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Gustavo Dudamel’s focus on hair was apparent on his first day at the New York Philharmonic as heir apparent.
The 42-year-old conductor, famous for his bushy locks, magnetic personality and an ability to boost audiences, thought back to his 2007 debut with the orchestra.
“I came here still with black hair,” Dudamel said during a news conference Monday on the stage of David Geffen Hall, “And then immediately it was a connection — it was an artistical, deep, soul connection.”
His once-dark tresses were closely cropped and salt-and-pepper speckled. Dudamel talked about his maturation as he prepares to become music director for the 2026-27 season.
“When I was 24 — 23, 24, 25 — it was crazy. I was a wild animal, not only because my hair was huge,” he said. “Right now, yes, I’m not anymore a young promise, but I’m still young. … With the time, with experience, you change a lot, but I keep that wild, wild animal Gustavo that is always there — and only with less hair now.”
Dudamel, the first Latino to lead the oldest of the major American orchestras, recalled growing up in Venezuela.
“My father played the trombone in a salsa band,” he said. “I wanted to play salsa. That was my dream as a kid. At the beginning, I was not dreaming about the symphony orchestra.”
He enrolled in El Sistema, Venezuela’s music education program, at a young age. Showing charm and humor, he spoke at Monday’s news conference about how he conducted the New York Philharmonic when he was 8 or 9 — while listening to recordings.
“At home, for my family. For a good audience — for my puppets,” Dudamel said. “I rehearsed. I said, ‘This is not good.’”
His first trip to New York was in 1995 with Venezuela’s national student orchestra.
“We were blessed because we came for only one night,” he said. “There was a storm, a snowstorm, and we had to stay one more day.”
Dudamel became music director of the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra in 1999. served as principal conductor of Sweden’s Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra from 2007-12 and took over as music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic for the 2009-10 season. He announced Feb. 7 he will give up the LA role in 2026 when he assumes the New York podium from Jaap Van Zweden, who departs after the 2023-24 season.
Wearing a suit and dress shirt but no tie as he sat beside New York Philharmonic CEO Deborah Borda, Dudamel said the city “can enrich my soul, my spirit as an artist and as a citizen of the world.”
Dudamel cited José Antonio Abreu, Daniel Barenboim, Claudio Abbado and Simon Rattle as mentors. He name-checked many predecessors as New York music director, including Leonard Bernstein, whose baton Dudamel accidently broke during his debut run.
About 30 musicians from the New York Philharmonic attended the news conference and a reception after, welcoming Dudamel with hugs and handshakes. When he guest-conducted the orchestra last May, the players gave him Widow Jane bourbon from Brooklyn as part of the wooing.
Dudamel, who currently calls Barcelona home, spoke fluently English and Spanish, at one point quipping: “I wanted to answer in Italian.”
He hopes to change a mentality that classical music “is is only for rich people.”
“Young people get afraid (of) classical, because this feels a little bit like the old car or vintage,” he said. “Music is made in the moment. Even if Beethoven wrote … in 1807 a symphony, this music that we are playing is happening right now, so it’s not any more music from that time; it’s music from this time.”
After at first declining to speak of Venezuela’s economic and political turmoil, Dudamel criticized his nation’s government in 2017 for suppressing protests. Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro then canceled the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra’s U.S. tours.
“I have nothing at present physically with the orchestra. We have been in contact all the time,” Dudamel said. “The orchestra is in amazing shape. I had the chance to see them a few months ago. It’s my orchestra. It’s my family. … I hope in the near future we will be doing thousands of things again together.”
Dudamel pushed for the 2007 establishment of the Youth Orchestra Los Angeles. At Monday’s news conference, he sidestepped whether he hoped for a similar program in New York and said he would have to learn more about the community.
He tried to avoid answering whether he would root for the Yankees or Mets.
“Cardenales,” Dudamel said, referring to the Venezuela team from his hometown of Barquisimeto. “I played a lot of baseball. I was good.” | 2023-02-21T17:26:41+00:00 | nwahomepage.com | https://www.nwahomepage.com/news/entertainment-news/ap-dudamel-on-new-york-i-keep-that-wild-wild-animal-gustavo/ |
There are jobs you take because you might find them fulfilling, or they're a stepping stone to a career you see for yourself. And then there are jobs you take for the money. The new book, Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands, is about the latter.
It's from Kate Beaton, author of the popular webcomic Hark! A Vagrant, as well as a number of children's books. But while her comic is known for its funny and exuberant takes on historical figures, with Ducks, Beaton uses her talents to examine her own life. Specifically the years she spent working at the oil sands of Fort McMurray, in Alberta, Canada.
"I didn't have a good time there," said Beaton. "I lived in the camps, and that was hard. That was very hard. I was a young woman, and by myself. I was harassed all the time."
The book starts over on the east coast, on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, where Beaton is from. It's a beautiful place that's long been economically disadvantaged. For a while it was home to various industries – steel, coal, fishing. And then it wasn't. So the island started sending its people out to wherever jobs were.
This idea – that you have to leave home to make a life for yourself – ingrained itself into the culture of Cape Breton. And the book opens with Beaton talking us through how.
"This push and pull defines us," a cartoon Beaton says in the opening. "It's all over our music, our literature, and our understanding of our place in the world. To have not is a mental state, as well as an economic one."
Her parents try to convince her to go into teaching or nursing, but she heads west, to the oil sands of Fort McMurray. It's an oil boomtown populated mostly by men who are, similarly, away from their homes and families. It makes it all the easier for them to fall into the traps of boomtowns — drugs, alcohol, loneliness.
The book follows Beaton as she deals with her own sense of isolation, while having to put up with constant sexism and misogyny. Men spread rumors about hooking up with her. They talk about her body at work openly. They walk into her bedroom "by accident."
But Beaton depicts small moments of tenderness too, from people looking out for her in their own ways. And there are the people who populate the city and are simply putting their heads down and providing for their families, just trying to get by.
Chris Turner, author of the book The Patch: The People, Pipelines, and Politics of the Oil Sands said the book avoids caricaturizing the town. Where other depictions at the time portrayed Fort McMurray as a lawless Wild West, Beaton's treats the workers with care and grace. That took a lot of courage, Turner said, "given that a lot of these guys, if you wanted to be damning about it, were enabling some of the culture she ran into."
Throughout Ducks, Beaton draws these huge landscapes. There'll be a big beautiful sky juxtaposed with seemingly equally huge and (and just as imposing) machinery on the ground. It's a stark reminder of what the oil industry is doing to the land. Land that was previously occupied by someone else.
There's a scene late in the book when an increasingly tired Beaton watches this interview with Celina Harpe. a Cree elder talking about the impacts the oil companies have had on their community. "Everything's ruined, our lives around our lands are ruined, our water, the air, everything," Harpe says. "At the cost of our lives — as long as they get their money. They don't care how many of us they kill off. That's the way I feel."
The moment coalesces the books themes of complicity and complicity and agency and power. Beaton said when the companies first came in to the area, the First Nations people in the area weren't given much say. And now they are tangled up economically in these industries that are polluting their land, and leaving them with higher rates of cancer.
"But what choice did they have but to be involved, or be completely crushed?" said Beaton.
The book is called Ducks after in incident in 2008 when a couple hundred migrating ducks landed in Canadian oil sludge and died. In the grander scheme of ecological disasters, it wasn't horrible. But the ducks were photogenic, and it became front page news. People started speaking out against the oil companies. Fines were issued.
When you listen to Beaton talk about her time in the oil sands, it's clear she's weighted down by everything that didn't make front page news, from the First Nations communities wrecked by the oil mining, to the decisions her fellow workers are forced to make when working the oil sands is one of the few options for a decent wage.
Beaton said people constantly try and make the oil sands about one thing. To refine it down to one issue. Ducks shows why that's impossible. "Life isn't that way," she said.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2022-10-07T10:31:47+00:00 | knkx.org | https://www.knkx.org/2022-10-07/kate-beatons-new-graphic-memoir-is-about-the-dark-type-of-job-you-take-for-money |
At long last, Twitter is testing one of its frequently requested features: The edit button.
if you see an edited Tweet it's because we're testing the edit button
— Twitter (@Twitter) September 1, 2022
this is happening and you'll be okay
The feature has limitations — tweets can only be edited for 30 minutes, and they will be labeled with icon to let others know the tweet has been changed.
Twitter, which has more than 230 million daily users, did not say when the majority of people on the site would be able to use the feature.
“Like any new feature, we’re intentionally testing Edit Tweet with a smaller group to help us incorporate feedback while identifying and resolving potential issues,” the company wrote in a blog post. “This includes how people might misuse the feature. You can never be too careful.”
The feature is already provoking backlash — some users raised concern online that the edit button could be used to spread misinformation, or to edit a tweet that has already been shared widely, changing it into a different message.
Twitter will add a label to edited tweets that will allow users to click in and see the history of the tweet and its changes.
Twitter confirmed it had been working on an edit button earlier this year after billionaire Elon Musk tweeted a poll asking if people wanted the feature. More than 73 percent of respondents said yes.
Twitter said it has been working on the edit button since last year.
The move to offer a new feature to Twitter Blue subscribers comes as Twitter is looking to bolster its business amid a downturn in the digital advertising market, which forms the lion’s share of its revenues. Growth in Twitter’s ad revenue nearly stalled last quarter.
Twitter has been exploring paid subscription products to supplement its advertising revenue. On Tuesday it confirmed reports that it had been developing a feature that would allow adult content creators to charge for subscriptions on the platform, with Twitter taking a cut, before halting the project amid concerns over child exploitation.
Twitter has had a rocky year, both in the stock market and internally after Musk launched a $44 billion hostile takeover of the company. He later filed to terminate the deal. Twitter and Musk are now embroiled in a lawsuit over the deal, which is set for trial in October.
Last week, The Washington Post reported that the company’s former head of security, Peiter Zatko, filed a whistleblower complaint with regulators, alleging that the company had lax security practices. Twitter has pushed back on the allegations.
Will Oremus contributed to this report. | 2022-09-01T14:31:39+00:00 | washingtonpost.com | https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/09/01/twitter-edit-button/ |
The Bettendorf Public Library’s Summer Concert Series returns with some hot music on summer nights.
The Summer Concert Series free shows are every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. through August 11. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets and take in this year’s line-up:
- June 2: John Resch & Doggin’ Out
- June 9: Ten of Soul
- June 16: Wicked Liz and the Bellyswirls
- June 23: Atomic Blender
- June 30: Lojo Russo
- July 7: The Velies
- July 14: Crooked Cactus Band
- July 21: Avey Grows Band
- July 28: Class of ‘82
- August 4: David G. Smith
- August 11: Soul Storm
In case of inclement weather, the concerts will be inside the Library at 2950 Learning Campus Drive in the Bettendorf Room. For more information, click here. | 2022-05-31T22:24:53+00:00 | ourquadcities.com | https://www.ourquadcities.com/news/local-news/summer-concert-series-returns-to-fayes-field/ |
LUND, Sweden, July 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
Record high order intake
- Record high order intake of SEK 14.4 billion with continued strong demand in most end-markets.
- Organic sales growth of 9 percent despite supply chain challenges.
- Stable adjusted EBITA margin of 16.5 percent.
- Cash flow negatively impacted by volume growth and inventory build-up.
Summary
Second quarter
Order intake increased by 10 percent* to SEK 14,421 (12,183) million.
Net sales increased by 10 percent* to SEK 11,852 (9,975) million.
Adjusted EBITA**: SEK 1,959 (1,738) million.
Adjusted EBITA margin**: 16.5 (17.4) percent.
Result after financial items: SEK 1,576 (1,231) million.
Net income: SEK 1,152 (985) million.
Earnings per share: SEK 2.75 (2.32).
Cash flow from operating activities: SEK 192 (1,421) million.
Impact on adjusted EBITA of foreign exchange effects: SEK 90 (-30) million.
Impact on result after financial items of comparison distortion items: SEK - (-204) million.
First six months
Order intake increased by 16 percent* to SEK 27,676 (22,387) million.
Net sales increased by 11 percent* to SEK 22,467 (18,944) million.
Adjusted EBITA**: SEK 3,775 (3,268) million.
Adjusted EBITA margin**: 16.8 (17.3) percent.
Result after financial items: SEK 2,836 (2,714) million.
Net income: SEK 2,084 (2,097) million.
Earnings per share: SEK 4.97 (4.96).
Cash flow from operating activities: SEK 959 (2,384) million.
Impact on adjusted EBITA of foreign exchange effects: SEK 130 (-100) million.
Impact on result after financial items of comparison distortion items: SEK -327 (-192) million.
Return on capital employed (%) **: 19.1 (18.0).
Net debt to EBITDA, times **: 1.09 (1.14).
* Excluding currency effects. ** Alternative performance measures.
Outlook for the third quarter
"We expect demand in the third quarter to be somewhat lower than in the second quarter."
Earlier published outlook (April 26, 2022): "We expect demand in the second quarter to be somewhat lower than in the first quarter."
The Q2 2022 report has not been subject to review by the company's auditors.
This information is information that Alfa Laval AB (publ) is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and the Securities Markets Act. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out below, at CET 7.30 on July 20, 2022.
For more information, please contact:
Johan Lundin, Head of Investor Relations
Phone: +46 46 36 65 10,
Mobile: +46 730 46 30 90,
E-mail: johan.lundin@alfalaval.com
Alfa Laval AB (publ)
PO Box 73
SE-221 00 Lund
Sweden
Corporate registration number: 556587-8054
Visiting address:
Rudeboksvägen 1
Phone: + 46 46 36 65 00
Website: www.alfalaval.com
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
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SOURCE Alfa Laval | 2022-07-20T07:02:55+00:00 | kalb.com | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2022/07/20/alfa-laval-ab-publ-interim-report-april-1-june-30-2022/ |
Which women’s Crocs are best?
Crocs is an interesting brand. They make some of the most comfortable shoes you can wear in dozens of types, forms and designs. However, they face near constant derision. As such, wearing them becomes something of a statement. You slip them on and tell the world that you don’t care what anyone thinks. You know what you like and what’s comfortable for you, and you’re going to do what you please. That’s a powerful message to send by just wearing some shoes.
What to know before you buy women’s Crocs
Size
Technically, all Crocs are unisex. There are no special design choices made that separate men’s and women’s Crocs, such as men’s Crocs being wider. This doesn’t stop manufacturers and even Crocs itself from labeling some shoes as being for men or women and only using that gender’s shoe sizing. However, it does mean that, for example, a women’s size 7 is always identical to a men’s size 5.
Additionally, Crocs only makes shoes in whole sizes. If you wear a half size, you need to order up or down depending on how tight you like your shoes to feel.
Fit
On top of size, Crocs come in three fit types.
- Standard fits are the tightest. They stay close to the foot in all places, including the toe box.
- Relaxed fits open up a little space. There’s typically just enough wiggle room so you can adjust your feet inside without being overly slippery.
- Roomy fits do let your feet move around inside. This lets your feet breathe better than the other fits, but you need to wear the heel strap (if the shoe has one) or your Crocs could slip off.
Jibbitz
Jibbitz are Crocs’ specially made charms designed to pop into the small ventilation holes found on most pairs of Crocs. Many Crocs even come with a Jibbitz or two to get you started. You can find them ready-made in a massive range of designs, or you can custom order them from websites like Etsy.
Best women’s Crocs
Crocs Unisex Adult Classic Clogs
This is the pair that started it all. It has all the hallmarks of a good pair of Crocs, such as the bountiful ventilation holes, the soft and springy material and the heel strap to keep it firmly in place no matter where you walk.
Sold by Amazon, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Kohl’s
Crocs Unisex Adult Classic Tie-Dye Lined Clogs
This pair adds a faux fur lining to increase your comfort while helping your feet stay warm on colder days. You can wear them out on the town or as slippers at home.
Sold by Amazon, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Kohl’s
Crocs Women’s Classic Platform Clogs
These are the perfect way to add 1 inch or 2 to your height while taking advantage of the same ventilation and comfortable material as standard clogs. They come in 24 colors.
Sold by Amazon, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Kohl’s
Crocs Women’s Mercy Work Clogs
This pair is designed for use in jobs where you spend hours on your feet, walking on slippery floors. Special soles increase your traction, and the quieted-down design doesn’t draw attention to itself.
Sold by Amazon
This pair is a cross between classic clogs and Crocs’ line of sneakers. The LiteRide material adds even more comfort than usual and ups the durability, so you can use these in harsher locations.
Sold by Amazon
Crocs Women’s LiteRide Pacer Lace-Up Sneakers
These are the closest Crocs comes to a “regular” shoe. However, the same ultrasoft material and bevy of ventilation holes ensure you don’t sacrifice comfort by turning away from the usual Crocs designs.
Crocs Women’s LiteRide 360 Sandals
If you prefer your feet to breathe naturally in the open air but still want the superior durability and cushioning of Crocs’ LiteRide material, grab these shoes. The top straps even use hook-and-loop closures for a custom fit.
Sold by Amazon
Crocs Women’s LiteRide Stretch Sandals
This alternate version of the LiteRide sandals uses soft and stretchy elastic rather than hook-and-loop straps, so there’s no need to worry about anything wrenching the straps off. They come in nine colors.
Sold by Amazon and Dick’s Sporting Goods
Crocs Unisex Adult Classic Two-Strap Slide Sandals
These shoes are Crocs’ take on slides, using two straps rather than the usual one. These dual straps help the shoes stay put better than one-strap slides and make it clear to others that you’re wearing Crocs.
Sold by Amazon
Crocs Unisex Adult Classic Cozzzy Fuzzy Slide Sandals
Another entry into the faux fur-lined world of Crocs, these make perfect house slippers for those with sweaty feet. They also allow you to show a little more personality with have space for seven Jibbitz on each foot.
Sold by Amazon and Dick’s Sporting Goods
Crocs Women’s Brooklyn Low Strappy Wedge Sandals
Who says Crocs doesn’t offer designer-like shoes? With these platform sandals, you can wow the people around you while still feeling like you’re walking on a cloud. They also come in five colors.
Sold by Amazon
Crocs Women’s Tulum Toe Post Sandals
Crocs have more than one designer-like shoe, and these sandals are one of them. Most designs use a plain tan sole to help the brightly colored top strap pop even more, plus a buckle helps you customize the fit.
Sold by Amazon and Dick’s Sporting Goods
Crocs Women’s Kadee II Sandals
If you just want something simple but still want a fun design, these sandals are perfect. They act like any other slide, but the crisscross top straps make it feel a little more special.
Sold by Amazon
Crocs Unisex Adult Classic Flip-Flops
These flip-flops act like the usual beach-day classic in every way, just with the benefits of the comfy Crocs material and space for six Jibbitz on each strap. They also come in 14 colors.
Sold by Amazon
Crocs Unisex Adult Classic Slide Sandals
Another “if it ain’t broke” offering from Crocs, these classic one-strap slides are equally great for trips to the mailbox as they are for days at the mall or pool.
Sold by Amazon, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Kohl’s
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | 2022-09-22T20:41:59+00:00 | cbs42.com | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/shoes-br/comfort-br/15-best-womens-crocs/ |
Sheryl Crow responds to Jason Aldean’s song controversy: ‘Even people in small towns are sick of violence’
By Marianne Garvey, CNN
(CNN) — Sheryl Crow has shared her thoughts on Jason Aldean’s controversial song, “Try That in a Small Town.”
Aldean’s single, which was released in May, stirred new controversy when the music video debuted on July 14. The lyrics and visual references in the video, critics say, are evocative of vigilantism and racism, which Aldean has disputed.
“Got a gun that my granddad gave me / They say one day they’re gonna round up / Well, that s— might fly in the city, good luck/Try that in a small town,” Aldean sings in the song.
Crow reacted in a tweet on Tuesday.
“@Jason_Aldean I’m from a small town. Even people in small towns are sick of violence,” she wrote.
Crow grew up from Kennett, Missouri, which has a current population of roughly 10,200. Aldean was born in Macon, Georgia, which has a population of about 156,000.
“There’s nothing small-town or American about promoting violence,” Crow added. “You should know that better than anyone having survived a mass shooting. This is not American or small town-like. It’s just lame.”
Aldean was performing at the Route 91 Music Harvest Festival in Las Vegas in 2017 when a gunman killed 58 people and injured hundreds more, the deadliest mass shooting in American history.
Crow is a longtime advocate for gun safety. In March, she performed at a vigil in Nashville following a school shooting in which three staff members and three students were killed. She is also among several artists who lobbied the Tennessee legislature for gun reform following the shooting.
Aldean, who now lives in Nashville, referenced both mass shootings in a tweet on Tuesday.
“As so many pointed out, I was present at Route 91-where so many lost their lives- and our community recently suffered another heartbreaking tragedy. NO ONE, including me, wants to continue to see senseless headlines or families ripped apart,” Aldean wrote.
“Try That in a Small Town,” produced by longtime Aldean collaborator Michael Knox, was written by Kurt Allison, Kelley Lovelace, Neil Thrasher and Tully Kennedy.
Aldean shared his interpretation of the song’s lyrics in his tweet.
“Try That In A Small Town, for me, refers to the feeling of a community that I had growing up, where we took care of our neighbors, regardless of differences of background or belief,” Aldean wrote. “Because they were our neighbors, and that was above any differences. My political views have never been something I’ve hidden from, and I know that a lot of us in this Country don’t agree on how we get back to a sense of normalcy where we go at least a day without a headline that keeps us up at night. But the desire for it to- that’s what this song is about.”
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | 2023-07-19T23:40:32+00:00 | localnews8.com | https://localnews8.com/entertainment/cnn-entertainment/2023/07/19/sheryl-crow-responds-to-jason-aldeans-song-controversy-even-people-in-small-towns-are-sick-of-violence-2/ |
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Love’s is hosting a hiring event at its Oklahoma City corporate office.
For corporate office/contact center candidates in Oklahoma City:
- Interviews for corporate office/contact center roles will be held
in-person from 10:00 AM – 6:00PM - Location for interviews is the Love’s Corporate Contact Center in OKC
1331 W. Memorial Rd, OKC, OK 73114
For more information, visit Lovesnhe.com. | 2023-03-24T00:06:20+00:00 | kfor.com | https://kfor.com/on-air/seen-on-tv/loves-national-hiring-event/ |
(The Conversation) – Rising temperatures due to climate change are causing more than just uncomfortably hot days across the United States. These high temperatures are placing serious stress on critical infrastructure such as water supplies, airports, roads and bridges.
One category of critical infrastructure being severely affected is the nation’s K-12 schools.
Ideally, the nation’s more than 90,000 public K-12 schools, which serve over 50 million students, should protect children from the sometimes dangerous elements of the outdoors such as severe storms or extreme temperatures.
But since so many of America’s schools are old and dilapidated, it’s the school buildings themselves that need protection – or at least to be updated for the 21st century.
Twenty-eight percent of the nation’s public schools were built from 1950 through 1969, federal data shows, while just 10% were built in 1985 or later.
As a researcher who studies the impact of climate change, I have measured its effects on infrastructure and health for over a decade. During that time, I’ve seen little attention focused on the effects of climate change on public schools.
Since 2019, climate scientist Sverre LeRoy, at the Center for Climate Integrity, and I have worked to determine if the nation’s schools are prepared for the heat waves on the approaching horizon.
Comparing the climate conditions under which U.S. schools were built with the projected conditions over the next two decades, we looked at the vulnerability of all K-12 schools to increasing temperatures. We determined whether current schools have air conditioning or not and whether they would be required to add air conditioning in the future.
The results of our study, “Hotter Days, Higher Costs: The Cooling Crisis in America’s Classrooms,” show that by 2025, more than 13,700 schools will need to install air conditioning, and another 13,500 will need to upgrade their existing systems.
Hot classrooms
Research has shown that high classroom temperatures can make it harder to learn. Hot school days cause difficulty in concentrating, sleepiness, a decrease in energy and even reduced memory capacity.
Local school districts have policies for extreme heat events. However, rising temperatures mean these guidelines are no longer limited to rare occurrences.
Over the past several years, schools across the U.S. are increasingly forced to take “heat days,” cutting school days short because of classrooms that are too hot for students to effectively learn.
This is happening in places that range from Denver to Baltimore and Cleveland.
Compounding the increase in temperatures is the national trend that seasonal temperatures are rising in both the spring and the fall. For example, both Rhode Island and New Jersey have seen average spring and fall temperatures rise over 3 degrees Fahrenheit (1.7 Celsius). Rather than high temperatures only occurring when students are on summer break, these heat events now occur regularly during the school year too. Students today in a greater number of cities are beginning and ending the school year in classrooms that often exceed 80 F (27 C).
Expensive upgrades
The problem of more hot days is due to average temperatures increasing over the past 40 years. The number of days with high temperatures has risen across the country, with notable increases in large northern cities. For example, Chicago has seen the number of days over 80 degrees during the school year increase from 27 in 1970 to 32 in 2020 and a projected 38 by 2025. These increases affect schools in two distinct ways.
Schools in the traditionally cooler north – especially older schools – will need to be retrofitted with new air conditioning systems at an accumulated cost of US$40 billion by 2025. For schools in the traditionally warmer South and West, many existing systems will need to be upgraded at a projected cost exceeding $400 million.
Temperature increases are especially costly in large cities such as Philadelphia, Chicago and Los Angeles, where existing efforts and continued needs will result in outlays exceeding $500 million, $1.5 billion and $600 million, respectively. These large districts have a greater number of older buildings that require upgrades in electrical and structural systems to support new air conditioning systems.
For all schools – even ones that don’t require system upgrades – the additional costs of operating air conditioning systems to meet the new demands will exceed $1.4 billion per year.
An equity issue
Since school districts are dependent on local taxes or bond measures to finance the school system, districts in affluent areas have a greater opportunity to obtain funds through tax increases or voter-approved bond measures.
In contrast, districts located in less affluent counties – including Bell County, Kentucky; Scott County, Tennessee; and DeKalb County, Alabama – face the challenge of creating safe learning environments without a financial safety net. With household incomes for the entire district in the bottom 20% of national averages, or less than $43,000 per year, these districts are unable to absorb significant tax increases.
In this regard, classroom environments become an equity issue. While the increase in temperature may affect all children, the relative impact of the increase and the ability to adapt is not equal.
Unsustainable solutions
Increasingly, school districts are turning to individual window units to address classroom overheating. However, window units do not cool interior offices, cannot circulate and exchange air within the classrooms, and will not meet expected lifespans due to extensive use. Furthermore, they create uneven cooling patterns and classroom disturbance due to noise. While these solutions are popular from an initial budget perspective, they ultimately fail to solve the hot classroom crisis.
Where mechanical systems are not an option due to budgetary constraints, school districts are looking at altering the school year to start later or end earlier. However, there are limits to this approach because there are minimum requirements for the number of days that are in the school year. Some schools are even experimenting with remote learning as a response when extreme temperatures are an issue.
The bottom line for schools and their surrounding communities is that rising temperatures from climate change are a growing threat to school infrastructure. Schools will need additional funding to install or upgrade air conditioning systems, pay for increased energy usage or redesign school buildings to enhance natural cooling. Various cities and states argue that fossil fuel companies have a duty to pay these infrastructure costs associated with climate change.
The only other choice is for America’s students to continue to endure classrooms where it’s simply too hot to learn. | 2022-07-31T16:52:50+00:00 | wdtn.com | https://www.wdtn.com/news/as-heat-waves-intensify-tens-of-thousands-of-us-classrooms-will-be-too-hot-for-students-to-learn-in/ |
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis authorized spending up to 1 million euros to free a Colombian nun kidnapped by al-Qaida-linked militants in Mali, a cardinal testified Thursday, revealing previously secret papal approval to hire a British security firm to find the nun and secure her freedom.
Cardinal Angelo Becciu’s bombshell testimony could pose serious security implications for the Vatican and Catholic Church, since he provided evidence that the pope was apparently willing to pay ransom to Islamic militants to free a nun, who was eventually let go last year.
Ransom payment are rarely if ever confirmed, precisely to dissuade future kidnappings, and it’s not known how much — if any Vatican money — actually ended up in the hands of the militants. Prosecutors have accused a Becciu co-defendant of embezzling around half the amount on high-end luxury items for herself.
Becciu, who was once one of Francis’ top advisers as the No. 2 in the Vatican secretariat of state, had withheld his testimony from the Vatican tribunal for nearly two years as a matter of state and pontifical secret. But he spoke freely Thursday in his own defense after Francis released him from the confidentiality requirement, providing the most anticipated testimony of the yearlong trial to date.
Becciu is one of 10 people accused in the Vatican’s sprawling financial fraud trial, which originated in the Holy See’s 350 million euro investment in a London property and expanded to cover other alleged crimes. Prosecutors have accused the defendants of a host of crimes for allegedly fleecing the Holy See of millions of euros in fees, commissions and bad investments.
Becciu, the lone cardinal on trial, is accused of embezzlement, abuse of office and witness tampering, all of which he denies. On Thursday, his testimony covered the charges concerning his relationship with an Italian self-styled intelligence specialist, Cecilia Marogna.
Marogna has told Italian media that she helped negotiate the release of Catholic hostages in Africa on behalf of the Holy See. Vatican prosecutors accuse her of embezzling 575 million euros, citing bank records from her Slovenian holding company that show nine wire transfers from the Vatican in 2018-2019 for unspecified humanitarian ends, and expenditures out of the account at Prada, Luis Vuitton and fancy hotels. Marogna has said the transfers were reimbursements for expenditures and compensation for her services.
Becciu testified Thursday that he hired Marogna as an external security consultant, impressed by her grasp of geopolitical affairs and the trust she enjoyed of two of Italy’s top secret service officials, Generals Luciano Carta and Gianni Caravelli, who accompanied her to a meeting with Becciu in the Vatican in October 2017.
Becciu said he turned to Marogna for help following the February 2017 kidnapping of a Colombian nun, Sister Gloria Cecilia Narvaez, in Mali. She had been kidnapped by al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, which has bankrolled its insurgency by kidnapping Westerners. During her captivity, the group periodically showed Narvaez on video asking for the Vatican’s help.
Becciu said he had heard from the Vatican’s nuncio in Colombia as well as other sisters from the nun’s religious order asking for help. He said he brought the matter to Francis as well as Marogna, who he said advised him that she could work with a British intelligence firm, The Inkerman Group, to secure the nun’s release.
Becciu testified that Francis authorized him to proceed with the Inkerman operation, and forbade him from telling anyone else about it, including the Vatican’s own police chief. Francis was concerned about the security and reputational implications if the news leaked, Becciu said.
Becciu said he and Marogna met with Inkerman officials at their London office in mid-January 2018.
Inkerman officials said there were no assurances of success and that the total expenditure could reach 1 million euros, Becciu said. Because the Vatican wanted to remain external to any operation, Marogna became the key intermediary and the one to receive periodic payments from the Vatican secretariat of state for the operation, Becciu testified.
Becciu said he provided Francis a preliminary oral readout of the London meeting on Jan. 15, 2018, while the pope was en route to Peru.
“He listened to me and confirmed my intention to proceed,” Becciu testified. “In a subsequent meeting with the Holy Father, once in Rome, I spoke to him in more detail about the conversation we had with the Inkermans and the sum that we should have estimated in broad terms: about 1 million euros, part to pay for the creation of a network of contacts, and part for the effective liberation of the nun.”
“I pointed out that we shouldn’t have gone beyond that figure. He approved. I must say that every step of this operation was agreed with the Holy Father,” Becciu testified.
Narvaez was released in October, 2021, after more than four years in captivity. Soon after, she met with Francis at the Vatican.
Vatican prosecutors say they have evidence that the secretariat of state, in addition to the transfer of 575,000 euros sent to Marogna’s Slovenian accounts, sent an equivalent amount directly to a British bank account held by Inkerman.
Becciu also responded to claims against him concerning Cardinal George Pell, who left his job as the Vatican’s financial czar in 2017 to face historic sex abuse charges in his native Australia, for which he was ultimately acquitted. Pell clashed repeatedly with Becciu during his time at the Vatican and has repeated Italian media claims that Becciu approved money transfers from the Vatican to Australia that in some way aided in the sex abuse prosecution against him.
Becciu on Thursday produced two letters to refute the claims: One from the current secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, explaining that the 1.46 million euros that was wired to Australia was to pay for a domain name “.catholic.” And the other, a Sept. 11, 2015 letter authorizing that expenditure, signed by none other than Pell. | 2022-05-05T19:25:17+00:00 | texomashomepage.com | https://www.texomashomepage.com/news/cardinal-pope-authorized-1m-payment-to-free-kidnapped-nun/ |
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Migrant laborers who built Qatar's World Cup stadiums often worked long hours under harsh conditions and were subjected to discrimination, wage theft and other abuses as their employers evaded accountability, a rights group said in a report released Thursday.
The 75-page report by the London-based charity Equidem comes less than two weeks before the Gulf Arab nation hosts the world's biggest sporting event, with over 1.2 million fans expected to descend on the tiny emirate for the monthlong tournament.
Under heavy international scrutiny, Qatar has enacted a number of labor reforms in recent years that have been praised by Equidem and other rights groups. But advocates say abuses are still widespread and that workers have few avenues for redress.
Qatari officials from the ruling emir on down accuse critics of ignoring the reforms and applying double-standards to the first Arab or Muslim nation to host the tournament.
Equidem says it interviewed 60 workers over a period of two years who were employed across all eight stadiums. All of them spoke to the group on condition of anonymity, fearing retribution.
Workers described illegal recruitment fees that left them deeply in debt before they even started; long working hours in the desert heat and other harsh conditions; nationality-based discrimination in which the most dangerous high-rise work was reserved for Africans and South Asians; unpaid wages and denial of overtime; and verbal and physical violence.
