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DETROIT -- Just one team has ever made the playoffs after opening a season with six losses in seven games. They’ve been playing this sport for 103 years, and only the 1970 Cincinnati Bengals have accomplished the feat.
After pounding the Chicago Bears 41-10 on Sunday, these Detroit Lions have a chance to become the next to come back from the dead.
The Lions (8-8) have won seven times in nine games to rocket from the bottom of the league to just one spot out the NFC playoff field. They already passed Washington (7-8-1), which lost to Cleveland, for the eighth spot. And they could move into the seventh and final playoff seed by day’s end, if Seattle (7-8) loses against the New York Jets.
Even if the Seahawks win that game, the Lions will still take their unlikely playoff bid to the final week of the season. In that case, they would need a win in Green Bay and a loss by Seattle to claim the final spot out of the NFC.
No matter what happens around the league, the Lions are now headed for a do-or-die finale against the Packers in the frozen tundra at Lambeau Field. The game is currently scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday, although the NFL could flex it to Saturday. The schedule is expected to be announced late tonight or on Monday.
The Lions will roll into that game with one of the hottest quarterbacks in the league. Jared Goff completed 21 of 29 passes for 255 yards, three touchdowns and no picks to lead the undressing of the Bears. He was the No. 2-rated quarterback in the league for the month of December. His rating against Chicago: 133.5.
Goff has been so good with the short stuff all season -- having Amon-Ra St. Brown helps those endeavors, no doubt about that -- but has really rolled after rediscovering the deep ball down the stretch. He completed the third-most 25-yard passes in December, before hooking up with St. Brown and DJ Chark for 28-yard shots early against Chicago. Goff also smartly threw up a prayer when under duress on fourth down early in the game, and Chark drew a critical pass interference in the end zone.
Two plays later, Goff threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Brock Wright to knot up the game 7-all -- a huge sequence given how Justin Fields was running early on.
Wright is a blocking tight end, although we might have to stop calling him that. He caught the 51-yard game-winner on fourth down against the New York Jets two weeks ago, then added two more touchdowns to help Detroit open up a 24-10 halftime lead against Chicago. Wright now has four touchdown catches on the season, and Shane Zylstra does too for that matter.
Who needs T.J. Hockenson when you’ve got a stockpile of skill players like Detroit?
The Lions certainly didn’t think they did, and traded Hockenson to the Minnesota Vikings at the deadline. Now they hold five picks in the first three rounds of the upcoming draft, while also getting more scoring from their tight ends this season than in any other.
D’Andre Swift chipped in two touchdowns and Jamaal Williams added another, running the Lions’ season total to 433 points. This is now officially the No. 2-scoring team in franchise history. Only the 2011 team has scored more, at 474 points.
Let’s get to some more instant observations:
-- In James Houston and Aidan Hutchinson, the future of the Lions’ pass rush looks brighter than it has in generations. Hutchinson has been the most productive rookie pass rusher in the league, and added another half-sack to his collection against Chicago, plus picked off his third pass and recovered his second fumble. The man who forced that fumble, of course, was Houston. The sixth-round pick was the only member of his draft class not to make the roster out of training camp, but has been one of the hottest pass rushers in the league -- rookie or otherwise -- since finally making his debut on Thanksgiving. He added three more sacks against Chicago, giving him 7.5 for the season, an NFL record through any player’s first seven games. Remarkable stuff, given how late in the draft Houston was taken, and just how late into the sesaon he made his debut. He earned his first start against Chicago, yet another sign his role is expanding. And very deservedly so, because he’s racking up sacks faster than anyone, ever.
-- Houston and Hutchinson weren’t the only rookies popping against Chicago. Josh Paschal added his first two NFL sacks, while Jameson Williams -- perhaps you’ve heard of him? -- finally touched the football again, and once again was 40 yards downfield before anyone managed to do anything about it. After Williams didn’t come up with either of his early targets -- one of which was behind him, the other of which was at his feet -- playcaller Ben Johnson got Williams involved on a reverse. And Williams blazed through the Bears defense for 40 yards before he was finally hauled down. Jamaal Williams turned the play into another touchdown, and a commanding 31-10 lead in the third quarter. Williams still has caught just one of his six targets this season, which is growing increasingly concerning, but the reverse was another reminder of the rare skill-set Detroit has to work with for years to come.
-- The touchdown broke a three-game scoreless drought for Williams, which might not sound like much, although it was his longest drought of the season. Williams now has 15 rushing touchdowns on the season, which not only leads the league, but is just one off Barry Sanders’ team record. Williams finished with 144 yards on 22 carries, snapping him out of a late-season funk. D’Andre Swift, meantime, broke out of a funk that stretched all the way back to when he injured his shoulder and ankle in the third week of the season. He ran for 78 yards on just 11 carries, plus caught all four targets for 39 yards, 21 of which came on a huge third-and-18 pickup that led to a touchdown. All of which is huge for Detroit, which probably will need a running game to win in Wisconsin next week. And a run defense too, for that matter.
-- It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for Detroit despite the crooked score. They allowed the second-most rushing yards in franchise history last week, then talked all week about how much they needed to find solutions this week. Then Justin Fields ran for 105 yards in the first quarter alone, staking Chicago to early leads of 7-0 and 10-7. That’s a troubling trendline for a team that has aspirations of slipping through the backdoor into the playoffs. The good news: They did eventually tighten up, allowing Fields to run for just 17 yards in the final three quarters combined. And Chicago’s offense ground to a halt because of it, failing to even achieve a first down on eight of their final 10 drives.
-- Last week, Amon-Ra St. Brown became the youngest receiver with a 1,000-yard season in franchise history. This week, he became the youngest receiver with a 100-catch season. He broke records held by Calvin Johnson in both cases. At some point we’re going to have to stop calling St. Brown one of the best young receivers in franchise history, and just start calling him one of the best receivers in franchise history, period. He finished with four catches for 62 yards overall.
-- Back to the non-sunshine and -rainbows department for a moment, cornerback Jeff Okudah was benched for the second straight week. It was just so jarring to see Okudah and Amani Oruwariye standing next to each other on the sideline while Detroit played a Week 17 game with playoff implications. Oruwariye is probably cooked for good as a starter in this town, but the Lions have a lot invested in the Okudah thing working out. He played some good ball in the first half of the season, but has struggled with his coverage and tackling down the stretch. That earned him a spot on the bench for most of the second half in Carolina, and he was back there again just two series into this one. Perhaps it’s a matter of a long season piling up for a guy who had played just one game in almost two calendar years. Perhaps it’s something more. Either way, with the Lions defense barely hanging on down the stretch, they need more out of Okudah if they want to turn this unlikely playoff bid into something more. Chicago wasn’t good enough to take advantage of the malaise, but Green Bay might, and however they might see in the postseason definitely will.
-- When the Lions traded T.J. Hockenson, the situation appeared clear. They were investing in their long-term future, even if there was some short-term pain. He was, after all, their leading receiver at the time. But they insisted they believed they could be even better without Hockenson, and that has proven true. Brock Wright caught two more touchdown passes against Chicago, accounting for the 11th and 12th scores by a Lions tight end this season -- a franchise record! Shane Zylstra caught three touchdowns to account for all the scoring against Carolina, while Wright had the big winner on fourth down the previous week against the Jets. The Lions might not have the same kind of production without Hockenson between the trenches, but they get more than enough of that from guys like Amon-Ra St. Brown and Kalif Raymond, and when he’s healthy, D’Andre Swift too. With the tight ends still producing in the red zone, Detroit hasn’t missed Hockenson one bit. Scoring is actually up without him, and Detroit is 6-2 overall. Now armed with more ammunition in next year’s draft too, that trade is looking like a win all the way around for Brad Holmes.
-- Craig Reynolds replaced Justin Jackson as the starting kick returner against Chicago, although didn’t have a chance to bring one out of the end zone. Jackson was a late scratch because of a hip injury that popped up at practice on Friday.
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Stream Lions Games Live: fuboTV, Hulu + Live, Sling | 2023-01-01T21:30:22+00:00 | mlive.com | https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/01/instant-observations-lions-crush-bears-to-take-improbable-playoff-bid-into-finale.html |
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor in a biting dissent blasted the Supreme Court majority decision Thursday that gutted the use of Affirmative Action on college admissions.
In a fiery dissent that Sotomayor read from the bench to underscore its historic significance, the liberal justice wrote that the ruling “rolls back decades of precedent and momentous progress.”
“In so holding, the Court cements a superficial rule of colorblindness as a constitutional principle in an endemically segregated society where race has always mattered and continues to matter,” Sotomayor said in the 69-page dissent.
“The Court subverts the constitutional guarantee of equal protection by further entrenching racial inequality in education, the very foundation of our democratic government and pluralistic society,” she added.
Sotomayor’s six conservative colleagues on the high court ruled on Thursday that Harvard University’s and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s (UNC) use of race in admissions violates the Fourteenth Amendment.
The liberal justice slammed the majority’s use of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision in their ruling, describing it as “nothing but revisionist history” and an “affront” to the legacy of the late Justice Thurgood Marshall, who argued the case before the Supreme Court.
Marshall was also the first African American to sit on the Supreme Court.
Sotomayor added that the ruling’s interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment is “grounded in the illusion that racial inequality was a problem of a different generation.”
“Entrenched racial inequality remains a reality today,” Sotomayor said. “That is true for society writ large and, more specifically, for Harvard and the University of North Carolina (UNC), two institutions with a long history of racial exclusion.”
“Ignoring race will not equalize a society that is racially unequal,” she continued. “What was true in the 1860s, and again in 1954, is true today: Equality requires acknowledgment of inequality.”
This story was updated at 11:28 a.m. | 2023-06-29T15:51:53+00:00 | texomashomepage.com | https://www.texomashomepage.com/hill-politics/sotomayors-biting-dissent-ruling-rolls-back-decades-of-precedent-and-momentous-progress/ |
President Biden will host a joint press conference with Emmanuel Macron on Thursday as a part of the French president's three-day state visit.
The joint press conference is set to begin at 11:45 a.m. ET. Watch it live:
Traditionally leaders have answered two questions each at joint press conferences; topics that could come up include trade issues — especially as they relate to electric car provisions in the infrastructure legislation — as well as China; Russia's war with Ukraine; and lingering concerns about AUKUS, a new defense partnership with the U.K., U.S. and Australia. That partnership was forged after a U.S-Australia arms deal that infuriated France.
Macron's visit — the first state visit of the Biden-Harris administration — began earlier this week. On Wednesday, Macron and Vice President Kamala Harris visited the NASA headquarters. Last year, Macron and Harris agreed the two nations would increase cooperation in the space and cybersecurity sectors.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said earlier this week that France is not only the United State's oldest ally, but a key partner on a number critical international issues including the war in Ukraine and tensions with China in the Indo Pacific region.
Later on Thursday, the pair of world leaders will take part in the first state dinner hosted by Biden, which includes a performance by Jon Batiste.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2022-12-01T10:45:25+00:00 | iowapublicradio.org | https://www.iowapublicradio.org/news-from-npr/news-from-npr/2022-12-01/biden-and-macron-will-hold-a-joint-press-conference-as-part-of-a-state-visit |
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) is piling onto the pressure for President Biden to travel to East Palestine in his state, where a train derailment last month has sparked an environmental and public health disaster.
“He should come, there’s no doubt about it,” DeWine said in an interview with Fox News on Thursday. “The president needs to come. The people want to see the president. He should be there.”
The derailment of the Norfolk Southern train that was carrying toxic chemicals has sparked a political hailstorm for the Biden administration, which has faced sharp criticism for its response to the disaster.
Scientists from Texas A&M and Carnegie Mellon University this week said that the levels of nine chemicals are higher than they usually would be in the area. If the levels remain high, they could pose health risks, according to the researchers.
While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state officials have said that the air quality of the area is safe and that the chemicals should subside with time, residents have reported health reactions, including rashes and respiratory issues.
DeWine said he questioned the EPA about the findings from the universities, concluding the agency’s response “make[s] very good sense.”
“You’ve got an elevation of some of these, which they believe is clearly gonna be temporary,” he said. “What they tell us is that for the short term, this is no problem. … If that persists for year after year and people continue to breathe that, yes, it would in fact be a problem.”
Multiple Republicans have criticized Biden for not coming to East Palestine, particularly after his recent trip to Europe focused on the war in Ukraine.
The governor said he has spoken with Biden a number of times, and the last time they spoke the president was in Poland. But he said Biden has offered no explanation for why he has not yet visited the town.
“I just think now is the time, the president needs to come,” DeWine said. “It’s just important.”
The pressure for Biden to come to Ohio comes as former President Trump, who is seeking a return to the White House in 2024, visited the village last week, accusing the Biden administration of “indifference and betrayal” in its response to the derailment. | 2023-03-02T19:37:08+00:00 | upmatters.com | https://www.upmatters.com/hill-politics/ohio-governor-says-biden-should-come-to-east-palestine-theres-no-doubt-about-it/ |
Tonight's weather conditions in Decatur: A few clouds. Low 48F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Temperatures will be warm Wednesday in Decatur. It looks like it will be a comfortable 73 degrees. A 57-degree low is forecasted. Partly cloudy skies are in the forecast. The area will see gentle winds tomorrow, with winds only reaching 10 miles per hour, coming from the south. This report is created automatically with weather data provided by TownNews.com. Stay in the know. Visit herald-review.com for local news and weather.
Nov. 8, 2022 evening weather update for Decatur and Macon County
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Still warm today and not much rain. A cold front arriving early Saturday morning will cool us down and bring very strong winds. See how windy it will get and how much temperatures will drop here.
Patchy fog this morning, but sunny with pleasant temperatures this afternoon. More wind and even warmer for Thursday. Find out when rain will return to the area in our updated forecast.
Cooler today than Sunday, but near normal for this time of year. Seasonable temperatures tonight as well. What temperatures are expected for Election Day? Any chance of rain? Find out here.
More wind, but still warm and dry Thursday. As our next cold front approaches, showers are coming back for Friday. Will it still be warm? What's Friday evening looking like? Full details here.
No umbrella needed if you'll be hitting the polls today. Temperatures are going up even more for Wednesday! Find out how warm it will get and when rain will return in our latest forecast.
Tonight's weather conditions in Decatur: Clear skies. Low 43F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Sunday, temperatures in the 60s are expected for the…
Sunday's forecast is showing mild temperatures. It should reach a pleasant 65 degrees. A 42-degree low is forecasted. Today's conditions are e…
For the drive home in Decatur: Windy. Thunderstorms becoming likely later at night. Low 58F. Winds SSE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Hi…
It will be a warm day in Decatur. The forecast calls for it to be a comfortable 76 degrees. A 58-degree low is forecasted. Partly cloudy skies…
Warm temperatures are in the forecast for the Decatur area. It looks to reach a comfortable 73 degrees. A 60-degree low is forecasted. We will… | 2022-11-08T23:07:13+00:00 | herald-review.com | https://herald-review.com/weather/nov-8-2022-evening-weather-update-for-decatur-and-macon-county/article_8c78e37b-f910-5b1f-9772-998465cc0cfd.html |
GoHealth's model transforms the healthcare system by delivering a connected on-demand experience to more than 3 million patients a year
ATLANTA, Nov. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GoHealth Urgent Care, the country's fastest-growing on-demand care network, reached a monumental milestone this month. The organization opened its 200th center nationwide with the launch of its joint venture partnership with Inova-GoHealth Urgent Care in Northern Virginia.
GoHealth's connected care model serves as the digital and physical front door to the healthcare ecosystem in communities around the country, providing accessible, high-quality on-demand care through deeply integrated partnerships with 10 market-leading health systems.
This year alone, GoHealth has continued its growth by:
- Adding three new innovative partnerships with Henry Ford Health in Detroit, Michigan, Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston, Texas, and Inova Health in Northern Virginia;
- Further expanding in its more mature markets, including Connecticut, Delaware, Missouri, New York, Oklahoma City, Arkansas and North Carolina;
- Partnering with employers across the country including universities, colleges, high schools and summer camps, to ensure greater access to virtual and physical care through its proprietary technology and systems;
- Enhancing on-demand services with transitional primary care, more pediatric-specific urgent care and orthopedic-specific services;
- Launching virtual behavioral health services to address the changing needs and access challenges in each community; and
- Enhancing an award-winning antibiotic stewardship program, focused on the reduction of inappropriate prescriptions, such that it is now 300% lower than the industry average.
"Reaching this milestone means over 200 communities across the country now have access to high-quality on-demand care services both virtually and physically in their neighborhood," said Sarah Arora, Chief Growth Officer, GoHealth Urgent Care. "I've watched this company grow since the beginning, and want to thank our GoHealth team members for eight years of hard work and dedication to building a world-class healthcare experience for patients across the country. This milestone is just that, an opportunity to celebrate what we have accomplished thus far, but nowhere near the finish line. We have an amazing growth journey still ahead of us, as we bring our unique model of on-demand care to even more communities in the future."
The U.S. healthcare system faces unsustainably high and rising costs, limited access, fragmented care delivery and poor patient satisfaction. GoHealth created its connected care model to address these shortcomings by deeply integrating technology and clinical care with 10 health system partners to improve patient experience and outcomes.
GoHealth's unique connected care model was first launched in 2014 with Northwell Health, and every center opened since then has enhanced access and positively impacted healthcare consumer experiences through its deeply integrated, technology-enabled model.
"We launched the first of many Memorial Hermann-GoHealth Urgent Care centers in the Greater Houston metropolitan area earlier this year and could not be more pleased with the immediate impact we have had on the communities we serve," said Feby Abraham, Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer at Memorial Hermann Health System. "We congratulate GoHealth on surpassing 200 centers and look forward to continuing to apply their proven on-demand care model to our joint healthcare initiatives."
GoHealth Urgent Care was the first healthcare company to win the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) U.S. Design and Development Award for its state-of-the-art center design featuring wood accents, curved surfaces and customer-friendly technology to create a uniquely comfortable environment.
In November 2021, GoHealth launched a new, simplified website design, which earned top honors in the 20th Annual American Business Awards®. Honored with a Gold Stevie® Award in the Health Products & Services category, the website also received a Silver Stevie® for Achievement in User Experience. GoHealth was recognized for its on-demand, low-barrier features, including the Find my Center and Save my Spot tools.
GoHealth also won a gold 2022 eHealthcare Leadership Award for best mobile app, the highest award level for the program. The eHealthcare Leadership Awards recognize the work that has gone into creating outstanding websites and digital initiatives for healthcare organizations (both large and small), online health companies, pharmaceutical/medical equipment firms, agencies/suppliers and business improvement initiatives.
GoHealth is an on-demand consumer-centric care platform that serves as the digital and physical front door to the health care ecosystem. At GoHealth, we aim to provide timely, accessible and high-quality on-demand care to patients, both virtually and in person, through our technology-enabled and data-driven approach to care and partnerships with market-leading health systems. GoHealth operates over 200 on-demand care centers in the greater New York metropolitan area; the Portland, Oregon-Vancouver, Washington, metropolitan area; the San Francisco Bay Area; Hartford and Southeastern Connecticut; Winston-Salem and Charlotte, North Carolina; St. Louis and Springfield, Missouri; Oklahoma City; Northwest Arkansas; Delaware and Maryland; the greater Detroit, Michigan metropolitan area; the greater Houston, Texas metropolitan area and Northern Virginia. GoHealth Urgent Care is a portfolio company of TPG Growth, the middle market and growth equity investment platform of TPG, which has more than $114 billion of assets under management.
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SOURCE GoHealth Urgent Care | 2022-11-30T16:10:38+00:00 | uppermichiganssource.com | https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/prnewswire/2022/11/30/gohealth-urgent-care-celebrates-eight-years-growth-it-surpasses-200-centers/ |
Woman whose rape DNA led to her arrest sues San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A rape victim whose DNA from her sexual assault case was used by San Francisco police to arrest her in an unrelated property crime on Monday filed a lawsuit against the city.
During a search of a San Francisco Police Department crime lab database, the woman’s DNA was tied to a burglary in late 2021. Her DNA had been collected and stored in the system as part of a 2016 domestic violence and sexual assault case, then-District Attorney Chesa Boudin said in February in a shocking revelation that raised privacy concerns.
“This is government overreach of the highest order, using the most unique and personal thing we have – our genetic code – without our knowledge to try and connect us to crime,” the woman’s attorney, Adante Pointer, said in a statement.
The revelation prompted a national outcry from advocates, law enforcement, legal experts and lawmakers. Advocates said the practice could affect victims’ willingness to come forward to law enforcement authorities.
Federal law already prohibits the inclusion of victims’ DNA in the national Combined DNA Index System. There is no corresponding law in California to prohibit local law enforcement databases from retaining victims’ profiles and searching them years later for entirely different purposes.
California lawmakers last month approved a bill that would prohibit using the DNA profiles collected by police from sexual assault survivors and other victims for any purpose other than aiding in identifying the perpetrator. Local law enforcement agencies would also be prohibited from retaining and then searching victim DNA to incriminate them in unrelated crimes under the legislation, which is pending before Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Boudin said the report was found among hundreds of pages of evidence against a woman who had been recently charged with a felony property crime. After learning the source of the DNA evidence, Boudin dropped the felony property crime charges against the woman.
The police department’s crime lab stopped the practice shortly after receiving a complaint from the district attorney’s office and formally changed its operating procedure to prevent the misuse of DNA collected from sexual assault victims, Police Chief Bill Scott said.
Scott said at a police commission meeting in March that he had discovered 17 crime victim profiles, 11 of them from rape kits, that were matched as potential suspects using a crime victims database during unrelated investigations. Scott said he believes the only person arrested was the woman who filed the lawsuit Monday.
The woman filed the lawsuit under the alias of Jane Doe to protect her privacy, Pointer said The Associated Press generally does not name people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they choose to be named.
California allows local law enforcement crime labs to operate their own forensic databases that are separate from federal and state databases. The law also lets municipal labs perform forensic analysis, including DNA profiling, and use those databases — without regulation by the state or others.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2022-09-13T15:02:32+00:00 | kmvt.com | https://www.kmvt.com/2022/09/13/woman-whose-rape-dna-led-her-arrest-sues-san-francisco/ |
WEED, Calif. — Thousands of people remained under evacuation orders Saturday after a wind-whipped wildfire raged through rural Northern California, injuring people and torching an unknown number of homes.
The fire that began Friday afternoon on or near a wood-products plant quickly blew into a neighborhood on the northern edge of Weed but then carried the flames away from the city of about 2,600.
Evacuees described heavy smoke and chunks of ash raining down.
Annie Peterson said she was sitting on the porch of her home near Roseburg Forest Products, which manufactures wood veneers, when "all of a sudden we heard a big boom and all that smoke was just rolling over toward us."
Very quickly her home and about a dozen others were on fire. She said members of her church helped evacuate her and her son, who is immobile. She said the scene of smoke and flames looked like "the world was coming to an end."
Suzi Brady, a Cal Fire spokeswoman, said several people were injured.
Allison Hendrickson, spokeswoman for Dignity Health North State hospitals, said two people were brought to Mercy Medical Center Mount Shasta. One was in stable condition and the other was transferred to UC Davis Medical Center, which has a burn unit.
Rebecca Taylor, communications director for Roseburg Forest Products based in Springfield, Oregon, said it is unclear if the fire started near or on company property. A large empty building at the edge of company property burned she said. All employees were evacuated, and none have reported injuries, she said.
The blaze, dubbed the Mill Fire, was pushed by 35-mph (56-kph) winds, and quickly engulfed 4 square miles (10.3 square kilometers) of ground.
The flames raced through tinder-dry grass, brush and timber. About 7,500 people in Weed and several nearby communities were under evacuation orders.
Dr. Deborah Higer, medical director at the Shasta View Nursing Center, said all 23 patients at the facility were evacuated, with 20 going to local hospitals and three staying at her own home, where hospital beds were set up.
Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Siskyou County and said a federal grant had been received "to help ensure the availability of vital resources to suppress the fire."
At about the time the blaze started, power outages were reported that affected some 9,000 customers, and several thousand remained without electricity late into the night, according to an outage website for power company PacifiCorp, which said they were due to the wildfire.
Wildfires force evacuations across California
It was the third large wildfire in as many days in California, which has been in the grip of a prolonged drought and is now sweltering under a heat wave that was expected to push temperatures past the 100-degree mark in many areas through Labor Day.
Thousands also were ordered to flee on Wednesday from a fire in Castaic north of Los Angeles and a blaze in eastern San Diego County near the Mexican border, where two people were severely burned and several homes were destroyed. Those blazes were 56% and 65% contained, respectively, and all evacuations had been lifted.
The heat taxed the state's power grid as people tried to stay cool. For a fourth day, residents were asked to conserve power Saturday during late afternoon and evening hours.
The Mill Fire was burning about an hour's drive from the Oregon state line. A few miles north of the blaze, a second fire erupted Friday near the community of Gazelle. The Mountain Fire has burned more than 2 square miles (6 square kilometers) but no injuries or building damage was reported.
The whole region has faced repeated devastating wildfires in recent years. The Mill Fire was only about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of where the McKinney Fire — the state's deadliest of the year — erupted in late July. It killed four people and destroyed dozens of homes.
Olga Hood fled her Weed home on Friday as smoke was blowing over the next hill.
With the notorious gusts that tear through the town at the base of Mount Shasta, she didn't wait for an evacuation order. She packed up her documents, medication and little else, said her granddaughter, Cynthia Jones.
"With the wind in Weed everything like that moves quickly. It's bad," her granddaughter, Cynthia Jones, said by phone from her home in Medford, Oregon. "It's not uncommon to have 50 to 60 mph gusts on a normal day. I got blown into a creek as a kid."
Hood's home of nearly three decades was spared from a blaze last year and from the devastating Boles Fire that tore through town eight years ago, destroying more than 160 buildings, mostly homes.
Hood wept as she discussed the fire from a relative's house in the hamlet of Granada, Jones said. She wasn't able to gather photos that had been important to her late husband.
Scientists say climate change has made the West warmer and drier over the last three decades and will continue to make weather more extreme and wildfires more frequent and destructive. In the last five years, California has experienced the largest and most destructive fires in state history.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2022-09-03T09:10:55+00:00 | iowapublicradio.org | https://www.iowapublicradio.org/news-from-npr/2022-09-03/a-northern-california-wildfire-has-injured-several-people-and-destroyed-homes |
TULSA, OK (AP) — Police: 8 found dead after house fire near Tulsa, Oklahoma; homicide suspected.
Police: 8 found dead after house fire near Tulsa, Oklahoma; homicide suspected
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A war orphan is claimed by two families: her Afghan relatives and a U.S. Marine who adopted her from 7,000 miles away. Who gets to keep the child? | 2022-10-28T01:55:02+00:00 | wcfcourier.com | https://wcfcourier.com/news/national/police-8-found-dead-after-house-fire-near-tulsa-oklahoma-homicide-suspected/article_7da57f97-8e33-5b4b-bd82-2c68425ac99c.html |
Biden to award Presidential Citizens Medal to 12 on Jan. 6 anniversary
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Friday will present the nation’s second highest civilian award to 12 individuals involved in defending the Capitol during the insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, and safeguarding the will of American voters in the 2020 presidential election.
The White House announced on Thursday that Biden will present the Presidential Citizens Medal during an East Room ceremony marking the second anniversary of the assault on the Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump whose siege interrupted the congressional certification of Biden’s victory.
Among those being honored are seven members of law enforcement, including a posthumous award to Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who died after the attack, and an award to Officer Eugene Goodman who was credited with directing rioters away from the Senate floor while lawmakers were evacuating the building.
Also being honored are two other Capitol Police officers, Harry Dunn and Caroline Edwards; Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell; Metropolitan Police Department Officer Daniel Hodges and a former officer, Michael Fanone.
Biden is also recognizing Michigan’s secretary of state, Jocelyn Benson, and Rusty Bowers, a former Arizona House speaker, who resisted pressure to overturn the election results; and Ruby Freeman and her daughter Shaye Moss, election workers in Fulton County, Georgia, who were subjected to threats and harassment after ensuring votes in the county were properly tabulated.
An award is going to Al Schmidt, a former Philadelphia election official who faced public pressure by Trump to stop counting valid ballots. Schmidt, a Republican, will be nominated for the top election administration post in Pennsylvania, secretary of state, by Pennsylvania Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro, a Democrat.
The Presidential Citizens Medal, created by President Richard Nixon in 1969, is the country’s second highest civilian honor after the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It is awarded to those who “performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens.”
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Follow AP’s coverage of the Capitol riot at https://www.apnews.com/capitol-siege
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2023-01-05T19:03:04+00:00 | kttc.com | https://www.kttc.com/2023/01/05/biden-award-presidential-citizens-medal-12-jan-6-anniversary/ |
LONDON (AP) — The British government said Monday it will block a new law that makes it easier for people in Scotland to legally change their gender, sparking conflict with transgender rights advocates and the nationalist Scottish administration in Edinburgh.
Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack said he would prevent the bill from getting royal assent — the final formality that makes it law — because of concern it conflicts with “Great Britain-wide equalities legislation.” That legislation, among other things, guarantees women and girls access to single-sex spaces such as changing rooms and shelters.
The Scottish government is likely to challenge the decision at the U.K. Supreme Court.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon called the decision by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government “a full-frontal attack” on the Scottish parliament, which approved the bill last month.
“The Scottish Government will defend the legislation and stand up for Scotland’s Parliament,” she said on Twitter. “If this Westminster veto succeeds, it will be first of many.”
The Scottish bill allows people aged 16 or older in Scotland to change the gender designation on their identity documents by self-declaration, removing the need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria.
It also cuts the time trans people must live in a different expressed gender before the change is legally recognized, from two years to three months for adults and to six months for people aged 16 and 17.
The legislation sets Scotland apart from the rest of the United Kingdom, where a medical diagnosis is needed before individuals can transition for legal purposes.
The Scottish National Party-led government in Edinburgh says the legal change will improve the lives of transgender people by allowing them to get official documents that correspond with their gender identities.
Opponents claim it risks allowing predatory men to gain access to spaces intended for women, such as shelters for domestic abuse survivors. Others argue that the minimum age for transitioning should remain at 18.
Scotland is part of the United Kingdom but, like Wales and Northern Ireland, has its own semi-autonomous government with broad powers over areas including health care.
This is the first time a U.K. government has blocked a Scottish law since the Scottish government and parliament were established a quarter century ago. The move will provide fodder for nationalists who want Scotland to break away from the U.K. and become an independent country.
Jack, the U.K. minister responsible for Scotland, said he had “not taken this decision lightly.”
“Transgender people who are going through the process to change their legal sex deserve our respect, support and understanding,” he said in a letter to Sturgeon. “My decision today is about the legislation’s consequences for the operation of GB-wide equalities protections.”
Shami Chakrabarti, a Labour Party member of the House of Lords and former director of the rights group Liberty, said Sunak’s government might be trying to stir up “culture wars” by stepping in, but legally “they may have a point.”
“It is arguable, at least, that what’s happened in Scotland has a potential impact on the legislation as it operates U.K.-wide,” she told the BBC.
Several countries around the world have legalized gender self-recognition, including Argentina, Canada, New Zealand, Denmark and Iceland. Last month Spain’s parliament approved a bill similar to Scotland’s. | 2023-01-17T04:47:27+00:00 | wjhl.com | https://www.wjhl.com/news/international/ap-uk-govt-to-veto-scotlands-gender-self-recognition-law/ |
Dads Can Sport Limited Edition Pie-Themed Ties, Socks & Hats
ATLANTA, June 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Perkins Restaurant & Bakery just released the best gift option for your pie-obsessed dad. And, if you're lucky—you can snag it for free this Father's Day.
Every year for Father's Day, Perkins bakes thousands of pies that are gifted to dads across the country. This year, with a nod to the classic "dad starter pack" and standard Father's Day presents, Perkins created a line of pie-decorated accessories. The brand is giving away colorful ties, socks and hats, featuring three of Perkins most popular pies, to fans.
Each day from June 13-19, Perkins will feature a new giveaway through its Facebook and Instagram pages. Winners will be selected to receive a "Perkins Father's Day Prize Pack," which makes for the ultimate compliment to any one of Perkins 10 pie varieties. These delicious pies, the perfect dessert for a family meal, can be ordered in advance of Father's Day at PerkinsToGo.com.
"Your dad's favorite pie from Perkins is the perfect gift this Father's Day," said Joe Artime, Chief Marketing Officer at Perkins. "But for our guests who also want to give Dad a traditional Father's Day present, we have them covered with these gifts that are available exclusively via our social channels."
If you're looking to win these dad-approved ties, socks or hats, visit the @eatatperkins social pages starting on June 13th and follow the day's prompt, which may include commenting your dad's favorite Perkins pie flavor, go-to karaoke song, dad joke and more. This exclusive merch line, featuring Perkins Chocolate French Silk, Lemon Meringue, and Wildberry pies, is only around for a limited time, so enter your dad for a chance to win before it's too late.
To order your favorite breakfast, fresh-baked pie and more, visit the Perkins website or access the Bakery by Perkins menu on your DoorDash, UberEats, or Grubhub app for a hassle-free delivery.
Founded in 1958 as a single pancake house, Perkins has grown to 290 company-owned and franchised locations across 32 states and Canada.
Starting with dozens of pancake and waffle options, Perkins expansive menu includes other breakfast favorites like omelets and benedicts, and with breakfast served all day, people can get exactly what they want with their signature Build Your Own Breakfast. Other menu items include hearty homestyle entrees like juicy burgers, scrumptious skillet dinners and a wide selection of soups and salads, as well as our Bottomless Pot of Coffee®.
Perkins iconic in-store bakery offers a wide selection of fresh-baked fruit pies, cream pies, and other treats like decadent Cinnamon Rolls, fudge brownies, cookies, and our signature Mammoth Muffins®. All of Perkins menu and Bakery items are available to order online at perkinstogo.com.
Perkins takes great pride in our service and experience, embracing a "Kindness Served Daily" philosophy. As a leading full-service concept within the FSR space, Perkins continues to grow its corporate presence and with multi-unit franchise operators by offering a number of flexible build options.
To learn more about Perkins franchise opportunities, visit www.perkinsfranchising.com/.
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SOURCE Perkins Restaurant & Bakery | 2022-06-13T18:53:37+00:00 | live5news.com | https://www.live5news.com/prnewswire/2022/06/13/perkins-restaurant-amp-bakery-puts-unique-twist-traditional-fathers-day-gifts/ |
The U.S. Postal Service is raising mail prices for most users, pushing the cost of a first-class stamp from 63 cents to 66 cents.
The new rates, which cover other mail items including periodicals and advertising mailers, are poised to take effect July 9 unless overruled by the postal regulator.
The 5.4 percent increase across all first-class mail products is the agency’s fourth rate hike in two years. It also brings first-class mail costs up 32 percent since 2019, when a stamp ran 50 cents.
The price increases are part of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s turnaround of the mail agency, which was facing hundreds of billions of dollars in unpayable liabilities when he took office in June 2020.
A year later, the Postal Service said it would increase rates twice annually, making up for what it said were years’ worth of artificially low rates. Sending mail in the United States is still cheaper than in nearly any country in the developed world.
“As operating expenses fueled by inflation continue to rise and the effects of a previously defective pricing model are still being felt, these price adjustments are needed to provide the Postal Service with much needed revenue to achieve the financial stability,” the agency wrote in a news release.
Postal finance officials also have blamed persistent inflation for increasing the agency’s costs and depressing consumer spending.
But higher rates threaten to drive away the paper mail business that keeps the Postal Service’s finances afloat. First-class, business mail and periodicals made up close to $41 billion of the agency’s 2022 revenue, according to its annual report to Congress, compared to $31.3 billion from packages.
Revenue from parcels includes contracts with express shipping and e-commerce firms—including Amazon, the Postal Service’s largest customer—that send their items through the mail. (Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post.)
The Postal Service posted a $1.03 billion loss in the final quarter of 2022, putting the agency behind DeJoy’s plan to make up a $160 billion projected budget shortfall by 2030. In 2023, according to his projections, the mail service is supposed to break even. In 2024, it is supposed to be modestly profitable. The Postal Service is not likely to hit those milestones, those it’s received significant financial help from Congress.
Legislation passed in 2022 wiped $107 billion in past-due and future liabilities off the agency’s balance sheet. The Inflation Reduction Act also granted the Postal Service $3 billion to electrify its fleet of delivery trucks.
Critics of the price increases say continued price increases harm the Postal Service’s financial stability.
“Rate hikes of this frequency are unprecedented and unsustainable. If left unchecked, DeJoy will plow ahead with additional stamp increases every few months, even though data shows that they put the squeeze on the American public and diminish mail volume,” Kevin Yoder, executive director of Keep Us Posted, a mailer industry and consumer advocacy group, said in a statement. “DeJoy’s rate strategy is shortsighted and needs to be rejected by the Postal Regulatory Commission in the name of protecting this critical public service.”
Please enable JavaScript to view this content. | 2023-04-11T17:57:53+00:00 | ibj.com | https://www.ibj.com/articles/u-s-postal-service-raising-mail-prices-for-majority-of-users |
MAASLAND, Netherlands (AP) — Bales of hay lie burning along Dutch highways. Supermarket shelves stand empty because distribution centers are blocked by farmers. Then, at dusk, a police officer pulls his pistol and shoots at a tractor.
