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WESTFIELD – The Worcester Bravehearts pulled off a magic act of sorts, escaping the Bullens Field mystique that has enveloped every other opponent of the Westfield Starfires this season in the FCBL.
Worcester handed Westfield its first home loss the season, defeating the Starfires 10-2 Thursday at Bullens. The Whip City’s FCBL ball team fell to 12-7.
After three scoreless innings, the Bravehearts got on the board first in their half of the fourth inning when Cam Seymour doubled and came home on a David Pedanou single.
The Bravehearts would add two more runs in the fifth inning. Sebastian Mexico walked, Jake Marquez singled, and Sal Grinstead singled to drive in Mexico. Marquez also scored on the play and Grinstead advanced to third on a throwing error.
In the sixth inning, the Bravehearts added three more runs to their lead. Pedanou walked and stole second, Justin King walked, and Mexico singled to drive in Pedanou. King also scored and Mexico advanced to third on another error. Marquez then hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Mexico, putting the Bravehearts up 6-0.
The Bravehearts would add one more run in the seventh and eighth innings. In the seventh, TJ Wachter hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Kosta Drosidis after he reached after getting hit by a pitch by Starfires’ reliever Carson Walsh and advancing to third on a Gavin Noriega single. In the eighth, King walked, Marquez singled, and Grinstead singled to drive in King, making the score 8-0 in favor of the Bravehearts after eight innings.
In the top half of the ninth, Michael Lorenzetti came in to pitch for the Starfires. He walked both Wachter and Seymour and both advanced on a passed ball and came home on passed balls, making the score 10-0.
The Starfires aimed for a comeback in their half of the ninth as Jack Wentworth singled and came home on a two out, two run home run by Noah Campanelli. Westfield put men at second and third, but a strikeout ended the comeback hopes.
Starfires’ starting pitcher Ryan Donahue, took the loss, pitching six innings, allowing four earned runs, and giving up two unearned runs on eight hits. Donahue also walked three and struck out six. Carson Walsh and Michael Lorenzetti also pitched in relief for the Starfires. Walsh pitched two innings, allowing two runs on three hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Lorenzetti saw his first action of the summer, pitching one inning, walking two, striking out three and giving up two runs, one of them earned.
The Starfires are back in action tomorrow night against the same Bravehearts team in Worcester, looking to end their three-game losing streak and six game road losing streak. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
For the latest on the team, be sure to follow the Starfires on Twitter and Instagram @starfiresbb, and visit us on the web at westfieldstarfires.com | 2022-06-17T05:50:34+00:00 | masslive.com | https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2022/06/worcester-hands-starfires-first-home-loss-of-2022.html |
Cleveland City Council voted to expand the Shotspotter gunshot detection system during its meeting Monday night.
The Department of Public Safety will expand the use of Shotspotter from a 3-square-mile pilot section in the 4th Police District to 13-square-miles spread across the city.
The city will spend close to $2.8 million of coronavirus relief funding under the American Rescue Plan Act for the expansion. The new contract expires in 2024.
“If there is a tool we can add, if there is something else that we can do in addition to hoping that we get all of these police officers, have this influx in officers to patrol our streets, to sit on every corner, which we know is not the case, then I’m all for it,” said Ward 10 Councilman Anthony Hairston, whose ward includes part of the Shotspotter pilot area, during a Finance Committee meeting Monday.
Council held three hearings on Shotspotter in the past three weeks, including two in the Safety Committee, where police officials presented results from Shotspotter over the past two years.
According to police numbers, nine lives have been saved following a Shotspotter alert, along with 44 arrests and 52 guns seized, directly tied to use of the technology.
Average police response time in the area with the technology is more than two minutes shorter than in the rest of the 4th District. But it’s still above eight minutes on average.
The police found that so far this year, only 9% of shootings in the city have produced a call to 911.
The technology has come under increased scrutiny recently, particularly in Chicago, following the police shooting of 13-year-old Adam Toledo, who was chased by police following a Shotspotter alert.
Ideastream Public Media recently reported that records provided by Cleveland Police, in response to a public records request for all arrests linked to a Shotspotter alerts in 2020 and 2021 showed at least two of the nine arrests were potentially unconstitutional.
Public Safety Director Karrie Howard defended Shotspotter at council, but did not dispute that it may have been used to conduct unlawful searches. “It's not the technology that creates these violations of policy or violations of constitutional rights, it's policing,” Howard said. “We can't hold the technology accountable for bad police conduct. Bad police officers need to be held accountable for bad police conduct.”
Police officials told council they would review the arrests featured in Ideastream Public Media's reporting to determine whether the department’s policies were violated.
According to the department, there’s only been one useof-force incident connected to a Shotspotter alert – an officer pointed a firearm at someone. In the nine videos reviewed by Ideastream, there was one instance where an officer clearly pointed her firearm at a fleeing suspect. That person turned out to be unarmed.
There has only been one policy violation, according to police. That was related to the mishandling of evidence.
The councilmembers who supported the expansion said the need to combat gun violence in their neighborhoods outweighed the other concerns about the technology.
In a rare move, Council President Blaine Griffin asked for a roll call before moving the ordinance out of the Finance Committee to a vote by the full council. Committee chairs typically only ask for any objections before moving ordinances out of committee.
The sole “no” vote was from Ward 15 Councilperson Jenny Spencer, who said she was voting against it because of the cost, because she does not agree with using one-time coronavirus relief funds for an ongoing program like Shotspotter and because of concerns about privacy and policing practices the technology raises.
“I think there are times when council does not need to vote unanimously and that a diverse set of viewpoints can advance important conversations,” Spencer said. “I hope my ‘no’ vote will contribute to advancing those conversations.” | 2022-10-11T11:28:54+00:00 | wksu.org | https://www.wksu.org/government-politics/2022-10-11/cleveland-city-council-approves-expansion-of-shotspotter-gunshot-detection-system |
Woman rescued after days stuck in swampy area of state park
EASTON, Mass. (AP) — A Massachusetts woman who went missing last week has been found alive in a swampy area of a state park, police said.
Emma Tetewsky, 31, was reported missing June 26, prompting police to turn to the public for help in finding her.
On Monday evening, Easton Police Department officers arrived at Borderland State Park, about 30 miles south of Boston, after hikers called 911 to report hearing a woman screaming for help in a swampy area of the park, according to investigators.
Police heard Tetewsky’s cries for help through thick bush, but couldn’t see her. Then, three officers waded about 50 feet through the swamp to reach Tetewsky.
Investigators say she might have been trapped in the swampy area for at least three days.
She was taken to a nearby hospital with what investigators said are serious, but not life-threatening, injuries.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2023-07-04T18:06:49+00:00 | wfsb.com | https://www.wfsb.com/2023/07/04/woman-rescued-after-days-stuck-swampy-area-state-park/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — The nation’s 33 biggest banks have enough capital to withstand a severe economic contraction, the Federal Reserve said Thursday.
In its latest annual “stress tests” of the U.S. financial system, the Fed built a scenario under which the nation’s unemployment rate would more than double to 10%, and a severe contraction in commercial real estate and stock market values would cause losses of more than $600 billion.
Even in with those variables, the 33 largest banks would still, on average, have a capital ratio 9.7%, well above the 4.5% required by law, the Fed said. Capital ratios are an industry measure of how strong a cushion a bank holds against unexpected losses.
The “stress tests” have become an annual report card for the nation’s financial system since being implemented after the Great Recession and 2008 financial crisis. The biggest banks are required to pass these annual examinations before they can start paying out shareholders dividends and buying back shares. Banks will announce their plans for plans for dividends and buybacks on Monday.
The tests vary from year to year, but generally involve the Fed testing to see how steep the losses in the banking industry would be if unemployment were to skyrocket and economic activity were to severely contract. For example, the Federal Reserve has recently tested banks against the possibility of a double-dip recession caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Fed’s test is an academic exercise, and this examination is not predicting a recession, even though financial markets have increasingly priced in the possibility of a recession later this year as the nation’s central bank raises rates to combat inflation. This test was designed before Russia invaded Ukraine and before the current period of high inflation.
While 34 banks were tested in the Fed’s overall examination, one bank was not included in the individual results: Japanese bank MUFG, which is selling off its U.S. retail banking business and would not be subject to examinations once that deal is finalized. Overall 33 banks were individually scrutinized to see whether they would have enough capital, and all passed. | 2022-06-23T21:39:52+00:00 | seattletimes.com | https://www.seattletimes.com/business/all-big-us-banks-pass-feds-annual-stress-tests/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_business |
‘I need some friends’: Video of 11-year-old bullied boy asking for help goes viral
AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA/Gray News) - A video on TikTok went viral of an 11-year-old Texas boy going door-to-door looking for friends.
Shayden Walker had no idea that ringing the Ray family’s doorbell would change his life.
The Rays decided to post the door bell camera interaction they had with Shayden on TikTok, and it quickly blew up. At last check the video had nearly 70 million views.
The Ray family also decided to start a GoFundMe for Shayden with a goal of $7,000. It has gone on to raise nearly $40,000.
Shayden said he plans to donate a lot of it to charity, but some of it will allow for him to get some new stuff for the upcoming school year and other things he enjoys.
Shayden’s mother, Krishna Patterson, said this isn’t about the money, but drawing attention to the issues of bullying and teaching people to show kindness to those with all abilities.
Patterson said Shayden has struggled with making and keeping friends, and has attention-deficit hyperactivitydisorder, oppositional defiant disorder and is on the autism spectrum. She said these factors contribute to him being bullied.
“What my life was like before was kids were manipulating me and telling me they would be my friend, but when they would ask me to do something horrible, I don’t feel like they’re actually my friend,” Shayden said.
Before going viral, Shayden’s mother said he didn’t have the confidence to be himself.
“He stims very hard, he flaps his arms, and he makes noises that a lot of people have made fun of him, so he told me, ‘I just deal with the pain of holding it in, so that I don’t get made fun of because of it,’ and that hurt, that broke my heart,” Patterson said.
After the viral video, Shayden said his confidence has “gone through the roof.”
Brennan Ray, who shared the video, said he wants other kids to step up like Shayden did.
“It just takes one person, especially if you’re a popular kid, people look up to you, if you can be the one to stand out and help somebody else, set that trend, make that the trend to be set to not be a bully,” Ray said.
Patterson said she hopes more children will be inspired by Shayden’s story.
“My kid, he’s been hospitalized because the bullying was so bad and he felt so isolated. If you see it just advocate for that person, just be there for that person, do not let that person suffer,” Patterson said.
Shayden said he wants everyone to take this message away from his actions.
“How would you like it if someone were to bully you? How would that make you feel?” he said.
A benefit bike run is being held Sunday at The Handle Bar in Amarillo to advocate for an end to bullying.
Copyright 2023 KFDA via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2023-07-11T19:38:27+00:00 | kcrg.com | https://www.kcrg.com/2023/07/11/i-need-some-friends-video-11-year-old-bullied-boy-asking-help-goes-viral/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Rick Allen wins reelection to U.S. House in Georgia's 12th Congressional District.
- Two races in Washington state could tip scales in Congress
- 2 coaches fired, several others remain on hot seat
- Democrat Murray wins sixth term to US Senate
- Alert: Republicans will hold Alaska Senate seat in a race that will go...
- Walmart Black Friday: The $188 smart TV sold out in minutes
- Dog seen carrying severed arm; decapitated body later found
- Oregon governor's race a nail-biter, too early to call
- Conspiracists seeking key state election posts falling short | 2022-11-09T14:57:11+00:00 | seattlepi.com | https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Alert-Republican-Rick-Allen-wins-reelection-to-17570935.php |
Wall Street’s rally hit a wall after a surprisingly strong jobs report fueled worries about inflation and higher interest rates.
The S&P 500 fell 1% Friday, its first drop in four days, though it took an up-and-down route to get there. The bond market was more decisive in thinking the strong jobs data may push the Federal Reserve to get firmer on high interest rates, which hurt the economy and markets. Treasury yields zoomed higher.
Tech stocks also weighed on the market following profit reports that were weaker than expected.
On Friday:
The S&P 500 fell 43.28 points, or 1%, to 4,136.48.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 127.93 points, or 0.4%, to 33,926.01.
The Nasdaq composite fell 193.86 points, or 1.6%, to 12,006.95.
The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 15.69 points, or 0.8%, to 1,985.53.
For the week:
The S&P 500 is up 65.92 points, or 1.6%.
The Dow is down 52.07 points, or 0.2%.
The Nasdaq is up 385.24 points, or 3.3%.
The Russell 2000 is up 74.08 points, or 3.9%.
For the year:
The S&P 500 is up 296.98 points, or 7.7%.
The Dow is up 778.76 points, or 2.3%.
The Nasdaq is up 1,540.47 points, or 14.7%.
The Russell 2000 is up 224.29 points, or 12.7%. | 2023-02-03T22:47:42+00:00 | expressnews.com | https://www.expressnews.com/business/article/how-major-us-stock-indexes-fared-friday-2-3-2023-17762658.php |
Dibbs Recognized as a top startup in 2022 for their innovative construction app
NEWPORT, R.I., May 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dibbs, a construction marketplace that removes the friction out of bidding has been named the winner of a Bronze Stevie® Award in the Startup of the Year category in The 20th Annual American Business Awards®.
The American Business Awards are the U.S.A.'s premier business awards program. All organizations operating in the U.S.A. are eligible to submit nominations – public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small.
More than 3,700 nominations from organizations of all sizes in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of categories, including Startup of the Year, Executive of the Year, Best New Product or Service of the Year, Marketing Campaign of the Year, Thought Leader of the Year, and App of the Year, among others. Dibbs was nominated in the Startup of the Year category for Business Products.
Dibbs was awarded in the Startup Of The Year category after showing its commitment to enhancing the construction industry with its new marketplace app. The app provides contractors, suppliers, and tradesmen, the ability to remove the current paper-heavy bidding process and save both time and money by reaching an entire network of local professionals. The success they have seen thus far in the states where they are available shows that the company will succeed nationally in each market.
"We are honored to be selected for this prestigious award for Startup of the Year. Our team has worked hard this past year and we are excited to see the hard work pay off. Congratulations to all those nominated." Shares CEO and Founder Luke Fleury.
More than 230 professionals worldwide participated in the judging process to select this year's Stevie Award winners.
"We are so pleased that we will be able to stage our first ABA awards banquet since 2019 and to celebrate, in person, the achievements of such a diverse group of organizations and individuals," said Maggie Miller, president of the Stevie Awards.
Details about The American Business Awards and the list of 2022 Stevie winners are available at www.StevieAwards.com/ABA.
About Dibbs
Rated a Top 10 startup company of 2021, Dibbs is designed to take the friction out of bidding, buying, and selling products and services in the construction and real estate marketplace. Based out of Newport, Rhode Island, the app has been launched to Rhode Island and Massachusetts residents. The company plans to launch nationally throughout the year to bring its new twist on bidding to the construction industry in the U.S. Dibbs was created for the trade by the trade as CEO and Founder, Luke Fleury is a General Contractor himself in Rhode Island.
About the Stevie Awards
Stevie Awards are conferred in eight programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards®, The International Business Awards®, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com.
Sponsors of The 2022 American Business Awards include HCL America, John Hancock Financial Services, Melissa Sones Consulting, and SoftPro.
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SOURCE Dibbs | 2022-05-18T15:03:47+00:00 | mysuncoast.com | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/18/dibbs-honored-2022-bronze-stevie-award-winner-its-construction-marketplace-app/ |
How to watch Thorns vs. Current in 2022 NWSL Championship originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
It all comes down to this for the 2022 National Women’s Soccer League campaign.
The Portland Thorns and Kansas City Current will be battling for a chance to make history in the 2022 NWSL Championship from Audi Field in Washington, D.C.
With everything to play for on Saturday, here’s everything you need to know ahead of the Thorns-Current NWSL Final:
Stay informed about local news and weather during the hurricane season. Get the NBC 6 South Florida app for iOS or Android and pick your alerts.
When is the 2022 NWSL Championship game?
The Thorns and Current will take the field on Saturday, Oct. 29, at 8 p.m. ET, making it the first primetime final in league history.
Where is the 2022 NWSL Championship game?
Sports
Audi Field, home of MLS’ D.C. United and NWSL’s Washington Spirit, is the neutral venue for the final.
How to watch 2022 NWSL Championship
The 2022 NWSL Championship game will be broadcast on CBS and can be streamed on Paramount+.
What is the Portland Thorns’ record?
The Thorns finished the 12-team regular season with a 10-9-3 win-draw-loss record for a total of 39 points and a second-place league finish.
As the No. 2 seed, Portland received a first-round playoff bye and beat the San Diego Wave 2-1 in the semifinal. Crystal Dunn scored the winner in stoppage time with a thunderous strike on a loose ball following a corner.
What is the Kansas City Current’s record?
The Current finished the season with a 10-6-6 win-draw-loss record for a total of 36 points and a fifth-place spot. Kansas City equaled the points total for third-place Wave and fourth-place Houston Dash but its goal differential of zero put the team in fifth.
Kansas City then beat Houston 2-1 in the first round before upsetting No. 1 seed OL Reign 2-0 in the semifinal.
What history is on the line in the Thorns-Current NWSL Final?
If Portland takes home the title, that would make it three championships in total for the Thorns after previously hoisting the trophy in 2013, the first ever final in the league, and 2017. The team would take sole possession of most NWSL titles in league history, passing the North Carolina Courage and now-disbanded FC Kansas City, who each have two to their name.
For the Current, it would be the team’s first ever NWSL title with a win. FC Kansas City won the championship in 2014 and 2015, but the team was dissolved in 2017 after cases of mismanagement and absentee ownership, so the Current can create history for the city’s new club. | 2022-10-28T15:32:30+00:00 | nbcmiami.com | https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/sports/how-to-watch-portland-thorns-vs-kansas-city-current-in-2022-nwsl-championship/2894784/ |
BERLIN — More than 1,000 Lufthansa flights were canceled Wednesday because of a one-day strike by the airline’s German ground staff, affecting tens of thousands of passengers in the latest travel turmoil to hit Europe.
Lufthansa’s main hubs in Frankfurt and Munich were most affected, but flights were also canceled in Duesseldorf, Hamburg, Berlin, Bremen, Hannover, Stuttgart and Cologne.
The airline advised affected passengers not to come to the airports because most of the counters there would not be staffed anyway.
The ver.di service workers’ union announced the strike on Monday as it seeks to raise pressure on Lufthansa in negotiations on pay for about 20,000 employees of logistical, technical and cargo subsidiaries of the airline.
The walkout comes at a time when airports in Germany and across Europe already are seeing disruption and long lines for security checks because of staff shortages and soaring travel demand.
As inflation soars, strikes for higher pay by airport crews in France and Scandinavian Airlines pilots in Sweden, Norway and Denmark have deepened the chaos for travelers who have faced last-minute cancellations, lengthy delays, lost luggage or long waits for bags in airports across Europe.
Travel is booming this summer after two years of COVID-19 restrictions, swamping airlines and airports that don’t have enough workers after pandemic-era layoffs. Airports like London’s Heathrow and Amsterdam’s Schiphol have limited daily flights or passenger numbers.
The Lufthansa strike started early Wednesday at 3:45 a.m. local time and is set to end early Thursday. Such “warning strikes” are a common tactic in German labor negotiations and typically last from several hours to a day or two.
Ver.di is calling for a 9.5% pay increase this year and says an offer by Lufthansa earlier this month, which would involve a deal for an 18-month period, falls far short of its demands.
Lufthansa’s chief personnel officer, Michael Niggemann, argued that “this so-called warning strike in the middle of the peak summer travel season is simply no longer proportionate.” | 2022-07-27T06:50:48+00:00 | washingtonpost.com | https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/over-1000-lufthansa-flights-canceled-as-staff-strikes/2022/07/27/60a105da-0d77-11ed-88e8-c58dc3dbaee2_story.html |
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., May 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In a remarkable legal victory, distinguished and determined attorney, Super Woman Super Lawyer Maryam Parman and her team won a staggering $27,000,000 for a motorcycle accident victim in an unincorporated area of Orange County.
The male victim, whose name has not been released to the media, was left with a traumatic brain injury, which required extensive medical treatment and left him with permanent disabilities that have impacted his ability to work and enjoy life.
Despite the case's complexity, Super Woman Super Lawyer's team fought tirelessly on behalf of their client, refusing to settle for anything less than what he deserved. Super Woman Super Lawyer secured a settlement exceeding the insurance policy limit of $50,000, providing her client with the financial support to compensate for numerous medical bills and lost wages.
When asked about the settlement, Super Woman Super Lawyer Maryam Parman stated, "I'm deeply grateful for the trust my clients place in me to help them during what is often the most difficult time in their lives. It's an honor to fight for justice on their behalf and to secure the compensation they need to rebuild their lives after a devastating injury. This settlement is a testament to the power of perseverance. I hope it will serve as a reminder that the civil justice system can be a powerful tool for those who have been wronged."
Super Woman Super Lawyer has earned a reputation as one of the most skilled and tenacious attorneys in the country, and this case only adds to her impressive track record. Her injury law firm has secured numerous multi-million dollar settlements for their clients, and their track record of success has earned the respect of the legal community.
In addition to her impressive legal career, Super Woman Super Lawyer is also a dedicated philanthropist, and has donated her time and resources to a variety of charitable causes over the years. She is a role model for women in the legal profession, and her dedication to her clients and community have earned her a reputation as one of the best injury attorneys in the nation.
This case is a reminder of the importance of having an experienced legal team on your side following an accident. Super Woman Super Lawyer's team continue to fight tirelessly to achieve justice for injured victims across the nation and are offering free injury consultations on superwomansuperlawyer.com.
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SOURCE Super Woman Super Lawyer | 2023-05-03T14:57:38+00:00 | wymt.com | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2023/05/03/super-woman-super-lawyer-wins-27m-motorcycle-accident-victim/ |
Students in East Palestine, Ohio put on the Spring play as residents work to recover from the February train derailment that disrupted life in the small town.
Copyright 2023 NPR
Students in East Palestine, Ohio put on the Spring play as residents work to recover from the February train derailment that disrupted life in the small town.
Copyright 2023 NPR | 2023-04-14T10:34:05+00:00 | wlrn.org | https://www.wlrn.org/npr-breaking-news/npr-breaking-news/2023-04-14/east-palestine-students-put-on-a-play-while-the-city-recovers-from-a-train-derailment |
GOP senators had a message for a group of current and incoming House Republicans threatening to stop any bill supported by someone who votes for the omnibus spending package in its tracks: We don’t care.
Thirteen Republican representatives and representatives-elect on Monday sent a letter calling for any legislative priorities backed by a GOP senator who supports the $1.7 trillion year-end spending bill to be thwarted in the 118th Congress.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who is trying to lock down enough votes to be elected Speaker, endorsed the letter on Tuesday.
That message was met with dismissiveness and some derision from across the Capitol.
“It’s not [good]. … I mean, really? If you just think about what they’re suggesting, it flies in the face of maturity and the ability to lead,” said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), who plans to vote against the omnibus spending bill. “The reality is this kind of chest thumping and immaturity doesn’t instill confidence in their ability to lead. Now, maybe it helps Kevin get elected Speaker — I hope it does. I hope he becomes Speaker. I want him to become Speaker, but it’s not a good start to leading.”
Cramer, a former member of the lower chamber, added that the 13 House Republicans are putting the GOP leader in a “horrible spot.”
The Senate early Tuesday morning unveiled the $1.7 trillion bill, negotiated between Democrats and Republicans, to fund the government through the end of fiscal 2023. The current weeklong stopgap bill keeping the government operating expires on Friday at midnight.
The letter’s signatories included five who have said or strongly indicated they will not vote for McCarthy for Speaker: Reps. Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Matt Rosendale (Mont.), Matt Gaetz (Fla.), Ralph Norman (S.C.) and Bob Good (Va.).
“Further, we are obliged to inform you that if any omnibus passes in the remaining days of this Congress, we will oppose and whip opposition to any legislative priority of those senators who vote for this bill – including the Republican leader,” the letter said. “We will oppose any rule, any consent request, suspension voice vote, or roll call vote of any such Senate bill, and will otherwise do everything in our power to thwart even the smallest legislative and policy efforts of those senators.”
McCarthy on Tuesday tweeted his approval.
“Agreed. Except no need to whip—when I’m Speaker, their bills will be dead on arrival in the House if this nearly $2T monstrosity is allowed to move forward over our objections and the will of the American people,” he said.
Later on Tuesday, House Minority Whip Steve Scalise’s (R-La.) office sent out a notice recommending a “no” vote on the spending bill.
Leading Senate Republicans didn’t appear to take the threat from the 13 lawmakers seriously.
“That doesn’t sound like a recipe for working together in the best interest of the country, so I think this is just words spoken during the heat of passion,” Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), an ally of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who is an “aye” vote for the omnibus. “Hopefully, cooler heads will prevail.”
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) labeled the letter “an idle threat.”
“I think respect for people’s votes is what [these] whole institutions are built on, and that we all have different reasons for making different votes, whether it’s who we represent, what lens we’re looking through,” Capito said. “I think they need to settle their Speakership quickly, and I hope Kevin’s the Speaker.”
Capito, the newly minted No. 5 member of Senate GOP leadership, added that it’s “pretty obvious” that the letter and McCarthy’s support are a byproduct of the Speaker’s race.
Whether the threat has any teeth in a divided Congress remains to be seen.
Despite the letter, top Senate Republicans are still hopeful McCarthy makes it across the finish line. McConnell on Tuesday told reporters that he is “pulling” for the California Republican to win the top job despite a number of barbs McCarthy has thrown in the Senate GOP leader’s direction in recent weeks.
“I think Kevin McCarthy will probably be able to ultimately become Speaker of the House,” Cramer said. “I just hope he doesn’t live to regret it.” | 2022-12-21T01:02:56+00:00 | pahomepage.com | https://www.pahomepage.com/hill-politics/senate-gop-pans-immaturity-by-house-republicans-with-omnibus-threat/ |
DURHAM, N.C., Sept. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A spokesperson for Greg Lindberg provided the following update regarding the exit of his North Carolina insurance companies from rehabilitation:
- Lindberg states that there is a "ready and willing" buyer for his NC insurance companies who has offered to pay "several hundred million dollars" for these companies so that they can be sold and exit rehabilitation immediately. At the time of sale, policyholders will be able to access all their benefits, Lindberg says. "The North Carolina Department of Insurance (NCDOI) has yet to respond to a Letter of Intent from a highly qualified buyer for my North Carolina insurance companies," Lindberg says. "My insurance companies successfully exiting rehabilitation utilizing our recommendations will prove that the allegations about liquidity and questions about our financial strength have been false since day one," Lindberg says.
- Lindberg also reports that he has authorized the "immediate sale" of several of Global Growth's portfolio companies that will generate well over $1 billion of proceeds that can be used to purchase affiliated assets from the North Carolina insurers as part of the rehab exit plan. "We are not waiting for the NCDOI," Lindberg says. "We are proceeding now with sale transactions that will result in the immediate rehab exit of my North Carolina insurers." Lindberg notes that the proposed 7-year rehab plan by the NCDOI is being litigated in court. "7 years is unacceptable," Lindberg says. "The way I see it, everyone wants these companies out of rehab now so policyholders can access their benefits immediately," Lindberg says.
- Lindberg also says that third party lenders are "ready and willing" to provide financing that will result in the immediate paydown of over $150 million in affiliated loans to the North Carolina insurers. "Blocking these loans directly impacts policyholders and keeps the North Carolina insurers from exiting rehabilitation," Lindberg says.
- Lindberg says that his North Carolina insurers would have reduced their percentage of affiliated assets below the new 10% North Carolina statutory limit way back in December of 2018 had the governing parties been actually interested in protecting policyholders. "In August of 2018 Global Growth was very close to closing an $600 million financing that would have paid down affiliated assets below 10% of total assets," Lindberg says. "In fact, the lender that was providing this $600 million loan expressed to the NCDOI that the financing was looking "strong" and there were already "orders in the book." Unfortunately, this financing, along with several other financing attempts, were withdrawn or halted as a result of the investigation.
- Lindberg says that at the end of 2018, his team was in discussions with another large lender to provide up to $1 billion in financing as part of this lender's purchase of his North Carolina insurers. "In December of 2018 however, I was informed that someone from 'the government' called this lender and told them not to underwrite any loans to us," Lindberg says. "This type of behavior only serves to undermine Global Growth and none of this helps policyholders," Lindberg says.
- Despite these challenges, Lindberg says that the Global Growth companies have worked diligently to re-establish credit market access. Global Growth companies have closed over $1.2 billion of third-party financing so far this year, Lindberg reports. "Through it all, Global Growth has proven its resiliency, businesses are performing very well, and lenders are making loans to Global Growth companies," Lindberg says.
Lindberg notes that Mike Causey ran for the position of North Carolina Insurance Commissioner five times before winning by less than 1% of the vote. Lindberg says that he had supported Causey's opponent. "From my perspective, the root of this problem is politics. All my insurance companies were seeking was fair and equitable regulation," Lindberg says.
After the government accused Lindberg of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit unanimously agreed that his conviction violated his Constitutional rights and must be vacated.
Lindberg says he will "continue to fight until every policyholder is paid out."
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SOURCE Greg Lindberg | 2022-09-16T13:06:17+00:00 | kmvt.com | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/09/16/greg-lindberg-sets-record-straight-rehab-exit-his-north-carolina-insurers/ |
The White House hosted a forum on the next generation of COVID-19 vaccines as pharmaceutical companies plan on releasing updated shots this fall.
The forum was held on Tuesday as COVID-19 cases grow in the US. Officials have acknowledged that the original COVID-19 vaccines that are still being administered have lost some of their effectiveness at stopping mild and moderate cases. Health officials, however, say the vaccines continue to offer some protection against severe and life-threatening cases.
Citing data from the Commonwealth Fund, Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden’s chief science adviser, said vaccines prevented over 2 million deaths and 17 million hospitalizations and saved Americans $900 billion in health care costs through the end of March.
“That’s the good news; the sobering news is why we’re here today because our job is not done,” Fauci said. “Innovate approaches are needed to induce broad and durable protection against coronaviruses, known and unknown.”
One challenge is that as soon as a vaccine is developed, the virus begins the mutate, reducing the effectiveness of the shot, officials said. Dr. Ashish Jha, leader of the Biden administration’s COVID-19 response, said vaccines can be updated, but that alone offers a set of logistical challenges.
“Predicting where the virus is going to go is hard, but so is asking people to get vaccinated two or three times a year. That is a huge challenge,” Jha said. “So we need vaccines that are durable. We need vaccines that offer broader and offer longer lasting protection. We need vaccines that offer protection against multiple variants. Ultimately, we need vaccines that can protect us no matter what mother nature throws at us.”
Fauci said one important facet is developing a pan coronavirus vaccine. While vaccines this fall are expected to target the omicron variant, Fauci is hopeful that future vaccines offer broader and more robust protection.
“If you look at coronaviruses in general, that is very aspirational,” Fauci said about the development of a vaccine against all forms of coronaviruses.
But Fauci noted several organizations that are in the clinical trial phase to review pan coronavirus vaccines. The federal government has awarded over $42 million in grants to study the development of such vaccines.
Jha said, “The bar for a new generation of vaccines is high.”
Fauci also pointed toward the development of mucosal vaccines, which he said could give patients protection sooner than through a shot. Mucosal vaccines are given to patients through a nasal spray. | 2022-07-26T20:15:18+00:00 | wrtv.com | https://www.wrtv.com/news/national/coronavirus/white-house-discusses-next-generation-of-covid-19-vaccines |
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — A 45-year-old man appeared in court Monday afternoon after his arrest by Myrtle Beach police in connection with Sunday’s hit-and-run death of an Elon University student, police said.
Jason Todd Sauro, 45, of Myrtle Beach, had a bond hearing at 4 p.m. Monday. His bond was set at $50,000. Police have charged him with hit-and-run resulting in death.
The city wanted Sauro’s bond denied, but the judge in the case did not find him to be a flight risk and set it at $50,000. Sauro had a 2011 traffic offense but was found not guilty of that in 2012, and has no other record according to the judge.
Jackson Yelle, 21, a junior from North Eastham, Massachusetts, was killed while he was on a weekend trip to Myrtle Beach with members of the Club Baseball team, the university said Sunday.
Police said an unresponsive man was found at 7:24 a.m. Sunday near Highway 17 Bypass north of 21st Avenue North. Investigators determined that the was hit at about 1:30 a.m. while trying to cross Highway 17 Bypass.
Anyone with information about the investigation is asked to contact the Myrtle Beach Police Department and reference report 23-004451.
The university said resources will be available for students who need help during this time.
“The death of a student is a heartbreaking loss,” the university said in a statement. “Please keep Jackson’s family and friends in your thoughts at this challenging time and continue to care for each other in the days and weeks ahead.”
A vigil is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday at the Numen Lumen Pavilion on the Elon University campus, in Elon, North Carolina, east of Greensboro. | 2023-05-01T20:54:37+00:00 | qcnews.com | https://www.qcnews.com/news/u-s/south-carolina/man-jailed-in-hit-and-run-death-of-elon-university-student-in-myrtle-beach-police-say/ |
OYON, Spain, Jan. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of El Coto de Rioja's policies of continuous improvement and commitment to the environment, El Coto de Rioja winery now holds the certificate of 'Winery for Climate Protection'. The certification was created in 2011 and is the only regulation in the Spanish wine industry to recognize environmental sustainability.
The WFCP certification, promoted by the Spanish Wine Federation (FEV), focuses on actions taken by wineries toward improving their processes across four axes. Energy efficiency, waste reduction, efficient water management and reduction of the carbon footprint are at the forefront. El Coto has carried out various procedures, including the installation of solar panels, the use of lighter bottles, essential changes within their packaging in order to reduce the consumption of raw materials, and greater transport efficiency to achieve their environmental goals. The WFCP certification is based upon continuous improvement of each of these measures, all are reviewed annually by the Spanish Wine Federation, and wineries must demonstrate positive evolution in each area.
"This certification confirms El Coto de Rioja's commitment to its environment," says Victor Fuentes, newly named Director General of Grupo Baron de Ley. "We are very proud of what we have achieved in the last 50 years." Fuentes continued to say, "the winery's management system, which covers activities from the wine's production to its delivery, is also certified by the globally recognized BRC (British Retail Consortium) and IFS (International Food Standard) standards, and El Coto has continually achieved the highest level of excellence, year after year."
Group Baron de Ley, the parent company of El Coto de Rioja Winery, was founded in 1970. With over 2.000 ac of vineyards, Group Baron de Ley is the largest vineyard grower in the Rioja D.O.Ca. El Coto de Rioja is the leading Rioja brand in Spain in the categories of White, Rosé, Crianza and Reserva wines. The wines are imported by Opici Wines and distributed nationally.
For more information, contact Odila Galer-Noel
odila@PRonCall.net
www.PRonCall.net
www.elcoto.com
+1 917 691 7220
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SOURCE El Coto de Rioja | 2023-01-11T16:29:04+00:00 | uppermichiganssource.com | https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/prnewswire/2023/01/11/el-coto-de-rioja-receives-winery-climate-protection-certificate/ |
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities said Wednesday it will be searching for a new superintendent and CEO, after its current leader Kelly Petty announced plans to retire next year.
Though her retirement is not effective until April 30, 2023, the board says it will begin its search for a replacement later this year.