“Fans need to know how this came about, that the stadiums that they’re sitting in (were) built by workers, many of whom were in conditions of what we would call forced labor or other forms of modern slavery,” said Namrata Raju, the lead researcher on the report.
Workers said employers had various ways of avoiding accountability, with one describing how supervisors pulled the fire alarm and evacuated workers from a site before FIFA inspectors arrived.
Qatar bars migrant laborers from forming unions, striking or protesting, and workers said they feared retaliation — including losing their jobs or being deported — if they spoke out.
“The fear of reprisal is exceedingly high,” Raju said, with workers feeling as though “two sets of eyes” are on them because of surveillance by Qatari authorities and employers.
London-based Amnesty International and New York-based Human Rights Watch have documented similar abuses. They also say that while Qatar has dismantled much of its “kafala” system, which tied workers to their employers, many laborers still face retaliation if they try to quit their jobs or go to work for someone else. As a result, some work long hours under harsh conditions for months on end without being paid.
Migrant workers make up a large majority of Qatar's population and around 95% of its labor force. They have built sprawling infrastructure at breakneck speed since Qatar won hosting rights in 2010, including the stadiums, a high-speed metro system, highways and hotels.
They will serve meals, clean rooms and sweep the streets during the monthlong World Cup. An earlier Equidem report found similar labor abuses at World Cup hotels.
Construction workers mainly hail from poor countries in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. They typically live in shared rooms in labor camps and go years without returning home or seeing their families. They labor year-round, with reduced hours during the scorching summer months, when temperatures regularly exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
Qatari authorities point to a number of steps they have taken to improve labor conditions, including enacting a minimum wage of around $275 a month, limiting the workday when temperatures soar and setting up a fund to compensate workers for wage theft and other abuses.
Asked to comment on the Equidem report, Qatar's media office said authorities carried out over 3,700 inspections last month and have stepped up enforcement of labor laws, leading to a decline in violations.
“Equidem should encourage the respondents in its report to lodge complaints through the proper channels if they believe a law has been broken,” it said in a statement. "With this information, the Ministry of Labor will investigate companies and take the necessary corrective action, which often includes company closures and compensation for workers.”
Raju said the scope of the reforms is limited by the lingering power imbalance between employers and workers.
“When a system of labor discriminates between a national and a non-national and has done so for years, it means that the entire system needs to start to shift, rather than changing one law here, one law there," she said.
Rights groups worry that the power imbalance will endure and potentially worsen after the World Cup ends on Dec. 18 and the international spotlight moves on. Companies are expected to slash their payrolls once the fans depart, adding to the pressure workers face to stay in line.
Equidem and other rights groups have called on Qatar to enact further reforms and for Qatar and FIFA to set up a larger fund to compensate workers who faced abuses going back to 2010, years before the existing reforms were enacted. FIFA has said it is open to the idea, which enjoys the support of several federations.
Qatar says it is focused on strengthening its existing fund, which it says has paid out over $350 million this year in compensation for work-related incidents and unpaid wages.
Rights groups are also calling for the establishment of a genuinely independent and representative migrant workers center as a first step toward legalizing unions and other forms of collective action, but there appears to be little movement on that front.
Without urgent commitment on both, Equidem says, the World Cup “will leave a legacy of exploitation and unfulfilled promises.”
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AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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Follow Joseph Krauss on Twitter at www.twitter.com/josephkrauss. | 2022-11-10T13:59:16+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Rights-group-Labor-abuses-widespread-at-World-17573820.php |
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP)Leonard Hamilton has always tried to build and win with veteran teams. This season the Florida State coach will win with a new type of veteran.
”We’re fortunate now that every one of our returning veterans, our two-year veterans, they have improved with hard work over the summer,” Hamilton said. ”And to my pleasure, the incoming players that we have are farther along than I thought they would be at this stage.”
Hamilton and the Seminoles have built rosters through the years that lean on length, athleticism and depth. They have also featured a blend of seniors as well as transfers and some one-and-done stars. But the Seminoles haven’t had a situation like this, where they return just five players and all of them are beginning only their second season in Tallahassee.
Florida State’s returning five are a good foundation – productive players who are evolving into leaders. They will be complemented by a few transfers and freshmen who could help the program get back to the NCAA Tournament after falling short at 17-14 during an injury-depleted 2021-22 season.
The Seminoles return their top two scorers in guards Caleb Mills (12.7 points) and Matthew Cleveland (11.5 points). Also back is forward Cam’Ron Fletcher, who averaged 6.8 points off the bench last season, as well as center Naheem McLeod and guard Jalen Warley.
FSU also welcomes junior guard Darin Green Jr., a UCF transfer who led the team in scoring (13.3 points) and 3-pointers (87) last season. Forward Baba Miller, a 6-foot-11 forward who played for Spain’s under-18 national team over the summer, leads a freshman class that also includes center Cameron Corhen, forward De’Ante Green and guard Chandler Jackson.
Hamilton thinks his unranked team will make an impression quickly.
”When you look back even at the times we’ve won the ACC, ranked in the top 10 at the end of the season, those years we’ve never been preseason in the Top 25,” Hamilton said. ”I’m expecting to have a really good year. Hopefully we’ll be a surprise team in the country.”
INJURY WATCH
Florida State lost 54 games to injury in 2021-22, with five of the Seminoles’ top nine scorers forced to watch for large chunks of the ACC schedule. One early question is Jaylen Gainey, a 6-foot-10 transfer from Brown who was the Ivy League’s defensive player of the year in 2020 and ’22. Gainey suffered a preseason injury and could be out an extensive part of the season.
NO EARLY RETIREMENT
Hamilton was hired at Florida State in 2002 and turned 74 in August. At a time where some of the biggest names in college basketball have opted to retire, notably Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski (now 75) and UNC’s Roy Williams (now 72), Hamilton embraces his role as a mentor and coach.
”I’m happy where I am, my family is happy and we’re expecting bigger and better things,” said Hamilton, whose teams are 78-42 since the start of the 2016-17 season. ”Don’t ask me when I’m retiring. As long as I can come out of the locker room and not accidentally go sit on the other coach’s bench because I don’t know where I’m at, I’m going to hang in there.”
FAMILIAR FACE
Green Jr. shot 6 of 9 from beyond the 3-point arc in UCF’s win over Florida State on Dec. 19, 2020. The 6-foot-5 guard made 208 3-pointers in three seasons at UCF, making 38.8 shots from long range. The early impressions of Green Jr. at Florida State have been impressive: He shot 13 of 30 from 3-point range during a three-game exhibition tour in Canada this summer.
SIXTH SENSE
Florida State has won the last four ACC Sixth Man of the Year awards: Mfiondu Kabengele, Patrick Williams, Scottie Barnes and Cleveland. The 6-foot-7 Cleveland has tried to make newcomers feel more comfortable during preseason practices.
”Just making sure that everyone, the transfers and the incoming guys, that they have the information that they need to play within the system and to be comfortable,” Cleveland said.
SCHEDULE
Florida State will host preseason No. 1 North Carolina on Feb. 27 and No. 18 Virginia on Jan. 14. The Seminoles will travel to play at Duke on Dec. 31. They will also face five schools that received votes in the presason AP Top 25: Florida, Miami, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame and Purdue.
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More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 | 2022-10-20T03:08:43+00:00 | krqe.com | https://www.krqe.com/sports/ncaa-mens-basketball/hamilton-florida-state-rebuilding-around-2-year-veterans/ |
At the Police Training Academy in Madison, Wis., there are 46 recruits in two groups for the class of 2022. Nikki Acker, 36, is one of nine female trainees in the group who are new to policing.
Part of their training today is how to handcuff a person. Their shoes squeak on the blue floor mats as they practice.
Acker used to be a teller at a credit union and worked in property management. She's 5'4" and never imagined being a police officer until she got a job working as a clerk in the records department.
"I guess I had in my mind the stereotype of these big guys with military backgrounds," she laughs, "and once I started learning more and getting involved in reading reports and seeing the calls, I learned that they're so much more than that."
They're often people with good communication skills, she says, problem-solving skills — and she felt that type of job was something she could do.
Despite all the controversy surrounding policing, her husband and friends encouraged her to try it.
"And if I don't, who does?" she says.
Women in policing
Women make up just 12% of the law enforcement officers in the country and 3% of police leadership. One of the efforts to increase those numbers is called the 30x30 initiative.
The program aims to have women make up 30 percent of the recruits in police training classes by 2030.
Maureen McGough, chief of staff at the Policing Project at New York University School of Law, is one of the founders of the initiative.
"It's not just about getting women in the door," she says, "but on transforming police agencies by taking a deep look at policies, procedures and culture."
Nearly 200 agencies across the country have signed onto the project. Interest surged after the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the protests that followed. The Madison Police Department was one of the first to pledge its support.
The agency already has one of the highest percentages of female police officers on the job — 28% of Madison's 509 sworn police officers. That's a distinction the department emphasizes in a recruitment video.
Several decades ago, a former police chief focused on creating a more diverse police force — convinced that it would be beneficial. Other leaders stayed true to the commitment.
"There's been a lot of scrutiny of the profession, understandably and justifiably so," says Madison Asst. Police Chief Paige Valenta, the highest-ranking woman on the force.
While many agree that police departments should reflect the communities they serve, critics argue that efforts to hire women and people of color can't eliminate longstanding bias and racism in policing.
Valenta says the challenging atmosphere has made recruiting difficult throughout the country.
"It's not traditionally been a profession that's been very welcoming to women," says Valenta. "S0, I do think there's a long way to go nationally, but I do think that we have been doing a lot of good things and are way ahead of the curve in Madison."
Bringing change started small
Some changes designed to improve the experience of women in the ranks are simple, low-cost steps, says Valenta — like using inclusive language and saying "patrol officer" instead of "patrolman."
Women can wear a load-bearing vest instead of a belt full of equipment around the waist. Sgt. Theresa Magyera, who oversees recruitment and training at the Academy, says despite changes there are still barriers.
"The really difficult part of the job revolves around kids and families," Magyera says. "I was in patrol when I got pregnant, and I stayed working until I was 14 weeks pregnant."
Pregnant officers can be assigned light duty and work inside. Madison police stations also have breast-feeding rooms for officers with infants.
Magyera did not return to a patrol assignment. Instead, she landed the 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. shift as the Academy's training director. New recruits are often assigned to afternoons or night shifts and that makes finding daycare for children challenging. Female officers with children who work a daytime shift often don't try for promotions so they can keep their family-friendly hours. Something a male officer rarely has to contemplate.
What can also be daunting are the physical aspects of the entrance exam. For example, applicants must be able to do 15 pushups to get in the door, then 18 at the beginning of training and 23 at the end. Magyera says the training team offers help to women and men who don't pass the fitness test on the first try.
"We allow them a second-chance opportunity," Magyera says. "We give them specific exercises to help them increase their pushup count or their sit-up count and they come back and they pass it and that's a huge win for us."
On her way to answer a dispatch call, patrol officer Nicole Schmitgen chuckles as she remembers her struggle. "I was still in grad school when I applied the first time. I couldn't get my pushups."
She succeeded the second time, after other recruits and her sister helped her train.
"I'm hopeful that people, especially women, can realize that this isn't just about the physical aspect of things," she cautions. "Does it help to be fit? Absolutely. But I would say that's only 10 to 20 % of my job."
Benefits and criticism of female cops
Nearly 270,000 people live in Madison. The crime rate is lower than the rest of the country and other cities its size like Fort Wayne, Ind., and Reno Nev. In 2020, there were reports of 738 violent crimes, according to FBI data.
Officer Schmitgen patrols solo — answering 9-1-1 calls and keeping an eye out for trouble in Madison's central district around the state capital and part of the University of Wisconsin campus.
Her patrol car is a rolling office. The dispatch radio is stationed low under the dash. There's a computer and also a rifle. This is Schmitgen's second year on the job. She has a master's degree in social work and says what drew her to law enforcement was Madison's record of community policing and its high percentage of female officers.
She adds while people think policing is about guns, drugs and driving fast — it's more about communication and helping people.
Almost on cue, there's a call on the radio — a dispatcher says officers need to check for a woman at her apartment. She's known to have dementia, and a worried friend says she left a hospital.
Schmitgen types on the computer — looking for more information — and an alert with a picture of the woman pops up. At the apartment, there's no answer but later, police find the woman — safe and sound.
Schmitgen is on to the next call. The summer is a busy time, she says, and the reaction she gets as a female police officer varies.
"I've had calls where the victim is a survivor of sexual assaults and they prefer speaking to a woman and that's my purpose. That's why I'm here," she says. "And then there's where I am being catcalled, I'm being called a bitch, I'm being called everything under the sun. It comes in waves."
University of Wisconsin Law Professor Keith Findley is a member of Madison's Police Civilian Oversight Board. He says a plethora of research shows that women on the force have a positive impact on police departments and communities. He says they are often better at communicating and de-escalating tense situations.
"They are sued less frequently than male counterparts, they make fewer discretionary arrests, especially of non-white residents," Findley says. "They use force less frequently, and excessive force less frequently, than their male counterparts."
Findley says research also shows female police officers are trusted more in communities of color and low-income neighborhoods, both of which are policed more heavily.
Some communities say gender doesn't always bring change
But not everyone agrees. Brandi Grayson scoffs at the idea of gender changing the culture of policing. She's the CEO of the non-profit Urban Triage, a support organization for Black residents and Black communities.
She's also been at the forefront of protests over the deaths of Black men killed by police — including Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., in 2014 and George Floyd in Minneapolis two years ago.
There also have been protests in Madison over fatal police shootings, including the 2015 death of Tony Robinson, a biracial man. Authorities ruled the white officer involved had used lawful deadly force.
Less than 7% of Madison's population is African-American, but Blacks made up 47 percent of those arrested during the first quarter of this year. Police records show that in the nearly 30,000 calls to police during that time, force was used in .21% or 64 of the encounters. Assistant Chief Valenta says it can be complicated to determine whether there's less force used by males or females since it's often a combination of female and male officers responding to a call.
But Grayson maintains it makes little difference if a female police officer is in a patrol car. She says institutions train people to behave in certain ways and even though Madison's police department is already 28% female, it hasn't made a dent in the deep racial disparity when it comes to arresting and incarcerating African-Americans and specifically black youth.
"Maybe, they don't yell as much, but they still arrest us. Maybe they don't shoot us, but we still get arrested, we still get ticketed," she says. "And often times, when you are part of a vulnerable population — and I say vulnerable, I mean oppressed, women are oppressed as well, right? You have to conform or you're out."
It's that allegiance "to the blue," says Grayson, that makes it impossible for the addition of more women or people of color to change policing. She considers the 30x30 initiative more public relations than a reform.
"Until we are honest about what's needed — which means defunding police and investing in people, investing in resources and opportunities and the things we know decrease community violence and decrease arrests — then what are we talking about?" she asks.
Grayson adds there may be a few instances of female police officers acting compassionately, but she says that's just not enough because there are so many other instances of Black youth and Black people being harmed by police.
Ivonne Roman, a co-founder of the 30x30 initiative, argues that the project will make change. She's a former chief of the Newark, N.J., police department, and says while it is difficult to shift the culture of policing, 30% of marginalized people in any group is a tipping point.
"(That's) where they are able to say, 'This isn't right and this is affecting us negatively,' and they don't feel there will be negative consequences associated with it."
Roman says as the 30x30 initiative grows, the influence of a critical mass of women in law enforcement will be key in redefining what policing means.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2022-08-09T20:15:52+00:00 | kcbx.org | https://www.kcbx.org/npr-top-news/npr-top-news/2022-07-31/increasing-women-police-recruits-to-30-could-help-change-departments-culture |
Paralyzed man uses microchip in his brain to drive car
DENVER (KCNC) - A paralyzed man in Colorado can now drive a car by using a microchip in his brain.
At Pikes Peak International Raceway, high speeds and hard turns are nothing out of the ordinary. Neither are the skills and intense focus required to make it out unscathed.
“It’s an amazing experience,” German Aldana Zuniga said.
Zuniga made it all look effortless despite not touching the throttle a single time.
“Since my accident, I don’t have no mobility below my waist, so this is my first time driving the car,” he said.
Nine years after a life-altering car wreck, Zuniga is using his thoughts to drive.
It’s a technological breakthrough pioneered by a team led by Colorado neurosurgeon Dr. Scott Fauci.
“We’re really proud of what he’s done,” Fauci said.
For more than a year, the group has worked with Zuniga so he can communicate between a microchip on his brain and a computer in the car.
“The computer can pick that up, that particular electronic fingerprint, and feed that to the race car,” Fauci said.
Zuniga can now use his mind to move the car and a specialized helmet to steer it.
A task that was once unthinkable is now possible with focus and practice.
“To be in it and just watch how you go through the track smoothly, and it responds to what you think. It’s just incredible,” Zuniga said.
So too, are the possibilities for this technology.
“We can use this potentially for driving an electric wheelchair, a golf cart, control a robotic arm,” Fauci said. “Once we develop that science, that science can be used for all types of systems.”
It’s a finish line Zuniga can’t wait to help cross.
“Technology is advancing. So, we’ve got to help put our part in it, and make it become available for everyone in future,” he said.
Copyright 2022 KCNC via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | 2022-05-20T15:41:02+00:00 | wymt.com | https://www.wymt.com/2022/05/20/paralyzed-man-uses-microchip-his-brain-drive-car/ |
No evidence of fraud in weapons to Ukraine, watchdog says
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon’s inspector general said Tuesday his office has found no evidence yet that any of the billions of dollars in weapons and aid to Ukraine has been lost to corruption or diverted into the wrong hands, but cautioned that those investigations are only in their early stages.
Keeping military aid to Ukraine protected from waste or fraud has become a critical part of keeping support for Ukraine intact in Congress, where some lawmakers have already begun to question why the U.S. is spending so much to help Kyiv.
Robert P. Storch was pressed by House members several times about any fraud findings. He said a number of tips and allegations have come in to a new hotline, but there have been “limited findings” to date, with many reports pending.
Storch, who was testifying with other Pentagon leaders before the House Armed Services Committee, repeatedly said he did not want to talk about investigations that have not yet been completed.
Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama, the Republican committee chairman, said Congress has appropriated more than $100 billion in military, economic and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and NATO allies. Of that, the U.S. has doled out more than $75 billion so far, and that includes nearly $32 billion in Pentagon weapons and training to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion a year ago.
“These are unprecedented numbers. And it requires an unprecedented level of oversight by Congress,” Rogers said.
Members of Congress have persistently questioned how closely the U.S. is tracking its aid to Ukraine to ensure that it is not subject to fraud or ending up in the wrong hands.
The Pentagon has a “robust program” to track the aid as it crosses the border into Ukraine and to keep tabs on it once it is there, depending on the sensitivity of each weapons system, Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said Tuesday at a press briefing. There’s also a small team of Americans in Ukraine working with Ukrainians to do physical inspections when possible, but also virtual inspections when needed, since those teams are not going to the front lines, Ryder said.
Questions over accountability in Ukraine come as some lawmakers push back against continued funding for the war. In early February, a group of 11 House Republicans unveiled a “Ukraine Fatigue” resolution. It stated that the U.S. must end its military and financial aid to Ukraine and urged the combatants to reach a peace agreement.
Colin Kahl, under secretary of defense for policy, told lawmakers that the U.S. has been careful to send Ukraine the weapons it needs, as the war progresses. And he said he believes Ukrainian leaders are aware of concerns about accountability, and “I do think they are taking these issues seriously.”
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2023-02-28T21:43:42+00:00 | mysuncoast.com | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/02/28/no-evidence-fraud-weapons-ukraine-watchdog-says/ |
(NewsNation) — Pentagon leaders announced that ongoing military recruitment is down 23% off their annual target.
This comes as the military is boosting incentives to reel in recruits.
For example, a six-year active duty enlistment in the U.S. Army has a sign-on bonus of up to $50,000, but the number of new enlistees is still lagging far behind the goal.
The Army’s recruiting command says that awareness has been a recruiting challenge and that 50% of youth say they know little to nothing about military service.
The majority of recruits come from eight states: California, Illinois, Ohio, New York, Georgia, North Carolina, Florida and Texas, which has the largest percentage of recruits.
The U.S. Department of Defense’s 2020 propensity report found only 11% of teens and young adults, between 16 and 21 years old, planned on future service in the military. In fall 2018, that number was 13%.
The survey also found that as people get older, their interest in joining the military declines.
The top three reasons respondents gave for considering joining the U.S. military were pay/money, to pay for future education and travel.
The top reasons for not joining the military were the possibility of physical injury/death, the possibility of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or emotional/psychological issues and the possibility of sexual harassment/assault.
In 2021, nearly one in four U.S. servicewomen reported being sexually assaulted in the military, and 32% of respondents cited the “possibility of sexual harassment/assault” as a reason not to join the military. | 2022-06-08T18:59:38+00:00 | pahomepage.com | https://www.pahomepage.com/uncategorized/military-recruitment-lags-23-behind-target/ |
NEW YORK, Dec. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of F45 Training Holdings, Inc. ("F45 Training" or the "Company") (NYSE: FXLV). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.
The investigation concerns whether F45 Training and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.
On or around July 16, 2021, F45 conducted its initial public offering ("IPO"), issuing 18.75 million shares of common stock priced at $16.00 per share.
On July 26, 2022, just a year after the IPO, and just a little more than two months after reiterating its previously stated growth targets, F45 issued a press release entitled "F45 Training Announces Strategic Update." The press release described "strategic updates to align the Company more closely with macroeconomic conditions and current business trends and prepare for the next phase of studio and membership growth." According to the press release, the Company's "strategic updates" informed the market: (1) of a significant reduction in its financial guidance, from a range of $255 to $275 million to a new range of $120 to $130 million; (2) of a dramatic cut in the number of new exercise studios that it would open in 2022—down approximately 60% (or 350 to 450 new studios, versus 1,000); (3) that a $250 million credit line "will not be available" to the Company; (4) that it was letting go around 110 employees, equaling approximately 45% of its workforce; and (5) that F45's Chief Executive Officer ("CEO"), Adam Gilchrist, had resigned his position as CEO, effective July 24, 2022.
On this news, F45's stock price fell $2.16 per share, or 61.54%, to close at $1.35 per share on July 27, 2022, representing more than a 78% decline from the Company's offering price of $16.00 per share.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com
CONTACT:
Robert S. Willoughby
Pomerantz LLP
rswilloughby@pomlaw.com
888-476-6529 ext. 7980
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SOURCE Pomerantz LLP | 2022-12-26T22:44:30+00:00 | live5news.com | https://www.live5news.com/prnewswire/2022/12/26/shareholder-alert-pomerantz-law-firm-investigates-claims-behalf-investors-f45-training-holdings-inc-fxlv/ |
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., April 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NeoLight has signed a binding agreement to acquire key assets of interVIEW Medical Systems ROP (retinopathy-of-prematurity) risk management education course and ROP risk management clinical exam, collectively called the ROP Certification Program.
The interVIEW Medical System ROP Certificate Program is recognized as a premier course for ROP training by OMIC, the largest insurer of ophthalmologists in the United States, and by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. interVIEW Medical has been the source of ROP education and certification for over 60% of all practicing pediatric ophthalmologists and retina specialists in the United States. The certification program was put together by industry thought leaders – Dr. Michael Trese, Dr. Antonio Capone, Dr. Kim Drenser and Dr. Carl Park.
"The interVIEW Medical System ROP Certificate Program has proven to be the leading source of ROP education and certification in the United States" said Vivek Kopparthi, NeoLight's Co-founder & CEO "We look forward to advancing this great tool to allow more clinicians access to this powerful resource."
"This course was founded to enable clinicians to be able to have a stronger safety net and an effective set of guidelines – all directed towards maximizing clinical outcomes for infants at risk for ROP. The ROP Education material is free of cost and is updated to the latest ICROP3 guidelines. " said Dr. Antonio Capone, one of the founders of interview medical.
The interVIEW Medical System ROP Certificate Program set the standard for ROP Education and Exams by focusing on leading ROP guidance including the latest ICROP3 and AAP standards. NeoLight is focused on implementing improvements and responding to the needs of the interVIEW Medical customers and will continue to work with interVIEW Medical founding physicians Antonio Capone MD and Kimberly Drenser, MD PhD of Associated Retinal Consultants, MI.
NeoLight is a medical device company that develops empathy driven, best-in-class technologies for treating preventable conditions in the newborn care market. Empathy driven solutions are a framework that has the doctor-nurse-mother-infant ecosystem at the center. It fosters the emotional connection that happens, thereby providing not just treatment but also providing care. Driving neonatal care beyond the traditional hospital setting, NeoLight is also creating a robust home market to treat neonatal conditions in the home. To learn more, visit www.theneolight.com and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
CONTACT:
Kelly Johnson
kelly@theneolight.com
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SOURCE NeoLight | 2023-04-25T11:59:37+00:00 | kcrg.com | https://www.kcrg.com/prnewswire/2023/04/25/neolight-reaches-agreement-acquire-interview-medical-systems-globally-recognized-provider-rop-education-examination/ |
JOHNSON COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) — The chief of a central Indiana fire department said Tuesday he’s already making changes to keep his trucks rolling in emergencies.
So far this year, the Bargersville Community Fire Department has run more than 1,500 calls, up from about 1,100 in the first six months of 2020. During the same period, fuel costs rose from about $18,000 to nearly $42,000. Fire Chief Eric Funkhouser said the latter figure represents nearly two-thirds of his fuel budget for this year.
“Not since I’ve been doing this, and probably not for a long time that we’ve seen this,” he said when asked if he’s ever seen that kind of cost increase. “We thought we had put a good pad in this year to make sure that we had plenty. Obviously, we came up a little bit short.”
Funkhouser said firefighters typically buy their fuel in bulk and have their own dispensers at one or more stations. This saves some money compared to what drivers pay at the pump, but it doesn’t fully protect them.
Oil has traded above $120 a barrel since June 8 and Funkhouser said he currently pays $4.62 per gallon for diesel before taxes. Bargersville firefighters typically go through about 50 to 100 gallons of fuel every day. Funkhouser said the fire trucks tend to average about 5 to 7 miles per gallon, and his firefighters top them off every time their tanks go below three-quarters of a tank to ensure they have enough fuel for long stays at a scene.
He said the fire department won’t cut back on emergency services, so there’s not much his firefighters can do to reduce service-related fuel consumption. Instead, he’s holding meetings and classroom training sessions virtually to minimize driving back and forth between stations. He’s also asked his firefighters to consolidate supply runs, training, and other functions as much as possible.
Like many fire chiefs, Funkhouser said he is already putting together his 2023 budget requests. He said he’s already working with Johnson County officials to set a larger fuel budget, though the money supply isn’t unlimited.
“The state every year sets a growth quotient that we can grow by. We look at that and we have to take whatever we get,” he said. “Obviously, fuel is going to be the biggest one going into next year.” | 2022-06-15T02:03:09+00:00 | wishtv.com | https://www.wishtv.com/news/local-news/gas-prices-burn-through-firefighters-fuel-budgets/ |
SYDNEY, July 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kazia Therapeutics Limited (NASDAQ: KZIA; ASX: KZA), an oncology-focused drug development company, is pleased to announce that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has awarded Rare Pediatric Disease Designation (RPDD) to Kazia's paxalisib for the treatment of atypical rhabdoid / teratoid tumors (AT/RT), a rare and highly-aggressive childhood brain cancer.
Key Points
- Rare Pediatric Disease Designation (RPDD) is granted to drugs which are under development for rare childhood diseases.
- RPDD means that the sponsor may be entitled to receive a pediatric priority review voucher (pPRV) if the drug is initially approved for that rare childhood disease. A PRV grants the holder an expedited six-month review of a new drug application. PRVs are tradeable and have historically commanded prices in excess of US$ 100 million.
- FDA's award of RPDD follows the presentation of promising preclinical data for paxalisib in AT/RT, which was presented by Professor Jeffrey Rubens and colleagues at the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA, in April 2022.
- Paxalisib was previously granted orphan drug designation (ODD) for AT/RT by FDA on 16 June 2022.
Kazia CEO, Dr James Garner, commented, "this is the second time that paxalisib has been granted RPDD, and it demonstrates the importance of childhood brain cancer in the overall paxalisib development program. Brain cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in children, and outcomes in many forms of childhood brain cancer have not improved in decades. We very much hope that paxalisib can make a difference to families affected by both DIPG and AT/RT, and we will be working closely with clinicians, researchers, and FDA to determine the optimal way to move the drug forward."
Rare Pediatric Disease Designation
The Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act (2012) established FDA's RPDD initiative. RPDD may be granted to drugs in development for diseases which primarily affect children (under the age of 18 years), have an incidence of less than 200,000 new cases per annum in the United States, and which are serious or life-threatening.
A sponsor of a drug with RPDD may request a Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher (PRV) at the time of a marketing application to FDA. In effect, the PRV shortens the FDA review period for a future marketing application of any drug from 12 months to 6 months. PRVs can be sold to other companies and have historically been transacted at prices in the tens to hundreds of millions of dollars. For a large company launching a billion-dollar drug, the six-month acceleration in regulatory review can be of substantial economic value. In 2019, five pediatric PRVs were granted by FDA.
Next Steps
A phase II clinical trial of multiple drug therapies, including paxalisib, is ongoing, under the sponsorship of the Pacific Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Consortium (PNOC) (NCT05009992). This study combines several investigational drugs in the treatment of patients with diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs), a category which includes DIPG. Initial data from this study is anticipated in CY2023.
A phase I study of paxalisib in DIPG, led by St Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN (NCT03696355), is nearing completion, and final data is expected to be submitted for publication by the end of CY2022.
About Kazia Therapeutics Limited
Kazia Therapeutics Limited (NASDAQ: KZIA; ASX: KZA) is an oncology-focused drug development company, based in Sydney, Australia.
Our lead program is paxalisib, a brain-penetrant inhibitor of the PI3K / Akt / mTOR pathway, which is being developed to treat glioblastoma, the most common and most aggressive form of primary brain cancer in adults. Licensed from Genentech in late 2016, paxalisib commenced recruitment to GBM AGILE, a pivotal study in glioblastoma, in January 2021. Seven additional studies are active in various forms of brain cancer. Paxalisib was granted Orphan Drug Designation for glioblastoma by the US FDA in February 2018, and Fast Track Designation for glioblastoma by the US FDA in August 2020. In addition, paxalisib was granted Rare Pediatric Disease Designation and Orphan Designation by the US FDA for DIPG in August 2020, and for AT/RT in June 2022.
Kazia is also developing EVT801, a small-molecule inhibitor of VEGFR3, which was licensed from Evotec SE in April 2021. Preclinical data has shown EVT801 to be active against a broad range of tumour types and has provided compelling evidence of synergy with immuno-oncology agents. A phase I study commenced recruitment in November 2021.
For more information, please visit www.kaziatherapeutics.com or follow us on Twitter @KaziaTx.
Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement may contain forward-looking statements, which can generally be identified as such by the use of words such as "may," "intend," "potential," "prospective," or other similar words. Any statement describing Kazia's future plans, strategies, intentions, expectations, objectives, goals or prospects, and other statements that are not historical facts, are also forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on Kazia's expectations and projections about future events and future trends affecting our business and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, including risks and uncertainties associated with clinical trials and product development and the impact of global economic conditions. These and other risks and uncertainties, are described more fully in Kazia's Annual Report, filed on form 20-F with the SEC, and in subsequent filings to SEC. Kazia undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required under applicable law. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this announcement. Actual results could differ materially from those discussed in this announcement.
This document was authorized for release to the ASX by James Garner, Chief Executive Officer, Managing Director.
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SOURCE Kazia Therapeutics Limited | 2022-07-06T12:15:49+00:00 | live5news.com | https://www.live5news.com/prnewswire/2022/07/06/us-fda-awards-rare-pediatric-disease-designation-rpdd-paxalisib-atrt-rare-form-childhood-brain-cancer/ |
CHEYENNE — Walker Wilson is headed to Wyoming Army Guard boot camp this summer after he graduates from Cheyenne’s South High School, and there are no doubts among his teachers and administrators that he will flourish as a leader.
“He’s going to be protecting this country,” said nominator and South High Principal Phil Thompson. “And we couldn’t have our country in better hands.”
Wilson spent his childhood looking up to his family members who served in the United States military, and he said he always wanted to follow in their footsteps.
He’s been working toward that goal by cultivating his discipline and leadership skills, whether that be through volunteering more than 500 hours or holding a 4.333 weighted grade point average.
His dedication to learning what it means to set a good example for others has brought him great success.
The South High senior achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and became flight commander in the local JROTC program.
He also placed first in regional marksmanship for the AFJROTC and 98th in the nation for all JROTC, as well as earned Defensive Lineman of the Year for the 2021 football season. Wilson was recognized as South High School Student of the Month twice and Laramie County School District 1 Student of the Week once.
He has done this all while playing four sports outside of marksmanship throughout his high school career, some of which he lettered for, competing in the ‘We the People’ civic education program, qualifying every year for the National Honor Society and earning additional leadership awards.
Going above and beyond in every part of his life has also secured him a spot as one of two Wyoming Tribune Eagle Outstanding Graduates of Laramie County for 2023.
“Walker is everything a South High Student should be,” said Thompson. “He is honorable in that he is a high-ranking member of our AFJROTC program. He works with young cadets and students, and always shows through his actions what a student should act like. He is a leader in every way.”
Thompson continued that Wilson is enthusiastic and a positive young man who exudes confidence, while remaining one of the most responsible individuals at South High. He said if you need something to get done, ask Wilson once, and he will make it happen.
