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PRINCETON, N.J., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- WCG, the global leader in providing solutions that measurably improve the quality, efficiency, and safety of clinical research, today announces the appointment of Donna Snyder, MD, MBE, as Executive Physician. Dr. Snyder's extensive experience and leadership in clinical research, including over a decade with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), will increase WCG's expertise and capabilities to accelerate and advance clinical trials.
As Executive Physician, Dr. Snyder will play a pivotal role in collaborating with clients and stakeholders across WCG's business units. With her training in pediatrics, bioethics, and product and drug development, she brings invaluable expertise gained during her tenure with the FDA and as a practicing physician.
"We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Snyder to WCG," said Sam Srivastava, chief executive officer, WCG. "Dr. Snyder's expertise in drug development and ethical considerations will further strengthen the partnership and solutions WCG offers our clients to support their goals to be more efficient and effective throughout their trials. Her focus on patient-centric care and how it relates to enhanced clinical outcomes will undoubtedly benefit our clients and the patients they serve."
Dr. Snyder has earned widespread recognition as an expert in applying scientific and ethical regulations related to the inclusion of children in clinical research and the development of pediatric products. She has co-authored numerous books and publications, solidifying her position as a respected thought leader in her field. She holds a Master's in Bioethics (MBE) from the University of Pennsylvania, in addition to her MD and Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of Virginia. Furthermore, she completed a fellowship in General Academic Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University.
"I'm delighted to join the exceptionally talented, mission-driven team at WCG," remarked Dr. Snyder. "Additionally, the company's commitment to innovation in clinical research is inspiring. I look forward to playing a role in helping to accelerate clinical research for our clients, while upholding the ethical standards for which WCG is known."
About WCG
WCG is a global leader of solutions that measurably improve and accelerate clinical research. Biopharmaceutical and medical device companies, contract research organizations (CROs), research institutions, and sites partner with us for our unmatched expertise, data intelligence, and purpose-built technology to make informed decisions and optimize study outcomes, while maintaining the highest standards of human participant protection. WCG raises the bar by pioneering new concepts, reimagining processes, fostering compliance and safety, and empowering those who perform clinical trials to accelerate the delivery of medical therapies and devices that improve lives. For more information, please visit wcgclinical.com or follow us on Twitter @WCGClinical or LinkedIn.
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SOURCE WCG | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/wcg-welcomes-donna-snyder-md-mbe-executive-physician/ | 2023-07-31T13:37:31 | 1 | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/wcg-welcomes-donna-snyder-md-mbe-executive-physician/ |
BOSTON, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 25, 2023, Fosun Health Capital established by Fosun Pharma (stock code:600196.SH), reached a strategic partnership with Medicilon (stock code: 688202.SH). Meanwhile StarMab Biology (Suzhou) (jointly invested by the innovation drug research fund of Fosun Group and Yaopharma) and Medicilon entered into a strategic cooperation for innovative drug IND research and application services. This strategic partnership indicates a significant step forward in the cooperation between Fosun Health Capital and Medicilon, with milestone for both parties' development.
Cui Zhiping, Co-CEO and General Manager of Fosun Health Capital, Chen Chunlin, Founder and CEO of Medicilon, along with members from both sides attended the signing ceremony together and witnessed the contract.
According to the strategic cooperation agreement, Medicilon will leverage its international perspective and rich experience in R&D to provide innovative drug enterprises invested by Fosun Health Capital with services，such as drug discovery, pharmaceutical research, preclinical research, IND registration declaration, etc., aiming to facilitate cooperation in 10 innovative drug IND projects. Medicilon will also provide professional opinions on the rationality of product development clinical programs, product success probability analysis, product market potential, etc.
Furthermore, Medicilon will facilitate investment cooperation and create an ecosystem linking innovative drug investment and business cooperation. As for StarMab Biology, Medicilon will provide comprehensive and high-quality preclinical research services. Through this strategic cooperation, all parties will integrate respective technology, market and talent advantages, embrace the trends and technological changes in bioengineering and pharmaceutical industry, promote deeper and broader exploration in various fields, and explore the possibilities of new drug development.
About Fosun Health Capital:
As the first VC fund in the field of new drugs initiated by Fosun Pharma, Fosun Health Capital primarily invests biopharmaceutical sector projects in early-stage and expansion-stage, which have technological innovation and rapid growth potential. It is committed to incubating high-quality projects from universities and research institutes and introducing leading overseas biotechnology technologies and products to China through introduction and cooperation models.
About Medicilon:
Medicilon as an integrated CRO provides comprehensive one-stop R&D services for pharmaceutical enterprises and scientific research institutions around the world. Medicilon has built an integrated platform covering key technologies in drug discovery, pharmaceutical research, and preclinical research, to provide comprehensive preclinical R&D services for the global biomedical industry.
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SOURCE Medicilon Inc. | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/fosun-health-capital-reached-cooperation-agreement-with-medicilon-explore-innovative-drug-research-development-together/ | 2023-07-31T13:37:33 | 1 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/fosun-health-capital-reached-cooperation-agreement-with-medicilon-explore-innovative-drug-research-development-together/ |
SALT LAKE CITY, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sera Prognostics Inc., The Pregnancy Company® (NASDAQ: SERA), focused on improving maternal and neonatal health by providing innovative pregnancy biomarker information to doctors and patients, today announced that it will report second quarter fiscal year 2023 financial results on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, after the close of the market. The Company will host a corresponding conference call and live webcast to discuss operational highlights, financial results and key topics at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. A press release outlining the financial results and highlights will be publicly distributed before the call.
Conference Call Details:
US domestic callers: (866) 218-2405
International callers: (412) 902-6607
Webcast Registration Link: https://app.webinar.net/5ZK3j2xMqY7
Live audio of the webcast will be available online from the Investors page of the Company's website at www.seraprognostics.com. The webcast will be archived on the Investors page and will be available for one year.
About Sera Prognostics, Inc.
Sera Prognostics is a leading health diagnostics company dedicated to improving the lives of women and babies through precision pregnancy care. Sera's mission is to provide early, pivotal pregnancy information to improve the health of mothers and newborns, resulting in reductions in the costs of healthcare delivery. Sera has a robust pipeline of innovative diagnostic tests focused on the early prediction of preterm birth risk and other complications of pregnancy. Sera's precision medicine PreTRM® Test reports to a physician the individualized risk of spontaneous premature delivery in a pregnancy, enabling earlier proactive interventions in women with higher risk. Sera Prognostics is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.
About Preterm Birth
Preterm birth is defined as any birth before 37 weeks' gestation and is the leading cause of illness and death in newborns. The 2022 March of Dimes Report Card shows that, for the last four consecutive years, more than one in ten infants is born prematurely. Prematurity is associated with a significantly increased risk of major long-term medical complications, including learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, chronic respiratory illness, intellectual disability, seizures, and vision and hearing loss, and can generate significant costs throughout the lives of affected children. The annual health care costs to manage short- and long-term complications of prematurity in the United States were estimated to be approximately $25 billion for 2016.
About the PreTRM® Test
The PreTRM® Test is the only broadly validated, commercially available blood-based biomarker test that provides an early, accurate and individualized risk prediction for spontaneous preterm birth in asymptomatic singleton pregnancies. The PreTRM® Test measures and analyzes proteins in the blood that are highly predictive of preterm birth. The PreTRM® Test permits physicians to identify, during the weeks 18 through 20 of pregnancy, which women are at increased risk for preterm birth and its complications, enabling more informed, personalized clinical decisions based on each woman's individual risk. The PreTRM® Test is ordered by a medical professional.
Sera Prognostics, the Sera Prognostics logo, The Pregnancy Company, and PreTRM are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sera Prognostics, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to the date, time and content of the Company's quarterly earnings release and conference call; and the company's strategic directives under the caption "About Sera Prognostics, Inc." These "forward-looking statements" are based on management's current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: net losses, cash generation, and the potential need to raise more capital; revenues from the PreTRM Test representing substantially all Company revenues to date; the need for broad scientific and market acceptance of the PreTRM Test; a concentrated number of material customers; our ability to introduce new products; potential competition; our proprietary biobank; critical suppliers; the COVID-19 pandemic and its potential lingering impact on our operations, as well as the business or operations of third parties with whom we conduct business; estimates of total addressable market opportunity and forecasts of market growth; potential third-party payer coverage and reimbursement; new reimbursement methodologies applicable to the PreTRM Test, including new CPT codes and payment rates for those codes; changes in FDA regulation of laboratory-developed tests; the intellectual property rights protecting our tests and market position; and other factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" contained in our Final Prospectus on Form S-1, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 14, 2021, as well as any updates to those risk factors filed from time to time in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Annual Reports on Form 10-K, or Current Reports on Form 8-K. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and the Company undertakes no duty to update this information unless required by law.
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SOURCE Sera Prognostics, Inc. | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/sera-prognostics-announces-conference-call-webcast-second-quarter-fiscal-year-2023-financial-results-august-9-2023/ | 2023-07-31T13:37:38 | 0 | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/sera-prognostics-announces-conference-call-webcast-second-quarter-fiscal-year-2023-financial-results-august-9-2023/ |
BEIJING, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- WiMi Hologram Cloud Inc. (NASDAQ: WIMI) ("WiMi" or the "Company"), a leading global Hologram Augmented Reality ("AR") Technology provider, today announced that an algorithm of nonlinear optical holography was developed. This is an algorithm that uses nonlinear optical effects to reconstruct a holographic image of an object. The laser beam is modulated using nonlinear optical materials to encode information about the object under test into an optical interference pattern, and then this interference pattern is recorded and processed using holography. In this process, the optical interference pattern has spatial and temporal features of high complexity, which can be used to realize nonlinear interactions between photons through the use of nonlinear optical effects (e.g., optical phase conjugation effects) to achieve the three-dimensional reconstruction of the object. It utilizes the nonlinear properties of light in optics to realize the processing and conversion of optical signals, and has the advantages of high resolution, no damage, and fast reconstruction.
This algorithm developed by WiMi is to use the characteristics of nonlinear optical materials to realize the self-modulation of light waves, self-frequency conversion and other processing, through holographic technology recorded light field information can provide richer optical information, to achieve better holographic image reconstruction effect. The laser beam and the reference beam are first constructed, and they are interfered with through the nonlinear crystal. In the interference region, the modulation of parameters such as refractive index, absorption, and refraction angle of the material that will be self-modulated is generated, and to obtain the hologram, the phase modulation of the signal beam is required. During the propagation of the laser wave in the material, the frequency of the wave changes due to the presence of nonlinear effects, forming a new non-planar wave called a differential frequency wave. The differential frequency wave is then recorded by holographic technology, and the corresponding data processing and reconstruction are carried out to obtain the hologram image of the original information. Finally, the desired image is obtained by processing the hologram.
Compared with traditional holographic algorithms, this technology can realize a variety of nonlinear optical effects, eliminate interference fringes and noise in traditional holographic technology, improve image clarity and signal-to-noise ratio, and obtain higher holographic imaging quality and resolution. It can also realize real-time imaging by adjusting the control factors such as laser power and material parameters, and can realize image modulation and enhancement by controlling different optical parameters, which improves the flexibility and applicability, and has higher practical value of application.
With the rapid development of computer technology and optical technology, WiMi's algorithm will also be continuously improved and enhanced, and its scope of application will be further expanded. It is foreseeable that the holographic algorithm will play an important role in the fields of medical imaging, education, entertainment, etc. At the same time, it will be one of the directions of future development of optical technology, which can provide important technical support for scientific research and industrial manufacturing.
About WIMI Hologram Cloud
WIMI Hologram Cloud, Inc. (NASDAQ:WIMI) is a holographic cloud comprehensive technical solution provider that focuses on professional areas including holographic AR automotive HUD software, 3D holographic pulse LiDAR, head-mounted light field holographic equipment, holographic semiconductor, holographic cloud software, holographic car navigation and others. Its services and holographic AR technologies include holographic AR automotive application, 3D holographic pulse LiDAR technology, holographic vision semiconductor technology, holographic software development, holographic AR advertising technology, holographic AR entertainment technology, holographic ARSDK payment, interactive holographic communication and other holographic AR technologies.
Safe Harbor Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from management in this press release and the Company's strategic and operational plans contain forward−looking statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward−looking statements in its periodic reports to the US Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on Forms 20−F and 6−K, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases, and other written materials, and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Several factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward−looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the Company's goals and strategies; the Company's future business development, financial condition, and results of operations; the expected growth of the AR holographic industry; and the Company's expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of its products and services.
Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's annual report on Form 20-F and the current report on Form 6-K and other documents filed with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement except as required under applicable laws.
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SOURCE WiMi Hologram Cloud Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/wimi-hologram-cloud-developed-algorithm-nonlinear-optical-holography/ | 2023-07-31T13:37:38 | 0 | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/wimi-hologram-cloud-developed-algorithm-nonlinear-optical-holography/ |
New video spot, "Dear Kitten: Modern Technology" finds Grey Cat and Orange Kitten all grown up and dealing with the digital age.
ST. LOUIS, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dear reader, are you ready for adorable internet feline nostalgia? Friskies, the popular cat food and treat brand, has launched the revival of the playful 'Dear Kitten' series, which took the internet by storm when it was first released nearly 10 years ago. In partnership with BuzzFeed, the new installment, titled 'Dear Kitten: Modern Technology,' takes a humorous look at how technology has evolved over the years through the eyes of the original wise and experienced narrator, Grey Cat, while highlighting the special bond between humans and their feline companions.
Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9185151-purina-friskies-buzzfeed-dear-kitten-campaign-video/
In 'Modern Technology,' Grey Cat, voiced again by Ze Frank, shares valuable insights with Orange Kitten, now referred to as Orange Cat, as they navigate the rapidly changing landscape of modern devices. The video takes viewers on a comical journey, showcasing the entertaining and often perplexing situations cats experience when faced with today's advanced technology – including another daring encounter with Vacuum.
"It's been nearly a decade since you've heard from me, which I'm sure has been tough for you," said Grey Cat. "Although I am now older, I am also even wiser – like a furry sensei. I've witnessed advancements in technology that have both fascinated and bewildered me, so, it is once again my duty to get Orange Cat (and you, my feline friends) up to speed on the facts about this great big, weird world. Buckle up."
The original 'Dear Kitten' series, which captivated audiences with its witty storytelling, amassed hundreds of millions of views and resonated with pet lovers worldwide. The collaboration between Friskies and BuzzFeed provided an opportunity to once again create engaging and entertaining content that celebrates the unique bond between humans and their pets.
"Friskies is all about providing your cat with variety to feed their playfulness and curiosity, and with 'Dear Kitten', we brought that same playful spirit to life for cat lovers," said Kelly Roberts, Purina Brand Manager. "As we approach the 10-year anniversary of the original series, it felt like the perfect time to check-in to see what life is like today for our favorite feline duo and welcome a new generation of cat lovers into the 'Dear Kitten' family."
The 'Modern Technology' video was officially released on July 27, 2023, on BuzzFeed. The next video installment, titled 'Day in the Life of an Influencer' will be released later this Summer. To stay updated on the series visit BuzzFeed's official channels or follow Friskies on social media.
About Nestlé Purina PetCare
Nestlé Purina PetCare creates richer lives for pets and the people who love them. Founded in 1894, Purina has helped dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives by offering scientifically based nutritional innovations. Purina manufactures some of the world's most trusted and popular pet care products, including Purina ONE, Pro Plan, Friskies and Tidy Cats. Our more than 10,000 U.S. associates take pride in our trusted pet food, treat and litter brands that feed 46 million dogs and 68 million cats every year. More than 500 Purina scientists, veterinarians, and pet care experts ensure our commitment to unsurpassed quality and nutrition.
Purina promotes responsible pet care through our scientific research, our products and our support for pet-related organizations. Over the past five years, Purina has contributed more than $150 million towards organizations that bring, and keep, people and pets together, as well as those that help our communities and environment thrive.
Purina is part of Nestlé, a global leader in Nutrition, Health and Wellness. For more information, visit purina.com or subscribe here to get the latest Purina news.
About BuzzFeed, Inc.
BuzzFeed, Inc. is home to the best of the internet. Across food, news, pop culture and commerce, our brands drive conversation and inspire what audiences watch, read, buy, and obsess over next. Born on the internet in 2006, BuzzFeed, Inc. is committed to making it better: providing trusted, quality, brand-safe news and entertainment to hundreds of millions of people; making content on the internet more inclusive, empathetic, and creative; and inspiring our audience to live better lives.
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SOURCE Friskies® | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/friskies-buzzfeed-reboot-dear-kitten-hit-video-series-after-nearly-decade/ | 2023-07-31T13:37:40 | 1 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/friskies-buzzfeed-reboot-dear-kitten-hit-video-series-after-nearly-decade/ |
300PPM leads investment in the only proven solution to decarbonize process heat at scale
NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, GlassPoint, the leader in decarbonizing industrial process heat, closed an $8M series A investment led by 300PPM and joined by former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, former Alcoa COO Tomas Sigurdsson and several additional industrial leaders. GlassPoint will use the investment to expand operations to help industrial companies decarbonize and meet looming net-zero commitments with the only solution proven to decarbonize industrial process heat at scale.
This is the first investment by 300PPM, which was founded in 2023 to accelerate the path to net-zero by deploying climate infrastructure globally at speed and scale. Howar Talabany, 300PPM founding partner and head of business development, led the investment and will join GlassPoint's board of directors.
"More than 40% of the Fortune 500 have set net-zero goals as leaders increasingly internalize the business and investor value that accompanies decarbonization," said Talabany. "They're also realizing that to deliver on these goals they need to scale viable solutions now. GlassPoint stands out in a sea of innovators as the only solution proven at scale to decarbonize the $444B industrial process heat market. With a robust customer pipeline and impressive executive team, GlassPoint is well positioned to lead essential decarbonization efforts across industries."
The funding comes on the heels of GlassPoint's groundbreaking memorandum of understanding with Ma'aden to develop the world's largest solar process heat plant to convert bauxite into alumina and help Saudi Arabia meet sustainability goals. GlassPoint has deployed more than half of all the solar steam for industry in the world and the company has been reliably producing solar steam for over a decade.
New regulations from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission will soon require publicly listed companies to disclose climate-related risks as well as information around direct and indirect carbon emissions, increasing pressure on leaders to develop actionable carbon-reducing strategies. Moreover, a recent Fortune 500 CEO survey found that a strong majority of business leaders believe focusing on climate will help deepen relationships with employees and customers.
"We are seeing strong interest around the world as consumer demand for sustainable goods, soaring ESG goals and the Inflation Reduction Act drive unprecedented investment in carbon-reducing technologies," said GlassPoint CEO and founder Rod MacGregor. "Every major industrial company is reassessing their supply chain, and GlassPoint provides the most cost-effective option to reduce carbon emissions immediately by delivering renewable heat at the scale they need. We look forward to putting this investment to work to help industrial leaders across the Middle East and North America decarbonize materials essential to the energy transition and combat climate change."
GlassPoint's solar steam solution is available for a range of hard-to-abate industries, including mining and metals. The company is accelerating adoption with a steam-as-a-service model that eliminates the need for capital allocation, streamlines customer decision making and reduces business risk.
About GlassPoint
GlassPoint decarbonizes the production of materials essential to the energy transition and makes a substantial impact on combating climate change. The company builds, owns and operates large-scale solar steam facilities to reduce carbon emissions in hard-to-abate industries such as mining and metals, chemicals, construction materials, desalination and more. GlassPoint is the only solution proven at scale to reduce carbon emissions from industrial process heat and has built more than half of the industrial solar steam capacity in the world. Learn more at glasspoint.com.
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SOURCE GlassPoint | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/glasspoint-closes-8m-series-help-industry-meet-pressing-net-zero-goals/ | 2023-07-31T13:37:43 | 1 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/glasspoint-closes-8m-series-help-industry-meet-pressing-net-zero-goals/ |
SAN FRANCISCO, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP is investigating potential shareholder derivative claims on behalf of shareholders of Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC).
On February 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, releasing toxins and other combustible liquids, which ultimately led to a controlled burn of toxic chemicals. The derailment prompted the evacuation of residents from the surrounding area. Upon returning to their homes, residents reported hazardous air quality and other health and environmental concerns.
On February 8, 2023, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine stated that Norfolk Southern "created the problem" and that it was "their liability" and "ought to pay for it." On February 21, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ordered Norfolk Southern to clean up the site, stating that it "will pay for cleaning up the mess they created and for the trauma they've inflicted on this community." The National Transportation Safety Board's preliminary report stated that the derailment was 100% preventable, and it later opened a special investigation into Norfolk Southern's safety practices because it had experienced five significant accidents since December 2021. On March 14, 2023, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost filed a complaint against Norfolk Southern alleging a wide range of violations in connection with a series of Norfolk Southern train derailments. On March 16, 2023, purchasers of Norfolk Southern stock filed securities fraud class action claims against the company. On March 31, 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice sued Norfolk Southern seeking penalties and injunctive relief for the unlawful discharge of pollutants, oil, and hazardous substances under the Clean Water Act, and declaratory judgment for past and future costs under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act.
The Schubert Firm is investigating potential wrongdoing by Norfolk Southern's officers and directors in connection with these allegations. Norfolk Southern previously recognized $387 million in expenses related to these matters, and on July 27, 2023 announced another $416 million charge, for a total of $803 million.
If you own Norfolk Southern stock and wish to obtain additional information about your legal rights, please contact us today or visit our website at
https://www.classactionlawyers.com/norfolk.
About Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP
Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe represents shareholders, employees, and consumers in class actions against corporate defendants, as well as shareholders in derivative actions against their officers and directors. The firm is based in San Francisco, and with the help of co-counsel, litigates cases nationwide.
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SOURCE Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/shareholder-alert-norfolk-southern-corporation-nsc-officers-directors-face-shareholder-investigation-potential-wrongdoing-related-february-2023-east-palestine-train-derailment-which-has-resulted-803-million-charges/ | 2023-07-31T13:37:45 | 1 | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/shareholder-alert-norfolk-southern-corporation-nsc-officers-directors-face-shareholder-investigation-potential-wrongdoing-related-february-2023-east-palestine-train-derailment-which-has-resulted-803-million-charges/ |
GUANGZHOU, China, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Against the backdrop of sustainable development around the globe, excellent ESG (environmental, social and governance) performance is a new measure for the quality and sustainable prospect of an enterprise. In the future, driven by the "dual carbon" strategic goal, ESG indicators will be new focus for domestic consumer goods companies.
Recently, the fast-growing beauty group YSG released its Environmental, Social and Governance Report of 2022 (hereinafter referred to as the ESG Report). This is the second consecutive year for the Company to release the ESG Report, which thoroughly demonstrates the actions and achievements of YSG in practicing the ESG framework in multiple dimensions in the past year.
