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The NHL’s schedule-makers have provided the Seattle Kraken with some holiday help.
Wednesday night’s matchup with Calgary will be the Kraken’s fourth straight home game against a team playing the second half of a back-to-back, after the Flames hosted the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday.
Despite putting 47 shots on net, the Flames lost 2-1 as Connor McDavid scored the go-ahead goal 7:28 into the third period. It was McDavid’s league-leading 31st goal of the season.
Mikael Backlund scored, and goaltender Jacob Markstrom made 20 saves for the Flames, who lost in regulation for the first time in five games (3-1-1).
Backlund had a chance to send the game to overtime, but his attempt hit the post with four seconds remaining.
“It’s tough,” Backlund said. “It would have been a great feeling to score there, but it’s almost worse hitting the posts than them making saves. So, just inches away from it being tied. A lot of posts and bars right now.
“I don’t think it’s bad luck or anything; it’s just the way it is right now. We’ve got to keep shooting, create chances. We’ve got to score more than one to win.”
Markstrom took a big-picture approach.
“We had a great road trip. We got seven out of eight points (prior to the holiday break),” he said. “You carry that with you for sure. We had a nice skate this morning and a nice few days’ break with the family, and everybody’s excited to get back in there.
“I thought it showed (Tuesday), but it’s still a loss. Our division here is tight, and we can’t lose these tight games.”
Seattle’s previous three opponents at home had played in Vancouver the previous night. The Kraken are 2-1-0 at home during that stretch, losing 4-2 to Montreal and then defeating Winnipeg 3-2 and St. Louis 5-2.
The Kraken have been idle since a 6-5 shootout loss last Thursday at Vancouver. The Canucks got the tying goal from Elias Pettersson with 1:20 remaining in regulation with their goalie pulled for an extra attacker. Pettersson had two goals, three assists and scored the winner in the shootout.
Daniel Sprong tallied twice, and Oliver Bjorkstrand had a goal and an assist for the Kraken, who got goals from all four of their forward lines and never trailed until the shootout.
“They had a push and they capitalized on their chances,” Sprong said. “Sometimes, that’s the way hockey goes, but of course it’s not the way we want to end going into the break.
“I think the crowd got into it, they started to push and we didn’t find an answer. They kept coming. If you keep coming, you’re going to get chances, and they buried them.”
It was especially disheartening for the Kraken as they built a two-goal lead in seeking their first victory against Vancouver in six all-time meetings.
“We’re here to win a hockey game, and we didn’t do that, so that’s disappointing,” Kraken coach Dave Hakstol said. “We’ll look at not only line combinations, but exactly what we did in the third period, and there’s a couple of things we have to do better. We have to do better when we’ve got a two-goal lead. That’s a game we should be able to close out.”
This will be the second meeting of the season between Seattle and Calgary. The visiting Kraken won 5-4 on Nov. 1, rallying from a two-goal deficit before rookie Matty Beniers netted his first career winner with 6:34 remaining.
–Field Level Media | 2022-12-29T03:45:08+00:00 | kxnet.com | https://www.kxnet.com/sports/with-help-from-schedule-makers-kraken-host-flames/ |
WFO SEATTLE Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Sunday, January 8, 2023
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COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY
Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Seattle WA
256 PM PST Sat Jan 7 2023
...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM TO 10 AM PST
SUNDAY...
* WHAT...Minor coastal flooding expected.
* WHERE...Admiralty Inlet Area zone.
* WHEN...From 4 AM to 10 AM PST Sunday.
* IMPACTS...Tidal overflow around high tide may cause flooding of
lots, parks, and roads with only isolated road closures
expected.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If travel is required, allow extra time as some roads may be
closed. Do not drive around barricades or through water of
unknown depth. Take the necessary actions to protect flood-prone
property.
...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM TO 5 PM PST
* WHERE...San Juan County zone.
* WHEN...From 4 AM to 5 PM PST Sunday.
...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 4 PM PST
* WHERE...North Coast zone.
* WHEN...From 10 AM to 4 PM PST Sunday.
* IMPACTS...Flooding of lots, parks, and roads with only isolated
road closures expected.
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Copyright 2023 AccuWeather | 2023-01-07T23:23:24+00:00 | lmtonline.com | https://www.lmtonline.com/weather/article/WA-WFO-SEATTLE-Warnings-Watches-and-Advisories-17701977.php |
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Two-time National League Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom finally pitched in a game for the Texas Rangers, though it was on a back field against minor leaguers.
The Rangers have been cautious with their prized addition since he reported tightness in his left side before the first spring training workout just less than a month ago. His first spring start came in the more-controlled environment for Triple-A Round Rock on Monday, when he struck out five of the eight batters he faced while throwing 20 of 24 pitches for strikes over two innings against Kansas City minor leaguers at the complex the big league franchises share in Surprise, Arizona.
“The first couple of batters, I didn’t locate my fastball that well,” deGrom said. “The second inning I dialed it in a little bit. Everything felt great. I threw all four pitches. I’m really happy with it. Changeup, curveball I think are going to be plus-pitches this year. I was able to mix them in quite a bit."
The only hit allowed by deGrom was an inside-the-park home run by Omar Hernandez, the second batter faced. The ball ricocheted high off the batter's eye in center field and past two outfielders.
After his two innings in the game, deGrom threw 23 more pitches in the bullpen. He said he anticipates being ready for opening day March 30.
Texas signed deGrom to a $185 million, five-year contract in December. He spent his first nine big league seasons with the New York Mets. but injuries limited him to 156 1/3 innings in 26 starts over the past two seasons. The 34-year-old right-hander threw about six bullpen sessions before arriving in Arizona, but was delayed in throwing in camp after telling the team he was stiff.
“The last thing I want to do is call in and say my left side is a little tight. (The Rangers) handled it great, they said let’s take four days and knock it out. Get it behind us," deGrom said. "This one was interesting because if I had it during the season I would have pitched with it. We caught it early enough. We have plenty of time let’s do the smart thing here.”
ALSO ON BACK FIELDS
— Max Scherzer made his scheduled start Monday for the New York Mets in a minor league game.
The right-hander allowed five runs (three earned) over parts of five innings. Three of the innings were cut short because of his pitch count.
Tylor Megill, who could get a shot in the starting rotation due to lefty José Quintana's fractured rib, struck out three in four scoreless innings in the main game for the Mets against the Miami Marlins.
— While deGrom was pitching in his minor league game, another of the Rangers' offseason additions was doing the same at the Surprise complex. Nathan Eovaldi, who has also dealt with tightness in his side, allowed two hits in two scoreless innings while pitching for Double-A Frisco. The right-hander threw 22 of his 29 pitches for strikes.
QUINTANA UPDATE
The New York Mets expect to have an update this week on the status of left-hander Quintana, the free-agent addition who has a stress fracture in a rib on his left side.
Mets general manager Billy Eppler said Monday that the team was still getting more information from doctors after the pitcher went from Florida to New York for further evaluation.
Quintana, who signed a $26 million, two-year deal during the offseason, threw in a minor-league exhibition game March 5 before the diagnosis of the stress fracture that was revealed last week. He never made it to pitch for Colombia in the World Baseball Classic.
Eppler said the team would provide an update when it has all of the information. While not denying a New York Post report Monday that the pitcher would be shut down from throwing for three months, the GM called it premature.
The 34-year-old Quintana was 6-7 with a 2.93 ERA combined while pitching for Pittsburgh and St. Louis last season. He is 89-87 with a 3.75 ERA in 315 games (289 starts) over 11 big league seasons with six teams.
RIZZO'S BACK
Anthony Rizzo said he felt fine after taking some batting practice Monday, a day after being scratched from the New York Yankees lineup because of his back.
While Rizzo didn't play again Monday, the team has said it didn't believe the problem was serious. The 33-year-old first baseman who is going into his 13th season acknowledged early in spring training that he would be crazy to say he wouldn't have a back issue this year. He received an epidural injection last season.
The Yankees re-signed Rizzo in mid-November to a $40 million, two-year contract, after he hit .224 with 32 home runs and 75 RBIs in 130 games last year after spending the previous 10 seasons with the Chicago Cubs.
RAYS ON BASE
Tampa Bay won its exhibition game 9-5 over Detroit on Monday, when the Rays had all eight of their hits and all of their runs in the first three innings.
The Rays sent 24 batters to the plate in the first three innings, with 15 of them reaching base (eight hits, six walks, one hit batsman) and another hitting a sacrifice fly. The other eight outs were six strikeouts and two infield popups.
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AP freelance writer Gary Schatz contributed to this report.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2023-03-13T23:40:07+00:00 | sfgate.com | https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/rangers-finally-see-degrom-in-a-game-against-17837404.php |
MOSCOW (AP) — The entire Russian Pacific Fleet was put on high alert on Friday for snap drills that will involve practice missile launches in a massive show of force amid tensions with the West over the fighting in Ukraine.
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the goal of the war games was to test the capability of Russia’s armed forces to mount a response to aggression.
Along with the missile launches, the drills will also involve nuclear-capable strategic bombers and other warplanes besides the naval aviation of the Pacific Fleet, Shoigu said.
The Russian military has concentrated the bulk of its forces on the front lines in Ukraine, but also continued conducting regular drills across Russia to train its forces and demonstrate their readiness.
The Russian Defense Ministry released videos showing warships and submarines sailing off to take part in the maneuvers. As part of the drills, marine units deployed to amphibious landing vessels and coastal defense missile systems moved to firing positions.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the war games as part of regular training intended to “maintain the necessary level of the armed forces’ readiness.”
Shoigu noted that the maneuvers’ scenario envisages a response to an adversary’s attempt to make a landing on Sakhalin Island and the southern Kuril Islands.
Japan asserts territorial rights to the Kuril Islands, which it calls the Northern Territories. The Soviet Union took them in the final days of World War II, and the dispute has kept the countries from signing a peace treaty formally ending their hostilities.
Last year, Russia announced it had suspended peace talks with Japan to protest Tokyo’s sanctions against Moscow over its action in Ukraine.
Russia has built up its military presence on the islands in recent years, deploying advanced fighter jets, anti-ship missiles and air defense systems there.
The Pacific Fleet drills started days before a planned trip to Moscow by Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu. The Russian Defense Ministry said Shoigu and Li would discuss “prospects of bilateral defense cooperation and acute issues of global and regional security.”
A three-day visit to Moscow by Chinese President Xi Jinping last month demonstrated the two nations’ partnership in the face of Western efforts to isolate Russia over Ukraine and gave a political lift to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Both Moscow and Beijing have accused Washington of trying to isolate them and to hold back their development as they challenge the U.S. for regional and global leadership.
Putin and Xi said they would increase contacts between their militaries and stage more joint sea and air patrols and drills, but there was no hint that China would help Russia with weapons, as the U.S. and other Western allies feared.
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Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | 2023-04-14T15:15:39+00:00 | wwlp.com | https://www.wwlp.com/news/ap-international-news/russias-pacific-fleet-put-on-high-alert-for-snap-drills/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — Tens of millions of older Americans will see a major increase in benefits this January when a new cost-of-living adjustment (or COLA) is added to Social Security payments.
The 8.7% raise is meant to help them with higher prices for food, fuel, and other goods and services. The average recipient will see an increase of more than $140 per month, according to government estimates.
You can read more about the cost-of-living adjustment here.
But what does the increase mean for the fund that helps pay Social Security benefits? And what should younger generations keep in mind? Here are some As to some Qs.
HOW DOES SOCIAL SECURITY WORK?
When you work, some of your taxes fund Social Security. The government uses those tax dollars to pay benefits to people who have already retired, people who are disabled, the survivors of workers who have died, and dependents of beneficiaries.
While the money is used to pay people currently getting benefits, any unused money goes to the Social Security trust fund. When you retire, the Social Security contributions of people in the workforce, together with the money in the fund, will pay monthly benefits to you and your family.
To determine the Social Security benefits you will receive, the government calculates a percentage of your highest wages in your top 35 years of earning, and factors in when you choose to start receiving benefits. This year, the maximum allowed benefit for someone who retired at full retirement age, which is 66 or 67 depending on the year you were born, is $3,345 monthly.
WHEN DID SOCIAL SECURITY BEGIN?
The Social Security Act was signed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in August of 1935. Taxes were collected for the first time in January 1937 and the first lump-sum payments were made that month. Regular ongoing monthly benefits began in January 1940.
The Social Security Act of 1935 was originally named the Economic Security Act, but the title was changed during Congressional consideration of the bill.
IS THE TRUST FUND RUNNING OUT OF MONEY?
Future problems with the fund have long been predicted, largely because of demographic shifts. As birthrates decline, fewer people become workers, resulting in fewer payments of payroll taxes. Meanwhile, more Baby Boomers are retiring and collecting Social Security.
According to the latest Social Security and Medicare trustees report, released in June, the fund will no longer be able to pay full benefits beginning in 2035.
When the Social Security trust fund is depleted, the government will still be able to pay 80% of scheduled benefits for an indefinite future, the report said, while Medicare will be able to pay closer to 90% of scheduled benefits. That means, if nothing changes, future generations can expect to see a 20% across the board reduction in payments, with a 10% reduction in Medicare coverage.
WILL A BIG COLA INCREASE AFFECT THE FUND’S FUTURE?
Kathleen Romig, director of Social Security and disability policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a nonpartisan but generally left-leaning think tank, said the COLA increase is “just not a game-changer for Social Security.”
“It’s not anything that should cause anyone any alarm,” she said. “A year or two years of inflation is not going to change the long-term picture.”
Romig noted that the predicted date when Social Security will no longer be able to pay full benefits has historically fluctuated between 2033 and 2035 from year to year, because of various factors.
William Arnone, CEO of the National Academy of Social Insurance, does caution that “the two economic enemies of the trust fund are high inflation and low employment, meaning not only high unemployment but low wages.”
“When they hit together, it’s a double whammy,” he said.
In that context, a high cost-of-living adjustment can be “bad for the trust fund but great for the beneficiaries.”
HOW DO YOUNGER PEOPLE THINK ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY?
Ben Storey, senior product manager on the retirement research and insights team at Bank of America, said that many people in their 20s and 30s have a misplaced lack of confidence in the future of Social Security.
“What I hear from a lot of the younger generation is, they really feel like it’s just not gonna be there,” he said. “They’re seeing headlines without reading the full story. Even if (the government makes) no changes, they’re still going to get roughly 75 percent of those benefits.”
Still, Storey said, it’s prudent for younger people to contribute to retirement and traditional savings vehicles, such as 401(k)s, IRAs, and Roth IRAs.
“Social Security is going to just be one piece of the puzzle,” he said.
Storey acknowledged that the same inflation prompting the cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security makes saving more difficult for people in this age bracket, who also frequently contend with student loans, debt, and saving for an emergency fund or down-payment on a home.
WHAT’S BEING DONE TO GUARANTEE THE FUTURE OF SOCIAL SECURITY?
Republicans and Democrats have proposed a variety of policy fixes.
Romig, of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, said the last time legislation was passed to address Social Security’s future was 1983.
“It was bipartisan, and it was a compromise,” she said. “Both benefit cuts and tax increases.”
Every solution, according to Romig, involves “paying more or getting less,” or a combination. “You can’t wish your way out of it.”
“Lawmakers have many policy options that would reduce or eliminate the long-term financing shortfalls in Social Security,” the trustees of the fund wrote in the latest June report. “Taking action sooner rather than later will allow consideration of a broader range of solutions and provide more time to phase in changes so that the public has adequate time to prepare.”
That said, Romig wishes younger people understood the system better — including the fact that Social Security isn’t going anywhere.
“Almost everyone is touched by Social Security,” she said. “They’re either paying into it or receiving benefits or they will one day.”
“I think young people have an extraordinarily important stake in the system,” she added.
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Follow all of AP’s financial wellness coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/financial-wellness
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The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism. | 2022-10-14T01:22:14+00:00 | kdvr.com | https://kdvr.com/news/money/ap-how-social-security-works-and-what-to-know-about-its-future/ |
ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. (WJHL) — Elizabethton’s property tax rate will increase by 5% if city commissioners approve a budget recommendation Thursday night, and much of that increase will go to increase funding for road paving.
If approved, the rate will go from $1.57 per $100 of assessed value to $1.65, which will increase the city’s revenues by about $240,000. That difference is slated for paving, which would increase that budget line item by more than 50% to $695,000.
The owner of a home assessed at $200,000 would see their annual city property tax bill increase $40, from $785 to $825, if the increase passes.
Commissioners also will consider a recommendation to increase the monthly base charges for water and for sewer by $1.50 each.
The proposed budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 also shows several significant parks and recreation and cultural projects being funded from the city’s fund balance, which will end fiscal 2023 at $14.2 million. The budget proposal calls for using $3.8 million of that.
$1 million would be available to purchase the “Cowan Property,” a 1.5-acre lot adjacent to Covered Bridge Park. The sale is currently being negotiated.
Another $650,000 is set aside for work at the former Franklin Fitness Center near Sycamore Shoals State Park, and $390,000 is budgeted for improvements to the nearby Franklin Pool, the city’s public swimming pool.
Other significant fund balance purchases include:
- A $500,000 contribution to the city schools’ capital fund.
- $230,213 for rehabilitation of the Bonnie Kate Theatre, which counts as matching funds for a $500,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission.
- $218,283 for three new police patrol vehicles.
- $150,000 for a computer system conversion.
The water-sewer rate increases would bring the base water rate from $18.95 a month to $20.45 and the base sewer rate from $18.32 to $19.82. Regional (non-city) water rates will increase $1.50 from their current $25.84 and rates for water connections larger than 3/4-inch will rise by proportionally higher amounts.
The proposed rate schedule also factors in an identical increase for fiscal 2025.
City staff cited material and labor cost inflation for the water rate proposal.
“The City is in the service delivery business. We put those services at risk if we can’t hire and retain staff or buy the materials and equipment needed to do the job,” said City Manager Daniel Estes.
The commission holds the first of three readings on the budget Thursday at 6 p.m. | 2023-06-07T19:12:50+00:00 | wjhl.com | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/elizabethton-to-consider-8-cent-property-tax-hike/ |
From Stormtracker 18 Meteorologist Austin Haskins
Strong to severe t-storms impacted a good portion of the Chippewa Valley during the late afternoon and evening hours on our Wednesday. The worst of the weather was in Barron County where reports of hail up to tennis ball size was reported near Rice Lake. There were scattered hail and wind reports elsewhere.
The weather today though will be much quieter and a little cooler as well. CLICK HERE to read about that, plus a look at what to expect for the weekend. | 2023-07-21T03:34:22+00:00 | wqow.com | https://www.wqow.com/weather/forecast/a-calmer-and-slightly-cooler-day-ahead-after-a-stormy-night-across-western-wisconsin/article_5201d184-26e5-11ee-a7c8-3381e881284a.html |
LONDON — It will be a coronation of many faiths and many languages.
King Charles III, keen to show that he can be a unifying figure for everyone in the United Kingdom, will be crowned in a ceremony that will for the first time include the active participation of faiths other than the Church of England.
Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh leaders will take part in various aspects of the coronation, the Archbishop of Canterbury's office said Saturday, as it revealed details of a service it described as an act of Christian worship that will reflect contemporary society.
The ceremony also will include female bishops for the first time, as well as hymns and prayers sung in Welsh, Scottish Gaelic and Irish Gaelic, as well as English.
"The service contains new elements that reflect the diversity of our contemporary society,'' Archbishop Justin Welby, spiritual leader of the Church of England, said in a statement. "It is my prayer that all who share in this service, whether they are of faith or no faith, will find ancient wisdom and new hope that brings inspiration and joy."
The coronation ceremony reflects Charles' efforts to show that the 1,000-year-old monarchy is still relevant in a country that is much more diverse than it was when his mother was crowned 70 years ago. While the king is the supreme governor of the Church of England, the latest census showed that less than half of the population now describe themselves as Christian.
Built around the theme "Called to Serve," the coronation service will begin with one of the youngest members of the congregation — a Chapel Royal chorister — greeting the king. Charles will respond by saying, "In His name and after His example, I come not to be served but to serve."
The moment is meant to underscore the importance of young people in the world today, according to Lambeth Palace, the home of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The service will also include many historic elements underscoring the ancient traditions through which power has been passed on to new kings and queens throughout the centuries.
In the most sacred part of the service, the Archbishop of Canterbury will anoint the king with oil, consecrating him and setting him apart from his subjects.
A screen will cover Charles at this moment, and the anointing won't be visible on television or to most people in the abbey, except for a few senior members of the clergy.
"When the screen which will surround the coronation chair is removed, the king is revealed to us all as someone who has taken on the responsibility of serving God and serving the people," a Lambeth Palace spokesperson said while speaking on customary condition of anonymity.
This will be followed by the presentation of the coronation regalia, sacred objects like the orb and scepter that symbolize the monarch's power and responsibilities.
In another innovation that reflects the changed religious landscape in Britain, members of the House of Lords from the Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh traditions will present the king with objects with no explicit Christian symbolism.
The new king will then be crowned and the refrain "God Save the King'' will echo through the Abbey.
After Charles is crowned, the traditional homage of the peers will be replaced by an "homage of the people," in which people in the Abbey and those watching on television will be invited to affirm their allegiance to the king.
Camilla will then be anointed, in a form similar to that of Queen Elizabeth, the queen mother, in 1937. However, Camilla's anointing won't be hidden behind a screen.
The congregation will also be invited to say the Lord's Prayer' in the language of their choice.
Just before Charles sets off in the Gold State Coach for a procession on the streets of London, the leaders and representatives of faith communities will deliver a greeting in unison. The greeting won't be amplified out of respect for those who are observing the Jewish sabbath and are barred from using electrical devices, Lambeth Palace said.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2023-04-30T10:16:59+00:00 | kunm.org | https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/2023-04-30/king-charles-iiis-coronation-will-feature-jews-muslims-and-other-faiths-too |
(NEXSTAR) – Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Soon families will gather to feast on turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and more. But, it’ll come with a pretty hefty price tag.
On Wednesday, the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) reported a classic Thanksgiving feast for 10 is $64.05 this year, up 20% over last year’s average of $53.31. This is the highest average cost of a Thanksgiving dinner in the AFBF’s 37 years of conducting this survey.
Partially driving that is, of course, the turkey. The feast’s focal point costs roughly 21% more than last year, with the Farm Bureau’s “volunteer shoppers” finding the average price for a 16-pound bird being $28.96, or $1.81 per pound.
That may not be the price you see, though. The Farm Bureau’s volunteer shoppers recorded prices during the final two weeks of October. Since then, data from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service show turkey prices have dropped to $0.95 per pound over the last month.
To calculate its overall Thanksgiving meal costs, AFBF reviewed the costs of 12 items: the turkey, pumpkin pie mix, a gallon of whole milk, a veggie tray with carrots and celery, 12 rolls, two pie shells, green peas, fresh cranberries, whipping cream, sweet potatoes, cubed stuffing, and miscellaneous ingredients needed to prepare the meal. Three additional items were calculated separately: ham, russet potatoes, and green beans.
With the exception of cranberries (down 14%), the price of every item is up between 8% and 69% compared to last year. Turkeys are nearly $5 more expensive than they were last year, and cubed stuffing is up more than $1.50. Overall, items other than the turkey are less than $5 each. You can see a full breakdown of item costs here.
Where you live will also likely have an impact on how much you spend for your Thanksgiving feast. Regionally, the AFBF found its meal for 10 would be the cheapest in the South ($58.42) and most expensive in the West ($71.37). Across states in the Northeast and Midwest, meal costs are roughly average – $64.02 and $64.26, respectively.
Residents of major metro areas are also faced with higher Thanksgiving grocery bills than smaller and mid-size cities, according to analysis by MoneyGeek. They found the cost of a full holiday meal in Boston is about twice as much as in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
There are only a few metro areas included in the data set where you can prepare a full spread for less than $100, and many of them are in Texas.
The cities with the most expensive Thanksgiving meals this year, according to MoneyGeek, are:
The metro areas with the cheapest cost of a Thanksgiving feast are:
MoneyGeek’s calculation of meal cost included a 10-pound turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, peas, corn, stuffing, pumpkin pie, drinks and a few more cooking staples.
Higher prices on Thanksgiving menu items are due to multiple factors like inflation, the war in Ukraine, supply chain challenges, and, for turkeys, a national outbreak of avian influenza. | 2022-11-20T20:13:36+00:00 | siouxlandproud.com | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/national-news/cost-of-thanksgiving-dinner-up-20-heres-where-its-most-expensive/ |
Ashley Paugh identified as victim in Colorado Springs LGBTQ nightclub mass shooting
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- During a press conference Monday, the Colorado Springs Police Department identified one of the victims as Ashley Paugh.
KRDO received a statement on behalf of Ashley's family made by Kurt Paugh, her husband.
We’re absolutely devastated by the loss of Ashley. She meant everything to this family, and we can’t even begin to understand what it will mean to not have her in our lives.
Ashley was a loving wife – she was my high school sweetheart – and she was just an amazing mother. Her daughter was her whole world, and she was so proud of Ryleigh, who is a championship swimmer. She loved her dad, her sister, and her family; Ashley was a loving aunt, with many nieces and nephews who are devastated by her loss.
She had a huge heart. I know that Ashley cared about so many people. She helped so many people through her work at Kids Crossing, a nonprofit that helps find loving homes for foster children. She would do anything for the kids – traveling all over southeastern Colorado, from Pueblo and Colorado Springs to Fremont County and the Colorado border, working to raise awareness and encourage individuals and families to become foster parents to children in our community. This included working with the LGBTQ community to find welcoming foster placements for children. During the holidays, Ashley organized giving trees and delivered them to businesses so that foster kids could have brighter holidays – and in fact, she was setting up giving trees even last week, canvassing Pueblo and Colorado Springs.
In addition to her family and making a difference in the community, Ashley loved being outdoors and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and riding four-wheelers.
We would like to ask that members of the media respect our privacy while we grieve this unbelievable loss; we’re not a family that wishes to be in the spotlight and are not at a place where we can be involved in interviews. This is all the information that we feel comfortable releasing at this time. Please direct any and all media inquiries to our family media liaison, whose information follows below. If we have additional information to share, such as more memories of Ashley or preferences for charitable donations, we will release that information through our family media liaison.
Kurt Paugh, victim's husband
Now, Kurt and so many others are mourning the loss of Ashley and the four others. | 2022-11-22T02:09:36+00:00 | krdo.com | https://krdo.com/news/2022/11/21/ashley-paugh-identified-as-victim-in-colorado-springs-lgbtq-nightclub-mass-shooting/ |
by Damon Carr, For New Pittsburgh Courier
I recently shared an article on Facebook about “Infinite Banking.” The article was called, “If you’re a proponent of Infinite Banking, you’re infinitely gullible.” I was asked, was “Velocity Banking” the same as Infinite Banking? I had never heard of Velocity Banking. I think I’m going to have to start paying attention to the TikTok and YouTube financial gurus. It appears that I can create a lot of content simply debunking what these influencers are making popular on social media.
What is Velocity Banking? Velocity Banking is a concept that prides itself on paying off your 30-year mortgage in under 7 years. That’s a concept certainly worthy of attention. I’m a proponent of paying the mortgage off early. In fact, I advise people to retire their mortgage before they retire from work. How Velocity Banking goes about paying off the mortgage in record time is where I see the problem.
You take out a HELOC. HELOC stands for Home Equity Line of Credit. You convert this HELOC to your all-purpose checking account. All of your major bill payments will come from this HELOC account. To streamline everything, you pay all your expenses with your credit card. By utilizing your credit card to pay for expenses, you’re effectively floating your expenses at zero percent because if you pay your credit card off in full every month, there’s no interest. You take your entire paycheck and apply it towards your HELOC. No need to have a savings account. After all, it’s not paying you much in interest anyway. Instead, you funnel your entire paycheck to your HELOC. In the event of an emergency, you can use your HELOC.
Here’s how it plays out: All of your expenses were paid with your credit card. Your entire paycheck was directed to your HELOC. You use your HELOC to pay off the credit card balance in full. You also take a lump sum of say $10,000 from your HELOC and apply it towards your mortgage. Making these lump-sum payments is what will accelerate you paying off your mortgage early. A key component to this working is you have to have positive cash flow or margin between your income and your expenses. As the theory goes, by directing your entire paycheck to your HELOC, you’ll quickly pay down the HELOC balance so that you can repeat another large lump-sum payment to your mortgage. I’ll share a direct example from one of the videos I watched called, “How Velocity Banking Works…”
“For this example, pretend that you have a mortgage of $100,000 at a 5 percent Annual Percentage Rate (APR). You also have an income of $4,000 a month and you spend $3,000 on miscellaneous expenses including your mortgage payment each month. This leaves you with $1,000 a month of discretionary cash flow.
You decide to use the velocity banking strategy, and you open a HELOC with a credit limit of $25,000 at 5 percent APR.
First, you make a lump sum payment from the HELOC to your mortgage. You could transfer up to $25,000, but it is wise to keep a “reserve,” and maybe you only draw $12,000 on the HELOC to start. Your mortgage balance is now $88,000 with your HELOC balance at $12,000. You take your monthly income of $4,000 and make a payment on the HELOC so the HELOC balance goes down to $8,000.
Over the course of the month, you put your living expenses on a credit card, and at the end of the month, you draw $3,000 on the HELOC to pay off the credit card and also to make your monthly mortgage payment. Your HELOC balance is now about $11,000.
Next month, you put your paycheck toward the HELOC at the beginning of the month and then pay monthly living expenses and the mortgage payment from the HELOC at the end of the month. This is commonly called “paycheck parking.” Continuing this process, the balance on your HELOC is reduced by about $1,000, minus interest on the HELOC each month.
After 9 months, your HELOC balance is down to about $4,000, so you can make another lump-sum payment of $12,000 from the HELOC to your mortgage. Now the mortgage balance is $74,442 with the HELOC at $15,154 and the total at $89,596.
You’ve now paid off 10.40 percent of your total mortgage and HELOC in nine months. Continue this velocity banking process and you will pay off your entire mortgage and HELOC combo in six years and four months.”
Damon here: That’s a vexing, complex theory filled with a host of positive assumptions. The theory only emphasizes the upside potential. EVERYTHING has to go perfect in order for this concept to work. I’m going to expose you to the volatility of this theory or the downside risk.
A HELOC is two L’s and one K short of what it’ll lock you into — HELL! A HELOC is a supersized credit card that is a lien against your house. It’s a mortgage! Sure, the interest rates are lower on a HELOC than on a credit card. But the interest rate is never lower or equal to the interest rate on a mortgage as suggested in the example used in the video. The rate on a HELOC is a floating rate that adjusts up or down — usually UP depending on prevailing market interest rates. The interest rate on a HELOC is generally the prime rate plus a margin. As of the day I wrote this article, the average interest rate on a fixed rate mortgage was hovering around 5 percent. Whereas the average interest rate on a floating rate HELOC subject to change is hovering around 9 percent. Who with common sense would accelerate payments on a lower, fixed-rate mortgage by utilizing money from a higher, adjustable rate mortgage (HELOC)? In my Keith Sweat voice, NOBODDDDY!
This Velocity Banking concept is BAD to the core. It goes against the concept of sound money management. You don’t need a savings account? Pay all your expenses with a credit card? Use a HELOC in lieu of a checking account? Borrow money from a HELOC to accelerate paying off a mortgage? You have to be high on marijuana to think this stuff up! You have to be high on crack to believe it!
By utilizing a HELOC as the pivot point to manage your cash flow, it exaggerates and inflates your income. It’s a self-inflicted ponzi scheme. At some point, you’ll reach the limit, the lender will freeze your line of credit, or in year 10, you’ll be forced to amortize and repay the HELOC in 10 years at a higher than market interest rate with a monthly payment that will shock you.
Velocity Banking is a volcano banking waiting to erupt havoc on your personal finances.
Simple, easy to understand, practical solution for the sober mind! If you want to retire your mortgage early, make extra payments on your mortgage. Velocity in motion!
(Damon Carr, Money Coach can be reached at 412-216-1013 or visit his website at www.damonmoneycoach.com.) | 2022-06-08T12:18:02+00:00 | atlantadailyworld.com | https://atlantadailyworld.com/2022/06/08/the-carr-report-explaining-the-volatility-of-velocity-banking/ |
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republican hopes to reclaim a crucial governor’s seat in swing-state Wisconsin this year long appeared to rest on Rebecca Kleefisch, a former TV news anchor who spent eight years as former Gov. Scott Walker’s heir apparent and vowed to continue his sharply conservative policies. Then a wealthy construction company owner jumped in, dumped $12 million of his own money into the race and won Donald Trump’s backing.
Now Tim Michels is in a competitive race against Kleefisch heading into Tuesday’s primary to decide who will face Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in November.
The contest is part of a deepening proxy fight between Trump and his estranged former vice president, Mike Pence, who has thrown his support to Kleefisch. And it could ultimately have implications for 2024, when Trump has dangled the possibility of another White House bid and has shown his willingness to pressure elected officials, including those in Wisconsin, to overturn election results.
Michels has focused on shaping an outsider candidacy — bolstered by the Trump endorsement — while Kleefisch has embraced her establishment support as evidence that she’s a more reliable GOP choice.
Trump appeared with Michels at a Friday night rally in Waukesha, the heart of Milwaukee’s conservative suburbs. Trump called Kleefisch “a career politician and a political insider. I’ve known her for a long time. She’s the handpicked candidate of the failed establishment, the RINOs.” That’s a derogatory term standing for ”Republican in name only.”
“Rebecca Kleefisch does not have what it takes to beat Tony Evers,” Trump said. “He’s going to win if he runs against Rebecca.”
Michels appeared on stage with Trump, but did not call for overturning the 2020 election.
Kleefisch and Michels have both questioned President Joe Biden’s victory over Trump in Wisconsin in 2020 — an outcome that has withstood recounts, lawsuits and reviews — but neither has taken up Trump’s pressure campaign to have those results decertified.
Kleefisch has called the 2020 election “rigged” but said she won’t consider decertification because “it’s not constitutionally possible.” Michels initially called decertifying Biden’s 2020 win in Wisconsin “not a priority” and then later said “everything will be on the table.”
Both Michels and Kleefisch want to do away with the current bipartisan commission that runs elections in the state.
A third Republican candidate for governor, state Rep. Tim Ramthun, has repeatedly called for decertification and made it the centerpiece of his longshot campaign.
Biden’s win in Wisconsin has withstood two partial recounts, numerous lawsuits, a nonpartisan audit and a review by a conservative law firm. Republican legislative leaders have repeatedly said decertification is impossible.
Kleefisch has racked up support not only from Pence, but also her former boss Walker, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, GOP leaders of the Legislature, 56 lawmakers, the state chamber of commerce, the Tavern League and a majority of the state’s county sheriffs.
“I am the one who is tested and proven and ready to go,” Kleefisch said after Pence touted her at a stop in suburban Milwaukee on Wednesday. “I am the one who has won statewide four times.”
Michels claims that he is “not a politician,” but he’s been a power player largely behind the scenes for decades and previously ran for U.S. Senate in 2004, losing to then-Sen. Russ Feingold. He’s been a regular donor to Republicans, including both Walker and Kleefisch.
“People want an outsider, people want a veteran, people want a businessman,” Michels said in a candidate debate.
Wisconsin is the third state where Pence and Trump have been on opposite sides in governor’s races that highlighted deep divisions about the GOP’s future. In Georgia, Pence-backed Gov. Brian Kemp thumped Trump’s choice, former Sen. David Perdue, by more than 50 percentage points. In Arizona’s governor primary, Trump-backed former TV news anchor Kari Lake and Pence-backed businesswoman Karrin Taylor Robson were in a race that was too early to call on Thursday.
The territory that drew Pence and Kleefisch on Wednesday is the heart of Republican Wisconsin and home to the key suburban Milwaukee voters who will likely decide the fall election. It’s also Kleefisch’s home turf. Trump, whose support in the area declined from 2016 to 2020, held his Friday rally for Michels just three miles from where Pence came for Kleefisch.
“There is no candidate for governor in America who is more capable, more experienced, or a more proven conservative than Rebecca Kleefisch,” Pence said in touting Kleefisch without mentioning Trump or Michels.
Kleefisch is a former Milwaukee television news anchor and teenage beauty pageant contestant who got into politics in 2010 and won a five-way primary for lieutenant governor. After Evers beat Walker in 2018, Kleefisch started laying the groundwork for her own run.
She has reminded Republicans about the fights she went through with Walker, when his proposal effectively ending collective bargaining led to massive protests in 2011 and eventually a failed attempt to recall both him and Kleefisch from office. This cycle, she has focused on issues like instituting a flat income tax, expanding school choice programs and investing more in law enforcement.
Michels co-owns the state’s largest construction company, Michels Corp., along with his brothers, and has spent nearly $1 million a week of his own money since getting into the race. Though he uses the Trump endorsement as evidence of his outsider status, he’s also backed by Wisconsin’s ultimate Republican political insider — four-term former Gov. Tommy Thompson, who briefly flirted with his own run.
Michels has stumbled at times.
He flip-flopped this week when asked whether he would back a Trump run in 2024, first refusing to say, then 24 hours later saying he would back Trump for president. At an earlier debate, he didn’t appear to know what DACA — Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, a highly contentious immigration program — stood for. And he’s faced criticism for purchasing $30 million in properties in New York and Connecticut between 2015 and 2020 and splitting time between Wisconsin and the East Coast, where his children attended and graduated from high school.
Michels’ positions on the boards of various transportation-related industry groups have caused him some heartburn, with Kleefisch seeking to tie him to those groups’ past support for raising the state gas tax. Michels says he opposes an increase.
He is also running ads taking a strong anti-immigrant position, even though he headed the board of directors of a transportation group that opposed an anti-immigrant bill that would have prevented companies that employ “illegal aliens” from getting state contracts.
While the Republicans battle, Evers has raised more than $11 million this year and is casting himself as the only block against Republicans who want to overhaul elections for the 2024 presidential campaign and keep in place an 1849 state law banning abortions. Both Kleefisch and Michels support the ban and the law, which is being challenged in court by Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul.
“I have a good record,” Evers said, highlighting the state’s 2.8% unemployment rate, increased funding for public schools, expanded rural broadband access, emphasis on repairing roads and a 15% cut in income taxes. “Let them bring it on.” | 2022-08-06T03:37:50+00:00 | nwahomepage.com | https://www.nwahomepage.com/news/politics/trump-ally-takes-on-walker-protege-in-wis-governors-race/ |
NEW YORK, June 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Levi & Korsinsky, LLP notifies investors in Teladoc Health, Inc. ("Teladoc" or the "Company") (NYSE: TDOC) of a class action securities lawsuit.
CLASS DEFINITION: The lawsuit seeks to recover losses on behalf of Teladoc investors who were adversely affected by alleged securities fraud between October 28, 2021 and April 27, 2022. Follow the link below to get more information and be contacted by a member of our team:
TDOC investors may also contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. via email at jlevi@levikorsinsky.com or by telephone at (212) 363-7500.
CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that defendants made false statements and/or concealed that: (i) increased competition, among other factors, was negatively impacting Teladoc's BetterHelp and chronic care businesses; (ii) accordingly, the growth of those businesses was less sustainable than Defendants had led investors to believe; (iii) as a result, Teladoc's revenue and adjusted EBITDA projections for FY 2022 were unrealistic; (iv) as a result of all the foregoing, Teladoc would be forced to recognize a significant non-cash goodwill impairment charge; and (v) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
WHAT'S NEXT? If you suffered a loss in Teladoc during the relevant time frame, you have until August 5, 2022 to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
NO COST TO YOU: If you are a class member, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket costs or fees. There is no cost or obligation to participate.
WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, the team at Levi & Korsinsky has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. Our firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States.
CONTACT:
Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
Joseph E. Levi, Esq.
Ed Korsinsky, Esq.
55 Broadway, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10006
jlevi@levikorsinsky.com
Tel: (212) 363-7500
Fax: (212) 363-7171
www.zlk.com
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SOURCE Levi & Korsinsky, LLP | 2022-06-23T11:29:48+00:00 | kswo.com | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2022/06/23/tdoc-lawsuit-alert-levi-amp-korsinsky-notifies-teladoc-health-inc-investors-class-action-lawsuit-upcoming-deadline/ |
WASHINGTON, April 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On the heels of the House Judiciary Committee's approval of a landmark bill that would deter mass illegal immigration, end asylum abuse and rein in the Biden administration's abuse of parole authority, the House Homeland Security Committee has rolled out a bill that would deliver much needed resources to secure our southern border.
The Border Reinforcement Act adds manpower, technology and physical infrastructure needed to regain control of our borders. It would require that money dedicated to border enforcement be used for just that -- not for processing, releasing and flying illegal migrants around the country, as the Biden administration has been doing. The bill also requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to collect and disseminate vital information about the people who are encountered crossing the border illegally.
Among the key provisions of the Border Reinforcement Act:
- Requires DHS to resume construction of the border security wall along no less than 900 miles of our southern border.
- Requires that DHS increase manpower to a total of 22,000 Border Patrol agents.
- Provides additional technology at border ports of entry to detect and prevent the entry of narcotics, contraband and illegal migrants.
- Significantly adds aerial and ground technology to surveil the entire southern border.
- Limits the use of DHS's CBP One phone app to inspection of perishable cargo only.
"Nearly 7.5 million people have crossed our southern border illegally since President Biden took office. That staggering figure alone bears testament to the fact that our borders are not secure, no matter how many times the White House or Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas tell us they are," said Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).
"The Biden administration has repeatedly claimed it needs more resources to secure the border. The Border Reinforcement Act delivers those resources, but with the caveat that the money, technology and manpower be employed to prevent and deter illegal immigration rather than facilitate it, which has been the administration's policy.
"FAIR applauds the Homeland Security Committee for delivering a bill that would provide actual homeland security and urges a swift markup and committee approval as the bill makes its way to the floor for passage by the full House of Representatives," concluded Stein.
Contact: Ron Kovach, 202-328-7004 or rkovach@fairus.org.
ABOUT FAIR
Founded in 1979, FAIR is the country's largest immigration reform group. With over 3 million members and supporters nationwide, FAIR fights for immigration policies that serve national interests, not special interests. FAIR believes that immigration reform must enhance national security, improve the economy, protect jobs, preserve our environment, and establish a rule of law that is recognized and enforced.
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SOURCE Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) | 2023-04-24T16:08:56+00:00 | kcbd.com | https://www.kcbd.com/prnewswire/2023/04/24/house-homeland-security-bill-would-deliver-meaningful-resources-border-says-fair/ |
Texas vs. Xavier: Odds, spread, over/under and other Vegas lines - NCAA Tournament Sweet 16
A Sweet 16 matchup will feature the No. 2 seed Texas Longhorns (28-8) and the No. 3 seed Xavier Musketeers (27-9) playing on Friday at T-Mobile Center. The NCAA Tournament contest begins at 9:45 PM.
