text stringlengths 80 124k | date_download stringdate 2022-04-02 20:48:07 2023-07-31 23:59:06 | source_domain stringclasses 387 values | url stringlengths 21 528 |
|---|---|---|---|
A mysterious spinal disease spreading through what remains of Florida's panther population is robbing affected cats and kittens of their coordination, focus, and balance.
Researchers say the disease is for life, but the disabilities make it harder for panthers to hunt and easier for them to be hit and killed by a vehicle, so the question remains how much shorter is that life, and at what quality?
The previously unknown disease attacks a panther’s spinal cord by causing holes in the protective sheath around the vital nerve, like stripping the coating off sections of a live electrical wire.
Dozens of wildlife scientists from throughout the southeast are trying to figure out what's going on, where the disease came from, and how to stop it.
Florida panthers, and bobcats too, just start to stumble about, become disoriented and get lost, suffer tremors, and fall over. The affliction is most notable by the obvious dysfunction in the rear legs.
“We don’t know what is causing it or how prevalent it is in the population," said Carol Rizkalla, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Panther Management Program coordinator. “The toxin could be anything.”
The new disease is called FLM — feline leukomyelopathy.
It’s a life sentence.
A multi-state task force has been assembled to save the panther and bobcats from FLM, with wildlife scientists including animal disease experts from the Universities of Florida and Georgia, the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and private zoos and wildlife rehabilitation agencies throughout Florida.
Rizkalla said the task force has been able to rule out a few things, like the toxin being in the greater environment.
“If the cause of the panther illness were in the air or water supply related animals like coyotes and even bears would have it,” Rizkalla said. “But they don’t.”
The panther team has collected 61 spinal cord samples from 32 panthers and 29 bobcats killed by cars and trucks. They’ve tested and tested and tested.
In addition to viral, nutritional, bacterial, and fungal testing, they’ve looked for toxins including rodenticides, pesticides, herbicides, and heavy metals — nothing.
“There have been no reports of the disease presenting in domestic felids or other wildlife. However, there is still concern of a possible spillover,” she said. “FWC is in contact with regional wildlife rehabilitators, veterinarians, and animal shelters to monitor other species.”
Holes in spinal cord tissue were noted in a sample collected from a radio-collared Florida panther kitten named K519, whose carcass was recovered after a vehicle collision last September.
Rizkalla said the largest known cluster of sick Florida panthers is in the greater Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed.
And FLM is disproportionally being found in young panthers, who will be afflicted with the wobbly, disorienting, difficult condition for their whole lives.
“Perhaps most disturbing is its prevalence in kittens,” Rizkalla said. “Whether it's transferred to the kitten in utero or from nursing we don’t know.”
“We just don’t know”
Environmental reporting for WGCU is funded in part by VoLo Foundation, a non-profit with a mission to accelerate change and global impact by supporting science-based climate solutions, enhancing education, and improving health.
Copyright 2023 WGCU. To see more, visit WGCU. | 2023-05-24T17:13:51+00:00 | wlrn.org | https://www.wlrn.org/environment/2023-05-24/mysterious-disease-leaving-some-florida-panthers-disoriented-wobbly-confused-others-dead |
Summit to drive important discussions and technology advancement between key companies in the photonics industry
WASHINGTON, Oct. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Optica, formerly OSA, Advancing Optics and Photonics Worldwide, and the Consortium for On-Board Optics (COBO) announce a partnership to host the Co-Packaged and Pluggable Optics Industry Summit and the DuPont Silicon Valley Technology and Innovation Center in Sunnyvale, California on 26-27 October 2022. This unique event is in-person-only and features presentations from Microsoft, Google, Meta, Intel, NVIDIA, Arista, Juniper Networks, Marvell, Infinera, Broadcom, Corning, MACOM, Molex, HG Genuine, Ayar Labs, and more.
Optica and COBO have partnered to accelerate discussions on how photonic solutions address global bandwidth predictions of 30% in 2022. Leading data center operators report that today's compute offerings do not meet the demands of expected workloads of the near future and require that photonics technologies evolve quickly, cost-effectively, and greenly.
"We are in a transition period," said Jose Pozo, Optica chief technology officer. "As the global bandwidth pressure grows on datacom providers, major corporations need to ensure key photonics technologies are as close as possible to the processing units inside data centers."
"There are diverse approaches in the market today, and each company has its own roadmap. For the supply chain to meet industry demands, technology companies and hyperscalers must align several options to offer the fastest, greenest and most cost-effective path for data center companies including, Google, Meta, and Microsoft. There is urgency in coordinating approaches now."
Brad Booth, president of COBO and principal engineer, Azure Hardware Architecture at Microsoft, added, "The growing diversity of optical applications within the data center is driving the increased need to enhance high-speed board level interconnect systems and COBO members recognize it is critical for companies to collaborate. We expect important insights and decisions to come from this gathering."
Optica (formerly OSA), Advancing Optics and Photonics Worldwide, is the society dedicated to promoting the generation, application, archiving and dissemination of knowledge in the field. Founded in 1916, it is the leading organization for scientists, engineers, business professionals, students and others interested in the science of light. Optica's renowned publications, meetings, online resources and in-person activities fuel discoveries, shape real-life applications and accelerate scientific, technical and educational achievement. Discover more: Optica.
Founded in 2016, Consortium for On-Board Optics (COBO) develops specifications and industry guidance documents to permit the use of board-mounted optical modules in the manufacturing of networking equipment. COBO has four working groups: Multimode Waveguide Interconnect System Working Group, Co-Packaged Optics Working Group, Data Center Networking Working Group and Coherent Optics Working Group. COBO also hosts member study groups for the advancement of Multi-Core Fiber and Laser Source Solutions.
Media Contacts
Optica
MediaRelations@optica.org
Consortium for On-Board Optics
Melissa Kallos
melissa@onboardoptics.org
View original content:
SOURCE Consortium for On-Board Optics | 2022-10-07T02:47:51+00:00 | ksla.com | https://www.ksla.com/prnewswire/2022/10/07/optica-consortium-on-board-optics-announce-first-annual-co-packaged-optics-pluggables-summit/ |
Luat Rung marks the debut of 16 Typh & Gonzo after signing a 5-year contract with SpaceSpeakers Label.
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, Aug. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "Luat Rung" is officially released on August 4th, available on all music platforms. This music video is bringing back Binz, Rhymastic, 16 Typh, GONZO, & TINLE. This is a "greeting" music product of 16 Typh & GONZO after joining SpaceSpeakers Label. Meanwhile, Binz & Rhymastic contribute their voices to support their two brothers, producer TINLE is in charge of producing music.
Binz begins with some "bangin" bars: "One shot haters got shoot with em' short rhymes / Don't act innocent or you gon' be on target / Move careful em' venom is around / They aint hunt cause em' hyenas only bite." It's been a long time since Binz has returned to this color with "bangin'" lyricals.
Rookie of SpaceSpeakers Label - 16 Typh with his transition rap verse pushes the rap to a new spirit with his signature fast flow and triplet flow. Sending em' words to haters: "levellin up, they doubted & hate / when all I did was sway & love / Fair play 3 sides prove it all/ Give up thought never in my soul."
The boom bap beat in GONZO's verse changes "Luat Rung" to a completely different "mood". It's the rare old school vibe that still exist & respected in Viet Hiphop. GONZO is bringing his uniqueness in flow & lyrical seen in his past hit - "Thay Nam", but this time with a more "bangin" lyrics that had never seen before.
Music Video "Luat Rung" is made by director Kien Ung. While Binz & Rhymastic show up "cool" in the scene filled with money & supercars, 16 Typh & GONZO play roles as mechanics.
Most of the time in the MV focuses on 16 Typh and GONZO. At the end of the MV, Touliver, SOOBIN, TINLE and Kien Ung suddenly appeared, joining with Binz, Rhymastic, 16 Typh and GONZO to create the most expensive scene of the MV "Luat Rung". It was the moment when the OGs meet up, welcome their rookies - 16 Typh & Gonzo to SpaceSpeakers Label.
Also during the promotion of the MV "Luat Rung", 2 rappers 16 Typh and GONZO joined SpaceSpeakers Label was officially confirmed by the company's representative in front of the media. Accordingly, 16 Typh and GONZO are the first 2 exclusive artists of SpaceSpeakers Label - the sub-label of one of the world's largest record labels from the United States. SpaceSpeakers Label is positioned as a professional rap/hip hop record label operated according to international standards, under the SpaceSpeakers Group.
With the joining of SpaceSpeakers Label, 16 Typh and GONZO officially entered the professional music path, with the direction and support of the leading music empire of the current Viet hiphop.
At Rap Viet season 1, 16 Typh and GONZO are two prominent faces, going deep in the final rounds and making their mark with many hits such as: Nguoi Ay La Ai, Thay Nam... Before Rap Viet, 16 Typh is a rapper of the 16 Northside team and is active in both Northside and Southside Hiphop scene. The male rapper owns many hits, such as Don't Waste My Time, Walk On Da Street, Quan Diem, Pray. Meanwhile, GONZO plays the role of the leader, the "soul" of Rapital team, maintaining a famous position in the Vietnamese rap/hip hop world to the present. In the Rapital team, "Thay Nam" is considered as the senior of MCK, Orijinn and many young rappers in the capital.
As president of SpaceSpeakers Group, Touliver shared: "When I met and worked with 16 Typh and GONZO, I found these two potential rappers that had many uniqueness in the community at that time. In particular, I also see images of SpaceSpeakers members 10 years ago in 16 Typh and GONZO themselves. Therefore, my company and I decided to have 16 Typh and GONZO as a part of the team and embark on training and orienting them to develop their own musics, thereby following in the footsteps of SpaceSpeakers in the rap/hip hop community".
SpaceSpeakers Label (SSL) is a record label specializing in music production, distribution, and professional artist management, under the SpaceSpeakers Group (SSG). Currently, SSL has been managing and releasing music for all artists under the company; as well as being a co-producer and publisher of music for other talented artists in the industry, even though they are not SSL exclusive artists.
Sharing about this milestone, Mr. Jason Dang, CEO of SpaceSpeakers Label said: "We spent many years researching the Vietnamese music industry as well as setting our ambition to bring Vietnamese music closer to international listeners. SpaceSpeakers Label was born with a mission to find and launch young talents to be closer to the audiences, thereby shining in the Vietnamese market and reaching out to the world."
"SpaceSpeakers Label spent 2 years training 2 artists in many aspects: expertise, performance, and soft skills needed to become professional artists. With more than 10 years of experience from senior artists and the company's existing resources, we aim to make 16 Typh and GONZO become two iconic rappers, representing the next generation of SpaceSpeakers.".
Media Contact:
Duy My
myduy@spacespeakers.vn
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE SpaceSpeakers Group JSC | 2022-08-04T13:01:08+00:00 | kmvt.com | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/08/04/spacespeakers-officially-debuts-2-exclusive-artists-with-music-video-luat-rung/ |
Voters in suburban Philadelphia are set to decide party control of Pennsylvania’s state House of Representatives on Tuesday with their pick to replace a Democrat who resigned.
Also on the ballot in Pennsylvania are primary elections for state Supreme Court and Philadelphia mayor, with the winner of the Democratic primary all but sure to become the city’s next leader in this fall’s general election.
The race with the biggest immediate consequence is the special election in state House District 163 in Delaware County, a suburb of Philadelphia. Democrat Mike Zabel, who won by 32 percentage points in November, resigned after allegations of sexual harassment.
Democrat Heather Boyd, a former congressional and state legislative aide, faces Republican Katie Ford, a military veteran, school volunteer and behavioral therapist, in the special election.
If Ford wins, and if Republicans hold on to a central Pennsylvania seat as widely expected in a second special election on Tuesday, the chamber will flip to GOP control.
Nine candidates are running in the Democratic primary for mayor of Philadelphia, and no one has stood out as the obvious front-runner. Among the top candidates: former City Council members Cherelle Parker, Helen Gym and Allan Domb; ShopRite franchise owner Jeff Brown; and former City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart.
Democrats vastly outnumber Republicans in the nation’s sixth largest city, so Tuesday’s winner will be an overwhelming favorite to win in November.
Democrats and Republicans across the state will also choose nominees for the state Supreme Court.
Here’s a look at what to expect on election night:
ELECTION DAY
Polls close at 8 p.m. ET.
HOW PENNSYLVANIA VOTES
Pennsylvania’s primaries are limited to registered party members.
The AP will declare winners in 14 races, including five statewide elections. The first votes are expected shortly after polls close, and election-night updates are expected to last until around 3 a.m. ET. In the 2022 general election, 97% percent of votes were counted by noon the next day, a significant change from 2020, when the tabulation lasted more than a week.
DECISION NOTES
The AP does not make projections and will only declare a winner when it’s determined there is no scenario that would allow the trailing candidates to close the gap.
Should a candidate declare victory or offer a concession before the AP calls a race, we will cover newsworthy developments in our reporting. In doing so, we will make clear that the AP has not yet declared a winner and explain why.
Calling a winner in the Democratic primary for Philadelphia mayor will be complicated by the large field and the large number of votes that Philadelphia counts after election day — 11% in the 2022 midterms. Also, results will be tabulated citywide, which won’t show which areas of the city have reported and where the various candidates are doing well.
The state’s largest counties — Philadelphia and Allegheny — will play a big role in deciding the Democratic primaries for Supreme Court, Superior Court and Commonwealth Court. Suburban counties, including Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware, Chester and Westmoreland, will be important to watch in statewide Republican primaries for Supreme Court and Commonwealth Court.
The AP may call a race in which the margin between the top two candidates is 0.5% or less, if we determine the lead is too large for a recount and legal challenge to change the outcome. Pennsylvania has automatic recounts for statewide races in which the margin between the top two candidates is 0.5 percentage points or less. For local races, three voters in an election district can request — and pay for — a recount.
Q: WHAT DO TURNOUT AND ADVANCE VOTE LOOK LIKE?
A: As of April 10, there were 8.6 million registered voters in Pennsylvania, including 3.9 million Democrats and 3.4 million Republicans. As of Thursday, 323,398 Democrats and 94,504 Republicans had cast advance votes. In 2022, about 40% of Democratic voters and 12% of Republican voters cast their ballots before election day.
AP’s preliminary statewide turnout projections are 1 million for the Democratic primary and 1 million for the Republican primary. In Philadelphia, AP’s preliminary turnout projection is 220,000 for Democrats and 20,000 for Republicans.
Q: HOW LONG DOES COUNTING USUALLY TAKE?
In the 2022 general election, 97% of votes were counted by noon on the day after the election. However, votes in a handful of counties, including Philadelphia, trickled in for more than two weeks.
READ UP ON THE RACES
Here’s more on this year’s Pennsylvania elections:
Pennsylvania House battle hinges on Philadelphia suburbs
Philadelphia mayoral race hones in on crime policies
Follow AP’s coverage of politics and elections at: https://apnews.com/hub/politics | 2023-05-13T11:13:39+00:00 | ourquadcities.com | https://www.ourquadcities.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ap-election-brief-what-to-expect-in-pennsylvania-as-a-special-election-decides-statehouse-control/ |
DETROIT (AP) — A Tennessee company could be heading for a legal battle with U.S. auto safety regulators after refusing a request that millions of potentially dangerous air bag inflators be recalled.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is demanding that ARC Automotive Inc. of Knoxville recall 67 million inflators in the U.S. because they could explode and hurl shrapnel. At least two people have been killed in the U.S. and Canada, and seven others have been hurt as a result of defective ARC inflators, the agency said.
The recall would cover a large portion of the 284 million vehicles now on U.S. roads, but the percentage is difficult to determine. Some have ARC inflators for both the driver and front passenger.
In a letter posted Friday, the agency told ARC that it has tentatively concluded after an eight-year investigation that ARC front driver and passenger inflators have a safety defect.
“Air bag inflators that project metal fragments into vehicle occupants, rather than properly inflating the attached air bag, create an unreasonable risk of death and injury,” Stephen Ridella, director of NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation, wrote in a letter to ARC.
But ARC responded that it no defect exists in the inflators, and that any problems are related to isolated manufacturing issues.
The next step in the process is for NHTSA to schedule a public hearing. It could then take the company to court to force a recall.
“We disagree with NHTSA’s new sweeping request when extensive field testing has found no inherent defect,” ARC said in a statement Friday night.
Also Friday, NHTSA posted documents showing that General Motors is recalling nearly 1 million vehicles equipped with ARC inflators. The recall covers certain 2014-2017 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia SUVs.
The automaker says an inflator explosion “may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.”
Owners will be notified by letter starting June 25, but no fix is available yet. They’ll get another letter when one is ready.
GM says it will offer “courtesy transportation” on a case-by-case basis to owners who fear driving vehicles that are part of the recall.
The company said that it’s doing the recall, which expands previous actions, “out of an abundance of caution and with the safety of our customers as our highest priority.”
One of the two deaths was a mother of 10 who was killed in what appeared to be an otherwise minor crash in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in the summer of 2021. Police reports show that a metal inflator fragment hit her neck in a crash involving a 2015 Chevrolet Traverse SUV.
At least a dozen automakers have the allegedly faulty inflators in use, including Volkswagen, Ford, BMW and GM, NHTSA said.
The agency contends that welding debris from the manufacturing process can block an “exit orifice” for gas that is released to fill the air bag in a crash. Any blockage can cause pressure to build in the inflator, blowing it apart and hurling metal fragments, Ridella’s letter says.
But in a response to Ridella dated May 11, ARC Vice President of Product Integrity Steve Gold wrote that NHTSA’s position is not based on any objective technical or engineering conclusion about a defect, “but rather conclusory statements regarding hypothesized blockage of the inflator orifice from ‘weld slag.’”
He wrote that welding debris has not been confirmed as the cause in any of the seven inflator ruptures in the U.S. ARC contends that only five have ruptured while in use, and that “does not support a finding that a systemic and prevalent defect exists in this population.”
Gold also writes that manufacturers must do recalls, not equipment manufacturers like ARC. NHTSA’s recall demand, he wrote, exceeds the agency’s legal authority.
In a federal lawsuit filed last year, plaintiffs alleged that ARC’s inflators use ammonium nitrate as a secondary propellant to inflate the air bags. The propellant is pressed into tablets that can expand and develop microscopic holes if exposed to moisture. Degraded tablets have a larger surface area, causing them to burn too fast and ignite too big of an explosion, according to the lawsuit.
The explosion can blow apart a metal canister housing the chemical, sending metal shards into the cabin. Ammonium nitrate, used in fertilizer and as a cheap explosive, is so dangerous that it can burn too fast even without moisture present, the lawsuit says.
The plaintiffs allege that ARC inflators have blown apart seven times on U.S. roads and two other times in testing by ARC. There have so far been five limited recalls of the inflators that totaled about 5,000 vehicles, including three recalls by GM.
___
This story has updated to clarify that the portion of U.S. vehicles on the road would be less than the one quarter because some vehicles have ARC driver and passenger inflators. | 2023-05-13T20:55:38+00:00 | wcia.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/national/ap-us-news/tennessee-company-refuses-us-request-to-recall-67-million-potentially-dangerous-air-bag-inflators-2/ |
NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Jakubowitz Law announces that a securities fraud class action lawsuit has commenced on behalf of shareholders of Tuya Inc. (NYSE: TUYA).
To receive updates on the lawsuit, fill out the form:
https://claimyourloss.com/securities/tuya-inc-loss-submission-form/?id=32056&from=4
This lawsuit is on behalf of all persons or entities who purchased Tuya American Depositary Shares in or traceable to the Company's March 2021 initial public offering.
Shareholders interested in acting as a lead plaintiff representing the class of wronged shareholders have until October 11, 2022 to petition the court. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
According to a filed complaint, Tuya Inc. issued materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (a) a material portion of Tuya's China-based customers were engaged in the widespread and systematic manipulation of reviews and product offerings in violation of Amazon.com's terms of use; (b) prior to the initial public offering, a consumer investigation and data breach had exposed an illicit fake review scheme being perpetrated by many of Tuya's clients, among others, which included, inter alia, the exposure of 13 million records of organized fake review scams linked to over 200,000 Amazon account profiles; (c) as a result of (a) and (b) above, there was a substantial risk that a material portion of Tuya's significant customers would be barred from using Amazon.com's platform, negatively impacting Tuya's business, revenue, earnings, and prospects; and (d) as a result of (a)-(c) above, the registration statement's representations regarding Tuya's historical financial and operational metrics and purported market opportunities and expected growth did not accurately reflect the actual business, operations, financial results, and trajectory of the Company at the time of the initial public offering, and such statements were materially false and misleading and lacked a reasonable factual basis.
Jakubowitz Law is vigorous in pursuit of justice for shareholders who have been the victim of securities fraud. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
JAKUBOWITZ LAW
1140 Avenue of the Americas
9th Floor
New York, New York 10036
T: (212) 867-4490
F: (212) 537-5887
View original content:
SOURCE Jakubowitz Law | 2022-09-23T10:06:39+00:00 | wcjb.com | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/09/23/tuya-shareholder-alert-jakubowitz-law-reminds-tuya-shareholders-lead-plaintiff-deadline-october-11-2022/ |
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Some cities around the world are pulling back from shorelines, as rising seas from climate change increase flooding. But so far, retreat appears out of the question for Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The breezy getaway town is on the water on a barrier, which was once reachable only by boat but in modern times via a causeway. The city fully occupies a small piece of land, water on either side, just above sea level.
“We love our residents,” said Barbara Woolley-Dillon, former Atlantic City Planning and Development Director. “We have one of the most diverse populations… it’s a great place to be, and we have such a thriving community that we want to do everything we can to keep it intact.”
There is no obvious place for 38,500 residents, about 33% Black, to go. The city, popular with vacation goers in the Eastern U.S., particularly in the summer, brings in billions of dollars in revenue, another incentive to keep it intact as long as possible.
“Atlantic City is a seven billion dollar a year economic engine” that benefits all of southern New Jersey and must be maintained, said Jim Rutala, an Atlantic City planning contractor.
Still, the flooding is getting deeper and more frequent. In 1910, researchers installed a tide gauge at the end of Steel Pier Amusement Park. The gauge shows the sea has risen a foot and a half since then, more than double the global mean sea level rise.
City leaders have no plans to take state offers to buy and demolish homes in flood-prone areas, according to Rutala.
Instead, officials are spending $100 million, from 2016 through next year, to “fortify and armor” the city from rising sea levels by installing sea walls, pump stations and bulkheads, according to Rutala. Unseen by most tourists, a newly built pump station in Fisherman’s Park pushes ocean water that has come ashore back into the bay. It is common to hear construction crews at work building structures with entrances elevated to strict new height requirements.
Other cities in New Jersey have taken a different route to confront flooding. In Woodbridge, about 100 miles north of Atlantic City, in recent years the state has bought and torn down more than 150 homes to remove people and property from the danger of future floods.
In Atlantic City, tourists and residents walk along street names that inspired the Monopoly board game, such as Baltic Avenue and Park Place. Casinos pull in people hoping to win big at the poker table or slot machines. And outside are wide-open beaches and boardwalk amusement park rides.
Twenty-seven million people visit the resort town annually. For some, it’s a place to escape from their daily lives. For others, it’s a way to live a simple life by the ocean.
For many residents, it’s unbearable to contemplate a future without the city.
“This part of Atlantic City is just very tightly knit and we are a nice little neighborhood,” said elementary school teacher Abby Moul, 47, as she played with her dog in the north part of the island. “It is kind off the beaten path and that’s what I love about it.”
Under current projections for global emissions, Rutgers University estimates that New Jersey is likely to experience another one to three feet of sea level rise between now and 2070, according to Robert Kopp, Rutgers climate scientist. And the land here is sinking from what scientists call the “see-saw” effect of melting glaciers much further north.
It’s unclear if the city’s new fortification projects will be enough to confront the projected sea level rise. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers estimates that New Jersey’s 950 square miles of beaches and back bays will sustain more than a billion dollars in annual flooding damage in a few years.
Atlantic City is the one of the poorest and most densely populated part of the New Jersey coastline. More than two dozen different languages are spoken in city schools.
Many people here have what locals call “back-of-the-house” jobs at one of the nine casinos, preparing food, cleaning rooms and other work.
It can cost $150,000 in the denser, older parts of the city to raise up an $80,000 home to protect it from “nuisance” flooding, periodic flooding, sometimes from high tides or backed up drainage systems. That cost is simply out of reach for many.
On a recent afternoon, lifelong Atlantic City resident Zakiy Abdullah, 45, a forklift operator, did his best to keep his three-year-old daughter Jamaarah Wells from riding her tricycle through flood waters in the street.
“Flooding it is a constant problem,” said Abdullah. “As you can see, the water has not evaporated from the other night.”
Kimberly McKenna, of the Stockton University Coastal Research Center, says most of the increased flooding in Atlantic City happens in the part of the island that faces the mainland, called the back bay. That also happens to be where many people live in poverty.
Residents often move their cars to higher ground during high tides and full moons.
“Those floods, what we may now call nuisance flooding, will turn into regular flooding,” said McKenna. “And that’s going to be persistent flooding. People won’t be moving their cars. They will be moving their homes.”
Local coastal governments like Atlantic City will have to decide whether to manage a retreat from the coastline over several years, or to stay and only leave when and if the flood waters become unlivable.
“You don’t need to give up a community right now because of the risk of three or five feet of sea level rise,” said Kopp, the Rutgers climate scientist. “But you need to think about how redevelopment plans you are making today will fare in the future. There is no simple solution.”
________
Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about AP’s climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. | 2022-10-12T14:22:28+00:00 | pix11.com | https://pix11.com/news/national-news/ap-national/ap-amid-rising-seas-atlantic-city-has-no-plans-for-retreat/ |
NEW YORK, Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Yext, Inc. (NYSE: YEXT) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.
Class Period: March 4, 2021 to March 8, 2022
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: August 16, 2022
No obligation or cost to you.
Learn more about your recoverable losses in YEXT:
https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/yext-lawsuit?id=30838&from=4
Yext, Inc. NEWS - YEXT NEWS
CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Yext, Inc. made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Yext's revenue and earnings were significantly deteriorating because of, among other things, poor sales execution and performance, as well as COVID-19 related disruptions; (ii) accordingly, Yext was unlikely to meet consensus estimates for its full year fiscal 2022 financial results and fiscal 2023 outlook; and (iii) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Yext you have until August 16, 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 Yext 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 YEXT lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/yext-lawsuit?id=30838&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
View original content:
SOURCE The Klein Law Firm | 2022-08-16T11:36:51+00:00 | kwtx.com | https://www.kwtx.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/yext-alert-klein-law-firm-announces-lead-plaintiff-deadline-august-16-2022-class-action-filed-behalf-yext-inc-shareholders/ |
Wish you could stay at AFC Richmond's favorite pub from "Ted Lasso?" Soon, you can
Wish you could stay at AFC Richmond's favorite pub from "Ted Lasso?" Soon, you can
Advertisement
Wish you could stay at AFC Richmond's favorite pub from "Ted Lasso?" Soon, you can
Related video above: How to score cheap stays on AirbnbEver wish you could visit AFC Richmond's favorite pub from "Ted Lasso?"Now's your chance. "The Crown and Anchor" in Richmond, England, will open for booking on Airbnb for three nights this fall. Mae, the gritty pub owner from the show, will be the host. Up to four guests can have a pint, play darts and even try the famous biscuits with tea, or, as Ted Lasso calls it, "garbage water." The listing goes live on Airbnb on March 21 for three nights: Oct. 23, 24 and 25. The price? About $136 in U.S. dollars. Transportation to the U.K. is not included.
Related video above: How to score cheap stays on Airbnb
Ever wish you could visit AFC Richmond's favorite pub from "Ted Lasso?"
Advertisement
Now's your chance.
"The Crown and Anchor" in Richmond, England, will open for booking on Airbnb for three nights this fall.
Mae, the gritty pub owner from the show, will be the host.
Up to four guests can have a pint, play darts and even try the famous biscuits with tea, or, as Ted Lasso calls it, "garbage water."
The listing goes live on Airbnb on March 21 for three nights: Oct. 23, 24 and 25.
The price? About $136 in U.S. dollars.
Transportation to the U.K. is not included. | 2023-03-17T00:57:19+00:00 | wxii12.com | https://www.wxii12.com/article/airbnb-ted-lasso-afc-richmond-pub/43342539 |
NEW YORK, July 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- QBE North America today announced the launch of a cyber insurance program with new MGA, Converge, acting as program administrator. The program will be broken down into two separate distribution structures, each with a distinct revenue focus and cyber security data access formation.
- ConvergeElements™ offers primary and excess cyber coverage through select agents and brokers for companies with up to $100 million in revenue. Converge's proprietary technology platform allows it to ingest and collate data from applications, external system scans, underwriting and claims workspaces, insured/broker portals, analytics workspaces, and other specialized data sources to underwrite cyber risks more swiftly and effectively.
- ConvergeConnect™ offers primary cyber coverage through prequalified technology provider partnerships for companies with up to $750 million in revenue. These partners provide Converge with access to insured-specific behind-the-firewall security and underwriting data to provide best-in-class customer solutions leveraging unmatched insights on cybersecurity posture.
"Converge's unique ability to access and analyze detailed cyber risk information aligns perfectly with our control-based underwriting approach," said Danielle Librizzi, Head of Professional Liability and Financial Lines Programs, QBE North America. "Furthermore, Converge's operational efficiency allows us to target small business through the program, complementing business we write through our retail Cyber practice."
Tom Kang, CEO, Converge, added, "We're thrilled to partner with QBE North America given their experience and reputation in the cyber insurance market. Their product, underwriting and claims expertise have proven invaluable as we have set up the program, and we are excited to help them tap the growing need for cyber protection for small and mid-sized enterprises in the U.S."
Cyber coverage through the Converge program will be provided on a non-admitted basis through QBE North America's A.M. Best "A" rated insurance companies.
More information about the program is available at qbe.com/us/specialty/converge.
About QBE North America
QBE North America is a global insurance leader helping customers solve unique risks, so they can stay focused on their future. Part of QBE Insurance Group Limited, QBE North America reported Gross Written Premiums in 2022 of $7.27 billion. QBE Insurance Group's results can be found at qbe.com. Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, QBE operates out of 27 countries around the globe, with a presence in every key insurance market. The North America division, headquartered in New York, conducts business primarily through its insurance company subsidiaries. The actual terms and conditions of any insurance coverage are subject to the language of the policies as issued. QBE insurance companies are rated "A" (Excellent) by A.M. Best and "A+" by Standard & Poor's. Additional information can be found at qbe.com/us or follow QBE North America on LinkedIn and Facebook.
About Converge
Converge fuses cyber insurance, security and technology to provide businesses with clear, confident cyber protection. Deploying a proprietary data ecosystem underpinned by expert underwriting, it provides risk solutions that deliver high-value strategies with improved outcomes. Converge's philosophy is that insurance needs the right elements and personalized approach to mitigate risk. By partnering with its policyholders, Converge precisely formulates their business needs so they can confidently become cyber secure. Converge is headquartered in New York and operates across the U.S. Learn more at convergeins.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE QBE North America | 2023-07-27T15:22:46+00:00 | wlbt.com | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2023/07/27/qbe-north-america-launches-new-cyber-insurance-program-with-converge/ |
The Cubs are streaking.
Sure, the games don’t count yet, but the Cubs won’t complain about racking up Cactus League wins. They won their seventh consecutive game Tuesday with a 9-6 victory against the Texas Rangers in Surprise, Ariz. Catcher Luis Torrens hit two home runs and infielder Sergio Alcántara tallied three RBIs, including a two-run double.
Elvis Andrus, Oscar Colás, Andrew Vaughn and Jake Marisnick each had two hits for the White Sox in a 5-2 victory against the Milwaukee Brewers at Camelback Ranch.
Colás, vying for a roster spot and the opening in right field, also scored twice. He hit in the second spot in the lineup.
“He’s put together some really good at-bats,” Sox manager Pedro Grifol said before the game of Colás, who’s hitting .429.
Chicago Tribune baseball writers LaMond Pope, Meghan Montemurro and Paul Sullivan will be providing Cubs and White Sox updates throughout spring training.
Adrian Sampson not stressing about homers
Cubs right-hander Adrian Sampson relies on soft contact for success. Although his offseason velocity program has added a couple of ticks to his fastball this spring, he still counts on balls in play and his defense for effective outings.
As he tries to secure the final opening-day rotation spot, the long ball has burned Sampson this spring. Through two outings, he has allowed six home runs in 4⅓ innings, including three Tuesday against the Rangers. He exited after giving up four hits and six runs in 2⅔ innings with two walks and two strikeouts.
Sampson surrendered only 10 home runs in 104⅓ innings (21 games, 19 starts) last year.
“Obviously you want to limit damage whenever you can,” Sampson said Tuesday. “They’re putting some good bats on the ball and whatnot, but I feel like I’m in a good spot. It’s just missing the middle of the plate here and there.
“On the mound, you’re competing out there. You don’t want to just throw (batting practice). I’m taking it as spring training and knocking the rust off.”
Sampson has been working with pitching coach Tommy Hottovy to generate better movement separation between his sinker and fastball.
“I’m feeling great,” Sampson said. “This is a time for this to happen, so I’m just going to hunt the good stuff whenever I can at the situation. Hopefully the results come here and there, but I’ve still got time until the season starts.”
Lance Lynn ‘in a good spot’ ahead of WBC
Lance Lynn made his final start for the Sox before joining Team USA for the World Baseball Classic, allowing two hits and striking out five in four scoreless innings.
“All and all, everything worked out well,” Lynn said. “Everything feels good. All the pitches are working. Feeling like I’m in a good spot.”
Tuesday was Lynn’s third start this spring as he ramps up for the season and the WBC.
Lynn played for the 2007 Collegiate National Team and is looking forward to this opportunity with Team USA.
“You represent your country, so there’s really not a whole lot bigger you can do as an athlete besides winning a World Series,” he said. “When you are representing your country, that’s pretty high up there.
“I was able to do it when I was in college, so to be able to have this opportunity again, I’ve been lucky in this game. To be able to have that opportunity again is awesome.”
Edwin Ríos showing off ‘real power’
More power production was an offseason need the Cubs didn’t fully address with their moves. It’s an area president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer acknowledged in October they needed to improve.
Third base presents the most flexible matchup-based spot in the lineup, and Edwin Ríos is making an impression in camp. Ríos split time between third and first base for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He hit his second Cactus League home run Tuesday, tying him for the team lead.
“He doesn’t look like he’s a panic guy,” manager David Ross said before the game. “Early on he was getting his time, and then as of late he’s really barreled some baseballs. I’ve been extremely encouraged by his work ethic.”
Ríos’ approach hasn’t gone unnoticed. Ross complimented his devotion to the work he puts in, noting how he will show up at the complex at 1 p.m. to get in work before a 7 p.m. game.
“He likes to be around baseball, very good energy and a guy that’s had some opportunities in the past but never given the real reins to play,” Ross said. “It’s been nice having him in camp and watching him perform.”
Tim Anderson has ‘lived up to every expectation’
Grifol had a message for Sox shortstop Tim Anderson as he left to participate in the WBC for Team USA.
“I told him I wish him the best and just come back healthy to us,” Grifol said Tuesday.
Anderson is one of three Sox players on Team USA along with Lynn and reliever Kendall Graveman. The team’s first game is Saturday at Chase Field in Phoenix.