YSG's good ESG performance has won the recognition of an authoritative third party institute— in December 2022, the world's largest index company, Morgan Stanley Capital International, MSCI, upgraded the rating of YSG to A, which is an internationally recognized leading level. The rating report shows that YSG is an industry leader in the management of packaging materials and wastes, and is committed to reducing the impact of packaging materials through green packaging, lightweight packaging and recycling, etc.
Expanding "Carbon Footprint" Assessment Category, Embarking on Sustainable Path of Beauty Products
Under the guidance of "dual carbon" national strategy, the beauty industry is actively participating in sustainable development and green growth. Domestic beauty enterprises rise to implement the ESG goals. With the long-term vision of "health and beauty explorer in the era of new technology", YSG has been adhering to low-carbon development, and has always been practicing its commitment to environmental friendliness.
Following Perfect Diary's core product "Rouge Intense Velet Slim Lipstick" launched in 2021, YSG has continued to expand the scope of categories covered by carbon footprint verification. The ESG report shows that in 2022, the Company conducted carbon footprint assessment on Perfect Diary's ace products, "Weightless Velvet Lip Stain" and "Translucent Blurring Loose Powder (Anti-dullness Version)". Through this process, YSG can ascertain the carbon emissions of products in the whole life cycle, identify the potential for emission reduction at each stage, and continue to upgrade its products in the future to reduce the impact on the environment.
In addition, YSG also focuses on issues such as suppliers' carbon emissions and energy management in order to realize low-carbon and sustainable development of the entire supply chain. The Company encourages suppliers to take the initiative to meet the challenge of carbon emission reduction and to seize the opportunity to set feasible and challenging carbon emission reduction goals, so as to work together with YSG to continuously reduce the total amount of carbon emissions of the supply chain. By the end of 2022, all seven core suppliers of YSG have implemented carbon emission management.
At the same time, the consumption of packaging materials, possible pollutions and other issues have drawn more concern; plastic reduction, lightweight packaging, recycling has become the direction advocated by the government and expected by consumers. In 2022, Yatsen's brands, including Perfect Diary, Pink Bear, and Little Ondine, adjusted the weight and size of their product cartons, switched from offset-printed cardboard boxes to watermarked ones, and adopted eco-friendly kraft paper materials, reducing paper consumption by 25%;at the same time, plastic films have been removed for all paper boxes, further reducing the use of plastic packaging materials. Galénic's plastic packaging in China is 100% replaced by degradable bio-based paper plastics. EVE LOM's product packaging achieved 100% recyclability (obtaining The Green Dot logo).
Committed to Scientific Research and Innovation, Laying Solid Foundation for Brand R&D
In the past year, the cosmetic industry has been speeding into the era of detailed brand building with quality as the focus, and the attention paid to R&D by domestic beauty brands has risen significantly, as the beauty industry has entered a new stage of competing for "internal strength". According to the ESG report, YSG attaches great importance to product innovation and R&D, and has invested RMB 127 million in R&D in 2022, accounting for 3.4% of its total revenue. The R&D expense ratio continues to rank among the top in the world.
With the support of the Open Lab R&D system, YSG has formed cooperation with many renowned research institutions, universities and colleges and hospitals home and abroad, identifying, studying and transferring for commercial applications worldwide— all for quality beauty products. Multiple types of achievements of technology-supported cosmetics have been made. Perfect Diary cooperated with the Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology of Chinese Academy of Sciences and developed the SmartLOCK, which is used in the Translucent Blurring Loose Powder for its high efficiency in keeping look fresh with antioxidant capacity.
What is more noteworthy is that YSG understands that R&D innovation is the way to long-term development of an enterprise, drives category innovation, which in turn brings R&D breakthrough. In 2022 June, YSG R&D Center officially obtained the Laboratory Accreditation Certificate issued by China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS), which marks that the Center's product testing capabilities, equipment and devices have reached national approved standards. In November of the same year, the Company established the Sun Yat-sen University-Yatsen Group (YSG) Skin Health Precise Research Joint Laboratory,which has now built two major platforms, namely, the Chinese Skin Aging Research Platform for Chinese and the Bio-Fermentation Research Platform of Sun Yat-sen University.
Shouldering Public Welfare, Setting Benchmark for Sustainable Development
As young listed beauty enterprise, YSG spares no effort on public welfare while promoting its own development, deepening its enterprise and brand value. The Company explores actively the new path of beauty, aiming to discover female beauty, guard natural beauty and pass on the beauty of goodwill. The on-going "Create a beautiful life" and other training programs have witnessed YSG's endeavour in public welfare.
Since the establishment of the Company, YSG has been committed to involving more people to enjoy beauty as part of its corporate social responsibility practice. In 2020, YSG, with the goal of "helping women to discover and create beauty", joined hands with the China Women's Development Foundation to launch "Creating a beautiful life" public welfare training program. A total of RMB 2 million has been invested in the program in three years. As of March 2023, 5 training sessions have been completed, empowering 202 women to start their own business/employment in the field of beauty through the learning of beauty skills, quality enhancement, in-person visits and practice, industry exchanges, and mentor support.
At the same time, the Company is also expanding the depth and breadth of public welfare practices, actively contributing to social welfare such as education and research, child care, rural revitalization, public welfare for the disabled, shouldering a sense of social responsibility and mission, insisting on giving back real benefits to the society, and spreading the beauty of goodwill even farther.
Promoting high-quality development is the core in YSG's transformation process and the fundamental guideline for the Company's ESG practices. Mr. Huang Jinfeng, Founder, Chairman and CEO of YSG, said, "2022 is a year for YSG to deepen its transformation and reform in a comprehensive manner. Good ESG governance is an important driving force to promote the sustainable development of enterprises. In the future, YSG will focus on three aspects of optimization: continue to give full play to the value of ESG to create new momentum for development; continue to improve the green management to create sustainable products; and promote more public welfare programs to give full play to their own strengths and social influence, and actively give back to the society."
On the road of sustainable and high-quality development, YSG will continue to enhance its professional ability, improve itself through reformation, apply new technology and new thinking to the field of beauty, drive product upgrading with innovation, provide high-quality and innovative products to global consumers, and bring new vitality and confidence to the beauty industry.
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SOURCE Yatsen Global | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/ysg-releases-its-second-esg-report-setting-benchmark-industry/ | 2023-07-31T13:37:45 | 1 | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/ysg-releases-its-second-esg-report-setting-benchmark-industry/ |
Success of the Global Premier Fertility Platform Leading to Additional Growth and Expansion
IRVINE, Calif., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Premier Fertility, a world-class fertility network that builds, leads, and manages fertility clinics and adjacent businesses announced the closing of a syndicated round of capital from existing investors and a new institutional funding partner, for an undisclosed amount.
The funding will provide Global Premier Fertility the ability to continue its key strategic initiatives for current platform growth and expansion, along with the recruitment of Reproductive Endocrinologists needed for immediate opportunities.
"We're very excited about the success of the platform and the opportunity for growth by expanding our core business through our partnerships with fertility centers and major health systems," said Kolin Ozonian, Founder and CEO of Global Premier Fertility. "As the need for high-quality fertility care continues to grow, we're positioned to address the fertility market demands by leveraging our unique partnership model with the best fertility specialists in the country to provide unrivaled, highly-personalized care."
Global Premier Fertility also recently held its first annual Science and Operations Summit in a private setting in Laguna Beach, CA. The scientific team covered the past, present and future of fertility and embryology science, highlighting the exciting advancements arriving to fertility laboratories in the near future. Ferring Pharmaceuticals also held an interactive session of their proprietary fertility patient experience map, providing keen insights to the challenges patients navigate through their fertility journey.
"Our first annual summit was a great success, notably was the robust discussion and collaboration of best practices regarding patient care and experience, not only from our Global Premier Fertility physicians and team members, but also with the physicians who attended from outside of the Global Premier Fertility network," said Rob Doll, President of Global Premier Fertility. "The summit further highlights the differentiating aspects of what separates Global Premier Fertility from other networks in the fertility industry."
For more information about Global Premier Fertility, please visit https://globalpremierfertility.com/.
About Global Premier Fertility:
Global Premier Fertility offers a unique partnership model through an innovative platform that builds, leads and manages fertility centers, providing physicians the resources needed to lead day-to-day operations while working alongside an experienced fertility leadership team to execute the vision of the practice. The Global Premier Fertility family of Partner Centers improves patient outcomes by providing a seamless patient experience through an innovative, comprehensive suite of services, delivering personalized fertility care from the nation's top specialists.
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SOURCE Albatross Capital Partners | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/global-premier-fertility-closes-syndicated-round-funding-holds-its-first-annual-science-operations-summit/ | 2023-07-31T13:37:50 | 0 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/global-premier-fertility-closes-syndicated-round-funding-holds-its-first-annual-science-operations-summit/ |
SHENZHEN, China, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AMIRO ("the Company"), a leading beauty and skincare technology brand, is thrilled to announce that its research facility, AMIRO LAB, has successfully obtained the Qualified Testing Location (QTL) certification after a comprehensive audit conducted by SGS.
SGS, a globally recognized testing, inspection and certification organization with thousands of branches and laboratories worldwide, introduced the QTL certification for laboratory witness testing. As an SGS-accredited testing location, AMIRO LAB will undergo witness testing by SGS during the certification process, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the test data. This reduces the time required for companies to transport samples to SGS-designated laboratories for testing, thus effectively shortening the product testing cycle.
"As we receive the QTL certification for AMIRO LAB, it signifies a resounding acknowledgment of our research center's testing capabilities and management efficiency," Jason Chen, Quality Management Director, said. "This milestone propels us into a new phase of strategic cooperation with SGS. Looking ahead, we will forge closer ties in product testing, inspection, certification, and industry standard-setting to drive the high-quality and sustainable development of the skincare technology industry."
Widely recognized as a technology-driven and innovation-focused skincare enterprise, AMIRO has always prioritized research and development. From its inception, AMIRO has established its AMIRO LAB to focus on innovative applications of photonic and medical technologies in the beauty and skincare field. The center boasts a wide array of state-of-the-art equipment, facilitating effective quantitative evaluations.
In a bid to enhance its research and development capabilities, AMIRO has also actively engaged in collaborations between industry, academia, and research institutions, partnering with renowned universities to set up joint R&D centers. These collaborations have enabled AMIRO to advance fundamental research and create products that precisely cater to users' skincare needs.
One exemplary collaboration involves the establishment of the Smart Photonic Medical Technology Joint Research Center with Shanghai Jiao Tong University's School of Biomedical Engineering. This center explores the application and commercialization of photonic therapy in relevant fields. Additionally, the Company has also collaborated with Zhejiang University's School of Pharmacy that led the research on transdermal permeation technology combined with photonic energy. AMIRO has also worked with Sichuan University on a precise skin measurement and evaluation development platform, and with Chongqing University on skin photonic science to study anti-aging skincare solutions for consumers.
AMIRO's prominent position in the industry is further cemented by its active participation in establishing industry standards. The Company has taken an active role in standard-setting initiatives by leveraging its profound R&D capabilities. AMIRO has led the formulation of several industry group standards, including "Guidelines for Face Masks Used in Conjunction with RF Beauty Devices" and "Guidelines for Skincare Products Used in Conjunction with RF and Microcurrent Home Beauty Devices." Moreover, AMIRO has participated in the development of the national standard "Special Requirements for the Safety of Electrical Skin Beauty Devices" to help with the standardization of the industry.
The latest SGS' awarding of the QTL certification to AMIRO is a testament to the brand's advanced laboratory equipment and robust quality management system. This certification represents not only the assurance of product quality but signifies The Company's commitment to enhancing product certification efficiency and accelerating its product launch process to benefit more consumers.
Looking ahead, AMIRO remains committed to optimizing its quality management system as well as its product inspection and testing processes. The Company will continue to translate scientific research achievements into practical applications, delivering simple, safe, and effective products. AMIRO's ultimate goal is to offer precise and tailored skincare solutions for every individual, allowing consumers to experience the beauty of life to the fullest.
For more information about AMIRO and its range of facial devices, please visit their official website.
Or connect with them on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amiroglobal/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AMIRO-Global-103502195623795/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amiroglobal/featured
About AMIRO
AMIRO, a beauty and skincare technology brand founded in 2015, has been delivering joy and harmony through its technologically advanced home beauty and personal care electronic products. With over 38 international design awards, AMIRO is your trusted skincare partner that offers portable, short-acting, and long-lasting solutions to improve skincare efficiency.
Upholding the idea of "Revitalize beauty through science", AMIRO's products are designed to be affordable, high-quality, and supported by clinical data. With a commitment to sustainability and innovation, AMIRO is dedicated to providing skincare solutions that make women of all ages feel confident and beautiful.
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SOURCE AMIRO | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/skincare-tech-brand-amiro-receives-qtl-certification-sgs-strengthen-rampd-efforts/ | 2023-07-31T13:37:51 | 0 | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/skincare-tech-brand-amiro-receives-qtl-certification-sgs-strengthen-rampd-efforts/ |
PARIS, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Yubo, the live social discovery app for Gen Z, has become a member of the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT) to support its mission to prevent terrorist and violent extremist exploitation online through research, technical collaboration, and knowledge sharing.
Through its membership, Yubo will leverage GIFCT's hash-sharing database to identify and remove content shared on Yubo that is associated with United Nations-designated terrorist entities, attacker manifestos, terrorist publications, and other violent extremist groups. GIFCT is an NGO designed to prevent terrorists and violent extremists from exploiting digital platforms.
Since 2017, GIFCT has run a safe and secure industry database of hashes – or "digital fingerprints'' – of known terrorist and violent extremist material, which GIFCT members have identified and removed from their platforms. With users in over 140 countries around the world, Yubo will play a key role in helping GIFCT further scale its international hash-sharing database.
"GIFCT's hash database provides Yubo with a powerful tool to further strengthen our multifaceted approach to content moderation and more effectively identify and eliminate violent extremist content at scale," said Yubo co-founder and CEO Sacha Lazimi. "We look forward to expanding our support of GIFCT through this initiative and working with other member organizations to leverage technology to combat terrorism and enhance safety for all, on- and offline."
GIFCT's hash-sharing database works first by enabling member companies, like Yubo, to identify and "hash" content, such as photos, videos, or PDFs, ensuring a privacy-by-design approach to recording content for reporting or removal without linking to any personally identifiable information. Hashes appear as digital signatures or numerical representations of the original content, which means they cannot be easily reverse engineered to recreate the content.
"The lifecycle of violent extremism is often extended through the dissemination of content online, and the support of member organizations like Yubo is crucial to breaking these cycles," said GIFCT Executive Director Naureen Chowdhury Frink. "We are grateful to our GIFCT member companies for their continued collaboration in our shared mission to prevent terrorists and violent extremists from exploiting digital platforms, and we welcome the important investments Yubo has made for the safety of its community."
Yubo's integration of the GIFCT hash-sharing database follows the platform's support of the Take It Down initiative by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in February. Take It Down is NCMEC's free online service that, like GIFCT, leverages a hash-sharing system to help minors remove their nudes from the internet and combat the online spread of child sexual exploitation.
ABOUT YUBO
Yubo is a live social discovery app making it easy for Gen Z to expand their social circles and hang out online with new friends from around the world. By eliminating likes and follows, we empower young people to show up as their true selves and connect as authentically as they would offline. Safety is a cornerstone of our platform, and we are proud to be the first social app in the world to introduce comprehensive user-age verification tools and real-time video and audio moderation for livestreams. Founded in France in 2015, Yubo is used in more than 140 countries by over 60 million users. Visit us at yubo.live to learn more and follow our journey.
ABOUT GIFCT
GIFCT is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and tech-led initiative with over 20 member tech companies offering unique settings for diverse stakeholders to identify and solve the most complex global challenges at the intersection of terrorism and technology. GIFCT's mission is to prevent terrorists and violent extremists from exploiting digital platforms through our vision of a world in which the technology sector marshals its collective creativity and capacity to render terrorists and violent extremists ineffective online. In every aspect of our work, we aim to be transparent, inclusive, and respectful of the fundamental and universal human rights that terrorists and violent extremists seek to undermine.
Media Contact:
Debora Lima, Yubo U.S. Media Director
debora@ext.yubo.live
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SOURCE Yubo | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/yubo-joins-gifct-combat-spread-violent-extremist-content-online/ | 2023-07-31T13:37:51 | 0 | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/yubo-joins-gifct-combat-spread-violent-extremist-content-online/ |
New York (CNN) — Yellow Corp., a 99-year old trucking company that was once a dominant player in its field, halted operations Sunday and will lay off all 30,000 of its workers.
The unionized company has been in a battle with the Teamsters union, which represents about 22,000 drivers and dock workers at the company. Just a week ago the union canceled a threatened strike that had been prompted by the company failing to contribute to its pension and health insurance plans. The union granted the company an extra month to make the required payments.
But by midweek last week, the company had stopped picking up freight from its customers and was making deliveries only of freight already in its system, according to both the union and Satish Jindel, a trucking industry consultant.
While the union agreed not to go on strike against Yellow, it could not reach an agreement on a new contract with the trucking company, according to a memo sent to local unions Thursday by the Teamsters’ negotiating committee. The union said early Monday that it had been notified of the shutdown.
“Today’s news is unfortunate but not surprising. Yellow has historically proven that it could not manage itself despite billions of dollars in worker concessions and hundreds of millions in bailout funding from the federal government. This is a sad day for workers and the American freight industry,” said Teamsters President Sean O’Brien in a statement.
Company officials did nor respond to numerous requests for comment Sunday and Monday.
There were reports last week that a bankruptcy filing would come by July 31, although the company said last week only that it continued to be in talks with the Teamsters and that it was considering all of its options. The Teamsters said Monday the company is filing for bankruptcy.
US taxpayers to take a hit
The closing is bad news not only for its employees and its customers, who generally used Yellow because it offered some of the cheapest rates in the trucking sector, but also for US taxpayers. The company received a $700 million loan from the federal government in 2020, a loan that resulted in taxpayers holding 30% of its outstanding stock. And the company still owed the Treasury department more than $700 million according to its most recently quarterly report, nearly half of the long-term debt on its books.
Yellow’s stock lost 82% of its value between the time of that loan and Thursday close after reports of the bankruptcy plans, closing at only 57 cents a share. It bumped up 14 cents a share on Friday, but still remained a so-called penny stock.
The company had received that loan during the pandemic, despite the fact that at the time it was facing charges of defrauding the government by overbilling on shipments of items for the US military. The company eventually settled the dispute without admitting wrongdoing but was forced to pay a $6.85 million fine.
Yellow handles pallet-sized shipments of freight, moving shipments from numerous customers in the same truck, a segment of the trucking industry known as less-than-truckload, or LTL. The company had been claiming as recently as June that it was the nation’s third largest LTL carrier.
But the company handled only about 7% of the nation’s 720,000 daily LTL shipments last year, said Jindel. He said there is about 8% to 10% excess capacity in the LTL sector right now, so the closure of Yellow shouldn’t cause a significant disruption in supply chains. But he said it will cause higher rates for shippers who depend on LTL carriers, since it was the excess capacity that sent prices lower.
Higher prices will hit Yellow customers, Jindel said.
“The reason they were using Yellow was because they were cheap,” he said. “They’re finding out that price was below the cost of supporting a good operation.”
End of an era in trucking
When the trucking industry was deregulated nearly 40 years ago, the segment of the industry that handled full trailers of cargo, known as truckload, soon was dominated by non-union trucking companies. The only thing low-cost competitors needed to enter that segment of the industry was a truck.
But the LTL segment requires a network of terminals to sort incoming and outgoing freight. That limited, but did not prevent, the entry of low-cost competitors. So unionized carriers such as Yellow continued to be major players, even as non-union rivals grew.
Eventually non-union carriers came to dominate the LTL segment as well. By early in this century, many of the remaining unionized LTL carriers, including Yellow and rivals such as Roadway Express, New Penn and Holland, merged to survive.
Yellow, Roadway and a third company known as CF or Consolidated Freightways had once been known as the Big Three of the trucking industry. CF went out of business in 2002. And with Yellow Corp. closing, the final two parts of the Big Three are now out of business as well.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wxow.com/99-year-old-trucking-company-yellow-shuts-down-putting-30-000-out-of-work/article_5c9ed203-1436-55f6-acd2-e87c7a70d9fd.html | 2023-07-31T13:37:54 | 1 | https://www.wxow.com/99-year-old-trucking-company-yellow-shuts-down-putting-30-000-out-of-work/article_5c9ed203-1436-55f6-acd2-e87c7a70d9fd.html |
PRATT, Kansas -- One farmer in Kansas went all-out to surprise his wife for their 50th anniversary.
Knowing his wife Renee loved sunflowers, Lee Wilson decided to plant some in his field.
Well, actually 1.2 million of them.
That's an 80-acre field covered with roughly 15,000 sunflowers per acre.
Wilson planted the field back in May with help from his son - and they managed to keep it secret from Renee.
"Well we're celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary August 10th and you know what's a guy get his gal for the 50th?" Wilson said. "And I put a lot of thought into it and she always liked sunflowers."
The two have been together since high school.
"It made me feel very special," Renee Wilson said. "It couldn't have been a more perfect anniversary gift than a field of sunflowers."
Now, crowds have been flocking to the field off Highway 54, four miles east of Pratt, to see the stunning sight and take photos.
Sunflower season is short so they'll only be picture-perfect for about two weeks. | https://abc30.com/kansas-sunflowers-farmer-surprises-wife-50th-anniversary-pratt/13575625/ | 2023-07-31T13:37:54 | 1 | https://abc30.com/kansas-sunflowers-farmer-surprises-wife-50th-anniversary-pratt/13575625/ |
Boat that caught on fire at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore to be removed
A boat that caught on fire near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Munising over the weekend, forcing the U.S. Coast Guard to rescue five people aboard, will be removed Monday.
According to a tweet from the Coast Guard's Great Lakes' district on Sunday, Sector Sault pollution responders determined that all diesel fuel had burned off in the fire and no pollution threat exists.
The burning boat was spotted during a routine patrol around 7 p.m. Saturday. A crew from the Coast Guard's Marquette station saw smoke rising from a nearly 30-foot vessel and responded, the station said on Facebook.
The crew wasn't able to extinguish the fire and the vessel became engulfed in flames, but everyone aboard was rescued with no injuries, said U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Christopher Yaw.
"As the flames grew, our crew transferred over all passengers on board the distressed vessel to our 29’ RBS-II. All 5 passengers were safely transported back to the local marina with no injuries," the station posted.
It's unclear what caused the boat to go up in flames, according to the Coast Guard.
"The people on board did report smelling diesel (fuel) just before seeing any flames," Yaw said. "National Park's service vessel did remain on scene until dusk. They weren't able to secure the vessel to anything because it was against the rocks. …
"It looks like they were just out enjoying a trip and something went wrong to cause a fire on the vessel," Yaw said.