“Children and adults with developmental disabilities in our community are the beneficiaries of Kelly’s progressive leadership and are better able to live their best lives as a result,” Board President Cynthia Schulz said. “She leaves the organization in a position of strength and with a culture of innovation to carry on its important mission.”
Petty has held the top role since 2013 and is credited with leading a number of initiatives to support and empower people with developmental disabilities:
- Eliminating a waiting list of 2,000 individuals and expanding Cuyahoga DD’s Family Supports Program, increasing access to services for the more than 10,000 residents with developmental disabilities.
- Developing new and creative housing options that gave families the option of moving loved ones from large institutional settings to smaller, community-based homes and apartments.
- Creating a Workforce Development department that works with the Employment Collaborative of Cuyahoga County to connect people with developmental disabilities to competitive jobs in the community.
- Supporting service providers, particularly throughout the pandemic, with funding to address staff shortages, clinics to administer vaccines, and access to personal protective equipment.
- Expanding access to assistive technology to support people in their goals of living more independently.
- Implementing the state-mandated change from county-provided services to private-provided services in the areas of transportation, employment, and support in adult activity centers.
“Together we have done great, important, and challenging work on behalf of people with disabilities in Cuyahoga County,” Petty wrote in a message to staff and later shared in a news release. “I am tremendously proud of and inspired by your commitment to our mission, and I look forward to seeing the ways you continue innovate as the agency works to make Cuyahoga County a more inclusive community.” | 2022-06-08T20:43:34+00:00 | cleveland.com | https://www.cleveland.com/news/2022/06/cuyahoga-county-board-of-developmental-disabilities-superintendent-and-ceo-kelly-petty-retiring-in-2023-search-for-replacement-to-start-later-this-year.html |
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Wednesday evening's drawing of the Washington Lottery's "Match 4" game were:
09-17-20-22
(nine, seventeen, twenty, twenty-two)
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Wednesday evening's drawing of the Washington Lottery's "Match 4" game were:
09-17-20-22
(nine, seventeen, twenty, twenty-two) | 2022-12-01T06:00:07+00:00 | sfgate.com | https://www.sfgate.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Match-4-game-17622960.php |
SÃO PAULO, Nov. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ITAÚ UNIBANCO HOLDING S.A. informs its stockholders that its Board of Directors has approved, at the meeting held on this date, the payment of interest on capital, in the amount of R$0.48618 per share, with income tax withholding at a rate of 15%, resulting in net interest of R$0.413253 per share, except for the corporate stockholders able to prove that they are immune or exempt from such withholding. Such payment will be made by April 28, 2023, based on the final stockholding position recorded on December 8, 2022, with their shares traded ex-rights starting December 9, 2022.
For further information, please visit www.itau.com.br/relacoes-com-investidores, as follows: investor services > talk to IR > IR investor service.
São Paulo (SP), November 28, 2022.
RENATO LULIA JACOB
Group Head of Investor Relations and Market Intelligence
Note: The amounts paid per share as interest on capital are the same for common shares (ITUB3) and preferred shares (ITUB4).
Contact:
Itaú Unibanco – Comunicação Corporativa
Telephone: (11) 5019-8880 / 8881
E-mail: imprensa@itau-unibanco.com.br
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SOURCE Itaú Unibanco Holding S.A. | 2022-11-29T00:19:18+00:00 | uppermichiganssource.com | https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/prnewswire/2022/11/28/ita-unibanco-material-fact-payment-interest-capital/ |
STOCKHOLM — (AP) — A roller coaster train derailed in Stockholm on Sunday, sending some passengers plunging to the ground in an amusement park accident that left one dead and nine injured, police and park officials said.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene at the Gröna Lund park as the front of the train appeared to jump off the tracks before coming to a stop, with one car tilted toward the ground.
“The front of the train partly derailed and stopped on the track at a height of between 6 and 8 meters (between 20 and 25 feet),” park chief executive Jan Eriksson said. “A total of 14 people were on board, of which one person has died and several are injured.”
The regional government said nine people were taken to a hospital, one of them in serious condition. Three of the injured were children, all of them with minor injuries, it said.
Witness Ziba Assadi told Swedish broadcaster TV4 that she was standing just below the Jetline roller coaster when she saw the wheel assembly of one of the cars crashing to the ground.
“Then the car stops and people fly out, fall out of the car," she said.
Witnesses said two or three people fell out of the car, one of whom managed to cling to the track. Photos from the scene showed a man sitting on a beam below the stopped train.
“So he sits there straddling (the beam) and waits,” Assadi said. “There was complete panic.”
The amusement park was evacuated after the accident and will remain closed for seven days to allow investigators to find out what went wrong, park officials said.
“This should not be allowed to happen,” Gröna Lund spokeswoman Annika Troselius said. "Safety is the most important thing for us. And we would never open an attraction if we were not confident that it was safe, so this is something we need to investigate thoroughly.”
Police launched a criminal investigation on possible charges of involuntary manslaughter, causing bodily harm and causing danger to others.
The 800-meter (2,600-foot) long Jetline rollercoaster opened in 1988 and was renovated in 2000, according to Gröna Lund. It has a maximum height of 30 meters (98 feet) and a top speed of 90 kph (56 mph).
Opened in 1883, Gröna Lund is Sweden’s oldest amusement park.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | 2023-06-25T19:00:19+00:00 | wsbtv.com | https://www.wsbtv.com/news/riders-plunge/HLFU6WI2BP26XPSIEG24C2OJGY/ |
Two former top officials on former President Trump’s 2020 White House campaign said on a new podcast that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has a “candidate problem” he needs to address in the 2024 primary.
Trump 2020 campaign manager Bill Stepien and deputy campaign chief and attorney Justin Clark launched a new podcast through their consulting firm, National Public Affairs, on which they opined about DeSantis’s struggles trying to cut into Trump’s polling lead.
“Campaigns take a lot of blame, you know, during times like this. But I got to say … candidates matter,” Stepien said.
“And I think, at this point, at this stage in the primary, the candidate matters more now than at any point over the next year and a half. Because right now it is hand-to-hand combat on the ground,” he continued. “It is shaking hands at county fairs in Iowa, it is sitting in living rooms in New Hampshire. The candidate matters. And I think there’s a candidate problem for Ron DeSantis.”
“There’s a major candidate problem,” Clark said. “He’s got to fix that. He’s got to do something to engage with people. And I’m talking about policies.”
Clark and Stepien suggested DeSantis needs to “lean into policy” more to engage with voters on issues they care about. They also pointed to the first GOP primary debate in August as a pivotal moment for DeSantis to connect with the electorate.
Clark and Stepien worked on Trump’s White House campaigns in 2016 and 2020, but neither is working on a presidential campaign during the 2024 cycle.
DeSantis coasted to reelection last November and launched his presidential campaign in May at a time when he was widely viewed as the most viable challenger to Trump in a primary.
But he has struggled to narrow Trump’s lead in the polls, and his campaign last week let go of a handful of employees as part of a staffing shake-up.
DeSantis raised $20 million in the second quarter after only being in the race for six weeks, according to his Federal Election Commission (FEC) filing, the second-biggest haul among Republican candidates, behind only Trump.
But NBC News reported the governor spent $7.9 million in the first six weeks of his campaign.
DeSantis has recently turned his sights on early primary and caucus states, spending the last two days campaigning in Iowa. His team believes he is gaining momentum in the Hawkeye State, particularly after Trump attacked Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) and skipped a major evangelical gathering this week. | 2023-07-17T21:05:57+00:00 | fox59.com | https://fox59.com/hill-politics/former-trump-campaign-leaders-say-desantis-has-candidate-problem/ |
AUSTIN — If the Legislature wanted the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to be immune from civil lawsuits, it would have passed laws saying so, lawyers representing CPS Energy and a Dallas-based power generator told the Texas Supreme Court during oral arguments Monday.
The San Antonio utility and Panda Power Funds sued ERCOT separately in their respective hometown courts seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages for allegedly erroneous decisions by ERCOT, which the companies said negatively impacted them.
Lawyers for ERCOT countered that the grid operator is technically a state agency that’s immune from civil lawsuits and that any such damage claim must be decided by the Texas Public Utility Commission, which certifies and regulates ERCOT’s activities.
If the court sides with the companies, Panda would be able to move forward with its claims that ERCOT committed fraud, negligent misrepresentation and breach of fiduciary duty when it published reports in 2011 and 2012 that projected a “serious and long-term scarcity of power supply.” As a result of ERCOT’s allegedly false market data, Panda claims it invested $2.2 billion to build three new power plants — operations it says have not generated the revenue ERCOT predicted.
CPS Energy, San Antonio’s municipal-owned utility, sued ERCOT in 2021 claiming the grid operator illegally overcharged for electric during Winter Storm Uri in February 2021, when freezing temperatures and powerful winds caused multiple days of power outages across the state and cost nearly 200 lives.
Broader impact
While the two lawsuits are unrelated, the high court’s decision in the cases will impact hundreds of other active lawsuits filed against ERCOT seeking billions of dollars brought by individuals, small businesses, large energy corporations and insurance companies impacted by the storm.
The Dallas Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Panda against ERCOT early last year, but the San Antonio Court of Appeals ruled for ERCOT over CPS.
The losing sides in each matter appealed to the Texas Supreme Court, which agreed to hear both appeals but decided to hold oral arguments together because the legal issues are the same.
“CPS argues that ERCOT improperly set the price of energy. That claim belongs in front of the PUC,” said Elliot Clark of Winstead, ERCOT’s lead outside counsel. “The PUC has the expert agency knowledge to dispose of that claim.
“If (CPS) is allowed by this court to pursue the same issues in its hometown district court, then all of those other market participants will abandon the regulatory process and go file suit in their hometown district courts,” Clark argued. “Quite literally, chaos will follow.”
Alexander Dubose & Jefferson’s Wallace Jefferson, a former Texas Supreme Court chief justice who also argued on behalf of ERCOT, said the grid operator is “a private organization in name only.”
“The independent organization has no function other than what the state assigns,” Jefferson argued. “It has no autonomy from the state. It has no private interests. Its only interest is in furthering the public’s interest in a reliable grid. It can’t spend a dollar or incur debt without the state’s permission.
“ERCOT is in no sense of any vision of what a private entity is,” he said.
Legislative intent
But lawyers for CPS Energy and Panda Power argued Texas law is clear about ERCOT’s status and it does not have immunity from litigation.
“Despite many opportunities, even after the winter storm, the Legislature has never conferred governmental status on ERCOT, which it knows how to do,” Harriet O’Neill, a former Texas Supreme Court justice now in private practice, argued on behalf of CPS. “This court should not step in to fill that policy void.”
O’Neill said if the Texas Supreme Court in these cases ruled that ERCOT is “a state actor, it would be a first in the country for an independent system operator, a first for this court for an entity like ERCOT and it would nullify statutory and regulatory indicators that ERCOT is not entitled to immunities protection.
“This court has been rightly reluctant to not confer government immunity without a clear legislative grant,” she said.
O’Neill pointed out that the Panda case came before the Texas Supreme Court while the Texas Legislature was in session two years ago, after Winter Storm Uri.
“Justice [Jimmy] Blacklock noted that the Legislature and executive branches could address the immunity issues then,” she said. “The Legislature knew the case was front and center, but they did nothing to make ERCOT a part of the government.”
Lawyers for both sides were peppered with questions from four justices — Jeffrey Boyd, Blacklock, Jane Bland and Brett Busby.
“One of our themes in our jurisprudence is that political accountability — that if you are going to give somebody immunity, there has got to be political accountability,” Busby stated. “If you have market participants who are on a board, it seems like there is a unique danger of political accountability.”
Clark said while there were market participants on the board pre-Winter Storm Uri, there are none now.
“The PUC can give any relief it deems appropriate,” Clark, representing ERCOT, said. “There is nothing that ERCOT does that the PUC cannot control. It is subject to the PUC’s complete authority over its operations.”
Haynes and Boone partner Ben Mesches, arguing on behalf of Panda Power, described ERCOT’s position as “ambitious and transformational but it also defies the Legislature’s policy choices and purest text.”
“The Legislature knows how to confer immunity, it knows how to confer government entity status and it knows how to grant exclusive jurisdiction,” Mesches argued. “But here, the legislature did none of those things.”
For a longer version of this article, please visit TexasLawbook.net. | 2023-01-10T19:01:09+00:00 | expressnews.com | https://www.expressnews.com/business/local/article/CPS-argues-its-case-that-ERCOT-can-be-sued-for-17707648.php |
New jobs report shows drop in unemployment
(CNN/KYMA, KECY) - Looks like there's no cool-down in the labor market, at least for the foreseeable future.
The U.S. job market is blowing past expectations by adding more than half a million jobs in January.
Plus, the unemployment rate hit a staggering 53-year-low.
The shocking new jobs report posted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows a stunning 517,000 new jobs added to the U.S. economy in January.
"Today, I'm happy to report on the state of our union and the state of our economy is strong," said President Joe Biden.
The report is almost three times what forecasters were predicting, according to consensus estimates.
"People feeling good about the job market is a positive sign, and we need to continue to build on that," said Labor Secretary Marty Walsh.
The unemployment rate has since fallen to 3.4%.
While the tech-industry saw recent cuts, job gains hit in nearly every other sector.
Leading the pack, leisure and hospitality, as the U.S. continues to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Manufacturing is rebounding at a faster rate than the last 40 years," said President Biden.
A hot labor market doesn't necessarily mean we're not in a recession.
But it also may complicate the Federal Reserve's efforts to slow down the economy in order to combat inflation.
"It is a month by month approach to see how we can continue to bring the inflationary pressures down, and allow people to get into the good paying jobs," said Walsh.
As the labor market refuses to quit, Wall Street fears a still-hot economy, which could mean more aggressive interest rate hikes on the way from the federal government. | 2023-02-07T21:53:57+00:00 | kyma.com | https://kyma.com/jobs/2023/02/07/new-jobs-report-shows-drop-in-unemployment/ |
LONDON (AP) — It’s unusual to throw a birthday party for a health care system, but that’s exactly what the U.K. did for the National Health Service, a beloved but increasingly creaky institution that turned 75 on Wednesday.
The date was marked with charity tea parties, royal visits and a service of thanksgiving at London’s Westminster Abbey complete with hymns and prayers. It was a fitting tribute for an institution that is often likened to Britain’s secular religion — though one in which some people are losing faith.
Backlogs, treatment delays, funding gaps and an unhappy workforce have created an increasingly threadbare and overstretched system. Three respected health think tanks warned Wednesday that the NHS is “in critical condition” and won’t make it to 100 without more money and better long-term planning.
“Pressures on services are extreme, and public satisfaction is at its lowest since it first began to be tracked 40 years ago,” the King’s Fund, Health Foundation and Nuffield Trust said in an open letter. But, they added, “despite this, public support for the NHS as an institution is rock solid.”
Britain’s affection for what politicians call “our NHS” is striking, and at times puzzling, to outsiders. Dancing nurses pushing children on hospital beds formed a key part of the opening ceremony for the 2012 London Olympics, to the bemusement of many non-British viewers.
Founded in a country determined to build a fairer society out of the ruins of World War II, the NHS provides free health care to citizens and residents, funded through taxation.
Its anniversary is also the 75th birthday of Aneira Thomas, the first person born into the new health service, just after midnight on July 5, 1948.
“I used to be introduced by my mother as ’This is my National Health baby,’” said Thomas, whose parents named her after the country’s postwar health minister, Aneurin “Nye” Bevan, considered the father of the NHS.
“As a child, I didn’t understand the significance of it,” she said. “It was when I had children myself that I appreciated the care that I had.”
Ellie Orton, chief executive of NHS Charities Together, a network of groups that supports the health service, said the NHS regularly comes up on top when people are asked “what’s the thing that they hold most dear in the U.K.”
“And when we ask them what’s the career that they hold in the highest esteem, they say it’s the NHS workforce,” she said.
Critics say that affection prevents discussion of the flaws of an unwieldy behemoth that employs more than 1 million people and has struggled for years to cope with increasing life expectancy, rising demand and fluctuating political priorities.
Sajid Javid, who served as health secretary under former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, argued this week that the service was “unsustainable” but politicians are afraid to say so because most proposals for change — whether fees, higher taxes or major restructuring — are politically unpalatable.
“Without fundamental change, the supply of health care will continue to be unable to keep up with surging demand,” Javid wrote in the Times of London, calling for an independent commission to look at reform options.
The U.K. is not alone in having a health care system under increasing pressure. Most wealthy Western countries — bar the United States — have built their health systems on a form of socialized medicine. The U.K. model is unusual in relying almost entirely on taxation rather than insurance or a blend of the two.
Since a Conservative-led government introduced public spending cuts in 2010 in the wake of the global financial crisis, NHS funding has grown by about 1% a year in real terms, apart from a surge during the coronavirus pandemic. But demand is growing much faster, as the British population grows larger and older.
The pandemic also sucked up resources, drained staff physically and emotionally, and created a huge backlog of delayed tests and treatments.
Britain’s departure from the European Union in 2020, which ended the automatic right of EU citizens to live in Britain, made it harder to recruit medical staff from other European countries to fill staffing gaps.
The King’s Fund compared health systems in almost 20 nations and found the NHS at best placed in the middle of the pack.
“The U.K. performs well on protecting people from some of the financial costs of ill health but lags behind its peers on important health care outcomes, including life expectancy and deaths,” the health charity said in a report published last week.
All the main U.K. political parties pay tribute to the NHS and promise to protect it. Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the son of a doctor and a pharmacist, gave a Bible reading at Wednesday’s Westminster Abbey service, where the NHS was hailed by its chief executive, Amanda Pritchard, as “a cornerstone of national life and our shared identity.”
But Sunak’s government has been at loggerheads for a year with unions representing nurses, doctors and ambulance crews, who have staged a series of strikes to seek pay raises to match surging inflation.
Thomas, the NHS baby, worked as a mental health nurse in the NHS and remains a passionate advocate for the service. It treated her children when they were seriously ill and allowed her family a quality of care it could once only have dreamed of in the coal mining valleys of Wales.
“My own grandparents, I never knew them. Both sets died between the ages of 30 and 50,” Thomas told The Associated Press. “In comparison, my own mother lived into her 96th year, and she would often say, ‘Look what the NHS has done for me. I’ve lived to this age, I’ve seen my seven children grow up, my 21 grandchildren and 65 great- and great-great grandchildren.’
“It should be preserved, protected and cherished at all costs. It touches all our lives at some point.”
___
An earlier version of this story misspelled the last name of NHS founder Aneurin Bevan. | 2023-07-05T19:59:45+00:00 | cbs4indy.com | https://cbs4indy.com/news/national-world/ap-international/ap-condition-critical-britains-beloved-but-battered-national-health-service-turns-75/ |
‘Life at conception’ act reintroduced in Congress as Republicans control the House
Anti-abortion advocates say the bill is common sense. Abortion rights activists believe it is a gateway for restricting contraception & IVF.
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - As Republicans take control of the U.S. House, anti-abortion measures are among their top priorities.
For Rep. Alex Mooney (R-W. Va.) he sees the new House majority as an opportunity to reintroduce and pass his ‘Life at Conception’ act. The bill seeks to “implement equal protection under the 14th article of amendment to the Constitution for the right to life of each born and preborn human person.”
“It’s an obvious fact, it’s a biological fact, that we establish personhood at the moment of conception. And then, the states can decide how to regulate the enforcement of protecting life because it’s a state issue to enforce,” Mooney said.
Dr. Jennifer Villavicencio of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists discussed the science behind the stage of conception in pregnancy.
“At the moment of conception, or what we call in science as fertilization, it’s not actually an embryo yet. It’s what’s called a blastocyst, which is just a few small cells, because the way that ultimately human beings develop is through a rapid division of the cells. And, the embryo stage doesn’t start until a couple weeks later, she said.
The Mayo Clinic explains further on its website. It says, “three days after fertilization, a normally developing embryo will contain about six to 10 cells. By the fifth or sixth day, the fertilized egg is known as a blastocyst — a rapidly dividing ball of cells. The inner group of cells will become the embryo. The outer group will become the cells that nourish and protect it.”
Rep. Mooney believes with a Republican majority in the House his bill can pass. But in the Democratic-controlled Senate, lawmakers have already vowed to block any anti-abortion measure.
“This is a clear message to women from MAGA Republicans to women across the country. Your body, their choice. Womens’ bodies. MAGA republicans choice,” said Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-Senate Majority Leader) at a rally with lawmakers outside the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday. Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America attended that same rally.
Mini Timmaraju, President of NARAL, sees Mooney’s bill as a slippery slope.
“I think life starts at conception is a line that’s used by extremist right-wing folks to really attack issues like contraception and even fertility treatments like IVF (in vitro fertilization). So, look, we know that that’s not based on science. However, that rhetoric is used to go after a much broader range of reproductive rights and services. So it’s really important that Americans understand what that’s code for. That’s code for going after your fundamental, basic, everyday medication like birth control. It’s code for going after something that we know more and more American women rely on to expand their families and to have children, which is IVF. It’s very dangerous. And we’re going to do everything we can to block any efforts at legislation that tries to do that,” said Timmaraju.
However, Mooney said his bill doesn’t mention contraception. He said it would be up to states to determine how to enforce the measure.
“My legislation just protects human life. It doesn’t deal with contraceptions. And again, it’s up to the states. My legislation simply empowers the states to enforce and regulate the abortion methods that are often used. But, it would define personhood at the moment of conception. It doesn’t get into contraception,” he said.
The debate over abortion rights is expected to continue to be a top issue into the 2024 elections.
That’s when Rep. Alex Mooney (R-W. Va.) plans to run for the Senate seat currently held by democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia.
Last year, a Pew Research Center poll found 62% of Americans believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases.
Sunday would have marked the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s ruling on Roe vs. Wade, which guaranteed the right to an abortion. That right was overturned by the Supreme Court last summer and the discussion was returned back to the states.
Copyright 2023 Gray DC. All rights reserved. | 2023-01-25T21:31:24+00:00 | kmvt.com | https://www.kmvt.com/2023/01/25/life-conception-act-reintroduced-congress-republicans-control-house/ |
‘Am I going to get killed in front of my family?’ Stories of terror on the risky escape route from Sudan
By Sana Noor Haq, Catherine Nicholls, Celine Alkhaldi and Magdy Samaan, CNN
Safa Babikir was sleeping in her aunt’s house in Khartoum when she was woken by gunfire. At first, she thought it was the sound of children playing with fireworks. Then, she says, “the screams started.”
Desperate to escape the fierce fighting in Sudan’s capital, Babikir soon made a decision to flee the country on a treacherous bus journey to neighboring Egypt.
The 28-year-old educator had traveled from the United States to Sudan to celebrate the Islamic holy month of Ramadan with her family when intense battles between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) broke out in mid-April.
More than 400 people have been killed and thousands more injured so far in the fighting between forces loyal to two generals: RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and SAF chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. The two are former allies but tensions between them arose during negotiations to integrate the RSF into the country’s military as part of plans to restore civilian rule.
While foreign governments are evacuating their diplomats, civilians such as Babikir say they were left behind, enduring rapidly deteriorating conditions and aerial bombardment.
Even as both sides declared a 72-hour truce on Monday for the Muslim holiday of Eid, UN Secretary General António Guterres warned the lack of available evacuation routes could lead to “catastrophic conflagration within Sudan that could engulf the whole region and beyond.”
With few routes out of Sudan, CNN spoke to locals who have made the grueling and dangerous bus journey north seeking safety and refuge, but at the risk of perhaps never seeing their country or family members ever again.
‘Staying was not an option’
“It was a very difficult decision (to leave),” Babikir told CNN. “The biggest factor was that if we stayed it was a death sentence.”
Babikir says she saw pick-up trucks of armed men at Khartoum International Airport, which was shut down after the conflict erupted on April 15.
The closure of one of Sudan’s main transport hubs left many people trapped or scrambling to find alternative exit routes out of the country.
Initially, Babikir says she wanted to gather her loved ones, who all live in the same neighborhood, but nobody could leave their homes for fear of being hit by a stray bullet.
Her family of nearly 30 people was able to congregate in one house, including the elderly, infants and those with underlying health conditions. Their water and electricity supplies were then cut when a pipe was hit by gunfire.
“As soon as we could feel the house shake, and the windows began to shatter in the upper levels, that’s when we knew that staying was not an option,” she says, adding that a neighbor died after her house was ruined.
“Even though taking the road, and the risk we took, was no easy feat… staying was equally unsafe… Our house would have been completely destroyed.”
Khartoum to Aswan
Many Sudanese are making the arduous bus journey to Aswan, a major city in southern Egypt with accessible transport links to the rest of the country.
Muhammad al-Idrisi, an Egyptian tribesman from Aswan who has been helping people fleeing Sudan cross into Egypt, said that people are enduring a 21-hour trek from Khartoum’s Kandahar bus station to the border, traveling over the Arqin crossing toward Karkar bus station in Aswan.
He told CNN that tribal links between people in northern Sudan and southern Egypt mean that tens of thousands of Sudanese people already work and live in the city, making it a favorable destination for those escaping the fighting.
In Sudan, bus drivers are avoiding areas under RSF control, according to al-Idrisi, as they try to avoid skirmishes between the armed forces and the paramilitary group.
Babikir says she saw large amounts of weapons, cars still ablaze, burned buildings and dead bodies while traveling through northern Sudan.
“I think the most terrifying thing of the journey was just thinking about who would bury us if we were to get killed,” she said. “The darkest thought I had was, am I going to get killed in front of my family? Or are they going to get killed in front of me? And if so, who’s going to bury the body?” she said.
“I can’t express how terrible it is to see that the Sudanese people are being left behind… this conflict has nothing to do with civilians,” Babikir continued. “We’re just caught in the middle of two very armed groups of people. Imagine… your special forces and your army going to war against each other in the same country they’re supposed to defend.”
And people are still traveling north to escape the fighting. The number of arrivals from the Sudan “increased by a remarkable percentage” on Monday, al-Idrisi said, adding that transport companies have taken advantage of the situation and raised the prices of tickets to Egypt, which range between 160,000 to 200,000 Sudanese pounds ($280 to $350).
He expects the number of Sudanese people arriving in Egypt to reach 50,000 to 70,000 within a week.
Only women, children and men over the age of 50 have permission to cross into Egyptian territory, al-Idrisi added. Men between ages 18 and 49 must obtain an entry visa in order to set foot in Egypt from Sudan, according to official visa requirements.
“Leaving Sudan is still difficult, particularly in areas controlled by the RSF, but there are quiet areas, making it somewhat safe,” al-Idrisi said.
‘I’m traumatized’
Ahmad Hasan, a 32-year-old international business consultant, says he decided to risk the perilous route because he lived in an area of Khartoum where “the fighting was especially bad.”
Hasan remembers that he was working when he first heard shooting, then decided to stay in the office with some of his colleagues, living off tuna and cheese from local supermarkets. He could hear machine guns and airplanes flying low near his building. Once the group ran out of food, he and his colleagues decided to go their separate ways.
He drove some of them to their homes, then rented a minivan to a bus station and embarked on a three-day journey to Aswan. Even though he found relief when he arrived in Egypt, he is worried for the safety of those stuck in Sudan.
“I feel hand-tied that I cannot really help the people that I know, back home in Sudan, and I don’t know what really is going to happen to them,” he says.
“My eyes are full of tears… I’m traumatized… I honestly cannot see any light or hope… The army and RSF, they have to be forced to stop the war immediately. People are damaged — even healthy people — they will not be able to survive in the next coming days.
“So, it’s a disaster by every meaning that you can actually think of… No one is going to gain anything from the war.”
Imad, a 36-year-old Sudanese man living in the US, said his parents are traveling to Aswan from Khartoum. He last heard from them on Monday after they arrived in the city of Dongula, northern Sudan. It had taken them 14 hours to get there from Omdurman, which lies just outside the capital, a journey that should have taken less than half that.
“Ultimately they were able to escape Khartoum; which seems to be the ultimate mission for a lot of people,” Imad said. “We contacted the consulate in Egypt and they said the border control should cooperate with them.”
“I have never experienced such intensity as I did in the past 24 hours,” Imad added. “The international network of individuals providing vital information, coordinating efforts, and aiding each other in the rescue of their loved ones is unlike any other network I have ever been a part of.” Individuals all over the world are collaborating to find safe routes, arrange transportation, create carpools and link up with embassy evacuation plans, he said.
Babikir and her family eventually made it to the Egyptian capital of Cairo, after staying in a stranger’s house with dozens of other Sudanese people who fled the conflict.
The pain of leaving her uncle behind, as he would not have got a visa, is still raw, however.
“I am relieved that those that traveled with me are alive and that I’m alive, but it is heartbreaking that we may never see our country again and we may never see family members again.”
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | 2023-04-25T16:54:23+00:00 | localnews8.com | https://localnews8.com/news/national-world/cnn-world/2023/04/25/am-i-going-to-get-killed-in-front-of-my-family-stories-of-terror-on-the-risky-escape-route-from-sudan/ |
The federations for modern pentathlon approved a decision to replace horse riding with “American Ninja Warrior”-style obstacle courses as a fifth discipline in order to save the sport from Olympic elimination.
There were 83 members who submitted a valid vote during the organization's congress session, with 69 casting a ballot in favor, 11 against and three abstaining.
The next step: approval from the International Olympic Committee for the change.
As it currently stands, modern pentathlon in its current form of fencing, swimming, laser shooting, running and show jumping would be off the program after the 2024 Paris Games.
Modern pentathlon faced a major crossroads with the show-jumping component of the five-event competition coming under scrutiny after a German coach was filmed hitting an uncooperative horse during the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
In an effort to get back on the Olympic program, modern pentathlon’s governing body, known by its French acronym UIPM, tested out obstacle-course racing to replace horse riding. Ring swings and rope mazes could take center stage for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
There’s still time to get back on the program for LA ’28, too, should the IOC approve of a change.
“We are not forgetting our past, our heritage, but our goal is the future,” UIPM President Dr. Klaus Schormann said in a release. “It’s very important that our voting members today provided a strong mandate for obstacle discipline to be integrated into our Olympic multi-sport."
To some in the modern-pentathlon community, this sort of change tears at the very essence of a sport that’s intricately tied to horses. This is a sport that’s been part of the Olympics for more than 100 years. Invented by IOC founder Baron Pierre de Coubertin, it has gone through several transformations, like pistol shooting replaced by laser guns before the 2012 London Games.
This change also has been viewed as a way to modernize the sport in a time when the Olympics seek a younger audience.
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AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2022-11-13T03:04:36+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/sports/article/Modern-pentathlon-votes-to-swap-horse-riding-with-17580488.php |
Black bear seen roaming northeast Iowa town
HESPER, Iowa (KCRG) - The Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents to be careful while grilling outside this Memorial Day Weekend after a black bear was seen roaming in far northeast Iowa this week.
The sheriff’s office shared a video by a Hesper, Iowa resident that shows the bear running around a residential area just before 8:30 p.m. Thursday.
In the Facebook post, Laura Carolan McConnell, who took the video, said it isn’t the first time, but it’s still a shock to see a bear in Hesper.
McConnell told TV9 she and her family saw the bear run by their home while they were watching TV.
She said the person who lived in the home before them had put up a “bear crossing” sign as a joke after seeing a bear in the area seven years ago. She said on Thursday, the bear crossed the road where the sign was.
The Iowa DNR recommends bringing in garbage and keeping garages and sheds shut. DNR officials also say residents should not approach the bear.
Copyright 2022 KCRG. All rights reserved. | 2022-05-27T13:14:02+00:00 | kcrg.com | https://www.kcrg.com/2022/05/27/black-bear-seen-roaming-northeast-iowa-town/ |
LONDON (AP) — U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak traveled to Belfast on Tuesday to sell his landmark agreement with the European Union to its toughest audience: Unionist politicians who fear post-Brexit trade rules are weakening Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom.
The U.K. and the 27-nation EU announced Monday that they had struck a deal to resolve a dispute over Northern Ireland trade that has vexed relations since the U.K. left the bloc in 2020. The agreement will ease customs checks and other hurdles for goods moving to Northern Ireland from the rest of the U.K. that were imposed after Brexit to maintain an open border between the north and its EU neighbor, the Republic of Ireland.
The deal, dubbed the “Windsor Framework,” was hailed by London and Brussels as a breakthrough. But Northern Ireland’s British unionist politicians have yet to give it their blessing. Their support is key to restoring Northern Ireland’s semi-autonomous government, which has been toppled by the trade feud, leaving 1.9 million people without a functioning administration.
Sunak told the BBC the deal was “a huge step forward for the people of Northern Ireland” and he was confident politicians there would support it.
The Democratic Unionist Party, which had governed alongside Irish nationalists Sinn Fein in the power-sharing administration, walked out of the government a year ago to protest the trade rules and has refused to return until they are scrapped or substantially rewritten. Under Northern Ireland’s political system, power is shared between Irish nationalists and British unionists, and neither side can govern without the other.
DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said Tuesday that the party would “take our time” to pore over the details of the deal before delivering its verdict.
“We’re reasonable people, but we want to ensure that what the prime minister has said is matched by what is actually in the agreement itself,” he said.
Northern Ireland is the only part of the U.K. that shares a border with an EU member. When the U.K. left the bloc, the two sides agreed to keep the Irish border free of customs posts and other checks because an open border is a key pillar of Northern Ireland’s peace process.
Instead, there are checks on some goods entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the U.K. That angered British unionist politicians in Belfast, who say the new trade border in the Irish Sea undermined Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom.
Sunak said the new Windsor Framework “removes any sense of an Irish Sea border,” lifting checks on the vast majority of goods. It also gives Northern Ireland politicians a mechanism to challenge new EU trade rules that could apply in the region — a key unionist demand.
The deal marks a turn for the better in relations between Britain and the EU, which have always been scratchy and grew acrimonious after Brexit. The mood between London and Brussels improved after the pragmatic Sunak took office in October, replacing more belligerent predecessors — Boris Johnson and Liz Truss.
Sunak brought a change in tone, and injected new momentum into attempts to ease trade friction. U.K. and EU negotiators worked for weeks, sometimes late into the night in windowless rooms in Brussels, to move beyond entrenched positions that had ground to stalemate.
The U.K. says the EU’s acceptance of the “Stormont Brake” emergency mechanism – which gives Northern Ireland politicians a way to challenge future EU goods rules – was a major breakthrough.
Business groups largely welcomed the deal, saying it would ease the burdens faced by companies and give Northern Ireland customers access to goods such as English sausages that were blocked under the original post-Brexit rules.
Some hard-line pro-Brexit politicians in Sunak’s governing Conservatives also were surprisingly positive about the deal. One key figure has yet to weigh in — former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who negotiated the original Brexit divorce deal that Sunak has now rewritten.
The agreement was also welcomed by the White House, which said it was “grateful” the two sides could resolve the dispute.
“We believe that this will help the prosperity of both the EU and the U.K. and will open up all kinds of … avenues for trade that were somewhat at risk,” John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said Monday. | 2023-02-28T13:53:51+00:00 | wjhl.com | https://www.wjhl.com/business/ap-business/ap-uks-sunak-tries-to-win-over-skeptics-to-his-brexit-deal/ |
President Biden overturned a decision from the Trump administration to relocate the temporary headquarters of Space Command to Alabama, deciding instead to keep the base in Colorado.
The decision was made because Biden believes keeping the HQ in Colorado Springs, rather than relocating it to Huntsville, would maintain stability and not impact readiness, according to a senior U.S. official.
The senior administration official said Biden consulted with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other military leaders before deciding to keep the base in Colorado permanently.