“Lastly, Mr. Wilson is determined. Whether it be on the firing range or in the classroom, Walker is going to put the time and effort to be the best he can be,” Thompson wrote in his nomination. “Walker Wilson has been an excellent student and person, and the students and staff at South respect his work ethic, leadership abilities and character.”
The nominator said he was the one you want in the foxhole next to you, because he will always have your back — and this includes the entire Cheyenne community.
“I like giving back to my community, because without the community, I couldn’t have grown as much as I have,” Wilson told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. “If a community is weak, it does not offer growing young men and women the ability to gain knowledge and experience. One way that I try to give back to is make the community a stronger place so that others can achieve what I have.”
He said he couldn’t name just one person who impacted his life positively, because he lived across the country before he moved to Cheyenne six years ago. However, he said he is an amalgamation of the lessons he has been taught by his parents, grandparents, Scout leaders, teachers and ROTC commanders.
Wilson said he was grateful for his support system, as well as the Outstanding Graduates nomination from his principal. He said it means a lot to him, even though he wasn’t necessarily aiming to receive the awards he’s been given throughout high school.
“I’m glad that these organizations and recognitions are in place, so that they put value in the work that people do in their lives to achieve these,” he said. “For myself and others who maintain high academics and high extracurricular activity and high activity in the community, it’s a bit difficult to do so.”
Although it can sometimes be a challenge to hold himself to such a high standard, Wilson doesn’t plan to falter as he becomes a service member and attends the University of Wyoming. He said he joined the Guard because he didn’t want to enlist as an active-duty member yet while he pursues an engineering degree, but the options will be endless after graduation.
No matter what, he said, his mission will always be to lend a helping hand. | 2023-05-24T12:42:38+00:00 | wyomingnews.com | https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/in_our_schools/we-couldn-t-have-our-country-in-better-hands-than-with-walker-wilson/article_8b0c520c-f9b7-11ed-ab6f-3f133817fbcc.html |
JACKSON, MI -- A robbery at knifepoint and the police chase that followed resulted in several felony charges for a Jackson man Thursday, police said.
Shortly before 10:30 p.m. Feb. 2, officers from the Jackson Police Department responded to a robbery alarm at the PS Food Mart at 1301 S. West Avenue in Jackson.
An employee had pressed the alarm after a 31-year-old man entered the store and threatened the cashier with a knife, police said. The suspect demanded money from the cash drawer, ultimately grabbing the drawer himself before running out of the store.
The suspect attempted to flee in his car before police arrived, though one of the responding officers spotted the Chrysler 300 as it drove down Wisner Street, said Jackson Police and Fire Services Director Elmer Hitt. The suspect did not stop for police, initiating a pursuit.
The chase led police to a residence in the 800 block of N. West Avenue, at which point the suspect tried to flee on foot. He was caught arrested soon after, Hitt said. No one was injured in this incident.
Officers recovered evidence for the vehicle linking the man to the robbery, including items that had been taken from the store, Hitt said.
The 31-year-old has been lodged in the Jackson County Jail on charges of fleeing and eluding arrest, resisting and obstructing and armed robbery, Hitt said. The man also had parole absconder warrant out for his arrest.
More from the Jackson Citizen Patriot:
Jackson woman sentenced to prison for involvement in ‘heinous’ 2009 murder
Jackson home damaged after teen crashes stolen car into porch
Bodies of missing rappers found in vacant apartment building | 2023-02-03T20:00:31+00:00 | mlive.com | https://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/2023/02/jackson-man-arrested-after-robbing-market-at-knifepoint.html |
Florida has long been known for sunshine — not only the warm rays that brighten its beaches but also the light of public scrutiny afforded by some of the nation’s strongest meetings and records laws.
Although years of rollbacks have gradually clouded the impact, advocates are ringing alarms that this year presents the greatest threat to transparency yet in the state that coined the name “Sunshine Law” for its open-government rules.
Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, weighing a presidential bid, is pursuing a home-state agenda that could make it harder for people to learn what public officials are doing or to speak out against them. In an unprecedented move for the Sunshine State, DeSantis has claimed an executive right to keep key government records secret. He’s also seeking to weaken a nearly 60-year-old national legal precedent protecting journalists and others who publish critical comments about public figures.
Florida’s Republican-led Legislature appears eager to carry out his vision. As their annual session began last week, lawmakers filed dozens of bills that would add to the state’s lengthy list of open-government exceptions.
“The state of sunshine is in peril,” warned Barbara Petersen, executive director of the Florida Center for Government Accountability, who has been tracking the state’s public access laws for three decades.
DeSantis, who is expected to launch a presidential bid following the session, has thrilled conservative activists nationwide by leaning into fights against the GOP’s perceived political adversaries: public health officials, so-called “woke” leaders in business and public education — and the press.
Former President Donald Trump, a potential rival and fellow Floridian, also is well-known for lambasting the press — describing the U.S. media as “the enemy of the people.” Such criticism often plays well within the modern-day Republican Party, where mainstream media are perceived to side with the interests of Democrats and liberals.
But it runs contrary to Florida’s historic reputation as a place where reporters — and curious members of the public — can unearth government data and documents that shed light on the decisions made by elected officials.
Florida’s law making government records open to public inspection dates to 1909, long before similar measures emerged in many other states. It added a Sunshine Law requiring public meetings in 1967. Then, in 1992, Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment guaranteeing a public right to access records and meetings. A decade later, as lawmakers were adding exemptions, voters approved another a constitutional amendment making it harder for legislators to approve future exceptions.
Florida newspapers launched the first “Sunshine Sunday” in 2002 to highlight the importance of public access to government information. That one-day event has since grown to an annual Sunshine Week observed nationally by media and First Amendment advocates.
As this year’s Sunshine Week began Sunday, lawmakers in state capitols were pursuing a mixture of proposals — some excluding more government records from public inspection; others increasing the ability of people to keep an eye on their government. But nowhere, perhaps, have Sunshine Week issues garnered as much attention as in Florida — due largely to DeSantis’ powerful platform to voice his complaints about the media.
Last month, DeSantis hosted a livestreamed “panel discussion on defamation” while attempting to build support for his plan to make it easier to bring defamation lawsuits against the media or people who post things on the internet about public officials and employees.
“You smear somebody, it’s false, and you didn’t do your homework, you’re going to have to be held accountable for that,” DeSantis said while concluding the event. “Hopefully, you’ll see more and more of that across the country.”
DeSantis is seeking to undercut a 1964 U.S. Supreme Court decision that shielded news outlets from libel judgments unless proven that they were published with “actual malice” — knowing that something was false or acting with “reckless disregard” to whether it was true. Florida legislation to carry out DeSantis’ plan would make it unnecessary to prove “actual malice” when the allegedly defamatory statements don’t relate to the reason why someone is a public figure.
Other provisions of the legislation would presume anonymous statements in news stories are false for the purposes defamation lawsuits and would treat accusations of racial, sexual or gender discrimination as intrinsically defamatory.
Petersen said such provisions appear to be a first nationally and could have a freezing effect on free speech.
But Republican state Rep. Alex Andrade, who is sponsoring the bill, said it is “a sincere attempt to try and fix the problems that exist in this type of law.”
“This bill would make it easier for someone who’s actually been harmed by a defamatory statement to pursue justice in Florida courts,” Andrade said.
The defamation legislation is just one of several DeSantis administration policies prompting concern among media organizations.
Earlier this year, a Florida trial judge upheld DeSantis’ assertion of “executive privilege” in refusing to turn over information requested under the state’s public-records law about his screening of potential state Supreme Court nominees. That case is being watched by national media organizations as it’s being appealed.
The Florida Constitution contains no specific mention of “executive privilege.” Neither does the U.S. Constitution, though courts have upheld the president’s prerogative to withhold documents to protect the confidentiality of advice received in the decision-making process. Governors in Oklahoma, Tennessee and Washington also have previously asserted the privilege.
Another DeSantis administration policy has slowed access to some public records. Television station WKMG reported last month that public records requests to some state agencies were being routed for review to the governor’s office, sometimes delaying their release by weeks or months.
Public protests at the Capitol also have been limited. Under a DeSantis administration rule that took effect March 1, demonstrations at the Capitol Complex are only permitted outdoors. Requests to use space in the Capitol Complex must come from state agencies, the Legislature or judiciary, must be “consistent with the agency’s official purpose” and cannot include displays with “gratuitous violence or gore” that are “patently offensive to prevailing standards in the community.”
Florida’s open-government reputation already was fading before DeSantis took office in 2019, but that trend has gained steam. In his first year, lawmakers expanded the list of personal details forbidden to be disclosed about various public officials. Last year, DeSantis signed a law shielding information about candidates for college and university presidencies.
This year, roughly five-dozen bills already have been filed proposing more open-government exemptions, Petersen said. Some of those would prohibit the agency that provides security for DeSantis from disclosing the governor’s travel arrangements — even after the fact.
Though DeSantis said he doesn’t support it, another bill filed this year would require bloggers to file periodic reports with the state if they are paid for posts about the governor, lieutenant governor, cabinet members or legislative officials.
The cumulative effect is that “open government and public records laws are very much under the gun right now,” said Bobby Block, executive director of the First Amendment Foundation, a Florida nonprofit that advocates for the public’s right to open government.
“Every year, we’re seeing the vast sweep of the original intention chiseled away – sometimes bit by bit, other times chuck by chuck,” Block said, “and it’s definitely not the way it used to be.”
___
Associated Press writers Anthony Izaguirre and Steve Peoples contributed to this report. | 2023-03-13T18:54:29+00:00 | cbs4indy.com | https://cbs4indy.com/news/national-world/ap-us-news/is-desantis-darkening-floridas-sunny-open-records-laws/ |
Three new ads show a new layer of Flo's personality and underscore her love of insurance.
MAYFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio, May 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Progressive Insurance's most dedicated employee, Flo, will reveal a different side of herself in a new advertising campaign launching May 23. The campaign follows Flo navigating an unexpected encounter with an old flame reappearing—Hollywood charmer Jon Hamm. While Jon seems eager to capture her heart, Flo only has room for one love in her life: insurance.
"Flo has been at the heart of Progressive's marketing for nearly fifteen years. We've witnessed her undying love of insurance, watched as friendships have developed, and have even met her family, but one aspect of her life has remained a mystery—until now," said Progressive's Chief Marketing Officer, Remi Kent. "In partnering with Jon Hamm, we fan the flames of brand love in a way that consumers can relate to, because who hasn't experienced the awkwardness of unrequited love."
Years after their unsuccessful blind date and his subsequent rise to stardom, Jon once again crosses paths with Flo, rekindling his interest and intrigue in the apron-clad insurance maven. The three-part story is the journey of Jon pining for Flo's attention, complete with romantic gestures and unexpected insurance emergencies. All to leave Jon with failed attempts at love and Flo sticking true to herself and offering insurance discounts whenever and however she can.
"Unanswered love is something we can all relate to, so I was thrilled to be able to play a role in this campaign," shares Jon Hamm. "I really enjoyed the dynamic between Flo and I and was excited to play myself in a campaign with a trusted brand and an iconic character."
This unlikely pairing and love story arc are a first for Flo and Progressive's line-up of campaigns and characters. Others include the highly successful 'Parentamorphosis' with Dr. Rick, the recently launched Drivers Ed with Ed Helms, and the long-standing Superstore campaign where Flo received her start.
"Old Flame", "Table for Two?" and "Hammergency", are focused on Progressive's Home & Auto Savings, and usage-based insurance offering Snapshot, and will be airing throughout May and June across digital channels and national television. To learn more, and view the rom-com themed teaser, please visit https://www.progressive.com/commercials-campaigns/jon-hamm/.
About Progressive
Progressive Insurance® makes it easy to understand, buy and use car insurance, home insurance, and other protection needs. Progressive offers choices so consumers can reach us whenever, wherever and however it's most convenient—online at progressive.com, by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE, on a mobile device or in-person with a local agent.
Progressive provides insurance for personal and commercial autos and trucks, motorcycles, boats, recreational vehicles, and homes; it is the third largest auto insurer in the country, a leading seller of motorcycle and commercial auto insurance, and one of the top 15 homeowners insurance carriers.
Founded in 1937, Progressive continues its long history of offering shopping tools and services that save customers time and money, like Name Your Price®, Snapshot®, and HomeQuote Explorer®.
The Common Shares of The Progressive Corporation, the Mayfield Village, Ohio-based holding company, trade publicly at NYSE: PGR.
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SOURCE Progressive Insurance | 2022-05-18T16:55:45+00:00 | wagmtv.com | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/05/18/progressive-insurance-unveils-flos-former-flame-jon-hamm-brands-latest-creative-campaign/ |
The first strong Santa Ana occurrence of the season is bringing harsh winds across Southern California through Thursday, setting the stage for critical fire conditions and the potential for a blaze to spread rapidly.
High wind alerts have been issued for much of the area, affecting almost 15 million people.
"We are going to see winds of 55 to 75mph. These are very strong damaging northeast wind gusts," Carol Smith, National Weather Service meteorologist in Los Angeles, told CNN. "At the same time the humidity levels will be lowering over the mountains, for the valleys and to the coastal areas."
From the Santa Monica mountains and areas south, winds will be at 40 to 60 mph, with areas in the foothills potentially seeing winds as high as 70 mph, according to Smith.
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These strong Santa Anas are being fueled by low pressure sliding down the coast Wednesday and Thursday.
It's in the exact location to push strong northeast winds into Southern California.
Winds strengthen as they get funneled through the mountain passes and canyons. In the region, winds are blowing from the drier desert regions, and as the winds flow down the western slopes, the air heats up and dries out even more. This can quickly soak up remaining moisture from last week's rainfall, which is why the danger is so high even following the wet week.
The region was soaked by rain last week, but according to Smith, it wasn't enough to extinguish the fire threat.
"Fuels are still receptive to rapid fire growth across much of this area," Smith said. "So with these strong winds and humidity levels lowering Wednesday, any fire that is triggered is likely to exhibit very rapid spread and extreme fire behavior and a distinct threat to life and property."
San Diego saw as much as 9 inches of rain last week. While the fire threat isn't as great as elsewhere, a danger of ignitions remains.
"Relative humidity will generally be around 20 to 25 percent during the period of strongest winds Wednesday morning, lowering to 10 to 15 percent during the late morning and afternoon. The combination of strong winds and low relative humidity will lead to a period of critical fire weather conditions on Wednesday," the weather service office in San Diego said.
One of the biggest concerns is trees falling on powerlines and sparking fires.
According to Smith, that threat can sometimes lead to preventative blackouts.
"This is a huge cause of fires in our area, and that's why a lot of times, (utilities) will do the power shutoffs," Smith explained. "This is common although were not sure if they will with the recent rains."
Residents are being urged to engage the READY, SET, GO program that Los Angeles County runs to get people prepared for events like this. Smith urges people to have a list and bag packed with documents, medications, items for your pets and more.
Fire conditions should gradually improve through Thursday. But another round of winds could impact the region late in the week. Santa Ana winds occur more commonly during the cooler months.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | 2022-11-15T16:10:07+00:00 | wcfcourier.com | https://wcfcourier.com/news/national/first-strong-santa-ana-winds-of-the-season-bring-critical-fire-danger-to-california/article_9cc9dda8-d295-58fc-8880-72f8c6ffa3f7.html |
Why are you running?
Being born and raised in Mandan, I am very passionate about our community. It is where I was raised and where I have chosen to raise my kids. Thankfully, I am at a place which allows me to be an even more involved parent by serving on the school board. I want to be a person that teachers, staff, administration, or other school board members feel safe to talk to about current issues or potential issues our school district faces. We need to be able to sit around the table and have open, honest, and transparent discussions and develop thoughtful solutions.
What do you feel are the most important issues facing the district?
The important piece of this question is “facing the district.” In our district, we need to focus on getting the new elementary school built and staffed, and the high school built and operational. With the supply issues and concerns of inflation, we need to monitor both projects closely. Teacher retention and staffing are an important issue facing every district. Ensuring we have an attractive benefit package and providing a support system to our teachers is essential to success in our district.
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How should the district handle growth in the coming years?
Since 2007, enrollment has increased by 38%, which is a little over 1,100 students. This growth is being discussed by the administration and the board. The district continues to plan for an increase of 50-75 students a year over the next several years. The addition of the elementary school will provide space for our primary education students. It is imperative class sizes stay at manageable levels and by monitoring where the growth is happening and by how much, the board can help to staff those areas appropriately.
How should the district handle COVID-19 protocols?
The priority is always the health and safety of our community. COVID-19 protocols need to be addressed if numbers increase to a level the board feels requires action. COVID-19 is still impacting our schools; however, it is being managed. The staff developing a curriculum and having the tools to share that curriculum online, has allowed our kids to stay home if they are feeling unwell, but not fall behind. Thankfully, in 2021 we were able to have all students back to everyday, full day, classes which should start to help correct the learning loss we experienced from 2019 to 2021.
When it comes to supporting teachers and staff, what specific actions would you propose?
I would take my role on school board seriously. I would be an open line of communication for our teachers and staff and get more involved with the Mandan Education Association. Working with the teachers to understand their needs would give me the foundation to work with the board to develop action steps.
Do you feel critical race theory should be banned from schools? Why or why not?
Our children’s education should be well-balanced in all areas of their life: social, emotional, intellectual, and physical. Critical race theory was officially organized in 1989; so, although it is gaining more public attention, it is not a new theory. I feel our curriculum is something to be decided upon by the state, districts, parents, and any other interested parties based on what is best for our children.
What are your thoughts on cameras in classrooms?
In a way, we already have cameras in classrooms. Kids, teachers, staff, most of them have their cell phones on them and can snap a picture or record a video at a moment’s notice. Security cameras may be appropriate throughout the building if it is for the safety of our children. A classroom is supposed to be space where our teachers, staff, and students feel comfortable and having cameras in the classrooms takes that away.
What role should community members have in reviewing curriculums?
Community members should be able to review curriculums. As a mom, I want to know and understand what my children are learning. It is important in a successful school district to build connections between parents, communities, staff, and school board. With these connections, we can strengthen the support of our students. | 2022-06-07T17:26:34+00:00 | bismarcktribune.com | https://bismarcktribune.com/mandan-school-board-candidate-savannah-schmidt/article_84cb5b32-e67f-11ec-b36f-6357b3f580cd.html |
UK opens inquiry into unlawful killing claims in Afghanistan
By SYLVIA HUI
Associated Press
LONDON (AP) — A senior judge has launched an independent inquiry to investigate whether U.K. military police covered up or did not properly probe allegations of unlawful killings by British armed forces during operations in Afghanistan from 2010 to 2013. The inquiry was ordered by Britain’s government after the families of eight Afghans who were allegedly murdered by British Special Forces in Afghanistan launched legal challenges. Senior judge Charles Haddon-Cave said he and his team will “get to the bottom” of whether investigations carried out by the Royal Military Police into the alleged killings were adequate. The inquiry will also review whether the deaths “formed part of a wider pattern of extra-judicial killings by British armed forces in Afghanistan.” | 2023-03-22T16:07:38+00:00 | keyt.com | https://keyt.com/news/2023/03/22/uk-opens-inquiry-into-unlawful-killing-claims-in-afghanistan/ |
SAN CARLOS, Calif., Oct. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Empirical Spine, Inc., a medical device company creating a new class of spinal implant that works in parallel with the natural structures of the spine to restore functionality and optimize quality of life, will highlight its LimiFlex™ Dynamic Sagittal Tether™ (DST) at the North American Spine Society (NASS) Annual Meeting (Oct. 12 – 15 in Chicago). William Lavelle, MD, Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Upstate University Hospital, and IDE study investigator, will present interim findings from the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) LimiFlex DST Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) clinical trial.
Additionally, the LimiFlex DST will be featured at booth 4137 where attendees can learn more about the first-of-its-kind surgical option that restores both natural flexion and stability of the lumbar spine required after a decompression.
Dr. Lavelle will present research results from the prospective, concurrently controlled, multi-center study evaluating the safety and effectiveness of decompression and stabilization with LimiFlex DST compared to decompression and stabilization from fusion in grade 1 degenerative spondylolisthesis (degen spondy) patients.
"The reduction in disability and faster return to work and activities of daily living may indicate lower perioperative morbidity and faster recovery similar to decompression, while the sustained reduction in disability may indicate clinical durability similar to fusion," says Dr. Lavelle. "These data indicate that LimiFlex DST is a promising alternative to fusion for this large patient population."
The paper, "Return to Work, Activities of Daily Living and Disability Improvement: Twelve-Month Outcomes of an FDA IDE Trial of Decompression and Tension Band Stabilization for Degenerative Spondylolisthesis," was recognized as one of the best papers by the NASS 2022 Scientific Program Committee, which designated the 23 highest-rated abstracts from a record 1,487 submissions.
The interim analysis of the study assessed work status, time to return to work, and activities of daily living (ADL) and change in disability (ODI) for 12 months postoperatively for patients receiving decompression and DST stabilization versus decompression and fusion. Key findings showed that patients who had decompression with DST had:
- Significantly faster return to work and ADLs;
- Significantly lower rate of not working due to their spinal condition; and
- Significant reduction in disability 12 months postoperatively.
"Empirical Spine's vision has been to develop an entirely new category of stabilization surgery that works with the body's natural biomechanics, not against it, like fusion," says Richard Treadwell, President & CEO of Empirical Spine. "Motion matters to patients and is also top of mind for surgeons. We are committed to providing an option that preserves motion while delivering faster recovery and lower cost of care, so everyone wins."
Flexion, or forward bending, is the primary motion of the lumbar spine. Many common activities, including sitting, bending over to pick up an object and many manual tasks, put the lumbar spine into flexion. When one segment of the spine is weakened and unstable, as in degen spondy, the spine flexes unevenly, with a disproportionate amount of the motion occurring at the unstable level. Decompression (laminectomy) surgery to relieve neurologic pain (sciatica) contributes to this degenerative spiral by further destabilizing the already unstable level.
The LimiFlex DST is the only device designed to restore the natural flexion stability of the lumbar spine. The LimiFlex DST is an investigational device that mimics and augments the anatomic ligaments to create natural, balanced motion across the spine without the use of invasive screws, rods, and bone grafts. After completion of the neural decompression, LimiFlex is implanted through the same incision to restore stability while maintaining balanced mobility of the spine.
Recognized with the FDA's Breakthrough Device Designation, LimiFlex had its Premarket Approval (PMA) Module II accepted and closed this summer by the FDA, an important milestone in the commercial approval process.
LimiFlex™ is the first-in-class Dynamic Sagittal Tether™ (DST), designed to maintain motion and stability after spinal decompression, without contributing to adjacent level issues, for grade 1 lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis patients with spinal stenosis. By augmenting the posterior band, LimiFlex creates elastic resistance to flexion and maintains lordosis. For the first time, patients and surgeons will have a minimally invasive option that relieves compressive pain without compromising segmental motion. LimiFlex is compatible with current decompression techniques and can be performed in an outpatient setting, typically in less than 20 minutes. LimiFlex does not involve any screws or bone grafts, which can cause issues by eliminating the natural motion between spine segments and compromise options for other treatments if needed.
Empirical Spine, Inc., founded in 2015, is a privately held company creating a new standard of care in spine surgery that works in parallel with the natural structures of the spine to restore functionality and optimize quality of life. The company's LimiFlex™ Dynamic Sagittal Tether (DST) is the first-of-its-kind surgical option for degenerative spondylolisthesis patients that no longer forces the trade-offs in outcomes and costs that lumbar fusion creates. LimiFlex is a minimally invasive implant designed to stabilize the spine after open decompression, while preserving motion. The company is currently concluding a pivotal IDE trial in the U.S. For more information: https://www.limiflex.com/.
Caution: The LimiFlex Dynamic Sagittal Tether is an investigational device in the United States and is limited by law to investigational use.
CONTACT:
patty@greymattermarketing.com
View original content:
SOURCE Empirical Spine | 2022-10-06T15:19:44+00:00 | kalb.com | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2022/10/06/limiflex-ide-clinical-trial-investigator-present-positive-findings-north-american-spine-society-annual-meeting/ |
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – A 65-year-old man said he has been in fear for his life since a woman used a knife to attack him on March 17 outside of his Hollywood home.
He had walked outside to the parking garage after a fire alarm was activated and was not expecting the woman to turn violent.
“Everything happened so quickly,” he said. “It escalated, it was only a few minutes ... I was hunted down like a dog.”
Neighbors quickly jumped in to help him while he was bleeding on the ground and called the police. A doctor later decided that he needed 20 stitches to close the wound.
Police officers arrested Laura Carlin for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and also accused her of battery on a law enforcement officer.
Last year, in July, a video shows Carlin wearing a uniform while she was working part-time as a Dania Beach parking ranger. She was shouting racial slurs and punched a woman.
Police officers arrested Carlin in that case too. Meanwhile, the man who accused her of stabbing him said he wishes more could be done to prevent a tragedy.
“We can’t get a restraining order,” he said. “I was told that it would take a second incident. Well, the first incident is me being stabbed, I do not want to get stabbed again.” | 2023-04-08T00:25:29+00:00 | local10.com | https://www.local10.com/news/local/2023/04/07/videos-showing-womans-violence-arent-enough-for-stabbing-victim-to-get-restraining-order/ |
Northampton Center for the Arts
Friday, May 20 and Saturday, May 21 at 8 p.m.
The Happy Valley Guitar Orchestra is an avant-garde local community music ensemble of 16 electric, acoustic, classical and bass guitars, led by Artistic Director Joseph Ricker. Joined by drummer Richie Barshay, the HVGO will perform music ranging from Handel's Sarabande in D minor to Stereolab's art-pop masterpiece "Dots and Loops" to several pieces with ties to Spain. | 2022-05-20T23:36:55+00:00 | nepm.org | https://www.nepm.org/culture-to-do/2022-05-20/happy-valley-guitar-orchestra |
CHICAGO (AP)Ryan O’Reilly and Jordan Kyrou each had a goal and an assist, and the St. Louis Blues beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2 on Wednesday night for their fourth straight victory.
Calle Rosen, Tyler Pitlick and Ivan Barbashev also scored as St. Louis closed out a perfect three-game trip. Jordan Binnington made 25 saves.
The win streak for the Blues (7-8-0) comes in the wake of an ugly eight-game slide, when they were outscored 38-12.
Andreas Athanasiou scored twice for Chicago, and Arvid Soderblom made 30 stops. The Blackhawks (6-7-3) lost for the fourth time in five games.
The teams combined for five goals during a wild second period.
After O’Reilly intercepted a Patrick Kane pass and knocked in his own rebound for a short-handed goal, Athanasiou responded with a power-play goal for his fifth of the season.
Pitlick then made it 4-2 when he beat Soderblom from the low right circle off a nice setup by Nikita Alexandrov at 11:37.
Kyrou helped St. Louis put it away when he sent Barbashev in on Soderblom for a mini-breakaway in the third period. Barbashev finished the drive with a slick move for his third goal, making it 5-2 at 6:55 and delighting the Blues moms in attendance as part of a team-organized trip.
St. Louis used a strong start to improve to 5-0-0 when leading after two periods.
Rosen got the Blues on the board when his shot from the high slot went off Blackhawks defenseman Alec Regula and into the net 14:09 into the first. Kyrou made it 2-0 with his sixth of the season 5:12 into the second.
ON SCHEDULE
Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson said Seth Jones is ”pretty much on schedule” in his recovery from a broken right thumb. The team’s top defenseman got hurt when he was struck by a shot during an overtime loss at Buffalo on Oct. 29.
”I think he’s still having some discomfort with that hand, hard passes and vibration, which is normal, so he’s just getting his conditioning in right now,” Richardson said. ”We’re not going to aggravate that too much, we’re just going to let that heal for another week, 10 days before they do another X-ray.”
WORTH NOTING
Blues defenseman Colton Parayko was scratched with an unspecified injury, putting Tyler Tucker in the lineup for his NHL debut. … Chicago forward Jason Dickinson returned to the lineup after missing two games because of an illness.
UP NEXT
Blues: Host the Washington Capitals on Thursday night.
Blackhawks: At the Boston Bruins on Saturday night.
—
Follow Jay Cohen at https://twitter.com/jcohenap
—
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports | 2022-11-18T01:42:52+00:00 | krqe.com | https://www.krqe.com/sports/nhl-hockey/oreilly-kyrou-help-blues-beat-blackhawks-5-2/ |
Tax credit bid deadline is July 15
HARRISBURG, Pa., June 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency announced today that it is accepting bids for the purchase of $4.5 million in mixed-use development tax credits. The funds collected from successful bidders will be used for the construction or rehabilitation of mixed-use developments in Pennsylvania communities. The deadline for bids is 2 p.m. on Friday, July 15.
These tax credits will be used by the winning bidders – which can be companies, organizations, or individuals – to reduce their state tax liability. The intent of the bidding process is to raise as much funding as possible from the $4.5 million in tax credits being made available to provide for a significant investment in community revitalization projects in various communities. The projects to receive this funding will be selected during a competitive Request for Proposals process later this year.
This tax credit program was created as part of the Commonwealth's fiscal year 2016-2017 budget (implemented July 1, 2017), and PHFA was directed to administer the credit. PHFA was authorized to sell these tax credits through directed or negotiated sale to any qualified taxpayer. It is expected that the tax credit awards will be made within 90 days after bidding closes. The credit awards will be made in 2022, but they are not effective for utilization until 2023 against a 2022 tax liability.
"We have had solid support for this program from the private sector during its first five years," said PHFA Executive Director and CEO Robin Wiessmann. "The value of mixed-use developments is that they not only provide much-needed affordable housing, but their commercial component adds an economic development spark in those communities."
More information about the mixed-use development tax credit and the current bidding process is available on the PHFA website at: www.phfa.org/mhp/developers/loans.aspx (scroll down). Program guidelines and bid criteria are posted there. Interested organizations can learn more by contacting Bryce Maretzki at PHFA at (717) 780-1867 or by email at bmaretzki@phfa.org.
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency works to provide affordable homeownership and rental housing options for older adults, low- and moderate-income families, and people with special housing needs. Through its carefully managed mortgage programs and investments in multifamily housing developments, PHFA also promotes economic development across the state. Since its creation by the legislature in 1972, it has generated more than $15.9 billion of funding for more than 186,412 single-family home mortgage loans, helped fund the construction of 138,000 rental units, distributed approximately $191 million to support local housing initiatives, and saved the homes of more than 50,520 families from foreclosure. PHFA programs and operations are funded primarily by the sale of securities and from fees paid by program users, not by public tax dollars. The agency is governed by a 14-member board.
Media contact:
Scott Elliott
717-649-6522 (cell)
selliott@PHFA.org
View original content:
SOURCE Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency | 2022-06-13T22:08:04+00:00 | kswo.com | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2022/06/13/phfa-accepting-bids-purchase-mixed-use-development-tax-credits/ |
By BARRY HATTON
Associated Press
LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Former Angolan President José Eduardo dos Santos died Friday in a clinic in Barcelona, Spain, the Angolan government said.
He was 79 years old and died following a long illness, the government said in an announcement on its Facebook page.
The announcement said dos Santos, who ruled Angola for almost 40 years from 1979, was “a statesman of great historical scale who governed … the Angolan nation through very difficult times.”
Dos Santos had mostly lived in Barcelona since stepping down in 2017 and he reportedly had been undergoing treatment there for health problems.
Angola’s current head of state, Joao Lourenco, announced five days of national mourning starting Friday, when the country’s flag will fly at half-staff and public events are canceled.
Dos Santos came to power four years after Angola gained independence from Portugal and became enmeshed in the Cold War as a proxy battlefield.
His political journey spanned single-party Marxist rule in post-colonial years and a democratic system of government adopted in 2008. He voluntarily stepped down when his health began failing.
In public, dos Santos was unassuming and even appeared shy at times. But he was a shrewd operator behind the scenes.
He kept a tight grip on the 17th-century presidential palace in Luanda, the southern African country’s Atlantic capital, by distributing Angola’s wealth between his army generals and political rivals to ensure their loyalty. He demoted anyone he perceived to be gaining a level of popularity that could threaten his command.
Dos Santos’ greatest foe for more than two decades was Jonas Savimbi, leader of the UNITA rebels whose post-independence guerrilla insurgency fought in the bush aimed to oust dos Santos’ Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola, or MPLA.
The MPLA had financial support from the Soviet Union and military support from Cuba in its war against UNITA. Savimbi was backed by the United States and South Africa.
The war would last, with brief periods of U.N.-brokered peace, until 2002 when the army finally tracked down Savimbi in eastern Angola and killed him.
Dos Santos abruptly shed his Marxist policies after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s. He moved closer to Western countries, whose oil companies invested billions of dollars in mostly offshore exploration.
His supporters praised his ability to adapt to changing circumstances. His critics called him unscrupulous.
Dos Santos was invited to the White House in 2004 by then-president George W. Bush as the United States has looked to reduce its dependence on oil from the Middle East.
Angola became sub-Saharan Africa’s second-largest oil producer after Nigeria, producing close to 2 million barrels per day. It also unearthed more than $1 billion worth of diamonds each year.
However, the wealth never reached the Angolan people, who during and after the civil war were at risk from large areas of unmapped minefields and had little access basic amenities, such as running water or roads. Education and health care were — and remain — sparse.
More than $4 billion in oil revenue vanished from Angolan state coffers between 1997 and 2002, New York-based Human Rights Watch said in a 2004 report, based on an analysis of figures from the International Monetary Fund.
The U.S. State Department said that wealth in Angola is “concentrated in the hands of a small elite, who often used government positions for massive personal enrichment.”
Dos Santos was believed to own valuable real estate in Brazil, France and Portugal, as well as foreign bank accounts.