The U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes tweeted that the vessel contained up to 250 gallons of diesel.
mjohnson@detroitnews.com | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2023/07/31/burning-vessel-at-pictured-rocks-national-lakeshore-to-be-commercially-removed/70496582007/ | 2023-07-31T13:37:54 | 0 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2023/07/31/burning-vessel-at-pictured-rocks-national-lakeshore-to-be-commercially-removed/70496582007/ |
Global wellness company introduces revolutionary Derma Fusion Technology to target enhanced weight management
FRISCO, Texas, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With many revolutionary wearable nutrition formulas already part of the impressive Le-Vel Brands product lineup, DFT DUO ELITE is the latest addition designed to elevate weight management support.
"To say this is our strongest, most creative formula is an understatement. The intent behind this product is a left/right approach to help it circulate faster, in a more efficient manner and is engineered for healthy weight management." - Le-Vel CEO, Jason Camper
DFT DUO ELITE is the largest, most powerful Derma Fusion Technology (DFT) ever created, made to heighten weight management results. Using the original DFT DUO and ELITE DFT as inspiration, this is a strengthened version formulated with an expanded footprint & higher concentrations of ingredients that support fat burning while retaining lean muscle.
DUO ELITE is the final step of a simple, three-part morning routine. Begin the THRIVE ELITE Experience by taking two ELITE Lifestyle Capsules with water in the morning. 20-40 minutes later, drink the ELITE Lifestyle Mix. Lastly, apply your DFT DUO ELITE to both the right & left side of your body and leave on for 24 hours. Use daily for maximum benefits.
Reviews are flowing in from customers already:
"This thing packs a serious punch. I love that Le-Vel is always evolving with the customer's needs. We asked for more power and they delivered." - Mikey O.
"Wow, the appetite support and extra energy even on Day 2 is AMAZING!" - Tiffany V.
For more information about DFT DUO ELITE, go to: www.le-vel.com/Products/THRIVE/DuoEliteDFT
Meaningful weight loss requires healthy lifestyle choices, diet and exercise, and good nutritional intake.
Founded in 2012 by Jason Camper and Paul Gravette, Le-Vel formulates and sells health and wellness products and skincare. Le-Vel's products include the THRIVE Experience and THRIVE ELITE Experience. Le-Vel has over 10 million Customer and Brand Promoter accounts and currently ships within North America, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK.
To learn more about Le-Vel, visit: www.le-vel.com
Le-Vel Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/le_velofficial/
Le-Vel Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/LevelBrands
Media Contact: Liz Reuth liz.reuth@le-vel.com
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SOURCE Le-Vel Brands | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/go-bigger-le-vel-launches-largest-most-powerful-wearable-nutrition-ever-made/ | 2023-07-31T13:37:56 | 0 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/go-bigger-le-vel-launches-largest-most-powerful-wearable-nutrition-ever-made/ |
SAN DIEGO, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Electronics Inc. today revealed pricing and availability for the new Sony BRAVIA XR A95L QD-OLED 4K HDR Google TV. This model comes in 55" (54.6" diag.), 65" (64.5" diag.) and 77" (76.7" diag.) class sizes with suggested retail price starting at $2,799.99. The A95L offers Sony's best color ever and will be available for pre-order starting August 21 at Sony authorized dealers nationwide.
U.S. pricing and availability details:
- 77" Class (76.7" diag): $4,999.99 MSRP (Available to pre-order on 8/21/2023)
- 65" Class (64.5" diag): $3,499.99 MSRP (Available to pre-order on 8/21/2023)
- 55" Class (54.6" diag): $2,799.99 MSRP (Available to pre-order on 8/21/2023)
Canada pricing and availability details:
- 77" Class (76.7" diag): $6,999.99 MSRP (Available to pre-order on 8/21/2023)
- 65" Class (64.5" diag): $4,999.99 MSRP (Available to pre-order on 8/21/2023)
- 55" Class (54.6" diag): $3,999.99 MSRP (Available to pre-order on 8/21/2023)
For full A95L specifications, please visit: https://electronics.sony.com/tv-video/televisions/all-tvs/p/xr65a95l
BRAVIA XR A95L QD-OLED 4K HDR Google TV Key Features:
Enjoy the brightest and widest range of colors and hues, powered by the intelligent Cognitive Processor XR™. With a QD-OLED screen enhanced by XR Triluminos Max™, experience color performance with up to 200% as much color brightness of a conventional OLED TV. Individually lit pixels produce pure black, so your favorite movies, shows, and games burst to life on screen with extraordinary detail and depth.
- Google TV: Get access to all your favorite streaming apps in one place with Google TV™, and simply use your voice to search and ask questions with Google Assistant. 1
- Intelligent and powerful TV processing: Powered by Sony's intelligent Cognitive Processor XR™, hundreds of thousands of individual on-screen elements are processed and remastered in the blink of an eye, boosting color, contrast, and clarity.
- Sony's widest palette of colors: With QD-OLED panel technology and enhanced by XR Triluminos Max™, millions of self-illuminating individual pixels deliver more saturation and brightness to every color.
- Definitive contrast: By pairing the QD-OLED panel and XR OLED Contrast Pro™, see up to 200% color brightness compared to conventional OLED TVs, bringing scenes to life with pure black and our brightest colors.
- Multi View: Exclusively on the A95L, use Multi View to split your screen and enjoy watching content from two different sources at the same time. Such as playing a game on one side and watching a walkthrough on the other.2,3
- Perfect for PlayStation® 5: Take your gaming to the next level with exclusive features Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode for optimized picture quality while gaming and streaming on your PS5® console.4
- All game settings in one place: With Game Menu, quickly manage your gaming picture settings and exclusive assist features in a single convenient interface.
- With Acoustic Surface Audio+™, actuators behind the TV vibrate to produce audio from the entire screen elevating the sound and improving dialogue. An integrated subwoofer delivers powerful bass to round out the sound.
- Pairs perfectly with Sony soundbars: Paired with select Sony soundbars, Acoustic Center Sync synchronizes the TVs speakers with the soundbar, boosting the center channel for clearer, fuller vocals. When connected, soundbar settings automatically appear on the TV's Quick Settings menu for easy to control of volume, sound field, and other soundbar features.5
- Enhanced TV experience with included BRAVIA CAM: Connect the supplied BRAVIA CAM to unlock Ambient Optimization Pro which automatically optimizes the picture and sound to where you're sitting in the room. You can also enjoy video chat with friends and family on the big screen.6
- All Eco settings in one place: With the Eco Dashboard, energy saving settings can now be centrally managed. You can easily customize energy saving settings for your TV usage, viewing environment, and the content you are watching.
Sony is keeping its commitment to decreasing plastic usage through its Road to Zero initiative. To reduce environmental impact, Sony is working on multiple aspects of the product life cycle, such as reduction of virgin plastic use, improvement of transportation efficiency and reviewing energy consumption during use. Additionally, the new Eco Dashboard included on all 2023 BRAVIA XR models allows users to easily customize energy saving preferences and settings.
About Sony Electronics, Inc.
Sony Electronics is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America and an affiliate of Sony Group Corporation, one of the most comprehensive entertainment companies in the world, with a portfolio that encompasses electronics, music, motion pictures, mobile, gaming, robotics, and financial services. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Sony Electronics is a leader in electronics for the consumer and professional markets. Operations include research and development, engineering, sales, marketing, distribution and customer service. Sony Electronics creates products that innovate and inspire generations, such as the award-winning Alpha Interchangeable Lens Cameras and revolutionary high-resolution audio products. Sony is also a leading manufacturer of end-to-end solutions from 4K professional broadcast and A/V equipment to industry leading 4K and 8K Ultra HD TVs. Visit http://www.sony.com/news for more information.
1 User must accept Google Terms of Service (http://www.google.com/policies/terms/), Play Terms of Service (https://play.google.com/intl/en-US_us/about/play-terms/index.html) and Privacy Policy (http://www.google.com/policies/privacy/) to use TV. User must connect to a Google Account to use certain advertised features, including voice to activate linked apps, and install certain apps and operating software during setup. Use of TV without connecting to a Google Account allows only basic TV features and certain apps. Wireless connectivity requires 802.11 home network (802.11n recommended). Network services, content, operating system, and software of this product may be subject to separate or third-party terms and conditions and changed, interrupted or discontinued at any time and may require fees, registration and credit card information. Apps must be compatible with TV. App availability varies by region and device. Google TV is the name of this device's software experience. Google, Google TV and other marks are trademarks of Google LLC.
2 Screen Size feature will be available via future firmware update.
3 Multi View feature will be available via future firmware update.
4 To activate Auto HDR Tone Mapping, must enable feature when pairing TV and PS5 for the first time; or will need to disconnect TV and PS5, perform factory reset on PS5 and enable the feature during initial setup. Auto Genre Picture Mode works when Auto Picture Mode on the TV is set to ON. Both features are supported only when PS5 and TV are directly connected. Applicable models: All BRAVIA XR models, X85K, X80K.
5 Acoustic Centre Sync works with compatible Sony soundbars and AV receivers. For full compatibility list visit https://www.sony.net/hav_faq.
6 Other than video chat, some BRAVIA CAM features may require future firmware update.
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SOURCE Sony Electronics, Inc. | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/sony-electronics-announces-pricing-availability-sony-bravia-xr-a95l-qd-oled-4k-hdr-google-tv/ | 2023-07-31T13:37:57 | 0 | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/sony-electronics-announces-pricing-availability-sony-bravia-xr-a95l-qd-oled-4k-hdr-google-tv/ |
LOS ANGELES, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Herbalife, a premier health and wellness company and community, today introduced Herbalife V, its latest science-based product line, to better support consumers seeking plant-based options to benefit their overall health.
"Plant-based is no longer limited to vegans but has expanded to the general population looking to incorporate healthier options as part of their daily nutrition," said Humbi Calleja, vice president and general manager of Herbalife, North America. "Today's consumer is savvy, reads labels, and understands healthy ingredients, and with the launch of the Herbalife V, we are meeting their goals whether they eat only plants or mostly plants, want to add more plants to their diet, or are plant curious."
According to studies, plant-based lifestyles are on the rise. In fact, approximately 3% of Americans consider themselves vegan, up from 2% in 2012, while 5% are vegetarian. Additionally, almost half of Americans call themselves flexitarians.
"While following a plant-based lifestyle can be a very healthy way of eating, it may be tough to meet all your goals. For example, vegans seek good options to increase or meet their protein goals, including supplementation," said Dr. Luigi Gratton, vice president of Training at Herbalife. "Plant-based certified products like the shakes in the Herbalife V line can help you hit your macro target while taking out the guesswork of plant-based living."
Herbalife V is backed by science and rigorously tested for quality. All products are certified USDA Organic, non-GMO-verified, Kosher, and Plant-based and Vegan by FoodChain ID. Additionally, they are formulated with no soy or dairy and made with no artificial sweeteners or flavors. The product line offers five plant-based certified products that help simplify plant-based nutrition, including:
- Plant-based Protein Shakes
- Greens Booster
- Immune Support*
- Digestive Support*
Herbalife V is available in the U.S. and Puerto Rico exclusively through Herbalife independent distributors. Click here to learn more about this product.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
About Herbalife Ltd.
Herbalife (NYSE: HLF) is a premier health and wellness company and community that has been changing people's lives with great nutrition products and a business opportunity for its independent distributors since 1980. The Company offers science-backed products to consumers in more than 90 markets through entrepreneurial distributors who provide one-on-one coaching and a supportive community that inspires customers to embrace a healthier, more active lifestyle to live their best life.
For more information, please visit www.Herbalife.com or follow us on Twitter @HerbalifeUSA and Instagram @HerbalifeUSA.
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SOURCE Herbalife North America | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/herbalife-introduces-herbalife-v-new-product-line-meet-increased-consumer-demand-plant-based-options/ | 2023-07-31T13:38:03 | 0 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/herbalife-introduces-herbalife-v-new-product-line-meet-increased-consumer-demand-plant-based-options/ |
Bonifacino and Grothe Previously Served as Senior Members of the Proxy Contest and M&A Research Groups at Institutional Shareholder Services and Glass Lewis, Respectively
David Whissel Promoted to Managing Director
NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Spotlight Advisors, LLC, a leading financial and strategy advisory firm focused on guiding public companies and their investors in high-stakes situations, today announced the expansion of its senior leadership ranks with the addition of two accomplished professionals, Juan Bonifacino and Mark Grothe. Spotlight is also promoting David Whissel to Managing Director.
During the last eight years, Spotlight has become the leading advisory practice assisting public companies in responding to shareholder activists and other contentious shareholder matters, including challenged M&A transactions, controversial compensation plans and contested director elections. In the first half of 2023, according to data compiled by FactSet Research Systems, Spotlight had the most assignments as financial and strategy advisor in high-stakes shareholder activism matters in the United States.
"The addition of Juan and Mark to the Spotlight team will ensure our clients continue to receive best-in-class advice and achieve the remarkable outcomes they expect from us," said Gregory P. Taxin, Managing Member of Spotlight Advisors.
Juan Bonifacino, CFA, joins Spotlight as a Managing Director after having served as head of the shareholder activism practice at Stifel, where he advised more than three dozen public companies on activism response and preparedness, corporate governance, ESG and institutional investor outreach.
Previously, Juan was a Vice President of M&A and Proxy Contest Research at Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), where he evaluated and made voting recommendations to institutional shareholders on the financial and strategic implications of over one hundred proxy contests, contentious mergers and economic proposals.
Mark Grothe, CFA, joins Spotlight as a Senior Director after 14 years as a senior member of the M&A and Contested Situations research team at Glass, Lewis & Co., where he provided institutional shareholders with in-depth research and evaluated the strategic and financial merit in thousands of special situations across all industries and markets. As a part of that work, Mark served as Glass Lewis' primary analyst and issued voting recommendations for more than 200 contested director elections and M&A transactions, including many of the most closely watched situations of the last decade.
"The Spotlight team has known Juan and Mark for many years, and we are very excited to be working with them directly as we grow our client base further," said Mr. Taxin. "I am also thrilled to announce David Whissel has been promoted to Managing Director. Over the last three years, Dave has demonstrated sound judgment, encyclopedic knowledge of activism and shareholders and an incredible work ethic. His contributions have meaningfully driven the success of our firm and great results for our clients."
Spotlight is consistently ranked as the top advisor to companies and investors, having served as a financial and strategy advisor in 118 shareholder activist campaigns in the United States since the beginning of 2020, according to data compiled by Bloomberg Finance LP. By deal volume, Spotlight advised in 25% more campaigns than its closest rival, Goldman, Sachs & Co., and in 50% more activism situations than each of the next three advisors: Bank of America, Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan.
Mr. Taxin concluded, "With a team of seven senior professionals with experience at the world's foremost investment banks, law firms, institutional investors and proxy advisory firms, Spotlight is well placed to continue to drive great results for our clients in shareholder activism and other high-stakes corporate matters."
About Juan I. Bonifacino
Prior to joining Spotlight, Juan Bonifacino founded and led the Shareholder Advisory & Activism practice at the investment bank Stifel. In 2022, Juan was named a Rising Star Dealmaker by the Global M&A Network as well as an Emerging Leader by M&A Advisor. Previously, Juan was a Principal at CamberView Partners (now PJT CamberView), a governance advisory firm. Juan previously served as a Vice President of M&A and Proxy Contest Research at ISS, where he evaluated and made voting recommendations on the financial and strategic implications of over one hundred proxy contests, contested and contentious mergers, and other proposals with an immediate economic impact for institutional investor clients. Juan is a CFA charterholder and received an M.B.A. from Georgetown University where he was the valedictorian of his class, as well as a B.A. from Princeton University.
About Mark Grothe
Prior to joining Spotlight, Mark was a Senior Analyst on the M&A and Contested Situations research team at Glass Lewis for 14 years, where he provided institutional shareholders with in-depth research and voting recommendations on proxy contests, M&A transactions, shareholder activism campaigns and capital-related shareholder proposals. In his role at Glass Lewis, Mark frequently engaged with corporate directors and senior executives, activist investors, director candidates, institutional asset managers, and activism advisors. During his tenure, Mark served as the primary analyst on dozens of notable Glass Lewis research reports. Mark began his career as an analyst on Glass Lewis' accounting and forensic research teams, where he performed deep-dive analysis to uncover hidden or underappreciated risks at public companies related to business strategy, accounting methods, earnings quality and governance. Mark is a CFA charterholder and has a double master's degree in finance and accounting from the University of Colorado Denver, where he also completed his undergraduate studies in business and economics.
About David Whissel
David has been named a Managing Director after serving as a Senior Director of Spotlight Advisors since September 2020, where he has advised clients in dozens of proxy contests and contested M&A transaction votes. He was previously Executive Vice President and Director of Corporate Governance at MacKenzie Partners, where he represented clients in proxy contests and shareholder activism situations, friendly and contested mergers and acquisitions, and annual meetings. David also advised clients on general corporate governance, investor relations, shareholder proposals, and executive compensation matters. Prior to joining MacKenzie in 2016, David was CEO and Director of Research at Proxy Mosaic, a corporate governance research and proxy advisory firm that focused on shareholder activism, M&A, and executive compensation. David received his BA from Denison University, and his JD from the University of Tennessee College of Law.
About Spotlight Advisors, LLC
Spotlight Advisors, LLC, is a leading financial and strategy advisory firm focused on guiding public companies and their investors in high-stakes situations, such as contested director elections and contentious M&A transactions. Spotlight has provided advice in more than 150 situations involving shareholder activists seeking changes in the composition of public company boards (and has served as an advisor in approximately one-fourth of all proxy fights that went to a final vote in the United States since 2016) and in dozens of complex M&A and Special Committee situations, including unsolicited bids, bear hug letters and management buyouts. These complex situations often draw intense scrutiny from shareholders, the media and regulators, raising the stakes for executives and directors as their actions and decisions are placed in the spotlight. More about the firm is available at www.SpotlightAdvisors.com.
CONTACT: Greg Taxin, gtaxin@spotlightadvisors.com
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SOURCE SPOTLIGHT ADVISORS, LLC | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/spotlight-advisors-adds-new-expertise-with-appointment-juan-i-bonifacino-mark-grothe/ | 2023-07-31T13:38:04 | 0 | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/spotlight-advisors-adds-new-expertise-with-appointment-juan-i-bonifacino-mark-grothe/ |
Global leaders pioneer secure use of generative AI in contracting through Icertis ExploreAI Early Adopter Program
BELLEVUE, Wash., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Icertis has delivered Icertis Contract Intelligence (ICI) Copilots, the first generative AI applications for enterprise contract management. Built on Icertis ExploreAI™ Service, ICI Interactive Insights Copilot and ICI Risk Assessment Copilot enable executives, legal teams, and business users alike to responsibly harness the transformational power of generative AI to turn their commercial agreements into interactive assets that achieve a step-change in contract efficiency and insights. Backed by the security and trust of Microsoft Azure, ICI Copilots leverage Azure OpenAI Service and Icertis proprietary AI models with the rich data from a company's contracts, its enterprise systems, and the Icertis Data Lake to accelerate the pace of business, galvanize profits, and safeguard enterprises from risk.
Icertis customers include 30 percent of the Fortune 100 and global leaders such as Accenture, Best Buy, Humana, Johnson & Johnson, Mercedes-Benz, and Microsoft. Select customers engaged as early adopters of Icertis ExploreAI Service, catalyzing the launch of both ICI Copilots and a development roadmap of unmatched generative AI capabilities designed to address contracting challenges for the world's largest enterprises.
"Contracts are a massive untapped opportunity for the application of large language models because they are universal across industries, geographies, and businesses of all sizes, and imperative to any and all commerce as we know it," said Samir Bodas, Co-founder and CEO of Icertis. "Icertis has delivered the first generative AI Copilots in the market to lead the next era of transformation in enterprise contracting, balancing innovation with the trust and responsibility that comes with recognizing that regardless of industry – contracts are one of the most confidential and valuable assets in an enterprise."
The first two ICI Copilots are:
- ICI Interactive Insights Copilot
ICI Interactive Insights Copilot enables decision-makers to easily engage with contracts and rapidly uncover insights via pre-defined, hierarchical prompts as well as free-form prompts that highlight key provisions and identify related contract information. With role-based summaries created through a unique combination of secure data sources, including the company's contract portfolio, integrated business systems, and the Icertis Data Lake, leaders are equipped to increase the speed and effectiveness of negotiations while instantly gaining answers to critical questions about the business. - ICI Risk Assessment Copilot
Risk Assessment Copilot automates and accelerates high-volume contract reviews by comparing contract attributes with a company's standard playbook and practices, enabling enterprises to more effectively manage risk by ensuring required clauses and approved language are present in every agreement. In addition to providing a risk score, guided prompts allow legal teams to quickly identify and address missing or noncompliant attributes, while also eliminating time-consuming, error-prone processes by earmarking agreements that do not require further review.
"I am delighted for the BCG Legal Team to test Icertis ExploreAI Service and ICI Copilots as part of the Early Adopter program," said Ulrike Schwarz-Runer, Global General Counsel at Boston Consulting Group. "We aim to unlock deep data-driven insights in our contracts through an agile approach. It's exciting to see the early results and we're eagerly looking forward to continuing the journey to unlock value for our clients, firm, and lawyers."
Icertis has a rich history of AI innovation and was the first to embed AI in contract lifecycle management to enable true contract intelligence and unlock the potential of AI in contracting. ICI Interactive Insights and ICI Risk Assessment Copilots signal the next transformative milestone in the company's AI innovation journey as the first generative AI applications to join the Icertis AI portfolio, which also includes Icertis AI Studio, Icertis NegotiateAI, Icertis DiscoverAI, and Icertis VisualizeAI.
About Icertis
With unmatched technology and category-defining innovation, Icertis pushes the boundaries of what's possible with contract lifecycle management (CLM). The AI-powered, analyst-validated Contract Intelligence (ICI) platform turns contracts from static documents into strategic advantage by structuring and connecting the critical contract information that defines how an organization runs. Today, the world's most iconic brands and disruptive innovators trust Icertis to govern the rights and commitments in their ten million+ contracts worth more than $1 trillion in 40+ languages and 90+ countries.
Media Contact
Michelle Rodriguez
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications
corpcomm@icertis.com
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SOURCE Icertis | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/icertis-brings-generative-ai-enterprise-contracting-with-delivery-first-contract-intelligence-copilots/ | 2023-07-31T13:38:10 | 0 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/icertis-brings-generative-ai-enterprise-contracting-with-delivery-first-contract-intelligence-copilots/ |
CHICAGO, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Stafford Capital Partners ("Stafford") is pleased to announce the appointment of Joe Carrabes as Head of Client Solutions in North America. Joe's appointment signals an important moment for Stafford's business development as it expands its operations in the US and North America.
Joe brings over 25 years' experience to the role, where he has previously held senior institutional leadership, sales and relationship management positions across a variety of products and strategies, including alternatives, ESG strategies and long only equity and fixed income.
