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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida beaches typically rank among the best in America. However, several recently ranked among the most dangerous to visit in the country.
A travel company called Travel Lens recently looked at the number of surf zone fatalities, the number of shark attacks, and the number of hurricanes since 2010. Each beach was then assigned a “danger score” — 1 through 10 — based on their weighted averages.
Data from Travel Lens shows seven of the 10 beaches ranked among the “deadliest” are in Florida.
Topping the list is New Smyrna Beach, just south of Daytona in Volusia County, Florida. The travel website said New Smyrna Beach had more shark attacks than another other — a total of 32.
Cocoa Beach just north of Daytona, ranked second, with seven surf zone fatalities and just as many shark attacks. Another in Florida, Ormond Beach, rounded out the top three, with eight surf zone fatalities and four shark attacks since 2010.
Here is a look at the top 10 “deadliest beaches” in America, according to Travel Lens.
- New Smyrna Beach, Florida (8.14 danger score)
- Cocoa Beach, Florida (7.57 danger score)
- Ormond Beach, Florida (7.48 danger score)
- Panama City Beach, Florida (7.16 danger score)
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (6.61 danger score)
- Melbourne Beach, Florida (6.35 danger score)
- Jacksonville Beach, Florida (6.02 danger score)
- Oak Island, North Carolina (5.54 danger score)
- Gulf Shores, Alabama (5.38 danger score)
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida (5.37 danger score)
To stay safe in the water, the American Red Cross recommends swimming in designated areas supervised by lifeguards and always with a buddy. You should also check the weather and surf zone forecast before heading to the beach. | 2023-02-03T14:49:03+00:00 | mytwintiers.com | https://www.mytwintiers.com/news-cat/national-news/where-are-the-deadliest-beaches-in-america/ |
TOTAL YARDAGE
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DEFENSE | 2022-11-27T15:31:53+00:00 | seattlepi.com | https://www.seattlepi.com/sports/article/NFL-Team-Stax-17613552.php |
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA is launching a study of UFOs as part of a new push toward high-risk, high-impact science.
The space agency announced Thursday that it’s setting up an independent team to see how much information is publicly available on the matter and how much more is needed to understand the unexplained sightings. The experts will also consider how best to use all this information in the future.
NASA’s science mission chief, Thomas Zurbuchen acknowledged the traditional scientific community may see NASA as “kind of selling out” by venturing into the controversial topic, but he strongly disagrees.
“We are not shying away from reputational risk,” Zurbuchen said during a National Academy of Sciences webcast. “Our strong belief is that the biggest challenge of these phenomena is that it’s a data-poor field.”
NASA considers this a first step in trying to explain mysterious sightings in the sky known as UAPs, or unidentified aerial phenomena.
The study will begin this fall and last nine months, costing no more than $100,000. It will be entirely open, with no classified military data used.
NASA said the team will be led by astrophysicist David Spergel, president of the Simons Foundation for advancing scientific research. In a news conference, Spergel said the only preconceived notion going into the study is that the UAPs will likely have multiple explanations.
“We have to approach all these questions with a sense of humility,” Spergel said. “I spent most of my career as a cosmologist. I can tell you we don’t know what makes up 95% of the universe. So there are things we don’t understand.”
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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. | 2022-06-10T04:35:44+00:00 | valleycentral.com | https://www.valleycentral.com/news/national-news/nasa-launches-study-of-ufos-despite-reputational-risk/ |
Friday, March 24, 2023: Windy and warm with temperatures in the high 90s
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PASADENA, Calif. – By the time the smoke had cleared from the pregame fireworks show and the sun had set past the mountains that loom over the Rose Bowl, the USC Trojans knew to brace for a long, tense and topsy-turvy evening.
Both quarterbacks delivered, combining for more than 900 total yards and nine touchdowns in front of a sellout crowd of 70,865. But it was Williams who, after digging out of a 14-0 hole and leading a dramatic 48-45 win, capped off a victory lap around the field by climbing a ladder and triumphantly wielding a long sword as “Fight On!” chants rained down from the Trojan faithful.
“An iconic type game," said USC Coach Lincoln Riley, who won his first matchup against his new crosstown rivals. "It lived up to the billing. We tried to prepare our team for what a rivalry game looks and feels like. There’s going to be tons of emotion in it and momentum swings. You’ve got to be able to ride the wave.”
With the win, USC improved to 10-1, secured a spot in the Pac-12 championship game on Dec. 2 in Las Vegas and put itself in position to move up a spot to No. 6 in the CFP rankings. UCLA fell to 8-3.
Williams (Gonzaga High), a D.C. native who followed Riley from Oklahoma to USC last summer, finished with 470 yards on 32-43 passing and two touchdowns. The standout sophomore added 50 yards and two more touchdowns on the ground.
“I went into this game expecting it to be a dogfight,” Williams said. “You’re going to have to do your job, and do it at a high level. And keep fighting, keep swinging.”
By outlasting Thompson-Robinson and overcoming an unsteady start to lead a near-unstoppable second-half attack, Williams bolstered his Heisman Trophy case in advance of next week’s showdown against Notre Dame. The Heisman field got a shake-up Saturday, as Michigan running back Blake Corum suffered a left knee injury against Illinois and Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker lost for the second time in three weeks.
“You don’t focus on [the Heisman],” Riley said. “You’re just trying to win each week for your team. Those are the guys that find a way to do it. [Williams] has been one of the best players in the country this year. He’s played really well. If any of those things come to fruition, that’s great. Those are byproducts. That’s not why he’s here.”
What eventually became a signature night began in auspicious fashion for Williams, who was stonewalled on fourth-and-short on USC’s first drive and picked off by UCLA linebacker Kain Medrano late in the first quarter.
The Bruins wasted little time capitalizing on Williams’s third interception of the season. Thompson-Robinson rolled out to his left before connecting with tight end Michael Ezeike down the right sideline for a 30-yard touchdown, leaving USC’s defense dazed and confused by the misdirection.
Thompson-Robinson had set the stage for this fierce affair when he said earlier this week that the Bruins “hate those guys across town.” Until midway through the second quarter, the fifth-year senior seemed intent on steamrolling USC, scoring on a one-yard keeper on UCLA’s second possession and scoring on another short run midway through the second quarter for a 21-10 lead. Thompson-Robinson, now UCLA’s all-time career touchdown leader, celebrated his second score by spinning the ball in the end zone and staring down USC’s band.
But Thompson-Robinson’s control wavered late in the second quarter, as he tossed a pair of head-scratching interceptions to help USC close the gap to 21-20 at halftime. UCLA Coach Chip Kelly did USC one final favor before the break, calling timeout just before Trojan kicker Denis Lynch came up well short on a 49-yard attempt. Given another chance, Lynch, who had already missed two field goal attempts in the first half, connected on a new career-long.
“I shouldn’t have tried to ice the kicker,” Kelly said on his way off the field. “That’s on me.”
Though those crucial three points helped provide the winning margin, they were mostly forgotten in a blur of a fourth quarter. Williams and Thompson-Robinson traded long drive after long drive, scoring so quickly at times that it was difficult to keep up.
Williams found wide receiver Kyle Ford on a fade for a 16-yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter. Then, Williams guided a 10-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a Darvin Barlow touchdown run, only for Thompson-Robinson to respond by capping an eight-play, 75-yard drive with a three-yard pass to Ezeike to cut USC’s lead to three.
Thompson-Robinson finished with 309 yards on 23-38 passing, 91 rushing yards and six total touchdowns, an effort made even more impressive by the fact that he got banged up and needed to wear a protective wrap on his throwing hand.
Though USC and UCLA combined for 28 points in the explosive fourth quarter alone, the endgame was settled by a pair of rare defensive stops. With a little under three minutes remaining, UCLA’s Laiatu Latu sacked Williams for a 11-yard loss near midfield, forcing USC to punt.
On the Bruins’ final drive, Thompson-Robinson squeezes a third-down completion to Jake Bobo for 27 yards, and he seemed poised to tie the game or pull off a dramatic upset on senior night. Instead, USC linebacker Korey Foreman stepped in front of a pass near midfield for a game-sealing interception. Foreman, a highly-regarded high school recruit who had played sparingly this season, embraced Riley during the emotional postgame celebration.
“It was really cool for him,” Riley said. “You just never know when it’s going to be your moment. He was ready. He dropped back and made a great play on the ball. It wasn’t an easy play. It’s a great example of not worrying about expectations. Just keep working and good things happen.” | 2022-11-20T07:53:46+00:00 | washingtonpost.com | https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/11/20/caleb-williams-southern-california-ucla/ |
WFO DALLAS / FT. WORTH Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, May 23, 2022
_____
TORNADO WARNING
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
546 PM CDT Mon May 23 2022
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CDT FOR CENTRAL
LAMPASAS AND SOUTHEASTERN MILLS COUNTIES...
At 546 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 16 miles northeast of Bend, or 18 miles northwest of
Lampasas, moving northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
Locations impacted include...
Lometa.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a
vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter now! Get to an
interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and avoid
windows.
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 PM CDT
FOR NORTHERN PARMER COUNTY...
At 547 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 9 miles north of
Texico, or 9 miles northeast of Clovis, moving northeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to
roofs, siding, and trees.
Friona, Bovina, Farwell, Black and Rhea.
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern
Mitchell and eastern Howard Counties through 630 PM CDT...
At 547 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 12
miles east of Forsan, or 19 miles east of Big Spring, moving north at
20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Colorado City, Coahoma, Lake Colorado City, Lake Colorado City State
Park and Westbrook.
This includes Interstate 20 between mile markers 190 and 215.
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
LAT...LON 3209 10101 3209 10130 3248 10130 3240 10087
TIME...MOT...LOC 2247Z 202DEG 18KT 3214 10116
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of south central Reeves
and northeastern Jeff Davis Counties through 630 PM CDT...
At 547 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Balmorhea Lake, or 24 miles south of Toyah, moving northeast at 10
mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and nickel size hail.
Balmorhea, Balmorhea Lake, Balmorhea State Park, Saragosa, Verhalen
and Toyahvale.
This includes Interstate 10 between mile markers 202 and 220.
LAT...LON 3120 10368 3102 10345 3084 10370 3087 10375
3097 10386
TIME...MOT...LOC 2247Z 222DEG 9KT 3096 10373
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of east central Webb
County through 615 PM CDT...
At 547 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10
miles east of Ranchitos Las Lomas, or 27 miles east of Laredo, moving
north at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and pea size hail.
This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of east central Webb
County.
This includes US Highway 59 between mile markers 792 and 802.
LAT...LON 2754 9902 2760 9914 2782 9903 2767 9885
TIME...MOT...LOC 2247Z 202DEG 18KT 2764 9905
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CDT
FOR NORTHWESTERN WEBB COUNTY...
At 550 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 11 miles southwest
of Gilson Groves, or 28 miles south of Carrizo Springs, moving east
at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts.
IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail
damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind
damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
This severe thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
northwestern Webb County.
Continuous cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Move indoors immediately. Lightning is one of nature's leading
killers. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to
be struck by lightning.
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of west central Scurry,
southeastern Borden and northeastern Howard Counties through 630 PM
CDT...
At 550 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Luther, or 15 miles north of Big Spring, moving northeast at 15 mph.
Luther, J B Thomas Reservoir, Knapp and Vincent.
LAT...LON 3234 10131 3241 10150 3278 10139 3282 10117
3267 10109
TIME...MOT...LOC 2250Z 204DEG 13KT 3245 10137
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Copyright 2022 AccuWeather | 2022-05-24T00:14:57+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/weather/article/TX-WFO-DALLAS-FT-WORTH-Warnings-Watches-and-17193534.php |
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — June is Pride Month and a transgender man in Horry County is sharing his story of transitioning in hopes of changing bills considered in the South Carolina House and Senate.
Rein Jodie wants lawmakers to not sympathize with his story, but hear him out about how gender-affirming laws affect young people. However, some state leaders don’t want to hear it at all.
The 18-year-old teenager started transitioning at the age of 13.
For breaking news sent straight to your inbox >> sign up for QCN Breaking Alerts here.
“It was partially not being able to relate to other girls,” he said. “I consider myself transmasculine since I was born female and I don’t identify with being female anymore.”
Jodie remembers specifically when these types of feelings started to happen as a teenager.
“It wasn’t about being insecure about how my body looked, it was ‘this isn’t the body I should be in,’ he said. “Period. Point blank.”
A simple haircut started the transition. Jodie also told his mom about his decision, who was supportive from the beginning.
“I cut my hair and it felt so freeing. I guess I was just chasing that feeling of freedom because I felt independent,” he said. “It was immediately coming out of the closet. I wasn’t going to stay there. Just immediately told everyone I could. I just like, you know what, spread the news. I’m trans.”
Jodie said going through this process as a teenager was not easy. He said it came with a lot of teasing, bullying and hate.
“Being asked if I had any surgeries, what parts I had. Constantly being berated by my sex,” he said.
SC lawmaker: Transitioning procedures dangerous for minors
He said if laws were in place that allowed him to get hormone treatment or puberty blockers at an early age, the process would have been easier. However, lawmakers like Sen. Joshua Kimbrell don’t agree, saying these medical procedures are dangerous for minors.
“How much more serious is the decision to change one’s gender, in many cases it is irreputable and irreversible,” said Kimbrell, who represents District 11, Spartanburg County. “We don’t want South Carolina to go down the road like some states, like California have done and we’re getting so confused we can’t even determine who we are talking to.”
Sen. Kimbrell currently sponsors two bills aimed toward transgender reassigning practices. Bill 0623 allows South Carolinians to change their gender on their birth certificate from male to female or vice versa, but does not allow someone to list as non-binary. Bill 0627 prohibits gender transition procedures for minors.
“Look, there’s a lot of decisions in this society that we do let people under the age of 18 make. You cannot buy cigarettes, you cannot buy a beer, you cannot join the military, you cannot vote, you can’t get a credit card,” Kimbrell stressed. “I understand people have different opinions of what their gender may be, but we can’t govern based on opinion, we have to govern based on reality.”
Jodie believes lawmakers are not only missing the mark, but are closing their ears off to the true meaning of their message.
“Transgender people deserve human rights and what a lot of people believe are human rights is below the bare minimum,” Jodie said. “I hear a lot of people saying we’re shoving things down people’s throat; they’re saying we keep asking for more. But that ‘more’ we’re asking for is to be protected.”
In 2022, MUSC in Charleston had a transgender pediatric clinic that was funded by the state, but that clinic has since been shut down. The gender bills, 0623 and 0627, passed committee and could be introduced on the senate floor as early as next year. | 2023-06-23T19:55:27+00:00 | qcnews.com | https://www.qcnews.com/news/u-s/south-carolina/horry-county-transgender-man-shares-story-in-hopes-of-changing-restrictive-gender-bills-in-south-carolina-senate/ |
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — LeBron James’ injury hasn’t changed the Los Angeles Lakers’ goal of reaching the postseason.
Lakers coach Darvin Ham said Tuesday that James is still going through medical evaluations before the team makes a decision on how long the NBA’s career scoring leader may be unavailable after injuring his right foot Sunday in a victory over Dallas.
“We’ll wait and see what our medical people come back with,” Ham said before the Lakers’ game against the Memphis Grizzlies, adding that he is uncertain on an exact return date for James.
The Lakers sit in 12th place, outside the playoff picture entering Tuesday’s play. However, they are only a half-game behind the 10th-place New Orleans Pelicans for the last spot in the play-in field, and 2 1/2 behind Dallas for the sixth-place slot that would guarantee a postseason berth.
Asked if the injury could be severe enough for James to be out for the rest of the season, Ham said he didn’t want “to speculate or jump to conclusions about anything.”
“I’ll tell you this,” Ham added, “as an organization, we’re going to make sure we kick the tires and look at everything that needs to be looked at. Never in a hundred million years will we put a guy out there that has a risk of further damaging what’s going on.
“That’s not just with LeBron. That’s with any of our players.”
Los Angeles made key moves at the trade deadline, picking up players such as Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt and D’Angelo Russell to bolster their roster for the stretch run.
Then James’ injury stymied the plan.
Ham said despite the injury to James, the Lakers’ leading scorer at 29.7 points a game, the team’s goals have not changed. He told his team the need to play the right way and play together remain the same.
“The mission has not changed for us,” Ham said.
“It’s a huge blow to have LeBron injured,” he added. “We’ve got to keep going, and it’s full steam ahead with our goals that we set for ourselves.” | 2023-03-01T15:28:37+00:00 | kdvr.com | https://kdvr.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-with-james-injury-lakers-face-challenge-to-reach-postseason/ |
MARIPOSA, Calif. (AP) — A tourist from Michigan who tried to retrace the steps of a family who died during a grueling summer hike in Northern California had to be rescued last week after getting lost, a frustrated sheriff said.
The man, who has not been identified, was reported missing near the trail in Mariposa County where officials last year found the bodies of Jonathan Gerrish, his wife, Ellen Chung, their 1-year-old daughter Aurelia “Miju” Chung-Gerrish and their dog Oski, Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese said in a statement posted on social media.
The mysterious deaths grabbed international headlines. More than 30 law enforcement agencies painstakingly reviewed — and ruled out — causes of deaths such as murder, lightning strikes, poisoning, illegal drugs and suicide.
After a two-month investigation, authorities determined the family and their dog died of extreme heat exhaustion after running out of water while hiking last year on a sunny August afternoon when temperatures reached 109 degrees Fahrenheit (43 Celsius) in the steep mountain terrain.
On June 29, a hiker called authorities after noticing the man’s car was still parked at the trailhead. The caller had met the tourist from Michigan a day earlier when he told him he was investigating the family’s deaths because he found the cause of death “odd,” Briese said.
A search and rescue crew with the help of a helicopter from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office found the man later that day.
The tourist was described as being in his mid-60’s, approximately 5’6” (1.68 meters) and 200 pounds (90 kilograms), and wearing sweatpants “on some of the hottest days we have seen this year,” Briese said.
The man began his hike in an area with a closed gate and marked with a “CLOSED” sign. He had finished the water from the two one-gallon water containers he was carrying and had to drink water from the nearby river, he said.
After rescuers found him, the man wanted to know if there had been updated algae testing on the water, Briese said.
He was treated for dehydration and badly blistered feet before he left the area in his rental car against medical advice, Briese said.
“It is hard not to be angry about this particular rescue mission, I want people to come here and enjoy all the amazing nature Mariposa County has to offer,” Briese said.
“To have someone purposely put themselves in danger, using vital resources and potentially putting the safety of our staff in danger all to try and prove us wrong is maddening and quite frankly sickening,” he added. | 2022-07-08T20:08:21+00:00 | wearegreenbay.com | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/national/michigan-man-rescued-from-california-trail-where-family-died/ |
HONG KONG – Baidu Inc., one of China’s biggest search and artificial intelligence firms, said Wednesday it plans to implement its artificial intelligence chatbot Ernie into its search services from March.
Baidu, which is known for its search engine and autonomous driving technology, leads China's efforts to create an equivalent of OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot. It said earlier this month that it will complete internal testing of Ernie Bot in March before making the service public.
In an internal memo, Baidu CEO Robin Li said that Ernie Bot will be integrated across all of Baidu’s operations, including its search and cloud services. Baidu also plans to integrate Ernie into its smart car operating system and smart speaker.
The company's stock price in New York jumped nearly 7% in pre-market trading Wednesday to more than $150 a share.
“AI technology has reached a tipping point and all industries will inevitably go through transformation,” Li said in the memo.
“Baidu stands as the best example of the long-term growth of China’s AI market and is advancing at the forefront of this new wave,” he said.
The company also announced a $5 billion share buyback on Wednesday.
Baidu reported revenues of 33.1 billion yuan ($4.8 billion) for the quarter that ended in December, about level with the same period of 2021.
Most of Baidu’s revenue comes from its online marketing services, which generated 18.1 billion yuan ($2.62 billion) in sales in the last quarter.
Its Apollo Go autonomous ride-hailing services provided 561,000 rides in the fourth quarter, up 162% from a year earlier.
After years of regulatory scrutiny following a crackdown on the technology sector and a sluggish economy battered by COVID-19, companies like Baidu look likely to invest more as China looks to the industry to revive the economy. | 2023-02-22T11:12:57+00:00 | local10.com | https://www.local10.com/tech/2023/02/22/baidu-to-implement-chatgpt-like-ernie-bot-chatbot-from-march/ |
Conference Call and Live Audio Webcast Scheduled for Thursday, November 10, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. ET
Corporate Highlights
- Successful leadership transition with Jody Staggs named President and Interim Chief Executive Officer and Yvette Heinrichson named Chief Financial Officer
- Closed three new transactions during the quarter, totaling $57.5 million of committed capital
- Subsidiary Enteris achieved $5.0 million milestone with Cara Therapeutics; SWK will retain $2.5 million
- Repurchased 34,463 shares of common stock during the quarter for a total cost of $0.6 million
- Third quarter 2022 GAAP net income was $6.6 million or $0.51 per diluted share
Finance Receivables Segment Update
- Third quarter 2022 GAAP net income was $6.6 million, compared with $2.2 million for the third quarter 2021. Third quarter 2022 finance receivables segment adjusted non-GAAP net income was $6.0 million, compared with $7.7 million for the third quarter of 2021
- As of September 30, 2022, non-GAAP tangible financing book value per share was $19.14, a 9.4% increase from September 30, 2021
- Third quarter 2022 finance portfolio effective yield was 14.3%, near the high-end of the company's historical range
- Third quarter 2022 finance portfolio realized yield was 17.5%
- As of September 30, 2022, total investment assets were $222.2 million, a 7.7% increase from September 30, 2021
- During the third quarter of 2022, $13.1 million of royalty payoffs and paydowns were received, bringing the total loan and royalty repayments to $112.8 million over the last twelve months
- For the trailing twelve months ended September 30, 2022, SWK's core finance receivables segment generated a 11.1% adjusted return on tangible book value, compared with 14.3% for the same period of the prior year
DALLAS, Nov. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SWK Holdings Corporation (Nasdaq: SWKH) ("SWK" or the "Company"), a life science focused specialty finance company catering to small- and mid-sized commercial-stage companies, today provided a business update and announced its financial and operating results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022.
"The third quarter was a productive period at SWK with three financings closed, progress towards improving our capital structure, a leadership transition, and further strengthening and development of our team," stated Jody Staggs, President and Interim CEO of SWK. "Importantly we've done this while maintaining focus on our core mission of being the leader in custom financings for small and mid-sized commercial-stage life science companies. Our focus is driving results as our total investment assets are at an all-time high while our 17.5% realized yield demonstrates attractive pricing."
Mr. Staggs continued, "We believe SWK's solutions are well positioned for the current market environment with many innovative life science companies finding it difficult to raise equity capital. Our deal pipeline is strong with a balance of first lien loan and royalty opportunities. In order to capitalize on this attractive opportunity, we are evaluating responsibly adding leverage to our balance sheet, which will provide additional dry powder and optimize our cost of capital. Our ongoing 10b-5 program reflects the Board of Director's confidence in our strategy and financial position and illustrates our ongoing commitment to accretive capital deployment."
"Looking ahead, our strategy will remain focused on identifying companies, entrepreneurs, and intellectual property to which our financing structures are well suited and where we believe strong risk-adjusted returns are likeliest to be achieved. We believe this strategy will drive value creation for SWK, translating to solid returns for our shareholders."
Third Quarter 2022 Financial Results
For the third quarter 2022, SWK reported total revenue of $13.6 million, a 42.4% increase compared to $9.6 million for the third quarter 2021. The $4.0 million increase in revenue was primarily due to $5.0 million of milestone revenue related to Enteris' License Agreement with Cara received during the three months ended September 30, 2022, which did not occur during the three months ended September 30, 2021. The increase in revenue was partially offset by a $0.9 million net decrease in Finance Receivables segment revenues. The decrease in Finance Receivables segment revenue was due to a $1.3 million net decrease in royalty income primarily due to the achievement of return premiums that caused a step down in royalty rates, which was partially offset by a net increase of $0.4 million in interest and fees earned on finance receivables.
Income before taxes for the quarter was $8.6 million compared to $2.8 million for the same period the previous year, an increase of 195%. The year-over-year increase is primarily due to a $4.9 million increase in income from our Pharmaceutical Development segment and $1.8 million of other income, net on the change in fair value of our warrant assets and marketable investments. The increase was partially offset by a $0.9 million decrease in revenues from our Finance Receivables segment and a $0.8 million increase in general and administrative expense.
GAAP net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2022, increased 195% to $6.6 million, or $0.51 per diluted share, from $2.2 million, or $0.17 per diluted share for the third quarter 2021.
For the third quarter 2022, non-GAAP adjusted net income was $8.3 million, a 94.8% increase from $4.3 million for the third quarter 2021. Non-GAAP adjusted net income for the Finance Receivables segment was $6.0 million, a 22.3% decrease from $7.7 million for the third quarter 2021.
During the last twelve-month period, there were $112.8 million of loan repayments and royalty paydowns, which were partially offset by $93.0 million of new and existing investment funding. As a result, income-producing assets (defined as finance receivables and corporate debt securities) totaled $213.1 million as of September 30, 2022. This is an 8.6% increase compared with income-producing assets of $196.3 million as of September 30, 2021. Total investment assets, which include income-producing assets plus equity-linked securities, totaled $222.2 million as of September 30, 2022, compared to the September 30, 2021, total investment assets of $206.3 million.
Book value per share was $21.62 as of September 30, 2022, compared to $20.36 as of September 30, 2021. Non-GAAP tangible financing book value per share totaled $19.14 as of September 30, 2022, a 9.4% increase from $17.50 as of September 30, 2021. Management views non-GAAP tangible financing book value per share as a relevant metric to value the Company's core finance receivable business. Non-GAAP tangible financing book value per share removes the value of the deferred tax assets and Enteris net asset value.
Tables detailing SWK's financial performance for the third quarter 2022 are below.
Portfolio Status
SWK closed three loans during the quarter, deploying $46.0 million with another $11.5 million in unfunded commitments. We believe the two $25.0 million transactions closed during the quarter demonstrate that SWK's platform can add value to larger borrowers.
- $7.5 million senior secured credit facility with Exeevo, a provider of modern technology for life sciences organizations to revolutionize customer and patient experiences. $5.0 million was funded at close.
- $25.0 million senior secured credit facility to Aziyo Biologics (Nasdaq: AZYO), a commercial-stage regenerative medicine company. $21.0 million was funded at close.
- $25.0 million senior secured credit facility to MedMinder, a leading connected pharmacy care solution for seniors and polypharmacy patients. $20.0 million was funded at close.
For the third quarter 2022, the realized yield of the finance receivables portfolio was 17.5%, versus 18.8% for the same period the previous year. The realized yield is inclusive of all fees, including all realized unamortized fees, amendment fees, and prepayment fees, and is calculated based on the simple average of finance receivables at the beginning and end of the period. The realized yield is greater than the effective yield due to actual cash collections being greater than modeled.
As of September 30, 2022, non-accrual loans totaled $9.8 million, while non-accrual royalty purchases, net of credit loss allowances, totaled $3.0 million. The $9.8 million loan to Flowonix Medical, Inc. remains on non-accrual, and SWK continues to work with the company to achieve a resolution.
As of September 30, 2022, SWK had $12.9 million of unfunded commitments.
Total portfolio investment activity for the three months ended September 30, 2022, and 2021 was as follows (in thousands):
Adjusted Non-GAAP Net Income
The following table provides a reconciliation of SWK's reported (GAAP) consolidated net income to SWK's adjusted consolidated net income (Non-GAAP) for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2022 and 2021. The table eliminates provisions for income taxes, non-cash mark-to-market changes on warrant assets and equity securities, amortization of Enteris intangible assets and any non-cash impact on the remeasurement of contingent consideration.
In the table above, management has deducted the following non-cash items: (i) change in the fair-market value of equities and warrants, as mark-to-market changes are non-cash, (ii) income taxes, as the Company has substantial net operating losses to offset against future income, (iii) amortization expense associated with Enteris intangible assets, and (iv) (gain) loss on remeasurement of contingent consideration.
Finance Receivables Adjusted Non-GAAP Net Income
The following table provides a reconciliation of SWK's consolidated adjusted income before provision for income taxes, listed in the table above, to the non-GAAP adjusted net income for the Finance Receivable segment for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2022 and 2021. The table eliminates Enteris operating (income) loss. The adjusted income before income taxes is derived in the table above and eliminates income tax expense, non-cash mark-to-market changes on warrant assets and equity securities.
Conference Call Information
SWK Holdings will host a conference call and live audio webcast on Thursday, November 10, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. ET, to discuss its corporate and financial results for the third quarter 2022. Interested participants and investors may access the conference call by dialing either:
(844) 378-6488 (U.S.)
(412) 317-1079 (International)
Passcode: 10172367
An audio webcast will be accessible via the Investors Events & Presentations section of the SWK Holdings' website: https://swkhold.investorroom.com/events. An archive of the webcast will remain available for 90 days beginning at approximately 11:30 a.m. ET, on November 10, 2022.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This release includes non-GAAP adjusted net income, non-GAAP finance receivable segment net income, and non-GAAP tangible financing book value per share, which are metrics that are not compliant with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP).
Non-GAAP adjusted net income is adjusted for certain items (including (i) changes in the fair-market value of public equity-related assets and SWK's warrant assets as mark-to-market changes are non-cash, (ii) income taxes as the Company has substantial net operating losses to offset against future income, (iii) changes in the fair-market value of contingent consideration associated with the Enteris acquisition as these changes are non-cash, and (iv) depreciation and amortization expenses, primarily associated with the Enteris acquisition.
In addition to the adjustments noted above, non-GAAP finance receivable segment net income also excludes Enteris operating losses.
Non-GAAP tangible financing book value per share excludes the deferred tax asset, intangible assets, goodwill, Enteris PP&E, and contingent consideration associated with the Enteris transaction. Adjusted return on tangible financing book value is calculated by dividing finance receivables segment adjusted non-GAAP net income by tangible financing book value.
These non-GAAP measures may not be directly comparable to similar measures used by other companies in our industry, as other companies may define such measures differently. Management believes that these measures are useful to investors and management in understanding our ongoing operations and in analysis of ongoing operating trends and provides useful additional information relating to our operations and financial condition. The company encourages investors to carefully consider its results under GAAP, as well as its supplemental non-GAAP information and the reconciliation between these presentations, to more fully understand its business. Non-GAAP financial results are reported in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Further, non-GAAP financial measures, even if similarly titled, may not be calculated in the same manner by all companies, and therefore should not be compared.
About SWK Holdings Corporation
SWK Holdings Corporation is a life science focused specialty finance company partnering with small- and mid-sized commercial-stage healthcare companies. SWK provides non-dilutive financing to fuel the development and commercialization of lifesaving and life-enhancing medical technologies and products. SWK's unique financing structures provide flexible financing solutions at an attractive cost of capital to create long-term value for all SWK stakeholders. SWK's solutions include structured debt, traditional royalty monetization, synthetic royalty transactions, and asset purchases typically ranging in size from $5.0 million to $25.0 million. SWK also owns Enteris BioPharma, whose Peptelligence® and ProPerma™ drug delivery technologies create oral formulations of peptide-based and BCS class II, III, and IV small molecules. Additional information on the life science finance market is available on the Company's website at www.swkhold.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements including words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "estimates," "plan," "will," "may," "look forward," "intend," "guidance," "future" or similar expressions are forward-looking statements. Because these statements reflect SWK's current views, expectations and beliefs concerning future events, these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Investors should note that many factors, as more fully described under the caption "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in SWK's Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and as otherwise enumerated herein, could affect the Company's future financial results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release are qualified by these risk factors. These are factors that, individually or in the aggregate, could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from expected and historical results. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. We assume no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
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SOURCE SWK Holdings Corporation | 2022-11-09T23:53:16+00:00 | kcbd.com | https://www.kcbd.com/prnewswire/2022/11/09/swk-holdings-corporation-announces-financial-results-third-quarter-2022/ |
CHANGZHOU, China, June 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "SVOLT Energy Technology Company Industry Partner Global Recruitment" is initiated by SVOLT, together with SVOLT CAPITAL, Dr. Octopus and 36 Kr, focusing on the three new fields of lithium industry (new technology, new process, new material) and industrial internet (big data, AI intelligence, communication, etc.), globally recruiting excellent talents and technology teams to incubate and innovate, looking for high potential and technology-leading industry enterprises or university teams to empower rapid growth of enterprises and build optimized industrial ecology. In addition, the recruitment will be supported by 500 million yuan innovation incubation fund, and the shortlisted teams will join the Dr. Octopus and receive industrial synergy empowerment support in various aspects such as management and growth.
Conditions of Participation:
Comply with the global recruitment fields of the industry partner
Comply with China's laws and regulations and relevant industrial policies
Have intellectual property rights and no property disputes
Innovative, growth-oriented, and financing stage in the B round or before the B round
Have unique product, technology or business model
Products or services can create positive social value
Enrollment Inquiry: chengqiucheng@36kr.com
Business Cooperation: haoyun@36kr.com
Part I: Project Information
Project name*
(50 words or less, e.g. 36 Kr)
Short description of the project *
(As briefly as possible, explain the project's positioning, service targets, and business model in 300 words or less)
Entry group* (single choice)
Options: Social side or Campus side
Entry track* (optional)
Options:
Social side - industrial intelligent system-related fields (soft): big data analysis, industrial IoT platform, intelligent decision-making, AI industrial quality inspection
Social side - industrial intelligent equipment-related fields (hard): industrial AI edge devices, 5G+ collaborative manufacturing, intelligent equipment, equipment predictive maintenance, intelligent supply chain collaboration
Social side - lithium battery field: new material development, new process, new technology, etc.
Campus side - advanced battery materials, BMS, big data development (platform development, algorithm development), industrial internet platform
Project highlights (fill in at least one of the following three items)
Development Data
Please briefly describe all aspects of the project's development phase, including but not limited to business or application data, list of existing customers, etc. 500 words or less
Competitive Barriers
Please briefly describe the project's moat, or competitive barriers that have been established. 500 words or less
Team Composition
If the team's background is a significant contributor to the project, please describe the specific strengths. within 500 words
Project Leader
Name*
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Please fill in the name of the core members of the project, Multiple members can be filled in
Project leader's relevant experience*
Please describe the education, experience and other relevant content, as briefly as possible. 128 words or less
Part II: Enterprise information
Enterprise subject*
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Drop-down option: country Drop-down option: country province and city
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Financing Status
Latest financing rounds*: (single choice)
Unfinanced Seed round
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Round C
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Round D
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Round E
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Round F
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Strategic financing
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Are you seeking the next round of financing *
Options: Yes, seeking financing
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Part III: Additional Information
Project information*
Must include: 1. Business plan (BP). May add team member information, videos, pictures, patents, etc.
Can include: 1. Project Logo 2. Product pictures
File naming rules
Social side: company name_project information
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(All information should be uploaded in a zip file)
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*Please send this registration form to the following mailbox, the contest staff will contact you after receiving it.
(ian_wu@svolt.cn, chengqiucheng@36kr.com)
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SOURCE SVOLT | 2022-06-08T07:29:30+00:00 | kxii.com | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/08/global-recruitment-svolt-industry-partners/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — Serena Williams says she is ready to step away from tennis after winning 23 Grand Slam titles, turning her focus to having another child and her business interests.
"I'm turning 41 this month, and something's got to give," Williams wrote in an essay released Tuesday by Vogue magazine.
Williams said she does not like the word retirement and prefers to think of this stage of her life as “evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me.”
Williams is playing this week in Toronto, at a hard-court tournament that leads into the U.S. Open, the year’s last Grand Slam event, which begins in New York on Aug. 29.
The American has won more Grand Slam singles titles in the professional era than any other woman or man. Only one player, Margaret Court, collected more, 24, although she won a portion of hers in the amateur era.
___
More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Credit: Christopher Katsarov
Credit: Christopher Katsarov | 2022-08-09T13:52:42+00:00 | springfieldnewssun.com | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/nation-world/serena-williams-says-she-is-evolving-away-from-tennis/7O7N5LEX4RHNDBY2LXOERQ4ACY/ |
DULLES, Va., Oct. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SOFIE Biosciences (SOFIE), an established US manufacturer and developer of radiopharmaceuticals, has dosed and imaged the first patient with [68Ga]FAPI-46 at NYU Langone in its US Clinical Trial of Fibroblast Activation Protein Inhibitor (FAPI). This study is a Phase 2, Multicenter, Non-randomized Study of [68Ga]FAPI-46 PET for imaging patients with Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC)1.
NYU Langone and Mayo Clinic are the first two sites that have been activated in support of this study, with additional sites expected to join in the coming months. Special thanks to NYU Langone Health (PI: Elcin Zan, MD) and Mayo Clinic's clinical trial team (PI: Ajit H. Goenka, MD) and investigators in support of this study.