Gen. James Dickinson, the head of Space Command, also helped to convince Biden to not relocate the base, according to the Associated Press.
U.S. Space Command headquarters is set to achieve “full operational capability” at Colorado Springs later this month, according to the senior administration official.
The official said moving the headquarters to Alabama would force a transition process that does not allow the new base to open until the mid-2030’s.
“The President found that risk unacceptable, especially given the challenges we may face in the space domain during this critical time period,” the official said. “Locating Headquarters U.S. Space Command in Colorado Springs ensures peak readiness in the space domain for our nation during a critical period.”
Biden’s reversal is likely to spark the fury of Alabama Republicans who have for months feared the administration would scrap the relocation plan.
Alabama Rep. Mike Rogers (R), the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, has been investigating the delay behind the relocation plan, which was first put in motion when Space Command was resurrected in 2019.
Former President Trump’s decision to temporarily establish a headquarters in Colorado and relocate Space Command to Alabama was criticized as a political choice based upon a more favorable constituency in the Yellowhammer state.
Since coming into office, the Biden administration ordered reviews of the decision, none of which found anything improper in Trump’s decision, though they found the former president could have followed better practices in the process.
The delayed relocation reached new heights over the spring when NBC News reported the Biden administration was considering scrapping the relocation plan because of restrictive abortion laws in Alabama.
Rogers and other Alabama Republicans objected to any such plan, saying Huntsville, also known as Rocket City, was selected based on its merits and in a fair process, while pointing to the reviews that found nothing improper.
The House version of the annual defense bill that passed earlier this month includes provisions that slash funding for the Air Force Secretary until the administration makes a final decision. It’s unclear whether Rogers will be satisfied with a reversal.
Other Alabama politicians, including Gov. Kay Ivey (R), quickly blasted the the decision as political. Alabama overwhelmingly voted for Trump in the 2020 election and has two GOP senators, while Colorado voted for Biden and has two Democratic senators.
Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) said the base Redstone Arsenal in Alabama was the correct location based on its merits, arguing “Biden has irresponsibly decided to yank a military decision out of the Air Force’s hands in the name of partisan politics.”
“The President’s blatant prioritization of partisan political considerations at the expense of our national security, military modernization, and force readiness is a disservice and a dishonor to his oath of office as our nation’s Commander-in-Chief,” she said in a statement.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby reiterated during an interview with CNN on Monday that the president’s decision was entirely due to national security considerations, pointing specifically to the rising threat from China.
“This was really a decision based on one thing and one thing only for a president and that was operational readiness,” Kirby said. “He took the inputs of many leaders across the Department of Defense that when it came down to it, he believes that it’s in the best national security interest of the country if we leave Space Command in Colorado.”
Colorado Sen. Michael Bennett (D) joined officials from his state in celebrating Biden’s decision.
“Over the past two and half years, we have repeatedly made the case that the Trump administration’s decision to relocate U.S. Space Command was misguided,” the senator wrote on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Today’s decision restores integrity to the Pentagon’s basing process and sends a strong message that national security and the readiness of our Armed Forces drive our military decisions,” he added.
Updated at 5:34 pm ET. | 2023-07-31T22:12:51+00:00 | everythinglubbock.com | https://www.everythinglubbock.com/hill-politics/biden-overturns-trump-decision-to-move-space-command-hq-from-colorado-to-alabama/ |
When Cory Stennis transferred this fall from Rich Township to Crete-Monee for his senior year, he was changing positions as well as schools.
Stennis played quarterback last season for the Raptors but switched to wide receiver for the Warriors, who had Joshua Franklin returning at quarterback after a huge 2021 season.
However, when Franklin got injured during a Week 2 game against Andrean, Stennis got the call to go back under center.
“It was out of nowhere,” Stennis said. “It was just a last-second thing. Josh’s shoulder was injured. I’m not going to lie, I was excited about playing quarterback again.
“It was definitely a big difference going from receiver back to quarterback, but I just had to do what I was supposed to do and step up.”
Stennis struggled in that relief appearance against Andrean and the Warriors lost 30-28 following a season-opening defeat to Lincoln-Way East.
Since then, though, Crete-Monee (6-2) has won six straight games, with Stennis lighting things up offensively.
In Saturday’s 61-6 rout of Bloom, Stennis threw five touchdown passes and ran for two more — all in the first half.
“Obviously, quarterback is a tough spot and Cory’s done a great job,” Crete-Monee coach John Konecki said. “It’s not easy to take over that job, especially in the middle of the season.
“He’s got a high football IQ. Week in and week out, he continues to get better with the concepts and ideas we’re running. He’s a very good leader, too, which is really important in that particular spot.”
For the season, Stennis has completed 68 of 103 passes for 1,190 yards and 18 TDs while throwing just three interceptions.
“I watch a lot of film, study the defense and capitalize on that,” Stennis said. “We have a great line that gives us enough time. My receivers do what they’re supposed to do. They’re going to catch the ball.”
Stennis has a pair of Division I recruits at receiver.
Miami of Ohio-bound Lynel Billups-Williams has been one of the state’s most explosive playmakers for the second straight season. He has 58 catches for 1,198 yards and 16 TDs.
He also quickly formed a connection with Stennis.
“Cory and I have always been cool, so we had good chemistry already, but we’ve added a lot more now,” Billups-Williams said. “He’s easy to talk to. He knows where I’m going to be all the time.”
Franklin, meanwhile, returned to the field in Week 5 for the Warriors’ huge 48-42 win over Joliet Catholic, which snapped the defending Class 4A state champion Hilltoppers’ 24-game winning streak.
While the injury prevents him from playing quarterback, Franklin can play receiver — the position he is likely to play at Western Michigan.
He has 27 catches for 359 yards and six TDs in four games.
Daily Southtown
“Cory’s filling in that spot at quarterback,” Franklin said. “At first, I was a little bit down about it, but now it’s just like I’m at quarterback. He plays the same. Running, throwing, he does all that.
“At receiver, I just feel like when I’m on one side of the field, I bring a lot of attention and that opens up things for everybody else.”
Stennis is certainly grateful he gets to throw the ball to talented teammates.
“It feels amazing,” he said. “I have fast receivers. They catch everything. I just feel like we’ve got a bomb squad.”
What has been quite a roller coaster of a senior year for Stennis continues to work out.
“It’s been a long process, but it was definitely worth it,” he said. “The coaches are great, the players are great. I love being here at Crete-Monee and I love the team.”
Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown. | 2022-10-18T16:48:42+00:00 | chicagotribune.com | https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/sports/ct-sta-fbl-cm-bloom-st-1019-20221018-kyb4sqi7dnbdnkmnec4prpe32a-story.html |
WESTMORELAND COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — A Pennsylvania man is behind bars after he allegedly lured a girl into his car and inappropriately touched her.
Keith Lilliock, 43, of Greensburg was arrested by state police after the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office said he offered the 11-year-old a ride on Sunday, then drove her to a home roughly 25 miles away.
Troopers were called to investigate a missing child who had last been seen riding her bicycle toward Youngwood. According to the DA’s office, the girl’s bike was later found at a gas station in the Pennsylvania borough.
Investigators, who were told the girl had an iPad, pinged the device to find her location, according to court documents. Authorities said the iPad’s location led them to a home in Latrobe, roughly 25 miles northeast of Youngwood.
The girl was found at the home shortly after and taken to the state police barracks in Greensburg.
According to the criminal complaint, the child told troopers she was riding her bike to Pittsburgh when she stopped at the gas station to take a break. She then walked to a nearby Dollar General store where she was approached by an unknown man, later determined to be Lilliock.
The girl claimed Lilliock told her he would drive her to where she wanted after he closed the store for the night.
She told troopers Lilliock drove her to his house in South Greensburg. He then left the vehicle and went inside for five minutes before returning to the car. The girl claimed Lilliock rubbed her leg and touched her stomach area under her shirt before she asked him to take her to a friend’s house in Latrobe, according to the DA’s office.
According to court documents, security camera video from inside the Dollar General store showed Lilliock talking with the girl for 20 minutes before they both walked to the back of the store.
State police later spoke to Lilliock who allegedly said he saw the girl walking on a sidewalk in front of the Dollar General and told her she could come into the store.
He said he then offered to give her a ride after he closed the store, according to police, claiming he only stopped at his house for gas money before taking the girl to Latrobe. Troopers noted he also abruptly said “I did not touch an 11-year-old” after he was asked if anything else happened inside his car with the girl.
Lilliock was arraigned on Tuesday and placed in the Westmoreland County Prison. His bail was denied out of concern for the safety of the community, according to Magisterial District Judge Scott Fanchalsky.
He’s charged with felony counts of luring a child into a motor vehicle and interference with the custody of children. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday, April 14. | 2023-03-30T00:27:42+00:00 | nwahomepage.com | https://www.nwahomepage.com/news/national/ipad-helps-pennsylvania-police-find-girl-allegedly-lured-into-car-man-arrested/ |
Officials: 3 found dead after Ga. home explosion
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - An investigation is underway after three people were found dead after a fire and home explosion in Barrow County that officials say involved several propane tanks.
WANF reports Barrow County Emergency Services rushed to a home on Hidden Acres Road around 12:10 a.m. after reports of a fire.
“As firefighters arrived quickly, multiple explosions were going off inside the home,” commented Chief Alan Shuman. “The home was fully involved in fire and was collapsing as a result of the fire. Several vehicles were also involved.”
Officials confirmed, “three people were found deceased in the home.” Officials add Barrow County Emergency Service’s Fire Marshal’s Office is leading the investigation, with assistance from the Georgia Fire Marshal’s Office and the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office.
Officials say two people were transported by an ambulance and one was flown by helicopter to a nearby hospital.
The identities of the victims have not been released by officials.
Additional firefighters started fighting the fire from a defensive position due to the amount of fire and the multiple explosions. Officials told Atlanta News First “multiple propane cylinders were found in the home, which resulted in the explosions.”
“This is a very tragic event that resulted in the loss of life and injuries to others,” said Chief Shuman. “The firefighters and medical personnel on the scene did a great job under the circumstances. We also want to remind citizens that it is extremely dangerous to have propane cylinders stored in your home or any other structure.”
The fire remains under investigation.
Copyright 2023 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2023-03-12T07:44:47+00:00 | uppermichiganssource.com | https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/2023/03/11/officials-3-found-dead-after-ga-home-explosion/ |
BRIAN NIEMIETZ
New York Daily News
LAKE CHARLES, La. — The Mississippi woman who accused Emmett Till of harassing her shortly before his brutal death in 1955 has died in hospice care. She was 88.
Carolyn Bryant Donham’s death was confirmed Thursday by the coroner’s office in Louisiana’s Calcasieu Parish, according to Mississippi Today.
In August 1955, Donham claimed Till harassed her at a store in Money, Mississippi, while he was visiting from Chicago. His body was later found beaten and mutilated with a bullet to the head. Till was 14. He became one of the most indelible images of the nation’s civil right’s movement after his mother, Mamie Till, insisted on an open-casket funeral for her son.
This undated photo shows Emmett Louis Till.
“I wanted the world to see what they did to my baby,” she said.
More than 50,000 people attended his funeral, which inspired the 2022 film “Till.”
Donham’s ex-husband, Roy Bryant, admitted he and his half-brother killed Till after being told the boy acted inappropriately toward his wife — but that confession came after Bryant was acquitted by an all-white jury.
Donham, who divorced Bryant in 1975, had accused Till of whistling at her. The claim has continued to draw skepticism over the years since Till’s death.
News of Donham’s death may come with some sadness to Till’s cousin Patricia Sterling, who in February filed a lawsuit compelling a Mississippi sheriff to serve the elderly woman with a discarded 1955 arrest warrant unearthed in a Leflore County, Mississippi, courthouse last year.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker responds to questions about the results of Chicago's mayoral election, which saw incumbent Lori Lightfoot denied a second term. Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson will meet in a runoff election.
Photos: Pritzker sworn in for second term
Former Secretary of State Jesse White is applauded Monday after Gov. J.B. Pritzker thanked him for his years of service and lauded his legacy.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
Gov. J.B. Pritzker claps during his address to the crowd at the Bank of Springfield Center after taking the oath of office for his second term as governor of Illinois on Monday.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
Gov. J.B. Pritzker claps during his address to the crowd at the Bank of Springfield Center after taking the oath of office for his second term as governor of Illinois on Monday.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks to the crowd at the Bank of Springfield Center after taking the oath of office for his second term as governor Monday, Jan. 9
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
Gov. J.B. Pritzker embraces his family after he is sworn in for his second term on Monday at Bank of Springfield Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, Springfield. The oath was administered by Mary Jane Theis, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois, left.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
Surrounded by his family, Gov. J.B. Pritzker shakes hands with Mary Jane Theis, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois, after taking the oath of office for his second term as governor on Monday at the Bank of Springfield Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, Springfield.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis swears in Gov. J.B. Pritzker for his second term as governor of Illinois on Monday at the Bank of Springfield Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, Springfield.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
Gov. J.B. Pritzker takes the oath of office for his second term as governor of Illinois on Monday, Jan. 9 at the Bank of Springfield Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, Springfield.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
Gov. J.B. Pritzker takes the oath of office for his second term as governor with his family beside him on Monday at Bank of Springfield Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, Springfield. He is sworn in by Mary Jane Theis, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
Tiffany Mathis sings "Lift Every Voice and Sing" before Governor J.B. Pritzker takes the oath of office for his second term on Monday at Bank of Springfield Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, Springfield.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
Mary Jane Theis, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois, swears in Gov. J.B. Pritzker for his second term as governor of Illinois on Monday, Jan. 9 at the Bank of Springfield Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, Springfield.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
Gov. J.B. Pritzker is joined on stage by his wife M.K. Pritzker and two children before taking the oath of office for his second term as governor of Illinois on Monday. Inauguration events were held at the Bank of Springfield Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, Springfield.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton walks on stage, waving to the crowd at the Bank of Springfield Center on Monday, before taking the oath of office for her second term.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton speaks to the crowd after taking the oath of office for her second term on Monday, Jan. 9 at Bank of Springfield Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, Springfield.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias speaks Monday after he is sworn in, becoming the first person to hold the office after Jesse White's 24-year run.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias points to former Secretary of State Jesse White on Monday at Bank of Springfield Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, Springfield, after Giannoulias was sworn in.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs speaks on Monday at Bank of Springfield Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, Springfield after his third inauguration.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
Gov. J.B. Pritzker and his wife enjoy a dance at Pritzker's second inaugural ball.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
Gov. J.B. Pritzker and his wife enjoy a dance at Pritzker's second inaugural ball.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
Gov. J.B. Pritzker and his wife enjoy a dance at Pritzker's second inaugural ball.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
Gov. J.B. Pritzker and his wife enjoy a dance at Pritzker's second inaugural ball.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
Gov. J.B. Pritzker and his wife enjoy a dance at Pritzker's second inaugural ball.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
Gov. J.B. Pritzker and his wife enjoy a dance at Pritzker's second inaugural ball.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
Gov. J.B. Pritzker dances with his wife, M.K. Pritzker, during the governor's inauguration celebration at the Exposition Building, Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
Gov. J.B. Pritzker dances with his wife, M.K. Pritzker, during the governor's inauguration celebration at the Exposition Building, Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
Gov. J.B. Pritzker dances with his wife, M.K. Pritzker, during the governor's inauguration celebration at the Exposition Building, Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
Gov. J.B. Pritzker dances with his wife, M.K. Pritzker, during the governor's inauguration celebration at the Exposition Building, Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
Gov. J.B. Pritzker dances with his wife, M.K. Pritzker, during the first dance on Monday during the governor's inauguration celebration at the Exposition Building, Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
Gov. J.B. Pritzker dances with his wife, M.K. Pritzker, during the first dance on Monday during the governor's inauguration celebration at the Exposition Building, Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
Gov. J.B. Pritzker and his wife, M.K. Pritzker, wave to supporters during the governor's inauguration celebration at the Exposition Building, Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Get local news delivered to your inbox! | 2023-04-27T18:17:24+00:00 | pantagraph.com | https://pantagraph.com/news/state-and-regional/emmett-till-accuser-carolyn-bryant-donham-dead-at-88/article_b7e9bd14-e51c-11ed-8dd4-2bf04d4d791c.html |
FORT MILL, S.C., May 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Global industrial and automotive supplier Schaeffler was honored by the Bearing Specialists Association (BSA) with the 2021 "Bearing Manufacturer Excellence of Innovation in Product Design Award" for its breakthrough OPTIME condition monitoring device. This prestigious award recognizes BSA member companies for excellence in product design or technology, with the added objective of informing end-use customers about the innovative products, technologies and services that BSA member companies are continuously developing to support their businesses.
A condition monitoring breakthrough – powered by Schaeffler expertise
OPTIME is an easily scalable condition monitoring system that consists of wireless, battery-powered vibration sensors, a cellular gateway and an app to visualize the resulting data. Able to be installed and deployed without any prior condition monitoring expertise, OPTIME is designed to provide advance warning of potential damage to machines such as electric motors, fans and pumps. It also offers early notification of imbalance, misalignment and loose-fitting components.
Data captured by OPTIME's sensors is analyzed using proprietary algorithms that draw on Schaeffler's technical expertise, its extensive library of physical models developed and refined over many decades, and the experience in condition monitoring that Schaeffler has built up in the course of its bearing servicing operations.
"We greatly value our longstanding membership in the Bearing Specialists Association, and we very much appreciate the BSA's recognition of our OPTIME innovation that is already transforming the wireless condition monitoring landscape," said Kevin Kozlowski, vice president – Industrial Distribution Americas. "Finally – an intuitive, easy-to-use 'Plug. Play. Predict.' sensor that meets our customers' expectations for monitoring key assets within their manufacturing facilities. OPTIME is a key product from our portfolio of Schaeffler Lifetime Solutions, whose mission – to simplify maintenance with an excellent user experience and a full suite of industrial services and solutions for the machine's complete lifetime – drives our overall value proposition to our customers and distribution partners," explained Kozlowski.
Schaeffler received the award at the BSA's 2022 Convention, which took place April 30 - May 3 in Indian Wells, Calif. OPTIME's win represents the second Manufacturer Excellence Award for Schaeffler, which was honored by the BSA for its SmartCheck™ condition monitoring device in 2016.
More information on OPTIME is available here.
About Schaeffler
Schaeffler Group – We pioneer motion
As a leading global supplier to the automotive and industrial sectors, the Schaeffler Group has been driving forward groundbreaking inventions and developments in the fields of motion and mobility for over 75 years. With innovative technologies, products and services for CO₂-efficient drives, electric mobility, Industry 4.0, digitalization and renewable energies, the company is a reliable partner for making motion and mobility more efficient, intelligent and sustainable. The technology company manufactures high-precision components and systems for powertrain and chassis applications as well as rolling and plain bearing solutions for a large number of industrial applications. The Schaeffler Group generated sales of approximately EUR 13.9 billion in 2021. With around 83,000 employees, Schaeffler is one of the world's largest family companies. Moreover, with over 1,800 patent applications filed in 2021, Schaeffler is Germany's third-most innovative company according to the German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA).
View original content:
SOURCE Schaeffler | 2022-05-03T13:03:44+00:00 | kfyrtv.com | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2022/05/03/schaeffler-optime-wins-bearing-specialist-associations-manufacturer-excellence-award/ |
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Innospec Inc. (IOSP) on Tuesday reported fourth-quarter earnings of $25.5 million.
For the year, the company reported profit of $133 million, or $5.32 per share. Revenue was reported as $1.96 billion.
_____
This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on IOSP at https://www.zacks.com/ap/IOSP | 2023-02-21T23:23:52+00:00 | washingtonpost.com | https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/innospec-q4-earnings-snapshot/2023/02/21/0d55bcf6-b239-11ed-94a0-512954d75716_story.html |
LAS VEGAS — Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson is officially active Sunday against the Raiders.
Stevenson had been listed as questionable with an ankle injury he suffered Monday at Arizona.
Pats wide receiver Jakobi Meyers is also active after missing two straight games with a concussion. The team expected Meyers would play since Saturday morning, according to sources. Despite missing three games this year, Meyers is still the Patriots’ leading receiver by a healthy margin.
The returns of Stevenson and Meyers gives the Patriots offense a needed boost against a rested Raiders team that will re-introduce two of its best skill players.
Tight end Darren Waller and Pro Bowl wide receiver Hunter Renfrow are both active. Waller and Renfrow were activated off injured reserve Saturday, after not playing since mid-October and mid-November, respectively.
Patriots cornerbacks Jack Jones and Jalen Mills are both out, leaving only Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones, Myles Bryant and Shaun Wade at the position.
Both teams’ complete inactives lists are below.
PATRIOTS
WR DeVante Parker
RB Damien Harris
S Joshuah Bledsoe
CB Jack Jones
CB Jalen Mills
DL Sam Roberts
RAIDERS
OL Alex Bars
CB Rock Ya-Sin
DE Tashawn Bower
DT Andrew Billings
DT Neil Farrell
OT Jackson Barton
OG Netane Muti
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'The big stage is where he belongs': Family cheers Devix's run on The Voice
Moments leading up to the latest elimination round on "The Voice," the tension was apparent in the Torres family living room.
Nerves were shot as family members waited with bated breath, anxiously hoping they would hear that Devix — the stage-name of Eric Torres — would advance to the next round. They, like Torres, knew only a few competitors would advance.
Then, judge Camila Cabello called his name.
Though Torres had no way of knowing, the Torres family living room — 2,631 miles away in York County — erupted in a cheer of screams. Instantly, his brothers Nelson and Jerome booked a flight to Los Angeles to catch his next performance, Nelson Torres recalled.
"Although we were confident he would move on, you never know when it comes down to such a small number of talented people," Nelson Torres said. "We have watched him on so many small stages in different establishments around York, but the big stage is where he belongs."
Eric Torres spent the last few weeks in Los Angeles competing on "The Voice." The 28-year-old York County resident battled his way through several elimination rounds to make it to the top 13.
He initially auditioned for the show in a blind audition and selected to be on Camila Cabello's team. As a member of her team, Eric Torres will get the opportunity to work one-on-one with the celebrity and gain valuable industry insight and advice.
Through various battle rounds, however, the Cabello team has only grown smaller. While in previous episodes "The Voice" celebrity judges had the task of eliminating contestants, it's now up to audience members to choose who advances.
Devix's next performance was planned for the show's 8 p.m. Monday airing, to be followed by another elimination episode at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Audience members at home can vote for Torres via "The Voice" official phone app or by visiting https://voice.vote.nbc.com/.
The voting period will open throughout the duration of Monday's episode, with results immediately following at 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
"Working with Camila just keeps getting better and better," Eric Torres said via email. "Everything has been so great. Challenging — but amazing."
More:Local musician followed passion to 'The Voice': 'He just needed that moment'
More:'Two different worlds': Behind the scenes with York's Devix on 'The Voice'
More:Turkey Trot returns to York: Here's how to enter the race
One of the toughest parts for Eric Torres so far has been realizing the inevitable with competition shows: saying goodbye to contestants he's become friends with.
Particularly, he appreciated his friendship with cast member — and competition — Sasha Hurtado.
Although the two were paired up to sing a duet for the competition and ultimately compete against each other, Torres enjoyed the creative freedom that came from working alongside another talented performer.
Hurtado did not advance in the competition after last week's playoffs.
"It's very saddening, but I will always be grateful for the loving connections I've made with these people," Eric Torres said.
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In all, some 56 contestants were on the show at the start of filming, all of them vying for a chance at the title and, ultimately, a career after the show's end. Several contestants have gone on to successful solo careers, including country star Morgan Wallen, Christian pop singer Jordan Smith and Grammy nominees Cassadee Pope and Koryn Hawthorne.
"It's a really nice mesh and balance of effort behind the scenes that legitimately make me feel like a growing artist," Eric Torres said. "I'm hoping that my performances flourish in the coming weeks the way that I've been wanting them to through practice." | 2022-11-21T19:48:22+00:00 | yorkdispatch.com | https://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/news/local/2022/11/21/the-big-stage-is-where-he-belongs-family-cheers-devixs-run-on-the-voice/69667094007/ |
Lewis Capaldi brought Heavenly and humor to NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert as the Scottish singer-songwriter showcased tracks from his upcoming new LP Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent.
Capaldi — accompanied by a crammed full band plus horn section at the Tiny Desk — joked before his set, “I just wanted to take a moment before we start to say — lower your expectations.” He opened his four-song set with “Before You Go,” a bonus track from his acclaimed 2019 LP Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent.
“Thank f*ck for that, that went okay! That went well,” Capaldi quipped after the song. “I thought the desk was gonna be bigger.”
He next played his latest single, “Wish You the Best,” and, after some more of his self-detracting banter — “What does NPR stand for?” he wondered aloud — he performed “Heavenly Kind of State of Mind.”
Capaldi then closed his four-song set out with his 2019 hit ballad “Someone You Loved.”
Follow Warm 106.9 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @warm1069 | 2023-05-19T02:21:28+00:00 | warm1069.com | https://warm1069.com/lewis-capaldi-rocks-the-tiny-desk-concert/ |
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ The winning numbers in Wednesday afternoon's drawing of the Indiana Lottery's "Daily Three-Midday" game were:
6-4-5, SB: 8
(six, four, five; SB: eight)
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ The winning numbers in Wednesday afternoon's drawing of the Indiana Lottery's "Daily Three-Midday" game were:
6-4-5, SB: 8
(six, four, five; SB: eight) | 2022-05-25T18:17:29+00:00 | sfgate.com | https://www.sfgate.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Daily-Three-Midday-game-17198452.php |
Cinderella part two?
The Saint Peter’s Peacocks, the No. 10 seed in the MAAC, defeated the Rider Broncs on Wednesday to advance to the quarterfinals of the MAAC tournament, a men’s basketball tournament that has heavy March Madness implications.
BUY MAAC TOURNAMENT TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVIDSEATS, TICKETSMARTER
The Peacocks will face Marist on Friday, March 10, 2023 (3/10/23) at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ. Fans can watch Friday’s game, which begins at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPNews, via a free trial to fuboTV or DirecTV Stream.
If the Peacocks win on Friday, they’ll play in the championship game on Saturday, March 11, for a chance to clinch their second March Madness berth in a row.
Here is the entire MAAC Tournament schedule:
March 7 (First Round)
Game 1: No. 9 Canisius 66, No. 8 Mount St. Mary’s 67
Game 2: No. 10 Saint Peter’s 70, No. 7 Fairfield 52
Game 3: No. 11 Marist 61, No. 6 Manhattan 50
March 8 (Quarterfinals)
Game 4: No. 8 Mount St. Mary’s 54, No. 1 Iona 74
Game 5: No. 10 Saint Peter’s 70, No. 2 Rider 62
March 9 (Quarterfinals)
Game 6: No. 11 Marist vs. No. 3 Quinnipiac, 7 p.m., ESPN+
Game 7: No. 5 Niagara vs. No. 4 Siena, 9:30 p.m., ESPN+
March 10 Semifinals
Game 8: No. 1 Iona vs. Winner Game 7, 6 p.m., ESPNews
Game 9: No. 10 Saint Peter’s vs. Winner Game 6, 8:30 p.m., ESPNews
March 11 Championship
Game 10: Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 9, 7:30 p.m., ESPNU
A recent NCAA basketball story, courtesy of the Associated Press:
March Madness is coming up fast. Here is what to know along with some key games to watch and who’s on the bubble ahead of Selection Sunday for the NCAA Tournament:
KEY DATES
The basketball calendar is getting crowded. Up first are the conference tournaments:
— The ACC Tournament start things off March 7-11 in Greensboro, North Carolina.
— The Big 12 Tournament will be March 8-11 in Kansas City, Missouri.
— The Big Ten Tournament will be March 8-12 in Chicago.
— The Big East Tournament will be March 8-11 in New York.
— The Pac-12 Tournament will be March 8-11 in Las Vegas.
— The SEC Tournament will be March 8-12 in Nashville, Tennessee.
MARCH MADNESS
Selection Sunday is March 12, when bracket matchups will be set for the First Four and first- and second-round games that stretch from Florida to California.
Sweet 16 weekend will see games in New York City (East Region), Las Vegas (West), Kansas City, Missouri (Midwest), and Louisville, Kentucky (South).
Where is the Final Four? In Houston, on April 1, with the championship game on April 3.
Basketball aficionados, take note: The women’s NCAA Tournament will hold its Final Four in Dallas, a four-hour drive up the road from Houston.
BETTING GUIDE
Who’s going to win the national championship? With the season still rolling, the betting favorites as of this week to reach the Final Four are Houston, Kansas, Purdue and Alabama, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. That matches the top teams in the NCAA’s initial seed watch, too, and many of the teams in the AP Top 25.
BUBBLE WATCH
Arizona State (20-9): Desmond Cambridge deserves to be in the NCAA Tournament after swishing a 55-footer at the buzzer to stun rival and then-No. 7 Arizona 89-88 on the road Saturday. The Wildcats have won two in a row and four of five to claw their way into the postseason picture. Sitting 61st in the NCAA’s NET rankings, they still have work to do but close the regular season against fourth-ranked UCLA and fellow bubble team USC — a clear path to locking up a tourney spot.
Auburn (19-10): The Tigers ended a tough February by dropping five of seven, including a 32-point drubbing at Kentucky. Three more of those recent losses came on the road — Tennessee, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt. It doesn’t get any easier for Auburn, which finishes the regular season at second-ranked Alabama and against No. 12 Tennessee. The Tigers, ranked 36th in the NET, could use another Quad 1 victory.
Michigan (17-12): With freshman Dug McDaniel playing his best basketball of the season, the Wolverines have won three straight and six of eight to make a late push. They can significantly improve their tournament hopes by winning road games against Illinois and No. 15 Indiana this week.
Memphis (22-7): Kendric Davis and DeAndre Williams have the Tigers and coach Penny Hardaway on the verge of making the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season. They have won four of five, moving up to 38th in the NET, but can’t afford a loss at SMU on Thursday and could use a victory in their nationally televised home finale against top-ranked Houston on Sunday. Davis, who is averaging 21.2 points and 5.7 assists, missed the first meeting with Houston (a 72-64 loss).
Penn State (17-12): The Nittany Lions seemed like a tournament lock after winning three straight against Illinois, Minnesota and Ohio State. But then they squandered a 19-point, second-half lead to Rutgers on Sunday, leaving the senior-laden team on bubble watch down the stretch. Coach Micah Shrewsberry’s group can bounce back in a big way with Quad 1 games at Northwestern and against No. 21 Maryland.
Charleston (28-3), Florida Atlantic (26-3) and Liberty (24-7): All three dominated their leagues and won the regular-season championship, but they will likely need to win their conference tournament — all of them playing in one-bid leagues — to make the NCAA field.
GAME(S) TO WATCH
Xavier at Providence, Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. Eastern (FS1): The Friars are 15-0 at home this season and have won 17 straight at Amica Mutual Pavilion. That streak could be tested by Xavier, which is the lone Big East team with a chance to catch No. 6 Marquette for the top seed in the conference tournament. While the 19th-ranked Musketeers are a lock for the NCAA Tournament, the Friars could use another Quad 1 victory to strengthen their resume.
Purdue at Wisconsin, Thursday, 9 p.m. Eastern (FS1): Wisconsin has dropped seven of its last 11, leaving the Badgers squarely on the NCAA bubble. Beating fifth-ranked Purdue would be a huge boost for a team that hasn’t won two in a row in two months.
Oklahoma State at Texas Tech, Saturday, 6 p.m. Eastern (ESPN2): The Cowboys have dropped five straight, all without guard Avery Anderson, who is out indefinitely following wrist surgery. The Red Raiders gained traction with home wins against three ranked teams in the past month — Iowa State, Kansas State and Texas.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report)
Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust.
Ryan Novozinsky may be reached at rnovozinsky@njadvancemedia.com. | 2023-03-10T15:37:03+00:00 | nj.com | https://www.nj.com/sports/2023/03/what-channel-is-the-saint-peters-basketball-game-on-tonight-vs-marist-free-live-stream-time-tv-channel-for-maac-tournament-2023.html |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and a conservative political activist, urged Republican lawmakers in Arizona after the 2020 presidential election to choose their own slate of electors, arguing that results giving Joe Biden a victory in the state were marred by fraud.
The revelations first published by The Washington Post on Friday show that Thomas was more involved than previously known in efforts, based on unsubstantiated claims of fraud, to overturn Biden’s victory and keep then-President Donald Trump in office.
In the days after The Associated Press and other news organizations called the presidential election for Biden, Thomas emailed two lawmakers in Arizona to urge them to choose “a clean slate of Electors” and “stand strong in the face of political and media pressure.” The AP obtained the emails under the state’s open records law.
Thomas also had written to then-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows in the weeks following the election encouraging him to work to overturn Biden’s victory and keep Trump in office, according to text messages first reported by the Post and CBS News.
Thomas was a staunch Trump supporter who acknowledged she attended the Jan. 6 “Stop the Steal” rally on the Ellipse but left before Trump spoke and his supporters later stormed the Capitol.
She has been critical of the ongoing congressional investigation into the Jan. 6 violence, including signing onto a letter to House Republicans calling for the expulsion of Reps. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois from the GOP conference for joining the Jan. 6 congressional committee.
Justice Thomas, meanwhile, has taken part in the court’s consideration of lawsuits challenging the election results. The court turned away every challenge without a hearing, though Thomas was among three conservative justices who said cases from Pennsylvania should be heard. In February 2021, Thomas called the cases an “ideal opportunity” to address an important question whether state lawmakers or state courts get the last word about the manner in which federal elections are carried out.
In January, Thomas was the lone member of the court who supported a bid by Trump to withhold documents from the Jan 6. committee. The documents were held by the National Archives and Records Administration and included presidential diaries, visitor logs, speech drafts and handwritten notes dealing with Jan. 6 from Meadows’ files.
Thomas did not immediately respond to a request for comment, made to the court Friday.
Democratic lawmakers have called on Thomas to step aside from election-related cases, but he has given no indication he intends to do so.
The latest disclosure comes at a time when Chief Justice John Roberts has ordered an internal investigation into the leaking of a draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, in one of the court’s most prominent cases in decades, and opinion polls have shown a loss of public confidence in the institution.
Thomas was referencing the leaked opinion at a conference in Dallas last week when he talked about the damage to the court. “I wonder how long we’re going to have these institutions at the rate we’re undermining them.”
Ginni Thomas has said she and the justice keep their work separate. “Like so many married couples, we share many of the same ideals, principles, and aspirations for America. But we have our own separate careers, and our own ideas and opinions too. Clarence doesn’t discuss his work with me, and I don’t involve him in my work,” Thomas told the Washington Free Beacon in an interview published in March.
Thomas sent emails to Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers and Rep. Shawnna Bolick, who this year is running for Arizona secretary of state. That would make her the top elections administrator in Arizona.
She wrote them again on Dec. 13, the day before electors met in state capitols around the country to formally cast their votes for president.
“As state lawmakers, you have the Constitutional power and authority to protect the integrity of our elections — and we need you to exercise that power now!” the email said. “Never before in our nation’s history have our elections been so threatened by fraud and unconstitutional procedures.”
Bowers dismissed the idea of replacing Arizona’s electors shortly after the election. The following year, Bolick introduced a bill that would have allowed the Legislature to overturn any presidential election results for any reason, and replace the electors.