Prior to Stafford, Joe was responsible for managing some of the largest institutional relationships at Amundi US. Joe also spent 12 years at Jennison Associates where he was Head of Institutional Sales and Client Service and was responsible for managing the institutional distribution efforts.
Commenting on the appointment, Stafford's Global Head of Client Solutions Valentina Abbott said: "We are delighted to welcome Joe to the team. He is an impressive executive with an incredible track record in capital raising and is highly regarded for his ability to build strategic partnerships with institutional investors.
Stafford recognizes its responsibility as an investor to contribute to a more sustainable financial system by taking a long-term, responsible approach to investing across alternatives. Joe's experience will be invaluable for Stafford in supporting our clients across the region with their net zero efforts.
This is a landmark moment for Stafford in the US and North America and signals a significant step forward in our commitment to the region."
Speaking about his appointment, Joe Carrabes said: "I am delighted to join Stafford, and I am looking forward to delivering on the firm's growth ambitions in the North American region. I see great potential for Stafford to support high-quality investors on their net zero journeys and believe the firm is well positioned to tackle the opportunities in the North American market."
Media enquiries
Georgina Whittle
Partner
Camarco
07835 770967
Georgina.whittle@camarco.co.uk
Amrith Uppuluri
Senior Consultant
Camarco
07763 083058
amrith.uppuluri@camarco.co.uk
Sean Palmer
Associate Partner
Camarco
07591 760844
sean.palmer@camarco.co.uk
Alexandra Lawrence
Associate Consultant
APCO Worldwide
404-254-7641
alawrence@apcoworldwide.com
About Stafford Capital Partners
Stafford is an independent private markets investment and advisory firm with USD 7.9 billion in assets under management and advice for more than 150 institutional clients worldwide. Founded in 2000, Stafford has a global team of 80+ professionals investing in infrastructure, timberland & agriculture, and sustainable private equity through secondaries, primaries, and co-investments. Stafford has been a UN PRI signatory since 2010 and has committed to the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative. It puts sustainability at the centre of its investment process and implements a well-defined ESG program across all strategies. In the UK, Stafford is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Firm Reference Number: 225586).
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SOURCE Stafford Capital Partners | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/stafford-capital-partners-expands-us-operations-appoints-joe-carrabes-head-client-solutions-north-america/ | 2023-07-31T13:38:11 | 1 | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/stafford-capital-partners-expands-us-operations-appoints-joe-carrabes-head-client-solutions-north-america/ |
Leading Fertility Clinic Network Extends Offering of TMRW's Automated Platform for the Safe Management & Storage of Frozen Eggs & Embryos to More Clinics Across the United States
NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ivy Fertility, a globally-recognized innovator in advanced reproductive technology, in-vitro fertilization (IVF), and third-party reproduction, announced today that it will expand its partnership with TMRW Life Sciences, a fertility technology company. TMRW is automating the IVF lab with the world's first and only automated platform for the safe management and storage of frozen eggs and embryos – a process that since the dawn of the industry has been run completely manually. TMRW's technology is currently available at two Ivy Network clinics. With this expanded partnership, TMRW's on-site and off-site specimen management platform will be available for full adoption at all of Ivy Fertility's 13 clinics across the United States.
Ivy Fertility's San Diego Fertility Center was one of the first clinics in the United States to adopt TMRW's platform and Utah Fertility Center went live this month. TMRW's platform reduces potential points of failure by 94% compared with manual systems, providing new levels of safety, efficiency and transparency for Ivy Fertility's clinics. The partnership demonstrates Ivy Fertility's continued commitment to delivering personalized fertility services using advanced technology by making state-of-the-art solutions available to all of their clinics.
"Providing enhanced security and peace of mind to our patients is one of our core values," said Lisa Van Dolah, Ivy Fertility's CEO. "With our TMRW partnership, we're able to offer patients and our practice even greater security and that is paramount as we continue to grow."
The network's clinicians will now have the opportunity to modernize their specimen management and storage practices with TMRW's digital tools onsite and, in addition, by transferring patient specimens offsite to and from TMRW Cryobanks. The technology upgrade provides clinics with new levels of safety, standardization and scalability, and it helps reduce the risk of specimen mix-up, error, and loss.
"After years of working together with San Diego Fertility Center, and more recently with Utah Fertility Center, we're thrilled to expand our partnership to support the potential for full adoption of both on-site and off-site specimen management across the Ivy Fertility network," said Louis Villalba, CEO of TMRW.
TMRW is now the storage platform used by clinics that see nearly 20% of all patients in the United States. The future of fertility is automated and, together with its clinic partners, TMRW is rapidly becoming the standard of care.
About Ivy Fertility
Ivy Fertility is globally recognized as pioneers and innovators in the field of advanced reproductive technologies, in vitro fertilization, third-party reproduction, andrology, and fertility research. The Ivy Fertility network includes Virginia Fertility & IVF, Fertility Associates of Memphis, Fertility Centers of Orange County, IVF Fertility Center, Los Angeles Reproductive Center, Nevada Center for Reproductive Medicine, Nevada Fertility Center, Pacific Northwest Fertility, Reproductive Partners Medical Group, San Diego Fertility Center, and Utah Fertility Center. By developing new procedures, achieving scientific breakthroughs, and teaching the latest techniques, Ivy Fertility upholds its commitment to successful outcomes. It continually contributes to the development of the entire fertility community. The Ivy team is passionate about its family-building mission and works tirelessly each day to help patients become parents.
For more information, visit ivyfertility.com.
TMRW Life Sciences
Founded in 2018, TMRW Life Sciences, Inc., is a fertility technology company that automates the management and storage of frozen eggs and embryos. For the first time, frozen specimens can be digitally identified and tracked, safely managed with automated robotics, and remotely monitored around the clock. TMRW's next-generation technology platforms set a new standard of care, reducing potential points of failure by 94% compared to manual systems. TMRW delivers peace of mind by helping reduce the risk of specimen mix-up, damage, or loss. Named Fast Company's #1 Most Innovative Biotech company in 2022, TMRW has been adopted by leading clinics across the United States and will soon be available in the UK and Europe.
For more information, visit tmrwlifesciences.com.
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SOURCE TMRW Life Sciences | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/ivy-fertility-network-expands-partnership-with-tmrw-life-sciences-demand-grows-fertility-clinic-lab-automation/ | 2023-07-31T13:38:16 | 0 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/ivy-fertility-network-expands-partnership-with-tmrw-life-sciences-demand-grows-fertility-clinic-lab-automation/ |
AI demonstrated high accuracy, reduced non-diagnostic outputs, and identified HFpEF patients with worse outcomes.
OXFORD, England, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Applying AI to a single apical four chamber (A4C) view echocardiogram provides accurate information to detect heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), according to research published today in JACC Advances.1
The study, presented at the American Society of Echocardiography Annual Scientific Session, demonstrates the platform could improve the diagnosis, management, and outcomes of a condition that currently often goes undetected, or requires additional invasive procedures to confirm.
Ultromics' EchoGo® Heart Failure accurately detected HFpEF and provided fewer non-diagnostic outputs than current clinical scores, using just the routinely acquired A4C view from a transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE). The novel technology, which was recently granted clearance and Breakthrough Device designation by the FDA, identifies radiomic signatures of disease that are not evident to the human eye.
Senior study author, Patricia A. Pellikka, M.D, Vice Chair in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at Mayo Clinic, said: "HFpEF can be difficult to detect, but left undetected and untreated, can result in hospitalization and mortality. As the first AI platform cleared to detect the condition, EchoGo® Heart Failure can fill a significant unmet need."
"With more than 32 million people living with HFpEF, and the incidence increasing, clinicians will benefit from having another means to recognize this disease."
Based on the AI findings, patients could potentially be started on medications to treat their condition earlier than if they had to wait for an invasive diagnostic assessment of the disease.
The AI model was trained and developed on 6,756 patients who underwent a comprehensive TTE at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, between January 2009 to December 2020. It was then independently tested in geographically distinct areas within Mayo Clinic enterprise System sites across the United States, on a dataset that included 1,284 patients.
EchoGo® Heart Failure demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity, detecting 87.8% of patients who had HFpEF, and 81.9% of patients that did not.1 These results exceed what is usually observed in routine clinical practice.
It was also able to assign a correct diagnosis to 74% of patients who had returned non-diagnostic results on the commonly used HFA-PEFF and H2FPEF clinical scores.1 This improvement could translate to more patients receiving accurate and timely diagnoses and management.
During the follow-up period of up to 5 years, 444 patients died, highlighting the poor outcomes associated with HFpEF.1 The AI model was able to identify patients with worse survival, demonstrating its capacity to meaningfully improve patient outcomes.
Ross Upton, PhD, CEO and Founder of Ultromics, said: "Our research demonstrates the tremendous potential of AI in revolutionizing the detection of HFpEF. EchoGo® Heart Failure's exceptional discrimination capabilities combined with its ability to identify patients with higher mortality risks holds great promise for improving patient outcomes and enabling faster access to treatment."
"In a large number of cases, diagnostic data are often missing or discordant, making HFpEF detection challenging. AI can enhance echocardiography capabilities to help practices overcome the cumbersome intricacy of diastolic assessment. It is particularly useful for clinical centers that lack the time, resources, or expertise to perform comprehensive, diagnostic-quality, assessments."
By streamlining the screening process for this complex clinical syndrome, EchoGo® Heart Failure paves the way for more patients to receive the care they need sooner, potentially preventing more severe outcomes, and reducing HFpEF's significant burden on patients and healthcare.
Ultromics remains committed to advancing AI technology to transform cardiovascular healthcare. The groundbreaking findings from this study underscore the company's dedication to empowering healthcare professionals with tools that overcome existing bottlenecks and enhance patient care.
For more information on EchoGo® Heart Failure, visit Ultromics.com
Mayo Clinic has a financial interest in the technology referenced in this press release. Mayo Clinic will use any revenue it receives to support its not-for-profit mission in patient care, education and research.
Notes to editors
The study was approved by the Institutional Review Boards of Mayo Clinic, USA and St. George's University Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, UK, and supported by a grant from the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE).
References:
1 - Akerman AP, Porumb M, Scott CG, et al. Automated Echocardiographic Detection of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction using Artificial Intelligence. JACC Advances, 2023:100452.
About Ultromics:
Ultromics is a pioneer in advanced heart failure detection. The ground-breaking platform, EchoGo ®, is transforming the way heart failure is diagnosed using artificial intelligence and cardiac ultrasound as a modality. The technology empowers clinicians to make precise, efficient, and accurate assessments of heart failure, leveraging the largest known heart disease outcomes dataset in echocardiography, accurately interpreting echocardiograms and predicting cardiac outcomes. The technology has been built in collaboration with Mayo Clinic and NHS England, and has over $50 million raised capital to support continued innovation with the likes of Blue Venture Fund, Optum Ventures, Oxford Science Enterprises, and GV. They are backed by the largest US health insurance firms with 4 FDA clearances. Ultromics' mission is to stop heart failure in its tracks with its precision detection platform. https://www.ultromics.com
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SOURCE Ultromics | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/study-confirms-ultromics-ai-can-improve-hfpef-detection-using-single-echocardiogram-view/ | 2023-07-31T13:38:17 | 1 | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/study-confirms-ultromics-ai-can-improve-hfpef-detection-using-single-echocardiogram-view/ |
Idaho mom Lori Vallow Daybell faces sentencing in deaths of 2 children and her romantic rival
St. Anthony, Idaho — Idaho mother Lori Vallow Daybell faces up to life in prison without parole Monday as she is sentenced in the murders of her two youngest children and a romantic rival in a case that included bizarre claims that her son and daughter were zombies and that she was a goddess sent to usher in the Biblical apocalypse.
Vallow Daybell was found guilty in May of killing her two youngest children, 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, as well as conspiring to kill Tammy Daybell, her fifth husband’s previous wife.
The husband, Chad Daybell, is awaiting trial on the same murder charges. Vallow Daybell also faces two other cases in Arizona — one on a charge of conspiring with her brother to kill her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, and one of conspiring to kill her niece's ex-husband. Charles Vallow was shot and killed in 2019, but her niece's ex survived an attempt later that year.
Monday's sentencing will take place at the Fremont County Courthouse in St. Anthony, Idaho. Judge Steven W. Boyce is expected to hear testimony from several representatives of the victims, including Vallow Daybell's only surviving son, Colby Ryan.
The case began in July 2019, when Vallow Daybell’s brother, Alex Cox, shot and killed her estranged husband, Charles Vallow, in a suburban Phoenix home. Cox told police he acted in self defense. He was never charged in the case and died later that year of what authorities determined were natural causes.
Vallow Daybell was already in a relationship with Chad Daybell, a self-published author who wrote doomsday-focused fiction loosely based on Mormon teachings. She moved to Idaho with her kids and brother to be closer to him.
The children were last seen alive in September 2019. Police discovered they were missing a month later after an extended family member became worried. Their bodies were found buried in Chad Daybell's yard the following summer.
Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow married in November 2019, about two weeks after Daybell's previous wife, Tammy, was killed. Tammy Daybell initially was described as having died of natural causes, but an autopsy later showed she had been asphyxiated, authorities said.
Defense attorney Jim Archibald argued during the trial that there was no evidence tying Vallow Daybell to the killings, but plenty showing she was a loving, protective mother whose life took a sharp turn when she met Chad Daybell and fell for his “weird” apocalyptic religious claims. He suggested that Daybell and Vallow Daybell’s brother, Alex Cox, were responsible for the deaths.
Daybell told her they had been married in several previous lives and she was a “sexual goddess” who was supposed to help him save the world by gathering 144,000 followers so Jesus could return, Archibald said.
Vallow Daybell’s former friend Melanie Gibb testified during the trial that Vallow Daybell believed people in her life had been taken over by evil spirits and turned into “zombies,” including JJ and Tylee. | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/nation/2023/07/31/idaho-mom-lori-vallow-daybell-sentencing-jj-tylee-chad/70496407007/ | 2023-07-31T13:38:18 | 0 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/nation/2023/07/31/idaho-mom-lori-vallow-daybell-sentencing-jj-tylee-chad/70496407007/ |
(CNN) — One lucky winner could nab a massive $1.05 billion Mega Millions jackpot that’s up for grabs in Tuesday night’s drawing.
If won, the mammoth jackpot would equal the fourth-largest prize in Mega Millions’ history, the lottery said in a news release Saturday.
A grand prize winner could choose to spread it in annual payments over 29 years, or take a lump-sum option of an estimated $527.9 million,Mega Millions said.
The jackpot soared past a billion dollars after no ticket matched all six numbers drawn Friday night. Tuesday’s drawing will be the 30th since the jackpot was last won in New York on April 18, according to Mega Millions.
Although no one scored the jackpot Friday, there were still big winners. One ticket sold in Pennsylvania won $5 million by matching the first five numbers and activating the optional Megaplier, which is available in most states with an extra $1 purchase.
Another four tickets sold in Arizona, California, New York and Pennsylvania matched the first five numbers to win $1 million.
The top Mega Millions jackpot to date was $1.537 billion won in South Carolina in 2018. It’s followed by a $1.348 billion ticket that was sold in Maine in January and a $1.337 billion prize last July.
In fourth place on Mega Millions’ list is a $1.05 billion prize won by a ticket sold in Michigan in 2021.
Tuesday’s Mega Millions drawing for the massive prize comes after a Powerball ticket sold at a convenience store in Los Angeles matched all numbers to win a $1.08 billion prize – the third-largest Powerball jackpot.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wxow.com/a-massive-1-05-billion-mega-millions-jackpot-is-up-for-grabs-in-tuesday-s/article_9bc4ab94-c66d-58c6-9f33-0ca747a310d4.html | 2023-07-31T13:38:20 | 1 | https://www.wxow.com/a-massive-1-05-billion-mega-millions-jackpot-is-up-for-grabs-in-tuesday-s/article_9bc4ab94-c66d-58c6-9f33-0ca747a310d4.html |
High court: Key provisions of auto insurance reform don't apply to previously injured
Lansing — The Michigan Supreme Court ruled Monday that a key provision of the 2019 law reforming Michigan's no-fault auto insurance system does not apply to the roughly 17,000 individuals injured prior to the passage of the law — a decision that strikes at, but doesn't completely eliminate, a key cost-saving component in the legislation.
The high court in a 5-2 opinion ruled the 2019 no-fault auto insurance law was not meant to apply retroactively to individuals injured before the law's passage on June 11, 2019. Instead, the justices found those injured prior to 2019 have both contractual and statutory protections that vested when they were injured and should be shielded from fee cuts key to the law's effectiveness.
The June 2019 law retroactively capped payments to home health care companies at 55% of what they charged in January 2019, causing many of those providers to cease in-home care for badly injured motorists.
"...the insurance policies and the disputed portion of the no-fault statutes that existed when Andary and Krueger were injured controlled their entitlement to PIP benefits, not the amended provisions enacted by 2019 PA 21 and 2019 PA 22," wrote Justice Elizabeth Welch.
Welch was joined by Justices Elizabeth Clement, Richard Bernstein, Megan Cavanagh and Kyra Harris Bolden in the majority.
The plaintiffs in the case were Ellen Andary, a woman who was paralyzed in a December 2014 with a drunk driver, and Philip Krueger, who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a March 1990 accident where he was the passenger in a pickup truck.
Justices David Viviano and Brian Zahra in a dissent argued the majority's decision violated the constitutional separation of powers by ignoring a "reasonable reading" and instead making "loose use of vague and open-ended concepts such as vested rights."
"This opens the door for the majority to enact its vision of fairness in a highly contested matter of policy affecting the entire state," Viviano wrote. "As a result, the cost-reducing effects of the reforms passed by the Legislature and signed into law by the Governor will not fully be felt for many decades."
The decision to strike at the fee schedule for care providers is expected to affect savings on premiums that the law was built to provide. One lawyer during arguments earlier this year compared one such decision to pulling a thread on a sweater.
"You pull one thread on it and it all falls apart," attorney Lori McAllister told justices in March.
Andary v. USAA Casualty challenged the 2019 no fault auto insurance reform by arguing that cost restraints provided for in the law — such as limiting reimbursable family care to 56 hours a week and cutting care provider fees 45% — cannot be applied retroactively to crash victims injured before the reforms took effect.
Lawyers argued the retroactive application wasn't intended by the Legislature and, if it was, it violated the contractual rights of those injured, who paid insurance premiums with the expectation that the insurance companies would keep to the terms of the agreement.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the then-Republican-led Legislature passed the historic auto insurance reform in 2019 to lower Michigan's highest-in-the-nation insurance premiums. They heralded the policy at that time as a major bipartisan achievement at the onset of four years of divided government.
The changes allowed individuals to choose lower tiers of insurance coverage — aimed at reducing costs for drivers — and imposed cost containment measures on previously unlimited medical benefits for crash survivors to gradually force a decrease in all rates, including limiting reimbursable family care to 56 hours a week and cutting care provider fees by 45%. Proponents of the law say the new caps were a way to finally define what "reasonable" care is for injured motorists.
But hundreds of complaints followed the July 2021 implementation of the provisions related to fee cuts and reimburseable hours. Some care provider companies closed, multiple catastrophically injured patients were discharges and months of delayed and disputed billing debates followed.
In August, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled the Legislature had not meant the fee cuts and family care limits to be applied retroactively to individuals injured prior to the 2019 law's passage. Even if the Legislature had meant to apply the policy retroactively, the court said, such an application would violate the state Constitution's contract clause since the drastic cut affects the care patients were promised when they bought auto insurance.
eleblanc@detroitnews.com | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2023/07/31/michigan-auto-insurance-reform-cost-controls-medical-care-supreme-court-ruling-gretchen-whitmer/70443694007/ | 2023-07-31T13:38:21 | 0 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2023/07/31/michigan-auto-insurance-reform-cost-controls-medical-care-supreme-court-ruling-gretchen-whitmer/70443694007/ |
(WXOW) -- See who's celebrating with the Daybreak crew today!
Eva is turning 9 today!
"Happy 9th Birthday Eva!" -Love your family
(WXOW) -- See who's celebrating with the Daybreak crew today!
Eva is turning 9 today!
"Happy 9th Birthday Eva!" -Love your family | https://www.wxow.com/community/daybreak-birthday-shoutouts-for-july-31st/article_d34f8804-2f9f-11ee-a602-67fc98afe1b3.html | 2023-07-31T13:38:21 | 1 | https://www.wxow.com/community/daybreak-birthday-shoutouts-for-july-31st/article_d34f8804-2f9f-11ee-a602-67fc98afe1b3.html |
Death toll in Pakistan suicide bombing rises to 54 as families hold funerals, police say
Khar, Pakistan — The death toll from a massive suicide bombing that targeted an election rally for a pro-Taliban cleric rose to 54 Monday, as Pakistan held funerals and the government vowed to hunt down those behind the attack.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for Sunday's bombing, which also wounded nearly 200 people. Police said their initial investigation suggested that the Islamic State group's regional affiliate could be responsible.
The victims were attending a rally organized by the Jamiat Ulema Islam party, headed by hard-line cleric and politician Fazlur Rehman. He did not attend the rally, held under a large tent close to a market in Bajur, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan.
Rehman, who has long supported Afghanistan's Taliban government, escaped at least two known bomb attacks in 2011 and 2014, when bombings damaged his car at rallies.
Victims of the bombing were buried in Bajur on Monday.
As condolences continued to pour in from across the country, dozens of people who received minor injuries were discharged from hospital while the critically wounded were taken to the provincial capital of Peshawar by army helicopters. The death toll continued to rise as critically wounded people died in hospital, physician Gul Naseeb said.
On Monday, police recorded statements from some of the wounded at a hospital in Khar, Bajur's largest town. Feroz Jamal, the provincial information minister, said police were “investigating this attack in all aspects.”
At least 1,000 people were gathered under a large tent Sunday as their party prepared for parliamentary elections, expected in October or November.
“People were chanting God is Great on the arrival of senior leaders, when I heard the deafening sound of the bomb,” said Khan Mohammad, a local resident who said he was standing outside the tent.
Mohammad said he heard people crying for help, and minutes later ambulances started arriving and taking the wounded away.
Abdul Rasheed, a senior leader in Rehman’s party said the bombing was aimed at weakening the party but that “such attacks cannot deter our resolve.”
Islamist groups have long had a presence in Bajur. The district was formerly a base for Al Qaida and a stronghold of the outlawed Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP. The army declared the district clear of the group in 2016 following a series of offensives.
The IS regional affiliate, known as the Islamic State in Khorasan Province, is based in neighboring Afghanistan's Nangarhar province and is a rival of the Afghan Taliban and Al Qaida.
Shaukat Abbas, a senior police officer, said that police have made progress in their investigation, but did not provide details.
