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Sheryl Sandberg, one of Silicon Valley's most prominent executives who helped build Facebook into a global tech juggernaut, is stepping down as chief operating officer of Meta, Facebook's parent company.
Sandberg, 52, made the surprise announcement in a Facebook post on Wednesday, writing that: "When I took this job in 2008, I hoped I would be in this role for five years. Fourteen years later, it is time for me to write the next chapter of my life," Sandberg wrote. "I am not entirely sure what the future will bring – I have learned no one ever is."
Sandberg will stay on the board of Meta, according to the company. Javier Olivan, another executive at the company, will takeover as chief operating officer when Sandberg departs the role this fall.
Sandberg was a pivotal figure in helping grow Facebook from a free social network dreamed up in a Harvard dorm to one of the most dominant social media platforms in the world, with nearly 3 billion users around the globe.
Often referred to as "the adult in the room" during the early days of Facebook's rise, she served as a seasoned No. 2 at company alongside co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, who was leading the company in his early 20s. Sandberg arrived at Facebook after years of working as a manager in advertising at Google.
At Facebook, Sandberg oversaw advertising strategy, hiring, firing and other management issues. Zuckerberg once said she "handles things I don't want to," he told the New Yorker in 2011. "She's much better at that."
Outside of the company, she became a public face of Facebook, sitting for interviews amid crises and schmoozing policymakers weighing regulations that would affect the company.
Her exit comes two months after The Wall Street Journal reported that Sandberg urged a British tabloid to back away from reporting on her former boyfriend Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick.
The story, which was never published, was reportedly on court filings showing that an ex-girlfriend of Kotick's had received a temporary restraining order against him after harassment allegations.
The Journal reported that Sandberg's advisors worried the story could hurt Sandberg's image as an advocate for women, so a team including Facebook employees worked to have the story killed.
Facebook was reviewing whether Sandberg's actions violated company rules, according to the Journal.
Earlier this year, Kotick announced he was stepping down from Activision Blizzard amid a sexual harassment scandal. At the same time, Microsoft announced it would be acquiring the video game company.
A Meta spokeswoman said Sandberg's departure is unrelated to reports about the Kotick incident.
"She was not pushed out or fired," Meta spokeswoman Nkechi Nneji said.
Beyond serving as the No. 2 at Facebook, Sandberg has become a celebrity author, penning "Lean In," a book that became a touchstone in the push for greater gender equality in the workplace.
She has also served as the public face of the company as it reeled from crises over the years, including in the months following the Cambridge Analytica scandal over how the data-mining firm breached the personal data of millions of Facebook users in 2014. The firm would later assist the 2016 presidential campaign of Donald Trump.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2022-06-01T22:19:56+00:00 | kcbx.org | https://www.kcbx.org/npr-top-news/npr-top-news/2022-06-01/in-surprise-move-sheryl-sandberg-leaves-facebook-after-14-years |
Capella will provide high resolution commercial Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery for evaluation in support of Earth Science Research.
SAN FRANCISCO, June 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Capella Space, an American space tech company and the world's leading provider of commercial Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery for a wide range of government, commercial and scientific applications, today announced it has been awarded a five year blanket purchase agreement (BPA) by NASA's Earth Science Division for the purchase of its high resolution SAR imagery and data for evaluation to determine their suitability for advancing NASA's science and application goals.
Under this sole-source agreement, NASA will have access to Capella's commercial SAR image products, which range from 0.5 to 1.2 meter ground resolution and represent one of the highest resolution imagery capabilities offered by any SAR provider. The agreement will facilitate fixed price call-off contracts valued up to $7 million per call, effective for five years from the date of the agreement.
This BPA is funded by the Earth Science Division of NASA's Science Mission Directorate in support of NASA's Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition (CSDA) Program. Imagery procured under this agreement will provide NASA's Earth Science Division with additional perspective for scientific research of Earth's interconnected systems, enhancing existing NASA datasets.
"As the first operator of an American commercial SAR constellation, we are thrilled to support NASA's research efforts," said Payam Banazadeh, CEO and founder of Capella Space. "The BPA Framework allows NASA's Earth Science Division to take advantage of our growing constellation of commercial SAR satellites across a wide diversity of orbits. We look forward to supporting this highly valuable scientific research effort."
"NASA is excited for the opportunity to evaluate high resolution SAR data from Capella Space in the context of our Earth Science research, analysis and applications portfolios," said Dr. Will McCarty, NASA CSDA Program Scientist. "With the advent of SAR from commercial sources like Capella Space, we are interested how these small satellite constellations can supplement our existing NASA datasets and capabilities. Ultimately, we aim to leverage these data to provide new perspectives on the scientific priorities of the Earth Science Division."
This award builds on the strong partnerships Capella Space has developed with other US government agencies including the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, National Reconnaissance Organization (NRO), U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and the U.S. Space Force.
To learn more about Capella Space's high-resolution data and offerings, please visit the Capella website.
About Capella Space
Capella Space is an American space tech company with data and satellite solutions for government and commercial use. A pioneer in the Earth observation industry, Capella is the first U.S. company with a constellation of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites, delivering high quality and resolution SAR imagery commercially available. Capella provides easy access to frequent and timely information affecting dozens of industries worldwide, including defense and intelligence, supply chain, insurance, maritime and others. Its market-leading SAR satellites are matched with unparalleled data infrastructure to quickly deliver reliable global insights that sharpen our understanding of the changing world – improving decisions about commerce, conservation, and security on Earth. Headquartered in San Francisco, California with additional locations in Denver, Colorado and Washington, D.C., Capella's satellites are operated, designed, and manufactured in the USA. Learn more at www.capellaspace.com.
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SOURCE Capella Space | 2023-06-08T15:22:03+00:00 | witn.com | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2023/06/08/capella-space-awarded-multi-year-blanket-purchase-agreement-by-nasa/ |
Civic Center Theatre to host Christ in the Arts: ‘Boundless’
Published: May. 3, 2023 at 11:47 AM CDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
LUBBOCK, Texas (NEWS RELEASE) - Civic Center Theatre - May 12-13, 2023 - Doors open at 6:30pm, Show begins at 7:00pm
Boundless is a collaboration event with singer/songwriter Shannon Adducci, with guest choreographer Jiri Voborsky. This live music and dramatic dance combination promises to be a beautiful and uplifting event!
To buy tickets call the Select-a-Seat Box Office on 806-770-2000, Monday through Friday, 10am to 4pm
Or buy online through the links below:
If you have a volunteer code, please CLICK HERE
(Please note that you will be directed to our ticketing partner’s website, axs.com)
Copyright 2023 KCBD. All rights reserved. | 2023-05-03T17:56:39+00:00 | kcbd.com | https://www.kcbd.com/2023/05/03/civic-center-theatre-host-christ-arts-boundless/ |
New :15 Digital Spot and Corporate Giving Initiative with One Warm Coat Highlight the First-Ever Hybrid Model of Kia's Longest-Running Nameplate in the U.S.
- :30-second "Downpour" – airing on broadcast – finds a Kia Sportage Hybrid helping humanitarians hang free coats for those less fortunate during a rainstorm
- :15-second digital spot announces Kia America's financial donation to One Warm Coat which will provide free coats to children and adults in need
IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Heralding the arrival of the first-ever Kia Sportage Hybrid, Kia America is expanding its commitment to "Make More Good" with a 30-second broadcast and :15-second digital spots and a partnership with One Warm Coat, a non-profit that has provided more than 7.3 million coats to those in need nationwide and is dedicated to promoting environmental sustainability. In April, the introduction of the all-new 2023 Sportage began when Kia partnered with Sea Turtle, Inc. to support the conservation and rehabilitation of the endangered sea turtle population.
The 30-second spot, entitled "Downpour" follows a Kia Sportage Hybrid as its occupants deliver coats to various points around an urban downtown area as an ominous weather forecast plays on the radio. The driver and passenger of the Kia Sportage Hybrid hang coats on various fences throughout the city along with signs that read, "FREE (for anyone that needs one)." As the torrential rain begins, the driver and passenger witness a man taking a coat off a fence they visited earlier in the day – as many others have clearly done given the small number of coats left hanging on the fence. The spot ends as a voiceover intones, "Have the Power to Make More Good, in the All-New Sportage Turbo Hybrid."
"Kia's push to sustainable mobility continues with the arrival of the first-ever Kia Sportage Hybrid, and our message is clear: to create a better world we need to take care of not only our planet, but also one another," said Russell Wager, vice president, marketing, Kia America. "'Make More Good' is not just a slogan; it is the driving force behind the introduction of the all-new Kia Sportage and the important charitable initiatives we've undertaken. Our partnership with One Warm Coat will extend a helping hand to those in need and hopefully shine a light on noteworthy causes that deserve attention."
One Warm Coat, is a national non-profit that provides free coats to people in need. Hosting up to 5,000 coat drives across the U.S. in a given year, One Warm Coat has provided more than 7.3 million free coats to children and adults in need since 1992. One of the organization's core values is to promote environmental sustainability by keeping more than one million pounds of clothes out of landfills through the organization's annual coat drive program.
"We are thrilled with the donation from Kia America and grateful that it will enable us to further our mission of providing warm coats to those in need while promoting volunteerism and environmental sustainability," said Beth Amodio, President & CEO, One Warm Coat. "It is because of the generosity of partners like Kia that we are able to share warmth with children and adults across the country."
Significantly larger, more capable and powerful, and targeted to be more fuel efficient, the fifth-generation Sportage debuts a number of firsts including the first Hybrid powertrain and an available dual panoramic curved digital display. Most Sportage trims will now be assembled in the U.S., alongside the award-winning Telluride, Sorento, and K5 at Kia's manufacturing plant in West Point, Georgia.
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 more than 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.
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SOURCE Kia America | 2022-08-17T14:44:36+00:00 | waff.com | https://www.waff.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/kias-make-more-good-efforts-continue-with-digital-launch-all-new-2023-kia-sportage-hybrid-campaign/ |
Rockies RHP Antonio Senzatela out at least 2 months with sprained UCL
By MIKE CRANSTON
Associated Press
DENVER (AP) — Colorado Rockies right-hander Antonio Senzatela will miss at least two months with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament. Senzatela avoided the same fate as fellow starter Germán Márquez, who had season-ending Tommy John surgery on Friday. Senzatela was pulled with two outs in the third inning Wednesday at Pittsburgh after experiencing forearm tightness. His velocity had dipped in only his second start since returning after tearing the ACL in his left knee on Aug. 18 at St. Louis. The Rockies moved to address Senzatela’s absence by claiming right-hander Chase Anderson off waivers from Tampa Bay on Friday. Black said the 35-year-old will likely start on Tuesday against Cincinnati. | 2023-05-13T05:40:45+00:00 | krdo.com | https://krdo.com/news/ap-colorado/2023/05/12/rockies-rhp-antonio-senzatela-out-at-least-2-months-with-sprained-ucl/ |
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (WJZY) – The terrifying moment when a hammerhead shark appeared to hone in on a couple of paddleboarders making a grueling journey from the Bahamas to Florida for charity last month was caught on camera.
Gabe Barajas and his teammate, Malea Tribble, had embarked on the 80-mile voyage to raise money for families affected by cystic fibrosis.
“It just so happened that out in the middle of the gulf stream, 40 miles off the coast of Bimini, we got new fundraising help from a five-foot hammerhead shark,” said Barajas, of Mooresville, North Carolina.
The motto of the company Crossing for Cystic Fibrosis, which organizes the race each year, is “bold in the face of fear.” Barajas never expected he’d have to take that motto so literally.
Barajas was paddling with Tribble when Tribble’s husband, who was following them in a support boat, spotted the shark trailing his wife.
Eventually, Tribble’s husband guided her to safety. But the shark then swam towards Barajas and began circling.
“It was all over us. It was definitely behind her, and from the looks of it, its head had to have been underneath her board,” said Barajas.
Barajas says this year’s race was more difficult than last year’s, not just because of the shark. This year, he said, he fought much more wind and even rerouted due to severe weather off Florida’s coast.
“This was 16 hours. Although, we had to pick up and move because of a storm that was off the coast of Florida,” said Barajas.
Barajas won’t soon forget his close encounter, but he doesn’t want people to lose sight of the true story behind his paddle: raising money and awareness for cystic fibrosis.
“I want everyone to help me in the fight against cystic fibrosis. Be brave. Make a splash. And inspire every breath,” he said.
Barajas is still raising money for Crossing for Cystic Fibrosis, which is still attempting to reach its $1,000,000 fundraising goal after the June 25 race.
He is also embarking on another fundraising adventure in October. This time, it’s a one-day, 30-mile hike along the Appalachian Trail. | 2023-07-05T20:45:08+00:00 | kron4.com | https://www.kron4.com/news/national/video-shark-stalks-paddleboarders-during-charity-race-from-bahamas-to-florida/ |
CINCINNATI (AP) — Rookie sensation Elly De La Cruz became the first Cincinnati Reds player in 34 years to hit for the cycle when he accomplished the feat on Friday against the Atlanta Braves.
De La Cruz doubled to open the second inning, had a two-run homer in the third, a run-scoring single to center in the fifth and tripled in the sixth for his fourth RBI of the night. The last hit increased the Reds’ lead to 11-7.
The cycle is the franchise’s seventh overall — fifth since 1900 — and first since Eric Davis did it against San on June 2, 1989. | 2023-06-24T21:24:47+00:00 | pix11.com | https://pix11.com/sports/ap-sports/de-la-cruz-gets-first-cycle-for-reds-since-1989/ |
James “Jim” Stiernagle
Published 4:12 pm Saturday, May 14, 2022
James “Jim” Fred Stiernagle age 85, of Hartland passed away on January 5, 2022 at his home with his family by his side.
A graveside service will be held 11:00 am Saturday, May 21st, 2022 at the Freeborn Cemetery.
After the graveside service in our father’s honor we will be having a gathering to share some of our favorite memories, stories, to laugh, to cry and remember a wonderful person who is missed greatly at the Stiernagle Family Farm. (29837 645th Ave, Hartland, MN 56042).
In place of flowers, Memorials may be made to the Freeborn Cemetery.
To leave an online condolence for his family or to sign the guest book, go to: www.mvfh.org | 2022-05-15T04:00:11+00:00 | albertleatribune.com | https://www.albertleatribune.com/2022/05/james-jim-stiernagle/ |
Rikkie Valerie Kollé has been named Miss Netherlands 2023, becoming the first transgender woman to take the title, according to multiple outlets.
After winning the pageant on Saturday, Kollé will advance to represent her Dutch homeland at the Miss Universe pageant, set to take place in El Salvador later this year. The 22-year-old was crowned with a tiara by her predecessor, Ona Moody, onstage at the AFAS Theater in Leusden.
"I DID IT !!!!!" the model said in a post on Instagram. "Yes I'm trans and I want to share my story but I'm also Rikkie and that's what matters to me," Kollé wrote. "And wherever you are in the world, I want to be there for you and be the example that I missed as a little me."
Kollé, of Dutch and Indigenous Moluccan descent, is from the city of Breda, between Rotterdam and Antwerp. She said she wants to be a voice and role model for young women and queer people, according to her finalist page.
As someone who didn't feel supported after coming out as transgender at a young age, she said, she wants to leave those stories of suffering in the past.
Kollé won't be the first trans woman to compete for the Miss Universe crown. Angela Ponce became the pageant's first out trans contestant when she represented Spain in 2018. The 71-year-old competition first began allowing transgender contestants in 2012.
More trans women have been competing in the preliminary pageants in recent years. In 2021, former Miss Nevada Kataluna Enriquez became the first trans contestant in a Miss USA pageant. Trans woman and activist Daniela Arroyo González will compete for this year's Miss Universe Puerto Rico title next month.
Thai business mogul Anne Jakrajutatip, a trans activist who is also transgender, bought the Miss Universe Organization last year. She has said she's committed to advancing the organization as an inclusive platform and wants to transform the brand for the next generation.
"I don't call Miss Universe a beauty pageant anymore," the JKN Global CEO told Metro Weekly in January. "I call it a women's empowerment competition."
Kollé has another chance to make history: If she takes the Miss Universe title in December, she would be the first out trans woman to do so.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2023-07-10T00:04:21+00:00 | wlrn.org | https://www.wlrn.org/npr-breaking-news/2023-07-09/miss-netherlands-crowns-trans-woman-rikkie-valerie-kolle |
SPRINGVILLE — Oxford scored five runs in the final three innings, including three in the seventh inning, and beat Springville 8-5 in Class 6A, Area 13 softball action Wednesday.
Top performers for Oxford:
—Ashlyn Burns, 3-for-3, two runs, RBI.
—Matti Sprayberry, 2-for-4, RBI.
—Berkley Mooney, 1-for-4, two RBIs; pitched a complete game, allowing six hits, five earned runs and seven walks with five strikeouts.
—Abbie Mitchell, 1-for-3, double, run.
—Kaelyn Crossley, 2-for-4, run, RBI.
—Kannon Slaughter, 1-for-1, run, two RBIs.
Piedmont 8, Ohatchee 4: Savannah Smith struck out 11 batters over seven innings, and Cayla Brothers doubled twice and drove in two runs as Piedmont prevailed in Class 3A, Area 11 play. She was 2-for-3 and scored two runs.
Other top performers for Piedmont (15-10):
—Cacey Brothers, 2-for-4.
—Emily Farmer, 2-for-4, double.
—Z’Hayla Walker, 1-for-3, run, RBI.
—Armoni Perry, 2-for-4, run, two RBIs.
—Jaycee Glover, RBI.
Top performers for Ohatchee:
—Ellie Carden, RBI.
—Hannah Fitch, 2-for-4, run.
—Kaylee Barnes, 2-for-4, double, run.
—Alanah Fitch, 2-for-3, two RBIs.
Baseball
Donoho 12, Ragland 2: Will Folsom drove in three runs to lead Donoho to a 12-2 victory over Ragland on Wednesday in Class 1A, Area 9 baseball action.
Folsom was 2-for-4 and scored a run.
Other top performers for the Falcons (15-3):
—Blake Sewell, started on the mound and pitched a complete game, striking out four batters and allowing four hits and two walks over six innings.
—Slade Haney, 4-for-5, run, two RBIs.
—Judson Billings, 2-for-2, home run, double, two runs, two RBIs.
—Nic Thompson, 2-for-3, double, two runs, two RBIs.
—Peyton Webb, 2-for-4, run, two RBIs.
—Kai Cleckler, 2-for-4, double, two runs. | 2022-04-14T04:10:06+00:00 | annistonstar.com | https://www.annistonstar.com/sports/high_school/prep-roundup-oxford-softball-wins-at-springville/article_f7dacac8-bb9a-11ec-9e82-b34c13f63182.html |
Traveling by train is an excellent way to explore a country, whether you want to take the scenic route, enjoy slower travel or simply avoid planes. You can take your trip to the next level with train travel gadgets to make your trip more comfortable.
Not only is packing the right items important for an enjoyable train trip but learning some valuable train travel tips will help you get the most from the experience. Armed with this information, you’ll be riding the rails like a pro. Don’t miss our testing insights on the Kindle Paperwhite.
Shop this article: Trtl Travel Pillow, Cocoon CoolMax Blanket and O2Cool Battery-Powered Personal Fan
What can you take on a train?
This depends on where you’ll be traveling by train, but if you’re traveling in the U.S. and parts of Canada, most Amtrak services have the same luggage regulations. All passengers can bring two personal items and two carry-on bags. Each personal item can weigh up to 25 pounds and measure 14 inches by 11 inches by 7 inches. Each carry-on bag can weigh up to 50 pounds and measure 28 inches by 22 inches by 14 inches. Plus, on most services, you can check an additional two bags of up to 50 pounds each free of charge.
Some items are prohibited when traveling on Amtrak services, including knives, swords and incendiary items. Others, such as firearms, are allowed in checked baggage with some restrictions, but not in carry-on luggage. If you’re unsure whether you can take something on your train trip, check the full list of prohibited items.
Train travel tips
To make your train journey as smooth, comfortable and enjoyable as possible, it’s important to be prepared. Following these simple tips will help you make the most of your trip.
Book early
Amtrak tickets are sold in price buckets. The cheapest ones are sold first with the price increasing as enough are sold to move into the next bracket. This means you’ll always get a lower price the further ahead of time you book. Train providers in other countries often follow similar price structures too, so booking early usually saves you money. Not to mention that popular routes can sell out.
Check in early
Arriving at the station early gives you time to check bags and solve any issues that could arise before your train departs. If you’re close to the start of the queue at check-in time and ask nicely, you may be allocated the best seats. On some trains, one side has a significantly better view than the other, so these seats are always more desirable and get allocated quickly.
Consider a sleeper accommodation
When traveling overnight, you should seriously consider paying extra for a sleeper accommodation. It can mean the difference between arriving at your destination refreshed or groggy with a crick in your neck. There are different types of sleeper accommodations available, including bunks in shared rooms and private suites. Check what’s available and pick according to your budget and needs.
Be prepared for all temperatures
Amtrak trains are air-conditioned, but temperatures aren’t always ideal. Sometimes, the air conditioning runs cool, and you might need a blanket or sweater. Other times, the AC is ineffectual, and you’ll greatly appreciate a handheld fan. When traveling in other countries, don’t count on there being AC or heating, so make sure you have what you need to stay at a comfortable temperature.
Sanitize your surroundings
Even before COVID-19 struck, trains haven’t always felt like the most hygienic of places. It’s worth bringing antibacterial wipes to clean any areas that get touched a lot, such as seatback trays and toilet door handles.
Check out sightseer lounges
On certain scenic routes, Amtrak trains have sightseer lounges, which are observation cars with large windows and seats facing toward them for comfortable viewing. These are free for all passengers to use, but seats are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Checking out the sightseer lounge is a great way to view the scenery at its best, but be conscious of not spending too long in these seats to give other passengers a chance.
Take advantage of fresh air breaks
Fresh air breaks are longer breaks at stations that give passengers the chance to get off the train and stretch their legs. Make note of when these breaks are and try not to nap through them or eat your meals during them because you’ll want to take full advantage of them on a long journey. They’re usually 10 to 15 minutes long, and you won’t be able to leave the platform, but you can walk up and down it.
What you need for comfortable train travel
Whether you’re traveling overnight in coach or you have a long day trip and might want to catch some Zs, this compact travel pillow is an excellent choice. It offers ample support without looking silly or taking up too much luggage space.
Sold by Amazon
This compact travel blanket is warm yet lightweight and breathable so you won’t overheat. It’s great for naps or when the AC is up too high.
Sold by Amazon
Padded and contoured, this comfortable eye mask will help you get some of the best sleep possible on a train. It comes with a pouch with a carabiner, so it’s perfect for travel.
Sold by Amazon
O2Cool Battery-Powered Personal Fan
The AC on trains can be unreliable, so if you’re traveling during the summer, it’s worth bringing a small fan with you, just in case. This one hangs around the wearer’s neck and blows air upward for hands-free cooling.
Sold by Amazon
Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones
While it’s a steep investment just for a train trip, if you’re looking for a decent pair of headphones anyway, now might be the time to invest. These Sony noise-canceling headphones block out sound around you extremely effectively, so you’ll feel like you’re in a private compartment even if you have noisy neighbors.
Sold by Amazon
Anker PowerCore 26800 Portable Charger
You’ll likely be relying on tech to keep you entertained during your trip, and you don’t want to run out of battery 12 hours into a 36-hour train ride. That’s why you should bring this portable charger that has enough power to recharge most phones six times and most tablets twice.
Sold by Amazon
Nomader Collapsible Water Bottle
Spending half your train journey thirsty because getting hold of water is a hassle certainly counts as an uncomfortable experience. Bringing your own reusable water bottle is wise, and this collapsible one doesn’t take up an excessive amount of luggage space.
Sold by Amazon
Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition
A long train journey is an excellent opportunity to catch up on your reading. Rather than lugging several books on board with you, this compact e-reader will do the trick, plus the front light makes it easier to read in darkened cars or compartments. Our tester praised the Kindle for its waterproof design, substantial storage, and bright, user-friendly display.
Sold by Amazon
TP-Link AC750 Wireless Portable Nano Travel Router
While there’s Wi-Fi on Amtrak trains, it’s often slow and can be unreliable on some routes. Instead, consider bringing your own travel Wi-Fi hotspot so you can stream video or music to keep you entertained on your trip.
Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | 2023-06-20T02:53:16+00:00 | upmatters.com | https://www.upmatters.com/reviews/br/travel-br/travel-essentials-br/9-train-travel-gadgets-to-make-your-trip-infinitely-more-comfortable/ |
New building codes with a focus on sustainability will go into effect in Lafayette starting Aug. 1.
The city is updating its building codes from the 2015 International Building Codes to the 2021 codes. Lafayette will have updated electric required requirements, solar ready and solar required updates, electric vehicle parking space requirements, cool roof requirements and horticulture lighting updates. The city will also require fire suppression sprinkler systems as part of the 2021 International Residential Code.
“The updated electrification and fire suppression building codes only pertain to new construction. These code updates will not affect remodel work performed on existing structures,” Communications Director Debbie Wilmot said.
City Council approved the 2023 Lafayette Building Code at its June 6 meeting.
Starting Aug 1, all new commercial and residential buildings will need to be fully electric. Specific exceptions can be requested from the all-electric code, such as requirements for emergency backup generators, emergency equipment where electrical alternatives could hurt critical operations or medical care, portable propane appliances or rebuilding after a natural disaster. Upfront costs of electric heat pumps and water heater pumps are more than gas equivalents, but savings come from efficiency costs, rebates and avoiding gas payments.
Lafayette has typically excluded fire sprinklers from the building code requirements, but has added the code this year. New residential homes will need to install fire suppression sprinklers. Residential dwelling with inadequate water taps will be exempt from the code. The sprinkler code will also not apply to homes being used as short-term rentals or for additional dwelling units where the primary home does not have sprinklers. Fire suppression sprinklers increase the cost of construction by approximately $1.75 per square foot.
New commercial buildings larger than 5,000 square feet or major remodels to commercial buildings larger than 5,000 square feet will need to have solar power. The building will need solar power to produce two watts per square inch. New residential buildings and commercial buildings smaller than 5,000 square feet are required to be solar ready. The solar ready requirements provide easier installation of solar panels at a later time. Major remodels of commercial buildings less than 5,000 square feet will trigger the code.
The new code will ensure charging stations be installed in places that make more sense, such as offices, hotels and multi-family units. Wilmot said the cool roof requirement applies to new commercial construction and roof replacements on existing commercial buildings. The requirements allow for roof material to absorb less heat. The cool roof requirement does not apply to residential homes. New horticulture buildings will need to have more efficient lighting systems.
More information about the building code updates is available at lafayette-listens.com/building-code-update. | 2023-07-21T00:12:51+00:00 | dailycamera.com | https://www.dailycamera.com/2023/07/20/new-commercial-residential-developments-affected-by-new-lafayette-building-codes/ |
- New facility to manufacture the company's Hi-Flow™ Plus lateral flow membrane used in rapid diagnostic test kit manufacturing, including Covid-19
- Facility made possible by USD 136.7 million U.S. Government contract award
- Supports strategy to add physical capacity and expand regional network in the United States
BURLINGTON, Mass., July 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MilliporeSigma, the U.S. and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, today broke ground at its Sheboygan, Wisconsin site, for the company's first lateral flow membrane production facility in the United States. Lateral flow membranes are a key component in rapid diagnostic test kits for a variety of applications, including Covid-19 testing. The new facility is supported by a USD 136.7 million contract award from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), on behalf of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
"Our purpose is to positively impact life and health with science, and today's ground-breaking exemplifies this commitment by adding physical capacity and expanding our regional network to meet the growing needs of our customers and ensure supply chain security," said Matthias Heinzel, Member of the Executive Board of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and CEO Life Science. "This new, state-of-the-art facility will support the surge in demand experienced by our global in-vitro diagnostic manufacturing customers."
"From COVID-19 rapid testing to cancer therapies, the work MilliporeSigma does helps promote the health and safety of our families and communities while creating good jobs for hardworking Wisconsinites, and I am glad to be celebrating their success today," said Gov. Evers. "In addition to creating 60 new jobs in Sheboygan, this new facility will provide a major step forward in expanding domestic diagnostic testing as the company's first lateral flow membrane production facility in the U.S., ensuring our state and country are ready to tackle any public health crisis that comes our way now and into the future."
Once built, the lateral flow membrane facility will be MilliporeSigma's first facility in the United States capable of producing diagnostic-grade membrane. Its location further supports the company's competitive market advantage with improved supply security and reduced lead times for global customers. The lateral flow membrane production line in Sheboygan complements the global capacity network of the Life Science business sector of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, by adding redundant capabilities to its two production lines in Cork, Ireland, thereby mitigating supply chain risks.
"This new facility will expand much-needed access of critical raw materials to the world's most sophisticated diagnostic manufacturers. Our best-in-class lateral flow membranes provide the quality and consistency necessary as manufacturers prepare for new regulations for in-vitro diagnostics and medical devices," said Jean-Charles Wirth, head of Science and Lab Solutions, Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.
Hi-Flow Plus™ Lateral flow membrane enables reproducible results due to its consistent quality and optimized properties. The rapid point-of-care test kits developed by the company's customers are used for a variety of applications, including infectious disease testing (e.g., Covid-19, HIV, influenza, malaria), as well as in pregnancy testing, biomarker detection, drug testing, food safety and animal health.
The Life Science business sector of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is continuing to invest in products and technologies across its portfolio that are key to manufacturing novel therapies, vaccines and diagnostics. All expansions and investments are part of an ambitious, multi-year program to increase the industrial capacity and capabilities of the Life Science business sector to support the growing global demand for lifesaving medications and to make significant contributions to public health. Recent announcements have been made in Verona, Wisconsin, USA; Jaffrey, New Hampshire, USA; and Danvers, Massachusetts, USA; Carlsbad, California, USA; Cork, Ireland: Wuxi, China; Darmstadt, Germany; Buchs, Switzerland; Molsheim, France.
Follow MilliporeSigma on Twitter @MilliporeSigma, on Facebook @MilliporeSigma and on LinkedIn.
All Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany news releases are distributed by email at the same time they become available on the EMD Group website. In case you are a resident of the U.S. or Canada please go to www.emdgroup.com/subscribe to register again for your online subscription of this service as our newly introduced geo-targeting requires new links in the email. You may later change your selection or discontinue this service.
About the Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
The Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, which operates as MilliporeSigma in the U.S. and Canada, has more than 26,000 employees and 55 manufacturing and testing sites worldwide, with a portfolio of more than 300,000 products focused on scientific discovery, biomanufacturing and testing services. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, operates across healthcare, life science and electronics.
More than 60,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people's lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From advancing gene-editing technologies and discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices – the company is everywhere. In 2021, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany generated sales of € 19.7 billion in 66 countries.
The company holds the global rights to the name and trademark "Merck" internationally. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany operate as EMD Serono in healthcare, MilliporeSigma in life science, and EMD Electronics. Since its founding in 1668, scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to the company's technological and scientific advances. To this day, the founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. For more information about Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, visit www.emdgroup.com.
All Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany news releases are distributed by email at the same time they become available on the EMD Group website. In case you are a resident of the U.S. or Canada please go to www.emdgroup.com/subscribe to register again for your online subscription of this service as our newly introduced geo-targeting requires new links in the email. You may later change your selection or discontinue this service.
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SOURCE MilliporeSigma | 2022-07-18T17:30:56+00:00 | newschannel10.com | https://www.newschannel10.com/prnewswire/2022/07/18/milliporesigma-breaks-ground-companys-first-lateral-flow-membrane-production-facility-united-states/ |
NORTH BEND — A diamond-shaped sign on an Interstate 90 onramp warns drivers, “Men Working,” though none are fixing the freeway through this historic mountain town.
In fact, the scene behind the orange cones hasn’t changed since early January, when dangerous potholes caused the Washington State Department of Transportation to close the right westbound lane, between Exit 32 for Mount Si and Exit 31 to the city’s outlet stores.
Motorists are squeezing from three lanes to two, probably until September when WSDOT says it can complete lasting repairs.
This is a rare, and maybe unprecedented, shutdown of a freeway lane in Washington state for an extended time, without construction.
The largest pothole measures 70 feet long, slightly deeper than 2 inches, and as wide as the entire lane. Three layers are exposed: the concrete base, a shredded tar-like black layer, and crumbled gray surface crust.
“Fix it. Fix the road so people can drive on it,” said Dave Sharpy, a frequent I-90 traveler from North Bend. “We’re in the middle of July. It’s very frustrating as a taxpayer.”
Last winter’s unusually heavy snowstorms, compounded by day after day of freezes, formed potholes so vast that a standard, rapid patch job became impossible, according to Brian Nielsen, WSDOT regional administrator. This location, on a South Fork Snoqualmie River overpass, tends to freeze and thaw quickly, causing saturated pavement to burst from within.
Repairs are being funded by a $6.5 million emergency contract, won by low bidder Lakeside Industries on June 28, to resurface 88 damaged spots across Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish and King counties.
Road surfaces in Washington state declined for years due to underinvestment and procrastination, even while WSDOT built new highway megaprojects that politicians, business associations and drivers supported since the early 2000s. Finally in 2022, the Legislature set aside $3 billion for maintenance in the $11.4 billion highways portion of a 16-year spending plan.
Nielsen said it’s fair to blame many damaged areas across the state on historic low maintenance, but not this particular closure. The position at the foot of the mountains causes extra truck braking, while the curve adds wheel forces, he said. The overpass was resurfaced as recently as 2016, and this year’s fix wasn’t impeded by lack of money, officials said.
“I think this is a fairly unique structure, in regard to the type of failure,” Nielsen said.
Stressed drivers
Those same traits make this a stressful spot to crimp as the three-lane freeway is along the nation’s busiest mountain pass, where a total of 43,000 daily vehicles go through North Bend.
Drivers get 1 mile of advance warning. The 70 mph limit remained, and most car and truck speeds vary between 55 mph and 85 mph.
“It can be a little hazardous at times if you don’t pay attention, especially if you don’t live around here. There’s RVs, trailers and a lot of people move on Sunday,” said J.P. Taylor, a clerk at The General Store off Exit 32.
Deliveries have been harder for neighboring Cascade Lumber, where truckers merging into westbound I-90 must accelerate to highway speed before the cones. “They get frustrated, and sometimes they have to stop, because they can’t get over,” said sales representative Kevin Sepkowski.
Often a road department would patch holes immediately with sticky blacktop known as “cold mix,” but Nielsen said it’s too soft to withstand the pounding at this site.
He said cold and rainy weather early this year prevented a stronger option, to hire a trusted contractor to install fast-drying or synthetic concrete.
“What we don’t want to do is have to be out there over and over again, doing repairs that expose our staff to safety issues, and cost a lot of money,” he said.
Therefore, WSDOT decided in January to wait for the dry season to perform a conventional asphalt repave, which is supposed to last 12 to 15 years, he said.
Nielsen defends the state’s decision to bundle the North Bend repairs with other work, which took until May to fully design, especially the safety-critical traffic control plans for all 88 jobs.
Back in 2013, WSDOT acted lightning-fast by installing a temporary replacement span at the Interstate 5 Skagit River bridge within four weeks, and a permanent span in four months, after an overheight truck caused a partial bridge collapse.
State Rep. Andrew Barkis, R-Olympia, a senior member of the House Transportation Committee, said the closed I-90 lane reflects misplaced priorities by state government.
The first time he saw the damage, while driving home, Barkis figured construction would start soon. The second time, he thought of warnings by Transportation Secretary Roger Millar that lanes will close across the state unless lawmakers invest more to catch up on maintenance.
In recent years, the state spent only $580 million a year on preservation and maintenance, or half the needed amount, Millar reported. The new $3 billion infusion helps narrow the gap.
“When this is discovered, it would be just as easy to make the repairs, put down asphalt, keep the lane in use, avoid hazards and traffic situations, while you design a permanent fix,” Barkis said. “What we see now is a pattern of letting things fail, until we have to do the big project.”
Washington state ranks 43rd in pavement roughness, with 72% of state and local lane miles in acceptable condition, compared with an 81.0% national average, according to Bureau of Transportation Statistics data. For interstate highways, which are top priority, WSDOT’s 96.4% slightly trails the 96.7% U.S. average, in 2020 data.
In transportation meetings this summer, Barkis said he’s cited the North Bend lane as an example of failure. Along a thoroughfare as important as I-90, with a work area less than 1 mile, WSDOT should be moving faster, he said.
“They have the ability to do it, it’s just a matter of doing it.” | 2022-07-19T13:18:26+00:00 | seattletimes.com | https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/broken-pavement-causes-an-awkward-nine-month-lane-closure-on-i-90/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_seattle-news |
The Philadelphia Flyers have many reasons to be optimistic following a surprising start of four wins over their first six games.
But they also have to deal with the bitter reality of losing James van Riemsdyk with a fractured finger for at least a month.
The short-handed Flyers will host the Florida Panthers on Thursday without van Riemsdyk, who has compiled two goals and three assists in six games.
