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HARRISBURG, Pa., July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Centric Bank, ("the Bank") the banking subsidiary of Centric Financial Corporation (OTC: CFCX) ("Centric" or "the Company") announces the appointment of Sandra J. Schultz as interim Chief Operations Officer until a replacement is hired for this role. Ms. Schultz is Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and has been in executive leadership at Centric Bank since 2008.
Ms. Schultz previously held the responsibility of the Bank's deposit operations beginning in 2008, with the addition of the loan operations and technology functions in 2014, and held oversight for these departments until 2017. She brings this expertise to the interim role. Ms. Schultz has over 30 years of banking experience.
Prior to joining Centric Bank, Ms. Schultz was with Sterling Financial as Treasury Analyst and Officer, Assistant Treasurer and Controller at Pennsylvania State Bank, and has held varying roles in the finance area of community banks. She received her MBA from Mount St. Mary's University in 2007 and is a graduate of Western Maryland College, with a Bachelors' Degree in Accounting and Economics.
Ms. Schultz has been recognized nationally four times for her role on a "Top Team" in American Banker's 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking recognition, an honor she has shared with the other women who comprise the senior leadership team at Centric Bank.
Ms. Schultz is a member of the PA Bankers Association Women in Banking Advisory Committee. She serves as a Trustee for the Cleve J. Fredricksen Library, as well as its Finance Committee and Investment Committee. She is a member of the Institute of Management Accountants and has previously served as Treasurer for the Parents Association of Harrisburg Academy.
ABOUT CENTRIC BANK
An American Banker 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018 Best Banks to Work For, four-time American Banker Most Powerful Women in Banking Top Team, three-time Best Places to Work, and Top 50 Fastest-Growing Companies for eight years, Centric Bank is headquartered in south central Pennsylvania with assets of $1.1 billion and remains a leader in organic loan growth. A locally owned, locally loaned community bank, Centric Bank provides highly competitive and pro-growth financial services to businesses, professionals, individuals, families, and to the health care and dental industries with the Doctor Centric Bank Division. Centric Bank was named one of the Top 200 Community Banks in the U.S. in 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019.
Founded in 2007, Pennsylvania-based Centric Bank has financial centers located in Harrisburg, Hershey, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Doylestown, Devon, and Lancaster, as well as commercial loan offices in Devon, Doylestown, Lancaster, and an Operations and Executive Office campus in Hampden Township, Cumberland County. To learn more about Centric Bank, call 888.274.2033 or visit CentricBank.com. Connect with them on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
Centric Financial Corporation is traded over the counter (OTC-Pink) with the ticker symbol CFCX.
Contact: Patricia A. Husic
President & CEO
717.909.8309
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SOURCE Centric Financial Corporation | 2022-07-28T20:44:46+00:00 | wagmtv.com | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/centric-bank-announces-interim-chief-operations-officer/ |
TEMPE, Ariz. — Klay Thompson was consumed by intrusive thoughts last January when he was making his return to the court after back-to-back injuries.
What if he couldn’t return to his All-Star level? What if he makes a mistake? What if he can’t help the Warriors get back to the top of the league?
But Thompson has learned to give himself grace and be patient with where he’s at.
Thompson said he feels great a week into the season, though he’s not where he needs to be as far as his conditioning. That’s why he remains under a minute restriction as the team’s training staff gradually increases his workload back to his usual 30 to 35 minutes.
Thompson hasn’t played more than 27 minutes in a game entering Tuesday’s matchup against the Phoenix Suns. He admitted that the limitations might have impeded his ability to get into rhythm on both ends of the court, but he has faith in the plan developed by the team’s director of sports medicine and performance Dr. Rick Celebrini.
Still, there are mental roadblocks that Thompson is fighting to get over every time he steps into the gym. Some of those hurdles were ones he thought he cleared back in January when he returned to the floor after missing nearly 1,000 days with two major leg injuries.
“I’m such a perfectionist, I want to be great right now,” Thompson said after shootaround Tuesday at Arizona State University. “But I gotta realize, man, it’s a long season and I’d rather peak playoff time versus early November, January.”
Thompson is trying to keep things in perspective.
“I’m also a very prideful person,” Thompson admitted after shootaround Tuesday at Arizona State University. “I kind of forget that what I’ve been through is real and I’m not 25 anymore. I can’t just step on the court and fly around. I got to do the little things to get ready to play. And that’s alright.
“I’ve accepted it, and I’m going to continue to get better each week. And although I want to have the big shooting nights, like record-setting nights, but I know those come with hard works and being patient because that stuff’s organic.”
Thompson played in his first season opener since the 2018-19 season last week and dropped 18 points. He had a solid second game but his offense was shoddy in Sunday’s win over the Sacramento Kings when he shot 3-for-10 from the floor for only eight points. He’s not sweating the up-and-down performances, especially this early in the season. Instead, he’s just sticking to the process to get back to where he wants to be.
“I’m not going to worry about making shots or statistics,” Thompson said. “I’m just going to go out there, play hard and be an impactful two-way player. I know the shooting nights will come as long as I just stay the court and stay patient and trust our training staff to let me go when I need to because I was in the same formula last year and it led to a championship.” | 2022-10-25T23:45:56+00:00 | santacruzsentinel.com | https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2022/10/25/perfectionist-klay-thompson-still-learning-to-be-patient-in-getting-back-to-previous-form/ |
GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Dec. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Castellum is divesting a soon-to-be-completed property with the Swedish National Courts Administration as the sole tenant. The building will house the Göta Court of Appeal and the Administrative Court of Appeal in Jönköping. The underlying property value witch is in line with book to value, amounts to SEK 510 M with a market-based deduction for deferred taxes.
The property encompasses 9,200 sq. m. and is fully let to the Swedish National Courts Administration with planned occupancy in spring 2023. The building is designed with a view to achieving ambitious environmental objectives and to obtaining certification under Miljöbyggnad level Gold, and features, for example, a rooftop solar cell installation. Particular attention has been paid to daylight availability in the premises and the building's design in relation to the surrounding urban environment in Jönköping city center by Lake Munksjön. Closing will take place following the completion of construction.
"We are pleased to hand over a well-implemented property project with such a stable and long-term tenant as the Swedish National Courts Administration. The divestment strengthens our liquidity going forward," says Rutger Arnhult, CEO Castellum AB.
The transaction in brief
Properties: Götaland 9
Buyer: Vacse
Sale price: SEK 510 M
Closing date: preliminarily 1 May 2023
Rental value: approx. SEK 23 M annually
Tenants: The Swedish National Courts Administration
Lettable area: 9,200 sq. m.
Economic occupancy rate: 100%
Rutger Arnhult, CEO Castellum AB, +46 31 60 74 00
Kristina Sawjani, Chief Investment Officer Castellum AB, +46 31 60 74 60
Castellum is one of the largest listed property companies in the Nordic region that develops flexible workplaces and smart logistics solutions. As of 30 September 2022, the property value totalled approximately SEK 186 billion, including the ownership share of the Norwegian company Entra ASA. We are active in attractive Nordic growth regions. One of our sustainability goals is to become entirely climate neutral by 2030. Castellum is the only Nordic property and construction company elected to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI). The Castellum share is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm Large Cap.
Beyond expectations.
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SOURCE Castellum | 2022-12-22T07:47:34+00:00 | wagmtv.com | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/12/22/castellum-divests-new-production-jnkping-sek-510-m/ |
The New Oasis Class Ship is the First of Its Kind to Debut With 3-night Weekend and 4-night Weekday Getaways, With More Ways to Play, Dine and Celebrate All in One Trip
MIAMI, June 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Next summer, vacationers can celebrate the weekend in the biggest way ever. Royal Caribbean International has revealed the ultimate 3-night weekend and 4-night weekday getaway, Utopia of the Seas. As the first of the game-changing Oasis Class ships to offer short getaways when it debuts, the next big thing coming to vacations sets the stage to make more memories in one short trip than ever before. Starting July 2024 from Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida, Utopia will introduce unmatched weekend energy across a combination of more than 40 ways to dine and drink, more pools than the days to count, ways to thrill and chill, and more of all the above at Perfect Day at CocoCay – Royal Caribbean's private island in The Bahamas – including its new adults-only Hideaway Beach opening in early 2024.
Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8948633-royal-caribbean-utopia-of-the-seas/
The signature adventures of the newest Oasis Class ship will make their short getaway debut alongside firsts and reimagined experiences, like a new Caribbean tiki bar, a first-of-its-kind immersive dining experience, the latest, greatest – and longest – dry slide at sea; newly designed resort-style pools; and more. Utopia opens for bookings on Royal Caribbean's website as soon as Friday, June 23. Crown & Anchor Society loyalty members can book on Thursday, June 22.
"Vacationers are looking to make every moment count by celebrating and recharging with their friends and family, and Utopia of the Seas makes all that possible in more ways than one," said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. "With the variety of dining, bars, pools, entertainment and thrills that make Oasis Class ships revolutionary and the experiences to match on our private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, we've combined the best of the best to create the world's biggest weekend for everyone."
Utopia is the getaway for friends, families and groups celebrating any occasion. Everyone can create their own weekend energy with their pick and mix of different types of pools and beaches, flavors from around the world, nightlife, entertainment and more.
Pool Days for Every Mood
Whether it's days by the pool or the beach – both can be found on the ultimate getaway. Complemented by Perfect Day at CocoCay's pools and white sand beaches, the vibes across Utopia's five pools range from upbeat to lowkey.
- Resort-style and sloping beach-entry pools – Three pools and three Lime & Coconut bars are at the center of the action. Vacationers can hit the high-speed waterslides at The Perfect Storm, while young kids take on Splashaway Bay; kick back and soak in the sun and live island tunes; and enjoy quick, casual bites nearby like a new poolside food truck with handheld favorites; Mexican-inspired street food and drinks at El Loco Fresh and Cantina Fresca; and more.
- Solarium – The tranquil retreat is where adults can recharge in a pool and whirlpools of their own, complete with a bar, daybeds, panoramic ocean views and the Solarium Bistro.
- Suite Sun Deck – Tucked away in the exclusive Suite Neighborhood, the pool features a bird's-eye view of the ocean in this private oasis with daybeds, loungers, umbrellas, and more.
- To mix up the memory making, vacationers can dry off by diving into record-breaking thrills around every corner. From the most adrenaline-pumping Ultimate Abyss yet, now 43 feet longer at 259 feet and featuring new zoom booster rollers and transparent racing windows, to the 10-story-high zip line; the signature FlowRider surf simulator; mini golf at AquaDunes; and Utopia Playscape for young kids, there are adventures for everyone in the group.
A World Tour of Flavors
With more than 20 dining options, every type of vacationer can take their taste buds on a world tour while island hopping in The Bahamas.
- Immersive dining experience – Combining multiple courses, technology and different destinations and storylines, the new, one-of-a-kind experience to be revealed at a later date is a locomotive journey that engages all the senses.
- Izumi and Izumi in the Park – Joining the Royal Caribbean staple in its new Central Park location, is a convenient, new window that serves up fresh sushi and Japanese-inspired sweets. Next door is a reimagined Izumi restaurant, with double the teppanyaki tables and new al fresco seating.
- Giovanni's Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar – Now spanning two stories, the reimagined favorite and menu of authentic Italian dishes, varietals and classic cocktails with a twist extend to the new outside terrace – Gio's Terrazza – that overlooks the signature Boardwalk.
- More returning favorites on the menu include The Mason Jar Southern Restaurant & Bar, where live country music complements southern staples; Windjammer, featuring hundreds of dishes and flavors for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner – all inspired by Royal Caribbean's international chefs; Hooked Seafood; and Chops Grille, now connected to the signature Trellis Bar.
Celebrations for Every Occasion
Getting away is always a cause for celebration. Wherever and whenever on Utopia, travelers are just steps away from their next big cheers and night out, with more than 20 different bars and entertainment spots, two casinos, live music venues and showstopping entertainment.
- Pesky Parrot – The new Caribbean bar is a slice of laidback paradise on the Royal Promenade that serves up fruit-based cocktails made with rum, tequila and gin, alongside frozen drinks and more.
- Casino Royale – Upping the ante are two casinos that feature more than 370 slot machines, nearly 30 table games and more.
- Live music – It's all about hitting the high note across five live music venues that range from Spotlight Karaoke to Latin hotspot Boleros, Music Hall, to rock out with the best cover bands at sea; Bell & Barley, the English pub with a live guitarist; and the classic piano bar, Schooner Bar.
- Showstopping entertainment – The cruise line's original production shows take center stage across air, ice, water and theater, including high diving, slacklining and acrobatics at the AquaTheater; ice-skating feats at Studio B; and theatrical productions at the Royal Theater.
Utopia is the getaway for everyone – even when it comes to the rooms vacationers can choose from. Across more than 20 types of accommodations, groups of friends and families – however large or small – can find their perfect fit from rooms with views of the ocean or neighborhoods like the open-air Central Park and lively Boardwalk; layouts for three, four, five and more; or suites such as the Royal Loft Suite and Ultimate Family Suite, plus an all-new category – the Solarium Suites.
The celebrations also extend from ship to shores. The ultimate getaway packs in double the island time with visits to Nassau, The Bahamas, and Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day at CocoCay, the "Best Private Island" for three years running.* Between the two islands' beaches and turquoise blue waters, and Perfect Day's 13 waterslides, swim-up bar, pools, overwater cabanas and the upcoming adults-only Hideaway Beach, vacationers are in for more than one memorable beach day.
When it comes to hitting repeat on memory making, adventurers can choose to get away on Utopia any Friday or Monday or go all out on any ship in Royal Caribbean's action-packed lineup of 3- to 8-night vacations from Port Canaveral, which includes the new Wonder of the Seas.
The ultimate 3- and 4-night getaway will also make waves when it debuts in July 2024 as the first Oasis Class ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), the cleanest-burning marine fuel to date. As the cruise line's second LNG-powered ship – following Icon of the Seas – Utopia will advance Royal Caribbean's decades-long commitment to the environment by combining LNG technology with a lineup of the brand's already-established environmentally friendly initiatives and features, from waste heat recovery systems to shore power connection.
More details about Utopia will be revealed leading up to its highly anticipated debut next summer. Vacationers can be among the first to dive into all the new getaway has in store on www.RoyalCaribbean.com.
About Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International, owned by Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL), has been delivering innovation at sea for more than 50 years. Each successive class of ships is an architectural marvel that features the latest technology and guest experiences for today's adventurous traveler. The cruise line continues to revolutionize vacations with itineraries to 240 destinations in 61 countries on six continents, including Royal Caribbean's private island destination in The Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay, the first in the Perfect Day Island Collection. Royal Caribbean has also been voted "Best Cruise Line Overall" for 20 consecutive years in the Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards.
Media can stay up to date by following @RoyalCaribPR on Twitter and visiting RoyalCaribbeanPressCenter.com. For additional information or to make reservations, vacationers can call their travel advisor; visit RoyalCaribbean.com; or call (800) ROYAL-CARIBBEAN.
NOTE TO EDITOR:
Images, video and more assets of Utopia of the Seas are available here.
*Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards
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SOURCE Royal Caribbean International | 2023-06-20T21:24:29+00:00 | wlox.com | https://www.wlox.com/prnewswire/2023/06/20/introducing-worlds-biggest-weekend-royal-caribbeans-utopia-seas-is-revealed/ |
DAVID GREENE, HOST:
We're starting to get a better picture here of what President Trump's former national security adviser was doing when he was talking to Russia's ambassador.
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
That picture comes from Sally Yates. She was a Justice Department official under President Obama and then briefly acting attorney general under President Trump until she was fired. She testified before a Senate committee and offered a little advice.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
SALLY YATES: To state the obvious, you don't want your national security adviser compromised with the Russians.
INSKEEP: Hard to disagree with that, but Yates said President Trump's White House was very slow to respond to her three warnings that then national security adviser Michael Flynn was vulnerable to Russian blackmail.
GREENE: Well, I want to get Domenico Montanaro's take here. He's from NPR's Politics team. Hey, Domenico.
DOMENICO MONTANARO, BYLINE: Hey there, David.
GREENE: So we used the word vulnerable here. What exactly might have made General Michael Flynn vulnerable?
MONTANARO: Well, you know, this all stems back to conversations that Flynn had with the Russian ambassador to the United States, Sergey Kislyak. Notably, he spoke to him on December 29. And that date's important because it was the same day President Obama announced those new sanctions against Russia for meddling in the elections.
Flynn told Vice President Pence he did not discuss the sanctions or the potential for sanctions relief. But we know now that was a lie. And we now know that we don't know the specifics of what was said because, David, that's classified. And, you know...
GREENE: Right.
MONTANARO: ...If I told you - well, you know how the rest of that goes.
GREENE: Exactly. But so the feeling was that if Russia knew that Flynn had lied to the vice president or the vice president-elect, that that would - that would be what they would be holding over him, so to speak.
MONTANARO: Totally. Absolutely, and, you know - I mean, the thing is it took the White House 18 days to still fire him. And that's a big thing that a lot of people are still wondering why it took the White House so long to deal with this. It didn't seem that the White House counsel took it as seriously as Yates had made it out to be. She made the point that Flynn's underlying conduct was problematic in and of itself. She said the Russians knew he'd lied, and that's what made him compromised with regard to the Russians. We know though, politically speaking, the president was close to Flynn. And there's a lot of evidence from his tweets - from Donald Trump's tweets that he believed all of this was just politically motivated.
GREENE: Well, Domenico, let's back up here. I mean, Sally Yates yesterday was this star witness. A lot of Democrats had been hoping to hear from her. I mean, did her testimony push this larger investigation of Russian meddling forward in some way here?
MONTANARO: I mean, she held up really well. But we should say that this hearing was surprisingly partisan in a lot of eyebrow-raising ways. You know, Republicans were largely interested in asking about Russia, its meddling into the - I'm sorry, they were not interested in that, you know, into Russia meddling into the election or Michael Flynn.
Instead, Republicans wanted to ask about unmasking and how this information became public, prodding Clapper and Yates for whether or not they were the leaks. And that's pretty stunning because without this information becoming public, Flynn might still be the national security adviser.
INSKEEP: You know, Domenico mentioned the president's tweets. He fired off a few yesterday, including one saying, the Russia-Trump collusion story is a total hoax. When will this taxpayer-funded charade end? Well, in answer to that, not as long as he keeps making incendiary statements like that, trying to change the subject. Michael Flynn was not fired for nothing.
GREENE: Yeah, we should say, James Clapper, of course, also testifying yesterday in that hearing. NPR's Domenico Montanaro, thanks as always. We appreciate it.
MONTANARO: Thank you.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
GREENE: So Steve, it's a week of covering elections. First, we had this big election in France. And now we have a big election today in South Korea.
INSKEEP: Yeah, voters are electing their next president in South Korea, an election to replace the president who was recently removed for corruption charges. And here's one reason this election matters to Americans. The liberal candidate, or a liberal candidate, Moon Jae-in, has been leading in the polls. He has said he is open to talks with North Korea, which the United States, of course, is confronting over its nuclear program.
GREENE: Yeah, and of course, the Trump administration has suggested that they would be open to talking with North Korea as well. Lauren Frayer has been covering this election. She's in Seoul. Hey, Lauren.
LAUREN FRAYER, BYLINE: Hey, guys.
GREENE: So what exactly does election day feel like in South Korea?
FRAYER: Election day is a day off work for most people here. Bright and early this morning...
GREENE: Well, that's a nice thing for a lot of people.
FRAYER: It is...
INSKEEP: I like that.
GREENE: Yeah.
FRAYER: ...A nice a little gift. There were municipal trucks early this morning tooling around town, blasting get-out-the-vote messages, instructing people to their nearest polling station, nearly 14,000 polling stations across South Korea. Those I was able to visit this morning in Seoul look orderly. There are no long lines. In fact, more than a quarter of voters took advantage of early voting late last week.
GREENE: But does no long lines suggest that the turnout is not that extraordinary? Or does orderly in South Korea mean a lot of people might be voting; they just know how to handle a busy election day.
FRAYER: No, turnout looks to be very high. It's pouring rain, by the way, in Seoul. But that probably will not affect turnout. Many Koreans actually believe rain is good luck. We've got less than two hours before the polls close. Already 73 percent of voters have cast ballots. So that turnout is on track, actually, to exceed the last election in 2012.
GREENE: Well, what is at stake here? I mean, could this election somehow change South Korea's relationship with the United States, which is such an important one?
FRAYER: It could be a real pivot. The front-runner, Moon Jae-in, wrote in a book a couple years ago that he thinks South Korea should learn how to say no to America. And this is a steadfast military alliance that goes back to the Korean War in the 1950s. There are tens of thousands of U.S. troops based in South Korea. And Moon has said he wants to renegotiate THAAD. That's an acronym for a U.S. missile defense system that the U.S. military is installing on South Korean soil. It's designed to shoot down North Korean missiles. Half of South Koreans oppose it. They think that it could make them a target, put them in more danger. So Moon has said he's going to sort of stand up to America and President Trump. This - his election would come after nine years of conservative, very pro-yes - pro-U.S., very hard line against North Korea, the previous administrations here.
INSKEEP: Lauren's last point there reminds us that when it comes to North Korea, you've got some options. You can go to war. You can try to talk. You can leave the problem to fester. If you go to war, North Korea would, of course, be the country that is targeted. And there obviously - or rather South Korea is the country that'd be targeted by North Korea. They're obviously not too comfortable with that. It's a difficult situation.
GREENE: Lauren Frayer, who knew that rain is good luck in South Korea? That's wonderful. Good luck to you on that rainy day in Seoul.
FRAYER: Thank you very much.
GREENE: Nice talking to you.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
GREENE: All right, Steve, and we have a new investigation now asking just what happened to $8 billion in housing subsidies for the poor.
INSKEEP: This money goes to banks and developers to encourage them to build low-income housing. Now, the companies do take the money. That part works. The problem is that each year, the program is building fewer homes.
GREENE: And that is something that NPR's Laura Sullivan has learned. She's been investigating this along with the PBS show, "Frontline." And Laura, I know this has been, like, a year of work coming to fruition now. So thanks for coming and talking about it.
LAURA SULLIVAN, BYLINE: Yeah, excited to be here.
GREENE: Well, what - so what exactly is this program you guys were investigating?
FRAYER: Well, basically, it's called the low-income housing tax credit program. It's a mouthful. But what happened was, you know, 30 years ago, the government and the public decided it was done with those giant, concrete public housing complexes like Cabrini-Green...
INSKEEP: Yeah.
SULLIVAN: ...And turned to the private sector and said, you know, can you guys do this better? And Congress created an incentive program for the private sector in the form of tax credits. Those are taxes you do not have to pay. And in exchange, the banks and investors shell out cash to developers through brokers to build apartment buildings. And because taxpayers essentially paid for these buildings, the rents can be much lower and house millions of poor people who have nowhere to live. And what people told us time and again is that this is a win-win. You know, the banks, investors, brokers and developers make hundreds of millions of dollars every year. And taxpayers and the poor get quality affordable housing.
GREENE: Sounds like - sounds like there's a big but here, though. It's supposed to be a win-win. But you found - you found - what exactly did you find?
SULLIVAN: So what we found is that the investors and the developers are still winning. That part is working. Business is booming. But it's not clear how much poor people are. We spent months analyzing 20 years' worth of data from this program. And the program is producing fewer and fewer units while costing taxpayers 66 percent more in credits every year. That's a huge loss in housing for poor people. And obviously, you know, you want to look at why that is. And we looked at construction costs. Yes, they've gone up.
Industry officials also said that there are fewer grants. They have to target really poor renters. Those are also very true. But the rising cost is so great that we went in search of more reasons. And we found some - some troubling things happening in Miami, Fla., a couple examples where developers were actually stealing money from the program.
GREENE: Oh, wow.
SULLIVAN: Here's - brought some tape. Here's a U.S. - assistant U.S. attorney named Michael Sherwin who investigated the program in Florida for five years.
MICHAEL SHERWIN: This program has been described as a subterranean ATM, and only the developers know the pin.
SULLIVAN: Now, we can't say fraud is happening everywhere. But we do know that there's not a lot of oversight over the money in this program.
GREENE: That sounds very damning. No oversight at all? I mean, who is - who would be looking into this and stopping it?
SULLIVAN: Well, here's a fun fact. So there are 58 housing agencies that oversee the money in this program. And the program is 30 years old. And there have only been seven audits in three decades. So the vast majority...
GREENE: That's not a lot of audits.
SULLIVAN: ...Of housing agencies have never been audited. And there's also nobody looking at how much the brokers and banks are making. And they've been mostly turning these into large private equity funds.
INSKEEP: I've got to try to see if I can get my hands on a subterranean ATM at some point.
SULLIVAN: (Laughter).
INSKEEP: It sounds like something we all should have.
SULLIVAN: I think we all need one of those.
GREENE: All right, Laura Sullivan, a year's worth of work, excited to see a lot of your reporting. Thanks so much.
INSKEEP: Yeah, great reporting.
SULLIVAN: Thanks for having me. [POST-BROADCAST CORRECTION: In an earlier version of this report, it was said that the cost in tax credits for a government-funded low income housing program is rising 66 percent every year. In fact, the cost in tax credits has gone up 66 percent over a span of 20 years.]
(SOUNDBITE OF THOMAS VITALI'S "REBECCA'S EYES") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | 2023-04-12T19:06:03+00:00 | kosu.org | https://www.kosu.org/politics/2017-05-09/news-brief-sally-yates-testimony-south-korea-election-frontline-probe |
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Sonia Citron scored 27 points, including four key free throws in the final 1:20, and No. 10 Notre Dame overcame the loss to star guard Olivia Miles to a knee injury to beat Louisville 68-65 on Sunday and clinch the Atlantic Coast Conference regular season title.
Miles, who leads the Irish with 14.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 2.1 steals per game, was hurt with 2:35 remaining before halftime while diving for a loose ball. The sophomore became emotional and pounded the floor while being examined by medical personnel. Miles was able to flex her knee and eventually limped off the floor without assistance to applause as she made her way to the locker room.
She returned to the bench in the third quarter with the knee wrapped in ice and eventually a bandage. Miles then watched Notre Dame (24-4, 15-3 ACC) rally from a 33-24 halftime deficit and take the lead for good in the fourth quarter.
KK Bransford’s layup got the Irish within 53-52 before Citron and Cassandre Prosper followed with five consecutive free throws to lead by four. Louisville’s Hailey Van Lith made two free throws, but Citron’s 3-pointer made it 60-55 and maintained that edge as the Cardinals missed two of four from the line.
Citron made two more from the line with 43.3 seconds left to make it 66-61 but missed two after Mykasa Robinson’s layup to open the door for the Cardinals (21-10, 12-6). Van Lith’s left-corner 3-pointer missed, Prosper was fouled on the defensive rebound and then made two with six seconds left to seal it.
Citron made 10 of 14 free throws and 7 of 13 shots with three 3s as the Irish won their sixth in a row and swept Louisville.
Van Lith made 10 of 12 free throws to finish with 23 for Louisville, which closed the final 2:51 without a field goal.
BIG PICTURE
Notre Dame: Duke’s loss to North Carolina opened the door for the Irish and they took advantage to gain the No. 1 seed for the ACC Tournament. That wasn’t easy considering Miles was sitting on the bench with injury.
Louisville: The Cardinals’ loss spoiled the home finales for seniors Morgan Jones, Chrislyn Carr, Norika Konno, Liz Dixon, Josie Williams and Mykasa Robinson.
UP NEXT
ACC Tournament in Greensboro, North Carolina.
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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 | 2023-02-26T21:44:31+00:00 | ourquadcities.com | https://www.ourquadcities.com/sports/ap-no-10-notre-dame-overcomes-miles-injury-to-clinch-acc/ |
Blue Shield of California's award-winning Wellvolution program launches this month to nonprofit health plan's Medi-Cal members
LOS ANGELES and SAN DIEGO, Jan. 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan is now offering its Medi-Cal members Wellvolution, a digitally based lifestyle medicine and mental health support program that can be personalized to address individual health needs and preferences.
Created in collaboration with Solera Health, Wellvolution offers four pillars of health support through its app-based programs: disease prevention; chronic-condition reversal; mental health support; and tobacco cessation.
"Wellvolution's lifestyle-medicine apps empower our Medi-Cal members to improve both their physical and mental health," said James Cruz, M.D., chief medical officer of Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan. "Wellvolution improves access to care, which we know helps to close healthcare gaps for our members."
Angie Kalousek-Ebrahimi, senior director of Lifestyle Medicine at Blue Shield of California, concurred. "Blue Shield Promise members who enroll in Wellvolution now have online access to a range of digital-care lifestyle medicine and mental health programs that are evidence-based and can make measurable improvements in their overall health and wellbeing, especially for those with chronic conditions."
Wellvolution programs that Medi-Cal members can access include:
- Diabetes Prevention - A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-approved Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). This 12-month program provides eligible members individual coaching, a digital weight scale, and a Fitbit.
- Chronic-Condition Reversal – A smartphone app that addresses specific health issues such as diabetes and obesity.
- Mindfulness and Mental Health – An on-demand app that helps manage anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and other mental health challenges and offers hundreds of tools and exercises to reduce stress and improve mental wellbeing.
- Tobacco-Cessation – Tools include nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to help members reduce cravings and stop smoking.
Wellvolution also offers general fitness options through Everyday Choices, which provides on-demand workout videos led by fitness experts and a library of recipes for nutritious meals.
"We are pleased to extend our relationship with Blue Shield of California to offer their Medi-Cal members these easily accessible digital health programs to help them get and stay healthy," said Mary Langowski, CEO of Solera Health. "We applaud Blue Shield for continuing to lead in providing consumer-friendly, evidence-based health solutions that consumers want and need."
Medi-Cal members can enroll by visiting Wellvolution.com/medi-cal and create an account and password. They then complete a simple health questionnaire to identify their health goals. Based on their answers, they can select and enroll with digital app providers that offer programs, tools, and strategies that will help them achieve their desired health goals. Many apps offer digital online coaches and educational tools as part of their overall program. For additional support members can also visit one of Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan's Community Resource Centers.
For more information about digital resources available to Medi-Cal members through Blue Shield's Wellvolution platform, go to wellvolution.com/medi-cal.
About Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan
Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan is a managed care organization, wholly owned by Blue Shield of California, offering Medi-Cal and Cal MediConnect. It is led by healthcare professionals with a "members-first" philosophy and committed to building a quality network of providers and partnering with community organizations for more than 450,000 members. For more information about Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan, please visit www.blueshieldca.com/promise. For more news about Blue Shield of California, please visit www.news.blueshieldca.com. Or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.
About Solera Health
Solera Health is changing lives by guiding people to better health solutions that work. Leveraging a dynamic digital platform, the company provides intensive, evidence-based lifestyle, behavioral and social interventions, impacting the most prevalent and costly chronic conditions across various acuity levels. Solera strategically matches consumers to their best-fit solution within carefully curated and vetted networks of digital and community-based point solutions all implemented via an innovative, value-based payment model. The company's suite of condition program offerings includes Diabetes Prevention & Management, Falls Prevention, Hypertension, Mental & Behavioral Health, Musculoskeletal, Tobacco Cessation, and Weight Management. Moreover, Solera's world-class solution handles challenging administrative tasks, including claims processing, compliance, consumer engagement, eligibility checking, member matching and vendor management, giving payers and employers access to dozens of point solutions with just one contract and one technical integration. For more information, visit www.soleranetwork.com.
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SOURCE Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan | 2023-01-23T16:57:10+00:00 | wlbt.com | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2023/01/23/medi-cal-members-can-now-get-innovative-digital-programs-prevent-treat-reverse-chronic-conditions/ |
EL PASO, Texas (AP) — Tae Hardy scored 15 points as UTEP beat Louisiana Tech 60-55 on Saturday night.
Hardy also added three steals for the Miners (7-3). Carlos Lemus scored eight points while shooting 2 of 3 from the field and 3 for 5 from the line. Mario McKinney Jr. went 3 of 5 from the field to finish with seven points.
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Cobe Williams finished with 18 points and five steals for the Bulldogs (6-5). Isaiah Crawford added 12 points, nine rebounds and four steals for Louisiana Tech. Keaston Willis also recorded 11 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. | 2022-12-18T05:11:14+00:00 | seattlepi.com | https://www.seattlepi.com/sports/article/Hardy-scores-15-as-UTEP-beats-Louisiana-Tech-60-55-17661854.php |
MIAMI — A Florida judge has approved a $1.2 billion settlement for unit owners and families of those who died in the collapse of a condo tower in Surfside last year. It was finalized one day before the anniversary of the disaster in which 98 people died.
In a Miami courtroom Thursday, Judge Michael Hanzman called it a "remarkable" outcome. Victims, families of the deceased, numerous defendants and their insurance companies were able to agree on a settlement within a year of the collapse of the condominium tower on June 24, 2021.
Hanzman thanked the dozens of attorneys involved in the case, which he said was the most complicated he'd seen in his 35-year career. The judge said it avoids the need for a trial that could have lasted a decade. He said, "These victims and families would have had to suffer through that and endure this trauma over and over and over again."
Judge Hanzman says it's notable that no victims or families of those who died chose to opt-out and not participate in the settlement.
Lawyers praised Hanzman for his dedication and determination in pushing all sides for a speedy resolution. Victims and family members of those who died also thanked the judge. Eileen Rosenberg, whose daughter Malky was killed in the collapse, said Hanzman had "put himself in our shoes (and) mirrored our pain and tears."
Owners of condo units will split the proceeds of the sale of the land where the Champlain Towers South building stood, expected to total $96 million. Families of those who died and residents with injury and trauma claims will share nearly a billion dollars in compensation paid by 20 defendants. They include a residential high-rise recently constructed next door and the security company that managed safety systems at the condo tower.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2022-06-23T18:37:34+00:00 | wksu.org | https://www.wksu.org/npr-news/2022-06-23/one-year-after-surfside-condo-collapse-in-florida-a-legal-settlement-is-approved |
Memphis man, woman used stolen credit card to buy guns, police say
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC/Gray News) - Memphis police say a stolen credit card was used to buy several guns online.
According to police, the credit card was reported stolen on July 29, with $2,597 on the victim’s card charged for firearms to be picked up at Wilco Tactical in Arlington.
WMC reports on Aug. 1 that several suspects showed up at Wilco to pick up the firearms.
Instead of leaving with the five weapons, the pair left in handcuffs.
One of the suspects, 21-year-old Trya Hall, said Tarajae Dorsey recruited her to pick up the firearms because he was not 21. Hall told police she took another person with her to the gun store, 20-year-old Keveon Ware.
Hall is charged with criminal conspiracy to commit unlawful use of a credit debit card and criminal attempted theft of property, while Ware faces the same charges.
Dorsey told police that he bought the firearm online with credit card numbers he found in a purse. It’s unclear what charges he faces.
Copyright 2022 WMC via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2022-08-02T23:44:44+00:00 | wlbt.com | https://www.wlbt.com/2022/08/02/memphis-man-woman-used-stolen-credit-card-buy-guns-police-say/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Treasury Department will impose additional sanctions on the Russian private military company, the Wagner Group, that has been aiding Russia’s military in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby announced Friday that Treasury will designate Wagner as a significant transnational criminal organization in the coming days. He said the designation will allow the administration to hit Wagner with tougher sanctions and squeeze its ability to do business around the world.
The White House also released images of Russia taking delivery of an arms shipment from North Korea that it said was intended to help bolster Wagner forces as they fight side-by-side with Russian troops in Ukraine. The Biden administration first accused North Korea last month of providing infantry rockets and missiles to Russia. North Korea has denied assisting Russia.
“These actions recognize the transcontinental threat that Wagner poses, including through its ongoing pattern of serious criminal activity with these actions, and there’ll be more to come,” Kirby said.
The U.S. government on Friday also released an image dated Nov. 18 that it said showed Russian rail cars traveling from Russia to North Korea. Kirby said the next day North Korea loaded those rail cars with shipping containers and the train returned to Russia.
Kirby said the information was shared with United Nations Security Council Sanctions Committee on North Korea.
The White House has increasingly expressed alarm about Wagner’s growing involvement in the war as it has been particularly active in the intense fighting in Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine. The White House has said that in certain instances Russian military officials have even been “subordinate to Wagner’s command.”
Kirby said the U.S. now assesses that Wagner has some 50,000 personnel fighting in Ukraine, including 10,000 contractors and 40,000 convicts that the company has recruited from prisons.
The U.S. assesses that Wagner, owned by Putin ally Yevgeny Prigozhin, is spending about $100 million a month in the war. Prigozhin has also publicly taken credit for some of Russian’s recent advances in eastern Ukraine.
“We are seeing indications, including in intelligence, that tensions between Wagner and the Russian Defense Ministry are increasing,” Kirby added. “Wagner is becoming a rival power center to the Russian military and other Russian ministries. Publicly, Prigozhin and his fighters have criticized Russian generals and defense officials for their performance in Ukraine.”
Wagner Group mercenaries have also been accused by Western countries and UN experts of numerous human rights abuses throughout Africa, including in the Central African Republic, Libya and Mali. Last month, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced he had designated the Wagner Group as an “entity of particular concern” for its activities in the Central African Republic.
Wagner has faced U.S. sanctions since 2017. The Commerce Department last month unveiled new export restrictions targeting Wagner in a bid to further restrict its access to technology and supplies.
—
Associated Press writers Zeke Miller and Darlene Superville contributed reporting. | 2023-01-21T11:54:35+00:00 | wric.com | https://www.wric.com/news/politics/ap-treasury-to-designate-wagner-transnational-criminal-group/ |
WYOMISSING, Pa., March 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In a rapidly continuing expansion of its lightning-fast fiber internet network, FastBridge Fiber announced today expansion in Berks County, PA to pass an additional 13,000 homes and businesses.
FastBridge has been constructing and installing customers in the Township of Spring, Lower Heidelberg Township, the Borough of Wyomissing and the Borough of Sinking Spring.
FastBridge Fiber's expansion area encompasses the construction of additional network infrastructure in the Borough of Wyomissing, the Township of Spring and the Borough of Sinking Spring. As part of this expansion project, FastBridge adds the Wernersville Borough, South Heidelberg Township and the Township of Cumru to their coverage footprint.
As FastBridge Fiber's fiber-optic internet service becomes available in these areas, residents and businesses will have access to future-proof fiber internet, with symmetrical (upload/download) speeds of up to 2 Gigs for residents and up to 10 Gigs for business.
"Based on our activity and the feedback we've heard from customers, it's clear that Berks County communities having been craving a choice for a new internet service provider that offers simple pricing plans and local customer support paired with modern fiber-optic service. We are excited to offer this choice to these communities," said John Rinehart, Chief Customer Officer.
Berks County residents within coverage areas will be notified by mail regarding the construction in their neighborhood. Information on what to expect during construction can be found at fastbridgefiber.com/construction.
Those interested in FastBridge Fiber service may visit the FastBridge Fiber Check Availability webpage to sign up for service, or to be notified once their address is available for service.
About FastBridge Fiber:
FastBridge Fiber is a modern fiber-optic internet service company providing ultra-fast and highly reliable service to homes and businesses over their newly constructed all-fiber network. FastBridge Fiber's network is built with today's customers in mind; customers with multiple connected devices demanding the fastest speed and highest reliability. Customers enjoy hassle-free pricing plans and attentive customer service with FastBridge Fiber. FastBridge Fiber is committed to hiring and investing in the local communities they serve.
For more information, visit www.fastbridgefiber.com
Media Contact:
Lynn Pope
Lynn.pope@fastbridgefiber.com
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SOURCE FastBridge Fiber | 2023-03-29T13:05:38+00:00 | wsfa.com | https://www.wsfa.com/prnewswire/2023/03/29/fastbridge-fiber-extends-fiber-internet-network-more-homes-businesses-berks-county-pa/ |
LONDON, UK — For many people around the world, the word corgi is forever linked to Queen Elizabeth II.
Princess Diana once called them a “moving carpet" always by her mother-in-law's side. Stubby, fluffy little dogs with a high-pitched bark, corgis were the late queen's constant companions since she was a child. She owned nearly 30 throughout her life, and they enjoyed a life of privilege fit for a royal pet.
Elizabeth’s death last week has raised public concerns over who will care for her beloved dogs. But Sky News reported Sunday, according to a palace spokesman, the corgis will go live with Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.
“One of the intriguing things people are wondering about at the funeral is whether a corgi is going to be present,” said Robert Lacey, royal historian and author of “Majesty: Elizabeth II and the House of Windsor.'' “The queen’s best friends were corgis, these short-legged, ill tempered beasts with a yap that doesn’t appeal to many people in Britain, but was absolutely crucial to the Queen.”
Elizabeth’s love for corgis began in 1933 when her father, King George VI, brought home a Pembroke Welsh corgi they named Dookie. Images of a young Elizabeth walking the dog outside their lavish London home would be the first among many to come over the decades.
When she was 18 she was given another and named it Susan, the first in a long line of corgis to come. Later there were dorgis — a dachshund and corgi crossbreed — owned by the queen. Eventually they came to accompany her in public appearances, and became part of her persona.
Throughout Elizabeth's 70 years on the throne, the corgis were by her side, accompanying her on official tours, reportedly sleeping in their own room at Buckingham Palace with daily sheet changes, and occasionally nipping the ankles of the odd visitor or royal family member.
Three of them even appeared alongside the queen as she climbed into James Bond’s waiting helicopter in the spoof video that opened the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
British author Penny Junor documented their feisty lives in a 2018 biography “All the Queen’s Corgis.”
She writes that Elizabeth walked and fed the dogs, chose their names and when they died, buried them with individual plaques. Care for the corgis had fallen largely on the queen’s trusted dressmaker and assistant Angela Kelly and her page Paul Whybrew.
The corgis were also present when the queen welcomed visitors at the palace, including distinguished statesmen and officials. When the conversation lulled, Elizabeth would often turn her attention to her dogs to fill the silence.
