text stringlengths 80 124k | date_download stringdate 2022-04-02 20:48:07 2023-07-31 23:59:06 | source_domain stringclasses 387 values | url stringlengths 21 528 |
|---|---|---|---|
Copyright © 2022 Albuquerque Journal
Albuquerque’s operating budget is slated to grow by about 20% next year under a plan the City Council approved Monday night.
The budget includes 5% pay hikes for city workers – plus additional one-time incentives of up to $2,000 per employee – and significantly ups spending on rental support.
In total, the council approved about $857 million in general fund appropriations for the fiscal year that begins July 1, up from the present year’s $714.5 million. It’s also about $15 million higher than the fiscal year 2023 proposal Mayor Tim Keller had forwarded to the council last month.
The general fund, fueled primarily by tax dollars, covers most basic city services, such as police officers and parks maintenance. The total city budget – including departments like Aviation, that are funded by their own revenues – will total about $1.4 billion.
“With inflation and the cost of services and goods, that’s part of what I’m trying to wrap my head around and accept is that things did go up globally, so I’m not surprised our budget did too,” Council budget chairwoman Brook Bassan said in an interview following the vote.
The city can support the budget increase because its revenues also are going up.
The Keller administration estimates having over $100 million more in gross receipts tax to spend in 2023 than it budgeted for this year. GRT is the tax assessed on the sale of most goods and services and it has been coming in stronger than expected, creating a balance that can be applied in 2023.
The council approved the budget on a 7-2 vote with Dan Lewis and Renee Grout voting against it.
Neither explained their opposition during the meeting, though Lewis said in an interview that he could not support appropriating $100 million in additional revenues. Aside from a $250,000 council sponsorship of Planned Parenthood, he did not provide specific examples of departments or programs getting too much money in the approved budget.
“I just disagree with the entire budget,” he said. “I think it could have been done a lot better.”
Bassan said her priorities included a bigger cost-of-living bump – Keller had proposed 2% – and affordable housing. The council approved about $20 million for rental vouchers, about $15 million of it built into the budget on a recurring basis. That’s something Council President Isaac Benton said is much needed.
“That ($15 million) has been the number many providers say would be a good ground floor,” he said.
But while the council expanded certain areas, it did not dramatically overhaul Keller’s initial proposal.
Just as in Keller’s proposal, the largest allocation in the council-approved budget goes to the Albuquerque Police Department, which will get about $255 million, accounting for about 30% of all general fund spending. That includes money for 1,100 officers, though officials already have acknowledged the department – with just 875 officers today – will likely not meet that staffing level and the personnel funds will help cover other operating costs.
The new Albuquerque Community Safety department – which responds to certain 911 calls with social workers and other trained professionals – was poised to double its staffing and budget to about $15.5 million in 2023 under Keller’s initial proposal. However, partly at the administration’s behest, the council decided to fund the new jobs for only part of next year under the assumption they would not all be filled as of July 1.
Though the council last week had a budget proposal that would cut certain jobs throughout city government – including some security and Parks and Recreation Department jobs that had gone unfilled for nearly two years – it restored many of those positions Monday night at the Keller administration’s request.
Bassan, who included the position eliminations in her initial budget bill, said she understands hiring is a challenge nationwide now but hoped the city would start making progress on filling the vacancies.
“If we follow through on spending the money how we’re promising and actually hire people to find the staffing and not have vacancies, I think that’s a big thing,” she said.
The council’s budget now heads to Keller’s desk.
“We appreciate Chairwoman Bassan and City Council’s work with our budget staff over the past weeks,” Albuquerque Chief Financial Officer Sanjay Bhakta said in a written statement. “Our administration will carefully review and analyze the impact of the amendments made tonight.” | 2022-05-17T06:52:45+00:00 | abqjournal.com | https://www.abqjournal.com/2499990/councilapproved-budget-would-up-spending-by-20.html |
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Amtech Systems Inc. (ASYS) on Wednesday reported a fiscal first-quarter loss of $2.7 million, after reporting a profit in the same period a year earlier.
On a per-share basis, the Tempe, Arizona-based company said it had a loss of 20 cents.
The provider of equipment for solar panel and semiconductor makers posted revenue of $21.6 million in the period.
For the current quarter ending in March, Amtech said it expects revenue in the range of $30 million to $32 million.
Amtech shares have increased 41% since the beginning of the year. In the final minutes of trading on Wednesday, shares hit $10.69, an increase of 22% in the last 12 months.
_____
This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on ASYS at https://www.zacks.com/ap/ASYS | 2023-02-08T21:49:28+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/business/article/amtech-fiscal-q1-earnings-snapshot-17772352.php |
Anyone using their iPhone to check the weather on Tuesday may have had better luck just looking out the window.
Apple's default Weather app briefly went down for many users on Tuesday morning, showing blank screens with no data. The result: many users felt clueless about what was happening outside.
"The Apple Weather app has been down all morning and I never imagined how much disruption that would cause," wrote one Twitter user. Another tweeted an apparent "Top Gun" reference: "Biggest storm of the season is about to hit Fargo and the Apple weather app is down. I'm flying blind, Goose."
There are numerous other sources one could use to determine the weather, including various apps, websites, local news reports and, of course, one's own eyes. But the apparent disruption from the outage highlights how reliant some have grown on certain popular applications.
Apple confirmed the outage in a Twitter reply to a frustrated user, noting that some app users may be experiencing a "temporary outage." The company's System Status page also flagged the Weather app as facing an ongoing issue.
Apple did not immediately respond to CNN's request for comment.
One CNN reporter saw only a handful of cities on the Weather app home screen load with full data, while most cities remained completely blank. The app usually displays information including hourly forecast, 10-day forecast, air quality index, precipitation, UV index and more.
The app was revamped as part of the iOS 16 release in September after Apple bought popular weather service Dark Sky in 2020 and fully integrated its features into the newest operating system. | 2023-04-04T15:12:45+00:00 | albanyherald.com | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/business/apples-weather-app-briefly-went-down-and-rained-on-everyones-morning/article_08000f0f-253d-55d3-88e0-f948da01194d.html |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats are again claiming the Senate majority, but much of the chamber’s focus Tuesday is on the top Republican as Mitch McConnell becomes the longest serving Senate leader in history.
McConnell, 80, surpassed Montana Sen. Mike Mansfield’s record of 16 years as party leader when the Senate convened midday to begin the new Congress. While the Kentucky Republican has acknowledged he would prefer his own party to be taking charge — “the majority is better,” he says frequently — he celebrated his own personal milestone with a Senate floor speech looking back at party leaders and their different styles over the decades.
And Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., cemented a legacy of his own after winning a second term as leader and also being sworn in as the longest-serving senator from New York. Democrats will go into the new Congress with a 51-49 majority, with newly Independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema receiving her committee assignments from Democrats.
The celebratory Senate proceedings were in marked contrast to the new Republican House majority across the Capitol, where Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy is fighting to become speaker amid contentious internal strife in his own party. McConnell, his party’s leader since 2007, easily dismissed a similar challenge from within after the November midterms, and, like Schumer, begins the new year with strong support from his caucus.
Similar to President Joe Biden, both Schumer and McConnell are opening the year pledging to work across the aisle — and all three will have to find ways to work with the new GOP House majority to keep government running. McConnell will make a rare appearance with Biden in his home state of Kentucky this week to highlight nearly $1 trillion in infrastructure spending that lawmakers approved on a bipartisan basis in 2021.
Claiming his party’s majority after senators were sworn in, Schumer said that party differences “do not absolve either either side of the need to work together when the good of the country is on the line.”
“Whoever ends up becoming speaker of the House, I hope they will find a way to work with us in a productive way this Congress,” Schumer said, as McCarthy failed to secure a majority in rounds of voting across the Capitol.
Praising the tenure of Mansfield, a Democrat who led his party from 1961 to 1977, the ever-restrained McConnell hinted in his speech at his own long-term strategy — a contrast to the bombast and chaos across the Capitol.
“There’ve been leaders who rose to the job through lower-key, behind-the-scenes styles; who preferred to focus on serving their colleagues rather than dominating them,” McConnell said, and that “is how Senator Michael Joseph Mansfield of Montana became the longest-serving Senate leader in American history until this morning.”
Without directly comparing himself to Mansfield, McConnell appeared to draw similarities between their styles, saying that Mansfield knew how to work the Senate and “contented himself with the modest task of keeping the Senate machinery oiled” while other senators with “stronger and clearer visions championed particular outcomes.”
Also Tuesday, the Senate swore in seven new members, five Republicans and two Democrats. Unlike the House, where the swearing in was overshadowed by the antagonistic fight over the speaker’s chair, the mood was jovial in the Senate. Family, friends and predecessors looked on as those freshman, along with their new colleagues who won re-election, took an oath of office administered by Vice President Kamala Harris.
Senators clapped as Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat and Iraq War veteran who lost both legs when her helicopter was shot down in 2004, walked down the center aisle of the Senate to be sworn in instead of using her wheelchair — leaning on her Illinois colleague, Sen. Dick Durbin, for support. Former Republican Sen. Frank Murkowski of Alaska accompanied his daughter, newly re-elected Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, and hugged her after she took her oath. Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, stood behind newly elected Republican Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, a rare show of bipartisanship on swearing-in day.
John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat, is the only new senator who flipped party control of his seat, having won an open seat held by retiring Republican Sen. Pat Toomey. The other six new senators are all replacing retiring members of the same party.
New Republican senators are Ted Budd of North Carolina, Katie Britt of Alabama, Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, Eric Schmitt of Missouri and Vance of Ohio.
Vermont’s Peter Welch is the only other new Democrat, replacing Sen. Patrick Leahy, who is retiring after almost five decades in the seat. “I’m looking forward to getting to work,” Welch said as he walked onto the Senate floor to be sworn in.
Washington Sen. Patty Murray made her own history, replacing Leahy as the first woman Senate pro tempore. That position is held by the senior-most member of the majority party and is third in line to the presidency.
“I’m honored to officially become the President Pro Tempore of the Senate today,” Murray tweeted after she took her oath, Leahy standing behind her. “It’s not lost on me the significance of what it means to be the first woman to serve in this role. This is another sign that slowly but surely, Congress is looking more like America.”
___
Associated Press writer Seung Min Kim contributed to this report. | 2023-01-03T23:59:27+00:00 | kdvr.com | https://kdvr.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ap-mcconnell-celebrates-milestone-as-senate-dems-retain-power/ |
12-year-old fan who survived brain cancer treasures meeting star basketball player
A Massachusetts boy who survived cancer is still in awe over an unforgettable moment he shared with a Boston Celtics star.
Stepan "Steppy" Birmann, a 12-year-old from Arlington, loves all sports — but his favorite right now is basketball.
Steppy, who was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2020, has been so happy to be able to attend Celtics home games at TD Garden with his father.
"I cried the first time I went back to the Garden," Steppy said.
When Steppy and his dad attended Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Milwaukee Bucks, the boy said he was expecting it to be a "regular day at the Garden."
But Steppy decided to bring a sign to the game that read: "I beat cancer! Never give up!!"
"It's just spreading positivity. I beat cancer. You can, too," he said.
That sign caught the attention of the agent for Celtics guard Marcus Smart, the newly-crowned NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Smart's mother, Camellia, died of cancer at the age of 63 in September 2018.
Smart's agent brought over the guard's sneakers after the game, and then Smart came over to meet Steppy and autograph the shoes.
"That was incredible," Steppy said. "He signed the shoes and took a couple photos, saying: 'Congratulations!' and just giving me a bunch of huge hugs."
Smart shared a picture of him and Steppy on Twitter and congratulated him on being cancer-free.
"That, everyone, is more important than anything else in the world!" Smart wrote. "Thanks for supporting us, man, and praying for continued health, my friend! That's a true WIN!"
"You know, you take a hard time but then you have these moments of something like that," said Katie Clinton, Steppy's mother. "Then to have mementos of it, it's overwhelming because it's just so kind."
Steppy also got to meet Jayson Tatum after the May 1 game, and he is excited to attend NBA Finals games in Boston when the Celtics host the Golden State Warriors next week. | 2022-06-01T15:02:07+00:00 | wxii12.com | https://www.wxii12.com/article/celtics-fan-who-beat-cancer-meets-marcus-smart/40164981 |
Baby, it’s cold outside: Parents deliver daughter in subzero temperatures
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV/Gray News) – Nicole Namba and Wyatt Gray weren’t expecting to welcome their daughter to the world until Jan. 7, but their baby had other plans.
Namba knew on Dec. 22 it was time to go to the hospital.
The temperature in Colorado Springs was below 0 degrees Fahrenheit that morning, accompanied by snow and ice.
The inclement conditions made the trip to the hospital 15 minutes longer than normal.
Gray said about eight minutes from the hospital, Namba told him she had to push.
“At that point, I was asking her you know, ‘Is it OK if you wait? Can we wait? We’re only eight minutes away,’” Gray told KKTV. “And of course, she knew better than I did that you cannot hold that up.”
After calling 911, Gray pulled over and walked around to Namba in the passenger seat as the dispatcher talked him through the delivery of his daughter.
“Once I pulled that door open, I saw my baby’s head, and I about dropped to the floor. I’m on my knees, in the snow, in negative 14-degree weather,” Gray said.
Namba and Gray complimented each other on the process, with Gray saying that Namba seemed so confident, it was like she’d done it 100 times before.
“By the time he came around the car and opened the door, she was already coming out,” Namba said. “He ended up being Dr. Daddy, and catching her, and doing such an amazing job.”
After their daughter, Lilly, was born in the passenger seat of the car, Gray drove the rest of the way to the hospital, where the couple said nurses flocked them with jackets, hand warmers, and a wheelchair for Namba as soon as they heard what had happened.
“We ran through the whole hospital, and we got upstairs and we finished doing, like, checking on her, making sure everything was good,” Namba said, adding that everything has gone smoothly since.
Namba said Lilly is meeting all her milestones, eating great and is healthy.
The parents were in the hospital with Lilly for two days before they were able to bring her home to her two older brothers on Christmas Eve.
“The best present is to have her right before Christmas and actually get to be home on Christmas Day,” Namba said.
The parents said that the hospital gave them the option of listing the intersection Lilly was born at on her birth certificate, and according to them, she’ll be the first person with the cross street of Family Place listed on the document.
Copyright 2022 KKTV via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2022-12-26T17:47:34+00:00 | kmvt.com | https://www.kmvt.com/2022/12/26/baby-its-cold-outside-parents-deliver-daughter-subzero-temperatures/ |
West Deptford saved its best for last in a 44-41 comeback victory over Haddon Township, in Westmont.
West Deptford (2-6) led by four at halftime but fell victim to a 14-7 third quarter run by Haddon Township (1-8) that had the Eagles trailing by four going into the fourth quarter.
The Eagles responded though with a 13-6 run of its own to retake the lead down the final stretch and ultimately win by a slim three points.
Aiden Cranmer (18 points) and Corey Ratcliffe (10 points) led West Deptford in scoring.
For Haddon Township, Tyler Levins led and scored a game high 27 points.
The N.J. High School Sports newsletter now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now and be among the first to get all the boys and girls sports you care about, straight to your inbox each weekday. To add your name, click here.
Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. | 2023-01-06T05:38:19+00:00 | nj.com | https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports/2023/01/boys-basketball-fourth-quarter-run-leads-west-deptford-to-win.html |
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Jan. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Approval has been granted to Johnny Trotter by the New Mexico Racing Commission for the ownership transfer of All American Ruidoso Downs, LLC; All American Ruidoso Horse Sales, LLC; and Billy the Kid Casino. Trotter previously had partners sharing ownership of the property and affiliated businesses.
In 1959, Ruidoso Downs became home to the All American Futurity, which has evolved into the world's richest race for American Quarter Horses at $3 million. Since 1962, Ruidoso has been the home of what is arguably the nation's No. 1 American Quarter Horse Yearling Sale.
A Texas businessman, cowboy and horseman, Trotter said, "Horses have been an important part of my life. Jana and I have enjoyed racing, buying and selling horses here for over 20 years. Ruidoso Downs is important to us. I am excited to be the sole owner, and I look forward to maintaining Ruidoso Downs and the horse sales as the pinnacle of horse racing. Nominations for 2023 futurities and derbies are strong, and we anticipate the yearling sales to continue as strong as ever."
Trotter expects more great things to come for the property, its team and its events. "We have a great management team in place, and several improvements to the property and our programs currently are under consideration," he said. "We are the home of the nation's best racing and sales, both Ruidoso Select Yearling and New Mexico-Bred Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds. We have the nation's best Racetrack Chaplaincy programs; and the nation's best locations for racing, casino gaming and family fun. We look forward to providing a great venue for everybody at Ruidoso Downs."
Johnny Trotter is actively involved in farming, ranching, cattle feeding, banking, automobile dealerships, real estate and other businesses. He is a former president of the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) and an AQHA Hall of Fame member, as well as the Tri-State Western Heritage Hall of Fame, the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame, the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame and the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame.
Trotter ranks among the Quarter Horse breed's all-time owners and breeders, having raced several Grade 1 qualifiers, five AQHA Champions and 2018 AQHA World Champion Bodacious Eagle. His wife, Jana, was one of the group of women known as "The Girls" who campaigned Devons Signature in the 2004 All American Futurity, and now enjoys racing Thoroughbreds.
The final approval for the transfer is pending the approval of the New Mexico Gaming Control Board.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Ruidoso Downs Race Trace & Casino | 2023-01-28T15:16:39+00:00 | ksla.com | https://www.ksla.com/prnewswire/2023/01/27/all-american-ruidoso-downs-ownership-change-approved/ |
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Thursday evening's drawing of the "Pick Four-Evening" game were:
6-5-7-6, Fireball: 5
(six, five, seven, six; Fireball: five)
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Thursday evening's drawing of the "Pick Four-Evening" game were:
6-5-7-6, Fireball: 5
(six, five, seven, six; Fireball: five) | 2022-09-23T03:46:30+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Pick-Four-Evening-game-17461166.php |
LOS ANGELES and PEACHTREE CITY, Ga., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Truelink Capital ("Truelink") today announced its acquisition of Trulite Glass & Aluminum Solutions ("Trulite" or "the Company"), one of North America's largest architectural glass and aluminum fabricators, from an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners, Inc. Headquartered in Peachtree City, GA, Trulite fabricates and distributes a full suite of customized tempered, laminated, insulated and decorative glass as well as architectural aluminum from their 35 locations across the United States and Canada to a highly diversified customer base.
"Trulite has been on a journey to expand geographically, optimize operations and create a platform for scalability, which is a direct result of the hard work, persistence and determination of the Trulite team," said Kevin Yates, CEO of Trulite. "Upon our first meeting with Truelink, it was evident that they believe in our business, our potential and—most importantly—our people. The Truelink team brings a breadth of industry knowledge that will help us chart our path forward and continue to successfully execute on our strategic priorities. This milestone is a natural next step for our company, and we are confident that Truelink is the right partner as we work to unlock our next phase of growth."
"At Truelink, we are focused on helping companies adapt, meet the business challenges of today and thrive—and that is exactly how our firm intends to support Trulite," said Todd Golditch, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Truelink. "Trulite is an industry leader, with an immensely talented team, experienced leadership and a strong customer value proposition. The Company has a solid foundation for growth, and we are enthusiastic about Trulite's high-quality products, high-touch service and ability to capture the opportunities that lie ahead. We are confident that, with additional investment, the Company is well-positioned to build upon its positive momentum and reach new heights in its next chapter."
This transaction marks the first acquisition for Truelink, which was launched earlier this year by Todd Golditch and Luke Myers to target companies in the industrials and tech-enabled services sectors. The firm's senior team brings decades of experience to their portfolio company partners, an extensive history of creating value together and well-established strategies to improve processes, fuel growth and enhance earnings.
Trulite will continue delivering the same high-quality products and solutions, supported by the Company's existing management team and its talented network of employees across the United States and Canada. The Truelink operations team is working together with Trulite leadership to make strategic investments in growing the Company, both organically and through strategic M&A.
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, Alston & Bird LLP and Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal advisors to Truelink Capital.
Raymond James and William Blair served as financial advisors to Trulite for the transaction and Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal advisor.
Truelink Capital is a middle-market private equity firm based in Los Angeles. Truelink pairs deep industry experience in the technology-enabled services and industrials sectors with a commitment to building partnerships that drive long-term value creation through an operationally focused strategy. Truelink partners with management, corporate sellers, and founders to accelerate growth through the execution of operational improvements, strategic initiatives, and transformative add-on acquisitions.
Trulite Glass & Aluminum Solutions is one of North America's largest architectural glass and aluminum fabricators. Trulite distributes and manufactures architectural aluminum, insulated units, mirrors, tempered, laminated and decorative glass from their 35 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Media Contacts:
Truelink Capital
Stephanie Randall and Diana Baldo
TruelinkCommunications@fticonsulting.com
Trulite Glass & Aluminum Solutions
Ben Thomas
bthomas@trulite.com
View original content:
SOURCE Truelink Capital | 2022-11-01T18:00:00+00:00 | kcbd.com | https://www.kcbd.com/prnewswire/2022/11/01/truelink-capital-acquires-trulite-glass-amp-aluminum-solutions/ |
A study group of Louisiana's top school board voted Monday to press ahead with major changes in how high schools are rated and other operations despite opposition from local superintendents and questions about the scope of the overhaul.
A five-member panel of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education directed the state Department of Education to come up with a proposal for BESE to debate on Aug. 23.
Whether the full board will embrace the new rules is unclear, in part because the panel will be grappling with proposed changes that five of its 11 members have been studying for the past eight months.
While the new policies would touch on a wide range of school accountability measures, the biggest complaints have focused on high schools. Annual letter grades for public schools gets lots of attention, and any push to revamp how schools are scored is sure to trigger controversy.
State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley and others have repeatedly said it makes no sense for 70% of public high schools to be rated A or B when other academic indicators suggest those grades are far too generous.
Critics have noted that only 37% of high school students have achieved the second highest level of achievement on LEAP 2021, called mastery, which tests students on math, English, social studies and science. Meanwhile, 35% of students in grades 3-8 achieved the same level while only 41% of 3-8 schools are rated A or B.
Also, the average ACT score for high school students is 18, which is well below what experts consider college readiness.
The plan would make it tougher for schools to earn an A-rating, in part by requiring students in those schools to earn 12 credits in college classes and get passing marks on two college-level exams.
The new high school rules would take effect with the 2025-26 school, which partly answered complaints from superintendents that any such overhaul should be delayed for several years.
Superintendents have said the high school changes are too sweeping and should be put off until 2026 or later, in part over fears of a wholesale drop in high school grades.
"Let us not rush into a system that leads to unintended consequences," Mike Faulk, executive director of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents, told the study group. Faulk presented the group with a detailed list of changes to the plan that superintendents favor.
Brumley said after the meeting, "When we are talking about high schools it is hard for me to reconcile that 37% of our kids are mastering content, 18 on the ACT is our average and 70% of high schools are A and B.
"And so I am just trying to raise the expectations, raise the standards, and I think our high schools will rise to that level of expectation."
Asked about opposition from local superintendents Brumley said: "It is a more rigorous system. It is going to require them to think about their resource allocation that are scarce, their staff allocations.
"I understand what they are saying. But ultimately I just feel like we owe it to our kids to raise the expectations right now," he said. "The systems have met the expectations of the current formula, as evidenced by 70% of them being A and B. But at the same time we have 30% of our kids mastering content. I just believe we have to raise that standard."
One of the changes that has sparked criticism would limit access to a high school exam called WorkKeys to students on the TOPS Tech pathway, and starting a career after high school.
The current rules allow both university- and career-bound student to take the test, which is regarded as less rigorous than the ACT and has led to inflated high school performance scores.
Another part of the plan would disallow ACT scores of 17 from counting when high school performance scores are tabulated.
Other changes would revamp how students and schools earn points through academic growth.
Critics say today's system is too generous.
Belinda Davis, a BESE member who lives in Baton Rouge and a member of the study group, urged department officials to share a wide range of information with board members when they are briefed on the upcoming proposal.
Davis said if she had not been reviewing the issues since January the proposed changes would be overwhelming. | 2022-08-09T00:06:39+00:00 | theadvocate.com | https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/education/article_39447b18-14d7-11ed-8aee-9b18053cacb4.html |
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — KaVontae Turpin is making the most of his first chance to make a National Football League roster.
The Dallas wide receiver became the first player in nine seasons to have kickoff and punt return touchdowns in the same game, leading the Cowboys to a 32-18 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday night.
“My body’s still wild, but I’m still here trying to focus. I got this big opportunity, so I can’t really complain about it. I work through it,” Turpin said.
Turpin signed with the Cowboys on July 28 after garnering MVP honors in the United States Football League this past spring. Before Turpin, the last player to run back a punt and kickoff in the same game — preseason, regular season or playoffs — was Detroit’s Jeremy Ross on Dec. 8, 2013, against Philadelphia.
Coach Mike McCarthy said he has been impressed with Turpin since he has been in camp.
“Obviously, he had a very successful run there with the USFL, but really from the first day of practice, I mean, he came in and I was really impressed with the way he picked up the receiver play and the language,” McCarthy said. “But you can see he’s dynamic in the return game. Two excellent big plays set the tempo.”
Turpin had six special teams touchdowns during his collegiate career at TCU, but he was dismissed in 2018 when he was accused of assaulting his girlfriend. He was initially suspended but then kicked off the team because the school was unaware of a previous assault case in New Mexico. Turpin pleaded guilty in the Texas case with a chance to clear the conviction from his record and attended an abuse intervention program.
After going undrafted in 2019, Turpin played in the indoor Fan-Controlled Football League, the Spring League and the European League of Football for three years before signing with the USFL. As a member of the New Jersey Generals, he led the league in receiving yards and had the lone punt return for a TD.
“It’s been a crazy year, you know. I’ve been playing football all year round, so I haven’t got a chance to get my body back,” Turpin said. “I’m just happy for this opportunity the Cowboys gave me after the USFL to come out here and show everybody what I can do, prove to myself I belong in this league.”
After a 22-yard field goal by Dustin Hopkins gave the Chargers a 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter, Turpin returned the ensuing kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown.
Turpin got a nice wall of blockers in the middle of the field before getting into open space near the 40 and going untouched up the right sideline.
Dallas had a 29-10 lead at halftime after a pair of touchdowns in the final minute of the second quarter. That included Turpin’s 86-yard punt return, where he eluded a tackle attempt from punt gunner Deane Leonard after fielding the ball, did a couple juke moves and then broke free for the score.
After two days of joint practices earlier in the week, both teams rested most of their starters. Dallas improved to 1-1 while the Chargers are 0-2.
Cooper Rush and Will Grier each directed first-half TD drives for the Cowboys, while Rico Dowdle and Malik Davis each had rushing scores. Dowdle finished as the game’s leading rusher with 44 yards on 13 carries.
Easton Stick played the first half for the Chargers and connected with Joshua Palmer on a wide receiver screen for an 18-yard touchdown early in the second quarter to give the Chargers a short-lived 10-7 advantage. Palmer finished with three receptions for 75 yards.
“It was a really poor first half for us, about as poorly as you can play, and that really put us behind, overall,” Chargers coach Brandon Staley said. “I didn’t like the way that that first half felt or looked. It was really in all three phases. When you have two turnovers and you give up two special teams touchdowns, that’s the way the score is going to look.”
LATE SCORE
Chargers’ wide receiver Michael Bandy had eight catches for 69 yards, including a 1-yard TD late in the fourth quarter.
INJURIES
Chargers: RB Isaiah Spiller suffered an ankle injury during the second half and did not return.
UP NEXT
Cowboys: Finish the preseason at home against Seattle on Friday.
Chargers: Travel to New Orleans for their preseason finale on Friday.
___ | 2022-08-21T21:27:04+00:00 | fox44news.com | https://www.fox44news.com/sports/silver-star-nation/turpin-shines-as-cowboys-crush-chargers/ |
MIAMI, June 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK) has scheduled a conference call with analysts for Friday, June 24, 2022, at 10 a.m. (EDT); 3 p.m. (BST) to provide a business update.
A simulcast of the call will be available via the company's websites at www.carnivalcorp.com and www.carnivalplc.com.
View original content:
SOURCE Carnival Corporation & plc | 2022-06-17T17:16:47+00:00 | kmvt.com | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/06/17/carnival-corporation-amp-plc-provide-second-quarter-2022-business-update/ |
Snow winds down today; more rain and snow showers are in store next week
We’ll continue to be in an active weather pattern for the next week
ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – As promised, we’re dealing with snowy and treacherous conditions across the area thanks to a potent storm system that is pushing through the Upper Mississippi Valley. Snowfall totals will reach three to seven inches in much of the area with slightly lighter amounts north of Rochester. Snow will slowly wind down from west to east in the late morning and the afternoon will be blissfully dry, giving us a chance to work on snow removal. High temperatures will be in the low 30s with a brisk east wind that will reach 15 miles per hour, giving us a wind chill index in the teens to low 20s.
A weak disturbance from the west will keep clouds around the area tonight and then bring a few pockets of freezing drizzle to the area in the wee hours of Saturday morning. Overnight lows will be around 30 degrees with a brisk southeast breeze.
There may be a few icy patches in the area Saturday morning from freezing drizzle before temperatures climb above freezing in the midday hours. We’ll have mist and drizzle in the afternoon with high temperatures in the mid-30s and a light south breeze.
Sunday looks dry but mostly cloudy with light winds and afternoon high temperatures will be in the mid-30s.
After a cloudy and fairly quiet Monday that will feature high temperatures in the mid-30s, a large storm system will work its way into the region from the west, bringing unsettled weather for the middle of the week. We’ll have rain and snow showers on Tuesday with a little more snow that may mix with rain on Wednesday and light snow looks to taper off on Thursday. At this point, there are so many variables in the midweek forecast, there’s no way to know how much snowfall we may be expecting. High temperatures will cool from the upper 30s to the low 30s through the course of the week and overnight lows will be slightly below freezing.
Drier, colder air will settle into the region late next week and for the following weekend, bringing a chance for some sunshine at long last. High temperatures will be in the 20s late in the week and potentially for a longer stretch of days beyond.
Copyright 2022 KTTC. All rights reserved. | 2022-12-09T16:15:58+00:00 | kttc.com | https://www.kttc.com/2022/12/09/snow-winds-down-today-more-rain-snow-showers-are-store-next-week/ |
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Jesica Fernández used to join seven family members every weekend for a large beef barbeque. Beef is no longer on the menu, and now they’re more likely to eat spaghetti or chicken wings.
In beef-loving Argentina, barbeques nowadays happen only on birthdays or special occasions, Fernández said.
Fernández, 31, is among millions of Argentines struggling to make ends meet as the country’s annual inflation rate clocked in at an annual rate of 102.5 percent in February, the first time it has reached triple digits since 1991.
She was shopping at a market sponsored by the Lomas de Zamora municipality, some 25 kilometers (15 miles) from the capital, where businesses offer basic goods at cheaper prices in exchange for the free retail space.
“We buy less beef and we buy fewer things. In reality, you can’t give yourself the luxuries that you could before,” Fernández said,
The country’s Indec statistics agency said this week that consumer prices increased 6.6% in February from the previous month, a higher number than expected, on top of years of double-digit annual inflation over the past decade. Food was among items that increased the most in February, rising 9.8% from January, in part due to a punishing drought that has pushed prices of meat and other goods higher.
“The situation is very difficult, and every day it gets worse,” said Daisy Choque Guevara, 42.
Mabel Espinosa, 37, was walking around the market with her 10-day old baby, Gael, hoping to find deals to buy enough food for herself, her husband and six children.
“The money isn’t enough for anything,” Espinosa said. “Barbeques? Forget about it.”
President Alberto Fernández has been struggling to put the brakes on the country’s soaring inflation rate that will undoubtedly be a key issue in the presidential campaign ahead of October elections.
Argentines have long suffered large bouts of rising prices, worse than elsewhere, because of the government’s penchant for printing money to finance spending. That trend accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic while a sharp depreciation of the local currency also pushed prices higher.
President Alberto Fernández’s center-left administration has tried to rein in the spiraling prices through price controls that have largely failed. Much of the opposition says Argentina needs a broader stabilization plan that includes a sharp decrease in spending.
“We obviously think the inflation data is bad, very bad, plus it was unexpected,” presidential spokeswoman Gabriela Cerruti said Thursday. “The government remains firmly committed to controlling prices, controlling inflation, reducing inflation, and not allowing prices to continue increasing.”
Espinosa, however, is not convinced things will improve, at least in the short term.
“I call it resignation, nothing will change … Why get angry?” she said. “Today you get something at one price and tomorrow it will be another price, but it doesn’t matter, you have to pay for it because you need it.”
People have to make cuts where they can.
“For example, if I could buy two yogurts before, now I can only buy one,” said Roxana Cabrera, 38. “It’s very difficult to buy now, you have to search for prices.”
Anything that isn’t absolutely essential is left for a later date.
“I was able to buy clothes before, for example, but not anymore,” Cabrera said. “Now I can only buy food.”
For some, the choices are even more drastic.
“We don’t eat dinner,” said Yanet Nazario, who lives with three of her children and seven grandchildren in an impoverished neighborhood in Buenos Aires. She was buying flour and soap from an improvised stand set up by a cooperative in her neighborhood that sells a few basic goods at lower prices than the stores.
