of assets like golf courses and skyscrapers on his financial statements for more than a decade.
At the hearing, Assistant Attorney General Andrew Amer said the investigation was being hampered “because we don’t have evidence from the person at the top of this organization.”
And he said the failure to turn documents over in response to the subpoena was “effectively Mr. Trump thumbing his nose at this court’s order.”
A parallel criminal investigation is being conducted by the Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, also a Democrat.
___
Associated Press reporter Larry Neumeister contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2022-04-27T17:44:35+00:00 | wymt.com | https://www.wymt.com/2022/04/27/trump-appeals-new-york-contempt-ruling-10k-per-day-fine/ |
I would like to give a shout out to the staff at St. Peter’s Health. Everyone that I had contact with during my recent stay there was so kind and caring. I was impressed with the quality of care I received and found everyone to be friendly, patient, cheerful and ready to do anything to make me comfortable. We are indeed fortunate to have this facility here in Helena and folks who staff it. Thank you St. Peter’s Health!
Barbara Harris,
Helena | 2023-01-18T16:27:41+00:00 | helenair.com | https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/fortunate-to-have-st-peters-in-helena/article_aeb78810-9af9-532b-8072-f5a2db53de00.html |
Comparing Beats earbuds
There are plenty of speakers and consumer electronics to choose from, but it’s not often that the manufacturing company is founded by one of history’s most influential hip-hop stars. Beats Electronics, better known as Beats, was started in 2006 by artist Dr. Dre and record executive Jimmy Iovine.
While it went through different phases of funding and investment, the most significant event in the company’s history happened in 2014. The year before, the brand was valued at $1 billion and made up 64% of the headphones priced above the $100 market.
Those successful industry figures prompted Apple to acquire Beats in 2014 for $3 billion, making it (to this day) the largest acquisition in Apple’s history. Which helps to explain why so many consumers turn to the Beats brand for earbuds and other audio products.
A short history of Beats under Apple
After the deal got approval from all the relevant departments and agencies, Dre and Iovine stayed on as executives. As with most high-profile acquisitions, the pair would receive some cash while other payments came in as Apple stock.
Unable to cash in the stock until it vested four years later, Iovine jumped on the opportunity to leave Apple in 2018 when the final paycheck from the deal came through. As for Dre, it’s unclear whether he is still involved.
Under its belt, Beats had three distinct offerings. The headphones made up the biggest slice, the Beats Music streaming service was a lucrative venture, and then the pure star power of Dre and Iovine. Rumors at the time had it that Apple wasn’t all that interested in the first two (Beats Music was discontinued in favor of Apple Music, and Apple already had superior headphones).
Having Dre and Iovine attached to the company could place them in a better position in terms of marketing, brand recognition and attracting a new generation of music fans. Whether it worked is debatable, but today, Beats operates as a standalone company and a subsidiary of Apple.
Selection of products
And as far as products are concerned, Apple still pulls the strings. One of the most successful speakers, the Beats Pill+, was quietly discontinued in early 2022. That leaves Beats’s official offerings at two headphone models and four models of earbuds.
The company also ventured into vehicle audio by reaching a deal with Chrysler in 2011. The car manufacturer agreed to install Beats-branded audio systems in its vehicles, the first being the 2012 Chrysler 300S. It had a 10-speaker Beats by Dr. Dre sound system. Other vehicles that have Beats audio as an optional extra are some Fiat, Volkswagen, and SEAT models.
Best Beats earbuds
Top Beats earbuds
Beats Fit Pro True Wireless Noise-Canceling Earbuds
What you need to know: These wireless noise-canceling earbuds come with a charging case to power them up while on the move.
What you’ll love: The earbuds feature a wingtip design the ensure they stay in your ears. It uses spatial audio with dynamic head tracking to deliver sounds in relation to where you are looking. The active noise cancelation uses microphones to block out ambient sounds, and the battery lasts six hours.
What you should consider: Some users have complained that the charging case can be slippery if you have moisture on your hands.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top Beats earbuds for the money
What you need to know: These comfortable earbuds are perfect for a gym session, lasting up to 12 hours on a single charge.
What you’ll love: The Flex-Form cable conforms to the shape of the back of your neck, ensuring a comfortable fit. It comes with four ear tip options so you can hear the music clearly. Powered by Apple’s W1 chip, it uses magnets to stop the music when you take them off and clip them together. Several buttons control the volume, answer calls and enable the voice assistant.
What you should consider: It is made for use with iPhones but also works with Android devices. However, some Android users indicated that they had trouble pairing the earbuds with their phones.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth considering
Beats Studio Buds True Wireless Noise-Canceling Earbuds
What you need to know: The most popular Beats earbuds come with a charging case that provides up to 24 hours of listening time.
What you’ll love: It has two listening modes where you can swap between active noise canceling and transparency mode. It comes with three ear tips to perfectly seal off your ear canal. There are built-in microphones, and the battery lasts about eight hours.
What you should consider: A few users indicated that the active noise cancelation could be better as some ambient sound can still be heard.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Powerbeats Pro Wireless Earphones
What you need to know: These earbuds have extended wingtips that go perfectly over your ear lobe, ensuring they don’t fall out.
What you’ll love: Compatible with iOS and Android devices, the earbuds have volume and track controls on each bud. It has built-in microphones and better call performance than earlier versions. They provide up to nine hours of listening time, and you can recharge them for five minutes to give over an hour’s listening.
What you should consider: Some users indicated that the built-in equalizer lacks midrange settings and compensates by boosting the treble and bass.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | 2022-08-01T17:08:06+00:00 | krqe.com | https://www.krqe.com/reviews/what-are-the-best-beats-earbuds/ |
DALLAS, June 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The board of directors today declared a quarterly dividend of $0.2775 per share on the company's common shares.
Key Takeaways:
- The board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.2775 per share on the company's common shares.
- Dividends on common stock and Series A and Series C preferred stock are payable on August 1, 2023.
The board of directors of AT&T* (NYSE:T) today declared a quarterly dividend of $0.2775 per share on the company's common shares.
The board of directors also declared quarterly dividends on the company's 5.000% Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A and the company's 4.750% Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C. The Series A dividend is $312.50 per preferred share, or $0.3125 per depositary share. The Series C dividend is $296.875 per preferred share, or $0.296875 per depositary share.
Dividends on the common stock and Series A and Series C preferred stock are payable on August 1, 2023, to stockholders of record of the respective shares at the close of business on July 10, 2023.
*About AT&T
We help more than 100 million U.S. families, friends and neighbors, plus nearly 2.5 million businesses, connect to greater possibility. From the first phone call 140+ years ago to our 5G wireless and multi-gig internet offerings today, we @ATT innovate to improve lives. For more information about AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T), please visit us at about.att.com. Investors can learn more at investors.att.com.
© 2023 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T and the Globe logo are registered trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property
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SOURCE AT&T | 2023-06-29T16:28:17+00:00 | kswo.com | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/06/29/atampt-declares-dividends-common-preferred-shares/ |
Gino talks with 'Bob's Burgers' characters
Gino Salomone recently chatted with the voices behind some beloved Bob's Burgers characters.
It's an animated show with quite the following. And it was recently renewed for its 13th season. Gino Salomone recently chatted with the voices behind some beloved Bob's Burgers characters. | 2022-07-21T03:24:17+00:00 | fox6now.com | https://www.fox6now.com/news/gino-talks-with-bobs-burgers-characters |
PALO ALTO, Calif., May 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- I Peace, Inc. (CEO: Koji Tanabe), a Palo Alto-based biotech start-up in the field of GMP cell manufacturing CDMO, announced that the company, in collaboration with Genequest Inc., a Tokyo-based direct-to-consumer genetic testing service provider, established a data-driven method to identify potential cell donors with specific haplotypes. With this high-throughput method, the company has already succeeded in identifying 1,547 HLA-homozygous potential donors and has already generated iPSCs. By combining Genequest's inventory of genomic information of tens of thousands of customers, and I Peace's mass production capability of GMP grade iPSCs (induced pluripotent stem cells) and iPSC-induced cells, it is now possible to identify potential donors with specific HLA (human leukocyte antigen) haplotype and manufacture multiple lines of iPSCs. Unlike conventional methods of identifying specific potential donors that yield only a handful of matches at best, this process can help identify a large number of potential donors with high efficiency.
We sequenced 98 HLA loci by high-resolution, next-generation sequencing-based HLA haplotyping from seven people, and found that the algorithm accuracy was above 93%. While the process can be applied to the identification of various genotypes and therefore has widespread usability including sourcing donors with genetic predispositions for disease modeling, HLA homozygosity was used to verify the reliability of the process because sourcing HLA homozygous donors is an ongoing challenge to meet demands of the rising allogeneic cell therapy industry. This process that combines the pool of genetic information and the mass manufacturing capability of iPSCs can be applied to identifying potential donors and manufacturing iPSCs with various types of genetic characteristics and support organ transplant and drug discoveries.
About I Peace, Inc
Founded in 2015 in Palo Alto, California, USA, I Peace, Inc. is a leading CDMO (contract development and manufacturing organization) of clinical-grade cell products. The founder and CEO Dr. Koji Tanabe earned his doctorate at Kyoto University under Nobel laureate Dr. Shinya Yamanaka and was the second author of the groundbreaking article on the development of human iPSCs. I Peace's mission is to ease the suffering of diseased patients and help healthy people maintain a high quality of life. With its proprietary manufacturing platform that enables parallel production of discrete iPSCs from multiple donors in a single room, I Peace can provide a large volume of high-quality clinical-grade iPSCs at a competitive cost. Our goal is to create custom iPSCs for every individual to become their stem cells for life while supporting drug and cell therapy companies to accelerate their development to make cell therapy an affordable option.
Founder, CEO: Koji Tanabe
Since: 2015
Headquarters: Palo Alto, California
Japan subsidiary: I Peace, Ltd. (Kyoto, Japan)
Cell Manufacturing Facility: Kyoto, Japan
Web: https://www.ipeace.com
About Genequest Inc.
In 2014, Genequest launched the first large-scale genetic testing service for consumers in Japan. We provide a service that allows you to check genetic variations associated with disease susceptibilities and traits by examining personal genomes covering about 300 items such as the risk of diseases such as lifestyle-related diseases and the characteristics of your trait. With the vision of promoting genetic research, spreading correct usage, and enriching people's lives, we are actively conducting research activities that utilize accumulated genomic data.
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SOURCE I Peace, Inc. | 2022-05-11T16:37:55+00:00 | wlbt.com | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/05/11/i-peace-accelerates-allogeneic-ipsc-derived-cell-therapies-with-g-high-throughput-method-identify-large-number-donors-with-specific-hla-haplotypes/ |
Only dedicated inflammatory bowel disease team in Oklahoma makes critical diagnosis
OKLAHOMA CITY, March 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Michelle Fick lost 65 pounds in six months, but she wasn't trying to lose an ounce. After a third bout with COVID-19 a year ago, the 47-year-old wife and mother of two had lingering stomach issues that wouldn't go away.
Her bloodwork was off, she couldn't eat and she had diarrhea, bleeding and extreme fatigue. One afternoon she was so sick, she fell asleep at work in the middle of a conversation with a co-worker.
During a family trip to Washington, D.C., she couldn't climb up the steps of the Lincoln Memorial; that was when it hit her.
"I knew in that moment I was really sick and something was really wrong," Fick said. "I used to be a personal trainer. I loved running, hiking and riding my bike, and I couldn't even walk up a flight of steps."
A routine colonoscopy the previous year showed no signs of concern, but Fick's primary care physician, Mercy Clinic's Dr. Jeanie Klabzuba and Kerri Patton, nurse practitioner, were determined to help her get answers after multiple trips to the ER. She was referred to one specialist after another.
A visit to a hematologist found no major concerns, so a gastroenterologist was consulted for treatment of anal fissures. The condition was so painful Fick couldn't sit comfortably. During the treatment, Dr. Amitabh Saha completed a partial colonoscopy. He found four concerning spots and sent them off to pathology.
Fick went home to recover. While waiting for the test results, her health continued to decline. At 5'7", she weighed only 106 pounds.
"I remember a friend had to drive me to Dr. Klabzuba's office because I was so sick, I couldn't drive myself," Fick said. "I was in tears and I didn't have an appointment, but I was desperate for help. My friends and family were scared I was going to die because my body was deteriorating. I couldn't eat. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't walk or go to work, and I didn't know what else to do."
While Fick was in Dr. Klabzuba's office, the pathology results came in. The diagnosis was Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract.
Her doctor knew Mercy had recently opened a new clinic with a gastroenterologist who specialized in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases. She called Dr. Hussein Bitar at Mercy Gastroenterology and IBD Center, the only dedicated IBD center in Oklahoma. He looked at the report and knew Fick needed to be admitted right away.
"I was concerned because she had lost a tremendous amount of weight," said Dr. Bitar. "Because we are a dedicated IBD center, we have the ability to avoid another trip to the ER, directly admit patients and oversee care in the hospital."
Fick went home, grabbed some clothes and headed to Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City.
"I remember as soon as I checked into the hospital, Dr. Bitar, whom I'd never met before, was waiting there for me when I arrived," said Fick.
Dr. Bitar ordered a series of tests and treatments including a blood transfusion, iron transfusion and IV steroids. Fick had severe nutritional deficiencies because she was unable to eat, and the inpatient treatment regimen helped kick-start the healing process.
After a few days at Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City, Fick was feeling better.
"My nurses on the fourth floor were incredible," Fick said. "I left with all my medications in hand and my follow-up appointment with Dr. Bitar already scheduled."
Mercy's IBD center offers many services in one location. Patients have access to the latest outpatient biologic treatments and IV infusions in a new outpatient infusion clinic designated to serve patients with inflammatory bowel diseases. The IBD center opened in July 2022 and offers access to GI specialists, colorectal surgeons, a nurse navigator and a medication coordinator all under the same roof.
During her first visit, Dr. Bitar looked at Fick's complete medical history. She also has psoriatic arthritis, and the doctor wanted to be sure new medications didn't interfere with her current treatment regimens.
"Because we are a specialized center for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases, we have access to the latest research and treatments," said Dr. Bitar.
Fick was a candidate for an off-label treatment still awaiting FDA approval, and she's seen a remarkable improvement in her symptoms.
"Dr. Bitar spent so much time looking at my health from a holistic approach and educating me about Crohn's disease − I got very personalized care," Fick said.
Though there is no cure for Crohn's disease, the goal is to be in remission, meaning patients no longer experience symptoms.
Fick is now back at work at a local school district. She's in physical therapy working to regain strength. Her goal is to take a spring break trip with her daughter, who will soon be off to college.
"I want my kids to see their old mom back," Fick said. "Seeing your mom in a hospital, weak, not able to do what she used to do isn't fun, and I just want to be able to do things with my family again."
Mercy has specialized IBD Centers in Oklahoma and Missouri. Click here for more information Mercy's IBD center in Oklahoma City or click here to connect with the specialists in Kirkwood, MO.
Mercy, one of the 25 largest U.S. health systems and named the top large system in the U.S. for excellent patient experience by NRC Health, serves millions annually with nationally recognized quality care and one of the nation's largest Accountable Care Organizations. Mercy is a highly integrated, multi-state health care system including more than 40 acute care, managed and specialty (heart, children's, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, convenient and urgent care locations, imaging centers and pharmacies. Mercy has 900 physician practices and outpatient facilities, 4,000 Mercy Clinic physicians and advanced practitioners, and more than 40,000 co-workers serving patients and families across Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Mercy also has clinics, outpatient services and outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
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SOURCE Mercy | 2023-03-13T17:55:05+00:00 | newschannel10.com | https://www.newschannel10.com/prnewswire/2023/03/13/starving-scared-mercys-ibd-center-saves-mom-with-strange-symptoms/ |
3 men arrested in connection with Colorado woman’s rock attack death, officials say
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. (KKTV/Gray News) - Three teenagers are now facing murder charges in connection with what Denver-area law enforcement are calling a rock spree homicide.
Investigators say Joseph Koenig, Nicholas “Mitch” Karol-Chik and Zachary Kwak, all 18, are accused of throwing large landscaping rocks at several vehicles in Boulder and Jefferson counties on the night of April 19. The last vehicle in the series struck that night was driven by 20-year-old Alexa Bartell, who was killed.
Bartell was on the phone with a friend while driving near the 10600 block of Indiana Street Wednesday night when the phone went silent. The friend tracked Bartell’s phone and found her fatally wounded in her car in a field off the roadway.
“While it remains unclear at this time which suspect(s) were driving throughout the spree, the suspect vehicle is a black 2016 Chevy Silverado,” the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said in announcing the arrests Wednesday morning.
All three are suspected of throwing rocks, and are currently facing charges of first-degree murder, extreme indifference, with additional charges expected, authorities said.
The suspects were all taken into custody at their homes in Arvada, the same community Bartell is from.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office thanked the public for their assistance in capturing the three suspects.
“Ultimately, mobile device forensics and supporting information from the public helped lead to the identification and arrest of the suspects,” the sheriff’s office said.