“He’s been really good here,” Grifol said of Anderson. “He’s worked his butt off. He’s led. He’s led by example. He’s led vocally. He’s all in when it comes to what we’re trying to accomplish here. And he told me that in the winter, and he’s lived up to every expectation in my mind so far.
“Now it’s time for him to go join that USA team and try to do what they want to accomplish. And then come back to us healthy.”
Up next
- White Sox at Royals, 7:05 p.m.
- Cubs vs. Team Canada, 2:05 p.m., Marquee
What we’re reading this morning
- Column: Pedro Grifol doesn’t need a T-shirt slogan to win back disgruntled White Sox fans
- How a ‘gut punch’ conversation helped Cubs 3rd baseman Patrick Wisdom improve his defense
- Mike Clevinger ‘just trying to move forward’ after MLB ruling that the White Sox starter won’t face discipline
Quotable
“You hope the work you put in the offseason and the work you put in the first month of camp here got you ready to go.” — Lance Lynn on playing in the World Baseball Classic
() | 2023-03-08T16:09:20+00:00 | twincities.com | https://www.twincities.com/2023/03/08/cactus-league-report-lance-lynn-feels-good-as-he-leaves-for-team-usa-while-the-long-ball-burns-adrian-sampson/ |
Cadence in Henderson offers move-in-ready homes
August 26, 2022 - 3:24 pm
Yes, you can be in your Cadence dream home in as little as 30 to 60 days.
The Henderson community — ranked within the nation’s top 10 best-selling, master-planned communities — has several quick move-in selections for future residents to explore.
Among the current options are two lots featuring the Sandalwood plan in Richmond American Homes’ Bel Canto neighborhood. Lot No. 9 features 2,010 square feet with four bedrooms and large kitchen. This home is listed in the upper $400,000s. Lot No. 15 features three bedrooms and a large kitchen with 2,010 square feet of total living space. This home is listed in the upper $400s,000.
Lot No. 86 is a Marblewood plan with 2,050 square feet of living space including three bedrooms, expansive kitchen and living area. This home is listed in the mid-$400,000s.
StoryBook Homes is also in on the quick move-in action. Its Rhapsody neighborhood is closing out and the final model home is available. This 1,812-square-foot Tempo plan offers an open floor plan, large kitchen and includes three bedrooms and two baths. This home is listed in the low $500,000s.
Those interested in quick move-in options can check Cadence’s website for an inventory of models on the roster from these and other builders including Century Communities, Lennar, Toll Brothers, Harmony Homes and Woodside Homes.
With proximity to shopping, dining and plenty of outdoor recreation, Cadence residents can soak up the sun throughout the year and enjoy easy access to the resident-only pool, the newly opened Smith’s Marketplace and the eclectic assortment of shops and restaurants located in the Water Street District.
Among its latest community additions, Smith’s Marketplace opened in late January in Cadence. Additional retail is also in the works, including nine retailers (Starbucks, Domino’s Pizza, Café Rio and Wells Fargo) that will occupy a 16-acre space located near Smith’s Marketplace. The retail shops will open in early 2023.
Cadence is home to the 50-acre Central Park, which offers a variety of features including picnic areas, splash pads, pickleball courts, a fitness court, community pool, 5-acre adventure playground, pavilion and two amphitheaters.
Desert Pulse Park features a playground and, for Fido and friends, is home to Dakota Dog Park.
For more information on the Cadence community, visit cadencenv.com, or call 702-558-9366. Find Cadence on social media at facebook.com/CadenceNV, Twitter @CadenceNV and on Instagram @Cadence_NV. | 2022-08-26T22:59:45+00:00 | reviewjournal.com | https://www.reviewjournal.com/homes/advertising-features/cadence-in-henderson-offers-move-in-ready-homes-2630302/ |
Global oil markets are bracing for more upheaval in the next couple of weeks after the European Union bans all Russian refined oil products in retaliation for the war in Ukraine. Starting Sunday, the 27-nation bloc will prohibit imports of Russian gasoline, diesel and other products used throughout Europe.
At the same time, the Group of Seven advanced countries and allies will institute a global price cap on Russian refined oil products. That will bar access to ships, marine insurers and services unless the refined oil products are purchased for a price at or below an agreed limit. A similar system went into effect for Russian crude oil in December.
A price cap for refined products has yet to be set. Analysts say there will likely be one price set for diesel, another for products such as gasoline.
Sales of oil and natural gas make up the lion's share of Russia's government budget. The United States, the EU and other allies are targeting Russian energy in a bid to tighten the economic noose around the Kremlin, making it harder to finance its war in Ukraine. But the measures could also lead to price spikes.
It affects fuel for planes, cars, trucks and machinery
For the last couple of months, the EU has banned Russian crude oil imports but allowed the sale of refined products. The bloc will now join the United States and the United Kingdom in implementing a broader embargo.
The new EU ban will apply to anything produced from Russian crude oil, says Richard Bronze, head of geopolitics at Energy Aspects, a consultancy in London.
"Gasoline that goes into a car, the jet fuel that goes into a plane or diesel that goes into trucks, into operating machinery," he says, "so it's really the fuel that we actually consume and keeps the economy going."
Last year, Europe imported about 700,000 barrels per day of Russian diesel — around half its total imports of the fuel, according to market analysts.
Europe has to look elsewhere, including to U.S. suppliers
Matteo Ilardo, a London-based geopolitical analyst with the risk intelligence firm RANE, says the ban will have an impact for Europeans. He points to France's heavy reliance on Russian diesel.
"France usually imports around 20% of total seaborne diesel exports from Russia. So being able to phase out completely that much of diesel will be a challenge," he says.
Europe has been gobbling up Russian diesel over the past few months ahead of the ban. Hedi Grati, the head of refining and marketing at S&P Global Commodity Insights, an energy research and data company in London, says Europe does have some refineries but not enough to meet the demand.
"The diesel will simply have to come from somewhere else," he says. "The most logical suppliers are countries in the Middle East like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, places like that, and then also India and the United States."
And Russia seeks other buyers
Just as it did with the December ban on crude, Russia will have to find new places to sell its refined oil products.
"Those could be in East Africa, in Asia, they could be in Latin America," Grati says. "What you're looking at is one great big reshuffle to get desirable barrels to Europe, and then barrels deemed undesirable from Russia to those other markets."
In a twist, the ban on Russian oil products could boost its sales of crude to China and India. Both are large refiners. It's legal for them to import Russian crude, refine it and send it back to Europe, according to Bronze with the Energy Aspects consultancy.
"It is being viewed by some critics as a loophole or a weakness. But I think that is a deliberate part of the policy design," Bronze says. The U.S. and its allies want to ensure that the products continue flowing to global markets to avoid price spikes.
It also reflects differences between the way international customs rules apply to crude oil versus refined products, he explains.
"Once it's been through a refinery, for customs rules, the oil is viewed as transformed and ... then its country of origin becomes wherever that refinery was located," Bronze says.
Market reaction is predicted, but will it sway Moscow?
Oil is a global market, so the impact of the latest ban will likely be felt beyond Europe. Ilardo says there will undoubtedly be turmoil in the global oil markets initially.
"We'll ... have a price spike definitely in February right after the ban comes in place," he says. "This will be simply a market reaction. Markets don't like uncertainty, so they usually react with price spikes."
That's not good news for consumers or businesses in Europe, which is already struggling with a weakened economy.
The big question is whether this ban like the other will have any impact on Russian President Vladimir Putin in ending the war in Ukraine.
Bronze says undoubtedly the EU bans on crude and refined oil products will hurt Russia's economy.
"But I think the difficult question is whether that economic pain is enough to change President Putin's attitude towards the conflict in Ukraine or his wider policies towards the West," he says. "And I think that's much less likely to happen."
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2023-02-03T13:50:13+00:00 | nprillinois.org | https://www.nprillinois.org/2023-02-03/europe-is-set-to-ban-russian-oil-products-the-latest-strike-on-the-kremlin-war-chest |
WFO HOUSTON/GALVESTON Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, November 14, 2022
_____
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
405 PM CST Mon Nov 14 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern
Galveston and southeastern Brazoria Counties through 430 PM CST...
At 404 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm
capable of producing a waterspout near Surfside Beach, moving
northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Waterspouts and winds in excess of 30 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Waterspouts can easily overturn boats and create locally
hazardous waters. Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs
and blow around unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Galveston Island West End, Surfside Beach, Oyster Creek and San Luis
Pass.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
LAT...LON 2887 9523 2891 9534 2916 9526 2908 9503
TIME...MOT...LOC 2204Z 207DEG 25KT 2894 9527
WATERSPOUT...POSSIBLE
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
_____
Copyright 2022 AccuWeather | 2022-11-14T23:28:49+00:00 | expressnews.com | https://www.expressnews.com/weather/article/TX-WFO-HOUSTON-GALVESTON-Warnings-Watches-and-17584387.php |
ATLANTA, May 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Secureworks (NASDAQ: SCWX) today announced that it plans to release its first quarter fiscal 2023 financial results on Thursday, June 2, 2022, before the open of regular U.S. stock market trading hours.
Secureworks will host a conference call that day to review the results at 8:00 a.m. ET. A live audio webcast of the conference call will be accessible on the company's website at http://investors.secureworks.com. The webcast will be archived at the same location.
About Secureworks
Secureworks® (NASDAQ: SCWX) is a global cybersecurity leader that protects customer progress with Secureworks Taegis™, a cloud-native security analytics platform built on 20+ years of real-world threat intelligence and research, improving customers' ability to detect advanced threats, streamline and collaborate on investigations, and automate the right actions.
Connect with Secureworks via Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Secureworks, Inc. | 2022-05-17T20:56:35+00:00 | wlox.com | https://www.wlox.com/prnewswire/2022/05/17/secureworks-report-first-quarter-fiscal-2023-financial-results-june-2-2022/ |
WFO BUFFALO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, August 16, 2022
_____
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Central Allegany County in western New York...
* Until 815 PM EDT.
* At 408 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2.5 inches of
rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.5 to 1.5 inches
are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or
expected to begin shortly.
HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE...Radar.
IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban
areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as
other poor drainage and low-lying areas.
* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Wellsville, Belfast, Friendship, Scio, Belmont, Angelica, West
Almond, Birdsall, Knight Creek, Short Tract, Stannards and
Fillmore.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are
potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded
roads. Find an alternate route.
_____
Copyright 2022 AccuWeather | 2022-08-16T20:50:17+00:00 | seattlepi.com | https://www.seattlepi.com/weather/article/NY-WFO-BUFFALO-Warnings-Watches-and-Advisories-17377663.php |
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BluePoint Mortgage, a premier wholesale lender has been recognized as one of the best places to work in Orange County, California.
For the fourth consecutive year, the Orange County Register has included BluePoint Mortgage on its list of "Top Places to Work." The rankings for midsize companies with 100-500 employees are based on corporate values, meaningful work, employee development and innovation.
According to Top Workplaces, LLC research, 86% of employees at Top Workplaces are committed to their work compared to 43% at average workplaces. Additionally, Top Workplace companies have an employee engagement rate of 84% compared to 36% at average workplaces.
"BluePoint Mortgage is honored to have been recognized as a Top Workplace" says Sam Soliman, Chief Executive Officer of BluePoint Mortgage. "We provide an amazing culture and support system that enables our account executives, underwriters, loan processors and closers to thrive!"
BluePoint Mortgage is dedicated to creating an exciting atmosphere that encourages teamwork and individual performance. Employees frequently compete for awards such as title belts, "Walk of Fame" stars, weekend stays at luxury hotels, gift cards to high-end restaurants, and other performance awards. Recently, Michel Escobedo – Non-QM Jr. Underwriter won the "Grinder of the month" award for her hard work and dedication in July, and Sr. Account Executive Allen Samuel enjoyed a stay at the Ritz-Carlton for winning a loan submission competition.
We are hiring!
The company currently has an immediate need for experienced Account Executives and welcomes applicants with Non-QM experience. Interested applicants can apply here bluepointmtg.com/careers.
BluePoint Mortgage is a top wholesale lender that began more than 30 years ago.
We expedite Non-QM, FHA, VA and conventional loan programs for a growing list of mortgage brokers throughout the nation.
The Scotsman Guide ranks BluePoint Mortgage within its list of Top 20 Wholesale Lenders.
The company does not offer retail loans.
BluePoint Mortgage is based in Newport Beach, CA. NMLS ID# 320004, BRE# 01403107.
View original content:
SOURCE BluePoint Mortgage | 2022-08-24T23:33:13+00:00 | wcjb.com | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/bluepoint-mortgage-is-great-place-work/ |
BERLIN — Several Jewish groups, politicians and an alliance of civil society groups are planning a memorial ceremony and a protest rally against a concert by Roger Waters in Frankfurt on Sunday evening.
Frankfurt authorities had initially tried to prevent the concert, but Waters challenged that move successfully in a local court.
The concert is taking place in the city’s Festhalle, where in November 1938 more than 2,700 Jews were rounded up by the Nazis, beaten and abused, and later deported to concentration camps.
“It’s very frustrating” that the concert is going ahead as scheduled even though Frankfurt officials and many others tried to prevent it, said Elio Adler, the head of the Jewish group WerteInitiative which supports the protest.
“His words and imagery spread Jew-hatred and are part of a trend: to normalize Israel-hatred under the protection of freedom of speech or art,” Adler added.
Last week, police in Berlin said they had opened an investigation of Waters on suspicion of incitement over a costume the Pink Floyd co-founder wore when he performed in the German capital earlier this month.
Images on social media showed Waters firing an imitation machine gun while dressed in a long black coat with a red armband. Police confirmed that an investigation was opened over suspicions that the context of the costume could constitute a glorification, justification or approval of Nazi rule and therefore a disturbance of the public peace.
Waters rejected those accusations in a statement on Facebook and Instagram, saying that “the elements of my performance that have been questioned are quite clearly a statement in opposition to fascism, injustice, and bigotry in all its forms.”
He claimed that ”attempts to portray those elements as something else are disingenuous and politically motivated.”
During Sunday’s ceremony, which will take place in front of the Frankfurt concert venue before Waters’ concert begins, protesters will read out loud the names of 600 Jews who were rounded up at the Festhalle on November 9, 1939, the so-called Kristallnacht — the “Night of Broken Glass” — when Nazis terrorized Jews throughout Germany and Austria.
The organizers also plan to hold a joint Jewish-Christian prayer for the victims of the Nazi terror in Frankfurt. The city’s mayor as well as the head of the local Jewish community will speak at the protest.
In addition, activists plan to hand out flyers to concertgoers and wave Israeli flags, said Sacha Stawski from the Jewish group Honestly Concerned, which helped organize the protests.
Protesters in Munich rallied against a concert by Waters earlier this month, after the city council said it had explored possibilities of banning the performance but concluded that it wasn’t legally possible to cancel a contract with the organizer.
Last year, the Polish city of Krakow canceled gigs by Waters because of his sympathetic stance toward Russia in its war against Ukraine. | 2023-05-28T15:10:29+00:00 | washingtonpost.com | https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/05/28/germany-roger-waters-concert-antisemitism-allegations-protest/1a5a63ca-fd5c-11ed-9eb0-6c94dcb16fcf_story.html |
JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military said Thursday it has filed terror charges against a senior member of the Islamic Jihad militant group whose arrest in the occupied West Bank helped spark three days of heavy fighting in Gaza earlier this month.
Islamic Jihad had demanded the release of Bassam al-Saadi and another detained Palestinian who is on a prolonged hunger strike as part of the Egyptian-brokered cease-fire that ended the fighting. The indictment signals that those demands will not be met.
The military said al-Saadi, 62, stands accused of “committing crimes of affiliation with and activity in an illegal association” and receiving funds from Islamic Jihad in Gaza, as well as “impersonation, incitement and aiding contact with enemy elements,” the military said.
Islamic Jihad is an Iran-sponsored Palestinian militant group that is opposed to Israel’s existence and has carried out scores of deadly attacks over the years targeting Israeli civilians. It operates in both the occupied West Bank and Gaza.
Al-Saadi was arrested earlier this month during a night-time military raid in the West Bank city of Jenin. In response to his arrest, Islamic Jihad said it was going “on alert.”
Israel says the group was planning a revenge attack from Gaza. In response to what it said was an imminent threat, Israel launched a wave of airstrikes in Gaza that killed a senior Islamic Jihad commander. The militants began launching hundreds of rockets at Israel hours later.
The flare-up left 49 Palestinians dead, including the militant group’s top two commanders and 10 other fighters, before the cease-fire took effect. Gazan militants fired some 1,100 rockets, but no one on the Israeli side was killed or seriously wounded.
It was the deadliest exchange of fire since last year’s war between Israel and Hamas, the militant group that has ruled Gaza for the last 15 years — and which did not take part in the latest fighting.
Despite the lopsided toll, Islamic Jihad has held rallies across Gaza in recent days, including on Thursday, on the main road of Gaza’s Shijaiyah neighborhood. At a rally Wednesday in the southern town of Rafah, the militants displayed life-sized replicas of rockets.
Al-Saadi has spent a total of 15 years over several stints in Israeli jails for being an Islamic Jihad member. Israel killed two of his sons, who were also Islamic Jihad militants, in separate incidents in 2002, and destroyed his home during a fierce battle in Jenin that year.
Israeli forces have carried out regular operations into Jenin in recent months that the military says are aimed at dismantling militant networks in the wake of several deadly attacks inside Israel. The raids often ignite gunbattles with Palestinian militants.
Since seizing power in 2007, Hamas has fought four wars with Israel, often with support from Islamic Jihad fighters. In the past, Islamic Jihad militants in Gaza have challenged Hamas by firing rockets, often without claiming responsibility, to raise the group’s profile.
Israel and Western countries consider both Hamas and Islamic Jihad to be terrorist groups because they have carried out scores of deadly attacks over the years targeting Israeli civilians. Many Palestinians view the militants as freedom fighters resisting Israel’s 55-year military occupation of lands the Palestinians want for their future state. | 2022-08-25T22:46:06+00:00 | mytwintiers.com | https://www.mytwintiers.com/news-cat/world-news/ap-international/ap-israel-indicts-militant-whose-arrest-fueled-gaza-tensions/ |
Unlock all articles for $1.99
Already have an account? Login here.
When you click "Sign up", you will receive headlines and breaking news alerts to your inbox. By creating an account, you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.
We've placed cookies on your device to improve your browsing experience. They're safe and don't contain sensitive information. | 2023-02-07T12:57:31+00:00 | tj.news | https://tj.news/telegraph-journal/102059981 |
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — The World Cup 2010 in South Africa had Shakira. The 1998 tournament in France had Ricky Martin.
For many fans, the unofficial soundtrack of the World Cup in Qatar is fast becoming the incessant chanting of street marshals, better knows as Last Mile Marshals.
Seated all over Doha on high chairs more commonly used by lifeguards at swimming pools, these migrant workers have become a staple of the Middle East’s first World Cup.
They point visitors flooding into this Arabian Peninsula nation in the right direction on their search for public transportation. It’s an important crowd control measure as some 1.2 million fans are expected to inundate Qatar, a country home to 3 million people.
The vast majority of the marshals come from Kenya and Ghana. They say they responded to job ads in August and September, ahead of the World Cup.
After a monotonous start, some marshals now sing or chant their instructions to fans. Bullhorns they carry blast out the recorded message again, and again, and again.
The instructions spark laughter among fans who often join in with the chants.
“Which way?” the fans chant.
“This way,” ushers respond, pointing a giant foam finger toward a station on Doha’s new massive underground metro built for the tournament.
The exchange then finds its rhythm and turns into almost a song: “Metro, metro, metro, this way, this way, this way.”
Abubakar Abbas of Kenya says it all started as a way of easing boredom during his first days of work.
“The fans were just passing by without any engagement,” Abbas told The Associated Press from his high chair outside the Souq Waqif metro station, “So I decided to come up with an idea where I can engage the fans and be interesting at the same time. That’s how I came up with the idea and thank God it is trending now.”
Qatar’s World Cup has already produced memorable moments on the pitch, including Argentina’s surprise defeat to Saudi Arabia and Germany’s loss to Japan.
Outside the stadiums, the marshals trance-like chant is stuck in people’s head.
“Even when I sleep at night, I hear ‘metro, metro, metro’ ringing in my head,” he said.
___
Follow Lujain Jo on Twitter at www.twitter.com/lujainjo.
___
AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2022-11-25T21:58:05+00:00 | wnct.com | https://www.wnct.com/strange/ap-strange-news/ap-singing-street-marshals-are-qatar-world-cups-surprise-stars/ |
Democrats are holding an edge over Republicans on a generic ballot for the state legislature in three battleground states, according to a new poll.
The poll, commissioned by the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) and conducted by the left-leaning Public Policy Polling (PPP) that was shared exclusively with The Hill, shows that Democrats have an edge in state legislature generic ballots in Michigan, Colorado and Nevada.
The poll found that Democrats hold a 5 percentage point lead over Republicans when respondents in Michigan were asked which candidate they would vote for in their district if the election for state legislature was held today.
Forty-eight percent of Michigan voters surveyed said they would vote for the Democratic candidate compared to 43 percent who said the Republican choice. Another 9 percent said they were unsure.
In Colorado, 48 percent of voters surveyed there said they would pick the Democratic candidate compared to 45 percent who said the Republican if the state legislature election was held today.
And in Nevada, 46 percent said they would choose the Democrat while 43 percent said the Republican in a similar scenario.
The polling in Colorado and Nevada falls within their respective margins of error, meaning Democrats and Republicans are essentially tied in those states.
“This polling confirms that Democratic policies are broadly popular and the Republican agenda is out of step with a majority of voters,” DLCC President Jessica Post said in a statement. “As we’ve said from the beginning of the cycle, this midterm will be incredibly competitive for both Democratic and Republican-held legislatures.”
The recent polling could offer a boost of optimism for Democrats, who are still expected to face several headwinds heading into November. President Biden has been mired in low approval ratings and inflation is still at record levels, and historically a first-term president’s party generally suffers some losses in the midterms.
But the picture for Democrats has changed in recent months as the party has seen a slew of positive developments. Democrats are close to passing a major reconciliation bill on climate, tax reform and health care, a July jobs report outpaced economists’ expectations and recent inflation data has shown it’s started to cool down, among others.
In the Colorado survey, PPP polled 532 voters in the state between Aug. 3 and Aug. 4 with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.3 percentage points. In the Michigan survey, PPP polled 553 voters in the state between Aug. 3 and Aug. 4 with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.2 percentage points. In the Nevada survey, PPP polled 556 voters in the state between Aug. 3 and Aug. 4 with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.2 percentage points. | 2022-08-12T20:09:56+00:00 | keloland.com | https://www.keloland.com/hill-politics/democrats-hold-edge-in-key-state-legislature-generic-ballots-poll/ |
(KTLA) – Chipotle customers can now customize their tacos, burritos, salads and quesadillas with a new protein option.
The chain announced Tuesday that restaurants worldwide will be adding chicken al pastor to menus for a limited time. The debut of chicken al pastor marks the first time Chipotle launched a new menu innovation globally, a news release said.
The company didn’t announce how long chicken al pastor would be available. Chipotle has been testing the item since at least Sept. 2022, when customers at restaurants across Denver and Indianapolis were given a preview of the new protein, Nexstar’s KDAF reported at the time.
“Guests are looking to restaurants for unique menu items they cannot make at home, and al pastor has been gaining mass appeal in recent years,” Chris Brandt, Chipotle’s chief marketing officer, said in a statement.
“We’ve put our own spicy spin on al pastor with our freshly grilled chicken and have created a truly delicious menu item that fans will crave. It’s where fire meets flavor.”
Chipotle also announced that customers who order the chicken al pastor through the Chipotle app or website from March 16 to 26 wouldn’t be charged any delivery fees.
News of the new protein also comes shortly after Chipotle announced another addition to its menu — a steak quesadilla with veggies, extras and sauces — after the idea for the item gained popularity on TikTok earlier this year. | 2023-03-14T19:56:04+00:00 | localsyr.com | https://www.localsyr.com/news/national/chipotle-adds-new-protein-option-to-menus-worldwide/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — James Cameron has been living on Pandora for a long time.
But 13 years after the original “Avatar” and five years after starting production on its sequel, “The Way of Water,” Cameron is unveiling the long-awaited follow-up to the highest grossing film of all-time. Speaking the day after “The Way of Water” debuted in London, Cameron — back on Earth and self-admittedly out of practice with the hoopla of a red-carpet premiere — describes the experience of finally having the movie out in the world “surreal.”
“You work on these films kind of in a bubble. You create this world around you with your artists, with your casts and so on,” Cameron says. “Then one day you realize, ‘Oh crap, we’re going to have to show this to people at some point.’”
For a long time, the “Avatar” sequel was the “Waiting for Godot” of blockbusters – more theoretical than real, with release dates that kept spiraling into the future. Meanwhile, an unending parade of pieces pondered the original’s curious place in entertainment: a box-office behemoth with little cultural footprint, a $3 billion ghost.
But the first look at Cameron’s “Avatar” sequel has thrown some cold water on that notion. The overwhelming reaction to the director’s latest three-hour opus? Never bet against James Cameron.
“The important thing is that there are people willing to bet on me and on the ideas that interest me and I want to go forward with” Cameron says, speaking by video conference. “It was 20th Century Fox, Jim Gianopulos specifically, who OK’ed this film to go forward. Then we were acquired by Disney. That could have gone south but it didn’t. The word I got from them all the way along was: ‘We want quality. We want this movie. We want this movie for the theaters. We want to remind people what the theatrical experience is.’”
With a reported price tag of more than $350 million, a third “Avatar” film already wrapped and two more films planned after that, the Walt Disney Co. is placing a very big wager, indeed, on “The Way of Water.” But regardless of jokes about blue people or Papyrus font, Cameron’s latest — a deep-blue ocean epic of natural splendor, ecological protectionism and family perseverance — is poised to again blow audiences away, and possibly, once more rake in billions.
The film, which opens in theaters Thursday, might be Cameron’s most ambitious undertaking yet — which is saying something for the 68-year-old filmmaker of “Titanic,” “The Terminator” and “Aliens.”
“I don’t want to do anything but big swings,” Cameron says. “I’m going to fall on my ass sooner or later. But if you’re not ready to fall on your ass, you’re not doing anything interesting.”
We’ve been here before. After cost overruns and delays, “Titanic” was written off as a sure-to-bomb case study of Hollywood excess. Then it made $2.2 billion in ticket sales and won 11 Oscars. Not everyone was pre-sold on “Avatar,” either, which resuscitated 3-D after decades of dormancy.
“‘Titanic’ was assumed to be a big steaming pile,” says Cameron. “That was a much bigger flip. And we had a similar flip on a smaller scale with the first ‘Avatar.’ People saw the trailer on a little window on their laptop and called it ‘Smurfs’ and ‘videogame cinematic’ and stuff like that. Then they went to see it in the movie theater and went, ‘Wait, wait. It’s pretty cool.’”
“There was a guarded skepticism around this film,” he adds, “as there should always be with any new film.”
“The Way of Water,” which Cameron scripted with Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, takes place a decade after the events of the first “Avatar.” Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), the paralyzed Marine who donned an avatar on Pandora, is now fully enmeshed in the remote world of the Na’vi. He and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) have three teenage children. When human soldiers come hunting for him, Jake moves his family to a reef clan of Na’vi who live harmoniously with the ocean.
The trials the family endures turn surprisingly wrenching in what’s already been called Cameron’s most emotional film. That may be partly because much of Cameron’s own experience as a father raising five children in New Zealand is woven into the film, as is his early life growing up in Ontario as the eldest son of an electrical engineer father.
“I remember what that was like for me. I’ve been Lo-ak,” says Cameron, referring to Jake and Neytiri’s middle son. “I’ve been the kid whose father doesn’t get him or see him. I don’t mean to disparage my dad. He was a great dad of that period in the sense of putting a roof over our heads and out there working hard, breadwinner. But he didn’t know what to do with an artist kid. He didn’t know what to do with a flamboyant artist whose head was out in interstellar space all the time.”
“The Way of Water,” which is being shown in 3-D and 48-frames-per-second (double the standard), also means a new generation of technological advancement. While it’s unlikely to be as much a milestone as the first was visually, the blend of CGI and live action, above ground and under water, makes for an even more strikingly detailed vistas.
“We’re able to deliver a much greater ability of photorealism than we ever did before,” says producer Jon Landau. “When we made the first movie, I would say to people, ‘We need it to be photographic.’ Now in this movie, we have so many Avatar, Na’vi characters in the live-action world and we have so many live-action characters in the Pandora world, we need to be photoreal. That’s a new standard we have to live up to.”
That’s most beautifully rendered in the film’s waters, where teeming science-fiction species of flora and fauna enrich an imagined ocean paradise. To Cameron, an avid deep-sea explorer whose passions for sea nearly outstrip his love of filmmaking, “The Way of the Water” is his grand ode to the ocean.
“It’s also a cri de coeur to people around the world to protect and be guardians of the oceans, to be guardians of nature, in general. That’s what these ‘Avatar’ movies are about,” Cameron says. “In New Zealand, the Maori people call it kaitiakitanga and it basically means guardianship of nature. I don’t think most people in so-called Western, industrial society really feel that strongly.
“Obviously, there are people of conscience, there are people who are activists for climate change and rain forest preservation and so on. But unfortunately, they’re not the majority in the seat of power. So I think it’s fair to say that we’ve got to change the way we do business or we’re not going to have these things,” Cameron says. “The ocean of Pandora is probably very much like how the ocean of Earth used to be, at least in terms of profusion.”
“The Way of the Water” will arrive in theaters with expectations of a debut of at least $150 million on opening weekend in North America. More notably, it will quench the thirst of multiplexes that have, after some big summer successes, seen the number of wide releases — and moviegoers — slide this fall. When he debuted the first “Avatar,” streaming was nascent; Netflix was just getting into the business of making movies. Now, for a much different movie landscape, Cameron will again hope to show audiences the full power of visionary grand-scale filmmaking.
“I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what art is in its essence. And I think dreams have something to do with it,” he says. “There’s like a render engine or a narrative engine that runs in our heads every night. It puts images and scenarios together in some kind of sequence. Sometimes, most times, they’re completely illogical. But they have a kind of momentary logic to them. I’m always telling everybody on the film, this is a movie with floating mountains. It doesn’t have to always be logical. It just has to have that dream logic.”
At the “Way of Water” premiere in London, Cameron was struck by how the audience looked different to him. It was a black-tie affair, unusual for him as a director, but that wasn’t only it.
“I looked out at that audience and everybody looked so beautiful and they put so much energy into just showing up. It struck me that maybe we’re back,” Cameron says. “Maybe cinema’s back. Maybe enough people out there do care about that dream of cinema.”
___
Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP | 2022-12-13T13:37:29+00:00 | keloland.com | https://www.keloland.com/entertainment/ap-entertainment/ap-can-james-cameron-and-avatar-wow-again-dont-doubt-it/ |
Many service members ship out amid throngs of well-wishers but return to an empty home and days full of isolation.
It’s an unfortunately common occurrence, but one with potentially disastrous consequences for veterans — mental illness, homelessness and even suicide, just to name a few.
And while organizations exist to help veterans navigate the array of reentry pitfalls, those groups often are spread out geographically and are not well-publicized.
The Veterans Alliance Corps of Sand Springs — a conglomeration of the American Legion Billie A. Hall Post 17, the post’s Auxiliary Unit 17, Vets That Matter and the Witkop Foundation — hopes to change that with the opening of the new Sand Springs Veterans Center downtown.
A ribbon-cutting will take place at 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, at the center at 205 N. McKinley Ave.
People are also reading…
The event will feature speakers, tours of the building and informational tables about the four organizations that make up the Veterans Alliance Corps.
The public is encouraged to show up early for Vets That Matter’s 12th Annual Chillin & Grillin barbecue festival, which begins at 11 a.m. along McKinley Avenue between Second and Broadway streets adjacent to the Veterans Center.
Tasting plates will cost $12, and voting starts at 1 p.m.
American Legion Post 17 Commander Karen Cruice, who is also a district commander for the American Legion and serves as the treasurer for the Veterans Alliance Corps, said the Veterans Center building — which previously was the senior citizens center — is in pretty good shape and generally ready to go.
“There’s still work to be done — painting, tile and baseboards, primarily,” she said.
Cruice said anyone who has some extra time to volunteer to help complete the final touches should call Veterans Alliance Corps Secretary Kim McInnis at 918-807-4680.
Those final touches aren’t holding up the activities already taking place, however.
American Legion Post 17 will commemorate the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance between noon and 2 p.m. this Sunday by providing lunch for anyone who shows up — as long as the supplies of hot dogs, chips and beverages last.
“We just want to give to the community,” Cruice said. “And it’s a good way to get the kids involved.”
She said National Honor Society members from Berryhill and Bishop Kelley high schools will be helping at the event.
But as with the ribbon-cutting, the ultimate purpose of the free lunch is visibility.
“This will be a prime opportunity at a central location where people can see us,” she said.
Creating a “one-stop shopping” experience for veterans needing services — whether simple socialization or more complex assistance — has long been a goal.
“At the American Legion level — and, of course, there are four different groups involved in this — we’ve been working on this since two commanders ago to find a central location where we can meet more vets,” Cruice said.
That need became even more critical with congressional passage and President Biden’s signing last month of the PACT Act, bipartisan legislation that will expand benefits and care for millions of veterans exposed to toxic fumes, from Agent Orange in Vietnam to burn pits in Afghanistan.
The legislation was spearheaded by Sens. Jon Tester, D-Montana, and Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, and championed by the American Legion.
But getting such benefits often involves mountains of paperwork and requires the assistance of trained professionals. And that’s where the new Veterans Alliance Corps, working out of the new Sand Springs Veterans Center, can help.
“There’s so many activities that we and the other groups do to help vets, but when you’re kind of on a back street, they don’t know we’re there,” Cruice said. “They just feel alone.
“So creating this sense of community — bringing all of these groups and our various services and activities together in one place — is going to open all those doors.” | 2022-09-09T23:39:21+00:00 | tulsaworld.com | https://tulsaworld.com/community/sandsprings/news/groups-eager-to-provide-one-stop-shopping-for-veterans-in-sand-springs/article_99b45a80-3085-11ed-9f05-5bae1e380afa.html |
Crisis help offered to first responders called to scene of Northfield deaths
Mother, two children found dead of gunshot wounds in home
Mother, two children found dead of gunshot wounds in home
Mother, two children found dead of gunshot wounds in home
As investigators look for answers in the deaths of a Northfield mother and her two children, steps are being taken to help the first responders who were called to the scene.
A critical incident stress management and debriefing are planned for the crews Friday afternoon. Officials said such efforts help first responders who have to respond to traumatic calls.
"It's a necessary interventionary scheme of dealing with these so that your first responders can then go about and do their jobs," said Franklin Police Chief David Goldstein.
The session, led by Goldstein, follows the Wednesday discovery of the bodies of Kassandra Sweeny, 25, and her 1-year-old and 4-year-old sons. All three were shot to death, and their deaths were ruled homicides.
"Officers are human beings, and we will react the way human beings react, but we also have the requirement given to us by our professions," Goldstein said.
The debriefing allows everyone to discuss the situation and how they've dealt with this week.
"It involves only the individuals involved in the particular situation, and it follows a certain set of rules or guidelines, if you will, as to how to approach these issues," Goldstein said.
The chief said that in the past, there might have been an inclination to tamp down emotions associated with such an event. But there is now a realization that failing to process the situation can be detrimental to the health of first responders.