“She was also concerned about what would happen to her dogs when she is no longer around,” Junor wrote, noting that some royal family members did not share her fondness for the corgis.
After the death of her corgi Willow in 2018, it was reported that the queen would not be getting any more dogs.
But that changed during the illness of her late husband, Prince Philip, who died in 2021 at age 99. She turned once again to her beloved corgis for comfort. On what would have been Philip's 100th birthday last year, the queen was reportedly given another dog.
In addition to her human family, Elizabeth is survived by two corgis, a dorgi, and a cocker spaniel. | 2022-09-11T22:00:56+00:00 | wgrz.com | https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/nation-world/queen-elizabeth-ii-corgis/507-e2db7189-b725-417c-a880-29df133ec42b |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Amazon agreed Wednesday to pay a $25 million civil penalty to settle Federal Trade Commission allegations it violated a child privacy law and deceived parents by keeping for years kids’ voice and location data recorded by its popular Alexa voice assistant.
Separately, the company agreed to pay $5.8 million in customer refunds for alleged privacy violations involving its doorbell camera Ring.
The Alexa-related action orders Amazon to overhaul its data deletion practices and impose stricter, more transparent privacy measures. It also obliges the tech giant to delete certain data collected by its internet-connected digital assistant, which people use for everything from checking the weather to playing games and queueing up music.
“Amazon’s history of misleading parents, keeping children’s recordings indefinitely, and flouting parents’ deletion requests violated COPPA (the Child Online Privacy Protection Act) and sacrificed privacy for profits,” Samuel Levine, the FCT consumer protection chief, said in a statement. The 1998 law is designed to shield children from online harms.
FTC Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya said in a statement that “when parents asked Amazon to delete their kids’ Alexa voice data, the company did not delete all of it.”
The agency ordered the company to delete inactive child accounts as well as certain voice and geolocation data.
Amazon kept the kids’ data to refine its voice recognition algorithm, the artificial intelligence behind Alexa, which powers Echo and other smart speakers, Bedoya said. The FTC complaint sends a message to all tech companies who are “sprinting to do the same” amid fierce competition in developing AI datasets, he added.
“Nothing is more visceral to a parent than the sound of their child’s voice,” tweeted Bedoya, the father of two small children.
Amazon said last month that it has sold more than a half-billion Alexa-enabled devices globally and that use of the service increased 35% last year.
In the Ring case, the FTC says Amazon’s home security camera subsidiary let employees and contractors access consumers’ private videos and providing lax security practices that enabled hackers to take control of some accounts.
Amazon bought California-based Ring in 2018, and many of the violations alleged by the FTC predate the acquisition. Under the FTC’s order, Ring is required to pay $5.8 million that would be used for consumer refunds.
Amazon said it disagreed with the FTC’s claims on both Alexa and Ring and denied violating the law. But it said the settlements “put these matters behind us.”
“Our devices and services are built to protect customers’ privacy, and to provide customers with control over their experience,” the Seattle-based company said.
In addition to the fine in the Alexa case, the proposed order prohibits Amazon from using deleted geolocation and voice information to create or improve any data product. The order also requires Amazon to create a privacy program for its use of geolocation information.
The proposed orders must be approved by federal judges.
FTC commissioners had unanimously voted to file the charges against Amazon in both cases. | 2023-06-01T04:36:49+00:00 | ourquadcities.com | https://www.ourquadcities.com/technology/ap-technology/ftc-charges-amazon-with-privacy-violations-over-alexa-and-ring-cameras/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — A former White House official who helped implement Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies is breaking ranks with the former president and instead encouraging Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to pursue the presidency in 2024.
Ken Cuccinelli, a former attorney general of Virginia, was a top official at the Department of Homeland Security during Trump’s single term in office. He was a vehement defender of the administration’s efforts to crack down on immigration, once suggesting that the inscription on the Statue of Liberty welcoming “huddled masses” of immigrants to American shores only referred to “people coming from Europe.”
But Cuccinelli announced Thursday that rather than support Trump’s third bid for the White House, he is launching Never Back Down PAC, a new political action committee that will support DeSantis’ potential 2024 presidential run.
Cuccinelli’s decision to back DeSantis over Trump in the Republican primary is one of the most high-profile defections by a former Trump stalwart in the early stages of the campaign season. It comes at a time when potential and declared candidates are jockeying to line up support.
“I have been speaking to many grassroots conservative activists around the country who are very enthusiastic for Governor DeSantis to run for President in 2024,” Cuccinelli said in a statement. “The energy is there, grassroots conservatives see the Governor as a leader and a fighter with a winning conservative track record who will lead the Republican Party to victory in 2024. Based on those conversations, I am most confident that we will build an unmatched grassroots political army for Governor DeSantis to help carry him to the White House.”
A Trump campaign spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A filing made with the Federal Election Commission in late February shows Never Back Down Inc. is a super PAC, which can raise unlimited funds to support their preferred candidates, so long as they don’t directly coordinate activities with them. The group has yet to disclose details about any money it has raised.
A promotional video released publicly on Thursday does not mention Trump by name, but calls for “fresh conservative leadership” while ticking down a list of conservative culture war battles DeSantis has waged since his election as governor of Florida.
“America’s future is Ron DeSantis. Ron DeSantis doesn’t just talk he acts, but most of all he never backs down,” Cuccinelli says in the video. “Governor DeSantis, today I’m asking you to run for President.”
Never Back Down Inc. is soliciting contributions on its website and states that money it raises will eventually get donated to DeSantis’ campaign committee, should he launch a White House bid. But in the meantime, the money will being transferred to a separate Virginia-based political committee called Run, Ron, Run!, which was created on Wednesday, according to filings with the FEC.
A spokesman for Never Back Down Inc. did not respond to a request for comment. | 2023-03-09T17:13:42+00:00 | keloland.com | https://www.keloland.com/news/politics/former-trump-official-launches-pac-urging-desantis-to-run/ |
Most people have one or two household chores that they absolutely hate. If you dread vacuuming, a robotic vacuum can be a game changer in how you clean your floors and how much time you have to spend vacuuming.
Whether you are looking for your first robot vacuum or want to upgrade your existing model, you don’t have to wait long to have clean floors. Plenty of top-rated robotic vacuums are available with super-fast shipping, so you can hand off the vacuuming to your robot as soon as possible.
Check out this list of the best robot vacuums you can find on Amazon with two-day shipping, and get your floors in shape in no time.
In this article: iRobot Roomba 694 Robot Vacuum, Shark AI Ultra Self-Empty XL Robot Vacuum and Roborock Q7 Max+ Robot Vacuum and Mop.
What to look for in a robotic vacuum
With so many robot vacuums on the market, it can be difficult to find the right one. However, if you understand the most important features to look for, you can quickly wade through the options.
Some key features to look for in a robotic vacuum include:
- High-quality sensors: Your robotic vacuum needs high-quality sensors to detect obstacles like furniture and other home furnishings and move around them to avoid getting stuck. It should also have a cliff detection sensor to keep it from falling off an edge and breaking.
- Mapping abilities: A robot vacuum should learn your home’s layout so it can efficiently clean your floors. Some models use magnetic strips to map your home, while more advanced models have sensors and cameras to learn your floor plan.
- Remote access: All robotic vacuums have a connected app that lets you control the vacuum’s cleaning schedule and more. You can find some models that also work with smart home assistants like Alexa and Siri, allowing you to control the robot vacuum with voice commands.
- Battery life: A robot vacuum’s battery life is crucial to ensure it has enough time to clean all your floors. It’s particularly important to choose a model with a long battery life if your home is large. Stick to options that can run for at least an hour before needing to recharge.
- Emptying: Most robotic vacuums must be emptied manually after they pick up all the dirt, dust and debris from your floors. You can also find some self-emptying models that automatically empty into a bin once they’re full. With these, you can go weeks without needing to empty the bin.
Best robotic vacuums with two-day shipping on Amazon under $200
This budget-friendly robot vacuum has a slim, compact design that fits easily under furniture. It also has a brushless design that effectively handles pet hair. It has four cleaning modes and built-in infrared sensors to keep it from getting stuck.
Sold by Amazon
This robot vacuum features three types of brushes, including a multi-surface brush roll to tackle dirt and debris on all your flooring. It can clean for up to 120 minutes before needing to recharge and is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant to make cleaning even easier.
Sold by Amazon
Eufy by Anker BoostIQ 11S RoboVac
This super-slim, quiet robotic vacuum can handle big messes with its BoostIQ Technology, which automatically increases suction power when required. It has infrared sensors to avoid obstacles and drops and can run for up to 100 minutes on a single charge.
Sold by Amazon
Enther C200 Robot Vacuum Cleaner
This robot vacuum can handle even the dirtiest floors, thanks to its large dustbin that doesn’t require frequent emptying. It follows an efficient zigzag path to map your home more effectively and clean more thoroughly. It also returns to its base automatically when it’s time to recharge.
Sold by Amazon
Eufy by Anker BoostIQ 15C MAX RoboVac
This powerful, quiet robot vacuum provides superior suction power to take care of even big messes. It features an efficient, durable filter that doesn’t require much maintenance and a large dustbin that doesn’t need to be emptied often. It can also work with voice commands using Alexa or Google Assistant.
Sold by Amazon
Best robotic vacuums with two-day shipping on Amazon for $200 to $400
iRobot Roomba 694 Robot Vacuum
With its three-stage cleaning system, this robot vacuum can easily pull dirt, dust and other debris out of carpeting and off hard floors. Its battery can run for 90 minutes before it needs recharging, and the unique Dirt Detect Technology can find the dirtiest areas of your home to ensure the most thorough cleaning.
Sold by Amazon
Greenworks GRV-1010 Robotic Vacuum
This efficient robotic vacuum works well on both hard flooring and carpeting with its two side brushes and middle rolling brush. It uses precise gyroscope navigation to map the best route through your home for thorough cleaning. It can clean for 90 minutes before it needs to recharge.
Sold by Amazon
iRobot Roomba i3 EVO Wi-Fi Connected Robot Vacuum
With an impressive three-stage cleaning system and 10 times the suction power of previous models, this robot vacuum can tackle all your cleaning needs. It cleans in efficient straight lines and navigates easily around furniture. It also has dual multi-surface rubber brushes that don’t get tangled with pet hair.
Sold by Amazon
Roborock E5 Robot Vacuum and Mop
This robotic vacuum isn’t just an effective vacuum, it can also mop your floors. It uses dual gyroscopes and precision internal mapping to learn your home’s layout for more effective cleaning. It can also vacuum and mop simultaneously to get rid of dirt and grime that vacuuming alone can miss.
Sold by Amazon
Shark AI Ultra Self-Empty XL Robot Vacuum
This bagless robot vacuum can hold up to two months’ worth of dirt in its self-emptying base, reducing maintenance. It also has a HEPA filter to capture up to 99.7% of dust and allergens. Its powerful suction makes it more effective for cleaning carpets.
Sold by Amazon
iRobot Roomba i4+ EVO Robot Vacuum
With a 20% larger battery than previous models, this robotic vacuum can run for 90 minutes before recharging. It automatically empties itself in its base, so you don’t need to worry about your vacuum for two months at a time. It also learns your habits to offer customized cleaning suggestions, such as extra cleaning during allergy season.
Sold by Amazon
Best robotic vacuums with two-day shipping on Amazon for $400+
Shark RV1001AE IQ Robot Self-Empty XL
This robotic vacuum can hold more than a month’s worth of dirt and debris in its self-emptying base. It has a self-cleaning brush roll that effectively handles pet hair without tangles. It offers a recharge and resume feature that allows it to pick up right where it left off after recharging.
Sold by Amazon
iRobot Roomba j7+ Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum
Pet owners will appreciate this robotic vacuum that actively avoids picking up pet waste that might damage its components. It can recognize other obstacles, such as cords, socks and shoes, and allows you to choose which rooms are cleaned and when. It works with Alexa and Google Home devices.
Sold by Amazon
Roborock Q7 Max+ Robot Vacuum and Mop
With a 2.5-liter dust bag, this robotic vacuum can hold up to seven weeks’ worth of dirt and dust and automatically empty itself when full. It offers powerful suction that can pull dirt and debris out of fibers, which increases as soon as carpeting is detected. It also works as a mop and can vacuum and mop simultaneously for better cleaning.
Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | 2023-04-25T18:21:50+00:00 | kdvr.com | https://kdvr.com/reviews/br/home-br/vacuums-br/14-best-robotic-vacuums-with-two-day-shipping-on-amazon/ |
HOUSTON, Oct. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On Friday, Oct. 28th, Loomis U.S. presented a $12,000 check to Janice Workcuff, the founder of Angels Surviving Cancer, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Angels Surviving Cancer is a Houston-based non-profit organization that assists women who are fighting breast cancer through the entire spectrum of needs including advocacy, financial, emotional, and spiritual support. Many Loomis U.S. team members have personally watched loved ones suffer the brutality of this disease and fully understand its impact. Therefore, Loomis finds it important to support organizations like Angels Surviving Cancer, which have stepped up to help women win the battle against breast cancer.
"In learning about the efforts of Angels Surviving Cancer through a colleague and having gone through supporting my mother with two mastectomies, I chose to partner with Angels Surviving Cancer because they not only focus on the treatment but life after treatment," says Kim Metoyer, a Loomis U.S. team member.
Beginning in early October, the corporate office began gathering cash donations for the organization, and as the news quickly spread, more than 38 Loomis branches outside of the corporate office in Houston pledged their own donations. In a display of support, Loomis U.S. decided to match the total proceeds collected.
"Contributing to our communities is an important goal for Loomis U.S.," says Pat Otero, Chief Financial Officer of Loomis U.S. "As 'people,' is one of our company's core values, I am continuously in awe of and appreciative of our team members' efforts to help others. Their passion to help those battling breast cancer is truly inspiring. I was happy to match the proceeds they collected to show Angels Surviving Cancer the same support they showed our team members and their families impacted by breast cancer."
"I love that Angels Surviving Cancer educates and encourages families, and caregivers of families on an ongoing basis, even after treatment is done," says Angela Dorsey, Loomis team member and previous Angels Surviving Cancer Advisory Board Member. "They accomplish this through workshops, seminars, social events, fundraisers, etc., and are passionate about raising awareness and have resources available for all. Therefore, for many Loomis team members, including myself, there is a personal continuous grind month after month to support them… not only in October."
To donate or learn more about Angels Surviving Cancer, click here.
As a leader in cash distribution across the United States – with nearly 200 branch locations, 11,000 employees, 3,200+ vehicles, and nearly 50,000 SafePoint locations serviced—Loomis is proud to provide cash handling products and services to financial institutions and commercial/retail businesses nationwide. Learn more at loomis.us.
Contact: Stephanie Jordan, stephanie.jordan2@us.loomis.com
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SOURCE Loomis US | 2022-10-28T20:53:17+00:00 | newschannel10.com | https://www.newschannel10.com/prnewswire/2022/10/28/loomis-us-raises-12000-breast-cancer-awareness-month/ |
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The Springfield Fire Department was sent to Whittum Avenue on Sunday for a mattress fire.
According to Springfield Fire Captain Drew Piemonte, the mattress fire was out when the fire crews arrived and there is minor damage from the fire.
There is no word yet on what the cause of the fire was or if there are any injuries. 22News will continue to update this story as soon as more information becomes available. | 2023-06-18T11:59:33+00:00 | wwlp.com | https://www.wwlp.com/news/local-news/hampden-county/mattress-fire-on-whittum-avenue-in-springfield/ |
How to Watch Women's Wimbledon Today: Live Stream and More - July 12
Published: Jul. 12, 2023 at 2:45 AM EDT|Updated: 53 minutes ago
There are two matches in Wimbledon (grass) quarterfinals today, highlighted by No. 6-ranked Ons Jabeur versus No. 3 Elena Rybakina. All the tennis can be found via live stream.
Watch live tennis and tons of other sports and shows without cable on all your devices with a seven-day free trial to Fubo!
Wimbledon Information
- Tournament: Wimbledon
- Round: Quarterfinals
- Date: July 12
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
- Venue: AELTC Wimbledon Qualifying and Community Sports Ground
- Location: London, United Kingdom
- Court Surface: Grass
Watch Wimbledon Today - July 12
Watch live sports without cable! Sign up today for a free trial to Fubo and watch today's matches!
Today's Best Match Insights: Jabeur vs. Rybakina
- Jabeur has won one title so far this year, and her overall record is 18-8.
- Rybakina has gone 34-9 through 12 tournaments this year, and has captured two tournament titles.
- In her 26 matches this year across all court surfaces, Jabeur has played an average of 20 games.
- In her seven matches on grass this year, Jabeur has played an average of 18.9 games.
- Jabeur has won 68.1% of her service games this year, and 44.1% of her return games.
- Rybakina has played 43 matches this year across all court types, averaging 19.5 games per match and winning 58.0% of those games.
- Through six matches on grass this year, Rybakina averages 19.2 games per match and 9.6 games per set with a 61.7% game winning percentage.
- Rybakina is 342-for-420 in service games (to compile a winning percentage of 81.4%) and 145-for-420 in return games (34.5%) on all surfaces.
Bet on Jabeur or Rybakina to win this match with BetMGM.
Yesterday's Match Results
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | 2023-07-12T07:39:06+00:00 | wymt.com | https://www.wymt.com/sports/betting/2023/07/12/wimbledon-wta-tennis-preview-how-to-watch-today/ |
Seabourn to Operate All Published Voyages Through August 22, 2024
SEATTLE, March 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Seabourn, the leader in ultra-luxury cruising and expedition travel announced the sale of Seabourn Odyssey to Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL). Following the sale, Seabourn will continue to operate all published voyages through August 22, 2024, under a charter arrangement. Seabourn Odyssey will be delivered to MOL after the charter agreement.
"We are proud that Seabourn Odyssey carried our guests across the world for the last 14 years and are happy to see her join a great company, MOL," said Seabourn President Natalya Leahy. "As we prepare to say farewell to Odyssey in September 2024, I am excited to further optimize our fleet as we grow our expedition business. With the addition of Seabourn Pursuit this summer, Seabourn will have one of the most modern fleets in the ultra-luxury segment with an average age of just seven years."
Seabourn's fleet expansion into the ultra-luxury expedition market allows for a more diverse offering of deployment opportunities, which will lead to new and exciting itineraries across all seven continents with a higher guest capacity compared to 2019 even after Seabourn Odyssey's departure.
"With this elite, modern fleet, Seabourn continues as the leader in ultra-luxury travel, providing highly curated and immersive experiences and unique 'Seabourn Moments' for our guests," Leahy said.
About Seabourn:
Seabourn represents the pinnacle of ultra-luxury ocean and expedition travel and operates a suite of six modern ships with one under construction. The all-inclusive, boutique ships offer all-suite accommodations with oceanfront views; award-winning dining; complimentary premium spirits and fine wines available at all times; renowned service provided by an industry-leading crew; a relaxed, sociable atmosphere that makes guests feel at home; a pedigree in expedition travel through the Ventures by Seabourn program and two new ultra-luxury purpose-built expedition ships, including Seabourn Venture that launched in 2022 and Seabourn Pursuit scheduled to enter service in 2023. Seabourn takes travelers to every continent on the globe, visiting more than 400 ports including marquee cities and lesser-known ports and hideaways. Guests of Seabourn experience extraordinary offerings and programs, including partnerships with leading entertainers, dining, personal health and wellbeing, and engaging speakers.
For more details about Seabourn, or to explore the worldwide selection of Seabourn cruising options, contact a professional travel advisor, call Seabourn at 1-800-929-9391 or visit www.seabourn.com.
Seabourn is a brand of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL and NYSE: CUK).
Find Seabourn on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest.
Notes to Editors:
Seabourn is consistently ranked among the world's top travel choices by professional critics and the discerning readers of prestigious travel publications such as Departures, Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler. Its stylish, distinctive cruising vacations are renowned for:
- Intimate ships with a private club atmosphere
- Intuitive, personalized service provided by staff passionate about exceeding guests expectations
- Curated voyages to all seven continents delivering award-winning experiences
- All ocean-front suites, luxuriously appointed
- Complimentary premium spirits and fine wines available on board at all times
- Welcome Champagne and complimentary in-suite bar stocked with your preferences
- Tipping is neither required, nor expected
- Finest resort at sea that is masterfully designed
- World-class dining, further enhanced through a culinary partnership with Chef Thomas Keller
- All dining venues are complimentary, dine where, when and with whom you wish
- Seabourn Conversations, connecting with visionary experts
- Ventures by Seabourn™, optional shore excursions, enhance and extend your experience in select destinations*^
- Spa & Wellness with Dr. Andrew Weil, featuring an exclusive mindful living program*
- An evening entertainment experience in collaboration with Sir Tim Rice, produced exclusively by Belinda King Creative Productions †
- Committed to environmental stewardship and sustainability
*Optional programs, for additional charge
^Available on Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Sojourn, Seabourn Quest, Seabourn Encore, Seabourn Ovation
†Not available on board Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit
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SOURCE Seabourn | 2023-03-16T18:57:55+00:00 | wymt.com | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2023/03/16/seabourn-announces-sale-seabourn-odyssey-mol-group-delivery-september-2024/ |
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "I'm a processor of pet food at a family-owned company and I care about pet health and safety. It is super easy for dogs to get dehydrated and I thought there should be a way for a dog to drink water when needed during a walk and without assistance from the pet owner, so I invented the NUTRO PACK," said an inventor, from Chula Vista, Calif. "My design helps to prevent the dog from becoming dehydrated and it could provide a more healthy, fun and active life."
The invention provides an effective way for a pet dog to stay hydrated during a walking excursion. In doing so, it enables the dog to obtain water on his own at any time during the walk. It also eliminates the need for the pet owner to carry an extra water bottle, bowl, etc. As a result, it provides added convenience and peace of mind and it keeps pets safe outdoors, especially in areas without nearby water or fountains. The invention features a practical and portable design that is easy to apply and use so it is ideal for pet dog owners. Additionally, it is producible in design variations.
The original design was submitted to the San Diego sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 20-SDB-1653, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.
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SOURCE InventHelp | 2022-09-07T17:46:24+00:00 | kalb.com | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/inventhelp-inventor-develops-dog-hydration-accessory-sdb-1653/ |
NEW YORK, Oct. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Halper Sadeh LLC, an investor rights law firm, is investigating the following companies for potential violations of the federal securities laws and/or breaches of fiduciary duties to shareholders relating to:
The First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: FBMS)'s merger with Heritage Southeast Bancorporation, Inc. Subject to the terms of the definitive merger agreement, Heritage shareholders would receive 0.965 shares of First Bancshares common stock for each share of Heritage common stock upon the closing of the transaction. If you are a First Bancshares shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options.
Silverback Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: SBTX)'s merger with ARS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Under the terms of the merger agreement, assuming that Silverback's net cash at closing is $240 million, Silverback equity holders are expected to own approximately 37% of the combined company. If you are a Silverback shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options.
Resolute Forest Products Inc. (NYSE: RFP)'s sale to Domtar Corporation. If you are a Resolute shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options.
Cowen Inc. (NASDAQ: COWN)'s sale to TD Bank Group for $39.00 per share. If you are a Cowen shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options.
Halper Sadeh LLC may seek increased consideration for shareholders, additional disclosures and information concerning the proposed transaction, or other relief and benefits on behalf of shareholders.
Shareholders are encouraged to contact the firm free of charge to discuss their legal rights and options. Please call Daniel Sadeh or Zachary Halper at (212) 763-0060 or email sadeh@halpersadeh.com or zhalper@halpersadeh.com.
Halper Sadeh LLC represents investors all over the world who have fallen victim to securities fraud and corporate misconduct. Our attorneys have been instrumental in implementing corporate reforms and recovering millions of dollars on behalf of defrauded investors.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Contact Information:
Halper Sadeh LLC
Daniel Sadeh, Esq.
Zachary Halper, Esq.
(212) 763-0060
sadeh@halpersadeh.com
zhalper@halpersadeh.com
https://www.halpersadeh.com
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SOURCE Halper Sadeh LLP | 2022-10-13T14:55:30+00:00 | mysuncoast.com | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/10/13/shareholder-investigation-halper-sadeh-llc-investigates-fbms-sbtx-rfp-cown/ |
Twitter whistleblower to testify at Senate Judiciary hearing next month
By Brian Fung and Clare Duffy, CNN Business
Twitter’s former head of security, who filed a whistleblower disclosure about the company, will testify in a Senate hearing next month, the same day that Twitter shareholders are set to vote on whether to approve Elon Musk’s takeover deal.
Peiter “Mudge” Zatko, whose disclosure was first reported on Tuesday by CNN and the Washington Post, will testify on September 13 before the Senate Judiciary Committee, according to a release from the committee Wednesday. He will discuss his allegations about Twitter, which include claims that the social media company suffers from serious security and privacy vulnerabilities that could threaten user data, investors and US national security. He also alleges that Twitter executives have misled regulators and the company’s board.
“Mr. Zatko’s allegations of widespread security failures and foreign state actor interference at Twitter raise serious concerns,” said Sens. Dick Durbin and Chuck Grassley, the committee’s chair and ranking Republican, respectively. “If these claims are accurate, they may show dangerous data privacy and security risks for Twitter users around the world.”
Twitter has pushed back on the allegations in the disclosure and said Zatko was fired in January for “ineffective leadership and poor performance.” (Zatko maintains he was fired in retaliation for concerns he was raising regarding security vulnerabilities.)
“What we’ve seen so far is a false narrative about Twitter and our privacy and data security practices that is riddled with inconsistencies and inaccuracies and lacks important context,” a Twitter spokesperson said in a statement Tuesday in response to the disclosure. “Mr. Zatko’s allegations and opportunistic timing appear designed to capture attention and inflict harm on Twitter, its customers and its shareholders. Security and privacy have long been company-wide priorities at Twitter and will continue to be.”
The disclosure — which totals around 200 pages, including supporting exhibits — was sent last month to a number of US government agencies and congressional committees, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice. CNN obtained a copy of the disclosure from a senior Democratic aide on Capitol Hill. The SEC, DOJ and FTC declined to comment.
The Senate Intelligence Committee, which received a copy of the report, is taking the disclosure seriously and is setting a meeting to discuss the allegations, according to Rachel Cohen, a committee spokesperson. Sen. Richard Bumenthal, who chairs the Senate subcommittee on consumer protection, wrote a letter to the FTC Tuesday calling on the agency to investigate the claims, and impose fines and individual liability on specific Twitter executives if a probe finds they were responsible for security lapses. Sen. Ron Wyden on Wednesday renewed calls for Twitter to protect its users’ direct messages from prying eyes with secure, end-to-end encryption.
The disclosure comes amid a legal battle with Musk over their $44 billion acquisition deal. Musk last month moved to terminate the deal, accusing Twitter of misstating the prevalence of spam and fake bot accounts on its platform. Twitter has sued Musk to compel him to complete the deal, alleging that he is using bots as a pretext to get out of the deal after a market downturn hurt his personal wealth.
The dispute between Twitter and Musk is set to go to trial in October, but Twitter has nonetheless moved ahead with the other steps needed to complete the deal, including the September 13 shareholder vote. Twitter’s board has unanimously recommended that shareholders vote in favor of the deal. If shareholders approve the acquisition, it could give Twitter some additional leverage in its legal fight against Musk.
But the whistleblower disclosure could become the latest wrinkle in the legal fight over the deal. Zatko alleges that Twitter has misled Musk and the public about the number of bots on Twitter, and Musk’s lawyers could also attempt to use other, unrelated allegations in the disclosure as additional reasons the Tesla CEO should be able to walk away from the deal. Musk’s lawyers subpoenaed Zatko prior to Tuesday’s reporting on his disclosure, and in a court hearing Wednesday regarding discovery materials, they referred to his claims about bots in the disclosure.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | 2022-08-24T22:06:03+00:00 | keyt.com | https://keyt.com/news/2022/08/24/twitter-whistleblower-to-testify-at-senate-judiciary-hearing-next-month/ |
Moderna on Thursday asked U.S. regulators to authorize low doses of its COVID-19 vaccine for children younger than 6, a long-awaited move toward potentially opening shots for millions of tots by summer.
Frustrated families are waiting impatiently for a chance to protect the nation’s littlest kids as all around them people shed masks and other public health precautions -- even though highly contagious coronavirus mutants continue to spread.
Moderna submitted data to the Food and Drug Administration that it hopes will prove two low-dose shots can protect babies, toddlers and preschoolers -- albeit not as effectively during the omicron surge as earlier in the pandemic.
“There is an important unmet medical need here with these youngest kids,” Dr. Paul Burton, Moderna’s chief medical officer, told The Associated Press. Two kid-size shots “will safely protect them. I think it is likely that over time they will need additional doses. But we’re working on that.”
Now, only children ages 5 or older can be vaccinated in the U.S., using rival Pfizer’s vaccine, leaving 18 million younger tots unprotected.
Moderna’s vaccine isn’t the only one in the race. Pfizer is soon expected to announce if three of its even smaller-dose shots work for the littlest kids, months after the disappointing discovery that two doses weren’t quite strong enough.
Whether it’s one company’s shots or both, FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks said the agency will “move quickly without sacrificing our standards” in deciding if tot-sized doses are safe and effective.
While questions are swirling about what’s taking so long, Marks pointedly told lawmakers this week that the FDA can’t evaluate a product until a manufacturer completes its application. FDA will publicly debate the evidence with its scientific advisers before making a decision, and Marks said multiple meetings would be set to cover several expected applications.
“It’s critically important that we have the proper evaluation so that parents will have trust in any vaccines that we authorize,” Marks told a Senate committee.
If FDA clears vaccinations for the littlest, next the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would have to recommend who needs them -- all tots or just those at higher risk from COVID-19.
Many parents are desperate for whichever vaccine gets to the scientific finish line first.
“We’ve been kind of left behind as everybody else moves on,” said Meagan Dunphy-Daly, a Duke University marine biologist whose 6-year-old daughter is vaccinated -- but whose 3-year-old and 18-month-old sons are part of Pfizer’s trial.
The family continues to mask and take other precautions until it’s clear if the boys got real vaccine or dummy shots. If it turns out they weren’t protected in the Pfizer study and Moderna’s shots are cleared first, Dunphy-Daly said she’d seek them for her sons.
“I will feel such a sense of relief when I know my boys are vaccinated and that the risk of them getting a serious infection is so low,” she said.
Some parents even have urged the government to let families choose shots before all the evidence is in.
“This strain of COVID feels almost impossible to dodge,” Dana Walker, a mother of an 8-month-old, tearfully told a CDC meeting last week. “Cut red tape and allow parents to protect their kids.”
The FDA will face some complex questions.
In a study of kids ages 6 months through 5 years, two Moderna shots — each a quarter of the regular dose — triggered high levels of virus-fighting antibodies, the same amount proven to protect young adults, Burton said. There were no serious side effects, and the shots triggered fewer fevers than other routine vaccinations.
But the vaccine proved between about 40% and 50% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 during the trial. Burton blamed the omicron variant’s ability to partially evade vaccine immunity, noting that unboosted adults showed similarly less effectiveness against milder omicron infections. While no children became severely ill during the study, he said high antibody levels are a proxy for protection against more serious illness — and the company will test a child booster dose.
Another issue: So far in the U.S., Moderna’s vaccine is restricted to adults. Other countries have expanded the shot to kids as young as 6. But months ago the FDA cited concern about a rare side effect, heart inflammation, in teen boys, and it hasn’t ruled on Moderna’s earlier pediatric applications.
Burton said the FDA may consider its vaccine for children of all ages — but also might open it first to the youngest kids who have no other option. He said safety data from millions of older children given Moderna vaccinations abroad should help reassure parents.
While COVID-19 generally isn’t as dangerous in youngsters as adults, some do become severely ill or even die. About 475 children younger than 5 have died from COVID-19 since the pandemic’s start, according to the CDC, and child hospitalizations soared at omicron’s peak.
Yet it’s not clear how many parents intend to vaccinate the youngest kids. Less than a third of children ages 5 to 11 have had two vaccinations, and 58% of those ages 12 to 17.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. | 2022-04-28T13:01:58+00:00 | cleveland.com | https://www.cleveland.com/news/2022/04/moderna-seeks-to-be-1st-with-covid-shots-for-littlest-kids.html |
HONOLULU (AP) — About a week after Typhoon Mawar tore through Guam as the strongest typhoon to hit the U.S. Pacific territory in over two decades, most of the island remained without electricity and the governor appealed for patience during a recovery process expected to take at least a month.
Even though Mawar caused no deaths or catastrophic destruction, officials said that as of Wednesday only 28% of power had been restored on the oppressively hot and humid island. About 44% of cell towers were functional Wednesday, and about half the water system was operational, Bob Fenton, regional administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency told The Associated Press via phone from Guam.
Mawar briefly made landfall as a Category 4 storm late on May 24 on the northern tip of the island of roughly 150,000 people, flipping cars, tearing off roofs and leaving trees bare.
There have been long lines for gas and officials estimate it will be four to six weeks before power is fully restored. FEMA did not yet know exactly how many homes were destroyed. High school graduations were indefinitely postponed across Guam.
Nearly 3,400 people registered for individual assistance, a number Fenton expects to rise dramatically as communication networks improve.
Fenton has seen storm-prone Guam through numerous typhoons in his 26 years working with FEMA in the Pacific islands.
“Guam has done a good job at hardening parts of their system,” since Super Typhoon Pongsona struck the island in 2002, he said.
Since then, wooden power poles have been replaced with ones made of concrete or composite material, he said. Homes are also mostly made of concrete, even though there are still less sturdy structures with tin roofs.
“Each and every day the system will improve,” Fenton said, adding that he understands how grueling even a few hours without electricity can be. “We’re here for the long haul.”
Gyuri Kim was in labor with her first baby as the typhoon lashed Guam, flooding the hospital and leaving walls shuddering.
“The building was shaking,” Kim said. “I was worried that the ceiling or the wall was gonna fall.”
After delivering her baby girl, she had to wait outside in a hallway on a recliner chair because there wasn’t a room available because of the flood damage, she told AP in text messages Saturday.
Kim’s husband came to the hospital after Grace was born, but couldn’t stay long because he had to repair their storm-damaged roof.
Conditions were also challenging for the new mom at home, where there was no electricity to cool down the muggy heat.
“We’re patiently waiting for power and water to come back,” she wrote. “Grace is doing fine! I just feel bad whenever she sweats a lot.”
Kim’s obstetrician delivered six babies, including twins, throughout the storm.
“And it was just an incredible, incredible ordeal that these women had to go through,” Dr. Thomas Shieh told AP. “Some of them were in a lot of pain and there was no (air-conditioning). It was horrible.”
While one of the twin girls was still being monitored in neonatal intensive care for breathing issues, new parents Blessy and Ramil Argana went to a hotel with the other one after leaving the hospital Sunday.
“Our house is messy. There’s debris … on our streets,” Blessy Argana said Thursday from their room. “And there’s no power and water and internet. It’s like a ghost town.”
Guam Memorial Hospital, the only hospital on the island where civilians can give birth, sustained significant flood damage but remained operational.
Guam is a crucial hub for U.S. forces in the Pacific, with about 6,800 service members assigned to the island, according to the Pentagon. Ahead of the storm, military officials evacuated personnel, dependents and employees, sent ships out to sea and moved aircraft off the island or secured them in protective hangars.
A.B. Won Pat International Airport, which also flooded, resumed regular flight operations on Monday.
Jesse Alig, mayor of the village of Piti and president of the Mayors’ Council of Guam, has been vocal about being unsatisfied with Guam officials’ planning and response.
“Yes, we’re recovering. The island is cleaning up fairly well,” he said, but more needs to be done to get resources and information to people. “I just think we didn’t plan well enough.”
In a Facebook video Wednesday, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said she understands his frustration. “I heard Mayor Alig,” she said, announcing that $100,000 would go to each mayor to help meet immediate needs.
“Progress has been made,” she said of seeing more lights go on and more people getting water restored. | 2023-06-01T14:38:45+00:00 | pahomepage.com | https://www.pahomepage.com/news/national/born-in-a-typhoon-many-including-newborns-remain-without-electricity-as-guam-recovers-from-storm/ |
Ex-Texas congressman Will Hurd calls Trump a ‘failed politician’ as he launches GOP presidential run
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Texas congressman Will Hurd, a onetime CIA officer and fierce critic of Donald Trump, announced Thursday that he’s running for president, hoping to build momentum as a more moderate alternative to the Republican front-runner.
Hurd, 45, served three terms in the House through January 2021, becoming the chamber’s only Black Republican during his final two years in office.
“We need common sense,” said Hurd, who made the announcement on “CBS Mornings,” adding, “I believe the Republican Party can be the party of the future, not the past.”
In a campaign video, the former congressman said that the “soul of our country is under attack,” reminiscent of Democrat Joe Biden’s slogan about the 2020 race being a “battle for the soul of the nation.”
“Our enemies plot, create chaos, and threaten the American Dream. At home, illegal immigration and fentanyl stream into our country. Inflation, still out of control. Crime and homelessness growing in our cities,” Hurd says in the video. “President Biden can’t solve these problems — or won’t. And if we nominate a lawless, selfish, failed politician like Donald Trump — who lost the House, the Senate, and the White House — we all know Joe Biden will win again.”
Hurd says he’s out to redefine the contours of the 2024 race and told NBC’s “Meet the Press” in May that the prospect of another election pitting the current president against the former one would be “the rematch from hell.” On Thursday, he called himself a “dark horse candidate” and said that the only way to win is to “not be afraid of Donald Trump” and that “we also have to articulate a different vision.”
Hurd joins a crowded primary field with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, anti-woke activist Vivek Ramaswamy, radio host Larry Elder and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, in addition to Trump.
The ex-congressman has visited Iowa and New Hampshire in recent months. Trump’s recent indictment on federal felony charges for mishandling classified documents could potentially open the way for critics like Hurd to gain traction in the primary.
Hurd said Thursday that he would not pardon Trump if the former president is convicted in the federal documents case, and he called many of the other Republican White House candidates who rushed to say they would “insane” to make that promise so early in the case.
Hurd said the classification of the documents Trump is accused of mishandling meant they included “information that, if it got into the wrong hands, would lead to a loss of life.”
“And the fact that Donald Trump willingly kept that material, and he wants to be leader of the free world, is unacceptable to me,” Hurd told the CBS early morning show. “It spits in the face of the thousands of men and women who, every single day and every single night, put themselves in harm’s way in order to keep us safe.”
Most of the Republican candidates in the race are trying to run more against Biden than against Trump, who largely remains popular among GOP voters. But Hurd joins Christie and Hutchinson in his willingness to criticize Trump and the former president’s continued hold on the national Republican Party.
Hurd opted not to seek reelection to the House in 2020, saying then that he preferred to “pursue opportunities outside the halls of Congress to solve problems at the nexus between technology and national security.” Last year, he traveled the country on a tour to promote his book, “American Reboot: An Idealist’s Guide to Getting Big Things Done.”
Hurd represented his state’s then-most competitive district, which was more than 70% Hispanic and stretched from the outskirts of San Antonio to El Paso and encompassed more than 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) of the 1,200-mile (1,900-kilometer) Texas-Mexico border.
Before serving in Congress, Hurd was a clandestine officer who worked in Pakistan. He speaks Urdu, that country’s national language.
Although he joins the packed GOP primary with little national profile, Hurd built a reputation in Congress as pro-business and pragmatic, unafraid to seek bipartisan consensus. When a snowstorm canceled flights to Washington in 2017, he rented a car and drove for two days from San Antonio to the nation’s capital with Rep. Beto O’Rourke, a progressive Democrat from El Paso who ran unsuccessfully for president in 2020.
Hurd has focused much of his career on cybersecurity issues but was removed from a keynote speaking slot at a 2019 cybersecurity conference because of his past votes in support of Republican positions on abortion restrictions and against a bill that would financially support women in science, technology, engineering and math fields.
He nonetheless has long been critical of many of the hot-button social issues promoted by other Republicans, tweeting back in 2019 that “Our culture wars have grown to every facet of American life.” Hurd is now pledging to overcome political divides that he says are holding the county back.
“America is better together,” he said Thursday. “And way more unites us than divides us.”
Hurd’s entering the race keeps alive Texas’ longest-in-the-nation streak of having at least one presidential major candidate who rose to public prominence in the state or lived there while running for or holding office. The last time Texas didn’t have a major presidential hopeful was 1972.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2023-06-22T13:23:41+00:00 | witn.com | https://www.witn.com/2023/06/22/former-texas-congressman-will-hurd-trump-critic-announces-2024-republican-presidential-campaign/ |
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – A lawsuit has been filed against a woman who was allegedly intoxicated when she crashed into a golf cart carrying a wedding party, killing the bride and severely injuring the groom last month on Folly Beach in South Carolina.
Jamie Komoroski is named along with various restaurants and bars which attorneys say she visited in the hours before the deadly crash.
The lawsuit alleges Komoroski began at El Gallo Bar and Grill near Daniel Island before traveling to Folly Beach, where they said she began bar hopping along Center Street. Stops included The Drop In, The Crab Shack, and Snapper Jacks.
“Despite being noticeable and visibly intoxicated at each of these establishments, Jamie Komoroski continued to be served, provided, and/or allowed to consume additional and excessive amounts of alcohol at each of them,” the lawsuit reads.
Attorneys further allege that Komoroski was then allowed to leave the bars and get into her vehicle where she drove east on East Ashley Avenue “in the opposite direction of her home” on James Island.
Aric Hutchinson and Samantha Miller had just left their wedding reception when Komoroski slammed into the back of their golf cart. Miller died at the scene from blunt force trauma while Hutchinson and others on the golf cart suffered serious injuries.
Records later revealed that Komoroski’s blood alcohol content was at least 0.261, which is more than three times the legal limit.
Authorities said Komoroski reached speeds of 65 mph in a 25 mph zone.