Pakistani security analyst Mahmood Shah told The Associated Press that breakaway factions of the TTP could also be behind the attack. He said some TTP members have been known to disobey their top leadership to carry out attacks, as have breakaway factions of the group.
Shah said such factions could have perpetrated the attack to cause “confusion, instability and unrest ahead of the elections.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to dissolve Pakistan's parliament in August.
Rehman’s party is part of Sharif’s coalition government, which came to power in April 2022 by ousting former Prime Minister Imran Khan through a no-confidence vote in the legislature.
Sharif called Rehman to express his condolences and assure the cleric that those who orchestrated the attack would be punished. The bombing has also drawn nationwide condemnation, with ruling and opposition parties offering condolences to the families of the victims. The U.S. and Russian embassies in Islamabad also condemned the attack.
Khan condemned the bombing Sunday.
The Pakistani Taliban also distanced themselves from the attack, saying that the attack aimed to set Islamists against each other. Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman for the Afghan Taliban, wrote in a tweet that “such crimes cannot be justified in any way.”
The bombing came hours before the arrival of Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Islamabad, where on Monday he was to participate in an event to mark a decade of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a sprawling package under which Beijing has invested billions of dollars in Pakistan.
In recent months, China has helped Pakistan avoid a default on sovereign payments. Some Chinese nationals have also been targeted by militants in northwestern Pakistan and elsewhere.
Sunday's bombing was one of the four worst attacks in northwestern Pakistan since 2014, when 147 people, mostly schoolchildren, were killed in a Taliban attack on an army-run school in Peshawar.
In January, 74 people were killed in a bombing at a mosque in Peshawar. And in February, more than 100 people, mostly policemen, died in a bombing at a mosque inside a high-security compound housing Peshawar police headquarters. | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/world/2023/07/31/death-toll-in-pakistan-suicide-bombing-rises-to-54-as-families-hold-funerals-police-say/70496434007/ | 2023-07-31T13:38:21 | 0 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/world/2023/07/31/death-toll-in-pakistan-suicide-bombing-rises-to-54-as-families-hold-funerals-police-say/70496434007/ |
The House and Senate left Washington for the month of August with a lengthy, time-sensitive to-do list waiting when they return, including multiple key health care priorities.
There will only be three weeks before the end of the fiscal year to get everything done, and just 11 legislative days when both chambers will be in session at the same time.
Congress faces a Sept. 30 deadline to reauthorize a sweeping pandemic preparedness bill, fund community health centers and renew opioid addiction services.
But the largest looming deadline is the appropriations bills to fund the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which are tied up in the House amid disagreements over abortion and spending levels.
GOP leaders scuttled a vote planned for Friday on legislation funding the FDA and the Department of Agriculture after moderate Republicans objected to a provision that would reverse the FDA’s decision to allow the abortion pill mifepristone drug to be dispensed through the mail and in retail pharmacies.
House Freedom Caucus members have also been demanding even deeper spending cuts than agreed to in the bipartistan debt ceiling deal.
The Labor-HHS bill advanced through a House Appropriations subcommittee earlier this month, but hadn’t even made it to the full committee before recess. The Republican-led House bill would slash or eliminate funding from a range of programs that deal with everything from family planning to teen pregnancy and even HIV.
Both FDA and HHS funding bills face a major fight in the Democratic-controlled Senate, where the Appropriations Committee has already passed its own version by near unanimous margins, owing to an agreement by Democratic and Republican leaders not to insert “poison pill” amendments.
House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (Mass.) argued in a floor speech that lawmakers should stay in Washington to strip out the “toxic, divisive, bigoted riders” in the bills, and ripped Republicans for delaying votes until September.
Pandemic preparedness
The House and Senate are taking different tracks in the reauthorization of the pandemic preparedness bill, complicating its path forward.
The Senate advanced a bipartisan version of the Pandemic All-Hazards Preparedness Act out of committee, but the House is divided. House Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans advanced a bill on party lines after Democrats introduced their own version.
The primary disagreement is over drug shortages. Democrats are clamoring to give FDA more oversight authority to address the shortages, but Republicans are insisting on keeping the issues separate.
The Senate version contains some provisions addressing drug shortages, but only one involves beefing up FDA authority.
Congress is under pressure to stem drug shortages amid reports of doctors rationing cancer drugs and other medicine. Republicans on the Energy and Commerce Committee have said they are committed to dealing with the problems, but that it shouldn’t be part of the preparedness bill.
Energy and Commerce Committee GOP leaders released a discussion draft on Friday of drug shortage legislation focusing on the economic reasons for shortages, including giving some generic drug manufacturers the ability to raise the cost of their drugs if hospitals keep prices “artificially low” to the point where there’s no economic incentive.
Health centers
Legislation to reauthorize funding for community health centers also faces partisan challenges. But in this case, the House cleared its bill on a bipartisan basis, while the Senate is still working through disagreements, highlighting the work to be done.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, originally wanted tens of billions of dollars more for the centers. He was asking for $130 billion to fund the centers over the next five years as well as $60 billion to help grow the health care workforce.
But Sanders ended up canceling a planned markup during the last week of July. Raising some eyebrows, Sanders said he is working with Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) to craft a bipartisan bill that will be “ready by the first week of September.”
Separately, Sanders and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued a joint statement pledging to partner and work towards legislation in the fall aimed at addressing primary care and other health care workforce shortages.
Opioids
At issue are several provisions of sweeping legislation signed into law in 2018 called the Support Act, which aimed to tackle the country’s drug overdose epidemic.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced a bipartisan reauthorization and expansion bill, but advocates are concerned the Senate is behind.
HELP Committee ranking member Bill Cassidy (R-La.) introduced his own version of the bill on July 20, but hearings won’t be scheduled until September. Cassidy has warned that the committee is wasting time on partisan bills instead of easy bipartisan wins, such as the Support Act.
Insulin/PBM reform
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has said for months that he wants to move legislation that would cap the cost of insulin at $35 per month for people with private insurance.
There’s hope to combine it with legislation reforming the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) industry into a package that could get bipartisan support.
But there’s no looming deadline and no guarantee it will get taken up in September.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), who is a co-sponsor of one of the insulin bills with Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), said she still has Schumer’s support heading into the fall, but has not heard anything about timing.
Multiple committees have advanced PBM reform bills in both the House and Senate, so they will all need to be combined into one floor-friendly package. | https://wgntv.com/hill-politics/lawmakers-set-to-face-ticking-clock-on-health-care-priorities/ | 2023-07-31T13:38:23 | 1 | https://wgntv.com/hill-politics/lawmakers-set-to-face-ticking-clock-on-health-care-priorities/ |
IXL's teaching and learning platform will be used district wide to close knowledge gaps, improve academic achievement and provide equitable educational experiences
LEXINGTON, Ky., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- IXL, the personalized learning platform used by more than 14 million students, has announced a new partnership with Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS) in Kentucky. As part of the collaboration, the state's second-largest K-12 school system will now use IXL's award-winning platform district-wide to boost academic achievement in math, English language arts, science, social studies and Spanish. IXL is used by nearly 40 percent of all K-12 students in Kentucky, accounting for more than 283,000 learners.
Fayette County Public Schools strives to provide a world-class education
and positive learning environment to more than 40,000 students from the Lexington area. FCPS began using IXL to support its special education and English language learner communities, and recently expanded its implementation district-wide after successfully piloting the platform.
The district highly values IXL Analytics because it provides educators with data that allows them to track student achievement across schools and identify any gaps in knowledge. This information can then be used to quickly intervene and provide students with the support they need to succeed.
FCPS also appreciates IXL's comprehensive curriculum and instructional resources because they give educators the flexibility to create personalized learning pathways for students. These pathways allow students to learn at their own pace and in their own way, which helps them grow independently. Additionally, IXL provides FCPS with custom math skill plans that are aligned to the district's scope and sequence, as well as test preparation for Kentucky's Summative Assessment. These plans reinforce standards-aligned instruction, which helps students master the concepts they need to know to succeed.
"IXL is an immersive learning tool that helps students master content at school, on-the-go and at home. Insights provided by IXL help teachers track growth and target recommendations for next steps, and research shows that students who use IXL perform better on state assessments," said Brooke Stinson, Director of Assessment, Fayette County Public Schools. "We are excited for this partnership and to provide this resource for all of our students."
"We are delighted to continue our partnership with Fayette County Public Schools. By using IXL's platform district-wide, educators will be able to more effectively track student progress, close achievement gaps and empower all students to reach their full potential," said Paul Mishkin, CEO of IXL Learning. "We are proud to be an important resource to our partners, and we look forward to working with FCPS' team so that all of its learners have even more opportunities to succeed."
Recover learning and boost achievement with IXL's award-winning platform
IXL gives school districts everything that they need to make a bigger positive impact on learning. The all-inclusive platform provides thousands of curriculum and instructional resources, actionable analytics and a state-of-the-art assessment suite. In addition to helping schools and students succeed academically, IXL can even uncover hidden obstacles to learning, develop students' intrinsic motivation to learn and more.
IXL's state-of-the-art assessment suite
IXL's assessment suite works in concert with its curriculum to give educators and students real-time insight into performance, pinpoint gaps in knowledge and provide specific next steps that help recover learning. IXL's adaptive assessment, the Real-Time Diagnostic, accurately measures students' grade-level proficiency and growth in key math and ELA strands, helping educators understand exactly what learners know and what they can do to improve. Additionally, IXL's universal screener flags at-risk students in as little as 20 minutes to help educators plan district-wide math interventions.
Comprehensive curriculum for deeper learning
Teachers use IXL's comprehensive curriculum to provide students with tailored support and ensure that they master essential concepts. More than 10,000 rigorous, mastery-based skills deeply engage students, build a strong foundation of knowledge and prepare learners for higher-level thinking. Based on students' previous work in the curriculum, IXL generates personalized recommendations in real time that guide learners to the skills that will help them grow the fastest. Additionally, IXL's skill plans simplify lesson planning by providing teachers with skills that match their state standards and textbooks. IXL also provides test preparation skill plans and personalized study plans for the SAT and ACT.
Instructional resources and classroom engagement tools
IXL's built-in instructional resources include nearly 2,400 math and English language arts video tutorials, corrective feedback, educational games for young learners and step-by-step lessons that support students when they're working independently. Classroom engagement tools, like Group Jams and Leaderboards, make classroom learning engaging and create collaborative learning opportunities.
Actionable analytics for districts, schools, classrooms and individual learners
IXL Analytics is an essential daily tool that allows teachers to easily identify trouble spots, monitor performance on skills, deliver data-driven instruction and use limited class time more effectively. Administrators can use IXL District Analytics and IXL School Analytics to track student progress and teacher engagement, enabling them to improve IXL's impact on their school or district.
About Fayette County Public Schools
Fayette County Public Schools serves over 40,000 students from the Lexington metro area, with the goal of providing a world-class education for every child. The mission of Fayette County Public Schools is to create a collaborative community that ensures all students achieve at high levels and graduate prepared to excel in a global society.
About IXL Learning
Currently used by 14 million students and in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts, IXL is an all-inclusive educational platform that provides a comprehensive PK-12 curriculum and instructional resources, actionable analytics and a state-of-the-art assessment suite. IXL's end-to-end teaching and learning solution supports personalized instruction in math, English language arts, science, social studies and Spanish. With more than 130 billion questions asked and answered around the world, IXL is helping schools and parents successfully boost student achievement. The IXL Learning family of products also includes Rosetta Stone, TPT, SpanishDictionary.com, inglés.com, Wyzant, Vocabulary.com, ABCya, Education.com and Emmersion. To learn more about IXL, visit www.ixl.com, facebook.com/IXL and twitter.com/IXLLearning.
Press Contact
Eric Bates
IXL Learning
press@ixl.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE IXL Learning | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/ixl-fayette-county-public-schools-partner-boost-academic-achievement-personalize-learning-all-students/ | 2023-07-31T13:38:23 | 1 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/ixl-fayette-county-public-schools-partner-boost-academic-achievement-personalize-learning-all-students/ |
Lions activate WR Marvin Jones off non-football injury list
Allen Park — The Detroit Lions took a step closer to full strength, activating wide receiver Marvin Jones off the non-football injury list ahead of Monday's practice.
Re-signed by the Lions after a two-year stint in Jacksonville, the 33-year-old receiver has been dealing with a minor back injury he suffered between mandatory minicamp in mid-June and the start of training camp.
For those who didn't know about the injury, it would be difficult to tell. He's been working with a trainer on the sideline during the first week of camp practices, showing no issues going through a daily regiment of sprints and cuts.
A 12-year veteran, Jones re-signed with the Lions, helping round out an offense that finished top-five in both yardage and points last season. For the Jaguars last season, he appeared in 16 games, recording 46 catches for 529 yards and three touchdowns.
The best stretch of Jones career came during his previous stint in Detroit, from 2016-20. In those five seasons, he averaged 58 receptions, 859 yards and seven touchdowns. His 36 receiving touchdowns are third in franchise history behind only Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson and Herman Moore.
jdrogers@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @Justin_Rogers | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2023/07/31/lions-activate-wr-marvin-jones-off-non-football-injury-list/70496682007/ | 2023-07-31T13:38:24 | 0 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2023/07/31/lions-activate-wr-marvin-jones-off-non-football-injury-list/70496682007/ |
Retrospective Research Demonstrates Potential of FeelBetter in Optimizing Medication Regimens of Senior Patients and Reducing Avoidable Healthcare Utilization and Spending
BOSTON and TEL AVIV, Israel, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- FeelBetter, the leading provider of medication management technology and pioneer of Pharmaco-Clinical Intelligence, today announced the findings of retrospective research conducted by investigators in Boston. Presented at the Society of General Internal Medicine (SGIM) 2023 Annual Meeting and the 2023 Annual Research Meeting (ARM) of AcademyHealth, the results of the retrospective study demonstrate that FeelBetter's Pharmaco-Clinical Intelligence accurately and appropriately predicts senior patients at high risk of medication-related adverse events.
The study, conducted at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, concluded that FeelBetter can be used to effectively risk stratify emergency department use and hospitalizations among patients over the age of 65 with multiple chronic conditions and complex medication regimens. Study results also indicate that when paired with a medication management intervention, FeelBetter's technology could potentially reduce healthcare utilization and expenses, and aid in improving patient outcomes.
"Medication-related issues contribute to 10-30% of hospitalizations in the elderly. Preventing these issues is critical to improving patient outcomes and reducing avoidable healthcare utilization and expenses. However, current intervention methods and alert systems have numerous limitations," said Lisa Rotenstein, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Medical Director of Population Health at Brigham and Women's Hospital and principal investigator of the study. "What's exciting about this solution is that it enables a targeted view of those individuals who may most benefit from medication management interventions and the alteration of their medication regimens. These warnings and recommendations have the potential to aid clinicians and other healthcare providers in optimizing medication regimens, which could lead to downstream improvement in patient outcomes and cost reductions.
The population for the retrospective study included 108,817 of Brigham and Women's Hospital's senior patients (mean age of 77.1) who were taking an average of nine medications to treat multiple chronic conditions. Among the key study findings, the FeelBetter algorithm successfully incorporated a wide variety of data from the electronic health records and accurately stratified patients into risk groupings with distinct demographic and utilization characteristics. Patients in successive risk strata, as identified by FeelBetter, incurred incrementally more emergency department visits and hospitalizations one-, three-, and six-months post prediction. Patients in the highest risk percentile (99%) incurred a mean of 0.531 hospitalizations three-months post prediction.
The study also estimated a total of $4.8 million in potential savings in three months following the use of FeelBetter to risk stratify patients, when considering only the top 5% of high-risk patients and specific hospitalizations that may have been avoided pending medication changes. Based on the results of the retrospective analysis, the study team has begun conducting prospective research to further assess the capabilities of FeelBetter's technology to impact patient trajectories and costs of care.
"Our AI-powered solution leverages data on medications, demographics, social history, diagnoses, lab results, procedures, allergies, emergency department and hospitalization patterns, and costs, among other sources of information. It's comprehensively designed to help clinicians risk stratify patients and proactively personalize medication regimens," said Dr. Adva Tzuk Onn, FeelBetter's Chief Medical Officer, and a physician with more than 15 years of experience in geriatric and family medicine. "We're pleased to see the growing body of evidence for our Pharmaco-Clinical Intelligence and look forward to beginning prospective research with the team at Brigham and Women's Hospital to further assess FeelBetter's impact on improving patient outcomes and driving value-based care."
About FeelBetter
FeelBetter is the pioneer of Pharmaco-Clinical Intelligence, changing the polypharmacy paradigm on both an individual and population health level with a comprehensive solution designed to tackle the challenges associated with suboptimal medication management.Powered by AI and machine learning capabilities, FeelBetter's Pharmaco-Clinical Intelligence drives personalized medication management, helping healthcare professionals ensure that their patients' medication regimens are safe, effective, and appropriate. The technology pinpoints patients at high risk of deterioration and preventable hospitalization due to suboptimal medication management, and proactively suggests immediate and actionable interventions to reduce these risks. Provider organizations use FeelBetter to monitor their patients' progress and more proactively deliver the right follow-up care, as well as to efficiently allocate resources and minimize preventable, costly use of healthcare services.
Led by an interdisciplinary team of clinicians, clinical pharmacists, and technologists, FeelBetter is headquartered in Boston and Tel Aviv, Israel. Investors include Firstime Ventures, Shoni Health Ventures, Triventures, Random Forest VC, The Group Ventures, and GoodCompany Ventures. To learn more, visit feelbetter.healthcare.
Media Contact
Nicole Pariser
nicole@i-feelbetter.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE FeelBetter | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/study-shows-accuracy-appropriateness-benefit-using-feelbetter-risk-stratify-elderly-polypharmacy-patients/ | 2023-07-31T13:38:24 | 1 | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/study-shows-accuracy-appropriateness-benefit-using-feelbetter-risk-stratify-elderly-polypharmacy-patients/ |
CHICAGO — If you’re being “benched” that means the person you’re dating, or “talking to” a the kids say, is putting you on the sidelines.
They like you. But not enough to make you a priority in their life. They’ll hit you up if they need you or feel like hanging out.
So it’s up to you. Do you want to sit on the bench or do you want to be a starter?
The WGN Morning News crew also discuss egg hacks, baby corn and restaurant annoyances.
Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter. | https://wgntv.com/morning-news/wgn-morning-news-6-at-6/benching-is-the-newest-dating-trend/ | 2023-07-31T13:38:25 | 1 | https://wgntv.com/morning-news/wgn-morning-news-6-at-6/benching-is-the-newest-dating-trend/ |
(CNN) — Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis reaffirmed in a local news interview that she will announce charging decisions by September 1 in her investigation into efforts by Donald Trump and his allies to overturn Georgia’s 2020 presidential election result, while applauding the ramped-up security measures around the local courthouse.
“The work is accomplished,” Willis told CNN affiliate WXIA at a back-to-school event over the weekend. “We’ve been working for two and half years. We’re ready to go.”
Willis has previously signaled in letters to local officials and those providing security that she would make any charging announcements between July 31 and the end of August. She laid out a variety of security provisions her team plans to take beginning Monday.
Willis’ latest commitment to that time frame comes after a judge scheduled an August 10 hearing on the Trump team’s efforts to disqualify Willis, a Democrat, from the case, toss much of the evidence she has collected and remove another judge in Fulton County from presiding over the case.
In the local news interview, Willis also praised the Fulton County sheriff after barricades recently went up around the county courthouse in anticipation of what the sheriff’s office referred to as “high profile legal proceedings.”
“I think that the sheriff is doing something smart in making sure that the courthouse stays safe,” Willis said. “I’m not willing to put any of the employees or the constituents that come to the courthouse in harm’s way.”
Willis said that people may not be happy with her upcoming announcements and “sometimes when people are unhappy, they act in a way that could create harm.”
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wxow.com/fulton-county-da-says-work-is-done-in-trump-probe-and-we-re-ready-to/article_16dfeeee-d738-5a24-aa98-574dc49ad174.html | 2023-07-31T13:38:27 | 1 | https://www.wxow.com/fulton-county-da-says-work-is-done-in-trump-probe-and-we-re-ready-to/article_16dfeeee-d738-5a24-aa98-574dc49ad174.html |
CHICAGO — Three people were injured, two critically, after a fire at an apartment building on the city’s Northwest Side.
The fire started on the third floor of a building located at 2112 North Marmora around 5 a.m. Monday.
According to the Chicago Fire Department, firefighters removed three people from the fire.
Fire officials said smoke detectors were working because one resident heard the alarm go off. The resident was able to get most tenants out while suffering from smoke inhilation.
Firefighters had to rescue people from inside the building. One person was found collapsed on the floor and another was found in bed.
Both individuals were taken to area hospitals in critical condition and suffered cardiac arrest, but doctors were able to get their hearts beating again.
The third person is in fair condition.
The fire has been struck and is under investigation. | https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/2-critical-after-building-fire-on-northwest-side/ | 2023-07-31T13:38:33 | 1 | https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/2-critical-after-building-fire-on-northwest-side/ |
(CNN) — Hunter Biden’s former business partner Devon Archer is scheduled to give closed-door testimony on Capitol Hill on Monday, the latest development in the Republican-led investigations into the president’s son.
The Justice Department submitted a new request over the weekend asking a judge to schedule a date for Archer to surrender to prison and begin serving out his one-year sentence resulting from a conviction in an unrelated fraud case, according to court filings. The move prompted immediate speculation among some Republicans that the Biden administration was attempting to prevent Archer from answering questions about Hunter Biden before the GOP-led House Oversight Committee, though in a court filing, the government explicitly requested that Archer’s sentence begin after he completes his congressional testimony.
In a statement, Archer’s attorney said his client does not believe the DOJ request is connected in any way to the upcoming closed-door interview, despite continuing to fight demands related to scheduling a surrender date. “We are aware of speculation that the Department of Justice’s weekend request to have Mr. Archer report to prison is an attempt by the Biden administration to intimidate him in advance of his meeting with the House Oversight Committee on Monday,” Matthew Schwartz, an attorney for Archer, said in a statement Sunday.
“To be clear, Mr. Archer does not agree with that speculation. In any case, Mr. Archer will do what he has planned to do all along, which is to show up on Monday and to honestly answer the questions that are put to him by the Congressional investigators,” Schwartz added.
While House Oversight Chairman James Comer would only go as far as to call the timing of DOJ’s letter “odd” in an interview with Fox News on Sunday, the letter prompted more bombastic reactions from other House Republicans.
Archer’s scheduled testimony comes as House Republicans appear to be shifting their focus away from trying to impeach members of President Joe Biden’s Cabinet and prioritizing efforts to impeach the President himself by linking him to controversial business dealings by his son, Hunter.
And they are doing so with the apparent support of Speaker Kevin McCarthy, CNN recently reported.
As a result, House investigations related to Hunter Biden are now expected to take center stage as Republicans continue to try to link the President to his son’s controversial business dealings.