Bolick has said her legislation would have made the process more bipartisan by requiring a two-thirds vote, but the text of the proposal calls for a simple majority. In any event, Bowers essentially killed the legislation before it ever came to a vote. | 2022-05-20T22:46:52+00:00 | wcia.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/national/ginni-thomas-urged-arizona-lawmakers-to-help-overturn-biden-win-emails-show/ |
WFO LOS ANGELES Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, December 12, 2022
_____
WINTER STORM WARNING
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
633 PM PST Sun Dec 11 2022
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM PST MONDAY...
* WHAT...Moderate to heavy snow expected tonight into Monday
along with gusty winds. Snow accumulations of 5 to 10 inches
expected above 7000 feet, with 4 to 8 inches between 5000 and
7000 feet, and 1 to 4 inches between 3500 and 5000 feet. Winds
gusting as high as 35 mph.
* WHERE...Ventura County Mountains, Los Angeles County Mountains
and Santa Barbara County Interior Mountains.
* WHEN...Until 6 PM PST Monday.
* IMPACTS...Significant travel delays possible with accumulating
snow on several mountain roads. This could include the Tejon
Pass and Grapevine area of Interstate 5. Snow levels could
locally fall as low as 3000 feet in heavier showers, which could
bring a dusting of snow across higher elevations of Highway 14
through Soledad Canyon.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in
your vehicle in case of an emergency.
The latest road conditions from CalTrans are available by calling
1 800 4 2 7 7 6 2 3.
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR THE FOOTHILLS OF THE
ANTELOPE VALLEY AND CUYAMA VALLEY FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON
PST MONDAY...
* WHAT...Moderate snow showers expected in the foothills, with
snow accumulations around 1 inch between 3000 and 4000 feet.
* WHERE...Cuyama Valley and Antelope Valley.
* WHEN...From midnight tonight to noon PST Monday.
* IMPACTS...Travel could be difficult.
Slow down and use caution while traveling.
_____
Copyright 2022 AccuWeather | 2022-12-12T04:16:33+00:00 | lmtonline.com | https://www.lmtonline.com/weather/article/CA-WFO-LOS-ANGELES-Warnings-Watches-and-17647260.php |
MONTMELO, Spain -- Max Verstappen dominated a bizarre qualifying at the Spanish Grand Prix that saw the Mercedes drivers collide, Verstappen's teammate Sergio Perez fail to make Q3 and Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc finish up 19th.
Verstappen's fourth pole position of the season came as no surprise, but that constant underplays the drama of the session, which resulted in six different teams in the top six places for Sunday's grid.
Verstappen was 0.462s clear of Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz in second place, with Lando Norris taking a surprise third place for McLaren. Pierre Gasly secured fourth for Alpine ahead of the fastest Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton in fifth and Lance Stroll's Aston Martin in sixth.
The collision between the Mercedes teammates will be investigated by the stewards after the session and could still result in a penalty. George Russell, who qualified 12th after failing to make the cut for Q3, appeared to cut across teammate Hamilton as they both started fast laps in the final minutes of Q2 and Sainz exited the pit lane to the left of Russell.
The collision, which occurred on the run down to Turn 1 where the cars are travelling in excess of 185 mph, resulted in damage to Hamilton's front wing that caused him to back off as he was pushed onto the grass. Russell completed his lap but did not advance to the top-ten shootout.
Esteban Ocon secured seventh for Alpine ahead of a strong performance by Haas' Nico Hulkenberg and Fernando Alonso, who was outqualified by teammate Stroll for the first time this year, in ninth. Alonso ran wide in the final corner during Q1 and appeared to damage the floor of his car as he ran through the gravel. He will start alongside McLaren's Oscar Piastri, who was tenth fastest.
For the second weekend in a row Perez underperformed in qualifying for Red Bull, missing out on a place in Q3 by 0.051s after running wide at Turn 5 on his second flying lap in Q2. The mistake resulted in a trip through the gravel and heaped the pressure on him to complete a lap before the session timed out. Ultimately, he fell short and faces another battle back the field on Sunday after qualifying last in Monaco one week ago.
Perez will start ahead of Russell, whose final attempt in Q2 following the collision left him 0.113s off the Red Bull and only 0.074s faster than Zhou Guanyu's Alfa Romeo in 13th. Nyck de Vries will start 14th ahead of AlphaTauri teammate Yuki Tsuonda.
Charles Leclerc finished qualifying 19th after struggling for performance throughout Q1 and being shuffled down the order at the end of the session as track conditions improved. The Ferrari driver complained about an issue at the rear of his car and was 0.6s off his teammate Sainz in the same session.
Valtteri Bottas in 16th, Kevin Magnussen in 17th, Alex Albon in 18th and Logan Sargeant in 20th were also knocked out in Q1 and will make up the back of the grid along with Leclerc. | 2023-06-03T17:03:53+00:00 | espn.com | https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/37787748/max-verstappen-eases-spanish-gp-pole-sergio-perez-q2 |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jon Rahm could hear the cheers from all over Riviera, the sound typically associated with someone making a charge. Except they came from the opposite side of the course that featured players too far away from the lead.
What they meant was not nearly as mysterious as to whom they belonged.
“You’re fully aware where Tiger is anywhere,” Rahm said after his own masterpiece Saturday in the Genesis Invitational, a 6-under 65 for a three-shot lead.
Woods is cheered wildly just walking to the tee, though this time his golf was the source. He had a 67 that didn’t allow him to pick up any ground — in fact, he fell a further shot behind and was 12 back going into Sunday.
“Today was better,” Woods said. “I felt like I made some nice adjustments with my putting and that was the thing that held me back yesterday. I’ve driven it well the last three days, my iron play was been good. And the firm conditions I like, that’s kind of right up my alley with iron play. Just wish I could have putted a little bit better yesterday.”
What stood out was the day. It was his best score on a Saturday in an official event since the fall of 2019.
It’s a small sample size to be sure — 12 tournaments since he won the Zozo Championship in Japan in 2019 — but his legs are a bigger issue than how he swings the club.
Woods shattered bones in his right leg and ankle from a car crash in Los Angeles two years ago. He returned 14 months later to play in the Masters and made the cut, a remarkable feat. And then on the weekend, he limped his way to a pair of 78s.
A month later at Southern Hills for the PGA Championship, he again made the cut with some dazzling play down the stretch on Friday. But the wind shifted, a cold front arrived in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and he shot 79 and withdrew.
Woods made the cut on the number at Riviera and started on the back nine. He opened with a 15-foot birdie putt, missed a good chance on the par-5 11th and then raised the putter in his left hand as his 25-foot birdie putt from the fringe on the par-3 14th dropped for another birdie.
The biggest moment was on the par-5 opening hole after he made the turn. Caught between clubs and feeling a little wind in his face, he hit a cut with a 5-iron that landed toward the front of the green and rolled inches by the cup before settling 3 feet away for what amounted to a tap-in eagle.
He finally dropped a shot on the seventh when his approached rolled off the steep ledge, leaving a tough pitch. But he finished better than Friday, when he bogeyed three of his last four holes.
“I thought I could make a run where I could reach out and touch the leaders,” Woods said before conceding that he was too far back.
Rahm is playing at another level right now, a level with which Woods is familiar. The Spaniard has not finished out of the top 10 since August, and he is going for his fifth win over his last nine starts.
Woods said he was sore after his fourth straight day walking — starting with the pro-am on Wednesday when he stopped playing after 16 holes — and he speaks of the recovery after a round and the preparation before it.
That part isn’t fun. Saturday was. And while the chill in the morning air hasn’t been great, the fast conditions at Riviera are right up his alley.
“I’ve been pretty one dimensional on how to hit my tee shots,” he said. “I’ve kind of gone to my little stock shot because I just haven’t played enough where I feel like I can hit different shots. … The way the golf course is playing, as fast as it is, a flat cut can go a very long way here, so I’ve been able to hit that shot. Then with the firm greens, I thoroughly enjoy that for my iron game, and finally made some putts.”
Sunday will be his first 72-hole event since the Masters, and only his second since his car crash that happened not far from Riviera. Woods already is looking ahead to his return to Augusta National, but he wants to wait until after this week to see about adding any tournaments before then.
___
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2023-02-19T16:17:05+00:00 | kfor.com | https://kfor.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-tiger-woods-gets-some-momentum-with-weekend-67-at-riviera/ |
NEW YORK, Dec. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Berenson Acquisition Corp. I (NYSE: BACA) (the "Company") today announced that the special meeting of stockholders of the Company (the "Special Meeting"), originally scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time on December 13, 2022, was convened and then adjourned, without conducting any business, to recommence at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on January 10, 2023, as a virtual meeting via live webcast at https://www.cstproxy.com/berensonacquisitioncorpi/2022.
The Special Meeting is being held for the purposes of considering and voting on (i) a proposal to amend the Company's amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the "Charter Amendment") to extend the date by which the Company must consummate an initial business combination from March 30, 2023 to September 30, 2023 or such earlier date as determined by the Company's board of directors (the "Extension") and (ii) a proposal to amend the Trust Agreement to provide for the Extension pursuant to the Charter Amendment. The record date for the Special Meeting remains the close of business on November 17, 2022. Stockholders who have not submitted their proxy for the Special Meeting, or who wish to change or revoke their proxy, are urged to do so promptly. Stockholders who have previously submitted their proxy and do not wish to change or revoke their proxy need not take any action. If you are a stockholder of record and have questions or need assistance voting your shares, please contact the Company's proxy solicitor at: Morrow Sodali LLC, 333 Ludlow Street, 5th Floor, South Tower, Stamford, CT 06902, phone: (800) 662-5200 (banks and brokers: (203) 658-9400), email: BACA.info@investor.morrowsodali.com.
In light of the adjournment, the Company has extended the deadline for public stockholders to submit their shares for redemption in connection with the Extension to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on January 6, 2023. Stockholders who wish to withdraw their previously submitted redemption requests may do so prior to the vote at the Special Meeting by requesting that the Company's transfer agent, Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, return such shares.
Further information related to attendance, voting and the proposals to be considered and voted on at the Special Meeting is described in the definitive proxy statement related to the Special Meeting filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on November 21, 2022 (the "Definitive Proxy Statement").
Berenson Acquisition Corp. I is a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) focused on the software and technology-enabled services industry, The Company intends to effect a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses in the software or technology-enabled services sectors with a total enterprise value of in excess of $1 billion. For more information, visit http://www.berensonacquisitioncorp.com.
This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Certain of these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "believes," "expects," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "assumes," "may," "should," "will," "seeks," or other similar expressions. Such statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the approval of certain proposals at the Special Meeting or the implementation of the Extension. These statements are based on current expectations on the date of this press release and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ significantly, including those risks set forth in the Definitive Proxy Statement, the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other documents filed with the SEC. Copies of such filings are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as the result of new developments or otherwise. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
The Definitive Proxy Statement has been mailed to the Company's stockholders of record as of the record date for the Special Meeting. Investors and security holders of the Company are advised to read the Definitive Proxy Statement because it contains important information about the Special Meeting and the Company. Investors and security holders of the Company may also obtain a copy of the Definitive Proxy Statement, as well as other relevant documents that have been or will be filed by the Company with the SEC, without charge and once available, at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to: Berenson Acquisition Corp. I., 667 Madison Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, New York 10065.
The Company and certain of its directors and executive officers and other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the Company's stockholders in respect of the proposals to be considered and voted on at the Special Meeting. Information concerning the interests of the directors and executive officers of the Company is set forth in the Definitive Proxy Statement, which may be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.
Contact:
Berenson Acquisition Corp. I
Josh Woodbridge
ir@berensonacquisitioncorp.com
http://www.berensonacquisitioncorp.com/
Media Contact:
Prosek Partners
Forrest Gitlin
FGitlin@prosek.com
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SOURCE Berenson Acquisition Corp. | 2022-12-13T17:56:07+00:00 | uppermichiganssource.com | https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/prnewswire/2022/12/13/berenson-acquisition-corp-i-announces-adjournment-special-meeting-stockholders-january-10-2022/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — Metallica, Mariah Carey and The Jonas Brothers will headline a free concert in New York’s Central Park next month marking the 10th anniversary of the Global Citizen Festival organized by the international nonprofit fighting extreme poverty.
The Sept. 24 event will also feature a concert across the globe in Accra, Ghana, with Usher, SZA and H.E.R.
But the day will be less a celebration and more of a call to action to immediately address numerous international crises, Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans said.
“We are actually at one critical inflection point where COVID has pushed nearly 100 million people into extreme poverty and now Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has made the situation so much worse,” he said. “As many as 323 million people are now facing acute hunger. And if we don’t take urgent action now, as many as 200 million more people are likely to be plunged into extreme poverty by November, bringing the total number of people living in extreme poverty to over a billion people again.”
International organizations count people living on the equivalent of $1.90 a day as living in extreme poverty.
“Quantico” star Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who will host the Central Park event, said Global Citizen has always encouraged people to use their voices to convince world leaders and decision-makers to take action against hunger and poverty. However, the need to focus on those issues is now even more pressing.
“If we are going to do something about that, then we need urgent mobilization,” Chopra Jonas told The Associated Press. “So just seeing all of these people from different stretches of society, different professions — regular folks coming together, motivated to actually make change now in an urgent way — is just so inspiring.”
As with all Global Citizen events, tickets to the concerts are free. However, to get the tickets, people must join Global Citizen and take action on a series of the campaign’s issues.
Pop star Charlie Puth, Latin sensation Rosalia, country star Mickey Guyton and Italian rockers Maneskin are also on the Central Park bill, while rapper Stormzy, Nigerian singer-songwriter Tems and Ghanian stars Gyakie, Sarkodie and Stonebwoy will also perform in Accra. Both concerts will be broadcast and streamed on ABC, ABC News Live, FX, Hulu, iHeartRadio, Twitter, YouTube, and other outlets. ABC will broadcast a primetime special, “Global Citizen Festival: Take Action NOW,” from the shows on Sept. 25.
Global Citizen says it hopes to use the platform provided by the concerts to encourage fans to ask for specific changes from government, business and philanthropy leaders. Evans wants to convince Scandinavian countries, as well as Ireland, Portugal, and others, to transfer their Special Drawing Rights in the International Monetary Fund, which provide access to about $100 billion in affordable financing, to low-income countries, especially in Africa, to lower their debt repayments.
In addition to asking the United States to donate more toward fighting climate change, he also wants about $500 million in donations and grants for farmers in Africa so they can grow more crops, rather than depending on wheat and fertilizer from Ukraine and Russia, which have both in short supply due to the war.
“We also need to address the reality that supporting women and girls around the world and their talents are the closest we have to a silver bullet for the eradication of poverty,” Evans said. “We’re calling on the wealthiest nations to provide $600 million dollars in critical investments into education, sexual and reproductive health and economic empowerment for them.”
Global Citizen’s formula for using social media and its followers’ interest to convince corporations and foundations to donate has worked. Since its first Global Citizen Festival in 2012, the advocacy organization estimates that it has helped direct $41.4 billion to its causes and improved the lives of more than 1.15 billion people.
“These are urgent issues,” Evans said. “That’s why our campaigns focus on ending extreme poverty now — not next year, not the year after, but right now. We have to address the issues that matter most, whether it’s gender equality, climate change, or the structural issues that keep people poor.”
____
Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy. | 2022-08-12T06:25:15+00:00 | wwlp.com | https://www.wwlp.com/business/ap-business/metallica-mariah-carey-headline-global-citizen-nyc-concert/ |
(WHNT) – Country superstar Morgan Wallen has canceled the next six weeks of his One Night At A Time tour due to a doctor’s suggested vocal rest.
Wallen took to Twitter telling his fans that his doctors recommended that he take a six-week vocal rest after a throat scope showed he is suffering from vocal cord trauma.
The announcement comes after he abruptly canceled a show on April 23 in Oxford, MS. Wallen says he took ten days off for vocal rest and then played three shows in Florida May 4-6.
Wallen says following those shows he felt “terrible” and he went in for a vocal cord scope following and the results of that showed vocal cord trauma.
Doctors advised Wallen to take a six-week vocal rest or he could risk permanent vocal cord damage.
The following cities will be affected by this announcement:
- Hershey, PA
- Eastford Rutherford, NJ
- Austin, TX
- Houston, TX
- Atlanta, GA
- Panama City Beach, FL
- Myrtle Beach, SC
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Pittsburgh, PA
If Wallen is able to return in six weeks the first show he would likely be able to perform would be June 22 in Chicago, IL.
In the tweet, Wallen said he will update fans as soon as he can about the rescheduled dates. He also said that the festivals he was set to play at during this time will not be rescheduled but that he will “make it right” for his fans. | 2023-05-09T18:54:39+00:00 | cbs4indy.com | https://cbs4indy.com/news/national-world/morgan-wallen-cancels-6-weeks-of-shows-taking-vocal-rest/ |
The 2023 Valero Texas Open Odds & Preview: Cameron Davis
Cameron Davis will compete in the 2023 Valero Texas Open in San Antonio, Texas at TPC San Antonio (Oaks) from March 30 - April 2.
Looking to place a bet on Davis at the Valero Texas Open this week? Keep reading for the statistics you need to know before you make your picks.
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Cameron Davis Insights
- Over his last 12 rounds, Davis has finished better than par on four occasions, while also shooting one bogey-free round and six rounds with a better-than-average score.
- He has not finished any of his last 12 rounds with one of the 10 best scores of the day.
- Davis has recorded a score within three shots of the day's best in one of his last 12 rounds, while finishing within five strokes of the top score of the day four times.
- Davis has finished in the top 10 once in his past five appearances.
- He has made one cut in his past five tournaments.
- Davis has finished with a better-than-average score in one of his past five tournaments.
Over the last year
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Valero Texas Open Insights and Stats
- Davis placed 69th in his lone recent finish at this event in two trips.
- Davis made the cut in one of his past two entries in this event.
- Davis finished 69th on the leaderboard in his previous appearance at this event, in 2021.
- At 7,438 yards, TPC San Antonio (Oaks) is set up as a par-72 for this week. In the past year, tournaments on the PGA Tour have been played on courses with an average distance of 7,294 yards.
- Golfers at TPC San Antonio (Oaks) have averaged a score of -2 per tournament, higher than the Tour-wide scoring average of -5 during the past year.
- The courses that Davis has played in the past year have had an average distance of 7,308 yards, while TPC San Antonio (Oaks) will be 7,438 yards this week.
- The tournaments he has played in the past year have seen an average score of -4. That is lower than this course's recent scoring average of -2.
Davis' Last Time Out
- Davis was in the 61st percentile on par 3s at THE PLAYERS Championship, with an average of 3.06 strokes on the 16 par-3 holes.
- He shot well to finish in the 94th percentile on par 4s at THE PLAYERS Championship, averaging 3.9 strokes on those 40 holes.
- Davis was better than 48% of the competitors at THE PLAYERS Championship on the tournament's 16 par-5 holes, averaging 4.69 strokes per hole compared to the field average, which was 4.67.
- Davis shot better on par 3s than most players his last time out, recording a birdie or better on four of 16 par-3s at THE PLAYERS Championship (the other competitors averaged 1.5).
- On the 16 par-3s at THE PLAYERS Championship, Davis carded more bogeys or worse (four) than the tournament average (2.7).
- Davis' nine birdies or better on the 40 par-4s at THE PLAYERS Championship were more than the tournament average (5.1).
- At that last competition, Davis' performance on the 40 par-4s included a bogey or worse five times (the field's average was worse, at 7.1).
- Davis ended THE PLAYERS Championship with a birdie or better on five of 16 par-5s, fewer than the tournament average, 5.1.
- On the 16 par-5s at THE PLAYERS Championship, Davis recorded less bogeys or worse (one) than the tournament average of 1.3.
Valero Texas Open Time and Date Info
- Date: March 30 - April 2, 2023
- Course: TPC San Antonio (Oaks)
- Location: San Antonio, Texas
- Par: 72 / 7,438 yards
- Davis Odds to Win: +4000 (Bet now with BetMGM!)
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | 2023-03-29T19:41:51+00:00 | uppermichiganssource.com | https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/sports/betting/2023/04/01/cameron-davis-valero-texas-open-pga-odds/ |
DETROIT — A judge threw out a lawsuit Monday that challenged voting by absentee ballot in Detroit, saying a Republican candidate for secretary of state failed to produce any evidence of violations.
Kristina Karamo and others sued to try to force Detroit residents to vote in person or go to the city clerk’s office to get an absentee ballot.
They filed a lawsuit 13 days before Tuesday’s election, making a variety of allegations about how Detroit reviews signatures on absentee ballots and monitors drop-off boxes. The lawsuit, among other things, also claimed the city was using “uncertified high-speed tabulators” to count votes.
“Despite plaintiffs’ arguments to ‘shed light in a dark place,’ they have failed dramatically,” the judge said. “Over an eight-hour evidentiary hearing, no evidence of election law violations” was revealed.
Kenny noted that Detroit elections administrator Daniel Baxter and former Michigan elections director Chris Thomas testified about how the city performs its job.
Approximately 60,000 Detroit voters had submitted an absentee ballot by last Thursday, Kenny said.
“While it is easy to hurl accusations of violations of law and corruption, it is another matter to come forward and produce the evidence our Constitution and laws require,” the judge said.
___
Follow Ed White at http://twitter.com/edwritez
___
Learn more about the issues and factors at play in the midterms at https://apnews.com/hub/explaining-the-elections .
And follow the AP’s election coverage of the 2022 elections at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections. | 2022-11-07T19:45:57+00:00 | washingtonpost.com | https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/judge-rejects-claims-of-election-violations-in-detroit/2022/11/07/ad1255c6-5ecc-11ed-a131-e900e4a6336b_story.html |
Ocala-Marion County rebrands with new logo focused on tourism
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - In the Horse Capital, branding has come a long way from marking livestock.
And Tuesday, a new logo was unveiled to rebrand Marion County as a tourist destination.
during today’s county commission meeting, tourism development director Loretta Shaffer introduced the new Ocala- Marion County logo.
The slogan is now “Florida’s Natural Wonder.”
it was developed after two years of research and determined Marion County’s reputation as a home to horses, springs, sunshine, and wide open spaces.
TRENDING STORY: HOMETOWN HERO: Fort White thrift shop leader is giving back to the community that she was raised in
Copyright 2022 WCJB. All rights reserved. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter. | 2022-08-03T04:12:29+00:00 | wcjb.com | https://www.wcjb.com/2022/08/03/ocala-marion-county-rebrands-with-new-logo-focused-tourism/ |
WFO DALLAS / FT. WORTH Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Wednesday, January 25, 2023
_____
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
1256 AM CST Tue Jan 24 2023
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO
MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT...
* WHAT...Wet snow expected. Total snow accumulations of less
than 3 inches are possible, mainly on elevated and grassy
surfaces.
* WHERE...Western north Texas and Texoma.
* WHEN...From noon Tuesday to midnight CST Tuesday night.
* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions Tuesday afternoon
and Tuesday night.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The Wednesday morning commute may also be
impacted due to any remaining snow and potential re-freezing
on bridges and overpasses.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Slow down and use caution while traveling. The latest road
conditions for Texas can be found at drivetexas.org.
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT
CST TONIGHT...
* WHAT...Wet snow expected. Total snow accumulations of up to, or
in excess of one inch are possible, mainly north of Highway 380
and mainly on elevated and grassy surfaces.
* WHERE...Denton and Collin Counties.
_____
Copyright 2023 AccuWeather | 2023-01-24T07:42:49+00:00 | lmtonline.com | https://www.lmtonline.com/weather/article/TX-WFO-DALLAS-FT-WORTH-Warnings-Watches-and-17737562.php |
Time is almost up to treat her to a special gift she’ll love
IN THIS ARTICLE:
One day is hardly enough to show Mom how appreciated she is, but since we only get one Mother’s Day each year, it’s even more important to not miss out. Whether she’s into fitness, crafting, cooking, gardening or simply the latest gadget, show her how special she is with a thoughtful gift. Order soon to guarantee she’ll have a smile on her face come May 14th.
What to get for Mother’s Day
Mothers are the most important women in our lives, so this is the moment to treat her to a truly special gift. While shopping online, check for shipping options (such as Amazon Prime’s two-day option) that are guaranteed to get the gift there on time. If you live close by, consider ordering with in-store pickup so you can deliver the gift in person.
If Mom’s tough to shop for, flowers are almost always a safe bet. Go with a trusted online seller that offers next-day or same-day delivery, or search for nearby local florists: their flowers will generally be in better condition and they may offer more customization options with fewer fees.
If you’ve really lost track of time, consider a digital gift card. Support her favorite local coffee shop, treat her to takeout or help her stock up on books or craft supplies by sending her a gift certificate. It’ll appear in her inbox pretty much instantly.
Best last-minute Mother’s Day gifts
No matter how busy she gets, her coffee will stay at the perfect temperature in this self-heating mug. The mug’s contents keep warm at the temperature she specifies on the connected app for up to 80 minutes. Keep the mug on the charging coaster and it’ll maintain the temperature all day.
Sold by Amazon
This luxurious kit comes with almost everything needed to recreate Food La La’s famous macarons at any baking skill level. You supply the butter, cream and eggs; Food La La’s online macaron master class will walk Mom through baking and decorating gorgeous macarons.
Sold by Food La La
Playmakar MVPMini Percussion Massage Bundle
If she never misses a workout, she’ll appreciate this compact massager, which comes with eight interchangeable heads for different muscle groups and massage types. Also included is the HeatTip massage head for warming up and relaxing muscle tissue.
Sold by Playmakar
Refresh her kitchen with this set of four ceramic nonstick pots and pans. Made with a nontoxic nonstick coating, the set is available in 10 color choices, all featuring coordinating silver- or gold-tone handles. It also comes with a magnetic storage rack and canvas lid hanger.
Sold by Caraway
She can print her favorite photos directly from her Android or iPhone smartphone with this compact and easy-to-use printer. One-touch controls print 4×6 prints from docked phones or over Wi-Fi.
Sold by Amazon
Fenty Beauty Fenty Face Build Your Own Four-piece Bundle
Her complexion will be flawless with this four-piece kit, customizable to her perfect shades. It includes the bestselling Pro Filt’r Soft Matte liquid foundation, Match Stix contour stick, Killawatt Freestyle highlighter and Invisimatte setting powder.
Sold by Fenty Beauty
Philips SmartSleep and Wake-Up Light
Help her sleep better with this feature-packed light. It uses customizable light colors and brightness levels to help users fall asleep easier and wake up naturally, and it also serves as a charging dock, speaker, bedside lamp and more.
Sold by Amazon
Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus 2.0 Hot Air Brush
Featuring a ceramic titanium brush barrel and charcoal-infused nylon brush pins, this styling tool delivers the ultimate blowout with less heat damage. The 2.4-inch oval brush head is suitable for all hair types.
Sold by Ulta Beauty
This high-quality garden tote is perfect for a mom who loves to garden. The sturdy canvas tote features five exterior pockets and comfortable rolled handles. It also comes with three stainless steel hand tools and a lifetime warranty.
Sold by Amazon
Earth Japanese Hot Spring Bath Powders
Treat her to weeks of in-home spa days with these relaxing bath powders, which take their scent inspiration from famous Japanese hot spring resorts. The box comes with 18 bath powder sachets in four scents and colors.
Sold by Amazon
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)
These top-of-the-line earbuds boast excellent sound quality, improved noise cancellation, longer battery life and dynamic head tracking for more immersive listening. They come with four pairs of silicone tips to provide a customizable fit.
Sold by Amazon
AeroGarden Bounty Elite Indoor Herb Garden
For someone who loves to cook, having fresh herbs year-round is a special treat. This high-tech hydroponic garden includes everything needed to grow up to nine different herbs, and it’s even Alexa-compatible for easier plant care.
Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
- Cushy foam Joorma slippers make going back and forth to the pool or beach feel like walking on clouds.
- The supportive Maduka Pro yoga mat is a favorite of instructors and newcomers alike, and it’s available in two sizes.
- A crafty mom will enjoy carving, polishing, engraving and more with the Dremel 400 Series rotary tool.
- A Brooklinen mulberry silk pillowcase is comfortable, breathable and gentle on skin and hair.
- For a working mom always on her feet, Dansko Women’s LT Pro Clogs are comfortable and spill-resistant.
- Splurge on her skin care routine with the highly concentrated SkinMedica Age Defense Retinol Complex 1.0.
- Kindle Scribe is a larger, more powerful e-reader with the ability to take notes or journal.
- The Renpho foot massager uses three different kneading modes plus heating to soothe sore and tired feet.
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Laura Duerr writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | 2023-05-06T19:38:19+00:00 | ourquadcities.com | https://www.ourquadcities.com/reviews/br/home-br/decor-br/best-last-minute-gifts-to-buy-mom-for-mothers-day-2023/ |
(SmartAsset) – As we progress through the 2023 tax season, many Americans have their eyes on a potential tax refund. But getting money back from the government can actually be a double-edged sword.
Earning a large tax refund may mean that you gave Uncle Sam an interest-free loan throughout the course of the year instead of putting that money to work for you in other ways.
Still, the majority of people who file a U.S. tax return every year end up getting a refund. For the 2021 tax year, which involved tax returns filed in 2022, U.S. individual taxpayers logged an average federal refund of $1,798.
To determine where taxpayers receive the largest refunds, SmartAsset analyzed the average dollar amount of 2021 federal tax refunds for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Though it did not play a role in our rankings, the analysis also examined state and local income tax refunds for tax year 2020.
For details on our data sources and how we put all the information together to create our final rankings, you can read more in the Data and Methodology section below.
Key Findings
- Four income-tax-free states rank in the top 10. These states are Wyoming, Texas, Alaska and South Dakota. (In total, nine states have no income tax.) Wyoming residents saw refunds of $1,802. Texas residents took home $1,783. Alaska taxpayers had refunds of $1,734. For South Dakota, the average refund totaled $1,721. For context, the national average tax refund amount in 2021 was $1,798.
- Nationally, there was a $417 decrease in average federal tax refunds between 2020 and 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic inspired special tax benefits for the 2020 tax year, which could explain the drop in average refunds. In 2021, the U.S. had more than 600 million tax returns with federal tax refunds, compared to more than 303 million in 2020.
Top 10 states for largest tax refunds
States in the Midwest and West appear most often for offering the most funds back to tax payers, with Texas and Alaska also ranking high.
1. Utah
Utah’s average federal tax refund for 2021 was $1,812. With 5.4 million tax refunds issued, the state’s average may have benefited from boosted tax credits for children as the average household size was higher for 2021 in Utah than in any other state.
2. Wyoming
Wyoming is the first state on the list without a state income tax. The average federal tax refund in 2021 was $1,802. This was calculated from only about 1 million federal tax refunds issued. The state had the fewest number of tax refunds issued out of all states in 2021.
3. Texas
Texas is another state with no state income tax. Residents received an average federal tax refund of $1,783 in 2021. Texas received the second-largest total refund amount (nearly $94 billion) of all states, with only California getting more total refund dollars.
4. North Dakota
North Dakota comes in fourth with an average federal tax refund of $1,750 in 2021. The government issued nearly 1.4 million refunds. The average state and local tax refund is less than half the federal figure at $820.
5. Illinois
Illinois ranks fifth with an average federal refund of $1,739. Illinois also had the second-lowest average state and local tax refund out of all states in 2020. It was just $581. Only Pennsylvania had a lower average refund ($534).
6. Alaska
Alaska is the third state on the list without a state income tax. It received an average refund of $1,734 in 2021. The federal government issued more than 1.3 million refunds that tax year.
7. Kansas
Kansas comes in seventh, right behind Alaska with an average federal tax refund of $1,728. More than 5 million refunds went to Kansas taxpayers in 2021.
8. South Dakota
South Dakota is the last state in the top 10 without a state income tax. The state had the fourth-fewest number of total tax refunds issued (1.6 million) in 2021, behind Wyoming, North Dakota and the District of Columbia. The average federal tax refund was $1,721.
9. Nebraska
Nebraska comes in ninth with an average federal tax refund of $1,716 in 2021. This was calculated from more than 3.4 million refunds issued that year.
10. Oklahoma
Oklahoma rounds out the top 10 on the list with an average federal refund amount of $1,715, just $1 behind Nebraska and $3 higher than a three-way tie for 11th place between New York, Tennessee and New Jersey.
A Double-Edged Sword
While getting a large tax refund may feel like scoring free money, keep in mind that getting little to no refund may not necessarily be a bad thing.
“That money may have been working harder for you by gaining interest in a bank account, earning returns in an investment fund or paying for living expenses,” says Susannah Snider, certified financial planner and managing editor for financial education at SmartAsset.
Employees may consider adjusting their tax withholding on their form W-4 to take more money home each month and receive a smaller refund at tax time. “Especially in an environment of rising interest rates, it’s worth it for workers to consider adjusting their withholdings to reduce their tax refund amount and keep more money in their pockets throughout the year,” Snider says.
Data and Methodology
To find the states with the largest tax refunds, SmartAsset examined data for all 50 states and the District of Columbia, focusing on two data points:
- The total dollar amounts of federal tax refunds. This is how much each resident receives in a refund, on average, taken by dividing the total amount refunded in the state by the total number of refunds.
- The total dollar amounts of state and local tax refunds. This is the amount each resident received as a refund from filing their state taxes, dividing the total amount refunded in the state by the total number of refunds submitted.
For each state, we divided the total dollar amount of federal tax refunds by the number of federal tax refunds issued in that state. The result represents the average federal tax refunds. We used this dollar figure for each state to rank the entire list from highest to lowest.
All data comes from the IRS. Federal tax refund data is for the fiscal year 2021 while state and local income tax refund data is for the tax year 2020.
This story originally appeared on SmartAsset and has been independently reviewed to meet journalistic standards. | 2023-03-24T21:05:29+00:00 | fox59.com | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/taxpayers-in-these-states-see-the-largest-refunds/ |
After a year of owning Ha Ha Pizza in Yellow Springs, Karen and Megan McDonald are announcing the longtime pizza shop is on the market due to personal health issues.
Ha Ha Pizza has been for sale since February, Megan said.
Credit: Natalie Jones
Credit: Natalie Jones
“Karen became ill at the end of (last) year, and unfortunately, things have not improved,” Megan said. “It was all very sudden and took us by surprise.”
The mother-daughter team from the Fairborn and Enon area purchased the restaurant in June 2022 from B.J. Walters who had been part of the restaurant for 25 years.
“We’d purchased Ha Ha with big dreams and the intention of being here long term,” Megan said. “While we didn’t get to achieve all those goals we had, our favorite is remodeling the dining room. I still smile every time I see Chloé (Chicarelli’s) mural, and it is the highlight of our time here. We have loved getting to know the community and will miss it immensely.”
The McDonalds are seeking a new owner that would like to keep the business as Ha Ha Pizza and continue to grow with it.
Credit: Natalie Jones
Credit: Natalie Jones
“We have considerably increased sales from a year ago and would love to see the new owner surpass us,” Megan said. “All we ask for is someone who loves Ha Ha and Yellow Springs. We can teach you the rest!”
The owners are asking $210,000 for the business which includes all equipment, including a brand-new POS system, along with the brand and the black book of recipes.
Ha Ha Pizza, located at 108 Xenia Ave., will remain open while it is for sale. Hours of operations are 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 8 p.m. Friday, noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday.
“While our chapter was short at Ha Ha, we hope others will continue to enjoy our changes for years to come,” Megan said.
Anyone interested in purchasing Ha Ha Pizza should email Brandon Owens at brandon@fcbb.com. More information can be found by clicking here.
About the Author | 2023-07-25T14:50:34+00:00 | springfieldnewssun.com | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/what-to-know/ha-ha-pizza-for-sale-we-have-loved-getting-to-know-the-community-and-will-miss-it-immensely/CQFTW3DAY5HPHJEFAVF46W4L6Q/ |
DETROIT (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays already have 15 players on the injured list. Now pitching coach Kyle Snyder might be on the shelf, too.