Under his rule, and despite the general poverty, street protests were rare and quickly broken up by the heavily armed riot police known popularly as “Ninjas.” A well-paid and well-equipped presidential guard was garrisoned inside dos Santos’s palace and lined the city’s grimy, potholed streets whenever he emerged.
A bricklayer’s son from Luanda, Angola’s coastal capital, dos Santos began his political life with boots and a rifle in 1961 as an 18-year-old guerrilla for the MLPA in the fight for independence from Portugal.
MPLA bosses pulled him from combat in 1963 and sent him to the Soviet Union for training as a petroleum engineer and military communications specialist.
When he returned to Angola in 1970, he skillfully negotiated compromises to keep the MPLA from breaking up into splinter groups and as a reward was appointed to the party’s central committee.
When independence arrived in 1975, dos Santos became foreign minister and later planning minister and deputy prime minister in the single-party Marxist state.
In a surprise choice, the MPLA elected dos Santos as 37-year-old president upon the death of Agostinho Neto, Angola’s first president, in 1979. Dos Santos was seen as a consensus figure between squabbling party veterans, but few anticipated his political longevity.
Dos Santos never sought to establish a personality cult and remained a mysterious figure. He reportedly once said in private he felt his true vocation was that of a monk.
Nor was he known for political sensitivity: He built a multimillion-dollar mansion on the fringe of a Luanda shantytown while millions of Angolans were fighting starvation during the civil war.
He was considered a sure loser against Savimbi in the country’s first democratic elections in 1992, following a peace treaty signed the previous year.
Margaret Anstee, a former U.N. special representative to Angola, described dos Santos as being almost the opposite of Savimbi.
“His demeanor was grave and reserved, to the point that I traced a sense of shyness or timidity, absurd as this seemed. The contrast with Dr. Savimbi’s flamboyant personality could not have been more vivid,” she wrote in her 1996 book on Angola entitled “Orphan of the Cold War.”
But in further evidence of his staying power dos Santos held on again, narrowly outpolling Savimbi for president while leading the MPLA to a parliamentary majority in the simultaneous legislative election.
When Savimbi rejected his defeat at the ballot box and returned to his armed struggle, Western support gradually swung behind dos Santos.
The foes signed another peace deal, brokered by the United Nations, in 1994, but that also unraveled four years later.
Meanwhile, dos Santos — with an army of around 100,000 troops, many with years of jungle combat experience — essayed a role as a regional power broker, starting with neighboring countries.
He sent 2,500 troops to Republic of Congo in 1997 to help President Denis Sassou-Nguesso seize power and the following year sent a contingent to Congo to help President Joseph Kabila’s government fight rebels backed by Rwanda and Uganda.
The end of Angola’s civil war in 2002 brought an opportunity for broader economic development in the southern African country, which is more than three times the size of California.
But public infrastructure was devastated; 4 million people — about one-third of the population at the time — had fled their homes because of the fighting; and oil and diamond wealth continued in the hands of the political and military elite.
Berlin-based Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index 2005 named Angola as one of the world’s 10 most corrupt countries.
“As land mine-maimed children begged in the streets, politicians’ wives flew to New York on the government health budget for nip-and-tuck cosmetic surgery,” wrote John McMillan, a Stanford University economics professor, in a 2005 study on Angolan corruption.
Under pressure to finally hold a ballot, dos Santos announced legislative elections in 2008 and a presidential election the following year.
Dos Santos’s MPLA won the most votes for parliamentary seats. But then the head of state changed tack, first postponing the presidential ballot and then scrapping it.
He altered the constitution so that the president is chosen by the party which wins the parliamentary elections. That kept him in power for another eight years.
However, with his health reportedly worsening, Dos Santos announced in 2016 he would retire.
He was replaced by an MPLA stalwart, João Lourenço, the current president, who has made an anti-corruption drive his flagship policy. He has targeted dos Santos’ grown children, who possess fabulous personal wealth, but not his predecessor.
Dos Santos, who was married four times, was survived by his current wife, Ana Paula, by whom he had three children. He is known to have at least three other children and various grandchildren.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | 2022-07-08T16:57:39+00:00 | wtmj.com | https://wtmj.com/national/2022/07/08/former-angolan-president-jose-eduardo-dos-santos-dies-at-79-8/ |
CEDARHURST, N.Y., Nov. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The securities litigation law firm of Kuznicki Law PLLC issues this alert to shareholders of Yatsen Holding Limited (NYSE: YSG), if they purchased the Company's American Depository Shares ("ADS") between November 19, 2020 and March 10, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period") and/or pursuant to the Company's November 2020 initial public offering (the "IPO"). Shareholders have until November 22, 2022 to file lead plaintiff applications in the securities class action lawsuit.
Shareholders are encouraged to contact us at https://kclasslaw.com/cases/securities/yatsen-holding-limited-nyse-ysg-ipo/, by calling toll-free at 1-833-835-1495 or by email (dk@kclasslaw.com).
Kuznicki Law PLLC is committed to ensuring that companies adhere to responsible business practices and engage in good corporate citizenship. The firm seeks recovery on behalf of investors who incurred losses when false and/or misleading statements or the omission of material information by a Company lead to artificial inflation of the Company's stock. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
Kuznicki Law PLLC
Daniel Kuznicki, Esq.
445 Central Avenue, Suite 344
Cedarhurst, NY 11516
Email: dk@kclasslaw.com
Phone: (347) 696-1134
Cell: (347) 690-0692
Fax: (347) 348-0967
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Kuznicki Law PLLC | 2022-11-17T05:20:15+00:00 | waff.com | https://www.waff.com/prnewswire/2022/11/17/filing-deadline-kuznicki-law-pllc-announces-class-action-behalf-shareholders-yatsen-holding-limited-ysg/ |
Francisco Mejía Player Prop Bets: Rays vs. Red Sox - April 12
Published: Apr. 12, 2023 at 1:23 PM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
On Wednesday, Francisco Mejia (coming off going 0-for-4) and the Tampa Bay Rays face the Boston Red Sox, whose starting pitcher will be Chris Sale. First pitch is at 6:40 PM ET.
He had a hitless showing in his last game (0-for-4) against the Red Sox.
Francisco Mejía Game Info & Props vs. the Red Sox
- Game Day: Wednesday, April 12, 2023
- Game Time: 6:40 PM ET
- Stadium: Tropicana Field
- Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo!
- Red Sox Starter: Chris Sale
- TV Channel: BSSUN
- Hits Prop: Over/under 0.5 hits (Over odds: -182)
- Home Runs Prop: Over/under 0.5 home runs (Over odds: +825)
- RBI Prop: Over/under 0.5 RBI (Over odds: +260)
- Runs Prop: Over/under 0.5 runs (Over odds: +180)
Looking to place a prop bet on Francisco Mejía? Check out what's available at BetMGM and sign up with this link!
Francisco Mejía At The Plate
- Mejia has a double and three walks while hitting .176.
- Twice in six games this year, Mejia has gotten aboard via a hit, and he had multiple hits in one of those games.
- In six games played this year, he has not gone deep.
- Mejia has picked up an RBI twice this year, but just one in each of those games.
- He has scored a run in two games this season, and had multiple runs both times.
Ready to play FanDuel Daily Fantasy? Get in the game using our link.
Francisco Mejía Home/Away Batting Splits
Red Sox Pitching Rankings
- The 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings compiled by the Red Sox pitching staff ranks 12th in MLB.
- The Red Sox have a 4.73 team ERA that ranks 17th among all MLB pitching staffs.
- Red Sox pitchers combine to rank 25th in baseball in home runs allowed (19 total, 1.7 per game).
- The Red Sox will send Sale (1-0) to make his third start of the season.
- The lefty last appeared on Thursday against the Detroit Tigers, when he went five innings, allowing three earned runs while giving up four hits.
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | 2023-04-12T18:50:06+00:00 | wcjb.com | https://www.wcjb.com/sports/betting/2023/04/12/francisco-mejia-mlb-player-prop-bets/ |
WATCH: Rising sea levels eroding land, devouring homes on coast
(CNN) – On the beaches of North Carolina, houses are crashing into the ocean as the sand they stand on slowly slips into the ocean with rising sea levels.
But experts say it’s something that’s going to happen more and more often as the climate crisis continues.
Dave Hallac, superintendent of the national parks in eastern North Carolina, said the houses near the Cape Hatteras National Seashore had hundreds of feet of beach between them and the ocean when they were built in the 1980s.
“This home, we have been notified by the Dare County building inspector, is in a state of potential imminent collapse,” Hallac said, referring to one of the houses. “I don’t believe it’s even high tide yet.”
Now, the water is at the doorstep in this part of North Carolina’s Outer Banks and the beach is eroding by a dozen feet a year.
“You expect next year it’s going to be 12 to 15 feet [back],” Hallac said. “And then the next year and the next year and the next year.”
While most locals understand barrier islands move over time, few have imagined the collapse of these homes would happen so fast.
The new owner of a $275,000 getaway never even had a chance to sleep in the house before a mediocre storm took it away. A $500,000 place collapsed a few days earlier and spread nail-filled debris along 15 miles of public beaches.
At least nine more houses on the stretch are condemned and the sea is taking more than just houses.
As a proud daughter of the Outer Banks, Dawn Taylor spends her days trying to save the graves.
“This is our heritage that we want to save,” she said. “We’re missing the remains of our loved ones, due to the tide. Up and down the coast, we have multiple cemeteries here that have met their demise due to the rising sea level.”
Down the Carolina coast in Charleston, Bernard Mansheim and his family decided to raise their 450-ton mansion with a system of hydraulic jacks after they watched the water bubble up through the vents in the home.
They said the process cost many hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“It’s something, hopefully, that’ll last another hundred years,” Mansheim said.
Whether it does may depend on whether Charleston can afford plans for a $1 billion sea wall which would only protect the most valuable 20% of the city.
In the Outer Banks, Hallac said some are moving their houses away from the ocean as far as they can afford.
Meanwhile, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) projects at least a foot of sea level to rise here mid-century with ten times as many flooding events.
Reade Corbett is the director of the coastal studies institute and dean of integrated coastal programs at East Carolina University. He said what is happening at the Outer Banks is happening around the world.
“These processes are happening everywhere,” he said.
The processes are not as evident on the mainland because states, counties and towns dredge, pump and truck millions of dollars worth of sand so tourists and real estate buyers will keep coming.
“If you start a nourishment program, when’s the next nourishment? Five years? Seven years down the road? Will you get to that point? And you have to think about the economics,” Corbett said. “Yeah. It’s 25 million, 30 million dollars.”
A recent report from NOAA says sea levels will rise as much in the next 30 years as they did in the past 100.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | 2022-06-02T19:36:07+00:00 | mysuncoast.com | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/06/02/watch-rising-sea-levels-eroding-land-devouring-homes-coast/ |
Nassau County GOP calls for Santos to resign
By Gregory Krieg, CNN
Leaders of the Nassau County Republican Party on Wednesday called for Rep. George Santos, elected to represent New York’s 3rd Congressional District in November, to resign from office over his lies to voters and fabrications about his personal life.
“Today, on behalf of the Nassau County Republican Committee, I’m calling for his immediate resignation,” chairman Joseph G. Cairo said at a news conference on Long Island. He was joined by a slate of local party officials and, remotely from Washington, DC, Republican Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, who also called for Santos to step down.
Cairo said the congressman’s campaign was made up “of deceit, lies and fabrication.”
“He deceived voters,” Cairo said. “His lies were not mere fibs. He disgraced the House of Representatives … He’s not welcome here at Republican headquarters.”
This story is breaking and will be updated.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | 2023-01-11T17:28:44+00:00 | localnews8.com | https://localnews8.com/news/2023/01/11/nassau-county-gop-calls-for-santos-to-resign/ |
Which KONG dog toy is best?
KONG dog toys are known for their durability and quality designs. The majority of KONG toys are made in the U.S. However, those that aren’t are designed and tested in the U.S., so you can still be sure that they’re safe and nontoxic.
But which are the best KONG dog toys and which should you buy for your canine companion? If you’re looking for a treat-dispensing KONG toy to keep your dog busy, the KONG Wobbler is the top choice.
What to know before you buy a KONG dog toy
Toy types
Dog toys come in a range of varieties, and many of these toy types are available from KONG.
KONG specializes in making tough rubber chew toys that come in a range of shapes and sizes, including the classic KONG shape, bone shape and tire shape. Many of these chew toys have hollow parts that can be stuffed with treats or pastes, such as peanut butter or KONG’s own Easy Treat pastes, so they could also be considered treat-dispensing toys. Plus, KONG makes one nonrubber, treat-dispensing toy: The Wobbler.
KONG also produces plush toys that dogs can carry around, shake and mouth, as well as tug toys and fetch toys, including balls and flying discs. Many KONG dog toys are multipurpose; for example, the Wubba could be classified as a chew toy, fetch toy and tug toy.
Durability
While KONG dog toys are known for durability, not all of its toys are equally durable. Its rubber toys are reasonably durable and will stand up to most dog’s level of chewing, but there’s also an Extreme range that’s made for heavy chewers, which is virtually indestructible. It’s easy to tell the difference between the two ranges at first glance, as the standard KONGs are red and the Extreme KONGs are black. Although they’re sturdier than some plush toys, KONG’s plush toys and any toys with fabric components aren’t especially durable and are unsuitable for destructive dogs.
What to look for in a quality KONG dog toy
Sizes
KONG dog toys come in a range of sizes to suit most dogs. Some toy models offer a full range of sizes from XXS to XXL, while others are only available in two or three sizes. Look for a sizing chart to tell you what size dog each toy size is suitable for.
Textures and sounds
Some KONG toys have added interest from textures and sounds, such as squeakers and crinkly bits of fabric.
Treat options
Many KONG dog toys give you the option to stuff them with treats to keep dogs entertained for longer.
How much you can expect to spend on a KONG dog toy
KONG dog toys start at around $5 for some small offerings and cost up to roughly $25 for large and extra-tough toys.
KONG dog toy FAQ
How long does a KONG occupy a dog?
A. This varies depending on the type of KONG dog toy and the individual dog. Some dogs will be occupied for hours by a KONG — especially if it’s a stuffable type that’s filled with something tasty. Other dogs will only play with a KONG for a few minutes before getting bored. The only way to find out how your dog will react is to try a few different types of KONG toys.
Are KONG toys safe for dogs?
A. Generally speaking, KONG toys are safe for dogs, but any dog toy can cause problems if your dog chews off parts and swallows them. If your dog is a destructive chewer, you should never leave them to play with a KONG toy unsupervised, which is an issue for buyers who want KONG toys to entertain their dogs while they’re out of the house. Strictly speaking, dogs should never be allowed to play with toys while you aren’t home, but if you know your dog is highly unlikely to chew up or swallow a dog, it’s down to your discretion. For unsupervised use, the most durable KONG toys are ideal, rather than KONG plushies or options with fabric parts.
What’s the best KONG dog toy to buy?
Top KONG dog toy
What you need to know: Weighted so it wobbles but never falls over, this treat-dispensing toy is great for food-motivated dogs.
What you’ll love: The top unscrews from the base to make this toy easy to fill. If your dog rushes their meals, you can slow them down by feeding kibble from a wobbler. It keeps dogs entertained for long periods.
What you should consider: The hole where treats come out is too large for small kibble, even on the small Wobbler.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon, Pet Smart and Chewy
Top KONG dog toy for the money
What you need to know: This versatile toy can be used for fetch, tug-of-war and solo play and offers excellent value for money.
What you’ll love: The body of the toy squeaks to keep dogs entertained for longer, while the fabric tails add an extra level of interest for dogs. The reinforced nylon fabric is relatively durable. It comes in three sizes to suit most dogs.
What you should consider: Dogs who love to intentionally tear toys apart will be able to get through the fabric eventually.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon, Pet Smart and Chewy
Worth checking out
What you need to know: This original KONG toy offers a range of different ways to play and is great for all but the heaviest chewers.
What you’ll love: Dogs can use it as a chew toy and you can throw it for your dog to fetch or stuff the hollow center with treats or lickable pastes such as peanut butter. The erratic bounce when thrown keeps dogs guessing.
What you should consider: Strong chewers may be able to bite chunks off, so you should opt for the Extreme version of this toy if you have this kind of dog.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon, Pet Smart and Chewy
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | 2022-06-29T02:18:42+00:00 | nwahomepage.com | https://www.nwahomepage.com/reviews/br/pets-br/toys-br/best-kong-dog-toy/ |
Teen avoids jail time after admitting to killing alleged rapist
POLK COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG/Gray News) - An Iowa teen who says she stabbed and killed a man who trafficked and raped her received a deferred judgment.
KCRG reports that 17-year-old Pieper Lewis received a deferred judgment with probation for five years on Tuesday.
Previously, Lewis pled guilty to killing Zachary Brooks two years ago in Des Moines, Iowa.
Lewis said she became a victim of human trafficking after getting kicked out of her home. She said Brooks raped her several times leading up to her stabbing him.
A judge was supposed to sentence the 17-year-old last week but delayed it after the teen’s lawyers brought forward several witnesses. They testified she was not a threat to the community and shouldn’t go to prison.
Officials said Lewis was facing up to twenty years in prison after agreeing to plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter and willful injury.
Copyright 2022 KCRG via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2022-09-14T03:04:07+00:00 | newschannel10.com | https://www.newschannel10.com/2022/09/14/teen-avoids-jail-time-after-admitting-killing-alleged-rapist/ |
NEW YORK, Sept. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Attention Tuya Inc. ("Tuya") (NYSE: TUYA) shareholders:
The Law Offices of Vincent Wong announce that a class action lawsuit has commenced on behalf of investors. This lawsuit is on behalf of all persons or entities who purchased Tuya American Depositary Shares in or traceable to the Company's March 2021 initial public offering.
If you suffered a loss on your investment in Tuya, contact us about potential recovery by using the link below. There is no cost or obligation to you.
ABOUT THE ACTION: The class action against Tuya includes allegations that the Company made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (a) a material portion of Tuya's China-based customers were engaged in the widespread and systematic manipulation of reviews and product offerings in violation of Amazon.com's terms of use; (b) prior to the initial public offering, a consumer investigation and data breach had exposed an illicit fake review scheme being perpetrated by many of Tuya's clients, among others, which included, inter alia, the exposure of 13 million records of organized fake review scams linked to over 200,000 Amazon account profiles; (c) as a result of (a) and (b) above, there was a substantial risk that a material portion of Tuya's significant customers would be barred from using Amazon.com's platform, negatively impacting Tuya's business, revenue, earnings, and prospects; and (d) as a result of (a)-(c) above, the registration statement's representations regarding Tuya's historical financial and operational metrics and purported market opportunities and expected growth did not accurately reflect the actual business, operations, financial results, and trajectory of the Company at the time of the initial public offering, and such statements were materially false and misleading and lacked a reasonable factual basis.
DEADLINE: October 11, 2022
Aggrieved Tuya investors only have until October 11, 2022 to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. You are not required to act as a lead plaintiff in order to share in any recovery.
Vincent Wong, Esq. is an experienced attorney who has represented investors in securities litigations involving financial fraud and violations of shareholder rights. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
Vincent Wong, Esq.
39 East Broadway
Suite 304
New York, NY 10002
Tel. 212.425.1140
E-Mail: vw@wongesq.com
View original content:
SOURCE The Law Offices of Vincent Wong | 2022-09-19T10:16:25+00:00 | kcrg.com | https://www.kcrg.com/prnewswire/2022/09/19/class-action-alert-law-offices-vincent-wong-remind-tuya-investors-lead-plaintiff-deadline-october-11-2022/ |
Iowa State’s David Carr is the top overall seed at 165 pounds for the 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championships, which will be held March 16-18 at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
He’ll have to contend in a loaded bracket that features two other NCAA champions: Missouri’s Keegan O’Toole and Stanford’s Shane Griffith, a Bergen Catholic graduate.
You can find the complete bracket below, which features 33 wrestlers. This bracket, which can be zoomed in on, will be updated throughout the tournament with pairings, scores and results for the championship and consolation brackets, so be sure to update this post frequently once action begins.
2023 NCAA Wrestling Championships
When: March 16-18
Where: BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma
TV: ESPN, ESPNU
Schedule:
Thursday, March 16: Session 1 (pigtails and first-round competition), 11 a.m. (ESPNU); Session 2 (wrestleback prelims, wrestleback first round, second round & consolation round), 6 p.m. (ESPN)
Friday, March 17: Session 3 (quarterfinals, wrestleback second and third rounds), 11 a.m. (ESPNU); Session 4 (blood round, consolation fourth round & semifinals), 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Saturday, March 18: Session 5 (medal rounds), 10 a.m. (ESPNU); Session 6 (national finals), 6 p.m. (ESPN)
Reigning team champion: Penn State
Returning champions (this year’s weight in parentheses): Spencer Lee, Iowa (125)***; Roman Bravo-Young, Penn State (133)**; Yianni Diakomihalis, Cornell (149)***; Austin O’Connor, North Carolina (157); Keegan O’Toole, Missouri (165); Shane Griffith, Stanford (165); Mekhi Lewis, Virginia Tech (174); Carter Starocci, Penn State (174)**; Aaron Brooks, Penn State (184)**; Max Dean, Penn State (197)
** two-time NCAA champion
*** three-time NCAA champion
Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.
Patrick Lanni may be reached at planni@njadvancemedia.com. | 2023-03-09T04:08:19+00:00 | nj.com | https://www.nj.com/sports-news/2023/03/ncaa-wrestling-championships-2023-bracket-seeds-and-pairings-for-165-pounds.html |
(The Hill) — The number of suspected suicide attempts by poisoning among children rose sharply between 2015 and 2020, recent research suggests.
University of Virginia researchers conducted a study based on cases reported to the National Poison Data System as “suspected suicides” that involved both attempted suicides and deaths by suicide. They found a 26 percent increase in suspected suicides among children ages 6 and 19 during the study period.
The over-the-counter pain killers ibuprofen and acetaminophen were the two most common substances used in the suspected pediatric attempted suicide cases, researchers found, adding that the self-poisoning attempts resulted in 276 deaths and 14,916 cases of “major effects,” which may include long-lasting symptoms such as disfigurement.
Suspected cases of suicide by self-poisoning reportedly rose from 75,248 in 2015 to 93,532 in 2020. Girls accounted for 77.9 percent of all cases during the timeframe.
All pediatric groups saw increases in suspected suicides, according to the study, but the largest jump occurred in children between the ages of 10 and 12 who saw an increase of more than 109 percent.
“We need to be vigilant for the warning signs associated with suicide risk in our children,” Christopher Holstege, chief of the Division of Medical Toxicology at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, said in a statement.
“Our study is one of a number that demonstrates that we are experiencing an unprecedented mental health crisis in younger age groups,” he continued. “As a society, we must commit more resources to the mental health needs of our children.”
A government-backed task force in April recommended early screening for depression and anxiety. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force said children should be screened for anxiety beginning at age 8, while children 12 and up should be evaluated for depression.
“To address the critical need for supporting the mental health of children and adolescents in primary care, the Task Force looked at the evidence on screening for anxiety, depression, and suicide risk,” task force member Martha Kubik, said in a statement at the time.
“Fortunately, we found that screening older children for anxiety and depression is effective in identifying these conditions so children and teens can be connected to the support they need.” | 2022-05-31T17:48:26+00:00 | cenlanow.com | https://www.cenlanow.com/health-2/child-suicide-attempts-by-poisoning-on-the-rise-study-says/ |
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — It may be a road game against a three-win team in a stadium that’s likely to be more empty than full. But Cincinnati head football coach Luke Fickell went to great lengths this week to make sure his team understood the urgency of the moment.
“We’re going to change the whole mindset going on the road and get our guys back into understanding this is when the playoffs start,” Fickell said. “That’s just the reality. You’re in that situation now.”
Cincinnati’s dreams of a fourth straight trip to the American Athletic Conference championship game rest on heading to Philadelphia and beating a Temple team on Saturday (4 p.m.) that has been pesky as of late.
“We have always wanted to play for championships, and I think that now you are in a position where it is all or nothing,” Fickell said. “I am not saying that every game isn’t like that, but you are trying to put in a little bit more of an emphasis on what you need to do and you want to make sure these guys understand that.”
The Bearcats (8-2, 5-1 AAC) have lived a bit on the edge. Cincinnati’s last six games – all in AAC play — have been decided by 10 points or less, including last week’s 27-25 win over East Carolina that was decided on Ryan Coe’s 21-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
“One of the bigger differences is, even in year one or two, guys expect to win,” Fickell said. “Yes, they prepare, they do all those things. But when it comes down to crunch time, a lot of times, it’s about an expectation. Who really believes they can get it done? We panic at times, and we show immaturity a lot of times. Then suddenly, in these really critical moments, you see this mature group step up.”
That has allowed Cincinnati to remain tied with Central Florida and Tulane at the top of the AAC standings with a showdown with the Green Wave looming next weekend at Nippert Stadium. (Cincinnati lost to UCF on Oct. 29, 25-21, for its lone conference setback.)
“They are tenacious,” said Stan Drayton, the head coach of Temple (3-7, 1-5). “They play very hard and they are very confident. They have good team speed all around and they are balanced.”
PACE CAR FOR CINCY
Even with all the weapons that Cincinnati has on offense like quarterback Ben Bryant and wide receivers Tre Tucker, Tyler Scott and Jaden Thompson, it was the Bearcats defense that caught Drayton’s eye. Chief among that was senior linebacker Ivan Pace Jr., who has nine sacks and 17 tackles for loss.
NO LOVE IN PHILLY
Cincinnati has seen seasons slip up at Lincoln Financial Field. On the last trip to Philadelphia in 2018, the Bearcats entered the game undefeated at 6-0 and ranked 20th in the country. They left with a 24-17 overtime loss — part of a legacy that includes a 3-8 record against the Owls in the City of Brotherly Love.
“Temple was always a tough place, a tough place to play, and they’re always a tough team,” Tucker said. “So, I think everyone’s going to be on high alert.”
E.J. IS OK
Freshman quarterback E.J. Warner — the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner — threw for a school-record 486 passing yards and three touchdown passes in a 43-36 loss at Houston last week. In the last three weeks, Temple has scored 36.7 points per game — and yet, only has a 1-2 record to show for it.
___
AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/ap_top25. Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/mrxhe6f2 | 2022-11-17T03:05:34+00:00 | seattletimes.com | https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/cincinnati-heads-to-temple-with-eye-on-aac-title-game-berth/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
MNDot releases new trip planning app
MANKATO, Minn. (KEYC) - MNDoT announced the release of a new trip planning app that launched today.
The Transit app is meant to mimic the utility of of other trip planning apps, but has a focus on local options for public transportation and other resources for those without personal transportation.
The app gives the option to view and pay for transportation within a given city. MNDoT says that the goal of the app is to make public transportation more accessible outside of major cities. Mankato is one of over 300 cities worldwide to adopt the inititiative.
The app is currently in a pilot period that is scheduled to last until April of next year.
Participating transportation providers include (* indicates in-app ticketing will be available):
- Brown County Heartland Express
- Central Community Transit
- Jefferson Lines (by mid-March)
- Land to Air
- Morris Transit*
- Mankato Transit System*
- Minnesota River Valley Transit
- Prairie Five RIDES
- Rochester Public Transit (by the end of March)
- Rolling Hills Transit*
- SMART*
- The Otter Express*
- Tri-CAP*
- TRUE Transit
- UCAP Community Transit
Copyright 2023 KEYC. All rights reserved. | 2023-03-02T13:47:57+00:00 | kttc.com | https://www.kttc.com/2023/03/01/mndot-releases-new-trip-planning-app/ |
MANDVI, India (AP) — Cyclone Biparjoy knocked out power and threw shipping containers into the sea in western India on Friday before weakening as it headed toward Pakistan, officials said.
More than 180,000 people took shelter in the two countries, but some of Pakistan’s evacuees prepared to return home as the storm weakened. Indian officials said electricity had been restored in some villages, while many others were still without power.
The storm’s toll was felt especially where it made landfall in India. A man and his son died when they tried to save their livestock in Gujarat state.
The storm had windspeeds of 85 kph (53 mph) and gusting up to 105 kph (65 mph) through the coastal regions of western Gujarat.
The full extent of the damage in western India wasn’t immediately known. In addition to the two deaths, 23 people were injured in various areas, officials said. About 100,000 people who were evacuated in western India have been temporarily relocated to relief camps, authorities said.
The storm did other damage upon landfall, including uprooting trees and electricity poles. Officials in the coastal town of Mandvi said heavy winds threw some shipping containers into the sea at the Mundra port, one of India’s largest.
Pakistanis were especially on alert after deadly flooding last year. Wind-driven rain pelted southern coastal towns in Pakistan for a second day Friday. The cyclone was expected to cause flash floods in the country’s south.
People in that region lined up to receive food donated by charities, aid agencies and local authorities.
Pakistan will decide on Saturday whether displaced people can be allowed to go back.
“The storm is expected to weaken first to a cyclonic storm and then to a depression by this evening,” a government statement said.
Shakir Din, a fisherman in the coastal town of Badin, said his family and neighbors may soon return home.
The Indian Meteorological Department said Cyclone Biporjoy set a record for the longest lifespan over the Arabian Sea, more than 10 days. Cyclone Kyarr in 2019 had a life of nine days, it said.
The Gujarat government said it deployed 184 rapid action squads to rescue wild animals and clear fallen trees in Gir National Park, home to nearly 700 Asiatic lions.
Pakistan’s Sindh province experienced one of the country’s deadliest floods last summer, partly induced by climate change. At least 1,739 people were killed and 33 million were displaced.
The World Health Organization said Thursday that it was supporting Pakistan’s efforts to deal with the impact of the cyclone. Pakistan’s government and local aid groups delivered free food and drinking water to displaced people. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said his government was protecting those in the storm’s path.
On Thursday, UNICEF warned that more than 625,000 children were at immediate risk in Pakistan and India.
“In Pakistan, Cyclone Biparjoy threatens a new crisis for children and families in Sindh, the province worst affected by last year’s devastating floods,” said Noala Skinner, UNICEF’s regional director for South Asia.
A 2021 study found that the frequency, duration and intensity of cyclones in the Arabian Sea increased significantly between 1982 and 2019, and experts say the increase will continue, making preparations for natural disasters more urgent.
___
Munir Ahmed reported from Islamabad. Arasu reported from Bengaluru, India. Associated Press writer Muhammad Farooq contributed to this story from Badin, Pakistan.
___
Follow AP’s climate change coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment
___
Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about AP’s climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. | 2023-06-16T22:25:11+00:00 | ksn.com | https://www.ksn.com/news/national-world/ap-international/cyclone-biparjoy-kills-2-uproots-power-lines-after-landfall-in-india-churns-toward-pakistan/ |
Q: If Boston has now set the mark that an All-Star needs to be included in the package for Kevin Durant, it should be Jimmy Butler and not Bam Adebayo. The combination of Butler and Durant is simply not as lethal as a combination of Bam and Durant. Not to mention, having two 34-year-olds is something that should be avoided especially with the severity of injury Durant had. Bam has 10 elite-level years left and Butler maybe a few. The team would be in better shape for the future, as well, by keeping Bam. – Brian.
A: Actually, when reports of Kevin Durant’s trade request surfaced, some of the speculation did center on Jimmy Butler as a matching trade piece. But that seemingly would be nothing more than subbing out similar components, with a potential net gain, but not an extreme net gain, in light of Butler’s perimeter defensive capabilities. And Jimmy is so tied to Kyle Lowry that there could be some lingering concerns there, as well. When you go through the machinations to bring aboard a Kevin Durant, it has to be with the mind of a significant, franchise-altering upgrade. I’m not sure it’s worth the effort if it means moving on from a player who helped you make the Eastern Conference finals in two of the past three seasons, at times carrying the team on his back, as well as tossing in other sweeteners. To this point, what team has offered their best player to Brooklyn for Durant?
Q: Dare I point out what should be the elephant in the room, but somehow is camouflaged against a gray-painted wall? Jimmy Butler as the centerpiece for Kevin Durant makes more sense from both sides than Bam Adebayo. They fill the same role on each team and they’re the same age, so we don’t mortgage 10 years of good basketball for a 2-3 year window. Butler trumps all the Jaylen Browns and Andrew Wigginses out there. We don’t decimate a “big men” front line that already has nothing behind Bam that can be played in a Finals rotation. – Morgan, New Orleans.
A: So then let’s go to the other side of the equation, regarding the Nets. Subbing out Kevin Durant in favor of Jimmy Butler would hardly move the needle there, as well. Jimmy Butler, Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons gets you where? Let alone the awkward reunion between Butler and Simmons. That’s why the attraction with a younger star, be it a Jaylen Brown and Bam Adebayo. That way you at least can try to bridge to a future.
Q: Are Nets playing a chess game of attempting to dismantle the Celtics’ and/or Heat’s young core? Kevin Durant may change his mind (wink, wink) by deciding to stay with Kyrie Irving, but the emotional scars of battle remain into the 2022-23 season. Irving is known to be a habitual manipulator. This vendetta especially applies to the team which swept the Nets out of the playoffs in the first round. Some observers are still trying to figure out the raison d’etre of Durant’s puzzling trade demand last month. – Leonard, Cornelius, N.C.
A: No, not psychological warfare, but rather a team desperately trying to regroup from a failed experiment. As for Jaylen Brown, Bam Adebayo or any other player mentioned in trade speculation, that’s when you put your big-boy pants on and handle it like a pro. It’s all part of the game.