Dutch farmers are embroiled in a summer of discontent that shows no sign of abating. Their target? Government plans to rein in emissions of nitrogen oxide and ammonia that they say threatens to wreck their agricultural way of life and put them out of business.
The reduction targets could radically alter the Netherlands’ lucrative agriculture sector, which is known for its intensive farming, and may also foreshadow similar reforms — and protests — in other European nations whose farmers also pump out pollutants.
That turmoil seems a long way off Friday at Jaap Zegwaard’s dairy farm, which occupies 80 hectares (200 acres) of grassland close to the port city of Rotterdam, whose chimneys and cranes form a backdrop to his fields.
Most of Zegwaard’s herd of 180 cattle, mostly black and white Holstein-Friesians, graze in meadows close to a traditional Dutch windmill and large white wind turbines. And even if the farm has been in Zegwaard’s family for five generations, some 200 years, he doesn’t know if he would recommend the farming life to his a 7-year-old daughter and 3-year-old twin boys.
“If you ask me now, I’d say, please don’t even think about it,” the 41-year-old said. “There are so many worries. Life’s much too beautiful to deal with what’s going on in the agriculture sector at the moment.”
“Ask the average farmer: it’s profoundly sad,” he said.
At the heart of the clash between farmers and the Dutch government are moves to protect human health and vulnerable natural habitats from pollution in the form of nitrogen oxides and ammonia, which are produced by industry, transport and in the waste of livestock.
The Netherlands, a nation of 17.5 million people inhabiting an area a little larger than Maryland, has 1.57 million registered dairy cattle and just over 1 million calves being raised for meat, statistics show. The country’s farms produced exports worth 94.5 billion euros in 2019.
Nitrogen oxides and ammonia raise nutrient levels and acidity in the soil, leading to a reduction in biodiversity. Airborne nitrogen leads to smog and tiny particles that are damaging to people’s health.
When the Council of State, the country’s top administrative court and legislative advisory body, ruled in 2019 that Dutch policies to rein in nitrogen emissions were inadequate, it forced the government to consider tougher measures.
Unveiling a map detailing nitrogen reduction targets last month, the Dutch government called it an “unavoidable transition.” It said the coming year would finally bring clarity for Dutch farmers, “whether and how they can continue with their business. The minister sees three options for farmers: become (more) sustainable, relocate or stop.”
The Dutch government aims to slash nitrogen emissions by 50% by 2030 and has earmarked an extra 24.3 billion euros ($25.6 billion) to fund the changes. Provincial authorities have one year to draw up plans for achieving the reductions.
Nitrogen expert Wim de Vries, a professor at Wageningen University and Research, doubts that deadline is realistic.
“It seems to be very fast and there is a legacy, already for 40 years, because the problem was much bigger in the 1980s. We then called it ‘acid rain,’” he said. “Considering that legacy, it doesn’t make so much difference if we do it in 7 or 10 or 12 years. We anyhow have to wait for decades for nature to improve seriously.”
Farmers have been protesting for years against the government’s nitrogen policies, but the emissions targets unleashed new demonstrations, with tractors clogging highways and supermarket distribution centers that led briefly to some shortages of fresh produce.
Farmers also clashed with police outside the home of the minister in charge of the government’s nitrogen policies. And this week an officer opened fire on a tractor driven by a 16-year-old. After initially being held on suspicion of attempted manslaughter, the young driver was released without charge.
The Dutch government has appointed a veteran political negotiator to act as a middleman, but the gesture was immediately rejected by activist farmers and the nation’s largest farming lobby group.
“The government does not offer any space to enter into a real conversation,” said the farming lobby group LTO. “Under these conditions, speaking with the mediator is pointless.”
The LTO, which represents about 30,000 farms — nearly a half of the Dutch total — described the nitrogen reduction target as “simply unfeasible.” Dutch farms produced exports worth 94.5 billion euros in 2019.
The group says the government is focused on reducing livestock and buying up farms and not paying enough attention to innovation and sustainable farming practices.
Environmentalists say now is the time to act.
“You rip a plaster off a wound in one go,” said Andy Palmen, director of Greenpeace Netherlands. “Painful choices are now necessary.”
Zegwaard’s farm is in an area where the government is seeking only a 12% cut in emissions, yet he also demonstrates out of solidarity with others and supports the protests.
“The average person currently sees the Netherlands as a nitrogen polluter, while we are also a food producer. It seems like people have forgotten that,” he told The Associated Press.
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Follow all AP stories on climate change issues at https://apnews.com/hub/climate. | 2022-07-10T14:24:47+00:00 | myfox8.com | https://myfox8.com/international/ap-international/anger-simmers-for-dutch-farmers-who-oppose-pollution-cuts/ |
WASHINGTON, Feb. 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, concluded his visit to Washington, DC after meeting with senior US government officials and Congressional leaders. During meetings with Jake Sullivan, US National Security Advisor, and Brett McGurk, Deputy Assistant to the President and White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, Sheikh Abdullah reaffirmed a shared commitment to cooperate on efforts to promote peace in the region.
The officials also reviewed ongoing humanitarian assistance efforts following the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria and discussed the UAE's steadfast commitment to support the people of both countries during this challenging time.He underscored the UAE's dedication to deepen cooperation with the US to address climate change ahead of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), which will take place in Dubai in November 2023.Sheikh Abdullah also met Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, US Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism. He highlighted the Abrahamic Family House, an interfaith center featuring a mosque, church, and synagogue, which was inaugurated in Abu Dhabi yesterday, and will start to welcome visitors from 1st March 2023.
Tim Lenderking, US Special Envoy for Yemen, briefed Sheikh Abdullah on US efforts to address the crisis in Yemen. The two officials stressed the need to reach a peaceful solution that would alleviate the humanitarian suffering of the Yemeni people.
Sheikh Abdullah also met with Senator Ben Cardin (MD) and discussed close UAE-US cooperation in key areas,The meetings were attended by Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for Political Affairs and UAE Permanent Representative to the United Nations; and Yousef Al Otaiba, UAE Ambassador to the US.
CONTACT:
Lamiyae Jbari
ljbari@uaeembassy-usa.org
202 243 2464
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SOURCE Embassy of the United Arab Emirates | 2023-02-17T23:41:41+00:00 | wsfa.com | https://www.wsfa.com/prnewswire/2023/02/17/hh-sheikh-abdullah-bin-zayed-al-nahyan-concludes-visit-us/ |
The 2022 offseason was not a fruitful one for NFL contenders looking for new starting quarterbacks.
Many options looked intriguing: Russell Wilson unwanted in Seattle, Matt Ryan’s career winding down in Atlanta and Carson Wentz coming off a sour ending in Indianapolis. The Denver Broncos traded for Wilson, the Colts dealt Wentz to Washington and acquired Ryan.
All three teams had big expectations. All three moves backfired.
From the Broncos’ struggles with Wilson to the Colts benching Ryan to Wentz’s inconsistency and yet another injury, most of the changes didn’t pan out. Two coaches — Carolina’s Matt Rhule and Indy’s Frank Reich — even lost their jobs.
The so-called sellers have had the most success. The 6-3 Seahawks lead their division after trading Wilson and going with Geno Smith, while the Falcons remain in the playoff hunt at 4-5 after moving on from Ryan and signing Marcus Mariota.
Here’s a look at how things have played out.
DENVER BRONCOS
New QB: Russell Wilson
Old QB: Teddy Bridgewater
Price paid: Three players, five draft picks and a $245 million extension with $165 million guaranteed, including a $50 million bonus at signing.
How it started: General manager George Paton wanted to solve the team’s long-running quarterback quandary and believed the answer was Wilson, a nine-time Pro Bowler during a decade in Seattle. He was Denver’s sixth opening-day starter in six seasons.
How it’s going: Wilson hasn’t resembled the star he was in Seattle and rookie head coach Nathaniel Hackett hasn’t helped with using so many shotgun formations. When Wilson’s under center, he’s a textbook example of mechanics and footwork. In the shotgun, he’s all over the place and not seeing his open receivers often enough.
Where it’s headed: Wilson is sticking around because of the big contract. Hackett’s on the hot seat, though Paton gave him a vote of confidence in London before Denver’s Oct. 27 win over the Jaguars snapped a four-game skid.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
New QB: Matt Ryan
Old QB: Carson Wentz
Price paid: 2022 third-round pick
How it started: Indy soured on Wentz when he refused the COVID-19 vaccine and his poor play in the final two games, after testing positive for the virus, cost the Colts a playoff spot. GM Chris Ballard sent Wentz to Washington, then waited until Atlanta started searching for Ryan’s successor. Indy thought it pulled a coup by acquiring a proven leader who was still playing well.
How it’s going: What looked like a good match has been anything but. Behind a rebuilt and underachieving offensive line, Ryan struggled. He threw nine interceptions, had 11 fumbles and 12 total turnovers — all league highs. He also was sacked 24 times and took 59 hits before being benched in favor of Sam Ehlinger. The result: offensive coordinator Marcus Brady was fired last week and Reich joined him on the unemployment line Monday.
Where it’s headed: Ryan’s future in Indy looks bleak. He has one season still on his contract, and it would cost Indy $18 million in dead money to cut him. Could he be traded? Maybe. But how much interest is there in a 37-year-old quarterback after his worst pro season?
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
New QB: Carson Wentz
Old QB: Ryan Fitzpatrick/Taylor Heinicke
Price paid: 2022 second and third-round picks, conditional 2023 third-round pick (received later 2022 second-rounder back with Wentz)
How it started: Wentz went into training camp as the unquestioned starter ahead of Heinicke and rookie Sam Howell. Wentz and coach Ron Rivera brushed off some practice inaccuracies. Then Wentz rebounded from throwing back-to-back interceptions in the season opener to lead the Commanders to a comeback victory against Jacksonville.
How it’s going: Wentz threw 10 TD passes, six interceptions and played through a broken finger at Chicago to snap the Commanders’ losing streak. He hasn’t played since having surgery while Heinicke has led Washington to a 2-1 mark with Wentz on injured reserve. The team hasn’t said when Wentz may return, and Rivera doesn’t intend to make a decision until Wentz is back.
Where it’s headed: Wentz’s contract is structured to give the Commanders an out after this season with no salary cap penalty, but a lot will depend on the rest of this season and whether Rivera remains the coach. Howell slipped to the fifth round but could be the next in a long line of Washington quarterbacks of the future.
CAROLINA PANTHERS
New QB: Baker Mayfield
Old QB: Sam Darnold
Price paid: 2023 conditional fifth-round pick
How it started: After trying and failing to acquire Deshaun Watson, the Panthers pursued Mayfield but didn’t get him from Cleveland until July. That cost him practice snaps and time to learn the playbook, but Mayfield still beat Darnold for the No. 1 job before the season opener.
How it’s going: Mayfield has been unproductive, going 1-4 as a starter and posting the league’s worst QB rating. P.J. Walker took over when Mayfield injured his left ankle in Week 5. Even after Walker’s dreadful game at Cincinnati, interim coach Steve Wilks stuck with him.
Where it’s headed: Mayfield could be demoted to No. 3, maybe even released, with Darnold activated from injured reserve. It’s extremely unlikely the Panthers re-sign Mayfield when he becomes an unrestricted free agent in March — if he makes it that long.
CLEVELAND BROWNS
New QB: Jacoby Brissett/ Deshaun Watson
Old QB: Baker Mayfield
Price paid: First-round picks in 2022, 2023 and 2024, a third-round pick in 2022 and a fourth-round pick in 2024
How it started: The Browns didn’t offer Mayfield a long-term deal after he played through a shoulder injury in 2021. His status with the team took a hit and a poor ’21 lowered his market value. When Watson became available, the Browns entered the bidding late and were initially rebuffed by the three-time Pro Bowler. But owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam changed Watson’s mind with a fully guaranteed, five-year, $240 million deal despite his legal issues. Mayfield eventually was dealt to Carolina for a fifth-rounder — after the Browns agreed to eat most of his 2022 salary.
How it’s going: Knowing Watson might be suspended by the NFL, the Browns signed Brissett, a former starter with Indianapolis, as a free agent. Brissett has been better than expected and has provided invaluable leadership. The lone knock: He’s had a few costly turnovers.
Where it’s headed: Watson is expected to return when the league’s 11-game ban for violating the personal conduct policy ends. He was accused of sexual misconduct by more than two dozen women while he played in Houston. He’s eligible to resume practicing next week and if reinstated, could make his Browns debut Dec. 4 — against the Texans. He hasn’t played in a regular-season game since Jan. 3, 2021.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
New QB: Geno Smith
Old QB: Russell Wilson
Price paid: $3.5 million, one-year contract
How it started: The Seahawks re-signed Smith to compete with Drew Lock following the trade with Denver. Wilson’s longtime backup had the advantage throughout the offseason and training camp and when Lock missed a preseason start after testing positive for the coronavirus, it was clear Smith would be the starter.
How it’s going: Smith is one of the top contenders for comeback player of the year. It’s the first time since 2014 he’s been a full-time starter and he leads the NFL in completion percentage, is third in passer rating and tied for fifth in TD passes. He’s been the biggest surprise for Seattle.
Where it’s headed: This was viewed as a bridge season as the Seahawks tried to draft a new franchise quarterback in April. That may still happen, but Smith might be the best short-term solution. NFC West-leading Seattle is 6-3 faces a decision about re-signing him or letting him test the free agency.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
New QB: Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky
Old QB: Ben Roethlisberger
Price paid: A 2-year, $14-million free-agent deal for Trubisky, the 20th pick in the 2022 draft for Pickett
How it started: Following Roethlisberger’s retirement, Trubisky was tabbed the starter at the end of training camp. He spent 3½ games largely avoiding mistakes but struggled to throw downfield and was benched at halftime of a loss to the Jets in Week 4.
How it’s going: Pickett has shown plenty of fight, but the Steelers’ only victory since he supplanted Trubisky came against Tampa Bay on Oct. 16 when Trubisky relieved Pickett (concussion) and threw for 144 yards and the clinching TD pass. Pickett has retained the starting job and he has looked fine between the 20s but has struggled to generate points and has thrown eight interceptions.
Where it’s headed: Pittsburgh is all in on Pickett but also declined to explore trade options for Trubisky, who has said and done all the right things since being demoted. Trubisky’s presence gives the Steelers a reliable backup, but the starting job is Pickett’s for the foreseeable future.
ATLANTA FALCONS
New QB: Marcus Mariota
Old QB: Matt Ryan
Price paid: A two-year, $18.75 million free agent deal with a $5 million signing bonus and $6.75 million guaranteed, plus a $12 million option for 2023 and a $3 million roster bonus due in March.
How it started: With third-round pick Desmond Ridder serving as Mariota’s backup, the thought was Mariota would have a short leash. Instead, he has taken every snap and has the Falcons tied for first in the NFC South.
How it’s going: Mariota has been a good fit in coach Arthur Smith’s offense. He’s not going to lead the league in passing, but he has 10 TD passes with six interceptions and has added a dual-threat presence Ryan could not. Mariota has 340 yards rushing and three TD runs.
Where it’s headed: Mariota clearly has Smith’s confidence and support. Smith brushed off a question about playing Ridder with a sarcastic reply about having the rookie hand the ball off just to make critics happy. Still, there is an expectation Ridder will play at some point, but it will be as a backup as Mariota appears firmly entrenched as the starter.
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AP Sports Writers Arnie Stapleton, Tom Withers, Charles Odum, Tim Booth, Steve Reed and Will Graves contributed. | 2022-11-12T13:23:12+00:00 | upmatters.com | https://www.upmatters.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-new-quarterbacks-not-working-out-across-nfl-this-season/ |
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A third person who was struck by gunfire in an April shooting at a crowded Iowa nightclub has died, and charges against one of the two suspects will be updated.
Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks told the Cedar Rapids Gazette that Marvin Cox, 31, of Cedar Rapids, who was shot in the head on April 10 at the Taboo Nightclub and Lounge in Cedar Rapids, died July 24. He had been on life support. Nine other people were also hurt that night.
Timothy Rush, 32, was already charged with second-degree murder for killing his 35-year-old girlfriend, who was the mother of his 1-year-old daughter, and several other crimes related to the shooting, including seriously injuring Cox.
Online court records didn't show any new charges against Rush as of Sunday.
Prosecutors have said Rush was working security at the nightclub when he and another man started shooting during a birthday party with more than 100 people in attendance.
The second suspect, Dimione Walker, 29, is charged with shooting and killing 25-year-old Michael Valentine. Walker is being held in Illinois, where he was arrested several days after the shooting. He is awaiting extradition to Iowa.
Rush remains jailed in lieu of $1.5 million bail. | 2022-07-31T20:31:32+00:00 | expressnews.com | https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/3rd-person-dies-months-after-Iowa-nightclub-17341536.php |
IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Alpha Motor Corporation (Alpha) announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued patent allowances for US Patent No. 29767053 ACE Vehicle Design and US Patent No. 29779224 JAX Vehicle Design further differentiating Alpha's electric vehicle brand.
"ACE is a fun electric vehicle designed for daily driving while JAX is equipped for rugged adventures. We are excited to receive patent allowances for our unique EVs as we continue development towards commercialization," said Alpha Motor Corporation.
Alpha's vehicle designs are based on its patented technology that enables adjustability of the main vehicle platform to create a variety of different models. Furthermore, Alpha's multipurpose vehicle architecture features interchangeable components, flexible configuration of subsystems, and a range of assembly options.
ACE is thoughtfully designed to organize complex forms into simpler components which are assembled into a cohesive structure. Alpha's award-winning ACE was originally created to be a basis for efficient manufacturing of EVs and to streamline model expansion.
ABOUT
Alpha Motor Corporation (Alpha) is an American automobile and mobility technology company focused on manufacturing electric vehicles in Utility, Sport, and Adventure categories.
Creator of the ACE Coupe Series, JAX Crossover, WOLF Truck Series, SAGA Sedan Series, REX Utility Vehicle Series, and MONTAGE Coupe, Recipient of The 2021 LA Auto Show THE ZEVAS™ Top EV Award, and featured at The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles - Alpha's vision is to "Move Humanity."
Alpha's differentiated go-to-market strategy targets streamlined deployment of EVs by implementing modular vehicle technology, disruptive optimization methods, and sustainable manufacturing practices.
Founded in 2020 and based in Irvine, California, Alpha is led by an experienced team of automotive industry professionals and partners from top e-mobility engineering and manufacturing companies in the US.
Please contact pr@alphamotorinc.com for more information.
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SOURCE Alpha Motor Corporation | 2022-12-30T02:10:12+00:00 | kalb.com | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2022/12/30/alpha-motor-corporation-announces-multiple-us-patent-allowances/ |
Police: 5 killed in Louisville shooting; suspect dead
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE/Gray News) - Five people have been killed at Old National Bank in downtown Louisville on Monday, Louisville Metro Police Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey said in a news conference.
Six have been taken to the University Hospital and are receiving treatment, including an officer.
The shooting suspect is dead, police reported. Police have not said how the shooter died.
Louisville Metro police officers and FBI Louisville special agents are currently there at the scene.
The Louisville Metro Police Department advises everyone to avoid the 300 block of East Main Street, specifically at Old National Bank.
Calls came around 8:30 a.m. to the Old National Bank on reports of an active shooter in the area, according to MetroSafe dispatchers. The call was changed to an active aggressor report a short time later.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said in a tweet that he was heading to the scene.
“Please pray for all of the families impacted and for the city of Louisville,” Beshear said.
Copyright 2023 WAVE via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2023-04-10T14:40:04+00:00 | witn.com | https://www.witn.com/2023/04/10/police-active-aggressor-downtown-louisville-kentucky/ |
ROUND ROCK, Texas, Sept. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Alienware continues its mission to create premier gaming experiences with a triple-threat of new devices, including: a revamped Aurora R15 Gaming Desktop, a compact and feature-rich Tenkeyless Gaming Keyboard, and our second QD-OLED Gaming Monitor positioned at a lower price point.
Alienware Aurora, your gateway to the most immersive gaming experiences
The new Alienware Aurora R15 desktop sees a significant performance boost, thanks to the latest 13th Gen Intel® Core™ processors, NVIDIA® GeForce RTX® 40 Series GPUs and an armada of system refinements.
To achieve higher thermal efficiency and help ensure peak performancei, we've equipped the following advancements with all 13th Gen Intel® Core K-Series configurations:
- 240mm liquid cooling, with the option to upgrade to 240mm Cryo-tech liquid cooling.
- Five 120mm fans: a 240mm LC unit serving as two exhaust fans up top, one more exhaust fan in the rear, and two intake fans up in front.
- Hexagonal side-venting to generate additional airflow.
- 12-phase, processor, voltage regulation helps enable long-lasting peak performance.
- Voltage regulator heatsinks on the motherboard help ensure maximum cooling.
- 80 Plus Platinum-rated power supply, delivering high levels of power efficiency
- Increased memory speed to DDR5 4800MHz (or MT/s).
- Defined memory architecture enables the highest speed UDIMM for faster performance.
With these advancements, we're delivering 58% more power to the processorii, obtaining double digit performance improvementsiii, and simultaneously running the CPU up to 5˚ Celsius cooler. Additionally, our new thermal strategy increases system airflow by up to 19%, is up to 66% quieter in CPU intensive tasks and 9% quieter in GPU intensive tasks.iv
(Learn more about Alienware's thermal design philosophy and the parameters we adhere to here.)
The Aurora R15 now also includes up to a 1350W power supply (up from 1000W in the previous generation), designed to support NVIDIA's flagship GeForce RTX® 4090 graphics card. Speaking of the graphics card, we repositioned the graphics slot to enable larger card designs (up to triple wide cards). In addition to offering NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series and 30 Series GPUs, Aurora R15 will also be configurable with AMD Radeon™ RX 6000 Series graphics which pair nicely with our first QD-OLED AMD FreeSync™ monitor… more on that below.
Streamlined and agile: introducing Alienware's first-ever Tenkeyless Gaming Keyboard
Alienware's new space-saving Tenkeyless Gaming Keyboard (AW420K) helps you win back valuable desktop real estate while staying at the top of your game. Whether you're curating a minimal desk setup or looking for more room to maneuver your mouse, this smaller form factor design drops the number pad to maximize space and free up more area for fast-action swipes. Promoting a clean and organized gaming environment, the AW420K makes cable management simple and versatile. With a cable routing layout etched into the underside of the keyboard, you can direct the connection cable left, right, or down the center to keep it out of the way and streamline your gaming setup.
Another benefit to this compact keyboard is that it's more travel friendly than its full-size siblings. When it's time to hit the road and head to a tournament or friend's house, the small footprint (14.46"W x 5.81"L) makes it possible to transport in your Alienware Horizon Travel Backpack or other compatible travel cases. When packing up, just remove the USB paracord cable for easier storage. And since changing environments can expose your keyboard to unwanted particles, we mounted the key switches to the smooth metal top plate to help limit the spaces where dust and crumbs can hide and make cleaning simple and quick.
Outfitted with a robust suite of technology, the AW420K delivers a typing experience that is responsive, consistent, and long-lasting. Industry-leading CHERRY MX Redv switches provide incredible reliability and durability with their gold-based cross-point contact system. The thick gold layer makes the electrical contact enclosure self-cleaning and gives the key switch permanent protection against corrosion, guaranteeing more than 100 million actuations without loss of quality. In addition, double-shot PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate) keycaps feature two layers of plastic molded together for reliable durability with key legends molded into the caps for dependable rigidity and wear resistance.
Our new QD-OLED monitor: same ultra-immersive experience, new competitive price point
Hot off unveiling the world's first QD-OLED gaming monitor earlier this year – subsequently named Tom's Guide Product of the Year and GamesRadar+ Best Ultrawide Monitor – we're continuing to expand our QD-OLED offerings with the introduction of a new Alienware 34 Curved QD-OLED Gaming Monitor (AW3423DWF), delivering a premier and immersive gaming experience now at USD $1,099.99 or CAD $1,399.99.
For those seeking increased realism the Alienware 34" Curved QD-OLED Gaming Monitor delivers stunning picture quality and ultra-smooth frame rates that transform your entire gaming experience. Just like the previously launched AW3423DW model, this new monitor offers the same impressive picture qualities of Quantum Dot-OLED technology including consistent color uniformity, wide color coverage, deep black tones and incredible brightness. With WQHD (3440 x 1440) resolution and blazing-fast 0.1ms GtG response time, gamers can stay ahead of the competition without stuttering, input lag or motion blur while playing fast-paced games. It also supports the latest generation of consoles with VRR up to 120Hz.
This new QD-OLED monitor is built with premium features including:
- AMD FreeSync™ Premium Pro and VESA® AdaptiveSync Display certification: Experience tear-free, low-latency, HDR gaming.
- 165Hz Native Refresh Rate: Allow fast-moving graphics to be seen with incredible clarity so gamers can react quicker in the game.
- New OSD Joystick: Access various preset game modes (FPS, MOBA/RTS, RPG), and easily switch to the new Creator mode if you're a gamer who also creates content.
- TUV-certified ComfortView Plus: Helps reduce blue-light emissions without sacrificing any of the brilliant QD-OLED colors.
Available in dark side of the moon color and now with a slimmer design to facilitate easier wall mounting. It ships standard with 3-year limited hardware warranty.vi
For More Information
To learn more about these new products, you can check out our press kit here.
Pricing & Availability
Availability: All three new devices will be available in the U.S. and Canada later this Fall.
Pricing:
- Alienware Aurora R15 pricing will be revealed closer to availability.
- Alienware Tenkeyless Keyboard (AW420K) will start at USD $129.99 / CAD $189.99.
- Alienware 34 QD-OLED Gaming Monitor (AW3423DWF) will start at USD $1,099.99 / CAD $1,399.99.
i Based on internal testing, September 2022. Actual results may vary based on factors such as configuration.
ii Results may vary based on factors such as configuration and temperature.
iii Based on internal testing, September 2022, in Cinebench R20 multi-core tests.
iv Based on internal testing, September 2022. Actual results may vary based on factors such as configuration.
v Industry-leading Cherry MX Red switches provide consistent high-performance with a guaranteed 100 million actuation lifecycle to ensure each command gets communicated correctly.
vi Limited Hardware Warranty is available by writing Dell USA LP, Attn: Warranties, One Dell Way, Round Rock, TX 78682 or See dell.com/warranty.
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SOURCE Alienware | 2022-09-27T16:51:51+00:00 | wafb.com | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2022/09/27/alienware-upgrades-flagship-desktop-reveals-tenkeyless-keyboard-new-qd-oled-display/ |
Consultancy's Notable Growth Fueled by Expanded Capabilities, Partnerships, Acquisitions & Data Mindset
AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Shift Paradigm, a marketing and revenue operations consultancy focused on helping organizations align people, processes and technology around growth, today announced it earned spot #13 on the Austin Fast 50, the Austin Business Journal's annual ranking of the region's fastest growing companies. This news comes on the heels of Shift Paradigm's ranking at #1914 on the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America for 2022, with a revenue growth rate of 316%, and recent acquisition of Ergo, a world-class email marketing company.
"It means a lot to be in the great company of Austin's Fast 50 businesses," said Elizabeth Ross, chief executive officer at Shift Paradigm. "As an organization, we've made great strides this year from strategic acquisitions to partnerships that have fueled growth and expanded our client services. We move forward with a truth-through-data mindset for growth, not only for ourselves, but for the clients we partner with."
Austin Business Journal's Fast 50 contest looks at the last three years of revenue growth to determine winners, in this case for 2019 to 2021. This year's Fast 50 offers a unique look at the companies that were able to keep up growth as the pandemic took hold. The awards were open to all companies based in Travis, Williamson, Hays, Caldwell, Bastrop and Burnet counties with at least $500,000 in net revenue. All submissions were reviewed by accounting firm Maxwell Locke & Ritter.
To learn more about Shift Paradigm, please visit www.shiftparadigm.com.
Shift Paradigm unleashes the power of insights, enabled by data fluidity and creative go-to-market strategies to accelerate revenue and drive market growth. With 200+ employees in North America, Shift Paradigm is aligning sales and marketing in organizations around the world, digitally transforming customer experiences in the B2B and B2C spaces. For more information, visit us at www.shiftparadigm.com or email us at go@shiftparadigm.com.
Shift Paradigm and the Shift Paradigm logo are trademarks of Shift Paradigm. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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SOURCE Shift Paradigm | 2022-10-21T17:00:15+00:00 | wsfa.com | https://www.wsfa.com/prnewswire/2022/10/21/shift-paradigm-named-13-austins-fast-50-by-austin-business-journal/ |
Some Republican senators are feeling uneasy about the reports that Justice Clarence Thomas accepted tens of thousands of dollars worth of hospitality, luxury travel and other favors from a conservative donor — and that unease could fuel bipartisan support for a Supreme Court ethics reform bill.
Their growing concern comes amid declining public approval of the Supreme Court and evidence that Americans increasingly believe the courts and law enforcement agencies have become politicized.
“I think we are moving dangerously close to a place where the public has lost faith and trust in the credibility of our governing institutions. They don’t trust the court, I don’t think what’s going on with Justice Thomas is helping anything,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said.
Murkowski said she spoke on Tuesday with Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) about a proposal he is circulating among colleagues to require the Supreme Court to adopt a judicial code of conduct. She said she supported the approach outlined in the proposal: to require justices — not members of Congress — to set ethics rules for the Supreme Court.
“I see no reason not to be able to support this other than are Republicans worried that we don’t want to embarrass the conservative members of the court. We need to be worried about the credibility of the court right now. If I were Chief Justice Roberts, I would have been working on this the minute this news broke,” she said.
Reporting by ProPublica that Thomas failed to disclose luxury trips he accepted regularly from Texas billionaire Harlan Crow, as well as the sale of a property in which he owned a one-third interest to one of Crow’s company has prompted a public outcry.
Democrats on Capitol Hill are calling on Chief Justice John Roberts to investigate the matter and the Senate Judiciary Committee is planning to hold a hearing about the high court’s ethical standards.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), declined to comment on directly the allegations that Thomas vacationed on Crow’s superyacht or regularly flew on his Bombardier Global 5000 jet, without disclosing it, but she said she supports the Judiciary Committee looking into the court’s ethics.
“I think it’s an issue the Judiciary Committee should take a look at,” she said. “I think the Judiciary Committee should have a hearing and hear from the Judicial Conference.”
The Judicial Conference is the policymaking body for federal courts.
She said senators should “hear from legal experts” and “then make some sort of decision.”
Collins said when she learned of that Thomas had accepted hospitality and travel from a wealthy friend, “my reaction was that I wondered what the judicial practices were in this area.”
“I know that personal hospitality is exempt and that he has known the Crow family for a long time, they’re personal friends, but that doesn’t usually extend to the use of airplanes to pick up someone to bring someone to a site,” she said.
The 1978 Ethics in Government Act requires high-level government officials, including Supreme Court justices, to file publicly available financial disclosure statements.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, noted on the floor Tuesday that while the disclosure rules exempt food, lodging or entertainment received as personal hospitality, they do not exempt transportation and travel.
He said “each one of those trips” Thomas took on Crow’s plane “seems to be a slam-dunk violation of this provision.”
He also pointed out that the law required Thomas to disclose “any purchase, sale or exchange in real property other than the property used solely as a personal residence of the reporting individual.”
Members of the Supreme Court do not have to abide by the Judicial Conference’s code of conduct for U.S. judges, which binds every other member of the federal judiciary.
When Democrats on the Judiciary Committee asked Roberts to adopt that code of conduct for himself and fellow justices, Roberts responded that the high court “had no reason to adopt the Code of Conduct as its definitive source of ethical guidance.”
Even Republicans who don’t think Congress should police the Supreme Court’s ethics tacitly acknowledge that Thomas’s close relationship with the Dallas businessman, which comes with many fancy perks, may appear problematic to regular Americans.
“My first reaction was the court being a separate branch of government should have the first opportunity to police it or to monitor or to respond to it,” Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said.
He noted that Thomas plans to amend his financial disclosure documents to reflect the real estate transaction he made with Crow.
“I think sometimes we get to the point where we see something bad happening and we say, ‘Well, we have to do something,’ but we don’t know what it is and we end up doing something in a knee-jerk fashion,” he said, adding Thomas’s acceptance of hospitality and travel “is being identified” in a negative light.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), the ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he thinks the court will move on its own to adopt new ethical guidelines and that Congress shouldn’t intervene.
“A lot of us are really leery of micromanaging the other branch but I think that’s where the court is headed, at least that’s where I hope they are,” he said.
“I think the court is on the track of making sure the perception problem is dealt with,” he added. “Clarence Thomas is a friend. I like him and I take his word for what happened. The reason we have these [ethics] rules on our side [of government] is to make sure people feel confident and I think that’s where the court is headed.”
Other Republicans are taking a harder line in defending Thomas.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said “most of” the criticism of Thomas is “partisan.”
“When I look at Clarence Thomas’s long career, I see a courageous intellectual,” he said. “He’s been an amazingly independent sort of libertarian-leaning intellectual.”
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), a member of the Judiciary panel, said, “I think the topic of judicial ethics is certainly an appropriate topic for the Judiciary Committee” but said “I don’t think that’s actually what Senate Democrats are interested in.”
“Senate Democrats are driving a smear campaign directed very particularly at Justice Clarence Thomas because they despise Justice Thomas. They disagree with his jurisprudence,” he said.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) didn’t outright defend Thomas, but on Tuesday defended the Supreme Court’s independence and said he had “total confidence” in Roberts to handle any ethical issues facing the court.
The Supreme Court controversy comes at the same time two federal district court judges — one appointed by former President Trump and one appointed by former President Obama — issued dueling rulings on the abortion pill Mifepristone.
And the Senate’s confirmation process for Supreme Court nominees has become more and more partisan over the past two decades.
Murkowski argues that it’s important to restore Americans’ faith in their institutions, including the federal judiciary.
“I think there have been some recent rulings that have rattled people and their confidence in the impartiality of our process that [judicial nominees] go through for confirmation,” she said.
“We’re losing — I don’t know — credibility in our systems,” she said. | 2023-04-20T13:07:10+00:00 | kxnet.com | https://www.kxnet.com/hill-politics/thomass-ethics-issues-stir-gop-unease-set-up-reform-push/ |
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is confronting no shortage of difficult issues as he travels to New York this week for the annual gathering of world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly.
When he addressed last year’s General Assembly, Biden focused on broad themes of global partnership, urging world leaders to act with haste against the coronavirus, climate change and human rights abuses. And he offered assurances that his presidency marked a return of American leadership to international institutions following Donald Trump’s “America First”-driven foreign policy.
But one year later, global dynamics have dramatically changed.
Stewart Patrick, senior fellow and director of the Global Order and Institutions Program at the Washington think tank Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, wrote in an analysis that Biden’s task this year is “immense” compared to his first address to the U.N. as president.
“Last year, the U.S. leader won easy plaudits as the ‘anti-Trump,’ pledging that ‘America was back,’” Patrick said. “This year demands more. The liberal, rules-based international system is reeling, battered by Russian aggression, Chinese ambitions, authoritarian assaults, a halting pandemic recovery, quickening climate change, skepticism of the U.N.’s relevance, and gnawing doubts about American staying power.”
In a tightly packed visit to New York for the 77th General Assembly, Biden is set to address world leaders, meet with the new British Prime Minister Liz Truss and prod allies to do their part to help the U.N. meet an $18 billion target to replenish the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. He’ll also host heads of state at a reception and plans to make a significant announcement on global food security.
Beyond diplomacy, the president is scheduled to squeeze in a pair of political fundraisers. This year’s gathering comes less than eight weeks before pivotal midterm elections in the United States.
His Wednesday address is expected to have a heavy focus on Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, where Ukrainian troops in recent weeks have retaken control of large stretches of territory near Kharkiv that were seized by Russian forces earlier in the nearly 7-month-old war.
But even as Ukrainian forces have racked up battlefield wins, much of Europe is feeling painful blowback from economic sanctions levied against Russia to punish Moscow for its invasion. A vast reduction in Russian oil and gas has led to a sharp jump in energy prices, skyrocketing inflation and growing risk of Europe slipping into a recession.
“The main thrust of his presentation when it comes to Ukraine will really be about the United Nations Charter, about the foundational principle at the heart of that charter that countries cannot conquer their neighbors by force. cannot seize and acquire territory by force,” White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said of Biden’s plans for his address to world leaders.
Carrie Filipetti, executive director of the Vandenberg Coalition, a conservative foreign policy group, said it’s important for Biden to make a robust case to allies — and U.S. lawmakers who will be watching his speech closely — that the investment they’ve collectively made in arming Ukraine and the pain that Europe’s economy is enduring will ultimately pay off.
“He should be trying to compel and demonstrate how ... American support and allied support has been instrumental in helping to bring on this sort of renewed wave of success for the Ukrainians, but that it is very dependent on that continuing not only from the United States, but I think especially from European partners,” said Filipetti, who served as senior policy adviser for the U.S. mission to the United Nations during the Trump administration.
At the White House, there’s also growing concern that Russian President Vladimir Putin might further escalate the conflict after recent setbacks.