Snyder injured himself walking toward the mound to visit ace Shane McClanahan during the seventh inning of a 9-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Saturday.
The 44-year-old Snyder had to return to the dugout, and manager Kevin Cash went out to speak with McClanahan instead.
“He pulled a calf muscle — pulled it, strained it, popped it — we haven’t gotten the final injury report yet,” Cash said. “I had to step up.”
McClanahan, who started the All-Star Game for the American League, allowed four runs in 6 1/3 innings, raising his ERA to 2.24. He’s holding down a rotation that’s without Tyler Glasnow, Shane Baz, Yonny Chirinos, Josh Fleming and Brendan McKay due to injury.
Snyder, a 6-foot-8 former major league pitcher, has been the Rays’ pitching coach since 2018.
Tampa Bay dropped to 57-50 and is one game ahead of Baltimore for the final AL wild card.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2022-08-07T15:39:14+00:00 | ksn.com | https://www.ksn.com/sports/ap-sports/rays-pitching-coach-injured-on-visit-to-mound/ |
Nov. 13, 1933 – June 25, 2022
After reading Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay “The Over-Soul” while he was a college student, John R. McClive resolved to dedicate his life to doing good for others.
Although he was a mechanical engineer, for a while he considered becoming a clergyman. Instead, as his son Curtis noted in a eulogy, he decided to do good through organizations.
His first choice was the Salvation Army, which he joined in 1959. He was active for more than 60 years as a holiday bell-ringer and serving dinners to the needy.
He found another avenue in 1979 when he joined the Rotary Club of Buffalo. He enlivened the monthly newsletter, the COG, with humorous poems and in 2005 he became executive director, a post he held for nine years. Many considered him to be the face of the club.
During his tenure, the club supported the Cradle Beach camp and the construction of its Rotary Field sports facility. The club also raised $500,000 to help create the Frank Lloyd Wright Fontana Boathouse for the West Side Rowing Club. He received Rotary's Paul Harris Fellow award.
He died June 25 under hospice care in his home in Buffalo after a short illness. He was 88.
The youngest of four boys, John Robert McClive spent his early years in Hamburg and was a 1951 graduate of Lafayette High School, where he was a member of the tennis team and the rowing team.
He earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1955 from the University of Buffalo, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity and the Air Force ROTC program. He also was a member of the Arnold Air Society, an honorary society within ROTC.
Commissioned as an officer, he was a pilot and attained the rank of first lieutenant. His son Curtis said that while Mr. McClive was stationed in Alabama, “he went to a movie theater one night with a few of his fellow pilots to see Elvis Presley’s ‘Love Me Tender.’ As a response to his disgust with the Jim Crow laws in place at the time, he chose to not sit in the ‘whites only’ section but to instead sit in the balcony, where the Black people were required to sit."
He was an engineer for Buffalo Forge Co. and worked in design engineering, sales engineering and marketing. His son noted that “he was proud to work at the company where Willis Carrier had invented electrically powered air conditioning nearly 60 years earlier.”
A member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers, he received several awards from state and national professional engineering organizations. In recent years, he gave lectures on Buffalo Forge’s role in the development of modern air conditioning systems.
In 1979, when his son Curtis acquired a Texas Instruments TI-58, one of the first programmable calculators, he learned how to program it himself and use it for retrieving information.
His son noted, “He realized he could reduce the Buffalo Forge sales engineering team’s response time to customer inquiries about fans, blowers, air conditioners and the like by replacing a notebook full of look-up tables and charts with a programmable calculator that could calculate the same information. This was a few years before the first IBM PC came on the market.”
After he retired from Buffalo Forge in the late 1980s, he worked with Computer Systems Integrated, providing one-on-one help to entrepreneurs setting up their computers.
A member of Westminster Presbyterian Church for more than 60 years, he was co-chair of the Re-entry Friends program, which helped people readjust after their release from jail through mentoring and finding jobs. When the program began to serve at-risk Bennett High School students, he tutored them in math.
In the 1970s, he started researching the history of Westminster’s Gothic stained glass windows and the biblical stories they depict. He gave lectures about them and provided commentaries to visitors in the church’s open door programs during the Allentown Art Festival.
He and the former Louise House Eder were married in Westminster in 1985. They made annual trips abroad and in Europe, Greece, Turkey and Israel.
In addition to his wife, survivors include two daughters, Catharine McGovern and Caren Weaver; two sons, Colin and Curtis; and two stepsons, Jeffrey Eder and William Eder.
A celebration of his life was held July 1 in Westminster Presbyterian Church. | 2022-07-14T02:22:26+00:00 | buffalonews.com | https://buffalonews.com/obituaries/features/john-r-mcclive-88-buffalo-forge-engineer-rotary-club-director/article_e1760c72-0314-11ed-8eae-6f41e555c94f.html |
Mall of America lockdown lifted after reported shooting
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (AP) — A shooting sent the Mall of America into lockdown Friday evening, mall officials and police in suburban Minneapolis said.
The Bloomington Police Department tweeted shortly after 8:15 p.m. that police and emergency medical crews were on the scene of a shooting the mall. The lockdown at the largest mall in the U.S. lasted for about an hour before the mall tweeted that shoppers were being sent outside.
Police did not immediately provide details on whether anyone was injured or arrested.
Videos posted on social media show shoppers hiding in stores, and an announcement in the mall warned people to seek shelter. Some videos show shoppers running for cover after a loud bang is heard. Emergency vehicles converged in the snowy parking lot outside, and police could be seen putting up yellow crime scene tape near the Nordstrom store.
The reported shooting comes as shopping centers and malls across the U.S. see an influx of customers just days before Christmas.
Jenny Hefty of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and her 16-year-old daughter had just gotten off the escalator up to the mall’s second floor, right in front of the Nordstrom store, when people started running toward them and screaming. Her daughter thought she heard gunshots, although Hefty did not.
“At first we thought they were just messing around,” she told The Associated Press on Friday night. “It was like ‘why are all these kids running by us?’”
Retailers began shutting their doors and her husband told them to run as armed guards rushed toward Nordstrom, where Hefty had been trying perfume about 20 minutes earlier.
The trio raced to their hotel in the mall complex and frantically tried to reach the couple’s 18-year-old daughter, 21-year-old son and their friends on their cellphones. They had been shut inside stores or whisked into safer spots as the mall locked down.
The family, which often travels the four hours to the mall, was in town for the Minnesota Vikings football game against the New York Giants on Saturday.
“Of course we wanted to come early and do some Christmas shopping,” Hefty said.
Since it opened in 1992, the mall has been a tourist destination and community gathering spot. It bans guns on the premises but shoppers have generally not been required to pass through metal detectors. The mall said in October it was testing a “weapons detection system” at one of its entrances.
The mall was placed on lockdown in August after a reported shooting at the suburban Minneapolis shopping complex sent some shoppers running for cover and two people were wounded last New Year’s Eve during an apparent altercation.
Representatives from the city of Bloomington and the Mall of America did not immediately return requests for comment.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2022-12-24T04:28:39+00:00 | kmvt.com | https://www.kmvt.com/2022/12/24/police-mall-america-lockdown-after-reported-shooting/ |
Etsy is the first company to leverage Adyen's Giving round-up feature, allowing customers to round-up their totals to donate.
AMSTERDAM, July 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Adyen (AMS: ADYEN), the global financial technology platform of choice for leading businesses, and Etsy, which operates two-sided online marketplaces that connect millions of passionate and creative buyers and sellers around the world, announced today that Adyen has enabled ten million Etsy buyer donations to the Uplift Fund, administered by the Brooklyn Community Foundation.
Etsy launched the Uplift Fund with the Brooklyn Community Foundation in February of 2021 to give its buyers an opportunity to join them in supporting creators who face barriers to building successful businesses. When US shoppers check out on Etsy, they have the option to round up their purchase price and donate to the Fund via Adyen.
"Adyen's solution has enabled us to seamlessly engage the Etsy community in supporting our Uplift Fund," said Morgan Blake, VP of Payments at Etsy. "It's been amazing to see how a small change in checkout can have such a major impact, especially as the past few years have highlighted the gap in resources available to many communities who are eager to use their entrepreneurial talents.
"Partnerships like this one with Etsy and Adyen encourage and simplify the process for people to give to charitable causes. That's what we're seeing here, with the remarkable milestone of reaching 10M buyers," said Jocelynne Rainey, President and CEO, Brooklyn Community Foundation. "We are thrilled to host Etsy's donor advised Uplift Fund to support nonprofits nationwide that work to dismantle barriers to building a successful small business."
"We've seen great traction with Giving and we are thrilled to reach this milestone with Etsy," said Ingo Uytdehaage, CFO at Adyen. "Etsy has been a key partner in building out our Giving solution, including the round-up feature. By combining strengths with Adyen's technology and Etsy's two-sided marketplace, we were able to come together to find a solution that drives impact, in line with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. We can't wait to see what else we accomplish together."
Giving is a product that enables Adyen's merchants to accept charitable donations during the online and in-store checkout process, and allows them to strengthen their bond with their shoppers by providing a platform for their preferred charitable causes. By doing so, Giving converts shoppers' good intentions into additional revenue streams for charitable causes. With a single tap on a point-of-sale terminal or the click of a button at an online checkout, shoppers can donate to the merchants' charity of choice. Giving transactions seamlessly integrate into existing checkout processes across all payment channels, and shoppers' donations are reported and settled to the charity of choice directly without impacting the merchants' existing reconciliation flow.
About Adyen
Adyen (AMS: ADYEN) is the financial technology platform of choice for leading companies. By providing end-to-end payments capabilities, data-driven insights, and financial products in a single global solution, Adyen helps businesses achieve their ambitions faster. With offices around the world, Adyen works with the likes of Facebook, Uber, H&M, eBay, and Microsoft. The cooperation with Etsy as described in this merchant update underlines Adyen's continuous growth with current and new merchants over the years.
To learn more about Giving, please go here.
About Etsy
Etsy, Inc. operates two-sided online marketplaces that connect millions of passionate and creative buyers and sellers around the world. These marketplaces share a mission to keep commerce human, and are committed to using the power of business to strengthen communities and empower people. Its primary marketplace, Etsy.com, is the global destination for unique and creative goods. Buyers come to Etsy to be inspired and delighted by items that are crafted and curated by creative entrepreneurs. For sellers, Etsy offers a range of tools and services that address key business needs.
About the Brooklyn Community Foundation
Brooklyn Community Foundation is on a mission to spark lasting social change, mobilizing people, capital, and expertise for a fair and just Brooklyn. It is the first and only public foundation solely dedicated to Brooklyn, working in partnership with generous donors and community leaders to advance racial justice and bolster vital nonprofits. Since its founding in 2009, the Foundation and its donors have provided over $75 million in grants to nonprofits in Brooklyn and beyond. Learn more at www.BrooklynCommunityFoundation.org.
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SOURCE Adyen Inc. | 2022-07-18T05:39:24+00:00 | kxii.com | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/18/adyen-supports-etsy-reaching-ten-million-buyer-donations-through-donation-feature-giving/ |
Judge denies 19-year-old’s ask to attend father’s execution
ST. LOUIS (AP) — A federal judge has denied a request from a 19-year-old woman to allow her to watch her father’s death by injection. The decision upholds a Missouri law that bars anyone under 21 from witnessing an execution. Kevin Johnson is set to be executed Tuesday for killing Kirkwood, Missouri, Police Officer William McEntee in 2005. Johnson’s lawyers have appeals pending that seek to spare his life. His daughter, Khorry Ramey, had sought to attend the execution. The American Civil Liberties Union had filed an emergency motion with a federal court in Kansas City. But U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes ruled late Friday that Ramey’s constitutional rights would not be violated by the law. | 2022-11-26T21:49:25+00:00 | keyt.com | https://keyt.com/news/2022/11/26/judge-denies-19-year-olds-ask-to-attend-fathers-execution/ |
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Last October, we began counting birds that crossed the area that was proposed as a route for high-voltage power lines through Little Swamp Sanctuary. Before this count, we realized that this was a constant flight path for not just wetland birds, but well over 140 species that nested near or on the wetland or used the habitat as a migratory stopover.
The songbirds would fly in small flocks, sometimes five to 20 or so small birds, or perhaps 30 or 40. Some flocks were mixed species, and some flocks seemed to be one species in particular. It was almost impossible to identify all of these birds as we did our counts in the evening when the sky began to darken.
Our counts grouped the birds by size: small birds such as chickadees, bluebirds, redwinged blackbirds, small herons and all other birds up to the size of crows. The middle category was ducks. The large category included sandhill cranes, Canada geese and eagles.
The goal was just to count bird flights in what would be the kill zone if the power lines were put up. The kill zone was larger than just the few individual wires. The electric field around the wires tends to imbalance the birds and cause many more collisions than would be expected. Many studies show that high-voltage transmission lines are one of the largest causes of bird deaths. We found that well over 1,000 birds, in some evenings over 2,000 birds, would fly this path on warm October evenings. All of these birds would be flying in the path of danger.
A few volunteers assisted in this project, and we think everyone enjoyed this novel activity. One evening, when only my husband Joe and I were counting, I was about to call it a night, but he thought that we should stay a little longer. He has far more experience with research projects than I do, and I guess he is more patient. His long stretch of studying peregrine falcons in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, as well as other nest studies, has taught him that patience pays off. He also thought that we would see more ducks later in the evening. Of course, he was right.
Just a few minutes after we made the decision to stay longer, a small flock of ducks flew overhead. Flocks of ducks continued to fly into the night, and we also saw many sandhill cranes, woodcocks, nighthawks, bats, and other night flying birds that seem to prefer the darkening sky.
As we lost the evening light, we could see a distant owl moving in a low flight below the tree line and to the west. A few minutes later, he surprised us by sweeping in and landing in a tree just 60 feet away. He remained there for about 20 minutes and seemed to be watching the bird flights with us.
It felt much like the feeling you get when your dog comes in to lie by your feet. We were sharing something in both of our seprarate lives, but something that we had in common. This great horned owl is one that we often hear and sometimes see when we are working quietly outside after dark. He is a permanent but wild resident of Little Swamp Sanctuary.
Great horned owls are among our largest owls nesting in Michigan. They are fairly common, as the habitat that we have created throughout much of Michigan is exactly what they prefer: open fields with small wood lots nearby.
In November, you may hear these owls calling to each other. This is an owl that hoots, and it is a soft, musical hoot. The call of the female is thought to be a higher-pitched hoot than that of the male because the female owl has a smaller voice box or syrinx.
We hear this call across the swamp and a returning call from the male that is lower-pitched. The owls are courting, and by December and January, they may be on the nest. Great horned owls nest in the coldest part of the year. The female must begin to incubate the eggs immediately after laying them; if she waited, they would not survive our cold winter nights.
At this time, when the eggs are kept warm in the frigid winter temperatures, it is critical that the nest not be disturbed. Loud noises, such as snowmobiles traveling close to a nest, can cause the parent owls to temporarily leave the nest, in which case the eggs or young owlets may not survive.
One, two, or even three eggs are often produced two or three days apart, and so when they hatch, they do not all hatch at the same time as do chickens, ducks, and most other birds. Young great horned owlets will be a few days apart in their growth, and the most aggressive owlet gets the most food, creating an even greater difference in size.
During incubation and the early nesting season when the owlets are small fuzzy blond babies, the adult male does most of the hunting, bringing in dinner for the female and the young owls. When he is not hunting, he perches nearby and keeps watch over the territory they have claimed.
If the first owl egg to hatch is a male owlet and the second egg is a female owlet, the male will need to leave the nest before the female. Female great horned owls are larger and more aggressive than the males, and if the male tries to stay in the nest as the female baby gets bigger, she will tend to take more of the food, which can jeopardize the ability of the male to survive.
The young male that leaves the nest is not deserted by the parent birds; they will locate him by the raspy calls that he makes as he begs for food. All great horned owl babies may leave the nest a month or more before they can truly fly. They do not need to be cared for by humans at this time; it is a natural way to behave.
The babies may travel a mile from the nest before they can fly well. Adults will circle a large area calling, and the babies will answer so they can find each other at night.
Young owls are the most vulnerable to predators and other problems when they are out of the nest and unable to fly. If discovered by a weasel, a raccoon, or a person, these young owls spread their wings in an arc in an attempt to look much larger than they really are. This is a defensive posture. They will click their beaks and hiss and try to act tough. This will work to back off many predators.
It is usually humans who cause a problem at this stage. People who find such a young owl that cannot yet fly can mistake them for an injured owl and attempt to care for them or turn them in to a rehabilitator. This action usually causes additional harm to the owl, as no one can teach them how to be an owl as well as the parents. Young owls should never be brought into captivity unless they are seriously injured.
Crows are dangerous to most owls. During the day, if crows find an injured owl, they will mob and attack the owl in the most vulnerable places, such as the eyes. They will also pull owlets out of a nest by the wing tip if the nest is left unattended. Young owls that have left the nest naturally but cannot yet fly can also be victims to a mob of crows.
If you have ever tried to find a group of crows that seems to be harassing something in the forest, calling wildly and perching in masses in the tops of trees, you will know this is difficult. You sneak quietly through the woods, only to find that the crows and whatever they were bothering have moved on. This can happen over and over - it is a bit like chasing a rainbow. What may be happening is that the adult male great horned owl is leading the crows away from the juvenile owl, and when a human approaches, he simply flies farther away, and the crows follow.
You may never see the owl, but at one point, we were able to locate the male owl as he stuffed himself into the thick branches of a spruce tree right next to the trunk – a safe haven where he could take a break from his parental responsibilities.
Owls have some amazing adaptations. The first thing you may notice are their eyes. The eyes are larger than our own eyes, yet the body of a person may be 20 times as large as a great horned owl. The eye itself is not round like a human eyeball, but it is tubular and fits into the skull in a locked position. That is why the owl cannot move its eyes around in the sockets like humans. They must move their whole head in order to look at something. They are able to swivel their head from front to back and a little farther (270 degrees), bring the front of their head back to face forward, and then turn the opposite way until they face backward and a little more.
Owls cannot turn their heads from forward all the way around in a 360-degree turn. Still, they can turn their heads far more than we humans can turn ours. Owls are able to do this because they have more vertebrae in their necks than most mammals – even more than a giraffe!
The feathers on the top of their heads, sometimes called horn feathers, ears (they are not ears), feather tufts, or the scientific term, plumicorns, are used in several ways. They can help the owl hide by helping it to appear like part of a tree with small branches at the top. The feather tufts can be used for owl language. And they can be used as a decoy to cause smaller birds to miss when they are attacking the owl that may be out during the day time.
One of our members once sent a video that showed a chickadee zipping down from above and sweeping through the great horned owl's feather tufts. As soon as the chickadee approached the feather tufts, the owl would quickly flatten them down to his head, and then bring them up once more to use again as a decoy.
Owls hide extremely well. Even the great horned owl, who has fewer predators than smaller owls, needs to be able to hide. The camouflage colors and patterns on his back and his feather tufts help him hide against the bark of a tree. Only his eyes will give him away, and he will squint his eyes when he wants to hide.
Great horned owls are amazing birds. They are tough as well as beautiful and are an incredible sight to see and a wonderful sound to hear when they call across the forest or icy swamp on a quiet moonlit winter night.
Much is written about owls, but to share an owl story, we suggest our all-time favorite, which is “Owl Moon” by Jane Yolen, an illustrated story for children.
Wildlife Recovery Association is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to education, rehabilitation and research to benefit wildlife, and to management of a sanctuary to protect rare and sensitive species. To donate to help these animals, visit wildliferecovery.org or write to Wildlife Recovery Association, 531 S. Coleman Road, Shepherd, MI 48883. | 2023-04-15T09:41:34+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/barb-rogers-wildlife-recovery-association-praises-17896594.php |
(NEXSTAR) – We always hear about the players that get selected in the first round of the NFL Draft — Peyton Manning, Terry Bradshaw, and John Elway are all great examples — but only the guy that’s picked last gets his own title: Mr. Irrelevant.
Since 1976, that coveted title has also come with its own perks.
“We established Irrelevant Week to drive home an important message — that it’s not a negative to be picked last in the NFL Draft; rather, it’s an honor to be drafted at all,” Paul Salata, creator of the award and alumnus of the NFL and Canadian Football League, explained. “The last draft pick’s demonstration of perseverance is [a] lesson that resonates not only with NFL players and fans, but also with people everywhere.”
At the time of its creation, the “Mr. Irrelevant” title-holder and his family were invited to spend a week in Orange County, California, a tradition that continues today. The honoree also receives the Lowsman Trophy, intended to be the exact opposite of the Heisman Trophy, showing a player fumbling a football.
After being selected as Mr. Irrelevant, Irrelevant Week, the organization behind the award, says the player will spend a week attending events held in Newport Beach, California. He and his guests visit Disneyland, attend media events, visit the beneficiary charity (proceeds are collected throughout the week to benefit the selected charity), participate in a sailing regatta in Newport Harbor, and attend either a Los Angeles Dodgers or Angels game to receive special recognition.
At the end of his week, Mr. Irrelevant serves as the guest of honor for the Lowsman Banquet, described as “an evening gala that gives past and present sports stars and celebrities a chance to roast and toast the newest member of this exclusive club.”
The publicity of the award even caused a rift between two teams in 1979. According to the Associated Press, the Los Angeles Rams, with the next-to-last pick, intentionally passed to let the Pittsburgh Steelers, holders of the final pick, go ahead of them. The Steelers also passed and both teams continued to refuse to make a pick.
Eventually, then-Commissioner Pete Rozelle forced them to make a pick, with the Steelers winning. A rule was created, the Salata Rule, to prevent teams from passing in order to get Mr. Irrelevant.
Last year’s Mr. Irrelevant, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, may be one of the most notable recipients of the title. Following injuries to Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo, Purdy found himself as QB1 for the 49ers. He maintained an unbeaten record as a starter until the 49ers lost the NFC Championship to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Before his impressive rookie year, Purdy’s Irrelevant Week included rowing lessons, pizza-making, and, like other Mr. Irrelevants before him, surfing lessons.
Here are the five most recent Mr. Irrelevants and where they were at the end of the 2022 regular season:
- Brock Purdy: San Francisco 49ers
- Grant Stuard: Indianapolis Colts
- Tae Crowder: Pittsburgh Steelers
- Caleb Wilson: Offensive line/tight end assistant coach for Purdue
- Trey Quinn: USFL’s Michigan Panthers
- Chad Kelly: Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League
Mr. Irrelevant from the 2009 NFL Draft class, placekicker Ryan Succop, became the first Mr. Irrelevant to play in and win a Super Bowl in 2021. He was recently released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The creator of Mr. Irrelevant, Salata, passed away from natural causes in 2021 just a day before turning 95.
This year, the 259th pick (held by the Houston Texans, as of Thursday) will become Mr. Irrelevant.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | 2023-04-29T22:01:51+00:00 | kron4.com | https://www.kron4.com/nfl/nfl-draft/mr-irrelevant-being-the-last-pick-in-the-nfl-draft-has-its-perks-2/ |
MENLO PARK, Calif. (AP) _ Pacific Biosciences of California Inc. (PACB) on Wednesday reported a loss of $81.5 million in its first quarter.
The Menlo Park, California-based company said it had a loss of 37 cents per share.
The results missed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for a loss of 32 cents per share.
The maker of genetic analysis technology posted revenue of $33.2 million in the period, which topped Street forecasts. Four analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $32.8 million.
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This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on PACB at https://www.zacks.com/ap/PACB | 2022-05-04T21:24:02+00:00 | seattlepi.com | https://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/Pacific-Biosciences-Q1-Earnings-Snapshot-17148343.php |
Come out on June 4th starting at 7am for the WisePies Pizza Run to benefit Make a Wish. Go to https://wisepiespizza.com/pizzarun/#form to register.
Come out on June 4th starting at 7am for the WisePies Pizza Run to benefit Make a Wish. Go to https://wisepiespizza.com/pizzarun/#form to register. | 2023-05-10T16:20:03+00:00 | krqe.com | https://www.krqe.com/krqecares/join-us-at-the-wisepies-pizza-run-on-june-4th-benefiting-make-a-wish/ |
Gunnison veterinarian joining the race to challenge Rep. Lauren Boebert
A veterinarian, physical therapist and small business owner from Gunnison, Debora “Debby” Burnett, is joining the race to represent Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District in 2024.
Burnett joins Adam Frisch, a businessman from Aspen, as the two current candidates who have filed to run in the Democratic primary in CO-3.
Rep. Lauren Boebert, the Republican incumbent from Silt, won a second term against Frisch with a margin of less than 550 votes in November.
Burnett also ran for the Democratic primary in 2022 but did not qualify for the ballot. She’s running again because “nothing has changed,” she said, with Boebert representing the district.
“I don't think (Boebert) has our best interests at heart. Performance-art politics and mean tweets don't take care of the struggles that we are facing here in this district,” Burnett said, adding that she wants to represent working-class people in western and southern Colorado.
Adam Frisch announces 2024 Congress run, potential rematch with CD3 Rep. Lauren Boebert
Colorado's 3rd District has the lowest median household income — just less than $60,000 — of all of Colorado’s eight congressional districts, according to 2021 Census data.
Addressing urgent water problems is at the top of Burnett's mind, as is expanding telemedicine in the district and ensuring the district's rural students get the same education their urban peers.
Burnett grew up in Greeley. She has worked with humans and animals and holds active licenses in veterinary medicine and physical therapy.
She said she’s been working with animals again in Gunnison after she moved there with her family early in the COVID-19 pandemic.
She and her husband, who used to work in oil fields, also run a hay-baling business.
Burnett said she’ll continue working “as much as I can” during the campaign.
Frisch’s tight margin in 2022 was “close, but not enough,” Burnett said, noting that Democrats in the district need to question why he didn’t win when “Rep. Boebert has such an abysmal record of providing for her constituents.”
Burnett said that Democrats also need to figure out why Democratic turnout in CO-3 in the 2022 election was lower than that of Republican voters.
“I'm glad Adam (Frisch) is running again, we need to have these conversations. I think he had a fine campaign. But we need to talk about, with everything in our favor, we should have won,” Burnett said.
Burnett said that Democrats shouldn’t try to get Republican and independent support “at the expense of the Democratic base.”
“Being a Democrat isn't a bad thing. It's a great thing. We are for policies that actually, truly do make life better — I know that sounds like a trite phrase — but they do make life better for people,” Burnett said, mentioning investment in infrastructure, the now-defunct child tax credit and what she called fair taxes imposed on wealthy individuals and corporations.
She said that she identifies as a moderate but is proud to call herself a Democrat.
Burnett said that she’s qualified for the position because she is working-class and deals with the same issues as many voters in the district, such as access to adequate health care, affording a home, student debt and taking care of aging relatives.
The Democratic primary is scheduled for June 2024 and the general election November 2024.
Anna Lynn Winfrey covers politics for the Chieftain. She can be reached at awinfrey@gannett.com or on Twitter, @annalynnfrey. | 2023-02-21T00:18:26+00:00 | chieftain.com | https://www.chieftain.com/story/news/2023/02/20/gunnison-veterinarian-joining-race-to-challenge-rep-lauren-boebert/69923904007/ |
Scientists have long held that early human men did the hunting and women the gathering. A new review of data on foraging societies in modern times suggests that most women hunted.
Copyright 2023 NPR
Scientists have long held that early human men did the hunting and women the gathering. A new review of data on foraging societies in modern times suggests that most women hunted.
Copyright 2023 NPR | 2023-06-28T20:48:53+00:00 | kosu.org | https://www.kosu.org/history/history/2023-06-28/ancient-women-were-hunters-and-grandmas-were-the-most-skilled-ones-study-suggests |
Families to receive food and essentials as part of Summer Food Distribution program
RESTON, Va., June 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- StarKist Co., a socially responsible company that empowers people to live a healthy lifestyle by providing convenient proteins, partnered with Feed the Children and Cornerstones today to bring hunger relief to 400 families living along Northern Virginia's Dulles Corridor.
The drive-thru event was held at St. John Neumann Catholic Community in Reston, VA. During the event, 400 families and seniors received a 25-pound box of shelf-stable food, including StarKist products; a 15-pound box of hygiene essentials such as shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and personal-care items; a box of Avon products; Disney storybooks and other items.
"It means everything," said Holly, of a participating family. "I was taking care of my mom from 2018 until she passed this year. I'm filing for disability, and a friend told me about this event and it's just lifesaving. It's changing lives and I'm grateful."
"StarKist recently moved its headquarters to Reston, VA and welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the community. We are always grateful for our ongoing partnership with Feed the Children, and are equally excited to begin an alliance with Cornerstones, an extraordinary organization that has served as Northern Virginia's leading safety-net and human services nonprofit for more than 50 years," said Andrew Choe, StarKist President and CEO. "There will be more empty plates this summer season than ever before, and it is estimated that one in four children will be food insecure. We believe that no child should go hungry in this country, and we are aware that the need is great."
Throughout the past 13 years, StarKist has contributed over 650,000 pounds of tuna and chicken products to help food-insecure children and families across the U.S., and more than $800,000 to support Feed the Children's disaster and emergency response efforts. This is the latest in StarKist's continual efforts to alleviate hunger and food shortages, dating back to 1917, when there was a nationwide protein shortage during World War I.
Feed the Children, a leading nonprofit focused on alleviating childhood hunger, is holding its annual Summer Hunger campaign in order to bring awareness to the important issue of childhood hunger, as well as provide hope and relief to thousands of vulnerable families across the United States throughout the summer season.
"Thanks to our generous partners at StarKist, we are able to help these families rest a little easier knowing they don't have to worry about where their next meal is coming from," said Travis Arnold, Feed the Children president and CEO. "We know that when we combine our efforts, we have a greater impact on the lives of the families who need us most."
"Cornerstones works purposefully with community partners and advocates who care deeply and give generously to support the well-being of everyone living and working along the Dulles Corridor," notes Kerrie Wilson, CEO of Cornerstones. "For lower-income neighbors, the pandemic's lingering economic impacts - including the rising cost of groceries and gas – only exacerbates their daily fears of how to feed their families. Today's food distribution made a tangible difference to 400 households, including seniors. We are proud to partner with StarKist and Feed the Children to help stabilize people living in crisis today. Their commitment to community engagement and volunteerism plays an essential role in helping Cornerstones ensure the economic and health stability, equity, and resiliency of Northern Virginia."
Also speaking at the event were Walter Alcorn, Hunter Mill District Supervisor; Victor Hoskins, President & CEO, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority; Tom Madden, Chairman of the Board, Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce.
About StarKist Co.
StarKist Co. is a socially responsible company that empowers people to live a healthy lifestyle by providing convenient proteins. An industry innovator, StarKist was the first brand to introduce single-serve pouch products, which include StarKist Tuna Creations®, Salmon Creations® and Chicken Creations®. As America's favorite tuna, StarKist represents a tradition of quality, consumer trust and a commitment to sustainability. StarKist's charismatic brand icon, Charlie® the Tuna, swam into the hearts of tuna fans in 1961 and is still a fan favorite today. StarKist Co. is a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Dongwon Industries Co., Ltd.
About Feed the Children
At Feed the Children, we feed hungry kids. We envision a world where no child goes to bed hungry. In the U.S. and internationally, we are dedicated to helping families and communities achieve stable lives and to reducing the need for help tomorrow, while providing food and resources to help them today. We distribute product donations from corporate donors to local community partners, we provide support for teachers and students, and we mobilize resources quickly to aid recovery efforts when natural disasters strike. Internationally, we manage child-focused community development programs in eight countries. We welcome partnerships because we know our work would not be possible without collaborative relationships. For more information, visit feedthechildren.org.
About Cornerstones
Since 1970, Cornerstones has championed the Dulles Corridor as a thriving, equitable, and compassionate place to live and work. More than 16,000 families and individuals, including upwards of 5,000 children, annually benefit from our safety-net services and programs, including homelessness prevention, emergency shelter and food, and urgent financial assistance to help stabilize people in times of crisis. As important, Cornerstones works beyond emergency help to empower our most vulnerable neighbors to regain their independence by securing affordable housing, quality education for children, and valuable job-skills training. In addition to serving as one of Northern Virginia's leading human service anchor organizations, Cornerstones is a respected advisor to local, state, and national jurisdictions to encourage building and preserving affordable housing; investing in connected and resilient children, youth, and families; creating good jobs and economic security; and advancing systems change to undo racial and social inequity. For more information, visit cornerstonesva.org.
Media Contacts:
StarKist: Michelle Faist at 571-441-8096 or Michelle.Faist@StarKist.com
Feed the Children: Carrie Snodgrass, APR at 405-949-5157 or Carrie.Snodgrass@feedthechildren.org
Cornerstones: Margaret Anne Lara at 571-323–9575 or Margaret.Lara@cornerstonesva.org
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SOURCE StarKist Co. | 2022-06-23T20:25:37+00:00 | wafb.com | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2022/06/23/starkist-partners-with-feed-children-cornerstones-special-event-benefiting-400-families-northern-virginia-during-hungriest-year-modern-history/ |
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Try as he might, Guardians manager Terry Francona can’t find the statistics to explain how rookie Oscar Gonzalez has been able to maintain his aggressive approach at the plate while remaining disciplined and controlling the strike zone at the same time.
In Monday’s extra-innings win against Kansas City, Gonzalez pulled a curveball at the bottom of the strike zone from Carlos Hernandez off the wall in center for a two-run double that put the Guardians in front and led to a 6-5 win. | 2022-09-07T02:09:18+00:00 | cleveland.com | https://www.cleveland.com/guardians/2022/09/oscar-gonzalez-an-anomaly-when-it-comes-to-rookie-sluggers-guardians-takeaways.html |
By becoming a Just employer, this B Corp stands firm in its commitment to transparency as a pathway to better business.
ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Virginia-based Fors Marsh Group has become a JUST employer. Just is a nutrition label and transparency platform from The International Living Future Institute that measures and discloses how companies treat their employees and where they make financial and community investments. Just requires companies to disclose data on success indicators like gender and ethnic diversity, quality of benefits, pay equity, and employee education, and scores them on a performance scale.
Without a nutrition label, a person cannot make informed decisions about a product. With this move, Fors Marsh is arming its people and future employees with information on its policies and practices. "These days, it seems every company website has flowery language about their employee-friendly workplace and perhaps a section on corporate social responsibility. What most don't share is any objective data on their actual policies, practices, or their impact. If you're considering working at Fors Marsh or partnering with us, we think you deserve more," said Fors Marsh CEO Ben Garthwaite.
The Fors Marsh Just label scores reflect a strong and unwavering commitment to Fors Marsh employees and the community. Garthwaite shared, "We're well aware that very few firms are willing to put themselves out there. Like every firm, we have areas we can improve. But frankly, transparency and accountability are essential to building the future we want, so we hope to see a growing trend in this direction."
From delivering the definitive metrics on racial discrimination and harassment in the U.S. Military to creating a campaign to drive more people to give blood, to creating the national We Can Do This COVID-19 awareness Campaign, Fors Marsh continues to put purpose at the forefront of the business it pursues.
Also, at the forefront—people. The organization prides itself on putting people first—both internally and externally. Internally, Fors Marsh policies and cultural efforts provide a progressive and equitable workplace. Christina Daugherty, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, is the head of People and Culture at Fors Marsh. "JUST continues to further the conversation about the impact of our policies on our workplace," she said, adding, "It has helped us measure where we are on workplace social justice and set clear goals to continue to improve our workplace and community." Fors Marsh looks forward to updating its label in the years ahead.