() | 2022-07-27T11:02:24+00:00 | bostonherald.com | https://www.bostonherald.com/2022/07/27/ask-ira-could-there-be-a-jimmy-butler-component-to-a-heat-trade-for-kevin-durant/ |
South Korea says North Korea fired missile into sea
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s military said North Korea on Saturday fired at least one ballistic missile into the sea, a day after it threatened to take strong measures against South Korea and the U.S. over their joint military exercises.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul didn’t immediately say what type of missile was launched or how far it flew. It was the North’s first known weapons test since a short-range missile was fired on Jan. 1.
North Korea’s Foreign Ministry on Friday threatened with “unprecedently” strong action against its rivals, after South Korea announced a series of planned military exercises with the United States aimed at sharpening their response to the North’s growing threats.
North Korea is coming off a record year in weapons demonstrations with more than 70 ballistic missiles fired, including intercontinental ballistic missiles with potential range to reach the U.S. mainland. The North also conducted a slew of launches it described as simulated nuclear attacks against South Korean and U.S. targets in response to the allies’ resumption of large-scale joint military exercise that had been downsized for years.
North Korea’s missile tests have been punctuated by threats of preemptive nuclear attacks against South Korea or the United States over what it perceives as a broad range of scenarios that put its leadership under threat.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un doubled down on his nuclear push entering 2023, calling for an “exponential increase” in the country’s nuclear warheads, mass production of battlefield tactical nuclear weapons targeting “enemy” South Korea and the development of more advanced ICBMs.
He showcased more than a dozen ICBMs last week during a massive military parade in the capital, Pyongyang. The unprecedented number of missiles underscored a continuation of expansion of his country’s military capabilities despite limited resources while negotiations with Washington remain stalemated.
Those missiles included a new system experts say is possibly linked to the North’s stated desire to acquire a solid-fuel ICBM. North Korea’s existing ICBMs, including Hwasong-17s, use liquid propellants that require pre-launch injections and cannot remain fueled for prolonged periods. A solid-fuel alternative would take less time to prepare and is easier to move around on vehicles, providing less opportunity to be spotted.
The North Korean statement on Friday accused Washington and Seoul of planning more than 20 rounds of military drills this year, including large-scale field exercises, and described its rivals as “the arch-criminals deliberately disrupting regional peace and stability.”
The statement came hours after South Korea’s Defense Ministry officials told lawmakers that Seoul and Washington will hold an annual computer-simulated combined training in mid-March. The 11-day training would reflect North Korea’s nuclear threats, as well as unspecified lessons from the Russia-Ukraine war, according to Heo Tae-keun, South Korea’s deputy minister of national defense policy.
Heo said the two countries will also conduct joint field exercises in mid-March that would be bigger than those held in the past few years.
South Korea and the U.S. will also hold a one-day tabletop exercise next week at the Pentagon to sharpen a response to a potential use of nuclear weapons by North Korea.
The exercise, scheduled for Wednesday, would set up possible scenarios where North Korea uses nuclear weapons, explore how to cope with them militarily and formulate crisis management plans, South Korea’s Defense Ministry said.
North Korea has traditionally described U.S.-South Korea military exercises as rehearsals for a potential invasion, while the allies insist that their drills are defensive in nature.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2023-02-18T09:48:21+00:00 | wymt.com | https://www.wymt.com/2023/02/18/south-korea-says-north-korea-fired-missile-into-sea/ |
NUMBER OF PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS CONTRACTED HAS INCREASED FROM 27 TO 78 IN TWO MONTHS
HOUSTON, April 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nutex Health Inc. ("Nutex Health" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: NUTX), a physician-led, technology-enabled integrated healthcare delivery system comprised of 20 state-of-the-art micro hospitals in 8 states and primary care-centric, risk-bearing physician networks, today provided an update on South Florida Physicians IPA, its independent practice association ("IPA") in South Florida.
As of today, South Florida Physicians IPA has signed contracts with 78 primary care physicians ("PCPs"), up from 27 PCPs in February 2023. The physicians have been credentialed and our IPA is working with several health plans to enroll patients.
An IPA is an association of independent physician practices who wish to focus on providing high quality care and to remain independent but need additional resources and expertise to lead the market in value-based care. South Florida Physicians IPA offers its providers access to our Clinigence Health cloud-based population health data analytics platform, opportunities to participate in risk-based contracts with payors and the resources of ProCare MSO, Nutex Health's wholly-owned management services organization ("MSO").
Nutex Health's integrated healthcare delivery system is comprised of its hospitals, IPAs, our MSO and our cloud-based population health analytics platform. Our inpatient-outpatient model is well aligned operationally and strategically to deliver high-quality and coordinated care to patients in our local communities, while improving the efficiency and overall cost of care. We believe that by taking care of as many of our IPA's enrolled patients at our hospitals, we will not only increase the volumes in our emergency rooms and occupy more of our inpatient beds, but we will also reduce the medical cost ratio ("MCR") in our IPAs, thus making our IPAs more profitable. Nutex Health is building or in advanced planning stages of building 7 microhospitals in the state of Florida over the next 2-3 years.
"Florida is an important state for us. We are working in parallel to build our hospitals and to set up our provider network there," stated Tom Vo, M.D., MBA, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nutex Health.
"We welcome the physicians who have joined our IPA in Florida to the Nutex family. We are proud to have organically grown our network so rapidly and are also evaluating potential IPA and MSO acquisitions in Florida and other states," stated Warren Hosseinion, M.D., President of Nutex Health.
About Nutex Health Inc.
Headquartered in Houston, Texas and founded in 2011, Nutex Health Inc. (NASDAQ: NUTX) is a healthcare management and operations company with two divisions: a Hospital Division and a Population Health Management Division.
The Hospital Division owns, develops and operates innovative health care models, including micro-hospitals, specialty hospitals, and hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs). This division owns and operates 19 facilities in 8 states.
The Population Health Management division owns and operates provider networks such as Independent Physician Associations (IPAs). Through our Management Services Organization (MSO), we provide management, administrative and other support services to our affiliated hospitals and physician groups. Our cloud-based proprietary technology platform aggregates clinical and claims data across multiple settings, information systems and sources to create a holistic view of patients and providers, allowing us to deliver greater quality care more efficiently.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements and information included in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words or phrases "will", "will likely result," "expected to," "will continue," "anticipated," "estimate," "projected," "intend," "goal," or similar expressions are intended to identify "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to certain risks, known and unknown, and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Such uncertainties and risks include, but are not limited to, our ability to successfully execute our growth strategy, changes in laws or regulations, including the interim final and final rules implemented under the No Surprises Act , economic conditions, dependence on management, dilution to stockholders, lack of capital, the effects of rapid growth upon the Company and the ability of management to effectively respond to the growth and demand for products and services of the Company, newly developing technologies, the Company's ability to compete, conflicts of interest in related party transactions, regulatory matters, protection of technology, lack of industry standards, the effects of competition and the ability of the Company to obtain future financing. An extensive list of factors that can affect future results are discussed in the Current Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2022 under the heading "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item IA thereof, and other documents filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such factors could materially adversely affect the Company's financial performance and could cause the Company's actual results for future periods to differ materially from any opinions or statements expressed within this press release.
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SOURCE Nutex Health, Inc. | 2023-04-19T08:59:46+00:00 | wsfa.com | https://www.wsfa.com/prnewswire/2023/04/19/nutex-health-provides-update-its-medical-group-south-florida/ |
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The developer of a major pipeline system that connects the Marcellus Shale gas field in western Pennsylvania to an export terminal near Philadelphia pleaded no contest Friday to criminal charges that it systematically polluted waterways and residential water wells across hundreds of miles.
Dallas-based Energy Transfer Operating agreed to independent testing of homeowners’ water and promised to remediate contamination in a settlement of two separate criminal cases brought by the Pennsylvania attorney general. Under a plea deal, the company will also pay $10 million to restore watersheds and streams along the route of its Mariner East pipeline network.
“We are holding Energy Transfer accountable for their crimes against our natural resources,” Attorney General Josh Shapiro said at a news conference after the hearing in Harrisburg.
An Energy Transfer spokeswoman called the $10 million fund “not a fine or penalty of any kind but the product of a voluntary collaboration” with the state.
“While we understand Mr. Shapiro is running for office, it remains disappointing that he would mischaracterize the facts of this voluntary agreement to his political advantage rather than acknowledge the good faith efforts of Energy Transfer to resolve this dispute,” the spokeswoman, Laura Atchley, said in an email.
The company’s Mariner East 1, Mariner East 2 and Mariner East 2X pipelines carry propane, ethane and butane from the Marcellus and Utica shale gas fields to a refinery processing center and export terminal in Marcus Hook, a suburb of Philadelphia. Construction wrapped in February.
Mariner East has been one of the most penalized projects in state history. The owner has racked up tens of millions of dollars in civil penalties, and state regulators repeatedly halted construction over contamination.
The attorney general stepped in last October, charging Energy Transfer with releasing industrial waste at 22 sites in 11 counties and failing to report spills to regulators. The company fouled the drinking water of at least 150 families, prosecutors have said.
Under the plea agreement, residents who live near the pipeline and have private water can request independent testing. More than 800 residents along the pipelines’ route have been notified of the testing, and residents have until Aug. 19 to sign up.
Residents were wary of the plea deal, given their fraught history with Sunoco Pipeline LP, the Energy Transfer subsidiary that operates Mariner East.
“I’m hopeful, but knowing Sunoco’s track record, I am skeptical,” said Karen Katz, of Edgmont Township in Delaware County. She said Sunoco strong-armed residents into signing agreements to allow the pipeline, tore up the neighborhood during construction, and fouled the aquifer. She said she still does not drink her well water.
“How do you take contaminated aquifers and un-contaminate them? How many years does that take?” Katz said.
Energy Transfer’s state permits already require it to fix the damage its pipeline construction caused. But prosecutors said the plea deal goes a step further by requiring the company to submit to water testing by geologists picked by the attorney general’s office. Previously, Energy Transfer itself had been testing water.
The company must abide by the independent experts’ recommendations on how to restore the fouled water, prosecutors said.
Another part of the plea deal requires Energy Transfer to pay $10 million to address contamination of groundwater and streams.
The money is a drop in the bucket to a pipeline company with surging profits. Energy Transfer reported this week that its net income jumped 90% in the second quarter, to $1.33 billion, as the company’s pipelines carried record volumes of natural gas liquids.
Shapiro, a Democrat running for governor, has long complained that Pennsylvania’s criminal environmental laws are too weak. His office said the statutory maximum for the crimes for which Energy Transfer was charged amounted to only $1.45 million, making a plea deal more beneficial to victims than taking the case to trial.
“Even if we had won every single count at trial, Energy Transfer would’ve walked away paying just pocket change for their crimes,” Shapiro said Friday. “Nothing more would have come to make our water cleaner and safer, and residents would’ve been screwed.”
The Pennsylvania Energy Infrastructure Alliance, a trade group, said that most of what it called Mariner East’s “construction woes” had already been addressed by regulators.
“Hopefully this brings closure to the issue, because it’s time to put the past to rest,” said the group, adding that Mariner East is operating safely.
Residents who live near the pipeline and some state lawmakers have said Mariner East should be shut down entirely, but the administration of Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf has ignored such calls.
Friday’s plea deal also resolves a separate criminal case involving the 42-mile Revolution pipeline near Pittsburgh, which runs from Butler County to a natural gas plant in Washington County. In that case, prosecutors alleged Energy Transfer’s negligence led to a 2018 explosion and fire that destroyed a home, a barn and several cars, collapsed transmission towers, and prompted an evacuation.
Energy Transfer pleaded no contest to 14 criminal counts in the Mariner East case and to nine criminal counts in the Revolution case. | 2022-08-06T09:08:31+00:00 | kfor.com | https://kfor.com/news/national/ap-us-news/pipeline-developer-pleads-no-contest-in-pa-pollution-cases/ |
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
© 2022 Good Karma Brands Milwaukee, LLC. | 2022-06-21T20:41:05+00:00 | wtmj.com | https://wtmj.com/entertainment/2022/06/21/ap-top-entertainment-news-at-108-p-m-edt-7/ |
3 killed, 39 homes damaged from house explosion in Indiana
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE/Gray News) - Authorities confirmed that three people were killed as a result of a house explosion in Indiana on Wednesday afternoon.
Officials say the call originally came in just before 1 p.m.
Evansville Fire Department Chief Mike Connelly says that a special collapse unit was requested to the scene.
Officials say that most surrounding houses were unoccupied except for pets.
Fire crews on the scene said the street intersection nearby had been closed but was about to reopen.
During an earlier news conference, Connelly said 39 homes were damaged as a result of the explosion, and four homes were destroyed. He said two people had been in the house that exploded, while a third individual was inside a neighboring house.
The number of people displaced is unknown at this time.
Connelly says eight fire units are currently on scene, while an arson investigation is now underway.
Copyright 2022 WFIE via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2022-08-10T22:41:03+00:00 | uppermichiganssource.com | https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/2022/08/10/3-killed-39-homes-damaged-house-explosion-indiana/ |
People in Florida are turning to the government for help after Hurricane Ian. But that's not an option for the many people who work as day laborers or in service industries on the Gulf Coast.
Copyright 2022 NPR
People in Florida are turning to the government for help after Hurricane Ian. But that's not an option for the many people who work as day laborers or in service industries on the Gulf Coast.
Copyright 2022 NPR | 2022-10-04T09:29:51+00:00 | wyomingpublicmedia.org | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-10-04/migrants-who-work-as-day-laborers-are-reluctant-to-ask-for-government-help-after-ian |
JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) — A popular hiking trail to an oasis in Joshua Tree National Park has been temporarily closed so bighorn sheep can get undisturbed access to water.
“The park is under extreme drought conditions and herds in the area are increasingly reliant on the oasis spring to survive the hot summer months,” a park statement said.
The Fortynine Palms Oasis spring is surrounded by palms in mountains on the northern side of the park.
The closure started June 1 and will remain in effect until summer monsoon rains provide enough water for the bighorns.
An estimated 100 to 200 desert bighorn live in the park. They are among a population of about 13,000 in parts of California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah, according to the Joshua Tree website.
The current population is about 10% of what it was before the settlement of the western U.S., the website said.
Bighorns are very sensitive to disease, and research in Joshua Tree shows there has been a significant loss of water from springs and places where water seeps from the ground that has contributed to a significant loss of bighorn habitat.
The park also warned hikers that summer temperatures on trails can reach more than 120 degrees (49 Celsius). Hikes should begin before or at sunrise and be completed by 10 a.m., or not begin until after 4 p.m., to avoid risk of heat illness and death. | 2022-06-08T13:07:47+00:00 | valleycentral.com | https://www.valleycentral.com/news/national-news/joshua-tree-park-closes-trail-so-bighorn-sheep-can-get-water/ |
Emmett Till accuser, in memoir, denies wanting teen killed
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — The white woman who accused Black teenager Emmett Till of making improper advances before he was lynched in Mississippi in 1955 says she neither identified him to the killers nor wanted him murdered.
In an unpublished memoir obtained by The Associated Press, Carolyn Bryant Donham says she was unaware of what would happen to the 14-year-old Till, who lived in Chicago and was visiting relatives in Mississippi when he was abducted, killed and tossed in a river. Now 87, Donham was only 21 at the time. Her then-husband Roy Bryant and his half-brother J.W. Milam were acquitted of murder charges but later confessed in a magazine interview.
The contents of the 99-page manuscript, titled “I am More Than A Wolf Whistle,” were first reported by the Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting. Historian and author Timothy Tyson of Durham, who said he obtained a copy from Donham while interviewing her in 2008, provided a copy to the AP on Thursday.
Tyson had placed the manuscript in an archive at the University of North Carolina with the agreement that it not be made public for decades, though he said he gave it to the FBI during an investigation the agency concluded last year. He said he decided to make it public now following the recent discovery of an arrest warrant on kidnapping charges that was issued for Donham in 1955 but never served.
“The potential for an investigation was more important than the archival agreements, though those are important things,” Tyson said. “But this is probably the last chance for an indictment in this case.”
A cousin of Till who leads the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation, Deborah Watts, said the memoir is new evidence that shows Donham’s involvement in the case and is particularly important when combined with the arrest warrant.
“I truly believe these developments cannot be ignored by the authorities in Mississippi,” she said.
In the memoir, Donham says she attempted to help Till once he’d been located by her husband and brother-in-law and brought to her in the middle of the night for identification.
“I did not wish Emmett any harm and could not stop harm from coming to him, since I didn’t know what was planned for him,” Donham says in the manuscript compiled by her daughter-in-law. “I tried to protect him by telling Roy that ‘He’s not the one. That’s not him. Please take him home.’” She claims in the manuscript that Till, who had been dragged from a family home at gunpoint in the middle of the night, spoke up and identified himself.
Donham adds that she “always felt like a victim as well as Emmett” and “paid dearly with an altered life” for what happened to him.
“I have always prayed that God would bless Emmett’s family. I am truly sorry for the pain his family was caused,” she says at the end of the manuscript, which is signed “Carolyn” but indicates that it was written by her daughter-in-law Marsha Bryant.
The memoir is remarkable not only because it’s the most extensive account of the sensational episode ever recorded by Donham, but also because it contains contradictions that raise questions about her truthfulness through the years, said Dale Killinger, a retired FBI agent who investigated the case more than 15 years ago.
For instance, Donham claims in the memoir to have yelled for help after being confronted by Till inside the family grocery store in Money, Mississippi, yet no one ever reported hearing her screams, Killinger said. Also, Donham never previously mentioned that she and Roy Bryant chatted about the abduction. In the manuscript, she says they did.
“That seems ludicrous,” Killinger said. “How would you have a major event in your life and not talk about it?”
The Justice Department closed its most recent investigation into the case in December and Mississippi authorities haven’t given any indication they plan to pursue the kidnapping warrant or other charges against Donham. But the Till family is pushing authorities to act.
Keith Beauchamp, a filmmaker whose documentary preceded the Justice Department probe in which Killinger was involved and that ended without charges in 2007, said the memoir shows that Donham “is culpable in the kidnapping and murder of Emmett Louis Till and to not hold her accountable for her actions, is an injustice to us all.”
“Our fight will continue until justice is finally served,” Beauchamp said.
It was Beauchamp, along with two of Till’s relatives, who discovered the arrest warrant with Donham’s name on it earlier this month in the basement of a Mississippi courthouse.
Tyson, the historian who provided the roughly 35,000-word manuscript to the AP, helped spur the government’s most recent investigation into the killing by publishing a book in 2017 in which he quoted Donham as saying she lied when she claimed Till grabbed her, whistled and made sexual advances. In the memoir, however, she claims Till did do those things. During the most recent investigation, Donham told the FBI she had never recanted, the Justice Department said.
Tyson said Donham’s statements in the memoir exonerating herself of wrongdoing need to be taken with “a good-sized shovel full of salt,” particularly her claim that Till identified himself to the men who took him from the family home and later admitted killing him.
“Two big white men with guns came and dragged him out of his aunt and great-uncle’s house at 2 o’clock in the morning in the Mississippi Delta in 1955. I do not believe for one minute that he identified himself,” Tyson said.
Neither Donham nor any of her relatives have responded to messages and phone calls from the AP seeking comment. It is unclear where Donham currently lives or if she has an attorney. Her last known address was in Raleigh, North Carolina.
___
This story has been edited to clarify that Tyson provided a copy of the manuscript to the FBI for an investigation that ended last year, not in 2007.
___
Reeves reported from Birmingham, Alabama. He is a member of AP’s Race and Ethnicity Team.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2022-07-15T03:41:39+00:00 | kwtx.com | https://www.kwtx.com/2022/07/15/emmett-till-accuser-memoir-denies-wanting-teen-killed/ |
How to Watch Auto Racing Streaming Live - Friday, June 2
Published: Jun. 2, 2023 at 5:38 AM CDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
Need more auto racing in your life? Well, you're in luck. The race slate on Friday, June 2 includes Formula 1, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and NHRA Drag Racing action that can be watched on Fubo. For a complete list, along with info on how to watch or live stream it all, check out the article below.
Watch even more auto racing action with ESPN+!
Auto Racing Streaming Live Today
Watch the Spain Grand Prix - Practice 1
- Series: Formula 1
- Game Time: 7:25 AM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch the Spain Grand Prix - Practice 2
- Series: Formula 1
- Game Time: 10:55 AM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch the Toyota 200 - Qualifying
- Series: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
- Game Time: 6:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: FOX Sports Networks
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch the New England Nationals - Qualifying
- Series: NHRA Drag Racing
- Game Time: 7:30 PM ET
- TV Channel: FOX Sports Networks
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Make sure you're following along with auto racing action all year long on Fubo and ESPN+!
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | 2023-06-02T11:51:55+00:00 | kcrg.com | https://www.kcrg.com/sports/betting/2023/06/02/auto-racing-live-stream/ |
HONG KONG (AP) — Chinese consumers snapped up billions worth of items in China’s first major online shopping festival after emerging from the pandemic as merchants slashed prices, but analysts say that consumer confidence still remains weak.
Chinese merchants offered customers steep discounts during the 618 shopping festival, which ran on China’s major shopping platforms from the end of May until June 18, in the hopes of shoring up sales amid a weaker-than-expected recovery in consumption.
Major shopping festivals, like e-commerce retailer JD.com’s 618 and Alibaba’s Singles’ Day, are typically barometers of consumption in China, and Chinese e-commerce platforms often participate by offering discounts and incentives to consumers.
Analysts say that consumption remains soft this year as China emerges from the pandemic, even as platforms including JD.com, Tmall, Taobao and Pinduoduo offered billions in subsidies.
“Chinese consumer confidence remains weak due to a mix of geopolitics, continued weakness from COVID-19 and domestic Chinese politics,” said Shaun Rein, founder and managing director of the China Market Research Group in Shanghai.
Rein said that consumers were less likely to spend more during 618 as merchants had already been discounting heavily for years because of the pandemic, and deals were not that much better compared to previous months.
In March, JD.com launched a “10 billion yuan subsidies” program to compete with rival Pinduoduo, which is known for its low-priced goods. The CEO of Alibaba’s e-commerce business unit, Trudy Dai, also previously pledged to make “huge, historic” investments to attract users to its platforms.
“For months, Chinese consumers have been price-conscious, looking for deals and trading down across most product categories,” Rein said.
This year, for the first time, JD.com did not reveal its total sales numbers for the 618 event, despite saying in a blog post that the 2023 shopping extravaganza had “exceeded expectations, setting a new record.”
Last year, neither Alibaba nor JD.com unveiled final numbers for Singles’ Day in November, amid muted festivities during COVID-19 and an expected slowdown in growth.
JD.com said in a blog post that during the 618 shopping festival, consumers snapped up 10 times the number of products that were eligible under its “10 billion yuan subsidies” program, compared to March.
Despite overall soft consumption, categories like cosmetics and luxury goods saw a bigger uptick in sales compared to the previous quarter, according to Jacob Cooke, CEO of e-commerce consultancy WPIC.
For this year’s 618 event, more luxury brands took part as they sought to boost sales in China after the sector in 2022 declined for the first time in five years amid China’s strict “zero-COVID” policies and lockdowns that hammered retail spending.
Brands like Moncler and Lemaire took part in 618 on Tmall for the first time.
Many luxury brands also took the opportunity to launch new products online, with some offering rare discounts and other incentives such as interest-free payment in instalments over 12 months.
Brands like Burberry, Chloe and Miu Miu’s sales in the first 30 minutes of the 618 festival at the end of May had exceeded its total sales during the shopping festival a year ago, according to Tmall data.
“Luxury coming back online is a big trend, because that’s the category that’s been hit really hard over COVID-19,” said Cooke. “Some brands may see up to a 10-fold increase in sales over last year.” | 2023-06-19T14:22:18+00:00 | wdtn.com | https://www.wdtn.com/news/business/ap-business/consumption-soft-even-amid-deep-discounts-during-major-china-shopping-festival-analysts-say/ |
Red Wings vs. Blackhawks: Betting Trends, Odds, Advanced Stats
Published: Mar. 8, 2023 at 7:53 AM EST|Updated: 1 hour ago
The Detroit Red Wings (28-26-9) host the Chicago Blackhawks (22-36-5) at Little Caesars Arena on Wednesday, March 8 at 7:30 PM ET on TNT. The Red Wings have lost six games in a row.
Red Wings vs. Blackhawks Game Info
- When: Wednesday, March 8, 2023 at 7:30 PM ET
- TV Channel: TNT
- Where: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan
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Red Wings Betting Insights
- The Red Wings have won 52.9% of their games this season when they've been a moneyline favorite (9-8).
- Detroit has not played as a moneyline favorite of -240 or shorter.
- The Red Wings have an implied moneyline win probability of 70.6% in this matchup.
- Detroit and its opponent have combined to score more than 6 goals in 38 of 63 games this season.
Red Wings vs. Blackhawks Rankings
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Red Wings Advanced Stats
- Detroit hit the over in four of its last 10 games.
- The Red Wings and their opponents have averaged 6.3 goals combined in their past 10 games, 0.3 more than the over/under of 6 in this matchup.
- During their last 10 games, the Red Wings' goals per game average is 2.2 lower than their season-long average.
- The Red Wings offense's 186 total goals (3.0 per game) rank 24th in the NHL.
- The Red Wings rank 19th in total goals against, conceding 3.2 goals per game (205 total) in NHL action.
- Their goal differential (-19) ranks them 23rd in the NHL.
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | 2023-03-08T14:12:27+00:00 | uppermichiganssource.com | https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/sports/betting/2023/03/08/red-wings-vs-blackhawks-nhl-betting-trends-stats/ |
WFO AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Friday, April 21, 2023
_____
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio TX
411 AM CDT Fri Apr 21 2023
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 415 AM CDT EARLY THIS MORNING
FOR BEXAR AND EAST CENTRAL MEDINA COUNTIES...
Flood waters have receded. The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no
longer expected to pose a threat. Please continue to heed remaining
road closures.
_____
Copyright 2023 AccuWeather | 2023-04-21T10:17:43+00:00 | expressnews.com | https://www.expressnews.com/weather/article/tx-wfo-austin-san-antonio-warnings-watches-and-17910302.php |
Dolores , Boden, 86. Tulsa, Loving Mother. Died Sunday, December 11, 2022. A Rosary will be held at 10:30 a.m., with the Funeral Mass to follow at 11:00 a.m., on Friday, both held at Church of the Resurrection.. Fitzgerald Southwood Colonial Chapel
Dolores , Boden, 86. Tulsa, Loving Mothe
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THANK YOU for helping us ensure that all guest book entries are positive and considerate. If you see a negative or inappropriate comment, please click on the link in the comment to report it, and a staff member will follow up immediately. | 2022-12-15T06:40:49+00:00 | tulsaworld.com | https://tulsaworld.com/obituaries/deathnotices/dolores-boden-86-tulsa-loving-mothe/article_ed3b90ba-88a5-538e-89e0-9b82c53e3a3c.html |
Millionaire’s elaborate jail escape plan foiled, Florida sheriff says
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Authorities say they’ve foiled an elderly businessman’s plan to escape a Florida jail and return to France where he had previously fled in an attempt to avoid child pornography charges.
A tip from outside the jail sparked a two-month investigation of John Manchec, 78, and people he had enlisted in his escape plan, Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers said Monday during a news conference.
“Essentially, the plan comes down to this,” Sheriff Flowers said. “These folks that are on the outside are going to wait until Manchec has a doctor’s visit, and they are going to take out our corrections staff while he’s out at the medical facility.”
The plan called for Manchec’s employees to pepper-spray prison guards and take him to his private plane in nearby Fort Pierce, so that he could fly to France, Flowers said.
Manchec is a multimillionaire with dual U.S. and French citizenship, Flowers said.
Manchec was arrested in 2014 on 49 child pornography charges. Flowers said he left the country to avoid prosecution after posting a nearly $500,000 bond, and moved to his medieval estate in southern France, the Chateau Pechrigal.
France denied U.S. attempts to extradite him, but he was eventually arrested in the Dominican Republic in 2020, and returned to Florida, according to the sheriff.
Manchec requested permission to leave jail in January, saying he suffered from chronic medical conditions, and because he broke his hip and wrist late last year, the sheriff said. The request was denied.
The escape plot centered on an April 12 medical appointment, Flowers said. But at least one of the people involved tipped off law enforcement, allowing investigators to unravel the plot.
An examination of Manchec’s jail phone records discovered he used the code words “paint job” while talking with his employees about the plot.
They were to prepare his plane, his 140-foot yacht, a black utility van and other vehicles purchased just for the escape attempt, Flowers said. Manchec even paid the bail for a cellmate, and then allowed them to live in his home. That person helped prepare for the escape, down to packing a suitcase, and his favorite liquor, the sheriff said.
Flowers said the plan was to go “back to his castle in France” and never have to face the charges.
Manchec remains in the Indian River County Jail, with additional charges related to the escape. Two inmates and two employees were also arrested and charged with conspiracy in the escape plot. A lawyer listed on Manchec’s court records did not immediately return an email seeking comment on the new charges.
Manchec was originally arrested in December 2014, following a child pornography investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2023-05-23T18:13:10+00:00 | kmvt.com | https://www.kmvt.com/2023/05/23/millionaires-elaborate-jail-escape-plan-foiled-florida-sheriff-says/ |
2023 Wells Fargo Championship Schedule: Saturday Start Time, How to Watch Live Stream, Tee Times & Pairings
Following two rounds of play at the 2023 Wells Fargo Championship, Nate Lashley leads (-8). Watch the third round from Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina.
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How to Watch the 2023 Wells Fargo Championship
- Start Time: 7:45 AM ET
- Venue: Quail Hollow Club
- Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
- Par/Distance: Par 71/7,448 yards
- Thursday TV: Golf Channel
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- Saturday TV: Golf Channel, CBS
- Sunday TV: Golf Channel, CBS
- Live Stream: Watch this tournament on Fubo!
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | 2023-05-06T02:20:03+00:00 | wnem.com | https://www.wnem.com/sports/betting/2023/05/06/wells-fargo-championship-pga-live-stream-tee-times-round-3/ |
Expert gives insight to hospice care in light of Jimmy Carter
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - 98-year-old former U.S. President Jimmy Carter entered hospice care and will forgo any more medical treatment.
According to the Carter Center, Former President Carter went through a series of short hospital stays and has now decided to spend his remaining time at home with his family. People representing Former President Carter didn’t expand on the reason for his hospital visits.
However, in recent years he has battled skin, brain, and liver cancer—which he survived.
Casey Cuthbert-Allman of Continuum Care explained the choice to go into hospice means the patient has chosen comfort over curative treatments.
She said this generally happens when someone is at the end of their life and wants to shift their focus to being with their loved ones, doing the activities they enjoy, and spending their final days in peace.
“I think hospice is such a gift, not only for the patient but for the family,” said Cuthbert-Allman. “It’s allowing somebody to have a comfortable natural passing on their own terms. They want to take back control.”
Many wonder what the timeline is for people entering hospice until they pass. According to Cuthbert-Allman, there isn’t a definite answer.
Cuthbert-Allman said, “For one person who has certain symptoms, they may last 12 months. You may have another person with the exact same symptoms, they may last only three months. We don’t have crystal balls. It’s really based on what’re the clinical needs of the patient. What’s going on? Which treatments do they choose not to follow up with going forward?”
The news of Carter entering hospice was announced Saturday afternoon on social media by The Carter Center.
Copyright 2023 WWSB. All rights reserved. | 2023-02-19T23:35:40+00:00 | mysuncoast.com | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/02/19/expert-gives-insight-hospice-care-light-jimmy-carter/ |
10 children, 2 adults taken to hospital after crash splits truck in 2
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA/Gray News) – A dozen people were taken to the hospital in Indiana Monday night after a crash that split a pickup truck in two pieces, police said.
According to WPTA, officials said they believe the 65-year-old driver of a pickup truck crossed an intersection without stopping.
A large passenger van, driven by a 41-year-old woman carrying 10 children, crashed into the side of the truck.
Police said the children involved were between the ages of 6 months and 15 years. They were all wearing seat belts and only had minor injuries.
Authorities said they believe alcohol played a role in the crash, and police said the truck driver would not cooperate with the investigation.
At this time, no charges have been filed, but the investigation is ongoing, authorities said.
Copyright 2022 WPTA via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2022-08-09T15:00:14+00:00 | live5news.com | https://www.live5news.com/2022/08/09/10-children-2-adults-taken-hospital-after-crash-splits-truck-2/ |
PITTSBURGH (AP) — This is why Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang stayed in Pittsburgh. And why the Penguins wanted them back, Sidney Crosby most of all.
Yes, they’re well into their 30s. Yes, they have far fewer games in front of them than behind them. Yet when they’re healthy and they’re right, they remain potent playmakers on a team that believes its Stanley Cup window remains wide open.
The proof arrived during a dazzling if familiar sequence late in the second period of Pittsburgh’s 6-2 season-opening victory over Arizona on Thursday night.
Malkin won a faceoff in the Coyotes’ zone and dropped the puck to Letang at the point. Letang then fed Malkin along the goal line. Malkin passed to Crosby, whose shot on net was turned away.
No matter, the puck made its way to Malkin’s stick and he jammed it home, the exclamation point on a night that was both cathartic and a reminder of how much life the Penguins’ longtime core insists they have in their 30-something-year-old legs.
The longtime franchise cornerstones combined for two goals and four assists as they joined former New York Yankee stars Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada as the longest-tenured trio of teammates in major North American professional sports history.
Crosby began his 18th season by scoring his 518th career goal 1:22 into the first period, part of an early three-goal deluge in which the Penguins quickly seized control. Letang also had two assists while Malkin looked dominant at times now well over a year removed from knee surgery that limited his effectiveness at times last spring.
“Geno had Geno’s best game tonight, I thought,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said of Malkin. “He had the puck all night long.”