In this article, you will take a look at the spread and odds across multiple sportsbooks for the Texas vs. Xavier matchup.
Texas vs. Xavier Game Info
- When: Friday, March 24, 2023 at 9:45 PM ET
- Where: T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri
- How to Watch on TV: CBS
Click on our link to sign up for a free trial of fuboTV, and start watching select March Madness games and tons of other live sports without cable today!
Texas vs. Xavier Odds, Spread, Over/Under
See the odds, spread and over/under for this matchup posted on individual sportsbooks.
Texas vs. Xavier Betting Trends
- Texas has won 18 games against the spread this season, while failing to cover or pushing 18 times.
- So far this season, 16 out of the Longhorns' 36 games have gone over the point total.
- Xavier has covered 19 times in 34 games with a spread this year.
- So far this year, 21 out of the Musketeers' 34 games with an over/under have gone over the point total.
Texas Futures Odds
- Odds to win the national championship: +1000
- Texas' national championship odds (+1000) place it fourth-best in the country, but according to computer rankings it is only fifth-best.
- In terms of their national championship odds, the Longhorns have had the 74th-biggest change this season, improving from +2200 at the start to +1000.
- The implied probability of Texas winning the national championship, based on its +1000 moneyline odds, is 9.1%.
Xavier Futures Odds
- Odds to win the national championship: +3500
- The Musketeers were +8000 to win the national championship at the beginning of the season, and have now improved to +3500, which is the 63rd-biggest change in the country.
- With odds of +3500, Xavier has been given a 2.8% chance of winning the national championship.
Sign up for DraftKings Sportsbook using our link for a first deposit bonus.
Not all offers available in all states. Please gamble responsibly! Contact 1-800-GAMBLER if you or someone you know has developed a gambling problem or addiction.
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | 2023-03-20T05:39:03+00:00 | atlantanewsfirst.com | https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/sports/betting/2023/03/24/texas-xavier-college-basketball-odds-spread-over-under-ncaa-tournament-sweet-16/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — When Speaker Kevin McCarthy suggested recently he might stop the FBI from relocating its downtown headquarters to a new facility planned for the Washington suburbs, it was more than idle thinking about an office renovation.
The nod from the Republican speaker is elevating a once-fringe proposal to upend the FBI in the aftermath of the federal indictment of Donald Trump over classified documents and the Justice Department’s prosecution of his allies, including some of the nearly 1,000 people charged in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol.
Moving from far-right corners into the mainstream, the emerging effort to overhaul the nation’s premier law enforcement agency is rooted in increasingly forceful conservative complaints about an overly biased FBI that they claim is being weaponized against them.
“This is a pretty dramatic reversal of what the politics would have been 50 years ago,” said Beverly Gage, a historian at Yale who won a 2023 Pulitzer Prize for her biography of the legendary FBI director, “G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century.”
The shifting attitudes among Republican members of Congress toward the FBI underscore the way Trump’s personal grievances have become legislative policy. Once the party of law and order, Republicans are now antagonists of federal law enforcement, undermining a storied institution and attacking Justice Department officials whose work is foundational to American democracy.
While political criticism of the FBI has followed the bureau since its founding with Hoover, who famously wiretapped civil rights leaders and orchestrated the infiltration of left-wing political organizations, the right-flank campaign against federal law enforcement had mostly simmered at the margins of party politics.
But the Justice Department’s indictment of Trump, who has pleaded not guilty to 37 felony counts over storing and refusing to return classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago club, and the ongoing prosecution of Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol, have fueled conservative anger. The Justice Department is also investigating Trump and his allies over the effort to challenge President Joe Biden’s election in the run-up to the 2021 Capitol attack.
Conservatives criticize the federal law enforcement on multiple fronts; among them, its work with social media companies to flag potentially dangerous postings, and a COVID-era memo from Attorney General Merrick Garland directing resources to combat violence against school officials. They compare the Trump investigations with what they say was a sweetheart deal for Hunter Biden, the president’s son, who is pleading guilty to misdemeanor tax evasion after a long investigation.
“Looking at the actions of the FBI, I think the whole leadership needs to change,” McCarthy told reporters at the Capitol last month.
Fresh from a visit with law enforcement in California, McCarthy said he envisions decentralizing the FBI by spreading operations into the states.
“This idea that we’re going to build a new, big Pentagon and put all the FBI mainly in one place, I don’t think it’s a good structure,” McCarthy said Friday, panning a conservative-led proposal to relocate the FBI to Alabama.
“I’d like to see the structure of a much smaller FBI administration building, and more FBI agents out across the country, helping to keep the country safe,” he said. “To me that’s better.”
In many ways, the resistance to a robust federal law enforcement agency extends a thread that has run across American history — from the aftermath of the Civil War, when Southern states rejected federal troops for Reconstruction, to Trump’s own 2024 campaign announcement in Waco, Texas, a region known for the federal siege of a separatist compound in 1993.
“The Washington headquarters is symbolic,” said Steven G. Bradbury, a former Trump administration general counsel who is now a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.
Heritage is among those outside entities and advocacy organizations encouraging Congress to reimagine the FBI.
Bradbury’s “How to Fix the FBI” report outlines nearly a dozen options. One is scaling back its jurisdiction. Another is to overhaul section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, known as FISA, that was part of the Trump-Russia investigation over 2016 election interference and is a program some Democrats also want to limit.
“We have our finger on the pulse of what conservatives are reacting to,” said Bradbury. “The FBI needs to be rebuilt.”
Last week, FBI Director Christopher Wray appeared before the House Judiciary Committee for the first time since Republicans took control in January, facing a long list of criticisms, complaints and accusations of bias at the bureau.
“Are you protecting the Bidens?’ asked Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.
“Absolutely not,” Wray said.
At another point Wray said, “The idea that I’m biased against conservatives seems somewhat insane to me, given my own personal background.”
He is a longtime Republican who had been appointed by Trump to fill the job after Director James Comey was fired in 2017.
Wray told the lawmakers that dismantling or defunding the FBI would be disastrous for the bureau’s 38,000 employees and “hurt our great state local law enforcement partners that depend on us each day to work with them on a whole slew of challenging threats.”
Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal, the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, called the hearing “bizarre.”
“I didn’t think I would ever see Republicans attacking a Republican appointed by Donald Trump to lead the nation’s largest law enforcement agency, essentially saying they want to defund the FBI,” she said.
The lawmaker said it was also odd to find herself defending the federal law enforcement agency that she, too, believes needs strong oversight from Congress. But she felt Democrats had to step in to counter Republican attacks on the FBI.
“That’s their message: They want to shut down the FBI because the FBI is continuing to investigate Donald Trump,” said Jayapal. “And that is really what this is about.”
Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, submitted a proposal before the hearing that calls for “eliminating taxpayer funding for any new FBI headquarter facility.”
Jordan said in a letter to the Republican chair of the House appropriations committee that he also wants a plan for moving the FBI headquarters out of Washington, noting an existing facility in Huntsville, Alabama — a recommendation Heritage has also made.
“One of the goals we’ve set in this Congress as Republicans is to do the oversight so we can impact the appropriations process,” Jordan said in a brief interview at the Capitol, and “put limitations on how taxpayer money is spent to stop the weaponization of these agencies against the American people.”
Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, which is competing with neighboring Maryland to host the new FBI headquarters, called the Republican ideas “a solution in search of a problem.”
“I think they just got a political bug against federal law enforcement agencies,” he said. | 2023-07-17T11:00:12+00:00 | qcnews.com | https://www.qcnews.com/news/politics/election/ap-gop-vs-fbi-a-republican-campaign-to-stop-a-new-fbi-headquarters-is-revving-up-after-trump-probes/ |
- Electrify Expo series highlight new electric vehicles, sustainability, energy, infrastructure, and EV legislation
- Experience the Kia EV6 and see the all-new Niro EV in Austin at Circuit of the Americas
IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kia America once again joins cutting-edge mobility companies for Electrify Expo Austin, the final event in the series where leaders in electrification will come together to discuss the key challenges, insights, available research, and trends facing the mobility sector as it moves toward an all-electric future. After events earlier this summer in the Long Beach, CA, Seattle, NYC-Metro, and Miami areas, the series concludes November 11-13, at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, where attendees will once again have the opportunity to experience the Kia EV6 first-hand and be among the first to see the all-new Niro EV.
"The 2022 Electrify Expo events have provided a forum for the top companies and executives in electrification to come together to share insights and discuss how the transition to all-electrified vehicles will be made as seamlessly as possible," said Eric Watson, vice president, sales operations, Kia America. "Kia was able to share our point-of-view as one of the top selling manufacturers of EV vehicles and we certainly learned from the perspectives of others. We are confident that we are charting the best path forward and helping to shape the future of the automotive industry."
A wide variety of topics are set for discussion and include legislation affecting the EV industry, range anxiety, battery materials and sustainability, charging infrastructure, the future of autonomous driving applications and supply chain barriers. A full list of sessions and presenters can be found by visiting www.electrifyexpo.com.
For 2022, Electrify Expo expanded its industry-facing events, and education programs, with a full day of programming, industry leadership, and breakout sessions for the Auto and Micromobility categories. The series will wrap in Austin at Circuit of the Americas.
Kia America – about us
Headquartered in Irvine, California, Kia America continues to top automotive quality surveys and is recognized as one of the 100 Best Global Brands. Kia serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA and offers a range of gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electrified vehicles sold through a network of over 750 dealers in the U.S., including several cars and SUVs proudly assembled in America*.
For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com. To receive custom email notifications for press releases the moment they are published, subscribe at www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert.
* The K5, Sportage, Sorento, and Telluride (excludes HEV and PHEV models) are assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts.
About Electrify Expo
Electrify Expo is North America's largest outdoor electric vehicle festival showcasing the latest e-mobility products, including EVs, e-motorcycles, e-bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards, e-boats, e-surfboards, and more from top brands around the world. The festival addresses one of the most challenging barriers to mass adoption of electric vehicles with meaningful hands-on experiences, demonstrations, and test rides. Electrify Expo meets the soaring demand for companies to share new technologies, new modes of mobility and put products in the hands of consumers in a meaningful way. Electrify Expo will feature more than 1M+ square feet of exhibit space in Los Angeles County, Seattle, New York, Miami, and Austin.
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SOURCE Kia America | 2022-11-03T12:56:27+00:00 | wlox.com | https://www.wlox.com/prnewswire/2022/11/03/kia-america-plugs-into-final-round-electrify-expo-2022/ |
PORTLAND, Maine — From ongoing issues paying staff — to the superintendent calling it quits — Portland Public Schools are in some hot water.
School leadership addressed city councilors Monday night to lay it all out during the annual State of the Schools Address.
Portland School Board Chair Sarah Lentz delivered the address.
Lentz touched on the district's many accomplishments and goals as well as the district's payroll crisis.
“We have failed our staff,” said Lentz. “Our payroll system has been in crisis for weeks.”
Earlier, Lentz told NEWS CENTER Maine, some 700 school employees have either been incorrectly paid or not at all since October.
While Lentz said they've seen progress to pay staff — some are still not getting paid correctly.
"Most of the discrepancies in pay are an underpayment or an overpayment," explained Lentz.
She said Spyglass Consulting will be doing a forensic audit of the school systems payroll system, which will really help, in the short term, correct any issue that has happened with the payroll.
This is all after just last week, Portland's Superintendent Xavier Botana announced he's resigning, as a result of the payroll system crisis.
"Though he is leaving this way, his legacy and his work is still here, and the board fully intends to move it forward," Lentz reaffirmed. | 2022-12-20T17:01:12+00:00 | newscentermaine.com | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/education/portland-schools-state-of-the-schools-address/97-c7abe16b-b2e8-46c4-82de-69048ab29abf |
Competitor for SkillsUSA goes home with the gold medal for States and the silver medal for Nationals
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine (WAGM) - A recent competitor for SkillsUSA went home with the gold medal for States and the silver medal for Nationals along with a newly found confidence.
Breanna Ouellette, came in 1st place with a perfect score for States in the Maine’s SkillsUSA competitions while competing for her field of study, “Employment Application Process.” SkillsUSA is a way for students to compete in their trade. Only the best of the best competes according to the director of the St. John Valley Tech Center and advisor for SkillsUSA, Kevin Lavoie. Ouellette competed alongside other people focusing on different trades for their part of the competition including two St. John Valley Tech Center gold medalists for States, Alex Hassell for Automotive Services Technology, and Brianna Levesque for Health Occupations Professional Portfolio. After receiving 1st place in states, all three students went on to compete Nationally in Atlanta, Georgia where Ouellette placed 2nd in the Nation against 24 other competitors.
Ouellette “I was shocked because I didn’t think I was placing so, I was pretty surprised when I place for both State and National I would definitely compete again if it’s possible and I think that anyone going to a program like the CTSO program should take that chance to compete if their school has the SkillsUSA opening. I think it’s a great experience. I’ve gained so much more confidence from this competition.”
Lavoie “SkillsUSA is a CTSO which stands for Career and Technical-education Student Organization and it’s to showcase all the trades, hard trades, and soft trade, and how proficient students are at knowing the trade.”
Ouellette’s next step is college where she plans on majoring in business management and honing all her skills for a successful future.
Copyright 2023 WAGM. All rights reserved. | 2023-07-07T18:54:22+00:00 | wagmtv.com | https://www.wagmtv.com/2023/07/07/competitor-skillsusa-goes-home-with-gold-medal-states-silver-medal-nationals/ |
The cop, Ofcr. Luis Verne, cautioned Buress to leave, and had reportedly done so several times previously, but as captured in body-worn camera footage later released by the Miami Police Department, Buress continued talking into Verne's camera: "Hey what's up, YouTube!"
"All right," Verne responded, "put your hands behind your back."
Verne arrested Buress for misdemeanor disorderly intoxication, a charge prosecutors would later drop. But in July 2020, Buress filed a federal lawsuit against the city, the Miami Police Department, and two Miami police officers, Verne and Elio Villegas. Buress alleged wrongful arrest and claimed that Villegas, who arrived after the arrest, failed to intervene. The comedian contends that the "false" arrest caused him to lose gigs and suffer emotional distress.
For the past two years, the lawsuit has stalled in Florida's Southern District Court as Villegas has filed motions to dismiss the claims, stating that he didn't know the arrest was unlawful and, moreover, that his participation is covered by so-called qualified immunity, the legal principle that protects police officers from being sued personally for actions on the job.
But on June 15, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit issued a ruling denying Villegas' motion to dismiss the case and blocking him from claiming qualified immunity. Because Verne hasn’t sought to dismiss the case, the lawsuit, in which Buress seeks unspecified damages, is finally in a position to move forward.
The lower court had previously determined that Buress had "sufficiently" pleaded that Villegas saw Verne admit that he was only arresting Buress because the comedian had "roasted him."
"Specifically, when Buress stated in reference to Verne that '[h]e’s just salty that I roasted his ass,' and Verne replied, 'Yeah, I am,' that allegation could be read, in the light most favorable to Buress, that Villegas knew Verne was arresting Buress for a retaliatory purpose," reads the appellate decision, which is embedded at the end of this article.
Neither Buress' attorneys nor Miami City Attorney Victoria Mendez immediately responded to New Times' request for comments via email.
Earlier that evening, Buress walked up to Verne and asked if he could give him $20 to call him an Uber ride to his hotel because his phone battery was dead, and the on-duty officer reportedly declined. According to the ruling, the comedian then, referring to women Burress had allegedly seen Verne flirting with, quipped, "You’re over there kissing [women] but can’t call me an Uber?"
As described in the ruling, Verne ordered Buress to leave the street, and Buress walked into a bar in search of a phone charger or a patron willing to call him an Uber. Verne followed him inside and ordered Buress to leave because he "was too drunk to be on the premises." Buress then asked the officer, "If I can’t be on the street, where do you want me to be?"
After both men stepped outside, Verne turned on his body-worn camera and captured the encounter that led to the comedian's arrest.
Comedian @HannibalBuress sues @MiamiPD over wrongful arrest during #ArtBasel — that is the subject of his new YouTube comedy special 'Miami Nights' #BecauseMiami https://t.co/GJVU3oUH4w pic.twitter.com/QNznyJkThd
— Billy Corben (@BillyCorben) July 31, 2020
As New Times previously reported, almost a year before Verne arrested Buress, in January 2017, the officer had violently choked a man and slammed his head into a railing at Miller's Ale House in Kendall after knocking back some drinks with fellow off-duty officers. A witness said Verne had "attacked" the man, though the cops claimed the Ale House guest had hurled "obscene" comments at Verne, including calling him a "pig."
According to the city's Civilian Investigative Panel (CIP), Verne has repeatedly been accused of off-duty incidents "where allegations were made that he was under the influence of alcohol and had anger issues.
In January 2018, Verne allegedly rammed a Jeep into a motorist while off-duty and chased them down before whipping out a police badge and saying, "You don't know who you are fucking with. If you leave now, I'll forget this happened."
While Verne was reportedly disciplined by his bosses for the bar fight, it's unclear whether there were any consequences for the Jeep incident. | 2022-06-17T15:59:45+00:00 | miaminewtimes.com | https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/miami-cop-who-didnt-stop-hannibal-buress-false-arrest-cant-claim-qualified-immunity-14693752 |
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP ("GPM") announces that investors with substantial losses have opportunity to lead the securities fraud class action lawsuit against F45 Training Holdings Inc. ("F45" or the "Company") (NYSE: FXLV).
Class Period: July 2021 IPO
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: February 6, 2023
If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the F45 lawsuit, you can submit your contact information at www.glancylaw.com/cases/f45-training-holdings-inc/. You can also contact Charles H. Linehan, of GPM at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, or via email at shareholders@glancylaw.com to learn more about your rights.
The complaint filed alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that F45's rapid growth strategy was unsustainable, reliant on, inter alia, franchisees opening multiple locations in a short period of time and/or dependent on franchisees who required near 100% financing of their operations in order to open for business, a model that was unsustainable.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.
To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action. If you wish to learn more about this class action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to the pending class action lawsuit, please contact Charles Linehan, Esquire, of GPM, 1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, by email to shareholders@glancylaw.com, or visit our website at www.glancylaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number and number of shares purchased.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.
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SOURCE Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP | 2023-01-06T18:45:58+00:00 | kcbd.com | https://www.kcbd.com/prnewswire/2023/01/06/fxlv-investors-have-opportunity-lead-f45-training-holdings-inc-securities-fraud-lawsuit/ |
NORTH PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — It’s been 26 years since James Loxley underwent a life-saving kidney transplant after a donation from his father.
“I have been able to live life to the fullest with that transplant,” Loxley said.
It’s also when he began taking 25 milligrams of the drug Neoral, which is an immunosuppressant commonly used to prevent organ rejection after a transplant. The drug is imperative to the continued success of Loxley’s transplant, and when he suddenly couldn’t get ahold of it, he became concerned.
“The pharmacist said to me, ‘We have a situation going on. There’s a national shortage of this medication,'” his wife, Linda Loxley, recalled.
“I am scared,” her husband added. “If this medication [isn’t available], what is going to happen to the life-saving transplant that I received from my father?”
With the help of Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), the couple received an emergency supply of Neoral, though only enough to last James Loxley two weeks.
“I don’t want to lose him,” his wife said. “I am going to do everything in my power to get this medication for him because it is that important. He could die [without] it.”
The drug’s manufacturer, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, told Nexstar’s WPRI there is no longer a shortage of Neoral.
“There was a backorder of Novartis Neoral 25 milligrams earlier this year, but as of Feb. 16, it is available and no longer on backorder,” a company spokesperson said. “As this is so recent, there may be a lag in the market to get product backfilling the channel.”
That’s the case for James Loxley, whose pharmacy still has a limited supply.
“It’s essential,” Jeffrey Bratberg, a pharmacy professor at the University of Rhode Island said. “If you don’t tell the immune system to not reject the organ, you have a much higher likelihood of rejecting the organ.”
Bratberg said patients impacted by medication shortages should work closely with their prescribing doctor or pharmacist to discuss both short- and long-term solutions.
Generic medications may also be available in place of the brand-name drugs, Bratberg added.
James Loxley, meanwhile, said he doesn’t want to take chances with a generic medication, especially 26 successful years with Neoral. | 2023-03-09T22:41:16+00:00 | wboy.com | https://www.wboy.com/news/national/why-life-saving-organ-transplant-drug-was-in-short-supply/ |
HOUSTON, Nov. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Coterra Energy Inc. (NYSE: CTRA) ("Coterra" or the "Company") today announced that Thomas E. Jorden, Chief Executive Officer and President, will participate in a fireside chat at the Bank of America Global Energy Conference. The fireside chat will begin at 2:00 PM ET on Wednesday, November 16, 2022.
A live webcast of the presentation will be available on the "Events & Presentations" page under the "Investors" section of the Company's website at www.coterra.com. The webcast will be archived and available at the same location after the conclusion of the live event.
Coterra is a premier exploration and production company based in Houston, Texas with focused operations in the Permian Basin, Marcellus Shale and Anadarko Basin. We strive to be a leading producer, delivering returns with a commitment to sustainability leadership. Learn more about us at www.coterra.com.
This communication contains, and the presentation will contain, certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact and reflect Coterra's current views about future events. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about returns to shareholders, enhanced shareholder value, reserves estimates, future financial and operating performance and goals and commitment to sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership, strategic pursuits and goals, including with respect to the publication of Coterra's first Sustainability Report, and other statements that are not historical facts. The words "expect," "project," "estimate," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "budget," "plan," "predict," "potential," "possible," "may," "should," "could," "would," "will," "strategy," "outlook" and similar expressions are also intended to identify forward-looking statements. We can provide no assurance that the forward-looking statements contained in this communication and the presentation will occur as projected and actual results may differ materially from those projected. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and assumptions that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the risk that the combined businesses will not be integrated successfully; the risk that the cost savings and any other synergies from the Merger may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; the volatility in commodity prices for crude oil and natural gas; cost increases; supply chain disruptions; the effect of future regulatory or legislative actions, including the risk of new restrictions with respect to well spacing, hydraulic fracturing, natural gas flaring, seismicity, produced water disposal, or other oil and natural gas development activities; disruption from the Merger making it more difficult to maintain relationships with customers, employees or suppliers; the diversion of management time on integration-related issues; the potential effects of further developments to the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and variants thereof on Coterra's business, financial condition and results of operations; actions by, or disputes among or between, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other producer countries; market factors; market prices (including geographic basis differentials) of oil and natural gas; impacts of inflation; labor shortages and economic disruption (including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic or geopolitical disruptions such as the war in Ukraine); determination of reserves estimates, adjustments or revisions, including factors impacting such determination such as commodity prices, well performance, operating expenses and completion of Coterra's annual proved undeveloped (PUD) reserves process, as well as the impact on our financial statements resulting therefrom; the presence or recoverability of estimated reserves; the ability to replace reserves; environmental risks; drilling and operating risks; exploration and development risks; competition; the ability of management to execute its plans to meet its goals; and other risks inherent in Coterra's businesses. In addition, the declaration and payment of any future dividends, whether regular base quarterly dividends, variable dividends or special dividends, will depend on Coterra's financial results, cash requirements, future prospects and other factors deemed relevant by Coterra's board of directors. While the list of factors presented here is considered representative, no such list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those indicated. For additional information about other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, please refer to Coterra's annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the SEC, which are available on Coterra's website at www.coterra.com.
Forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management at the time the statements are made. Except to the extent required by applicable law, Coterra does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof.
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SOURCE Coterra Energy Inc. | 2022-11-10T21:27:29+00:00 | kswo.com | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2022/11/10/coterra-energy-participate-upcoming-conference/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — As Joe Biden contemplated his next move in 2017 after decades in government, he considered a familiar path — creating a Washington-based think tank to focus on international affairs and diplomacy. It proved an easy sell and a lucrative one, too.
Soft landings in the capital are common for officials with a resume like Biden’s, and the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement was born, with a grand view of the Capitol.
The former vice president brought with him trusted staff and boxes of files. Now, a small batch of those files is at the center of controversy because some were classified documents that Biden had no right to retain.
The gloss of Ivy League academia and high-minded ambitions has been dulled by this month’s disclosure that the sensitive documents were found last fall in a locked closet as Biden lawyers were packing up his former office at the center. That discovery is posing a test for Biden just as he is contemplating a 2024 reelection campaign.
It turns out politics have been part of the equation all along.
In an early meeting at the center in February 2018, Biden told longtime foreign policy aides — many of them from the Obama-Biden administration — that he was keeping his options open for a potential presidential campaign in 2020 and that he would welcome them joining his team if he decided to run.
Sure enough, after hosting a handful of forums at the center and speaking a few times on the University of Pennsylvania’s main campus, Biden announced his candidacy in April 2019. And after that he was rarely at the Capitol Hill center, which has continued to function quietly since its namesake leader moved on.
Its relatively low profile is now history.
Congressional Republicans are asking questions about the center’s budget and hiring practices and the FBI may want to search the premises for more documents, as it did Biden’s home in Wilmington, Delaware.
Affiliated with the Philadelphia school, the Penn Biden Center says it was founded on the principle that “a democratic, open, secure, tolerant, and interconnected world benefits all Americans.”
According to Biden’s tax returns, the university paid him roughly $900,000 over about two years, starting just after he left office when Donald Trump and Mike Pence took over the White House. In addition to the center, Biden also held roles at the school where he would speak on campus.
While the center’s staff continued to conduct research, serve as experts for the media and write columns on foreign policy after Biden’s departure, there is no new work listed on the center’s website for the past 10 or so months.
Elliott Abrams, who has held foreign policy positions for presidents in the Reagan, George W. Bush and Trump administrations, said it has not developed as an influential think tank.
“It started as a parking space for Biden people until he ran for president, and never really outgrew that start,” Abrams said.
Plenty of current Biden allies at the White House cycled through the think tank, according to public records and the Penn Biden Center website.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken was the center’s managing director from May 2017 through June 2019. Michael Carpenter had the managing director’s role before he was named U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Other center employees included Steve Ricchetti, now a senior counselor to Biden. There are at least seven other Biden staffers who were at the center and are now involved in national security matters in the administration.
Even Amy Gutmann, the university’s president at the time who helped launch the center, now works for him. She’s the U.S. ambassador to Germany.
Biden himself has a long history with the Ivy League school; his late son Beau, daughter Ashley, and granddaughter Naomi are all graduates. Biden received an honorary degree from Penn in 2013 after he gave the commencement address.
Biden frequently worked out of the center on Constitution Avenue as he quietly planned his presidential run, according to his aides, but he did not spend time there after he announced his candidacy. His lawyers had finally gotten around to clearing out the office when they came across the classified documents last November.
Biden told reporters he was surprised to learn the documents were there. The records were immediately turned over to the Justice Department, but the discovery of records there and at Biden’s home has led to an investigation by a special counsel appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Trump, too, faces a special counsel inquiry related to classified documents. In his case, FBI agents executed a warrant that showed they were investigating possible crimes including the willful retention of national defense information and efforts to obstruct the federal probe. Biden voluntarily allowed the FBI search of his home.
Former officials from all levels of government discover they are in possession of classified material and turn them over to the authorities at least several times a year, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of classified documents.
Still, the existence of the documents at the Penn Biden Center has trained unwanted criticism on the think tank, particularly by House Republicans investigating the mishandling of classified materials. They have requested a list of all center employees, including dates of employment and salaries, visitor logs and documents and communications related to security.
A conservative legal group led by former Trump advisers has complained to the IRS about the center’s hiring of Biden and his allies.
The chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., has suggested that some of the tens of millions of dollars in foreign gifts to the university from patrons in China went to the Penn Biden Center.
Donors from Ireland, Hong Kong, Canada, India, Japan and Brazil also contributed to the university in recent years, though the House has focused on donations from China.
A statement from university said the school would address the committee’s questions in a timely way, but that it has never solicited gifts for the center. There were three unsolicited gifts from two donors that totaled $1,100.
The budget for the center comes solely from university funds. The total academic operating budget for the university is roughly $4 billion. Penn Biden Center officials did not say how much of that goes to center operations.
“It is important to reiterate that the Penn Biden Center has never solicited or received any gifts from any Chinese or other foreign entity,” according to the statement from the Penn Biden Center.
___
Associated Press writer Farnoush Amiri contributed to this report. | 2023-01-29T22:07:04+00:00 | keloland.com | https://www.keloland.com/news/politics/ap-classified-docs-probe-pushes-biden-think-tank-into-spotlight/ |
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — Things are heating up over a sweeping Big Tech bill that supporters argue would promote competition and bring down consumer prices online.
But Big Tech groups are sounding the alarm. They argue the plan will due just the opposite.
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said that the bill is designed to help consumers by stopping companies like Apple, Google or Amazon from squashing competition online.
“The bill is pro-competition and it’s common sense,” Klobuchar said. “The world’s largest platforms shouldn’t be allowed to copy small businesses’ private data and then create their own knock-off products.”
Klobuchar and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said the plan will also lower prices and spur innovation.
Big Tech groups say the plan will actually do the opposite and are spending millions of dollars on ads and lobbying to try to block it.
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley, R-Mo., supports the bill and said he’s growing concerned that the pressure campaign will work.
“Big Tech groups in total have spent over $20 million,” Hawley said. “They’re certainly twisting people’s arms left and right.”
Carl Szabo with NetChoice, a firm representing tech groups, says not much arm-twisting is necessary.
“Economic studies show this legislation will increase inflation,” he said. “As more and more lawmakers realize the bad effects of this bill they’re backing away incredibly fast.”
The U.S. Department of Justice supports the legislation, and Klobuchar said she wants to see a vote by the Fourth of July. | 2022-06-10T21:58:18+00:00 | keloland.com | https://www.keloland.com/washington/tech-groups-spending-millions-to-block-sweeping-big-tech-bill/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — JPMorgan Chase & Co. said its fourth-quarter profits rose 6% from a year ago, as higher interest rates helped the bank make up for a slowdown in deal-making in its investment bank. The bank also set aside more than $2 billion to cover potential bad loans and charge-offs in preparation for a possible recession.
The New York-based bank said Friday that it earned $11.0 billion last quarter, up from $10.4 billion in the same period a year earlier. On a per-share basis, JPMorgan said it earned a profit of $3.57 a share compared to $3.33 a share in 2021, much better than the $3.08 a share that analysts were expecting.
The biggest driver of JPMorgan’s profits this quarter was higher interest rates. The bank, like its competition, has been helped considerably by the Federal Reserve hiking rates aggressively to combat inflation as banks can charge more for loans.
JPMorgan’s net interest income was $20.3 billion, up 48% from a year earlier.
But at the same time that the Fed’s rate hikes have helped JPMorgan’s bottom line, the chance that the Fed will push the U.S. economy into recession has increased as well. JPMorgan set aside $1.4 billion to cover potentially bad loans, and incurred roughly $900 million in charge-offs. The bank said it needed to set aside more money to cover bad loans due to “a modest deterioration” in the firm’s economic outlook, which now calls for a “mild” recession.
However JPMorgan as well as other banks remains upbeat about the health of the U.S. consumer. JPMorgan saw a double-digit rise in credit card spending from a year earlier.
“The U.S. economy currently remains strong with consumers still spending excess cash and businesses healthy,” said Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase, in a statement. “However, we still do not know the ultimate effect of the headwinds coming from geopolitical tensions including the war in Ukraine, the vulnerable state of energy and food supplies, persistent inflation that is eroding purchasing power and has pushed interest rates higher, and the unprecedented quantitative tightening.”
Last year’s market decline hit JPMorgan’s investment bank particularly hard in the last quarter. The bank reported a 27% decline in profits in its corporate and investment bank, mostly caused by a more than 50% drop in investment banking fee revenues. Deal-making last year slowed considerably, as many companies chose to hold off any big moves due to the Fed’s rate hikes.
For the full year, JPMorgan had revenue of $128.7 billion while profits fell 22% from 2021 to $37.7 billion. Most of the decline in JPMorgan’s full-year profits were tied to the higher credit costs the bank had to expense for the loan losses.
JPMorgan shares rose slightly in morning trading. The shares are up nearly 4% so far in 2023. | 2023-01-14T12:19:21+00:00 | keloland.com | https://www.keloland.com/business/ap-business/ap-jpmorgan-4q-profits-rise-helped-by-higher-interest-rates/ |
TUNIS – A Tunisian naval guard shot and killed a colleague and two civilians Tuesday as he tried to reach a synagogue on the Mediterranean island of Djerba during an annual Jewish pilgrimage, the Tunisian Interior Ministry said. The attacker was slain by security guards, and 10 people were injured.
The motive for the attack was under investigation. It came as Tunisia, once a prized tourist destination and birthplace of the Arab Spring pro-democracy uprisings, has fallen into political and economic crisis.
Djerba, a picturesque island off the southern coast of Tunisia, is home to the North African country’s main Jewish community.
The civilians killed were French and Tunisian, the Tunisian Foreign Ministry said. It was not immediately clear if they were pilgrims attending ceremonies at the 2,500-year-old Ghriba temple, one of Africa's oldest synagogues.
Those injured include six security agents and four civilians, the Interior Ministry said. It did not specify how they were injured or whether they were all shot by the attacker, who was not publicly identified.
The assailant, a guard affiliated with the National Guard naval center in the port town of Aghir on Djerba, first killed a colleague with his service weapon and then seized ammunition and headed toward the Ghriba synagogue, the ministry said.
When he reached the site, he opened fire on security units stationed at the temple, who fired back, killing him before he reached the entrance, the ministry said. The synagogue was locked down and those inside and outside were kept secure while authorities investigate the motives for the attack, the ministry said.
Ghayda Thabet, a member of the Tunisian Association for the Support of Minorities, was at the Ghriba synagogue and appealed for help on Facebook. “They are shooting with live ammunition. Help us,” she pleaded in a post.
Videos circulating online showed panic-stricken visitors running while gunshots rang out.
It occurred during an annual pilgrimage that attracts thousands of visitors from around the world to Djerba.
In 2002, a truck bombing killed some 20 people at the entrance to the same temple during the annual Jewish pilgrimage. Al-Qaida claimed responsibility for that attack, whose victims included German and French tourists as well as Tunisians.
In 2015, Tunisia saw an attack on the Mediterranean resort of Sousse that killed 38, mostly British tourists. The Islamic State group claimed that attack, along with attacks that year on the famed Bardo Museum in the capital Tunis and on a bus carrying presidential guards. | 2023-05-10T00:57:02+00:00 | wsls.com | https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2023/05/09/tunisia-3-killed-10-injured-in-attack-near-synagogue/ |
Report finds ‘troubling’ trend of a lack of actionable information in data breaches
42% of data compromises in Q1 2023 had no actionable information about the root cause
(InvestigateTV) — An estimated 89 million people have had their data compromised so far this year, according to a recent Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) report.
While that figure represents a 13% decrease compared to the previous quarter, the number of data breaches with no actionable information about the root cause of the compromise increase by more than 20%, the report noted.
“It is troubling to see the trend of a lack of actionable information in data breaches continue from 2022,” Eva Velasquez, President and CEO of the ITRC, wrote in an announcement of the report’s findings. “This means individuals and businesses remain at a higher risk of cyberattacks and data compromises.”
James Lee and his team at the ITRC monitor data breaches across the nation.
“What we’ve seen is, companies shift away from providing information about what happened and why,” Lee said. “Because it’s not required under their state’s law.”
A data breach can also impact consumers and clients.
“They’re going to use it to impersonate you,” Lee said. “They’re going to use it to open up accounts in your name. Not to take your existing account, but to go and find new ways of pretending to be you.”
The ITRC’s report found criminals targeted industries that carry a lot of data, such as healthcare and financial services
Lee shared several ways businesses and individuals can protect and prepare themselves against a data breach:
Businesses
- Recognize you can be a target
- Make sure staff is trained to recognize a phishing attack or when someone is trying to gain unauthorized access into your system
- Keep track of your software and have protection against malware
- Remove any excess or residual data from your systems
Individuals
- Freeze your credit if you’ve become a victim of a data breach
- Make sure you regularly update passwords on your accounts
- Keep all of your software up to date
- Maintain high quality security software
- Use a multi factor authentication app on your smartphone
“The bad guys want emails, log ins and passwords because they know the vast majority of the time, people reuse the same password and login on every account,” Lee noted. “And once that’s compromised, they have access to everything you have.”
Copyright 2023 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2023-05-10T20:13:51+00:00 | wbrc.com | https://www.wbrc.com/2023/05/10/report-finds-troubling-trend-lack-actionable-information-data-breaches/ |
Request unsuccessful. Incapsula incident ID: 418000450097136406-219343095070853963 | 2022-08-19T03:24:24+00:00 | bizjournals.com | https://www.bizjournals.com/chicago/inno/stories/news/2022/08/18/cameo-introduces-cameo-live.html |
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — According to their website, Drift is a chef-driven chophouse on Lake Wylie from the team that brought you the Pump House and Napa at Kinglsey. Drift’s contemporary barn look serves as a throwback to Gaston county’s farming roots while also bringing into focus its modern lake life.
Drift’s seasonal cuisine is predominantly anchored by exceptional ingredients locally grown and sourced year-round from North and South Carolina.
Their menu of ingredient-driven, chophouse-inspired food is served alongside refreshing cocktails and an exciting, curated wine list.
Drift is now open for lunch on Thursday and Friday! You can now eat delicious food and enjoy lake views during lunch time during the week. They will be open for lunch 11:30 am to 2:30 pm.
To keep up to date and see the full menu go online to Driftlkw.com
Charlotte Today is a local lifestyle and entertainment show where you'll learn everything about the Queen City with hosts Mia Atkins and Eugene Robinson on WCNC Charlotte live weekdays at 11 a.m.
From what's trending to local restaurants, events and entertainment, you'll find it all on this show.
Charlotte Today also features sponsored content by local and national businesses. Are you a business interested in advertising with us? Go to WCNC.com/advertise or call now (214) 977-6001
If you have a question for the Charlotte Today team, feel free to email them at charlottetoday@wcnc.com
Make sure to follow Charlotte Today on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Get to know hosts Mia and Eugene by reading their bio pages and following them on social media. | 2023-06-29T18:53:03+00:00 | wcnc.com | https://www.wcnc.com/article/entertainment/television/charlotte-today/drift-on-lake-wylie-is-now-open-for-lunch-on-thursday-and-friday/275-1763526e-8d02-4bd2-8c02-a9236da80bf1 |
After 17 years of steady payments, Warren Buffett has to date given annual donations totaling $50.7 billion toward his historic multibillion-dollar pledges to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and to four foundations connected to his family, according to a Chronicle tally. He announced his latest annual payments toward his pledges on Wednesday.
Buffett became the biggest donor in history in June 2006, when he pledged 10 million shares of his Berkshire Hathaway Class B stock, then valued at about $36.1 billion, to the Gates Foundation, plus 1 million Berkshire shares, then valued at $3.6 billion, to the foundation named for his late first wife, Susan Thompson Buffett, and 350,00 shares, then valued at about $1.3 billion apiece, to foundations created by his three children, Susan, Howard, and Peter Buffett.
Combined, those five pledges amounted to more than $43.5 billion at the time. In 2010, Buffett and Berkshire’s other shareholders approved a stock split, which significantly increased the number of shares Buffet has given the five foundations in the years since.
With these latest payments, he has given the Gates Foundation nearly $39.3 billion, the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation almost $4.2 billion, and more than $2.4 billion apiece to the Sherwood, Howard G. Buffett, and Novo foundations.
Although he has exceeded his original pledges, a spokeswoman for Buffett told the Chronicle that he will continue to make payments to the five foundations throughout his lifetime as he promised to do in the statements he made announcing the pledges in 2006.
When Buffett announced his huge pledge to the Gates Foundation, he said he was doing so because he was confident it could make the most of the money.
“I don’t think I’m as well cut out to be a philanthropist as Bill and Melinda are,” Buffett told Fortune magazine in 2006. “What can be more logical, in whatever you want done, than finding someone better equipped than you are to do it?”
That thinking was greeted with enthusiastic approval by philanthropy experts in 2006 and remains admired today. The philanthropy historian Benjamin Soskis says Buffett’s decision to give the money to an organization he thought could handle it better than he could was “innovative,” and he wishes others would have followed Buffett’s lead.
“If more wealthy donors had embraced that, it really could have had a huge impact on the sector because it would have concentrated funding in smaller and smaller fiefdoms,” Soskis says. “It was a really interesting idea, but not one that has been widely taken up.”
Buffett’s example remains powerful more than 15 years later, says Phil Buchanan, who leads the Center for Effective Philanthropy, because it showed rich donors that having tens of billions of dollars does not mean they have to pursue their philanthropic goals by creating a new foundation that will exist long after they are gone.
“He showed folks that there are existing institutions that you can look to, whether foundations, in his case, or any number of different giving vehicles or to nonprofits themselves,” Buchanan says. “I think that’s really healthy and positive.”
Buffett structured his Gates Foundation pledge so it would receive 5% of the promised shares each year starting in 2006. He stipulated that either Bill Gates or Melinda French Gates “must remain alive and active in the policy-setting and administration of the foundation” to continue receiving the annual disbursements. He also said the Gates Foundation must spend the value of the previous year’s gift plus 5% of its net assets each year and that spending excesses could be carried forward and shortfalls made up the following year. Buffett joined the Gates Foundation board and has made gifts toward his commitment every summer since he announced the pledge.
Philanthropy experts say that by making the Gates Foundation one of the wealthiest grantmakers in the world, Buffett’s pledge triggered a shifting of power within the foundation world: The Gates Foundation rose to the top of the heap, and some legacy grantmakers saw their power dim. It also placed the Gates Foundation under a microscope of public scrutiny.
“Buffett turned a large foundation into a colossus and into something that was an order of magnitude much larger than its peers,” Soskis says. “The amount of pressure that put on the institution to spend amounts of money that no foundation had ever spent before on a consistent basis as a normal form of operation required a real transformation of the foundation and a scaling of its bureaucracy and of its ambition, and so it turned what was already an incredibly large foundation into what it’s become now, which is, both for critics and for champions, the embodiment of large-scale philanthropic funding.”
It also intensified existing questions about the power dynamics between foundations and grantees, says Buchanan, who thinks that in some ways that has helped to bring about some good changes over time.
“That soul searching has led to more calls for different kinds of approaches, more trust-based approaches,” Buchanan says. “You’ve seen over the years consistent calls for more unrestricted support for organizations and less in the way of control by funders of organizational decisions about budget allocation and that kind of thing.”
Buffett stepped down from the Gates Foundation’s board in the spring of 2021 shortly after the Gateses announced they were divorcing. He did not address the divorce in a statement announcing his resignation but said the decision to leave the grantmaker’s board followed his stepping away from all the corporate boards he had been serving on except Berkshire Hathaway.