“The state grants restaurants and bars a license for the privilege to serve alcohol, and with that privilege comes a responsibility to the community to serve patrons responsibly and to deny service to individuals who are visibly intoxicated,” said Attorney Danny Dalton, who is representing Aric Hutchinson in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit claims the establishments listed were negligent in the supervision and training of their employees, essentially allowing Komoroski to be overserved and not observed for her level of intoxication.
The lawsuit claims that Komoroski was a new employee of Taco Boy and accuses her supervisor of “ … organizing, arranging, and supervising an employee function knowing that excessive amounts of alcoholic beverages would be purchased for, served to, and consumed by the employees attending the function.”
The lawsuit also includes at least 20 John or Jane Does as defendants. Those individuals are unknown and unidentified at this time but could include “owners, managers, operators, agents, independent contractors, security companies” and others who had responsibility over the named bars and restaurants, according to the lawsuit.
“There are still many details we don’t know about the sequence of events leading up to the tragic crash, but by filing a lawsuit, we can begin the legal discovery process that allows us to get the answers that Samantha’s family deserves,” said Dalton.
The establishments named above declined to comment on the lawsuit when asked by Nexstar’s WCBD.
Aric Hutchinson, who is now recovering at home, is named as a plaintiff, as is Benjamin Garrett, and Aric’s minor nephew, B.G. | 2023-05-17T23:25:08+00:00 | kron4.com | https://www.kron4.com/news/national/suspect-was-bar-hopping-before-crash-that-killed-new-bride-shortly-after-wedding-lawsuit/ |
News outlets are reporting multiple people have been killed in a helicopter crash in West Virginia.
The identities were not confirmed, but Ray Bryant of Logan Emergency Management told WSAZ-TV they were not local residents. He says the helicopter was based at the Logan airport and used for tourism flights. The Federal Aviation Administration said a Bell UH-1B helicopter crashed near Route 17 in Logan County around 5 p.m. with six people on board.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate. Bryant said the helicopter was on fire when crews arrived, and firefighters extinguished the flames. | 2022-06-23T03:24:46+00:00 | kjrh.com | https://www.kjrh.com/news/national/reports-multiple-people-killed-in-helicopter-crash-in-west-virginia |
3 family members charged after body found stuffed in basement freezer, police say
FAIRVIEW, Tenn. (WSMV/Gray News) – Three members of a Tennessee family are behind bars after officers found a man’s body stuffed inside a basement freezer, police said.
Police said they responded Sunday to the family’s home in Fairview after a witness called authorities to report a murder that had taken place at the home.
Investigators said they found Sean Carr’s body wrapped in plastic and stuffed inside a freezer in the home’s basement.
According to an affidavit, Carr’s brother-in-law Michael Lee put some sort of ball into a sock and beat Carr to death with it.
The affidavit said Lee told police he then put Carr’s body into the freezer “in an attempt to protect his family” and threw away his makeshift weapon.
Michael Lee’s wife Angeline Lee told police that Carr had been “disrespecting her,” and later, Michael Lee came to her and said he thought he had killed Carr.
Angeline Lee told police that “looking back,” she should have called 911.
Michael Lee is charged with criminal homicide. Angeline Lee is charged with accessory to murder. The couple’s son, Dennis Lee, is also charged with accessory to murder.
Copyright 2022 WSMV via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2022-10-26T21:43:10+00:00 | mysuncoast.com | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/10/26/3-family-members-charged-after-body-found-stuffed-basement-freezer-police-say/ |
NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bit Digital, Inc. (Nasdaq: BTBT) ("Bit Digital" or the "Company"), a digital asset mining company headquartered in New York, announced updates related to its hosting partner's operations.
Bit Digital received a notice (the "Notice") dated October 4, 2022, from the City of Niagara Falls, New York. The Notice pertained to a Niagara Falls, NY facility that is owned and operated by one of the Company's hosting partners, Blockfusion USA Inc. ("Blockfusion"). The Notice orders the cease and desist from any cryptocurrency mining or related operations at the facility until such time as Blockfusion complies with Section 1303.2.8 of the City of Niagara Falls Zoning Ordinance (the "Ordinance"), in addition to all other City ordinances and codes. Power had been restored at this facility in September following the previously announced explosion and fire in May 2022.
Blockfusion has advised the Company that the Ordinance came into practical effect on October 1, 2022, following the expiration of a related moratorium on September 30, 2022. Blockfusion has further advised that it is preparing applications for new permits based on the Ordinance's new standards and that the permits may take several months to process. Bit Digital management continues to monitor the situation.
Pursuant to the Mining Services Agreement between Bit Digital and Blockfusion dated August 25, 2021, Blockfusion represents, warrants, and covenants that it "possesses, and will maintain, all licenses, registrations, authorizations and approvals required by any governmental agency, regulatory authority or other party necessary for it to operate its business and engage in the business relating to its provision of the Services." On October 5, 2022, Bit Digital further noticed Blockfusion that it expects it to comply with directives of the Notice.
Approximately 17% of the Company's total active mining fleet is currently located at the Blockfusion facility in Niagara Falls. As of October 6, 2022, the Company had a total of 13,980 mining units actively hashing.
About Bit Digital
Bit Digital, Inc. is a bitcoin mining company headquartered in New York City. Our mining operations are located in North America. For additional information, please contact ir@bit-digital.com or visit our website at www.bit-digital.com.
Investor Notice
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks, uncertainties and forward-looking statements described under "Risk Factors" in Item 3.D of our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. If any material risk was to occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations would likely suffer. In that event, the value of our securities could decline and you could lose part or all of your investment. The risks and uncertainties we describe are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. In addition, our past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance, and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results in the future. Future changes in the network-wide mining difficulty rate or bitcoin hash rate may also materially affect the future performance of Bit Digital's production of bitcoin. Actual operating results will vary depending on many factors including network difficulty rate, total hash rate of the network, the operations of our facilities, the status of our miners, and other factors. Additionally, all discussions of financial metrics assume mining difficulty rates as of October 2022. See "Safe Harbor Statement" below.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release may contain certain "forward-looking statements" relating to the business of Bit Digital, Inc., and its subsidiary companies. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein are "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects," or similar expressions, involving known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in the Company's periodic reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on its website at http://www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, the Company does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.
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SOURCE Bit Digital, Inc. | 2022-10-07T21:47:31+00:00 | wlbt.com | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/10/07/bit-digital-inc-announces-update-related-hosting-partners-operations/ |
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)
Mark Shepard, Harvard Kennedy School
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(THE CONVERSATION) The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work.
The big idea
Getting everyone who is eligible for free or discounted health insurance to sign up for it requires making it as easy as possible to enroll – and that convenience especially matters for young, healthy and low-income people. Those are the key findings of a recent studyI conducted with Myles Wagner, an economics Ph.D. student.
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We examined the subsidized health insurance program for low-income Massachusetts residents enacted in 2006 when Mitt Romney served as the state’s governor. The Massachusetts program – dubbed RomneyCare – resembled the program created by the Affordable Care Act and served as its model. For residents below the poverty line, which then stood at about US$22,000 for a family of four, coverage cost nothing.
Even when they didn’t have to pay a dime, eligible residents still had to sign up using a two-step process: After applying, they chose a plan among four or five options.
But the program didn’t always work this way. The state government didn’t make beneficiaries choose a plan until 2010. Instead, anyone who qualified but didn’t respond when asked to select one was automatically enrolled in a plan the state picked out. This meant that no one would go without insurance if they forgot to respond or got confused by the rules.
We compared the number and socioecononomic characteristics of residents who enrolled in the program before and after the change, with a control group unaffected by the policy because they had higher incomes and were not eligible for auto-enrollment.
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We found that having a streamlined process makes a big difference. With automatic enrollment, 48% more people signed up for coverage each month. This meant one-third more people obtained coverage over the long run, and it reduced the uninsured rate among low-income people eligible for this coverage by about 25%.
A one-step process also had other consequences. Those who were automatically enrolled were especially likely to be young and healthy, with health care costs 44% below average.
They were also more likely to reside in low-income neighborhoods.
Massachusetts ended auto-enrollment in 2010 for budgetary reasons, and it didn’t reinstate it when the state shifted to an Affordable Care Act market in 2014.
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Why it matters
About 5 million to 14 million Americans could soon lose their health insurance coverage through Medicaid – the government-funded U.S. health insurer for low-income Americans.
That’s because once the federal government designated the COVID-19 pandemic a “public health emergency” in March 2020, it changed Medicaid rules.
In exchange for agreeing to not remove anyone from the program, the states got more funding to run it.
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The number of people enrolled soared to 90.9 million in September 2022, up 28% from February 2020. That’s roughly 1 in 4 of all Americans.
But the government’s continuous enrollment policy is slated to expirestarting in April and the public health emergency is scheduled to officially end on May 11, 2023.
Unless those whose coverage expires actively sign up for new coverage, they could become uninsured – even if, like many uninsured Americans today, they would qualify for free or discounted coverage if they were to apply through an ACA health insurance exchange.
What still isn’t known
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It’s still unclear how automatic enrollment policies can comply with the ACA’s rules to limit the number of people who will otherwise become uninsured when they lose Medicaid coverage.
But there are a variety of differentproposals out there. Some states, including Maryland, California and – no surprise – Massachusetts, are starting to experiment with different approaches.
So once the pandemic-related Medicaid policies end, there will probably be new evidence that suggests which design works best.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/medicaid-coverage-is-expiring-for-millions-of-americans-but-theres-a-proven-way-to-keep-many-of-them-insured-197847.
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Article continues below this ad | 2023-01-31T14:31:18+00:00 | seattlepi.com | https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/medicaid-coverage-is-expiring-for-millions-of-17753488.php |
New Orleans Saints vs. San Francisco 49ers picks, predictions: Who wins NFL Week 12 game?
The New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers play on Sunday in a game on the NFL Week 12 schedule.
Which team will win the game?
Check out these NFL Week 12 picks and predictions for the game, which can be seen at 2:25 p.m. MST on Fox.
The 49ers are a 9-point favorite in the game.
NFL Week 12 picks: Bills vs. Lions | Giants vs. Cowboys | Patriots vs. Vikings | Broncos vs. Panthers | Buccaneers vs. Browns | Ravens vs. Jaguars | Texans vs. Dolphins | Bears vs. Jets | Bengals vs. Titans | Falcons vs. Commanders | Chargers vs. Cardinals | Raiders vs. Seahawks | Rams vs. Chiefs | Saints vs. 49ers | Packers vs. Eagles | Steelers vs. Colts
The Arizona Republic: 49ers 24, Saints 16
Jeremy Cluff writes: "The 49ers impressed in the second half against the Cardinals. Their defense will give the Saints' offense fits."
Bookies.com: Bet the Saints with the points vs. 49ers
Bill Speros writes: "Saints QB Andy Dalton played like it was 2012 on Sunday. The Saints at their best could win this one outright. The 49ers, however, are coming off the bye and should be healthy and ready for a win, but not a cover."
NFL Week 12 odds: Bills vs. Lions | Giants vs. Cowboys | Patriots vs. Vikings | Broncos vs. Panthers | Buccaneers vs. Browns | Ravens vs. Jaguars | Texans vs. Dolphins | Bears vs. Jets | Bengals vs. Titans | Falcons vs. Commanders | Chargers vs. Cardinals | Raiders vs. Seahawks | Rams vs. Chiefs | Saints vs. 49ers | Packers vs. Eagles | Steelers vs. Colts
ESPN: 49ers have a 75.1% chance to win the Week 12 game
The site gives the Saints a 24.7% chance to get the victory.
Draft Kings: Go with the 49ers to cover vs. Saints
It writes: "There’s some letdown potential here for the 49ers coming out of a big divisional game against Arizona and ahead of a big inter-conference showdown against the Dolphins and Kyle Shanahan’s former offensive coordinator. But the 49ers are coming together at the right time and are decidedly better than the Saints. If San Francisco gets Arik Armstead back, all the better against an inconsistent Saints offense."
How to watchNFL Week 12 schedule, television information
Sports Betting Dime: 49ers 23.1, Saints 13.6
The site's formula predicts that the 49ers will win the Week 12 NFL game.
OddsChecker: Take the Saints with the points vs. 49ers
It writes: "This game will likely come down to one score, and that’s enough for New Orleans to cover the books 8.5 point spread."
NFL power rankings Week 12:Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans make statements with big wins
NFL playoff picture Week 12:NFC, AFC postseason races tighten
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today. | 2022-11-22T18:58:16+00:00 | azcentral.com | https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nfl/2022/11/22/new-orleans-saints-san-francisco-49ers-predictions-nfl-week-12/10722531002/ |
How to Watch the Braves vs. Marlins Game: Streaming & TV Channel Info for April 27
Published: Apr. 27, 2023 at 6:12 AM CDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
The Atlanta Braves will look to Ozzie Albies for continued success at the plate when they take the field against Jorge Soler and the Miami Marlins on Thursday.
Sign up for Fubo to watch this matchup and make sure you don't miss any of the action all year long!
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Braves vs. Marlins Live Stream, TV Channel and Game Info:
- Date: Thursday, April 27, 2023
- Time: 12:20 PM ET
- TV Channel: MLB Network
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia
- Venue: Truist Park
- Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo!
Bet on this matchup with BetMGM, the King of Sportsbooks!
Braves Batting & Pitching Performance
- The Braves average 1.6 home runs per game to rank third in MLB action with 40 total home runs.
- Atlanta's .459 slugging percentage is second-best in MLB.
- The Braves' .259 batting average is eighth-best in the majors.
- Atlanta is the fifth-highest scoring team in baseball, averaging 5.2 runs per game (130 total).
- The Braves' .340 on-base percentage ranks fourth-best in baseball.
- The Braves strike out 9.5 times per game, the third-worst average in the majors.
- The pitching staff for Atlanta has a collective 9.2 K/9, which ranks 11th in MLB.
- Atlanta's 3.38 team ERA ranks fourth across all MLB pitching staffs.
- Braves pitchers combine for the No. 10 WHIP in baseball (1.237).
Braves Probable Starting Pitcher
- Kyle Wright (0-1) takes the mound for the Braves in his fourth start of the season. He has a 5.93 ERA in 13 2/3 innings pitched, with 11 strikeouts.
- In his most recent appearance on Saturday against the Houston Astros, the righty tossed five innings, allowing three earned runs while surrendering seven hits.
- Wright is aiming for his third straight appearance lasting five or more innings. He averages 4.4 frames per appearance on the hill.
Braves Schedule
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | 2023-04-27T12:20:04+00:00 | waff.com | https://www.waff.com/sports/betting/2023/04/27/braves-vs-marlins-mlb-live-stream-tv/ |
Graham appeals order to testify in Georgia election probe
ATLANTA (AP) — U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham has formally appealed a judge’s order requiring him to testify before a special grand jury investigating whether former President Donald Trump and others illegally sought to overturn his 2020 election defeat in Georgia.
The South Carolina Republican’s appeal had been expected following a judge’s Monday ruling that he comply with prosecutors’ efforts to compel him to testify Aug. 23 about his phone calls to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and his staff in the weeks following the election.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will consider Graham’s request, filed late Wednesday. Graham’s legal team also asked a federal judge to put his special grand jury appearance on hold during the appeal process.
Graham’s appeal was made the same day that another Trump associate, former campaign attorney Rudy Giuliani, spent roughly six hours before the special grand jury. The former New York mayor spread false claims of election fraud in Fulton County as he led efforts to challenge the election results in Georgia.
Met by an Associated Press reporter at the airport as he returned to New York on Wednesday, Giuliani said that he had “satisfied his obligation under the subpoena” from prosecutors but gave no further details of his testimony.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has indicated she is interested in the details of a phone call between Graham and Raffensperger shortly after the 2020 election. At the time, Raffensperger said that Graham asked if he had the power to reject certain absentee ballots and that he interpreted the question as a suggestion to toss out legally cast votes.
Graham also “made reference to allegations of widespread voter fraud in the November 2020 election in Georgia, consistent with public statements made by known affiliates of the Trump Campaign,” Willis wrote in a court filing.
Graham has argued that calls were part of his duties as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, with his legal team — which includes former Trump White House counsel Don McGahn — arguing that Graham’s position in Congress protects him from having to appear before the grand jury.
Willis opened her probe into post-election actions by Trump and his allies after the disclosure of a remarkable Jan. 2, 2021, phone call between Raffensperger and Trump in which the then-president suggested the state official could “find” the exact number of votes that would be needed to flip the election results in Georgia.
Denying any wrongdoing, Trump has described the call as “perfect.”
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, meanwhile, had received a subpoena to appear before the special grand jury on Thursday. But his lawyers on Wednesday filed a motion to quash it, and Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney said the governor doesn’t have to appear while that motion is pending, Kemp spokesperson Katie Byrd said.
___
Kinnard reported from Columbia, South Carolina, and can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP.
More on Donald Trump-related investigations: https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2022-08-18T17:37:19+00:00 | kwch.com | https://www.kwch.com/2022/08/18/graham-appeals-order-testify-georgia-election-probe/ |
MIAMI, Aug. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) (the "Company") today announced that it has priced the offering of $1 billion aggregate principal amount of 6.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2025 (the "Convertible Notes"). In connection with the offering of the Convertible Notes, the Company granted certain of the initial purchasers of the Convertible Notes a 13-day option to purchase up to an additional $150 million aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Notes. The offering is expected to close on August 5, 2022, subject to customary closing conditions.
The Convertible Notes will mature on August 15, 2025 unless earlier converted, redeemed pursuant to a tax redemption or repurchased. The initial conversion rate per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes is 19.9577 shares of common stock of the Company, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $50.11 per share, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. The initial conversion price represents a conversion premium of approximately 40% over the last reported sale price of the Company's common stock on August 1, 2022.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy Convertible Notes or any other securities and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. This press release is being issued pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 135c under the Securities Act.
Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release relating to, among other things, our future performance estimates, forecasts and projections constitute forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited, to: statements regarding revenues, costs and financial results for 2022 and beyond. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "driving," "estimate," "expect," "goal," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "seek," "should," "will," "would," "considering," and similar expressions are intended to help identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current expectations, are based on judgments, are inherently uncertain and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in those forward-looking statements. Examples of these risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, the following: the impact of the global incidence and continued spread of COVID-19, which has had and will continue to have a material adverse impact on our business, liquidity and results of operations, or other contagious illnesses on economic conditions and the travel industry in general and the financial position and operating results of our Company in particular, such as: governmental and self-imposed travel restrictions and guest cancellations; our ability to obtain sufficient financing, capital or revenues to satisfy liquidity needs, capital expenditures, debt repayments and other financing needs; the effectiveness of the actions we have taken to improve and address our liquidity needs; the impact of the economic and geopolitical environment on key aspects of our business including the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, such as the demand for cruises, passenger spending, and operating costs; incidents or adverse publicity concerning our ships, port facilities, land destinations and/or passengers or the cruise vacation industry in general; concerns over safety, health and security of guests and crew; our COVID-19 protocols and any other health protocols we may develop in response to infectious diseases may be costly and less effective than we expect in reducing the risk of infection and spread of such disease on our cruise ships; further impairments of our goodwill, long-lived assets, equity investments and notes receivable; an inability to source our crew or our provisions and supplies from certain places; an increase in concern about the risk of illness on our ships or when travelling to or from our ships, all of which reduces demand; unavailability of ports of call; growing anti-tourism sentiments and environmental concerns; changes in U.S. foreign travel policy; the uncertainties of conducting business internationally and expanding into new markets and new ventures; our ability to recruit, develop and retain high quality personnel; changes in operating and financing costs; our indebtedness, any additional indebtedness we may incur and restrictions in the agreements governing our indebtedness that limit our flexibility in operating our business; the impact of foreign currency exchange rates, the impact of higher interest rate and fuel prices; the settlement of conversions of our convertible notes, if any, in shares of our common stock or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, which may result in substantial dilution for our existing shareholders; our expectation that we will not declare or pay dividends on our common stock for the near future; vacation industry competition and changes in industry capacity and overcapacity; the risks and costs related to cyber security attacks, data breaches, protecting our systems and maintaining integrity and security of our business information, as well as personal data of our guests, employees and others; the impact of new or changing legislation and regulations or governmental orders on our business; pending or threatened litigation, investigations and enforcement actions; the effects of weather, natural disasters and seasonality on our business; the impact of issues at shipyards, including ship delivery delays, ship cancellations or ship construction cost increases; shipyard unavailability; the unavailability or cost of air service; and uncertainties of a foreign legal system as we are not incorporated in the United States.
In addition, many of these risks and uncertainties are currently heightened by and will continue to be heightened by, or in the future may be heightened by, the COVID-19 pandemic. It is not possible to predict or identify all such risks.
Forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a prediction of actual results. Undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements in this press release, which are based on information available to us on the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
About Royal Caribbean Group
Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) is one of the leading cruise companies in the world with a global fleet of 64 ships traveling to approximately 1,000 destinations around the world. Royal Caribbean Group is the owner and operator of three award winning cruise brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises and it is also a 50% owner of a joint venture that operates TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Together, the brands have an additional 10 ships on order as of June 30, 2022. Learn more at www.royalcaribbeangroup.com or www.rclinvestor.com.
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SOURCE Royal Caribbean Group | 2022-08-02T02:26:24+00:00 | wymt.com | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2022/08/02/royal-caribbean-group-announces-pricing-upsizing-1-billion-senior-convertible-notes-offering-refinance-existing-convertible-notes/ |
High School Scoreboard - January 13, 2023
HAZARD, Ky. (WYMT) - Regional All “A” tournaments and more brought teams from across the mountains to compete.
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
Danville 70, Somerset 59, 12th Region All “A” Classic
Martin County 97, East Ridge 69, 15th Region All “A” Classic
Pikeville 55, Shelby Valley 49, 15th Region All “A” Classic
Harlan 90, Bell County 59
Harlan County 79, Middlesboro 46
Jenkins 65, Abingdon Christian (Va.) 45
Pulaski County 71, Southwestern 60
Rockcastle County 70, Casey County 42
South Laurel 69, Williamsburg 25
Trinity Christian 64, Red Bird 24
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
Danville 74, Somerset 67, 12th Region All “A” Classic
Leslie County 52, Knott County Central 48, 14th Region All “A” Classic
Owsley County 51, Hazard 31, 14th Region All “A” Classic
Bell County 62, Taylor County 55, Kentucky 2A Championship (overtime)
Pike County Central 69, East Ridge 25, Pike Central Lady Hawk 2-Day Classic
Shelby Valley 57, Belfry 35, Pike Central Lady Hawk 2-Day Classic
Harlan County 66, Middlesboro 40
Johnson Central 48, Paintsville 38
Pineville 69, Barbourville 43
Pulaski County 70, Southwestern 44
Rockcastle County 64, Casey County 46
South Laurel 84, Williamsburg 33
Wellspring Guardians (Richmond home school) 44, Jackson City 24
West Carter 45, Martin County 44
Whitley County 60, Wayne County 47
Wolfe County 78, Oneida Baptist Institute 29
Copyright 2023 WYMT. All rights reserved. | 2023-01-14T05:37:49+00:00 | wymt.com | https://www.wymt.com/2023/01/14/high-school-scoreboard-january-13-2023/ |
NBA legend Byron Scott in Yuma for a meet and greet
ASU alum Byron Scott made his way back to Arizona to meet fans in Yuma County
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Byron Scott was in Yuma Saturday for a meet and greet to kickoff the start of March Madness at Paradise Casino.
He was a key member of the Los Angeles Lakers showtime era, winning three championships alongside hall of famers Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul- Jabbar.
Scott met with many fans and signed autographs in Sharky’s Lounge from 12-2 p.m.
One die hard fan even showed him a Lakers tattoo on his arm.
"I was like that's pretty cool. I've seen so many different tattoos and so many different emblems of Lakers on people's body. It's been crazy over the years, but I haven't seen one on the forearm like that and that was pretty cool," describes Scott.
This was Scott's first time visiting Yuma and enjoyed the small town vibe.
"I love it because it becomes a little more intimate. You know you get a chance to spend a little more time with the fans and talk to them and when you're doing it in the big city, you've got a ton of people," says Scott. "You know it's almost like cattle, where you just bring them in and sign and they're just going. So this way I get a chance to spend a little more time with them and I really enjoy talking to people."
He says he's ready to watch some intense college basketball.
"The great thing about March Madness is that's it's always an underdog that ends up getting to the Sweet 16 or the Elite Eight," continues Scott. "So I'm gonna be paying attention to just watching games and the quality of basketball is so much better in March."
Scott said it's just fun to watch college kids play their hearts out every single night.
As an Arizona State University alum, he did mention Friday was a tough game to watch against the University of Arizona.
The madness begins Sunday and you can start placing your bets at Sportsbook in the Paradise Casino. | 2023-03-12T03:49:44+00:00 | kyma.com | https://kyma.com/news/2023/03/11/nba-legend-byron-scott-in-yuma-for-a-meet-and-greet/ |
SMITH, Damon Vincent
Age 53, of Dayton, passed away December 22, 2022. Visitation Saturday 10 am at All Nations Bible Fellowship. Donald Jordan Memorial Chapel, Dayton, OH.
SMITH, Damon Vincent
Age 53, of Dayton, passed away December 22, 2022. Visitation Saturday 10 am at All Nations Bible Fellowship. Donald Jordan Memorial Chapel, Dayton, OH. | 2022-12-29T06:25:15+00:00 | springfieldnewssun.com | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/obituaries/smith-damon/M6ZQC34L65EQ7GRMGOLTFEKFAU/ |
Record heat waves have had residential A/C units running nonstop this summer across the country. This leads to more demand for electricity, which often leaves people with higher power bills.
Multiple readers have reached out to VERIFY to ask about the best ways to save money while staying cool in hot weather.
THE SOURCES
WHAT WE FOUND
Central air conditioning units are among the most energy-demanding appliances in many homes, and in some homes, they use more electricity than any other appliance.
Many experts typically recommend keeping your thermostat set to a higher temperature in the summer to save as much energy as possible. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) says to set it “as high as is comfortable for you.” Older articles and reports published by the DOE recommended setting your thermostat to 78 degrees Fahrenheit, specifically.
You can use a ceiling fan to help make up for the higher thermostat setting, the DOE says. A room with a ceiling fan turned on can help you feel up to four degrees cooler.
More from VERIFY: Leaving your ceiling fan on when you’re away won’t cool your home
But some people are not comfortable at 78 degrees Fahrenheit. So we’re VERIFYING energy-saving methods that’ll reduce the heat in your home so your A/C doesn’t need to work so hard to keep your home at your desired temperature.
Keep your windows covered
Shut your exterior window shutters, close your blinds and pull your curtains over your windows. This seemingly simple tactic is so effective that all of our sources recommended it as part of their suggested strategies to stay cool and keep energy use low.
The DOE says that about 76% of sunlight that falls on windows enters your home to become heat, which is why it’s so important to use coverings to block the sun’s rays from getting inside. AARP says blackout curtains are even better than regular curtains for accomplishing this, although other kinds of window coverings are also effective.
Avoid major appliance use at peak hours
Peak hours for energy usage are between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. on high-heat days, the California Department of Aging says. That’s typically the time households come home, turn on their A/Cs and use major appliances. During a heat wave, these are the times in which an energy shortage is most likely, and Pacific Gas & Electric says your electricity use comes at a higher cost at these times.
Running your appliances in the late afternoon isn’t just costly, either. It can be uncomfortable, too. Washing machines, dryers and dishwashers produce a lot of heat, say the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and the DOE.
Instead, use these appliances in the early morning or at night when temperatures outside are cooler, the Pennsylvania PUC and DOE say. Duke Energy also recommends considering air drying clothes and dishes to reduce your use of those appliances.
Try cold water in place of hot water
According to the DOE, water heating makes up about 18% of a typical home’s energy use, and also adds heat to your home. Not only can you add less heat to your home by taking a cool shower or bath, but you can keep your body temperature down by bathing in cool water, as well.
When you bathe, you should also run the bathroom fan to reduce any heat or humidity your bath or shower adds, Duke Energy says.
The Pennsylvania PUC says washing your clothes in cool water can also help reduce your water heater use.
Use alternatives to your oven
Ovens use a ton of energy to get hot and heat up your home while doing so, Inspire Clean Energy says. Try to find food you can eat cold, and if you do have to cook, Inspire Clean Energy recommends using a microwave, toaster oven, air fryer, slow cooker or instant pot because they all use less energy and create less heat.
Pacific Gas & Electric adds that cooking on the stove is preferable to cooking in the oven, as is cooking outside on the grill. If you have kitchen fans, such as one above the stove, you should use it to reduce any heat and humidity your cooking might create, Duke Energy says.
You can also just choose to dine out, Inspire Clean Energy says. That way you’re not adding heat to your home by cooking, and you don’t have to use your own A/C to keep yourself cool.
Turn off lights and devices
This one might sound obvious, but it is especially important when you’re trying to stay cool. That’s because even a basic light bulb can add heat to a room, says the Pennsylvania PUC.
If you have LED light bulbs, rely on those over traditional light bulbs. NEC Co-op Energy says that LED bulbs use at least 75% less energy than traditional bulbs, and emit very little heat compared to traditional bulbs, too.
Inspire Clean Energy adds that if you’re going to be out of a room with LED bulbs for less than 15 minutes, it’s more efficient to just leave them on — otherwise, be sure to turn off the lights whenever you leave a room.
Many electronic devices generate heat when they run, and San Diego Gas & Electric warns that devices on standby mode will still draw power. So switch off devices like computers and coffee pots when they’re not in use and charge battery-powered equipment, like cell phones and laptops, outside of those 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. peak hours. | 2023-07-06T02:02:51+00:00 | kagstv.com | https://www.kagstv.com/article/news/verify/summer-guide-verify/heat-wave-summer-save-reduce-conserve-energy-power-electricity-lower-bill-strategies/536-bcfb5e79-5c71-4afc-a346-b8dc149ae848 |
It has been a hell of a year so far. Three regional banks collapsed, the United States came close to defaulting on its debt for the first time in its history, and the Federal Reserve continued to hike interest rates aggressively.
But despite all that, the stock market surged in the first half of the year. What gives?
A lot has to do with the economy.
Despite widespread expectations that the U.S. could be headed for a recession this year, the economy has proved a lot sturdier than many on Wall Street had forecast.
There are other reasons too. Artificial intelligence has helped lift the technology sector, for example.
All that combined has meant the three major indexes have ended the first six months of the year in a bull market, meaning they've surged more than 20% from their most recent lows.
But it's not all as rosy as the numbers seem to show — and there's a lot of uncertainty about the path ahead.
Here's a look at how markets stand and what could be in store for the rest of the year.
Why stock markets gained so much
There has been a remarkable change in sentiment from the start of the year.
In January, economists and policymakers were warning about a potential downturn, and that made investors extremely conservative, according to Savita Subramanian, the head of U.S. equity and quantitative strategy at Bank of America.
"We've spent basically a year now worrying about this recession and then worrying about all these potential calendar events, like the debt ceiling," she says. "And in that period of time, investors have grown increasingly cautious."
They shied away from risky bets and steered clear of cyclical stocks — companies whose performance tends be correlated to economic booms and busts.
But the economy has confounded many forecasters by proving to be sturdier than expected — and that has helped markets weather tough events like the turmoil that enveloped the banking sector with the collapse of lenders such as Silicon Valley Bank.
What has made the economy so resilient? There are a number of factors. The labor market has remained strong, despite some high-profile layoffs. The construction sector has hummed along, while other companies in areas like retail have been reluctant to shed workers for fear that they won't be able to hire them back.
And consumers have continued to spend despite high inflation, splurging on things such as travel and eating out, while cutting down on other expenses.
It's not only the U.S. economy, but other countries have done better than expected as well, helped in part by lower energy prices and the easing of pandemic restrictions in China.
"Perhaps the biggest surprise over the last six months is that we actually saw a pretty strong recovery in global growth," says Paul Mielczarski, the head of global macro strategy at Brandywine Global Investment Management, a boutique investment firm.
But it's not all rosy
Despite the strong market gains, there's one troubling detail: The stock market's gains have not been broad-based.
That's usually a sign that gives Wall Street pause.
In fact, a lot of the recent rally in markets can be attributed to the excitement around artificial intelligence after the debut of ChatGPT.
That has led to a surge in shares of companies with businesses tied to AI, including chipmakers Nvidia, AMD and Qualcomm.
But as the dot-com bust in the early 2000s showed, it can make the broader market vulnerable if that excitement for AI suddenly reverses.
This week, after The Wall Street Journal reported that the Biden administration is considering new restrictions on the export to China of chips used for AI, shares of those companies suffered.
For investors to become more confident, the gains seen in AI will need to spread to other kinds of companies, which would be more reflective of broader optimism about the overall market's prospects.
Bank of America's Subramanian is optimistic that this could start to happen in the second half of this year.
"We could see big gains in the broader market outside of those bigger tech names," says Subramanian.
Subramanian attributes her optimism to hope that any recession may prove to be relatively mild, which could boost the prospects of other sectors that have not gained as much as tech.
But there are still lingering worries about banks
At the year's midpoint, there are also worries the banking turmoil will resurface.
After the implosion of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank and First Republic Bank, many of the customers of smaller regional banks moved their money to larger institutions.
A lot of these lenders also lost deposits — which are, of course, key to a bank's business — to higher-yielding investments, such as money market funds.
Recently, those outflows from the smaller lenders have stabilized. But analysts are vigilantly watching for signs of more distress, and Wall Street will get a better sense of how these banks are doing when lenders report their latest earnings starting this month.
They're also paying attention to another consequence of that collapse.
Credit conditions have tightened since then, which means banks are becoming more conservative about making loans to consumers and businesses.
If that continues, it could have an impact on economic growth.
Moreover, banks are still vulnerable to high interest rates because they can erode the value of the vast bond portfolios that many lenders have.
And other challenges are ahead
Despite the gains, some of the big trends in the economy haven't necessarily changed.
Inflation has eased but remains stubbornly high, and the Federal Reserve has signaled clearly that it will need to continue raising interest rates. That means borrowing costs across the economy will continue to rise, so mortgages and loans will continue to get more expensive.
It takes a while for higher rates to filter through the economy, so even as recession fears have subsided somewhat, they have not gone away completely.
"We're still going through the most aggressive monetary tightening cycle since the early 1980s," says Brandywine Global's Mielczarski. "And I think we're only really going to see the full impact of that tightening cycle over the next 12 to 18 months."
Therefore, the economy may very well avert a recession this year, but there's still the chance of a downturn in 2024, which would mean a lot of the gains in stocks could still reverse.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2023-07-06T20:30:00+00:00 | knkx.org | https://www.knkx.org/2023-07-01/what-recession-why-stocks-are-surging-despite-warnings-of-doom-and-gloom |
ACTIVITIES
Friday, July 15: Open activities, 8:30-11:30 a.m.; card bingo, 12:30 p.m.
Monday, July 18: Open activities, 8:30-11:30 a.m.; Club meeting, 1 p.m.
Tuesday, July 19: Open activities, 8:30-11:30 a.m.; exercise, 9:30-10:30 a.m.; Legal assistance, 2 p.m.
Wednesday, July 20: open activities, 8:30-11:30 a.m.; AARP driver safety, 9 a.m.; pinochle card party, 1 p.m.; Seniors eat out at Station West, 5 p.m.
Thursday, July 21: Custer Health, 8-11:30 a.m.; Open activities, 8:30-11:30 a.m.; exercise, 9:30-10:30 a.m.; bingo, 1 p.m.; pie day, 2:30 p.m.
Friday, July 22: Open activities, 8:30-11:30 a.m.; right, center, left game, 12:30 p.m.
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Suggested donations are $4 per meal. Call 701-663-6528 for meal reservations; call at least one day in advance. Lunch is served from 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Menu items subject to change based on availability.
Friday, July 15: Bacon cheeseburger, potato wedges, carrot slices, chilled pears.
Monday, July 18: Meatballs, mashed potatoes, gravy, garden blend vegetables, chilled peaches.
Tuesday, July 19: Chicken cordon bleu, rice pilaf, mixed vegetables, chilled applesauce, brownie.
Wednesday, July 20: Cabbage rolls, baked potato, Key West vegetables, watermelon.
Thursday, July 21: BBQ ribs, hash brown bake, country trio of vegetables, chilled pineapple, cake with frosting.
Friday, July 22: Egg salad on croissant, vegetable chowder, crackers, banana, rice crispy bar.
Senior citizens age 60 and older are eligible to participate in services provided by the Morton County Council on Aging, Mandan. | 2022-07-15T07:26:28+00:00 | bismarcktribune.com | https://bismarcktribune.com/community/mandannews/senior-services---july-15/article_f979c2e2-fee0-11ec-84fa-87eb678eee1c.html |
DENVER (AP) — Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra practically snickered when asked about neutralizing the effective two-man game played by Denver Nuggets teammates Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.
“Yeah, where do you start? You have two guys that can score 50 in a playoff game. One guy is a triple-double machine that loves to get guys involved,” Spoelstra said.
“You go down the list of myriad of things you can do defensively, you have to check off some things that you don’t really want to do because of both their ability to score and Jokic’s ability to create something off-script.”
Spoelstra knows what the Heat are up against; it’s nothing new for Denver. The Nuggets’ potent duo has been nearly unstoppable in powering Denver’s 13-3 run through the playoffs, including a 104-93 win in Game 1.
A win Sunday night would make them just the second team this century to win its first 10 home games in a single postseason. The Nuggets’ run to what they hope is their first NBA championship is being fueled by Jokic and Murray.
They’re entering the pantheon of pick-and-roll royalty of standard-bearers John Stockton and Karl Malone. But the Nuggets do it with a different twist.
Whereas Malone set up almost all of the screens for Stockton when they were Utah Jazz teammates, Denver’s version is ambidextrous, doubling the difficulty of deciphering much less defusing it.
“Three, four years ago, the No. 1 pick-and-roll combo in the entire NBA was Nikola and Jamal,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone recalled. “And most people would just assume that it was Nikola setting for Jamal. It was actually the opposite. It was Nikola handling and Jamal setting.
“The reason it was so effective, aside from the obvious — two really talented players — is that Jamal is big, strong, physical and not afraid of contact. Some guys like to slip out of every screen because they don’t want to make that contact, they don’t want to give themselves up,” the coach added. “Jamal from early in his career here, he’s shown that he’s willing to go and set a screen on a big guy, small guy, doesn’t matter, because he’s tough.
“The second part of that is he also knows that if Nikola has the ball and he screens, his man has to help, which will give him separation. If you want to simplify the game of basketball, it comes down to separation.”
Both Murray and Jokic are three-level scorers who can shoot 3-pointers, make midrange jump shots and drive to the basket. Their Game 1 performance put them in some elite company.
Heading into the series opener, only Michael Jordan in 1991 and Russell Westbrook in 2012 had at least 25 points, 10 assists and five rebounds in an NBA Finals debut. Jokic and Murray added their names to that list Thursday night — Murray had 26 points, 10 assists and six rebounds and Jokic extended his NBA record with his ninth triple-double in these playoffs, getting 27 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds.
The only other pair of teammates to have 25 points and 10 assists in an NBA Finals game was Magic Johnson and James Worthy, who did it for the Los Angeles Lakers against Boston in Game 1 in 1987.
Murray and Jokic have been refining their on-court relationship since Murray’s rookie season in 2016, a year after Jokic joined the Nuggets as the now-hard-to-fathom 41st overall draft pick. Murray was backing up Gary Harris and Jokic was coming off the bench behind Jusuf Nurkic.
“We would actually come into the game together, and we would run post-ups or just simple give-and-goes … and I’d say then we kind of developed a chemistry,” Murray said. “Soon we both started, we started playing off each other. We started to figure out where we like the ball, when we liked the ball, when I’m going to pass, when he’s going to pass, when he’s driving, when to relocate, where to relocate.”
Heat guard Kyle Lowry, who is in his 16th NBA season, is hard-pressed to come up with a better point guard/big man combo.
“Jamal and Jokic, they’re deadly because they both can score and pass the ball,” said Lowry, noting he played against the San Antonio Spurs’ “great combination” of Tim Duncan and Tony Parker. “They’re big targets, and they have a great feel for each other.”
Nuggets guard Ish Smith has been on a record 13 teams in 13 NBA seasons and said he has never seen anything quite like Denver’s duo. Smith said what makes Jokic and Murray so effective is both players are the antithesis of superstars who’d rather go 1-on-1 in isolation.
“It wouldn’t work if Nikola was selfish and, ‘I need the ball,’ and Jamal was a guy that was like, ‘I need the ball all the time,'” Smith said.
The Heat know they have to at least slow down the Nuggets.
“We have proven that we can win and overcome regardless of how the game is going,” Spoelstra said. “Ideal situation would be if it’s on our terms and we are controlling the tenor of the game, but we have also won games where we haven’t been able to do that for the entire game.”
___
AP Sports Writer Pat Graham contributed to this report.
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2023-06-05T13:42:08+00:00 | kfor.com | https://kfor.com/sports/ap-sports/nuggets-2-man-game-of-nikola-jokic-and-jamal-murral-is-setting-new-pick-and-roll-standard-in-nba/ |
MANLY MAN CO. OFFERS TO 'TAKE THE HEAT' FOR YOUR FATHER'S DAY FUMBLE
VISTA, Calif., June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In direct response to a recent and shocking survey revealing that 26% of Americans are forgetting Father's Day gifts, Manly Man Co. (America's provider of intriguing, never-boring gifts for men,) is offering to take the heat this year for forgetful Americans.
The first of its kind 'alibi' concept is that Manly Man Co. will take the heat from the Dads of absent minded Americans who have left Father's Day until the last minute. The reality is that If you haven't bought a Father's Day gift by yesterday, it's probably not going to make it on time.
How does it work?