“It hurts. It hurts our power play, it hurts some of the balance of your lines,” Flyers head coach John Tortorella said. “He has been a good player. Nothing we can do about it now.”
The Flyers will look to respond following a 3-0 home loss to the San Jose Sharks on Sunday.
The Flyers are also playing without Cam Atkinson, who has not skated this season after a 23-goal performance a season ago. Sean Couturier and Ryan Ellis are also out. Owen Tippett and Rasmus Ristolainen practiced Tuesday, though the status of each player is unclear for Thursday.
Look for Scott Laughton to take on a bigger role, especially without van Riemsdyk on the power play.
“He’s a bigger body, but he’s always in the right spot, he gets his stick on everything,” Laughton said of van Riemsdyk. “I think he has been the best guy in the league for a while in front of the net like that. I don’t think you can really replicate it, but try to do some little things at the end of practice and stuff like that.”
The Panthers fell 4-2 to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday.
Florida trailed 3-0 before mounting a comeback with 15 shots on goal in the third period.
“We battled until the end, but we had to because we were so bad in the first two periods,” Matthew Tkachuk said. “We put ourselves in a terrible position. It was definitely our worst two periods of hockey this season.
“We’ve got the talent that when we play the right way and are playing aggressive and not sitting back and being smart with pucks, we can do what we did there in the third and take over a period and give ourselves a chance to win.”
The normally electric Panthers struggled on the power play, going 0-for-6.
“I think you’ve got a number of players feeling a little snakebit right now,” Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said. “We’re missing some wide-open nets. Just seeing one go in just fired the bench right back up.”
Still, the Panthers have compiled four wins in seven games, including a 4-3 victory over the Flyers on Oct. 19.
“This is a two-game road trip, and we’re not a team that’s going to lose two in a row,” Tkachuk said. “That’s our mindset. Would’ve loved to get the first one to set up the road trip, but now we’ve got to really grind out a tough one against Philly. After we beat them last week, they’re going to be coming for us, so we have to be better.”
Aaron Ekblad (groin) is expected to be sidelined for a fourth consecutive game.
–Field Level Media | 2022-10-27T15:09:48+00:00 | krqe.com | https://www.krqe.com/sports/nhl-hockey/flyers-move-on-without-james-van-riemsdyk-host-panthers/ |
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Sunday evening's drawing of the New York Lottery's "Take 5 Evening" game were:
01-02-10-16-29
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(one, two, ten, sixteen, twenty-nine)
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Sunday evening's drawing of the New York Lottery's "Take 5 Evening" game were:
01-02-10-16-29
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(one, two, ten, sixteen, twenty-nine)
By The Associated Press | 2022-12-26T05:00:27+00:00 | seattlepi.com | https://www.seattlepi.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Take-5-Evening-game-17677435.php |
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The conversation surrounding the New York Jets has focused on (what else?) the quarterback position -- specifically, Zach Wilson's future and potential veteran replacements. There hasn't been much chatter about the quarterback who galvanized the Jets' locker room, who inspired some teammates to wear his likeness on a T-shirt and who displayed extreme toughness by playing with five broken ribs.
Mike White, who for a minute had a chance to secure the QB1 job, is now just a blip on the radar, his future in New York uncertain. The Jets have been linked to the biggest names on the market, like Derek Carr and Aaron Rodgers, leaving White -- a pending unrestricted free agent -- in a precarious position. If the Jets do what they've been saying -- sign a veteran and keep Wilson in a backup role -- it likely means White is the odd man out.
Looking ahead to his first crack at free agency, White said there's an "excitement" level because he hopes to find "some stability" with his next contract.
"With these past couple of years, everything is so up and down with no guarantees, especially in this profession," he said at the end of the season, alluding to the Jets' quarterback chaos. "If anything, just for my wife and I, [we'd like] some stability, hopefully, is what we’re looking for. I just want the right situation, and I’m sure that’ll present itself at some point."
White, whose career record is 2-5, figures to command between $4 million and $8 million per year on the open market. The argument can be made he's a better quarterback than Wilson (62.2 career completion percentage vs. Wilson's 55.2), but the organization appears set on keeping Wilson, probably because of his draft status (No. 2 overall pick in 2021). Even if the Jets make White an offer, he could look elsewhere for a better playing opportunity. One possibility is a backup job with the Los Angeles Rams, who hired former Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur.
White is one of 20 players on the Jets poised to hit unrestricted free agency on March 15. The NFL scouting combine (Feb. 26-March 6) is where the front office often lays the groundwork for deals. Here's a pre-combine projection on how the Jets will approach their own free agents:
Priority free agents
For different reasons, defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins and linebacker Quincy Williams -- both starters on the NFL's fourth-ranked defense -- are the only players in this category.
Rankins, who will turn 29 before next season, plays a premium position -- a position where the Jets have no depth. In fact, the only interior defensive linemen under contract are star Quinnen Williams and former practice-squad player Tanzel Smart. After completing a two-year, $11 million contract, Rankins probably is looking for something in the $8 million-to-$10 million range per year.
Known mostly for his pass rushing, Rankins opened some eyes by playing well against the run. When he was in the game, the Jets allowed only 3.82 yards per rush, compared to 4.13 without him -- the best differential among their starting defensive linemen, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
Williams, 26, is an ascending player coming off his rookie contract -- the sweet spot in a player's career when it comes to investing money, based on general manager Joe Douglas' thinking. Outside linebackers in a 4-3 defense usually don't score monster paydays, so Williams probably is looking at a multiyear deal in the $6 million to $9 million range per year.
He may have some leverage because the Jets want to keep his younger brother happy; Quinnen hopes to land a long-term extension by April.
"We're looking forward to playing on the same team together," Quincy said. "The biggest thing is putting it on tape. We did that. Now it's just business, nothing personal."
The 'maybe' crowd
Decisions and price points on players in this category often hinge on whether the team can find upgrades in free agency and/or the draft. Two starters can be placed here -- center Connor McGovern and linebacker Kwon Alexander.
The Jets could certainly try to replace McGovern, 30, who completed a three-year, $27 million contract. He's durable (didn't miss an offensive snap in 2022) and terrific in the locker room, but the offense ranked 23rd, 27th and 25th in rushing over the last three seasons and he finished 24th out of 32 qualified centers last season in pass block win rate, per ESPN Stats & Information. Thing is, the free agent market is light on centers. So maybe ...
Alexander, 28, was a spark-plug leader on defense who made 69 tackles while playing 49% of the snaps. He finally beat the injury bug and will be looking for a nice raise on the $1.3 million he made last season.
Another player to watch is running back Ty Johnson, 25, who was overshadowed for most of the season but could be a depth piece with Breece Hall returning from major surgery on his left knee.
Lower priority
Starters and former starters in this category are safety Lamarcus Joyner, tackle George Fant, guard Nate Herbig and kicker Greg Zuerlein, who set the franchise record with a 60-yard field goal but made only 81% of his field goal attempts. Eddy Pineiro, beat out by Zuerlein in training camp, wound up making 93% of his tries with the Carolina Panthers.
Herbig did solid work as a starter and could return in a backup role behind Alijah Vera-Tucker, who returns from a triceps injury. Joyner, 32, led the team with three interceptions, but the safety position could be revamped. A balky knee got the best of Fant, who missed nine games and probably will move on.
Defensive tackles Nathan Shepherd and Solomon Thomas, both favorites of the coaching staff, could return in backup roles. Ditto, defensive end Vinny Curry, 34, who will decide if he wants to give it another run.
And then there's quarterback Joe Flacco, 38, a valuable mentor who started nine games over the last three seasons. It would be an upset if he's back with the Jets, but he didn't sound like someone ready for retirement.
"It's so much fun to be out there with all those young guys and still do [something] I love," he said. "That’s what I plan on doing until, you know, I’ve said it before: I’m going to do it as long as I can, and that’s my plan, and we’ll see what happens this offseason and what kind of opportunities there are." | 2023-02-22T13:15:04+00:00 | espn.com | https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/91354/jets-mull-free-agent-decisions-including-a-tough-call-on-qb-mike-white |
When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, it sent a jolt through political campaigns across the country.
For politicians in the midst of their primary races, the opinion thrust the already-polarizing issue to the forefront of their campaigns. According to AdImpact, candidates spent $4 million on abortion-related ads in the week after the high court's decision.
Lucas Kunce is running for the Democratic Senate nomination in Missouri.
"What we want to do is just highlight how unjust this is, who this hurts, what communities it hurts, and make sure that that pain is real, like really acknowledged so that we can try to move forward," said Kunce.
And Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, who's running for the Republican Senate nomination, was the first to outlaw abortions after the Dobbs decision came down.
"I am humbled to be a part of this, and the first attorney general in the country to effectively end abortion," Schmitt said.
Kunce says he hears national Democrats talk about abortion bans as an election issue this fall. But he says this is something impacting voters right now.
"Saying it's an election issue is crazy, like, first of all, that means people are going to have to win in November. And then, it means that we're going to have to wait for them to get sworn in. And then, they're going to have to actually pass something. That is a lot of damage. That's a lot of suffering in the next year when the power is actually there to do it right now," Kunce continued.
In neighboring Kansas, the issue of abortion is literally on the ballot on Aug. 2. Kansans will vote on whether to approve a new constitutional amendment to remove the state's guaranteed access to abortion.
Kyle Kondik from the University of Virginia's Center for Politics says the hot-button issue could also be an important topic in swing states, especially ones where old trigger laws were put into effect after Roe v. Wade was overturned.
"A couple states that come to mind are Michigan, Wisconsin, and Arizona which have old laws on the books. And those states all have competitive governor's races this year, Senate races in Wisconsin, Arizona, you know, so those are states that are politically competitive and it's going to be important," said Kondik.
But he says it's too early to know how much of an impact abortion will have on Election Day.
"Roe v. Wade is one of the biggest developments we've had in American politics in quite some time. But at the end of the day, we have these things happen, and then they don't necessarily change the overall political dynamic," Kondik continued.
Abortion is the type of issue that often draws stark lines between Democratic and Republican politicians. But polling shows a majority of Americans are somewhere in the middle.
A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 61% of respondents said they'd be less likely to vote for a candidate who supports laws that ban or severely restrict abortion. But in a ranking of the most important issues, abortion ranks far behind others, like jobs and the economy.
Newsy is the nation’s only free 24/7 national news network. You can find Newsy using your TV’s digital antenna or stream for free. See all the ways you can watch Newsy here. | 2022-07-07T20:57:08+00:00 | tmj4.com | https://www.tmj4.com/news/national/politicians-quickly-turn-campaign-focus-to-issue-of-abortion |
Canada sanctions ex-Haiti president and prime ministers
DJERBA, Tunisia (AP) — Canada has expanded its economic sanctions freezing the Canadian assets of Haitian political elites to now include former president Michel Martelly and former prime ministers Laurent Lamothe and Jean-Henry Céant. Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly accused the trio this weekend of helping gangs undermine Haiti’s current government and called on international partners to follow Canada’s lead. She made the announcement at a two-day Francophonie summit in Tunisia. The Caribbean country is paralyzed by gang warfare. Haitian Foreign Affairs Minister Jean Victor Généus said the new sanctions put real consequences on those causing a “nightmare” in his country. | 2022-11-21T00:20:09+00:00 | krdo.com | https://krdo.com/news/2022/11/20/canada-sanctions-ex-haiti-president-and-prime-ministers/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — The American job market has defied raging inflation, rising interest rates, growing recession fears. Month after month, U.S. employers just kept adding hundreds of thousands of workers, often beating forecasters’ expectations.
But now economists worry that signs of weakness are starting to turn up in hiring, threatening one of the United States’ last remaining redoubts of economic strength. Job openings are down, and the number of Americans signing up for unemployment benefits is up.
“When we look across the labor market, we are seeing broad indications of cracks beginning to show,’’ said Sarah House, senior economist at Wells Fargo. “Overall conditions aren’t nearly as strong as what we were seeing three to six months ago.’’
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The Labor Department reports on Friday how many jobs were created in July and whether the super-low U.S. unemployment rate has begun to tick higher.
Forecasters, on average, expect the economy to have picked up another 250,000 jobs last month, according to a survey by the data firm FactSet. That would be a solid number in normal times but would mark a big deceleration for 2022: Employers have been hiring an average 457,000 workers a month so far this year.
The unemployment rate is expected to stay at 3.6% — just off a 50-year low — for the fifth straight month.
The job news will have political implications, too: Worries about high prices and the risk of recession are likely to weigh on voters in November’s midterm elections, potentially making it tougher for President Joe Biden’s Democrats to keep control of Congress.
The economic backdrop is troubling: Gross domestic product — the broadest measure of economic output — fell in both the first and second quarters; consecutive GDP drops is one definition of a recession. And inflation is roaring at a 40-year high.
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The job market’s continued strength — especially the low jobless rate — is the main reason most economists don’t believe a downturn has started yet, though they increasingly fear that one is on the way. History isn’t entirely reassuring: The unemployment rate was even lower — 3.5% — when an 11-month recession began in December 1969.
Americans aren’t the only ones contending with difficult economic times.
Recession fears are rising in Europe, too. In the United Kingdom, the Bank of England on Thursday projected that the world’s fifth-largest economy would slide into recession by the end of the year.
Russia’s war in Ukraine has darkened the outlook across Europe. The conflict has made energy supplies scarce and driven prices higher. European countries are bracing for the possibility that Moscow will keep reducing — and perhaps completely cut off — flows of natural gas, used to power factories, generate electricity and keep homes warm in winter.
If Europeans can’t store enough gas for the cold months, rationing may be required by industry.
Economies have been on a wild ride since COVID hit in early 2020.
The pandemic brought economic life to a near standstill as companies shut down and consumers stayed home as a health precaution. In March and April 2020, American employers slashed a staggering 22 million jobs and the economy plunged into a deep, two-month recession.
But massive government aid — and the Federal Reserve’s decision to slash interest rates and pour money into financial markets — fueled a surprisingly quick recovery. Caught off guard by the strength of the rebound, factories, shops, ports and freight yards were overwhelmed with orders and scrambled to bring back the workers they furloughed when COVID hit.
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The result has been shortages of workers and supplies, delayed shipments -- and rising prices. In the United States, inflation has been rising steadily for more than a year. In June, consumer prices jumped 9.1% from a year earlier — the biggest increase since 1981.
The Fed at first underestimated inflation’s resurgence, thinking prices were rising because of temporary supply chain bottlenecks. But inflation refused to go away.
Now the central bank is responding aggressively. It has raised its benchmark short-term interest rate four times this year, and more rate hikes are ahead.
Higher borrowing costs are taking a toll. Rising mortgage rates, for instance, have cooled a red-hot housing market. Sales of previously occupied homes dropped in June for the fifth straight month.
Real estate companies — including lending firm loanDepot and online housing broker Redfin — have begun laying off workers.
The labor market is showing other signs of wobbliness.
The Labor Department reported Tuesday that employers posted 10.7 million job openings in June — a healthy number but the lowest since September.
And the four-week average number of Americans signing up for unemployment benefits — a proxy for layoffs that smooths out week-to-week swings — rose last week to the highest level since November, though the numbers may have been exaggerated by seasonal factors.
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Friday’s jobs report comes at a critical moment for President Biden, who has maintained that the economy is merely slowing down rather than heading into a recession. Inflation has dogged public support for Biden, yet the administration has stressed that the 3.6% unemployment rate and solid job gains are signs of a healthy economy.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the administration expects the pace of hiring to fall further in the coming months because the unemployment rate is already near historic lows and fewer potential workers are available.
A slower pace of hiring and reduced levels of wage growth could also suggest that inflationary pressures are easing, but it has the White House attempting to convince the American public that less growth is a positive at a moment when Republican lawmakers are saying a recession has already started; they cite the drop in GDP over the first half of the year.
“We’re expecting it to be closer to 150,000 jobs per month,” Jean-Pierre said at Thursday’s briefing. “This kind of job growth is consistent with the lower level of unemployment numbers that we’ve been seeing.”
Economist House at Wells Fargo expects employers to keep adding jobs for a few months. But rising interest rates, she said, will gradually choke off economic growth.
“We are actually looking for outright declines in hiring come the first quarter, maybe second quarter of next year,’’ she said. “As monetary policy continues to tighten, that’s going to have an effect on overall business conditions and therefore demand for workers.
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“Our expectation is that the U.S. economy will slip into recession, probably at the start of the year.’’ | 2022-08-05T07:17:00+00:00 | bostonglobe.com | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/08/05/business/recession-fears-grow-strong-us-hiring-is-likely-slowing/ |
(NewsNation) — At least 28 people have died in flash flooding across Kentucky, the state’s governor said Sunday.
“We have been devastated by historic flooding in eastern Kentucky,” Gov. Andy Beshear said in a video message posted to Youtube.
Beshear said there are additional bodies that have been recovered but they cannot confirm those deaths at this time.
Among those who died were four children from the same family, the Knott County coroner said. Beshear said the number would likely rise significantly and it could take weeks to find all the victims.
More than 330 people have sought shelter, and there has been extensive property damage in the state.
Beshear, who flew over parts of the flood-stricken region on Friday, described it as “just total devastation, the likes of which we have never seen.”
“We are committed to a full rebuilding effort to get these folks back on their feet,” Beshear said. “But for now, we’re just praying that we don’t lose anybody else.”
The rain let up early Friday after parts of eastern Kentucky received between 8 and 10 1/2 inches over 48 hours.
“From everything we’ve seen, we may be updating the count of how many we lost for the next several weeks,” Beshear said. “In some of these areas, it’s hard to know exactly how many people were there.”
The governor predicted it would take a least a year for the state to fully rebuild.
Damage to critical infrastructure and more rain on Sunday hampered the recovery effort.
As residents in Appalachia tried to slowly piece their lives back together, flash flood warnings were issued for at least eight eastern Kentucky counties. The National Weather Service said radar indicated up to 4 inches of rain fell Sunday in some areas, with more rain possible.
Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the U.S. National Guard Bureau, told The Associated Press about 400 people have been rescued by National Guard helicopter. He estimated that the guard had rescued close to 20 by boat from hard-to-access areas.
At a news conference in Knott County, Beshear praised the fast arrival of FEMA trailers but noted the numerous challenges.
“We have dozens of bridges that are out — making it hard to get to people, making it hard to supply people with water,” he said. “We have entire water systems down that we are working hard to get up.”
About 13,000 utility customers in Kentucky remained without power Sunday, poweroutage.us reported.
Austin and Brianna Imhoff lost everything in the flooding. They told Nexstar’s NewsNation they were still trying to process what had happened.
“You don’t really know what happened unless you’re living in it,” Austin said. “Unless you’re there and the water is rising a foot every five minutes, you don’t understand it.”
President Joe Biden on Friday approved a major disaster declaration for the Commonwealth of Kentucky and ordered federal aid to supplement commonwealth and local recovery efforts in 13 counties.
Perry County is one of the hardest-hit areas of the state. Almost everyone in the area suffered some sort of damage. Perry County Sheriff Joe Engle said his 82-year-old great-aunt drowned in the floodwaters.
“We’ve still got a lot of searching to do,” said Jerry Stacy, the county’s emergency management director.
Nonprofit groups like the “Cajun Navy” have stepped up to help with search and rescue efforts and are still asking for more volunteers to join their efforts, said Cajun Navy ground force founder Rob Gaudet.
He said “the clock is ticking” for people to save their homes.
“Communication systems are down, there’s a lot of danger,” Gaudet said. “The longer these homes sit, the harder it will be to repair them. Mold will set in … there’s enormous challenges to a flood.”
Intense downpours have happened across rural Appalachia, with steep hills and terrain of narrow river channels funneling water into Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia. Water tumbled down hillsides and into valleys and hollows where it swelled creeks and storms coursing through small towns. The torrent engulfed homes and businesses and trashed vehicles. Some people were marooned on steep slopes by mudslides.
St. Louis, Missouri, has also seen a lot of rainfall, which has made it challenging for the paved city environment to soak it all up.
Scientists warn climate change is to blame for making these kinds of weather disasters more common.
“It’s a battle of extremes going on right now in the United States,” said University of Oklahoma meteorologist Jason Furtado. “These are things we expect to happen because of climate change. … A warmer atmosphere holds more water vapor and that means you can produce increased heavy rainfall.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | 2022-08-01T14:49:04+00:00 | wcia.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/national/kentucky-flooding-death-toll-now-28-expected-to-rise/ |
In addition, comprehensive technology platform adds new Vice President of Key Accounts
CHICAGO, May 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Advyzon, a comprehensive technology platform and portfolio management solution for financial advisors and investment managers, recently achieved high client satisfaction ratings and showed significant increase in market share across multiple categories in the 2022 T3 / Inside Information Software Survey. The results of the annual technology survey and report, produced by Joel Bruckenstein of T3 Technology Tools for Today and Bob Veres of Inside Information, were unveiled and presented live at the recent T3 Advisor Conference, which took place May 2nd – 4th in Denton, Texas and saw nearly 1,000 total attendees.
"We're thrilled to yet again score top marks in this prestigious, industry-leading survey and report," said John Mackowiak, Chief Business Development Officer at Advyzon. "It's an honor to see that our clients are highly satisfied with our platform and our offerings, and extremely encouraging to see our continued growth in market share in the industry."
The report dubbed client satisfaction ratings higher than 8 "extraordinary" in its summary findings:
- Advyzon received the highest client satisfaction rating (8.33) in the All-in-One Software category for firms with more than a 0.1% market share – a feat they have now accomplished for the past five years (every year since 2018)
- Advyzon scored the highest client satisfaction rating (8.49) in the Portfolio Management/Reporting Tools category for firms with more than 0.4% market share
- Advyzon received the second-best overall client satisfaction rating (8.18) in the CRM category
- While not traditionally considered as a Financial Planning Software, Advyzon received a 7.38 rating in the Financial Planning Software category
Advyzon also showed significant growth in market share within all of these categories:
- Grew from 1.60% to 3.56% in the All-In-One Software category (fourth overall)
- Grew from 1.86% to 3.80% in the Portfolio Management/Reporting Tools category (sixth overall)
- Grew from 1.66% to 4.25% in the CRM category (fifth overall)
- Grew from 0.99% to 1.54% in the Financial Planning Software category (tenth overall)
- Also named often in 'Programs Respondents Are Considering' within these categories, and was listed among 'Other Programs Mentioned' in multiple other categories
Thanks to their stellar ratings, Advyzon was dubbed a "Software All Star" – solutions that finished in the top five of their categories in market penetration and also achieved an extraordinary (8.0+) average user rating – receiving a user rating of 8.33 while ranking fourth in market share in the All-In-One Software category, and a user rating of 8.18 while ranking fifth in market share in the CRM category. Only six other firms besides Advyzon qualified for the "Software All Star" list more than once.
In addition, Advyzon joined an elite group of companies that "should be on any software buyer's radar" dubbed "Mighty Mites" – solutions with over a 1% market share that achieved an extraordinary (8.0+) average user rating (All-In-One Software, CRM, and Portfolio Management/Reporting Tools). Only one other firm besides Advyzon was named to the "Mighty Mites" list more than once (with Advyzon being named three times).
ADVYZON WINS BY LISTENING TO ADVISORS
While Advyzon routinely receives high ratings in the T3 / Inside Information Software Survey, the 2022 report acknowledged the great strides Advyzon made in 2021 to improve its offerings to advisors – an effort that was driven by advisor feedback at every stage of development.
"Advyzon was held back [previously] by the lack of a managed account platform and a robust rebalancing tool, but it now has both, and both are home-grown," the report notes, referencing Advyzon Quantum®, the robust rebalancer Advyzon officially launched in April 2022, as well as Advyzon Investment Management (AIM), a comprehensive turnkey asset management program (TAMP) fully integrated into Advyzon's cloud-based platform, announced in March 2022.
The accolades for Advyzon come on the heels of equally high praise from the 2021 Kitces Technology Report – The Technology That Independent Financial Advisors Actually Use (And Like) – which also singled Advyzon out for its upward trajectory as both a CRM and portfolio reporting and management tool.
Advyzon's cloud-based platform combines portfolio management, customizable performance reporting, trading and rebalancing, client web portals, client relationship management (CRM), client billing, and document storage, making it easy for advisors to run their financial planning and investment advisory firms while managing their client accounts with efficiency and ease. Advyzon is currently serving over 1,100 advisory firms.
To see the full T3 / Inside Information Software Survey results, which Advyzon was also proud to be a sponsor of, please click here.
ADVYZON ADDS NEW VICE PRESIDENT OF KEY ACCOUNTS
Advyzon recently announced the addition of a new team member, bringing on Ashleigh Boone as Vice President of Key Accounts. Boone will serve as a senior salesperson for the firm, focusing on large opportunities and priority accounts.
Before joining Advyzon, Boone spent nearly 8 years with Riskalyze, a financial technology company that provides software as a service to financial advisors, as a Senior Account Executive and client relationship manager. Prior to that, Boone held multiple roles as a Business Development and Event Manager, as well as an Advertising Consultant.
"We're very excited to welcome Ashleigh to the Advyzon team," said Mackowiak. "She has an extensive background in fintech, the financial services industry, and in business development roles, so she's the perfect fit for our firm."
ABOUT ADVYZON
Advyzon provides comprehensive, intuitive, cloud-based, wealth management technology for independent financial advisors and registered investment advisors (RIAs). The Advyzon tech platform combines portfolio management, customizable performance reporting, trading and rebalancing, client web portals, client relationship management (CRM), client billing, and document storage. A team of entrepreneurs led by CEO Hailin Li, Ph.D., CFA®, Advyzon strives to innovate in strategic and useful ways. Financial advisors inspire their innovation and integrations, and their exceptional technology and unmatched service exist to improve the advisor experience – whether it's via portfolio and firm management or client relationships and growth. To learn more about Advyzon, visit www.Advyzon.com.
Media Contact:
Jonny Swift
Impact Communications, Inc.
913-649-5009
JonnySwift@ImpactCommunications.org
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SOURCE Advyzon | 2022-05-13T11:42:03+00:00 | wlox.com | https://www.wlox.com/prnewswire/2022/05/13/advyzon-achieves-high-ratings-significant-increase-market-share-2022-t3-inside-information-software-survey/ |
Pressure on Tuberville intensifies over hold on military nominations, but senator remains steadfast
By Lauren Fox, Morgan Rimmer and Nikki Carvajal, CNN
(CNN) — The impasse created by GOP Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s hold on military nominations is raising the stakes of the Senate’s final week in session as lawmakers are working frantically behind the scenes to try and find a solution that would get the Alabama senator to back off his slow walking of more than 270 military promotions.
So far, there is no end in sight.
“I’m taking all the fire from the other side, but I’m fine with it. I mean, I knew that was gonna happen. I knew it was gonna be tough, but I’m doing it for the right reasons,” Tuberville told CNN. The Republican senator is objecting to the Pentagon’s policy of reimbursing military service members and their families for travel to obtain abortion care.
Senate leaders are hoping to wrap up consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act this week, a bill leaders have long viewed as a natural inflection point to get Tuberville to back off his holds, but there is still no sign Tuberville is willing to compromise.
With the bill on the floor, leaders have options to offer Tuberville amendment votes and senators are hoping to put the issue behind them before the August recess, when many military families typically look to move. But the off ramps presented to Tuberville have not been enough, and a briefing from Defense Department officials last week in the Senate Armed Services Committee didn’t convince the Alabama senator that the policy was on firm legal ground, nor did it convince him his holds were having a real impact on readiness.
In the meantime, public pressure on the Alabama Republican over his stand is growing.
Active-duty military spouses hand delivered a petition to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Tuberville on Monday signed by hundreds of military family members who are “deeply concerned and personally impacted by Senator Tuberville blocking confirmation of senior military leaders.”
Responding to the petition, a spokesperson for Tuberville told CNN, “Coach honors, and is grateful for, the service of all of our heroes in uniform. That is why he is working to get politics out of the military using the tools he has as a United States Senator, including his hold.” Tuberville’s office also noted that the holds only apply to generals and flag officers.
GOP leadership and fellow lawmakers trying to entice Tuberville to back off are treading carefully, knowing that Tuberville is exercising a power that rank-and-file members want to protect for the future while also recognizing that a long-term standoff with the military could have implications on readiness and recruitment.
“I think there are lots of permutations of options that have been batted around and discussed and you know, I think he wants to get an outcome and I agree with him. I think the military overstepped their bounds,” Senate Republican Whip John Thune said. “But, you know, at the same time, we (have) got to have people in positions and particularly positions that are critical to our vital national security interests, and so right now we’re at loggerheads on that, and I don’t know exactly at the moment, what the exit plan is, but there are folks who I know he’s interacting with talking to our members.”
Democratic senators on the Senate Armed Services Committee sent a letter on Monday to McConnell pressing him to pressure Tuberville to drop his holds.
“As the leader of the Republican Conference, we count on you to hold your colleagues accountable when they recklessly cross boundaries and upend Senatorial order. Senator Tuberville’s continuation of this stalemate is reckless, dangerous, and must end,” they wrote.
“This has gone on way too long, and it’s having an impact on our national security. Senator Tuberville professes to understand or know a lot about the military,” Sen. Mark Kelly, a Democrat from Arizona, who signed the letter, said. “My experience is he does not and he does not seem to understand what this is doing to our forces … it has a cascading effect. It’s not just about our admirable and generals anymore. There are people that have to move into those jobs beneath them. It’s affecting families. It’s affecting our readiness. And it needs to come to some sort of conclusion here.”
Tuberville’s hold cannot ultimately stop Pentagon nominees from being approved, but moving through dozens of military promotions, which are typically so uncontroversial that they can be approved with a simple agreement, would take months. It would consume the Senate floor and paralyze the body from being able to take up almost any other action, aides say. Still, one option is Schumer could keep the Senate in session to ramp up pressure on Tuberville.
Schumer did not shut the door on keeping the Senate in session during recess to process the nominations, when asked about it last week. But even keeping the Senate in session around the clock for a month isn’t guaranteed to get Tuberville to back off, either.
Behind the scenes, small groups of bipartisan members have been trying to brainstorm a potential path forward.
Some members are looking at potential ways to rein in the Defense Department policy so that it is not as far reaching hoping that could potentially satisfy Tuberville, but it’s not clear DOD would be open to any restrictions.
“There’s small groups of us that have been working to find a path forward that that responds to the concerns that the senator has, but also allows us to move forward with the votes of the nominees,” said Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota. “We think there may be some middle ground. We’ll find out.”
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
CNN’s Clare Foran and Haley Talbot contributed to this report. | 2023-07-25T17:19:11+00:00 | krdo.com | https://krdo.com/news/2023/07/25/pressure-on-tuberville-intensifies-over-hold-on-military-nominations-but-senator-remains-steadfast/ |
DENVER (KDVR) — The storm system that brought wind and snow to parts of Colorado Monday night into Tuesday was a tough storm to forecast.
Parts of Colorado, like the mountains and Eastern Plains, saw big totals while Denver only saw a few flurries with no accumulation. Iliff, on the northeast plains of Colorado, picked up 10 inches of snow, while Downtown Denver picked up zero.
This storm was all about the placement of low pressure and the wind direction. Those two factors prevented Denver and the Front Range from seeing any big snowfall totals.
The map below shows the low pressure setting up north and east of Denver by midday Tuesday. This placement brought winds out of the north/northwest to Metro Denver and the Front Range, which is called a downsloping wind.
Winds out of the north/northwest mean wind will flow down the slope of the Rockies and Cheyenne Ridge into Denver. As the wind sinks, it warms via compression, leading to dry conditions on the Front Range.
If the center of low pressure shifted further south or west, it would have given Denver a better chance to see higher amounts of snowfall.
When low pressure is sitting east of Eastern Colorado, it means that the northeast corner of the state sees the very back end of the precipitation from the storm system, which typically results in a very sharp cutoff for where the big totals will be.
That is why just 100 miles apart, one area can see up to 10 inches of snow while the other sees nothing. | 2022-12-14T02:47:24+00:00 | kdvr.com | https://kdvr.com/weather/no-snow-in-denver-10-inches-in-the-plains-heres-why/ |
DUBAI, UAE, June 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Alliance of Universities on Climate (GAUC), in a strategic partnership with UNESCO and the Asian Universities Alliance (AUA), upgrades the 'Climate x' Campaign it initiated last year to contribute to the progress of global climate governance and the success of the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference (COP28).
The Campaign aims to mobilize global multi-stakeholders to cultivate future climate leaders, with a particular focus on the synergistic perspective between climate change and other UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 'Climate x' Leadership Training Program 2023 (the 'Climate x' Training), which is the first flagship program of the Campaign, has received an enthusiastic response from global youth. Within just one week, over 1,000 college students from over 70 nations and regions have applied. The application portal will remain open at http://climatexleadership.gauc.net/ until June 30th.
"The innovative actions and contributions of young people on promoting carbon neutrality, addressing climate change and achieving the SDGs are remarkable," said Shahbaz Khan, Director of UNESCO Multi-sectoral Regional Office for East Asia and Representative to China, DPRK, Japan, Mongolia and ROK, at the launching ceremony of the 'Climate x' Training. "International organizations, educational institution alliances, policy makers and the private sectors should work together to provide a global platform for them, so that their talents can be lightened, their voices can be heard and their actions can be seen."
A paradigm shifts
Being an existential challenge, climate change is closely interconnected with all the other UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and holds transforming impact across social and economic sectors. The transition towards a carbon-neutral economy is a paradigm shift that will give rise to a new model of development.
As its theme indicates, the 'Climate x' Campaign emphasizes the synergy between climate change and other SDGs and features a three-dimensional structure to engage with the broadest multi-stakeholders. At the national level, the Training aims at fostering future climate leaders. On the regional scale, a Regional Forum on Climate Change is to encourage broader academic collaboration. At the international level, the Global Youth Climate Week, a brand-new mechanism co-initiated by GAUC and its global partners, is to amplify youth climate action worldwide.
Thanks to the collective strength of GAUC's member universities and the firm support from its global partners, the first 'Climate x' Campaign harvested significant success. It cultivated 100 young students from GAUC's member universities to take the lead in climate actions, mobilized over 40 universities across Africa ahead of the COP27 in Egypt, and attracted over 100 multi-stakeholders on 6 continents to support the climate actions of youths. At the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), the representative students selected from the training issued an open letter to global climate leaders in Sharm el Sheikh, and handed it personally to 5 national heads of state, 14 ministers from 11 countries, and a dozen government delegations.
Building upon the success from last year, the Campaign 2023 will adhere to its mission and structure while further enhancing the inclusivity and impact.
U28 for COP28
Given that COP28 will take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), GAUC has established a strategic partnership with the Asian Universities Alliance (AUA), which comprises 15 member universities across Asia.
With the University of Tokyo and Tsinghua University being members of both alliances, this partnership brings together the educational and academic resources of 28 universities worldwide, with a special focus on Asia. During the Campaign, the member universities from the two alliances will collaborate to provide interdisciplinary online courses for the 'Climate x' Training. Moreover, they will work closely to raise global awareness of Asia's climate challenges and to mobilize the network of higher education institutions across the continent for decisive climate efforts leading up to and following COP28.
In addition to the expanded collaboration within the higher education sector, the Campaign also witnesses even more concrete support from global partners across a wide range of industries, including UNESCO, UNITAR, and Arab Youth Council on Climate Change, among others.
Train the Trainers
To empower more young individuals and enable them to embrace the opportunities presented by the paradigm shift and lead future climate initiatives, the 'Climate x' Training 2023 is open to college students worldwide.
"Youth are the backbone of the net-zero future. The 'Climate x' Training is designed to help them shoulder this historic responsibility." said Dr. WANG Binbin, the Executive Secretary-General of GAUC. "It will impart academic knowledge, expand their global perspective, and deepen their understanding of global climate governance. Moreover, we hope it serves as a guiding light, facilitating their journey towards self-fulfillment."
Featuring the 'Train the Trainer' approach within a "1+3" module, the training program is dedicated to empowering students to transition from being learners of climate knowledge to becoming leaders of climate action. The module is divided into two parts: "1" represents the online coursework spanning one month in July, while "3" symbolizes the three hybrid events that enrolled students must organize from August to November.
As an integral part of the 'Climate x' Campaign, the Global Youth Climate Week 2023, scheduled from November 20th to 24th this year, will provide a platform for all training participants to showcase their third event and bring the climate actions of college students to the international arena.
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SOURCE Global Alliance of Universities on Climate | 2023-06-21T13:49:51+00:00 | wsfa.com | https://www.wsfa.com/prnewswire/2023/06/21/climate-x-campaign-2023-upgraded-cop28/ |
WATERLOO — A special unit with the Waterloo Police Department continues to deliver results more than 10 years after it was formed.
This week authorities announced that the Violent Crime Apprehension Team seized its 700th firearm during a traffic stop.
”VCAT and the officers that assist them work relentlessly to prevent violent crimes and apprehend violent offenders,” said Interim Chief of Police Joe Leibold. “The hard work of the officers assigned to the Unit and every local, State and Federal law enforcement officer who has assisted them in this mission is the reason for their success, we thank them all for their hard work and support.”