But speaking to CNN in recent weeks, McCarthy signaled that Republicans have yet to verify the most salacious allegations against Biden, namely that as vice president he engaged in a bribery scheme with a foreign national in order to benefit his son’s career, an allegation the White House furiously denies.
But he said that launching an impeachment inquiry would unleash the full power of the House to turn over critical information, mirroring an argument advanced by House Democrats when they impeached then-President Donald Trump in 2019.
McCarthy – who sources said has also been consulting with former House GOP Speaker Newt Gingrich on the issue – has warmed up to an idea of going after the president rather than members of his Cabinet. In recent weeks, he delivered his most explicit threat yet to Biden, saying House Republicans’ investigations into the Biden family’s business deals appear to be rising to the level of an impeachment inquiry.
This story has been updated with additional details.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wxow.com/hunter-biden-s-former-business-partner-to-testify-behind-closed-doors-for-gop-led-committee/article_1d4328b2-3ee8-5345-9ab3-743caa2ea2c3.html | 2023-07-31T13:38:34 | 0 | https://www.wxow.com/hunter-biden-s-former-business-partner-to-testify-behind-closed-doors-for-gop-led-committee/article_1d4328b2-3ee8-5345-9ab3-743caa2ea2c3.html |
BELLEVUE, Wash., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Coinstar® for Financial is proud to announce its partnership with Suncoast™ Credit Union as they implement Coinstar self-service kiosks for in-lobby coin counting in 72 of its branches. Suncoast Credit Union is the largest credit union in Florida and the 10th largest in the US based on membership, serving more than one million members across the state.
The partnership began with a 90-day pilot, allowing Suncoast to trial Coinstar's Anthony kiosks designed for financial institutions in a few of its busier branches. Surpassing Suncoast's goals of increasing transactions and efficiency, the pilot was a success. Coinstar for Financial will complete the rollout to all branches by the end of July.
"Coinstar's impact on productivity and member experience was felt within the first week of the pilot. There were just a few short days between signing the contract and seeing the improvement in our coin operations," said Jennifer Bolivar, Senior Vice President of Business Transformation and Retail Branching. "We are excited to roll out Coinstar's best-in-class kiosks across our branch network and continue seeing the positive impact."
The Anthony kiosks are replacing Suncoast Credit Union's previous coin machines that were managed by branch staff, which often interrupted valuable time spent with members. Coinstar for Financial relieves branch staff of that burden by handling every aspect of their coin counting program. Suncoast staff can now better support their members with more time to work face-to-face and ensure members' needs are met.
Coinstar's turnkey program takes care of coin pickup, kiosk maintenance, and administration, meaning Suncoast's branch staff no longer need to worry about emptying the machines, hauling heavy bags of coin, or coordinating repairs. Members can turn their coins into cash through the convenient and highly accurate self-service Coinstar kiosks. In the future, Suncoast also plans to add coin-to-deposit functionality, where members can insert their debit card and deposit coins directly to their account.
"Coinstar is thrilled to partner with Suncoast Credit Union and proud to be a part of their culture of superior focus on the member experience," said Kevin McColly, CEO of Coinstar. "We look forward to a long, prosperous relationship with Suncoast Credit Union and supporting their success into the future."
Implementing the Anthony kiosks is one of Suncoast's steps in its journey toward continuous branch transformation. Having recently installed Interactive Teller Machines (ITMs) at most of its branches, Suncoast had seen how automating some of its more mundane transactions improved the day-to-day for members and employees. With Coinstar as the latest addition to its branch technology, Suncoast has reached a new level of efficiency and member satisfaction.
About Coinstar for Financial
Coinstar for Financial provides a turnkey coin management service that strengthens existing customer loyalty, increases deposits, and attracts and retains new branch traffic. With no capital investment and no maintenance fees, your staff can focus on customers instead of coin counting. Our entire fleet of kiosks is owned, maintained, and serviced by Coinstar, which means there is virtually no financial or reputational risk for your business. If you are a financial institution leader and are curious about how a fully managed coin program can assist in your branch transformation, contact the experts at Coinstar for Financial. To learn more, visit financial.coinstar.com or follow us on LinkedIn.
About Suncoast Credit Union
Suncoast Credit Union is the largest credit union in the state of Florida, the 10th largest in the United States based on membership, and the 10th largest in the United States based on its $17 billion in assets. Chartered in 1934 as Hillsborough County Teachers Credit Union, Suncoast Credit Union currently operates 76 full-service branches and serves more than one million members across Florida. As a community credit union, anyone who lives, works, attends school, or worships in Suncoast Credit Union's service area is eligible for membership. In 2021, Suncoast Credit Union's field of membership was expanded to include public K-12 teachers, college educators, and educational support staff from all of Florida's 67 counties. Suncoast is passionate about community support. Since its founding in 1990, the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation has raised and donated more than $40 million to organizations and initiatives that support the health, education, and emotional well-being of children in the communities that the credit union serves. For more information, visit www.suncoastcreditunion.com or follow us on social media: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
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SOURCE Coinstar for Financial | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/suncoast-credit-union-partners-with-coinstar-financial-achieving-branch-transformation-with-fully-managed-coin-counting/ | 2023-07-31T13:38:34 | 0 | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/suncoast-credit-union-partners-with-coinstar-financial-achieving-branch-transformation-with-fully-managed-coin-counting/ |
CHICAGO — Blaze is offering free pizza for kids every Tuesday in the month of August.
The company is offering kids one free 11-inch cheese pizza, known as their “Simple Pie,” with the purchase of any full-priced pizza.
Kids also can collect a Blaze Pizza limited edition sticker while supplies last.
There are locations in Tinley Park, Niles, Evanston, Berwyn, Woodfield Mall in addition to four stores in Chicago. | https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/blaze-offering-free-pizza-for-kids-every-tuesday-in-august/ | 2023-07-31T13:38:36 | 1 | https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/blaze-offering-free-pizza-for-kids-every-tuesday-in-august/ |
(CNN) — As little as one alcoholic drink a day increased systolic blood pressure — the top number in a blood pressure reading — even in men and women with no existing hypertension, a new study found.
“We found no beneficial effects in adults who drank a low level of alcohol compared to those who did not drink alcohol,” said senior study author Dr. Marco Vinceti, a professor of epidemiology and public health at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia in Italy, in a statement.
The negative impact of alcohol on systolic blood pressure continued to rise over the years, the study found, even in men and women who drank little each day. Small amounts of alcohol also raised the lower, or diastolic blood pressure reading, but only in men, according to the study, which was published Monday in the journal Hypertension.
“Both systolic and diastolic readings contribute to (cardiovascular) risk and go hand in hand, but of the two, systolic blood pressure is definitely the most important risk factor in adults,” said study coauthor Dr. Paul Whelton, chair in global public health at Tulane University’s School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans and president of the World Hypertension League.
Blood pressure and cardiovascular health
Blood pressure is measured in units of millimeters of mercury (abbreviated as mmHg), and written as two numbers, one above the other. The top or systolic reading, which represents the force of blood against artery walls when the heart contracts, is a “major risk factor for cardiovascular disease for people over 50,” according to the American Heart Association. The lower diastolic reading measures pressure in the arteries as the heart muscle rests between beats.
A normal systolic reading is typically 120 mm Hg or below but tends to rise as blood vessels weaken and narrow with age, the AHA said. A normal diastolic reading is below 80 mm Hg but begins to decline with age as arteries lose their elasticity and stiffen, at times leading to an increase in pulse rate.
“Alcohol is certainly not the sole driver of increases in blood pressure; however, our findings confirm it contributes in a meaningful way,” said Vinceti, also an adjunct professor in the department of epidemiology at Boston University’s School of Public Health. “Limiting alcohol intake is advised, and avoiding it is even better.”
The concept that too much alcohol raises blood pressure has been around for a long time, said Dr. Andrew Freeman, director of cardiovascular prevention and wellness at National Jewish Health in Denver.
“However, this review found relatively low levels of alcohol impacted blood pressure,” said Freeman, who was not involved with the research. “So, to me, this is yet another study showing there may not be any safe amount of alcohol.”
Risk rises with increasing alcohol levels
The review analyzed data from seven studies conducted in Japan, South Korea and the United States between 1997 and 2021. It followed more than 19,000 adults from age 20 to about 70 who had no prior diagnoses of alcoholism, binge drinking, cardiovascular disease, diabetes or liver disease over an average five-year span of time.
All participants were asked about their typical alcohol intake at the start of the studies, which was translated into grams of alcohol to avoid differences between countries on what constitutes a “standard drink.” The World Health Organization, for example, sets the standard at 10 grams of alcohol per drink, while the US defines it as 14 grams.
“In the US, you’re probably getting more than one standard drink per day,” Whelton said. “If you got a pour of wine with 14 grams of alcohol at a restaurant, you’ll want to say to your server, ‘You cheapskate, go back and pour a real glass of wine.’ We think we’re consuming one standard drink, but we’re not.”
Researchers then used statistics to plot how various amounts of alcohol affected blood pressure over time. Drinking an average of 12 grams of alcohol per day, or less than one US standard drink, produced a small rise in systolic pressure of 1.25 mm Hg over an average of five years.
“We were somewhat surprised to see that consuming an already-low level of alcohol was also linked to higher blood pressure changes over time compared to no consumption — although far less than the blood pressure increase seen in heavy drinkers,” Vinceti said.
In people who consumed an average of 48 grams of alcohol per day, or nearly 3.5 standard US drinks, systolic blood pressure rose nearly 5 mm Hg over the same time frame compared with nondrinkers.
“That would certainly move you from pre-hypertensive to hypertensive, just as eating an excessive amount of sodium, too few fruits and vegetables and not getting enough physical activity will push you in the wrong direction,” Tulane’s Whelton said.
Another finding: The impact of alcohol on blood pressure was even more significant if a person’s readings were already heading upward when the study began, Whelton said.
“This suggests that people with a trend towards increased blood pressure may benefit the most from low to no alcohol consumption,” he said.
Confusing messages about alcohol
How do the study results fit in with past research that has shown alcohol may be beneficial for the heart? For one, many of the older randomized clinical trials only compared light drinkers with heavy ones, and not to those who did not drink at all, Whelton said.
“What we generally have seen in the clinical trials are that drinkers are randomized to less alcohol, such as light beer, versus continuing to drink as normal. And of course, those who consumed low to moderate amounts of alcohol had better outcomes,” said Whelton, who coauthored a meta-analysis on such studies.
“From a blood pressure perspective, I think most people would agree that there’s no level in which alcohol is safe,” he added. “From a cardiovascular point of view, you may get mixed opinions.”
Studying alcohol use is difficult because it is associated with behaviors that can be both helpful and unhelpful, Freeman said.
“If you’re drinking in a smoke-filled bar at night with friends, (your exposure) to secondhand smoke and alcohol will certainly disrupt your sleep, and both are harmful to health,” he said. “But you’re also getting the positives of socialization.”
Research on “blue zones,” areas of the world where people typically live up to and past 100, has shown the diets in these locations often include small amounts of alcohol that are routinely consumed with dinner. Is it the alcohol that helps longevity, or the tight social networks?
“It can be hard to tease out these associations,” Freeman said, adding that he gives his patients the same guidance as the AHA and WHO.
“First, I don’t recommend people start drinking,” he said. “If they do drink, they should try to really minimize it and then do their best to maintain healthy behaviors that help the heart, such as exercise and stress reduction.
“Exercise is an amazingly effective way to lower blood pressure, both systolic and diastolic, as it helps the heart relax and maintain better efficiency.”
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™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wxow.com/just-one-drink-a-day-can-raise-blood-pressure-study-says/article_2edfde0e-2140-5036-a3aa-b82ad56ab4c1.html | 2023-07-31T13:38:37 | 1 | https://www.wxow.com/just-one-drink-a-day-can-raise-blood-pressure-study-says/article_2edfde0e-2140-5036-a3aa-b82ad56ab4c1.html |
Dean sits down with Greta Gerwig, director of ‘Barbie,’ to talk more about her casting decisions of Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling.
Get Dean’s reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean’s Downloads weekly newsletter. You’ll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too! | https://wgntv.com/news/deans-list/dean-interviews/deans-a-list-interviews-greta-gerwig-director-of-barbie/ | 2023-07-31T13:38:41 | 1 | https://wgntv.com/news/deans-list/dean-interviews/deans-a-list-interviews-greta-gerwig-director-of-barbie/ |
CLEVELAND, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TransDigm Group Incorporated (NYSE: TDG) today said it will report fiscal 2023 third quarter earnings before the market opens on Tuesday, August 8, 2023.
A conference call will follow at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time. To join the call telephonically, please register for the call here. Once registered, participants will receive the dial-in information and a unique pin to access the call. A live audio webcast of the call can also be accessed online at http://www.transdigm.com.
The webcast will be archived on the website and available for replay later that day.
About TransDigm Group
TransDigm Group, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, is a leading global designer, producer and supplier of highly engineered aircraft components for use on nearly all commercial and military aircraft in service today. Major product offerings, substantially all of which are ultimately provided to end-users in the aerospace industry, include mechanical/electro-mechanical actuators and controls, ignition systems and engine technology, specialized pumps and valves, power conditioning devices, specialized AC/DC electric motors and generators, batteries and chargers, engineered latching and locking devices, engineered rods, engineered connectors and elastomer sealing solutions, databus and power controls, cockpit security components and systems, specialized and advanced cockpit displays, engineered audio, radio and antenna systems, specialized lavatory components, seat belts and safety restraints, engineered and customized interior surfaces and related components, advanced sensor products, switches and relay panels, thermal protection and insulation, lighting and control technology, parachutes, high performance hoists, winches and lifting devices, cargo loading, handling and delivery systems and specialized flight, wind tunnel and jet engine testing services and equipment.
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SOURCE TransDigm Group Inc. | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/transdigm-third-quarter-earnings-report-conference-call-set-tuesday-august-8-2023/ | 2023-07-31T13:38:41 | 0 | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/transdigm-third-quarter-earnings-report-conference-call-set-tuesday-august-8-2023/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — Six straight days of 12-hour driving. Single digit paychecks. The complaints come from workers in vastly different industries: UPS delivery drivers and Hollywood actors and writers.
But they point to an underlying factor driving a surge of labor unrest: The cost to workers whose jobs have changed drastically as companies scramble to meet customer expectations for speed and convenience in industries transformed by technology.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated those changes, pushing retailers to shift online and intensifying the streaming competition among entertainment companies. Now, from the picket lines, workers are trying to give consumers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to produce a show that can be binged any time or get dog food delivered to their doorstep with a phone swipe.
Overworked and underpaid employees is an enduring complaint across industries — from delivery drivers to Starbucks baristas and airline pilots — where surges in consumer demand have collided with persistent labor shortages. Workers are pushing back against forced overtime, punishing schedules or company reliance on lower-paid, part-time or contract forces.
At issue for Hollywood screenwriters and actors staging their first simultaneous strikes in 40 years is the way streaming has upended entertainment economics, slashing pay and forcing showrunners to produce content faster with smaller teams.
“This seems to happen to many places when the tech companies come in. Who are we crushing? It doesn’t matter,” said Danielle Sanchez-Witzel, a screenwriter and showrunner on the negotiating team for the Writers Guild of America, whose members have been on strike since May. Earlier this month, the Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists joined the writers’ union on the picket line.
Actors and writers have long relied on residuals, or long-term payments, for reruns and other airings of films and televisions shows. But reruns aren’t a thing on streaming services, where series and films simply land and stay with no easy way, such as box office returns or ratings, to determine their popularity.
Consequently, whatever residuals streaming companies do pay often amount to a pittance, and screenwriters have been sharing tales of receiving single digit checks.
Adam Shapiro, an actor known for the Netflix hit “Never Have I Ever,” said many actors were initially content to accept lower pay for the plethora of roles that streaming suddenly offered. But the need for a more sustainable compensation model gained urgency when it became clear streaming is not a sideshow, but rather the future of the business, he said.
“Over the past 10 years, we realized: ‘Oh, that’s now how Hollywood works. Everything is streaming,’” Shapiro said during a recent union event.
Shapiro, who has been acting for 25 years, said he agreed to a contract offering 20% of his normal rate for “Never Have I Ever” because it seemed like “a great opportunity, and it’s going to be all over the world. And it was. It really was. Unfortunately, we’re all starting to realize that if we keep doing this we’re not going to be able to pay our bills.”
Then there’s the rising use of “mini rooms,” in which a handful of writers are hired to work only during pre-production, sometimes for a series that may take a year to be greenlit, or never get picked up at all.
Sanchez-Witzel, co-creator of the recently released Netflix series “Survival of the Thickest,” said television shows traditionally hire robust writing teams for the duration of production. But Netflix refused to allow her to keep her team of five writers past pre-production, forcing round-the-clock work on rewrites with just one other writer.
“It’s not sustainable and I’ll never do that again,” she said.
Sanchez-Witzel said she was struck by the similarities between her experience and those of UPS drivers, some of whom joined the WGA for protests as they threatened their own potentially crippling strike. UPS and the Teamsters last week reached a tentative contract staving off the strike.
Jeffrey Palmerino, a full-time UPS driver near Albany, New York, said forced overtime emerged as a top issue during the pandemic as drivers coped with a crush of orders on par with the holiday season. Drivers never knew what time they would get home or if they could count on two days off each week, while 14-hour days in trucks without air conditioning became the norm.
“It was basically like Christmas on steroids for two straight years. A lot of us were forced to work six days a week, and that is not any way to live your life,” said Palmerino, a Teamsters shop steward.
Along with pay raises and air conditioning, the Teamsters won concessions that Palmerino hopes will ease overwork. UPS agreed to end forced overtime on days off and eliminate a lower-paid category of drivers who work shifts that include weekends, converting them to full-time drivers. Union members have yet to ratify the deal.
The Teamsters and labor activists hailed the tentative deal as a game-changer that would pressure other companies facing labor unrest to raise their standards. But similar outcomes are far from certain in industries lacking the sheer economic indispensability of UPS or the clout of its 340,000-member union.
Efforts to organize at Starbucks and Amazon stalled as both companies aggressively fought against unionization.
Still, labor protests will likely gain momentum following the UPS contract, said Patricia Campos-Medina, executive director of the Worker Institute at the School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University, which released a report this year that found the number of labor strikes rose 52% in 2022.
“The whole idea that consumer convenience is above everything broke down during the pandemic. We started to think, ‘I’m at home ordering, but there is actually a worker who has to go the grocery store, who has to cook this for me so that I can be comfortable,’” Campos-Medina said. | https://wgntv.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/customers-want-instant-gratification-workers-say-theyre-on-the-brink/ | 2023-07-31T13:38:43 | 0 | https://wgntv.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/customers-want-instant-gratification-workers-say-theyre-on-the-brink/ |
(The Hill) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), a 2024 GOP presidential candidate, said that fellow presidential candidate and rival, former President Donald Trump’s, “juvenile insults” toward him have helped him.
DeSantis made the remarks during a campaign stop in New Hampshire on Sunday.
“First of all, I mean, I think a lot of this stuff when he hits me with it with juvenile insults, I think that helps me,” DeSantis told reporters. “I don’t think voters like that. I think they look at it and they realize, like, you know what, that’s not effective. And so I don’t think it’s effective.”
DeSantis also said Trump’s insults are just another reminder that millions of voters will not vote for him during this election cycle.
“So I actually don’t mind that at all,” DeSantis added. “I think it’s just a reminder, why there’s so many millions of voters who will never vote for him going forward.”
Trump has targeted DeSantis with a slew of insults throughout the campaign cycle, referring to the governor as “Ron DeSanctimonious”. Trump took his latest shot at DeSantis during the Iowa GOP’s Lincoln Dinner in Des Moines, Iowa last week, telling constituents that he “wouldn’t take a chance on that one.”
This comes as DeSantis, who was once seen as a real rival to Trump for the Republican Party’s nomination in 2024, has fallen in polls since announcing his presidential campaign in May.
The 44-year-old politician recently laid off 38 staff members as his campaign seeks to revamp itself in the race for the presidency. | https://wgntv.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/desantis-says-trumps-juvenile-insults-help-him/ | 2023-07-31T13:38:44 | 0 | https://wgntv.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/desantis-says-trumps-juvenile-insults-help-him/ |
Initial agreement to include 10 battery-electric and three hydrogen fuel cell electric Class 8 trucks
PHOENIX and LOWELL, Ark., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nikola Corporation (Nasdaq: NKLA), a global leader in zero-emissions transportation and energy supply and infrastructure solutions, via the HYLA brand, and J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. (Nasdaq: JBHT), one of the largest supply chain solutions providers in North America, today announced an agreement in which subsidiary J.B. Hunt Transport Inc. will purchase 13 Nikola zero-emission Class 8 trucks as the transportation company focuses on its sustainability efforts and reducing the intensity of its carbon emissions.
"It's important for us to be at the forefront of new technologies and innovative solutions that have the potential to change the way we move freight," said Nick Hobbs, chief operating officer and president of contract services at J.B. Hunt. "These zero-emission trucks from Nikola advance our progress towards achieving our ambitious goal to reduce carbon emission intensity through viable solutions."
The initial truck order will include 10 battery-electric and three hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles, with delivery of the first vehicles expected in August 2023. These trucks will be strategically located at facilities servicing J.B. Hunt's key routes, including in the greater Los Angeles and Phoenix areas. Nikola's hydrogen arm, HYLA, will supply the hydrogen and fueling infrastructure.
"We are thrilled that the industry leader for supply-chain solutions has chosen our Nikola Class 8 battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks to use for their operations," said Nikola CEO Michael Lohscheller. "Their purchase and use of these zero-emissions trucks are a testament to the hard work of our engineering, development and manufacturing teams, who created a robust, highly advanced truck lineup, as well as our HYLA hydrogen infrastructure solutions, which are designed to benefit companies such as J.B. Hunt."
J.B. Hunt is committed to helping drive the industry toward a low-carbon future and reducing its environmental impact. In November 2022, the company set an ambitious goal to reduce carbon emission intensity 32% by 2034 (with a 2019 baseline). Incorporating alternative powered equipment into its fleet is one of three key focus areas in reaching the goal.
J.B. Hunt continually evaluates opportunities to utilize emerging technologies in exhaust-free vehicles. In the fourth quarter of 2022, the company took delivery of its first company-owned Class 8 electric vehicle. In 2017, J.B. Hunt was one of the first companies to place an order for an all-electric heavy-duty Class 8 truck and began incorporating electric vehicles into operations in 2023. In addition to electric vehicles, J.B. Hunt is helping reduce carbon emissions through intermodal conversion. Over the past decade, J.B. Hunt's intermodal service has helped avoid an estimated 30 million metric tons of CO2e emissions from over-the-road truck transportation.