At Fors Marsh, we take on issues that matter -- a team of researchers, advisors, and communicators working together to shape the systems that shape our lives. From public health campaigns to policy analysis, we rely on evidence to create solutions that improve outcomes for people. We are intentional about taking on work and forming partnerships that balance purpose, people, planet, and profit.
Just is a "nutrition" transparency label and voluntary disclosure tool for socially just and equitable organizations. JUST is not a certification program, it is a transparency platform for organizations to disclose their operations, including how they treat their employees and where they make financial and community investments. Organizations can use the label on their website or marketing to demonstrate their commitment to these issues. The International Living Future Institute also transparently posts the detailed information in the publicly viewable Just database.
Contact: Carolyn Visokay, cvisokay@forsmarshgroup.com
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SOURCE Fors Marsh Group | 2022-09-23T19:29:18+00:00 | newschannel10.com | https://www.newschannel10.com/prnewswire/2022/09/23/fors-marsh-just-employer/ |
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, sat beside each other during a CNBC interview wearing comfortable smiles of longtime friends.
That was one of many surprises.
They announced a blockbuster commercial partnership that seemed so unfathomable only a few months ago because they were adversaries in the bitter antitrust lawsuit initiated by Saudi-funded LIV Golf — and because two months ago, they had never even met.
What brought them together in a roundabout way was Monahan appointing Jimmy Dunne — a power broker in golf and on Wall Street with a personal connection to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks — to the PGA Tour board of directors last fall.
It was Dunne and Ed Herlihy, chairman of the PGA Tour policy board, whom Monahan leaned on to set his first meeting with Al-Rumayyan a short time after the Masters.
They were the only PGA Tour principals involved in the deal that joins the commercial business of the PGA Tour, European tour and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund in a for-profit entity that for now goes by “Newco” — new company.
Part of the deal is ending all litigation.
“I came to the table not being comfortable with criticism why we didn't meet with them,” Dunne said. "If you look at what happened (with LIV), we never would have done anything they did. We never would have hired Greg Norman. We never would have him flying to an event in a a parachute. We never would have done so many of these things.
“What does that tell me? That I have no idea what they're thinking,” Dunne said. “And when you have no idea what an adversary is thinking, I want to ask them, not their lawyers. I want to ask them directly.”
Herlihy, a New York attorney, is the chairman of the PGA Tour board, and for nearly 40 years a partner at Wachtell, Lipton, Rose & Katz. His focus is mergers and acquisitions of banks and financial institutions.
“The first conversation that I was not a part of was what was the most important conversation because of the position I’ve been in and what we’ve been trying to do with our tour,” Monahan said. “I wanted to rely heavily on those two fine gentlemen to have that first conversation.
“But when they came back and said it was a positive conversation and that I should have a follow-up meeting, I think that’s when things started to develop.”
That Dunne would be arranging the meeting is telling.
Only a year ago, when LIV Golf held its first 54-hole event outside London, Monahan was interviewed on CBS during the Canadian Open. He was asked about the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the links to Saudi Arabia.
“I would ask any player who left (for LIV), or any player that would ever consider leaving, have you ever had to apologize for being a member of the PGA Tour?" Monahan said.
For Dunne, it's deeply personal.
Dunne is a good golfer, a member at Augusta National and Shinnecock Hills, the president of Seminole Golf Club. During a phone interview Wednesday, Jon Rahm and Lee Trevino were among those trying to reach him. Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler have stayed at his house.
He began working at Bear Stearns before co-founding the investment banking firm of Sandler O'Neill & Partners (now Piper Sandler). The firm formerly was located on the 104th floor in the south tower of the World Trade Center.
Dunne was trying to qualify for the U.S. Mid-Amateur on Sept. 11, 2001. He lost 66 employees that day. He doesn't forget, nor does he choose to talk about it now. As he said to Sports Illustrated last year, “I would not be the fairest judge of Saudi involvement” in LIV because of the friends and colleagues who perished.
Dunne is all about finding solutions, and the PGA Tour was in need of answers.
Monahan said reshaping this year's schedule with 13 “designated events” averaging $20 million in prize money forced the tour to dip into its reserves, and there were questions how long this could be sustained.
“Between our reserves, the legal fees, our underpin and our commitment to the DP World Tour and their legal fees, it's been significant,” Monahan said.
Rory McIlroy, one of five player-directors for the PGA Tour board, wasn't aware of the deal until Dunne called him about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday — some four hours before it was to be announced — and walked him through the details.
“From what I gather, the tour felt they were in a real position of strength coming off of the back of the DP World Tour winning their legal case in London. It sort of weakened the other side’s position,” McIlroy said.
“And they went in there, and the way Jimmy described it: ‘Rory, sometimes you got 280 over water, you just got to go for it.’ And that’s what they did.”
Dunne said he has been in Monahan's ear about the tour at least talking to the Saudis — not Monahan at first, but Dunne or Herlihy, or perhaps someone from European tour (DP World Tour is the commercial name).
“After the Masters we decided — we had won a bunch of cases — let's find out what they're all about,” Dunne said.
In dealing with a group that's strategy was to outspend, the objective was to unite golf under one umbrella with Monahan in charge and end the litigation that was costing millions.
PIF's business includes LIV Golf, which is now under the umbrella of the new company — Monahan is the CEO, al-Rumayyan is the chairman, Dunne and Herlihy join them on the executive committee.
That's what led McIlroy to say on Wednesday, “Technically anyone that is involved with LIV now would answer to Jay. So the PGA Tour have control of everything.”
It's a lot to digest. Monahan has to work through credibility issues after spending a year fighting a rival that now is his partner, and then dropping the news without warning.
“Circumstances change, and they’ve been changing a lot over the last couple years,” Monahan said. And then it hit warp speed, starting with Dunne and Herlihy.
___
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2023-06-08T11:29:57+00:00 | local10.com | https://www.local10.com/sports/2023/06/08/power-broker-jimmy-dunne-with-911-history-helped-get-pga-and-saudis-to-the-table/ |
SALEM, Ore. — Oregon should prepare for the U.S. government eventually legalizing marijuana and position the state, with its huge stockpiles of the drug, as a national leader in the industry, state auditors said Friday.
“Now is the time for Oregon to prepare its system for a future when cannabis is legal nationally,” said Oregon Deputy Secretary of State Cheryl Myers, whose office conducted the audit.
In a news conference Friday, Oregon Audits Director Kip Memmott noted with a bit of envy that Canada legalized marijuana and is “a lot more proactive in looking at the benefits financially.”
Oregon can lead the way in the United States in how pot is regulated, while also offering its high-end strains of marijuana, Memmott said.
“We have kind of a signature commodity, along with ... our timber and all the other great things that Oregon produces here. And there’s a real opportunity,” Memmott said.
A total of 21 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized recreational use of marijuana, but activists see little chance of the current Congress moving toward national legalization. Still, there’s hope the Biden administration will allow pot commerce among states that have legalized it.
The legislatures of Oregon and California have already authorized their governors to enter into interstate cannabis trade agreements if the feds allow it. Lawmakers in Washington state followed suit this month, with the measure waiting for Gov. Jay Inslee’s signature.
Oregon’s auditors reminded the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission to follow its own strategic plan to position the state as a national leader by increasing the number of speaking engagements at national conferences, holding more statewide meetings and championing a nationwide framework for cannabis regulation.
OLCC Executive Director Craig Prins wrote in response that his agency is keen on moving quickly if, and when, interstate marijuana commerce is permitted.
Prins said he expects that “only the highest quality products from well-regulated systems, that have recognized testing, packaging, labeling, and traceability standards, will be allowed for sale into other states.”
Oregon has been prioritizing these standards, aimed at protecting consumers, for years, Prins said.
Secretary of State Shemia Fagan recused herself from the audit because she is a paid consultant of an affiliate of marijuana retail chain La Mota, said spokesman Ben Morris.
La Mota’s co-owner has hosted fundraisers for top Democratic Oregon politicians, including Fagan, while the co-owner, her partner and their business allegedly owe $1.7 million in unpaid bills and more in state and federal taxes, according to Willamette Week, a Portland newspaper.
Morris denied Fagan’s outside work represented a conflict of interest and said Oregon Government Ethics Commission guidelines specifically allow public officials to maintain private employment.
The state audit suggested that Oregon marijuana regulators should have looser rules. For example, it questioned the OLCC’s requirement that marijuana businesses keep their stash behind steel doors and have 24-hour video surveillance systems.
“A steel door cannot prevent someone from purchasing cannabis legally in Oregon and taking that cannabis out of the state,” the auditors said.
It’s an open secret that some licensed growers have funneled product to the out-of-state black market to stay afloat, because the oversupply — there is 3 million pounds (1.36 million kilograms) of unused cannabis in Oregon’s supply chain — has driven wholesale and retail prices to record lows. In addition, officials in Oregon have been cracking down on illegal marijuana farms, financed by foreign criminal cartels, in the lush, forested valleys of southern Oregon.
The auditors noted that federal authorities have been hands-off on states that legalize marijuana since the “Cole Memorandum,” written by a U.S. deputy attorney general, came out in 2013. The memorandum said federal intervention wouldn’t be necessary as long as marijuana in those states was not trafficked to other states or distributed to minors, among other conditions.
It was rescinded in January 2018 by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. But four months later, Oregon’s then-U.S. attorney issued five priorities that closely mirrored the Cole Memorandum.
The Oregon auditors concluded that the risk of federal intervention in the state’s regulated system is increasingly unlikely, in part because it hasn’t happened yet. They also cited “the changing social and political environments, and increasing number of draft federal bills focused on cannabis reform.”
The auditors said the OLCC should make burdensome marijuana regulations more like those governing distilled spirits, which the agency also regulates.
Additional regulations, lack of banking support, combined with federal tax burdens “increase operating costs, decrease competition and business diversity, and leave many cannabis startups underserved and overlooked,” the auditors said. | 2023-04-28T20:17:03+00:00 | washingtonpost.com | https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/04/28/marijuana-cannabis-oregon-audit-legalization/8cb09bb6-e5eb-11ed-9696-8e874fd710b8_story.html |
JACKSON, Miss. (WTVA) - A Mississippi Highway Patrol trooper is back on the job after criminal charges were dismissed against him.
The Tuscaloosa Police Department arrested Steven Jones on Dec. 8 on domestic violence and harassment charges.
Jones’ attorney Lisa Meggs said Tuscaloosa City Prosecutor Hudson Cheshire dismissed the charges against Jones last week.
He did not explain why.
Meggs said Jones returned to full active duty on Tuesday. | 2023-01-04T20:48:24+00:00 | wtva.com | https://www.wtva.com/news/charges-dismissed-against-mississippi-trooper/article_4d6434ec-8c61-11ed-98f3-abac4a50a48d.html |
Smart family attorney says civil suit against Ruben Flores may potentially move forward
ARROYO GRANDE, Calif. -- The Arroyo Grande-based attorney for the Kristin Smart family has indicated a potential civil suit against Ruben Flores may soon proceed now that Paul Flores has been convicted of murder.
Paul Flores, the son of Ruben Flores, was found guilty last week of killing Smart in 1996.
After a nearly three-month long trial in Salinas, a jury convicted Paul Flores of murder, while a separate jury acquitted Ruben Flores of charges he acted as an accessory to the crime.
James Murphy, who has represented Stan and Denise Smart since 1996, said a civil suit against Ruben Flores would be the next step in the long-running case that he noted is still ongoing.
“It's not over yet,” said Murphy. “It's going to be over at the conclusion of the civil matter, and I have a very strong feeling that Ruben is going to be held civilly accountable."
Murphy has previously filed civil suits against members of the Flores family in the past. In 1997, a wrongful death suit was filed against Paul Flores, while another one was filed last year against Ruben Flores, Susan Flores, Paul's mother, and her friend Mike McConville.
"We're going to get started now on the civil case and the purpose of the civil case would be to hold Ruben potentially financially responsible for what they did, and that suit focuses in on the moving of Kristin Smart,” said Murphy.
Murphy noted the earlier civil suit against Paul Flores was given a stay by a San Luis Obispo County judge more than 20-years ago, which has paused any movement in the legal matter since then.
"The first step will be for me to determine when we want the stay lifted,” said Murphy. “There's an annual hearing before the court, and I would assume at the next hearing. I think the court will certainly lift the stay as to Paul Flores."
Murphy wasn't sure when the next hearing regarding the stay would be, but guessed it would likely be held within a few months.
"We'll just have to see what the court does,” said Murphy. “Then I will be inundated with massive amounts of materials to review, and then at some point in time, there will be a civil trial against the people I believe were responsible for moving Kristin's body, which is far beyond adding insult to injury. It's a despicable act. To have your kid kill somebody, and then be complicit in burying her on your property, and then moving her after the cops show up and are getting close, that's despicable behavior, and I think they do need to be held accountable."
For any potential suit to move forward, Murphy said he will need the approval of the Smart family.
"I spoke to my clients (after the verdict), and love them so much, they're just fantastic people, but I did say, we'll sit down soon when the dust settles and we'll just try and figure out what's the game plan for the future,” said Murphy. “They've never been in it for any money. They just want to find their daughter, and when they realized that she was gone, they wanted to hold her killer accountable, so that's now been done."
Murphy added during his discussions the Smart family to determine whether or not they proceed in court, he will inform them of the potential risks they may encounter due to their litigation.
"I've got to reacquaint them with the case, the facts and the risks because in civil litigation, you can be sued if you are not successful, unless there's a showing of good cause or probable cause to initiate the lawsuit,” said Murphy. “I want to do for them what they want done for them. I am absolutely confident that they do want to pursue this matter for several reasons. One is not money. The primary reason is hopefully to help find what happened to their daughter."
Ruben Flores has long maintained his innocence, as well as Paul's since his son first became the prime suspect in Smart's disappearance over Memorial Day weekend in 1996.
"There is no evidence against anybody, me or Paul,” said Ruben Flores, while speaking to reporters outside the Monterey County Courthouse last Tuesday. “There wasn't at anytime and just too much made up stuff. That's all I can say. It's too bad that they system works that way on feelings, instead of on facts."
Ruben Flores was later asked about what comments he might have for the Smart family.
"I feel bad for them because they didn't get no answers about what happened to their daughter," said Ruben Flores. "We don't know what happened to their daughter, and so, like I said, I feel sorry for them."
Harold Mesick, the San Luis Obispo-based attorney who represented Ruben Flores during the trial, also said to the media his client is not responsible for anything that may have happened to Smart.
“This man is not just not guilty, he's absolutely innocent,” said Mesick. “And (Tuesday's) verdict proved that. He never should have been charged and I'm very pleased with the outcome. Love our system of justice ”
Mesick went on to complain about the treatment Ruben Flores and his family has received in Arroyo Grande and the Central Coast over the past 26 years, dating back to when Smart first disappeared.
“It would be nice if the community would actually honor the presumption of innocence,” said Mesick last Tuesday. “If you go online like I do frequently, or get the comments, there is just so much animosity towards this man and his family. There's so much hate and I really have never understood it. I understand that people are upset that Kristin is missing. I understand that they want a person to be responsible for that, but the, let's lynch him, the let's burn him, let's hang him, let's kill him, I don't know where that comes from in this county and I wish the community who still feels that way would diffuse themselves of those feeling.”
Murphy disagrees with both Ruben Flores and Mesick. He believes Ruben Flores had a hand in moving Smart's body away from his Arroyo Grande home and is hoping to argue the case in court.
"Leaving Kristin buried like an animal in his side yard, and then moving her when the cops got close, is beyond despicable, and that motivates me to come after him and I'm coming after him,” said Murphy.
Murphy added if the Smart family does proceed with the civil suit, it would likely not reach a courtroom for at least two years due to scheduling constraints. | 2022-10-25T02:18:23+00:00 | keyt.com | https://keyt.com/news/crime/2022/10/24/smart-family-attorney-says-civil-suit-against-ruben-flores-may-potentially-move-forward/ |
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NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The United Nations says close to 1 million drought-affected people in Somalia are in areas under the control or influence of the al-Shabab extremist group, and it appealed to the fighters to allow humanitarian access as famine threatens the country.
The U.N. secretary-general's special representative in Somalia, James Swan, told journalists Wednesday that the 900,000 people in those areas represent a “relatively small” share of the more than 7 million in need as the Horn of Africa country faces its worst drought in several decades. Thousands of people have died, including many children.
“It is obviously regrettable” that access remains difficult because of al-Shabab, Swan said, adding that talks continue with Somali organizations and private sector entities that might be able to reach places controlled or under the influence of the extremist group.
Al-Shabab’s hostility to aid efforts during a famine in Somalia a decade ago was a factor in the deaths of a quarter-million people.
The U.N. weeks ago warned that without substantially more international assistance, a rare formal famine declaration could be made for parts of Somalia by the end of the year.
Swan said the next announcement from an ongoing assessment of drought data should be made in the next three weeks.
Somalia, like other countries with long-running humanitarian crises, saw support from many donors drop this year as the focus swung to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Swan noted a “substantial increase in delivery of assistance” in recent months, but the U.N. says more needs to be done. | 2022-10-26T09:09:02+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/UN-Almost-1-million-drought-hit-Somalis-in-17534871.php |
Friends and family came together to remember the life of Wintergreen Officer Chris Wagner Monday afternoon.
As we’ve previously reported, Wagner was shot and killed in the line of duty on June 16 while responding to an emergency call about a man who had allegedly assaulted two men
During an encounter with the suspect, Wagner was fatally shot, leaving the small community of Wintergreen heartbroken.
[READ MORE: Wintergreen community shaken after death of officer]
On Monday at noon, there was a celebration of life held for Wagner Monday at the Augusta Expo Event Center in Fisherville, Virginia. | 2023-06-26T16:45:14+00:00 | wsls.com | https://www.wsls.com/news/2023/06/26/watch-live-funeral-service-set-for-wintergreen-police-officer-killed-in-the-line-of-duty/ |
Denver Riggleman served eight months as a senior technical adviser for the congressional select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. In a new book, titled "The Breach," Riggleman delves into a few key parts of the committee's investigation, including an examination of a trove of text messages sent and received by former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows in the lead-up to the Capitol riot. The book also revealed for the first time that during the Capitol breach, someone at the Trump White House made a call to a rioter who had entered the building.
Riggleman took a somewhat unusual path to the committee. After serving in the United States Air Force and working as a contractor for the National Security Agency, he ran for - and won - a seat in Congress representing a district in Virginia in 2018.
At the time, Riggleman was a Republican. He describes himself as "a full-blooded redneck." Former president Trump actually endorsed him - twice - and Riggleman joined the staunchly conservative House Freedom Caucus.
Despite Trump's endorsement, Riggleman lost a primary to a more hard-right Republican, and Riggleman became more outspoken about the former president's embrace of extremism and amplification of the far-right QAnon conspiracy theory. After the Nov. 2020 election, Riggleman was one of the few Republican elected officials to quickly acknowledge Joe Biden's victory.
When Congress eventually launched its investigation into the Jan. 6 attack, Riggleman raised his hand and joined the committee, where he found himself examining some of his former colleagues who tried to overturn the election. He ultimately left the investigation in April 2022, before the committee began holding public hearings. Some members of the committee have expressed frustration with Riggleman's decision to write a book, especially before the final hearing has taken place.
In an interview with NPR, Riggleman discussed his work on the investigation, his experience as a member of congress, and whether the committee should submit a criminal referral to the Department of Justice.
Here are four takeaways from that conversation:
The significance of the White House call to a Jan. 6 rioter remains unclear
"The Breach" revealed for the first time that congressional investigators discovered at 4:34 pm on Jan. 6, 2021, someone used a White House phone to call a man who had participated in the rioting.
"The call was outgoing to an individual rioter as the violence played out," Riggleman writes.
The identity of the person who made the call remains unknown.
However, multiple news outlets have identified the recipient of the call as a low-level Capitol riot defendant, who pleaded guilty to a non-violent misdemeanor. According to court documents, he had already left the building by the time of that phone call.
The call lasted nine seconds, and the content is also unknown.
Since this detail was made public, some members of the Jan. 6 Select Committee have appeared to downplay its significance.
"That's one of thousands of details that obviously the committee is aware of," said Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) on NBC's Meet the Press. "And so, you know, to me, it's interesting, but much less interesting than the fact that Donald Trump told the crowd in public, 'You've got to fight like hell. And if you don't, you're not going to have a country anymore.'"
Still, Riggleman told NPR that the mere existence of the call demands further investigation.
"Nine seconds is an eternity to a counterterrorism analyst," Riggleman said. "The fact that the call came from inside the White House at a desk, was routed through the switchboard or defaulted to that number and went out to a rioter, is something that's extremely important."
Political pressure is driving some elected Republicans further right
During his short-lived political career, Riggleman vocally supported Trump and joined the House Freedom Caucus not out of principle, he says, but out of political expediency.
Thank you @realDonaldTrump for your endorsement. I've got your six. #MAGA
— Denver Lee Riggleman III (@Denver4VA) December 17, 2019
"There's some things that you do that you think you have to [do to] win," he said. "I had a consultant who was correct. He said, 'hey, Denver, you gotta be a little bit crazy if you're gonna beat the crazier people on the right.'"
He said a similar dynamic may have played a role in the thought process for some House Republicans, who supported Trump's lies about the election.
"I know there's a few that absolutely didn't believe the election was stolen, but there was no way they could go against the grain," Riggleman said.
In Riggleman's case, conservatives in his district turned on his campaign in 2020, in part because he officiated a same-sex wedding for his campaign volunteers. That contributed to his loss of a primary contest against an ever more conservative opponent.
"Being a politician - I wasn't as talented as I thought I was gonna be at it," Riggleman told NPR.
He says he now regrets his support for Trump, and in 2020, he did not vote for the then-president.
"I might have been one of the first Republicans that was a sitting member to see that Trump was retweeting some pretty crazy QAnon-based sort of troll-farm conspiracies and some things that were very dangerous, even things that were calling for violence," he said. "So no, I did not vote for him."
Instead, Riggleman said he decided to write in himself for president.
Riggleman believes there are grounds to investigate Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas
Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows provided a large number of text messages to congressional investigators, which Riggleman describes as "the crown jewels" for the committee's work.
"What we found in the texts was a road map to an insurrection fueled by apocalyptic propaganda," Riggleman writes in the book. "It was a toxic stew of old-school zealotry and internet authoritarianism."
Among the trove of messages were texts sent by Ginni Thomas, a longtime conservative activist and spouse of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. In those texts, Thomas expressed the view that the 2020 election was stolen, and appeared to brainstorm legal and congressional strategies to overturning the result.
Shortly after the Nov. 2020 election, Thomas wrote a message to Meadows that bore some similarities to rhetoric spread by adherents to the QAnon conspiracy theory:
"Biden crime family & ballot fraud co-conspirators (elected officials, bureaucrats, social media censorship mongers, fake stream media reporters, etc) are being arrested & detained for ballot fraud right now & over coming days, & will be living in barges off GITMO to face military tribunals for sedition."
"The first time I saw the Ginni Thomas texts, I called it a 'bourbon text,'" Riggleman said. "You have to take a shot of bourbon to get through it."
Ginni Thomas testified to the Jan. 6 committee last week, and denied ever discussing her post-election activities with her husband.
In a statement, her lawyer, Mark Paoletta, said, "Mrs. Thomas had significant concerns about fraud and irregularities in the 2020 election. And, as she told the committee, her minimal and mainstream activity focused on ensuring that reports of fraud and irregularities were investigated. Beyond that, she played no role in any events after the 2020 election results."
Riggleman expressed skepticism that Ginni and Clarence Thomas maintained such a strict firewall when it came to discussions of the election.
"It's possible that Clarence Thomas didn't know about Ginni Thomas' activities not just around Jan. 6 and the election but through the years as a Republican activist," he said. "But I don't know if it's probable."
Riggleman said Congress would be justified in taking the extraordinary step of seeking information from Justice Thomas himself, though he said it was unlikely given that the committee is currently wrapping up its work.
"I think it would've been appropriate to talk to Justice Thomas," he said. "I think Ginni [Thomas] coming in is a heck of a great step by the Committee. But I do believe, at some point, the American public is going to have to come to their own conclusions about that."
Should the Jan. 6 committee issue a criminal referral to the Justice Department?
Political and legal commentators - as well as members of the Jan. 6 committee themselves - have debated whether Congress should make a criminal referral to the Department of Justice at the close of their investigation.
The decision on whether to charge former President Trump or any other target of the investigation would still remain with the Justice Department, but a referral could potentially add political pressure on Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Riggleman told NPR he opposed sending a referral.
"Let the DOJ make that decision," he said. "Instead of getting caught up in the politics of referrals, just present the best case you can to the American public."
"They've already proven that based on conspiracy theories, based on coordination, that based on really a president that decided to really cavort with the craziest in the far-right base...all that suggests that you had a president that was unfit for office," Riggleman said. "Because even with criminal referrals, it's gonna be up to the voters if they want to support that kind of nonsense."
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2022-10-05T02:31:10+00:00 | kunm.org | https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2022-10-04/a-new-books-behind-the-scenes-look-at-congress-jan-6-capitol-riot-investigation |
WHL
All Times Local
Eastern Conference
Central Division
East Division
Western Conference
B.C. Division
U.S. Division
Note: x - clinched playoff berth; y - clinched division; Two points for a team winning in overtime or shootout; the team losing in overtime or shootout receives one which is registered in the OTL or SOL columns.
Friday's results
Moose Jaw 4 Swift Current 3 (SO)
Saskatoon 6 Prince Albert 2
Winnipeg 5 Edmonton 4 (OT)
Lethbridge 5 Regina 4 (OT)
Calgary 4 Red Deer 3 (OT)
Kamloops 6 Everett 3
Kelowna 4 Vancouver 3 (SO)
Prince George 8 Victoria 3
Portland 5 Spokane 2
Seattle 6 Tri-City 3
Saturday's results
Red Deer 9 Calgary 0
Swift Current at Moose Jaw, 7 p.m.
Edmonton at Brandon, 7 p.m.
Regina at Medicine Hat, 7 p.m.
Prince George at Victoria, 6:05 p.m.
Portland at Tri-City, 6:05 p.m.
Everett at Seattle, 6:05 p.m.
Vancouver at Kamloops, 7 p.m.
Kelowna at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.
Sunday's results
Prince Albert 8 Saskatoon 1
Winnipeg 4 Brandon 1
Vancouver 3 Prince George 2 (OT)
Kelowna 5 Tri-City 4 (SO)
Everett 5 Spokane 4 (SO)
Tuesday's results
Winnipeg at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.
Spokane at Portland, 7 p.m.
Wednesday's games
Saskatoon at Swift Current, 7 p.m.
Brandon at Regina, 7 p.m.
Lethbridge at Calgary, 7 p.m.
Kelowna at Prince George, 7 p.m.
Victoria at Kamloops, 7 p.m.
Friday's games
Prince Albert at Brandon, 7 p.m.
Moose Jaw at Regina, 7 p.m.
Swift Current at Red Deer, 7 p.m.
Calgary at Lethbridge, 7 p.m.
Medicine Hat at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
Victoria at Prince George, 7 p.m.
Kelowna at Kamloops, 7 p.m.
Tri-City at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.
Portland at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
Everett at Vancouver, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday's games
Brandon at Saskatoon, 7 p.m.
Regina at Moose Jaw, 7 p.m.
Prince Albert at Winnipeg, 7:05 p.m.
Swift Current at Red Deer, 7 p.m.
Victoria at Prince George, 6 p.m.
Seattle at Portland, 6 p.m.
Calgary at Medicine Hat, 7 p.m.
Lethbridge at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
Spokane at Tri-City, 6:05 p.m.
Vancouver at Everett, 6:05 p.m.
Kamloops at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m. | 2023-03-14T07:45:22+00:00 | lmtonline.com | https://www.lmtonline.com/news/article/hko-whl-standings-17837797.php |
GE recalls refrigerators due to fall hazard
Published: Apr. 21, 2022 at 7:13 AM CDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
(CNN) - General Electric is recalling some of its refrigerators because of a fall risk.
The company said it has received 71 reports of freezer drawer handles detaching.
It has caused at least 37 people to get hurt, three of which had serious fall injuries.
The recall includes six models sold between February 2020 to January 2022. They all have French doors with a bottom freezer.
Those who believe their refrigerator is impacted by the recall can check using the model number and SIN number on GE’s recall website.
Those with impacted appliances should contact GE for repair.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | 2022-04-21T13:14:10+00:00 | kcrg.com | https://www.kcrg.com/2022/04/21/ge-recalls-refrigerators-due-fall-hazard/ |
By teaching and measuring these 16 skills, employers enhance the employee experience and manage business outcomes like productivity and attrition.
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Emtrain, which provides eLearning and predictive analytics for the workplace, announced today a new skill building framework to help organizations proactively manage their workplace culture and business outcomes. Backed by research and psychometrically validated, Emtrain scores and benchmarks respect, inclusion, belonging, and ethics and recommends microlessons to teach pro-social skills where lacking.
"Our 16-factor model gives employers and managers a heat map of behaviors and predicts attrition and team productivity," said CEO and Founder Janine Yancey.
Emtrain's skill building framework goes beyond traditional approaches that focus on core skills and job skills. Pro-social skills, such as mitigating bias, managing power, and advancing allyship empower HR and diversity initiatives. Microlessons teach pro-social skills and behaviors at scale, building competencies for teams and allowing executives to measure and benchmark their culture and risks throughout the organization.
Cross-industry benchmarking incorporates 90 million perceptions from 2 million employees from over 500 hundred organizations. Individual employer scores can be segmented by gender, age, race, location, and other demographics. Heatmaps help leaders focus on developing skills where they're vulnerable. For the first time ever, organizations can have real time visibility of the social dynamics within their workplace.
"As we embrace a hybrid workplace, leaders are struggling to figure out how to build and maintain high performing teams. Employees no longer have the natural relationships that evolve when working side by side. Hybrid work is forcing organizations to be more deliberate and intentional in how they create inclusion and our pro-social skills model will help them do that," said Emtrain's Chief Innovation Officer Robert Todd.
Emtrain provides eLearning and analytics that measure the impact of social dynamics in the workplace. Emtrain's solutions go beyond compliance to develop inclusion, ethics and respect as professional competencies via video-based training to build skills. Emtrain partners with industry experts and uses current events to develop video-based training content on topics such as sexual harassment, unconscious bias, respect and ethics. In addition, using patent-pending analytics, the company allows companies to benchmark their corporate culture against the global community to identify issues before they become toxic problems that can become compliance issues and destroy workplace culture. Emtrain's platform is used by more than 600 companies including Bed Bath & Beyond, Genentech, LiveNation and more. Recognized by Fast Company on the "World Changing Ideas 2020" list, and named one of the fastest growing companies on the "Inc. 5000 2021" list Emtrain is a VC-backed, woman-owned and women-led company. Learn more at https://www.emtrain.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Emtrain | 2022-09-14T21:38:26+00:00 | live5news.com | https://www.live5news.com/prnewswire/2022/09/14/emtrain-announces-new-pro-social-work-skills-framework-create-respect-inclusion-belonging-ethics-workplace/ |
Watch: Spectacular underwater footage captures orca 'orchestra' in icy Antarctica waters
MCMURDO STATION, Antarctica - A crewmember on board a Coast Guard ice-cutting ship got spectacular underwater sights – and sounds – of a pod of orcas swimming nearby as the ship sailed toward Antarctica.
USCG Fireman Niall Shannon attached a Go-Pro to a string and set it underwater just off the Polar Star's bow in January. The footage shows several orcas - also known as "killer whales" and a minke whale swimming in the icy waters near the ship, even capturing one orca whale breaching through the surface. All the while, the camera recorded the whales' distinctive calls.
An orca breaches in the waters off Antarctica, as seen by an underwater camera taken by a crew member on board the U.S. Coast Guard's Polar Star. (Niall Shannon / U.S. Coast Guard via Storyful / FOX Weather)
"Finally got a good recording of the orchestra," he posted on his Instagram page during one video captured on Jan. 4. A second video posted nearly two weeks later showcased the camera's encounter with a minke whale.
RELATED: 'Medusa’ spotted with first calf of the North Atlantic right whale season
The Polar Star, based in Seattle, travels to Antarctica's McMurdo research station every year to break up miles of ice that, in some places, can be as much as 21 feet thick. | 2023-02-10T00:34:23+00:00 | fox10phoenix.com | https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/watch-spectacular-underwater-footage-captures-orca-orchestra-in-icy-antarctica-waters |
SAN ANTONIO — Victims have been found with no identification documents at all and in one case a stolen ID. Remote villages lack phone service to reach family members and determine the whereabouts of missing migrants. Fingerprint data has to be shared and matched by different governments.
By Tuesday afternoon, medical examiners had potentially identified 34 of the victims, said Bexar County Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores, who represents the district where the truck was abandoned. Those identities were not yet confirmed pending additional steps, such as fingerprints, and she described it as a challenge with no timeline on when the process might be finished.
“It’s a tedious, tedious, sad, difficult process,” she said.
The bodies were discovered Monday afternoon on the outskirts of San Antonio in what is believed to be the nation’s deadliest smuggling episode on the U.S.-Mexico border. More than a dozen people were taken to hospitals, including four children. Three people have been arrested.
The tragedy occurred at a time when huge numbers of migrants have been coming to the U.S., many of them taking perilous risks to cross swift rivers and canals and scorching desert landscapes. Migrants were stopped nearly 240,000 times in May, up by one-third from a year ago.
With little information about the victims, desperate families of migrants from Mexico and Central America frantically sought word of their loved ones.
Among the dead, 27 are believed to be of Mexican origin based on documents they were carrying, according to Rubén Minutti, the Mexico consul general in San Antonio. Several survivors were in critical condition with injuries such as brain damage and internal bleeding, he said. About 30 people had reached out to the Mexican Consulate looking for loved ones, officials said.
Guatemala’s foreign ministry said late Tuesday that it had confirmed two hospitalized Guatemalans and was working to identify three possible Guatemalans among the dead. Honduras’ foreign relations ministry said it was working to confirm the identities of four people who died in the truck and carried Honduran papers.
Eva Ferrufino, spokeswoman for Honduras’ foreign ministry, said her agency is working with the Honduras consulate in south Texas to match names and fingerprints and complete identifications.
The process is painstaking because among the pitfalls are fake or stolen documents.
Mexico’s foreign affairs secretary identified two people Tuesday who were hospitalized in San Antonio on Tuesday morning. But it turned out that one of the identification cards he shared on Twitter had been stolen last year in the southern state of Chiapas.
Haneydi Antonio Guzman, 23, was safe and sound in a mountain community more than 1,300 miles away from San Antonio on Tuesday when she began receiving messages from family and friends. There is no phone signal there, but she has internet access.
Journalists started showing up at her parents’ home in Escuintla - the address on her ID that was stolen and found in the truck - expecting to find her worried relatives.
“That’s me on the ID, but I am not the person that was in the trailer and they say is hospitalized,” she said.
“My relatives were contacting me worried, asking where I was,” Antonio Guzman said. “I told them I was fine, that I was in my house and I clarified it on by (Facebook page).”
Foreign Affairs Secretary Marcelo Ebrard deleted the original tweet identifying her without further comment. The other hospitalized victim Ebrard identified Tuesday turned out to be accurate.