VCAT was launched in August 2009 to focus on violent crime in the city. The unit falls under the police department’s detective division, and all of the officers assigned to the unit are deputized as task force officers with the U.S. Marshals Northern Iowa Fugitive Task Force.
Many of the gun cases end up with federal prosecution and conviction in the Northern District of Iowa. Leibold said these prosecutions would not have happened without collaboration with the United States Attorney’s Office and the Waterloo Police Department’s Safe Street’s Task Force, which partner with the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives.
According to ATF gun trace data, authorities recovered 212 firearms from Waterloo in 2020, the latest year for which the statistics are available. Waterloo’s seizures placed fourth among Iowa cities, behind Des Moines with 641, Davenport with 301 and Cedar Rapids with 254, according to the data.
Photos: Guns in Northeast Iowa crime cases
Photos: Guns in Northeast Iowa crime cases
Evidence photo of the Ruger 9mm pistol used to kill Jada Young-Mills in Waterloo in November 2020.
Contributed
Evidence photo of the .44-caliber revolver used to shoot Jean Smith at her Dundee home in March 2009.
Contributed photo
Evidence photo shows a 9mm Taurus PT92F handgun found in a couch during the search of 122 W. Wellington St. in January 2021.
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Hi-Point C9 9mm handgun police seized from Marcus DeShawn Harmon-Wright in April 2020.
Contributed photo
Court exhibit photo shows a shortened .22-caliber Mossberg Plinkster rifle seized in May 2019 that had the fingerprints of Devonner Coleman.
contributed photo
Court exhibit photo shows a shortened .22-caliber Mossberg Plinkster rifle and bags of marijuana seized in May 2019 that had the fingerprints of Devonner Coleman.
Contributed photo
A SIG Sauer pistol investigators found near a truck parked at Dan Niebuhr’s Fairbank home in March 2019.
A SIG Sauer pistol investigators found near a truck parked at Dan Niebuhr’s Fairbank home in March 2019.
Jeff Reinitz
Police seized four handguns in connection with an investigation into three shootings on Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Contributed photo
Court exhibit photo shows military-style rifles, a handgun and ammo found in a trunk during a March 12, 2016, traffic stop in Charles City.
COURTESY PHOTO
Prosecutors allege Kyle Hattrup pointed this Mossberg shotgun at an officer who went to his home after Hattrup allegedly started a fire in his parents’ garage in 2015.
JEFF REINITZ
Courier staff writer
Prosecutors allege Kyle Hattrup pointed this Mossberg shotgun at an officer who went to his home after Hattrup allegedly started a fire in his parents’ garage in 2015.
JEFF REINITZ
One of five shotgun shells found in the street near where Gary Lee Wilson collapsed after being shot in the early morning hours of Aug. 2, 2014.
Police found a shotgun shell after responding to a report of gunfire in the area of Linn and Cottage streets on Thursday, June 4, 2015.
JEFF REINITZ
Police seized a .40-caliber Glock pistol found in Steve William Fordyce’s pickup truck shortly after Donald Harrington was shot on Locust Street in August 2015.
JEFF REINITZ
A pistol and magazine sit in a squad car after police found the weapon in the backyard of a home following gunfire on West Parker Street on Sunday.
JEFF REINITZ
Evidence photo shows a .40-caliber Smith and Wesson pistol ATF agents found in an Elma home were Michael Duane Strain was living in 2011.
contributed photo
Court exhibit of a .50-caliber Desert Eagle pistol found while searching Damon Montano’s RV in July 2018.
Contributed photo
Exhibit from government's sentencing memo shows photo of three pistols found on Wayne Jones' phone.
Contributed photo
This .22-caliber Sig Sauer pistol was stolen during an April 2011 burglary to a home on William Drive. Police recovered it when they stopped Queshandis Seals in July 2014. Seals was found guilty of firearm and drug charges following trial in August 2015.
Contributed photo
A .22-caliber Chiappas Firearms pistol found during a May 2014 traffic accident in Dunkerton had been stolen from a New Franken, Wis., gun shop in May 2013.
COURTESY PHOTO
Police seized a .25-caliber Raven Arms pistol following a shooting at the former Rumors Bar on July 22, 2012.
Contributed photo
Waterloo police seized a 9mm Tec-9 handgun, left, and a .380-caliber Lorcin pistol while searching a home at 525 Locust St. on Wednesday, June 19, 2013. (COURTESY PHOTO)
COURTESY PHOTO
Evidence photo shows an AR-7 takedown rifle ATF agents found in an Elma home were Michael Duane Strain was living in 2011.
Jeff Reinitz
Evidence photo of a refurbished Mosin Nagant, a Russian bolt-action surplus rifle ATF agents found when searching Michael Duane Strain’s Elma home in 2011.
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Authorities found this Ruger rifle during a June 6, 2017, search in Ossian while investigating opioid sales. The same gun had been seized in October 2012 during an investigation into a shooting in Calmar.
Contributed photo
Evidence photo showing a rifle seized during a search of an Ossian home during the investigation into furanyl fentanyl and heroin distribution on June 6, 2017.
Contributed photo
Police found a handgun, sawed-off shotgun and a shortened rifle in a Lehman Circle mobile home following a shooting Nov. 23, 2013.
COURTESY PHOTO
Authorities recovered an AK-47 style rifle, a 45-caliber handgun and a .40-caliber Glock handgun from Jeremiah Mumford and William Clayton following a bank robbery, chase and shootout that spanned two counties in October. A second rifle was found in the getaway vehicle. (Contributed photos)
Authorities recovered an AK-47 style rifle, a 45-caliber handgun and a .40-caliber Glock handgun from Jeremiah Mumford and William Clayton following a bank robbery, chase and shootout that spanned two counties in October. A second rifle was found in the getaway vehicle. (Contributed photos)
Authorities recovered an AK-47 style rifle, a 45-caliber handgun and a .40-caliber Glock handgun from Jeremiah Mumford and William Clayton following a bank robbery, chase and shootout that spanned two counties in October. A second rifle was found in the getaway vehicle. (Contributed photos)
Evidence photo shows a shotgun that ATF agents found in an Elma home were Michael Duane Strain was living in 2011.
contributed photo
Authorities found this Remington shotgun during a June 6, 2017, search in Ossian while investigating opioid sales. The same gun had been seized in October 2012 after it was used in a shooting in Calmar.
Contributed photo
Police found this altered Mossburg shotgun in the back of a parked car in August 2013. On Dec. 31, 2013, jurors found Patrelle Green-Bowman guilty of felon in possession of a firearm and unauthorized possession of a sawed-off shotgun following trial.
Courtesy Photo
Police found this altered Mossburg shotgun in the back of a parked car in August 2013. On Dec. 31, 2013, jurors found Patrelle Green-Bowman guilty of felon in possession of a firearm and unauthorized possession of a sawed-off shotgun following trial.
Courtesy Photo
Authorities said a resident found this Smith & Wesson handgun in an alley in April 2014 a few blocks from a June 2013 fatal shooting. It was entered as evidence in the trial of Antonio Hutchins on Monday, Jan. 12, 2015.
JEFF REINITZ
Waterloo police said they found this .22-caliber Beretta handgun in an alley behind Travon Jones’ Iowa Street home in Cedar Falls in January 2015.
JEFF REINITZ / Courier Staff Writer
Police photo of a .45-caliber handgun and a .22-caliber handgun recovered during the investigation into the death of Ronald Randall.
Waterloo police said they seized this H&R revolver in September 2017. The weapon was an exhibit in the trial of Davionte Dashawn Barksdale in February 2018.
JEFF REINITZ
An AR-15 rifle recovered by police in a traffic stop following a July 2018 shooting in Waterloo.
JEFF REINITZ
An AR-15 rifle recovered by police in a traffic stop following a July 2018 shooting in Waterloo.
JEFF REINITZ
The .38-caliber revolver that Vickie Butler was shot with during an argument with Michael Fristo in October 2016. Fristo was acquitted of charges in the shooting following trial on Nov. 30, 2017.
JEFF REINITZ
A photograph of the .357-magnum revolver prosecutors said was used to kill Robert Shannon as he sat in a car on Dec. 14, 2011. Introduced as evidence in the trial of Montez Caples on Oct. 31, 2012. (JEFF REINITZ/ Courier Staff Writer)
Police found a sawed-off Ithaca .410-bore shotgun in the back of Adrian Zarate’s girlfriend’s SUV when it was parked at the Isle Casino Hotel parking lot in October 2018.
Contributed photo
Police found a Jimenez Arms .380-caliber handgun with an obliterated seriall number in Adrian Zarate’s hotel room in October 2018.
Contributed photo
Savage Model 67F 20-gauge shotgun found while searching Levi Farren Miller’s West Mullan Avenue in Waterloo in February 2019.
Contributed
Crime scene photo shows were police found a shotgun resting in a cat dish while searching a Waterloo apartment on Feb. 2, 2019.
Police found this Ruger handgun under Delvonn Battles’ seat during a traffic stop in Waterloo in January 2013. The weapon was used in a Des Moines shooting in December 2012. (Contributed photo)
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Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. | 2022-08-25T18:13:14+00:00 | wcfcourier.com | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/watch-now-waterloo-police-unit-marks-700-gun-milestone/article_918644e9-28f9-5dee-b105-3d98d574089c.html |
The Statue of Liberty's crown reopens for the first time in more than 2 years
The public can once again enter the crown portion of the Statue of Liberty -- the first time since it closed its doors in March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a spokesperson told CNN.
While portions of the Statue of Liberty gradually reopened throughout the pandemic, the crown was kept off limits for more than two and a half years until Tuesday.
The National Park Service, which manages the New York City monument, was attempting to hold a soft reopening without too much advertisement in late October to celebrate the 136th anniversary of the statue's dedication in 1886, said Jerry Willis, a spokesperson for Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island.
Willis said the plan was to acclimate newly hired staff to crown-specific safety and security protocols by having them train with veteran tour guides, but that didn't happen.
"People really were excited about the news," Willis said. He said public demand for access to the crown has always existed, and park officials had been hoping to reopen access for a while, but several factors stood in the way.
Willis said it wasn't any one thing that delayed the reopening but a series of factors that kept pushing back their timeline such as getting city, state and federal pandemic restrictions lifted and also dealing with a record-low hiring pool.
"We had to hire people and get them up to speed to effectively run crown operations," Willis said.
Statue City Cruises is the only NPS-authorized ferry service, which must be reserved in advance online or by phone. | 2022-10-12T00:06:04+00:00 | koat.com | https://www.koat.com/article/statue-of-libertys-crown-reopens/41591059 |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — An energy company should be fined nearly $3.4 million for safety violations involving a 2021 oil pipeline spill that fouled Southern California beaches, a federal regulator said.
Amplify Energy Corp. ignored 83 alarms indicating the offshore pipeline had leaked and failed to notify federal authorities or shut down the pipeline to San Pedro Bay until 17 hours after the first alarms, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration said in a letter proposing the fine that was sent April 6 to the company’s president.
An email to the Houston-based firm seeking comment wasn’t immediately returned Tuesday.
The pipeline carries oil to shore from platforms in San Pedro Bay, near the Los Angeles and Long Beach harbors.
The October 2021 spill of 25,000 gallons (94,600 liters) of crude oil created a miles-wide sheen in the ocean and sent blobs of crude ashore, primarily affecting the cities of Huntington Beach and Newport Beach. It further shuttered beaches for a week and fisheries for more than a month, oiled birds and threatened area wetlands.
Amplify Energy said the spill was linked to damage from two ships it accused of dragging anchors and striking the pipeline during a January 2021 storm. It reached an $85 million settlement with the vessel companies.
Southern California fishermen, tourism companies and property owners sued Amplify and the shipping vessels seeking compensation for their losses. Amplify agreed to pay $50 million and the vessel companies agreed to pay $45 million to settle those lawsuits.
Amplify also reached a plea deal with federal authorities for negligently discharging crude.
The company announced last month that it received approval from federal regulatory agencies to restart the pipeline. | 2023-05-10T20:44:35+00:00 | wboy.com | https://www.wboy.com/news/national/3-4m-fine-proposed-over-2021-california-oil-pipeline-leak/ |
CHICAGO (AP) — A former Chicago graduate student was sentenced to eight years in prison Wednesday for spying for the Chinese government by gathering information on scientists and engineers in the U.S. with knowledge about aerospace and satellite technology.
A federal jury in Chicago in September convicted Ji Chaoqun, 31, of conspiracy to act as an agent of China’s Ministry of State Security without notifying the U.S. attorney general, acting as a spy in the U.S., and lying on a government form about his contacts with foreign agencies.
The charges alleged that Ji was targeted by agents with the Ministry of State Security, or MSS, shortly before he came to the U.S. in 2013 to study engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago.
After traveling back to China for the winter break, prosecutors said, Ji was “wined and dined” by his MSS handlers. He was eventually given a top secret contract in which he swore an oath of allegiance to the agency’s cause, agreeing to “devote the rest of my life to state security,” according to prosecutors.
Ji ultimately gathered background reports on eight U.S. citizens, all born in Taiwan or China, with careers in science and technology industries, including several who specialized in the aerospace field, prosecutors said. Seven worked for U.S. defense contractors.
He sent the reports back to his handlers in a zipped attachment that was falsely labeled as sets of “midterm exam” questions, Assistant U.S. Attorney Barry Jonas said at Ji’s trial.
In 2016, a year after Ji graduated from the college, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve through a program to recruit foreigners who have skills considered vital to the national interest.
The jury found Ji guilty of giving false answers on a government background form that asked if he had ever had any contact with foreign intelligence agencies. | 2023-01-26T01:09:25+00:00 | seattletimes.com | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/ex-student-gets-8-years-for-spying-for-chinese-government/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_nation-world |
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BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — President Jair Bolsonaro calls Brazil’s bicentennial Wednesday a chance to celebrate the nation’s proud history, but critics say he has transformed what should be a day of unity into a campaign event that they fear he will use to undermine next month's election in Latin America's fourth biggest democracy.
Bolsonaro, who trails in polls before the Oct. 2 vote, has urged Brazilians to flood the streets, and tens of thousands of his supporters were expected to turn out in Brasilia, Sao Paulo and his hometown of Rio de Janeiro in a show of strength. The military planned displays in the capital and in Rio, with Bolsonaro attending.
The far-right nationalist has for years made a mission of encouraging Brazilian patriotism, and coopted the national colors of green and yellow as his own. He stacked his administration with military officers and repeatedly sought their support, most recently to cast doubt on the reliability of the nation's electronic voting system, without evidence.
His attacks on the voting system has prompted widespread concern among his opponents that he may follow former U.S. President Donald Trump’s footsteps in rejecting election results. Analysts said they would be monitoring for incendiary comments Wednesday.
“Bolsonaro and his supporters have built this up into the most important day of the whole campaign. So he’ll have to deliver some kind of red meat," said Brian Winter, vice president for policy at the Americas Society/Council of the Americas. “But everyone wants to know if he’ll cross that line and create a genuine institutional crisis.”
Following a military parade in Brasilia, Bolsonaro will attend another display in Rio along Copacabana beach, where his supporters often demonstrate. The latter will entail rifle salutes, cannon fire, flyovers, paratroopers and warships anchored offshore.
But Rio won't be seeing what the president had announced would be a big parade instead of the annual nonpartisan event downtown. Instead, Rio's mayor and military leaders settled on the more modest display at the beach site the president designated.
Bolsonaro, a former army captain and lawmaker for decades before winning the 2018 presidential election, has spent most of his first term locking horns with Supreme Court justices, some of whom are also top members of the electoral authority.
He has accused some judges of hamstringing his administration and favoring former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the poll frontrunner seeking to return to the post he held in 2003-2010. That has effectively turned those figures and their institutions into enemies for Bolsonaro's base, which represents roughly one-quarter of the electorate.
When Bolsonaro launched his reelection bid July 24, he asked supporters for “one last” show of support on Independence Day. “Those few deaf people in black robes have to understand what the voice of the people is,” he said, referring to the justices.
The National Guard will beef up security outside the Supreme Court building Wednesday, and police will search people at checkpoints around the esplanade where the military display and a later rally will take place.
Since his campaign began, Bolsonaro has softened his tone regarding Independence Day. In the southern city of Curitiba last week, he told supporters to lower a banner demanding a military coup. And in a TV spot released Tuesday, he urged people to turn out for the bicentennial “with peace and harmony.”
Carlos Ranulfo de Melo, a political scientist at Federal University of Minas Gerais, said this likely reflects campaign strategy to avoid fiery rhetoric and instead focus on the improving economy.
But Rodrigo Prando, a political science professor at Mackenzie Presbyterian University in Sao Paulo, said he expected Bolsonaro to rail against the electronic voting system and the Supreme Court.
The president is known for off-the-cuff outbursts. At last year's Independence Day rally, he pushed the country to the brink of an institutional crisis by proclaiming he would ignore rulings from a Supreme Court justice. He later backtracked, saying his comments came in the heat of the moment, and the boiling tension was reduced to a simmer.
There have been concerns about political violence. Some of his die-hard supporters attempted to storm the Supreme Court last year. In July, a federal prison guard killed a local official from da Silva's Workers’ Party as he celebrated his birthday, and witnesses said he shouted support for Bolsonaro before pulling the trigger.
The newspaper Estadao de S. Paulo, among others, reported Aug. 19 that military intelligence had identified risks of radical, pro-Bolsonaro movements attempting to infiltrate bicentennial celebrations to provoke turmoil and defend military intervention.
“There’s a movement that tries to legitimize a coup if the result from the ballots doesn't please the Bolsonaristas,” said Tai Nalon, co-founder of fact-checking agency AosFatos. “You didn’t have that in 2018.”
Members of Bolsonaro's campaign are hoping he stays on message. Congressman João Augusto Rosa, deputy chairman of Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party, told The Associated Press he wants to see the president reach out to undecided voters, especially poorer Brazilians who have received increased welfare payments under his administration.
“We have to show all the benefits we were able to conquer for them," the congressman, better known as Capitão Augusto, said by phone. "It isn't the time to preach to the ones who have already converted, but instead to those who could still change their minds.”
___
Jeantet reported from Rio de Janeiro. Associated Press writer Mauricio Savarese in Sao Paulo contributed to this report. | 2022-09-07T05:10:59+00:00 | seattlepi.com | https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Brazil-on-edge-for-a-bicentennial-Bolsonaro-has-17423704.php |
WACO, TX (FOX 44) — The Baylor Baseball team got off to a losing start this weekend, as the Bears dropped its series opener against No. 17 West Virginia on Friday night.
It was a slow start to the game for Mitch Thompson’s team, as Baylor found itself down 3-0 early on, before John Ceccoli got the Bears on the board in the bottom of the second inning.
From there, Baylor scored three more unanswered runs to take a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth, but WVU retook the lead for good with a two-out, two RBI double in the top of the eighth.
The Bears and Mountaineers will match up on Saturday, April 29th in game two of the weekend series. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 pm. | 2023-04-29T04:25:53+00:00 | fox44news.com | https://www.fox44news.com/sports/baylor/baylor-baseball-drops-back-and-forth-first-game-against-no-17-west-virginia/ |
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Fans of the recent cooler weather will have another day to look forward to tomorrow.
The National Weather Service’s forecast is calling for highs in the upper 60s with moderate breezes and partly sunny skies, although a bit of haze is also possible. Overnight lows will drop to around 50 degrees as winds begin to calm. Friday kicks off the weekend with more sunshine and highs around 70.
Hazardous Weather Outlook
An Air Quality Alert is in effect until midnight tonight for fine particulates. This alert covers Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Summit, Portage and Ashtabula Counties. Air quality will be unhealthy for sensitive groups during this period. In addition, there is a moderate risk for rip currents along the Lake Erie shoreline this evening and tonight.
Cleveland daylight conditions
Cleveland gains 1 minute of daylight tomorrow.
Cleveland sunrise - 5:53 a.m.
Cleveland sunset - 8:59 p.m.
Extended forecast for Northeast Ohio
Friday night looks to be calm and cool with lows in the lower 50s. Saturday will see more sushine with highs bouncing back into the upper 70s. | 2023-06-07T18:40:34+00:00 | cleveland.com | https://www.cleveland.com/weather/2023/06/sunny-cool-conditions-continue-northeast-ohios-thursday-weather-forecast.html |
National Billboard Campaign from Clear Channel Outdoor Will Support the 23rd
Annual Lights On Afterschool
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Afterschool Alliance, the National League of Cities, and the National Summer Learning Association are joining Clear Channel Outdoor (NYSE: CCO) for a broad-based visibility campaign across nearly 2,000 digital billboards nationwide for this year's Lights On Afterschool rally. The ads recognize the remarkable work afterschool programs are doing to support youth and families, from addressing children's social and mental health needs, to keeping students safe and learning when schools are closed, to providing meals and other supports to those in need.
Now in its 23rd year, Lights On Afterschool is the only national rally for afterschool programs. Throughout October, and on October 20, when the official Lights On Afterschool rally will take place, programs across the country are holding events focused on academics, science and technology, arts and music, sports and fitness, community service, and more. The events send the message that demand for afterschool programs is high, too many students are without programs, and the pandemic has exacerbated staff and funding shortages.
Some 24.7 million U.S. children not in an afterschool program would be enrolled, if a program were available to them, according to a survey of 1,500 parents commissioned by the Afterschool Alliance and conducted by Edge Research in May and June of 2022. That is the highest number ever recorded. Unmet demand for afterschool programs is significantly higher among Latino and Black children (at 60% and 54% respectively) than among children overall (49%). Cost is the top barrier to enroll, cited by 57% of parents as a reason for not enrolling their child. Ninety percent of parents rate the quality of the program their child attends as excellent (51%) or very good (39%).
Lights On Afterschool serves as a reminder that a large and powerful body of evidence demonstrates improvements in grades, school attendance, behavior, and more among children who participate in afterschool programs. Researchers have also found that students in afterschool programs are more engaged in school and excited about learning, and develop critical work and life skills such as problem solving, teamwork, and communications.
Organized by the Afterschool Alliance, Lights On Afterschool includes events organized by schools, 4-Hs, Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCAs, cities, parks, museums, community centers, and others. Events this year will showcase the skills students gain and the talents they develop in their afterschool programs, which provide help with homework; skilled mentors; art, dance and music; healthy snacks and meals; computer programming; opportunities to think critically, collaborate and communicate with peers and adults; job and college readiness; sports and fitness activities; robotics; and opportunities for hands-on, team-based learning.
Clear Channel Outdoor is supporting Lights On Afterschool by donating some of its most prominent space to display afterschool messages on digital billboards, bus shelters, and poster spaces in 25 markets around the country throughout the month of October. On October 20, Clear Channel will feature afterschool messages on two jumbo billboards in New York City's Times Square and will bathe Boston's South Street Station in blue and yellow on October 20 in honor of Lights On Afterschool, complementing a similar lighting of the iconic Empire State Building that evening. Supporters also will be lighting up local landmarks and buildings across the country to show their support for afterschool programs.
"Clear Channel Outdoor's support for afterschool is extraordinary, and the afterschool movement is grateful for all the company does to recognize the tremendous work afterschool programs are doing to boost kids and families during these tough times," said Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant. "Lights On Afterschool celebrates the essential work afterschool programs do to keep kids safe, inspire them to learn, and give working parents peace of mind that their children are safe and supervised after the school day ends. We are proud to have Clear Channel Outdoor helping make this event a success again this year."
"The National League of Cities is proud to celebrate and uplift Lights On Afterschool. Local elected officials have long been champions of afterschool programming and the positive impact these programs have on young people, their families and communities every day," said NLC CEO and Executive Director Clarence E. Anthony. "Over the course of the pandemic, city leaders have deeply relied on these programs to feed children, keep them safe and active, provide learning and enrichment opportunities, and support working families. Many cities have invested their own local American Rescue Plan dollars to expand programs and serve more young people. NLC is excited to partner with the Afterschool Alliance to encourage mayors to light up their city halls or city landmarks or issue a proclamation in honor of Lights On Afterschool."
"National Summer Learning Association is proud to join with Afterschool Alliance and so many other inspiring organizations to celebrate the importance of providing afterschool and summer learning programs to every child in America. Now is the time for all adults to step up and meet the growing needs of all children bouncing back from the Covid pandemic. Celebrating Lights On Afterschool reminds America we should continue to invest in kids not just in times of emergency but in all years to come," said Aaron Philip Dworkin, CEO, National Summer Learning Association.
"Afterschool programs play a vital role in keeping young people safe, engaged and inspired during school, after school and beyond, while providing them with opportunities for success. However, unmet demand for these programs continues to soar," said Dan Levi, EVP & CMO, Clear Channel Outdoor. "We're proud to join our partners in celebrating Lights On Afterschool to deliver the message that, now more than ever, America's youth needs access to high-quality afterschool programs."
The Afterschool Alliance is a nonprofit public awareness and advocacy organization working to ensure that all children and youth have access to quality afterschool programs. More information is available at www.afterschoolalliance.org.
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SOURCE Clear Channel Outdoor | 2022-09-29T20:48:27+00:00 | mysuncoast.com | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/09/29/digital-billboards-across-country-will-share-tremendous-work-afterschool-programs-are-doing-boost-students-families-communities/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sounding alarms about artificial intelligence has become a popular pastime in the ChatGPT era, taken up by high-profile figures as varied as industrialist Elon Musk, leftist intellectual Noam Chomsky and the 99-year-old retired statesman Henry Kissinger.
But it’s the concerns of insiders in the AI research community that are attracting particular attention. A pioneering researcher and the so-called “Godfather of AI” Geoffrey Hinton quit his role at Google so he could more freely speak about the dangers of the technology he helped create.
Over his decades-long career, Hinton’s pioneering work on deep learning and neural networks helped lay the foundation for much of the AI technology we see today.
There has been a spasm of AI introductions in recent months. San Francisco-based startup OpenAI, the Microsoft-backed company behind ChatGPT, rolled out its latest artificial intelligence model, GPT-4, in March. Other tech giants have invested in competing tools — including Google’s “Bard.”
Some of the dangers of AI chatbots are “quite scary,” Hinton told the BBC. “Right now, they’re not more intelligent than us, as far as I can tell. But I think they soon may be.”
In an interview with MIT Technology Review, Hinton also pointed to “bad actors” that may use AI in ways that could have detrimental impacts on society — such as manipulating elections or instigating violence.
Hinton, 75, says he retired from Google so that he could speak openly about the potential risks as someone who no longer works for the tech giant.
“I want to talk about AI safety issues without having to worry about how it interacts with Google’s business,” he told MIT Technology Review. “As long as I’m paid by Google, I can’t do that.”
Since announcing his departure, Hinton has maintained that Google has “acted very responsibly” regarding AI. He told MIT Technology Review that there’s also “a lot of good things about Google” that he would want to talk about — but those comments would be “much more credible if I’m not at Google anymore.”
Google confirmed that Hinton had retired from his role after 10 years overseeing the Google Research team in Toronto.
Hinton declined further comment Tuesday but said he would talk more about it at a conference Wednesday.
At the heart of the debate on the state of AI is whether the primary dangers are in the future or present. On one side are hypothetical scenarios of existential risk caused by computers that supersede human intelligence. On the other are concerns about automated technology that’s already getting widely deployed by businesses and governments and can cause real-world harms.
“For good or for not, what the chatbot moment has done is made AI a national conversation and an international conversation that doesn’t only include AI experts and developers,” said Alondra Nelson, who until February led the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and its push to craft guidelines around the responsible use of AI tools.
“AI is no longer abstract, and we have this kind of opening, I think, to have a new conversation about what we want a democratic future and a non-exploitative future with technology to look like,” Nelson said in an interview last month.
A number of AI researchers have long expressed concerns about racial, gender and other forms of bias in AI systems, including text-based large language models that are trained on huge troves of human writing and can amplify discrimination that exists in society.
“We need to take a step back and really think about whose needs are being put front and center in the discussion about risks,” said Sarah Myers West, managing director of the nonprofit AI Now Institute. “The harms that are being enacted by AI systems today are really not evenly distributed. It’s very much exacerbating existing patterns of inequality.”
Hinton was one of three AI pioneers who in 2019 won the Turing Award, an honor that has become known as tech industry’s version of the Nobel Prize. The other two winners, Yoshua Bengio and Yann LeCun, have also expressed concerns about the future of AI.
Bengio, a professor at the University of Montreal, signed a petition in late March calling for tech companies to agree to a 6-month pause on developing powerful AI systems, while LeCun, a top AI scientist at Facebook parent Meta, has taken a more optimistic approach.
_______
AP Technology Reporter Matt O’Brien reported from Cambridge, Massachusetts. | 2023-05-02T20:22:48+00:00 | everythinglubbock.com | https://www.everythinglubbock.com/news/technology-tuesday/ap-technology/godfather-of-ai-leaves-google-warns-of-techs-dangers/ |
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Monday evening's drawing of the Missouri Lottery's "Pick 4 Evening" game were:
2-9-8-8
(two, nine, eight, eight)
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Monday evening's drawing of the Missouri Lottery's "Pick 4 Evening" game were:
2-9-8-8
(two, nine, eight, eight) | 2022-05-03T03:07:06+00:00 | sfgate.com | https://www.sfgate.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Pick-4-Evening-game-17143267.php |
HOOPERSVILLE, Md. (AP) — The federal government has sold off a rather inhospitable lighthouse in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay for a six-figure sum after a bidding war at auction.
The Hooper Island Lighthouse, located west of Middle Hooper Island in Maryland’s Dorchester County, at first drew little interest, The Washington Post reported. But then five potential buyers drove up the price from a starting bid of $15,000 to the winning bid of $192,000.
Will Powell, a spokesman for the U.S. General Services Administration, told the newspaper the lighthouse comes with strings attached. The new owners must maintain it as a Coast Guard navigational aid, observe historic preservation standards and sign a memorandum of agreement with the Navy about when it can be accessed.
The rusting lighthouse known locally as the “sparkplug” has an outer ladder but no nearby dock for a boat to moor. A 2019 inspection also found lead-based paint, asbestos, benzene and other dangerous substances inside, where there is no water, electricity or other utilities.
“It is a unique opportunity,” Powell told the Post. “And there are people out there that love lighthouses.”
U.S. Lighthouse Society previously owned the structure, and the government auctioned it on the organization’s behalf, according to The Post. The new owner’s identity won’t be known until final documentation is signed. | 2022-10-03T17:51:08+00:00 | wnct.com | https://www.wnct.com/strange/ap-strange-news/ap-chesapeake-bay-lighthouse-auctioned-with-strings-attached/ |
CHINO VALLEY, Ariz. (AP) — A 3.8 magnitude earthquake shook a northern Arizona town Sunday afternoon but there was no immediate word on any injuries or damage, according to authorities.
The United States Geological Survey said the small quake struck near Chino Valley, just north of Prescott, around 2 p.m.
The Yavapai County Office of Emergency Management said that it received reports of shaking and tremors in Prescott, Prescott Valley and Chino Valley.
Records show that since 1850, Arizona has had more than 20 earthquakes with magnitudes of 5.0 or higher.
The USGS reports that the largest earthquake on record in Arizona measured a 5.6 magnitude in July 1959. | 2023-07-24T19:07:43+00:00 | siouxlandproud.com | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/national/ap-small-earthquake-shakes-arizona-town-no-immediate-reports-of-any-injuries-or-damage/ |
AMHERST, N.Y. (WIVB) — Ever walk into UB’s Center for the Arts and find the following items on stage?
- a bicycle
- a tetherball
- a piñata resembling Summer Wheatly
If so, then you were probably at “Napoleon Dynamite Live” Thursday night — a celebration and discussion of the low budget indie classic that ended up becoming a huge hit.
Following a screening of the 2004 movie, three of the film’s stars made a musical entrance onto the stage — Jon Gries (Uncle Rico) on guitar, Efren Ramirez (Pedro) on harmonica, and down the center-left aisle, Napoleon himself — Jon Heder.
Side note: They sounded great!
In a night of trivia, games and “revenge therapy,” the three spoke of their time on set, roughly 20 years ago, answering audience questions and handing out tater tots.
And yes, Jon Heder actually likes tots.
“Everything you see is exactly what it seems,” Heder told the audience. And he meant it, sharing his love for the lunchroom (and classroom) snack, as well as noting his real disdain for Tina the llama and anything that looked like it tasted bad.
We learned a lot about the movie and its eclectic cast on Thursday night. Here are some of the fun facts they shared with the audience at the University at Buffalo:
- Napoleon’s neighbor in the movie, Lyle (played by Dale Critchlow), was an actual farmer from the area (the movie is based in Preston, Idaho), while the other farmer who couldn’t find his checkbook was an actor.
- Lyle’s post-credits marriage advice to Kip (Aaron Ruell) and Lafawnduh (Shondrella Avery) was one of the only off-script or improvised moments in the film.
- Many characters in the film were based on the younger brothers of cast and crew members.
- Heder’s iconic dance near the end of the film wasn’t choreographed. He insists on not calling it “the dance” or “the dance routine;” just “dance,” because that’s what he did.
- Jon Gries actually threw the steak at Heder, and yes, it really did hurt. (That wasn’t a sound effect)
- The steak scene was arguably the most difficult part to film.
- Gries played baseball in junior college.
- Where did they get Uncle Rico’s van? “That was just a local van,” Gries says, noting “It stunk.”
- The woman who joined Uncle Rico at the end of the movie was Aaron Ruell’s real-life wife.
- Ruell designed the opening credits sequence with the various plates of food. The cast says he was a man of many talents, including the photography seen on the wall of the Dynamite household.
- Those drawings Napoleon did? Yup, actual artwork of Heder.
- “Uncle Rico” wasn’t Gries’ first big role, but he credits it with keeping him from ever having to work a construction job again.
- Heder doesn’t believe the “book” of Napoleon Dynamite is closed just yet.
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Evan Anstey is an Associated Press Award, JANY Award and Emmy-nominated digital producer who has been part of the News 4 team since 2015. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter. | 2023-04-14T16:49:28+00:00 | wivb.com | https://www.wivb.com/news/local-news/erie-county/amherst/13-fun-facts-we-learned-from-the-cast-of-napoleon-dynamite-at-ub/ |
Two of the four Americans kidnapped by armed gunmen in a Mexico border city on Friday were found dead and two were found alive, Mexican officials said Tuesday.In a phone call with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador that was played at a news conference, Tamaulipas Gov. Américo Villarreal Anaya said "ambulances and security personnel" were now attending to and giving medical support to the survivors.The four Americans were located at what appears to be a medical clinic in Matamoros, a U.S. official familiar with the ongoing investigation told CNN. One of the two survivors is severely injured, the official said.Tamaulipas Attorney General Irving Barrios also confirmed the developments in a tweet."Derived from the joint search actions, the four American citizens deprived of their liberty last Friday were found," he said. "Unfortunately, two dead. Investigation and intelligence work continue to capture those responsible. Details will be given later." The news comes days after the group was abducted at gunpoint in Matamoros in what is believed to be a case of mistaken identity.The four Americans were a tight-knit group of friends traveling from South Carolina to Mexico so one of them – a mother of six – could undergo a medical procedure across the border, two family members told CNN. Once across the border, they were fired upon by unidentified gunmen, "placed in a vehicle and taken from the scene by armed men," according to the FBI.Investigators believe the Americans were targeted by a Mexican cartel that likely mistook them for Haitian drug smugglers, a U.S. official familiar with the ongoing investigation tells CNN. The U.S. citizens have no concerning criminal history that has been identified by investigators, the official said.An innocent Mexican bystander was also killed in the encounter, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar said.Latavia "Tay" Washington McGee, 33, drove to Mexico with Shaeed Woodard, Zindell Brown and their friend Eric Williams for the procedure, but she never made it to her doctor's appointment on Friday, her mother Barbara Burgess told CNN.Their abduction highlights the ongoing violence that has plagued some Mexican cities during the long-running Mexican drug war as well as the growing business of "medical tourism."Matamoros, a city in the state of Tamaulipas, has a population of more than 500,000 people and is located just across the Rio Grande from Brownsville, Texas. The U.S. State Department has issued a "Level 4: Do Not Travel" advisory for U.S. citizens thinking of going to Tamaulipas, citing crime and kidnapping.Federal and local Mexican authorities were participating in the effort to locate the Americans and had set up a joint task force to communicate with U.S. officials, Barrios Mojica said.Mother was traveling for medical procedureThis trip was the second time Washington McGee, a mother of six children, had gone to Mexico for a medical procedure, her mother said.She traveled to the country for surgery about two to three years ago, Burgess said. But this time, Burgess said, she was informed by the FBI on Sunday that her daughter had been kidnapped and was in danger."They said, if she calls me, to call them," she said.Receipts found in the group's vehicle indicated the Americans were in Mexico for medical procedures, a U.S. official with knowledge of the investigation told CNN.Mexican President López Obrador said Monday that the group had crossed the border to "buy medicines" and assured the "whole government" is working to resolve the case.A close friend of Washington McGee who did not want to be identified told CNN the trip was for a cosmetic surgery. The group booked a hotel in Brownsville and planned to drive into Matamoros for the surgery, according to the friend.Mexico has become a particularly popular destination for "medical tourism," attracting travelers who may be seeking cheaper alternatives or medical treatments that are unapproved or unavailable in the U.S. But the CDC warns the growing trend can carry dangerous risks depending on the destination and facility, including infection and possible post-procedure complications.The group of missing Americans grew up together in South Carolina and were bonded "like glue," Brown's sister Zalandria Brown told CNN. She added that she and her brother are also close."Zindell is like my shadow, he's like my son, he's like my hip bone. We're just tight like that," she said.'We don't know if she is dead or alive'Washington McGee's aunt, Mary McFadden, told CNN that when the family hadn't heard from the group of friends by Sunday, they began searching online for any news related to their travel destination. Then, the family saw a video McFadden described as showing her niece being kidnapped."We recognized her and her blonde hair," McFadden said. She said she also recognized her niece's clothing from a live video Washington McGee had posted to Facebook earlier Friday."This happened in plain daylight. We don't know if she is dead or alive. The last picture we saw, she was walking alive," McFadden said."She is a mother and we need her to come back here for her kids," she said, adding that Washington McGee's children range in age from 6 to 18 years old.A video obtained by CNN shows a woman and other unidentified people being roughly loaded into a white pickup truck. CNN has confirmed the video matches the incident but has not independently confirmed it is the four Americans shown in the video.The video shows the woman being pulled or pushed onto the bed of the truck by two unidentified people as a third visibly armed man watches. The three men then appear to drag at least two limp people onto the truck bed, the video shows.Additionally, photos obtained by CNN appear to show fragments of the scene where the situation occurred, including the car believed to have been driven by the Americans crashed with another vehicle before they were taken at gunpoint from the scene.The U.S. citizens were driving a white minivan with North Carolina plates, according to the FBI in San Antonio.The FBI would not confirm the authenticity of the photos, but CNN has geolocated the images and confirmed their authenticity with a U.S. official with knowledge of the investigation.The photos also show a woman looking at and then sitting next to three people lying on the ground outside a white minivan. All the doors of the van are open. It is unclear whether the four people in the photos are the U.S. citizens.The woman then appears to have been loaded onto the bed of a white pickup truck, beside which several people can be seen lying on the street, the photos show.One photo shows that an ambulance arrived, but it's unclear if medical attention was being provided.