"We are very excited to test the ability of a novel molecular imaging agent targeting fibroblast activated protein (FAP) to pick up early pancreatic cancer. This is a new day for early detection imaging for pancreatic cancer," stated Dr. Diane Simeone, Director of the Pancreatic Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health's Perlmutter Cancer Center. Dr. Elcin, Zan, Director of Nuclear Theranostics, NYU Langone Health, added, "It is a new chapter in molecular PET imaging and we are privileged to study the fibroblast activation protein (FAP) as a target in the tumor microenvironment (TME) in vivo. The unique potential of FAP-binding radiopharmaceuticals is clear, and we are excited to be the first academic center opening this promising diagnostic trial."
Sherly Mosessian, Ph.D., SOFIE's Chief Scientific Officer, commented, "The published clinical data with FAPI family of compounds in more than 3,500 patients in 4 years is incredible and highlights the promise of diagnostic and companion diagnostic utility of FAPI in many areas of unmet clinical need. This trial is a key step in exploring the performance of [68Ga]FAPI-46 and, soon to come, [18F]FAPI-74, in prospective oncology studies in the US."
SOFIE's vision is to improve patient outcomes by developing and delivering molecular diagnostics and therapeutics (theranostics). With its robust radiopharmaceutical production and distribution network, mature contract manufacturing services, and now, high value radiopharmaceutical intellectual property, SOFIE is poised to deliver on the promise of radiopharmaceuticals. For more information, contact info@sofie.com.
Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive disease with a high mortality rate and challenging patient management due to conventional diagnostic options that may miss established or developing metastatic disease. Pancreatic cancer's aggressive nature is highlighted by 2021 estimates where 60,430 new cases are expected to be diagnosed in the US with an estimated 48,220 deaths from the disease. In 2020, worldwide statistics revealed 495,773 new cases with 466,003 deaths. At present, there is no screening or early detection test for pancreatic cancer that has been shown to reduce mortality from the disease.
Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP) is highly expressed in cancer associated fibroblasts (CAF) across several tumor entities. Quinoline-based PET tracers that act as FAP inhibitors (FAPI), developed by the team at the Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD), have shown encouraging results in pre-clinical and clinical studies. FAPI is an important diagnostic or therapeutic (theranostic) entity that can be deployed alone or in combination with other tumor-targeting therapies such as chemo, immunologic, radiation or cell-based therapies whose function may be otherwise blunted by the tumor stroma.
[68Ga]FAPI-46 is the Gallium-68 radiolabeled PET tracer containing FAPI-46 precursor small molecule critical drug intermediate consisting of a FAPI moiety conjugated with a DOTA chelator. This agent is optimized for production within SOFIE and its clinical trial partners.
[1] [68Ga]-FAPI-46 is not currently approved in any jurisdiction including the United States and European Union.
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SOURCE Sofie Biosciences | 2022-10-13T12:12:44+00:00 | kwch.com | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2022/10/13/first-patient-imaged-sofies-fapi-phase-ii-trial/ |
7 years of sex abuse: How Mormon leaders learned Arizona man was abusing his kids and let it continue
BISBEE, Ariz. — MJ was a tiny, black-haired girl, just 5 years old, when her father admitted to his bishop that he was sexually abusing her.
The father, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and an admitted pornography addict, was in counseling with his bishop when he revealed the abuse. The bishop, who was also a family physician, followed church policy and called what church officials have dubbed the “help line” for guidance.
But the call offered little help for MJ. Lawyers for the church, widely known as the Mormon church, who staff the help line around the clock told Bishop John Herrod not to call police or child welfare officials. Instead he kept the abuse secret.
“They said, ‘You absolutely can do nothing,’” Herrod said in a recorded interview with law enforcement.
Herrod continued to counsel MJ’s father, Paul Douglas Adams, for another year, and brought in Adams’ wife, Leizza Adams, in hopes she would do something to protect the children. She didn’t. Herrod later told a second bishop, who also kept the matter secret after consulting with church officials who maintain that the bishops were excused from reporting the abuse to police under the state’s so-called clergy-penitent privilege.
Adams continued raping MJ for as many as seven more years, into her adolescence, and also abused her infant sister, who was born during that time. He frequently recorded the abuse on video and posted the video on the internet.
Adams was finally arrested by Homeland Security agents in 2017 with no help from the church, after law enforcement officials in New Zealand discovered one of the videos. He died by suicide in custody before he could stand trial.
The Associated Press has obtained nearly 12,000 pages of sealed records from an unrelated child sex abuse lawsuit against the Mormon church in West Virginia. The documents offer the most detailed and comprehensive look yet at the so-called help line Herrod called. Families of survivors who filed the lawsuit said they show it’s part of a system that can easily be misused by church leaders to divert abuse accusations away from law enforcement and instead to church attorneys who may bury the problem, leaving victims in harm’s way.
The help line has been criticized by abuse victims and their attorneys for being inadequate to quickly stop abuse and protect victims. Yet the Utah-based faith has stuck by the system despite the criticism and increasing scrutiny from attorneys and prosecutors, including those in the Adams case.
“‘I just think that the Mormon church really sucks. Seriously sucks,” said MJ, who is now 16, during an interview with the AP. “They are just the worst type of people, from what I’ve experienced and what other people have also experienced.”
MJ and her adoptive mother asked the AP to use only her initials in part because videos of her abuse posted by her father are still circulating on the internet. The AP does not publish the names of sexual abuse survivors without their consent.
William Maledon, an Arizona attorney representing the bishops and the church in a lawsuit filed by three of the Adams’ six children, told the AP last month that the bishops were not required to report the abuse.
“These bishops did nothing wrong. They didn’t violate the law, and therefore they can’t be held liable,” he said. Maledon referred to the suit as “a money grab.”
What to know:4 takeaways from investigation into sex abuse within Mormon church
In his AP interview, Maledon also insisted Herrod did not know that Adams was continuing to sexually assault his daughter after learning of the abuse in a single counseling session.
But in the recorded interview with the agent obtained by the AP, Herrod said he asked Leizza Adams in multiple sessions if the abuse was ongoing and asked her, “What are we going to do to stop it?”
“At least for a period of time I assumed they had stopped things, but — and then I never asked if they picked up again.”
'The perfect lifestyle'
The Adams family lived on a lonely dirt road about 8 miles from the center of Bisbee, an old copper-mining town in southeastern Arizona known today for its antique shops and laid-back attitude. Far from prying eyes, the Adams home — a three-bedroom, open concept affair surrounded by desert — was often littered with piles of clothing and containers of lubricant Adams used to sexually abuse his children, according to legal documents reviewed by the AP.
Paul’s wife, Leizza, assumed most of the child-rearing responsibilities, including getting their six children off to school and chauffeuring them to church and religious instruction on Sundays. Paul, who worked for the U.S. Border Patrol, spent much of his time online looking at porn, often with his children watching, or wandering the house naked or in nothing but his underwear.
He had a short fuse and would frequently throw things, yell at his wife and beat his kids. “He just had this explosive personality,” said Shaunice Warr, a Border Patrol agent and a Mormon who worked with Paul and described herself as Leizza’s best friend. “He had a horrible temper.”
Paul was more relaxed while coaxing his older daughter to hold a smartphone camera and record him while he sexually abused her. He also seemed to revel in the abuse in online chat rooms, where he once bragged that he had “the perfect lifestyle” because he could have sex with his daughters whenever he pleased, while his wife knew and “doesn’t care.”
He would later tell investigators the abuse was a compulsion he couldn’t stop. “I got into something too deep that I just couldn’t pull myself out of,” he said. “I’m not trying to say the devil made me do it.”
The Adams family was deeply involved in the Mormon community, and on Sundays they attended services in Bisbee. So Adams turned to his church, and to Bishop Herrod, when he sought help and revealed his abuse of MJ.
Herrod later told Homeland Security agent Robert Edwards he knew from the start that Leizza Adams was unlikely to stop her husband, after he called her into the counseling sessions. The bishop, who was also Leizza’s personal physician, said she seemed “pretty emotionally dead” when her husband recounted his abuse of their daughter. The bishop also recognized the harm being done to MJ. “I doubt (she) will ever do well,” he said in his recorded interview with Homeland Security agents.
Herrod also told Edwards that when he called the help line, church officials told him the state’s clergy-penitent privilege required him to keep Adams’s abuse confidential.
But the law required no such thing.
Arizona’s child sex abuse reporting law, and similar laws in more than 20 states that require clergy to report child sex abuse and neglect, says that clergy, physicians, nurses, or anyone caring for a child who “reasonably believes” a child has been abused or neglected has a legal obligation to report the information to police or the state Department of Child Safety. But it also says that clergy who receive information about child neglect or sexual abuse during spiritual confessions “may withhold” that information from authorities if the clergy determine it is “reasonable and necessary” under church doctrine.
In 2012, when Herrod rotated out of his position as bishop of the Bisbee ward — a Mormon jurisdiction similar to a Catholic parish — he told incoming Bishop Robert “Kim” Mauzy about the abuse in the Adams household. Instead of rescuing MJ by reporting the abuse to authorities, Mauzy also kept the information within the church.
In a separate recorded interview with federal agents obtained by the AP, Mauzy said church officials told him he should convene a confidential disciplinary hearing for Adams, after which Adams was ex-communicated in 2013. Mauzy and other church leaders still didn’t report Adams to the police.
Two years later, in 2015, Leizza Adams gave birth to a second daughter. It took her husband just six weeks to start sexually assaulting her, recording the abuse, and uploading the videos to the internet.
The revelation that Mormon officials may have directed an effort to conceal years of abuse in the Adams household sparked a criminal investigation of the church by Cochise County Attorney Brian McIntyre, and the civil lawsuit by three of the Adams children.
“Who’s really responsible for Herrod not disclosing?” McIntyre asked in an AP interview. “Is it Herrod,” who says he followed the church lawyers’ instruction not to report the abuse to authorities? “Or is it the people who gave him that advice?”
'The call comes to my cell phone'
When it comes to child sexual abuse, the Mormon church says “the first responsibility of the church in abuse cases is to help those who have been abused and protect those who may be vulnerable to future abuse,” according to its 2010 handbook for church leaders. The handbook also says, “Abuse cannot be tolerated in any form.”
But church officials, from the bishops in the Bisbee ward to officials in Salt Lake City, tolerated abuse in the Adams family for years.
“They just let it keep happening,” said MJ, in her AP interview. “They just said, ‘Hey, let’s excommunicate her father.’ It didn’t stop. ‘Let’s have them do therapy.’ It didn’t stop. ‘Hey, let’s forgive and forget and all this will go away.’ It didn’t go away.”
A similar dynamic played out in West Virginia, where church leaders were accused of covering up the crimes committed by a young abuser from a prominent Mormon family even after he’d been convicted on child sex abuse charges in Utah. The abuser, Michael Jensen, today is serving a 35- to 75-year prison sentence for abusing two children in West Virginia. Their family, along with others, sued the church and settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.
“Child abuse festers and grows in secrecy,” said Lynne Cadigan, a lawyer for the Adams children who filed suit. “That is why the mandatory reporting came into effect. It’s the most important thing in the world to immediately report to the police.”
The lawsuit filed by the three Adams children accuses The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and several members, including Bishops Herrod and Mauzy, of negligence and conspiring to cover up child sex abuse to avoid “costly lawsuits” and protect the reputation of the church, which relies on proselytizing and tithing to attract new members and raise money. In 2020, the church claimed approximately 16 million members worldwide, most of them living outside the United States.
“The failure to prevent or report abuse was part of the policy of the defendants, which was to block public disclosure to avoid scandals, to avoid the disclosure of their tolerance of child sexual molestation and assault, to preserve a false appearance of propriety, and to avoid investigation and action by public authority, including law enforcement,” the suit alleges. “Plaintiffs are informed and believe that such actions were motivated by a desire to protect the reputation of the defendants.”
Very few of the scores of lawsuits against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints mention the help line, in part because details of its operations have been a closely guarded secret. The documents in the sealed court records show how it works.
“The help line is certainly there to help — to help the church keep its secrets and to cover up abuse,” said Craig Vernon, an Idaho attorney who has filed several sex abuse lawsuits against the church.
Vernon, a former member, routinely demands that the church require bishops to report sex abuse to police or state authorities rather than the help line.
The sealed records say calls to the help line are answered by social workers or professional counselors who determine whether the information they receive is serious enough to be referred to an attorney with Kirton McConkie, a Salt Lake City firm that represents the church.
A document with the heading “Protocol for abuse help line calls,” which was among the sealed records obtained by the AP, laid out the questions social workers were to ask before determining whether the calls should be referred to the lawyers.
Mormon officials in the West Virginia case said they did not recognize the protocol and could not authenticate it. But a ranking church official in a separate sex abuse lawsuit in Oregon confirmed that those answering the help line used a “written protocol” to guide them.
“There would be a page containing various topics to discuss and handle,” said Harold C. Brown, then director of the church’s Welfare Services Department.
The Protocol instructs those staffing the help line to tell callers they are to use first names only. “No identifying information should be given.” Under the heading “High Risk Cases,” it also instructs staffers to ask a series of questions, including whether calls concerned possible abuse by a church leader, an employee, or abuse at “a church-sponsored activity.”
The protocol advises those taking the calls to instruct a “priesthood leader,” which includes bishops and stake presidents, to encourage the perpetrator, the victim, or others who know of the abuse to report it. But it also says, in capital letters, that those taking the calls “should never advise a priesthood leader to report abuse. Counsel of this nature should come only from legal counsel.”
That counsel comes from attorneys from Kirton McConkie, which represents the church.
Joseph Osmond, one of the Kirton McConkie lawyers assigned to take help line calls, said in a sealed deposition that he’s always ready to deal with sex abuse complaints.
“Wherever I am. The call comes to my cell phone,” he said. He then acknowledged that he did not refer calls to a social worker and wouldn’t know how to do so.
Osmond declined to comment through church officials. Peter Schofield, a Kirton McConkie lawyer long associated with the help line, also declined to answer questions from the AP.
Maledon, the attorney for the church in the Adams lawsuit, said church clergy or church attorneys have made “hundreds of reports” of child abuse to civil authorities in Arizona over an unspecified number of years. But he could not say how many calls to the help line were not referred to police or child welfare officials and could not provide a referral rate.
Two church practices, identified in the sealed records, work together to ensure that the contents of all help lines calls remain confidential. First, all records of calls to the help line are routinely destroyed. “Those notes are destroyed by the end of every day,” said Roger Van Komen, the church’s director of Family Services, in an affidavit included in the sealed records.
Second, church officials say that all calls referred to Kirton McConkie lawyers are covered by attorney-client privilege and remain out of the reach of prosecutors and victims’ attorneys. “The church has always regarded those communications between its lawyers and local leaders as attorney-client privileged,” said Paul Rytting, the director of Risk Management, in a sealed affidavit.
An ominous time
Mormon leaders established the help line in 1995 and it operated not within its Department of Family Services, but instead in its Office of Risk Management, whose role is to protect the church and members from injury and liability in an array of circumstances, including fires, explosions, hazardous chemical spills and severe weather. The department ultimately reports to the First Presidency, the three officials at the very top of the church hierarchy, according to records in the sealed documents.
Risk management also tracks all sex abuse lawsuits against the church, according to a sealed affidavit by Dwayne Liddell, a past director of the department who helped establish the help line. He said members of the church’s First Presidency knew the details of the help line.
“I have been in those type of meetings where ... the training of ecclesiastical leaders (and) the establishment of a help line have been discussed,” Liddell said. When asked who attended the meetings, he answered, “Members of the First Presidency and the presiding bishopric,” or the top leaders of the church.
Before establishing the help line in 1995, the Mormon church simply instructed bishops to comply with local child sex abuse reporting laws.
At the time, child sex abuse lawsuits were on the rise and juries were awarding victims millions of dollars. The Mormon church is largely self-insured, leaving it especially vulnerable to costly lawsuits.
“There is nothing inconsistent between identifying cases that may pose litigation risks to the church and complying with reporting obligations,” church lawyers said in a sealed legal filing.
But one affidavit in the sealed records which repeatedly says the church condemns child sexual abuse, also suggests the church is more concerned about the spiritual well-being of perpetrators than the physical and emotional well-being of young victims, who also may be members of the faith.
“Disciplinary proceedings are subject to the highest confidentiality possible,” said Rytting. “If members had any concerns that their disciplinary files could be read by a secular judge or attorneys or be presented to a jury as evidence in a public trial, their willingness to confess and repent and for their souls to be saved would be seriously compromised.”
A global investigation
In 2016 police in New Zealand arrested a 47-year-old farm worker on child pornography charges and found a nine-minute video on his cell phone, downloaded from the internet, showing a man in his 30s raping a 10-year-old girl.
A global search for the rapist and his victim was on. It started with Interpol and led to the U.S. State Department, where investigators using facial recognition technology matched the rapist with a passport card photo of a U.S. Border Patrol employee living in Bisbee, Arizona, according to a Homeland Security synopsis obtained by the AP.
Agents rushed to the Naco, Arizona, Border Station and arrested Adams, then a lanky, bearded mission support specialist with the Border Patrol. After some coaxing, Adams admitted to raping MJ and to sexually assaulting her younger sister, and to posting video of the assaults on the internet. When agents raided his home, they seized phones and computers holding more than 4,000 photos and nearly 1,000 videos depicting child sex abuse, many featuring the Adams daughters.
But the nine-minute video stood out. “This video is one of the worst I’ve ever seen,” Homeland Security agent Edwards later testified, adding that haunting dialogue between Adams and his older daughter helped make the video “stand out in my mind and continue to stand out in my mind.”
That video represented nine minutes and 14 seconds in seven years of continual and unnecessary trauma for MJ — and a lifetime of abuse for her tiny sister — while Bishops Herrod and Mauzy and church representatives in Salt Lake City stood by.
After Paul Adams died by suicide, Leizza Adams pleaded no contest to child sex abuse charges and served two-and-a-half years in state prison. Three of the Adams children went to live with members of Leizza’s extended family in California. The other three were taken in by local families.
The survivors
MJ’s little sister was only 2 when she met her adoptive mother for the first time. The toddler wrapped her arms and legs around Miranda Whitworth’s head, buried her face in her neck, and refused to look up to say good-bye to members of Leizza’s family. “It was the craziest thing,” said Whitworth who, with her husband, Matthew, welcomed the toddler into their family. “It was like when you see a baby monkey or baby gorilla cling to their mother, and they just won’t let go.”
Over the next few days and weeks, the Whitworths would see additional markers of the unfathomable abuse the toddler endured at the hands of her father — much of it recorded on video. She would howl in terror when any man attempted to touch her, whether it was Matthew or the family physician. “The nurse was fine but the minute the doctor walked in she climbed onto me and started screaming bloody murder,” Miranda said.
The 2-year-old was also terrified of the water, which made bathing an ear-splitting ordeal. She wouldn’t tolerate anything wrapped around her wrists. And at church, she would run and hide behind Miranda whenever anyone greeted her by an old family nickname.
When they took in the toddler, neither Miranda nor Matthew knew very much about what had happened to her. But while sitting in on Leizza Adams’s sentencing hearing, they learned about the repeated rapes, the videos, and the fact that church bishops knew about the abuse of the older daughter and did nothing to stop it.
The Whitworths were converts to the Mormon faith and, like many new followers of a religion, they were especially enthusiastic about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In particular, they appreciated the efforts Mormons make to help fellow church members in times of need through church organizations established to give special attention to women, teens and children.
“It’s all about family,” Miranda said. “That’s one of the things we absolutely loved.”
But after learning about what Adams did to their new daughter, and the failure of the church to stop him, the scales fell from their eyes. “We decided to remove our records from the church,” said Matthew Whitworth. “I personally couldn’t continue to provide tithing money to a church that would allow young children to be abused and not do anything to prevent it.”
Unlike the Whitworths, Nancy Salminen has never been a member of the Mormon church. But as a special needs teacher and a rape victim herself, she has a special affinity for MJ and others like her. Over the last five years, she has opened her home to 17 girls and boys who needed a safe place to stay. Her house is a modest, ranch-style structure she bought out of foreclosure.
“Everything’s a little broken here and that’s perfect because so are we,” she said.
Salminen said she met MJ after receiving an urgent call on a Friday evening to rescue a 12-year-old from another family. “She was pretty scared and pretty confused when I picked her up,” Salminen recalled. “She spent a lot of time in her closet in her room when we got home, but we got to know each other and got to like each other.”
Like the Whitworths, Salminen knew very little about what MJ had endured until Leizza Adams’s sentencing hearing.
“What I heard made me want to throw up,” she said. “And the more I learned the more I wanted to help her fight this fight that she didn’t even know about.”
Safely settled in Salminen’s household — which today includes a foster girl Salminen also plans to adopt — MJ has been transformed from a victim of unimaginable abuse to a bubbly 16-year-old who plays in the high school band and proudly dons a crisp, new uniform for her job at a fast-food restaurant.
“She had every excuse to fail and to just fold into herself and run away,” Salminen said. “But instead, she came back stronger than anyone I’ve ever known.”
So strong that she appears eager to play an active role in the battle she and her two siblings are waging against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “I just want them to do what they’re supposed to do and report to the police,” MJ said.
The adoptive parents of the third Adams child who has filed suit declined to speak to the AP about the case. Like MJ, Miranda and Matthew Whitworth said they joined the lawsuit against the church on behalf of their young daughter not in hopes of a payday, but to change church policy so that any instance of child sexual abuse is immediately reported to civil authorities. “We just don’t understand why they’re paying all these lawyers to fight this,” Matthew Whitworth said. “Just change the policy.”
The privilege
That policy is the key to the church’s defense. In a recent filing asking a Superior Court judge to dismiss the case, Maledon and other lawyers for the church said the case “hinges entirely on whether Arizona’s child abuse reporting statute required two church bishops ... to report to authorities confidential confessions made to them by plaintiffs’ father.”
Whatever moral or public policy arguments one could make that the church should have told authorities that Paul Adams was raping his daughters are irrelevant, the lawyers argued. “Arizona’s reporting statute broadly exempts confidential communications with clergy, as determined by the clergyman himself,” according to the church motion to dismiss the case. “Reasonable people can debate whether this is the best public policy choice. But that is not an issue for a jury or this court.”
Bishop Herrod, in his recorded interview, said church officials told him he had to keep what Adams told him confidential or he could be sued if he went to authorities.
But McIntyre, the Cochise County attorney, said that’s false, noting the Arizona reporting law says that anyone reporting a belief that child sex abuse occurred “is immune from any civil or criminal liability.”
Aside from the legal arguments over whether Bishops Herrod and Mauzy were excused from their reporting obligations under the clergy-penitent privilege, critics of the inaction by the two bishops and the broader church have raised ethical issues.
Gerard Moretz, a seasoned child sex abuse investigator for the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and an expert witness for the Adams children, is one of them.
“What aspect of your religious practice are you advancing if you don’t report something like this?” he asked. | 2022-08-04T17:31:02+00:00 | azcentral.com | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2022/08/04/mormon-church-sexual-abuse-help-line-paul-adams/10234183002/ |
Arizona AG's office proves there's no pony for MAGA cult under the manure of '2000 Mules'
Opinion: Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich's office asked for proof of widespread election fraud claimed in the movie. It got none.
Former President Ronald Reagan used to tell a joke that shined a light on individuals with unrealistic – if not delusional – expectations about one thing or another.
There are several renditions. A slimmed down version has a father taking his son to a psychiatrist in order to treat the boy for his unbreakably starry-eyed sense of optimism.
The psychiatrist decides to take the boy to a room piled to the ceiling with horse manure thinking it would repulse him. Instead, the boy climbs to the top of the pile and starts digging.
When the psychiatrist asks what he’s doing the boy says, “With all this manure, there must be a pony in here somewhere!”
The believers of the Big Lie about the 2020 election are like that.
Fundraising with election conspiracy
The sham audit paid for by Arizona taxpayers was meant to prove that Donald Trump had won the election and that there had been massive election fraud.
Even with the incompetent Cyber Ninjas making their best effort, however, the audit (like many others) showed just the opposite.
Ridiculous claims about a “stolen” election have been debunked and then debunked again, which hasn’t stopped Trump or his groupies, like Kari Lake, the Republican candidate for Arizona governor, from repeating the lie.
Often with some plea for a donations.
These aren't just politicians looking for votes. These are con artists looking for easy marks.
Then there is the conspiracy movie “2000 Mules.”
Facts do not faze the brainwashed
The film makes claims of ballot harvesting and stuffed drop boxes and high tech sleuthing and offers itself up as proof that the election was stolen. It wasn’t. And the movie’s claims have been investigated and debunked. Again and again.
But the allegations are repeated anyway by Trump and his worshipful clan.
Republican Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich took the fraud claims seriously enough to ask the people behind 2000 Mules to offer him proof so that he potentially could prosecute anyone involved in criminal behavior.
As reported recently by Jeremy Duda of Axios Phoenix, however, Brnovich received nothing.
Zilch.
Duda reports that the AG’s office requested evidence four times, hoping to receive proof of the claims made in the movie.
"We have continually asked for information that has not been provided," Ryan Anderson, a spokesperson for the AG's office, told him.
Sorry, but there is no pony underneath
Maricopa County Recorder Steven Richer, also a Republican, has known all along that the election was not stolen. He has been defending the safety and security of the county’s election process from the beginning, often having to deal with harassment and death threats from MAGA cranks.
In response to Duda’s article Richer tweeted on his personal account:
"It's no Theranos, but it's still pretty impressive how much money they scammed. Tally: 0 submissions to Arizona law enforcement, 0 indictments nationwide from the film, 0 mules named, 0 nonprofits named, 0 logic to the claims as Arizona elections work."
Richer is correct, of course. Though I’d guess by now he doesn’t expect to change anyone’s mind.
That ship has sailed.
The men and women who’ve been brainwashed into believing in election fraud cannot be convinced by facts. They will not be moved by Brnovich’s office speaking to the lack of evidence provided by the filmmakers. They will not be persuaded by audits.
They are very much like the little boy in the joke fancied by President Reagan.
It’s sad, because a movie like 2000 Mules can produce a heaping pile of foul-smelling manure. And no matter how long or how deep the MAGA cult digs into it, they will not find a pony.
Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.
For more opinions content, please subscribe. | 2022-09-05T15:29:30+00:00 | azcentral.com | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2022/09/05/arizona-ag-shows-theres-no-pony-maga-under-manure-2000-mules/7995555001/ |
FRISCO (SILVER STAR NATION) — One final game left in the regular season left, as the Dallas Cowboys travel to Landover, Maryland for an NFC Division matchup.
The Washington Commanders have already been eliminated from the postseason but the outcome of this game could play a big part in seeding should the Cowboys win.
Silver Star Nation insider Mickey Spagnola has his keys to beating the Commanders. | 2023-01-07T23:04:58+00:00 | ktalnews.com | https://www.ktalnews.com/sports/nfl/silver-star-nation/mickey-keys-to-beating-washington-2/ |
DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — Elites from politics, business, academia and the arts on Friday wrapped up the World Economic Forum ‘s annual conclave in the Swiss town of Davos — where worries about the war in Ukraine, a warming planet and a cooling global economy dominated discussions about the world’s ills.
The 53rd edition of the weeklong gathering in the Alps drew notables like Ukraine’s first lady, climate activist Greta Thunberg, and actor Idris Elba, plus hundreds of presidents, prime ministers, CEOs and other decision-makers who hashed out deals and voiced demands on everything from trade to tanks for Ukraine.
The meeting perennially draws criticism as a hub of power-mongers and money-grubbers seeking to rule the world, and this year was no exception. Longtime attendee and Kremlin critic Bill Browder launched a tirade about sitting out this year because the forum sought to triple the cost of his participation to $250,000.
Some deep-pocketed execs shell out upward of $1 million a year to be members of the WEF club.
It’s anybody’s guess whether an event that churns up pledges, promises and partnerships to help realize the forum’s ambition of improving the world will bring any concrete progress.
Here’s a look at some of the main Davos takeaways this year:
AID PUSH FROM UKRAINE
A Ukrainian delegation headed to the Swiss mountains to push for funding, weapons and other aid — capped with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy beaming in by video — for the war-torn country as the anniversary of Russia’s invasion draws closer.
First lady Olena Zelenska urged the power brokers in Davos ramp up support, saying in a speech Tuesday that “there is something that separates you, namely that not all of you use this influence, or sometimes use it in a way that separates you even more.”
Zelenskyy urged his allies to speed up the delivery of more advanced weapons in a keynote speech and later gave a veiled critique of major supporters such as Germany and the U.S. that have hesitated about sending tanks.
“There are times where we shouldn’t hesitate or we shouldn’t compare when someone says, ‘I will give tanks if someone else will also share his tanks,’” said Zelenskyy, who reiterated his plea Friday as Western allies met at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz — the only leader from the Group of Seven leading economies at Davos — has faced growing pressure to provide Ukraine with tanks but avoided directly answering the question Wednesday.
Germany will remain one of Ukraine’s top weapons suppliers, he said, and “we are never doing something just by ourselves, but together with others — especially the United States.”
CLIMATE CHANGE TAKES CENTER STAGE
While panel sessions spanned topics from green investment to greenwashing, Thunberg, Vanessa Nakate and other young climate activists brought the fire to the corporate VIPs and political leaders tuning into the talks.
The activists slammed the heavy-hitters at Davos for prioritizing short-term profits from fossil fuels over people affected by the climate crisis. Ugandan activist Nakate choked up during a roundtable with the head of the International Energy Agency, saying “leaders are playing games” with people’s futures.
She and Thunberg capped the week with a small climate protest Friday where activists hoisted signs saying, “There is no planet B” and chanting that “fossil fuels have got to go.” It added a bookend: Dozens of climate activists — some with clown makeup — braved snowfall to demonstrate Sunday.
Even global financial leaders got heated about the climate.
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, when asked for one thing she would change to accelerate the net zero transition, said she would lock the U.S., China, India and European Union in a room.
“Let them out after they sign in blood a commitment to work together to save the planet,” she said to applause.
GREEN INVESTMENT RACE
A U.S. clean energy law that benefits American-made products such as electric vehicles got major airtime. Some worry about European companies getting shut out of the U.S. market and being denied green tech investment.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented a major clean tech industrial plan to ease the way for green industry subsidies and pool EU-wide projects that are boosted with major funding.
Some leaders called the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act a catalyst. U.K. opposition leader Keir Starmer says the law is “the single biggest opportunity we’ve been given for a very long time to transition, to take the jobs and opportunities of the future.”
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said in the same session Thursday that the world should be happy after years of telling the U.S. “to step up on climate change.’ Now, they are doing it.”
EU Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis says an EU-U.S. task force has a solution on EV tax credits but “many other areas” must be addressed.
The law doesn’t intend to hurt U.S. allies but get clean technology to scale quickly, Sen. Joe Manchin said.
To calm geopolitical unrest and help the environment, “you better be able to do it quicker, faster and better than any place in the world and then share it with your friends. That’s what we’re going to do,” the West Virginia Democrat said.
GLOBAL ECONOMY AVOIDS DISASTER?
Many bigwigs said economic expectations are improving from the train wreck they feared amid high inflation and slowing growth.
The IMF’s Georgieva said inflation is heading down and the outlook for the global economy is “less bad than we feared a couple of months ago.” Likewise, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said, “It’s not a brilliant year, but it is a lot better than what we had feared.”
In a panel Friday, both pointed to an expected rebound in China, which Lagarde said “most likely will be a positive for the rest of the world” but may boost inflation as the world’s second-largest economy consumes more energy.
After easing of COVID-19 restrictions, Chinese Vice Premier Liu said the country expects to see a major rise in imports, more investment by companies and return to regular consumption habits over the coming months.
“If we work hard enough, we are confident that in 2023, China’s growth will most likely return to its normal trend,” he said Tuesday in an address in Davos.
Many economists had forecast recession in major economies like the U.S. and Europe at the beginning of 2023 as painfully high inflation fueled by the war in Ukraine led central banks to jack up interest rates that slow the economy. That may not materialize, with some forecasts signaling 0.5% growth this year in the U.S. and Europe, but those facing high prices may not notice.
Speaking to The Associated Press at Davos, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon offered some advice: “The important thing is what is going on in geopolitics around the world, not whether you have a mild recession or harder recession, etc.”
___
Bonnell reported from London. Associated Press journalists Masha Macpherson and David Keyton in Davos contributed.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of the World Economic Forum meeting at https://apnews.com/hub/world-economic-forum | 2023-01-20T15:17:55+00:00 | ourquadcities.com | https://www.ourquadcities.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-ukraine-climate-economy-takeaways-from-glitzy-davos-event/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — A yearslong saga that ensnared the publishing world culminated in a New York courtroom Friday when a con artist pleaded guilty to a plot that defrauded scores of authors by duping them into handing over hundreds of unpublished manuscripts.
Filippo Bernardini, an Italian citizen who had been working in publishing in London, pleaded guilty to a single count of wire fraud in connection with a phishing scheme that baffled the book world for years.
The announcement was made by the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, who said Bernardini is set to be sentenced April 5 before before U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon.
“Filippo Bernardini used his insider knowledge of the publishing industry to create a scheme that stole precious works from authors and menaced the publishing industry,” Williams said in a statement.
Authorities say Bernardini, 30, used email accounts to impersonate literary agents and editors to con authors out of their manuscripts.
“Through impersonation and phishing schemes, Bernardini was able to obtain more than a thousand manuscripts fraudulently,” Williams said.
Bernardini, who hasn’t publicly explained his motives, faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. As part of his guilty plea, he agreed to pay restitution of $88,000.
Authorities say the scheme began sometime around August of 2016 and continued until last January, when he was arrested.
Bernardini created fake email accounts by registering more than 160 internet domains that, prosecutors said, “were confusingly similar to the real entities that they were impersonating, including only minor typographical errors that would be difficult for the average recipient to identify during a cursory review.”
He impersonated hundreds of people over the course of the scheme, obtaining more than a thousand manuscripts through his deceit.
Works by Margaret Atwood and Ethan Hawke were among those targeted.
What made the plot more mystifying was that no attempts were apparently made to sell the stolen manuscripts.
In the indictment, Bernardini was described as working in London for a “major, international, US-based publishing house.” A LinkedIn profile for a Filippo B. said he worked for Simon & Schuster, which had said that it was “shocked and horrified” by the fraud. | 2023-01-07T13:53:34+00:00 | cbs4indy.com | https://cbs4indy.com/news/national-world/ap-us-news/ap-con-artist-pleads-guilty-in-phishing-plot-that-duped-authors/ |
Wyoming Business Council Hires Casper Man as Markets/Industry Manager
The Wyoming Business Council has hired David Carpenter of Casper as its Markets and Industry Manager, according to a press release.
"I understand the importance of a resilient and diverse economy and look forward to exploring new frontiers in pursuit of a prosperous future for Wyoming and its people," Carpenter said in the press release.
"I hope to bring my entrepreneurial spirit, unbridled curiosity, and unique perspective to deliver value to the state," he said.
Carpenter will help the Business Council strategy team as it carries out the state’s economic development strategy.
Carpenter had 15 years of experience working as an energy and land management professional before joining the Wyoming Gaming Commission to launch its online sports wagering program.
"His enthusiasm to dive in on projects, inquisitive mind, and analytical background will help the WBC identify how to position economic development in Wyoming to capitalize on emerging and existing industries and opportunities," said John Jenks, the Business Council's Economic Initiatives Director.
In 2022, the Wyoming Legislature approved funding for this new position for the Business Council to develop programs to study, grow, and attract diverse markets and industries.
Carpenter spent his early childhood in Wyoming before moving to the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska.
He returned to Wyoming where he studied business economics and is studying for his Master of Business Administration at the University of Wyoming.
Carpenter and his artist wife Brianna McFarland have two children. | 2023-03-14T18:59:38+00:00 | k2radio.com | https://k2radio.com/wyoming-business-council-hires-casper-man-as-marketsindustry-manager/ |
PITTSBURGH, Oct. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "I'm a registered nurse in a hospital and I found that some female patients had trouble keeping a traditional external catheter in place. I thought there could be a better external catheter option, so we invented INC.PADD," said one of three inventors, from Simi Valley, Calif. "Our design helps to keep a female patient dry and comfortable, even when moving or changing positions in bed."
The invention provides an improved design for an external female catheter. In doing so, it can be utilized on any body type. As a result, it reduces the incidence of skin break down and discomfort associated with wetness and it eliminates the need to remain in one position. The invention features a practical design that is easy to position, use and remove so it is ideal for female patients requiring an external catheter. Additionally, it is producible in design variations.