Jake Guentzel, Jason Zucker, Bryan Rust and Kasperi Kapanen also scored for Pittsburgh. Tristan Jarry, who was limited to just one appearance during the Penguins’ first-round playoff loss to the New York Rangers last spring, made 26 saves.
Nick Ritchie scored twice for the rebuilding Coyotes. Karel Vejmelka improved as the game wore on to stop 47 shots.
“The start we had, that’s what hurt us,” Arizona coach Andre Tourigny said. “We weren’t mentally engaged enough. We got better during the game, never quit, came back and worked hard. But (we) need to find a way to get out of the gate with more urgency mentally.”
Pittsburgh’s pregame ceremony was cathartic for the sellout crowd following a few tense days in early summer in which Letang and Malkin’s futures with the club were both unclear as free agency loomed. Letang ultimately opted to stick around on a six-year deal and Malkin followed suit shortly thereafter by agreeing to a four-year pact just hours before hitting the open market.
The signings sent a very clear message that new owners Fenway Sports Group — which purchased the club from Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle last fall — believes Pittsburgh remains a legitimate Stanley Cup threat.
It will take months if not years to know whether it was the right move, but the very early returns were promising.
Crosby needed all of 82 seconds to give the Penguins the lead, taking a pretty cross-ice backhand feed from Guentzel then ripping a shot over Vejmelka’s glove. It marked the first time in Crosby’s career he’s scored Pittsburgh’s first goal of the season.
“Took me a while (to do that),” Crosby said. “I don’t know. It’s nice to get a start like that and obviously get a win.”
Zucker, who dealt with various injuries last season, made it 2-0 less than 3 minutes later with by firing a one-timer from just above the right circle. Guentzel pushed the lead to three 5:12 into the first by flipping a shot into an empty net on the power play.
Tourigny believes his team is in a better place than it was a year ago, when the Coyotes finished with the NHL’s worst record. Maybe, but the Coyotes are likely facing another difficult year that includes playing 20 of their first 24 games on the road.
Arizona didn’t win a game during the preseason and looked overmatched for the first 25 minutes or so before Ritchie’s two power-play goals briefly gave the Penguins a scare.
“We fought pretty hard the last two periods,” Ritchie said. “It was definitely better. We obviously have some work to do.”
NOTES: Arizona rookie F Dylan Guenther, the club’s 2021 first-round pick, was a healthy scratch after making the team as a 19-year-old. … Pittsburgh went 2 for 6 on the power play. The Coyotes were 2 for 5 with the man advantage.
UP NEXT
Coyotes: Continue a season-opening six-game trip in Boston on Saturday.
Penguins: Welcome Tampa Bay on Saturday night.
___
More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2022-10-14T10:12:04+00:00 | pahomepage.com | https://www.pahomepage.com/sports/ap-crosby-starts-18th-season-with-a-bang-pens-top-coyotes-6-2/ |
It wasn't exactly Lewis & Clark in uncharted territory, but Mahomet-Seymour had to survive its share of thorns while shedding Mattoon 53-51 in Illinois boys basketball action on December 1.
You're reading a news brief powered by ScoreStream, a world leader in fan-driven sports results and conversation. Help us collect and deliver more game results from your favorite teams and players by downloading the ScoreStream app. Nearly a million users nationwide share team scores and player performance stats with this convenient free app. | 2022-12-02T06:44:02+00:00 | pantagraph.com | https://pantagraph.com/sports/high-school/basketball/boys/sweating-it-out-mahomet-seymour-edges-mattoon-53-51/article_759158ea-18f1-5a6a-a58f-5086ae040c22.html |
Starbucks seems to be one of those companies that has pricing power. It's something that we've discussed on *** number of occasions where American companies are able to take input cost increases and pass them on to customers and maybe even *** little bit more because the brand is so strong. Starbucks seems to be *** company in that space. It added about 6% to its overall price. Uh spec Over the past 12 months whilst at the same time same store sales in the US are up about 11% and in fact traffic is very close to pre pandemic levels and that of course drove stronger than expected earnings essentially. Starbucks had fourth quarter revenues of around 8.4 billion that beat the street and they had *** bottom line of 81 cents per share. All of that scene to offset the ongoing slump that it's seeing in china. And that's really important because it's of course the fastest growing market for the world's biggest coffee chain, comparable sales in china were down about 16% they were down 44% in the prior quarter. The company is relatively optimistic that the covid restrictions which are keeping people at home are going to abate relatively soon and they will work Keen to point out that mobile and drive through orders have accelerated as people change their buying habits. Starbucks appears to be on solid footing. The stock is up firmly in Friday trading and they're holding on to their recent new profit guidance for 2023 and beyond and they say they're going to meet those comfortably. So I think this is *** company that is transitioning well into its new leadership next year.
Why that "free" Starbucks drink is about to cost you more
Updated: 5:20 PM CST Dec 28, 2022
Starbucks is making changes to its rewards program, requiring members to spend more to earn some popular freebies.Starting February 13, members will need 100 stars — Starbucks' term for points — to get one cup of hot or iced coffee or tea, a baked good, a packaged snack or a to-go cup. Members will need 200 stars to get a latte or Frappuccino or a hot breakfast item, and 300 for a salad, lunch sandwich, protein box or packaged coffee (like a bag of beans).Currently, members need only 50 stars to get a hot tea, coffee or bakery item, 150 for a latte, hot breakfast item or parfait and 200 for a salad, lunch sandwich or protein box. Program members earn stars when they make purchases. If they use a Starbucks Card, one dollar spent translates to two stars. For credit card or other payment methods, members earn one star per dollar.Starbucks said it alerted rewards members in the U.S. and Canada to the changes on Wednesday, via email and through the Starbucks app. The new tiers are outlined on the Starbucks Rewards terms-of-use site. Insider first reported the changes to the system on Tuesday after seeing an internal memo.Rewards programs are an important way for companies to create loyal customers, learn more about their preferences and inspire repeat purchases."The rewards program ... is generating significant revenue for Starbucks," said interim CEO Howard Schultz during a November analyst call. In the three months ending on October 2, the number of active Starbucks rewards members jumped to 28.7 million, up 16% year-over-year.Starbucks has been experimenting with its rewards program in recent months.In October, the coffee chain started partnering with Delta to let rewards members earn airline miles. And earlier this month, it launched a beta version of Starbucks Odyssey — an extension of the rewards program that allows users to earn NFTs.While rewards members may be enthusiastic about benefits, they're also quick to criticize companies for making changes.Dunkin' fans swiftly bemoaned changes the brand announced in October, and Starbucks customers are already complaining online about the new tiers.
Starbucks is making changes to its rewards program, requiring members to spend more to earn some popular freebies.
Starting February 13, members will need 100 stars — Starbucks' term for points — to get one cup of hot or iced coffee or tea, a baked good, a packaged snack or a to-go cup. Members will need 200 stars to get a latte or Frappuccino or a hot breakfast item, and 300 for a salad, lunch sandwich, protein box or packaged coffee (like a bag of beans).
Currently, members need only 50 stars to get a hot tea, coffee or bakery item, 150 for a latte, hot breakfast item or parfait and 200 for a salad, lunch sandwich or protein box.
Program members earn stars when they make purchases. If they use a Starbucks Card, one dollar spent translates to two stars. For credit card or other payment methods, members earn one star per dollar.
Starbucks said it alerted rewards members in the U.S. and Canada to the changes on Wednesday, via email and through the Starbucks app. The new tiers are outlined on the Starbucks Rewards terms-of-use site. Insider first reported the changes to the system on Tuesday after seeing an internal memo.
Rewards programs are an important way for companies to create loyal customers, learn more about their preferences and inspire repeat purchases.
"The rewards program ... is generating significant revenue for Starbucks," said interim CEO Howard Schultz during a November analyst call. In the three months ending on October 2, the number of active Starbucks rewards members jumped to 28.7 million, up 16% year-over-year.
Starbucks has been experimenting with its rewards program in recent months.
In October, the coffee chain started partnering with Delta to let rewards members earn airline miles. And earlier this month, it launched a beta version of Starbucks Odyssey — an extension of the rewards program that allows users to earn NFTs.
While rewards members may be enthusiastic about benefits, they're also quick to criticize companies for making changes.
Dunkin' fans swiftly bemoaned changes the brand announced in October, and Starbucks customers are already complaining online about the new tiers. | 2022-12-29T00:30:42+00:00 | 4029tv.com | https://www.4029tv.com/article/starbucks-rewards-program-changes-free-drink/42357468 |
The perfect gift doesn’t have to cost a lot
It’s the thought that counts, not the dollar amount. In fact, it’s possible to spend too much money on a gift and make the recipient feel uncomfortable. Under $50 is a good target because it gives you enough room to purchase a useful, quality item, such as a journal or a waffle maker, without spending an excessive amount of money.
15 gifts you can buy on Amazon for under $50
Soondar Flexible Astronaut LED
If you know someone who loves outer space, this LED astronaut is a fun gift. It is a USB-powered gooseneck light that turns on when you open the astronaut’s helmet. Sold by Amazon
Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Styler
This handy two-in-one beauty tool is a dryer and a styler. It uses ionic technology to dry, smooth and condition hair while reducing static and frizz. Sold by Amazon
Coffee isn’t as good when it’s lukewarm. This take-anywhere mug warmer has an “on” indicator light for safety and an extra-long power cord for convenience. Sold by Amazon
What Do You Meme? Adult Party Game
In this game, you use your caption cards to create an appropriate or ridiculous caption for the photo card. Anything goes, and only the judge has final say on which caption wins. Sold by Amazon
Komal’s Passion Leather Journal with Lined Deckle Edge Paper
If you know someone who’s serious about their journaling, they’ll love this vintage leather journal with deckle edge paper for writing. Sold by Amazon
Greadio Retro Bluetooth Speaker
This mini Bluetooth speaker resembles a vintage radio. While it has a compact size, it delivers a surprisingly rich sound that’s free of distortion. Sold by Amazon
Baby Gund My Pet Puddles Animated Plush
Puddles is an animated puppy that wags its tail and yips. It’s made of soft, high-quality materials that encourage hugs and snuggles. Sold by Amazon
Bodum Brazil French Press Coffee Maker
The Bodum Brazil French Press Coffee Maker is for the coffee lover in your life. This environmentally kind manual machine will make coffee in about four minutes. Sold by Amazon
Comfier Cordless Head Massager
A scalp massage can be heavenly. It not only increases blood flow and relaxes, but can also help stimulate hair growth. Get this device for someone who could benefit from some self-care. Sold by Amazon
Cats love chasing laser dots. With this automated toy, you can give your cat 10 minutes of energetic playtime while you are busy watching, videoing or getting some chores done. Sold by Amazon
Dash Mini Maker for Individual Waffles
Waffles are fun, but mini waffles are a pure delight. Give the gift of joy with this compact appliance that makes 4-inch waffles, one at a time. You can also use it to make waffled hash browns, cookies and more. Sold by Amazon
This futuristic looking device is a five-in-one nightlight. It is a Bluetooth speaker, an LED lamp, an alarm clock, an MP3 player and it allows you to make hands-free calls. Sold by Amazon
A PopSocket is a tiny grip that attaches to the back of your phone. It facilitates secure one-handed operation and gives you the ability to prop up your phone no matter where you are. Sold by Amazon
This tiny stick makes your regular TV smart. It also gives you access to over a million movies and TV episodes, making it the perfect gift for someone who loves entertainment. Sold by Amazon
For those big, voluminous, bouncy, long-lasting curls, you need the right rollers. This set from Conair heats up in under 90 seconds and has a velvety covering to protect hair from damage. Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | 2022-12-15T21:27:53+00:00 | fox44news.com | https://www.fox44news.com/reviews/br/apparel-br/holiday-br/the-best-gifts-you-can-buy-on-amazon-under-50-today/ |
The Anniversary Will Be Commemorated with Exclusive Live Events and New Product Launches
NORWELL, Mass., Jan. 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Avedis Zildjian Company (Zildjian), the world's oldest maker of cymbals, today unveiled plans to honor its 400th anniversary which will culminate with an all-star celebratory concert in September. The company, which first began making cymbals in 1623, announced special events, cross-category product launches, and a tailored marketing campaign supporting this historic anniversary.
"It's a special opportunity to be able to look back and be humbled by the storied history of my family's company and all of the amazing, creative, and passionate people who have helped build something so meaningful," said Zildjian Executive Chair, President, and 14th generation owner Craigie Zildjian. "Of course, in true Zildjian fashion, we are focused on and excited about what lies ahead."
The company outlined several activations honoring its 400th year, including:
- A commemorative logo design and marketing campaign highlighting the emotional connection that Zildjian team members, artists, partners, and consumers have with the company.
- The release of a collection of limited-edition apparel and drumsticks that pay tribute to five major milestones in the company's history.
- A 400th Anniversary Concert featuring Zildjian Artists and special guests this Fall.
- The release of a commemorative book highlighting renowned artists' cymbal setups.
The company also announced plans for transformational products releases, including cymbals and new ventures, during its historic 400th year with more information to come at later dates.
"This will truly be an extraordinary year, one that not only celebrates the Zildjian legacy, but that points forward to the next 400 years of inspiring people to express themselves through music," said Zildjian CEO John Stephans. "This is not merely a moment for us to look back on the history of our company, but to look ahead and share with all of our employees, artists, partners, and consumers what we have in store for the future."
About The Avedis Zildjian Company
The Avedis Zildjian Company has set the standard for the development and manufacture of high-performance musical instruments since 1623. As the world's leading maker of cymbals, drumsticks, and percussion mallets, Zildjian products are sold across the globe, under the Zildjian, Vic Firth, and Balter Mallets brands, and are the standard to which all other cymbals, drumsticks and mallets are measured. From the beginner to the world's greatest rock stars, jazz performers and concert percussionists, amateurs and pros alike choose Zildjian, Vic Firth, and Balter Mallets products to share their musical expression, without compromise.
The female-owned company is headquartered in Norwell, MA with offices in Newport, ME, Los Angeles, CA, London, UK, Beijing China, and Singapore. Zildjian products are sold globally through distributors and via a network of dealers. All Zildjian cymbals are made in the USA at our cymbal factory in Norwell, MA, and our drumsticks/mallets at our factory in Newport, ME. For more on the Avedis Zildjian Company, please visit: www.zildjian.com
Media Contact:
Zachary Molinaro
zmolinaro@zildjian.com
781-607-2472
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SOURCE The Avedis Zildjian Company | 2023-01-31T17:19:50+00:00 | kmvt.com | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2023/01/31/zildjian-worlds-leading-cymbal-maker-celebrates-its-400th-anniversary/ |
400 thought leaders and decision makers from major global and regional organizations gathered at Europe's largest conference for Business Process Management, Enterprise Architecture and Governance, Risk & Compliance in Vienna, Austria
DUBLIN, Sept. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BOC Group, the Austrian leader in Enterprise Modelling Software, for the 20th time provided an incredible forum for exchanging experiences and tactics in applying BPM, EA and GRC, on September 8th and 9th, at the Orangerie of the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, Austria.
The Strategic Partner Meeting 2022 kicked off with a keynote by the BOC Group Management Board. Christian Lichka and his fellow board members provided insights into how " ... the BOC Group's core products empower the introduction of digital twins across all levels of an organization: the BPM suite ADONIS for comprehensive Business Process Management, ADOIT for Enterprise Architecture Management and ADOGRC for managing Governance, Risk & Compliance scenarios."
At the heart of this ever-growing invitation-only conference, BOC Group customers shared their stories from applying BPM, EA and GRC. Speakers featured some of BOC Group's reference customers, like Allianz, Molson Coors, Novartis, On, Roche, Swedbank, Uniqa or Victorinox.
Among others, Piyush Jain and Devanand Konwar portrayed Novartis' digital transformation journey with ADONIS and ADOIT. Felix Bindschedler explained why process management was started at On, reflecting on how BPM helped overcome the challenges of a fast-growing company.
Attendees had the chance to not only network with digital key players of various industries, but also gain invaluable insights to master constant change, manage today's business complexities and drive continuous growth.
To spread the knowledge gained through this event even further, BOC Group is making all session recordings available. These can be accessed and viewed on-demand on the event's landing page.
About BOC Group
BOC Group crafts and markets state-of-the-art Enterprise Modelling Software in the domains of BPM, EA and GRC, for effective business management in the digital era. Our tools are based on interconnectivity. They are free to adapt to your needs and can collaborate with a wide-range of ecosystem applications.
We deliver our products and services with over 270 employees spread across Athens, Berlin, Dublin, Madrid, Paris, Vienna, Warsaw and Winterthur with 120+ partners around the globe.
Contact:
BOC Information Technologies Consulting GmbH
Ing. Enrique Lobo Cruz
Market Development Manager
+43 1 905 10 81 2250
enrique.lobo-cruz@boc-group.com
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1906265/BOC_Logo.jpg
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SOURCE BOC Products & Services AG | 2022-09-23T15:50:34+00:00 | live5news.com | https://www.live5news.com/prnewswire/2022/09/23/boc-groups-20th-strategic-partner-meeting-evolved-into-europes-most-remarkable-conference-bpm-ea-grc/ |
Film incentives have successfully brought enormous economic opportunities and benefits to parts of our state. Motion picture productions bring in vast amounts of money from outside New Mexico, and provide direct economic impact to the communities they are filmed in by employing hundreds of New Mexicans at above-average wages and boost the economy with spending at local businesses.
Unfortunately, most communities in New Mexico do not receive the benefits of film economic development because the state has created a film incentive system that largely benefits only one part of the state.
In 2013, film industry insiders created a film incentive structure in New Mexico designed to drive film business to Albuquerque and Santa Fe. With the passage of the “Breaking Bad” film incentive bill in the 2013 session, the New Mexico Legislature put into law two provisions that have had the dramatic effects of keeping 95% of the state’s film business in a 60-mile zone around Albuquerque and Santa Fe.
The new incentives passed that session gave film productions an extra rebate if they used a “qualified production facility,” aka a film studio, and an additional incentive for the making of a TV series. Because film studios, created with over $40 million of state LEDA funds to date, existed only in Albuquerque and Santa Fe at that time, these new incentives all but ensured that most incoming film business would choose to use those facilities and film in those cities. The exclusionary new incentives also created a snowball effect of creating only a union film workforce in that part of the state since there were no film jobs elsewhere. This has resulted in an economic disincentive for films to locate anywhere else in New Mexico. And there’s never been a TV or streaming series based outside of Albuquerque or Santa Fe.
All film productions over essentially a million-dollar budget must hire a union crew and the governing agreement for the largest film crew union, IATSE, requires film productions to pay per diem, lodging and more for crew who travel more than 60 miles. Because it costs approximately 11% more to locate a film more than 60 miles outside Bernalillo and Santa Fe counties, where the film crews are located, very few film productions ever choose to film anywhere else. We need to fix this and allow citizens in the rest of the state to benefit from movie production.
Based on this inequity of the distribution of film economic development statewide, in 2019, the state created an “uplift” film incentive of an extra 5% to film productions that located beyond the 60-mile higher crew cost boundary outside Bernalillo and Santa Fe counties. This was targeted precisely to help film productions offset the extra costs to bring crew to other parts of the state to film. Since that time, this incentive has stimulated limited additional filming outside Santa Fe and Albuquerque, yet filming in these areas still accounts for only 5% of all film spending in the state. The recent New Mexico Film Office Olsburg economic impact study concluded the 5% uplift incentive “is helping … but has not proven (to be) enough.”
It is essential for the Legislature to increase the uplift film incentive to 10% to enable all communities to compete effectively for film and television projects. Communities across New Mexico, from Farmington to Gallup and Tucumcari to Las Cruces and beyond, are working hard for their place in the film industry. They, too, have an abundance of beautiful and unique filming locations, and citizens who dream of working in, and benefiting from, the film industry. They deserve a fair shot at recruiting film productions and will succeed only if we raise the uplift incentive.
While the Legislature considers millions in additional incentives to help Netflix and the existing Albuquerque-Santa Fe corridor, now is the time for the Legislature and governor to commit to equity for all taxpayers and New Mexico communities. We must boost the uplift film incentive as a part of any film incentive legislation. | 2023-03-10T19:29:46+00:00 | abqjournal.com | https://www.abqjournal.com/?p=2580145 |
(NerdWallet) – Renters may still be feeling the sting of skyrocketing price increases from two years ago, but at least those costs are unlikely to worsen this year, according to data from the real estate website Zillow.
For about a year, typical rent prices have been slowing down nationwide, and May was no exception, according to the latest Zillow rental data. But lease prices remain above pre-pandemic levels.
The report, released June 6, shows typical rent prices are now $2,048 — an increase of 4.8% from one year ago. It marks another month of slowdown in annual growth rates since the peak of 17% in February 2022, according to Zillow.
Jeff Tucker, senior economist at Zillow, says this spring leasing season is close to normal compared with the past three very abnormal years. During that time, the rental market moved from sluggish in 2020 to overheated in 2021 before beginning to cool in 2022, he says.
“It’s been several months in a row of slightly below or below normal monthly rent growth for the nation as a whole,” he says.
As rent growth continues to slow, the power dynamic between landlords and tenants could shift, Tucker says. “Vacancy rates are likely rising, and landlords are feeling a little bit more pressure to lease up their units and feeling a bit of that bargaining power shifting slightly in favor of the tenants themselves,” he says. “Unfortunately for renters, that does not mean rents are plummeting back down to earth — right down to pre-pandemic levels.”
Last month’s consumer price index (CPI) showed that shelter — including rent — was the dominant contributing factor to inflation. But there’s a lag in how rental data is reflected in the CPI because of the cycle of new leases. New rental leases typically last a year, which means the rental data included in that report reflects last year’s rental prices, not this year’s.
And about a year ago, rent prices started slowing down, Tucker says. Last month, Tucker said he’d hoped to see the rent price slowdown of spring 2022 start to be reflected in the CPI, which didn’t happen. But it will show up eventually, he says. So it’s possible that the next CPI report — to be released Tuesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) — will start to show last year’s spring decline in price growth.
In the meantime, Tucker says, based on Zillow’s data, typical rents for the rest of 2023 should continue to slow down.
“If I’d bet money on it, I would expect that we continue to see subdued, sort of lower-than-average rent growth in the remaining months of this year,” he says.
What makes rent unaffordable?
Recent rental data from Zillow may show a downward trend in price growth, but an analysis of rent data shows it’s still unaffordable to lease in most cities in America.
The meaning of unaffordable may vary by household, but the general guideline is you should spend no more than 30% of your gross income on rent. Among the most unaffordable cities, median income earners in six places would be considered “severely rent burdened” by federal standards.
A monthly NerdWallet rent-to-income ratio analysis of 227 cities in the U.S. finds that, based on the most recent data for April, nearly 67% of rents on the market were equal to or above the recommended 30% ratio in March. The previous month’s report shows the ratio in April was 67% compared with 65% in February and March.
That means if you live in one of the cities where the rent-to-income ratio is 30% or higher and you earn the median income or less, the typical rent in your area is likely moderately to severely burdensome. Market rent comes from Zillow, based on May data, and median household income used for this analysis is from 2021 U.S. Census Bureau data. The data doesn’t differentiate between incomes for residents who own rather than rent in those cities.
By federal standards, spending 30% to 49% of income on rent means a household is “moderately rent burdened,” and spending 50% or more means a household is “severely rent burdened,” according to the NYU Furman Center, which conducts research about housing and urban policy.
Among the 227 cities analyzed, nine have rent-to-income ratios that put renters with median incomes in the “severely rent burdened” category for May:
- Trenton, New Jersey: 74.12%.
- Bridgeport, Connecticut: 72.10%.
- Miami: 69.59%.
- Santa Maria, California: 60.11%.
- New York City: 58.87%.
- Hartford, Connecticut: 50.48%.
- Los Angeles: 50.38%.
- Springfield, Massachusetts: 50.09%.
- Gainesville, Florida: 49.85% (listed as 50% in Zillow index).
In the previous month, there were only seven cities in the “severely rent burdened” category.
Renters with the greatest financial burden for housing tend to be seniors, low-income households, immigrants and racial or ethnic minorities, according to a 2015 Zillow analysis of Census Bureau data.
Here are the cities with the most and least affordable rental housing markets, according to May rental market data by Zillow:
Find out how affordable your city is, and learn about more rental market trends.
Methodology: Rent-to-income ratios by metro area
NerdWallet pulled the most recent available market rental data for 529 cities from the Zillow Observed Rent Index and matched it with the most recent available median household income data (2021) for cities by the U.S. Census Bureau. Certain cities identified in the Zillow Observed Rent Index weren’t included in the Census Bureau list of median household incomes by city and thus weren’t included in this analysis. A total of 227 cities were identified by both sets of data. Then, NerdWallet calculated the rent-to-income ratio using the following formula: Market rent/(median income/12 months). | 2023-06-17T17:51:49+00:00 | wric.com | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/june-rent-report-rent-growth-is-cooling-but-prices-remain-high/ |
TAIPEI, Dec. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- USERJOY Games announces Antivine has officially launched on December 21st on Steam, which is a puzzle game developed by Regeneration Studio and supports five languages, including Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, English, Japanese and Korean.
Antivine is originally designed by a group of students from Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology. Their concept is to re-connect the relationship between people, and create unique experience based on games. Antivine has earned many domestic awards in Taiwan and the team has received sponsorship from USERJOY Games in 2021.
In its story, human beings have been fighting against the nature, and a negative power between these two keeps growing. There is one day, people start to have strange symptoms on their bodies - branches and vines grow from a certain age. After becoming a Treeman, the person will return to nature. Berries will grow from the branches and be provided to later generation. Senhsu is a unique boy from the village, and at his coming-of-age ceremony there is still no sign on his body. Thus, he has been crowded out by his people and started his journey for seeking the truth. He meets a lost girl Mumei on his way, and they move together for the challenges in front of them.
With this game, players can explore each island during the adventure, which is designed with different gimmicks and delightful background music. The design team also put in lots of work on its scenes, changes in the daytime and nighttime. Players must learn to change the way of thinking to solve the puzzle because there only a way to solve all these. And with its game settings, players can easily experience its story and immerse into the characters. Change the way of thinking, and follow Senhsu the boy to the adventure, players can finally reveal the truth of Treeman.
The development team wants to produce a game that touches its players, recalls the time when everybody is still little, looking at a crystal ball from angles, and leads them to think in different aspects.
Antivine Official Website:
USERJOY Games is both a game developer and distributor located in Taiwan. Look forward to further increase on global markets, USERJOY expands its develop team, and devotes to create great contents for players all over the world.
Official Website:
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE UserJoy Technology Co., Ltd. | 2022-12-22T07:32:55+00:00 | kswo.com | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2022/12/22/antivine-is-now-available-steam/ |
Serving time to serving meals: Inmates attend classes in prison, receive culinary certificates
HONOLULU (KHNL/Gray News) - Eight inmates at a correctional facility in Hawaii have received their culinary certificates.
KHNL reports that the group of inmates attended six months of classes offered at the Waiawa Correctional Facility by Kapiolani Community College.
And the group celebrated the occasion with a banquet.
“This program helped me a lot in professionalism and being able to have a future,” said inmate Gabriel Apilando.
It’s the facility’s first culinary program in at least 20 years.
Officials said the classes are important to teach skills as inmates prepare for work furlough, parole and being released back into the community.
“The culinary program taught me that anything is possible as long as I put my mind to it,” said inmate Antonio Belen. “I have the tenacity to move forward in my life.”
Kapiolani Community College also has a culinary program at the women’s correctional center which has been running for more than 10 years.
Copyright 2023 KHNL via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2023-06-21T02:42:55+00:00 | kcrg.com | https://www.kcrg.com/2023/06/21/serving-time-serving-meals-inmates-attend-classes-prison-receive-culinary-certificates/ |
San Ildefonso Pueblo tribal administrator John Gonzales, left, talks with Alan Davidson, assistant U.S. secretary of commerce and an NTIA administrator, on Wednesday about broadband at the pueblo.
Alan Davidson, left, assistant U.S. secretary of commerce and an NTIA administrator, speaks next to U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján on Wednesday at a broadband summit at Buffalo Thunder Resort Casino.
Xochitl Torres-Small, a former New Mexico congresswoman and now under secretary for rural development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, speaks Wednesday at Buffalo Thunder Resort Casino during a forum on broadband access in rural and tribal areas.
Alan Davidson, right, Alan Davidson, assistant U.S. secretary of commerce and an NTIA administrator, speaks with John Gonzales, tribal administrator at San Ildefonso Pueblo, about broadband access Wednesday.
San Ildefonso Pueblo tribal administrator John Gonzales, left, talks with Alan Davidson, assistant U.S. secretary of commerce and an NTIA administrator, on Wednesday about broadband at the pueblo.
Alan Davidson, left, assistant U.S. secretary of commerce and an NTIA administrator, speaks next to U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján on Wednesday at a broadband summit at Buffalo Thunder Resort Casino.
Xochitl Torres-Small, a former New Mexico congresswoman and now under secretary for rural development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, speaks Wednesday at Buffalo Thunder Resort Casino during a forum on broadband access in rural and tribal areas.
Alan Davidson, right, Alan Davidson, assistant U.S. secretary of commerce and an NTIA administrator, speaks with John Gonzales, tribal administrator at San Ildefonso Pueblo, about broadband access Wednesday.
SAN ILDEFONSO PUEBLO — Laurence Peña has a dream for this pueblo of 800 people about 20 miles north of Santa Fe.
"Every single home connected to fiber lines," said Peña, the director of economic development planning for San Ildefonso LLC.
"It's necessary for our overall economic development plan," he said, adding 60% of the pueblo has no broadband access and the other 40% has slow, limited access.
Robert Nott has covered education and youth issues for the Santa Fe New Mexican. He is assigned to The New Mexican's city desk where he covers a general assignment beat. | 2023-05-25T04:16:42+00:00 | santafenewmexican.com | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/new-mexicos-tribal-rural-areas-closer-to-receiving-broadband-with-federal-funding/article_3e6b5f78-fa7b-11ed-b168-b73428326603.html |
NEW YORK -- US Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe pulled out of the United States team that will play group stage matches in the Davis Cup next week in Glasgow, Scotland.
The U.S. Tennis Association announced Tiafoe's withdrawal Saturday.
Tiafoe, a 24-year-old from Maryland who was seeded 22nd at Flushing Meadows, became the first American man to get to the US Open semifinals since Andy Roddick was the tournament's runner-up in 2006.
Roddick was the last man from the country to win any Grand Slam tournament when he earned the trophy in New York three years before that.
Tiafoe's run ended with a five-set loss to No. 3 seed Carlos Alcaraz, a 19-year-old from Spain. Alcaraz will meet No. 7 seed Casper Ruud of Norway in Sunday's final, with the winner collecting his first Grand Slam title and rising to No. 1 in the ATP rankings for the first time.
Captivating crowds in Arthur Ashe Stadium with his superb play and unbridled enthusiasm, Tiafoe reached the second major quarterfinal of his career by eliminating Rafael Nadal in the fourth round in New York and ending the 22-time Slam champion's 22-match unbeaten run at major tournaments.
Tiafoe followed that up by defeating No. 9 seed Andrey Rublev to get to the semifinals.
"Obviously, through my career, I've been pretty sporadic [at] playing well [then] veering off for a while," Tiafoe said. "I've always backed myself against the best players in the world. I'm doing it on a consistent basis, starting to beat guys more readily. Ready to take the next step."
The USTA said Tiafoe would not be replaced on the Davis Cup roster for the Americans, who will start by facing Britain on Wednesday. The other U.S. players are Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, Jack Sock and Rajeev Ram.
U.S. Davis Cup captain Mardy Fish will miss the trip to Scotland because he got COVID-19, and Bob Bryan will fill in as acting captain. Bryan was a member of the U.S. squad that won the Davis Cup in 2007.
Britain's team is expected to include three-time major champion Andy Murray and Dan Evans, who is ranked 23rd this week.
Davis Cup group stage matches also will be held in Bologna, Italy; Valencia, Spain; and Hamburg, Germany, from Tuesday through Sept. 18.
The top two teams from each group advance to the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, Spain, on Nov. 22-27. | 2022-09-10T19:11:42+00:00 | espn.com | https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/34562435/frances-tiafoe-drops-davis-cup-matches-semifinal-run-us-open |
The Senate confirmed 97 federal judges during President Biden's first two years in office, setting records for the sheer numbers of jurists and their diversity.
In the end, federal courts may be one of Biden's deepest legacies, since judges often get the last word on what the law means and how it plays out in people's lives.
White House chief of staff Ron Klain said the judiciary has been a "top priority" for the president, and there's a simple reason why.
"When he talks about rights and liberties, he knows that in the end those rights and liberties are decided by federal judges, so the makeup of the federal judiciary is connected to everything else we do," Klain said.
White House lawyer Paige Herwig says the effort is a "sea change" designed to make the courts look like the rest of America.
"We've confirmed 74 women as federal judges during this administration so far," Herwig said. "That's actually more than were confirmed during the four years of President Trump's term or during the eight years of President George W. Bush's administration."
That total includes Dana Douglas, the first woman of color ever to serve on the 5th Circuit appeals court and Doris Pryor, the first Black woman ever to sit on the 7th Circuit appeals court from Indiana. In all, Biden has nominated and helped win confirmation for 11 Black women to sit on the appeals courts, more than all other presidents combined.
"Our federal judiciary will finally begin to reflect the diversity of this country and the diversity of experiences that Black women in particular can bring to the bench," said Janai Nelson, president of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
Biden's first move on judges involved promoting Ketanji Brown Jackson to the federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. Judge Jackson is now Justice Jackson. Last year, she became the first Black woman on the Supreme Court. She's also the first justice who worked as a public defender.