Two of the four Americans kidnapped by armed gunmen in a Mexico border city on Friday were found dead and two were found alive, Mexican officials said Tuesday.
In a phone call with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador that was played at a news conference, Tamaulipas Gov. Américo Villarreal Anaya said "ambulances and security personnel" were now attending to and giving medical support to the survivors.
The four Americans were located at what appears to be a medical clinic in Matamoros, a U.S. official familiar with the ongoing investigation told CNN. One of the two survivors is severely injured, the official said.
Tamaulipas Attorney General Irving Barrios also confirmed the developments in a tweet.
"Derived from the joint search actions, the four American citizens deprived of their liberty last Friday were found," he said. "Unfortunately, two dead. Investigation and intelligence work continue to capture those responsible. Details will be given later."
The news comes days after the group was abducted at gunpoint in Matamoros in what is believed to be a case of mistaken identity.
The four Americans were a tight-knit group of friends traveling from South Carolina to Mexico so one of them – a mother of six – could undergo a medical procedure across the border, two family members told CNN. Once across the border, they were fired upon by unidentified gunmen, "placed in a vehicle and taken from the scene by armed men," according to the FBI.
Investigators believe the Americans were targeted by a Mexican cartel that likely mistook them for Haitian drug smugglers, a U.S. official familiar with the ongoing investigation tells CNN. The U.S. citizens have no concerning criminal history that has been identified by investigators, the official said.
STR
A member of the Mexican security forces stands next to a white minivan with North Carolina plates and several bullet holes, at the crime scene where gunmen kidnapped four U.S. citizens who crossed into Mexico from Texas, Friday, March 3, 2023.
An innocent Mexican bystander was also killed in the encounter, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar said.
Latavia "Tay" Washington McGee, 33, drove to Mexico with Shaeed Woodard, Zindell Brown and their friend Eric Williams for the procedure, but she never made it to her doctor's appointment on Friday, her mother Barbara Burgess told CNN.
Their abduction highlights the ongoing violence that has plagued some Mexican cities during the long-running Mexican drug war as well as the growing business of "medical tourism."
Matamoros, a city in the state of Tamaulipas, has a population of more than 500,000 people and is located just across the Rio Grande from Brownsville, Texas. The U.S. State Department has issued a "Level 4: Do Not Travel" advisory for U.S. citizens thinking of going to Tamaulipas, citing crime and kidnapping.
Federal and local Mexican authorities were participating in the effort to locate the Americans and had set up a joint task force to communicate with U.S. officials, Barrios Mojica said.
Mother was traveling for medical procedure
This trip was the second time Washington McGee, a mother of six children, had gone to Mexico for a medical procedure, her mother said.
She traveled to the country for surgery about two to three years ago, Burgess said. But this time, Burgess said, she was informed by the FBI on Sunday that her daughter had been kidnapped and was in danger.
"They said, if she calls me, to call them," she said.
Receipts found in the group's vehicle indicated the Americans were in Mexico for medical procedures, a U.S. official with knowledge of the investigation told CNN.
Mexican President López Obrador said Monday that the group had crossed the border to "buy medicines" and assured the "whole government" is working to resolve the case.
A close friend of Washington McGee who did not want to be identified told CNN the trip was for a cosmetic surgery. The group booked a hotel in Brownsville and planned to drive into Matamoros for the surgery, according to the friend.
Mexico has become a particularly popular destination for "medical tourism," attracting travelers who may be seeking cheaper alternatives or medical treatments that are unapproved or unavailable in the U.S. But the CDC warns the growing trend can carry dangerous risks depending on the destination and facility, including infection and possible post-procedure complications.
The group of missing Americans grew up together in South Carolina and were bonded "like glue," Brown's sister Zalandria Brown told CNN. She added that she and her brother are also close.
"Zindell is like my shadow, he's like my son, he's like my hip bone. We're just tight like that," she said.
'We don't know if she is dead or alive'
Washington McGee's aunt, Mary McFadden, told CNN that when the family hadn't heard from the group of friends by Sunday, they began searching online for any news related to their travel destination. Then, the family saw a video McFadden described as showing her niece being kidnapped.
"We recognized her and her blonde hair," McFadden said. She said she also recognized her niece's clothing from a live video Washington McGee had posted to Facebook earlier Friday.
"This happened in plain daylight. We don't know if she is dead or alive. The last picture we saw, she was walking alive," McFadden said.
"She is a mother and we need her to come back here for her kids," she said, adding that Washington McGee's children range in age from 6 to 18 years old.
A video obtained by CNN shows a woman and other unidentified people being roughly loaded into a white pickup truck. CNN has confirmed the video matches the incident but has not independently confirmed it is the four Americans shown in the video.
The video shows the woman being pulled or pushed onto the bed of the truck by two unidentified people as a third visibly armed man watches. The three men then appear to drag at least two limp people onto the truck bed, the video shows.
Additionally, photos obtained by CNN appear to show fragments of the scene where the situation occurred, including the car believed to have been driven by the Americans crashed with another vehicle before they were taken at gunpoint from the scene.
The U.S. citizens were driving a white minivan with North Carolina plates, according to the FBI in San Antonio.
The FBI would not confirm the authenticity of the photos, but CNN has geolocated the images and confirmed their authenticity with a U.S. official with knowledge of the investigation.
The photos also show a woman looking at and then sitting next to three people lying on the ground outside a white minivan. All the doors of the van are open. It is unclear whether the four people in the photos are the U.S. citizens.
The woman then appears to have been loaded onto the bed of a white pickup truck, beside which several people can be seen lying on the street, the photos show.
One photo shows that an ambulance arrived, but it's unclear if medical attention was being provided. | 2023-03-07T17:13:29+00:00 | wisn.com | https://www.wisn.com/article/mexican-governor-missing-americans-update/43231894 |
DETROIT (AP) — The surprise deal by Senate Democrats on a slimmed-down bill to support families, boost infrastructure and fight climate change also is likely to jump-start sales of electric vehicles.
The measure agreed to by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and holdout Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia would give EV buyers a $7,500 tax credit starting next year, through the end of 2032. There’s also a new $4,000 credit for those buying used EVs, a move to help the middle class go electric.
But as things often go in Washington, there are a bunch of strings and asterisks.
To be eligible, the electric vehicle has to be assembled in North America, and there are limits on annual income for buyers. There also are caps on the sticker prices of new EVs — $80,000 for pickups, SUVs and vans, and $55,000 for other vehicles — and a $25,000 limit on the price of used electric vehicles.
Still, even with the restrictions, the credits should help stimulate electric vehicle sales, which already are rising as automakers introduce more models in different sizes and price ranges, said Jessica Caldwell, an analyst for Edmunds.com.
“The tax credits for electric vehicles in the bill will benefit consumers and cut costs for low- and middle-income families,” the Sierra Club said of the measure, which still must be approved by both chambers. “We’re hoping for swift adoption.”
For the first half of this year, electric vehicles accounted for about 5% of U.S. new vehicle sales, with 46 models on sale. S&P Global Mobility expects that to hit 8% next year, 15% by 2025, and 37% by 2030.
At present, many new EVs, including two of sales leader Tesla’s four models, wouldn’t be eligible for the credits because they’re priced higher than the bill’s limits, Caldwell said. But the number of eligible vehicles will grow as automakers roll out more mainstream EVs during the next few years, she said.
“I would imagine that these price brackets will become a lot more realistic in the coming years when you probably have more vehicles that fall within these parameters,” Caldwell said.
Several automakers, including Ford and Hyundai, already have them in the $40,000s, and General Motors next year plans to start selling a small Chevrolet SUV for about $30,000 with about 300 miles of range per charge.
Also, there aren’t many used EVs priced under $25,000 yet, and those that are mainly are older, with lower ranges per charge, Caldwell said, noting that a 5-year-old Chevrolet Bolt small electric car — one of the lowest-priced EVs on the road — is likely to cost more than $25,000.
“It seems like that is something that should potentially be revisited for it to make more sense given today’s market,” she said.
To get the credit, buyers of new EVs can’t have modified adjusted gross incomes of more than $300,000 per year if filing joint tax returns, $225,000 for a head of household, and $150,000 for all taxpayers not in the first two categories.
For used EVs, income limits are $150,000 if filing a joint return, $112,500 for a head of household, and $75,000 for others not in the first two categories.
The bill also removes caps on the number of tax credits each manufacturer can offer. General Motors, Tesla and Toyota all have exceeded the cap and can’t offer any credits now under a previous measure. But other manufacturers still offer them.
Also, more than half the value of battery components have to be manufactured or assembled in North America to get the full credit. And at least 40% of the minerals used in batteries must come from either the U.S. or a country with which it has a free trade agreement. Those percentages increase gradually over the years, and minerals recycled from used batteries in North America also qualify.
Credits would also go to buyers of hydrogen fuel cell and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Plug-ins can travel on electric power alone for several miles before the gas-electric hybrid powertrain kicks in.
The EV tax credits are much smaller than several Democratic legislators from automaking states had proposed earlier. Gone are extra credits for EVs made in the U.S. by union workers. | 2022-07-29T13:43:18+00:00 | cbs42.com | https://www.cbs42.com/news/politics/ap-politics/senate-deal-should-make-it-easier-to-buy-electric-vehicles/ |
HONOLULU, Nov. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On November 3, 2022, the Board of Directors of Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (HEI) (NYSE: HE) declared HEI's quarterly cash dividend of $0.35 per share, payable December 9, 2022, to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 22, 2022 (ex-dividend date of November 21, 2022). The dividend is equivalent to an annual rate of $1.40 per share.
Dividends have been paid on an uninterrupted basis since 1901. At the indicated annual dividend rate and based on the closing share price on November 3, 2022 of $37.27, HEI's dividend yield is 3.8%.
HEI and Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. (Hawaiian Electric) intend to continue to use HEI's website, www.hei.com, as a means of disclosing additional information; such disclosures will be included in the Investor Relations section of the website. Accordingly, investors should routinely monitor the Investor Relations section of HEI's website, in addition to following HEI's, Hawaiian Electric's and American Savings Bank's press releases, HEI's and Hawaiian Electric's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings and HEI's public conference calls and webcasts. Investors may sign up to receive e-mail alerts via the Investor Relations section of the website. The information on HEI's website is not incorporated by reference into this document or into HEI's and Hawaiian Electric's SEC filings unless, and except to the extent, specifically incorporated by reference.
Investors may also wish to refer to the Public Utilities Commission of the State of Hawaii (PUC) website at dms.puc.hawaii.gov/dms to review documents filed with, and issued by, the PUC. No information on the PUC website is incorporated by reference into this document or into HEI's and Hawaiian Electric's SEC filings.
About HEI
The HEI family of companies provides the energy and financial services that empower much of the economic and community activity of Hawaii. HEI's electric utility, Hawaiian Electric, supplies power to approximately 95% of Hawaii's population and is undertaking an ambitious effort to decarbonize its operations and the broader state economy. Its banking subsidiary, American Savings Bank, is one of Hawaii's largest financial institutions, providing a wide array of banking and other financial services and working to advance economic growth, affordability and financial fitness. HEI also helps advance Hawaii's sustainability goals through investments by its non-regulated subsidiary, Pacific Current. For more information, visit www.hei.com.
Contact: Julie Smolinski Telephone: (808) 543-7300
Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Sustainability E-mail: ir@hei.com
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SOURCE Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. | 2022-11-03T22:23:15+00:00 | kcrg.com | https://www.kcrg.com/prnewswire/2022/11/03/hei-declares-quarterly-dividend-035-per-share/ |
Republicans are urgently trying to erase the stigma over early mail voting among many of their voters as the party works to catch up with Democrats in 2024.
Earlier this month, the Republican National Committee (RNC) rolled out its “Bank Your Vote” campaign to encourage GOP voters to get comfortable with the practice ahead of 2024. And former President Trump, the front-runner in the GOP primary who for years has cast doubt on early voting and mail ballots, has over the past few months begun to urge voters to embrace those methods after a disappointing midterm election.
“We don’t want to wait till the fourth quarter to start scoring touchdowns,” RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said during a press call announcing the mail voting campaign earlier this month.
“We’re going to lead the charge on getting the Republican ecosystem to chase ballots and build an advantage before Election Day.”
Some divisions within the party are apparent as GOP voters remain skeptical of mail voting after Trump and his closest allies heaped doubt on the process in 2020. Only over the past few months, after Republicans failed to take back the Senate and only managed to flip the House by a slim margin, have the staunchest critics in the party somewhat changed their tune.
Trump’s campaign notably pivoted on the issue earlier this year, when it began urging Republicans to embrace so-called ballot harvesting, which is the process of allowing third parties to collect and submit absentee and mail ballots.
“Either we ballot harvest in the states where it’s legal, or you can say goodbye to our country, because the Democrats would win EVERY election,” his campaign wrote in a fundraising email in February.
The former president later implored Republican voters to rethink mail-in ballots and early voting during a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in March.
“Republicans must compete using every lawful means to win,” Trump said. “That means swamping the left with mail-in votes, early votes and Election Day votes. We have to do it.”
It’s not just Trump, either. Some of his closest allies have begun to shift on voting amid signs their opposition to early mail voting could pose a threat to the party’s chances next year. Former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake last month announced a ballot-chasing initiative aimed at registering new voters and keeping track of Republican and independent voters, including those on early voting lists. During her address, Lake appeared to recognize the need for Republicans to rethink their approach to collecting ballots.
“We’ve been playing checkers. They’ve been playing chess,” Lake said at the event announcing the operation. “We’re going to show up to a knife fight with a gun.”
Trump and Lake were some of the loudest vocal opponents of voting by mail, both claiming without evidence that mail-in ballots contributed to fraud in the 2020 and 2022 elections. Their abrupt shift has left some wondering whether voters will follow suit, though McDaniel says the party is more unified on the issue than ever.
“We’ve always had paid voter contact or volunteers trying to bank as many votes as possible,” McDaniel said. “But that certainly is a challenge if you have people in your ecosystem saying don’t vote early or don’t vote by mail and those cross messages do have an impact.”
“I don’t think you’re seeing that heading into 2024. I think you’re seeing all of us singing from the same songbook,” she said.
Trump’s top rival in the Republican presidential primary, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, told one voter in Iowa last month that he embraces ballot harvesting, noting the difference in the practices between Florida and other states.
“We’re gonna do ballot harvesting. I’m doing it, yes,” DeSantis said.
“Each state is different,” he continued. “In Nevada, they sent everyone a ballot, which is bad but we’re going to do ballot harvesting. I’m not going fight with one hand tied behind my back.”
Last year, DeSantis signed legislation that established an Office of Election Crimes and Security under Florida’s Department of State that would conduct investigations and look into voter fraud allegations. Additionally, the law includes penalties for ballot harvesting.
“They’ve put in such good protections that there’s a lot of confidence in voting in Florida where you may lack that in other states,” said Christian Ziegler, chairman of the Florida GOP.
McDaniel noted on the press call that the RNC had also pushed for more protection, through the recruitment of 80,000 poll watchers and poll workers, as well as the filing of 100 election integrity lawsuits in the 2022 cycle.
“I hope that once Republicans do take power in some places, they could conceivably look at actually strengthening the election system by bringing some of those safeguards to the early and mail voting process,” said Jason Snead, the executive director of the Honest Elections Project, a group that pushes for more restrictive voting laws.
Ahead of last year’s midterm elections, DeSantis encouraged voters to cast their ballots early in case they were not able to get to the polls on Election Day.
“If you wait till Election Day, you get a flat tire, you can’t take a mulligan,” DeSantis told a crowd at a campaign stop in Florida last year. “Whereas if you vote early, you do it, you’re in the can. If something happens [while you’re on your way], you got another shot at it.”
Florida Republicans saw major victories up and down the ballot last cycle, with DeSantis winning reelection by nearly 20 points and Republicans flipping the Democratic stronghold of Miami-Dade County.
“We’re probably the only place that had a red wave last cycle,” Ziegler said. “We’re operating with a lot more confidence than other areas, but with that said, the Democrat Party has embraced vote by mail across the country for various reasons, and we can’t just sit back and wait for Election Day.”
“I think there’s a strong desire from my conversations with Republicans in other states of whatever it takes to win,” he said. “You’ve seen President Trump, you’ve seen Gov. DeSantis come out and say look we need to change the election laws but until we do, we need to kick the Democrats’ ass at their own game.” | 2023-06-19T22:24:20+00:00 | siouxlandproud.com | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/your-local-election-hq/republicans-look-to-erase-stigma-on-early-voting/ |
CHICAGO, March 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ConceiveAbilities Egg Donor & Surrogacy Agency is thrilled to once again support milk banks across the country with the #MilkBankChallenge. The goal? One million ounces of donated breast milk. Every qualified woman donating to their local milk bank will earn a $250 gift card for their time and expenses.
The infant formula shortage unfortunately is not over and support is still needed. "We have enormous gratitude for the women who joined the 2022 Milk Bank Challenge who, together, donated almost 650,000 ounces of breast milk to milk banks across America," shares ConceiveAbilities founder Nazca Fontes.
"Collaborating with ConceiveAbilities #MilkBankChallenge to save the littlest lives among us, has been one of the biggest successes of our past year. Mothers' Milk Bank of San Jose couldn't be happier to partner with them to reach another milestone of 1,000,000 ounces! With this precious resource of human breast milk, we can continue to support families helping other families in the biggest way," says interim Executive Director Cristal Ciancutti.
Mothers' Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes Marissa Grossenbach adds, "Not only is ConceiveAbilities generously rewarding our families who donate their excess milk, they are also supporting our ongoing mission to expand access to donor milk and save tiny lives."
Every ounce of donor milk makes a profound impact. Because one ounce of breast milk can feed a NICU baby for an entire day, last year's donations helped a remarkable number of families. Lenna Gregory with Denver's Mothers' Milk Bank appreciates that more people are learning about milk donation through ConceiveAbilities, "Nonprofit milk banks provide safe, screened human milk for the most fragile infants, and we always have a need for new donors of this precious resource." ConceiveAbilities is ready to support even more needy infants with the goal of attracting 1,500 women donating to 2023's one million ounce goal.
There are two ways people can join this year's 2023 Milk Bank Challenge. First, everyone can be a #MilkBankChallenge Champion and earn rewards by sharing a customized link to text, email and share on their social channels with potentially lactating women. For each person in their community who enters their email to learn more about the Milk Bank Challenge, they will both earn a $5 reward.
Second, lactating women can donate breast milk to their local milk bank. Even small donations can make a profound impact and every donor receives a $250 gift card for their efforts. Learn more about joining the #MilkBankChallenge on ConceiveAbilities.com.
ConceiveAbilities is a leading surrogacy agency with over 25 years of experience building families. With their innovative All-In Surrogate Care and Compensation Package that includes top surrogate pay and a proven Matching Matters process, ConceiveAbilities is a top agency for surrogates and parents alike.
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SOURCE ConceiveAbilities | 2023-03-13T18:51:37+00:00 | mysuncoast.com | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2023/03/13/conceiveabilities-milkbankchallenge-announces-one-million-ounce-goal-2023/ |
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Central America is experiencing a wave of unrest that is remarkable even for a region whose history is riddled with turbulence. The most recent example is political upheaval in Guatemala as the country heads for a runoff presidential election in August.
A look at various events roiling Central American countries:
Guatemala
Guatemala is locked in the most troubled presidential election in the country's recent history. The first round of elections in June ended with a surprise twist when little known progressive candidate Bernardo Arévalo of the Seed Movement party pulled ahead as a front-runner.
Now headed to an August runoff election with conservative candidate and top vote-getter Sandra Torres, Arévalo has thus far managed to survive judicial attacks and attempts by Guatemala's political establishment to disqualify his party. It comes after other moves by the country's government to manage the election, including banning several candidates before the first-round vote.
While not entirely unprecedented in a country known for high levels of corruption, American officials call the latest escalation a threat to the country's democracy.
El Salvador
El Salvador has been radically transformed in the past few years with the entrance of populist millennial President Nayib Bukele. One year ago, Bukele entered an all-out war with the Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatruchas, or MS-13, gangs. He suspended constitutional rights and threw 1 in every 100 people in the country into prisons that have fueled allegations of mass human rights abuses.
The sharp dip in violence that followed Bukele's actions, combined with an elaborate propaganda machine, has ignited a pro-Bukele populist fervor across the region, with other governments trying to mimic the Bitcoin-pushing leader.
At the same time, Bukele has announced he will run for reelection in February next year despite the constitution prohibiting it. He has also made moves that observers warn are gradually dismantling the nation's democracy.
Nicaragua
President Daniel Ortega is in an all-out crackdown on dissent. For years, regional watchdogs and the U.S. government raised alarms that democracy was eroding under the leader of the Sandinista National Liberation Front. That came to a head in 2018 when Ortega's government began a violent crackdown on protests.
Most recently, Ortega forced hundreds of opposition figures into exile, stripping them of their citizenship, seizing their properties and declaring them "traitors of the homeland." Nicaragua has thrown out aid groups such as the Red Cross and a yearslong crackdown on the Catholic Church has forced the Vatican to close its embassy. The tightening chokehold on the country has prompted many Nicaraguans to flee their country and seek asylum in neighboring Costa Rica or the United States.
Honduras
President Xiomara Castro took office last year as the first female president of Honduras, winning on a message of tackling corruption, inequality and poverty. The wife of former President Manuel Zelaya, who was ousted in a military coup, she won a landslide victory.
But her popularity has dipped as many of her promises for change have gone unfulfilled. At the same time, the government has sought to mimic neighboring El Salvador's crackdown on gangs, responding fiercely to a grisly massacre in a women's prison in June.
Costa Rica
Once known as the land of "pura vida" and mild politics compared to the surrounding region, Costa Rica has seen rising bloodshed that threatens to tarnish the country's reputation as a secure haven. Homicides have soared as the nation has become a base for drug traffickers. President Rodrigo Chavez, who took office last year, has promised more police in the street and tougher laws to take on the uptick in crime.
At the same time, a migratory flight from Nicaragua has overwhelmed the country, which is known as one of the world's great refuges for people fleeing persecution. The government has since tightened its asylum laws.
Panama
Panama is headed into presidential elections in May, with simmering frustration at economic woes, corruption and insecurity acting as a potential harbinger for change. Any shift could have global significance due to Panama's status as a financial hub.
The nation has also become the epicenter of a steady flow of migration through the perilous jungles of the Darien Gap running along the Colombia-Panama border.
Belize
Belize is often seen as a place of relative calm in a region that is anything but. A former British colony named British Honduras, Belize's government system is still tightly tethered to the country. But Prime Minister Johnny Briceño has sought to distance his nation from the monarchy. The nation is also one of the few in the Americas that maintains formal ties with Taiwan amid a broad effort by China to pull support away from the island country by funneling money into Central America.
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Credit: AP | 2023-07-14T23:26:59+00:00 | springfieldnewssun.com | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/nation-world/a-wave-of-political-turbulence-is-rolling-through-guatemala-and-other-central-american-countries/Q2O6L3I5O5GTDJ3WZEKAVPU5GE/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — Back when the NBA playoffs were always part of the springtime schedule at Madison Square Garden, this is what they looked like.
Tough to score. Even a little tough to watch.
And on Friday night, the fans loved it.
Jalen Brunson scored 21 points, RJ Barrett broke out of a slump with 19 and the New York Knicks held the Cleveland Cavaliers to the lowest point total in the NBA this season, rolling to a 2-1 lead in the first-round playoff series with a 99-79 victory.
The Knicks emphatically bounced back from a loss in Game 2 and moved halfway to their first series victory since 2013. They led by 27 points in the fourth quarter, when a sold-out crowd of 19,812 was so loud there was little chance of hearing much of what the public address announcer was saying — especially as seldom-used veteran Derrick Rose was checking into the game to a huge ovation.
“It was what I expected for sure,” Knicks All-Star Julius Randle said. “A lot of, lot of energy and we were able to feed off it, so I love it.”
Josh Hart added 13 points for the fifth-seeded Knicks, who host Game 4 on Sunday. They became the first team to allow fewer than 80 points during the regular season or postseason.
Donovan Mitchell scored 22 points for the Cavaliers, who never gave themselves a chance with their most inept offensive performance of the season, rattled perhaps by the Knicks on the court and the fans surrounding it.
“Not being able to make shots definitely hurts as well, but it’s one of those things where we’ll be good,” Mitchell said. “Like, kind of breathe and relax and calm down.”
Darius Garland, who scored 32 points in Game 2, managed just 10 on 4-for-21 shooting. Caris LeVert, moved into the starting lineup after scoring 24 in that 107-90 victory, missed all six shots in the first half before coming on late for 17 points.
Barrett was 6 for 25 in the first two games but his shot was falling and he aggressively drove to the basket to get himself going. Plus, some of the Cavs’ 21 turnovers sent Barrett and the Knicks off to easy transition baskets.
It was just the second time the playoffs came to Madison Square Garden in the last 10 years and it looked like something played by the beloved 1990s Knicks, who had the Garden rocking deep in many springs with their rugged brand of basketball.
“As a basketball player you kind of grow up thinking about moments like these,” Barrett said. “It was electric in there and happy we get to come back Sunday.”
Bodies crashed to the floor or into each other, and once in a while the ball went into the basket.
The Cavs had 13 baskets and 12 turnovers at halftime, when the Knicks’ 4-for-19 shooting from behind the arc looked practically hot compared to the Cavs’ 2-for-19 effort.
The teams combined to miss 20 of 23 3-pointers in a first quarter that ended tied at 17, and Garland (0 for 8) and Randle (0 for 5) couldn’t hit from anywhere. The Cavs’ worst previous effort this season was also against the Knicks, 81 points on Dec. 4.
“It was nasty, like a lot of games have been with them this season,” LeVert said.
The Knicks ran off six straight points in the second to open a 38-27 lead when Brunson stole the ball from Mitchell and dunked it, then got the final five of the half on a 3-pointer by Immanuel Quickley and another dunk off a Mitchell turnover, this one by Barrett, to make it 45-32.
The offenses got going in the third quarter, with both teams shooting above 50% and LeVert scoring 11 points. The Cavs got within single digits before the Knicks closed the period on an 8-0 run to take a 72-55 lead.
It was a rough first playoff game back home for Mitchell, who was born in Elmsford, New York, not far from where the Knicks practice, and thought he might be a Knick last summer before Utah instead traded him to Cleveland.
He said he cut off communication with some friends who were Knicks fans and left some group chats so there would be no distractions. Usually warmly received in the arena, the fans even turned on the All-Star guard, loudly chanting “airball! airball!” when he was well off on a 3-pointer in the second quarter.
TIP-INS
Cavaliers: Garland left the game for a time in the fourth quarter after hurting his ankle when he stepped on a photographer behind the basket. … The Cavs matched their worst first half in a playoff game, also scoring 32 in an 81-76 loss to the Knicks in Game 3 of 1996 playoffs. … Isaac Okoro was benched for LeVert after shooting 1 for 7 in the two games in Cleveland.
Knicks: Randle and Quickley each scored 11 points. … Backup big man Jericho Sims was out with a sore right shoulder. He hasn’t played in the series.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2023-04-22T20:04:14+00:00 | ourquadcities.com | https://www.ourquadcities.com/sports/knicks-romp-past-cavaliers-99-79-take-2-1-series-lead/ |
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The fate of a devastated salt-mining town in eastern Ukraine hung in the balance Wednesday in one of the bloodiest battles of Russia’s invasion, while Ukraine’s unflagging resistance and other challenges prompted Moscow to shake up its military leadership again.
Russian forces used jets, mortars and rockets to bombard Soledar in an unrelenting assault.
Soledar’s fall, while unlikely to serve as a turning point in the nearly 11-month war, would be a prize for a Kremlin starved of good news from the battlefield in recent months. It would also offer Russian troops a springboard to conquer other areas of Donetsk province that remain under Ukrainian control, such as the nearby strategic city of Bakhmut.
Donetsk and neighboring Luhansk province, which together make up the Donbas region bordering Russia, were Moscow’s main stated territorial targets in invading Ukraine, but the fighting has stood mostly at a stalemate.
In an apparent recognition of battlefield setbacks, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced the demotion of the head of Russian forces in Ukraine after only three months on the job. The chief of the military’s General Staff, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, was named as the replacement for Gen. Sergei Surovikin, who was demoted to deputy.
During his short time overseeing the troops in Ukraine, Surovikin was credited with strengthening coordination and reinforcing control. But he also announced a humiliating withdrawal in November from Kherson, the only regional center Russian forces had captured just weeks after the Kremlin illegally annexed the area. His demotion signaled that Russian President Vladimir Putin wasn’t fully satisfied with his performance.
Gerasimov, meanwhile, was seen as the top architect of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and critics have blamed him for Moscow’s military setbacks.
The Defense Ministry said expanded military tasks and the need for “closer interaction between branches of the military as well as increasing the quality of supplies and the efficiency of directing groups of forces” prompted the leadership changes.
On the battlefield, a Ukrainian officer, near Soledar, told The Associated Press the pattern is that first the Russians send one or two waves of soldiers, many from the private Russian military contractor Wagner Group, who take heavy casualties as they probe the Ukrainian defenses. When Ukrainian troops have taken casualties and are exhausted, the Russians send a fresh wave of highly-trained soldiers, paratroopers or special forces, said the Ukrainian officer, who insisted on anonymity for security reasons.
Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar and the spokesman for Ukraine’s Eastern Group of Forces, Serhiy Cherevaty, denied Russian claims that Soledar had fallen.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Wagner Group’s owner, on Wednesday repeated a claim he had made the day before that Ukrainian forces had been defeated in Soledar.
“Once again I want to confirm the complete liberation and cleansing of the territory of Soledar from units of the Ukrainian army,” Prigozhin wrote on his Russian social media platform. “Civilians were withdrawn. Ukrainian units that did not want to surrender were destroyed.” He claimed about 500 people were killed and that “the whole city is littered with the corpses of Ukrainian soldiers.”
The AP was unable independently to verify his claims.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stopped short of declaring the settlement’s capture, telling reporters Russian forces had achieved “positive dynamics in advancing” in Soledar. “Let’s not rush, and wait for official statements,” he added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy weighed in Wednesday in his nightly video address: “Now the terrorist state and its propagandists are trying to pretend that some part of our city of Soledar – a city that was almost completely destroyed by the occupiers – is allegedly some kind of Russia’s achievement.” He said Ukrainian forces in the area are holding out against the Russians.
Soledar, known for salt mining and processing, has little intrinsic value but it lies at a strategic point 10 kilometers (six miles) north of the city of Bakhmut, which Russian forces want to surround.
Taking Bakhmut would disrupt Ukraine’s supply lines and open a route for the Russians to press toward Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, key Ukrainian strongholds in Donetsk province.
Soledar’s fall would make “holding Bakhmut much more precarious for Ukraine,” Michael Kofman, the director of Russia Studies at the CAN nonprofit research group in Arlington, Virginia, noted.
The war of attrition, with heavy casualties, may make a Russian victory as deadly as a defeat.
“I don’t think the outcome at Bakhmut is that significant compared to what it costs Russia to achieve it,” Kofman said in a tweet.
The Wagner Group, which now reportedly includes a large contingent of convicts recruited in Russian prisons, has spearheaded the attack on Soledar and Bakhmut.
Western intelligence has estimated that the Wagner Group constitutes up to a quarter of all Russian combatants in Ukraine.
A success in Soledar and Bakhmut would help Prigozhin, who has openly criticized Russia’s military leadership, including Gerasimov, increase his clout in the Kremlin.
Russian troops have struggled to gain control over Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and another Ukrainian province the Kremlin illegally annexed in September. Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula in 2014. After Russian forces withdrew from Kherson, the battle heated up around Bakhmut.
Putin identified the Donbas region as a focus from the war’s outset, and Moscow-backed separatists have fought there since 2014. Russia captured almost all of Luhansk during the summer. Donetsk escaped the same fate, and the Russian military subsequently poured manpower and resources around Bakhmut.
The Institute for the Study of War said Russian forces were up against “concerted Ukrainian resistance” around Bakhmut.
“The reality of block-by-block control of terrain in Soledar is obfuscated by the dynamic nature of urban combat … and Russian forces have largely struggled to make significant tactical gains in the Soledar area for months,” the Washington-based think tank said.
An exceptional feature of the fighting near Bakhmut is that some has taken place around entrances to disused salt mine tunnels, which run for some 200 kilometers (120 miles), according to Western intelligence reports.
In other developments:
— Putin claimed Wednesday that Russia had successfully resisted Western pressure, especially sanctions, over its invasion of Ukraine and vowed that his country has enough resources to beef up its military while continuing social programs and meeting other development targets. “Nothing of what our enemies forecast has happened,” Putin said in a video call with his Cabinet. “We will strengthen our defense capability and will undoubtedly solve all issues related to supplies to military units involved in the special military operation,” he said, using the Kremlin’s euphemism for the war. Reports have circulated that Russia is struggling to produce enough weapons, equipment and clothing for its troops battling in Ukraine.
— Polish President Andrzej Duda said his country is willing to send German-made Leopard tanks to help Ukraine as part of a larger international coalition of tank aid. Duda spoke after he and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda met in Lviv with Zelenskyy, who said Ukraine needs tanks to win the war. In Britain, another staunch Ukraine ally, the spokesman for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said no final decision has been made on whether to send tanks. The U.K. has been considering whether to provide Challenger 2 battle tanks.
— The Russian and Ukrainian human rights commissioners agreed to swap more than 40 military prisoners, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency quoted the Russian official as saying. The two warring parties have exchanged prisoners multiple times, in one of the few areas of cooperation. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said his country has proposed establishing a corridor to bring the wounded to Turkey for treatment. “We can ensure they receive medical treatment and send them back,” Erdoğan said. “This is our humanitarian duty, our duty of conscience.”
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Follow AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | 2023-01-11T19:58:24+00:00 | ksn.com | https://www.ksn.com/news/national-world/ap-international/ap-ukraine-says-mining-town-holding-out-against-russian-assault/ |
squawkbox@albanyherald.com
Fletcher, I really have enjoyed you all printing my original and response squawks lately. Looks like Mr. Equal is gunning for some exposure. Let us please hear his “opposing” views for a few days. The Patriot.
Keep up with the times, Carlton. The former “gas-and-sip” is now known as “stop-and-rob.” More fitting.
Someone needs to tell Senator Warnock that in the political ad in which he says he is running a race, that he is going the wrong way around the track to be in a race. But that fits the profile of his and all Democrats: “Wrong Way Warnock.”
Having no children should be a say-nothing and do-nothing about the court decision. Barbra is nothing more than another Democrat with not much to say.
I offer a great big Amen! to Will Thault and wish that others would join him in celebrating the freedoms so vital to this country. But I’m afraid that will, unfortunately, be an uphill climb. Americans today only care about one thing: themselves.