“There’s a lot of sacrifice now because the money you make isn’t enough, you have to work a lot more, we have to go to soup kitchens,” Nazario said.
The children in the household get dinner from soup kitchens that now limit their food to only young people because overall demand has become so high.
“We adults only drink a cup of tea” for dinner, Nazario said. “The next day we’ll skip breakfast, and have lunch.” | 2023-03-17T09:33:30+00:00 | pahomepage.com | https://www.pahomepage.com/news/international/argentines-struggle-to-make-ends-meet-amid-100-inflation/ |
If you recall from your high school biology class, amino acids are essential to life, as they are the building blocks of DNA.
In 1971, it was discovered that formamide — one of the main molecules of amino acids — exists not only on Earth, but also in interstellar clouds.
The finding of formamide was also the first time a molecule with four elements (hydrogen, carbon, oxygen and nitrogen) was found in space.
Chemistry Professor Willis Flygare and astronomy and electrical engineering Professor George Swenson Jr. led the team that made this important discovery.
The 1960s had seen many different clouds of molecules being discovered in interstellar space, including hydrogen, water, ammonia and formaldehyde.
Flygare’s research focused on molecular properties using microwave spectroscopy to further research in this area. As molecules rotate, they emit spectral lines of microwave radiation.
At the same time, Swenson was working to develop a radio astronomy research program at the university.
Swenson approached Flygare with the idea to collaborate.
Flygare’s research group would calculate the frequencies of the spectral lines for different molecules, and Swenson’s group would use radio telescopes to search for these frequencies.
In March 1971, the research group’s team members Bob Rubin, Richard Benson and Howard Tigelaar used the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in West Virginia to scan the frequency range between 4.615 and 4.625 GHz.
They spent three days capturing microwave signals without knowing if anything they were finding was useful.
The signal noise was much greater than the emitted spectral lines, so they had to wait for the results.
They delivered the magnetic disk packs that had been recording the microwave signals to the data-processing facility in Virginia and then returned to Urbana-Champaign.
About a week later, the team was in Noyes Laboratory when they received results that showed they had detected three rotational spectral lines for interstellar formamide molecules.
The team wanted to verify their findings, so Benson and Tigelaar hand-built an L-band microwave spectrometer and measured the positions of the spectral lines.
Their measurements matched the radio telescope-captured spectral lines, and they were able to verify it was formamide.
This was the first time a molecule with four elements was discovered in space and the first time hydrogen, carbon, oxygen and nitrogen were all in the same molecule.
Their discovery was soon published in scientific and general news publications, including The Boston Globe and Newsweek.
Teams from the University of Chicago, Harvard University and the University of Maryland rushed to confirm their findings and successfully confirmed the formamide spectral lines.
Research on interstellar molecules builds off the University of Illinois team’s original publication to this day.
To read about a team member’s personal recollections, visit the Illinois Distributed Museum.
The Illinois Distributed Museum has online content about the innovations from the University of Illinois as well as self-guided tours of campus, where you can view objects and buildings related to these innovations.
The Illinois Distributed Museum is a project under the direction of the University of Illinois Archives.
See more at distributedmuseum.illinois.edu/. | 2022-10-30T14:43:55+00:00 | news-gazette.com | https://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/parks-recreation/inside-out-ui-team-created-foundation-for-research-on-interstellar-molecules/article_5d5110a6-656e-5aed-bcb1-cd7a666fe237.html |
Biden continues to test positive for COVID-19, White House says
▶ Watch Video: Latest on President Biden’s rebound COVID case
Washington — President Biden tested positive for COVID-19 again Monday, according to the White House physician, as he continues to experience a rebound infection that can occur in patients taking the Paxlovid antiviral treatment.
Dr. Kevin O’Connor, Mr. Biden’s physician, said in a letter distributed by the White House that the president “continues to feel well as he starts his week.” Mr. Biden’s positive COVID-19 antigen test, taken Monday morning, was “anticipated,” he added.
O’Connor said the president will continue strict isolation measures and work from the Executive Residence at the White House.
“The president continues to be very specifically conscientious to protect any of the Executive Residence, White House, Secret Service and other staff whose duties require any (albeit socially distanced) proximity to him,” he wrote.
Mr. Biden first tested positive for COVID-19 on July 21 and experienced mild symptoms. He began taking Paxlovid, the antiviral drug developed by Pfizer, and completed a five-day course one week ago. The president then received two negative test results — first Tuesday evening and again Wednesday morning — and ended his isolation, delivering remarks in the Rose Garden at the White House to mark the progress made in the treatments available for those who contract the coronavirus.
But Mr. Biden revealed Saturday that he tested positive again, but did not have any symptoms. “Rebound positivity” occurs in a small percentage of patients who take Paxlovid. | 2022-08-01T23:34:20+00:00 | wsgw.com | https://www.wsgw.com/biden-continues-to-test-positive-for-covid-19-white-house-says-2/ |
Researchers have found long-term evidence that actively monitoring localized prostate cancer is a safe alternative to immediate surgery or radiation.
The results, released Saturday, are encouraging for men who want to avoid treatment-related sexual and incontinence problems, said Dr. Stacy Loeb, a prostate cancer specialist at NYU Langone Health who was not involved in the research.
The study directly compared the three approaches — surgery to remove tumors, radiation treatment and monitoring. Most prostate cancer grows slowly, so it takes many years to look at the disease’s outcomes.
“There was no difference in prostate cancer mortality at 15 years between the groups,” Loeb said. And prostate cancer survival for all three groups was high — 97% regardless of treatment approach. “That’s also very good news.”
The results were published Saturday in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at a European Association of Urology conference in Milan, Italy. Britain’s National Institute for Health and Care Research paid for the research.
Men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer shouldn’t panic or rush treatment decisions, said lead author Dr. Freddie Hamdy of the University of Oxford. Instead, they should “consider carefully the possible benefits and harms caused by the treatment options.”
A small number of men with high-risk or more advanced disease do need urgent treatments, he added.
Researchers followed more than 1,600 U.K. men who agreed to be randomly assigned to get surgery, radiation or active monitoring. The patients’ cancer was confined to the prostate, a walnut-sized gland that’s part of the reproductive system. Men in the monitoring group had regular blood tests and some went on to have surgery or radiation.
Death from prostate cancer occurred in 3.1% of the active-monitoring group, 2.2% in the surgery group, and 2.9% in the radiation group, differences considered statistically insignificant.
At 15 years, cancer had spread in 9.4% of the active-monitoring group, 4.7% of the surgery group and 5% of the radiation group. The study was started in 1999, and experts said today’s monitoring practices are better, with MRI imaging and gene tests guiding decisions.
“We have more ways now to help catch that the disease is progressing before it spreads,” Loeb said. In the U.S., about 60% of low-risk patients choose monitoring, now called active surveillance.
Hamdy said the researchers had seen the difference in cancer spread at 10 years and expected it to make a difference in survival at 15 years, “but it did not.” He said spread alone doesn’t predict prostate cancer death.
“This is a new and interesting finding, useful for men when they make decisions about treatments,” he said.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content. | 2023-03-13T03:23:46+00:00 | wnct.com | https://www.wnct.com/on-your-side/health-watch/prostate-cancer-treatment-can-wait-for-most-men-study-finds/ |
WATERLOO — In the 18th and 19th centuries, superstitious folks made sure to tell the bees news of any significant event – a death, birth, marriage — by knocking once on the hive and whispering the news. It was believed that if the bees were not informed, they would abandon their hives or perish.
Today there are fewer bees to tell.
There also are fewer tallgrass prairies to sustain bees and other pollinators dependent on their biodiversity.
In “Tell the Bees | New Works by Erin Anfinson,” the artist presents a requiem for the remnants and loss of tallgrass prairies and pollinators in her collection of elegant, encaustic-infused artwork and fabrics now on display at the Waterloo Center for the Arts.
The exhibition runs through Nov. 6 in the Forsberg Riverside Galleries. A gallery talk and artist reception is planned from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15.
People are also reading…
Iowa was once an ocean of tallgrass prairies that covered 85% of the land. Settlers arrived, land was developed into farms and communities and tallgrass prairies disappeared. Efforts continue to be made by entities like the University of Northern Iowa Tallgrass Prairie Center in Cedar Falls to establish, protect and manage native vegetation and restore tallgrass prairies.
Anfinson, who grew up in Denver and graduated from the University of Northern Iowa, is a professor of art and design at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro. Her interest in science, particularly conservation, natural history and ecosystems in flux, informs her art. She was an artist-in-residence in 2017 at West Branch’s Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, home to an 81-acre restored tallgrass prairie. In 2021, she was artist-in-residence at the Tallgrass Prairie Center.
“I don’t recall ever visiting a prairie when I was growing up. When I was at the Prairie Center, I started going out to different sites, and it was recommended that I visit some of the Victorian-era township cemeteries. You can still find some of the few remaining tallgrass prairie remnants there among the elaborately carved and decaying headstones — before it all gets mowed down,” Anfinson said.
She observed descendants of the .1% surviving tallgrass plant species.
“I had such a connection to these places. I felt very sad about all of it, and the recognition that so little was left just as I was beginning to discover and appreciate it. I was discovering a time in Iowa history that I hadn’t really thought about before. I wanted to embrace that and run with it.”
The artist couldn’t ignore the irony of seeking life in a place that honors death and grief. She also became intrigued by the Victorian era.
“I started visiting historic Victorian homes in the area, such as the Rensselaer Russell House in Waterloo and the C.C. Wolf Mansion in Parkersburg, and I began to absorb the use of ornamentation, the patterns in fabric and wallpaper and symbols of mourning in Victorian times. It just felt good to express that grief in my work. It changed the nature of my residency,” she explained.
I took time to filter down how she wanted to depict the prairies. “I eventually settled on a setting, not just the removal of prairie that had already happened, but how do we continue to restore it and deal with the pesticides that are killing pollinators and getting in the groundwater. It felt compelling for me to reflect my anxiety about pollinator decline and safety.”
In “Tell the Bees,” Anfinson created her art from photos, videos and prairie plant and seed specimens, as well as ash from prairie burns conducted by the Tallgrass Prairie Center. Elaborately framed in Victorian style, “mementos” such as encaustic, paper and ash funeral wreaths hang on gallery walls, depicting clouded Sulphur, Spicebush Swallowtail, Checkered Skipper and Eastern Comma butterflies and hawk moths. Other frames contain digital prints on photo rag paper of big bluestem, common milkweed, butterfly weed, rattlesnake master, goldenrod, common ironweed and other plants.
Digitally printed sailcloth canvases echo arts-and-crafts period wallpapers using prairie plants to form patterns, including spiderwort, clover, field milkwort, golden rod and asters. They were created from scans of prairie soil and encaustic-infused paper. These fabric fields also contain subtle honeycombs that are the chemical symbols for neonicotinoid pesticides.
One of the most striking pieces in the collection is a thick switchgrass root that at 11 feet long is as tall as a single-story house. It took just about a year to grow at the Tallgrass Prairie Center, said WCA Curator Chawne Paige. Archival preserved prairie plant specimens on loan from the center are displayed on stark white biers meant to evoke “thoughts of a viewing or visitation at a funeral,” Paige explained.
“In its totality, the show came together the way I wanted. The message sinks in kind of slow. I really wanted it to be a reflective, somber, solemn experience and beautiful at the same time,” Anfinson said. | 2022-09-02T20:08:32+00:00 | wcfcourier.com | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/watch-now-tell-the-bees-exhibit-at-waterloo-center-for-the-arts-mourns-loss-of/article_5fbcace5-8c1e-5246-a95b-3cbaa2631643.html |
Retired Army general Don Bolduc is running to be vice chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Party after losing his bid for U.S. Senate.
“I was humbled by the outpouring of support during my Senate run and the encouragement of the grassroots to stay involved in the political process,” Bolduc said in a statement announcing his intent to run when the party convenes for leadership elections in January.
“The last few weeks laid bare the need to change as a party. We have to counter the misconceptions peddled by the other side while convincing voters the core beliefs of the GOP are the policies best suited for their needs and to bring back American Strength,” Bolduc said.
Bolduc, who falsely claimed that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from former President Trump, won New Hampshire’s Republican primary in September but lost by 9 points in November to the Democrat incumbent, Sen. Maggie Hassan.
Bolduc’s alignment with Trump alienated some, and he appeared to walk back some of his 2020 election fraud stances after his primary win — a move Trump criticized after the loss.
The New Hampshire GOP’s current Chairman Steve Stepanek and Vice Chairwoman Pamela Tucker, who Bolduc would replace, are both stepping down from their leadership positions, according to Politico. | 2022-12-05T19:39:45+00:00 | cbs42.com | https://www.cbs42.com/hill-politics/bolduc-running-for-nh-gop-vice-chair-after-senate-loss/ |
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A federal judge on Monday blocked Alabama from executing an inmate who says the state lost his paperwork requesting an alternative to lethal injection.
U.S. District Judge R. Austin Huffaker, Jr. issued a preliminary injunction to block the state from executing Alan Miller on Thursday by any method other than nitrogen hypoxia, an untested method Miller says he requested but Alabama is not ready to use. Miller was sentenced to die after being convicted of killing three people in a 1999 workplace shooting.
“Miller will likely suffer irreparable injury if an injunction does not issue because he will be deprived of the ability to die by the method he chose and instead will be forced to die by a method he sought to avoid and which he asserts will be painful,” Huffaker wrote. The injury will be, “the loss of his ‘final dignity’—to choose how he will die,” the judge added.
The ruling blocks Alabama from carrying out the lethal injection that had been set for Thursday. However, the state might appeal the decision. The Alabama attorney general’s office did not immediately return an email seeking comment.
Nitrogen hypoxia is a proposed execution method in which death would be caused by forcing the inmate to breathe only nitrogen, thereby depriving him or her of the oxygen needed to maintain bodily functions. Nitrogen hypoxia has been authorized by Alabama and two other states for executions but has never used by a state to try to put an inmate to death.
When Alabama approved nitrogen hypoxia as an alternative execution method in 2018, state law gave inmates a brief window to designate it as their execution method. Miller testified last week that he returned a state form selecting nitrogen on the same day it was distributed to inmates by a prison worker. He said he left it in the slot of his cell door for a prison worker to collect, but did not see who picked it up. Alabama prison officials say they have no record of Miller returning the form, and argued that Miller is just trying to delay his execution.
Huffaker wrote that he can't rule out the possibility that Miller is lying about selecting nitrogen in order to delay his looming execution, but said his testimony was credible. “It is substantially likely that Miller timely elected nitrogen hypoxia," the judge wrote.
The judge noted the possibility that Alabama might soon be able to use nitrogen. “From all that appears, the State intends to announce its readiness to conduct executions by nitrogen hypoxia in the upcoming weeks,” the judge wrote.
The Alabama Department of Corrections told the judge last week that Alabama “has completed many of the preparations necessary for conducting executions by nitrogen hypoxia” but is not ready to implement it
Miller, a delivery truck driver, was convicted in the 1999 workplace shootings that killed Lee Holdbrooks, Scott Yancy and Terry Jarvis in suburban Birmingham. Miller shot Holdbrooks and Yancy at one business and then drove to another location to shoot Jarvis, evidence showed.
A defense psychiatrist said Miller was delusional and suffered from severe mental illness but his condition wasn’t bad enough to use as a basis for an insanity defense under state law. | 2022-09-20T03:12:51+00:00 | expressnews.com | https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/Judge-blocks-upcoming-lethal-injection-in-Alabama-17453105.php |
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — The F.M. Kirby Center has announced that comedian Steve Treviño will be performing on February 9, 2023.
The performance will be part of Treviño’s “America’s Favorite Husband” tour.
Treviño rose to fame with his 2014 Netflix comedy special, Steve Treviño: Relatable.
Tickets go on sale on Friday at 10:00 a.m. at the Kirby Center Box Office,by calling 570-826-1100 to charge by phone, or online at the Kirby Center’s website. A Kirby Center member presale will begin on Wednesday at 10:00 p.m.
For more information about Treviño’s tour, visit his website. | 2022-11-14T19:46:57+00:00 | pahomepage.com | https://www.pahomepage.com/news/comedian-steve-trevino-to-perform-at-kirby-center/ |
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Kelce brothers will be back for another year.
Philadelphia Eagles veteran center and team captain Jason Kelce has officially decided to return for the 2023 NFL season, Kelce announced on Twitter. In his Twitter post, Kelce said that he talked over his decision with his wife, Kylie, before saying “I have decided to return for another year.”
Recommended Bengals stories
- Final 2023 Bengals free agency preview: Strictly Stripes Podcast
- Bengals will not tender tight end Mitchell Wilcox: Report
- Joe Mixon not named as suspect in shooting near his home: Report
Kelce will return for his 13th season, with all of those seasons being in Philadelphia. That makes him the longest tenured player on the Eagles’ active roster and one of the most experienced active players in the NFL at his respective position.
A former Super Bowl champion, Kelce came just short of winning his second ring after his Eagles fell to the Kansas City Chiefs and his younger brother and Chiefs tight end, Travis, in a 38-35 loss. Kelce reached his sixth Pro Bowl and was named a first-team All-Pro selection for the fifth time in his career in 2022.
2023 will mark the 11th season that Kelce and his youngest brother will play in the NFL together. The two are set to go against each other next season when the Eagles and Chiefs go head-to-head in Kansas City on a date to be announced. That will be their fourth time dueling against one another.
Mohammad Ahmad covers the Bengals for cleveland.com. You can follow him on Twitter @MohammadAhmadTV and read all his coverage at StrictlyStripes.com.
Ohio bettors can wager now at FanDuel in Ohio and other sportsbooks in the state, including Barstool Sportsbook, Caesars and DraftKings.
If you or a loved one has questions and needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call the Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-589-9966 or the National Council on Program Gambling Helpline (NCPG) at 1-800-522-4700 or visit 1800gambler.net for more information. 21+ and present in Ohio. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. | 2023-03-13T17:27:06+00:00 | cleveland.com | https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2023/03/eagles-center-jason-kelce-said-hes-decided-to-return-in-2023.html |
Bank of England set to raise UK interest rates to highest level since 2008
LONDON (AP) — The Bank of England is set to raise interest rates later Thursday to their highest level since late 2008 as it continues to combat stubbornly high inflation in the U.K.
Financial markets expect the bank’s nine-member Monetary Policy Committee to lift its main interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point to 4.5%, its 12th straight increase.
Other major central banks, such as the U.S. Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank, have also been raising interest rates at a consistent pace in order to get inflation rates down from multi-decade highs.
The Bank of England started raising interest rates in late 2021 from a low of 0.1% in order to keep a lid on price rises that were first largely stoked by bottlenecks resulting from the lifting of coronavirus lockdown restrictions and subsequently by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which led to energy prices surging.
Alongside its interest rate decision, the bank will be publishing its quarterly economic projections for the stagnating U.K. economy. With inflation currently running at a higher-than-expected annual rate of 10.1%, economists will be interested to see how quickly the bank expects inflation to get back toward its target of 2%. If it thinks inflation will fall rapidly over the coming months, the pressure on it to raise interest rates further will likely diminish.
“While a hike this week looks — almost — like a done deal, the outlook for further hikes thereafter remains uncertain,” said Kallum Pickering, senior economist at Berenberg Bank.
Those looking to get on the housing ladder or to take out loans will be hoping that Thursday’s anticipated increase will be the last in the current cycle.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | 2023-05-11T07:21:38+00:00 | kob.com | https://www.kob.com/news/business-money/bank-of-england-set-to-raise-uk-interest-rates-to-highest-level-since-2008/ |
(The Hill) – In an unprecedented decision, a federal judge in Texas has issued a stay that will shut down the prescribing and distribution of mifepristone in seven days, one of two drugs used for medication abortions that has been on the market in the U.S. for more than two decades.
District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, an appointee of former President Trump, gave the government a weeklong window to appeal and seek emergency relief before his ruling goes into effect.
The FDA can appeal the decision to the conservative 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, and the judge has given the federal government seven days to seek relief. The case could eventually reach the Supreme Court.
Kacsmaryk sided with the antiabortion group that brought the lawsuit and said the agency’s approval process was improperly rushed, and resulted in an unsafe drug regimen getting on the market.
The drug was first approved in 2000, a process that took more than four years. It is indicated for use in abortions up to 10 weeks into a pregnancy. Mifepristone is also used by OB-GYNs to manage early miscarriages.
But the stay means FDA’s longstanding approval has been blocked, a move that the Justice Department argued was “extraordinary and unprecedented.” In court filings ahead of the March 15 hearing, the government said the lawsuit was based on false claims of severe complications from the drug.
The lawsuit was initially filed in November by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a powerhouse conservative legal group that has helped author states’ anti-abortion laws and defended Mississippi in the case that led the Supreme Court to overturn the abortion protections granted in Roe v. Wade.
The lawsuit claims the drug is unsafe and alleges that the FDA failed to study it carefully enough. Legal experts said the argument was purely political and had no merit, but the lawsuit was strategically filed in the Northern District of Texas so that Kacsmaryk was guaranteed to hear it.
Medication abortion is the most common method for terminating a pregnancy, and ever since the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade in June, pregnant Americans have increasingly turned to abortion pills.
Many of the country’s leading medical organizations, including the American Medical Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said medication abortion is safe and effective.
Despite arguments from anti-abortion advocates, the medical groups said years of clinical evidence has shown there is a greater risk of complications or mortality for procedures like wisdom tooth removal, cancer-screening, colonoscopy, or the use of Viagra.
Medication abortion in the U.S. is a two-step process. The first step involves taking mifepristone, which is followed up 24 hours later by a dose of misoprostol, a drug first approved in the 1970s for stomach ulcers. In the absence of mifepristone, medical providers have said they would offer misoprostol only, though studies have shown it to be less effective | 2023-04-08T00:17:25+00:00 | kxnet.com | https://www.kxnet.com/news/national-news/federal-judge-blocks-abortion-pill-approval/ |
UVALDE, Texas — A fourth-grade teacher who was shot in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School was released from the hospital over the weekend.
Arnulfo Reyes has undergone several surgeries since last month's shooting.
One of the first people to greet him when he returned home was the mother of 10-year-old Eliahna Torres, one of the students killed in the shooting.
The difficult moment was the first time the two had seen each other since the shooting. That moment was captured at the two-minute mark of the video below.
Remembering the victims
Eva Mireles
Eva Mireles was one of the first victims identified in the Uvalde school shooting. She was a fourth-grade teacher.
She has been described as a loving mother and wife who lived life to the fullest.
“She was adventurous. I would definitely say those wonderful things about her. She is definitely going to be very missed,” said 44-year-old relative Amber Ybarra, of San Antonio.
In a post on the school’s website at the start of the school year, Mireles had introduced herself to her new students.
“Welcome to the 4th grade! We have a wonderful year ahead of us!” she wrote, noting she had been teaching 17 years, loved running and hiking, and had a “supportive, fun, and loving family.” She mentioned that her husband was a school district police officer, and they had a grown daughter and three “furry friends.”
Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez
Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, 10, was a third-grader at Robb Elementary.
Her family said she was in the same classroom as her cousin, who was also shot and killed.
Xavier James Lopez
The Associated Press spoke with Lisa Garza, 54, of Arlington, Texas, who identified her cousin, Xavier Javier Lopez, 10, as one of the victims.
She said Xavier had been eagerly awaiting a summer of swimming.
“He was just a loving 10-year-old little boy, just enjoying life, not knowing that this tragedy was going to happen today,” she said. “He was very bubbly, loved to dance with his brothers, his mom. This has just taken a toll on all of us.”
Layla Salazar
Vincent Salazar said his 10-year-old daughter, Layla, loved to swim and dance to Tik Tok videos. She was fast — she won six races at the school’s field day, and Salazar proudly posted a photo of Layla showing off two of her ribbons on Facebook.
Each morning as he drove her to school in his pickup, Salazar would play “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” by Guns ‘n’ Roses and they’d sing along, he said.
“She was just a whole lot of fun,” he said.
Uziyah Garcia
Manny Renfro told the Associated Press that his grandson, 8-year-old Uziyah Garcia, was among those killed.
“The sweetest little boy that I’ve ever known,” Renfro said. “I’m not just saying that because he was my grandkid.”
Renfro said Uziyah last visited him in San Angelo during spring break.
“We started throwing the football together and I was teaching him pass patterns. Such a fast little boy and he could catch a ball so good,” Renfro said. “There were certain plays that I would call that he would remember and he would do it exactly like we practiced.”
Rogelio Torres
Rogelio Torres was killed during the shooting at Robb Elementary School.
Rogelio was 10 years old.
Eliahna García
Among those left to grieve were relatives of 10-year-old Eliahna Garcia.
“She was very happy and very outgoing,” said Eliahna’s aunt, Siria Arizmendi, a fifth-grade teacher at Flores Elementary School in the same school district as Robb Elementary. “She loved to dance and play sports. She was big into family, enjoyed being with the family.”
Nevaeh Bravo
Nevaeh Alyssa Bravo also was killed and her aunt noted Naveah’s first name is Heaven spelled backward. In a Facebook posting, Yvonne White described Nevaeh and Jailah, her cousin who was also killed in the massacre, as “Our Angels.”
Eliahana Cruz Torres
Fourth-grader Eliahana Cruz Torres was looking forward to her last softball game of the season before she was killed at Robb Elementary School.
"She was very excited about her softball game today. She was kind of nervous," her aunt said. "I talked to her last night and she was kind of nervous, saying that it was her last game and she didn't want softball to end. And she was excited because there were gonna, I guess, announce the ones that made it to all-stars. And she was also saying, like, 'what if I make it? I'm gonna be so nervous.' And I was like, 'girl you got this. You're gonna be good at it. You got this.' So she was excited."
Jailah Nicole Silguero
Veronica Luevanos, whose 10-year-old daughter, Jailah Nicole Silguero, was among the victims, tearfully told Univision that her daughter did not want to go to school the day of the shooting and seemed to sense something bad was going to happen. Jailah’s cousin, Naveah, also died in the shooting.
Jose Manuel Flores Jr.
Jose's parents told CNN that the 10-year-old was helpful around the house and loved his younger siblings. “He was just very good with babies,” his mother said. His father told CNN that Jose loved baseball and video games and “was always full of energy.” A photo taken at school the day of the shooting shows him smiling and proudly holding a certificate to show he made the honor roll.
Amerie Jo Garza
Medical assistant Angel Garza also hurried to the school and immediately found a girl covered in blood among the terrified children streaming out of the building.
“I’m not hurt. He shot my best friend,” the girl told Garza when he offered help. “She’s not breathing. She was just trying to call the cops.”
Her friend was Amerie Jo Garza — Angel Garza’s stepdaughter.
Amerie was a happy child who made the honor roll and loved to paint, draw and work in clay. “She was very creative,” said her grandmother Dora Mendoza. “She was my baby. Whenever she saw flowers she would draw them.”
Maranda Mathis
The mother of a close friend described Maranda as “very loving and very talkative.” She told the Austin American-Statesman that her daughter and Miranda had been in the same classes and that Maranda would ask to have her hair done like her daughter’s.
Alithia Ramirez
Ryan Ramirez rushed to Robb Elementary when he heard about the shooting, hoping to find his daughter, Alithia, and take her home. But Alithia, too, was among the victims.
Ramirez’s Facebook page includes a photo, now shown around the world, of the little girl wearing the multi-colored T-shirt that announced she was out of “single digits” after turning 10 years old. The same photo was posted again Wednesday with no words, but with Alithia wearing angel wings.
Irma Garcia
Irma Garcia was also killed in the shooting. She taught at the school for 23 years.
According to reports, she died while shielding her students from the shooter.
Jackie Cazares
Javier Cazares said his 9-year-old daughter Jacklyn Cazares was killed in her classroom. She was with a group of five girls, including her second cousin, Annabelle Rodriguez, who formed a tight group of friends.
“They are all gone now,” Cazares said.
The extended families of the slain cousins gathered to mourn and comfort each other over barbecue.
Cazares described his daughter as a “firecracker” who “had a voice, she didn’t like bullies, she didn’t like kids being picked on.”
“All in all, full of love. She had a big heart,” he said.
Jayce Carmelo Luevanos
Carmelo Quiroz's grandson, Jayce Luevanos, 10, had begged to go along with his grandmother on the day of the shooting as she accompanied her great-granddaughter’s kindergarten class to the San Antonio Zoo. But, he said, the family told Jayce it didn’t make sense to skip school so close to the end of the year. Besides, Jayce liked school.
“That’s why my wife is hurting so much, because he wanted to go to San Antonio,” Quiroz told USA Today. “He was so sad he couldn’t go. Maybe if he would have gone, he’d be here.”
Makenna Lee Elrod
Makenna's aunt started a GoFundMe page to help the family.
"Words cannot express the pain my sister and our family is going through. I know in the coming weeks my sister is going to be overcome with so much and any support is appreciated. Please pray for our family and remember Makenna. She was beautiful, funny, smart, and amazing. She had the biggest heart and loved her family and friends so much. Her smile would light up a room."
Tess Marie Mata
Faith Mata told The Washington Post that her sister loved TikTok dance videos, Ariana Grande, the Houston Astros, and having her hair curled.
Alexandria Aniyah Rubio
Uvalde County Sheriff’s Deputy Felix Rubio and his wife had been at the school the morning of the shooting to celebrate with their daughter, 10-year-old Alexandria “Lexi” Aniyah, since the fourth-grader had made honor roll with all A's and received a good citizen award.
In a Facebook post, Kimberly Rubio wrote, “We told her we loved her and would pick her up after school. We had no idea this was goodbye.”
Maite Rodriguez
After a rough time with Zoom classes during the pandemic, Maite Rodriguez made the honor roll for straight As and Bs this year and was recognized at an assembly on the day of the shooting, said her mother, Ana Rodriguez. Maite especially liked physical education, and after she died, her teacher texted Ana Rodriguez to say she was highly competitive at kickball and ran faster than all the boys. Her mother described Maite as “focused, competitive, smart, bright, beautiful, happy.” Maite wanted to be a marine biologist and after researching a program at Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi she told her mother she wanted to study there.
Maite's family member created a GoFundMe page, saying:
"It is with a heavy heart I come on here on behalf of my cousin Ana who lost her sweet baby girl in yesterday's senseless shooting we are deeply saddened by the loss of this sweet smart little girl. Donations for funeral expenses as well for time away from work to allow her to grieve her loss anything helps God bless and may she R.I.P Maite Rodriguez we love you." | 2022-06-29T16:25:14+00:00 | wtsp.com | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/special-reports/uvalde-school-shooting/uvalde-school-shooting-fourth-grade-teacher-released-from-hospital/285-cad1dd4a-f939-4af2-b593-4bc541718e31 |
Dying to Ask Podcast: Get in shape with the creator of Fit Girl Hacks
Advertisement
Dying to Ask Podcast: Get in shape with the creator of Fit Girl Hacks
Can you hack your way to better health? The creator of "Fit Girl Hacks" says absolutely. Monique Christian is the trainer behind the social media community "Fit Girl Hacks." She has worked in the fitness industry for more than 20 years. Her big conclusion after training hundreds of people? Working out and eating well don't have to be so complicated. She's sharing her shortcuts to better health in weekly hacks including: Don't think too long or you'll talk yourself out of a workoutStart the day with a win and see how the rest of the day goesGo to farmer's markets and learn the growers' names since they are generous with their friends Simple but effective. Listen to this episode on a workout and I'll bet you'll burn a few extra calories! On this Dying to Ask: Christian rapid-fire breaks down more than two dozen fit girl hacksHow friends can help or hinder your fitness goalsWhy your brain is your biggest workout enemyA summer grilling hack that will change how you look at meal preppingAnd Monique shares what it's like to embrace life as a fitness influencer at 5Other places to listenCLICK HERE to listen on iTunesCLICK HERE to listen on Stitcher
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Can you hack your way to better health? The creator of "Fit Girl Hacks" says absolutely.
Monique Christian is the trainer behind the social media community "Fit Girl Hacks." She has worked in the fitness industry for more than 20 years. Her big conclusion after training hundreds of people? Working out and eating well don't have to be so complicated.
Advertisement
She's sharing her shortcuts to better health in weekly hacks including:
- Don't think too long or you'll talk yourself out of a workout
- Start the day with a win and see how the rest of the day goes
- Go to farmer's markets and learn the growers' names since they are generous with their friends
Simple but effective.
Listen to this episode on a workout and I'll bet you'll burn a few extra calories!
On this Dying to Ask:
- Christian rapid-fire breaks down more than two dozen fit girl hacks
- How friends can help or hinder your fitness goals
- Why your brain is your biggest workout enemy
- A summer grilling hack that will change how you look at meal prepping
- And Monique shares what it's like to embrace life as a fitness influencer at 5
Other places to listen
CLICK HERE to listen on iTunes
CLICK HERE to listen on Stitcher | 2022-06-02T17:40:14+00:00 | kcra.com | https://www.kcra.com/article/dying-to-ask-podcast-get-in-shape-with-the-creator-of-fit-girl-hacks/40166354 |
GENEVA (AP) — UEFA-appointed investigators have held European soccer’s ruling body mostly responsible for chaotic security failures at the 2022 Champions League final in Paris that put the lives of Liverpool and Real Madrid fans at risk.
“It is remarkable that no one lost their life,” the investigation panel wrote in a 220-page document published Monday into a near “mass fatality catastrophe” at the biggest club game in world soccer.