"(Emotions) can come shooting to the surface and oftentimes in a negative way, so we're trying to forestall that," Goldstein said.
Adding to the difficulty, the chief said that unlike people in some other jobs, first responders are expected to go back into the field immediately, and that can be difficult.
"We look at these situations, especially those that deal with children, and sometimes we identify with that," Goldstein said. "We want to make sure that people are OK."
He said it's also important that anyone connected with the incident understand that help is available for them. Anyone can call the 988 suicide and crisis hotline 24 hours a day, seven days a week. | 2022-08-05T19:17:23+00:00 | wmur.com | https://www.wmur.com/article/crisis-help-first-responders-northfield-deaths/40820059 |
Lunchbox officially launches an online community where restaurant operators can connect with each other with zero solicitation.
NEW YORK, Nov. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lunchbox, the enterprise online ordering system that's platformed national and regional QSR brands such as Firehouse Subs, Clean Juice, Wings Over and Papa Ginos, has announced today the launch of their new Restaurant Community — an online slack community where industry leaders, operators, marketers and executives can build relationships, problem solve, and get real-time updates regarding the industry with zero soliciting.
Alongside providing a new forum-style outlet for restaurant people to build connections within, the slack community will serve as a hub consisting of the latest-and-greatest in the industry — from general news that's impacting restaurants to best-practices and operational guides. Some brands that you can find within the space include, Starbucks, CKE Restaurants, Athletic Greens and former FOCUS Brands, amongst others.
Upon access into the community, you can expect to find:
- New connections: New contacts and connections within the space, from Enterprise restaurant operators to IT executives.
- Group discussions: Discussions surrounding industry operations for helpful input and tips from other restaurant peers.
- Industry news: Updates regarding the restaurant industry, from new brands entering the space, to updates on city/state regulations.
- Restaurant resources: Resources for SMB and Enterprise restaurants, from operational guides, to marketing best-practices.
"It's a beautiful thing when you get operators into the same room. Everyone has their own experiences and from that, an excess of knowledge," says CEO and Cofounder, Nabeel Alamgir. "It only makes sense to open up the space and be a resource while doing so."
Those interested in joining the community can visit:
https://lunchbox.io/restaurant-community
Lunchbox is the modern online ordering system for restaurants to grow their online revenue. Lunchbox enables restaurant chains to take control of their digital growth strategy through its suite of products specializing in app and web ordering, guest loyalty, marketing, and order aggregation to increase sales and strengthen guest engagement. The company has empowered over 5,000+ restaurant locations across the country including Bareburger, Clean Juice, Fuku, Little Sesame, and Tacombi. To learn more, visit www.lunchbox.io.
Media contact:
avannah Schmidt,
sleigh@lunchbox.io
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Lunchbox | 2022-11-30T16:05:38+00:00 | wafb.com | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2022/11/30/lunchbox-launches-first-ever-open-community-restaurant-operators-connect-with-rest-industry/ |
PHOENIX (AP) — A printing malfunction at about one-quarter of the polling places across Arizona’s most populous county slowed down voting Tuesday, but election officials assured voters that every ballot would be counted.
Still, the issue at 60 of 223 vote centers in Maricopa County gave rise to conspiracy theories about the integrity of the vote in the pivotal state. Former President Donald Trump, Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake and others weighed in to claim that Democrats were trying to subvert the vote of Republicans, who tend to show up in greater numbers in person on Election Day.
Lake and several other candidates on the Arizona ballot have pushed false claims about the 2020 presidential race, amplifying Trump’s lies about a stolen election. But election officials from both political parties and members of Trump’s own Cabinet have said there was no widespread voter fraud and that Trump lost reelection to Democrat Joe Biden.
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Timothy Ryan denied a request from Republicans to keep the polls open, saying that he didn’t see evidence that people were not allowed to vote.
After polls closed, the county supervisor, Republican Bill Gates, apologized, but said “every voter had the opportunity to vote and have their vote counted.”
The issue affected an unknown number of ballots in the county. About 4.5 million people live in the sprawling city and about 2.4 million are registered voters. More than 80% cast their ballots early, most by mail, and the county said about 230,000 had voted in-person about an hour before polls closed.
At issue were printers that were not producing dark enough markings on the ballots, which required election officials to change the printer settings. Until then, some voters who tried to insert their ballots into voting tabulators were forced to wait and use other machines or were told they could leave their ballots in a drop box. Those votes were expected to be counted Wednesday.
When voters in the county check in, they are handed a ballot for their specific election precinct; the races for which they can vote are printed for them. That process allows voters to go to any voting location in the county. The voters then fill out the ballot and put it into a tabulation machine to be counted.
Some of the tabulators did not read the ballots because the printers did not produce what are known as “timing marks” dark enough to be read by the machines. Timing marks tell a ballot scanner the voter’s precinct, party and other information so it can properly tabulate their choices. Voters who had their ballots rejected were told they could try the location’s second tabulator, put it in a ballot box to be counted at the central facility later or cancel it and go to another vote center.
Election officials have a variety of tools, including a different type of scanner, for accurately reading the lightly inked marks, said Eddie Perez, an election technology specialist with OSET Institute, an election security and integrity nonprofit organization. He was confident the ballots would be accurately processed.
The majority of Arizona counties do not count ballots at polling places. Officials bring the ballots to a central facility for counting. The ballots that were left in the drop boxes in Maricopa County will be counted at their central site.
The county’s main election building where votes are tabulated was the scene of protests by hundreds of Trump supporters, some of whom were armed, after he lost in 2020.
As part of the security outside the county’s tabulation center in downtown Phoenix, 11 officers patrolled the area on horseback, a fairly common practice at protests in metro Phoenix in the past. No protesters had appeared outside the center two hours after the close of polls.
Gates, the county supervisor, said there was no need for protesters to come to the facility, although he said they had a right to be there.
“There’s nothing that happened here today that would indicate a need to be out here, a need to address some injustice,” Gates said. “We had an issue with printers that has been addressed by the good people of Maricopa County.”
The problem slowed down voting in both traditionally Democratic and Republican areas, especially at an outlet mall in conservative far-flung Anthem. Some voters there reported waiting several hours to be able to vote with the only one of two tabulators working.
At a polling place on the other side of the county, Phoenix voter Maggie Perini said she was able to vote without problem, but that a man next her in line struggled with his ballot at a different tabulator. When he switched to the machine she had used, the ballot went through.
“And then I know one woman who was coming out, she tried like four or five times for it to work and it wasn’t working,” said Perini. “And someone had told her she could leave her ballot and she’s like, No, no, no, no, no.”
Voter Michael McCuarrie said his ballot wasn’t read so he dropped it off to be counted later.
“Fine as long as the vote is counted,” said McCuarrie. “I don’t mind.”
___
Associated Press writers Bob Christie and Jacques Billeaud contributed to this report.
___
Follow the AP’s coverage of the 2022 midterm elections at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections. And learn more about the issues and factors at play in the midterms at https://apnews.com/hub/explaining-the-elections.
___
This story has been corrected to reflect that there are 223 vote centers, not 232. | 2022-11-09T11:21:33+00:00 | keloland.com | https://www.keloland.com/news/politics/ap-voting-snag-in-arizona-fuels-election-conspiracy-theories/ |
HOUSTON, June 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Surge Energy US Holdings Company ("Surge Energy" or the "Company") today announced that it was listed in the Houston Chronicle's Top 100 Private Companies headquartered in Houston, TX as published on June 18, 2023.
Surge Energy Ranked 16th on the list of top private companies as determined by the Houston Chronicle. The list is based on 2022 revenues and was published in the Houston Chronicle 100 on June 18, 2022. Of the companies listed in the top 20, Surge Energy is the largest exploration and production operator and is the youngest company listed. This is the third consecutive year the Company has been listed in the top 20.
"Being recognized on the Houston Chronicle's Top Private Companies list demonstrates the strength of our people and assets," stated Chief Executive Officer Linhua Guan. "2022 was a record-breaking year for Surge for oil and gas production, revenue, adjusted EBITDAX, and net income and we look forward to continuing to deliver strong results into the future."
About Surge Energy
Surge Energy is an independent oil and natural gas company focused on the development, exploitation, production, and acquisition of oil and natural gas reserves in the Midland Basin of West Texas, one of three primary sub-basins of the Permian Basin. The Company is headquartered in Houston, Texas, and currently holds approximately 161,000 net acres in the Permian Basin as of year-end 2022. For more information, visit our website at www.SurgeEnergyA.com.
Contact Information
Investor Relations
Email: InvestorRelations@surgeenergya.com
Phone: 832-333-2400
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Surge Energy | 2023-06-21T18:01:00+00:00 | wymt.com | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2023/06/21/surge-energy-announces-listing-houston-chronicles-top-private-companies/ |
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — AP source: Bills' Damar Hamlin plans to attend Buffalo’s game against Miami 2 weeks after collapsing in Cincinnati game.
- LPD: Woman shot by husband in 'close proximity' of children dies
- Menudo Bowl lineups announced; major crowd expected
- HBO film wraps shooting in Laredo
- Video: Bobcat perched on Texas family's backyard fence
- Houston native R'Bonney Gabriel is the new Miss Universe
- $224M border wall contract awarded for Laredo
- Weapon used in homicide in Mexico was bought in Laredo
- Photos: H-E-B set to open with new concept and design in February
- Alexander utilizes Eads' height in win over United South
- Two arrested, 1 wanted in theft of diesel case
- Man says shooting wife 'accidental,' thought gun wasn't loaded
- Affidavit: LBJ student assaulted two United ISD police officers
- Webb County Sheriff's Office raid yields ammo, 1 arrest
- LPD: Man shot wife in face with 2 children in 'close proximity'
- Alexander survives United South's comeback attempt
- Out & About: Photos from Luna Discotek, 1971 Social Bar and more | 2023-01-15T17:14:34+00:00 | lmtonline.com | https://www.lmtonline.com/news/article/Alert-AP-source-Bills-Damar-Hamlin-plans-to-17719490.php |
FORT SMITH, Ark. — A Fort Smith mother is in the middle of a two-week stay in Hawaii, but it's not your typical trip to paradise. This trip was made to bring awareness to youth suicide prevention.
Bridget Brinkman spent the last week walking the perimeter of the island of Maui— 164 miles plus some. Brinkman lost her son Crey to suicide a few years ago, which led her to another Fort Smith native Chad Starr who lost his daughter to suicide.
"Chad and his family moved to Oahu and he did a perimeter hike around Oahu last March to raise awareness for youth suicide, and when he announced he was going to do Maui, I messaged him and I said, 'I’m going to come with you.'"
Brinkman says her hike with Chad was simply a way to tell people suicide is not the answer.
"Us getting out there and talking to people gives them an outlet to talk, to even the guy who drove me to get my rental car this morning. I told him what we are doing and he said, 'I had suicide ideas when I was in high school and it's really important what you guys are doing.'"
Bridget says she met hundreds of people during her hike and all had the same situation in their lives.
"Every single person that we connected with has been affected by suicide in some way and I feel like some people, especially some of the older people in the more rural areas, they maybe never had anyone to talk to about it."
She says the memory of her son was with her every step of the way.
"When I lost him, it was kinda a whole new life for me because it was just me all by myself. And so, for me to able to come and prove it to myself that I can walk alone in the world and make a difference in other people’s lives and use his story and his memory to hopefully better their lives... I don’t know. It’s just rewarding."
Download the 5NEWS app on your smartphone:
Stream 5NEWS 24/7 on the 5+ app: How to watch the 5+ app on your streaming device
To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com and detail which story you're referring to. | 2022-12-13T18:06:49+00:00 | 5newsonline.com | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/community/community-spotlight/fort-smith-mother-hawaii-beach-awareness-youth-suicide/527-6724403a-b17a-41db-b3e1-518a74dfe61d |
WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s been a big week for U.S.-Mexico relations, and that was even before President Joe Biden becomes the first U.S. leader to visit Mexico in nearly a decade.
In the lead-up to that trip, Biden announced a major border policy shift, with Mexico’s blessing, that will result in the United States sending 30,000 migrants from four other countries per month back across the border. In Mexico, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s security forces nabbed one of the sons of imprisoned former Sinaloa cartel boss Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, touching off violence that left 30 dead and dozens injured. The son, Ovidio Guzmán, is a reputed drug trafficker wanted by the United States.
The two presidents, along with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, will gather in Mexico City on Monday and Tuesday for a North American leaders summit. Even with progress on the migration issue, there is much to discuss: climate change, manufacturing, trade, the economy and the potential global clout of a more collaborative North America.
Biden arrives at the Palacio Nacional in Mexico City on Monday afternoon and the presidents will meet before Trudeau joins them for dinner. Biden and Trudeau will hold talks Tuesday and then the three will gather for discussions. It will be the first time since 2014 that Mexico has hosted a U.S. president.
Biden hopes to use the summit “to keep driving North America’s economic competitiveness and help promote inclusive growth and prosperity,” said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.
For the U.S., the major talking points are migration, drug trafficking and building on Biden’s push on electric vehicles and manufacturing.
Lopez Obrador is focused on economic integration for North America, supporting the poor in the Americas and regional relationships that put all governments on equal footing.
The U.S. and Mexico are expected to continue discussions about ending a dispute over U.S. corn after Mexico announced it would ban imports of genetically modified corn. In addition, Mexico is seeking money to boost solar energy projects.
As for Canada, the goal is simply “to carve some attention and space in this summit,” said Louise Blais, a longtime Canadian diplomat.
Mexico sees the event as a chance to advance its economic interests.
It stands to benefit as U.S. companies reconsider their relationships with China after supply chain disruptions, coronavirus outbreaks and changes in federal policy. Both Mexico’s proximity to the U.S. and existing trade agreements would be incentives for American factories to relocate south of the border. The U.S. imported more than $380 billion worth of goods from Mexico through the first 10 months of 2022 — the third-largest source of imports after China and the European Union, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Canada is the fourth-largest U.S. partner by imports, with the State Department calling it “the world’s most comprehensive trading relationship.” The U.S. and Canada are each other’s largest market for exports, and Canada is the largest foreign supplier of energy products to the U.S.
The U.S., Mexico and Canada are already in a long-standing trade agreement that was updated in 2020. When U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai met last month with Mexico’s secretary of the economy, Raquel Buenrostro, they discussed further economic integration as well as energy, fisheries and the trade agreement’s ban on importing goods made by forced labor — a subject that is among the tensions with China.
Analysts at Bank of America estimated in October that Mexico could increase its trade by as much as 30% if more supply chains returned to North America. Their report notes there had already been a bump in Mexican manufacturing as U.S. policymakers and businesses increasingly focus on bringing more trade to allied countries that are near American consumers.
“Every country is arriving with different priorities, but there is common ground,” said Enrique Perret, managing director of the U.S.-Mexico Foundation, a think tank focused on cooperation between the two nations. “It’s competitiveness, it’s economy, it’s education, it’s labor mobility.”
But it’s not all rosy.
The leaders of Canada and Mexico have voiced concerns over Biden’s “Buy America” plan. And while Biden’s push toward electric vehicles is a boon to both nations because of the tax credits for North American batteries, there’s concern the U.S. allies will be left behind.
Meantime, the U.S. and Canada accuse López Obrador of trying to favor Mexico’s state-owned utility over power plants built by foreign and private investors, something that is forbidden under the three countries’ free trade pact.
The leaders did meet in Washington last November, but until then, there hadn’t been a summit in five years and many of the current disputes have festered despite constant discussion. They include fentanyl trafficking, corn production, automobile rules of origin and Mexican energy laws.
“These topics are really complicated issues and they will not be solved in a two-day summit,” said Carin Zissis of the Americas Society, a nonprofit dedicated to education, debate and dialogue in the Americas.
The chemistry between Biden and Lopez Obrador is tricky, too. Their relationship is highly transactional and absent any of the warmth and camaraderie Biden has with other world leaders.
Lopez Obrador has made no secret of his admiration of Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump. Lopez Obrador did not recognize Biden’s election victory from November 2020 until after the formal Electoral College vote a month later.
Biden has raised concerns over security and drug trafficking in Mexico and the deaths of journalists there. The U.S. took issue with Lopez Obrador for boycotting the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles last year over Biden’s decision not to invite the leaders of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua.
Biden plans to stop in El Paso, Texas, on Sunday for his first visit as president to the U.S.-Mexico border, just days after announcing that the U.S. will immediately begin turning away Cubans, Haitians and Nicaraguans who illegally cross into the U.S. from Mexico. The new policy is an effort to manage the spiraling numbers of migrants arriving at the border.
Mexico agreed each month to take 30,000 Cubans, Nicaraguans, Venezuelans and Haitians who walk or swim to the U.S. and are turned back, and the U.S. each month will offer 30,000 people from those four nations work permits for two years and a legal path if they come to the U.S. by plane, have eligible sponsors and pass background checks. People from those four countries now make up the most migrants crossing the border.
Biden’s attempt to tackle border security issues has drawn considerable criticism from immigrant advocates and refugee rights groups ,who say the changes are inhumane and reminiscent of Trump’s hard-line approach.
___
Verza reported from Mexico City. Associated Press writer Josh Boak contributed to this report. | 2023-01-08T06:49:35+00:00 | siouxlandproud.com | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/politics/ap-big-week-for-us-mexico-ties-going-into-north-american-summit/ |
Honda is recalling 330,318 newer Pilot and Passport SUVs, Odyssey minivans, and Ridgeline trucks for defective side mirrors that can loose its mirror glass, the NHTSA disclosed Monday.
Both side mirrors have heating pads located behind the glass that can lose adhesion and detach from the plate holding the glass in place. If the heating pad detaches, the mirror glass detaches with it. The absence of side mirrors poses a risk to drivers and other road users.
The tape used to bond the pad to the glass lacked sufficient adhesion, Honda said.
The recall encompasses the following vehicles:
2020-2021 Honda Pilot three-row crossover SUV
2020-2021 Honda Ridgeline truck
2020-2022 Honda Passport crossover
2020-2022 Honda Odyssey minivan
Operators may notice the mirror glass vibrating before it detaches. Honda acknowledged 71 warranty claims for the issue, but said it was aware of no related crashes or injuries.
Owners can expect notification by mail as soon as May 8, 2023. The notice will instruct owners to take the recalled vehicles into a Honda service center where dealers will replace both left and right side mirrors, free of charge. For more information, contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138 or visit Honda’s recall website here.
Related Articles
- Hyundai expands recall of tow hitch to Santa Fe, Santa Cruz
- Ford expands 2021 F-150 recall for faulty windshield wiper
- Ford recalls 1.3M Fusion, Lincoln MKZ sedans for brake issue
- Honda recalls CR-V, Odyssey, Acura RDX for seat belt issue
- IIHS: Most family SUVs fail to protect rear passengers in a crash | 2023-04-04T12:10:08+00:00 | wnct.com | https://www.wnct.com/automotive/internet-brands/honda-recalls-330318-vehicles-for-shaky-side-mirror-glass/ |
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kimi Raikkonen retired to Switzerland at the end of last year's Formula One season and has blissfully spent the last eight months with his young family.
Did he miss racing?
“Not really, no," the 2007 F1 champion said.
Yet here he is, not even a full year into retirement, and Raikkonen will race again.
Raikkonen will race Sunday at Watkins Glen International in upstate New York in — and this isn't a typo — a NASCAR event. The driver known as “The Iceman” for his unintentionally droll demeanor was persuaded to get back behind the wheel by TrackHouse Racing and its ambitious, purpose-driven Project91 program.
Project91 was created to raise NASCAR's worldwide profile with top drivers from other formulas by Justin Marks, the 41-year-old former driver and now co-owner of NASCAR's hot, new winning team. He was prepared to personally fund the debut race at Watkins Glen, a road course where TrackHouse should compete for the win.
Tops on Marks' list of prospects was Raikkonen, who had previously competed in both an Xfinity Series and Truck Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway during one weekend in 2011, the season Raikkonen took a one-year sabbatical in his 19-year F1 career. There was some bemusement over Raikkonen's mere presence in NASCAR's hotbed, but the most memorable part of his brief NASCAR career was that he was sponsored by Perky Jerky.
Even so, Raikkonen was interested when first presented this NASCAR offer. Marks then sealed the deal in February by traveling to Raikkonen's home in Switzerland to make his pitch in person to the Finnish driver.
“I had to find somebody that would give immediate legitimacy to it and be interested in doing it. And to me, really quickly, it was Kimi," Marks said. “The genesis of Project91 was just my desire as a race fan to see cool things happen in racing. A Formula One driver coming to NASCAR and being competitive at the Cup level is a cool thing and if we were going to launch this thing, obviously we needed somebody relevant globally to set it off.”
Marks has not divulged what it cost to hire Raikkonen for one race; he joked once that the trip to Switzerland was “expensive” and last week deadpanned Raikkonen was drawing a $1 million salary before insisting he was joking.
Either way, the No. 91 Chevy picked up two sponsors to pay for some of Project91 in Recogni and iLOQ, a pair of technology companies.
In an interview with The Associated Press, the 42-year-old Raikkonen admitted he casually follows NASCAR and has been intrigued by the stock car series for more than a decade. He had hoped to also run a Cup Series race back in 2011, but it never happened and he returned to F1, where he won the final three of his 21 career victories over the following decade.
Raikkonen was intrigued by both NASCAR and its new Next Gen spec car, which debuted this year and equalized the competition among the elite top teams including, well, the upstart TrackHouse Racings of the garage. TrackHouse has three Cup wins in its second season and both Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez are qualified for the playoffs.
“I think any time there's an equal chance to win in a series it is nice, I think it's good, and what I heard when I talked to people about the new car is that it is pretty even with everybody,” Raikkonen told AP. “It's still a learning phase for all teams with the new car.”
This project was announced in May, long before TrackHouse was officially considered a good, championship-caliber team, but Raikkonen said he was convinced by Marks during their meeting. Marks' entryway to Raikkonen's home was via a mutual close friend.
Even as he hopped the globe for F1's schedule in the 10 years since his two-race NASCAR foray, Raikkonen always kept an eye on the series. So he knew a new car was coming when he met with Marks, who he said “was very honest” about his intentions for the program and TrackHouse's capabilities.
“I think he came as a very honest and straightforward guy and nobody has promised any big thing," Raikkonen said. “The only thing we can do is do our best and hope we get a good result. You never know, any category or any racing you choose, you just never know what will happen. And so I trusted what he was saying and they've been doing pretty well. In NASCAR, it can easily happen.”
Raikkonen said he has had several offers to race in the last eight months, but that Marks' is the only one “that so far I've said yes.”
He's enthused in part because he gets to do something brand new and experience it with his wife and two young children, who have occupied his time in retirement. He said finally having a traditional schedule has allowed for expanded family time and a summer spent on holiday around Europe.
He brought “The Ice Cubes” to the United States after three days with TrackHouse spent at the shop, the Chevrolet simulator and then a NASCAR-sanctioned test at Virginia International Raceway. The family met in New York City and will travel this weekend upstate to prepare for Sunday's race.
His son, who is seven, is now racing in both go-karts and motocross, but he said his 5-year-old daughter has less interest in the sport. He wasn't quite sure what either knows about NASCAR.
“I haven't asked them, they'll figure it out,” Raikkonen said.
Project91 hopes to give international drivers a chance to run designated Cup races and a NASCAR-record seven countries will be represented Sunday. He agrees with the concept of Project91 to open opportunities for international drivers curious about the top motorsports series in the United States.
“I'm pretty sure there might be some phone calls to Justin already,” Raikkonen said of interested drivers. In fact, Marks has had early talks with eager four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves, who wants to run next year's Daytona 500; Marks has said Project91 must complete its debut race before it can thoroughly discuss future events.
“I think it's a great opportunity for drivers from Europe because it's not very easy to come from Europe to the U.S. to race,” said Raikkonen. “People can get challenges and maybe they can come here and have a long future because it is a good sport. I think it is great what Justin is doing.”
___
More AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2022-08-18T08:06:09+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Kimi-Raikkonen-hits-pause-on-retirement-to-race-17381252.php |
SPRINGDALE, Ark., March 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kinderhook Industries, LLC ("Kinderhook") is pleased to announce the acquisition of CARDS Recycling, LLC ("CARDS" or the "Company"), a growing municipal, commercial, and industrial solid waste collection company headquartered in Northwest Arkansas. The acquisition represents Kinderhook's 89th environmental services transaction since inception. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas, CARDS is a leading regional solid waste collection company with over 56,500 residential, commercial, and industrial waste customers as well as a network of well-permitted post-collection facilities. The Company has operations extending into Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas and currently provides waste collection services to over 30 municipalities through municipal contracts and over 26,000 residential subscription, commercial, and industrial waste customers.
"I founded CARDS with a simple mission – become the Mid-South solid waste market leader providing best-in-class customer service," said Dan Christensen, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of CARDS Recycling. "We are very excited to team up with Kinderhook as a capital partner with their depth of resources and experience in the environmental services space. The team is committed and excited to continue to grow the business and expand CARDS' service offering to new markets."
"CARDS is a rapidly growing waste company with unique assets, significant expansion opportunities, and an industry veteran at the helm," said Rob Michalik, Managing Director at Kinderhook. "We are very excited to partner with CARDS Founder & CEO Dan Christensen to accelerate the Company's growth while continuing to provide the same great service that the CARDS communities and customers have become accustomed to."
"The market dynamics of the Mid-South region are incredibly appealing," said Sam Keenan, Principal at Kinderhook. "CARDS' core geography is experiencing strong population growth driven by increased commercial and industrial production. We plan to hit the ground running and anticipate rapidly deploying capital alongside Dan to grow the team and invest in collection and post-collection infrastructure."
Financing for the transaction was provided by Comerica Bank and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP served as legal counsel to Kinderhook. CARDS was advised by Skyway Capital Markets.
Kinderhook Industries, LLC is a private investment firm that manages over $5.4 billion of committed capital. Kinderhook has made in excess of 400 investments and follow-on acquisitions since inception. Kinderhook's investment philosophy is predicated on matching unique, growth-oriented investment opportunities with exceptional financial expertise and our proprietary network of operating partners. Our focus is on middle market businesses with defensible niche market positioning in the healthcare services, environmental / business services and automotive / light manufacturing sectors. We have a track record of successfully and consistently building industry leaders.
For more information, please visit: www.kinderhook.com
Headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas, CARDS is a leading regional provider of solid waste collection services in Northwest Arkansas and surrounding areas with operations extending into Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. CARDS provides municipal, commercial, and industrial waste collection services to over 56,500 customers and offers post-collection disposal services throughout its waste footprint.
For more information please visit: www.cardsrecycling.com
View original content:
SOURCE Kinderhook Industries | 2023-03-20T11:39:27+00:00 | waff.com | https://www.waff.com/prnewswire/2023/03/20/kinderhook-teams-up-with-management-recapitalize-cards-recycling/ |
LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — The four-door sedan pulled up near an intersection in a central Florida city where people were milling about, the tinted windows came down and people from inside the vehicle started shooting in all directions, wounding 11 men, including two critically, police officials said.
Only a minute earlier, a school bus had dropped off children in the Lakeland neighborhood on Monday afternoon.
“It sounded like one of those huge rolls of firecrackers tied up to each other,” said neighborhood resident Tina Smith, who lives 50 feet (15 meters) from the lot where the shootings took place. “But you knew it wasn’t firecrackers.”
Authorities on Tuesday offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspects involved in the shooting in Lakeland, a city of 112,000 residents located about halfway between Tampa and Orlando.
One of the critically-injured men was shot in the stomach, and the other was shot in the jaw. The others had non-life-threatening injuries. Authorities said Monday night that there were 10 shooting victims but updated that figure to 11 on Tuesday, adding that one of the injured men later had walked into a hospital with minor injuries.
The victims were males between the ages of 20 and 35, said Lakeland Police Chief Sammy Taylor at a news conference.
After the shootings, the vehicle peeled off. Detectives believed they found it Tuesday morning in a Lakeland neighborhood and planned to run lab tests on it to verify it was the vehicle involved in the shootings.
“I’ve been here 34 years, and I can tell you I have never worked an event where this many people were shot at one time, ever,” Taylor said. “We consider ourselves to be a small town … and when stuff like this happens, it hits home, for me, at least.”
Taylor said investigators believe the shooting was a targeted attack and wasn’t random. Some of the shooting victims were cooperating but others weren’t, detectives said.
Police said marijuana packaged for sale was found at the scene of the shooting, and investigators believe drug sales were taking place. While the lot was known for drug dealing and other street crime, nothing had ever taken place on the magnitude of the shootings, Smith said.
“It’s definitely unexpected,” Smith said. “But I still feel safe. It wasn’t like the whole block was sprayed. They were coming with names on the bullets, obviously.”
Taylor described the neighborhood of cinder block and wood frame bungalows with small yards as “challenged,” a place where a lot of renters reside, and he said the police had focused a lot of attention on the area in recent years. Many of the homes have bars on the windows, and on Tuesday multiple bullet holes could be seen in the window of a nearby apartment building near the empty lot where the shootings took place.
Miguel Joseph, a neighborhood resident, said drug dealing was common at the lot, and he believed the suspects came from outside the neighborhood.
“That’s all they do, every day,” Joseph said of the drug selling. “I hope they don’t come here anymore.”
The police chief said officers had tried to remove “the criminal element” from the neighborhood, and they had put “quite a few people in jail from that neighborhood,” but often former criminals return to dealing drugs when they get out of jail.
“It’s a tough neighborhood and there are some challenges,” Taylor said. “We’ve put a lot of resources and manpower in trying to fix that.”
___
Associated Press writer Mike Schneider in Orlando, Florida contributed to this report. | 2023-02-01T02:46:03+00:00 | ksn.com | https://www.ksn.com/top-stories/ap-top-headlines/ap-suspects-sought-after-florida-drive-by-shooting-wounds-10/ |
The boom times are over in banking, and big layoffs are back on Wall Street. After a years-long pause during the pandemic, the big banks are cutting costs and letting go of underperformers.
Copyright 2023 NPR
The boom times are over in banking, and big layoffs are back on Wall Street. After a years-long pause during the pandemic, the big banks are cutting costs and letting go of underperformers.
Copyright 2023 NPR | 2023-01-20T23:59:51+00:00 | kvpr.org | https://www.kvpr.org/2023-01-20/wall-street-sees-a-wave-of-layoffs-as-big-banks-face-pressure-to-shrink-payrolls |
In recent years, there have been tons of promises from the fashion industry about being more size-inclusive. Companies started being more diverse in modeling and advertising, and a lot of major retailers are tackling a huge rebrand to widen their size range.
It's not a stumper why all this rebranding has been happening: The plus-size market is increasing. It reached a little over $600 billion globally last year and is expected to become a trillion-dollar industry in the next decade.
Men continue to make up a majority of the market. In the U.S., nearly 70% of American women are considered plus-size, but a study from 2016 found just 18% of clothing sold here caters to them.
Across body types, many Americans still feel like shopping for clothes can still be needlessly hard. To really understand why, it starts with how our clothing gets made and the design process beforehand.
Fashion education has been criticized for its lack of training when it comes to designing garments for larger sizes. Oftentimes, students are working with skinnier mannequins — around a size 4 or 6. A huge part of the problem involves something called "pattern grading:" the process of turning a sample size into smaller or larger sizes, without changing the style. It's not as simple as adding or subtracting inches; fabric will look or fit differently on someone who is a size 2 versus a size 20.
But instead of paying for refitting and grading work to accurately make plus sizes, companies will often just scale up the smaller sizes, use outdated data on body shapes to size up or just won't make plus sizes at all.
Gianluca Russo is the author of "The Power of Plus" and has written about the lack of plus-size representation in fashion education.
"That's an entire conversation that's left out of these design schools. They're told to just grade up," Russo said. "So it's not as easy as adding two inches of one inch per size. You really have to figure out if more weight is added here, how does that impact the overall shape of this body, and how do we take this into account? Where does there need to be more fabric? Where does it need to be more stretch? And what I found here was not only was there an overwhelming amount of area for improvement when it comes to inclusive fashion education, but there was an overwhelming desire for it."
While some major fashion schools have been slowly responding to criticism and expanding their curriculum, it's still the norm for plus-size design to not be required, even if it is taught.
It's not just a problem for the design. These problems also carry over into manufacturing.
Manufacturers typically have "minimum order quantities" to help meet their bottom lines, so smaller merchandise orders or personalized garments made-to-order from scratch are naturally more expensive. Those minimum quantities have even gone up since the pandemic, as manufacturers struggle with their own labor shortage and other financial hits.
This makes it especially hard for smaller brands, even those that prioritize popular larger body types, to find a manufacturing partner. Some small business owners have found this not only keeps their prices high, but it sometimes means operating at a loss when expanding their size range.
"One of the most challenging things about being a retailer is inventory, right? Retailers are making bets all the time about exactly what styles are going to sell," said Nadia Boujarwah, CEO and co-founder of Dia & Co.
Boujarwah's Dia & Co is an online store and subscription service focused on plus-sized collections and brands. She used Old Navy as an example for when expanding to a larger plus-size inventory can have its issues. She said the brand's Bodequality campaign was "the first of its kind" but that around three-quarters of the way in, it made mistakes on the strategy.
"How many of the larger units they're buying versus the smaller units and where in the stores they were going and what that meant about overall how successful they'd been in planning their inventory — that it was a bigger challenge for them than they anticipated," Boujarwah said. "The fundamental challenge that we hear time and again with brands is that if a large investment is going to be made, a large return has to be realized quickly, and that equation just never pans out. You cannot overcome 30 or 40 years of customer expectations in two quarters. While they give this a year or two for women to come and shop the sizes, they spent 30 years telling them to stay away. So how can you course correct that in just a year or two?"
A lot of criticism gets directed at the biggest brands themselves, since they have the most resources to really bring about change. Without putting resources into proper sizing and manufacturing, including plus-size numbers on the clothing rack can only go so far.
Overall, clothing sizes can be a confusing minefield. Sizes can vary a lot between each brand, and that can take a huge toll on a customer's self-esteem.
Things get even more confusing with the practice of "vanity sizing" where brands intentionally set the sizes for clothes incorrectly. This usually involves calling a piece of clothing a smaller size than it actually is, and it began as a way to tap into biases against fatness, making shoppers feel happier and more willing to buy when they see they fit into a smaller size than they thought.
"What I realized in writing my book is that sizing has become such an emotional thing for so many people because of how it turned them away from so long," Russo said. "So when you go into a store, there's nothing awful than finally seeing your size offer, going into the tiny fitting room, trying it on and realizing that while it says a size 18 on the tag, it still doesn't fit."
But the numbers are also changing to try and reflect the shifting average American body type. It's clear in measurements for women's sizes how they have been steadily rising since these systems started being used in the mid-20th century. A size 12, which would now be about 32 inches in the waist, used to be just 26 inches, and there wasn't even a size 0 or 00 until the late 2000s.
The calls for more inclusive sizing in fashion have been going on for years. It can be frustrating when it seems like the industry takes two steps forward and one step back. From design and education to what the clothes customers are trying on in fitting rooms, it's going to take an industry-wide reckoning to normalize and prioritize the most common body types and clothing sizes and truly become size-inclusive.