When socialist mobs took over Venezuela, statues were torn down, people turned against each other, flags were redesigned, police were murdered then disbanded, and churches and businesses were destroyed. Sound familiar?
Wake up, Georgians and wake up women. You have a governor in place who is bent on taking away your rights. We have to remove this evil man from office.
OK, Fletcher, we get it. It’s great to be gay and you’re a friend to all mankind. Enough already.
It seems that Republicans can’t squawk without lying. They must believe that if you repeat it enough, people will believe it. One is falsely claiming that President Biden gets his meeting information on cue cards. The reason the news didn’t report it is because it is not true. How empty your life must be for you to lie like that. The Equality Man
We are all afforded equality of opportunity, not equality of outcome.
Stacy Abrams says Georgia is the worse state to live in. I say Abrams is the worst to live in the state. She is also anti-police, but she has millions so she can have private security. Leave Georgia, Abrams.
Kemp thinks because he beat that loser David Perdue that he now has a mandate to continue his reign of terror. But his rush to criminalize abortion in the state is going to turn not just African American voters against him, but women voters as well. Except of course, those like his wife who believe they should always be submissive. Kemp must go.
SMRs, stay tuned to the Jan. 6 hearings. You will learn that Cry-Baby Trump actually lost.
So conservatives are beating the dead horse that guns are not the problem. Having a defensive or hunting weapon is one thing, but only punks who can’t win a fight need an assault weapon. I bet that most of the mass shooters were punks or racists who subscribe to replacement theory. A real man doesn’t need an assault rifle. Signed, Yours Truly
Clarence Thomas says it’s time to look at all personal rights and Supreme Court rulings related to them. The Republican party, and particular members of this court, profess to be defenders of citizen rights. Fooled you again, didn’t they? | 2022-06-26T20:07:37+00:00 | albanyherald.com | https://www.albanyherald.com/features/squawkbox/article_0d46692c-f574-11ec-ab70-b38c5e6730fb.html |
Which budget bladeless desk fans are best?
Companies such as Dyson pride themselves on producing bladeless fans that work incredibly well. However, they also are incredibly pricey. Fortunately, there are several more affordable options to beat the heat and stay cool. Our top pick, the Greentech Environmental pureFlow QT7 Bladeless Fan, provides both horizontal and vertical air circulation and does so quietly and efficiently.
What to know before you buy a budget bladeless desk fan
Practical considerations
While keeping your office cool without freezing fellow officemates can be a real boon, it can be overshadowed by a noisy desk fan that prompts complaints. Also, a fan that sucks up an excessive amount of electricity to perform its tasks can cause your power bill to increase, which is especially concerning for those who own a small business or startup.
All the selected models have been designed for not only maintaining a quiet level of operating noise but also to use a minimal amount of power to function properly. Whether you are concerned about keeping the peace with your colleagues, are concerned about the environment or want to keep an eye on the bottom line, these budget bladeless desk fans will help you do so.
Aesthetics
The selected models are designed in neutral colors that will fit well in your office or be suitably small enough to position discreetly out of sight.
Air circulation
Bladeless fans are superior to their bladed counterparts in their ability to provide air circulation. A bladeless desk fan that only circulates the air horizontally is insufficient, so choose a model capable of both horizontal and vertical air circulation.
What to look for in a quality budget bladeless desk fan
Purification
Given current health concerns over air quality from a variety of medical and environmental hazards, the decision of whether to purchase a budget bladeless desk fan that also comes with air-purification capabilities is important. However, if you want the comfort of extra security such as HEPA filters, you likely will have to pay more. While the purchase of such a fan that includes air purification or other filtration technology can still be accomplished on a budget, both the cost of replacement filters and the unit itself add to the overall cost.
Decibel safety
A bladeless desk fan can also perform well as cooling agents for studies, children’s bedrooms and more. However, depending on how accident-prone or scared of noisy electronics your child may be, placing a loud and brightly lit desk fan in their room may do their sleep patterns more harm than good.
However, these models are not only capable of performing general operations between 13 and 30 decibels to keep things quiet, gradient LED displays create warm, atmospheric light conditions to help soothe your child to sleep. It may also be worth considering a budget bladeless desk fan capable of operating both plugged into a power outlet as well as providing hours of cordless operation as needed.
Customizable programming and settings
Whether you prefer to exist in a constant state of heat like a lizard or like to keep your office in practically subarctic cold, the last thing you want is to purchase a budget bladeless desk fan that is incapable of reaching and maintaining your temperature preferences. It may be worth investing in a bladeless desk fan that comes with options such as multiple modes of operation, fan speeds and turbocharged turbines.
Other popular features include having a remote control, customizable hours of operation and touch-screen controls.
How much you can expect to spend on a budget bladeless desk fan
Depending on desired features as well as budgetary considerations, a quality budget bladeless desk fan can cost $41-$159 or more.
Best budget bladeless desk fan FAQ
Are bladeless fans really that much better than bladed fans?
A. Since bladeless fans rely on compressed air being magnified through specially designed slits, bladeless fans offer several advantages over bladed fans. These include no risk of physical damage or injury, being much easier to clean and eliminating the buffeting effect that normal fans create.
How should you clean a budget bladeless desk fan?
A. There are several methods for effectively cleaning bladeless fans, such as using microfiber cloths, static dusters, specialized vacuum attachments and miniature window blind cleaners.
What are the best budget bladeless desk fans to buy?
Top budget bladeless desk fan
Greentech Environmental pureFlow QT7 Bladeless Fan
What you need to know: This is an effective and environmentally friendly budget-bladed desk fan.
What you’ll love: This unit has an incredibly quiet operation noise of a mere 13 decibels as well as 12 individual fan-speed settings, from minimal breeze to a full blast of air. It provides the coverage of two fans with both horizontal and vertical air circulation while only consuming 2 watts of power. It has an auto-shutoff timer capable of nine-hour durations.
What you should consider: Users have reported issues including a strange off-gassing smell as well as problems with consistent oscillation.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top budget bladeless desk fan for the money
CONBOLA 11.8-Inch Bladeless Desk Fan
What you need to know: A true budget bladeless desk fan, it still delivers an impressive level of performance that’s safe for kids.
What you’ll love: This unit has a sensitive touch-screen button to change the three wind speeds, including natural wind mode. It has a built-in rechargeable 2500mAh battery capable of lasting three to six hours before needing to be recharged, a child-safe air inlet grille and is made of ABS + PC material, which is easy to clean with a damp cloth.
What you should consider: Users have reported issues such as poor air circulation as well as the unit failing within months of purchase.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
ULTTY Bladeless Tower Fan and Air Purifier
What you need to know: This unit is an impressive combination of budget bladeless tower fan and reliable HEPA-grade air purifier.
What you’ll love: This unit has CARB-certified H13 HEPA standard filters as well as three fan modes and nine-speed modes. It has a 90-degree wide oscillating fan with a sleep timer, LED touch screen or remote control and is capable of covering a room up to 320 square feet.
What you should consider: Users have reported issues such as the power supply accessories not being included and excessively loud operating noises.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Daniel Martin writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | 2022-05-31T22:27:34+00:00 | fox44news.com | https://www.fox44news.com/reviews/br/office-br/furniture-br/best-budget-bladeless-desk-fan/ |
PARIS (AP) — Unveiling a new chapter in its illustrious history, Louis Vuitton made an indelible mark on Paris Fashion Week’s men’s shows as they premiered the debut collection by musician-turned-designer Pharrell Williams.
Appointed in February to fill the immense shoes left by the death of Virgil Abloh, Williams unveiled his design prowess to the fashion world with a show that exuded confidence.
The breathtaking venue for this sartorial spectacle was Paris’ iconic Pont Neuf. The historic bridge, typically resplendent with time-worn stone, was transformed into a golden runway — a dramatic stage set against the backdrop of the shimmering Seine and under the starlit Parisian sky.
The Tuesday night event drew a constellation of stars in their own right. The stellar audience encompassed icons of music, sports and entertainment. Among the guests lining the gilded cobbles were music royalty Beyoncé and Jay-Z, NBA superstar LeBron James, new brand ambassador Zendaya and global pop phenomenon Rihanna.
Williams’ first show proved to be an ambitious endeavor, interweaving the luxury and sophistication of high fashion with the pulsating energy and broad appeal of pop culture and entertainment. The show was more than a runway presentation; it was an immersive experience that captured the imagination of those fortunate enough to witness it firsthand.
Here are some highlights of the spring-summer 2024 shows:
As sunlight filled the storied halls of Louis Vuitton’s headquarters, Williams stepped into his new role as the fashion house’s menswear designer.
His appointment symbolizes more than a career shift. It represents a daring move by the luxury brand to entrust the position to a musical artist and cultural influencer, not a classically trained designer. But Pharrell says he doesn’t feel pressure to prove himself — he was chosen.
“I didn’t feel any of that because if I was competing for it and people kept telling me, ‘No don’t do it,’ I may have felt that way. But the difference is, I was chosen,” Pharrell told AP in a joint interview. “So, like when you’re chosen, you just kind of ride the wave.”
A sense of being selected by the universe, or by Louis Vuitton, carries a sense of destiny for him. But stepping into the designer role isn’t just about fulfilling his personal destiny. Williams also feels like he’s carrying on the legacy of the late Abloh, who was the first Black artistic director at Louis Vuitton and a personal friend. “My appointment is a tribute,” Williams said.
Black culture and the struggles Black Americans have faced is a strong driving force for Pharrell. He reflected on the culture’s unique flavor, influence and widespread appeal. “I think it’s something in the sauce,” he said. “And people like it when they try it.”
Williams emphasized the hard-earned global recognition of this cultural “sauce,” exemplified in the influence of figures like LeBron James, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Prince and artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.
“A lot of people lost their lives and suffered through the experiences to get us to these positions,” he noted, underscoring the painful history that fuels his desire to honor his community through his work at Louis Vuitton.
Pharrell’s love for life, the moment, and opportunities, imbue his approach to design. “LV is for Louis Vuitton, but it’s also ‘lover’,” he mused. His interpretation of the Louis Vuitton initials signifies his intention to pour love and appreciation into his work, carrying the legacy of Black culture forward in a space where it has been historically underrepresented.
“It’s not lost on me that I’m afforded this opportunity to tell these stories,” he said.
The pulse of Paris was set alight as Williams unveiled a debut fusing streetwear aesthetics into the French maison’s traditional lineage. The fashion show epitomized high-voltage energy, reverberating through the audience and culminating in a standing ovation for Williams.
The world-renowned musician, known for his genre-blurring creativity, masterfully orchestrated the event. The runway show mirrored a music video’s high energy, perhaps a testament to the meteoric reach of the brand’s parent company, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.
Channeling gender-fluid appeal, Williams showcased an exhaustive collection spanning checkerboard-patterned denim to a sophisticated cream evening jacket. The line, marked by photo prints of the Pont Neuf and a uniquely designed coat with a shaved monogram motif, also underscored his flair for distinct aesthetics.
Playing on the LV codes, Williams’ collaboration with American pixel artist E.T. for a digital motif and the use of Black American artist Henry Taylor’s micro-embroideries added a further dimension to his debut lineup. The collection was replete with pixelated designs on a broad spectrum of pieces, alongside the Damier pattern — which graces the house’s bags — amplified in shades of yellow and black.
The grand finale was a spectacular concert by Jay-Z. The electrifying performance brought the crowd to its feet, their excitement reaching a crescendo as Pharrell took to the stage to join his longtime collaborator. While Rihanna’s arrival, in sync with the show’s climax and exposing a enormous bare baby bump, was nothing short of theatrical.
As the show drew to a close, an emotional Williams emerged to take a bow, wiping away tears and pointing skyward in a heartfelt thank you. The applause that followed was a thunderous affirmation of the musician’s successful transition into the realm of luxury fashion.
After the pulsating late-night Vuitton showcase, a more subdued morning scene unfolded at Chanel’s headquarters. Members of the fashion press gathered, copious servings of coffee and croissants in hand, to view a breakfast presentation of Chanel’s resort collection. Thus began the glamorous marathon that is Paris Fashion Week.
Themes from Hollywood’s Golden Age characterized designer Virginie Viard’s collection, incorporating hints at the 1920s and 1930s. They were transfused with a distinct 1980s influence in sequins and vibrant color.
Viard presented a long, loose coat, a style staple one might associate with film producers of the art deco era. Furthering the Hollywood motif, a lace A-line mini dress took its bleeding color palette from an L.A. sunset, a nod to Sunset Boulevard. Additionally, a ruched tiered skirt carried the pink and white stripe pattern commonly associated with the Beverly Hills Hotel.
The resort collection’s encore in Paris provided an opportunity for a closer inspection of Viard’s Hollywood-inspired designs and the detailing involved without the breathlessness of a glitzy show. Amidst the rapid progression of fashion, Chanel’s collection served as a reminder of the brand’s engagement with historic and pop culture references.
The design duo behind the Botter label, Rushemy Botter and Lisi Herrebrugh, are known for their progressive and bold approach to fashion. The spring-summer collection they presented Wednesday showcased a series of daring and inventive interpretations of everyday elements.
Ecological plastic wicker, typically found on chairs was cleverly reconfigured into garments. The unconventional material was particularly affecting in a bright red structured vest red that resembled chainmail, demonstrating Botter’s creative — and quirky — reinterpretation of commonplace items.
The designs also included distinctive lozenge motifs that gave a slightly historical impression, especially on skintight tops and tights-cum-leggings that at times reassembled the look of a medieval peasant.
In a contrast to the quirky designs, a delicate lavender knit vest unfurled like a disintegrating flower, adding a touch of poetic elegance to a pair of baggy charcoal office pants, a testament to Botter’s versatility.
While their designs tend to be daring and offbeat, the y manage to strike a balance between the surreal and wearable, maintaining their appeal to a forward-thinking audience.
Designer Anthony Alvarez didn’t shy away from color in his menswear collection for Bluemarble. His vibrant palette was a delightful mix of citrine and dandelion. The unstructured and utilitarian designs combined streetwear sensibilities with a dash of high-fashion daring. Toggles that were part practical, part design statement, flapped in an unexpectedly fashionable sync with the collection’s aesthetic rhythm.
The choice of shades on the models, and the satiny dazzle on coats, lent a sunshine-bathed charisma to the show, aptly reflecting the “blue marble” — planet Earth — that inspired the brand’s name. Bleached blond hair and curtains subtly echoed the late-80s, while the boxy silhouettes seemed like a contemporary nod to the iconic era.
Building on Bluemarble’s reputation for eye-popping color and cultural fusion, Alvarez balanced the mix of his own diverse heritage in his designs. (He was raised by a French mother and a Filipino-Spanish father.) The collection not only celebrated his brand’s globe-trotting vision but elevated it with bold colors, strategic nostalgia, and streetwise utility. | 2023-06-21T19:42:04+00:00 | valleycentral.com | https://www.valleycentral.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/pharrell-fuses-entertainment-and-fashion-for-confident-louis-vuitton-menswear-debut/ |
MADRID (AP) — A six-kilometer black lava scar crossing Spain's La Palma island remains as testimony to the three-month-long volcano eruption that may have left no casualties but did wreak havoc in the lives of many.
As officials held ceremonies Monday to commemorate the first anniversary of the start of what was one of the most televised volcanic eruptions of the century in Europe, the Spanish island located in the Canary Islands archipelago off the northwest coast of Africa is not the same, geologically, economically, or socially.
Under the thick molten rock slab — still slowly cooling down from the initial 1,140 degrees Celsius (2,084 degrees Fahrenheit) — some 3,000 buildings were buried along with many banana plantations, roads and irrigation systems.
Alongside agriculture, tourism is critical to the island’s economy. But half of the 8,000 registered places of accommodation remain closed due to the presence of poisonous gases — the same reason that keeps around 170 local people still living in hotel rooms.
The former touristic spot of Puerto Naos is described by local newspapers as a ghost town. The lava didn't reach the town, but the high concentration of CO2 gases forced the evacuation of its 1,000 residents. Most are staying with relatives, and all continue to wonder when they will be allowed back home.
La Palma — population 84,790 — has become the focus of many politicians and dignitaries. Cabinet members including Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez have visited the island 60 times, mostly to announce new aid packages. Queen Letizia recently chose La Palma for her yearly visit to a school at the beginning of the academic year.
Public funds to aid reconstruction totaling 566 million euros ($564 million) have been delivered by the government.
Yet a grouping of those affected by the volcano plans to mark the anniversary Monday with a protest over what they consider bad management of the funds.
Others resent the fact that when the roar of the volcano died down after 85 days, solidarity disappeared.
“Politicians don’t really care about us,” said banana farmer Juan Carlos Rodríguez. He said the subsidies were insufficient.
However, some entrepreneurs are finding ways to reshape their businesses and exploit the eruption.
AstroLaPalma used to offer nighttime stargazing programs under the clear Canary Island sky. Now, owner Ana García guides amazed visitors through the volcanic ashes.
The volcano didn’t really have a name before it erupted, though it was popularly known as Cumbre Vieja — the name of the surrounding national park. This summer, island residents voted to call it Tajogaite — the name of the area in the ancient Guanche language.
It’s the first year of a new era for the volcanic islands, and locals are also determined to thrive.
Just two months ago, the islanders were able to claim a minor victory over the volcano with the opening of a new road built over the lava rock to connect the sides of the Aridane Valley that was split in two by the eruption.
The road takes two hours off the drive to reach isolated houses, shortens kids’ school routes and allows access to the surviving banana plantations in the valley.
Credit: Taner Orribo
Credit: Taner Orribo
Credit: Emilio Morenatti
Credit: Emilio Morenatti
Credit: Emilio Morenatti
Credit: Emilio Morenatti
Credit: Emilio Morenatti
Credit: Emilio Morenatti | 2022-09-19T12:16:25+00:00 | daytondailynews.com | https://www.daytondailynews.com/nation-world/a-year-on-volcano-scars-mark-spains-la-palma-island/4Z6IU223GJE2NAZZ7WLXQ5NMAE/ |
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December 3rd, 2022 | 2022-12-04T09:10:52+00:00 | newson6.com | https://www.newson6.com/story/638a0bb2d19e670726ab652a/news-on-6-7-am-newscast-dec-2 |
WALL, N.J., May 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Student Transportation of America (STA) celebrates its 25th anniversary today as an industry leader in student transportation, safety, and fleet services. Founded in 1997, STA operates more than 16,000 vehicles, providing more than 300 school districts across the United States and Canada with the highest level of safe and reliable student transportation, management, logistics and technology solutions.
"Since our inception, Student Transportation of America has prided itself on being a family business committed to the safety and the well-being of the students who depend on us each day," said Patrick Vaughan, CEO of STA. "It is because of the ongoing commitment and dedication of each and every employee that we are able to celebrate such a milestone today, and I thank each employee, past and present, for helping us to grow into one of the largest and most respected student transportation companies in North America."
The company's values are rooted in family business. STA founder Denis J. Gallagher grew up in the industry as his grandfather and father started the transit and charter bus company, Coast Cities, in 1922. Gallagher drew on that family tradition, starting STA with the same guiding principles – taking care of employees, customers, and communities.
The company is an industry leader in safety and training, providing drivers with the tools necessary to excel at their jobs by combining interactive training to supplement traditional behind-the-wheel and classroom training methods. Each STA driver is trained and educated on a variety of topics including Autism Spectrum Disorder awareness, special needs emergency evacuation plans, bullying, managing student behavior, and safety leadership.
STA is also committed to its customers. Understanding that school transportation is a local business, STA works with districts on plans that fit their unique needs, leading to a renewal rate just shy of 100% and consistent customer satisfaction.
Community remains at the heart of STA's services and a large part of that is a commitment to environmentally conscious programs across North America, reducing emissions and promoting better health and safer environments for passengers and families.
To date, STA has replaced more than 2,700 diesel-engine school buses with alternative-fuel vehicles and has solidified its commitment to the environment with the launch of its electric vehicle pilot program . The company has received a Green Fleet Magazine Sustainability All-Star Award for its leadership in the space.
"Today we celebrate our 25th anniversary with a nod to our history, but we also look to the future," said STA Chief Operating Officer Gene Kowalczewski. "Our success and longevity come from the dedication of our employees and a commitment across the company to innovation. We look forward to what the next 25 years will bring as we continuously work to provide the safest transportation for students, employment opportunities for communities, and sustainable transportation options for a healthy environment."
About Student Transportation of America
Founded in 1997, Student Transportation of America (STA) is an industry leader in school transportation, safety and fleet services. STA operates more than 16,000 vehicles, providing customers with the highest level of safe and reliable student transportation, management, logistics and technology solutions throughout the U.S. and Canada. Services are delivered by drivers, dispatchers, maintenance technicians, managers, information technology professionals and others, who are caring members of their local communities. For more information, please visit www.rideSTA.com.
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SOURCE Student Transportation of America | 2022-05-17T16:30:08+00:00 | wlox.com | https://www.wlox.com/prnewswire/2022/05/17/student-transportation-america-marks-25-years-service/ |
Updated May 30, 2022 at 8:22 PM ET
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government introduced legislation Monday that would put a freeze on importing, buying or selling handguns.
"We are capping the number of handguns in this country," Trudeau said.
The regulations to halt the growth of personally owned handguns is expected to be enacted this fall.
"It will be illegal to buy, sell, transfer or import handguns anywhere in Canada," the prime minister said.
Canada already has plans to ban 1,500 types of military-style firearms and offer a mandatory buyback program that will begin at the end of the year. It already expanded background checks.
Trudeau has long had plans to enact tougher gun laws but the introduction of the new measure comes after mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, N.Y., this month.
Bill Blair, minister of emergency preparedness, said Canada is very different from the United States.
"In Canada, gun ownership is a privilege not a right," Blair said. "This is a principal that differentiates ourselves from many other countries in the world, notably our colleagues and friends to the south. In Canada, guns are only intended to be used for hunting and sport purposes."
Canada has had far fewer mass shootings than the U.S. in part because of a lack of easy access to guns, though the U.S. population also is far larger than Canada's.
Blair noted guns are often smuggled in illegally from the U.S., which he noted has one of the largest small arms arsenals in the world.
The government plans to fight gun smuggling and trafficking by increasing criminal penalties, providing more tools to investigate firearms crimes and strengthening border measures. Trudeau said increased funding already helped border officials double the amount of smuggled guns confiscated at the U.S. border.
The government also said the bill would also allow for the removal of gun licenses from people involved in acts of domestic violence or criminal harassment, such as stalking.
The bill would create a new "red flag" law allowing courts to require that people considered a danger to themselves or others surrender their firearms to police. The government said the measure would guard the safety of those applying through the process, often women in danger of domestic abuse, by protecting their identities.
The government said it will require rifle magazines to be permanently altered so they can never hold more than five rounds and will ban the sale and transfer of large-capacity magazines under the Criminal Code.
"Canada can teach us a lot," tweeted Bruce Heyman, a former U.S. ambassador to Canada under the Obama administration.
Trudeau said his government recognizes the vast majority of Canadians who own guns are responsible but the level of gun violence is unacceptable. "This is a concrete and real national measure to long way toward keeping Canadians safe," Trudeau said.
The new measures are assured of passing in Canada's Parliament as the ruling Liberals and leftist opposition New Democrats have enough votes.
Pierre Poilievre, who is running to be leader of the Conservative party, said law-abiding gun owners should be respected and dangerous criminals should be jailed.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2022-05-31T17:09:58+00:00 | wlrn.org | https://www.wlrn.org/news/2022-05-31/canadas-government-moves-to-make-selling-or-importing-handguns-illegal |
The WNBA teams are ready for the sprint to the finish with a month left in the regular season.
With most teams having about a dozen games left and 11 of the 12 franchises in the playoff hunt it should be an exciting final five weeks.
Only three games separate the top five teams — Chicago, Las Vegas, Seattle, Connecticut and Washington. Unlike the previous five years where finishing first or second earned a bye to the semifinals of the playoffs, the WNBA changed its postseason format this season to a more traditional bracket.
Still, having a top four seed means hosting the first two games of the best-of-three opening round and potentially not having to play a road game to advance.
Chicago, which leads the AP WNBA power poll again this week, has been the hottest team in the league, winning eight of its last 10 games. That stretch helped the Sky secure homecourt in the Commissioner’s Cup championship game on July 26 against Las Vegas.
The Aces struggled heading into the All-Star break, dropping five of their last seven games. Las Vegas begins its stretch run with a three-game road trip starting in New York.
Seattle, Connecticut and Washington all loom on the heels of the top two teams.
POWER POLL
This week’s WNBA poll:
1. Chicago (16-6): The Sky had a busy weekend hosting the All-Star Game with half of their players involved in the festivities. They play three games this week, including two on the road.
2. Las Vegas (15-7): The Aces tip off the stretch run with three road games this week without much of a break after four of Las Vegas’ starters played in the All-Star Game.
3. Seattle (15-8): The Storm host Dallas and Indiana this week and look to maintain the momentum they had before the All-Star break. Seattle has won seven of its last 10 games.
4(tie). Connecticut (14-8): Consistency is what the Sun are looking for as they have struggled to put together a winning streak since winning four straight to start June.
4(tie). Washington (14-10): The Mystics are 11-4 when Elena Delle Donne plays and 3-6 without her. Washington will play on both sides of the country this week with games in Los Angeles, Phoenix and then at home against Minnesota on Sunday.
6(tie). Los Angeles (10-12): The Sparks have been playing well lately behind the strong play of Nneka Ogwumike. For them to crack the upper half of the standings they’ll need their guards to get healthy as Brittney Sykes, Kristi Toliver and Jordin Canada have all missed time with injuries.
6(tie). Atlanta (10-12): The Dream have a big week ahead with games against Chicago, Connecticut and Phoenix as Atlanta can help solidify a playoff berth.
8. New York (9-13): The Liberty will face Las Vegas twice this week after last week’s offensive showcase that saw the teams combine for 223 points in a New York victory.
9. Minnesota (8-15): A strong finish before the All-Star break has gotten the Lynx back into playoff contention. Minnesota has been in the postseason ever year since missing the playoffs in 2010.
10. Phoenix (10-14): This wasn’t the season the Mercury envisioned at the start of the year. With Brittney Griner’s absence looming over the team and Tina Charles now in Seattle, its been a challenging season for Phoenix.
11. Dallas (10-12): The All-Star break allowed Satou Sabally a few more days to get back to full strength and she’ll be key for the Wings to make a playoff push. She was out most of June with a knee injury before returning in early July.
12. Indiana (5-19): Six consecutive losses have the Fever at the bottom of the standings, but the future is looking good with the strong play of rookies NaLyssa Smith and Queen Egbo.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sabrina Ionescu of New York was voted the AP Player of the Week. She averaged 26.5 points, 11.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists to help the Liberty split their games last week. Aerial Powers of Minnesota and Breanna Stewart of Seattle also received votes.
GRINER UPDATE
Brittney Griner pleaded guilty to drug possession charges at her trial last week. She will be back in court on Thursday. The WNBA acknowledged Griner at the All-Star weekend announcing her as an honorary starter while all the players wore jerseys with her name and number on the back of them for the second half of the game. Game MVP Kelsey Plum dedicated her award to the Mercury center.
GAME OF THE WEEK:
Las Vegas at Connecticut, Sunday. The Aces close out their three-game road trip against the Sun.
___
More AP women’s basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2022-07-13T04:26:23+00:00 | cenlanow.com | https://www.cenlanow.com/sports/wnba-teams-set-for-sprint-to-end-of-regular-season-playoffs/ |
ASHFORD, Wash. — Officials with the National Park Service said the body of a 52-year-old Canadian man was recovered after he fell while climbing Mt. Rainier on Monday.
In a news release, park officials said Chun Hui Zhang of Surrey, British Columbia, was on a private recreational summit climb with friends when he took what witnesses described as a "substantial fall" while descending the Disappointment Cleaver route on the mountain's south side.
Officials said mountain climbing guides and park rangers tried to locate Zhang but were unsuccessful.
Rangers found and extricated Zhang's body with a helicopter on Tuesday, officials said.
According to the NPS website, the mountain, which is an active volcano, sits 14,410 feet above sea level.
CBS News reported, citing National Park Service data, that as of this year, more than 400 people have perished in Mount Rainier National Park, with 25% of those deaths occurring while climbing the mountain. | 2022-08-26T16:22:06+00:00 | ktvh.com | https://www.ktvh.com/news/national/body-of-canadian-man-recovered-after-he-fell-while-climbing-mount-rainier |
Police, medical examiner working to determine cause of deadly Claremont crash
Police, medical examiner working to determine cause of deadly Claremont crash
LIVE IN MERRIMACK, MT WMUR NN. RIGHT NOW -- CLAREMONT POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING THE DEATH OF A DRIVER AFTER A CRASH. A TRUCK AND AN SUV COLLIDED AROUND 5 P-M ON WASHINGTON STREET. POLICE SAY THE DRIVER OF THE TRUCK HAD A LIFE- THREATENING MEDICAL CONDITION ... AND WAS RUSHED TO HOSPITAL, WHERE HE LATER DIED. OFFICERS SAY -- THEY'RE NOW WORKING WITH T
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Police, medical examiner working to determine cause of deadly Claremont crash
Claremont police are investigating the death of a driver after a crash.A truck and SUV collided around 5 p.m. Tuesday on Washington Street.Police said the driver of the truck had a life-threatening medical condition and was rushed to a hospital, where he later died. The name of the driver has not been released.The other driver had minor injuries. Officers said they're working with the medical examiner's office to determine whether he died from the crash or the medical condition.
CLAREMONT, N.H. —
Claremont police are investigating the death of a driver after a crash.
A truck and SUV collided around 5 p.m. Tuesday on Washington Street.
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Police said the driver of the truck had a life-threatening medical condition and was rushed to a hospital, where he later died. The name of the driver has not been released.
The other driver had minor injuries.
Officers said they're working with the medical examiner's office to determine whether he died from the crash or the medical condition. | 2022-12-14T04:28:10+00:00 | wmur.com | https://www.wmur.com/article/police-medical-examiner-claremont-crash-new-hampshire/42235790 |
Mowilex earns recognition for its commitment to sustainability, innovation and leadership
JAKARTA, Indonesia, Aug. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PT Mowilex Indonesia (Mowilex) has earned a 2022 Best Managed Companies in Indonesia award from Deloitte, becoming the only paint company to receive the prestigious honour. The Indonesia's Best Managed Companies program recognises top privately-owned Indonesian companies for their organisational success, industry contributions and economic impact.
An independent panel evaluated applicants against a framework applied to 1,200 other companies in 48 countries worldwide. Judges reviewed strategy, management quality, capabilities and innovation, culture and commitment, and governance and financials.
Mowilex stood out among a large and competitive field thanks, in part, to its commitment to quality and environmental responsibility.
"An award is a snapshot in time, not a destination. Mowilex faces complex challenges and formidable competition, but we succeed when we embrace leadership opportunities and strive for continuous improvement," says Niko Safavi, CEO of PT Mowilex Indonesia. "Our vision is to be the most trusted paint brand in our market. This Deloitte recognition proves that we can be just that."
Safavi received the Best Managed Companies award during a July ceremony at the Hotel Pullman Jakarta. Several Deloitte representatives gathered to recognise Mowilex and other 2022 winners.
"The inclusion of these six companies in this year's winners' list, as well as their contributions to the business community and the Indonesian economy, should make them extremely proud. These companies are at the forefront of their industries, having demonstrated such creativity and innovation, especially over the past couple of years. We applaud the 2022 winners of Indonesia's Best Managed Companies," says Claudia Lauw, Country Managing Partner, Deloitte Indonesia.
By participating in the evaluation process, business leaders gain insights that help them refine operations and optimize growth.
"It can be difficult for people outside our industry to get excited about paint, and we appreciate that Deloitte chose Mowilex from a field of large, well-managed companies and high-profile unicorns here in Indonesia," says Safavi. "Each Mowilex team member does their part to work efficiently and effectively. This Best Managed Companies award recognises that company-wide commitment to success."
The Indonesia's Best Managed Companies award is based on the 29-year-old global Best Managed Companies program, an initiative of Deloitte Private. For information on Mowilex products and sustainability initiatives, please visit mowilex.com/en.
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SOURCE PT Mowilex Indonesia | 2022-08-02T19:22:56+00:00 | wbrc.com | https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2022/08/02/deloitte-names-mowilex-one-indonesias-best-managed-companies-2022/ |
JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:
Authorities in Brazil have detained more than 1,000 people after yesterday's violent assault on the country's government buildings - the riots led by supporters of the country's former far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro. They'd been calling on the military to restore Bolsonaro to power, even though he lost his reelection bid last October to current president, leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
We're joined now by NPR's South America correspondent Carrie Kahn for the latest. Hi, Carrie.
CARRIE KAHN, BYLINE: Hi.
SUMMERS: So, Carrie, Brazil's recent election was bitterly contested, and it left the country divided. The violence that occurred yesterday was a scenario that many had been fearing. What are you hearing from authorities?
KAHN: That was the message that we heard today from the newly installed justice minister. His name is Flavio Dino. He said that for the last four years under the former President Bolsonaro, there had been what he called the atmosphere of hate speech.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
FLAVIO DINO: (Speaking Portuguese).
KAHN: He's saying that, what we've warned all these years were that - what we warned about was that words have power, and these words turned into hate and turned into the destruction that was seen yesterday. He said that, of course, the investigation into the crimes of the supporters, the vandalisms, those who committed the vandalism, the financing of these encampments that had been set up in front of the army barracks in Brasilia will all be investigated, and people who were involved will be prosecuted. But he also said that he's after the political actors who facilitated a political atmosphere that was so toxic that it came down to what he called a coup d'etat, an attempt to overthrow the government. And they should be held accountable to the Brazilian people.
Look, the last four years under Bolsonaro were very divisive for this country. Bolsonaro was a far-right nationalist, as he said. He was not shy to disparage racial groups, women. He was hostile to gay rights and environmentalists and Indigenous people, too. And Lula narrowly won the election last October. And that was a major shift for this country that is still very divided.
SUMMERS: As we've just heard, the cleanup is just beginning. But how widespread is the destruction of the government buildings there?
KAHN: It's amazing, Juana. I was - I just got back from walking through the expansive government complex here that's called the Plaza of the Three Powers. And housed there is the congress. There's a huge Supreme Court building and the presidential office - offices. And the destruction is just everywhere. I couldn't go inside, but from the outside, there's just - you just see the broken windows. There's furniture and artwork strewn and littered all around the buildings.
The Supreme Court looks like it was the most damaged, with graffiti over any - this huge glass panes in the front that were not totally broken, but broken windows are everywhere else. The rioters ripped up the stone walkways near all three buildings. They used the rocks to actually smash the windows and to vandalize the buildings. So all of this will need to be repaired. It's quite a different scene than - this is the same place, just a week ago Sunday, the entire esplanade was packed with hundreds of thousands of people celebrating Lula's inaugurations and celebrations. So it's just a stark difference from the - just one week ago.
SUMMERS: Wow. Carrie, I understand you've been at one of the sites of the Bolsonaro encampments there. What did you see there?
KAHN: Yes, I was there earlier today. And this is this encampment, and it's just in ruins. It was raining quite a lot today. And so everything was just a muddy mess. And it was an encampment that had swelled to thousands of Bolsonaro supporters right in front of the military barracks here in Brasilia. And there's just tents of all sizes, huge ones that were - there was a kitchen, there was medical areas, a speaker stage. Now it's just mounds of garbage, foods, deflated plastic.
And I met this one man out front. He didn't want to give me his name because he was afraid of being arrested. And he said he didn't march yesterday, but he said he spent several days and nights with the demonstrators here, and he said they are fighting against a stolen election.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: But once they committed crime destroying buildings and things that people were not supposed to do, they lost their reason.
KAHN: He didn't agree with the vandalism. And he said that he believes he - that he believes Bolsonaro's false and unproven claims that the election was rigged and stolen. And he said that protesters may have been arrested today or yesterday, but they will not stop fighting against President Lula.
SUMMERS: Carrie, in the couple of seconds we've got left, former President Bolsonaro remains in Florida. Have we heard any more from him today?
KAHN: He tweeted a little bit. He said he's not responsible for the violence, but he's also in the hospital. He has complications from a stomach - he was stabbed in the stomach several years ago, and he's in the hospital in Florida right now.
SUMMERS: OK.
KAHN: It's unclear whether he will return to Brazil soon.
SUMMERS: NPR's Carrie Kahn reporting from Brazil's capital. Thank you.
KAHN: You're welcome. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | 2023-01-18T05:34:48+00:00 | kanw.com | https://www.kanw.com/2023-01-09/the-devastation-left-in-the-wake-of-the-riots-at-brazils-government-buildings |
Updated May 3, 2022 at 7:40 PM ET
Voters head to the polls Tuesday for statewide primaries in Ohio and Indiana.
The race to replace retiring Republican Sen. Rob Portman has top billing, with former President Donald Trump seeking to get candidate J.D. Vance over the finish line in the GOP primary with a late endorsement.