“The panel has concluded that UEFA, as event owner, bears primary responsibility for failures which almost led to disaster,” the report said.
A failed security operation saw tens of thousands of fans held in increasingly crushed queues for hours before the May 28 game at the 75,000-capacity Stade de France, which is a key venue for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Many fans were fired on with tear gas by police before the game, which was delayed by nearly 40 minutes. After Madrid’s 1-0 win, dozens were robbed leaving the stadium by local residents in the impoverished Saint-Denis neighborhood.
UEFA statements during the chaos and after the game blamed Liverpool fans for arriving at the stadium late and using fake tickets to try to gain entry — wrongly blamed on both counts, the report said.
An apology to Liverpool supporters for “the experiences of many of them” and the unjust blaming was made Monday by UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis.
The panel, appointed seven months ago by UEFA, aimed blame Monday at leadership of both the soccer body and its commercial subsidiary UEFA Events, and French public authorities.
“UEFA’s lack of oversight upon delegation of private safety and security matters, deference of all such matters in the public space to policing authorities, and simply not following its own safety, security and service requirements, was a recipe for the failures which occurred,” the report said.
“Senior officials at the top of UEFA allowed this to happen, even though the shortcomings of its model were widely known at senior management level.”
The long-time CEO of UEFA Events, Martin Kallen, is named often in the report, including as a representative at security planning meetings, and is broadly criticized by the panel.
UEFA’s Head of Safety & Security Operations, Zeljko Pavlica, who was at the game, is not identified by name in the 220 pages.
“On the evidence, the panel has concluded that the senior management of UEFA Events marginalized the UEFA S&S Unit,” the report said.
French police were blamed in the report for wrongly assuming that Liverpool fans posed a threat to public order, and for using “weaponry” like tear gas and pepper spray.
The head of the Paris police operation at the game, Didier Lallement, retired about six weeks later.
The report team was chaired by a former sports minister of Portugal, Tiago Brandão Rodrigues, and included match security experts who formerly worked for UEFA and fan groups.
They criticized French public officials for an ongoing “misconception about what actually happened and a complacency regarding what needs to change.”
“This is particularly acute given the proximity of the (2023) Rugby World Cup and Olympic and Paralympic Games and the importance of the Stade de France to both events,” the report said.
The Champions League final was moved to Paris at three months’ notice after UEFA stripped Russia of hosting the game in St. Petersburg because of the military invasion of Ukraine.
The report also said “several key stakeholders have not accepted responsibility for their own failures but have been quick to attribute blame to others.”
“Institutional defensiveness, putting reputation and self-interest above truth and responsibility, prevents progressive change,” the report said. “A healthy organization welcomes scrutiny and criticism based on evidence, an unhealthy one hides behind prejudice and baseless assertions, and contributes to a carousel of blame, where it is everyone else’s fault.”
A law firm representing more than 600 Liverpool supporters said those affected were due compensation.
“Liverpool fans have waited eight months for answers as to how and why the horrific events they experienced on 28 May 2022 unfolded,” Clare Campbell and Jill Paterson, partners at Leigh Day, said.
“While we have not seen a full copy of the report, early indications suggest that its conclusion echoes what Leigh Day have said all along, fans were seriously let down by UEFA.
“At this stage, we still strongly believe that UEFA need to compensate Liverpool fans for their experience on the day and the losses, suffering and injuries they have experienced and continue to deal with.
The investigation panel said they agreed with the view that “collective actions of (Liverpool) supporters was probably instrumental in protecting vulnerable people and averting what might well have been more serious injuries and deaths.”
UEFA pledged Monday to “announce separately a special refund scheme for fans.”
The next Champions League final is hosted in Istanbul, Turkey, on June 10.
___
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2023-02-14T14:18:14+00:00 | ourquadcities.com | https://www.ourquadcities.com/news/international/ap-uefa-blamed-for-near-disaster-at-champions-league-final/ |
BEIJING, May 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from chinadaily.com.cn:
Digital governance is a trend, not a choice, in solving common problems of urban development such as aging populations, and of improving efficiency to benefit people in these changing times, experts said at a recent forum.
Many countries have introduced digital tools like big data and artificial intelligence in the creation of smart cities, and significant achievements have been made in fields such as agriculture, education and industry.
At a smart farm in Palmerston North, New Zealand, AI is used to monitor cows and enables them to roam freely with little human interference.
"There will also be an area with digital monitoring to allow the cow to get its back scratched when it needs, and the milking process has been automated so that cows can be milked when they feel the need to be milked. Minimum human labor is needed," Gabrielle Loga, international relations manager for Palmerston North, told China Daily at the Smart City Forum for International Friendship Cities in Guiyang, Guizhou province, on Friday.
"The application of AI is not only great for production itself but also has boosted tourism, and is particularly popular with children for educational purposes," she said, adding that the city will hopefully collaborate with Guiyang on smart farming soon.
Palmerston North consults residents on public issues, which Loga says generates "thick documents or submissions with lots of words" that traditionally are quite labor-intensive and time-consuming to read through.
"However, since we have been experimenting with large language models, AI has been able to help us go through submissions much faster, so we will be able to encourage more submissions in the future and better understand what our residents want," she said.
The city council has also adopted intelligent environmental monitoring and intelligent monitoring for endangered species, and places importance on green buildings and sustainable construction. As a sister city of Guiyang for the last 31 years, Palmerston North hopes to continue cooperation on agricultural technology, smart learning and digitalization, but is also looking to expand cooperation in other areas such as commerce and ecotourism, according to Loga.
Busan in South Korea, the first smart city approved by the country in 2018, has introduced innovative services like real-time water quality management, smart parking, intelligent medicine and carbon-free applications in its 28,000-square-kilometer Eco City area.
In January last year, 65 families moved into the Eco City to test out the services, and local authorities are smoothing out the problems before the system is expanded to other areas, according to Kim Myogeum, chief representative of the Shanghai office of Busan.
"Busan became a super-aging society in 2022, and there are many old residents who live by themselves. We observe their behavior and condition so help and care can be offered in time," she said, adding that technology is being used to create a healthier and cleaner environment so that residents can live better lives.
Busan ranks first in terms of smart city construction in South Korea, according to Kim.
In Tripolis, Greece, devices have been installed in all public areas to monitor the use of energy.
Through intelligent calculation, resources needed to grow a crop can be determined precisely to avoid excessive use, and with flooding a frequent hazard, the city has developed an alert system to warn inhabitants of danger, Konstantinos Tzoumis, mayor of Tripolis, told the forum at the China International Big Data Industry Expo 2023, which concluded on Sunday.
This year is the first time the expo has resumed in-person events since COVID-19. It's also the first time a special booth has been set up to showcase the achievements of 13 cities in eight countries — Greece, Italy, South Korea, New Zealand, Spain, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, secretary-general of United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific Section, said that sharing the experiences of digital governance is important because cities and local governments have a wealth of information on improving productivity and helping people live more comfortably.
"From this forum, we'll learn how cities have been using smart city technology in fields like agriculture, health and education. This inspires other local governments to do better as well," she said.
The organization, which connects 140,000 cities in 140 countries and regions, plans to create a committee for digital governance to help more governments and cities embrace digitalization and sustainable development, she added.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE chinadaily.com.cn | 2023-05-29T14:41:21+00:00 | kwtx.com | https://www.kwtx.com/prnewswire/2023/05/29/smart-cities-share-stories-digital-governance/ |
“There’s been some reflection going on — it’s been thirty years since Dad and I opened the doors,” says Avery Brewing founder Adam Avery. According to him, there was no better way to celebrate than by gathering some of the brewery’s best friends to throw a party. The celebration, an invitational beer fest, will take place at the brewery (4910 Nautilus Court North in Boulder) from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 29.
During the event, the brewery will also release a special beer called 30. "The concept was [using] an amalgamation of different ingredients that have been important to us throughout the course of thirty years of doing business,” Avery says.
The beer uses malts like Special B, which play an important role in Avery’s legendary high-alcohol, gold foil-topped beers, as well as hops like Simcoe, which is used in Maharaja, and Columbus, which is used in Hog Heaven. The strong ale was aged in Stranahan’s whiskey barrels and saw a light dry hop. “The idea was to have equal parts of all these components,” says Avery. “You’ll smell and taste the malts, hops and barrel. There will be a noticeable heat component.”
30 will clock in somewhere around 15 percent ABV, around the typical range that Avery’s stronger beers usually land in.
Additionally, the festival will include some special vintage beers from Avery's cellar, like Rumpkin, Tweak and Uncle Jacob’s, along with beers from over sixty breweries that were chosen by the staff. Continuing with that theme, staff members' ideas were used to create three event-only beers for the fest: a schwarzbier, a rice lager and a cherry-coconut IPA. Live music and food trucks will be on hand, as well.
Avery says he stole the idea for the invitational “fair and square” from Firestone Walker, which throws its own Invitational every year and will be in attendance at this one. “Rachael [Burrell] coordinates our events, and I think she throws the best beer festival in the country,” says Avery.
The following is a list of beers that some of the participants will be bringing to the festival, with descriptions written by the breweries. (The list is subject to change.)
Amalgam Brewing
Denver
Vanilla Boysenberry Reduction Boysenberry
2021 Boysenbarrel refermented on an additional 350 pounds of Oregon-grown boysenberries from the Willamette Valley before being freeze-distilled and finished on Madagascar vanilla beans. Packaged and served still. 8.8 percent ABV.
Freeform: Central Coast Syrah (Batch 2)
Carbonically macerated whole cluster Syrah grapes sourced from Paso Robles, allowed to ferment naturally with their native yeasts for fourteen days. The grapes were then pressed and directly blended into 18-month golden sour beer in the barrel. This beer aged an additional year in the barrel and on the lees, developing depth and texture in the finished beer. Naturally carbonated without filtration. 8 percent ABV.
Underground Breakfast (2023)
Imperial Stout aged in Weller Antique 107 Bourbon Barrels with Madagascar vanilla beans, Sweet Bloom Mexican coffee beans and Vermont maple syrup added. 14.2 percent ABV.
Ca’ del Brado
Bordeaux, Italy
Cuvee Kiwi
Golden sour beer with local Hayward kiwi added. 100 percent fermented by Brettanomyces Bruxellensis and aged in oak barrels with a mix of bacteria from our cellar. 7.8 percent ABV.
Invernomuto Farmhouse
Wild Farmhouse Ale: blend between barrel aged brett ale Piè Veloce Brux and vieille saison Nessun Dorma (aged from five to eight months in wine barrels). 6.3 percent ABV.
Cellar West Artisan Ales
Lafayette
Quilz
A cream ale fermented with Kolsch yeast. 4.8 percent ABV.
Barrel Select ‘23
Barrel aged wild saison dry hopped with Citra and Nectar. 7 percent ABV.
Cerebral Brewing
Denver
Double Barrel Here be Monsters BlLiS
Imperial Stout aged fourteen months in nine year EH Taylor barrels, then eleven months in Blis Maple Bourbon Barrels 15.2 percent ABV.
Neon Lite
This American Corn Lager is our ode to Colfax. It's exactly what we want to drink at our local dive bar, concert venue, or park hang.
Old Fitzgerald Here be Monsters
After spending the last thirty months slumbering inside a fourteen-year Old Fitzgerald barrel, this monster emerges balanced while retaining all the character of the barrel. 14.7 percent ABV.
Japas Cervejaria
Sao Paul, Brazil
Nama Birru
Crisp, dry, delicate and extremely refreshing. A delicious combination of Sorachi Ace and Lemondrop hops. 4.9 percent ABV.
Sawa Yuzu
With the characteristic acidity of the style, light and refreshing, Sawā is the translation for "sour" in Japanese. The perfect base for a beer that, in this version, has yuzu, a Japanese citric fruit with a pronounced acidity and extremely aromatic, reminiscent of a mixture of Sicilian lemon, tangerine and grapefruit. This sour also takes Citra and Cascade hops in dry hopping, further enhancing the citric characteristics of this rare fruit. 4.7 percent ABV.
Jester King Brewery
Austin, Texas
Biere de Merlot
Originally released in 2014, Bière de Merlot is a blend of barrel-aged wild ale re-fermented with Texas-grown Merlot grapes from Sulphur Bluff, Texas. The quality of the Merlot grapes we received this year was absolutely outstanding. We basically just got out of their way and let them express themselves through the beauty of natural/wild fermentation.
PSych Metal
A blend of young farmhouse ale with some Munich malt in the grist with Jester King SPON (a biere de coupage). From there, we added Cordyceps mushrooms from Smallhold farm, wormwood, lemongrass and butterfly pea flower.
Acerose Efflorescence
This is a collaboration with our longtime friends at Novare Res Bier Café in Portland, Maine. Acerose Efflorescence is a bière de coupage (young beer cut or blended with mature spontaneous beer) of fresh Belgian-style Blond Ale and mature Jester King SPON. The Belgian-style blond ale was brewed with water, malted barley and wheat, and Adreena hops from Roy Farms in Washington. After primary fermentation, it was blended with mature SPON beer from our barrel room. The blend was naturally conditioned through re-fermentation in the keg/bottle and allowed to develop harmony/complexity over three months prior to release.
Our Mutual Friend Brewing
Denver
Fixed Blade
Barleywine aged in Laws Rye Bourbon Whiskey Barrels. 14.1 percent ABV.
Wave Motion
Rotating experimental IPA series.
WeldWerks Brewing
Greeley
Giddy Up
Hard iced tea with lemon.
Strawberry Cheesecake
Sour ale with strawberry purée, cream cheese, milk, sugar and graham cracker. 4.5 percent ABV.
Vacay Everyday
Hazy double IPA.
Additionally, WeldWerks will have some mystery releases, so keep a close eye out at the festival!
Westbound and Down Brewing
Idaho Springs, Lafayette and Denver
Westbound Italian Pils
A bright, floral hop aroma meets crisp crushable Pils from the use of Hallertau Blanc, Saphir and Saaz with Italian-grown pilsner malt. Bright lemon, floral. 4.9 percent ABV.
Grand Theft Alpha
We teamed up with our friends from Joyride Brewing Company and Cannonball Creek Brewing Company for this three-way West Coast IPA collaboration featuring HBC 586 and our hand-selected Mosaic Cryo, Simcoe and Strata hops. 6.4 percent ABV.
Louie (2023)
A blend of six, fourteen-month-old Heaven Hill, Buffalo Trace and Mellow Corn barrels. Conveniently packaged in 8 ounce cans for solo excursions or those nights you probably shouldn't open a big, barrel-aged beer, but do it anyway. Aromas of chocolate, toffee and crème brûlée give way to flavors of milk duds, orange marmalade and vanilla, all wrapped up with a warming bourbon finish. 13.9 percent ABV. | 2023-07-21T04:22:19+00:00 | westword.com | https://www.westword.com/restaurants/boulders-avery-brewing-celebrates-its-30th-anniversary-with-an-invitational-beer-fest-17360413 |
Charity Nebbe and Ray Young Bear talk poetry, legacy and being Meskwaki today, in this bonus episode of the Talk of Iowa Book Club. The conversation originally took place in 2019.
Young Bear performs a song in Meskwaki and a poem in English for listeners.
Guests:
- Ray Young Bear, poet and author | 2022-05-07T11:47:28+00:00 | iowapublicradio.org | https://www.iowapublicradio.org/podcast/talk-of-iowa-book-club/2021-10-12/ray-young-bear-talks-about-being-meskwaki-today |
Elon Musk officially owns Twitter after closing the deal by a court-imposed Friday deadline, according to multiple outlets, ending a six-month journey over his controversial $44 billion acquisition.
CNBC first reported Thursday evening that Musk had taken control of Twitter and the company’s CEO Parag Agrawal and chief financial officer Ned Segal had left and would not be returning. Multiple outlets reported that Agrawal and Segal, along with other Twitter executives, were fired.
Musk’s agreement to buy Twitter faced several turns. The billionaire Tesla and SpaceX CEO sought to back out of the deal in July, but earlier this month he agreed to follow through on the initial April agreement as he faced a lawsuit from Twitter.
A judge halted the trial earlier this month on the condition that he close the deal by Friday.
Musk hasn’t disclosed his plans for Twitter in much detail, but he indicated he wants to pull back some content moderation measures in a way critics warn could lead to more hate speech and disinformation on the platform.
It’s not clear if any changes to Twitter will be immediate enough to impact the approaching November midterm elections, but updates to Twitter’s policies could come ahead of the 2024 election.
One of the most high-profile changes Musk has indicated he would take is allowing former President Trump back on the platform.
Trump was permanently banned from Twitter after posts he made about the Jan. 6 riot at the Capital last year were deemed to incite violence. Musk has said he disagrees with that decision, and could give Trump access to his account, which lets him reach a wider audience ahead of a potential 2024 run.
Trump has said he would not return to Twitter, preferring to stay on his own Truth Social, but observers have cast doubt on the idea that he could turn down such a large audience.
Despite Musk’s calls for a “free speech” platform, indicating a laxer approach to moderating content, he told investors in a public message Thursday that Twitter “obviously cannot become a free-for-all hellscape, where anything can be said with no consequences.” | 2022-10-28T02:04:27+00:00 | localsyr.com | https://www.localsyr.com/hill-politics/musk-officially-closes-twitter-deal-reports/ |
Clean energy incentives in the new spending package signed this week by President Joe Biden will trim America’s emissions of heat-trapping gases by about 1.1 billion tons (1 billion metric tons) by 2030, a new Department of Energy analysis shows.
The first official federal calculations, shared with The Associated Press before its release Thursday, say that between the bill just signed and last year’s infrastructure spending law, the U.S. by the end of the decade will be producing about 1.26 billion tons (1.15 billion metric tons) less carbon pollution than it would have without the laws. That saving is equivalent to about the annual greenhouse gas emissions of every home in the United States.
The Energy Department analysis finds that with the new law by 2030, U.S. greenhouse gas emissions should be about 40% lower than 2005 levels, which is still not at the U.S. announced target of cutting carbon pollution between 50% and 52% by the end of the decade. But that 40% reduction is similar to earlier calculations by the independent research firm Rhodium Group, which figured cuts would be 31% to 44% and the scientists at Climate Action Tracker, which said the drop would be 26% to 42%.
Most of the projected emissions reductions in the nearly $375 billion spending package would come in promoting “clean energy,” mostly solar and wind power and electric vehicles, the federal analysis said. More than half of the overall projected emission drops would come in how the nation generates electricity, the analysis said. About 10% of the savings in emissions come from agriculture and land conservation.
The new law’s provisions that call for oil and gas leasing on federal land and water “may lead to some increase” in carbon pollution, the federal analysis said, but the other provisions to spur cleaner energy cut 35 tons of greenhouse gas for every new ton of pollution from the increased oil and gas drilling.
Outside experts, such as Bill Hare of Climate Action Tracker, say the new law is a big step for the United States, but it’s still not enough considering that America is the biggest historic carbon polluter, had done little for decades and lags behind Europe.
“At this point anything going in that direction you count as a win, right? I mean after so long a time of total inaction and knowing how difficult politically it is to get the country moving in a direction like this due to politics and economics and all the other things involved with this issue,” National Center for Atmospheric Research climate scientist Gerald Meehl, who wasn’t part of the analysis, said about what the new law will do. “You can argue that’s not nearly enough, but I think once you start seeing motion, you hope that then we can build on that and kind of keep the ball rolling.”
___
Follow AP’s climate and environment coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment
___
Follow Seth Borenstein on Twitter at @borenbears
___
Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about AP’s climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. | 2022-08-18T15:21:41+00:00 | seattletimes.com | https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/science/federal-study-new-climate-law-to-slice-carbon-pollution-40/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_seattle-news |
WASHINGTON (AP) — ABC’s “This Week” — National Security Council spokesman John Kirby; Mike Mullen, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
__
NBC’s “Meet the Press” — Reps. Don Bacon, R-Neb., and Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich.
__
CBS’ “Face the Nation" — The nominees for Arizona governor, Republican Kari Lake and Democrat Katie Hobbs; Mohamed El-Erian, chief economic adviser at Allianz.
___
CNN’s “State of the Union” — Bill Richardson, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations; Gov. Glenn Youngkin, R-Va.; Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn
___
“Fox News Sunday” — Stacey Abrams, Democratic nominee for governor in Georgia; former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. | 2022-10-07T22:54:44+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/entertainment/article/Guest-lineups-for-the-Sunday-news-shows-17494849.php |
The SLO Blues snapped their four-game losing streak with a win on Sunday over the Arroyo Seco Saints.
The Blues opened the scoring with four runs in the 2nd inning.
The Saints would respond with a run on a wild pitch in the top of the 4th inning.
The Blues would score three runs in the bottom of the frame.
SLO would tack on two more runs to help run away with the victory on fireworks night at the ballpark. | 2022-07-04T06:07:24+00:00 | ksby.com | https://www.ksby.com/sports/blues-snap-four-game-losing-streak-with-win-sunday |
Powell: Fed could keep lifting rates sharply ‘for some time’
JACKSON HOLE, Wyoming (AP) — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell delivered a stark message Friday: The Fed will likely impose more large interest rate hikes in coming months and is resolutely focused on taming the highest inflation in four decades.
Powell acknowledged that the Fed’s continued tightening of credit will cause pain for many households and businesses as its higher rates further slow the economy and potentially lead to job losses.
“These are the unfortunate costs of reducing inflation,” Powell said in the written version of a high-profile speech he is giving at the Fed’s annual economic symposium in Jackson Hole. “But a failure to restore price stability would mean far greater pain.”
Powell’s message may disappoint investors who were hoping for a signal that the Fed might soon moderate its rate increases later this year if inflation were to show further signs of easing.
After hiking its key short term rate by three-quarters of a point at each of its past two meetings — part of the Fed’s fastest pace of rate increases since the early 1980s — Powell said the Fed might ease up on that pace “at some point” — suggesting that any such slowing isn’t near.
The Fed chair made clear that he expects rates to remain at levels that should slow the economy “for some time.”
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.
JACKSON HOLE, Wyoming (AP) — When Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell delivers what will be his most closely scrutinized speech of the year Friday, investors and economists will be turning over his remarks for any clues about how fast the Fed may continue to raise its key interest rate — and for how long.
With inflation hovering near a four-decade high — almost 9% — Powell will likely stress that the Fed is determined to bring it down to its 2% target, no matter what it takes. The Fed’s rate hikes may well defeat inflation in time. But there are fears that they may cause a recession in the process.
Powell’s remarks will kick off the Fed’s annual economic symposium at Jackson Hole, the first time the conference of central bankers will be held in person since 2019, after it went virtual for two years during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since March, the Fed has implemented its fastest pace of rate increases in decades to combat inflation, which has punished households with soaring costs for food, gas, rent and other necessities. The central bank has lifted its benchmark rate by 2 full percentage points in just four meetings, to a range of 2.25% to 2.5%.
Those hikes have led to higher costs for mortgages, car loans and other consumer and business borrowing. Home sales have been plunging since the Fed first signaled it would raise borrowing costs.
Yet the central bank finds itself at a turning point. At a news conference after its last policy meeting in late July, Powell suggested that the Fed might decide to slow its rate hikes after having imposed two straight three-quarter-point increases — historically large moves — in June and July.
He also said the Fed’s aggressive steps had raised its key short-term rate to a point at which it is neither stimulating nor slowing growth. Its benchmark rate had been held near zero from early in the pandemic until this March as the Fed sought to strengthen the economy.
Fed-watchers hope Powell will send some signal Friday of how large a rate hike the central bank will announce at its next meeting in late September or how long policymakers will keep rates elevated. They also hope to learn more about what factors the policymakers will consider in the coming months to decide when borrowing rates have gone high enough.
“He’s got to kind of take on the uncertainty about the outlook and try to explain what will they be looking for to make their policy decisions,” said William English, a professor at the Yale School of Management and former senior economist at the Fed.
How far, for instance, must inflation decline before Powell and his colleagues would suspend their rate hikes? What would the Fed do if unemployment, now at a half-century low, began rising? If the economy were to tip into recession, many investors think the Fed might pivot and actually cut rates again. But if inflation isn’t yet under control, that would be unlikely.
In June, the Fed’s policymakers signaled that they expected their key rate to end 2022 in a range of 3.25% to 3.5% and then to rise further next year to between 3.75% and 4%. If rates reached their projected level at the end of this year, they would be at the highest point since 2008. Powell is betting that he can engineer a high-risk outcome: Slow the economy enough to ease inflation pressures yet not so much as to trigger a recession.
His task has been complicated by the economy’s cloudy picture: On Thursday, the government said the economy shrank at a 0.6% annual rate in the April-June period, the second straight quarter of contraction. Yet employers are still hiring rapidly, and the number of people seeking unemployment aid, a measure of layoffs, remains relatively low.
At the same time, inflation is still crushingly high, though it has shown some signs of easing, notably in the form of declining gas prices.
“The data are pretty confusing,” English said. “It’s just hard to know what the exact situation is.”
At its meeting in July, Fed policymakers expressed two competing concerns that highlighted their delicate task.
According to minutes from that meeting, the officials — who aren’t identified by name — have prioritized their inflation fight. Still, some officials said there was a risk that the Fed would raise borrowing costs more than necessary, risking a recession. If inflation were to fall closer to the Fed’s 2% target and the economy weakened further, those diverging views could become hard to reconcile.
After last month’s Fed meeting, Powell told reporters that the size of the next rate hike “would depend on the data we get between now and then.”
He also said that as rates rise, “it likely will become appropriate to slow the pace of increases” and assess how the Fed’s actions have affected the economy. Those remarks helped ignite a stock-market rally because many investors interpreted them to mean the Fed would be less aggressive in the coming months.
Since then, though, many Fed officials have pushed back against any notion that they’re close to easing up on their inflation fight.
Tom Barkin, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, told CNBC this month, “I’d like to see a period of sustained inflation under control, and until we do I think we’re just going to have to continue to move rates higher.”
On Friday, Powell may also address how the pandemic caused a range of supply problems for the economy and what it could mean for Fed policy. COVID-19 shutdowns led to shortages of semiconductors and other components as well as workers. Many of those supply shortages persist. And Russia’s invasion of Ukraine cut off supplies of oil and agricultural commodities that raised global costs of gas and food.
Such “supply shocks” pose a particular challenge to the Fed because its policy tools involve raising or lowering rates to spur or slow demand. Traditionally, the Fed ignores the impact of supply shocks on inflation under the assumption that they will prove temporary.
In fact, at last year’s Jackson Hole symposium, Powell listed five reasons why he thought inflation would be “transitory.” Yet instead it has persisted.
As a result, some economists think Powell may play it safer this time and spend much of his speech reviewing the economic outlook.
“This isn’t the time to roll out a big framework,” said Vincent Reinhart, chief economist at Dreyfus and Mellon and a former Fed staffer. “They’re trying to figure out how to keep on tightening and doing something that the Federal Reserve hadn’t to do in 40 years.”
Powell should “repeat the facts, get the heck out of there,” Reinhart said.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2022-08-26T14:50:06+00:00 | kwtx.com | https://www.kwtx.com/2022/08/26/powell-fed-could-keep-lifting-rates-sharply-some-time/ |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — David Crosby, brash rock musician and co-founder of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, dies at 81, reports say.
AP
David Crosby, brash rock musician and co-founder of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, dies at 81, reports say
- AP
- 0
Recommended for you
Post a comment as anonymous
Report
Watch this discussion. Stop watching this discussion.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.
Games, Puzzles and Horoscopes
Public Information Databases
Most Read
Articles
- 2 men commit apparent suicides in public within hours of each other
- Bryson Cole Green
- Joseph Franklin
- Jeffrey Speegle
- Investors detail plans for The Palace, bookstore
- Carl Thomas 'Tommy' Coats
- Name of Tuscumbia fatality victim released
- Madeline Boyett
- UNA Wi-Fi denies TikTok access
- UNA alum wants to motivate others
Images
Videos
Commented
- Florence man facing another theft charge (1)
- Answer needed for cultural isolation (1)
- Hard-right members stage GOP rebellion (1)
- Florence may leave broadband district (1)
- Central man ponders reviving Christmas tradition (1)
- Man charged for letting shot dog decompose at farm (1)
- TVA: Freezing temps led to unprecedented power demand (1)
- Florence traffic stop leads to drug trafficking arrest (1) | 2023-01-20T02:04:41+00:00 | timesdaily.com | https://www.timesdaily.com/news/nation/david-crosby-brash-rock-musician-and-co-founder-of-crosby-stills-nash-young-dies-at/article_ef4e06d7-f7f5-52df-bb3b-b08e3637839f.html |
From gun laws to climate change: How liability drives policy discussions on controversial issues
Chip Somodevilla // Getty Images
From gun laws to climate change: How liability drives policy discussions on controversial issues
A joint session of Congress meeting to count the Electoral College vote from the 2008 presidential election.
Anyone who has filed an insurance claim is familiar with accepted standards of liability in certain situations: When a car is rear-ended, who was in the driver’s seat? When a house has fire damage, who left the stovetop on?
While matters of individual liability can be more straightforward, larger-scale societal issues are often inextricable from equally big questions of liability. Corporate lobbying, financial interests, and differing political investments clash when controversial issues are added to the mix, particularly around discussions of accountability and structural change. In many ways, everything from gun control laws to halting the threat of climate change comes down to who is deemed liable and how that liability is enforced.
Recent events have forced politicians and insurance companies to reevaluate what are often old rulings and legislation around liability across a variety of issues. Many have had to face the intricacies of answering who takes the blame head-on.
The influx of mass shootings over the past decade has created cracks in previous gun liability precedents, as trials for the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and Santa Fe High School shootings set new models for legal and financial accountability. The Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision has shifted policies around reproductive rights liability, as who is considered a criminal for obtaining or providing an abortion—if anyone—remains in flux in many places. And the effects of climate change are now so wide-reaching and universally felt that policymakers around the world are faced with defining responsibility and introducing some level of mitigation.
To shed light on how conflicting corporate, institutional, and public good interests are brought to bear on some of the biggest issues of our time, Estey & Bomberger, LLP investigated how liability drives policy discussion on these issues using a variety of news and academic sources.
Canva
Gun control
Two guns and their bullets.
Liability is at the heart of the debate around gun control policy and has been a divisive flashpoint for both proponents and naysayers of gun control measures for decades. In 2005, Congress passed the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which granted firearm manufacturers and dealers immunity from being held liable for gun-related crimes. This ultimately means that survivors of shootings or families of victims cannot bring civil suits against makers or retailers of guns, allowing these entities to operate nearly unchecked.
Years later, this law continues to dictate the scope of legal accountability around mass shootings and other gun violence, even as mass shootings become increasingly frequent and deadly. In 2020, the most recent year that comprehensive data is available, over 45,000 people died in gun-related incidents, the highest number of gun deaths ever recorded in the U.S. and a 43% increase from 2010. That same year also established a record for the number of mass shootings, which exceeded 600 for the first time ever (and has since been eclipsed in 2022).
There are, however, indications that the sweeping, absolute immunity from liability the PLCAA once promised gun retailers is beginning to waver. In February 2022, a decade after a mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School left 20 first graders and six adults dead, the families of several of the victims settled a lawsuit against Remington-Bushmaster, the manufacturer of the assault weapon the assailant used in the attack. The suit worked around the PLCAA by arguing that Remington violated Connecticut’s consumer law through its marketing to troubled men. The gun maker settled with the families of the victims for $73 million. Other suits filed against gun and ammunition manufacturers and retailers have also been allowed to move forward in 2021 and 2022.
Canva
Climate change
Smokestacks emitting air polution.
Climate change is one of the most universal and viscerally debated threats to global life today. The degradation of the environment and atmosphere is distinctly human-made, yet the vast scale of that degradation, as well as the continued reliance on fossil fuels and other pollutants, makes it difficult to hold root perpetrators accountable.
Lawsuits filed by individuals against corporations and government entities in the U.S. for negligence or environmentally harmful behaviors have historically failed. However, questions of liability have become more present in policy discussions during the past decade, as the international community has started setting long-term climate change goals, and the impacts of climate change become increasingly devastating—and expensive. But creating environmental policy around liability is far from straightforward.
Much of the challenge of defining liability for climate change is that it is almost scientifically impossible to prove that one party’s actions or negligence resulted in the specific effects felt by another party. Furthermore, many high-emissions corporations use their enormous lobbying power to influence policymaking in ways that protect their financial interests by avoiding liability.
The 2015 Paris Agreement was one of the first major climate change treaties to integrate the idea of loss and damage, or the destruction resulting from climate change and the policies meant to address this damage. Climate-vulnerable nations in particular have sought more concrete loss-and-damage policies in order to hold major polluters accountable and to seek financial redress for anything from damaged infrastructure to deaths from extreme weather.
At the 2022 COP27 global conference, a decision was made to create an operational loss and damage fund, which would assist more vulnerable nations with covering the damages induced by climate change. However, decisions about which countries will pay into the fund, as well as more specific policies about liability, have not yet been made.
Star Tribune // Getty Images
Reproductive rights
The controversial abortion pill, Mifeprex.
The overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022 left states to determine their own laws regulating abortion access, which has created confusion and frustration about where and when abortion is legal. Without federal protections in place, many states have opted for partial or total abortion bans, leaving residents to seek access across state lines.