"I think that the reality is a plus-size customer, which I've been since I was 14 years old, is that it's just really hard to overcome how discouraging it can be to have to navigate all of these challenges that really are unique to to our space," Boujarwah said. "But we have to recognize how much extraordinary progress there's been even in the last three or five years, the number of brands that have extended their sizes. I actually think the brands deserve an enormous amount of credit in the amount of investment and in how they have responded to the desire and the social pressure, honestly, to be more inclusive in their offerings. And now the key is just not flipping back." | 2023-02-09T14:46:51+00:00 | wkbw.com | https://www.wkbw.com/news/national/is-the-fashion-industry-living-up-to-promises-of-size-inclusivity |
NEW YORK (AP) — A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked House Republicans from questioning a former Manhattan prosecutor about the criminal case against ex-President Donald Trump, the latest twist in a legal battle between Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office and the House Judiciary Committee.
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued an administrative stay late Wednesday, hours after a lower court judge ruled there was no legal basis to block the Judiciary Committee’s subpoena to former prosecutor Mark Pomerantz. Committee chair Rep. Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican, had sought to question him Thursday.
In issuing the stay, Judge Beth Robinson noted that her order “reflects no judgment regarding the merits” of the case. A three-judge panel will ultimately weigh whether to uphold or overturn the lower-court’s decision. Robinson, a Biden appointee, set an aggressive briefing schedule, ordering Bragg’s office to file court papers detailing its appeal by Friday and for the Judiciary Committee to submit its response by Saturday.
Bragg’s office appealed to the 2nd Circuit hours after U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil rejected his request for a temporary restraining order, ruling Wednesday that Jordan had a valid legislative purpose in issuing the subpoena.
“It is not the role of the federal judiciary to dictate what legislation Congress may consider or how it should conduct its deliberations in that connection,” Vyskocil wrote in a 25-page opinion. “Mr. Pomerantz must appear for the congressional deposition. No one is above the law.”
Vyskocil, a Trump appointee, ruled after peppering lawyers on both sides with questions, asking them to parse thorny issues of sovereignty, separation of powers and Congressional oversight arising from Trump’s historic indictment.
Acknowledging the “political dogfights” surrounding the case, the judge said in her ruling that she “does not endorse either side’s agenda.” She encouraged both sides to speak and “reach a mutually agreeable compromise” on how Pomerantz’s deposition would proceed.
Jordan’s spokesperson, Russell Dye, lauded Vyskocil’s ruling, saying it showed that “Congress has the ability to conduct oversight and issue subpoenas to people like Mark Pomerantz.”
Bragg’s office appealed, first asking Vyskocil to issue a stay — which she rejected — before finding success with the appeals court.
Pomerantz once oversaw the yearslong Trump investigation but left the job after clashing with Bragg over the direction of the case. He recently wrote a book about his work pursuing Trump and discussed the investigation in interviews on “60 Minutes” and other shows.
Bragg, a Democrat, sued Jordan and the Judiciary Committee last week seeking to block the subpoena. His lawyer, Theodore Boutrous, argued that seeking Pomerantz’s testimony was part of a “transparent campaign to intimidate and attack” Bragg and that Congress was “invading a state” to investigate a local prosecutor when it had no authority to do so.
Boutrous said House Republicans’ interest in Bragg amounted to Congress “jumping in and haranguing the D.A. while the prosecution is ongoing.”
The Judiciary Committee started scrutinizing Bragg’s investigation of the former president in the weeks that preceded his indictment. Jordan sent letters seeking interviews with Bragg and documents before subpoenaing Pomerantz. In her ruling, Vyskocil said she would handle any legal fights that may arise from other subpoenas in the committee’s investigation of Bragg.
A committee lawyer, Matthew Berry, countered that Congress has legitimate legislative reasons for wanting to question Pomerantz and examine Bragg’s prosecution of Trump, citing the office’s use of $5,000 in federal funds to pay for Trump-related investigations.
Congress is also considering legislation, offered by Republicans in the wake of Trump’s indictment, to change how criminal cases against former presidents unfold, Berry said. One bill would prohibit prosecutors from using federal funds to investigate presidents, and another would require any criminal cases involving a former president be resolved in federal court instead of at the state level.
House Republicans, Berry said, want to protect the sovereignty and autonomy of the presidency, envisioning a scenario where the commander in chief could feel obligated to make certain decisions to avoid having local prosecutors in politically unfavorable jurisdictions charge them with crimes after they leave office.
For those reasons, Berry argued, Congress is immune from judicial intervention, citing the speech and debate clause of the U.S. Constitution.
Vyskocil presided over the hearing in a Manhattan courtroom that offered sweeping, high-level views of the New York City skyline that Trump helped shape as a real estate developer, the courthouse where he was arraigned April 3, and the federal building where Jordan continued his war on Bragg by convening a hearing Monday on the prosecutor’s handing of violent crime.
Pomerantz declined comment as he walked out of the hearing holding a stack of papers with his book, “People vs. Donald Trump,” on top. Neither Pomerantz nor his lawyers spoke during the hearing. But in a court filing, he aligned himself with Bragg’s position and maintained he should not be questioned by the committee.
Berry, the committee lawyer, argued that Pomerantz has already shared lots of information with the public about his work on the Trump investigation and the Judiciary Committee has the right to question him about it, too.
“I don’t think this is either rational or reasonable behavior that somehow the House Judiciary Committee ranks below ’60 Minutes,'” Berry argued.
Pomerantz could refuse to answer certain questions, citing legal privilege and ethical obligations, and Jordan would rule on those assertions on a case-by-case basis, Berry said, but he shouldn’t be exempt from showing up. If Jordan were to overrule Pomerantz and he still refused to answer, he could then face a criminal referral to the Justice Department for contempt of Congress, but that wouldn’t happen immediately, Berry said.
Trump was indicted last month on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to hush-money payments made during the 2016 campaign to bury allegations of extramarital sexual encounters. He has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty.
__
On Twitter, follow Michael Sisak at twitter.com/mikesisak and Larry Neumeister at twitter.com/lneumeister and send confidential tips by visiting https://www.ap.org/tips/ | 2023-04-21T13:09:03+00:00 | krqe.com | https://www.krqe.com/news/national/appeals-court-halts-house-interview-with-ex-trump-prosecutor/ |
Members of polygamous group to appear in court on child sex abuse charges
PHOENIX (AP) — Members of a small polygamous group accused of child sex abuse of underage girls who the group’s leader claimed as brides are expected to appear in federal court on Friday.
Sam Bateman and the three women followers scheduled to appear for their arraignment were arrested last year and charged with kidnapping and impeding a federal investigation. Prosecutors earlier this month expanded the group’s charges.
Now 11 members of Bateman’s group face 51 felony counts for transporting children across state lines to facilitate sexual activity, recording it, destroying evidence and witness tampering.
The group’s appearance in court is the latest development in a sprawling federal investigation spanning at least five states that became public last fall after authorities raided Bateman’s compound in Colorado City, Arizona. The site was long home to the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, known by its acronym FLDS.
Colorado City and Hildale — an adjoining town across the Utah border — have changed dramatically since the group’s prophet, Warren Jeffs, was arrested more than a decade ago. But the case against Bateman serves as a reminder that its legacy remains and continues to evolve.
In court filings, investigators have alleged that Bateman, 47, persuaded followers to break off from the FLDS Church, convincing them that he was a prophet who succeeded Jeffs and was “doing ‘Uncle Warren’s’ will.”
Bateman has been accused of taking at least 20 wives, including many minors as young as 8 and 9 years old. But charges have mostly pertained to the decision by him and his adult followers to take the minors across state lines — including at one point breaking them out of Arizona foster care — and impeding the investigation.
A call to one of Bateman’s lawyers seeking comment was not returned Thursday.
The FLDS, from which Bateman originated, is itself a breakaway sect of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the Mormon Church. Polygamy is a legacy of the early teachings of the mainstream church, but it abandoned the practice in 1890 and now strictly prohibits it.
An indictment published earlier in May says Bateman traveled extensively between Arizona, Utah, Colorado and Nebraska and allegedly had sex with the minor girls on a regular basis. It also charges Bateman with recording some of the sexual activity, alleging some images may have been transmitted across state lines via electronic devices.
Relying on journals, day planners and text messages, it says Bateman initiated sexual encounters with groups of followers in hotel rooms, including one that began with a religious rite-inspired “washing of the feet.” A girl, who the indictment describes as 9 or 10 years old, called the sexual encounters “definitely terrifying.”
The indictment also claims several male and female followers denied the allegations of abuse, including of their own children, when interviewed by the Arizona Department of Child Safety.
Bateman was arrested last year and remains in federal custody pending his trial, which is scheduled for March 5, 2024. He previously pleaded not guilty to state and federal charges accusing him of kidnapping, child abuse and tampering with evidence.
___
Metz reported from Salt Lake City.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | 2023-05-26T07:19:21+00:00 | kob.com | https://www.kob.com/news/us-and-world-news/members-of-polygamous-group-to-appear-in-court-on-child-sex-abuse-charges/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — With days to spare before a potential first-ever government default, President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy reached final agreement Sunday on a deal to raise the nation’s debt ceiling and worked to ensure enough support in Congress to pass the measure in the coming week.
The Democratic president and Republican speaker spoke late in the day as negotiators rushed to draft and post the bill text for review, with compromises that neither the hard-right or left flank is likely to support. Instead, the leaders are working to gather backing from the political middle as Congress hurries toward votes before a June 5 deadline to avert a damaging federal default.
“Good news,” Biden declared Sunday evening at the White House.
“The agreement prevents the worst possible crisis, a default, for the first time in our nation’s history,” he said. “Takes the threat of a catastrophic default off the table.”
The president urged both parties in Congress to come together for swift passage. “The speaker and I made clear from the start that the only way forward was a bipartisan agreement,” he said.
The final product includes spending cuts but risks angering some lawmakers as they take a closer look at the concessions. Biden told reporters at the White House upon his return from Delaware that he was confident the plan will make it to his desk.
McCarthy, too, was confident in remarks at the Capitol: “At the end of the day, people can look together to be able to pass this.”
The days ahead will determine whether Washington is again able to narrowly avoid a default on U.S. debt, as it has done many times before, or whether the global economy enters a potential crisis.
In the United States, a default could cause financial markets to freeze up and spark an international financial crisis. Analysts say millions of jobs would vanish, borrowing and unemployment rates would jump, and a stock-market plunge could erase trillions of dollars in household wealth. It would all but shatter the $24 trillion market for Treasury debt.
Anxious retirees and others were already making contingency plans for missed checks, with the next Social Security payments due soon as the world watches American leadership at stake.
McCarthy and his negotiators portrayed the deal as delivering for Republicans though it fell well short of the sweeping spending cuts they sought. Top White House officials were briefing Democratic lawmakers and phoning some directly to try to shore up support.
One surprise was a provision important to influential Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., giving congressional backing for the controversial Mountain Valley Pipeline, a natural gas project, that is certain to raise questions.
Negotiators also agreed to some Republican demands for increased work requirements for food stamps recipients that Democrats had called a nonstarter.
McCarthy told reporters at the Capitol on Sunday that the agreement “doesn’t get everything everybody wanted,” but that was to be expected in a divided government. Privately, he told lawmakers on a conference call that Democrats “got nothing.”
Weeks of negotiations came together when Biden and McCarthy spoke by phone Saturday evening and agreed in principle to the deal, finishing it up Sunday with the 99-page legislative text made public.
Support from both parties will be needed to win congressional approval before the projected June 5 government default on U.S. debts. Lawmakers are expected to return Tuesday from the Memorial Day weekend, and McCarthy has promised lawmakers he will abide by the rule to post any bill for 72 hours before voting in the House, as soon as Wednesday.
The package would next go to the Senate, where Republican leader Mitch McConnell said senators “must act swiftly and pass this agreement without unnecessary delay.”
Central to the compromise is a two-year budget deal that would essentially hold spending flat for 2024, while boosting it for defense and veterans, and capping increases at 1% for 2025. That’s alongside raising the debt limit for two years, pushing the volatile political issue past the next presidential election.
Driving hard to impose tougher work requirements on government aid recipients, Republicans achieved some of what they wanted. It ensures people ages 49 to 54 with food stamp aid would have to meet work requirements if they are able-bodied and without dependents. Biden was able to secure waivers for veterans and homeless people.
The deal puts in place changes in the landmark National Environmental Policy Act designating “a single lead agency” to develop environmental reviews, in hopes of streamlining the process.
It halts some funds to hire new Internal Revenue Service agents as Republicans demanded, and rescinds some $30 billion for coronavirus relief, keeping $5 billion for developing the next generation of COVID-19 vaccines.
The deal would suspend the debt limit until January 2025. It came together after Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told Congress that the United States could default on its debt obligations by June 5 — four days later than previously estimated. Lifting the nation’s debt limit, now at $31 trillion, allows more borrowing to pay bills already incurred.
McCarthy commands only a slim Republican majority in the House, where hard-right conservatives may resist any deal as insufficient as they try to slash spending. By compromising with Democrats, he risks angering his own members, setting up a career-challenging moment for the new speaker.
“I think you’re going to get a majority of Republicans voting for this bill,” McCarthy said on “Fox News Sunday,” adding that because Biden backed it, “I think there’s going to be a lot of Democrats that will vote for it, too.”
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said on CBS’ “Face the Nation” that he expected there will be Democratic support but he declined to provide a number. Asked whether he could guarantee there would not be a default, he said, “Yes.”
A 100-strong group of moderates in the New Democratic Coalition gave a crucial nod of support Sunday, saying in a statement it was confident that Biden and his team “delivered a viable, bipartisan solution to end this crisis.”
The coalition could provide enough support for McCarthy to make up for members in the right flank of his party who have expressed opposition before the bill’s wording was even released.
It also takes pressure off Biden, facing criticism from progressives for giving into what they call hostage-taking by Republicans.
Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington state, who leads the Congressional Progressive Caucus, told CBS that the White House and Jeffries should worry about whether caucus members will support the agreement.
___
Price reported from New York. Associated Press writers Seung Min Kim and Stephen Groves contributed to this report. | 2023-05-29T14:39:57+00:00 | ksn.com | https://www.ksn.com/news/national-world/ap-international/ap-biden-and-mccarthy-reach-a-final-deal-to-avoid-us-default-and-now-must-sell-it-to-congress/ |
The addition of the leading fitness software provider serving the boutique and studio sector allows ABC Fitness Solutions to amplify its global reach and serve fitness businesses of any size, anywhere
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. and DUBLIN, Aug. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ABC Fitness Solutions (ABC), the leading technology and related services provider for the fitness industry, has announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Glofox, one of the fastest-growing fitness management platforms servicing the boutique gym and studio sector. The strategic combination significantly expands ABC's global reach and amplifies its ability to serve fitness organizations of all sizes with a company that shares its values, commitment to its teams and customers, and proven track record in developing innovative solutions that allow fitness operators to thrive. The transaction is expected to close later this year.
Glofox was founded by former professional rugby player Conor O'Loughlin, and his colleagues Finn Hegarty and Anthony Kelly, and all three will continue to be leaders in the combined business. Glofox is widely recognized as an innovator in management software, helping boutique fitness brands build and grow successful businesses. Its all-in-one platform allows users to manage all aspects of their business with a streamlined, easy-to-use experience for members and staff alike. Its 220-strong team serves customers in over 80 countries in 17 languages around the world. Like ABC, it provides solutions covering all aspects of running a fitness business, from customer acquisition to billing management, from business intelligence to member engagement.
Becoming stronger together, the technical capabilities, reach, and values of ABC and Glofox amplify each other, allowing both to further their mission to assist people around the world in their health, fitness, and wellness journeys. Collectively they will support over 31 million members across more than 24,000 fitness locations with technical solutions that put the member at the center of the experience.
"We are so excited to welcome Glofox into ABC Fitness Solutions. Its range of solutions, focus on the boutique gym and studio sector, and impressive international reach are compelling and will help cement ABC's position as a truly global solution provider within the fitness industry," said Bill Davis, CEO of ABC Fitness Solutions. "When combined with our existing strength in North and Latin America, as well as our market-leading software solutions for the personal trainer and commercial fitness club sectors, we now have a combined offering greater than the sum of its parts and unrivalled by any company in the industry."
The agreement follows the successful strategic acquisitions and integration of Trainerize, GymSales, and FitnessBI that helped enhance ABC's best-in-class club management software solutions, leading to ABC IGNITE, its next generation and most advanced offering to date. From personal trainers to yoga studios, boutique gyms to commercial fitness clubs, the addition of Glofox means ABC can now serve any fitness provider of any size worldwide.
"We are thrilled to become part of ABC, a company that has been a pioneer of the fitness industry for over 40 years," said Conor O'Loughlin, CEO & Co-Founder of Glofox. "To be able to align with a partner that shares the same purpose and values and that can provide additional resources to drive innovation and accelerated international growth is a tremendous advantage to our team and our customers. As part of ABC Fitness Solutions, Glofox has an extremely exciting future, and we look forward to taking the combined business to the next level."
The service of current customers will remain the ongoing top priority of ABC and Glofox and each will continue to focus on the respective fitness sectors they serve.
ABC Fitness Solutions (abcfitness.com) is the premier provider of software and related services for the health and fitness industry. Building on a reputation for excellence in support for clubs and their members, ABC is the trusted provider to boost performance and create a Total Fitness Experience for members of clubs of all sizes, whether a national franchise, regional chain, or a local gym. Founded in 1981, ABC helps over 20,000 clubs and facilities in 75 countries perform better and more profitably, offering a comprehensive SaaS (Software as a Service) club management solution that enables club operators to achieve optimal performance. ABC Fitness Solutions is a Thoma Bravo portfolio company, a private equity firm focused on investing in software and technology companies (thomabravo.com).
Glofox is the innovative management software solution helping visionary fitness brands build successful, growing businesses. The all-in-one platform replaces outdated and overcomplicated systems with a streamlined, easy-to-use experience for members and staff alike. Built to address the intricacies that come with managing both independent fitness businesses and large fitness franchises, the platform delivers a powerful suite of tools to drive success and empower operators globally. Founded in 2017, Glofox now serves over 80 countries and over 17 languages internationally and is continuously expanding its network to unlock opportunities for fitness businesses worldwide.
ABC Fitness Solutions Media Contact:
Ian Twinn | Tandem Marketing Communications
iantwinn@tandemcomms.com
Glofox Media Contact:
Craig Breheny | Brunswick Group
cbreheny@brunswickgroup.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE ABC Fitness Solutions, LLC | 2022-08-02T17:23:26+00:00 | uppermichiganssource.com | https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/prnewswire/2022/08/02/abc-fitness-solutions-acquire-glofox-create-industry-leading-global-fitness-technology-company/ |
LA QUINTA, Calif. (AP) — PGA Tour rookie Davis Thompson played his first six holes in 7 under, including consecutive eagles, and shot a career-low 10-under 62 at La Quinta on Thursday to take a two-stroke lead over Jon Rahm and four others after the first round of The American Express.
The 23-year-old Thompson got off to a brilliant start by birdieing three of the first four holes and then making eagle on both par-5s on the front nine, Nos. 5 and 6. He made the turn in 8-under 28, the lowest front-nine score at La Quinta.
That flawless start on a sunny day in the Southern California desert put Thompson two clear of Rahm, Tyler Duncan, Taylor Montgomery, Matti Schmid and Sam Burns.
“I just got off to a hot start and just kind of coasted on my way in,” said Thompson, who finished with a birdie. “It’s always good to see some putts go in early and give you confidence to just keep it rolling.”
Rahm, the world’s fourth-ranked player who won two weeks ago at Kapalua, shot 64 at La Quinta, one of three courses being used for the first three rounds. After the cut at 54 holes, the final round will be played at the Stadium Course at PGA West.
“I’ll be picky about a lot of things. But it’s a great start to the tournament,” Rahm said. “You can’t really win it on this golf course, but you can sure fall off the pace. It’s a great start, solid round of golf, great putting out there. Hopefully I can keep that going the whole week and feel a little bit better tee to green.”
The field includes five of the top seven players in the world and 10 of the top 20.
Sixth-ranked Xander Schauffele, in the field after having tests on muscle spasms in his back, was in a group of nine at 7-under 65. He also eagled No. 5 at La Quinta.
Second-ranked Scottie Scheffler and No. 5 Patrick Cantlay each shot 68 at La Quinta, and No. 7 Will Zalatoris had a 3-under 69 at the Nicklaus Tournament Course.
Thompson said he had a good warmup and then “had good numbers” on the holes where he made eagle.
“I actually missed the green on 6 and chipped in. I put two good swings on it and had a really nice chip and a really good putt,” he said.
While this was his first competitive round at PGA West, Thompson said he stopped here and played the Nicklaus course before going to Hawaii for last week’s Sony Open. “So I was a little familiar with it,” said Thompson, who will play that course on Friday.
Rickie Fowler shot 68 at La Quinta. Fowler is playing his first tournament of 2023 after having two top 10s in the fall, including a runner-up finish at the Zozo Championship in Japan.
___
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2023-01-20T20:58:19+00:00 | cenlanow.com | https://www.cenlanow.com/sports/ap-thompson-makes-consecutive-eagles-leads-amex-rahm-2-back/ |
BEIJING, April 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Zhihu Inc. ("Zhihu" or the "Company") (NYSE: ZH; HKEX: 2390), a leading online content community in China, today announced that it filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2023. The annual report can be accessed on the Company's investor relations website at https://ir.zhihu.com.
The Company will provide a hard copy of its annual report containing the audited consolidated financial statements, free of charge, to its shareholders and ADS holders upon request. Requests should be directed to Investor Relations, Zhihu Inc., A5 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China.
About Zhihu Inc.
For investor and media inquiries, please contact:
In China:
Zhihu Inc.
Email: ir@zhihu.com
Piacente Financial Communications
Helen Wu
Tel: +86-10-6508-0677
Email: zhihu@tpg-ir.com
In the United States:
Piacente Financial Communications
Brandi Piacente
Phone: +1-212-481-2050
Email: zhihu@tpg-ir.com
View original content:
SOURCE Zhihu Inc. | 2023-04-28T12:54:18+00:00 | kswo.com | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/04/28/zhihu-inc-files-its-annual-report-form-20-f/ |
NEW YORK, June 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --
WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers and acquirers of the securities of Stem, Inc. f/k/a Star Peak Energy Transition Corp. (NYSE: STEM, STEM.WT, STPK.U): (i) pursuant and/or traceable to the offering documents issued in connection with the merger ("Merger") consummated on April 28, 2021 by and among the Company, STPK Merger Sup Corp. ("Merger Sub"), and Stem, Inc., ("Legacy Stem"); and/or (ii) between March 4, 2021 and February 16, 2023, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important July 11, 2023 lead plaintiff deadline.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Stem securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Stem class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=16161 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. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than July 11, 2023. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.
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, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. 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.
DETAILS OF THE CASE: Throughout the Class Period, defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and compliance policies. Specifically, the offering documents and defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Legacy Stem suffered from material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting related to accounting for deferred cost of goods sold and inventory, certain revenue recognition calculations, and internal-use capitalized software calculations; (2) the Company had overstated Legacy Stem's and its own post-Merger business and financial prospects; (3) Stem's software revenue did not make up 100% of the Company's services revenue; (4) Stem had overstated the benefits expected to flow from its AP partnership; and (5) as a result, the offering documents and defendants' public statements throughout the Class Period were materially false and/or misleading and failed to state information required to be stated therein. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
To join the Stem class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=16161 mailto: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.
No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.
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:
Laurence Rosen, Esq.
Phillip Kim, Esq.
The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-1060
Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
Fax: (212) 202-3827
lrosen@rosenlegal.com
pkim@rosenlegal.com
cases@rosenlegal.com
www.rosenlegal.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A. | 2023-06-02T03:01:26+00:00 | kswo.com | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/06/02/rosen-recognized-investor-counsel-encourages-stem-inc-fka-star-peak-energy-transition-corp-investors-secure-counsel-before-important-deadline-securities-class-action-stem-stemwt-stpku/ |
(NEXSTAR) — It’s a theme we’ve seen most of the year: high price tags on everyday groceries, especially eggs.
Signs have been posted in groceries stores around the country since spring, acknowledging both high prices and limited supply amid a national egg shortage. At one point, the cost of a dozen eggs exceeded $3 for only the second time in history.
In the months since egg prices have hovered around the same cost. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the average price for a dozen Grade A large eggs rose sharply between March and May, then again between June and August.
Since January 2021, the average retail egg price has gone up 98%, Bernt Nelson, an economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation tells Nexstar.
Though down 3.5% since August, egg prices are up more than 30% since last September, the latest Consumer Price Index from the Labor Department showed Thursday.
Expensive eggs and the limited supply are largely due to a nationwide bird flu outbreak, supply chain challenges, and high feed costs.
How much longer will we face these prices and shortages? It’s hard to say.
In its latest Chicken and Egg report, the USDA reported that egg production was down 2% year-over-year in August with an estimated 9.1 billion eggs being laid. The decline is largely due to the avian flu outbreak, which affected 36.75 million egg-laying birds.
There is hope though: Nelson notes 56 million egg-type chicks hatched in August, 13% more than in August 2021. The increase “is a good sign of rebuilding populations,” he explains.
“If HPAI outbreaks are less severe through the remainder of fall, and more egg-type chicks are available to become layers, this would mean a greater supply of table egg layers, and a greater supply of table eggs,” Nelson says. “A greater supply of table eggs would provide some relief to table egg prices at the grocery store.”
As of Thursday, the USDA Midwest regional egg price report shows a dozen eggs costs around $2.
Eggs are among the grocery items hardest hit by inflation. Others include items that are about to be in high demand for the holiday baking season, like butter and flour.
Thursday’s report showed inflation accelerating overall. The Consumer Price Index rose 0.4 percent for September after just 0.1% in August and is up 8.2% for the past 12 months. Rising inflation prompted a historic increase to Social Security benefits starting next year, but some argue it isn’t enough to keep up with the costs of everyday items, like groceries.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | 2022-10-14T14:55:42+00:00 | nwahomepage.com | https://www.nwahomepage.com/news/national/eggs-have-been-expensive-all-year-how-soon-could-we-see-relief/ |
Mia Garafolo, Adriana Ryder and Arianna Vasquez each scored to lead Steinert to a 3-1 win over West Windsor-Plainsboro North in Plainsboro.
Steinert (4-0) trailed 1-0 at the half and bounced back by scoring three unanswered goals in the second half.
Maya Anico scored for WW-PN (1-3).
The N.J. High School Sports newsletter now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now and be among the first to get all the boys and girls sports you care about, straight to your inbox each weekday. To add your name, click here. | 2022-09-16T00:11:03+00:00 | nj.com | https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports/2022/09/steinert-over-west-windsor-plainsboro-north-girls-soccer-recap.html |
VANCOUVER, BC, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Hapbee Technologies, Inc. (TSXV: HAPB) (OTCQB: HAPBF) (FSE: HA1) ("Hapbee" or the "Company"), the leading provider of wellness wearable technology, is proud to announce that it has been awarded Nexus Certification by Grey Team, which recognizes Hapbee as an effective tool in suicide prevention among members of the United States Military Community.
Grey Team is a privately funded, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization aiming to improve the personal health and wellness of active-duty soldiers and military veterans to reduce suicides. Utilizing cutting-edge technologies, Grey Team's goal is to provide comprehensive programs directed at healing all the invisible wounds of war, including, but not limited to, post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain, self-medication, and isolation.
The Grey Team's Nexus Award represents one of America's most rigorous, in-field certifications for cutting-edge wellness solutions.
Grey Team has been using Hapbee Neckbands and Smart Sleep Pads as part of its high-successful Operation Phoenix program for nearly two years. The Operation has helped alleviate mental and physical suffering caused by post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, chronic physical pain, and lifestyle choices. Refer to the Company's news release dated March 8, 2021, for further information on its partnership with Grey Team.
According to Grey Team's founder and President, Cary Reichbach, "Hapbee has become a critical component of our suicide prevention and wellness program, offering our service members an effective alternative to chemicals, drugs, or stimulants without any lingering side effects. It's a real game-changer because the results are immediate and can be used from home or, for that matter, anywhere."
"This recognition from Grey Team is among the most gratifying confirmation of the mission we are on at Hapbee to improve peoples' lives – especially members of our military who have given everything in support of our freedom," said Yona Shtern, Chairman and CEO of Hapbee. "We plan to proudly display the Nexus certification on all our products moving forward. There are roughly 19 million veterans in the United States alone, and we intend to continue to develop working relationships with Grey Team and other public and private veteran support organizations to help as many veterans as we can."
Hapbee patented biostreaming technology helps people optimize their sleep, performance, and moods. Ultra-low frequency electro-magnetic biostreams are derived from compounds like caffeine, nicotine and melatonin which are delivered digitally through Hapbee-powered devices, such as the Smart Sleep Pad and Neckband without the side-effects or dependencies that might otherwise result from ingesting the substances.
Hapbee is pleased to announce it has filed its Year end Audited Financial Statements and Management Discussion and Analysis for the year ending December 31, 2022 as well as its first quarter results for the period ending March 31, 2023. The Company received confirmation from the BC Securities Commission effective July 7,2023 that the Management Cease Trade Order issued by the Commission effective May 2, 2023, under National Policy 12-203 (the "Policy") has been revoked as it has complied with the filing of the Required Disclosure via SEDAR.
Grey Team, Inc was founded in 2016 by military veterans Cary Reichbach – U.S. Army, and Logan Skees – U.S. Marine Corps. Both men had served in high-risk, dangerous jobs and experienced the military service's toll on an individual's mental and physical health. Their mission is to lead the way in researching, creating, and implementing comprehensive solutions that effectively reduce and eliminate suicides among active-duty and post-service veterans in the U.S. military.
Grey Team strives for an America where veterans receive the utmost care and support, enabling them to discover peace, pursue their passions, and find fulfillment beyond their service. We envision a future where veterans are self-sufficient, contributing to their families, communities, and society while receiving unwavering support from foundations, private donors, businesses, and schools/universities. For more information about Grey Team, visit: https://www.greyteam.org
Follow Grey Team on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn
Hapbee is a digital wellness technology company that aims to help people take control of how they sleep, perform and feel. Hapbee's digital wellness library of Wellness Routines utilizes patented ultra-low radio frequency energy (ulRFE®), designed to help optimize users' sleep, productivity and focus, recovery, and downtime. Hapbee devices and subscriptions are available for purchase at Hapbee.com and through a growing network of select distributors.
You can learn more about how Hapbee works at www.hapbee.com/science
Certain statements included in this news release constitute forward-looking information or statements (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), including those identified by the expressions "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "should" and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company or its management. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect current expectations regarding future results or events. This news release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and various estimates, factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Forward- looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding the Company's ability to meet its planned product marketing and development initiatives and the Company's ability to achieve its e-commerce rollout and full-scale commercial launch as anticipated.
Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, delays in design, production, manufacturing, development or releases of signal blends, collection of data from customer use, or the Company may not be able to achieve its targets as anticipated or at all; changes in legislation and regulations; increase in operating costs; equipment failures; failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations; litigation; the loss of key directors, employees, advisors or consultants and fees charged by service providers. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to, those described in Hapbee's annual information form dated May 2, 2022, a copy of which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, and could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. The Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances unless required by law. Readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements.
Neither TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Hapbee Technologies Inc. | 2023-07-17T15:08:38+00:00 | kcbd.com | https://www.kcbd.com/prnewswire/2023/07/17/hapbee-receives-prestigious-nexus-certification-award-grey-team-top-military-suicide-prevention-tool-2023/ |
Biden likely has highly contagious BA.5 strain of COVID-19, doctor says
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Joe Biden likely contracted a highly contagious variant of the coronavirus spreading rapidly through the United States, and now has body aches and a sore throat since his positive test, according to an update from his doctor on Saturday.
The variant, known as BA.5, is an offshoot of the omicron strain that emerged late last year, and it's believed to be responsible for the vast majority of coronavirus cases in the country.
Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the president’s physician, wrote in his latest update on Biden's condition that Biden's earlier symptoms, including a runny nose and a cough, have become "less troublesome." O'Connor's earlier notes did not mention the sore throat or body aches.
Biden's vital signs, such as blood pressure and respiratory rate, "remain entirely normal," and his oxygen saturation levels are "excellent" with "no shortness of breath at all," the doctor wrote.
O'Connor said the results of the preliminary sequencing that indicated the BA.5 variant do not affect Biden's treatment plan "in any way."
US President Joe Biden delivers remarks virtually during his meeting with his economic team to discuss lowering gas prices in the South Court Auditorium of the Executive Office Building on July 22, 2022. (Photo by Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Pos
Biden tested positive for the virus on Thursday morning. He has been isolating in the White House residence since then. Administration officials have emphasized that his symptoms are mild because he has received four vaccine doses, and he started taking the antiviral drug Paxlovid after becoming infected.
During a virtual meeting with economic advisers on Friday, Biden was hoarse but insisted, "I feel much better than I sound."
In his previous update on Biden’s health, O’Connor said the president had an elevated temperature of 99.4 F on Thursday evening, but it returned to normal after taking Tylenol. | 2022-07-24T06:57:19+00:00 | fox6now.com | https://www.fox6now.com/news/biden-covid-19-ba5-strain |
There's something about the video of the George Floyd killing that makes it very specific to the Twin Cities.
The video shows a white police officer and a black male victim — a familiar dynamic in similar videos and killings seen nationwide — but there's a third identifiable person: an Asian American officer seen running interference with the crowd and standing watch. He's now-former Minneapolis police officer Tou Thao, a Hmong American — which is how you know this isn't "any" city. It's Minneapolis.
And his presence not only has heightened slow-burning tensions between the Asian American and black neighborhoods in the Twin Cities area but has also divided his own tightknit immigrant community — which also happens to be the largest urban Hmong enclave in the world.
"If I think about it too much, I might start crying," says Gaosong Heu. She and her husband, Marc, run Marc Heu Patisserie Paris in Frogtown, the St. Paul neighborhood that is the heart of the area's Hmong population — and where she grew up.
"I didn't know that he was Hmong until I saw his name," she says. "Tou Thao is a very Hmong name."
In America, there are only 18 clans of Hmong, an ethnic group from Laos, Vietnam and parts of China that sided with the United States during the Vietnam War. In the early 1960s, the CIA recruited Hmong to help keep the communist North Vietnamese out of neighboring Laos. In return, the U.S. promised to take care of them and their families. When Laos fell to the communists and U.S. troops pulled out in 1975, thousands of Hmong fled as refugees to neighboring Thailand and then resettled in the United States.
Many, like Gaosong Heu's parents, came to the Twin Cities to start a new life. According to 2010 census data, some 64,000 Hmong live in Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Thao, who was fired by the Minneapolis Police Department last month, is from that same community. Multiple news outlets report that Thao completed his police academy training in 2009 and had previously been sued by a black man for excessive force, according to the Star Tribune.
Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis police officer who pressed his knee into George Floyd's neck for more than eight minutes, has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder. The Minnesota attorney general's office announced Wednesday that it was charging Thao with aiding and abetting and was taking him into custody.
"I am ashamed, embarrassed about Tou Thao's complicit behavior in this murder," Heu says. "But more than that, the reaction of my community and almost a defense of him in this case."
The debate over Thao's real or perceived complicity as another man of color is killed has arrived in a community that has always had underlying tensions with its black neighbors. This goes back to the 1970s, when the Hmong arrived as refugees and were "plopped into the most affordable parts of town," says Bo Thao-Urabe, a Hmong refugee and head of the Coalition of Asian American Leaders in St. Paul. She has no known relation to former officer Thao.
"So we live in proximity to black and brown people," she says. But even though Asian Americans were able to help grow neighborhoods like Frogtown into vibrant communities of color, there has always been tension. Hmong Americans rank lowest among Southeast Asian American ethnic groups "across multiple measures of income," with 60% of them low income and more than 1 of 4 living in poverty, according to a recent study from the group Asian Americans Advancing Justice.