Americans can visit Manly Man Co. at manlymanco.com/alibi and purchase their alibi for $1 to send along with their late gift. They can enter their Dad's name along with the chosen alibi. They will have the option of choosing between serious or mostly humorous excuses such as:
2023 ALIBIS:
Sorry [RECIPIENT FIRST NAME] It's totally our fault, your package is arriving late. [CUSTOMER FIRST NAME] had reserved your [OCCASION] gift months ago. But [ALIBI]
- It was intercepted by a drug sniffing dog who ate it…. so we had to make another.
- Murder hornets and train derailments caused some unforeseen delays.
- We gave it to the mailman (Steve), he thought it was a gift for him and ate it…. so we had to make another.
- As I'm sure you've heard, there's been a lot of 'must see tv' on the last few weeks, so we're a little behind on shipping.
- We spent some additional time making it 'extra manly for you' and that (of course) takes a few more days.
- Turns out carrier pigeons are not as reliable as they used to be, which burned a few days before we tried using FedEx.
- The record setting ice storm in the Midwest this week got in the way.
- Adam from our shipping team was playing hide and seek with your package, and we couldn't find it for a few days.
- Someone keeps pranking us by changing the dates on our calendars so everything is late now. We think it's Adam from the warehouse.
- Unforeseen national shipping delays delayed it several days
- As I'm sure that you have heard, there's another ship blocking the port near your city so it's been unavoidably delayed.
Men seem (mostly) okay with Dad's Day deceptions:
In a Manly Man Co. survey of 1000 Americans, asked if they 'would pay for an airtight late Father's Day excuse,' 69.5% of Men said 'yes' vs. only 53.0% of women.
Overall, 9.5% of Americans said 'yes' and 5.8% said 'yes if they didn't get caught.'
Who do Americans usually blame for late Father's Day Gifts?
asked who they blame when a Father's Day gift is late, COVID topped the list at 10.7%, followed by US Mail/Couriers 9.3%, undefined 'global shortages' (7.9%), Kids (5.9%), Porch pirates (5.7%) and 'vendors who they bought a present from' (5.3%).
American Men are much more likely to blame 'porch pirates' (62.0%) than women (38.0%).
See the full survey results here
PLEASE ATTRIBUTE THIS AS A SURVEY BY MANLY MAN CO. IN ALL MEDIA COVERAGE
All is not lost, for Americans looking to up their Father's Day gift game, Manly Man Co. has some interesting and innovative options.
Manly Man Co's Father's Day gift line-up:
What says you love your 'manly man' Dad more than a dozen beef jerky 'flowers' in a handsome bouquet delivered in a pint glass vase?
Ditch the pretty flowers for the perfect meat-based manly version.
$69.00 for 8, $89.00 for a full dozen, available in 3 flavors.
The perfect flowers for Dad are edible! This arrangement includes an assortment of individually packaged thick-cut slices of gourmet bacon... not the regular grocery store stuff, this is cooked in mama's kitchen. Each bouquet is delivered ready to enjoy and includes:
(5x) Smokehouse - Sweet & Spicy, (5x) Smokehouse - Sweet, (5x) Smokehouse - Habanero Heat,
and (5x) Smokehouse - Thai Curry.
$69.00
Based on our extremely popular Original Meathearts, Carnivores can now enjoy packs of mini laser-etched beef jerky hearts, laser engraved with Father's Day sentiments such as "#1 Dad" and "My Hero. " Each beef Jerky Father's Day heart is made in the USA at The Manly Man Co.'s Southern California headquarters.
$24.50
- Laser-Etched Heart Shapes
- Laser-Engraved Slogans & Designs
- Slogans: #1 Dad®, My Hero, Best Friend, Pop U Rock!
The Valentine's edition Meathearts famously sold out in one hour, broke Manly Man Co's servers due to so much traffic and shattered daily sales records! We're expecting the same with the brand new Father's Day Edition Meathearts.
Why would any man want a boring cardboard card when they could get a custom card laser-etched on beef jerky? Customers are encouraged to print whatever message they want to deliver directly to their 'manly man' Dad. (We don't judge.)
$23.99 for 100 custom characters laser engraved on a card-sized (4"x9") sheet of delicious beef jerky.
Here's another radically superior beefy bouquet choice for Dad. It's a tasty and tasteful arrangement of gourmet beef sticks in multiple flavors.
$59.00
(includes 5x smokehouse beef sticks, 5x Teriyaki Beef Sticks and 5x smokehouse hot and spicy sticks.)
Sure, you want to gift Dad a King of the remote, Free Movie Night (Dad's Choice,) Free Day of No Kids Whining' and Free Car Wash coupon book … but what if dad could have his coupons and eat them too? Manly Man Co. has invented the world's first 'Carnivore friendly' Father's Day coupon book made of original smokehouse flavour beef jerky laser-etched with coupons of your choice.
Dad gets something to chew on and must rip out the beef jerky coupon and eat it to redeem.
Each book has your choice of our favourite coupons or it can be customized on demand. The cover page is customizable with up to 4 kids' names.
$69.00 for 6 pages
$89.00 for 8 pages
Available for purchase as of June 1st, 2023.
Cheekily based on traditional ties (the most predictable of Father's Day gifts), the 'Manly Man' version lets you gift your tie and eat it too. Crafted in delicious beef jerky and laser cut in the shape of a tie, the Meat-tie gives Dad something to talk about (and chew on.)
The 'ties' feature Father's Day sentiments such as 'My Hero,' and '#1 Dad.'
$23.50
Available for purchase as of June 1st, 2023.
About Manly Man Co.
Manly Man Co. was born out of a desire to revolutionize gifting for men. Founder Greg Murray recognized the need for unique and captivating gifts that cater to men's interests and preferences. With a commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and innovative designs, Manly Man Co. continues to redefine the gifting experience for men across the country.
Manly Man Co. is A Veteran-Owned Business
View original content:
SOURCE Manly Man Co. | 2023-06-16T10:12:28+00:00 | wymt.com | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2023/06/16/fathers-day-alibi-just-time-forgetful-americans/ |
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Louisville coach Scott Satterfield says quarterback Malik Cunningham’s status is being evaluated daily for concussion-like symptoms after he was injured Saturday’s loss at Boston College.
The fifth-year senior ran for three touchdowns and threw for another before finishing the game, a 34-33 defeat, on the sideline. He was removed for one play in the third quarter after taking a hit to the head from BC defensive back Jaylen Blackwell, who was penalized for targeting. Cunningham played two more series before being replaced by Brock Domann.
Satterfield said Tuesday that Cunningham told team doctors that he “felt a little different” after taking another hit later and was pulled from the game.
“His status now is day to day and it’ll be determined by our doctors what they allow him to do,” Satterfield said during his weekly news conference, which came ahead of Saturday’s ACC game at Virginia. “If he’s able to go, then obviously he’ll go. But if they say he’s not ready, then he won’t go.”
Cunningham was injured two days after Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered a concussion, laying on the turf with his hands and fingers frozen upward after being slammed backward to the turf in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Tagovailoa had experienced concussion-like symptoms after a hit four days earlier against the Buffalo Bills but was cleared to return, raising questions about the NFL's handling of such injuries.
Satterfield said Cunningham told him he felt fine after sitting out following the first hit. Team doctors told him that a second hard tackle left his quarterback dizzy and that he probably sustained concussion-like symptoms.
The coach indicated that he would heed medical advice on Cunningham’s availability.
“Our doctors do a fabulous job,” Satterfield said. “Anytime there’s any kind of injury, the doctors are going to give the go-ahead to play or not play. It’s not any coach’s or any training staff (decision) when it comes to that, those type of injuries.”
Cunningham recently became the sixth quarterback in NCAA history to exceed 9,000 yards passing and 3,000 rushing in a career.
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More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25. Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25 | 2022-10-04T18:30:57+00:00 | seattlepi.com | https://www.seattlepi.com/sports/article/Louisville-s-Cunningham-undergoing-concussion-17486505.php |
Kroger opens doors to brand new spoke facility in Louisville, Kentucky
LOUISVILLE, Ky., Aug. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), America's largest grocery retailer, today announced the official opening of a new spoke location in Louisville, Kentucky. The 50,000 square-foot facility will collaborate with the Customer Fulfillment Center (CFC) in Monroe, Ohio and will serve as a last-mile cross-dock location that expands Kroger Delivery's ability to serve more customers in the Greater Louisville area.
"Kroger Delivery is part of our rapidly expanding seamless ecosystem that provides customers with fresh and quality products – anytime and anywhere," said Bill Bennett, Kroger Vice President and Head of E-commerce. "We are thrilled to expand Kroger's offerings to more Louisville customers with a truly differentiated customer experience. Local Kentucky residents can use Kroger.com or the Kroger app to check the weekly circular, select personalized digital coupons, search products by dietary preference and ultimately place their order. Customers will enjoy receiving their orders directly from our refrigerated trucks and delivered by trained Kroger uniformed associates, giving customers an unparalleled first-class delivery experience."
The spoke facility will employ up to 161 full-time associates. Also, as part of Kroger's commitment to end hunger and eliminate waste through its Zero Hunger | Zero Waste social environmental impact plan, the site will use recyclable bags and is working to partner with local food banks.
Local shoppers also have access to the newly launched Boost by Kroger annual membership program. For either $59 or $99 per year, Boost provides customers with benefits like unlimited free delivery on orders of $35 or more and two Fuel Points for every $1 spent on groceries and general merchandise purchases through Delivery, Pickup and in-stores. Kroger estimates the membership can save customers more than $1,000 per year on fuel and grocery delivery.
"Louisville has long been a driver of innovation in the logistics and in the food and beverage industries, and as such, Louisville is uniquely poised to fuel the workforce and innovation demands necessary to drive these industries into the future," said Mayor Greg Fischer. "I am excited to join our partners at Kroger to celebrate this new dynamic facility that will drive high-quality customer service."
Kroger Delivery Explained
The expansion in Louisville represents an extension of a partnership between Kroger and Ocado, a world leader in technology for grocery e-commerce. In 2018, the companies announced a collaboration to establish a delivery network that combines artificial intelligence, advanced robotics, and automation in a bold new way, bringing first-of-its-kind technology to America.
The delivery network relies on highly automated fulfillment centers. At the hub sites, more than 1,000 bots move around giant 3D grids, orchestrated by proprietary control systems. The grid, known as The Hive, contains totes with products and ready-to-deliver customer orders. As customers' orders near delivery times, bots retrieve products from The Hive and present them at pick stations for items to be sorted for delivery, a process governed by algorithms that ensures items are intelligently packed. For example, fragile items are placed on top, bags are evenly weighted, and each order is optimized to fit into the lowest number of bags, reducing plastic use. Bags are also recyclable, reflecting Kroger's commitment to its Zero Hunger | Zero Waste commitment to rid its communities of hunger and waste.
Kroger's end-to-end cold solutions keep groceries fresh once loaded into customized refrigerated delivery van, which can store up to 20 orders. Powerful machine learning algorithms optimize delivery routes, considering factors such as road conditions and optimal fuel efficiency. Vans may travel up to 90 miles with orders from the hub and spoke facilities to make deliveries. Associates at the spoke facility will deliver orders within their service area, adding ZIP codes as demand grows.
Kroger currently operates customer fulfillment centers in Monroe, OH, Groveland, FL, Forest Park, GA (Atlanta), Pleasant Prairie, WI, Dallas, TX and Romulus, MI (Detroit), with additional customer fulfillment centers slated for California, Frederick, MD, Phoenix, AZ, Cleveland, OH, Charlotte, NC, Aurora, CO (Denver), as well as South Florida and the Northeast.
Media Assets
To download Kroger Delivery photography and video, visit here.
About Kroger
At The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we are Fresh for Everyone™ and dedicated to our Purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit®. We are, across our family of companies, nearly half a million associates who serve over 11 million customers daily through a seamless shopping experience under a variety of banner names. We are committed to creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities by 2025. To learn more about us, visit our newsroom and investor relations site.
About Ocado Group
Ocado Group is a UK based technology company admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange (Ticker OCDO). It provides end-to-end online grocery fulfillment solutions to some of the world's largest grocery retailers and holds a 50% share of Ocado Retail Ltd in the UK in a Joint Venture with Marks & Spencer. Ocado has spent two decades innovating for grocery online, investing in a wide technology estate that includes robotics, AI & machine learning, simulation, forecasting, and edge intelligence.
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SOURCE The Kroger Co. | 2022-08-02T18:54:40+00:00 | mysuncoast.com | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/02/kroger-delivery-arrives-louisville/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — A lawyer for a Colorado man accused of cheating donors to a $25 million fund to build a wall along the southern U.S. border told jurors on Tuesday that they should question why his client’s fraud trial is being held in New York, tapping into a theme that may have contributed to an earlier trial ending with a deadlocked jury.
During his opening statement, attorney John Meringolo, defending Timothy Shea, also spoke dismissively of Steve Bannon, the former top adviser to then-President Donald Trump who was charged in the case before Trump pardoned him as he left office last year.
“Is there a venue in this case?” Meringolo asked Manhattan federal court jurors as he told them to pay attention to where trial witnesses are from and where events described in the indictment occurred. He suggested that an adverse determination on venue might be enough to acquit his client.
Meringolo hit notes that were likely to appeal to any jurors who might think along the lines of a juror at Shea’s first trial in the spring who so upset his fellow jurors that they wrote a note to the judge saying he had branded them all as liberals and complained that the trial should have occurred in a southern state.
Days later, the hopelessly deadlocked jury caused a mistrial.
Last month, Judge Analisa Torres rejected Shea’s request to move the trial to Colorado because of “political polarization” in New York and pretrial publicity. The judge wrote that the Castle Rock, Colorado, man had failed to show why “political polarization” would be less in his home state or anywhere else.
Shea, who owns an energy drink company, Winning Energy, sat with his hands folded during opening statements. His company’s cans have featured a cartoon superhero image of Trump and claim to contain “12 oz. of liberal tears.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wikstrom said during his opening that hundreds of thousands of people nationwide made donations, many of them small, in response to the online “We Build The Wall” fundraiser that went viral.
The prosecutor pointed at the defendant as he said: “This man, Timothy Shea, used the money to line his own pockets.”
Wikstrom said Shea helped himself and others steal hundreds of thousands of dollars even though the fundraiser promised that “not one cent” of the money would go to salaries for the campaign’s organizers because all of it was going toward the wall. Only a few miles (kilometers) of wall were built.
“This case is not about whether you think there should be a wall,” he said. “Whether you are for or against a border wall, no one should be a victim of a fraud.”
Wikstrom’s stick-to-the-facts approach was followed by Meringolo, who portrayed the fundraising quest in patriotic terms, saying organizers wanted to give the money to Trump but the government said it could not accept privately raised money.
He described Shea’s onetime codefendant and business partner in the fundraiser, Brian Kolfage, as “a veteran and a hero.”
“The guy has no legs and no arm,” Meringolo said of the triple amputee.
Shea is the only one of the three people who were charged in the case to stand trial. Kolfage pleaded guilty to charges and Bannon was pardoned before he stood trial on federal charges.
Meringolo told jurors that any money Shea received was earned through his work to secure land, meet with homeowners along the border and engage with others through social media, along with expenses for security for the project.
He said there was “no evidence Bannon did security work.”
Bannon, 68, last month pleaded not guilty to New York state charges alleging that he cheated investors to the “We Build The Wall” campaign. Presidential pardons apply only to federal crimes. | 2022-10-26T16:14:23+00:00 | wric.com | https://www.wric.com/news/politics/ap-retrial-of-colorado-man-in-border-wall-fraud-case-begins/ |
Actor Marlee Matlin, director Jason Reitman and producer Jason Blum are joining the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
The organization that puts on the Oscars said Wednesday that they are among the 12 Hollywood professionals who have been elected to the board for the first time. Others joining include cinematographer Dion Beebe, casting director Richard Hicks and marketing and public relations executive Megan Colligan.
Each of the academy’s 17 branches are represented by three governors who help set and guide the strategy for the academy and manage its financial health. Other governors currently serving include Whoopi Goldberg, Ava DuVernay and Rita Wilson. With this election, a majority of the board is female and 28 percent of members belong to an underrepresented racial or ethnic group.
The academy, and the board, have been under more scrutiny than usual following the incident in which Will Smith slapped Chris Rock during the Oscars ceremony earlier this year. Several days later, the board banned Smith from attending the Oscars or any other academy event for 10 years. | 2022-06-23T10:28:49+00:00 | cbs4indy.com | https://cbs4indy.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/oscars-org-adds-marlee-matlin-jason-reitman-to-board/ |
Texas Tech, Head Coach Joey McGuire agree to $26.6M six-year contract extension
LUBBOCK, Texas (NEWS RELEASE) -Texas Tech Athletics:
Texas Tech and head football coach Joey McGuire have agreed on a new six-year contract that will raise his annual compensation and keep him in charge of the Red Raiders through the 2028 season.
Under the terms of the six-year, $26.6 million agreement, McGuire will receive $100,000 annual increases in his yearly compensation, rising to $4.6 million for the 2028 campaign, which does not include various performance bonuses. The contract is worth roughly $1 million more annually than McGuire’s original agreement and has been approved by the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents.
“I firmly believe our best days are still ahead with Coach McGuire at the helm of our football program,” Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt said. “It was evident throughout this football season that he and his staff are building a culture that will benefit this program for years to come. Coach McGuire will be the first to tell you that his goal is not to just play in a bowl game but to win championships, and I believe we are on that path under his direction.”
In only his first season, McGuire led the Red Raiders to one of their most-memorable years in recent memory, capped by wins over both Texas and Oklahoma and the most Big 12 victories since 2009. Texas Tech (7-5; 5-4) closed the regular season with three-consecutive victories for the first time since 1995 and will face Ole Miss later Wednesday night in the TaxAct Texas Bowl from NRG Stadium in Houston.
Off the field, McGuire has reenergized Texas Tech’s passionate fan base with a consensus top-25 recruiting class that was signed just a week ago. Texas Tech also posted its best semester all-time in the classroom with a 3.13 team GPA this fall as the Red Raiders boast 27 players on their TaxAct Texas Bowl roster who have already earned their college degree.
“I’m fortunate to have the support of a tremendous administration here at Texas Tech with President (Lawrence) Schovanec and the best Athletics Director in the country in Kirby Hocutt,” McGuire said. “We firmly believe the success our team has experienced this season is the standard for what is yet to come. Our entire family can’t thank Red Raider Nation enough for their passionate support that is unmatched in college football.”
Kickoff between Texas Tech and Ole Miss is slated for 8:05 p.m. CT Wednesday evening at NRG Stadium. Coverage will be provided nationally via ESPN, ESPN Radio and the Texas Tech Sports Network.
Copyright 2022 KCBD. All rights reserved. | 2022-12-28T18:57:57+00:00 | kcbd.com | https://www.kcbd.com/2022/12/28/texas-tech-head-coach-joey-mcguire-agree-266m-six-year-contract-extension/ |
NEW YORK (PIX11) — Only 21 of the 33 undefeated FBS teams survived Week 4, with several more close calls in the top 10.
In the Big 10, over 53,000 fans showed up for Rutgers’ “Scarlet Out” conference opener against Iowa. Unfortunately, the team from the first three weeks did not. The Hawkeyes scored two defensive touchdowns on a pick-six and a fumble to take an early lead, and never looked back. The Scarlet Knights fell to Iowa 27-10 and moved to 3-1.
In the FCS, the Fordham Rams struggled with their sole FBS opponent of the year, the Ohio Bobcats. Despite 640 total yards and a school-record six touchdowns from QB Tim DeMorat, the Bobcats outlasted the Rams, leaving no doubt with a fumble recovery for a touchdown on the final play. Ohio downed Fordham 59-52 to hand the Rams their first loss of the year.
However, in the ACC, the Syracuse Orange remained unbeaten. On Friday night, the Orange started hot and held on late to win their conference opener against Virginia. Andre Szmyt hit his fifth field goal of the day from 31 yards out to claim the 22-20 win. Syracuse is now 4-0 and takes on FCS Wagner next week for homecoming.
PIX11 Sports Reporter Perry Sook has more in the video player above. | 2022-09-26T17:59:09+00:00 | pix11.com | https://pix11.com/sports/nysn-campus-corner-rutgers-falls-to-hawkeyes-syracuse-still-undefeated/ |
Beto O’Rourke has lost three races in four years. Is his political career over?
(TEXAS TRIBUNE) - Four years ago, Beto O’Rourke became the next great hope for the Texas Democratic Party.
Starting his senatorial campaign as a little-known congressman from El Paso, he captured lightning in a bottle by barnstorming across the state’s 254 counties on his way to a narrow loss to Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.
Though he came up short, O’Rourke helped sweep in down-ballot victories across the state, helping Democrats pick up 12 seats in the Texas House, two seats in the Texas Senate and boosting newcomer Lina Hidalgo over longtime Republican Ed Emmett in the race for Harris County judge.
His meteoric rise brought back hope to a struggling minority party that has not won statewide office since 1994 and it attracted a frenzy of national attention that set up his run for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020.
But after a dismal run at the presidency and now a third consecutive electoral loss on Tuesday, O’Rourke is in danger of being lumped in with Democratic symbols of political failure like Wendy Davis, the former state senator who ran for governor in 2014 and the U.S. House in 2020, and the 2002 “Dream Team” of Tony Sanchez, Ron Kirk and John Sharp, which spent millions of dollars on flashy campaigns for governor, senator and lieutenant governor, respectively. All of these candidates once promised to help flip the state blue, but ultimately ended in embarrassment.
“With each new race he loses it becomes more difficult to convince voters and persuade them that he can still win the next race,” said Sharon Navarro, a political scientist at the University of Texas at San Antonio. “That’s a very difficult barrier to overcome for a third-time loser.”
Abbott will no doubt frame Tuesday’s election results as a sign that Texans have soured on O’Rourke and that he has exhausted his political future in the state. And his GOP allies will revel in hammering the point home.
“This is three statewide failed races,” said Corbin Casteel, a Republican consultant. “He’s a perennial candidate. He hasn’t shown any ability to win outside his hometown and his ideas are just way too radical for Texas and he keeps getting rejected left and right.”
But political experts say they do not expect O’Rourke to disappear from the scene — though his role in future elections could change, going from candidate to organizer or fundraiser before, possibly, running again.
“For Democrats, you want to ride your fast horse until you get a faster one,” said Cal Jillson, a political scientist at Southern Methodist University. “Until you find someone better than Beto, what would be the point of exiling him into the wilderness for someone that has the skills and fundraising ability?”
Perennial candidate
At this point, O’Rourke is better known for the races he’s lost than the ones that he won — including serving as an El Paso councilman from 2005 to 2011 and a congressman from 2013 to 2019. After three high-profile losses in a four-year span, O’Rourke will have an uphill battle to convince skeptical voters that he should launch another bid for a major office.
But such a move would not be unprecedented in Texas history. In the 1950s, liberal Democrat Ralph Yarborough ran three unsuccessful campaigns for governor between 1952 and 1956 (the term of office was two years back then) before ultimately winning election to the U.S. Senate in a special 1957 election to replace Price Daniel, who had beaten out Yarborough for the governorship in 1956.
“It does show that while it seems embarrassing and you’ve gotta explain why you can’t win a big race, that you are building name recognition and there may be an election cycle that there’s an opening for you,” Jillson said.
Texas Republicans have also come back from bruising political losses to rise to the highest positions in government. In 1964, George H.W. Bush lost his U.S. Senate challenge to Yarborough by 12 percentage points. But despite the loss, Bush was considered a top prospect for the Texas GOP, which was then the minority party. Bush won election to Texas’ 7th congressional district two years later.
In 1980, Bush lost another major election when he was beat out by Ronald Reagan in the Republican presidential primary. But after joining Reagan on the Republican ticket that year, Bush served two terms as vice president and eventually won the presidency in 1988.
“Different people take different paths to office,” Jillson said. “Grover Cleveland went from mayor of Buffalo to the White House in a little over three years. Things just laid out for him: mayor, governor of New York and first Democrat elected after the Civil War to the presidency.”
“It’s not that a good candidate wins every race and moves up the ladder because the environment within which you’re running even if you are a good candidate can be very difficult and in that race you might lose even if you’ve got all the skills,” he added. “Things have to line up, especially at top levels — senate, governor and presidency. It’s gotta be your party’s year and then you have to have the campaign skills and finances to give yourself a chance to win.”
But Matt Mackowiak, a GOP consultant, said O’Rourke has not made the adjustments he needed to mount a winning campaign since first running for statewide office in 2018.
“It’s not clear that Beto has learned anything from his three losses. He’s learned how to organize, how to raise money and fire up the progressives, but none of those things have delivered victory,” he said.
While O’Rourke certainly had the finances — he broke fundraising records in his senatorial campaign in 2018 and again during the governor’s race this year — political experts say he will have to work hard to overcome the tricky policy positions he put himself in during the 2020 presidential primary if he wants to win statewide office in conservative Texas.
High on that list is O’Rourke’s promise to confiscate assault-style rifles when he famously proclaimed during a presidential debate, “Hell yeah, we’re going to take your AR-15.” The stance has hampered him in gun-friendly Texas, and Abbott has used it effectively to drag down O’Rourke’s favorability.
Abbott also attacked O’Rourke for previous statements he had made in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, which the Republican used to paint him as an opponent of police funding, and for his statements that churches should lose their tax-exempt status if they opposed same-sex marriage.
“He was definitely not as strategic as he possibly could have been every time he went in front of a mic,” Navarro said. “It’s also about the ability to be more strategic in front of a microphone and be careful on issues you speak of [that] can be used in a way that can harm any future campaign.”
O’Rourke was more disciplined during this year’s gubernatorial run, saying he still believed that people should not own assault-style rifles, but that he was focused on policies that were politically realistic, like universal background checks, red-flag laws and raising the age to purchase assault rifles from 18 to 21 — all of which have the support of a majority of Texans. He also walked a difficult line on immigration, criticizing Abbott’s border policies as “political stunts” but also stressing the need to secure the border and advance immigration reform.
But to Mackowiak, O’Rourke continued to misunderstand the Texas electorate, discussing issues in a way that motivated the progressive Democratic base but alienated middle-of-the-road voters.
“He ran a standard progressive campaign in a red state that might be becoming more purple. His whole strategy was hoping there would be more school shootings and the grid would fail,” Mackowiak said. “He had no message on the economy, and his position on the border is laughable. He didn’t give himself a chance in this race because he never moved to the middle.”
Matt Rinaldi, chair of the Republican Party of Texas, said O’Rourke benefited from how little people knew about him during his senatorial run. But by the time he ran for governor, his policy positions, including those that are controversial among the state’s conservative electorate, were well known.
“He was a blank slate and people put whatever their hopes were on to him,” he said. “But as he spent the tens of millions of dollars in these races running for Senate, president and governor, people realized that he had a very scary message that would lead to increased inflation, greater crime and an open border and they rejected that. They just don’t want it here.”
“He spent a lot of money on messaging but maybe he should move to California or New York,” Rinaldi added. “His message resonates a little better there.”
While Jillson said it would be difficult for O’Rourke to get beyond his past policy positions, it is not impossible. Barack Obama, for example, was able to “evolve” his clear opposition to same-sex marriage in 2008 to support for the issue just four years later — notably during the first year that support for same-sex marriage surpassed opposition.
“His strategy on (guns) should probably best have been, ‘Look, I’m from El Paso, the shooting was very raw and fresh, that’s what I was talking about and it was an emotional response. Here’s what I’m actually going to do,’” said Jillson, referring to the 2019 shooting at a Walmart in El Paso that left 23 people dead. “You have a one- or two-sentence quick response. You have to explain what you said but you don’t have to hold to every syllable of that sentence. You can reframe it now that the moment has passed.”
But Republicans said O’Rourke’s challenges this cycle spread beyond his campaign to an overall issue with a struggling Democratic Party that cannot connect with Texas voters.
“We’re coming up on three decades and you have to ask, what do all these people have in common?” Casteel said, referring to the period of GOP domination in Texas politics. “Promising candidates like Wendy Davis and Beto O’Rourke, what do they all have in common? [Policies like] higher taxes, anti-oil and gas, anti-gun, pro-abortion. It’s just not the values of Texas.”
Experts said O’Rourke could benefit from taking time away from running for office. Instead, he may be of more use to Democrats as a fundraiser or organizer, two areas in which the state party is desperately lacking. Navarro said O’Rourke could help build out that infrastructure to compete with the partisan and fundraising advantage that Republicans have held in the state for nearly three decades.
“He could begin to build a strong Democratic Party structure with what he’s done up to this point,” she said. “Definitely a fundraiser. He has the energy to bring that in and it could be to the success of other future candidates.”
Before running for governor, O’Rourke had started building out his political infrastructure to benefit other Democrats through his political action committee, Powered by the People. After dropping out of the presidential race, he spent much of 2020 trying to help Texas Democrats win a majority in the Texas House — they didn’t — and his group sent $600,000 to the Democrats who decamped to Washington, D.C., in 2021 to try to stop a Republican priority bill that further limited voting rights in the state.
Mackowiak said it’s unclear if O’Rourke will get another shot at a statewide bid and his legacy may be that he served as a catalyst for other candidates during the 2018 cycle, when Texas Democrats desperately needed a boost.
“It’s not 100% negative,” he said. “[But] at some point the Democrats will want to try to run something different.”
But others think O’Rourke could still have another statewide race left in him. With enough time, the political dynamics in the state may shift to be more in O’Rourke’s favor, said Renee Cross, executive director of the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston. She noted that President Joe Biden ran two unsuccessful campaigns for the presidency 20 years apart before finally winning the White House in 2020, 12 years after his second attempt.
“There is certainly a place for luck in these victories,” Cross said. “Coupled along with various changes that may be occurring or are occurring with our population, I could see a political path but probably not real soon.”
But if O’Rourke wants to have a realistic shot at statewide office in the future, Mackowiak said, he will have to make tough adjustments that he has so far been unable to make.
“The question for me is does he learn anything from this?” he said. “Politically, without something fundamentally changing, it’s hard to see how he can convince anyone he can win office in this state.”
Disclosure: Southern Methodist University, University of Texas at San Antonio and University of Houston have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
COPYRIGHT 2022. KWTX TV. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. | 2022-11-09T05:19:41+00:00 | newschannel6now.com | https://www.newschannel6now.com/2022/11/09/beto-orourke-has-lost-three-races-four-years-is-his-political-career-over/ |
Stormey and more pets up for adoption in Phoenix-area shelters this week
Every year, approximately 6.5 million companion animals enter shelters nationwide, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Of those, about 3.3 million are dogs and 3.2 million are cats.
Each week, The Arizona Republic highlights a handful of the many pets up for adoption at Valley shelters. To check the status of a specific animal, please contact the shelter directly.
Stormey: Professional biscuit maker
With such an extended monsoon season, this kitty is more than ready to be the only “storm” in his future family’s life. Ironically, Stormey prefers for it to be a calm environment where he can bask in the quiet while taking breaks from playing and getting love from his favorite humans.
Originally rescued in 2020 after his owner became sick and unable to continue caring for him, the handsome 7-year-old domestic shorthair kitty found his way to the Arizona Humane Society with the help of an Emergency Animal Medical Technician. Given a dental to fix up his teeth and treated for an ear infection, Stormey was adopted and unfortunately found his way back to AHS again in June.
While on his second stay, the cloud-colored kitty needed yet another surgery for his teeth leaving him with just three left. Additionally, it was found that Stormey also has an ear condition known as feline ceruminous cystomatosis, which causes growths inside the ears. Although this condition itself does not currently cause pain, it is best to keep an eye on it with his future veterinarian as a precaution.
Stormey is a sweet and loving boy once he has had time to warm up in a new environment. The first to offer head bunts and quietly make biscuits, he is sure to be a great addition. A lover of treats who readily accepts lots of TLC, Stormey would do best in a home with older children to ensure their energies match.
How to adopt: The Arizona Humane Society’s Virtual Matchmaking Adoptions by appointment is available to place pets with their forever families. Interested adopters can view available pets, like sunny Stormey, and schedule an appointment online at azhumane.org/adopt.
— Kelsey Dickerson, Arizona Humane Society
Sophennia: Sassy at heart
Four-year-old Sophennia, a beautiful calico, was rescued from a feral colony but she is anything but feral — loving chin rubs and petting. She is naturally a bit shy at the first meeting, but once she feels she can trust you she will let you pick her up for a little cuddle. She has been through lots of changes in her life and hopes now she can settle down in a loving and forever home.
Calicos are by nature pretty sassy cats at times but they are also very loving creatures. No doubt she will make your day a lot more interesting. Some countries believe they bring good luck!
How to adopt: Check out Sophennia at Sun Cities 4 Paws Rescue, 11129 Michigan Avenue, Youngtown. Adoptions are Tuesdays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; call 623-876-8778, same hours. Other locations are the shelter at 10807 N. 96th Avenue, Peoria; same adoption days and calling hours. Also visit the Surprise PetSmart, 13764 Bell Road, and Lake Pleasant Towne Center PetSmart, 25372 Lake Pleasant Parkway, Peoria.
— Beverly Bormann, Sun Cities 4 Paws
San Jose: Do you know the way?
Found with about a dozen other hamsters abandoned in a cage by a dumpster earlier this month, San Jose is thankful he made his way to Phoenix after being rescued by the Arizona Humane Society. While this cute boy and eight others were found to be in relatively good health, he was unfortunately found with three other hamsters that were already deceased.
A sad reminder that abandoning pets is never the answer, AHS’ Pet Resource Center and Field Team are available year-round to provide resources to pet owners in need and to respond to cases of injured or abused pets in our community. For those who are in need of re-homing or surrendering their pets, there are also many tips and resources at azhumane.org.
Perhaps the smallest adoptable currently at the Arizona Humane Society, the 5-month-old hamster weighs in at a whopping 34 grams of pure cuteness. As with any pet, it is important to research the proper environment, diet, care and all that goes into ensuring you are able to provide the best chance at a happy and healthy life. For San Jose, he would love an enclosure with lots of hamster treats, a wheel to keep his round physique in shape and soft bedding for him to snuggle up in after a long day of being too adorable for words.
How to adopt: The Arizona Humane Society’s Virtual Matchmaking Adoptions by appointment is available to place pets with their forever families. Interested adopters can view available pets, like small San Jose, and schedule an appointment online at azhumane.org/adopt. Additionally, all pets at AHS will have waived fees on Saturday, Aug. 27!
— Kelsey Dickerson, Arizona Humane Society
Landry: Living his best life
Landry is a fun 2-year-old, 12-pound Chihuahua who is looking for his forever home.
Landry is living in a foster home with other dogs and is currently living his best life, which he hopes to continue in a new forever home. His foster dad says that Landry is a very personable dog who gets along great with his dog, and they play together very nicely.
Landry sleeps on the bed at night with his foster dad and the other dogs in the home. He is potty trained and he uses the doggy door. He likes playing with toys, and he's very loving and affectionate. He is a great little dog who would love to meet you!
Landry has been in a home with cats but he tends to chase them, so he'd prefer his next home to be feline-free. He is on medication to regulate seizures, and the medication is very inexpensive. Landry will need a family willing to open their home and their hearts to him and give him the spoiled life he deserves.
How to adopt: Friends for Life's adoption center is located at 952 W. Melody Avenue in Gilbert. At Friends for Life, animals are altered, vaccinated, microchipped, and dewormed. Cats are also tested for FELV/FIV. For more information on Friends for Life, Landry, or other cats and dogs looking for homes, visit www.azfriends.org.
— Jannelle Cosgriff, Friends for Life | 2022-08-26T15:44:51+00:00 | azcentral.com | https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/pets/2022/08/26/adopt-pet-stormey-and-more-pets-up-adoption-phoenix-area-shelters/7883308001/ |
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota lawmakers are advancing a number of bills that would curb Chinese influence in South Dakota’s farmland amid concerns among Republican leaders after a spy balloon was spotted and shot down last week.
Republican Rep. Will Mortenson proposed Thursday investigating partnerships between landowners and foreign entities. It comes a week after other lawmakers pushed forth other propositions tackling foreign influence, like banning contracts between state land and foreign countries, and establishing a committee to oversee future foreign purchases.
“We don’t know what we don’t know, and we’re going to start finding out so we can make the next step,” Mortenson said, after his bill passed a house committee vote with a unanimous vote.
The proposals stem from Republican Gov. Kristi Noem’s recent history of curbing the state’s relationship with China. Last year, she banned state employees and contractors from accessing the video platform TikTok on state-owned devices, citing its ties to China. She also said late last year that the state held no direct investments in China after a review.
Noem’s emphasis on her perception of threats posed by China comes as she plans for a series of three policy speeches in Washington that seem to portend the rollout of a possible 2024 bid for the Republican presidential nomination.
Next week, according to a person familiar with Noem’s plans, Noem will use one of the three speeches — a Feb. 15 address at the America First Policy Institute — to highlight South Dakota’s response to the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party. She’ll also discuss an executive order, which Noem signed last month, barring the state from engaging in business with some telecom companies owned or controlled by “evil foreign governments,” including China, according to the executive order. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the person is not yet authorized to speak about Noem’s plans publicly.
Alan Vester, Noem’s deputy general counsel, testified Thursday in support of the bill that would provide further insight into the how much of South Dakota’s land is owned by foreign governments.
“Gov. Kristi Noem believes strongly in protecting our state from maligned foreign governments from acquiring foreign agricultural land to the detriment of our state’s security, critical infrastructure or food security,” Vester said.
Last week, Republican Sen. Erin Tobin proposed an act to create the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to regulate foreign purchases of agricultural land from out-of-country buyers. This oversight is intended to curb international influence in the state’s food supply and will be heard further by a Senate committee on agriculture and natural resources Feb. 14.
Tobin has been in discussion with states like North Dakota, where China’s government bought a tract of land near their air force base. She said that was an eye-opener to the rest of the country about the lack of knowledge about who’s taking ownership in state land and for what purpose, like spying. The committee would do a deep dive to investigate the motives behind any foreign purchase by looking at the buyer’s history.
“You realize that China’s kind of coming in the front door and nobody’s putting any restrictions on anything,” Tobin said. “When you really start paying attention and looking at what’s happening, you get even more concerned.”
Foreign entities and individuals control less than 3% of U.S. farmland, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Of that, those with ties to China control less than 1%, or roughly 600 square miles (340 square kilometers).
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Associated Press writer Meg Kinnard contributed to this report from Columbia, South Carolina. | 2023-02-10T17:11:15+00:00 | wwlp.com | https://www.wwlp.com/news/ap-national-news/ap-south-dakota-lawmakers-seek-foreign-owned-land-investigation/ |
LICKING COUNTY, OHIO — Supply chain issues, especially with computer chips, have been a top priority for lawmakers. A lack of these so-called semiconductors is impacting the price of everything from cars to refrigerators.
Congress appears to be on the verge of advancing major legislation meant to increase the production of computer chips in the United States. The House will take up the legislation after it clears the Senate.
IMPACT ON RURAL COMMUNITIES
When you are out in rural communities, the truth is Congress doesn't often come up. There is too much work on the family farm or off Main Street to worry about Washington. In Licking County, Ohio — as well as in its neighboring communities — everyone from farmers to the town sheriff has been watching developments in Washington.
That is because of the CHIPS Act.
"The CHIPS Act is going to have a huge impact. Not just on us, but the entire country," Rick Black, a county commissioner in Licking County said.
The area in and around Licking County has been selected by Intel to build a multi-billion dollar computer chip manufacturing facility. If the CHIPS Act becomes law, this $20 billion project could morph into a 100 billion dollar one since the legislation incentivizes companies to build more manufacturing sites.
In three years or so, 30 football fields worth of chip plants meant to help the supply chain could be operating on what is now farmland east of Columbus, Ohio.
"Did you ever think something like this would come here?" said, Joe St. George.
"No, never," Black said.
WAITING ON CONGRESS
There hasn't been a ton of optimism regarding the project lately. Groundbreaking was initially delayed because Congress delayed the bill's passage for months as lawmakers debated specific details.
"It seems like everything stalls," Black said, commenting on the time it has taken Congress to act.
IMPACTS NATIONWIDE
While central Ohio is set to be transformed dramatically by this project, you don't have to live in Ohio to benefit from the CHIPS Act. Projects like this could be coming to your state too.
"It's truly a generational opportunity," Alexis Fitzsimmons is the Executive Director of GROW Licking County.
Fitzsimmons says the $200 billion CHIPS Act will benefit more than just her town.
In total, Congress is set to spend $39 billion specifically to build, expand or modernize domestic semiconductor facilities nationwide, projects that attract high-paying jobs.
"It's about $135,000 average wage, fully-loaded, with benefits," Fitzsimmons said.
There is some opposition to this, though. Some progressives in Congress are worried this bill gives too much money to profitable corporations. Lawmakers have inserted language to prevent certain stock purchases with these funds.
Meanwhile, some conservatives worry too much spending creates inflation. Opposition in Licking County, however, has less to do with that and more to do with what these facilities might to do their community long-term.
Many of these chip plants could come to rural America.
"The bulk of people out here are nervous it's going to hurt the integrity of the town, lose the small town feel," Jeremy Davis, a Licking County resident said. | 2022-07-25T12:05:44+00:00 | ktvh.com | https://www.ktvh.com/news/national-politics/towns-set-to-be-transformed-as-senate-prepares-to-pass-chips-act |
LONDON (AP) — The British Broadcasting Corp. marked 100 years of broadcasting on Tuesday, a century after a group of wireless manufacturers founded the company and began filling the airwaves with its first daily radio service.
The BBC was founded on Oct. 18, 1922, in London and daily broadcasting began a month later. The broadcaster is marking its centenary with a series of special programs, including a guest appearance from King Charles III on “The Repair Shop,” a program featuring expert craftspeople restoring antiques.
Actress Jodie Whittaker will make her last appearance as the Time Lord on a special episode of “Doctor Who” on Sunday, before Ncuti Gatwa takes over the role.
The BBC has had many milestones in its history. In 1932, King George V was the first British monarch to broadcast on radio, and his voice was heard for the first time by millions simultaneously. The broadcast inaugurated the start of the BBC Empire Service, the forerunner to the BBC World Service.