This patchwork of abortion care has created legal and liability concerns about providers in states where abortion is legal treating out-of-state residents. In service of these liability concerns, policymakers in some states have passed so-called “shield laws,” which protect providers from potential lawsuits or prosecution from abortion-restrictive states. While the reality of the liability landscape is still playing out, the rise of abortion pills-by-mail, sent to states where services are restricted from legal states or even overseas, is likely going to become a contentious liability issue.
Canva
Sexual harassment
A businessperson removing a coworkers hand from their shoulder.
The 1972 enactment of Title IX put into place formal protections against sex-based discrimination for the first time in the nation’s history. It set up a system of reporting to ensure compliance in public spaces like workplaces and federally funded schools by cutting off funding to institutions that don’t cooperate or take complaints seriously.
The issue of liability has been caught up in sexual harassment policies like Title IX in that institutions that do not comply with federal and state mandates can be subject to civil suits by the people who engage with them—whether it be employees in a workplace or students at a university. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, sexual harassment complaints by employees against supervisors that aren’t given due diligence can result in the institution itself being held liable.
Recently, debate over whether or not institutions should be liable for individuals’ bad behavior—and to what extent—has reached the courts. In particular, public school districts and universities have complained that the standard of liability is too high, leaving schools open to crippling litigation. In November 2022, the Supreme Court declined to hear one such case, reaffirming lower court rulings that set liability precedents.
Canva
Employee protection
A workplace safety inspector taking notes at an industrial factory.
Employee protections range from OSHA regulations meant to ensure workers’ health and physical safety on the job to whistleblower laws that shield workers from retaliation from employers if they report a transgression—and even laws that ensure workers have prior notice ahead of mass layoffs. Employer liability is a key factor in ensuring that workplaces are incentivized to comply with worker protections of all kinds, though the brunt of the liability can vary between individual offenders and institutions as a whole, depending on the case and the violated protection in question.
In the case of OSHA violations, most liability comes in the form of financial penalties levied against corporations, rather than individual supervisors or other higher-ups. In rare, particularly problematic cases, courts can decide to hold individuals accountable, a doctrine called “piercing the corporate veil.”
The COVID-19 pandemic changed policy discussions about liability and employee protections as the virus swept through workplaces, leaving many sick or worse. The rollout of coronavirus relief bills saw lawmakers at odds with each other over whether businesses should be protected from liability for COVID-19 outbreaks amongst employees, or if workers should be guaranteed additional safeguards.
Other questions of liability were challenged when the pandemic caused economic downturn and lockdowns, leading many industries to lay off massive numbers of workers. In June 2022, courts ruled that pandemic-related mass layoffs without proper warning were in violation of the WARN Act, which guarantees workers 60 days’ notice before layoffs.
This story originally appeared on Estey & Bomberger, LLP and was produced and
distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. | 2023-01-10T07:39:28+00:00 | localnews8.com | https://localnews8.com/stacker-news/2023/01/09/from-gun-laws-to-climate-change-how-liability-drives-policy-discussions-on-controversial-issues/ |
PITTSBURGH, Nov. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "I wanted to create a convenient wireless method of providing the wireless cable TV signal link to a TV set from a cable TV outlet," said an inventor, from Beech Allen, S.C., "so I invented the GHOST SET PLUG. My design enables the user to locate the electronic device near any AC power outlet without the limitations of wired cable TV connections."
The patent-pending invention provides a wireless cable TV link accessory for remotely relaying cable TV signals between the cable TV wall outlet and a TV set. In doing so, it increases convenience and safety. It also provides added aesthetics. The invention features an effective design that is easy to install and use so it is ideal for households.
The original design was submitted to the Savannah sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 21-SVH-182, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE InventHelp | 2022-11-07T17:36:34+00:00 | wcjb.com | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/11/07/inventhelp-inventor-develops-wireless-cable-tv-link-accessory-svh-182/ |
Kansas City-area woman bitten after cat she picked up turned out to be a bobcat kitten
By KMBC 9 News Staff
Click here for updates on this story
LIBERTY, Missouri (KMBC) — Here kitty kitty kitty…or not.
Police in one part of the Kansas City metro area have a lesson for residents: Don’t pick up strange animals.
Liberty, Missouri Police said a woman in the northern part of Liberty needed help after spotting an animal last week and picking it up.
Officers were called to an area near 69 Highway and 33 Highway where the woman saw the animal, which resembled a cat, and picked it up.
That cat was actually a bobcat kitten – and it wasn’t very happy with the woman.
Police said the animal bit the woman’s thumb after she picked it up.
Did the woman know it was a bobcat when she picked it up? Police aren’t sure, but they want to remind residents that bobcats are not uncommon in rural parts of Liberty, and to be careful when picking up strange animals.
Police said in a post on twitter, “A word of advice…if you want to pick up the cute little kitten to pet it, make sure it is not a bobcat first!! They do bite and scratch. #Meow.”
Police added the woman didn’t need any additional medical attention.
Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform. | 2022-12-02T05:41:50+00:00 | krdo.com | https://krdo.com/news/2022/12/01/kansas-city-area-woman-bitten-after-cat-she-picked-up-turned-out-to-be-a-bobcat-kitten/ |
DAMASCUS (AP) — A commander in the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad was killed in Syria on Sunday in what it described as an assassination by Israeli agents.
The Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad group, said in a statement that Ali Ramzi al-Aswad, 31, was killed Sunday morning in the Damascus countryside in a “cowardly assassination with bullets bearing the fingerprints of the Zionist enemy,” referring to Israel.
There was no immediate statement from Israel on Sunday’s alleged assassination.
The Islamic Jihad said in a statement Aswad’s family had been displaced from the city of Haifa in 1948 and settled in the refugee camps in Syria, where he joined the organization as a young man.
In 2019, Israeli warplanes fired missiles at the home of Akram al-Ajouri, a member of Islamic Jihad’s leadership living in exile. Ajouri was not harmed, but his son was reportedly killed in the attack.
Last month, airstrikes on residential areas in Damascus that Syrian officials said killed at least five people were attributed to Israel. An Islamic Jihad official warned Israel in a statement that there would be “a decisive response without delay to any assassination attempt (on) the leaders of the resistance.”
Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on targets inside government-controlled parts of Syria in recent years, including attacks on the Damascus and Aleppo airports, but it rarely acknowledges or discusses the operations. | 2023-03-19T11:28:21+00:00 | sfgate.com | https://www.sfgate.com/news/world/article/palestinian-militant-group-commander-17847834.php |
Use the right grip for better scoring
Golfers may enjoy trying out the latest club technology and seeing if they can gain some extra distance from a new golf driver design. However, without the proper grip, golfers often will be wasting their time with new clubs.
Learning how to hold a golf club will pay significant dividends, improving your chances of shooting lower scores. The proper grip on the club keeps your golf club on line, helping you improve accuracy while receiving the maximum distance.
Equipment to help with your golf grip
Golfers can improve their ability to hold the golf club properly by using a few different pieces of equipment.
- Gloves: Right-handed golfers will wear gloves on the left hand, and vice versa for left-handed golfers. Gloves like the Titleist Players Glove or the TaylorMade Flex Glove can help you maintain a solid grip on the club.
- Grips: The area of the club you hold is called the grip. It needs to have a slightly tacky consistency to help you maintain a solid hold on the club. Older, worn grips may be slippery. You can replace your golf club grips to gain more tackiness. You also can replace your putter’s grip with a product like the Super Stroke Traxion Tour grip to achieve a solid hold.
- Training: Golf training equipment, such as the SKLZ Grip Trainer, can help you learn how to hold the club properly every time, eventually relying on muscle memory.
- Hand strengthening: If you believe your problems with holding the golf club properly involve a lack of hand and forearm strength, try strengthening tools like the Niyikow Grip Strength Trainer and the DMoose Resistance Bar.
Three types of golf grips
Golfers can make use of any of the three primary methods for how to hold a golf club. Figuring out which of the three best fits your game requires a bit of practice.
Overlapping grip
The most common way to hold a golf club involves an overlapping grip. Some golf teaching pros call this the Vardon grip, named after the golfer who popularized its use, Harry Vardon, more than a century ago.
In this grip, the pinky finger of the lower hand on the club (the right hand for right-handed golfers) overlaps the space between the back of the index and middle fingers of the left hand.
By overlapping the two hands a little bit, many golfers receive a greater level of comfort without sacrificing control. Golfers with large hands also often prefer the overlapping grip.
Interlocking grip
The interlocking grip is similar to the overlapping grip. However, the pinky finger on the lower hand and the index finger on the upper hand wrap around each other.
The interlocking grip helps golfers who struggle with too much wrist movement in the swing, as it encourages the wrists to work in tandem. It works better for golfers with smaller hands than those with larger hands.
This grip often feels strange when you begin using it, so it takes quite a bit of practice to learn to use it.
10-finger golf grip
With this grip style, the golfer will place all 10 fingers on the club, including the pinky finger of the lower hand. None of the fingers interlock or overlap.
This is a common grip style for those learning the game, primarily because it is easier to do correctly every time. Those with smaller hands sometimes prefer the 10-finger grip to allow maximum power and control.
How to hold a golf club step by step
Regardless of which golf grip style you choose, the following steps for holding a golf club will give you a solid base from which to start.
Grip the club with the left hand
As a right-handed golfer, grip the club with your left hand first. The left hand will be at the top of the club. Left-handed golfers should do the opposite.
Lay the face of the club square to the ball. The end of the club should be pointing directly at your waist. Align the end of the club against the heel of your left palm and wrap your fingers around it, leaving the face square to the ball.
The left thumb should point downward along the grip and shaft. As you are holding the golf club, you should be able to just see the knuckles on your left hand’s index and middle fingers. If not, rotate your hand slightly. If you see three or four knuckles, rotate your left hand to the left slightly. If you see one or zero knuckles, rotate your left hand to the right slightly.
Grip the club with the right hand
Now add your right hand to the golf club (left hand for left-handed golfers). Place the crease in your palm directly over your left thumb. Even though your left thumb no longer will be visible, your right thumb should point down the grip and shaft of the club along the same alignment as the left thumb.
Wrap the fingers on your right hand around the club. This step will determine which of the three grip styles discussed earlier you want to use. Align your right-hand pinky finger based on the type of grip you want to use.
When the right hand’s alignment is correct, you should just be able to see the knuckles on your right hand’s index and middle fingers. And you still should be able to see the knuckles on the same fingers on the left hand. If not, slightly rotate your hands.
What you need to buy to learn how to hold a golf club
A properly fitting golf glove helps hold a golf club securely without losing your grip during the force of the swing. With this glove, you receive leather materials in the palm and breathable fabrics in the fingers for durability and comfort.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Dick’s Sporting Goods
Worn golf grips could cause the club to slip in your hands, leading to a poor swing result. Using a hybrid rubber compound, this grip delivers excellent tackiness and keeps your hands securely on the club.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Dick’s Sporting Goods
Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews.
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Kyle Schurman writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | 2022-06-28T17:34:07+00:00 | pahomepage.com | https://www.pahomepage.com/reviews/br/sports-fitness-br/golf-br/how-to-hold-a-golf-club/ |
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — The more than 400,000 parents who serve as soldiers in the U.S. Army will soon see more benefits. The military branch released a new 12-part Parenthood, Pregnancy and Postpartum directive Thursday.
“I can sleep better at night knowing that other moms will not have to go through the same things that I had to go through,” said Staff Sgt. Nicole Pierce.
After getting little time off following her miscarriage and delayed promotions during her next two pregnancies, Staff Sgt. Pierce took charge of changing U.S. Army policies.
“The force is going toward a modern force rather than staying as it is,” she said.
“Every single policy change in this directive has a story behind it,” said Amy Kramer, the Army’s policy lead action officer.
Kramer, who authored the directive, said it includes more paid time off for miscarriages and allows soldiers who are pregnant or lost a child to get promoted and take the required training class later.
“You shouldn’t have to choose between a career and having a family,” said Maj. Sam Winkler.
Maj. Winkler noted while less than one percent of Army personnel are pregnant at any given time, these new regulations will make a huge impact on the entire force.
“The fact that this policy addresses parenthood as a whole I think is a huge win,” said Sgt. Maj. Mark Clark.
Sgt. Maj. Clark said many of the changes also apply to non-birth parents, like spouses, single parents, and adoptive parents. They can now also defer field training, deployment, and other assignments up to a full year after their child’s birth, remain at one base while their spouse receives fertility treatments and take paid time off for a pregnancy loss.
“I wish a policy like this was available for me then,” he said when sharing how he lost his first child a week after his birth.
With these benefits now available, these soldiers hope the Army’s recruitment and retention efforts only grow.
“It’s recognizing that in 2022, we have all different kinds of families going through all different kinds of life issues,” Maj. Winkler said. “And we can really take care of our families so we can retain the best of our soldiers.”
The directive also extends the time the new mothers must meet body fat requirements to a full year after giving birth, provides them with longer lactation breaks, and allows them to wear a combination of Army combat and maternity uniforms up to one year postpartum.
Of the more than 400,000 parents in the Army, 180,000 are women. About 29,000 are single father soldiers, which outnumbers single mothers three to one.
For more information, read the full directive here. | 2022-04-22T17:07:13+00:00 | siouxlandproud.com | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/washington/washington-dc/soldiers-stories-trigger-new-army-parenthood-pregnancy-and-postpartum-policies/ |
(KVEO) — Sip on this: McDonald’s is testing new, strawless lids in an effort to reduce the use of small plastics.
The company’s marketing personnel told Nexstar the testing of strawless lids will take place in select U.S. markets. The lids are for cold beverages only.
McDonald’s is so far keeping a lid on which markets will see the new tops, but a staffer for Nexstar’s WGN said they received one in the Chicago area.
“These lids help optimize our packaging and eliminate the use of small plastics, just one example of the many solutions we’re reviewing as part of our ongoing global commitment to reduce waste across restaurants and advance recycling,” McDonald’s stated.
In September 2020, Starbucks announced after a successful year of trialing its strawless lids, that they would be rolled out to company-operated and licensed stores.
Starbucks stated the move was done in an effort to “eliminate one billion plastic straws globally per year.”
The transition to strawless lids is the latest effort by McDonald’s to reduce plastic waste. According to the McDonald’s website, 82.7% of their primary packaging material comes from recycled or certified sources. McDonald’s aims to have “100% certified, recycled or renewable materials” by 2025.
According to McDonald’s, the testing of the strawless lids are currently being conducted in select restaurants in the upper Midwest. | 2023-01-28T01:01:07+00:00 | ktalnews.com | https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/mcdonalds-begins-testing-strawless-lids-in-select-markets/ |
More than a third don't think it's socially acceptable for them to date someone younger
TORONTO, May 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - What do Priyanka and Nick, Gabrielle and Dwayne, and Kim and Pete all have in common? They're 10 or more years apart in age – and the woman is older. These couples may wear their female-led age gap like a badge of honor, but many people still consider this type of relationship taboo. Cougar Life, the Canadian-based dating site designed to empower women, surveyed Americans* on their attitudes toward female-led age gap relationships and learned that while these types of pairings are generally accepted in the U.S., women are surprisingly more disapproving of them than men.
A 2022 Ipsos poll of more than 1,000 Americans found that 65% of men somewhat or strongly agree that it is socially acceptable for women to enter a female-led age gap relationship – that is, to date someone 10 or more years younger than them. It also revealed 70% of women are accepting of male-led age gap relationships, yet that number drops to 56% when the gap is female-led. Further, while 60% of unmarried men would be open to dating someone 10+ years older than them, only 40% of unmarried women would be open to dating someone 10+ years younger. This raises the question: Why are women less accepting?
"Research finds that we tend to stigmatize others' dating behavior when it might threaten our own," says Dr. Sarah E. Hill, psychologist and professor with expertise in women and sex. "In this case, young single women might be stigmatizing female-led age gap relationships to try to minimize the competition. They're decreasing the odds that their older counterparts will go after the men they would like to date themselves. Or, if they believe that those who date younger men are only looking for sex, they could see this as threatening their own ability to find an emotionally invested partner or keep their current partner from straying."
In reality, however, the data suggests that these relationships are often formed just like any other. More than four in 10 respondents (44%) who have been in a heterosexual female-led age gap relationship say they simply experienced an organic connection with someone and didn't let an age difference interfere. Another common reason why older woman/younger man relationships are formed is their ability to allow those within them to live in the moment and focus on having fun (27%). As for the specific benefits Americans perceive of actually being in an age gap relationship, women point to the open-mindedness of younger men and men highlight the emotional maturity of older women above all else.
Regardless of your current relationship status, which of the following, if any, would you personally consider a benefit of dating or marrying someone 10+ years younger than you?
Women say:
Regardless of your current relationship status, which of the following, if any, would you personally consider a benefit of dating or marrying someone 10+ years older than you?
Men say:
Perceived downsides to age gap dating do exist, with women feeling like they wouldn't have anything in common with a partner so different in age (25%), they wouldn't be attracted to them (17%), their partner wouldn't fit into their social circles (15%), as well as a fear of what other people might think (13%). However, these barriers are outweighed by the benefits, and the data suggests that many female-led age gap relationships are borne out of genuine intentions.
"People with 10, 20, or more years between them can experience genuine romantic connections the same way people closer in age can," Dr. Hill continues. "Just because heterosexual women are expected by society to form relationships with men who are older and more established than they are themselves, this doesn't mean they should – or will. Times have changed and so have women."
Women on Cougar Life know this firsthand and have taken the step to connect with likeminded people who are interested in developing meaningful connections – regardless of age, which they see as nothing more than a number.
"Our vibrant community of women do not see their station in life as a barrier to love, sex, or companionship," says Isabella Mise, Cougar Life's Senior Director of Communications. "Rather, they are emboldened to pursue pleasure and happiness on their own terms."
*These are the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted between May 5-6, 2022. For this survey, a sample of 1,005 adults age 18+ from the continental U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii was interviewed online in English. The poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points for all respondents.
Cougar Life is a Canadian-based dating site for empowered women seeking younger men. With more than 8.7 million members since its initial launch in 2009, the company's mission is to offer a platform for women to confidently pursue pleasure and happiness on their own terms.
View original content:
SOURCE ruby Life Inc. | 2022-05-31T12:38:49+00:00 | kcbd.com | https://www.kcbd.com/prnewswire/2022/05/31/cougar-life-survey-finds-women-disapprove-more-female-led-age-gap-dating-than-men/ |
‘Unsolved Mysteries’ Explores Unnerving Missing Person Case from Central Minnesota
The popular Netflix series Unsolved Mysteries has a new episode entitled What Happened to Josh featuring the disappearance of Josh Guimond who has been missing for two decades from a college campus in central Minnesota.
On November 9th it will be 20 years since Guimond went missing on the campus of St. John's University in Collegeville.
Last week the Stearns County Sheriff's Office made a plea looking for a number of men whose pictures were found on Guimond's computer.
And, earlier this year a podcaster based in Minneapolis, Josh Newville, started a weekly series titled Simply Vanished that dug further into his disappearance.
Anyone with information should contact the Stearns County Sheriff's office at 320-259-3702 and ask to speak with Inv. Andrew Struffert or Lt. Zach Sorenson. | 2022-10-26T21:21:46+00:00 | knue.com | https://knue.com/what-happened-to-josh/ |
PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) — Coming off his first victory in five years, a win Jason Day thought might never come, the 35-year-old Australian is doing his best to keep expectations in check entering the PGA Championship.
Then again, once fearing his career might be over, the former No. 1 player in the world can draw upon the low moments from his recent past to keep him grounded at Oak Hill this week.
“I think it’s funny. After I won the tournament, it didn’t feel like much at all, and I say that in the most respectful way,” Day said Wednesday, referring to rallying from a final round two-shot deficit to win the Byron Nelson last weekend.
“I think it’s more about the actual journey,” he added. “Winning last week was a good step in the right direction in regards to knowing that the consistent work that I put in was yielding good play. All it had to to do was kind of show itself.”
It is, perhaps, a new Day.
In winning his 13th PGA Tour event, and first since the Wells Fargo in May 2018, Day has finally shaken the back problems which led to a gradual decline in his game since 2015-2016, when he combined for eight titles. The two-year stretch included Day winning his first and only major, the 2015 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, where he became the first player to finish a major at 20-under par or better.
After winning two more times in 2018, Day endured a four-year stretch in which he registered just 16 top-10 finishes and missed the cut 29 times in 79 events.
The bottom fell out a little over a year ago, when Day plunged to 175th in the rankings. Life was just as difficult off the course, where Day mourned his mother, who died last year following a lengthy battle with lung cancer.
“I was not only struggling mentally, but struggling physically, and there was a lot of doubt in my mind to think that I would ever come back and be able to win again,” acknowledged Day, who enters the weekend ranked 20th. “At one point I was sitting there going, OK, well, I didn’t know if this was kind of the end for me.”
To win on Mother’s Day was poignant enough. What the victory also did was validate the hints of progress Day began to see in his game since the 2022-23 season began in September.
In 16 tournaments, he’s enjoyed seven top-10 finishes — the most since he had 10 in 2016 — and missed the cut just three times, as opposed to doing so 16 times over his previous 41 tournaments.
“It’s like anything, once the momentum train starts, it takes a while to get things going. But once it starts, it starts to go pretty fast,” he said. “And if you can stay on that train for a little bit, that momentum can take you on to better things.”
Gratifying as it was to win, what also struck Day last weekend was the outpouring of support he received from fellow golfers.
Among them was Tiger Woods, who has formed a friendship with Day, with the two encouraging each other while dealing with their respective health issues. Woods’ career has been sidetracked by a rash of injuries, the latest involving him having ankle surgery last month.
“I can’t say what he said because a lot of it was like F-words,” Day said with a laugh in referring to Woods’ celebratory text messages.
Dustin Johnson, now playing on the rival LIV Golf circuit, knows first hand how good Day can play in having competed with him as an amateur in the 2000s, and again on the PGA Tour.
“He was one of the best players in the word. It’s good to see him back in good form and playing some good golf,” Johnson said Wednesday.
The key now for Day is to remain patient, which explains his approach this week.
Though unfamiliar with Oak Hill, Day elected against taking any practice rounds to conserve his energy. Mentally, he’s focusing solely on the first round and not the rising expectations he could entertain coming off a victory.
“It’s in my nature to expect bigger and better things, so I’m just trying to cool the jets on that,” he said, acknowledging how much of a mental trap high expectations were to him in the recent past.
“That was probably the hardest couple of years that I’ve had in regards to my competitive life,” Day said. “I think this time I’m trying to do it in a different way. I’m trying to be a lot more grateful for the opportunity that I have just because of what I’ve gone through.”
___
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2023-05-18T15:49:16+00:00 | wdtn.com | https://www.wdtn.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-a-new-day-australian-jason-day-enters-pga-championship-on-upswing-after-byron-nelson-victory/ |
The groundbreaking nonprofit tackling the political divides facing our nation will honor the iconic civil rights leader at a virtual event joined by Senators Susan Collins and Joe Manchin, among others
NEW YORK, Jan. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- No Labels, a national movement of Democrats, Republicans and independents working to bring America's leaders together to solve our toughest problems, will appoint civil rights leader Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., entrepreneur, NAACP Life Member and president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), as a national co-chair. Dr. Chavis will join current co-chairs Senator Joe Lieberman and Governor Larry Hogan to lead the nonprofit organization that created the bipartisan House Problem Solvers Caucus and an allied Senate group that led passage of some of the most consequential legislation of recent years, including the historic infrastructure bill in 2021.
"Dr. Chavis is the right person to help lead the No Labels movement and bridge the divides our nation faces today," said Senator Lieberman, founding chairman of No Labels. "As a champion of civil rights, he understands what it takes to move the nation beyond our divisions and disagreements. We look forward to the increased impact No Labels will have on the future of our democracy with Dr. Chavis on our team. Now is the time to come together and put our country above partisanship."
"My life's work has taught me that if we work at it, divisions can be overcome, and when we overcome divisions, we make progress," said Dr. Chavis. "I believe we need to restore bipartisanship in the American Congress. We need to restore bipartisanship at the state legislative level. We need to restore bipartisanship at the local and municipal level. Americans today are worn out with all the divisions and looking for a way forward. No Labels offers that way forward."
No Labels will honor Dr. Chavis at a virtual event on Sunday, Jan. 22 at 5 p.m. The event will include the premiere of a biographical video of Dr. Chavis' lifetime achievements as well as remarks from Senator Joe Lieberman, Governor Larry Hogan, Senator Joe Manchin, Senator Susan Collins, Senator Bill Cassidy, Representative Dusty Johnson, Founder & CEO of No Labels Nancy Jacobson and Dr. Chavis. Singer-songwriter Deborah Cox and the Howard University Choir will perform.
To RSVP to Dr. Chavis' co-chair announcement please visit https://nolabels.org/chavis_rsvp, and to learn more about No Labels, please contact Jennifer Lawrence at Jennifer@thetascgroup.com.
About No Labels
No Labels is a national movement of Democrats, Republicans and independents working to bring America's leaders together to solve our toughest problems. No Labels created the bipartisan House Problem Solvers Caucus and an allied Senate group that led passage of some of the most consequential legislation of recent years including the historic infrastructure bill in 2021, and the CHIPS Act, a gun safety bill and a rewrite of the Electoral Count Act in 2022. To learn more about No Labels, visit NoLabels.org and follow No Labels on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
Contact: Jennifer Lawrence, The TASC Group
Phone: 512-516-2138
Email: Jennifer@thetascgroup.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE No Labels | 2023-01-20T17:03:33+00:00 | wymt.com | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2023/01/20/no-labels-announces-civil-rights-leader-dr-benjamin-f-chavis-jr-national-co-chair/ |
By HOWARD FENDRICH
AP Tennis Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Much like for so many other folks, Serena Williams’ last match at the U.S. Open was must-see TV for players still in the tournament, so Jessica Pegula and Petra Kvitova tuned in from their hotel rooms the night before their victories led off Saturday’s schedule and set up a fourth-round showdown.
“Of course I watched Serena. I’m like everyone else,” said Pegula, a 28-year-old American who is seeded No. 8 at Flushing Meadows and beat qualifier Yuan Yue 6-2, 6-7 (6), 6-0. “You feel kind of sad that’s how it ends. But, I don’t know, like I got a little, like, sentimental, too, watching her, how emotional she was getting.”
Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon champion from the Czech Republic, credited Williams’ last stand — the owner of 23 Grand Slam titles fended off five match points before bowing out in three sets against Ajla Tomljanovic on Friday night in what is expected to be her final contest — with offering inspiration.
“It was very special. She didn’t want to leave the court, for sure. That was the same case with me today, actually. I didn’t want to go out of this tournament, so I was just there hanging (in), somehow,” said Kvitova, who erased deficit after deficit, including a pair of match points, to edge Garbiñe Muguruza 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (12-10).
“That’s what Serena showed last night,” said Kvitova, who dropped her racket and covered her face with her ends when what she called a “nightmare” of a tiebreaker was over. “It was nice to see her yesterday, fighting until the end.”
Yes, Williams is gone, leaving the year’s last major tournament — and, in some ways, the sport as a whole — without its biggest star and storyline. Still, the show must go on.
So there was Kvitova, undaunted as ever, despite dropping the first set, despite trailing 5-2 in the third, despite being a point from defeat twice at 6-5.
Here’s how close this one was: Kvitova won 109 total points, Muguruza 108.
“Left everything on the court today,” said No. 9 Muguruza, a two-time Slam winner whose departure means the bracket was without six of the top 10 women before the third round was even done.
Two other were on the schedule later Saturday: No. 1 Iga Swiatek and No. 6 Aryna Sabalenka.
The night session in Ashe featured 22-time major champ Rafael Nadal against Richard Gasquet, followed by Australian Open runner-up Danielle Collins against Caroline Garcia.
The winner of Nadal vs. Gasquet will take on No. 22 Frances Tiafoe, the first American man since Mardy Fish in 2010-12 to get to the U.S. Open’s fourth round in three consecutive years. Tiafoe eliminated No. 14 Diego Schwartzman 7-6 (7), 6-4, 6-4.
It was going to be tough for any of the day’s matches to live up to the sort of attention Williams drew, or the atmosphere she helped create, during her three-match run in Ashe.
“I just can’t believe the ‘era of Serena’ on the tennis court is over,” Pegula said. “I mean, it’s just hard to picture tennis without her.”
In other action Saturday, two-time Australian Open champion Viktoria Azarenka was a 6-3, 6-0 winner against Petra Martic; No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, a 19-year-old Spaniard, defeated unseeded Jenson Brooksby, a 21-year-old Californian, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3; No. 7 Cam Norrie beat No. 28 Holger Rune 7-5, 6-4, 6-1 in the men’s draw; and No. 9 Andrey Rublev got past No. 19 Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4, 7-6 (10-7). Norrie and Rublev play each other next.
As for Kvitova-Muguruza, Rublev-Shapovalov required the new final-set tiebreaker format to determine the winner. The four Grand Slam tournaments agreed to adopt a uniform system this year, with the third sets of women’s matches and fifth sets of men’s decided by a first-to-10, win-by-two formula; the U.S. Open used to have the more traditional first-to-seven setup.
Pegula’s domination of her last set made that sort of thing entirely unnecessary. She had wasted a chance to close out the victory a half-hour earlier when she wasn’t able to convert her match point, but quickly regrouped.
Pegula started her Grand Slam career by going 3-8. She’s gone 22-7 since, including runs to quarterfinals at the Australian Open each of the past two years and the French Open this year.
The 28-year-old American, whose parents own the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, came into Saturday with an 0-2 record in third-round matches at Flushing Meadows, including a loss to Kvitova in 2020.
Pegula gets another shot at her Monday.
“Petra is so hard to play. I feel like when she’s on, she blows you off the court. And then sometimes she can be off. .. She’s a fighter. When it clicks, it’s really difficult,” Pegula said, then was sure to add: “I think I’m a much better player now than I was when I played her last time.”
___
More AP coverage of U.S. Open tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/us-open-tennis-championships and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | 2022-09-04T03:19:38+00:00 | wtmj.com | https://wtmj.com/sports/2022/09/03/serenas-gone-open-must-go-on-kvitova-pegula-set-rematch-2/ |
Why Martha Stewart’s Dutch oven is getting so much attention
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- Martha Stewart Gatwick 7-Quart Enamel Cast Iron Dutch Oven
- Martha Stewart Eastwalk 14-Piece Stainless Steel Cutlery Set
- Martha Stewart Castelle 10-Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set
Recently, a Staten Island restaurant began receiving attention for hiring grandmas from around the world to be chefs. However, there’s one grandma who has been helping out in the kitchen for 40 years. While she started with recipes, she now has an entire empire built on home goods. Her name is Martha Stewart, and her Gatwick 7-quart Dutch oven is currently getting a great deal of love from the internet.
What is a Dutch oven?
While many home chefs might relegate the Dutch oven to superfluous, it should be considered a kitchen essential. This versatile piece of cookware can handle tasks ranging from making soup and homemade bread to roasting and braising. The defining features are its thick walls and tight-fitting lid because that’s what allows the Dutch oven to maintain heat so well.
What makes Martha Stewart’s Dutch oven so special?
The Martha Stewart Gatwick Dutch oven doesn’t have bells and whistles or utilize smart technology. Instead, it’s simply a well-made product that does what it’s supposed to do. It features a thick, rugged build, which makes it heavy — 17 pounds. While this might make the pot cumbersome, it ensures that it has excellent heat retention. The Gatwick Dutch oven is smooth, scratch-resistant, comes in a wide variety of colors and is easy to clean. In short, this model does everything you want it to do, and it does it very well.
Best Martha Stewart cookware
Martha Stewart Gatwick 7-Quart Enamel Cast Iron Dutch Oven
This is the Martha Stewart Dutch oven that’s been getting attention. The tight-fitting lid features a durable and aesthetically pleasing stainless steel knob. The large handles help with transport, and the thick, cast iron construction distributes heat evenly for a superb cooking experience.
Martha Stewart Eastwalk 14-Piece Stainless Steel Cutlery Set
You get a chef’s knife, a santoku knife, a bread knife, a utility knife, a paring knife, six steak knives, a pair of kitchen shears and more in this cutlery set. The full-tang construction offers better balance and durability, while the stylish handles make this an attractive set to keep on your counter.
Martha Stewart Castelle 10-Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set
This cookware set is designed to offer high performance without leaving behind a metallic aftertaste. The seamless aluminum layer helps distribute heat evenly, and the etched measurements ensure you add the exact amount of ingredients that you need.
Martha Stewart Lockton Premium Nonstick 10-Piece Enamel Cookware Set
If you prefer an enameled cookware set, this is a solid option for you. It has a durable, glossy exterior that resists stains and discoloration. Stainless steel rivets secure the handles to the pots so you have a confident grip while cooking.
Martha Stewart Thayer 16-Inch Enamel On Steel Roaster Pan
This 16-inch oven-safe roaster pan has an enameled outside with a removable stainless steel rack inside for better heat circulation. The finish allows for easy cleaning, while the large handles give you a confident grip for transfer.
Sold by Amazon
Martha Stewart Springbank 20-Piece Stainless Steel Flatware Set
If flatware is all you need, this 20-piece option gives you enough for four settings. You get four salad forks, four dinner forks, four dinner knives, four dinner spoons and four teaspoons. The flatware is made of stainless steel, so it will last.
Sold by Home Depot
Martha Stewart Rectangular Serving Board with Two Cheese Knives
This matching cheese board and knife set is elegantly designed. It provides plenty of cutting space, is made of rubber wood and stainless steel and it has a hole in the handle for convenient storage. The set comes with one pronged cheese knife and one parmesan knife.