"The little resources that come to the community is what you're told is available," Thao-Urabe says. "And so when you have communities who have all kinds of needs, there's tension between communities who feel like they're not getting enough — and it's true, they are not getting what they need."
Since Floyd's death, Thao-Urabe says, people in the Hmong community have been afraid they'll become targets — either online or in real life. Shops all along University Avenue, Frogtown's main thoroughfare, are boarded up. This fear has coupled with the already lingering anxiety caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has produced an upsurge in violence against Asian Americans.
Thao-Urabe explains that those Hmong who defend ex-officer Thao argue that he shouldn't be viewed like a "white cop" — that is, assumed to be racist and privileged. She says these people say they face racism that goes unseen, despite the model minority myth perpetuated about Asian American immigrants.
"I think that in America, when we lump Asian Americans together, there is an assumed universal success," she says. "People have this preconceived notion that if you are Asian American, you must be educated. You must make a lot of money — and that is not the experience of this community."
In other words, some believe that when it comes to Thao, reserve judgment.
Both Thao-Urabe and Heu say the divide is bringing up the issue of anti-blackness in the Hmong community.
"And that's something we have to deal with," says Thao-Urabe, noting that there have been reports of Hmong leaders and activists "viciously" attacked online for their support for the black community and the Black Lives Matter movement. Some in the Hmong community argue "you can't be both pro-Hmong and pro-black," she says.
For the Twin Cities' Hmong community, the debate over anti-blackness is mostly being talked about behind closed doors. But much of the rest of Asian America seems to be experiencing a more public reckoning, with discussions erupting online over not just anti-blackness sentiment but also communities of color and solidarity.
While many Asian American activist groups, including Thao-Urabe's, were quick to condemn Floyd's death, come out in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and even take to the streets — including the mother of Fong Lee, a young Hmong man shot and killed by Minneapolis police in 2006 — many Asian Americans don't agree.
"I think when Asian Americans are faced with the stark — no pun intended — the black-and-white moral starkness of the video, it's very hard," poet and activist Ed Bok Lee tells NPR.
Lee, who has lived in the Twin Cities area for decades, says the conversation happening right now among Asian Americans harks back to the discussions that took place during the Rodney King riots in the early 1990s. The unrest sparked tensions between the black and Asian American communities when Korean American businesses sustained half of the damage.
"If you are Asian American and you are anti-black, it's probably because you see black people through a white hegemonic lens of racism, colonial-style racism," he says. For Asian Americans to grapple with this moment, Lee says, it will involve opening up a lot of personal and historical trauma of racism and colonialism.
It's "a moment of reflection" for Asian Americans, he says.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2023-05-20T04:58:56+00:00 | kanw.com | https://www.kanw.com/npr-news/2020-06-04/for-one-immigrant-community-george-floyds-death-isnt-just-about-black-and-white |
Explore.org's Fat Bear Week contest continues into the semi-final as a vote-cheating scandal had only temporarily disrupted the fun.
Officials with the organization, which heads up the competition to vote on bear favorites as they eat before they hibernate in Alaska's Katmai National Park and Preserve, detected errors in the voting and quickly flagged the issue.
"Someone stuffed the ballot box!" Explore.org said in a tweet.
The competition allows nature fans to watch the bears on live stream cameras on the Explore.org website, and then a link will direct site users to vote on their favorites.
The bears are seen gathering in the salmon-packed waters of the Brooks River, trying to feast and fatten up before they head into their yearly winter hibernation. The competition raises awareness for the bears and the efforts to preserve the natural environment of the area.
When the staff at Explore.org noticed that two top contenders in the contest were receiving suspicious vote counts, they started to look deeper.
One bear called "747" was in the lead with votes, but its close challenger, "435 Holly" began seeing a suspicious vote spike that jumped by 6,000 votes in just a couple of hours.
Explore.org tweeted that after a review, the correct total came to 37,940 for "747" and then 30,430 for "435."
Explore.org's Candice Rusch told Scripps News, "While not unheard of, it is very uncommon for a bear to come back late in the day like that. We ended up finding just over 9,000 spam votes. It appears as if the spamming stopped when 435 took a decent lead. There were some spam votes for 747 as well."
The organization said the "fake votes" were discarded and all of the votes in the previous days were reviewed, singling they were confident voting had been put back on track.
Rusch said, "We don't want to share too much about the process we used to sort out the spam votes, as we don't want to teach the spammers how to spam better. But we did add a captcha to the poll, which is working to prevent future spamming."
Katmai park says the competition is ""a way to celebrate the resilience, adaptability and strength of Katmai's brown bears."
"The important thing to remember is that despite which bear wins the most votes in the Fat Bear Week competition, they are all winners. Bears get fat to survive and the health of Katmai’s ecosystem, as demonstrated by the sustained run of salmon, clean water, and thriving flora and fauna, enables their survival. Bears don't actually get anything from competing in or winning Fat Bear Week. Instead, it is a way to raise awareness about brown bears: survival, competition, hunger, reproduction, conflict, skill, adaptation, learning, consequences, and the importance of protecting a healthy ecosystem for wildlife and for humans," Rusch said.
You can find profiles for the bears of Fat Bear Week on Explore.org's website. | 2022-10-11T22:18:40+00:00 | tmj4.com | https://www.tmj4.com/news/national/fat-bear-week-finalists-press-ahead-amid-vote-cheating-scandal |
Center Ryan O'Reilly signed a four-year deal with the Nashville Predators as NHL free agency opened Saturday.
O'Reilly, 32, will make $4.5 million against the salary cap on a four-year term. He played last season with the St. Louis Blues and the Toronto Maple Leafs, who acquired him at the trade deadline. O'Reilly became an unrestricted free agent Saturday, and Nashville snatched him up.
The Predators and new general manager Barry Trotz have dramatically revamped their center position in the offseason, trading Ryan Johansen to the Colorado Avalanche and buying out the last three years of center Matt Duchene's contract.
Nashville also signed defenseman Luke Schenn of Toronto on Saturday on a three-year, $8.25 million deal.
O'Reilly finished up a seven-year contract last season. The deal carried an average annual value of $7.5 million, and the Blues rid themselves of it at the trading deadline, shipping their captain to the Maple Leafs.
O'Reilly's start with Toronto was up-and-down as he scored a hat trick not long after the deal, in a win over the Sabres, but on March 3, the club announced he had a broken finger. The 32-year-old center then went on long-term injured reserve, saving Toronto some salary cap room before the playoffs began April 17.
O'Reilly was one of six new players former Toronto general manager Kyle Dubas brought in before the trade deadline in an effort to make the team more competitive. A Stanley Cup winner and playoff MVP in 2019, O'Reilly won 84.4% of his faceoffs with the Maple Leafs before being deactivated.
The veteran helped Toronto get past the first round for the first time since 2004, leading the Maple Leafs past the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games. But Toronto was quickly scurried out of the postseason in Round 2, when the Florida Panthers eliminated the Maple Leafs in five games.
In 2019, O'Reilly was instrumental in St. Louis' worst-to-first season. The Blues won a Game 7 on the road to eliminate the Boston Bruins and secure the club's first Stanley Cup, with O'Reilly winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. | 2023-07-01T17:29:04+00:00 | espn.com | https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/37944651/source-predators-ryan-oreilly-agree-4-year-deal |
PARIS, June 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Paris Air Show -- Pratt & Whitney, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, today announced a $206 million investment plan to expand the capabilities and footprint of its Columbus, Georgia business, which supports commercial and military engine programs. The investment is expected to create around 400 new jobs by the end of 2028, and will go toward the purchase of new machinery, equipment and an 81,000 square foot expansion of the Columbus Engine Center. The footprint expansion will also increase overhaul capacity to 400 GTF engines per year.
"Pratt & Whitney has been doing business in Georgia for nearly 40 years and in that time, our Columbus business has grown from a small manufacturing facility to a large, state-of-the-art manufacturing and overhaul center, where we employ approximately 2,000 employees," said Shane Eddy, president of Pratt & Whitney. "We remain committed to supporting manufacturing jobs in Georgia and see an incredible opportunity to expand our workforce and our company's capabilities in Columbus, aligned with our Industry 4.0 strategy. This investment will help ensure that we have the infrastructure, machinery and equipment upgrades in place to provide the best products and services to our customers worldwide. The tremendous support we receive from the community and state have contributed to our success in Georgia."
Pratt & Whitney will work in partnership with Georgia QuickStart to recruit and train new employees.
"Not every state has the opportunity to announce new jobs and opportunities with an industry leader and great partner like Pratt & Whitney at the Paris Air Show," said Governor Brian Kemp. "Georgia is a top five exporter of aerospace products in the U.S., totaling $9.2 billion in 2022, alone. From the flights that go through the world's most utilized airport to the engines in the very airplanes, the Peach State is crucial to the movement of goods and products. Pratt & Whitney's decision to expand will only further that reputation."
"Economic vitality for our residents and area businesses has been and remains among my top priorities," said Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson. "This announcement of new jobs and new investment is an example of the economic growth that Columbus is poised to capture and we appreciate Pratt & Whitney, the Georgia Department of Economic Development, and the Development Authority of Columbus for their efforts to make this a reality."
The Pratt & Whitney Columbus, Georgia business is located about 90 miles south of Atlanta and is comprised of the Columbus Engine Center and Columbus Forge, which operate on a single campus. The Columbus Engine Center maintains Pratt & Whitney GTF™ engines for the Embraer E-Jets E2, Airbus A220 and Airbus A320neo aircraft families along with F117 and F100 engines. Columbus Forge produces compressor airfoils and nickel and titanium forgings, which are machined into critical rotating components for Pratt & Whitney's commercial and military engines – including the GTF as well as the F135 engine, powering the F-35 Lightning II fighter.
About Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units. To learn more visit www.prattwhitney.com. To receive press releases and other news directly, please sign up here.
About RTX
RTX is the world's largest aerospace and defense company. Our global team of 180,000 employees pushes the limits of known science and redefines how we connect and protect our world. We are advancing aviation, building smarter defense systems and creating innovations to take us deeper into space. Effective July 1, the company will complete its realignment into three customer-focused business units — Collins Aerospace, Raytheon and Pratt & Whitney. The company, with 2022 sales of $67 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.
Pratt & Whitney
+1 (860) 565-9600
media@prattwhitney.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Raytheon Technologies | 2023-06-20T12:08:45+00:00 | witn.com | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2023/06/20/pratt-amp-whitney-announces-206-million-investment-columbus-georgia-business-by-2028-build-capacity/ |
Francisco Mejía Player Prop Bets: Rays vs. Nationals - April 3
Published: Apr. 3, 2023 at 1:26 PM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
After going 1-for-4 with an RBI in his last game, Francisco Mejia and the Tampa Bay Rays face the Washington Nationals (who will hand the ball to Trevor Williams) at 7:05 PM ET on Monday.
In his last game, he went 1-for-4 with an RBI against the Tigers.
Francisco Mejía Game Info & Props vs. the Nationals
- Game Day: Monday, April 3, 2023
- Game Time: 7:05 PM ET
- Stadium: Nationals Park
- Live Stream: Watch this game on fuboTV!
- Nationals Starter: Trevor Williams
- TV Channel: MASN
- Hits Prop: Over/under 0.5 hits (Over odds: -200)
- Home Runs Prop: Over/under 0.5 home runs (Over odds: +650)
- RBI Prop: Over/under 0.5 RBI (Over odds: +195)
- Runs Prop: Over/under 0.5 runs (Over odds: +180)
Looking to place a prop bet on Francisco Mejía? Check out what's available at BetMGM and sign up with this link!
Francisco Mejía At The Plate (2022)
- Mejia hit .242 with 22 doubles, six home runs and seven walks.
- Mejia got a hit in 46 of 94 games last season, with multiple hits in 20 of those games.
- Including the 94 games he played in last season, he homered in five of them (5.3%), going deep in 2% of his trips to home plate.
- Mejia drove in a run in 20.2% of his 94 games last year, with more than one RBI in 8.5% of them (eight). He drove in three or more runs in four games.
- He came around to score 28 times in 94 games (29.8%) last season, including four occasions when he scored more than once (4.3%).
Ready to play FanDuel Daily Fantasy? Get in the game using our link.
Francisco Mejía Home/Away Batting Splits (2022)
Nationals Pitching Rankings (2022)
- The pitching staff for the Nationals had a collective 7.8 K/9 last season, which ranked 23rd in the league.
- The Nationals' 5.01 team ERA ranked 29th among all MLB pitching staffs.
- Nationals pitchers combined to give up 244 total home runs at a rate of 1.5 per game (the most in baseball).
- Williams takes the mound for his first start of the season for the Nationals.
- The 30-year-old right-hander came out of the bullpen and threw six innings when he last appeared Wednesday, Oct. 5 against the Washington Nationals.
- In his 30 appearances last season he finished with a 3.21 ERA and a 1.227 WHIP, compiling a 3-5 record.
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | 2023-04-03T18:43:52+00:00 | mysuncoast.com | https://www.mysuncoast.com/sports/betting/2023/04/03/francisco-mejia-mlb-player-prop-bets/ |
President Biden hung on to a signature piece of his predecessor's economic policy: tariffs on imports of Chinese goods. We explore why they've been kept in place, and what it means to U.S. companies.
Copyright 2023 NPR
President Biden hung on to a signature piece of his predecessor's economic policy: tariffs on imports of Chinese goods. We explore why they've been kept in place, and what it means to U.S. companies.
Copyright 2023 NPR | 2023-06-18T21:49:36+00:00 | kgou.org | https://www.kgou.org/business-and-economy/business-and-economy/2023-06-18/biden-has-clung-to-tariffs-on-china-american-business-owners-say-theres-a-cost |
Dick and Sharon Thomas of Neshkoro, formerly of Kenosha, marked their 50th wedding anniversary with a family cruise to the Bahamas in March.
Dick Thomas met Sharon Luebke, when Sharon's cousin and Dick's friend introduced them on a blind date. They were married on May 20, 1972, at St. Mark Catholic Church in Kenosha. They lived in Kenosha their entire lives before moving to Neshkoro in 2015.
They have two children: Bill Thomas of Chatham, Ill.; and Alison (Mark) Hanson of Waukesha. They have two grandchildren.
Dick worked in food sales. He retired from Fox River Foods in 2012. Sharon worked at the original St Catherine’s Hospital and Aurora Medical Center. She retired from Aurora in 2012.
They were one of the couples featured in the Bridal Section of the Kenosha News in 1972. They were active in church and school activities when they children were young. We enjoyed summer weekends camping, and family winter vacations in Florida. After they retired they spend summers in Wisconsin and winters in Florida, where they stay active with golf, fishing, and spending time with friends and family.
People are also reading…
Their advice for a successful and lasting relationship? Enjoy being with each other! Stick together through the good times and the “bumps in the road." Realize that the love of each other and family is the most important gift. | 2022-06-12T16:15:57+00:00 | kenoshanews.com | https://www.kenoshanews.com/dick-and-sharon-thomas-mark-50th-wedding-anniversary/article_a55ac412-e8d4-11ec-af93-7fb82b41aca5.html |
This is Iowa: The stories of Iowa families
This is Iowa: The stories of Iowa families
SPANISH. DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, KIDS SPEND MORE TIME WITH THEIR CLASSMATE THAN THEIR OWN FAMILIES AND THIS YEAR, A FAMILY OF FUN FIRST GRADERS STARTED WITH A MYSTERY EVERY DAY. WHO IS SNEAKING IN THE CLASSROOM LEAVING ARTWORK ON THEIR WHITE BOARDS? TONIGHT, WE'RE EXPOSING THE SWEET FIRST GRADE SURPRISE. IT'S PART OF A "THIS IS IOWA" SPECIAL IN OUR FINAL STORY YOU'
Advertisement
This is Iowa: The stories of Iowa families
During the school year, kids spend more time with their classmates than their families.This year, mornings in one family of first graders started with a mystery. Who was sneaking into the classroom overnight, leaving them artwork on their rugs and whiteboards? It was the talk of the school, until we found the artist.Tonight, we're exposing the sweet, first grade surprise. It's Cynthia Fodor's final report since retiring from KCCI. It's part of a This is Iowa special you'll see on KCCI at 6:30 p.m.More This is Iowa stories:
WAUKEE, Iowa —
During the school year, kids spend more time with their classmates than their families.
This year, mornings in one family of first graders started with a mystery. Who was sneaking into the classroom overnight, leaving them artwork on their rugs and whiteboards?
Advertisement
It was the talk of the school, until we found the artist.
Tonight, we're exposing the sweet, first grade surprise. It's Cynthia Fodor's final report since retiring from KCCI. It's part of a This is Iowa special you'll see on KCCI at 6:30 p.m. | 2022-06-23T13:47:26+00:00 | kcci.com | https://www.kcci.com/article/the-stories-of-iowa-families-this-is-iowa-special/40389687 |
Accident & Health Division Poised to Harness Opportunity as Travel Continues to Ramp Back Up
MORRISTOWN, N.J. , Aug. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Crum & Forster, a leading national property and casualty, accident and health insurance company with a 200-year history of helping customers manage risk, has hired Barbra Merwin as the new President of Travel Insured International (www.travelinsured.com) within the Accident & Health (A&H) Division.
Travel Insured International (TII) is part of the Specialty Business Unit within C&F's Accident & Health Division. TII is a leading travel insurance provider, offering quality worldwide travel protection for over 25 years and focuses on products including Emergency Assistance and Evacuation, Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Protection, Baggage Insurance, Airline Ticket Protection and plans that include medical benefits for students and travelers worldwide.
In her new role, Ms. Merwin will be leading the TII organization of over 150 employees, including its customer care and sales organization. TII has several global target business segments including travel services and insurance, a wholesale area focused on cruises, tours and group travel needs as well as a dedicated A&H business, which supports a broad range of travelers' needs.
"Barbra joins at a time of great opportunity to shape our strategic expansion into the broader travel insurance and protection marketplace. In her capacity as president, Barbra will oversee the direction of the organization to drive future growth and agency profitability," said Susan Silfen, SVP of the A&H SBU.
Ms. Merwin has over 30 years of experience in the development, multi-channel distribution and administration of insurance and related products across specialty, commercial, property and casualty, employee benefits, and affinity lines of business. "I am excited to join the Crum & Forster family and drive the strategic growth of our travel business just as the market is roaring back," Ms. Merwin said. "This is a dynamic opportunity at an organization that has a long history of focusing on its partners and end customer needs, and I can't wait to get started."
Prior to joining Crum & Forster, Ms. Merwin spent more than eight years at AmTrust Financial Services where she held various executive leadership positions in Strategic Product Development, Marketing, Operations, State Disability Insurance, and most recently was the Head of Claims Integrated Solutions. She also held senior executive positions at HSBC.
Crum & Forster (www.cfins.com), founded in 1822, is a leading national property, casualty, and accident & health insurer, providing specialty insurance products through its admitted and surplus lines insurance companies. C&F has $3.7 billion in gross written premium and is rated "A" Excellent by A M Best for 2022.
Since 2000, the C&F Accident & Health Division has offered a diverse portfolio of specialty insurance and reinsurance products. We place a strong focus on innovative product development and flexible distribution methods, along with excellent client service and support.
In addition to a robust domestic portfolio, C&F offers accident and health solutions on an international basis through its wholly owned captive facility, Crum & Forster Segregated Portfolio Company (SPC) located in the Cayman Islands, as well as through its various partnerships within the Fairfax family. These global capabilities provide partners with even broader flexibility in underwriting solutions.
The C&F logo, C&F and Crum & Forster are registered trademarks of United States Fire Insurance Company. To learn more, follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
Media Contact
Hallie Harenski
VP C&F Corporate Communications
mediainquiries@cfins.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Crum & Forster | 2022-08-18T16:02:56+00:00 | kalb.com | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2022/08/18/crum-amp-forster-welcomes-barbra-merwin-new-president-travel-insured-international/ |
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Producers of spirits have new bragging rights in the age-old whiskey vs. beer barroom debate.
New figures show that spirits surpassed beer for U.S. market-share supremacy, based on supplier revenues, a spirit industry group announced Thursday.
The rise to the top for spirit-makers was fueled in part by the resurgent cocktail culture — including the growing popularity of ready-to-drink concoctions — as well as strong growth in the tequila and American whiskey segments, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States said.
In 2022, spirits gained market share for the 13th straight year in the fiercely competitive U.S. beverage alcohol market, as its supplier sales reached 42.1%, the council said.
After years of steady growth, it marked the first time that spirit supplier revenues have surpassed beer — but just barely, the spirit industry group said. Beer holds a 41.9% market share, it said.
“Despite the tough economy, consumers continued to enjoy premium spirits and fine cocktails in 2022,” Distilled Spirits Council President and CEO Chris Swonger said.
Overall spirit supplier sales in the U.S. were up 5.1% in 2022 to a record $37.6 billion, the group said. Volumes rose 4.8% to 305 million 9-liter cases.
Seemingly unfazed, Brian Crawford, president and CEO of the Beer Institute, insisted that beer “remains America’s number one choice in beverage alcohol.”
“It’s interesting to hear liquor companies boast about making money hand-over-fist while simultaneously going state-to-state hunting for more tax carveouts from state legislatures,” Crawford said in a statement.
Benj Steinman, president of Beer Marketer’s Insights, a leading beer industry trade publication, said the beer industry saw unprecedented growth in the 1970s, growing at a pace of 4% annually. As recently as 2000, beer’s share in the alcohol market was 58%.
Over the past several decades, beer’s growth has essentially been flat. Meanwhile, spirits have flourished, especially over the past two decades.
“I think there’s just a long arc on these things,” Steinman said.
Steinman and Bart Watson, chief economist at the Brewers Association, a craft beer industry trade group, agreed there are several reasons for the shift to spirits.
“Some of it’s just the younger generation coming up, looking for a lot of variety,” Steinman said. “They sometimes like spirits. Cocktail culture is another thing.”
Watson cited data showing that liquor has become 20% cheaper relative to beer in recent decades.
“Price is a particularly large part of the story,” he said.
Another factor is advertising and marketing. Watson pointed to the success of spirits in its outreach to women. Steinman said distilled spirits now advertise freely, something they didn’t do generations ago.
“They’ve increased their availability. They’ve increased their ability to advertise. They’ve had a lot of legislative and policy wins that have enabled growth for distilled spirits,” Steinman said.
For spirit producers, reaching the market share milestone was worth toasting.
At Baltimore Spirits Company in Maryland, the head distiller and the manager of its cocktail bar said they are pleased with the rise in the consumption of spirits.
Eli Breitburg-Smith, head distiller and cofounder, said the distillery founders saw a space in the market to make rye whiskey as consumer demand was growing.
“We did see that it was going to be on the rise,” he said. “Now, I don’t know that we thought it would be overtaking beer or anything like that, but we felt like there was a good space in the market for new whiskey, original whiskey, and people that … were making a unique product.”
Gregory Mergner, the general manager of the distillery’s cocktail gallery, said he didn’t anticipate spirits rivaling or surpassing beer for market share.
“As ubiquitous as beer is. I don’t think anybody could have foreseen whiskey overtaking it,” he said.
The spirit sector’s rise has coincided with a growing thirst for high-end, super-premium products.
That trend toward premiumization slowed overall in 2022. But it remained strong because of growth in the tequila/mezcal and American whiskey categories, the Distilled Spirits Council said.
More than 60% of the spirit sector’s total U.S. revenue last year came from sales of high-end and super-premium spirits, mostly led by tequila and American whiskey, said Christine LoCascio, the group’s chief of public policy and strategy. Those high-end products fetch the highest prices.
“While many consumers are feeling the pinch from inflation and reduced disposable income, they are still willing to purchase that special bottle of spirits choosing to sip a little luxury and drink better, not more,” LoCascio said.
Within the spirit sector, vodka maintained its as status the top revenue producer at $7.2 billion, though sales were flat in 2022, the group said.
In the tequila/mezcal category, sales rose 17.2%, or $886 million, totaling $6 billion, it said.
Sales for American whiskey were up 10.5%, or $483 million, to reach $5.1 billion, it said. The American whiskey category includes bourbon, Tennessee whiskey and rye whiskey.
Brandy and cognac sales were down 12.3%, with revenues totaling $3.1 billion.
Premixed cocktails were the clear leader as the fastest-growing spirit category.
Sales for premixed cocktails, including ready-to-drink spirit products, surged by 35.8%, or $588 million, to reach $2.2 billion, the council said.
Meanwhile, spirit sales volumes in restaurants and bars — referred to as on-premise sales — continued to recover from pandemic-era shutdowns but they remained 5% lower than 2019 levels, the council said. Those sales represent about 20% of the U.S. market.
Off-premise sales volumes at liquor stores and other retail outlets remained steady in 2021 and 2022, after experiencing sharp gains during the pandemic restrictions in 2020, it said.
Meanwhile, there is a crossover strategy brewing in the alcohol market.
Steinman said that even the big players in the beer industry “are playing in all these different growth arenas, including spirits.”
Molson Coors changed its name in 2019, going from Molson Coors Brewing Co. to Molson Coors Beverage Co. Watson noted that the No. 2 canned ready-to-drink liquor product, Cutwater, is made by Anheuser-Busch InBev.
For beer producers, the reversal in market-share rankings is no reason to cry in their suds.
Watson cautioned that the market share trend could flip, calling it “likely at some point we’ll see beer grow again at the expense of other segments.”
___
Salter reported from St. Louis. Associated Press photojournalist Julio Cortez in Baltimore contributed to this report. | 2023-02-09T21:39:49+00:00 | cenlanow.com | https://www.cenlanow.com/business/ap-liquor-before-beer-spirits-beat-brews-in-new-market-data/ |
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate
WASHINGTON (AP) — A top ally of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is demanding fresh answers from the U.S. Capitol Police about security failures that led to a brutal attack on Pelosi’s husband last week, questioning the embattled agency about whether it can keep lawmakers and their families safe.
House Administration Committee Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., wrote a four-page letter to Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger on Wednesday, saying that the attack on Paul Pelosi raises “significant questions about security protections for Members of Congress.” The man who beat Paul Pelosi with a hammer was looking for Nancy Pelosi and later told police that he wanted to hold her hostage and break her kneecaps to make a political point, authorities said.
The searing letter lays out a series of questions for Manger and orders the agency to lay out its plans for protecting lawmakers and their families, including how they are interacting with other law enforcement agencies, how officers are trained for such situations and whether there are special plans in place to protect lawmakers in the presidential line of succession, as Pelosi is.
The letter from Lofgren, whose panel oversees the Capitol Police, comes as the beleaguered agency is still trying to rebuild after the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, when hundreds of former President Donald Trump’s supporters overwhelmed officers and more than 100 were injured. Threats to lawmakers have skyrocketed in recent years — almost 10,000 threats were investigated last year — and the agency has struggled to protect lawmakers, their families and the Capitol campus with limited resources.
The Capitol Police issued a statement on Wednesday saying they will “fast track” the work they had already been doing to protect members outside of Washington.
“Our brave men and women are working around the clock to meet this urgent mission during this divisive time,” the USCP statement said. “In the meantime, a significant change that will have an immediate impact will be for people across our country to lower the temperature on political rhetoric before it’s too late.”
The USCP said it has access to roughly 1,800 cameras, including one on Pelosi’s house that was not being monitored during the attack on Paul Pelosi because the speaker was not there. The Capitol Police video is expected to show an extended struggle by the intruder, David DePape, to break into the Pelosi house as he first worked to break a window in the rear of the home and moved around to break glass in doors on the side of the house, according to a person briefed on the situation who requested anonymity to discuss it.
The San Francisco Police Department often posted a patrol car at the Pelosi house, particularly after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack at the Capitol, but there was no police car present at the home during the time of the attack, the person said. Among many other questions in the letter, Lofgren asked if the agency had any special agreements with San Francisco police to have security stationed outside of Pelosi’s house.
DePape’s state case will continue Friday, though the defendant will not appear in the courtroom. His public defender entered a not guilty plea on his behalf Tuesday and vowed to pursue a “vigorous legal defense.” An arraignment on federal charges has not been scheduled.
Paul Pelosi remained in the Intensive Care Unit in a San Francisco hospital, and was receiving regular visits from Nancy Pelosi and other family members.
In a federal complaint released earlier this week, officials said DePape, 42, was carrying zip ties, tape and a rope in a backpack. He went upstairs where 82-year-old Paul Pelosi was sleeping, and demanded to talk to “Nancy.”
In the letter to the Capitol Police, Lofgren noted that the agency has previously reported that Pelosi receives the most threats of any member of Congress. She asked whether USCP has established protocols for the personal residences of lawmakers who are in the presidential line of succession — Pelosi as speaker and Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont as president pro tempore of the Senate. She also asked if the department has coordinated with the Secret Service to protect those lawmakers, in particular, and whether there is a plan to protect their families.
Members of Congress from both parties have expressed concerns about the increased threats in recent years and in the wake of the Jan. 6 insurrection, when Trump’s supporters broke into the Capitol and sent lawmakers running for their lives. People have showed up at their houses, threatened them online and even shot at them.
Five years ago, a left-wing activist opened fire on Republicans as they practiced for an annual charity baseball game, and Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana was critically wounded.
In 2011, then-Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., was shot in the head at an event outside a Tucson grocery store.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., who had a man show up at her house in Seattle over the summer carrying a pistol, is one member who has been aggressively pushing for more resources. This summer, she convened a call with other House Democrats to crowdsource how to stay safe while in their districts and out campaigning.
“It makes no sense for members of Congress to be doing that,” Jayapal said about the unofficial conversations with her colleagues.
“We fear for ourselves, we fear for our staff, and we really fear for our loved ones,” Jayapal said.
___
Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro and Farnoush Amiri in Washington and Stephanie Dazio in Los Angeles contributed to this report. | 2022-11-02T23:43:09+00:00 | sfgate.com | https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Top-Democrat-demands-answers-from-police-after-17553847.php |
Mega-Soft, Mega-Pigmented and Mega-Sized Skincare-Infused Blush
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Feb. 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Haus Labs by Lady Gaga, supercharged, clean artistry makeup brand reveals their latest collection, Color Fuse Blush in five stunning shades, unlike anything you've seen before. The gel powder formulation melts into skin, leaving a second-skin finish with color that lasts. From bold and vibrant to a soft touch of color, this cutting-edge blush has the versatility you seek for your cheeks. Available exclusively at Sephora US and Canada and Hauslabs.com.
Mega-soft, mega-pigmented, and mega-sized, Color Fuse Blush Collection features five shades (Acai Sky (berry purple), Dragon Fruit Daze (cool pink), Hibiscus Haze (mauve pink), Pomelo Peach (soft coral), and Watermelon Bliss (universal red) with an innovative hybrid gel powder formula from Italy that looks like a powder, but melts onto your skin like a cream. With the lightest touch, a little goes a long way delivering bold pigment payoff. Formulated with a cashmere-soft and silky-smooth texture, this buildable blush effortlessly diffuses into skin, leaving the perfect pop of color.
"As a clean artistry brand for all, it was important to develop blush shades that were high impact pigments and high impact colors that work on all skin tones. The formula feels like a powder but is buttery smooth and melts into the skin like a cream. It is also infused with skincare ingredients including our patented Fermented Arnica which helps to calm and soothe the skin and Hydraberry which adds hydration. I can't wait for everyone to experience Color Fuse Blush!" Sarah Tanno, Makeup Artist and Global Artistry Director, Haus Labs
"At Haus Labs, we strive to achieve the impossible and believe we've done it again. With our new Color Fuse Blush collection, we've created the trifecta: a CLEAN, mega pigment, high performance blush that oozes COLOR and delivers SKINCARE benefits. We are giving bold shades that consumers now know us for, such as the buzzy Watermelon Bliss (in universal red). We create innovative products that break down barriers, perform on everyone, and inspire creativity while pushing the boundaries of art, science and nature." Kelly Coller, Chief Marketing Officer, Haus Labs
Color Fuse Blush showcases multiple unique technologies, including patented and proprietary Fermented Arnica Oil with potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties to nourish, calm, and protect the skin. It also features Hydraberry Complex to reinforce the skin barrier while adding hydration. Patented Biomimetic Pigments mimic the structure of skin ceramides delivering strong adhesion for a second-skin feel; and Metaflow Synergy Manufacturing Technology creates a lightweight film that provides a luxurious velvety touch that melts into the skin.
Haus Labs by Lady Gaga Color Fuse Blush is talc-free, clean, vegan, and cruelty-free. Available for $38 USD in Sephora stores in the US and CAN, sephora.com, and hauslabs.com.
HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA™ // @hauslabs // hauslabs.com // #hauslabs
HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA™ is a CLEAN makeup brand powered by innovation – delivering high-tech, high-pigment, high-performance products that are proprietary, first-to-market or patent-pending, infused with skin-loving ingredients, in chic, sustainable packaging. HAUS LABS celebrates all ages, shapes, sizes, colors, genders, identities, and skill sets. All products are created with kindness: clean, cruelty-free and vegan. ONLY at Sephora U.S. / Canada and hauslabs.com, where $1 from every purchase goes to Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation, supporting mental health.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Haus Labs | 2023-02-23T15:16:48+00:00 | wagmtv.com | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2023/02/23/haus-labs-by-lady-gaga-introduces-color-fuse-blush-bringing-bold-color-with-second-skin-finish-its-innovative-clean-talc-free-formula/ |
LGBTQ+ activists call for new strategies to promote equality after Target backlash
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Following Target’s announcement last week that it removed products and relocated Pride displays to the back of certain stores in the South, activists in the LGBTQ+ community are calling for new campaigns to convince corporate leaders not to cave to anti-LGBTQ+ groups.
“We need a strategy on how to deal with corporations that are experiencing enormous pressure to throw LGBTQ people under the bus,” said California state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, a member of the LGBTQ legislative caucus.
“We need to send a clear message to corporate America that if you’re our ally — if you are truly our ally — you need to be our ally, not just when it’s easy but also when it’s hard,” he said.
While the retailer said its actions were aimed at ensuring the safety and well-being of its employees after protesters knocked over Pride signs and confronted workers in stores, the controversy comes at a time when conflict over LGBTQ+ rights is simmering.
Nearly 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in state legislatures around the country this year. At least 18 states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors.
The hostile environment has prompted some groups to hire security consultants to advise them on activities planned for Pride Month, which begins on Thursday.
“We are forced to think differently about how we handle security at our events and whether or not we can post our staff’s names and emails on our website,” said Janson Wu, executive director of GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, a nonprofit legal rights organization based in Boston.
Debra Porta, executive director of Pride Northwest, in Portland, Oregon, said there have been discussions about a possible boycott, a letter-writing campaign and other actions directed at Target, but plans for an organized protest haven’t yet materialized.
“Because the news is fairly new, more actions may be announced, especially as Pride Month gets here,” said Porta.
Target isn’t the only company grappling with public criticism.
Bud Light is still dealing with fallout from its partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, who in April posted a picture on Instagram of a beer can with her face on it. In response to the hate-filled and transphobic backlash that followed, the company said it “never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people,” but didn’t directly address the rhetoric or signal clear support for Mulvaney. Bud Light’s parent company, Anheuser-Busch, is tripling its U.S. marketing spending this summer as it tries to restore lost sales.
In early May, several gay bars in Chicago stopped selling Anheuser-Busch products to protest the company’s response.