ABOUT NIKOLA CORPORATION
Nikola Corporation is globally transforming the transportation industry. As a designer and manufacturer of zero-emission battery-electric and hydrogen-electric vehicles, electric vehicle drivetrains, vehicle components, energy storage systems, and hydrogen station infrastructure, via the HYLA brand, Nikola is driven to revolutionize the economic and environmental impact of commerce as we know it today. Founded in 2015, Nikola Corporation is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. For more information, visit www.nikolamotor.com , Facebook @nikolamotorcompany, Instagram @nikolamotorcompany, YouTube @nikolamotorcompany, LinkedIn @nikolamotorcompany or Twitter @nikolamotor.
ABOUT J.B. HUNT
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. is on a mission to create the most efficient transportation network in North America. The company's industry-leading solutions and mode-neutral approach generate value for customers by eliminating waste, reducing costs and enhancing supply chain visibility. Powered by one of the largest company-owned fleets in the country with more than 162,000 pieces of trailing equipment and nearly one million accessible trucks through its J.B. Hunt 360°® digital freight marketplace, J.B. Hunt can meet the unique shipping needs of any business, from first mile to final delivery, and every shipment in-between. Through disciplined investments in its people, technology and capacity, J.B. Hunt is delivering exceptional value and service that enable long-term growth for the company and its stakeholders.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. is a Fortune 500 company, an S&P 500 company and a component of the Dow Jones Transportation Average. Its stock trades on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol JBHT. J.B. Hunt Transport Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of JBHT. The company's services include intermodal, dedicated, refrigerated, truckload, less-than-truckload, flatbed, single source, last mile, transload and more. For more information, visit www.jbhunt.com.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws with respect to Nikola Corporation (Nikola"), including statements relating to the truck order, expected delivery timing and expected benefits of Nikola's zero-emissions trucks; Nikola's expectations regarding the production of hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks; and Nikola's ability to provide sufficient volumes of hydrogen to support hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle demand. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by words such as "believe," "project," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections, and other statements about future events based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: design and manufacturing changes and delays, including global shortages in parts and materials; general economic, financial, legal, regulatory, political and business conditions and changes in domestic and foreign markets; demand for and customer acceptance of Nikola's trucks; the terms of the agreement; the risk of cancellation of orders; risks associated with development and testing of fuel-cell power modules and hydrogen storage systems; risks related to the rollout of Nikola's business and milestones and the timing of expected business milestones; Nikola's availability of and need for capital; and the factors, risks and uncertainties regarding Nikola's business described in the "Risk Factors" section of Nikola's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 filed with the SEC, in addition to Nikola's subsequent filings with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and, except as required by law, Nikola assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
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SOURCE Nikola Corporation | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/jb-hunt-purchase-13-zero-emission-nikola-trucks/ | 2023-07-31T13:38:43 | 0 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/jb-hunt-purchase-13-zero-emission-nikola-trucks/ |
Innovative community bank with $2.4 billion in assets to provide award-winning BaaS offering
SAN FRANCISCO, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Treasury Prime, a leading embedded banking software company, today announced it is partnering with Academy Bank to bring embedded finance services to its customers in the financial services industry. This partnership addresses the increasing demand for flexible and scalable solutions that effectively meet the evolving needs of businesses and customers.
The objective of this partnership is to provide businesses with seamless access to Academy Bank's deposit services, enabling them to offer FDIC-insured accounts to their customers while staying fully compliant with regulatory requirements. Treasury Prime's award-winning BaaS platform, coupled with Academy Bank's established banking infrastructure, will empower businesses to rapidly launch and scale their payment and deposit products, driving strong customer engagement and retention.
"Academy Bank's ability to service deposit customers in a highly personalized manner, combined with their unwavering commitment to innovation, forms a strong foundation for our partnership," said Jeff Nowicki, VP of Banking at Treasury Prime. "We are proud to welcome Academy Bank to our bank network and work together to deliver transformative banking experiences."
"This collaboration aligns perfectly with our commitment to innovation and focus on the fintech industry," said David Robinson, Director of Fintech Partnerships at Academy Bank. "By leveraging Treasury Prime's technology, we can enhance our offerings and provide our fintech partners with the tools they need to accelerate their growth and deliver innovative financial services."
This partnership follows Treasury Prime's success in rapidly expanding its bank network, which now exceeds 15 financial institutions nationwide.
For more information about Treasury Prime, visit treasuryprime.com.
About Treasury Prime
Treasury Prime is building the future of finance. Leveraging its award-winning APIs and versatile embedded banking products, Treasury Prime enables banks and enterprise partners to innovate, adapt, grow and scale to stay competitive in a rapidly changing marketplace. The company helps enterprises with a range of complex services including money transfer, risk mitigation and access to a chartered bank's infrastructure. Treasury Prime works with forward-thinking banks to innovate responsibly and increase access to banking products and services to all segments of the population Treasury Prime was named Best Banking-as-a-Service Platform in the Tearsheet Embedded Awards 2021 and 2022, and was named to CB Insights' annual 2021 Fintech 250 list.
About Academy Bank
Academy Bank is a full-service bank with $2.4 billion in assets and over 70 branch locations in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas and Missouri. Honored as one of Fortune Magazine's "2023 Most Innovative Companies," Academy Bank provides a wide range of financial solutions for business and individuals, including commercial and business banking, treasury management and mortgage services. Academy Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dickinson Financial Corporation, a $3.6 billion holding company headquartered in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. Academy Bank's sister bank, Armed Forces Bank, headquartered in Leavenworth, Kansas, proudly serves active and retired military and civilian clients across the country and around the world. Armed Forces Bank is recognized as one of the top-three strongest banks in Kansas City by the Kansas City Business Journal.
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SOURCE Treasury Prime | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/treasury-prime-academy-bank-join-forces-address-growing-market-demand-through-banking-as-a-service-partnership/ | 2023-07-31T13:38:48 | 1 | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/treasury-prime-academy-bank-join-forces-address-growing-market-demand-through-banking-as-a-service-partnership/ |
LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — LaRosa’s on Richmond Road is officially closed as of July 30.
According to a press release, the location will be converted into a restaurant to be announced later.
“When we opened LaRosa's Richmond Road in May of 2019, we received a very warm Lexington welcome. Unfortunately, over time, sales have not quite met our expectations, so we have made the difficult decision to close our pizzeria on Richmond Road,” noted Dillon Adams, LaRosa’s franchise owner representative.
LaRosa’s on Southland Drive remains open. | https://www.lex18.com/news/larosas-location-on-richmond-road-in-lexington-closes | 2023-07-31T13:38:49 | 0 | https://www.lex18.com/news/larosas-location-on-richmond-road-in-lexington-closes |
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Today's top stories
A massive bombing at a political rally near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border killed at least 54 and wounded nearly 200 on Sunday. NPR's Diaa Hadid says the attack spotlights how "violence has been spilling over into Pakistan since the Taliban seized Afghanistan nearly two years ago."
The Taliban has been killing suspected Islamic State fighters in Afghanistan, and the Islamic State has been fighting back, Hadid says on Up First this morning. But she says this attack was "politically sensitive" because the targeted party is part of the current Pakistani government coalition. Pakistan is preparing for elections this fall, and Hadid reports that the stakes are high, as voting will be difficult if political parties are targeted like this.
Ukrainian forces have recaptured the southeastern village of Staromaiorske during their counteroffensive against Russia.
A Ukrainian soldier tells NPR's Joanna Kakissis that progress has been slow and hard-fought, but reclaiming the village was a strategic win, as it's one line of attack that aims to cut off Russia's resupply routes. Russia has also blamed Ukraine for recent drone attacks. Though Ukraine hasn't officially claimed responsibility, Zelenskyy has said the drone attacks are "absolutely fair" considering Russia's attacks.
The shipping company Yellow is expected to file for bankruptcy as early as today. The move would put some 30,000 jobs at stake, according to the Teamsters union. Yellow received a $700 million federal loan and was deemed essential to national security during the pandemic. Here's everything we know about the situation so far.
The expected shutdown would be the largest trucking bankruptcy in U.S. history, an analyst tells NPR's Camila Domonoske. Legal filings say the Teamsters union intentionally "triggered a death spiral" by blocking Yellow's restructuring efforts and scaring away customers with threats of a strike. The Union blames gross mismanagement at the company. Domonoske adds that a Congressional Oversight Board raised red flags about the loan given to Yellow and why it was deemed essential.
Ashley Hemmers, the tribal administrator for the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe, got heatstroke while driving to a meeting to present her people's concerns about climate change. She didn't make the meeting, but tells NPR's Leila Fadel how climate change is impacting indigenous communities.
"For us, it's one of the highest threats," she says on Morning Edition. "If we keep extracting from our environment, it won't just be heat stroke and second and third-degree burns — it's going to be losing people's lives."
Picture show
The Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City is showcasing work from living West African artists for the first time as part of an ongoing series the museum says will focus on "specific art scenes across the globe." The current collection of photographs captures the colonial past, beautiful beaches and boisterous protests of Lagos, Nigeria. The exhibition runs through Sept. 16. Check out some of the photographs if you can't make it.
Life advice
When Keisha "TK" Dutes lost her cat Feisty Misses Peabody, she wasn't prepared for the grief she felt. She spoke with her friend Alexander Hardy about how to cope with pet loss.
Give yourself space and time to process the loss.
Don't go through it alone, and find a way to channel your grief.
Don't forget the good times, and honor your pet in a way that resonates with you.
3 things to know before you go
Soccer fans in Malawi might see a person dressed as a colorful tsetse fly on the field. But it's not a team mascot — the fly's performance teaches residents about sleeping sickness.
Scientists revived a tiny roundworm frozen in the Siberian permafrost for 46,000 years. The remarkable discovery could help researchers understand how other animals adapt to extreme temperatures.
Jeffrey Gibson, a multimedia artist who fuses together American, Native American and queer perspectives in visual culture, will be the first Indigenous artist to represent the U.S. at the 2024 Venice Biennale, a prestigious international arts event. | https://www.iowapublicradio.org/news-from-npr/2023-07-31/up-first-briefing-pakistan-bombing-yellow-trucking-meltdown-grieving-pet-loss | 2023-07-31T13:38:49 | 0 | https://www.iowapublicradio.org/news-from-npr/2023-07-31/up-first-briefing-pakistan-bombing-yellow-trucking-meltdown-grieving-pet-loss |
Firm Unveils New Office and Managing Director in Austin, Texas
NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Jensen Partners ("the Firm"), a leading global distribution-focused executive search and corporate advisory firm, today announced an important expansion with the opening of a new office in Austin, Texas and the appointment of Stacy Schiffman to Managing Director of Distribution. Schiffman, who recently assumed her new role and now leads Jensen Partners' Austin office, is responsible for overseeing all aspects of search execution, including candidate generation and engagement, as well as client management and interview preparation, with a particular focus on investment and capital raising roles. Schiffman is also playing an integral role in driving the Firm's business development outreach, research and market intelligence to help guide hiring decisions and foster greater client outcomes.
Austin is a burgeoning financial center home to major private markets participants in the Southwestern US. As Jensen Partners' Austin office head, Schiffman is responsible for solidifying the Firm's relationships with clients and candidates in the area, and her appointment marks the latest development in Jensen Partners' global growth journey. In January 2023, the Firm announced the opening of a new office location in Miami, Florida to serve its growing list of clients who expanded their footprint in the region; and in October 2022, Jensen Partners announced a strategic investment from JB Capital to accelerate data integration and scale key product offerings that address a wider range of talent challenges including diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), recruiting, hiring and retention.
"Stacy's role in Austin is the latest step towards enhancing our Firm's commitment to maintaining a strategic presence in major financial centers in both the U.S. and across the globe," said Sasha Jensen, Founder and CEO of Jensen Partners and Jensen DiversityMetrics™. "Her decades of insight will help us continue to build deeper relationships with the best talent in the industry and further solidify our capacity to drive superior long-term human capital solutions for our clients globally. We are thrilled to welcome her to the team."
Schiffman joins Jensen Partners from PIMCO, where she led marketing recruiting. Prior to PIMCO, she launched Highline Staffing, a firm that specialized in the recruitment and placement of capital raising and investment professionals for leading asset management firms globally. From 2005 to 2009, Schiffman was an institutional relationship manager for marketing and client management at Prisma Capital Partners, where she focused on business development and raising assets across strategies in the alternative investment industry. She was also involved with recruiting on the buyside, helping to expand global footprints. Schiffman began her career on the buyside with Sanford C. Bernstein, managing the firm's esteemed research department.
"I'm excited to join such a dedicated and passionate group at Jensen Partners, whose unique vision and platform has solidified its place as the industry's leading data-driven talent solutions resource," said Schiffman. "Jensen Partners' mission-driven and highly impactful integrated recruitment strategy has quickly become the gold standard in the alternative asset management space, and I look forward to contributing to the important work that Sasha and her team are doing."
About Jensen Partners
Jensen Partners is a global advisory, corporate development and executive search firm that leverages its extensive relationships in the investor and alternative asset management community to source and recruit leading capital raising and investment candidates. The Firm takes a data-driven approach, combining quantitative and qualitative insights to source and place the ideal human capital. In addition to executive search, Jensen Partners offers LP/GP referencing, proprietary 360° Investor Referencing™ methodology, and compensation benchmarking and analysis. Known globally as a leader in the asset management space for its transformative talent and DEI solutions, Jensen Partners has been named one of the world's most innovative companies with fewer than 100 employees by Fast Company; the "Best Recruiter" in Europe by Hedgeweek and Private Equity Wire; and the top DEI provider within Operations and Service by Fund Intelligence. To learn more, please visit www.jensen-partners.com.
About Jensen DiversityMetrics™
Jensen DiversityMetrics™ combines rich diversity analytics with the latest research from the field of human capital management, providing an objective, 360 degree view of where a firm stands on DEI and how they can make meaningful progress towards a more diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce, including: verified demographic data for more than 25,000 investment and distribution professionals from across the industry, a candidate pipeline of over 8,000 investment and distribution professionals who self-identify as having a diverse background and a proprietary scoring algorithm that enables objective DEI comparisons across firms and industries. With Jensen DiversityMetrics™, firms can benchmark against competitors, develop diverse candidate pipelines, analyze hiring and retention practices, identify biases in workplace culture and report progress to investors.
Jensen Partners publishes JensenDiversityMetrics™ data and insights in its quarterly newsletter. To sign up for Jensen Partners' newsletters, please visit: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/tbmquk0.
Media Contacts
Prosek Partners
Max Berger
mberger@prosek.com
215-595-3696
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SOURCE Jensen Partners | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/jensen-partners-establishes-presence-southwestern-us-with-new-office-location-senior-appointment/ | 2023-07-31T13:38:50 | 1 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/jensen-partners-establishes-presence-southwestern-us-with-new-office-location-senior-appointment/ |
Though the NBC ATV show only lasted for four seasons, “ALF” still holds a grip on the pop-cultural memory.
And now, for all of you who’ve been aching to introduce your kids to the snarky, cat-hungry alien, he’s coming back. Actor and businessman Ryan Reynolds is bringing the original series to his new TV project, the Maximum Effort Channel.
And if “Maximum Effort” sounds antithetical to the Gordon Shumway ethos — ALF really hated to work — don’t worry. Reynolds is a longtime fan.
The show isn’t back as a full sitcom. Instead, Reynolds’ network is creating shorts that highlight specific brands. He’s even brought original “ALF” producer and voice actor Paul Fusco on board to create the short, sponsored videos starring the alien himself.
“At Maximum Effort, we love taking risks and blurring the lines between shows and sponsorship because we believe both can be equally entertaining,” Reynolds said in Entertainment Weekly. “Besides my irrational love of ‘ALF’ growing up, one of the reasons we licensed this show was precisely because Paul, Shout! Studios and our intrepid brand partners wanted to plot with us to bring ALF back to life.”
The shorts, called “Maximum Moments,” will air like commercials, interspersed with old episodes of the show. The Maximum Effort Channel is available to stream for free on services like Tubi, Freevee, Fubo and Plex.
As the channel says on its website, Maximum Effort is a collection of “classic and original shows, movies and commercials created to lower the blood pressure of Ryan Reynolds and viewers like you.”
Here’s one of the shorts, advertising Reynolds’ Mint Mobile service.
MORE: ‘Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom’ returning after 35 years
“ALF” ran on NBC from 1986 to 1990, telling the story of the alien who is the last survivor of his planet. One fateful day, he crash-lands into the average suburban garage of average suburban family, the Tanners.
Naturally, the adults are disturbed. But the kids are thrilled! The family names him ALF — for Alien Life Form — and invites him to secretly live in their home. Little do they know, ALF/Gordon fancies himself a comedian, and loves to hang around the house cracking jokes. (“Ha! I kill me,” is a famous catchphrase.)
There’s also a running gag where ALF tries to eat the family cat — cat’s a delicacy on Melmac — but mostly he just hangs out and roasts everyone else.
“ALF” ended up with 102 episodes, along with 21 episodes of an animated spinoff called “ALF: The Animated Series,” another animated show called “ALF Tales,” and a wrap-up TV movie called “Project: ALF.” Fans may be seeing more of ALF, too, as Shout Factory, who owns the distribution rights, has been looking to give the character more exposure.
”ALF” began airing on Maximum Effort on July 29.
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Check out Simplemost for additional stories. | https://www.lex18.com/ryan-reynolds-brought-alf-back-to-tv-on-his-new-channel | 2023-07-31T13:38:55 | 0 | https://www.lex18.com/ryan-reynolds-brought-alf-back-to-tv-on-his-new-channel |
Report Outlines Company's Progress Toward Its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Goals
ST. LOUIS, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global packaging leader TricorBraun today published its inaugural Sustainability report, outlining its progress toward its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals.
"We are pleased to present our first-ever Sustainability Report, which brings to life our commitments to sustainable and ethical practices," said Court Carruthers, president and CEO, TricorBraun. "Our team is guided by the principle that we do things the right way always, and this naturally extends to our environmental, social, and governance (ESG) impacts—including helping our customers with their own ESG goals by offering sustainable packaging options while improving our own environmental footprint."
Key highlights from the report include these 2022 milestones:
- Reduced our carbon footprint and incorporated international operations into our Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory
- Sourced renewable energy to further reduce negative climate impacts
- Piloted our first Zero-Waste program in multiple locations across North America
- Further protected our team members by creating a Warehousing Roundtable which emphasizes dock, forklift, and 5S safety programs
- Supported open communications channels that are accessible for all team members by relaunching the TricorBraun Ethics Hub to include additional languages, international access, and mobile reporting
- Established exclusive agreements to offer sustainable packaging options to customers in the US, Canada, and Europe
"The release of our first Sustainability report is a significant milestone as our team continues to work tirelessly in pursuit of achieving our ESG goals," said Susan Bergethon, SVP & general counsel, and leader of the Company's ESG strategy. "We are pleased with our progress to date, and we look forward to making continued progress toward our intentional ESG goals for the benefit of our team members, our customers, our business—and our planet."
To read the full report and learn more about TricorBraun's ESG goals, visit https://www.tricorbraun.com/about-us/esg-at-tricorbraun/2022-sustainability-report.html.
About TricorBraun
Founded in 1902, TricorBraun is a global packaging leader. We provide innovative solutions across a wide array of customer end markets in plastic, glass, and aluminum containers, closures, dispensers, tubes, and flexibles. Our award-winning Design & Engineering Center provides forward-thinking design, driven by consumer insight and creative solutions. TricorBraun is comprised of more than 2,000 packaging professionals operating from more than 100 locations across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
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SOURCE TricorBraun | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/tricorbraun-issues-inaugural-sustainability-report/ | 2023-07-31T13:38:55 | 1 | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/tricorbraun-issues-inaugural-sustainability-report/ |
WASHINGTON, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- We the Veterans and Military Families, a non-profit, non-partisan, pro-democracy organization (formerly We the Veterans), today announced that Jeremy Butler will join the team as the Chief Growth Officer, effective July 24, 2023. He will serve on We the Veterans' Executive Team, working with Executive Director Ellen Gustafson and Executive Chairman Ben Keiser.
"Jeremy's extensive experience in the veteran community will be an invaluable addition to our team as we expand our pro-democracy work nationally," said Ellen Gustafson, Executive Director of We the Veterans and Military Families. "Jeremy has an incredible track record of success advocating for America's veteran community as a transformative leader."
Jeremy Butler, a U.S. Navy veteran, joins We the Veterans and Military Families after a distinguished term as the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. Jeremy served on active duty in the Navy from 1999 to 2005 as a surface warfare officer. He currently serves in the U.S. Navy Reserves. Jeremy attended Knox College in Galesburg, IL, where he majored in International Relations. He later received his M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College.
"I'm excited to join We the Veterans and Military Families and help advance their important mission to strengthen our democracy for all Americans," said Mr. Butler. "Our nation does its best work when we come together and work for the common good."
About: We the Veterans and Military Families was founded in 2021 by veterans and military family members. Our mission is to empower the veteran and military family community to strengthen American democracy by promoting patriotic civic engagement. In 2022, WtV&MF organized the +30 member Vet the Vote coalition and recruited more than 63,500 veterans and family members to serve as volunteer election poll workers nationwide.
Media Contact
Joe Plenzler
LtCol, USMC(ret.)
joe.plenzler@wetheveterans.us
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SOURCE We the Veterans and Military Families | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/jeremy-butler-joins-newly-renamed-we-veterans-military-families-chief-growth-officer/ | 2023-07-31T13:38:57 | 1 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/jeremy-butler-joins-newly-renamed-we-veterans-military-families-chief-growth-officer/ |
Achieves Autism Double-Checked certification for select resort brands in Mexico and the Dominican Republic
MIAMI, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- This week, Karisma Hotels & Resorts, in partnership with Autism Double-Checked, is pleased to announce the introduction of the world's first-ever Autism Concierge. providing a dedicated contact for all autism-related questions and serving as an extension of the Autism Double-Checked comprehensive three-part training program.
Karisma Hotels & Resorts is the first hotel group to offer an Autism Concierge, which encourages guests traveling with a child with autism or adult guests with autism to ask about specific needs through a concierge contact found within the resort's visitor guide. Guests looking for support as they plan their vacation can contact the Autism Concierge by emailing autism_concierge@karismahotels.com.
"We continually work to exceed our guests' expectations by adapting ourselves to their needs," said Daniel Lozano, Vice President of Operations at Karisma Hotels & Resorts. "In addition to ongoing training, this added resource will assure guests that we take their concerns seriously and that we want them to feel at home at our resorts."
Every member of Karisma Hotels & Resorts staff has completed a number of Autism Double-Checked courses in "Assisting Guests with Autism" and all staff that are in contact with guests have been trained in the specific situations that guests with autism may face during their stay. In 2023, Karisma Hotels & Resorts also plans to introduce temporary door alarms (available to guests upon request). These alarms will allow guests to vacation with peace of mind knowing their loved ones are safe and secure. These initiatives exist as part of Karisma Hotels & Resorts overarching inclusion efforts.