Sold by Home Depot
Other Dutch ovens worth checking out
- Le Creuset’s enameled cast iron Dutch oven has a tight-fitting lid that keeps the steam in the pot, creating a moist meal.
- If you’re looking for the best value, Lodge’s cast iron Dutch oven is the right balance of quality and cost.
- The Victoria four-quart cast iron Dutch oven is rugged, versatile and affordable.
- For people who are looking for a beautifully designed Dutch oven, Lodge’s enameled model is so appealing, you won’t want to put it away for storage.
- Crock-Pot is a trusted name in cookware. This round enameled cast iron Dutch oven will satisfy.
Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews.
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Allen Foster writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers.
Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | 2023-04-21T22:04:45+00:00 | upmatters.com | https://www.upmatters.com/reviews/br/kitchen-br/cookware-cooking-sets-br/you-need-martha-stewarts-under-100-dutch-oven-in-your-kitchen-arsenal/ |
Tuesday, October 4th 2022, 1:45 pm
Loretta Lynn, the Kentucky coal miner’s daughter whose frank songs about life and love as a woman in Appalachia pulled her out of poverty and made her a pillar of country music, has died. She was 90.
In a statement provided to The Associated Press, Lynn’s family said she died Tuesday at her home in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee.
Lynn already had four children before launching her career in the early 1960s, and her songs reflected her pride in her rural Kentucky background.
As a songwriter, she crafted a persona of a defiantly tough woman, a contrast to the stereotypical image of most female country singers. The Country Music Hall of Famer wrote fearlessly about sex and love, cheating husbands, divorce and birth control and sometimes got in trouble with radio programmers for material from which even rock performers once shied away.
Her biggest hits came in the 1960s and ’70s, including “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” “You Ain’t Woman Enough,” “The Pill,” “Don’t Come Home a Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind),” “Rated X” and “You’re Looking at Country.” She was known for appearing in floor-length, wide gowns with elaborate embroidery or rhinestones, many created by her longtime personal assistant and designer Tim Cobb.
Her honesty and unique place in country music was rewarded. She was the first woman ever named entertainer of the year at the genre’s two major awards shows, first by the Country Music Association in 1972 and then by the Academy of Country Music three years later.
“It was what I wanted to hear and what I knew other women wanted to hear, too,” Lynn told the AP in 2016. “I didn’t write for the men; I wrote for us women. And the men loved it, too.”
In 1969, she released her autobiographical “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” which helped her reach her widest audience yet.
“We were poor but we had love/That’s the one thing Daddy made sure of/He shoveled coal to make a poor man’s dollar,” she sang.
“Coal Miner’s Daughter,” also the title of her 1976 book, was made into a 1980 movie of the same name. Sissy Spacek’s portrayal of Lynn won her an Academy Award and the film was also nominated for best picture.
Long after her commercial peak, Lynn won two Grammys in 2005 for her album “Van Lear Rose,” which featured 13 songs she wrote, including “Portland, Oregon” about a drunken one-night stand. “Van Lear Rose” was a collaboration with rocker Jack White, who produced the album and played the guitar parts.
Born Loretta Webb, the second of eight children, she claimed her birthplace was Butcher Holler, near the coal mining company town of Van Lear in the mountains of east Kentucky. There really wasn’t a Butcher Holler, however. She later told a reporter that she made up the name for the purposes of the song based on the names of the families that lived there.
Her daddy played the banjo, her mama played the guitar and she grew up on the songs of the Carter Family.
“I was singing when I was born, I think,” she told the AP in 2016. “Daddy used to come out on the porch where I would be singing and rocking the babies to sleep. He’d say, ‘Loretta, shut that big mouth. People all over this holler can hear you.’ And I said, ‘Daddy, what difference does it make? They are all my cousins.’”
She wrote in her autobiography that she was 13 when she got married to Oliver “Mooney” Lynn, but the AP later discovered state records that showed she was 15. Tommy Lee Jones played Mooney Lynn in the biopic.
Her husband, whom she called “Doo” or “Doolittle,” urged her to sing professionally and helped promote her early career. With his help, she earned a recording contract with Decca Records, later MCA, and performed on the Grand Ole Opry stage. Lynn wrote her first hit single, “I’m a Honky Tonk Girl,” released in 1960.
She also teamed up with singer Conway Twitty to form one of the most popular duos in country music with hits such as “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man” and “After the Fire is Gone,” which earned them a Grammy Award. Their duets, and her single records, were always mainstream country and not crossover or pop-tinged.
The Academy of Country Music chose her as the artist of the decade for the 1970s, and she was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1988.
In “Fist City,” Lynn threatens a hair-pulling fistfight if another woman won’t stay away from her man: “I’m here to tell you, gal, to lay off of my man/If you don’t want to go to Fist City.” That strong-willed but traditional country woman reappears in other Lynn songs. In “The Pill,” a song about sex and birth control, Lynn writes about how she’s sick of being trapped at home to take care of babies: “The feelin’ good comes easy now/Since I’ve got the pill,” she sang.
She moved to Hurricane Mills, Tennessee, outside of Nashville, in the 1990s, where she set up a ranch complete with a replica of her childhood home and a museum that is a popular roadside tourist stop. The dresses she was known for wearing are there, too.
Lynn knew that her songs were trailblazing, especially for country music, but she was just writing the truth that so many rural women like her experienced.
“I could see that other women was goin’ through the same thing, ‘cause I worked the clubs. I wasn’t the only one that was livin’ that life and I’m not the only one that’s gonna be livin’ today what I’m writin’,” she told The AP in 1995.
Even into her later years, Lynn never seemed to stop writing, scoring a multi-album deal in 2014 with Legacy Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. In 2017, she suffered a stroke that forced her to postpone her shows.
She and her husband were married nearly 50 years before he died in 1996. They had six children: Betty, Jack, Ernest and Clara, and then twins Patsy and Peggy. She had 17 grandchildren and four step-grandchildren.
October 4th, 2022
October 5th, 2022
October 5th, 2022
October 4th, 2022
October 5th, 2022
October 5th, 2022
October 5th, 2022 | 2022-10-05T15:06:03+00:00 | news9.com | https://www.news9.com/story/633c447a6f144b071e6952e6/loretta-lynn-coal-miners-daughter-country-queen-dies |
Canopy Growth to control all distribution, marketing, and sales of industry leading Wana branded products in Canada, further uniting the Company's North American house of brands
Indiva to manufacture Wana for Canopy in Canada under exclusivity ensuring continuity of
quality product supply
Canopy to acquire 19.99% interest in Indiva as part of the transactions
SMITHS FALLS, ON and LONDON, ON, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Canopy Growth Corporation ("Canopy Growth" or the "Company") (TSX: WEED) (NASDAQ: CGC), a leading global cannabis company, and Indiva Limited ("Indiva") (TSXV:NDVA), the leading Canadian producer of cannabis edibles and other cannabis products, and its subsidiary, Indiva Inc., announced today that they have entered into a license assignment and assumption agreement (the "Assignment Agreement") providing Canopy Growth exclusive rights and interests to manufacture, distribute, and sell Wana™ branded products in Canada which accelerates Canopy Growth's ability to leverage the Wana brand.
Simultaneously, to support continuity of quality supply and aligned to Canopy Growth's asset light strategy for sourcing of cannabis 2.0 formats, Canopy Growth and Indiva also entered into a contract manufacturing agreement (the "Manufacturing Agreement"), under which Canopy Growth will grant Indiva the exclusive right to manufacture and supply Wana™ branded products in Canada for a period of five years, with the ability to renew for an additional five-year term upon mutual agreement of the parties.
David Klein, CEO of Canopy Growth, said, "Collectively, these agreements provide Canopy Growth more complete ownership over the value chain for the Wana brand in Canada, while ensuring continuity of high-quality manufacturing and consistency with Canopy's asset-light production strategy. By better aligning our ownership position in Wana throughout North America, we expect to accelerate the introduction of product innovation in Canada that has already proven enormously popular in the United States. We expect this arrangement to be immediately accretive to Canopy Growth's EBITDA, and we look forward to partnering with Indiva to further bolster Wana's position as a leading edible brand in Canada."
"We are excited to form this investment and contract manufacturing partnership with Canopy Growth, and we look forward to continuing to produce Wana gummies for many years to come," said Niel Marotta, President and CEO of Indiva. "The benefits of this partnership to Indiva's shareholders are three-fold: First, the strategic investment bolsters Indiva's balance sheet. Second, the initial five-year term of the contract manufacturing agreement, and the potential to renew for an additional five-year term, extends the timeline and economic benefit to Indiva from sales of Wana gummies well beyond the remaining term of the existing licensing agreement. Lastly, Indiva's commitment to production innovation has made us Canada's leading producer of high-quality cannabis edibles, and we look forward to leveraging our recent investments in automation for the processing and packaging of edible products."
"This is a great step forward in solidifying both Wana's brand leadership, as well as integrating Wana with Canopy Growth's strong presence in Canada," said Nancy Whiteman, CEO of Wana Brands. "This new agreement allows us to bring our most innovative products to Canada much more rapidly, while allowing Canopy Growth to begin recognizing the EBITDA benefits that Wana can help drive. We already know the team at Canopy Growth well, which should make for a smooth transition, and it will be great to have the oversight of the Canopy Growth team on the Wana brand in Canada. We thank Indiva for all they have done to make Wana the top edible in Canada over the past three years1 and we are pleased that we will have the opportunity to continue to work with their great team in a production capacity."
As consideration for Indiva entering into the Assignment Agreement and other related agreements in respect of the transactions described herein, Indiva will complete a non-brokered private placement offering of common shares ("Common Shares") of Indiva whereby Canopy Growth will subscribe for 37,230,000 Common Shares for an aggregate purchase price of $2,155,617 (the "Private Placement") at a price per Common Share of $0.0579 (the "Issue Price"). The Issue Price was determined based on the 10-day volume weighted average trading price of the Common Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") during the 10 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day immediately prior to the date hereof. Upon closing of the Private Placement, Canopy will exercise control and direction over 19.99% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. The balance of the consideration will be paid by Canopy to Indiva as follows: (i) additional consideration representing a value of $844,383; (ii) a cash payment of $1,250,000 on May 30, 2024.
Indiva intends to use the net proceeds of the Private Placement to satisfy its existing obligations under its license to manufacture and sell Wana™ branded products in Canada and for its costs and expenses related to the manufacture and supply Wana™ branded products under the Manufacturing Agreement.
Following the closing of the Private Placement, Canopy Growth will have the ability to nominate an individual as a Board observer on the Board of Directors of Indiva. Canopy Growth and Indiva will also enter into a customary standstill and voting support agreement.
The Private Placement is expected to close on or before June 6, 2023 (the "Closing Date") and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals including the approval of the TSXV. The Common Shares to be issued under the Private Placement will have a hold period of four months and one day from the Closing Date. The Private Placement is integral to the Assignment Agreement and other related agreements in respect of the transactions described herein, and therefore Indiva expects to rely on the "part and parcel" pricing exception available under section 1.7 of TSXV Policy 4.1 – Private Placements.
Immediately prior to the Private Placement, Canopy Growth and its affiliates held no Common Shares. Upon the closing of the Private Placement it is anticipated that Canopy Growth and its affiliates will exercise control and direction over 19.99% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. Canopy Growth and its affiliates do not currently own any convertible securities of Indiva. The Common Shares are being acquired for investment purposes and, as of the date of this news release, Canopy Growth and its affiliates have no current intention to acquire control or direction over additional securities of Indiva above 19.99% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares, either alone or together with any joint actors.
The securities to be offered pursuant to the Private Placement have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.
Canopy Growth is a leading North American cannabis and CPG company dedicated to unleashing the power of cannabis to improve lives. Through an unwavering commitment to our consumers, Canopy Growth delivers innovative products with a focus on premium and mainstream cannabis brands including Doja, 7ACRES, Tweed, and Deep Space. Our CPG portfolio features sugar-free sports hydration brand BioSteel, targeted 24-hour skincare and wellness solutions from This Works, gourmet wellness products by Martha Stewart CBD, and category defining vaporizer technology made in Germany by Storz & Bickel. Canopy Growth has also established a comprehensive ecosystem to realize the opportunities presented by the U.S. THC market through its rights to Acreage Holdings, Inc. a vertically integrated multi-state cannabis operator with principal operations in densely populated states across the Northeast, as well as Wana Brands, a leading cannabis edible brand in North America, and Jetty Extracts, a California-based producer of high-quality cannabis extracts and pioneer of clean vape technology. Beyond our world-class products, Canopy Growth is leading the industry forward through a commitment to social equity, responsible use, and community reinvestment—pioneering a future where cannabis is understood and welcomed for its potential to help achieve greater well-being and life enhancement. For more information visit www.canopygrowth.com.
Indiva is proud to be Canada's #1 producer of cannabis edibles. We set the gold standard for quality and innovation with our award-winning products, across a wide range of brands including Wana, Bhang, Pearls by Grön, as well as Indiva branded edibles and extracts. Indiva manufactures its top-quality products in its state-of-the-art facility in London, Ontario, and has a corporate workforce remotely distributed across Southern Ontario. Click here to connect with Indiva on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, and here to find more information on Indiva and its products.
Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the parties' current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, each of the Company's and Indiva's future operations, the Private Placement and the terms thereof and anticipated closing date, future results, future product offerings (including the timing of the introduction of new product offerings) and compliance with applicable regulations. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to the parties. The material factors and assumptions include the parties being able to maintain the necessary regulatory and other third parties' approvals and licensing and other risks associated with regulated entities in the cannabis industry, the transactions described in this news release and the parties ability to complete the transactions on the terms described herein or at all, future sales, the demand for each of the Company's and Indiva's products and cannabis products generally and the continued operations of each of the Company and Indiva in the ordinary course. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is made as of the date hereof and neither the Company nor Indiva is obligated to, and does not undertake to, update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions inherent in forward-looking information, investors should not place undue reliance on forward looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.
Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) has in any way passed upon the merits of the contents of this news release and neither of the foregoing entities accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release or has in any way approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Canopy Growth Corporation | 2023-05-30T11:43:47+00:00 | kxii.com | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/05/30/canopy-growth-indiva-announce-agreement-position-wana-gummies-continued-north-american-brand-leadership/ |
Q: Ira, if Kyrie Irving wants out then how long until Kevin Durant has had enough? The Heat would rather have Durant, right? – Tim.
A: Put it this way, has there been a time when the Heat haven’t been associated with a Kevin Durant chase? That probably also could be said about Kyrie Irving’s ongoing wanderlust, as well, but not to the same degree. But there is a common link. If the Heat truly believe that Durant again could stand as a possible addition, then they would have to be able to utilize Kyle Lowry’s contract in such a deal. But if Lowry’s deal were to be put into play for Irving, then the Durant option would be lost. For now, it’s a waiting game to see if the Nets blink by either giving Kyrie the extension he wants on the terms or wants, or if the Nets acquiesce to his trade demand. If Kyrie stays, then there is no Part II with Durant. But if Kyrie is gone, then all bets are on when it comes to another saga of what-ifs with Durant. The Heat, as always, would be interested in Durant. The Heat, as always, would be extremely cautious with Irving.
[ Submit your "Ask Ira" question HERE ]
Q: Ira. I understand you have an extremely difficult job. It’s easy for me to ask Erik Spoelstra questions from my sofa. You have to get answers 82 separate nights. I listened to your questions of Spo Thursday night. Why didn’t you ask about Jimmy Butler and his disappearing act in last night’s game, especially in the second half. Jimmy did not even take a free throw. He was barely involved in touching the ball at any time throughout the fourth quarter. That would have seemed like an obvious question to ask. Unless you know something we don’t (about his health). Hope to receive a response from you. Thank you. – Rick.
A: First, the job is many things, but difficult is not one of them. As for postgame media sessions, there are limits to the amount of questions that can be asked. It’s not the same as when the television networks have a player alone. So, first, had to ask about the dramatic game, and the way it played out. Then had to ask about Bam Adebayo’s aggression in almost taking over the game. Then asked about Kyle Lowry again not playing the fourth quarter. Then had to ask about Udonis Haslem playing over Dewayne Dedmon. Then had to ask about Haywood Highsmith being injected into the mix. And then had to defer to others. It was a game that had enough plotlines to fill a typical week. Yes, Jimmy Butler was largely contained, but he also deserves the occasional one off. If anything, the greater question is Jimmy consistently being held out for half of the fourth quarter seemingly regardless of the situation.
Q: Ira, last year, when Jimmy Butler had the blowup with Erik Spoelstra, there didn’t seem to be any major consequences. I guess there is a double standard depending upon how important or well paid a player is. – Rich, Plantation.
A: Correct. Always has been; always will be. Jimmy Butler can get away with more than Dewayne Dedmon. It’s the way it works in sports, society, life. Not everyone gets to play by the same rules. Fair? No Reality? Yes. | 2023-02-04T11:21:59+00:00 | sun-sentinel.com | https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/heat-blog/fl-sp-miami-heat-ask-ira-kyrie-irving-20230204-fapigeikxrazfcd6rqvespkn6m-story.html |
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — Newly-introduced legislation would prevent the purchase of West Virginia natural resources, farmland and property by citizens of the People’s Republic of China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, and others on the State Department’s Countries of Concern list.
Citizens from the Countries of Concern list would be banned from participating in tax sales.
It was introduced by West Virginia State Auditor JB McCuskey, who conducts the property tax sales for real estate and mineral interests, and West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt is encouraging its passage as well.
“As we continue to battle supply chain issues, rising energy prices and out of control inflation, we need to be thoroughly aware of who is investing in American owned assets. Agriculture is a prime target by bad foreign actors, and they will do anything to steal, copy or divert resources that benefit their own country. We have grave concerns regarding the future of American farmland and this bill is a step in the right direction in protecting our nation’s interests,” Commissioner Leonhardt said in a press release.
The release cites The Wall Street Journal in saying Chinese ownership of United States farmland went from $81 million in 2010 to $1.8 billion in 2020.
The bill would also require any business that wants to participate in the tax sale to register with the Secretary of State’s Office, and would create a bidder registry for individuals, preventing drug dealers, criminals and “those who do not have West Virginia’s interest at heart” from bidding. | 2023-01-30T20:52:02+00:00 | wboy.com | https://www.wboy.com/news/west-virginia/west-virginia-politics/west-virginia-legislation-aims-to-limit-certain-land-purchases-by-foreign-nationals/ |
More News
- Meridian superintendent Carmoney to retire effective Nov. 30
- Wildlife Wednesday: A wetland sanctuary in west Midland County needs help
- Meridian board to discuss employee issue at Oct. 12 special meeting
- Kelly: Dow, Creek volleyball best thing I've seen all year
- How to reverse Diabetes Belly fat: The removal of Diabetes...
- Is Bigfoot 'exchanging presents' with a northern Michigan man?
- Glenn's bill reaffirming parental rights in schools signed into law
- CRIME LOG: City police respond to felonious assault, domestic violence
Most Popular
- Meridian Early College High School has a new kid on the block, but he has a familiar face. Scott...
- Midland Brewing Company's giant pretzel, tenderloin tip salad pair well for an autumn lunch.
- A program of the Midland Business Alliance, Leadership Midland develops and enhances leadership...
- A total of 44 speakers are taking part in this year's Leadership Midland program from Oct. 13-15. | 2022-10-13T14:41:57+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/sports/article/2022-New-England-Patriots-Roster-17506436.php |
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) _ The winning numbers in Friday afternoon's drawing of the Iowa Lottery's "Pick 4 Midday" game were:
2-0-4-7
(two, zero, four, seven)
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) _ The winning numbers in Friday afternoon's drawing of the Iowa Lottery's "Pick 4 Midday" game were:
2-0-4-7
(two, zero, four, seven) | 2022-12-02T20:03:45+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Pick-4-Midday-game-17627139.php |
WVU wide out Kaden Prather says the WVU WR room is "underrated," and SPEAR Jasir Cox believes in the Mountaineer defense
Close
Thanks for signing up!
Watch for us in your inbox.
Subscribe Now | 2022-10-10T19:52:32+00:00 | wboy.com | https://www.wboy.com/goldandbluenation/wvu-football/watch-wvu-players-look-ahead-to-thursday-matchup-versus-baylor/ |
Jim McDivitt, an astronaut who played a key role in making America's first spacewalk and moon landing possible, has died. He was 93.
NASA confirmed his death to NPR on Monday, adding that he was surrounded by family and friends when he died on Thursday.
Known for being a courageous test pilot and dedicated leader, McDivitt commanded two of the most crucial flights in the early space race — Gemini 4 and Apollo 9.
McDivitt was selected by NASA to become an astronaut in 1962. He was chosen to pilot Gemini 4 — becoming the first-ever NASA rookie to command a mission.
Considered NASA's most ambitious flight at the time in 1965, the Gemini 4 mission was the first time the U.S. performed a spacewalk and the longest that a U.S. spacecraft remained in Earth's orbit: 4 days.
Four years later, McDivitt commanded Apollo 9 — a 10-day shakeout mission orbiting the Earth in March 1969 that involved testing the lunar landing spacecraft — four months before NASA would successfully land humans on the moon.
Apollo 9 was his last trip to space. He would become the manager of NASA's Lunar Landing Operations and served as the Apollo Spacecraft Program manager from 1969 to 1972. He retired in 1972 both from NASA and the Air Force as a brigadier general.
Russell Lewis contributed reporting. This story will be updated.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2022-10-17T19:40:37+00:00 | nprillinois.org | https://www.nprillinois.org/2022-10-17/former-nasa-astronaut-jim-mcdivitt-who-led-gemini-and-apollo-missions-dies-at-93 |
Recall: Marie Callender’s frozen shepherd’s pies could contain plastic
(Gray News) - A recall has been issued for nearly 3,000 pounds of frozen beef shepherd’s pie products due to the items possibly containing pieces of plastic.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, 2,717 pounds of Marie Callender’s frozen dinners with the beef product have been recalled.
Officials said the beef has been recalled after they received several complaints from consumers who reported finding pieces of clear, flexible plastic in the product.
The products affected by the recall were produced on March 1 with time stamps ranging between 17:45-17:56 hours on cases and packages of Marie Callender’s Beef Shepherd’s Pie with lot code 5006306020, a best by Feb. 24, 2024, date and case code 2113100032.
The products subject to the recall have establishment number EST 233 next to the USDA mark of inspection on the case and above the best-by date on the side panel of the individual product, according to the recall.
The affected items were distributed nationwide.
Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.
Officials said anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.
Consumers with questions about the recall can also contact Conagra’s Consumer Care Hotline at 877-469-3783.
Copyright 2023 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2023-06-20T23:24:56+00:00 | live5news.com | https://www.live5news.com/2023/06/20/recall-marie-callenders-frozen-shepherds-pies-could-contain-plastic/ |
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Nebraska football coach Matt Rhule has filed an arbitration suit with the NFL against the Carolina Panthers seeking about $5 million in offset severance compensation, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
Rhule was fired as Panthers head coach on Oct. 10. He has since hired high-profile New York City litigator John Singer of Singer Deutsch LLP to handle the lawsuit, according to the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the arbitration suit has not been made public.
A Panthers spokesman would not confirm the suit and declined to comment to the AP. Rhule, reached by text, also declined to comment.
CBS Sports was first to report the arbitration suit.
Rhule was fired after Week 5 of the NFL season, less than three years into a seven-year, $62 million contract. He was 11-27 as head coach with the Panthers. He was owed approximately $34 million at the time he was fired by billionaire David Tepper, the NFL's second-wealthiest owner.
Rhule returned to college coaching in November when he was hired by Nebraska, receiving a reported eight-year, $72 million contract that seemingly offset what the Panthers owed him. But the arbitration suit alleges the Panthers still owe him about $5 million because of how the contract with Carolina was structured.
The Panthers introduced Frank Reich as their new head coach at a news conference on Tuesday.
Tepper said he made a “mistake” hiring Rhule, whom he described as a "CEO-type head coach.” Tepper added that it is “preferable to have a coach that is really extraordinary on one side of the ball or the other side of the ball.”
“Listen, I’ll self-admit — we could have run a better process last time,” Tepper said. “And I am learning. ... With all humility, I could have done better, OK? I’m not saying that Rhule wasn’t a good coach. I’m not saying that. Please don’t interpret it that way. I’m saying I could have run a better process last time. I do believe that. I think this time we were very thorough. I was in every single interview.”
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | 2023-02-01T18:08:08+00:00 | local10.com | https://www.local10.com/sports/2023/02/01/ap-source-rhule-files-5m-arbitration-suit-vs-panthers/ |
26th Youth Symposium to be held this weekend
JACKSON, Tenn. — A local organization is preparing to empower young people across the community.
The Nu Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. will host the 26th annual Youth Symposium this weekend.
This year’s theme is “Supporting, serving, and empowering our youth educationally, civically, socially, physically, and emotionally.”
Organizers will have booths set up to help children make healthy choices going forward in life, and several guest speakers will be in attendance to talk about a range of topics from careers to health choices.
President of the Nu Sigma Alumni Chapter, Deborah Montague shared who this event is geared for.
“We’re asking middle schools, high schools organizations that serve youth between the grades of six and 12 to come out,” Montague said.
The Youth Symposium will be held Saturday, March 11 at the TR White Sportsplex from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The event is free and ages seven to 18 are welcome.
Find more local news here. | 2023-03-08T06:46:01+00:00 | wbbjtv.com | https://www.wbbjtv.com/2023/03/07/26th-youth-symposium-to-be-held-this-weekend/ |
Today is Monday, Nov. 28, the 332nd day of 2022. There are 33 days left in the year.
Birthdays: Recording executive Berry Gordy Jr. is 93. Former Democratic senator Gary Hart of Colorado is 86. Former Commerce secretary Wilbur Ross is 85. Singer Randy Newman is 79. Movie director Joe Dante is 75. Former “Late Show” orchestra leader Paul Shaffer is 73. Actor Ed Harris is 72. Former NASA astronaut Barbara Morgan is 71. Actor S. Epatha Merkerson is 70. Former Homeland Security secretary Michael Chertoff is 69. Movie director Alfonso Cuaron is 61. Rock musician Matt Cameron is 60. Comedian Jon Stewart is 60. Actor Malcolm Goodwin is 47. NHL goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is 38.
Advertisement
In 1520, Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan reached the Pacific Ocean after passing through the South American strait that now bears his name.
In 1919, American-born Lady Astor was elected the first female member of the British Parliament.
In 1942, fire engulfed the Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Boston, killing 492 people in the deadliest nightclub blaze ever. (The cause of the rapidly spreading fire, which began in the basement, is in dispute; one theory is that a busboy accidentally ignited an artificial palm tree while using a lighted match to fix a light bulb.)
In 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Josef Stalin began conferring in Tehran during World War II.
In 1961, Ernie Davis of Syracuse University became the first African-American to be named winner of the Heisman Trophy.
In 1964, the United States launched the space probe Mariner 4 on a course toward Mars, which it flew past in July 1965, sending back pictures of the red planet.
In 1979, an Air New Zealand DC-10 en route to the South Pole crashed into a mountain in Antarctica, killing all 257 people aboard.
Advertisement
In 1990, Margaret Thatcher resigned as British prime minister during an audience with Queen Elizabeth II, who then conferred the premiership on John Major.
In 1994, serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer was slain in a Wisconsin prison by a fellow inmate. Sixties war protester Jerry Rubin died in Los Angeles, two weeks after being hit by a car; he was 56.
In 2001, Enron Corp., once the world’s largest energy trader, collapsed after would-be rescuer Dynegy Inc. backed out of an $8.4 billion takeover deal. (Enron filed for bankruptcy protection four days later.)
In 2012, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said his state would need nearly $37 billion to recover and rebuild from Superstorm Sandy and that the state would seek federal aid to cover most of the expenses.
In 2016, the first commercial flight from the United States to Havana in more than 50 years arrived in Cuba as the island began week-long memorial services for Fidel Castro.
In 2017, a Libyan militant was convicted in federal court in Washington of terrorism charges stemming from the 2012 Benghazi attacks that killed the US ambassador and three other Americans, but the jury found Ahmed Abu Khattala not guilty of murder. (Khattala was sentenced the following June to 22 years in prison.) Jay-Z led the 2018 Grammy Award nominations as the top four categories were heavily dominated by rap and R&B artists.
In 2018, Democrats overwhelmingly nominated Nancy Pelosi to become House speaker when Democrats took control of the House in January.
Advertisement
In 2020, Pennsylvania’s highest court threw out a lower court’s order preventing the state from certifying dozens of contests on its Nov. 3 election ballot; it was the latest lawsuit filed by Republicans attempting to undo President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the battleground state. Sarah Fuller became the first woman to participate in a Power Five conference football game when she kicked off for Vanderbilt to start the second half at Missouri.
Last year, the Netherlands confirmed 13 cases of the new omicron variant of the coronavirus, while Australia and Canada each found two. Israel barred entry to all foreign nationals as countries around the world scrambled to slow the spread of the new variant. Lee Elder, who broke down racial barriers as the first Black golfer to play in the Masters, died in Escondido, California; he was 87. Carrie Meek, one of the first Black Floridians elected to Congress since Reconstruction, died at her Miami home at 95. Virgil Abloh, a leading designer whose groundbreaking fusions of streetwear and high couture made him one of the most celebrated tastemakers in fashion and beyond, died of cancer at 41. | 2022-11-28T05:54:13+00:00 | bostonglobe.com | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/11/28/metro/today-history/ |
CHRISTIANSBURG, Va (AP) — A jury on Friday acquitted a former Virginia Tech football player who had been accused of fatally beating a man he says he initially believed from a Tinder match to be a woman.
Former player Isimemen Etute, 19, was found not guilty of a charge of second-degree murder in the 2021 death of Jerry Smith, 40, of Blacksburg. The jury deliberated for approximately three hours before returning its verdict around 6:30 p.m., The Roanoke Times reported.
Immediately after the verdict was announced, Smith’s family quickly left the courtroom. The prosecuting attorney, Montgomery County Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Patrick Jensen, declined comment and referred questions to his boss, Commonwealth’s Attorney Mary Pettitt.
The jury began deliberations after closing arguments ended shortly before 3 p.m.
Prosecutors had earlier told the jury that Etute, then 18, became enraged and fatally beat Smith when he discovered Smith was a man. One of the prosecutors said at closing arguments Friday that Etute gave different versions of events to police and the jury, and that the charge may have been enough for him to change his testimony.
“He has a tremendous amount riding on this trial,” Jensen had said during his closing argument hours earlier Friday, The Roanoke Times reported.
Defense attorney Jimmy Turk told the jurors earlier Friday that the commonwealth’s evidence was circumstantial, while the defense’s evidence, which included the testimony of Etute, was direct.
Turk also said Smith was “controlling the entire environment and the entire episode.” He added that Smith had “demanded that it be dark” and had hidden a knife under his mattress “in case there was something awry.”
Turk also argued that police didn’t ask Etute essential questions about Smith’s knife or Etute’s fear while in the apartment, two questions whose answers could have shown whether Etute was afraid for his life and acting in self-defense.
In taking the stand earlier in the week, Etute had testified that he felt “violated” when he discovered that the Tinder match he believed to be a woman was actually a man.
In his testimony Thursday, Etute had testified that Smith reached for what Etute thought was a gun. Smith did not own a gun, but police reported finding a knife between the man’s mattress and box spring.
Etute said he punched Smith five times and kicked him to gain time to escape the apartment.
Jensen had maintained that Etute had not acted in self-defense. He argued that after Etute punched Smith and Smith fell to the floor, there was “no way” Smith could have reached a weapon under his mattress.
“He could never reach a gun from there,” Jensen said.
Jensen recalled the testimony of medical examiner Dr. Amy Tharp, who Jensen said testified Smith had been the victim of a “brutal beating.”
Jensen said that while Etute was wearing flip-flops at the time of the encounter, those shoes were attached to a “big person” and a “strong person.” He compared Etute, an “elite college athlete,” to Smith, who weighed 153 pounds (just under 70 kilograms).
“That’s a big disparity,” Jensen said. | 2022-05-28T18:10:38+00:00 | wivb.com | https://www.wivb.com/news/u-s-headlines/former-virginia-tech-player-acquitted-in-2021-beating-death/ |
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WRIC) — A man is dead after police say he was shot on a Green Line train at the Navy Yard Station in Washington, D.C. Sunday morning.
According to a tweet from Metro Transit Police at 12:27 p.m. on Sunday, May 28, Metropolitan Police officers and Metro Transit Police officers responded to a Green Line train at the Navy Yard Station at around 11:45 a.m. after it was reported that a man was shot.
Police say that, despite life-saving measures, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have not identified the victim of released any information regarding a possible suspect.
This is a developing story, stay with 8News for updates. | 2023-05-28T17:54:21+00:00 | wric.com | https://www.wric.com/washington-dc/man-shot-killed-on-d-c-metro-train-at-navy-yard-station/ |
BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) – It’s that time of year again where preparing can save your life. Better Business Bureau shares tips on the importance of saving your original documents.
We are just days into hurricane season and Carmen Million, president of Better Business Bureau, said the time is now to get prepared. “It’s Hurricane Season, everybody knows what can happen. The last couple of years have not been very friendly to us.”