While the historic pledge Buffett made to the Gates Foundation dwarfed what he promised to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation and his three children’s grantmakers, Buffett was just as intentional in his giving to those entities and has made annual distributions to each since 2006. In a surprise move in 2012, he doubled his original pledges to his children’s foundations, saying in a statement that he was impressed with their grantmaking and that their charitable work has “exceeded (his) high expectations.”
Soskis says Buffett’s 2006 pledges were also influential because they helped usher in the age of the major public philanthropic pledge. Buffett not only announced that he was giving specific amounts of shares to the five foundations but also publicly provided details about how he planned to pay off the pledges and then reported each year when he made a payment.
“That was not as common, in terms of engaging with the public, when Buffett made that pledge, and it’s shaped the way many donors feel like they have to explain their intentions to the public,” Soskis says. “So it’s transformed at least the kind of public conversations around philanthropy. Whether or not it’s actually impacted how much money is ultimately given away is hard to say.”
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This article was provided to The Associated Press by the Chronicle of Philanthropy. Maria Di Mento is a senior reporter at the Chronicle. Email: maria.dimento@chronicle.com. The AP and the Chronicle receive support from the Lilly Endowment for coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits. The AP and the Chronicle are solely responsible for all content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy. | 2023-06-23T20:24:27+00:00 | wcia.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/business/ap-business/warren-buffett-has-given-50-7-billion-toward-historic-pledges-to-the-gates-foundation-and-others/ |
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh hopes players get a cut of the money generated by an expanded College Football Playoff.
“I do believe the players should receive a revenue share from the massive TV deals that have been worked out,” Harbaugh said Monday at his weekly news conference before the eighth-ranked Wolverines host Hawaii.
The plan to expand the CFP from four teams was approved Friday, and the new-look tournament will begin as soon as 2024 and as late as 2026.
“Great,” Harbaugh said. “All for it.”
An 11-game championship bracket could be worth as much as $2 billion in media rights to the conferences that play major college football, starting in 2026. If the new format begins before the current 12-year contract with ESPN expires, the conferences could make an additional $450 million over the final two years. The current deal that ends after the 2025 season pays about $470 million per year.
CFP Executive Director Bill Hancock said ESPN would get the first bid on any new playoff inventory added in 2024 and 2025. After 2025, there is no TV contract for a playoff. The plan is to take the new format to the open market and possibly involve multiple TV partners instead of just ESPN.
In the new playoff format, six of the highest-ranked conference champions and six at-large, selection-committee selections will earn a spot. The top four seeds would be conference champions, receiving byes into the second round. First-round games would be played on campuses and the rest at bowl sites.
The CFP management committee, which includes conference commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick, are scheduled to meet Thursday in Dallas. Dates of games, host sites, available television windows and the impact on the regular-season schedule are among the topics they are expected to discuss.
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More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25. Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25 | 2022-09-06T13:08:25+00:00 | pix11.com | https://pix11.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-harbaugh-hopes-players-get-a-revenue-share-from-12-team-cfp/ |
DETROIT (AP) — Justin Verlander was roughed up early before settling in and having some success in his New York Mets debut.
The three-time Cy Young award winner gave up back-to-back homers in the first inning, then threw four scoreless innings against the Detroit Tigers, the team that drafted him. He gave up two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out five, including two in his final inning.
Verlander’s first game with his third team was delayed because of a muscle strain in his upper back that landed him on the injured list to start the season.
The 40-year-old right-hander was drafted by Detroit No. 2 overall in 2004. The rebuilding franchise traded him to Houston late in the 2017 season.
After having Tommy John surgery in 2020 and missing nearly two years, Verlander bounced back last season to win his third Cy Young award and second World Series title.
In a bold bid to earn a spot in the postseason for the second straight year, the Mets signed him to an $86.67 million, two-year contract and added former Tigers teammate and fellow three-time Cy Young award winner Max Scherzer to a $130 million, three-year contract.
Verlander was 18-4 last season and he ranks No. 1 among active pitchers with 244 career wins.
Tigers fans at Comerica Park, where they roared for Verlander during the 2006 and 2012 World Series, rose to their feet and cheered when he walked to the mound to make his first pitch of the season.
Verlander grabbed the bill of his cap twice to acknowledge the crowd. A few minutes later, fans returned to their feet when Riley Greene and Javier Baez hit home runs in consecutive at-bats with one out in the first inning.
Verlander gave up just two more hits over the next three innings, including a single that would’ve been a flyout if left fielder Mark Canha didn’t appear to lose the ball in the sky on a mostly cloudy day.
After throwing 65 pitches, Verlander walked back to the mound, and light-hitting Andy Ibáñez doubled on the next pitch to start the bottom half of the frame.
Showing he wasn’t done for the day, Verlander threw a 95-mph fastball past Jake Rogers and snuck an 87-mph slider by Zach McKinstry in the next two at-bats for his fourth and fifth strikeouts.
Verlander walked into the dugout after his 79-pitch outing and in the bottom of the second, right-hander Jeff Brigham jogged in from the bullpen to replace him on the mound.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2023-05-05T09:52:26+00:00 | cbs4indy.com | https://cbs4indy.com/sports/ap-sports/justin-verlander-makes-mets-debut-gives-up-2-hrs-to-tigers/ |
NEW YORK, Jan. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of BioLineRx Ltd. ("BioLineRx" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: BLRX). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.
The investigation concerns whether BioLineRx and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.
On September 15, 2022, BioLine announced entry into a loan agreement with Kreos Capital VII Aggregator SCSP ("Kreos"), under which Kreos "will provide the Company with access to term loans in an aggregate amount of up to $40 million." Then, on September 19, 2022, BioLine announced entry into definitive agreements with several institutional investors for the issuance and sale of 13,636,365 American Depositary Shares ("ADSs") and warrants to purchase up to 13,636,365 ADSs at a combined purchase price of $1.10 per ADS and associated warrant. BioLine stated that the offering's gross proceeds, expected to be $15 million, will be used to facilitate the commercial launch of the Company's Motixafortide product.
On this news, BioLine's stock price fell $0.52 per share, or 33.77%, to close at $1.02 per share on September 20, 2022.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.
CONTACT:
Robert S. Willoughby
Pomerantz LLP
rswilloughby@pomlaw.com
888-476-6529 ext. 7980
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SOURCE Pomerantz LLP | 2023-01-12T11:01:03+00:00 | wlox.com | https://www.wlox.com/prnewswire/2023/01/12/shareholder-alert-pomerantz-law-firm-investigates-claims-behalf-investors-biolinerx-ltd-blrx/ |
DALLAS — Dallas Police have arrested a man in connection with the Tamarin monkeys kidnapped from the Dallas Zoo.
According to sources, Davion Dwight Irvin, 24, was picked up Thursday afternoon not far from the Dallas World Aquarium after Dallas Police were told he was in the Aquarium near an animal habitat and checking out the mesh enclosures.
Police had been looking for Irvin to talk to him after surveillance video from cameras at the zoo captured video of him near where the monkeys disappeared.
Sources said Irvin was stopped not far from the Dallas Aquarium after staff there told officers what he was wearing.
He was taken to Dallas police headquarters and questioned.
WFAA recently reported the monkeys were found in an empty church in Lancaster.
The pastor’s daughter, Tonya Thomas, told WFAA that church members recognized him from the neighborhood and he would sometimes attend services at their new church.
Thomas also said that there had been a series of break-ins at the empty church which was being renovated to be used as a community center.
She said when police arrived to investigate the prior burglaries they found birds, cats and other small animals.
Thomas told WFAA her father called police and told them they might want to check the church because they believed the man in the picture was the one who might also be breaking into their old church.
Sources said that based on that information they began looking for Irvin and found him Thursday afternoon.
He was been booked into the Dallas County Jail and charged with six counts of animal cruelty.
Police said when they found the monkeys, they were in a closet and the temperature inside the building was 37 degrees.
Sources tell WFAA that Irvin was spotted by zoo employees prior to the monkeys being kidnapped in areas that are for staff only.
They said he was asking questions about the clouded leopard that disappeared about three weeks ago after its cage had been cut. The leopard was eventually found not far from its cage.
Around the same time, a vulture was found with what appeared to be a stab wound and some fish and other items were believed to have been stolen from the zoo.
Police sources tell WFAA they are looking into the possibility that Irvin is connected to all the incidents. | 2023-02-03T16:58:39+00:00 | wtsp.com | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/crime/man-arrested-dallas-zoo-tamarin-monkeys/287-f808c697-5adc-4f14-9357-1549798b5a32 |
CLEVELAND, June 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Rising foam prices and short supply are leading to pent up demand in the appliance segment of the global foamed plastic insulation market, finds a new Freedonia Group analysis:
- In 2020, demand for freezers and refrigerators – which had been nearing a cyclical peak – rose in many developed countries as consumers around the world sought more storage for nonperishable foods, first to stockpile and later to reduce the frequency of shopping trips.
- Additionally, demand in the US rose along with home improvement spending, as consumers used their disposable income to upgrade their living spaces.
However, suppliers were unable to meet demand in 2020 and into 2021, as production was shut down in many parts of the world (particularly China, which continues to pursue a zero-COVID policy):
- Disrupted supply chains and rising prices for appliances (due in part to extruded polystyrene price increases) caused consumers to further delay sales.
- Meanwhile, appliance demand in the nonresidential market also grew, as expanding food delivery services and curbside grocery pickup programs caused retailers and restaurants to look to invest in cold storage.
As a result, demand for foamed plastic insulation used in appliance manufacturing will be strong through 2025, as pent up demand in the early part of the forecast period is released.
Global demand for foamed plastic insulation is forecast to rise 4.0% per year to 9.1 million metric tons, valued at $29.6 billion, in 2025. Demand will be driven by:
- a global rebound in construction activity from the low levels experienced in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- advances in nonresidential building construction, particularly in the Asia/Pacific region
- increasingly stringent energy efficiency and fire safety policies throughout the world, which often call for greater insulation usage in buildings
- rising production of motor vehicles, appliances, aerospace equipment, HVAC equipment, and industrial equipment
However, below average building construction outlooks in the US and Japan, as well as continued declines in single-family housing construction in China, will provide a check on even faster gains.
Global Foamed Plastic Insulation, now available from the Freedonia Group, provides historical data (2010, 2015, and 2020) and forecasts for 2025 and 2030 for foamed plastic insulation demand by product (in dollars and metric tons) and market (metric tons and square meters R-1). Demand in value terms is shown at the manufacturers' level and excludes distributor and retailer markups.
Products:
- expanded polystyrene (EPS), including graphite polystyrene
- polyurethane (PUR) and polyisocyanurate (PIR), including rigid board and spray polyurethane foam (SPF) types
- extruded polystyrene (XPS)
- small volume products (including, elastomeric, phenolic, polyolefin, melamine)
Markets:
- residential buildings
- nonresidential buildings
- industrial and plant equipment (e.g., machinery boilers, pipes, tanks)
- appliances (e.g., refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers)
- HVAC/air distribution equipment
- transportation equipment (e.g., motor vehicles, aerospace equipment, ships and boats, railroad equipment
- other insulation markets (including insulated coolers and thermoses, insulated packaging, furniture, bedding, nonbuilding/infrastructure construction, and heavy machinery)
About the Freedonia Group - The Freedonia Group, a division of MarketResearch.com, is the premier international industrial research company, providing our clients with product analyses, market forecasts, industry trends, and market share information. From one-person consulting firms to global conglomerates, our analysts provide companies with unbiased, reliable industry market research and analysis to help them make important business decisions. With over 100 studies published annually, we support over 90% of the industrial Fortune 500 companies. Find off-the-shelf studies at https://www.freedoniagroup.com/ or contact us for custom research: +1 440.842.2400.
Press Contact:
Corinne Gangloff
+1 440.842.2400
cgangloff@freedoniagroup.com
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SOURCE The Freedonia Group | 2022-06-17T14:43:57+00:00 | ksla.com | https://www.ksla.com/prnewswire/2022/06/17/pent-up-demand-boost-growth-appliance-segment-global-foamed-plastic-insulation-market/ |
Few things cause as much consternation as what to give your significant other on Valentine’s Day. The pressure becomes even greater if you’re in a new relationship and are getting a feel for the wishes and likes of a new partner. Even couples who have accumulated years together aren’t immune to the stresses of finding the perfect Valentine’s Day gift. Flowers and jewelry won’t always do the trick. You can’t go wrong with a good meal. This Valentine’s Dinner for 2: Two $100 Restaurant.com eGift Cards for $20 fits the bill. Enjoy a nice meal with your significant other without breaking the bank. This deal is available through Feb. 6. No coupon is needed.More than 62,000 well-known and locally favorite restaurants are available through Restaurant.com. Popular national favorites like House of Blues, IHOP and Dickey’s Barbeque Pit are among fan favorites. There’s no pressure, either, to visit a brick-and-mortar restaurant to enjoy this deal. You can also use it for takeout or delivery – if you want to take it easy at home with a bottle of wine and not deal with trekking to a physical restaurant.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/v8xwU8g-7SMWhile this deal packs its punch, you could unlock additional savings through restaurant-specific coupons. More than 500,000 deals are added daily, and new ones are presented monthly. Here’s how it works: You’ll need to purchase your Restaurant.com gift card and redeem it on the website via a desktop device. After that, you’ll be able to scour the available restaurants in your area. It should be noted, though, that some restaurants might have terms that require patrons to spend a minimum amount to use the eGift card.There isn’t much time left between now and Valentine’s Day. So rather than fret over what to buy, take off the pressure by purchasing this deal today and enjoy a meal with that special person in your life.
Prices subject to change. | 2023-02-01T11:21:50+00:00 | ksat.com | https://www.ksat.com/deals/2023/02/01/grab-dinner-for-two-this-valentines-day-with-this-100-restaurantcom-egift-card-for-only-20/ |
MOSCOW (AP) — The entire Russian Pacific Fleet was put on high alert on Friday for snap drills that will involve practice missile launches in a massive show of force amid the tensions with the West over the fighting in Ukraine.
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the goal of the war games was to test the capability of Russia's armed forces to mount a response to aggression.
Along with the missile launches, the drills will also involve nuclear-capable strategic bombers and other warplanes besides ones from the Pacific Fleet's air arm, Shoigu said.
The Russian military has concentrated the bulk of its forces on the front lines in Ukraine, but also continued conducting regular drills across Russia to train its forces and demonstrate their readiness.
Shoigu said the scenario for Friday's maneuvers envisages a response to an adversary's attempt to make a landing on Sakhalin Island and the southern Kuril Islands.
Japan asserts territorial rights to the Kuril Islands, which it calls the Northern Territories. The Soviet Union took them in the final days of World War II, and the dispute has kept the countries from signing a peace treaty formally ending their hostilities.
Last year, Russia announced it had suspended peace talks with Japan to protest Tokyo’s sanctions against Moscow over its action in Ukraine.
Russia has built up its military presence on the islands in recent years, deploying advanced fighter jets, anti-ship missiles and air defense systems there.
The Pacific Fleet drills started days before a planned trip to Moscow by Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu.
A three-day visit to Moscow by Chinese President Xi Jinping last month demonstrated the two nations' partnership in the face of Western efforts to isolate Russia over Ukraine.
Both Moscow and Beijing have accused Washington of trying to isolate them and to hold back their development as they challenge the U.S. for regional and global leadership.
Putin and Xi said they would increase contacts between their militaries and stage more joint sea and air patrols and drills, but there was no hint that China would help Russia with weapons, as the U.S. and other Western allies feared. | 2023-04-14T10:39:03+00:00 | expressnews.com | https://www.expressnews.com/news/politics/article/russia-s-pacific-fleet-put-on-high-alert-for-snap-17896949.php |
Police: Monkey exhibit also tampered with at Dallas Zoo
DALLAS (KTVT) - Police are investigating a second incident of tampering at the Dallas Zoo after someone cut an opening in a fence housing a clouded leopard, resulting in the animal’s escape.
Investigators revealed Saturday that a similar hole to the one cut in Nova the clouded leopard’s habitat was found at a monkey exhibit.
The enclosure houses an endangered breed of leaf-eating monkeys called langurs. None of them escaped. They also did not appear to be harmed or in any danger.
Police say zoo staff found the hole in the monkey exhibit Friday after Nova escaped from her enclosure. The leopard was found safe on the zoo’s grounds after a daylong search.
Nova’s exhibit has since been fixed, and zoo officials say they will learn from this experience and look at stronger protocols in the future.
Police are not yet sure if the two incidents, which are both under criminal investigation, are related.
Copyright 2023 KTVT via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | 2023-01-15T08:22:11+00:00 | fox5vegas.com | https://www.fox5vegas.com/2023/01/15/police-monkey-exhibit-also-tampered-with-dallas-zoo/ |
7-foot alligator removed from Georgia daycare
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC/Gray News) – A daycare in Georgia had a surprise visitor on Wednesday morning – a 7-foot alligator!
Workers at Angels Child Care and Enrichment Center in Savannah found the alligator lying underneath a chair by the front door of the building.
Fortunately, all the kids at the daycare were inside at the time, and no one was injured.
“For the babies, it was very exciting,” daycare worker Katrina Bostick said. “It was like, ‘OK, we have our own personal zoo.’”
Savannah police called local alligator trapper Jack Douglas, known as “Trapper Jack,” to help remove the animal.
Douglas said the neighborhood is surrounded by a lot of wetland, but the weather has been dry recently.
“They move from pond to pond looking for water and they end up in places like this,” Douglas said.
Douglas was able to safely trap and relocate the alligator.
Copyright 2022 WTOC via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2022-07-28T16:39:48+00:00 | wcjb.com | https://www.wcjb.com/2022/07/28/7-foot-alligator-removed-georgia-daycare/ |
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says it is investigating one of the "worst outbreaks of meningococcal disease among gay and bisexual men in U.S. history" in Florida.
The CDC says at least 24 cases of meningococcal disease and six deaths among gay and bisexual men have been reported.
The agency is now recommending that men who have sex with men get a meningococcal vaccine.
“Because of the outbreak in Florida, and the number of Pride events being held across the state in coming weeks, it’s important that gay and bisexual men who live in Florida get vaccinated, and those traveling to Florida talk to their healthcare provider about getting a MenACWY vaccine," said Dr. José R. Romero, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.
Florida is also investigating three confirmed cases of meningococcal disease in college students in Leon County. Their sexual orientation was not revealed.
Health officials say College and university undergraduate students, students living in on-campus housing, those who participate in a fraternity or sorority should also consider the vaccine.
The CDC says insurance providers should pay for the meningococcal vaccination "for those whom it is recommended for during an outbreak."
It adds that the vaccine is also provided for free at county health departments in Florida during the outbreak.
The CDC reminds the public that meningococcal can affect anyone. It's spread to others through saliva and spit, but usually takes "lengthy contact, such as kissing or being near someone coughing, to spread these bacteria." | 2022-06-23T18:33:22+00:00 | ktvh.com | https://www.ktvh.com/news/national/florida-facing-worst-outbreak-of-meningococcal-disease-among-gay-bisexual-man |
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Joel Dahmen shoots 5-over 75 in round four of the Charles Schwab Challenge
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May 29, 2022
By PGATOUR.COM
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May 29, 2022
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Highlights
Joel Dahmen makes birdie on No. 16 at Charles Schwab
In the final round of the 2022 Charles Schwab Challenge, Joel Dahmen makes birdie on the par-3 16th hole.
Joel Dahmen hit 8 of 18 greens in regulation during his final round at the Charles Schwab Challenge, finishing at 6 over for the tournament. Dahmen finished his day tied for 63rd at 6 over; Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns are tied for 1st at 9 under; Brendon Todd is in 3rd at 8 under; and Davis Riley, Scott Stallings, and Tony Finau are tied for 4th at 7 under.
After a drive to the right side of the fairway on the 483-yard par-4 third hole, Dahmen had a 154 yard approach shot, setting himself up for the birdie. This moved Dahmen to 1 under for the round.
On the 445-yard par-4 12th, Dahmen had a bogey after hitting the green in 3 and two putting, moving Dahmen to 4 over for the round.
After a 311 yard drive on the 430-yard par-4 15th, Dahmen chipped his third shot to 5 feet, which he rolled for two-putt bogey on the hole. This moved Dahmen to 5 over for the round.
Dahmen got a bogey on the 387-yard par-4 17th, getting on the green in 3 and two putting, moving Dahmen to 5 over for the round.
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Please enter a valid email address. | 2022-05-30T00:31:50+00:00 | pgatour.com | https://www.pgatour.com/roundrecap/2022/charles-schwab-challenge/round-4/joel-dahmen.html |
Witness contradicts theory against Trump dossier analyst
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — The FBI agent who questioned a think tank analyst charged with lying to the bureau about his role in the creation of a flawed dossier about former President Donald Trump has twice testified that he believes the analyst was truthful with him, jurors heard Wednesday.
FBI analyst Brian Auten testified for a second straight day at U.S. District Court in Alexandria at the trial of Igor Danchenko. The Russian-born analyst, who now lives in Virginia, faces a five-count indictment alleging he made false statements to the FBI about his sources of information he provided about Trump to British spy Christopher Steele.
Prosecutors allege that Danchenko fabricated one of his sources and obscured another when he was interviewed by the FBI about his role in the “Steele dossier.” That dossier, commissioned by Democrats in 2016, raised allegations of connections between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin.
During Wednesday’s cross-examination, though, Auten acknowledged that he has had positive things to say about Danchenko in past testimony to a Senate committee and to the Office of the Inspector General, both of which conducted their own investigations about the FBI probe into links between Trump and Russia.
The jury heard a partial transcript of testimony Auten gave to a Senate committee in October 2020, in which Auten said Danchenko “was being truthful about who his sub-sources were. I don’t think he was fabricating sub-sources.”
Auten told the jury he stands by the testimony he gave to the Senate.
The testimony was significant for the defense, which says special counsel John Durham has charged Danchenko with a crime when other government agencies found Danchenko to be credible. Special counsel Robert Mueller, who launched his own probe into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election, never saw fit to charge Danchenko.
And the FBI, after three days of voluntary interviews Danchenko gave in January 2017, decided he was trustworthy enough to make him a paid “confidential human source” who would provide information to the bureau.
Durham was appointed by special counsel by then-Attorney General William Barr to investigate any misconduct in the FBI’s investigation of the Trump campaign and its alleged ties to Russia. Danchenko is the third person to be prosecuted by Durham. It is the first of Durham’s cases that delves deeply into the origins of the dossier, which Trump derided as fake news and a political witch hunt.
Durham’s other two cases resulted in an acquittal and a guilty plea with a sentence of probation.
In the Danchenko trial, prosecutors say he lied when he told the FBI he obtained some of his information in an anonymous phone call from a man he believed to be Sergei Millian, a former head of the Russian-American Chamber of Commerce.
Prosecutors say that Danchenko never spoke with Millian and that phone records show he never received an anonymous phone call at the time Danchenko claimed it occurred.
Prosecutors also say Danchenko lied when he told the FBI he never “talked” with a man named Charles Dolan about the allegations contained in the dossier.
Defense lawyers say that Danchenko did receive a call, perhaps over an internet app, from someone he genuinely believed to be Millian, and that he was truthful when he said he never “talked” with Dolan about the information in the dossier because their relevant exchanges were over email.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2022-10-12T22:18:11+00:00 | kwtx.com | https://www.kwtx.com/2022/10/12/witness-contradicts-theory-against-trump-dossier-analyst/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) —
President Joe Biden is highlighting his administration’s efforts to protect access to abortion as he marks 100 days since the Supreme Court overturned a national right to the procedure and Democrats hope the issue will galvanize their voters ahead of the midterm elections.
Biden on Tuesday will attend the second meeting of the Cabinet-level task force he stood up to coordinate the government’s response to the ruling, the White House said, and will announce two new steps meant to “protect access to reproductive health care.”
Still, Biden is set to remind Americans that only Congress can restore access to abortion nationally, which forms a central argument of Biden’s pitch to voters frustrated by the Supreme Court ruling to send Democrats to Washington.
The Education Department is sending guidance to universities reminding them that federal law requires that they “protect their students from discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, including pregnancy termination.” The Department of Health and Human Services will also release $6 million in new funding to promote family planning services.
In conjunction with the meeting, Jennifer Klein, the director of the White House’s Gender Policy Council and the leader of the White House task force, issued a new memo to Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris outlining the effects of the Dobbs v. Jackson decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade and allowed states to ban abortion.
“Close to 30 million women of reproductive age now live in a state with a ban — including nearly 22 million women who cannot access abortion care after six weeks, before most women know they are pregnant,” she wrote. “Extreme abortion bans are having consequences that extend beyond abortion, including reports of women being denied access to necessary prescriptions and contraception at pharmacies and on college campuses.” | 2022-10-04T14:07:48+00:00 | fox44news.com | https://www.fox44news.com/news/national-world-news/ap-biden-marks-100-days-since-dobbs-ruling-as-dems-eye-midterms/ |
NEW YORK, Feb. 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) declared a quarterly dividend of 70 cents per outstanding share of the corporation's common stock. The dividend is payable on April 6, 2023 to Omnicom Group common shareholders of record at the close of business on March 10, 2023.
About Omnicom Group Inc.
Omnicom Group (www.omnicomgroup.com) is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms offer services in advertising, strategic media planning and buying, precision marketing, commerce and brand consulting, experiential, customer relationship marketing (CRM), public relations, healthcare marketing and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 70 countries.
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SOURCE Omnicom Group Inc. | 2023-02-17T01:50:38+00:00 | wlbt.com | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2023/02/16/omnicom-group-inc-declares-dividend/ |
Sen. Mark Kelly ‘not at all’ concerned about Democrats’ 2024 chances in Arizona if Biden runs
By Aaron Pellish, CNN
Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona on Sunday said he is “not at all” concerned about Democrats winning Arizona in 2024 if President Joe Biden runs for reelection.
But Kelly, who is running for a full term in November, stopped short of directly asking the President to campaign with him ahead of this year’s midterm elections when asked about that by CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union.”
“I will welcome anybody to come to Arizona, travel around the state at any time. As long as I’m here, if I’m not up in Washington in session, and talk about what Arizona needs,” the senator said.
When pressed by Tapper on whether he’s concerned that Biden may not be the best Democrat to keep Arizona blue in 2024, Kelly replied, “Not at all, Jake.”
Biden in 2020 became the first Democratic presidential nominee to win Arizona since President Bill Clinton did so in 1996.
In his interview, Kelly also criticized some of the Trump-backed Republican nominees on the ballot in Arizona this November for having “dangerous ideas.”
The nominees, including Kelly’s GOP opponent, onetime venture capitalist Blake Masters; gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake; secretary of state candidate Mark Finchem, have all embraced former President Donald Trump’s 2020 election lies.
Tapper noted in the interview that Kelly holds the seat of the late Sen. John McCain, “who was a conservative, but he did work across the aisle,” before asking the senator, “What’s happened to the Arizona Republican Party?”
“I think right now that the folks you mentioned have some really dangerous ideas, and they’re not consistent with most Arizonans, even most Republicans in Arizona,” Kelly said.
Kelly repeatedly touted the legislative accomplishments Democrats have enacted, including the climate, health care and tax law Biden signed into law last week and last year’s bipartisan infrastructure package. The Arizona senator, speaking in front of a water reserve in Tempe, said policies in both bills will help Arizona combat the effects of the state’s drought, but the former astronaut sounded the alarm on the broader impact of climate change.
“I flew my first space flight in 2001 and my last one in 2011,” Kelly said. “That was four flights over a decade, and the deforestation that you see across the planet is evident from space. And if one guy can see changes in our planet from low Earth orbit, we’ve got a problem.”
Last week, the federal government announced new restrictions that would cut Arizona’s water supply from the Colorado river by 21% in response to unprecedented drought in the region. Kelly said Arizona’s water crisis is “not existential” and conveyed optimism the state could overcome the issue but called on other states in the region to engage in further cooperation to protect the region’s water supply.
“We have this climate crisis that is affecting water in the West and these reservoirs, Lake Powell and Lake Mead, have gotten to what are now historically low levels,” Kelly said. “And the rate of decline is such that we have to do more.”
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | 2022-08-21T16:28:34+00:00 | krdo.com | https://krdo.com/news/2022/08/21/sen-mark-kelly-not-at-all-concerned-about-democrats-2024-chances-in-arizona-if-biden-runs/ |
NEW YORK, March 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ankura Consulting Group, LLC ("Ankura"), a leading global expert services and advisory firm, today announced that Dana White, former Chief Pentagon Spokesperson for Secretary James Mattis, is the new business group leader of Ankura's Global Strategic Advisory practice. She will expand the group's services to propel the firm's global growth.
Dana has spent more than 20 years working in government, media, and global business. She most recently served as the Chief Communications Officer for Hyundai Motor North America.
"I am excited to welcome Dana to our leadership team. Her experience as a trusted advisor to top U.S. government officials and C-suite executives makes her uniquely qualified to lead and expand our global strategic advisory group," said Kevin Lavin, CEO of Ankura Consulting Group. With experience in the US, Europe, and Asia, Dana has worked at the nexus of business, media, and government. She has managed and advised some of the world's top leaders on the most consequential global events. Dana is the ideal candidate to advise and support clients navigating an increasingly complex and dynamic information and operational environment."
"I am thrilled to join Ankura and work with Kevin and a team of highly qualified experts to bring cross-functional solutions that help clients identify, navigate, and mitigate risks to their reputation and operations," said Dana White. Over the past 20 years, I've had the privilege to work alongside some of the best leaders and decision makers in the world. With the strong support of our geopolitical experts at McLarty Associates and the other members of our Global Strategic Advisory team, I am confident that we will bring the foresight, insight, and solutions clients need to stay agile and nimble in an ever-changing global environment."
Prior to Hyundai, Dana was the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs and Chief Pentagon Spokesperson under Secretary of Defense James Mattis. She was also responsible for strategic communications for all branches of the U.S. Armed Services, Combatant Commands and their senior military, civilian and political leadership.
Dana was the Director of Policy and Strategic Communications for the Renault-Nissan Alliance in Paris, France, and a Professional Staff Member on the United States Senate Armed Services Committee under Senator John McCain.
She was an editorial writer for the Wall Street Journal, the Taiwan Country Director in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Director of the Washington Roundtable for Asia-Pacific Press at the Heritage Foundation, and a publicist at the Fox News Channel in Washington, D.C. Dana started her career as a deputy press secretary on the U.S. House Republican Conference.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in East Asian Languages & Civilizations from the University of Chicago. She studied at Capital University of Economics and Business in Beijing and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul.
About Ankura
Ankura Consulting Group, LLC is an independent global expert services and advisory firm that delivers services and end-to-end solutions to help clients at critical inflection points related to conflict, crisis, performance, risk, strategy, and transformation. The Ankura team consists of more than 1,800 professionals serving 3,000+ clients across 55 countries who are leaders in their respective fields and areas of expertise. Collaborative Lateral Thinking That Deliversᵀᴹ, hard-earned experience, expertise, and multidisciplinary capabilities drive results and Ankura is unrivalled in its ability to assist clients to Protect, Create, and Recover Valueᵀᴹ. For more information, please visit, ankura.com.
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SOURCE Ankura | 2023-03-13T21:48:35+00:00 | kwch.com | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2023/03/13/ankura-appoints-dana-white-lead-global-strategic-advisory-group/ |
Hangout Fest 2023: Pre-Party gets fans excited about 3-day weekend
GULF SHORES, Ala. (WALA) - Let the music begin – Hangout Fest 2023 has unofficially begun down in Gulf Shores. Thursday night was the pre-party concert – kicking things off.
If they’re not already there – music fans are set to arrive in Gulf Shores for the 3-day festival, which promises more than 60 acts.
“We are here to see the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tove Lo, Thundercat, and Skrillex,” said one guy.
“Lee: your top picks based on the lineup? – Calvin Harris. Red Hot Chili Peppers and Skrillex – I’d probably have to say yeah,” said one guy.
“Kevin Gates, Post Malone. You know I’m a real Boosie fan… I don’t know if Boosie is going to be in the building tonight – but we in here – you feel me. I want to see Kevin Gates. Red Hot Chili Peppers – hell yeah – I forgot about them,” said one group.
You can expect traffic and parking to be an issue. There is also a heightened sense of law enforcement and security on site. While the experience takes place on the white sandy beaches – fans are optimistic the forecast will cooperate this year.
“Woman: Hopefully the rain stays away. Lee: So we’re watching the forecast? – Woman: The forecast for sure – because it was pour downs last year – but hey – we’ll live it up in the rain no matter what.”
Filling up condos, hotel rooms, and Airbnbs – the influx of people is good for local businesses in Gulf Shores and beyond.
Ready for the music – fans are prepared for an epic three day weekend!
Let’s hangout,” said one guy.
“We’re expecting a lot fun – we’re expecting a lot of energy… and we’re expecting ground-breaking moments,” said one guy.
“Woman: We’re not going – well, I’m trying to go – she’s definitely not going. Lee: So you’re still trying to get a pass? – Woman: For sure! Lee: It’s the hottest ticket in town right now. – Woman: For sure!”
Copyright 2023 WALA. All rights reserved. | 2023-05-19T16:07:30+00:00 | wsfa.com | https://www.wsfa.com/2023/05/19/hangout-fest-2023-pre-party-gets-fans-excited-about-3-day-weekend/ |
Toyota is the latest automaker to work with an electrical utility on ways to use EVs to aid the grid.
The automaker on Thursday announced a pilot project with Texas-based utility Oncor for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, which allows EVs to discharge power back into the grid. Other automakers and utilities have already expressed interest in V2G as a way to help smooth out swings in supply and demand, taking some strain off electricity-generating infrastructure.
This is Toyota’s first such collaboration with a utility, according to a press release, and the automaker hopes to learn more about the potential of V2G tech from it.
“We envision a future where Toyota BEVs provide a best-in-class mobility experience, but also can be utilized by our customer to power their homes, their communities or even power back the electric grid in times of need,” Christopher Yang, group vice president of Toyota Electric Vehicle Charging Solutions, said in a statement.
The effort seems fairly small-scale. It will use Oncor’s testing “microgrid,” located at the utility’s System Operating Services Facility (SOSF) in south Dallas, not far from Toyota’s U.S. headquarters. The microgrid includes a V2G-capable EV charger, as well as solar panels and battery storage, according to Toyota. It’s unclear if more than one EV will be plugged into the system at a time.
“Toyota and Oncor plan to use a BEV along with the system to better understand the interconnectivity between BEVs and utilities,” the release said. Vehicles used could include the bZ4X, the first mass-produced Toyota EV for the U.S., or the upcoming Lexus RZ, a close relative for the automaker’s luxury brand.
To date, Toyota has dedicated far more effort toward how its hydrogen fuel-cell tech might help smooth the grid. That’s in keeping with a strategy that emphasized fuel-cell vehicles as an alternative to EVs, a strategy which Toyota only now seems to be changing.
In the meantime, V2G has received significant attention from industry stakeholders. California has already said that it considers V2G technology useful for supporting the grid, and it’s currently working on the regulatory framework. A most recent round of studies in 2020 showed how V2G tech might be standardized, allowing to connected EVs to help power the grid.
Recent California heat waves have prompted alerts about EV charging habits—and Texas has shown it also has issues meeting demand during unusual weather. Tesla, through a program with California utility Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), has demonstrated a different solution: using thousands of Powerwall battery packs to form a “virtual power plant.”
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- Lucid shifts to Panasonic batteries, some to be US-made | 2022-12-16T16:23:06+00:00 | qcnews.com | https://www.qcnews.com/automotive/internet-brands/toyota-starts-to-see-how-its-evs-can-aid-the-power-grid/ |
Three Indoor Theme Parks Join Growing Portfolio of Family Entertainment Centers
LEXINGTON, Ky., July 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Five Star Parks & Attractions has completed the acquisition of three locations of Malibu Jack's Indoor Theme Parks in the cities of Lexington, Louisville, and Ashland, Kentucky. This brings Five Star's holdings to 16 family entertainment centers (FEC's)* in eight states.
Since June 2021, Five Star has sought out FEC partners that are already employing creative practices within the industry, but that have a desire to grow or improve and can therefore benefit from the expertise and financial backing offered by Five Star and its leadership team. The new arrangement ensures a continued relationship with the original Malibu Jack's leadership team, which will build and open additional parks under the Five Star brand.
Five Star was drawn to Malibu Jack's because of the company's innovative approach to creating "indoor theme parks" by transforming vacant buildings into entertainment spaces rather than building new venues from the ground up. The Hatton family – brothers Steve, Terry and Jeff – opened the first Malibu Jack's location in Lexington nine years ago, then expanded into Louisville. Both sites quickly gained popularity and were relocated to the two larger facilities that exist today. The third site opened in December 2021 in Ashland.
"Our goal has always been to find a way that we, as entrepreneurs, could also make a positive impact on our communities, turning what had been an eyesore or empty store into a place that brings joy to residents and visitors alike," said Terry Hatton. "We love that challenge, and what appeals to us about this partnership with Five Star is that we'll be able to expand our reach, bringing our original vision to families across the country."
Though attractions vary by site, the Malibu Jack's indoor theme parks feature bowling alleys, go-kart tracks, miniature golf, laser tag, a variety of rides, arcades and a signature kids' play area known as Bounce Beach. Each new site creates about 100 jobs for its local community and prides itself on offering a clean, safe and fun environment for family entertainment.
"This is an exciting time for the brand," said David Hasler, the CEO of Malibu Jack's. "In the last six months we'd been preparing our team for growth – realigning roles, optimizing systems and enhancing existing processes. We are energized about working alongside the Five Star team to realize Malibu Jack's brand potential."
"Since our inception, Five Star Parks & Attractions has been focused on finding partners who have developed creative ways to really make a difference in our industry," said John Dunlap, Five Star's CEO. "With Malibu Jack's, the Hatton family found a way to not only deliver on a promise of year-round family fun but also to repurpose existing buildings and make a positive impact on their communities. We look forward to collaborating with them to see what we can do to make Malibu Jack's a household name from coast to coast."
Other Five Star partners include all three locations of The Track Family Fun Parks in Branson, Missouri; two locations of Dubby's Attractions in Branson and three in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee; and all five locations of Celebration Station, in the prime suburban locations of Clearwater, Florida; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Greensboro, North Carolina; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Mesquite, Texas.
*What Is an "FEC"?
Family Entertainment Centers are an important part of the global amusement industry. They bring families together by offering an array of activities, which can include arcades and games, batting cages, bowling alleys, bumper boats and cars, go-karts, laser tag, miniature golf, rides, roller rinks, VR experiences, ziplines, and more. Often FEC's include dining elements, from ice cream stands and snack bars to full-service restaurants and food trucks.
About Malibu Jack's
Malibu Jack's operates massive indoor theme parks with attractions and games for guests of all ages. Annually, nearly 1 million guests experience go-karts, miniature golf, bowling, thrill rides, kid's zones, virtual reality attractions, arcade games and more. Malibu Jack's locations offer space for large corporate events, field trips, birthday parties and holiday events.
About Five Star Parks & Attractions
Five Star Parks & Attractions is a platform created to partner with and invest in leading family entertainment centers (FEC's), instituting positive changes aimed at creating superior entertainment experiences for families. Properties partnering with Five Star benefit from the passion and expertise of leaders who have spent their careers in the amusement and hospitality industries, and from the financial backing necessary to create improved guest experiences and long-term success. As part of its ongoing growth strategy, Five Star is interested in hearing from existing FEC's that may be interested in joining the team and learning about the group's future plans.
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SOURCE Five Star Parks & Attractions | 2022-07-19T15:59:24+00:00 | wafb.com | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2022/07/19/five-star-parks-amp-attractions-acquires-malibu-jacks-venues-kentucky/ |
TORONTO, May 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - TurfBot has officially launched as the first franchised robotic mowing as a service company in the US. The company will be offering lawn mowing services to local homeowners using zero-emission robotic technology.
"We don't do anything without rigorous testing, and we've been testing this concept for several years now," stated Jennifer Lemcke, CEO of TurfBot. "Our goal was to ensure our franchisees could be successful doing this…that is of the utmost importance to us. We wanted to build a sustainable model for the future."
The TurfBot concept involves providing easy access to robotic mowing by offering it as a paid service with an affordable monthly fee. The mowers remain at customers' homes throughout the entire mowing season and can be pre-programmed to mow on certain days/times or started on demand via mobile app. Customers also receive monthly maintenance visits from a TurfBot technician to ensure the mower is always in peak form. Regular trimming and edging can be added on to any mowing program.
To help propel the brand forward, TurfBot has partnered with SiteOne Landscape Supply to assist with equipment, supplies, and logistics.
"We have a 25-year history with SiteOne that started with our sister company, Weed Man Lawn Care. It just made sense to partner with them on the TurfBot side – it really was the perfect fit. They have been instrumental in helping our franchisees get the equipment needed to launch their businesses and service their customers," said Lemcke.
TurfBot has opened its doors in 9 U.S. markets, with plans to expand into an additional 10+ in 2023.
TurfBot is North America's first robotic mowing as a service franchise brand. Founded in 2018, TurfBot is now in 9 US markets with plans to expand into 80 additional markets over the next 10 years. For more information, visit turfbotmowing.com.
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SOURCE TurfBot Mowing | 2022-05-03T12:55:23+00:00 | kmvt.com | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/05/03/turfbot-officially-launches-robotic-mowing-service-us/ |
Honda has come a long way over the years. Appearing on a recent episode of “Jay Leno’s Garage,” this Honda Z600 is an example of one of the automaker’s earliest production models.
Either a 1970 or 1971 model, the car was rebuilt by Buck Woodruff and his son Harrison. The elder Woodruff was one of the first Honda dealers in the U.S., and still sells the automaker’s wares today in Georgia. The two thought it would be nice to find an early Honda to display in the showroom to represent both their family history and Honda’s.
The Z600 was marketed as a coupe version of the N600, the first Honda car sold in the U.S., which in turn was a larger-engined version of the Japanese-market N360. The N360 launched in 1967 with a 360-cc twin to comply with the then-current version of Japan’s kei-car standards which incentivize small cars with small-displacement engines. For export markets like the U.S., Honda developed a 598-cc version of the N360’s engine, which went into both the N600 and the Z600 and developed a mighty 36 hp in the N600. And, as you’ll hear in the video it does that with a buzz of revs.
This car hasn’t been restored, but simply returned to running condition with its original paint and many original parts—including, remarkably, a 1970s-vintage washer fluid bag. It had sat for three years before the Woodruffs got their hands on it and still needs some shaking down, as shown during the test drive when a blocked fuel vent caused the flow of fuel to be interrupted.
While it didn’t have as much of an impact as its follow-up act, the Z600 helped Honda establish itself as an international automaker. Honda only sold the Z600 in the U.S. from 1970-1972, after which it was pulled from this market to make way for the Civic, which launched in 1973 with Honda’s revolutionary CVCC engine. Short for “Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion,” it used clever engineering tricks like pre-chamber combustion to meet the first round of U.S. emissions standards (which came into effect for the 1975 model year) without a catalytic converter. But that’s a story for another time.