The broadcaster launched the world’s first regularly scheduled TV service in 1936.
In 1953, the BBC’s coverage of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation was the first time that most people at the time had watched an event on television. | 2022-10-19T04:24:29+00:00 | fox59.com | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/ap-international/ap-bbc-marks-100-years-of-broadcasting-history/ |
Troopers raise money, donate Christmas presents to children after parents die in crash
NORTH EAST, Md. (Gray News) - Authorities in Maryland say troopers helped a family over Christmas after their parents died in a crash.
According to Maryland State Police, troopers Matthew Hughes and Samuel Rogers raised nearly $5,000 in two weeks to purchase Christmas presents and gift cards for the Zeimer family.
Authorities said the Zeimer children, ages 17, 13 and 6, lost their parents, Jessica and Nicholas Zeimer, in a car crash while the couple was returning home after celebrating their wedding anniversary in November 2022.
Maryland police said the couple died after being struck by another vehicle that was traveling at a high rate of speed on Pulaski Highway.
Days after the deadly collision, Hughes and Rogers reportedly began a project to help the children with their first Christmas without their parents.
Maryland police said the troopers began a fundraiser that allowed them to finish the children’s Christmas lists.
Authorities said Hughes and Rogers partnered with the Ohio State Patrol to have the gifts delivered to the youngest children who moved to Ohio to live with relatives. The team then gave funds to the eldest child who remained in Maryland to complete her senior year of high school.
The crash team with the Maryland State Police said three people ended up dying in the November crash that remains under investigation.
Copyright 2023 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2023-01-05T01:29:30+00:00 | uppermichiganssource.com | https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/2023/01/05/troopers-raise-money-donate-christmas-presents-children-after-parents-die-crash/ |
LOS ANGELES — "That 70's Show" actor Danny Masterson will soon face three women in a California courtroom who have accused him of raping them about two decades ago.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey announced in June 2020 that Masterson was charged with three counts of rape by force or fear.
Masterson is accused of raping a 23-year-old woman between January and December 2001, raping a 28-year-old woman in April 2003, and raping a 23-year-old woman sometime between October and December 2003, at his home, according to the district attorney’s office.
In 2021, the Associated Press reported that Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo ordered Masterson to stand trial after she found the women's testimony during a preliminary hearing credible.
The Scientology church could loom large over the trial as the women, one of whom used to be the actor's long-term girlfriend, are all former members of the church, of which Masterson is still a member, the news outlet reported.
During a pre-trial hearing, Olmedo said, “this is not going to become a trial on Scientology,” but added that the church could be brought up to explain why the women delayed going to the authorities, the Associated Press reported.
Olmedo said the women could also talk about their beliefs about church policy, where crimes committed by other Scientologists are prohibited from being reported to law enforcement, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Opening statements are slated to begin Tuesday, the news outlet reported.
The 46-year-old has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and if convicted, he faces up to 45 years in prison, the Associated Press reported. | 2022-10-18T18:37:31+00:00 | tmj4.com | https://www.tmj4.com/news/national/church-of-scientology-could-loom-large-at-that-70s-show-actor-danny-mastersons-rape-trial |
As India’s electrical grid strains, rural hospitals and clinics find reliable power in rooftop solar
By SIBI ARASU
Associated Press
RAICHUR, India (AP) — In the searing heat that often envelops Raichur, an ancient town in southern India, a ceiling fan that spins without interruption brings sweet relief for the newborn babies and their mothers at the Government Maternity Hospital.
But such respite wasn’t always guaranteed in a region where frequent power cuts to India’s overmatched electrical grid can last hours. It wasn’t until the hospital installed rooftop solar panels a year ago that it could depend on constant electricity that keeps the lights on, patients and staff comfortable and vaccines and medicines safely refrigerated.
The diesel generator that used to provide emergency backup — spewing planet-warming gases and toxic smoke within breathing distance of newborns every time it was running — is gone. So is the need to use flashlights to see during one of the hospital’s roughly 600 births per year, as staff sometimes had to do amid a sudden blackout if the old generators weren’t working.
For Martha Jones, a senior nurse who has helped deliver countless babies, the reliability that solar has brought has been a revelation.
“We don’t even know when power is cut or when it has come back,” Jones said.
In semi-urban and rural regions of India and other developing countries with unreliable power grids, decentralized renewable energy — especially solar — is making all the difference in delivering modern health care. And it’s becoming even more indispensable where heat and weather extremes are increasing due to climate change. In Raichur, for example, temperatures can soar to 42 degrees Celsius (107 degrees Fahrenheit) in the warmest months.
The hospital, Government Maternity, a bare-bones facility that serves thousands who can’t afford private health care, is one of 251 medical facilities in the Raichur district that runs on rooftop solar under a program spearheaded by Selco Foundation. The Bengaluru-based not-for-profit has raised funds from Indian and international corporations and coordinated with the local government since 2017.
It costs about $8,500 to install a system at public health care centers, including lead-acid batteries that store power for use at night. Smaller clinics run closer to about $2,000. The sites remain connected to the power grid, but only as a backup to the solar.
Some of Government Maternity’s patients, like 25-year-old Sandhya Shivappa, said they knew little or nothing about the hospital’s use of solar power and were simply grateful for its free services.
“We would be paying 30,000 rupees ($367) if I wanted to deliver my baby at a private hospital,” said Sandhya Shivappa, a 25-year-old who had just delivered a healthy baby girl when a reporter visited.
Shifting the hospitals and clinics to clean energy helps cut emissions in a sector that accounts for about 4.4% of the global figure, according to a study by Health Care Without Harm, an international nonprofit that advocates to reduce that. And that fits broader goals in India, the world’s most populous nation and the third-largest emitter of planet-warming gases.
While India currently relies heavily on coal for its electricity, it has a target of installing 450 gigawatts of renewable energy that should account for about half its needs by the end of this decade. Rapid increase in solar, especially rooftop solar, will be necessary to meet that goal.
India has currently only installed about one-fourth of the 40 gigawatts of rooftop solar that policymakers had planned to have by last year. Supply chain issues and taxes on imported components — intended to protect domestic makers — have contributed to that shortfall. But India has also constantly reiterated the importance of getting money from developed countries and multilateral development banks to help achieve its climate goals.
Besides providing uninterrupted power, the rooftop solar is helping the medical facilities cut costs. In nearby Zaheerabad, a low-income neighborhood, Dr. Kavyashree Sugur said the public health center she oversees has paid at least 50% less for electricity in the two years since installing solar panels.
That’s a big benefit in a country that is among the lowest spenders on health care in the world — India spends just a little more than 2% of its national budget on health care, compared to the United States’ 18% — and many hospitals and health clinics are cash-strapped.
The addition of solar to health care centers in remote regions has been especially important for villagers who don’t have the time or money to visit hospitals in the city, and likely would have simply gone without health care, said Hanumantappa Channadaser, Selco’s branch manager in Raichur.
“Before solar, people were apprehensive to visit these hospitals because of power shortages and they didn’t have faith in the treatment they might get,” Channadaser said.
Recently, Selco, Swedish furniture company Ikea and the Indian health ministry announced that they will set up solar power for 25,000 government health care facilities across 12 Indian states by 2026. Ikea has committed $48 million to the project. Selco is also working with the International Renewable Energy Agency and World Health Organization in Africa to scale up decentralized solar for health facilities on that continent.
Shireen Fatima, who was four months pregnant and visiting the Zaheerabad health care center for a checkup, said she appreciates how “blood tests, tablets, everything is free here.” The hospital’s shift to solar energy is “definitely good,” she added.
“If the hospital is saving on bills, the benefits will be for us too,” she said.
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Follow Sibi Arasu on Twitter at @sibi123
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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. | 2023-05-24T09:09:52+00:00 | kyma.com | https://kyma.com/news/ap-national/2023/05/23/as-indias-electrical-grid-strains-rural-hospitals-and-clinics-find-reliable-power-in-rooftop-solar/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — Aliyah Boston has been the consensus No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft all season.
The Indiana Fever, who own the top choice, just had to wait for the South Carolina star to make it official she was going to enter this year’s draft. Boston had the chance to return to South Carolina for her COVID season, but opted to enter Monday night’s draft instead.
“I think Aliyah Boston is a legitimate first pick option,” Fever general manager Lin Dunn said on a conference call. “I’ve watched her play very closely this year. Her size, her basketball IQ, her character, her leadership skills. She just brings an enormous amount to the table, and I really think she’s going to have — whether she’s picked first, second or third, she’s going to have an immediate impact on this league.”
Boston was a three-time All-America selection and earned AP Player of the Year honors in 2022 as a junior. She, like many other players, have had to choose whether to come back to college for a fifth season or turn pro. It created a buzz over the last few weeks whether a player would forgo their extra year or return to school.
Players had until March 26 to declare their intentions if their season was over. Those that were still playing in the NCAA Tournament had 48 hours after their final game to decide.
“It does make our world a little more complex,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a phone interview. “If I could have a fifth year, I would have definitely played. There wasn’t a WNBA back then. They have a loyalty to college, loyalty to fans. I see why you might want to do it. I know narratives about pay. They are competitors, they have loyalty to their schools. It has complicated our life a little bit, not knowing who’s going to come in.”
Engelbert did say that she loves to call the players who are invited to the draft, welcoming them to the WNBA.
“I will tell you. I just got done with the favorite part of my job, calling those prospects,” she said. “Someone texted me back, I’m crying tears of joys.”
Engelbert called Boston and three of her South Carolina teammates this past week. All of whom are projected to be taken in the first two rounds. The Fever have a chance to draft a few of them as they also hold the No. 7 and 13 picks. Other Gamecocks that have been invited to New York for the draft include Zia Cooke, Brea Beal and Laeticia Amihere.
Minnesota has the No. 2 pick and potentially could take Maryland wing Diamond Miller.
“Diamond has the physical gifts that I think we all look at and go, wow, she’s legit 6-foot-3, has some length, athleticism, real abilities,” Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said. “But there’s a long road ahead for her, too, in terms of wherever she goes, however high she goes. There’s not a guarantee of immediate success. There’s I think quite a bit for each of these prospects that they’re going to go through, as every year.”
Out of the first round, only Indiana, Minnesota and Seattle’s No. 9 pick belong to the original team that held those draft spots. Dallas has three picks — No. 3, No. 5 and No. 11. The Wings lost in the first round of the playoffs the last two seasons.
Other players invited to the draft include Grace Berger (Indiana), Jordan Horston (Tennessee), Ashley Joens (Iowa State), Haley Jones (Stanford), Dorka Juhasz and Lou Lopez Senechal (Connecticut), Taylor Mikesell (Ohio State), Alexis Morris (LSU), Maddy Siegrist (Villanova) and Stephanie Soares (Iowa State). In all, 112 players have declared for the draft that is only three rounds and has 36 picks.
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AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2023-04-08T21:44:01+00:00 | wdtn.com | https://www.wdtn.com/sports/ap-sports/boston-expected-to-be-no-1-pick-in-wnba-draft/ |
DOVER, Del. (AP) — Delaware’s incumbent state auditor has raised only about half as much in campaign contributions this year as her Democratic primary challenger has, according to campaign finance reports filed this week.
Auditor Kathy McGuiness, who in July became the first statewide elected official in Delaware to be convicted on criminal charges while in office, reported raising $24,190 since January in her campaign for re-election.
McGuiness’ primary opponent, Lydia York, who has been endorsed by the Delaware Democratic Party, reported raising $47,220 in financial contributions since establishing a campaign committee in late May. She also loaned her campaign $10,100 and reported a $5,000 “in-kind” contribution from the Democratic State Committee for access to a voter database.
McGuiness, who was elected auditor in 2018, started this year with $61,362.43 in her campaign account. She reported spending $14,189.06, leaving her with a balance of $71,363.37.
York reported spending $27,273.13, not including a $5,000 “in-kind expenditure” for access to the Democratic committee’s database, finishing the reporting period that ended Sunday with a balance of $30,046.87.
The primary election is Sept. 13. The winner will face Republican Janice Lorrah in November.
McGuiness, who is responsible as auditor for rooting out government fraud, waste and abuse, was indicted in October on felony counts of theft and witness intimidation, and misdemeanor charges of official misconduct, conflict of interest and noncompliance with procurement laws.
A jury acquitted her in July on the felony charges but convicted her of the misdemeanor offenses, each of which carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison but a presumptive sentence of probation. The judge is currently weighing post-trial motions by McGuiness’ attorney, who is seeking a judgment of acquittal or, in the alternative, a new trial.
McGuiness was convicted of conflict of interest in the hiring of her daughter in 2020. Prosecutors alleged that Saylar McGuiness, 20, was hired even as other part-time workers in the auditor’s office left because of a lack of work early in the coronavirus pandemic, and was then allowed special privileges not available to other “casual-seasonal” workers. McGuiness also was convicted of structuring payments under a no-bid communications services contract with a consulting firm she had used in a 2016 campaign for lieutenant governor to avoid having to get them approved by the state Division of Accounting. The structuring and conflict of interest convictions laid the foundation for jurors to also find McGuiness guilty of official misconduct.
McGuiness continues to maintain her innocence and to campaign for re-election. Among those donating to her campaign this year was House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, a longtime political ally and fellow Rehoboth Beach resident. Schwartzkopf in late April donated $1,200 to McGuiness, the maximum individual contribution for a statewide candidate in an election period.
McGuiness, in turn, donated $500 each to state Sen. Darius Brown and Rep. Stephanie Bolden, both Wilmington Democrats, a week later. She officially filed for re-election the next day.
Brown was the only Democrat to join Senate Republicans last month in voting against a resolution passed by majority Democrats seeking to remove McGuiness from office. Schwartzkopf criticized the Senate resolution as meaningless “political theater” and said he had no intention of calling his chamber into special session to consider it.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | 2022-08-22T21:26:32+00:00 | wrde.com | https://www.wrde.com/news/incumbent-auditor-trails-primary-challenger-in-fundraising/article_e5350cf6-223f-11ed-b7e2-6f0e37a5216f.html |
WASHINGTON (AP) — A lesion removed by surgeons last week from first lady Jill Biden’s left eyelid was a non-cancerous growth, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, physician to President Joe Biden, said Wednesday.
O’Conner said in a memo released by the White House that a biopsy showed that the legion was seborrheic keratosis, a “very common, totally harmless, non-cancerous growth.”
Surgeons last week also removed a cancerous lesion above Jill Biden’s right eye and one on her chest. Those lesions were both confirmed to be basal cell carcinoma.
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer, but also the most curable form. It’s considered highly treatable, especially when caught early. It is a slow-growing cancer that usually is confined to the surface of skin — doctors almost always can remove it all with a shallow incision — and seldom causes serious complications or becomes life-threatening.
“Dr. Biden is recovering nicely from her procedures,” O’Connor wrote. “She experienced some anticipated mild bruising and swelling, but feels very well.” | 2023-01-19T03:00:30+00:00 | wivb.com | https://www.wivb.com/news/political-news/ap-politics/ap-lesion-removed-from-jill-bidens-eyelid-was-non-cancerous/ |
How to copy the pin up-inspired trend that’s all over your feed
The latest social-media-driven makeup trend, siren eyes, is here to add sultry glamor to the end of summer. At first glance, siren eyes look like the classic cat-eye wing, but a sharp inner corner and a pitch-black waterline add retro-Hollywood allure. Siren eyes elongate the eye, flattering almost any eye shape, and it’s easy to replicate this runway-ready look at home.
What is “siren eyes” makeup?
The siren eyes look is inspired by classic Hollywood bombshells such as Sophia Loren and the always-fashionable cat-eye look. Siren eyes combine dark, smoky eyeliner with a long, sharp outer wing and a smaller wing in the inner corner of the eye. You’ll usually see the waterline lined with black, too.
How to do siren eyes
Start by applying a brown eyeshadow that’s just a couple shades darker than your skin tone along the lash line, blending it up and out past your crease into a soft wing shape. Follow with a smaller amount of a darker brown or gray shadow to add depth along the outer corner of your eye.
Next, use a black or dark brown eyeliner to create an upward-tilting wing that extends past your crease. You can smudge a pencil eyeliner for a diffused, smoky look or get more drama with precise liquid eyeliner — or try both to add a sharp point to a smoky eye look.
With the same eyeliner, create a shorter wing on your inner corner. Use a waterproof eyeliner to darken your waterline. Complete the look with your favorite mascara.
What you need for siren eyes
Top liquid eyeliner
Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
What you need to know: Create a precise, richly pigmented eyeliner wing with this user-friendly, quick-drying pen.
What you’ll love: The marker-like tip glides on smoothly so you can apply a cat eye without worrying about skipping or smudging. It comes in seven neutral shades to experiment with.
What you should consider: Some users found the formula wasn’t as waterproof as advertised.
Where to buy: Sold by Ulta Beauty, Sephora and Amazon
Top liquid eyeliner for the money
Eyeko Black Magic Liquid Eyeliner
What you need to know: Silky and precise, this eyeliner pen features an extra-smooth tip inspired by calligraphy pens.
What you’ll love: The flexible pen tip is made of individual bristles like a paintbrush. The ultra-black formula is smudge- and fade-resistant for up to 12 hours. It’s formulated with vitamins B5 and E and peptides to nourish lashes and promote growth.
What you should consider: The liquid formula can bleed if too much is applied. The tip is much smoother than a typical felt tip eyeliner, so it has a bit of a learning curve.
Where to buy: Sold by Ulta Beauty and Amazon
Top eye pencil
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil
What you need to know: With more than 30 waterproof shades and finishes to choose from, this pencil is a great pick for your waterline.
What you’ll love: This best-selling eye pencil features smooth, creamy application and bold color. Vitamin E, jojoba oil, and cottonseed oil help nourish the eye area and make the formula soft and easy to blend.
What you should consider: It can be hard to get a sharp point with this pencil, so it’s better suited to smudged-out looks. Some colors aren’t as smudge-proof as others.
Where to buy: Sold by Sephora, Ulta Beauty and Amazon
Top eye pencil for the money
L’Oreal Paris Infallible Never Fail Mechanical Pencil Eyeliner
What you need to know: The built-in smudger and sharpener in this mechanical pencil makes it a great pick for vacation or touch-ups.
What you’ll love: Since it’s a mechanical pencil with an included sharpener, you’ll always be able to create a sharp point for precise lines. It comes in seven colors, including white to brighten or highlight parts of your lash line.
What you should consider: Despite claiming to last 16 hours, some users found the eyeliner fades and smudges within a few hours.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Ulta Beauty
Top eyeshadow smudge brush
Sephora Collection Makeup Match Smudge Eyeshadow Brush
What you need to know: For soft, grungy, or diffused eyeliner, this synthetic short-bristled brush can work with cream or powder products.
What you’ll love: You can use the brush to pick up and apply eyeshadow over to smudge out already-applied eyeliner. It makes creating a smokey eye smooth and simple.
What you should consider: It may be too soft to blend out some eyeliner formulas.
Where to buy: Sold by Sephora
Top eyeshadow smudge brush for the money
Elf Cosmetics Small Smudge Brush
What you need to know: Use this soft synthetic brush to apply and smudge eye shadow along your lash line.
What you’ll love: This small brush helps for finely detailed looks as well as smudging. It can even be used as a lip brush or to fill in brows.
What you should consider: Some users found the brush bristles too scratchy for the delicate eye area.
Where to buy: Sold by Ulta Beauty
Top mascara for siren eyes
Lancome Hypnose Drama Instant Volumizing Mascara
What you need to know: This mascara’s unique brush shape helps give lashes intense volume.
What you’ll love: It enhances lashes’ length and adds dramatic volume without flaking. The formula stays on well through sweat or humidity.
What you should consider: The wand doesn’t work well for everyone. The formula can be difficult to remove without a quality eye makeup remover.
Where to buy: Sold by Sephora
Top mascara for the money
L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara
What you need to know: One coat of this mascara gives lashes impressive volume and separation.
What you’ll love: The buildable formula glides on smoothly with minimal flaking or clumping. It comes in four shades of black or black-brown.
What you should consider: Application can be messy due to the amount of product that comes out on the brush. Some users found this mascara dries up too quickly in the tube.
Where to buy: Sold by Ulta Beauty and Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | 2022-08-08T13:19:45+00:00 | kxnet.com | https://www.kxnet.com/reviews/br/beauty-personal-care-br/eye-makeup-br/what-you-need-to-pull-off-the-siren-eyes-makeup-trend/ |
WASHINGTON — Lawyers for former President Donald Trump asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday to step into the legal fight over the classified documents seized during an FBI search of his Florida estate.
The Trump team asked the court to overturn a lower court ruling and permit an independent arbiter, or special master, to review the roughly 100 documents with classified markings that were taken in the Aug. 8 search.
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A three-judge panel last month limited the special master’s review to the much larger tranche of non-classified documents. | 2022-10-04T20:29:44+00:00 | chicagotribune.com | https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-aud-nw-trump-fbi-investigation-20221004-whsfakt2zvacrgnwokisgjr2wy-story.html |
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Tuesday evening's drawing of the New Mexico Lottery's "Pick 4 Evening" game were:
0-1-0-7
(zero, one, zero, seven)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Tuesday evening's drawing of the New Mexico Lottery's "Pick 4 Evening" game were:
0-1-0-7
(zero, one, zero, seven) | 2022-04-27T04:25:28+00:00 | seattlepi.com | https://www.seattlepi.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Pick-4-Evening-game-17129450.php |
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The waters off New England, which are home to rare whales and most of the American lobster fishing industry, logged the second-warmest year on record last year.
The Gulf of Maine, a body of water about the size of Indiana that touches Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Canada, is warming faster than the vast majority of the world’s oceans. Last year fell short of setting a new high mark for hottest year by less than half a degree Fahrenheit, said scientists with the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, a science center in Portland.
The average sea surface temperature was 53.66 degrees (12 degrees Celsius), more than 3.7 degrees above the 40-year average, the scientists said. The accelerated warming is changing an ecosystem that’s host to numerous important commercial fishing industries, especially for lobsters, they said.
One implication is that the warming is driving species more associated with southern waters into the Gulf of Maine and altering its food chain, said Janet Duffy-Anderson, chief scientific officer with the institute. That includes species such as black sea bass, which prey on lobsters.
“Who will be the emergent species and who will be the species that decline is, in large part, a function of those interactions,” said Duffy-Anderson. “At the moment, we’re not in a period of stability.”
The gulf is the nerve center of the lobster fishing business, which has recorded heavy catches over the past 10 years. However, lobster fisheries in more southern waters have collapsed, and scientists have placed the blame on warming temperatures.
The Gulf of Maine is also a key area for marine mammals such as the North Atlantic right whale, which numbers only about 340, and sea birds such as Atlantic puffins. Those species and many others are threatened by disruptions in their food supply due to warming waters.
The environmental factors accompanying high temperatures in the Gulf of Maine include persistent, intense heatwaves, according to a report released by Gulf of Maine Research Institute on Wednesday.
The warming is also coming at a time when the world’s oceans are heating up. Last year was the third-warmest year for global sea surface temperature, the report said.
“What is being observed in the Gulf of Maine (and elsewhere around the world), however, is a loss of that balance: larger fractions of recent years are experiencing above average temperatures and cold spells are becoming vanishingly rare,” the report said.
The hottest year in the Gulf of Maine was 2021, according to records that go back to 1982, the institute said. That year, the average annual sea surface temperature was slightly more than 54 degrees (12.2 degrees Celsius). Last year was a fraction of a percent warmer than the third warmest year, which was 2012.
Those three years are the only ones in recorded history in which the gulf’s average temperature exceeded 53 degrees (11.7 degrees Celsius).
The report states that other data also paint a picture of the Gulf of Maine as the site of prolonged warming. In nine of the year’s 12 months, the average monthly sea surface temperature was within the top three warmest among all years on record, the report said. November and December both set new records for highest monthly average sea surface temperature in the gulf, it said. | 2023-02-15T16:56:39+00:00 | wwlp.com | https://www.wwlp.com/news/ap-national-news/ap-waters-off-new-england-had-2nd-warmest-year-on-record-in-22/ |
LUND, Sweden, Dec. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AlixLabs from Lund, Sweden, has been rewarded financial support from Vinnova, Sweden's innovation agency, for further development of the company's proprietary semiconductor patterning technology. Vinnova helps to build Sweden's innovation capacity contributing to sustainable growth. AlixLabs has developed a new, innovative method for manufacturing semiconductor components with a high degree of packing, eliminating several steps in the semiconductor manufacturing process - Atomic Layer Etch Pitch Splitting (APS)*. The method makes the components cheaper and less resource-intensive to manufacture and can open a new path for a more sustainable mass production of electronic products. The method also makes it possible to manufacture tiny semiconductor components accurately and efficiently with manageable wafer fab equipment investments.
The project was rewarded 500,000 SEK within the call for Electronic Components and Systems: Feasibility studies 2022. This call was aimed at feasibility studies for major research and innovation projects that are expected to result in new electronic components and systems in areas of Swedish excellence.
Dr. Amin Karimi, R&D and Operational Manager and co-founder, said, "In the 'In-situ mask creation for fabrication of state-of-the-art nanoelectronics' project, we aim to evaluate our APS-process for selective creation of an in-situ mask for devices with critical dimensions below 10 nm. The process takes place in one single wafer etch process chamber without breaking the vacuum. We aim at a disruptive breakthrough in semiconductor nanofabrication technology as etch mask creation and manipulation in high volume manufacturing is a very complicated process with dedicated process tools and equipment at a high total expense."
The APS method is covered by core IP in the USA, Taiwan, and Europe. Dr. Dmitry Suyatin, CTO and co-founder of AlixLabs, stated, "In APS, the sidewalls of nanoscale features act as a topological mask in combination with Atomic Layer Etch Processes and can be used to initiate splitting of the nanostructures. Previously we have verified the process for nanowires for such different materials as gallium phosphide (GaP) and Silicon (Si), and now we have the evidence also for bulk silicon by creating features with sizes below 10 nm."
The APS method is complementary for single exposure Immersion Deep UV (DUV) and Extreme UV (EUV) Lithography and corresponding multiple patterning technologies like self-aligned double and quadruple patterning (SADP resp. SAQP) as well as multiple exposure lithography-etch and directed self-assembly (DSA) patterning. However, APS can considerably reduce the complexity, capital expenditure, and environmental footprint of wafer manufacturing. Demonstrating pitch splitting in bulk silicon by creating sub-10 nm structures has been a significant milestone for AlixLabs.
* Atomic Layer Etch Pitch Splitting (APS). As previously reported (April 30, 2021), The US Patent Office has approved AlixLabs's patent application for nanofabrication by ALE Pitch Splitting (APS). The US Patent Office issued a patent (US10930515) on February 23, 2021, and recently the second patent (US11424130) on August 23, 2022. Additional patents in Taiwan and Europe are secured as well. The patent family covers methods to split nanostructures in half by a single process step using Atomic Layer Etching (ALE). The method can significantly impact the semiconductor industry by enabling sustainable scaling of electronic components and shrinking critical chip components further in a cost-effective way. The method is complementary for single exposure Immersion and Extreme UV (EUV) Lithography and corresponding multiple patterning technologies like self-aligned double and quadruple patterning (SADP resp. SAQP) as well as multiple exposure lithography-etch and directed self-assembly (DSA) patterning.
Jonas Sundqvist, CEO of AlixLabs, phone +46 767 63 94 67, email jonas@alixlabs.com.
The following files are available for download:
View original content:
SOURCE AlixLabs AB | 2022-12-12T08:22:36+00:00 | live5news.com | https://www.live5news.com/prnewswire/2022/12/12/vinnova-supports-alixlabs-ab-feasibility-study-within-new-electronic-components-systems-program-areas-swedish-excellence/ |
From California to NY, storms ravage US from coast-to-coast
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Parts of the Northeast are gearing up for what could be very heavy snow Tuesday, after tornadoes and other powerful winds swept through parts of the Southern Plains and the Midwest, killing at least one person in Oklahoma, and some Michigan residents faced a sixth consecutive day without power following last week’s ice storm.
In California, the National Weather Service said winter storms will continue moving into the state through Wednesday.
A look at the weather threats around the country:
TORNADO CLEANUP
A storm system produced at least four tornadoes as it moved across central and northeastern Illinois on Monday, including two that formed in suburbs west of Chicago, authorities said. Initial reports suggested damage there was limited to fallen trees or shingles torn from buildings, said Rafal Ogorek, a meteorologist in the Chicago office of the National Weather Service.
At least one person was killed and three others injured after a tornado touched down Sunday night in far western Oklahoma near the town of Cheyenne, where 20 homes were damaged and four others destroyed, Roger Mills County Emergency Manager Levi Blackketter reported.
Statewide, Oklahoma officials received reports of 55 people who suffered weather-related injuries from area hospitals.
Officials in Norman, Oklahoma, confirmed 12 weather-related injuries after tornadoes and wind gusts as high as 90 mph (145 kph) were reported in the state Sunday night. The winds toppled trees and power lines, closed roads and damaged homes and businesses around Norman and Shawnee.
Classes were canceled Monday at two damaged elementary schools, said Norman Police Chief Kevin Foster.
Frances Tabler, of Norman, told KOCO-TV that she suffered a small cut on her head when a storm hit her home, tearing off much of its roof and sending debris flying. She said it was a miracle her children weren’t hurt, although her daughter was trapped for awhile in a bedroom.
“It was just like a blizzard in the house with all the debris flying,” Tabler told KOCO. “I was screaming for my kids.”
The line of quick-moving thunderstorms that produced a swath of damaging wind gusts likely qualified as a derecho, although that’s not an official designation, said Nolan Meister, a National Weather Service meteorologist.
Meister said a wind gust of 114 mph (183 kph) was recorded in Texas, with gusts between 70 mph (113 kph) and 90 mph (145 kph) in central Oklahoma.
More than 76,000 customers lost power in Oklahoma, but most had it restored by Monday morning, Oklahoma’s Office of Emergency Management reported.
There were reports of nine tornadoes in Kansas, Oklahoma and northwestern Texas, weather officials said. One tornado near Liberal, Kansas, damaged more than a dozen homes and caused minor injuries to one person, KSNW-TV reported.
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS IN WESTERN U.S.
Blizzard warnings went into effect Monday in the Sierra Nevada range as more rounds of rain and snow moved into California and Nevada.
An avalanche warning was issued for the backcountry around Lake Tahoe, where up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) of snow was expected over the next two days in the upper elevations and gale-force winds could create waves up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) high on the lake, the National Weather Service in Reno said Monday. State offices across northern Nevada and the Nevada Legislature in Carson City were shut down because of the severe weather.
The new series of storms arrived even as parts of California were still digging out from last week’s powerful storm, which added to a massive snowpack left by a siege of “atmospheric rivers” in December and January.
A 90-mile (145-km) stretch of U.S. 395 in California’s eastern Sierra was shut down Monday evening due to whiteout conditions, state transportation officials said. Yosemite National Park announced it would be closed until midweek, and numerous roads were closed in Sequoia National Park. Trans-Sierra highways were subject to closures and chain requirements.
Los Angeles County declared a cold weather alert for valley and mountain areas north of LA as overnight temperatures were expected to plunge below freezing for much of the week. Shelters were opened for residents who don’t have access to warm spaces.
East of Los Angeles, roads to San Bernardino Mountain resort communities around Big Bear Lake were closed after snow began falling again. The storm stranded more than 600 students at science camps in the Big Bear area over the weekend. The students from Irvine in Orange County were expected home Friday but officials decided it was safer to keep them in the mountains until the roads could be cleared. The California Highway Patrol began escorting out buses carrying the kids on Monday, the Irvine Unified School District said.
The northbound side of Interstate 5, the West Coast’s major north-south highway, was shut down by wintry conditions and disabled vehicles about 90 miles (145 km) south of the Oregon line. Interstate 80, the major route between San Francisco and Lake Tahoe and Reno was closed due to blizzard conditions.
STORMS IN NORTHEAST AND MICHIGAN
A winter storm warning covered parts of the Northeast, including Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island, with heavy snow forecast through Tuesday afternoon.
Boston could get 5 inches (13 cm) and a messy Tuesday morning commute, according to the weather service. As much as 10 inches (25 cm) could fall in western Massachusetts, northwest Connecticut and southern Vermont.
In Michigan, still reeling from last week’s ice storm and high winds, about 152,000 customers were without power early Tuesday, according to PowerOutage.us. That was down from more than 800,000 at one point last week. Crews continued their work to restore all electricity.
Leah Thomas, whose home north of Detroit lost power Wednesday night, finally got her power back Sunday afternoon — only to have it go out again at midday Monday.
“It’s very frustrating, very frustrating,” she said. “I’m just going to hope and cross my fingers that it comes back on here soon.”
While not expecting a blockbuster storm by regional standards, southern New England braced for what could be the most significant snowfall of what has so far been a mild winter.
___
Antczak reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writers from across the country contributed to this report.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2023-02-28T12:34:28+00:00 | atlantanewsfirst.com | https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/02/28/california-ny-storms-ravage-us-coast-to-coast/ |
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — “Attention. Air raid alert,” the voice says with a Jedi knight’s gravitas. “Proceed to the nearest shelter.”
It’s a surreal moment in an already surreal war: the grave but calming baritone of actor Mark Hamill, Luke Skywalker of “Star Wars,” urging people to take cover whenever Russia unleashes another aerial bombardment on Ukraine.
The intrusion of Hollywood science-fiction fantasy into the grim daily realities of war in Ukraine is a consequence of Hamill’s decision to lend his famous voice to “Air Alert” — a downloadable app linked to Ukraine’s air defense system. When air raid sirens start howling, the app also warns Ukrainians that Russian missiles, bombs and deadly exploding drones may be incoming.
“Don’t be careless,” Hamill’s voice advises. “Your overconfidence is your weakness.”
The actor says he’s admired — from afar, in California — how Ukraine has “shown such resilience … under such terrible circumstances.” Its fight against the Russian invasion, now in its second year, reminds him of the “Star Wars” saga, he says — of plucky rebels battling and ultimately defeating a vast, murderous empire. Voicing over the English-language version of the air-raid app and giving it his “Star Wars” touch was his way of helping out.
“A fairy tale about good versus evil is resonant with what’s going on in Ukraine,” Hamill said in an interview with The Associated Press. “The Ukrainian people rallying to the cause and responding so heroically … It’s impossible not to be inspired by how they’ve weathered this storm.”
When the dangers from the skies pass, Hamill announces via the app that “the air alert is over.” He then signs off with an uplifting: “May the Force be with you.”
Hamill is also raising funds to buy reconnaissance drones for Ukrainian forces on the front lines. He autographed “Star Wars”-themed posters that are being raffled off.
“Here I sit in the comfort of my own home when in Ukraine there are power outages and food shortages and people are really suffering,” he said. “It motivates me to do as much as I can.”
Although the app also has a Ukrainian-language setting, voiced by a woman, some Ukrainians prefer to have Hamill breaking the bad news that yet another Russian bombardment might be imminent.
On the worst days, sirens and the app sound every few hours, day and night. Some turn out to be false alarms. But many others are real — and often deadly.
Bohdan Zvonyk, a 24-year-old app user who lives in the repeatedly struck western city of Lviv, says he chose Hamill’s voiceover rather than the Ukrainian setting because he is trying to improve his English. He’s a “Star Wars” fan, too.
“Besides,” he said, “we could use a little bit of the power that Hamill wishes us.”
After one alert, Zvonyk was riding a trolley bus when Hamill’s voice rang out from his phone. He said the man in front “turned to me and said, smiling: ‘Oh, those damn Sith,'” to describe Russian forces. The Sith are the malevolent enemies of the do-gooding Jedi.
Olena Yeremina, a 38-year-old business manager in the capital, Kyiv, said Hamill’s “May the Force be with you” signoff at first made her laugh. Now its enduring humor gives her strength.
“It’s a very cool phrase for this situation,” she said. “I wouldn’t say that I feel like a Ukrainian Jedi, but sometimes this phrase reminds me to straighten my shoulders and keep working.”
Sometimes it can be wise to shut Hamill off. Yeremina forgot to do that on a trip outside Ukraine — to Berlin — and paid for the error when the alarm started shrieking at 6 a.m. and, again, when she rode the subway in the German capital. She wasn’t alone. Another person in the subway car also had the app and it erupted, too. The two of them first cursed, but then “it made both me and that person smile,” Yeremina recalled.
Ajax Systems, a Ukrainian security systems manufacturer that co-developed the app, hopes Hamill’s star power will encourage people outside Ukraine to download it — so they get a taste of the angst heaped on Ukrainians by nerve-shredding alarms and airborne death and destruction.
“With Mark’s approach, it won’t be so terrifying,” said Valentine Hrytsenko, the chief marketing officer at Ajax. “But they will understand somehow the context.”
In the invasion’s first year, air-raid alarms sounded more than 19,000 times across the country, so “of course people are getting tired,” he said. The app has been downloaded more than 14 million times. Hrytsenko is among those who use its English-language setting to hear Hamill’s voice.
“For Star Wars fans, it sounds really fantastic,” he said. “It’s kind of a Ukrainian mentality to find some humor even in the bad situation or to try to be positive.”
Hamill is pleased that the sci-fi saga is again transporting people, even if just temporarily, to its galaxy far, far away.
“It does inspire people,” he said. “Everyone flashes back to being 6 years old again. And if the movie can help people get through hard times, so much the better.”
___
Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine and https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine-a-year-of-war | 2023-03-28T15:22:30+00:00 | kdvr.com | https://kdvr.com/news/entertainment/ap-entertainment/feel-the-force-hamill-carries-star-wars-voice-to-ukraine/ |
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Police on Tuesday released a photo of a vehicle that could have been used by a possible suspect in the fatal stabbing of a Las Vegas newspaper’s investigator reporter.
They also said Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German apparently was killed Friday and not Saturday as previously reported by police.
“We were not notified (of the murder) until Saturday morning,” Capt. Dori Koren, a spokesperson for the Las Vegas Metropolitan police, said during a news conference Tuesday.
German, 69, was found stabbed to death outside his home after authorities received a 911 call.
German died of “multiple sharp force injuries” in a homicide, according to the Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner.
Police said German apparently was in an altercation with another person that led to the stabbing and it was an isolated incident.
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“We do believe the person was in the area earlier casing for other crimes,” Koren said.
Police released surveillance images Monday of the possible suspect although the photos don’t show the person’s full face. The still images show a person wearing a wide straw hat, bright orange reflective long-sleeve shirt, blue jeans, gray shoes and carrying a black or dark blue shoulder bag.
On Tuesday, police showed a brief video of the possible suspect walking on a sidewalk in the same “construction attire” as the surveillance images, according to Koren.
Police also slowed a somewhat blurry still photo of a 2007-2014 red or maroon GMC Yukon Denali four-door vehicle that had chrome handles, a sunroof and a luggage rack that may be linked to the case.
Koren said police are asking for the public’s help finding any additional surveillance footage of the possible suspect taken between 8 a.m. and 1 a.m. Friday near the crime scene.
“We have confidence in our investigation,” he said. “We have made tremendous progress, but we still have a long way to go.”
German joined the Review-Journal in 2010 after more than two decades at the Las Vegas Sun, where he was a columnist and reporter who covered courts, politics, labor, government and organized crime.
He was known for his stories about government malfeasance and political scandals and coverage of the 2017 mass shooting at a Las Vegas music festival that killed 60 people and wounded more than 400 others.
According to the Review-Journal, German held a master’s degree from Marquette University and was the author of the 2001 true-crime book “Murder in Sin City: The Death of a Las Vegas Casino Boss,” the story of the death of Ted Binion, heir to the Horseshoe Club fortune. | 2022-09-07T01:14:08+00:00 | wcfcourier.com | https://wcfcourier.com/news/national/police-correct-timeline-in-fatal-stabbing-of-vegas-reporter/article_1389b98e-d679-5e26-a8ca-9e6e6c623220.html |
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Information has surfaced about the past problems at an Albuquerque home. It’s the same home where three teens were killed and another was injured during a house party on June 4.
According to the city, there have been nine separate calls for service to the home on Hilton, near Montgomery and San Mateo, since mid-December. This includes two calls for, what appears to be, the same shooting on New Year’s Eve.
Other calls for service included loud music, traffic, and a fight.
Neighbors said, last week, they witnessed some of the issues. Police believe the homeowners were not there when the shots rang out last weekend.
Detectives determined that the shooting stemmed from a fight during a birthday party.
Police identified the three victims killed as Jordan Johnson, Marcos Perez, and Nicholas Ortega. | 2023-06-12T03:29:35+00:00 | krqe.com | https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/separate-calls-made-about-albuquerque-home-where-3-teens-were-killed/ |
CLEVELAND (AP) _ The winning numbers in Sunday evening's drawing of the Ohio Lottery's "Pick 4 Evening" game were:
7-2-1-8
(seven, two, one, eight)
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Clark-Shawnee sophomore brings stutter awareness to middle schoolers | 2022-11-21T01:15:21+00:00 | springfieldnewssun.com | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/ohio/winning-numbers-drawn-in-pick-4-evening-game/QHW5APJ6HZFATAY2DBZL2N4IMY/ |
Updated June 6, 2023 at 1:40 PM ET
President Biden's top military adviser says the U.S. has resolved that people — not computers — should continue making life-or-death decisions in war.
Responding to widespread concerns about the power of artificial intelligence, Gen. Mark Milley said U.S. policy — unlike that of some "adversarial countries" — is "to ensure that humans remain in the decision-making loop."
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff reflected on the changing nature of warfare in an interview with Morning Edition on the eve of the 79th anniversary of D-Day, when thousands of U.S. and allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy to begin the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi Germany.
Milley was among the U.S. officials, World War II veterans and other visitors who visited Normandy to mark the anniversary and honor those who served.
It's a significant trip for Milley in part because it's his last: He plans to retire when his tenure ends in September — after more than four decades of service in multiple command and staff positions in eight divisions and Special Forces.