Million said her best tip for you is to secure your original documents in case you have to file a claim. “Anything that you think that you can’t live without as far as paperwork, documents, financial information. Make sure you have it in a safe place. So, that if you have to leave, especially if you have to leave in a hurry that you can grab and take with you.”
Documents like birth certificates, insurance policies, and titles are important to store in a safe place just in case something happens.
Carmen Million also stated, “Make sure that you take pictures, videos of not only of your personal belongings but your office, your equipment, your home, your furniture, your landscape to see before and after incase you do have to file a claim with the insurance company.”
Million said there are risks when you fail to secure important documents, “It may take them a good while to get those copies,” which will in turn delay you getting the help you need.
“Not only do you want to have water and batteries and all the other things that they are telling you to do but you need to have a plan and your paperwork handy,” explained Cameron Million | 2022-06-06T20:11:39+00:00 | cenlanow.com | https://www.cenlanow.com/business/better-business-bureau-shares-the-importance-of-securing-documents-during-hurricane-season/ |
BOSTON (WWLP) – The Healey Administration announced an update to the health and physical education curriculum Wednesday.
Just six months into her position as Governor, Healey is announcing a total overhaul to the state’s health and sexual education framework. The Governor, alongside education officials, rolled out an initial outline of what the administration is calling a “comprehensive health and physical education curriculum.”
The curriculum would start as young as pre-K and run until a student graduates high school. This proposed plan would update the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s current guidelines, which have not been updated since 1999.
The Governor and those at the news conference spoke on how much has changed in the past 24 years when it comes to where students are getting their information from and the mental health challenges students face, especially post-pandemic.
“I believe, strongly, as I know is a sentiment shared by all I’m privileged to stand with, that our students deserve inclusive, medically accurate and age appropriate health guidelines. That’s what these guidelines provide, they are going to empower our students with the skills they need to build healthy lives now and beyond,” Governor Healey said.
On top of learning about nutrition, hygiene, and emotional health, students will also be exposed to learning about gender, sexual orientation, and sexual health. The governor stressed this education will be LGBTQ+ inclusive.
Next Tuesday, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will receive the proposed curriculum and vote on it. Now, if this framework is adopted, school districts will have the ability to determine how these new standards will be implemented on a local level. | 2023-06-21T21:02:43+00:00 | wwlp.com | https://www.wwlp.com/news/update-to-health-and-sexual-educational-standards-in-massachusetts-proposed/ |
WFO SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, May 2, 2023
_____
Advertisement
Article continues below this ad
WIND ADVISORY
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Hanford CA
Advertisement
Article continues below this ad
1056 AM PDT Sun Apr 30 2023
...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON MONDAY TO 5 AM PDT TUESDAY...
* WHAT...Southwest winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph
expected.
Advertisement
Article continues below this ad
* WHERE...Indian Wells Valley, Mojave Desert Slopes and Mojave
Desert.
* WHEN...From noon Monday to 5 AM PDT Tuesday.
* IMPACTS...Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects.
Advertisement
Article continues below this ad
Tree limbs could be blown down. Blowing dust could reduce
visibilities at times. Travel will be difficult, particularly
for high profile vehicles.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Highways affected include, but are not
Advertisement
Article continues below this ad
limited to Highway 14, Highway 58, Highway 178, and U.S. 395.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high
profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.
Advertisement
Article continues below this ad
_____
Copyright 2023 AccuWeather | 2023-04-30T18:25:11+00:00 | seattlepi.com | https://www.seattlepi.com/weather/article/ca-wfo-san-joaquin-valley-warnings-watches-and-17998891.php |
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- sweetFrog (www.sweetFrog.com), the premium frozen yogurt brand, is partnering with the American Red Cross to raise awareness for water safety ahead of the busy summer swim season.
"sweetFrog is honored to partner with the Red Cross this summer emphasizing the importance of water safety," said Heather Marini, senior national marketing manager for Kahala Brands®, parent company of sweetFrog. "Our alignment with this important mission further cements the notion that being a part of the sweetFrog community means bringing awareness and resources to significant issues that are present in our communities, including ensuring that parents and caregivers have the knowledge and skills to handle emergencies around water."
"We appreciate the opportunity to partner with sweetFrog to support the Red Cross in addition to this important, lifesaving mission," said AZ NM Interim Chief Executive Officer Gino Greco. "It only takes a moment for a child or adult to drown in a pool, bathtub or even a bucket of water. We hopefully can save lives by working together to improve water competency."
Customers will have the opportunity to make donations to support the Red Cross and its ability to respond to emergencies whenever and wherever it is needed most. sweetFrog will match total donations received through sweetfrog.com/watersafety dollar for dollar up to $10,000 between May 1, 2023 and August 15, 2023, and guests will receive sweetFrog coupons as a "thank you" for their donation.
Many sweetFrog locations around the country will also be hosting water safety nights at their stores and anyone in the local community looking to learn more is welcome to attend. More information is available using the same website. Plus, sign up for the Red Cross' June Swim Challenge for the opportunity to win branded Red Cross and sweetFrog merchandise, including a tote bag and beach towel.
A new flavor inspired by the partnership, Pool Party Punch, will also be featured in stores and is made with a refreshing combination of Green Apple Sorbet and Cotton Candy Frozen Yogurt topped with gummy bears, gummi peach rings and graham cracker crumbs.
Hop into participating U.S. sweetFrog stores this summer to support the American Red Cross and try Pool Party Punch for a limited time until August 1, 2023.
Featured Flavor:
- Pool Party Punch, a combination of Green Apple Sorbet and Cotton Candy Frozen Yogurt
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
About sweetFrog®
sweetFrog, one of the country's top frozen yogurt concepts, prides itself on providing a family-friendly environment where customers can enjoy premium frozen yogurt, ice cream, gelato and sorbets with the toppings of their choice. There are more than 250 sweetFrog locations in over 25 states and the Dominican Republic. In 2018, sweetFrog was acquired by MTY Franchising USA, Inc., a member of one of the fastest growing franchising conglomerates in the world. Between it and its subsidiaries, it has a portfolio of nearly 30 fast-casual and quick-service restaurant brands with approximately 3,000 locations in 35 countries.
For more information about sweetFrog, please visit www.sweetFrog.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE sweetFrog | 2023-05-10T13:03:02+00:00 | kwtx.com | https://www.kwtx.com/prnewswire/2023/05/10/sweetfrog-teams-up-with-american-red-cross-raise-awareness-water-safety/ |
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Clubhouse Media Group, Inc. (OTCMKTS: CMGR) ("CMGR"), an influencer-based social media firm and digital talent management agency, announced that they have finalized two separate brand promotional deals with fitness model and social media star, Sommer Ray as well as with social media influencer and actress, Brooke Schofield. Both deals were consummated through CMGR's majority held entity, The Reiman Agency. Ray was born in Colorado and has won several bodybuilding and fitness competitions. In recent years she has amassed an impressive social media following, boasting 26M+ followers on Instagram alone. Schofield was born in Arizona. She is a rising content creator and actress.
"It is always a pleasure to work with Sommer, Brooke, and their respective teams" said Alden Reiman, President of The Reiman Agency. "They each have built a tremendously engaged audience that aligns directly with the consumer demographics of many brands. I look forward to continuing our close working relationships with those who represent them both."
CMGR offers management, production, and deal-making services to its handpicked influencers, a management division for individual influencer clients, and an investment arm for joint ventures and acquisitions for companies in the social media influencer space.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This release contains "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements also may be included in other publicly available documents issued by CMGR and in oral statements made by our officers and representatives from time to time. These forward-looking statements are intended to provide management's current expectations or plans for our future operating and financial performance, based on assumptions currently believed to be valid. They can be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "goal," "seek," "believe," "project," "estimate," "expect," "strategy," "future," "likely," "may," "should," "would," "could," "will" and other words of similar meaning in connection with a discussion of future operating or financial performance.
Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements relating to future sales, earnings, cash flows, results of operations, uses of cash and other measures of financial performance.
Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause CMGR's actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others such as, but not limited to economic conditions, changes in the laws or regulations, demand for CMGR's products and services, the effects of competition and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or represented in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking information provided in this release should be considered with these factors in mind. We caution investors not to rely unduly on any forward-looking statements and urge you to carefully consider the risks described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, which are available on the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at sec.gov. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Clubhouse Media Group, Inc. | 2022-11-08T14:01:16+00:00 | kwtx.com | https://www.kwtx.com/prnewswire/2022/11/08/clubhouse-media-group-inc-closes-separate-brand-deals-with-sommer-ray-brooke-schofield/ |
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — The Snow Creek Fire put the Jefferson County Community on edge Tuesday afternoon. The 2-acre was knocked down quickly by multiple fire crews and air resources.
Smoke could be seen from Interstate 70 and C-470, billowing from Mount Lindo. The fire caused officials to evacuate one home on the hill and sent about 60 others into pre-evacuation status.
“There are so many values at risk here, meaning people’s homes, people’s property, and people’s lives that we need to pound this fire and surround it as quickly as we can,” said Rhonda Scholting with West Metro Fire.
Scholting said that the strategy in these conditions was to keep it small. Their department called in extra crews to tackle the flames from the ground and the air.
“We call our wildland team. If they’re off today, they come in, so we don’t use the crews that are actually on duty, because there are still other things going on in the fire district. So like people, unfortunately, having heart attacks, having car accidents and there’s other you know, fires and needs. We have to put the resources that we can muster on this as quickly as possible,” Scholting said.
Crews reached the fire on foot.
“They hiked up there because that’s really the only way to access the fire. You cannot get anything with wheels up there,” Scholting said.
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Jackie Kelley said that a benefit to this fire is how close the water source was to the flames.
“So the turnaround is very quick, which is very good. You’re not always fortunate when you have a fire, and in the mountains, that can be some distance and time. So this is really great,” Kelley said.
This fire serves as a wake-up call for people who live in the area to be prepared for a fire all year long.
“[Tuesday was] a moderate fire risk day in West Metro, just moderate. So this is what a moderate day can potentially do,” Scholting said.
Although investigators were on scene all afternoon, there is still no word as to what started this fire. | 2022-07-13T04:51:04+00:00 | kdvr.com | https://kdvr.com/news/local/quick-air-attack-helped-keep-snow-creek-fire-small/ |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The FBI has opened criminal investigations into violent encounters involving Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies, including one in which a deputy punched a woman in the face as she held her baby.
Federal authorities visited the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department headquarters to take documents related to the probes, according to an email obtained by the newspaper, the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday.
Department officials confirmed the visit and told the newspaper they planned to cooperate with investigators.
The second case being scrutinized by the FBI involves a deputy who threw a woman to the ground by her neck last month in a grocery store parking lot after she started recording an arrest with her cellphone.
In addition to the federal investigations, the California Department of Justice has agreed to review the case of 18-year-old Andres Guardado, who was shot in the back three years ago by a sheriff’s deputy in the city of Gardena, south of Los Angeles, the email said.
An FBI spokesperson would not confirm that agents were conducting a criminal investigation into either incident.
The internal county email obtained by the newspaper said that “federal criminal investigations have been opened concerning the recent incidents” in Palmdale and Lancaster, north of Los Angeles.
The Palmdale case involved a July 2022 traffic stop but did not become public until this week, when Sheriff Robert Luna called a news conference to release body camera footage and announce that the deputy involved had been relieved of duty.
The eight-minute video was taken during the traffic stop after Palmdale deputies spotted a vehicle being driven at night without any headlights. When they pulled it over, the deputies smelled alcohol and saw four women inside, three of them with babies in their arms rather than in car seats, authorities said.
The deputies began to arrest the women on suspicion of felony child endangerment, and used force on two of the women when they resisted giving up their babies. The bulk of the video shows a tense conversation between a group of deputies and one woman who clutches her baby while sitting cross-legged on the ground. The deputies are heard saying that the woman was riding in a car driven by someone without a valid license, and that her baby was not in a car seat.
After several minutes of back-and-forth, deputies pry the woman’s hands apart, and she begins screaming as the child is removed from her arms. Nearby, another woman holding a baby begins screaming and cursing at officers before deputies announce they plan to arrest her too.
As at least two deputies hold the woman by her wrists and arms, a third male deputy can be seen throwing two punches toward her head while she is still holding her baby. It is unclear in the video whether the punches connected with the woman’s head, but she howls in pain.
The FBI is also investigating a June 24 case when deputies responded to 911 calls reporting a robbery in progress at a grocery store in Lancaster. They encountered a man and a woman who they said matched the descriptions of the suspects given to 911, according to authorities.
As the deputies handcuffed the man in the parking lot, the woman began taking video with her phone. Within seconds, one of the deputies rushes toward her and reaches for her arm, seemingly in an attempt to take the phone.
“You can’t touch me,” she screams. The deputy throws her on the ground, and video shows him arguing with her, and at one point threatening to punch her. He then pepper-sprays her in the face and handcuffs her.
The man who was handcuffed was ultimately cited on suspicion of resisting an officer, attempted petty theft and interfering with a business. The woman was hospitalized for the effects of the pepper spray and for abrasions to her arm. She was released but cited on suspicion of assaulting an officer, as well as battery on allegations that she had assaulted store loss prevention personnel, the newspaper said.
Luna has vowed to overhaul the nation’s largest sheriff’s department since taking charge in December. | 2023-07-15T21:24:42+00:00 | wcia.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/national/ap-us-news/ap-fbi-opens-criminal-investigations-into-violent-los-angeles-county-deputy-encounters/ |
CHICAGO (AP) — Javier Assad pitched four scoreless innings in his major league debut and combined with four relievers on a five-hitter as the Chicago Cubs cooled off the St. Louis Cardinals 2-0 on Tuesday in the first game of a doubleheader.
Michael Rucker (3-1), Sean Newcomb, Erich Uelmen and Brandon Hughes allowed one hit over the final five innings to halt the NL Central-leading Cardinals’ season-high eight-game winning streak. Hughes picked up his third save.
“Phenomenal job by the whole pitching staff, obviously, holding these guys to no runs,” Cubs manager David Ross said.
Nico Hoerner and Seiya Suzuki drove in runs off St. Louis starter Adam Wainwright in the third. Rookie Christopher Morel had two hits for the Cubs, who have won six of eight.
Chicago kept red-hot, 42-year-old Albert Pujols in the ballpark. He went 1-for-4 with a double after batting .548 (17-for-33) with seven homers in his previous 10 games.
“We’ve been coming through with the big hits quite often for the past couple of weeks and guys have been cashing in,” St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol said. “But today we got good pitches to hit and were just missing them.”
The 25-year-old Assad was selected from Triple-A Iowa before the game. The right-hander allowed four hits, walked four and struck out three.
“Really nice debut for him,” Ross said. “He looked to be calm out there, pounding the strike zone. The cutter was working really well for him, being able to come right at them right out of the chute.”
Rucker relieved Assad with two on and none out in the fifth and Chicago ahead 2-0. He retired Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado and Nolan Gorman to end the threat, then pitched a 1-2-3 sixth.
“For me, Rucker’s performance was really impressive,” Ross said.
Wainwright (9-9) yielded two runs on five hits in six innings.
Lars Nootbaar doubled twice but was thrown out at the plate in the first when he tried to score from third on Goldschmidt’s grounder to first.
The Cardinals loaded the bases with two outs in the third on Brendan Donovan’s single followed by a pair of walks. Assad got Gorman to ground out.
The Cubs scored on Hoerner’s RBI groundout and Suzuki’s single up the middle that deflected off Wainwright’s glove.
LONG ROAD
Assad, a native of Tijuana, Mexico, joined the Cubs organization as an 18-year-old in 2016. His wife and parents were in the stands at Wrigley Field.
“It’s something we’ve been working hard for, seven years in this organization,” Assad said through a translator. “It’s definitely something that lived up to what I thought it was going to be like.”
Assad’s first strikeout: Getting Pujols looking the second inning.
“I was 3 years old when he debuted,” Assad said. “So I never imagined that I would have been facing him, let alone getting that strikeout.”
BLANKED AGAIN
The Cubs shut out the Cardinals for the second time this season, following a 3-0 win at St. Louis on June 24.
BATTERY BUDS
Wainwright and catcher Yadier Molina, both 40, started their 321st game as batterymates. That’s second only to Detroit’s Mickey Lolich and Bill Freehan, who worked 324 together.
ROSTER MOVES
Chicago optioned RHP Kervin Castro to Triple-A Iowa and selected RHP Nicholas Padilla from the farm club as the 27th man for the doubleheader. … St. Louis added LHP Matthew Liberatore from Triple-A Memphis as its 27th man. The 22-year-old is rated as the Cardinals’ top pitching prospect, but struggled in two previous stints with St. Louis this season.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cardinals: Manager Oliver Marmol said he hopes RHP Ryan Helsley would return on Wednesday. Helsley was played on the paternity list on Friday, then moved to the restricted list on Monday.
Cubs: INF Patrick Wisdom (finger) remained out of the lineup. … OF Jason Heyward (right knee inflammation) was transferred to the 60-day injured list. The five-time Gold Glove winner hasn’t played since June 24.
UP NEXT
St. Louis RHP Jake Woodford (2-0, 2.66 ERA) was to face Chicago’s Adrian Sampson (1-3, 3.51) in the nightcap.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2022-08-24T19:30:27+00:00 | cenlanow.com | https://www.cenlanow.com/sports/assad-4-relievers-help-cubs-stop-cards-8-game-streak-2-0/ |
McMaster University enables new innovative capability in multi-length scale experiments for materials across diverse research fields through a new partnership between the Canadian Centre for Electron Microscopy and ZEISS, featured in a workshop premiering March 6-7.
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. and HAMILTON, ON, Feb. 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Canadian Centre for Electron Microscopy (CCEM), located at McMaster University, recently acquired a ZEISS Crossbeam 350 laser FIB-SEM and a next-generation Versa 3D X-ray microscope. This opens new innovative approaches to science by correlating high-resolution non-destructive 3D X-ray imaging with FIB-SEM 3D imaging aided by integrated femtosecond laser for precise machining. This enables high-resolution 2D and 3D analysis at sites within millimeter volumes of materials.
These advancements will be demonstrated in an upcoming free workshop March 6-7 scheduled as a hybrid event with international speakers. Register here to join virtually or in person: https://ccem.mcmaster.ca/events/correlative-workflows-and-applications-characterization-from-x-rays-to-electrons-workshop/
The new capabilities provide experimental efficiencies allowing a higher number of experiments than previously possible, accelerating the rate of scientific discovery. The faster sample preparation enabled by the femtosecond laser is causing a paradigm shift in the types of experiments that can be done as well as their frequency. In addition, the study of materials across length scales can be well supported with statistically valid data captured in context of the larger specimen.
"Our new instruments are key to advancing materials important to society today, such as batteries, semiconductors, and metal alloys," said Nabil Bassim, Scientific Director of CCEM, McMaster University. "With a high-resolution 3D X-ray microscope and integrated laser FIB-SEM system, we have a suite of tools for correlated workflows needed to explore large material volumes and examine nanoscale features or defects. We have already completed experiments that were not possible before."
About CCEM
CCEM is located at McMaster University and was opened in 2004. Between 2014 and 2023, the CCEM was funded by the CFI Major Science Initiatives (MSI) program as one of 17 national research facilities in Canada. CCEM houses 19 best-in-class electron, ion, and X-ray microscopes for 2D and 3D microscopy at length scales from the mm to atoms. Research and Development is supported by a team of 15 full-time professional expert staff performing microscopy and consulting services, as well as training and educating users and the public in materials characterization. CCEM has a diverse, national user base of more than 500 users resulting in more than 140 peer-reviewed journal articles annually. CCEM serves users from academia and industry, from all over Canada and internationally. The research projects range from biology to chemistry, geology to engineering. Our goal is to enable our users and partners to solve tomorrow's material problems.
For more information go to: https://ccem.mcmaster.ca/
About McMaster University
McMaster University is a research-intensive Canadian university consistently ranked as one of the world's Top 100 universities. Together, our researchers, students and staff advance human and societal health and well-being, creating a Brighter World.
For more information go to: https://www.mcmaster.ca/
About ZEISS
ZEISS is an internationally leading technology enterprise operating in the fields of optics and optoelectronics. In the previous fiscal year, the ZEISS Group generated annual revenue totaling 8.8 billion euros in its four segments Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology, Industrial Quality & Research, Medical Technology and Consumer Markets (status: 30 September 2022).
ZEISS Research Microscopy Solutions
ZEISS Research Microscopy Solutions is the world's only one-stop manufacturer of light, electron, X-ray and ion microscope systems and offers solutions for correlative microscopy. The portfolio is comprised of products and services for life sciences, semiconductors, materials and industrial research, as well as education and clinical practice. The unit is headquartered in Jena. Additional production and development sites are located in Oberkochen and Munich, as well as in Cambourne (UK) and Dublin (USA). ZEISS Research Microscopy Solutions is part of the Industrial Quality & Research segment.
For more information go to: www.zeiss.com/microscopy
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE ZEISS Research Microscopy Solutions | 2023-02-22T23:03:45+00:00 | kxii.com | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/02/22/mcmaster-university-develops-novel-experimental-designs-with-zeiss-laserfib-next-generation-3d-x-ray-microscope/ |
TAMPA, Fla. (AP)Tampa Bay’s Tom Brady and Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers will be working without some of their top receivers Sunday when the seven-time Super Bowl winner and four-time MVP face off.
The injury report released Friday ruled Green Bay’s Sammy Watkins and Tampa Bay’s Chris Godwin out for Sunday’s game at Tampa. The Buccaneers already were planning to play without wide receiver Mike Evans , who received a one-game suspension for his role in an on-field brawl during the Bucs’ 20-10 victory over the New Orleans Saints.
Godwin will be missing a second straight game. Watkins played Sunday night and had three catches for 93 yards in the Packers’ 27-10 triumph over the Chicago Bears.
Other receivers could be missing as well.
Tampa Bay’s Russell Gage (hamstring), Julio Jones (knee) and Breshad Perriman (knee) and Green Bay’s Randall Cobb (illness) and Christian Watson (hamstring) are listed as questionable. Packers tight end Marcedes Lewis (groin) also is questionable.
Gage, Watson and Cobb didn’t practice Friday. Jones, Perriman and Lewis were limited practice participants.
The Packers did get some good news Friday, as offensive tackle David Bakhtiari (knee) and wide receiver Allen Lazard (ankle) were limited practice participants. Lazard hadn’t practiced Thursday.
Lazard had no status listed next to his name on the injury report, an indication he should be available to play. Bakhtiari is listed as questionable as he attempts to appear in a game for just the second time since tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament on Dec. 31, 2020.
Tampa Bay defensive tackle Akiem Hicks (foot) has been ruled out for Sunday’s game. Bucs running back Leonard Fournette (hamstring) is questionable and tight end Cade Otton (personal) and tackle Donovan Smith (elbow) are doubtful.
—
More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP-NFL | 2022-09-24T21:41:44+00:00 | ourquadcities.com | https://www.ourquadcities.com/nfl/packers/packers-watkins-bucs-godwin-ruled-out-for-sundays-game/ |
With Vladimir Putin's war still raging in Ukraine, U.S. officials fear China will follow suit, by one day invading the self-ruled island of Taiwan and triggering another war. They want to know what China is learning from the battle for Ukraine and whether Xi Jinping is getting accurate intelligence.
"The lack of an independent intelligence community significantly worsened Putin's decision making in Ukraine," Sen. Jim Inhofe said. "What is President Xi in China learning about his intel community?"
"I think it's a really interesting question," Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines responded. "I'd prefer to answer it in closed session. Would that be alright, sir?"
While that answer may be in secret, Newsy spoke with former government officials who say China's intelligence often conforms to political framing, and has no system of checks and balances.
Matt Brazil is a former diplomat who served in Beijing and co-wrote a book on China’s intelligence community.
"What careful intelligence officers do is, they do actually outsource their analysis to foreigners, because when they do this, they can say if they're asked about 'Why did you bring this heretical viewpoint to the leadership?' 'We didn't do it. What we're doing is reporting on what foreign experts are saying,'" he said.
He says Chinese spies fear being quietly shuffled out or accused of corruption, which could lead to demotion, arrest, physical harm, indefinite detention, family reprisal, or even possible execution. And he says Chinese spies are operating in Ukraine.
"The Chinese intelligence community undoubtedly has people on the ground in Ukraine," Brazil said. "They are learning about Russian military mistakes. They are learning about how quickly Russian military morale dipped, how quick it went down. They're learning about how the Ukrainians are vociferously defending their own country. And So the question that they are going to send to their agents in Taiwan is, what is what are the chances, number one, of people in Taiwan acting like Ukrainians?"
A former senior intelligence officer — who did not want to be named in order to speak freely — tells Newsy that unlike Putin, Xi is not completely surrounded by yes men. He has relied on a vast array of sources, including the contacts of his father, who was a revolutionary and senior official.
The source also said the U.S. does not know how often Xi receives intelligence briefings, but that Chinese officials previously considered having their own version of the President's Daily Brief, which is the crown jewel of U.S. intelligence products.
Meanwhile, Beijing has been quietly and publicly pursuing efforts to build overseas military infrastructure. And recent satellite imagery, first obtained by analyst Matt Funaiole, shows China preparing to launch its third, largest, and most advanced aircraft carrier.
"This newest carrier, it's using all of the newest technology that China has access to. And it really is pushing the boundaries of carrier technology," Funaiole said. "It's also one of the first sort of indigenously built aircraft carriers in China."
The vessel is expected to carry large aircraft that fly to gather intelligence. And the U.S. will evaluate whether that intelligence is swayed by political winds.
Newsy is the nation’s only free 24/7 national news network. You can find Newsy using your TV’s digital antenna or stream for free. See all the ways you can watch Newsy here. | 2022-06-09T02:54:55+00:00 | ktvq.com | https://www.ktvq.com/news/national/former-us-officials-offer-a-look-inside-chinas-intel-community |
AL RAYYAN, Qatar (AP) — Finally!
Robert Lewandowski at last scored a goal in a World Cup match on Saturday, helping Poland beat Saudi Arabia 2-0 and boosting his team’s chances of reaching the knockout stages.
Lewandowski shed tears after scoring in the 82nd minute. He raced toward the corner with his arms outstretched, then stayed slumped on the field as teammates rushed to congratulate him. He got up, rubbed his face, and blew a kiss to the crowd.
“Today everything I had inside, the dreams, the importance of the occasion, all those dreams from my childhood came through,” Lewandowski said. “It was so significant.”
One of the best forwards in the world, Lewandowski’s barren streak at the World Cup was somewhat puzzling. Now, in his fifth match at the tournament, it’s over.
“I always wanted to score at the World Cup and this dream came true,” said Lewandowski, who had a penalty saved in Poland’s 0-0 draw with Mexico on Tuesday. “It’s not easy, because we didn’t have many opportunities in the first match and I missed that penalty.”
Against Saudi Arabia, Lewandowski also set up the opener in the 40th minute when he kept the ball in play after goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais’ initial block, then laid it back for Piotr Zielinski to knock in.
Lewandowski, who had no involvement in any goals in his first four World Cup games, also hit the post, and Al-Owais later denied the Barcelona player from scoring another goal toward the end of the match.
It was the one that went in that brought tears to the 34-year-old striker’s eyes.
“The older I get, the more emotional I get,” Lewandowski said, referring to his reaction after finally scoring. “I’m aware that when it comes to the World Cup, that this might be my last World Cup. And I wanted to underline that I played at World Cups and I scored.”
Poland coach Czeslaw Michniewicz said he wasn’t surprised by Lewandowski’s moving reaction.
“I know how deeply he lived the last match,” Michniewicz said. “I’m very sorry he wasn’t lucky enough, he hit the post and the goalkeeper made a save. He could have had a hat trick today.”
Poland was scrambling for long periods at the Education City Stadium as the Saudi team was pushed forward by enthusiastic fans in what seemed like a home game. The frustration was clear on Lewandowski’s face as Poland’s yellow cards mounted.
Saudi Arabia had a chance to equalize at the end of the first half but Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny saved Salem Al-Dawsari’s penalty kick. He then blocked Mohammed Al-Burayk’s shot from the rebound.
Szczesny was also called upon in the second half, when Saudi Arabia created several good chances.
“There is some part during the game, you must be more efficient,” Saudi Arabia coach Hervé Renard said.
Renard’s team had 16 attempts at goal, twice as many as Poland.
“Like I said before, we are still alive,” the French coach said. “This is the most important.”
Poland will next face Argentina, while Saudi Arabia will meet Mexico in their last Group C games.
___
AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2022-11-27T00:22:29+00:00 | everythinglubbock.com | https://www.everythinglubbock.com/sports/ap-lewandowski-scores-at-world-cup-poland-beats-saudis-2-0/ |
Meadows Elementary School celebrated its history Wednesday evening with a party. Students jumped and squealed on inflatable bouncing attractions on the playground as three inflatable tube guys danced outside the school.
Plenty of pizza, chips and drinks were consumed. An ice cream truck had the legend "Bring Back The Past" on its side door, a sentiment no doubt shared by Meadows' teachers and parents in lieu of its impending closure. Many wore T-shirts with a penguin surrounded by the words "Meadows Elementary 1956-2022."
It was the most bittersweet fun imaginable.
"Usually, when we're leaving, we know we'll see each other in the fall — this year is more different; it's a more grand celebration that they'll remember more," principal Cassandra Cook said before the event. "It'll be very emotional."
"It's a really hard night," said Valeri Kershaw, who began as a first grade teacher this year. "Even leading up to it, I've had a pit in my stomach. Bounce houses as the school is closing."
The Vigo County School Corporation announced in January that it would be repurposing the school, despite a vociferous community effort to keep its doors open. "I'm proud of our community," said Cook, who has yet to be reassigned though all of Meadows' faculty and staff have been assigned jobs elsewhere. "I didn't know what to expect — when the announced we'd be closing, everyone was so supportive of the school. I was surprised that the community was so vocal and fought for our school."
Cook's voice cracked as she said, "This is a family and it's hard to say good-bye to everybody. I've been here nine years. The kids look to us for support — we're a second home and we're second parents."
Diana Allen, who has been a math liaison for Meadows as well as a variety of other local schools, agreed about the family aspect.
"The staff was very welcoming and always kind," she said. "They help each other, they're very supportive, and that's important — you have to support each other in this kind of environment. They accept everyone."
"That's how I ended up working here is because even as a volunteer, I felt the family and community here," said Kershaw, who began volunteering for the school when her daughter began attending it. "Even in the six years I've been involved here, you see there are generations of families that continue to come back here. It's devastating." Kershaw will return to teaching high school English.
"We are a family," said Kathy Deal, library media specialist. "That's one of [Cook's] strengths — she knits an entire staff together as a family."
Deal's library hosted a reception for former teachers and staff during the party, with old yearbooks on the tables for them to page through and reminisce.
She'll be going to Lost Creek Elementary School in the fall. "I love students, I love teaching, and I'm committed to loving the next school where I go and developing relationships with the kids there," she said. "But I will always treasure the years I spent here."
Deal was one of a number of teachers who fondly recalled getting hugs from their students. Cheryl Joyal said the huggers didn't have to be a teacher's own students.
"When I worked here, I would have children stop by my door that I didn't even know their name, but they would come in for a hug," she remembered. "I could be that touch point for them."
For Joyal, Meadows' closure is a double whammy — both she and her children attended the school, and she taught kindergarten there for 16 years.
"It broke my heart," she said. "I was hoping that something might happen that we could keep it open. It's a neighborhood school with a high-poverty population, and those children really need a small environment that feels like home. It was difficult to know this was going away."
"It's almost as if we've had a constant counseling session for the past six months," said Kershaw. "I have had students break down at the most random times. They don't want to switch schools and are feeling unsettled."
Several teachers pointed out that the schools that will be inheriting the students have gone out of their way to be welcoming to their new charges. Chad and Donella Henderson report that that's been the case for their second grader Sienna.
"She's excited for a new adventure — she's going to DeVaney, and she's been on a tour there and really likes it," said Donella.
"She has some friends going to DeVaney with her, so she's happy," added Chad.
Deidra Wiley, grandparent of Meadows second-grader Kamden Tyson, was philosophical about the decision.
"With the size of the student body, I have mixed emotions about this," she said. "I worked here in 1990 and [the announcement] really surprised me. It was a very, very good school. When I worked here it was really nice."
Sketched on the playground basketball court is a hopscotch diagram. Instead of numbers, the pattern read, "I am"/"Powerful"/"Brave"/"Curious"/"Smart" all the way to the payoff, "Worth It."
Many feel the same way about Meadows.
David Kronke can be reached at 812-231-4232 or at david.kronke@tribstar.com. | 2022-05-12T05:41:39+00:00 | tribstar.com | https://www.tribstar.com/news/local_news/students-staff-community-come-together-to-celebrate-meadows-elementary/article_ea139055-abeb-5b69-9e22-33895873b63d.html |
VIDEO COURTESY: Slidell Police Department
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
SLIDELL, La. (WGNO) — Two men are behind bars on the North Shore after detectives say they claimed to be celebrating Independence Day by aimlessly firing shots into the air.
Check out the surveillance video submitted to us by the Slidell Police Department. You can see two people emerge from the right side of the screen and hear what police say is the sound of gunshots being fired into the air.
SPD says that the two men in the video, 30-year-old Harrison Triggs and 25-year-old Deontrayle Dortch were both arrested on Tuesday, July 5.