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- Be a track hero, buy this Maserati MC12 Versione Corse | 2022-10-25T21:10:06+00:00 | mytwintiers.com | https://www.mytwintiers.com/automotive/internet-brands/1970-71-honda-z600-buzzes-into-jay-lenos-garage/ |
Football will have its biggest test of the year on Saturday when it travels to Princeton, New Jersey to take on the Tigers. Princeton is undefeated on the season and currently ranked 22nd in the nation. Hanging with the team for 60 minutes on the road will be a challenge.
Princeton (6-0, 3-0 Ivy) is coming off of its best game thus far — a 37-10 beatdown of Harvard in Cambridge. After leading by only four at the half, the Tigers shutout the Crimson in the final 30, while tacking on an additional 23 points.
The team is led by quarterback Blake Stenstrom, who has thrown for more than 1,600 yards on nearly 70 percent passing. He is joined by the duo receiving threat of Andrei Iosivas and Dylan Classi, who each have more than 500 yards receiving on the season.
“They have the NCAA 60 meter indoor sprint champion playing wide receiver,” said head coach David Archer ’05. “If you cover him, they’ll throw it to the second leading receiver in the league. If you cover both of them, they’ll hand it to the kid [Ryan Butler] who’s probably gonna win Rookie of the Year in the league as tailback. Their quarterback is a transfer from Colorado who’s completing 70 percent of his passes… and that’s just their offense.”
In addition to the offensive attack, the Tigers also sport one of the top defenses in the nation. Coming into this weekend, Princeton ranks second in points allowed and first in turnover margin.
The Red (4-2, 1-2 Ivy) is coming off of a nail-biter victory against Brown, 24-21. Cornell racked up 200 rushing yards in the game, a feat that will be difficult to repeat against Princeton’s second ranked rush defense. Further complicating things for the Red is the status of sophomore running back Eddie Tillman, who is questionable to play after suffering an injury in the fourth quarter against Brown.
Leaderboard 2
“Our identity — what we want to be, to execute on offense and to control the ball and create negatives on defense, is a good formula against anybody,” Archer said.
On defense, Cornell clinched the contest against the Bears with a strip sack from fifth year lineman Max Lundeen. It will be on this unit to contain Princeton’s offensive starpower.
“You got to do a great job giving the quarterback different looks,” Archer said. “You got to do a great job making him double clutch the ball. You got to make him uncomfortable with trying to put pressure on him, and you got to change up how you’re going to defend those two guys.”
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Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday at Princeton Stadium.
Prediction: Princeton 38 Cornell 17
Princeton appears to be rounding into peak form after dismantling Harvard last Friday. With the number of weapons the Tigers possess on both offense and defense, the Red will be unable to keep up. | 2022-10-28T00:37:23+00:00 | cornellsun.com | https://cornellsun.com/2022/10/27/preview-football-faces-its-toughest-opponent-of-the-season-in-princeton/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss |
No evidence of fraud in weapons to Ukraine, watchdog says
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon’s inspector general said Tuesday his office has found no evidence yet that any of the billions of dollars in weapons and aid to Ukraine has been lost to corruption or diverted into the wrong hands, but cautioned that those investigations are only in their early stages.
Keeping military aid to Ukraine protected from waste or fraud has become a critical part of keeping support for Ukraine intact in Congress, where some lawmakers have already begun to question why the U.S. is spending so much to help Kyiv.
Robert P. Storch was pressed by House members several times about any fraud findings. He said a number of tips and allegations have come in to a new hotline, but there have been “limited findings” to date, with many reports pending.
Storch, who was testifying with other Pentagon leaders before the House Armed Services Committee, repeatedly said he did not want to talk about investigations that have not yet been completed.
Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama, the Republican committee chairman, said Congress has appropriated more than $100 billion in military, economic and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and NATO allies. Of that, the U.S. has doled out more than $75 billion so far, and that includes nearly $32 billion in Pentagon weapons and training to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion a year ago.
“These are unprecedented numbers. And it requires an unprecedented level of oversight by Congress,” Rogers said.
Members of Congress have persistently questioned how closely the U.S. is tracking its aid to Ukraine to ensure that it is not subject to fraud or ending up in the wrong hands.
The Pentagon has a “robust program” to track the aid as it crosses the border into Ukraine and to keep tabs on it once it is there, depending on the sensitivity of each weapons system, Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said Tuesday at a press briefing. There’s also a small team of Americans in Ukraine working with Ukrainians to do physical inspections when possible, but also virtual inspections when needed, since those teams are not going to the front lines, Ryder said.
Questions over accountability in Ukraine come as some lawmakers push back against continued funding for the war. In early February, a group of 11 House Republicans unveiled a “Ukraine Fatigue” resolution. It stated that the U.S. must end its military and financial aid to Ukraine and urged the combatants to reach a peace agreement.
Colin Kahl, under secretary of defense for policy, told lawmakers that the U.S. has been careful to send Ukraine the weapons it needs, as the war progresses. And he said he believes Ukrainian leaders are aware of concerns about accountability, and “I do think they are taking these issues seriously.”
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2023-02-28T21:46:02+00:00 | kwtx.com | https://www.kwtx.com/2023/02/28/no-evidence-fraud-weapons-ukraine-watchdog-says/ |
CHICAGO, June 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- EVERSANA™, a pioneer of next-generation commercial services to the global life sciences industry, and Limitless Minds™, a business and wellness coaching firm founded by professional athlete Russell Wilson and co-founders Trevor Moawad, Harrison Wilson, and DJ Eidson, announced the launch of an integrated learning and performance solution for life sciences professionals. The new offering is the only training initiative across the pharmaceutical industry that adds cognitive and behavioral assessments, together with clinical, economic, and organizational training, to help field deployment teams optimize performance.
The Limitless Minds program was developed by the late Trevor Moawad when working with professional athletes including Russell Wilson. It focuses on bringing competitive thinking methods used in sports to the corporate world. Company founders have a deep history in sports as well as in the pharmaceutical industry, having worked in sales leadership roles at multiple organizations.
Together, Limitless Minds will provide a suite of services integrated into EVERSANA's Deployment Solutions Learning and Performance Services. Development programs will include keynote speakers, multiple mindset modules, mental conditioning webinars, videos, LIVE in-app broadcasts, mindset assessments, and ongoing performance coaching.
"We're thrilled to partner with EVERSANA and help add the Limitless Minds curriculum and programs to the company's growing and robust training and development programs," said Russell Wilson, Professional Athlete & Founder/Co-Chair at Limitless Minds. "Together we can help employees realize their greatest potential, helping drive innovation at companies and helping more patients access therapies worldwide."
"Employees today across all industries and especially in pharma face ongoing pressures and challenges to deliver in a complex, highly competitive market," said Jim Lang, CEO, EVERSANA. "We believe that together with Limitless Minds and their proven mental skills and habits training, we can empower an unmatched field deployment solution with premium performance results."
EVERSANA and the Limitless Minds teams will be together highlighting the new offerings at Life Sciences Trainers & Educators Network (LTEN) Annual Conference, June 13-16 in San Antonio. To learn more about the partnership, click here.
EVERSANA™ is the leading provider of global services to the life sciences industry. The company's integrated solutions are rooted in the patient experience and span all stages of the product life cycle to deliver long-term, sustainable value for patients, prescribers, channel partners and payers. The company serves more than 500 organizations, including innovative start-ups and established pharmaceutical companies, to advance life sciences solutions for a healthier world. To learn more about EVERSANA, visit EVERSANA.com or connect through LinkedIn and Twitter.
Media Contacts:
EVERSANA
Matt Braun
Director, Corporate Communications
matt.braun@eversana.com
+1-414-434-4830
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SOURCE EVERSANA | 2022-06-02T11:27:31+00:00 | ksla.com | https://www.ksla.com/prnewswire/2022/06/02/eversana-limitless-minds-advance-pharmaceutical-sales-performance-with-new-cognitive-amp-behavioral-training-solution/ |
(NewsNation) — Dramatic video shows a 130-foot yacht slowly sinking into the sea.
The footage gathered by the Italian Coast Guard captured the impressive vessel being slowly swallowed up by the Mediterranean just nine miles off the coast of Italy.
The Coast Guard scrambled to rescue nine people before the yacht, named “My Saga,” went under.
The yacht, built in 2007, was equipped with six staterooms for up to 12 guests and an additional four cabins for its crew. Designed to perfectly sail the open ocean, questions have been raised as to what exactly caused the yacht to go down this week.
There have been a number of yacht incidents in the world in 2022, according to the publication Super Yacht Times.
The publication reports that eight motor yachts caught fire, three sank, two were attacked, and a 50-meter sailing yacht was hit by a rescue vessel. | 2022-08-24T15:33:45+00:00 | wric.com | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/video-shows-130-foot-yacht-sink-into-the-sea/ |
The Universal Antibody Lock technology will give patients more of a choice
TAIPEI, July 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PrecisemAb Biotech, a biotechnology research company based in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, continues to stay true to its vision of enhancing antibody drugs by reducing side effects through the patented Universal Antibody Lock technology. Patients are provided with the safest possible therapy thanks to the conditionally activated antibody treatment, PrecisemAb will participate in person at US bio 2022.
This transformational way of developing treatments will ensure that affected patients do not risk further aggravating their medical conditions. PrecisemAb copies parts of the antibody structure but not entirely to produce drugs that can eliminate as many side effects as possible, resulting in more refined antibody treatment to save lives.
"After spending more than 20 years in the industry, the need for a safer patient antibody treatment has never been greater. I hope our technology can reduce antibody side effects and improve medicine for all," said Professor Cheng Tian-Lu, the chief scientist at PrecisemAb and inventor of the Universal Antibody Lock technology.
Led by Professor Cheng Tian-Lu and CEO, Lu Yun-Chi, the recently set up firm had previously completed a $1.6 million seed round of funding and is one to watch in the flourishing biotechnology space. Recognizing the need to create better forms of treatment for patients, PrecisemAb aims to minimize adverse side effects with better antibody solutions that can target affected areas more accurately.
The Universal Antibody Lock technology has already been patented in 15 countries, including both the United States and China, and the company will continue to expand its intellectual property rights worldwide.
With support from the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), the increased exposure, opportunities, and support from MOST enable growing startups such as PrecisemAb to compete on the global stage, better the lives of many that require such specialized help, and inform the world of scientific breakthroughs like the Universal Antibody Lock technology.
PrecisemAb will strive to continue its worthwhile work in the biotech space and create the safest antibody treatment for patients in the years to come.
About PrecisemAb Biotech
PrecisemAb is co-founded by Professor Cheng Tian-Lu, co-inventor of Universal Antibody Lock, Lu Yun-Chi (CEO) and Cheng Yi-An (CTO). Professor Cheng has over 25 years of experience in antibody engineering. His original Universal Antibody Lock technology can effectively enhance antibody's selectivity in disease areas and reduce adverse effects caused by antibody drugs. This innovative technology is a revolutionary breakthrough in the biotechnology industry, and both Professor Cheng and PrecisemAb are committed to creating the safest antibody treatment for patients.
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SOURCE PrecisemAb Biotech | 2022-07-29T06:18:13+00:00 | kswo.com | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2022/07/29/taiwan-startup-precisemab-continues-progress-towards-vision-safest-antibody-treatment-with-no-side-effects/ |
Snowy and slushy morning commute likely, snow moves out this afternoon
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) - Plan on a mix of rain, sleet and heavy snow for your morning drive. The snow may become heavy at times, possibly with rates exceeding 1″/hour. This will reduce visibility and make roads slick quickly. As we’ve mentioned for the past several days, erring on the conservative side with the overall snow totals is typically the way to go with systems like these and a general 2-5″ is still on track by early afternoon. Look for less snow farther northwest. Given the high moisture content of the snow, consider getting it cleared this afternoon before everything re-freezes tonight. Look for sun to return to the area tomorrow with highs generally in the 20s to lower 30s. The weekend still looks good, too!
Copyright 2023 KCRG. All rights reserved. | 2023-02-09T11:09:23+00:00 | kcrg.com | https://www.kcrg.com/2023/02/09/snowy-slushy-morning-commute-likely-snow-moves-out-this-afternoon/ |
BUFFALO — Buffalo-based entrepreneur Adam Utley had a goal: start a biotech company that creates cancer therapies for patients by storing healthy immune cells from their blood that can be retrained to fight cancer.
“Cancer turns off the immune cells, basically taking away the guns and ammo that are used by immune cells to kill the cancer,” says Utley, a now founder and CEO of Immunaeon. “By allowing our customers to store their cells before they get sick, we give them the best chance at creating cancer cures if they get sick.”
He adds: “We knew that there was a market opportunity to bring Immunaeon to life, but our team had little understanding of what it meant to start a company.”
That’s when he reached out to Matthew Pelkey, program director of the University at Buffalo School of Law’s Entrepreneurship Law Center Clinic, or e-Law Center Clinic.
“Matt and his team helped us to understand the fundamentals of starting a company from the ground up,” says Utley, a Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences alumnus. “They gave us insight into corporate structure, best practices, regulatory pathways, and helped us set up the company from the ground up.”
Immunaeon is another success story for the e-Law Center Clinic, a blossoming student-driven agency that provides legal services to entrepreneurs and startups not yet ready or able to engage outside legal counsel.
For more than five years, around 30 student-, staff- and faculty-led companies have filed applications each semester to work with the e-Law Center Clinic, which guides them through the essential legal challenges and questions faced by new and fledgling businesses.
‘You don’t even know …’
“When you are starting a business, especially for first-time founders, there are a lot of business and legal issues to navigate — all while you’re focusing attention getting an idea off of the ground,” says Pelkey, the clinic’s program director. “You don’t even know what you don’t know. Having mentors there, having resources there are crucial to avoiding common mistakes.
“As practitioners, we fill a gap in the marketplace because oftentimes, those businesses don’t have the funds to hire proper counsel. So they will go online. They’ll do it themselves. They’ll have their uncle’s nephew next-door neighbor twice removed do it. In the process, they ultimately create more problems than they solve,” he says. “By working with the e-Law Center Clinic early, you can position these companies as best as possible for success.”
Services provided by the e-Law Center Clinic include:
• Entity selection and formation
• Securities/financing
• Taxes
• Intellectual property (patents, trademarks, trade secrets, copyrights and licensing)
• Social enterprises
• Terms of use/privacy policies
• Small business advice and counseling
• Hiring and employment matters
• Ethics/conflict of interest/governance
The clinic represents startups during the academic year, with its services available for faculty, staff, alumni and students.
The clinic also helps anyone affiliated with UB partner associations, including Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Hauptman Woodward Medical Research Institute, Kaleida Health, Jacobs Institute and the Western New York Incubator Network.
“The only caveat is, it can’t be a business that has raised any capital with investors,” Pelkey says.
Utley says the e-Law Center Clinic, as well as other UB efforts including investments from Business and Entrepreneur Partnership’s Cultivator program and winning the Henry A. Panasci Jr. Technology Entrepreneurship Competition, have helped steer Immunaeon toward a successful future.
“The e-Law Clinic was instrumental in our founding and an incredible asset as we progressed toward initial funding through the UB Business and Entrepreneurship Partnerships program,” Utley says. “Without their guidance and help, Immunaeon would not be where we are today.” | 2022-11-27T15:19:13+00:00 | niagara-gazette.com | https://www.niagara-gazette.com/news/web_extra/ub-s-entrepreneurship-law-clinic-helps-buffalo-s-startups-get-their-footing/article_c323eb30-68e1-11ed-8224-8f7c3ba48213.html |
WASHINGTON, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA will announce at 2 p.m. EDT (1 p.m. CDT) Wednesday, June 1, the company, or companies, selected to move forward in developing the next generation of spacesuits for Artemis missions at the Moon and the International Space Station during an event at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston.
The announcement will air live on NASA Television, the agency's website, and the NASA app.
Event participants will include:
- Vanessa Wyche, director, NASA Johnson
- Lindsay Aitchison, program executive for Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program, NASA Headquarters
- Lara Kearney, manager, Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program, NASA Johnson
- Joel Montalbano, program manager, International Space Station, NASA Johnson
Media are invited to attend in-person and hear remarks by key NASA officials involved in the selection followed by a question-and-answer session.
U.S. media interested in participating in person must contact the Johnson newsroom no later than 6 p.m. (5 p.m. CDT) Friday, May 27, by calling 281-483-5111 or emailing jsccommu@mail.nasa.gov. To participate by phone, media must contact the newsroom by 6 p.m. (5 p.m. CDT) Tuesday, May 31. A copy of NASA's media accreditation policy is online.
New spacesuits that allow humans to explore the lunar surface and unlock new spacewalk capabilities outside the International Space Station are a critical part of advancing human exploration in space and demonstrating continued American leadership. Under Artemis, new exploration spacesuits, together with human surface mobility systems, the Space Launch System rocket, the Orion Spacecraft, ground systems, Gateway, and human landing systems, will enable NASA to return humans to and establish a long-term presence at the Moon and to eventually explore Mars.
For more information about Artemis, visit:
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SOURCE NASA | 2022-05-27T00:07:30+00:00 | kfyrtv.com | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2022/05/26/nasa-pick-next-generation-spacesuits-moonwalking-spacewalking/ |
It was a pretty good night for most of the Region 11 teams Thursday night.
They traveled south to face Region 10 opponents in the first of three days of action between the two 4A regions. Five of the Region 11 teams came out on top with road wins.
Ridgeline rolled over Cedar, 71-31. Sky View handed Snow Canyon its first loss of the season, 54-39. Green Canyon beat Desert Hills, 70-51. Mountain Crest earned its first win of the year in a 55-37 victory against Crimson Cliffs. Bear River topped Hurricane, 46-39, and Logan suffered a 60-15 loss at Pine View. In Idaho, West Side won at Declo, 45-29.
At Cedar City, there was a rolling clock in the fourth quarter as the Riverhawks (3-0) had built a 61-23 advantage going to the final period. Ridgeline outscored the Reds (0-2) in every quarter.
“Tonight was a good team win,” Riverhawk head coach Ainsli Jenks said. “The girls made extra passes with 21 assists on 26 made field goals. I loved our defensive effort. Cedar is a well coached team that plays hard.”
Ridgeline came up with 10 steals and blocked five shots. Emiliee Skinner had four steals and blocked a shot, while Macie Brown came away with three steals. Nia Damuni blocked three shots.
Skinner led the offensive attack with 16 points. The sophomore also had a team-best five rebounds and team-high nine rebounds. Hallee Smith had 14 points, four rebounds and two assists. Brown netted 13 points, draining a trio of 3-pointers and also grabbed four rebounds and dished out two assists.
Ridgeline was 11 of 21 from 3-point range as six different Riverhawks connected from long range. Ridgeline was also good from the foul line, sinking 8 of 10. Nine Riverhawks scored in the game as 11 girls saw action.
At Desert Hills (2-2), Green Canyon (3-2) built a 20-point lead by halftime thanks to a 22-6 second quarter and was never really threatened. The Wolves made nine 3-pointers in the game and were efficient at the free throw line, making 9 of 12.
“Tonight was a great way to start the weekend,” GC head coach Alexis Clegg said. “We need to keep working on being disciplined on both sides of the ball, but our girls played great, and it’s fun to see 19 assists for the second game in a row.”
Cambree Tensmeyer had six of those assists. Three Wolves reached double figures as Marissa Best led the way with 22 points. She also grabbed seven rebounds and had two steals. Maren McKenna had a double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds, while also dishing out three assists, coming up with two steals and blocking two shots. Stella Anhder scored 11 points.
McKenna and Anhder led Green Canyon from beyond the arc with four and three long-range shots, respectively. Tensmeyer also had three rebounds and two steals.
At Snow Canyon, Sky View (3-0) stayed perfect on the season. The Bobcats handed the Warriors (4-1) their first setback of the 2022-23 campaign.
“Tonight was a great team win for us,” SV head coach Vanessa Hall said. “Snow Canyon is a tough team. (Olivia) Hamlin for them is very talented and so quick to get off a shot. Our guards did a great job of making adjustments and limiting her to two points in the second half. We distributed the ball well and got a lot of players involved in the offense.”
Hamlin had 18 points in the first half for the Warriors, but the Bobcats still built a 38-26 lead by halftime. In fact, Sky View outscored Snow Canyon in each of the first three quarters and were within a point of the Warriors in the fourth.
Hannah Radford and Addey Merrill finished with 16 points each to pace Sky View. They each had eight points in the opening quarter. Melanie Hiatt, who finished with 11 points, had seven in the second quarter. Madison Womack added seven points.
The Bobcats got a trio of 3-pointers from Merrill and finished with six as a team. Sky View made 8 of 11 from the foul line.
At Crimson Cliffs (0-2), Mountain Crest (1-3) picked up its first W of the season. The visiting Mustangs started hot, building a 20-7 lead after the first quarter. They took a 36-15 lead into the break and never looked back.
“These are things that are possible when it starts to come together,” MC head coach Megan Smith said. “I’m so proud of the way we played tonight, together. We talk about a ‘WE’ mentality, and these women executed that perfectly.”
The host Mustangs made seven 3-pointers, but struggled mightily from the foul line, making just 7 of 21. Mountain Crest made 8 of 14 from the free throw line and had five shots from beyond the arc go in.
Kali Jones led Mountain Crest with 19 points, while Lily Smith added 11 points on three 3-pointers. Paige Neman chipped in 10 points, and Faith Newman added seven.
At Pine View, Logan (0-5) had a hard time scoring throughout the game. The Grizzlies mustered just two points in the first quarter and did not score in the fourth. The Panthers (2-4) took a 59-15 lead into the final quarter.
“It was not the best night for us,” Logan head coach Tori Wren said.
Six Grizzlies scored. Ashley Lunt and Maddi Kartchner had four points each.
In Idaho, the Pirates (5-1) bounced back from their first setback of the season with a win over the Hornets (3-4) in Declo.
“We played good defense for the most part and that helped carry us,” WS head coach Bridget Checketts said. “We were working well together. We struggled a little getting our offensive sets, but we did well finding gaps and fast breaks working together with quick passes.”
The game was knotted at 10-10 after the first quarter, but the Pirates took a 20-14 lead into halftime. West Side outscored Declo each of the final three quarters.
Six players scored for the Pirates. Natalie Lemon led the team with 14 points, while Aubrie Barzee had 12. Lemon and Barzee scored points in every quarter. | 2022-12-09T09:57:47+00:00 | hjnews.com | https://www.hjnews.com/sports/school/prep-girls-basketball-big-night-for-region-11-down-south/article_94c130a2-7784-11ed-afab-c378db920a9f.html |
On Feb. 1, our nation began celebrating Black History Month. For the month of February, Americans shine a light on the history of African Americans in this nation and acknowledge their accomplishments, contributions and struggles. From schools to businesses, people are finding opportunities to honor the impact African Americans have had on our nation’s history.
The decision to designate a month to reflect Black history didn’t happen until the mid 1970s, and now, many feel 28 days isn’t enough time to celebrate Black Americans’ contributions to our country.
In February 2016, President Barack Obama reminded the nation about the importance of not trivializing Black History Month as a one-off event each year.
“Black History Month shouldn’t be treated as though it is somehow separate from our collective American history or somehow just boiled down to a compilation of greatest hits from the March on Washington, or from some of our sports heroes,” he said from the White House East Room. “It’s about the lived, shared experience of all African Americans, high and low, famous and obscure, and how those experiences have shaped and challenged and ultimately strengthened America.”
But why did it take so long for Black History Month become an annual event in the U.S., and how did it happen?
When Did Black History Month Receive Official Recognition?
The first official Black History Month in the U.S. was initiated by President Gerald R. Ford in 1976. In his Feb. 10, 1976 proclamation, Ford encouraged Americans to take time to “review with admiration the impressive contributions of Black Americans to our national life and culture.”
In the quarter century before ushering in Black History Month, the Civil Rights movement pushed for integration and equality on every level, from the classroom to the boardroom. The momentum of this movement helped usher in Black History Month — an official recognition that Ford said was overdue.
“In celebrating Black History Month, we can take satisfaction from this recent progress in the realization of the ideals envisioned by our Founding Fathers,” he said. “But, even more than this, we can seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
Meet The Man Responsible For Black History Month
Though the month-long celebration became official in 1976, the idea behind Black History Month started at the turn of the 20th century, when African Americans had minimal legal standing in the country and few mentions in history books of their contributions and achievements.
President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation had only been signed in 1863, and it wasn’t until Dec. 6, 1865, that Congress officially ended slavery by passing the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The idea of broadening our nation’s view of our full history to include African Americans was still a new concept. But author, journalist and historian Carter G. Woodson intended to change that.
In 1912, Woodson, whose parents were slaves, became only the second African American in U.S. history, after W.E.B. Du Bois, to graduate with a Ph.D. from Harvard University. In the years following his graduation, he made it his mission to promote the accomplishments of Black Americans.
In 1915, Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, which today is known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). A few years later, in 1926, he proposed a week-long celebration of Black history to encourage public educators to share related lessons in school.
“Woodson’s goal from the very beginning was to make the celebration of Black history in the field of history a ‘serious area of study,'” Albert Broussard, a professor of Afro-American history at Texas A&M University, told NPR.
Woodson’s efforts earned him the nickname “The father of Black History.”
Why Is Black History Month In February?
February has historic significance for African Americans.
Back when Woodson proposed the week-long Black History celebration, he chose the second week of February for the occasion in order to coincide with two important birthdays: President Abraham Lincoln and author and speaker Frederick Douglass.
According to ASALH, Woodson knew members of the African American community already honored these two men for their contributions to Black history. Therefore, it made sense to him to broaden the celebration at that time to honor of all African American people.
How Did Black History Month Evolve From A Week To A Month?
Over time, the idea that a single week could encapsulate a culture’s influence on our nation’s history seemed too limiting. At first, grassroots efforts in local communities, schools and universities pushed for a longer celebration.
The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s brought in a new wave of interest and enthusiasm for Black History. In 1970, Kent State University became the first institution to institute a full-month celebration. Six years later, Black History Month became a national commemorative event.
Now, the celebration is more than just posters on a classroom wall and a few speeches or lectures. We can attend museum exhibits and concerts, watch live productions or filmed programming and read countless books that pay tribute to the African American experience and influence on American history and culture.
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Check out Simplemost for additional stories. | 2023-02-06T21:21:00+00:00 | kgun9.com | https://www.kgun9.com/facts-about-the-origins-of-black-history-month |
SEATTLE (AP) — For their first venture into the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Seattle Kraken are giving their fans quite the exciting, yet stressful experience.
Two playoff series. And now, a second Game 7.
“That’s all you can ask for These games are what makes playoff hockey fun,” Seattle’s Jordan Eberle said.
Eberle scored twice, Eeli Tolvanen had a goal and two assists, and the Kraken beat the Dallas Stars 6-3 on Saturday night to force a deciding Game 7 in their Western Conference semifinal series.
Tolvanen’s goal in the opening minutes of the second period gave Seattle a 3-1 lead. Rookie Tye Kartye scored his third of the playoffs beating Jake Oettinger with a wrist shot less than three minutes later, and the Kraken withstood several pushes by the Stars to send the series back to Texas.
“We were ready tonight. I feel like last couple games they’ve been maybe the ready team at the start,” Tolvanen said. “That was the big key today. All four lines were ready to play.”
Matty Beniers and Yanni Gourde each added a goal and an assist for Seattle, which is headed to the second Game 7 in the its short playoff history after ousting defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado with a 2-1 win in the deciding game of the opening round. The Kraken are the sixth team in league history to go to a Game 7 in each of the franchise’s first two playoff series.
Philipp Grubauer stopped 20 shots for the win.
“We had a goal in mind. We wanted to make sure that we were still one of the six teams alive when we woke up tomorrow morning and have the opportunity to go and play a Game 7,” Seattle coach Dave Hakstol said. “We know the test. We know the challenge. It’ll be a big one, but we’ll be ready.”
Mason Marchment, Joe Pavelski and Joel Kiviranta scored for Dallas. Oettinger gave up four goals on 18 shots before he was pulled 4 1/2 minutes into the second period. Scott Wedgewood came on and stopped nine of the 10 shots he faced.
Game 7 will be Monday night in Dallas.
“I mean, their lives were on the line. They played desperate hockey and played a good game,” Dallas captain Jamie Benn said.
The Stars last played a Game 7 in the second round of the 2020 playoffs in the NHL bubble in Edmonton when Dallas beat Colorado 5-4 in overtime. This will be first Game 7 in Dallas since the second round in 2016, when Stars lost 6-1 to St. Louis after giving up three first period goals.
Pavelski scored his 72nd career playoff goal and his eighth of the series when he redirected Miro Heiskanen’s shot form the point during a power play in the second period. Pavelski is tied with Alex Ovechkin for the most playoff goals among active players.
And he could have had more. Pavelski nearly added a second goal in the opening seconds of the third period, but his shot hit the post and Heiskanen’s rebound attempt slid wide of the goal mouth. Moments later, Jason Robertson’s shot from the slot hit the same post and ricocheted away from danger.
Seattle appeared to put a wrap on the win when Beniers finished a 2-on-1 off a pass from Eberle with his third playoff goal at 8:43 of the third period following a key penalty kill by the Kraken. But 16 seconds later Kiviranta tipped Thomas Harley’s shot from the point past Grubauer to pull the Stars back to 5-3.
It created a unnerving final few minutes for Seattle until Eberle’s empty-netter with 58 seconds left.
“We had nothing to lose, obviously backs against the wall,” Eberle said. “So we’re going to have the same effort in Game 7.”
Grubauer was excellent in goal for Seattle, especially in the second period when Dallas made a push. He had 11 saves in the period.
Oettinger was pulled after giving up Kartye’s goal and his 24 minutes, 23 seconds time on ice was the shortest start of his career.
Gourde gave Seattle the start it needed, following up his initial shot and beating Oettinger at 8:59 of the first period. Marchment scored 31 seconds later to pull the Stars even, but Eberle’s power-play goal at 16:46 of the period restored Seattle’s advantage.
“When the other team is hungry like that in an elimination game and you’re on the road, you got to be at least be the smarter team with the puck,” Dallas coach Pete DeBoer said. “I felt we compounded mistakes and fed their energy in the first period.”
___
AP NHL Playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2023-05-15T00:18:34+00:00 | cbs42.com | https://www.cbs42.com/sports/eberle-scores-2-as-kraken-outshine-stars-6-3-send-series-to-deciding-game-7/ |
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Grab your Red Ryder BB Guns, everyone! Ralphie Parker and some of his friends from the classic movie “A Christmas Story” will be back this holiday season. HBO Max released the teaser trailer for the upcoming sequel, “A Christmas Story Christmas,” which will air on the streaming network beginning on Nov. 17. And we already can’t wait for this gift of nostalgia!
It’s been almost 40 years since the original movie featured Peter Billingsley as 9-year-old Ralphie, the boy whose only Christmas wish was for a Red Ryder BB gun. Now, in “A Christmas Story Christmas,” Ralphie returns to his childhood home on Cleveland Street with his own family to try to recapture the magic of the holidays.
The 30-second trailer features Ralphie driving up to his home, and the voices from the past guide the audience through the Parker House. First, we see it in its glory from the 1940s, when the original film was set. Then, we see remnants of memorable moments from the first movie, including the iconic leg lamp: the Old Man’s “major award.”
About 30 years have passed since the events of the original movie and the upcoming film, so Ralphie and company are now in the middle of the 1970s during their visit.
According to WhattoWatch.com, the movie will not only feature Ralphie’s wife and kids but will include the return of his brother Randy (Ian Petrella) and his friends Flick (Scott Schwartz) and Schwartz (R.D. Robb). And, in a surprise twist, the school bully Scott “Scut” Farkus is still around town, but this time he appears to be a police officer!
It’s also likely that part of the movie plot will deal with the passing of the Old Man. Actor Darren McGavin died in 2006, and the role doesn’t seem to be re-cast. Also, Ralphie’s mom, who was played by Melinda Dillon, was not present or mentioned in the trailer, as you can see here:
What will Santa bring this year for Ralphie, his family, and his friends? We’ll have to tune in to HBO Max on Nov. 17 to find out!
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Checkout Simplemost for additional stories. | 2022-10-19T18:15:03+00:00 | ksby.com | https://www.ksby.com/watch-a-christmas-story-christmas-trailer |
Former President Trump is traveling to the early presidential caucus state of Iowa later this month, a scheduled visit that comes three days after Florida governor and widely presumed 2024 presidential candidate Ron DeSantis (R) also visits the Hawkeye State.
Trump’s campaign announced on Thursday that he would be making a speech on his “America First Education Policy” in Davenport on March 13.
DeSantis, meanwhile, will be in Des Moines and Davenport three days earlier to attend several events, which will also include Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R), according to The Des Moines Register, citing an official familiar with Reynolds’ plans.
Details regarding who will be at Trump’s event were not immediately clear from the campaign’s announcement. But the topic of choice is noteworthy given that DeSantis — in addition to other Republicans such as Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin — have largely used the issue of education as a talking point.
Youngkin’s campaign focused on critical race theory — a collegiate-level academic framework examining racism as a systemic issue in the nation’s institutions that has become a catch-all political buzzword for any teaching in schools about race and American history — and parental involvement in school curriculum during his successful 2021 Virginia gubernatorial race.
DeSantis signed legislation last year targeting topics of gender identity and sexual orientation in classroom instruction. More recently, the Florida governor’s administration made headlines when it rejected an Advanced Placement African American Studies course over its curriculum.
Trump’s announcement also comes more than a week since he announced his campaign leadership team in the state. | 2023-03-03T01:01:41+00:00 | qcnews.com | https://www.qcnews.com/hill-politics/trump-heading-to-iowa-in-march-to-talk-education/ |
TORONTO, Sept. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Silk & Snow is pleased to announce it placed No. 31 on the 2022 Report on Business ranking of Canada's Top Growing Companies.
Canada's Top Growing Companies ranks Canadian companies on three-year revenue growth. Silk & Snow earned its spot with three-year growth of 1,534%.
Founded in Toronto by childhood friends Albert Chow and Kenneth Mo in 2017, Silk & Snow has quickly built a reputation for high-quality products made with thoughtful manufacturing and traceability as top priorities. Their celebrated line of mattresses, sheets, accessories, and furniture has proved to be a big hit with customers in Canada and the United States. In 2022, the brand also entered the bathroom space, with a successful launch of luxurious Egyptian cotton bath towels, and robes in a selection of elevated colours.
"It feels good to know that what you prioritize as a brand is resonating with Canadian customers," says Chow. "We knew that Canadians cared about the quality of products they have in their homes, and our second inclusion into this coveted list confirms that."
Canada's Top Growing Companies is an editorial ranking that was launched in 2019. It aims to celebrate the boldest entrepreneurial achievement by identifying and bringing the accomplishments of innovative businesses in Canada to the forefront. In order to qualify for these voluntary programs; companies had to complete an in-depth application process and fulfill requirements. In total, 430 companies earned a spot on this year's ranking.
The full list of 2022 winners along with editorial coverage is published in the October issue of Report on Business magazine. The list is out now and online here.
"Canada's Top Growing Companies recognizes the tremendous ambition and innovation of entrepreneurs in Canada," says Dawn Calleja, Editor of Report on Business magazine. "The next generation of Canadian businesses can draw inspiration from this ranking."
"In an uncertain world, the success stories of the companies marked in this year's Report on Business magazine's list of Top Growing Companies are a beacon of optimism," says Phillip Crawley, Publisher and CEO of The Globe and Mail. "The Globe and Mail congratulates them on their achievements."
The Globe and Mail is Canada's foremost news media company, leading the national discussion and causing policy change through brave and independent journalism since 1844. With our award-winning coverage of business, politics and national affairs, The Globe and Mail newspaper reaches 5.9 million readers every week in our print or digital formats, and Report on Business magazine reaches 2.3 million readers in print and digital every issue. Our investment in innovative data science means that as the world continues to change, so does The Globe. The Globe and Mail is owned by Woodbridge, the investment arm of the Thomson family.
Silk & Snow is Canada's favourite thoughtfully-made sleep, and home brand. Silk & Snow provides a curated line of lifestyle products, including locally-made mattresses and Portuguese-made linen sheets that use traceable, high-quality materials to provide North Americans with the home of their dreams.
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SOURCE Silk & Snow | 2022-09-23T16:19:00+00:00 | kalb.com | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2022/09/23/silk-amp-snow-places-no-31-globe-mails-fourth-annual-ranking-canadas-top-growing-companies/ |
VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Nevada Lithium Resources Inc. (CSE: NVLH; OTCQB: NVLHF; FSE: 87K) ("Nevada Lithium" or the "Company") and its 50% partner in the Bonnie Claire Lithium Project (the 'Project' or 'Property'), Iconic Minerals Ltd. (TSX-V: ICM; OTCQB: BVTEF; FSE: YQGB) ("Iconic"), are pleased to provide core assay results for an additional two drill holes completed at the Property, located in Nye County, Nevada.
Sample assays are announced herein for two (2) additional core holes completed at Bonnie Claire – BC2202C and BC2204C – with preliminary1 results presented in Table 1.
Table 1: Core assay1 summary for drill holes BC2202C and BC2204C
The lithium grades of these two drill holes – BC2202C and BC2204C – demonstrate a very similar lithology- and grade-depth profile as that of the previously reported core holes BC2201C and BC2203C (see news releases dated September 29th, and December 7th, 2022). Drill hole locations are presented in Figure 1. Each of the drill holes contains a strong lithium grade near-surface (~750 to 1,100 ppm Li) to a depth of approximately 380 ft to 450 ft, a low-grade central section, and a high-grade section at depth (~1,000 to 2,200 ppm Li) over an interval of approximately 650 to 1,000 ft, and ending in strong mineralization in some holes1. The mineralized intervals at depth include some individual sample grades exceeding 4,000 ppm Li, including wide and high-grade intervals highlighted by drill hole BC2203C with 3,201 ppm Li over 520 ft.
Nevada Lithium CEO, Stephen Rentschler, commented: "We have been excited by the results of the core drilling this year at Bonnie Claire. This drilling continues to demonstrate that high grades of lithium are present, both near surface and at depth. We firmly believe that Bonnie Claire is one of the most attractive global lithium assets remaining in junior developers' hands."
A plan map, geology section, and section with lithium values is presented Figure 2. Three holes form a nearly east-west section with the last path of the section nearly north-south. The geology section interprets a continuous, nearly flat sediment layer in all four (4) holes. Lithium-rich fine-grained sediments, consisting of mudstone and claystone, are separated by relatively unmineralized sandstone. A second, deeper sandstone unit is intersected in the two western-most holes and is underlain by conglomerate. The lithium value section presents all +600 ppm Li core assay results. The sections illustrate a good correlation between both logged lithology and lithium grade between holes.
The Operator, Iconic Minerals, is currently completing the drilling of BC2205C located one-half mile east of BC2203C. The current core hole is expected to be completed and in for assay before the end of the year.
Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QAQC)
A Quality Assurance / Quality Control protocol was implemented for the program by the Operator, Iconic Minerals, and included insertion of quartz blanks and standards into sample batches. Core samples were shipped to ALS USA Inc. in Reno, Nevada, for geochemical analysis.
Once received, samples were weighted, crushed to 70% passing -2 mm, riffle split to 250 g, and pulverized to 85% passing -75 micron ahead of analysis. Analysis was completed by ICP-MS following an aqua regia digestion (package ME-MS41 Ultra Traces Aqua Regia ICP-MS).
- The Company notes that it has relied on the internal QAQC of ALS laboratory in Reno, Nevada, for the results reported herein, and that the Project Operator has submitted check assays to a secondary lab to reaffirm. Therefore, results presented herein should be viewed as preliminary in nature.
QP Disclosure
Darren L. Smith, M.Sc., P. Geo., Vice President of Exploration of the Company, and Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release.
Bonnie Claire Property
The Bonnie Claire Property is located within Sarcobatus Valley, which is approximately 30 km (19 miles) long and 20 km (12 miles) wide. Quartz-rich volcanic tuffs containing anomalous amounts of lithium occur within and adjacent to the valley. Drill results from the salt flat include 2,054 ppm Li over 67.1 m (220 ft) in drill hole BC-1601 as well as a 475 m (1560 ft) vertical intercept that averaged 1153 ppm Li. Bonnie Claire is one the largest lithium resources in North America with a current NI 43-101 inferred mineral resource 3,407 million tonnes (Mt) grading 1,013 ppm Li for 18,372 million kilograms of contained lithium carbonate equivalent, at a cut-off grade of 700 ppm Li. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves as they do not have demonstrated economic viability.
The gravity low that characterizes the valley is approximately 20 km (12 miles) long, and the current estimates of depth to basement rocks range from 600 to 1,200 meters (2,000 to 4,000 feet). The current claim block covers an area of 74 km2 (28.6 mi2) with potential for brine systems and further sediment resources.
About Nevada Lithium Resources Inc.
Nevada Lithium Resources Inc. is a mineral exploration and development company focused on shareholder value creation through its core asset, the Bonnie Claire Lithium Project, located in Nye County, Nevada, where it currently holds a 50% interest. A recently completed NI 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment returned attractive investment metrics and the Company is actively advancing the Project towards Prefeasibility. Learn more: https://www.nvlithium.com/
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Stephen Rentschler
CEO
Find Nevada Lithium on Social Media: on Instagram and Twitter
The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Cautionary Statement
This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively "forward-looking statements"). The use of any of the word "will" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the proposed exploration program, development of the Bonnie Claire Project, and advancement of the Bonnie Claire Project to pre-feasibility. Actual results achieved may vary from the information provided herein as a result of numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors. The Company believes the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. The Company does not undertake to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
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SOURCE Nevada Lithium Resources Inc | 2022-12-20T18:43:17+00:00 | wlbt.com | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/12/20/nevada-lithium-resources-inc-1882-ppm-li-over-980-ft-returned-drill-core-bonnie-claire-lithium-project-nevada/ |
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Family and friends of Evelyn Dieckhaus, one of three children who were killed in a school shooting in Nashville this week, remembered her Friday as a “shining light” and said farewell to a girl who loved art, music, animals and snuggling with her older sister on the couch.
The funeral at the Woodmont Christian Church in Nashville’s Green Hills neighborhood was closed to the media. Before the service, the church's senior minister, the Rev. Clay Stauffer, echoed what Evelyn's family has shared about her.
“She was a shining light. She was radiant,” Stauffer told The Associated Press. “I think our challenge is to take her light and keep spreading it to a world that has so much darkness and pain.”
Evelyn's was the first funeral held for the victims of Monday's mass shooting at The Covenant School, where authorities say a 28-year-old former student killed six people before being shot and killed by police.