It added it was not seeking any additional tips at this time.
“Investigators were glad to be able to notify Alexa’s family and the other victims of these arrests,” the sheriff’s office said.
Copyright 2023 KKTV via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2023-04-26T14:33:12+00:00 | uppermichiganssource.com | https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/2023/04/26/3-men-arrested-connection-with-colorado-womans-rock-attack-death-officials-say/ |
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — Funerals can be pricey, but a new federal rule could make it easier for people to manage those costs. The Federal Trade Commission is considering changes to the so-called ‘Funeral Rule’, which controls where and how prices are listed.
Saying goodbye to a loved one comes with a cost. The average funeral is over $7,00 according to the Funeral Consumer Alliance.
Stephen Brobeck with the Consumer Federation of America says in part the high prices are driven by a lack of transparency in the funeral industry.
“The prices in the industry are simply not competitive, because it’s difficult for consumers to obtain them,” Brobeck said.
Right now the FTC’s Funeral Rule only requires funeral providers to give price lists to customers who visit in person. But the FTC is considering changing that rule to require providers to put their price lists online.
“We’re seeking additional comment about whether the rule should be updated or not,” Melissa Dickey with the Federal Trade Commission said.
Grieving families are looking for closure and comfort from a funeral. Chris Famer with the National Funeral Director’s Association says the potential rule changes could compromise funeral services.
“If you have DC telling everyone else across the country how they’re supposed to shop for something I think that’s a problem,” Farmer.
Farmer argues there’s no need for the online requirements and that price lists on websites can’t tell consumers everything they need to know about what funeral providers are offering.
“To reduce the entire experience of saying goodbye for the last time in your life to a loved one to a single number on a website, I think just doesn’t do justice to the service or the consumer,” Farmer said.
Brobeck says it’s a simple modernization of the Funeral Rule that would give customers more choices and save them money.
“Prices that represent gouging, taking advantage of ignorant consumers will decline and consumers will save, every year, billions of dollars,” Brobeck said.
The FTC hasn’t made its official decision yet, so it could be years before customers see funeral prices available online. | 2022-11-02T01:13:48+00:00 | wric.com | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/funeral-homes-could-be-required-to-start-posting-prices-online/ |
ANOKA, Minn. (AP) _ Vista Outdoor Inc. (VSTO) on Thursday reported fiscal third-quarter profit of $65.1 million.
On a per-share basis, the Anoka, Minnesota-based company said it had profit of $1.13. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, came to $1.30 per share.
The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of four analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $1.09 per share.
The maker of firearms, ammunition and accessories posted revenue of $754.8 million in the period, also beating Street forecasts. Four analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $749 million.
Vista Outdoor expects full-year earnings in the range of $6.05 to $6.30 per share, with revenue in the range of $3.06 billion to $3.08 billion.
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This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on VSTO at https://www.zacks.com/ap/VSTO | 2023-02-02T13:15:52+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/business/article/vista-outdoor-fiscal-q3-earnings-snapshot-17758912.php |
FRANKLIN COUNTY, GA (WSPA) – Two people were arrested when law enforcement raided a large methamphetamine lab in northeast Georgia.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said that agents from the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office received information about suspicious activity at a location along New Franklin Church Road in Franklin County.
Investigators found an active methamphetamine conversion lab inside a horse stable on the property.
The GBI said the lab was used to convert liquid methamphetamine to crystal methamphetamine for distribution.
Agents seized about five kilograms of finished crystal methamphetamine along with 255 gallons of liquid methamphetamine solution.
According to the GBI, the liquid solution was capable for producing more than 700 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $7.8 million.
34-year-old Dustin Tyler Burgess of Ellijay, Georgia and 30-year-old Uriel C. Mendoza of Copperhill, Tennessee were both charged with trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and manufacturing methamphetamine in the presence of children.
The case was investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Banks County Sheriff’s Office, Hall County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia State Patrol, and the DEA Clan Lab Team. | 2022-09-23T04:12:20+00:00 | qcnews.com | https://www.qcnews.com/news/national-news/7-8-million-worth-of-liquid-meth-found-on-georgia-property/ |
AI may help shorten workouts to 20 minutes and still unlock 'fountain of youth'
Artificial intelligence could hold the key to "the fountain of youth" for America’s aging population, as AI-powered fitness equipment stakes a bigger claim in the world of health, according to the CEO of a high-tech gym franchise.
When COVID-19 pandemic restrictions kept Americans from public spaces, including gyms, people flocked to innovative ways to stay in shape, including downloading apps such as FitnessAI, which generates personalized workouts using AI, or buying personal expensive AI-powered equipment.
The Exercise Coach, which has fitness studios across the country and overseas in Japan, has risen in popularity since 2020 by the tune of 125%, according to the company’s CEO Brian Cygan. The fitness group had 80 studios in March 2020 compared to 180 locations as of May, Cygan told Fox News Digital.
"The fitness industry will always be spawning new and interesting ways for younger, intrinsically motivated individuals to exercise," Cygan told Fox News Digital, explaining that he "only see[s] things accelerating" with The Exercise Coach in the future.
"I do think that we are on the cusp of changing the way people think about and optimize aging though with AI guided, coach-led strength training."
AI TOOL GIVES DOCTORS PERSONALIZED ALZHEIMER’S TREATMENT PLANS FOR DEMENTIA PATIENTS
FILE-Woman lifting weights (Photo by Zoran Milich/Getty Images)
The gyms use equipment from a company called Exerbotics, which Cygan described as "a line of smart strength training machines that super-powers our coaching efforts." The equipment allows Exercise Coach trainers to measure the whole-body strength levels of gym members, and then provide them "ability-matched strength training workouts that are ideally suited for them."
AI HEALTH CARE PLATFORM PREDICTS DIABETES WITH HIGH ACCURACY BUT 'WON'T REPLACE PATIENT CARE'
"Exerbotics smart resistance and bio-feedback change resistance levels in real-time to accommodate where an exerciser's muscles are stronger or weaker," Cygan said. "For example, more resistance is encountered during the lengthening (eccentric) phase of a movement."
"This eccentric overload is impractical for most people with standard weights, yet research demonstrated it is an amplifier of strength development," he continued. "When resistance levels are precisely dosed and users are guided by on-screen feedback, they work at higher effort levels and apply the most effective stimulus for improvement possible."
AI-POWERED MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSTIC TOOL COULD BE THE FIRST OF ITS KIND TO PREDICT, TREAT DEPRESSION
FILE-A person lifts weights at a gym. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Cygan highlighted that the AI-powered machines are able to outperform human trainers, specifically how they can measure "force output and calculating strength, tracking performance in real-time, instant calculations related to progress analysis and conversion of performance data into a recommended effort for next time." The machines, however, are unable to "care about people’s goals, obstacles, pain points, need for support," like human coaches.
What is also notable about the workouts: They last 20 minutes per session.
"Gone are the days of a one-hour workout several days a week," Cygan said. "A plethora of research and our internal data indicate that people can experience maximal strength training results from just two 20-minute workouts per week. Any more than that is not only a waste of time but will be counterproductive when someone is working at optimal levels of intensity."
The fitness CEO said that the shorter workout times appeal to people with hectic schedules, but that the regimens and technology are suited for people of all ages and fitness levels. The Exercise Coach has "intentionally aimed" their brand at aging Americans.
CHATGPT FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS: CAN THE AI CHATBOT MAKE THE PROFESSIONALS' JOBS EASIER?
"The problem we have in this country isn't helping athletes get 1% stronger," Cygan said. "It's tackling the quality of life issues and health care burden that we are facing as a nation due to the tsunami of aging Americans that is underway."
Citing AARP and U.S. Census Bureau data, Cygan said that by 2030, the U.S. for the first time will have more 65-and-older residents than children. He said personalized strength training can "revolutionize the health and vitality" for aging Americans, who are expected to live longer than previous aging generations.
"It could be the population health fountain of youth if properly leveraged," he said. "This is why we created technology that maximizes effectiveness, motivation, and data-driven guidance. Through our technology, we coach millions of ideal strength training sessions per year across America and even in Japan."
Cygan said the business plans to only grow larger, explaining he hopes to continue partnering "with insurers and medical institutions to have the greatest impact on aging in America."
CHATGPT AND HEALTH CARE: COULD THE AI CHATBOT CHANGE THE PATIENT EXPERIENCE?
Artificial intelligence is currently a hot debate in the nation’s capital and America at large, as tech leaders in Silicon Valley race to build more powerful AI systems following the release of OpenAI’s chatbot ChatGPT last year. Tech leaders and others who support the technology’s rise argue it will be another tool for Americans and businesses to prosper, while critics say the tech could lead to the downfall of humanity.
Cygan said that he believes The Exercise Coach’s "target demographics are rightly concerned about what generative AI means for the future of human society," but that his company is using AI "to do the things that are impossible for human coaches to do" which makes "our human coaches even better."
"AI and science have brought strength training into the 21st century," he said.
"However, our research and experience indicate that the encouragement and guidance of a friendly, knowledgeable human will never go out of vogue," he added. "In fact, we see that while many companies are reducing their human footprint, consumers appreciate more than ever when real people care about them as a person and what they are trying to achieve." | 2023-05-09T16:03:22+00:00 | fox13seattle.com | https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/ai-may-help-shorten-workouts-to-20-minutes-and-still-unlock-fountain-of-youth |
PURCHASE, N.Y., July 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ: PEP) PepsiCo announced the closing of a new $1.25 billion 10-year Green Bond. The Company will use an amount equivalent to the net proceeds from the offering to fund Eligible Green Projects which will focus on its pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) agenda – the Company's strategic, end-to-end transformation that places sustainability and human capital at the center of how it will create growth and value. Investments under PepsiCo's new Green Bond will focus on investments to deliver key environmental sustainability initiatives under two pillars of its pep+ agenda: Positive Agriculture and Positive Value Chain. This will help the company deliver on its aim to operate within planetary boundaries and inspire positive change for the planet and people.
The new Green Bond is PepsiCo's second since 2019, with $858 million in equivalent proceeds from the $1 billion first Green Bond already allocated to Eligible Green Projects across six continents in categories of sustainable plastics and packaging, decarbonization of our operations and supply chain, and water sustainability.
"We were one of the first food and beverage corporations to issue a Green Bond and that initial funding has played a critical role in our sustainable transformation so far," stated Jim Andrew, Chief Sustainability Officer, PepsiCo. "While tackling the climate crisis requires a collaborative effort, it is clear that the private sector must play a leadership role. Our new Green Bond will be pivotal to channeling investment into the critical areas required to build a more sustainable and resilient food system."
PepsiCo's new Green Bond Framework outlines the categories where funding can be directed, each one aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which include:
- Regenerative agriculture: PepsiCo's business starts with agriculture, sourcing more than 25 crops and ingredients from more than 30 countries. As part of its Positive Agriculture pillar of pep+, PepsiCo is working to source key ingredient crops such as potatoes, whole corn and oats in a way that accelerates regenerative agriculture. Investments from the new Green Bond can be used to adopt regenerative agriculture practices across PepsiCo's supply chain, including towards farmer training, practices to reduce fertilizer and watershed enhancement and improvement projects.
UN SDG Alignment: SDG 2 – Zero hunger and SDG 8 – Decent work and economic growth - Decarbonization and climate resilience within our operations and value chain: By 2030, the Company aims to reduce its absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by more than 40% against a 2015 baseline, more than doubling its previous climate goal. Equivalent net proceeds from the Green Bond may be used for initiatives to further these goals including on-site sustainable energy generation such as solar installations, investments in greener buildings that receive third-party verified certifications, energy efficiency and/or reducing GHG emissions at facilities, and upgrading of vending and cooling equipment. The funding may also be used towards the expansion of cleaner transportation, such as electric vehicles.
UN SDG Alignment: SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy, and SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities - Circular economy and virgin plastic waste reduction: One of PepsiCo's key pep+ goals is to strive to use 50 percent recycled plastic content in its packaging by 2030. The Company is already one of the largest users of food-grade rPET (recycled PET plastic) in the world, and the new Green Bond will enable PepsiCo to continue its work to increase the use of more sustainable product packaging including recycled, compostable and reusable materials. In addition, PepsiCo's new Green Bond Framework enables the Company to direct funding to projects that strengthen recycling infrastructure and increase recycling rates in key markets.
UN SDG Alignment: SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, and SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production - Pursuing net positive water impact in owned operations and throughout PepsiCo's value chain, including those projects positively contributing to communities. Water stewardship has long been one of PepsiCo's top priorities and PepsiCo has a vision to become Net Water Positive in its operations by 2030 through reducing absolute water use and replenishing back into the local watershed more than 100% of the water used. The new Green Bond equivalent proceeds may be allocated to water recycling and reuse projects, including water efficiency improvements, as well as to investments to replenish watersheds in high water-risk areas through initiatives such as tree plantings, rainwater harvesting and wetlands rehabilitation. PepsiCo is also looking to fund the scaling of drip irrigation or other water savings technologies for the farmers who supply the Company with key crops and ingredients.
UN SDG Alignment: SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production, and SDG 15 – Life on Land
As part of its Green Bond governance, PepsiCo plans to publish an annual update of the allocation of the proceeds, throughout the term of the Green Bond and until all proceeds have been allocated. The full framework can be viewed here and the annual update will be reported publicly on PepsiCo's website.
PepsiCo recently published its first Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Summary since the launch of pep+, laying out progress against each of its key pillars. The summary can be viewed here.
For more information, please contact pepsicomediarelations@pepsico.com
About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $79 billion in net revenue in 2021, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.
Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with PepsiCo Positive (pep+). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.
Cautionary Statement
This release contains statements reflecting our views about our future performance that constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are identified through the inclusion of words such as "aim," "anticipate," "believe," "drive," "estimate," "expect," "goal," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "strategy," "target" and "will" or similar statements or variations of such terms and other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted in such statements, including the risks associated with the deadly conflict in Ukraine; the impact of COVID-19; future demand for PepsiCo's products; damage to PepsiCo's reputation or brand image; issues or concerns with respect to product quality and safety; PepsiCo's ability to compete effectively; water scarcity; changes in the retail landscape or in sales to any key customer; disruption of PepsiCo's manufacturing operations or supply chain, including increased commodity, packaging, transportation, labor and other input costs; political or social conditions in the markets where PepsiCo's products are made, manufactured, distributed or sold; future cyber incidents and other disruptions of our information systems; failure to successfully complete or manage strategic transactions; climate change or measures to address climate change; imposition or proposed imposition of new or increased taxes aimed at PepsiCo's products; imposition of limitations on the marketing or sale of PepsiCo's products; changes in laws and regulations related to the use or disposal of plastics or other packaging materials; failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations; and potential liabilities and costs from litigation, claims, legal or regulatory proceedings, inquiries or investigations. For additional information on these and other factors that could cause PepsiCo's actual results to materially differ from those set forth herein, please see PepsiCo's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. PepsiCo undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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SOURCE PepsiCo, Inc. | 2022-07-20T21:38:47+00:00 | kswo.com | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2022/07/20/pepsico-issues-new-125-billion-10-year-green-bond-company-accelerates-pep-transformation/ |
LONDON, Sept. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dwight School London, a leading independent international school, is excited to launch a new electric bus service in partnership with the global smart bus transport company, Zeelo. The school has committed to electrifying part of its school transport offering as part of its ongoing mission to reduce its overall carbon footprint while also lowering operational costs. Dwight School London will run an electric bus service for one of three routes serviced by Zeelo for the home to school run. The switch from petrol buses to electric, will enable Dwight School London to reduce its annual carbon emissions from school transport by as much as 33%.The new electric bus route forms part of the school's wider sustainability initiative, aligning with its Development Plan towards the reduction of scope 3 carbon emissions.
Zeelo has been providing smart bus commute services to Dwight School London since 2021 to run efficient, safe, and reliable home-to-school transport and is already Europe's only bus transport company that offers 100% carbon neutral bus rides. Zeelo currently offsets the entirety of CO2 emissions of all its private bus & shuttle services for over 200 organisations, including the dead leg, and averages a saving of over 12,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. [1] Encouraging the adoption of electric vehicles for its services forms part of Zeelo's ESG Strategy to drive a transition towards net zero-bus transport in the UK by 2030, with Dwight School London becoming the first educational organisation in its portfolio to adopt Zeelo's electric bus offering.
Sam Ryan, CEO of Zeelo commented: "Offsetting carbon emissions goes some way towards helping us meet our sustainability targets but does not resolve the issue of air quality around schools and educational campuses. We're delighted to support Dwight School London with their CO2 reduction plans by enabling the transition of their school transport services from diesel to electric vehicles and help pave the way for all our education customers to switch to a net-zero transport service."
Dwight School London, through its partnership with Zeelo, has already seen 10,802 car journeys taken off the road in the last year, amounting to 23.87 tonnes of CO2 emissions removed from the atmosphere since the original service launched in September 2021.The new option to switch to a 100% electric bus service allows all Zeelo customers not only to significantly reduce the CO2 emissions (an extra 3 cubic tonnes of CO2 emissions savings) but also enhance the quality of the air around their campus. Through a managed service solution that is supported by an advanced routing engine and operations technology that has been modified to include vehicle range and charging opportunities, Zeelo will make the transition to electric bus commuting painless.