Biden, in a CBS “60 Minutes” interview that aired on Sunday, warned Putin that deploying nuclear or chemical weapons in Ukraine would result in a “consequential” response from the United States. The administration first warned in March, just weeks into the war, that Russia might seek to use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine.
“Don’t. Don’t. Don’t,” Biden warned. “It would change the face of war unlike anything since World War II.”
Biden’s visit to the U.N. also comes as his administration’s efforts to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal appears stalled.
The deal brokered by the Obama administration — and scrapped by Trump in 2018 — provided billions of dollars in sanctions relief in exchange for Iran’s agreement to dismantle much of its nuclear program and open its facilities to extensive international inspection.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who is also set to address the U.N. assembly this week, told “60 Minutes” that Tehran would offer no concessions to reach a deal.
“The new administration in the U.S., they claim that they are different from the Trump administration,” Raisi said. “They have said it in their messages to us. But we haven’t witnessed any changes.”
Sullivan said no breakthrough with Iran is expected during the General Assembly. At the same time, Republicans, a few Democrats and Israeli officials are pressing the administration to abandon the nuclear deal.
Sullivan said that Biden would make clear in his speech that a deal can still be done “if Iran is prepared to be serious about its obligations.” He added that administration officials would be consulting with fellow signatories of the 2015 deal on the sidelines of this week’s meeting.
“I think our allies will be curious to see, does the president want to change direction?” said Richard Goldberg, a senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a policy institute focusing on foreign policy and national security. “Does he want to return to some sort of a pressure path, reconstitute a multilateral campaign of pressure?”
This year’s U.N. gathering is back to being a full-scale, in-person event after two years of curtailed activity due to the pandemic. In 2020, the in-person gathering was canceled and leaders instead delivered prerecorded speeches; last year was a mix of in-person and prerecorded speeches.
While China’s Xi Jinping won’t be present, his country’s conduct and intentions will loom large during the leaders’ talks.
Last month, the U.N. human rights office raised concerns about possible “crimes against humanity” in China’s western region against Uyghurs and other largely Muslim ethnic groups. Beijing has vowed to suspend cooperation with the office and blasted what it described as a Western plot to undermine China’s rise.
Meanwhile, China’s government on Monday said Biden’s statement in the “60 Minutes” interview that American forces would defend Taiwan if Beijing tried to invade the self-ruled island was a violation of U.S. commitments on the matter, but it gave no indication of possible retaliation.
The White House said after the interview that there has been no change in U.S. policy on Taiwan, which China claims as its own. That policy says Washington wants to see Taiwan’s status resolved peacefully but doesn’t say whether U.S. forces might be sent in response to a Chinese attack.
Tensions between the U.S. and China over Taiwan have been heightened since Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei last month, becoming the highest-ranking U.S. official to travel to the island since House Speaker Newt Gingrich visited in 1997.
Follow AP coverage of the U.N. General Assembly at https://apnews.com/hub/united-nations-general-assembly | 2022-09-20T18:49:04+00:00 | washingtonpost.com | https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/one-year-later-growing-global-perils-as-biden-returns-to-un/2022/09/20/8c791d54-390b-11ed-b8af-0a04e5dc3db6_story.html |
In North Carolina, a hearing on Tuesday is making a legal mess of a major U.S. Supreme Court elections case known as Moore v. Harper. It involves a once-fringe theory that claims state legislatures have a special power over federal elections that cannot be checked by state courts or state constitutions.
Here & Now‘s Scott Tong speaks with NPR Washington correspondent Hansi Lo Wang.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2023-03-13T18:51:52+00:00 | kanw.com | https://www.kanw.com/2023-03-13/north-carolina-hearing-could-impact-supreme-court-elections-case |
NEW YORK (AP) — Jennifer Shah, a tearful member of “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” who insisted she is not the character she plays on the show, was sentenced Friday to 6 1/2 years in prison for defrauding thousands of people, many of them vulnerable or older, in a telemarketing scam that stretched nearly a decade.
Shah, 49, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein as a leader of a nationwide fraud that targeted people who were often unsophisticated electronically and could least afford to lose their money.
Shah pleaded guilty in July to a conspiracy charge. Prosecutors sought a 10-year prison term, which would have been a year under the federal sentencing guidelines’ minimum recommendation but well above the three years in prison that Shah’s lawyer suggested.
At the outset of Friday’s hearing, Stein cautioned a courtroom packed with Shah’s family and friends and members of the media that he was not sentencing the person people see on television.
Stein said that person was “simply a character. It’s acting.” And he added that the housewives program “involves role playing. … It’s a heavily scripted operation.”
His words were echoed by Shah, who told the judge: “Reality TV has nothing to do with reality.”
She apologized to the “innocent people” she said she’d hurt and pledged to pay $6.5 million in restitution and forfeiture when she gets out of prison.
“I struggled to accept responsibility for the longest time because I deluded myself into believing … that I did nothing wrong,” Shah said, calling it her “own fractured reality.”
“For years I blamed other people for putting me in this position,” believing she was duped and manipulated, she said.
“I alone am responsible for my terrible decisions. It was all my fault and all my wrongdoing,” Shah said. “I have no one to blame but myself. … I wish I could have stood outside myself and seen the harm I was causing and changed course. I am profoundly and deeply sorry.”
During the hearing, defense lawyer Priya Chaudhry said her client has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent months.
“Remorse can be genuine even if it shows up late. … Her apology is real,” she said.
After the sentencing, Shah left the courthouse without speaking to reporters. She will report to prison at a later date.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Sobelman said Shah was a leader of a “clear and brazen fraud” that stretched from 2012 to March 2021 as bogus services were promoted as enabling people to make substantial amounts of money through online businesses. He called her the most culpable among more than 30 defendants.
“She always knew what she was doing wrong,” he said, noting her efforts to slow the investigation into her misdeeds by lying to investigators and taking evasive actions to obscure her true role in the fraud.
In a presentence submission, prosecutors said she used profits from the fraud to live a life of luxury that included a nearly 10,000-square-foot mansion with eight fireplaces dubbed “Shah Ski Chalet” in the resort haven of Park City, Utah. The home, they said, is now listed for sale for $7.4 million.
They said she also rented an apartment in midtown Manhattan, leased a Porsche Panamera, bought hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of luxury goods and funded various cosmetic procedures while cheating the Internal Revenue Service of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The government said she also seemed to mock the charges against her by claiming that the “only thing I’m guilty of is being Shah-mazing” and then she profited from it by marketing “Justice for Jen” merchandise after her arrest as she directed others to lie while trying to conceal her conduct from investigators.
At sentencing, Shah said proceeds from merchandise sales, which have been shut down, will go to victims.
The judge, though, said victims may be made whole financially, but they “can’t really be made whole emotionally.”
“Their lives have been turned upside down,” Stein said. | 2023-01-07T05:19:20+00:00 | wjhl.com | https://www.wjhl.com/entertainment/ap-entertainment/ap-real-housewives-of-salt-lake-city-member-faces-sentencing/ |
Narrated by actor Michael B. Jordan, the nature documentary series “America the Beautiful” premieres in its entirety exclusively on Disney+, starting Monday, July 4.
Disney+ said it is the “jaw-dropping” story of North America’s fauna and scenic landscapes.
“We taker a journey through the mountainous Northwest, the steamy South, the arid West and the endless Heartland to witness the animals of North America overcoming the elements and thriving,” Disney+ added.
The series is made with National Geographic and is from the award-winning producers of “Planet Earth,” “Frozen Planet,” and the “Disneynature” films, according to Disney+.
You can stream “America the Beautiful” in its entirety beginning Monday, July 4 with a Disney+ subscription, starting at $7.99 per month. | 2022-07-04T00:46:56+00:00 | masslive.com | https://www.masslive.com/tv/2022/07/how-to-watch-the-america-the-beautiful-nature-documentary-series-starting-monday-july-4.html |
LOS ANGELES — Quinton Byfield had a goal and an assist, Gabe Vilardi and Drew Doughty scored in the third period, and the Los Angeles Kings beat the San Jose Sharks 4-3 on Wednesday night.
Timo Meier had a goal and an assist, Alexander Barabanov and Nick Bonino also scored, but the Sharks couldn’t sweep back-to-back games after winning at Arizona on Tuesday. James Reimer had 33 saves.
Vilardi alertly redirected Sean Durzi’s shot from the left point to put the Kings ahead 3-2 with 7:20 to go in the third period.
Doughty finished off an odd-man rush with 6:27 left for the 4-2 advantage before Barabanov scored with 2:06 remaining, but the Sharks couldn’t come up with another goal to snatch a point.
Meier tied it 2-all with 9:49 remaining in the third. He beat Copley on a wrist shot from the left circle on the power play for his 24th goal.
The Kings’ top line combined for the opening goal 5:59 into the game. Kempe buried his team-leading 18th goal from the top of the paint off an alert pass from Byfield, who build up speed from the neutral zone to get behind the net.
Bonino capitalized on a gaffe by Copley to tie it at 1 1:20 into the second. Unable to cleanly catch Erik Karlsson’s shot off a faceoff win, Copley tried to sweep the puck away with his stick, only to send it right to Bonino. He picked up his fifth goal with a backhand from the right circle.
Byfield put the Kings up 2-1 at 6:58 of the second period, scoring his first goal in 16 games this season by chopping down Mikey Anderson’s shot from the point.
WORTH NOTING
Sharks D Scott Harrington missed the final two periods because of an undisclosed injury. … Kings F Viktor Arvidsson did not play because of a non-COVID illness.
UP NEXT
Sharks: Host Edmonton on Friday night.
Kings: Host New Jersey on Friday night.
___
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2023-01-12T07:06:06+00:00 | washingtonpost.com | https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nhl/kings-pull-away-in-third-hold-on-for-4-3-win-over-sharks/2023/01/12/bd109334-923e-11ed-90f8-53661ac5d9b9_story.html |
BOZEMAN, Mont., Nov. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Zoot Art Gallery in Bozeman is pleased to announce its upcoming Employee Art Show and Handcrafted Gift Fair. The company recognizes and encourages employees' creative growth and is honored to celebrate Zoot's in-house artisans, crafters, small business owners and their families.
The exhibit will feature a broad spectrum of artistry and craftsmanship, including mixed media, paintings, photography, fiber, beading, home décor and more. Gallery visitors have the opportunity to support local artisans and crafters while shopping for unique gifts and singular, creative works.
The show is open to the public and will run Monday, December 5th – Friday, December 23rd, in the Zoot Mezzanine. Public hours are 9 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday. An opening reception will be held on Wednesday, December 7th from 5-7 pm. Admission and parking are free.
The corporate space rotates exhibits throughout the year, featuring Montana artists selected by the Zoot Committee for the Arts. The gallery has over 100 square feet of vertical exhibit surfaces and boasts an expansive open area for dimensional work. One exhibiting artist described it as "...arguably the finest gallery space in the area." All work sold through the gallery is commission-free and underwriting is provided for opening reception artists.
For more information, visit zootartgallery.com or contact Carol Lehmann, Gallery Coordinator, at carol.lehmann@zootweb.com.
About Zoot
Zoot Enterprises, Inc. is a global provider of advanced origination, acquisition and decision management solutions for financial institutions. We offer comprehensive and flexible platforms for specific business needs, including loan origination, fraud detection and prevention, data acquisition, and more. https://zootsolutions.com/
MEDIA CONTACT
Carol Lehmann
Gallery Coordinator
555 Zoot Enterprises Lane
Bozeman, MT 59718
carol.lehmann@zootweb.com
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SOURCE Zoot Enterprises | 2022-11-30T18:16:59+00:00 | wagmtv.com | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/11/30/zoot-employee-art-show-handcrafted-gift-fair/ |
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — An upbeat Damar Hamlin said Tuesday he is “not home quite just yet,” as the Bills safety spent his second day in a Buffalo hospital undergoing a series of tests to determine why he went into cardiac arrest on the field last week and when he can be discharged.
“Special thank-you to Buffalo General it’s been nothing but love since arrival!” Hamlin added in his Twitter post, while asking his followers to keep him in their prayers.
Buffalo General Medical Center issued a news release saying Hamlin was in good spirits and was joined by his parents, Mario and Nina Hamlin, as well as his younger brother, Damir.
The hospital said its team of doctors was “tasked with identifying any possible causes of the event, potentially treat any pathology that may be found, as well as plan for his recovery, discharge and rehabilitation.”
Hamlin went into cardiac arrest and needed to be resuscitated after being struck in the chest by Bengals receiver Tee Higgins while making what appeared to be a routine tackle during the first quarter of Buffalo’s since-canceled game at Cincinnati on Jan. 2. The 24-year-old from McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, a Pittsburgh exurb, spent a week at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he experienced what doctors are calling “a remarkable recovery.”
Able to breathe on his own as well as walk and talk, Hamlin was transferred to Buffalo on Monday for the next step of his treatment and recovery, while also being closer to home and his teammates. He is listed in stable condition.
Bills coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane were among the first to visit Hamlin upon his return to Buffalo.
The Bills (13-3) return to practice on Wednesday to prepare to host their division rival Miami Dolphins (9-8) in a wild-card playoff game on Sunday.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | 2023-01-11T12:55:40+00:00 | upmatters.com | https://www.upmatters.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-doctors-bills-hamlin-in-good-spirits-undergoing-testing/ |
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Please enter a valid email address. | 2022-09-23T09:57:13+00:00 | pgatour.com | https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2023/sanderson-farms-championship/hole-locations.html |
The Department of Transportation announced new rules this week intended to make many airline restrooms more accessible for people in wheelchairs.
New single-aisle airplanes will be required to be large enough so a male in the 95th percentile of weight can approach, enter, and maneuver as necessary to use the aircraft lavatory. The new rules are only for new aircraft, meaning it could take years before most airplanes have accessible lavatories.
“Traveling can be stressful enough without worrying about being able to access a restroom; yet today, millions of wheelchair users are forced to choose between dehydrating themselves before boarding a plane or avoiding air travel altogether,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “We are proud to announce this rule that will make airplane bathrooms larger and more accessible, ensuring travelers in wheelchairs are afforded the same access and dignity as the rest of the traveling public.”
SEE MORE: Solving the airline pilot shortage may require multiple solutions
The rule is authorized through the Air Carrier Access Act.
Double-aisle airplanes have been required to be wheelchair-accessible since 1992.
"The lavatory should be big enough to have the passenger, the on-board wheelchair, and a personal attendant entirely enclosed inside with the door closed. It should be possible for the passenger on the on-board wheelchair to pass through the lavatory door a sufficient distance into the lavatory to accomplish a transfer from the on-board wheelchair to the toilet seat," the rules for double-aisle airplanes state.
Making airplanes more accessible has long been an issue. The group All Wheels Up reports that many wheelchair users are concerned about flying due to the risk of injury or damage to their wheelchair.
The group also says because there is generally not a dedicated seat for wheelchair users, accommodating someone in a wheelchair can delay flights by an average of 16 minutes. The delay can cause over $1,000 in costs to airlines, All Wheels Up said.
Trending stories at Scrippsnews.com | 2023-07-28T12:24:25+00:00 | tmj4.com | https://www.tmj4.com/airplane-restrooms-to-become-more-accessible-for-wheelchair-users |
‘Orange Is the New Black’ actor, former NFL player Brad William Henke dies at 56
(CNN) – Former NFL player and “Orange Is the New Black” actor Brad William Henke died at age 56.
His agent said he died peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, but the cause of his death was not released.
Henke played football with the New York Giants, including a trip to the Super Bowl, before injuries led to the end of his football career in 1994.
He then went from the football field to TV and movie screens. He appeared in more than 40 movies.
His breakout role came in 2017 on the hit Netflix series “Orange Is the New Black.”
He played Desi Piscatella, a gay corrections officer at Litchfield Federal Penitentiary.
The role earned him a SAG award for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series.
Henke is survived by his mother, sister, wife, stepson, stepdaughter and a grandchild.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | 2022-12-02T20:24:31+00:00 | kmvt.com | https://www.kmvt.com/2022/12/02/orange-is-new-black-actor-former-nfl-player-brad-william-henke-dies-56/ |
Extreme cold is disrupting weekend plans in Northern New England. In Maine, people are urged to stay indoors. Even the opening of the National Toboggan Championship has been postponed.
Copyright 2023 NPR
Extreme cold is disrupting weekend plans in Northern New England. In Maine, people are urged to stay indoors. Even the opening of the National Toboggan Championship has been postponed.
Copyright 2023 NPR | 2023-02-04T13:23:26+00:00 | nprillinois.org | https://www.nprillinois.org/2023-02-04/parts-of-maine-are-experiencing-the-coldest-temperatures-in-40-years |
Former Surgeon General Jerome Adams says he is still feeling the impact of the “Trump hangover,” nearly two years out from his stint in the Trump administration.
“People still are afraid to touch anything that is associated with Trump,” Adams told The Washington Post in an interview published Friday.
Adams, who served as surgeon general for nearly all of former President Trump’s term, said he had a difficult time finding a position in academia or the corporate world after he left the administration.
“It was a lot harder than he thought to find a landing spot because of the Trump Effect,” his wife, Lacey Adams, told the Post.
Adams was eventually hired as the executive director of health equity initiatives at Purdue University, where former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) serves as president.
While the former surgeon general clarified to the Post that he was “not complaining” about his current situation, Adams noted that “it is context.”
“[Trump is] a force that really does take the air out of the room,” he said.
The former president announced his third bid for the presidency last week, a move that Adams said will likely “make things more difficult” for him.
Trump’s 2024 announcement was clouded by the GOP’s lackluster performance in this month’s midterm elections, which many in the party blamed on the former president. | 2022-11-25T22:10:19+00:00 | ourquadcities.com | https://www.ourquadcities.com/hill-politics/ex-surgeon-general-people-still-are-afraid-to-touch-anything-that-is-associated-with-trump/ |
TORONTO — The Boston Red Sox put right-handers Tanner Houck and Kutter Crawford on the restricted list before Monday night’s game in Toronto, the opener of a four-game series north of the border.
Houck had previously acknowledged being unvaccinated.
Players who go on the restricted list because they are unvaccinated against COVID-19 do not get paid and do not accrue major league service time.
Catcher Kevin Plawecki rejoined the team Monday after missing seven games while on the COVID-19 injured list, but has not yet been added to the roster.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora has missed the past four games after being infected with COVID-19. Boston infielder Jonathan Araúz has been on the COVID-19 IL since April 19.
The Red Sox recalled right-hander Tyler Danish from Triple-A Providence and selected righty John Schreiber from Triple-A.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2022-04-25T21:27:12+00:00 | washingtonpost.com | https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/mlb/bosox-put-rhps-houck-crawford-on-restricted-list-at-toronto/2022/04/25/e1f2bbfe-c4db-11ec-8cff-33b059f4c1b7_story.html |
Olympic gold medalist Tori Bowie dies aged 32
By Jill Martin, CNN
American sprinter and long jumper Tori Bowie — a three-time Olympic medalist and a two-time world champion in track and field — has died, according to her agent, Kimberly Holland. Bowie was 32 years old.
Holland told CNN on Wednesday that Bowie was found dead at home in Florida and that the cause of death is not known yet.
“We’re devasted [sic] to share the very sad news that Tori Bowie has passed away,” an Instagram post from Bowie’s representation and Holland’s company, Icon Management Inc., said.
“We’ve lost a client, dear friend, daughter and sister. Tori was a champion…a beacon of light that shined so bright! We’re truly heartbroken and our prayers are with the family, friends and everyone that loved her.”
The post also added: “As the story continues to develop, we ask that you please respect our privacy.”
USA Track and Field said on Twitter that it was “deeply saddened” to hear of Bowie’s death, adding that her “impact on the sport is immeasurable.”
Bowie won three medals at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio: gold in the 4x100m relay, silver in the 100 meters and bronze in the 200 meters. At the 2017 world championships, she won gold in both the 100 meters and the 4x100m.
A native of Sandhill, Mississippi, Bowie was a three-time All-American at the University of Southern Mississippi.
Bowie’s last official competition was June 2022. Her last appearance on the world stage was in 2019 at the world championships in Doha, when she finished fourth in the long jump.
World Athletics (WA) said in an Instagram post: “World Athletics is deeply saddened by the passing of Tori Bowie, the 2017 world 100m champion and multiple Olympic medallist.
“Condolences go out to her family and friends.”
In response to the WA post, Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce said the news “breaks my heart,” while US long jumper and Mississippi native Brittney Reese said on Twitter: “You have made a lot of us proud thank you for representing our state of Mississippi like you did … RIP !”
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | 2023-05-03T15:16:41+00:00 | keyt.com | https://keyt.com/sports/national-sports/cnn-sports/2023/05/03/olympic-gold-medalist-tori-bowie-dies-aged-32/ |
WASHINGTON, March 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Fannie Mae (OTCQB: FNMA) announced today that it has executed two Credit Insurance Risk Transfer™ (CIRT™) transactions. As part of Fannie Mae's ongoing effort to reduce taxpayer risk by increasing the role of private capital in the mortgage market, CIRT 2023-2 and CIRT 2023-3 transferred a combined $926 million of mortgage credit risk to private insurers and reinsurers. Since inception to date, Fannie Mae has acquired approximately $23.5 billion of insurance coverage on $793 billion of single-family loans through the CIRT program, measured at the time of issuance for both post-acquisition (bulk) and front-end transactions.
"We appreciate our continued partnership with the 20 insurers and reinsurers that have committed to write coverage for these deals," said Rob Schaefer, Fannie Mae Vice President, Capital Markets.
The covered loan pool for CIRT 2023-2 consists of approximately 44,000 single-family mortgage loans with an outstanding unpaid principal balance of approximately $13.8 billion. The covered pool includes collateral with loan-to-value (LTV) ratios of 60.01 percent to 80.00 percent acquired between February 2022 and March 2022. The loans included in this transaction are fixed-rate, generally 30-year term, fully amortizing mortgages and were underwritten using rigorous credit standards and enhanced risk controls.
The covered loan pool for CIRT 2023-3 consists of approximately 54,000 single-family mortgage loans with an outstanding unpaid principal balance of approximately $18 billion. The covered pool includes collateral with loan-to-value (LTV) ratios of 80.01 percent to 97.00 percent acquired between January 2022 and March 2022. The loans included in this transaction are fixed-rate, generally 30-year term, fully amortizing mortgages and were underwritten using rigorous credit standards and enhanced risk controls.
With CIRT 2023-2, which became effective February 1, 2023, Fannie Mae will retain risk for the first 95 basis points of loss on the $13.8 billion covered loan pool. If the $131 million retention layer is exhausted, 19 reinsurers will cover the next 365 basis points of loss on the pool, up to a maximum coverage of $503.5 million.
With CIRT 2023-3, which also became effective February 1, 2023, Fannie Mae will retain risk for the first 100 basis points of loss on the $18 billion covered loan pool. If the $179.8 million retention layer is exhausted, 18 reinsurers will cover the next 235 basis points of loss on the pool, up to a maximum coverage of $422.5 million.
Coverage for these deals is provided based upon actual losses for a term of 12.5 years. Depending on the paydown of the insured pools and the principal amount of insured loans that become seriously delinquent, the aggregate coverage amounts may be reduced at the one-year anniversary and each month thereafter. The coverage on these deals may be canceled by Fannie Mae at any time on or after the five-year anniversary of the effective date by paying a cancellation fee.
As of December 31, 2022, approximately $1.1 trillion in outstanding UPB of loans in our single-family conventional guaranty book of business were included in a reference pool for a credit risk transfer transaction.
To promote transparency and to help insurers and reinsurers evaluate the CIRT program, Fannie Mae provides ongoing, robust disclosure data, as well as access to news, resources, and analytics through its credit risk transfer webpages. This includes Fannie Mae's innovative Data Dynamics® tool that enables market participants to interact with and analyze both CIRT deals that are currently outstanding in the market and Fannie Mae's historical loan dataset. For more information on individual CIRT transactions, including pricing, please visit our Credit Insurance Risk Transfer webpage.
About Fannie Mae
Fannie Mae advances equitable and sustainable access to homeownership and quality, affordable rental housing for millions of people across America. We enable the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage and drive responsible innovation to make homebuying and renting easier, fairer, and more accessible. To learn more, visit:
fanniemae.com | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | Blog
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SOURCE Fannie Mae | 2023-03-27T15:57:29+00:00 | uppermichiganssource.com | https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/prnewswire/2023/03/27/fannie-mae-executes-two-credit-insurance-risk-transfer-transactions-318-billion-single-family-loans/ |
Former President Trump and his allies think they have found the chink in Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R) armor.
Trump and those around him have recently sought to paint DeSantis as an opportunist and flip-flopper. It’s the common thread in a number of recent Trump attacks — on topics including Social Security, Ukraine and even COVID.
In a speech in Iowa early this week, Trump accused DeSantis of wanting to “decimate” Social Security.
After DeSantis issued a statement on Ukraine that included the assertion that the war was a “territorial dispute” with no “vital” U.S. interests at stake, Trump — who holds a position that is broadly similar — accused DeSantis of having mimicked him.
Meanwhile, on COVID, Trump has sought to narrow the perception that there was any meaningful difference in approach between the Florida governor’s actions on the pandemic and his own.
On each of these points, Trump does have legitimate material to work with.
DeSantis, while a congressman, backed nonbinding measures that would have raised the retirement age to 70 — though he now says he would not “mess” with Social Security.
When Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, DeSantis was critical of then-President Obama for the supposed weakness of his response. DeSantis advocated arming Ukraine at that time.
And on COVID, DeSantis did indeed announce a lockdown of his state in the early days of the pandemic — even though he went on to become a fierce critic of many COVID-related restrictions.
DeSantis has for the most part avoided responding to Trump’s baiting — though when a Trump-backing super-PAC filed an ethics complaint against him on Wednesday, a DeSantis spokesperson called it “frivolous and politically motivated.”
The Florida governor has been reluctant to say anything openly about whether he will enter the race, even though all signs suggest he will.
When it comes to Trump, DeSantis has mostly traded in subtler jabs, such as implicit references to the chaos and staff in-fighting that typically surround Trump.
“If you look at my administration,” DeSantis said during a recent event in Iowa, “part of the reason we’re able to do so well, we’re not leaking to the media. We don’t have palace intrigue; we don’t have any drama. It’s just execution every single day. And we end up beating the left every single day.”
But some Trump allies do believe the former president’s attacks are hitting their mark — in part simply by disrupting the otherwise positive treatment of DeSantis in conservative-leaning media outlets.
“There was no negative conservative messaging on DeSantis six months ago,” one GOP strategist close to Trump World told this column. “This is the first time he has taken any incoming at all, and I think Trump is landing real shots on him.”
This source also contended that such attacks were effective even when Trump and DeSantis were broadly similar policy-wise, as is the case with the war in Ukraine.
The former president wants it known that, even though the two men have landed on the same page, he got there first.
“That’s a very effective attack,” the Trump World source said. “Ron DeSantis is the cover band, the tribute act. Why would you want the tribute act when you can have the real thing.”
Michael Caputo, a longtime friend and adviser to Trump who is now an executive with Americano Media, noted that on Ukraine, “Trump is saying the same thing he has always said, and DeSantis has switched. Now, why has he switched, that’s not clear. I’m sure that will come out. But his position is completely different than it was a few years ago.”
Despite Caputo’s long association with Trump, however, he cautioned against suggesting that DeSantis would be fatally wounded by such charges.
Caputo noted that attacks from one candidate accusing another candidate of being a flip-flopper have been a near-permanent feature of primary campaigns.
“I have worked for politicians who have changed over time,” he said. “The question is, how short of a time and how much of a change? The Republican primary voter has a high tolerance for change, just not if it happened yesterday on a fundamental issue.”
If DeSantis enters the race, he can defend his changes of position as a response to shifting events — or note that Trump himself has hardly been a paragon of consistency.
Years before seeking and winning the White House in 2016, for example, Trump had expressed supportiveness of abortion rights and looked favorably on universal healthcare.
For now, it’s clear that DeSantis is easily the most serious rival to Trump — despite the presence of former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley in the race and the fact that other big names could join the contest, including former Vice President Pence and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
In a CNN/SSRS poll released earlier this week, DeSantis was within four points of Trump with Republicans nationwide.
Results like that lead some within the GOP to see the vigor of Trump’s attacks on the Florida governor as a backhanded acknowledgement of the threat he poses.
Matt Mackowiak, the chair of the Travis County, Texas, GOP, when asked about the effectiveness of Trump’s attacks said: “I think the two best ways to judge that is, first, is he forcing DeSantis to respond? To this point, he really hasn’t. And, are these hits affecting DeSantis in any of the polls? We are not seeing that.”
In the end, Mackowiak added: “What it signals most to me is that Trump’s team is concerned about DeSantis.”
The Memo is a reported column by Niall Stanage. | 2023-03-17T11:52:57+00:00 | qcnews.com | https://www.qcnews.com/hill-politics/the-memo-trump-team-seeks-to-paint-desantis-as-opportunist/ |
As the City discusses how to bring in more progressive revenue to fill its ever-growing budget hole, Seattle’s biggest business players proposed a way to protect their profits: suspend the JumpStart payroll tax for three years and, for new businesses, suspend the city’s Business and Occupation tax (B&O).
In a letter to the Mayor and his executive leadership, the Downtown Seattle Association, the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, and the Commercial Real Estate Development Association called on the City to “do no harm” by promoting a “robust economic recovery downtown,” which they predict will continue a downward spiral over the next couple of years.
The letter framed business interest as that of the public. If the City doesn’t pause JumpStart—allowing big business time to recover, or reactivate, or revitalize, or whatever—Seattle will face a cliff in funding in the coming years since downtown brings in almost half of the City’s tax revenue.
There’s one small (read: glaring) flaw to their proposal—if the City cuts JumpStart and B&O to prevent the budget gap business is apparently so concerned about, Seattle would lose out on hundreds of millions of dollars in progressive revenue creating, you guessed it, a budget gap.
JumpStart Is Good, Actually
JumpStart raised an impressive $231 million in 2021, the first year big businesses started paying the tax. Council Member Teresa Mosqueda, who championed the tax, said JumpStart enabled Seattle to “preserve and deepen much-needed investments in childcare, housing stability, and climate resilience,” while other cities across the country struggled with layoffs and cuts to city services.
The City projects JumpStart will raise $290 million in 2023 and $311 million in 2024. That would all be lost under the proposed holiday.
Additionally, B&O taxes account for 21% of the total general fund revenue. The City forecasted B&O will bring in $335 million in 2023. As Mosqueda said in an email to The Stranger, the City could pay for the entire annual Police Budget with that money.
Mosqueda does not think now is the time to raise less and spend less money. After all, local governments that increased government spending during the 2008 Great Recession saw “swifter economic recoveries and lower unemployment,” she said.
Business Doin’ Business
Even with Mosqueda defending the taxes, the suggestion could point to trouble for the future of progressive revenue.
The chamber’s CEO and weird letter signatory Rachel Smith currently sits on the Progressive Revenue Stabilization Work Group. The Mayor’s Office and Mosqueda designed the work group, which convened in October, to find new progressive revenue streams to make up for a huge budget shortfall and avoid a future of total austerity.
When the task force initially started the discussion, Mosqueda and others expressed relief to have business on board. The cooperation felt like a good omen after the sector refused a seat on the 2018 progressive revenue task force and eventually hammered in the nail on the head tax’s coffin. The letter could be a hit to that initial optimism.
Katie Wilson, General Secretary of the Transit Riders Union and work group member, called the proposal “bad policy.” It's so obviously bad that Wilson chalks it up to a “disappointing political move,” to stake out an extreme bargaining position for when the task force releases its recommendations and the real decision-making starts later this spring. By starting out so anti-tax, business interest can make a “compromise” out of one task force proposal that would funnel JumpStart revenue into the general fund to make up for the shortfall, Wilson speculated. Again, while that’s good for profits, Wilson said that proposal also sucks because it would cut funding to JumpStart’s intended targets, including affordable housing, Green New Deal investments, and small business development.
Wilson may not be far off. In an email to The Stranger, Smith said she’s focused on “how we use the City’s current revenues” and “budgeting practices.” Sounds a lot like putting JumpStart into the general fund and looking for inefficiencies to avoid more taxes.
The letter also asked the City not to establish transportation impact fees or building emissions performance standards, ideas the council is currently toying with. As a powerful lobby, business and real estate interests will likely influence those conversations.
Separating the Business Candidates from the Less Business Candidates
Business interest planted its flag in the far edge of the sandbox, which will give clueless business candidates running for City Council a better idea of what policies they should promote. In interviews with The Stranger, many candidates got super fucking weird about anything related to taxes. District 1 candidates Rob Saka and Preston Anderson, District 3 candidates Alex Hudson and Joy Hollingsworth, and District 2 candidate Tanya Woo avoided signaling support for any new progressive taxes or increases to JumpStart. Saka and Hudson specifically deferred to the promised recommendations of the work group.
I asked all the candidates who gave wishy-washy answers about progressive taxation if they support granting businesses a three-year holiday on JumpStart.
Hudson said bussiness' proposal does not make sense for a “viable, equitable, or prosperous city,” that desperately needs to invest in “transformative solutions,” particularly in affordable housing, which JumpStart is supposed to fund.
“We need to stay the course on JumpStart, which was settled years ago. I think this is a non-starter that if adopted would result in worse outcomes for everyday Seattleites,” Hudson said in a text.
No other candidate responded in time for initial publication, but I’ll update if they do. | 2023-03-23T00:15:14+00:00 | thestranger.com | https://www.thestranger.com/news/2023/03/22/78914985/big-business-wants-a-three-year-break-from-jumpstart |
(iSeeCars) — Winter is coming. That means that unless you live in an area with mild weather year-round, you should be prepared for winter driving.
Whether you live in a place that regularly gets walloped with snow, or if you only see the occasional winter dusting, it’s important to make sure you can safely drive in inclement weather. One trusted way to ensure safe winter driving is with a car that’s well-equipped for winter conditions, and in today’s market, that doesn’t necessarily mean a truck or an SUV.
To help keep you safe in the winter months, we’ve compiled this helpful guide to the Best Cars for Snow across the most popular vehicle categories.
The Challenges of Winter Driving
Along with being a nuisance, winter conditions can present many challenges. Even if you don’t live in an area where it regularly snows, an unexpected winter storm can still rear its ugly head. And when a storm occurs in typically less snowy areas, these can be even more dangerous because drivers aren’t used to driving in these conditions. Here are some of the main hazards of winter driving :
Icy Roads: This occurs when the road is wet from snow or rain and if the temperature falls below freezing. Ice can prevent your tires from gripping the road, which makes it difficult to steer or stop. Black ice is especially dangerous because you can’t see it, which means drivers can’t slow down before encountering it.
Reduced Visibility: This can be the result of whiteout conditions, or because of ice or snow buildup on your windshield. While you should always properly clear your car of snow, you can also be at risk if your defroster or heater aren’t functioning properly.
Low Tire Pressure and Bald Tires: Cold weather lowers the air pressure of your tires, so you should always make sure your tires are properly inflated during the winter months. Along with properly inflated tires, you should make sure your tires don’t have worn treads, as they can be extremely dangerous in slippery conditions.
How to Identify the Best Snow Cars?
Not all cars are created equal when it comes to taking on all-weather driving conditions. The Best Cars for Snow have the right combination of features that improve performance in light to deep snow and on icy terrain, as well as improve visibility during winter conditions. There are also added convenience features to provide comfort and warmth. Here are some important features to help improve a car’s performance in the snow:
All-Wheel Drive/Four-Wheel Drive: All-wheel drive sends power to all four wheels. The power is divided between the front and rear wheels, which can be helpful in snowy and icy conditions. If one slips, the others will power the vehicle. Four-wheel drive sends a fixed amount of power to each axle, and it can be switched on or off by the driver.
Anti-Lock Brakes: Also known as ABS, anti-lock braking systems help prevent wheels from locking up and improve steering control while braking. Available on all modern cars, ABS automatically cycles the brake pads in the event of a sudden stop, which is particularly helpful when trying to slow down on a slippery surface.
Driver-Assist Technology (forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking): Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) are technologies designed to assist drivers while driving and parking. They use automated technology to increase safety by reducing human error, which is a main cause of road accidents. In snowy conditions, driver-assist technologies like forward collision warning, automatic high beam headlights, and automatic emergency braking can help prevent accidents.
Ground Clearance: Also known as ride height, ground clearance is the minimum distance between the bottom of the vehicle and the ground. High ground clearance helps protect against damage when crossing uneven, snowy terrain by preventing the bottom of the vehicle from scraping against it.
Headlight Washers: Headlight washers, commonly on SUVs and off-road vehicles, help improve visibility by wiping headlights to remove snow or dirt.
Heated Mirrors: Heated side mirrors work like a defroster to help quickly remove snow and ice from your mirrors.
Heated Seats/Steering Wheel: These are more of a comfort feature, and help the driver stay warm in freezing conditions.
Remote Start: Another comfort feature, this allows the driver to start their car without having to brave the elements to warm it up.
Traction/Stability Control: Traction and stability control systems help ensure that all wheels have maximum traction. While they are packaged together, the two serve different functions. Traction control stops wheels from spinning, while electronic stability control (ESC) automatically brakes individual wheels when grip and traction are compromised, which helps the vehicle follow the driver’s intended path. Both technologies became standard on all vehicles in 2012.