The original design was submitted to the Los Angeles sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 21-LAX-1449, 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.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE InventHelp | 2022-10-20T14:54:29+00:00 | wsfa.com | https://www.wsfa.com/prnewswire/2022/10/20/inventhelp-inventors-develop-improved-external-female-catheter-lax-1449/ |
Top favorite electric heaters designed for large rooms
Whether you’re looking to warm up a drafty basement with a space heater or make your living room or bedroom cozier with an electric fireplace, it’s important to find a unit that can handle the square footage of the room it’s intended for. From portable and wall-mounted models to fireplace TV stands, we assembled a list of highly rated, top-selling electric heaters designed for large rooms.
Shop this article: Dr Infrared Portable Space Heater, Heat Storm Phoenix Infrared Space Heater, and Sei Furniture Calvert Electric Carved Fireplace
Types of electric heaters for home use
- Infrared/radiant heaters work by converting electricity into radiant heat; they’re designed to heat directly in front of the unit rather than heating the air in the room. They provide instant heat but are slower to heat up a space as opposed to other types of heaters. Infrared heaters run quietly, are energy efficient and won’t affect the humidity levels of a room.
- Convection heaters involve air blowing over a heating element that is then recirculated around the room. They’re excellent at quickly heating entire rooms over extended periods of time. On the other hand, they’re not as energy efficient as infrared heaters and can dry the air in the room they’re used in, which may lead to eye irritation, a sore nose and other unpleasant effects. A humidifier would help alleviate those conditions.
- Ceramic heaters are a type of convection heater that involves a process by which an electric current is passed through a ceramic conductor. While not as energy efficient as infrared heaters, they’ll still generate more energy savings and cost less to operate than other heater types. The ceramic component is cool to the touch and does not overheat, whereas other types of heaters require safety measures such as tip-over and overheat protection. Ceramic heaters are among the most compact options, as well.
- Fan-forced/forced air heaters function similarly to a hair dryer, pulling air into the system and through a heat exchanger, inside of which electric elements warm up the air. Fan-forced units heat up rooms quickly and effectively but are noisy compared to other heater types. They also remove moisture from the air, which can feel uncomfortably dry like with convection heaters.
Heating capacity considerations
Wattage and British Thermal Units indicate how large of a space a heater can effectively warm up. Watts indicate the energy transfer rate, while BTUs indicate the amount of energy used. 1 watt is equivalent to 3.41 BTU, and approximately 20 BTUs are necessary to adequately heat 1 square foot in a well-insulated home. As an example, 1,500 watts equal 5,115 BTUs, which amounts to a little over 250 square feet.
Best portable electric heaters
Dr Infrared Portable Space Heater
This radiant electric heater has two heat settings, with an adjustable thermostat that maintains the temperature in the room. It’s capable of heating 260 square feet as a singular heat source or 1,000 square feet for supplementary heating. It has a 12-hour programmable timer and either manual or remote control operation. Castor wheels make it easy to reposition and move from room to room.
Sold by Amazon
With its slim profile, this ceramic tower heater’s small footprint makes it a real space saver. The electric convection heater features two heat settings, an adjustable thermostat, an eight-hour programmable timer and remote control operation. It’s suitable for spaces up to 300 square feet. This heater oscillates to distribute air evenly in the room and weighs only 7 pounds, so it’s quite portable.
Sold by Amazon
Dreo Electric Portable Space Heater
This portable radiant heater has an adjustable thermostat and four heat settings including an eco-friendly mode, making it more customizable than comparable models. It heats rooms efficiently up to 300 square feet. You can set the timer up to 24 hours in advance and adjust the temperature manually or using the remote control. Caster wheels make it conveniently portable.
Sold by Amazon
Best wall-mounted electric heaters
Heat Storm Phoenix Infrared Space Heater
This infrared heater stands out with its Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing you to control the temperature with a smartphone and the adjustable thermostat. As a primary heat source, it’s only suitable for rooms up to 150 square feet but offers 1,000 square feet of supplemental heating. You can install it as a wall-mounted unit or use the attachable feet for a floor installation.
Sold by Amazon
Dr Infrared Wall/Ceiling Mounted Heater
This powerful radiant model heats rooms up to 750 square feet. You can install it as a wall- or ceiling-mounted unit and adjust the thermostat using the remote control. Five adjustable louvers let you direct the airflow.
Sold by Amazon
Cadet Com-Pak Twin Electric Wall Heater
This forced air model includes two heaters housed behind a single grill for quickly heating large rooms up to 600 square feet. With this wall unit, you get an adjustable thermostat but no remote control.
Sold by Amazon
Best electric fireplace heaters
Sei Furniture Calvert Electric Carved Fireplace
This radiant fireplace has elegant carved floral trim for a sophisticated traditional look. Offering 400 square feet of supplemental heat, the realistic firebox includes multicolor, flickering flames and glowing embers with a lifelike, interior brick design. You can turn off the heat and simply admire the ambience of the fireplace. A remote control adjusts the thermostat, timer, logs and flames separately. This fireplace with a classic silhouette comes in brown and cream.
Sold by Amazon
Duraflame Infrared Fireplace Stove
This rustic fireplace stove provides 1,000 square feet of supplemental infrared heating. It features realistic flames and glowing logs, with the option to operate as a heater or without heat to simply add ambience to the room. This fireplace includes an adjustable thermostat and five color, brightness and speed settings. As a bonus, it comes in five neutral colors.
Sold by Amazon
Walker Edison Wren Classic TV Console Fireplace
This farmhouse-style fireplace doubles as a media console, capable of accommodating a 65- or 80-inch TV, depending on the model. It has an attractive weathered wood grain in 14 colors. The realistic lighting and flame effects can be used with or without heat; with supplemental heating, it warms rooms up to 400 square feet. The TV stand includes two adjustable shelves for storing video and audio components with convenient cable management ports.
Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
- While this Black and Decker Portable Space Heater is designed for small spaces, thanks to its affordability, you can buy two to heat up a larger room for the price of many single units.
- The recessed Touchstone Stainless Electric Fireplace is sleek and modern, providing 400 square feet of supplemental heating.
- The SereneLife 3-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner functions as an air conditioner, dehumidifier and heater in one efficient, cost-effective product.
- Running certain electric heaters reduces moisture levels in the room; consider adding the Levoit Humidifier Essential Oil Diffuser to keep the air from feeling too dry.
- Pair the Levoit humidifier with the DoTerra Family Essential Kit and enjoy the pleasant scents of 10 popular essential oils.
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Amy Evans writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | 2023-07-23T20:31:46+00:00 | kfor.com | https://kfor.com/reviews/br/home-br/heating-cooling-air-quality-br/the-best-indoor-electric-heaters-for-large-rooms/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — Jordan Minor scored 14 points to help Merrimack defeat St. Francis Brooklyn 63-55 on Sunday.
Minor had three blocks for the Warriors (6-15, 4-3 Northeast Conference). Javon Bennett scored 13 points and added five assists and four steals. Jordan Derkack was 3 of 4 shooting and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line to finish with 12 points.
The Terriers (9-11, 2-5) were led by the 17 points of Trey Quartlebaum. Zion Bethea scored 12 and Syrus Grisby added eight points and eight rebounds.
NEXT UP
These two teams both play Thursday. Merrimack visits Central Connecticut, while St, Francis Brooklyn visits Wagner.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. | 2023-01-22T21:35:51+00:00 | sfgate.com | https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Minor-leads-Merrimack-over-St-Francis-Brooklyn-17734491.php |
‘Top Gun,’ ‘Matlock’ actor Clarence Gilyard Jr. dies at age 66
(Gray News) - Actor Clarence Gilyard Jr., known for roles in movies like “Top Gun” and TV shows “Matlock” and “Walker, Texas Ranger,” has died at the age of 66.
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where Gilyard worked as a film and theatre professor, announced his passing Monday.
“It is with profound sadness that I share this news,” said Dean Nancy J. Uscher, UNLV College of Fine Arts, in a news release. “His students were deeply inspired by him, as were all who knew him. He had many extraordinary talents and was extremely well-known in the university through his dedication to teaching and his professional accomplishments. He had a national and international following through his celebrated work in the theatre, in film, and television.
“His generosity of spirit was boundless - he was always ready to contribute to projects and performances however possible. We remember Clarence with joy and gratitude for all he contributed to the College of Fine Arts, the UNLV community, and, through his impressive personal achievements, to the world.”
UNLV did not state a cause of death.
Gilyard was featured in two of the biggest action movies of the ‘80s, as the pilot Sundown in “Top Gun” and the technical expert Theo in “Die Hard.” He also found success on the small screen, appearing in 85 episodes of “Matlock” and in 196 episodes of the original “Walker” among nearly 40 acting credits, per IMDb.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2022-11-29T15:09:58+00:00 | kcrg.com | https://www.kcrg.com/2022/11/29/top-gun-matlock-actor-clarence-gilyard-jr-dies-age-66/ |
Full-price clothing retailers Gap and Kohl's are set to try out a pack-away strategy to try and offset losses experienced during last holiday season's markdown prices.
As industry publication Retail Wire reports, the practice is more commonly used by off-price retailers like the parent company for TJ Maxx and off-price retailer Nordstrom Rack.
Last week Gap said the strategy could help the company improve its use of cash flow and improve shareholder value for future seasons.
Gap CEO Bobby Martin said, "early results have been favorable with strong consumer feedback."
The company believes it will be able to mix in clothing stored away with new clothing that comes in and is put out for sale in the months ahead.
Gap finance chief Katrina O'Connell said, "We're confident that we will be able to integrate our pack and hold inventory with future assortments."
As CNN Business reported, Kohl's announced it was keeping an extra $82 million in inventory and plans to sell it before the upcoming holiday season.
Weakening consumer demand amid steady inflation has these retailers trying to find ways to manage their bloated inventory without future losses in revenue.
The CEO of another retailer, Carter's, is also employing the strategy.
Michael Casey said on an earnings call, "We are packing and holding inventory given the slowdown in demand we've seen in recent months."
While the strategy seems like it could work, storing inventory come with a cost, and there is no guarantee that the merchandise will sell in future seasons. | 2022-08-30T23:17:50+00:00 | fox17online.com | https://www.fox17online.com/news/national/gap-and-kohls-to-use-off-price-inventory-strategy-more-commonly-seen-with-retailers-like-tj-maxx |
Year built 2006
Square feet 2,112
Bedrooms 3
Baths 3 full
Sewer/water Public
Taxes $11,149 (2022)
There’s a sign saying “Beach House” above the fireplace in this house, but you’ll know this modern Cape overlooking Buzzards Bay is the real deal by the outdoor shower alone — a necessity when a private beach is just seconds away.
The 16-year-old home on West Island has three levels: two upper floors for living and a lower level with breakaway walls in case of flooding. A broad deck with a gazebo captures the ocean view from this property, which shares the neighborhood with West Island State Reservation.
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From the driveway, a wide stairway leads to the front door. Inside, the design honors the home’s proximity to the ocean: pastel blue paint, white Nantucket bead board, and numerous sliders and windows, including a skylight in the foyer, that let the sunshine pour in.
To the left of the foyer is a 480-square-foot living room with a gas fireplace flanked by beach-white built-in shelving and cabinetry. And just to the right of the cabinetry is a white table-like desk. But given its location, the odds of work actually being done seem slim: Directly in front of the desk is a window with views of Buzzards Bay, and to the right is a slider to the aforementioned deck.
The flooring in the major rooms on this level is pine reclaimed from a Vermont barn, and the ceilings are dotted with recessed lighting.
The living room shares an open layout with the 243-square-foot kitchen, where the granite counter is in the shape of a fishhook. The straight section runs along an exterior wall and includes an undermount sink below three wide windows. The curved section is a peninsula that seats four.
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A few steps from the sink is a long, rectangular island with cabinetry, a small sink, a fridge, and a four-burner gas cooktop. Stainless steel appliances, including the main refrigerator and stacked ovens, are on the exterior wall. This end of the kitchen also offers a 124-square-foot dining area, which is currently occupied by a white table for eight under a stunning Sputnik light fixture. This is a sumptuously sunny space next to a slider to the deck.
Behind rolling three-paneled doors with smoked glass is the first-floor bedroom, where the barnwood flooring, recessed lighting, and Nantucket bead board continue. Here in the front of the house, sunshine is no stranger: There are four windows in the 178-square-foot space.
The full bath for this floor is at the end of a short hallway off the kitchen. First on the right, however, is a laundry closet behind a white roll-up door, and on the left, there is a closet. The full bath has a single vanity with a granite counter resting on blond wood cabinetry. The flooring is ceramic tile, and the shower is an insert.
From the foyer, a wide stairwell where nautical-like cable runs underneath wooden handrails leads to the top floor, which holds the primary suite, third bedroom, and the final full bath.
The primary suite occupies roughly half of this level. The bedroom area is 231 square feet and features a cathedral ceiling, recessed lighting, a ceiling fan, two closets (one is a walk-in), a gas fireplace, carpeting, and a window seat with a view of the bay.
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Relax après beach day in the en-suite bath’s jetted tub, a hint of a figure eight in its shape. The bath also has a single vanity with a black granite counter that offers a nice juxtaposition to the white cabinetry. The shower sits behind clear glass and boasts a white subway tile surround, a green tile inlay, and a matching floor. The flooring in the rest of the bathroom, however, is ceramic tile.
The third bedroom is 285 square feet and is currently outfitted with a pair of bunkbeds. There is carpeting underfoot, and a nook near one of those beds houses a desk area. There is also a closet, a separate storage area, and a window seat with a view of the bay.
The final bath comes with a ceramic tile floor, a shower insert, and a single vanity with a granite counter and a white cabinet.
The lower level contains a two-car garage and storage for kayaks and other water-related equipment.
The home, which sits on 0.72 of an acre, is being sold fully furnished.
Danielle Cyr-DeFrias of Howe Allen Realty in Fairhaven has the listing. As of press time an offer had been accepted on the property.
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John R. Ellement can be reached at john.ellement@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @JREbosglobe. | 2022-07-01T09:10:12+00:00 | bostonglobe.com | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/07/01/real-estate/home-week-cape-design-south-coast-capitalizes-its-perch-by-sea/ |
Disney World ending required theme park reservation requirements
(Gray News) - Changes are coming to Walt Disney World next year.
According to Disney Parks, some of the changes include theme park reservations not being required starting Jan. 9, 2024, for date-based tickets and dining plans will be available again for resort hotel guests.
Date-based tickets are currently the standard ticket option at Disney World. For other admission types, including non-dated tickets, theme park reservations may still be required.
Disney shared more online on which admission park tickets might require reservations.
Dining plans are also returning in January 2024 as an option for those staying at Disney Resort hotels who purchase a vacation package. Those will go on sale starting May 31.
“We know our guests – and families in particular – have missed dining plans, which offer guests the convenience and peace of mind of pre-paying for their meals and snacks,” Eric Scott, communications manager with Disney, said.
For those planning to stay at a Disney Resort hotel, early theme park entry for visits through 2024 will continue across all four theme parks.
According to Scott, complimentary overnight self-parking at Disney Resort hotels is coming back along with attraction photos taken in the park being available on the Disney Genie+ service.
“Whether you’re getting ready to experience the feelings of a Disney thrill or counting down the days until your Disney visit, we hope these updates make you feel as excited as we are,” Scott said.
More information is available online regarding these Disney World updates.
Copyright 2023 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2023-05-11T02:42:34+00:00 | kttc.com | https://www.kttc.com/2023/05/11/disney-world-ending-required-theme-park-reservation-requirements/ |
Musk plans to relaunch Twitter premium service, again
LONDON (AP) — Elon Musk said Friday that Twitter plans to relaunch its premium service that will offer different colored check marks to accounts next week, in a fresh move to revamp the service after a previous attempt backfired.
It’s the latest change to the social media platform that the billionaire Tesla CEO bought last month for $44 billion, coming a day after Musk said he would grant “amnesty” for suspended accounts and causing yet more uncertainty for users.
Twitter previously suspended the premium service, which under Musk granted blue-check labels to anyone paying $8 a month, because of a wave of imposter accounts. Originally, the blue check was given to government entities, corporations, celebrities and journalists verified by the platform to prevent impersonation.
In the latest version, companies will get a gold check, governments will get a gray check, and individuals who pay for the service, whether or not they’re celebrities, will get a blue check, Musk said Friday.
“All verified accounts will be manually authenticated before check activates,” he said, adding it was “Painful, but necessary” and promising a “longer explanation” next week. He said the service was “tentatively launching” Dec. 2.
Twitter had put the revamped premium service on hold days after its launch earlier this month after accounts impersonated companies including pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly & Co., Nintendo, Lockheed Martin, and even Musk’s own businesses Tesla and SpaceX, along with various professional sports and political figures.
It was just one change in the past two days. On Thursday, Musk said he would grant “amnesty” for suspended accounts, following the results of an online poll he conducted on whether accounts that have not “broken the law or engaged in egregious spam” should be reinstated.
The yes vote was 72%. Such online polls are anything but scientific and can easily be influenced by bots. Musk also used one before restoring former U.S. President Donald Trump’s account.
“The people have spoken. Amnesty begins next week. Vox Populi, Vox Dei,” Musk tweeted Thursday using a Latin phrase meaning “the voice of the people, the voice of God.”
The move is likely to put the company on a crash course with European regulators seeking to clamp down on harmful online content with tough new rules, which helped cement Europe’s reputation as the global leader in efforts to rein in the power of social media companies and other digital platforms.
Zach Meyers, senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform think tank, said giving blanket amnesty based on an online poll is an “arbitrary approach” that’s “hard to reconcile with the Digital Services Act,” a new EU law that will start applying to the biggest online platforms by mid-2023.
The law is aimed at protecting internet users from illegal content and reducing the spread of harmful but legal content. It requires big social media platforms to be “diligent and objective” in enforcing restrictions, which must be spelled out clearly in the fine print for users when signing up, Meyers said.
Britain also is working on its own online safety law.
“Unless Musk quickly moves from a ‘move fast and break things’ approach to a more sober management style, he will be on a collision course with Brussels and London regulators,” Meyers said.
European Union officials took to social media to highlight their worries. The 27-nation bloc’s executive Commission published a report Thursday that found Twitter took longer to review hateful content and removed less of it this year compared with 2021.
The report was based on data collected over the spring — before Musk acquired Twitter — as part of an annual evaluation of online platforms’ compliance with the bloc’s voluntary code of conduct on disinformation. It found that Twitter assessed just over half of the notifications it received about illegal hate speech within 24 hours, down from 82% in 2021.
The numbers may yet worsen. Since taking over, Musk has l aid off half the company’s 7,500-person workforce along with an untold number of contractors responsible for content moderation. Many others have resigned, including the company’s head of trust and safety.
Recent layoffs at Twitter and results of the EU’s review “are a source of concern,” the bloc’s commissioner for justice, Didier Reynders tweeted Thursday evening after meeting with Twitter executives at the company’s European headquarters in Dublin.
In the meeting, Reynders said he “underlined that we expect Twitter to deliver on their voluntary commitments and comply with EU rules,” including the Digital Services Act and the bloc’s strict privacy regulations known as General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR.
Vera Jourova, the European Commission’s vice president for values and transparency, tweeted Thursday evening that she was concerned about news reports that a “vast amount” of Twitter’s European staff were fired.
“If you want to effectively detect and take action against #disinformation & propaganda, this requires resources,” Jourova said. “Especially in the context of Russian disinformation warfare.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2022-11-25T18:01:10+00:00 | mysuncoast.com | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/11/25/musk-plans-relaunch-twitter-premium-service-again/ |
BUCHANAN COUNTY, Va. (WJHL) — The Buchanan County Public Service Authority (PSA) issued a boil water notice for several areas.
The following areas are asked to boil water until further notice:
- Rocklick/Oakwood
- Clifton Fork
- Southern Gap
- Pea Patch
- Fletchers Ridge
- Rowe
- Leemaster
- Combs Ridge
Buchanan County residents were also asked to conserve water on Wednesday. | 2023-05-18T17:50:58+00:00 | wjhl.com | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/buchanan-county-psa-issues-boil-water-notice/ |
Dear Amy: I’m a 66-year-old gay man. I’ve been seeing “Dave,” who’s 64, for about six months.
So far, this is “just friends.” Our relationship is platonic.
Dave has met my sisters and friends and they think he is wonderful. So do I!
He broke up with “Michael” just before I met him. He hasn’t been seeing anyone else in any capacity for the last two months.
Dave and I are going RV-ing in a few weeks. The anticipation is killing me. During the trip, I’ll be meeting his 90-year-old mom.
I’ve been single for many years. My last ex was my best friend, who died four years ago.
I continue to see other men for casual sex. “Dave” knows, and said: “Be who you are, don’t change.”
We’ve talked about monogamy (we both were monogamous in our past relationships).
My fear is that I can’t be monogamous, even though I 1,000% want to.
I feel like a 16-year-old in my infatuation and love, erring now on the side of friendship.
In the past, I’ve been accused (by an ex) of ambivalence, but now I feel consumed by the need to be by his side.
His ex was controlling to the nth degree.
How do I balance his abhorrence of control, where I want to see him more?
I figure I have at least 10 more good years, and I’ve found the best, at last.
I want this!
– Tom
Dear Tom: So far, you and “Dave” are taking things very slowly – and it seems to me that in terms of this relationship, you are making good choices.
You’ve proven that you can communicate well, and so you should continue.
Does he want to have a full, non-platonic, monogamous relationship with you? You should ask him. You should also be completely transparent about your concerns about your own preferences and past experiences.
If he values monogamy and yet doesn’t care if you continue seeing other people, then it’s possible that he isn’t ready – or doesn’t want to – commit to you.
Accept his choices and this ambiguity with as much openness and equanimity as you can.
You being open about your feelings and your fears is only speaking to your own experience – not trying to control him. Your ambivalence in the past might speak to a deep fear of being hurt, but making that leap into full trust – of him and of yourself – is the brave and romantic RV hero-journey that you’re facing.
Speaking as someone who found “the best one” later in life, I’d like to testify to the transforming nature of a truly committed relationship between two equals.
If you want this, then go get it.
Dear Amy: A few months ago, a group of my coworkers went out for happy hour. We were talking about how our jobs can make relationships challenging. I mentioned a coworker going through a divorce. I didn’t mention her name, but another coworker said, “Oh, you’re talking about ‘Tammy’! She’s a good friend of mine!”
Everyone knows and likes Tammy. We were all in agreement that we disliked what her husband was putting her through.
Tammy called me and said that she heard that I’ve been talking about her. Whoever told her this said that I told the group some terrible things about her child and ex-husband.
I told her I never said what she was accusing me of. No one else said it, either. It was completely false.
I told her that the person that shared this false information is obviously someone that she trusts. I can tell that she doesn’t believe me.
I don’t know if I should demand that she tell me who said this about me, or if I should leave it alone. I really like her and I’m sad about how she now perceives me.
– Remorseful Gossip Girl
Dear Remorseful: Do not double down by extending the drama. You might contact “Tammy” to say, “Your good opinion means a lot to me. I want to repeat that I would never spread or repeat malicious gossip about you.”
Dear Amy: I was so disappointed in your response to “Young Wife!” This woman’s in-laws were staying in her apartment (the young couple were staying elsewhere), and the mother-in-law was cleaning and doing the couple’s laundry!
No one should touch anyone else’s possessions. This is an important boundary issue.
– Upset
Dear Upset: I asserted that the mother-in-law was trying to be helpful. If the older woman erred or overstepped, her daughter-in-law should kindly let her know.
(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)
©2022 Amy Dickinson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. | 2022-06-24T04:18:42+00:00 | masslive.com | https://www.masslive.com/opinion/2022/06/ask-amy-at-66-gay-man-feels-hes-met-the-right-one-but-is-concerned-about-monogamy-and-not-being-controlling.html |
4 militants attack a police station and kill 2 security forces in southeast Iran, state TV says
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s state TV says four militants attacked a police station with grenades in the country’s southeast. The armed group attacked a police station on Saturday morning in Zahedan a city in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchistan province, near the border with Pakistan, triggering a shootout. Two security forces were killed. Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard said that the four militants were killed. The report quoted Alireza Marhamati, the province’s deputy governor, as saying the militants were trying to gain access to the police station and were equipped with grenades, but did not elaborate further. State-run IRNA also reported authorities hanged two men involved in the October 26 deadly attack on a mosque in the city of Shiraz, the second holiest site in Iran. | 2023-07-08T15:10:52+00:00 | localnews8.com | https://localnews8.com/news/ap-national/2023/07/08/state-tv-militants-attack-a-police-station-killing-an-officer-in-southeastern-iran-clashes-ongoing/ |
PITTSBURGH (AP) — PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Kraft Heinz Company (KHC) on Wednesday reported first-quarter net income of $836 million.
The Pittsburgh-based company said it had net income of 68 cents per share.
The results topped Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of eight analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 60 cents per share.
The maker of Oscar Mayer meats, Jell-O pudding and Velveeta cheese posted revenue of $6.49 billion in the period, which also beat Street forecasts. Seven analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $6.39 billion.
Kraft Heinz expects full-year earnings in the range of $2.83 to $2.91 per share.
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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 KHC at https://www.zacks.com/ap/KHC | 2023-05-03T12:50:44+00:00 | expressnews.com | https://www.expressnews.com/business/article/kraft-heinz-q1-earnings-snapshot-18075562.php |
EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France (AP) — So much had happened in a chaotic final round of the Evian Championship — a spectator unwittingly picking up a stray ball, a pair of four-putts in the final group, a seven-way tie for the lead — that it was hard to know what to expect as Brooke Henderson walked down the fairway on the 72nd hole.
The Canadian was in a share of the lead with LPGA rookie Sophia Schubert and had just had a lucky escape when her wild hook off the tee at the par-5 No. 18 flew into trees and bounced out to relative safety.
Now in the middle of the fairway, could Henderson make birdie to win the second major title of her career, six years after her first at the Women’s PGA Championship in 2016 when she was only 18?
Henderson handled the pressure, hitting her third shot to 8 feet and rolling in the putt for an even-par round of 71. She was soaked in champagne by fellow players after clinching a one-stroke victory that certainly didn’t come easy.
“Definitely not my best today,” Henderson said. “I just tried to stay patient and remind myself that I was still in it.
“I made some clutch putt and shots down the stretch which really helped.”
After all, Henderson went into Sunday with a two-stroke lead and having barely been out of position all week at Evian Resort Golf Club in rounds of 64, 64 and 68.
That was wiped out after the first hole, though, thanks to a birdie from playing partner So Yeon Ryu (73) and a bogey from Henderson.
So began the craziness of the final round of the fourth major of the year, when there were 13 changes to the lead.
At No. 5, Ryu had a double bogey to gift Henderson a three-stroke lead. At the next hole, Henderson also four-putted for a double and saw her lead slip to one.
By that time, Olympic champion Nelly Korda — who started six shots behind Henderson but was soon only three behind — had pushed her approach shot into the rough near a path and seen a spectator wander up to the ball and pick it up.
The ball had to be replaced to a best estimate of where it was picked up, and Korda went on to make a double of her own.
Henderson was knocked out of the lead for the first time — if only briefly — when Schubert made birdie at No. 12 to move onto 15 under, breaking a seven-way tie for first place.
Henderson managed to keep pace with Schubert with birdies at Nos. 14 and 15, and a clutch par putt at No. 16.
The pair were tied for the lead after reaching the 18th, with Schubert playing in the group ahead of Henderson.
Schubert played it better but her birdie putt came to rest barely an inch from the cup — she had to settle for a 68 — just after Henderson had sent away her ugly drive.
Henderson chipped out into the fairway and pulled off her fourth birdie of the day, three of them coming in the final six holes.
She finished on 17-under 267.
“I stayed pretty patient, as patient as I could under the circumstances,” Henderson said. “Going into the back nine, the saying is that majors are won on the back nine on Sunday so I just tried to keep that frame of mind and knew I was still in it if I had a solid back (nine).”
Schubert, who started the final round four off the lead, almost won in just her second major as a professional. Playing her first year on the LPGA Tour, she hadn’t had a top-10 finish before this week.
Five players were tied for third a further shot back: Mao Saigo (64), Lydia Ko (66), Charley Hull (67), Hyo Joo Kim (67) and Carlota Ciganda (68).
Korda, who holed from a greenside bunker for eagle at No. 9 and somehow found herself in that seven-way tie for the lead, made eight pars and a bogey in her back nine and finished tied for eighth — four behind Henderson — after a 69.
___
More AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2022-07-24T17:44:38+00:00 | fox59.com | https://fox59.com/sports/ap-sports/brooke-henderson-wins-evian-championship-for-2nd-major-title/ |
SIOUX CENTER, Iowa (AP) — LaTomah Hauff stopped at the red-draped table on her way into Dean’s Classic Car Museum to jot her contact information on a sign-up sheet to hear more about Ron DeSantis.
The 75-year-old retired speech pathologist had driven an hour to hear the Florida governor speak in northwest Iowa last Saturday. She was one of more than 600 Iowa Republicans who filed into the exhibit hall and past the display’s brochures about DeSantis and cards to sign pledging support for him in next year’s Republican presidential caucuses.
The display, with all the earmarks of a presidential campaign, was the work of Never Back Down, a super political action committee promoting DeSantis while he moves toward a 2024 bid.
It was also an early glimpse of how this group — able to receive unlimited sums from wealthy donors, unlike a presidential campaign — plans to build a network of supporters necessary to compete in the caucuses.
Essentially, it’s a caucus campaign that, for legal reasons, cannot attach itself explicitly to a candidate.
The novel approach, aimed at maximizing super PAC dollars, underscores the stakes in Iowa for DeSantis. He needs to show early that he is a viable threat to former President Donald Trump, whose team says it has already signed up thousands of Iowa volunteers and supporters before DeSantis has even declared his candidacy.
The effort comes with thorny challenges. The super PAC must essentially build a separate grassroots network to finagle commitments from Iowans to support DeSantis without coordinating with him.
“The biggest difficulty is the tightrope they are going to have to walk,” said Marlys Popma, a veteran Iowa Republican campaign organizer and former top adviser to John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign. “Walking that line is going to be the most interesting thing, but I certainly see that it can be done and I think it’s a really interesting approach.”
About 240 miles southeast of the fundraiser DeSantis headlined in Republican-heavy Sioux County, the real work of Never Back Down was well under way.
In an office in Des Moines’ western suburbs, Republican operatives had by mid-May conducted three five-day training sessions for classes of paid organizers, with three more scheduled for June. By early May, the group had hired more than a half-dozen seasoned political strategists and recruited volunteers from veteran statewide organizers, including former senior aides to Gov. Kim Reynolds and former Gov. Terry Branstad.
As of early May, the teams had canvassed at least 1,000 addresses, and planned to double that by Sunday.
The goal is to secure commitments to back DeSantis at the caucuses, which are expected to lead off the 2024 Republican voting season, in all of the 1,670 precincts where the party plans to hold them next year.
“When you talk about caucus organizing, there are a lot of layers. But our particular layer is trying to build a ground game, build a volunteer network,” super PAC senior adviser David Polyansky said.
He said similar plans were in place in New Hampshire, South Carolina, Nevada and other early states.
Officials plan to make the Des Moines-area headquarters the training hub for more than 30 organizers the super PAC plans to hire and dispatch to the four early-contest states and more than a dozen others expected to hold their contests by next March 5, so-called Super Tuesday.
A spokeswoman for the super PAC declined to suggest a budget for the Iowa operation. But Never Back Down has raised more than $30 million, and DeSantis has more than $80 million in his gubernatorial campaign account that is expected to be transferred into the super PAC.
Advisers for Never Back Down are betting the money is better spent on staff, door-knocking and phone-banking than advertising.
Ad sellers are required by law to offer a candidate’s campaign the cheapest rate, a legal distinction intended to make it easier for candidates to communicate to voters. That doesn’t apply to super PACs, which often pay exorbitant rates.
Polyansky is among several GOP operatives with Iowa experience advising the super PAC. Like fellow senior adviser Jeff Roe and pollster Chris Wilson, he was part of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s winning 2016 Iowa caucus campaign.
Organizing alone hardly guarantees success in Iowa, but it’s essential in quirky contests that require voters to attend evening meetings in the dead of winter. PAC dollars can make a difference in pursuit of a comparatively small number of supporters.
In 2016, Cruz won Iowa amid record turnout of roughly 180,000 with fewer than 52,000 votes.
Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign used the contact information his local organizing staff collected from the large crowds he drew to his Iowa events to draw huge numbers of first-time participants to his ranks, fueling his caucus victory.
Trump, too, packed venues during his 2016 Iowa campaign, but his senior advisers, who had little understanding of the caucuses, failed to follow up with thousands of Iowans, costing him the early win.
This time, Trump’s top aides say they expect the former president to win Iowa in no small part by directing his audiences to a website tailored to connecting interested Iowans with local organizers.
They had expected to sign up thousands at an outdoor rally in Des Moines the same day DeSantis was in northwest Iowa, but the threat of severe storms prompted Trump to cancel. Trump’s campaign expects to make up the event in June.
Even with its big budget and a potential army of staff canvassing Iowa, an organizing campaign without the candidate is at a disadvantage, said veteran Republican strategist Mike Murphy.
Murphy led a pro-Jeb Bush super PAC’s effort to promote the former Florida governor’s campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. With a $100 million budget, Right to Rise emphasized messaging via advertising and direct mail.
But Bush fell from his perch as the field’s early favorite, due in part to his failure to ignite enthusiasm and recognize Trump’s viability.
A super PACs’ strengths lies in echoing a candidate’s messages or attacking opponents. Persuading voters to commit to attending caucuses almost necessarily requires the presence of the candidate, Murphy said.
“If you don’t have the candidate — or a strong surrogate, like a spouse — to do the tour and meet people in a state with a culture of candidate interaction, it’s hard to have a big organic impact, and that’s what they are going to run into,” Murphy said.
If last Saturday was any preview, the super PAC seemed ready to shadow DeSantis, with all the trappings of a local, organizing campaign, including “DeSantis ’24” yard signs.
Hauff, the retired speech pathologist, will be a good test.
Though she signed up for more information, she stopped short of signing one of the caucus pledge cards next to the glossy brochures.
“I like what the man says. I like what he’s done in Florida. But it’s early,” Hauff said. “I’m not ready to make a full commitment right now. I want to see how this is going to shake out. He’s one of the names on my list.” | 2023-05-21T08:15:11+00:00 | keloland.com | https://www.keloland.com/news/politics/ap-desantis-super-pac-tackles-tricky-task-of-organizing-support-for-him-in-iowa-without-the-candidate/ |
Home and business owners in Santee can expect a reduction in their insurance premiums on Oct. 1 due to an improvement in the town’s ISO rating, according to Santee Fire District Chief Ed Barnett.
Barnett announced last month that the town’s ISO rating improved from Class 4 to Class 3. That could translate into lower insurance premiums for people in the fire service area.
“It’s a great day here in Santee,” Barnett said.
ISO is a fire rating service provided to fire departments and insurance carriers by the Insurance Services Office.
ISO ratings are based on a survey of services provided by the local fire department, emergency communications, water supply and community risk reduction.
“We’ve seen a lot of improvements over the past several years. As growth is coming to our community, we are trying to prepare for the fire education and fire protection for the community and for the tourists that come and stay for vacation,” Barnett said.
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He credits the Santee firefighters, the Santee Fire District commission board and Orangeburg County Councilmen Johnny Ravenell and Johnnie Wright Sr. for their efforts in getting the ISO class rating reduced.
Barnett said Santee has one of the lowest ISO ratings in Orangeburg County.
“We’re trying to grow with the community, not to be behind it, but ahead of it,” Barnett said.
Currently, the fire department has two full-time, eight part-time and seven on-call firefighters. Each position is paid.
One of the components surveyed by ISO is community risk reduction, which includes fire prevention education.
For the past three consecutive years, the SFD has been recognized for achieving benchmarks designed by Fire Safe South Carolina.
SFD Fire Marshal Marcus Glenn heads up the department’s Fire Safe South Carolina efforts.
In previous fire prevention education efforts, “What we realized was, we were doing it wrong for years,” Glenn said.
Fire prevention education was handled in elementary school, such as during fire safety week, he said.
“We’d depend on the children to get this information to their parents,” Glenn said.
“Instead of having children as the figureheads, we want to reach out to the community” for fire prevention education, he said.
“In Santee, we try to open up our times and abilities to talk to church groups, homeowners’ associations and even the inspections we do on an annual basis at businesses,” Glenn said.
During fire inspections, he tells business owners about the fire prevention program the Santee Fire District can provide to employees – free of charge.
“The community has been very receptive to these efforts,” Glenn said.
“Our little fire district in Santee has been one of the leaders in Fire Safe South Carolina,” he added.
To learn more about Fire Safe South Carolina, visit www.firesafe.sc.gov.