Chris Beddows, Head of the School, said: "We place innovation and sustainability at the heart of our school's mission, vision and values. We are thrilled and immensely proud to be the first school in the whole of the United Kingdom to add this electric vehicle to our fleet of school buses and our whole community is excited by this new initiative. As a school who takes pride in taking action for the betterment of the world, the electric bus will help make the world a greener place and signify to our students that the climate is something that is hugely important to us as a school. The Zeelo electric bus was showcased to the students and there was a real buzz of excitement and interest which spilled back into the classrooms."
Zeelo provides tech-enabled, flexible turn-key and plug-in transportation services for over 1.8 million passengers per year on their daily commute to work and school across the UK, North America and South Africa, and hopes that this initiative will pave the way for more organisations making a switch to EV.
[1] https://fpm.climatepartner.com/tracking/16626-2111-1002/en
For media inquiries, please contact:
Dwight School London
Angelo Evangelou
Marketing and Communications Manager
aevangelou@dwightlondon.org | +44 (0)7810 503 630
Zeelo
Sonia Afzal
Head of Communications
sonia@zeelo.co | +44 (0)7950 467 773
About Dwight School London:
Dwight School London is part of the internationally renowned global Dwight family of schools with outstanding student to teacher ratios. It is celebrating its 50th year anniversary this year and remains a leading independent international school located in the North Finchley, Woodside Park and Friern Barnet areas of north London, United Kingdom. It educates children from the ages of 2-18 and consists of a nursery, junior and senior schools.
About Zeelo
Zeelo is a smart bus platform for organisations. The global tech company is modernising daily bus commutes for frontline workers and students so that they can get to work and school in a faster, smarter, and much greener way. Zeelo serves large businesses and independent schools and moves nearly 150,000 riders each month across the world. Zeelo's tech-optimised bus routes not only reduce carbon emissions by 78% by replacing 30 cars for every bus journey, but also offset 100% of each Zeelo bus journey. Its innovative transport management software system comprises a SaaS platform, proprietary routing algorithms, and multiple consumer apps, and 24 / 7 customer service support (4.9 TrustPilot rating) that ensure people located in transport deserts have a regular, subsidised and sustainable bus service for their daily commute, wherever they are based. Headquartered in London with over 160 employees, an R&D team in Spain and live operations in the UK, South Africa and the US, Zeelo was founded in 2016 by Sam Ryan, Barney Williams and Dani Ruiz. It closed its Series A in 2018 and has raised over US$ 30 million in funding, including VC-backed investment from ETF Partners, InMotion Ventures and Dynamo. The co-founders previously sold their pioneering ride-sharing app JumpIn to Addison Lee in 2014. For additional information, please visit www.zeelo.co
Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1897664/Zeelo_Dwight_School_London.jpg
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SOURCE Zeelo; Dwight School London | 2022-09-13T15:06:50+00:00 | wlbt.com | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/09/13/dwight-school-amp-zeelo-launch-uks-first-electric-school-bus/ |
The boutique coffee chain is launching its fourth store in Texas in six months – this time in Hutto
PORTLAND, Ore., June 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Black Rock Coffee Bar, founded in Portland, Oregon, continues to accelerate its momentum in Texas with the opening of a new location in Hutto, approximately 30 minutes north of Austin and just east of Round Rock. This location marks the third store to open in the Austin area and 12th in the state.
Located in the vibrant Star Ranch community at 5103 Gattis School Road, the Hutto store is set to open on Friday, June 3rd. To celebrate its grand opening, Black Rock will offer all customers free 16 oz. drinks all day on June 3rd at this location, and other specials throughout the following week.
The popular boutique coffee chain that was founded in Oregon is known for its premium roasted coffees, teas, smoothies and flavorful Fuel® energy drinks - all prepared and served by a Black Rock team of baristas that elevate the Black Rock Coffee Bar experience with exceptional customer service.
"We are excited to continue building our presence here in Texas," said Josh Pike, CEO of Black Rock Coffee Bar. "It's always been Black Rock's commitment to connect communities with coffee. Our culture of authentically meeting people wherever they are in life and fueling their story is what drives us. We're here to serve and hope to see everyone at our latest Hutto grand opening."
With more than 100 stores across seven states, the new Hutto location incorporates Black Rock's signature industrial modern design and features a large Texas-themed mural that is designed to connect to the region.
Founded in 2008 in Portland, Oregon, an area of the Pacific Northwest known for its coffee excellence, Black Rock Coffee Bar continues its rapid expansion through the west and into the sunbelt, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Texas and Washington. The boutique coffee chain recently was named the Fastest Growing Private Company in Oregon and SW Washington in 2021 by the Portland Business Journal.
The Black Rock culture prides itself on providing opportunities for young people to learn how to lead, run a business, and develop people skills.
Black Rock Coffee Bar is a national boutique coffee shop that is known for its premium roasted coffees, teas, smoothies and flavorful Fuel® energy drinks. Founded as a family owned and operated business in Oregon in 2008, Black Rock Coffee Bar has grown to more than 100 retail locations in seven states. The Black Rock culture prides itself on not only being a positive force for the communities it serves, but also the team members that fuel their locations day in and day out. An important aspect of their team mission is to recognize those that go above and beyond by displaying the 4G's of Black Rock – grit, growth, gratitude and grace.
For more information, visit https://br.coffee/
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SOURCE Black Rock Coffee Bar | 2022-06-02T04:35:09+00:00 | kfyrtv.com | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2022/06/02/black-rock-coffee-bar-amplifies-momentum-texas-with-new-opening-austin-area/ |
FISHERS, Ind. — Salt at Geist will present, ‘The Last Lap After The Race Tent Party,’ featuring music star Clayton Anderson, according to a press release from Salt at Geist.
The event will take place on Sunday, May 28 from 6 p.m. – 11 p.m. at 10158 Brooks School Road in Fishers.
“We are excited to bring another coastal concept to Indy. Similar to our downtown location, our new Salt at Geist has an even brighter costal atmosphere with fresh seafood flown in daily,” said John Bales, the co-owner of Salt at Geist. “We appreciate all of our loyal supporters that made new this new opportunity possible.”
To learn more about the event, the artist, and purchase tickets please visit their website here. | 2023-05-27T18:19:40+00:00 | cbs4indy.com | https://cbs4indy.com/news/the-last-lap-after-the-race-tent-party-hosted-by-salt-at-geist/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — The founder of Frank, a student loan assistance startup company that J.P. Morgan Chase acquired for $175 million two years ago, has been arrested on charges that she duped the financial giant by dramatically inflating the number of customers her company had, authorities said Tuesday.
Charlie Javice, 31, of Miami Beach, Florida, was arrested Monday night in New Jersey on conspiracy, wire and bank fraud charges.
A charging document in Manhattan federal court said she claimed her company had over four million users when it had fewer than 300,000 customers.
Authorities said Javice, who appeared on the Forbes 2019 “30 Under 30” list, would have earned $45 million from the fraud.
Javice and her lawyer declined to comment as they left court after Javice signed a $2 million bond and agreed to curfew and possible electronic monitoring if court officers decide it is necessary. She also agreed not to contact key figures in the case — including investors — except for her mother and her mother’s boyfriend.
In a release, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said Javice “engaged in a brazen scheme” to defraud the acquiring financial company by fabricating data to support lies she told in a bid to make tens of millions of dollars from the sale of her company.
“This arrest should warn entrepreneurs who lie to advance their businesses that their lies will catch up to them,” he said.
According to a criminal complaint, Javice in 2017 founded TAPD Inc., which operated under the name Frank, to provide an online platform to simplify the process of filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, a free federal government form used by students to apply for financial aid for college or graduate school.
In 2021, Javice sought to sell her company in her role as its chief executive to a large financial institution, the complaint said.
When JPMC sought to verify that her company had 4.25 million customers, Javice asked her company’s director of engineering to create an artificially generated data set, but the individual declined, it said.
She then hired an outside data scientist to create the synthetic data set as she purchased for $105,000 on the open market real information for over 4.25 million students, the complaint said. But it added that the data she purchased did not contain all of the information she had told JPMC was maintained by Frank.
In a civil complaint filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the regulatory agency alleged that Javice made numerous misrepresentations about Frank’s alleged millions of users to entice JPMC to purchase the now shuttered Frank.
Gurbir S. Grewal, director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, said in a release that “even non-public, early-stage companies must be truthful in their representations.”
He added: “Rather than help students, we allege that Ms. Javice engaged in an old school fraud: she lied about Frank’s success in helping millions of students navigate the college financial aid process by making up data to support her claims, and then used that fake information to induce JPMC to enter into a $175 million transaction.” | 2023-04-05T12:02:43+00:00 | localsyr.com | https://www.localsyr.com/news/business/ap-business/student-aid-startup-founder-arrested-on-fraud-charges/ |
Transitioning service members and veterans receive discounted Microsoft certification training, career coaching, and professional development.
HIGHLAND VILLAGE, Texas, Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Opsgility, LLC has pledged to assist job seekers from the military community in their journey to launch a new career in Tech. The Military and Veterans initiative was created to thank the brave men and women who have defended our country by offering financial support at a time when everything is becoming increasingly expensive. Now, US veterans, active military, and their immediate families within the same household will receive a 30% discount on Microsoft certification training by Opsgility.
"Our goal is to enable military community members to find a rewarding career in the cloud, whether they are transitioning service members or veterans exploring new career opportunities. We understand that transitioning to a civilian career is complex, and we are committed to aiding students throughout their journey," said Michael Washam, Opsgility CEO.
Opsgility provides military and veterans with little to no tech experience the knowledge, skills, and expertise to launch a civilian career in the cloud. This unique learning experience blends classroom instruction with hands-on labs to prepare students for nine high-demand career paths:
- AI Engineer
- Administrator
- Cloud Architect
- Data Engineer
- Data Scientist
- Developer
- DevOps Engineer
- Functional Consultant
- Security Engineer
Students will have access to a network of experienced Microsoft Certified Trainers (MCT) and a wide selection of Microsoft Official Courseware (MOC.) Upon completing the program, students will earn industry-leading certifications to build their resumes and gain hands-on experience using cutting-edge cloud technologies such as Microsoft 365, Azure, and related business applications.
Each job seeker's journey is unique and requires individual coaching to ensure successful employment. Students will meet one-on-one with an assigned Customer Success Manager to explore how the skills and experience gained in the military can transfer to various job roles.
Together, the student and Customer Success Manager will create a guided learning and development plan tailored to their goals and abilities. This career roadmap will include a curated list of essential Microsoft certifications and career readiness workshops to ensure a seamless transition for service members.
Opsgility's mission is to enable organizations to realize the full potential of the cloud through a comprehensive set of SaaS-based offerings. Opsgility is a proud supporter of the military community and works alongside Microsoft to help service members and veterans advance from the military to a career in IT via Microsoft Software and Systems Academy (MSSA.)
Related Links
To get started, request a free consultation with a Microsoft Cloud Expert.
Visit https://opsgility.com/military to learn more.
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SOURCE Opsgility, LLC | 2022-08-09T14:57:35+00:00 | wymt.com | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2022/08/09/opsgility-empowers-military-veterans-launch-rewarding-career-tech-no-prior-experience-required/ |
Long seen as a fringe viewpoint, Christian nationalism now has a foothold in American politics, particularly in the Republican Party — according to a new survey from the Public Religion Research Institute and the Brookings Institution.
Researchers found that more than half of Republicans believe the country should be a strictly Christian nation, either adhering to the ideals of Christian nationalism (21%) or sympathizing with those views (33%).
Robert P. Jones, the president and founder of the nonpartisan PRRI, has been surveying the religious world for many years now. Recently, Jones said his group decided to start asking specifically about Christian nationalism.
"It became clear to us that this term 'Christian nationalism' was being used really across the political spectrum," he said. "So not just on the right but on the left and that it was being written about more by the media."
I am a Christian and I say it proudly, we should be Christian nationalists.
Christian nationalism is a worldview that claims the U.S. is a Christian nation and that the country's laws should therefore be rooted in Christian values. This point of view has long been most prominent in white evangelical spaces but lately it's been getting lip service in Republican ones, too.
During an interview at a Turning Point USA event last August, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., said party leaders need to be more responsive to the base of the party, which she claimed is made up of Christian nationalists.
"We need to be the party of nationalism," she said. "I am a Christian and I say it proudly, we should be Christian nationalists."
Jones said until now it's been difficult to tell how prominent Christian nationalism is within the Republican Party.
"There was some data out there but what we saw as a need was to have a real set of data that would quantify what that term means, how many Americans really adhere to it," he said. "And we also wanted to have a more nuanced view — not just people who are hard adherents but maybe people who are sympathetic."
Jones said this is just the beginning of his group's effort to track the prevalence of these views in American views. He says over time we will have a better idea of whether these views are becoming more or less widely held.
Americans broadly don't adhere to Christian nationalism
While a majority of Republicans currently either adhere to or sympathize with Christian nationalism, the survey found that this remains a minority opinion nationwide.
According to the PRRI/Brookings study, only 10% of Americans view themselves as adherents of Christian nationalism and about 19% of Americans said they sympathize with these views.
Kristin Kobes Du Mez, a history professor at Calvin University, said it's important to note that this is not a novel ideology in American families.
"These ideas have been widely held throughout American history and particularly since the 1970s with the rise of the Christian Right," she said.
Du Mez said these views are mostly a reaction to changing demographics, as well as cultural and generational shifts in the U.S. As the country has become less white and Christian, she said these adherents want to hold on to their cultural and political power.
In fact, according to the survey, half of Christian nationalism adherents and nearly 4 in 10 sympathizers said they support the idea of an authoritarian leader in order to keep these Christian values in society.
"At its root there are some deeply antidemocratic impulses here," Du Mez said. "So, to see that more than half of one political party is committed to Christian nationalism I think explains a lot in terms of our ability to achieve much bipartisan agreement."
The survey also found correlations between people who hold Christian nationalist views as well as Anti-Black, anti-immigrant, antisemitic views, anti-Muslim and patriarchal views.
Republicans may need to reckon with ideology in its ranks
Most Christian nationalists – either adherents or sympathizers – either agree or strongly agree with the notion that they should live in a country full of other Christians.
Tim Whitaker, founder of The New Evangelicals, grew up in the church and now spends his life trying to detangle these kinds of views from the evangelical faith.
"We need to understand that the world of Christian nationalism largely rejects pluralism, which this study shows," he said. "Most Christian nationalists — either adherents or sympathizers — either agree or strongly agree with the notion that they should live in a country full of other Christians."
Whitaker said he has faith that most Americans will continue to reject these ideas when they hear them, but he's worried about the outsized influence these views have in the Republican Party.
"The reality is that a lot of these folks — especially the adherents — are very militant in this belief that God has given them a mandate to rule over the nation," he said. "And so for them, I think that compromise is a sign of weakness and the GOP needs to understand what they are dealing with."
According to the survey, adherents of Christian nationalism say they will go to great lengths to impose their vision of the country. Jones with PRRI said they found adherents are far more likely to agree with the statement: "true patriots might have to resort to violence to save our country."
"Now is that everyone? No. It's not everyone," Jones said. "But it's a sizeable minority that is not only willing to declare themselves opposed to pluralism and democracy — but are also willing to say, 'I am willing to fight and either kill or harm my fellow Americans to keep it that way.'"
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2023-03-08T14:01:29+00:00 | publicradioeast.org | https://www.publicradioeast.org/2023-02-14/more-than-half-of-republicans-support-christian-nationalism-according-to-a-new-survey |
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In times of crisis and challenge, we ask ourselves: What is the true value of travel?
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NEW YORK — Hip-hop mogul Snoop Dogg and groundbreaking Latin music superstar Gloria Estefan highlight a diverse list of new inductees to the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
They’re part of a seven-member 2023 class that also includes Harlem-born R&B producer Teddy Riley, Electric Light Orchestra co-founder Jeff Lynne and Nigerian-born British singer-songwriter Sade, organizers announced Wednesday.
Liz Rose, who frequently collaborates with Taylor Swift, and Glen Ballard, who contributed to popular Michael Jackson and Alanis Morissette songs, round out the class, which will be inducted during a June 15 ceremony at New York City’s Marriott Marquis Hotel.
“The 2023 slate represents not just iconic songs but also diversity and unity across genres, ethnicity and gender, songwriters who have enriched our lives and, in their time, literally transformed music and the lives of billions of listeners all over the world,” said the hall’s president, Nile Rodgers.
Snoop Dogg’s songwriting credits include his hits “Gin and Juice” and the chart-topping “Drop It Like It’s Hot.” Estefan, too, was a writer on many of her biggest songs, including “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You” and “Words Get in the Way.”