Winter/Snow Tires: Winter tires outperform all-season tires in snowy conditions, even if a car is equipped with all-wheel drive. Winter tires are engineered to perform in winter weather, and can help prevent accidents from black ice and heavy snow.
Criteria: Best Cars for Snow Driving
To select the best cars for snow driving , iSeeCars analyzed vehicles across multiple vehicle categories. These cars achieved a score of 7.5 or above (out of 10) on iSeeCars quality analysis that takes into account long-term reliability, value retention, and highest average safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Based on these criteria, an iSeeCars Quality Score was calculated. These cars also have all-wheel or four-wheel drive and the right combination of safety features that aid drivers in snowy conditions.
Best Cars for Snow
Here are the best cars (that aren’t SUVs or trucks) for snow across all vehicle categories:
Best Small Car: Subaru Impreza
iSeeCars Quality Score: 8.9
Reliability Score: 7.9
Value Retention Score: 8.7
Safety Score: 10.0
Average New Car Price: $18,795-$25,895
Average 3-Year-Old Used Car Price: $18,902
The Subaru Impreza comes standard with all-wheel drive, and it is the most affordable AWD car on the market. The Impreza features Subaru’s Symmetrical Full-Time All-Wheel Drive system, which allows it to handle snowy conditions with ease. The Impreza achieves Subaru’s characteristic high safety scores and includes available safety features such as forward collision warning, lane keep assist, automatic high beam headlights, and automatic emergency braking.
A new Subaru Impreza costs between $18,795 and $25,895, and a three-year-old used Subaru Impreza costs an average of $18,902.
Best Luxury Small Car: Lexus IS 350
iSeeCars Quality Score: 9.3
Reliability Score: 8.9
Value Retention Score: 9.0
Safety Score: 10.0
Average New Car Price: $43,050-$45,050
Average 3-Year-Old Used Car Price: $42,807
The most reliable compact luxury car is the Lexus IS. The Lexus IS 350 is known for its premium materials and comfortable ride. It also has a perfect 5-star safety rating and comes standard with the Lexus Safety System+ suite of features, including lane departure warning, lane keep assist, pre-collision system, automatic high-beam headlights, and pedestrian detection.
A new Lexus IS 350 costs between $43,050 and $45,050, and a three-year-old used Lexus IS costs an average of $42,807.
Best Midsize Car: Toyota Camry
iSeeCars Quality Score: 9.0
Reliability Score: 8.9
Value Retention Score: 7.9
Safety Score: 10.0
Average New Car Price: $25,295-$35,720
Average 3-Year-Old Used Car Price: $27,295
The all-wheel-drive drivetrain debuted for the Toyota Camry’s 2020 model year and is available on any of the vehicle’s trims when paired with its four-cylinder engine. The Camry offers a comfortable ride with plenty of legroom and headroom for passengers. Its standard infotainment features include: a 7-inch touch screen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, Bluetooth, and a Wi-Fi hot spot. It also has a full suite of standard driver’s assistance features including lane keep assist, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, traffic sign recognition, and automatic high-beam headlights.
A new Toyota Camry costs between $25,295-$35,720 and a three-year-old used Toyota Camry costs an average of $27,295.
Best Luxury Midsize Car: Audi A6
iSeeCars Quality Score: 8.4
Reliability Score: 6.5
Value Retention Score: 8.6
Safety Score: 10.0
Average New Car Price: $55,900-$69,500
Average 3-Year-Old Used Car Price: $41,141
The Audi A7 comes standard with a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 engine capable of producing 340 horsepower. The AWD A7 has an emergency braking system and night vision, which helps drivers in inclement conditions.
A new Audi A7 costs between $69,200-$78,350, while a three-year-old used Audi A7 costs an average of $69,541.
Best Hybrid Car: Toyota Prius
iSeeCars Quality Score: 9.1
Reliability Score: 8.9
Value Retention Score: 8.4
Safety Score: 10.0
Average New Car Price: $24,525-$32,820
Average 3-Year-Old Used Car Price: $25,233
The Toyota Prius’ hatchback design gives it more cargo space than its competitors and makes it a practical choice for drivers who want an efficient family vehicle. All-wheel drive became available for the 2019 model year. The Prius comes standard with safety features including automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam headlights, and lane keep assist. ??The Prius gets up to 58 mpg city and 53 mpg highway, among the highest fuel-efficiency ratings for its class.
A new Toyota Prius costs between $24,525 and $32,820, and a three-year-old used Toyota Prius costs an average of $25,233.
Best Hybrid Luxury Car: BMW 3 Series
iSeeCars Quality Score: 8.5
Reliability Score: 8.7
Value Retention Score: 7.2
Safety Score: 9.0
Average New Car Price: $42,950-$44,950
Average 3-Year-Old Used Car Price: $42,224
The BMW 3-Series compact luxury car ranks fourth. The 3-Series is among the top-performing cars in the luxury small car class, and its sporty handling and comfortable seating make it a popular choice for those entering the luxury car market. Rear-wheel drive comes standard, but all-wheel drive is optional for $2,000.
A new BMW 3 Series costs between $42,950 and $44,950. You can find a lightly-used BMW 3 Series for sale for an average price of $43,224.
Best Electric Car: Tesla Model 3
iSeeCars Quality Score: 8.7
Reliability Score: 7.2
Value Retention Score: 9.0
Safety Score: 10.0
Average New Car Price: $37,990-$54,990
Average 3-Year-Old Used Car Price: $41,639
The Tesla Model 3 is fun to drive and handles like a sports car. Its base model can go from zero to 60 in 5.3 seconds and reaches a top speed of 140 mph. It eases range anxiety with an all-electric range of 264 for its Standard Range Plus trim and tops out at 353 miles for the Long Range. All-wheel drive comes standard on the Model 3, which sends power to all wheels when traction is compromised. Drivers can also pre-heat and defrost their car through Tesla’s app, which means you never have to enter a freezing cold car.
A new Tesla Model 3 costs between $46,490 and $58,990, while a three-year-old used Tesla Model 3 costs an average of $50,573.
Best Luxury Electric Car: Porsche Taycan
iSeeCars Quality Score: N/A
Reliability Score: N/A
Value Retention Score: N/A
Safety Score: N/A
Average New Car Price: $79,900-$185,000
The Porsche Taycan debuted for the 2020 model year and comes standard with AWD on all versions except for the base trim. The Taycan comes with a long list of standard safety features, including ??forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive headlights, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Taycan features instantaneous torque vectoring and traction and stability controls to allow for optimal performance in snowy conditions.
A new Porsche Taycan costs between $79,900 and $185,000.
Best SUVs and Crossovers for Snow
Crossovers and SUVs are popular vehicle types for all-weather driving, with every vehicle in the category having an AWD or 4WD option available. Here are the best SUVs and crossovers for snow across all vehicle categories:
Best Small SUV: Subaru Outback
iSeeCars Quality Score: 8.8
Reliability Score: 8.4
Value Retention Score: 8.0
Safety Score: 10.0
Average New Car Price: $26,795-$39,945
Average 3-Year-Old Used Car Price: $34,443
The Subaru Outback sport wagon is the best small SUV for driving in snow and offers standard all-wheel drive while offering plenty of cargo space, especially for a compact SUV. It’s a dependable hauler for those who want the perks of an SUV with the driving dynamics of a car. It comes standard with a suite of safety features, including forward collision warning, steering-responsive automatic LED high-beam headlights, automatic emergency braking, and lane keep assist. Along with the Outback’s standard symmetric AWD system, it has 8.7 inch of ground clearance to make it a capable hauler in snowy conditions.
A new Subaru Outback costs between $26,795 and $39,945 and a three-year-old used Subaru Outback costs an average of $34,443.
Best Small Luxury SUV: Acura RDX
iSeeCars Quality Score: 8.6
Reliability Score: 8.2
Value Retention Score: 7.7
Safety Score: 10.0
Average New Car Price: $39,300-$53,300
Average 3-Year-Old Used Car Price: $40,095
The Acura RDX compact SUV is the best luxury small SUV for snow and offers a comfortable interior and confident driving dynamics. The RDX has a 272-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a 10-speed automatic transmission, and comes standard with front-wheel drive (FWD). For an extra $2,000, The Acura Super Handling All-Wheel Drive System can be added, which operates the vehicle with front-wheel drive to improve efficiency, but switches to AWD when slippage is detected. It has standard driver assistance features including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, and automatic high beam assist.
A new Acura RDX costs between $39,300 and $53,300 and a three-year-old used Acura RDX costs an average of $40,095.
Best Midsize SUV: Toyota 4Runner
iSeeCars Quality Score: 8.6
Reliability Score: 8.8
Value Retention Score: 9.0
Safety Score: 8.0
Average New Car Price: $37,305-$52,120
Average 3-Year-Old Used Car Price: $45,844
The Toyota 4Runner is one of the most reliable SUVs available thanks to its ruggedness and durability. Rear-wheel drive comes standard in most trims with the exception of TRD models where four-wheel drive is standard, and four-wheel drive can be added for either $1,610 or $1,875 depending on the trim level. With over 9-inches of ground clearance, 4WD-equipped 4Runners can handle the harshest of winter conditions to make it the best midsize SUV for snow. The 4Runner’s TRD Pro trim, which has the off-road prowess to compete with the Jeep Wrangler, has a standard 4WD system that features low-range gearing and a locking rear differential to help escape extreme weather conditions. Standard safety features include forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure warning.
A new Toyota 4Runner costs between $36,590 and $50,570 and a three-year-old used Toyota 4Runner costs an average of $39,574.
Best Luxury Midsize SUV: Acura MDX
iSeeCars Quality Score: 8.7
Reliability Score: 9.3
Value Retention Score: 7.0
Safety Score: 10.0
Average New Car Price: $47,200-$60,950
Average 3-Year-Old Used Car Price: $44,273
The Acura MDX is the best luxury midsize SUV for snow and debuts an all-new version for 2022 after skipping the 2021 model year. It has a capable 290 horsepower V6 engine and offers spacious seating for up to seven passengers. The redesigned MDX provides more cargo and passenger space than the previous generation and comes with more standard features, including a rear-seat reminder and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It comes with a suite of standard driver assistance features like blindspot monitoring, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, drowsiness monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert. The MDX comes standard with rear-wheel drive, but all-wheel drive can be added for $2,000. Like the RDX, the MDX features Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD®) system, which was engineered to improve handling on dry conditions while also providing all-weather driving capabilities. The system can continuously monitor driving conditions to determine how power should be distributed among the car’s four wheels, which helps it perform well on winter roads. The MDX comes standard with heated seats, and a heated steering wheel is available with the Advance package.
A new Acura MDX costs between $47,200 and $60,950, and a three-year-old used Acura MDX costs an average of $44,273.
Best Large SUV: Chevrolet Tahoe
iSeeCars Quality Score: 8.2
Reliability Score: 8.7
Value Retention Score: 7.8
Safety Score: 8.0
Average New Car Price: $48,400-$73,300
Average 3-Year-Old Used Car Price: $54,767
The Chevrolet Tahoe is the best large SUV for snow and was fully redesigned for 2021 to add more legroom and standard safety features. The Tahoe has three available engine options including two powerful V8 engines and a turbo diesel inline-six. Rear-wheel drive is standard in every trim, and four-wheel drive can be added to all trims, except in the Z71, which has standard 4WD. Upgrading to 4WD costs an additional $3,000. With 4WD, the Tahoe can handle snowy conditions with ease thanks to its ground clearance and powerful engine. The Tahoe has a suite of standard safety features including forward collision warning, forward emergency braking, automatic high-beam headlights, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. Heated front seats come standard in all but the base trim and a heated steering wheel is also available.
A new Chevrolet Tahoe costs between $48,400 and $73,000 and a three-year-old used Chevrolet Tahoe costs an average of $54,767.
Best Luxury Large SUV: Lincoln Navigator
iSeeCars Quality Score: 8.8
Reliability Score: 9.8
Value Retention Score: 6.6
Safety Score: 10.0
Average New Car Price: $76,705-$98,655
Average 3-Year-Old Used Car Price: $84,678
The Lincoln Navigator has a powerful 3.5-liter V6 engine that provides above-average fuel economy for the large SUV class at 18 mpg. It has an elegant interior full of high-end materials, including leather and wood trim. The Lincoln Navigator comes standard with rear-wheel drive on all trims except the Black Label trim, and 4WD can be added to lower trims for $2,670. The Navigator has a towing capacity of up to 8,700 pounds when properly equipped, earning it a spot on the iSeeCars list of Best SUVs for Towing. The Navigator has multiple driving modes that change the vehicle’s powertrain including a 4X4 mode, a slippery mode, and a deep conditions mode. These features help the Navigator flourish in any winter condition.
A new Lincoln Navigator costs between $76,705 and $98,655 and a used Lincoln Navigator costs an average of $84,678.
Best Hybrid SUV: Toyota Highlander Hybrid
iSeeCars Quality Score: 9.2
Reliability Score: 8.9
Value Retention Score: 8.3
Safety Score: 10.0
Average New Car Price: $38,855-$50,960
Average 3-Year-Old Used Car Price: $45,098
Earning the title as the best hybrid SUV in the snow is the Toyota Highlander Hybrid midsize SUV. The Highlander Hybrid comes standard with a suite of safety features including cross traffic alert, traffic sign recognition, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection. All Highlander Hybrid trims come standard with front-wheel drive, but all-wheel drive can be added for $1,600 in lower trims and $1,950 on higher trims. The Highlander Hybrid’s AWD system features a separate rear-mounted electric motor to send power to the rear wheels when needed. The AWD Highlander Hybrid is capable on snowy and slippery roads.
A new Toyota Highlander Hybrid costs between $38,855 and $50,960, and a three-year-old used Toyota Highlander Hybrid costs an average of $45,098
Best Luxury Hybrid SUV: Lexus RX 450h
iSeeCars Quality Score: 8.9
Reliability Score: 9.5
Value Retention Score: 8.1
Safety Score: 9.4
Average New Car Price: $48,020-$53,820
Average 3-Year-Old Used Car Price: $52,961
The Lexus RX 450h is a midsize SUV that comes in both a two-row and three-row configuration. For the two-row version, there is 16 cubic feet behind the rear seats, and the three-row has 7.5 cubic feet behind the third row, and 45.7 cubic feet with the third row folded down. The RX 450h gets a combined MPG of 30. The RX 450h comes standard with the Lexus AWD system that automatically sends power to either two or four wheels as needed to provide optimal traction.
A new Lexus RX 450h costs between $48,020 and $53,820, and a used Lexus RX 450h costs an average of $52,961.
Best Electric SUV: Ford Mustang Mach-E
iSeeCars Quality Score: N/A
Reliability Score: N/A
Value Retention Score: N/A
Safety Score: N/A
Average New Car Price: $42,800-$50,400
The Ford Mustang Mach-E debuted for the 2021 model year and is the best electric SUV for snowy driving. It comes standard with rear-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive can be added for $2,700. Higher trims, like the GT trim, come standard with AWD. The Mach-E comes standard with a heated steering wheel and heated front seats.
A new Ford Mustang Mach-E costs between $42,800 and $50,400.
Best Luxury Electric SUV: Audi e-tron
iSeeCars Quality Score: N/A
Reliability Score: 8.2
Value Retention Score: N/A
Safety Score: 10.0
Average New Car Price: $65,900-$69,100
The Audi e-tron midsize electric SUV debuted for the 2019 model year. It comes standard with Audi’s balanced Quattro all-wheel drive system and comes with a suite of standard safety features like automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and automatic high beam headlights. It also comes with winter-friendly safety features like a heated steering wheel and heated front seats.
A new Audi e-tron costs between $65,900 and $69,100.
Best Trucks for Snow
Pickup trucks categorically perform well in the snow, but some perform better than others. Here are our picks for the best trucks for snow.
Best Small Truck: Hyundai Santa Cruz
iSeeCars Quality Score: N/A
Reliability Score: N/A
Value Retention Score: N/A
Safety Score: N/A
Average New Car Price: $23,990-$39,720
The Hyundai Santa Cruz, which is new for the 2022 model year, is the best small truck for snow. Unlike traditional body-on-frame pickups, the Hyundai Santa Cruz has a unibody chassis based on the Hyundai Tucson crossover. The Santa Cruz comes standard with front-wheel drive on its first two trim levels, while all-wheel drive is standard on the higher trims. For the lower trims, AWD can be added for $1,500. The Santa Cruz ?features the HTRAC® AWD system, which is a multi-mode system that provides torque control between the front and rear axles to make it effective on snowy and icy surfaces. It comes standard with safety features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist.
Best Midsize Truck: Honda Ridgeline
iSeeCars Quality Score: 9.0
Reliability Score: 8.6
Value Retention Score: 8.4
Safety Score: 10.0
Average New Car Price: $23,990-$39,720
Average 3-Year-Old Used Car Price: $41,000
The best midsize truck for snow is the Honda Ridgeline, which is another unibody pickup. The Ridgeline is well-suited for winter driving with standard all-wheel drive, which began in the 2021 model year, and its refined 3.5-liter V6 engine. It also comes standard with stability control, traction control, and ABS to provide optimal handling for winter road conditions. Its standard safety features include ??lane keep assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and road departure mitigation.
A new Honda Ridgeline costs between $23,990 and $39,720, and a three-year-old used Honda Ridgeline costs an average of $41,000.
Best Full-Size Truck: Toyota Tundra
iSeeCars Quality Score: 8.2
Reliability Score: 8.2
Value Retention Score: 8.3
Safety Score: 8.0
Average New Car Price: $33,825 – $53,200
Average 3-Year-Old Used Car Price: $42,920
Toyota redesigned the Tundra for 2022, after the model had remained largely unchanged since its 2007 debut. The best full-size truck for snow comes standard with key safety figures including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The aptly-named Tundra has 10.6 inches of ground clearance, which is one of the highest in the segment, and its twin-turbo V6 is paired with four-wheel drive to help it power through snow-covered roads.
A new Toyota Tundra costs between $33,825 and $53,200 while a three-year-old used Toyota Tundra costs an average of $42,920.
Best Hybrid Truck: Ford Maverick
iSeeCars Quality Score: N/A
Reliability Score: N/A
Value Retention Score: N/A
Safety Score: N/A
Average New Car Price: $19,995-$25,490
The Ford Maverick is new for 2022 and comes standard with a hybrid powertrain. Car buyers have the option of all-wheel drive without the hybrid powertrain when paired with its 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. The Maverick can handle snowy conditions with its AWD models or with its FWD hybrid model when equipped with snow tires. The Maverick comes standard with safety features including forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, and forward automatic emergency braking.
A new Ford Maverick costs between $19,995 and $25,490.
Best Electric Truck: GMC Hummer EV
iSeeCars Quality Score: N/A
Reliability Score: N/A
Value Retention Score: N/A
Safety Score: N/A
Average New Car Price: $79,995-$112,595
The GMC Hummer is debuting in the fall of 2021 and is new for the 2022 model year. While the all-new Hummer is fully electric compared to its gas-guzzling predecessor, it boasts the same off-road prowess and all-weather capability. It has a 1,000 horsepower engine and all-wheel drive comes standard.
The GMC Hummer EV costs between $79,995 and $112,595.
Best Electric Luxury Truck: Rivian R1T
iSeeCars Quality Score: N/A
Reliability Score: 8.2
Value Retention Score: N/A
Safety Score: 10
Average New Car Price: $69,000-$98,000
The Rivian R1T debuts for the 2022 model year and is touted as the truck of the future. ??The R1T has an innovative four motor four-wheel drive system that sends power where it’s needed to handle even the snowiest conditions and 14.1 inches of ground clearance.
A new Rivian R1T costs between $69,000 and $98,000.
More from iSeeCars:
Bottom Line
If you live in an area that experiences snow and winter weather, you should consider one of our picks for the best cars for snow to keep you safe. Whether you want a small car, a capable crossover, or a rugged off-roader, there is a vehicle that can suit your needs. | 2022-11-06T16:48:33+00:00 | kdvr.com | https://kdvr.com/automotive/best-cars-for-snow/ |
President Joe Biden and dozens of other world leaders continue to hold meetings on Wednesday, one day after NATO announced the potential addition of two new countries.
Turkey announced it is dropping its opposition to allowing Sweden and Finland from joining the pact, opening the door for the nations to enter NATO.
"I'm pleased to announce that we now have an agreement that paves the way for Finland and Sweden to join NATO. Turkey, Finland and Sweden have signed a memorandum that addresses Turkey's concerns, including around arms exports, and the fight against terrorism,” said Jens Stoltenberg, NATO secretary general.
President Joe Biden welcomed the news.
“Finland and Sweden are strong democracies with highly capable militaries,” Biden said. “Their membership will strengthen NATO’s collective security and benefit the entire Transatlantic Alliance. I look forward to working with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg, our allies, and with Congress to ensure that we can quickly welcome them into our alliance.”
The move of adding Sweden and Finland could further upset the Kremlin, which has sought to weaken the NATO alliance.
The actions by Sweden and Finland come after Russia invaded Ukraine, which is not a member of NATO. Had Ukraine been a member of NATO, other nations in the alliance would have been obligated to provide defense for the nation. Membership in the alliance comes with a stipulation of providing military assistance if a member is attacked. | 2022-06-29T13:48:11+00:00 | krtv.com | https://www.krtv.com/news/national/nato-summit-continues-as-sweden-finland-set-to-join-alliance |
TX El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM Zone Forecast for Friday, March 10, 2023
_____
806 FPUS54 KEPZ 111031
ZFPEPZ
Zone Forecast Product for New Mexico
National Weather Service El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM
331 AM MST Sat Mar 11 2023
TXZ418-112315-
Western El Paso County-
Including the cities of Downtown El Paso, West El Paso,
and Upper Valley
331 AM MST Sat Mar 11 2023
...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM MST
THIS EVENING...
.TODAY...Mostly sunny. Patchy blowing dust this afternoon. Windy
with highs in the upper 70s. West winds 20 to 30 mph.
.TONIGHT...Partly cloudy and windy. Lows around 50. Northwest
winds 20 to 30 mph, becoming west 15 to 20 mph after midnight.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning, then becoming partly
cloudy. Highs in the mid 70s. West winds 15 to 20 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then clearing.
Breezy with lows in the mid 40s. West winds 20 to 25 mph,
becoming northwest 10 to 15 mph after midnight.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. West winds 10 to
15 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 40s.
.TUESDAY...Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows around 50.
Highs in the lower 80s.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s.
.THURSDAY...Mostly sunny with a slight chance of showers. Breezy,
cooler with highs around 70. Chance of rain 20 percent.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Much cooler with lows in the
upper 30s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny with a slight chance of showers. Cooler
with highs in the upper 50s. Chance of rain 20 percent.
$$
TXZ419-112315-
Eastern/Central El Paso County-
Including the cities of East and Northeast El Paso, Socorro,
and Fort Bliss
331 AM MST Sat Mar 11 2023
...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM MST
THIS EVENING...
.TODAY...Mostly sunny. Patchy blowing dust this afternoon. Very
windy with highs in the mid 70s. West winds 25 to 35 mph.
.TONIGHT...Partly cloudy and breezy. Lows in the lower 50s. West
winds 15 to 25 mph.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning, then becoming partly
cloudy. Highs in the mid 70s. West winds 15 to 20 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then clearing. Lows
in the mid 40s. Northwest winds 15 to 20 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. West winds 10 to
15 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 40s.
.TUESDAY...Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows around 50.
Highs in the lower 80s.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s.
.THURSDAY...Partly cloudy in the morning, then mostly sunny with
a slight chance of showers in the afternoon. Breezy, cooler with
highs around 70. Chance of rain 20 percent.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Much cooler with lows in the
upper 30s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. A slight chance of rain showers in the
afternoon. Cooler with highs in the upper 50s. Chance of rain
20 percent.
$$
TXZ420-112315-
Northern Hudspeth Highlands/Hueco Mountains-
Including the cities of Hueco Tanks and Loma Linda
331 AM MST Sat Mar 11 2023
...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM MST
THIS EVENING...
.TODAY...Mostly sunny. Patchy blowing dust this afternoon. Very
windy with highs in the lower 70s. West winds 25 to 35 mph.
.TONIGHT...Partly cloudy and windy. Lows in the upper 40s. West
winds 20 to 30 mph.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs around 70. West winds 15 to 20 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s. Northwest
winds 15 to 20 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs around 70. West winds 10 to 15 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 40s.
.TUESDAY...Sunny. Highs in the lower 70s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper
40s. Highs in the upper 70s.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s.
.THURSDAY...Partly cloudy in the morning, then mostly sunny with
a slight chance of showers in the afternoon. Breezy, cooler with
highs in the mid 60s. Chance of rain 20 percent.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming
partly cloudy. Breezy and much cooler with lows in the lower 30s.
.FRIDAY...A slight chance of snow showers in the morning. Mostly
sunny with a slight chance of rain showers. Cooler with highs in
the lower 50s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
$$
TXZ423-112315-
Rio Grande Valley of Eastern El Paso/Western Hudspeth Counties-
Including the cities of Fabens, Fort Hancock, and Tornillo
331 AM MST Sat Mar 11 2023
.TODAY...Mostly sunny. Patchy blowing dust this afternoon. Breezy
with highs in the upper 70s. West winds 20 to 25 mph.
.TONIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows around 50. Northwest winds 15 to
20 mph.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning, then becoming partly
cloudy. Highs in the mid 70s. West winds 15 to 20 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy in the evening, then becoming
partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. West winds 5 to
10 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 40s.
.TUESDAY...Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper
40s. Highs in the mid 80s.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s.
.THURSDAY...Partly cloudy in the morning, then mostly sunny with
a slight chance of showers in the afternoon. Breezy, cooler with
highs in the lower 70s. Chance of rain 20 percent.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming
partly cloudy. Much cooler with lows in the upper 30s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny with a slight chance of rain showers.
Cooler with highs in the lower 60s. Chance of rain 20 percent.
$$
TXZ421-112315-
Salt Basin-
Including the cities of Cornudas, Dell City, and Salt Flat
331 AM MST Sat Mar 11 2023
...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM MST
THIS EVENING...
.TODAY...Mostly sunny. Patchy blowing dust this afternoon. Very
windy with highs in the upper 70s. West winds 25 to 35 mph.
.TONIGHT...Mostly clear and windy. Lows in the upper 40s. West
winds 20 to 30 mph.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny in the morning, then becoming partly
cloudy. Highs in the mid 70s. West winds 15 to 20 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 40s. West winds
15 to 20 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 70s. Southwest winds
10 to 15 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows around 40.
.TUESDAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 70s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 40s.
Highs in the lower 80s.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows around 50.
.THURSDAY...Partly cloudy in the morning, then mostly sunny with
a slight chance of showers in the afternoon. Breezy, cooler with
highs around 70. Chance of rain 20 percent.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy and breezy. Much cooler with lows
in the lower 30s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. A slight chance of rain showers in the
afternoon. Much cooler with highs in the mid 50s. Chance of rain
20 percent.
$$
TXZ422-112315-
Southern Hudspeth Highlands-
Including the city of Sierra Blanca
331 AM MST Sat Mar 11 2023
...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM MST
THIS EVENING...
.TODAY...Mostly sunny. Patchy blowing dust this afternoon. Very
windy with highs in the mid 70s. West winds 25 to 35 mph.
.TONIGHT...Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming partly
cloudy. Windy with lows in the upper 40s. West winds 20 to
30 mph.
.SUNDAY...Partly cloudy and breezy. Highs around 70. West winds
15 to 25 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy in the evening, then becoming
partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s. Northwest winds 15 to 20 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs around 70. West winds 10 to 15 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then clearing. Lows
in the lower 40s.
.TUESDAY...Sunny. Highs in the lower 70s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper
40s. Highs in the upper 70s.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s.
.THURSDAY...Partly cloudy. A slight chance of showers in the
afternoon. Breezy, cooler with highs in the upper 60s. Chance of
rain 20 percent.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy and breezy. Much cooler with lows
in the mid 30s.
.FRIDAY...A slight chance of snow showers in the morning. Mostly
sunny with a slight chance of rain showers. Cooler with highs in
the lower 50s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
$$
TXZ424-112315-
Rio Grande Valley of Eastern Hudspeth County-
Including the city of Indian Hot Springs
331 AM MST Sat Mar 11 2023
.TODAY...Mostly sunny. Patchy blowing dust this afternoon. Breezy
with highs in the lower 80s. West winds 20 to 25 mph.
.TONIGHT...Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming partly
cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s. Northwest winds 15 to 20 mph.
.SUNDAY...Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 70s. Northwest winds
15 to 20 mph.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy in the evening, then becoming
partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 40s. Northwest winds 10 to
15 mph.
.MONDAY...Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 70s. Northwest winds
5 to 10 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then clearing. Lows
in the mid 40s.
.TUESDAY...Sunny. Highs around 80.
.TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows around 50.
Highs in the upper 80s.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s.
.THURSDAY...Partly cloudy. A slight chance of showers in the
afternoon. Breezy, cooler with highs in the mid 70s. Chance of
rain 20 percent.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Much cooler with lows in the
upper 30s.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny with a slight chance of rain showers.
Cooler with highs in the lower 60s. Chance of rain 20 percent.
$$
_____
Copyright 2023 AccuWeather | 2023-03-11T11:06:45+00:00 | lmtonline.com | https://www.lmtonline.com/weather/article/tx-el-paso-tx-santa-teresa-nm-zone-forecast-17833411.php |
The NFL has suspended Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and fined him $1.5 million for tampering with Tom Brady and Sean Payton following a six-month investigation stemming from Brian Flores' racial discrimination lawsuit against the league.
The league's investigation found the Dolphins did not intentionally lose games during the 2019 season but the team had impermissible communication with Brady and his agent, Don Yee. The league announced the findings of the investigation on Tuesday.
The Dolphins will forfeit a first-round selection in the 2023 NFL draft and a third-round selection in the 2024 draft. Ross is suspended through Oct. 17. He may not be present at the team's facility and may not represent the club at any team or NFL event. He also may not attend any league meeting before the annual meeting in 2023, and he is removed from all league committees indefinitely.
Dolphins vice chairman/limited partner Bruce Beal was fined $500,000 and may not attend any league meeting for the remainder of the year.
___
More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | 2022-08-02T17:22:37+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/sports/article/NFL-suspends-Dolphins-owner-Ross-for-tampering-17345606.php |
Superintendent denies accusations awards were withheld from overachieving students to prevent hurt feelings
FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (CNN) – Virginia’s state attorney general is investigating a National Merit awards controversy in Fairfax County, where multiple high schools delayed notifying students about their National Merit Scholarships but called it human error.
Parents and other critics said the lapse was intentional, and now the Fairfax County Schools superintendent is disagreeing.
The decision of the schools has received criticism from Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin slammed dozens of high schools for failing to notify students that their PSAT scores won them commendations as part of the annual National Merit Scholarship competition.
“It impacts their ability to apply to college for scholarships, and this idea of a golden ticket, as it is called, was withheld from them,” Youngkin said.
Shawna Yashar is the parent of a student who received the National Merit award.
“We didn’t receive it until Nov. 21 after the deadline had passed for early admissions and early acceptance,” she said. “So, we don’t know. I mean, we’re still waiting to hear back from colleges. We’ve gotten a few rejections.”
The governor argued the commendations were withheld intentionally to avoid hurting the feelings of students who didn’t win recognition.
“They have a maniacal focus on equal outcomes for all students at all costs,” he said.
Dr. Michelle Reid, the superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools, said that characterizing the National Merit award as a golden ticket would not be accurate.
“What I mean when I talk about equal outcomes is the opportunity for each and every student to achieve their unique potential,” she said.
In response to the awards being withheld as intentional, Reid said the schools recognize the contributions of all of their students.
“We celebrate each and every one of our students’ unique contributions and achievements, and there is absolutely no division-wide effort to withhold recognition or not to honor hard work and achievement.”
Virginia’s attorney general is now investigating high schools across Fairfax County after eight of them delayed telling students they had been commended, including Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, the top-ranked high school in the country.
“We did initiate a third party external review into the situation,” Reid said.
In a letter to the community, Reid said the delay was likely due to “human error.”
“We committed to contacting all the colleges and universities of the early action, early decision schools that otherwise our commended scholars might not have had that information to notify,” she said.
Lost in this war of words, students who were recognized with the commendation are actually out of the competition for National Merit Scholarships.
Riti Liu, a student, said she may have even thrown hers away.
“I didn’t really think much of it,” she said. “I didn’t put it, like, anywhere in my, like, honor section for college apps.”
Youngkin has proposed legislation in the general assembly to require that schools notify commended students immediately.
Rei’s office is already drafting division-wide guidance to do just that.
Copyright 2023 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | 2023-01-25T20:20:22+00:00 | wnem.com | https://www.wnem.com/2023/01/25/superintendent-denies-accusations-awards-were-withheld-overachieving-students-prevent-hurt-feelings/ |
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Even before the first College Football Playoff rankings of the season are unveiled Tuesday night, it is clear which teams still have a chance to play for a national championship.
A glance at the conference standings reveals 14 contenders, all in the Power Five. Sorry, there will be no Cincinnati-style interloper from the Group of Five this season for the selection committee to consider.
A conference-by-conference assessment of who is in the race and the paths to the CFP, with AP Top 25 rankings.
ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE
No. 5 Clemson (8-0)
The Tigers had their streak of six straight playoff appearances snapped last year, but are well positioned to get back, with no ranked opponents left before a likely ACC title game against North Carolina.
No unbeaten Power Five champion has ever missed the playoff. A glance at the Big Ten and SEC suggests getting in as a one-loss conference champion could be dicey for the Tigers.
No. 17 North Carolina (7-1)
Run the table, beating unbeaten Clemson in the ACC title game, gets the Tar Heels in the conversation, but they'll need some upsets in other leagues to clear the way.
BIG 12
No. 7 TCU (8-0)
See above, re: unbeaten Power Five champions. The Horned Frogs flirt with disaster weekly and have some defensive issues. That's a profile the selection committee tends to look upon skeptically.
They'll probably need to stay unbeaten to get in and it's going to be really tough for them to stay unbeaten with the way they have been playing.
BIG TEN
No. 2 Ohio State (8-0) and No. 4 Michigan (8-0)
Both have been dominant. Neither has played a particularly strenuous schedule and that won't change much before they meet Thanksgiving weekend. Still, either is lock by winning out.
Either would stay in the mix by being a 12-1 conference champion. And the loser of the rivalry game at 11-1 probably still holds out hope to get in.
No. 14 Illinois (7-1)
The Illini have a game against Michigan the week before the Wolverines play Ohio State. That means Illinois could finish 12-1 with either two victories against Michigan or one against Michigan and one against Ohio State.
It's not likely to happen, but that would put the Illini in the playoff.
PAC-12
No. 8 Oregon (7-1), No. 9 USC (7-1) and No. 10 UCLA (7-1)
They all need to run the table to have a chance and even then that might not be enough. The Ducks will have to overcome a 49-3 loss to Georgia in their opener. The Trojans have a a bad defense and won't going to get much of a bump by beating Notre Dame. UCLA played one of the weakest nonconference schedules in the country.
What's the best option for the Pac-12? The guess here is a 12-1 USC with victories against UCLA and Oregon and one-point loss to a good Utah team.
SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE
No. 1 Georgia (8-0) and No. 2 Tennessee (8-0)
The loser of Saturday's showdown in Athens is not eliminated, especially if its the Volunteers, with a victory over Alabama already in hand.
No. 6 Alabama (6-1) and No. 11 Mississippi (8-1)
The Crimson Tide and Rebels can't afford another loss — they play each other in two weeks — but either would breeze into the CFP by winning out.
The most SEC-centric scenario the rest of the country needs to root against is Alabama winning out, beating Georgia in the SEC championship game, and leaving the Tide and Bulldogs at 12-1 and Tennessee at 11-1 with a close loss to Georgia.
No. 15 LSU (6-2)
A two-loss team has never made the playoff, but the SEC champion has never missed the playoff. If the Tigers beat Alabama and avenge a loss to Tennessee on the way to a conference title they could break precedent.
___
Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at http://www.appodcasts.com
___
More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25. Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://bit.ly/3pqZVaF | 2022-11-01T07:27:20+00:00 | seattlepi.com | https://www.seattlepi.com/sports/article/Heading-into-CFP-rankings-14-teams-with-17548534.php |
(AP) – Apple on Monday provided a peek at upcoming tweaks to the software that powers more than 1 billion iPhones and rolled out two laptops that will be the first available with the next generation of a company-designed microprocessor.
As usual, Apple spent most of the opening day of its annual developers conference touting the next versions of software for the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac computers instead of the sleek devices that established it as a technology trendsetter and the world’s most valuable company.
The iPhone’s next operating system, called iOS 16, will revamp the look of the device’s lock screen and make mostly minor improvements to the current software. The software updates have become increasingly important in recent years as iPhone owners have started to hold to their existing devices for longer periods of time than they once did.
One of iOS 16’s most noticeable differences will occur on the iPhone lock screen. The new software, which will be released this fall as a free download, will allow users to anchor their favorite apps as small widgets on the lock screen.