You'll find primary results for key offices below. For complete Ohio election results, head to the state's website.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2022-05-04T00:55:58+00:00 | mainepublic.org | https://www.mainepublic.org/npr-news/npr-news/2022-05-03/here-are-the-key-primary-election-results-from-ohio |
Federal prosecutors accuse Michigan man of strangling missing 2-year-old
(AP) – A Michigan man apparently strangled his ex-girlfriend’s 2-year-old daughter with a cellphone cord and left her body in a Detroit alley, according to a federal complaint filed Friday.
The U.S. attorney’s office in Grand Rapids charged 26-year-old Rashad Trice with kidnapping a minor and kidnapping resulting in death in connection with Wynter Cole Smith’s disappearance, adding to a litany of state charges that include attempted murder and fleeing police.
“There is probable cause to believe (Smith) was murdered by Trice and left in the alley, where her body was discovered,” FBI Special Agent Christopher Rodolico wrote in the complaint.
Trice would face mandatory life in a federal prison and could get the death penalty if he’s convicted of kidnapping resulting in death. He would face 20 years to life if convicted of kidnapping a minor. Online court records in the federal case listed Sharon Turek as his federal public defender. She declined to comment Friday.
Trice got into an argument with his 22-year-old ex-girlfriend at her Lansing apartment the night of July 2, according to the federal complaint. The ex-girlfriend, who is not identified in the complaint, said she stabbed Trice in self-defense. Trice responded by stabbing her multiple times and sexually assaulted her, she told investigators.
Trice left, and the woman went to her mother’s apartment in the same complex, leaving her 1-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter, Wynter Cole Smith, behind. Responding police couldn’t find Smith.
Investigators determined that Trice had stolen a car and issued an Amber Alert for Smith. Police located the car early the next morning in St. Clair Shores, a Detroit suburb. The driver, later identified as Trice, fled and crashed into a police vehicle. He then tried to disarm an officer and was arrested. Smith wasn’t in the vehicle.
Trice initially told investigators that he last saw the girl at his ex-girlfriend’s apartment. Police reviewed cellphone data that showed Trice traveling from Lansing to Detroit, which led them to a Detroit alley on Wednesday where they found Smith’s body and a pink cellphone cord they believe was used to strangle the girl. They also found portions of a pink cellphone cord in the stolen car.
Trice told police that he and Smith’s mother had been arguing about money and said they stabbed each other. He said he was aware of the Amber Alert, called himself “a monster” and said he wanted to kill himself.
“The allegations in this case are heart-wrenching,” said Mark Totten, the U.S. attorney in Grand Rapids. “My thoughts are very much with Wynter’s family, as we were all praying for her safe return home.”
Trice was scheduled to appear in federal court in Grand Rapids on Tuesday for a detention hearing.
Smith’s father, Ajay Smith, of Detroit, is a wide receiver for the University of Tennessee at Martin. He told the Detroit News for a story published Friday that he learned about the kidnapping on Monday from the girl’s grandmother.
“At that moment, I was just in shock — like I couldn’t move because that’s not a phone call you can expect at any given moment,” he told the newspaper. “I didn’t know what to do.”
He said his coach and the university helped him fly home to Michigan that day. He called his daughter a “very smart, great, loveable young girl.”
“Her smile was so contagious,” he said. “I don’t see how anybody could ever hate that.”
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2023-07-08T01:22:46+00:00 | wfsb.com | https://www.wfsb.com/2023/07/08/federal-prosecutors-accuse-michigan-man-strangling-missing-2-year-old-who-was-found-dead/ |
The history of the bagel is often disputed, says food writer and cooking teacher Cathy Barrow. Many people believe the bagel started in Poland around 1614. Others argue the Ottomans brought the Turkish simit to the area earlier.
Barrow taught herself to make bagels at home. “It was like a lightning bolt,” she says, after discovering that a high-protein flour was what made all the difference in the final result. High-gluten flour is 14% protein compared to all-purpose flour with about 10%. The high protein content contributes to the glossiness and crispness of the shell of the bagel with a good chew.
Cathy Barrow’s new book is “Bagels, Schmears, and a Nice Piece of Fish.”
Cannoli Cheese
Makes 10 oz. (280g)
Reminiscent of sweetened citrus-scented cannoli filling, this schmear is delicious on any sweet bagel. It’s possible to make the candied orange rind at home, but it’s also available at candy shops, at cake supply shops, and online. Candied Meyer lemon is particularly floral, sweet, and tart and a nice swap for the orange rind in this recipe, if you can find it.
Ingredients
- 1 Schmear Master recipe (or your favorite store-bought schmear)
- 1⁄2 cup [90 g] mini chocolate chips
- 1⁄4 cup [56 g] candied orange rind, chopped
- 3 tbsp mascarpone cheese
- 3 tbsp confectioners’ sugar
- 1⁄2 tsp freshly grated orange zest
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the schmear, chocolate chips, candied orange rind, mascarpone, confectioners’ sugar, and orange zest using a stiff spatula. Stir until thoroughly combined.
- Pack the cannoli cheese into a ramekin or two, cover, and chill until ready to serve. It will keep for about 3 days in the refrigerator.
Reprinted from Bagels, Schmears, and a Nice Piece of Fish by Cathy Barrow with permission from Chronicle
Books, 2022. Photographs © Linda Xiao. | 2022-05-07T02:27:35+00:00 | kcrw.com | https://www.kcrw.com/culture/shows/good-food/mothers-day-culinary-journalism-bagels/cathy-barrow-bagel-book?utm_source=KCRW&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=kcrw-news-rss |
The U.S. Department of Education concluded a sexual harassment investigation at the Takoma/Silver Spring Campus of Montgomery College in Maryland involving a professor who told female students to remove their shirts in class in 2019.
The investigation found that the professor required the students to strip down to their sports bras to "demonstrate a medical assessment, despite the fact that the assessment did not require clothing removal, or the bodily commentary," the department's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) wrote in a press release Wednesday. The professor also commented on the students' nipples and breast positioning and demanded they remove the lab coats that some students put on for modesty purposes, according to the office's letter to the college.
A three-month-long investigation by the college concluded that the professor created a hostile environment based on sex. The educator was put on leave the day after a report was filed and was later terminated, according to OCR.
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OCR launched its investigation after a student claimed that the school discriminated against her on the basis of sex by not "promptly and equitably" responding to her sexual harassment complaint. The office concluded that the school followed Title IX guidelines but failed to notify affected students about its investigation's conclusion.
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine E. Lhamon praised the Maryland college, located outside Washington, D.C., for quickly responding to the situation and mostly complying with Title IX.
"The shameful underlying facts in this investigation — of a college professor subjecting his entire class to sexual harassment as a condition of instruction — are galling and categorically unacceptable under Title IX," she said. "I appreciate the additional commitment Montgomery College made to fulfill its remaining obligation under Title IX to ensure that the discriminatory effects end for all its students."
Many of the impacted students were provided supportive services such as counseling, academic assistance and tuition reimbursement.
BIDEN ADMIN RELEASES NEW TITLE IX REGULATIONS ON TRANSGENDER ISSUES IN SCHOOLS
One student who emailed with an investigator said she believed she failed the class because of the harassment. The college paid for her to re-enroll in the course.
Although the student who filed the initial complaint was notified about the college's investigation concluding, OCR determined more needed to be done to comply with Title IX.
SUPREME COURT ALLOWS MORE THAN 230 MEN TO SUE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY OVER FORMER TEAM DOCTOR'S SEXUAL ABUSE
OCR issued a resolution agreement requiring the school to provide written notice to all students that were in the class that the investigation was completed and detail the steps taken to "end a hostile environment."
"This lack of notification raises a concern that the college may not have taken necessary steps to ensure that a hostile environment did not persist for affected students," the release stated.
LSU CLOSED NEARLY 300 REPORTED SEXUAL ASSAULTS WITHOUT DISCIPLINE IN ONE YEAR
The resolution also requires the school to share with OCR documentation from a 2022 campus climate survey and to take any necessary steps to respond to information from it.
"We appreciate the thorough investigation conducted by the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights in regards to this matter," Montgomery College's top spokesman, Marcus Rosano, told Fox News in a statement. "The College fully supports the determinations and resolutions outlined in its final report, made public this week."
Rosano declined to identify the professor, citing college policy regarding personnel matters.
Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando, who chairs the council’s Education Committee, told FOX 5 DC that he was surprised to learn about the incident years after it happened.
"I do think the most important thing happened when this horrible sexual harassment happened, the person was removed immediately when the complaint came in and they were shortly thereafter fired," he said. "I think that worked." | 2023-07-02T14:57:15+00:00 | foxbangor.com | https://www.foxbangor.com/news/national/investigation-finds-college-professor-subjected-his-entire-class-to-sexual-harassment-over-shameful-exercise/article_e87c853b-2b0e-52e5-8b08-0fd698dd9fb6.html |
Central Texas police officer who shot woman who tried to run him over cleared of wrongdoing
Grand jury indicts woman on felony count of aggravated assault against a public servant
TROY, Texas (KWTX) - A Troy police officer who shot a woman who reportedly tried to back over him last year was cleared of wrongdoing Thursday, while the woman was indicted on felony charges.
A McLennan County grand jury determined that officer Chadwick Krakowian committed no criminal wrongdoing when he fired shots through the back window of Carol Lynn Peña’s vehicle during a September 2022 incident that started in Bell County and ended in Waco.
The grand jury named Peña, 43, of San Antonio, in a two-count indictment charging her with aggravated assault against a public servant, a first-degree felony, and evading arrest or detention with a vehicle, a third-degree felony.
The incident started about 5 p.m. Sept. 25 when Bell County officers were alerted to a reckless driver reportedly driving at speeds up to 90 mph. The driver reportedly was weaving in and out of traffic and driving on the Interstate 35 shoulder between Belton and Temple. Officers spotted the car and reported the driver almost struck a patrol car, police reported at the time.
Krakowian spotted Peña’s vehicle and tried to pull her over. The pursuit continued into McLennan County, ending when Peña pulled over at 1440 W. Loop 340. Krakowian exited his patrol vehicle and ordered Peña to get out of her car, reports state. Peña ignored the officer’s demands, put the car in reverse and tried to back over Krakowian, officials said.
Krakowian fired “multiple shots,” wounding Pena, reports state.
Peña was taken for treatment at a Waco hospital before she was taken to the McLennan County Jail.
Troy Police Chief Jeremy Gooch declined comment on the grand jury action.
Texas Ranger Ken Shields, who investigated the incident, presented his findings to the grand jury Thursday. Cases involving officer-involved shootings routinely are reviewed by grand juries to determine whether there is criminal wrongdoing by the officers.
Peña’s attorney, Abel Reyna, said, “extenuating circumstances necessitated an indictment in this case so that those matters could be addressed.”
Reyna declined additional comment. However court officials said Thursday that Peña has undergone a mental health evaluation and was determined to be incompetent to stand trial at this time.
Copyright 2023 KWTX. All rights reserved. | 2023-03-16T21:00:32+00:00 | kwtx.com | https://www.kwtx.com/2023/03/16/central-texas-police-officer-who-shot-woman-who-tried-run-him-over-cleared-wrongdoing/ |
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BANGKOK (AP) — Shares have climbed in Asia following a rally on Wall Street, where investors bet that slow U.S. wage gains may augur a cooling of the inflation that has led the Federal Reserve to hike interest rates.
Gains in technology shares boosted benchmarks in South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Japan’s markets were closed for a holiday.
A Chinese financial news outlet cited a top central bank official as saying that China's more than two-year crackdown on internet companies is nearly finished.
Caixin quoted Guo Shuqing, the Communist Party secretary of the People's Bank of China as saying the government would support companies in the sector in creating more jobs and competing globally.
E-commerce giant Alibaba's shares jumped 7.9% and technology and entertainment company Tencent's climbed 2.6%.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng index gained 1.6% to 21,328.41 while the Shanghai Composite index added 0.5% to 3,174.33.
In South Korea, the Kospi added 2.5% to 2,347.07 while Samsung Electronics, the country's biggest company gained 2.5%. Taiwan's benchmark climbed 2.2% and Bangkok's SET index added 0.9%.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 advanced 0.6% to 7,154.70.
Markets worldwide got an initial jolt Friday from the U.S. jobs report. It showed workers’ wage gains are slowing, which could ease pressure on inflation, but it also showed hiring across the job market may still be too strong for the Fed’s liking, even after its fusillade of rate hikes last year.
The S&P 500 rose 2.3% to 3,895.08, marking its first winning week in the last five. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 2.1% to 33,630.61. The Nasdaq composite added 2.6%, closing at 10,569.29. Small-company stocks also rose, lifting the Russell 2000 index 2.3% to 1,792.80.
Gains were widespread, with about 95% of the stocks in the benchmark S&P 500 index closing higher. Technology companies powered much of the rally. Chipmaker Nvidia rose 4.2%.
Analysts warned trading may remain turbulent as investors keep trying to handicap whether the economy can avoid a recession. Much of the trading is based entirely on expectations for what the Fed will do with rates: High rates slow the economy by design, seeking to grind down inflation, but they risk causing a recession and dragging down prices for all kinds of investments.
Amid the ups and downs, “investors may continue to embrace weak data, especially if signs of descending wage inflation continue," Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said in a commentary. “Any indications in the data that the Fed could tap the brakes on its monetary tightening cycle could boost calls for a softer landing that may be optimal for equities."
The jobs report showed wages nationwide rose 4.6% in December from a year earlier in the smallest increase since two summers ago. Economists had expected wage gains to pick up.
A separate report showed that service industry activity in the U.S. contracted last month, the first time that's happened since 2020.
The Fed has pulled its key overnight rate up to a range of 4.25% to 4.50% after it began last year at virtually zero. With inflation showing some signs of cooling in recent months, it trimmed its latest rate increase to 0.50 percentage points after four straight hikes of 0.75 points. Traders are largely betting on the Fed to move to the more traditional hike of 0.25 points at its meeting next month.
Past rate hikes have already inflicted pain in areas of the economy that do best when rates are low, such as housing.
In coming weeks, companies across industries will show how widespread the damage is when they report how much profit they made during the last three months of 2022.
If companies across the S&P 500 report a drop in overall earnings per share, as some analysts suspect, it would be the first decline since the summer of 2020.
In other trading, U.S. benchmark crude oil added 97 cents to $74.74 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It added 10 cents to $73.77 per barrel on Friday.
Brent crude, the international pricing standard, picked up 96 cents to $79.53 per barrel.
The U.S. dollar slipped to 131.81 Japanese yen from 132.05 yen. The euro rose to $1.0676 from $1.0643. | 2023-01-09T05:44:56+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Asian-shares-up-extending-Wall-St-gains-as-US-17704007.php |
Alyssa Thompson was the top pick Thursday in the National Women’s Soccer League draft by Angel City, becoming the first high school player to be selected in the history of the league.
“It’s a crazy feeling,” said Thompson, who watched the draft from her home in Los Angeles. “And I’m so happy that I get to be surrounded by my friends and family. I’m just really excited. My heart’s beating really fast.”
Thompson made her debut with the U.S. senior team last year while also playing for the under-19 Total Futbol Academy boys’ team in MLS NEXT. Thompson and her younger sister Giselle also became the first high school players to sign a name, image and likeness deal with Nike last year.
The Kansas City Current selected MAC Hermann Trophy winner Michelle Cooper out of Duke with the second pick of the draft. The Current acquired the pick in a trade with Gotham for forward Lynn Williams.
In the hours before the draft, NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman spoke to reporters at length about the state of the 12-team league, which is preparing for its 11th season amid ongoing fallout from a pair of investigations into coach misconduct.
The NWSL is implementing the recommendations stemming from its own investigation — conducted jointly with the players association — into the scandals that first rocked the league in 2021. A lengthy report was released in December.
The investigations began after two players accused longtime NWSL coach Paul Riley of harassment and sexual coercion in a story published by The Athletic in September 2021. Coach of the North Carolina Courage at the time, Riley was fired. He denies the allegations.
Riley was among five NWSL coaches who resigned or were dismissed that year, with the repercussions extending into last season.
Earlier this week, the league permanently banned four coaches, including Riley, and imposed other sanctions. Berman said the NWSL will now focus on making lasting change.
“Systemic reform is not something that can be a box check. Unlike factfinding and corrective action, which is something that had to be on a to-do list, systemic reform is an ongoing commitment,” Berman said. “We will continue to work and learn and listen.”
Berman also noted that the NWSL’s media agreement with CBS expires at the end of the season and the league is looking at its options.
The NWSL is expected to name two expansion teams to join the league in 2024 and Berman said the league is “closing in on a decision.” Additionally, the Portland Thorns and the Chicago Red Stars are currently up for sale.
Berman said that this season will be the first that the league utilizes a Video Assistant Referee, or VAR, for games.
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AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2023-01-13T01:27:19+00:00 | washingtonpost.com | https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/soccer/high-school-student-thompson-selected-first-in-nwsl-draft/2023/01/12/a372b200-92d3-11ed-90f8-53661ac5d9b9_story.html |
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The Denver Nuggets have opted to trade former Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) point guard Bones Hyland to the LA Clippers for second-round picks in 2024 and 2025, according to ESPN sources.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnawowski broke the trade news on Twitter.
Hyland, who is now 22 years old, gained notoriety coming off the Nuggets bench and became a fan favorite in Denver, Colorado to his cheerleaders here in Richmond, Virginia.
After being drafted with the No. 26 pick in the 2021 NBA draft, he averaged 19 minutes per game and made the All-Rookie team. According to ESPN, Hyland is described as “an elite pull-up 3-point shooter” and “boasts range past 30 feet.”
The LA Clippers currently lack depth in the point guard position and also acquired Rockets guard Eric Gordon in a multi-team deal, Wojnarowski confirmed. | 2023-02-09T20:30:20+00:00 | wric.com | https://www.wric.com/sports/former-vcu-basketball-star-bones-hyland-traded-from-denver-nuggets-to-la-clippers-espn-sources/ |
ELMIRA, NY (WETM)- After a tragic mass shooting took place in Buffalo this past weekend, many Americans are wondering if this is enough to change gun laws.
“America is at war with itself,” says Political Analyst Dr. Stephen Coleman.
Each state has their own policy when it comes to gun laws, to get them would change it would take time and effort.
“So this has got to stop there should be national standards, and not a patchwork of different laws in different states that really lead to loopholes we’re crazy people can get guns. Crazy people filled with hate, can kill like the fellow did in Buffalo over the weekend gunning down and killing 10 Black Americans,” says Coleman.
He adds that we are the only country with this problem, weekend after weekend is filled with violence and crime.
Coming up next month, local leaders and public figures will gather to discuss the violence in America, as well as the mass shooting in Buffalo.
Dr. Stephen Coleman 28th Political Pundit night is taking place June 9th from 7 to 9, livestreamed exclusively on WETM. | 2022-05-17T23:13:38+00:00 | mytwintiers.com | https://www.mytwintiers.com/news-cat/gun-laws-will-they-change/ |
LENOX, Mass. (WWLP) – The Lenox police are looking for the public’s help in identifying a person allegedly involved in larceny.
The Lenox Police Department shared several photos on social media of a man that they believe is involved in larceny in Lenox.
If you can identify this person or have any information you are asked to contact Lenox Police Officer Colvin at 413-637-2346. | 2023-03-02T21:53:44+00:00 | wwlp.com | https://www.wwlp.com/news/crime/police-looking-to-identify-larceny-suspect/ |
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Kansas Statewide Results | Interactive: National Balance of Power | 2022-11-08T22:36:53+00:00 | ksn.com | https://www.ksn.com/2022-general-election-results/sumner-county-kansas-election-results/ |
A man opened fire Sunday during a condominium board meeting in a coffee shop in northern Rome, killing three people and injuring others, authorities and witnesses said.
Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri called an emergency security meeting for Monday after what he called “the grave episode of violence that has struck our city.” In a tweet, he confirmed three people were killed in the shooting in the working class neighborhood of Fidene.
“The shooting occured in an enclosed outdoor seating area of the bar, called “Il Posto Giusto,” or “The Right Place.”
La Repubblica daily quoted witness Luciana Ciorba, vice president of the condo board, as saying the man entered the bar shouting “I’ll kill you all,” and then opened fire. Participants managed to disarm him until Carabinieri police arrived.
Speaking in a video interview, Ciorba said the man was known to board members and had been previously reported to authorities for making threats against local residents. | 2022-12-12T00:16:41+00:00 | ksby.com | https://www.ksby.com/news/national-news/ill-kill-you-all-man-kills-3-in-rome-condo-board-meeting |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Elena Kagan on Friday waded into the issue of divisiveness on the Supreme Court, saying that “time will tell” whether the court can get back to “finding common ground” after a term in which its six conservatives and three liberals split over contentious issues like abortion and gun rights.
The liberal Kagan has repeatedly warned over the last month that courts risk legitimacy and look political when justices needlessly overturn precedent and decide more than a case requires. Kagan said Friday it remains an open question whether the Supreme Court can begin “ratcheting down the level of decision making so that we can reach compromises.”
Kagan spoke Friday at the University of Pennsylvania, where she was interviewed by the school’s president Liz Magill. The event was also livestreamed.
The court, which opened its new term earlier this month, has given no signs it intends to shy away from major issues. On its agenda are cases that involve issues of race, voting and the environment. But Kagan said she believes it’s better if the law moves “in small steps rather than in big steps.” If the court can’t do that, she said, she “will spend a lot of my time dissenting.”
Still, Kagan said she likes to think of herself as a “clear-eyed optimist.” “You know that I’m clear-eyed about the challenges and the difficulties but still remain hopeful,” she said.
Kagan spoke only obliquely about the decision of five of her conservative colleagues in June to overturn the nearly 50-year-old Roe v. Wade decision guaranteeing the right of abortion access. “You give people a right and then you take the right away, well in the meantime they’ve understood their lives in a different kind of way,” Kagan said, adding that “law should be stable.”
Kagan was asked about a range of topics, including being the first woman to hold a number of jobs. Kagan, the fourth woman to join the Supreme Court, said in general she doesn’t believe women think differently about the law than men do. She pointed to Justice Amy Coney Barrett, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, who joined the court in 2020. “Justice Barrett and I, we agree about some things and we disagree about some things and being a woman just doesn’t have all that much to do with it,” she said.
Kagan also talked about her interview for her current job with former President Barack Obama. Kagan was Solicitor General under Obama, his top Supreme Court lawyer, a position she called “the best job in America.” She was initially considered for an opening on the Supreme Court that went to Justice Sonia Sotomayor. When another seat opened with the retirement of Justice John Paul Stevens, Kagan was asked to interview with the president again.
Things didn’t quite go as planned, however, because the BP oil spill had just happened. Said Kagan of the president: “He literally walked in and he said to me, ‘I know you. We don’t have to talk, right?’” Kagan acknowledged the president had a lot of other things to do.
When she did get the job, she said, her first call was to now Attorney General Merrick Garland, then a federal appeals court judge, who was also under consideration for the slot. The two had known each other since Kagan was a Harvard law student.
“I was quite sure that if Merrick had gotten the job, I would have been the first person,” he called, “just because that’s the kind of person he is so I thought, I should try to be that kind of person,” she said, calling him “extraordinarily gracious.”
Kagan also answered a round of rapid-fire questions including her favorite binge-worthy television — “ Game of Thrones ” until last season and “The Sopranos” — and what she likes to do if she gets a day off: golf. | 2022-10-22T20:15:12+00:00 | keloland.com | https://www.keloland.com/news/politics/ap-justice-kagan-time-will-tell-if-court-finds-common-ground/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says Congress “must move quickly” to regulate artificial intelligence and has convened a bipartisan group of senators to work on legislation.
Schumer says the group met on Wednesday and that his staff has already met with close to 100 CEOs, scientists and academics who deal with the technology.
“We can’t move so fast that we do flawed legislation, but there’s no time for waste or delay or sitting back,” Schumer said in opening remarks on the Senate floor Thursday. “We’ve got to move fast.”
The unusual legislative push from the Senate majority leader comes as potentially groundbreaking products like AI chatbot ChatGPT have entered the marketplace and can in many ways mimic human behavior. Those tools have generated broader concerns that they will mislead people, spread falsehoods, violate copyright protections and upend some jobs.
Last week, the head of OpenAI, the artificial intelligence company that makes ChatGPT, told a Senate panel that government intervention will be critical to mitigating the risks of increasingly powerful AI systems.
“As this technology advances, we understand that people are anxious about how it could change the way we live. We are too,” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Altman proposed the formation of a U.S. or global agency that would license the most powerful AI systems and have the authority to “take that license away and ensure compliance with safety standards.”
Schumer said Congress needs to move fast because the technology is advancing so quickly. He has also expressed concerns about China’s own efforts to regulate artificial intelligence, calling that “a wake-up call to the nation."
In April, Schumer proposed a framework for legislation that would require companies to allow independent experts to review and test technologies before they are released publicly, and give users access to those results.
On Thursday, Schumer said the group of senators — including Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico and Republican Sens. Mike Rounds of South Dakota and Todd Young of Indiana — decided that any approach must be bipartisan.
“If harnessed responsibly, AI has the power to do tremendous things for the public good,” Schumer said. “It can unlock unimaginable marvels in medicine, business, national security, science and so many other areas of life. But if left unchecked, AI has the power to do tremendous, tremendous harm.” | 2023-05-18T18:10:27+00:00 | expressnews.com | https://www.expressnews.com/business/article/top-senate-dem-congress-must-move-quickly-on-18106841.php |
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Bogey-free 3-under 68 by David Lipsky in the second round at the Shriners Children's Open
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October 07, 2022
By PGATOUR.COM
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October 07, 2022
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Highlights
David Lipsky holes out from 42 feet for birdie at Shriners Children's Open
In the opening round of the 2022 Shriners Children's Open, David Lipsky makes birdie on the par-4 11th hole.
In his second round at the Shriners Children's Open, David Lipsky hit 11 of 14 fairways and 17 of 18 greens in regulation, and finished the day without a bogey. Lipsky finished his day tied for 38th at 5 under; Mito Pereira is in 1st at 12 under; Robby Shelton is in 2nd at 11 under; and Maverick McNealy, Si Woo Kim, and Tom Kim are tied for 3rd at 10 under.
At the 168-yard par-3 14th, David Lipsky hit a tee shot 167 yards at the green, setting himself up for the 10-foot putt for birdie. This moved David Lipsky to 1 under for the round.
After a 278 yard drive on the 341-yard par-4 15th, Lipsky chipped his second shot to 6 feet, which he rolled for one-putt birdie on the hole. This moved Lipsky to 2 under for the round.
After a 306 yard drive on the 563-yard par-5 ninth, Lipsky chipped his third shot to 9 feet, which he rolled for one-putt birdie on the hole. This moved Lipsky to 3 under for the round.
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Please enter a valid email address. | 2022-10-08T12:17:24+00:00 | pgatour.com | https://www.pgatour.com/roundrecap/2023/shriners-children-s-open/round-2/david-lipsky.html |
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Democrats, accused by the Green Party of meddling in its petitioning process to qualify candidates for the November ballot, have asked a state court to overturn a unanimous elections board vote granting the Green Party official recognition despite allegations of fraud.
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Wake County Superior Court, precedes the first hearing next Monday in a Green Party lawsuit against the North Carolina State Board of Elections, when the newly certified party will fight for an extension to a statutory deadline preventing its candidates from appearing on the ballot.
While the elections board investigated inconsistencies in the Green Party’s signature sheets, initially rejecting its petition at a June 30 meeting before reversing the decision Monday, the party missed the July 1 candidate filing deadline set in state law.
With an Aug. 12 ballot printing deadline looming, the Green Party needs a favorable outcome in federal court next week for its U.S. Senate candidate to appear alongside Democrats, Republicans and Libertarians this fall.
But the Democrats’ lawsuit — asking a state court to prohibit the board from recognizing the Green Party “unless and until it has completed its investigation” — could cause enough delay to block the party’s arduous ballot bid.
The North Carolina Democratic Party argues the board’s decision to approve the Green Party petition amid an ongoing investigation into some signature gatherers could elevate candidates “backed by an invalidly recognized political party,” which would “directly harm” Democrats’ electoral prospects and their right to compete in fair elections.
Democrats have drawn widespread criticism for pressuring signers to retract their names from the petition, warning Green Party certification could divide progressive voters and hand the GOP victories in tight races.
As the Green Party inches closer to placing its choice for U.S. Senate, Matthew Hoh, on the North Carolina ballot, Western Carolina University political science professor Chris Cooper said Democrats see a real possibility that Hoh could spoil their efforts to elect former state supreme court justice Cheri Beasley over Rep. Ted Budd, who’s endorsed by former President Donald Trump.
“North Carolina is, of course, a purple state, a battleground state, and one of the very few potential pickups that the Democrats could have in the country,” he said, noting the Senate remains deadlocked at 50-50. “’The logic here is the Green Party tends take votes away from the Democratic Party, and a race that’s as close as this one is likely to be, that could be the difference maker.”
Attorneys for the Green Party and state elections board filed a joint report in federal court Wednesday after the Democrats announced their intent to sue. The Green Party has requested the federal court retain jurisdiction over its ballot prospects, arguing in the court filing that a state court order in the Democratic Party lawsuit could quash any relief granted at Monday’s hearing.
The elections board disagrees, maintaining that a federal court should not have jurisdiction over a “purely state law claim.”
Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper reaffirmed his trust in the elections board Tuesday, saying its investigation has drawn his attention to the “cumbersome” signature collection process for new parties seeking ballot access.
“I’m concerned about the allegations of fraud,” Cooper told The Associated Press. “We obviously need to trust the State Board of Elections to make the decisions, to have the facts.”
The governor proposed the General Assembly consider examining how the barriers of entry for third-party candidates might lead to fraud when lawmakers return from recess. | 2022-08-04T22:58:13+00:00 | wnct.com | https://www.wnct.com/news/politics/democrats-sue-to-keep-green-party-off-north-carolina-ballot/ |
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s central bank on Thursday lowered its key interest rate despite inflation surging to nearly 80% and making it difficult for people to buy what they need, falling in line with the unorthodox economic views of the country’s president.
In a statement following a monetary policy committee meeting, the bank said it decided to reduce the policy rate from 14% to 13%.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has pressured the bank into lowering borrowing costs in a bid to boost economic growth, investment and exports, insisting that interest rate hikes cause inflation. That contradicts established economic thinking, with rate increases the traditional tool to target inflation.
Central banks worldwide are raising interest rates as rising food and energy prices drive inflation to decades-high levels. Even then, inflation figures in the U.S. of 8.5%, the United Kingdom of 10.1% and the 19-country euro area of 8.9% come nowhere close to Turkey’s eye-popping rate of nearly 80%, with skyrocketing food, housing and energy prices hitting people hard.
Turkey’s central bank made a series of interest rate cuts last year despite high inflation, dropping rates by 5 percentage points before pausing in January. The cuts triggered a currency crisis and further fueled rising consumer prices, while Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and soaring energy costs aggravated the situation.
The Turkish lira weakened by nearly 1% against the dollar shortly after Thursday’s central bank decision.
In the capital Ankara, shoe shop owner Abdullah Erbecer said the weakening currency has affected his business.
“What we used to import for 10 lira — we now have to pay 50 lira,” he said. “I haven’t sold anything all morning.”
Murat Kocak, an insurance broker, questioned the central bank’s decision, saying it is “impacting us negatively.”
“People cannot afford to take out insurances. It has become too costly,” he said.
Erdogan, who visited Ukraine on Thursday for the first time since the war started, recently defended his policy to lower interest rates, insisting that it had helped save 10 million jobs. He has promised to lower inflation, asking for the public to show patience. | 2022-08-19T11:45:36+00:00 | wearegreenbay.com | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/international/ap-international/turkey-lowers-interest-rate-even-as-inflation-soars-to-80/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy have reached an agreement in principle on legislation to increase the nation’s borrowing authority and avoid a federal default.
Negotiators are now racing to complete the bill’s text. McCarthy, R-Calif., said the House will vote on the legislation on Wednesday, giving the Senate time to consider it before June 5, the date when Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the United States could default on its debt obligations if lawmakers did not act in time.
While many details about the deal are unknown, both sides will be able to point to some victories. But some conservatives expressed early concerns that the compromise does not cut future deficits enough, while Democrats have been worried about proposed changes to work requirements in programs such as food stamps.
A look at what’s in and out of the deal, based on what’s known so far:
TWO-YEAR DEBT INCREASE, SPENDING LIMITS
The agreement would keep nondefense spending roughly flat in the 2024 fiscal year and increase it by 1% the following year, as well as provide for a two-year debt-limit increase — past the next presidential election in 2024. That’s according to a source familiar with the deal who provided details on the condition of anonymity.
VETERANS CARE
The agreement would fully fund medical care for veterans at the levels included in Biden’s proposed 2024 budget blueprint, including a fund dedicated to veterans who have been exposed to toxic substances or environmental hazards. Biden sought $20.3 billion for the toxic exposure fund in his budget and Republican negotiators ensured Sunday that funding was left untouched.
WORK REQUIREMENTS
Republicans had proposed boosting work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents in certain government assistance programs. They said it would bring more people into the workforce, who would then pay taxes and help shore up key entitlement programs, namely Social Security and Medicare.
The agreement would expand some work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, formerly known as food stamps. It would raise the age for existing work requirements from 49 to 54, similar to the Republican proposal, but those changes would expire in 2030. The White House said it would at the same time reduce the number of vulnerable people — including veterans and people who are homeless — of all ages who are subject to the requirements.
Many of those changes will sunset in 2030, allowing Congress to measure the effectiveness of these changes and make changes if need be.
UNSPENT COVID MONEY
The agreement would rescind about $30 billion in unspent coronavirus relief money that Congress approved through previous bills, with exceptions made for veterans’ medical care, housing assistance, the Indian Health Service, and some $5 billion for a program focused on rapidly developing the next generation of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments.
SPEEDING UP ENERGY PROJECTS
The deal puts in place changes in the National Environmental Policy Act for the first time in nearly four decades that would designate “a single lead agency” to develop environmental reviews, in hopes of streamlining the process.
STUDENT LOANS
Republicans have long sought to reel back the Biden administration’s efforts to provide student loan relief and aid to millions of borrowers during the coronavirus pandemic. While the GOP proposal to rescind the White House’s plan to waive $10,000 to $20,000 in debt for nearly all borrowers failed to make it into the package, Biden agreed to put an end to the pause on student loan repayment.
Once Biden signs the package, the pause in student loan repayments would end within 60 days.
The fate of student loan relief, meanwhile, will be decided at the Supreme Court, which is dominated 6-3 by its conservative wing. During oral arguments in the case, several of the justices expressed deep skepticism about the legality of Biden’s plan. A decision is expected before the end of June.
WHAT’S LEFT OUT
House Republicans passed legislation last month that would have created new work requirements for some Medicaid recipients, but that was left out of the final agreement. The idea faced stiff opposition from the White House and congressional Democrats, who said it would lead to fewer people able to afford food or health care without actually increasing the number of people in the workforce.
Also absent from the final deal is the GOP proposal to repeal many of the clean energy tax credits Democrats passed in party-line votes last year to boost the production and consumption of clean energy. McCarthy and Republicans have argued that the tax breaks “distort the market and waste taxpayer money.”
The White House has defended the tax credits as resulting in hundreds of billions of dollars in private-sector investments, creating thousands of manufacturing jobs in the U.S. | 2023-05-28T22:54:27+00:00 | pahomepage.com | https://www.pahomepage.com/news/national/ap-debt-ceiling-deal-whats-in-whats-out-of-the-agreement-to-avert-us-default/ |
ROSEVILLE, Minn., Nov. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lifescale Analytics Inc., (LSA) is a Woman-Owned Small Business with a mission to simplify business and technical challenges by leveraging data, analytics, geospatial, and engineering solutions to deliver actionable intelligence and innovative solutions.
Environmental concerns are paramount to many vertical markets like entertainment, hospitality, workplace, and residential segments. Many people have a growing interest in knowing their environmental conditions. This is particularly true when a dwelling is not regularly occupied, if it resides near an agricultural or industrial setting prone to potential pollutants, or in densely populated areas such as cities. Lifescale Analytics is excited to introduce its PropFIT monitoring system that will oversee the fitness of residential or commercial buildings by providing continuous coverage and notifications if a property is affected by pollutants or environmental concerns.
PropFIT monitors for activity in a location through a sensor device. If there is a fluctuation, the device reports that change to an easily accessible dashboard which provides a drill-down capability to see exactly what is impacted. PropFIT dashboards enable users to see what is going on at a fleet of locations and exactly where the issue is located within a specific property. Homeowners and building managers can monitor basements/crawlspaces and food-service areas for unwanted pests or environmental conditions that could result in mold growth. It assists companies by monitoring occupancy and traffic patterns informing return to office strategies. It also enables rental property managers to improve guest satisfaction and cost margins with energy monitoring.
To learn more about the PropFIT monitoring system or to requests a demo to see if it is a good FIT for you check out https://lifescaleanalytics.com/products/propfit/.