Ballard co-wrote Morrisette’s Grammy-winning “Jagged Little Pill” album and Jackson songs including “Man in the Mirror.” Riley, too, co-wrote Jackson songs such as “Heaven Can Wait” and “Dangerous,” as well as the Blackstreet hit “No Diggity.”
Rose’s co-writing credits include Swift songs “Teardrops on My Guitar,” “You Belong with Me” and “All Too Well.” Sade co-wrote and performed many of her eponymous band’s songs, including ‘Smooth Operator,” while Lynne wrote ELO hits including “Livin’ Thing,” “Mr. Blue Sky” and “Evil Woman.” | 2023-01-21T12:45:06+00:00 | wyomingnews.com | https://www.wyomingnews.com/features/todo/snoop-dogg-gloria-estefan-to-be-inducted-into-songwriters-hall-of-fame/article_a1eb50f4-9904-11ed-837a-bb59a97ebf8f.html |
(KTLA) – Six people died when a business jet crashed near the French Valley Airport in Murrieta, California, early Saturday morning, marking the second deadly crash at the airstrip in one week, authorities said.
The Cessna C550 business jet crashed just north of the airport around 4:15 a.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The flight, which had departed from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, went down in a field and burst into flames.
“Deputies located an aircraft fully engulfed,” the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said. “Six occupants from the plane were located and pronounced deceased at the scene.”
The crash caused a small brush fire that crews were able to extinguish in an hour, the Riverside County Fire Department said.
The identities of the victims were not immediately released.
Saturday morning’s crash comes just four days after one man was killed when his plane crashed after taking off from French Valley Airport.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are handling the investigation. | 2023-07-08T20:21:53+00:00 | pix11.com | https://pix11.com/news/us-world-news/6-killed-in-southern-california-plane-crash/ |
MUNICH, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The annual Solar energy technology Fair in Munich, Germany -- InterSolar, which is also a playing field for outstanding PV companies in the world, was held in June this year, at which Aikosolar (600732.SH) with its N-type ABC (all-back contact) series products gained a lot of favorable attention, almost comparable to a large order signed with its overseas customer. On June 14 local time, the very first day of InterSolar exhibition, Aikosolar officially concluded a GW-level contract for in-depth cooperation with German Memodo Group.
Two major players joined together to tap the European PV market
Founded in 2013, Memodo Group has been the fastest growing and industry-leading distributor of photovoltaic, energy storage, charging stations and heat pump systems in Europe, with a focus on contributing to the high-tech new energy industry, and committed to driving the energy transition and shaping a sustainable future, and providing customers with customized solutions.
As a global leader in PV technology innovation, Aikosolar has won high recognition from Memodo in terms of product quality, product efficiency, production scale and R&D level, and the two sides will carry out long-term cooperation in the high-end distributed PV market in Europe. From experiment to implementation, in the spirit of continuous innovation and improvement, Aikosolar has been promoting and leading the cutting-edge PV technology iteration. Its self-developed ABC module, which ranks first in the world for its high-efficiency crystalline silicon modules, has passed the TÜV SÜD test certification, with the highest efficiency reaching 24.27% and the delivery efficiency reaching 24.0%, meaning its higher capability of power generation within the same area, especially its all-black contact gridless quality aesthetics that has won the favor of high-end European customers.
"We are proud to have established a strong partnership with an excellent local partner like Memodo and supply high-quality PV products to customers in the European market, so as to accelerate the process of carbon neutrality in Europe. This collaboration will bring a long-term impact and help realize a zero-carbon society." Said by Chen Gang, Aikosolar Chairman & GM, at the signing ceremony.
Tobias Wenleder, Memodo Group CEO and Founder, expressed that "Based on the continuous exploration of market development and the relentless pursuit of innovative technologies and products, Memodo has chosen Aikosolar to enter into a long-term partnership and distribute high-quality ABC modules throughout Europe. Our collaboration in the field of clean energy will be strengthened and more innovative and, together we'll deliver more value to our customers on the journey to the energy future."
An industry leader in conversion efficiency for mass production
Founded in 1991, each year the InterSolar attracts well-known PV companies from all over the world with the latest technologies and products to present. Being widely recognized and signing large order contracts with well-known overseas customers during the exhibition against the strong competition, it is the result of Aikosolar's long-term focus and deep cultivation in PV energy field, as well as its long-established leadership in terms of product deliverables and mass production conversion efficiency.
Public information shows that Aikosolar pioneered the ABC battery and module technology with complete independent intellectual property rights, which is due to the following multiple advantages of the technology: high conversion efficiency, low power attenuation, excellent temperature coefficient performance, and excellent low light response, because the system using ABC modules has higher installed capacity per unit area and higher power generation efficiency per unit area, plus the lower system cost.
"In the context of 'dual carbon' reduction, the global demand for new installed PV capacity is strong, PV is a hot track, it's also a fierce competition track, therefore, further reduce costs and improve the conversion efficiency as high as possible, is not only the key to higher downstream profitability, but also the key indicator for upstream competition." As told by market players, the industry has been constantly trying new paths and new processes to improve conversion efficiency and reduce production costs. However, for the downstream players, the conversion efficiency that can be commercialized for mass production and delivery shall be more realistic. For M10, Aikosolar is the first manufacturer in the world with deliverable modules and its conversion efficiency exceeding 24% for mass production.
Public information shows that after setting the world record of 23.6% conversion efficiency in TaiyangNews PV module mass production in March 2023, Aikosolar has made a new record in N-type ABC module conversion efficiency in May 2023, and in June 2023, Aikosolar once again ranked first in the list of TaiyangNews modules (at 24%), which was the fourth consecutive month that Aikosolar's ABC module "topped the list", continuously showing its technical strength to the market.
A team of progressive technocrats
With more than a decade's perseverance, Aikosolar has been focusing on the research and development of mass production technology in the field of PV energy since its establishment in 2009, making it not only an important promoter of technological progress in the industry, but also the leader of technology iteration among its peers.
In 2021, Aikosolar launched the industry's first ABC battery, and in 2022, it launched high-efficiency modules based on ABC batteries. To date, the company's ABC battery mass production efficiency is higher than 26.5%, and the module deliverable efficiency has maintained a level of 24.0%. In the era of N-type production, Aikosolar has entered the technical "zone of zero competitors".
It is understood that Aikosolar's ABC products have six core advantages, namely: full-life-cycle hot spot risk control and module-level automatic optimization technology, full-area light exposure and all-silicon power generation technology, all-back contact electrode technology, all-back passivation contact technology, silver-free metal coating technology, and whole-industry-chain end-to-end technological innovation. The front side of the ABC battery is not shielded by electrode grid lines, meaning 100% reception of sunlight, an effective reduction of optical loss and great improvement of aesthetic degree; In addition, Aikosolar pioneered the use of silver-free technology for mass production of ABC batteries, which has eliminated the barrier of "silver consumption" for large-scale development of the PV industry.
The aforementioned market players believe that the signing of this supply agreement is a further recognition of the company's ABC series products by the industry. Aikosolar's unique understanding of the future development trend of solar cell technology, its mastery of the new generation ABC solar cell and module technology with high conversion efficiency, not only means its leading position in the PV industry chain's new round of technological iterations, but also means the expected performance with a driving force from the continuous release of its new production capacity.
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SOURCE Aiko Solar | 2023-06-16T13:36:08+00:00 | kcbd.com | https://www.kcbd.com/prnewswire/2023/06/16/13gw-supply-agreement-between-aikosolar-memodo-group-just-signed-joining-hands-deep-tapping-european-market/ |
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A central Indiana man has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to carrying a loaded gun on the Capitol grounds and assaulting police during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
A federal judge in the District of Columbia sentenced Mark Mazza, 57, on Friday to five years in prison, followed by three years on supervised release. The Shelbyville man had pleaded guilty in June to two of the 13 charges he faced — assaulting a police officer using a deadly weapon and carrying a firearm without a license.
Prosecutors had sought a 6.5-year sentence for Mazza, calling his conduct that day “extremely violent” and pointing to a prior criminal conviction in which he battered an adolescent, The Indianapolis Star reported.
According to court records, Mazza brought a revolver loaded with three shotgun shells and two hollow point bullets to the Capitol but lost possession of the weapon. He then made his way to a tunnel area with doors leading into the Capitol Building and joined rioters' collective effort to push through at least 20 officers defending the tunnel entrance, records say.
Mazza then held a door to allow other rioters to attack officers with flag poles, batons, sticks and stolen law enforcement shields, according to court records. He then wrestled a baton from an officer’s hand and swung it, striking one officer in the arm before police pushed him out of the tunnel. | 2022-10-24T18:19:00+00:00 | lmtonline.com | https://www.lmtonline.com/news/article/Indiana-man-gets-5-years-in-prison-on-Capitol-17530698.php |
WASHINGTON (Nexstar) – Former President Donald Trump publicly responded to the historic federal criminal charges he’s facing related to classified documents found at his Mar-a-Lago resort.
On Tuesday night, Trump delivered a speech to his supporters in New Jersey in which he insisted he is innocent and called the charges fake and fabricated.
“Today, we witnessed the most evil and heinous abuse of power in the history of our country,” Trump said.
Hours after leaving his arraignment for federal criminal charges, former President Trump hurled insults at President Joe Biden and the Justice Department.
Trump forcefully defended himself from the charges he’s facing of illegally retaining classified information.
“I had every right to have these documents,” Trump argued.
Before his speech, Trump pleaded not guilty to 37 charges related to his alleged mishandling of classified documents.
Most Republicans in Congress continue to defend Trump as well.
“When the president’s main opponent for his reelection seems to be treated in a very different way than anyone else, including Joe Biden himself or Hillary Clinton or others, that’s what people can’t get beyond,” Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) said.
But the Senate’s top Democrat, Leader Chuck Schumer, says the Justice Department is and should remain independent.
“We don’t need political interference. We need strong law enforcement. And Donald Trump’s not above the law. Plain and simple,” Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said.
This is the second criminal case Trump is facing. In New York, Trump is accused of falsifying business records related to hush-money payments during the 2016 presidential race. | 2023-06-14T23:08:36+00:00 | wearegreenbay.com | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/washington/washington-dc/trump-speaks-out-against-heinous-classified-document-charges/ |
Ben Ferencz, the last living prosecutor from the Nuremberg trials, who tried Nazis for genocidal war crimes and was among the first outside witnesses to document the atrocities of Nazi labor and concentration camps, has died. He had just turned 103 in March.
Ferencz died Friday evening in Boynton Beach, Florida, according to St. John's University law professor John Barrett, who runs a blog about the Nuremberg trials. The death also was confirmed by the U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington.
“Today the world lost a leader in the quest for justice for victims of genocide and related crimes,” the museum tweeted.
Born in Transylvania in 1920, Ferencz immigrated as a very young boy with his parents to New York to escape rampant antisemitism. After graduating from Harvard Law School, Ferencz joined the U.S. Army in time to take part in the Normandy invasion during World War II. Using his legal background, he became an investigator of Nazi war crimes against U.S. soldiers as part of a new War Crimes Section of the Judge Advocate’s Office.
When U.S. intelligence reports described soldiers encountering large groups of starving people in Nazi camps watched over by SS guards, Ferencz followed up with visits, first at the Ohrdruf labor camp in Germany and then at the notorious Buchenwald concentration camp. At those camps and later others, he found bodies "piled up like cordwood" and "helpless skeletons with diarrhea, dysentery, typhus, TB, pneumonia, and other ailments, retching in their louse ridden bunks or on the ground with only their pathetic eyes pleading for help," Ferencz wrote in an account of his life.
“The Buchenwald concentration camp was a charnel house of indescribable horrors,” Ferencz wrote. “There is no doubt that I was indelibly traumatized by my experiences as a war crimes investigator of Nazi extermination centers. I still try not to talk or think about the details.”
At one point toward the end of the war, Ferencz was sent to Adolf Hitler's mountain retreat in the Bavarian Alps to search for incriminating documents but came back empty-handed.
After the war, Ferencz was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army and returned to New York to begin practicing law. But that was short-lived. Because of his experiences as a war crimes investigator, he was recruited to help prosecute Nazi war criminals at the Nuremberg trials, which had begun under the leadership of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson. Before leaving for Germany, he married his childhood sweetheart, Gertrude.
At the age of 27, with no previous trial experience, Ferencz became chief prosecutor for a 1947 case in which 22 former commanders were charged with murdering over 1 million Jews, Romani and other enemies of the Third Reich in Eastern Europe. Rather than depending on witnesses, Ferencz mostly relied on official German documents to make his case. All the defendants were convicted, and more than a dozen were sentenced to death by hanging even though Ferencz hadn't asked for the death penalty.
“At the beginning of April 1948, when the long legal judgment was read, I felt vindicated,” he wrote. “Our pleas to protect humanity by the rule of law had been upheld.”
With the war crimes trials winding down, Ferencz went to work for a consortium of Jewish charitable groups to help Holocaust survivors regain properties, homes, businesses, art works, Torah scrolls, and other Jewish religious items that had been confiscated from them by the Nazis. He also later assisted in negotiations that would lead to compensation to the Nazi victims.
In later decades, Ferencz championed the creation of an international court which could prosecute any government’s leaders for war crimes. Those dreams were realized in 2002 with establishment of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, though its effectiveness has been limited by the failure of countries like the United States to participate.
Ferencz is survived by a son and three daughters. His wife died in 2019.
___
Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at @MikeSchneiderAP | 2023-04-08T21:53:06+00:00 | springfieldnewssun.com | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/nation-world/ben-ferencz-last-living-nuremberg-prosecutor-of-nazis-dies/S2MT5TFH2JFL7M4J7LQDMZVJ3U/ |
In DeSantis’ shadow, Florida Democrats fight to be relevant
By BRENDAN FARRINGTON
Associated Press
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Things are so bad for the Florida Democratic Party that the arrests of its party chair and Senate minority leader could be seen as a positive. Democrats are struggling for relevance in the Republican-dominated state. And they hope the arrests of Senate Democratic leader Lauren Book and state party Chair Nikki Fried could signal a new swagger in their fight — and one that directly contradicts Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ claim that Florida is the freest state in the nation. Book says, “We have to show up differently when there are so few of us.” It’s a big task as DeSantis moves toward his expected run for the presidency. | 2023-04-07T20:47:30+00:00 | localnews8.com | https://localnews8.com/news/ap-national/2023/04/07/in-desantis-shadow-florida-democrats-fight-to-be-relevant/ |
Supreme Court asked to stop judges from giving out punishment for acquitted offenses
WASHINGTON (AP) — A jury convicted Dayonta McClinton of robbing a CVS pharmacy but acquitted him of murder. A judge gave McClinton an extra 13 years in prison for the killing anyway.
In courtrooms across America, defendants get additional prison time for crimes that juries found they didn’t commit.
The Supreme Court is being asked, again, to put an end to the practice. It’s possible that the newest member of the court and a former federal public defender, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, could hold a pivotal vote.
McClinton’s case and three others just like it are scheduled to be discussed when the justices next meet in private on Jan. 6.
Sentencing a defendant for what’s called “acquitted conduct” has gone on for years, based on a Supreme Court decision from the late 1990s. And the justices have turned down numerous appeals asking them to declare that the Constitution forbids it.
The closest the court came to taking up the issue was in 2014, when Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Ruth Bader Ginsburg provided three of the four votes necessary to hear an appeal.
“This has gone on long enough,” Scalia wrote in dissent from the court’s decision to reject an appeal from defendants who received longer prison terms for conspiring to distribute cocaine after jurors acquitted them of conspiracy charges.
Scalia and Ginsburg have since died, and Thomas remains on the court. But two other justices, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, have voiced concerns while serving as appeals court judges. “Allowing judges to rely on acquitted or uncharged conduct to impose higher sentences than they otherwise would impose seems a dubious infringement of the rights to due process and to a jury trial,” Kavanaugh wrote in 2015.
Jackson, who also previously served on the U.S. Sentencing Commission, could provide a fourth vote to take up the issue, said Douglas Berman, an expert on sentencing at the Ohio State University law school.
“She is someone who we’d have good reason to believe would be troubled by the continued use of acquitted conduct,” said Berman, who filed a brief calling on the court to take up McClinton’s case.
Jackson replaced Justice Stephen Breyer, who generally favored giving judges discretion in imposing prison terms. Reining in the use of acquitted conduct in sentencing would restrict judicial discretion.
McClinton, then 17, was part of an armed group that robbed a CVS pharmacy in Indianapolis in 2015 in search of prescription medicines, including opioids. The take was meager, about $68 worth of drugs, McClinton’s lawyers said in court papers. After one member of the group refused to share the proceeds, he was fatally shot in the back of the head at close range.
The reputed leader and other members of the group testified against McClinton at trial, as part of their bid for reduced prison terms, McClinton’s lawyers wrote.
Even with the testimony, jurors acquitted McClinton of the most serious charges against him. He should have faced six years in prison, at most.