To contact the Santee Fire District, visit them at 1005 Bass Drive in Santee or call 803-854-3270. | 2022-09-03T05:29:00+00:00 | thetandd.com | https://thetandd.com/news/local/santee-fire-rating-improves-chief-touts-insurance-savings/article_bac40ce7-10b1-5362-bc20-ae765c90139e.html |
2,500 respondents show range of opinions on COVID-19 risk, vaccines, treatments and mandates
NEW YORK, Aug 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As the nation follows new CDC recommendations to relax COVID-19 restrictions, a new survey of 2,500 New Yorkers conducted by the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) revealed clear differences among the boroughs in vaccine and booster uptake, childhood vaccination, treatment when sick and general trust in the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine. The range of full vaccine and booster coverage across the five boroughs was 60% in Manhattan to 34% in the Bronx, with Queens at 55%, Staten Island at 47%, and Brooklyn at 42%.
"These survey findings help us to examine the blind spots within our communities regarding the continued risks of COVID-19 exposure and need for vigilance in protection," says Dr. Ayman El-Mohandes, Dean of CUNY SPH. "With recent guidelines of the CDC loosening requirements for COVID-19 quarantining and isolation, more responsibility has been placed on the shoulders of individuals to make better choices for themselves and their families. We as public health advocates must double down on education about testing, prevention and treatment for those at high risk."
The survey showed adherence to protective measures among most New Yorkers, even amidst general COVID-19 fatigue. The majority of respondents (86%) have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 60% have had their children vaccinated. Respondents also supported public health initiatives such as vaccine mandates among employers (66%), schools (62%), indoor activities (63%) and international travel (71%). Three-quarters (74%) of New Yorkers stated they would prefer to rely on the vaccine alone or combine it with treatment if they become ill.
Yet when asking about their beliefs, the survey showed pockets of resistance. Only 66% of Staten Islanders agreed that the risks of COVID-19 are greater than the risks of the vaccine. This compared to 76% of respondents in Manhattan, followed by Queens at 75%, Brooklyn at 72% and the Bronx at 70%.
When asked if they trust the science behind COVID-19 vaccines, respondents from Manhattan led the affirmation at 78%, in stark contrast with those from Staten Island at 61%. Falling in between were Queens at 73%, the Bronx at 68% and Brooklyn at 66%.
Furthermore, there remains a gap over the safety of the vaccine: 82% of Manhattanites believe in it, compared with only 72% in Staten Island and 71% in Brooklyn.
When it comes to taking action through vaccine uptake or future treatment plans, the survey also showed a significant difference among boroughs:
- 69% of parents in Manhattan have had a child vaccinated, compared to 55% in the Bronx.
- Queens respondents were most likely to consider both vaccination and treatment (80%) as preferred interventions, while Staten Island residents were least likely to accept both (66%).
Read the full release here.
Media Contact:
Ariana Costakes
Communications Editorial Manager
ariana.costakes@sph.cuny.edu
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SOURCE CUNY SPH | 2022-08-23T13:05:57+00:00 | kcbd.com | https://www.kcbd.com/prnewswire/2022/08/23/covid-behaviors-attitudes-vary-among-nyc-boroughs-cuny-sph-survey-finds/ |
NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until February 6, 2023 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against F45 Training Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: FXLV), if they purchased or acquired the Company's shares pursuant and/or traceable to the Company's July 2021 initial public offering (the "IPO"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas.
Get Help
F45 investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-fxlv/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options.
About the Lawsuit
F45 and certain of its executives and others are charged with failing to disclose material information in its IPO Registration Statement and Prospectus (collectively, the "Offering Documents"), violating federal securities laws.
On July 26, 2022, the Company disclosed that its CEO had resigned, that about 60% fewer exercise studios would be opening than previously stated, that a $250 million credit line was no longer available, and that it made significant cuts to its financial guidance including decreasing full-year 2022 revenue to just between $120 million and $130 million, compared to the prior guidance of $255 million to $275 million, and full-year Adjusted EBITDA between $25 million and $30 million, compared to the prior guidance of $90 million to $100 million.
On this news, shares of F45 plummeted over 60%, from a close of $3.51 on July 26 to close at $1.35 on July 27, 2022, more than a 78% decline from its offering price of $16 per share on July 16, 2021.
The case is Kenzie Goer v. F45 Training Holdings, Inc., et al., No. 1:22-cv-01291.
About ClaimsFiler
ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations.
To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com.
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SOURCE ClaimsFiler | 2022-12-31T22:04:26+00:00 | live5news.com | https://www.live5news.com/prnewswire/2022/12/31/f45-training-shareholder-alert-claimsfiler-reminds-investors-with-losses-excess-100000-lead-plaintiff-deadline-class-action-lawsuit-against-f45-training-holdings-inc-fxlv/ |
NEW YORK, June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Riskified Ltd. (NYSE: RSKD) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.
This lawsuit is on behalf of all persons or entities who purchased Riskified Class A ordinary shares in or traceable to the Company's July 2021 initial public offering.
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: July 1, 2022
No obligation or cost to you.
Learn more about your recoverable losses in RSKD:
https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/riskified-ltd-loss-submission-form?id=29206&from=4
Riskified Ltd. NEWS - RSKD NEWS
CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Riskified Ltd. made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) as Riskified expanded its user base, the quality of Riskified's machine learning platform had deteriorated (rather than improved as represented in documents issued in connection with the July 2021 initial public offering), because of, among other things, inaccuracies in the algorithms associated with onboarding new merchants and entering new geographies and industries; (ii) Riskified had expanded its customer base into industries with relatively high rates of fraud – including partnerships with cryptocurrency and remittance business – in which Riskified had limited experience and that this expansion has negatively impacted the effectiveness of Riskified's machine learning platform; (iii) as a result, Riskified was suffering from materially higher chargebacks and cost of revenue and depressed gross profits and gross profit margins during its third fiscal quarter of 2021; and (iv) thus, the representations in documents issued in connection with the July 2021 initial public offering regarding Riskified's historical financial and operational metrics and purported market opportunities did not accurately reflect the actual business, operations, and financial results and trajectory of Riskified prior to and at the time of the July 2021 initial public offering, and were materially false and misleading, and lacked a factual basis.
WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Riskified Ltd. you have until July 1, 2022 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased Riskified Ltd. securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the RSKD lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/riskified-ltd-loss-submission-form?id=29206&from=4.
ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM
J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
J. Klein, Esq.
Empire State Building
350 Fifth Avenue
59th Floor
New York, NY 10118
jk@kleinstocklaw.com
Telephone: (212) 616-4899
www.kleinstocklaw.com
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SOURCE The Klein Law Firm | 2022-06-28T11:32:41+00:00 | ksla.com | https://www.ksla.com/prnewswire/2022/06/28/rskd-alert-klein-law-firm-announces-lead-plaintiff-deadline-july-1-2022-class-action-filed-behalf-riskified-ltd-shareholders/ |
US House win by ex-combat pilot cements Republican control
By MICHAEL R. BLOOD
AP Political Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rep. Mike Garcia, a former Navy fighter pilot, scored an upset U.S. House win Wednesday, handing Republicans control of the chamber and giving the GOP a rare reason to celebrate in a state dominated by Democrats that is also home to the likely future speaker, House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy.
Garcia was elected to a third term in a Democratic-leaning district that then-Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden carried by double digits in the 2020. It was Garcia’s third consecutive victory over Democrat Christy Smith, a former legislator.
With nearly 75% of the ballots counted, Garcia has 54.2%, to 45.8% for Smith.
Garcia, who flew over 30 combat missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom, is the sole GOP House member with a district anchored in heavily Democratic Los Angeles County.
It takes 218 seats to control the House. With the addition of the latest California results, Republicans locked down 218 seats so far, with Democrats claiming 211.
In another key win in the state, Rep. Mike Levin beat back a tough challenge from Republican businessman Brian Maryott in a Southern California district that straddles Orange and San Diego counties.
With nearly all of the votes counted, Levin had 52.65%, to 47.4% for Maryott.
Levin said he was eager to return to Washington to continue working on affordable health care, climate change and assistance for veterans. Biden had come to the district in the election’s closing days in hopes of giving Levin a boost.
Garcia’s win, which gave Republicans House control, came with a splash of political sass, arriving in a state so solidly Democratic that a Republican hasn’t won a statewide race since 2006 that is also home to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco. California is known nationally as a liberal monolith, but pockets of conservative strength remain, mainly in the Southern California suburbs and rural and farming stretches.
But even with the wins, Republicans will remain a small minority within the state’s congressional delegation.
Of the 52 seats — the largest delegation in Congress — GOP candidates had captured just nine districts as of Wednesday. Counting continued in five districts, although one was a match-up between two Democrats.
Garcia was first elected in a special election in May 2020, then was reelected two years ago by just 333 votes. He faced an even tougher challenge this year, after his left-leaning district was redrawn and became more solidly Democratic.
Smith, a former legislator, had argued Garcia was out of step with district voters: He was endorsed by then-President Trump in 2020, then joined House Republicans who rejected electoral votes from Arizona and Pennsylvania and opposed Trump’s impeachment after the Capitol insurrection. She also highlighted Garcia’s opposition to abortion rights.
Garcia emphasized his military service and pointed to his vote supporting $2,000 stimulus checks as one example of his political independence. He’s also stressed local issues, including concern over illegal marijuana cultivation.
In California, the primary House battlegrounds are Orange County — a suburban expanse southeast of Los Angeles that was once a GOP stronghold but has become increasingly diverse and Democratic — and the Central Valley, an inland stretch sometimes called the nation’s salad bowl for its agricultural production.
The tightest remaining contest in the state emerged in the Central Valley, where Democrat Adam Gray seized a tissue-thin lead after Republican John Duarte jumped ahead by 84 votes in a fight for an open seat in District 13.
Underscoring the closeness of the race, Gray’s campaign formed a committee to begin raising money to finance a possible recount. The latest returns showed Gray leading by 600 votes, with nearly 85% of the ballots tabulated.
In Orange County, Democratic Rep. Katie Porter was holding a nearly 3-point edge over Republican Scott Baugh in one of the nation’s marquee races. Baugh had slashed her lead in half earlier this week as counting continued. But Porter, a star of the party’s progressive wing, rebounded. About 90% of the votes had been counted.
In the Central Valley’s 22nd District, where about two-thirds of the votes have been counted, Republican Rep. David Valadao, who voted to impeach then-President Donald Trump, had a 5.6-point margin over Democrat Rudy Salas.
___
Follow the AP’s coverage of the 2022 midterm elections at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections. And check out https://apnews.com/hub/explaining-the-elections to learn more about the issues and factors at play in the midterms. | 2022-11-17T02:56:11+00:00 | kyma.com | https://kyma.com/news/ap-california/2022/11/16/us-house-win-by-ex-combat-pilot-cements-republican-control/ |
RALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SilverSky, a cybersecurity innovator offering powerful managed detection and response (MDR) services, today announced the release of its SilverSky Lightning MDR product portfolio including its new Extended Detection & Response (XDR) service based on the nLighten™ platform. The launch significantly enhances cyberthreat fighting and brings further efficiencies for the company's fast-growing customer base.
Developed during an extensive learning research program with DARPA with a stated goal of being able to stay as close as possible to the attackers' rate of learning, the new capabilities include unique analysis and filtering of traditionally siloed cybersecurity information. The Lightning Platform includes behavioral analytics and threat hunting technologies which work alongside existing security investments, substantially reducing false positives.
Removing false positives is core to a SOC manager's objective of lightening the load on SOC personnel and removing the need for SOC personnel additions. Adding SilverSky Lightning results in faster and better detection of attacks over competitive offerings in the market today.
The SilverSky Lightning portfolio gives security team members visibility into potential threats both inside and outside the network. It analyzes alerts to determine how impactful they are to operations, and helps effectively respond to critical events – all through SilverSky's global 24x7 SOC.
Using industry-leading data science, SilverSky looks for unknown threats and delivers threat detection technologies trusted by the U.S. Department of Defense during its ongoing fight against cyber terrorism. The newly launched capabilities improve overall cyber protections and arms organizations with visibility and insight to maintain a robust security posture and minimize system outages or customer friction.
Additionally, the SilverSky Lightning portfolio is built on a foundation of more than 20 years of compliance experience. The company's rigorous security controls program includes multiple annual third-party audits to ensure the protection of customer information.
"We're proud to announce this launch of SilverSky Lightning MDR and its accompanying XDR service, as it brings our customers some of the latest available technologies that are now also approved for use by the federal government and military – a distinct mark of proven, trusted innovation," said Marvin Wheeler, Chief Innovation Officer at SilverSky. "Now, with the high demands of national defense as the foundation of much of our SilverSky technology, our platform stands as the world's only fully autonomous SIEM coupled with highly skilled analysts delivering our MDR solution featuring better detection, less false positives and better visibility for our customers."
SilverSky Lightning MDR and its nLighten platform are priced per user. The new technologies come amid SilverSky's acquisition of Cybraics in April and were successfully integrated into SilverSky's business. Existing customers from both companies are now offered the benefit of strong integrations and ongoing security innovations with a marked focus on data science and threat hunting.
The Power of Data Science
- Actionable Steps – SilverSky's nLighten™ provides advanced threat detection which creates actionable cases allowing a security team to address real issues removing time-consuming investigations. Instead of rules and signatures, nLighten uses behavioral analytics to identify previously undetected threats, providing true situational awareness.
- Less Human Error - The combination of powerful data science along with well-prepared analysts can help narrow the gap with the bad guys. SilverSky's "noise reduction" approach minimizes hunting through alerts, dramatically reducing human error and effort. Customers' analysts focus on the small number of alerts that are impactful to the business, alerting according to a personalized response playbook.
For more information or to schedule a consultation, contact SilverSky at www.silversky.com/contact-us.
About SilverSky
Organizations of all sizes face the same cybersecurity threats, compliance mandates, and business risks as Fortune 500 companies. SilverSky levels the playing field and enables companies, regardless of their size, to access enterprise-grade cybersecurity to meet regulatory requirements, proactively respond to threats, and rapidly reduce risk. SilverSky offers one of the most comprehensive managed detection and response (MDR) solutions in the industry. Delivered as a managed services model, SilverSky MDR makes powerful cybersecurity simple, affordable, and accessible to organizations of all sizes and across industries. Customer environments are monitored 24x7x365 by highly skilled security operations analysts in SilverSky SOCs, which were developed based on military-grade security and are powered by the latest integrated technology. SilverSky has more than 20 years of operational cybersecurity success defending thousands of customers in some of the most demanding industry sectors. Visit www.silversky.com.
Company Contacts:
Clark Easterling
Vice President, Marketing
SilverSky
ceasterling@silversky.com
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SOURCE SilverSky | 2022-10-11T15:43:34+00:00 | ksla.com | https://www.ksla.com/prnewswire/2022/10/11/silversky-announces-general-availability-silversky-lightning-managed-detection-amp-response-mdr-nlighten-platform/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Four Iranian-backed militia members were killed in U.S. strikes in Syria on Wednesday in response to attacks by the group in recent weeks, the U.S. military said Thursday.
In a statement, U.S. Central Command said U.S. forces also destroyed seven enemy rocket launchers on Wednesday hours after militia fighters fired rockets at two U.S. military installations in northeast Syria. Central Command provided additional details about the strikes on Thursday, saying they were done with Apache helicopters, AC-130 gunships and M777 Howitzers.
The latest spike in attacks came after militias backed by Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard targeted U.S. troops on Aug. 15 at the al-Tanf Garrison in the south. There were no casualties or damage in that attack. But, in response, the U.S. struck bunkers and facilities used by the militias.
At the Pentagon on Thursday, Air Force Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said it would be premature to say if these strikes represent a broader escalation of violence in Syria.
“Certainly time will tell,” said Ryder, the Pentagon’s press secretary. “Based on the strikes that we have taken, we’ve sent a very loud and clear message, and a proportional message, that any threat against our forces who are operating in Syria or anywhere will not be tolerated. My hope would be that these groups would have received the message loud and clear and that we will not see similar behavior in future.”
President Joe Biden informed Congress of his decision to approve the initial U.S. strikes on the bunker facility, saying the goal was to disrupt the ongoing series of attacks and “to deter the Islamic Republic of Iran and Iran-backed militia groups from conducting or supporting further attacks on United States personnel and facilities.”
The opposition war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the U.S. airstrikes on the bunkers targeted the Ayash Camp run by the Fatimiyoun group made up of Shiite fighters from Afghanistan and that at least six Syrian and foreign militants were killed.
Within hours after the U.S. strikes, militia rocket attacks hit Green Village and the Conoco gas field in Deir el-Zour, where U.S. troops are stationed. According to U.S. Central Command, at least three servicemembers were treated or evaluated for minor injuries. U.S. forces retaliated by targeting the rocket launchers.
“We will respond appropriately and proportionally to attacks on our servicemembers,” said Gen. Erik Kurilla, who heads U.S. Central Command. “No group will strike at our troops with impunity.”
Deir el-Zour is a strategic province that borders Iraq and contains oil fields. Iran-backed militia groups and Syrian forces control the area and had often been the target of Israeli war planes in previous strikes.
Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani has denied that Iran had any link to those targeted. Iran routinely denies arming militia groups that target U.S. forces in the region, despite weaponry linking back to them.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of Syria at https://apnews.com/hub/syria. | 2022-09-23T04:41:10+00:00 | qcnews.com | https://www.qcnews.com/news/world-news/ap-us-strikes-kill-4-iranian-backed-militia-members-in-syria/ |
Tiger Woods recovering after ankle surgery, rest of majors in doubt
Tiger Woods had fusion surgery on his right ankle Wednesday morning to alleviate arthritis from a broken bone, putting in doubt whether he plays any more majors this year.
Woods disclosed the surgery on Twitter and said it was a subtalar fusion procedure to address post-traumatic arthritis from when he broke his talus bone in February 2021.
"He's resting now and will start the recovery process," Mark Steinberg, his agent at Excel Sports, said in a telephone interview.
The surgery took place in New York, and Steinberg said Woods has returned to his home near Jupiter, Florida, to begin rehabilitating.
As for when Woods could return to playing golf, Steinberg said there was "no timetable on this."
"The first goal is to recover and lead a much more enjoyable day-to-day life," he said.
Woods shattered multiple bones in his right leg and ankle in February 2021 when the SUV he was driving crashed off a suburban coastal Los Angeles road at about 85 mph and tumbled down the side of a hill. The injuries were so severe, Woods said, that doctors contemplated amputation.
RELATED: Tiger Woods: A look at the long road back to the Masters following car crash
Woods has had multiple surgeries on his leg as a result of the car crash. The ankle has been causing most of the problems of late, including a noticeable limp when he played four of the last five majors, most recently the Masters two weeks ago.
The talus is the second-largest of a group of bones known as the tarsus, which forms the lower part of the ankle joint and transmits the weight of the body from the lower leg to the foot. The subtalar joint allows for side-to-side movement needed for walking, especially on uneven surfaces.
Most estimates put recovery from subtalar fusion at eight to 12 weeks. That would all but rule out the PGA Championship next month — Woods was doubtful, anyway, given it will be at Oak Hill in Rochester, New York, with likely cold temperatures.
The U.S. Open is June 15-18 at Los Angeles Country Club, and the British Open is in three months (July 20-23) at Royal Liverpool in England.
Woods made an improbable return 14 months after the car crash to play in the Masters and walked 72 holes. Remarkably, he has missed only one cut — the British Open at St. Andrews last summer — although he withdrew after three rounds of the PGA Championship last year and he withdrew this year in the middle of the third round of the rain-delayed Masters.
Woods cited plantar fasciitis for his withdrawal from the Masters, where he tied the record by making his 23rd cut. Plantar fasciitis also was cited when he had to withdraw from his Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas in December, which he said was caused by working too much to get ready to play.
Jason Day said at the Masters that Woods told him the reason for his withdrawal from the PGA Championship last year "was a screw went through the skin."
Woods previously had five surgeries on his back. That included fusion surgery on his lower spine that allowed him to return to play. He won the Tour Championship in 2018, the Masters in 2019 for his 15th major championship and the Zozo Championship in Japan in the fall of 2019 for his 82nd career PGA Tour title, tying the career record of Sam Snead.
He has said in numerous interviews that hitting shots is not the problem, it's walking to the next one. Woods also has said his schedule would be limited to the majors and maybe a few others, such as the 36-hole PNC Championship with his son in which he can ride in a cart. | 2023-04-20T02:44:11+00:00 | fox29.com | https://www.fox29.com/news/tiger-woods-recovering-after-ankle-surgery-rest-of-majors-in-doubt |
To paraphrase lyrics from the most popular song Geoff Rickly has ever written, he didn’t want to feel this way forever.
The refrain comes from his band Thursday’s “Understanding in a Car Crash,” the opening track off the locally beloved emo band’s seminal 2001 record “Full Collapse.” But it’s also how Rickly felt as he battled heroin addiction years later — a struggle that brought him to Mexico and a psychedelic substance called ibogaine in hopes of getting sober. | 2023-07-27T18:34:27+00:00 | nj.com | https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2023/07/njs-geoff-rickly-on-his-debut-novel-thursdays-band-afterlife-and-why-springsteen-is-his-santa.html |
TUCSON, Ariz., April 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Accelerate Diagnostics, Inc. (NASDAQ: AXDX) announced today that management will host a conference call on Thursday, May 11, 2023, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time to review 2023 first quarter results.
To listen to the audio webcast online, visit ir.axdx.com. A replay of the audio webcast will be available for 30 days.
To listen by phone, dial +1.877.883.0383 and enter the Elite Entry Number: 1816344. International participants may dial +1.412.902.6506. Please dial in 10-15 minutes prior to the start of the conference.
A replay of the call will be available by telephone at +1.877.344.7529 (U.S.) or +1.412.317.0088 (International) using the replay code 9071320 until May 25, 2023.
About Accelerate Diagnostics, Inc.
Accelerate Diagnostics, Inc. is an in vitro diagnostics company dedicated to providing solutions for the global challenges of antibiotic resistance and sepsis. The Accelerate Pheno® system and Accelerate PhenoTest® BC kit combine several technologies aimed at reducing the time clinicians must wait to determine the most optimal antibiotic therapy for deadly infections. The FDA cleared system and kit fully automate the sample preparation steps to report phenotypic antibiotic susceptibility results in approximately 7 hours direct from positive blood cultures. Recent external studies indicate the solution offers results 1-2 days faster than existing methods, enabling clinicians to optimize antibiotic selection and dosage specific to the individual patient days earlier.
"Accelerate Diagnostics" and diamond shaped logos and marks are registered trademarks of Accelerate Diagnostics, Inc.
For more information about the company, its products and technology, or recent publications, visit axdx.com.
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SOURCE Accelerate Diagnostics, Inc. | 2023-04-27T14:20:45+00:00 | kcrg.com | https://www.kcrg.com/prnewswire/2023/04/27/accelerate-diagnostics-scheduled-call-review-2023-first-quarter-results/ |
New name reflects company's commitment to building a STEM-literate society
BEAVERTON, Ore., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Vernier Software & Technology has changed its name to Vernier Science Education. This new name reflects the company's commitment to provide educators with the tools they need to engage all students with hands-on, socially relevant STEM education and build a STEM-literate society.
"For more than 40 years, we've been dedicated to providing holistic, high-quality, and reliable solutions for STEM classrooms," said CEO John Wheeler. "We've always been more than a software and technology company—we're a science education company with a deep commitment to being an authentic partner to educators."
"With this name change, we want to make it clear that we're dedicated to using our experience in science education to partner with educators and communities to develop the next generation of knowledgeable citizens who can solve problems, contribute to their communities, and drive innovation."
Vernier Science Education is making a commitment to building a STEM-literate society at a crucial time:
- The pandemic has interrupted student learning, putting students behind in reading and math and widening opportunity and achievement gaps. Research has found multiple benefits of integrating science and math instruction, as well as science and English language arts instruction, such as increasing student understanding, strengthening critical-thinking skills, and helping students acquire STEM skills they need for postsecondary success.
- Occupations and wages in STEM and STEM-related fields are expected to increase over the next few years, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, many employers struggle to fill these high-paying jobs due, in part, to low rates of STEM understanding and proficiency.
- 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, communication, creativity, flexibility, having initiative, and having a positive attitude and work ethic are essential for success in college and careers—and these skills are all related to high-quality STEM learning experiences and STEM literacy.
To support educators in engaging students in STEM learning, Vernier offers comprehensive science education solutions, which include hardware, software, content, professional development, technical support, and (in the near future) assessments. The company is also building Vernier Connections™, an innovative online platform that helps deepen student understanding of STEM concepts.
Launching in 2023, Vernier Connections brings together enhanced Vernier experiments; hands-on data collection and analysis using Vernier probeware; and newly developed, socially relevant, real-world learning experiences. STEM educators can customize content to meet the unique learning needs of their students, create and share experiments, assign work, and determine student comprehension through assessments.
"For students to feel that they are authentically engaged in learning, STEM education must reflect their cultural and lived experiences," Wheeler said. "Vernier Connections gives students the ability to study the world in their own context, collect and analyze data as they investigate natural phenomena, and take part in experiential and three-dimensional STEM learning."
Vernier Connections is the heart of the Vernier STEM Classroom—an integrated approach to using the full catalog of Vernier hardware, software, content, assessment, and professional development to make a high-quality STEM education possible for all students.
To learn more about Vernier Science Education and the Vernier STEM Classroom, visit https://vernier.science.
For more than 40 years, Vernier Science Education has been committed to using our experience, knowledge, and passion to create the best and most reliable solutions for STEM education. Our comprehensive solutions include hardware, software, content, assessment, professional development, and technical support. At the heart of Vernier is our deep commitment to being an authentic and trusted partner to STEM educators. We are dedicated to partnering with educators and communities to build a STEM-literate society where students grow up to become knowledgeable citizens who can solve problems, fully contribute to their communities, and drive innovation. For more information, visit www.vernier.com.
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SOURCE Vernier Science Education | 2022-08-17T13:29:33+00:00 | witn.com | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/vernier-software-amp-technology-is-now-vernier-science-education/ |
US emergency oil supply shrinks to 40-year low
President Biden is once again tapping into the country's emergency stockpile of oil as the White House tries to prevent gasoline prices from spiking again, reducing the petroleum reserve to its lowest level in four decades.
The nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve had 416.4 million barrels in the week ended Sept. 30 – the lowest level since 1984 – after the Biden administration released another 6.2 million barrels, according to Department of Energy data.
Biden had tapped the emergency oil stash four times over the past year in hopes of lowering gas prices, including in March, when he ordered a record-setting 180 million barrels of oil released from the reserve – 1 million barrels per day over six months.
With the releases scheduled to finish this month, the White House said on Wednesday that it would release 10 million additional barrels in November.
Oil pumpjacks stand in the Inglewood Oil Field on Nov. 23, 2021, in Los Angeles, California. (Mario Tama/Getty Images / Getty Images)
The decision to further drain the oil reserves came hours after a coalition of oil-producing countries led by Russia and Saudi Arabia – known as OPEC+ – announced it would slash oil production by 2 million barrels, the first major cut in two years. The move – which came despite lobbying from U.S. officials to do otherwise – threatens to raise oil prices at a time when the world is already combating record-high inflation.
The White House condemned the production cuts, which threaten to push gas prices higher with midterm elections just one month away.
"The president is disappointed by the shortsighted decision by OPEC Plus to cut production quotas while the global economy is dealing with the continued negative impact of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine," Brian Deese, the director of the National Economic Council, and Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser, said in a statement.
After hitting a record high of $5.01 per gallon in mid-June, a gallon of gas now costs about $3.86 on average, according to AAA.
AMERICANS SHOULD PREPARE FOR GAS PRICES TO KEEP RISING, ANALYSTS WARN
While that marks a 23% decline from the summer peak, it is still up 29% from just one year ago.
US President Joe Biden steps off Air Force One upon arrival at Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia on October 7, 2022. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Proponents of releasing barrels from the emergency stockpile say that doing so increases oil supplies and reduces prices at the pump, while also generating billions in revenue for the federal government. But critics say that releasing emergency supplies is a short-term fix and does not increase the country's oil production capabilities.
Established after a 1973-74 oil embargo by Arab members of OPEC, the reserve has been used in several emergencies, including in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina made landfall and destroyed swaths of the Gulf of Mexico oil infrastructure. At the time, the Bush administration authorized the release of 20.8 million barrels of crude oil to U.S. producers.
The Biden administration announced plans earlier this year to replenish the oil reserve with a call for bids to repurchase 60 million barrels of oil – roughly one-third of the emergency supply released by the president in March.
The call for bids from companies is slated to take place in the fall and is designed to bolster the emergency supply for future years.
Gas prices listed at a petrol station in Los Angeles, California, on July 19, 2022. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)
West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. benchmark, rose to $88.45 per barrels on Thursday following the OPEC+ cuts. Bloomberg News previously reported that the White House had considered refilling its emergency oil reserve when crude prices dip below $80 a barrel.
Brent crude futures, meanwhile, increased to $94.42 a barrel.
LINK: Get updates and more on this story at foxbusiness.com. | 2022-10-08T19:39:22+00:00 | fox6now.com | https://www.fox6now.com/news/us-strategic-petroleum-reserve-lowest-levels-40-years |
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Nigel John had 16 points, DeAntoni Gordon scored 14 and Myron Gardner added a double-double as Little Rock turned back NAIA-member Arkansas Baptist 71-60 on Thursday.
Gardner finished with 11 points and 13 rebounds for the Trojans (1-1). Freshman Chris Walker came off the bench to score 12.
Kendric Robinson paced the Buffaloes with 16 points and eight rebounds. Brandon Williams and Joshua Williams both scored 10.
Little Rock had a 52-39 edge in rebounds and made seven more foul shots than the Buffaloes.
__
More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 | 2022-11-11T08:16:29+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/sports/article/Little-Rock-turns-back-NAIA-member-Arkansas-17576564.php |
BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva finishes the first 100 days of his third term as Brazil’s president on Monday and his return to power has been marked by efforts to reinstate his social policies and undo his predecessor’s legacy.
Lula unseated Jair Bolsonaro by a razor-thin margin last October. He and his team announced plans to hit the ground running. Then, a week after Lula’s inauguration, Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings in capital Brasilia, hoping military intervention would remove the leftist from power.
Quelling unrest while staving off potential coups was a challenge unseen by any president since Brazil’s return to democracy over three decades ago, and it has overshadowed the efforts of Lula’s administration since then.
Lula, who governed between 2003 and 2010, started his third term faced with the stiff challenges of achieving his goals of eradicating poverty and hunger while preventing economic slowdown.
To the extent that he has ushered in change since Jan. 1, that has entailed reactivating policies from past Workers’ Party administrations: The cash-conditional Family Grant welfare program, the My House, My Life housing program, and the More Doctors initiative to expand medical care.
“Other governments inherited an organized state; Bolsonaro disorganized the state. Everything needs to be redone,” Carlos Melo, a political science professor at Insper University in Sao Paulo, said. “Even so, the government hasn’t presented a (new) project.”
Lula has blamed Bolsonaro for the challenges faced by his government, whose official slogan includes the word “reconstruction.” Before taking power, Lula commissioned and publicized a detailed report on the government’s debilitated state. On March 17 on Twitter, Bolsonaro remarked that governing is very easy for Lula: “just undo what Bolsonaro did.”
“I am not used about talking about the first 100 days of the administration,” Lula said during a ceremony at Brazil’s presidential palace on Monday to recognize a date with symbolic significance in this and many other nations. “But I think it is important to remind you that, in 2003 I took over from a democratic president, which did not happen now.”
Lula successfully rallied lawmakers and Supreme Court justices in defense of democracy and began executing a strategy to remove the armed forces from politics. Almost three months later, he has made inroads with a vastly pro-Bolsonaro military and garnered some support in Congress. He also received a nod from moderates and business leaders for his finance minister’s proposed fiscal rules to address recurring budget deficits; the government aims to zero the primary budget deficit by the end of next year.
Still, polls show Lula lacks popular support. Of 2,028 Brazilians polled by Datafolha, 38% said Lula’s administration was either good or excellent – just above Bolsonaro’s approval rating after three months in office. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points.
Some analysts say Lula likewise still lacks the congressional support to pass legislation.
In order to fund social investments and ensure job creation, Lula also needs the economy to grow. Economists surveyed weekly by the central bank forecast sub-1% growth this year, and little more in 2024, down from 2.9% last year even with a fourth-quarter contraction.
To spur activity, Lula has spent considerable time and effort pressuring the president of Brazil’s independent central bank to lower the benchmark interest rate from its highest level since 2016 – thus far to no avail.
While Lula has struggled on the economic front, he has scored wins on the environment after pledging to usher in a new era of responsible stewardship of the Amazon rainforest.
His biggest environmental win has been a humanitarian operation to rescue Yanomami people from disease and malnutrition in the Amazon. The armed forces, under the leadership of a newly appointed army commander, provided food and medical supplies, while newly empowered environmental agents destroyed illegal gold mining camps that lay waste to the rivers and forest, and expelled miners from the Indigenous territory.
This reflected a shift from the policies of Bolsonaro, who encouraged prospecting, criticized such protected lands as unproductive and systematically defanged environmental authorities.
Environmentalists, Indigenous rights activists, the media and foreign governments have cheered the Lula administration’s efforts in Yanomami land. Lula also reactivated donations to the Amazon Fund that is the most important international cooperation effort to preserve the area.
There are bigger environmental tests ahead. Lula has yet to rebuild Brazil’s environmental bodies, not only for preservation efforts, but also to demonstrate the government’s full commitment to foreign investors and governments, said Marcio Astrini, the executive-secretary of the Climate Observatory, a network of non-profits.
Bolsonaro went about “institutionally sabotaging the environment. The (Lula) government has taken important steps, but one cannot underestimate Bolsonaro’s legacy,” Astrini said.
Reasserting Brazil’s place on the international stage has also been a priority for Lula, and he has reconnected with leaders from the United States, France, China and Argentina. Bolsonaro showed little interest in foreign travel or bridgebuilding.
The Brazilian leader has also sought to project himself as a leading voice for a peaceful end to the Ukraine conflict, though some have criticized his position as unduly soft on Russia. Eduardo Grin, a public administration professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, a university and think tank in Sao Paulo, also that Lula has voiced support for authoritarian regimes in Latin America, including Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela.
Speaking in Brasilia on Monday, the president said that he still has a lot of time to correct his administration’s missteps. His social communications minister said Lula will host weekly broadcasts on social media to talk about his work, a strategy employed by Bolsonaro throughout his presidency to connect with ordinary people and offer accountability.
Lula also instructed his ministers to be more vocal about their achievements.
“Our task, besides governing, is to talk a lot,” Lula told them. “Brazil has a future again. And this is just the start.”
___
Savarese reported from Sao Paulo. | 2023-04-10T23:15:23+00:00 | cbs4indy.com | https://cbs4indy.com/news/national-world/ap-international/brazils-lula-struggling-to-move-forward-after-100-days/ |
Which bird carrier is best?
Birds are intelligent, curious animals that require ample time outside of their cages to play, exercise and interact with new objects and environments. Even small birds like parakeets benefit from enrichment.
A bird carrier is a great way to allow your pet a safe way to explore new sights and sounds. It’s also indispensable if you have to travel with your bird or make a trip to the vet. The Petsfit Bird Carrier With Stainless Steel Bowl is the best bird carrier for small to medium birds. It provides excellent visibility and ventilation, allowing for both security and flexibility because of its use of quality materials and its backpack design.
What to know before you buy a bird carrier
Traveling
Air travel: Traveling with a pet bird by airplane can be a challenge. Your bird carrier has to fit under the seat in front of you and will require a security inspection. Check with your preferred airline to determine their requirements and restrictions regarding birds in the cabin. Carefully select a bird carrier that complies with their requests.
Groomer or vet: Like other pets, birds require periodic trips to the veterinarian as well as to the groomer to get their wings, claws and beaks trimmed. If you expect that your bird carrier will only be used as a way to transport your pet for these short visits, you don’t require an especially large model with multiple food and water bowls or other accessories.
Trips for fun: If your bird is comfortable with new people and places, a trip to the park or other outdoor area outside the home is a great way to give them the stimulation and socialization they crave. If you anticipate that your bird carrier will be used for adventure and exploration, consider one that’s easy to move and provides your bird with good visibility, plenty of room and access to food and water.
Your bird’s personality
If your bird is particularly shy or sensitive, choose a carrier that offers them a feeling of security. While many birds enjoy meeting people and taking in new sights, they all appreciate the ability to choose their own level of privacy. For apprehensive birds, select a carrier with opaque sides or a mesh screen as opposed to a clear plastic one that will leave them feeling fully exposed.
What to look for in a quality bird carrier
Visibility
Birds are visual creatures. Not only do they appreciate being able to see their surroundings, they’re also comforted by being able to see their owner. Select a bird carrier that allows you to easily observe your pet.
Ventilation
Because of their delicate respiratory systems, fresh air and good ventilation is necessary for the health of your bird. Carriers with screen windows provide ample airflow. If you prefer a carrier with plastic sides, choose one that provides adequate ventilation through portholes or a mesh door.