Detectives received a report that the two men were reportedly walking down Pine Street, firing off guns as they walked around. When officers arrived, they saw two men with guns run into a house about a block away from where they believed the shots were fired.
SPD says the two men, identified by investigators as Triggs and Dortch, surrendered to police and admitted that they had fired the weapons as a part of celebrating the Fourth of July. Police later found two guns believed to have been used, along with more than 20 shell casings from the street. | 2022-07-07T19:24:51+00:00 | cbs42.com | https://www.cbs42.com/regional/louisiana-news/2-caught-on-camera-celebrating-independence-day-with-gunfire-in-louisiana/ |
MADISON, Wis. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Saturday evening's drawing of the Wisconsin Lottery's "Daily Pick 3" game were:
3-1-7
(three, one, seven)
¶ Maximum prize: $500
MADISON, Wis. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Saturday evening's drawing of the Wisconsin Lottery's "Daily Pick 3" game were:
3-1-7
(three, one, seven)
¶ Maximum prize: $500 | 2022-05-22T03:47:11+00:00 | seattlepi.com | https://www.seattlepi.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Daily-Pick-3-game-17189928.php |
MT. WASHINGTON, N.H. (WPRI) – New Hampshire’s Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast, recorded the coldest wind chill in the history of the United States on Saturday morning when an arctic air mass hit New England.
The Mount Washington Observatory recorded a new, record-low air temperature of -46.9 degrees Fahrenheit as of Saturday morning at 4:10 a.m, according to overnight summit conditions.
The previous record daily low of -32 degrees Fahrenheit was set in 1963.
The previous wind chill record was shattered overnight, when wind chills dropped to -108.4 degrees at different points on Friday night and Saturday morning. The previous record was -102.7 degrees Fahrenheit.
“Winds will also remain elevated Saturday morning, with wind speeds ranging from 100-115 mph with gusts up to 135 mph,” the observatory wrote in a summit forecast on Saturday. “Strong winds and harsh cold temperatures will continue to produce dangerously low wind chill values, with wind chill values remaining at 100 below to 110 below Saturday morning.
The record-cold temps come amid what experts call a “generational Arctic outbreak” throughout the Northeast, a branch of the National Weather Service (NWS) told CNN.
On Saturday morning, dangerously cold temperatures remained, along with wind chills that dropped to -45 to -50 degrees Fahrenheit in many areas. On Sunday, however, the frigid temperatures in the region are expected to move out, and possibly rise to the 40s.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | 2023-02-04T17:46:50+00:00 | qcnews.com | https://www.qcnews.com/nexstar-media-wire/mt-washington-records-coldest-wind-chill-in-us-history/ |
The indictment of former President Trump by a Manhattan grand jury rocked Capitol Hill on Thursday, with Democrats hailing the decision and Republicans blasting what they described as a political witch hunt.
“The indictment of a former president is unprecedented. But so too is the unlawful conduct in which Trump has been engaged,” tweeted Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who served as lead impeachment manager during Trump’s first impeachment trial. “A nation of laws must hold the rich and powerful accountable, even when they hold high office. Especially when they do. To do otherwise is not democracy.”
Some Democrats, including House Financial Services Committee Ranking Member Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), expressed their excitement on Twitter.
“SO Trump finally got indicted! I predicted he would and I predicted that Stormy Daniels would get him! Sometimes justice works!” Waters said.
Republicans, meanwhile, jumped to criticize Bragg, with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) pledging to “hold Alvin Bragg and his unprecedented abuse of power to account” for “this injustice.”
“Alvin Bragg has irreparably damaged our country in an attempt to interfere in our Presidential election,” McCarthy tweeted. “As he routinely frees violent criminals to terrorize the public, he weaponized our sacred system of justice against President Donald Trump.”
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), chair of the House Judiciary Committee and an ally of Trump, summed up the Republican reaction in a one-word tweet: “Outrageous.” And Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) — the chair of the Senate GOP campaign arm — called the indictment “a political prosecution.”
Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), chair of the Senate GOP Conference, called the indictment a “politically-motivated prosecution by a far-left activist.”
“If it was anyone other than President Trump, a case like this would never be brought. Instead of ordering political hit jobs, New York prosecutors should focus on getting violent criminals off the streets,” Barrasso said in a statement.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) similarly called the indictment a “sham” and accused Democrats of “weaponizing government to attack their political opponents.” Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), chair of the House Republican Conference and the only member of House GOP leadership to endorse Trump, called the move “unprecedented election interference” and “a dark day for America,” adding that it would fuel support for Trump in 2024.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) took a more aggressive approach, seeking revenge.
“Our side chants ‘lock her up’ and their side is going to get a mug shot based on a witch hunt. It’s time to change that. Gloves are off,” Greene tweeted.
The Manhattan grand jury voted on Thursday to indict Trump on criminal charges stemming from his role in organizing a hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election, a source familiar with the proceedings confirmed to The Hill. The specific charges, however, remain unknown.
The indictment marks the culmination of a winding investigation by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D), and the end of a days-long waiting game that began when Trump publicly predicted he would be indicted in the case last week.
A trio of House Republican committee chairs sent a letter to Bragg last week — after Trump’s social media announcement — demanding that he sit for a transcribed interview about his investigation. The lawmakers also asked that Bragg provide documents and communications regarding the probe.
Jordan — who also chairs the Judiciary’s Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government — expanded the congressional investigation into Bragg days later, requesting testimony from two prosecutors who resigned from the Manhattan case because of disagreements with Bragg.
“It’s Trump derangement,” Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) said leaving his Capitol Hill office Thursday evening. “It’s an illness of hatred that just — it shouldn’t be in American politics. I don’t feel that way toward anybody.”
Wilson said House Republicans will move “immediately” to uncover the details of Bragg’s probe, and he has confidence that GOP investigators — notably Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Wis.), chairman of the Administration Committee who signed the letter to Bragg last week — will demonstrate that Bragg’s prosecution has been politically motivated from the start.
“We’re going to find out, from the inside, as to their correspondence and communications,” he said.
Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.), who served as an impeachment manager during Trump’s first impeachment, said Thursday was “a somber day for our nation.”
“Former President Trump’s indictment reminds us that no one is above the law and that we are all afforded due process and equal protection under the law,” he added on Twitter.
Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) tweeted that the New York indictment “is only the beginning of being held accountable for his crimes.”
“Trump attempted to illegally overturn election results in Georgia and worked to incite the insurrection at the Capitol, both in an effort to overthrow our government to advance his fascist cause,” Bowman said, calling for Trump to be banned from running for public office again.
Trump is also the subject of investigations by the Fulton County, Georgia district attorney’s office — which is looking into his efforts to influence the outcome of the 2020 presidential election — and the Justice Department, which is probing the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol and the mishandling of classified documents.
Attorney General Merrick Garland in November appointed a social counsel to oversee the Justice Department investigations related to Trump.
At least one lawmaker took a softer approach to the news that Trump had been indicted on Thursday, noting that the Manhattan grand jury has not formally announced its decision to charge Trump in the matter.
“Just a reminder that there is no rule that you have to express your opinion before reading the indictment,” Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) wrote on Twitter.
Mike Lillis and Al Weaver contributed. Updated at 7:15 p.m. | 2023-03-30T23:42:24+00:00 | cbs42.com | https://www.cbs42.com/hill-politics/democrats-hail-republicans-blast-trump-indictment/ |
TORONTO (AP) — Canada will likely drop the vaccine requirement for people who enter Canada by the end of September, an official familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
Canada, like the United States, requires foreign nationals to be vaccinated when entering the country. It is not immediately known whether the U.S. will make a similar move by Sept. 30.
Unvaccinated travelers who are allowed to enter Canada are currently subject to mandatory arrival tests and a 14-day quarantine.
The official said that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau needs to give final sign off on it but that the government will likely be dropping the requirement as well as ending random COVID-19 testing at airports. Filling out information in the unpopular ArriveCan app will also no longer be required.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
Unvaccinated professional athletes like major league baseball players would be allowed to play in Toronto in the playoffs should the Blue Jays make the postseason. They currently are not allowed to cross the border into Canada.
When new populist Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre was announced as the party’s leader in Ottawa this month the loudest cheer he got from supporters was when he said he would get rid of the ArriveCan app.
Dr. Andrew Morris, an infectious disease specialist at the University Health Network and Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, as well as a professor in the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine, said removing the vaccine requirement should have been done a long time ago.
“Zero benefit to ensure people vaccinated. It doesn’t keep cases nor variants out,” he said. | 2022-09-21T13:38:54+00:00 | myfox8.com | https://myfox8.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-official-canada-likely-to-drop-vaccine-requirement-to-enter/ |
YEREVAN, Armenia — A U.S. congressional delegation headed by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi arrived Saturday in Armenia, where a cease-fire has held for three days after an outburst of fighting with neighboring Azerbaijan that killed more than 200 troops from both sides.
The U.S. Embassy said the visit will include a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
On Friday, Pelosi told reporters in Berlin that the trip "is all about human rights and the respecting the dignity and worth of every person."
Other members of the U.S. delegation include Rep. Frank Pallone, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and congresswomen Jackie Speier and Anna Eshoo.
A cease-fire took effect on Wednesday evening following two days of heavy fighting that marked the largest outbreak of hostilities in nearly two years.
Armenia and Azerbaijan traded blame for the shelling, with Armenian authorities accusing Baku of unprovoked aggression and Azerbaijani officials saying their country was responding to Armenian attacks.
Pashinyan said at least 135 Armenian troops were killed in the fighting. Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry said Friday it had lost 77.
The two ex-Soviet countries have been locked in a decades-old conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, which is part of Azerbaijan but has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since a separatist war there ended in 1994.
During a six-week war in 2020, Azerbaijan reclaimed broad swaths of Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent territories held by Armenian forces. More than 6,700 people died in the fighting, which ended with a Russia-brokered peace agreement. Moscow deployed about 2,000 troops to the region to serve as peacekeepers.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2022-09-18T11:35:57+00:00 | iowapublicradio.org | https://www.iowapublicradio.org/news-from-npr/news-from-npr/2022-09-18/pelosi-and-other-us-lawmakers-visit-armenia-as-cease-fire-holds |
20 hurt when inmate sets fire at NYC’s Rikers Island jail
NEW YORK (AP) — A fire set by an inmate at New York City’s troubled Rikers Island injured 20 people on a day that lawmakers visited the jail complex, authorities said.
Fifteen staff members and five inmates were injured in the fire that started about 1:30 p.m. Thursday, the city Correction Department said. The New York City Fire Department extinguished the blaze within an hour, a department spokesperson said.
Fifteen of the injured were taken to hospitals for treatment, while the other five declined medical attention, the Fire Department said. Information on the victims’ conditions was not available Friday.
“The health and safety of those who work and live in our facilities is our main priority,” James Boyd, the Correction Department’s deputy commissioner for public information, said in a statement. “We take arson very seriously, and will pursue re-arrest of the individual involved pending the outcome of the investigation.”
The fire broke out on a day when a group of Democratic state lawmakers visited Rikers Island to underscore their opposition to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed changes to New York’s bail laws. The plan to give judges greater leeway in setting bail is among the key issues stalling negotiations over the state budget.
The lawmakers noted the rise in deaths at Rikers Island and warned of dire results if bail reforms passed in 2019 are rolled back and more inmates are sent to Rikers and other jails.
“We will have blood on our hands if we allow there to be these changes implemented in our New York state budget,” Assembly member Zohran Mamdani said.
The state legislators did not visit the unit where the fire took place and appear to have left before it was reported.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2023-04-07T15:28:48+00:00 | kswo.com | https://www.kswo.com/2023/04/07/20-hurt-when-inmate-sets-fire-nycs-rikers-island-jail/ |
Babysitter accused in toddler’s drug overdose death, authorities say
ST. LOUIS (KMOV/Gray News) - A Missouri woman is facing charges after a toddler she was babysitting died. Fentanyl was one of the drugs later found in the little girl’s system.
Mary Curtis, 37, is charged with first-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Police say she was a caretaker for 17-month-old Brailey Stevenson on March 20 when the toddler went to sleep on the floor. Curtis later took Brailey to another caretaker, who called police out of concern for the toddler.
Police say Brailey was taken to a hospital, where she later died.
A toxicology report showed Brailey had fentanyl and xylazine in her system. She appeared normal when she was placed with Curtis and appeared to be unconscious when Curtis brought her to the other caretaker, authorities told KMOV.
The Drug Enforcement Administration says they’ve seen a sharp increase in xylazine in the St. Louis area. The drug is a sedative used by veterinarians for horse and cattle. Mixed with fentanyl, it is especially deadly.
“Unfortunately, for a young child, it’s going to be very deadly. Their makeup is not like an adult, and they haven’t fully developed. Unfortunately, it’s going to be much worse [and] hard to save a child who’s ingested xylazine mixed with fentanyl,” said Michael Davis, a special agent in charge at the DEA.
Authorities say Curtis was out on bond on another child endangerment charge related to the March 2022 death of her own 17-day-old baby. The infant died of a methadone overdose, according to charging documents.
Curtis is also accused in two other child overdose deaths, neither of which resulted in charges. She has been investigated by the Missouri Department of Social Service’s Children’s Division several times.
She was charged in St. Louis County in July 2022 with endangering the welfare of a child, interference with custody and possession of a controlled substance. A probable cause statement says a social worker with the Missouri Department of Family Services took Curtis’ child to her home for a visitation.
Police allege that Curtis put her child in a car and drove away. The state had custody of the child at the time. Curtis was arrested after the incident.
Prosecutors in St. Louis County also accused Curtis of resisting arrest for a felony after police claimed she evaded a traffic stop, crashed a vehicle and fled officers in September 2022.
Curtis is being held on a $1 million cash-only bond. Court records show her bond was revoked March 31 for the July 2022 child endangerment case.
Copyright 2023 KMOV via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2023-04-05T05:38:36+00:00 | kwtx.com | https://www.kwtx.com/2023/04/05/babysitter-accused-toddlers-drug-overdose-death-authorities-say/ |
BEIJING, Dec. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The 24 solar terms, based on Chinese people's understanding of the law of nature, astronomical calendar and folk farming, are hailed as the "Fifth Invention of Ancient China". Many solar terms are reflected in traditional Chinese poetry and painting, which have been endowed with rich cultural values throughout China's lengthy history.
In the painting Snow on Mount Emei, the mountain is covered in the solar term of Minor Snow and a tourist is braving the snow to look for plum blossoms at the foot of the mountain.
The painting Spring in the Mountains and Lakes depicts a turquoise river running eastward. Two boats drift on the river. The mountains along the river are misty. A glimpse of the painting makes viewers feel as if they are breathing the moist air in the solar term of Rain Water.
"On a fine day a crane cleaves the clouds and soars high; It leads the poet's lofty mind to azure sky." This line of Liu Yuxi's poem evokes a fantastic scene of the solar term of Autumn Equinox as depicted in the painting Pavilion on a Fairy Mountain, in which a pavilion stands on a fairy mountain under the clear sky, and a fairy lady flies over the mountain on a crane.
China Matters produced an animation series named The 24 Solar Terms in Poetry and Painting. With the 24 solar terms as the theme, the animated works combine traditional Chinese ink painting with ancient Chinese poems translated by Dr. Xu Yuanchong to integrate and showcase the beauty of Chinese ancient painting, ancient poetry and solar terms.
Contact: Tan Jiaqing
Tel: 008610-68996961
E-Mail: jqtan@cnmatters.com
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1735490/China_Matters_Logo.jpg
Video - https://youtu.be/XKlP1h1q87c
View original content:
SOURCE China Matters | 2022-12-28T11:16:49+00:00 | live5news.com | https://www.live5news.com/prnewswire/2022/12/28/china-matters-animates-24-solar-terms-poetry-painting/ |
Top Player Prop Bets for Warriors vs. Lakers Western Conference Semifinals Game 2 on May 4, 2023
Player props are available for Stephen Curry and Anthony Davis, among others, when the Golden State Warriors host the Los Angeles Lakers at Chase Center on Thursday at 9:00 PM ET.
Bet on this matchup or its props with BetMGM, the King of Sportsbooks!
Warriors vs. Lakers Game Info
- Date: Thursday, May 4, 2023
- Time: 9:00 PM ET
- How to Watch on TV: ESPN
- Location: San Francisco, California
- Venue: Chase Center
NBA Props Today: Golden State Warriors
Stephen Curry Props
- The 30.5-point total set for Curry on Thursday is 1.1 more points than his season scoring average.
- Curry has pulled down 6.1 rebounds per game, 0.6 more than his prop bet for Thursday's game (5.5).
- Curry has averaged 6.3 assists per game, 0.8 more than Thursday's assist over/under (5.5).
- Curry has averaged 4.9 made three-pointers per game, 0.6 less than his over/under in Thursday's game (5.5).
Check out the latest odds and place your bets on player props with BetMGM Sportsbook.
Jordan Poole Props
- Jordan Poole's 20.4 points per game are 5.9 higher than Thursday's prop total.
- He has pulled down 2.7 rebounds per game, 0.2 higher than his prop bet on Thursday.
- Poole's assists average -- 4.5 -- is 1.0 higher than Thursday's over/under (3.5).
- He drains 2.6 three-pointers per game, 1.1 more than his prop bet total on Thursday (1.5).
Klay Thompson Props
- Thursday's prop bet for Klay Thompson is 23.5 points, 1.6 more than his season average.
- Thompson's rebounding average of 4.1 is lower than his over/under on Thursday (3.5).
- Thompson averages 2.4 assists, 0.1 less than his over/under on Thursday.
- Thompson, at 4.4 three-pointers made per game, averages 0.1 less than his over/under on Thursday.
Buy gear from your favorite teams and players NOW at Fanatics!
NBA Props Today: Los Angeles Lakers
Anthony Davis Props
- Davis' 25.9 points per game are 0.6 fewer than Thursday's over/under.
- Davis has pulled down 12.5 boards per game, which is less than his prop bet for Thursday's game (14.5).
- Davis averages 2.6 assists, 0.1 more than Thursday's over/under.
- Davis averages 0.3 made three-pointers, which is less than his over/under on Thursday (0.5).
Put your picks to the test and bet on Warriors vs. Lakers player props with BetMGM Sportsbook.
LeBron James Props
- Thursday's over/under for LeBron James is 25.5 points. That's 3.4 fewer than his season average of 28.9.
- James' per-game rebound average -- 8.3 -- is 1.2 less than his prop bet over/under for Thursday's game (9.5).
- James has averaged 6.8 assists per game, 1.3 more than Thursday's assist over/under (5.5).
- James has averaged 2.2 made three-pointers per game, 0.3 fewer than his over/under in Thursday's game (2.5).
Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER.
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | 2023-05-04T14:45:11+00:00 | wafb.com | https://www.wafb.com/sports/betting/2023/05/04/warriors-vs-lakers-western-conference-semifinals-game-2-player-prop-bets/ |
Thank you to our sponsors Jan 26, 2023 52 min ago Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email +7 1 of 7 Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save • AgWest Farm Credit• Farmland Company• BNSF Railway• Washington Grain Commission• Brock Law Firm• Columbia Bank• KR Creative Strategies Digital subscription only $5/mth• Leffel, Otis & Warwick P.S.• STCU• Star RentalsWatering Hole sponsors• Corteva Agriscience• House of Hose Inc.• The McGregor Company Sign up for our Top Stories newsletter Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Top Stories of the Week Please enter a valid email address. Sign up Manage your lists Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Tags Linguistics Corteva Agriscience Brock Law Firm Kr Creative Strategies Watering Hole Stcu Columbia Bank Rental Auctions Hay Real Estate Tractors Marketplace Recommended for you Latest News Spokane Ag Show 2023 'Back to business:' Spokane Ag Show offers extended hours Nonprofit spotlight: Union Gospel Mission values farmer support WSU mobile meat processing truck to debut Ag Show's chairman welcomes 'new, energetic thought' Small grains economist weighs market factors Receive browser alerts on specific topics? Sign up to receive news directly to your desktop. Click the bell icon in the nav bar, at any time to change your settings. Yes, sign me up! Browse Today's events Submit | 2023-01-26T16:00:47+00:00 | capitalpress.com | https://www.capitalpress.com/specialsections/spokane/thank-you-to-our-sponsors/article_000d9f82-95e2-11ed-926b-b7af0df4f35b.html |
Justice Samuel Alito mocked foreign leaders’ criticism of the Supreme Court decision he authored overturning a constitutional right to abortion, in his first public comments since last month's ruling. The justice's remarks drew more criticism as well as some support.
Speaking in Rome at a religious liberty summit, Samuel Alito, 72, spent only a couple of minutes on the subject of abortion, and then only to discuss his foreign critics — an unusual step for a high court justice.
Dressed in a tuxedo and sporting a beard he sometimes grows when the court is out of session, Alito quipped that the ruling he authored had been “lambasted by a whole string of foreign leaders,” then joked that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had “paid the price” for his comments. Johnson called the decision “a big step backwards" shortly before stepping down amid unrelated ethics investigations.
The decision by the court’s conservative majority led roughly a dozen states to shut down or severely restrict abortions within days. Eventually half of U.S. states are expected to ban or seriously restrict the procedure.
Alito also drew laughs from the audience at the conference, sponsored by the University of Notre Dame law school, when he said that “what really wounded me” were remarks made” by Britain’s Prince Harry. Speaking to the United Nations last week, Harry talked about the “rolling back of constitutional rights here in the United States” as one of a series of converging crises that also included the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Abortion Rights Coverage:
French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also drew Alito's attention in the talk he gave in Rome on July 21 at the invitation-only event. The law school posted the video this week. Alito was not identified in advance as a speaker at the conference.
Johnson's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trudeau’s press secretary Cecely Roy said he would “always will stand up for women’s constitutional rights — including the right to choose and access to abortion.”
While justices routinely engage in pointed exchanges with their colleagues in dueling opinions, they rarely respond to outside critics. That's especially true when talking about foreign leaders in an appearance outside the U.S., said Neil Siegel, professor of law and political science at Duke Law School.
“His tone can be quite dismissive and scathing. It's as if he simply doesn't care that there are tens of millions of people in this country and abroad who disagree with him profoundly,” he said. “I think the most important thing is that this is not how our justices are supposed to behave.”
Yet there is no prohibition on justices discussing cases publicly once they are decided, said Akhil Reed Amar, professor of constitutional law at Yale Law School. Alito's comments weren’t about the underlying issue of abortion, but rather about foreign dignitaries weighing in on American law without necessarily being well versed in the subject, he said. Johnson, for example, may have been seeking to draw attention away from his own domestic issues, Amar said.
“This was slightly impertinent on their part,” Amar said, who also praised Alito for responding "with a little bit of wit and style.”
The justice’s speech drew criticism Friday from U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., who wrote in a tweet the remarks were politicized and said they “should be alarming to anyone.”
It’s “ironic” that Alito scoffed at international opinions even though he cited English jurists from the 17th and 18th centuries in the opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, said Michele Goodwin, a professor at the University of California, Irvine, and the founding director of the Center for Biotechnology and Global Health Policy. “He himself invested in an ideology from abroad that was quite arcane in order to do what he did in this decision,” he said.
The speech comes amid a sharp increase in the portion of Americans who say their confidence in the Supreme Court is eroding. A poll from The Associated Press -NORC Center for Public Affairs Research this week found 43% of Americans have “hardly any confidence” in the court, up from just 27% percent three months ago.
The abortion ruling was one of several seismic decisions this summer, but overturning Roe v. Wade and ending a nearly half-century guarantee of abortion rights had the most widespread impact.
It’s also sparked profound changes in other medical care, with some doctors declining immediate treatment for serious health problems related to reproductive care for fear of running afoul of strict abortion bans.
Alito’s speech was dedicated primarily to praising religious liberty, another area in which conservatives prevailed at the Supreme Court in cases involving tax dollars for religious schools in Maine and a football coach's right to pray at the 50-yard line.
He has been a justice since 2006, appointed by President George W. Bush.
Four years later, attending President Barack Obama's State of the Union speech, Alito was caught on camera mouthing the words “not true” in response to Obama's criticism — also unusual — of another major, conservative-driven court decision, the Citizens United case that opened the floodgates to corporate and union spending in federal election campaigns.
Alito has never addressed that controversy in public, but it seems clear from the questions he posed when the court heard arguments that he objected to Obama saying the ruling reversed a century of law.
Alito has never again attended the State of the Union address.
Associated Press writer Rob Gillies in Toronto contributed to this report. | 2022-07-30T12:24:29+00:00 | nbcchicago.com | https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/supreme-court-justice-samuel-alito-mocks-foreign-critics-of-roe-v-wade-abortion-reversal/2902105/ |
WFO RENO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Sunday, February 5, 2023
_____
AVALANCHE WATCH
The following message is transmitted at the request of the U.S.
Forest Service Sierra Avalanche Center.
The Sierra Avalanche Center in Truckee has issued a BACKCOUNTRY
AVALANCHE WATCH for the following areas: NWS Reno NV - NVZ002
(Greater Lake Tahoe)...CAZ072 (Greater Lake Tahoe (CA))
* WHAT...A period of HIGH avalanche danger may occur in the
backcountry from late this evening through Sunday night.
* WHERE...Central Sierra Nevada Mountains between Yuba Pass (Hwy
49) on the north and Ebbetts Pass (Hwy 4) on the south,
including the greater Lake Tahoe area.
* WHEN...In effect from 10 PM PST this evening until 7 AM PST
Monday.
* IMPACTS...High intensity, rapidly accumulating snowfall along
with gale force winds may result in widespread avalanche
activity in the mountains. Large avalanches could occur in a
variety of areas.
* PRECAUTIONARY / PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...Very dangerous avalanche
conditions may occur. Travel in, near, or below avalanche
terrain is not recommended during HIGH avalanche danger.
Consult https://www.sierraavalanchecenter.org/ or www.avalanche.org
for more detailed information.
Similar avalanche danger may exist at locations outside the
coverage area of this or any avalanche center.
_____
Copyright 2023 AccuWeather | 2023-02-04T15:42:52+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/weather/article/ca-wfo-reno-warnings-watches-and-advisories-17763612.php |
TGH Kennedy Emergency Center in South Tampa expands the footprint of the academic health system's growing Medical and Research District.
TAMPA, Fla., June 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tampa General Hospital (TGH) today announced it is expanding access to its world-class emergency medical care services in the Tampa Bay area with the opening of a new, freestanding emergency department, the TGH Kennedy Emergency Center.
As the latest addition to the Tampa Medical and Research District, the new emergency center is also a key component of Tampa General's $550 million Master Facility Plan, the largest in the hospital's history.
Located close to downtown and in the heart of Tampa at 1301 W. Kennedy Blvd., the TGH Kennedy Emergency Center is a state-of-the-art, 15,000-square-foot facility, which will provide adult and pediatric patients in the surrounding areas with high-quality and convenient emergency care as Tampa General continues to focus on its rich history of academic medicine and research.
"At Tampa General, we work every day to provide world-class, accessible care when and where our community needs it, and the TGH Kennedy Emergency Center provides our ever-growing local population another access point to the same excellent, comprehensive care patients expect from us at our hospital," said John Couris, president and CEO of Tampa General. "This new facility will not only positively impact the health and well-being of our entire community, but it will help enhance our regional economy."
According to the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council (EDC), Hillsborough County ranks No. 8 in the nation in new residents moving to the county between 2021 to 2022. The Tampa Bay EDC also recorded a total of 25,172 arrivals or 69 people per day in that time period.
The projected economic impact of the TGH Kennedy Emergency Center is $31 million to the broader economy and also represents a more than $15 million investment in construction and development, along with adding more than 60 jobs with an average annual salary close to $72,000.
Built to support the health care needs of the rapidly growing Tampa population, the freestanding emergency center is a full-service emergency department and has 14 exam rooms, two trauma bays, two triage rooms and is fully equipped with dedicated, advanced laboratory and imaging services needed for diagnosing and treating patients, including CT scans, X-rays and ultrasound capabilities. The facility also features a dedicated ambulance entrance to streamline patient intake brought in by emergency medical services.
"When patients are experiencing an emergency, they want and need care at the right time and at the right place," said Kelly Cullen, executive vice president and COO of Tampa General. "Our new emergency center offers clinically excellent emergency care close to homes, schools and businesses and is provided by a team of board-certified health professionals."
The TGH Kennedy Emergency Center is staffed by a coordinated care team of board-certified physicians, and hospital-trained nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses and paramedics. TGH's freestanding emergency department is fully equipped to manage medical emergencies and provide hospital-level care, with the ability to seamlessly transfer patients to Tampa General's Level I trauma center if needed.
TGH's newest emergency center will be a great choice for patients experiencing broken bones, abdominal pain, severe back pain, poison or medical overdose, shortness of breath as well as fainting, dizziness or weakness. Emergency care is recommended for chest pain, difficulty breathing, loss of vision, severe abdominal pain or uncontrolled bleeding. It is best to call 911 for persons experiencing life-threatening conditions including chest pain, stroke symptoms or loss of consciousness.
"Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control tell us that across the U.S., emergency departments see more than 131 million patient visits each year and of those, only about 14% lead to a hospital admission," said Dr. Reggie Saint-Hilaire, medical director of Tampa General's freestanding emergency centers. "Freestanding emergency departments are an innovative solution that empower us to increase access, reduce wait times and improve the patient experience by providing the same level of emergency care that patients seek from a hospital-based emergency department."
In 2022, Tampa General treated 132,000 adult patients and approximately 22,000 pediatric patients. "Our team makes our care so special," said Michele Moran, senior director of Emergency, Trauma and Transport Services, Tampa General. "On behalf of the entire team, we are so excited to welcome our neighbors to our newest emergency center."
With the addition of the emergency center, the Kennedy Boulevard location is becoming a key connection for health care near downtown Tampa with the TGH Rehabilitation Hospital and the planned TGH Behavioral Health Hospital. Opened in May 2022, the TGH Rehabilitation Hospital provides comprehensive care for patients recovering from debilitating injuries, illnesses, surgeries and chronic medical conditions. The TGH Behavioral Health Hospital is scheduled to begin construction this summer and, when complete, will offer a full range of inpatient and outpatient services led by psychiatrists from USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. The TGH Rehabilitation Hospital is a partnership with Kindred Hospital Rehabilitation Services. The TGH Behavioral Health Hospital is a partnership with Kindred Behavioral Health. Both Kindred entities are business units of Lifepoint Health.
The freestanding TGH Kennedy Emergency Center will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and holidays. It is scheduled to begin caring for patients on July 6.
For more information about the TGH Kennedy Emergency Care Center and all emergency care provided by Tampa General, visit https://www.tgh.org/institutes-and-services/emergency-and-trauma-center.
ABOUT TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL
Tampa General Hospital, a 1,040-bed, not-for-profit, academic health system,, is one of the largest hospitals in America and delivers world-class care as the region's only center for Level l trauma and comprehensive burn care. Tampa General Hospital is the highest-ranked hospital in the market in U.S. News & World Report's 2022-23 Best Hospitals, and is tied as the third highest-ranked hospital in Florida, with seven specialties ranking among the best programs in the United States. Tampa General Hospital has been designated as a model of excellence by the 2022 Fortune/Merative 100 Top Hospitals list. The academic health system's commitment to growing and developing its team members is recognized by two prestigious Forbes magazine rankings – first nationally in the 2022 America's Best Employers for Women and sixth out of 100 Florida companies in the 2022 America's Best Employers by State. Tampa General is the safety net hospital for the region, caring for everyone regardless of their ability to pay, and in fiscal year 2021, provided a net community benefit worth more than $224.5 million in the form of health care for underinsured patients, community education, and financial support to community health organizations in Tampa Bay. It is one of the nation's busiest adult solid organ transplant centers and is the primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. With six medical helicopters, Tampa General Hospital transports critically injured or ill patients from 23 surrounding counties to receive the advanced care they need. Tampa General houses a nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center, and its 32-bed Neuroscience, Intensive Care Unit is the largest on the West Coast of Florida. It also is home to the Jennifer Leigh Muma 82-bed neonatal intensive care unit, and a nationally accredited rehabilitation center. Tampa General Hospital's footprint includes 17 Tampa General Medical Group Primary Care offices, TGH Family Care Center Kennedy, TGH Brandon Healthplex, TGH Virtual Health, and 21 TGH Imaging powered by Tower outpatient radiology centers throughout Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Palm Beach counties. Tampa Bay area residents also receive world-class care from the TGH Urgent Care powered by Fast Track network of clinics. To see a medical care professional live anytime, anywhere on a smartphone, tablet or computer, visit Virtual Health | Tampa General Hospital (tgh.org). As one of the largest hospitals in the country, Tampa General Hospital is the first in Florida to partner with GE Healthcare and open a clinical command center that provides real-time situational awareness to improve and better coordinate patient care at a lower cost. For more information, go to www.tgh.org.
Media Contact: Beth Hardy, APR
Senior Communications Specialist
(813) 844-7322 (direct)
(813) 510-6363 (cell)
ehardy@tgh.org
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Tampa General Hospital | 2023-06-16T02:00:35+00:00 | kwtx.com | https://www.kwtx.com/prnewswire/2023/06/16/tampa-general-hospital-expands-emergency-care-with-new-freestanding-emergency-department/ |
Jury concludes that Kurin used Magnolia Medical's patented Initial Specimen Diversion Device® technology without permission
SEATTLE, July 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A jury for the U.S. District Court of Delaware delivered two unanimous verdicts this week in favor of Magnolia Medical Technologies, Inc. ("Magnolia Medical") in a lawsuit against Kurin, Inc., ("Kurin") regarding the unlawful use of its innovative Initial Specimen Diversion Device® (ISDD®) technology. After a two-phased trial and short deliberations, the jury confirmed that Kurin has used Magnolia Medical's patented technology, which is clinically proven to significantly reduce blood culture contamination, without the company's permission. The jury also validated Magnolia Medical's patented technology and awarded significant damages in their final verdict.