Instead, the trial judge gave McClinton 19 years, finding that it was more likely than not that McClinton was responsible for the killing. The legal standard in a jury trial is higher, proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
Upholding McClinton’s prison term, Judge Ilana Rovner wrote for a unanimous three-judge panel of the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that lower-court judges are bound by a 1997 Supreme Court ruling that “a jury’s verdict of acquittal does not prevent the sentencing court from considering conduct underlying the acquitted charge, so long as that conduct has been proved by a preponderance of the evidence.”
But Rovner noted that a growing number of federal judges “have questioned the fairness and constitutionality of allowing courts to factor acquitted conduct into sentencing calculations.”
Seventeen former federal judges also signed on to a brief in support of McClinton.
McClinton’s lawyers argue that the high court’s intervention is past due. “Unless this Court resolves this issue, tens of thousands of criminal defendants will continue to be sentenced using sentencing practices that are impossible to square with the Constitution,” they wrote.
The Justice Department urged the court to reject the appeal, as it did in many similar cases in the past.
There’s no certainty about what the justices will do. Berman, the sentencing expert, said there are reasons the court could take a pass again, including a preference for Congress to deal with the issue by legislation or for the Sentencing Commission to address it.
Neither has, over more than two decades, though the House in March passed legislation prohibiting punishment of acquitted conduct. The Senate has not taken any action.
Another reason for caution, Berman said, is that some justices might feel that they would craft at best a rough rule with the potential for unintended consequences that include restricting judicial discretion more than they want.
Jackson also might have to weigh whether this is a topic she wants to take on in her first term, already filled with consequential cases on race, elections and the latest dispute involving people with religious objections to same-sex marriage.
___
Follow the AP’s coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court at https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2022-12-28T16:30:20+00:00 | wagmtv.com | https://www.wagmtv.com/2022/12/28/supreme-court-asked-stop-judges-giving-out-punishment-acquitted-offenses/ |
Ambetter Health insurance offers affordable, accessible coverage for all lifestyles
PHOENIX, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Open enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace in Arizona runs from Nov. 1, 2022, through Jan. 15, 2023. This year, Ambetter from Arizona Complete Health is available in nine counties, including locations such as Phoenix and Tucson, offering a variety of health insurance plans that are among the most affordable in the state.
"No one plans to get sick or injured, but health insurance is nonetheless an important resource to take charge of your health and provide peace of mind, even if you don't think you need it," said Martha Smith, Arizona Complete Health President & CEO. "With Ambetter from Arizona Complete Health, we've designed a variety of plans to fit all budgets and lifestyles, so whether you visit the doctor every month or only go sporadically, your health is protected."
This year, Ambetter from Arizona Complete Health is offering Ambetter Health Select, which offers an affordable monthly premium and a comprehensive network of healthcare providers and hospitals.
Ambetter from Arizona Complete Health offers quality care, convenient services, and valuable rewards to help make health insurance fit within peoples' lives. The insurance offerings include:
- $0 Copay for Ambetter Telehealth
Ambetter Telehealth provides convenient, 24-hour access to in-network Ambetter Health providers for unexpected non-emergency health issues through our preferred telehealth vendor. With a $0 copay, members can get medical advice, a diagnosis, or a prescription via phone or video, without having to leave their homes. The service also allows them to upload images that can support their doctor consultation, and a summary of the visit can be shared with their primary care provider. - Affordable and Reliable Coverage
Ambetter from Arizona Complete Health provides coverage for all essential health benefits, including preventive and wellness services, maternity and newborn care, pediatric services, mental health services, hospitalizations, and prescription drug coverage. Some plans also include dental and vision coverage. - Online Enrollment Assistance
Through the Ambetter from Arizona Complete Health website, people can browse and compare coverage options, determine their eligibility for financial subsidies, and directly enroll in coverage – all from one place. The platform is built for mobile access as well, so people can enroll using their smartphones. If a person is unable to complete enrollment all at once, the system will save their progress and provide reminders to finish enrollment at their convenience. - My Health Pays
Members have access to the My Health Pays® program, where they can earn points for practicing healthy eating habits, staying active, saving smart, and being well. Through the program, members can complete health-related activities and challenges, and can earn up to $500 in rewards in 2023. These rewards can be used for health-related expenses such as copays and deductibles. My Health Pays® also allows members to set and reach health goals at their own pace by providing seasonal suggestions for activities and guidance to help stay on track.
Arizona Complete Health has been serving Arizona since 1981 and currently protects more than 600,000 members across its Ambetter, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid plans. Below is a full list of counties in which Ambetter from Arizona Complete Health will be offered:
- Cochise
- Coconino
- Gila
- Graham
- Greenlee
- Maricopa
- Pima
- Pinal
- Santa Cruz
Arizona residents interested in learning more about Ambetter from Arizona Complete Health or enrolling in a health plan during the open enrollment period may visit Ambetter.AZcompletehealth.com.
About Arizona Complete Health
Arizona Complete Health, a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation, provides and administers health benefits through individual, Medicaid, Medicare and dual eligible programs. Arizona Complete Health offers two Medicaid programs – Arizona Complete Health-Complete Care Plan serving Southern and Central Arizona and Care1st Health Plan serving Northern Arizona. Medicare Advantage coverage is offered through its Wellcare program and Marketplace coverage through Ambetter from Arizona Complete Health. For more information on Arizona Complete Health, please visit the company's website at www.azcompletehealth.com.
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SOURCE Arizona Complete Health | 2022-11-01T15:47:41+00:00 | wlbt.com | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/11/01/ahead-open-enrollment-ambetter-arizona-complete-health-is-available-nine-counties-across-arizona/ |
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A Wilkes-Barre church closes its doors after more than 140 years of worship.
St. Dominic’s church held its final mass this evening. The faithful said farewell to their house of worship at Austin Avenue.
The diocese of Scranton blames the move on low attendance, financial hardships, and priest shortages. The closure is heartbreaking for those who lived their faith here and made memories throughout their lives.
“Nobody can take those away, you know, they’ll stay in my heart forever,” said Betty Ann Parri
“I received first holy communion here, confirmation, and I actually got married here as well. It’s very sad, it really is,” stated Cheryl Woloski.
87-year-old Hilda Kalinowski, the oldest living member of St. Dominic was given the honor of locking the church doors for good. | 2022-06-12T04:12:24+00:00 | pahomepage.com | https://www.pahomepage.com/news/st-dominics-in-wilke-barre-held-its-final-mass/ |
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When it comes to Brussels sprouts, the oven is your friend. Improperly handled, these dark green globes can turn bitter, but roasting brings out their better qualities.
Adding tomatoes and a little maple syrup brings sweetness to the mix.
Turn this into a sheet-pan meal by roasting some potatoes on the side.
Brussels Sprouts Roasted With Tomatoes
Ingredients:
• 1 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed and cut in half
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 large tomato, cut in 8 wedges
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
Directions:
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment or foil.
Spread Brussels sprouts in prepared pan. Drizzle with oil, salt and pepper; toss. Roast 15 minutes, then stir.
Add tomatoes to pan and drizzle everything with maple syrup; stir. Roast another 15-30 minutes, depending on size of Brussels sprouts, until they are tender and turning brown on edges.
Serves 4.
Approximate nutrient analysis per serving (not including salt to taste): 140 calories, 7 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 30 mg sodium, 18 g carbohydrate, 5 g fiber, 10 g sugar, 4 g protein. Nutritional analysis provided by Joannie Dobbs, Ph.D., C.N.S.
The Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation is an international nonprofit with a local office in Kaimuki. Its mission of community service includes the promotion of a healthy vegetarian lifestyle. To learn more, visit facebook.com/hawaiitzuchi or call 808-737-8885. | 2022-08-31T05:50:17+00:00 | staradvertiser.com | https://www.staradvertiser.com/2022/08/30/food/a-roasted-side/ |
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For this year’s Fourth of July cookout, update long-held traditions with globally inspired flavors — starting with the burger.
This recipe from our book “COOKish,” which limits recipes to just six ingredients without sacrificing flavor, is loosely based on a Filipino “chori” burger. It’s a spiced chorizo patty topped with a banana ketchup, mayo and a relish called atchara, or pickled green papaya. The sweet-savory toppings wonderfully balance the richness of the chili-spiced pork.
Looking to pare the ingredients down to the essentials, we tried jarred Asian chili-garlic sauce and were delighted with the results. Most jars at the supermarket contain a bright mixture of chilies and garlic, of course, but also tangy rice vinegar, salt and sugar, making it several seasonings in one.
Since pork burgers tend to dry out easily, we mixed the sauce directly into the ground pork to help keep the meat moist. A smear of chili-garlic mayonnaise reinforced the flavors in the meat mixture.
Pillow-soft, subtly sweet buns are a particularly good match for the tender, juicy burgers — we especially like potato buns or rolls. Serve with lettuce, sliced tomato, pickles or any of your favorite burger toppings.
Smoky Chili-Garlic Pork Burgers
Start to finish: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
⅓ cup mayonnaise
5 teaspoons plus 2 tablespoons chili-garlic sauce, divided
3 teaspoons packed brown sugar, divided
1 pound ground pork
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
Kosher salt and ground black pepper
1 tablespoon neutral oil
4 hamburger buns, preferably potato buns
Mix the mayonnaise, 5 teaspoons chili-garlic sauce and 1 teaspoon sugar. In a medium bowl, mix the pork, paprika, the remaining 2 tablespoons chili-garlic sauce, the remaining 2 teaspoons sugar, 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. Form into 4 patties. In a 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat the oil until shimmering. Add the patties and cook, flipping once, until well browned on both sides and the centers reach 160°F, 8 to 10 minutes total. Serve in buns spread with the mayonnaise mixture.
EDITOR’S NOTE: For more recipes, go to Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street at 177milkstreet.com/ap | 2022-06-27T13:38:54+00:00 | sfgate.com | https://www.sfgate.com/living/article/Asian-chili-garlic-sauce-punches-up-pork-burgers-17267813.php |
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Justice has informed former Vice President Mike Pence ‘s legal team that it will not pursue criminal charges related to the discovery of classified documents at his Indiana home.
The department sent a letter to Pence’s attorney Thursday informing his team that, after an investigation into the potential mishandling of classified information, no criminal charges will be sought. A Justice Department official confirmed the authenticity of the letter, which was obtained by The Associated Press.
The news comes days before Pence is set to launch his campaign for the Republican nomination for president in Iowa Wednesday — a race that will put him in direct competition with his old boss, former President Donald Trump.
No evidence has ever emerged to suggest that Pence intentionally hid documents from the government or even knew they were in his home, so there was never an expectation that he would face charges. But that decision and timing were nonetheless welcome news for the former vice president and his political team as he prepares to enter the crowded GOP primary field and contrast himself with Trump.
Attorney General Merrick Garland had named a special counsel to oversee the Justice Department’s investigation into the discovery of hundreds of documents with classified markings at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home just three days after the former president formally launched his 2024 campaign — an acknowledgment of the high political stakes. A special counsel was also put in place to investigate classified documents found at President Joe Biden’s home in Delaware and at an unsecured office in Washington dating from his time as vice president.
About a dozen documents with classified markings were discovered at Pence’s home in January after he asked his lawyers to perform a search of his vice presidential belongings “out of an abundance of caution” after the Biden discovery. The items had been “inadvertently boxed and transported” to Pence’s home at the end of the last administration, Pence’s lawyer, Greg Jacob, wrote in a letter to the National Archives.
The FBI then discovered an additional document with classified markings at the Indiana house during its own search the following month.
Pence has said repeatedly that he was unaware of the documents’ existence, but that “mistakes were made ” in his handling of classified material.
Beyond Pence, the two Justice Department special counsels are continuing to investigate the handling of classified documents by both Trump and Biden.
The status of the Biden documents investigation is unclear, but the Trump investigation has shown signs of winding down. Prosecutors appear close to a decision on whether to bring criminal charges against the ex-president or anyone else.
The team led by special counsel Jack Smith has brought a broad cross-section of witnesses before a federal grand jury investigating Trump, including former and close aides to Trump. The investigation has centered on not only whether Trump illegally possessed roughly 300 documents marked as classified but also on whether he obstructed government efforts to secure their return.
The Biden and Pence matters have always stood apart, factually and legally, from the Trump investigation because in both of those cases, aides proactively disclosed the discovery of classified documents to the Justice Department and facilitated their return.
Trump resisted months of demands to return classified documents taken with him from the White House to his Florida residence after the end of his term. After coming to suspect that more classified documents remained at the property, despite a subpoena and a visit by investigators, the FBI returned last August with a search warrant and recovered about 100 additional documents marked as classified, including at the top-secret level.
Trump insists he did nothing wrong. | 2023-06-02T17:25:46+00:00 | fox44news.com | https://www.fox44news.com/news/political-news/justice-department-says-it-wont-charge-pence-over-handling-of-classified-documents/ |
LeBron James continues march toward history as Lakers host Rockets
After reaching a major milestone Sunday, Lakers star LeBron James will set his sights on one of the NBA’s most storied records as soon as Monday when Los Angeles hosts the Houston Rockets.
James reached the 38,000-point plateau in Sunday’s 113-112 loss to the visiting Philadelphia 76ers and will begin to take aim at Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record of 38,387 points as he tracks down a historic moment that figures to come next month.
While Abdul-Jabbar saw a major scoring decline in his later seasons, including a 10.1 points-per-game mark in his final season of 1988-89, James is as productive as ever in his advancing age. James has averaged 29.2 points in 33 games this season after turning 38 late last month.
More productivity came against the Sixers, as James scored his 12th point of the game on a jump shot from the top of the key with 5:43 remaining in the first quarter to reach 38,001 for his career. He had 16 of his 35 points in the first quarter.
James has been bothered by a sore ankle as of late and was listed as probable going into Sunday’s game, leaving a chance he could rest on the second night of a back-to-back.
The Lakers lost their third consecutive game but have been far more competitive recently with a five-game winning streak through the first week of the month.
“I think we’ve been playing good basketball, even with some of the Ls that we’ve had,” James said, according to the Los Angeles Times. “… I feel like if we can continue to play the game like we’ve been playing it and then we get healthy, it will put us in a good position to see what the standings hold.”
Adding to the team’s positive outlook is that star forward Anthony Davis is progressing from a stress injury in his right foot that has kept him out the last 15 games. Others close to a return are Lonnie Walker IV (knee) and Austin Reaves (hamstring).
“I think we can string some wins together and be competitive against anybody,” James said.
The Rockets also are on a back-to-back scenario following a game at Los Angeles. Houston fell 121-100 to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday afternoon before the teams cleared the arena to make way for the Lakers-76ers game.
It was the Rockets’ season-worst 10th consecutive loss and their 15th defeat in the past 16 games.
The Rockets were playing two days after a testy 139-114 defeat to the Sacramento Kings, a game that included an on-court scuffle. Because of the incident, Rockets starters Jalen Green and Jae’Sean Tate did not play Sunday while serving a one-game suspension for leaving the bench area during the incident.
The Rockets trailed just 91-90 heading into the fourth quarter but scored just 10 points in the final period.
“You know guys have to start lighting a fire within themselves and understand the situation going into every game you have to compete to win and do it together with togetherness,” said Houston’s Eric Gordon, who had a team-high 24 points. “That’s what it is going to take to win.”
–Field Level Media | 2023-01-17T05:11:18+00:00 | kxnet.com | https://www.kxnet.com/scoreboard/lebron-james-continues-march-toward-history-as-lakers-host-rockets/ |
LOS ANGELES (WJBF) — Tia Mowry has announced on Instagram that she and actor Cory Hardrict, her husband of 14 years, have decided to go their separate ways.
“I have always been honest with my fans, and today is no different,” Mowry wrote on her Instagram page Tuesday. “I wanted to share that Cory and I have decided to go our separate ways. These decisions are never easy, and not without sadness. We will maintain a friendship as we co-parent our beautiful children.”
According to a People report, Mowry cited irreconcilable differences in her divorce filing Tuesday. She is requesting joint physical and legal custody of their two children, 11-year-old son Cree and 4-year-old daughter Cairo, according to the report.
“I am grateful for all the happy times we had together and want to thank my friends, family, and fans for your love and support as we start this new chapter moving forward in our lives,” Mowry said in her post.
The couple, who were married in 2008, have a prenuptial agreement, People reported.
Mowry is best known for her starring roles on “Sister, Sister” and The Disney Channel’s “Twitches” and “Twitches Too” with her twin sister, Tamera Mowry-Housley, “The Game,” “Instant Mom,” and Netflix’s “Family Reunion.”
Hardrict has made several guest appearances on several television shows including “Lincoln Heights” and “The CHI,” and he currently stars on “All American: Homecoming.” | 2022-10-05T20:44:31+00:00 | siouxlandproud.com | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/national-news/tia-mowry-says-she-and-husband-cory-hardrict-ending-their-14-year-marriage/ |
HALE, Patrick J.