The church is a couple of miles from the school and is across the street from the Woodmont Baptist Church, which served as the reunification point for surviving children and their parents after the attack.
Dozens of people poured into the Woodmont Christian Church's main sanctuary for the service. Many of the women and girls wore pink dresses to honor the grieving family’s request to dress in pink and green “in tribute to Evelyn’s light and love of color.”
With the pinkish-purple flowers of redbud trees blooming and mourners donning pastel colors, it looked as much like an Easter service as a funeral for a 9-year-old girl who brought joy and comfort to her loved ones.
The other two children who died in the attack, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney, were also 9. The three adults who were killed were the 60-year-old head of the school, Katherine Koonce, a 61-year-old custodian, Mike Hill, and Cynthia Peak, a 61-year-old substitute teacher.
In an obituary given to The Associated Press by a family friend, Evelyn was described as “a constant beacon of joy” who loved crafting and drawing, playing with her two dogs Mable and Birdie, singing along to tunes by Taylor Swift and from the Broadway show “Hamilton,” and hanging out with her beloved big sister, Eleanor.
Stauffer, the minister, said he has been trying to impress upon Evelyn's family, whom he described as “incredible people,” that they're not going through this alone.
“We’ll celebrate her life this afternoon, and then we’ll continue to show up and to be there to love and support the family,” he said.
That work started as soon as the ambulances, fire trucks and police cars went past his church on the day of the shooting. He went across the street to Woodmont Baptist to help reunite the frightened children and parents.
“It’s been surreal and a nightmare that we are waiting to wake up from,” said Stauffer. “It’s been one of the hardest weeks you could imagine.”
___
Associated Press reporter Adrian Sainz in Memphis contributed to this report. | 2023-03-31T22:15:54+00:00 | wsls.com | https://www.wsls.com/news/national/2023/03/31/mourners-gather-for-1st-nashville-school-shooting-funeral/ |
Imposter scams, robocalls and credit card fraud top the list of most common cons of 2022
Check your credit card statements regularly to scan for fraudulent charges
InvestigateTV - The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released a list of the most common scams to help consumers protect themselves and their loved ones.
Imposter Scams
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported almost 300,000 reports of imposter scams in the first nine months of this year.
Darius Kinsgley with Chase Bank told us that if you ever get a suspicious message from someone saying they’re from your financial institution, don’t respond. Kingsley said if you do respond it confirms your number to the scammer and they will call back.
Robocalls
Giulia Porter of Robokiller said that, according to statistics, it’s possible in 2022 that every American with a smart phone has received a robocall about car warranties more than three times.
According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), since 2018 there have been as many as 8 billion robocalls connected to car warranty scams alone.
The FCC issued cease and desist notices to voice service carriers in an effort to stem the tide of these automated calls with noticeable results. According to Porter there has been a large decrease in month over month robocalls since the FCC acted.
Credit card fraud
The FTC receive almost 340,000 complaints about credit card fraud in the first three quarters of 2022.
Kim Palmer of NerdWallet said credit card fraud is one of the most common types of scams. However, Palmer said if you catch and report it, you have a good chance to recover your lost money.
She advised consumers to check their credit card statements regularly to quickly find fraudulent charges. If you do find something amiss, report it to your credit card company and let them know your card might be compromised.”
You can report fraud directly to the FTC and to your state consumer protection office.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2022-12-28T22:53:06+00:00 | wnem.com | https://www.wnem.com/2022/12/28/imposter-scams-robocalls-credit-card-fraud-top-list-most-common-cons-2022/ |
New Real-World Evidence Highlights AMGEVITA® Utilization, Treatment Satisfaction and Persistence in European Patients
New Data From First-in-Class Treatment TAVNEOS®, Evaluating Renal Function Among Adults Living With Severe Active ANCA-Associated Vasculitis
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., Nov. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) today announced that clinical and real-world data across its broad portfolio of established treatments and pipeline assets will be presented at the annual American College of Rheumatology Convergence (ACR), taking place in Philadelphia on Nov. 10-14, 2022.
Among 25 abstracts, noteworthy presentations will include real-world evidence for AMGEVITA®* (adalimumab), underscoring treatment satisfaction and persistence in German patients with rheumatic diseases. Additional data will highlight utilization in European patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis.
Other research highlights include data on TAVNEOS® (avacopan) in severe active anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis, notably an oral presentation on evaluation of recovery of renal function among patients with baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at or below 20; renal function is impaired in the majority of people with the disease. Additionally, two real-world evidence posters report on the effects of Otezla® (apremilast) on cardiometabolic parameters in patients with psoriatic disease.
"Given the uptake of biosimilars, we are looking forward to presenting real-world evidence data from the experiences of patients using AMGEVITA, since it was approved in Europe four years ago," said David M. Reese, M.D., executive vice president of Research and Development at Amgen. "The breadth of data being presented reflects our deep commitment to driving innovation in inflammatory diseases."
*AMJEVITA™ outside the US is marketed as AMGEVITA. AMJEVITA is currently not available commercially and will not be commercially available in the United States until on or after January 31, 2023.
Abstracts and Presentation Times:
AMGEVITA® (adalimumab) Abstracts
- Real-World Utilization of Adalimumab Biosimilar (ABP 501) in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis and Psoriatic Arthritis in Europe
- Treatment Persistence and Switching Patterns of ABP 501 (AMGEVITA®) in German Patients with Rheumatic Diseases
SLE/AMG 592 Abstracts
- Unmet Need in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Therapy: High Corticosteroid Use and Poor Adherence and Persistence to SLE Treatments in the US
- Real-World Treatment Patterns, Healthcare Resource Utilization (HCRU) and Costs in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) in the US
- Regulatory T Cell Defects in SLE and Therapy with a Novel IL-2 Mutein: Phase 1 Clinical Results with Efavaleukin Alfa
Enbrel® (etanercept) Abstracts
- Outcomes of Etanercept and Janus Kinase Inhibitor Treatment After First-line Use of Adalimumab in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Lower Healthcare Costs for Commercially Insured Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis in Remission
- Maintenance of Disease Activity and Treatment Persistence in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Who Switched from Combination to TNF inhibitor Monotherapy: Results from the Rheumatology Informatics System for Effectiveness (RISE) Registry
- Change in Disease Activity and Occurrence of Adverse Events After Initiation of Etanercept in Pediatric Patients with Juvenile Psoriatic Arthritis in the CARRA Registry
- Outcomes in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Initiating Monotherapy with Etanercept, Adalimumab, or Janus Kinase Inhibitors
EVENITY® (romosozumab-aqqg) Abstracts
- Effect of Romosozumab on Bone Microarchitecture as Assessed by Tissue Thickness-Adjusted Trabecular Bone Score in Postmenopausal Women with Osteoporosis: Results from the ARCH Study
- Effect of Romosozumab in Postmenopausal Women with Knee Osteoarthritis: Results from the FRAME Clinical Trial
Otezla® (apremilast) Abstracts
- Characterization of Joint Distribution and Disease Burden in Patients with Early Oligoarticular Psoriatic Arthritis: Results from the Ongoing FOREMOST Study (EULAR 2022 Encore)
- Diabetes Burden and Effects of Apremilast on Changes in Cardiometabolic Parameters in Patients with Psoriasis (PsO) or Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) in a Real-World Setting
- Effectiveness by Disease Severity in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis Treated with Apremilast in the CorEvitas Psoriatic Arthritis/Spondyloarthritis (PsA/SpA) Registry
- Obesity Burden and Effects of Apremilast on Changes in Cardiometabolic Parameters by Obesity Status in Patients with Psoriasis (PsO) or Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) in a Real-World Setting
- Exposure-Adjusted Incidence Rate for Adverse Events of Special Interest in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis Treated with Apremilast
- Similar Improvements in Psoriatic Arthritis Disease Domains with Apremilast Treatment Regardless of Prior Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug Use
Prolia® (denosumab) Abstracts
- Comparative Effectiveness of Osteoporosis (OP) Therapies Among a Population of Postmenopausal Women in the United States (U.S.) (Encore)
- Myocardial Infarction and Stroke Risks Among Patients Who Initiated Treatment with Denosumab or Zoledronic Acid for Osteoporosis (Encore)
- Long-term Effect of Denosumab on Bone Microarchitecture as Assessed by Tissue Thickness-Adjusted Trabecular Bone Score (TBS) in Postmenopausal Women with Osteoporosis: Results from the FREEDOM and Open-Label Extension (OLE) (Encore)
TAVNEOS® (avacopan) Abstracts
- Recovery of Renal Function Among ANCA-Associated Vasculitis Patients with Baseline eGFR ≤20 in the Avacopan ADVOCATE Trial
- ANCA-Associated Vasculitis Treated with Avacopan versus a Standard Prednisone Taper: Glucocorticoid Toxicity Index Scores by Domain
- Safety of Avacopan in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis: Combined Data from Three Clinical Trials
- Glucocorticoid Use and Related Adverse Events in ADVOCATE Trial of Avacopan in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis
Abstracts can be found on the ACR website.
ABOUT AMJEVITA® (adalimumab-atto) in the U.S.
AMJEVITA is a biosimilar to adalimumab, an anti-TNF-α monoclonal antibody. The active ingredient of AMJEVITA is an anti-TNF-α monoclonal antibody that has the same amino acid sequence as, and is highly similar to, adalimumab. AMJEVITA will be delivered in prefilled syringe and autoinjector presentations to support dosing in each of the approved indications.
AMJEVITA is not currently available commercially. This not an offer for sale. The following information is derived from the approved label.
AMJEVITA is indicated, alone or in combination with methotrexate or other non-biologic DMARDs, for reducing signs and symptoms, inducing major clinical response, inhibiting the progression of structural damage, and improving physical function in adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis.
AMJEVITA is indicated, alone or in combination with methotrexate, for reducing signs and symptoms of moderately to severely active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis in patients 4 years of age and older.
AMJEVITA is indicated, alone or in combination with non-biologic DMARDs, for reducing signs and symptoms, inhibiting the progression of structural damage, and improving physical function in adult patients with active psoriatic arthritis.
AMJEVITA is indicated for reducing signs and symptoms in adult patients with active ankylosing spondylitis.
AMJEVITA is indicated for reducing signs and symptoms and inducing and maintaining clinical remission in adult patients with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy, and reducing signs and symptoms and inducing clinical remission in these patients if they have also lost response to or are intolerant to infliximab.
AMJEVITA is indicated for inducing and sustaining clinical remission in adult patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis who have had an inadequate response to immunosuppressants such as corticosteroids, azathioprine, or 6-mercaptopurine. The effectiveness of adalimumab products has not been established in patients who have lost response to or were intolerant to TNF blockers.
AMJEVITA is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy, and when other systemic therapies are medically less appropriate. AMJEVITA should only be administered to patients who will be closely monitored and have regular follow-up visits with a physician.
IMPORTANT U.S. SAFETY INFORMATION
SERIOUS INFECTIONS
Patients treated with AMJEVITA are at increased risk for developing serious infections that may lead to hospitalization or death. Most patients who developed these infections were taking concomitant immunosuppressants such as methotrexate or corticosteroids.
Discontinue AMJEVITA if a patient develops a serious infection or sepsis.
Reported infections include:
- Active tuberculosis (TB), including reactivation of latent TB. Patients with TB have frequently presented with disseminated or extrapulmonary disease. Test patients for latent TB before AMJEVITA use and during therapy. Initiate treatment for latent TB prior to AMJEVITA use.
- Invasive fungal infections, including histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, candidiasis, aspergillosis, blastomycosis, and pneumocystosis. Patients with histoplasmosis or other invasive fungal infections may present with disseminated, rather than localized, disease. Antigen and antibody testing for histoplasmosis may be negative in some patients with active infection. Consider empiric anti-fungal therapy in patients at risk for invasive fungal infections who develop severe systemic illness.
- Bacterial, viral, and other infections due to opportunistic pathogens, including Legionella and Listeria.
Carefully consider the risks and benefits of treatment with AMJEVITA prior to initiating therapy in patients: 1. with chronic or recurrent infection, 2. who have been exposed to TB, 3. with a history of opportunistic infection, 4. who resided in or traveled in regions where mycoses are endemic, 5. with underlying conditions that may predispose them to infection. Monitor patients closely for the development of signs and symptoms of infection during and after treatment with AMJEVITA, including the possible development of TB in patients who tested negative for latent TB infection prior to initiating therapy.
- Do not start AMJEVITA during an active infection, including localized infections.
- Patients older than 65 years, patients with co-morbid conditions, and/or patients taking concomitant immunosuppressants may be at greater risk of infection.
- If an infection develops, monitor carefully and initiate appropriate therapy.
- Drug interactions with biologic products: A higher rate of serious infections has been observed in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with rituximab who received subsequent treatment with a TNF blocker. An increased risk of serious infections has been seen with the combination of TNF blockers with anakinra or abatacept, with no demonstrated added benefit in patients with RA. Concomitant administration of AMJEVITA with other biologic DMARDs (e.g., anakinra or abatacept) or other TNF blockers is not recommended based on the possible increased risk for infections and other potential pharmacological interactions.
MALIGNANCY
Lymphoma and other malignancies, some fatal, have been reported in children and adolescent patients treated with TNF blockers including adalimumab products. Postmarketing cases of hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma (HSTCL), a rare type of T-cell lymphoma, have been reported in patients treated with TNF blockers including adalimumab products. These cases have had a very aggressive disease course and have been fatal. The majority of reported TNF-blocker cases have occurred in patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis and the majority were in adolescent and young adult males. Almost all of these patients had received treatment with azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine concomitantly with a TNF blocker at or prior to diagnosis. It is uncertain whether the occurrence of HSTCL is related to use of a TNF blocker or a TNF blocker in combination with these other immunosuppressants.
- Consider the risks and benefits of AMJEVITA prior to initiating or continuing therapy in a patient with known malignancy.
- In clinical trials of some TNF blockers, including adalimumab products, more cases of malignancies were observed among TNF-blocker-treated patients compared to control patients.
- Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) was reported during clinical trials for adalimumab-treated patients. Examine all patients, particularly those with a history of prolonged immunosuppressant or PUVA therapy, for the presence of NMSC prior to and during treatment with AMJEVITA.
- In adalimumab clinical trials, there was an approximate 3-fold higher rate of lymphoma than expected in the general U.S. population. Patients with chronic inflammatory diseases, particularly those with highly active disease and/or chronic exposure to immunosuppressant therapies, may be at higher risk of lymphoma than the general population, even in the absence of TNF blockers.
- Postmarketing cases of acute and chronic leukemia were reported with TNF blocker use. Approximately half of the postmarketing cases of malignancies in children, adolescents, and young adults receiving TNF blockers were lymphomas; other cases included rare malignancies associated with immunosuppression and malignancies not usually observed in children and adolescents.
HYPERSENSITIVITY
Anaphylaxis and angioneurotic edema have been reported following administration of adalimumab products. If a serious allergic reaction occurs, stop AMJEVITA and institute appropriate therapy.
HEPATITIS B VIRUS REACTIVATION
Use of TNF blockers, including AMJEVITA, may increase the risk of reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in patients who are chronic carriers. Some cases have been fatal. Evaluate patients at risk for HBV infection for prior evidence of HBV infection before initiating TNF blocker therapy. Exercise caution in patients who are carriers of HBV and monitor them during and after AMJEVITA treatment. Discontinue AMJEVITA and begin antiviral therapy in patients who develop HBV reactivation. Exercise caution when resuming AMJEVITA after HBV treatment.
NEUROLOGIC REACTIONS
TNF blockers, including adalimumab products, have been associated with rare cases of new onset or exacerbation of central nervous system and peripheral demyelinating diseases, including multiple sclerosis, optic neuritis, and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Exercise caution when considering AMJEVITA for patients with these disorders; discontinuation of AMJEVITA should be considered if any of these disorders develop.
HEMATOLOGICAL REACTIONS
Rare reports of pancytopenia, including aplastic anemia, have been reported with TNF blockers. Medically significant cytopenia has been infrequently reported with adalimumab products. Consider stopping AMJEVITA if significant hematologic abnormalities occur.
CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE
Worsening or new onset congestive heart failure (CHF) has been reported with TNF blockers. Cases of worsening CHF have been observed with adalimumab products; exercise caution and monitor carefully.
AUTOIMMUNITY
Treatment with adalimumab products may result in the formation of autoantibodies and, rarely, in development of a lupus-like syndrome. Discontinue treatment if symptoms of a lupus-like syndrome develop.
IMMUNIZATIONS
Patients on AMJEVITA should not receive live vaccines. Pediatric patients, if possible, should be brought up to date with all immunizations before initiating AMJEVITA therapy. Adalimumab is actively transferred across the placenta during the third trimester of pregnancy and may affect immune response in the in utero exposed infant. The safety of administering live or live-attenuated vaccines in infants exposed to adalimumab products in utero is unknown. Risks and benefits should be considered prior to vaccinating (live or live-attenuated) exposed infants.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
The most common adverse reactions in adalimumab clinical trials (>10%) were: infections (e.g., upper respiratory, sinusitis), injection site reactions, headache, and rash.
Please see full AMJEVITA Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide.
INDICATIONS
- AMJEVITA is indicated, alone or in combination with methotrexate or other non-biologic DMARDs, for reducing signs and symptoms, inducing major clinical response, inhibiting the progression of structural damage, and improving physical function in adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis.
- AMJEVITA is indicated, alone or in combination with methotrexate, for reducing signs and symptoms of moderately to severely active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis in patients 2 years of age and older.
- AMJEVITA is indicated, alone or in combination with non-biologic DMARDs, for reducing signs and symptoms, inhibiting the progression of structural damage, and improving physical function in adult patients with active psoriatic arthritis.
- AMJEVITA is indicated for reducing signs and symptoms in adult patients with active ankylosing spondylitis.
- AMJEVITA is indicated for the treatment of moderately to severely active Crohn's disease in adults and pediatric patients 6 years of age and older.
- AMJEVITA is indicated for the treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis in adult patients. The effectiveness of adalimumab products has not been established in patients who have lost response to or were intolerant to TNF blockers.
- AMJEVITA is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy, and when other systemic therapies are medically less appropriate. AMJEVITA should only be administered to patients who will be closely monitored and have regular follow-up visits with a physician.
About Systemic Lupus Erythematosus & AMG 592 (efavaleukin alfa)
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that can impact multiple organ systems. Efavaleukin alfa is an IL-2 mutein Fc fusion protein. It is being investigated for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, including SLE.
About ENBREL (etanercept)
ENBREL is a soluble form of a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor with a clinical efficacy and safety profile established over 20 years of collective clinical experience. ENBREL was first approved in 1998 for moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis. ENBREL was approved in 1999 to treat moderate-to-severe polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, in 2002 to treat psoriatic arthritis, in 2003 for the treatment of patients with ankylosing spondylitis, in 2004 to treat moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults, and in 2016 the moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis indication was expanded to include patients 4 years or older. Prescription ENBREL is given by injection.
ENBREL U.S. Important Safety Information
Patients treated with ENBREL are at increased risk for developing serious infections that may lead to hospitalization or death. Most patients who developed these infections were taking concomitant immunosuppressants such as methotrexate or corticosteroids or were predisposed to infection because of their underlying disease. ENBREL should not be initiated in the presence of sepsis, active infections, or allergy to ENBREL or its components. ENBREL should be discontinued if a patient develops a serious infection or sepsis. Reported infections include: 1) Active tuberculosis (TB), including reactivation of latent TB. Patients with TB have frequently presented with disseminated or extrapulmonary disease. Patients should be tested for latent TB before ENBREL use and periodically during therapy. Treatment for latent infection should be initiated prior to ENBREL use, 2) Invasive fungal infections, including histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, candidiasis, aspergillosis, blastomycosis, and pneumocystosis. Patients with histoplasmosis or other invasive fungal infections may present with disseminated, rather than localized, disease. Antigen and antibody testing for histoplasmosis may be negative in some patients with active infection. Empiric antifungal therapy should be considered in patients at risk for invasive fungal infections who develop severe systemic illness, and 3) Bacterial, viral, and other infections due to opportunistic pathogens, including Legionella and Listeria.
The risks and benefits of treatment with ENBREL should be carefully considered prior to initiating therapy in patients 1) with chronic or recurrent infection, 2) who have been exposed to TB, 3) who have resided or traveled in areas of endemic TB or endemic mycoses, or 4) with underlying conditions that may predispose them to infections such as advanced or poorly controlled diabetes. Patients should be closely monitored for the development of signs and symptoms of infection during and after treatment with ENBREL, including the possible development of TB in patients who tested negative for latent TB prior to initiating therapy.
Lymphoma and other malignancies, some fatal, have been reported in children and adolescent patients treated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers, including ENBREL.
In adult clinical trials of all TNF blockers, more cases of lymphoma were seen compared to control patients. The risk of lymphoma may be up to several-fold higher in RA patients. The role of TNF blocker therapy in the development of malignancies is unknown. Cases of acute and chronic leukemia have been reported in association with postmarketing TNF blocker use in RA and other indications. The risk of leukemia may be higher in patients with RA (approximately 2-fold) than the general population. Melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) have been reported in patients treated with TNF blockers, including ENBREL. Periodic skin examinations should be considered for all patients at increased risk for skin cancer. In patients who initiated therapy at ≤ 18 years of age, approximately half of the reported malignancies were lymphomas (Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma). Other cases included rare malignancies usually associated with immunosuppression and malignancies that are not usually observed in children and adolescents. Most of the patients were receiving concomitant immunosuppressants.
Treatment with TNF-blocking agents, including ENBREL, has been associated with rare (< 0.1%) cases of new onset or exacerbation of central nervous system demyelinating disorders, some presenting with mental status changes and some associated with permanent disability, and with peripheral nervous system demyelinating disorders. Cases of transverse myelitis, optic neuritis, multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barré syndromes, other peripheral demyelinating neuropathies, and new onset or exacerbation of seizure disorders have been reported in post marketing experience with ENBREL therapy. Prescribers should exercise caution in considering the use of ENBREL in patients with preexisting or recent-onset central or peripheral nervous system demyelinating disorders.
Cases of worsening congestive heart failure (CHF) and, rarely, new-onset cases have been reported in patients taking ENBREL. Caution should be used when using ENBREL in patients with CHF. These patients should be carefully monitored. Rare cases of pancytopenia, including aplastic anemia, some fatal, have been reported. The causal relationship to ENBREL therapy remains unclear. Exercise caution when considering ENBREL in patients who have a previous history of significant hematologic abnormalities. Advise patients to seek immediate medical attention if they develop signs or symptoms of blood dyscrasias or infection. Consider discontinuing ENBREL if significant hematologic abnormalities are confirmed. Reactivation of hepatitis B has been reported in patients who were previously infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and received concomitant TNF-blocking agents, including ENBREL. Most reports occurred in patients also taking immunosuppressive agents, which may contribute to hepatitis B reactivation. Exercise caution when considering ENBREL in these patients.
Allergic reactions associated with administration of ENBREL during clinical trials have been reported in < 2% of patients. If an anaphylactic reaction or other serious allergic reaction occurs, administration of ENBREL should be discontinued immediately and appropriate therapy initiated. Live vaccines should not be administered to patients on ENBREL. Pediatric patients, if possible, should be brought up to date with all immunizations prior to initiating ENBREL. In patients with exposure to varicella virus, temporarily discontinue ENBREL and consider prophylactic treatment with Varicella Zoster Immune Globulin. Autoantibodies may develop with ENBREL, and rarely lupus-like syndrome or autoimmune hepatitis may occur. These may resolve upon withdrawal of ENBREL. Stop ENBREL if lupus-like syndrome or autoimmune hepatitis develops. The use of ENBREL in patients with Wegener's granulomatosis receiving immunosuppressive agents (e.g., cyclophosphamide) is not recommended. Based on a study of patients treated for alcoholic hepatitis, exercise caution when using ENBREL in patients with moderate-to-severe alcoholic hepatitis.
The most commonly reported adverse reactions in RA clinical trials were injection site reaction and infection. In clinical trials of all other adult indications, adverse reactions were similar to those reported in RA clinical trials. In general, the adverse reactions in pediatric patients were similar in frequency and type as those seen in adult patients. The types of infections reported in pediatric patients were generally mild and consistent with those commonly seen in the general pediatric population.
The use of ENBREL in patients receiving concurrent cyclophosphamide therapy is not recommended. The risk of serious infection may increase with concomitant use of abatacept therapy. Concurrent therapy with ENBREL and anakinra is not recommended. Hypoglycemia has been reported following initiation of ENBREL therapy in patients receiving medication for diabetes, necessitating a reduction in anti-diabetic medication in some of these patients.
Please see ENBREL full Prescribing Information.
About EVENITY® (romosozumab-aqqg)
EVENITY is a bone-building humanized monoclonal antibody. It is designed to work by inhibiting the activity of sclerostin, which simultaneously results in increased bone formation and to a lesser extent decreased bone resorption. The EVENITY development program includes 19 clinical studies that enrolled more than 14,000 patients. EVENITY has been studied for its potential to reduce the risk of fractures in an extensive global Phase 3 program that included two large fracture trials comparing EVENITY to either placebo or active comparator in nearly 12,000 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Amgen and UCB are co-developing EVENITY.
EVENITY® U.S. Indication
EVENITY® is indicated for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women at high risk for fracture, defined as a history of osteoporotic fracture, or multiple risk factors for fracture; or patients who have failed or are intolerant to other available osteoporosis therapy.
The anabolic effect of EVENITY® wanes after 12 monthly doses of therapy. Therefore, the duration of EVENITY® use should be limited to 12 monthly doses. If osteoporosis therapy remains warranted, continued therapy with an antiresorptive agent should be considered.
EVENITY® Important U.S. Important Safety Information
POTENTIAL RISK OF MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION, STROKE AND CARDIOVASCULAR DEATH
EVENITY® may increase the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke and cardiovascular death. EVENITY® should not be initiated in patients who have had a myocardial infarction or stroke within the preceding year. Consider whether the benefits outweigh the risks in patients with other cardiovascular risk factors. Monitor for signs and symptoms of myocardial infarction and stroke and instruct patients to seek prompt medical attention if symptoms occur. If a patient experiences a myocardial infarction or stroke during therapy, EVENITY® should be discontinued.
In a randomized controlled trial in postmenopausal women, there was a higher rate of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), a composite endpoint of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction and nonfatal stroke, in patients treated with EVENITY® compared to those treated with alendronate.
Contraindications: EVENITY® is contraindicated in patients with hypocalcemia. Pre-existing hypocalcemia must be corrected prior to initiating therapy with EVENITY®. EVENITY® is contraindicated in patients with a history of systemic hypersensitivity to romosozumab or to any component of the product formulation. Reactions have included angioedema, erythema multiforme, and urticaria.
Hypersensitivity: Hypersensitivity reactions, including angioedema, erythema multiforme, dermatitis, rash, and urticaria have occurred in EVENITY®-treated patients. If an anaphylactic or other clinically significant allergic reaction occurs, initiate appropriate therapy and discontinue further use of EVENITY®.
Hypocalcemia: Hypocalcemia has occurred in patients receiving EVENITY®. Correct hypocalcemia prior to initiating EVENITY®. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of hypocalcemia, particularly in patients with severe renal impairment or receiving dialysis. Adequately supplement patients with calcium and vitamin D while on EVENITY®.
Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ): ONJ, which can occur spontaneously, is generally associated with tooth extraction and/or local infection with delayed healing, and has been reported in patients receiving EVENITY®. A routine oral exam should be performed by the prescriber prior to initiation of EVENITY®. Concomitant administration of drugs associated with ONJ (chemotherapy, bisphosphonates, denosumab, angiogenesis inhibitors, and corticosteroids) may increase the risk of developing ONJ. Other risk factors for ONJ include cancer, radiotherapy, poor oral hygiene, pre-existing dental disease or infection, anemia, and coagulopathy.
For patients requiring invasive dental procedures, clinical judgment should guide the management plan of each patient. Patients who are suspected of having or who develop ONJ should receive care by a dentist or an oral surgeon. In these patients, dental surgery to treat ONJ may exacerbate the condition. Discontinuation of EVENITY® should be considered based on benefit-risk assessment.
Atypical Femoral Fractures: Atypical low-energy or low trauma fractures of the femoral shaft have been reported in patients receiving EVENITY®. Causality has not been established as these fractures also occur in osteoporotic patients who have not been treated.
During EVENITY® treatment, patients should be advised to report new or unusual thigh, hip, or groin pain. Any patient who presents with thigh or groin pain should be evaluated to rule out an incomplete femur fracture. Interruption of EVENITY® therapy should be considered based on benefit-risk assessment.
Adverse Reactions: The most common adverse reactions (≥ 5%) reported with EVENITY® were arthralgia and headache.
EVENITY® is a humanized monoclonal antibody. As with all therapeutic proteins, there is potential for immunogenicity.
Please see EVENITY® full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide.
About Otezla® (apremilast)
Otezla® (apremilast) is an oral small-molecule inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) specific for cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). PDE4 inhibition results in increased intracellular cAMP levels, which is thought to indirectly modulate the production of inflammatory mediators. The specific mechanism(s) by which Otezla exerts its therapeutic action in patients is not well defined.
Since its initial FDA approval in 2014, Otezla has been prescribed to more than 700,000 patients worldwide.
Otezla® (apremilast) U.S. INDICATIONS
Otezla® (apremilast) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with plaque psoriasis who are candidates for phototherapy or systemic therapy.
Otezla is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with active psoriatic arthritis.
Otezla is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with oral ulcers associated with Behçet's Disease.
Otezla® (apremilast) U.S. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Contraindications
- Otezla is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to apremilast or to any of the excipients in the formulation
Warnings and Precautions
- Hypersensitivity reactions: Hypersensitivity reactions, including angioedema and anaphylaxis, have been reported during postmarketing surveillance. If signs or symptoms of serious hypersensitivity reactions occur, discontinue Otezla and institute appropriate therapy
- Diarrhea, Nausea, and Vomiting: Cases of severe diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting were associated with the use of Otezla. Most events occurred within the first few weeks of treatment. In some cases, patients were hospitalized. Patients 65 years of age or older and patients taking medications that can lead to volume depletion or hypotension may be at a higher risk of complications from severe diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. Monitor patients who are more susceptible to complications of diarrhea or vomiting; advise patients to contact their healthcare provider. Consider Otezla dose reduction or suspension if patients develop severe diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting
- Depression: Carefully weigh the risks and benefits of treatment with Otezla for patients with a history of depression and/or suicidal thoughts/behavior, or in patients who develop such symptoms while on Otezla. Patients, caregivers, and families should be advised of the need to be alert for the emergence or worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or other mood changes, and they should contact their healthcare provider if such changes occur
- Weight Decrease: Monitor body weight regularly; evaluate unexplained or clinically significant weight loss, and consider discontinuation of Otezla
- Drug Interactions: Apremilast exposure was decreased when Otezla was co-administered with rifampin, a strong CYP450 enzyme inducer; loss of Otezla efficacy may occur. Concomitant use of Otezla with CYP450 enzyme inducers (e.g., rifampin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, phenytoin) is not recommended
Adverse Reactions
- Plaque Psoriasis: The most common adverse reactions (≥ 5%) are diarrhea, nausea, upper respiratory tract infection, and headache, including tension headache. Overall, the safety profile of Otezla in patients with mild to moderate plaque psoriasis was consistent with the safety profile previously established in adult patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis
- Psoriatic Arthritis: The most common adverse reactions (≥ 5%) are diarrhea, nausea, and headache
- Behçet's Disease: The most common adverse reactions (≥ 10%) are diarrhea, nausea, headache, and upper respiratory tract infection.
Use in Specific Populations
- Otezla has not been studied in pregnant women. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk of fetal loss.
Please see Otezla full Prescribing Information.
About Prolia® (denosumab)
Prolia is the first approved therapy that specifically targets RANK Ligand, an essential regulator of bone-removing cells (osteoclasts). Prolia is approved and marketed in over 80 countries worldwide.
Prolia® U.S. Indications
Prolia® is indicated for the treatment of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis at high risk for fracture, defined as a history of osteoporotic fracture, or multiple risk factors for fracture; or patients who have failed or are intolerant to other available osteoporosis therapy. In postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, Prolia® reduces the incidence of vertebral, nonvertebral, and hip fractures.
Prolia® is indicated for treatment to increase bone mass in men with osteoporosis at high risk for fracture, defined as a history of osteoporotic fracture, or multiple risk factors for fracture; or patients who have failed or are intolerant to other available osteoporosis therapy.
Prolia® is indicated for the treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in men and women at high risk of fracture who are either initiating or continuing systemic glucocorticoids in a daily dosage equivalent to 7.5 mg or greater of prednisone and expected to remain on glucocorticoids for at least 6 months. High risk of fracture is defined as a history of osteoporotic fracture, multiple risk factors for fracture, or patients who have failed or are intolerant to other available osteoporosis therapy.
Prolia® is indicated as a treatment to increase bone mass in men at high risk for fracture receiving androgen deprivation therapy for nonmetastatic prostate cancer. In these patients Prolia® also reduced the incidence of vertebral fractures.
Prolia® is indicated as a treatment to increase bone mass in women at high risk for fracture receiving adjuvant aromatase inhibitor therapy for breast cancer.
Prolia® U.S. Important Safety Information
Contraindications
Prolia® is contraindicated in patients with hypocalcemia. Pre–existing hypocalcemia must be corrected prior to initiating Prolia®. Prolia® is contraindicated in women who are pregnant and may cause fetal harm. In women of reproductive potential, pregnancy testing should be performed prior to initiating treatment with Prolia®. Prolia® is contraindicated in patients with a history of systemic hypersensitivity to any component of the product. Reactions have included anaphylaxis, facial swelling and urticaria.
Same Active Ingredient
Prolia® contains the same active ingredient (denosumab) found in XGEVA®. Patients receiving Prolia® should not receive XGEVA®
Hypersensitivity
Clinically significant hypersensitivity including anaphylaxis has been reported with Prolia®. Symptoms have included hypotension, dyspnea, throat tightness, facial and upper airway edema, pruritus, and urticaria. If an anaphylactic or other clinically significant allergic reaction occurs, initiate appropriate therapy and discontinue further use of Prolia®.
Hypocalcemia
Hypocalcemia may worsen with the use of Prolia®, especially in patients with severe renal impairment. In patients predisposed to hypocalcemia and disturbances of mineral metabolism, including treatment with other calcium-lowering drugs, clinical monitoring of calcium and mineral levels is highly recommended within 14 days of Prolia® injection. Concomitant use of calcimimetic drugs may worsen hypocalcemia risk and serum calcium should be closely monitored. Adequately supplement all patients with calcium and vitamin D.
Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ)
ONJ, which can occur spontaneously, is generally associated with tooth extraction and/or local infection with delayed healing, and has been reported in patients receiving Prolia®. An oral exam should be performed by the prescriber prior to initiation of Prolia®. A dental examination with appropriate preventive dentistry is recommended prior to treatment in patients with risk factors for ONJ such as invasive dental procedures, diagnosis of cancer, concomitant therapies (e.g., chemotherapy, corticosteroids, angiogenesis inhibitors), poor oral hygiene, and co-morbid disorders. Good oral hygiene practices should be maintained during treatment with Prolia®. The risk of ONJ may increase with duration of exposure to Prolia®.
For patients requiring invasive dental procedures, clinical judgment should guide the management plan of each patient. Patients who are suspected of having or who develop ONJ should receive care by a dentist or an oral surgeon. Extensive dental surgery to treat ONJ may exacerbate the condition. Discontinuation of Prolia® should be considered based on individual benefit-risk assessment.
Atypical Femoral Fractures
Atypical low-energy, or low trauma fractures of the shaft have been reported in patients receiving Prolia®. Causality has not been established as these fractures also occur in osteoporotic patients who have not been treated with antiresorptive agents.
During Prolia® treatment, patients should be advised to report new or unusual thigh, hip, or groin pain. Any patient who presents with thigh or groin pain should be evaluated to rule out an incomplete femur fracture. Interruption of Prolia® therapy should be considered, pending a risk/benefit assessment, on an individual basis.
Multiple Vertebral Fractures (MVF) Following Discontinuation of Prolia® Treatment
Following discontinuation of Prolia® treatment, fracture risk increases, including the risk of multiple vertebral fractures. New vertebral fractures occurred as early as 7 months (on average 19 months) after the last dose of Prolia®. Prior vertebral fracture was a predictor of multiple vertebral fractures after Prolia® discontinuation. Evaluate an individual's benefit/risk before initiating treatment with Prolia®. If Prolia® treatment is discontinued, patients should be transitioned to an alternative antiresorptive therapy.
Serious Infections
In a clinical trial (N= 7808) in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis, serious infections leading to hospitalization were reported more frequently in the Prolia® group than in the placebo group. Serious skin infections, as well as infections of the abdomen, urinary tract and ear were more frequent in patients treated with Prolia®.
Endocarditis was also reported more frequently in Prolia®-treated patients. The incidence of opportunistic infections and the overall incidence of infections were similar between the treatment groups. Advise patients to seek prompt medical attention if they develop signs or symptoms of severe infection, including cellulitis.
Patients on concomitant immunosuppressant agents or with impaired immune systems may be at increased risk for serious infections. In patients who develop serious infections while on Prolia®, prescribers should assess the need for continued Prolia® therapy.
Dermatologic Adverse Reactions
In the same clinical trial in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis, epidermal and dermal adverse events such as dermatitis, eczema and rashes occurred at a significantly higher rate with Prolia® compared to placebo. Most of these events were not specific to the injection site. Consider discontinuing Prolia® if severe symptoms develop.
Musculoskeletal Pain
Severe and occasionally incapacitating bone, joint, and/or muscle pain has been reported in patients taking Prolia®. Consider discontinuing use if severe symptoms develop.
Suppression of Bone Turnover
In clinical trials in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis, Prolia® resulted in significant suppression of bone remodeling as evidenced by markers of bone turnover and bone histomorphometry. The significance of these findings and the effect of long-term treatment are unknown. Monitor patients for these consequences, including ONJ, atypical fractures, and delayed fracture healing.
Adverse Reactions
The most common adverse reactions (>5% and more common than placebo) in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis are back pain, pain in extremity, musculoskeletal pain, hypercholesterolemia, and cystitis. The most common adverse reactions (> 5% and more common than placebo) in men with osteoporosis are back pain, arthralgia, and nasopharyngitis. Pancreatitis has been reported with Prolia®.
In women with postmenopausal osteoporosis, the overall incidence of new malignancies was 4.3% in the placebo group and 4.8% in the Prolia® group. In men with osteoporosis, new malignancies were reported in no patients in the placebo group and 4 (3.3%) patients in the Prolia® group. A causal relationship to drug exposure has not been established.
The most common adverse reactions (> 3% and more common than active-control group) in patients with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis are back pain, hypertension, bronchitis, and headache.
The most common (per patient incidence ≥ 10%) adverse reactions reported with Prolia® in patients with bone loss receiving ADT for prostate cancer or adjuvant AI therapy for breast cancer are arthralgia and back pain. Pain in extremity and musculoskeletal pain have also been reported in clinical trials. Additionally, in Prolia®–treated men with nonmetastatic prostate cancer receiving ADT, a greater incidence of cataracts was observed.
Denosumab is a human monoclonal antibody. As with all therapeutic proteins, there is potential for immunogenicity.
Please see full Prolia® Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide.
About TAVNEOS® (avacopan)
TAVNEOS (avacopan), approved by the FDA as an adjunctive treatment for adults with severe active ANCA-associated vasculitis, is a first-in-class, orally administered small molecule that employs a novel, highly targeted mode of action in complement-driven autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. While the precise mechanism in ANCA-associated vasculitis has not been definitively established, TAVNEOS, by blocking the complement 5a receptor (C5aR) for the pro-inflammatory complement system fragment known as C5a on destructive inflammatory cells such as blood neutrophils, is presumed to arrest the ability of those cells to do damage in response to C5a activation, which is known to be the driver of ANCA-associated vasculitis.
U.S. PRESCRIBING INFORMATION
TAVNEOS (avacopan) is indicated as an adjunctive treatment of adult patients with severe active anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (granulomatosis with polyangiitis [GPA] and microscopic polyangiitis [MPA]) in combination with standard therapy including glucocorticoids. TAVNEOS does not eliminate glucocorticoid use.
IMPORTANT U.S. SAFETY INFORMATION
Contraindications: Serious hypersensitivity to avacopan or to any of the excipients
Warning and Precautions
Hepatotoxicity: Serious cases of hepatic injury have been observed in patients taking TAVNEOS, including life-threatening events. Obtain liver test panel before initiating TAVNEOS, every 4 weeks after start of therapy for six months and as clinically indicated thereafter. Monitor patients closely for hepatic adverse reactions, and consider pausing or discontinuing treatment as clinically indicated (refer to section 5.1 of the Prescribing Information). TAVNEOS is not recommended for patients with active, untreated and/or uncontrolled chronic liver disease (e.g., chronic active hepatitis B, untreated hepatitis C, uncontrolled autoimmune hepatitis) and cirrhosis. Consider the risk and benefit before administering this drug to a patient with liver disease.
Serious Hypersensitivity Reactions: Cases of angioedema occurred in a clinical trial, including one serious event requiring hospitalization. Discontinue immediately if angioedema occurs and manage accordingly. TAVNEOS must not be re-administered unless another cause has been established.
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Reactivation: Hepatitis B reactivation, including life threatening hepatitis B, was observed in the clinical program. Screen patients for HBV. For patients with evidence of prior infection, consult with physicians with expertise in HBV and monitor during TAVNEOS therapy and for six months following. If patients develop HBV reactivation, immediately discontinue TAVNEOS and concomitant therapies associated with HBV reactivation, and consult with experts before resuming.
Serious Infections: Serious infections, including fatal infections, have been reported in patients receiving TAVNEOS. The most common serious infections reported in TAVNEOS group were pneumonia and urinary tract infections. Avoid use of TAVNEOS in patients with active, serious infection, including localized infections. Consider the risks and benefits before initiating TAVNEOS in patients with chronic infection, at increased risk of infection or who have been to places where certain infections are common.
Adverse Reactions: The most common adverse reactions (≥5% of patients and higher in the TAVNEOS group vs. prednisone group) were: nausea, headache, hypertension, diarrhea, vomiting, rash, fatigue, upper abdominal pain, dizziness, blood creatinine increased, and paresthesia.
Drug Interactions: Avoid coadministration of TAVNEOS with strong and moderate CYP3A4 enzyme inducers. Reduce TAVNEOS dose when co-administered with strong CYP3A4 enzyme inhibitors to 30 mg once daily. Monitor for adverse reactions and consider dose reduction of certain sensitive CYP3A4 substrates.
Please see full TAVNEOS Prescribing Information.