Chicago’s 2Bears Tavern said the company’s response “shows how little Anheuser-Busch cares about the LGBTQIA+ community, and in particular transgender people, who have been under unrelenting attack in this country.”
“Since Anheuser-Busch does not support us, we will not support it,” said the company.
Sidetrack, the largest gay bar in the Midwest, did the same, saying Anheuser-Busch “wrongfully validates the position that it is acceptable to acquiesce to the demands of those who do not support the trans community and wish to erase LGBTQ+ visibility.”
In Florida, Disney has been engaged in a legal battle with Gov. Ron DeSantis since the company expressed its opposition to the state’s classroom limits on discussing gender identity and sexual orientation.
And the Los Angeles Dodgers announced last week that a satirical LGBTQ+ group called the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence will again be welcome at the team’s annual Pride Night — nearly a week after the team rescinded its original invitation, citing backlash from conservative Roman Catholics and politicians who accused the group of mocking the Christian faith.
“Now’s not the time to back down,” said Brian K. Bond, executive director of PFLAG, an organization founded in 1973 to advocate for LGBTQ+ people and their families.
“I think both business and us as citizens need to look within ourselves into new strategies. The old models aren’t necessarily working,” he said.
Some people remain concerned about the impact of Target’s Pride displays on children, said Victoria Cobb, president of The Family Foundation of Virginia, a conservative, faith-based organization in Richmond.
“Target is paying the price for telling kids to be discontent with their bodies, putting ideology ahead of the interests of investors, and creating a hostile store environment for parents with children,” Cobb said in a statement.
In a Richmond Target store on Sunday, Pride merchandise was prominently displayed at the front of the store.
Brenda Alston, a 75-year-old retiree, said she bought a pair of rainbow sandals to show support for the LGBTQ+ community and for Target.
“If you come in the store and this is not what you support, keep on walking and get what you need in another part of the store,” Alston said. “Who are you to tell me what to buy and what Target should offer their customers?”
Still, some see the hostility toward Target and other retailers as just the latest obstacle in a decades-long struggle for equality.
“To me, this is a sign that we’re winning,” said Derek Mize, a gay attorney who lives in an Atlanta suburb with his husband and two children.
“I think that these people moaning about our visibility are the last breaths of a dying prejudice,” he said. “Society is changing, and most people are not concerned about Target selling an LGBTQ shirt.”
___
Selsky reported from Salem, Oregon.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2023-05-30T12:31:08+00:00 | live5news.com | https://www.live5news.com/2023/05/30/lgbtq-activists-call-new-strategies-promote-equality-after-target-backlash/ |
CHICAGO (AP) — An emergency evacuation slide fell from an airliner Monday and landed in the backyard of a home near Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, causing no injuries but damaging a roof, officials and witnesses said.
The Federal Aviation Administration said a United Airlines Boeing 767 had landed safely at O’Hare on Monday on arrival from Switzerland when maintenance workers realized an emergency slide was missing from the plane’s side.
The aircraft was carrying 155 passengers and 10 crew.
WLS-TV reported that Patrick Devitt was not home at the time but his son and father-in-law were present and heard a “boom” shortly after noon. Devitt dragged the slide from his backyard to the front.
He said the slide hit part of the house, damaging the roof, downspout and a window screen.
“When it’s all stretched out, like it’s a little jumbled up I’m sure in the picture from when we dragged it out, it’s larger than a small car. It’s a very, very big piece of equipment,” Devitt told WLS.
United said it was seeking to find out exactly how the slide ended up in the neighborhood.
“We immediately contacted the FAA and are working with our team to better understand the circumstances around this matter,” United said in a statement.
The FAA said, without releasing more details, that it was continuing to investigate. | 2023-07-18T21:58:36+00:00 | everythinglubbock.com | https://www.everythinglubbock.com/news/latest/ap-no-injuries-as-jetliners-evacuation-slide-falls-in-chicago-neighborhood-near-ohare-officials-say/ |
NEW YORK, July 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --
WHAT: Thanks to a dynamic partnership between Audacy and Hard Rock Hotel New York, Grammy-winning global superstar Ed Sheeran set the stage ablaze with an electrifying underplay performance at The Venue on Music Row, Hard Rock's intimate event space. Partnering alongside Atlantic Records, Hard Rock and Audacy united to give select fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Ed Sheeran break from his multi-continent stadium tour for an intimate performance at Hard Rock. Sheeran's lineup featured fan favorites and sensational new tracks from his latest masterpiece, Subtract.
"We're so fortunate to have been able to play host to Ed Sheeran - truly one of the most popular artists in the world - at Hard Rock Hotel New York in such a unique setting," said Keith Sheldon, President of Entertainment for Hard Rock International. "Thanks to our incredible partners at Audacy and Atlantic Records, we were once again able to showcase Hard Rock's long-standing commitment to providing music fans with exceptional entertainment experiences."
"We are thrilled to have added another iconic night of music alongside our partners at Hard Rock and Atlantic Records and deliver an exciting evening with Ed Sheeran," said Michael Martin, Senior Vice President of Programming and Music Initiatives, Audacy. "We enjoyed creating an unforgettable night for our listeners and Ed's biggest fans.
Audacy and Hard Rock's multi-faceted partnership, which began in 2021, has included several Audacy events hosted at multiple Hard Rock locations nationwide, including Leading Ladies at both the Hard Rock Hotel New York and Hard Rock Live at the flagship Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, as well as intimate performances and interviews with artists including Florence and the Machine, Backstreet Boys and Mike Shinoda. Audacy will host an album listening party with Brett Young at the hotel in New York on August 1.
Listeners can tune in to The Ed Sheeran Audacy Live Special on the Audacy app on Friday, August 4 at 8 pm local time and across Audacy stations nationwide. Listen here: https://www.audacy.com/music/audacy-live-ed-sheeran
WHEN: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 – 7pm – 9pm EST
WHERE: The Venue on Music Row at Hard Rock Hotel New York
159 W 48th St., New York, NY
VISUALS: Link can be found HERE, including photo assets of the performance. This link will be updated to include video assets as well.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Hard Rock Hotel New York | 2023-07-20T17:59:18+00:00 | mysuncoast.com | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2023/07/20/ed-sheeran-performs-venue-music-row-part-dynamic-partnership-between-audacy-hard-rock-hotel-new-york/ |
Colorado Springs admin. offices to close on 4th – parks, pools, etc. to remain open
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- In observance of Independence Day, the City of Colorado Springs administrative offices will be closed but facilities like parks, pools, historic sites, and golf courses will be open.
Several 4th of July events are also happening across the city on Tuesday.
The following City of Colorado Springs administrative offices and agencies will be closed Tuesday, July 4 in observance of Independence Day:
- City Administration Building
- City Clerk
- City Hall
- Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum
- Deerfield Hills, Hillside, Meadows Park, and Westside community centers
- Mountain Metropolitan Transit (Administrative offices)
- Municipal Court
- Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Administrative Building
- Sales Tax Office
- Sertich Ice Center
- Sports Office and Therapeutic Recreation Programs
The following city facilities are open on Tuesday:
- City fountains, pools and spray grounds
- Garden of the Gods Park
- Patty Jewett Golf Course
- Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain (weather permitting)
- Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site
- Starsmore Visitor and Nature Center
- Valley Hi Golf Course
Family Fourth at Rock Ledge Ranch
From 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Tuesday, Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site will host a variety of activities, including live music; reenactments from notable historical figures; performances by the Pikes Peak Brass Band and the Seven Falls Indian Dancers; carnival games, a candy scramble, wagon rides and more.
Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for seniors (55+), and $4 for children (6-17). Children ages 5 and under are free. There are discounts available for active-duty military with an ID. For more information, visit rockledgeranch.com/event/family-fourth/.
Star-Spangled Symphony, July 4th Block Party, and 4th of July Symphony on Your Porch
Celebrate the 4th of July at the Star-Spangled Symphony & July 4th Block Party on Tuesday from 3 - 7 p.m. in downtown Colorado Springs. There will be a free performance from the Philharmonic and block party at the Pikes Peak Center. Fireworks, weather dependent, are scheduled to begin at 9:15 p.m. Visit COS4thofJuly.org for complete details, including a full schedule of events and fireworks map. | 2023-06-30T23:31:12+00:00 | krdo.com | https://krdo.com/news/2023/06/30/colorado-springs-admin-offices-to-close-on-4th-parks-pools-etc-to-remain-open-2/ |
By MOGOMOTSI MAGOME
Associated Press
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — At least nine people have died while eight others are still missing in South Africa after they were swept away by a flash flood along the Jukskei river in Johannesburg, rescue officials said Sunday.
Two bodies were recovered on Saturday and a further seven bodies were found when the rescue mission was resumed on Sunday morning.
The dead and missing were all part of a congregation conducting religious rituals along the river on Saturday, according to officials.
Rescue teams are conducting interviews with some of the people who survived or were rescued to establish exactly how many people are accounted-for.
Johannesburg Emergency Services spokesman Robert Mulaudzi said Sunday that officials continually warn residents about the dangers of conducting the rituals along the river.
“We have been receiving a lot of rain on the city of Johannesburg in the last three months and most of the river streams are now full. Our residents, especially congregants who normally practice these kinds of rituals, will be tempted to go to these river streams,” he told a news briefing.
“Our message for them is to exercise caution as and when they conduct these rituals,” added Mulaudzi.
Congregations often gather to conduct church rituals including cleansing and baptism along the Jukskei river which runs along many townships including Alexandra in the east of Johannesburg.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | 2022-12-04T22:53:15+00:00 | wtmj.com | https://wtmj.com/national/2022/12/04/flash-flood-kills-nine-at-church-gathering-in-south-africa/ |
BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — U.S. President Joe Biden became concerned that his Brazilian counterpart was going to skip this week’s summit in Los Angeles, so he dispatched a close adviser to personally deliver the invitation to Jair Bolsonaro.
The gesture was met with a demand, according to three of the Brazilian leader’s Cabinet ministers.
Bolsonaro said he would attend the Summit of the Americas only if Biden granted him a private meeting and also refrained from confronting him over some of the most contentious issues between the two men, the officials told The Associated Press.
He didn’t want any criticism over deforestation in the Amazon or warnings about his questioning of the Brazilian electoral system’s reliability as he prepares to campaign for another term, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly.
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department did not address questions about the requested preconditions.
Whether or not Biden bites his tongue, the demand is a reminder of the gap between the two leaders as they prepare for their first one-on-one meeting, which two ministers from Bolsonaro’s government said was expected to take place Thursday. The White House has not said when the meeting will happen.
Bolsonaro’s attendance at the summit may help Biden contain embarrassment over some leaders staying away, partly in a dispute over not all the region’s nations being invited to the conference, which is being hosted by the U.S. for the first time since the inaugural event in 1994.
But Bolsonaro’s appearance may also be a source of friction. Ignoring Bolsonaro’s unrelenting barrage of criticism for Brazil’s election system may be untenable for Biden, who has said promoting democratic institutions at home and abroad, is a core part of his administration.
“I don’t think there’s any way around it,” said Ted Piccone, a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who works on Latin America issues. “If Biden says nothing about this issue, it will look bad for him and his democracy agenda in the region and at home.”
As a far-right ally of former President Donald Trump, Bolsonaro was among the world’s last heads of state to recognize Biden’s election victory. More recently, Bolsonaro accused Biden of snubbing him at a summit of world leaders in Rome last year, saying: “He went by as if I did not exist.”
While Biden ran for president two years ago, he criticized Brazil for rising deforestation in the Amazon. After Biden took office, Bolsonaro’s administration worked to demonstrate commitment to reining in the destruction. Efforts included stepping up its pledges at the U.N. climate talks in Glasgow and regular bilateral meetings with U.S. authorities.
But those conversations stalled as data showed continued deforestation. The most recent annual reading was the worst in 15 years.
“This is really heading in the wrong direction,” Piccone said. “If Biden can get Bolsonaro to stop the damage, that would be a win.”
Brazil is the hemisphere’s second most populous democracy after the U.S., and Bolsonaro’s positioning ahead of his reelection campaign has raised alarm at home and in Washington.
He will be running against his political nemesis, leftist former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. While Bolsonaro has fervent support among his base, early polls say da Silva is leading handily before October’s election. The campaign officially starts in August, though both Bolsonaro and da Silva are already holding rallies.
Bolsonaro insists polls don’t reflect the true scope of his support, and he has sown doubt about the electronic voting machines employed in every Brazilian election since 1996. He says the electoral authority lacks transparency and accuses some of its members of being biased against him.
Analysts and opposition lawmakers say they worry Bolsonaro is laying the groundwork to reject election results should he fail to secure a second term, and follow Trump’s example in encouraging supporters to back a tropical version of the U.S. Capitol riot. He has said repeatedly that only God can remove him from the presidency.
“Democracy in the country is no longer just a domestic issue,” the electoral authority’s president, Luiz Edson Fachin, said in an interview with foreign correspondents on Tuesday. “Brazil’s democracy is of interest to Brazil but also South America, Latin America and all democractic countries in the world.”
In a meeting last July at the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia, CIA Director William Burns told two of Bolsonaro’s ministers that the president should stop attacking the electoral system, said two officials who were present at the meeting and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Brazil’s presidential palace did not respond to a request for comment about the tenor of the Burns meeting. The CIA declined to comment.
Burns’ warning didn’t prevent Bolsonaro, just two months later, from pushing Brazil to the brink of an institutional crisis when he rallied supporters to protest against the Supreme Court and told the assembled masses he would no longer heed rulings from one of its justices. Ultimately, he backtracked and said his comments had come in the heat of the moment.
Months went by without further attacks. Recently, though, he has returned to his heated rhetoric.
“If need be, we will go to war,” the president told a crowd Friday during a speech in Parana. “I want the people by my side, conscious of what they are doing and for whom they are fighting.”
“He keeps preparing a coup,” Sen. Renan Calheiros told AP by phone. “The political parties need to remain prepared, support the Supreme Court that is the country’s great bulwark, and keep institutions strong, calling the attention of the world.”
Calheiros is one of eight senators participating in an informal watchdog group that this year has been meeting to discuss Bolsonaro’s comments and the traction they receive among civilians, police and military. The group also includes Supreme Court justices and members of the electoral authority, Calheiros said.
The U.S. has confidence in Brazil’s electoral system, Juan González, the National Security Council’s senior director for the Western Hemisphere, told reporters Wednesday.
But he didn’t say if the issue would be raised when Biden and Bolsonaro have their bilateral meeting. He said they would address global topics, citing as possibilities food security, health security and economic actions in response to the pandemic.
If Biden doesn’t push Bolsonaro to respect election results, he risks legitimizing the Brazilian leader’s recent challenging of authorities, Brazilian political analyst Thomas Traumann said.
“I only see downside for Biden,” Traumann, whose uncle was a top aide for Biden, said by phone.
He noted that the Summit of the Americas is supposed to promote democracy, “but Biden is going to be in a photo beside President Bolsonaro, and that doesn’t guarantee that he will accept the election results.”
Bolsonaro, for his part, can use the meeting to head off criticism at home that he is isolated internationally and lacks access to the U.S. president, said Rubens Barbosa, a former Brazilian ambassador to Washington who is president of the Institute of International Relations and Foreign Trade, a Sao Paulo-based think tank.
Bolsonaro has not held many bilateral meetings in his three years as president. He met with Trump in 2019 and 2020 during visits to Washington and Mar-a-Lago, and in the weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine, Bolsonaro met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow and later with Hungarian leader Viktor Orban in Budapest.
___
Megerian reported from Washington. AP writer Diane Jeantet contributed from Rio de Janeiro. | 2022-06-08T08:07:04+00:00 | wnct.com | https://www.wnct.com/news/politics/biden-bolsonaro-to-hold-first-meeting-amid-election-worries/ |
In the sky, it may feel like the wheels are coming off, with near miss after near miss of planes.
"A lot of this isn't reinventing the wheel," said David Slotnick, senior aviation business reporter at The Points Guy. "It's sort of just oiling it up, basically making sure it can spin again."
Now the FAA is telling airlines it needs their help preventing a logistical meltdown this summer in the country's busiest region for air travel.
"We need to make sure, of course, that as that system comes back to that high level of demand, there is no negative safety impact to that," said Pete Buttigieg, transportation secretary.
At a hearing on Capitol Hill this week, Buttgieg committed to an accounting of why recent "close-calls" happened and what the FAA can do to prevent them going forward. Among the efforts already underway is more training for ATC, or air traffic controllers, with updated training software, plus coordination with ATC supervisors and the Controllers Union to underscore safety parameters.
"People don't really realize the work that goes into being a controller," Slotnick said. "You have to train immensely. You have to be really good at all these procedures and everything that you have to go through weeks of training in the place that you're actually working."
SEE MORE: No one hurt when 2 United flights touch at Boston airport
That logistical challenge has left the FAA with a huge training backlog from the pandemic and too few controllers in places like New York Center — a huge air traffic control hub that coordinates the dance of planes flying high over the New York area. That shortage prompted the FAA to tell airlines it's okay if they don't use up all of their allotted flight schedules this summer, so-called "slots."
"The FAA uses a system, the slot control system, to basically set a number of flights," Slotnick said. "That can happen per day, and it's a way to just avoid overcrowding, really... What the FAA is doing is saying that if you don't want to use the slots this summer, up to 10% of them, you don't have to, and you won't lose them. We won't penalize you."
That could mean fewer flights for travelers but could help avoid a situation where the number of flights exceeds ATC capacity to manage them — a delicate dance for a strained FAA, trying to reassure the flying public.
"Bar none, it's the safest way to move around somewhere," Slotnick said. "It is extremely safe."
Trending stories at Scrippsnews.com | 2023-03-25T02:07:46+00:00 | krtv.com | https://www.krtv.com/news/national/faa-calls-on-airlines-to-help-prevent-another-travel-meltdown |
NEW YORK, July 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --J.P. Morgan Real Estate Income Trust, Inc. ("JPMREIT") today announced that its registration statement on Form S-11 has been declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The initial public offering of common stock consists of up to $4,000,000 of Class T, Class S, Class D and Class I shares in the primary offering and up to $1,000,000 of shares pursuant to a distribution reinvestment plan. JPMREIT is externally advised and sponsored by J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. ("JPMIM" or the "Adviser").
JPMREIT's equity real estate investments will include a range of asset types with a focus on stabilized, income-generating properties. To a lesser extent, JPMREIT will also invest in real estate value creation opportunities that incorporate property refurbishment, redevelopment and development, which are expected to be owned long-term for both income generation and potential capital appreciation.
JPMREIT seeks to build a property portfolio comprised of approximately 75% stabilized, income-generating properties and 25% refurbishment, redevelopment and development properties. JPMREIT expects to invest in the property types helped by the manner in which the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated fundamental changes in the way Americans use real estate to consume, work and live and expects to qualify as a real estate investment trust for federal income tax purposes.
Shares in JPMREIT will be offered on a continuous basis at a price generally equal to the net asset value per share of each class of common stock, updated monthly. The initial per share purchase price was $10.00 per share, plus applicable upfront selling commissions and manager fees.
J.P. Morgan Institutional Investments Inc. will act as the dealer manager for the offering on a best efforts basis and will engage selected broker-dealers to participate in the distribution of the shares to individual investors.
Written copies of the prospectus may be obtained from J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc., Attn: Sam Wallman.
*****************
These statements are based upon JPMREIT's current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof. JPMREIT's actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and uncertainties including those relating to future economic, competitive and market conditions and future business decisions by JPMREIT. JPMREIT undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.
THIS PRESS RELEASE SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY, NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN IN ANY STATE OR JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE OR JURISDICTION. AN OFFERING IS MADE ONLY BY THE PROSPECTUS WHICH FORMS A PART OF THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT. This press release must be read in conjunction with the prospectus in order to fully understand all of the implications and risks of the offering of securities to which the prospectus relates. A copy of the prospectus must be made available to each prospective investor in connection with the offering. Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Attorney General of the State of New York nor any other state securities regulator has approved or disapproved of our common stock, determined if the prospectus is truthful or complete or passed on or endorsed the merits of the offering. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
J.P. Morgan Institutional Investments Inc.; dealer manager, member FINRA/SIPC
View original content:
SOURCE J.P. Morgan Asset Management | 2022-07-26T14:55:37+00:00 | wlox.com | https://www.wlox.com/prnewswire/2022/07/26/jp-morgan-real-estate-income-trust-inc-initial-public-offering-declared-effective-by-securities-exchange-commission/ |
17-year-old among 2 shot in Birmingham Saturday
Published: Jun. 18, 2022 at 5:59 PM CDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - A 17-year-old and another person were shot Saturday, June 18 in the 900 block of 3rd Street North.
Birmingham Police responded to the address around 3:49 p.m. The two victims were taken to UAB hospital.
Police believe the 17-year-old has life-threatening injuries. He is in stable condition.
The other victims injuries were non-life threatening.
No arrests have been made.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE WBRC FOX6 NEWS APP
Subscribe to our WBRC newsletter and receive the latest local news and weather straight to your email.
Copyright 2022 WBRC. All rights reserved. | 2022-06-19T00:29:01+00:00 | wbrc.com | https://www.wbrc.com/2022/06/18/17-year-old-among-2-shot-birmingham-saturday/ |
Newly Enhanced Danatech Website Includes CGM Insurance Lookup Tool
CHICAGO, Oct. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- All healthcare professionals caring for people with diabetes now have access to vital information about the latest diabetes technology in one place through the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists' (ADCES) newly revamped danatech website.
Launched in 2018, danatech has been updated and enhanced. ADCES now provides free danatech access to all healthcare professionals, from the nurse who is trying to determine if insurance will cover a prescription for a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to the provider who wants to compare the various insulin pumps to the radiologist who wants to know whether a patient should remove their device before having an MRI. Site visitors can also access training and education on the devices, including many for continuing education (CE/CME) credit. Many of these offerings are free.
"The number of people with diabetes is skyrocketing and there aren't nearly enough specialists to treat them all, healthcare professionals in multiple practice settings are caring for people with diabetes," said Leslie Kolb, DrPH, MBA. BSN, RN, chief science, practice and learning officer for ADCES. "But many are not familiar with the multitude of new technologies and devices available to those who need them the most. These technologies and devices generate the data that allows for effective care planning and danatech helps healthcare professionals get up to speed so they can collaborate with their patients most effectively to self-manage their diabetes."
The easy-to-navigate site includes information on apps and digital therapeutics designed to prevent, manage and/or treat diabetes and features:
- CGM insurance lookup tool to determine whether a patient's insurance pays for a CGM prescription.
- Information for all brands of CGMs, insulin pumps and insulin/medicine delivery systems.
- Free and fee-based training and education for CE/CME on the various devices.
- Three certificate programs: Putting Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) Into Practice, Connected Insulin Devices and The Art of Telehealth.
"While some of these resources are available elsewhere, it's piecemeal, whereas danatech brings it all together," said Kolb. "For example, if a provider wants to compare insulin pumps to determine which would be best for a patient, they'd have to visit each of the manufacturer's websites individually. Now they don't."
Contact: Danielle McNary, 312-601-4805
dmcnary@adces.org
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES) | 2022-10-13T23:06:34+00:00 | kfyrtv.com | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2022/10/13/providers-now-have-free-access-latest-diabetes-technology-one-place/ |
THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Greece’s prime minister says that he cannot imagine that tensions with neighboring NATO ally Turkey could ever escalate into armed conflict.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke at a press conference Sunday at the Thessaloniki International Fair, where he gave the keynote speech Saturday outlining his government’s economic policy goals.
Asked by The Associated Press whether a recent escalation in rhetoric from Turkey, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, could be the prelude to an armed conflict, Mitsotakis replied negatively.
“I don’t believe this will ever happen. And if, God forbid, it happened, Turkey would receive an absolutely devastating response. And I think they know it very well. Turkey knows the competence of the Greek (armed) forces,” he said.
Erdogan has accused Greece of occupying supposedly demilitarized islands in the Aegean Sea and has threatened that Turkey would take action.
Mitsotakis added that, despite Erdogan’s “unacceptable” comments, he was still open to dialogue and a meeting with him.
Mitsotakis linked Greece’s unequivocal support for Ukraine to concerns that, if Russia prevails, it could serve as an example to other countries with expansionist designs.
“There is a dividing line between the countries that respect the inviolability of borders (and) the rules of international law and those who believe that, based on the law of the strongest, they can target countries they believe are weaker and change the borders on a whim,” Mitsotakis said.
Mitsotakis added “it is very important to give Ukraine the chance to negotiate a peace with Russia on its own terms and certainly not as the loser in this war.”
___
Demetris Nellas contributed from Athens, Greece | 2022-09-11T20:23:50+00:00 | kxnet.com | https://www.kxnet.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-greek-leader-says-armed-conflict-with-turkey-wont-happen/ |
Scott Family Amazeum celebrates 7 years, 1.5 million visitors
The Scott Family Amazeum kicks off its 7th birthday celebrations Friday.
The children's museum has welcomed more than 1.5 million visitors in its seven years of operation.
Sam Dean, the executive director of the Scott Family Amazeum, said the first seven years were amazing, but there are more good things to come in its next seven years.
"We look at what the community is asking us to do. We think we’ve grown a little beyond, so we’ll be looking at ways to expand to be able to be out larger on our property, to work more with younger kids teens and adults, be out in a broader community. We’re doing 51 appearances at libraries this summer, so we want the Amazeum experience to be wherever you are, not just wherever this place is," Dean said.
Friday's festivities are centered around wool, the traditional seventh anniversary gift.
Activities include the Barn Yard Buddies Petting Zoo, finger knitting, felting, painting with yarn and demonstrations from the NWA Weavers.
Tickets for children over 2 and adults are $11.
Children under 2 and all members can get into the Amazeum for free. | 2022-07-15T12:02:30+00:00 | 4029tv.com | https://www.4029tv.com/article/scott-family-amazeum-celebrates-7-years-15-million-visitors/40622496 |
It's been more than five years since the mass shooting in a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas killed 25 people, including one pregnant person, and injured 22 others. Officials put the total death toll at 26.
A District Court ruled in 2021 that the government was 60% responsible for the massacre after shooter Devin Kelley, who was discharged from the Air Force after a felony conviction, wasn't entered into the national database that would have prevented him from buying a gun. A judge said the government also owed victims $230 million in damages.
But in court documents filed this week, the Department of Justice pushed back on paying damages and denied that they were primarily responsible for the shooting — a move that gun control advocates say not only harms victims and their families, but is also a backwards step for the Biden administration's own stance on gun control policy.
"We think that the government should hold itself accountable for its failures in this case, and I think they should provide these families with the small piece of justice they deserve," Erin Davis, senior counsel at Brady, a gun control advocacy organization, told NPR.
DOJ spokesperson Dena Iverson said in a statement that the Department of Justice remains "open to resolving the plaintiffs' claims through settlement and will continue our efforts to do so," and said the DOJ is continuing efforts at an "out-of-court resolution."
It's still possible that the DOJ could settle the case, though it has already filed an appeal, but it's not yet clear what next steps the department will take. In the meantime, many who work in the gun control advocacy space say the decision politically clouds the Biden administration's own stance on the importance of background checks.
Robert Cottrol, a professor of law at The George Washington University, said the government's default position is to defend themselves against monetary claims. But he acknowledged that the argument the DOJ is making works against the administration politically.
"I think it might make the administration's position politically more difficult," Cottrol said.
Plaintiff's lawyer says Biden's DOJ is playing into the NRA's hands
Jamal Alsaffar, the attorney representing the Sutherland Springs victims and their families, said that by appealing the ruling from the district judge, the DOJ is playing into the National Rifle Association's hands.
"If the DOJ wins, we have substantially weakened the ability to enforce background check laws," Alsaffar said.
The NRA's legislative arm released a statement saying the lawsuit "forced the government to admit inconvenient truths about the limitations of gun control."
The NRA said it was "significant" that the Justice Department has argued that a background check on the shooter may not have stopped the shooting, and argued that the Air Force could not have known that the shooter had the potential to commit such a crime.
"Both those admissions essentially negate any further claims by the Biden Administration that firearm background checks have any essential role to play in public safety," the NRA wrote.
"The Biden DOJ is walking right into the NRA's trap," Alsaffar said. "Why the DOJ wants to undermine the very most important element of the Biden administration's gun safety policy is beyond me."
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre, when asked about the DOJ's decision to appeal on Friday, referred questions to the Justice Department. But she added that Biden "continues to be committed on making sure that we address an issue that is affecting families across the country, communities across the country, which is gun violence."
President Biden has not commented on the case either, but has, several times, spoken about what he sees as the effectiveness of background checks. Early last year, for example, he said they help make sure "the people who are not allowed to have a gun, don't get the gun in the first place." And last summer he signed a bipartisan bill that would expand background checks.
Last February, at a gun violence prevention task force meeting in New York, Biden also commented on holding the gun lobby and gun manufacturers accountable.
"They've got to be held responsible for the things that they do that are irresponsible," Biden said.
The government has settled and paid out victims from two other mass shootings
Sutherland Springs isn't the first time the government has been found responsible for a mass shooting incident. In fact, during the litigation in the Sutherland Springs case, the government paid out victims from the 2018 shooting at a high school in Parkland, Fla., and the 2015 shooting at a church in Charleston, S.C.
The DOJ has said in the appeal they filed that in the case of Sutherland Springs, "the United States unequivocally does not seek to excuse the Air Force's failure to submit Kelley's fingerprints and record of conviction for inclusion in NICS databases."
But, they take issue with the ruling from the district judge that found the government mostly responsible for the attack.
"The United States is not liable for Kelley's actions, and is certainly not more responsible for those acts than the murderer himself," the DOJ said, adding that the United States is not "legally responsible" for the damages caused by the shooting.
But given the past settlements with victims and families from Parkland and Charleston, Alsaffar says his clients in Sutherland Springs should also get what they are owed.
"It makes zero sense on the law and the facts that the DOJ would resolve fairly with the families of Parkland and the families of the South Carolina church massacre and not even approach the same fairness... in our case," Alsaffar said.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2023-01-14T11:10:10+00:00 | kgou.org | https://www.kgou.org/politics-and-government/2023-01-14/doj-appeal-in-texas-mass-shooting-case-pleases-nra-and-puzzles-gun-control-advocates |
WFO DALLAS / FT. WORTH Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Friday, May 5, 2023
_____
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
The National Weather Service in Fort Worth has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Erath County in north central Texas...
Central Comanche County in central Texas...
* Until 715 PM CDT.
* At 558 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over De Leon, or
10 miles west of Dublin, 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.
* Locations impacted include...
Stephenville, Dublin, De Leon, Huckabay, Bluff Dale, Morgan Mill,
Proctor Lake, Purves, Comyn, Harbin, Alexander, Proctor, Clairette,
Lingleville, Duffau, Edna Hill, Bunyan, Rucker, Johnsville and
Selden.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection get inside a sturdy structure and stay away from
windows.
_____
Copyright 2023 AccuWeather | 2023-05-06T00:13:26+00:00 | expressnews.com | https://www.expressnews.com/weather/article/tx-wfo-dallas-ft-worth-warnings-watches-and-18082368.php |
Ex-GOP Rep. Fortenberry gets probation for lying to feds
Omaha, Neb. – Former Republican U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska was sentenced Tuesday to two years of probation, a $25,000 fine and community service for lying to federal authorities about an illegal campaign contribution, on the same day that voters in his district were deciding on his replacement in a special election.
Fortenberry, 60, was sitting quietly as a federal judge read the sentence in a Los Angeles courtroom. The former congressman resigned in March shortly after a California jury found him guilty in the corruption case. He has maintained his innocence and said he plans to appeal.
Prosecutors were seeking six months in prison for Fortenberry, while his attorneys had requested probation.
Fortenberry’s sentence includes 320 hours community service. It was handed down as a special election was taking place to fill the rest of his term, which ends in January. Republican state Sen. Mike Flood faces a fellow legislator, Democrat Patty Pansing Brooks, in the GOP-leaning eastern Nebraska district.
Prosecutors alleged Fortenberry lied to federal agents multiple times about $30,000 in illegal campaign contributions he received from a Nigerian billionaire at a 2016 fundraiser in Los Angeles. Federal law prohibits donations from foreigners.
At his trial, prosecutors played phone recordings between Fortenberry and a donor-turned-informant, who warned the congressman that the donations had likely been funneled to him from Gilbert Chagoury, the Nigerian billionaire of Lebanese descent. Fortenberry’s attorneys later argued that he didn’t hear the warning due to bad cellphone reception.
In the special election, Flood appears to have a strong edge in the district, which includes Lincoln, parts of suburban Omaha and dozens of smaller, more conservative towns. The district has nearly 68,000 more Republicans than Democrats and hasn’t elected a Democrat to Congress since 1964.
Republicans are also outpacing Democrats in early-ballot turnout for the special election, according to the Nebraska secretary of state’s office. In most elections, early absentee votes tend to favor Democrats.
For voters, a switch from Fortenberry to Flood wouldn’t make much difference in terms of policy. Both have described themselves as strong conservatives who support tax cuts and oppose abortion.
“I think it’s fair to say that their votes would line up probably 90% of the time,” said Sam Fischer, a retired Republican campaign consultant.
Fischer said Flood, like Fortenberry, tends to be a behind-the-scenes player who’s more interested in policy than seeking attention. Flood has played to this perception in campaign ads, describing himself as a “nerd” who will “get things done.”
“His style is not to be a showhorse, but a workhorse,” Fischer said.
Pansing Brooks has said she would also promote the district’s interests in Congress and work across party lines.
“I’ve said one-party rule isn’t working. We have to come together,” she said during a televised debate with Flood.
Flood and Pansing Brooks will face each other again in the November general election to decide who takes the seat for the next congressional term.
Fortenberry’s spiral began after he accepted political donations from Chagoury during a 2016 fundraiser in Los Angeles. Chagoury funneled the money to Fortenberry’s campaign through strawmen. Chagoury’s contributions to Fortenberry and other politicians triggered a federal investigation.
Fortenberry “did not engage in this wrongdoing out of an urgent financial need or because of an aberrant life circumstance,” prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memo. “Rather, he was motivated by plain, selfish desire to cling to his status as a powerful federal official.”
Fortenberry’s trial was the first of a sitting congressman since Rep. Jim Traficant, D-Ohio, was convicted of bribery and other felony charges in 2002.
Fortenberry’s attorney, John Littrell, argued that the conviction has already devastated his client’s life by forcing him to resign from Congress, stripping away his right to vote and own firearms, and putting his federal pension at risk.
“The painful collateral consequences of this conviction have already achieved any deterrence that this prosecution could achieve,” Littrell wrote in a counter brief. “There is no danger to the public. Mr. Fortenberry has led an extraordinary and rigorously law-abiding life over his sixty-one years. He will continue to do good for others.”
Fortenberry’s departure creates an unusual situation in the district, which was redrawn by state lawmakers in September as part of the once-a-decade redistricting process.
The new districts went into effect immediately after lawmakers and Gov. Pete Ricketts approved them, which changed the area and some of the constituents that Fortenberry represented, said Cindi Allen, a spokeswoman for Nebraska Secretary of State John Gale.
Flood and Pansing Brooks are running in the new district, with some new constituents that weren’t eligible to vote for Fortenberry during his last election in 2020.
–––
Melley reported from Los Angeles. | 2022-06-28T17:14:15+00:00 | detroitnews.com | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2022/06/28/ex-gop-rep-fortenberry-gets-probation-lying-feds/7757014001/ |
(NEXSTAR) – For anyone wondering, yes, Bob Odenkirk knows how to make an authentic Cinnabon cinnamon roll.