In the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, municipal officials in San Miguel Huautla were traveling to the community of 32-year-old José Luis Guzmán Vásquez late Tuesday to find out if his mother wanted to travel to San Antonio to be with him in the hospital.
Manuel Velasco López, San Miguel Huautla’s municipal secretary, said that another cousin had been traveling with Guzmán Vásquez and was now considered missing.
Yet another cousin, Alejandro López, told Milenio television that their family worked in farming and construction and that they migrated because “we don’t have anything but weaving hats, palms and handicrafts.”
“Growing corn, wheat and beans is what we do in this region and that leads to a lot of our people emigrating and going to the United States,” he said.
Miguel Barbosa, the governor of neighboring Puebla state, set off a scramble for information in the town of Izucar de Matamoros on Tuesday when he said publicly that two of the dead hailed from there.
In the heavily migrant town, everyone was asking themselves if their friends or neighbors were among the dead found in the freight truck in Texas. Rumors abounded, but the city government said no dead had been confirmed from Izucar.
But going to the United States is such a tradition that most youths here at least consider it.
“All of the young people start to think about going (to the U.S.) as soon as they turn 18,” said migrant activist Carmelo Castañeda, who works with the nonprofit Casa del Migrante. “If there aren’t more visas, our people are going to keep dying.”
Migrants typically pay $8,000 to $10,000 to be taken across the border and loaded into a tractor-trailer and driven to San Antonio, where they transfer to smaller vehicles for their final destinations across the United States, said Craig Larrabee, acting special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in San Antonio.
Conditions vary widely, including how much water passengers get and whether they are allowed to carry cellphones, Larrabee said.
Authorities think the truck discovered Monday had mechanical problems when it was left next to a railroad track in an area of San Antonio surrounded by auto scrapyards that brush up against a busy freeway, said Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff.
San Antonio has been a recurring scene of tragedy and desperation in recent years involving migrants in semitrailers.
Ten migrants died in 2017 after being trapped inside a truck parked at a San Antonio Walmart. In 2003, the bodies of 19 migrants were found in a sweltering truck southeast of the city. More than 50 migrants were found alive in a trailer in 2018, driven by a man who said he was to be paid $3,000 and was sentenced to more than five years in prison.
Other tragedies have occurred long before migrants reached the U.S. In December, more than 50 died when a semitrailer rolled over on a highway in southern Mexico. In October, Mexican authorities reported finding 652 migrants packed into six trailers stopped at a military checkpoint near the border.
During a vigil held Tuesday evening in the rain at a San Antonio park, many of the more than 50 people who attended expressed sadness, frustration and anger at the deaths and what they described as a broken immigration system.
Back in Puebla, farmer Juan Sánchez Carrillo, 45, was sickened when he heard the news of the deaths in Texas.
He himself narrowly escaped death, when he and his friends ran away from dozing migrant rustlers in the mountains near Otay Mesa near San Diego. The criminals -- who Sanchez Carrillo believes were in cahoots with smugglers who brought him over the border -- pointed rifles at the group of 35 migrants and threatened to kill them unless they came up with $1,000 each.
“For the smugglers, we the migrants are not human,” Sánchez Carrillo said. “For them we are no more than merchandise.”
___
Associated Press Writers Juan Lozano in San Antonio, Elliot Spagat in San Diego, Edgar H. Clemente in Villa Comaltitlan, Sonia D. Perez in Guatemala City and Marlon Gonzalez in Tegucigalpa, Honduras contributed to this report. | 2022-06-29T05:10:54+00:00 | washingtonpost.com | https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/san-antonio-migrant-deaths-lead-to-slow-effort-to-id-victims/2022/06/29/88bdaa8c-f760-11ec-81db-ac07a394a86b_story.html |
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BANGKOK (AP) — Hong Kong jumped more than 5% and other Asian markets also rose Tuesday after Wall Street declined and a survey showed Chinese manufacturing improved.
Oil prices rose more than $1.10 per barrel while the euro gained but stayed below $1.
The monthly manufacturing gauge from Caixin, a Chinese business news magazine, helped to counter renewed concerns about coronavirus outbreaks. It showed activity declined in October but a slower rate than the previous month.
The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong surged 5.1% to 15,441.77 and the Shanghai Composite Index gained 2% to 2,940.75. The Nikkei 225 in Tokyo added 0.3% to 27,678.92.
The Kospi in Seoul jumped 1.8% to 2,335.22 and Sydney's S&P-ASX 200 gained 1.6% to 6,976.90.
India's Sensex opened up 0.6% at 61.124.72. New Zealand declined while Southeast Asian markets advanced.
On Wall Street, the benchmark S&P 500 index closed down 0.7% at 3,871.98. That gave it an 8% gain for October, but the index still is down 18.8% from its Jan. 3 peak.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.4% to 32,732.95. It ended the month up 14%.
A market pullback in August and September, plus better quarterly earnings than expected at many companies, helped put investors in a buying mood.
That was helped by optimism that the Federal Reserve might be ready to ease up on the aggressive pace of interest rate hikes as it tries to squash inflation.
Stocks gained ground throughout October as investors shifted focus to the latest round of corporate earnings. More than half of the companies within the S&P 500 have reported results and shown overall earnings growth of 2.3%, according to FactSet.
Companies have so far given investors a mixed bag of results and forecasts as Wall Street tries to get a better picture of the economy.
Inflation is stubbornly hot. The Fed has been trying to rein that in by raising interest rates to slow economic activity. Investors worry that might send the economy into a recession.
Investors this week will be watching this week's Fed meeting for another extra-large interest rate increase.
The widespread expectation is for it to push through another increase that’s triple the usual size at 0.75 percentage points. Wall Street is roughly split on whether it will do the same in December or shift to a smaller increase, according to CME Group.
The European Union’s statistics agency, Eurostat, reported Monday that inflation hit 10.7% in October, another record in the 19 countries that use the euro currency, fueled by high prices for natural gas and electricity due to Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Investors will watch the U.S. government's monthly employment report Friday for clues on whether the hot jobs market is cooling as inflation squeezes businesses.
Wall Street still has plenty of earnings to review from big companies this week. Pfizer will report its results on Tuesday, followed by CVS on Wednesday. Starbucks reports its results on Thursday.
In energy markets, benchmark U.S. crude oil gained $1.17 to $87.70 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude, the basis for pricing international oil, added $1.27 to $94.08 per barrel in London.
The dollar fell to 147.65 yen from Monday's 148.73 yen. The euro rose to 99.34 cents from 98.82. | 2022-11-01T08:34:01+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Asian-shares-advance-shrugging-off-Wall-Street-17548562.php |
In an undated entry in her diary, 16-year-old Marzia Mohammadi drew up a list of all the things she wanted to do in her life. At the very top was her wish to meet the best-selling Turkish-British novelist Elif Shafak, followed by a visit to the Eiffel Tower in Paris and having pizza at an Italian restaurant.
Like Shafak, Marzia wanted to write a novel someday.
But Marzia's dreams came to crashing end on Friday, after she was killed in a suicide bombing attack on the Kaaj learning center in Kabul's predominantly Hazara ethnic neighborhood. Her cousin and best friend, Hajar Mohammadi, 16, was also among the 53 deaths, the majority of whom were girls, according to a U.N. agency.
Marzia's list included everyday things like wanting to ride a bike, learn the guitar, or walk in the park late at night — simple tasks women and girls could not aspire to while living under Taliban rule in Afghanistan.
But Marzia was different, said her uncle, Zaher Modaqeq, who found her diaries with her belongings after her death. "She was creative and had such clarity of thought. Some of her thoughts were so profound that I couldn't believe [they] were expressed by such a young child," he said, the grief evident in his voice.
The murders have evoked widespread condemnations and calls for justice globally, including from Marzia and Hajar's idol, Shafak. "It broke my heart to learn how they loved reading literature and how they loved reading my novels. The tragic death of Marzia and Hajar alongside dozens of other Hazara Afghan girls in a horrific suicide bombing at a learning centre in Kabul is utterly heart-wrenching," Shafak told NPR in an email.
"These girls were targeted and attacked both because they were female and because they were from a persecuted minority [Hazaras]. They have been systematically discriminated against and denied their most basic human rights," she said.
A rise in attacks
Attacks against Hazaras — largely Shia Muslims who have been historically persecuted by Sunni militant groups — have increased significantly in the past year since the Taliban takeover. A report published last month by the advocacy group Human Rights Watch documented 16 attacks against Hazaras that killed or injured at least 700 people.
"An important aspect of the ongoing targeted attacks against the Hazaras that is consistently overlooked is the disproportionate impact on women," said Anis Rezaei, a Hazara academic who is currently pursuing a master's degree at Oxford University.
"They bear a double burden ... Hazara women are not only discriminated against and often killed because of their gender identity, but also because of their Hazara identity," she said.
Predictably, since the Taliban has taken over, it has imposed many restrictions on women's freedoms, including the closure of girls' high schools. Millions of young Afghan girls, including Marzia's siblings, have been out of school for over a year.
However, the adversity of the situation only served to fuel Marzia and Hajar's motivation, Modaqeq said. "She [Marzia] was average student in high school, but following the Taliban takeover she was determined more than ever to complete her education and achieve goals," he said.
Modaqeq shared with NPR some of the pages of Marzia's diary, where she meticulously details her aspirations, sets goals for herself, discusses the struggles she endures, and every once in a while, takes a moment to congratulate her achievements. Her notes provide a window into the lives and struggles of young Afghan girls, particularly Hazaras, living under the Taliban.
In an entry on August 15, 2021 — the day the Taliban seized Afghanistan's capital city — Marzia writes, "People are scared. We are in shock and disbelief over the situation, especially for girls like me," referring to the Taliban's restrictions on women's freedoms and rights.
As the American troops tried to secure Kabul that night, Marzia and Hajar distracted themselves from the chaos around them by watching the American movie I Still Believe. Before going to bed that night, Marzia wrote in her diary, "An entire day wasted."
On August 23, she described her first experience of the city under Taliban rule: "Stepped out for the first time since the arrival of the Taliban. It was scary and I felt very insecure. I purchased Elif Shafak's Architect's Apprentice, and today I realised how much I love books and libraries. I like seeing the joy on people's faces reading books."
And the next day, she wrote, "I had a tiring day ... I had some nightmares, I can't remember but I was crying in my sleep and I was screaming. When I woke up, I had an uncomfortable feeling. I went to a corner and cried and felt better."
"Through her diaries we learned that she and Hajar wanted to be architects, which involves their love for art and creativity," Modaqeq said, adding that the girls had thoroughly researched the courses and the industry and had been taking weekly practice tests at the learning center.
Marzia and Hajar scored 50 and 51 percent out of 100 respectively on the first practice test they took. In the diary entry that day, Marzia remarked that she was not happy with the score and she would aim to get 60 on the next week's mock test. She scored 61. On that day, she wrote, "Wow, Bravo Marzia!"
She would set goals for herself and for Hajar, and both girls were motivated to work hard and achieve them, her uncle said. In one of the entries, Marzia writes: "No excuses, with or without electricity, I have to continue my studies. I have to prove to myself that I am stronger." Below that, Marzia scrawled in English: "Marzia can do it. I believe her from the bottom of my heart."
Her uncle said her scores gradually improved. "Her last score was at 82 percent. She had hoped to maintain the score this week, but then ...," her uncle said, unable to finish his thought.
Hazaras repeatedly targeted
"This is not an isolated incident," Rezaei said. The latest bombing was the fourth attack targeting Hazara schools in Kabul since 2018, claiming over 200 young lives. The Kaaj learning center, where Marzia and Hajar were killed, was also targeted in 2018, when it was called Mawoud Academy, in an attack that killed 40 people and injured 67.
"It represents a pattern of systematic targeted attacks on the Hazara people. Over the past 20 years, Hazaras have been the victims of genocidal attacks in their schools, sports clubs, hospitals, wedding ceremonies and other social gatherings," Rezaei said, pointing out that none of the perpetrators of these attacks have been brought to justice under any government.
Modaqeq agrees, adding that Hazara students were repeatedly targeted for their love of learning. "The terrorists often target Hazara places of education, because Hazaras have cultivated this love for learning and growing through education," Modaqeq said.
"It wasn't easy, and less than three decades ago, many Hazara parents would be reluctant to send their girls to school, but that changed gradually through awakening social consciousness within the community," he said.
Modaqeq hopes to see a similar awakening in the wider Afghan society. "I may sound very idealistic but I truly believe that the only way for the violence to end in Afghanistan is through education," he said.
Shafak also shared a message of solidarity with girls of Afghanistan. "I have enormous respect for the women and girls in Afghanistan who are fighting for their right to education. I am in awe of their bravery," she said, adding a personal note: "You are not alone."
Ruchi Kumar is a journalist who reports on conflict, politics, development and culture in India and Afghanistan. She tweets at @RuchiKumar
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2022-10-05T18:17:16+00:00 | delawarepublic.org | https://www.delawarepublic.org/npr-headlines/2022-10-05/the-diary-of-an-afghan-girl-killed-in-bombing-reveals-a-list-of-unfulfilled-dreams |
NEW YORK (AP) — Workers at a Target store in Christiansburg, Virginia, filed paperwork Tuesday with federal labor regulators to hold a union election, joining a wave of union organizing at other retailers around the country.
Workers at the store, which employs about 100, are seeing their pay not keeping pace with surging costs for basics like food and rent, said Adam Ryan, who has been working at the Christiansburg store for five years and founded Target Workers Unite in 2019. He also noted employees feel like they are having to do too many tasks, from filling online orders to unloading trucks.
“The cost of living is going up and their pay isn’t meeting that,” said Ryan, 34, who filed the petition with the National Labor Relations Board. “That is causing a lot of anxiety and stress. People are stretched too thin. They need more support and compensation.”
He said the filing was sparked by veteran workers at the Christiansburg store organizing a petition in April demanding additional pay.
Ryan said he collected more than 30 authorization cards from workers at the store, about 30% of the staff, enough to meet the threshold mandated by NLRB, although the signatures still need to be reviewed. Ryan said he is hoping for other stores to join in, noting that Target workers are watching labor organizing at other companies. The Minneapolis-based company has about 350,000 employees.
Target said in statement Tuesday that it is committed to listening to its workers and creating an environment of mutual trust.
“We want all team members to be better off for working at Target,” the company said. Target cited industry leading starting hourly wages of $15 to $24, expanded health care benefits, personalized scheduling and opportunities for career growth. It said it raised the starting wage at its Christiansburg store last fall and increased wages for longer-tenured workers.
The Target workers filing comes as nearly 60 Starbucks locations around the country have voted to unionize.
The fledgling Amazon Labor Union scored a victory last month at an Amazon warehouse on New York City’s Staten Island, becoming the first U.S. Amazon warehouse to be unionized. But Amazon workers in a later election in a nearby facility rejected a union bid.
Meanwhile, the final outcome of a separate union election at an Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama, is still up in the air with several hundred outstanding challenged ballots hanging in the balance. Hearings to review those ballots are expected to begin in the coming weeks. | 2022-05-11T04:27:06+00:00 | wivb.com | https://www.wivb.com/news/business/workers-at-a-target-store-in-virginia-file-for-union-vote/ |
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Democrats who reclaimed the Pennsylvania House majority in November and clung to a one-seat margin by sweeping three special elections earlier this year face yet another contest for control of the chamber next week, when voters will fill a vacancy in the Philadelphia suburbs.
At stake in the Delaware County special election is whether freshman Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro will have at least one chamber to aid his agenda going into the final month of budget negotiations. The result could also affect a proposed constitutional amendment on abortion rights that legislative Republicans are one House vote away from putting before voters as a referendum.
The seat became open when Democratic Rep. Mike Zabel resigned in March, a week after a lobbyist accused him by name of sexual harassment.
A win by Republican candidate Katie Ford, a military veteran, school volunteer and behavioral therapist, would likely give the House GOP a 102-101 majority and the power to reclaim control of the legislative agenda and the chamber’s voting calendar. Speaker Joanna McClinton, a Philadelphia Democrat, has presided over the House since January.
But the Democrat in the race, Heather Boyd, a former congressional and state legislative aide, is running in a district that has given solid margins to Democratic candidates in recent elections. Libertarian Alfe Goodwin, whose campaign focuses on criminal justice reform and fighting homelessness, is also on the ballot.
During a debate between Ford and Boyd that was hosted by WHTM-TV in Harrisburg last week, Ford said she is against having Pennsylvania voters decide the abortion amendment, a Republican-crafted proposal which states that the Pennsylvania Constitution does not guarantee any rights relating to abortion or public funding of abortions. Ford said she is personally opposed to abortion but would not seek to change existing state law.
Boyd’s effort to tie Ford to the longstanding Republican effort to ban or further restrict abortion access in Pennsylvania includes an ad in which Shapiro warns that a Republican House majority will move to strip him of veto power over anti-abortion legislation.
Ford has focused her own campaign messaging on the Zabel scandal. She argues that Boyd did not respond sufficiently when she learned of Service Employees International Union lobbyist Andi Perez’s account, that Zabel caressed her leg while they discussed legislation outside the Capitol in 2018 and did not stop when she moved away from him.
Zabel told The Associated Press, when he resigned in March, that he had planned to defend himself through the House Ethics Committee but ultimately decided he did not want to continue putting his loved ones through a public ordeal.
“Common sense says that if someone comes to you and says that they’re being sexually harassed, you do something about it,” Ford said during the debate. “You don’t just let it go.” Boyd responded that she did not endorse or support Zabel after hearing Perez’s account, and while active in the county Democratic Party hierarchy she tried to find someone to run against Zabel but was not successful.
Perez last month endorsed Boyd, saying the candidate had for years respected her request to keep her account regarding Zabel private.
Republicans entered the 2022 election with a 113-90 advantage in the state House, but Democrats flipped a net of 12 seats, barely enough to claim majority status and elect McClinton as speaker.
If Ford wins, and if Republicans hold on to a central Pennsylvania seat in the Sunbury area as widely expected, the chamber will return to GOP control. The House Republican floor leader, Rep. Bryan Cutler of Lancaster County, was speaker last year but said he no longer wants the job, raising the prospect of a GOP leadership fight while lawmakers work to pass a budget before the state’s next fiscal year begins in July.
Even if McClinton retains the speakership after next week’s special election, another potential fight for House majority control looms. At least four incumbent Democrats are on the ballot for local positions this year. Rep. John Galloway of Bucks is running for district judge, Rep. Amen Brown for Philadelphia mayor, Rep. Kristine Howard of Chester for common pleas judge and Rep. Sara Innamorato to be Allegheny’s next county executive.
If any or all of them win in November, that will create new Democratic vacancies in the House, at least until additional special elections can be scheduled in early 2024. | 2023-05-09T10:37:38+00:00 | qcnews.com | https://www.qcnews.com/news/politics/election/pennsylvania-house-battle-hinges-on-philadelphia-suburbs/ |
Origin 800 is the world's first swappable modular power station & is now available on Indiegogo with full retail planned for October
SHENZHEN, China, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Yooatom, a leading innovator in smart energy storage, is proud to announce the highly anticipated launch of the Ai-powered Yooatom Origin 800 power station, now available on Indiegogo. With its groundbreaking modular design and cutting-edge technology and features, the Origin 800 marks a significant step forward in the evolution of portable power solutions. The Origin 800 will have a starting MSRP of $519, with limited time launch day offers starting at $249, and packages featuring extra Power Stacks, stackable lamp and smart cup cooler starting from $699.
Traditional power stations have long been plagued by bulkiness and limited mobility & shareability, until now. The Origin 800 is the world's first truly portable modular power station, breaking free from the constraints of its predecessors. It boasts multiple modular battery Power Stacks that can be used individually by multiple users, providing freedom and power wherever it is needed. The Origin 800 isn't just about power though. It's your ultimate outdoor mate, offering compatibility with Yooatom's modular RGB lamp, and a cooling/heating cup so you can enjoy the comforts of home wherever you go. Heat up coffee and set the perfect mood with a tap, all through the app.
Key Features of the Yooatom Origin 800 include:
- Modular design for the distribution and swapping of batteries for unlimited energy supply
- AI Voice assistance for effortless hands-free control and convenience
- Real-time status monitoring and customization through the user-friendly app
- Wireless charging to eliminate the hassle of tangled cords
- 13 output ports to accommodate all charging needs
- LCD screen for easy and intuitive charge monitoring
- Modular stacking accessory heating / cooling cup and lamp
- Impressive 800W power capacity for reliable performance
The Origin 800 is designed with the modern lifestyle in mind, catering to families, adventurers, DIY enthusiasts, gamers, glampers, and content creators alike. No longer limited to a single location, users can now utilize power stacks wherever they go, without the need to move a large and cumbersome power station. When empty, simply replace the stack on the hub to charge and take another stack for seamless and endless power. Gamers can enjoy uninterrupted gaming sessions with the convenience of 5 simultaneous charging ports in a single stack. Glampers can revel in adjustable LED mood lighting and app monitoring of power levels, ensuring a continuous power supply during their outdoor escapades. Content creators can keep their creative juices flowing with 13 ports to charge their laptops, mics, drones, phones, and Bluetooth speakers.
"As a company dedicated to revolutionizing green energy user experience, we are thrilled to introduce the Yooatom Origin 800 to the market," said Joe Lin, CEO and Founder at Yooatom. "Years of research and development have culminated in a power station that not only offers advanced features but also prioritizes portability and user convenience. The Origin 800 represents a new era in portable power stations, and we cannot wait for consumers to experience its transformative capabilities."
Yooatom, founded in 2020, aims to become synonymous with innovation and novel technologies in the energy storage industry. The Origin 800 is a testament to the company's commitment to providing safe, portable, and groundbreaking solutions for a wide range of applications. With integrated voice control, onboard LCD screens for power monitoring, and a powerful app for real-time status updates and control, the Origin 800 exemplifies the next generation of portable power stations.
The Origin 800 will soon be in mass production and will be initially launched on Indiegogo, with full retail availability following the conclusion of the crowdfunding campaign. For more information about Yooatom and the Origin 800 visit their Indiegogo page, website or follow them on Facebook or Instagram.
About Yooatom
Yooatom is a pioneering company dedicated to enabling smart energy storage solutions. With a focus on safety, portability, and cutting-edge technologies, Yooatom aims to redefine the way power is harnessed and utilized in various industries.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Ari@communicatemore.biz
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SOURCE Yooatom | 2023-07-26T14:25:10+00:00 | kswo.com | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/26/revolutionary-power-station-unveiled-yooatom-origin-800-redefines-portable-energy-solutions/ |
Sacramento Shooting: What is a mass shooting, and how many have happened in recent years?
Sacramento shooting that killed 6, injured 12 being considered a mass shooting
Sacramento shooting that killed 6, injured 12 being considered a mass shooting
Sacramento shooting that killed 6, injured 12 being considered a mass shooting
Police said six people were killed and 12 others injured during a shooting Sunday morning in downtown Sacramento.
The shooting is being described by many as a mass shooting, but recent discoveries in the Sacramento Police Department's investigation has led officers to believe the shooting was gang-related. That began raising the question of what is a mass shooting.
Right now, there is no federal definition of a mass shooting. One group that has produced its own definition is the Congressional Research Service. It’s the public policy research institute for Congress.
The group says these incidents occur in relatively public places and involve four or more deaths — not including the shooter(s) — and gunmen who select victims “somewhat indiscriminately.”
Differences in how mass shootings are defined make it hard to track how many happen. The Gun Violence Archive says there were 693 mass shootings nationwide last year. The organization’s numbers are higher than other sources because they include shootings in which four or more people were killed or injured.
One group helping meet the need for more research is the University of California Firearm Violence Research Center based at UC Davis. It’s the first-ever state-funded center for firearm violence research.
Below are how many mass shootings happened each year since 2014:
- 2014: 269
- 2015: 335
- 2016: 382
- 2017: 346
- 2018: 336
- 2019: 417
- 2020: 611
- 2021: 693 | 2022-04-09T01:31:39+00:00 | wisn.com | https://www.wisn.com/article/what-is-a-mass-shooting-how-many-have-happened/39678556 |
Know a mover and shaker in Carlsbad who deserves recognition? Nominations for 40 Under 40 now open
Carlsbad is full of great people in all walks of life. We have leaders in education, the medical field, oil and gas, mining, in the city and county, in retail and across the spectrum. Not everyone is seen or heard at times, despite the impact they have on their place of work and within the community. The Carlsbad 40 Under 40 exists to shine the spotlight on these unsung leaders.
The Carlsbad 40 Under 40 is one of the councils under the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce. Each year, nominations are called to recognize 40 dynamic young leaders for both their occupational and community leadership. Each nominee will need to meet certain criteria to be considered. Once these criteria are met, their nomination will be reviewed by a selection committee that will narrow the field down to 40 that will then be honored at a banquet.
The criteria the selection committee looks for are as follows: the nominee must be between 18 and 39 years of age as of Aug. 31, 2022; they must live or work in Eddy County; they should have experience in both their job and in serving the community in some fashion. Any profession is welcome for consideration, because everyone can be a professional at what they do.
The Carlsbad 40 Under 40 has honored up and coming leaders in the community since 2013. To nominate someone, go to https://www.developcarlsbad.org/live/40-under-40 or look visit the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/cbad40u40.
There is a $30 nonrefundable nomination fee. For any questions, please call Jeff at 575-302-4751 or email cbad40@hotmail.com. Nominations will be accepted until 5 p.m. Aug. 31, 2022. No late forms will be accepted.
The Carlsbad 40 Under 40 banquet is scheduled for Oct. 26, 2022.
We look forward to recognizing a new class of up and coming community leaders! | 2022-07-13T16:27:33+00:00 | currentargus.com | https://www.currentargus.com/story/news/local/2022/07/13/nominations-for-carlsbad-40-under-40-now-open/65372351007/ |
- BeFootball launches SuperPlayer VR game and announces the first Immersive World Cup. It awards $3,000 in prizes in which users from all over the world can compete from their homes.
MADRID, Nov. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BeFootball, the tech company that designs, develops and markets immersive products tailored to the football industry, launches SuperPlayer, available for free in the Meta Quest store, is the first step in the immersive metaverse of football being developed by the company.
SuperPlayer is a virtual reality football game that has 2 game modes that take place in real football stadiums that have been virtualized. Among the game modes are the Keeper mode, in which the player becomes a goalkeeper and has to stop as many shots on goal as possible in a limited time; and the Header mode, in which the player becomes a striker who has to score goals with his head.
All game modes allow competition between users in order to be the best goalkeeper and striker. In this sense, BeFootball is organizing the first Immersive World Cup. It awards $3,000 in prizes and users from all over the world can compete from their homes.
From November 20 to December 18 users could select one of the 32 World Cup teams and play matches (Header and Keeper modes) against other national teams to win the World Cup. The more World Cups the user plays, the higher the score will get in the ranking to win first place. Winners will be announced at the end of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Iker Zuasti, CEO of BeFootball, said: "BeFootball is born to revolutionize the football industry through virtual reality and SuperPlayer is our first big bet: we are developing the world's first immersive metaverse of football".
The first immersive metaverse of football, boosted by international football stars
The company is developing the first immersive metaverse of football in the world, in which top professional players such as Marcos Llorente (Atlético de Madrid), Memo Ochoa (Club América), Marco Asensio (Real Madrid) and Charly Rodríguez (Cruz Azul).
BeFootball's metaverse is based on a combination of gaming, virtual reality and football that offers a new way of experiencing football. It is aimed at fans who are not satisfied with being spectators and who want to participate actively, without limitations of space or time from home and in first person with an alternative reality with futuristic environments.
In BeFootball, the user can choose to live experiences, play and compete in a new technological sport, switch to fitness mode to improve their well-being, or train in a virtual academy to become the most complete football player from anywhere in the world and at any time. All that is needed is a virtual reality headset and an Internet connection.
Eduardo Ruiz
CMO
eduardo@befootball.world
Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1938784/SUPERPLAYER_V2.mp4
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SOURCE BEfootball | 2022-11-08T17:00:21+00:00 | kmvt.com | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/11/08/befootball-company-developing-vr-metaverse-football-organizes-first-immersive-football-world-cup/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren’s name is on the U.S. Navy’s newest fuel ship. Justice Elena Kagan smashed a champagne bottle against its hull in a shipyard ceremony in San Diego last weekend.
Two other justices soon will join Warren, who in 1954 wrote the Brown v. Board of Education decision that outlawed segregation in public schools, in a group of ships being named for civil rights leaders. The Navy has awarded contracts for the construction of the Thurgood Marshall and the Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The first ship in this group is named for John Lewis, the longtime congressman and civil rights icon.
It may be unsurprising that Warren, who died in 1974, is not the first justice with a naval vessel bearing his name. But the four earlier justices who have been similarly honored are not among the better-known of the 116 men and women who have served on the Supreme Court.
Instead, the Navy has seen fit to name ships for James Iredell, Alfred Moore, Smith Thompson and Levi Woodbury.
Woodbury was on the court for nearly six years until his death in 1851 and earlier was secretary of the Navy. He was the first to be recognized, and several vessels were named for him, including a destroyer that ran aground off the California coast in 1923 in what has been called the Navy’s largest peacetime disaster.
Twenty-three men died, and the Woodbury was among seven destroyers lost in the Honda Point disaster.
Another vessel named for Woodbury was one of four World War II Liberty ships bearing the justices’ names. More than 2,700 Liberty ships, which carried cargo and troops, were built quickly and cheaply during the war.
Like Woodbury, Thompson also had served as the Navy secretary before joining the court. He died in office in 1843 after serving 20 years. Iredell was among the first justices, named by President George Washington.
Moore took Iredell’s seat but produced only one recorded opinion in his four years as a justice and resigned in poor health. “Moore’s career made scarcely a ripple in American judicial history,” according to “The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States.”
Kagan, incidentally, is not the first of the current justices to have christened a ship. Justice Sonia Sotomayor did the honors for the USNS Puerto Rico in 2018.
___
Another accident at sea involving a Navy ship was at the heart of a Supreme Court case decided Monday, ending the longest ever wait for the term’s first decision.
In July 1980, the USS Midway, an aircraft carrier, collided with a freighter off the coast of the Philippines, killing two sailors and injuring others.
Among those aboard was Adolfo Arellano, who was nearly swept into the sea, according to court papers. He was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and other serious mental health issues that doctors attributed to the accident.
But Arellano didn’t apply for disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs until 2011. His claim was approved going forward but was rejected for the 30 years between his discharge in 1981 and his application.
Arellano appealed, asking courts to excuse his delay in filing. One doctor reported that Arellano was so ill that he did not understand the severity of his condition or “his right and need to apply” for disability benefits.
But Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote for a unanimous court in rejecting that appeal, saying judges did not have the discretion to grant more time under the statute that governs disability pay.
Barrett’s was the court’s only opinion Monday, although it also dismissed a case that was argued earlier in January in a one-sentence order. Barrett read a summary of the decision from the bench in the courtroom, marking a return of the practice, which had been paused because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Thirty-two cases argued in the fall and the winter remain undecided, and with the justices on a 24-day midwinter recess, they won’t be back on the bench until Feb. 21.
___
A letter written by one of Warren’s predecessors offers some interesting tidbits about lobbying for a court appointment and choosing when to step down.
William Howard Taft is the only person who was both the nation’s president and, later, chief justice.
He had a long and well-known interest in joining the court. But when President-elect Warren Harding sounded Taft out about becoming a justice, Taft wrote that he would only accept being chief justice, according to a letter found by Walter Stahr in Harding’s papers. Stahr is working on a biography of Taft and wrote about the letter for the Supreme Court Historical Society.
At 63, Taft explained he didn’t expect to serve more than 10 years. What’s more, he wrote, he appointed three justices who remained on the court and publicly opposed the confirmation of another, Louis Brandeis.
Taft wrote that he “would feel ill at ease to come into the Court after having been President as the junior of my own appointees and of the man I tried to defeat.”
He also strongly suggested that then-Chief Justice Edward White had been determined not to retire while Woodrow Wilson was president.
Though initially appointed by Democratic President Grover Cleveland, White “in the years past has said to me that he was holding on for me and to return the place to a Republican administration,” Taft wrote.
White died in May 1921, less than three months after Harding took office. By early summer, Taft had the job he wanted.
___
Follow the AP’s coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court at https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court. | 2023-01-27T22:26:18+00:00 | keloland.com | https://www.keloland.com/news/politics/ap-supreme-court-notebook-warren-is-5th-justice-with-navy-ship/ |
The addition of a new site will provide a more streamlined and user-friendly experience in understanding the company.
AVON, Mass., Jan. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- New Year, New Website! Ranfac Corp. is excited to announce the launch of its new website, featuring a modern design and comprehensive range of products and services. The new site provides an updated look-and-feel and simplified navigation to make it easier for users to find information about the company.
The site will take you on a virtual tour of the state of the art 40,000 square foot facility located in Avon, MA. With an easy-to-navigate portfolio of Ranfac products, case studies, and testimonials, you are given insight into our long-standing commitment to quality – "We get your product to the point". You will also find an updated careers page with listings of job opportunities and the total rewards package that Ranfac has to offer. The new website will also serve as an entry point to the company's social media channels, providing additional opportunities for customers to learn more about Ranfac and stay updated on its latest news.
Ranfac Corp. is committed to providing users with a convenient and user-friendly experience. The new website is designed to make it easier for customers to find the information they are looking for quickly and efficiently, as well as help them stay in touch with the company's mission.
"Our goal with the new website is to open our doors to visitors in a way that is only surpassed by physically visiting our facility", said Harlan Adler, President of Ranfac.
Ranfac Corp. is pleased to offer this new website as part of its commitment to providing customers with the best possible experience. The new site is now live and can be accessed at www.ranfac.com. When visiting, join the mailing list to stay up to date on new company developments, case studies, and more. Ranfac looks forward to continuing to bring high quality products and services to its customers.
For more information, visit www.ranfac.com or contact info@ranfac.com
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SOURCE Ranfac | 2023-01-10T19:24:08+00:00 | mysuncoast.com | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2023/01/10/ranfac-corp-launches-new-website/ |
39th Annual Christmas Parade will celebrate "A Very RVA Christmas!"
RICHMOND, Va., Oct. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- No one embodies the spirit of RVA like Nutzy and Nutasha of the Richmond Flying Squirrels. They will serve as Grand Marshals for the 39th annual Dominion Energy Christmas Parade. The Christmas Parade will kick off in front of the Science Museum of Virginia at 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 3rd.
The Flying Squirrels mascots are following in the footsteps of their President and CEO Todd "Parney" Parnell who was Grand Marshal in 2011. "We love Richmond, and we have from year one! We also love participating in the Dominion Energy Christmas Parade!" said Parney. "We are deeply honored to be Grand Marshals for this year's 'A Very RVA Christmas' and look forward to creating cheer, joy and memories along the awesome parade route."
Parade Director Beth Karrer said this RVA duo are the perfect pair for this year's theme. "We wanted to honor the rich history of Christmas in RVA, including 39 years of the Dominion Energy Christmas Parade!" she said.
One of RVA's favorite Christmas traditions, Legendary Santa, will be in the parade! This year's lineup will also feature colorful balloons, marching bands, dance squads, and much much more!
This season, the Flying Squirrels advanced to the Eastern League playoffs for the first time since 2014! More information about the team including schedules, stats, and tickets can be found at www.squirrelsbaseball.com.
The Dominion Energy Christmas Parade is open to the public and free for all spectators. For event registration and further information, please visit www.richmondparade.org.