The area of professional diversity has been another focus of Biden's judge machine: picking lawyers with experience representing individual clients.
"They're public defenders representing people accused of crimes; they're civil rights lawyers; they're lawyers who are representing people who might have been discriminated against or harmed by defective products," said Christopher Kang of the group Demand Justice, which advocates for court reform and progressive-leaning judges.
Kang said Biden has already changed the face of the federal judiciary in a way that could linger for decades, since federal judges can serve for life.
That imprint "is one that might be the most durable in his entire legacy as a president," added Nelson, of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
In 2023, the Senate will remain in the control of Democrats, who have mostly voted in lockstep to support Biden's judges. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a recent statement that they're just getting started.
It's unlikely Biden can shift the balance of power on every federal appeals court in the country over the next two years. That all depends on time and retirements of current judges.
And as for the nation's highest court, former President Donald Trump cemented a conservative supermajority on the Supreme Court, one that's already frustrated Biden's agenda on reproductive rights, climate change and gun safety measures.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2023-01-02T10:33:59+00:00 | upr.org | https://www.upr.org/2023-01-02/president-biden-has-made-choosing-diverse-federal-judges-a-priority |
A comet named C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will get closer to Earth this month and astronomers say it should be pretty visible to you and me.
“This one is predicted to get to about 5th magnitude. Fifth magnitude is about as bright as a star that you can see with the naked eye at a reasonably dark site,” said Bart Fried, the executive vice president of Amateur Astronomers Association, Inc.
Why the complicated name? “It was discovered by an automated system, that's the ZTF part of the name,” he said.
This particular comet came from really far away. Theoretically, from the edge of the solar system in a big cloud called the Oort cloud.
“Comets are basically balls of ice and rock and dirt and various elements,” said Joe Pineda with the Denver Astronomical Society. “As the comet gets closer to the sun, it has a tendency to boil off some of the gasses and water and various things, and that gives it the coma, the halo around the nucleus, and the tail. The tail tends to be pointing away from the sun.”
The comet hasn’t been seen in 50,000 years, supposedly, because the orbital period is said to be about that length. It will be closest to Earth at the end of January into early February.
If you want to see it for yourself, experts have tips on how you can make sure to catch it.
“You want to be away from the city,” Fried said.
Light pollution in urban areas can hinder your view. The phase of the moon also plays a role. The darker the moon, the better for viewing things in space.
Experts also recommend having binoculars and finding a cloudless view of the horizon where the comet is predicted to be.
One way to plan where to look is by using a planetarium program.
“The easiest way I’ve found is to get a planetarium program…some of them are free,” Pineda said. “Once you have one, it displays on your screen, you can search for an object.”
Fried said it’s important to remember comets can be unpredictable. Things can change, like the comet could not brighten further, or sometimes they’ll break apart. On occasion, they crash into the sun, but that’s not expected to happen to this comet.
“That being said, there’s a pretty good likelihood this will be a good comet,” he said. | 2023-01-10T00:07:36+00:00 | news5cleveland.com | https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/national/rare-comet-not-seen-in-50-000-years-to-pass-by-earth-heres-how-to-see-it |
Thousands of guitar collectors head to Dallas for one of the biggest guitar shows of the year. They will be admiring -- and perhaps playing -- vintage Martins, Fenders and Gibsons that sell for as much as a quarter of a million dollars.
The market for vintage guitars has been on a tear lately as aging baby boomers buy up the same classic models -- in some cases the very instruments -- their rock 'n' roll heroes played.
That's the sort that caught Andy Rappaport's eye as he recently browsed among the hundreds of old instruments hanging from the walls at Southworth Guitars in Bethesda, Md.
"I make investments for a living, and I've done very well at it," says Rappaport, who runs a venture capital firm. "But my guitar collection has outperformed almost anything else that I've been investing in over the last 10 years."
Take the 1950s Les Paul he purchased from Southworth a few years ago. "I tell my wife this and she doesn't believe me but… for example, I saw one not as nice for sale a few months ago for five times what I paid for it," he says.
Only a few thousand of those guitars were produced. And with more and more collectors chasing them -- some who don't even play the guitar -- classic Les Pauls are going for record prices.
Take the one Gil Southworth has on sale for $115,000 -- a 1961 Les Paul Custom model with a mahogany body, an ebony fretboard and what Southworth jokingly describes as a "happy springtime sound."
When the first Les Paul model was introduced in 1952, it sold for $210. Its namesake, the jazz innovator Les Paul, first mounted strings on a piece of wood to demonstrate how a solid-body guitar could sustain a note without feedback.
But compared to the Les Paul's more popular rival at the time -- the Fender Telecaster -- the original Gibson model was only a modest seller. And it was discontinued between 1961 and 1968.
That's about when a young British guitarist named Jimmy Page picked one up and played it in a new way. The lead guitarist for the rock band Led Zeppelin transformed the Les Paul into one of rock 'n' roll's Holy Grails. And what Page did for the Les Paul, Jimi Hendrix did for the Fender Stratocaster and folk rockers like Steven Stills did for Martin acoustics.
Overall, the vintage guitar market has nearly doubled in the past five years -- to an average price of about $13,000. That's according to a stock market-style index of 42 Fender, Gibson and Martin models tracked by the Vintage Guitar Price Guide.
Prices for acoustic guitars have steady increased, but it's the electrics that have really blown through the roof.
"When we look at this huge growth in solid-body electric guitars from what we'll call the golden period, it's really a fashion statement," says Kerry Keane, an appraiser at Christie's auction house and a collector himself. "We're projecting upon the instrument we purchase a form of hero worship."
Even rock legend Eric Clapton fell under the spell. "The first guitar he ever purchased was a Fender Telecaster," notes Keane. "Why? Because Muddy Waters played one."
That sense of awe helped drive up the bidding for one of the most fashionable Les Pauls -- a rare 1959 Sunburst model, which Christie's auctioned off last October for $265,000.
Sales of guitars actually owned by celebrities have fetched even higher prices -- like Clapton's famous "Blackie" Stratocaster, which sold for nearly $1 million in 2004.
Of course, the fame factor is just one attribute that makes the guitars so valuable.
Another is the rich tone older instruments develop as they age. Collectors like Southworth gush like wine connoisseurs when they describe, say, the sound of a vintage Martin acoustic.
"I would say it's delicate, yet full-bodied… robust, yet unassuming," he says with a smirk.
He's joking, of course. But it's fairly easy to hear the difference between his 1946 model and a brand new one, which sells for about one-tenth the price just up the road at Guitar Center.
Ian Lazarus, a salesman at the Guitar Center store, says the guitars age much like fine wine does in an oak barrel. "The more time it's been played on, the wood becomes seasoned," he explains, "and the more it's going to resonate over time."
Solid-body electric guitars don't have a sound hole, so they don't reverberate in the same way. But you can still hear the difference.
"A vintage Les Paul is going to sound like a growl," says Gil Hembree, who co-authors the Vintage Guitar Price Guide. "A newer one, although very nice, will sound like a purr."
The distinction doesn't matter much to collectors like Andy Rappaport. He continues to add both old and new guitars to his collection, despite the looks he gets from his wife.
"Every time I come home with a new guitar, she says, 'Well, it could be a motorcycle, or a blonde,." he recalls. "And the guitars are preferable to those. So as long as they keep me out of trouble, they're OK."
Rappaport didn't come home with a guitar today. But Southworth doesn't mind. He'll find plenty of customers when he heads for the Dallas Guitar Show this weekend armed with a '59 Les Paul Sunburst.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2022-06-07T04:18:08+00:00 | upr.org | https://www.upr.org/2006-04-21/vintage-guitar-market-heats-up |
Police: 3 adults, 2 kids dead in apparent murder-suicide
ORLANDO, Fla. (WESH) - Police say a family of five from Florida is dead in what appears to be a murder-suicide. The bodies were found during a wellness check.
Orlando Police found the bodies of three adults and two children, all killed in an apparent-murder suicide, as officers were doing a well-being check around 1 p.m. Tuesday in an East Park neighborhood.
Heather Collins and her fiancé, Justin Rossilini, live across from the family involved.
“I think it’s like a worst nightmare, truly,” Collins said. “I don’t even know what happened exactly. This is just absolutely terrible. My heart goes out to the family. I can’t even begin to wrap my mind around any of this.”
Rossilini says the family – a middle-aged couple, their adult son and their two young girls – had just moved into the home a few months ago. He hadn’t seen or heard any activity at the home for several days until police arrived late Tuesday morning.
“When I went to leave, there was an officer who was looking through the car window and asked me if I’d seen them today. I said, ‘No, I haven’t seen them for a few days actually. Last time I saw them was about five days ago when they were checking the mail,’” he said.
Police are not releasing the identities of the deceased until next of kin is notified. They have also not released any information about what led to the apparent murder-suicide.
“I didn’t hear anything. I wish I did because I definitely would have liked to have been that concerned neighbor that did something in this situation,” Collins said. “Just this sickening sadness... It’s a nightmare. I don’t understand how anybody receives an end like that.”
Copyright 2022 WESH via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | 2022-08-03T10:30:48+00:00 | foxcarolina.com | https://www.foxcarolina.com/2022/08/03/police-3-adults-2-kids-dead-apparent-murder-suicide/ |
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A North Dakota farmer who had been detained in Ukraine since November 2021 on accusations he planned to kill his business partner is back home, the state’s two U.S. senators announced Friday.
Kurt Groszhans, from Ashley, North Dakota, has ancestors from Ukraine and went there to farm in 2017. The relationship with his partner, law professor Roman Leshchenko, crumbled after Groszhans alleged that Leshchenko embezzled money from him.
Groszhans and his assistant were arrested on charges of plotting to assassinate Leshchenko, who was then Ukraine’s agriculture minister. Groszhans said in a statement Friday that the Ukrainian officials made up the charges in an “effort to shut me up” after he discovered corruption “at the highest levels” of the government.
“I am grateful to be home after this horrible ordeal,” Groszhans said in a statement. “My family and supporters worked tirelessly over a long period of time to make this happen and it was nice to be able to celebrate my birthday on North Dakota soil.
“The fact they refused to classify me as a wrongful detainee was an unfortunate and politically cowardly act that cost me almost a year of my life,” he said.
Groszhans is among a handful of Americans jailed in Ukraine or Russia whose departures have been complicated by the war.
A statement Friday from Groszhans’ family said the charges would have been dismissed in a U.S. court for lack of evidence. “Kurt was eventually able to legally depart Ukraine when his bail restrictions allowed,” the statement said.
Republican U.S. Sens. Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven said they are grateful for Groszhans’ safe return home but did not offer further information.
“Out of respect for the family’s wishes, we aren’t able to provide additional details at this time,” said Kami Capener, Hoeven’s spokeswoman.
Cramer did not immediately return an email message seeking further comment. | 2022-10-22T20:45:52+00:00 | ksn.com | https://www.ksn.com/news/national-world/ap-us-news/ap-senators-say-north-dakota-farmer-detained-in-ukraine-is-home/ |
Happy Tuesday. Here is your Storm Team 11 forecast for this evening.
We will see a few passing clouds tonight with a low temperature near 52 degrees.
Wednesday will be partly cloudy and mild with a high of 79 degrees.
Download the WJHL Weather App from the App Store or Google Play.
High pressure will bring fair skies to the area Wednesday night with a low of 53 degrees.
Partly cloudy skies are forecast for Thursday with a high of 83 degrees.
Fair skies are forecast for Thursday night with a low temperature of 55 degrees.
We will see a mix of sun and clouds on Friday with a high of 84 degrees.
Partly cloudy skies are forecast for Friday night and Saturday.
The low Friday night will be 56 with a high on Saturday near 84 degrees.
Partly cloudy skies are forecast for Saturday night and Sunday with a low of 56 degrees and a high on Sunday near 85 degrees.
Partly cloudy skies are forecast for Monday with a high of 82 degrees.
Partly cloudy skies are forecast for Tuesday with a high of 84 degrees. | 2022-09-13T20:46:49+00:00 | wjhl.com | https://www.wjhl.com/wjhl-weather/forecast/tri-cities-evening-weather-for-tuesday-sep-13/ |
MINNEAPOLIS, March 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Castlelake, L.P., a global alternative investment manager specializing in asset-backed private credit with 17 years of tenure investing in, financing and managing aviation assets ("Castlelake"), today announced the full repayment of Castlelake Aircraft Securitization Trust 2016-1 ("CLAS 2016-1"), an aircraft-backed securitization ("ABS") originally issued by Castlelake in 2016.
CLAS 2016-1 was comprised of $916 million of asset-backed debt and an asset portfolio of 52 aircraft and one engine. Castlelake completed the repayment nearly two years ahead of forecast using cash flow from leases and proceeds from the sale of assets.
"Castlelake is pleased to complete the repayment of Castlelake Aircraft Securitization Trust 2016-1, the second aircraft ABS we have repaid this year, through a relentless focus on hands-on asset servicing, management and remarketing," said Joe McConnell, Partner, Deputy Co-chief Investment Officer at Castlelake. "We believe this achievement is further testament to the effectiveness of Castlelake's proactive approach to investment management, especially given the backdrop of challenges faced by the aviation sector in recent years."
This is the sixth aircraft ABS that Castlelake has fully repaid or refinanced. In February 2023, Castlelake repaid Castlelake Aircraft Securitization Trust 2015-1R more than one year ahead of schedule. Previously, Castlelake also repaid or refinanced Castlelake Aircraft Securitization Trust 2014-1; Castlelake Aircraft Securitization Trust 2014-1R; Castlelake Aircraft Securitization Trust 2015-1; and Castlelake Aircraft Structured Trust 2017-1.
Castlelake has utilized the ABS market to finance pools of aircraft assets since 2014 when it issued the first aircraft ABS in the market following the global financial crisis. In 2021, Castlelake once again reopened the aircraft ABS market with the issuance of Castlelake Aircraft Structured Trust 2021-1 after the market had effectively closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Castlelake has raised over $6 billion of other secured aircraft financings via 100+ lender relationships.
As a strategic partner and active capital provider to aviation asset owners and lessees since its inception, Castlelake has invested over $17 billion in aviation opportunities, acquired more than 650 aircraft and developed relationships with approximately 200 airlines.
About Castlelake
Castlelake, L.P. is a global alternative investment manager focused on opportunistic investments in real assets, specialty finance and aviation. Founded in 2005, Castlelake manages approximately $20 billion of assets on behalf of its investors. The Castlelake team comprises more than 200 experienced professionals, including 89 investment professionals, across seven offices in North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit www.castlelake.com.
Contact
Prosek Partners for Castlelake
Josh Clarkson
jclarkson@prosek.com
+1 212 279 3115
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SOURCE Castlelake | 2023-03-27T18:25:35+00:00 | kmvt.com | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2023/03/27/castlelake-repays-castlelake-aircraft-structured-trust-2016-nearly-two-years-ahead-forecast/ |
WASHINGTON, Aug. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A new economic study by The Brattle Group finds strong evidence on the dynamic competitive relationship between online and brick-and-mortar retail sales channels: Both channels fiercely compete on price, and typically match on both price level and trends in dollar sales volumes. Key takeaways from the report include:
- Online and offline prices are identical 95% of the time for the same product, retailer, location, and date.
- When one channel's price changes, the other channel typically changes to match it quickly.
- Online prices rarely deviate away from brick-and-mortar prices, but when they do, they can deviate both upwards and downwards.
- Online and offline trends in dollar sales volumes closely match one another.
- The convergence between online and offline retail prices and sales trends is likely impacted by the rising popularity of retail options like omnichannel, which blends elements of online and offline retail experiences.
"The latest retail research suggests that both online and offline retail are subject to the same competitive forces," said report coauthor Dr. Rosa Abrantes-Metz, Brattle Principal and Co-Leader of the Global Antitrust & Competition practice. "Not only do online and offline prices match 95% of the time, but online and offline retail displays nearly simultaneous price movements in almost identical magnitudes across channels. Moreover, the two channels displayed nearly identical trends in dollar sales volumes."
The report, Competitive Dynamics of Online and Brick-and-Mortar Retail Prices, was developed by a Brattle team led by Dr. Abrantes-Metz and Senior Associate Mame Maloney and was prepared for the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA). The report draws from a combination of data sources, using point-of-sale data from NPD to analyze nationwide online and offline prices and volumes for a set of products, and using hand-collected price data from Premise to analyze online and offline prices from individual retail locations in a major metropolitan area. The results suggest that both online and offline retail price and volume data should be considered when analyzing retail markets for antitrust purposes.
ABOUT BRATTLE
The Brattle Group answers complex economic, finance, and regulatory questions for corporations, law firms, and governments around the world. We are distinguished by the clarity of our insights and the credibility of our experts, which include leading international academics and industry specialists. Brattle has 500 talented professionals across four continents. For more information, please visit brattle.com.
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SOURCE The Brattle Group | 2022-08-31T13:47:00+00:00 | witn.com | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/31/new-research-reveals-online-brick-and-mortar-retail-prices-are-identical-95-time/ |
I-TEAM: How David’s Bridal filing for bankruptcy could impact brides
(WFSB) - David’s Bridal filed for bankruptcy Monday. It’s also planning to lay off thousands of employees.
The company has three locations in Connecticut: Manchester, Orange and Danbury. The three stores are still open, and for now there are no plans to change that.
A spokesperson sent the I-Team the following statement:
“David’s Bridal stores in the Connecticut area are open for business, we intend to fulfill orders without disruption or delay, and customers should not expect to see any change in the unparalleled service level they have come to expect from our Dream Makers. We expect dresses will arrive on time and bridal appointments will not be impacted.”
The I-Team went to the store in Manchester Monday. Employees were not willing to talk and asked us to leave the property.
The company says layoffs will not impact store employees.
If you are waiting on a wedding or prom dress order from David’s Bridal, Better Business Bureau Serving Connecticut wants to remind you to get your dress as soon as possible.
“No matter where you buy your wedding dress or your prom dress, as soon as that dress is back in the store, you need to pick it up promptly and bring it home because that is where it will be the most safe. You have no control over what happens in that store. It could close, and if it closes, you may not have a dress,” said Kristen Johnson with Better Business Bureau Serving Connecticut.
Johnson also recommends people always research the company before going shopping.
“If you looked up David’s Bridal at BBB.org, it does have an F rating. It is not an accredited business with BBB. David’s Bridal does a huge volume of sales, so we would expect it may have a larger amount of complaints. The surprise comes in the fact that we see a lack of resolution of those complaints,” said Johnson.
The bankruptcy filing will also impact you if you think David’s Bridal owes you money for any reason. You would now need to file a claim through US bankruptcy court.
Copyright 2023 WFSB. All rights reserved. | 2023-04-18T00:13:29+00:00 | wfsb.com | https://www.wfsb.com/2023/04/17/i-team-how-davids-bridal-bankruptcy-could-impact-brides/ |
The conservative “pro-life” movement managed to do something that abortion-rights activists have been trying to do for decades — they have destroyed the stigma around abortion.
When the same Supreme Court justices who had testified during congressional hearings that Roe v. Wade was settled law overturned abortion rights soon after, the house of cards began to fall.
Women started speaking about abortion in ways I had never heard before. Mothers bought Plan B pills for their college-aged daughters. Grandmothers shared stories about botched, illegal abortions performed before Roe. It galvanized Gen Z, the least religiously affiliated generation in this country’s history, to speak out on social media and raise eye-popping amounts of money for abortion funds.
Olivia Julianna, a 19-year-old Texan political activist, responded to Rep. Matt Gaetz’s tweet targeting her by raising more than $2 million for abortion funds.
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A young Army medic went viral on TikTok for her emotional post in the aftermath of the Supreme Court decision. She said in her video: “I just extended my contract to continue serving this country a week ago. How am I supposed to swear to support and defend the Constitution and a country that treats its women like second-class citizens?”
These voices stood in stark contrast to the Republicans who said publicly a raped 10-year-old should be forced to give birth to the rapist’s child. Missouri state Rep. Mary Elizabeth Coleman proposed allowing private citizens to sue anyone they suspect of helping a Missouri resident get an abortion in another state — trying to ban women from traveling to get the medical care they need.
This rise of Republican extremism and stripping away a right from half the country’s citizens was bound to provoke a backlash. What may have been less expected was the significant and rapid change in people’s private conversations and behavior.
I spoke to my teenage children about abortion rights for the first time after Roe was overturned. Close friends I have known for decades revealed their own experiences needing abortion care for the first time. I saw male politicians — in Missouri — wearing T-shirts supporting reproductive rights while campaigning.
The era of secrecy and shame around abortion is over. Ironically, Republicans ended it.
Voters in Kansas showed the country that the issue of reproductive freedom is really about freedom — period. They voted on Tuesday in support of reproductive freedom in a conservative, deep red state by rejecting changes to the state's constitution protecting the right to an abortion. In the referendum, 59% of Kansas voters cast a ballot in support of abortion. That's a significant majority. It highlights just how out-of-touch extremist judges and politicians are with the majority of the country.
It also suggested a path to freedom in the most oppressive states for women. Missouri is a prime state to make reproductive rights a ballot initiative. While the state votes heavily Republican, progressive ballot initiatives such as Medicaid expansion and increasing the minimum wage have won at the polls. In Kansas, at least 20% of Republicans voted for abortion rights. National polling shows that a third of Republicans opposed overturning Roe. A ballot initiative securing abortion rights is a way for Republicans to support human rights without compromising a political identity.
You may persuade people to believe conspiracy theories about things removed from their daily lives, like rigged voting machines, but it’s much harder to gaslight them about their own bodies and lived experience. A tiny minority of people believe a single-cell zygote is the exact same as their daughter or mother standing in front of them. The majority of us know that prioritizing the potential of life over a real, living breathing human being could destroy the life of someone we know — or our own.
The vote in Kansas was a primal scream for women.
Across the country, we heard it loud and clear. | 2022-08-04T23:46:08+00:00 | greensboro.com | https://greensboro.com/opinion/columnists/aisha-sultan-what-an-uprising-in-kansas-means-for-abortion-in-other-red-states/article_44da4810-1421-11ed-9963-139076c691f1.html |
MORGAN, Utah (AP) — An abandoned litter of raccoons discovered at a construction site in northern Utah found new homes earlier this week after a construction crew uncovered the animals below the remnants of a demolished home.
“A big-hearted foreman for the demolition crew working on Morgan Valley Drive came to the fire station asking for help,” the Morgan County Fire Department said in a statement on Wednesday. “After his crew knocked down an abandoned home, they heard chirping in the rubble.”
The eight baby raccoons appeared to have no mother. Firefighters cared for them until someone with permits to raise raccoons offered to adopt them.
Utah requires permits to home non-native species like raccoons or coyotes, which frequently roam wild. | 2023-06-17T00:36:13+00:00 | wearegreenbay.com | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/strange/ap-strange-news/demolition-crew-saves-abandoned-litter-of-baby-raccoons-in-utah/ |
Pleasant Prairie’s first HarborMarket will take place on the shores of Lake Andrea Sunday morning.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the new effort, a collaboration between Pleasant Prairie and Kenosha HarborMarket will set up with more than 50 booths on the western shore of Lake Andrea in Prairie Springs Park, 10023 Park Drive.
Visitors are encouraged to enter the park from Highway 165 and turn left on Park Drive to reach the market site. There is nearby free parking, with a free handicap-accessible shuttle bus operating from the LakeView Technology Academy parking lot.
Booths at Sunday’s HarborMarket will offer a variety of goods, including produce, eggs, meat, cheese, prepared foods, baked goods, soaps and body care products, jewelry and other artisan creations. There will also be on-site knife sharpening and other unique vendors.
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“We are thrilled to make available the fresh produce, handmade foods and handcrafted items to Pleasant Prairie,” Andrea Forgianni, executive director of Kenosha HarborMarket said. “I know that Pleasant Prairie residents and visitors to the area are going to enjoy the new Pleasant Prairie HarborMarket.”
Live music will be a key feature for the Pleasant Prairie HarborMarket. The Prairie Springs Quartet will perform at the first market on Sunday.
“We’re thrilled with the collaboration from Andrea and her team to see this Special Event Initiative come to fruition,” said Sarah Howard, executive director of Visit Pleasant Prairie. “Every aspect of planning this inaugural farmer’s market season in Pleasant Prairie has been genuinely fun because each meeting we would develop a new, unique addition to the event. We look forward to welcoming everyone when they visit!”
The Pleasant Prairie HarborMarket will also be held July 16 and Aug. 20, with Country Crossings performing July 16 and Mike and Mike performing Aug. 20.
For more information, visit www.pleasantprairiemarket.com.
Updates can be found at the Pleasant Prairie HarborMarket Facebook page, www.facebook.com/PleasantPrairieHarborMarket. | 2023-06-15T13:25:14+00:00 | kenoshanews.com | https://kenoshanews.com/news/first-pleasant-prairie-harbormarket-to-be-held-sunday/article_fe932870-0adf-11ee-9381-df900775bfcc.html |
With fate of those on Titanic-bound submersible known, focus turns to cause of fatal implosion
(AP) - The search for a missing Titanic-bound submersible has become an investigation and salvage mission that will take an indefinite amount of time, officials said, as tributes from around the world poured in for the five people killed when the vessel imploded deep in the North Atlantic.
The announcement Thursday that all aboard perished when the submersible imploded near the site of the iconic shipwreck brought a tragic end to a five-day saga that included an urgent around-the-clock search and a worldwide vigil for the vessel known as the Titan.
The investigation into what happened was already underway and would continue in the area around Titanic where debris from the submersible was found, said Rear Adm. John Mauger, of the First Coast Guard District.
“I know there are also a lot of questions about how, why and when did this happen. Those are questions we will collect as much information as we can about now,” Mauger said, adding that it was a “complex case” that happened in a remote part of the ocean and involved people from several different countries.
The first hint of a timeline came Thursday evening when a senior U.S. Navy official said that after the Titan was reported missing Sunday, the Navy went back and analyzed its acoustic data and found an “anomaly” that was consistent with an implosion or explosion in the general vicinity of where the vessel was operating when communications were lost. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive acoustic detection system.
Those killed were Stockton Rush, the CEO of OceanGate Expeditions, the company that owned and operated the submersible; two members of a prominent Pakistani family, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood; British adventurer Hamish Harding; and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet.
OceanGate, which has been chronicling the Titanic’s decay and the underwater ecosystem around it via yearly voyages since 2021 that included paying tourists, released a statement calling all five people killed “true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure, and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the world’s oceans.”
Tributes to those killed and praise for the searchers who tried to save them poured in from across the globe. The White House thanked the Coast Guard, along with Canadian, British and French partners who helped in the search and rescue efforts.
“Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives on the Titan. They have been through a harrowing ordeal over the past few days, and we are keeping them in our thoughts and prayers,” it said in a statement.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry wrote on Twitter that it appreciates “the multinational efforts over the last several days in search of the vessel.”
The Titan launched at 6 a.m. Sunday and was reported overdue Sunday afternoon about 435 miles (700 kilometers) south of St. John’s, Newfoundland. Rescuers rushed ships, planes and other equipment to the site of the disappearance.
Authorities were hoping underwater sounds detected Tuesday and Wednesday might help narrow their search, whose coverage area had been expanded to thousands of miles — twice the size of Connecticut and in waters 2 1/2 miles (4 kilometers) deep.
Any sliver of hope that remained for finding the crew alive, however, was wiped away early Thursday, when the submersible’s 96-hour supply of air was expected to run out and the Coast Guard announced that a debris field had been found roughly 1,600 feet (488 meters) from the Titanic.
“The debris is consistent with the catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber,” Mauger said.
The Coast Guard said Thursday that the sounds heard in the previous days were likely generated by something other than the Titan.
“There doesn’t appear to be any connection between the noises and the location (of the debris) on the seafloor,” Mauger said.
The Navy official who spoke of the “anomaly” heard Sunday said the Navy passed on the information to the Coast Guard, which continued its search because the Navy did not consider the data to be definitive.
At least 46 people successfully traveled on OceanGate’s submersible to the Titanic wreck site in 2021 and 2022, according to letters the company filed with a U.S. District Court in Norfolk, Virginia, that oversees matters involving the Titanic shipwreck. But questions about the submersible’s safety were raised by both by a former company employee and former passengers.
David Lochridge, OceanGate’s former director of marine operations, argued in 2018 that the method the company devised for ensuring the soundness of the hull — relying on acoustic monitoring that could detect cracks and pops as the hull strained under pressure — was inadequate and could “subject passengers to potential extreme danger in an experimental submersible.”
“This was problematic because this type of acoustic analysis would only show when a component is about to fail — often milliseconds before an implosion — and would not detect any existing flaws prior to putting pressure onto the hull,” Lochridge’s attorneys wrote in a wrongful termination claim.
OceanGate disagreed. Lochridge “is not an engineer and was not hired or asked to perform engineering services on the Titan,” it said, and it noted he was fired after refusing to accept assurances from the company’s lead engineer that the acoustic monitoring and testing protocol was, in fact, better suited to detect any flaws than a method Lochridge proposed.
One of the company’s first customers likened a dive he made to the site two years ago to a suicide mission.
“Imagine a metal tube a few meters long with a sheet of metal for a floor. You can’t stand. You can’t kneel. Everyone is sitting close to or on top of each other,” said Arthur Loibl, a retired businessman and adventurer from Germany. “You can’t be claustrophobic.”
During the 2 1/2-hour descent and ascent, the lights were turned off to conserve energy, he said, with the only illumination coming from a fluorescent glow stick.
The dive was repeatedly delayed to fix a problem with the battery and the balancing weights. In total, the voyage took 10 1/2 hours.
Nicolai Roterman, a deep-sea ecologist and lecturer in marine biology at the University of Portsmouth, England, said the disappearance of the Titan highlights the dangers and unknowns of deep-sea tourism.
“Even the most reliable technology can fail, and therefore accidents will happen. With the growth in deep-sea tourism, we must expect more incidents like this.”
___
Associated Press writers Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia; Holly Ramer in Concord, New Hampshire; Lolita C. Baldor in Washington; Frank Jordans in Berlin; Danica Kirka in London; Gene Johnson in Seattle; and John Leicester in Paris contributed to this report.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2023-06-23T05:46:52+00:00 | foxcarolina.com | https://www.foxcarolina.com/2023/06/23/with-fate-those-titanic-bound-submersible-known-focus-turns-cause-fatal-implosion/ |
A federal law barring people under felony indictment from purchasing guns is unconstitutional, a federal judge in Texas ruled Monday in an early test of a watershed decision by the Supreme Court expanding firearm access.
U.S. District Judge David Counts found that the law's prohibitions clashed with the high court's June decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, in which a 6-3 conservative majority ruled that law-abiding Americans have a right to carry a handgun outside the home for self-defense.
The 25-page opinion by Counts, a Donald Trump appointee, invoked the language of originalism, the conservative legal theory that judges should interpret the Constitution based on how it was understood when it was adopted.
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The judge said he found little historical evidence that the law barring those under felony indictment from obtaining a firearm "aligns with this Nation's historical tradition."
"The Second Amendment is not a 'second class right,'" Counts wrote. "After Bruen, the Government must prove that laws regulating conduct covered by the Second Amendment's plain text align with this Nation's historical tradition. The Government does not meet that burden."
Accordingly, he said, the law was unconstitutional.
The Justice Department said it intended to appeal the case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit.
The case arose from the indictment of Jose Gomez Quiroz of West Texas, who bought a .22-caliber semiautomatic handgun in 2021 while facing state charges of burglary and jumping bail.
According to the ruling, Quiroz denied at the time of sale and background check that he was under indictment. After waiting a week, he picked up the weapon from a retailer in Alpine, Tex.
Soon after, the National Instant Criminal Background Check System alerted authorities that the purchase was illegal.
Federal prosecutors charged Quiroz in March with making a false statement during a firearm purchase and illegal receipt of a firearm by a person under indictment.
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After a jury convicted him on both counts, Quiroz asked the court to reconsider his case in light of the Supreme Court's ruling in Bruen.
The government's attorneys contended that prosecutors were permitted to impose a range of restrictions on indicted defendants, including detention and pretrial release conditions.
But Counts said the Supreme Court's ruling had "changed the legal landscape" on firearm restrictions. He found that prohibiting Quiroz from receiving the gun while under indictment amounted to a form of prior restraint that violated the Second Amendment.
"There are no illusions about this case's real-world consequences - certainly valid public policy and safety concerns exist," the judge wrote. "Yet Bruen framed those concerns solely as a historical analysis. This Court follows that framework."
A federal public defender representing Quiroz did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
The ruling comes a few weeks after another significant court decision on firearm access, in which a different federal judge in Texas struck down a state law barring adults under 21 from carrying handguns.
U.S. District Judge Mark T. Pittman found last month that the Constitution did not put an age restriction on the right to bear arms, meaning adults 18 to 20 should not be prevented from carrying handguns outside the home. | 2022-09-20T19:34:09+00:00 | bostonglobe.com | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/09/20/nation/us-cant-ban-gun-sales-people-indicted-felony-charges-judge-says/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — They’re not quibbling about minor points. There are stark differences in how President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy want to shore up the government’s finances.
The Democratic president primarily wants higher taxes on the wealthy to lower deficits; the GOP congressional leader favors sharp spending cuts.
Staring down a fast-approaching deadline to raise the U.S. government’s debt limit, they have to find some version of common ground as they jostle in public over the nation’s $31.4 trillion in red ink. But how can they reconcile their competing visions while also achieving the levels of deficit reduction both say they want?
PLAYING CHICKEN
McCarthy wants House Republicans to vote this week on a proposal that would shave an estimated $4.8 trillion off deficits, mostly through spending caps on “discretionary spending.”