Formed in 2012, the LSA team has years of experience providing expertise in a spectrum of customized consulting data services and solutions, including Data Science and Visualizations, Cloud and Infrastructure, Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, Engineering, and Geospatial solutions that focus on building strong portfolios and programs. We help businesses, utilities, pharmaceutical companies, financial institutions, agricultural entities, disaster management organizations, and government agencies manage and proactively make decisions based on their biggest asset, their data.
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SOURCE Lifescale Analytics | 2022-11-17T20:00:43+00:00 | wagmtv.com | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/11/17/lifescale-analytics-introduces-its-propfit-monitoring-system/ |
At least 80 calls to National Archives since 2010 about mishandling classified information
WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Archives has been called more than 80 times in the past decade-plus about classified materials found in the papers of former members of Congress and other U.S. officials, according to newly released congressional testimony.
That figure underscores the weaknesses in how the U.S. government tracks and safeguards its most important secrets.
Investigations are underway into the classified materials found in the holdings of former President Donald Trump and in later searches of files held by President Joe Biden before he won the White House and Trump’s vice president, Mike Pence.
Officials from the National Archives testified in March before the House Intelligence Committee, which is investigating the discoveries of those records and considering new legislation. The committee released the testimony on Wednesday.
Archives officials said most of the 80-plus calls came from libraries where former members of Congress donated their papers for future research. Edmund Muskie, a former Democratic senator from Maine and later secretary of state under President Jimmy Carter, took 98 classified papers that were later found at Bates College, officials said. Muskie died in 1996.
Starting with former President Ronald Reagan, every administration has been found to have mixed classified and unclassified papers, said William J. Bosanko, the archives’ chief operating officer. Reagan left office in 1989 and died in 2004.
Government and outside experts have long warned the U.S. classifies too much information, does not declassify enough, and has no unified system to track breaches. A Massachusetts Air National Guard member is accused of having published hundreds of top-secret and sensitive Pentagon documents for weeks in online chatrooms, a breach that was not discovered until other users began sharing the documents across the Internet.
Bosanko told the committee that the National Archives has stored 555,000 cubic feet of classified national security information, which he roughly estimated as the size of 5 1/2 football fields.
Agencies often decide on their own what to share with the archives and when, Bosanko said. At the White House, he said, “essentially, each individual is serving as their own custodian with very limited oversight.”
“To me it is a symptom of a bigger problem, which is records management typically is the last thought,” he said.
Bosanko was asked by Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., why the National Archives reached out to Trump officials about missing documents and not to Pence or Biden after their vice presidencies.
Bosanko replied that archives staff knew based on public reporting that Trump had not returned two examples of highly publicized documents: a letter he received from former President Barack Obama and correspondence with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Only when Trump officials sent boxes of files to the archives did staff discover classified information mixed in with other papers, Bosanko said.
“There isn’t document-level tracking in the executive branch in the White House Complex,” he testified. “So anybody’s ability to know that something has gone missing or astray is very limited.”
Rep. Mike Turner, the Ohio Republican who leads the House Intelligence Committee, said in a statement that the U.S. has a “systemic problem.”
“We need a better way for elected officials who are leaving office – in both the Executive Branch and Legislative Branch – to properly return classified material and protect the integrity of our national security,” Turner said.
Members of the Senate Intelligence Committee have introduced legislation targeting the recent breaches. Their bills would propose that the National Archives be required to clear any documents a president wants to take as personal papers.
___
Associated Press writer Jill Colvin in New York contributed to this report.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | 2023-05-17T21:43:41+00:00 | kaaltv.com | https://www.kaaltv.com/news/us-world-news/at-least-80-calls-to-national-archives-since-2010-about-mishandling-classified-information/ |
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — A Virginia sheriff’s deputy who police say traveled to California to kill three family members of a 15-year-old girl he tried to sexually extort online killed himself with a government-issued firearm, authorities said Saturday.
Austin Lee Edwards, 28, drove across the country and on Nov. 25 killed the girl’s mother and grandparents and set fire to their home in Riverside, a city about 50 miles (80 kilometers) east of downtown Los Angeles, authorities said.
That same day, Edwards died by suicide during a shootout with San Bernardino sheriff’s deputies. The teenage girl was rescued.
“Our detectives determined the gun used was Edwards’ department-issued semi-automatic service pistol,” sheriff’s spokeswoman Gloria Huerta said in a statement.
The Riverside Police Department, which is investigating the deaths of the girl’s family members, has not said how they were killed.
Edwards, a resident of North Chesterfield, Virginia, appears to have posed online as a 17-year-old boy to engage in a romantic relationship with the girl and obtain her personal information by deceiving her with a false identity, known as “catfishing,” police said.
Authorities said the girl stopped communicating with him after he asked her to send him nude photos of herself.
Edwards was a former Virginia state trooper and was a sheriff’s deputy in Washington County, Virginia, at the time of the killings.
Both law enforcement agencies have said they found no warning signs about Edwards before he was hired. But a police report from the Abingdon Police Department in Virginia shows he was detained in 2016 for a psychiatric evaluation over threats to kill himself and his father, years before he joined law enforcement.
On Thursday — a day after the Los Angeles Times broke the news about the mental health episode — the Virginia State Police said a recently completed review showed “human error” resulted in an incomplete database query during the hiring process.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office did not respond to calls seeking comment on the 2016 episode. | 2022-12-11T11:54:38+00:00 | pix11.com | https://pix11.com/news/ap-general/ap-deputy-in-california-slayings-killed-self-with-service-gun/ |
AMES, Iowa (AP) — AMES, Iowa (AP) — Workiva Inc. (WK) on Tuesday reported a loss of $13.9 million in its fourth quarter.
On a per-share basis, the Ames, Iowa-based company said it had a loss of 26 cents. Earnings, adjusted for stock option expense and amortization costs, came to 8 cents per share.
The results beat Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of five analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for a loss of 10 cents per share.
The maker of software for managing regulatory filings posted revenue of $143.8 million in the period, also exceeding Street forecasts. Five analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $139.2 million.
For the year, the company reported a loss of $90.9 million, or $1.72 per share. Revenue was reported as $537.9 million.
For the current quarter ending in March, Workiva expects its results to range from a loss of 23 cents per share to a loss of 21 cents per share.
The company said it expects revenue in the range of $149 million to $150 million for the fiscal first quarter.
Workiva expects full-year results to range from a loss of 13 cents per share to a loss of 10 cents per share, with revenue ranging from $624 million to $626 million.
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This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on WK at https://www.zacks.com/ap/WK | 2023-02-21T23:26:24+00:00 | sfgate.com | https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/workiva-q4-earnings-snapshot-17797610.php |
Cyberattack disrupts unemployment benefits, job seekers in some states
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A cyberattack on a software company has disrupted unemployment benefits and job seeking assistance for thousands of people in several states.
In Tennessee, the website for unemployment benefits remained down Thursday morning after the vendor, Geographic Solutions Inc., told the state Sunday that service would be interrupted. Some 12,000 Tennesseans rely on the unemployment program, and for now, they’re not getting their payments, and there’s no timeline yet for when they will again.
“With a recession looming, it is unacceptable that Tennesseans cannot receive the unemployment benefits they deserve,” said state Republican Sen. Paul Bailey, commerce and labor committee chairman.
Unemployment websites in several other states were affected too. In Louisiana, people seeking to file unemployment online are directed instead to use a call center instead. The website to file claims in Nebraska was taken offline, and the state said it did not have an exact timeline for when it would be back up.
“Individuals cannot file for unemployment until the system is back online,” Nebraska Department of Labor spokeswoman Grace Johnson said in an email.
It’s still unclear if it was a ransomware attack or some other type of cyber incident that affected Geographic Solutions. Nor it is clear how many states are affected.
Geographic Solutions’ website was not working Thursday morning, and phone messages seeking comment from the company were not immediately returned. The Florida-based company has said its clients include more than 35 states and territories.
Some state-run job seeking sites were also taken offline because of the attack, including Tennessee’s. Florida said it was temporarily waiving a job search requirement for those receiving unemployment payments. Texas created a new website for its job seekers with links to popular work search sites such as LinkedIn.
Nebraska said Geographic Solutions indicated that no user’s personal data was compromised. Florida said there were no indications any of its state systems were breached.
Bailey, the Tennessee lawmaker, said the state’s labor department needs a back-up plan, “so they are not completely dependent on a system proven to be unreliable.” He said the state should do “whatever it takes” to get people their unemployment benefits now and streamline the process to update the system with money set aside by state lawmakers.
The length of the potential outage is unknown. Texas said it anticipates its job-search sites to remain offline until early next week.
State governments, as well as their contractors, are often targets of cyber criminals. Nigerian online scam artists were particularly active in stealing increased unemployment aid at the peak of the coronavirus pandemic.
Ransomware attacks, in which criminals encrypt victims’ data and demand payment to return them to normal, continue to cause havoc on digital systems that provide critical government services. A recent ransomware attack on Costa Rica’s government caused teachers to go unpaid and caused chaos in the country’s health care system.
Last year, cybercriminals launched ransomware attacks in the U.S. that forced the shutdown of an oil pipeline that supplies the East Coast, halted production of the world’s largest meat-processing company and compromised a major software company that has thousands of customers around the world.
Despite prioritizing the problem, the U.S. government has had little luck holding major ransomware actors accountable. Many operate in or near Russia with impunity.
Allan Liska, an intelligence analyst at the cybersecurity firm Recorded Future, said an attack affecting those who have lost their jobs from obtaining unemployment benefits is a stark reminder of the huge effects cybercrime can have.
“The people who will most adversely hurt by this are those with the fewest resources,” he said.
___
Suderman reported from Richmond, Virginia.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2022-06-30T16:56:02+00:00 | ktiv.com | https://www.ktiv.com/2022/06/30/cyberattack-disrupts-unemployment-benefits-job-seekers-some-states/ |
Company is raising funds to support marketing for two breakthrough oral care products
Early Ortek investors will receive bonuses
ROSLYN HEIGHTS, N.Y., May 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ortek Therapeutics, Inc., a leader in developing and commercializing novel oral care technologies, is now raising capital on StartEngine, the leading equity crowd-funding platform that has attracted 760,000 investors and has helped more than 760 companies raise $500 million.
Ortek will use funds raised on StartEngine to turbocharge multi-media marketing programs for its two revolutionary products – the Ortek-ECD® device, which is cleared by the FDA, and can detect early cavities that X-rays often miss, and Basicbites® delicious sugar free soft chews that use microbiome-based technology to help support enamel health. Bonuses are available for early investors. For details on Ortek's equity crowd-funding offer, please visit startengine.com/ortek.
Tooth decay is the world's most common chronic disease and affects an estimated 2.3 billion people worldwide. The vast majority of cavities occur in the back teeth (molars and premolars). Without using radiation, the ECD painlessly measures the electrical conductance of enamel on these vulnerable sites and can immediately detect the earliest signs of tooth decay that X-rays often miss. Early treatment can then help patients avoid the pain, damage and costs associated with more advanced cavities, which can lead to root canals, infections and tooth loss. The ECD is patented internationally and is used by hundreds of dental professionals in the U.S. and provides dental offices with a profitable revenue stream.
BasicBites are Ortek's revolutionary sugar free soft chew product that is clinically shown to help maintain enamel health. BasicBites contain Ortek's oral microbiome technology that helps support teeth from the harmful effects of dry mouth and sugary foods and drinks. BasicBites work differently than other oral care products. By harnessing the power of the oral microbiome, BasicBites immediately neutralize harmful sugar acids, enrich enamel and help maintain a balanced and healthy oral pH environment. Multi-action BasicBites coat and replenish teeth with a blend of vital nutrients that are also naturally found in the mouth – arginine, bicarbonate and calcium.
"The ECD and BasicBites are uniquely able to address widely prevalent unmet needs in dental care," said Ortek President Mitchell Goldberg. "We see StartEngine as the launching pad for tremendous growth, and we have only begun to tap into the tremendous potential of these products."
About Ortek
Ortek Therapeutics, Inc. is a global leader in developing and commercializing cutting-edge oral care technologies. For details on Ortek's crowd-funding offer, visit startengine.com/ortek. For more information on the company, visit ortekinc.com
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SOURCE Ortek Therapeutics, Inc. | 2022-05-11T15:07:15+00:00 | live5news.com | https://www.live5news.com/prnewswire/2022/05/11/ortek-launches-equity-crowd-funding-campaign-startengine/ |
RADFORD, Va. – Some of the 10 News team was joined by dozens of others for the 2023 New River Valley Polar Plunge on Saturday.
Each year, groups try to raise money to go towards Special Olympics Virginia. 10 News even had a Polar Plunge Showdown against Freedom First earlier in the week.
On Saturday, it was finally time for people to take a freezing dip into the New River.
Matt Camarie has made the event a tradition.
“This event is a crazy event. A lot of people have a bucket list item to jump in ice cold water and do a Polar Plunge at some point. This happens to be at least my 10th one I think,” Camarie said.
Camarie and his fellow plungers wanted to honor a Special Olympics athlete he worked closely with.
“Our team decided to dress up as Penguins because he wore the same costume every year. So we’re doing it in Joey’s honor and his memory and his dad is plunging with us,” Camarie said.
The event was able to raise $72,000 for Special Olympics Virginia. One of the best parts is that most of the money will stay local.
“It’s important because a lot of, there is a lot of the money raised today that will stay local here in the New River Valley and in Roanoke,” Camarie said.
Michael Schnitz’s company sponsored him to take the plunge for his first time.
“I wish I had done this 25 years earlier than at 50,” Schnitz said.
You can view more of our Polar Plunge coverage leading up and at the event here. To watch the event, click here. | 2023-02-25T23:41:59+00:00 | wsls.com | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/02/25/new-river-valley-polar-plunge-raises-72000-for-special-olympics-virginia/ |
Records contradict Majewski’s account of military punishment
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican J.R. Majewski has centered his campaign for a competitive Ohio congressional seat around his biography as an Air Force veteran. But one of the big questions that has surfaced is why Majewski was told he could not reenlist in the Air Force after his initial four years were up.
Majewski’s campaign said last week that he was punished and demoted after getting in a “brawl” in an Air Force dormitory in 2001. Military records obtained since then by The Associated Press, however, offer a different account of the circumstances, which military legal experts say would have played a significant role in the decision to bar him from reenlisting. They indicate Majewski’s punishment and demotion were the result of him being stopped for driving drunk on a U.S. air base in Japan in September 2001.
The documents, which were provided to the AP and independently authenticated, present yet another instance where the recorded history of Majewski’s service diverges from what he has told voters as he campaigns while using his veteran status as a leading credential.
In a statement, Majewski acknowledged that he was punished for drunken driving, though he didn’t address why his campaign previously said his demotion was the result of a fight.
“This mistake is now more than 20 years old. I’m sure we’ve all done something as young adults that we look back on and wonder ‘what was I thinking?’ and I’m sure our parents and grandparents share these sentiments,” Majewski said.
Since starting his campaign to unseat longtime Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Majewski has repeatedly said he was a combat veteran who served a tour of duty under “tough” circumstances in Afghanistan. By his own account, he once went more than 40 days in the country without a shower due to a lack of running water.
His story came under intense scrutiny last week when the AP, citing military documents obtained through public records requests, reported that he did not deploy to Afghanistan as he claimed, but instead spent six months based in Qatar, a longtime U.S. ally, where he helped load and unload aircraft.
The latest revelation that Majewski was demoted for drunken driving adds another wrinkle. Last week, the AP asked Majewski’s campaign why his military service records showed that he was not allowed to reenlist in the Air Force and left the service after four years at a rank that was one notch above where he started.
At the time, his campaign said in an email that Majewski was “in a fight in the dormitory with another servicemember” which “knocked his rank down.” His campaign added that he later gained some of that rank back.
The personnel records obtained by the AP make no mention of a fight. Instead, they state that Majewski was demoted for drunken driving at Kadena Air Base in Japan on Sept. 8, 2001. And rather than gain his rank back — as Majewski’s campaign said — the records indicated he continued to hold the rank of E-2, one notch above entry level, that he was demoted to for the rest of his active duty.
“When you decided to get behind the wheel of a vehicle after indulging in intoxicating liquor you brought discredit upon yourself, 733rd Air Mobility Squadron, and the Air Force,” the disciplinary records state, referring to the unit Majewski was assigned to at the time. “Further misconduct by you of any type will not be tolerated.”
The three-page document details Majewski’s punishment, which included a reprimand and 30 days of extra duty in addition to the demotion. It bears Majewski’s signature and shows he consulted a lawyer and waived his right to a court-martial. He also waived his right to appeal the punishment and requested that the document not become public, the records show.
The AP was not able to obtain a “written presentation” from Majewski, which was referred to in the disciplinary paperwork. The campaign did not respond to a request from the AP to provide the document.
Eric Mayer, a former West Point graduate and Army infantry officer later turned military lawyer, reviewed Majewski’s documents at AP’s request. He said that “the overall nature and quality of (Majewski’s) military service can be severely questioned simply by virtue of the fact that he got out as a E-2 after four years.”
“Basically, his commanding officer told him as long as he behaves himself for the next six months, he won’t demote him down all the way to airman basic,” Mayer said, referring to the entry-level rank Majewski could have held if he got into more trouble. Mayer also noted that Majewski was given additional duties in his punishment that generally involve “area beautification” and janitorial services.
In some cases, a DUI can be a career-ending violation in the military. But three days after Majewski was pulled over, the U.S. was suddenly at war following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Within months, Majewski was reassigned and deployed to Qatar, which served as the staging ground for operations in Afghanistan, records show.
Military records show Majewski’s only deployment was to Qatar. Last Friday, during a defiant news conference, he insisted that he did indeed serve in Afghanistan, though he declined to offer specifics because he said the details were “classified.”
But there is a difference between deploying to a country and touching down there. Majewski previously said he was a “combat veteran” who deployed to Afghanistan, a term that conveys he received orders assigning him to a specific base in the country.
Majewski previously said he could not discuss flights he says he took to Afghanistan because they were “classified.”
In his statement Wednesday, he said he was aboard “outbound transport flights to forward bases and combat zones throughout the Middle East, including Afghanistan” though he acknowledged that he was stationed in Qatar.
He also described his experience joining the Air Force at the age 20 as fulfilling, yet challenging.
“Like any young serviceman away from family in a foreign land and with an assignment schedule in continual motion, it came with periods of difficulty and personal challenges,” Majewski said. “I lost my grandmother, who I loved very deeply, and it was tough work. I am proud of my service and the experiences that made me who I am today, but I have never once claimed to have undergone a ‘tough combat tour’ in Afghanistan or suggested that I was engaged in active firefights.”
Majewski’s campaign has previously promoted him as a “combat veteran.” During an August 2021 interview on the One American Podcast, Majewski said that he had a “tough time in life” while serving a tour of duty in Afghanistan. He echoed that claim in other interviews unearthed by the liberal group Media Matters.
Majewski’s claim that he couldn’t discuss his forays to Afghanistan because the details were “classified” was a red flag to those who investigate cases of “stolen valor.”
“The No. 1 trope that comes out of people when they are either fabricating a military record or, in this case, embellishing a record is they fall back to, ‘It’s classified,’” said Ed Caffrey, a former Air Force master sergeant who now investigates “stolen valor” cases and teaches journalism at Eastern New Mexico University. He added: “There’s no junior enlisted air transportation specialist who was doing something so secret that 20 years later it still needs to be classified.”
Majewksi’s campaign declined a request to put the AP in touch with those he served with who could vouch that he went to Afghanistan. But he has posted several pages of records to social media that he said back up his claims. Military experts consulted by the AP say the records prove no such thing.
“The AP stated that I had only been deployed to Qatar. My records show my deployment location as classified. In addition, they forgot my deployment to Camp Hialeah in Korea (which is now closed),” Majewski said in one tweet, which contained two separate documents.
One of the documents included in the tweet was a “temporary duty assignment” in early 2001 to South Korea, which are not orders to deploy as Majewski claimed. Key details including the purpose of the trip and its duration were also blurred out in the photo Majewski posted. Additionally, the document’s inclusion of the phrases “top secret” and “secret” were references to the security clearances held by Majewski and the noncommissioned officer he traveled with, Air Force experts say. That officer, whose name is redacted, had a “top secret” clearance; Majewski had a “secret” clearance. Members of the military typically need security clearances to do their jobs.
The other document included in the tweet, which does not show a date, indicated Majewski had been medically cleared to go on a different temporary assignment to a “classified” location.
Experts say such forms often list a service member’s destination as classified as a matter of routine.
“The reason that it says ‘classified’ is not because he’s going to some top secret black ops location,” Caffrey said. “It says classified because that’s a non-secured form. He’s taking that form around with him to different places on base where people who put eyes on it may not have security clearances to see what he’s doing.”
“It’s (operations security). They don’t want everyone and their brother to know where he’s going. That’s not something you want out in the general public,” Caffrey added.
Even as scrutiny of Majewski intensifies, he has given no indication that he intends to drop out of the race and has continued to campaign.
“I have nothing to hide,” Majewski said at the end of a brief news conference Friday.
___
LaPorta reported from Wilmington, North Carolina.
___
Follow AP for full coverage of the midterms at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ap_politics
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2022-09-28T21:38:08+00:00 | kxii.com | https://www.kxii.com/2022/09/28/records-contradict-majewskis-account-military-punishment/ |
A union that represents many of The New York Times' journalists sided with writers who signed a petition critical of the paper's coverage of trans people. That sparked a backlash in the newsroom.
Copyright 2023 NPR
A union that represents many of The New York Times' journalists sided with writers who signed a petition critical of the paper's coverage of trans people. That sparked a backlash in the newsroom.
Copyright 2023 NPR | 2023-02-25T23:01:35+00:00 | wlrn.org | https://www.wlrn.org/npr-breaking-news/npr-breaking-news/2023-02-25/the-new-york-times-coverage-of-transgender-people-sparks-newsroom-divide |
PAMPLONA, Spain (AP) — Dozens of animal rights activists dressed as dinosaurs were chased by fellow activists through the streets of the Spanish city of Pamplona on Tuesday to protest alleged animal cruelty in the world famous San Fermin Running of the Bulls festival.
In the protest Tuesday, the dinosaurs were supposed to represent bulls and the mob behind the San Fermín revelers. The activists carried placards reading, “Bullfighting is Prehistoric.” They said the point was to show runs could be lighthearted and held without any cruelty to animals.
It was the 18th annual protest led by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, and the Spanish NGO AnimalNaturalis. The protests are normally held a day before the festival gets underway with the traditional “chupinazo” firework blast at midday in Pamplona’s town hall square. The runs begin Thursday.
“Bullfighting is the long ritualized execution of bulls and many tourists who come to the bull-runs don’t actually realize that the same bulls they’re running down a couple of streets with are later killed in the bullring that day,” said Chelsea Monroe, PETA senior digital campaign officer.
“They’re stabbed over and over again for 20 minutes until they’re dead,” said Monroe. “We want the tourists to know that their money is supporting this really cruel industry.”
The protests do little to dampen enthusiasm for San Fermín, which normally sees Pamplona’s population of 200,000 balloon to some 1 milllion during peak days of the nine-day festival.
The festival was suspended for the past two years because of the coronavirus pandemic. Authorities fear crowd activities at the festival may lead to a major increase in infections this year as well.
The festival highlight is the early morning “encierro,” or run, which sees thousands of people running like mad to avoid six bulls as they charge along a winding, cobblestoned route to the city’s bullring.
The rest of each day is for eating, drinking, dancing, and cultural entertainment.
The six bulls are invariably killed in bullfights each afternoon during the festival
“The debate over the future of bullfighting in Spain has never been so alive and the authorities must take a clear stance,” said Jana Uritz of AnimalNaturalis in a statement. “We demand the necessary courage from them to say whether they favor animal torture or, on the contrary, are ready to prohibit such barbarities.”
Bullfighting is still immensely popular in Spain although the movement against it has gained much momentum in recent years. Bullfighting is banned only in the Canary Islands although it is not practiced much, or at all, in some other regions such as Catalonia and the Balearic Islands that include Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza.
The animal rights groups cite Culture Ministry figures, saying 90% of Spaniards did not attend any festival event involving bulls in 2014-2015, the last year the issue was surveyed. | 2022-07-06T12:29:37+00:00 | nwahomepage.com | https://www.nwahomepage.com/news/international/ap-international/activists-protest-over-spains-san-fermin-bull-run-festival/ |
- Hyundai Motor shares mid- to long-term business and financial plans based on 'Hyundai Motor Way' strategy
- Hyundai Motor to boost its annual EV sales goal to 2 million units by 2030
- Company to accelerate its transition toward becoming a smart mobility solution provider by investing KRW 109.4 trillion over the next 10 years
-- KRW 35.8 trillion to go toward electrification, including KRW 9.5 trillion for battery development and the remainder funding development of a next-generation modular architecture for EVs and increased EV production capacity
- Hyundai Motor outlines a blueprint for its strategy:
-- Integrated Modular Architecture (IMA): to develop IMA for its next-generation EV-dedicated platform, which will replace the current E-GMP EV platform
-- EV production: to expand EV production and optimize capacity, not only building new EV factories but also utilizing existing ICE plants to reduce costs and time
-- Battery: to strengthen the overall value chain for battery, including stable procurement of battery materials, design capability, and next-generation batteries
-- Future businesses: to continue working with strategic partners to advance plans for autonomous driving, software, robotics, advanced air mobility and hydrogen
- Based on the newly introduced strategy, the company will build on its heritage and successfully transition to electrification
SEOUL, South Korea, June 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai Motor Company hosted '2023 CEO Investor Day' in Seoul today, unveiling its visionary mid- to long-term business strategies and financial plans. With the aim of actively leveraging its knowledge and heritage of innovation from internal combustion engine vehicles, the company is committed to a successful transition to the electrification era through its newly introduced strategy, 'Hyundai Motor Way.'
The company will implement this strategy and accelerate its transition toward becoming a smart mobility solution provider by securing a large-scale investment of KRW 109.4 trillion over the next 10 years, including KRW 35.8 trillion for electrification over the next decade. The company aims for 2 million units in annual EV sales by 2030.
The key parts of the strategy include introducing a next-generation modular architecture for EVs, strengthening EV production capacity, battery development capabilities and future businesses, including autonomous driving, hydrogen, robotics and advanced air mobility.
Hyundai Motor is leveraging its heritage of innovation and knowledge accumulated over a long period of time as a traditional vehicle manufacturer amidst seismic change in the industry with competition intensifying in a bid for leadership in the electric vehicle market. The company announced that it will achieve a successful transition to electrification by efficiently and effectively leveraging its long experience in vehicle production and sales.
"The value of cultivating human-centered innovation by further developing technology inherited from the past is the distinct heritage that a company with a rich legacy can provide," said President and CEO Chang. "As it originated from Pony, the IONIQ 5 N—a high-performance EV scheduled for unveiling in July—will embrace and carry forward the enduring heritage of Hyundai Motor Company."
More information about Hyundai Motor can be found at: http://worldwide.hyundai.com or http://globalpr.hyundai.com.
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SOURCE Hyundai Motor Company | 2023-06-20T08:35:05+00:00 | wagmtv.com | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2023/06/20/hyundai-motor-way-sets-course-accelerated-electrification-future-mobility-goals-2023-ceo-investor-day/ |
Authorities confirm 1 person killed in South Carolina alligator attack
The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office is investigating a deadly alligator attack that left one person dead in Sun City.
The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office is investigating a deadly alligator attack that left one person dead in Sun City.
The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office is investigating a deadly alligator attack that left one person dead in Sun City.
The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office and other emergency services were on scene of an alligator incident in Sun City Hilton Head, South Carolina.
The sheriff's office received a call at about 11:15 a.m. Monday about a large alligator near the edge of a pond in the Sun City community guarding what was believed to be a deceased person.
When emergency services arrived they located the alligator as well as a deceased person.
The South Carolina Department of Resources and the Beaufort County Coroner's Office were on scene and are currently investigating the incident.
The victim was identified as Nancy A. Becker, 88, of Sun City in Bluffton.
The coroner said that an autopsy will be conducted Tuesday at the South Medical University of South Carolina.
Officials believe Becker was gardening near the pond and slipped into the water, where the alligator was located.
The alligator, a 9-foot, 8-inch male, was removed from the pond at Sun City and euthanized.
Residents in the Sun City Neighborhood are shocked.
"It is just absolutely horrible to think that such a tragedy could've occurred," said resident Linda Walls.
"I'm very, very sorry to hear that anybody was killed. That's dreadful. That's terrible," resident Elizabeth Hamilton added.
On Monday morning, Beaufort County Deputies say they found an alligator guarding a woman's body near a pond in the 55 and older community of Sun City.
"I think a lot of us have seen many alligators and perhaps we've become just almost complacent," Walls said.
"But there are so many warnings. And we're always being told to look out. You know, be careful where you go, particularly if somebody's walking a dog or whatever," said Hamilton.
Deputies say it took them two hours to recover the body.
“When we responded that's what we observed — that the alligator was basically holding her hostage, I guess. I don't know what the appropriate term would be. But was guarding her and did not want people close by," said Major Angela Viens, the public information officer for the Beaufort County Sheriff’s office.
Over the last few months, locals have seen the reptiles roaming around Hilton Head and Beaufort County.
More than three years ago, a gator attacked a woman in Sun City.
Deputies say she was walking her dog when she was attacked.
"The alligators can see you before they come out of the water, where you may not be able to observe them," said Viens.
Below file video: Police wrangle, remove alligator from South Carolina parking garage | 2022-08-17T00:47:30+00:00 | koat.com | https://www.koat.com/article/one-dead-in-south-carolina-alligator-attack/40912578 |
NEW YORK, Aug. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Jakubowitz Law announces that a securities fraud class action lawsuit has commenced on behalf of shareholders of Unity Software Inc. (NYSE: U).
To receive updates on the lawsuit, fill out the form:
https://claimyourloss.com/securities/unity-software-inc-loss-submission-form/?id=30970&from=4
The lawsuit seeks to recover losses for shareholders who purchased Unity between March 5, 2021 and May 10, 2022.
Shareholders interested in acting as a lead plaintiff representing the class of wronged shareholders have until September 6, 2022 to petition the court. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
According to a filed complaint, Unity Software Inc. issued materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) deficiencies in Unity's product platform reduced the accuracy of the Company's machine learning technology; (ii) the foregoing was likely to have a material negative impact on the Company's revenues; (iii) accordingly, Unity had overstated the Company's commercial and/or financial prospects for 2022; (iv) as a result, the Company was likely to have to reduce its fiscal 2022 guidance; and (v) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
Jakubowitz Law is vigorous in pursuit of justice for shareholders who have been the victim of securities fraud. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
JAKUBOWITZ LAW
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SOURCE Jakubowitz Law | 2022-08-19T10:29:48+00:00 | wafb.com | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2022/08/19/u-shareholder-alert-jakubowitz-law-reminds-unity-shareholders-lead-plaintiff-deadline-september-6-2022/ |
NEW YORK, Jan. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As the new year begins, what will keep the world's executives up at night? CEOs in both the United States and globally say slow growth and a recession are their #1 external worry of 2023.
The Conference Board survey also found that most executives don't think stronger economic growth will return anytime soon: 51 percent of CEOs worldwide—and 60 percent of US CEOs—expect a tepid year ahead, with their economies only picking back up by late 2023 or mid-2024.
Despite CEOs bracing for weaker growth and recessions, labor shortages and talent retention rank among the biggest challenges of executives worldwide, underscoring how the current downturn differs from those in the past. The survey also reveals that a recession won't prompt most US CEOs—55 percent—to rein in their companies' ESG investments in 2023. And despite the heightened and recent pushback against ESG, 71 percent say backlash won't compel them to dial back their sustainability investments for the year ahead.
Adding to the tumult of 2023 is the war in Ukraine. CEOs expect the war to cause more cyberattacks and economic sanctions, and to deepen the food and energy crises. But are CEOs underestimating the war's impact on their businesses? US CEOs as well as CEOs globally ranked it low on their list of concerns at 22nd and 15th, respectively.
The survey reflects the views of nearly 700 CEOs and over 450 other C-suite executives. Participants weighed in on the top business threats and opportunities in 2023 and their plans for growth. Respondents were primarily from four regions: North America, Latin America, Asia, and Europe. Highlights from C-Suite Outlook 2023 include:
In 2023, the top external worry of CEOs is a recession/downturn.
- US CEOs and CEOs globally: A recession/economic downturn ranks as their #1 external concern for 2023.
- Recession worries intensify: In last year's survey, recession ranked 6th for both groups.
Inflation will continue keeping CEOs up at night.
- US CEOs and CEOs globally: Inflation ranks as their 2nd biggest external concern for 2023.
- Chinese CEOs are concerned, but to a lesser extent: Inflation ranks 7th.
Concerns surge over higher borrowing costs, especially among US CEOs.
- US CEOs: In 2023, higher borrowing costs ranked 4th. In 2022, it was low on the worry list, at 25th.
- CEOs worldwide: In 2023, it ranked 10th. In 2022, it barely registered, ranking 22nd.
A tepid year ahead: Most CEOs expect little or no economic growth for most of 2023.
- US CEOs: 60 percent expect growth to resume in their region in late 2023 or mid-2024.
- CEOs globally: 51 percent expect growth to resume in their region in late 2023 or mid-2024.
- Japanese and Chinese CEOs most pessimistic: Just 39 and 46 percent, respectively, expect growth to resume in their regions in late 2023 or mid-2024.
For most leaders, COVID-19's in the rear-view mirror—except for Asian CEOs.
- Chinese CEOs most concerned: In 2022, it ranked 1st among external challenges; in 2023, it remains 1st.
- Japanese CEOs also worried: It ranked 1st in 2022; in 2023, it dipped to 3rd.
- US CEOs: It ranked 4th in 2022; in 2023, it fell to 18th.
The war in Ukraine: Are some business leaders underestimating its business impact?
- US CEOs are the least concerned: Among external challenges, the war in Ukraine's impact on business ranks low on the worry list, at 22nd.
- CEOs globally also view it as secondary: It ranks a modest 15th.
- European and Chinese CEOs are very concerned: It ranks 4th among European CEOs, 8th among Chinese CEOs.
CEOs expect the war to cause more cyberattacks and sanctions and worsen the food and energy crises.
- More cyberattacks outside the warzone: expected by 81 percent of CEOs globally.
- More economic sanctions: expected by 68 percent of CEOs globally.
- Worsening energy & food crises: expected by 68 percent (energy) and 65 percent (food) of CEOs globally.
Most US CEOs say neither an economic slowdown, nor backlash, will impact ESG spending in 2023.
- An economic slowdown/recession won't have a significant impact on sustainability-related spending in 2023:
- ESG backlash won't have a significant impact on sustainability-related investments in 2023:
Nearly half of CEOs say climate change is already significantly impacting their businesses—or soon will.
- CEOs globally: 46 percent say it's currently significantly impacting business or will in the next one to five years.
- Chinese CEOs say the impact is farther off: Just 35 percent cite a current or near-term impact.
Stakeholder capitalism appears to be on a firm footing in many companies.
- US CEOs and CEOs globally: In prioritizing stakeholders, both groups rank customers 1st, employees 2nd, shareholders/owners 3rd.
As inflation erodes purchasing power, CEOs will increase certain investments over the next 24 months.
- Customer experience: cited by 65 percent of CEOs globally and 67 percent of US CEOs.
- New customer acquisition: cited by 65 percent of CEOs globally and 55 percent of US CEOs.
- New product development: cited by 58 percent of CEOs globally and 51 percent of US CEOs.
Despite recession expectations, attracting and retaining talent tops the list of CEOs' internal concerns.
- CEOs globally: Talent ranks 1st among internal worries for CEOs worldwide.
- US CEOs: Finding and keeping talent ranks 2nd.
Remote work is nearing equilibrium: Few CEOs plan to either expand or reduce it.
- CEOs globally: 8 percent plan to expand remote work, and 3 percent plan to reduce it.
- US CEOs: 5 percent plan to expand it, and 3 percent plan to reduce it.
Dana Peterson, Chief Economist, The Conference Board
While CEOs globally are looking to contain costs and reduce discretionary spending—actions typically taken during a slowdown—employees may be able to breathe a sigh of relief, as few executives are turning to layoffs. Instead, they plan to mitigate risk by accelerating innovation and digital transformation, pursuing new opportunities in higher-growth markets, and revising business models—the three most-cited actions.
Dr. Lori Esposito Murray, President of the Committee for Economic Development of The Conference Board
The risk of an intensifying war in Ukraine disrupting both the global economy and the world order may be much higher than many CEOs are anticipating. With only 17 percent of CEOs globally saying their organizations are either well prepared or very well prepared to deal with a crisis involving an expansion of the war in Ukraine, firms need to prepare for the potential ramifications of conflict escalation—even if such events seem unlikely.