The new software also will enable the lock screen to display live notifications, such as the status of a Uber ride on its way to pick up a passenger. Other authorized notifications will come in from the bottom of the screen instead of the current distribution from the top in an effort to avoid clutter on the display.
The iPhone’s messaging system will be revamped so texts can be edited after they are sent or even rescinded in their entirety if the sender has a change of heart. Those options will only be available when both users are using Apple’s messaging app for texting.
The Apple Pay service that’s part of the iPhone’s digital wallet is adding a new financing feature likely to be popular as soaring inflation rates squeeze more household budgets. The option will allow consumers to stagger the cost of any purchase made through Apple Pay over four installments completed within a six-week period with no additional fees. Similar financing is already offered through digital services such as Affirm, whose stock price sank by more than 5% Monday after the news about Apple Pay came out.
Several of the new features for Apple’s Macs and iPads are designed to make it easier to sync with the iPhone for things like making video calls. Other tools will enable more apps to run side by side to perform multiple tasks on the same screen.
Helping people toggle from one Apple device to another is one of the main reasons that the company began making Macs that run on the same kind of chips that power the iPhone and iPad in late 2020.
Now Apple is putting the next generation of its Mac chip in its two most popular laptops, the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, which the company said will be available in stores at some point next month. The MacBook Air will sell for $1,200 and the MacBook Pro will sell for $1,300.
The event was held at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, California. | 2022-06-07T02:04:28+00:00 | wwlp.com | https://www.wwlp.com/news/ability-to-edit-delete-imessages-and-more-announced-during-apple-event/ |
Twitter announced that it will prohibit any “free promotion” of other social media platforms on its site, marking the latest major policy change under billionaire owner Elon Musk.
“We recognize that many of our users are active on other social media platforms,” Twitter Support wrote in a thread on Sunday. “However, we will no longer allow free promotion of certain social media platforms on Twitter.”
Twitter Support also said that it will remove accounts that are created for the sole purpose of promoting other social media platforms.
Twitter specifically said users cannot promote Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, Truth Social, Tribel, Nostr, and Pos accounts. Twitter will also prohibit users from sharing third-party social media link aggregators such as linktr.ee and lnk.bio.
“We still allow cross-posting content from any social media platform,” Twitter Support added in its thread. “Posting links or usernames to social media platforms not listed above are also not in violation of this policy.”
The decision comes as many Twitter users — angry over Musk’s suspension of tech journalists and other controversial changes — are looking for a new platform.
The latest policy change follows Musk’s decision to ban Twitter alternative Mastodon’s official account on the platform.
Musk said on Saturday he had lifted the temporary bans on several journalists’ accounts after conducting a poll in which 59 percent of Twitter users called for those accounts to be restored immediately. | 2022-12-18T21:48:49+00:00 | mytwintiers.com | https://www.mytwintiers.com/hill-politics/twitter-bans-free-promotion-of-other-social-media-platforms/ |
BOSTON (AP) — The Presidents’ Trophy curse was too strong — even for a team coming off the best regular season in NHL history.
After a record-setting year, the Boston Bruins failed to get out of the first round of the playoffs, losing to the Florida Panthers in overtime in seven games on Sunday night.
And suddenly, Boston fans who were eagerly planning for two parades – the Celtics are primed for a long playoff run, too – instead are wondering where this Bruins’ collapse ranks among the city’s all-time worst.
“It’s not the outcome you want, and we’re extremely disappointed,” said Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron, who teased retirement after last season but returned for one more run at the Stanley Cup. “Especially with the team we had. It’s not where we want to be.”
The Bruins fired coach Bruce Cassidy after a first-round exit last year and replaced him with Jim Montgomery, then coaxed Bergeron and David Krejci away from possible retirement in the hopes of getting a second NHL title in a dozen years. They won 17 of their first 19 games and did not lose in regulation at home until mid-January.
General manager Don Sweeney added Dmitry Orlov and Garnet Hathaway at the trade deadline for toughness. Linus Ullmark developed into a Vezina Trophy runaway as the best goalie in the league, with Jeremy Swayman rotating in for one of the most productive tandems in history.
Put it all together and it added up to NHL records of 65 wins and 135 points.
But the same playoff disappointment.
“I’m proud of everything we’ve accomplished with this group,” Bergeron said. “It’s a special group on many levels. The individuals we have … Obviously, it’s far from the outcome that we wanted.”
Finishing with the best record in the regular season has become a dubious distinction: Only twice in 20 years has the Presidents’ Trophy winner gone on to win the Stanley Cup — most recently a decade ago when the Blackhawks beat Boston in the final. Since then, only one team has made it past the second round.
In other sports, too, regular-season records are no guarantee of playoff success: The 2001 Seattle Mariners won 116 games but didn’t even make the World Series, and the 2016 Golden State Warriors broke the NBA record with 73 wins but lost in the finals.
And then there’s the 2007 New England Patriots, who won all 18 games in the regular season and playoffs before losing in the Super Bowl — a loss that still stings for local sports fans.
“The regular season is very special, with what we were able to build together,” Bruins forward Brad Marchand said. “At the end of the day, we play the regular season to get a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs, to play for a Cup, and that’s the goal every year is to play for a Cup, not to dominate the regular season. Special, what we built and what were able to do together, but fell short of our goal.”
Next year could look quite different.
Bergeron, who missed the first four games of the series, said he was playing with a herniated disk but did not elaborate on whether the injury would affect his decision to return for another season, when he would turn 38. Krejci wasn’t made available for comment.
Bergeron lingered on the ice long after the handshake line, giving the remaining fans a stick wave and ushering his teammates into the tunnel. After a long embrace with Marchand, Bergeron left the rink — perhaps for the last time.
“I’m going to take some time and talk with the family and go from there,” the five-time Selke Trophy winner said. “Right now, it’s hard to process anything. Obviously, we’re shocked and disappointed. So that’s it.”
___
AP NHL Playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2023-05-01T21:43:57+00:00 | myfox8.com | https://myfox8.com/sports/ap-sports/presidents-trophy-curse-hits-record-setting-boston-bruins/ |
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The world now has stunning new photos of this week’s asteroid strike, the first planetary defense test of its kind.
NASA on Thursday released pictures of the dramatic event taken by the Hubble and Webb space telescopes.
A few hours later, SpaceX joined NASA in announcing that they’re studying the feasibility of sending a private mission to Hubble, potentially led by a billionaire, to raise the aging telescope’s orbit and extend its life.
Telescopes on all seven continents watched as NASA’s Dart spacecraft slammed Monday into the harmless space rock, 7 million miles (11 million kilometers) from Earth, in hopes of altering its orbit.
Scientists won’t know the precise change until November; the demo results are expected to instill confidence in using the technique if a killer asteroid heads our way one day.
“This is an unprecedented view of an unprecedented event,” Johns Hopkins University planetary astronomer and mission leader Andy Rivkin said in a statement.
All these pictures will help scientists learn more about the little asteroid Dimorphos, which took the punch and ended up with a sizable crater. The impact sent streams of rock and dirt hurtling into space, appearing as bright emanating rays in the latest photos.
The brightness of this double asteroid system — the 525-foot (160-meter) Dimorphos is actually the moonlet around a bigger asteroid — tripled after the impact as seen in the Hubble images, according to NASA.
Hubble and Webb will keep observing Dimorphos and its large companion Didymos over the next several weeks.
The $325 million Dart mission was launched last year. The spacecraft was built and managed by Johns Hopkins’ Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland.
As for Hubble, NASA officials stressed Thursday that the observatory launched 32 years ago is in good shape and might have another decade of life left.
Hubble’s orbit constantly is decaying, but the telescope could have even more years ahead if it were boosted from its current 335 miles (540 kilometers) above Earth to 375 miles (600 kilometers) or more. The six-month technical feasibility study also will consider whether any parts could be replaced, presumably by a crew.
Jared Isaacman, a Pennsylvania tech entrepreneur who bankrolled his own SpaceX flight last year with contest winners, said a Hubble mission, if approved, would fit nicely into his planned series of spaceflights. But he stopped short of saying whether he was volunteering.
“We’re working on crazy ideas all the time,” NASA’s science mission chief, Thomas Zurbuchen, told reporters. “Frankly, that’s what we’re supposed to do.” | 2022-09-30T14:00:17+00:00 | wdtn.com | https://www.wdtn.com/news/u-s-world/nasa-releases-dramatic-new-photos-of-asteroid-strike/ |
PRAGUE (AP) — A court in Slovakia has acquitted for a second time a businessman accused of masterminding the 2018 slaying of an investigative journalist and his fiancée.
The Specialized Criminal Court in Pezinok, near the capital, Bratislava, which handles Slovakia’s most serious cases, ruled Friday that Marian Kocner was not guilty of murdering Jan Kuciak, who had written about him in the past, and Martina Kusnirova, both aged 27.
The crime shocked the country and caused the government to fall.
The court said “it was not proven” that Kocner was the mastermind.
The International Press Institute, an international media freedom group based in Vienna, called the acquittal “shocking.” It said on Twitter it “represents another devastating blow to the fight for justice for Jan Kuciak & his fiancée Martina Kusnirova. Our thoughts are with their families. The fight for justice will continue.”
However, Kocner’s associate, Alena Zsuzsova, who acted as an intermediary, was convicted over her role in the killings and sentenced to 25 years in prison.
The case is not over yet as both the prosecution and the defendants can appeal.
Prosecutors had requested life imprisonment for both defendants.
The parents of Kuciak and Kusnirova left the courtroom before the reading of the sentence was completed.
“There’s no logic in it,” the journalist’s father, Jozef Kuciak, told reporters. “I don’t get it at all.”
“Of course, we’ll appeal,” Zlata Kusnirova, the mother of Martina said. “It’s impossible what happened,” she said. “It’s a shame for justice.”
Kuciak was shot in the chest and Kusnirova was shot in the head at their home in the town of Velka Maca, east of Bratislava, on Feb. 21, 2018.
Kocner allegedly threatened the journalist following publication of a story about his business dealings, prosecutors said. Overall, Kuciak published nine stories about Kocner.
The killings prompted major street protests unseen since the 1989 anti-communist Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia. The ensuing political crisis led to the collapse of a coalition government headed by populist Prime Minister Robert Fico.
Kuciak had been investigating possible government corruption when he was killed.
It was the second time the Pezinok court ruled in the case.
Originally, it acquitted Kocner in September 2020, saying there was not enough evidence for the convictions. The prosecutors appealed.
Slovakia’s Supreme Court dismissed the acquittal in June 2021, saying the lower court did not properly assess available evidence when it cleared Kocner and Zsuzsova and ordering a retrial.
Three other defendants were previously convicted and sentenced to stiff prison terms.
One of them, former soldier Miroslav Marcek, pleaded guilty to shooting Kuciak and Kusnirova and was sentenced to 23 years in prison in April 2020. Prosecutors said Kocner paid Marcek to carry out the killings.
In the meantime, Kocner was sentenced to 19 years in prison in a separate forgery case while Zsuzsova received 21 years in prison for her role in the killing of a mayor.
Those verdicts are final.
In December 2019, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Kocner and six of his businesses for threatening Kuciak. | 2023-05-20T05:15:07+00:00 | wivb.com | https://www.wivb.com/news/world/ap-slovak-court-acquits-businessman-in-retrial-over-2018-murder-of-journalist/ |
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s president is praising the United States for including tank-killing armored vehicles in its latest multibillion-dollar package of military aid, saying they are “exactly what is needed” for Ukrainian troops locked in combat against Russian forces.
The White House announcement Friday of $3.75 billion in weapons and other aid for Ukraine and its neighbors on NATO’s eastern flank came as Moscow said its troops are observing a short cease-fire for Orthodox Christmas, celebrated Saturday.
Ukrainian officials denounced the unilateral 36-hour truce as a ploy and said it appeared to have been ignored by some of Moscow’s forces pressing ahead with the nearly 11-month invasion.
Russia’s Defense Ministry insisted Saturday that its forces along the 1,100-kilometer (684-mile) front line were observing the cease-fire but returned fire when attacked.
The latest package of U.S. military assistance was the biggest to date for Kyiv. For the first time, it included Bradley armored vehicles — known as tank-killers because of the anti-tank missiles they fire.
In his nightly televised address on Friday, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it “a very powerful package.”
“For the first time, we will get Bradley armored vehicles — this is exactly what is needed. New guns and rounds, including high-precision ones, new rockets, new drones. It is timely and strong,” he said.
He thanked U.S. President Joe Biden, U.S. lawmakers and “all the Americans who appreciate freedom, and who know that freedom is worth protecting.”
Ukrainian officials dismissed the Kremlin-ordered cease-fire that started Friday for Orthodox Christmas Eve as a ploy to buy time for Russia’s struggling invasion forces to regroup. Ukrainian and Western officials portrayed the announcement as a Russian attempt to grab the moral high ground and possibly snatch battlefield initiative and momentum from Ukrainian forces amid their counteroffensive of recent months.
The pause was due to end Saturday night — at midnight Moscow time, which is 11 p.m. in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.
The Ministry of Defense in Britain, a leading supplier of military aid to Ukraine, said Saturday in its daily readout on the invasion that “fighting has continued at a routine level into the Orthodox Christmas period.”
In the fiercely contested Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine, regional Gov. Serhiy Haidai reported continued Russian shelling and assaults. Posting Friday on Telegram, Haidai said that in the first three hours of the cease-fire, Russian forces shelled Ukrainian positions 14 times and stormed one settlement three times. The claim couldn’t be independently verified.
Ukrainian authorities on Saturday also reported attacks elsewhere in the previous 24 hours although it wasn’t clear whether the fighting was before or after the cease-fire’s start.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said Russian forces carried out a missile strike and 20 salvoes with rockets, and targeted settlements in the east, northeast and south.
The head of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region on Saturday reported two civilian deaths the previous day from Russian strikes in the fiercely contested city of Bakhmut and to its north, in Krasna Hora.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | 2023-01-07T14:09:22+00:00 | wdtn.com | https://www.wdtn.com/news/ap-top-headlines/ap-ukraine-hails-u-s-military-aid-as-cease-fire-said-to-falter/ |
TULSA, Okla., Aug. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE: OKE) today announced the release of its 2021-2022 Corporate Sustainability Report. The report highlights the company's progress and commitment toward environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance. View the report on ONEOK's website, www.oneok.com.
Corporate Sustainability Report Highlights:
- Targeting a 2.2 million metric ton (MMT) reduction of the company's combined Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2030, which represents a 30% reduction in total operational emissions attributable to ONEOK assets in 2019.
- Collaborating with producers to continue the reduction of well-head flaring through infrastructure investments to increase natural gas capture.
- Qualifying for inclusion in more than 30 ESG-related stock market indices highlighting that ONEOK's efforts are being recognized by investors.
- Receiving in 2021, an MSCI ESG Rating of AA.
- Contributing more than $8 million and approximately 4,800 volunteer hours across 215 communities during 2021.
- Being named to JUST Capital's list of Top 100 U.S. Companies Supporting Healthy Communities and Families.
- Receiving a perfect score in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Corporate Equality Index for the second year in a row.
"2021 provided another year of growth and progress for ONEOK – both in terms of our business and our sustainability efforts," said Pierce H. Norton II, ONEOK president and chief executive officer. "Operating safely, sustainably and environmentally responsibly remains key to our success, and encouraging a culture of employee and stakeholder engagement will continue to drive our company forward.
"Our ESG-related performance is a source of pride for ONEOK, and we are committed to continuing to make progress while also remaining dedicated to delivering energy products and services vital to an advancing world," added Norton.
ONEOK, Inc. (pronounced ONE-OAK) (NYSE: OKE) is a leading midstream service provider and owner of one of the nation's premier natural gas liquids (NGL) systems, connecting NGL supply in the Rocky Mountain, Mid-Continent and Permian regions with key market centers and an extensive network of natural gas gathering, processing, storage and transportation assets.
ONEOK is a FORTUNE 500 company and is included in the S&P 500.
For the latest news about ONEOK, find us at www.oneok.com or on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Some of the statements contained and incorporated in this news release are forward-looking statements as defined under federal securities laws. Examples of forward-looking statements contained herein include our GHG emission reduction targets. We make these forward-looking statements in reliance on the safe harbor protections provided under federal securities laws and other applicable laws. The following discussion is intended to identify important factors that could cause future outcomes to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements reflect our expectations as of the date of this press release and include the information concerning possible or assumed future results of our operations and other statements contained or incorporated herein identified by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "goal," "guidance," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "project," "scheduled," "should," "will," "would" and other words and terms of similar meaning.
Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures we make from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which are available via the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and our website at www.oneok.com. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. In addition to any assumptions and other factors referred to specifically in connection with the forward-looking statements, factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statement include, among others, the following:
- The impact of the transition to a lower carbon economy, including the timing and extent of the transition, as well as the expected role of different energy sources, including natural gas, NGLs and crude oil, in such a transition;
- The pace of technological advancements and industry innovation, including those focused on reducing GHG emissions and advancing other climate-related initiatives, and our ability to take advantage of those innovations and developments;
- The effectiveness of our risk-management function, including mitigating cyber- and climate-related risks;
- Our ability to identify and execute opportunities, and the economic viability of those opportunities, including those relating to renewable natural gas, carbon capture, use, and storage, other renewable energy sources such as solar and wind and alternative low carbon fuel sources such as hydrogen;
- The ability of our existing assets and our ability to apply and continue to develop our expertise to support the growth of, and transition to, various renewable and alternative energy opportunities, including through the positioning and optimization of our assets;
- Our ability to efficiently reduce our GHG emissions (both Scope 1 and 2 emissions), including through the use of lower carbon power alternatives, management practices and system optimizations;
- The effects of changes in governmental policies and regulatory actions, including changes with respect to tax policy, emissions credits, carbon offsets and carbon pricing;
- The necessity to focus on maintaining and enhancing our existing assets while reducing our Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions;
- the risks associated with pending or possible acquisitions and dispositions, including our ability to finance or integrate any such acquisitions and any regulatory delay or conditions imposed by regulatory bodies in connection with any such acquisitions and dispositions; and
- Those factors listed under "Forward-looking Statements" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2021 (2021 Annual Report), and in our other filings that we make with the SEC, which are available via the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and our website at www.oneok.com.
These factors are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any of our forward-looking statements. Other factors, known and unknown, could also affect adversely our future results. These and other risks are described in greater detail in Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors, in our 2021 Annual Report and in our other filings that we make with the SEC, which are available via the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and our website at www.oneok.com. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Any such forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and other than as required under securities laws, we undertake no, and expressly disclaim any, obligation or duty to update publicly any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or change in circumstances, expectations or otherwise.
While future events or changes discussed herein may be significant, any significance should not be read as necessarily rising to the level of materiality of the disclosures required under the U.S. federal securities laws. Our targets are aspirational and not guarantees or promises that all targets will be met. Statistics and metrics included in our sustainability-related documents are estimates and may be based on assumptions, developing standards or third-party data that we have not independently vetted.
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SOURCE ONEOK, Inc. | 2022-08-02T21:07:50+00:00 | wsfa.com | https://www.wsfa.com/prnewswire/2022/08/02/oneok-releases-2021-2022-corporate-sustainability-report/ |
Biden to get updated COVID-19 booster shot, promote vaccine
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden was scheduled to get his updated COVID-19 booster shot on Tuesday and urge the public to get theirs to ensure a healthy holiday season.
Biden was to appear at the White House with the doctors who are leading administration efforts against the spread of the coronavirus.
They were set to be joined by executives from several major drug store chains, which are mounting renewed efforts to help people to get a dose of COVID-19 vaccine that’s been reformulated to target the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of omicron, the most dominant strains in the United States.
Over 20 million people, including nearly 1 in 5 older adults, have already gotten the updated COVID-19 booster, the White House said.
Biden is expected to again call on business, educational and civil leaders to do more to encourage their communities to get the updated vaccines, which are free of charge.
Three respiratory viruses are currently circulating in the U.S: the flu, COVID-19 and RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, said Dr. Ashish Jha, leader of the White House response to COVID-19.
Jha said during several morning TV show appearances that the combination of a flu shot and updated COVID booster now will help people avoid serious illness and stay out of the hospital as they get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving and other holidays with friends and family.
RSV has been affecting children, but there is not shot available to treat it, though companies are working to develop one, he said.
“So if people went out and got their vaccines, we could really get through this without getting into a lot of trouble,” Jha said Tuesday on “CBS Mornings.”
“If you’re relying on your old vaccine from nine months ago or an infection from a year ago, that’s probably not going to be good enough, and that’s one of the reasons we’re urging all Americans — but particularly older Americans, particularly seniors — to get the new updated COVID vaccine, because I do think it’s going to make a really big difference,” Jha said on “Today” on NBC.
Biden had to wait a few months to get his updated COVID booster because he was infected, then reinfected, with COVID-19 over the summer.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2022-10-25T13:04:08+00:00 | witn.com | https://www.witn.com/2022/10/25/biden-get-updated-covid-19-booster-shot-promote-vaccine/ |
(The Hill) – Texas became the largest state to ban gender-affirming care for minors on Friday after Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed a bill into law.
The law, which will take effect on Sept. 1, will prohibit health care providers from prescribing hormones or puberty blockers to minors or performing surgeries to help with their gender transition.
It includes an exception for youth currently receiving hormones or puberty blockers and those that have attended 12 or more sessions of mental health counseling over a period of at least six months before they began treatment. But, it also requires that they be gradually taken off them “in a manner that is safe and medically appropriate.”
Medical providers who are convicted of violating the law could have their license revoked.
With Abbott’s signature, Texas joins 18 other states that have banned medication and surgical gender-affirming care for transgender minors, according to the Movement Advancement Project, which tracks state laws affecting the LGBTQ community. Arizona bans gender-affirming surgery but not medication like hormones.
Republicans throughout the country have railed against the use of gender-affirming care for minors, especially in the past year, arguing that it could cause irreversible effects at an age when they are too young to decide.
Medical associations have emphasized that the care is warranted for adults and children who are experiencing gender dysphoria. Advocates have also argued that the bans only harm transgender youth.
The American Civil Liberties Union and other advocacy groups pledged last month to file a lawsuit if Abbott signed the bill, to block the ban from going into effect. | 2023-06-03T17:28:46+00:00 | cenlanow.com | https://www.cenlanow.com/national/texas-becomes-largest-state-to-ban-gender-affirming-care-for-minors/ |
Alex Murdaugh’s family long dominated the legal scene in his small South Carolina county but for the past six weeks, Murdaugh has been on the other side of the courtroom, standing trial on murder charges in the shootings of his wife and son.
More than 75 witnesses have been called and about 800 photographs, reports and exhibits have been presented as evidence. Jurors visited the crime scene Wednesday and the prosecution gave its closing argument.
As the trial winds down, here are some takeaways:
WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE KILLINGS?
Alex Murdaugh called 911 on the evening of June 7, 2021, and said he’d found his son and wife dead when he returned home from a one-hour visit with his mother, who has dementia.
Authorities said Paul Murdaugh, 22, was shot twice with a shotgun, each round loaded with different size shot, while Maggie Murdaugh, 52, was struck with four or five bullets from a rifle. A crime scene report suggested both victims were shot in the head after initially being wounded near dog kennels on the Murdaughs’ sprawling rural property.
Prosecutors took more than a year to charge the disgraced lawyer with murder but decided not to pursue the death penalty. Murdaugh, who is also charged with about 100 counts of financial and other crimes, has adamantly denied any involvement in the killings. If convicted, he faces 30 years to life in prison.
WHAT IS THE PROSECUTION’S CASE?
Prosecutors, who contend Murdaugh killed his wife and son to distract from his financial crimes, have not presented direct evidence against Alex Murdaugh.
They called 61 witnesses and introduced more than 550 pieces of evidence over 17 days of testimony — from descriptions of the brutality of the killings to numbing details about bank records.
The weapons used to kill the victims have not been produced. But prosecutors did get one key piece of evidence that both showed Murdaugh lied to police and put him at the kennels where his wife and son were shot just five minutes before investigators think they were killed because they stopped using their cellphones.
It’s a video taken by Paul Murdaugh, locked in his cellphone for a year after the killings until federal agents could hack into it. Alex Murdaugh told the first police officer to arrive and every one after that he was never at the kennels. His voice is on that video.
“That changed everything,” prosecutor Creighton Waters said in his closing statement Wednesday.
“I did lie to them,” was one of the first things Murdaugh said when he took the stand in his own defense, blaming paranoia about law enforcement because he was addicted to opiates and had a bottle of pills in his pocket when he was questioned.
Waters asked jurors why an innocent man who just saw his wife and son slaughtered or the state agents investigating would be worried about pills.
“He was lying to you when he made that up — just like he has lied to everyone close to him. And he’s good at it,” Waters said.
STAR WITNESS
Murdaugh, 54, was the 72nd witness called during the trial.
His defense team wasted no time. Their first questions were whether he killed his wife or son, which he denied forcefully. He would deny ever hurting them again and again in questions from his lawyer and cross-examination by prosecutors.
Prosecutor Creighton Waters tried one last time: “Mr. Murdaugh, are you a family annihilator?”
“You mean, did I shoot my wife and son?” Murdaugh said in a measured tone. “No. I would never hurt Maggie Murdaugh. I would never hurt Paul Murdaugh under any circumstances.”
In his closing argument, Waters pointed out Alex Murdaugh nodded as he said that, just like he nodded in police videos when state agents asked if he was at the kennels the night of the killings and he said he wasn’t.
Murdaugh also admitted over and over that he lied and stole millions of dollars from his clients and his law firm. Waters detailed almost every victim and asked if he lied to their face.
“I took money that wasn’t mine. And I shouldn’t have done it. I hate the fact that I did it. I am embarrassed by it. I’m embarrassed for my son. I am embarrassed for my family,” Murdaugh said.
Murdaugh is awaiting trial for the many financial crimes he admitted to on the stand and insurance fraud charges for asking someone to kill him so his surviving son could get his $12 million in life insurance as well as tax evasion and money laundering charges.
WHAT ABOUT THE DEFENSE?
The defense has called experts who said investigators didn’t dust for fingerprints, collect and test blood, or photograph evidence with the angles or clarity needed to study it properly later.
The first officer arrived at the rural Colleton County estate 20 minutes after Murdaugh called 911. Almost immediately, the local sheriff turned the investigation over to the State Law Enforcement Division.
It took hours for agents from across the state to get deep into the South Carolina Lowcountry. During that time, more than a dozen family and friends walked around the scene, comforting Murdaugh.
The bodies of Paul and Maggie Murdaugh were covered with a sheet, which can absorb fluid, instead of a tarp. Then the sheet wasn’t saved, meaning possible hair or DNA from a killer could have been lost. Intermittent rain fell and the runoff from the kennel roof fell on Paul Murdaugh’s covered body.
When state agents arrived, they sent Murdaugh and his entourage to the home. Witnesses testified it hadn’t been searched for weapons, bloody clothes and other evidence or even checked to see if a suspect was hiding inside.
The defense also called an expert who testified the killings likely required two shooters because both Paul and Maggie Murdaugh appeared to be taken by surprise. Their hands were not raised in defense and the shockwave, blood and gore after Paul Murdaugh was shot in the head at close range with a shotgun likely would have stunned the shooter for at least several seconds and Maggie Murdaugh would have responded.
Alex Murdaugh is charged with both killings, which binds prosecutors to him being the only shooter. | 2023-03-02T00:35:52+00:00 | kron4.com | https://www.kron4.com/top-stories/ap-top-headlines/ap-what-to-know-about-alex-murdaughs-murder-trial/ |
CONSUMER REPORTS (WSYR-TV) — Whether it’s because we played in a college band, cranked up our headphones too loud, or used power tools without proper ear protection, most of us will experience some hearing loss as we get older. The good news is that there are steps we can take now to preserve the hearing we have. Consumer Reports explains how to do it.
Chris Martin, will.i.am, and The Who’s Pete Townshend are just some of the many musicians suffering from hearing damage after years of exposure to loud music.
But you don’t have to be a rock star to lose your hearing. People of all ages are vulnerable, and audiologists say it’s important to understand the causes.
Hearing isn’t damaged just by high-level sound, it’s damaged by high-level sound over a period of time by some of the things we do over and over throughout our lives. For example, just 15 minutes at a football game in a stadium may cause hearing damage, and just 5 minutes listening to a very loud TV or music turned all the way up on an iPhone with standard earbuds on. So if you attend games and concerts often or crank up your iPhone volume daily, your risk for hearing loss increases.
Consumer Reports says one trick is to minimize the intensity of noises around you. Use noise- canceling headphones that shut out background clamor so you can keep the volume at a low level. If you operate a lawnmower or power tools regularly, wear earmuffs or earplugs that reduce noise back down to normal conversation level.
And did you know that many TVs have an automatic turn-down function during commercials and loud, action-packed sequences? It’s usually found under the “assistive features” in your TV sound settings and may be called “auto volume” or “dynamic range protection.”
If you think you may have hearing loss, consider getting tested. The earlier you get help, the better.
Consumer Reports also says don’t discount a healthy lifestyle. Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other conditions may factor into hearing loss. Eating well and exercising can also help. | 2022-06-06T22:40:12+00:00 | localsyr.com | https://www.localsyr.com/news/consumer-reports/consumer-reports-protect-your-hearing-all-day-long/ |
The Red Sox have made “at least two offers” to free agent Xander Bogaerts since the 2022 season ended, The Boston Globe’s Michael Silverman reported Wednesday from the owners meetings in New York.
“Once during its period of exclusivity before Bogaerts filed for free agency, and a sweetened offer since he became a free agent earlier this month,” Silverman wrote.
Bogaerts opted out of his contract’s remaining three years, $60 million to become a free agent Nov. 7, after the World Series ended. The Red Sox extended him a one-year, $19.65-million qualifying offer, which he unsurprisingly declined Tuesday. But the Red Sox needed to make the qualifying offer to receive draft pick compensation if Bogaerts signs with another team.
Red Sox president and CEO Sam Kennedy confirmed to Silverman that the Red Sox have increased their offer to Bogaerts and also made an extension offer to Rafael Devers who is eligible for free agency after the 2023 season. Kennedy called the conversations with Bogaerts “productive.”
Chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom has called Bogaerts the Red Sox’s No. 1 priority this offseason.
Bogaerts, a 2022 Gold Glove finalist, batted .307 with a .377 on-base percentage, .456 slugging percentage, .833 OPS, 15 homers, 38 doubles, 84 runs and 73 RBIs in 150 games (631 plate appearances) in 2022.
The New York Post’s Jon Heyman ran expert contract projections, including that Bogaerts will receive eight years, $225 million. Bogaerts turned 30 on Oct. 1. An eight-year deal would run through his age 37 season.
Bogaerts is part of an impressive free agent shortstop class that also includes Carlos Correa, Trea Turner and Dansby Swanson.
The Red Sox have familiar competition in their pursuit to re-sign Bogaerts. The shortstop reportedly is drawing “real interest” from Dave Dombrowski’s Phillies. The Yankees also have been in touch Bogaerts since he became a free agent, Heyman reported.
Related Content
Red Sox leave prospect Thaddeus Ward unprotected for December’s Rule 5 Draft
Red Sox roster moves: Jake Reed, Caleb Hamilton cut to make room for 40-man additions | 2022-11-16T23:17:12+00:00 | masslive.com | https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2022/11/xander-bogaerts-rumors-red-sox-have-made-at-least-two-offers-since-the-season-ended-report.html |
ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:
A deal is within sight to resolve the fight over the nation's debt. The White House and Republicans are working out the details on a plan to raise the government's borrowing limit for two years. In return, Republican lawmakers would get some cuts to federal spending.
JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:
But negotiations are not over yet, and time is running out. Earlier today, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said unless Congress raises the debt ceiling, the U.S. will run out of money to pay its bills by June 5.
SHAPIRO: Now, while debt talks tend to center around Washington's power players, some everyday Americans have also done their part to resolve the nation's debt by donating their own money to the United States government. Wailin Wong and Adrian Ma from our daily economics podcast, The Indicator, tell us about an obscure government program that collects donations from citizens.
WAILIN WONG, BYLINE: For almost as long as there's been a United States, there have been Americans who want to give money to the federal government. And I don't just mean paying their fair share of taxes. I'm talking about making a charitable contribution to Uncle Sam.
MATT GARBER: The earliest payment actually goes back to about 1811 during the Madison administration. Some random citizen mailed in five bucks.
ADRIAN MA, BYLINE: This is Matt Garber. He works at the U.S. Treasury in an office called the Bureau of the Fiscal Service, and what it does is manage money for federal agencies.
WONG: Back then, there wasn't any system in place to accept donations like that $5, which, by the way, would be around $100 today. But the money kept coming in. So in 1843, the government set up an account for what it called gifts to the United States. This was a general all-purpose account.
GARBER: Those funds have evolved over time. Used to be much more physical property - checks, bags of pennies, bags of gold. And really...
WONG: Bags of gold? Can we hear more about these bags of gold?
GARBER: Yes. So there is at least one instance that we're aware of where in a manila envelope wrapped was about $63 in just gold bullion.
MA: And once the Bureau of the Fiscal Service gets this stuff. It has to figure out how to convert it to, you know, U.S. currency so it can be deposited into the government's account.
WONG: Now, for this general gifts to the government fund, there wasn't a way for donors to specify how they would like the money to be spent. But then in the 1950s, Matt says patriotic Americans wanted to help the government pay back the money it had borrowed for war efforts.
GARBER: There's this interest in providing funds just as a pure patriotic duty to offset these debts.
MA: So in 1961, the government set up another account, a special account for what it called gifts to reduce the public debt. And it meant that the money in that account could only be used for that purpose. It wouldn't get swallowed up by the general fund.
WONG: So how much money actually flows into this special debt fund? Well, in 2022, the government collected - drumroll, please - $1 million.
MA: Womp-wah.
WONG: Yep, just a million dollars. In 2021, it was around $1.3 million. And the most the fund has ever held was 20 million in 1994. Most of that was a single large contribution from a civic-minded and apparently very wealthy donor.
MA: And even that high watermark of $20 million is a pittance compared to the size of the federal budget. I mean, just last year, the government spent $6 trillion.
WONG: And that says the government wants the debt fund to stay under the radar. It's not an effective way to raise money. So the Treasury does not advertise this program. There is some information about it on the 1040 tax form and a couple of government websites. That's about it.
GARBER: It wasn't supposed to be this massive revenue stream for the federal government. We have lots of other levers that we can pull for that.
WONG: And yet some people keep sending in their cash, whether it's gold bullion or just a few dimes taped to a piece of paper. Wailin Wong.
MA: Adrian Ma, NPR News. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | 2023-06-07T07:39:57+00:00 | kclu.org | https://www.kclu.org/politics/politics/2023-05-26/this-obscure-program-lets-americans-donate-to-help-pay-off-the-national-debt |
STONECREST, Ga., July 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Los Angeles based GreenLake Asset Management LLC ("GreenLake") has funded a $42,500,000 discounted pay-off loan for the Mall at Stonecrest, a 400,000 square foot super-regional mall located in Stonecrest, GA.
An experienced mall operator approached GreenLake for a loan to support a discounted pay-off, which would enable the sponsor to recapitalize a property that was overleveraged. Despite existing issues, the mall generated strong cash flow during the pandemic. GreenLake was able to navigate a complex situation and provide funding for the borrower to stabilize the property.
Peter Chang, managing principal at GreenLake stated, "This was a complex transaction involving multiple parties which we were able to successfully navigate due to our extensive experience with special situation loans. The sponsor has a great track record and expertise in mall operations, and we strongly believe this team can stabilize the asset within a year."
Founded in 2008, GreenLake Asset Management LLC and its affiliates provide short-term commercial bridge loans nationwide. GreenLake offers creative, flexible and time-sensitive capital solutions for a broad spectrum of real estate special situations. GreenLake lends across a range of asset classes including hospitality, industrial, multi-family, self-storage, mixed-use, office and retail.
Contact:
Kamau Coleman
Director, Originations
626.529.1084
kcoleman@greenlakefund.com
Adam Frank
Vice President, Originations
646.766.0288
afrank@greenlakefund.com
Renee Volaric
Vice President, Originations
646.766.0286
rvolaric@greenlakefund.com
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SOURCE GreenLake Asset Management LLC | 2022-07-20T13:55:22+00:00 | waff.com | https://www.waff.com/prnewswire/2022/07/20/greenlake-funds-42500000-discounted-pay-off-regional-mall-metro-atlanta/ |
JOHANNESBURG, Oct. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sasol and ArcelorMittal South Africa have announced a partnership to develop carbon capture technology to produce sustainable fuels and chemicals, and green steel production through green hydrogen and derivatives.
Under a joint development agreement (JDA), they will advance studies into two potential projects: the Saldanha green hydrogen and derivatives study which will explore the region's potential as an export hub for green hydrogen and derivatives, as well as green steel production; and the Vaal carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) study to use renewable electricity and green hydrogen to convert captured carbon from ArcelorMittal South Africa's Vanderbijlpark's steel plant into sustainable fuels and chemicals.
In addition, Sasol signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Freeport Saldanha Industrial Development Zone to develop a globally competitive green hydrogen hub and ecosystem within Saldanha Bay.