About Amgen
Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools like advanced human genetics to unravel the complexities of disease and understand the fundamentals of human biology.
Amgen focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and leverages its expertise to strive for solutions that improve health outcomes and dramatically improve people's lives. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen has grown to be one of the world's leading independent biotechnology companies, has reached millions of patients around the world and is developing a pipeline of medicines with breakaway potential.
For more information, visit Amgen.com and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
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This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the current expectations and beliefs of Amgen. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including any statements on the outcome, benefits and synergies of collaborations, or potential collaborations, with any other company (including BeiGene, Ltd., Kyowa-Kirin Co., Ltd., or any collaboration to manufacture therapeutic antibodies against COVID-19), the performance of Otezla® (apremilast) (including anticipated Otezla sales growth and the timing of non-GAAP EPS accretion), the Five Prime Therapeutics, Inc. acquisition, the Teneobio, Inc. acquisition, or the recently announced proposed acquisition of ChemoCentryx, Inc., or the ChemoCentryx, Inc. acquisition, as well as estimates of revenues, operating margins, capital expenditures, cash, other financial metrics, expected legal, arbitration, political, regulatory or clinical results or practices, customer and prescriber patterns or practices, reimbursement activities and outcomes, effects of pandemics or other widespread health problems such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on our business, and other such estimates and results. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, including those discussed below and more fully described in the Securities and Exchange Commission reports filed by Amgen, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent periodic reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. Unless otherwise noted, Amgen is providing this information as of the date of this news release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this document as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual results may differ materially from those we project. Discovery or identification of new product candidates or development of new indications for existing products cannot be guaranteed and movement from concept to product is uncertain; consequently, there can be no guarantee that any particular product candidate or development of a new indication for an existing product will be successful and become a commercial product. Further, preclinical results do not guarantee safe and effective performance of product candidates in humans. The complexity of the human body cannot be perfectly, or sometimes, even adequately modeled by computer or cell culture systems or animal models. The length of time that it takes for us to complete clinical trials and obtain regulatory approval for product marketing has in the past varied and we expect similar variability in the future. Even when clinical trials are successful, regulatory authorities may question the sufficiency for approval of the trial endpoints we have selected. We develop product candidates internally and through licensing collaborations, partnerships and joint ventures. Product candidates that are derived from relationships may be subject to disputes between the parties or may prove to be not as effective or as safe as we may have believed at the time of entering into such relationship. Also, we or others could identify safety, side effects or manufacturing problems with our products, including our devices, after they are on the market.
Our results may be affected by our ability to successfully market both new and existing products domestically and internationally, clinical and regulatory developments involving current and future products, sales growth of recently launched products, competition from other products including biosimilars, difficulties or delays in manufacturing our products and global economic conditions. In addition, sales of our products are affected by pricing pressure, political and public scrutiny and reimbursement policies imposed by third-party payers, including governments, private insurance plans and managed care providers and may be affected by regulatory, clinical and guideline developments and domestic and international trends toward managed care and healthcare cost containment. Furthermore, our research, testing, pricing, marketing and other operations are subject to extensive regulation by domestic and foreign government regulatory authorities. Our business may be impacted by government investigations, litigation and product liability claims. In addition, our business may be impacted by the adoption of new tax legislation or exposure to additional tax liabilities. If we fail to meet the compliance obligations in the corporate integrity agreement between us and the U.S. government, we could become subject to significant sanctions. Further, while we routinely obtain patents for our products and technology, the protection offered by our patents and patent applications may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented by our competitors, or we may fail to prevail in present and future intellectual property litigation. We perform a substantial amount of our commercial manufacturing activities at a few key facilities, including in Puerto Rico, and also depend on third parties for a portion of our manufacturing activities, and limits on supply may constrain sales of certain of our current products and product candidate development. An outbreak of disease or similar public health threat, such as COVID-19, and the public and governmental effort to mitigate against the spread of such disease, could have a significant adverse effect on the supply of materials for our manufacturing activities, the distribution of our products, the commercialization of our product candidates, and our clinical trial operations, and any such events may have a material adverse effect on our product development, product sales, business and results of operations. We rely on collaborations with third parties for the development of some of our product candidates and for the commercialization and sales of some of our commercial products. In addition, we compete with other companies with respect to many of our marketed products as well as for the discovery and development of new products. Further, some raw materials, medical devices and component parts for our products are supplied by sole third-party suppliers. Certain of our distributors, customers and payers have substantial purchasing leverage in their dealings with us. The discovery of significant problems with a product similar to one of our products that implicate an entire class of products could have a material adverse effect on sales of the affected products and on our business and results of operations. Our efforts to collaborate with or acquire other companies, products or technology, and to integrate the operations of companies or to support the products or technology we have acquired, may not be successful. A breakdown, cyberattack or information security breach could compromise the confidentiality, integrity and availability of our systems and our data. Our stock price is volatile and may be affected by a number of events. Our business and operations may be negatively affected by the failure, or perceived failure, of achieving our environmental, social and governance objectives. The effects of global climate change and related natural disasters could negatively affect our business and operations. Global economic conditions may magnify certain risks that affect our business. Our business performance could affect or limit the ability of our Board of Directors to declare a dividend or our ability to pay a dividend or repurchase our common stock. We may not be able to access the capital and credit markets on terms that are favorable to us, or at all.
The scientific information discussed in this news release related to our product candidates is preliminary and investigative. Such product candidates are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and no conclusions can or should be drawn regarding the safety or effectiveness of the product candidates. Further, any scientific information discussed in this news release relating to new indications for our products is preliminary and investigative and is not part of the labeling approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the products. The products are not approved for the investigational use(s) discussed in this news release, and no conclusions can or should be drawn regarding the safety or effectiveness of the products for these uses.
CONTACT: Amgen, Thousand Oaks
Michael Strapazon, 805-313-5553 (media)
Jessica Akopyan, 805-440-5721 (media)
Arvind Sood, 805-447-1060 (investors)
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SOURCE Amgen | 2022-11-07T14:55:36+00:00 | wlbt.com | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/11/07/amgen-present-new-research-across-serious-inflammatory-bone-diseases-acr-2022/ |
WorldCat.org puts environmental materials from global library collections on display
DUBLIN, Ohio, April 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- WorldCat.org, the website that connects online searchers to the world's libraries, has collaborated with environmental organizations and experts to showcase valuable sustainability and conservation materials from more than 10,000 library collections for Earth Day. These partners include preeminent voices in conservation, such as EARTHDAY.ORG, the National Audubon Society, the Sierra Club, the Walden Woods Project, the Culinary Institute of America, and Kathryn Kellogg, founder of Going Zero Waste, among others. WorldCat.org formed these alliances to raise awareness among institution leaders, educators, students, parents, and the public at large about protecting, and living in harmony with, our shared and finite natural systems.
"Earth Day is meant to be a reminder of our connection to each other and to the world around us," said Madison Aughinbaugh, Global Public Relations Lead at EARTHDAY.ORG. "The unique resources we're putting on display through these Earth Day collaborations will make that connection clear. We're thrilled that audiences everywhere will be able to use these resources to kindle their hope for achieving sustainability in their daily lives, and deepen their knowledge of how to do it, not just on Earth Day, but all year long."
By collecting diverse resources from its partners on a topic page that will create a guide to sustainability, WorldCat.org intends to make it fast, convenient, and fun for users to participate in the spirit of Earth Day. Resources on the page may include books, documentaries, articles, videos, and more, covering a vast range of topics like the following:
- Waste-free and low-impact living
- Wildlife conservation
- Renewable energy and climate change
- Environmental law
- Environmental protection
- Sustainable design and living
- Earth-friendly cooking
- Earth Day
- Other popular searches on, or related to, sustainability on WorldCat.org
Other leading participants in WorldCat.org's Earth Day promotion include One Tree Planted and the University of California Berkeley Library.
For inspiration and education about all things Earth Day, visit the sustainability topic page on WorldCat.org at https://www.worldcat.org/topics/sustainability.
About WorldCat.org
Since 2006, WorldCat.org has been the window to the collections and resources of more than 10,000 libraries in more than 100 countries around the world. WorldCat.org is a unique destination, representing the world's largest library community on the web. WorldCat.org is an innovation of OCLC, a nonprofit global library organization that provides shared technology services, original research, and community programs to member libraries and the library community at large. OCLC, member libraries, publishers, and other partner organizations collaboratively maintain WorldCat.org. Explore WorldCat.org on the web.
About OCLC
OCLC is a nonprofit global library organization that provides shared technology services, original research, and community programs so that libraries can better fuel learning, research, and innovation. Through OCLC, member libraries cooperatively produce and maintain WorldCat, the most comprehensive global network of data about library collections and services. Libraries gain efficiencies through OCLC's WorldShare, a complete set of library management applications and services built on an open, cloud-based platform. It is through collaboration and sharing of the world's collected knowledge that libraries can help people find answers they need to solve problems. Together as OCLC, member libraries, staff, and partners make breakthroughs possible.
OCLC, WorldCat, and WorldShare are trademarks and/or service marks of OCLC, Inc. Third-party product, service and business names are trademarks and/or service marks of their respective owners.
For more information: Contact Bob Murphy at murphyb@oclc.org or +1-614-761-5136
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SOURCE WorldCat.org | 2023-04-19T15:02:21+00:00 | kalb.com | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2023/04/19/leading-organizations-experts-curate-resources-about-sustainability-earth-day/ |
Ravens rookie punter Jordan Stout finalized his rookie contract Monday, leaving the team with just three unsigned draft picks ahead of this week’s mandatory minicamp.
Outside linebacker David Ojabo (second round), offensive tackle Daniel Faalele (third) and cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis (fourth) are the only players in the Ravens’ 11-man draft class who have yet to sign. The team’s three-day minicamp starts Tuesday in Owings Mills, but all three are expected to agree to four-year deals this summer.
With punter Sam Koch’s offseason retirement, Stout, a fourth-round pick from Penn State, is expected to start this season. He averaged 46.5 yards per punt last season and led the nation in average hang time (4.36 seconds), according to Pro Football Focus. At No. 130 overall, he became the highest punter drafted since 2019.
“You watch Jordan, and he reminds you a lot of Sam coming out,” coach John Harbaugh said after the draft. “The leg strength is a part of it. A lot of guys have big legs, but they don’t have all the other pieces. So you look in terms of the footwork, the technique, they get the ball out quick, the hands, the efficiency, where the drop goes, the ability to control the punt, right, left and then the depth of it. Those are all things that we look [at] with Jordan, and it reminds you a lot of Sam.”
Stout’s rookie deal is expected to be worth about $4.4 million overall.
() | 2022-06-13T19:46:58+00:00 | twincities.com | https://www.twincities.com/2022/06/13/ravens-punter-jordan-stout-finalizes-rookie-deal-just-3-picks-unsigned-ahead-of-mandatory-minicamp/ |
WFO MIDLAND/ODESSA Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Thursday, September 15, 2022
_____
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
711 PM CDT Thu Sep 15 2022
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM CDT
FOR EAST CENTRAL GAINES AND NORTHWESTERN DAWSON COUNTIES...
At 711 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 8 miles south of
Welch, or 11 miles northwest of Lamesa, moving southeast at 15 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...
Lamesa, Lamesa Municipal Airport, Los Ybanez, Punkin Center, Arvana
and Hancock.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
Continuous cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Move indoors immediately. Lightning is one of nature's leading
killers. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to
be struck by lightning.
Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
_____
Copyright 2022 AccuWeather | 2022-09-16T01:16:03+00:00 | seattlepi.com | https://www.seattlepi.com/weather/article/TX-WFO-MIDLAND-ODESSA-Warnings-Watches-and-17445280.php |
CA Sacramento CA Zone Forecast for Saturday, June 4, 2022
_____
591 FPUS56 KSTO 050930
ZFPSTO
Interior Northern California Zone Forecasts for California
National Weather Service Sacramento CA
230 AM PDT Sun Jun 5 2022
Spot temperatures and probabilities of measurable precipitation
are for today, tonight, and Monday.
CAZ013-052330-
Shasta Lake Area / Northern Shasta County-
Including the city of Shasta Dam
230 AM PDT Sun Jun 5 2022
.TODAY...Rain showers until late afternoon, then rain showers
likely and a slight chance of thunderstorms late in the
afternoon. Highs 53 to 68 higher elevations...63 to 73 lower
elevations. Prevailing southwest winds up to 15 mph with gusts to
around 30 mph.
.TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain showers and a
slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then partly cloudy
with a slight chance of rain showers after midnight. Lows 40 to
54 higher elevations...49 to 57 lower elevations. Prevailing
southwest winds up to 10 mph shifting to the northwest after
midnight. Gusts up to 25 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. Warmer. Highs 65 to 80 higher
elevations...76 to 84 lower elevations. Prevailing north winds up
to 10 mph shifting to the southwest in the afternoon.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows 42 to 57 higher elevations...
51 to 61 lower elevations. Prevailing west winds up to 10 mph
shifting to the north after midnight.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Warmer. Highs 72 to 87 higher
elevations...83 to 91 lower elevations. Prevailing northeast
winds up to 10 mph shifting to the south in the afternoon.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Lows 49 to 64.
.WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy. Highs 73 to 88.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows
52 to 67. Highs 75 to 90.
.FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Highs 81 to 96. Lows
54 to 69.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs 76 to 91.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
SHASTA DAM 71 55 82 / 90 40 10
$$
=
CAZ014-052330-
Burney Basin / Eastern Shasta County-
Including the city of Burney
230 AM PDT Sun Jun 5 2022
.TODAY...Rain showers likely until late afternoon, then rain
showers likely and a slight chance of thunderstorms late in the
afternoon. Highs 58 to 69. Prevailing southwest winds up to
15 mph with gusts to around 30 mph.
.TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain showers and a
slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then partly cloudy
with a slight chance of rain showers after midnight. Lows 38 to
50. Prevailing west winds up to 15 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph in the
evening.
.MONDAY...Partly cloudy in the morning then clearing. Warmer.
Highs 65 to 77. Light winds becoming west up to 10 mph in the
afternoon.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows 38 to 48. Prevailing west
winds up to 10 mph shifting to the northeast after midnight.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Warmer. Highs 74 to 86. Prevailing east
winds up to 10 mph shifting to the southwest in the afternoon.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Lows 46 to 56.
.WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy. Highs 73 to 85.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows
46 to 59. Highs 73 to 88.
.FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...Mostly clear. Highs 76 to 91. Lows
50 to 61.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
BURNEY 65 44 73 / 80 40 10
$$
=
CAZ015-052330-
Northern Sacramento Valley-
Including the cities of Redding and Red Bluff
230 AM PDT Sun Jun 5 2022
.TODAY...Mostly cloudy. Rain showers likely in the morning, then
a chance of rain showers in the afternoon. A slight chance of
thunderstorms late in the afternoon. Highs 70 to 80. South winds
10 to 15 mph with gusts to around 30 mph.
.TONIGHT...Partly cloudy with a slight chance of rain showers.
Lows 53 to 61. South winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to the north
after midnight. Gusts up to 25 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. Warmer. Highs 81 to 87. North winds up to
10 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Clear. Lows 56 to 62. Northwest winds around
10 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Warmer. Highs 89 to 95. North winds
around 10 mph shifting to the west in the afternoon.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows 60 to 66.
.WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy. Highs 88 to 94.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows 61 to 67.
Highs 88 to 98.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows 67 to 75.
.FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Highs 97 to 103. Lows
67 to 75.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs 91 to 99.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
REDDING 74 55 84 / 90 30 0
RED BLUFF 78 59 87 / 70 20 0
$$
=
CAZ016-052330-
Central Sacramento Valley-
Including the cities of Chico, Oroville, and Marysville/Yuba City
230 AM PDT Sun Jun 5 2022
.TODAY...Mostly cloudy. Rain showers likely in the morning, then
a chance of rain showers in the afternoon. Highs 74 to 82.
Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts to around 25 mph.
.TONIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows 54 to 60. South winds 10 to 15 mph.
Gusts up to 25 mph in the evening.
.MONDAY...Partly cloudy in the morning then clearing. Warmer.
Highs 83 to 89. Northwest winds around 10 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Clear. Lows 56 to 62. North winds up to 10 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Warmer. Highs 91 to 97. Northwest winds
around 10 mph.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows 58 to 64.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs 90 to 96.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY...Mostly clear. Lows 60 to 66.
Highs 90 to 100.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows 67 to 73.
.FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...Mostly clear. Highs 96 to 105. Lows
67 to 73.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
CHICO 77 60 86 / 70 10 0
OROVILLE 76 60 86 / 80 10 0
MARYSVILLE/YUBA CITY 77 56 86 / 80 10 0
$$
=
CAZ017-052330-
Southern Sacramento Valley-
Including the city of Sacramento
230 AM PDT Sun Jun 5 2022
.TODAY...Mostly cloudy. Rain showers likely in the morning, then
a chance of rain showers in the afternoon. Highs 72 to 79. South
winds 10 to 15 mph.
.TONIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows 53 to 59. Southwest winds 10 to
15 mph.
.MONDAY...Partly cloudy in the morning then clearing. Warmer.
Highs 83 to 89. Northwest winds up to 10 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Clear. Lows 54 to 61. Northwest winds up to
10 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs 89 to 96. Northwest winds up to
10 mph.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows 55 to 63.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs 88 to 95.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY...Mostly clear. Lows 56 to 64.
Highs 89 to 99.
.THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY...Mostly clear. Lows 63 to 71. Highs
93 to 103.
.FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY...Clear. Lows 66 to 72. Highs 95 to
104.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
SACRAMENTO 78 58 88 / 70 10 0
SAC EXEC AIRPORT 78 56 88 / 70 0 0
$$
=
CAZ018-052330-
Carquinez Strait and Delta-
Including the city of Fairfield/Suisun
230 AM PDT Sun Jun 5 2022
.TODAY...Mostly cloudy. Rain showers likely in the morning, then
a chance of rain showers in the afternoon. Highs 71 to 77.
Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts to around 25 mph.
.TONIGHT...Mostly clear. Near the bay, partly cloudy in the
evening then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows around 56. West winds
10 to 15 mph with gusts to around 25 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. Warmer. Highs 80 to 86. West winds 10 to
15 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Clear. Lows around 56. West winds 10 to 15 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs 85 to 91. West winds 10 to 15 mph.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows around 58.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs 84 to 90.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY...Mostly clear. Lows around 58.
Highs 86 to 92.
.THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY...Mostly clear. Lows 62 to 68. Highs
91 to 97.
.FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY...Clear. Lows 66 to 72. Highs 92 to
98.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
FAIRFIELD/SUISUN 76 53 87 / 60 0 0
$$
=
CAZ019-052330-
Northern San Joaquin Valley-
Including the cities of Stockton and Modesto
230 AM PDT Sun Jun 5 2022
.TODAY...Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain showers. Highs 76 to
86. Northeast winds around 10 mph shifting to the northwest in
the afternoon. Gusts up to 20 mph.
.TONIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows 54 to 60. Northwest winds 10 to
15 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs 82 to 89. Northwest winds 10 to
15 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Clear. Lows 53 to 61. Northwest winds 10 to
15 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the evening.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Warmer. Highs 88 to 96. Northwest winds
10 to 15 mph.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows 55 to 63.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs 87 to 95.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY...Mostly clear. Lows 57 to 63.
Highs 87 to 97.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows 62 to 70.
.FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...Clear. Highs 93 to 103. Lows 63 to 73.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
STOCKTON 81 58 87 / 40 0 0
MODESTO 83 60 87 / 30 0 0
$$
=
CAZ063-052330-
Mountains Southwestern Shasta County to Western Colusa County-
Including the city of Alder Springs
230 AM PDT Sun Jun 5 2022
.TODAY...Mostly cloudy. Rain showers likely in the morning, then
a chance of rain showers in the afternoon. Warmer. Highs 53 to
68 higher elevations...69 to 77 lower elevations. Prevailing
south winds 5 to 15 mph.
.TONIGHT...Mostly clear. A slight chance of rain showers in the
evening. Colder. Lows 39 to 53 higher elevations...52 to 58 lower
elevations. Prevailing west winds up to 15 mph.
.MONDAY...Sunny, warmer. Highs 60 to 75 higher elevations...78 to
84 lower elevations. Prevailing north winds up to 10 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Clear. Lows 46 to 61 higher elevations...56 to
64 lower elevations. Prevailing northwest winds up to 10 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Warmer. Highs 68 to 83 higher
elevations...86 to 92 lower elevations. Prevailing northwest
winds up to 10 mph shifting to the south in the afternoon.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows 52 to 67.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs 71 to 86.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY...Mostly clear. Lows 53 to 68.
Highs 73 to 88.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows 58 to 73.
.FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...Mostly clear. Highs 77 to 92. Lows
57 to 72.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
ALDER SPRINGS 62 45 70 / 70 10 0
$$
=
CAZ066-052330-
Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley-
Including the city of Paradise
230 AM PDT Sun Jun 5 2022
.TODAY...Rain showers until late afternoon, then rain showers
likely and a slight chance of thunderstorms late in the
afternoon. Highs 59 to 71 higher elevations...66 to 74 lower
elevations. Prevailing south winds 5 to 15 mph with gusts to
around 30 mph.
.TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain showers in the
evening, then partly cloudy with a slight chance of rain showers
after midnight. Lows 50 to 60. Prevailing southeast winds up to
15 mph.
.MONDAY...Partly cloudy in the morning then clearing. Warmer.
Highs 71 to 83. Light winds becoming west up to 10 mph in the
afternoon.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Clear. Lows 51 to 63. Prevailing west winds up to
10 mph shifting to the northeast after midnight.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Warmer. Highs 79 to 91. Prevailing
northeast winds up to 10 mph shifting to the west in the
afternoon.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows 57 to 66.
.WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy. Highs 78 to 90.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows 57 to 67.
Highs 79 to 94.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows 63 to 73.
.FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...Mostly clear. Highs 84 to 99. Lows
62 to 74.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
PARADISE 66 58 76 / 90 20 0
$$
=
CAZ067-052330-
Motherlode-
Including the cities of Grass Valley and Jackson
230 AM PDT Sun Jun 5 2022
.TODAY...Rain showers. Highs 61 to 75 higher elevations...66 to
81 lower elevations. Prevailing south winds up to 10 mph.
.TONIGHT...Partly cloudy. A chance of rain showers in the
evening. Lows 50 to 58. Prevailing southwest winds up to 10 mph
shifting to the southeast after midnight.
.MONDAY...Partly cloudy in the morning then clearing. Warmer.
Highs 74 to 86. Prevailing west winds up to 10 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Clear. Lows 51 to 59. Prevailing northwest winds
up to 10 mph shifting to the northeast after midnight.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Warmer. Highs 81 to 91. Prevailing
northeast winds up to 10 mph shifting to the west in the
afternoon.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows 55 to 63.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs 81 to 91.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY...Mostly clear. Lows 56 to 64.
Highs 81 to 93.
.THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows 61 to
71. Highs 83 to 98.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs 85 to 97.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
GRASS VALLEY 65 52 76 / 90 30 0
JACKSON 73 55 81 / 60 10 0
$$
=
CAZ068-052330-
Western Plumas County/Lassen Park-
Including the cities of Chester and Quincy
230 AM PDT Sun Jun 5 2022
.TODAY...Rain showers until late afternoon, then rain showers
likely and a slight chance of thunderstorms late in the
afternoon. Highs 47 to 62 higher elevations...52 to 67 lower
elevations. Prevailing southwest winds 10 to 20 mph.
.TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy. A chance of rain showers in the
evening. Lows 38 to 53. Prevailing south winds up to 15 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. Warmer. Highs 56 to 71 higher
elevations...63 to 77 lower elevations. Prevailing southeast
winds up to 10 mph shifting to the southwest in the afternoon.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Clear. Lows 40 to 55. Prevailing west winds up to
10 mph shifting to the northeast after midnight.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Warmer. Highs 64 to 79 higher
elevations...71 to 85 lower elevations. Prevailing east winds up
to 10 mph shifting to the southwest in the afternoon.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows 45 to 60.
.WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy. Highs 67 to 82.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows
48 to 63. Highs 69 to 84.
.FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...Mostly clear. Highs 73 to 88. Lows
50 to 65.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
QUINCY 65 42 77 / 80 30 0
CHESTER 65 42 74 / 80 20 0
$$
=
CAZ069-052330-
West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada-
Including the city of Blue Canyon
230 AM PDT Sun Jun 5 2022
.TODAY...Rain showers. Highs 48 to 63 higher elevations...57 to
72 lower elevations. Prevailing south winds 5 to 15 mph with
gusts to around 30 mph.
.TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain showers in the
evening, then partly cloudy after midnight. Lows 35 to 50 higher
elevations...46 to 58 lower elevations. Prevailing southeast
winds up to 15 mph with gusts to around 30 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. Warmer. Highs 58 to 73 higher
elevations...68 to 80 lower elevations. Prevailing south winds up
to 10 mph shifting to the southwest in the afternoon.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Clear. Lows 37 to 52 higher elevations...48 to
60 lower elevations. Prevailing west winds up to 10 mph shifting
to the east after midnight.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. Warmer. Highs 65 to 80 higher
elevations...75 to 87 lower elevations. Prevailing east winds up
to 10 mph shifting to the west in the afternoon.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows 45 to 60.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs 69 to 84.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows 49 to
64. Highs 72 to 87.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs 72 to 87.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
BLUE CANYON 55 49 68 / 90 30 0
$$
=
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Copyright 2022 AccuWeather | 2022-06-05T09:46:50+00:00 | sfgate.com | https://www.sfgate.com/weather/article/CA-Sacramento-CA-Zone-Forecast-17220518.php |
(WGN) — Disconnecting half the brain to stop seizures sounds unthinkable, but it’s an actual procedure to help children with a rare form of epilepsy.
R.J. Walters is one of those kids. He is 8 years old and loves to play basketball.
“April 2019, when he was 4 years old, is when he had his first generalized seizure,” said his mother, Jamilah Doyle-Walters.
And they kept coming.
“With focal seizures, you see a kid (and) they are just staring off into space, and you think they are daydreaming,” said his father, Randall Walters, Sr. “And they are still able to respond to you. I wanted to be that dad, the sports dad, ‘let’s go climb a tree’ dad. And that was all taken away.”
The atrophy in RJ’s right brain led to a diagnosis of Rasmussen’s encephalitis, a rare and progressive neurologic condition.
“The right side of the brain doesn’t quite look like the left side of the brain,” said Dr. Sandi Lam, a neurosurgeon at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago. “There’s less brain matter on the right side than the left side.”
“The seizures were coming from one side of his brain,” Lam continued.
RJ’s mother said, “I knew whatever damage was done was done. I didn’t want him to experience anything further than that.”
To prevent the disease from robbing RJ of any further function, Lam offered what’s called a hemispherectomy.
“Really the goal of the surgery is disconnecting the bad side from the good side,” she said. “So seizures from the bad side of the brain do not get through to the good side.”
In other words, an entire half of a patient’s brain is disconnected at four specific points to stop a seizure in its tracks.
Lam is one of only a few surgeons to use a less-invasive endoscopic approach. Instead of a large incision, a smaller entry hole is made in the skull to accommodate her instruments.
“It sounds disturbing that you can cut off one whole side of the brain from the other side and expect a good outcome,” she said. “In a child, because they are still learning and developing, the good side of the brain can learn to take over some of that function. So that is why in this type of surgery, the earlier the better.”
“Once I had that conversation with Dr. Lam and she reassured me and I read her research, I was game on,” Doyle-Walters said. “And it didn’t take much convincing after that to give him the best possible life I could possibly give him.”
RJ underwent the procedure in December 2020.
“By her making sure we were aware that his growth and potential would still be better than it would be if he didn’t have the surgery, it made it a lot easier to accept and go for it,” said RJ’s father.
RJ has been seizure free since then.
The third grader does have some challenges, including weakness along the left side of his body.
“He had to learn how to read all over again as well as count math,” Doyle-Walters said. “So he definitely struggles.”
But RJ is not backing down.
“He’s amazing. He’s in taekwondo. He just earned his yellow belt,” Doyle-Walters said.
RJ also participates in Special Olympics.
“I try my best to let him understand that you can do everything everybody else can do. It just may take you a little longer, and that is ok,” Doyle-Walters said.
“I got my son back. Just to see his growth and development and where he’s come from to where he is now is remarkable to me,” Walters said. “And I tell everyone in the world that’s the strongest person I know and he’s only an 8-year-old boy.”
The surgery is not effective in adults since only a child’s developing brain can compensate for the loss of an entire hemisphere. | 2023-03-25T19:51:40+00:00 | wwlp.com | https://www.wwlp.com/news/national/disconnecting-part-of-the-brain-helps-kids-with-rare-form-of-epilepsy/ |
Embattled Henderson police union boss now facing charges after crash
Updated December 6, 2022 - 11:24 am
Gary Hargis, the embattled and outgoing Henderson’s police union president who was suspended from his job as a police officer as the department investigated whether he struck a motorcyclist in a hit-and-run, is now facing criminal charges.
Court records show that Hargis, 47, was charged with three misdemeanor counts in Henderson Municipal Court on Monday.
Those charges are failure to give information to a party at a vehicle accident, failure to maintain lane/improper lane change, and duty to stop at an accident involving damage to vehicle or property, according to court records.
The charges against Hargis come after an Oct. 13 collision, when officers said a man driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV struck a motorcyclist near the intersection of Greenway Road and Van Wagenen Street.
The motorcyclist, 18-year-old Kevin Dammers, said he suffered an ankle injury. But the Clark County district attorney’s office declined to pursue felony hit-and-run charges, saying late last month that they could not find sufficient evidence to prove that the rider suffered bodily injury.
In Nevada, it is a felony to flee the scene of a crash causing injury.
According to a police report and video of the collision, the SUV crossed into the motorcycle’s path while making a right turn, striking it head-on. The vehicle was registered to Hargis’ wife, record shows.
A GoPro video filmed by Dammers captured the crash. In the clip, Dammers applied the brakes on his motorcycle when a vehicle suddenly struck the front of the bike, knocking him down. The Jeep continued driving.
A witness and friend of Dammers followed the Jeep and told police he saw the driver park in a driveway. When the Jeep driver got out, the witness confronted him.
“No your friend hit me,” the man responded, according to a Henderson Police Department incident report.
The witness “was under the impression the male was under the influence due to his slurred speech and walk,” the report stated.
It also named Hargis as a suspect in the crash investigation.
Dammers’ friend took a photo of the SUV. The officer who wrote the report noted recognizing the car as one he had seen parked at the Henderson Police Officers’ Association union building at 145 Panama St. before the crash.
Hargis lost re-election as president of the Henderson Police Officers’ Association to Shawn Thibeault, according to Andrew Regenbaum, executive director of the Nevada Association of Public Safety Officers. Thibeault, who is listed as a trustee on the union website, will take over as president in January.
An arraignment for Hargis was set for Jan. 19, court records show.
Contact Brett Clarkson at bclarkson@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BrettClarkson_ on Twitter. | 2022-12-06T20:18:52+00:00 | reviewjournal.com | https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/henderson/embattled-henderson-police-union-boss-now-facing-charges-after-crash-2689016/ |
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s prime minister vowed Thursday to support higher production at the nation’s coal mines in order to bring down heating and energy prices that have soared amid the war in neighbouring Ukraine and the European Union’s efforts to reduce its dependency on Russian energy sources.
However, the pledge that Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki made in parliament goes against Poland’s climate change obligations and the gradual steps it is taking to reduce the production and use of coal in order to fight global warming.
But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and EU bans on some Russian energy sources have led to sudden shortages of coal and accelerated the rise of fuel prices. Governments across Europe are looking for other sources of fuel and energy.
The cost of coal has gone up 100% in Poland in the past 12 months, leading to widespread anxiety because one in every three households here is heated by coal. Overall, Poland relies on coal for almost 70% of its energy needs, a far higher percentage than any other of the EU’s 27 nations.
“We will introduce a program of increased coal extraction in Poland’s collieries,” Morawiecki said.
The Polish government’s aim is to reduce the fossil fuel’s prices ahead of the next heating season to the level they “were at before the sudden rise that was linked to the embargo on Russia. We will do this,” Morawiecki said.
In fact, energy prices in Europe had been rising months before Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24.
Poland said in the first four month of 2022, some 19 million tons of coal were produced in Poland’s mines, which was some 155,000 tons more than at the same time last year.
Poland insists that it’s departure from coal, of which it has rich deposits, must be slower than for other European countries because it has not yet developed enough renewable energy sources. Coal mining is also a big employment industry in Poland
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Follow all AP stories on climate change issues at https://apnews.com/hub/climate.
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Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine. | 2022-06-09T22:37:08+00:00 | krqe.com | https://www.krqe.com/news/technology/polands-pm-pushes-for-more-coal-to-lower-heating-costs/ |
Japanese police have confiscated metal tubes, tools and possible gunpowder from the home of a suspect who threw what was believed to be a homemade pipe bomb at Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at a campaign event, rekindling worries about the growing threat of easy-to-make weapons in Japan.
Witnesses say they saw an object that looked like a thin metal thermos flying overhead and landing near the prime minister. Kishida was safely evacuated before the device exploded, the crowd fleeing in panic as white smoke surrounded them.
So far, police have confirmed only one injury to a police officer. Experts say a pipe bomb likely caused the explosion, and the impact and amount of smoke suggest it probably wasn’t that powerful.
The 24-year-old suspect Ryuji Kimura was wrestled to the ground at the fishing port of Saikazaki in the western Japanese city of Wakayama on Saturday, just before Kishida was to make a campaign speech for a local governing party candidate.
On Monday, police sent Kimura to local prosecutors to extend his detention for 10 days for further investigation. He currently faces an allegation of obstruction of duty, but experts say additional allegations such as assault and attempted murder are possible.
In a raid Saturday night at Kimura’s home in Kawanishi city, more than 100 kilometers (62 miles) northeast of the venue, police confiscated unidentified powder, metal tubes and various tools that were possibly used to make the device thrown at Kishida.
Police confiscated two possible metal tube-bombs at the venue, one that exploded but largely retained its shape, and another in the suspect’s hand at the time of the arrest, along with a cigarette lighter. Police also found a fruit knife in his bag.
The crudely constructed weapons and the outdoor election campaign setting were reminiscent of the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe nine months ago with a handmade double-barrel gun.
Violent crimes are rare in Japan. With its strict gun control laws, the country has only a handful of gun-related crimes annually, most of them gang-related. But in recent years, there has been growing worry about homemade guns and explosives.
“The situation surrounding homemade explosives is becoming a considerably serious problem,” said Nobuo Komiya, a Rissho University professor of criminology. “Not just bombs. Anyone can even make real guns using 3D printers.”
They cannot be regulated because their original ingredients are legally available, he said.
The problem is that Japanese dignitary protection and public safety are still largely based on defense against knifings. Japanese security guards are well trained for close combat in knife attacks but still inexperienced in dealing with bombs and firearms, he said.
“Police must be prepared for crimes in which handmade guns are used,” said National Public Safety Commission Chair Koichi Tani earlier this year. Police have stepped up “cyber patrols” to detect illegal weapons production and trade, while requesting internet sites remove “gun production methods and other harmful information.”
Tani has pledged to beef up security ahead of late-April elections and the Group of Seven leaders’ summit in May.
The latest case raises questions about whether any lessons were learned from the assassination of Abe, which prompted police to tighten protective measures after an investigation found holes in Abe’s security.
There were no bag checks at the venue, and no bulletproof shield was provided for Kishida. He sampled local seafood as he stood next to residents, then walked to the speech venue, where Kishida stood only a few feet away from the crowd with no physical barrier in between — something unlikely in the United States.
Showing their faces, mingling and shaking hands are important elements to get votes in Japanese elections, rather than conveying policies, and politicians tend to get close to the crowd. But exerts say there should be several layers of protection for dignitaries.
So far, the suspect Kimura has refused to talk to the police, and motives are not yet known.
Abe’s alleged assassin Tetsuya Yamagami, who has been charged with murder and several other crimes including violating gun-control laws, told authorities soon after his arrest that he killed Abe because of the former prime minister’s apparent links to a religious group that Yamagami hated. In statements and in social media postings attributed to him, Yamagami said his mother’s donations to the Unification Church bankrupted his family and ruined his life.
Handmade bombs are not new in Japan, where non-lethal versions of explosives such as molotov cocktails and pipe bombs were often used by student radicals and extremists in the 1960s and ′70s to throw at riot police and damage property. | 2023-04-17T13:18:51+00:00 | kdvr.com | https://kdvr.com/news/nationalworld-news/ap-international/explosive-targeting-japan-pm-renews-worry-of-homemade-arms/ |
2 officers, 1 other person injured in standoff with suspect in Ala.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF/Gray News) - Two officers and a woman were injured following a standoff with a suspect in Huntsville, Alabama.
The incident happened at an apartment complex on the 4600 block of Governors House Drive.
A spokesperson for the Huntsville Police Department confirmed two officers were shot while answering a shots fired call around 4:45 p.m. on Tuesday.
Officials say a male suspect barricaded himself in an apartment. The man was taken into custody around 6:20 p.m. and taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The injured officers were taken to Huntsville Hospital with life-threatening injuries. The severity of the injuries of the female victim was not immediately clear.
Witnesses on the scene told WAFF they saw officers with tactical gear and rifles as well as heavily armored vehicles.
WAFF reports the Madison County Sheriff’s Office deputies also responded and assisted on the scene.
Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle released the following statement on Facebook about the incident:
“Two HPD officers were shot in the line of duty this evening. Both have been transported to Huntsville Hospital with life threatening injuries. Our hearts are shattered. Please send every prayer you have to the officers, their families, and the Huntsville Police Department.”
Governor Kay Ivey also responded with a statement on her Twitter page:
I am devastated to learn the news that two Huntsville police officers were shot in the line of duty this evening. I ask the people of Alabama to join me in prayer for these heroes and their family, friends and community.
Copyright 2023 WAFF via Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2023-03-29T04:17:49+00:00 | atlantanewsfirst.com | https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/03/29/2-officers-1-other-person-injured-standoff-with-suspect-ala/ |
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand police said Thursday they had arrested a man and charged him with two counts of arson in connection with the fire at a Wellington hostel that killed at least six people.
Police said the investigation is ongoing and they could file more serious charges in relation to the deaths at the scene. Earlier, police said they had launched a homicide investigation.
Police Inspector Dion Bennett said Thursday they are confident they’re not seeking anybody else in connection with the fire.
The suspect, who was not immediately named by police, is scheduled to make his first appearance Friday at the Wellington District Court.
Earlier, police removed the first two bodies from the Loafers Lodge hostel and said they planned to remove the next two on Friday. Bennett said it’s possible they could find more victims as officers continue their scene examination.
“The damage on the third floor is significant,” Bennett told reporters. “The debris is piled high, and there is much for them to move and search underneath.”
Bennett declined to say if they had found accelerant or other evidence of criminal behavior at the scene.
Police said there had been a couch fire at the Loafers Lodge hostel about two hours before the large, fatal fire on Tuesday. They said the couch fire was not reported to emergency services at the time, and they were investigating to see if there was any link between the two fires.
The fire ripped through the building at about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, forcing some people to flee in their pajamas. Others were rescued by firefighters from the roof or dived from windows.
The Loafers Lodge offered 92 basic, affordable rooms with shared lounges, kitchens and laundry facilities to people of a wide range of ages. Some people were placed there by government agencies. Others worked at a nearby hospital.
Emergency officials said the building had no fire sprinklers. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said the nation’s building codes did not require sprinklers in older buildings that would need to be retrofitted.
“I have asked the Minister for Housing to look particularly at issues around building regulations to see whether there’s anything more that we should be doing right at this point,” Hipkins told reporters Wednesday. | 2023-05-18T11:33:54+00:00 | seattletimes.com | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/new-zealand-police-arrest-charge-man-in-connection-with-hostel-fire-that-killed-at-least-6/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
- Intertabak AG, exclusive distributor of Habanos, S.A. for Switzerland, acted as master of ceremonies at the presentation of the Humidors of the new Montecristo Collection in collaboration with S.T. Dupont
- The new Montecristo L'Esprit vitola was one of the surprises of the evening
HAVANA, Jan. 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Habanos, S.A., with the support of its official and exclusive distributor for Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein, Intertabak AG, presented in the Swiss city of Basel the new humidors of the Montecristo L'Esprit Collection, which brings together one of the most celebrated Habanos brands in the world and the French firm S.T. Dupont.
The renowned Blindekuh restaurant provided the backdrop for another magical gala evening organized by Habanos, S.A. and Intertabak AG. More than 100 attendees were able to appreciate the three magnificent humidors that make up this Collection: Le Crepuscule, La Nuit and L'Aurore. A Collection that only a few lucky lovers of what is considered the world's best tobacco will soon be able to enjoy.
In addition to the privilege of being the first people to find out about the new collaboration between Habanos, S.A. and S.T. Dupont, the small number of guests were surprised with the new Montecristo L'Esprit vitola. This new Habanos item is presented to the market, as the protagonist of this collaboration, with an original special band specifically designed for the occasion, and an additional foot band in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of S.T. Dupont, a well-known brand for quality, beauty, and innovation.
"Habanos, S.A. seeks to always partner with leading brands in their markets, with products that offer something unique and different to its customers, in the end, brands that are up to what is considered the best tobacco in the world", said José María López Inchaurbe, Vice President of Development at Habanos, S.A. In addition, Alain Crevet, CEO of S.T. Dupont, commented: "Both Habanos and Dupont are dedicated to elevating craftsmanship to an art form. Together, we are bringing the very best cigars, and the very best smoking accessories in an exceptional Art de Vivre". And added: "this new collaboration with Habanos and Montecristo has been again a pleasure and a flawless experience between our two Maisons".
The Montecristo L 'Esprit collection, of which these magnificent humidors are a part, is inspired by Alexandre Dumas' novel, The Count of Montecristo, which gives its name to the prestigious Habano brand. And together with it, the French lighters and accessories firm for Premium Tobacco aficionados is celebrating its 150th anniversary. Like the humidors presented in Basel, the three chromatic varieties of lighters and accessories that are part of this collection represent the different night stages: Le Crépuscule, La Nuit and L'Aurore.
Tasting note:
Montecristo L'Esprit
Factory name: Preciosos
Measures: 50 ring gauge x 145 mm length
Wrapper: medium colored, oily and with natural shine
- Aromas that evoke sweet notes, with toasted touches, woody, light hints of dried fruits. Entering the second third, notes of spices, cocoa and roasted coffee are revealed. In the third third, it gives more complex expressions, intensifying its character towards a medium to strong strength, highlighting a great balance between aromas and flavors.
- Homogeneous combustion, perfect puff.