Patrick J. Hale, 68, of Dayton died at 12:43 PM on Monday, July 25th, 2022, in the comfort of his home and embrace of his family. Patrick was born August 4, 1953, in Dayton, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Laura Hale (Dowler). He was the beloved husband of Amy Hale (Bush), loving father of Stacy and Troy (Claire) Hale and stepfather to Elizabeth and Megan Gilmore. Nothing put a bigger smile on his face than spending time with his grandchildren, Jonah Smith and Sophie Hale. Brother of Robert (Andrea), Todd (Connie) and Michael (Patty) and loving uncle of 12. As a younger man he enjoyed playing different sports and later in life you could always catch him watching or listening to a game. Family will receive friends for a celebration of Patrick's life this Saturday, July 30th from 3-7pm at the VFW Post 9927, 3316 Wilmington Pike, Kettering, OH. Feel free to come dressed in your favorite sports memorabilia. Memorial contributions in Patrick's honor may be made to Hospice of Dayton. | 2022-07-27T05:14:00+00:00 | springfieldnewssun.com | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/obituaries/hale-patrick/GXIYTXA5TNE3LKKJVRSKAAXWQQ/ |
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — NFL teams in need of a quarterback this offseason won’t be hurting for options.
The cream of the crop expected to be available this offseason includes two of the greatest to ever do it in Tom Brady, who is entering free agency coming off a down year with Tampa Bay, and Aaron Rodgers, who could end up available on the trade market if he decides he does not want to stick around in Green Bay as they may move on from multiple veteran players.
Among a handful of QB-needy teams is the Tennessee Titans. Tennessee went 7-10 last year behind aging veteran Ryan Tannehill, as well as backups Joshua Dobbs and rookie Malik Willis, who threw a combined zero touchdowns and three interceptions in eight games.
For Tyler Rowland, the host of the Locked on Titans podcast, the choice for Tennessee is simple.
“If the Titans have the choice between trading for Aaron Rodgers or signing Tom Brady, I think it is obvious that they should sign Tom Brady,” Rowland said. “Let’s start with this, the price to get a player. If you go trade for Aaron Rodgers, you’re going to have to give up draft capital…so already you’re going to have to give up more than if you sign Tom Brady.”
Rodgers made it clear he’s willing to play somewhere other than Green Bay next season, but a team will have to be willing to part with some kind of draft capital while also taking on the astronomical $58.3 million compensation package coming Rodgers’ way for 2023.
Meanwhile Brady is coming off a down year with the Bucs, and at age 45 going on 46, it is fair to wonder if he still has enough in the tank to take over as quarterback for Tennessee.
Brady led the NFL in completions each of the last two seasons, but his touchdown-to-interception ratio of 25-to-9 last year left a lot to be desired, as did Tampa Bay’s 8-9 record and NFC Wild Card round exit.
Still, Brady’s lower cost, lack of draft pick compensation, and general attitude give him a significant edge amongst the two future Hall of Famers, says Rowland.
“I’m not saying either of these routes are the route the Titans will go, but it’s not even close,” Rowland continued. “Sign Tom Brady, the best quarterback of all time, who is going to be cheaper, not cost you draft picks, has a better relationship with his teammates, and loves football more.” | 2023-01-24T23:11:26+00:00 | newscentermaine.com | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/sports/locked-on/lo-national/locked-on-nfl/are-the-titans-potential-suitors-for-tom-brady-or-aaron-rodgers-packers-bucs-tampa-green-bay-nfl-rumors-aaron-rodgers-trade-tom-brady-retirement-trade/535-98545159-c452-4df5-8a7b-f0e5ba8e5670 |
Sean Hannity explained the complete "disarray" that Democrats are in with the 2024 election approaching and how Republicans have already begun to enter the race on "Hannity."
THE REAL REASONS WHY BIDEN WILL BE WAVING GOODBYE IN 2024
SEAN HANNITY: Now, the 80-year-old sitting president just won't say whether he plans to run for a second term, although his wife Jill, said it for him. That does not exactly inspire any confidence in me. But if he ultimately does decide to run, it looks like it'll be back to the basement bunker for Joey, who is reportedly now enlisting prominent Democrats to travel and speak on his behalf because he's likely not capable. Look at this number.
Already 68% of you, the American people, think that Joe is way too old to run for reelection. And in a poll released only last month, 16. That's it. Only 16% said that they were better off financially under Joe Biden. Now, remember, with or without Biden, the 2024 election is well underway.
Donald Trump just released that ad. Now, he did announce his bid last November. We also have Nikki Haley. We have Vivek Ramaswamy who's running. A few others are officially in the race. Look for Senator Tim Scott, former VP Mike Pence, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, possibly Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, Larry Hogan, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Chris Christie, New Hampshire Governor Sununu, all possible contenders.
And we will know by this time next year who's likely to get the nomination anyway. Both DeSantis and Trump are poised to visit Iowa this month. That is the site of the first Republican caucus and multiple polls. Now the duo are leading one into the Republican field with Trump, the latest Fox News poll, in first place. And while Republicans are moving full steam ahead, Democrats, they are in complete disarray. Now with Joe Biden's approval rating underwater.
He is in deep trouble. And by the way, seeking a second term is not exciting pretty much anybody. | 2023-03-04T14:43:01+00:00 | foxbangor.com | https://www.foxbangor.com/news/national/sean-hannity-biden-and-democrats-are-in-deep-trouble-for-2024/article_e45305a6-7b07-5be4-b695-c45b2462d512.html |
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The mother of a missing Laredo teen is begging the community for any help it can provide to find her child.
The photo of 19-year-old Edgar Martinez has been shown on missing person flyers throughout the city as well as social media. His mother, Thelma Garza, said they are desperate for anybody to provide concrete evidence of where he could be found, as they have run in to many dead ends during their search the past few weeks.
“Every single day I am attentive to any update by the detective from the police, and I am looking for cars here and there day and night and all throughout the city,” Garza said. “These days have been very difficult, and we are really desperate for any bit of information as we continue to work with the police to know what happened. We are also actively looking for any leads of the red truck or any bit of information that anybody might know.”
In their most recent update, LPD said that it was looking for information involving a red truck -- the vehicle Martinez was allegedly last seen in in the area around Fasken Boulevard and Mines Road on Dec. 21.
Garza described that the past few days have been very difficult for her and her family, as they have lived without knowing whether their son is OK and what has happened to him.
“My son does not deserve this that is happening to him,” Garza said. “I know he did not do anything bad to anybody else to deserve this.”
Garza said they found it very odd when Martinez did not arrive home the night he went missing. It was very unlike him.
“On the morning when he didn’t return, we thought it was odd, but maybe thought that he was with a new girlfriend that he had or a friend or somebody he knew,” Garza said. “But we started calling him as another night arrived and he didn’t respond to any messages. Originally we thought that it wasn’t anything bad, but when he didn’t arrive home to sleep, that’s when we noticed something was wrong. He never really stayed out much and (didn't typically) not call home nor return our messages.
“He is a young man that is always at home mostly, and whenever he does go out, he always tells us that he is heading out. He gives us a kiss to all and tells us how much he loves us and then leaves.”
According to Garza, Martinez was a homebody who did not go out at nights, as he spent most of his time with his family and close friends. He is described as always very nice to everyone, attentive, helpful and open on where he would be going.
Garza said she has been very active in finding and getting videos from businesses and other places where Martinez was seen passing by or walking and giving them to the police. She said police are evaluating the videos and seeing if there is any evidence of Martinez in them or walking.
She also shared that she has provided some other potential tips to police that she hopes pan out.
Additionally, Garza has been in contact with all of her son’s friends and persons he might know, but no major information has been released to them at this time.
As Garza and her family continue to search for leads about where their son could be, Garza she said she has encountered many people that actually knew him and spoke well about him.
“A homeless person actually approached us in a gasoline station around the city as he saw us giving out missing person flyers in efforts to get any leads from the community,” Garza said. “He told us that he knew my son as he would always give him money or something to eat whenever he stopped by the gas station. He told us that he was very good with him and a very nice young man. My son was always a great friend, a good son, a great person and a grand human being with a very large heart.”
She implores anyone who might know what happened to please provide them with any bit of information to find his location. And if he was taken, Martinez's mother said she would not charge the individual responsible if he was returned.
“I want them to please return back my son as he is really a good person,” Garza said. “He is innocent and I know he has done no wrong, and I will not put any charges on that person if they simply return my son back. He does not deserve this. I promise that I will not put any charges on anybody if they simply return back my son safe and sound. Please don’t stop praying for my son so he can return back home safely.”
If anyone has any information regarding the case, please contact Laredo Police at 956-795-2800 or Laredo Crimestoppers at 727-TIPS(8477). All calls and information will remain anonymous.
jorge.vela@lmtonline.com | 2023-01-04T06:33:00+00:00 | lmtonline.com | https://www.lmtonline.com/local/article/My-son-does-not-deserve-this-Missing-teen-s-mot-17692125.php |
California police detain person in connection to stabbings
DAVIS, Calif. (AP) — Northern California authorities said they have detained a person in connection with two fatal stabbings and a third stabbing in a university town and will provide more details at a press conference Thursday afternoon.
This is the first time the Davis Police Department has said the three stabbings that occurred over a week period and terrified the community are linked. The announcement said the person was detained in connection with the two homicides and the attempted homicide.
NBC affiliate KCRA-TV in Sacramento, California, reported it captured aerial footage of police Wednesday afternoon speaking with a person near a downtown park where the second victim, a 20-year-old student at the University of California, Davis, was killed.
Officers were then seen placing the person in the back of a patrol car.
Davis is a small city about 70 miles (112 kilometers) northeast of San Francisco and 15 miles (24 kilometers) west of Sacramento. There are roughly 67,000 residents in the city in addition to more than 13,000 students who live on the UC Davis campus.
Davis police did not return phone calls and emails seeking more information.
The first death was reported Thursday when officers found David Henry Breaux, 50, in downtown’s Central Park, hunched over a bench where he often sat or slept.
The second victim, Karim Abou Najm, was found Saturday night at Sycamore Park with multiple stab wounds.
A homeless woman who is in her 60s was the victim of Monday’s stabbing.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2023-05-04T19:44:58+00:00 | kwtx.com | https://www.kwtx.com/2023/05/04/california-police-detain-person-connection-stabbings/ |
(NerdWallet) – It’s a banner year for weddings, with industry experts at the Wedding Report predicting that more than 2.5 million couples will tie the knot — a 40-year high. But you might find your finances aren’t quite ready to take on the costs associated with being a wedding guest.
Half (50%) of Americans say they plan to attend a wedding in 2022 — but less than a third (31%) have built attendance into their budgets, according to a new survey.
“I think guests are going to start looking at all the things that they never really looked at before and determining, ‘Is it really worth me attending this event?’,” says Sheavonne Harris, a wedding planner based in New York City. In some cases, they may just decide to send a nice gift in their absence, she says.
Before you RSVP, weigh important factors — from airfare costs to your relationship with the couple — and consider these ideas for fitting attendance into your budget.
Think about saving on travel costs
Among the top factors Americans consider before attending a wedding are how far it is from home (47%) and the cost of travel and lodging (43%), according to a NerdWallet survey of more than 2,000 people conducted online by The Harris Poll.
Airfare or driving costs plus lodging can add up. Using miles or points you’ve earned can help reduce travel expenses.
Getting around town once you arrive is another cost. “Each wedding is a few hundred dollars to rent a car when you’re there for a weekend,” says Elliott Appel, a certified financial planner in Madison, Wisconsin. Consider sharing rental-car or ride-share costs with other guests to save some cash.
Most couples are still providing hotel room blocks at a discounted rate for their guests, Harris says. Make sure you don’t miss the deadline to catch that deal. You might also consider sharing a room or splitting a vacation rental with other guests.
Appel also suggests making the trip do double duty if you have nearby family or friends who you were planning to visit this year.
Set reasonable spending limits for gifts and outfits
Getting to the wedding is only part of the cost. You also want to bring a gift and look presentable. After more than two years of pandemic living, formal clothes hanging in your closet might not fit the way they used to. The cost of attire was an important factor for 30% of Americans, the survey found.
“If you can duplicate outfits as opposed to doing multiple different outfits for every wedding, I always recommend that,” Appel says. Clothing rental services like Rent the Runway or Nuuly help you cut costs and still feel special.
More than a quarter (28%) of Americans surveyed said how much they think they should spend on gifts factors into their decision. Don’t let expectations to spend outrageously on gifts hold you back.
“Just because we know the person well doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to spend a significant amount of money on a gift,” Appel says. He suggests a gift with personal meaning behind it, something “that maybe reflects back on an experience or a shared memory.” A group gift is another way to give a higher-priced item without busting your budget.
Stretch the budget strategically
Half (51%) of Americans said how close they are to the couple is a big consideration, the survey found. You’re likely to do everything you can to share a close friend’s or family member’s special day — even if it stretches your budget.
Appel doesn’t advocate going into debt for a wedding. But, he says, “I also don’t want people to miss out on those memorable experiences.” He suggests trying to reduce spending or temporarily increase income to cover extra costs.
If those strategies aren’t enough, you might consider putting your wedding guest expenses on a credit card. More than 2 in 5 Americans (43%) surveyed say they typically use a credit card to pay for costs associated with attending a wedding.
However, make sure you have a plan to pay off that debt — the debt avalanche or snowball methods are popular. And use credit cards strategically. Moving charges to a card with a low or 0% APR for balance transfers gives extra time to pay without running up a lot of interest.
If you have time, save before going
Roughly 4 in 10 (39%) Americans surveyed say they have skipped or considered skipping a wedding because they could not afford it. If you know there are weddings in your future, start planning now.
Build guest expenses into your budget with a sinking fund — a savings account dedicated to a planned expense. Consistently saving smaller chunks over time is more manageable.
Also, cutting costs across your budget not only helps you afford wedding attendance but also respond to rising inflation in general. Think about buying store brands, renegotiating bills, canceling subscriptions and trimming discretionary spending. | 2022-05-21T17:15:10+00:00 | upmatters.com | https://www.upmatters.com/news/national/how-guests-can-honor-their-budgets-in-peak-wedding-season/ |
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (WGHP) — The northbound and southbound lanes of Liberty Street at 24th Street are closed on Wednesday night due to a crash in Winston-Salem, according to a Winston-Salem Police Department news release.
It is unknown when the road will reopen.
The cause of the crash is also unknown.
Drivers are asked to use caution in the area and choose an alternate route if possible.
This is a developing story. | 2022-11-17T00:39:43+00:00 | myfox8.com | https://myfox8.com/news/north-carolina/winston-salem/winston-salem-crash-closes-northbound-southbound-lanes-of-liberty-street-at-24th-street-police-say/ |
DALLAS, Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Wolverine Interests, a Dallas-based real estate investment firm, and Peakhill Equity Partners, a Toronto-based real estate investment manager, are pleased to announce the closing of the acquisition of Riverside Commons, a six-building class A office campus totaling over 468,000 square feet in the Las Colinas Urban Center in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Riverside Commons spans approximately 18 acres, including a 4.7-acre future development land site, and is strategically located adjacent to DFW Airport. The office campus, which was recently renovated and is over 90% leased, offers modern office space, first-class amenities, and ample structured parking. This project marks the first joint venture between Wolverine Interests and Peakhill Equity Partners. Veritex Bank financed the acquisition, which was brokered by Newmark Group.
"This is a great opportunity for us to invest in a quality asset along with a quality investment firm in Peakhill. We plan to do many more things together. We have always held the Las Colinas area in high regard, and this gives us another property there. This property has been a staple for the area and we plan to continue with its success." said Jim Leslie, Managing Principal of Wolverine Interests.
"We are excited to partner with Wolverine Interests, who is one of the most experienced operators in the North Dallas market. We see an opportunity to invest in a great asset in one of the top employment centers in the County," said Jonah Belkin, Managing Director of Peakhill Equity Partners.
Wolverine Interests is a Dallas, Texas-based commercial real estate development and investment firm led by industry veterans with a deep understanding of complex financing, master development and management expertise, focused on office, multifamily and mixed-use developments. Led by a senior investment and management team with 40 years average experience in broad-based commercial real estate as developers, owners, and operators, Wolverine Interests brings extensive expertise to every project. Wolverine specializes in office, multifamily, and mixed-use development, office acquisition/disposition, complex financing, tenant representation, and brokerage.
Peakhill Equity Partners is a real estate investment platform focused on joint venture equity investments in ground-up and value-add real estate projects in the United States and Canada. Through its entrepreneurial structure, flexible balance sheet, development expertise, and lending arm (Peakhill Capital), Peakhill Equity Partners is able to identify equity investment opportunities with superior risk-adjusted returns that positively impact communities.
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SOURCE Peakhill Equity Partners | 2022-08-09T16:02:22+00:00 | kalb.com | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2022/08/09/wolverine-interests-partner-with-peakhill-equity-partners-riverside-commons-acquisition/ |
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– Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results Conference Call on
Tuesday, August 9, 2022, at 8:30 a.m. ET –
VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Village Farms International, Inc. ("Village Farms" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: VFF) today announced it will host a conference call to discuss its second quarter financial results on Tuesday, August 9, 2022, at 8:30 a.m. ET. Participants can access the conference call by telephone by dialing (416) 764-8659 or (888) 664-6392, or via the Internet at: https://app.webinar.net/Q8rLNPLNepq.