"We are very excited to be leading the pre-feasibility and feasibility studies on these two potential projects that hold promise to unlock South Africa's potential to be a global green hydrogen and derivatives player. These studies are anchored by the local need for green hydrogen and sustainable products, cementing Sasol as the leading contributor to the development of southern Africa's green hydrogen economy," said Priscillah Mabelane, Executive Vice President for Sasol's Energy Business.
"These potential projects are an important kick-start to our decarbonisation journey and create an exciting opportunity to contribute to the South African government's aspirations to transition to a green economy," said Kobus Verster, Chief Executive Officers, of ArcelorMittal South Africa."Just as importantly, by maximising the utilisation of our installed assets, we will also be stimulating economic growth in our host communities."
Sasol and ArcelorMittal South Africa are two of South Africa's biggest industrial operators that both have an ambition to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, as well as reach their respective sustainability ambitions and decarbonisation roadmaps. This places Sasol as a leading contributor to the development of Southern Africa's green hydrogen economy with the opportunity to incubate local and export opportunities for green hydrogen and green hydrogen derivatives. Both initiatives have the potential for ArcelorMittal South Africa to be the first African green flat steel producer using green hydrogen to produce direct reduced iron (DRI) via the Midrex facility at its Saldanha Works (which is presently under care and maintenance), while also reducing the carbon footprint of its flagship Vanderbijlpark Works.
The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) commended Sasol and ArcelorMittal South Africa on their progressive partnership. "As government's hydrogen economy development and commercialisation champion, the IDC supports sector linkages like this that are critical to realising South Africa's ambition to develop the green hydrogen economy," said Joanne Bate, Chief Operating Officer for the IDC.
The Vaal Triangle in South Africa has been home to fossil fuel-based industrial operations that have been crucial to the country's economic development, supporting many livelihoods through job creation and contribution to the country's GDP. Many of the assets in these operations can pivot to sustainable operations.
The Vaal CCU study will explore using up to 1.5 million tonnes a year of unavoidable industrial CO2 captured from the ArcelorMittal South Africa's Vanderbijlpark Works. The CO2 is envisaged to be transported to the Sasolburg and Ekandustria operating facilities in Sasolburg and, together with green hydrogen, will eventually replace natural gas as a feedstock to produce sustainable chemicals products.
The two potential projects will drive the re-industrialisation of both the Saldanha and the Vaal regions, seeding the opportunity for the development of a green hydrogen ecosystem, thereby enabling long-term, sustainable benefits for communities and the country. They are expected to provide a significant number of jobs, infrastructure investment and skills development in the country, thus enabling a Just Transition.
The partnership positions South Africa and the region to play a significant role in the global green hydrogen economy in that it leverages key structural advantages, such as renewable resources, mineral endowments, technical skills and anchors local demand.
Issued by:
Alex Anderson, Senior Manager: Group Media Relations and External Communication
Mobile : +27 (0) 71 600 9605; Email: alex.anderson@sasol.com
Matebello Motloung, Manager: Group Media Relations
Mobile: +27 (0) 82 773 9457; Email: matebello.motloung@sasol.com
About Sasol:
Sasol is a global chemicals and energy company. We harness our knowledge and expertise to integrate sophisticated technologies and processes into world-scale operating facilities.
We strive to safely and sustainably source, produce and market a range of high quality products globally.
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SOURCE Sasol | 2022-10-18T16:03:30+00:00 | wcjb.com | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/10/18/sasol-arcelormittal-south-africa-partner-decarbonise-reindustrialise-vaal-saldanha-through-green-hydrogen/ |
Kaelyn Corbitt tied the game with a goal in the second half, then assisted on two more as Bridgewater-Raritan defeated Kearny, 3-1, in Kearny.
Annie Klapp broke the 1-1 tie with a goal, then added the insurance goal for Bridgewater-Raritan (3-7), which trailed 1-0 at halftime. Olivia Peters made seven saves in the win.
Julia Araujo put Kearny (4-6) in front with a first half goal while Gabriela Matias made nine saves.
The N.J. High School Sports newsletter now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now and be among the first to get all the boys and girls sports you care about, straight to your inbox each weekday. To add your name, click here. | 2022-10-07T05:47:40+00:00 | nj.com | https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports/2022/10/bridgewater-raritan-over-kearny-girls-soccer-recap.html |
PROVIDENCE — As advocates and politicians spoke at the State House Monday about needing to make it illegal for authority figures to have sexual relations with teenagers under their supervision, one woman listened quietly.
Former North Kingstown High School basketball coach Aaron Thomas had performed “naked fat tests” on two of her sons when they were teenage student-athletes at the school. One of her sons was only 13 when it started.
Later, her sons and other former student athletes came forward as adults about Thomas’ testing program, in which he asked them “Are you shy or not shy?” to get them to voluntarily disrobe, and how he touched their naked bodies, including their inner thighs and groins.
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The mother was nearly crying after watching politicians urge support for legislation to make such sexual contact a crime. “If this [law] existed back then, we would be in a different state,” she said.
Senate Minority Whip Jessica de la Cruz, a Republican for District 23, and Senator Frank Lombardi, a Democrat for District 26, say the bill they’re sponsoring, S 2219, will close a loophole in state law that permits those with supervisory or disciplinary power — like coaches and teachers — to have sexual relations with minors between 14 and 18 years old. State Representative Julie A. Casimiro, Democrat for District 31, which includes North Kingstown, is sponsoring the House bill.
Under state law, a person who engages in sex with a minor under 14 years old is guilty of first-degree child molestation sexual assault. Under the bills, anyone in a position of authority who has sexual contact, such as touching, or penetration with a minor over 14 and under 18 years old would be guilty of third-degree sexual assault. A conviction of third-degree sexual assault carries a penalty of five years in prison.
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This proposed legislation allows an exception if both parties are between 16 and 20 years old, and no more than 30 months apart in age.
Previous versions of this legislation, which focused on those who work in schools, met opposition from the Rhode Island chapter of the ACLU and teachers unions. The ACLU voiced concerns about singling out teachers and criminalizing school volunteers who could be close in age to the student, and the teachers’ unions objected to criminalizing conduct by school employees and not those in other supervisory positions. The House passed the legislation in 2019, but the Senate did not take action.
A spokeswoman for the National Education Association of Rhode Island said Monday the organization was not taking a position on the current legislation.
Both de la Cruz and Lombardi sit on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which heard the bill last month and held it for further study. Casimiro’s bill has not yet been scheduled for a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee.
While the age of consent in Rhode Island is 16, “It’s odious to think a child can consent to sex with a person of authority,” de la Cruz said. “The sense of urgency is real and the time [to pass the bill] is now.”
Lombardi said that the General Assembly needed to act soon, before the end of the session next month, to pass the legislation and “prevent anyone with authority from exploiting the loophole.”
Lawyer Timothy J. Conlon, who is representing several former student-athletes accusing the North Kingstown School Department of ignoring Thomas’ conduct, said later that the bill sends a message that abuse of authority won’t be tolerated, and gives the police a mandate to take action against child predators.
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The legislation would make prosecution easier, because it eliminates any discussion of “consent” by the minor, Conlon said.
“Most Rhode Islanders would be shocked to learn that an adult teacher who takes advantage of a 16-year-old girl with a crush who wants to have sex with her teacher can claim that their sexual intercourse is ‘consensual,’ and accordingly not subject to prosecution,” Conlon said in a statement.
“In 40 years, I have encountered this absurdity in connection with teachers, coaches, group home workers, and clergy of all denominations, because our age of consent laws as written do not explicitly address the imbalance of power in such relationships — and the obvious fact that someone in a position of trust cannot meaningfully get consent for sex acts from a child in their care.”
Amanda Milkovits can be reached at amanda.milkovits@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmandaMilkovits. | 2022-05-16T23:01:23+00:00 | bostonglobe.com | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/05/16/metro/senators-de-la-cruz-lombardi-urge-passage-bill-protect-teens-predatory-adults/ |
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TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Brandon Hagel had his second NHL hat trick, Steven Stamkos reached the 30-goal mark for the eighth time and the Tampa Bay Lightning rallied in the third period to beat the Montreal Canadiens 5-3 on Saturday night.
Stamkos tied it at 3 at 3:14 of the third with a power-play one-timer. Hagel put the Lightning ahead to stay at 5:58 with his second of the game when his deflection of Mikhail Sergachev’s shot went past Samuel Montembeault.
Hagel, playing his 200th NHL game, completed his hat trick by hitting the empty net with 43.6 seconds remaining.
Victor Hedman also scored for Tampa Bay, which was coming off back-to-back road wins against the New Jersey Devils. Brian Elliott finished with 18 saves.
Mike Hoffman, Denis Gurianov and Jesse Ylonen scored, Nick Suzuki had two assists, and Montembeault made 36 saves for the Canadiens. They were coming off a 9-5 road loss to the Florida Panthers on Thursday night in which they allowed seven goals in the first period.
The Canadiens opened the scoring 5:12 into the game when Hoffman took Suzuki’s pass from the right boards and snapped a shot from the slot past Elliott. The Lightning got even at 11:31 when Hedman’s wrister from between the circles beat Montembeault.
Tampa Bay went ahead 2-1 at 4:50 of the second period when Hagel took the rebound of Nikita Kucherov’s shot off the end boards and beat Montembeault from the right circle. But Montreal got even 1:29 later when Gurianov beat Elliott on a one-timer from the lower right circle, then went ahead 3-2 when Hoffman set up Ylonen’s power-play goal.
Canadiens forward Jonathan Drouin dressed for the game but did not see the ice after missing a team meeting Friday.
UP NEXT
Canadiens: Host Tampa Bay on Tuesday night.
Lightning: Host New Jersey on Sunday night.
___ AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2023-03-19T02:55:42+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/sports/article/brandon-hagel-has-hat-trick-lightning-beat-17847577.php |
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — As soon as Bridget Mosanya went to get a book from her bag to study, it started to rain. The power immediately went out, as it virtually always does in Nigeria, even if it is barely drizzling.
“NEPA has taken light,” the 17-year-old said in her now-dark room. She was referring to the National Electric Power Authority, a long-defunct public utility whose abbreviation is still the commonly used name for the intermittent power supply from Nigeria’s fragile electric grid.
Her father, Tunde Mosanya, turned on the family’s small solar system, lighting up the living room, master bedroom and his daughter’s room. It was enough for Bridget to finishing studying that night.
But a street away, on the east side of Nigeria’s capital of Abuja, 13-year-old Bamkinaan Panshak would have to wait to do his homework until the power was restored or make do with his parent’s half-charged cellphone flashlight.
His family used to start up their gasoline-powered backup generator during blackouts because they do not have a solar system. But since new President Bola Tinubu removed a subsidy that helped reduce the price of gas, they can’t afford the cost of fuel.
“It is just beyond means for now,” said Bamkinaan’s father, Guleng Panshak, who is a teacher.
The end of the long-running fuel subsidy last month has increased interest in solar, operators say, which could accelerate progress toward mitigating climate change in Africa’s largest economy. But experts say the government needs a clear plan to make the most of this new opportunity to advance Nigeria’s climate goals, which include eliminating fossil fuel-run generators widely used to keep the lights on in homes and businesses.
Reducing fuel costs was a popular but environmentally and economically costly system.
The state petroleum company, NNPC, says Nigeria spent 4.39 trillion naira ($9.7 billion) on the subsidy last year, leaving the government struggling to finance infrastructure projects, including rail systems that could help reduce emissions from vehicles.
Gas-powered generators also contribute significantly to emissions, having proliferated under the subsidy in a country where only half the population of more than 200 million have access to grid electricity. Those who do often endure blackouts.
Solar adoption, on the other hand, has largely been hampered by relatively high upfront costs, with only 1.25% of Nigerian households installing those systems, according to a 2022 study conducted by Boston Consulting Group and All On.
If 30% of Nigerian households turned to solar by 2030, 5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide would be avoided, reducing emissions from households by 30%, the study added.
The new president has acknowledged that removing the fuel subsidy “will impose an additional burden on the masses of our people,” who have seen gasoline prices triple while struggling with high inflation and unemployment.
It is a pain point that could lead to longer-term climate benefits.
“We are already getting a lot of customer inquiries and requests for solar,” said Segun Adaju, president of the Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria. “Many potential customers are already ordering their solar systems.”
“Also, this is a great opportunity to cut emissions by reducing the use of fossil fuels and shifting to solar and electric vehicles,” Adaju said.
Bridget’s father, Mosanya, now wants to avoid gasoline altogether and use solar to power all their appliances — including refrigerators, air conditioners and televisions — when there is a power outage.
Installing an expanded 4-kilowatt solar system, according to Lagos-based energy engineer Kunle Adesiyan, would meet Mosanya’s needs and would cost “conservatively” 3 million naira ($6,452).
That cost is too expensive for most families and small businesses.
Any potential environmental benefits of eliminating the fuel subsidy would be lost without a comprehensive plan to make renewable energy more accessible and affordable, energy economist Tobi Oluwatola said.
He proposed incentives such as tax credits and low-interest financing for people who use solar and businesses that provide solar installations.
“Nigeria also needs to implement its net metering policy to allow solar owners to sell excess power to the grid during the day and reduce their net electricity bills. This would reduce the need for battery storage,” said Oluwatola, CEO of TAO Energy in Abuja.
The cost is holding back Ifeanyi Ogbonna.
He owns a pharmacy in Abuja and would prefer to use solar energy but said installing the system would be costly given that his business needs a refrigerator and air conditioner. That means he will stick with his gas-powered generator.
“Although the price (of gasoline) has risen, I can still struggle to meet the expenses on a regular basis because they are smaller in comparison to spending so much — more than a million naira all at once — to get the solar capacity I require,” Ogbonna said.
Incentives like waivers on customs duties for imported solar equipment also would help expand access to off-grid solar energy for homes and businesses, said Adaju of the Renewable Energy Association.
Those charges apply except when raw materials are imported to make solar systems and generate value in Nigeria, said Abdullahi Maiwada, a spokesperson for the Nigeria Customs Service.
He said the government’s fiscal policy would have to be reviewed to stop or reduce the charges on imported solar equipment.
Tinubu’s campaign did not prioritize climate change, and he has not detailed his plan to address the issue since assuming power. A spokesperson for the president did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Nigeria is Africa’s second-largest carbon emitter — following South Africa — and is considerably affected by climate change fallout such as sea level rise and flooding, which threaten livelihoods, food security and increased conflict.
___
Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about AP’s climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. | 2023-06-20T22:21:18+00:00 | ksn.com | https://www.ksn.com/science/ap-science/ending-nigerias-fuel-subsidy-pushes-a-shift-to-solar-without-a-climate-plan-progress-is-at-risk/ |
Kirk Ziehm joins as CEO to drive the company's growth strategy and innovation.
BENTONVILLE, Ark., March 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Movista, the leading retail execution SaaS provider, today announced the appointment of Kirk Ziehm as CEO. Kirk brings 20 years of exceptional leadership experience within retail and software to Movista. Most recently, Kirk served as CEO of Buildout, the leading commercial real estate platform in North America. Stan Zylowski, co-founder of Movista, will serve as Founder and Chairman and maintain an active role in the company driving growth initiatives and supporting key customer relationships.
"Kirk's combination of retail and SaaS experience coupled with his background driving outstanding results for customers, partners, employees and shareholders makes him a perfect fit for Movista," said Zylowski. "We are thrilled to bring in a business partner with Kirk's expertise to whom we can hand the operational reins, allowing me to focus on growth initiatives. Movista is now poised to capitalize on our market leading position and drive adoption of our emerging technology. We have outstanding employees, leaders, and the continued support of our investment partner, Level Equity, which recently made another significant investment in December 2022 to fuel our growth."
Over the last two years, the company has built a world-class management team with Eric Wilson as Chief Customer Officer, Madhu Kota as Chief Technology Officer and Scot DeLancey as Chief Product Officer. Ziehm's hiring and Zylowski's move to Founder and Chairman are part of a long-planned transition as the company's leadership prepares for the next phase of growth.
"Stan is a visionary, and he and April Seggebruch co-founded Movista at a time when retail execution technology was still in a nascent stage," said Ziehm. "Movista is changing the way retail teams collaborate to execute flawlessly on the store floor through data driven insight and automation. I am delighted to be able to leverage my retail and SaaS experience to lead Movista at this exciting inflection point in our history."
"Movista has built the industry's leading retail execution technology and transformed how field and store teams execute at scale," said Ben Levin, Level Equity Co-Founder and CEO. "Our recent investment to significantly capitalize Movista in December highlights our conviction in the company and its outsized growth potential."
About Movista
Movista is an enterprise-grade retail execution SaaS company that empowers store and field teams to easily orchestrate in-store work and improve on-shelf availability. We are revolutionizing the way retail teams collaborate so they can execute flawlessly in today's dynamic store environment. Our solution unifies all key execution functionality into a single integrated desktop/mobile work hub that improves workforce productivity and in-store item management. Learn more at www.movista.com. Follow on LinkedIn for the latest retail insights.
About Level Equity
Level Equity is a private investment firm focused on providing capital to rapidly growing software and technology-driven businesses. Level provides long term capital across all transaction types in support of continued growth. The firm has raised $3.0 billion in committed capital, has backed over 100 companies since inception, and has offices in New York, NY, San Francisco, CA, and Greenwich, CT. For more information about Level Equity, visit www.levelequity.com.
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SOURCE Movista | 2023-03-16T17:38:42+00:00 | ksla.com | https://www.ksla.com/prnewswire/2023/03/16/movista-sets-stage-next-phase-growth-with-executive-leadership-appointment/ |
LONDON (AP) — The World Health Organization said Thursday that the global outbreak of mpox, which initially baffled experts when the smallpox-related disease spread to more than 100 countries last year, is no longer an international emergency, after a dramatic drop in cases in recent months.
Last July, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared mpox, also known as monkeypox, to be an “extraordinary” situation that qualified as a global crisis. In doing so, he overruled WHO’s expert committee, which didn’t recommend the emergency designation.
Tedros said the novel way mpox was infecting people, via sexual contact in many countries that had never before identified cases, raised numerous concerns that warranted more attention; nearly all cases were in men who were gay, bisexual or had sex with other men. It was the biggest-ever outbreak of mpox.
He said at a media briefing on Thursday that his expert committee had concluded that the recent dramatic decline in cases, with about 90% fewer cases in the last three months, was no longer an acute concern.
“We now see steady progress in controlling the outbreak based on the lessons of HIV and working closely with the most affected communities,” Tedros said. “I’m pleased to declare that the mpox is no longer a global health emergency.” He added that the feared backlash against the communities most affected by the outbreak “has largely not materialized.”
The announcement Thursday comes after WHO downgraded COVID-19 last week, when it said the worst part of the pandemic was over and that the coronavirus should be managed like other respiratory diseases.
Mpox has been established in parts of central and west Africa for decades, where people are mainly infected by animals like wild rodents. But the disease wasn’t known to spark big outbreaks beyond the continent or to spread easily among people until last May, when dozens of epidemics emerged in Europe, North America and elsewhere.
Mpox most often causes symptoms including a rash, fever, headache, muscle pain and swollen lymph nodes. The skin lesions can last up to a month and the disease is spread via close physical contact with an infected patient or their clothing or bedsheets. Most people don’t need medical treatment to recover.
Scientists ultimately concluded that the unprecedented outbreak was tied to sex among gay and bisexual men at raves in Spain and Belgium, marking a significant departure from the mpox’s typical pattern of spread in Africa, where outbreaks haven’t spilled across borders.
Shortly after Tedros classified monkeypox as a global emergency last year, the epidemics in Europe and North America declined, and there were no signs of widespread transmission beyond men who were gay, bisexual or had sex with other men. European health authorities said that 98% of mpox patients are men and of those, 96% are men who have sex with men.
Mpox vaccines in rich countries were quickly rolled out and reports of severe illness were relatively rare. Cases have since slowed to a trickle in Europe and North America. To date, WHO says there have been more than 87,000 cases and 140 deaths worldwide. Still, in the last week, WHO said cases spiked by 64% compared to the previous week, with most cases in the Americas and the Western Pacific.
The U.S. has reported the biggest outbreak, with more than 30,000 cases. This week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control said that it was investigating a recent surge in cases around the country, including Chicago. Scientists have previously warned mpox could become entrenched as a new sexually transmitted disease, as authorities said its spread could continue indefinitely in certain populations.
In central and west Africa, mpox cases are continuing to rise, mainly driven by a spike in Congo. WHO said there has been about a 7% jump in new infections in the last two weeks, and Tedros said the routes of transmission were still not well understood. Cases have also been reported in the Central African Republic, Nigeria, Liberia and Ghana.
While rich countries including Britain, the U.S. and Germany rushed to vaccinate their at-risk populations after the mpox outbreak emerged, Africa didn’t receive its first big shipment of vaccines until last December.
WHO emergencies chief Dr. Michael Ryan criticized the global community for its failure to support the effort to contain the epidemic last year.
“Not one dollar was received from donors to support this response,” he said. He said that WHO had financed such efforts itself and acknowledged that some donors may have directly supported affected countries. “I was quite stunned to think that we could not get any funding for mpox.” | 2023-05-12T04:50:34+00:00 | wivb.com | https://www.wivb.com/health/mpox-no-longer-a-global-emergency-who-says/ |
WILMINGTON, Mass., July 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd. ("Liberty" or the "Company") (TSXV: SCAN) (OTCQB: LDDFF) (FRANKFURT: LD2A), a leading technology provider of detection solutions for concealed weapons and threats, is pleased to announce that it has finalized plans for the start of the upcoming beta trials of its HEXWAVE™ walkthrough security detection system, with the first beta unit on track to be delivered to its testing location by the end of August 2022.
The Company will deploy beta units in several settings, including a place of worship, an MLB stadium, a large state university, and in major airports for airline employee screening. Liberty has also expanded the number of planned beta sites to include more locations given the increased level of interest in the HEXWAVE and its ability to screen people efficiently for concealed metallic and non-metallic threats. These testing sites will expand to include more target market verticals including a cruise ship terminal, government buildings, and more. Beta testing will continue over the coming 12 weeks.
Since the last product update, the Company has continued to significantly improve the performance of the HEXWAVE system and has collected over 45,000 scenes incorporating a wide range of threat types, threat orientation, and various body types to train its Artificial Intelligence (AI) software. This improved performance of the walkthrough system will allow for advanced detection of today's evolving threats that include 3D printed guns, as well as liquid, plastic, and powder explosives.
HEXWAVE uses millimeter wave, advanced 3D imaging, and AI for enhanced detection capability, processing over 720 people per hour depending on the concept of operations. The system provides security operators with an automatic go/no-go decision, and a seamless experience for patrons and passengers.
"Liberty has continued to hire the best and the brightest to support building out an extremely robust software and hardware configuration as we prepare to launch the beta," says Liberty Defense CEO Bill Frain. "We are thrilled with the progress and look forward to getting HEXWAVE into real-world testing locations next month starting at our first beta site."
In other news, Liberty Defense will be among a select group of companies presenting in person in Boston, MA, at the Canaccord Genuity 42nd Annual Growth Conference on August 10, 2022, at 3:30 p.m. ET. The presentation can be viewed at the link following the conference: https://wsw.com/webcast/canaccord76/lddff/2613024.
For updates and news, please visit the Company website to subscribe to email alerts or follow Liberty Defense on social channels.
On Behalf of Liberty Defense
Bill Frain
CEO & Director
Liberty Defense (TSXV: SCAN) (OTCQB: LDDFF) (FRANKFURT: LD2A) provides multi-technology security solutions for concealed weapons detection in high volume foot traffic areas and locations requiring enhanced security such as airports, stadiums, schools, and more. Liberty's HEXWAVE product, for which the company has secured an exclusive license from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), as well as a technology transfer agreement for patents related to active 3D radar imaging technology, provides discrete, modular, and scalable protection to provide layered, stand-off detection capability of metallic and non-metallic weapons. Liberty has also recently licensed the millimeter wave-based, High-Definition Advanced Imaging Technology (HD-AIT) body scanner and shoe scanner technologies as part of its technology portfolio. Liberty is committed to protecting communities and preserving peace of mind through superior security detection solutions. Learn more: LibertyDefense.com
When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Although Liberty believes, in light of the experience of their respective officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate, that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and information in this press release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the parties can give no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. Such statements and information reflect the current view of Liberty. There are risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information.
By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause Liberty's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others: currency fluctuations; limited business history of the parties; disruptions or changes in the credit or security markets; results of operation activities and development of projects; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; and general development, market and industry conditions. The parties undertake no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of their securities or their respective financial or operating results (as applicable).
Liberty cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on Liberty's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Liberty has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of Liberty as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. Liberty does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
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SOURCE Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd. | 2022-07-20T12:55:00+00:00 | ksla.com | https://www.ksla.com/prnewswire/2022/07/20/liberty-defense-announces-beta-trial-update/ |
A new fitness brand will pay someone $10,000 to be its Chief Step Officer.
GymBird said the officer will need to work up to walking 10,000 steps in one day over a period of a month and document the journey.
“Walking is something most of us do every single day without even thinking about it. When done for short periods on a daily basis, this simple action comes with great benefits, such as combating mental illness and helping us live longer,” GymBird said.
The Chief Step Officer will have to walk 10,000 steps in a 24-hour period and will have a month to work up to that goal. The officer will have so share weekly updates on social media.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old and live in the United States as well as able to submit a weekly, 2-minute video recap of how the job is going, a written paragraph each week and one social media post a week throughout the month.
The walking can be done anywhere including on a treadmill or in a shopping mall. The Chief Step Officer will receive a smartwatch to track their progress.
The deadline to apply is July 19, 2023.
“GymBird is passionate about helping people through every phase of their fitness journey, whether they are just beginning or a seasoned expert. We aim to inspire everyone to take the first ‘step’ through simple means such as walking.”
READ MORE: ‘Efficient, cost-effective and reliable’: Carvana names its top selling vehicles for 2023. | 2023-07-05T16:48:32+00:00 | pennlive.com | https://www.pennlive.com/life/2023/07/new-fitness-brand-will-pay-you-10k-to-work-up-to-walking-10000-steps-a-day.html |
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Election officials in Virginia have announced plans to withdraw the state from a bipartisan effort designed to ensure accurate voter lists and combat fraud — but that also has been caught up in conspiracy theories spread since the 2020 presidential election.
When Virginia formally withdraws later this year, it will become the eighth Republican-led state to leave the Electronic Registration Information Center, known has ERIC, since the group was targeted in a series of online stories last year that questioned its funding and purpose. Former President Donald Trump has been among those calling on Republican state officials to leave.
Virginia Elections Commissioner Susan Beals, in a letter sent Thursday to ERIC, listed several reasons for the decision to end the state’s membership. That included the recent state departures, incomplete participation by Virginia’s bordering states and “increasing concerns regarding stewardship, maintenance, privacy, and confidentiality” of voter information.
Virginia was one of the founding members when ERIC was formed in 2012, an effort promoted by then-Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell.
“In short, ERIC’s mandate has expanded beyond that of its initial intent — to improve the accuracy of voter rolls,” Beals wrote. “We will pursue other information arrangements with our neighboring states and look to other opportunities to partner with states in an apolitical fashion.”
Virginia joins Alabama, Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, Ohio and West Virginia who have either withdrawn or notified ERIC that they plan to do so. Texas election officials have said they are working on an alternative data-sharing effort but have not provided a notice of withdrawal.
ERIC uses data-sharing among member states to identify voters who might have moved out of state or died and should be considered for removal from a state’s voter rolls. It also flags instances of potential double-voting — ballots cast in more than one state by the same voter — that are then used to investigate potential voter fraud.
Beals, a former local election official, was appointed as state elections commissioner last year by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin. She previously served as an aide to Republican state Sen. Amanda Chase, who since the 2020 election has become a prominent promoter of Trump’s false claims of widespread fraud.
There is no evidence of fraud or manipulation of voting machines in the 2020 election. Reviews in multiple states, including ones controlled by Republicans, have upheld the results and affirmed Joe Biden’s win. Dozens of judges, including several nominated by Trump, also rejected his claims.
In a statement, Chase praised the decision and claimed, without evidence, that ERIC was “used for insidious and nefarious purposes to include an abuse of power in controlling our elections.”
Democratic state Sen. Adam Ebbin said he was disappointed in the decision to withdraw from the system.
“The net result is we won’t have a tool to make sure our voter rolls are as accurate as they could be,” said Ebbin, a member of the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee. “It’s less accurate without as many state partners to verify information.”
One conspiracy targeting the system claims that billionaire philanthropist George Soros funded it. While the data-sharing system did receive initial funding from the nonpartisan Pew Charitable Trusts, that money was separate from funding provided to Pew by a Soros-affiliated organization that went to an unrelated effort, according to ERIC’s executive director, Shane Hamlin. The system has since been funded through annual dues by member states.
Hamlin said in an emailed statement that the group “will continue our work on behalf of our remaining member states in improving the accuracy of America’s voter rolls and increasing access to voter registration for all eligible citizens.”
With no national voter registration clearinghouse, ERIC is the only data-sharing program among the states. It was started in 2012 by seven states and was bipartisan from the beginning, with four of the founding states led at the time by Republicans.
The system has been credited in Maryland with identifying some 66,000 potentially deceased voters and 778,000 people who may have moved out of state since 2013. In Georgia, officials said nearly 100,000 voters no longer eligible to vote in the state had been removed based on data provided by ERIC.
___
Cassidy reported from Atlanta. | 2023-05-12T23:47:01+00:00 | pahomepage.com | https://www.pahomepage.com/news/politics/virginia-joins-list-of-gop-states-leaving-bipartisan-effort-to-combat-voter-fraud-amid-conspiracies/ |
1 man killed, another injured following drive-by shooting in Walthall Co.
WALTHALL CO., Miss. (WLBT) - One man was killed and another man was injured following a drive-by shooting in Walthall County.
The Walthall County Sheriff’s Office says the shooting occurred on Sims Thornhill Road in Tylertown.
Travis Amar Williams, 25, and Javon Lamonte Carpenter, 23, were on a side by side when another vehicle drove up and shot them.
According to the sheriff’s office, Williams was taken to Forrest General by ambulance. Carpenter was airlifted to Forrest General but died upon arrival.
A witness says they saw a navy four-door Sedan speeding away from the scene.
If you have any information, please contact the Walthall County Sheriff’s Office at (601) 876-3481.
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Copyright 2023 WLBT. All rights reserved. | 2023-01-17T21:45:45+00:00 | wlbt.com | https://www.wlbt.com/2023/01/17/1-man-killed-another-injured-following-drive-by-shooting-walthall-co/ |
DALLAS (WXIN) — We’ve got a good feeling about an upcoming auction celebrating the 45th anniversary of the film that started the most successful sci-fi film franchise of all time.
Collectors and “Star Wars” fans will have the rare opportunity to bid on items actually used in “Stars Wars: Episode IV: The New Hope.”
Heritage Auctions is auctioning off a screen-matched stormtrooper helmet and screen-used E-11 blaster shared within the film by stormtroopers, and the characters of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia.
The helmet is one of the six original stormtrooper helmets completed in time for filming “Star Wars” in the Tunisian desert in 1976. The so-called “sandtrooper” helmets have unique hand-painted detailing that’s slightly different from stormtrooper helmets completed later on during production of the film.
“Finding screen-matched props from ‘Star Wars’ is virtually unheard of,” said Joe Maddalena, the executive vice president at Heritage Auctions. “…There is something particularly magical about the helmet and blaster. These recognizable, revered items were made for a movie that was turned down by studios before 20th Century Fox OK’d a franchise that continues to thrive in the 21st century.”
According to the auction house, the helmet up for grabs was worn by a Stormtrooper who spoke to the bartender at Mos Eisley after Obi-Wan Kenobi cut off an opponent’s arm. It also was used by the Stormtrooper who said, “Stop that ship! Blast ’em!” before meeting his demise at the hands of Han Solo.
The screen-used hero E-11 blaster was wielded by various characters during the Mos Eisley spaceport shootout, as well as in the trash compactor scene, and other sequences on the Death Star and Tattooine.
Some lightsabers will also be up for auction, including the lightsaber hilt used by Ewan McGregor’s Obi-Wan Kenobi in “Revenge of the Sith.”
The opening bid on the helmet will be $300,000 and $12,000 for the blaster.
The auction will go run July 22-23 and will feature non-“Star Wars” items such as the Batman suit worn by George Clooney in “Batman & Robin.” | 2022-07-10T18:37:16+00:00 | wearegreenbay.com | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/national/blast-em-stormtrooper-helmet-blaster-used-on-screen-in-original-star-wars-could-be-yours/ |
New, powerful Optoma ZU820T and ZU725T complement high brightness, motorized lens laser ProScene range
FREMONT, Calif., Oct. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Optoma, a world-leading manufacturer of large display products and the #1 DLP® brand worldwide and in the Americas,* today announced two new additions to its range of DuraCore laser ProScene projectors for the professional installation market, the ZU820T and ZU725T. Featuring powerful 8,800 lumens and 7,800 lumens respectively, the Optoma ZU820T and ZU725T WUXGA projectors are the latest additions to Optoma's ProScene lineup, joining the ZU920T and the award-winning ZU920TST** projectors.
The ZU820T and ZU725T offer the features and benefits of its predecessors, including high brightness, color precision, and quiet operation, along with 4K and HDR compatibility. As a mid-range solution, these projectors are ideal for a variety of professional environments and applications, including houses of worships, entertainment, immersive installations, digital signage, projection mapping, and simulation.
With an impressive 3,000,000:1 contrast ratio, the ZU820T and ZU725T produce lifelike visuals with rich detail and vivid colors. Engineered with DuraCore technology, these laser projectors feature dust-resistant IP5X certified optical engines for 24/7 operation, offering true maintenance-free projection for up to 30,000 hours of powerful performance in Eco mode. Flexibility and reliability are front and center with these projectors, including a fully motorized zoom, focus, and lens shift for seamless setups. Additionally, with built-in edge blending, warping, four-corner correction, as well as horizontal and vertical keystone correction, the ZU820T and ZU725T are fully equipped to accommodate even the most complex installations.
"Improving upon the ZU720T, the addition of the ZU725T and the ZU820T to our ProScene family fills a gap in the market for mid-range WUXGA projectors that provide remarkable flexibility at an affordable price," said Simon Jonas, commercial category manager at Optoma. "We're thrilled to offer our end-users a complete lineup of high brightness, compact, WUXGA laser projectors to address their installation and performance needs."
- Resolution: WUXGA (1920 x 1200)
- Brightness: 8,800 lumens / 7,800 lumens
- Contrast ratio: 3,000,000:1
- Color: 4K and HDR compatibility
- Throw Ratio: 1.25-2.1
- Light Source: DuraCore laser with up to 30,000 hours of operation (Eco mode)
- Horizontal and vertical keystone correction, four corner correction, and built-in edge blending and warping
- Motorized 1.6X zoom, focus, and lens shift
- I/Os: 2x HDMI in/ 1 HDMI out, HDBaseT, VGA, 3D Sync in and out, 12V trigger, LAN, RS-232 control and 2x10W speakers with audio in/out
A value-added solution, the Optoma Management Suite (OMS)™ is available on the ZU820T and ZU725T, offering IT administrators and technicians a real time remote platform to monitor, manage, and diagnose multiple displays simultaneously. OMS enables technicians to check the status and make configurations to optimize performance and broadcast emergency messages, alerts, or announcements across on-site displays.
The ZU820T and ZU725T are available for an estimated street price in the U.S. of $6,299 and $5,299 respectively.
For more information, please visit:
ZU820T: https://www.optomausa.com/product-details/zu820t
ZU725T: https://www.optomausa.com/product-details/zu725t
DLP is a registered trademark of Texas Instruments.
OMS is a trademark of Optoma Corporation.
*No.1 DLP Brand Worldwide
Data source: PMA Research: Worldwide Projector Census, Y2021, Q1/Q2 2022 for projectors +1000 lumens
*No.1 DLP Brand in Americas
Data source: PMA Research: Worldwide Projector Census, Y2021, Q1/Q2 2022 for projectors + 500 lumens
** The Optoma ZU920TST was awarded Best of Show at InfoComm 2022 by Projector Central and Digital Signage Magazine.
Optoma combines cutting-edge technology and innovation to deliver remarkable visual display products designed to connect audiences with engaging video experiences. From the company's ProScene projectors to its Creative Touch interactive flat panel displays, Optoma's suite of products can meet the demands of nearly any professional environment, including conference rooms and classrooms, digital signage, corporate, houses of worship, retail, simulation environments and control rooms. Optoma Technology is the U.S. headquarters for The Optoma Group, with continental headquarters also in Europe and Asia. For more information, visit optoma.com.
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SOURCE Optoma Technology | 2022-10-12T18:44:13+00:00 | kxii.com | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/10/12/optoma-expands-professional-laser-projector-range-with-two-new-high-brightness-laser-projectors/ |
Defendant in April 1 Norway Township assault receives additional jail time
Judge Julie LaCost revoked the delay of sentencing, and Payton Thompson will serve 30 days in jail.
IRON MOUNTAIN, Mich. (WLUC) - One of the young men accused of an assault in Norway Township last year is going to jail. Payton Thompson is the fourth of six adult defendants to be sentenced in this case TV6 has been closely monitoring.