Ivan Pollard, Center Leader, Marketing & Communications Center, The Conference Board
It is heartening to see that CEOs' third-ranked key driver of growth for the next two to three years is marketing and promotions. Of course, restrictive economics does not mean that investments will be free flowing. In fact, 'reducing discretionary spending' is a third-ranked response to the economic downturn for CFOs, CHROs, and even CMOs. That discretionary spending often hits marketing and communications, but the survey indicates this will be in areas such as event marketing, sponsorship, and conventional advertising.
Rebecca Ray, PhD, Executive Vice President, Human Capital, The Conference Board
To attract and retain talent—the biggest internal worry of CEOs worldwide—leaders are focused on building stronger cultures. But some of the key factors that contribute to such an environment—including addressing pay inequality, development opportunities, and a psychologically safe workplace—are relatively low on their list of priorities. This presents an opportunity for C-suites to revisit their companies' goals for strengthening organizational culture and the specific actions required to do so.
Paul Washington, Executive Director, ESG Center, The Conference Board
The fact that ESG is resilient despite an economic slowdown and backlash reflects a few factors: First, environmental and social responsibility remain priorities for key stakeholders, including investors, employees, consumers, business partners, and many regulators in the US and EU. Second, ESG is increasingly being built into—not bolted onto—business strategy and operations. It is a source of opportunity, not just risk. Third, it reflects a focus on the long term: CEOs recognize how truly sustainable economic growth and acting in a socially and environmentally responsible manner go hand-in-hand.
The Conference Board is the member-driven think tank that delivers trusted insights for what's ahead. Founded in 1916, we are a non-partisan, not-for-profit entity holding 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status in the United States.
www.conference-board.org
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SOURCE The Conference Board | 2023-01-12T13:55:14+00:00 | wymt.com | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2023/01/12/ceo-survey-recession-is-biggest-worry-2023/ |
Animal expert Jack Hanna ‘no longer recognizes most family members’ due to Alzheimer’s, family says
(Gray News) – Famous animal expert Jack Hanna no longer recognizes most family members due to his advanced Alzheimer’s disease, his family said.
In an interview with the Columbus Dispatch, the beloved former zookeeper’s family said the disease progressed much faster than they imagined.
In 2021, Hanna announced he was retiring from public life due to his Alzheimer’s diagnosis, which he was diagnosed with in 2019.
Hanna retired from being the director of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in December 2020 after 42 years.
He was known for regular appearances on talk shows and for his own shows, including “Animal Adventures,” “Into the Wild” and “Wild Countdown.”
Hanna’s family told the Columbus Dispatch that they wanted to share his story with Alzheimer’s to let other families struggling with the disease know that they aren’t alone.
After a life of being in the spotlight, the 76-year-old now spends his days at home in Bigfork, Montana with his wife of 54 years, Suzi, and their dog, Brassy.
“My husband is still in there somewhere,” his wife told the publication. “There are still those sweet, tender moments – you know, pieces of him that made me and the rest of the world fall in love with him. It’s hard. Real hard some days. But he took care of me all those years, and so it’s my turn to take care of him.”
His wife also said she plans to cherish the rest of their days together, with help from their three daughters.
“The Jack people knew isn’t here anymore, but pieces of my husband are. And I’m going to hang onto them for as long as I can,” she said.
Copyright 2023 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2023-06-22T22:06:17+00:00 | kcrg.com | https://www.kcrg.com/2023/06/22/animal-expert-jack-hanna-no-longer-recognizes-most-family-members-due-alzheimers-family-says/ |
Dan Campbell on playing Fields: 'He's very dangerous' originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Lions head coach Dan Campbell was candid about playing against Justin Fields and the Bears this upcoming Sunday.
“I feel like you’re watching a little bit of Deshaun Watson in Houston, you’re watching Lamar Jackson, Baltimore. There’s a little bit of Jalen Hurts — just very quarterback-driven,” Campbell said of Fields in his Wednesday press conference. “Quarterback-driven runs, guard/tackle pulls, read the end, hand it off, these backs are running hard, they’re downhill. And then, there’s enough of the keepers off of it."
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On Sunday, Fields executed his most successful outing of the season against the Miami Dolphins.
He threw for three touchdowns and 123 passing yards while keeping the ball for himself on the ground 15 times, turning his rushing attempts into a quarterback NFL record 178 rushing yards and one 61-yard rushing touchdown.
He became the first quarterback in NFL history to record three passing touchdowns and over 140 rushing yards, torching the Dolphins' defense for 32 points.
Local
Over the last three weeks, Fields has put the Bears' offense on notice through a conglomerate of quarter-designed runs and keen decision-making in the pocket.
RELATED: Bears overreactions: Is Fields already better than Lamar?
The offense also converted 10-of-16 third downs last week, which accounted for their best conversion rate in a single game this season.
“And then, certainly his ability on third down, that’s where they really got Miami was man, there’s a number of third-and-8, third-and-10, third-and — there’s an opening in there and he takes it and he’s gone," Campbell said. "And one of them for 60-something yards. So, that’s where he’s very lethal, but it’s very much built around him. So, I think the starting point is obviously 32 [David Montgomery] and 24 [Khalil Herbert]. But then, it’s him because he’s very dangerous.”
Certainly, the Lions will have their hands full on Sunday. Even after upsetting the Green Bay Packers with a 15-9 win at home, they still have to deal with Fields.
The Bears' offense has averaged over 30 points per game in the last three weeks and maintains one of the most lethal rushing attacks in the league. Behind Fields, the offense has been on a production tear.
How do you go about defending Fields and the Bears' offense?
“I think you’ve got to use a little bit of everything,” Campbell said. “Really, I think there’s a place to spy, I think there’s a place to pressure, I think there’s a place to really play more coverage and keep everything in front of you and then rally to it. So, I think it’s all-encompassing and a lot of that’ll have to do with third down which will come tonight, tomorrow.
“But I think there’s no easy answer to playing this guy because you see it all over the tape week after week. But it’s certainly something that we’re preaching and it’s the cast the net, close the net." | 2022-11-10T18:54:06+00:00 | nbcchicago.com | https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/dan-campbell-on-playing-justin-fields-hes-very-dangerous/2993101/ |
Expert: Don’t just pay the minimum on your credit card bill
Average card holder has $5,500 in debt
InvestigateTV - Credit card debt reached a record high of $986 billion at the end of 2022, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
While making the minimum payment can be tempting, particularly if you’re on a tight budget, Bankrate.com’s Ted Rossman said that will only lengthen the amount of time it will take to get out of debt.
“The typical formula, there is just 1% of the balance plus interest, and that’s not nearly enough,” Rossman explained. “You have the average credit card debt, which is about $5,500, according to TransUnion. If you only make minimum payments at the average interest rate, you’ll be in debt for about 17 years and you’ll pay about $7500 in interest.”
Rossman had several tips to tackle significant credit card debt:
- Pay as much as you can above the minimum amount due
- Consider transferring debt from high interest rate cards to a lower or zero rate promotional card
- Research non-profit credit counseling agencies like Money Management International, which can help you create a debt management plan
- For those with good credit, low-rate personal loans can offer rates as low as 7% over the life of the loan
The bottom line: any action towards tackling your debt is a step in the right direction.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has guides on managing debt, consolidating credit card debt, and finding a credit counselor.
Copyright 2023 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2023-03-09T20:14:31+00:00 | fox5vegas.com | https://www.fox5vegas.com/2023/03/09/dont-just-pay-minimum-your-credit-card-bill/ |
STOCKHOLM, Aug. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Affiliate and media company Leadstar Media is now fully licensed and operational in the state of West Virginia to promote legal online casino brands. The iGaming license issued by The West Virginia Lottery allows the company to partner with and promote the legal iGaming operators currently in the state as well as any future operators that will launch their services in the state of West Virginia
Leadstar Media is now set to provide Mountain State iGaming players with legal online casinos, casino offers, and information through several of the company's US products, including Bettingapps.com and Unitedgamblers.com.
The company previously only held a sports wagering license from The West Virginia Lottery, which they used to legally operate their sports betting supplier products such as Sportsbooksonline.com, Bookiesbonuses.com/us, and the two aforementioned websites.
The acquisition of its iGaming license now allows Leadstar Media to promote all forms of legal online gambling in the state of West Virginia, further cementing themselves as a leader in the US iGaming affiliation industry.
Eskil Kvarnström, CEO Leadstar Media:
"Since launching our products in the USA, we have been humbled and honored by the tremendous growth and success as one of the leaders in the iGaming affiliate industry. We are pleased to announce yet another state where we are now fully licensed to operate our full vertical of iGaming supplier products, all of which strictly adhere to the laws and regulations set by the governing bodies in each state they operate in. Obtaining our full iGaming supplier license in West Virginia is yet another major stepping stone for us in our journey of becoming the best iGaming affiliate in every regulated US state. I am proud of the continuous hard work our entire US team has done to both obtain this license and make use of it by creating the best products available for our customers in the US. Although we are a company that successfully operates in different geographical markets all around the globe, we are admittedly most excited about the potential success and challenges that come with the US iGaming industry. We have made a strong push in the US since day one, and wholeheartedly plan on continuing our strongest efforts to become the number one affiliate in the US."
This newly obtained license will allow Leadstar Media to display the full range of both legal betting sites and online casinos in West Virginia across their entire US product portfolio.
Leadstar Media is now operational in 15 states including New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Colorado.
CONTACT:
Leadstar Media AB
info@leadstarmedia.com
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SOURCE Leadstar Media AB | 2022-08-19T16:35:17+00:00 | wbrc.com | https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2022/08/19/leadstar-media-secures-casino-license-west-virginia/ |
Rom-coms ahoy! Hallmark Channel has just announced what promises to be the coziest, most feel-good cruise ever: a Christmas-themed cruise, complete with some of your favorite Hallmark stars and Hallmark Channel wines.
The four-day cruise will travel from Miami to Nassau, Bahamas, onboard the Norwegian Gem ship. Sailing Nov. 5-9, 2024, this Christmas-themed cruise will be the perfect way to kick off the holiday season.
The Hallmark Christmas cruise is chartered by Sixthman, a company that puts on festivals and music cruises. This coming year, Sixthman will put on themed trips as varied as “Headbangers Boat” (a heavy metal cruise featuring performances from Testament, Gwar and Hatebreed, among others) and “Get Ship Faced” (a comedy cruise with truTV’s Impractical Jokers).
For the Hallmark Christmas cruise, Sixthman will be decking the halls with all things merry and bright. Sentiment and sincerity will reign as fans gather for a sweet respite from the real world. And the ship includes all the amenities you expect from a cruise vacation, including meals, spa services and a casino.
MORE: This new 60-day river cruise visits 20 states in 4 time zones
Watch this Facebook video from Sixthman that get you hyped to cruise with the jolliest bunch of Hallmark lovers:
As you can see, these onboard experiences will make you feel like you’re living in your very own Hallmark Christmas movie. (Mr. Right not included.) However, you can rub elbows with your favorite Hallmark movie stars (celebrity names have not yet been announced), and enjoy experiences like karaoke, crafting, cookie baking, wine-tasting, tree-lighting festivities and more.
Of course, Hallmark Christmas movie marathons will be on deck … or rather, in the Spinnaker Lounge, where you can cozy up in your slippers and PJs alongside other diehard fans. But the real treat will be the world premiere of a new Hallmark Channel movie that will be part of its Countdown to Christmas event. As passengers on the Hallmark cruise, you will be the first to view this movie, and you can get a ticket for a seat in the world-class theater at the same time you book your stateroom.
Reserve your spot on the Norwegian Gem starting on Friday, July 21 at 2 p.m. ET. For true Hallmark fans, there is a pre-sale signup until July 19. Join the pre-sale and get exclusive access to priority booking before the general public.
After you sign up, you can join the Facebook group to connect with fellow fans and cruisers before you embark! Bon voyage!
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Check out Simplemost for additional stories. | 2023-07-13T13:37:05+00:00 | wkbw.com | https://www.wkbw.com/you-can-now-take-hallmark-channel-christmas-cruise |
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Activate your digital account | 2022-05-25T14:02:10+00:00 | delawareonline.com | https://www.delawareonline.com/restricted/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.delawareonline.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fpro%2F2022%2F05%2F25%2Fhow-james-harden-acquisition-impacts-sixers-off-season-plans-philadelphia-76ers-daryl-morey-nba-beal%2F65357309007%2F |
St. Marys, OH (WLIO) - A St. Marys business started as a way to help people with various abilities thrive but it has grown into so much more. Capabilities held an open house Saturday to showcase their new corporate headquarters. 25 years ago, they started by helping people with disabilities find jobs, learn jobs, and keep jobs. They expanded into drivers training, and adult day services. Now they are offing computer training and job coaching for individuals to help them succeed in what they want to do.
“The biggest thing that Capabilities does, we really try and help people connect the dots,” says Karen Blumhorst, Co-owner of Capabilities. “Between what they are doing now and what they wish to do in the future. So, we want to make sure they fulfill their dreams, their goals, whatever they may be.”
They purchased the former Dennings Vocational Building from the St Marys School District and turned it into a place that will benefit not only their business, but their clients as well.
“I never dreamt that it would turn in to what it is,” says William Blumhorst, Co-Owner of Capabilities. “It is a real tea of the architect coming up with this great plan, laying this out for us. My daughter had a big part of that being a interior designer. We are very fortunate to have a lot of great employees that make this happen for us.”
Capabilities has 11 locations statewide and will be opening their newest office in Zanesville next month, which helps around three thousand clients a year with their services.
Copyright 2022 by Lima Communications Corporation. All rights reserved. | 2022-11-20T06:34:39+00:00 | hometownstations.com | https://www.hometownstations.com/news/capabilities-hold-open-house-at-new-corporate-headquarters/article_140031e4-686a-11ed-a948-5f5f519564fa.html |
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Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2022-06-11T10:34:08+00:00 | mtpr.org | https://www.mtpr.org/2022-06-11/how-is-inflation-affecting-you-and-what-are-your-concerns-for-the-future-let-us-know |
She joins Texas-based Co-Chair Rob Kaplan to drive investments in early-stage, high impact organizations tackling some of the state's biggest challenges
MENLO PARK, Calif., July 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation (DRK), one of the largest global venture philanthropy firms, announced that Holly Kuzmich will join the organization's leadership team as a Dallas-based Managing Director. Kuzmich, who joins DRK from the George W. Bush Institute, where she has served as Executive Director since 2013, has 25 years of public policy and leadership experience, serving in senior positions in the government, non-profit, and private sectors. She will expand DRK's presence in Texas and the Southwest by finding, funding, and supporting early-stage, high-impact social enterprises that are tackling some of society's biggest problems with innovative approaches. She will assume her duties on December 1.
Since 2002, Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation has supported more than 200 organizations, collectively impacting more than 220 million lives through a novel funding and support strategy. The Foundation supports early stage, high impact social enterprises solving the world's biggest and most pressing social and environmental problems. To date, DRK has raised over $200M of capital and deployed more than $110M to fund and support these 200 social enterprises around the globe.
"We are so excited to have Holly join our team and to help us drive our efforts in Texas and the greater Southwest region. With a population of close to 30 million people and as home to a robust community of innovators and social impact entrepreneurs, we see a real opportunity to build on our existing work in the region and accelerate our work finding, funding, and supporting exceptional social enterprises that can drive long term impact that improve the lives of tens of thousands of Texans," said Jim Bildner, DRK's Chief Executive Officer. "Holly's experience and broad networks will enable us to significantly expand this impact and help drive scalable solutions to the social, economic and environmental challenges confronting vulnerable Texas communities including food insecurity, employment opportunities, K-12 education and access to healthcare and other basics of life."
Holly's appointment will strengthen DRK's already strong ties to Texas. She will work closely with DRK's Co-chair Robert Steven Kaplan who served as the President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas from 2015 until 2021. "We are extremely excited about Holly joining DRK. Her tremendous leadership skills will help us bolster and expand our impact in Texas and globally," said Kaplan.
Kuzmich has 25 years of public policy and leadership experience, serving in senior positions in the government, non-profit, and private sectors. At the Bush Institute, a solution-oriented nonpartisan policy organization focused on ensuring opportunity for all, strengthening democracy, and advancing free societies, Kuzmich has led the team in developing and implementing major policy and programmatic initiatives on key issues of national and global importance. She oversaw the organization's strategy on leadership development, with four leadership programs graduating nearly 1,000 alumni to date from around the world. Domestically, she led the Bush Institute's efforts to push for comprehensive immigration reform and developed key alliances and partnerships in support of that effort. Globally, she shepherded the Bush Institute's global health initiative over the past six years to a public-private partnership that has led to nearly four million women screened for cervical cancer in sub-Saharan Africa.
"I have dedicated my career to solving challenges and advancing solutions through the public sector," said Kuzmich. "I'm thrilled to leverage that experience to work with social entrepreneurs who are solving some of the toughest problems we face around the world today. The work that the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation does to find, fund, and support these organizations and accelerate their ability to scale is unique and innovative, and I'm excited to contribute to their mission and expand their presence, particularly in Texas."
DRK's commitment to Texas is not new. In 2020, DRK partnered with Lyda Hill Philanthropies, a DRK donor partner, to co-sponsor the Lone Star Prize, a Texas-based competition for a $10 million grant to improve the lives of Texans, focused on three significant challenges confronting the state: improving health outcomes, workforce development and protecting the environment. In 2021, DRK created the Lone Star Fund in partnership with United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, the Lyda Hill Foundation and other funders, to specifically target funding 5-7 new organizations from the Texas region into the DRK portfolio. The Lone Star Fund is part of DRK's overall fourth fund which will make $90 million available to support at least 100 new social impact enterprises around the globe.
Bringing Kuzmich as a Dallas-based Managing Director to the team reflects DRK's desire to deepen relationships in focused regions building partnerships and sourcing new investments to impact lives in that region. DRK has offices and teams in Menlo Park, CA; Boston, MA; The Hague, Netherlands; and Nairobi, Kenya.
About DRK: The Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation (DRK) is a global venture philanthropy firm that funds early-stage, social impact organizations solving the world's biggest and most pressing social and environmental problems with bold, scalable approaches. Since 2002, DRK has funded 200+ high impact organizations tackling some of the world's biggest challenges and who, in the aggregate are impacting more than 220 million lives. DRK's portfolio includes organizations working both in the US and internationally, helping to provide critical access to healthcare, education, food security, social justice, water and sanitation, transparency and accountability, and shelter. Learn more about DRK's portfolio organizations here.
About The George W. Bush Institute: The Bush Institute is an action-oriented, nonpartisan policy organization that develops leaders, advances policy, and takes action to solve today's most pressing challenges. Their work is inspired by the principles that guide President and Mrs. Bush in public life. Developing and supporting effective leaders is central to the work of the Bush Institute; since its founding in 2009, they have helped develop leaders around the world.
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SOURCE Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation | 2022-07-07T13:02:39+00:00 | kfyrtv.com | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2022/07/07/holly-kuzmich-joins-draper-richards-kaplan-foundation-managing-director-lead-its-presence-texas/ |
GAAP Diluted Net Income of $0.69 per Unit
Adjusted Diluted Net Income of $0.71 per Unit
Cash Distribution of $0.71 per Unit
NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AllianceBernstein L.P. ("AB") and AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. ("AB Holding") (NYSE: AB) today reported financial and operating results for the quarter ended June 30, 2022.
"Financial markets declined sharply in the second quarter, as global macroeconomic concerns deepened due to accelerating inflation, higher interest rates, and a complex geopolitical backdrop," said Seth P. Bernstein, President and CEO of AllianceBernstein. "Net outflows of $2.7 billion were moderate, as taxable fixed income outflows were partially offset by continued organic growth in municipals, alternatives/multi-asset and active equities. Our fee rate improved by 2% year-over-year, reflecting a mix shift towards alternatives and active equities, and our trailing twelve month organic growth was 3%. While near-term fixed income investment performance was challenged as credit underperformed, 5-year overall performance was solid, particularly in equities. AB's financial performance reflected lower asset prices, with year-over-year adjusted operating income declining by 19% and adjusted earnings per Unit and distributions to Unitholders declining by 22%."
Bernstein continued, "Retail sales continued to moderate from record 2021 levels, reflecting weaker markets; however, active equities and municipals posted their 21st and 8th consecutive quarters of organic growth, respectively. Net outflows were $2.2 billion driven by taxable fixed income. Our Institutional channel grew organically for the 8th straight quarter, with net inflows of $0.7 billion, and our pipeline of $10.2 billion increased 4% sequentially, with most additions in higher-fee Alternatives. Private Wealth saw net outflows of $1.2 billion, driven by tax payments on 2021 capital gains. Bernstein Research revenues increased 1% versus the prior year, with higher U.S. volumes offset by lower trading activity in Asia and Europe."
Bernstein concluded, "In challenging environments, our time-tested investment teams remain focused on the fundamentals that drive shareholder value and returns. We generally favor quality companies with strong financial profiles that can weather more volatile economic conditions. We are pleased to have closed the CarVal acquisition on July 1, with $2.1 billion in capital raised by the CarVal team since our acquisition announcement, and are excited for our clients, including our partner Equitable Holdings, to experience our expanded private alternatives offering. Our talented teams are guided by our shared purpose: pursuing insight that unlocks opportunity."
The firm's cash distribution per Unit of $0.71 is payable on August 18, 2022, to holders of record of AB Holding Units at the close of business on August 8, 2022.
Total net outflows were $2.7 billion in the second quarter, compared to net inflows of $11.4 billion in the first quarter of 2022, and net inflows of $6.2 billion in the prior year second quarter. AXA redemptions of low-fee fixed income mandates and net flows excluding these redemptions were as follows:
Institutional channel second quarter net inflows of $0.7 billion compared to net inflows of $10.2 billion in the first quarter of 2022. Excluding AXA redemptions of low-fee fixed income mandates of $0.6 billion in the second quarter, net inflows were $1.3 billion. First quarter net inflows reflected a large $9.6 billion custom target-date mandate. Institutional gross sales of $3.3 billion decreased sequentially from $14.3 billion, in part reflecting the $9.6 billion custom target-date mandate in the first quarter. The pipeline of awarded but unfunded Institutional mandates increased sequentially to $10.2 billion at June 30, 2022 from $9.8 billion at March 31, 2022.
Retail channel second quarter net outflows of $2.2 billion compared to net outflows of $1.0 billion in the first quarter of 2022. Retail gross sales of $17.3 billion decreased sequentially from $20.6 billion.
Private Wealth channel second quarter net outflows of $1.2 billion compared to net inflows of $2.2 billion in the first quarter of 2022. Private Wealth gross sales of $3.3 billion decreased sequentially from $6.0 billion.
We expect approximately $4 billion of additional AXA-related redemptions of low-fee AUM in the second half of 2022.
We are presenting both earnings information derived in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("US GAAP") and non-GAAP, adjusted earnings information in this release. Management principally uses these non-GAAP financial measures in evaluating performance because we believe they present a clearer picture of our operating performance and allow management to see long-term trends without the distortion caused by long-term incentive compensation-related mark-to-market adjustments, real estate charges/credits and other adjustment items. Similarly, we believe that non-GAAP earnings information helps investors better understand the underlying trends in our results and, accordingly, provides a valuable perspective for investors. Please note, however, that these non-GAAP measures are provided in addition to, and not as a substitute for, any measures derived in accordance with US GAAP and they may not be comparable to non-GAAP measures presented by other companies. Management uses both US GAAP and non-GAAP measures in evaluating our financial performance. The non-GAAP measures alone may pose limitations because they do not include all of our revenues and expenses.
AB Holding is required to distribute all of its Available Cash Flow, as defined in the AB Holding Partnership Agreement, to its Unitholders (including the General Partner). Available Cash Flow typically is the adjusted diluted net income per unit for the quarter multiplied by the number of units outstanding at the end of the quarter. Management anticipates that Available Cash Flow will continue to be based on adjusted diluted net income per unit, unless management determines, with concurrence of the Board of Directors, that one or more adjustments made to adjusted net income should not be made with respect to the Available Cash Flow calculation.
Second quarter net revenues of $1.0 billion decreased 10% from $1.1 billion in the second quarter of 2021. The decrease was due to investment losses in the current year compared to investment gains in the prior year, lower performance-based fees and investment advisory base fees.
Sequentially, net revenues of $1.0 billion decreased 12%. The decrease was due to lower performance-based fees, investment advisory base fees, distribution revenues, Bernstein Research revenues and higher investment losses, offset by higher net dividend and interest income.
Second quarter Bernstein Research revenues of $106 million increased 1% compared to the prior year second quarter and decreased 10% sequentially. The increase from prior year was driven by greater customer trading activity in the U.S., offset by lower customer trading volumes in Asia and Europe. The sequential decrease was due to a reduction in global customer trading activity, partially offset by the timing of research payments.
Second quarter operating expenses of $778 million decreased 2% from $793 million in the second quarter of 2021. The decrease is due to lower total employee compensation and benefits expense, partially offset by higher general and administrative ("G&A") expenses and promotion and servicing expenses. Employee compensation and benefits expense decreased due to lower incentive compensation, partially offset by higher commissions, base compensation and other employment costs. Within G&A, the increase was driven by higher portfolio servicing fees, technology, professional fees and office-related expenses. Promotion and servicing expenses increased due to higher travel and entertainment and marketing expenses, partially offset by lower distribution-related payments.
Sequentially, operating expenses decreased 9% from $857 million, primarily driven by lower total employee compensation and benefits expense, G&A expense and promotion and servicing expenses. Employee compensation and benefits expense decreased due to lower incentive compensation, fringes and commissions, partially offset by higher base compensation. Within G&A, the decrease was driven by lower portfolio servicing fees, professional fees and office-related expenses, partially offset by higher technology expenses. Promotion and servicing expenses decreased due to lower distribution-related payments, partially offset by higher marketing and travel and entertainment expenses.
Second quarter operating income of $193 million decreased 32% from $284 million in the second quarter of 2021 and the operating margin of 22.6% in the second quarter of 2022 decreased 340 basis points from 26.0% in the second quarter of 2021.
Sequentially, operating income decreased 22% from $248 million in the first quarter of 2022 and the operating margin of 22.6% decreased 210 basis points from 24.7% in the first quarter of 2022.
Second quarter diluted net income per Unit was $0.69 compared to $0.91 in the second quarter of 2021 and $0.87 in the first quarter of 2022.
This section discusses our second quarter 2022 non-GAAP financial results, compared to the second quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2022. The phrases "adjusted net revenues", "adjusted operating expenses", "adjusted operating income", "adjusted operating margin" and "adjusted diluted net income per Unit" are used in the following earnings discussion to identify non-GAAP information.
Second quarter adjusted net revenues of $816 million decreased 7% from $881 million in the second quarter of 2021. The decrease was due to lower performance-based fees and investment advisory base fees.
Sequentially, adjusted net revenues decreased 10% from $904 million. The decrease was due to lower investment advisory base fees, performance-based fees and Bernstein Research revenues.
Second quarter adjusted operating expenses of $590 million decreased 2% from $602 million in the second quarter of 2021. Lower total employee compensation and benefits were partially offset by higher promotion and servicing expenses and G&A expense. Employee compensation and benefits expense decreased due to lower incentive compensation, partially offset by higher commissions, base compensation and other employment costs. Promotion and servicing expenses increased due to higher travel and entertainment and marketing expenses. Within G&A, the increase was driven by higher technology expenses and an unfavorable foreign exchange translation impact, partially offset by lower errors.
Sequentially, adjusted operating expenses decreased 5% from $619 million. Lower total employee compensation and benefits were partially offset by higher promotion and servicing expenses and G&A expense. Employee compensation and benefits expense decreased due to lower incentive compensation, fringes and commissions, offset by higher base compensation and other employment costs. Promotion and servicing expenses increased due to higher marketing expenses and travel and entertainment, partially offset by lower transfer fees. Within G&A, the increase was driven by higher technology expenses, an unfavorable foreign exchange translation impact and higher professional fees, partially offset by lower office-related expenses and errors.
Second quarter adjusted operating income of $226 million decreased 19% from $279 million in the second quarter of 2021, and the adjusted operating margin of 27.7% decreased 400 basis points from 31.7%.
Sequentially, adjusted operating income of $226 million decreased 21% from $285 million and the adjusted operating margin of 27.7% decreased 380 basis points from 31.5%.
Second quarter adjusted diluted net income per Unit was $0.71 compared to $0.91 in the second quarter of 2021 and $0.90 in the first quarter of 2022.
As of June 30, 2022, we had 4,313 employees, compared to 4,005 employees as of June 30, 2021 and 4,161 as of March 31, 2021.
(1) Purchased on a trade date basis. The difference between open-market purchases and units retained reflects the retention of AB Holding Units from employees to fulfill statutory tax withholding requirements at the time of delivery of long-term incentive compensation awards.
Management will review Second Quarter 2022 financial and operating results during a conference call beginning at 9:00 a.m. (CT) on Friday, July 29, 2022. The conference call will be hosted by Seth Bernstein, President & Chief Executive Officer; Kate Burke, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer; Bill Siemers, Controller & Chief Accounting Officer, and Matt Bass, Head of Private Alternatives.
Parties may access the conference call by either webcast or telephone:
- To listen by webcast, please visit AB's Investor Relations website at http://alliancebernstein.com/investorrelations at least 15 minutes prior to the call to download and install any necessary audio software.
- To listen by telephone, participants are required to obtain a personalized PIN via registration at https://dpregister.com/sreg/10168625/f382514a84 prior to dialing (888) 222-5992 in the US or +1 (412) 902-6748 from outside the US.
The presentation management will review during the conference call will be available on AB's Investor Relations website shortly after the release of Second Quarter 2022 financial and operating results on July 29, 2022.
A replay of the webcast will be made available beginning approximately one hour after the conclusion of the conference call. An audio replay of the conference call will also be available for one week. To access the audio replay, please call (877) 344-7529 in the US, or +1 (412) 317-0088 from outside the US, and provide the conference ID #: 3006846.
Certain statements provided by management in this news release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The most significant of these factors include, but are not limited to, the following: the performance of financial markets, the investment performance of sponsored investment products and separately-managed accounts, general economic conditions, industry trends, future acquisitions, integration of acquired companies, competitive conditions, and government regulations, including changes in tax regulations and rates and the manner in which the earnings of publicly-traded partnerships are taxed. AB cautions readers to carefully consider such factors. Further, such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are made; AB undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements. For further information regarding these forward-looking statements and the factors that could cause actual results to differ, see "Risk Factors" and "Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in AB's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and subsequent Forms 10-Q. Any or all of the forward-looking statements made in this news release, Form 10-K, Forms 10-Q, other documents AB files with or furnishes to the SEC, and any other public statements issued by AB, may turn out to be wrong. It is important to remember that other factors besides those listed in "Risk Factors" and "Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements", and those listed below, could also adversely affect AB's revenues, financial condition, results of operations and business prospects.
The forward-looking statements referred to in the preceding paragraph include statements regarding:
- The pipeline of new institutional mandates not yet funded: Before they are funded, institutional mandates do not represent legally binding commitments to fund and, accordingly, the possibility exists that not all mandates will be funded in the amounts and at the times currently anticipated, or that mandates ultimately will not be funded.
- The possibility that AB will engage in open market purchases of AB Holding Units to help fund anticipated obligations under our incentive compensation award program: The number of AB Holding Units AB may decide to buy in future periods, if any, to help fund incentive compensation awards depends on various factors, some of which are beyond our control, including the fluctuation in the price of an AB Holding Unit (NYSE: AB) and the availability of cash to make these purchases.
This announcement is intended to be a qualified notice under Treasury Regulation §1.1446-4(b)(4). Please note that 100% of AB Holding's distributions to foreign investors is attributable to income that is effectively connected with a United States trade or business. Accordingly, AB Holding's distributions to foreign investors are subject to federal income tax withholding at the highest applicable tax rate, 37% effective January 1, 2018.
AllianceBernstein is a leading global investment management firm that offers high-quality research and diversified investment services to institutional investors, individuals and private wealth clients in major world markets.
As of June 30, 2022, including both the general partnership and limited partnership interests in AllianceBernstein, AllianceBernstein Holding owned approximately 35.7% of AllianceBernstein and Equitable Holdings ("EQH"), directly and through various subsidiaries, owned an approximate 65.0% economic interest in AllianceBernstein.
Additional information about AllianceBernstein may be found on our website, www.alliancebernstein.com.
AB
Notes to Consolidated Statements of Income and Supplemental Information
(Unaudited)
Net Revenue, as adjusted, is reduced to exclude all of the company's distribution revenues, which are recorded as a separate line item on the consolidated statement of income, as well as a portion of investment advisory services fees received that is used to pay distribution and servicing costs. For certain products, based on the distinct arrangements, certain distribution fees are collected by us and passed through to third-party client intermediaries, while for certain other products, we collect investment advisory services fees and a portion is passed through to third-party client intermediaries. In both arrangements, the third-party client intermediary owns the relationship with the client and is responsible for performing services and distributing the product to the client on our behalf. We believe offsetting distribution revenues and certain investment advisory services fees is useful for our investors and other users of our financial statements because such presentation appropriately reflects the nature of these costs as pass-through payments to third parties that perform functions on behalf of our sponsored mutual funds and/or shareholders of these funds. Distribution-related adjustments fluctuate each period based on the type of investment products sold, as well as the average AUM over the period. Also, we adjust distribution revenues for the amortization of deferred sales commissions as these costs, over time, will offset such revenues.
We adjust investment advisory and services fees and other revenues for pass through costs, primarily related to our transfer agent and shareholder servicing fees. These fees do not affect operating income, but they do affect our operating margin. As such, we exclude these fees from adjusted net revenues.
We also adjust for the revenue impact of consolidating company-sponsored investment funds by eliminating the consolidated company-sponsored investment funds' revenues and including AB's fees from such consolidated company-sponsored investment funds and AB's investment gains and losses on its investments in such consolidated company-sponsored investment funds that were eliminated in consolidation.
Lastly, adjusted net revenues exclude investment gains and losses and dividends and interest on employee long-term incentive compensation-related investments.
During the fourth quarter of 2021, we wrote down an equity method investment; this write down brought the investment balance to zero.
Adjusted operating income represents operating income on a US GAAP basis excluding (1) real estate charges (credits), (2) the impact on net revenues and compensation expense of the investment gains and losses (as well as the dividends and interest) associated with employee long-term incentive compensation-related investments, (3) our senior management's EQH award compensation, as discussed below, (4) the write-down of an investment, (5) acquisition-related expenses and (6) the impact of consolidated company-sponsored investment funds.
Real estate charges (credits) incurred have been excluded because they are not considered part of our core operating results when comparing financial results from period to period and to industry peers. However, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2019, real estate charges (credits), while excluded in the period in which the charges (credits) are recorded, are included ratably over the remaining applicable lease term.
Prior to 2009, a significant portion of employee compensation was in the form of long-term incentive compensation awards that were notionally invested in AB investment services and generally vested over a period of four years. AB economically hedged the exposure to market movements by purchasing and holding these investments on its balance sheet. All such investments had vested as of year-end 2012 and the investments have been delivered to the participants, except for those investments with respect to which the participant elected a long-term deferral. Fluctuation in the value of these investments is recorded within investment gains and losses on the income statement. Management believes it is useful to reflect the offset achieved from economically hedging the market exposure of these investments in the calculation of adjusted operating income and adjusted operating margin. The non-GAAP measures exclude gains and losses and dividends and interest on employee long-term incentive compensation-related investments included in revenues and compensation expense.
The board of directors of EQH granted to Seth Bernstein, our CEO, equity awards in connection with EQH's IPO. Additionally, equity awards were granted to Mr. Bernstein and other members of AB's senior management for their membership on the EQH Management Committee. These individuals may receive additional equity or cash compensation from EQH in the future related to their service on the Management Committee. Any awards granted to these individuals by EQH are recorded as compensation expense in AB's consolidated statement of income. The compensation expense associated with these awards has been excluded from our non-GAAP measures because they are non-cash and are based upon EQH's, and not AB's, financial performance.
The write-down of the investment during the fourth quarter of 2021 has been excluded due to its non-recurring nature and because it is not part of our core operating results.
Acquisition-related expenses have been excluded because they are not considered part of our core operating results when comparing financial results from period to period and to industry peers. Acquisition-related expenses include professional fees and the recording of changes in estimates to contingent payment arrangements associated with our acquisitions. Beginning in the first quarter of 2022, acquisition-related expenses also include certain compensation-related expenses, amortization of intangible assets for contracts acquired and accretion expense with respect to contingent payment arrangements.
We adjusted for the operating income impact of consolidating certain company-sponsored investment funds by eliminating the consolidated company-sponsored funds' revenues and expenses and including AB's revenues and expenses that were eliminated in consolidation. We also excluded the limited partner interests we do not own.
Adjusted operating margin allows us to monitor our financial performance and efficiency from period to period without the volatility noted above in our discussion of adjusted operating income and to compare our performance to industry peers on a basis that better reflects our performance in our core business. Adjusted operating margin is derived by dividing adjusted operating income by adjusted net revenues.
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SOURCE AllianceBernstein | 2022-07-29T11:22:59+00:00 | mysuncoast.com | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/29/alliancebernstein-holding-lp-announces-second-quarter-results/ |
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