During the penultimate episode of “Breaking Bad,” Odenkirk’s character of Saul Goodman laments having to flee Albuquerque — and give up his lucrative-yet-unscrupulous law practice — as the Feds start closing in.
“If I’m lucky, a month from now, best-case scenario, I’m managing a Cinnabon in Omaha,” he tells Walter White, the two of them standing in the basement of a vacuum-repair shop, waiting to be given new identities and placed in hiding.
At the time, it was a silly, seemingly throwaway line. But after Cinnabon expressed their excitement at being name-dropped on one of the most critically lauded series on TV, the production team at AMC went ahead and built upon the idea for “Better Call Saul,” its then-upcoming prequel series.
“Following that line, our social media team quickly tweeted at Bob Odenkirk and shared a link to our careers page,” Michael Alberici, the VP of marketing at Cinnabon, told Nexstar. Alberici added that Cinnabon and AMC’s relationship eventually “evolved” to the point that the company was actually working with the production on “Better Call Saul.”
“We never imagined that line and our social media response would have led to being involved at the level we have been,” he said.
But Cinnabon didn’t just give permission for “Better Call Saul” to use its name and logo. In helping to add a more authentic touch to the series, actual Cinnabon operations employees have been present during every Cinnabon-set scene on “Better Call Saul” since the show’s inception.
“Our operations team members are on-site for every season and prepare the bakery set, real product, and help coach Bob and the other actors,” Alberici said.
The scenes are also filmed in a former Cinnabon bakery in an Albuquerque mall, though the space has been closed to the public for years.
“Each season, Cinnabon stocked it to look like a functioning bakery by shipping in equipment, packaging, product, etc. and bringing it back to life,” according to Alberici.
In earlier seasons, real-life Cinnabon employees played extras in the bakery scenes, but that’s no longer the case. These days, Saul Goodman’s co-workers — sorry, Gene Takavic’s co-workers — are merely actors portraying Cinnabon employees.
Despite having representatives on set during filming, Alberici said Cinnabon’s team members know only “what will be shot” during the bakery scenes, and are never given access to the full scripts or story arcs, in order to keep the plot of each episode a secret. A representative for AMC confirmed that while Cinnabon’s reps are indeed on the set, they do not know how those scenes will figure into the season.
“We are surprised just as every viewer is when the season airs,” Alberici said.
In fact, it’s very likely that Odenkirk knows more about Cinnabon than Cinnabon knows about “Better Call Saul” and its plotlines.
In a 2016 interview, Odenkirk told Conan O’Brien that very early in production, he had been instructed by Cinnabon’s VP of operations in “exactly how you make a Cinnabon.”
“Debbie Rowley taught me, she’s the lady from the head office … That’s part of [“Better Call Saul” creator] Vince Gilligan’s attention to detail,” Odenkirk said.
“I not only learned the first season, but the second season, they gave me a refresher course,” he added.
Then again, none of this should come as much of a surprise. Bryan Cranston, who played meth kingpin Walter White on “Breaking Bad,” has repeatedly claimed that a chemist from the DEA coached him and fellow actor Aaron Paul in the production of crystal meth while they were appearing on the show. | 2022-08-15T14:49:43+00:00 | wjhl.com | https://www.wjhl.com/news/national/better-call-saul-and-cinnabon-what-the-bakery-chain-knew-and-didnt-know-about-the-show/ |
The Smithsonian is one step closer to creating two new museums. Four sites have been announced as possible locations for the National Museum of the American Latino and the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum.
The Board of Regents, the Smithsonian's governing body, announced the sites Wednesday. They are:
Both museums were authorized by Congress in 2020 but efforts to create them have been going on for decades.
A campaign to create a Smithsonian museum dedicated to Latinos has been active since 2004. President George W. Bush first established a commission to study a Latino museum in 2008. The Smithsonian recently opened ¡Presente! A Latino History of the United States. As NPR's Miranda Mazariegos recently reported, the exhibition is a "small but vibrant" preview of the future Latino museum.
A bill to create a commission to study a Smithsonian museum dedicated to women's history was introduced in 1998. At the moment, the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum is a digital site.
Each site will now go through an evaluation process that will assess, among other things, capacity for a building, views, accessibility, environmental concerns and the "opportunity for architectural expression," according to a Smithsonian press release.
"It's an intricate process," Jorge Zamanillo, founding director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino, tells NPR. Also time-consuming. Using the National Museum of African American History and Culture as a guide, Zamanillo says, "We know it's over a decade of fundraising and design construction and all those things." He estimates the two new museums will open in about 10 to 12 years.
"Selection of a site is one of the most consequential decisions for a museum," says Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch III. He presided over the creation of the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
To decide on the final four sites, the Smithsonian conducted surveys and consulted with civic groups, government leaders, artists and educators, among others. "It is important that the steps we take ensure a transparent, inclusive and thorough process," Bunch says.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2022-06-22T18:09:21+00:00 | kunm.org | https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2022-06-22/the-smithsonian-selects-four-possible-sites-for-new-museums-for-women-and-latinos |
ALBUQUERQUE — Cheer trophies and Taos have become a yearly tradition.
Over the 17 years, the Taos cheerleading program has been the gold standard, having grown into dominance at the Class 4A level. On Saturday afternoon in The Pit, the Tigers added yet another blue trophy their already plentiful case.
Taos bested Valencia by a 173.8-166.47 margin to claim its third straight 4A title and the eighth in the last 10 years.
The Tigers were one of two schools to bring home a blue trophy, and it was another Taos County school that did it: Questa claimed its second straight 1A/2A title, as its 171.93 point total beat out Melrose and Pecos in the process. For Taos head coach Lisa Abeyta-Valerio, that comes as no surprise because of the strong youth program in Taos that is feeding the high school talented and tested performers.
"They believe in themselves, and they work so hard," Abeyta-Valerio said. "They suffer and they work through injuries and everything. Just trust the process."
Only Valencia in 2019 and the coronavirus pandemic a year later halted the championship run Taos has been on. In fact, the last time the Tigers failed to leave Albuquerque without a trophy, none of the current crop of cheerleaders was even in school.
It has become a tradition like no other, and the Tigers seem determined to keep it alive for as long as possible.
"Three rings [is] a dream," senior Larissa Chavez said.
Chavez has been a varsity member since she was in the eighth grade, and she said the club cheer program helped prepare her to take on such a lofty position at such a young age. She added she took her cues from the upperclassmen who came before her and learned how to pass on the leadership needed to maintain Taos' status as the premier 4A program.
"Your nerves kinda calm down from when you're an eighth grader compared to when you're a senior," Chavez said. "It's a lot easier to deal with."
But the nervous tension is still there in the moment before taking on the floor, right?
"Yeah, but it gets a little easier because you have to be the one to talk to the younger ones instead of you being talked to," said fellow senior Ashlee Montoya, who has been a varsity member since the eight grade.
This year's team had a senior-heavy presence, with eight on the roster, but the rest of the 28 cheerleaders on the roster are underclassmen or eighth graders. Youth didn't show during the Tigers' cheer with music performance, as they performed brilliantly throughout it.
How confident were they? Several teammates tackled each other in celebration upon completion.
"When we hear all of our fans, we know," Montoya said. "Our fans are the biggest ones out here and we loved them so much. And when they yell, we know we hit everything, and it's awesome."
While Taos has claimed its special place in 4A, Capital and Santa Fe High are trying to rise to the challenge of competing in 5A. Neither team made it to the podium, but both have a foundation of underclassmen who went through a significant learning process.
The Demonettes placed ninth out of 15 teams with 151.5 points, while Capital was 15th with a 134.8 score.
Santa Fe High is in the process of rebuilding the program, which finished 18th last year but had a much better performance this time around. After a three-year absence, Gina Branch returned as head coach last summer and brought on her daughter, Marissa Branch, as an assistant.
The younger Branch was a part of the program's 2014 state championship team and competed at New Mexico State University. She and fellow assistant Micaela Apodaca, who also was a member of both teams with Branch, bring a cache that resonated with the current group of Demonettes.
Marissa said she saw a huge improvement from the team throughout the season, which gave the coaches encouragement Santa Fe High can compete again in 5A. The Demonettes even brought home a first-place trophy in the Spirit of Hope Challenge in Tingley Coliseum on Jan. 28.
"They really came together as a team," Marissa said. "And we've come together as a program."
Capital had an off performance in its gameday routine, with a fall on one of the stunts. Jaguars head coach Laura Jurado said performing under the bright lights of state cheer was daunting for a program that has just four upperclassmen. She said many of the cheerleaders had no experience in the sport but they battled throughout the season to improve.
Jurado said she was proud of the way her team continued to perform despite the mistake. Capital improved on its 66.17 score in the Game Day routine with a 68.63 in the Cheer with Music portion of the competition.
"They're young, but I believe they're mentally prepared and mature enough to understand that, 'Hey, we just gotta keep on moving,'" Jurado said. "That's all we can do." | 2023-03-19T06:03:06+00:00 | santafenewmexican.com | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/sports/taos-claims-third-straight-class-4a-cheer-title-demons-jaguars-begin-building-programs/article_533846be-c5f1-11ed-9043-ab006f7dc43b.html |
(WKBN) — Severe thunderstorms have been active in many parts of the United States this week, including a tornado in Maryland, flash flooding in Death Valley National Park and extreme heat in the central U.S. Another major story from this week was a lightning strike that nearly hit the White House in Washington, D.C., causing three fatalities and one injury.
During the summer months, it’s important to have a heightened sense of awareness of lightning because thunderstorms can strike at any place and any time.
How many lightning-related fatalities are there in the United States every year?
Every year in the United States, 20 to 25 million cloud-to-ground lightning strikes occur. Over 300 people are struck by lightning every year in the U.S., and there are around 50 lightning fatalities per year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the odds of being struck by lightning are less than 1 in a million, and 90% of lightning strike victims survive.
Despite the high survival rate, though, many people who survive the strike end up having some sort of disability as a result.
What activities are most prone to lightning fatalities?
A 2020 study published by the National Lightning Safety Council found that 61% of lightning fatalities from 2006-2019 occurred during leisure activities, with fishing contributing the most to fatalities. The second-leading category of lightning fatalities during leisure activities came from sporting events. Soccer and golf both contributed the most to lightning fatalities in the sporting event category.
Lightning Facts/Myths
Fact: Lightning strikes can heat the air to a temperature of over 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which is five times hotter than the surface of the sun.
Fact: Lightning can strike you when you’re inside a building or a vehicle.
Myth: Ever hear the saying “Lightning doesn’t strike the same place twice?” It’s a myth. Lightning actually favors tall objects. The Empire State Building in New York City is struck by lightning multiple times per year.
Myth: “If a storm is not directly overhead, then I cannot be struck by lightning.” This is also a myth. Lightning can strike outside of a thunderstorm up to 10 miles away. This is often referred to as a bolt from the blue.
How can I protect myself from lightning strikes?
If you’re outside, the best way to avoid being struck by lightning is to head indoors. The probability of being struck increases the longer you spend outside.
Remember the phrase: “When thunder roars go indoors!“
If you’re stuck outside, avoid tall objects like power poles, trees or mountaintops: these are the objects most likely to be struck by lightning.
A few extra tips: If you’re in a group, spread out to prevent multiple injuries in the event of a lightning bolt. Also, stay away from water or wet objects as this gives lightning an additional path to travel down.
Remember, the best plan to have when a thunderstorm’s nearby is to head indoors until it’s passed by your area. | 2022-08-07T01:29:43+00:00 | kxnet.com | https://www.kxnet.com/news/national-news/lightning-fatalities-how-common-are-they-and-how-can-you-protect-yourself/ |
Detroit bailiffs break through blockade to evict tiny home resident
Detroit ― Taura Brown has been facing eviction from her tiny home for more than two years and on Tuesday, that moment came to fruition.
Bailiffs and 36th District Court representatives arrived at Brown's tiny home on Monterey Street at 10 a.m. Tuesday to evict her and were blocked by a crew of activists, who argue she's being unjustly evicted and attempted to protect her in the house, according to witnesses at the scene.
However, the situation started at 5:30 a.m. when someone fired a gunshot at the house's back door, Brown told The News. A gunshot hole could be seen on the door hinge.
"My home defense starts at 6 a.m., so someone knew and ran up Elmhurst at 5:30 a.m. and shot into my house and got into a white SUV and drove away," said Brown, 44. "This is only the beginning."
By 11 a.m. additional crews arrived with a dumpster to evict Brown and empty the home, witnesses said. They were confronted by Detroit Eviction Defense, an activist coalition that comprises retired attorneys, landlords and rental tenants. The group of 30 people linked arms to create a human wall as police attempted to break through and get into the home.
Brown remained in the home until shortly before noon when bailiffs broke the back door to get inside, she said. Additional crews that arrived with the dumpster were the most violent toward the activists, said Sammie Lewis, a lead organizer who has been a part of the defense for more than two years.
"They were pushing, assaulting us, throwing people to the ground and police just sat back and tolerated it," said Lewis, 26. "They would only step in to scream 'everybody stop' but that's it. If the police weren't letting them be violent with us, I think we could have held the line."
Sirens surrounded the northwest neighborhood by the afternoon with a dozen police vehicles. The situation grew more tense as activists shoved tires under pickup trucks attempting to haul the dumpster full of Brown's belongings such as furniture, rugs and plants away. Brown, who has kidney disease, took her dialysis machines and bags that she packed with her.
Activists were seen helping her go through the dumpster and load up a white truck as she prepared to head to her next place. Brown told The News on Tuesday she wasn't sure what was next for her but is staying with members of Detroit Eviction Defense for now.
"We are only here to keep the peace," said Detroit Police Dept. Chief DeShaune Sims. "We're here to take police reports of those injured and if necessary, making arrests based on the assault that takes place. We're keeping our distance. We did have to engage on a couple of occasions to separate the parties so the bailiffs could do their jobs but we're not here in any capacity to do an eviction. This is just a sad and unfortunate situation."
A fight ensued as bailiffs tried to haul the dumpster away. The bailiffs ended up leaving the dumpster and evacuating the scene along with police by 1 p.m. Activists remained at the scene chanting "good work."
Sims said she spoke to one bailiff but wasn't sure what their process was. She reiterated that police were simply trying to keep the peace and not actively part of the eviction.
There were no arrests and no one requested police to get EMS for them, police said.
Brown has been preparing for removal from her home since a district judge ruled last month that she could be evicted from the space she's lived in since December 2019. The decision on March 22 came after a two-year court battle, and Brown was ordered to vacate within 10 days.
"We're not scared, we're not intimidated," Brown said moments after she was kicked out by a bailiff. "I told him I wasn't leaving and I mean it. We're going to have some problems. This is fraud to tell the public that you're going to give someone an opportunity and not follow through. It's disappointing and distressing. I'm uncomfortable but not broken. This is what the city should expect by wrongfully convicting people."
In January 2021, Brown got a notice that Cass Community Social Services, the nonprofit that built the tiny home development, was not renewing her lease. The nonprofit contends Brown does not live at the home more than 50% of the time and found her name on a lease elsewhere in the city. Brown said she worked at the other apartment complex, where her then-boyfriend stayed so she could come and go as she pleased.
In a statement, the Rev. Faith Fowler, executive director of Cass Community Social Services, said that Brown violated "both the spirit and the conditions of the Tiny Homes program" by choosing "to make another residence her primary home."
"The Cass Tiny Homes were never intended to serve as second homes or to sit empty. They were designed to provide poor people with safe and affordable rental housing which would convert into homeownership after seven years," Fowler said in her statement. "There is no shortage of Detroiters who need this type of housing, not as an investment property, but their primary residence."
Fowler said that CCSS "stopped accepting rent from Ms. Brown in February of 2021."
A spokesperson for CCSS did not immediately return a request for comment Tuesday afternoon.
Brown said nothing in her lease stated she was required to be home a certain amount. Her name is no longer attached to the apartment, she added.
"I didn't know how they determined how often I was home until they started asking about the security alarms installed in our homes and why I wasn't setting the alarm more often. Then, I knew that they were using our alarm data to track our comings and goings," Brown said. "It doesn't make this OK for us to be under these circumstances."
Marcy Hayes, spokesperson for CCSS, said that an addendum added to the leases after the first year required residents to live in the homes "a majority" of the time and had been added at the request of board members. No one was tracking home security systems, Hayes said.
The Detroit Tiny Homes initiative, a neighborhood of 25 homes built on the city's northwest side, aids some formerly homeless people, formerly incarcerated, seniors, college students and a few Cass staff members, but all qualify as low-income. Brown herself was previously homeless.
"If you paint us as homeless people, nobody cares about us when something like this happens," Brown said.
The initiative was started by Fowler as a mission to aid the city's most vulnerable find a path to homeownership. Residents pay $1 per square foot, the smallest home being $225 a month to $466 a month for the largest. Plus, tenants pay for electricity.
Residents were told that if they paid their low-income qualified rent and followed a program by Cass Community Social Services, they would own their homes after seven years. The project's leaders are still working to determine how to transfer ownership. Three tenants are on pace to own their homes by September 2024.
Brown is disabled, has kidney disease and receives dialysis twice a week, which is what initially qualified her for a home, she said. While living there, Brown said she questioned the process of the path to homeownership and has said the eviction is retaliation against her. During a hearing last month on the motions Brown filed in court, Judge Shawn Jacque said that is not the case.
"(Brown) has attempted to say that her lease was not renewed out of retaliation … however, the case law is clear when it comes to month to month tenancy, which is what this case became after the lease expired … retaliation is not a defense to extend summary proceedings."
srahal@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @SarahRahal_ | 2023-04-04T19:10:46+00:00 | detroitnews.com | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2023/04/04/detroit-tiny-homes-eviction-taura-brown-cass-community-social-services/70079886007/ |
CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears made it clear they wanted to use the number one overall pick as a trade chip to acquire assets to build around 23-year-old quarterback Justin Fields, and that is exactly what they did.
Chicago sent the top pick to Carolina for a haul that included four draft picks, including picks nine and 61 this year, as well as star wide receiver DJ Moore.
This allows the Bears to still acquire a top asset with the ninth pick, while adding future assets and of course bringing an elite wide receiver into the mix for Fields.
Locked on Bears host Lorin Cox joined Kevin Oestreicher on the Locked on NFL podcast to discuss the deal - saying he believes the addition of Moore takes this from a good trade to a great one for GM Ryan Poles.
"DJ Moore offers a number one receiver for the Bears in a time when they're not going to be able to get one in free agency," Cox said. "There are certainly options in the NFL draft, but this is a plug and play wide receiver who is 25 and on a very affordable contract...it doesn't get much better than that for Bears fans."
Moore hauled in 63 receptions for 888 yards and seven touchdowns for the Panthers in 2022. While the touchdowns were a career-high, the total receptions and receiving yards were his lowest since he was a rookie in 2018.
Still, this is a huge addition for the Bears - who were led by Darnell Mooney's 493 receiving yards last year, even though he missed the final five games of the regular season.
Moore will join Mooney, Chase Claypool, Velus Jones and Equanimeous St. Brown in Chicago's wide receiver room, while the team could look to make another addition with one of their early round picks.
Once Chicago made the decision to commit to Fields it was all about how they would build around him, and nabbing a player like Moore while keeping a top 10 pick and adding another in the second round will make this team even more dangerous in a wide open NFC North in 2023. | 2023-03-13T20:21:17+00:00 | wcnc.com | https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/locked-on/lo-national/locked-on-nfl/what-does-adding-dj-moore-do-to-help-justin-fields-chicago-bears/535-9ba11f7b-3788-4037-b646-d9ada5e65833 |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Key Republicans are warming up to passing a bill that provides roughly $52 billion in incentives for the semiconductor industry now that Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia has quashed the idea of imposing higher taxes on the rich and corporations as part of a separate Democratic-only effort.
Three weeks ago, the computer chips bill looked like it could be in trouble despite having bipartisan support. That’s when Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said there would be no such bill as long as Democrats pursued what he called a “partisan reconciliation bill.” But Manchin’s decision to dramatically narrow the Democratic effort and axe the tax hikes appears to have opened the window for Republican cooperation on semiconductors.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who endorsed McConnell’s approach, said on the Senate floor Monday that Manchin’s announcement on taxes means “we’re in a posture where we can go forward with the chips funding and other related provisions.”
“I hope we will be able to take action on that in the coming days,” Cornyn said.
The Biden administration is pressing Congress to move quickly on the semiconductor legislation before they leave for their month-long August recess. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said that chipmakers are making decisions now about where they need to locate plants to keep up with global demand, and that foreign competitors are courting those companies with financial aid.
“It does nothing to protect the United States economy or national security to have another fab or manufacturing facility located somewhere else around the world,” Cornyn said. “We need them here.”
The bill coming before the Senate this week is much narrower than legislation that both chambers had passed this Congress. The stripped-down measure contains the $52 billion in financial incentives and research, plus another $1.5 billion for a fund that would encourage competition to companies like Huawei in building 5G networks. The bill will also institute a 25% investment tax credit for investments in semiconductor manufacturing.
The legislation would also prohibit aid recipients from expanding or building new manufacturing plans for certain advanced semiconductors in China or another foreign country of concern, according to a draft of the legislation obtained by The Associated Press.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told senators Monday that he wants lawmakers from the House and Senate to continue working on a broader bill to boost the semiconductor industry and scientific research in the U.S., but for now, he plans to hold the first procedural vote on the narrower measure Tuesday. He said manufacturers are “not going to wait around forever.”
“Countless of good paying American jobs are on the line. Billions of dollars in economic activity are on the line. And as I said, our very national security is at stake,” Schumer said.
The Biden administration has touted the financial incentives for the computer chip industry as a way to create jobs in the U.S. while also relieving inflation pressures in the long-term on automobiles, computers and other high-tech products that rely on computer chips. | 2022-07-19T06:38:00+00:00 | ksn.com | https://www.ksn.com/news/business/ap-business/republicans-warm-to-52b-computer-chip-bill-adding-momentum/ |
Jackson State Men’s Basketball looks to bounce back at home after 2-game skid
JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - The Jackson State Men’s Basketball squad has touched down in the capital city to host a pair of games Saturday and Monday for just the second time all season.
JSU suffered a 2-game losing skid while on their road trip in Texas last week, including a buzzer-beater defeat against Texas-Southern Monday night.
Having now experienced both sides of a buzzer-beater this season - the first when Jackson State guard Coltie Young hit a game-winning 3-point shot against rivals Alcorn State on January 2 - the Tigers and head coach Mo Williams will have to have a short memory in order to focus on the task at hand: Bethune-Cookman.
“We’re glad to be back home... Losing at the buzzer definitely stings,” Coach Williams said during his opening statement Thursday. “But we gotta put that behind us, and [we] look forward to this Saturday against a good Bethune-Cookman. They have really good guard play and a coach that I respect and know very well. Our focus is geared toward Saturday and Monday.”
The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats statistically have the worst 3-point defense in the SWAC but make up for that at the free throw line and with fast break points, ranking amongst the top teams in the league in both of the latter categories.
However, Coach Williams says that won’t change the way his team prepares offensively.
“We don’t really change [our game plan] much. We are who we are, and we want to be the best at it,” Coach Williams said when asked about the Wildcat’s 3-point defense. “Out of our offense, if the defense gives us open threes, we will take it. If they give us the rim, we’ll take it. If we want to play at the post and that’s what they are giving us, then we’ll play out of the post. We’ll play off the elbow, we’ll play off pin-downs... We have a lot of ways we can go with our offense.”
JSU head Men’s BB coach Mo Williams on Bethune-Cookman’s league-low 3-point defense and how the Tigers will plan to exploit that this Saturday:
— Garrett Busby (@gsbusby) January 19, 2023
Coach Mo: “We don’t really change much… We are who we are,” and “We have a lot of ways we can go with our offense.” 🔵🐅 #THEEiLove pic.twitter.com/ohs5ag6ntS
The Tigers rank No. 3 in the conference in 3-pointers attempted a game, averaging 21.6 shots behind the arc each contest.
Jackson State will look to keep their undefeated home record alive against Bethune-Cookman on Saturday, January 21, at 3 p.m. inside of Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center. Two days later, the Tigers will host Florida A&M Monday at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday night’s contest can be streamed on HBCU GO.
Want more WLBT news in your inbox? Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.
Copyright 2023 WLBT. All rights reserved. | 2023-01-20T00:24:36+00:00 | wlbt.com | https://www.wlbt.com/2023/01/20/jackson-state-mens-basketball-looks-bounce-back-home-after-2-game-skid/ |
WFO MIDLAND/ODESSA Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Wednesday, August 17, 2022
_____
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
The National Weather Service in Midland has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Western Brewster County in southwestern Texas...
Southeastern Presidio County in southwestern Texas...
* Until 800 PM CDT.
* At 706 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Lajitas,
moving northwest at 10 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.
* Locations impacted include...
Lajitas and Barton Warnock Environmental Educational Center.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Prepare immediately for large hail and damaging winds. People outside
should move immediately to shelter inside a strong building. Stay
away from windows.
Very heavy rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
_____
Copyright 2022 AccuWeather | 2022-08-18T00:36:18+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/weather/article/TX-WFO-MIDLAND-ODESSA-Warnings-Watches-and-17380771.php |
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The city of Albuquerque is considering new technology to help crack down on drivers with noisy cars. There’s a pitch in City Council to put up so-called “noise cameras.”
The cameras would be set off by sounds that reach a certain decibel level, usually from people revving their engines or speeding. If a car is too loud, a ticket comes in the mail. However, the city has a ways to go before the devices could possibly hit the streets.
Meanwhile, the calls for a solution to the noise problem are getting louder. President of the West Old Town Neighborhood Association, Martin Gutierrez says the problem has only gotten worse in recent years.
“The noise levels, especially on the corridors of Rio Grande and Central, has increasingly become a problem for our residents that live nearby,” Gutierrez told KRQE News 13. “We hear loud sounds from the cars and the trucks and then boomboxes and whatnot.”
An Albuquerque city councilor representing the Old Town neighborhood in part, Isaac Benton notes an increase in the problem since 2020. Benton is among three city councilors who’ve proposed a pilot program for “automated vehicle noise enforcement.
“Just the drastic increase since the pandemic, starting during the pandemic, of extremely loud mufflers or lack of mufflers, I guess is probably more accurate,” Benton said. “We were receiving a lot of complaints, all around the city, every single councilor I’m sure has received them, of being kept awake at night and just their peace and quiet being disturbed.”
In an attempt to turn the volume down, Councilors Benton, Trudy Jones and Brooke Bassan are proposing a resolution to install the “noise cameras” that could detect excessively loud cars and hand out fines. Benton says the proposal calls for merely be a “trial” or pilot program.
From the Denver suburbs, to Knoxville, Tennessee, even New York City, municipalities all over the country are testing out the newer technology. In Albuquerque, a similar device called NoiseVu has already been listening in for more than a year.
“It uses artificial intelligence deployed on small devices that can be placed essentially anywhere in the city or campus or facility and they’re constantly listening to audio to detect emergencies,” says Erik Strobert, CEO of Perspective Components, Inc. He says NoiseVu listens in for things like gunshots, car crashes, and even people fighting.
Strobert says this technology sends recorded events to law enforcement every day. He believes adding noise camera technology to the streets would help keep the community safe. “I think that any technology, public safety technology, that reacts in real-time and allows for real-time results is going to better protect the community,” Stobart said.
In West Old Town, Gutierrez thinks noise cameras might help. “I would be in favor of those noise cameras being used here. Not only for the quality of life of my residents the people that we represent but also for the tourists and the people that come to see the best side of Albuquerque,” he said.
“There’s no bigger fish to fry than public health and enjoyment of life,” Benton said of the city’s noise challenge. If the current resolution passes, Benton says the noise cameras would go up six months later.
The councilor says they wouldn’t be sending out fines during the testing phase but may be sending out warnings to loud drivers. There is no word yet on what those fines could be. | 2022-10-18T23:58:16+00:00 | krqe.com | https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/albuquerque-looking-to-put-up-noise-cameras-to-crack-down-on-loud-cars/ |
NEW YORK, Oct. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Jakubowitz Law announces that a securities fraud class action lawsuit has commenced on behalf of shareholders of Yatsen Holding Limited (NYSE: YSG).
To receive updates on the lawsuit, fill out the form:
https://claimyourloss.com/securities/yatsen-holding-limited-loss-submission-form/?id=33084&from=4
This lawsuit is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities who purchased Yatsen Holding Limited American Depository Shares ("ADS") between November 19, 2020 and March 10, 2022 or acquired Yatsen ADS pursuant or traceable to documents issued in connection with Yatsen's November 2020 initial public stock offering.
Shareholders interested in acting as a lead plaintiff representing the class of wronged shareholders have until November 22, 2022 to petition the court. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
According to a filed complaint, Yatsen Holding Limited issued materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: the registration statement and prospectus used to effectuate the Company's initial public offering ("IPO"), Yatsen and the other named defendants misled investors into believing that Yatsen's most significant brands, Perfect Diary and Little Ondine, were thriving, thereby driving Yatsen's "healthy" top-line growth at the time of its IPO and quarter after quarter thereafter. In truth, however, cosmetic and skincare sales of Perfect Diary and Little Ondine products were declining in the period leading up to (and including at the time of) the IPO and throughout 2021. Moreover, as the truth about Yatsen's business reached the market, the value of the Company's shares declined dramatically, causing Yatsen investors to suffer significant damages.
Jakubowitz Law is vigorous in pursuit of justice for shareholders who have been the victim of securities fraud. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
JAKUBOWITZ LAW
1140 Avenue of the Americas
9th Floor
New York, New York 10036
T: (212) 867-4490
F: (212) 537-5887
View original content:
SOURCE Jakubowitz Law | 2022-10-28T10:37:20+00:00 | wlox.com | https://www.wlox.com/prnewswire/2022/10/28/ysg-shareholder-alert-jakubowitz-law-reminds-yatsen-shareholders-lead-plaintiff-deadline-november-22-2022/ |
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — With Chinese leader Xi Jinping receiving a norms-breaking third five-year term as president on Friday, the other six men who serve with him on the ruling Communist Party’s all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee are beginning to take up their new portfolios.
All are party veterans with close personal and professional ties to Xi, China’s most powerful figure in decades.
Chief among them, the party’s second-in-command Li Qiang is widely expected to take over as premier, nominally in charge of the Cabinet and caretaker of the economy.
Li is best known for ruthlessly enforcing a brutal “zero-COVID” lockdown on Shanghai last spring.
Shortly after Xi received unanimous approval from the National People’s Congress, the party’s third-ranking official Zhao Leji was put in charge of the nearly 3,000-member ceremonial legislature.
A member of the Politburo Standing Committee until October, Han Zheng was made vice president.
Underscoring the overwhelmingly male makeup of the Chinese political elite, the Politburo Standing Committee has only men on it. The 24-member Politburo, which has had only four female members since the 1990s, also has no female officials after the departure of Vice Premier Sun Chunlan. The other key body, the 200-plus member Central Committee, remains 95% male.
Some details about the current standing committee members in order of their party rank:
LI QIANG
Perhaps the official closest to Xi, Li Qiang is widely expected to take over as premier, nominally in charge of the Cabinet and caretaker of the economy. Li is best known for ruthlessly enforcing a brutal “zero-COVID” lockdown on Shanghai last spring as party boss of the Chinese financial hub, proving his loyalty to Xi in the face of complaints from residents over their lack of access to food, medical care and basic services.
Li, 63, came to know Xi during the future president’s term as head of Li’s native Zhejiang, a relatively wealthy southeastern province now known as a technology and manufacturing powerhouse.
ZHAO LEJI
A holdover from the previous Politburo Standing Committee, Zhao Leji won Xi’s trust as head of the party’s anti-corruption watchdog, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, pursuing an anti-graft campaign that has frozen all potential opposition to the leader.
Zhao, 66, was made head of the National People’s Congress and its standing committee, which handles most actual legislative work. As in the case of Xi, who was also made head of the government commission overseeing the military, there were no other candidates or dissenting votes.
WANG HUNING
Another returnee from the previous standing committee, Wang Huning is from an academic background, having been a professor of international politics at Shanghai’s Fudan University and a senior adviser to two of Xi’s predecessors. Unusual for a top official, Wang, 67, has never held office at either the local or central government level.
Wang is known for authoring books critiquing Western politics and society, and on Friday was named as head of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the NPC’s advisory body that, in coordination with the party’s United Front Department, works to build the Xi’s influence and image abroad.
CAI QI
As leader of the capital since 2017, Cai Qi oversaw the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been celebrated by the party as a victory. Cai, 67, also oversaw the forcible eviction of thousands of migrant workers from rundown urban neighborhoods and kept COVID cases relatively low in Beijing without enacting the harsh measures seen in Shanghai and elsewhere.
Cai, who holds a doctorate in economics, also entered into Xi’s political orbit in the Zhejiang political scene. An early adopter of Chinese social media, Cai is also among the very few top officials to have visited Taiwan, praising the island’s ubiquitous convenience stores in a 2012 posting for Caixin magazine’s website. He’s expected to be put in charge of propaganda and messaging.
DING XUEXIANG
As director of the party’s General Office since 2017, Ding Xuexiang has effectively served as Xi’s chief of staff, notably present on state visits and meetings with foreign leaders. Like Wang, Ding has never held government office but sits at the center of party affairs just below the Politburo.
Still just 60, Ding’s career took off after he was appointed secretary to Xi during his brief term as Shanghai party head. He is expected to be appointed first vice premier overseeing administrative matters.
LI XI
Prior to his appointment to the standing committee, Li Xi, 66, headed Guangdong province, one of China’s wealthiest regions and the base of its vast manufacturing sector. He earlier served as party secretary of Mao Zedong’ s famed revolutionary base of Yan’an and had became an early pioneer in what is known as “red tourism,” promoting sites hallowed to the party’s history prior to its seizure of power in 1949.
A close Xi confidante, Li has already been appointed to replace Zhao as head of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. | 2023-03-10T14:07:14+00:00 | fox44news.com | https://www.fox44news.com/news/world-news/loyal-and-experienced-chinas-other-top-leaders-take-posts/ |
PITTSFORD, N.Y., June 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On the cusp of its 75th anniversary, St. John Fisher College will become in name what it has been in practice for more than a decade, and transition to become St. John Fisher University (SJF). The new name will be effective July 1. President Gerard J. Rooney, joined by Board of Trustees Chairman Tom Bowles '71, revealed Fisher's new status and logo during a celebratory event held on Monday, June 20, which also marked the 73rd anniversary of the institution's groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of Kearney Hall, Fisher's original building.
Fisher's decision follows New York State Board of Regents' new definition of "university," which requires institutions of higher education to offer "registered undergraduate and graduate curricula in the liberal arts and sciences, including graduate programs registered in at least three of the following discipline areas: agriculture, biological sciences, business, education, engineering, fine arts, health professions, humanities, physical sciences, and social sciences." The Board of Regents approved Fisher's university status during its meeting on Tuesday, June 14.
"Fisher's university status adds to our rich history of institutional achievements and accomplishments. It will convey greater prestige, allow us to build our reputation and impact, and better represent the type of institution we are today," Rooney said.
He added that fundamentally, Fisher will remain committed to delivering a student-centered education while serving the best interests of the surrounding community, making an impact locally, and as its reputation increases, throughout the country and the world.