Material
Parrots’ powerful bills can make short work of almost anything they determine to be worth chewing. It’s important that your carrier is made from a material that’s strong enough to prevent your bird from biting its way out. Large parrots like cockatoos that are especially prone to chewing require metal carriers.
Food dishes and accessories
Many bird carriers include bowls to provide clean water and food. However, a carrier in motion can result in spills. If you intend to do a lot of walking with your bird, seek out a model that allows you to use a water bottle as opposed to an open dish. While getting your bird to drink from a bottle requires some training, it greatly reduces the mess.
Size
Whether your bird carrier is used for short trips or an afternoon at the park, it should provide ample room for your pet to comfortably turn around and stand up at full height. Birds are especially protective of their tail feathers, so a carrier that extends below your bird’s perch and allows room for their tail to hang without dragging is ideal for your pet’s comfort and cleanliness.
Portability
Some bird carriers come with backpack straps to allow for easy travel. Others are built in the style of a duffel bag with a handle or strap that can be slung over your shoulder. Consider your plans with your pet to determine which configuration works best for you.
Color
From metal cages to patterned bags, bird carriers are available in a variety of colors and styles. Choose a look that best matches your personal aesthetic, but keep in mind that some birds are highly sensitive to brightly colored objects and may take more time to become acclimated to the stimulation.
Toys and accessories
Many bird carriers come with clips or hooks that can be used to hang your pet’s favorite toys or treats. While not necessary for short trips to the groomer, toys and other accessories can prevent your bird from getting bored during travel.
How much you can expect to spend on a bird carrier
Expect to pay $50-$100 for a quality bird carrier made from strong, safe materials. Bird carriers made from metal or those from premium brands can cost $200 or more, depending on size.
Bird carrier FAQ
How long can your bird be safely left in its carrier?
A. To avoid undue stress and mess, your pet bird shouldn’t be in its carrier for more than a couple of hours at a time. While this isn’t possible during extended travel, trips outdoors for socialization should be kept brief. Be sure your bird always has access to drinking water.
Can you put more than one bird in a bird carrier?
A. Depending on the carrier’s size and how well your birds get along, yes. Bonded pairs prefer the security of their partner, but some birds like more solitude. Placing birds who aren’t familiar with one another in a confined space can result in injuries due to fighting.
Will your bird get car sick if you travel with it?
A. You may be surprised to learn that some birds can get car sick. If your bird becomes nauseous during travel, try to limit drives to necessary trips only. If travel by car is a must, some owners recommend installing a hanging perch in your carrier. The swinging motion of a hanging perch provides a more comfortable car ride for some birds.
What’s the best bird carrier to buy?
Top bird carrier
Petsfit Bird Carrier with Stainless Steel Bowl
What you need to know: This bird carrier backpack is versatile and includes features only available in carriers that cost twice as much.
What you’ll love: Stylishly designed and comfortable to carry and wear, this bird carrier is an excellent choice for conures or other small parrots. Its mesh screen provides great ventilation and visibility. All side windows can be covered with flaps to provide your bird with privacy for sleeping or stressful situations.
What you should consider: This bird carrier’s plastic mesh isn’t suitable for aggressive chewers. Only one bowl is included. It is not large enough for many species.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top bird carrier for the money
Colorday Lightweight Bird Carrier
What you need to know: This lightweight bird carrier is available in two sizes and provides crystal-clear visibility.
What you’ll love: The included wooden perch provides your bird with a secure grip and stable balance. This carrier’s shoulder strap and handle make it portable and easy to move around.
What you should consider: Users have noted that this bird carrier’s window is covered in a protective plastic film that’s difficult to fully remove. Plastic mesh can be destroyed by birds who are excessive chewers.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Featherland Paradise Perch ‘n Go Polycarbonate Bird Carrier
What you need to know: Rugged plastic construction and metal cage doors make this popular carrier a safe, secure option.
What you’ll love: This model’s carrying handle doubles as an additional perch for your bird to use outside of the carrier. It is easily cleaned, and the clear polycarbonate plastic provides great visibility.
What you should consider: This carrier is on the expensive side and is only acceptable for small birds.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Derek Walborn writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | 2022-04-09T18:52:04+00:00 | texomashomepage.com | https://www.texomashomepage.com/reviews/br/pets-br/bird-supplies-br/best-bird-carrier/ |
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Adele announced Sunday that she’s extending her Las Vegas residency with 34 more dates between June and November and also plans to release a concert film.
Saturday night’s show was the last performance in the British singer's original “Weekends With Adele” series that covered 34 dates since last November on the Las Vegas Strip.
Her representatives said Adele’s shows will resume at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace on June 16 and run through Nov. 4.
The June performances will be recorded and released as a concert special.
Adele ended speculation about her future at the Colosseum, telling a sold-out crowd Saturday night that she will be back in June and mentioning the concert film, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
“Playing to 4,000 people for 34 dates is not enough, and I know that,” Adele said. “So I am coming back for a few weeks in June, and I’m going to release it to make sure anyone who wants to see this show can see it.” | 2023-03-26T18:26:54+00:00 | springfieldnewssun.com | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/nation-world/adele-extends-las-vegas-residency-plans-concert-film/23T2WBYTZFBJ7KMRPLQJH623I4/ |
Oil giant BP plans to launch a series of large EV fast-charging “Gigahubs” aimed at ride-hailing vehicles.
The first of these hubs will be built near Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in collaboration with rental-car firm Hertz, and will be funded in part by a $2 million grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC), BP said in a press release.
BP said that 48 charging ports would be installed in this first hub, with an estimated 6,400 ride-hailing fleet EVs using the site daily by 2027.
The site is near an existing Hertz facility. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding earlier this year calling for BP, via its BP Pulse business, to oversee charging for Hertz, which plans to add tens of thousands of EVs from Tesla, Polestar, and General Motors to its fleet by 2024.
More than 25,000 Uber drivers have rented vehicles from Hertz to date, Jeff Nieman, the company’s senior vice president of operations initiatives, said in a statement. The number of those drivers using EVs should increase significantly in the coming years.
California in 2021 approved an EV mandate for Uber and Lyft that will ramp up a growing portion of their fleets to fully electric between 2023 and 2030. Ride-hailing needs to go all-electric, as 2019 data found that 39% of the miles covered by on-duty ride-hailing drivers were “deadhead miles” with no passenger.
At the same time, most charging-infrastructure programs to date have overlooked ride-hailing drivers. Many charging networks are looking to facilitate road-trip charging by spanning intercity route gaps, but to aid ride hailing urban fast-charging stations will likely be needed. That could also help city residents who use EVs as their personal cars, as they don’t currently have many charging options.
BP plans to expand its current network to 100,000 chargers globally by 2030 as it looks to diversify from fossil fuels. The company, earlier this year, said that its fast-chargers are almost as profitable as gas pumps, on a margin basis.
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- Kia EVs will also be made at Hyundai’s Georgia “Metaplant” | 2022-10-29T15:10:17+00:00 | ourquadcities.com | https://www.ourquadcities.com/automotive/internet-brands/bp-plans-charging-hubs-for-ride-hailing-evs-first-near-lax/ |
New strategic roles join over 10 new hires in the region in 2022 so far
NEW YORK, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Blis, the audience-first platform that doesn't rely on personal data, today announced the hire of David Asch as VP of Programmatic Partnerships and Jonathan Alt as RVP Midwest and West in the US. The new strategic roles were created to fulfill the increasing demand from Blis' clients in the US.
With over fifteen years of industry experience working in the region, David Asch joins Blis from AudienceX, where he was the VP of sales for the US, leading the entire sales management for the region – ensuring that campaigns were leveraging the best performing blend of tactics across channels and screens.
Jonathan Alt joins the Blis team to support Blis' growth across the Midwest and West coast. For the past seven years, Jonathan held different positions at Dotdash to ultimately become Chief Revenue Officer, Lifestyle Brands at the company. Prior to that, Jonathan worked across different media and adtech companies, including Basis Technologies, Game Show Network and Viacom.
"For the first time, Blis has hired a VP of Programmatic Partnerships exclusively dedicated to the US market," said Gil Larsen, Managing Director Americas at Blis. "Expanding our operations across the country is extremely important to Blis' future plans. Supporting our clients to navigate this new privacy-first scenario with a platform that doesn't rely on personal data is our highest priority. Both Jonathan and David will be instrumental to the success of our business and I'm excited to have them on board to support our growth in the region."
Blis has been operating in the US since 2016 and growing rapidly since then, with employees based in key markets across the nation. In addition to David and Jonathan's hires, Blis also announced several other important hires in the region, following the recent investment from LDC, with headcount growing by 41% so far in 2022.
"Blis has made significant investments in our product over the past two years with a focus on delivering client outcomes programmatically without relying on personal data," said David Asch, VP of Programmatic Partnerships at Blis, US. "Being able to develop our programmatic partnerships even further is critical to the business and I'm looking forward to delivering our roadmap across the country in 2022."
About Blis
Blis is the audience-first platform that doesn't rely on personal data. We're an integrated planning and buying platform that delivers scaled, relevant and high-performing audiences, helping the world's largest brands and media agencies achieve their goals.
Over the past 18 years, Blis has built its reputation on delivering award-winning location-powered advertising solutions. In today's consumer-centric landscape, Blis is transforming the role of location data by combining it with a broad range of rich and powerful datasets to give our clients the deepest audience understanding available. Our unique approach to integrated planning and buying provides personalized targeting and performance without reliance on personal data. We serve relevant ads to the highest-value addressable audiences across any channel and deliver our clients' campaign outcomes every time, from brand awareness and engagement through to store/site visits and sales.
Established in the UK in 2004, Blis now operates in more than 40 offices across five continents. Working with the world's largest and most customer-driven companies across all verticals including Unilever, Samsung, McDonald's, HSBC, Mercedes Benz and Peugeot, as well as every major media agency.
To learn more, visit blis.com.
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1501097/Blis_Logo.jpg
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SOURCE Blis | 2022-08-17T15:26:09+00:00 | kcrg.com | https://www.kcrg.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/blis-appoints-new-vp-programmatic-partnerships-new-rvp-midwestwest-continuing-hiring-spree-us/ |
GROVE, Okla. (KSNF)– Authorities believe the disintegrating and rusted-out remains of a 55-gallon drum at the bottom of a northeast Oklahoma lake may hold clues to the disappearance of a woman missing since 1998.
Peggy A. Sweeten, 52, was last seen on Jan. 17, 1998.
She and her husband, James Lee Sweeten, a former Kansas, school superintendent, lived in a lakefront home with a boat dock at Four Seasons Resort on Grand Lake, northeast of Grove, Oklahoma.
None of Peggy’s personal belongings – including her car, clothing, photos or mementos were missing – according to a search warrant filed in 2011.
“We were reviewing the old police reports and investigative reports again and a statement by Patrick Sweeten, Peggy’s son, caught my eye,” said Mark Wall, a cold case detective in Delaware and Ottawa counties.
Patrick Sweeten told investigators he learned his mother was missing in March 1998 and had to force his father to file a missing person’s report in June.
In 1998, James Sweeten told authorities his wife left with a man she had met online, the warrant stated. The problem was Peggy Sweeten did not use email and never had an email address.
Patrick Sweeten told investigators in 1998 he noticed a 55-gallon drum on his parent’s property was suddenly missing. When he questioned his father about the barrel, his dad shrugged his shoulders and said he didn’t know anything about it, Wall said.
Nexstar’s KSNF reached out to James Sweeten for comment, but he did not return phone calls.
On Wednesday, the Tulsa Fire Department, Cherokee Nation investigators and Delaware County sheriff’s deputies used an underwater drone and magnetic locating equipment to search the 15-foot waters that surround the boat dock area of Sweeten’s former residence.
On Friday, divers located a 55-gallon drum upright submerged in sludge. Divers used mesh buckets to extract some of the contents from the drum.
“At this point, we could go as far as we could,” Wall said.
While no visible bones, clothing or remains were recovered, Tulsa Medical Examiner Anthropologist Angela Burg was painstakingly sifting through muck and debris as divers pulled the buckets out of the water.
Wall said they plan to bring underwater equipment to the site to safely remove the drum without losing any of the contents.
Extramarital affair and “person of interest”
James Sweeten was listed as “a person of interest” when investigators dug up an old tool shed on the property in 2011.
The 2011 search warrant stated James Sweeten was involved in an extramarital affair at the time of Peggy’s disappearance. Officials said that at the time, James refused to submit to a polygraph test and refused a noninvasive search of his property.
The warrant stated that James “appeared to be deceptive and evasive” during the interview.
James Sweeten filed for divorce on Feb. 9, 1998, three weeks after Peggy’s disappearance. Peggy Sweeten did not appear in court for the proceedings and a divorce was granted on April 6, 1998, court records show.
According to the warrant, the elder Sweeten told his son he filed for divorce because he had gotten a call from his wife saying she wasn’t coming back.
Debra Hammond, the woman James Sweeten was reportedly having an affair with, was also granted a divorce on April 1, 1998, according to Coffey County, Kansas, court records. Officials said Sweeten and Hammond moved in together in June 1998 and were married in December of the same year.
James Sweeten moved from the Grove residence shortly after the 2011 search of his property. James and Debra Sweeten are currently living in Texas.
Debra also did not respond to a request for comment.
Agencies involved in the search said they will meet again on Wednesday. They will formulate a plan to retrieve the 55-gallon drum from the bottom of the lake cove.
Anyone with information about the disappearance of Peggy Sweeten is asked to contact Mark Wall at (918) 253-4531. | 2023-04-16T23:28:18+00:00 | wdtn.com | https://www.wdtn.com/news/u-s-world/investigators-find-55-gallon-drum-in-lake-believe-they-are-close-to-locating-missing-oklahoma-woman/ |
Just hours after Democrats in the California Senate released a plan for remedying the state's budget deficit by raising taxes on big businesses, Gov. Gavin Newsom signaled that he wouldn't support it — setting the stage for what could be a cycle of bruising negotiations as state leaders edge closer to the June deadline for agreeing on a budget.
The plan released Wednesday by state lawmakers would raise the corporate tax rate on the state's top earners while cutting taxes for smaller businesses. The plan would trim the state's flat corporate tax rate of 8.84% down to 6.63% for all companies on the first $1.5 million they make; any annual income that exceeds that amount would be subject to a 10.99% tax. The plan says the 10.99% tax would apply to only 2,500 companies in California — just 0.2% of corporate tax filers — and would generate an estimated $7 billion in state revenue the first year and $6 billion each year after.
In a statement, Nancy Skinner — the Berkeley Democrat in charge of the Senate's budget committee — said the plan would target businesses that benefited the most from the Trump administration's 2017 corporate tax cuts.
“Our plan preserves the important advancements California has made toward a more equitable and sustainable economy while continuing the responsible budgeting that builds our reserves and rainy day funds to protect California if we face continued economic challenges,” she said. “And I’m particularly proud that the Senate’s 2023 plan will provide much-needed tax relief for small businesses, the backbone of our economy, while ensuring that the biggest corporations that pocketed massive tax cuts during the Trump years start paying their fair share.”
However, reportedly just two hours after the plan was released, Newsom's office said the governor was opposed. A spokesperson for the governor, Anthony York, sent a statement to multiple media outlets that said implementing the plan would be irresponsible.
“Governor Newsom cannot support the new tax increases and massive ongoing spending proposed by the Senate today,” the statement said. “It would be irresponsible to jeopardize the progress we’ve all made together over the last decade to protect the most vulnerable while putting our state on sound fiscal footing.”
Newsom's initial budget plan, released in January, estimated that the state would face a $22.5 billion budget deficit. Both Newsom and members of the Legislature have signaled that they don't want to dip into the state's rainy day fund to help cover the budget shortfall, but disagreements over where spending should be cut are already apparent — divisions that likely won't heal easily after Wednesday's fracas. Newsom will release an updated budget plan next month, and he'll have to work with state lawmakers to hammer out a final deal by June 15. | 2023-04-27T23:16:34+00:00 | sfgate.com | https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/newsom-spurns-proposed-business-tax-hike-17923377.php |
To Make Systemic Change, The Dove Self-Esteem Project is Partnering with Cultural Icon & People's Advocate, Lizzo, Common Sense Media and ParentsTogether Action to Advance Legislation around Social Media Safety for Kids
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., April 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Dove Self-Esteem Project announces new actions to address the current rise in youth mental health issues linked to social media use with the Campaign for Kids Online Safety. While social media can be a force for good, it is also one of the biggest threats to young people's mental health today. Presently, social media is primarily left to self-regulation for youth and their guardians, and studies show its inherent link to negative youth mental wellness outcomes. In fact, NEW 2023 Dove Self-Esteem Project Research shows 8 in 10 youth mental health specialists say social media is fueling a mental health crisis.
Additional statistics from the NEW 2023 Dove Self-Esteem Project Research for Kids Online Safety1 found:
- 80% of young people believe that people their age are addicted to social media
- More than 50% of young people say social media makes them and their peers feel anxious
- 7 in 10 young people (ages 10-17) have been exposed to content encouraging weight loss/body transformation on social media
- 76% of young people in the U.S. say social media can make young people want to change their appearance
- 51% of young people (ages 14-17) have been exposed to content encouraging restricted eating or disordered eating behaviors
- Over half of youth mental health specialists say exposure to harmful beauty content on social media can lead to physical consequences like disordered eating or self-harm
- Over half (58%) of American parents believe the only way to get social media platforms to change is to implement legislation in the space
Since 2004, Dove has been building body confidence and self-esteem in young people through the Dove Self-Esteem Project, and to-date, has educated more than 94 million youth globally. In 2023, the Dove Self-Esteem Project is evolving its mission to help make social media a more positive place by standing for safer social media design with the Campaign for Kids' Online Safety.
"Dove has a long-term commitment to bringing positive change in beauty and taking action towards making social media a more positive place with campaigns like #NoDigitalDistortion, Reverse Selfie/Selfie Talk, and #DetoxYourFeed. While certain aspects of social media can promote creativity and connection for young people, data has shown toxic content online is harming the mental health of today's youth. If there isn't real change, young people will continue to pay with their wellbeing." explains Alessandro Manfredi, Chief Marketing Officer for Dove. "We have a responsibility to act and support a safer environment on social media, helping protect young people's mental health. This means going beyond individual interventions to drive systemic change."
Despite bi-partisan efforts from lawmakers to advance legislation that protects kids' exposure to things like harmful content and addictive algorithms, progress is not being made fast enough.
The Dove Self-Esteem Project is partnering with Cultural Icon & People's Advocate Lizzo, Common Sense Media and ParentsTogether Action to advance the 2023 Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), which supports updated design standards, safeguards and tools that protect kids' overall experiences online, and would limit their exposure to toxic beauty content proven to erode their self-esteem. The KOSA bill outlines more transparency on social media design and black box algorithms, including:
- Disabling addictive product features and opt-out of algorithmic recommendations;
- Creating a duty for social media platforms to prevent and mitigate harms to minors, such as content promoting of self-harm, suicide, eating disorders, substance abuse, and sexual exploitation;
- Requiring social media platforms to perform an annual independent audit assessing risks to minors;
- Providing experts access to critical data to foster research regarding harms to the safety and well-being of minors.
"Over the past decade, we have witnessed a youth mental health crisis —skyrocketing suicide rates, hospitalizations for self-harm, and depression among children and teens," Jim Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media. "Real change requires partnership, advocacy, and a commitment to do the work on the ground. We are proud to partner with Dove to advance our mission to require platforms to make safety the default and ensure social media is a safer place for today's generation."
To drive awareness of this issue and call on lawmakers to act now, the Dove Self-Esteem Project convened voices of authority in ethical tech and youth mental health for a powerful live event in Los Angeles on Tuesday, April 11, 'A Call for Kids' Online Safety: A Forum for Change,' centering youth and parents to share their stories. Sharers were supported by influential voices, including Cultural Icon & People's Advocate, Lizzo, CEO of Common Sense Media, Jim Steyer, Digital Media Expert, Dr. Safiya U. Noble, and Stanford Psychiatrist & Social Design Expert Dr. Nina Vasan. A recording of the live event streamed on Dove US YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok channels is now available to view on Dove.com.
"Social media is supposed to be a place where people can express themselves and be a source for beauty confidence, not anxiety, that's why I'm partnering with Dove again and calling on platforms to do more to make social media safe for young people," Cultural Icon and People's Advocate, Lizzo says. "Seeing the negative impact social media is having on youth mental health today is devastating and has to stop. Join us and use your voice to help make change."
As part of the Campaign for Kids' Online Safety, Dove is releasing a new campaign film, "Cost of Beauty: A Dove Film," chronicling the real story of a young person whose mental health has been impacted by social media. The film, intended to illustrate the scale and impact of the issue and drive urgent action to protect the next generation, was developed in consultation with mental health and disordered eating experts at National Alliance for Eating Disorders and Project HEAL.
Without real change to social media platforms, kids will continue to pay the price with their wellbeing. Join the Dove Self-Esteem Project to help make social media a safer experience for kids.
Learn more and sign the petition at Dove.com/kidsonlinesafety #KidsOnlineSafety #LetsChangeBeauty
About the Research:
NEW 2023 Dove Self-Esteem Project Research for Kids Online Safety was conducted via online survey by Edelman DXI, a global, multidisciplinary research, analytics, and data consultancy, in the USA, UK and Canada between January – February 2023 with 1,318 girls, 556 boys, 1,520 parents, 4,046 of the general population and 154 youth mental health specialists (total sample size of 7,594 respondents.
About Dove
Dove started its life in 1957 in the US, with the launch of the Beauty Bar, with its patented blend of mild cleansers and ¼ moisturizing cream. Dove's heritage is based on moisturization, and it is proof not promises that enabled Dove to grow from a Beauty Bar into one of the world's most beloved beauty brands. Women have always been our inspiration and since the beginning, we have been wholly committed to providing superior care to all women and to championing real beauty in our advertising. Dove believes that beauty is for everyone. That beauty should be a source of confidence and not anxiety. Dove's mission is to inspire women everywhere to develop a positive relationship with the way they look and realize their personal potential for beauty.
For 60 years, Dove has been committed to broadening the narrow definition of beauty in the work they do. With the 'Dove Real Beauty Pledge,' Dove vows to:
- Portray women with honesty, diversity and respect. We feature women of different ages, sizes, ethnicities, hair color, type, and style.
- Portray women as they are in real life, with zero digital distortion and all images approved by the women they feature.
- Help young people build body confidence and self-esteem through the Dove Self-Esteem Project, the biggest provider of self-esteem education in the world.
About Unilever
Unilever is one of the world's leading suppliers of Beauty & Personal Care, Home Care, and Foods & Refreshment products, with sales in over 190 countries and products used by 2.5 billion people every day. We have 149,000 employees and generated sales of €50.7 billion in 2020. Over half of our footprint is in developing and emerging markets. We have around 400 brands found in homes all over the world – including iconic global brands like Dove, Lifebuoy, Knorr, Magnum, OMO and Surf; and other brands such as Love Beauty & Planet, Hourglass, Seventh Generation and The Vegetarian Butcher.
Our vision is to be the global leader in sustainable business and to demonstrate how our purpose-led, future-fit business model drives superior performance. We have a long tradition of being a progressive, responsible business. It goes back to the days of our founder William Lever, who launched the world's first purposeful brand, Sunlight Soap, more than 100 years ago, and it is at the heart of how we run our company today.
The Unilever Compass, our sustainable business strategy, is set out to help us deliver superior performance and drive sustainable and responsible growth, while:
- Improving the health of the planet
- Improving people's health, confidence, and wellbeing; and
- Contributing to a fairer and more socially inclusive world.
While there is still more to do, we are proud to have been recognized in 2020 as a sector leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and - for the tenth-consecutive year - as the top ranked company in the 2020 GlobeScan/SustainAbility Sustainability Leaders survey.
For more information about Unilever and our brands, please visit www.unilever.com.
Contact
Sherria Cotton | Sherria.Cotton@Edelman.com
1 2023 Dove Self-Esteem Project Research for Kids Online Safety
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SOURCE Dove Self-Esteem Project | 2023-04-12T14:16:41+00:00 | wafb.com | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2023/04/12/dove-self-esteem-project-calls-action-address-youth-mental-health-crisis-caused-by-social-media/ |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ruth E. Carter made history: The costume designer behind the “Black Panther” films became the first Black woman to win two Oscars.
Carter took home best costume design Sunday night at the 95th Academy Awards for the Marvel sequel “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” Carter also won in 2018 for “Black Panther,” which made her the first African American to win in the category.
In her acceptance speech, Carter thanked the film’s director Ryan Coogler and asked if “Black Panther” star Chadwick Boseman could look after her mother, Mabel Carter, who she said died “this past week.” Boseman died in 2020 of cancer at 43.
“This is for my mother. She was 101,” Carter said. “This film prepared me for this moment. Chadwick, please take care of mom.”
Carter then paid tribute to her mother backstage.
“I had a great relationship with her in her final years. The same relationship I always had with her. I was her ride-or-die. I was her road dog. I was her sidekick,” she said. “I know she’s proud of me. I know that she wanted this for me as much as I wanted it for myself.”
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” grappled with the grief of losing Boseman, its superhero.
In her career, Carter has been behind-the-scenes in some of Hollywood’s biggest films. She’s received Oscar nominations for her work in Spike Lee’s “Malcolm X” and Steven Spielberg’s “Amistad” and received praise for her period ensembles in other projects such as Lee Daniels’ “The Butler,” Ava DuVernay’s “Selma” and the reboot of “ROOTS.” She’s created costumes for Oprah Winfrey, Denzel Washington, Eddie Murphy and even Jerry Seinfeld for the “Seinfeld” pilot.
Carter played an influential role as lead costume designer in making “Black Panther” a cultural phenomenon as she infused the pride of African diaspora into the character’s stylish and colorful garments to help bring Wakanda to life. She wanted to transform the presence of Queen Ramonda – played by Oscar nominee Angela Bassett — as a queen in the first film to being a ruler in the sequel.
“Angela always wanted to play a queen, so to amplify her, we added vibranium … we gave her the royal color of purple, and adorned her in gold as she wore the crown at the UN,” Carter said. “When she sits on the throne, she’s in a gray one shouldered dress. The exposed shoulder shows her strength — Angela, she got those guns, right?”
Carter said she was able to pull off the win against a “tough lineup.” She was up against designers from “Elvis,” “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris,” “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” and “Babylon.”
She got her start in 1988 on Lee’s “School Daze,” the director’s second film. They’ve since collaborated on more than 10 films, including “Do the Right Thing” and “Jungle Fever.” She’s also worked with Robert Townsend on “The Five Heartbeats” and Keenen Ivory Wayans on “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka.”
“I pulled myself up from my bootstraps,” Carter said. “I started in a single parent household. I wanted to be a costume designer. I studied. I scraped. I struggled with adversity in an industry that sometimes didn’t look like me. And I endured.”
Through the Oscar-nominated “Malcolm X,” she reached new heights. That film, starring Denzel Washington, propelled her into the “Hollywood makeup,” offering her more opportunities to work with directors who had different points-of-views and scripts.
Carter’s wish is that her historic win Sunday will offer more opportunities to women of color.
“I hope this opens the door for others … that they can win an Oscar, too,” Carter said. | 2023-03-13T11:44:11+00:00 | cenlanow.com | https://www.cenlanow.com/national/ruth-e-carter-becomes-first-black-woman-to-win-2-oscars/ |
RALEIGH, N.C. — In massive victories for Republicans, North Carolina’s state Supreme Court on Friday threw out previous rulings that had declared illegal both redistricting maps for excessive partisanship and a photo voter identification law for being infected with racial bias.
The 5-2 decisions likely to mean that a photo ID mandate approved by the GOP-controlled legislature in late 2018 will be enforced for the 2024 elections. Legislators also should have greater latitude in drawing legislative seat boundaries for the next decade that will reinforce their General Assembly majorities and assist them in winning more seats within the state’s congressional delegation.
Previous redistricting rulings in early 2022 had led to a congressional map that resulted in Democrats winning seven of the state’s 14 states.
The court on Friday also overturned a trial court decision on when the voting rights of convicted felons can be restored. That means potentially tens of thousands of people convicted of felonies will have to keep waiting to completed their probation or parole or pay their fines to qualify to vote again. | 2023-04-28T17:13:26+00:00 | washingtonpost.com | https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/04/28/north-carolina-redistricting-voting-maps/75dd841a-e5e3-11ed-9696-8e874fd710b8_story.html |
ROME (AP) — Italian actor Gina Lollobrigida, who achieved international film stardom during the 1950s and was dubbed “the most beautiful woman in the world” after the title of one her movies, died in Rome on Monday, her agent said. She was 95.
The agent, Paola Comin, didn’t provide details. But Lollobrigida had surgery in September to repair a thigh bone broken in a fall. She returned home and said she had quickly resumed walking.
A drawn portrait of the diva graced a 1954 cover of Time magazine, which in an article about Italian movie-making likened her to a “goddess.” More than a half-century later, Lollobrigida still turned heads with a head full of auburn curly hair and her statuesque figure.
“Lollo,” as she was lovingly nicknamed by Italians, began making movies in Italy just after the end of World War II, as the country began to promote on the big screen a stereotypical concept of Mediterranean beauty as buxom and brunette.
Besides “The World’s Most Beautiful Woman” in 1955, career highlights included Golden Globe-winner “Come September,” with Rock Hudson; “Trapeze;” “Beat the Devil,” a 1953 John Huston film starring Humphrey Bogart and Jennifer Jones; and “Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell,” which won Lollobrigida Italy’s top movie award, a David di Donatello, as best actress in 1969.
In Italy, she worked with some of the country’s top directors following the war, including Mario Monicelli, Luigi Comencini, Pietro Germi and Vittorio De Sica.
Two of her more popular films at home were Comencini’s “Pane Amore Fantasia” (Bread Love Fantasy) in 1953, and the sequel a year later, “Pane Amore Gelosia” (Bread Love Jealousy). In each of them, her male foil was Vittorio Gassman, one of Italy’s most leading men on the screen.
Lollobrigida began her career in beauty contests, posing for the covers of magazines and brief appearances in minor films. But her sexy image quickly propelled her to roles in major Italian and international movies.
While Lollobrigida played some dramatic roles, her characters were most popular in lighthearted comedies, like the “Bread Love” movies.
Lollobrigida also was an accomplished sculptor, painter and photographer, and eventually essentially dropped film for the fine arts. With her camera, she roamed the world from what was then the Soviet Union to Australia.
In 1974, Fidel Castro hosted her as a guest in Cuba for 12 days as she worked on a photo reportage.
She was born on July 4, 1927 in Subiaco, a picturesque hill town near Rome, where her father was a furniture maker. | 2023-01-16T16:16:56+00:00 | ksn.com | https://www.ksn.com/entertainment/italian-film-legend-gina-lollobrigida-dies-at-age-95/ |
DEAR ABBY: My younger sister, “Fern,” gave birth to a son three months ago. Since she returned to work, it seems like all she does is dump her baby, “Ricky,” on others so she can sleep with her special someone. I watched Ricky a couple of times while they ran errands, even though they have someone living with them to keep an eye on the baby.
Fern works nights and her S.O. works days, but all I hear is that Ricky is getting watched by someone else. She’s always in the parking lot at work 30 minutes before we open although she lives nearby. She also volunteers for extra work as often as she can. She has struggled with mental health and alcohol abuse, so I’m worried she may have postpartum depression.
I want Ricky to be safe, and I’d love for them to have a healthy bond. From the things she says, I’m worried they don’t. I know for some moms it takes time, but she wasn’t excited about her pregnancy or about giving birth. She’s a first-time mom, so maybe I’m not giving her a chance. Am I just a nosy aunt, or is this normal? -- AUNT IN THE SOUTH
DEAR AUNT IN THE SOUTH: While Fern’s parenting style isn’t the same as yours, from what you have written, she and her significant other are making sure Ricky is cared for in their absence. This is why I think the answer to your question is yes, you ARE being a nosy aunt.
***
DEAR ABBY: I have caught my boyfriend looking at his mom’s rear end more than once. She sometimes walks around the house in tight-fitting booty shorts that are so short you can see part of her butt. Sometimes he actually stares, which I find extremely disturbing. I’m not sure what to do. I have even thought about breaking up with him. We usually hang out at my house, but whenever we spend time at his house and his mom wears short shorts, I catch him. Please advise me on this. -- CAN’T UNSEE THIS
DEAR CAN’T UNSEE: Have you talked with your boyfriend about your observation? If you haven’t, you should. If you are seriously worried that he’s lusting after his mother, you should absolutely end the romance. No ifs, ands or butts.
***
DEAR ABBY: Should vehicle charging be provided as an amenity to an overnight houseguest? When my family visits our vacation home, they have gotten into the habit of plugging in their hybrid vehicles when they arrive. They live only an hour away and don’t “need” the additional range to return home. Their vehicles can cost about $30 to charge. Are they taking advantage of our hospitality, or is this the cost of having the company? -- UNSURE IN CALIFORNIA
DEAR UNSURE: Does this happen regularly? If the answer is yes, and the cost of the electricity creates a burden for you, speak up and ask your guests to stop or compensate you. However, if it doesn’t, then I would consider it a part of the hospitality I have extended.
***
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
***
For everything you need to know about wedding planning, order “How to Have a Lovely Wedding.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby, Wedding Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)
COPYRIGHT 2022 ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION
1130 Walnut, Kansas City, MO 64106; 816-581-7500 | 2022-09-07T08:51:52+00:00 | nj.com | https://www.nj.com/advice/2022/09/dear-abby-woman-says-sister-dumps-3-month-old-baby-on-others-so-she-can-sleep-with-her-special-someone.html |
Israel's largest health services provider partners with Cloudera to use a data lake in its private cloud to manage and analyze data from over half the country's population in real-time for quicker and better-informed decision-making, improving the quality of patient care.
TEL AVIV, Israel, May 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cloudera, the hybrid data company, today announced its collaboration with Clalit Health Services, the largest of Israel's four state-mandated health service organizations. The health service provider is set to harness the Cloudera Data Platform (CDP) to provide high-quality, easy-to-access and around-the-clock innovative medical services to its patients, wherever they are.
Clalit will work with Cloudera to improve patient care for its 4.8 million members by building a next generation data lake on CDP. The secure platform integrates into the health provider's existing system and allows for real-time analysis and faster processing times for insight-based decision-making, enabling Clalit to enhance its streaming analytics and handle the ever-increasing volumes of data coming in.
Liora Shechter, VP Digital & Technology, Clalit Health Services, said, "We will use Cloudera Data Platform to apply real time interfaces, artificial intelligence and machine learning to further enhance patient care. This will include enhancing our big data and artificial intelligence-based C-Pi platform, which offers a powerful set of tools based on AI to identify high-risk patients who require proactive intervention. By mapping detailed clinical pathways based on the most up-to-date medical guidelines, cross-referenced with the vast amount of digital data in each patient's medical record, we can provide proactive treatment recommendations during routine medical encounters. This helps clinicians identify gaps in patient care, even if they arrive due to other complaints. CDP will be instrumental in powering C-Pi so it can provide in-depth support for the decision-making process and help clinicians stay ahead of the curve. With CDP, we'll be able to proactively reach patients who need care, even before the patients know the need care."
The health service provider will improve patient care by analyzing streams of data from electronic health records (EHRs), wearable devices and remote monitoring devices using Cloudera's Apache NiFi software and CDP. This will enable Clalit to remotely monitor patients' vital signs and recognize patterns of activity that may be indicative of a health condition, helping to identify potential problems and intervene before they become more serious. Furthermore, with enhanced capability to automate the flow of structured and unstructured data between different systems and databases, Clalit can share and access information more efficiently and coordinate care more effectively, resulting in improved patient outcomes.
Oran Sharon, Regional Vice President, Cloudera, comments, "Clalit is recognized for its innovative approach to healthcare delivery and its use of technology to improve the quality and efficiency of its services. We are delighted to support Clalit in using data to transform its business to provide even better services based on CDP."
Clalit is the second largest employer in Israel, with over 45,000 employees, including 10,000 physicians and 13,000 nurses. As such, the organization must have a robust and secure data platform to effectively manage and analyze the vast amounts of data it generates so it can provide customized and high-quality healthcare to the millions of patients that rely on it.
About Cloudera
At Cloudera, we believe data can make what is impossible today, possible tomorrow. Cloudera taught the world the value of big data, creating an industry and ecosystem powered by the relentless innovation of the open source community. We empower our customers, leaders in their industries, to transform complex data into clear and actionable insights. Through our hybrid data cloud platform, organizations are able to build their data-driven future by getting data - no matter where it resides - into the hands of those that need it. Learn more at Cloudera.com.
Cloudera and associated marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cloudera, Inc. All other company and product names are trademarks of their respective owners.