Payton Thompson and Zachary Pellegrini appeared for sentencing in Dickinson County District Court Thursday. Both pled no contest to aggravated assault and wearing a mask to commit a crime in the April 1 assault of Trentin McWilliams.
The court confirmed Thursday that during the time of the assault, Thompson was on probation for a malicious destruction of property charge. Judge Julie LaCost revoked the delay of sentencing, and Thompson will serve 30 days in jail. He is the first defendant, in this case, to be sentenced to jail time beyond time already served.
“This sends shivers down a person’s spine that you could be so careless and cold. I don’t know what else to say, careless and cold,” LaCost said.
Thompson was also sentenced to 12 months probation, plus more than $1,600 in fines and restitution. LaCost also said he must attend an anger management class.
“This incident will not define Payton, as I have told him. He is a young man. He can grow from this, or he can fail. If he is going to be on probation for a year, there is going to be a lot of people watching him. If he violates his probation, the recommendations are quite clear on what can happen. I am confident he will not do that,” said Henry McRoberts, Payton Thompson’s defense attorney.
Another co-defendant, Zachary Pelligrini, appeared for sentencing Thursday. His sentencing was adjourned until March 9. His bond is temporarily revoked, and he will serve 10 days in jail.
Pelligrini and co-defendant Adam Loomis are the last adult defendants that will be sentenced, and will both appear in court on March 9.
Copyright 2023 WLUC. All rights reserved. | 2023-02-16T20:10:16+00:00 | uppermichiganssource.com | https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/2023/02/16/defendant-april-1-norway-township-assault-receives-additional-jail-time/ |
LONDON , March 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Over 1.5 billion people speak English as a second language. They are naturally at a disadvantage compared to native speakers in a globalised world where English is what connects people to opportunities.
WordUp's vision is to level the playing field. It's an AI-based English learning App, used by millions, with a simple but novel core idea:
English has 200,000 words. You'll never hear 95% of them. 5% is enough for a perfect vocabulary. But which 5%, depends on your unique life, profession, hobbies,... WordUp helps you discover exactly the words that matter to you, sorted by their importance (usage frequency), giving you the most possible value per learning minute.
Their latest release as of 17 March 2023 allows users to talk about any topic with an AI version of their idols, celebrities, politicians,... with over 10,000 famous people are available on the platform! It's an incredibly entertaining way to practice English and widen their vocabulary.
This innovative AI use case is example of how Generative AI is redefining education.
WordUp was already well-known for its 'Knowledge Map' concept, allowing users to uncover their existing vocabulary knowledge into a 'digital twin' enabling hyper-personalised learning. This approach, blended with a wealth visual learning content and, had already made WordUp the leading vocabulary expansion app, used by millions around the world.
But there was a challenge. As in any other app, words were learnt into the user's passive, rather than active vocabulary, meaning they could understand the words when facing them, but couldn't necessarily recall and use them naturally in real-time conversations. Moving from passive to active vocabulary is only possible through practice and active usage. The new Fantasy Chat feature, solves that problem.
WordUp was created by serial entrepreneurs Paymon Khamooshi and Somayeh Aghnia. Having immigrated to the UK from Iran as students in 2004, they experienced first-hand the challenges of learning English vocabulary.
In 2007, they founded Geeks Ltd (software business, London) and have since created jobs for over 500 people and won several industry awards, including the Queen's Award for Innovation.
Initially an experimental project at Geeks, WordUp grew to become an independent company with philanthropic and impact-driven ambitions.
Contact: press@wordupapp.co
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2037619/WordUp.jpg
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SOURCE WordUp App Ltd | 2023-03-23T11:11:43+00:00 | wlox.com | https://www.wlox.com/prnewswire/2023/03/23/wordup-an-ai-based-english-learning-app-introduces-fantasy-chat/ |
American skier Shiffrin splits with longtime coach at worlds
By ANDREW DAMPF
AP Sports Writer
MERIBEL, France (AP) — American skiing standout Mikaeala Shiffrin had an unexpected parting with her longtime coach, Mike Day, during the middle of the world championships after informing him that she planned to take a new direction with her staff at the end of the season.
“Mikaela wants to do something different going forward. She wants a new challenge. And she informed Mike and Mike decided to go home,” U.S. Alpine director Patrick Riml told The Associated Press on Wednesday. “It’s a shock for me that he took off.”
Day was with Shiffrin when she won the silver medal in super-G last week and then accompanied the skier for a few days of off-site training in Orcieres before returning to Meribel with her this week.
“He left yesterday,” Riml said. ”He’s on the plane probably now.”
Shiffrin was due to race again in her favored events of giant slalom on Thursday and slalom on Saturday.
“After working with Mike Day for seven seasons, I’ve decided to move forward with new leadership on my team for the next phase of my career,” Shiffrin said in a statement released by the U.S. ski team. “I want to thank Mike and acknowledge all of his work and dedication over the last several years.”
Day led Shiffrin’s individual team within the U.S. squad. Shiffrin’s team is also led by her mother, Eileen, who has coached the skier her entire life.
Shiffrin’s personal team also includes new assistant coach Mark Mitter, who remains with her, Riml said.
Paul Kristofic is the head coach of the overall U.S. women’s team.
“We’ve got plenty of people here to support Mikaela and provide the training and the information she needs on race day to do her job,” Riml said. “She’s got great support. … We’ll decide together what makes the most sense moving forward.”
Day did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the AP.
Shiffrin is also in the middle of a record-breaking season on the World Cup circuit, having eclipsed Lindsey Vonn’s record of 82 World Cup wins among women and moved within one victory of Ingemar Stenmark’s overall mark of 86 wins.
The silver in super-G ended a troublesome run for Shiffrin in major championship races after she straddled a gate during the slalom run of the combined event in her opening race at worlds and didn’t win a medal in any of her six races at last year’s Beijing Olympics.
“Mikaela Shiffrin will be moving forward with new coaching, and will continue to be supported closely by the Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team coaches for the remainder of the season and in the future,” the team said in a statement. “The team thanks Mike Day for his work and great success over the last seven years.”
It’s been a hectic week for Shiffrin since the super-G. She was targeted by a small protest from environmentalists who thought she wanted to travel by helicopter between her off-site base in Gap and the training slope in Orcieres, which was a 40-minute drive away.
The Orcieres ski club and a helicopter company had offered the use of a helicopter but Mitter told them from the start that she wasn’t interested, said Megan Harrod, Shiffrin’s spokeswoman.
“They made up stories,” Riml said. “She always planned on driving up and down.”
Because of the concerns about the protest, however, security was brought in to protect Shiffrin, Riml said, although Harrod added that the skier “didn’t even hear” the protest.
Riml said he didn’t think the helicopter flap had anything to do with Day’s departure.
___
Andrew Dampf is at https://twitter.com/AndrewDampf
___
More AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/skiing and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2023-02-15T13:37:30+00:00 | krdo.com | https://krdo.com/news/ap-national-news/2023/02/15/american-skier-shiffrin-splits-with-longtime-coach-at-worlds/ |
Updated July 4, 2022 at 8:15 AM ET
The pandemic placed competitive flamenco dancing on pause in Madrid.
And for the dancers at the legendary Amor de Dios flamenco center, a return to in-person events means a return to the stage.
Some members of NPR's All Things Considered team – Michel Martin, Miguel Macias, Tinbete Ermyas and Kira Wakeam – took a break from covering the NATO summit to get a better understanding of flamenco and its impact on the dancers.
That meant a class with instructor Carmen Rivas, known professionally as Carmen La Talegona, at the center.
Rivas has traveled across Latin America and Europe. For her, Amor de Dios has been her second home since she moved to Madrid from Córdoba at 17.
While the pandemic limited the ability of flamenco artists to perform live, Rivas believes that it made the general public more aware of the dance's power as a storytelling medium.
"People want to express everything they feel and, using movement, percussion and singing as the medium ... it is musical and not just a spectacle."
All Things Considered host Michel Martin learned this lesson firsthand.
"Flamenco incorporates so many artforms from around the world," Martin says. "You see the emotion of opera, and the precision that you find in other classical dance traditions."
"It reminded me of our own step and tap because it's got that fierce percussion rhythm."
Rivas says that isn't a coincidence. Flamenco is transforming with the help of global influences in ways previously considered impossible.
"The older generation gets their inspiration from the great teachers, in Vuitton Manolete, Carmen Amaya, Farruco, Antonio Gades," she said.
"But other dance cultures are inspiring us younger people. Especially African and Black dance traditions, they are enriching flamenco."
For producer and self-described fashion lover Kira Wakeam, the clothes also caught her attention.
"One of the first things for me was these amazing skirts, these traditional skirts that the students are wearing called the bata de cola, which directly translates to a tail robe," she says.
"These are sort of the long, heavy skirts that you've seen on flamenco dancers that flow and move as they dance. And honestly it was really just mesmerizing."
The artform has become a way for senior producer Miguel Macias to reconnect with his native Spain — though he didn't get into flamenco until he immigrated to the U.S.
"Growing up in the south of Spain, flamenco was everywhere, but actually my parents didn't really play flamenco."
At Amor de Dios, he became choked up when the teacher began to sing.
"It just really touched me, the way everything was happening is such a pure artistic way in front of us."
For Rivas, flamenco dancing is less about learning a series of components than it is about abiding by an honor code.
"I always say that every person in the world has a story to tell, and from that story, there is a technique that is made."
In her travels, Rivas has seen how flamenco affects people emotionally.
"People will cry. They have a need to tell their stories and use this medium of movement to relieve their pressures and feel their culture."
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2022-07-21T23:31:29+00:00 | kcbx.org | https://www.kcbx.org/npr-top-news/npr-top-news/2022-07-03/at-madrids-amor-de-dios-flamenco-center-dancers-are-finding-their-rhythm-again |
Wednesday marks the second anniversary of the police murder of George Floyd – a killing that sparked months of protests and impassioned vows from Democratic lawmakers to better protect Black Americans.
Two years later, though, little has changed to help improve America's relationship between citizens and the police, or the nation's fraught race relations.
Those shortcomings were highlighted this month when an 18-year-old man is accused of traveling hundreds of miles to carry out a racist massacre at a grocery store in Buffalo's predominantly Black East Side.
The man, who allegedly yelled racial epithets as he opened fire in the store and on its parking lot, killed 10 people and injured three others.
Police took him into custody unharmed.
"Fascinating how civil and calm the police are arresting the man who shot and killed almost a dozen people in cold blood," one Twitter user observed. "If they [showed] this level of respect to George Floyd for attempting to spend a fake $20 bill, he would be alive."
The Twitter user was referencing Floyd having used a counterfeit $20 bill to purchase cigarettes from a neighborhood convenience store.
Police were called and Floyd died in their custody when former officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes, causing the unarmed Black man's death.
The 18-year-old man who authorities say carried out the deadly Tops shooting – dressed in military tactical gear and armed with a high-powered Bushmaster XM-15 rifle – was taken into custody without any apparent injury sustained by his contact with arresting officers.
Some commenters noted the contrast of the shooter's arrest with the way police have often employed violent tactics when dealing with Black, unarmed citizens, like in Floyd's case.
One of the two acts of violence was perpetrated by the state. The other, some argue, was emboldened by those same powers.
"I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. We all are sick and tired of being sick and tired," Buffalo resident Geo Hernandez said at a recent press conference held by the advocacy organization VOICE.
"This is embedded racism in our policies, in our practices, in how this city is governed and how our people are continued to be hunted."
A recent public opinion survey conducted by the Washington Post and Ipsos found that in June 2020, weeks after Floyd's murder, 54 percent of Black Americans said they expected police to improve the way they interacted with the Black community.
Today, just 19 percent of respondents say police actually did.
"Since the death of George Floyd, there have been ups and downs," said Tolu Odunsi, a lecturer of law at the University at Buffalo. "Immediately after the killing, we saw a lot of calls for justice, equality. We saw a lot of organizations state that they would put money towards justice and equality. But then there was kind of a lull."
The same Washington Post Ipsos survey, conducted after the grocery store killing spree, revealed that 75 percent of Black Americans are worried that they or someone they love will be targeted for violence because of their race.
"I believe the thread between the two tragedies is the dehumanization of Black people in this country," Odunsi said.
"To be able to kneel on someone's neck for such an amount of time that it kills them, in your mind, you have had to dehumanize that person – in the same way to travel and shoot innocent Black people at a supermarket. Again, you have to have that element of thinking these people are less than human and deserve death."
For many residents of Buffalo, which is 47 percent white and 35 percent Black, Floyd's death and the alleged hate attack on the Tops grocery store are two sides of the same coin.
It is in Buffalo, after all, where protests in the wake of Floyd's killing made national headlines for police officers' response to peaceful demonstrators.
In perhaps the most notable instance, police shoved a 75-year-old man to the ground, leaving him limp on the sidewalk and bleeding from his ear.
The man sustained a brain injury and spent weeks in the hospital.
It is also just outside of Buffalo, a city that consistently ranks among the nation's most segregated, that correctional officer Gregory C. Foster II reportedly joked about the Tops shooting rampage, sharing on Facebook a meme that referenced "clean up" on multiple aisles.
Foster, who reports say earned some $185,482 in 2020 for his work at Attica Correctional Facility, was suspended for the incident.
"I think you have people who are openly radical, who are able to hide behind the cover of 'racism doesn't exist,'" Odunsi said.
"If we are not peeling back the layers, it gives people who are actual, bold, overt racists the ability to be more discrete and then carry out violent attacks like the one in Buffalo."
President Biden, who ran on a platform of healing the cavernous divide of race and politics in America, has spoken to the existence of systemic racism within U.S. borders and vowed to address the disjointedness exacerbated by his predecessor.
But the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which Biden had endorsed, remains stalled in Congress.
And opinion polls say concerns over race relations, like those that authorities say motivated the Tops grocery shooter, remain high.
Biden, on the anniversary of Floyd's murder, is expected to sign an executive order on policing, applying to federal agencies, but not the local agencies with whom Americans are more likely to interact.
Family members of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, the 26-year-old Black first responder who Louisville, Ky., police killed while executing a no-knock warrant in the early morning hours of March 13, 2020, have been invited to attend.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2022-05-25T19:36:53+00:00 | klcc.org | https://www.klcc.org/npr-news/npr-news/2022-05-25/on-2nd-anniversary-of-george-floyds-killing-black-buffalo-residents-feel-the-weight |
NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Amid an environment where asset management firms are increasingly collaborating with digital platforms to help efficiently launch new product offerings and de-risk entry into new markets, FLX Networks, which modernizes, simplifies, and drives engagement between asset managers and financial advisors, has partnered with global Fintech leader Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: BR) as a preferred data and analytics provider to asset management firms.
"Broadridge's analytics capabilities add powerful insights to guide targeted distribution and product strategies, allowing FLX to deliver a comprehensive data and analytics-enabled offering," said Brian Moran, FLX founder and CEO. "These powerful and efficient tools will help FLX support asset managers as they expand and grow."
Asset managers utilize FLX Networks to modularly implement a complementary turnkey distribution solution. Some leverage only data, digital, and technology capabilities, while others may require more hands-on engagement from personnel available through a shared client engagement team (wholesale, national accounts, and marketing). With each scenario, FLX will utilize Broadridge analytics and insights offerings to power the distribution services that FLX provides to asset managers. Broadridge's leading sales analytics, market analytics and Global Market Intelligence (GMI) products will also be available to clients on the FLX platform to provide market and product analysis to drive more efficient distribution strategies.
"Embedding Broadridge's data and analytics solutions into FLX's suite of distribution capabilities creates a powerful engine for asset managers to grow their assets, mutualize middle-office distribution costs, and defray fixed investments required to launch new strategies," said Dan Cwenar, head of Broadridge Data and Analytics. "FLX has demonstrated its ability to grow clients' assets, and we are excited to partner with FLX to support and accelerate that growth."
About Broadridge
Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE: BR), a global Fintech leader with more than $5 billion in revenues, provides the critical infrastructure that powers investing, corporate governance and communications to enable better financial lives. We deliver technology-driven solutions that drive business transformation for banks, broker-dealers, asset and wealth managers and public companies. Broadridge's infrastructure serves as a global communications hub enabling corporate governance by linking thousands of public companies and mutual funds to tens of millions of individual and institutional investors around the world. Our technology and operations platforms underpin the daily trading of more than U.S. $9 trillion of equities, fixed income and other securities globally. A certified Great Place to Work®, Broadridge is part of the S&P 500® Index, employing over 14,000 associates in 21 countries.
For more information about us and what we can do for you, please visit www.broadridge.com.
About FLX Networks
FLX Networks revolutionizes engagement for asset and wealth management firms and financial advisors. FLX community members access thought leadership, investment ideas, business resources, and industry connectivity in one centralized destination, delivering productivity, savings, and growth.
To learn more, please visit www.flxnetworks.com
Media Contacts:
For Broadridge:
Matthew Luongo
Prosek Partners
+1 646-818-9279
mluongo@prosek.com
For FLX Networks:
Thomas Walek
Peaks Strategies
+ 1 917-353-7575
TWalek@PeaksStrategies.com
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SOURCE Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. | 2023-01-26T13:28:23+00:00 | wbrc.com | https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2023/01/26/flx-networks-partners-with-broadridge-data-analytics-help-power-distribution-solutions-asset-managers/ |
Home discount retailer a one-stop shop for furniture, bedding, food and snacks, beauty and personal care items and more
COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE: BIG), one of America's largest home discount retailers, is making move-in day easy for students going to college this year with deals on hundreds of items from dorm room and apartment essentials to limited-time décor collections, furniture, bedding, snacks, personal care items and more.
"There's no need to spend those last few weeks before college move-in day running from store to store. That time is best spent with your friends and family," said Bruce Thorn, president and CEO of Big Lots. "At Big Lots, we are a one-stop college shopping experience that makes preparing for the big move easier and more enjoyable. We hope students and their families will take advantage of the hundreds of deals we're offering this year to save both time and money at Big Lots."
Big Lots' back-to-campus offering includes collections from Big Lots exclusive brands like Real Living™ and Broyhill® that fit a variety of personalities and styles. The retailer also offers a variety of big brands customers love. With more than 670 Big Lots retail stores located near college and university campuses in the U.S., many students can take advantage of multiple same-day and two-day delivery options. To shop Big Lots' back-to-campus selection, visit biglots.com/campus.
Throughout July and into August, customers can save above and beyond everyday bargain prices with special limited-time deals. On July 29 and 30, BIG Rewards customers can receive 15% off everything they can fit inside an 18-gallon Sterilite tote while supplies last.* A tote purchase is required to take advantage of this deal.
To stay informed about the latest deals and offers, customers can sign up to be BIG Rewards members and receive a 15% off joining bonus as well as rewards after every three purchases. BIG Rewards also includes, free item weekends, a birthday surprise and many other exclusive offers throughout the year.
Big Lots features a unique shopping experience — part treasure hunt, part bargain hunt and part everyday necessities — to its growing community of customers who feel like a million bucks shopping for the best deals. To shop online or find the store nearest you, visit biglots.com.
About Big Lots
Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE: BIG) is one of America's largest home discount retailers, operating more than 1,420 stores in 48 states, as well as a best-in-class ecommerce platform with expanded fulfillment and delivery capabilities. The Company's mission is to help customers "Live Big and Save Lots" by offering unique treasures and exceptional bargains on everything for their home, including furniture, seasonal decor, kitchenware, pet supplies, food items, laundry and cleaning essentials and more. Big Lots is the recipient of Home Textiles Today's 2021 Retail Titan Award. For more information about the company or to find the store nearest you, visit biglots.com.
*Exclusive, single use promotional offer for BIG Rewards members. Valid only in Big Lots Stores on pre-tax purchases. Offer excludes indoor and outdoor furniture, mattresses, gazebos, grills, and pools. Offer cannot be sold or transferred. Offer does not apply to shipping charges, delivery charges such as BIG! Delivery, Allstate warranty coverage, previous transactions, existing price holds, non-purchases such as rentals, deposits, charitable donations, or purchases of milk, other dairy, eggs, or gift cards. May be combined with BIG Rewards, but not with any other offer, coupon, discount, or associate discount. When combined with other BIG Rewards, % off is applied first. Offer will not be reissued if expired or with return/refund of merchandise. By attempting to redeem this offer, user unconditionally agrees that decisions of Big Lots are final on all matters of interpretation, fact, and procedure with respect to this offer. Valid only on in stock goods, including special orders. Void where prohibited. No cash value or cash back. Coupon is automatically added to member's BIG Rewards account. To redeem in stores, present coupon at checkout. Offer valid in store 7/29/23 through 7/30/23.
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SOURCE Big Lots, Inc. | 2023-07-14T14:54:48+00:00 | kcbd.com | https://www.kcbd.com/prnewswire/2023/07/14/back-campus-hq-big-lots-makes-college-move-in-day-easy-with-new-deals-top-brands-college-essentials-limited-time-dcor-collections/ |
William “Marty” Martin, a naturalist who turned a boyhood fascination with snakes into a career as a leading authority on the eastern timber rattlesnake, combing Appalachia and beyond for decades to track rattler populations and threats from climate change and human encroachment, died Aug. 3 in Shepherdstown, W.Va. He was 80.
The cause was complications after being bit by a captive rattler at his home and research facility, said his daughter Claire Martin.
Mr. Martin gained his expertise in the eastern timber rattlesnake in the woods and rock fields, largely alone. From spring’s first thaw to winter’s first blast, he spent most of his time trekking to known snake dens and hunting for new groups of timber rattlers — one of about 30 venomous species in the United States, with a habitat that ranges from eastern Texas to New England.
Mr. Martin had a special interest in the mountains and piedmont from Pennsylvania to Virginia, even at times snake hunting around the edges of Washington’s Beltway. He was a familiar figure along the Appalachian Trail and other paths, a wiry 5-foot-7 bushwhacker wearing his trademark mesh angler’s vest and toting a snake sack and pole called a snake hook.
“The ambassador of rattlesnakes,” the nature site Terrain.org dubbed him in a 2019 profile.
Merging science and education, he tried to peel away some of a cultural stigma that surrounds snakes. He also sought to stir a healthy respect for rattlers and their place in the ecosystem and even American history such as the snake depicted on the “Don’t Tread on Me” Gadsden flag from the Revolutionary War.
He was quick to point out that timber rattlers rarely strike without a provocation, such as being inadvertently stepped on. Deaths from snake bites are rare in the United States. About 3,000 snakebites are reported to U.S. poison centers every year, but fewer than 10 are fatal, according to the University of Virginia.
“There was a time when scientists identified animals as good or bad to man,” Mr. Martin told the Baltimore Sun in 1993, noting that rattlers help control rodent populations. “We don’t look at things like that anymore.”
His research was nearly all independent, distinguishing him from colleagues affiliated with universities or institutions. Mr. Martin modeled himself more on earlier explorers of the natural world, such as renowned birder Florence Merriam Bailey, who built their credentials doing field work.
Mr. Martin supported his work through temporary contracts, including projects tracking snake populations in a warming ecosystem. (He was also bitten several times along the way.)
Somewhat counterintuitively, hotter seasons are not necessarily an advantage for coldblooded species such as snakes, which rely on the sun and ambient warmth for body heat. Temperatures too high can disrupt snakes’ feeding, reproduction and other cycles by forcing them to spend more time in rock crevasses and other places to avoid overheating.
The timber rattlers, like many other species, also face dwindling habitats as exurbs and roadways press into hills and hollows. But other animals often have greater abilities to adapt.
Timber rattlers mature slowly, and females don’t give birth every year. The snakes typically never slither more than a few miles from their birth den. Timber rattlers are listed as endangered in several northern states and Virginia.
“You’ll probably want to stay right behind me from here on,” Mr. Martin told a Washington Post journalist in 2002 while on a snake-seeking hike in Shenandoah National Park.
They approached a den. Mr. Martin counted 24 rattlers, coiled and basking in the sun. He took notes on their size and general health. Then, with a swoop of his snake pole, he snagged a 37-incher, about average size. He did it in a bit of serpent showmanship for the reporter.
“He was a larger-than-life character,” said Joe Villari, manager at the Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve, where Mr. Martin contributed research for the Virginia Outdoors Foundation. “He absolutely loved to bring anyone into his world: naturalists, other herpetologists, interested hikers. He was one of a kind.”
‘Kid was right’
William Henry Martin III was born Dec. 24, 1941, in Leesburg, Va., and was exploring the nearby woods looking for snakes before he was 10 years old.
When he was 13, Mr. Martin came across a previously unknown population of timber rattlers in the Bull Run Mountains. The boy contacted herpetologist Leslie Burger at the College of William & Mary, who agreed to visit the site to check.
“Dr. Burger was thrilled, as the kid was right,” wrote Villari, who said Mr. Martin’s discovery began a lifelong interest in the Bull Run rattlers.
At age 17 — with notebooks full of field observations — Mr. Martin became a founding member of the Virginia Herpetological Society.
He served as a paratrooper in the Vietnam War with the Army’s 101st Airborne Division and was a bantamweight boxer in military bouts. After his discharge, he used the GI Bill to help cover his studies at the University of South Florida, graduating in 1969 with a degree in biology.
Then it was back to herpetology. He traveled across Africa, Asia and South America doing independent research on venomous species — and found himself in some hot spots such as Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) during an Ebola outbreak.
As Mr. Martin’s reputation as a timber rattler expert grew, he was consulted by museums, universities and other groups around the world. In 1999, he assisted Steve Irwin for a “Crocodile Hunter” episode on timber rattlers.
Irwin took note of the snake’s scientific name, Crotalus horridus.
“It’s like horrible or horrid rattlesnake,” Irwin said. “They’re not horrible. They’re not horrid. They’re not evil. They’re not ugly.”
Mr. Martin co-authored “The Timber Rattlesnake: Life History, Distribution, Status, and Conservation Action Plan,” a 450-page study published in 2021 on the species and challenges in its habitat.
Survivors include his wife of 16 years, Gwen Renee Miller of Shepherdstown; daughter, Claire Martin of Asheville, N.C.; daughter, Amelia Martin of Winchester, Va., from an earlier marriage to Patricia Gerty; two stepdaughters, Laura Layva of Morgantown, W.Va., and Vanessa McGuigan of Shepherdstown; two sisters; and a granddaughter.
Last year, Villari joined Mr. Martin in a seven-hour mountain hike to survey rattlers in a new area. They found nothing. “Not even a shed skin,” Villari said.
He told Mr. Martin that at least it was a nice day to be outside, snakes or no snakes.
“Marty stood staring at me with a comically puzzled look,” Villari recalled, “and said, 'No it’s not!’ ” | 2022-08-10T22:49:59+00:00 | washingtonpost.com | https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2022/08/10/marty-martin-timber-rattlesnakes-dies/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — Richard Belzer, the longtime stand-up comedian who became one of TV’s most indelible detectives as John Munch in “Homicide: Life on the Street” and “Law & Order: SVU,” has died. He was 78.
Belzer died Sunday at his home in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, in southern France, his longtime friend Bill Scheft said. Scheft, a writer who had been working on a documentary about Belzer, said there was no known cause of death, but that Belzer had been dealing with circulatory and respiratory issues. The actor Henry Winkler, Belzer’s cousin, tweeted, “Rest in peace Richard.”
For more than two decades and across 10 series — even including appearances on “30 Rock” and “Arrested Development” — Belzer played the wise-cracking, acerbic homicide detective prone to conspiracy theories. Belzer first played Munch on a 1993 episode of “Homicide” and last played him in 2016 on “Law & Order: SVU.”
Belzer never auditioned for the role. After hearing him on “The Howard Stern Show,” executive producer Barry Levinson brought the comedian in to read for the part.
“I would never be a detective. But if I were, that’s how I’d be,” Belzer once said. “They write to all my paranoia and anti-establishment dissidence and conspiracy theories. So it’s been a lot of fun for me. A dream, really.”
From that unlikely beginning, Belzer’s Munch would become one of television’s longest-running characters and a sunglasses-wearing presence on the small screen for more than two decades. In 2008, Belzer published the novel “I Am Not a Cop!” with Michael Ian Black. He also helped write several books on conspiracy theories, about things like President John F. Kennedy’s assassination and Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.
“He made me laugh a billion times,” his longtime friend and fellow stand-up Richard Lewis said Sunday on Twitter.
Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Belzer was drawn to comedy, he said, during an abusive childhood in which his mother would beat him and his older brother, Len. He would do impressions of his childhood idol, Jerry Lewis. “My kitchen was the toughest room I ever worked,” Belzer told People magazine in 1993.
After being expelled from Dean Junior College in Massachusetts, Belzer embarked on a life of stand-up in New York in 1972. At Catch a Rising Star, Belzer became a regular performer and an emcee. He made his big-screen debut in Ken Shapiro’s 1974 film “The Groove Tube,” a TV satire co-starring Chevy Chase, a film that grew out of the comedy group Channel One that Belzer was a part of.
Before “Saturday Night Live” changed the comedy scene in New York, Belzer performed with John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray and others on the National Lampoon Radio Hour. In 1975, he became the warm-up comic for the newly launched “SNL.” While many cast members quickly became famous, Belzer’s roles were mostly smaller cameos. He later said “SNL” creator Lorne Michaels reneged on a promise to work him into the show.
But Belzer became one of the era’s top stand-ups. He was known especially for his biting, cynical attitude and his witty, sometime combative banter with the audience. As one of the most influential comedians of the ’70s, Belzer was a master of crowd work.
“My style evolved from dealing with drunken people at twelve, one, two in the morning and trying to be like an alchemist and get the lead of their lives and turn it into golden jokes,” Belzer told Terry Gross on “Fresh Air.”
Belzer would later write an irreverent self-help book titled “How to Be a Stand-Up Comic” with advice on things like how to to apologize to Frank Sinatra when you made fun of him onstage or how to deal with hecklers. One of his favorite lines was: “I have a microphone. You have a beer. God has a plan and you’re not in on it.”
Belzer often played a stand-up comic in film, including in 1980s’ “Fame” and 1983’s “Scarface.” He had small roles here and there, including in “Night Shift” in 1982, and “Fletch Lives” in 1989. But Munch would change Belzer’s career.
As ”Homicide” co-creator Tom Fontana said, “Munch was the spice in these dishes,” Belzer told the AV Club. “Munch was based on a real guy in Baltimore who was a star detective, in a way. He would come onto grisly murder scenes, start doing one-liners, because someone had to break the tension. So Munch served a very important function. Not only was he a dissident who said what was on his mind, he kind of had the gallows humor that’s needed in a homicide squad.”
When “Homicide” wrapped in early 1999, Munch called Dick Wolf to see if the character could join another NBC series, “Law & Order,” where Munch had popped up in a few previous episodes. Wolf already had his leads for “Law & Order,” but he wanted Belzer to star in a spinoff. That fall, “Law & Order: SVU” premiered, with Belzer starring alongside Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni in a storyline written as though Munch had transferred from Baltimore to New York.
“Richard Belzer’s Detective John Munch is one of television’s iconic characters,” Wolf said in a statement.
“I first worked with Richard on the ‘Law & Order’/‘Homicide’ crossover and loved the character so much,” Wolf said. “I wanted to make him one of the original characters on ‘SVU.’ The rest is history. Richard brought humor and joy into all our lives, was the consummate professional and we will all miss him very much.”
Belzer is survived by his third wife, the actress Harlee McBride, whom he married in 1985. For the past 20 years, they lived mostly in France, in homes he purchased partially from the proceeds of a lawsuit with Hulk Hogan. In 1985, Belzer had Hogan as a guest on his cable TV talk show “Hot Properties” to perform a chin-lock on him. Belzer passed out, hit his head and sued Hogan for $5 million. They settled out of court. ___
This story has been corrected to reflect that Belzer died in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France, not Bozouls, as Scheft originally told The Hollywood Reporter. | 2023-02-20T13:50:08+00:00 | ourquadcities.com | https://www.ourquadcities.com/entertainment-news/ap-richard-belzer-stand-up-comic-and-tv-detective-dies-at-78/ |
LIMA, OH (WLIO) - For the last 30 years, volunteers have been lending a hand with the Ottawa River Clean Up. The annual event gave over 100 people the chance to help keep one of the main waterways in our area free from trash. People got gloves, trash bags, and were assigned part of the river to clean up, from Shawnee Township, through Lima, and all the way to Bath Township. When you have a natural resource like the Ottawa River and an asset like Rotary River walk, city officials are glad to see people stepping up to take care of them.
“It’s always good to see individuals come out and work together to help beautify our neighborhoods and take care of our Ottawa River,” says Mayor Sharetta Smith. “Our city was founded around this river and to see individual come in and help take care of it, and to continue a 30-year tradition is always good.”
Volunteers from Proctor and Gamble were cleaning up around Schoonover Park and were glad to make a difference during the clean up.
“God blessed us with a beautiful day today, we decided to come out and help the community,” says Andrew Green, P&G volunteer “Because you should always give back to your community. I am not from Lima, I am from Louisiana. But, I am able to come out and see this park, I never been here before, it’s a great way to see what Lima has to offer as well.”
After the clean up, the city hosted a party to celebrate the competition of the event. | 2023-04-22T22:49:48+00:00 | hometownstations.com | https://www.hometownstations.com/news/allen_county/30-years-of-the-ottawa-river-clean-up/article_46e658c6-e13d-11ed-a90e-83ed3f823c37.html |
Theo Hernandez wants to win World Cup for France and brother
By JEROME PUGMIRE
AP Sports Writer
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Theo Hernandez wants to win the World Cup for France. And for his elder brother. Lucas Hernandez was in tears when he went off after rupturing the ACL in his right knee early into France’s 4-1 opening win against Australia. Younger brother Theo replaced him at left back. Theo says “I want to bring the trophy back for him.” He’s doing well so far. When he set up the prolific Kylian Mbappe for France’s winning goal in the 2-1 win against Denmark they jumped into each other’s arms. | 2022-11-28T18:58:56+00:00 | krdo.com | https://krdo.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/11/28/theo-hernandez-wants-to-win-world-cup-for-france-and-brother/ |
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (WDAF) — It’s the day Chiefs Kingdom has waited for since January.
Patrick Mahomes and team reported to Training Camp in St. Joseph, Missouri, signaling the start of a new National Football League (NFL) season is just weeks away.
Chiefs Season Ticketholders enjoyed exclusive access to practice Wednesday morning.
Everyone is invited to St. Joseph and the first practice open to the general public Thursday.
Playbook
This is what you need to know if you plan on driving to St. Joseph Thursday morning:
- Tickets are mandatory
- Fans are required to reserve a free ticket online before arriving at Training Camp
- Tickets are first come, first served
- Tickets are all mobile only
- Time
- Gates open at 8:45 a.m.
- Practice starts at 9:15 a.m.
- Gates close 30 minutes after practice ends
- Parking
- Parking is available on Missouri Western State’s campus
- Lot H
- Parking is $5 a day
- Advanced purchasing is encouraged
- Bus and RV parking is $15 a day
- Accessible parking in Lot H and in front of Baker Family Fitness Center
- Pictures
- Pictures are allowed, but video is not
- Autographs
- Linebackers are scheduled to be available for autographs
Weather
Fans will want to pay attention to the forecast Thursday morning. There is a chance of rain in St. Joseph. If it’s raining at the beginning of practice, it will be moved indoors.
If practice moves inside, the public will not be permitted to watch.
Watch Thursday morning’s FOX4 forecast in the video player at the top of the page.
Camp Schedule
If you miss Thursday’s chance to see the Chiefs practice, you’ll have many other options. The full schedule for Training Camp is available on the Chiefs website.
All open practice sessions start at 9:15 a.m. unless otherwise noted. All are weather dependent. If practice is moved inside fans will not be allowed to watch.
Most sessions are free, but there are a few where admission will be charged. The following are key dates for fans.
- Friday, July 29
- $5 Admission Fee
- Autographs
- Team Session
- Saturday, July 30
- Official NFL Camp Kickoff – $5 Admission Fee
- Autographs
- Team Session
- Tuesday, Aug. 2
- Free admission
- Autographs
- Quarterbacks, Running Backs & Specialists
- Sunday, Aug. 7
- Family Fun Day – $5 Admission Fee
- Autographs
- Team Session
- Tuesday, Aug. 9
- Practice -9:15 a.m.
- Season Ticket Member Day (Not Open to General Public)
- Autographs
- Team Session
- Thursday, Aug. 18
- **Practice starts at 8:15 a.m.
- Autographs
- Linebackers
- Military Appreciation Day
- Final Camp Practice
The Chiefs open the 2022-23 regular season on Sept. 11. They travel to Arizona to face the Cardinals. | 2022-07-27T21:53:35+00:00 | ksn.com | https://www.ksn.com/news/chiefs-training-camp-what-to-know-and-when-to-go/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Cámara de Representantes de EEUU aprueba proteger el derecho a los anticonceptivos, ante tendencia de Corte Suprema.
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Enhanced Data Management Tool for Upcoming Accelerator program
NEW YORK and LONDON and PUNE, India, July 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Synechron, a leading global digital transformation consulting firm, today announced that it has formally partnered with VisionGroup, a Singapore-based technology company and the creator of dataSense, the next generation catalogue and data management tool, to help extend innovation in the Data Management space.