- Well-compacted ash, with the characteristic gray of the Vuelta Abajo* soil contribution.
- Smoking time: about 50 minutes of pleasure for a medium to strong strength.
- This magnificent Habano pairs very well with Edmundo Dantes 15 years old Rum and Hennessy XO Cognac.
Click here to download high resolution product images.
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1991954/Habanos_SA.jpg
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SOURCE Habanos, S.A. | 2023-01-31T09:12:25+00:00 | wlox.com | https://www.wlox.com/prnewswire/2023/01/31/habanos-sa-presented-switzerland-world-premiere-montecristo-lesprit-x-st-dupont-collection/ |
ARVADA, Colo. — A public memorial will be held Friday in Lafayette for Arvada Police Officer Dillon Vakoff, who was fatally shot while responding to a disturbance call early Sunday morning.
Vakoff, 27, died after he and another officer responded to the 6700 block of West 51st Avenue at about 1:45 a.m. That's located at the avenue's intersection with Marshall Street and near Inspiration Point Park.
When the officers responded, they found a chaotic scene with people in the street, Arvada Police said. While the officers tried to separate several "belligerent and uncooperative" people, the suspect, identified as Sonny Almanza, fired shots that hit a female victim, police said.
The officers and the suspect exchanged gunfire. The suspect shot Vakoff and was also shot, police said. Almanza and the woman were both expected to survive.
Vakoff was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Vakoff joined the Arvada Police Department in 2019 and was training to be a SWAT officer. Before that, he was a staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, where he served for six years.
He was a resident of Arvada and a 2012 graduate of Ralston Valley High School.
The memorial service for Vakoff is set to begin at 10 a.m. Friday at Flatirons Community Church, located at 355 W. South Boulder Road.
Parking for members of the public will be available at the RTD Lafayette Park & Ride, at 1080 South Public Road, or at The District, at 400 W. South Boulder Road. The public is not allowed to park in the church parking lot.
Donations
Monetary donations to Vakoff’s family may be made through the Colorado Fallen Hero Foundation at https://bit.ly/OfficerVakoffDonate.
Arvada Police Department Memorial
A patrol vehicle is parked outside the Arvada Police Department at 8101 Ralston Rd. for receiving caring notes and/or other forms of support that the public may want to leave for the Vakoff family.
PHOTOS: Memorial vehicle for Arvada Police Officer Dillon Vakoff
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Latest from 9NEWS | 2022-09-13T21:59:45+00:00 | 9news.com | https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/arvada-officer-dillon-vakoff-funeral/73-ac945d76-2903-43e8-9d60-5387d3573dee |
Arrest made in connection to Tuesday’s Blue Haven Drive shooting
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) - One man has been arrested and the victim has been identified following a shooting that occurred Tuesday on Blue Haven Drive in Huntsville.
According to officials with the Huntsville Police Department, Jason Moore, 47, has been arrested and charged with murder.
Around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, officers with the Huntsville Police Department responded to the 4800 block of Blue Haven Drive. When officers arrived on the scene, they located 40-year-old Damian Collins Sr. who was suffering from gunshot wounds.
Collins Sr. was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators with the HPD Major Crimes Unit believe the shooting stemmed from a verbal altercation between the two men.
Moore is being booked into the Madison County Jail on a murder charge.
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Copyright 2023 WAFF. All rights reserved. | 2023-04-12T19:19:00+00:00 | waff.com | https://www.waff.com/2023/04/12/arrest-made-connection-tuesdays-blue-haven-drive-shooting/ |
Which barn toy is best?
Barn toys are a staple for children’s make-believe and play. They encourage creativity and provide insight into the work involved in running a farm. They educate children on different types of animals who might live in a barn as well.
When shopping for a barn toy, you should examine it for the quality of materials and its educational benefits. For example, the Melissa & Doug Latches Barn Toy is a top choice because it’s both durable and supports child development.
What to know before you buy a barn toy
Barn toy size and style
There are a variety of barn toy styles available. A kids’ toy barn may be portable depending upon its weight and size. Alternatively, toy barns may be designed to be built and rebuilt out of blocks or precut pieces during play. Consider the size of a child’s play area when deciding what style barn toy will work best. Small portable barn toys are great for young children with several play area options throughout the home. Older children who have a limited play area may benefit from a barn toy that can be built for play, then stored away once playtime is over.
Sensory play
There are several benefits linked to multisensory learning using objects that stimulate one or more of a child’s senses. Barn toys are a great option for sensory play for young children. To make playing with a barn toy a multisensory experience, simply incorporate a tactile ingredient. Some of the most popular sensory materials that can be used with barn toys include mud, water and straw. Consider placing a barn toy in a sensory bin to cut down on the mess and cleanup time.
Developmentally appropriate toys
There are a number of aspects that make a toy developmentally appropriate:
- Since every child is unique, look for a toy that’s appropriate to the individual child’s developmental milestones. Considering a child’s developmental needs is useful when picking a toy that will be fun and engaging. Types of developmental milestones include physical, cognitive, social-emotional and communication. At different points, children will enjoy playing with toys that foster various developmental milestones.
- Toys that can be used in a variety of ways and don’t limit a child’s imagination are known as open-ended toys. Blocks are a good example of an open-ended toy. Close-ended toys are designed to be used in a limited number of ways. A good example of close-ended toys is a puzzle or game. Both open-ended and close-ended toys have their own benefits and limitations.
- Toys that grow with the child are especially useful. Look for toys that will remain engaging as children age and move through their developmental milestones.
What to look for in a quality barn toy
Barn toys with animals
Several barn toys include animals and other accessories. Purchasing a barn that comes with animals is beneficial because the play accessories will likely be to scale. If a barn toy doesn’t include animals, note the size of the barn and consider purchasing farm animal figurines that are an appropriate size.
Barn toys for toddlers
Toy barns specifically designed for toddlers are durable enough to withstand being dropped or dragged around the child’s play area. The best barn toys for toddlers include toys and accessories that are easy for young children to handle on their own — for instance, doors that are easy to open and click firmly shut. A barn toy for toddlers should also be free from small pieces that pose a choking hazard.
Wooden barn toy
Wooden barn toys come in a variety of styles, including wooden toy barn puzzles, wooden toy barn craft kits and wooden blocks that are used to build a toy barn. Each kids’ toy barn produced from wood is appropriate for different styles of play. Consider the child’s individual interests when deciding which wooden barn toy is best. Note that wood is considered a green toy construction material and is often non-toxic and more environmentally friendly when compared to plastic toys.
How much you can expect to spend on a barn toy
When shopping for a kids’ barn toy, expect to spend $20-$100 depending on the quality of materials and size of the toy.
Barn toy FAQ
What are the benefits of barn toy puzzles?
A. A barn puzzle features common barn animals or structures that challenge children’s problem-solving abilities. Puzzles help children develop fine motor skills and other useful cognitive recognition skills. For instance, barn toy puzzles may require children to match animals, colors, shapes, letters or numbers.
Is it possible to purchase a barn toy for a baby?
A. There are a variety of baby toys that have characteristics of a barn. Some of the most popular options are barn rattles, shaker toys, pacifiers and barn activity gyms. It’s important to note that barn toys for babies are an aesthetic choice and are not considered educational toys.
What’s the best barn toy to buy?
Top barn toy
Melissa & Doug Latches Barn Toy
What you need to know: This wooden barn has a variety of working latch doors designed for the included toy farm animal figurines to walk through.
What you’ll love: The barn was inspired by preschooler pretend play and designed to develop multiple skills, including fine motor, counting and animal recognition.
What you should consider: The latches may loosen over time.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon, Buy Buy Baby and Macy’s
Top barn toy for the money
Schleich Farm World Large Toy Barn With Farm Accessories
What you need to know: This large red barn comes with 27 pieces, including incredibly detailed accessories and animal figures.
What you’ll love: This barn play set is designed to be durable, and is built with materials that exceed safety requirements.
What you should consider: Young children may find this large play set difficult to assemble.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Battat Big Red Barn Animal Farm Playset for Toddlers
What you need to know: A foldable, portable farm play set, it’s designed for toddler sensory play with farm animal figures.
What you’ll love: All the doors are easy to open and click into position when closed, which makes the play set fun and engaging for young children.
What you should consider: This is not an interactive toy with sounds or lights.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Kohl’s
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | 2022-06-04T21:07:24+00:00 | cbs4indy.com | https://cbs4indy.com/reviews/br/toys-games-br/pretend-play-br/best-barn-toy/ |
Red Sox Lose in Extra Innings Again, Fall to the White Sox 3-1 in 10 Innings [VIDEO]
Extra innings haven't been kind to the Boston Red Sox this year. They are 0-6 in extra innings, after falling to the Chicago White Sox on Saturday, May 7th 3-1 in 10 innings. The Red Sox have lost 4 in a row and are 6-14 in their last 20 games.
Nick Pivetta pitched his finest game of the season. He went 6.0 innings and held the White Sox scoreless. He allowed 5 hits, and struck out 8. He didn't walk a batter.
Ryan Brasier pitched the 7th inning. John Schreiber and Matt Strahm pitched the 8th. Hansel Robles pitched the 9th and allowed the tying run to score, on a sacrifice fly.
In the 10th Alex Cora gave the ball to Matt Barnes, who allowed 2 hits and 2 runs and is now 0-3 on the season.
The Red Sox offense was held to fewer than 4 runs for the 3rd straight game, and 6th time over their last 9 games. They are 2-14 when scoring fewer than 4 runs.
Rafael Devers was 2-4 with a RBI double in the 5th inning .
Franchy Cordero was 1-3
Alex Cora was ejected in the bottom of the 3d inning by umpire Carlos Torres for arguing balls and strikes.
Manager Alex Cora on the game
Prior to the game the Red Sox sent back down Jarren Duran to Triple A and reinstated Kike Hernandez from the COVID list. The Red Sox announced that Rich Hill was positive for COVID.
The Red Sox and White Sox will play the final game of the 3-game series on Sunday morning, with a special start time of 11:35 a.m. Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms! | 2022-05-20T04:47:14+00:00 | 1019therock.com | https://1019therock.com/red-sox-lose-in-extra-innings-again-fall-to-the-white-sox-3-1-in-10-innings-video/ |
MIAMI, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The historic storming of the Bastille comes alive as guests are invited to embark on a captivating journey through the streets of France. La Boulangerie Boul'Mich, the renowned French bakery café with a Latin twist, cordially invites all loyalty rewards members to partake in the vibrant festivities honoring French freedom. Marking the calendar for Friday, July 14th, promises an enticing offer: Any specialty coffee purchased on Bastille Day, such as the classic Americano, Nutccino, Dulccino and more, comes with a delightful, freshly baked everyday croissant as a complimentary gift.
Bastille Day holds great significance in French history, commemorating the momentous event of July 14, 1789. On this historic day, the people of France stormed the Bastille, a symbol of oppression and tyranny, marking the beginning of the French Revolution. It became a symbol of the people's triumph over suppression of speech and their relentless pursuit of freedom and equality. Bastille Day is celebrated with immense pride and joy throughout France and by people around the world who appreciate the spirit of liberty and the power of unity.
Corinne Farkash Mizrahi, the Chief Marketing Officer of La Boulangerie Boul'Mich, expresses enthusiasm, saying, "Bastille Day is a celebration meant to unite all communities together. It is an opportunity to showcase the true essence of La Boulangerie Boul'Mich and transport our guests to the heart of France for a day. This offer serves as an expression of gratitude to our loyal guests while encapsulating the rich culture and traditions of the French. Guests can revel in the captivating ambiance of each location as they savor our heavenly specialty coffees and indulge in our flakey, buttery croissants, crafted fresh daily."
Amidst the charm and character, guests at La Boulangerie Boul'Mich can indulge in a diverse range of handcrafted pastries, heavenly, baked everyday croissants, sandwiches, fresh salads and much more. This beloved bakery café offers traditional delicacies infused with modern flair, satisfying the palates of both locals and tourists. Whether it's the croissants that melt in the mouth or the perfectly brewed specialty coffees that awaken your senses, each bite and sip at La Boulangerie Boul'Mich™ elevates and celebrates the fusion of French and Latin flavors.
Every visit to La Boulangerie Boul'Mich is an experience that evokes the essence of French culture and tradition. The meticulously decorated locations transport guests to the romantic streets of Paris, enveloping them in an enchanting ambiance. Parisian flags flutter in the breeze, and the aroma of freshly baked pastries fills the air, creating an atmosphere that is both inviting and captivating. It's the perfect setting to celebrate Bastille Day.
This offer will be available during regular business hours, both in-store and online, at all La Boulangerie Boul'Mich locations. To enjoy this limited-time offer, loyalty rewards members need to present their membership offer and redeem it at the time of purchase. Not a loyalty member yet? Visit their website www.LaBoulangerieUSA.com today to take advantage of this offer.
Join La Boulangerie Boul'Mich on July 14th and create cherished memories while celebrating this significant French holiday, all while relishing the flavors that have earned La Boulangerie Boul'Mich a special place in the hearts of many. For more information about La Boulangerie Boul'Mich, please visit www.LaBoulangerieUSA.com. For any media inquiries, email Bianca Kasawdish at Bianca@TeamInnoVision.com.
About La Boulangerie Boul'Mich™
La Boulangerie Boul'Mich is a French artisanal bakery with a Latin twist concept that has been serving Miami for over 20 years. Their concept is simple, guests are in a relaxed environment amongst friends in a space that combines light, earthly colors, and a vintage-industrial style atmosphere.
The brand takes pride in providing its guests with a delightful culinary experience. From the moment guests step inside the café and bakery, they are greeted with the warm aroma of freshly baked pastries and bread and the sight of their friendly and welcoming team. With seven different locations, the all-day breakfast menu boasts of delectable options such as Traditional Eggs Benedict, Croque Madame "Our Style," New York Bagel, and fresh Greek Avocado Toast. Guests can also indulge in everyday, freshly baked goods, including gourmet empanadas, quiches, award-winning croissants and desserts such as Macarons and Elephant Ear cookies. The menu also features European and Latin pastries like Tequenos, Alfajor, and Pan De Bono, as well as French-style gourmet sandwiches and an array of pasta dishes.
The brand believes that good food is meant to be shared with loved ones, and La Boulangerie Boul'Mich provides the perfect setting for enjoying a delicious meal or pastry with friends and family. For more information on La Boulangerie Boul'Mich, visit www.LaBoulangerieusa.com.
Contact:
Bianca Kasawdish
Vice President of Public Relations
InnoVision Marketing Group
Bianca@TeamInnoVision.com
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SOURCE La Boulangerie Boul'Mich | 2023-07-11T21:38:30+00:00 | wcjb.com | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2023/07/11/transport-through-time-experience-essence-bastille-day-la-boulangerie-boulmich/ |
Home energy management to be incorporated into a central, easy-to-use interface
WAUKESHA, Wis., Jan. 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Generac Power Systems, Inc., (NYSE: GNRC) a leading global designer and manufacturer of energy technology solutions and other power products, today announced that its entire line of Wi-Fi and cellular-enabled home standby generators will soon integrate with the latest ecobee smart thermostats, creating a single energy management hub for the home.
By integrating ecobee smart thermostats with Generac home standby generators, home energy management will be incorporated into a central, easy-to-use interface. Homeowners can quickly and easily see that their generator is ready to power on in a power outage. For homeowners fueling their generator with propane, they will also be able to digitally link their fuel tank, enabling them to monitor fuel levels 24/7 on the same interface.
"At Generac, we're constantly looking for new and innovative ways to make life a little easier," said Kyle Raabe, executive vice president of Consumer Power at Generac. "By integrating our Generac home standby generators with ecobee smart thermostats, we're giving customers visual peace of mind that their generators are ready to power on in an outage and helping them keep watch on all their energy management needs in one location."
The integration will be available on ecobee's Smart Thermostat Premium and Smart Thermostat Enhanced units, and on all Wi-Fi and cellular-enabled Generac home standby generators. When launched, customers will see the new integration option appear in their Mobile Link app and can choose to participate with the click of a button. The process will take only a few minutes in the app, with no additional installations required from a dealer. Customers can also choose their notification settings on their thermostat or opt out at any time via the Mobile Link app.
Through the new integration, customers and dealers will experience a more efficient process to schedule maintenance or quickly remedy issues that may arise. Homeowners can view the status of their Generac home standby generator in real time by simply pressing the generator icon on their ecobee thermostat. If there is an alert on the generator, the thermostat will have a full screen display notifying the homeowner and displaying their preferred dealer's contact information.
The software update for ecobee thermostats will be available spring 2023. For more information about ecobee smart thermostats, visit www.ecobee.com. To learn more about the Generac home standby generator and ecobee thermostat integration, please visit the website.
About Generac
Generac Power Systems, Inc. (NYSE: GNRC) is a leading energy technology company that provides advanced power grid software solutions, backup and prime power systems for home and industrial applications, solar + battery storage solutions, virtual power plant platforms and engine- and battery-powered tools and equipment. Founded in 1959, Generac introduced the first affordable backup generator and later created the category of automatic home standby generator - a market in which nearly eight of ten generators sold is a Generac. The company is committed to sustainable, cleaner energy products poised to revolutionize the 21st century electrical grid.
About ecobee
ecobee Inc. was founded in 2007 with a mission to improve everyday life while creating a more sustainable world. Since launching the world's first smart thermostat in 2009, ecobee has helped customers across North America save nearly 28 TWh of energy, which is the equivalent of taking all the homes in Los Angeles and Chicago off the grid for a year. Today, ecobee continues to innovate with smart home solutions that solve everyday problems with comfort, security, and conservation in mind. In 2021, ecobee joined Generac Holdings Inc. (NYSE: GNRC). Generac and ecobee share a vision to deliver a cleaner and more sustainable energy future for customers and communities. The Generac and ecobee home of the future will be more comfortable, resilient, and efficient. For more information, visit ecobee.com.
Media Contact: Stephanie Rodgers
Stephanie.Rodgers@Generac.com
Phone: 262.544.4811 Ext. 4456
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SOURCE Generac Power Systems, Inc. | 2023-01-31T13:15:22+00:00 | uppermichiganssource.com | https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/prnewswire/2023/01/31/generac-announces-home-standby-generator-integration-with-ecobee-smart-thermostats/ |
All figures in USD unless stated otherwise
TORONTO, Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Halo Collective Inc. ("Halo" or the "Company") (NEO: HALO) (OTCQB: HCANF) (Germany: A9KN) today announces its financial and operational results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 ("Q2 2022").
- Revenue of $6.9 million, net of inter-company eliminations, down 24.8% compared to $9.1 million in Q2 2021. Revenue was impacted by a significant downturn in both the California and Oregon markets.
- Total sales were 2.0 million grams, a 59.4% decrease compared to 5.0 million grams in Q2 2021. Flower sales decreased by 6.2% to 1.1 million grams compared to 1.2 million grams in Q2 2021, sales of pre-rolls increased by 11.5% to 257,245 grams compared to 230,655 grams in Q2 2021, no trim and fresh frozen sales, oils and extract sales decreased by 68.3% to 597,088 grams compared to 1.9 million grams in Q2 2021, and edibles sales decreased by 88.8% to 24,820 grams compared to 221,134 grams in Q2 2021.
- The Company reported a gross profit of $2.1 million, or 31.9% gross margin, compared to gross profit of $2.2 million, or 24.1% gross margin, in Q2 2021.
- Adjusted EBITDA[1] loss of $4.1 million compared to an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $4.4 million in Q2 2021.
- The Company repaid $7.7 million in debt financing and raised $8.0 million from convertible debentures.
- As of June 30, 2022, the Company had unrestricted cash available in the amount of $1.6 million.
- In California, Halo has decided not to build out Ukiah Ventures and has sold the land associated with it. The sale of the land closed on June 30, 2022, resulting in a reduction of debt of $1.53 million, yielding net proceeds of approximately $588,000 including a seller note secured against the property for $400,000.
- Halo received regulatory approval to open three Budega™ brand retail dispensaries in Los Angeles, California. The first location opened in North Hollywood on March 14, 2022, followed by a store in Westwood, which opened on May 27, 2022. Halo plans to open its flagship store in Hollywood in the latter half of 2022. These stores will increase distribution and market awareness of Halo's proprietary brands and products in California.
On April 28, 2022, Halo Tek Inc. ("Halo Tek"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, filed a preliminary long form prospectus with the securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces and territories of Canada, other than Québec, for the purpose of qualifying the distribution of all of the issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of Halo Tek held by Halo as a return of capital. As previously announced, on April 1, 2021, the Company intends to pursue a spin-off of certain of its software, device and intellectual property assets into Halo Tek. The spin-off of Halo Tek is expected to be completed by year end.
"The important work of defining the next phase of Halo's evolution is well underway, as we leverage our strong positioning on the West Coast to effectively execute our vertically integrated, seed-to-sale strategy," commented Katie Field, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We are sharpening Halo's strategic focus, operating smarter, and have transitioned leadership to a new team who will carry out the refreshed plan. The goal is to leverage our existing assets with a focus on near-term payback, which has led us to take numerous actions across the Company to improve operations and shed non-productive assets."
"During the quarter, we ramped up efforts in our brand sales business, specifically Hush and Budega which are resonating with West Coast consumers and continued the retail rollout in Los Angeles where we opened the second of three planned dispensaries. Meanwhile, we de-emphasized other areas such as bulk wholesale flower and trim sales which generated good revenue but yielded lower profitability. And, we have made the decision to walk away from other parts of the plan altogether such as the Ukiah Ventures buildout and Canadian retail."
"Our efforts to do more with less are already paying off. In the second quarter, we maintained steady gross margins despite the downward pressure on wholesale pricing and volumes across our markets. We have also made progress reducing Halo's indebtedness through debt paydowns."
Concluded Ms. Field, "Importantly, we are transforming the Company into a focused West Coast operator amidst market conditions in California and Oregon that continue to be very challenging, but longer-term, are expected to be fertile grounds for significant growth and profitability for well-positioned companies such as Halo. I am highly confident that Halo is on the right path as a leader in these attractive markets. The initiatives we are undertaking, including those in the second quarter, will strengthen the Company and ultimately enhance shareholder value."
Revenue
Q2 2022 revenues were $6.9 million, net of inter-company eliminations, compared to $9.1 million Q2 2021, a 24.8% decrease. In Q2 2022, Oregon generated $3.8 million in revenue compared to Q2 2021 revenue of $7.5 million. In Q2 2022, the California wholesale business generated revenues of $2.1 million compared to $1.6 million in Q2 2021, an 32.1% increase. The first Budega retail location in North Hollywood, which opened in March 2022, added revenues of $289,307 in Q2 2022. Kushbar was consolidated in July of 2021 and added revenues of $687,986 in Q2 2022.
Total Q2 2022 sales were 2.0 million grams compared to sales of 5.0 million grams in Q2 2021, a 59.4% decrease. Between Q2 2022 and Q2 2021 Flower sales decreased by 6.2%, sales of pre-rolls increased by 11.5%, oils and extract sales decreased by 68.3% and edibles sales decreased by 88.8%.
Gross Profit
The Company reported a gross profit of $2.1 million, or 31.9% gross margin, compared to gross profit of $2.2 million, or 24.1% gross margin, in Q2 2021. For Q2 2022, Oregon generated $1.4 million in gross profit with a 37.4% gross margin, compared to Q2 2021 gross profit of $2.1 million with a 27.6% gross margin.
Liquidity and Cash Balance
As of June 30, 2022, the Company had available cash in the amount of $1.6 million. On March 16, 2022, the Company entered into an additional financing agreement of C$65.0 million with Global Tech Opportunities 6 in the form of convertible debentures.
Complete results are reported in the Company's consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, and associated management's discussion and analysis (the "Q2 2022 MD&A").
Halo is focused on the United States West Coast, where it has vertically integrated operations covering the entire value chain from seed to sale. Halo cultivates, extracts, manufactures, and distributes quality cannabis flower, pre-rolls, vape carts, edibles, and concentrates. Halo sells these products under a portfolio of brands, including Hush™, Winberry Farms™, its retail brand Budega™, and license agreements with Papa's Herb®, DNA Genetics, and FlowerShop*. In addition, Halo has opened two dispensaries in Los Angeles under the Budega™ brand in North Hollywood and Hollywood, with plans to open one more in Hollywood in the third quarter of 2022.
In the non-THC sector, Halo is expanding into health and wellness categories, including CBD and functional supplements such as nootropic nutraceuticals and non-psychotropic mushrooms. Halo, through a series of acquisitions, has product offerings in the form of beverages (H2C Beverages), dissolvable strips (Dissolve Medical), capsules (Hushrooms™), and topical supplements (Hatshe) with proposed national distribution via a strategic agreement with SWAY Energy Corporation.
Halo has successfully acquired and integrated a variety of companies which were subsequently reorganized to create Akanda Corp. (NASDAQ: AKAN), an international medical cannabis and wellness company, of which Halo currently owns 12,674,957 common shares worth approximately $12 million as of August 15, 2022. Halo has also acquired a range of software development assets, including CannPOS, Cannalift, CannaFeels, and a discrete sublingual dosing technology, Accudab. Halo intends to reorganize these entities (including their intellectual property and patent applications) into a subsidiary called Halo Tek Inc. and to complete the distribution of the shares of Halo Tek Inc. to shareholders on record at a date to be determined.
For further information regarding Halo, see Halo's disclosure documents on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Connect with Halo Collective: Email | Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram
Adjusted EBITDA is a non-IFRS financial measure that the Company uses to assess its operating performance and does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. Management defines Adjusted EBITDA as earnings (loss) before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization, as adjusted for non-cash items. Adjusted EBITDA is provided to assist management and investors in determining the Company's operating performance. The Company also believes that securities analysts, investors, and other interested parties frequently use Adjusted EBITDA in the evaluation of companies, many of which present similar metrics when reporting their results. As other companies may calculate Adjusted EBITDA differently than the Company, Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. We caution readers that Adjusted EBITDA should not be substituted for determining net loss as an indicator of operating results, or as a substitute for cash flows from operating and investing activities. For a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA, please refer to "Non-IFRS Measures" in the Q2 2022 MD&A, which is available on the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.
This press release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only Halo's beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of Halo's control. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved". Forward-looking information may relate to anticipated events or results including, but not limited to the Company's plans regarding its flagship dispensary in Hollywood, including the expected opening date thereof; the ability of the Hollywood stores to increase the distribution and awareness of the Company's products; the proposed spin-off with Halo Tek and the expected timing thereof; the Company's plans regarding its strategic priorities for 2022; and management's expectations regarding the ability of the Company's strategic refocusing to enhance shareholder value.
By identifying such information and statements in this manner, Halo is alerting the reader that such information and statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such information and statements. In addition, in connection with the forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release, Halo has made certain assumptions. Although Halo believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. Among others, the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information and statements are the following: inability of management to successfully integrate the operations of acquired businesses, changes in the consumer market for cannabis products, changes in the expected outcomes of the proposed changes to Halo's operations, the proposed spin-out with Halo Tek Inc., delays or unforeseen costs incurred in connection with construction, the ability of competitors to scale operations in Northern California, delays or unforeseen difficulties in connection with the cultivation and harvest of Halo's raw material, changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; and the other risks disclosed in the Company's annual information form dated March 31, 2022 and other disclosure documents available on the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information or statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected.
The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and Halo does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking information and statements attributable to Halo or persons acting on its behalf is expressly qualified in its entirety by this notice.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities 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.
This press release includes trademarks, such as "Budega", "Hush", "Winberry Farms" and "Hushrooms" which are protected under applicable intellectual property laws and are the property of Halo. Solely for convenience, our trademarks referred to in this news release may appear without the ® or TM symbol, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert our rights to these trademarks, trade names and services marks to the fullest extent under applicable law. Trademarks which may be used in this press release, other than those that belong to Halo, are the property of their respective owners.
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SOURCE Halo Collective Inc. | 2022-08-16T07:25:25+00:00 | wcjb.com | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/halo-collective-reports-second-quarter-2022-financial-results/ |
After two years of virtual meetings more than 400 preventive medicine experts gather for critical conversations about the future of the field and the health of our nation
DENVER, June 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) kicked off its annual meeting, Preventive Medicine 2022 (PM22), today in Denver, Colorado, bringing more than 400 members, guests and other leaders in preventive medicine together in person for the first time in two years. The conference, which will take place through Saturday, June 18, will focus on the science, evidence and analyses that inform preventive medicine practice.
ACPM's annual meeting brings together the brightest minds in public health and preventive medicine to share ideas on top issues impacting our nation's health. Dozens of sessions and presentations will showcase the latest evidence-based research and practices that will prepare public health for future pandemics, reduce the burden of chronic disease, prevent injuries and improve the health and wellbeing of all populations.
"As we kick off PM2022, I look forward to sparking conversations about the important role preventive medicine physicians play in improving the health and wellbeing of our patients and communities," said Dr. M. 'Tonette' Krousel-Wood, MD, MSPH, FACPM, President of the American College of Preventive Medicine. "The next several days will be filled with critical dialogue, but it's just the beginning of a larger effort to bring preventive medicine to the forefront of the healthcare conversation nationally."
This year's meeting will feature candid conversations around challenging healthcare topics - from health equity and gun violence to vaccine hesitancy and chronic disease prevention. ACPM members will also showcase their latest research and share best practices in preventive medicine.
"PM2022 is a moment for us as an organization to come together to not only share ideas but collaborate on solutions that preventive medicine physicians bring to the table to solve some of the greatest challenges in health care today," said Donna Grande, CEO, American College of Preventive Medicine. "Attendees at this year's meeting exemplify the passion of physicians dedicated to prevention, population health and the improvement of health outcomes. I look forward to the next several days of connection, conversation and collaboration to advance the ACPM mission."
For more information about PM2022, visit ACPM online, here, and follow the conversation on social media using #PM2022.
About ACPM
The American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) is a professional medical society of approximately 2,000 physicians dedicated to improving the health and quality of life of individuals, families, communities and populations through disease prevention and health promotion.
For more information, visit www.acpm.org
Contact: Alicia Stanford, astanford@brgcommunications.com, Phone: 703-739-8345
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SOURCE American College of Preventive Medicine | 2022-06-15T22:02:52+00:00 | kcbd.com | https://www.kcbd.com/prnewswire/2022/06/15/american-college-preventive-medicine-kicks-off-preventive-medicine-2022-conference-denver-co/ |
BEIRUT (AP) — A drone strike carried out by the American-led coalition in northwestern Syria has killed a senior member of the Islamic State group who was in charge of planning attacks in Europe, the United States military said Tuesday.
The man killed Monday in the strike was identified by a U.S. military statement as Khalid Aydd Ahmad al-Jabouri. The military statement added that his death “will temporarily disrupt the organization’s ability to plot external attacks.”
Monday’s strike was the latest by the U.S. military to kill a top official with the extremist group that once controlled large parts of Iraq and Syria, where it declared a “caliphate.” From the areas they once controlled, the extremists planned deadly attacks in Europe that killed scores of people. In recent years, such attacks have decreased because the Islamic State group lost the last sliver of land it controlled in March 2019.
The extremist sleeper cells are still launching deadly attacks in Syria and Iraq.
Opposition activists in northwest Syria said the man killed showed up in the area about 10 days ago claiming to be a displaced person from the eastern province of Deir el-Zour, bordering Iraq. Al-Jabouri is one of Iraq’s biggest tribes that also has presence in east and north Syria and the man might have said that he is from Deir el-Zour to hide his Iraqi identity as residents of east Syria speak Arabic dialect similar to the one spoken in Iraq.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said on Monday that one person was killed in a drone strike near the rebel-held village of Kefteen. The Observatory’s chief Rami Abdurrahman identified the dead man as an Iraqi citizen who was struck with a missile as he spoke on his cellular phone outside the home he rented.
The opposition’s Syrian Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets, said it evacuated the man from the scene of the attack and he later succumbed to his wounds.
The strike was the latest in a series of attacks over the past years targeting al-Qaida-linked militants and senior members of the Islamic State group in northwestern Syria.
Most of those killed by U.S. strikes in the rebel-held Idlib province over the past years were members of al-Qaida offshoot Horas al-Din, which is Arabic for “Guardians of Religion.” The group includes hardcore al-Qaida members who broke away from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the strongest insurgent group in Idlib province.
In February, a drone strike killed two men, whom local activists initially identified as Horas al-Din members. The Observatory later said that one of the two killed was a senior member of the Islamic State group that was defeated in Syria in March 2019.
The founder of the Islamic State group, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was hunted down by the Americans in a raid in Idlib in October 2019. His successor, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, was also killed in a U.S. raid in February 2022 in northwest Syria.
In October, Syrian rebels killed the group’s leader, Abu al-Hassan al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, and he has since been repalced by Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurayshi.
None of the al-Qurayshis are believed to be related. Al-Qurayshi is not their real name but comes from Quraish, the name of the tribe to which Islam’s Prophet Muhammad belonged. IS claims its leaders hail from this tribe and “al-Qurayshi” serves as part of an IS leader’s nom de guerre. | 2023-04-04T15:13:19+00:00 | wearegreenbay.com | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/ap-top-headlines/us-military-says-senior-is-commander-killed-in-syria/ |
Atlas Retail Energy's Matthew Stasium will Discuss Customers' Broker and Supplier Relationships
BOSTON, Feb. 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Retail energy aggregator, broker and consultant Atlas Retail Energy, an Iapetus Holdings company, announces Matthew Stasium, Director of Strategic Relationships, will be a speaker on the Energy Marketing Conferences' (EMC) EMC19 on "The Broker and Supplier Panel", to be held March 20-21, 2023 at the Hilton Post Oak in Houston, Texas. The Theme of EMC19 is "Surviving and Thriving During Turbulent Times".
EMC, the largest and longest-running gathering of retail energy executives in North America, brings together hundreds of energy companies, utilities, marketers, vendors, and suppliers in the retail energy industry to engage, educate and empower the competitive energy market and help shape its future. The Energy Marketing Conference's (EMC) mission is to provide the competitive energy industry with exciting conferences and build a community. Every year, EMC takes place in Houston and New York City. The spring and fall two-day packed agendas feature more than 50 thought leaders who speak on over a dozen sessions and panels. Hundreds of energy industry professionals gather to network at the annual energy conference. The EMC trade show and exhibitor hall count over 40 exhibitor booths.
On the "Broker and Supplier Panel", representatives from the broker, the supplier, and the utility perspective will discuss the customer focus and collaboration to move the industry forward. Stasium's fellow panel speakers include Andrew Barth, Partner at CSD Energy Advisors, Jeff Colvin, EVP Sales, Shell Energy, Geno Cortina, SVP at Freepoint Energy Solutions and Trent Stout, Senior Managing Director, Priority Power. The panel's moderator will be Ananda Goswami from VertexOne. This year, the EMC19 keynote speaker will be David M. Black, CEO of Shell Energy Solutions.
Stasium stated, "I am honored to sit along fellow leaders in the industry leveraging an extensive history and wealth of knowledge in the space. The energy markets are extremely fluid in recent times. It takes innovative and thought-provoking discussions, like the one EMC has put together, to find the best solutions for the clients of the future. Working together, collaborating on ideas, and pushing our industry forward has always been a key focus for me and the Atlas team. I know this panel will be exciting and one the attendees won't want to miss."
As reported by Infocast, deregulated markets, also known as competitive energy markets, have opened generation for competition from independent power producers in 24 states, such as California, Texas and most states in the Northeast. 18 of these states plus Washington D.C. have also introduced "retail choice", which allows residential and/or industrial consumers to choose their own electricity provider. Customers benefit from more competitive rates and generation options, including renewable energy.
In the words of Atlas Retail Energy President, Steve Roberson, "Deregulated markets offer many options when shopping for an energy supplier. Commercial and industrial customers ideally should have a clear understanding how to optimize their energy mix, the terms they're committing to and how to efficiently leverage green alternatives. Price is important, yet all the factors should be weighed when making decisions around energy, often one of the highest and most volatile operating costs for most businesses. At Atlas Retail Energy, we thrive on being on the forefront with fellow thought leaders on how to set customers up for success in their energy choices."
About Atlas Retail Energy
Atlas Retail Energy is a Boston-based energy advisor providing commercial and industrial clients customized energy solutions and renewable alternatives in deregulated U.S. markets. As a fully integrated boutique firm, Atlas leverages wholesale market intelligence to create and implement customized solutions for end-users of energy and provides users complete transparency into wholesale energy markets. Atlas Retail Energy was announced as one of four finalists for the TEPA ABC 2022-2023 Award among over 100 of the most notable brokers in the country. The ABC (Aggregator/Broker/Consultant) award is voted on by TEPA's Supplier membership and is intended to recognize the outstanding ABC Member company in categories such as overall satisfaction, ease of doing business, ethical business practices, customer service, and market knowledge.
For more information, visit Atlas Retail Energy. Atlas Retail Energy is an operating company of Iapetus Holdings.
About Iapetus Holdings
Ranked number one on revenues on the Houston Business Journal 2022 list of veteran-owned companies, Iapetus Holdings LLC (Iapetus) is a privately held, minority and veteran owned portfolio of energy and utility services businesses and alternative investments solving the world's most urgent needs around energy efficiency, reliability, safety and sustainability. Iapetus teams implement agile strategies to serve energy, utility, commercial and industrial companies.
Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Iapetus is a multimillion-dollar portfolio of companies listed among the 2022 Inc. 5000 fastest-growing companies in America, efficiently structured to deliver optimum results for clients. Utility and energy clients trust the integrated solutions offered by Iapetus wholly-owned subsidiary companies Atlas Retail Energy, Atlas Commodities, Iapetus Infrastructure Services, Atlas Field Services, Soaring Eagle Technologies, Gold Coast Utility Specialists, Hyperion Safety Environmental Solutions and UATI. Iapetus is creating a legacy forming the next generation of leaders as the proud sponsor of a 501c3 non-profit, AtlasScholars. For more information, visit www.iapetusllc.com.
Media Contact:
S. Lechin
832-993-6794
media@iapetusllc.com
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SOURCE Atlas Retail Energy | 2023-02-21T14:57:09+00:00 | kxii.com | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/02/21/atlas-retail-energy-speaking-energy-marketing-conferences-emc19-houston/ |
PATHUM THANI, Thailand (AP) — Thailand’s main opposition party on Friday paraded its slate of parliamentary candidates and outlined its policy pledges in a well-choreographed show of confidence ahead of the approaching general election.
Several thousand supporters clad in red cheered and waved banners as the 400 candidates of the Pheu Thai party marched behind flag-bearers into an indoor university stadium on the outskirts of Bangkok, where they took their seats on stage.
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha is expected to dissolve Parliament by Monday, shortly before its term expires, triggering polls likely to be scheduled for early May.
Pheu Thai is closely linked to Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister ousted by a military coup in 2006. Thaksin, a telecommunications tycoon who upended tradition-bound Thai politics with populist policies, is despised by the military and ruling conservative establishment, whose influence he threatened. He now lives in exile to avoid a prison term on charges he calls politically motivated.
His sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, also served as prime minister from 2011 to 2014, when she was forced from office by a controversial legal ruling.
Despite attempts by his opponents to root out his family’s influence in Thai politics, Thaksin retains significant support, especially among poorer voters. As a consequence, Pheu Thai is being tipped by many analysts to win the most seats of any party and has been touting its prospects of a landslide victory.
Thaksin’s daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, is expected to be its main candidate for the prime minister’s post.
On Friday, she outlined policies including improving labor conditions, guaranteeing a higher minimum wage, reducing pollution and turning Thailand into a financial technology hub.
“I hope everyone wins their elections by a landslide, winning the people’s hearts by a lot,” she said to the assembled candidates, receiving enthusiastic applause. “Together we will fix the problems that have piled up over the last eight years, make them diminish and disappear.”
Even if Pheu Thai wins the most seats, it may not necessarily provide the prime minister. The top post is chosen by a combined vote of the elected lawmakers and the appointed 250-strong Senate. The Senate is widely expected to vote as a bloc in favor of a conservative candidate and against anyone from the Shinawatra camp.
Prime Minister Prayuth has led the country since seizing power in a 2014 military coup that toppled the Pheu Thai government led by Yingluck Shinawatra. Prayuth then continued as prime minister after the 2019 election, which was conducted under laws his junta had introduced to favor his return to power. | 2023-03-17T16:13:02+00:00 | wwlp.com | https://www.wwlp.com/news/ap-international-news/thailands-opposition-party-unveils-policies-and-candidates/ |
A second investigation into systemic abuse in the National Women's Soccer League was released Wednesday, providing further details of how the league, its clubs and the U.S. Soccer Federation failed to protect players and allowed misconduct to run rampant throughout the 10-year-old league.
- NWSL investigation finds 'ongoing misconduct,' details culture of abuse
Wednesday's report, which was jointly commissioned by the NWSL and the NWSL Players Association, comes just over two months after former U.S. deputy attorney general Sally Yates released her report, which was commissioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation. Whereas Yates' report focused on three major storylines and perpetrators, the NWSL/NWSLPA joint investigation looked further, scrutinizing each of the 12 current NWSL teams, as well as historic complaints in the league.
"Misconduct against players has occurred at the vast majority of NWSL clubs at various times from the earliest years of the league to the present," the report states, referencing instances of inappropriate sexual remarks to players by staff in positions of power, blurred professional boundaries, and manipulation.
Here are the larger questions and contents of the report.
What is this investigation, and how is it different from the Yates report?
The latest investigation ("the joint investigation") acknowledges and reiterates the Yates report's detailing of misconduct by former Portland Thorns, Western New York Flash and North Carolina Courage coach Paul Riley; former Washington Spirit coach Richie Burke; and former Sky Blue FC and Racing Louisville coach Christy Holly. It also provides new information around the suspensions and firings of several coaches and general managers and recommends how the league must change going forward.
Yates was commissioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation, which is the sport's governing body and was, for eight years between 2012 and 2020, the manager of the NWSL as part of an operational agreement.
Following the revelations of Riley's sexual misconduct on Sept. 30, 2021, the NWSL and the NWSLPA separately sought to conduct investigations. The league retained Covington & Burling LLP, while the NWSLPA retained Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP. The two parties ultimately decided that a joint investigation made the most sense, with Covington taking the lead under the direction of an oversight committee. That committee included: NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman; NWSLPA executive director Meghann Burke; WNBPA executive director Terri Jackson (selected by the NWSLPA); Goop, Inc. general counsel and chief people officer Djenaba Parker (selected by the NWSL) and former United States District Judge Barbara S. Jones, who was deemed an independent member.
Whereas the Yates report intentionally focused on what it deemed the most egregious abusers, the joint investigation scrutinized more nuanced incidents of emotional abuse and power imbalances that caused players to report that they contemplated quitting, had panic attacks and, in some cases, needed therapy. The latest report also focuses on racism and microaggressions in a way that the Yates report did not.