About Clalit Health Services
Clalit, the largest and leading HMO in Israel, provides medical services to more than 52% of the Israeli population, with a wide range of medical services: outpatient clinics throughout the country, where there are women's health centers, pediatric health centers, and specialized medical centers. In addition, Clalit manages 14 public hospitals, and provides an additional set of services that include the network of dental clinics Clalit Smile, Clalit Aesthetics, Clalit Complementary Medicine, and 'Mor' Medical Institutes and Services. Clalit works to prevent disease and promote a healthy lifestyle through offering quality medical services, and advanced on-line services that provide the ability to receive medical services from anywhere, and at any time.
For more information: www.clalit.co.il
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SOURCE Cloudera, Inc. | 2023-05-31T11:12:35+00:00 | kxii.com | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/05/31/clalit-health-services-plans-use-artificial-intelligence-machine-learning-further-enhance-patient-care/ |
Toll Brothers 4Q, consumer borrowing, producer prices
The Associated Press
Luxury homebuilder Toll Brothers reports quarterly results Tuesday. The Federal Reserve releases its latest monthly snapshot of consumer borrowing Wednesday. The Labor Department delivers its monthly index of U.S. wholesale prices Friday. | 2022-12-05T14:52:36+00:00 | krdo.com | https://krdo.com/news/2022/12/05/toll-brothers-4q-consumer-borrowing-producer-prices/ |
Video shows bullet hit baseball field during youth league game
SAN DIEGO (KFMB) – A frightening moment for kids and parents at a youth baseball game in California was caught on camera Monday.
Gunfire rang out and a bullet struck the ground just feet away from children on the field.
The shooting happened at Mission Sports Park in San Marcos around 8 p.m. while 7- and 8-year-olds were playing.
The bullet bounced between first and second base and went into the dugout just after a boy walked up to bat.
Everyone ran and took cover. No one was hurt.
“It’s not something I was expecting to hear on a Monday night,” said Daniel Max, president of San Marcos Youth Baseball.
Max said the incident was too close for comfort.
“The batter before was thrown out at first so he was not on first base, which could have been directly in the path, so there were just a lot of things that lined up that were very lucky,” Max said.
The organization has more than 1,000 players, some as young as 4. All games are on pause for now.
“We are going to actually have an organization come out that specializes in these kind of situations and kind of assess the environment, and what we can add to the environment to kind of help us through these situations in the future,” Max said.
The San Diego Sheriff’s Department is going through surveillance video and working to figure out who is responsible.
“It’s our children and our community that we’re trying to look out for and protect. Just kids playing baseball,” San Diego Sheriff’s Detective Brian Bentley said. “If someone saw something, please let us know. We take it very seriously and will follow up on any of those leads.”
The sheriff’s department said they’ll have extra patrols around the fields once games resume.
A $1,000 reward is being offered to anyone with information about the shooting.
Copyright 2023 KFMB via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | 2023-05-10T21:44:12+00:00 | live5news.com | https://www.live5news.com/2023/05/10/video-shows-bullet-hit-baseball-field-during-youth-league-game/ |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California utility regulators on Thursday approved major changes to the state’s booming rooftop solar market that they say will more evenly spread the cost of energy and help reduce the state’s reliance on fossil fuels in the evening.
The state has long led the nation in adoption of rooftop solar panels, and today more than 1.5 million California homes and other buildings have them. Under a decades-old program, people with solar panels can get paid by their power companies by sharing excess solar energy they don’t need, leading some solar homes to pay minimal electric bills.
That’s led to criticism that rooftop solar customers aren’t paying their fair share into the rest of the energy grid, which many still rely on for power when the sun goes down. Power rates also include things like transmission equipment and wildfire prevention work, and regulators approve a set amount of money that utilities can recover from customers.
The policy approved unanimously by the California Public Utilities Commission lessens the overall payment for selling excess power. It also revamps electric rates to try to encourage people to build home storage systems alongside their panels, so they can tap that stored power at night or feed it back to the grid, either of which would help the system rely less on fossil fuels.
“For the rooftop solar industry to remain sustainable, we must place greater value on exports during the truly fossil-heavy time of day,” Commissioner John Reynolds said. “In short, we are making this change because of our commitment to addressing climate change.”
Although solar provides a lot of California’s power during the day, fossil fuels largely take over in the evening and during the night. Sometimes, California has more solar power than it can use during the day. Existing rooftop systems are capable of generating about 12,000 megawatts of power, according to the commission, nearly six times what the state’s last remaining nuclear plant generates.
But battery storage is not yet widespread. Today about 16% to 20% of the 150,000 households that install solar panels annually in California add battery storage systems, according to industry estimates. As of 2020, California started requiring all newly built homes to have solar panels, but there is no requirement for storage.
The commission’s vote followed sustained criticism over three hours of public comment in which some speakers accused the commission — and Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration — of hindering the state’s climate efforts.
California has pushed forward with ambitious targets for weaning the state off oil and gas. Also Thursday, state air regulators approved a climate roadmap that says California must quadruple its solar and wind power to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045.
The fight over the solar changes has gone on for nearly two years, pitting the state’s three major utilities against the solar industry, with many environmental groups caught somewhere in between. The changes will apply only to customers of Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric,, which collectively serve a majority of customers in the states. They would not affect people who already have rooftop solar.
A utility-backed coalition called Affordable Clean Energy for All estimates that $4 billion in costs are shifted from solar to non-solar customers. Since the change doesn’t apply to existing solar customers, the cost shift will continue putting pressure on energy bills for everyone else, the coalition argued.
“Numerous independent studies and testimony from diverse parties make clear the current solar subsidy program forces low-income families, renters, seniors and anyone who doesn’t have rooftop solar to bankroll wealthier Californians’ solar systems. Today’s vote ensures this indefensible cost-shift will continue indefinitely,” Kathy Fairbanks, a spokesperson for the coalition, said in a statement.
The solar industry disputes that number, saying it doesn’t account for the benefits that rooftop solar provides for everyone, like making the grid more resilient and reducing the need for utilities to build more costly legacy power equipment.
Broadly, solar companies have warned that fewer people will add home solar because the overall value of rooftop solar is going down.
“The solar and storage industry remains concerned that the transition from net metering to the new net billing structure is too abrupt and threatens to slow the deployment of rooftop solar in California,” Sean Gallagher, vice president of state and regulatory affairs for the Solar Energy Industries Association, said in a statement.
The policy includes a transition period that gives extra incentives to people who install panel and storage systems in the next five years. Low-income utility customers as well as people living in disadvantaged neighborhoods and tribal communities will get double the credits to install home systems. Still, some solar advocates argued the price of solar will be too expensive for those households.
The average household solar and storage system costs about $26,000 when taking into account federal tax credits that cover about 30% of the cost, said Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of the California Solar & Storage Association
But the Public Advocates Office, a consumer advocacy group with the utilities commission, supports the change, pointing to commission estimates that show the proposal will still save residential solar customers an estimated $100 on their monthly bills, or $136 a month if they also install storage systems.
“Clean energy use during the day must be extended into the evening. Solar with batteries does exactly that. It’s the next step toward a clean energy future that will improve the air we breathe, the communities we live in, and our overall quality of life,” Matt Baker, the office’s director, said in a statement.
With those payments, it would take no more than nine years for someone to recoup the cost of installing the solar and battery systems through reduced energy costs, the commission said.
___
This story has been corrected to reflect that the state’s 1.5 million rooftop solar installations are on homes and other buildings, not just homes. | 2022-12-16T21:45:56+00:00 | keloland.com | https://www.keloland.com/news/technology/ap-technology/ap-california-lowers-incentives-for-rooftop-solar-panels/ |
NEW YORK, June 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --
WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) resulting from allegations that Comerica may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Comerica securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=16714 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.
WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On May 29, 2023, citing a review of "internal documents," American Banker reported that "Comerica Bank officials privately acknowledged significant compliance failures in their operation of a Treasury Department program that provides federal benefits on prepaid cards to millions of unbanked Americans[.]" American Banker stated that "[a] Comerica executive said the Dallas bank faced a 'serious contract violation' for allowing fraud disputes and data on Direct Express and cardholders to be handled out of a vendor's office in Lahore, Pakistan[.]"
On this news, Comerica's stock fell $1.40 per share, or 3.59% to close at $37.59 per share on May 30, 2023.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Contact Information:
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SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A. | 2023-06-30T21:21:34+00:00 | kwch.com | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2023/06/30/rosen-top-ranked-investor-counsel-encourages-comerica-incorporated-investors-inquire-about-securities-class-action-investigation-cma/ |
Blight not a new issue in Urbana
I respectfully submit this letter as a responsible owner and resident in the 400 block of Dodson Drive South in Urbana for more than 20 years.
I define blight as neglected, rundown, damaged, abandoned, vacant and infested conditions. Blight is a major health and safety issue. Blight is ugly.
I urge readers to visit the 400 and 500 blocks of Dodson Drive South during the daylight hours so they can see evidence of blight around yards.
The April 28 article “More than four years later, blight remains” is not new. It’s only one instance of neighborhood blight.
Blight alarms sounded in a Nov. 12, 2017, N-G cover story headlined “No man’s land: The fight over blight.”
Proactive, longtime, property-tax paying residents sounded the alarm. Some owners who don’t live in the neighborhood are silent and not held accountable. They don’t visit their blight.
We identified blighted areas for the N-G staff. We cited burned-out, vacant, abandoned, deteriorating, dilapidated properties; inoperable vehicles and appliances; debris and garbage; rodent infestation; and overgrown landscapes.
Residents have gone to Champaign County Board meetings, contacted planning and zoning, reviewed covenants and restrictions, organized and attended informational meetings. Still, the blight remains.
Planning and zoning officials have shunned me since March 2022 regarding a vacant property that threatens my health and safety due to a deteriorating garage. The house has been vacant for four to five years and is uninhabitable.
There is much more blight to eliminate.
BETTY ROWELL
Urbana | 2023-05-21T14:46:19+00:00 | news-gazette.com | https://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/letters-editor/letter-to-the-editor-blight-is-not-a-new-issue/article_1b949540-21b7-5cc1-b3f4-1a48a7c553d7.html |
Home explodes when woman lights water heater
CALUMET, Okla. (KOCO) - A homeowner in Oklahoma who was trying to light a water tank suffered major burns after the house exploded with her inside.
It happened just before 6:15 p.m. Monday in Calumet, just west of Oklahoma City. Big, bright flames could be seen through the thick brush surrounding the home.
The Office of the Oklahoma State Fire Marshal said the 42-year-old woman just had her propane tank refilled after several months.
Authorities say the woman was bleeding out the air herself. Investigators say gas had accumulated in the basement, and the home went up in flames when the homeowner went to relight the water tank.
Covered in burns, she ran a quarter of a mile down the road to her closest neighbor.
Neighbors said they could hear her screaming and put her in the shower before calling 911.
The woman was flown by helicopter to Baptist Hospital. Her burns reportedly cover 30 percent of her body.
Investigators say people should never bleed out air on their own. Instead, call a professional such as a plumber or gas supplier.
Copyright 2023 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | 2023-02-22T15:39:00+00:00 | mysuncoast.com | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/02/22/home-explodes-when-woman-lights-water-heater/ |
KOSTIANTYNIVKA, Ukraine (AP) — By the time the Russians invaded, 43-year-old Mufti Said Ismahilov — one of the Muslim spiritual leaders of Ukraine — had already resolved that he would step aside from his religious duties to fight for his country.
At the end of last year, as warnings of an imminent attack grew louder, Ismahilov began training with a local territorial defense battalion. By then he had served as a mufti for thirteen years.
Born and raised in Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, Ismahilov had already fled Russia once before, in 2014, when Moscow-backed separatists captured his city. He eventually moved to a quiet suburb outside Kyiv called Bucha — only to find himself, eight years later, at the heart of Moscow’s assault on Kyiv, and the site of atrocities that shocked the world. It felt as if the threat of Russian occupation would never end.
“This time I made the decision that I would not run away, I would not flee but I would fight” he said in an interview with The Associated Press in Kostiantynivka, a town close to the front lines in eastern Ukraine where a battle for control of the region is intensifying.
Ismahilov began working as a military driver for paramedics evacuating the wounded from front lines or besieged towns. Tasked with driving in highly dangerous conditions, but also emotionally supporting the critically injured, Ismahilov says he sees his new job as “a continuation of my spiritual duty before God.”
“If you are not scared and you can do this, then it is very important. The Prophet was himself a warrior,” Ismahilov says. “So I follow his example and I also will not run, or hide. I will not turn my back on others.”
Ismahilov was one of dozens of Ukrainian Muslims who gathered at the mosque in Kostiantynivka Saturday to mark Eid al-Adha — an important religious holiday in Islam. The mosque is now the last remaining operational mosque in Ukrainian-controlled territory in Donbas. Ismahilov told the AP that there are around 30 mosques in the region in total but that most are now in the hands of the Russians.
Last week, Russia captured the city of Lysychansk, the last major stronghold of Ukrainian resistance in the eastern province of Luhansk. The governor of the Luhansk region said on Saturday that Russian forces are now pressing toward the border with the neighbouring Donetsk region.
Muslims make up almost 1 percent of the population in Ukraine, which is predominantly Orthodox Christian. There is a large Muslim population in Crimea — home to the Crimean Tatars and illegally annexed by Russian in 2014. Numbers there jump to 12%. There is also a sizeable Muslim community in eastern Ukraine, the result of waves of economic migration as the region industrialised and many Muslims immigrated to the Donbas region to work in the mines and factories.
The conflict in 2014 forced many Muslims from Crimea and Donbas to relocate to other parts of the country where they joined long-established Tatar communities or built new Islamic centers alongside Turks, Arabs and Ukrainian converts.
But the invasion has forced many to flee once again. The mosque in Kostiantynivka used to cater for a local Muslim population of several hundred people. On Saturday, few local residents were present, having journeyed west with their families. Instead the congregation was made up of soldiers or combat medics from different units: Crimean Tatars and Ukrainian converts from Kharkiv, Kyiv and western Ukraine.
In his sermon following the traditional Eid prayers, Ismahilov told the congregation that this year’s Eid had a symbolic significance in the midst of the war, and asked them to remember Muslims living in occupied territories, where many have lost their homes and several mosques have been destroyed by shelling. Referencing a series of arrests of Crimean Tartars in the wake of the 2014 annexation, Ismahilov said Muslims in occupied territories do not feel safe.
“There is a lot of fear. … The war continues and we have no idea what is happening in the occupied territories and what situation Muslims are in there” he said.
Ismahilov told the AP that he considers Russian Muslims invading Ukraine, including Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov’s infamous Chechen battalions, as “criminals”.
“They are committing sins and … they have come as murderers and occupiers, on a territory that is the home of Ukrainians and Ukrainian Muslims, without any justification. Allah did not give them that right” says Ismahilov. “They will answer for all this before God.”
Olha Bashei, 45, a lawyer turned paramedic from Kyiv who converted to Islam in 2015, says Russia is trying “erase Ukraine from the face of the earth.” Bashei began working as a frontline paramedic in Donbas in 2014. She considers this war her ‘jihad’, a term to denote a holy war or personal struggle in Islam.
“This war is my war, and I defend my jihad because I have nephews, I have a mother and I defend my home. I do not want my nephews to ever see what I, unfortunately, saw in this war” she said.
“Islam even helps me because in Islam, in prayer, you somehow distract yourself from the war because you read the prayer and you have a connection with the Almighty. For me, Islam is a force that supports me even in war.”
As the soldiers prepared the customary sacrificial sheep for the Eid feast, a residential area in Kostiantynivka several kilometers away came under violent shelling. The incoming artillery shook the ground. Some soldiers ran to the mosque’s bunker. Others shrugged it off and continued to drink their tea and eat dates. The shelling caused several fires, injuring several inhabitants and burning roofs to cinders.
Ismahilov said they would pray for victory and the liberation of the occupied territories.
“We pray that our Muslim compatriots will be safe, that our families will be reunited, that the slain Muslims will go to heaven, and that all the Muslim soldiers who are defending their country will be accepted as shahids (martyrs) by Allah.” | 2022-07-10T21:06:31+00:00 | wcia.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/international/ukraine-muslims-pray-for-victory-end-of-occupation/ |
FLORENCE, Italy — Visitors flocked to see Michelangelo’s David sculpture in Florence on Tuesday, following an uproar over a Florida school’s decision to force the resignation of the principal over complaints about a lesson featuring the Renaissance masterpiece.
Tourists, many of them Americans on spring break or studying abroad, posed for selfies in front of the giant marble statue, which features the Biblical David, naked with a sling over his shoulder and a rock in his hand, ready for battle with Goliath.
Florence’s Galleria dell’Accademia, which houses the sculpture, reopened Tuesday after its weekly Monday closure, and both tourists and locals alike couldn’t get over the controversy.
“It’s part of history,” said Isabele Joles from Ohio, who is studying French and Italian art with her school group. “I don’t understand how you can say it’s porn.”
She and other visitors were reacting to the decision by Tallahassee Classical School board to pressure Principal Hope Carrasquilla to resign last week after an image of the David was shown to a sixth-grade art class.
Carrasquilla believes the board targeted her after three parents complained because they weren’t notified in advance that a nude image would be shown, while a third called the iconic statue, which is considered the height of Renaissance sculpture, pornographic. The school has a policy requiring parents to be notified in advance about “controversial” topics being taught.
Over the weekend, both Florence’s mayor and the museum director voiced incredulity over the ruckus and issued invitations for the ousted principal and the school community to come and see the sculpture for themselves.
“We are talking about the roots of Western culture, and ‘David’ is the height, the height of beauty,” museum director Cecilie Hollberg said in an interview Tuesday, as tourists brushed past her snapping selfies with the statue.
The controversy wasn’t only a topic of conversation in Florence. On Monday night in Tallahassee, a large crowd showed up for a school board meeting with public comment on the issue of the David statue controversy lasting over an hour, the Tallahassee Democrat reported. Some parents and teachers criticized the board and even asked chairman Barney Bishop to step aside.
“Given the dissatisfaction of all these parents with your leadership, would you be willing to lead us by integrity by resigning?” asked teacher Ben Steigner.
Bishop refused, saying he intends to remain as chairman through the end of his term in May and then another year on the board, the newspaper reported. The five trustees are elected by themselves, not the parents, and serve three-year-terms. New Principal Cara Wynn told the school board that nine students had left the school since the David controversy began, but that three had enrolled.
Tallahassee Classical is a charter school. While it is taxpayer-funded and tuition-free, it operates almost entirely independently of the local school district and is sought out by parents seeking an alternative to the public school curriculum. About 400 students from kindergarten through 12th grade attend the three-year-old institution, which is now on its third principal. It follows a curriculum designed by Hillsdale College, a conservative Christian school in Michigan frequently consulted by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on educational issues.
The Florida Department of Education, however, has distanced itself from the controversy and the school’s decision.
“The Statue of David has artistic and historical value. Florida encourages instruction on the classics and classical art, and would not prohibit its use in instruction,” the department said in a statement. “The matter at the Tallahassee Classical School is between the school and an employee, and is not the effect of state rule or law.”
At the museum on Tuesday, tourist Brian Stapley from Seattle Washington said he was sad for the school’s children.
“It’s one of the most incredible parts of our history,” he said as he waited on line to get into the museum. “I feel incredibly sorry for the children that don’t get to see it.” ___
Terry Spencer in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and Nicole Winfield in Rome contributed. | 2023-03-28T20:01:00+00:00 | chicagotribune.com | https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-aud-nw-italy-us-david-porn-20230328-267vku45s5gtjhfi4l63yvinea-story.html |
CHICAGO, Ill. (WCIA)– The Illinois Department of Health announced it is giving free COVID-19 supplies to long term care facilities.
The COVID-19 rapid antigen tests are in one bulk shipment said IDPH.
The deadline to apply is August 9th.
The tests are provided for free to eligible facilities in the state.
The criteria are listed below:
- A federal waiver that allows for the administration of antigen testing.
- A provider order for antigen testing that has been approved and signed by a medical
- professional.
- Be registered to report all positive antigen test results to the State of Illinois.
IDPH said that the tests may only be administered on-site for diagnostic and screening purposes. The tests are not for take home or at home use. On-site staff, patients, and residents of the facility are eligible for testing.
Click here to complete the request form. | 2022-07-29T21:14:52+00:00 | wcia.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/idph-gives-covid-19-supplies-to-eligible-facilities/ |
Three tech products that can make your life easier
New technology continues to make life easier, and Stephanie Humphrey recently shared some new products that are changing the way people live!
She discussed tech products that can help students succeed and other solutions that can help families manage their finances.
Slickdeals is a community of 12 million real people working together to save, it is all about shoppers helping shoppers. The very best deals are vetted from favorite retailers so anyone can find everything from laptops to cameras and know they are getting the best product at the best price.
Adobe Express is a free web and mobile-based app with easy-to-use tools and templates to help college students and educators faculty take classroom projects from good to great, from posters to portfolios, and much more.
With the Affirm app, you can pay over time pretty much anywhere online or in-store without late or hidden fees. Whether buying headphones or a gaming console, it is a smart way keep purchases in budget.
This segment is sponsored by Slickdeals, Adobe Express, and Affirm. | 2023-03-06T15:42:38+00:00 | wishtv.com | https://www.wishtv.com/lifestylelive/three-tech-products-that-can-make-your-life-easier/ |
Orangeburg County Council recently learned it will cost about $442,000 to remove trees that have encroached upon county-maintained outfall ditches.
Public Works Director Henry Summers said there are about 124 trees that need to be taken down and hauled away as part of the project.
Council received the matter as information during the county's Public Works Committee meeting on Jan. 17.
County Council Vice Chair Johnny Ravenell said, “It is an expense that we have to look into.”
Outfall ditches are in residential neighborhoods and subdivisions and are designed to remove storm water from the subdivision into a main ditch.
Summers said the trees are near residential structures in some cases and could become hazardous to property and lives.
People are also reading…
Many of the trees are large and would need a professional tree service to address, he said. | 2023-01-26T21:58:12+00:00 | thetandd.com | https://thetandd.com/news/local/orangeburg-county-council-cutting-trees-from-ditches-will-cost-442-000/article_1d506a57-e1ba-5bae-9186-efc425f5906a.html |
Man graduates with college degree 52 years in the making
ORONO, Maine (WABI/Gray News) - One 2023 University of Maine graduate began his collegiate journey well before the rest of the graduating class was born.
John Cyrus is 70 years old and has earned an undergraduate degree in microbiology.
“I’m so excited,” Cyrus said. “I’m going to actually get that diploma. What’s kind of cool, too, is my oldest granddaughter graduates from Lawrence this year.”
Cyrus’s journey to get here saw plenty of starts and stops. He was set to attend Rutgers University in 1971, but a serious car crash left him unable to attend.
“My atlas bone had fractured,” Cyrus said. “I should have been dead.”
When he recovered, he was drafted into the Vietnam War and served as an Air Force lab tech. By 1976, he was just nine credits away from graduating, but then other circumstances led him to drop out.
“I had a lab accident, came down with mono and had to drop out,” Cyrus said. “Well, I never got around to getting back.”
After a career spent in labs and working at a paper mill, Cyrus retired in 2012 and needed something to do.
“I got to thinking, I’d like to go back,” Cyrus said. “I’ve got time now, why don’t I go back to school? Being back in the lab, I mean, the lab has always been my first love.”
One of his classmates remarked that his passion for science was what brought him back.
“I love being a problem solver and doing things like that,” Cyrus said.
He’s certainly made an impression on his younger classmates.
“John is an interesting guy,” another classmate, graduate student Nicholas Leclerc, said. “He’s a very nice guy. He just keeps on going, he’s really driven. He loves what he’s doing. And it really shows just in how he acts and how he’s enthusiastic about what he’s doing in our lab.”
Cyrus’s academic journey isn’t stopping with his undergraduate degree.
“I’ve been accepted to grad school here,” Cyrus said. “So, I’m working for my Ph.D. after this, which I’ll have probably when I’m 75.”
Cyrus also provided advice for his fellow graduating class, telling them the “find the time, make the time.”
“Work and stuff is always there, just be able to go out and enjoy life, enjoy the world around you, experience some of the beauty. Go out there and live,” he said.
Copyright 2023 WABI via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2023-05-06T19:19:21+00:00 | wcjb.com | https://www.wcjb.com/2023/05/06/man-graduates-with-college-degree-52-years-making/ |
Birthday wishes go out to Rosario Dawson, Billy Joel and all the other celebrities with birthdays today. Check out our slideshow below to see photos of famous people turning a year older on May 9th and learn an interesting fact about each of them.
Top celebrity birthdays on May 9, 2023
Actress Candice Bergen turns 77
Fun fact: Nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the 1980 Academy Awards
Singer Billy Joel turns 74
Fun fact: His daughter Alexa has appeared in multiple music videos of his
Actor John Corbett turns 62
Fun fact: Recently appeared in several episodes of ‘How I Met Your Father’
Actress Rosario Dawson turns 44
Fun fact: Set to reprise her role as Ahsoka in the upcoming Disney+ miniseries
Reality tv star Audrina Patridge turns 38
Fun fact: Her middle name is Cathleen
More celebrities with birthdays today
Actor-turned-politician Glenda Jackson is 87. Guitarist Sonny Curtis of Buddy Holly and The Crickets is 86. Producer-director James L. Brooks is 86. Singer Tommy Roe is 81. Singer-guitarist Richie Furay (Buffalo Springfield, Poco) is 79. Singer Clint Holmes is 77. Actor Anthony Higgins (“Raiders of the Lost Ark”) is 76. Bassist Tom Petersson of Cheap Trick is 73. Actor Alley Mills (“The Bold and the Beautiful,” “The Wonder Years”) is 72. Actor Amy Hill (“Magnum P.I.”) is 70. Actor Wendy Crewson (“Revenge”) is 67. Singer David Gahan of Depeche Mode is 61. Actor Sonja Sohn (“Body of Proof,” ″The Wire”) is 59. Rapper Ghostface Killah of Wu-Tang Clan is 53. Guitarist Mike Myerson of Heartland is 52. Actor Chris Diamantopoulos (“Episodes,” ″24″) is 48. Singer Tamia is 48. Trombonist Dan Regan of Reel Big Fish is 46. Singer Pierre Bouvier of Simple Plan is 44. Musician Andrew W.K. is 44. Actor Rachel Boston (“Witches of East End,” ″In Plain Sight,” ″American Dreams”) is 41. Actor Grace Gummer (“American Horror Story,” ″The Newsroom”) is 37.
Other popular or historical birthdays on May 9th
John Brown, abolitionist
Howard Carter, archaeologist
Mike Wallace, newscaster
Albert Finney, actor
with The Associated Press
Celebrity fun facts
Recent lists: Kevin Costner fun facts | Tom Cruise fun facts | Gal Gadot fun facts | Hilary Swank fun facts | Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson fun facts | Reese Witherspoon fun facts
Popular lists: Robert Downey Jr. fun facts | Emma Watson fun facts | Jason Momoa fun facts | Miley Cyrus fun facts
Check out our full list of more than 40 celebrity fun facts.
Movie and TV fun facts & more
Recent lists: ‘How I Met Your Mother’ guest stars | ‘Groundhog Day’ fun facts | ‘Yellowstone’ trivia
Popular lists: Canadian celebrities | ‘Friends’ guest stars | Celebs on ‘The Office’
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Want to see more celebrity birthdays as well as additional fun facts posts? Follow me on Facebook for the latest by clicking the “like” button below. | 2023-05-09T10:37:48+00:00 | cleveland.com | https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2023/05/todays-famous-birthdays-list-for-may-9-2023-includes-celebrities-rosario-dawson-billy-joel.html |
ASTANA, Kazakhstan (AP) — Novak Djokovic needed only 75 minutes to win his 90th tour title, overcoming third-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-4 in the final of the Astana Open on Sunday.
Djokovic dominated his Greek opponent from the start, winning the first game in little more than a minute. The Serb did not face a break point in the match and hit 15 winners with only seven unforced errors.
It was the Wimbledon champion's fourth title of the year, including Rome and Tel Aviv.
“I always hoped that I would be going to have a great career,” the 35-year-old Djokovic said. “Obviously, didn’t know the amount of finals I was going to play, the amount of tournaments I was going to win, but my intention was always to reach the highest heights in our sport.”
The fourth-seeded Tsitsipas, 24, who was chasing his third title of 2022 after Monte Carlo and Mallorca, saved three of five break points. He won only 42% of his second serve points in contrast to Djokovic's 80%.
Djokovic converted his third match point with a backhand winner for his second straight indoor hardcourt title after winning in Tel Aviv last week.
“You know, 35 is not 25," Djokovic said. "But I think the experience, probably, in these kinds of matches and big occasions helps as well to approach mentally in the right way.”
___
More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Credit: Stas Filippov
Credit: Stas Filippov
Credit: Stas Filippov
Credit: Stas Filippov
Credit: Stas Filippov
Credit: Stas Filippov
Credit: Stas Filippov
Credit: Stas Filippov
Credit: Stas Filippov
Credit: Stas Filippov
Credit: Stas Filippov
Credit: Stas Filippov | 2022-10-09T16:00:13+00:00 | springfieldnewssun.com | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/nation-world/djokovic-wins-astana-final-in-straight-sets-for-90th-title/LY6TJ7TYLNEDNC6VZ7S3B3PXSM/ |
LONDON – Thousands of nurses walked off their jobs in England on Thursday, escalating a wave of industrial unrest in the U.K. this month as ambulance and postal workers, bus drivers and airport baggage handlers all stage strikes to demand better pay amid a cost-of-living crisis.
Emergency hospital care will continue as normal, and nurses will still staff chemotherapy and neonatal and pediatric intensive care units, the Royal College of Nursing said. But many less urgent hospital treatments were expected to be affected across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Although nurses did not plan to strike in Scotland, Thursday's action was described as the biggest by nurses since the U.K.'s National Health Service was established in 1948.
The Royal College of Nursing has called for a pay rise at 5% above inflation, though it has indicated it would accept a lower offer. The government has said the demand was unaffordable, and talks between the two sides collapsed Monday.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Wednesday that his government has “consistently spoken to all the unions involved in all the pay disputes."
Train travel across the country also was severely disrupted this week as members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union staged a strike on Tuesday and Wednesday. They also plan to stay off the job on Friday and Saturday.
The strike closed around half of the U.K.'s rail lines. Some parts of the country, including most of Scotland and Wales, will have no train service.
Postal workers in the Communication Workers Union also staged a fresh 48-hour national walkout this week and have more strike days scheduled during the run-up to Christmas. | 2022-12-15T13:21:40+00:00 | local10.com | https://www.local10.com/health/2022/12/15/uk-nurses-join-wave-of-strike-action-to-demand-better-pay/ |
CANBERRA, Australia — Australia is removing the British monarchy from its bank notes.
The nation's central bank said Thursday its new $5 bill would feature an Indigenous design rather than an image of King Charles III. But the king is still expected to appear on coins.
The $5 bill was Australia's only remaining bank note to still feature an image of the monarch.
The bank said the decision followed consultation with the government, which supported the change. Opponents say the move is politically motivated.
The British monarch remains Australia's head of state, although these days that role is largely symbolic. Like many former British colonies, Australia is debating to what extent it should retain its constitutional ties to Britain.
Australia's Reserve Bank said the new $5 bill would feature a design to replace a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, who died last year. The bank said the move would honor "the culture and history of the First Australians."
"The other side of the $5 banknote will continue to feature the Australian parliament," the bank said in a statement.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the change was an opportunity to strike a good balance.
"The monarch will still be on the coins, but the $5 note will say more about our history and our heritage and our country, and I see that as a good thing," he told reporters in Melbourne.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton likened the move to changing the date of the national day, Australia Day.
"I know the silent majority don't agree with a lot of the woke nonsense that goes on but we've got to hear more from those people online," he told 2GB Radio.
Dutton said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was central to the decision for the king not to appear on the note, urging him to "own up to it."
The bank plans to consult with Indigenous groups in designing the $5 note, a process it expects will take several years before the new note goes public.
The current $5 will continue to be issued until the new design is introduced and will remain legal tender even after the new bill goes into circulation.
The face of King Charles III is expected to be seen on Australian coins later this year.
One Australian dollar is worth about 71 cents in U.S. currency.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2023-02-02T15:39:34+00:00 | kosu.org | https://www.kosu.org/world-news/2023-02-01/australias-central-bank-says-it-will-remove-the-british-monarchy-from-its-bank-notes |
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Three days after federal agents searched former President Donald Trump’s Florida home for classified documents, FBI Director Christopher Wray emailed his workforce urging them to tune out criticism from those who “don’t know what we know and don’t see what we see.”
The work was done by the book, the director wrote in his Aug. 11 email. “We don’t cut corners. We don’t play favorites.”
The internal message was an acknowledgment of the unprecedented nature of the search and the subsequent pummeling the bureau had been receiving from Trump and his supporters. It also was a recognition that the FBI had been navigating a moment so fraught that the normally taciturn Wray felt compelled to address employees about the ramifications of the investigation.
The pressures on Wray and the FBI have grown since then and are only likely to intensify. In its long history, the FBI has rarely been at the center of so many politically sensitive investigations. Agents are simultaneously examining the retention of classified documents by Trump and President Joe Biden. And they’re scrutinizing efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn the 2020 election ahead of the Jan. 6, 2021, storming of the U.S. Capitol.
The probes, overseen by Justice Department special counsels, are unfolding in a hyper-partisan environment as the 2024 presidential election nears and as Congress launches its own investigations of the FBI. All the while, the bureau has been subjected to regular attacks from Trump, his supporters and influential right-wing pundits, with the former president saying FBI “misfits” are less credible than Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In an interview with The Associated Press this week, Wray acknowledged the FBI was enduring tough times. But he downplayed the impact the “noise” had on day-to-day work, insisting the opinions he most valued were those of “the people we do the work for and those we do the work with.”
“I look not just at the one or two investigations being discussed breathlessly on social media or cable news but at the impact we’re having across the country to protect the American people,” he said.
Adding to the tension: Republicans are using their newly minted House majority to investigate the investigators, accusing the FBI of abuses ranging from unfairly targeting Trump to suppressing free speech. They’ve highlighted disputed, uncorroborated whistleblower complaints against supervisors that the FBI for privacy reasons says it’s constrained from fully responding to.
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, a Wray critic and chair of the House Judiciary Committee, told the AP last week he supported rank-and-file agents but was concerned about the leadership.
For Wray, the turbulence is more a continuation of a recent trend than something new.
He was appointed by Trump in 2017 after the chaotic firing of his predecessor, James Comey, and as the FBI investigated ties between Russia and Trump's 2016 campaign. Furious over that probe, Trump lashed out at Wray for the remainder of his term and openly flirted with firing him.
The director fastidiously ignored the verbal assaults, adhering to a “keep calm and tackle hard” mantra that he has repeatedly conveyed to agents but that can seem incongruous with a climate that is decidedly not calm. His approach did not change as the bureau initiated investigations involving the current and former presidents.
“We’re not well-served by wading into the fray, taking the bait and responding to every breathless allegation," Wray told the AP. “So we will continue to push back and correct the record when we appropriately can. But as long as I’m director we’re going to follow the FBI's long history and tradition of letting our work do the talking.”
The AP spoke to about two dozen current and former FBI officials for this story. Most spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss FBI matters publicly. Many of those interviewed said they were distressed to see the FBI entangled in politics, lamenting not only the barrage of attacks the bureau faces but also Justice Department policies and actions, like a memo directing the FBI to address threatening rhetoric at school board meetings, that they believe have injected the bureau into the partisan fray and invited criticism.
Some who are personally supportive of Wray and respect his approach to the job contend he and the FBI could more forcefully punch back against false narratives and do better in explaining its work to the public. That's admittedly a complicated calculus for the FBI given that Comey was widely criticized for public statements about the Hillary Clinton email probe, an experience that exists as a cautionary tale for the more circumspect Wray.
Greg Brower, who worked with Comey and Wray when he was the FBI’s top liaison to Congress, said he believes Wray strives to do what's right without regard to pressure and was unlikely to adapt his style to satisfy critics. Though not inclined to second-guess Wray, he said it could be argued that Wray's “conventional” style should be modified for unconventional times and that aggressive pushback was needed to prevent false narratives from taking hold.
“It does appear sometimes that the narrative that the bureau’s opponents are creating, the very often false narrative, it takes on a life of its own and becomes reality for all intents and purposes. It causes the bureau to be completely mischaracterized in a way that’s hard to undo,” Brower said.
Joshua Skule, a former top agent, echoed that assessment, saying “truth is decaying in our society. To combat that, you have to overcommunicate, in the field office and from headquarters.”
Though the attacks aren’t always rooted in facts, the perception matters because regardless of how the Trump and Biden investigations are resolved, the FBI and Justice Department will have to persuade the public that the probes were done thoroughly and professionally.