Richmond Parade, Inc. is a non-profit organization that hosts the Dominion Energy Christmas Parade. This is the 13th year that the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation has sponsored the parade. The beloved Christmas Parade showcases regional talent, including high school and college marching bands, high-stepping equestrian units, dance troupes, themed floats, super-sized helium balloons, Legendary Santa and tons of fun!
Tune in to the Christmas Parade exclusively on WTVR-CBS Channel 6 at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3 or watch the rebroadcast on Christmas Day. For additional information, visit www.richmondparade.org or call (917) 279-8839.
About 7 million customers in 15 states energize their homes and businesses with electricity or natural gas from Dominion Energy (NYSE: D). Through its Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation, as well as EnergyShare and other programs, Dominion Energy contributed nearly $50 million in 2021 to community causes. The Foundation supports nonprofit causes that meet basic human needs, protect the environment, promote education, and encourage community vitality. Please visit www.DominionEnergy.com to learn more.
Photos of Grand Marshal and Christmas Parade can be found at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzV1s2. Please credit Caroline Martin Photography when using photos.
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SOURCE Dominion Energy | 2022-10-06T15:47:38+00:00 | waff.com | https://www.waff.com/prnewswire/2022/10/06/grand-marshals-nutzy-nutasha-bring-funn-dominion-energy-christmas-parade/ |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — California’s attorney general said Wednesday that he will investigate Los Angeles’ redistricting process as three of its City Council members face calls to resign after a recording surfaced of them using racist language to mock colleagues while they schemed to protect Latino political strength in council districts.
The move by Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat like the three council members, comes amid growing calls to address the way politics can still influence the redrawing of district maps after the census count each decade.
“My office will conduct an investigation into the city of LA’s redistricting process,” Bonta said, without providing many details. “We’re going to gather the facts, we’re going to work to determine the truth and take action as necessary to ensure the fair application of our laws.”
“It’s clear an investigation is sorely needed to help restore confidence in the redistricting process for the people of LA,” he added.
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He said the results could potentially bring civil or criminal results.
“It could lead to criminality if that’s where the facts and the law dictate,” he said. “There’s certainly the potential for civil liability based on civil rights and voting rights laws here in the state of California.”
He said the process “is just starting and we don’t like to make conclusions first and get facts later.” The investigation will determine the outcome, he said, but he noted it could also lead to changes in policy at the state or local level.
Bonta spoke in Los Angeles while the council itself was trying to conduct business nearby despite the uproar triggered by a leaked recording of crude, racist comments from a nearly year-old meeting, which also provided an unvarnished look into City Hall’s racial rivalries. Those involved in the meeting were all Latinos, while Bonta is the first Filipino American to hold the top law enforcement job in the nation’s most populous state.
Three council members — former City Council President Nury Martinez, who is taking a leave of absence, and Councilmen Kevin de Leon and Gil Cedillo — are facing calls from President Joe Biden to resign after a recording surfaced of them participating in the closed-door meeting.
The council reconvened Wednesday, possibly to censure the three members, with the minimum of 10 out of 15 members necessary for a quorum but was unable to do business because a crowd of protesters chanted slogans such as, “No resignation, shut it down.” The acting council president eventually announced that there was no longer a quorum and adjourned the meeting.
A Tuesday meeting was nearly derailed when a raucous crowd of protesters packed the chamber.
The council cannot expel the members — it can only suspend a member when criminal charges are pending. A censure does not result in suspension or removal from office.
Martinez said in the recorded conversation that white council member Mike Bonin handled his young Black son as if he were an “accessory” and said of his son “Parece changuito,” or “he’s like a monkey,” the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday. She also referred to Bonin as a “little bitch.”
At another point on the hourlong recording, Martinez, the first Latina appointed president of the City Council, called indigenous immigrants from the Mexican state of Oaxaca ugly, and made crass remarks about Jews and Armenians.
The discussion — which also included a powerful Latino labor leader, who has since resigned — centered on protecting Latino political power during the redrawing of council district boundaries, known as redistricting. The once-a-decade process can pit one group against another to gain political advantage in future elections.
Martinez stepped down from the leadership job and apologized Monday, saying she was ashamed of her racially offensive language in the year-old recording. However, she did not resign her council seat. She announced Tuesday that “I need to take a leave of absence and take some time to have an honest and heartfelt conversation with my family, my constituents, and community leaders.”
In emotional remarks at Tuesday's meeting, Bonin said he was deeply wounded by the taped discussion. He lamented the harm to his young son and the fact that the city was in international headlines spotlighting the racist language. “I’m sickened by it,” he said, calling again for his colleagues' resignations.
“Los Angeles is going to heal,” he said at one point. “I want to lead with love.”
Black and Latino constituents often build alliances in politics. But tensions and rivalries among groups separated by race, geography, partisanship or religion have a long history in Los Angeles and, indeed, the country. The friction can cross into housing, education and jobs — even prisons — as well as the spoils of political power.
The California Legislative Black Caucus said the recording “reveals an appalling effort to decentralize Black voices during the critical redistricting process.”
In one of the most diverse cities in the nation, a long line of public speakers at the meeting said the disclosure of the secretly taped meeting brought with it echoes of the Jim Crow era, and was a stark example of “anti-Blackness.”
There were calls for investigations, and reforming redistricting policy.
Many of the critics also were Latino, who spoke of being betrayed by their own leaders.
Candido Marez, 70, a retired business owner, said he wasn't surprised by Martinez's language, who is known for being blunt and outspoken.
“Her words blew up this city. It is disgraceful," he said. “She must resign."
The Los Angeles Times reported that the recording was posted on Reddit by a now-suspended user. It is unclear who recorded the audio, who uploaded it to Reddit and whether anyone else was present.
Biden press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday that the president wanted Martinez, de Leon and Cedillo to resign.
“The language that was used and tolerated during that conversation was unacceptable, and it was appalling. They should all step down,” Jean-Pierre said.
Other calls for the council members to resign have come from across the Democratic establishment, including from U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, Garcetti, mayoral candidates Karen Bass and Rick Caruso and members of the council.
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has stopped short of doing so, denouncing the racist language and saying he was “encouraged that those involved have apologized and begun to take responsibility for their actions.” Democratic state Sen. Steven Bradford, who represents parts of Los Angeles County, said Newsom should call for the resignation of the three council members.
“Every ethnic caucus in the Legislature has called for the resignations, so I would hope that the governor would ... ask for the resignation as well,” Bradford said.
Council member Mitch O’Farrell, serving as acting president of the council, said the city cannot heal if the three remain in office. He called it a “clear abuse of power” that was “profoundly unacceptable” of elected officials.
“Public opinion has rendered a verdict and the verdict is they all must resign,” he said.
___
Associated Press writers John Antczak and Amancai Biraben in Los Angeles and Sophie Austin in Sacramento contributed to this report. | 2022-10-12T19:27:31+00:00 | lmtonline.com | https://www.lmtonline.com/news/article/LA-Council-faces-uncertainty-amid-furor-over-17504570.php |
Alan Trejo Player Prop Bets: Rockies vs. Brewers - May 4
Published: May. 4, 2023 at 9:24 AM CDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
The Colorado Rockies and Alan Trejo, who went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI last time out, take on Wade Miley and the Milwaukee Brewers at Coors Field, Thursday at 3:10 PM ET.
He collected three RBI (going 2-for-4 with a double) in his last game against the Brewers.
Alan Trejo Game Info & Props vs. the Brewers
- Game Day: Thursday, May 4, 2023
- Game Time: 3:10 PM ET
- Stadium: Coors Field
- Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo!
- Brewers Starter: Wade Miley
- TV Channel: SportsNet RM
- Hits Prop: Over/under 0.5 hits (Over odds: -278)
- Home Runs Prop: Over/under 0.5 home runs (Over odds: +625)
- RBI Prop: Over/under 0.5 RBI (Over odds: +170)
- Runs Prop: Over/under 0.5 runs (Over odds: +105)
Looking to place a prop bet on Alan Trejo? Check out what's available at BetMGM and sign up with this link!
Discover More About This Game
Alan Trejo At The Plate
- Trejo is batting .233 with four doubles and two walks.
- Trejo has gotten a hit in 10 of 23 games this season (43.5%), including three multi-hit games (13.0%).
- In 23 games played this year, he has not hit a long ball.
- Trejo has driven in a run in five games this year (21.7%), including two games with multiple runs batted in.
- He has scored in three of 23 games so far this season.
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Alan Trejo Home/Away Batting Splits
Brewers Pitching Rankings
- The pitching staff for the Brewers has a collective 7.9 K/9, which ranks 25th in MLB.
- The Brewers' 3.34 team ERA ranks third across all MLB pitching staffs.
- Brewers pitchers combine to allow 34 total home runs at a clip of 1.1 per game (to rank 14th in the league).
- The Brewers will send Miley (3-1) to the mound to make his sixth start of the season. He is 3-1 with a 1.86 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings pitched.
- The lefty's most recent time out came on Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels, when he threw six innings, surrendering one earned run while giving up seven hits.
- The 36-year-old has amassed an ERA of 1.86, with 5.9 strikeouts per nine innings, in five games this season. Opposing hitters have a .227 batting average against him.
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | 2023-05-04T15:26:11+00:00 | kwch.com | https://www.kwch.com/sports/betting/2023/05/04/alan-trejo-mlb-player-prop-bets/ |
LAS VEGAS, Dec. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Davinci Motor, a fast-growing Chinese manufacturer of high-performance robotic electric motorcycles, will showcase its futuristic DC100 electric motorcycle at the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the world's most influential global tech event, marking the first time that the company's products have landed in the US market.
"We're excited to announce that CES 2023 represents our first on-site appearance in the US market," said Rosanna Libia, Davinci Motor International Business Manager. "As a tech-driven company, this show is top on our agenda for events where we want to represent ourselves as a tech company in the US and across the world. CES 2023 serves as the perfect opportunity to introduce our product to the US market, and we would like to invite media and attendees to visit our booth."
A New Era Of Electric Mobility
Headlining Davinci Motors's CES 2023 booth will be the brand-new DC100 product, which the company bills as the first electric motorcycle designed to rival traditional 1,000 cc motorcycles in terms of performance. Sure to be hit with attendees at the event, the DC100 features a revolutionary, sci-fi-inspired, design that has never been seen before in the market.
When it comes to the two-wheeler's aesthetic and performance, engineers and designers have worked hand in hand tirelessly to strike a perfect balance between acceleration, speed, and range. Their efforts truly paid off, as is demonstrated in the DC100's technical specifications. This electric motorcycle is capable of achieving 0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) in a mere 3 seconds before topping out at 124 mph (200 km/h). At the same time, it boasts a range in excess of 249 mi (400 km), while a full charge takes just half an hour using level 3 DC fast-charging stations.
The appearance of Davinci Motor at CES 2023 marks a period of continued momentum for the company following its European debut in November at EICMA, the world's leading exhibition of motorcycles in Milan, Italy.
There has been anticipation in the US market regarding the DC100 over recent months from potential users, media, and distributors alike. CES 2023 is primed to serve as the perfect opportunity for end-users to get a feel of the product for the first time while acting as a chance for potential US dealers and distributors to get a first look as well.
Davinci Motor's booth will be located in the North Hall #10163, exclusively showcasing the company's flagship DC100 product, as well as its latest technology, new design, and overall riding experience.
About Davinci Motor
Founded in 2013, Davinci Motor is a technology innovative company committed to exploring the research and development of robotic vehicles with a perfect combination of performance and ease of use. Davinci Motor's mission is to create an exceptional effortless joyful riding experience for all users and the DC100 will make you achieve that.
For more information, please visit www.davincimotor.com or follow us via:
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SOURCE Davinci Motor | 2022-12-28T15:31:59+00:00 | kwtx.com | https://www.kwtx.com/prnewswire/2022/12/28/davinci-motors-futuristic-electric-motorcycle-dc100-set-us-launch-ces-2023/ |
Mike Tomlin, Sammy Watkins, Rex Ryan
After back-to-back 8-8 seasons, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is taking nothing for granted regarding his job security.
"I don't assume that," Tomlin was quoted as saying in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review regarding whether he believed his job would be safe because he has a 71-41 regular-season record as Steelers coach and has won a Super Bowl.
Tomlin is under contract until 2016. He also is only the Steelers' third head coach since 1969.
Still, in a reference to the fact he has three former NFL head coaches on his staff, Tomlin said, "Hopefully, I'm not one of them (when the season ends)."
REX RYAN: PATRIOTS 'NEED TO WORRY ABOUT' JETS
In case anyone happened to forget that New York Jets coach Rex Ryan doesn't feel an ounce of trepidation when it comes to the most dominant team in the AFC East, the New England Patriots, he is more than happy to travel that road again.
"Somebody asked me if we focus on New England. (Expletive)," Ryan recently was quoted as saying in the New York Post. "We're focused on us. We're focused on us and how are we going to be better. I have to be honest, I don't worry about them. They need to worry about us. I think that's really where we're at now."
Where the Jets have been is 8-8. If they have any intention of surpassing the Patriots, the perennial AFC East champions, they need to surpass .500.
"8-8 is not going to be good enough for us, for anybody in this organization," Ryan said. "Am I going to get fired if we're 8-8 or whatever? I don't know. But I can tell you one thing: our goals are set a hell of a lot higher than that.
"I don't care where they rank us or whatever. I know what we've got. That's why I just can't wait. I can't wait to get to prove it. Not by me. I'm going to prove it. I am going to prove it. But so is my team. That's the mission that we have."
SAMMY WATKINS LOOKING TO JUST PLAY HIS ROLE WITH BILLS
The Buffalo Bills gave up plenty to select former Clemson star wide receiver Sammy Watkins with the fourth overall pick of last May's draft.
But the player for whom the Bills traded a first- and fourth-round pick in the 2015 draft to the Cleveland Browns is not feeling any heightened pressure to produce as a rookie.
In fact, as the Bills opened their training camp over the weekend, Watkins was pointing out that he sees himself as more of a complementary piece to a team loaded with play-makers rather than being someone who must carry the offense.
"With our offense, we've got a lot of explosive guys, so for me it's just about coming in right away and trying to make plays," Watkins told reporters covering the Bills. "Don't try and be Superman, but play my role and everything will work out."
Watkins did acknowledge that the strong positive feedback he has received from fans calling out his name when he's on the practice field at camp "means a lot."
"I came from a big Division I school in Clemson so we need our fans," he said. "That's what moved me and it's great to hear the fans calling my name out and being active while we're practicing."
GIANTS' OWNER: NFL COACHES DON'T GET TO GO OUT ON OWN TERMS
There has been a prevailing theory that, after winning two Super Bowls, Tom Coughlin is in a position to determine when to exit as head coach of the New York Giants.
Coughlin's contract runs through the 2015 season, but whether he would call it quits at that time or stick around longer might not be his decision after all.
In an interview with the New York Post, Giants co-owner John Mara emphasized that Coughlin was not on the hot seat, but he hardly endorsed the notion of the head coach being able to go out on his own terms.
"Does anybody ever earn that right?" Mara said. "That's just not the way this business is in this day and age. Let's hope that it goes that way, but we haven't even had that discussion yet. … We're just looking forward to the next couple of seasons." >>Be sure to tune in Monday through Friday, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET, for "Cleveland Browns Daily, Driven by Liberty Ford" on ESPN 850 WKNR or catch the live stream right here on ClevelandBrowns.com. We take your questions at 216-578-0850 and via Twitter @Browns_Daily. | 2022-10-21T14:17:26+00:00 | clevelandbrowns.com | https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/mike-tomlin-taking-nothing-for-granted-with-job-security-sammy-watkins--13264115 |
After a 3-0-1 start to the unofficial second half of its schedule, No. 15 men’s hockey (10-5-1, 7-3 ECAC) will face a tough test this weekend on the road against No. 7 Boston University.
Cornell began the second half with a two game series against AIC at Lynah on Dec. 29 and 30. The Red beat the Yellow Jackets in the first game before settling for a tie in game two.
After quickly falling behind 2-0 in the first ten minutes of game one, Cornell stormed back with five goals in the second period and went on to win 8-4. Sophomore forwards Sullivan Mack and Ondrej Psenicka had two goals apiece. Senior forward Jack Malone added a goal and two assists for his first points of the season.
The Red’s offense was stagnant in game two after its outburst the night before. Freshman goaltender Remington Keopple got the start for Cornell but was quickly pulled after allowing two goals in the first four minutes of the game. Two goals by freshman forward Nick DeSantis kept the Red in the contest, and a late goal by Psenicka sent the contest to overtime.
The five-minute three-on-three overtime did not produce a winner, and the game ended in a tie. Cornell won a just-for-fun shootout that will not count for either team’s record or ranking.
The Red resumed ECAC play the next weekend with a trip to the Capital District to face Union and RPI. The first action of 2023 was a resounding success for Cornell, as it secured a six-point weekend with two decisive wins.
Leaderboard 2
Cornell opened the new year by handily defeating Union on Jan. 6. Senior defenseman Sebastian Dirven got things going with a goal a minute and a half in, and Malone added two more goals in a 6-1 Cornell victory. The Red scored on both its power play opportunities and successfully killed four penalties.
The Red completed the weekend sweep the next night against RPI behind four point nights from senior forward Ben Berard and DeSantis. Three power play goals by RPI in the second period briefly gave the Engineers the lead, but the Red quickly regained control and secured a 6-4 victory.
Among the biggest positive takeaways from the start of the second half have been the contributions of Malone and Berard. The senior forwards, along with classmate Matt Stienburg, were three of Cornell’s top six point-scorers last season but did not appear in the box scores very often in the first half of this season.
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“It is what it is,” Malone said after Cornell’s win over Dartmouth on Dec. 3. “I’ve just got to make myself an asset to this team however I can, and there’s a lot of different ways to do that.”
Malone, who did not record a point in the first half, has recorded three goals and two assists over Cornell’s last four games. Berard recorded five points in the first half and has added ten more to start the second half. Stienburg, Cornell’s leading point scorer last season, was injured in the Dec. 29 game against AIC and has not returned to action.
Another bright spot has been the play of sophomore goaltender Ian Shane, whose 1.67 GAA is third in the nation. Cornell’s defense as a whole has allowed 2.06 goals per game this season, which also ranks third in the nation.
The Red will hope to build on its success when it visits rival B.U. on Saturday to close out its non-conference slate. The Terriers are 13-6 on the season and represent a big opportunity for Cornell. Saturday’s game is one of three remaining games on Cornell’s schedule against teams currently ranked ahead of the Red in the Pairwise.
Cornell, which is currently ranked 10th in the Pairwise, could make the NCAA tournament without winning the ECAC tournament if it is ranked high enough at the end of the season. Cornell is sitting in second in the ECAC standings, but is 14 points behind No. 1 Quinnipiac, which is a perfect 12-0 in conference play. Cornell is just three points clear of fifth-place Colgate, and only the top four teams get byes to the quarterfinals of the ECAC tournament.
Saturday will be the Red’s first trip to B.U.’s Agganis Arena. Cornell has had recent success against the Terriers. The two rivals have a biennial series at Madison Square Garden which will continue in November. Cornell has won the last three games at the Garden but lost to the Terriers in the NCAA tournament in 2018. Saturday will be the 50th meeting between the teams, and Cornell leads the series 26-20-3. The Terriers will make a return trip to Lynah in coming years.
Puck drop is set for 4 p.m. on Saturday in Boston. | 2023-01-16T21:52:41+00:00 | cornellsun.com | https://cornellsun.com/2023/01/12/mens-hockey-starts-second-half-strong-heads-to-boston-to-face-no-7-b-u/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss |
- Consolidated revenues were $610.4 million, up 30.6%, benefiting from BrandsMart acquisition
- Strong performance from Aaron's e-commerce channel and GenNext stores
- Losses per share were $0.17; Non-GAAP earnings per share were $0.79, adjusted primarily for acquisition-related items
- Net losses were $5.3 million; Non-GAAP net earnings were $24.8 million
- Consolidated adjusted EBITDA was $48.1 million, down 26.4%, as high inflation pressured lower-income consumers
- Updates full year adjusted EBITDA outlook to $150 million to $170 million
ATLANTA, July 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Aaron's Company, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), a leading, technology-enabled, omnichannel provider of lease-to-own and retail purchase solutions, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022. This quarter is the Company's first report on a consolidated basis, incorporating results from BrandsMart U.S.A., acquired April 1, 2022.
"With the acquisition of BrandsMart U.S.A., consolidated revenues increased in the second quarter, and we are encouraged by the performance of this new business segment," said Douglas Lindsay, Chief Executive Officer of The Aaron's Company, Inc. "In the Aaron's Business, customer demand and payment activity progressively worsened through the quarter as high inflation impacted the lower-income consumer. In response to these challenging market conditions, we are leveraging our centralized lease decisioning and digital servicing platforms to maintain relationships with our customers and strengthening actions to control costs."
"We continue to strategically invest in our growing e-commerce channel, our high-performing GenNext store program, and the value creation opportunities available through the BrandsMart acquisition," Lindsay added. "Together with our strong balance sheet and liquidity, we believe these investments enable us to continue delivering a market leading value proposition to a large and increasingly diversified customer base that will expand our market share and position us for future growth."
Second Quarter 2022 Financial Highlights
The Aaron's Company, Inc. (the "Company") conducts its operations through two primary operating business segments: 1) the Aaron's Business segment, which includes, Company-operated Aaron's stores, the Aarons.com e-commerce platform, Aaron's franchise operations, BrandsMart Leasing, a lease-to-own solution offered to customers of BrandsMart U.S.A., and Woodhaven, a furniture manufacturing operation (collectively, the "Aaron's Business"); and 2) the BrandsMart segment, which includes, BrandsMart U.S.A. retail stores and the Brandsmartusa.com e-commerce platform (collectively, "BrandsMart"). The financial and operating results for the BrandsMart segment do not include BrandsMart Leasing and neither business segment results include unallocated corporate expenses. Additionally, the Company's financial and operating results for the second quarter of 2022 include the results of operations of BrandsMart subsequent to the April 1, 2022 acquisition, while financial and operating results for all periods prior to the April 1, 2022 acquisition do not include BrandsMart. For all periods presented, the Company has retroactively adjusted disclosures to align with the new reportable segments.
Consolidated Results
The Company's total revenues were $610.4 million in the second quarter of 2022 compared with $467.5 million for the second quarter of 2021. Net losses were $5.3 million for the second quarter of 2022 compared with net earnings of $33.0 million in the prior year period. Net losses for the second quarter of 2022 include the effects of a one-time, non-cash charge for a fair value adjustment to merchandise inventories of $23.0 million, BrandsMart acquisition-related costs of $8.0 million, restructuring charges of $5.6 million, acquisition-related intangible amortization expense of $2.8 million, and separation costs of $0.2 million. These charges were partially offset by a net tax benefit of $4.8 million related to a remeasurement of the Company's deferred state tax balances in conjunction with the BrandsMart acquisition. Net earnings in the second quarter of 2021 included restructuring charges of $1.8 million and separation costs of $1.2 million.
Adjusted EBITDA was $48.1 million in the second quarter of 2022, a decrease of 26.4% compared to the second quarter of 2021. As a percentage of total consolidated revenues, adjusted EBITDA was 7.9% in the second quarter of 2022 compared with 14.0% in the prior year second quarter. The declines in adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin were primarily due to lower lease renewal rates, higher provision for lease merchandise write-offs, and higher other operating expenses, partially offset by lower personnel costs in the Aaron's Business. The decline in adjusted EBITDA was also offset by $10.5 million of adjusted EBITDA generated from the BrandsMart acquisition.
Diluted losses per share were $0.17 in the second quarter of 2022 compared with diluted earnings per share of $0.95 in the second quarter of 2021. On a non-GAAP basis, diluted earnings per share were $0.79 for the second quarter of 2022 compared with $1.05 in the second quarter of 2021.
Aaron's Business Segment Results
Total revenues for the Aaron's Business were $430.2 million in the second quarter of 2022, a decrease of 8.0% compared to the second quarter of 2021, primarily due to lower lease revenues and retail sales. The lower lease revenues were primarily attributable to lower lease renewal rates and lower exercise of early purchase options. At the end of the second quarter of 2022 our overall lease portfolio size was $130.8 million, a decrease of 1.5% compared to the end of the second quarter of 2021. The lease renewal rate for the second quarter of 2022 was 88.5%, compared to 92.4% in the government stimulus-aided second quarter of 2021. E-commerce revenues increased 4.0% in the second quarter of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 and represented 15.4% of lease revenues. During the quarter, the Aaron's Business opened 36 GenNext locations, bringing the total to 171 GenNext stores, or 16.1% of total Company-operated Aaron's stores. Lease originations in GenNext stores open less than one year continued growing at a rate of more than 20 percentage points higher than our average legacy stores.
Same store revenues decreased 6.7% as compared to the second quarter of 2021. The decrease was primarily driven by a lower lease renewal rate, lower exercise of early purchase options, and a reduction in retail sales. These factors were partially offset by a larger average same-store lease portfolio size during the quarter.
For the Aaron's Business, earnings before income taxes for the second quarter of 2022 were $29.5 million compared to $61.7 million in the second quarter of 2021.
Adjusted EBITDA for the Aaron's Business was $48.0 million in the second quarter of 2022, a decrease of 38.9% compared to the second quarter of 2021. As a percentage of total revenues for the Aaron's Business, adjusted EBITDA was 11.2% in the second quarter of 2022 compared with 16.8% in the prior year second quarter. The declines in adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin for the Aaron's Business were primarily due to lower lease renewal rates and higher provision for lease merchandise write-offs compared to the government stimulus-aided levels in the second quarter of 2021. Lease merchandise write-offs were 5.7% in the second quarter of 2022, as compared to 2.9% in the second quarter of 2021. Adjusted EBITDA was also impacted by higher other operating expenses offset by lower personnel costs.
BrandsMart Segment Second Quarter Results
The Company's consolidated financial and operating results for all periods prior to the April 1, 2022 acquisition do not include BrandsMart and therefore have not been addressed in the discussion below.
Total revenues for BrandsMart were $181.4 million in the second quarter of 2022. Losses before income taxes for the second quarter of 2022 were $15.9 million. Losses before income taxes in the second quarter of 2022 include a one-time $23.0 million non-cash charge related to a fair value adjustment of the acquired merchandise inventories.
Adjusted EBITDA was $10.5 million in the second quarter, and as a percentage of total revenues for the BrandsMart segment, adjusted EBITDA was 5.8%.
Second Quarter Share Repurchase Program and Dividend Activity
During the second quarter of 2022, the Company repurchased 254,216 shares of Aaron's common stock for a total purchase price of approximately $5.3 million. The total shares outstanding as of June 30, 2022 were 30,777,065, compared to 33,093,668 as of June 30, 2021. The remaining authorized share repurchase amount was $135.8 million as of June 30, 2022. In addition, the Board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.1125 per share which was paid to shareholders of record on July 5, 2022.
Updated Full Year 2022 Outlook
The Company has updated its full year 2022 outlook to reflect expectations that continued high inflation and related macroeconomic factors will adversely impact customer demand, lease portfolio size, lease renewal rates, the provision for lease merchandise write-offs, and Company expenses. For the full year 2022, we now expect consolidated total revenues between $2.19 billion and $2.27 billion, adjusted EBITDA between $150.0 million and $170.0 million, and non-GAAP earnings per share between $1.75 and $2.15.
The Company assumes depreciation and amortization of $85.0 million to $90.0 million, and a diluted weighted average share count of approximately 31.5 million shares.
Conference Call and Webcast
The Company will hold a conference call to discuss its quarterly results on July 26, 2022, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The public is invited to listen to the conference call by webcast accessible through the Company's investor relations website, investor.aarons.com.
About The Aaron's Company Inc.
Headquartered in Atlanta, The Aaron's Company, Inc. (NYSE: AAN) is a leading, technology-enabled, omnichannel provider of lease-to-own and retail purchase solutions of appliances, electronics, furniture, and other home goods across its brands: Aaron's, BrandsMart U.S.A., BrandsMart Leasing, and Woodhaven. Aaron's offers a direct-to-consumer lease-to-own solution through its approximately 1,300 Company-operated and franchised stores in 47 states and Canada, as well as its e-commerce platform. BrandsMart U.S.A. is one of the leading appliance retailers in the country with ten retail stores in Florida and Georgia. BrandsMart Leasing offers lease-to-own solutions to customers of BrandsMart U.S.A. Woodhaven is our furniture manufacturing division. For more information, visit investor.aarons.com, aarons.com, and brandsmartusa.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this news release regarding our business that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as "remain," "believe," "outlook," "expect," "assume," "assumed," and similar terminology. These risks and uncertainties include factors such as (i) factors impacting consumer spending, including the current inflationary environment and general macroeconomic conditions; (ii) any ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic due to new variants or efficacy and rate of vaccinations, as well as related measures taken by governmental or regulatory authorities to combat the pandemic (iii) the possibility that the operational, strategic and shareholder value creation opportunities expected from the separation and spin-off of the Aaron's Business into what is now The Aaron's Company, Inc. may not be achieved in a timely manner, or at all; (iv) the failure of that separation to qualify for the expected tax treatment; (v) the risk that the Company may fail to realize the benefits expected from the acquisition of BrandsMart U.S.A., including projected synergies; (vi) risks related to the disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the acquisition; (vii) failure to promptly and effectively integrate the BrandsMart U.S.A. acquisition; (viii) the effect of the acquisition on our operating results and businesses and on the ability of Aaron's and BrandsMart to retain and hire key personnel or maintain relationships with suppliers; (ix) changes in the enforcement and interpretation of existing laws and regulations and the adoption of new laws and regulations that may unfavorably impact our business; (x) legal and regulatory proceedings and investigations, including those related to consumer protection laws and regulations, customer privacy, third party and employee fraud, and information security; (xi) the risks associated with our strategy and strategic priorities not being successful, including our e-commerce and real estate repositioning and optimization initiatives or being more costly than anticipated; (xii) risks associated with the challenges faced by our business, including the commoditization of consumer electronics, our high fixed-cost operating model and the ongoing labor shortage; (xiii) increased competition from traditional and virtual lease-to-own competitors, as well as from traditional and online retailers and other competitors; (xiv) financial challenges faced by our franchisees; (xv) increases in lease merchandise write-offs, and the potential limited duration and impact of government stimulus and other government payments made by Federal and State governments to counteract the economic impact of the pandemic; (xvi) the availability and prices of supply chain resources, including products and transportation; (xvii) business disruptions due to political or economic instability due to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine; and (xviii) the other risks and uncertainties discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. Statements in this press release that are "forward-looking" include without limitation statements about: (i) the execution of our key strategic priorities; (ii) the growth and other benefits we expect from executing those priorities; (iii) our 2022 financial performance outlook; (iv) the Company's goals, plans, expectations, and projections regarding the expected benefits of the BrandsMart acquisition; and (v) the expected impact on our 2022 financial performance of additional rounds of government stimulus payments. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances after the date of this press release.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information:
Non-GAAP net earnings, non-GAAP diluted earnings per share, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are supplemental measures of our performance that are not calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"). Non-GAAP net earnings and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share for 2022 exclude certain charges including amortization expense resulting from acquisitions, restructuring charges, separation costs associated with the separation and distribution transaction that resulted in our spin-off into a separate publicly-traded company, acquisition-related costs, and a one-time, non-cash charge for a fair value adjustment to merchandise inventories. Non-GAAP net earnings and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share for 2021 exclude certain charges including amortization expense resulting from acquisitions, restructuring charges and separation costs associated with the separation and distribution transaction that resulted in our spin-off into a separate publicly-traded company. The amounts for these pre-tax non-GAAP adjustments, which are tax-effected using estimated tax rates which are commensurate with non-GAAP pre-tax earnings, can be found in the Reconciliation of Net (Loss) Earnings and (Loss) Earnings Per Share Assuming Dilution to Non-GAAP Net Earnings and Non-GAAP Earnings Per Share Assuming Dilution table in this press release.
The EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA figures presented in this press release are calculated as the Company's (loss) earnings before interest expense, depreciation on property, plant and equipment, amortization of intangible assets and income taxes. Adjusted EBITDA also excludes the other adjustments described in the calculation of non-GAAP net earnings above. Adjusted EBITDA margin is defined as EBITDA as a percentage of revenue. The amounts for these pre-tax non-GAAP adjustments can be found in the Quarterly EBITDA table in this press release.
Management believes that non-GAAP net earnings, non-GAAP diluted earnings per share, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA provide relevant and useful information, and are widely used by analysts, investors and competitors in our industry as well as by our management in assessing both consolidated and business unit performance.
Non-GAAP net earnings and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share provide management and investors with an understanding of the results from the primary operations of our business by excluding the effects of certain items that generally arose from larger, one-time transactions that are not reflective of the ordinary earnings activity of our operations or transactions that have variability and volatility of the amount. This measure may be useful to an investor in evaluating the underlying operating performance of our business.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA also provide management and investors with an understanding of one aspect of earnings before the impact of investing and financing charges and income taxes. These measures may be useful to an investor in evaluating our operating performance and liquidity because the measures:
- Are widely used by investors to measure a company's operating performance without regard to items excluded from the calculation of such measure, which can vary substantially from company to company depending upon accounting methods, book value of assets, capital structure and the method by which assets were acquired, among other factors.
- Are a financial measurement that is used by rating agencies, lenders and other parties to evaluate our creditworthiness.
- Are used by our management for various purposes, including as a measure of performance of our operating entities and as a basis for strategic planning and forecasting.
The Free Cash Flow figures presented in this press release and in the press release dated April 25, 2022 are calculated as the Company's cash flows provided by operating activities, adjusted for acquisition-related transaction costs and proceeds from real estate transactions, less capital expenditures. Management believes that Free Cash Flow is an important measure of liquidity provides relevant and useful information, and are widely used by analysts, investors and competitors in our industry as well as by our management in assessing liquidity.
Non-GAAP financial measures, however, should not be used as a substitute for, or considered superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP, such as the Company's GAAP basis net earnings and diluted earnings per share, the Company's GAAP revenues and earnings before income taxes and GAAP cash from operating activities, which are also presented in the press release. Further, we caution investors that amounts presented in accordance with our definitions of non-GAAP net earnings, non-GAAP diluted earnings per share, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow may not be comparable to similar measures disclosed by other companies, because not all companies and analysts calculate these measures in the same manner.
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SOURCE The Aaron's Company, Inc. | 2022-07-25T20:57:31+00:00 | kwtx.com | https://www.kwtx.com/prnewswire/2022/07/25/aarons-company-inc-reports-second-quarter-2022-financial-results-updates-full-year-outlook/ |
This is regarding the July 14 LNP | LancasterOnline article “Talk of possible union starts at local Starbucks.”
Message to the Starbucks workers at the East Lampeter Township store at 2208 Lincoln Highway East: I have been a Starbucks member for at least 20 years. I also frequent the East Lampeter Township store referenced in the LNP | LancasterOnline article. I was saddened to hear of your consideration to unionize.
It seems to me that the employees of Starbucks are well-compensated for what they do and also have excellent benefits. Unionizing and putting public pressure on their employer can only hurt their cause and ultimately their employment.
I would remind Starbucks employees that there are many private, friendly, family-owned coffee shops in Lancaster County with many friendly employees who would love to have a greater market share of the coffee business.
Think twice before you unionize and only hurt yourself and your employer.
Gerald Graham
Gordonville | 2023-07-18T11:09:40+00:00 | lancasteronline.com | https://lancasteronline.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/think-twice-about-forming-a-union-letter/article_12c68604-24c4-11ee-9c00-8f4af42c8245.html |
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