The live question and answer session will be limited to analysts; however, others are invited to submit their questions ahead of the conference call via email at investorrelations@villagefarms.com. Management will address questions received via email as part of the conference call question and answer session as time permits.
The Company expects to report its second quarter 2022 financial results via news release on Tuesday, August 9, 2022, at 7:00 a.m. ET.
For those unable to participate in the conference call at the scheduled time, it will be archived for replay both by telephone and via the Internet beginning approximately one hour following completion of the call. To access the archived conference call by telephone, dial (416) 764-8677 or (888) 390-0541 and enter the passcode 784970 followed by the pound (#) key. The telephone replay will be available until Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at midnight (ET). The conference call will also be available on Village Farms' web site at http://villagefarms.com/investor-relations/investor-calls.
Village Farms leverages decades of experience as a large-scale, Controlled Environment Agriculture-based, vertically integrated supplier for high-value, high-growth plant-based Consumer Packaged Goods opportunities, with a strong foundation as a leading fresh produce supplier to grocery and large-format retailers throughout the US and Canada, and new high-growth opportunities in the cannabis and CBD categories in North America and selected markets internationally.
In Canada, the Company's wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary, Pure Sunfarms, is one of the single largest cannabis operations in the world, the lowest-cost greenhouse producer and one of Canada's best-selling brands. The Company also owns 70% of Québec-based, Rose LifeScience, a leading third-party cannabis products commercialization expert in the Province of Québec,
In the US, wholly-owned Balanced Health Botanicals is one of the leading CBD brands and e-commerce platforms in the country. Subject to compliance with all applicable US federal and state laws and stock exchange rules, Village Farms plans to enter the US high-THC cannabis market via multiple strategies, leveraging one of the largest greenhouse operations in the country (more than 5.5 million square feet in West Texas), as well as the operational and product expertise gained through Pure Sunfarms' cannabis success in Canada.
Internationally, Village Farms is targeting selected, nascent, legal cannabis and CBD opportunities with significant medium- and long-term potential, with an initial focus on the Asia-Pacific region and Europe.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the "Securities Act") and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and is subject to the safe harbor created by those sections. This press release also contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. We refer to such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information collectively as "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements may relate to the Company's future outlook or financial position and anticipated events or results and may include statements regarding the financial position, business strategy, budgets, expansion plans, litigation, projected production, projected costs, capital expenditures, financial results, taxes, plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Particularly, statements regarding future results, performance, achievements, prospects or opportunities for the Company, the greenhouse vegetable or produce industry or the cannabis industry are forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by such terms as "can", "outlook", "may", "might", "will", "could", "should", "would", "occur", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "try", "estimate", "predict", "potential", "continue", "likely", "schedule", "objectives", or the negative or grammatical variation thereof or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. The forward-looking statements in this press release are subject to risks that may include, but are not limited to: our limited operating history in the cannabis and cannabinoids industry, including that of Pure Sunfarms, Inc. ("Pure Sunfarms"), Rose LifeScience Inc. ("Rose" or "Rose LifeScience"), Balanced Health Botanicals, LLC ("Balanced Health") and our operations of growing hemp in the United States; the legal status of the cannabis business of Pure Sunfarms and Rose and the hemp business of Balanced Health; risks relating to the integration of Balanced Health and Rose into our consolidated business; risks relating to obtaining additional financing, including our dependence upon credit facilities; potential difficulties in achieving and/or maintaining profitability; variability of product pricing; risks inherent in the cannabis, hemp, CBD, cannabinoids, and agricultural businesses; market position; ability to leverage current business relationships for future business involving hemp and cannabinoids; the ability of Pure Sunfarms and Rose to cultivate and distribute cannabis in Canada; existing and new governmental regulations, including risks related to regulatory compliance and regarding obtaining and maintaining licenses; legal and operational risks relating to expected conversion of our greenhouses to cannabis production in Canada and in the United States; risks related to rules and regulations at the US federal (Food and Drug Administration and United States Department of Agriculture), state and municipal rules and regulations with respect to produce and hemp, cannabidiol-based products commercialization; retail consolidation, technological advances and other forms of competition; transportation disruptions; product liability and other potential litigation; retention of key executives; labor issues; uninsured and underinsured losses; vulnerability to rising energy costs; inflationary effects on costs of cultivation and transportation; recessionary effects on demand of our products; environmental, health and safety risks, foreign exchange exposure, risks associated with cross-border trade; difficulties in managing our growth; restrictive covenants under our credit facilities; natural catastrophes; the ongoing and developing COVID-19 pandemic; and tax risks.
The Company has based these forward-looking statements on factors and assumptions about future events and financial trends that it believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon assumptions that management believes are reasonable based on information currently available to management, there can be no assurance that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, which may cause the Company's or the industry's actual results, performance, achievements, prospects and opportunities in future periods to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the factors contained in the Company's filings with securities regulators, including this press release. In particular, we caution you that our forward-looking statements are subject to the ongoing and developing circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, operations and future financial results.
When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions, the Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on these statements, as forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties and should not be read as guarantees of future results, performance, achievements, prospects and opportunities. The forward-looking statements made in this press release relate only to events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in this press release. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
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SOURCE Village Farms International, Inc. | 2022-08-02T12:57:42+00:00 | wlox.com | https://www.wlox.com/prnewswire/2022/08/02/village-farms-international-report-second-quarter-2022-financial-results-tuesday-august-9-2022/ |
Data collected by Boulder estimates that 80,000 pounds of pet waste are left behind on Open Space and Mountain Parks property every year.
That’s where the city’s pet waste reduction initiative, called the “Let’s DOO It” campaign, comes in.
City staff members will be stationed at various parks and trailheads in Boulder from 9 a.m. to noon Sunday in an effort to remind visitors about their responsibility to keep shared public lands clear of dog waste. Leaving waste on or near the trail is prohibited and can lead to a citation and a $100 fine, which is one of the campaign’s biggest incentives.
According to a city news release, “Bacteria, nitrogen and phosphorous in dog waste can enter waterways and storm drains when it rains or when snowmelt runs across the path, deplete oxygen in water, help encourage algal blooms, cause chemical changes in soil composition that can kill native plants and encourage noxious weed infestation.”
Staff will be at the Mount Sanitas, Chautauqua, Dry Creek, Boulder Valley Ranch, South Boulder Creek West, Coot Lake, and Boulder Reservoir West trail on Sunday. They will be handing out free dog bandanas to participants, and those who attend will be asked to take the “Let’s DOO It” pledge to bag dog waste at all times.
The city also encourages trail users with pets to always have extra poop bags on hand and use compostable bags when possible. | 2022-04-30T02:01:02+00:00 | dailycamera.com | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/04/29/boulder-urges-public-trail-users-to-reduce-dog-through-lets-doo-it-campaign/ |
‘It can’t be any worse’: In Boris Johnson’s back yard, Britons are desperate for a change
By Rob Picheta, CNN
Uxbridge, United Kingdom (CNN) — “Everything now is a struggle,” Mike Okoli says, in the world-weary tone he slumps into the moment a customer shuffles out of his store.
“When I started this business, my hair was all black,” insists Okoli, an affable 64-year-old who left Nigeria in the 1990s to set up an Afro-Caribbean food store on the western edge of London. But prices have soared, money has disappeared, and Okoli’s head is hairless, save for a patch of gray hiding his chin.
On the surface, there is little connecting Okoli with Boris Johnson – the most dominant and divisive presence in British politics in a generation, who took the United Kingdom out of the European Union and once told his family he wanted to be “World King.”
But until last month, Okoli could count Johnson as his neighbor. “As a person, he’s a jolly good fellow,” the shopkeeper tells CNN, one eye locked on the couriers dropping off produce, as he recalls with some pride a rare visit Johnson made to the town. “He’s somebody that you want to listen to, no matter what he’s saying.”
Okoli says he still “loves” the disgraced ex-leader’s charisma. “But…” he adds, trailing off. With Johnson, now, there is always a “but.”
Johnson represented Uxbridge and South Ruislip for eight colorful years until last month, when he stormed out of Parliament in a cloud of fury and hubris when fellow lawmakers concluded he had lied about parties held under his watch during Covid-19 lockdowns.
Now, the voters he once courted may be primed to make the most definitive statement yet that Britain is ready to move on.
A mid-term by-election to replace Johnson is taking place on Thursday, alongside two other by-elections to replace MPs elsewhere in the country. And a resurgent Labour Party – less than four years removed from an electoral wipeout at the hands of Johnson – is looking for a headline-grabbing victory that would confirm it is on the path to power.
“I thought (Johnson) was a guy who would get things done,” says Manoj Supeda, 47, who runs a dry cleaners a short walk from Okoli’s store in Uxbridge. “But I’ve lost total respect for him.
“He still hasn’t said ‘I was wrong, sorry.’ He’s tried to wriggle his way out of it, deny it,” Supeda added, expressing his disgust with the “Partygate” scandal that tanked Johnson’s once-beguiling pull with parts of the public.
“The public used to respect politicians,” he says. “(But) they all seem to be lying, the Tories.”
Supeda, who voted for Johnson in 2019, is the archetypal wavering voter in the archetypal region that the opposition party is desperate to reach. And after 13 years of political instability and upheaval, there is an inescapable sense that the government’s time has come.
“It’s just time for a change,” he says. “Give Labour a go. It can’t be any worse.”
‘We need fresh blood’
Uxbridge, like Britain, is in a rut.
The town is where the capital’s westward sprawl ends. Two Tube lines serving central London finish their journeys here, as picturesque shades of green mingle with the gray and brown hues of suburban developments. But its high streets are shrinking and the local hospital is one of the worst in Britain – rated “inadequate” by the sector’s watchdog.
And nationwide, soaring inflation, public sector strikes and the aftermath of Brexit have left families poorer and services creaking to the point of collapse. Renewing a passport, taking a train, buying groceries, seeing a doctor – virtually everything is more difficult in Britain than it once was.
Optimism, the currency Johnson once so bullishly traded in, is in short supply.
Okoli still has the energy to issue customers – many of whom he knows well – with a sing-song greeting as they step through his door. But he’s spending more and selling less, and he’s not alone. “When a customer comes in last week and buys something, and this week it’s a different price, do you think he wants to come again?” Okoli asks.
Like a number of Uxbridge residents, he has some lingering affection for Johnson and still yearns for the escapist boosterism he once provided the town. Okoli and others recalled Johnson’s Brexit campaign in 2016, an effort defined by bold promises that seem a lifetime away now.
But Johnson, suddenly, is the past, and residents in Uxbridge and South Ruislip are more concerned about the future.
“I’ve got nothing against Boris whatsoever, but we need fresh blood that actually cares about the area,” says Sonia Caetano, the owner of a Portuguese cafe on a ramshackle high street in Yiewsley, in the constituency’s more deprived southern end.
“At the moment, I’m trying to go day-by-day,” she says of her business, which has been “destroyed” as energy bills soar. “I’ve got people in their 80s that come here everyday, because there’s always a conversation … if we disappear, there’s no place for them to go.”
Caetano says she thinks “every day” about returning to Portugal, from where she migrated in 2004.
She knows Labour’s candidate for the seat vacated by Johnson, Danny Beales, who was born in the nearby hospital and lived in the constituency until he was 15, when he and his mother lost their home. She calls him “the only candidate who actually shows his face around this area.”
If Caetano’s neighbors join her in voting for Beales, Labour could claim one of the highest profile wins in recent British political history.
A tense race
Change is in the air, and Labour is set to benefit. Opinion polls confidently predict the party, led by Keir Starmer, a former senior prosecutor, will win power in a general election expected next year.
But Uxbridge is a test case for that theory, and tensions are high. “You can see the national polls, just like I can see, but these are real votes,” Steve Reed, the party’s shadow justice secretary tasked with running the local campaign, told CNN on a hot afternoon on the high street. He predicts a “tighter race” than some media have suggested.
A handful of media outlets, including CNN, were denied the chance to interview Labour’s candidate or join a canvassing session, an unusually skittish move from a party tipped to win a by-election.
And the controversial expansion of ULEZ, a world-first low-emissions zone implemented by London’s Labour mayor, from the end of August has given the Tories a lifeline among drivers.
There is little else to talk about on the campaign trail. Steve Tuckwell, the Conservative candidate, has omitted virtually any mention of his party from his posters, instead calling himself “The anti-ULEZ” choice – a reference to the plan to extend the zone in which high-emissions vehicles would be charged to drive.
“There’s some difficulties that we need to overcome,” Tuckwell, who has served as a councilor in the area, admits in an interview with CNN. He declined twice to say whether he was proud of his party’s record in government, saying instead that “there are many complexities in the national picture,” including the aftermath of Covid-19 and Russia’s war in Ukraine. “Any government would struggle with that.”
‘Labour is winning by accident’
For Labour, winning power nationally may be the easy part. In a country strangled by economic crises, the party is struggling to excite voters with a vision of what change will look like.
Reed describes its pitch as “an adult-to-adult relationship, where you level with people about what’s possible and what isn’t.” Labour is insisting it will not overspend, keen to shed a reputation gained in its last stint in power. But critics have called for an infusion of cash to fix the state’s crumbling services.
“People are not stupid. People understand the challenges facing the country,” Reed says.
Some voters are more blunt. “They’re basically saying we’ll carry on business as normal,” says Mick, 61, who runs a food stall near Uxbridge station and has voted Labour his entire life. “So why are we voting?”
Mick describes Starmer, the pragmatic face of the party since 2020, as “a bit of a wet weekend.” Urfah, a mother-of-six who voted for former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair, was unable to even name the current Labour leader. “We’re struggling to put food on the table, we’re not interested,” she said.
“Labour is currently winning by accident,” James Johnson, who ran internal polling in Theresa May’s Downing Street operation and founded the JL Partners polling firm, told CNN of the national picture. Johnson’s company ran the first major opinion poll ahead of the Uxbridge by-election, which found a solid but assailable eight-point lead for Labour. “There is no great love for the party,” he said.
“I’d like to think they’d like to do more for the working people,” Tracy Peabody, a dental nurse and mother of three young boys, told CNN on a high street in Ruislip Manor. “But I can’t help thinking it’s two wings from the same bird, all singing from the same song sheet,” she added of Labour and the Conservatives.
Just three-and-a-half years after one of the party’s worst-ever electoral defeats, the outcome of Thursday’s vote in Uxbridge will indicate how far Labour has come.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | 2023-07-18T06:50:57+00:00 | krdo.com | https://krdo.com/news/national-world/cnn-world/2023/07/17/it-cant-be-any-worse-in-boris-johnsons-back-yard-britons-are-desperate-for-a-change/ |
Despite Dylan Perlstein scoring 16 points for Livingston, Newark Collegiate came away with a 44-39 victory in Newark to win its third in a row.
Newark Collegiate (8-1) took a 20-19 lead at halftime before holding Livingston (5-5) off in the second half outscoring it 24-20.
Luke Cohen added 12 points for Livingston.
The N.J. High School Sports newsletter now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now and be among the first to get all the boys and girls sports you care about, straight to your inbox each weekday. To add your name, click here. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.
Craig Epstein may be reached at cepstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @CraigEpstein18. | 2023-01-11T03:27:33+00:00 | nj.com | https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports/2023/01/newark-collegiate-defeats-livingston-boys-basketball-recap.html |
- Infosys will also acquire Danske Bank's IT centre in India which employs 1400 digitally skilled professionals
- Engagement expands Infosys' footprint and reinforces commitment to the Nordics
BENGALURU, India and COPENHAGEN, Denmark, June 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys (NSE: INFY), (BSE: INFY), (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today announced that it has signed a strategic collaboration with Danske Bank, a leading Nordic Bank, to accelerate the bank's digital transformation initiatives with speed and scale. This collaboration will help Danske Bank achieve its strategic priorities towards better customer experiences, operational excellence, and a modernised technology landscape, powered by next-gen solutions.
Headquartered in Denmark, Danske Bank provides banking services to personal and business customers, as well as large corporate and institutional customers. In a bid to accelerate the bank's technology transformation, optimise their access to talent and capabilities and improve productivity, Danske Bank chose Infosys as its strategic partner.
As part of this collaboration, Infosys will also acquire Danske Bank's IT center in India, where over 1,400 professionals are employed. With its global expertise and industry-solutions, Infosys will accelerate the bank's digital agenda by significantly enhancing their IT operations and capabilities, powered by Infosys Topaz, an AI-first set of services, solutions and platforms, experience design, and services that support operations.
Frans Woelders, Chief Operating Officer, Danske Bank, said, "Our Forward '28 strategy sets clear ambitions for Danske Bank to be a leading bank in a digital age. This is backed by significant investments in digitalisation and technology, including plans to further develop our customer-facing digital solutions, and modernising our technology infrastructure to enable even better customer experiences and drive operational efficiency. We have a strong starting point, and we want to further accelerate our digital and technology transformation. We have conducted a thorough process to find a partner that can help us achieve that. Infosys has the tools, experience, and expertise to support us in accelerating our transformation using cloud and AI technologies. Given Infosys' global presence and scale, this collaboration will also give us access to wider talent pools and capabilities."