The partisan environment magnifies self-inflicted wounds that have damaged the FBI's credibility, making it more difficult to counter conspiracy theories and questionable narratives.
The recent indictment of an ex-FBI counterintelligence official gave FBI critics fodder. The FBI came under pressure at a congressional hearing last week over a leaked field office memo that warned of potential Catholic extremists, a document Attorney General Merrick Garland called “appalling” and said had been withdrawn. Older errors during the Trump-Russia investigation, including bungled wiretap applications targeting a Trump aide, continue to shadow the bureau years later.
“We take those to heart each and every day,” FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate said about the Trump-Russia mistakes in a separate interview.
The inherent tripwires of politically explosive investigations were manifest last summer, when some in the FBI resisted the idea of serving a search warrant at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, believing a more cautious approach was better and that the Trump team was entitled to more time to cooperate, according to a person with knowledge of the talks. The Washington Post earlier reported the disagreements.
In the days after the search, as U.S. officials warned of an alarming spike in threats against the FBI, a 42-year-old Trump supporter attacked the FBI’s Cincinnati field office. No FBI employees were harmed, but police killed the gunman.
For his part, Wray said he tries to communicate as much as he can about the FBI's work, including about the Chinese espionage threat or other priorities, but no matter how much he does so, “the focus is on the manufactured controversies of the day or the one or two cases that get all the attention.”
He believes a key part of his job is to step up outreach to his 38,000-member workforce. Besides the message after the Mar-a-Largo search, he held an employee town hall in December, taking questions about public perception of the FBI, agent safety and allegations of politicization.
He also frequently visits the bureau’s 56 field offices to speak to agents and local law enforcement. Last month, he journeyed to Norfolk, Virginia, where he discussed violent crime prevention and national security issues. But national politics intruded even there.
During a news conference with local journalists, Wray was asked whether the recent and intense public scrutiny of the bureau was impeding investigations. He offered a rosy take, saying that though he understood the concern, the FBI was “humming along and growing like gangbusters.”
”At the end of the day," he said of the workforce, “they're not doing it to attract popularity contests on social media or to win the adoration of pundits.”
_____
AP Congressional Correspondent Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report. | 2023-03-08T05:20:42+00:00 | lmtonline.com | https://www.lmtonline.com/news/politics/article/fbi-tested-by-attacks-politically-explosive-17826147.php |
WASHINGTON, July 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Urban Alliance, a national nonprofit that connects young people to paid internships, workforce training and career pathways, received a $10 million investment from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. This is the organization's largest one-time contribution in its 25-year history.
"We are beyond thrilled about this historic and transformative investment. With this funding, Urban Alliance will grow to reach thousands more young people, primarily from communities of color, and give them access to equitable opportunities that will put them on the path to economic mobility," said Elizabeth Lindsey, Urban Alliance CEO. "I'm so grateful to philanthropist MacKenzie Scott for recognizing Urban Alliance's life-changing work and for her innovative and visionary giving that continues to change the nonprofit landscape for the greater good."
Urban Alliance is nationally recognized for having 25 years of unique and valuable experience creating successful and supportive internship experiences for young adults of color with large and small employers across several industries in the Greater Washington, DC area, Baltimore, Chicago, and Detroit. With this investment, Urban Alliance will expand to a fifth city, build out its career pathways internships in high-growth industries, and continue to improve the organization's capacity and infrastructure.
Since 1996, Urban Alliance has connected more than 6,000 young people to paid internships and 23,000 more with workforce training and professional development. Through its flagship High School Internship Program, Urban Alliance connects approximately 500 students annually to paid internship experiences with more than 200 employers across the Greater Washington, DC area, Baltimore, Chicago, and Detroit. Over the course of a year, a high school senior can gain 500 hours of paid work experience and receive 100 hours of skills training, professional development, and mentoring. One hundred percent of UA interns graduate from high school with a post-high school plan, and 88% of students plan to attend college. The results from participating in national Randomized Control Trials (RCT) show that UA's program has a significant positive impact on young people. Only two percent of nonprofits ever conduct an RCT, generally regarded as the gold standard of program evaluation. Visit www.urbanalliance.org and follow us @UrbanAlliance on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
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SOURCE Urban Alliance | 2022-07-12T19:57:05+00:00 | kmvt.com | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/12/urban-alliance-receives-10-million-investment-connect-more-young-people-equitable-career-pathways-workforce-training/ |
Can police intentionally shoot hostages? In Georgia, yes
A federal appeals court has ruled officers are not liable for shooting an innocent Georgia man to stop a murder suspect in the hostage’s truck
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - A federal appeals court has ruled police can shoot hostages — even intentionally — if they fear for their lives or to stop a fleeing felon.
The case is more than just a legal footnote to Don Davis. The Georgia truck driver was shot nine times by troopers and deputies who were trying to stop a murder suspect holding Davis hostage in his truck.
While the shooting occurred in 2015, the case is currently on appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court after a federal appeals court ruled police owe the hostage nothing for his medical bills or the lasting effects of the officer-inflicted gunshot wounds.
The roadblock
Oglethorpe County Sheriff’s deputies and Georgia State Patrol troopers were waiting on a dirt road outside a logging camp in August 2015.
Murder suspect Ryan Arnold was terrorizing the loggers, and was planning his escape. Arnold had already shot his pregnant girlfriend and left her for dead before leading police on a chase. A trooper exchanged gunfire with the murder suspect before his getaway car ran out of gas at the logging camp.
Don Davis was getting ready to pull out with a full load of lumber when Arnold jumped in his truck with a rifle. “He fired a shot, blew my side mirror out. I thought that was my head. But look, you know, I got lucky,” Davis said.
Davis picked up his phone and called 911. The kidnapper knew he was calling.
“He’s in my truck and we coming out of the woods now,” Davis calmly told the 911 operator. “He says that I won’t survive if I don’t get him out,” he added.
Dispatch records confirm police were told that the hostage was driving the logging truck with the killer threatening his life. “The subject you all are looking for is in the vehicle with him advising if he does not go where he tells him to he will kill him,” a dispatcher said over the radio minutes before the shooting.
Some officers testified they didn’t hear that message, while others confirmed they knew there was a hostage in the truck.
The 18-wheeler rolled toward the police cars that were blocking the road and started pushing them out of the way. Officers had taken cover behind the cars. The driver’s window of the logging truck was completely missing because the murder suspect had already shot it out while taking Davis hostage.
Two Georgia State Patrol troopers and a pair of Oglethorpe County deputies opened fire on the cab of the truck using shotguns, a pistol and a fully automatic tactical rifle.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation determined the gunfire was concentrated on the driver’s side of the cab, where Davis was driving.
“Shooting the driver, shooting who is driving that truck, will stop that truck,” GBI Special Agent in Charge Jesse Maddox told lawyers in a deposition.
The truck was riddled with more than 35 bullet holes.
Davis stopped the truck and jumped out after he was already hit eight times. “I said, ‘I got to get out of here,’ bailed out and had my hands up, and I still got shot,” Davis recalled.
A police officer shot the hostage again as he jumped out of the truck to get away from the kidnapper. The officer testified he didn’t realize the man jumping out was the hostage until he had already opened fire.
Davis was shot in his shoulder, hip and leg. His right hand was nearly blown off. Doctors were able to reconstruct Davis’ hand, but he lost two fingers.
Arnold had been hiding on the floorboards with a rifle trained at Davis’ head. The kidnapper suffered far-less-serious injuries. “I was placed into an ambulance on the scene and Mr. Davis was lifeflighted,” Arnold testified in a deposition from prison.
Arnold pleaded guilty to murder, kidnapping and other felonies.
A ‘tragic story’
Davis and wife Kathy sued the officers in federal court. Oglethorpe County and two sheriff’s deputies settled with the couple for $195,000 as part of a court-ordered mediation, according to a document obtained through a records request.
The rest of the case was thrown out by the U.S. District Court.
“Although Plaintiff was a hostage, as the driver of the log truck, he posed not only a threat of serious physical harm to the officers and others, but Plaintiff was also facilitating the escape of an armed and dangerous suspect,” the federal judge ruled. “Thus, Defendants’ use of deadly force when they fired at Plaintiff in the driver’s side of the truck was reasonable to protect themselves and others and prevent Arnold’s escape.”
Attorney Render Freeman didn’t give up on his clients, and refused to take a penny of their settlement. He pressed forward with appeals to higher courts.
“We’re not aware of any case in the country that says that an officer may strategically choose on purpose to shoot the innocent hostage as a way of apprehending the criminal,” Freeman said.
The 11th Circuit US Court of Appeals in Atlanta also tossed the case by affirming the lower court’s ruling. The appeals panel said it was a “tragic story” but still a lawful one, largely because the officers are protected from civil liability under qualified immunity.
“To the extent Davis suggests that deadly force may never be used against an innocent victim, we can find no case asserting that proposition so categorically,” the 11th Circuit judges opined.
The judges determined, “Davis drove the truck toward seven officers gathered at the scene and showed no signs of stopping,” even though he was forced to do so at gunpoint. “Several of the officers opened fire on the cab of the truck, even though they allegedly knew Davis - an innocent hostage - was being forced to drive,” the appeals court panel added.
Ultimately the appeals court ruled the officers “made the difficult, but altogether reasonable, decision that Arnold and the logging truck had to be stopped - and, tragically, that meant stopping Davis, too.”
11th Circuit Judge Jill Pryor agreed with the rest of the panel’s decision, but she determined the trooper who shot the hostage when he jumped out went too far, ruling the “final shotgun blast violated Davis’s constitutional right to be free from the unreasonable use of deadly force,” but the judge said the trooper was still not liable because he was “entitled to qualified immunity.”
“As as long as none of us gets hurt, we’re making memories”
There are no dash or body-worn camera recordings of the shooting itself. One Georgia State Patrol dash camera recording was damaged. Another state cruiser didn’t have a camera. One deputy’s body cam was dislodged while other deputies weren’t wearing them at all.
However, one trooper’s dash camera was recording while that unit was responding to the scene. The two troopers in that patrol car were not involved in the shooting itself, but their dash camera did capture audio of a phone conversation between officers.
“We shot a hostage?,” a trooper in the cruiser asks. The officer on the phone answered, “yeah.”
“Did we shoot him?,” meaning the murder suspect. Again the unidentified officer on the phone answered in the affirmative.
“Good,” the trooper in the cruiser responded. The other officer added, “we shot them both.”
The trooper in the cruiser can be heard saying, “hey, all’s well that ends well.” The officer on the phone added, “Amen.”
The trooper summed up the conversation. “As long as none of us gets hurt, we’re making memories.”
The Georgia State Patrol said the agency could not comment on the nearly eight-year-old shooting because the civil suit is still pending appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Oglethorpe County deputies commented through their attorney, Terry Williams of Williams & Waymire. Their full statement is below.
THE FULL STATEMENT:
“On behalf of the Oglethorpe County deputies, I can tell you that this was an extraordinarily difficult and dangerous situation the law enforcement officers faced that day, and of course a harrowing and traumatic experience for Don Davis.
“The deputies and officers acted reasonably under the circumstances and information that they had, which included information that suspect Ryan Arnold had threatened to kill his grandmother, had shot his girlfriend and then pushed her out of the car (she later died) as he fled from law enforcement, and had shot at a state trooper, who was fortunate not to be injured or killed.
“Arnold stole a vehicle at gun point from loggers in a remote, rural area of the county, and when he couldn’t escape in that vehicle, he hijacked Don Davis’ tractor trailer. Arnold shot out of the truck window when Davis resisted driving, causing officers to believe that they were being shot at.
“Davis then drove the loaded log tractor trailer toward the officers and began striking the patrol vehicles with the truck. At that point, the officers fired at the cab of the truck to stop the suspect from getting away and to protect themselves and the public.
“As the courts noted in ruling in favor of the officers, the fleeing suspect Arnold presented a clear and immediate danger to the officers and public and therefore it was not a violation of clearly established law for the officers to use deadly force, even if an innocent hostage was hit.
“While the courts held that shooting the hostage driver of a vehicle being used by a gravely dangerous, fleeing suspect was not a violation of clearly establish law for purposes of qualified immunity, the evidence strongly showed that deputy Drake and other officers who fired at the truck driver did NOT know that the driver was a hostage. Arnold was hiding down in the floorboard of the truck as it approached the officers and therefore it appeared that the suspect was driving, as only one person was seen.
“The courts, however, assumed for purposes of the rulings that the officers knew or should have know Don Davis was driving because of a radio dispatch indicating Davis had called 911 and stated that he was a hostage.
“The 911 operators and numerous officers provided testimony that radio communications were sketchy and communications were often not heard in that remote area of the county. Deputy Drake testified he did not hear the radio dispatch and didn’t know that Davis was driving at the time he fired and that he would NOT have fired if he had known.
“It was cowardly and senseless for Ryan Arnold to place Mr. Davis in that situation and to cause him to be seriously injured. The deputies and I empathize with Mr. Davis.”
If there’s something you would like Atlanta News First Chief Investigator Brendan Keefe to look into, email him directly at brendan.keefe@wanf.com
Copyright 2023 WANF. All rights reserved. | 2023-05-01T14:59:36+00:00 | atlantanewsfirst.com | https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/05/01/can-police-intentionally-shoot-hostages-georgia-yes/ |
BEIJING, Nov. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kuke Music Holding Limited ("Kuke" or the "Company") (NYSE: KUKE), a leading classical music service platform in China, announced the change of its independent registered public accounting firm, effective as of November 17, 2022.
Change of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The appointment of Yu Certified Public Accountant has been approved by both the audit committee and the board of directors of the Company. On November 17, 2022, Ernst & Young ("EY"), which previously was the independent registered public accounting firm of Kuke, did not stand for re-appointment.
EY's audit reports on the Company's consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. During the Company's two most recent fiscal years and the subsequent period through November 17, 2022, there were no (i) disagreements (as defined in Item 16F(a)(1)(iv) of Form 20-F and the related instructions to Item 16F of Form 20-F) between the Company and EY on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or audit scope or procedure, which disagreements if not resolved to the satisfaction of EY would have caused it to make reference in connection with its opinion to the subject matter of the disagreement, or (ii) reportable events pursuant to Item 16F(a)(1)(v) of the instructions to Form 20-F, other than the following material weaknesses reported in our 2020 and 2021 annual reports on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange of Commission: (a) the lack of sufficient accounting and financial reporting personnel with the requisite knowledge and experience in the application of IFRS and SEC rules identified as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, and (b) the lack of sufficient controls in calculating the expected credit loss on financial assets identified as of December 31, 2021. The Audit Committee discussed the reportable events mentioned above with EY. EY is authorized to fully respond to the inquiries of Yu Certified Public Accountant on the reportable event.
Yu Certified Public Accountant is engaged to audit and report on the consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ending December 31, 2022. During the Company's two most recent fiscal years and through the subsequent interim period on or prior to November 17, 2022, neither the Company nor anyone on its behalf has consulted with Yu Certified Public Accountant on either (a) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company's financial statements, and neither a written report nor any was provided to the Company by Yu Certified Public Accountant that Yu Certified Public Accountant concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to any accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue, or (b) any matter that was the subject of a disagreement, as that term is defined in Item 16F(a)(1)(iv) of Form 20-F (and the related instructions thereto) or a reportable event as set forth in Item 16F(a)(1)(v) of Form 20-F.
The Company provided EY with a copy of the disclosures contained in this Form 6-K, and has requested EY to furnish a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether EY agrees with the statements made by the Company in this Form 6-K and, if not, stating the respects in which it does not agree. A copy of such letter from EY is filed as Exhibit A to this form 6-K.
The Company is working closely with EY and Yu Certified Public Accountant to ensure a seamless transition. The audit committee would like to express its sincere gratitude to EY for its professionalism and quality of services rendered to the Company over the past years.
About Kuke Music Holding Limited
Kuke is a leading classical music service platform in China encompassing the entire value chain from content provision to music learning services. By collaborating with its strategic global business partner Naxos, the largest independent classical music content provider in the world, the foundation of Kuke's extensive classical music content library is its unparalleled access to more than 900 top-tier labels and record companies. Leveraging its market leadership in international copyrighted classical music content, Kuke provides highly scalable classical music licensing services to various online music platforms, and classical music subscription services to over 800 universities, libraries and other institutions across China. In addition, it has hosted Beijing Music Festival ("BMF"), the most renowned music festival in China, for 24 consecutive years. Through KUKEY, the Company's proprietary smart music learning solutions, Kuke aims to democratize music learning via technological innovation, bring fascinating music content and professional music techniques to more students, and continuously improve the efficiency and penetration of music learning in China.
For more information about Kuke, please visit https://ir.kuke.com/
Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, DC 20549
Hong Kong, The People's Republic of China
November 17, 2022
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SOURCE Kuke Music Holding Limited | 2022-11-17T07:02:07+00:00 | kxii.com | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/11/17/kuke-music-announces-change-independent-registered-public-accounting-firm/ |
DENVER, Nov. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Alerian MLP ETF (NYSE Arca: AMLP) declared its fourth quarter 2022 distribution of $0.75 on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. The dividend is payable on November 16, 2022 to shareholders of record on November 10, 2022. Based on current financial information, the distribution is estimated to consist of 100% return of capital.
AMLP Distributions:
- Ex-Date: Wednesday, November 9, 2022
- Record Date: Thursday, November 10, 2022
- Payable Date: Wednesday, November 16, 2022
ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. is also the distributor for the Alerian Energy Infrastructure ETF and the ALPS | Alerian Energy Infrastructure Portfolio. Please direct any inquiries to info@alerianmlp.com or by calling 1-866-759-5679.
Important Disclosures
An investor should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus containing this and other information, call 1-866-759-5679 or visit www.alpsfunds.com. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.
Shares are not individually redeemable. Investors buy and sell shares on a secondary market. Only market makers or "authorized participants" may trade directly with the Fund, typically in blocks of 5,000, 25,000 or 50,000 shares.
All investments are subject to risks, including the loss of money and the possible loss of the entire principal amount invested. Additional information regarding the risks of this investment is available in the prospectus.
Investments in securities of Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs) involve risks that differ from an investment in common stock. MLPs are controlled by their general partners, which generally have conflicts of interest and limited fiduciary duties to the MLP, which may permit the general partner to favor its own interests over the MLPs.
A portion of the benefits you are expected to derive from the Fund's investment in MLPs depends largely on the MLPs being treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes. As a partnership, an MLP has no federal income tax liability at the entity level. Therefore, treatment of one or more MLPs as a corporation for federal income tax purposes could affect the Fund's ability to meet its investment objective and would reduce the amount of cash available to pay or distribute to you. Legislative, judicial, or administrative changes and differing interpretations, possibly on a retroactive basis, could negatively impact the value of an investment in MLPs and therefore the value of your investment in the Fund.
The Fund invests primarily in a particular sector and could experience greater volatility than a fund investing in a broader range of industries.
Investments in the energy infrastructure sector are subject to: reduced volumes of natural gas or other energy commodities available for transporting, processing or storing; changes in the regulatory environment; extreme weather and; rising interest rates which could result in a higher cost of capital and drive investors into other investment opportunities.
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If, due to tax law changes, an MLP in the portfolio is deemed a corporation rather than a partnership for federal income purposes, then income would be subject to federal taxation at the MLP level. This would reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to the fund which could result in a reduction of the fund's value. The Fund is taxed as a regular corporation for federal income purposes, which reduces the Net Asset Value of fund shares by the accrual of any deferred tax liabilities. Depending on the taxes paid by the fund as a result of income and/or gains from investments and/or the sale of MLP interests, the return on an investment in the Fund will be reduced. This differs from most investment companies, which elect to be treated as "regulated investment companies" to avoid paying entity level income taxes. The ETF is taxed as a regular corporation and is subject to US federal income tax on taxable income at the corporate tax rate (currently as high as 21%) as well as state and local taxes.
The Fund is classified for federal income tax purposes as a taxable regular corporation or so-called Subchapter "C" corporation. As a "C" corporation, the Fund accrues deferred tax liability for its future tax liability associated with the capital appreciation of its investments and the distributions received by the Fund on equity securities of master limited partnerships considered to be a return of capital and for any net operating gains. The Fund's accrued deferred tax liability, if any, is reflected each day in the Fund's net asset value per share. The deferred income tax expense/(benefit) represents an estimate of the Fund's potential tax expense/(benefit) if it were to recognize the unrealized gains/(losses) in the portfolio. An estimate of deferred income tax expense/(benefit) is dependent upon the Fund's net investment income/(loss) and realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments and such expenses may vary greatly from year to year and from day to day depending on the nature of the Fund's investments, the performance of those investments and general market conditions. Therefore, any estimate of deferred income tax expense/(benefit) cannot be reliably predicted from year to year.
The Fund employs a "passive management" - or indexing - investment approach and seeks investment results that correspond (before fees and expenses) generally to the performance of its underlying index. Unlike many investment companies, the Fund is not "actively" managed. Therefore, it would not necessarily sell or buy a security unless that security is removed from or added to the underlying index, respectively.
ALPS Advisors, Inc. and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc., affiliated entities, are unaffiliated with VettaFi and the Alerian Index Series.
ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. is the distributor for the Fund.
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About SS&C Technologies
SS&C is a global provider of services and software for the financial services and healthcare industries. Founded in 1986, SS&C is headquartered in Windsor, Connecticut, and has offices around the world. Some 18,000 financial services and healthcare organizations, from the world's largest companies to small and mid-market firms, rely on SS&C for expertise, scale, and technology. Additional information about SS&C (Nasdaq: SSNC) is available at www.ssctech.com.
About SS&C ALPS Advisors
SS&C ALPS Advisors, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SS&C Technologies, is a leading provider of investment products for advisors and institutions. With over $18.36 billion under management as of September 30, 2022, SS&C ALPS Advisors is an open architecture boutique investment manager offering portfolio building blocks, active insight and an unwavering drive to guide clients to investment outcomes across sustainable income, thematic and alternative growth strategies. For more information, visit www.alpsfunds.com.
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SOURCE SS&C/AMLP | 2022-11-09T15:04:08+00:00 | live5news.com | https://www.live5news.com/prnewswire/2022/11/09/alerian-mlp-etf-declares-fourth-quarter-distribution-075/ |
Roger Federer is retiring from professional tennis at age 41 after a series of knee operations, closing a career in which he won 20 Grand Slam titles, finished five seasons ranked No. 1 and helped create a golden era of men’s tennis with rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
Federer posted what he called a “bittersweet decision” via both a written statement and an audio clip on Thursday, less than two weeks after 23-time major champion Serena Williams played what is expected to be the last match of her career.
Combined, the exits by two of the greatest athletes in their sport’s history represent a significant turning of the page.
“As many of you know, the past three years have presented me with challenges in the form of injuries and surgeries. I’ve worked hard to return to full competitive form,” said Federer, who is home in Switzerland. “But I also know my body’s capacities and limits, and its message to me lately has been clear.”
Federer has not competed anywhere since Wimbledon in July 2021, and so, in that sense, his news is not all that surprising.
But he had appeared at an event marking the 100-year anniversary of Centre Court at the All England Club this July and said he hoped to return to play there “one more time.”
He also had said he would return to tournament action in his home country at the Swiss Indoors in October.
In Thursday’s announcement, Federer said his farewell event will be the Laver Cup in London next week. That is a team event run by his management company.
“I knew a few weeks ago that his rehabilitation with his knee wasn’t going as well as he had hoped. A few weeks after Wimbledon, he informed me that the knee was not reacting as well as it should and that he was thinking about figuring out a way to end his career,” Tony Godsick, Federer’s agent since 2005, said in a telephone interview Thursday.
“I had suggested to him years ago that he should stop. Not many tennis players at his level push into their 40s. But he was always interested in challenging himself,” Godsick said. “And at the end of the day, after 1,500-plus matches, the tires finally wore out. And he’s got things to do in his next stage.”
Federer and his wife, Mirka — a tennis player, too; they met as athletes at an Olympics — have two sets of twins, girls who are 13 and boys who are 8.
Federer leaves the sport with a total of 103 tour-level titles on his substantial resume and 1,251 wins in singles matches, both second only to Jimmy Connors in the Open era, which began in 1968. Federer’s records include being the oldest No. 1 in ATP rankings history — he returned to the top spot at 36 in 2018 — and most consecutive weeks there (his total weeks mark was eclipsed by Djokovic).
The dominance Federer displayed at the height of his powers is unrivaled, including reaching 10 consecutive Grand Slam finals, winning eight, from 2005-07, a run that also extended to 18 of 19 major finals into 2010.
In a sport where changes in surface and other conditions can make even the best players thrilled with a showing here or there into the second week of a Slam, Federer compiled streaks of 36 quarterfinals in a row and 23 semifinals in a row from 2004 to 2013.
“Roger Federer is a champion’s champion. He has the most complete game of his generation and captured the hearts of sports fans around the world with an amazing quickness on the court and a powerful tennis mind,” Hall of Famer Billie Jean King said. “He has had a historic career with memories that will live on and on.”
When Federer won his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2003, the men’s record for most major trophies was held by Pete Sampras, who had won his 14th at the U.S. Open the year before in what turned out to be the last match of the American’s career.
Federer would go on to blow way past that, ending up with 20 by winning eight championships at Wimbledon, six at the Australian Open, five at the U.S. Open and one at the French Open. His 2009 trophy at Roland Garros allowed Federer to complete a career Grand Slam.
His serving, forehand, footwork and attacking style will all be remembered. Also unforgettable were his matches against younger rivals Nadal, 36, and Djokovic, 35, who both equalled, then surpassed, Federer’s Slam total and are still winning titles at the sport’s four biggest tournaments.
“I wish this day would have never come,” Nadal said. “It’s a sad day for me personally and for sports people around the world. I said it to you when we spoke and now it’s here. It’s been a pleasure but also an honor and privilege to share all these years with you, living so many amazing moments on and off the court.”
Nadal now leads the men’s major championship count with 22, one ahead of Djokovic.
“I was lucky enough to play so many epic matches that I will never forget,” Federer said in Thursday’s announcement.
Addressing his “competitors on the court” — although not by name — he wrote: “We pushed each other, and together we took tennis to new levels.”
Federer’s last match anywhere came on July 7, 2021, when he lost at Centre Court in the Wimbledon quarterfinals to Hubert Hurkacz 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-0.
Soon after, Federer had surgery to repair damage to his meniscus and cartilage in his right knee — his third operation on that knee in a span of 1 1/2 years.
“Tennis has treated me more generously than I ever would have dreamt,” Federer said Thursday, “and now I must recognize when it is time to end my competitive career.”
___
More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2022-09-16T18:11:48+00:00 | wwlp.com | https://www.wwlp.com/sports/ap-roger-federer-says-he-is-retiring-from-professional-tennis/ |
Spirit planning nonstop flights to San Antonio in November
Updated July 12, 2022 - 4:23 pm
Ultra-low discount air carrier Spirit Airlines will inaugurate service from San Antonio, Texas, in the fall, offering flights to two leisure destinations Las Vegas and Orlando, Florida, beginning in November.
Spirit, the second-busiest commercial air carrier at Harry Reid International Airport behind Southwest Airlines, will begin daily service between Las Vegas and San Antonio International Airport on Nov. 17.
Spirit, the subject of a merger bidding war between Denver-based Frontier Airlines and New York-based JetBlue, flies twin-engine Airbus A319, A320 and A321 jets that hold between 145 and 235 passengers on its routes. From Las Vegas, it operates 69 daily flights to 38 nonstop destinations, according to Reid International records.
The move into San Antonio is part of a larger Texas expansion for the Miramar, Florida-based airline. The city will become the fourth destination Spirit has added in the Lone Star State after Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. Spirit recently strengthened its position in Texas by choosing Houston as the home of a new maintenance complex that includes two aircraft bays and ramp space for up to four aircraft, as well as warehouse, shops and office space.
“Our low fares and daily flights make it easy and more accessible for San Antonio families to discover these two world-class entertainment destinations,” said John Kirby, vice president of network planning at Spirit. “We are also excited to offer our current guests affordable access to the Alamo City to experience the attractions, rich history and vibrant culture that have earned it a top vacation destination ranking in Texas.”
Spirit is introducing the new route with introductory fares of $89 one way to and from Las Vegas from Nov. 30 through Dec. 14, with a Friday and Sunday exclusion. Tickets must be purchased 21 days in advance to be eligible.
Spirit will compete on the route with Las Vegas market leader Southwest, Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air and Frontier.
The ongoing merger battle between Frontier and JetBlue for Spirit began in February when Frontier made an initial offer to acquire the company. But despite Spirit management recommendations, shareholders have been reluctant to approve the Frontier deal because the JetBlue offer is higher.
Frontier CEO Barry Biffle, in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Monday, said his airline is “very far” from winning the approval of Spirit shareholders. He’s asked for a delay in a shareholder vote, the fourth delay in the acquisition process.
According to Forbes magazine, Frontier’s latest offer of $4.13 per share plus 1.9 Frontier shares for each Spirit share still works out to roughly $1 billion less than JetBlue’s $3.7 billion package, which includes a $400 million break-up fee if the merger were to be blocked by regulators.
If either merger is approved, it would produce the fifth-largest airline in the United States.
Several routes, including the new San Antonio service, would be duplicated between Spirit and Frontier if the Frontier offer is accepted.
Contact Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Follow @RickVelotta on Twitter. | 2022-07-12T23:37:49+00:00 | reviewjournal.com | https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/tourism/spirit-planning-nonstop-flights-to-san-antonio-in-november-2606503/ |
Five new Masters earn the elite title
MADISON, Wis., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin and the University of Wisconsin Center for Dairy Research are proud to announce the 2023 class of Wisconsin Master Cheesemakers®. Four new and one returning cheesemaker graduated from the esteemed program. The class of 2023 collectively earned certifications in cheddar, blue cheese, mozzarella and curds.
Wisconsin is the only place outside of Switzerland where cheesemakers become official Masters in their craft. It requires true dedication, including 13 or more years of cheesemaking as well as pursuing coursework and rigorous exams.
- Kirk Auchue of Saputo Cheese and Black Creek in Fond du Lac, WI, is certified in cheddar. Auchue enjoys the challenge of cheesemaking and is particularly proud of the cheesemakers and other staff he works with at the plant – encouraging them to move away from complete automation and feeling the steps of the process.
- Timothy Stearns of Land O'Lakes in Kiel, WI, is certified in cheddar. Stearn's early immersion in the cheesemaking industry makes him feel like he grew up in it. His team hand selects which cheeses to put into aging.
- Tony Hook of Hook's Cheese in Mineral Point, WI, is certified in blue. Hook, a pioneer of Wisconsin's artisan cheese movement, began their sales at Dane County Farmers Market, connecting with customers one-on-one.
- Ben Shibler of Pagel's Ponderosa/Ron's Wisconsin Cheese in Kewaunee, WI, is certified in mozzarella. Shibler enjoys the intellectual and physical aspects of cheesemaking, stating, "It's a very hands-on job, especially in an old-school setup as we have. We don't have a lot of automation, and its open vats, so you're up to your elbows in it."
Returning Master Cheesemaker in 2023:
- Ryan LaGrander of LaGrander's Hillside Dairy in Stanley, WI, is certified in cheddar and curds. LaGrander manages everything from the farms they work with to the cheese production and sales of their product. He says a lot of his time is spent with the actual cheese production, making adjustments and working to fulfill the customers' needs.
"The Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker® Program, the only one of its kind in the U.S., is an advanced education program for experienced cheesemakers that enhances the quality image of what is already the nation's premier cheesemaking state," says Chad Vincent, CEO, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin. "These graduates have dedicated an immense number of hours to earn their Master's Marks, which signifies unparalleled standards of Wisconsin cheesemaking."
Behind every wheel of cheese made in Wisconsin is a proud cheesemaker who is committed to crafting delicious cheese in honor of the hardworking farmers who produce the milk. That very personal, hands-on mindset is present in each of the Masters in this graduating class.
Established in 1994, the Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker Program has certified just over 90 masters out of the more than 1,200 total cheesemakers in the state -- a testament to the program's high standards and rigor.
About Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin: Funded by Wisconsin dairy farmers, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin is a non-profit organization that focuses on marketing and promoting Wisconsin's world-class dairy products. For more information, visit our website at wisconsindairy.org.
About Wisconsin Cheese: The tradition of cheesemaking excellence began more than 180 years ago, before Wisconsin was recognized as a state. Wisconsin's 1,200 cheesemakers, many of whom are third- and fourth generation, continue to pass on old-world traditions while adopting modern innovations in cheesemaking craftsmanship. For more information, visit WisconsinCheese.com or connect on Facebook.
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SOURCE Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin | 2023-04-13T16:05:08+00:00 | kmvt.com | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2023/04/13/wisconsin-welcomes-new-class-master-cheesemakers/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. World Cup team is truly of the video generation. Players who received a FaceTime from coach Gregg Berhalter were headed to Qatar and those given audio calls missed the cut.
“I think the best part of it the last couple of days was really seeing genuine smiles from the guys when I told them, and that’s priceless,” Berhalter said Wednesday night after the televised announcement of his 26-man roster.
Tim Ream, Haji Wright, Joe Scally and Sean Johnson made it.
Ricardo Pepi, Zack Steffen, Paul Arriola and Jordan Pefok fell short.
Norwich’s Josh Sargent and Antalyspor’s Wright beat out Pepi, the 19-year-old whose three goals in qualifying were second behind Christian Pulisic’s five. Berhalter rated Sargent playing in England’s second-tier League Championship higher than Pepi in the Dutch Eredivisie, especially with the U.S. opening the tournament against Wales on Nov. 21 and facing England four days later before finishing group play against Iran on Nov. 29.
“The Dutch League is a great league, but it doesn’t bring the same physicality that the Premier League brings and the Championship brings,” Berhalter said. “Ricardo Pepi could have a great argument for why he should be there, and I can understand that argument.”
Players started getting texts from Berhalter on Sunday afternoon: “Are you available?” He spent three days going through the roster, then turned to just over a dozen dealt the devastation of falling short.
On what figures to be the youngest of the 32 teams by average age, 29-year-old right back DeAndre Yedlin is the only holdover from the 2014 World Cup. Yedlin, Pulisic, Kellyn Acosta and Ream are remaining players from the infamous loss at Trinidad that prevented the Americans from reaching the 2018 tournament.
“This could be a little bit of a redemption or revenge tour if you want to call it that,” Yedlin said. “This is now our time to really — I don’t want to say apologize for that, but show how much we do want it.”
With central defenders Miles Robinson and Chris Richards sidelined by injuries, the 35-year-old Ream returns to the national team for the first time since the opening window of qualifying in September 2021. Ream didn’t play in the final four qualifying windows as Berhalter preferred more mobile options, then was selected over Mark McKenzie and Erik-Palmer Brown.
“He’s playing in the best league in the world and he’s playing at a very high level,” Berhalter said.
Cameron Carter-Vickers, a son of former NBA player Howard Carter, also was picked as a central defender. Carter-Vickers, Johnson, Scally, Wright and goalkeeper Ethan Horvath did not appear in any of the 14 qualifiers.
Shaq Moore was picked as a backup over Reggie Cannon at right back and Cristian Roldan ahead of Malik Tillman in midfield, where Berhalter called Arriola “the odd man out.”
“These past few days have been extremely difficult. Some of the hardest I’ve had in a while,” Arriola wrote on Twitter. “I am heartbroken.”
Johnson, 33, was a surprise pick over Steffen, who started six qualifiers. He received the news while sitting on a sofa at his home in Hoboken, New Jersey.
“I wasn’t going to move very far away from my phone, just waiting for the call,” Johnson said. “The first thing he said, I think, was, `Why are you still wearing the same shirt from (training) camp?’ Then we talked about yoga and doing yoga that morning. Yeah, I was sweating a little bit. But ultimately we got to that point in the conversation and the weight was just lifted and it was just pure elation.”
Nine players are from Major League Soccer; eight are with English clubs; two each are based in Germany, Italy and Spain; and one apiece plays in France, Scotland and Turkey.
Scally and midfielder Yunus Musah are just 19. Winger Gio Reyna, a son of former U.S, captain Claudio Reyna, turns 20 on Sunday. The average age of 25 years, 175 days as of the opener is the second-youngest for the U.S. at a World Cup behind 24 years, 24 days in 1990.
Pulisic, the biggest U.S. star, has started just five matches for Chelsea this season. Outside back Sergiño Dest has made just two starts for AC Milan and hasn’t played at all since Oct. 30 due to an adductor injury. Midfielder Weston McKennie has been sidelined at Juventus since Oct. 29 by a thigh problem.
Reyna is coming off repeated leg issues and has played one 90-minute match for Borussia Dortmund since April 2021. Matt Turner, the likely No. 1 goalkeeper, has yet to make his Premier League debut with Arsenal and has been limited to four Europa League matches for the Gunners this season, the last Oct. 20.