Milley, the son of WWII veterans, says defending the principles of the Constitution has been a driving force throughout his life.
"That was the gift my parents gave to me from World War II," he says. "That's the gift of all these veterans on these beaches that we're meeting around here. And I think that's my one obligation to pass that on to the next generation and beyond."
On Friday, France's president awarded Milley the country's highest medal of honor for his more than 40-year military career "spent in defense of democracy," including his role coordinating support for Ukraine.
Tuesday's anniversary comes at a pivotal moment for Ukraine, which appears to be launching its long-awaited counteroffensive against Russia (there is speculation that it has started in recent days, though Kyiv says there will be no formal announcement). The U.S. is among the allies that have continued to arm Ukraine with military aid, including advanced fighter jets, for this purpose.
Milley says there are fundamental lessons of warfare that apply in this latest European battlefield. At the same time, he adds, new technology has brought about a major change in the character of war for the first time in decades, with implications for the U.S.
"We've got to make sure we modernize our military so that we remain dominant," he says. "And by doing that [we] will deter any sort of potential aggression by any future great power that might threaten the United States and our interests."
Milley spoke to Morning Edition's Steve Inskeep about lessons from the past — from an ancient Greek historian to his own family's sacrifices — and possible threats of the future.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Interview highlights
On the fundamentals of warfare that still apply today
If you look back at the ancients, you look at [ancient Greek military historian] Thucydides for example, and he tells us that the cause of war is primarily fear, interest and pride. I think all three of those are clearly at play here in many, many ways with respect to Russia. Their pride was hurt significantly with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the movement of the NATO boundary from the inner-German border between East [and] West Germany and and then moving that NATO boundary further to the east. ... There's fear on both sides there, with Ukraine afraid of Russian and Russia's afraid of encroachment by NATO and being surrounded and their fear of threat to mother Russia. So all of those [are] still in play as there's a lot of lessons coming from the ancients.
On the technological advancements changing the face of war
The character of war fundamentally changes only once in a while ... and the last big one was between World War I and World War II with the introduction of mechanization, the airplane, the radio. But today we're undergoing a fundamental change in the character of war. What you see playing out in Ukraine, you're seeing snippets of that. You see urbanization of battle, you see the widespread use of precision munitions, you see the widespread use of electronic warfare, you see the widespread use of unmanned aerial vehicles, offset long-range precision fires, you see joint operations, you see all of that in small form somewhat in Ukraine. ... [The U.S. has] got to make sure that we maintain our edge, we maintain our readiness, and we modernize our force in the ways that are necessary for for the future operating environment, which is going to accentuate long-range precision fires, artificial intelligence, robotics, all of those sorts of things are going to be at play in the future.
On what artificial intelligence could mean for the battlefield
There's little doubt in my mind that artificial intelligence is going to play a fundamental and big role in future operations. ... Theoretically, it allows you to see the enemy and see yourself and process all the incredible amounts of information at a faster rate of speed than your adversary. And if you add quantum computing and artificial intelligence together, and then if you combine them with robotics, machines, then you get a degree of power and synergy that could change warfare in ways that we've absolutely never seen before. There's a lot of ethical issues here. There's a lot of legal issues. There's a lot of policy issues that will have to be resolved.
Whatever country it is that optimizes these capabilities ... the best for military operations is going to have a decisive advantage at the beginning of the next conflict. And I want that country to be the United States.
On how the U.S. approach to AI differs from other countries'
The nature of war is built upon the assumption that human beings are driving decision-making in the conduct of war ... The United States' policy right now, actually, with respect to artificial intelligence and its application to military operations, is to ensure that humans remain in the decision-making loop. That is not the policy necessarily of adversarial countries that are also developing artificial intelligence. ...
... As we develop these systems over time, we've got to really pay close attention to how they are developed. Another key thing to recall, too, is we've had various arms control measures in the past because of the potential power of some of these systems. There are potential opportunities here for international regimes that could put limits and mitigate the use of some of this stuff in terms of military operation, because these things are extremely powerful technologies and we have yet to realize how powerful they are. And we're just at the beginning of this. So a lot of thought, a lot of very considered analytical work is going to have to be done for all the countries of the world to come to grips with these capabilities.
The broadcast interview was produced by Nina Kravinsky and Barry Gordemer, and edited by Mohamad ElBardicy.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2023-06-06T18:15:19+00:00 | wyomingpublicmedia.org | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2023-06-06/the-u-s-top-general-reflects-on-the-changing-face-of-war-79-years-after-d-day |
Several top Black prosecutors have been thrust into the spotlight as they lead high-profile investigations into former President Trump ahead of the 2024 election.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg recently filed charges against Trump in a case involving hush-money payments to a porn star. Meanwhile, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is probing Trump’s alleged interference in the 2020 election in Georgia, and New York Attorney General Letitia James is overseeing a separate civil fraud case against him.
While the investigations have given the prosecutors positive coverage, they have also opened them up to controversy, as well as frequent attacks from Trump and his allies, some of which observers say carry racist undertones.
Trump has called James a racist and, during the lead-up to the indictment in the hush-money case being issued, demanded Bragg be arrested too, at one point branding him a “racist in reverse.” He also called Bragg a “criminal” and an “animal” and posted a photo of himself holding a baseball bat to Bragg’s head.
These images and words are “dangerous,” said Adrianne Shropshire, a political strategist who’s also the executive director at BlackPAC.
“They are just blatant advocacy of racialized violence,” Shropshire told The Hill. “The language that he used to dehumanize these prosecutors is an escalation of racist rhetoric coming from him, but it also — and this is the dangerous part — it gives permission to others to engage in that rhetoric.”
Black leaders, including the Rev. Al Sharpton and New York’s NAACP President Hazel Dukes, denounced Trump’s “disgraceful” comments toward Bragg, the first Black person elected to the position.
“This disgraceful attack is not a dog-whistle but a bullhorn of incendiary racist and antisemitic bile, spewed out for the sole purpose of intimidating and sabotaging a lawful, legitimate, fact-based investigation,” the leaders said in a joint statement last month.
“These ugly, hateful and anti-American attacks on our judicial system must be universally condemned without equivocation or hesitation. It is clear that Trump would burn down the greatest values of our democracy, and destroy honest, ethical officials performing their constitutional duties, to escape accountability.”
At the former president’s arraignment in New York, ADA Chris Conroy highlighted some of the “escalating” social media posts from Trump, including posts that threatened potential “death and destruction” and targeted various individuals involved in the indictment and their families.
“We have significant concern about the potential danger this kind of rhetoric poses to our city, to potential jurors and witnesses and to the judicial process,” Conroy said.
Much of the concern around Trump’s words and images, Shropshire added, is because he is giving permission to supporters in his base who may be violent “and who will attempt to take matters into their own hands.”
Already, the FBI and NYPD have opened an investigation into a letter containing a death threat and white powder that was mailed to Bragg. The letter, addressed to Bragg, contained a death threat, according to NBC News.
Meanwhile, the New York Daily News reported last month that Bragg has been inundated with racist emails and comments on his website, with users calling him the n-word and to remember that Trump supporters “are everywhere and we have guns.”
“When I see the attacks on those folks, as a son of the South, it’s a chilling reminder that the odor of slavery and racism and Jim Crow still lingers in our day to day lives,” said Antjuan Seawright, a Democratic political strategist based in South Carolina.
“While we’ve made a lot of progress in this country, it doesn’t mean we made change. What we’re seeing is that white supremacy and racism has no boundaries and limits.”
In a sign of how heated things have become, Bragg on Tuesday sued the House Republicans overseeing a probe into the district attorney’s prosecution of Trump. In the lawsuit, filed in a federal court in New York, Bragg called House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan’s (R-Ohio) subpoena of a former prosecutor who worked on the Trump investigation “a transparent campaign to intimidate and attack” his office.
Jordan promptly hit back on Twitter.
“First, they indict a president for no crime,” he wrote. “Then, they sue to block congressional oversight when we ask questions about the federal funds they say they used to do it.”
For an observer like Seawright, there is a level of hypocrisy in the Republican criticism of Bragg. The more Trump and his allies rage against the attorney, he said, the more they highlight the racial disparities built into the criminal justice system.
“Trump and others are attacking a system that has been for them, but is broken for us,” said Seawright. “We’ve seen people go to jail for a lot longer for a whole lot less in our community. In some cases, we’ve seen people who look like Trump not be held accountable at all.”
Still, as advocates worry about the effects of Trump’s rhetoric, the targets themselves remain publicly nonchalant.
The Hill was able to verify an email from Bragg to his employees ahead of Trump’s indictment in which the DA promised neither he nor his office would be intimidated.
“We do not tolerate attempts to intimidate our office or threaten the rule of law in New York,” Bragg wrote, as first published by Politico.
“Our law enforcement partners will ensure that any specific or credible threats against the office will be fully investigated and that the proper safeguards are in place so all 1,600 of us have a secure work environment,” he added. He also said he remains committed to applying the law “evenly and fairly.”
Meanwhile, Willis, who’s leading the investigation in Georgia, told WSBTV that the president and his supporters are allowed to call her whatever they want, even “racist” terms, so long as they don’t threaten her and her family.
“The comment does not concern me at all,” said Willis. “It’s ridiculous in nature, but I support his right to be protected by the First Amendment and say what he likes.”
“People have that right to say whatever they choose to say as long as it does not rise to the level of threats against myself, against my staff or against my family,” she added.
It’s unclear when Willis’s office may level charges against Trump.
Shropshire pointed out that the attorneys have a fine line to walk as the investigations continue.
On the one hand, they must remain professional and work within the law, she said, which means they have to respond in some way to show they will not be intimidated. But on the other hand, they’re also facing personal attacks.
But with Trump still campaigning for 2024, strategists don’t expect these comments to work in the Republican Party’s favor with Black voters.
In 2020, more than 80 percent of Black voters believed Trump to be racist, according to one Washington Post-Ipsos poll. By throwing their support behind him again ahead of 2024, some Republicans risk alienating the key demographic even more.
“They are either using similar language to denounce these prosecutors or they’re saying that the prosecutions are political, which they are not,” said Shropshire of these Republicans.
Still, Seawright said, while it’s important for Democrats to call out Republicans who repeat Trump’s rhetoric, it’s also essential that the party remains focused on the bigger picture.
“We also can’t get drawn into this personality battle,” Seawright said. “We’ve got to stay focused on the policy battle, because part of the strategy of beating out racism, bigotry and hate and Trumpism in this country is beating them with policies to empower the communities that they’re trying to destroy.” | 2023-04-12T11:17:07+00:00 | nwahomepage.com | https://www.nwahomepage.com/hill-politics/black-prosecutors-pushed-into-spotlight-with-trump-cases/ |
Mahalo for supporting Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Enjoy this free story!
With wins over Leilehua and Kapolei, Waianae collected 10 of 12 first-place votes and is the new No. 1 team in the Star-Advertiser Softball Top 10 this week.
The Seariders are 3-0 in the OIA West (7-0-1 overall) after the 16-3 win at Leilehua and a 9-3 victory over Kapolei.
Waianae will visit Pearl City today and No. 2 Campbell on Saturday.
Campbell is the only team to put a blemish on Waianae’s ledger so far. The Seariders and Sabers played to a 3-all tie at the Glenn Ah Sam Trojan Classic on Feb. 19.
‘Iolani moved up a notch to No. 3 after a 9-1 win over Punahou and an 11-1 TKO win over Maryknoll. Those wins negated a 12-7 loss to Kamehameha earlier in the week. ‘Iolani received one first-place vote. Kamehameha also got a first-place vote.
Maryknoll slipped from. No. 1 to No. 4.
Kaiser routed Kaimuki and landed at No. 10, its first appearance in the poll this season.
Star-Advertiser Softball Top 10
Mar.13, 2023
Rank School (1st) (Record) Pts LW
1. Waianae (10) (7-0-1, 3-0 OIA) 115 2
> won at Leilehua 16-3, Tuesday
> def. Kapolei 9-3, Saturday
> next: at Pearl City, Tuesday
> next: at Campbell, Saturday
2. Campbell (6-0-2, 3-0 OIA) 100 3
> def. vs. Pearl City 8-1, Tuesday
> next: vs. Waianae, Saturday
3. ‘Iolani (1) (7-2-1, 3-1 ILH) 92 4-t
> lost at No. 7 Kamehameha 12-7, Wednesday
> def. No. 6 Punahou 9-1, Thursday
> def. No. 1 Maryknoll 11-1, 5 inn, Saturday
> next: at Punahou, Saturday
4. Maryknoll (7-3, 2-1 ILH) 90 1
> won at Mid-Pacific 13-0, Wednesday
> lost to No. 4-t ‘Iolani 11-1, 5 inn, Saturday
> next: vs. Punahou, Wednesday
> next: at Kamehameha, Saturday
5. Mililani (10-1-1, 1-1 OIA) 63 4-t
> bye
> next: at Leilehua, Thursday
> next: vs. Kapolei, Saturday
6. Kamehameha (1) (8-2-2, 1-2 ILH) 60 7
> def. No. 4-t ‘Iolani 12-7, Wednesday
> next: vs. Mid-Pacific, Wednesday
> next: vs. Maryknoll, Saturday
7. Punahou (9-7, 2-1 ILH) 49 6
> lost to No. 4-t ‘Iolani 9-1, Thursday
> def. Mid-Pacific 14-8, Saturday
> next: vs. Maryknoll, Wednesday
> next: vs. ‘Iolani, Saturday
8. Kalani (10-5-1, 3-0 OIA) 31 8
> def. Kaimuki 20-4, Tuesday
> won at Kailua 18-0, 5 inn, Saturday
> next: vs. Kaiser, Saturday
9. Kapolei (5-5, 1-2 OIA) 19 10
> lost at No. 2 Waianae 9-3, Saturday
> next: vs. Mililani, Saturday
10. Kaiser (10-5-2, 3-0 OIA) 12 NR
> won at Kaimuki 22-0, 4 inn, Saturday
> next: at Moanalua, Tuesday
> next: vs. Kalani, Saturday
No longer in Top 10: Baldwin (No. 9)
Also received votes: Maui 9, Moanalua 6, Baldwin 5, Leilehua 5, Waimea 4. | 2023-03-14T11:14:35+00:00 | staradvertiser.com | https://www.staradvertiser.com/2023/03/14/sports/hawaii-prep-world/waianae-vaults-to-no-1-spot-in-softball-top-10/ |
- The first among Korean non-financial companies. Participation in the development of standards for disclosure of financial information related to biodiversity
- POSCO Holdings takes the lead in protecting the endangered species "Vicuña" near the salt lake of Hombre Muerto in Argentina
SEOUL, South Korea, May 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- POSCO Holdings has joined TNFD (Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures), which sets standards for biodiversity-related information disclosure.
TNFD is a global consultative body that was officially launched in June last year under the leadership of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Wildlife Fund Inc. (WWF) to establish standards for biodiversity-related information disclosure. Currently, about 420 companies and organizations such as BlackRock and BHP are participating. Among domestic companies, POSCO Holdings is the fourth company to join after several domestic financial companies and is the first among non-financial companies.
By joining the TNFD, POSCO Holdings plans to participate in the development of standards for biodiversity-related financial information disclosure and strengthen biodiversity preservation activities near the business site.
POSCO Holdings is discussing multiple measures with the local government to protect Vicuña, an endangered species that lives near the salt lake of Hombre Muerto in Argentina. Starting this year, POSCO Holdings plans to comply with the TNFD guidelines by regularly inspecting and managing the current status of protection activities for animals and plants near the salt lake while transparently disclosing relevant information to stakeholders.
POSCO is taking the lead in restoring the marine ecosystem through the creation of a sea forest using the artificial reef Triton and participating in the Clean Ocean Volunteer Group activities that collect marine litter. POSCO E&C has been promoting the urban beekeeping business since last year. POSCO International has acquired RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil), an eco-friendly international certification related to Indonesian palm farms, and strictly complies with standards governing environmental protection and community obligations in all stages of the palm business.
Starting this year, POSCO Group plans to set carbon-neutral and work site safety including biodiversity as its core agenda, and will raise awareness of ESG management and ability to respond to ESG issues through the Group's ESG Council.
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SOURCE POSCO Holdings | 2022-05-24T09:21:37+00:00 | live5news.com | https://www.live5news.com/prnewswire/2022/05/24/posco-holdings-joins-tnfd-taskforce-nature-related-financial-disclosures-strengthens-esg-management/ |
BEIJING, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tarena International, Inc. (NASDAQ: TEDU) ("Tarena" or the "Company"), a leading provider of IT professional education and IT-focused supplementary STEAM education services in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023.
First Quarter 2023 Highlights
- Total student enrollment in IT-focused supplementary STEAM education increased by 1.0% to 174,800 in the first quarter of 2023, compared to student enrollment of 173,100 in the same period of 2022.
- Net revenues decreased by 38.2% year-over-year to RMB385.1 million (US$56.1 million) from RMB623.5 million in the same period of 2022.
- Gross profit decreased by 44.0% year-over-year to RMB201.0 million (US$29.3 million) from RMB358.9 million in the same period of 2022.
- Gross profit margin decreased by 5.4% points year-over-year to 52.2% from 57.6% in the same period of 2022.
- Operating loss was RMB58.8 million (US$8.6 million), compared to operating income of RMB28.6 million in the same period of 2022.
- Non-GAAP operating loss, which excluded share-based compensation expenses, was RMB57.7 million (US$8.4 million), compared to non-GAAP operating income of RMB30.0 million in the same period of 2022.
- Income tax benefit was RMB8.1 million (US$1.2 million), compared to income tax expense of RMB5.4 million in the same period of 2022.
- Net loss was RMB49.9 million (US$7.3 million), compared to net income of RMB27.1 million in the same period of 2022.
- Non-GAAP net loss, which excluded share-based compensation expenses, was RMB48.8 million (US$7.1 million), compared to non-GAAP net income of RMB28.5 million in the same period of 2022.
- Basic and diluted loss per American Depositary Share ("ADS"), each representing five Class A ordinary shares with an effective date of December 23, 2021, was RMB4.67 (US$0.68) in the first quarter of 2023. Non-GAAP basic and diluted loss per ADS, which excluded share-based compensation expenses, was RMB4.57 (US$0.67) in the first quarter of 2023.
Key Financial Results
"The overall financial performance for the first quarter of 2023 indicates that the execution of our prudent financial and operational strategy has paid off amid the uncertain environment, with net operating cash outflow narrowing year-over-year. While we temporarily closed centers early in the quarter, leading to a year-over-year reduction in cash receipts, we strictly controlled our cash expenditures. By implementing effective cost reductions and efficiency enhancements, aided by increasing enrollments in our STEAM education services since February, as well as the general economic recovery following the Chinese New Year, we strove to minimize the impact of the macro headwinds," remarked Ms. Ying Sun, Tarena's Chief Executive Officer.
Ms. Sun continued, "As we enter the second quarter, our businesses have gradually recovered and our STEAM education services are expected to achieve a year-on-year increase. Additionally, to further focus on our core competence in IT-focused supplementary STEAM education services and IT professional education services for the To-C market, we would carve out the college-collaboration related business, which is expected to close soon."
"Going forward, we will continue to optimize our operational efficiency. As the business environment stabilizes, we are confident that we are well positioned to capitalize on a large and ever-evolving IT education market in China and continue to deliver enhanced shareholder value," concluded Ms. Sun.
First Quarter 2023 Results
Net Revenues
Total net revenues decreased by 38.2% to RMB385.1 million (US$56.1 million) in the first quarter of 2023 from RMB623.5 million in the same period of 2022. The decrease in revenues was primarily due to a reduction in student enrollment from the second half of the fourth quarter of last year and the earlier part of this quarter, particularly for IT professional education. Additionally, the Company suspended courses and services for almost the entire month of January, resulting in a dent in revenues.
Cost of Revenues
The cost of revenues decreased by 30.4% to RMB184.1 million (US$26.8 million) in the first quarter of 2023, from RMB264.6 million in the same period of 2022. The decrease was mainly attributable to a reduction in headcount and the resulting decrease in personnel and related welfare costs. Rental costs also decreased as the number of teaching centers decreased compared to the same period of 2022.
Gross Profit and Gross Margin
Gross profit decreased by 44.0% to RMB201.0 million (US$29.3 million) in the first quarter of 2023, from RMB358.9 million in the same period of 2022. Gross margin narrowed to 52.2% in the first quarter of 2023, compared to 57.6% in the same period of 2022, as revenues decline in the quarter is greater than the reduction in the cost of revenues.
Operating Expenses
Total operating expenses decreased by 21.3% to RMB259.8 million (US$37.8 million) in the first quarter of 2023, from RMB330.3 million in the same period of 2022. Total non-GAAP operating expenses, which excluded share-based compensation expenses, decreased by 21.3% to RMB258.7 million (US$37.7 million) in the first quarter of 2023, from RMB328.9 million in the same period of 2022. Total share-based compensation expenses allocated to operating expenses decreased by 21.4% to RMB1.1 million (US$0.2 million) in the first quarter of 2023, from RMB1.4 million in the same period of 2022.
Selling and marketing expenses decreased by 34.4% to RMB113.2 million (US$16.5 million) in the first quarter of 2023, from RMB172.4 million in the same period of 2022. The decrease was mainly due to a decrease in personnel-related costs resulting from a decrease in the number of sales staff in the first quarter of 2023, compared to the same period of 2022. In addition, the reduction in advertisement clicks resulted in a decrease in advertising expenses.
General and administrative expenses decreased by 7.1% to RMB131.5 million (US$19.2 million) in the first quarter of 2023, from RMB141.6 million in the same period of 2022. The decrease mainly resulted from the reduction of G&A related headcount and lower office attendance as we temporarily suspended operations early in the quarter. The decrease was partially offset by the provision of allowance on accounts receivable pertaining to certain college-related business which we disposed of subsequently.
Research and development expenses decreased by 7.4% to RMB15.1 million (US$2.2 million) in the first quarter of 2023, from RMB16.3 million in the same period of 2022. The decrease was primarily due to a lower number of staff and effective cost control in the first quarter of 2023.
Operating Income/(Loss)
Operating loss was RMB58.8 million (US$8.6 million) in the first quarter of 2023, compared to operating income of RMB28.6 million in the same period of 2022. Non-GAAP operating loss, which excluded share-based compensation expenses, was RMB57.7 million (US$8.4 million) in the first quarter of 2023, compared to non-GAAP operating income of RMB30.0 million in the same period of 2022.
Income Tax (Expense)/Benefit
The Company recorded an income tax benefit of RMB8.1 million (US$1.2 million) in the first quarter of 2023, compared to an income tax expense of RMB5.4 million in the same period of 2022.
Net Income/(Loss)
As a result of the foregoing, net loss was RMB49.9 million (US$7.3 million) in the first quarter of 2023, compared to net income of RMB27.1 million in the same period of 2022. Non-GAAP net loss, which excluded share-based compensation expenses, was RMB48.8 million (US$7.1 million) in the first quarter of 2023, compared to non-GAAP net income of RMB28.5 million in the same period of 2022.
Basic and Diluted Loss per ADS
Basic and diluted loss per ADS was RMB4.67 (US$0.68) in the first quarter of 2023. Non-GAAP basic and diluted loss per ADS, which excluded share-based compensation expenses, was RMB4.57 (US$0.67) in the first quarter of 2023.
Cash Flow
The total balance of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash decreased by RMB3.0 million from RMB374.0 million as of December 31, 2022, to RMB371.0 million (US$54.0 million) as of March 31, 2023. Net cash outflow from operating activities in the first quarter of 2023 was RMB17.7 million (US$2.6 million). Net cash inflow from investing activities in the first quarter of 2023 was RMB17.4 million (US$2.5 million), as we received a deposit of 19.0 million (US$2.8 million) on the sale of the building in this period. Net cash outflow from financing activities in the first quarter of 2023 was RMB2.5 million (US$0.4 million), as we repaid the bank borrowing of RMB2.0 million (US$0.3 million). Capital expenditures in the first quarter of 2023 were RMB5.8 million (US$0.8 million).
Business Outlook
Based on the Company's current estimates, net revenues for the second quarter of 2023 are expected to be in the range of RMB520 million and RMB550 million, which represents a decrease of 15% to 20% as compared to the net revenues in the second quarter of 2022, as the disposal of certain college-collaboration related business and the adverse macro environment at the beginning of this year will have some impact on our net revenues in the second quarter.
This guidance is based on current market conditions and reflects the Company's current and preliminary estimates of market and operating conditions, which are subject to change.
Exchange Rate Information
All translations made in the financial statements or elsewhere in this press release from RMB to United States dollars ("US$") are solely for convenience and calculated at the rate of US$1.00=RMB6.8676, representing the exchange rate as of March 31, 2023, set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board. No representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been converted, realized or settled into US$ at that rate, or at any other rate, on March 31, 2023.
Conference Call
Company management will hold an earnings conference call and live webcast to discuss the Company's results at 8:00 AM on June 13, 2023, U.S. Eastern Time (8:00 PM on June 13, 2023, Beijing Time).
Please register in advance of the conference, using the link provided below. Upon registering, you will be provided with participant dial-in numbers, a passcode, and a unique registrant ID.
Conference call registration link: https://s1.c-conf.com/diamondpass/10030789-pz8jgm.html. It will automatically direct you to the registration page for "Tarena's First Quarter 2023 Earnings Conference Call," where you may fill in your details to RSVP. If it requires you to enter a participant conference ID, please enter "10030789".
In the 10 minutes prior to the call start time, you may use the conference access information (including dial in number(s), direct event passcode, and registrant ID) provided in the confirmation email received at the point of registration.
A replay of the conference call may be accessed by phone at the following number until June 20, 2023:
United States: +1855 883 1031
China: 400 1209 216
Hong Kong: 800 930 639
Conference ID: 10030789
Additionally, a live and archived webcast of this call will be available on the Investor Relations section of Tarena's website at http://ir.tedu.cn.
About Tarena International, Inc.
Tarena is a leading provider of IT professional education and IT-focused supplementary STEAM education services in China. Through its innovative education platform combining live distance instruction, classroom-based tutoring and online learning modules, Tarena offers professional education courses in IT and non-IT subjects. Its professional education courses provide students with practical skills to prepare them for jobs in industries with significant growth potential and strong hiring demand. Tarena also offers IT-focused supplementary STEAM education programs, including computer coding and robotics programming courses, etc., targeting students between three and eighteen years of age. Aiming to encourage "code to learn," Tarena embraces the latest trends in STEAM education and technology to develop children's logical thinking and learning abilities while allowing them to discover their interests and potential.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements made under the "safe harbor" provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. Among other things, the business outlook, the quotations from management in this announcement, as well as the Company's strategic and operational plans contain forward-looking statements. Tarena may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Any statements that are not historical facts, including any business outlook and statements about Tarena's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Many factors, risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, but not limited to the following: the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak; Tarena's goals and strategies; its future business development, financial condition and results of operations; its ability to continue to attract students to enroll in its courses; its ability to continue to recruit, train and retain qualified instructors and teaching assistants; its ability to continually tailor its curriculum to market demand and enhance its courses to adequately and promptly respond to developments in the professional job market; its ability to maintain or enhance its brand recognition, its ability to maintain high job placement rate for its students, and its ability to maintain cooperative relationships with financing service providers for student loans.
Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in Tarena's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is current as of the date of the press release, and Tarena does not undertake any obligation to update such information, except as required under applicable law.
About Non-GAAP Financial Measures
To supplement Tarena's consolidated financial results presented in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"), Tarena's management uses non-GAAP measures of cost of revenues, operating expenses, operating income, net income, and basic and diluted net income per ADS, which are adjusted from results based on GAAP to exclude the share-based compensation expenses. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, but should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, GAAP results. In addition, calculation of the non-GAAP financial measures may be different from the calculation used by other companies, and therefore comparability may be limited.
Tarena's management believes that excluding the share-based compensation expenses provides meaningful supplemental information regarding our performance and liquidity by excluding certain items identified as non-recurring and infrequent in nature, and non-cash charges. The amount of share-based compensation expenses is not built into the Company's annual budgets and quarterly forecasts, which generally will be the basis for information Tarena provides to analysts and investors as guidance for future operating performance.
The non-GAAP financial measures are provided to enhance investors' overall understanding of Tarena's current financial performance and prospects for the future. A limitation of using non-GAAP cost of revenues, operating expenses, operating income (loss) and net income (loss), excluding the share-based compensation expenses is that the share-based compensation charge has been and will continue to be a recurring expense in the Company's business for the foreseeable future. In order to mitigate the limitation, the Company has provided specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from each non-GAAP measure. The accompanying tables include details on the reconciliation between GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to the non-GAAP financial measures the Company has presented.
For further information, please contact:
Investor Relations Contact:
Tarena International, Inc.
Investor Relations
E-mail: ir@tedu.cn
The Piacente Group, Inc.
In China
Yang Song
Tel: +86-10-6508-0677
E-mail: tedu@tpg-ir.com
In the U.S.
Brandi Piacente
Tel: +1-212-481-2050
E-mail: tedu@tpg-ir.com
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SOURCE Tarena International, Inc. | 2023-06-13T02:14:39+00:00 | kwch.com | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2023/06/13/tarena-international-inc-announces-results-first-quarter-2023/ |
(AP) — A federal judge has ordered the Justice Department to put forward proposed redactions as he committed to making public at least part of the affidavit supporting the search warrant for former President Donald Trump’s estate in Florida.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart on Thursday gave prosecutors a week to submit a copy of the affidavit with proposed redactions for the information it wants to keep secret. It comes a little more than a week after the FBI seized classified and top secret information during a search at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate last week.
A prosecutor said the investigation into whether Trump illegally stored classified records is still “in its early stages.” | 2022-08-19T00:15:01+00:00 | kurv.com | https://www.kurv.com/judge-will-unseal-part-of-trump-affidavit/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=judge-will-unseal-part-of-trump-affidavit |
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) — Authorities in Costa Rica have found two bodies in the search for six people, apparently including the German businessman behind Gold’s Gym, who went missing when their small plane disappeared from radar just off the country's Caribbean coast.
The Security Ministry said the bodies of one adult and one child had been found, but that the bodies had not yet been identified.
Searchers also turned up backpacks and bags, and pieces of the plane.
All five passengers were believed to be German citizens, said Security Minister Jorge Torres. The plane’s pilot was Swiss.
Costa Rican authorities said pieces of the twin-engine turboprop aircraft were found in the water Saturday, after the flight went missing Friday.
A flight plan filed for the small plane listed Rainer Schaller as a passenger. A man by the same name runs international chains of fitness and gym outlets, including Gold’s Gym and McFit. At least one other of those aboard the plane seemed to be a relative of Schaller, but the relation was not immediately confirmed by authorities.
Searchers are concentrating on a site about 17 miles (28 kilometers) off the coast from the Limon airport.
The plane was a nine-seat Italian-made Piaggio P180 Avanti, known for its distinctive profile. It disappeared from radar as it was heading to Limon, a resort town on the coast.
The security minister said the flight had set out from Mexico.
“Around six in the afternoon we received an alert about a flight coming from Mexico to the Limon airport, carrying five German passengers,” Torres said. A search started immediately but was called off temporarily due to bad weather.
Rainer Schaller is listed as “Founder, Owner and CEO of the RSG Group,” a conglomerate of 21 fitness, lifestyle and fashion brands that operates in 48 countries and has 41,000 employees, either directly or through franchises.
The RSG Group did not respond to requests for comment on whether Schaller had been aboard the plane.
Schaller was in the news in 2010 for his role as organizer of the Berlin Love Parade techno festival. A crush at the event killed 21 people and injured more than 500. Authorities at the time said Schaller’s security failed to stop the flow of people into a tunnel when the situation was already tense at the entrance to the festival grounds.
Schaller fought back against the accusations of wrongdoing, noting that his security concept received official city approval. | 2022-10-23T22:22:41+00:00 | springfieldnewssun.com | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/nation-world/costa-rica-finds-2-bodies-in-crash-of-plane-carrying-germans/CZGZHLKTTFAITEI5BTCYP33P5Y/ |
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Price Simms Family Dealerships, one of the largest privately held Automotive Groups in Northern California, has completed the acquisition of Downtown Ford and Harrold Ford from the Victory Automotive Group, adding two stores to their now 28-store lineup.
Price Simms CEO, Adam Simms commented, "The two dealerships are among the largest Ford stores in Sacramento, and we're excited for this new opportunity. The talent at both stores has put us in a position to become stronger and I'm pleased to welcome our new teammates."
Mr. Simms continued, "To grow our business into nearby Sacramento is tremendously exciting for our organization and we look forward to making significant capital improvements and supporting our surrounding neighborhoods. My family used to live here and it's very exciting for me to return and once again contribute to this amazing community."
Price Simms owns and operates a vast portfolio of dealerships throughout the San Francisco Bay Area including several award-winning high-volume Toyota and Ford stores, the first two Polestar dealerships in the US, and various luxury stores including Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini, McLaren, Mercedes, and more.
Chairman Tom Price purchased his first Bay Area dealership in 1976 and has been serving our local communities ever since. In 2003, he partnered with automotive tech pioneer, Adam Simms, to create Price Simms Family Dealerships. They now own and operate 28 franchised dealerships across 14 Northern California locations.
Visit us today at: Toyota Sunnyvale • Toyota Marin • Toyota Walnut Creek • Ford Fairfield • Downtown Ford of Sacramento • Lincoln Fairfield • Mercedes-Benz Fairfield • Volvo Marin • Volvo Palo Alto • Polestar Marin • Polestar San Jose • Land Rover Marin • Jaguar Marin • Aston Martin Los Gatos • Aston Martin Walnut Creek • McLaren San Francisco • McLaren Walnut Creek • Bentley Los Gatos • Bentley Walnut Creek • Lamborghini Los Gatos • Lamborghini Walnut Creek • Rolls Royce Los Gatos • Lotus Los Gatos • Pininfarina Los Gatos • Czinger Los Gatos • Maserati Walnut Creek • Sprinter Mercedes Fairfield
Media Contact
Paul Schraeder
+18183265717
paulschraeder@pricesimms.com
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SOURCE Price Simms Family Dealerships | 2022-09-02T16:06:45+00:00 | kswo.com | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/price-simms-family-dealerships-acquire-two-ford-dealerships-sacramento/ |
PALOS HILLS, Ill., July 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Moraine Valley Community College is the first college in the Chicago area to partner with the California-based cannabis curriculum experts Green Flower to offer two noncredit online programs for anyone looking to start a career in the rapidly-growing cannabis manufacturing and cultivation fields.
The demand is high for skilled and trained professionals in the cannabis industry. Illinois supports nearly 29,000 full-time jobs in the industry and recorded $1.78 billion in cannabis sales in 2021, according to the Leafly 2022 Jobs Report.
Whether working in the industry or looking to transition into a cannabis career, Moraine Valley's eight-week online programs provide the knowledge and skills needed to be successful. Students can begin their chosen program at any time and complete it in eight weeks.
Each online program features expert information and perspectives from industry-leading professionals, delivered in a format using best learning practices.
The Advanced Cultivation Technician program gives students advanced job skills and knowledge to excel in cannabis cultivation. Topics include:
- Botany and genetics of the cannabis plant
- Seeds, germination and cloning
- Light sources
- Pests, disease and threat management
- Irrigation and watering essentials
The Advanced Manufacturing Agent program helps students learn the expertise and advanced skill set needed to succeed in manufacturing. Subjects include:
- Product development
- Formulation and plant ensemble
- Extraction processes and principles
- Production operations and transportation requirements
- Recordkeeping and product testing
"These programs help ensure not only the continued explosive growth of the industry in Illinois but also growth in great part due to a well-trained workforce," said Daniel Kalef, vice president of Higher Education at Green Flower. "Like other highly regulated industries, the need to have expertise in material handling, quality control, patient care, horticulture and more is vital to the success of all aspects of the industry and all things people will learn in these programs."
Learn more about Moraine Valley's noncredit cannabis programs at mvcc.cannabisstudiesonline.com. For more information on noncredit classes, contact Corporate, Community and Continuing Education at (708) 974-5735 or communityeducation@morainevalley.edu.
Founded in 2014, Green Flower is the industry leader in cannabis education, empowering thousands of consumers, regulators, and professionals with the knowledge they need to succeed in the emerging cannabis industry today. Green Flower's content and technology platform powers the cannabis programs of top universities and colleges across the country, provides customized learning and compliance solutions for cannabis businesses of all sizes, and equips individuals with the skills and credentials necessary to make an impact in the modern cannabis industry.
Moraine Valley Community College is one of the largest community colleges in Illinois, serving 26 communities in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. Since it opened in 1967, the college has grown to offer more than 130 associate degree and certificate programs at its main campus in Palos Hills and extension centers in Blue Island and Tinley Park. Students can enroll in classes to complete the first two years of a bachelor's degree and then transfer to a four-year university or college or quickly move into the workforce. Moraine Valley offers online, evening, weekend and short-term classes, as well as developmental education, adult basic education and English as a Second Language classes. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, is a member of the prestigious League for Innovation in the Community College and is one of 12 national Vanguard Colleges.
For news media inquiries, contact Jessica Crotty, assistant director of Communications, at (708) 974-5281 or crotty@morainevalley.edu.
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SOURCE Green Flower | 2022-07-27T16:02:05+00:00 | kwch.com | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2022/07/27/moraine-valley-green-flower-collaborate-offer-noncredit-cannabis-programs/ |
Sylvester Stallone tries to rewind the clock in Paramount’s ‘Tulsa King’
Review by Brian Lowry, CNN
Building on the success of “Yellowstone,” Paramount+ and producer Taylor Sheridan have seemingly seized on a streaming strategy built around casting veteran movie stars, an available commodity in an industry known for ageism. Enter “Tulsa King,” a slim vehicle for Sylvester Stallone that’s a little too overtly designed as a mobster fish out of water.
Stallone’s Dwight Manfredi (who says he was named after Eisenhower, no less) gets released back into the world after 25 years in prison, only to find that those running the mob in his old stomping grounds of New York — some of whom were “kids,” at least to him, when he went away to protect them — don’t want him around.
“There’s nothing left for you here,” says the new boss (“The Wire’s” Domenick Lombardozzi), noting, “We can’t just rewind the clock.”
Conceptually, though, that’s exactly what “Tulsa King” does, or at least tries to do, exiling Dwight to the dreary confines of Oklahoma. In short order, he quickly hires a driver (Jay Will) and sets about proving that he can continue earning even in the hinterlands, muscling into a business relationship with the local pot dispensary for starters.
Dwight isn’t above punching people in the face when they deserve it, which can be helpful in negotiations, determined to demonstrate to the boys back home that if he can make it there, he’ll make it anywhere.
“Tulsa King” turns out to be a rather odd mix of attributes, relying almost entirely on Stallone’s movie-star charisma as the show alternates between sitcom conventions and R-rated “The Sopranos”-flecked flourishes. When a woman meets him and later tells him she thought he was 55 (he cops to being 20 years older than that), it’s clear that a little ego stroking is also part of the formula.
While Stallone holds the screen, some of the sitcom touches are weak and too obvious, with Dwight acting like he’s unfamiliar with anything that happened on the outside during the time he was behind bars, shaking his head at cellphones, credit cards and stores that don’t accept cash, his preferred means of transacting deals.
As noted, streaming in general, and Paramount in particular, have become havens for older stars, with Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren due in the “Yellowstone” prequel “1932” next month. After Stallone’s other recent streaming venture with the movie “Samaritan” on Amazon, the fact that the poster displays his name in big letters above the title makes clear what they’re selling here, and with streamers sparring for attention, it’s not a bad fight plan.
In that sense, “Tulsa King” suggests maybe you can rewind the clock, just a little, even if you’re gonna fly a little bit lower now.
“Tulsa King” premieres November 13 on Paramount+.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | 2022-11-11T20:52:41+00:00 | localnews8.com | https://localnews8.com/entertainment/cnn-entertainment/2022/11/11/sylvester-stallone-tries-to-rewind-the-clock-in-paramounts-tulsa-king/ |
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — A man accused of arson told Bloomington police he set a car on fire to discourage people from stealing from it, court documents allege.
Police responded to a report of a suspicious person just after midnight in the parking lot of the Crawford Apartments on S. Henderson Street on Feb. 12. An officer said he found a man standing next to a 1998 Buick that was on fire.
The man, identified as Austin Bristoe, 26, reportedly told an officer the vehicle was his and he set it on fire to stop people from stealing items inside of it.
As police were talking to Bristoe, the car became engulfed in flames, and the fire caused several small explosion.
At one point, Bristoe reportedly said, “I hoped the explosions would be bigger,” as he watched the vehicle burn.
Court documents state Bristoe started the fire by cutting the fuel line, dumping gas and oil onto the car, and setting a bandana on fire and then throwing it into the trunk.
“Austin then stated that if there was nothing left of the vehicle then there would be nothing left to steal,” stated a police officer’s account in a probable cause affidavit.
Police arrested Bristoe on a preliminary charge of arson. When searching him, they found several packed syringes and a yellow powder he identified as benzodiazepine.
He was then booked on arson plus additional charges of unlawful possession of a syringe, hypodermic needle, and controlled substance. | 2023-02-14T16:29:39+00:00 | fox59.com | https://fox59.com/news/indycrime/bloomington-man-reportedly-set-own-car-on-fire-to-stop-people-from-stealing-from-it/ |
Norfolk Southern train derails in Walker Co., no hazardous materials involved
WALKER COUNTY, Ala. (WBRC) - A Norfolk Southern train derailed while traveling in the Jasper area in the early morning hours of Sunday.
Jasper Police were notified of a train derailment in the area of 1350 Old Russellville Road.
According to Norfolk Southern, the train crew was briefly trapped in the engine room after the engine tilted over.
Jasper Regional Paramedical Services (RPS) was called to the scene to evaluate the crew. There were no major injuries, but two crew members were transported to a nearby hospital as a precaution.
There were no hazardous materials involved in the derailment or released into the area, according to a Norfolk Southern representative.