The joint investigation states:
"Some types of misconduct against players, including certain instances of sexual abuse and manipulation, have already been widely reported. Other misconduct, which this Report discusses in detail below, has not received as much, if any, public attention. The Joint Investigative Team found, for example, that club staff in positions of power made inappropriate sexual remarks to players, mocked players' bodies, pressured players to lose unhealthy amounts of weight, crossed professional boundaries with players, and created volatile and manipulative working conditions. They used derogatory and insulting language towards players, displayed insensitivity towards players' mental health, and engaged in retaliation against players who attempted to report or did report concerns. Misconduct against players has occurred at the vast majority of NWSL clubs at various times from the earliest years of the League to the present."
Why was a second investigation required?
Sauerbrunn: NWSL players horrified and heartbroken
USWNT and Portland Thorns' Becky Sauerbrunn speaks out after findings of systemic abuse across women's soccer in the Yates report.
Two overlapping trends factor into why there are two major reports on systemic abuse in the NWSL: a lack of trust in reporting systems, and a lack of accountability among those in positions of power.
Throughout its 125 pages, the joint investigation repeatedly details how U.S. Soccer, the NWSL and specific clubs passed on responsibility for problems of the past to each other, with parties either claiming ignorance to specific information or stating that another party was responsible for reporting something.
- NWSL abuse allegations as they happened: Portland Thorns, Washington Spirit timelines, day by day
Second, the investigation found that players and club staff did not trust reporting processes or the league at large, so much so that it affected participation even in this investigation, which had the oversight of the players' union, the NWSLPA. The union is referenced by players in the report as a default place to voice concerns, for lack of historical human resources departments in the league and at clubs, but concerns remain over how reported complaints are handled.
"The lack of clearly established responsibilities allowed individuals within these institutions to disclaim personal responsibility for player protection and to turn a blind eye or shift blame to other individuals and entities, while players were left exposed to further misconduct and unsafe environments. Players from marginalized backgrounds, or with the least job security, were often targets of misconduct."
The joint investigation also confirms that the misconduct from Riley, Burke and Holly, which made headlines, was part of a wider culture of power imbalances between players and staff members that was pervasive in the league. Eight different ownership groups and 15 individuals -- including some from the NWSL and U.S. Soccer -- come under detailed scrutiny in the latest report.
So what is new in this report?
Among the new revelations about specific individuals, those regarding Houston Dash head coach James Clarkson stand out. Clarkson was suspended in April amid an ongoing investigation, but until Wednesday, no reasons were provided publicly.
Clarkson was described by many players in the report as unpredictable and temperamental, which "created a culture of anxiety." Clarkson, according to players interviewed in the report, targeted a couple of players each year to berate. Two players said they sought therapy.
An initial complaint against Clarkson was filed in December 2021, and the joint investigators leading Wednesday's report spoke with seven current and former players who described the coach as "volatile, verbally abusive, and not showing appropriate regard for players' wellbeing." Then, in the spring of 2022, came additional complaints and concerns that Clarkson would retaliate against players since he was aware of an investigation into him, which led to his suspension. A further 19 current and former players were interviewed, and investigators "determined that Clarkson's actions constituted emotional misconduct." The report, however, acknowledges that "a majority of players expressed the view that Clarkson's treatment of players did not rise to the level of abuse or misconduct."
Among the specific incidents detailed about Clarkson was a 2022 preseason trip to Mexico. Ahead of the first game of the trip, Clarkson questioned whether a player was hungover from an outing the previous night, despite his medical staff informing him that they thought she was experiencing altitude sickness (Mexico City is 7,300 feet above sea level). Clarkson then demanded hotel security footage (which investigators said he did not get) and reprimanded the team for drinking before a game, although player maintain they did not. When confronted by the team's captains about his response, Clarkson said that the players "should be scared."
The report also details Clarkson's handling of an incident in Houston back in April 2021, when stadium security questioned the boyfriend of then Chicago Red Stars defender Sarah Gorden. Gorden said that she and her boyfriend were racially profiled, prompting a league investigation at the time.
Gorden's boyfriend was prevented from entering an area where he could speak with her, and she said publicly that her white teammates were visiting family in the same area, but were not scrutinized. The Dash blamed coronavirus protocols, and Clarkson did not ask security to look into it. According to the report: "While the NWSL investigation [of the 2021 incident with Gorden] was ongoing, Dash Head Coach James Clarkson -- during a team meeting prior to completion of the investigation -- wrote phone numbers for stadium security on a board and asked players to call and apologize for their conduct." Some players viewed this as defending stadium security staff.
The reasons for Alyse LaHue's termination as NJ/NY Gotham FC general manager in July 2021 are also now clear following 1½ years of silence from the club on the issue.
It was previously reported, although never officially communicated by the league or club, that LaHue was fired for violation of the league's anti-harassment policy. The joint investigation details how LaHue sent inappropriate messages to a player, including some about the player being in her dreams, despite the player's request for those to stop and asking of LaHue to "accept that we are working together and nothing more." Investigators determined that LaHue's interactions with the player constituted misconduct.
Vera Pauw, who was the Houston Dash head coach in 2018 and is currently the head coach of the Ireland women's national team -- which will play in its first Women's World Cup next year -- was also identified in the report. Pauw lived in the same apartment complex as players -- an issue the report flags as a too-common problem around the league -- and allegedly attempted to control their diets and prevent them from weight training for fear they would be too "bulky."
Pauw's presence at the same apartment complex created anxiety among players. Witnesses to body-shaming by both Pauw and Riley reported that "players developed eating disorders and sought mental health treatment." North Carolina Courage defender Kaleigh Kurtz previously spoke publicly about Riley's body-shaming of her, and how the disgraced coach told her she had to lose 14 pounds in 10 days if she expected to start the next game.
Kurtz further detailed to investigators incidents of weight-shaming by Riley, noting that she developed an eating disorder. Kurtz added that after reading last year about Riley's past sexual misconduct, she realized that the coach was "grooming" her with similar patterns of behavior. Kurtz alleges that in 2019, Riley shared detailed information about his life, including preferred sexual positions, and persistently tried to obtain more details about her romantic life in the weeks and months that followed.
Courage leadership was made aware of Riley's conduct toward Kurtz, who also reported her experiences directly to then-NWSL commissioner Lisa Baird in a group meeting last year. Another Courage player told team leadership last year that Riley had been verbally abusive and created "a culture of fear."
Morgan shames former NWSL commissioner Baird for inaction over Riley abuse
Alex Morgan calls out former NWSL commissioner Lisa Baird for her failure to address allegations against Paul Riley in this bonus footage from E60: Truth Be Told, available now on ESPN+.
At a higher level, the joint investigation makes a greater attempt to identify and define problematic everyday behaviors like emotional abuse, at times noting that even the players they interviewed struggle to define the lines between that and "tough coaching" because many of them grew up with so much of the latter. Indeed, the report notes at the outset: "Misconduct in the League is not wholly independent from abuse that begins in youth soccer, where many coaches' and players' formative experiences shaped the way they engaged in, or reacted to, misconduct and abuse in the NWSL."
Did everyone cooperate with the investigation?
Investigators for the NWSL/NWSLPA report say they reached out to approximately 780 current and former NWSL players regarding the investigation; about 150 were eventually asked to share their experiences. Additionally, 15 current and former NWSL staff members engaged in interviews or provided documents, as did 11 current and former U.S. Soccer staffers. Investigators say they "reviewed approximately 200,000 documents."
The Yates report made note of teams and individuals who did not cooperate, including the Portland Thorns, Chicago Red Stars, and Racing Louisville FC. The joint investigation team noted that all three clubs also "withheld key documents" from them until after the Yates report was released. Notably, investigators for the NWSL and NWSLPA also cite U.S. Soccer as an entity that delayed the investigation.
"Even after repeated requests and lengthy negotiations, U.S. Soccer did not meaningfully respond to the Joint Investigative Team's requests until shortly before and again after the USSF Report was released. This included withholding documents and other information related to an investigation U.S. Soccer conducted into reports of misconduct by Rory Dames for the better part of a year. When U.S. Soccer did respond to the Joint Investigative Team's requests, it produced limited documentation and refused the Joint Investigative Team's request to identify the documents withheld."
Former NWSL commissioner Jeff Plush responded to the joint investigators after refusing to speak with Yates & Co., though the report indicates that Plush only provided written responses. Plush eventually resigned as CEO of USA Curling nearly a month after the Yates report detailed his inaction and culpability in allowing Riley to continue coaching in the NWSL following Riley's 2015 sexual misconduct in Portland.
Morgan: Mana Shim was failed by the system
Alex Morgan shares her frustration at the NWSL's failure to support Meleana Shim after speaking out against Paul Riley in this behind-the-scenes clip from E60: Truth Be Told, available now on ESPN+.
The overlap of the two reports also proved problematic in some cases. Holly spoke with investigators for the Yates report but pulled out of a scheduled interview with the joint investigation after the release of the Yates report, which of course publicly revealed his misconduct for the first time. Riley and Dames refused to speak to the joint investigation team or Yates' team, while Pauw "appeared, but refused to cooperate" and ultimately issued a written statement. LaHue participated in an initial interview, but then cancelled a follow-up interview.
Investigators said after interviews that Burke did not acknowledge the offensiveness of his behaviors with the Washington Spirit, and that Clarkson "exhibited a lack of candor... Clarkson denied ever raising his voice at players or losing control of his emotions, notwithstanding credible evidence to the contrary." They also found former Utah Royals head coach Craig Harrington to lack credibility while offering defenses of his actions, which ranged from drinking with players (including once at a strip club while an assistant coach in Chicago), attempting to enter a player's hotel room and inappropriate comments of a sexual nature.
What does the report recommend?
While the report singles out individuals and clubs for alleged misconduct or mishandling of situations, investigators chose to make recommendations that are "forward-looking, systemic in nature; rather than recommending discipline as to specific individuals or entities." The latter is presumably for each club and, perhaps in some cases, NWSL commissioner Berman to decide. (There have already been consequences since the Yates report, including Merritt Paulson and Arnim Whisler agreeing to sell the Portland Thorns and Chicago Red Stars, respectively.)
Instead, the joint investigation identified gaps in existing policies and procedures, including strengthening the league's anti-harassment policy, which was only first adopted in 2021 -- eight years after the league first played a game. That initial policy was created with a primary focus of maintaining a safe environment, free of harassment. In 2022, it was updated to prohibit discrimination and retaliation more explicitly.
More specificity is needed, investigators concluded, to provide examples of how ostracizing players or denying playing opportunities could fall under the definition of prohibited behavior. They also feel the non-fraternization policy, first implemented in January 2018, must be more explicit, extend to staff beyond the head coach and "clarify that any sexual or romantic relationship between players and those in supervisory roles over players is strictly prohibited, even if the relationship is consensual."
- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, more (U.S.)
Investigators also call for more centralized hiring processes, including background checks with references for all prospective club owners, staff, and volunteers who might interact with players. The report identifies several instances in which basic criminal records checks would come back clean, but where reference checks would have revealed character issues regarding potential hires. It provides a successful (albeit anonymous) example of this working in late 2021. Among the suggested actions is involving players in hiring processes more formally and establishing information sharing among clubs.
There are some interesting suggestions in the report, too, including a call for the NWSL to establish and enforce a policy discouraging the use of nondisclosure and non-disparagement agreements "in circumstances involving alleged or substantiated misconduct under the Anti-Harassment Policy." Such policies can create veils of secrecy around the dismissal of some coaches and allow them to be rehired elsewhere despite their misconduct. The NDA between Holly and Racing Louisville caused various problems, including for investigators trying to obtain evidence.
"Inattentiveness, neglect, and concealment allow misconduct to fester," the report's conclusion reads. Now, league leadership must make meaningful changes: sources tell ESPN that the NWSL board received the report at the same time as it was released to the public, but in terms of timing, some of the report's recommendations could well be in place before the start of the 2023 season. | 2022-12-15T00:16:16+00:00 | espn.com | https://www.espn.com/soccer/united-states-nwsl/story/4831880/second-nwsl-abuse-report-covers-clarkson-lahue-pauw-riley |
Southern Baptist leaders release secret accused abuser list
(AP) - In response to an explosive investigation, top Southern Baptists have released a previously secret list of hundreds of pastors and other church-affiliated personnel accused of sexual abuse.
The 205-page database was made public late Thursday. It includes more than 700 entries from cases that largely span from 2000 to 2019.
Its existence became widely known Sunday when the independent firm, Guidepost Solutions, included it in its bombshell report detailing how the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee mishandled allegations of sex abuse, stonewalled numerous survivors and prioritized protecting the SBC from liability.
Executive Committee leaders Rolland Slade and Willie McLaurin, in a joint statement, called publishing the list “an initial, but important, step towards addressing the scourge of sexual abuse and implementing reform in the Convention.”
“Each entry in this list reminds us of the devastation and destruction brought about by sexual abuse,” they said. “Our prayer is that the survivors of these heinous acts find hope and healing, and that churches will utilize this list proactively to protect and care for the most vulnerable among us.”
The Guidepost report, released after a seven-month investigation, contained several explosive revelations. Among them: D. August Boto, the committee’s former vice president and general counsel, and former SBC spokesman Roger Oldham kept their own private list of abusive ministers. Both retired in 2019. The existence of the list was not widely known within the committee and its staff.
“Despite collecting these reports for more than 10 years, there is no indication that (Oldham and Boto) or anyone else, took any action to ensure that the accused ministers were no longer in positions of power at SBC churches,” the report said.
The Executive Committee did not make additions to the published list, but their attorneys did redact several entries as well as the names and identifying information of survivors and others unrelated to the accused, Thursday’s joint statement said.
They made public “entries that reference an admission, confession, guilty plea, conviction, judgment, sentencing, or inclusion on a sex offender registry,” and expect some of the redacted entries on the list to be made public once more research is done. The list also includes Baptist ministers that are not affiliated with the SBC.
Survivors and advocates have long called for a public database of abusers. The creation of an “offender information system” was one of the key recommendations in the report by Guidepost, which was contracted by the Executive Committee after delegates to last year’s national meeting pressed for an outside investigation.
Also in the report was a shocking allegation that Johnny Hunt, a Georgia-based pastor and former SBC president, sexually assaulted another pastor’s wife during a beach vacation in 2010. Hunt has disputed the allegation, saying in a statement that he has “never abused anybody.”
He resigned May 13 as senior vice president of evangelism and leadership at the North American Mission Board, the SBC’s domestic missions agency. On Wednesday, NAMB leaders announced changes to address the issue including committing to investigate abuse accusations and creating an Abuse Prevention and Response Committee to assess and strengthen existing policies and procedures.
Also in the wake of the report’s release, survivors have been calling in information about abuse allegations to the Executive Committee, Guidepost and members of a task force set up to oversee the firm’s investigation, according to a joint statement from the three entities.
A hotline is now open for survivors, or someone on their behalf, to report abuse allegations: 202-864-5578 or SBChotline@guidepostsolutions.com. Callers will be provided with care options and connected with an advocate, the statement said.
Guidepost will maintain the hotline and keep the information confidential, but will not be looking into the allegations. The joint statement described the hotline as a “stopgap measure for survivors” until delegates can pass reforms during this year’s national meeting scheduled for June 14-15 in Anaheim, California.
The task force expects to make its formal motions based on the Guidepost report public next week. Those recommendations will then be presented for a vote in Anaheim.
___
Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2022-05-27T04:07:12+00:00 | kswo.com | https://www.kswo.com/2022/05/27/southern-baptist-leaders-release-secret-accused-abuser-list/ |
Lange Law Firm: Artificial Tears eye drops linked to one death, five reports of vision loss, dozens of infections nationwide
TRENTON, N.J., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As federal authorities widen a multistate investigation into antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterial contamination linked to EzriCare Artificial Tears eye drops, a woman has now filed a federal lawsuit against EzriCare and retailer Walmart after using the eye drops and suffering a serious infection that resulted in injury.
Prominent food and product safety attorney Jory Lange with The Lange Law Firm, who recently filed the first individual personal injury lawsuit related to this outbreak in Florida, filed this latest suit along with co-counsel Rachel Placitella of Cohen, Placitella & Roth, one of New Jersey's leading products liability lawyers. The plaintiff in this case is among more than 50 people across the country who have been infected with an antibiotic-resistant bacteria known as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. One person has died, and there have been five reports of vision loss.
"Our client's eyes became infected after she used EzriCare Artificial Tears sold by Walmart. After attacking her eyes, the infection spread to other parts of her body," said Jory Lange. "Her doctors are still trying to find the right combination of antibiotics to fight the antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection that she got from Ezricare eye drops."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an alert for healthcare providers and have advised consumers to stop using the product. Meanwhile, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has posted a voluntary recall for two artificial tear brands – EzriCare and Delsam Pharma – for possible contamination. Cases have been reported in 12 states so far: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa originates from soil and water and can be spread person-to-person from contact with contaminated hands, equipment, or surfaces. The antibiotic-resistant bacteria can cause infections in the blood, lungs (pneumonia) or other parts of the body and is particularly dangerous in healthcare settings.
The case is Ward v. EzriCare, LLC, EzriRx, LLC, Aru Pharma Inc., and Walmart, Inc., Case number 3:23-cv-00808, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
How The Lange Law Firm can help:
Our mission is to help families who have been harmed by products contaminated with deadly bacteria. When corporations cause bacterial outbreaks, we use the law to hold them accountable. If you suspect that you have been infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa by EzriCare or Delsam Pharma eye drops and are interested in making a legal claim for compensation, we can help. Call us for a free no obligation legal consultation at (833) 330-3663 or send us an e-mail here.
About the legal team:
Jory Lange with The Lange Law Firm, PLLC is one of the nation's leading lawyers specializing in food and water safety, representing clients across the United States in bacterial outbreak cases ranging from Pseudomonas aeruginosa to E. coli, Salmonella, and Legionnaires' disease.
Rachel Placitella with Cohen, Placitella & Roth, P.C. handles complex litigation matters, including asbestos litigation, product liability and personal injury matters. She is an experienced litigator handling each case from early investigative stage through settlement or trial, and has a reputation for excellence, marked by her participation in a number of significant litigation cases.
Media Contact:
Jason Cunningham
800-559-4534
jason@androvett.com
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SOURCE The Lange Law Firm, PLLC | 2023-02-13T18:19:17+00:00 | kcbd.com | https://www.kcbd.com/prnewswire/2023/02/13/first-new-jersey-lawsuit-filed-against-ezricare-eye-drops-walmart-over-injuries-caused-by-antibiotic-resistant-bacterial-contamination/ |
The cheating controversy gripping the world of elite chess was already enigmatic — but it deepened even more on Monday, when world champion Magnus Carlsen abruptly resigned after making a single move in his highly anticipated rematch with Hans Niemann.
Carlsen, 31, and Niemann, 19, were facing off in the Julius Baer Generation Cup roughly two weeks after Niemann defeated Carlsen — a win that was immediately thrown into question by a cryptic tweet from Carlsen that seemed to suggest Niemann was cheating.
The drama threw chess into a tizzy, and fueled anticipation for Monday's match between Carlsen and Niemann in the online tournament. But after Niemann made his first move as white, Carlsen responded with a single move as black and then quit.
"What?!" numerous commentators said in unison on video streams, as they struggled to grasp what had just happened. Carlsen offered no explanation, as he promptly turned off his video camera. But his resignation was quickly seen as a protest and a refusal to play Niemann, of the U.S.
Many involved in chess are now calling for Carlsen, the Norwegian who has ruled global chess for the past decade, to give a full account of his actions. Some also say the International Chess Federation should review the case, both to uncover any cheating and to address the damage done when one of the greatest players of all time refuses to play in a tournament he has entered.
"The implications of this are horrifying," grandmaster Maurice Ashley told NPR. "It's terrible."
The fallout ranges from warping one tournament's results to raising questions about other players' legitimacy and also about the sport's future, Ashley said.
First, some context
On Sept. 5, Carlsen suddenly withdrew from the Sinquefield Cup in St. Louis after losing to Niemann. Rather than making a direct comment at the time, the world champion posted a video clip of a soccer manager saying, "I prefer not to speak. If I speak, I am in big trouble."
Chess.com then banned Niemann and uninvited him from the Global Championship, an event that will be decided in November, with a $1 million prize on the line.
The plot deepened further on Sept. 6, when Niemann publicly admitted he has used electronic devices to cheat in the past — but only in online games, and only when he was 12 and 16 years old.
In the first instance, Niemann said, he was "just a child." He called the second "an absolutely ridiculous mistake" that occurred when he was trying to build up his ranking and support his career in online streaming.
"I was confronted; I confessed," Niemann said, adding that he was punished with an initial ban and has since dedicated himself to proving his abilities.
But two days after that interview, Chess.com released a statement about its recent decision to ban Niemann, saying it has shared "detailed evidence" with him "that contradicts his statements regarding the amount and seriousness of his cheating on Chess.com."
— Chess.com (@chesscom) September 8, 2022
Monday's one-move game stunned chess commentators
"What do we say now?" Grandmaster David Howell asked at the end of Carlsen's one-move game.
In Maurice Ashley's view, the next move is Carlsen's. After two weeks of insinuation, he said, it's time for clarity. Even more confusing, he says, is that Carlsen is continuing in the Generation Cup after resigning against Niemann.
"It's not a good look for Magnus to just be silent and let thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of people pile up on a 19-year-old who has admitted doing wrong in the past and is now saying, 'I just want to play chess,' " Ashely said.
"I think that as a leading ambassador for the sport, Magnus has to say something. He has to give some kind of clarification, because otherwise everyone ends up looking bad."
Detailing how the situation affects other players, organizers and sponsors, Ashely notes that when Carlsen quit, he gifted Niemann with three points. That could be crucial in a tournament where only the top half of the 16-player field will advance to the next round.
"There is money on the line in this event, real dollars," Ashley said. "And Hans getting three full points may end up having him qualify potentially over another participant that Magnus did not resign against."
Chess has to find the right move
Ashley watched Monday's match as a fan. To put the experience in perspective for fans of other sports, he suggests thinking of LeBron James and the L.A. Lakers trotting out to half-court for the opening tipoff of a big game — only to let the ball roll out of bounds and then exit the arena.
"This is literally the best player in the world playing in a tournament and simply quitting" without explanation, Ashley said.
"This is not what sports are about. We just can't continue like this."
The cheating accusations emerged after Niemann's player rating on Chess.com enjoyed "a really significant, almost unprecedented rise" since the start of 2021, Caleb Wetherell, who runs Pawnalyze, a chess analysis website, told NPR last weekend.
Niemann's rise could be interpreted as meaning he was underrated by the system. But Ashley and others worry that cheating suspicions could now taint any young prodigy who improves rapidly, in a field that's long been famous for its prodigies.
Because of the scale of the questions raised by Carlsen's actions, there are increasing calls for the International Chess Federation to investigate — an idea with which Ashley agrees.
"Someone has to step in and figure out what's going on and give us some kind of process for moving forward," he said.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2022-09-21T09:43:38+00:00 | iowapublicradio.org | https://www.iowapublicradio.org/news-from-npr/2022-09-21/the-cheating-scandal-roiling-the-chess-world-has-a-new-wrinkle |
YES, RATS DO come up toilets. Yes, it’s a startling and scary image: those beady eyes, pointy front incisors, long scaly tails, their rhythmic sniffing. Sniffing for what?
Your doom, that’s what. You live in Seattle, a city that always ranks among the rattiest in the country.
Rats have always scared humans. At its worst, it’s called musophobia.
In George Orwell’s dystopian “1984,” about a bleak, totalitarian society, the protagonist is broken when a cage filled with hungry rats is placed around his head.
And in a just plain creepy scenario, you have a man whose home is in Magnolia and who makes this report to Public Health — Seattle & King County: “Well, we came back from a trip, and there was a dead rat in our basement toilet.”
The man concludes, “Reconsidering my wife’s desire to get a cat. Questioning a lot of things in life now …”
A rat in a toilet does raise existential thoughts.
The above report is from a July 2020 public records request to the agency. That year and in 2021, it got a dozen-and-a-half such spooky reports.
Here’s another one, from October 2021 in the 98115 Zip code, which includes Bryant and Maple Leaf. Rats are equal opportunists. Every neighborhood is good pickings.
“ … [W]e had a rat come up through the bathroom toilet in the living room that we discovered after hearing a noise coming from the toilet. We chased that rat out of the house and then again that same evening heard the same noise from the bathroom, and yet another rat had popped up in the toilet bowl, which we also chased out.”
SEATTLE ALWAYS MAKES the Top 50 Rattiest Cities List from Orkin, a national pest control company. The list is based on new rodent treatments done by the firm. Seattle bounces between No. 9 and No 11 (in 2022).
Not surprisingly, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles are at the top.
Rats have gotten to be such a problem in the Big Apple that in December, the city advertised for a Rat Czar (official title: “director of rodent mitigation”), which paid $120,000 to $170,000. The ideal candidate was expected to possess “stamina and stagecraft” to defeat a “cunning, voracious and prolific” army.
From 2005 until late 2022, Seattle got more than 6,300 rat complaints, according to another public records request. It likely would have gotten more if residents had known where to complain. When 1,900 people responded to an online rat survey the agency prepared in 2022, a common response was, “I was not aware” it provided rodent services.
It does, with plenty of online tips at kingcounty.gov/rats, including, upon availability, “rodent prevention kits or … rodent prevention technical assistance.”
The agency’s small staff of three includes two inspectors who spend half their time dealing with rat complaints and the other half baiting sewers with small wax blocks that are dangled on a wire. The blocks, says the manufacturer of Talon Weatherblok XT, are “palatable to rodents” because of their “high-density grain content.”
They also contain brodifacoum, a lethal anticoagulant poison that results in internal bleeding. In this case, the dead rats end up washed away in the sewer.
Various rodenticides have been a source of controversy, with the National Pesticide Information Center, a cooperative between Oregon State University and the EPA, stating that secondary poisoning can result in birds such as hawks and owls that eat poisoned prey. The same holds true for cats and dogs, with the ASPCA recommending immediate veterinary treatment for pets showing such signs as “weakness, tremors and seizures.”
Seattle’s rat-baiting program was featured in a June 2022 research paper led by Xiaocong (Maggie) Guo in earning her master’s degree in occupational and environmental health at the University of British Columbia. She tracked more than 1,700 manholes here that had been geotagged for their location.
Conclusions: Older sewers have more rats, maybe because of disrepair or decay. Rats prefer pipes in higher elevations because they don’t flood as much during storms, flushing out food and rat nests. Rats like sewer pipes that aren’t buried very deep, likely because tree roots can penetrate them easier. Rats like sewer pipes that carry human waste — as disgusting as it sounds, they like eating it. Finally, also disgusting, rats like narrower sewer pipes because they’re more likely to get blocked up with human waste.
THOSE 6,300 COMPLAINTS in Seattle sometimes pit neighbors against each other.
June 2022, Shoreline: “ … [S]he is reporting her neighbor next door, who is having overgrown vegetation — blackberries and the grass is also a foot high on her backyard, attracting the rodents into the neighborhood. Complainant has been offering any kind of help to her neighbor to help to keep her yard clean, but she is refusing it.”
September 2022, Ballard: “We have a severe outdoor rat infestation … Their food is the half-dozen bird feeders that our neighbors have sited along our shared fence. They do not clean up around the feeders and put out peanuts and ears of dried corn for the squirrels. When asked to change their feeder practices, they declined … We have an astonishing amount of rat poop in our courtyard. The rats tunnel into our retaining wall and garden beds and leave large piles of dirt … We’ve spent over $1,000 trying to exterminate the rats, and the problem has only gotten worse. We’re worried the rats will eventually find their way into our home.”
The agency says that once a complaint is received, it sends out a letter to the property owner and in most cases conducts a visit. If rodents are found, a violation notice is issued. Owners can be issued three violation notices of at least two weeks each to do a clean-up. The agency prefers compliance through education.
After that a civil penalty is issued based on time spent by the inspectors — “at least $2,000,” says the agency.
In 2021, according to another public records request, six rodent code violation liens were issued, and in 2022 none through September.
THE RATS, AND MICE, that most commonly cause problems in our cities are not even natives.
There is the misnamed Norway rat — also called the brown, sewer or wharf rat — actually a native from northern China or Mongolia.
There is the black rat or roof rat, with a tail nearly always longer than its body. It’s native to India and possibly other regions of South Asia.
Then there is the house mouse, native to Central Asia.
The Romans called mice mus minimus (little mouse) and rats mus maximus (big mouse).
Wherever humans have gone, says Bobby Corrigan, a nationally known rat expert out of Westchester County, New York, these rodents have followed. Why not? We offer plenty of food pickings.
Starting in Asia, “Both rats and the mice likely hitched rides on wagons heading westward to Europe,” he says. From there, they hopped on boats going across the Atlantic to the East Coast, or on boats going from China to the West Coast.
Then settling in was easy. They just climbed down the ship mooring ropes.
That’s why, eventually, rotating discs were placed on the ropes. When a rat tried to climb over it, the disc began to spin, and supposedly the animal dropped in the water. But, as with other efforts to control the rodents, it was too late.
From tagging along on ships, “It became planes, trains and automobiles,” says Corrigan.
Give credit where credit is due.
“We’re the most successful mammal on the planet Earth. The house mouse is the second-most successful. Then rats probably come in third,” he says.
Corrigan has taken his Rodent Academy workshop for pest controllers to numerous cities, including Seattle. Corrigan certainly has the background, having published more than 160 technical publications in urban pest management.
Get used to these rodents, he says. They will always be with us.
For an April 2019 National Geographic story, Corrigan helped with a hypothetical example of how fast an urban rodent colony can grow.
With rats, “It takes them about three months before they themselves become sexually mature and start having their own family,” says Corrigan.
Starting out with a litter of nine pups, you’d end up with 11,907 rats by year’s end.
Of course, he says, “You’re never going to achieve that. Everything has natural checks and balances.”
SEATTLE’S BATTLE WITH rats goes back a long way.
We’re a seaport city, and we have a temperate climate. Nice for rodents.
By the time the Great Seattle Fire of 1889 was over — it began on the afternoon of June 6, when glue boiled over in a woodworking shop — the entire central business district was destroyed. A University of Washington paper on the fire said an estimated 1 million rats were killed.
There is no citation for that estimate, but the figure shows the extent to which the rodents had settled in.
After the fire, it didn’t take long for them to return. Six years later, a Feb. 14, 1905, Seattle Daily Times story carried this headline: “Rats! City Hall vaults invaded and valuable papers eaten up. Rodents swarm through municipal offices day and night.”
The rats were described as “as large as kittens.”
A considerably more serious rat event took place in 1907, when three Seattle residents died after contracting the bubonic plague, which typically happened after being bitten by a rodent flea carrying the plague bacterium.
The bubonic plague is still around, mostly in “rural and semirural areas of the western United States,” says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease can be treated with antibiotics, the earlier the better. The agency carries a long list of diseases spread by rodents, ranging from hantavirus to rat-bite fever.
The bubonic plague arrived in Seattle from thousands of rats living on ships that had traveled from Asia to San Francisco to here, according to HistoryLink.
An Oct. 22, 1907, Seattle Daily Times story told of Seattle offering a 10-cent bounty (about $3.20 in today’s dollars) for each rat brought in that was confirmed to be carrying the bacterium. When not enough rats were eliminated, a Nov. 8 story that year said the bounty was increased to $5 ($158 in today’s dollars).
The bounty was fine, warned an Oct. 23 Seattle Daily Times story that year, but, “Death to all rats is not enough.” It told how sewage from North End areas such as Fremont and the University District was dumped directly into Lake Union. It told of garbage-strewn alleys and backyards with just 35 wagons in the city for hauling by a “garbage trust” that “work when they please.”
By November of that year, Seattle had passed two ordinances to improve sanitary conditions, and one of the nation’s first ratproofing ordinances.
Another rat control effort by Seattle was a 1970 Model City project. A July 4 Seattle Times story from that year reported 274 tons of trash collected from the Yesler to Madrona neighborhoods, mostly by volunteers. Another story reported on middle-school kids drawing rat posters, with the grand-prize winner showing a rodent scurrying toward a hole at the bottom of a door: “Ready or not, here I come.” Nice try. The rats stayed.
THESE DAYS, THERE is enough rat business (as well as for insects, spiders, birds and other animal pests) for the state’s Department of Agriculture to have issued 508 general pest control licenses. You need to pass an exam.
Says Chris Somers, service manager for Rambo Total Pest Control out of Puyallup, “From what we’ve seen, the rodent problem has gotten worse. We actually saw a brief reduction during COVID, during the time that restaurants shut down. But since everything opened up, the rat activity has shot right back.”
(The business, by the way, is not named after the Sylvester Stallone movies. The owners are Luke and Tera Rambo.)
Somers asked clients whether they were willing to be photographed and interviewed for this story. No takers. “A lot of the time when it comes to pest activity, people can be a bit embarrassed and question what they have done to create the problem,” he says.
Marieka Klawitter and Fiona Lee, who live in a home in Phinney Ridge, were willing to be photographed. Not long ago, they greeted Nick Putman, a technician for Parker Eco Pest Control.
Their home has a basement redone as a full living area.
While there, “We heard the pitter-patter across the ceiling. I said, ‘I think that’s a rat,’ ” says Klawitter. Lee says that as she looked out the living room window, she could see a rat running across the fence separating them from a neighbor.
At one point, before calling the pest control company, the women stacked empty boxes at the bottom of the stairs, thinking that’d be too much trouble for the rat(s) to scramble over to get upstairs.
Putman placed snap traps inside the house and twice came out to plug holes outside with mesh screen and foam.
He also shared some of his rat encounters. There was the time he was sealing up a crawl space while a guy he was training was holding a flashlight. “The rats were running over, and he was having a tough time keeping the light straight. It didn’t bother me,” he says.
At the Phinney Ridge home, the women say no rat has since been heard inside their home.
The way Putman sees his job is that rats make a lot of us spooked.
“Honestly, it’s what keeps me busy. I’m not afraid of rats. It’s a game of comfort,” he says.
Say, on that comfort issue, what’s that noise in your attic? Pitter-patter. Pitter-patter. | 2023-01-13T16:14:13+00:00 | seattletimes.com | https://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/rats-in-seattle-theyre-creepy-clever-and-everywhere-but-there-is-help/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) between February 19, 2021 and June 8, 2022, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important October 31, 2022 lead plaintiff deadline.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Abbott 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 Abbott class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=8453 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 October 31, 2022. 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 handle 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: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"), Abbott had "egregiously unsanitary" conditions at its Sturgis, Michigan facility which produced nearing half of Abbott's various forms of infant formula under the brands Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare; (2) as a result, Abbott's infant formula business was in dire jeopardy given the flagrant violations of federal and state health and safety regulations; (3) based on inspections by the FDA between 2019 and 2022, Abbott failed to establish process controls "designed to ensure that infant formula does not become adulterated due to the presence of microorganisms in the formula or in the processing environment" and Abbott also failed to "ensure that all surfaces that contacted infant formula were maintained to protect infant formula from being contaminated by any source"; (4) the unhygienic conditions of the Sturgis facility resulted in the recall of Abbott's infant formula and closure of the Sturgis facility; and (5) as a result, defendants' public statements about Abbott's business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
To join the Abbott class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=8453 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.
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SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A. | 2022-10-08T03:31:01+00:00 | ksla.com | https://www.ksla.com/prnewswire/2022/10/08/rosen-top-ranked-investor-counsel-encourages-abbott-laboratories-investors-secure-counsel-before-important-deadline-securities-class-action-abt/ |
LOS ANGELES – Former tech executive Lexi Reese announced Thursday that she is entering California’s 2024 U.S. Senate contest, adding another Democrat to a growing field of candidates that already includes several members of Congress.
The Google and Facebook veteran enters the contest to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein as a virtual unknown in the nation’s most populous state, home to 22 million voters. In her first run for office she is hoping to distinguish herself as an outsider — “a new candidate with a fresh message,” her advisers say. That would contrast with established politicians already in the race: Democratic U.S. Reps. Katie Porter, Adam Schiff and Barbara Lee.
“The California dream is dying,” Reese says in an online video launching her campaign. “Millions of families are working hard but barely getting by. It is time to work together to build a better future together.”
Reese filed a statement of candidacy with federal election regulators on June 15, designated a committee to raise funds and indicated she intended to spend personal funds on the campaign.
It typically takes tens of millions of dollars to wage a successful statewide campaign in the vast state, which includes some of the nation’s most expensive media markets. It’s not clear how much Reese intends to spend from her personal funds on campaigning.
Schiff, for example, had $25 million in his campaign account at the end of March and is likely to have millions more after second-quarter fundraising concludes at the end of June.
With the centrist Feinstein in the twilight of her career, the race in the heavily Democratic state already is shaping up as a showcase for an ambitious, younger generation on the party’s left wing. The seat is expected to stay in Democratic hands — a Republican hasn't won a Senate race in the state since 1988.
And as a first-time candidate, Reese enters the race without an established base of support in a field already splintered by Democratic candidates.
Reese’s website is largely devoted to introducing herself to voters, and asks them to send her an online message about the good and bad of living in the state.
Beyond the challenges faced by a first-time candidate, veteran Democratic consultant Bill Carrick warned that a divided Democratic vote could have an unintended advantage – for Republicans.
In California’s last two Senate races, only Democrats advanced to the general election under the state’s top-two election system, in which only the top two primary vote-getters face off in November.
“If you have four Democrats in the race who are all running significant campaigns, you are going to open the back door for a Republican to be in the (November) runoff,” Carrick said.
“If you divide the Democratic vote by four and somebody is able to become the dominant Republican, you increase the chances you have a Democratic-Republican runoff” in November, Carrick said.
Former baseball MVP and Republican Steve Garvey, who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, is considering getting into the race. He would join GOP attorney Eric Early — an unsuccessful candidate for state attorney general in 2022 and 2018 and for Congress in 2020.
In recent election cycles, California Republicans have targeted criticism at the state’s Democratic-dominated government, faulting the rival party for notoriously high taxes, a homeless crisis, troubling urban crime rates, and out-of-reach housing prices for many working-class families.
Reese's advisers say she had an opening: Many voters remain undecided with the March primary election still months away, and even the leading Democrats are not broadly known across the state.
At Google, she was vice president for global programmatic platforms, among other roles. The Harvard Business School graduate also has worked for American Express.
In her video, Reese recalled challenges in her past — her father lost a longtime job, her parents divorced, her siblings struggled with addiction and a brother died trying to recover.
“I understand what financial uncertainty can do to a family,” she said. | 2023-06-29T12:37:57+00:00 | ksat.com | https://www.ksat.com/news/politics/2023/06/29/former-google-executive-enters-2024-us-senate-race-to-succeed-californias-feinstein/ |
The Hawaii Chamber Music Festival returns this month with a broader musical scope than ever, acclaimed musicians and great food at unusual yet enticing venues around Honolulu.
The festival’s Ellen Masaki Ohana Series: Global Expressions concert series will present concerts from June 14-24 in venues ranging from a seaside mansion on Maunalua Bay to Aloha Tower. The series is named for the late piano teacher whose influence on Hawaii’s classical music scene is still felt to this day. Her school, now run by her daughter Nancy Masaki, is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year and is one of the sponsors of the festival.
“We’ve expanded our offerings, so this year we have seven concerts,” said bassist Christopher Yick, who founded the festival in 2018. “I think what’s fantastic about this season in particular is that we’re adding high-level opera singers. … With the addition of voice, we can obviously feature the piano now and we can also do a lot of collaborations with strings.”
Three up-and-coming opera singers will appear at the festival: Colin Ramsey, described in Opera Today as having a “majestic, rotund, ravishing bass”; mezzo-soprano Christina Pezzarossi, praised for her “fleet vocal technique” and “resonant, smoky mezzo”; and soprano Natalia Santaliz, a native of Puerto Rico who has received acclaim from the Latin American press.
Yick, an Iolani graduate whose musical talents earned him scholarships through high school and music school, established the festival as a way to give young local musicians the chance to learn and play alongside world-class musicians. About 20 local students are selected each year for coaching sessions with the professionals and then perform with them at the concerts.
“Our young artists’ program, which is our tuition-free summer program, is still the core of our festival,” Yick said.
The festival has formed a partnership with the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, which is sending over a quartet that will work with the students and perform at some of the concerts. “They are actually one of the few conservatories that offer a graduate degree in chamber music,” Yick said.
Festival highlights:
>> “Old World vs. New World,” a fundraiser for the Hawaii Children’s Cancer Foundation, features opera favorites served with wine pairings curated by master sommelier Patrick Okubo. Two performances on Wednesday, at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 5 and 7 p.m., respectively), at Stage Restaurant in the Honolulu Design Center.
>> A “Songs by the Sea” concert of Italian music is presented at the Bayer Estate on Maunalua Bay and served with pizza by popular street vendor Fatto a Mano, at 7 p.m. Friday.
>> The Kahala Hotel and Resort will host a June 21 performance at 6 p.m. featuring festival headliners Sean Kennard, a former student of Ellen Masaki; violinist Stefan Jackiw; and cellist Michael Nicolas. “It’s a concert that celebrates World Music Day, and they’ll be performing piano trios by Rachmaninoff and Mendelssohn,” said Yick, calling the group “our ‘superstar’ trio.”
>> A June 23 concert at Aloha Tower Marketplace Sunset Room at 7 p.m. spotlights former students of Ellen Masaki, who will take turns playing movements from Modest Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition,” with the orchestral ensemble playing the famous “Promenade” theme. Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky are also on the program.
>> The final concert, at 4:30 p.m. June 24 at Orvis Auditorium at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, features clarinetist Yoonah Kim playing George Gershwin’s popular “Rhapsody in Blue,” transcribed for clarinet and orchestra. Also on the program is a “dramatic” composition by Logyn Okuda, an Iolani grad currently studying composition in college in Southern California. His work “Return to Sky,” for string orchestra and piano, represents “the storyline of a peaceful planet plunged into chaos and plague,” Yick said. “It’s kind of a narrative of his life in its current chapter, because he graduated high school during COVID.”
Go to hawaiicmf.org/globalexpressions for information and to purchase tickets. Prices range from $15-$25 for music-only events to $250 for a concert with dinner for two. Donations to support the nonprofit festival are welcome.
>> Piano music lovers also might be interested in Piano Bash!, the finale of the annual Aloha International Piano Festival. It’s at 4 p.m. June 18 at Orvis Auditorium and features Jon Nakamatsu, Alan Chow, Noriko Uenaka and Lisa Nakamichi playing Mozart, Maurice Ravel, Aaron Copland and Charles Gounod in works for four hands on one piano or for two pianos. Tickets are $30; go to alohapianofestival.org. | 2023-06-11T10:46:31+00:00 | staradvertiser.com | https://www.staradvertiser.com/2023/06/11/features/chamber-music-fest-serves-up-a-tasty-mix/ |
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