Midfielder Luca de la Torre has not played for Spain’s Celta Vigo since Oct. 24 because of a torn muscle in his left leg and might not be 90-minute fit. Sargent returned Saturday for Norwich in England’s second-tier League Championship after missing two matches with a calf injury.
Berhalter, the first former U.S. player to coach the Americans at a World Cup, reminded those who fell short of how he was left off the roster in 2006. Three weeks later, he was riding the monorail between the Magic Kingdom and Disney-MGM Studios in Florida on vacation when he learned he was replacing Cory Gibbs, who injured a knee.
“I wanted to acknowledge that it is unpleasant news that they’re getting, but there also is this sliver of hope,” Berhalter said.
Even players considered locks, such as McKennie, Tyler Adams and Antonee Robinson, had anxiously awaited Berhalter’s call.
“It’s still a relief and still a weight off your shoulders,” McKennie said, “when you can actually hear the words that you are on the final roster.”
The roster:
Goalkeepers: Ethan Horvath (Luton, England), Sean Johnson (New York City), Matt Turner (Arsenal, England).
Defenders: Cameron Carter-Vickers (Glasgow Celtic, Scotland), Sergiño Dest (AC Milan, Italy), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls), Shaq Moore (Nashville), Tim Ream (Fulham, England), Antonee Robinson (Fulham, England), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach, Germany), DeAndre Yedlin (Miami), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville).
Midfielders: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds, England), Kellyn Acosta (Los Angeles), Tyler Adams (Leeds, England), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo, Spain), Weston McKennie (Juventus, Italy), Yunus Musah (Valencia, Spain), Cristian Roldan (Seattle).
Forwards: Jesús Ferreira (Dallas), Jordan Morris (Seattle), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea, England), Gio Reyna (Borussia, Dortmund, Germany), Josh Sargent (Norwich, England), Tim Weah (Lille, France), Haji Wright (Antalyspor, Turkey).
___
AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2022-11-10T13:58:52+00:00 | wwlp.com | https://www.wwlp.com/sports/ap-ream-wright-make-us-cup-roster-steffen-arriola-cut/ |
Rockdale ISD names new Athletic Director
ROCKDALE, Texas (KWTX) - Rockdale ISD trustees named Hunter Hamrick as the next Athletic Director and Head Football Coach for Rockdale ISD at the December 12, 2022 regular board meeting. Coach Hamrick will replace current Athletic Director Jacob Campsey.
Hamrick is presently serving as Athletic Director and Head Football Coach at Ingleside High School in Ingleside, Texas, where he has been since leaving Rockdale in 2016. He has led the Mustangs to qualify for the playoffs four out of the last five years and helped rejuvenate both boys and girls athletic programs while at Ingleside. Previously, Hamrick was the offensive coordinator while at Rockdale High School, when the team won 30 games in his final three years with RHS.
Other coaching stints for Hamrick include Los Fresnos High School and Lexington High School. Coach Hamrick is a graduate of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, where he was an All-American punter. He and his wife, Morgan, a special education teacher, have three children (Hayze, Hutch and Maybri).
“We are excited to welcome Coach Hamrick and his family back to Rockdale ISD. His knowledge and experience as an athletic director, along with his ability to build relationships with students, staff and the community will be a tremendous asset for Rockdale,” stated Superintendent Denise Monzingo. Coach Hamrick will be in the district this Thursday to meet with students and staff and will begin his new position in January.
Copyright 2022 KWTX. All rights reserved. | 2022-12-13T04:36:40+00:00 | kwtx.com | https://www.kwtx.com/2022/12/13/rockdale-isd-names-new-athletic-director/ |
Alabama vs. Maryland: Betting Trends, Record ATS, Home/Road Splits - Second Round
The No. 8 seed Maryland Terrapins (22-12) are 8.5-point underdogs in their second round NCAA Tournament matchup against the No. 1 seed Alabama Crimson Tide (30-5) on Saturday at 9:40 PM on TBS. The winner advances to the Sweet 16 in the South Region bracket. The point total is set at 144.5 for the matchup.
Alabama vs. Maryland Odds & Info
- Date: Saturday, March 18, 2023
- Time: 9:40 PM ET
- TV: TBS
- Where: Birmingham, Alabama
- Venue: Legacy Arena at BJCC
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Alabama vs Maryland Betting Records & Stats
- So far this season, the Crimson Tide have compiled a 20-12-0 record against the spread.
- Alabama has been at least a -450 moneyline favorite 16 times this season and won all of those games.
- The sportsbooks' moneyline implies a 81.8% chance of a victory for the Crimson Tide.
- Maryland's ATS record is 20-11-0 this season.
- The Terrapins have been listed as an underdog of +350 or more on two occasions this season and split those games.
- Maryland has an implied victory probability of 22.2% according to the moneyline set for this matchup.
Alabama vs. Maryland Over/Under Stats
Additional Alabama vs Maryland Insights & Trends
- Alabama has a 4-6 record against the spread while going 8-2 overall over its last 10 contests.
- In their past 10 games, the Crimson Tide have gone over the total five times.
- Maryland is 6-4 against the spread and 6-4 overall over its last 10 games.
- In their past 10 contests, the Terrapins have gone over the total five times.
- The Crimson Tide record 19.4 more points per game (82.6) than the Terrapins allow (63.2).
- When Alabama scores more than 63.2 points, it is 17-9 against the spread and 26-3 overall.
- The Terrapins put up an average of 70.3 points per game, only 1.6 more points than the 68.7 the Crimson Tide allow.
- Maryland is 12-4 against the spread and 17-0 overall when it scores more than 68.7 points.
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Alabama vs. Maryland Betting Splits
Alabama vs. Maryland Home/Away Splits
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | 2023-03-17T18:16:54+00:00 | atlantanewsfirst.com | https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/sports/betting/2023/03/18/alabama-vs-maryland-college-basketball-second-round-betting-trends-stats/ |
BRUSSELS (AP) — Thanks to the insistence of Hungary, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church has been removed from the latest round of European Union sanctions to punish Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, four EU diplomats told The Associated Press.
The sixth package of sanctions, which includes an embargo on most Russian oil imports into the 27-nation bloc by the end of the year, was approved by ambassadors Thursday following a political deal reached earlier this week by EU leaders.
The diplomats spoke on the condition of anonymity because the identity of the new individuals sanctioned has yet to be published. The sanctions will be adopted Friday by the EU Council.
Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church had been initially included in individuals the bloc wanted to sanction but the proposal needed to be approved unanimously. It was removed at the insistence of Hungary, which is perceived as Moscow’s closest ally within the bloc.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban threatened to derail the whole package of sanctions at the leader’s summit unless he got guarantees that his country would not immediately be affected by the oil embargo. Hungary is more heavily dependent on Russian energy than most EU nations.
The Hungarian government said sanctioning Kirill would have been inappropriate on grounds of respect for religious freedom.
Kirill, the head of one of the largest and most influential churches in Eastern Orthodoxy, has justified Russia’s invasion on spiritual grounds, describing it as a “metaphysical” battle against the West and its “gay parades.”
If sanctioned, Kirill would have faced travel bans and an asset freeze.
Kirill has echoed Putin’s unfounded claims that Ukraine was engaged in the “extermination” of Russian loyalists in the Donbas, the eastern region of Ukraine where Russian-backed separatists have been fighting Ukrainian forces since 2014.
According to the French presidency of the Council, those who will be sanctioned Friday include members of Russia’s security and military apparatus, particularly those linked to massacres in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha.
Also being sanctioned are industrial and technological entities “linked to Russian aggression” and “oligarchs and actors of Russian propaganda and their family members.”
Russia’s biggest bank, Sberbank, will now be excluded from SWIFT, the major global system for financial transfers from which the EU previously banned several smaller Russian banks. Among other sanctions, three Russian media outlets accused of propaganda will be prevented from distributing their content in the EU.
___
Follow the AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | 2022-06-03T04:27:59+00:00 | wwlp.com | https://www.wwlp.com/news/ap-international-news/russian-orthodox-head-escapes-eu-sanctions-thanks-to-orban/ |
Pedro Cachin 2023 Swiss Open Gstaad Odds
The field is dwindling at the Swiss Open Gstaad, with Pedro Cachin set for a quarterfinal against Jaume Munar. Cachin has +550 odds (third-best) to take home the trophy from Roy Emerson Arena.
Find all the latest odds for the 2023 Swiss Open Gstaad and place your bets with a new user bonus from BetMGM.
Cachin at the 2023 Swiss Open Gstaad
- Next Round: Quarterfinals
- Tournament Dates: July 14-23
- Venue: Roy Emerson Arena
- Location: Gstaad, Switzerland
- Court Surface: Clay
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Cachin's Next Match
Cachin will play Munar in the quarterfinals on Friday, July 21 at 8:30 AM ET, after beating Roberto Bautista Agut in the previous round 7-6, 7-6.
Cachin is currently listed at -105 to win his next match against Munar. Check out the latest odds for the entire field at BetMGM.
Want to bet on Cachin? Head to BetMGM using our link for a bonus bet special offer for new players!
Cachin Stats
- In the Round of 16, Cachin won 7-6, 7-6 versus Bautista Agut on Thursday.
- In 23 tournaments over the past year, Cachin is 14-24 and has yet to win a title.
- Cachin is 8-11 on clay over the past year, with zero tournament titles.
- Over the past 12 months (across all court types), Cachin has played 38 matches and 26.8 games per match.
- On clay, Cachin has played 19 matches over the past year, and he has totaled 26.0 games per match while winning 50.0% of games.
- When it comes to serve/return winning percentages over the past 12 months, Cachin has won 74.6% of his games on serve, and 19.4% on return.
- Cachin has claimed 75.5% of his service games on clay over the past 12 months and 23.2% of his return games.
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | 2023-07-21T04:17:36+00:00 | live5news.com | https://www.live5news.com/sports/betting/2023/07/14/pedro-cachin-swiss-open-gstaad-betting-odds/ |
A new immigration policy announced by the Biden administration will allow up to 30,000 migrants from Haiti, Cuba and Nicaragua to enter the U.S. by plane each month through a parole program while simultaneously expelling those who show up to the U.S.-Mexico border without permission or a legal basis to remain.
Migrants who have an eligible sponsor and pass the program’s vetting process will receive entry into the country and work authorization for up to two years. Nearly 360,000 migrants are expected to flock to the U.S. through this process by the end of the year.
“These measures will expand and expedite legal pathways for orderly migration and result in new consequences for those who fail to use those legal pathways.” read a media release from the White House.
The announcement comes after an overwhelming number of migrants from the three countries landed in the U.S., arriving by boat or across the southern border in the last two years.
Last weekend, more than 500 Cuban and 140 Haitian migrants came ashore in the Florida Keys. The U.S. Coast Guard and Border Patrol said it had to rescue 180 people from an overloaded boat last Monday. Gov. Ron DeSantis mobilized the state’s National Guard over the weekend to respond to the influx of migrants.
As of Monday, Jan. 9, 187 migrants have since been repatriated to Cuba and 83 to Haiti, according to Local 10 News.
The Biden administration also announced it will scale up anti-smuggling operations and provide an additional $23 million in humanitarian assistance for Mexico and Central America, the regions migrants are either coming from or passing through.
Biden, who traveled to El Paso, Texas, on Sunday to meet with leaders and visit the border, faces both backlash and praise for his latest attempt to crack down on illegal immigration through stricter border laws and the parole process.
Florida leaders react
District 24 Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson, who for years has pushed for fairer treatment for Haitian migrants and the extension of Temporary Protected Status, called the new measures ludicrous and inhumane.
“I think it’s wrong,” she told The Miami Times. “These policies are creating unreasonable obstacles for those migrants who have arrived on our borders with a few dollars in their pockets, and now we’re requiring them to purchase a smartphone to do an application when they’re desperately seeking safety. I don’t condone any policies that undermine access to seeking asylum.”
Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, the first Haitian American elected to Congress, did not make herself available for comment.
The program is an extension of the Venezuela Enforcement Initiative, which launched in October 2022, and has already dramatically decreased the number of Venezuelan nationals trying to enter the U.S. unlawfully, according to Biden.
“This new policy is a mixed package of pros and cons,” said Paul Christian Namphy, lead organizer for the Family Action Network Movement (FANM) immigration rights organization. “It is a mischaracterization to say that the act of a refugee showing up at the border to ask for asylum is illegal immigration. By closing the border, they are turning down an internationally recognized means to seek asylum for protection.”
In the last five months, more than 12,000 migrants were taken into custody by federal authorities, according to the Homeland Security Task Force Southeast.
U.S. Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz said the Miami sector saw a 400% increase in migrant encounters since Oct. 1, 2022, compared to 2021 numbers.
A majority of the immigrants encountered are from Cuba, with Haiti trailing behind as the second-largest migrant demographic, according to the Washington Examiner.
“We cannot lump Haitian issues with other countries’ issues. It’s not the same,” said Wilson. “Haiti does not have a functioning government at all. They have no president or elected leader.”
Haiti is now facing another cholera outbreak amid the constant threat of gang violence and rising fuel and food costs, as it marks the second anniversary of its president’s death with no clear leader in sight.
“People are desperate right now, and taking a plane or getting a visa might be difficult,” said Tony Jeanthenor, a longstanding member of the Veye Yo Haitian rights group. “The best option to them is the ocean … Cubans have political clout through Marco Rubio and other Republican elected officials but the Haitians don’t have that. In terms of Congress, our voice lies with Sheila (Cherfilus-McCormick) as our congressperson.”
Wilson, though, says several congress members will bat for the island nation.
Her office is collaborating with the Congressional Black Caucus and other elected leaders to work with an assigned White House official to receive the Haitian migrants.
Qualifications & obstacles
“While we understand the position the administration has taken to handle migration, we remind folks that there are real limits to this policy,” said Namphy. “Some people who are migrating may feel that the border option is the only option available to them based on their circumstances. We will never say to someone ‘Cross the border’ or ‘Don’t cross’ because only they know the danger they are in, but what we do is inform people of the consequences these decisions have.”
Eligible migrants for the program include those who currently live outside of the U.S. and do not have refugee status in another country. They must have a sponsor in the U.S. who agrees to cover any costs associated with their entry (i.e., housing and medical costs). Sponsors can be either a relative, non-relative or an organization, but individuals who agree to sponsor a national from the four countries must either be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, hold Temporary Protected Status or asylum status, or a recipient of the Deferred Enforced Departure.
The migrants must have internet access and a smartphone to download the CBP One app, where the application for the program is housed. They must also have a valid passport and financial means to purchase a ticket to the U.S. once approved.
But first, their sponsor must fill out Form I-134A on USCIS.gov/i-134a to submit an official request and relevant documents for each migrant they wish to support. Once background checks rule out public safety, human trafficking and exploitation concerns, the migrant will receive an email from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, prompting them to move forward with the process via the app.
“One of the biggest issues about this for us is the economic hurdle,” said Namphy, drawing a connection between political instability and poor economic resources. “Not everyone is in the position to take advantage of this. In many times, like the case in Haiti, those who are economically marginalized are those who are politically marginalized.”
“If you’re opening the doors for only people who have connections here, you’re leaving out a lot of the most vulnerable people who, in terms of aid, have no help coming in from anywhere,” said Adriana Rivera, communications director for the Florida Immigrant Coalition. “We’re talking about people who will need to have a data plan. People who will need to have some sort of digital navigation skill when some may have not yet managed a written language.”
Migrants that show up at the border, who may not be eligible for the program or were denied, will be subjected to expulsion to Mexico if they cannot be repatriated for any reason. They also face a five-year ban from attempting to renter the U.S.
Mexico has agreed to accept 30,000 individuals per month from said countries turned away by the U.S. government at the border.
“Do not, do not just show up at the border,” Biden warned migrants at a news conference last Thursday, though he acknowledged the circumstances that call for the increasing migration. “Stay where you are and apply legally from there.”
“There’s a very, very different standard for people coming from Central America and Haiti,” said Namphy, recalling the treatment of Ukraine and Afghan refugees. “We expect the U.S. to have one standard of immigration.”
“What is our immigration system going to look like if it's only made for certain people?” said a concerned Rivera. “What message are we trying to send to people who are facing life or death situations in the country but have to pass [these] sort of wealth, digital literacy and connections tests to flee for their lives?
Members of FLIC and FANM are already looking into becoming sponsors, though the organizations themselves have not yet decided on sponsorship.
Namphy is leery of how the process will play out, while Jeanthenor doubts that the U.S. will deliver on its promise.
“What we are guarding against is nightmare implementation,” said Namphy. “There are Haitians who have been granted TPS but are still awaiting employment authorization … We’re hoping that this program they’re rolling out will be efficiently administered so beneficiaries don’t have to wait 3-6 months in to get their claims processed.”
Added Jeanthenor of the number of migrants who will be allowed entry into the U.S. each month, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” | 2023-01-11T18:35:55+00:00 | miamitimesonline.com | https://www.miamitimesonline.com/news/world_national/biden-administration-crackdown-on-immigration/article_d43808a6-9132-11ed-b87f-732720a61e0b.html |
FDA also accepts company's Investigational New Drug (IND) application to initiate a follow-on phase 2b clinical trial, called KEVLARx
TORREY PINES, Calif., March 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- EpicentRx, Inc. ("EpicentRx"), announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Fast Track Designation to RRx-001, a direct NLRP3 inhibitor and Nrf2 upregulator with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, for the prevention/attenuation of severe oral mucositis in chemotherapy and radiation-treated head & neck cancer patients. The FDA also accepted the company's Investigational New Drug (IND) application to initiate a follow-on phase 2b clinical trial, called KEVLARx, in the same head & neck cancer patient population.
According to the FDA, Fast Track is a process designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of drug candidates to treat serious or life-threatening conditions and fulfill an unmet medical need so that they reach approval, and patients, sooner. In this case, the unmet medical need is severe oral mucositis (SOM), for which no treatment is currently available. SOM is not only a debilitatingly painful side effect of chemotherapy and radiation, but it is also potentially life-threatening because of concomitant infections. The benefits of Fast Track Designation include a "rolling review" of completed sections of the New Drug Application (NDA), more frequent interaction with the FDA to expedite the review process, and potential eligibility for accelerated approval and priority review.
"The Fast Track Designation is great news for EpicentRx, and it puts us one step closer to a potential treatment for this critical unmet need of oral mucositis with RRx-001," said EpicentRx CEO, Dr. Tony Reid.
About RRx-001
RRx-001 is a highly selective NLRP3 inhibitor under investigation in a Phase 3 trial for the treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC), and a planned Phase 2b trial for protection against oral mucositis in first line head and neck cancer. It is also under development as a medical countermeasure for nuclear and radiological emergencies and as a treatment for neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and ALS/MND.
About EpicentRx
EpicentRx is a leading-edge clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a complementary pipeline of small molecules, novel drug delivery devices, and cancer selective virus platforms that target inflammatory diseases of significant unmet need. For more information visit www.epicentrx.com.
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SOURCE EpicentRx, Inc. | 2023-03-29T11:55:21+00:00 | wagmtv.com | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2023/03/29/epicentrx-receives-fast-track-designation-us-fda-lead-asset-rrx-001-preventattenuate-chemotherapy-radiation-treatment-induced-severe-oral-mucositis/ |
(Mass Appeal) – Flu cases are on the rise. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has marked the severity of influenza very high. Here to discuss what that means, and ways to keep you and your family healthy this time of year, is Dr. Mark Kenton, medical director of Mercy’s Emergency Department. | 2023-01-05T20:11:56+00:00 | wwlp.com | https://www.wwlp.com/massappeal/ways-to-staying-healthy-during-very-high-flu-season/ |
(NerdWallet) – Knowing if you’re being paid fairly for the work you do is a mystery shrouded in a lack of information. That may be changing, though, and pay transparency may be the catalyst. It’s a growing trend for companies to reveal what a job opening or current position pays — whether voluntarily, or because governments mandate it.
Navigating salary ranges
So far, about a dozen states and municipalities have mandated access to salary information, including California, Colorado, Washington and New York City. Companies in the jurisdictions are generally required to post salary ranges indicating the minimum and maximum pay. Rules vary: Sometimes only job applicants must be told, while other times current employees can also request information about their pay range.
Roberta Matuson, president of Matuson Consulting in Boston, consults with companies looking for top-tier talent. She believes pay transparency “is a step in the right direction.”
“Knowledge is power. So, you know, if you have no idea that you can possibly earn more money, then you wouldn’t even ask for it,” Matuson says.
Is this the end of salary negotiation?
Pay transparency won’t eliminate salary negotiation, says Lexi Clarke, vice president of people at Payscale, a national provider of compensation data and services. Instead, Clarke says it will encourage discussions of current and future pay expectations.
It will help employees and candidates “understand what their expectations should be, and where [salary] boundaries are and where there might be flexibility. It levels the playing field between employers and candidates to have a more open and transparent conversation,” she says.
And Lulu Seikaly, a senior corporate attorney with Payscale, notes that as current laws stand, employers aren’t prevented from offering pay higher than a range that is posted for a position, as long as the company can provide objective reasoning for the exception.
In the past, companies would often base salary offers on what an individual earned in their previous jobs, Seikaly says. “A lot of states have banned that now.”
If a potential employer asks for your salary history, Matuson says, “I wouldn’t refuse to answer; I would say, ‘Well, tell me what you’re offering for this position.’ I would just turn the question around.”
Will pay gaps be eliminated?
Pay transparency reveals salary ranges, but does it narrow gender and ethnicity pay gaps? It may be too early to tell.
However, Payscale’s Clarke says that organizations that are more open about salaries often have a well-defined compensation structure and are less likely to have pay inequities.
She predicts how the gender pay gap might narrow: “Women’s salaries will increase to where they should be — some overpaid men’s salaries may slightly decrease, to be more in line with where they should be.”
What if you’re at the low end of the range?
If you find out you’re at the lower end of a salary band, Clarke says pay transparency will help you communicate with an employer about what you think you deserve, “And you’re anchoring that all into data, which is really powerful,” she adds.
Matuson says to ask your employer how you can add more value and what skills you need to increase your pay and opportunities for promotion.
And it’s not just about money, she adds.
“There are other things that you could ask for,” Matuson says. “For example, you could say, ‘It would help me if I could work from home two days a week so that I’m not spending $50 or more a week on gas. Would that be suitable?'”
And if you’re at the top of the pay scale?
What if you find out you’re at the top of your job’s pay band? One result could be pay compression at the top of a pay scale, with the highest-paid workers facing increasing resistance about salary hikes. Should you worry that you’re maxed out and might be among the first employees to be cut if layoffs happen?
“Well, I think you should always be thinking, ‘I might be cut,'” Matuson says. But she adds that even if you’re not actively looking for a job, call a few headhunters to determine pay scales for your current work and potential opportunities.
If you’re trying to determine a suitable salary for where you are in your career, several websites offer tools that help you see a relevant range of pay. Check out Payscale, Indeed, Glassdoor and Salary.com for such tools. | 2023-01-22T22:08:06+00:00 | upmatters.com | https://www.upmatters.com/news/national/how-pay-transparency-may-affect-your-job-search-or-next-raise/ |
Judge suspends Michigan’s dormant 1931 abortion ban
DETROIT (AP) — A judge on Tuesday suspended Michigan’s dormant ban on abortion, saying it likely violates the state constitution.
The law, which makes it a crime to assist in an abortion, has been on the books since 1931. But it has had no practical effect since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion in 1973.
The Supreme Court, however, could overturn that decision by the summer, leaving abortion issues for each state to decide.
Court of Claims Judge Elizabeth Gleicher granted a preliminary injunction sought by Planned Parenthood of Michigan.
“After 50 years of legal abortion in Michigan, there can be no doubt but that the right of personal autonomy and bodily integrity enjoyed by our citizens includes the right of a woman, in consultation with her physician, to terminate a pregnancy,” the judge said.
“From a constitutional standpoint, the right to obtain a safe medical treatment is indistinguishable from the right of a patient to refuse treatment,” Gleicher said.
Gleicher said other Michigan laws regulating abortion will remain in full effect.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, called the decision a victory.
It “sends the message that Michigan’s 1931 law banning abortion, even in cases of rape or incest, should not go into effect even if Roe is overturned,” Whitmer said. “It will help ensure that Michigan remains a place where women have freedom and control over their own bodies.”
The lawsuit by Planned Parenthood, which performs abortions, is one of two legal challenges in the state. Whitmer, who supports abortion rights, has asked the Michigan Supreme Court to bypass lower courts and declare the 91-year-old law unconstitutional.
In May, Politico published a leaked draft of a U.S. Supreme Court opinion. The document indicates the court could be poised to overturn its landmark Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2022-05-17T19:16:20+00:00 | kcbd.com | https://www.kcbd.com/2022/05/17/judge-suspends-michigans-dormant-1931-abortion-ban/ |
MIAMI, July 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Winston & Strawn LLP announced today that longtime colleagues and tax lawyers Jeffrey Rubinger and Summer LePree have joined the firm's Miami office as partners in the Tax Practice. Their arrival comes shortly after that of corporate Partner David Wells, who joined the office in May.
Jeff is a highly experienced lawyer with over 25 years of international tax experience. He has advised clients in diverse industries, including financial services, technology, manufacturing, real estate, investment funds, and family offices. Jeff applies a vast and deep knowledge of complex cross-border tax laws in a variety of jurisdictions (including countries in South America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East) to advise U.S. companies expanding overseas as well as foreign businesses investing in the United States. He has also served as tax counsel on federal, state, and local tax issues involving corporate reorganizations, partnerships, and subchapter S corporations. He served for many years as a certified public accountant at a major accounting firm and has been an adjunct tax professor at the University of Miami for the past 13 years.
Summer's practice is focused on advising U.S. and foreign-based public and private companies in connection with their inbound and outbound U.S. international tax planning. She constantly monitors developments in U.S. and global tax laws and thoughtfully advises clients on the relevant implications for their businesses. Summer regularly assists clients with Subpart F, GILTI, and FDII planning; FIRPTA issues; treaty planning and analysis; and overall structuring for tax optimization. She serves as the ABA Tax Section's Council Director for the International Committees. Summer is also an adjunct professor in the graduate tax program at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and the University of Miami School of Law.
In a joint statement, Jeff and Summer said, "We are honored to arrive together in joining the rapidly growing team of lawyers in Winston's Miami office. The well-rounded portfolio of legal services the office provides will permit us to offer practical tax solutions to clients engaged in complex business transactions in the United States and internationally."
"Jeff and Summer's combined tax backgrounds will prove to be an invaluable resource for our clients," said Enrique J. Martin, Miami office managing partner. "Tax issues are a key factor in the design and success of corporate transactions. That is particularly true for cross-border deals, where their ability to quickly navigate the complex tax laws of various jurisdictions will be especially valuable to our clients."
Enrique continued, "The arrival of these partners also marks a milestone in the Miami office's rapid, continued growth. Since founding this office just over a year ago, Winston has strategically built a team of top-tier litigators and transactional lawyers—drawn from the South Florida legal community—to address the full range of clients' legal and business challenges. As private capital increasingly flows through South Florida from multiple sources, it fosters a dynamic regional economy. That creates a unique opportunity for Winston's Miami office to offer a holistic, multifaceted approach to client service."
"This new tax team is a key component of, and complement to, our Miami office, as Jeff and Summer will significantly enhance our ability to provide clients with tax counsel that facilitates companies' domestic and international business deals," noted Winston Chairman Tom Fitzgerald. "Their proven experience across numerous key industries will make them tremendous assets to a diverse array of clients both inside and outside the United States."
About our Miami office
Winston & Strawn's Miami office leverages the area's status as a dynamic financial hub, an epicenter of business activity spanning numerous industries, and a critical nexus point for banking and international trade with the United States, Latin America, and other parts of the world.
The office serves clients representing some of the global economy's strongest and fastest-growing sectors, including complex commercial litigation, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, financial services, fintech, cryptocurrency and blockchain, real estate, energy and infrastructure, and restructuring.
Winston & Strawn LLP is an international law firm with 16 offices in North America, South America, Asia, and Europe. More information about the firm is available at www.winston.com.
Contacts:
Michael Goodwin
mgoodwin@stantonprm.com
646-502-3595
Sneha Satish
ssatish@stantonprm.com
646-502-3556
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SOURCE Winston & Strawn LLP | 2023-07-20T13:35:08+00:00 | kwch.com | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2023/07/20/winston-amp-strawns-miami-office-strengthens-corporate-practice-with-addition-tax-duo-jeffrey-rubinger-summer-lepree/ |
A look at what’s happening around the majors today:
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TROUT DROUGHT
Angels star Mike Trout has struck out in seven straight at-bats during a tough series in Houston.
Trout was 0 for 4 on Saturday after going 0 for 3 on Friday night against the Astros, fanning every time.
“Just losing my posture up there,” he said. “It makes my swing long. Just grinding through some stuff with the lower half. It’ll be all right.”
The three-time AL MVP is having another stellar season, with a .378 on-base average and .632 slugging percentage.
The AL West-leading Astros will try for a sweep when lefty Framber Valdez (8-3, 2.65 ERA) faces Angels left-hander José Suárez (1-2, 4.36).
JAKE’S TURN
Mets ace Jacob deGrom is set, at last, to pitch in a competitive game.
Sidelined by injuries since last July, the two-time Cy Young Award winner is scheduled to make a minor league rehab start for Class A St. Lucie against the Jupiter Hammerheads. He’s expected to throw about 25 pitches and two innings.
It will be the first game action since spring training for deGrom, slowed all year because of a stress reaction in his right scapula that caused inflammation.
The announcement Saturday by NL East-leading New York came nearly a year since deGrom’s last major league outing on July 7, 2021. He missed the second half of last season with right forearm tightness and a sprained elbow, then returned in spring training this year and made two Grapefruit League starts.
As he builds up arm strength and stamina, the 34-year-old deGrom will need several minor league rehab outings before he’s ready to rejoin New York’s rotation. So the likelihood is deGrom still won’t be back in the big leagues until at least late July, after the All-Star break.
Fellow ace Max Scherzer (5-1, 2.54 ERA) is scheduled to return from a strained left oblique muscle Tuesday night at Cincinnati. Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, got hurt May 18 against St. Louis and recently made two rehab starts for Double-A Binghamton.
NOT RED HOT
The Reds have lost 10 straight home games after falling to Atlanta 4-1 at Great American Ball Park. They dropped a season-high 25 games under .500 at 26-51.
This is Cincinnati’s worst home skid since it lost the first 11 games at Riverfront Stadium in 1986. The Reds ended that drought by beating Atlanta 2-0 as player-manager Pete Rose got two hits.
The Reds have lost four in a row overall.
“There’s plenty of frustration, staff, players, myself,” manager David Bell said. “I know our players are doing everything in their power to try to turn this around. I’m looking long and hard at what I need to do to turn this around.”
Luis Castillo (3-4, 3.32 ERA) starts for the Reds against Charlie Morton (4-3, 4.73 ERA) in the series wrapup.
MIGGY’S MILESTONES
Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera is one hit away from matching Hall of Famer Craig Biggio for 25th place on the all-time list with 3,060.
Cabrera also is two RBIs behind Manny Ramirez’s 1,831 for 18th place.
Cabrera can keep moving up the lists when Detroit plays the Royals at Comerica Park.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2022-07-04T01:13:27+00:00 | fox59.com | https://fox59.com/sports/ap-sports/leading-off-trouts-strikeout-slump-degroms-rehab-start-2/ |
LAKEVIEW, Mich. — FOX 17 learned Sunday that James Stockwell from Montcalm County lost his battle to Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS).
We first introduced you to the Stockwell family in February of 2022 when someone stole donations from them that were supposed to help pay for James’ medical care.
READ MORE: Thieves target Montcalm County family raising money to cover ALS medical costs
In a Facebook post, James’ family shared that he lost his fight to ALS Friday evening.
FOX 17 talked with the Stockwell family Sunday, who shared the following:
- Visitation: Thursday, July 14, 6-8 p.m.
- Memorial Service: Friday, July 15, 11 a.m., with a luncheon to follow
Both the visitation and memorial service will be held at Brigham Funeral Chapel of Lakeview (9977 W. Howard City Edmore Rd in Lakeview).
The Stockwell family told FOX 17 Sunday that they will continue collecting donated cans and bottles through the weekend of James’ memorial service. | 2022-07-10T23:27:01+00:00 | fox17online.com | https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/michigan/montcalm/montcalm-co-family-loses-husband-father-to-als |
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCAU) — Friday afternoon at James W. Cownie Soccer Park felt a lot like deja vu.
For the second year in a row #1 Western Christian boys soccer met #4 West Liberty in the Class 1A state semifinals, and for the second year in a row the Wolfpack came out with a spot in the championship.
After a scoreless first half, it wasn’t until 25 minutes were left in regulation that either team scored. Friday’s opening goal coming from the star of the Wolfpack’s Substate final and first round win, Miles Baccam, who drilled a corner kick through the Comets’ keeper’s hands. He scored another goal just 12 minutes later off a perfect feed from Uchan Harberts to make it 2-0. The Wolfpack added one more goal for good measure to cap off a 3-0 win that sends them to the Class 1A state title match to face #6 Assumption.
The Class 1A state championship game will be Saturday, June 4 at 1:00 at James W. Cownie Soccer Park. | 2022-06-03T23:48:20+00:00 | siouxlandproud.com | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/sports/western-christian-defeats-west-liberty-in-state-semis-for-second-straight-state-championship-appearance/ |
The new true crime series on Oxygen, “Violent Minds: Killers on Tape” reveals hours of never-before-heard recorded interviews with serial killers including Ted Bundy.
The new series will premiere on Monday, April 3 on Oxygen at 8 p.m. EST. Viewers looking to stream it can do so by using FuboTV and DirecTV Stream. Both streaming services offer free trials for new users.
“Violent Minds: Killers on Tape” follows Dr. Carlisle and his hundreds of hours of never-before-heard recorded interviews with serial killers including, Ted Bundy, HiFi Killers, Arthur Gary Bishop, and Manny Cortez. The series starts off on Monday with Dr. Carlisle running a psychological evaluation on a man who will go on to become one of America’s most infamous serial killers: Theodore Robert Bundy.
How can I watch Violent Minds: Killers on Tape without cable?
The new series will premiere on Monday, April 3 on Oxygen at 8 p.m. EST. Viewers looking to stream it can do so by using FuboTV and DirecTV Stream. Both streaming services offer free trials for new users.
What is FuboTV?
FuboTV is an over-the-top internet live TV streaming service that offers more than 100 channels, such as sports, news, entertainment and local channels.
What is DirecTV?
The streaming platform offers a plethora of content including streaming the best of live and On Demand, starting with more than 75 live TV channels. DirecTV also offers a free trial for any package you sign up. | 2023-04-03T22:34:17+00:00 | masslive.com | https://www.masslive.com/tv/2023/04/how-to-watch-violent-minds-killers-on-tape-new-series-for-free.html |
MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Merchology, a family-owned, online retailer of custom merchandise and corporate gifts, is excited to announce it is a finalist for the 2022 Minnesota Family Business Award. Merchology specializes in customizing premium retail products with company logos while combining tech-forward programs to make ordering company merch effortless. Since opening its doors in 2014, Merchology has opened two additional facilities in Pennsylvania and Nevada to provide branded merchandise to more than 60,000 companies worldwide.
The Minnesota Family Business Awards, presented by Twin Cities Business Magazine, recognize outstanding family-owned businesses in Minnesota and highlight the value these businesses add to the local economy. Those honored will also be featured in the October/November issue of Twin Cities Business and also recognized at an awards dinner on October 19th. Honorees are selected based on specific business criteria and evaluated by a panel of judges with a strong background in family-owned companies. Organizations must exhibit steady financial growth and sales performance, adherence to the company's core values, charitable contributions and community efforts, strong business partnerships, and a track record of investing in its business and employees, even during economic downturns.
Merchology exemplifies many of these qualifications, as the company is on track to do (insert dollar value here) in sales in 2022 with more than 100 employees hired this year alone. Merchology offers over 300 brands, including Patagonia, Under Armour, S'well, and more. Merchology also launched its sustainable clothing brand, Zusa, in 2019, which takes significant action toward protecting the planet. Merchology is also reinventing the corporate gifting industry through new straightforward platforms within Merch Solutions, such as MerchStore, MerchBox, MerchPerks, and the Group Order Tool.
Merchology recently experienced a transition in leadership, as the previous Chief Executive Officer, Dick Ward, has transitioned to a Chairman position and will also act as Chief Executive Officer of Zusa. His daughter, Ally Ward-Delgado, previously the Chief Marketing Officer, has been named the new Chief Executive Officer, and her brother, Andrew Ward, the previous Chief Revenue Officer, will now act as President.
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SOURCE Merchology | 2022-10-20T15:02:13+00:00 | kalb.com | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2022/10/20/merchology-named-finalist-2022-minnesota-family-business-award/ |
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