By having the House pass his plan, McCarthy hopes to goad Biden into negotiations. Biden is insisting on a “clean” increase in the government’s legal borrowing authority. No negotiations on that. But what Biden has offered Republicans is the chance to negotiate about the yearly budget — provided the speaker produces a detailed spending outline.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre laid out the administration’s thinking at Tuesday’s news briefing.
“We’re not going to negotiate on something that they should be doing, which is avoiding default,” Jean-Pierre said. “But when it comes to the budget, when it comes to how they want to see spending cuts for the American people, we will have that discussion.”
Which side will give ground? Will both have to?
On Monday, McCarthy’s spokesman, Chad Gilmartin, sent out an email listing quotes from 11 Democratic lawmakers who have suggested talks should start.
“Biden must decide between recklessness or responsibility,” Gilmartin wrote.
Kent Smetters, faculty director of the Penn Wharton Budget Model, said the fight over government finances amounts to a game of chicken.
“We know games of chicken tend to lead to extremism,” he warned.
WHAT ARE THE OPPOSING PLANS?
This is the simple summary of what McCarthy has proposed: In exchange for voting to raise the government’s borrowing authority by $1.5 trillion or however much is needed until March 2024, discretionary spending would fall back to 2022 levels next year. There would be a 1% cap on future spending increases; tax breaks to address climate change would be gutted; student debt forgiveness and more generous repayment plans would be canceled, and there would be work requirements for people who get government aid.
That list could change as the legislation gets discussed in the House and McCarthy tries to line up 218 votes for passage. The White House opposes the current iteration, saying it would cause a 22% cut in spending for programs that would hurt schoolchildren, poor families and veterans.
Biden offered his own budget proposal in March that would cut deficits by about $2.9 trillion over a decade. It would raise $4.7 trillion from higher taxes on corporations and wealthy households, with an additional $800 billion in savings from changes to programs. Accompanying that would be $2.6 trillion worth of new spending. There would be a $35-a-month cap on insulin prices and restoration of the expanded child tax credit that would give families as much as $3,600 per child, compared with the current $2,000.
WHAT WOULD THE PLANS DO TO THE ECONOMY?
The Congressional Budget Office on Tuesday said that McCarthy’s plan would cut deficits by $4.8 trillion over 10 years, but its estimates do not look at the possible impacts on the economy. Private estimates are starting to be released that indicate the U.S. economy would be hurt by the GOP’s proposed spending cuts next year.
Moody’s Analytics on Monday released estimates showing there would by 780,000 fewer jobs at the end of 2024 if the House GOP plan became law. Expected growth in the overall economy would slow to 1.6% from 2.25%.
Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, said his company did not analyze Biden’s budget because he views “the clean debt limit scenario as consistent with his policies, particularly in the next 2-3 years.”
By way of comparison, the White House estimates growth next year of 2.1% if Biden’s budget plan becomes law. The conservative Tax Foundation in its analysis says that Biden’s tax hikes would eliminate 335,000 jobs in the long run, an estimate based on multiple years. The Tax Foundation’s model says that the higher corporate tax rates in Biden’s plan would be the biggest long-term drag on growth.
Why does Moody’s Analytics think the Republican cuts hurt the economy? The spending caps would likely cause programs that aid the poor to be slashed. Lower-income households tend to “quickly spend any support they receive from the government,” which then circulates through the economy and supports growth and consumer activity, according to the Moody’s estimates.
WOULD EITHER PLAN FIX THE DEBT?
Not really.
The problem is that both Biden and McCarthy have declared Social Security and Medicare off limits. Those two programs, along with Medicaid, are what will likely keep driving up government spending and the debt.
“We still have a growing debt path because discretionary spending is growing smaller over time with mandatory spending becoming bigger,” said Smetters, faculty director of the Penn Wharton Budget Model. “Even if we phased out all discretionary spending, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are driving the debt going forward.”
Spending on these three programs is equal to about 11% of the total economy right now, a figure that will grow to 15.4% by 2050, according to the Penn Wharton Budget Model. The national debt would more than double, largely as a result of these expenditures outstripping tax revenues.
The savings claimed by McCarthy could also be significantly less than advertised, if Republicans are in a position in 2025 to renew the expiring tax cuts from the 2017 overhaul of the tax code that former President Donald Trump signed into law. Continuing all those tax cuts — some of which Biden also wants to preserve — would add about $2.7 trillion to deficits over 10 years.
IS THERE COMMON GROUND?
Both Biden and McCarthy say they don’t want to default, though they’ve been willing to blame each other for the possibility that the U.S. government might not be able to pay all of its bills at some point this summer. Both lawmakers have expressed interest in streamlining permitting for energy production and infrastructure.
IS IT TIME TO GET WORRIED?
If you follow the financial markets, there is one revealing sign that investors are starting to get concerned. There has been an increase in the cost of buying insurance in the event that Treasury fails to pay its debts as scheduled.
Known as “credit default swaps,” this insurance on six-month and one-year U.S. Treasury notes already costs more than it did in 2011, the last major debt ceiling showdown, according to data from the Intercontinental Exchange. Still, this is a lightly traded financial instrument, and there are not signs yet that fears have seeped into the stock market. | 2023-04-26T06:53:53+00:00 | kdvr.com | https://kdvr.com/news/money/as-biden-mccarthy-butt-heads-on-debt-what-are-differences/ |
Best friends Hope Sloop and Bobbi Miller first met on TikTok. Although they have known each other for less than a year, they rarely see each other in person because they live on opposite coasts. But one particular form of communication has kept them close: voice messages.
Also called "voice texts," "voice notes" and "audio messages" — not to be confused with voice-to-text through virtual assistants like Siri — voice messages are a feature built into messaging apps including iMessage and WhatsApp.
"Between Bobbi and I, we probably send each other anywhere from 10 to 50 a day," Sloop said. "It's a lot."
Texting can muddle meaning, and calls can trigger anxiety. But for many, short voice recordings offer an easier, low-pressure alternative in a world that's grown more accustomed to audio mediums such as Clubhouse and podcasts.
The ability to communicate tone is a big part of the appeal.
"We're able to hear the sheer joy in each other's voice," Miller said of her friendship with Sloop. "Or if we're going through something, just like having a hard time, sometimes in text the gravity of the situation doesn't always get relayed."
"It really just helps to mitigate any of that gray area of what you're saying. It's just very, very direct and I think it feels much more conversational," Miller added.
Miller and Sloop, both 24, aren't an anomaly among their Gen Z cohort. Though the feature has been available in popular apps for over a decade, it has increasingly become a favorite way to connect, especially among younger generations.
According to a recent YouGov survey conducted by Vox, 62% of Americans say they've sent a voice message, and about 30% communicate by voice message weekly, daily or multiple times a day. And 43% of 18- to 29-year-olds who responded to the survey said they use the feature at least weekly.
WhatsApp revealed last year that an average 7 billion voice messages were sent daily on the app.
In isolated times, the audio-friendly tech boom may be influencing our communication styles
For some, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the use of the communication form.
Shortly after its launch, the Chinese messaging app WeChat added the feature in 2011. WhatsApp's came a couple years after that. Apple caught on to the fad, releasing voice messages on iMessage in 2014.
But in 2020, those who longed for connection while homebound found their social salve in voice notes.
"I miss chatting verbally with friends and family members, so these days it's especially comforting to hear their voices come through my phone speakers." Nicole Gallucci wrote for Mashable that year.
At the same time, audio-heavy social media was emerging. Clubhouse, which launched the same month as lockdowns in the U.S., drew millions to the app's live audio rooms. Twitter answered with its own audio-only town hall feature, Spaces. Dating apps Hinge and Bumble have also caught up to the trend.
As voice messages become a growing preference for consumers, trend forecasting firm Trendera reports a simultaneous shift in increasing consumption of podcasts, audiobooks and other audio-only content.
So voice messages no longer seem like such a far jump.
With more people working from home since the pandemic disrupted the workplace, fewer adopters have to wait until they find a quiet place to listen to audio texts.
It's no wonder Miller, who hosts her own podcast covering pop culture, has grown comfortable enough with hearing her own voice to send her friends minutes-long messages.
Her friends jokingly refer to those missives as "the Bobbi podcast."
Still, the feature has its haters. "I absolutely despise it when people use voice notes over just plain old texting," Talla Kuperman, a jewelry designer in her early 40s told The Wall Street Journal. Having received drawn-out voice notes, she thinks that, in the absence of a universal etiquette for them, some are far too time-consuming. "I actually find it very selfish," she said.
Voice notes can help us bond
Research suggests that you don't necessarily have to be a fan of voice messages to reap their benefits.
"There is a fundamental mode of communication that connects human beings and their social needs, and that's hearing a voice," Amit Kumar, an assistant professor of marketing and psychology at the University of Texas-Austin, told NPR.
For a paper published in 2021, he studied the benefits and drawbacks of various forms of tech-enabled communication. He found that interactions involving voice (phone, video chat and voice chat) produced stronger social bonds and no increased feelings of awkwardness when compared with text-based interactions (e-mail, text chat). Still, he says his research suggests that "asynchronous" forms of communication like voice notes, that don't involve a back-and-forth dialogue, can't replace the benefits of "synchronous" calls that allow us to pick up on linguistic cues to have a more seamless, responsive conversation.
The appeal of the voice note
So, why not just opt for a call? For one, tech fatigue has come to include phone calls.
"For whatever reason, traditional phone calls are increasingly a work-related activity," said Jasmine Golphin, a 36-year-old filmmaker.
Voice notes also don't require carving out a dedicated time to hop on the phone, she said.
People NPR spoke to for this story said they tend to be a lot more forgiving when expecting a quick reply to voice notes. The fact that read receipts — those time stamps that snitch on you if you've seen a message but haven't responded yet — aren't an option on voice notes removes some of the pressure.
"I don't have that same level of anxiety as to whether someone's going to respond or not, because I don't know if they listen to it," Miller said. "It gives people plausible deniability."
Then there's the beauty of the voice note's ephemerality. On the iPhone's messaging platform, if you don't "keep" a voice text within two minutes of receiving, the message vanishes. (You can also tweak expiration length to "never" in settings). That removes the formality of "getting it right," with the added benefit of not squandering phone storage.
As Gen Zers resurrect outmoded technology, like film and point-and-shoot cameras, Sloop thinks the voice note — which recalls walkie-talkies — similarly caters to the demographic's nostalgic leanings that offer a respite from the abundance of other tech.
Plus, it's just plain fun, she says.
"Every time I've ever gotten a 4-minute, 3-minute podcast voice message, it's always like, let me grab my little popcorn," Sloop said. "Something's going to be said that is going to be entertaining. It's going to have a beginning, middle and end. It's a storytelling experience."
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2023-04-16T16:40:08+00:00 | iowapublicradio.org | https://www.iowapublicradio.org/news-from-npr/news-from-npr/2023-04-16/are-you-getting-more-voice-notes-these-days-youre-not-alone |
PLAINS TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — The pandemic continues to impact many parts of our lives including education.
Tuesday is the first day of summer vacation for teachers and students at the Wilkes-Barre Area School District. But some teachers are headed back into school to continue teaching for the Step Up with the Pack Summer Program.
Sandra Marinko, site manager for Step Up with the Pack Summer Program, said that these courses are project-based learning that takes place outside. She said the students love it, the program offers them the ability to get together and talk about the community and what they can do to improve it.
Mike Corcoran who is the coordinator for Step Up with the Pack Summer Program, said that the school wanted to do something to offset the learning loss that students had during the pandemic. He said this program will not only help with academics but also social skills and physical activity too.
Marinko said that in these settings the students don’t even know they’re learning because they’re having fun. | 2022-06-15T10:22:36+00:00 | pahomepage.com | https://www.pahomepage.com/news/area-summer-program-aims-to-keep-kids-on-track/ |
US-based Prelude patients will have access to more financial options, online tools, and a pre-approval process to help them understand costs associated with treatment
HOUSTON, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Prelude Network®, a leading provider of comprehensive fertility services in North America, has announced an exclusive partnership with Future Family Planning (FFP), a national platform for family-building with flexible financial plans and concierge support services. The partnership aims to expand financial accessibility to premium fertility services, empowering patients with more financial options and a clear understanding of treatment costs.
As part of its exclusive offerings for U.S.-based Prelude patients, FFP has developed a Personalized Payment Choice tool that allows patients to understand fertility costs based on their individual treatment plans. Prelude patients will also have exclusive access to a pre-approval process prior to their new patient consultation, providing them with financial information early in the process and reducing the chance of surprise when navigating the cost of fertility care.
In addition, well-qualified Prelude patients will have access to competitive payment options and zero- to low-interest loans without prepayment penalties. These options include financing treatments over three to 36 months, with funding available in as little as 48 hours. The FFP program is also available to Prelude patients with fertility benefits, as it can aid in reducing treatment costs.
TJ Farnsworth, Founder and CEO of Inception Fertility, the parent company of The Prelude Network, says, "The Prelude Network is excited to partner with Future Family Planning and provide more aspiring parents with financial options to help them get started on their road to family building. This offer reinforces our commitment to accessibility and complements ancillary brands within the ecosystem, including BUNDL Fertility."
Carolyn Walters, Head of Partnerships at Future Family, adds, "A global fertility provider commitment to quality care and patient accessibility, Prelude is an excellent partner for FFP. We are excited to help more of Prelude's patients reduce the financial stress of fertility services through our partnership and exclusive offer."
To learn more about navigating fertility costs, including Prelude's exclusive partnership with FFP, please visit preludefertility.com/financing.
About The Prelude Network®
The Prelude Network® (Prelude), the fastest-growing network of fertility clinics and largest provider of comprehensive fertility services in North America, is the clinic network of Inception Fertility™ – a family of fertility brands that touches every part of the fertility journey, including diagnostics and treatment to financial accessibility Each clinic, as part of the Prelude Network, is committed to delivering the highest level of personalized fertility care by the nation's leading reproductive endocrinologists, embryologists and practitioners by focusing on an excellence in science, medicine and the patient experience. The growing Prelude Network has over 40 total locations nationwide, offering a wide range of fertility services including egg freezing, IVF, genetic testing and egg/embryo storage, among others.
About Inception Fertility™
Inception Fertility™ (Inception) is a family of fertility brands committed to helping patients build their own families. Built by patients for patients, Inception's purpose is to achieve the highest bar in experience, science and medicine in an effort to enhance each patient's experience and achieve better outcomes.
Inception's medical experts are leading pioneers in fertility care. Our doctors are some of the first to use breakthrough assisted reproductive technologies (ART) – including in vitro fertilization (IVF), preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) and fertility preservation services – and they continue to lead the industry by building on these technologies by through development, research and thought leadership.
Through its growing family of national organizations – which includes The Prelude Network®, the fastest-growing network of fertility clinics and largest provider of comprehensive fertility services in North America; Pathways Fertility, clinics that provide affordable, individualized and high quality care; MyEggBank®, one of the largest frozen donor egg banks in North America; BUNDL Fertility™, a multi-cycle fertility service bundling program; HavenCryo™, a long-term reproductive preservation and storage solution provider and NutraBloom®, a premium lifestyle brand with expertly formulated supplements to support individuals' health and wellness goals for preconception – Inception is working to deliver on its promise to push the envelope of what is possible for exceeding patient expectations.
Media Contact:
Mia Humphreys
239-297-6592
MHumphreys@kruppagency.com
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SOURCE The Prelude Network | 2023-04-26T13:55:38+00:00 | wbrc.com | https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2023/04/26/prelude-network-announces-partnership-with-future-family-planning-enhancing-financial-accessibility-premium-fertility-care/ |
OpTic Texas reunites 2020 CDL world champs with roster change leading into Stage Two Major
(Gray News) - OpTic Texas had a murky offseason regarding their roster. Back in August, they officially released Brandon ‘Dashy’ Otell and Indervir ‘iLLey’ Dhaliwal intending to find two new players to revamp their starting four. A day later, fans were left confused when OpTic reversed this decision, and it was quickly made clear that Dashy and iLLey were there to stay. This all came while rumors were already swirling that Seth ‘Scump’ Abner would retire following the 2023 Call of Duty League (CDL) season, which was confirmed to be true this past October.
Scump’s reasoning for retiring wasn’t without its speculation either. It has since come out that Scump may have initially intended to retire following the 2022 season but was convinced to stay another season following a conversation with Anthony ‘Shotzzy’ Cuevas-Castro. The subject of that conversation was Shotzzy’s intention to leave OpTic if Scump retired.
OpTic moved into the Stage One Major with high hopes and faith in the players they had decided to keep together. There was no doubt from the fans of OpTic or of the CDL that their roster had boundless potential and was poised for success in Stage One. Unfortunately for OpTic, their performance proved to be lackluster, and they were knocked out in the group stage.
Many were left questioning the legitimate strength of OpTic’s roster. OpTic seemingly agreed that they needed to go back to the drawing board as rumors began to swirl once more that Dashy and iLLey were on the chopping block. Suggestions arose that Alec ‘Arcitys’ Sanderson from LA Guerillas and Seattle Surge’s Amer ‘Pred’ Zulbeari were first in line to fill the spots, but Arcitys shot down rumors swiftly, noting his contract. Pred, on the other hand, alluded to talks with OpTic, mentioning that “everything that could have possibly happened to make it [OpTic Texas move] happen…was attempted.” With all of the attempts, though, he remained on Seattle Surge.
Finally, the roster movement became clearer after social media activity and a Twitter post from Dashy. It appeared Dashy would be the one to part from the starting four, and a few days ago, we got the answer to who his replacement would be.
Former Los Angeles Guerilla and 2020 World Champ with Dallas Empire Cuyler ‘Huke’ Garland has polished off OpTic Texas’s new roster going into Stage Two qualifiers. Huke was teammates with iLLey and Shotzzy when they won the 2020 CDL World Championship, so it’s reassuring knowing there is a solid history for this team to go off of right out of the gate.
Stage Two qualifiers start Jan. 13, while OpTic Texas will have to wait until Jan. 15 to take on Boston Breach, the hosts of Major Two. Hopefully, their team chemistry will develop rapidly, and they will return to showing fans why they should be considered a powerhouse.
Gray Television is an investor in OpTic Gaming.
Copyright 2023 Gray Media Group. All rights reserved. | 2023-01-12T03:08:24+00:00 | wfsb.com | https://www.wfsb.com/2023/01/12/optic-texas-reunites-2020-cdl-world-champs-with-roster-change-leading-into-stage-two-major/ |
Alexandra E. Petri
New details have emerged about a shooting that left three students dead and five others injured at Michigan State University this week.
Police have not established a motive in Monday’s attack, but a note found on Anthony McRae, whom authorities identified as the gunman, contained claims that he led a group of killers; included threats against local businesses, a church and a New Jersey school district; and indicated that “he felt he was slighted in some way by people or businesses,” Christopher Rozman, deputy chief of the Michigan State University Department of Police and Public Safety, said during a news conference Thursday.
“I just want to assure everybody that that is the question on all of our minds, and we are working our best to try to determine that as best as possible,” Rozman said of a motive, adding that authorities also are examining whether the gunman had a history of mental health problems.
University police on Tuesday identified the three students killed as Brian Fraser, 20, a sophomore from Grosse Pointe, Mich.; Alexandria Verner, 20, a junior from Clawson, Mich.; and Arielle Anderson, 19, a junior from Grosse Pointe.
Authorities said McRae, 43, fatally shot himself about four miles from the university after an hours-long hunt that forced frightened students to hide in the dark. A tip from a caller led police to McRae, whom officials said had no known connection to the university. Investigators are looking into a claim that he was once turned down for a possible job there, Rozman said.
Two handguns were found on McRae, police said, including the one he turned on himself. The guns used in the attack were legally purchased but not registered, officials said Thursday. It was unclear when and where they were purchased.
Authorities also found eight loaded magazines of 9-millimeter ammunition and a small pouch containing 50 rounds of loose ammunition in a backpack.
McRae also had two bus tickets as well as a two-page note in his wallet, officials said.
“That was the note that indicated where he was going to visit and also kind of gave an indication of … a motive, but nothing that we can actually confirm just yet,” Michigan State Police Lt. Rene Gonzalez said.
The note, which police declined to elaborate on but said they are evaluating, said McRae was the leader of a group of 20 killers. But authorities said an investigation, including interviews with the gunman’s father, who said his son had no friends and was often alone in his room, found that claim was unsubstantiated.
The note also contained threats against several businesses, including a local warehouse where the gunman is believed to have been an employee and appeared to have issues with staff members.
The note also referenced a church and a school district in Ewing, N.J. Police did not comment on the church or why the shooter made threats against the school district, except to say he did have “some connections to New Jersey, but that was years ago.”
A surveillance image of McRae distributed on local news stations and social media was instrumental in helping law enforcement locate the gunman, but questions remain about the campus’ security system and why it took three hours to release the photograph.
The gunman had left both Berkey Hall and the student union, the locations of the attacks, by the time officers arrived, Rozman said. Officers sifted through footage from thousands of security cameras across campus to track his movements before finding the image of the gunman, who was wearing red shoes, a jean jacket and a navy baseball cap with a lighter brim. That image was distributed to the public at 11:18 p.m. The tipster called in at 11:35 p.m. Police have not disclosed an exact timeline of the gunman’s movements.
“People might question the timing, [but] this was an ongoing, complex incident,” Rozman said. Michigan State University has been working since the fall to update its security system and to allow for real-time monitoring of the campus, officials said.
Police have also still not established any ties between the university and the shooter, who had been living in Lansing with his father.
Chief Ellery Sosbee of the Lansing Police Department said the shooter had several traffic violations between 2006 and 2007 and was arrested in 2019 on suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon; he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, for which he completed a year’s probation.
The weapon from the 2019 incident is still in police custody, Sosbee said.
Law enforcement said they also searched on Monday evening the shooter’s home, where they collected a cellphone, some journals and writings, as well as 9-millimeter casings.
Five students remain hospitalized; one is stable and four are in critical condition, officials said. Students in Berkey Hall, the academic building that was the site of the first attack, helped render aid to those who were injured before emergency medical officers arrived on the scene.
The names of those in the hospital have not been released by officials out of respect for the families, university police said.
“I’m pleased that we are seeing some signs of improvement in some of our students, and our Spartan nation continues to send good thoughts to each of them, to their families,” said Teresa K. Woodruff, interim president of Michigan State.
Classes remain suspended through Sunday, but university offices are open after the campus had been operating on a modified schedule, Woodruff said.
Berkey Hall will remain closed through the remainder of the semester. Administrators are deciding whether to reopen the student union, the site of the second attack, Woodruff said.
“We know as a campus that we have hard work ahead of us,” she said.
Thousands of people attended a vigil Wednesday night at the Rock, one of the university’s oldest monuments, which was painted with the words “Always a Spartan,” and bore the names of the three students slain in the attack. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan State’s men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo and student leaders delivered remarks.
The shooting at Michigan State occurred nearly five years to the day after a massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., left 17 people dead — an event that galvanized a wave of activism, led by the survivors, to enact tighter gun laws across the country as they vowed “never again.”
It also occurred 81 miles from the November 2021 Oxford High School shooting in Oxford, Mich., in which four people were killed and several others were critically wounded.
Some of those who survived the Oxford massacre are Michigan State students who found themselves once again gripped with fear as a shooter terrorized their school.
Among them was Emma Riddle, a first-year student studying history and women’s studies, who spoke at the state Capitol on Wednesday.
“I’m exhausted,” said Riddle, who was a high school senior at the time of the Oxford shooting. “I’m exhausted that I know what is coming — exhausted I am once again asking our legislators to put our lives first. We are dying. We, the children of the United States of America, are dying every day. How many will die before it is enough and you step up and do something about it?”
According to the Gun Violence Archive, an independent online database that tracks gun violence using police, government, media and other public data, there have been 72 mass shootings in the United States so far this year, including a shooting Wednesday night at a busy mall in El Paso that occurred near the site of a 2019 racist massacre at a Walmart that killed 23 people.
Whitmer, a Democrat, once again called on the state’s lawmakers — with Democrats now controlling both chambers — this week to pass tighter gun control measures, including universal background checks, safe storage laws and extreme list laws, or “red flag” laws, which allow law enforcement, and family members in some cases, to petition courts to temporarily prevent someone in crisis from accessing a firearm.
Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun violence prevention organization, ranks Michigan 24th in the nation for its firearm legislation. Though the state requires a permit to purchase handguns and for sales records to be sent to law enforcement, it lacks important gun safety laws, according to Everytown’s website.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
©2023 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. | 2023-02-18T10:30:57+00:00 | denverpost.com | https://www.denverpost.com/2023/02/16/michigan-state-gunman-had-note-indicating-he-felt-slighted-police-say-3/ |
JACKSON, Miss. – Mississippi must join most other states in allowing religious exemptions from vaccinations that children are required to receive so they can attend school, a federal judge has ruled.
U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden handed down the decision Monday in a lawsuit filed last year by several parents who say their religious beliefs have led them to keep their children unvaccinated and out of Mississippi schools. According to the lawsuit, some of the plaintiffs are homeschooling their children, while others have family or work connections in Mississippi but live in other states that allow religious exemptions for childhood vaccinations.
Ozerden set a July 15 deadline for the Mississippi State Department of Health to allow religious exemptions. The state already allows people to apply for medical exemptions for a series of five vaccinations that are required for children to enroll in public or private school. The immunizations are against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis; polio; hepatitis; measles, mumps and rubella; and chickenpox.
Mississippi does not require COVID-19 vaccinations.
The only states without religious or personal belief exemptions for school immunization requirements are California, Connecticut, Maine, Mississippi, New York and West Virginia, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
In response to questions from The Associated Press on Tuesday, health department spokesperson Liz Sharlot declined to say whether the department will appeal the judge’s ruling. She did not say whether the department has an estimate of how many people might seek religious exemptions from vaccinations.
“The Mississippi State Department of Health continues to support strong immunization laws that protect our children,” Sharlot said. “Beyond that, it is our long-standing policy that the Agency does not comment on pending litigation.”
The lawsuit, funded by the Texas-based Informed Consent Action Network, argued that Mississippi's lack of a religious exemption for childhood vaccinations violates the U.S. Constitution.
“The State of Mississippi affords a secular exemption to those with medical reasons that prohibit vaccination, reflecting that it can accommodate students that are unvaccinated,” the network said in a statement. “It has simply chosen to not accord an exemption when it is someone’s immortal soul that a parent believes would be at risk.”
One of the families who are plaintiffs in the lawsuit believe “God has created humans with functioning immune systems that were well designed to counteract threats,” the lawsuit said, adding that they only seek out medication “when an intervention is clearly necessary.”
Mississippi once had a religious exemption for childhood vaccinations, but it was overturned in 1979 by a state court judge who ruled that vaccinated children have a constitutional right to be free from associating with their unvaccinated peers, the lawsuit said.
Over the last several years, Mississippi legislators have rejected proposals to allow religious exemptions for childhood vaccinations. Health officials have argued that allowing more exemptions could lead to the spread of preventable diseases. | 2023-04-18T20:29:38+00:00 | wsls.com | https://www.wsls.com/health/2023/04/18/judge-mississippi-must-give-religious-exemption-on-vaccines/ |
Election clerks in New Mexico are feeling besieged by false claims and criticism By Alice Fordham Published October 30, 2022 at 7:53 AM EDT Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Some election clerks in New Mexico are feeling besieged by false claims and critical members of the public. Copyright 2022 NPR | 2022-10-30T12:48:32+00:00 | delawarepublic.org | https://www.delawarepublic.org/2022-10-30/election-clerks-in-new-mexico-are-feeling-besieged-by-false-claims-and-criticism |
COMMEMORATIVE SEPTEMBER ISSUE FEATURES DEBUT OF REFRESHED LOOK
FOUR COVERS FEATURE CAKE RECIPES FROM CULINARY ICONS INA GARTEN, CARLA HALL, PADMA LAKSHMI AND JACQUES PÉPIN
NEW YORK, Aug. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the longest continuously published magazines in America, Dotdash Meredith's Better Homes & Gardens celebrates 100 years as the leading authority on home, garden, and lifestyle. This brand milestone will be commemorated in a special September double issue, on newsstands on August 12.
Launched in 1922, BHG has continuously evolved over the last century, and this year is no exception with enhancements and new brand initiatives across channels. The September issue marks the debut of a refreshed editorial design and logo, as well as an elevated print product with a larger trim size and upgraded paper. Today, the iconic media brand reaches a monthly audience of over 43 million* with a robust, multi-platform presence across print, digital and social as well as highly successful licensing partnerships and a newly-launched podcast.
BHG's Editor in Chief Stephen Orr said, "Since our very first issue in 1922, BHG has been helping our audience make their homes and lives better. While the brand and the magazine have continued to evolve, we have always remained true to our brand's original mission of 'inspiring better living.' We're honored to have been a part of our audience's lives throughout a century of change, and we look forward to continuing to inform and inspire for another 100 years."
The September issue reflects on the evolution of home and garden trends from the last century and looks ahead to the future with the "BHG 100," a list of the people, ideas, and products moving us forward in the 21st century. To celebrate this milestone, BHG enlisted culinary icons and friends of the brand Ina Garten, Carla Hall, Padma Lakshmi and Jacques Pépin to share their favorite special occasion cake recipes, which are featured on four separate covers of the September issue.
Mélanie Berliet, SVP & Group GM of Home & Design at Dotdash Meredith said, "This year has been an extraordinary one for BHG. With the introduction of our new podcast "The Better Buy," our incredible June cover with Harry Styles, thriving licensing partnerships with Walmart and Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate, and the release of a special anniversary edition of the iconic 'New Cook Book' later this year, the brand continues to adapt and meet our audience wherever they are."
To find out more about the September covers, including recipes for all four cakes, visit BHG.com/100Years. The September issue of Better Homes & Gardens hits newsstands on Friday, August 12 and all four covers will be available for purchase on Magazines.com.
*2022 comScore Multi-Platform © MRI-Simmons (05-22/F21) + July 2022 Social Numbers
ABOUT BETTER HOMES & GARDENS
Better Homes & Gardens serves, connects and inspires readers who infuse color and creativity into each aspect of their lives. BHG fuels our readers' passions to live a more colorful life through stunning visuals, a balance of substance and surface and a blend of expert and reader ideas. Better Homes & Gardens is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.
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SOURCE Dotdash Meredith | 2022-08-11T14:21:42+00:00 | mysuncoast.com | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/11/better-homes-amp-gardens-celebrates-100-years/ |
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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) —
The Tampa Bay Rays extended Major League Baseball's best start in 20 years behind Jeffrey Springs' seven innings of three-hit ball and Randy Arozarena's four RBIs, routing the Oakland Athletics 11-0 Saturday for an 8-0 record.
Tampa Bay is the first big league team to open 8-0 since the 2003 Kansas City Royals won their first nine games. The Rays have outscored opponents 64-18 and are the first team to win its first eight games by four or more runs since the 1884 St. Louis Maroons of the Union Association did it in their first 13.
No team had won eight straight games by that margin at any point in a season since the 1939 Yankees did it 10 times in a row.
Isaac Paredes and Brandon Lowe had three RBIs each for the Rays.
Springs (2-0), coming off six, no-hit innings in his season debut against Detroit, gave up a leadoff single in the first to Esteury Ruiz. He struck out seven, raising his total to 19 in 13 innings.
Shintaro Fujinami (0-2) allowed five runs, three hits, four walks and hit a batter over 4 1/3 innings in his second major league start. The right-hander didn't allow a hit until Wander Franco's infield single with one out in the fourth.
Fujinami, who signed as free agent in January after pitching 10 years for Hanshin of Japan's Central League, allowed eight runs over 2 1/3 innings in a 13-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels in his big league debut on April 1. His next start could be at home against the Mets' Kodai Senga.
Oakland, which had just three hits, has lost six of eight and is batting .209.
Tampa Bay scored three times in the fifth to go up 5-0 on three hit batters, two walks and a single. Arozarena ended Fujinami's day on a two-run single, and Paredes picked up an RBI when hit by a pitch from Sam Noll.
Arozarena had a two-run homer in the ninth off Carlos Pérez, usually a catcher.
Manuel Margot had a solo homer and Lowe added a three-run drive in the sixth off Domingo Acevedo.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Athletics: RHP Paul Blackburn (right middle finger avulsion) started a rehab assignment Friday night with Class A Stockton and now will join Triple-A Las Vegas.
Rays: CF Jose Siri was placed on the 10-day IL with a strained right hamstring.
UP NEXT
Tampa Bay RHP Drew Rasmussen (1-0) and Oakland RHP James Kaprielian (0-0) are Sunday’s starters,
___
More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2023-04-08T23:04:30+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/sports/article/rays-season-opening-winning-streak-at-8-beat-a-s-17886526.php |
Lighting strike suspected as cause of fire at 160-year-old Massachusetts church
SPENCER, Mass. (AP) — A fire that burned down a 160-year-old Massachusetts church was likely started by a lightning strike, a fire chief said.
The First Congregational Church in Spencer caught fire Friday afternoon, when a storm was moving through the area. Video showed the steeple falling as the building was engulfed in flames.
Spencer Fire Chief Robert Parsons said in an email Saturday that lightning likely started the fire. He said the building was a total loss.
No injuries were reported in the fire, which drew nearly 100 firefighters from close to 20 departments.
There has been a church in the area since the 1700s. A church on the site was lost to fire in 1862.
Spencer, in central Massachusetts, is about 10 miles west of Worcester.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2023-06-03T18:06:12+00:00 | uppermichiganssource.com | https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/2023/06/03/lighting-strike-suspected-cause-fire-160-year-old-massachusetts-church/ |
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