"Magnolia Medical Technologies is gratified by the jury's unanimous verdicts in our favor this week, finding that Kurin, Inc. unlawfully used our innovative technology without permission," said Magnolia Medical's CEO and Co-Founder Greg Bullington. "The verdicts reflect extensive evidence presented across two phases of trial, affirming the value of our innovative Steripath® Initial Specimen Diversion Device® technology and our leading position in the blood culture collection and contamination prevention market."
A pioneer in both technique and technology for blood culture collection for sepsis testing, Magnolia Medical has partnered with hundreds of U.S. hospitals and healthcare systems to address the problem of blood culture contamination with Steripath®. Reducing blood culture contamination, which can contribute to a misdiagnosis of sepsis and unnecessary administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics, is one of the most effective methods in preventing multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) and avoiding antibiotic-related infections like Clostridioides difficile Infection (CDI), reducing extended length of stay and healthcare costs.
"We take great pride in being an evidence-based company and having the only FDA 510(k)-cleared platform specifically indicated to reduce blood culture contamination, and the only all-in-one device that meets the CDC's new evidence-based guidelines for reducing blood culture contamination," Bullington added.
Bullington concluded, "Magnolia Medical is deeply committed to our Mission to ZERO®, with the goal of eliminating sepsis misdiagnosis. We have invested more than a decade of effort and resources into clinical research, product development, and market development to achieve this goal. This week's verdicts validate our work and support our strategy to establish a new standard of care for sepsis testing accuracy."
Magnolia Medical Technologies develops, manufactures, and markets innovative blood and bodily fluid collection devices to facilitate significant improvements in the accuracy, consistency, and predictability of critical laboratory tests. Magnolia Medical invented and patented the Initial Specimen Diversion Technique® (ISDT®) and Initial Specimen Diversion Device® (ISDD®) for blood culture collection and contamination prevention. The company has amassed an intellectual property portfolio, including more than 100 issued method, apparatus, and design patents with more than 70 additional patent applications pending. For more information, visit www.magnolia-medical.com.
- Indicated to reduce the frequency of blood culture contamination when contaminants are present, compared to standard method controls without diversion.
- CDC Blood Culture Contamination Prevention Actions: An Overview of Infection Control and Antibiotic Stewardship Programs Working with the Clinical Laboratory. July 2022
- CDC National Email Update to Clinicians. Clinicians: Use this guide to decrease blood culture contamination rates. July 22, 2022
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Magnolia Medical Technologies | 2022-07-29T16:10:19+00:00 | kswo.com | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2022/07/29/magnolia-medical-technologies-wins-patent-infringement-lawsuit-against-kurin-inc/ |
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves signed a bill Tuesday to ban gender-affirming hormones or surgery in the state for anyone younger than 18, part of a broad effort in conservative states to restrict transgender athletes, gender-affirming care and drag shows.
Reeves, who is running for reelection this year, said “radical activists” are telling children they are in the wrong bodies and are “just a surgery away from happiness.”
“This is truly scary stuff that’s being pushed upon our kids and, yes, their loving parents,” Reeves said. “They’re being taken advantage of, all so some can push their warped view on gender or appear to be ‘woke’ for their friends.”
The new Mississippi law took effect immediately. In 2021, Reeves signed a law to ban transgender athletes from competing in girls’ or women’s sports teams.
The Republican governors of South Dakota and Utah have signed bans on gender-affirming care this year, and the Republican governor of Tennessee is expected to do so. Judges have temporarily blocked similar laws in Arkansas and Alabama.
Reeves signed the Mississippi bill into law less than two weeks after transgender teenagers, their families and others who support them protested against the measure.
Across the U.S. this year, at least 150 bills targeting transgender people have been introduced, which is the highest in a single year, according to the Human Rights Campaign.
Mickie Stratos — who is president of The Spectrum Center of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, which provides health services and advocacy for LGBTQ people — said Reeves’ decision to sign the bill “is an act of violence.”
“He and the lawmakers who pushed this bill in Mississippi are willfully ignoring the unique needs of transgender young people, interfering with their medical care and sending a stigmatizing, exclusionary message,” Stratos said in a statement Tuesday.
____
Follow Emily Wagster Pettus on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EWagsterPettus. | 2023-03-01T12:27:07+00:00 | kxnet.com | https://www.kxnet.com/news/national-news/ap-mississippi-enacts-ban-on-gender-affirming-care-for-minors/ |
About 6,500 people have been evacuated from campgrounds and villages in the forested area. The number of injuries is unclear. The two fires have destroyed more than 1,800 hectares (4,400 acres) of terrain, the emergency service said.
Images from firefighters showed flames racing through thickets of trees and grassland, fanned by strong winds, and smoke blackening the horizon.
The regional administration banned activity in forested areas at risk. Several regions in southern France are on fire alert because of hot, dry weather and high winds. Wildfires swept through the Gard region in southeast France last week.
Portugal has long experienced fatal forest fires. In 2017, wildfires killed more than 100 people. No one has died from a wildfire since then as Portugal improved its forest management and firefighting strategies.
Last year, Portugal recorded its lowest number of wildfires since 2011. But a mass of hot and dry air blown in by African winds are driving temperatures in the Iberian Peninsula beyond their usual highs.
The Atlantic country, which has been on alert of wildfires since last week, is sweltering under a spike in temperatures that is forecast to send thermometers in the central Alentejo region to 46 C (115 F) on Wednesday and Thursday. Authorities said that 96% of the country was classified at the end of June as being in either “extreme” or “severe” drought.
More than 3,000 hectares (7,400 acres) had been consumed alone in the district of Leiria, just north of Lisbon, Mayor Goncalo Lopes told Portuguese state broadcaster RTP.
Neighboring Spain hit highs of 43 C (109.4 F) in several southern cities on Tuesday.
Over 400 people were evacuated on Tuesday because of a wildfire that has consumed 3,500 hectares (8,600 acres) in western Spain.
European Union officials issued a warning last week that climate change is behind the extremely dry and hot summer so far on the continent, urging local authorities to brace for wildfires.
Cayetano Torres, spokesman for Spain’s national weather forecaster, said that the “unusual” heat wave and lack of rainfall in recent months has created ideal circumstances for fires.
“These are perfect conditions for the propagation of fires, which when you add to that some wind, you have have guaranteed propagation,” he said.
In southwestern Turkey, a blaze erupted in an area close to the village of Mesudiye, near the Aegean Sea resort of Datca, and was moving in the direction of some homes in the area, according to the provincial governor’s office. It said at least nine water-dropping helicopters and five planes were deployed to battle the fire.
Last summer, blazes that were fed by strong winds and scorching temperatures tore through forests in Turkey's Mediterranean and Aegean regions. The wildfires, which killed at least eight people and countless animals, were described as the worst in Turkey's history.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government came under criticism for its inadequate response and preparedness to fight large-scale wildfires, including a lack of modern firefighting planes.
___
Joseph Wilson reported from Barcelona, Spain. Angela Charlton in Paris, Renata Brito in Barcelona, and Suzan Frazer in Istanbul, contributed to this report.
___
Follow all AP stories on climate change issues at https://apnews.com/hub/climate
Local residents use garden hoses and tree branches to fight a forest fire moving up a slope towards the village of Casal da Quinta, outside Leiria, central Portugal, Tuesday, July 12, 2022. Hundreds of firefighters in Portugal continue to battle fires in the center of the country that forced the evacuation of dozens of people from their homes mostly in villages around Santarem, Leiria and Pombal. (AP Photo/Joao Henriques)
Credit: Joao Henriques
Local residents use garden hoses and tree branches to fight a forest fire moving up a slope towards the village of Casal da Quinta, outside Leiria, central Portugal, Tuesday, July 12, 2022. Hundreds of firefighters in Portugal continue to battle fires in the center of the country that forced the evacuation of dozens of people from their homes mostly in villages around Santarem, Leiria and Pombal. (AP Photo/Joao Henriques)
Credit: Joao Henriques
Credit: Joao Henriques
Local residents watch a forest fire move up a slope towards the village of Casal da Quinta, outside Leiria, central Portugal, Tuesday, July 12, 2022. Hundreds of firefighters in Portugal continue to battle fires in the center of the country that forced the evacuation of dozens of people from their homes mostly in villages around Santarem, Leiria and Pombal. (AP Photo/Joao Henriques)
Credit: Joao Henriques
Local residents watch a forest fire move up a slope towards the village of Casal da Quinta, outside Leiria, central Portugal, Tuesday, July 12, 2022. Hundreds of firefighters in Portugal continue to battle fires in the center of the country that forced the evacuation of dozens of people from their homes mostly in villages around Santarem, Leiria and Pombal. (AP Photo/Joao Henriques)
Credit: Joao Henriques
Credit: Joao Henriques
A young woman fills buckets with water for local residents trying to stop a forest fire from reaching their homes in the village of Figueiras, outside Leiria, central Portugal, Tuesday, July 12, 2022. Hundreds of firefighters in Portugal continue to battle fires in the center of the country that forced the evacuation of dozens of people from their homes mostly in villages around Santarem, Leiria and Pombal. (AP Photo/Joao Henriques)
Credit: Joao Henriques
A young woman fills buckets with water for local residents trying to stop a forest fire from reaching their homes in the village of Figueiras, outside Leiria, central Portugal, Tuesday, July 12, 2022. Hundreds of firefighters in Portugal continue to battle fires in the center of the country that forced the evacuation of dozens of people from their homes mostly in villages around Santarem, Leiria and Pombal. (AP Photo/Joao Henriques)
Credit: Joao Henriques
Credit: Joao Henriques
This photo provided by the fire brigade of the Gironde region (SDIS33) shows a wildfire near Landiras, southwestern France, Wednesday, July 13, 2022. More than 800 firefighters battled two wildfires in southwest France, according to the regional emergency service. The fires began Tuesday near the towns of Landiras and La Teste-de-Buch, and firefighters had not been able to contain them by Wednesday morning. Some 6,500 people have been evacuated from campgrounds and villages in the forested area. (SDIS33 via AP)
Credit: Uncredited
This photo provided by the fire brigade of the Gironde region (SDIS33) shows a wildfire near Landiras, southwestern France, Wednesday, July 13, 2022. More than 800 firefighters battled two wildfires in southwest France, according to the regional emergency service. The fires began Tuesday near the towns of Landiras and La Teste-de-Buch, and firefighters had not been able to contain them by Wednesday morning. Some 6,500 people have been evacuated from campgrounds and villages in the forested area. (SDIS33 via AP)
Credit: Uncredited
Credit: Uncredited
This photo provided by the fire brigade of the Gironde region (SDIS33) shows fireman working at a wildfire near Landiras, southwestern France, Wednesday, July 13, 2022. More than 800 firefighters battled two wildfires in southwest France, according to the regional emergency service. The fires began Tuesday near the towns of Landiras and La Teste-de-Buch, and firefighters had not been able to contain them by Wednesday morning. Some 6,500 people have been evacuated from campgrounds and villages in the forested area. (SDIS33 via AP)
Credit: Uncredited
This photo provided by the fire brigade of the Gironde region (SDIS33) shows fireman working at a wildfire near Landiras, southwestern France, Wednesday, July 13, 2022. More than 800 firefighters battled two wildfires in southwest France, according to the regional emergency service. The fires began Tuesday near the towns of Landiras and La Teste-de-Buch, and firefighters had not been able to contain them by Wednesday morning. Some 6,500 people have been evacuated from campgrounds and villages in the forested area. (SDIS33 via AP)
Credit: Uncredited
Credit: Uncredited
This photo provided by the fire brigade of the Gironde region (SDIS33) shows a wildfire near Landiras, southwestern France, Wednesday, July 13, 2022. More than 800 firefighters battled two wildfires in southwest France, according to the regional emergency service. The fires began Tuesday near the towns of Landiras and La Teste-de-Buch, and firefighters had not been able to contain them by Wednesday morning. Some 6,500 people have been evacuated from campgrounds and villages in the forested area. (SDIS33 via AP)
Credit: Uncredited
This photo provided by the fire brigade of the Gironde region (SDIS33) shows a wildfire near Landiras, southwestern France, Wednesday, July 13, 2022. More than 800 firefighters battled two wildfires in southwest France, according to the regional emergency service. The fires began Tuesday near the towns of Landiras and La Teste-de-Buch, and firefighters had not been able to contain them by Wednesday morning. Some 6,500 people have been evacuated from campgrounds and villages in the forested area. (SDIS33 via AP)
Credit: Uncredited
Credit: Uncredited
A child fills up a bottle at a water fountain in the Champ de Mars park, near the Eiffel Tower, Wednesday, July 13, 2022 in Paris. Temperatures in Paris are expected to rise up to 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit). (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)
Credit: Thomas Padilla
A child fills up a bottle at a water fountain in the Champ de Mars park, near the Eiffel Tower, Wednesday, July 13, 2022 in Paris. Temperatures in Paris are expected to rise up to 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit). (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)
Credit: Thomas Padilla
Credit: Thomas Padilla
A woman drinks in the shade at the Champ de Mars park, near the Eiffel Tower, Wednesday, July 13, 2022 in Paris. Temperatures in Paris are expected to rise up to 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit). (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)
Credit: Thomas Padilla
A woman drinks in the shade at the Champ de Mars park, near the Eiffel Tower, Wednesday, July 13, 2022 in Paris. Temperatures in Paris are expected to rise up to 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit). (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)
Credit: Thomas Padilla
Credit: Thomas Padilla
A man sits in the shade behind a wall during hot weather in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, July 13, 2022. Weather forecasters say Spain is expected to have its second heat wave in less than a month and that it will will last at least until the weekend. Meteorologists said an overheated mass of air and warm African winds are driving temperatures in the Iberian Peninsula beyond their usual highs. (AP Photo/Paul White)
Credit: Paul White
A man sits in the shade behind a wall during hot weather in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, July 13, 2022. Weather forecasters say Spain is expected to have its second heat wave in less than a month and that it will will last at least until the weekend. Meteorologists said an overheated mass of air and warm African winds are driving temperatures in the Iberian Peninsula beyond their usual highs. (AP Photo/Paul White)
Credit: Paul White
Credit: Paul White
A woman splashes water from a pond onto her dog during hot weather in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, July 13, 2022. Weather forecasters say Spain is expected to have its second heat wave in less than a month and that it will last at least until the weekend. Meteorologists said an overheated mass of air and warm African winds are driving temperatures in the Iberian Peninsula beyond their usual highs. (AP Photo/Paul White)
Credit: Paul White
A woman splashes water from a pond onto her dog during hot weather in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, July 13, 2022. Weather forecasters say Spain is expected to have its second heat wave in less than a month and that it will last at least until the weekend. Meteorologists said an overheated mass of air and warm African winds are driving temperatures in the Iberian Peninsula beyond their usual highs. (AP Photo/Paul White)
Credit: Paul White
Credit: Paul White
A woman walks with an umbrella to protect against the sun in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, July 13, 2022. Weather forecasters say Spain is expected to have its second heat wave in less than a month and that it will last at least until the weekend. Meteorologists said an overheated mass of air and warm African winds are driving temperatures in the Iberian Peninsula beyond their usual highs. (AP Photo/Paul White)
Credit: Paul White
A woman walks with an umbrella to protect against the sun in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, July 13, 2022. Weather forecasters say Spain is expected to have its second heat wave in less than a month and that it will last at least until the weekend. Meteorologists said an overheated mass of air and warm African winds are driving temperatures in the Iberian Peninsula beyond their usual highs. (AP Photo/Paul White)
Credit: Paul White
Credit: Paul White
A grey seal enjoys an ice cake made of fish on a hot and sunny day at the Madrid Zoo, Spain, Wednesday, July 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Credit: Bernat Armangue
A grey seal enjoys an ice cake made of fish on a hot and sunny day at the Madrid Zoo, Spain, Wednesday, July 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Credit: Bernat Armangue
Credit: Bernat Armangue | 2022-07-13T14:14:57+00:00 | daytondailynews.com | https://www.daytondailynews.com/nation-world/firefighters-battle-wildfires-from-portugal-to-france/Q3WWZVW5PRBJ7AH4LI6QX6M2LE/ |
Risk is highest among Black infants who are both more likely to be born pre-term and more likely to die of SUID
AURORA, Colo., Oct. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A recent study from Children's Hospital Colorado, which analyzed public health data to study racial/ethnic disparities in infant health, found that the risk of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID), also known as SIDS, is two-to-three times higher in preterm infants compared to full-term infants. It's especially concerning for non-Hispanic Black infants, who are both more likely to be born preterm and more likely to die of SUID. Black infants make up 15% of all births in the U.S. and 29% of SUIDs.
SUID is defined as the death of an infant less than 1 year of age that happens suddenly and unexpectedly, and from a cause that is not immediately obvious. SUID accounts for more than 3,500 deaths in infants under the age of 1 in the United States annually.
To better understand the disparities among preterm infants, Sunah Hwang, MD, PhD, MPH, an investigator in the section of neonatology at Children's Hospital Colorado and the University of Colorado School of Medicine, looked at national data on mothers who delivered preterm infants to determine the mother's adherence to back sleep positioning.
How to Decrease the Risk of SUID
One of the most effective, modifiable parental behaviors that may reduce risk of SUID is supine sleep positioning or placing babies on their backs to sleep. It's also best practice for infants under 12 months to sleep in the same room as the parent, but not in the same bed, on a separate, flat firm surface without elevation of the head, and with no unsafe objects such as loose blankets, pillows or dolls. .
More About Persistent Disparities
"While SUID risk and racial disparity in parental adherence to safe infant sleep habits has been well studied in healthy, full-term infants, less is known about racial/ethnic disparity in safe sleep for preterm infants," shared Dr. Hwang. "Our research found that while safe sleep practices improved across all ethnic and racial groups during the 15-year study period, overall racial/ethnic disparities persisted resulting in the highest risk of SUID among Black preterm infants."
The research used the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, a long-running Centers for Disease Control and Prevention effort that collects data on maternal attitudes and experiences around birth. They analyzed data on 66,131 mothers of preterm infants from 16 states, collected between 2000 and 2015, and stratified them into early- and late-preterm groups.
Moving forward, Dr. Hwang believes efforts are needed to better understand factors at individual, hospital, and community levels that influence decision-making related to safe sleep practices among racially-diverse families of preterm infants.
October is Safe Sleep Month -- More Safe Infant Sleep Tips:
Make sure everyone who takes care of your baby knows the safest way for them to sleep with this brochure from the Colorado Infant Safe Sleep Partnership (.pdf). A Spanish version (.pdf) is also available.
You should always put a baby to sleep:
- On their back
- In their own crib or bassinet
- On a firm sleep surface
- With no loose bedding
- In a sleep sack or onesie
- In the room with caregivers
You should never put a baby to sleep:
ABOUT CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL COLORADO
- On their stomach or side
- With anyone else (even caregivers!)
- In an adult bed
- On a couch
- Under a blanket
- On a pillow
- With stuffed animals
- In a crib with bumper pads
- Near tobacco smoke
Children's Hospital Colorado is one of the nation's leading and most expansive nonprofit pediatric healthcare systems with a mission to improve the health of children through patient care, education, research and advocacy. Founded in 1908 and recognized as a top 10 children's hospital by U.S. News & World Report, Children's Colorado has established itself as a pioneer in the discovery of innovative and groundbreaking treatments that are shaping the future of pediatric healthcare worldwide. Children's Colorado offers a full spectrum of family-centered care at its urgent, emergency and specialty care locations throughout Colorado, including an academic medical center on the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, hospitals in Colorado Springs, Highlands Ranch and Broomfield, and outreach clinics across the region. For more information, visit www.childrenscolorado.org or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Children's Hospital Colorado complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.
ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-720-777-9800.
CHÚ Ý: Nếu bạn nói Tiếng Việt, có các dịch vụ hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ miễn phí dành cho bạn. Gọi số 1-720-777-9800.
http://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/section-1557
Media Contacts:
Media pager: 303-890-8314
Media@childrenscolorado.org
View original content:
SOURCE Children's Hospital Colorado | 2022-10-03T14:00:30+00:00 | wsfa.com | https://www.wsfa.com/prnewswire/2022/10/03/research-study-childrens-hospital-colorado-shows-risk-sudden-unexpected-infant-death-significantly-higher-pre-term-infants/ |
(The Hill) – President Biden on Tuesday said he has confidence in his son, Hunter Biden, amid reports that federal agents believe there is enough evidence to charge Hunter with tax crimes and a false statement on a gun purchase.
“Well, first of all, I’m proud of my son. This is a kid who got, not a kid — he’s a grown man. He got hooked on — like many families have had happen, hooked on drugs. He’s overcome that. He’s established a new life,” Biden told CNN’s Jake Tapper in an interview.
Biden noted Hunter acknowledged in his book that he wrote on a gun application that he was not using drugs at a time when he was battling addiction. But the president said he didn’t know anything about it at the time.
“So I have great confidence in my son,” Biden said. “I love him and he’s on the straight and narrow, and he has been for a couple years now. And I’m just so proud of him.”
The Washington Post first reported that federal agents believe there is enough evidence to charge Hunter Biden over the false answer on his application for a gun in 2018, as well as whether he failed to properly report all of his income.
The decision of whether to charge Hunter Biden ultimately lies with U.S. Attorney David Weiss, who is a holdover from the Trump administration.
The president has repeatedly said he is proud of his son for overcoming his addiction issues, and he has been adamant that he would not interfere in any Justice Department investigation.
That investigation into Hunter Biden has been ongoing for years, and Republicans have tried to use questions about Biden’s son against him. Former President Trump, during the 2020 campaign, repeatedly highlighted Hunter Biden’s foreign business interests to paint the Biden family as corrupt. | 2022-10-12T03:44:57+00:00 | kfor.com | https://kfor.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/biden-says-he-has-great-confidence-in-hunter-amid-reports-of-possible-charges/ |
(WSVN) - A Texas pet owner and his beloved companion are finally back together after years apart.
Kerry Smith flew to Orange County Animal Services to pick up his dog on Saturday after he received a call from them.
They tracked down Smith after scanning Jazzy’s microchip after she was found abandoned in a hotel room, barely able to walk and without food or water.
“My message to everybody is to chip your dog. And I knew as soon as she went to a vet that I would get the call that I would be waiting for for 7 years,”
Smith said Jazzy ran away from their Fort Worth home when she got spooked during July 4th fireworks back in 2015 and he couldn’t find her.
He now plans to shower her with love and the help she needs to recover.
How she got to Florida is still a mystery.
Copyright 2022 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | 2022-12-13T13:52:26+00:00 | wsvn.com | https://wsvn.com/news/local/florida/texas-man-reunited-with-dog-after-7-years-in-orlando/ |
After a year-long investigation, a Congressional subcommittee says four corporate landlords were quick to push out renters during the pandemic, and filed nearly three times as many eviction actions as previously reported — almost 15,000 in all. The findings add data and detail to a growing body of reporting — and mounting complaints — about investor landlords, including concerns that they are fueling skyrocketing rents amid a historic shortage of affordable housing.
"As countless Americans acted admirably to support their communities during the coronavirus crisis, the four landlord companies...evicted aggressively to pad their profits," said House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) in a statement.
He chairs the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, which began its investigation after reports that the companies had high eviction filing rates despite a federal eviction moratorium, and often refused to accept emergency rental aid. The report looks at the actions of Pretium Partners, Invitation Homes, Ventron Management and The Siegel Group during the first 16 months of the pandemic. The companies own properties across 28 states.
In a statement, Pretium said, "We have always complied with the CDC moratorium," and that the company voluntarily extended that moratorium beyond its expiration in some cases. Invitation Homes noted that "we have provided help to more than 33,000 residents who were in need of extra time or financial assistance," and helped 10,000 more obtain rental aid. The other two companies did not immediately reply to queries.
A list of strategies to "bluff" people out of their apartments
One company, The Siegel Group, is accused of using deceptive practices to "bluff" people out of their apartments. The report says employees took actions to make tenants think the CDC eviction moratorium was no longer in force, even though it had been kept in place on appeal.
"It looks as if they were using information and even misinformation in order to set people up for evictions," Rep. Clyburn told NPR.
It also describes a list of "harassment" strategies a Siegel executive said could be used to get a tenant in Texas to leave without a formal eviction order. They included having security knock on her door "at least twice a night," replacing her air conditioning unit with one that didn't work, and calling Child Protective Services to visit her. Lawmakers suggest some of these tactics may be unlawful and they've referred the findings to federal and state agencies for further investigation.
The congressional report finds the companies often filed to evict tenants who were only one month behind in rent, and sometimes while they were waiting on emergency rental aid. It says Invitation Homes downplayed the impact of its practices, reporting in March 2021 that just 6% of tenants it filed against actually lost their housing. In fact, lawmakers say that included only those formally evicted by court order, and many more left without waiting for that, bringing the total share to 27%.
"Too often we tend to place the blame on the resident," says Jim Baker, executive director of the Private Equity Stakeholder Project, a nonprofit advocacy group that's also tracked evictions. "But what we saw, and the subcommittee showed, was really a pattern of actions. These large companies were taking multiple steps to sort of force those folks out of their homes."
Last year, Baker's group found that one of the companies in today's report — Pretium — had been filing for eviction much more often in predominantly Black neighborhoods during the pandemic. At the time Pretium called the allegations "baseless" and said its property managers "work with residents and seek to avoid eviction."
Baker says today's report suggests these companies "made an economic calculation that they could raise rents for new residents, rather than enabling current residents to be able to stay in their homes."
These companies may be the "tip of the iceberg"
The report covers the worst part of the pandemic, a period when a federal eviction moratorium was in effect, as well as many local ones. Peter Hepburn, a research fellow with the Eviction Lab at Princeton University, says it's significant that Congress is calling attention to corporate landlord practices during that time, and naming names.
"Those protections were in place in order to safeguard our public health, and they were willfully undermining that effort," he says. "I think that is reprehensible."
He also believes these four companies are only the "tip of the iceberg," and says the report shows the need for more transparency as corporate landlords expand their reach. Last year their share of single-family home purchases jumped to a record quarter of the market.
"These firms are buying up a lot of housing, and they're particularly buying up housing in places that have relatively weak tenant protections, places where eviction is easier, faster and cheaper," Hepburn says. "And I don't think that that is coincidental."
Katie Goldstein directs the housing program at the Center for Popular Democracy, and says evictions are just one of many problems she encounters with corporate landlords. Tenants also complain about a decline in services and repairs, an increase in monthly fees, and a dramatic rise in rents.
Some cities and states have expanded protections for tenants, such as requiring they be provided legal counsel in eviction court. Goldstein's group and others also want federal limits on rent hikes, and the circumstance in which people can be evicted.
"What we really need is for tenants to be able to experience stability, and not have situations where corporate landlords can double or triple the rent, depending on what the market looks like in that area," Goldstein says.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2022-07-28T17:40:12+00:00 | mtpr.org | https://www.mtpr.org/2022-07-28/corporate-landlords-used-aggressive-tactics-to-push-out-more-tenants-than-was-known |
PCORI also approves $4 million for projects to implement an asthma treatment approach and a colorectal cancer screening decision aid
WASHINGTON, March 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) today announced funding awards totaling $123 million to support 15 new research studies. These studies aim to fill evidence gaps, enhance research methods, or improve health care decision making for a range of high-burden concerns among adults and children, including postpartum complications occurring in populations experiencing the greatest disparities in health outcomes.
In addition, PCORI awarded $4 million for two implementation projects intended to accelerate uptake of strategies shown in PCORI-funded studies, one to improve decision making about colorectal cancer screening as well as one to improve outcomes for patients with asthma.
"These latest awards demonstrate PCORI's commitment to funding important research addressing evidence gaps on key health issues identified through the ongoing input and guidance of patients and stakeholders, including the persistent and worsening maternal health crisis that is a priority for PCORI," said PCORI Executive Director Nakela L. Cook, M.D., MPH. "The research awards announced today will provide sound evidence to help patients and those who care for them make sense of their many options in a complex health care environment. This research also will contribute data and strategies to help achieve health equity, one of PCORI's National Priorities for Health."
View all the newly funded studies and projects.
New CER focuses on postpartum care, hypertension management
Six of the newly approved comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER) studies were awarded through targeted PCORI funding opportunities on specific high-priority topics identified and shaped through input from patients and other stakeholders. These include:
- Four studies comparing multicomponent strategies to improve postpartum care and outcomes for groups most often underserved or experiencing the greatest health disparities, such as Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, Hispanic, rural and low-income populations.
- Two studies comparing the effectiveness of approaches to remote blood pressure monitoring that aim to address inequities in blood pressure control, including screenings through community-based organizations and remote monitoring via cell phones.
Other CER studies approved for PCORI funding include:
- A study comparing two interventions shown to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use for ear infections in children.
- A study comparing three strategies, preoperative prehabilitation, postoperative rehabilitation and a combined approach for patients needing stenting for peripheral artery disease.
- A third study assessing approaches to improve shared decision making and access to non-dialytic treatment for patients with advanced kidney disease.
- Another comparing approaches to screening for hearing loss among preschool-age children.
- A fifth assessing ways to increase guideline-recommended health surveillance for children and adults with neurofibromatosis.
In addition, PCORI approved four studies that aim to improve methods for conducting patient-centered CER to ensure this burgeoning field of research generates reliable, trustworthy results. Areas of focus include machine learning, more efficient use of electronic medical records for research, improving trial design and analysis, and the function of secure messaging in health care.
Promoting the uptake of PCORI-funded research into practice
Two newly approved projects are focused on implementing findings of past PCORI-funded research, advancing the organization's efforts to pursue and refine ways to support uptake of useful evidence in a variety of care settings where it can improve people's outcomes.
One project will work with two health systems to make an online decision aid about colorectal cancer screening available to patients due for screening. The other project will work with four diverse medical systems to implement a new, patient-activated approach for patients with moderate to severe asthma to improve symptom control, reduce exacerbations and reduce missed days of work or school.
"PCORI funds projects to promote the adoption of useful findings from comparative clinical effectiveness research. These projects help to ensure that research evidence is implemented in clinical practice and has the opportunity to have a salutary impact on patients, clinicians and health systems," said Harv Feldman, M.D., PCORI's Deputy Executive Editor for Patient-Centered Research Programs. "Many patients who confront important decisions about health screenings and care for themselves or loved ones with a chronic condition may experience better care and outcomes as a result of PCORI's latest implementation funding awards."
Details of all studies and projects approved for funding to date are available on PCORI's website. All funding awards were approved pending a business and programmatic review by PCORI staff and the issuance of formal award contracts. With these latest awards, PCORI has invested approximately $4 billion to fund patient-centered CER and other research-related projects.
About PCORI
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is an independent nonprofit organization authorized by Congress in 2010. Its mission is to fund research that will provide patients, their caregivers and clinicians with the evidence-based information needed to make better informed health care decisions. PCORI is committed to continuously seeking input from a broad range of stakeholders to guide its work.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute | 2023-03-28T16:13:41+00:00 | kcbd.com | https://www.kcbd.com/prnewswire/2023/03/28/pcori-approves-123-million-research-postpartum-care-hypertension-management-antibiotic-prescribing-range-conditions/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government plans to end in January the public health emergency it declared earlier this year after an outbreak of mpox infected more than 29,000 people across the U.S.
Mpox cases have plummeted in recent weeks, with just a handful of new infections being reported every week in the month of November, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At the height of the outbreak, over the summer, hundreds of people were being infected weekly.
The virus has primarily spread among men who have sex with infected men.
The public health emergency is expected to end in January, said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra in a statement.
“Given the low number of cases today, HHS does not expect that it needs to renew the emergency declaration when it ends on January 31, 2023,” Becerra said. “But we won’t take our foot off the gas — we will continue to monitor the case trends closely and encourage all at-risk individuals to get a free vaccine.”
The U.S. struggled to contain the mpox outbreak for many months. Tests were difficult to come by and the government botched its rollout of the vaccine, with weeks of delays in getting 800,000 doses of the shots to clinics in the major cities that were hit hardest.
The tide began turning in August, shortly after the government declared a public health emergency and the White House tapped two top officials — Robert Fenton, who led the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s COVID-19 vaccination effort, and Dr. Demetre Daskalakis of the CDC — to lead the response to the virus outbreak.
Their strategy included reaching out to local clinics and vaccinating people at Pride events or parades. As the two-dose Jynneos vaccine became more readily available around the country, cases started falling.
To date, 17 people have died from the virus in the U.S.
Winding down the mpox public health emergency will be a test run of sorts for the Biden administration as it braces to declare an end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, which is expected to last at least through Jan. 11. The administration has given no indication of when it will declare an end to the coronavirus public health emergency but has promised to give at last 60 days notice.
Last month the World Health Organization renamed monkeypox as mpox, citing concerns the original name of the decades-old animal disease could be construed as discriminatory and racist. | 2022-12-03T13:44:29+00:00 | wcia.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ap-us-plans-end-to-mpox-public-health-emergency-in-january/ |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.