Salil Parekh, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Infosys, said, "We are delighted to bring our rich experience in financial services transformation to work for Danske Bank and help the bank accelerate its strategic growth agenda. Infosys will collaborate with Danske Bank to strengthen their core business with greater digital, cloud and data capabilities. This will help Danske Bank create more value for their customers using powerful advances in AI, including generative AI.
Infosys looks forward to welcoming Danske India employees joining our team as part of this journey.
Nordics is a strategic market for Infosys and this collaboration further enhances our commitment to the region. Infosys has acquired BASE Life Science in Denmark and Fluido in Finland, and recently opened a new proximity center in Gothenburg, Sweden and Oslo, Norway. With this relationship with Danske Bank, Infosys has further enhanced its localization strategy in the Nordics.
Infosys expects the transactions to be completed before Q2'FY2024, subject to customary closing conditions.
About Danske Bank A/S
For more than 150 years, Danske Bank has strived to be a driver of growth and development in society. We have developed in tandem with the societies we are part of, and our advisory services, expertise and financial solutions have helped individuals, families, businesses and organisations to realise their ambitions and potential. With long-term sustainable development as our ambition, we will continue to work every day to be the best possible bank, for the benefit of our customers, employees, shareholders and the societies we are part of.
About Infosys
Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. Over 300,000 of our people work to amplify human potential and create the next opportunity for people, businesses, and communities. We enable clients in more than 56 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer clients, as they navigate their digital transformation powered by the cloud. We enable them with an AI-powered core, empower the business with agile digital at scale and drive continuous improvement with always-on learning through the transfer of digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. We are deeply committed to being a well-governed, environmentally sustainable organization where diverse talent thrives in an inclusive workplace.
Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NSE, BSE, NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next.
Safe Harbor
Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects, or our future financial or operating performance are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding the execution of our business strategy, our ability to attract and retain personnel, our transition to hybrid work model, economic uncertainties, technological innovations such as Generative AI, the complex and evolving regulatory landscape including immigration regulation changes, our ESG vision, our capital allocation policy and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, liquidity, capital resources, and our corporate actions including acquisitions. Important factors that may cause actual results or outcomes to differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements are discussed in more detail in our US Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law.
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SOURCE Infosys | 2023-06-26T06:19:48+00:00 | ksla.com | https://www.ksla.com/prnewswire/2023/06/26/danske-bank-selects-infosys-strategic-partner-accelerate-digital-transformation/ |
Regional Winners from Around the World Competed for a $1 Million Investment at the Grand Finale in San Francisco
SAN JOSE,Calif., Oct. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Months of preparation and pitching by thousands of entrepreneurs around the world came down to ten finalists at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale event on September 30, 2022, at the Marriott Marquis in San Francisco. The event was organized and by Pegasus Tech Ventures, a Silicon Valley-based global venture capital firm. An all-female panel of independent venture capital investors judged the pitches of the ten finalists and ultimately awarded the grand prize - a $1 million investment - to SRTX, a materials science technology company that won the regional Startup World Cup competition in Toronto, Canada.
SRTX is a materials science innovator and sustainable textiles manufacturer that develops ultra-durable fabrics and clothing using new materials and smart production systems. This yields better textiles while creating less waste.
Other finalist companies competing for the $1 million investment prize included companies from Israel, Luxembourg, UK, Mexico, Japan, and China, as well as regional winners from Texas, Illinois, and California in the U.S. The ten finalists were chosen in a semi-final competition held on September 28 in San Francisco, during which 56 regional winners from over 30 countries around the world competed for ten finalist slots.
At the Grand Finale on September 30, 2,000 attendees participated in a conference that included tech luminaries as speakers and a startup competition to become the competition for global champion. Kevin O'Leary, of Shark Tank fame, appeared to share his lessons as an entrepreneur and investor. Other speakers included founders and executives from Microsoft, Pfizer, PayPal, HP Enterprise, GitHub, Coupang, Carbon, NovaSignal, Triller, and Zillow.
The competition was judged by an all-female panel of six venture capital investors, including partners from Khosla Ventures, Norwest Venture Partners, IBM, Race Capital, Hanhai BioLabs, and Mighty Capital. "The competition this year was extremely intense, with entrepreneurs from all over the world presenting groundbreaking innovations. We congratulate the SRTX team for their tremendous success at the Startup World Cup 2022 Grand Finale," said Anis Uzzaman, Founder and CEO of Pegasus Tech Ventures and Chairman of Startup World Cup. "This year's competition proved once again that innovation has no boundary. A successful startup can be founded anywhere in the world and still compete at the global level. This sets the right example for startups in every corner of the world. We encourage them to take on the highest challenges without hesitation."
For photos of the event, please click here.
Pegasus Tech Ventures is a global venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley with over $2 Billion in Assets Under Management. Pegasus offers intellectual and financial capital to emerging technology companies around the world. In addition to offering institutional investors a top-tier venture capital investment approach, Pegasus also offers a unique Venture Capital-as-a-Service (VCaaS) model for large, global corporations that wish to partner with cutting-edge technology startups. Some of the 35+ corporate partners that have partnered with Pegasus include ASUS, AISIN, SEGA, NGK Spark Plugs, and Sojitz. These corporations are able to have access to 230+ Pegasus portfolio companies such as SpaceX, 23andMe, SoFi, Color, Carbon, and many more.
For more information about Pegasus Tech Ventures, please visit https://www.pegasustechventures.com.
Startup World Cup was created by Pegasus Tech Ventures to celebrate entrepreneurship around the world. Startup World Cup is a global series of conferences and competitions that bring together the top startups, investors, entrepreneurs, media, and tech CEOs around the world. Starting with thousands of applications for regional competitions in over 70 countries across six continents, hundreds of selected startups compete for the chance to move onto the Grand Finale event in San Francisco to win a $1 million investment grand prize. Startup World Cup is organized by Pegasus Tech Ventures in partnership with investors and local sponsors.
For more information on the Startup World Cup, please visit https://www.startupworldcup.io.
- SRTX (Canada) - Winner of $1 million investment prize
- Lazarus 3D (Texas, U.S.)
- Matricelf (Israel)
- Mi Terro (Chicago, U.S.)
- ViiT Health (Mexico)
- Wonderverse (China)
- Japa (Sacramento, U.S.)
- Intelligent Lab on Fiber (UK)
- SkyDrive (Tokyo, Japan)
- ANote Music (Luxembourg)
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SOURCE Pegasus Tech Ventures | 2022-10-10T11:27:44+00:00 | waff.com | https://www.waff.com/prnewswire/2022/10/10/canadian-startup-srtx-wins-1-million-grand-prize-startup-world-cup-2022-organized-by-pegasus-tech-ventures/ |
ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he wants to keep the military’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate in place to protect the health of the troops, as Republican governors and lawmakers press to rescind it.
This past week more than 20 Republican governors sent a letter to President Joe Biden asking that the administration remove the mandate, saying it has hurt the U.S. National Guard’s ability to recruit troops. Those troops are activated by governors to respond to natural disasters or unrest.
Congress may consider legislation this coming week to end the mandate as a requirement to gather enough support to pass this years’ defense budget, which is already two months late.
Austin said he would not comment on pressure from the Hill.
“We lost a million people to this virus,” Austin told reporters traveling with him Saturday. “A million people died in the United States of America. We lost hundreds in DOD. So this mandate has kept people healthy.”
“I’m the guy” who ordered the military to require the vaccine, Austin added. “I support continuation of vaccinating the troops.”
Last year Austin directed that all troops get the vaccine or face potential expulsion from the military; thousands of active duty forces have been discharged since then for their refusal to get the shots. | 2022-12-04T12:20:11+00:00 | qcnews.com | https://www.qcnews.com/news/politics/election/ap-keep-covid-military-vaccine-mandate-defense-chief-says/ |
PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) — Sweaters one day, umbrellas the next. No one is sure what to expect at this PGA Championship except that Scottie Scheffler is locked in at another major and Oak Hill is a mighty test.
Scheffler delivered a mix of birdies and great recoveries from wet, nasty rough Friday until he couldn’t escape one last errant tee shot on the 18th that cost him the lead, but certainly did little to dim his optimism.
“When you can hang around the lead and stay in position and hopefully wait to get hot, it’s a good position to be in,” Scheffler said after a 2-under 68 that gave him a three-way share of the lead with Viktor Hovland and Corey Conners.
“I’ve done a good job the first two days of keeping the golf course in front of me and scrambling well,” he said. “Tomorrow I’m hoping to hit a few more fairways than I did today, make it a little easier on myself. But ultimately, 2 under is a good round around this place.”
Rain is in the forecast for Saturday, probably not enough to douse the anticipation of Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka playing together. They were antagonists two years ago — remember the “Brooksy” chants directed at DeChambeau — a relationship somewhat mended through their time in the Saudi-funded LIV Golf League.
That feels like long a long time ago, and both have a major on their minds. DeChambeau salvaged a 71 and was two behind; Koepka shot 66 and was three back.
Conners dropped only one shot on the brutal closing stretch on the back nine and posted a 68. Hovland had only one bogey in his round of 67.
They were at 5-under 135, with more variety on the horizon. Rain was in the forecast for Saturday, wind on Sunday, and 18 players were separated by five shots.
There were a few late charges to move into contention (Koepka with a 31 on the back nine), to keep hopes alive (Rory McIlroy with a 69) or simply to make the cut (Jon Rahm, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas).
For now, Scheffler is the target as a Masters champion a year ago and a player who has not finished worse than 12th all year.
Hovland, who shared the 54-hole lead at St. Andrews last summer, is getting used to this, too. He dropped only one shot early in his round of 67, and closed with a 7-iron out of wet, thick rough to 5 feet for birdie. It was his 10th consecutive round in the majors when he ended the day among the top 10 on the leaderboard.
Conners had a 68, at one point building a two-shot lead until he had to rely on his short game to account for some errant drives and tough holes on the front nine.
They were two shots clear of DeChambeau and Justin Suh (68).
The leading seven players came from the same side of the draw. They were delayed by two hours from freezing temperatures and a coat of frost on the grass. They avoided the wind Friday morning, and then passing showers took some of fire out of Oak Hill.
“The rain … just thankfully we didn’t have any wind, so that kind of helped us out,” Hovland said. “With that rain, the ball went a little bit short. And if you’re in the rough, it tends to make that rough a little bit juicier. At the end of the day, it makes the greens softer, and you can maybe be a hair more aggressive.”
There were some impressive turnarounds, to be sure.
Shane Lowry had six birdies in an eight-hole stretch in the rainy afternoon until closing with a pair of bogeys. He had to settle for a 67, leaving him in a large group at even-par 140, five shots behind but still very much in the thick of it.
That group included club pro Michael Block (70), and it included Rory McIlroy, who felt as though he hit the ball badly — and sounded like it on one drive with one choice word — and was mildly stunned when he glanced at the leaderboard to find himself in range.
“I think how terribly I’ve felt over the golf ball over the last two days, the fact that I’m only five back … I guess that’s a good thing, because I know if I can get it in play off the tee, that’s the key to my success over the weekend,” McIlroy said.
Some players were simply happy to still be around for the weekend.
Rahm, the Masters champion and No. 1 player in the world, opened with a 76 and couldn’t get a putt to fall. He was running out of holes, one shot over the cut of 5 over, when he ran off three straight birdies and salvaged a 68 to make the cut with one shot to spare.
Spieth walked off the tee at the drivable 14th figuring he would have a good look at birdie. And then he found such an awkward lie in a front bunker that his shot sailed over the green, over the boundary fence and landed somewhere on the grounds of Irondequoit Country Club. He somehow salvaged a bogey and delivered clutch putts — none bigger than a 10-footer in the rain for a par on the final hole — to make the cut on the number.
And now the focus shifts to the top, a mixture of major champions, players making their debuts in the PGA Championship, a PGA Tour rookie and a club professional. All of them were within five shots of the lead.
DeChambeau had a rugged start, particularly on the par-4 sixth hole, so difficult that it yielded only three birdies out of 156 players and had an average score of 4.75. He was in a greenside bunker, took two shot to get out and made double bogey.
He didn’t make his first birdie until the par-3 11th hole — DeChambeau hit 6-iron from 248 yards to 6 feet — and had two more birdies before a bogey finish.
And then he headed to the range as darkness fell.
“I know what to do. I’ve done it before,” said DeChambeau, the U.S. Open champion at Winged Foot in 2020. “It’s been a few years, but it doesn’t mean I don’t know how to do it, and if it’s not my time, it’s not my time. I feel like I’m definitely trending in the right direction finally.”
___
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2023-05-20T17:51:37+00:00 | ktalnews.com | https://www.ktalnews.com/sports/ap-scheffler-tied-for-lead-in-pga-as-oak-hill-delivers-a-new-challenge/ |
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Highlights of the World Cup and other sports events are on widescreen televisions in Ruwa on the outskirts of Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare. But all eyes are on the pool table … and the money.
Among them is 18-year-old Levite Chisakarire.
“I have to take the cash home … there is big money today,” he said, holding a pool stick and awaiting his next opponent.
At stake is a $150 first prize, a princely sum in a country where the majority earn slightly over $100 a month, according to official government figures, and about half of the 15 million population live in extreme poverty, according to the World Food Program.
“It can go a long way to pay the bills,” said the boyish Chisakarire, the youngest player vying for the day’s prize.
Previously a minority sport played in Zimbabwe’s wealthier neighborhoods, pool has increased in popularity over the years, first as a pastime and now as a survival mode for many in a country where full-time jobs are very hard to come by.
Unable to further his education after finishing high school with low grades in 2019, Chisakarire struggled to find a job in Zimbabwe’s stressed industries. The outbreak of COVID-19 meant his father, a truck driver, lost regular work. So Chisakarire began hanging around an illegal tavern where patrons dodged or bribed police to overlook pandemic restrictions so they could drink beer and play pool.
His hobby became a skill and he showed a talent for shooting the round balls into the pockets. Soon it helped solve his financial problems as he began betting on his games and winning. These days he earns about $300 on a good month by playing pool, he says.
He’s not the only one. The majority of Zimbabweans earn a living from informal activities, which include selling tomatoes at roadside stands and also by playing pool, according to an October labor survey by the country’s statistics agency. About half of young people aged between 15 and 34 are unemployed and not engaged in education or training.
Some, such as Chisakarire, are finding a livelihood at pool tables.
“Pool became popular as a form of entertainment in bars, but it is now proving to be more popular than soccer in many places,” said Michael Kariati, a veteran Zimbabwean sports journalist for over 30 years. “It has evolved into a fiercely competitive sport with people placing bets and surviving off it.”
In Harare alone, the number of professional players has quadrupled to about 800 in the past five years, according to Keith Goto, spokesman of the Harare Professional Pool Association.
“Then there are the money games that have grown exponentially. You find pool tables everywhere you go in the townships,” he said. “It is offering a form of employment and it is paying through betting.”
Others warn that betting is a dangerous habit that can have disastrous impacts on families. But with so many people out of work and Zimbabwe’s economic outlook so dire, many people are desperately scrambling to make money through a cue stick.
Makeshift pool arcades flourish in bars, verandas in front of shops, and just about any open space. Some enterprising residents have pool tables at their homes where they charge people 50 cents to play and place bets in violation of city laws that require such enterprises to be properly licensed. The tables are often worn and wobbly, but people don’t seem to care.
In Warren Park, a Harare township, people ignored the country’s biggest local soccer derby at the country’s biggest stadium nearby to congregate around pool tables where money changed hands fast.
For quick money, betting takes ingenious means. Instead of playing the entire 8-ball game, some bet on the position of the black eight-ball after the first shot of the game, also called the break. Others punt on the best of three balls. One expert player offered to play using only one hand because people were too hesitant to bet against him.
Authorities sometimes carry out so-called clean-up operations to confiscate pool tables scattered all over. Often enforcers of city by-laws are simply paid off with as little as a $2 bribe to look the other way. Most punters in low-income townships place dollar bets on games in which they can win $3 or $4.
In Ruwa, competition is more organized and stakes are higher. Each club member paid $10 as a participation fee, which went toward the prize money. On a recent day, 31 players paid to participate. Dozens more were spectators, cheering and betting on their favorite players.
“Imagine taking home $150! That’s more than what many gainfully employed people get per month,” said Goto, the spokesman. “Pool should now move from bars to schools and community halls like other sports, it has become mainstream after all.”
For Chisakarire, the 18-year-old, pool has become more than a game. From playing and betting in backyard taverns, he is dreaming bigger.
“It has changed my life,” he said, before sinking his next ball to win the tournament and pocket $150. “I can see myself playing in Europe one day.” | 2022-12-27T07:22:51+00:00 | texomashomepage.com | https://www.texomashomepage.com/sports/ap-a-cue-for-success-zimbabwes-pool-players-are-betting-on-it/ |
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