More information will be added to this story if it becomes available.
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Copyright 2023 WBRC. All rights reserved. | 2023-04-09T15:35:35+00:00 | waff.com | https://www.waff.com/2023/04/09/norfolk-southern-train-derails-walker-co-no-hazardous-materials-involved/ |
Win $10K in the FOX Bet Super 6 NASCAR Contest featuring Phoenix Raceway
The first NASCAR race of the month is here! And there's no better way to roar into March — Women's History Month — than by celebrating one of our very own women in racing.
We chatted with Shannon Spake, NASCAR studio host and FOX NFL reporter, to get her FOX Bet Super 6 predictions (more on that later) and to find out what it's really like being such a pivotal part of this fast world.
"I always tell young women that hard work is gender-less," Spake affirmed. "I really put in the time. I spent a lot of extra time in the garage with crew chiefs, with drivers or team members asking questions and learning as much as I could."
But it wasn't always fire-retardant suits and checkered flags for Shannon. The mother of two grew up in South Florida, where college football — not racing — dominates the culture of sports. So she admitted that her early days as a NASCAR reporter came with challenges.
"I was a super green reporter working for the Speed Channel in Charlotte, and ESPN was building a team getting back into NASCAR," she recalled. "And I was very, very fortunate that they called me.
"I ended up doing the Xfinity Series, I did pit reporting, I hosted NASCAR Now. Anything and everything. I did it."
As a woman in the racing industry, one value that has continually propelled Shannon's career forward is her grounding motto: If you're a hard worker, people are going to recognize and respect you.
Speaking of respect — she credits the professional relationships she has formed as being integral to helping her navigate both NASCAR and the NFL as a woman.
"I certainly think that in any sport, men are going to have different conversations with other men than they have with women," Spake contended. "In life, in general, that's gonna happen.
"But I've never felt like I haven't gotten a story or that I haven't been able to follow up on something or get information because I'm not a part of certain conversations. And that's because it's about relationships. Relationships form when people trust you, and then you get more access when people trust that you're truly in it because you care about them as individuals and not just as athletes or drivers.
One misconception the multifaceted host wants to dispel about NASCAR? The narrative that women are not involved.
"Every weekend when I cover the NFL, I'm the only woman sitting at the production table. In NASCAR, I've had women like Jamie Little or Kaitlyn Vincie with me my entire career.
"There were times when I was pregnant, running up and down pit row, and it was Jamie who drove me to the hotel while I was lying down crying in the backseat because it was time for me to go home to nest. I don't have that female counterpart in a lot of other sports."
And because Shannon has cemented herself as one of NASCAR's most-trusted voices, we were thrilled to get her insight on this weekend's FOX Bet Super 6 NASCAR Stage 2 challenge featuring the United Rentals Work United 500.
FOX Bet Super 6 is a free-to-play contest where you can pick six different outcomes in the NASCAR Stage 2 Contest to win Clint Bowyer's $10,000. Just download the FOX Bet Super 6 app on your phone or mobile device, make your picks and submit your selections before the race gets underway this Sunday.
Not only is playing for the $10,000 grand prize free, but it's also easy and fun. Oh, and people really do win!
Let's dive into Shannon's predictions for Phoenix Raceway below!
Which of these drivers will have the better finish at the end of the race?
Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, Kevin Harvick
"Let me go Kyle Larson just based on how Hendrick Motorsports ran last week."
Prediction: Kyle Larson
Which manufacturer — Chevrolet or Ford — will have the most cars on the lead lap at the end of Stage 2 and how many will they have?
1-3, 4-5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13+
"Oooooo, Chevy. And I'll say 8."
Prediction: Chevy, 8
Which of these drivers — Kyle Busch or Kevin Harvick — will have the fastest lap by the end of Stage 2 and how many yellow laps will there be?
0-9, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15, 16-17, 18-19, 20-21, 22-23, 24-25, 26+
"Oh my goodness. I think Kevin will have the fastest lap. And on that last part on how many cautions — can I plead the Fifth on that one? That's a hard one!"
Prediction: Kevin Harvick
Which team — Hendrick Motorsports or Joe Gibbs Racing — will have the most laps led by the end of Stage 2 and how many laps will the lead?
1-13, 14-20, 21-26, 27-33, 34-40, 41-47, 48-54, 55-61, 62-66, 67+
"I'm gonna say Hendrick. Definitely Hendrick. And that's because that team ran such a good race last week. William Byron completely dominated. While I think Kevin Harvick has an opportunity to do it just based on his track record, I think that the Hendrick team is super strong right now, and they're showing speed that Stuart Haas isn't really showing at this point."
Prediction: Hendrick Motorsports, 67+
Which manufacturer — Chevrolet or Ford — will have the car that gains the most positions by the end of Stage 2 and how many will they gain?
1-4, 5-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18, 19-20, 21-22, 23+
"I'll say Ford. I think maybe someone will have to go to the back of the field."
Prediction: Ford, 19-20
Which driver — Kyle Larson or Martin Truex Jr. — will have the better finish at the end of Stage 2 and by how many positions?
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8-10, 11-14, 15+
"Kyle Larson and I'll go six. And again, that's just because he's just so good at Phoenix."
Prediction: Kyle Larson, 6
When it comes to race weekend at Phoenix Raceway, Shannon gave us her thoughts on how she hopes it all unfolds.
"I'm looking forward to seeing if Trackhouse Racing continues to do what they've done. One of their drivers, Daniel Suarez, has finished top 10 in all three of the races.
"We've covered Suarez his entire career, and he's had so many heartbreaks — going from one team to the next to the next. And now that it looks like he's found a home at Trackhouse, I'm really excited to see what he's doing."
With all of Shannon's extraordinary insight, your engines should be ready to go the distance in this weekend's FOX Bet Super 6 NASCAR Stage 2 Contest.
Download the FOX Bet Super 6 app and submit your selections for the NASCAR Stage 2 Contest now! Then be sure to share your picks with us by tagging @FOXSuper6 and @EricaReneeD and using the #EricaSuper6 hashtag across all social media platforms.
Good luck!
Download the FOX Bet Super 6 app for your chance to win thousands of dollars on the biggest sporting events each and every week! Just make your picks and you could win the grand prize. Download and play today!
No purchase necessary. Open to legal residents of the US, excluding WA. 18 and older. See terms and conditions at foxsuper6.com. Sponsored by TSG Interactive US Services Limited. | 2023-03-09T19:14:46+00:00 | fox10phoenix.com | https://www.fox10phoenix.com/sports/win-10k-in-the-fox-bet-super-6-nascar-contest-featuring-phoenix-raceway |
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The United Kingdom, Canada, Sweden and Ukraine launched a case against Iran at the United Nations’ highest court Wednesday over the downing in 2020 of a Ukrainian passenger jet and the deaths of all 176 passengers and crew.
The four countries want the International Court of Justice to rule that Iran illegally shot down the Ukraine International Airlines plane and to order Tehran to apologize and pay compensation to the families of the victims.
Flight PS752 was traveling from Tehran to Kyiv on Jan. 8, 2020 when it was shot down soon after takeoff. The people killed included nationals and residents of Canada, Sweden, Ukraine and the United Kingdom, as well as Afghanistan and Iran. Their ages ranged from 1 year to 74 years old.
“Today’s legal action reflects our unwavering commitment to achieving transparency, justice and accountability for the families of the victims,” the countries said in a joint statement Wednesday. They said they filed the case after Iran failed to respond to a December request for arbitration.
Following three days of denials in In January 2020, Iran said its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard mistakenly downed the Ukrainian plane with two surface-to-air missiles. Iranian authorities blamed an air defense operator who they said mistook the Boeing 737-800 for an American cruise missile.
An Iranian court this year sentenced an air defense commander allegedly responsible for the downing to 13 years imprisonment, according to the country’s official judiciary news outlet.
But the countries that filed the case with the world court in The Hague called the prosecution “a sham and opaque trial.”
According to the court filing published Wednesday, the U.K., Canada, Sweden and Ukraine argue that Iran “failed to take all practicable measures to prevent the unlawful and intentional commission of an offense” and “failed to conduct an impartial, transparent, and fair criminal investigation and prosecution consistent with international law.”
The filing alleges that Iran withheld or destroyed evidence, blamed other countries and low level Revolutionary Guard personnel, “threatened and harassed the families of the victims seeking justice” and failed to report details of the incident to the International Civil Aviation Organization.
The downing happened on the same day Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on U.S. troops in Iraq in retaliation for an American drone strike that killed a top Iranian general.
Last week, Iran filed a case against Canada linked to the downing, accusing the North American nation of flouting state immunity in allowing relatives of terrorism victims to seek reparations from the Islamic Republic. | 2023-07-05T12:25:33+00:00 | wwlp.com | https://www.wwlp.com/news/ap-international-news/ap-uk-canada-sweden-ukraine-take-iran-to-top-un-court-over-2020-downing-of-a-ukrainian-passenger-jet/ |
Musk reveals how Twitter has handled some high-profile decisions By A Martínez, Shannon Bond Published December 13, 2022 at 2:03 AM PST Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 3:57 Elon Musk is using his selective release of internal Twitter communications to advance his own partisan causes and conspiracy theories. Copyright 2022 NPR | 2022-12-13T11:21:14+00:00 | kcbx.org | https://www.kcbx.org/2022-12-13/musk-reveals-how-twitter-has-handled-some-high-profile-decisions |
Apple's foray into live sports took a big step forward Tuesday.
Apple and Major League Soccer have announced a 10-year partnership on a streaming service that will allow fans to watch every game without local blackouts or restrictions. The service will be available exclusively through the Apple TV app beginning next year.
The deal is Apple’s second venture into streaming professional sports. In April, it began airing “Friday Night Baseball,” an exclusive weekly doubleheader of Major League Baseball games.
“The opportunity to partner with a sports league, and truly build the product together with them is very, very unique,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of services. “We can bring the things that we do really well with the things that they do really well and really make the product, which I think will be significantly better for the fans. We want to create a great experience for fans to be able to watch and experience MLS like they’ve never had before."
MLS Commissioner Don Garber said Apple is not paying a rights fee but rather a minimum guarantee against revenues that will be generated with both selling subscriptions.
“It’s part of what we both wanted. We’re in business together,” Garber said.
People with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press that the minimum guarantee is worth $250 million per year. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because they aren’t at liberty to publicly discuss financial matters.
Sports Business Journal was the first to report about the minimum guarantee.
The details of the streaming service will be announced in the coming months. The package will be included for fans who have full-season ticket packages for their club.
Some MLS and Leagues Cup matches will be available at no additional cost to Apple TV+ subscribers, with a limited number of matches also available for free.
“We really couldn’t have found a better partner to embark on this new journey together to capitalize on the momentum that exists in MLS today,” Garber said. “We can use this deal as rocket fuel as we build towards the World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico in 2026 and thinking about what the sport of soccer, what Major League Soccer could look like, in the years beyond."
Currently, most MLS out-of-market games are streamed on ESPN+, but there are blackout restrictions due to some local rights agreements. The league’s deals with Fox Sports and ESPN expire at the end of the year. ESPN has carried games since the league began in 1996 and Fox since 2014. Garber is hoping the league can reach a deal with a broadcast partner.
Even with the Apple deal, MLS does have the opportunity to simulcast some games nationally.
Streaming is already built into soccer fans' DNA. The league said it has found in various studies that 83% of MLS fans watch sports on streaming devices or recorded TV in a typical week, much higher than the general average of 52% for all TV viewers.
What also makes the deal intriguing for Apple is that MLS has the youngest and most diverse audience compared to the other four major professional North American sports leagues.
Besides all regular-season and postseason matches, the package includes all Leagues Cup matches — the competition between MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX — as well as select MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT matches.
Apple will also partner with MLS on presentation of the matches as the league takes over production. This is another step forward for the league, but is similar to the way European soccer leagues do business. All matches will be called in English and Spanish while those involving Canadian clubs will also be available in French.
All matches will also be available in Full HD (1080p) for the first time. Previously, matches were broadcast in 1080i or 720p.
Garber said the league will have a more streamlined schedule beginning next season, with most matches being played on Saturdays at 7 p.m. local time and some on Wednesdays. The only time that might change is for a national broadcast or stadium conflict. The league will expand to 29 teams in 2023 with the debut of St. Louis CITY SC.
The deal comes as Apple is also exploring opportunities with other sports. The company has been pursuing streaming NFL games when the league’s “Sunday Ticket” expires at the end of the upcoming season.
___
More AP MLS: https://apnews.com/hub/major-league-soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2022-06-14T19:07:48+00:00 | ksat.com | https://www.ksat.com/sports/2022/06/14/apple-mls-announce-10-year-streaming-partnership/ |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A former FBI agent in Northern California who handled national security issues was convicted Tuesday of accepting at least $150,000 in gifts and cash bribes to provide confidential information to a man with organized crime ties, prosecutors said.
Babak Broumand, 56, of Lafayette, was found guilty in Los Angeles of conspiracy, bribery of a public official and monetary transactions in property derived from unlawful activity, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement.
He could face 15 to 45 years in federal prison when he is sentenced in January.
Broumand, who joined the FBI in 1999, worked until 2018 in the bureau's San Francisco office, where he was responsible for national security investigations, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said from 2015 to 2018, Broumand accepted “cash, checks, private jet flights, a Ducati motorcycle, hotel stays, escorts, meals, and other items of value" in return for searching law enforcement databases to help a self-proclaimed lawyer and his criminal associates learn if they were under investigation and avoid prosecution.
Court documents refer to the lawyer only as “E.S." but his name was Edgar Sargsyan, who earlier pleaded guilty to bribing Broumand and another federal agent and testified at his trial.
The two men were introduced at a Beverly Hills cigar club.
Sargsyan has admitted making a fortune by stealing identities, making credit card charges and taking out bank loans in their names, and while he falsely claimed to be an attorney he acknowledged actually paying a friend to take the bar exam under his name, the Los Angeles Times reported.
“To conceal the nature of their corrupt relationship, Broumand made it falsely appear that E.S. was working as an FBI source" and wrote false reports stating he was making legitimate database queries, according to the Department of Justice.
One involved Levon Termendzhyan, whom prosecutors described as an Armenian organized crime figure for whom Sargsyan had worked.
Termendzhyan was convicted in 2020 in a Utah federal court of involvement in a $1 billion fraud scheme involving renewable fuel tax credits, prosecutors said. He awaits sentencing. | 2022-10-05T02:19:13+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Former-veteran-California-FBI-agent-convicted-of-17487446.php |
ATLANTA, June 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- With afternoon high temperatures soaring into the mid-90s this week across the state, Georgia Power is prepared to meet the increased demand for electricity and encourages customers to take measures around the house to help minimize the impact of the higher temperatures on electric bills.
Georgia Power offers efficiency tips and tools that can help all customers save money and energy throughout the year. The company's My Power Usage program, a free service available for many Georgia Power online accounts, allows customers to track their daily energy use online, project their monthly bill and stay within a set energy budget.
Simple summer tips to save money and energy include:
- Think Thermostat – Heating and cooling costs make up nearly half of your average power bill. Set manual thermostats to 78°F in the summer for peak efficiency and make the most of programmable thermostats, which help decrease energy use based on your lifestyle.
- Use your Fans – A ceiling fan costs only about $1.50 a month to operate and will help you feel cooler without having to adjust your thermostat.
- Clear Air Vents – To maintain consistent temperatures throughout your home, keep air vents and return-air registers clear of obstructions such as furniture, curtains and rugs.
- Trim Plants and Change Filters – To ensure your unit receives proper air flow, change filters once a month, or every three months for pleated filters and trim plants around your outside units.
- Caulk & Strip – Replace cracked or peeling caulk or weather stripping around doors and windows to save up to 10 percent on energy use.
- Use Blinds & Curtains – Cover sun-facing windows with blinds or curtains to help limit direct sunlight and heat from entering your home.
- Unplug Certain Electronics – Electronics account for 5-10 percent of household electricity use. Save up to $100 a year by either using an advanced power strip or unplugging electronics when not in use.
- HVAC System Tune-Up – Hire a technician to ensure your HVAC equipment is working properly and schedule an equipment tune-up if necessary.
Other programs to help Georgia Power customers save money and energy throughout the summer months include:
- A Free Online Energy Checkup – Take a quick and easy online energy checkup that provides a customized energy usage report and ways to save money. Visit www.GeorgiaPower.com/EnergyCheckUp to get started.
- Home Energy Improvement Program (HEIP) – The Home Energy Improvement Program (HEIP) helps Georgia Power customers reduce energy use, save on energy costs and improve the comfort of their homes. Residential customers can earn rebates from Georgia Power for implementing and installing qualifying energy savings improvements. Learn more at www.GeorgiaPower.com/HomeImprovements.
- Home Energy Efficiency Assistance Program (HEEAP) – The Home Energy Efficiency Assistance Program helps eligible income-qualified customers make free energy efficiency improvements in their home. At no cost to the customer, a program contractor performs the recommended energy efficiency upgrades. Customers can learn more and apply at www.GeorgiaPower.com/HEEAP.
Georgia Power is committed to helping customers save money on their energy bills and these programs and services can make homes more energy efficient while keeping residents comfortable through summer's heat. Find dozens of other energy tips, whether you own a home or rent at www.GeorgiaPower.com/save.
Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America's premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.7 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every day and the company is recognized by J.D. Power as an industry leader in customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/Georgia Power), Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower) and Instagram (Instagram.com/ga_power).
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SOURCE Georgia Power | 2022-06-15T16:29:39+00:00 | wlox.com | https://www.wlox.com/prnewswire/2022/06/15/georgia-power-offers-tips-tools-customers-during-first-heat-wave-summer/ |
SOMERVILLE, Mass. (AP) — SOMERVILLE, Mass. (AP) — Bluebird Bio Inc. (BLUE) on Wednesday reported fourth-quarter net income of $32.2 million, after reporting a loss in the same period a year earlier.
On a per-share basis, the Somerville, Massachusetts-based company said it had profit of 38 cents. Losses, adjusted for non-recurring gains, came to 57 cents per share.
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The results missed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of seven analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for a loss of 45 cents per share.
The biotechnology company posted revenue of $62,000 in the period, which also missed Street forecasts. Four analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $102.2 million.
For the year, the company reported that its loss narrowed to $266.6 million, or $3.39 per share. Revenue was reported as $3.6 million.
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The company's shares closed at $4.32. A year ago, they were trading at $4.94.
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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 BLUE at https://www.zacks.com/ap/BLUE | 2023-03-29T12:59:43+00:00 | seattlepi.com | https://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/bluebird-q4-earnings-snapshot-17866200.php |
How Pacific Islanders in the US are keeping their culture alive through dance
By Rachel Ramirez, CNN
New York (CNN) — In a dance studio nestled inside a building next to New York City Hall, Tamara Bejar Hernandez counts to the beat of a traditional Tahitian dance song as a group of ladies shake their hips from left to right and gracefully glide their hands up in the air and down their arms.
“One, two, three,” Hernandez, founder of the Pacific Islander dance group Lei Pasifika, yells out. “Pretend you’re smelling flowers.”
They are rehearsing choreography for the song “Te Pua No’a No’a,” which tells a story about the flowers spread throughout the island of Tahiti. It’s the same dance I learned a few weeks ago when I decided to join Lei Pasifika’s weekly Tahitian dance classes.
But on this Saturday morning, the ladies are gearing up for Lū’au season, a typically large, vibrant feast featuring live island music and cultural performances from Hawai’i and the greater Polynesia region. Hernandez says the group is booked with performances for the next two months.
“Fa’Arapu,” she calls out over the song chorus, which means to rotate the hips in fast circles.
It’s not the public performances that bring the ladies each week to this humid Manhattan studio. Many tell me it’s their way of staying connected to the Pacific. Some, like me, moved to the city from the Pacific Islands either from the Marshall Islands or Hawaii, while others, like Hernandez, grew up around a fairly large Pacific Islander community elsewhere.
“They come even though they’ve never danced before, but because their parents or family danced before them and they have that connection,” Hernandez tells me. “It makes them less homesick.”
According to the US Census Bureau, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders were the fastest growing ethnic population in the US from 2020 to 2021. The Oceania region — made up of Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia — is home to roughly 10 million people, many of whom have migrated from their home islands to the US mainland due to economic reasons, climate change and better education.
But once in the mainland US, there’s always a sense of yearning for Indigenous culture and traditions. And in big cities with a large Pacific Islander presence, like New York, Portland, Oregon, and San Diego, many US-born Pacific Islanders as well as transplants are keeping their culture alive through dance.
“The first question I always ask when anybody who asks to join my ‘hui,’ which means group, is what’s your connection?” Hernandez says. “What brought you here?”
Dancing as a form of storytelling and discipline
“Fix your fingers,” Hernandez tells her dancers, noting that every movement of hands and hips must tell a story.
“‘Aparima,” which means movement of the hand, is a dance style where the hands are the storytellers. When the song they’re rehearsing mentions “’āina” or land, for instance, the dancers elegantly bring their hands up, palms down, to form land in front of them.
Vise Mann, the cultural arts chair for the Sacramento, California-based Pacific Islander group called To’utupu ‘oe ‘Otu Felenite Association (TOFA), or Youth Leaders of the Pacific, says dancing is a form of storytelling. Mann, who is Samoan and born in California, teaches cultural dances for TOFA in the Sacramento region.
It’s a way for Pacific Islanders, especially young people, “to find themselves” and get connected with their ethnic identity and cultures, she notes.
“The dances are an expression of gratitude, of love, of family, the story behind what our ancestors faced and all that they have done to get to where we need,” Mann tells me. “It’s a beautiful thing when you see it being performed.”
In the centuries since the Pacific region was colonized, Pacific Islanders, including the CHamoru, Samoans, Māori, Tongans, Native Hawaiians and more, have lived largely insular lives, separated from the rest of the world by a vast ocean.
This distance taught them to naturally live in harmony with land and sea. Those of us who grew up on the islands always heard stories of their long voyage, during which they danced and sang. They hopped from one island to another by canoe and used only the stars, the currents and the wind to guide them.
Lisa Hafoka, who is Tongan, took over as the president of TOFA in 2022 after the death of her mother, TOFA founder Catherine ‘Ofa Mann. Her family moved to Sacramento from New Zealand in the 1990s and started the organization in 2000 to break down the language and cultural barriers many Pacific Islanders, especially youth, faced in the US at the time.
“When a lot of our Pacific Islander youth were having run-ins with the law, there needed to be a Pacific Islander nonprofit organization that can be like a moderator or go-between for these youth and provide a resource for them to do better in the community,” Hafoka tells CNN.
While TOFA provided resources including counseling and scholarships for young Pacific Islanders, “there’s no Pacific Island organization without a cultural piece, or a dance piece or cultural arts,” Hafoka says.
Now, the group has become a regular presence at the California State Fair in Sacramento, with more than 100 dancers performing traditional dances on stage. Mann says they noticed a growing number of Pacific Islanders, including those who aren’t Native Pacific Islanders but grew up in the islands, wanting to learn more about the culture and participate in dances.
Dancing has become an emotional and cultural outlet for many younger kids, Hafoka says.
“We have found that Pacific Islander children, when they come together, there’s a bond,” she adds. “When they dance together, it’s stronger and they enjoy each other’s company, and they bring in others.”
‘It feels like I’m back home’
Having been born and raised on Saipan in the North Mariana Islands, a US territory just north of Guam, I find myself occasionally feeling homesick after moving to the mainland US.
While I am not Indigenous Pacific Islander, I grew up in a close-knit community of Micronesians on Saipan. I dance their dance, sing their songs, and eat their food, so when I do feel homesick, I turn to dancing, listening to island music, and cooking CHamoru food.
Moving to Portland, Oregon, for college, I was thrilled to find my university had Hawaii and Guam clubs that would put on cultural shows spotlighting traditional dances like the hula and the haka, which I took part in. When I moved even farther away to New York City, where the Pacific Islander population is sparse, it became much more difficult to find community.
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders make only 0.18% of New York City’s total population, according to the US Census Bureau. Washington, California, and Texas are among the top states, besides Hawaii, with the largest NHPI population.
“The Pacific Islander community in New York is not that big, so this feels like a safe space where I can connect with culture and feel like I’m back home,” my friend Liza Atalig, who is CHamoru and also moved from Saipan to New York, tells me.
She was the one who introduced me to Lei Pasifika’s dance classes. And it wasn’t until early this year that I decided I wanted to get back to dancing that I joined and met other dancers who felt the same way.
Kathleen Malpica, 34, another dancer with Lei Pasifika, was born and raised in Hawaii and grew up dancing hula and Tahitian. Like me, she too moved to Oregon before moving to New York City, where she sought after the same community and eventually came across Hernandez and Lei Pasifika.
The best part is “knowing that dance and music and the art of it is so ingrained in the culture and so you’re dancing with a lot of intention and authenticity,” Malpica says. “And the community is why I continue to dance, because the sisterhood of it is really amazing.”
The need for community was the reason Hernandez started the group in the first place. “I started meeting other girls who looked like me,” she tells me.
Moving from Florida, where she grew up in a big Tongan community, to New York, she says, was a big culture shock for her. But one night, at a tiki bar in the city, she met someone from Guam who asked her if she wanted to teach traditional Polynesian dances.
Since 2008, Lei Pasifika has expanded from a small group of girls dancing in New York City parks to a full dance studio, where dancers reserve their spot on a first-come-first-serve basis.
“This becomes your family, it becomes personal, it becomes a part of your every day,” Hernandez says. “Even though I don’t see the girls every day, I think about them every day.”
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | 2023-05-21T14:46:22+00:00 | krdo.com | https://krdo.com/news/2023/05/21/how-pacific-islanders-in-the-us-are-keeping-their-culture-alive-through-dance/ |
Former President Donald Trump will return to CNN’s airwaves on Wednesday, joining the network for a two-hour town hall event in early-voting New Hampshire a day after a civil jury found him liable for sexually assaulting an advice columnist nearly three decades ago.
The forum, which was publicly announced last week, was expected to be notable because it would be bringing together a network and a candidate who have long sparred with each other. But the stakes raised considerably Tuesday after jurors in New York found Trump had sexually abused and defamed E. Jean Carroll, though it rejected her claim that he raped her. The jury awarded her $5 million in damages.
While the civil trial verdict carries no criminal penalties, it nonetheless revives attention on the myriad investigations facing Trump, who was indicted in New York in March for hush money payments made to women who had accused him of sexual encounters. Trump is also facing investigations in Georgia and Washington over his alleged interference in the 2020 election and his handling of classified documents and potential obstruction of justice.
It also returns focus to questions over Trump’s treatment of women over the years, raising the stakes for an event at which he will be forced to respond to tough questioning from host Kaitlan Collins and the audience. Carroll is one of more than a dozen women who have accused Trump of sexual assault or harassment over the years, allegations Trump has denied.
Trump historically has not reacted well when pressed on stage about his behavior toward women, most notably during the first Republican presidential debate of 2015, when he sparred with then-Fox News host Megyn Kelly. He later said she had “blood coming out of her wherever” when she was questioning him.
Trump has a much more contentious relationship with CNN than he had with Fox at the time. Trump has called the network “fake news” and has sparred personally with Collins. She was once barred from a Rose Garden event after Trump’s team got upset with her shouted questions at an earlier Oval Office availability.
Nonetheless, Trump’s team saw the invitation from CNN as an opportunity to connect with a broader swath of voters than those who usually tune into the conservative outlets he favors.
“President Trump has been battle-tested and is a proven winner. He doesn’t shy away from anything and faces them head on,” said Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung.
The appearance will also serve as yet another contrast with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is seen as a top rival to Trump for the GOP presidential nomination and is expected to launch his campaign in the coming weeks. DeSantis has taken a sheltered media approach, largely eschewing questions from the mainstream press while embracing Fox News, which was once a loyal Trump cheerleader but which Trump now frequently denigrates.
In response, Trump’s team has turned to new channels, including popular conservative podcasts and made-for-social-media videos that often rack up hundreds of thousands of views. His team has also been inviting reporters from a variety of outlets to ride aboard his plane and has been arranging unadvertised stops at local restaurants and other venues to show him interacting with cheering supporters, in contrast to the less charismatic DeSantis.
It remains unclear how or whether Tuesday’s verdict will have any impact on the race. Trump’s indictment in New York only seemed to improve his standing in the GOP primary, and his top rivals largely avoided commenting Tuesday night, with a couple of exceptions.
Former Arizona Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a vocal Trump critic, called the accusations “another example of the indefensible behavior of Donald Trump.” Tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy came to his defense and said he doubted a case would have even been brought if the defendant had been someone other than Trump.
Even before Tuesday’s verdict, the CNN town hall — the first major television event of the 2024 presidential campaign — had raised suspicion from both sides of the political divide.
Democrats questioned whether a man who continues to spread lies about his 2020 election loss — lies that sparked a deadly insurrection —- should be given a primetime airtime platform. Conservatives wondered why Trump would appear on — and potentially give a ratings bump to — a network that he has continually disparaged as “fake news.”
A Trump adviser, who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said CNN executives had made a compelling pitch to the former president during talks.
The adviser also noted that Trump found success in 2016 by stepping outside Republicans’ traditional comfort zone.
The former president plugged his appearance in a statement posted before Tuesday’s verdict, saying CNN was “rightfully desperate” to get a ratings bump from him.
“They made me a deal I couldn’t refuse!!!” he wrote on Truth Social. “Could be the beginning of a New & Vibrant CNN, with no more Fake News, or it could turn into a disaster for all, including me. Let’s see what happens? Wednesday Night at 8:00!!!” | 2023-05-10T11:55:35+00:00 | qcnews.com | https://www.qcnews.com/nexstar-media-wire/trump-to-appear-at-cnn-town-hall-day-after-sex-assault-verdict/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — “A Wrinkle in Time,” the classic sci-fi coming-of-age tale celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, has been adapted into a film, a TV movie, opera, several plays and a graphic novel. Now it’s time for a stage musical, The Associated Press has learned.
For the first musical version of Madeleine L’Engle’s acclaimed novel, her granddaughter and the director of her literary estate, Charlotte Jones Voiklis, has helped pick the creative team that includes music and lyrics by composer Heather Christian, a story by Lauren Yee and direction by Lee Sunday Evans. Diana DiMenna and Aaron Glick are also producers.
“Knowing my grandmother’s love of and devotion to theater, I had long envisioned a musical adaptation of ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ that could transport audiences to a different dimension in a way only music can,” said Voiklis in a statement released Thursday. “I am inspired by this creative team who truly love and understand the original novel and yet are ready to explore the possibilities of what it could be on the stage.
Dates for future productions, as well as additional creative team members and cast, will be announced in 2023.
“A Wrinkle in Time” is about a girl’s a self-discovery, navigating mean girls at school, the loss of her father and even interdimensional travel. It most recently was made into a film by Ava DuVernay with Reese Witherspoon and Storm Reid.
“‘A Wrinkle in Time’s'” themes of fierce love, loyalty, kinship and friendship are universal balms for the soul, and will draw audiences into a collective adventure of bravery and triumph. This promises to be a musical magic carpet ride absolutely everyone will love,” DiMenna said in the statement.
“A Wrinkle in Time,” part of a five-book series written by L’Engle named the Time Quintet, has sold over 10 million copies.
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Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits | 2022-10-14T00:48:56+00:00 | wdtn.com | https://www.wdtn.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/ap-team-picked-to-make-a-wrinkle-in-time-into-a-stage-musical/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — More than 5,500 minor league baseball players formed a union on Wednesday, completing a lightning-fast organization campaign that launched just 17 days earlier in an effort to boost annual salaries as low as $10,400.
Martin Scheinman, the sport’s independent arbitrator, notified Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association that a majority of the 5,567 players in the minor league bargaining unit had signed union authorization cards since the drive started Aug. 28. He did not provide the sides a specific number.
“This historic achievement required the right group of players at the right moment to succeed,” union head Tony Clark said in a statement. “Minor leaguers have courageously seized that moment, and we look forward to improving their terms and conditions of employment through the process of good faith collective bargaining.”
MLB had agreed Saturday that it would voluntarily accept a union if there was majority support and would not force players to petition the National Labor Relations Board to hold a representation election.
“Major League Baseball has a long history of bargaining in good faith with unions, including those representing minor and major league umpires, and major league players,” the league said in a statement. “Based on the authorization cards gathered, MLB has voluntarily and promptly recognized the MLBPA as the representatives of minor league players. We are hopeful that a timely and fair collective bargaining agreement will be reached.”
Minor leaguers form a separate bargaining unit within the MLBPA, which negotiated its first collective bargaining agreement for big leaguers in 1968 but had until now been uninterested in representing players with minor league deals. Approximately 1,200 major leaguers are covered by the big league agreement, and their average salary has risen from $19,000 in 1967 to more than $4 million this year.
Minor leaguers are expected to choose player representatives who will lead them in bargaining during the offseason. Bruce Meyer, who headed negotiations last winter for a major league agreement, will lead the minor league negotiations, and Deputy Commissioner Dan Halem will be the point man for management. Meyer was promoted to deputy executive director in July.
Harry Marino, who has served as head of Advocates for Minor Leaguers since April 2021, was hired as an MLBPA assistant general counsel.
“For decades, conventional wisdom said it was impossible to unionize the minor leagues,” Marino said in a statement. “Over the past few years, a group of audacious and committed folks came together to prove that wrong.”
MLB raised weekly minimum salaries for minor leaguers in 2021 to $400 at rookie and short-season levels, $500 at Class A, $600 at Double-A and $700 at Triple-A. For players with major league contracts on option to the minors, the minimum is $57,200 per season for a first big league contract and $114,100 for later big league contracts.
In addition, MLB this year began requiring teams to provide housing for most minor leaguers.
“In a multibillion-dollar industry, there is no excuse to pay these players below the poverty line,“ AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler said in a statement. “By joining together to use their collective voice at the bargaining table, the minor leaguers will be able to advocate for a union contract that will ensure a future with the good pay and benefits they deserve.”
Many amateurs receive large initial signing bonuses: 67 of the top 68 draft picks this year agreed to $1 million or more, and the top 97 picks who signed got more than $690,000 each.
The MLBPA also governs agents for major leaguers, requiring certification and establishing regulations that include prohibitions on payments, gifts and loans to clients. Agents negotiating minor league contracts have been unregulated.
MLB and the big league union have had a contentious relationship that led to nine work stoppages, including a 99-day lockout last winter that delayed the start of this season.
Minor league union dues are likely to be a fraction of big league dues: $85 per day this year over the 182-day season. The union does not represent players in the Dominican Summer League.
Next year’s minor league schedule opens March 31 at Triple-A and April 6 at lower levels, when the minor leaguers’ leverage may be greatest. A strike could lead each team to keep its dozen or so optioned players at training complexes playing makeshift games.
The big league union has represented optioned players since 1981.
MLB and lawyers for minor leaguers agreed this year to a $185 million settlement of an eight-year-old federal lawsuit alleging violations of minimum wage laws, a deal that may be finalized next year. An early estimate is that perhaps 23,000 players could share roughly $120 million with an average payment of $5,000 to $5,500, and their lawyers will split $55.5 million.
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More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2022-09-15T16:51:45+00:00 | upmatters.com | https://www.upmatters.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-minor-leaguers-form-union-17-days-after-organizing-began/ |
2nd visitor in 3 days gored by Yellowstone park bison
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) — For the second time in three days, a visitor to Yellowstone National Park has been gored by a bison.
Park officials say a 71-year-old woman from West Chester, Pennsylvania, and her daughter inadvertently approached the bison Wednesday as they were returning to their vehicle at a Yellowstone Lake trailhead.
The woman’s injuries were not life-threatening. She was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Cody, Wyoming.
The incident remains under investigation.
On Monday, a 34-year-old Colorado man got too close to a bison and was thrown as he grabbed a child. An Ohio woman was gored in May.
Park officials said bison are wild and unpredictable, and visitors should stay more than 25 yards away.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2022-07-01T14:11:42+00:00 | kalb.com | https://www.kalb.com/2022/07/01/2nd-visitor-3-days-gored-by-yellowstone-park-bison/ |
New Orders and Employment Contracting; Production and Backlogs Growing; Supplier Deliveries Slowing at a Slower Rate; Raw Materials Inventories Growing; Customers' Inventories Too Low; Prices Increasing at a Slower Rate; Exports and Imports Growing; Record-Long Lead Times for Capital Expenditures and Production Materials
TEMPE, Ariz., July 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Economic activity in the manufacturing sector grew in June, with the overall economy achieving a 25th consecutive month of growth, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®.
The report was issued today by Timothy R. Fiore, CPSM, C.P.M., Chair of the Institute for Supply Management® (ISM®) Manufacturing Business Survey Committee:
"The June Manufacturing PMI® registered 53 percent, down 3.1 percentage points from the reading of 56.1 percent in May. This figure indicates expansion in the overall economy for the 25th month in a row after a contraction in April and May 2020. This is the lowest Manufacturing PMI® reading since June 2020, when it registered 52.4 percent. The New Orders Index reading of 49.2 percent is 5.9 percentage points lower than the 55.1 percent recorded in May. The Production Index reading of 54.9 percent is a 0.7-percentage point increase compared to May's figure of 54.2 percent. The Prices Index registered 78.5 percent, down 3.7 percentage points compared to the May figure of 82.2 percent. The Backlog of Orders Index registered 53.2 percent, 5.5 percentage points below the May reading of 58.7 percent. The Employment Index contracted for a second straight month at 47.3 percent, 2.3 percentage points lower than the 49.6 percent recorded in May. The Supplier Deliveries Index reading of 57.3 percent is 8.4 percentage points lower than the May figure of 65.7 percent. The Inventories Index registered 56 percent, 0.1 percentage point higher than the May reading of 55.9 percent. The New Export Orders Index reading of 50.7 percent is down 2.2 percentage points compared to May's figure of 52.9 percent. The Imports Index climbed into expansion territory, up 2 percentage points to 50.7 percent from 48.7 percent in May."
Fiore continues, "The U.S. manufacturing sector continues to be powered — though less so in June — by demand while held back by supply chain constraints. Despite the Employment Index contracting in May and June, companies improved their progress on addressing moderate-term labor shortages at all tiers of the supply chain, according to Business Survey Committee respondents' comments. Panelists reported lower rates of quits compared to May. Prices expansion slightly eased for a third straight month in June, but instability in global energy markets continues. Sentiment remained optimistic regarding demand, with three positive growth comments for every cautious comment. Panelists continue to note supply chain and pricing issues as their biggest concerns. Demand dropped, with the (1) New Orders Index contracting, (2) Customers' Inventories Index remaining at a very low level, though it increased and (3) Backlog of Orders Index decreasing but still in growth territory. Consumption (measured by the Production and Employment indexes) was mixed during the period, with a combined minus-1.6-percentage point change to the Manufacturing PMI® calculation. The Employment Index contracted for the second month in a row after expanding for eight straight months (September through April), but panelists again indicated month-over-month improvement in ability to hire in June. Challenges with turnover (quits and retirements) and resulting backfilling continue to plague efforts to adequately staff organizations, but to a lesser degree compared to the previous month. Inputs — expressed as supplier deliveries, inventories and imports — continued to constrain production expansion but to a lesser extent compared to May. The Supplier Deliveries Index indicated deliveries slowed at a slower rate in June, which was supported by a slight increase in the Inventories Index. The Imports Index expanded in June after one month of contraction preceded by six consecutive months of expansion. The Prices Index increased for the 25th consecutive month, at a slower rate compared to May.
"All of the six biggest manufacturing industries — Computer & Electronic Products; Machinery; Transportation Equipment; Petroleum & Coal Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Chemical Products — registered moderate-to-strong growth in June.
"Manufacturing performed well for the 25th straight month. There are signs of new order rate softening — cited in 17 percent of general comments, compared to 10 percent in May — but the root cause is difficult to determine: (1) demand reduction, (2) adjustment for excessive lead times, causing order rate adjustments or (3) a combination of both. Employment activity remain strongly positive in spite of the uncertainty with new order rates," says Fiore.
Fifteen manufacturing industries reported growth in June, in the following order: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Textile Mills; Printing & Related Support Activities; Computer & Electronic Products; Machinery; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Primary Metals; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Transportation Equipment; Fabricated Metal Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Petroleum & Coal Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Chemical Products. The three industries reporting contraction in June compared to May are: Paper Products; Wood Products; and Furniture & Related Products.
WHAT RESPONDENTS ARE SAYING
- "Backlog is high, but incoming orders slowing this month." [Computer & Electronic Products]
- "New orders have stabilized and not increased." [Chemical Products]
- "Continued strong demand for transportation equipment." [Transportation Equipment]
- "Business is slower than expected in volume, but revenue is on pace with our budget. Ocean freight costs are finally beginning to fall a bit. We are already receiving large orders for the fall, which is encouraging." [Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products]
- "Continued tightening of market, rising gas/diesel prices, and limited labor/drivers equates to increased cost. Few markets showing a levelling off." [Petroleum & Coal Products]
- "Our suppliers are experiencing a softening of orders. We are still running at the same high level we did throughout 2021 and in early 2022." [Machinery]
- "Business is still steady. Some customers are pushing orders out because they have too much inventory. We are able to backfill the pushed orders from customers that want theirs earlier, so we aren't losing capacity." [Fabricated Metal Products]
- "We are hearing from customers that their inventories are high, and sales are coming down. We expect orders to decline on the coming months until inventories are leveled properly against demand." [Apparel, Leather & Allied Products]
- "Orders and production continue to be strong, but material availability is holding us back. Cannot run enough hours to eat into the backlog." [Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components]
- "Supply seems to be settling to some degree, but what it is settling into remains in question. Diminishing cost and (continued) limited supply in aluminum make for an interesting combination. There are actually more questions than answers this month." [Primary Metals]
Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business® data is seasonally adjusted for the New Orders, Production, Employment and Inventories indexes.
*Number of months moving in current direction.