"As we look to our seventy-fifth anniversary in 2023 as St. John Fisher University, we will continue to work hard each day to serve our students by providing a rich educational experience and a robust living and learning environment, and to prepare students to build successful lives of purpose," Rooney continued. "And as we become a University – we will continue to strive to move Fisher forward, renew our purpose, and broaden our impact."
Fisher's evolution was bolstered with the introduction of a new MBA program in 1983; leading the Board of Regents to approve the College's charter change from an undergraduate to graduate degree-granting institution. Over the next several decades, Fisher enjoyed consistent enrollment growth as it expanded its academic offerings, co-curricular experiences, and campus footprint. In the early 2000s, Fisher reorganized into five Schools: the School of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education, Wegmans School of Nursing, and Wegmans School of Pharmacy. During that time, Fisher also added two doctoral programs—the Doctor of Pharmacy and the Doctor of Education in Executive Leadership—to its academic portfolio, paving the way for the Carnegie Foundation to reclassify it as a Doctoral/Research University—now known as a Doctoral/Professional University. Since then, Fisher has awarded more than 3,400 master's degrees and nearly 1,600 doctorate degrees to its alumni base, which is more than 30,000 strong.
Bowles, who has served as a Trustee since 1993, credited innovative academic offerings, directed philanthropy, and talented administration, faculty, and staff with Fisher's substantial growth over the years.
"Fisher has always embraced the student experience; we have stayed true to our mission and purpose and that has allowed us to be successful," Bowles explained. "This is a momentous occasion; university designation is a recognition of all we have accomplished over the last several decades."
Rochester Mayor Malik Evans joined the Fisher community for this morning's historic announcement.
"I am very honored and pleased to congratulate the administration, faculty, staff, students and alumni of St. John Fisher for this remarkable achievement of gaining university status," said Mayor Malik D. Evans. "Fisher's continued evolution from a small Catholic college with 10 teachers and 11 majors to a university that is advancing the progress of teaching and learning through groundbreaking research is a proud moment for our entire community. The presence of another university in our region will elevate our reputation as a center of knowledge and innovation and help us reach our goals to create a safe, equitable and prosperous Rochester."
United States Congressman Joe Morelle, who represents the 25th district of New York State, sent a proclamation recognizing the occasion.
"Monroe County is blessed to be home to many outstanding educational institutions like St. John Fisher, which has a longstanding history of academic excellence," said Congressman Morelle. "Now, they will build upon that legacy and begin a new era as St. John Fisher University. I want to congratulate President Rooney and the entire St. John Fisher community for achieving University status, and I look forward to their continued growth and success in the years to come."
For more information, visit the Fisher website.
About St. John Fisher University
St. John Fisher University is a liberal arts institution that provides a transformative education to approximately 3,800 undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students each year. Across its five Schools, Fisher offers nearly 40 majors in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, business, education, and nursing; 11 pre-professional programs; and master's and doctoral programs in business, nursing, education, pharmacy, sport management, and public health. Located just beyond Rochester, New York, the University's residential campus boasts a robust living and learning community and a successful intercollegiate athletics program.
An independent institution today, the University was founded by the Congregation of St. Basil in 1948 and remains true to its Catholic tradition. As Fisher moves forward into the next 75 years, it celebrates its Basilian heritage by embracing their motto, "Teach Me Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge."
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE St. John Fisher University | 2022-06-20T18:49:29+00:00 | witn.com | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/06/20/st-john-fisher-college-become-st-john-fisher-university/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — The new top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee on Wednesday called for more information about the classified records discovered in the private possession of President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.
Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut was named the committee’s ranking member Wednesday by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Along with Ohio Rep. Mike Turner, the committee’s new Republican chairman, Himes will lead a panel that has been split by highly political fights in a break from its traditionally quieter oversight of the U.S. spy agencies.
Turner and the leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee have in recent weeks pushed the White House to share more in private about the classified material found. The U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence has declined to comment on its review of classified material, which is also the subject of multiple Justice Department investigations.
“There’s a strong bipartisan concern that Congress is not being briefed on even preliminary reviews of classified information that might have been exposed,” Himes said in an interview Wednesday with The Associated Press. “That’s wrong. That’s wrong as a matter of law.”
The intelligence committees already face several major tests this year, from multiple discoveries of top leaders keeping classified documents to the fight over whether to renew foreign surveillance powers used by the FBI, National Security Agency and other spy agencies.
Himes succeeds Rep. Adam Schiff, who was Jeffries’ original pick to lead the Democrats but along with Rep. Eric Swalwell was denied a spot on the panel by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
McCarthy accused Schiff of lying to Americans when he led the Intelligence Committee during the first impeachment of Trump, who was accused of withholding military aid to Ukraine unless President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced an investigation of Biden and his son.
And McCarthy alleged Swalwell was compromised based on his contact with a suspected Chinese spy. Both Schiff and Swalwell denied McCarthy’s allegations and accused him of taking political retribution.
Himes said Republicans had wrongly accused Swalwell of being a security risk and said Schiff had been a strong leader of the panel.
“It’s not that hypocrisy is a new thing to me, but in this case, it obviously removed some real institutional knowledge from the committee, so I was disappointed,” Himes said.
But Himes said he and Turner have a “really good working relationship” and noted that they traveled to Ukraine together last year to meet Zelenskyy.
“When you spend 12 hours on an overnight train together, you get to know each other a little bit,” Himes said. “He’s extremely knowledgeable on a lot of topics, so I’m really looking forward to working with him.”
In the interview, Himes outlined his priorities for the committee as well as his views on Russia and China.
He called on the Biden administration to supply Ukraine with the longer-range missiles it has long sought to fend off Russia, saying the U.S. must prevent the war from becoming a stalemate.
Himes and others say the U.S. should grant Ukrainian requests for the Army Tactical Missile System, known as ATACMS, which use the same launchers as the HIMARS rockets that Kyiv has successfully used but have a range as much as three times greater. U.S. officials have been concerned that Ukraine could use longer-range missiles to strike targets inside Russia and possibly provoke a direct war between Washington and Moscow.
“We’ve done a great job, but that we haven’t pressed the accelerator quite as much as we should have,” he said. “A stalemate is a Russian victory, and that can’t be the ending. So we need to give the Ukrainians the tools they need to continue to push the Russians backwards.”
Himes also called for greater discussion of how a war between Beijing and Taiwan would damage American interests and particularly the U.S. economy, given China’s ownership of U.S. sovereign debt and the business relationships between the two countries. He criticized a recent reported statement by Air Force Gen. Michael Minihan, who predicted in a memo that China and the U.S. could be at war in two years.
“Everybody’s starting to listen to the drums of war and how do we arm and how do we fight,” Himes said. “It’s time to really sober up and think harder about how we avoid a military conflict with China.”
___
Associated Press writer Tara Copp contributed to this report. | 2023-02-01T20:47:36+00:00 | seattletimes.com | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/top-dem-on-house-intel-seeks-briefings-on-classified-records/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
After facing dramatic rent hikes, South Floridians must now work many more days full time to be able to afford the typical rent in the area, according to a new analysis.
At the average wage, workers in South Florida now would need to work a total of 96 hours — instead of 72 hours five years ago — the equivalent of working three more full-time days, Zillow found.
“Renters in Miami face the greatest affordability hurdles,” the report said. “That is over 24 hours more than Miami renters would have needed to work to pay rent five years ago, the biggest gap of the 50 largest U.S. metro areas.”
The typical rent in South Florida is about 16% higher, or $2,827, than it was a year ago. Five years ago, in 2017, a worker would have needed to work about 72 hours to afford the typical rent, which was $1,773.
On a national level, a renter making the average wage needs to work about 63 hours to afford the typical U.S. level rent of about $2,040, about a full time day more than they needed to five years ago.
[ RELATED: Mortgage rates drop to lowest level in almost two months ]
Other areas in Florida also have seen large increases: To afford the typical rent in Orlando, a renter would need to work 67 hours, up 11 hours from five years ago. In Tampa, it would take 69 work hours, up 20 hours from five years ago.
Most of the more affordable rents are in the Midwest: In St. Louis, a resident who makes the average wage needs to work 37 hours to pay the typical rent of $1,272, the same amount it took five years ago.
In Milwaukee, it takes 37 hours of work to afford the rent, up one hour from five years ago. In Buffalo, it takes about 41 hours, up three hours from five years ago.
How much have rents started to slow?
Signs have indicated that while rents in South Florida are still significantly higher than they were a year ago, the rate of growth could be slowing.
According to data from RedFin, asking rents, or the rents offered when signing a new lease, have started to moderate. In Miami, asking rents grew about 8.5% in October compared to the year before. In September, they grew about 7.3% compared to the year before, a slight decrease from when asking rents had increased about 10% in August when compared to the year before.
“Rent growth has just barely started to cool in South Florida. Rents have grown 59% over the past five years and the average wage is up only 19%,” said Jeff Zucker, an economist with Zillow.
[ RELATED: Worried about a housing crash? Here’s how the South Florida market is really faring ]
Despite the rental market cooling, renters aren’t necessarily seeing it translate to them as rents haven’t fallen enough to put a dent on the affordability crisis. Many are still struggling with increased costs and rent hikes, as wages have not kept pace with housing costs.
Essential South Florida
“It’s gotten worse,” said Olivia Charlton, housing navigator with H.O.M.E.S. Inc., a nonprofit that helps find affordable housing for low-income residents.“You have a lot of families doing shared housing with roommates just to actually meet the responsibility on a monthly basis. It’s really hard for a person to actually be able to pay bills with the current wages.”
And renters are paying a premium on rents.
The Waller Weeks and Johnson Rental Index, which measures how much renters are paying versus where rents should be based on long term trends, shows that in October, the typical rent was about $400 more than where it should be.
Currently the average rent is $2,827, and long-term trends suggest it should be about $2,421.
[ RELATED: State of the market: It’s taking almost twice as long for homes to sell in South Florida ]
“The slowing in rental costs just hasn’t trickled down to us,” said Linda Taylor, CEO of H.O.M.E.S. “On a personal level for my friends who have children who just got out of college, some of them are moving home because even the starting wages for a graduate aren’t enough.”
South Florida renters are dealing with what will most likely be a prolonged period of unaffordability. Last year, Zillow found that South Florida was on its way to becoming the most unaffordable place for people to rent relative to their income, with renters paying at least 40% of their income toward rent.
“There’s not much sign of rent levels actually dropping substantially back down,” Zucker said. “Renters’ budgets are likely to remain squeezed for the foreseeable future.” | 2022-12-04T14:12:37+00:00 | sun-sentinel.com | https://www.sun-sentinel.com/real-estate/fl-bz-renters-hours-work-affordability-20221204-i5sibujnqjhu5epeisgmgjhqbi-story.html |
4-year-old died after falling from 4th-floor window, police say
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCSC/Gray News) – A 4-year-old died after falling from a four-story window of an apartment in South Carolina on Saturday, according to the Mount Pleasant Police Department.
Inspector Don Calabrese said the child, whose identity was not released, fell from the window just after 10 a.m., WCSC reports.
The child was taken to the hospital but died from injuries suffered in the fall.
Calabrese said the preliminary investigation indicates the child leaned on the screen of an open window and fell to the ground.
“Our hearts go out to the child’s family after this tragic incident. Our department will be available to assist the family during this difficult time,” Calabrese said.
Copyright 2022 WCSC via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2022-07-19T15:26:39+00:00 | wbrc.com | https://www.wbrc.com/2022/07/19/4-year-old-died-after-falling-4th-floor-window-police-say/ |
Allows Lenders to Track, Manage Fee Cures at the Loan Level and to Aggregate by Source
- The Black Knight Fee Cures Suite is an analytic tool that enables lenders to compare loan estimates and closing disclosures from closed loans to help minimize mandatory 0% and 10% tolerance fee cures
- A single dashboard combines loan information from the lender's LOS with Ernst fee data and analytics from the Actionable Intelligence Platform (AIP) to help the lender remediate costly trends and practices
- Lenders can quickly identify trends and drill down to causes by loan attribute, including city, state, county, loan type, fee type, loan officer, vendor, and number and size of cures
- Seamless integration with Empower provides Black Knight LOS clients with inline workflow access, putting the right information in front of the right person at the right time, helping to avoid costly cures
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., July 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Black Knight, Inc. (NYSE:BKI), a leading provider of integrated software, data and analytics solutions, announced today it has combined the powerful analytics of its Actionable Intelligence Platform (AIP) with Ernst Fee Service data and the Empower LOS loan information to create the industry's first fee cure assessment tool integrated directly within the LOS workflow to help minimize mandatory 0% and 10% tolerance fee cures.
"As lenders struggle to maintain profit margins, fee cures are a preventable expense that can be addressed with better, more timely data," said Rich Gagliano, president of Black Knight Origination Technologies. "We have seen fee cures average hundreds of dollars per loan and over time, can add up to millions or even hundreds of millions of dollars at the portfolio level. Our new Fee Cures Suite allows lenders to identify trends, as well as drill down to loan-level data to reduce fee cures."
The AIP is a unified framework for analyzing data from multiple data sets to deliver strategic and actionable intelligence across the loan life cycle. It solves the industry challenge of leveraging "big data" from multiple, segmented databases to improve performance. Ernst Fee Service is used by lenders to minimize costly fee cures by providing accurate recording fees, transfer taxes, property tax, title, settlement, inspection data, and lender and appraisal fees. The new Fee Cures Suite combines these two industry-leading resources with LOS loan data into a powerful dashboard, allowing lenders to compare loan estimates with closing disclosure fees from closed loans, identify inconsistencies and implement checks and balances to increase efficiency and accuracy in helping mitigate future cures. Cures can be aggregated by the number and size of cures, as well as location (e.g., city, state, country), vendor, loan officer, loan type, fee type and more, to zero in on causes and facilitate timely corrective action.
"The integration of actionable intelligence and fee data in Empower is exactly the kind of innovation Black Knight has become known for," Gagliano continued. "By addressing lenders' urgent need for profitability and accountability in real time and at scale, the Fee Cures Suite helps lenders unlock previously inaccessible value in data they already work hard to collect and report."
Black Knight, Inc. (NYSE:BKI) is an award-winning software, data and analytics company that drives innovation in the mortgage lending and servicing and real estate industries, as well as the capital and secondary markets. Businesses leverage our robust, integrated solutions across the entire homeownership life cycle to help retain existing customers, gain new customers, mitigate risk and operate more effectively.
Our clients rely on our proven, comprehensive, scalable products and our unwavering commitment to delivering superior client support to achieve their strategic goals and better serve their customers. For more information on Black Knight, please visit www.blackknightinc.com.
For more information:
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Black Knight, Inc. | 2022-07-11T14:07:08+00:00 | wsfa.com | https://www.wsfa.com/prnewswire/2022/07/11/black-knight-launches-new-fee-cures-suite-within-actionable-intelligence-platform/ |
Statement Pursuant to Section 19(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
DENVER, June 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Clough Global Equity Fund (NYSE MKT: GLQ) (the "Fund"), a closed-end fund, paid a monthly distribution on its common stock of $0.1162 per share to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 17, 2022.
The following table sets forth the estimated amount of the sources of distribution for purposes of Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the related rules adopted thereunder. The Fund estimates the following percentages, of the total distribution amount per share, attributable to (i) current and prior fiscal year net investment income, (ii) net realized short-term capital gain, (iii) net realized long-term capital gain and (iv) return of capital or other capital source as a percentage of the total distribution amount. These percentages are disclosed for the current distribution as well as the fiscal year-to-date cumulative distribution amount per share for the Fund.
The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this 19(a) Notice are only estimates and not for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes. The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with 'yield' or 'income.'
Presented below are return figures, based on the change in the Fund's Net Asset Value per share ("NAV"), compared to the annualized distribution rate for this current distribution as a percentage of the NAV on the last business day of the month prior to distribution record date.
Fund Performance & Distribution Information
Past performance is not indicative of future results.
^ Based on the Fund's NAV as of May 31, 2022.
+Cumulative distribution rate is based on distributions paid to date for the period November 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022.
*Cumulative fiscal year-to-date return is based on the change in NAV including distributions paid and assuming reinvestment of these distributions and that all rights in the Fund's rights offering were exercised, for the period November 1, 2021 through May 31, 2022.
**The 5 year average annual total return is based on change in NAV including distributions paid and assuming reinvestment of these distributions and that all rights in the Fund's rights offering were exercised, as of the last business day of the month prior to the month of the current distribution record date.
While the NAV performance may be indicative of the Fund's investment performance, it does not measure the value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund. The value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund is determined by the Fund's market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Fund's shares in the open market.
Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's Managed Distribution Plan.
Furthermore, the Board of Trustees reviews the amount of any potential distribution and the income, capital gain or capital available. The Board of Trustees will continue to monitor the Fund's distribution level, taking into consideration the Fund's net asset value and the financial market environment. The Fund's distribution policy is subject to modification by the Board of Trustees at any time. The distribution rate should not be considered the dividend yield or total return on an investment in the Fund.
ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. FINRA Member Firm.
Clough Global Equity Fund (NYSE MKT: GLQ)
1290 Broadway, Suite 1000
Denver, CO 80203
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Clough Global Equity Fund | 2022-06-30T11:51:13+00:00 | wsfa.com | https://www.wsfa.com/prnewswire/2022/06/30/clough-global-equity-fund-section-19a-notice/ |
The best time to dethatch your lawn
You have possibly heard that dethatching is important to keep your lawn thriving, but you might not know exactly what it is or what the process entails. That’s OK. Dethatching can be a mystery, even to people who spend a great deal of time tending to their lawn.
While the process can be labor-intensive, it is not complicated. And to get the best results, it is important to perform this chore when your lawn is at its peak strength. Unfortunately, that time can vary, depending on where you live and what kind of grass you have.
What is thatch?
To better understand what thatch is on your lawn, it can help to consider roofing methods. In particular, thatching. A thatched roof is fashioned by weaving together dry vegetation so tightly and densely that water and air have trouble getting through. While this is beneficial to keeping a home dry and helping to insulate it, thatch that accumulates on top of soil can starve and suffocate a lawn because it won’t allow water, nutrients and air through for nourishment.
What happens if you don’t dethatch your lawn?
Ideally, thatch decomposes at the same rate it accumulates. This means that if you have the perfect lawn, you will never need to dethatch. However, aspects such as compacted soil, overwatering your lawn, underwatering your lawn, cold soil temperatures, use of fertilizer and pesticides, not removing grass clippings and more can cause thatch to accumulate faster than it decomposes. When this happens, the thatch will suffocate and starve your lawn.
For keen observers, the first sign you might notice is a spongy feeling when walking across your grass. More than likely, though, you will realize you have a thatch issue when you see patches of your lawn losing their vibrant green coloring. As the situation gets worse, your lawn will begin to thin, and it may start to develop bare spots.
How do I know when I need to dethatch my lawn?
Depending on your situation, dethatching may be an annual event. If you’re lucky, however, you may be able to go several years without dethatching. Before blindly ripping up your thatch, it is important to measure it. You can do this by removing a small spadeful of your lawn and measuring how thick the buildup is. If it is significantly more than a half-inch, it is time to dethatch.
How do you dethatch a lawn?
Dethatching your lawn isn’t difficult, but it is time-consuming. Depending on the size of your property and which type of lawn dethatcher you are using, it can also be labor-intensive.
To dethatch your lawn, all you need to do is loosen and remove the thatch. This is accomplished manually with a special thatch rake that features sharp, curved tines. It can also be achieved by using an electric dethatcher or a tow-behind dethatcher that performs the same function as a thatch rake, only without manual labor. Once the thatch is loosened, you will need to rake away the debris.
Why does timing matter when dethatching?
Dethatching can be harsh on your lawn. While it won’t kill your grass, your lawn may require time to recuperate. You may also uncover thin spots that need to be overseeded or bare spots that need to be patched. If you dethatch after the peak growing season, your lawn might not be able to recover until next season. If you dethatch too early, your lawn won’t be growing fast enough to recover until peak growing season arrives.
When is the best time to dethatch your lawn?
The best time to dethatch your lawn is during peak growing season when the soil is moist — not wet. For cool-season grasses, which are found in the northern half of the U.S., the best time to dethatch is late summer to early fall. The further north you live, the earlier this time will be. You can also dethatch cool-season grasses in early spring — just make sure your grass is thriving before dethatching, as you do not want to do it too early. For areas with warm-season grasses, it’s best to wait until late spring/early summer.
Conversely, the worst time to dethatch your lawn is when it is dormant or stressed. If you do this, your lawn might not recover.
What you need to buy to dethatch your lawn
This 48-inch, tow-behind dethatcher is best for larger lawns. It has 24 steel tines for removing thatch, two 8-inch never-flat tires and a universal hitch for maximum compatibility.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
If you’d like an electric dethatcher, this corded model is suitable for smaller yards. It has a padded grip, a push-button start and a 14-inch thatching path. The thatching depth is adjustable, so you can fine-tune the machine for your needs.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Ames 19-Tine Adjustable Thatch Rake
For individuals who have a small yard and do not mind a little manual labor, this adjustable thatch rake is a solid option. It is easy to clean — just push the rake forward to clear the tines — and it features a durable 5-inch hardwood handle.
Where to buy: Sold by Home Depot
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Allen Foster 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. | 2022-05-06T01:13:06+00:00 | fox59.com | https://fox59.com/reviews/br/lawn-garden-br/lawn-care-br/when-to-dethatch-your-lawn/ |
MILWAUKEE (AP) — They overcame the ravages of a hurricane to win a national title at their old school.
Now former Loyola New Orleans teammates Zach Wrightsil, Myles Burns and Brandon Davis are aiming for one more improbable achievement as they attempt to make the leap from their NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) program and succeed at the NCAA Division I level.
Burns is at Mississippi, Davis at Texas State and Wrightsil at Marquette.
“I’ve always known I could play at this level,” said Wrightsil, a 6-foot-7 forward. “That was never a question in my head.”
The NAIA doesn’t keep track of how many players transfer from one of its schools to the NCAA Division I level. But the moves Burns and Wrightsil are making seem particularly rare as they go straight to one of the six major conferences.
None of the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big 12, Big Ten, Big East, SEC and Pac-12 schools that responded to an Associated Press survey could recall an example of their school adding a player directly from the NAIA.
Boston College forward CJ Penha Jr. began his college career at NAIA program Taylor University but transferred to NCAA Division II school Trevecca Nazarene before coming to the ACC with the Eagles.
“I personally believe that I’m more than capable of playing on this level,” said Burns, a 6-7 forward.
Stacy Hollowell, who coached Loyola to the NAIA championship, says there is talent at that level. He cites as an example EJ Onu, who was at NAIA program Shawnee State from 2017-21 and now plays for the NBA G League’s Memphis Hustle.
Hollowell believes the three former Loyola players can fare well at their new schools.
He remembers how Davis’ arrival last season gave Loyola what it needed to win a national title after falling short a year earlier. He believes Burns and Wrightsil both have the athleticism to thrive in a high-major program.
“What people don’t understand is they have a high-major will to win,” said Hollowell, who now works as Ole Miss’ associate athletic director for men’s basketball. “You can’t really quantify that by watching a guy. You’ve got to kind of be around him and feel that out, I think.”
Hollowell was around those guys enough to understand what they went through last year.
When Hurricane Ida hit New Orleans in August 2021, the storm ripped off a corner of the roof of the Loyola building that housed the basketball court.
Loyola practiced in Dallas for a couple of weeks while much of New Orleans was without power. After the players returned to campus, Loyola played home games at other local colleges. The players would practice whenever there was an open time slot, sometimes as early as 5 a.m.
A local convention center donated a court to Loyola that it used on campus as a temporary floor for some home games starting in January.
“We basically lost everything, so that brought us together,” Davis said. “When we played other teams, we had a common goal – not to let the stuff we’d been through hinder us from winning games.
They went 37-1 and won the school’s first national championship since 1945. Earlier in the season, Wrightsil scored 26 points, Burns 18 and Davis 11 in an exhibition victory over NCAA Division I program New Orleans.
Wrightsil was named the NAIA player of the year. Burns was a second-team NAIA All-America selection and Davis earned honorable mention. Burns also won the Marques Haynes Award for having the most steals of any player in any level of college basketball.
Their success led to NCAA Division I offers. They couldn’t pass up the opportunity.
“I’ve definitely had dreams of playing at a big Division I school,” Burns said. “Every basketball player I think wants that.”
Now they’re adjusting to the jump in competition.
Burns noted that most NAIA programs don’t have the athletic big men he will face in just about every SEC game. All three former Loyola players talked about dealing with additional time demands.
Wrightsil had to play catch-up after having arthroscopic knee surgery in June. He played just six minutes and scored two points Monday in Marquette’s season-opening 79-69 victory over Radford.
“I would definitely advise anyone following our team to watch how much better Zach is in November than he was in October and how much better he is in December than November and so on,” Marquette coach Shaka Smart said. “He’s going to keep getting better as he gets accustomed to this level.”
Burns and Davis were both in the starting lineups Monday for their new teams. Burns had nine points and six rebounds in 30 minutes as Ole Miss defeated Alcorn State 73-58. Davis, a 6-1 guard, played 25 minutes and had two points and five rebounds in Texas State’s 83-61 loss at Washington State.
The three former teammates are sharing advice on how they can succeed at their new schools.
“They’re going through their bumps and bruises just like I am,” Wrightsil said. “It’s been a really fun ride just being able to talk with them about it because we’re all in the same boat, coming from that level to an all-new level.”
___
AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 | 2022-11-09T05:54:14+00:00 | kxnet.com | https://www.kxnet.com/sports/ap-after-winning-naia-title-ex-teammates-making-giant-leap/ |
Michigan State falls to Kansas State in NCAA Tournament OT thriller
New York — It was an NCAA Tournament game for the ages that included a record-setting individual performance.
For Michigan State it was simply a bitter defeat.
The seventh-seeded Spartans were up to the task offensively on Thursday night in their Sweet 16 matchup with No. 3 Kansas State, but in the end they couldn’t overcome the play of Kansas State guard Markquis Nowell, who scored 20 points and handed out a tournament-record 19 assists while overcoming an ankle injury that nearly knocked him out of the game.
BOX SCORE: Kansas State 98, Michigan State 93 (OT)
The final assist came with just less than 17 seconds to play in overtime as Nowell found Ismael Massoud for a baseline jumper that put Kansas State up by three before he swiped the ball from Tyson Walker in the final seconds to seal the 98-93 overtime victory for the Wildcats at Madison Square Garden.
“They knew we needed a three to tie the game up, and they just played it really well,” Walker said. “They switched, and they just guarded the 3-point line well. He made a good play and none of us could get a clean look, and they got a stop.”
The win allowed No. 3 Kansas State (26-9) to advance to the Elite Eight and a matchup Sunday with either Tennessee or Florida Atlantic.
Michigan State (21-13) had five players score in double figures and shot 13-for-25 from 3-point range. A.J. Hoggard scored 25 points to lead the Spartans while Joey Hauser had 18 points and six rebounds. Walker scored 16, Jaden Akins added 14 and Malik Hall had 13 points and eight rebounds.
Nowell scored 20 to go with his assists while Keyontae Johnson scored 22, including a lob dunk inside a minute to play in overtime. Ismael Massoud added 15, including a big three late in regulation and the final shot that proved to seal the victory in overtime.
The Wildcats routinely hit big shots, going 11-for-24 from 3-point range, getting a banked in triple from Nowell and several deep threes at the end of the shot clock that proved to be deflating for the Spartans.
“In that first half, those two shot-clock ones were real killers,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. “It does break your back. You think you play pretty good D, a loose ball, he comes flying in and banks it. You say, well, it's just one shot, but I talked to my team at the hotel before we left, and you try to talk about the importance of one shot, one turnover, one free throw, and you can't harp on them because then guys get nervous and uptight. But there's a difference in winning and losing. That's just the way it is.
“We made some plays that weren't right, but the way those shots went in – and we hit some shots, too. But they made a couple – the Massoud kid made a couple of bombs, but those were at least good shots. The fall-down end of the shot clock ones, you kind of start thinking it's not your night.”
The pace was fast in the early going, even if the shots weren’t falling for Michigan State. However, the Spartans overcame a 1-for-7 start, getting a pair of 3-pointers from Hauser and another from Akins to tie the game at 17 before they took their first lead, 19-18, on a Hauser jumper with 8:04 left in the first half.
A Walker 3-pointer helped push the lead to 22-18 and it remained a four-point lead after a dazzling layup from Walker and a pair of free throws from Hauser. However, the Spartans couldn’t maintain the momentum as turnovers from Hoggard and Hall helped spark an 8-0 run for the Wildcats, giving them a 30-26 lead with four minutes to play in the half.
It went back and forth from there, but Kansas State got two more 3-pointers – it was 7-for-12 in the first half – and outscored Michigan State, 21-12, over the final 5:31 of the half to take a 43-38 lead to the locker room.
Kansas State kept things rolling early in the second half, pushing its lead to 47-38 by scoring the first four points. But Michigan State began to claw back into the game, taking advantage of an injury to Nowell before eventually grabbing the lead at 54-52 on a runner from Hoggard. His free throw made it a three-point game as the Wildcats responded with five straight points to take the lead back.
But an Akins 3-pointer and a Hall layup put Michigan State up, 60-57, with 11:25 to play as the back-and-forth continued.
Kansas State scored four in a row to take the lead as the advantage changed hands over the next five possessions. Walker and Hauser then hit back-to-back triples, but Kansas State answered by scoring the next 10 points to take a 77-70 lead with 4:44 to play.
Walker answered with a 3-pointer and Hoggard hit two free throws to get the Spartans within two, but Massoud then nailed his deep triple. Akins then hit a three and Hall got a put-back to bring MSU within two. After a stop, Walker scored on a runner to tie the game with five seconds to play and Nowell’s last shot came up short to force overtime.
The battle continued in overtime with Michigan State going up, 87-84, on a Walker triple. But Kansas State scored the next four to take the lead as it went back and forth from there, ending up tied at 92 with 1:29 to play. That’s when Nowell made the play of the game, appearing to argue with coach Jerome Tang while throwing a long lob to Johnson to put Kansas State up two.
“It was just a basketball play between me and Keyontae,” Nowell said, fessing up about how the play was designed.. “We knew how Michigan State plays defense. They play high up and Keyontae just told me, we got eye contact, and he was like, lob, lob. I just threw it up, and he made a great play.”
Hall then split a pair of free throws with 42.8 left to leave Michigan State behind, 94-93, before the Wildcats got another huge bucket from Massoud before Walker’s final shot never got off as Nowell swiped it and went in for a layup as the buzzer sounded.
“I give a lot of credit to Kansas State,” Izzo said. “They made some big plays down the stretch. They made some big plays early. I’ve been part of a lot of big wins and I've been part of a lot of tough losses. I’ve never been prouder of a team because we didn't have our game tonight. We did not play like we were the first half. It was just kind of we were ham-and-egging it and just kind of fighting through it. We just kept fighting.”
mcharboneau@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @mattcharboneau | 2023-03-24T03:04:47+00:00 | detroitnews.com | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state-university/2023/03/23/michigan-state-falls-to-kansas-state-in-ncaa-tournament-ot-thriller/70041432007/ |
The last time there was a contested convention, when the nominee wasn't known going into the convention, was 40 years ago.
Back then, incumbent President Gerald Ford led Ronald Reagan, but he didn't quite have a majority. That changed before the first ballot at the convention. How? Rides on Air Force One, state dinners, and ... persuasion.
"The Mississippi delegation was unbound and was persuaded of Gerald Ford's credentials, [and] threw its weight for Gerald Ford," Republican election lawyer Ben Ginsberg said in an NPR Politics Podcast Monday.
"I believe there were rides provided on Air Force One. ... It's legal," Ginsberg pointed out. "I believe that wavering delegates were invited to state dinners. I believe that there were conversations between Ford aides and delegates about the virtues of Gerald Ford, and that's certainly legal."
This year, with Ted Cruz's wins in Wisconsin last week and Colorado this past weekend, a multiballot convention is looking increasingly possible, if not likely.
So what could be offered this time around?
"I think state dinners are kind of off the table for the Republican candidates this time, which is too bad," Ginsberg noted, "but travel would not be improper [to places like Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida] under any existing rules. Things like travel and meals and subsistence and expenses are all perfectly legal."
What about cash?
"My legal advice would be that might smell like a bribe to somebody," Ginsberg said, "and so probably not a good idea. And I don't think anyone would contemplate the actual payment of dollars. There is a statute that prohibits the offer of a federal job, but telling somebody that, 'Gee, you look like a really accomplished individual, and we want you to be a part of what we get going forward once we're elected' is certainly permissible as a thing to talk about."
So what are the most likely scenarios? Ginsberg lays out three possibilities:
1. The Clear Winner: "I would put more money on that than anything else. We are Republicans; we like things neat and tidy. ...By history, you would think that somebody does get to the magic 1,237 number, in which case, you have a clear winner and a peaceful convention."
2. The Clear Cluster: "That's the situation where no candidate is within proximity to getting the majority. So, if 1,237 is the magic number, it's somewhere around 1,100 delegates that someone comes in with. That's a situation where there will be all sorts of disagreements and discussions over the rules, so that one candidate or another stands a better chance under the rules. It is difficult in that scenario, where the camps get locked in, to see somebody actually succeeding in getting to 1,237, except after a long period of time, but that's kind of a fair fight. But multiple ballots."
3. The Party Buster: "If you're going to have a 'clear cluster,' you've got to have a 'party buster,' too. So, the 'party buster' is when a candidate is within close proximity to the majority, but doesn't have it, and if that candidate — Donald Trump seems the most likely under the current delegate totals — comes into the convention with 1,200 delegates and needs 1,237 and somehow is denied that 1,200, that's the most contentious scenario."
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2023-04-04T09:03:52+00:00 | wqcs.org | https://www.wqcs.org/2016-04-11/can-a-candidate-pay-delegates-plus-3-possible-gop-convention-scenarios |
TULSA, Okla. — Enough pieces of a bronze statue of a famous Native American ballerina that was stolen in Tulsa have been recovered to restore it, historical officials said.
The additional missing pieces of the statue of Marjorie Tallchief that were found include the head, said Tulsa Historical Society and Museum Director Michelle Place, according to the Tulsa World.
Still missing are the lower portion of each leg, both feet and one arm, but Gary Henson, one of the original sculptors, said he will be able to restore it.
"You won't be able to tell that it was ever cut up when I'm done," Henson said. "Nothing is ever really lost," he told the newspaper.
The statue is believed to have been stolen April 28 and cut into pieces that have been found at different recycling centers in the Tulsa area, Place said, but no arrests have been made.
Tallchief and her sister, Maria Tallchief, were among five renowned Native American ballerinas from Oklahoma known as Five Moons and a bronze statue of each was unveiled outside the Tulsa museum in 2007.
Maria Tallchief is among five women who will be individually featured on U.S. quarters next year as part of a program that depicts notable women on the coins, the U.S. Mint announced in March.
Marjorie Tallchief was the last survivor of the five and died in November.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2022-05-10T17:30:01+00:00 | iowapublicradio.org | https://www.iowapublicradio.org/news-from-npr/2022-05-10/a-statue-of-a-native-american-ballerina-that-was-stolen-in-tulsa-will-be-restored |
BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION
KYMA KECY is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.
Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here
If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here. | 2022-08-10T05:10:56+00:00 | kyma.com | https://kyma.com/https-kyma-com-noticias-3/2022/08/09/se-registran-3-posibles-casos-de-viruela-mono-en-el-valle-imperial/ |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.