Synechron has been working with VisionGroup and its dataSense team to leverage this technology into Synechron's 13 global Financial Innovation Labs ('FinLabs'), as well as incorporate it into the next generation of FinLabs-created accelerator solutions expected to debut later this year.
The dataSense technology uses a combination of mathematical algorithms and event processing to build the picture of an organization's data. It complements metadata platforms by creating an operational view of the data built from the actual data, and not simply metadata. dataSense bridges the gap between the business glossary, operational data, and technical metadata. It augments and completes the data governance framework. dataSense enhances organizations' existing processes and controls, and can capture unexpected items, such as internal data abuse. Enabling digital fingerprints and data catalogues allows for rapid identification (through Smart Alerts) of data changes and identifying who made changes.
Tim Jennings, Global Data Practice Lead at Synechron said, "We are excited to be partnering with VisionGroup, and looking to leverage the capabilities of the dataSense tool for some interesting imminent use cases. We are seeking to exploit the data observability features in our upcoming risk accelerator, supporting features for pro-active identification and rectification of data issues, and enabling real insight into the data payloads between systems. We are also keen to explore how we can use this tooling in the refresh of our own internal data estate, where data integrity and quality will be the objective."
Kieran Ebbs, Chief Revenue Officer, VisionGroup said, "We are delighted with the announcement of this strategic partnership with Synechron, a company renowned for its deep expertise in financial services. This collaboration aims to redefine the data landscape by combining Synechron's extensive capabilities with the innovative approach of dataSense, a transformative data management solution. This unique partnership presents an unparalleled opportunity to deliver successful data initiatives that will drive remarkable outcomes for organizations, empowering them to unlock the true potential of their data, optimize data management processes, and generate actionable insights."
About Synechron:
At Synechron, we believe in the power of digital to transform businesses for the better. Our global consulting firm combines creativity and innovative technology to deliver industry-leading digital solutions. Synechron's progressive technologies and optimization strategies span end-to-end Artificial Intelligence, Consulting, Digital, Data, Cloud & DevOps, and Software Engineering, servicing an array of noteworthy financial services and technology firms. Through research and development initiatives in our FinLabs we develop solutions for modernization, from Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain to Data Science models, Digital Underwriting, mobile-first applications and more. Over the last 20+ years, our company has been honored with multiple employer awards, recognizing our commitment to our talented teams. With top clients to boast about, Synechron has a global workforce of 14,500+, and has 43 offices in 18 countries within key global markets.
For more information on the company, please visit our website or LinkedIn community.
About VisionGroup
VisionGroup is a humanity plus company based in Singapore that believes in using technology for the betterment of the human race. We are focused on driving adoption of impactful technology to governments, enterprises and the masses by making it better, faster and easier. We have a vision to empower lives by integrating disruptive technology into everyday life to create a better us and a better world. And a mission to empower our clients and stakeholders to turn their Vision to Reality. Our goal is to be a leading global technology enabler by placing Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain and Cybersecurity into all aspects of everyday life to make lives better through impactful technology. Our core sectors of focus are in Commerce, Finance and Government. See more at our website.
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1943591/Synechron_Logo.jpg
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2151676/dataSense_Logo.jpg
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SOURCE Synechron | 2023-07-12T09:10:40+00:00 | wymt.com | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2023/07/12/synechron-visiongroup-partner-leverage-datasense/ |
Which Asus gaming monitor is best?
Asus is no stranger to the PC gaming industry. In fact, it’s one of the best-known names in the field. Its motherboards, graphics cards, laptops and monitors have tons of fans due to the good value and even better performance of nearly all their offerings. So if you’re looking for a quality gaming monitor, there are few better brands to start looking at.
While everyone’s preferences are a little different in size, resolution and refresh rate, the Asus Tuf VG28UQ is the all-around best choice if you can afford it. It’s a great 4K option with low pixel response times and a wide color gamut that makes any game genre look great.
What to know before you buy an Asus gaming monitor
Asus ROG vs. Tuf Gaming families
Asus makes a huge variety of respectable gaming hardware. Most of it falls into either the ROG or Tuf Gaming lineups. Typically, the ROG Strix and Swift designations are reserved for the most premium hardware.
If you see the ROG badge on a component or peripheral, you can be confident it’s packed with the most powerful features. However, you can also be reasonably certain that it’s expensive. The price difference between Asus ROG and Tuf components can be huge, especially for monitors.
With that in mind, most of the best recommendations are for Asus Tuf monitors. ROG monitors are incredibly costly, and it’s questionable whether the benefits are worth the price. Beyond that, there’s a small but significant number of dissatisfied buyers of Asus’ most high-end monitors. By comparison, Asus’ entry-level and midrange displays perform well and see consistent, widespread praise.
Aspect ratio
The vast majority of PC monitors sport a 16:9 aspect ratio. Ultrawide monitors have seen a decent popularity hike in the last several years, but they’re far from mainstream. That’s partly because they tend to be expensive while also taking up quite a bit of space and requiring more powerful hardware to drive the additional pixels.
If you’re interested in an ultrawide monitor, Asus has several great ones. Be aware, however, that they get expensive quickly as you opt for midrange and premium features.
Is your PC powerful enough?
Not to be discouraging, but modern 4K graphics and all the associated post-processing techniques can greatly strain the hardware. If you’re working with a years-old midrange build or a recent, budget-friendly custom PC, you won’t be able to sniff 4K resolutions in today’s AAA titles.
But not all is lost. Gamers running graphics cards such as the 5-year-old GTX 1070 Ti should have no difficulty playing at 1080p with high frame rates, with some such builds able to master 1440p without breaking a sweat.
Plus, you don’t necessarily have to match your monitor and PC perfectly. Unlike individual components such as the CPU and motherboard, monitors are heavily future-proofed as long as they have a resolution and refresh rate that will hold up for the next several years.
What to look for in a quality Asus gaming monitor
Size vs. resolution
Most gaming monitors range from 24 to 32 inches. At the low end of that spectrum, a 1080p monitor will look just fine. As you approach the larger sizes, 1440p and 4K resolutions become more effective. In most setups, you won’t be able to pick out individual pixels on a 27-inch, 1440p monitor sitting directly across a desk. If you have a powerful gaming PC, a 4K monitor can significantly enhance image clarity.
Refresh rate
The refresh rate refers to how many times the display produces an image every second. Today’s quality gaming monitors almost always have 120-hertz refresh rates or better. There’s nothing inherently wrong with gaming at 60 frames per second, but you’ll notice a huge difference moving up to 100 fps or greater.
Also, pay attention to variable refresh rate technology. Recent Nvidia and AMD graphics cards support each company’s proprietary VRR tech after years of competition led to each manufacturer opening their method up to an essentially open standard. The newest HDMI 2.1 monitors likely support the HDMI Forum’s VRR format, as do graphics cards with HDMI 2.1 outputs.
Color gamut coverage
You’ll see less about this than you would with TVs. Figures such as 125% sRGB and 90% DCI-P3 coverage mean a monitor can display rich and bright colors in almost any scene.
How much you can expect to spend on an Asus gaming monitor
Asus’ lowest-priced monitors are in the $200 range. It offers some for as much as $2,000, but you’ll get the best performance for the dollar between roughly $500-$800.
Asus gaming monitor FAQ
Do Asus gaming monitors work with gaming consoles?
A. They do, with caveats. If you want to take advantage of a current-generation Xbox or PlayStation, make sure to get a monitor with an HDMI 2.1 connection. PC graphics cards have DisplayPort outputs with higher specifications than HDMI 2.0, but consoles have no such connectors.
What’s the difference between response time and input lag?
A. The names sound related, but they’re actually not dependent on each other. Response time is the time it takes a pixel to change from one color to another (and, possibly, back again, depending on which manufacturer is measuring). A fast response time leads to clean motion handling with no pixel smearing, ghosting or shadowy artifacts.
By contrast, input lag refers to the time it takes a human input (for example, clicking a mouse button) to show up on the screen. This has little to do with response time, and almost everything to do with the efficiency of the programming and circuitry in the gaming PC and monitor.
What’s the best Asus gaming monitor to buy?
Top Asus gaming monitor
What you need to know: A high-resolution and ultra-fast panel make this great for any kind of gaming.
What you’ll love: Measuring 28 inches with a 4K resolution, it delivers the clearest possible image. It’s so sharp, it lets you disable features, such as antialiasing, that other monitors rely on for perfectly crisp visuals. It supports both DisplayPort and HDMI connections, including coverage of the complete HDMI 2.1 standard that includes 120-hertz playback without the lossy compression that older displays usually use.
What you should consider: It’s not cheap, and some gamers prefer slightly larger screens for more immersion.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top Asus gaming monitor for the money
What you need to know: It’s not very big, but it’s as fast as nearly any other monitor and has a relatively crisp image.
What you’ll love: Even dedicated esports players will appreciate the 280-hertz refresh rate of this moderately priced display. It produces little to no ghosting thanks to its fast-changing pixels and is compatible with both common forms of variable refresh rate technology.
What you should consider: It’s limited to resolutions of 1080p or lower. However, it still looks sharp because it’s only 24.5 inches.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
What you need to know: It offers tons of screen space and a 1440p panel that can produce up to 165 fps.
What you’ll love: Since most people don’t have the absolute most cutting-edge computing hardware, QHD monitors are incredibly popular. This one measures 32 inches with moderate curvature, which makes for a remarkably immersive experience. It supports AMD and Nvidia variable refresh rate technology as well as advanced motion handling technology that reduces smearing and ghosting. If you don’t want something quite this big, there’s a 27-inch version that’s nearly identical.
What you should consider: It doesn’t produce the deepest blacks and its color gamut coverage isn’t quite up to par with more high-end options.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top ultrawide Asus gaming monitor
What you need to know: It’s 34 inches with a 21:9 aspect ratio, a handful of high-end features and a reasonable price.
What you’ll love: Its ultrawide format and relatively aggressive curvature make it seem like you’re actually part of the action, as long as your PC can handle all the pixels. It boasts Display HDR 400 certification that ensures high dynamic contrast and above-average peak brightness. It can reach up to 180 hertz and has a built-in USB hub for convenient peripheral attachment.
What you should consider: While the cost is reasonable, it’s still not cheap, and that’s just how it is with most good ultrawide monitors. Also, not all games fully support the 21:9 aspect ratio, although that’s getting better.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | 2022-06-23T05:02:05+00:00 | texomashomepage.com | https://www.texomashomepage.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/computer-monitors-br/best-asus-gaming-monitor/ |
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The U.N. Security Council has approved a resolution that imposes sanctions on Jimmy Chérizier, leader of a powerful gang federation in Haiti, who is accused of threatening the country’s peace, security or stability. It also places a travel ban, asset freeze and arms embargo on Chérizier and would establish a committee to designate others to be put on a sanctions list.
The resolution comes nearly two weeks after Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry and his Cabinet requested deployment of foreign troops to help end Haiti’s deepening crisis, a request that the U.N. is still mulling.
Chérizier and the federation he leads, known as “G9 Family and Allies,” have blocked the entrance of a main fuel terminal in the capital of Port-au-Prince for more than a month as fuel, water and other basic supplies grow scarce amid a cholera outbreak. The gang has said it would not budge until Henry resigns, but in a video recently posted on social media, Chérizier, who is nicknamed “Barbecue,” called on the government to grant him and G9 members amnesty and to void all arrest warrants against them. The government has not responded as police struggle to contain gangs that have grown more powerful since the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.
Here’s a look at Chérizier’s life and rise to power:
WHO IS JIMMY CHÉRIZIER, AND WHY IS HE NICKNAMED “BARBECUE”?
Chérizier is a former officer with Haiti’s National Police who worked with the Departmental Crowd Control Unit, which is deployed when there are riots or protests and has been accused of excessive force. He has since become what many consider Haiti’s most powerful gang leader.
Chérizier told The Associated Press in a 2019 interview that he was born in the Port-au-Prince community of Delmas, next to La Saline slum, one of eight children whose father died when he was 5. He said his mother was a street vendor who sold fried chicken, and that’s how he was nicknamed “Barbecue,” denying he earned the moniker due to accusations that he set people on fire.
Chérizier told the AP that he is inspired by the late dictator Francois “Papa Doc” Duvalier, who ruled Haiti with a bloody brutality from 1957 to 1971 and had himself declared “president for life.”
HOW DID CHÉRIZIER BECOME SO POWERFUL?
Haiti’s National Police fired Chérizier in December 2018 and he still faces an outstanding arrest warrant for his alleged role in a 2017 massacre.
Authorities accuse Chérizier of becoming a gang leader of Base Delmas 6, an impoverished Lower Delmas neighborhood, and of organizing large-scale massacres that occurred in the nearby slums of Grand Ravine in 2017, in La Saline in 2018 and in Bel-Air in 2019, accusations Chérizier denies.
At least nine civilians were killed in Grand Ravine, another 71 people were killed, 11 women raped and 150 homes destroyed in La Saline and at least 24 people killed in Bel-Air, according to a report published by Harvard Law School’s International Human Rights Clinic.
In June 2020, Chérizier established a new alliance known as “G9 Family and Allies.” It originally was composed of nine gangs from Cite Soleil, La Saline and lower Delmas but has since grown to include more than a dozen gangs, according to a U.N. Security Council report.
“The G9 ... is notorious because of the diversity of its membership,” the report stated.
In mid-2020, the gang alliance was accused of killing at least 145 people in Cite Soleil and raping multiple women “in efforts to claim areas held by rivals with ties to Moïse’s political opponents,” according to the Harvard report.
“Residents believe they were targeted for their political affiliations, in an effort to secure electoral support for (Moïse) and his party,” the report stated, adding that “G9 reportedly enjoys ties to both the Moïse administration and (Haiti’s National Police).”
Haiti’s National Human Rights Defense Network has echoed those allegations, stating that local police have helped protect Chérizier even while he supposedly committed crimes.
In December 2020, the U.S. Treasury Department issued civil sanctions against Chérizier and others believed to be involved in the massacres, accusing gangs of removing “victims, including children, from their homes to be executed and then dragged them into the streets where their bodies were burned, dismembered and fed to animals.”
Chérizier has repeatedly denied any involvement in the massacres, saying he is a community leader who helps residents and is leading an “armed revolution,” adding that he would “put guns in the hands of every child if we have to.”
“I would never massacre people in the same social class as me,” he told the AP. “I live in the ghetto. I know what ghetto life is.”
WHAT’S NEXT FOR CHÉRIZIER?
Since mid-September, Chérizier and his allies have surrounded a key fuel terminal in Port-au-Prince, refusing to move until the prime minister steps down. But after Haiti’s government requested the immediate deployment of foreign troops, Chérizier announced that he was seeking amnesty and the removal of all arrest warrants against him and his allies.
The gang also is demanding Cabinet positions, the director of Haiti’s National Disarmament, Dismantling and Reintegration Commission told radio station Magik 9.
The government has not responded publicly to those requests. | 2022-10-21T15:26:14+00:00 | washingtonpost.com | https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/explainer-whos-behind-haitis-most-powerful-gang-alliance/2022/10/21/ae471d60-5151-11ed-ada8-04e6e6bf8b19_story.html |
WHL
All Times Local
Eastern Conference
Central Division
East Division
Western Conference
B.C. Division
U.S. Division
Note: x - clinched playoff berth; 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.
Tuesday's results
Winnipeg 10 Edmonton 1
Prince Albert 5 Red Deer 2
Swift Current 5 Medicine Hat 2
Prince George 6 Vancouver 0
Wednesday's results
Saskatoon 5 Red Deer 2
Brandon 7 Moose Jaw 3
Medicine Hat 6 Winnipeg 4
Vancouver 6 Prince George 2
Kelowna 7 Spokane 4
Friday's games
Red Deer at Brandon, 7 p.m.
Moose Jaw at Saskatoon, 7 p.m.
Winnipeg at Regina, 7 p.m.
Lethbridge at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.
Edmonton at Medicine Hat, 7 p.m.
Spokane at Prince George, 7 p.m.
Kelowna at Kamloops, 7 p.m.
Seattle at Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.
Portland at Everett, 7:05 p.m.
Victoria at Vancouver, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday's games
Lethbridge at Saskatoon, 7 p.m.
Red Deer at Regina, 7 p.m.
Prince Albert at Moose Jaw, 7 p.m.
Spokane at Prince George, 6 p.m.
Tri-City at Portland, 6 p.m.
Swift Current at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
Seattle at Everett, 6:05 p.m.
Vancouver at Victoria, 6:05 p.m.
Kamloops at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
Sunday's games
Swift Current at Calgary, 2 p.m.
Saskatoon at Regina, 4 p.m.
Everett at Portland, 5 p.m.
Tri-City at Seattle, 5:05 p.m.
Tuesday's games
Brandon at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.
Medicine Hat at Winnipeg, 7:05 p.m.
Kamloops at Seattle, 7:05 p.m. | 2023-03-03T04:49:39+00:00 | lmtonline.com | https://www.lmtonline.com/news/article/hko-whl-standings-17817298.php |
By EDDIE PELLS
AP National Writer
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Sydney McLaughlin took the final victorious lap of an All-American world championships Sunday, pulling away in the 4×400-meter relay to close a U.S. runaway and give the Americans their record 33rd medal of the meet.
McLaughlin turned a .73-second lead into a 2.93-second laugher on the anchor lap, adding this burst of speed to the world record she set two nights earlier in the 400 hurdles.
Two more world records went down Sunday — in the very first and very last action of the last session at Hayward Field.
Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan opened the evening by setting the record for the 100-meter hurdles in the semifinals: 12.12 seconds. She came back about 90 minutes later to win the gold medal. Her winning time was actually faster — 12.06 — but the wind was too strong, so that mark doesn’t go in the books.
“When I watched the record, I was like ‘Whoa, who did that?‘” Amusan said.
And after McLaughlin was done with her last lap, pole vaulter Armand Duplantis of Sweden cleared 6.21 meters (20 feet, 4 1/2 inches) to best his world record by .01.
He gave Sweden its first gold medal of the meet. That was 12 fewer than the Americans.
The last was especially sweet, as it also marked the 14th and final world gold for 36-year-old Allyson Felix, who came out of retirement to run in the preliminary of the 4×400 and, so, gets a medal. She finishes her career with a record 20 world medals, overall.
“We’re a family, we stick together,” McLaughlin said. “Allyson came out of retirement to get us here, so we wanted to do this.”
The U.S. won the women’s race in 3 minutes, 17.79 seconds.
The 33 medals was three more than the U.S. collected in 2017.
One of America’s golds went to Athing Mu in the 800.
She busted through the two laps in 1:56.30 — a .08 margin over Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson. The 20-year-old Mu is now the Olympic and world champion at that distance and, along with McLaughlin, part of a bright future for the United States.
In between, a sprinter named Champion — Champion Allison — anchored the men’s 4×400 to an easy win for medal No. 32.
Another medal went to U.S. pole vaulter Christopher Nilsen, who cleared 5.94 meters (19 feet, 5 3/4 inches), to clinch silver, then stepped aside to see what Duplantis would do.
The Olympic champion known as “Mondo” missed on his first attempt at the record, then waited for the relay, then got the crowd clapping in rhythm for him and cleared the bar.
Last year in Tokyo, the U.S. men got shut out of the sprints, leading to some questions about what was wrong.
Answer: Not much. With Fred Kerley and Noah Lyles leading the way, the men swept the sprints earlier in the week, and Ryan Crouser led a sweep in shot put. The 4×100 silver-medal relay team was messy — nothing new there — but it was a blip.
In all, the men actually won four more medals than the women during this 10-day meet.
“Our team is laser focused supporting our athletes and the coaches,” said Max Siegel, the CEO of USA Track and Field. “It’s putting the foundational programs together for them, and just working really hand in hand with all of the personal coaches.”
The decathlon champion is Kevin Mayer of France, who adds this to his title in 2017.
And the 5,000-meter title went to Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway, who finished in 13:09.24 in a special race.
That was the last race the legendary Steve Prefontaine of Oregon ran before a fatal car accident in Eugene.
It’s a city brimming with tributes to “Pre,” and in many ways, track’s biggest event, the world championships, ended up in this college town of 170,000 because of the tracks he laid down a half-century ago.
“This is probably the best place I could have won it,” Ingebrigtsen said.
___
More AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | 2022-07-25T07:01:42+00:00 | wtmj.com | https://wtmj.com/sports/2022/07/24/sydney-mclaughlin-anchors-us-on-record-setting-day-at-worlds-5/ |
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — 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.
More than a day after the discovery of 51 dead migrants in a stifling trailer in San Antonio, few identities of the victims have been made public, illustrating the challenges authorities face in tracing people who cross borders clandestinely.
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. | 2022-06-29T05:25:17+00:00 | cenlanow.com | https://www.cenlanow.com/international/ap-international/san-antonio-migrant-deaths-lead-to-slow-effort-to-id-victims/ |
‘Sorry, it’s lost’: UPS offering $500 after losing $12K engagement ring in shipping, woman says
CORNELIUS, N.C. (WBTV/Gray News) - A North Carolina woman says she continues to want answers from a major shipping company after her engagement ring never got to her as requested.
Kristy Schiano said she mistakenly left her engagement ring at a hotel in Arizona back in March and noticed it was missing when she was on her way to the airport.
“Immediately, when I was in the Uber, I realized it. My heart fell into my stomach,” Schiano said.
WBTV reports she called hotel staff, who told her they found the ring and would ship it back to her.
Schiano said she didn’t have to wait long before she received a UPS tracking number and was told a signature would be needed when the package arrived.
However, days later, her doorbell video camera captured a UPS driver leaving a package on the doorstep but then coming back to pick it up without ever returning.
Schiano said no one was home at the time of the delivery and the driver never scanned the item when he went back to his truck. She also contacted the shipping company.
“UPS got back to me and said, sorry, it’s lost, oops,” she said.
Schiano said the ring’s metal band had twists that were symbolic of her partnership, and it was valued at $12,000. But UPS only offered her $500, per the shipping documents.
“I understand it is a major shipper; I understand logistics are very hard ... but oops,” she said.
Schiano said she hopes her ring makes it back to her, but she still plans on getting married next month, just with another ring at the moment.
“Looking back, what could I have done differently? I don’t think there’s anything I could have done differently,” she said.
A UPS spokesperson said their team is looking into this issue.
Copyright 2022 WBTV via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | 2022-05-12T21:07:35+00:00 | kalb.com | https://www.kalb.com/2022/05/12/sorry-its-lost-ups-offering-500-after-losing-12k-engagement-ring-shipping-woman-says/ |
Jurors for the trial of an Indiana man accused of killing two teenage girls will be brought from one of two counties north of the location where the murder occurred, attorneys in the case decided Friday.
Both counties are about two hours north of Carroll County, where Delphi is located and where the murders of Liberty German, 14, and Abigail Williams, 13, took place about six years ago. Allen, who lived and worked in Delphi, was charged in October with two counts of murder in the killings.
Allen’s attorneys, Bradley Rozzi and Andrew Baldwin, in November requested the trial location be changed, arguing it would be difficult to form an impartial jury in Carroll County because of intense public scrutiny and media attention surrounding the case. Carroll County Prosecutor Nicholas McLeland agreed with this evaluation in a January hearing earlier this month.
Delphi is a city of about 3,000 people, located around 60 miles (97 kilometers) northwest of Indianapolis. Carroll County has about 20,000 residents, while St. Joseph’s County has more than 272,000 people and Allen County has 383,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Allen County Judge Fran Gull — assigned to the case after the original judge recused himself — said at the hearing earlier this month that the trial will remain in Carroll County because friends and family members of both parties are situated in the city.
Gull will ultimately select which county the jury will come from, though a timeframe for that decision was not immediately clear. Those jurors will be taken to Carroll County from that county for the trial, which is scheduled for March but unlikely to occur before the fall, Gull said at the haring.
Allen’s bail hearing is set for Feb. 17.
___
Arleigh Rodgers is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Arleigh Rodgers on Twitter at https://twitter.com/arleighrodgers | 2023-01-23T23:25:05+00:00 | washingtonpost.com | https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/indiana-jurors-to-be-selected-from-north-of-murder-location/2023/01/23/c812e3c0-9b69-11ed-93e0-38551e88239c_story.html |
China and Germany hold onto second and third position while UK sees significant drop in the global Travel & Tourism GDP rankings, falling four slots to ninth place in 2021
Global business travel outlook is positive
LONDON, Sept. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The latest World Travel & Tourism Council's (WTTC) Economic Trends Report ranks the U.S. as the world's biggest and most powerful Travel & Tourism market by GDP contribution. But the rankings are illusionary as the U.S., like other top economies, bolstered its numbers through domestic travel, while international visitor numbers plummeted.
While its number one position was retained, the U.S. Travel & Tourism sector's contribution to the nation's economy fell by $700 billion in 2019, to just under $1.3 trillion last year. Long and damaging travel restrictions, which did little to halt the spread of COVID-19, resulted in serious economic and employment losses.
Behind the U.S., research by Oxford Economics for WTTC saw China second and Germany third for sector GDP contributions, representing no change in ranking since 2019. However, total sector economic contribution in both countries declined versus 2019.
China contributed more than $814 billion last year to the Chinese GDP (vs. $1.857 billion in 2019), while Germany's contributions to its economy were $251 billion compared with over $391 billion in 2019.
Meanwhile, the UK slipped dramatically from fifth place in 2019 to ninth in 2021, with a contribution of just over $157 billion, the biggest fall among the top 10 countries in the study.
But the rankings are illusionary as the top economies bolstered their numbers through domestic travel, while international visitor numbers plummeted.
Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: "Our report shows the resilience of the Travel & Tourism sector, even in the face of travel restrictions around the world which failed to halt the spread of the virus.
"Despite a challenging macro environment, Travel & Tourism has bounced back. The world, with some exceptions, is traveling again. And we are seeing a resurgence in business travel. Over the next 10 years, Travel & Tourism growth will outstrip the overall growth rate of the global economy."
International Visitor Spending Drove Gains and Losses
In terms of international traveler spend, France, which was ranked fourth before the pandemic, overtook Spain, China, and the U.S. to grab first place.
China, which remains closed to much of the rest of the world, was in second place for international visitor spending before the pandemic but fell dramatically to 11th position in 2021.
Across Asia-Pacific, major Travel & Tourism markets saw huge losses in international spending. China was in second place for international visitor spending before the pandemic but fell dramatically to 11th position in 2021.
Countries like Thailand and Japan, which ranked fifth and eighth in international visitor spending before the pandemic, fell out of the top 20 altogether in 2021.
Business Travel and China Growth Outlook is Positive
According to WTTC's predictions, worldwide business travel is expected to grow more than 41% this year. For the next 10 years, it predicts business travel could grow an average of 5.5% annually and may return faster in the Asia-Pacific region.
WTTC predicts by 2032, China will overtake the U.S. to become the world's biggest Travel & Tourism market.
The research shows China's Travel & Tourism sector's contribution to GDP could reach $3.9 trillion by 2032, making it the world's most powerful Travel & Tourism market, and India could leapfrog Germany to reach third place with a projected value of $457 billion.
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) represents the global travel & tourism private sector. Members include 200 CEOs, Chairs and Presidents of the world's leading travel & tourism companies from all geographies covering all industries. For more than 30 years, WTTC has been committed to raising the awareness of governments and the public of the economic and social significance of the travel & tourism sector.
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SOURCE World Travel & Tourism Council | 2022-09-06T16:01:11+00:00 | kxii.com | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/06/domestic-travel-helped-us-retain-its-position-worlds-biggest-travel-amp-tourism-market-despite-lengthy-travel-restrictions-international-visitors/ |
President Joe Biden has named Pentagon press secretary John Kirby to be the new National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications.
The White House says Kirby "will coordinate interagency efforts to explain United States policy and will serve as a senior administration voice on related matters." Biden says Kirby "understands the complexities of U.S. foreign and defense policy, and he will ably represent the Administration on important national security issues."
Kirby is moving to the White House as it navigates a range of foreign policy challenges, from Russia's invasion of Ukraine to North Korea's nuclear program.
Kirby thanked Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin “for his tremendous support and leadership these last 18 months.” Kirby said Austin “has been more than just my boss; he’s been a mentor and a confidante, and he has helped make me a better communicator,” the Associated Press reported.
Austin said Kirby “will be a terrific addition to a strong team over there, and his long experience in defense and foreign policy perfectly suits him for work with the National Security Council staff.” | 2022-05-21T02:27:11+00:00 | kivitv.com | https://www.kivitv.com/news/national/pentagon-press-secretary-john-kirby-to-lead-bidens-national-security-communications-team |
MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell was banned from Twitter for a second time after attempting to use a new account to access the social media platform.
Lindell set up a new account on Twitter on Sunday under @MikeJLindell. But the account was quickly suspended.
Twitter said in a statement that Lindell’s new account was permanently suspended for violating its rules on ban evasion.
Lindell, a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump, was originally banned from Twitter for spreading lies about the 2020 election.
Billionaire Elon Musk is in the process of purchasing Twitter for $44 billion. He has criticized the social media platform for silencing people.
It's unclear whether Lindell will be allowed to rejoin Twitter once Musk's purchase of the platform is official. | 2022-05-02T15:02:37+00:00 | ksby.com | https://www.ksby.com/news/national/mypillow-ceo-gets-banned-from-twitter-again |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Harvey Weinstein’s sentencing for rape and sexual assault convictions was delayed Monday so that his attorneys can file a motion for a new trial.
The 70-year-old former movie magnate could get up to 18 years in prison at the sentencing that is now scheduled for Feb. 23. He is already serving a 23-year sentence for a similar conviction in New York, which is under appeal.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lisa Lench said at a brief hearing that she expects Weinstein will be sentenced Feb. 23 should the motion be denied.
On Dec. 19, a jury convicted Weinstein of one count of rape and two counts of sexual assault against an Italian model and actor who testified that he appeared uninvited at her hotel room door during a Los Angeles film festival in 2013.
Jurors acquitted Weinstein of one count of sexual battery. They failed to reach verdicts after nine days of deliberations on three other sexual assault counts. Lench declared a mistrial on those counts. Prosecutors said they have not yet decided whether to retry them.
Weinstein pleaded not guilty to all of the charges and had denied ever engaging in non-consensual sex. | 2023-01-10T18:56:56+00:00 | wivb.com | https://www.wivb.com/entertainment-news/ap-weinstein-sentencing-on-rape-conviction-delayed-to-february/ |
By JEFFREY COLLINS
Associated Press
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper and his real estate company are the focus of a criminal investigation to see if they misused any public money in their failed effort to build a practice facility for the NFL team in South Carolina.
The York County Sheriff’s Office said state agents and local prosecutors are aiding its investigation, and that the probe does not mean that any crime happened.
“An investigation is simply an inquiry and should not create any inference that wrongdoing has been committed by any party,” York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson and Solicitor Kevin Brackett said in a joint statement Thursday night that named Tepper and GT Real Estate, the company created to oversee the construction project.
Tepper’s company denied any criminal wrongdoing and suggested the timing of the announcement might be meant to disrupt a settlement the team reached with York County to repay more than $21 million, an amount roughly equivalent to the sales tax money the project received to improve roads around the facility.
“This is a straightforward commercial matter that is being fully resolved. The underlying disputes arise under contracts that were jointly negotiated by the parties and are publicly available. The funds paid by the county were handled consistent with the terms of those contracts,” the statement from Tepper’s GT Real Estate said.
Tepper, a hedge fund manager who is one of the NFL’s wealthiest owners, and the Panthers announced plans for an $800 million practice facility, team offices, sports medicine complex, hotels and entertainment near Rock Hill in 2019.
Both local and South Carolina leaders cheered the investment offering incentives and relishing getting a piece of the NFL team away from North Carolina and Charlotte, where the team plays its games about 25 miles (40 kilometers) away.
But after less than two years, Tepper’s company abruptly stopped work on the facility before its steel superstructure was finished, and declared bankruptcy. Work continues on an interstate interchange promised by the state, and Tepper’s company is trying to sell the land in the busy, growing region.
Tepper’s company blamed Rock Hill for failing to issue bonds and said the city and other governments failed to come through with funding and other promises.
York County and Rock Hill have denied those claims and what Tepper’s company is responsible for is being contested in federal bankruptcy court.
York County announced shortly after the bankruptcy that Tepper’s company took $21 million of sales tax money that was supposed to be spent on roads and spent it on a “failed vanity project.”
“Rather than cover the ballooning project budget themselves, the Tepper Defendants took money from York County and its taxpayers,” the county said in a lawsuit.
The criminal investigation was announced only days after the Panthers and York County announced they settled that lawsuit. As of Friday morning, the settlement had not been filed in court or approved by a judge.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | 2022-12-03T06:06:39+00:00 | wtmj.com | https://wtmj.com/sports/2022/12/02/panthers-owner-david-tepper-scrutinized-in-criminal-probe-3/ |
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Nearly one in five U.S. adults bet money on sports over the past year, according to a survey released Wednesday.
The report from the Pew Research Center shows that 19% of adults surveyed said they had wagered on sports.
The most common way they did so was by placing bets with friends or family, such as a private betting pool, fantasy league or a casual bet; 15% of respondents said they bet in this manner.
Only 8% said they had made sports bets in person at a casino, racetrack or kiosk, and 6% reported having done so online. The survey did not ask if the online sites were regulated by a government agency, or were unregulated offshore sites.
The survey’s results indicate that the nascent U.S. legal sports betting industry, while growing rapidly, has plenty of room for expansion; more than 80% of all legal sports bets in the U.S. are made online.
As of last Thursday’s kickoff to the NFL season, 31 states plus Washington D.C. offered legal sports betting, and several others will do so soon.
A record 46.6 million Americans say they plan to bet on the current NFL season, up 3% from last year, according to the American Gaming Association, the gambling industry’s national trade group.
The center surveyed 6,034 adults from July 5-17. Its margin of error is plus or minus 2 percentage points.
More male respondents than female — 24% versus 15% — said they had bet on sports in some form in the past year. And of respondents under 50 years of age, 22% had bet on sports compared to 17% over 50.
The Pew Center said 27% of Black respondents and 24% of the Hispanic respondents reported having bet on sports, while 18% of white adults and 10% of Asian-Americans said they had.
It found no significant differences in sports betting by educational attainment or household income level: 18% of college graduates said they bet on sports in the past year, and 20% of those without a college degree said they had done so.
Meanwhile, 22% of adults in the upper-income wage bracket, 19% of middle-income and 19% of lower-income households reported making sports bets in the past year.
The survey also found no significant difference by party affiliation: 21% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents said they have bet on sports in some way in the last 12 months, as have 19% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents.
In terms of whether sports betting is good or bad for society, 57% said it is neither. Just over a third — 34% — said it is bad, and 8% said it is good.
Asked whether betting on sports is good for sports itself, 49% were neutral, 33% saw it as bad and 16% said it is good.
As of May, the fourth anniversary of a U.S. Supreme Court decision clearing the way for all 50 U.S. states to offer legal sports betting should they choose to do so, Americans had wagered over $125 billion on sports.
___
Follow Wayne Parry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/WayneParryAC | 2022-09-15T07:23:59+00:00 | wate.com | https://www.wate.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-study-1-in-5-u-s-adults-bet-money-on-sports-in-past-year/ |
Buffalo Wild Wings is adding pizza to its menu
With football season approaching, Buffalo Wild Wings is adding a new menu item that's all but synonymous with the sport: pizza.
Video above: How to make a pizza charcuterie board
For the first time, the sports bar chain is adding pizza to its menu — with a unique spin. Buffalo Wild Wings pizzas, which cost $9.99, feature a thin crust topped with boneless wings and smothered in one of the the brand's wing sauces.
The pizza comes in two varieties: Buffalo Boneless Bar Pizza, which will be covered with ranch dressing, bleu cheese crumbles, mozzarella cheese and a medium-spiced buffalo sauce drizzle. There's also a Honey BBQ Boneless Bar Pizza with boneless wings in honey-flavored sauce, bacon crumbles, pickled hot peppers and two cheeses.
The new menu items bolster the brand's reputation as a destination for watching football and other sports, Rita Patel, Buffalo Wild Wing's chief marketing officer, told CNN Business. "This an exciting new territory for us to enter as we continue to bring new and innovative ways to enjoy classic game day favorites at our sports bars," she said.
Buffalo Wild Wings previously sold flatbreads, but pizza is "exciting new territory for us to enter as we continue to bring new and innovative ways to enjoy classic game day favorites at our sports bars," Patel said.
The $9.99 price point could attract budget-conscious customers, as well as some wealthier consumers who are eating more frequently at lower priced chains such as Applebee's. Pizza also will help Buffalo Wild Wings differentiate itself from the onslaught of wing restaurants encroaching on its territory, including Wingstop and Cosmic Wings.
The chain, known for its wall-to-wall TVs, regularly changes its menu options to remain competitive in the fast-casual space. It most recently added Bird Dawgs, chicken tenders served in a hot dog-like bun and served with an array of sauces and toppings.
Buffalo Wild Wings is owned by privately held Inspire Brands, a Georgia-based company that also owns Arby's, Dunkin' and Jimmy John's. The wing chain has more than 1,200 locations in the United States. | 2022-08-18T15:14:13+00:00 | wmur.com | https://www.wmur.com/article/buffalo-wild-wings-is-adding-pizza-to-its-menu/40919106 |
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