COMMODITIES REPORTED UP/DOWN IN PRICE AND IN SHORT SUPPLY
Commodities Up in Price
Adhesives and Paint (7); Aluminum* (25); Caustic Soda (4); Corrugate (5); Corrugated Packaging (20); Crude Oil (2); Diesel Fuel (18); Electrical Components (19); Electricity; Electronic Components (19); Energy (4); Freight (20); High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Resin; Labor — Temporary (14); Lumber* (7); Natural Gas (12); Packaging Supplies (19); Paper (4); Petroleum Based Products (2); Pigments and Dyes; Resin Based Products (3); Plastic Resins* (6); Rubber Based Products (11); Steel* (23); Steel — Fabricated & Machined Components (2); Steel — Stainless (20); Steel Castings; Steel Products (22); and Synthetic Rubber.
Commodities Down in Price
Aluminum* (2); Lumber*; Ocean Freight; Plastic Resins*; Steel* (2); Steel — Cold Rolled; Steel — Hot Rolled (2); and Steel — Scrap (2).
Commodities in Short Supply
Electric Motors; Electrical Components (21); Electronic Components (19); Hydraulic Components (2); Labor — Temporary (14); Packaging Products (2); Paper (3); Plastic Resins (2); Rubber Based Products; Semiconductors (19); Steel — Fabricated & Machined Components (2); Steel — Stainless; and Steel Products (3).
Note: The number of consecutive months the commodity is listed is indicated after each item.
*Indicates both up and down in price.
JUNE 2022 MANUFACTURING INDEX SUMMARIES
Manufacturing PMI®
Manufacturing grew in June, as the Manufacturing PMI® registered 53 percent, 3.1 percentage points lower than the May reading of 56.1 percent. "The Manufacturing PMI® continued to indicate sector expansion and U.S. economic growth in June. Three of the five subindexes that directly factor into the Manufacturing PMI® were in growth territory. All of the six biggest manufacturing industries registered moderate-to-strong growth in June, in this order: Computer & Electronic Products; Machinery; Transportation Equipment; Petroleum & Coal Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Chemical Products. The Production Index increased at a slightly faster rate. The Supplier Deliveries Index slowed at a slower rate while the Inventories Index increased slightly, indicating somewhat easing supply chain congestion. Eight of the 10 subindexes were positive for the period; a reading of 'too low' for the Customers' Inventories Index is considered a positive for future production," says Fiore. A reading above 50 percent indicates that the manufacturing economy is generally expanding; below 50 percent indicates that it is generally contracting.
A Manufacturing PMI® above 48.7 percent, over a period of time, generally indicates an expansion of the overall economy. Therefore, the June Manufacturing PMI® indicates the overall economy grew in June for the 25th consecutive month following contraction in April and May 2020. "The past relationship between the Manufacturing PMI® and the overall economy indicates that the Manufacturing PMI® for June (53 percent) corresponds to a 1.5-percent increase in real gross domestic product (GDP) on an annualized basis," says Fiore.
THE LAST 12 MONTHS
New Orders
ISM®'s New Orders Index dropped to 49.2 percent in June, a decrease of 5.9 percentage points compared to the 55.1 percent reported in May. This indicates that new order volumes contracted after growing for 24 consecutive months. "Two of the six largest manufacturing sectors — Petroleum & Coal Products; and Computer & Electronic Products — increased new orders at moderate-to-strong levels. Price elevation and extended lead times resulted in a continuing slowing in new order rates across the supply chain. Backlog sagged in the month due to the weakness in new orders," says Fiore. A New Orders Index above 52.9 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Census Bureau's series on manufacturing orders (in constant 2000 dollars).
Of the 18 manufacturing industries, eight reported growth in new orders in June, in the following order: Textile Mills; Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; Primary Metals; Plastics & Rubber Products; Computer & Electronic Products; and Miscellaneous Manufacturing. Seven industries reported a decline in new orders in June, in the following order: Wood Products; Furniture & Related Products; Paper Products; Transportation Equipment; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Chemical Products; and Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products.
Production
The Production Index registered 54.9 percent in June, 0.7 percentage point higher than the May reading of 54.2 percent, indicating growth for the 25th consecutive month. "Of the top six industries, four —Petroleum & Coal Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Transportation Equipment; and Chemical Products — expanded in June. Hiring and materials availability continue to show signs of recovery, but factories are still struggling to hit optimum output rates — primarily due to high levels of employee turnover," says Fiore. An index above 52.4 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Federal Reserve Board's Industrial Production figures.
Ten industries reported growth in production during the month of June, in the following order: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Petroleum & Coal Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Transportation Equipment; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Chemical Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; and Fabricated Metal Products. The three industries reporting a decrease in production in June are: Textile Mills; Paper Products; and Furniture & Related Products.
Employment
ISM®'s Employment Index registered 47.3 percent in June, 2.3 percentage points below the May reading of 49.6 percent. "The index contracted for a second straight month after an eight-month period of expansion. This is the lowest reading since August 2020, when the index registered 47.1 percent. Of the six big manufacturing sectors, two (Computer & Electronic Products; and Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products) expanded. Survey panelists' companies are still struggling to meet labor management plans, though there are more signs of improvement: A larger share of comments (14 percent in June, up from 7 percent in May) noted greater hiring ease. An overwhelming majority of panelists again indicate their companies are hiring. Among those respondents, 42 percent expressed difficulty in filling positions, up from 30 percent in May. Turnover rates remain elevated (29 percent of comments cited backfills and retirements, a decrease from 36 percent in May). Employment levels, driven primarily by turnover, remain the top issue affecting further output growth," says Fiore. An Employment Index above 50.5 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data on manufacturing employment.
Nine of 18 manufacturing industries reported employment growth in June, in the following order: Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Textile Mills; Plastics & Rubber Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; and Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products. The six industries reporting a decrease in employment in June — in the following order — are: Paper Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; Furniture & Related Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Chemical Products; and Transportation Equipment.
Supplier Deliveries†
The delivery performance of suppliers to manufacturing organizations was slower in June, as the Supplier Deliveries Index registered 57.3 percent, 8.4 percentage points lower than the 65.7 percent reported in May. Five of the top six manufacturing industries (Machinery; Computer & Electronic Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Transportation Equipment; and Chemical Products) reported slower deliveries. "Deliveries slowed at a slower rate compared to the previous month. The index continues to reflect suppliers' difficulties in meeting demand from panelists' companies, but there are clear signs of easing. In June, suppliers remained in a labor-constrained environment, based on panelists' comments and the Employment Index remaining in contraction territory. Transportation networks reflected improvement compared to May. Among supplier delivery comments, 6 percent noted stable month-over-month improvement," says Fiore. A reading below 50 percent indicates faster deliveries, while a reading above 50 percent indicates slower deliveries.
Fourteen of 18 manufacturing industries reported slower supplier deliveries in June, in the following order: Textile Mills; Furniture & Related Products; Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Machinery; Printing & Related Support Activities; Primary Metals; Computer & Electronic Products; Paper Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Transportation Equipment; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Fabricated Metal Products; and Chemical Products. Three industries reported faster supplier deliveries in June as compared to May: Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Wood Products; and Petroleum & Coal Products.
Inventories
The Inventories Index registered 56 percent in June, 0.1 percentage point higher than the 55.9 percent reported for May. "Manufacturing inventories expanded at a slightly faster rate compared to May. Of the six big manufacturing industries, four (Computer & Electronic Products; Machinery; Chemical Products; and Transportation Equipment) grew their inventories of manufacturing raw materials in June. Companies report a continued willingness to take early delivery of raw materials as well as building extra work in process to support quick conversion," says Fiore. An Inventories Index greater than 44.4 percent, over time, is generally consistent with expansion in the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) figures on overall manufacturing inventories (in chained 2000 dollars).
Of 18 manufacturing industries, the eight reporting higher inventories in June — in the following order — are: Textile Mills; Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Machinery; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Chemical Products; Transportation Equipment; and Miscellaneous Manufacturing. The three industries reporting contracting inventories in June are: Paper Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; and Primary Metals. Seven industries reported no change in inventories in June as compared to May.
Customers' Inventories†
ISM®'s Customers' Inventories Index registered 35.2 percent in June, 2.5 percentage points higher than the 32.7 percent reported for May, indicating that customers' inventory levels were considered much too low. "Customers' inventories are too low for the 69th consecutive month, a positive for future production growth. For 23 straight months, the Customers' Inventories Index has been at historically low levels," says Fiore.
Two industries (Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; and Wood Products) reported customers' inventories as too high in June. The 14 industries reporting customers' inventories as too low during June — listed in order — are: Textile Mills; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Primary Metals; Machinery; Computer & Electronic Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Transportation Equipment; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Plastics & Rubber Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; Furniture & Related Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Fabricated Metal Products; and Chemical Products.
Prices†
The ISM® Prices Index registered 78.5 percent, 3.7 percentage points lower compared to the May reading of 82.2 percent, indicating raw materials prices increased for the 25th consecutive month, at a slower rate in June. The Prices Index has exceeded 70 percent in 18 out of the last 19 months and been above 60 percent for 22 straight months. "Continued oil and fuel price increases, packaging supplies (including corrugate), food ingredients, and petroleum-based products and petrochemicals were the primary causes of prices growth. Notably, 8.3 percent of respondents reported lower prices in June, supporting a continued slow but steady move towards price softening," says Fiore. A Prices Index above 52.6 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Producer Price Index for Intermediate Materials.
In June, 17 of 18 industries reported paying increased prices for raw materials, in the following order: Petroleum & Coal Products; Textile Mills; Paper Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Chemical Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Furniture & Related Products; Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Machinery; Computer & Electronic Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Transportation Equipment; Primary Metals; and Fabricated Metal Products. No industry reported paying decreased prices for raw materials in June.
Backlog of Orders†
ISM®'s Backlog of Orders Index registered 53.2 percent in June, a 5.5-percentage point decrease compared to the 58.7 percent reported in May, indicating order backlogs expanded for the 24th straight month. Of the six largest manufacturing sectors, three — Petroleum & Coal Products; Machinery; and Computer & Electronic Products — expanded their order backlogs. "Backlogs expanded in June at a slower rate, as output remains stable at relatively low levels and new orders have slowed due to excessive lead times and historically high prices," says Fiore.
Nine industries reported growth in order backlogs in June, in the following order: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Petroleum & Coal Products; Textile Mills; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Machinery; Primary Metals; Computer & Electronic Products; and Miscellaneous Manufacturing. The four industries reporting lower backlogs in June are: Furniture & Related Products; Paper Products; Fabricated Metal Products; and Chemical Products.
New Export Orders†
ISM®'s New Export Orders Index registered 50.7 percent in June, 2.2 percentage points below the May reading of 52.9 percent. "The New Export Orders Index grew for the 24th consecutive month, at a slower rate in June. For the fourth straight month, COVID-19 in China has suppressed customer demand from overseas, and the war in Ukraine has limited European demand. Of the six big industry sectors, two — Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Computer & Electronic Products — expanded," says Fiore.
The five industries reporting growth in new export orders in June are: Paper Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; and Fabricated Metal Products. The five industries reporting a decrease in new export orders in June are: Wood Products; Primary Metals; Machinery; Transportation Equipment; and Miscellaneous Manufacturing. Six industries reported no change in exports in June as compared to May.
Imports†
ISM®'s Imports Index registered 50.7 percent in June after contracting in May, an increase of 2 percentage points compared to May's figure of 48.7 percent. "Imports grew marginally in June. Import demand remains strong entering the back-to-school and holiday import seasons," says Fiore.
The 12 industries reporting growth in imports in June — in the following order — are: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Furniture & Related Products; Primary Metals; Plastics & Rubber Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Transportation Equipment; Computer & Electronic Products; Machinery; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; and Fabricated Metal Products. Three industries reported lower volumes of imports in June: Petroleum & Coal Products; Paper Products; and Chemical Products.
†The Supplier Deliveries, Customers' Inventories, Prices, Backlog of Orders, New Export Orders, and Imports indexes do not meet the accepted criteria for seasonal adjustments.
Buying Policy
The average commitment lead time for Capital Expenditures in June was 186 days, an increase of eight days compared to May and another all-time high. (ISM® began tracking lead times data in 1987.) CapEx lead times have increased in 10 of the last 12 months, for a net gain of 38 days since July 2021 (148 days). Average lead time in June for Production Materials increased by one day to return to its all-time high of 100 days. Average lead time for Maintenance, Repair and Operating (MRO) Supplies decreased by four days, to 44 days.
About This Report
DO NOT CONFUSE THIS NATIONAL REPORT with the various regional purchasing reports released across the country. The national report's information reflects the entire U.S., while the regional reports contain primarily regional data from their local vicinities. Also, the information in the regional reports is not used in calculating the results of the national report. The information compiled in this report is for the month of June 2022.
The data presented herein is obtained from a survey of manufacturing supply executives based on information they have collected within their respective organizations. ISM® makes no representation, other than that stated within this release, regarding the individual company data collection procedures. The data should be compared to all other economic data sources when used in decision-making.
Data and Method of Presentation
The Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business® is based on data compiled from purchasing and supply executives nationwide. The composition of the Manufacturing Business Survey Committee is stratified according to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) and each of the following NAICS-based industry's contribution to gross domestic product (GDP): Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Textile Mills; Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Wood Products; Paper Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Petroleum & Coal Products; Chemical Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Primary Metals; Fabricated Metal Products; Machinery; Computer & Electronic Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Transportation Equipment; Furniture & Related Products; and Miscellaneous Manufacturing (products such as medical equipment and supplies, jewelry, sporting goods, toys and office supplies). The data are weighted based on each industry's contribution to GDP. According to the BEA estimates for 2020 GDP (released December 22, 2021), the six largest manufacturing subsectors are: Computer & Electronic Products; Chemical Products; Transportation Equipment; Petroleum & Coal Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Machinery. Beginning in February 2018 with January 2018 data, computation of the indexes is accomplished utilizing unrounded numbers.
Survey responses reflect the change, if any, in the current month compared to the previous month. For each of the indicators measured (New Orders, Backlog of Orders, New Export Orders, Imports, Production, Supplier Deliveries, Inventories, Customers' Inventories, Employment and Prices), this report shows the percentage reporting each response, the net difference between the number of responses in the positive economic direction (higher, better and slower for Supplier Deliveries) and the negative economic direction (lower, worse and faster for Supplier Deliveries), and the diffusion index. Responses are raw data and are never changed. The diffusion index includes the percent of positive responses plus one-half of those responding the same (considered positive).
The resulting single index number for those meeting the criteria for seasonal adjustments (Manufacturing PMI®, New Orders, Production, Employment and Inventories) is then seasonally adjusted to allow for the effects of repetitive intra-year variations resulting primarily from normal differences in weather conditions, various institutional arrangements, and differences attributable to non-moveable holidays. All seasonal adjustment factors are subject annually to relatively minor changes when conditions warrant them. The Manufacturing PMI® is a composite index based on the diffusion indexes of five of the indexes with equal weights: New Orders (seasonally adjusted), Production (seasonally adjusted), Employment (seasonally adjusted), Supplier Deliveries, and Inventories (seasonally adjusted).
Diffusion indexes have the properties of leading indicators and are convenient summary measures showing the prevailing direction of change and the scope of change. A Manufacturing PMI® reading above 50 percent indicates that the manufacturing economy is generally expanding; below 50 percent indicates that it is generally declining. A Manufacturing PMI® above 48.7 percent, over a period of time, indicates that the overall economy, or gross domestic product (GDP), is generally expanding; below 48.7 percent, it is generally declining. The distance from 50 percent or 48.7 percent is indicative of the extent of the expansion or decline. With some of the indicators within this report, ISM® has indicated the departure point between expansion and decline of comparable government series, as determined by regression analysis. The Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business® survey is sent out to Manufacturing Business Survey Committee respondents the first part of each month. Respondents are asked to report on information for the current month for U.S. operations only. ISM® receives survey responses throughout most of any given month, with the majority of respondents generally waiting until late in the month to submit responses to give the most accurate picture of current business activity. ISM® then compiles the report for release on the first business day of the following month.
The industries reporting growth, as indicated in the Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business® monthly report, are listed in the order of most growth to least growth. For the industries reporting contraction or decreases, those are listed in the order of the highest level of contraction/decrease to the least level of contraction/decrease.
Responses to Buying Policy reflect the percent reporting the current month's lead time, the approximate weighted number of days ahead for which commitments are made for Capital Expenditures; Production Materials; and Maintenance, Repair and Operating (MRO) Supplies, expressed as hand-to-mouth (five days), 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, six months (180 days), a year or more (360 days), and the weighted average number of days. These responses are raw data, never revised, and not seasonally adjusted.
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About Institute for Supply Management®
Institute for Supply Management® (ISM®) serves supply management professionals in more than 90 countries. Its 50,000 members around the world manage about US$1 trillion in corporate and government supply chain procurement annually. Founded in 1915 as the first supply management institute in the world, ISM is committed to advancing the practice of supply management to drive value and competitive advantage for its members, contributing to a prosperous and sustainable world. ISM leads the profession through the ISM® Report On Business®, its highly regarded certification programs and the ISM® Advance™ Digital Platform. This report has been issued by the association since 1931, except for a four-year interruption during World War II.
The full text version of the Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business® is posted on ISM®'s website at www.ismrob.org on the first business day* of every month after 10:00 a.m. ET.
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SOURCE Institute for Supply Management | 2022-07-01T15:32:01+00:00 | newschannel10.com | https://www.newschannel10.com/prnewswire/2022/07/01/manufacturing-pmi-53-june-2022-manufacturing-ism-report-business/ |
HOUSTON (AP) — Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker returned Thursday for the finale of a series against the Texas Rangers following a five-game absence after testing positive for COVID-19.
The 73-year-old Baker said he never felt bad and had only mild symptoms that he attributed to seasonal allergies before testing positive.
“I’m very fortunate that I had both my shots and the two boosters,” he said. “So, I’m really hoping that everybody goes and gets the shots and boosters, because if you do get (COVID-19) hopefully it’s mild like mine was.”
Baker tested positive on Friday when the team was on a road trip in Cleveland. He isolated in his hotel room all weekend and did not return to Houston with the team on Sunday night.
He returned to Houston on a private jet Monday but wasn’t cleared to return to the dugout until Thursday.
At first, Baker welcomed the rest amid a hectic season in which he didn’t get any time off during the All-Star break because he was the manager of the AL squad. But after a couple of days, boredom set in.
“I listened to music all day, watched TV, made phone calls and caught up on things,” he said. “I don’t get bored, but after five or six days you want to get back out here.”
He kept up with the team by watching the games on television and staying in constant contact with bench coach Joe Espada, who managed the team in his absence. He didn’t watch one game — Sunday’s 1-0 loss to Cleveland — because it was broadcast on Peacock, NBC’s streaming service, and he couldn’t figure out how to watch it in his hotel room.
He wasn’t that mad about it, though, because he used the extra time to catch a Bob Marley documentary on Netflix while keeping up with the game on his phone.
“That was a pretty good afternoon,” he said, adding that he saw the late reggae great in concert twice, including once in Jamaica.
Baker said he was never that concerned about testing positive despite being in a high-risk age bracket.
“Not really because I didn’t feel anything,” he said. “And I kept waiting to feel something.”
The Astros, who at 71-41 began Thursday tied with the Yankees for the best record in the American League, went 2-3 while Baker was out.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2022-08-11T21:56:07+00:00 | pix11.com | https://pix11.com/sports/ap-sports/houstons-baker-back-after-missing-5-games-with-covid-19/ |
WFO DALLAS / FT. WORTH Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Friday, November 11, 2022
_____
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
926 AM CST Fri Nov 11 2022
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 AM CST
FOR NORTHWESTERN MILAM AND SOUTHERN BELL COUNTIES...
At 925 AM CST, a severe thunderstorm was located near Stillhouse
Hollow Lake, or 5 miles west of Salado, moving east at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Half dollar size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Damage to vehicles is possible.
Locations impacted include...
Killeen, Temple, Harker Heights, Belton, Nolanville, Bartlett,
Salado, Little River-Academy, Rogers, Holland, Buckholts, Stillhouse
Hollow Lake, Sparks, Union Grove, Yarrelton, Leedale, Edgeworth,
Cedar Valley, Sharp and Pettibone.
FOR NORTHWESTERN MILAM AND SOUTHEASTERN BELL COUNTIES...
At 928 AM CST, a severe thunderstorm was located over Salado, or 8
miles southwest of Belton, moving east at 50 mph. At 927 AM, trained
spotters reported golf ball size hail with this storm.
HAZARD...Golf ball size hail.
SOURCE...Trained weather spotters.
IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect damage
to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles.
Temple, Harker Heights, Belton, Nolanville, Bartlett, Salado, Little
River-Academy, Rogers, Holland, Buckholts, Stillhouse Hollow Lake,
Sparks, Union Grove, Yarrelton, Leedale, Edgeworth, Cedar Valley,
Sharp, Pettibone and Prairie Dell.
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Copyright 2022 AccuWeather | 2022-11-11T16:48:16+00:00 | sfgate.com | https://www.sfgate.com/weather/article/TX-WFO-DALLAS-FT-WORTH-Warnings-Watches-and-17577270.php |
The secrets behind your favorite Christmas movie classics
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Updated: 9:44 AM EST Nov 26, 2022
charlie, you still got the glass ball right. All you gotta do is shake it whenever you want to see your dad, Welcome to miss mojo and today we're counting down our picks for where the cast of the santa claus is now can we take *** direct flight back to reality or do we have to change planes in Denver? Larry take charlie here and get him some challenge for this list. We'll be looking at what the actors from this classic christmas comedy have been up to since 1994. Are you going to watch the santa clauses let us know in the comments number 10 mary Gross. Those who grew up in the eighties might recognize gross from SNL when she co anchored weekend update and appeared as characters like the sarcastic none. You cannot continue to be sarcastic and serve God you do want to serve God, don't you? Oh no, I'm *** nun. I want to worship satan and dance naked at *** black mass. Nineties kids will know her as charlie's teacher in the santa claus, Gross made the most of her limited screen time as Miss Daniels who forces herself to smile through an uncomfortable career day while teaching her students the political correctness of saying elves bobby. We don't say stupid and we don't say elves, they're little people aside for *** couple of other movies like practical magic, Gross primarily made tv guest appearances from dramas like six ft under to sitcoms, like that's so raven to daytime soaps. Like general Hospital Gross has been retired from acting for nearly *** decade. Her last credit being *** 2012 episode of raising hope. I look forward to seeing you again real soon. Oh yeah, real soon. Number nine Stevanovic, Stevanovic's screen time in the santa claus is also brief, but he plays an integral role in one of the most memorable sequences concerned by his sudden weight gain. Scott consults Voinovich's Doctor Novo's well nuts. Oh no, your pulse is great. I don't know scott, you're you're as healthy as *** horse. Yeah, Clydesdale. Although scott's belly literally jiggles like *** bowl full of jelly, the doctor assures his patient that he's somehow in good health. Funnily enough, Voinovich later played another doctor on Tim allen sitcom, Home improvement. As far as guest starring roles, Go Voinovich's most significant was perhaps playing one of the few people who hates Raymond, so it's true. You do hate me man. You ought to learn to quit while you're ahead. Voinovich has popped up in several broadway shows like waitress playing the kindly joe and lent his voice to various animated projects, including puffin in the swan princess franchise, The Prince wants *** fighting Air force and it's my job to get you birds in shape. You're in puffins army now. Number eight frank Welker Speaking of voice actors, you might not know frank Welker's face, but you've definitely heard his voice from dogs to monkeys to Bigfoot. There isn't *** creature under the sun that Welker hasn't provided noises for. This extends to reindeer in the santa claus. Easy Rudolph excuse me. While fellow voice actor bob Bergen inherited the role of Comet in the Sequels welcome remains one of the definitive artists in the business decades later, he's still voicing transformers and Disney characters, including *** boo and cave of wonders. Oh why Sultan, how may I serve you? He's most notably the voice of fred jones and Scooby doo. *** franchise he's been associated with for over 50 years recently, he received *** Children's and family Emmy nomination for voicing both characters as well as himself on Scooby doo and guess who what exactly? Hm You know, it's kind of funny scoob, I've been doing it for 50 years now, but I'm not really sure I know how to explain it. Number seven Peter Boyle. Peter Boyle was already an established character actor before appearing as scott's boss. Mr Whittle Calvin, you don't believe in santa, do you Calvin, can we get back to the presentation? His resume ranged from classic comedies like young Frankenstein to gritty dramas like taxi driver Boyle was at his most popular during his later years, winning an Emmy for his 1996 guest spot on the X Files, He'd received eight more Emmy nominations for his regular stint on everybody loves Raymond as frank Barone, probably his most celebrated role. I bet you can't even name the reindeer, no Rudolph Donner blitzen, those are the main ones, we rotate them so they wear evenly while mr Whittle doesn't appear in the santa claus Sequels, Boyle would return as Father Time. Why do Father Time and Whittle look the same? Maybe it's *** glitch in the space time continuum. The escape clause would be among boils final rolls hitting theaters just *** month before he died in 2006, 27 days, 20 hours and 17 minutes is what I do. Number six paige Tamada. The elves in the santa claus are played by kids but they're older than they look kid kid who's in charge. Here you are and I'm not *** kid, pointy shoes judy. The Elf for example, is 1000 200 years old, although actress paige Tamada was closer to nine when the film came out, tomato had already popped up in an episode of home improvement as *** girl who repeatedly best tim in toy car racing, hang it up, old man, can I go with my friends now, you know, you're starting to tick me off *** little bit after giving scott his hot chocolate tomato would appear in other sitcoms like Seinfeld and Ally Mcbeal before leaving the acting scene at the turn of the century. Now, living *** private life tomato reportedly attended the University of California and the University of Amsterdam going on to build *** career for herself in Hr I must say look pretty good for your age. Thanks, but I'm seeing someone in wrapping number five David Krumholtz, This jewish american actor got his big break as the nerdy Joel Glick er in adam's family values but we remember him best for playing santa's no nonsense head Elf. Hey Barabbas Bernard, Oh sorry Bernard, you might also know him as Goldstein from the Harold and Kumar movies or as Michael Eckman from 10 things I hate about you like me. Krumholz reprised his role as Bernard in the santa claus too. Although *** scheduling conflict got in the way of him returning for the escape clause 2011 was *** difficult year for Krumholz as he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer thankfully Krumholz was declared cancer free in 2012 and 10 years later, news broke that he'd be coming back for santa claus is number four. Wendy Crewson the santa claus is among the rare films featuring divorced parents who refreshingly. Don't get back together normalizing to household families, one of those households, just so happens to be at the North Pole. Do you want to go for *** quick ride? Yeah, of course it's up to your mom, Please mom, go on, get out of here. Wendy Crewson played scott's ex wife and charlie's mom in all three santa claus movies. We imagine raising charlie was easier than dealing with Henry in the good son tim, Allen might fly santa's sleigh but Krewson flew Air force one with Harrison Ford's president marshall needed to be done and you did it. You spoke from your heart and that's what I heard tonight. While no stranger to us audiences, Cruisin is even more iconic in her birthplace of Canada, where she has been honored with the Earl Gray award and on the walk of fame, she also won two Canadian screen awards for her work on saving hope and slasher And she's the grandmother in it. But I get to put *** whole new slant on granny. So that's been very interesting. # three, judge reinhold, the Santa Claus also subverted the misconception that step parents have to be villains. Where did you hear that? I learned *** lot from him. He listens to me while Neil miller isn't always the nicest guy, he genuinely cares about laura and charlie plus it makes sense why *** psychiatrist would be skeptical of scott's new career as santa. What about the reindeer? Have you ever seen *** reindeer fly? Yes, well I haven't judge Reinhold helped to make the character funnier and more likable than anticipated. It didn't hurt that. Reinhold was already *** seasoned comedic actor starring in Fast Times at Ridgemont High Gremlins and the Beverly Hills cop trilogy. Ryan hold has done some of his funniest work on television, mastering the art of close talking on Seinfeld. He's even played himself on arrested development and clerks, the animated series in both cases serving as *** judge, it was bound to happen eventually. I'm sorry Judge, that's ok. It's more laughs than I got in head office. Number two eric Lloyd, You believed in me when nobody else did you helped make me santa. While eric Lloyd is best known for playing scott's son, charlie in the santa claus, nineties kids will also recognize the former child star from Dunston checks in and the goose bumps escape from horror Land video game. What do actor kevin Arnold from the Wonder Years, Bruce Wayne from batman and Robin and Billy Crystal from My Giant have in common Lloyd played younger versions of all three. Lloyd has done some voiceover work as well, playing blankie in the brave little toaster Sequels, grandpa Sebastian. Very, how about you? Oh yes, very comfy. Opening *** studio in 2015. Lloyd has been more focused on the production side of Hollywood as of late but he's not retired from acting. Lloyd returned for the santa claus Sequels and the santa clauses as charlie who's all grown up now. So for the good of christmas, I'm retiring, wow, I didn't even know you could do that. I think we see what the rest of world is like as normal people before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified about our latest videos, you have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them. If you're on your phone, make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications. Number one tim Allen by 1994 tim, Allen was already the lead on one of tv's highest rated sitcoms home improvement with the santa claus. The tool man proved that he was movie star material as well. Allen went from one hit movie to another voicing Buzz Lightyear in the following years. Toy story to infinity and beyond. Since then we've seen Alan go from jungle to jungle helm, the N. S. E. *** protector, become *** shaggy dog and attempt to skip christmas in another holiday comedy. While much has changed, Alan hasn't strayed too far from his roots. What is that? It means you put on the suit, you're the big guy in recent years. He's remained prominent on the sitcom scene as mike Baxter on last man standing voiced buzz again in Toy Story four and played scott Calvin for the fourth time in the santa claus is Who are you santa claus? Do you agree with our picks? Check out this other recent clip from Miss mojo and be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos
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The secrets behind your favorite Christmas movie classics
Watching Christmas movies is a whole tradition unto itself. Every family has their mainstays, whether it's an animated classic from yesteryear or a more modern take on holiday cheer.Get to know some of the fascinating stories behind the stories, so you can watch your old favorites with fresh eyes. (And bother everyone with your newly acquired trivia.)'A Charlie Brown Christmas' was supposed to be a flop"A Charlie Brown Christmas" is a cozy holiday classic now, but some of the people involved in its production thought it was going to bomb with audiences. The 1965 film was created as a TV special with financial backing from Coca-Cola, but was put together in just a matter of weeks to meet broadcast demands.Several iconic aspects of the film, like the simple animation and unique jazz score by pianist Vince Guaraldi, were a bit odd for the time. Director Bill Melendez even reportedly declared, "I think we've ruined Charlie Brown."Lo, all those worries were for naught. "A Charlie Brown Christmas" was an immediate hit, and all of the things producers worried made it too strange were the things that made it beloved.Classic songs were reused, rewritten and dubbed for 'White Christmas'The 1954 film "White Christmas" is brimming with behind-the-scenes lore, especially when it comes to the music. Most well-known is the fact that Vera-Ellen, who played Judy Haynes, didn't do any of her own singing. (Her dancing, though, was a different story.) Singer Trudy Stevens provided Judy's voice.All of the songs in "White Christmas" were written by Irving Berlin, the legendary songwriter who wrote hundreds of hits, including "God Bless America." "White Christmas" is one of his most famous tunes, and it was originally performed in the 1942 film "Holiday Inn."The song "Snow," sung by the starring "White Christmas" foursome as they head to Vermont, was originally called "Free," and was written for a musical called "Call Me Madam." It had a completely different set of lyrics, which Berlin changed to fit the film's holiday feel.A whole new language is used in 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas'Do you know "Seussian Latin?" The term describes the robust collection of made-up words used by author Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. For the 1966 animated classic "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," producers wanted the musical feeling of a Christmas special, but didn't want to include elements that would seem out of sync with Seuss' fantastical world.Thus, Whoville's Christmas songs were written in Seussian style. Viewers even wrote in after the special aired asking for translations. Alas, "Fahoo fores, dahoo dores" doesn't actually mean anything. Trimming the tree with "bingle balls and whofoo fluff?" Just use your imagination.Hundreds of Jack Skellingtons appear in 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'Stop-motion animation is an art form forged with exquisite craftsmanship and a lot of patience. The animators behind 1993's "The Nightmare Before Christmas" used about 400 different hand-sculpted heads to bring Jack Skellington to life. In a behind-the-scenes special about the film, animators explain that every sound and facial expression Jack made required a different head that could be popped on and off of the character's puppet body. With that kind of painstaking work, it's no wonder the film took three years to make!A woman was the voice of 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,' but she didn't get credit at firstRudolph may have been a cute little boy reindeer in the 1964 TV special, but he was brought to life by Canadian voice actor Billie Mae Richards. Most of the voice cast for this stop-motion classic was actually Canadian because it was cheaper to record audio for the special in Canada. However, in the original credits of the film, Richards is noted as Billy Richards.That wasn't an accident — she was intentionally credited that way to obscure her gender. She once said kids wouldn't believe it when her own grandchildren told them she did Rudolph's voice — but she could prove it by doing the voice on the spot.Michael Caine did a literal balancing act during 'The Muppet Christmas Carol'By all accounts, Michael Caine had a great time acting as one of the sole humans in 1992's "The Muppet Christmas Carol." However, being a giant among puppets comes with a few challenges. The bottom of the sets were made up of a series of pits to allow room for Muppet puppeteers. That meant Caine and his fellow humans had to walk on boards above the puppeteers, kind of like an advanced version of "the floor is lava." (The floor is people, perhaps.)Set designers also used forced perspective to keep everything in proportion — a common set trick that's also used at numerous theme parks. They also included a nice nod to Caine: One of the signs on the street set reads "Micklewhite's," which is Caine's real last name.Soap was used to make 'snow' in 'It's a Wonderful Life'Not all movie magic is high-tech. In the 1940s, when "It's a Wonderful Life" was produced, movie crews typically used painted cornflakes as snow. Though melt-proof, they were also a little too ... crunchy. The film's director Frank Capra decided to try something quieter, and landed on a custom blend for his winter scenes: Ivory soap flakes, chipped ice, and Foamite, a compound used in fire extinguishers. According to the "It's a Wonderful Life" museum, if you pay close attention to the scene with Clarence and George in the river, you can see some tell-tale soap suds floating by.'Trading Places' includes an operatic Easter eggPerk up your ears while watching the 1983 comedy "Trading Places." The classical music heard in the opening scene, and throughout the movie, is from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera "The Marriage of Figaro." Christmas movies and classical music go together like milk and cookies, ("Ode to Joy" and "Die Hard," anyone?) but Elmer Bernstein, who scored the film, was especially clever to add this particular piece."The Marriage of Figaro" is a tale of madcap misunderstanding, in which a servant tries to get the best of his pompous, wealthy employer — similar to how "Trading Places'" Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy get revenge on two scheming executives.
Watching Christmas movies is a whole tradition unto itself. Every family has their mainstays, whether it's an animated classic from yesteryear or a more modern take on holiday cheer.
Get to know some of the fascinating stories behind the stories, so you can watch your old favorites with fresh eyes. (And bother everyone with your newly acquired trivia.)
Advertisement
'A Charlie Brown Christmas' was supposed to be a flop
"A Charlie Brown Christmas" is a cozy holiday classic now, but some of the people involved in its production thought it was going to bomb with audiences. The 1965 film was created as a TV special with financial backing from Coca-Cola, but was put together in just a matter of weeks to meet broadcast demands.
Several iconic aspects of the film, like the simple animation and unique jazz score by pianist Vince Guaraldi, were a bit odd for the time. Director Bill Melendez even reportedly declared, "I think we've ruined Charlie Brown."
Lo, all those worries were for naught. "A Charlie Brown Christmas" was an immediate hit, and all of the things producers worried made it too strange were the things that made it beloved.
Classic songs were reused, rewritten and dubbed for 'White Christmas'
The 1954 film "White Christmas" is brimming with behind-the-scenes lore, especially when it comes to the music. Most well-known is the fact that Vera-Ellen, who played Judy Haynes, didn't do any of her own singing. (Her dancing, though, was a different story.) Singer Trudy Stevens provided Judy's voice.
All of the songs in "White Christmas" were written by Irving Berlin, the legendary songwriter who wrote hundreds of hits, including "God Bless America." "White Christmas" is one of his most famous tunes, and it was originally performed in the 1942 film "Holiday Inn."
The song "Snow," sung by the starring "White Christmas" foursome as they head to Vermont, was originally called "Free," and was written for a musical called "Call Me Madam." It had a completely different set of lyrics, which Berlin changed to fit the film's holiday feel.
Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock
"White Christmas" is a movie that has a lot of behind-the-scenes lore.
A whole new language is used in 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas'
Do you know "Seussian Latin?" The term describes the robust collection of made-up words used by author Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. For the 1966 animated classic "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," producers wanted the musical feeling of a Christmas special, but didn't want to include elements that would seem out of sync with Seuss' fantastical world.
Thus, Whoville's Christmas songs were written in Seussian style. Viewers even wrote in after the special aired asking for translations. Alas, "Fahoo fores, dahoo dores" doesn't actually mean anything. Trimming the tree with "bingle balls and whofoo fluff?" Just use your imagination.
Everett Collection
Max and the Grinch in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."
Hundreds of Jack Skellingtons appear in 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'
Stop-motion animation is an art form forged with exquisite craftsmanship and a lot of patience. The animators behind 1993's "The Nightmare Before Christmas" used about 400 different hand-sculpted heads to bring Jack Skellington to life. In a behind-the-scenes special about the film, animators explain that every sound and facial expression Jack made required a different head that could be popped on and off of the character's puppet body. With that kind of painstaking work, it's no wonder the film took three years to make!
A woman was the voice of 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,' but she didn't get credit at first
Rudolph may have been a cute little boy reindeer in the 1964 TV special, but he was brought to life by Canadian voice actor Billie Mae Richards. Most of the voice cast for this stop-motion classic was actually Canadian because it was cheaper to record audio for the special in Canada. However, in the original credits of the film, Richards is noted as Billy Richards.
That wasn't an accident — she was intentionally credited that way to obscure her gender. She once said kids wouldn't believe it when her own grandchildren told them she did Rudolph's voice — but she could prove it by doing the voice on the spot.
Classic Media/CBS Entertainment
Rudolph was voiced by Billie Mae Richards.
Michael Caine did a literal balancing act during 'The Muppet Christmas Carol'
By all accounts, Michael Caine had a great time acting as one of the sole humans in 1992's "The Muppet Christmas Carol." However, being a giant among puppets comes with a few challenges. The bottom of the sets were made up of a series of pits to allow room for Muppet puppeteers. That meant Caine and his fellow humans had to walk on boards above the puppeteers, kind of like an advanced version of "the floor is lava." (The floor is people, perhaps.)
Set designers also used forced perspective to keep everything in proportion — a common set trick that's also used at numerous theme parks. They also included a nice nod to Caine: One of the signs on the street set reads "Micklewhite's," which is Caine's real last name.
Soap was used to make 'snow' in 'It's a Wonderful Life'
Not all movie magic is high-tech. In the 1940s, when "It's a Wonderful Life" was produced, movie crews typically used painted cornflakes as snow. Though melt-proof, they were also a little too ... crunchy. The film's director Frank Capra decided to try something quieter, and landed on a custom blend for his winter scenes: Ivory soap flakes, chipped ice, and Foamite, a compound used in fire extinguishers. According to the "It's a Wonderful Life" museum, if you pay close attention to the scene with Clarence and George in the river, you can see some tell-tale soap suds floating by.
'Trading Places' includes an operatic Easter egg
Perk up your ears while watching the 1983 comedy "Trading Places." The classical music heard in the opening scene, and throughout the movie, is from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera "The Marriage of Figaro." Christmas movies and classical music go together like milk and cookies, ("Ode to Joy" and "Die Hard," anyone?) but Elmer Bernstein, who scored the film, was especially clever to add this particular piece.
"The Marriage of Figaro" is a tale of madcap misunderstanding, in which a servant tries to get the best of his pompous, wealthy employer — similar to how "Trading Places'" Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy get revenge on two scheming executives. | 2022-11-26T16:22:26+00:00 | wtae.com | https://www.wtae.com/article/the-secrets-behind-your-favorite-christmas-movie-classics/42069145 |
HOOKER, Okla. (KFOR) – Authorities have identified a man who was killed in a small plane crash in Texas County, Oklahoma, Saturday night.
Around 9:30 p.m. on Jan. 28, emergency crews were called to a plane crash just south of County Rd B, approximately 10 miles northwest of Hooker, Oklahoma.
Investigators say a Cessna 172 went down in the area.
Officials say 46-year-old Victor Mendoza of Liberal, Kansas, was the only occupant, and he was pronounced dead in the crash.
At this point, the crash is under investigation. | 2023-01-30T23:04:00+00:00 | ksn.com | https://www.ksn.com/news/state-regional/kansas-man-killed-in-oklahoma-small-plane-crash/ |
Man receives near-6-figure payout after rolling ankle on Charleston sidewalk
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - South Carolina will pay a settlement to a man who sued after suffering an injury on one of Charleston’s most famous streets.
The state’s insurance reserve fund is now paying the man $95,000 for his injury.
The man filed a lawsuit which stated that in 2018, he was walking on King Street when he “unexpectedly rolled his ankle on an uneven area of the sidewalk,” causing him to sustain injuries.
The suit, which was filed two years later in 2020, called the sidewalk constituted an “unreasonable danger to the public” and alleged the city of Charleston and the South Carolina Department of Transportation should have known that an uneven sidewalk was hazardous.
The lawsuit stated the city and the SCDOT owed him a duty of care to maintain the sidewalk, inspect it, and warn of or eliminate risks.
The Department of Transportation declined to comment, saying it does not comment on pending litigation. The City of Charleston has not yet responded to a request for comment.
Copyright 2022 WCSC. All rights reserved. | 2022-09-13T22:35:47+00:00 | live5news.com | https://www.live5news.com/2022/09/13/man-receives-near-6-figure-payout-after-rolling-ankle-charleston-sidewalk/ |
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