Autism Double-Checked was created to prepare the travel industry to better serve guests with autism through industry-specific and job-specific training for all public-facing staff. It also assists the autism community to confidently select travel opportunities that best fit their needs. The autism community in the U.S. is approximately 25 million people who, according to Autism Double-Checked, are eager to travel and are brand loyal to companies that understand their needs. The training includes three stages: general basic training for all staff, specific training per department, and the development of a site-specific visitor guide to assist parents, caregivers, and visitors with autism. Once a hotel has completed all three phases, it obtains the "Autism Double-Checked" Certificate, indicating that it is ready, willing, and able to welcome families and guests impacted by autism.
"Inclusion is only possible if you truly understand the population you wish to include," said Autism Double-Checked Co-Founder and CEO Alan Day. "It takes specialized training to understand and address the specific needs of travelers with autism, and we're proud to help bring understanding and compassion to our travel industry partners. Karisma Hotels & Resorts has been truly dedicated to undertaking this training and pursuing their vision of diversity and inclusion."
In Mexico, staff at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya, Margaritaville Beach Resort Riviera Cancún, Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancún, Generations Riviera Maya, El Dorado Royale, El Dorado Casitas Royale, El Dorado Maroma, El Dorado Seaside Suites, and Palafitos Overwater Bungalows, and in the Dominican Republic, staff at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana and Margaritaville Beach Resort Cap Cana, have now completed the more intensive stage of training that allows them to be certified as Autism Double-Checked.
For more information about Karisma Hotels & Resorts or for questions about an upcoming stay, visit karismahotels.com/austimdoublechecked or email the Autism Concierge directly at autism_concierge@karismahotels.com.
About Karisma Hotels & Resorts
Karisma Hotels & Resorts is an award-winning luxury hotel collection that owns and manages an impressive portfolio of properties in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe. Property brands include Margaritaville Beach Resorts, part of the Island Reserve® Inclusive Collection by Karisma; Margaritaville St. Somewhere by Karisma; El Dorado Spa Resorts by Karisma; Azul Beach Resorts by Karisma; Generations Resorts by Karisma; Hidden Beach Resort by Karisma; and Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts. Properties have been honored with the industry's top accolades, including Conde Nast Traveler's "Top 100 Hotels in the World," Conde Nast Traveler's "Top 30 Hotels in Cancun," TripAdvisor® Traveler's Choice "Best Hotels for Romance," and AAA's "Five Diamond Award" and "Four Diamond Award." Karisma Hotels & Resorts is committed to employee and community support while delivering authentic experiences to guests, receiving worldwide recognition for its compassionate and creative approach to hospitality management and product innovations.
About Autism Double-Checked
Autism Double-Checked provides an online autism awareness training and certification program that has been specifically designed to make autism inclusion simple and profitable for the travel industry - airlines, hotels, tour operators and travel agents. Based in Connecticut, the organization was founded in 2015 by two lifetime travel professionals and leading experts on traveling with autism who are also parents to special needs children. Studies show that one in 36 children, in the United States, is impacted by autism (per CDC 2023). Most families with an autistic child avoid taking family vacations due to concerns about their child's reaction to all the unfamiliar stimuli they will confront outside of their routine 'comfort bubble' at home. Autism Double-Checked works with its travel industry partners to ensure training and resources are in place to give this travel segment confidence that they are included and welcomed as travelers.
Media Contact:
Karisma Hotels & Resorts
McKenzie Pickett, Alliance Connection
mckenzie@allianceconnection.com
Autism Double-Checked
Matt Harrison, August
ADC@augustco.com
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SOURCE Karisma Hotels & Resorts | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/karisma-hotels-amp-resorts-launches-autism-concierge/ | 2023-07-31T13:39:01 | 0 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/karisma-hotels-amp-resorts-launches-autism-concierge/ |
DUBLIN, Calif., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TriNet Group, Inc. (NYSE: TNET), a leading provider of comprehensive and flexible human capital management (HCM) solutions for small and medium-size businesses (SMBs), today announced its plan to launch a fixed price tender offer (the "Tender Offer") to repurchase approximately $640 million in value of shares of TriNet common stock (the "shares") at a price of $107.00 per share, which is expected to commence on August 1, 2023. In addition, the Company signed a separate agreement on July 30, 2023 (the "Repurchase Agreement") to repurchase a minimum of approximately $360 million in value of shares from affiliates of its largest stockholder, Atairos Group, Inc. (collectively, "Atairos"). Assuming the Tender Offer is fully subscribed, both transactions together will result in the repurchase of approximately $1 billion in shares.
"Today is an exciting day for TriNet as we announce our intention to launch transactions to buy back $1 billion of TriNet stock," said Burton M. Goldfield, TriNet's President and CEO. "For some time, we have believed that TriNet's stock represents significant value, especially in light of our recent financial and operating performance. With our optimism around our long-term outlook, we believe now is a great time to take bold action around our capital structure."
"We have long valued Atairos' share ownership and Board of Directors participation," Goldfield continued. "As a part of these buybacks, Atairos intends to maintain its current approximate pro rata percentage ownership, but has also agreed to sell additional shares if our tender offer is undersubscribed, potentially reducing their ownership to no less than 30%. We welcome their continued ownership and Board participation."
"TriNet is a dynamic growth company with a proven business model and strong corporate cash flows," said Kelly Tuminelli, TriNet's Chief Financial Officer. "Through this action, we are using our financial resources to reduce TriNet's overall weighted average cost of capital. This is in line with our recently announced financial policy, while accreting long term value for all of our shareholders."
The Tender Offer will provide that the Company repurchase for cash up to 5,981,308 shares (representing approximately $640 million in value of shares) at a price of $107.00 per share (the "Purchase Price"), less any applicable withholding taxes and without interest. The Tender Offer is expected to commence on August 1, 2023 and expire at 12:00 midnight, New York City time, at the end of the day on August 28, 2023 (the "Expiration Date"), unless extended or terminated.
The Repurchase Agreement, which was executed on July 30, 2023, provides that TriNet will repurchase for cash a minimum of 3,364,486 shares (representing approximately $360 million in value of shares) from Atairos at the purchase price set forth in the Tender Offer, but not less than $107.00 per share (the "Atairos Commitment Amount"). Atairos beneficially owns 21,450,259 shares as of the date hereof (representing approximately 36% of the Company's outstanding shares as of July 27, 2023) and, assuming the full subscription of the Tender Offer, Atairos will continue to own approximately 36% of the Company's outstanding shares following the repurchase.
If the Tender Offer is not fully subscribed, but at least 3,644,859 shares are properly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Tender Offer, Atairos has agreed to increase the number of shares to be sold to the Company under the Repurchase Agreement and will sell an additional number of shares equal to the difference between the number of shares offered to be repurchased pursuant to the Tender Offer and the number of shares actually repurchased in the Tender Offer such that the total share value of both transactions remains $1 billion; provided that such increase does not cause Atairos to beneficially own less than 33% of the Company's outstanding shares immediately following the closing of the Share Repurchase (taking into account the shares purchased in the Tender Offer), which percent may be further reduced to 30% at Atairos' sole discretion. If the Tender Offer is not fully subscribed and fewer than 3,644,859 shares are properly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Tender Offer, the Company will repurchase that number of shares properly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Tender Offer and, unless Atairos agrees to further reduce its ownership level, the Company will repurchase only the Atairos Commitment Amount from Atairos under the Repurchase Agreement.
The Share Repurchase is expected to close on the 11th business day following the Expiration Date, or September 13, 2023. The Share Repurchase is conditioned upon, among other matters, the completion of the Tender Offer, which, in turn, is subject to certain conditions, including the receipt of financing. These transactions will be made under TriNet's $1 billion stock repurchase program increase announced on July 26, 2023.
Assuming that the conditions to the Tender Offer are satisfied or waived and the Tender Offer is fully subscribed, the Company would purchase 5,981,308 shares pursuant to the Tender Offer and 3,364,486 shares pursuant to the Share Repurchase for an aggregate of 9,345,794 shares, representing approximately 16% of the Company's outstanding shares as of July 27, 2023.
The Tender Offer and the Share Repurchase have been authorized and approved by the Company's Board of Directors, the Finance and Audit Committee of the Board of Directors and the members of the Board of Directors who are independent of Atairos. However, neither the Company nor any member of the Board of Directors has made, or is making, any recommendation to stockholders as to whether they should tender or refrain from tendering their shares. Stockholders must make their own decision as to whether to tender their shares and, if so, how many shares to tender. Stockholders are urged to discuss their decisions with their tax advisor, financial advisor and/or broker.
Certain Information Regarding the Tender Offer
The information in this press release describing the Tender Offer is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell shares in the Tender Offer. TriNet has not yet commenced the Tender Offer described herein, and there can be no assurance that TriNet will commence the Tender Offer on the terms described in this press release. The Tender Offer will be made only pursuant to the Offer to Purchase and the related materials that the Company will file with the SEC, and will distribute to its stockholders, as they may be amended or supplemented, on the commencement date of the Tender Offer. Stockholders should read the Offer to Purchase and related materials carefully and in their entirety because they will contain important information, including the terms and conditions of the Tender Offer. When they are available, stockholders of the Company may obtain a free copy of the Tender Offer statement on Schedule TO, the Offer to Purchase and other documents that the Company will file with the SEC from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. When they are available, stockholders also will be able to obtain a copy of these documents, without charge, from D.F. King & Co., Inc., toll free at (800) 431-9643. Stockholders are urged to carefully read all of those materials when they become available prior to making any decision with respect to the Tender Offer.
About TriNet
TriNet (NYSE: TNET) provides small and medium-size businesses with full-service industry-specific HR solutions, providing both professional employer organization and human resources information system services. TriNet offers access to human capital expertise, benefits, risk mitigation, compliance, payroll, and R&D tax credit services, all enabled by industry-leading technology. TriNet's suite of products also includes services and software-based solutions to help streamline workflows by connecting HR, benefits, employee engagement, payroll and time & attendance. Rooted in more than 30 years of supporting entrepreneurs and adapting to the ever-changing modern workplace, TriNet empowers SMBs to focus on what matters most-growing their business and enabling their people.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on TriNet's current expectations. Such statements include TriNet's plan to initiate the Tender Offer and ability to complete the Share Repurchase on the terms and timing described herein, or at all. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including investor demand, market conditions, customary closing conditions and other factors. There can be no assurance that TriNet will complete the Share Repurchase or initiate the Tender Offer. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expected. More information about potential risk factors that could affect TriNet and its results is included in TriNet's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2023 and June 30, 2023. TriNet does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.
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SOURCE TriNet Group, Inc. | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/trinet-group-inc-announces-intention-launch-combined-1-billion-fixed-price-tender-offer-repurchase-atairos-each-price-107-per-share-common-stock/ | 2023-07-31T13:39:01 | 0 | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/trinet-group-inc-announces-intention-launch-combined-1-billion-fixed-price-tender-offer-repurchase-atairos-each-price-107-per-share-common-stock/ |
(The Hill) – Dozens of former Cabinet officials under former President Trump’s administration declined to publicly support the former president’s third bid for the White House, NBC News reported.
NBC News reached out to 44 people who previously served in Trump’s Cabinet during his four years in office to gauge whether they would support the former president during the 2024 presidential election. The outlet reported that most of the people declined to comment or ignored the requests and that only four said publicly they would support Trump for the presidency.
Trump’s Cabinet saw a higher rate of turnover compared with many of his predecessors, with many new officials rotating in and out of his administration over the four years. The only four former Cabinet members who NBC News reached out to who said they would support Trump are former acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, former chief of staff Mark Meadows, former Office of Management and Budget (OMB) director Russell Vought and former acting director of national intelligence Richard Grenell.
A spokesperson for Meadows told NBC News that he “fully” supports Trump. In May, Vought posted on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, that the former president is “the only person I trust to take a wrecking ball to the Deep State.”
Other former administration officials were reluctant to support Trump or have publicly said they will not support him. Former Attorney General Bill Barr told NBC News that he opposes Trump getting the 2024 GOP nomination but declined whether to say he would support him in the general election if pitted against President Biden.
Top Stories from The Hill
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Former chief of staff Mick Mulvaney also said that he does not want Trump to get the Republican nomination for president.
“I am working hard to make sure that someone else is the nominee,” Mulvaney told NBC News. “I think he’s the Republican who is most likely to lose in a general election, of all our leading candidates. If anyone can lose to Joe Biden, it would be him.”
Other former officials who have not endorsed Trump yet include former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, former chief of staff John Kelly and Joseph Maguire and Dan Coats, who each once served as director of national intelligence. Coats told NBC News that he would be supporting former Vice President Mike Pence for the GOP primary.
The Hill has reached out to Trump’s campaign for comment. | https://wgntv.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/dozens-of-former-trump-cabinet-officials-wont-publicly-support-his-2024-bid/ | 2023-07-31T13:39:04 | 0 | https://wgntv.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/dozens-of-former-trump-cabinet-officials-wont-publicly-support-his-2024-bid/ |
The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, Simplemost may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website.
My Facebook feed’s been inundated lately with ads for The Farmer’s Dog, whose tagline is “Dog food that looks like people food.”
I suppose that’s nice, though the fact that my dog’s food doesn’t resemble mine hasn’t been a big problem for me. In fact, it’s actually been pretty helpful. I’ve never once accidentally chowed down on the Hill’s Science Diet pellets that I serve to Jake and Peppa, my two pups. And, judging by how fast they scarf them down, they’d rather not share their food with me anyway.
But there are some dog treats in grocery stores that might actually lead to accidental ingestion on my part. They’re called Milk-Bone Stacked Biscuits, and they look just like sandwich cookies. According to a customer review at Farm and Fleet, that’s part of the appeal:
“My dog went crazy for these treats,” brbapink commented on the product’s page at Blain’s Farm & Fleet. “They look just like regular cookies, so he was very excited to try it. They smell like peanut butter and my dog absolutely love peanut butter. They are good size and have a good scent and texture.”
I certainly don’t doubt that dogs love these — peanut butter is one of their favorite flavors — but when I look at this plastic tray of cookies, I think, “That looks just like my vanilla sandwich creams!” My next thought is that I better never, ever leave the plastic sleeve on the counter. Someone in my home (myself included) might get the wrong idea about who it’s for.
MORE: What you should know about cooking up homemade dog food
These dog snacks are available at most supermarkets, as well as Amazon (where you can buy a 30-ounce box for $10.59), Target, Blain’s Farm & Fleet and Walmart (where you can buy a 10-ounce box for $4.28). The cream inside is a combination of molasses and peanut butter flavors. And if you do accidentally eat one, be assured that at least there are no artificial preservatives, colors or fillers.
In fact, according to Medium, food products for dogs are regulated by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), which mandates that animal food be safe to eat.
Just don’t make a habit of it!
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Check out Simplemost for additional stories. | https://www.lex18.com/these-dog-treats-look-just-like-sandwich-cookies-for-humans | 2023-07-31T13:39:06 | 1 | https://www.lex18.com/these-dog-treats-look-just-like-sandwich-cookies-for-humans |
After years of financial struggles, one of the largest freight carriers in the United States has reached the end of the road. Nashville, Tennessee-based Yellow Corp. has ceased all operations and filed for bankruptcy, putting some 30,000 workers out of a job.
The collapse comes less than three years after Yellow accepted a $700 million pandemic-era bailout from the U.S. government in exchange for a 30% stake in the company. That loan allowed the company to stay afloat throughout its restructuring plan, but the company says economic headwinds and a contract dispute with its workers union put the company in a dicey financial position.
SEE MORE: Strike averted: UPS reaches tentative deal with 340K unionized workers
The International brotherhood of Teamsters, which represents some 22,000 unionized Yellow workers, called the bankruptcy "unfortunate but not surprising."
"Yellow has historically proven that it could not manage itself despite billions of dollars in worker concessions and hundreds of millions in bailout funding from the federal government," Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien said in a statement. "This is a sad day for workers and the American freight industry."
Formerly known as YRC Worldwide, Inc., Yellow is one of the nation's largest less-than-truckload carriers. The company currently holds more than $1.5 billion in outstanding debt and and its stock is now trading at less than $1 per share.
In May, the company reported a $54.6 million loss in the first quarter of 2023.
Trending stories at Scrippsnews.com | https://www.lex18.com/trucking-firm-yellow-corp-files-for-bankruptcy-ceases-all-operations | 2023-07-31T13:39:06 | 0 | https://www.lex18.com/trucking-firm-yellow-corp-files-for-bankruptcy-ceases-all-operations |
Customer stories from Boeing, Bell Canada, CVS Health, and ServiceNow added to 2023 SAFe Summit Nashville lineup
BOULDER, Colo., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Scaled Agile, Inc. has announced the lineup of keynotes and speakers for the 2023 SAFe® Summit Nashville which takes place August 15 - 18, 2023 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. The event represents the world's largest convergence of SAFe professionals and industry thought leaders focused on using SAFe to stay resilient amidst a rapidly-changing world by practicing Agile methods and cultivating strong organizational cultures.
The multi-day event offers keynotes, technical talks, customer stories, Lighting Talks, post-event workshops, and the popular SAFe Experts Coaching Station. Other opportunities include Partner Marketplace, Product Labs, Industry Roundtables, and Women in Agile.
Key Dates
- August 16 - 17: Main conference and evening receptions
- August 18: Post-conference workshops
"With tech modernization a critical focus for business leaders, smart portfolio management has become increasingly important to ensure that technology improvements impact the entire organization," said Chris James, CEO of Scaled Agile, Inc. "With that in mind, we're delighted to welcome leaders from FedEx and Accenture to share how FedEx's innovative approach to portfolio management at the top level of the corporation enabled them to apply full force to the most important investments in a way that would make a big difference to the whole company."
Highlights include:
- Keynote: The Power of True Enterprise Business Agility. FedEx's EVP Global IT, Ken Spangler, and Steve Davis, Managing Director, Accenture, will explore the challenges faced by FedEx, the breakthroughs that made agility possible, and the powerful results they achieved with SAFe
- Keynote: Vinicius Pabon, CDO GM Digital Transformation of Petrobras, shares how one of the world's largest producers of oil and gas leveraged SAFe to shift mindsets and language among leaders and engineers
- Customer stories from Boeing, Bell Canada, CVS, and ServiceNow provide rare behind-the-scenes stories of collaboration, challenges, and wins
- Keynote: Chief Methodologists Dean Leffingwell and Andrew Sales will present "The Secret to Empowering Teams and Accelerating Flow"
- Post-conference workshops: Applying SAFe Across the Enterprise, Coaching Flow & Kanban in SAFe, Measure What Matters, Unsticking Your SAFe Transformation: A Change Leadership Perspective, and Value Stream Identification for Really Big Systems
Attendees seeking SAFe consulting, training, or platform solutions can connect with more than 30 sponsor exhibitors, including Accenture, Apptio, Broadcom, Inc., Cornerstone Agility, Inc., monday.com, NTT Data, and Seibert Media GmbH (Agile Hive).
Registration is open at safesummit.com/2023nashville.
About Scaled Agile, Inc.:
Scaled Agile, Inc. is the provider of SAFe®, the world's most trusted system for business agility. Through integrated solutions that help teams unlock better ways of working, Scaled Agile is redefining the way the world's leading organizations identify and deliver customer value, capitalize on emerging opportunities, and improve business outcomes. Over 20,000 businesses and government agencies rely on SAFe and Scaled Agile's Global Partner Network to accelerate digital innovation and compete in a fast-changing marketplace. Learn more at scaledagile.com.
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PYEONGTAEK, South Korea (AP) — The dogs bark and stare as Kim Jong-kil approaches the rusty cages housing the large, short-haired animals he sells for their meat. Kim opens a door and pets one dog’s neck and chest.
Kim says he’s proud of the dog meat farm that has supported his family for 27 years but is upset over growing attempts by politicians and activists to outlaw the business, which he is turning over to his children.
“It’s more than just feeling bad. I absolutely oppose these moves, and we’ll mobilize all our means to resist it,” Kim, 57, said in an interview at his farm in Pyeongtaek city, just south of Seoul.
Dog meat consumption is a centuries-old practice on the Korean Peninsula and has long been viewed as a source of stamina on hot summer days. It’s neither explicitly banned nor legalized in South Korea, but more and more people want it prohibited. There’s increasing public awareness of animal rights and worries about South Korea’s international image.
The anti-dog meat campaign recently received a big boost when the country’s first lady expressed her support for a ban and two lawmakers submitted bills to eliminate the dog meat trade.
“Foreigners think South Korea is a cultural powerhouse. But the more K-culture increases its international standing, the bigger shock foreigners experience over our dog meat consumption,” said Han Jeoungae, an opposition lawmaker who submitted legislation to outlaw the dog meat industry last month.
Prospects for passage of an anti-dog meat law are unclear because of protests by farmers, restaurant owners and others involved in the dog meat industry. Surveys suggest that one in three South Koreans opposes such a ban, though most people don’t eat dog meat anymore.
Dogs are also eaten in China, Vietnam, Indonesia, North Korea and some African countries, including Ghana, Cameroon, Congo and Nigeria.
Earlier this month, Indonesian authorities announced the end of dog and cat slaughter at an animal market on the island of Sulawesi following a yearslong campaign by local activists and world celebrities. The Tomohon Extreme Market will become the first such market in Indonesia to go dog and cat meat-free, according to the anti-animal cruelty group Humane Society International.
South Korea’s dog meat industry receives more international attention because of its reputation as a wealthy, ultra-modern democracy. It is also the only nation with industrial-scale farms. Most farms in South Korea have more than 500 dogs, according to a dog farmers’ association.
During a recent visit, Kim’s farm, one of the country’s largest with 7,000 dogs, appeared relatively clean but there was a strong stench in some areas. All dogs are kept in elevated cages and are fed with food waste and ground chicken. They are rarely released for exercise and typically are sold for meat one year after they are born.
Kim said two of his children, age 29 and 31, are running the farm with him, and that business has been going pretty well. He said the dogs bred for their meat are different from pets, an idea opposed by activists.
It’s difficult now to find dog meat restaurants in Seoul’s bustling downtown, though many still exit in the countryside.
“I only earn one-third of the money I used to make. Young people don’t come here. Only ailing old people come for lunch,” said Yoon Chu-wol, 77, the owner of a dog meat restaurant in Seoul’s Kyungdong traditional market. “I tell my elderly customers to come and eat my food more frequently before it’s banned.”
Farmers also face growing scrutiny from officials and increasingly negative public opinion. They complain that officials visit them repeatedly in response to complaints filed by activists and citizens over alleged animal abuse and other wrongdoing. Kim said more than 90 such petitions were filed against his farm during a recent four-month span.
Son Won Hak, general secretary of the dog farmers’ association, said many farms have collapsed in recent years because of falling dog meat prices and weaker demand. He thinks that’s a result of activist campaigns and unfair media reports focusing on farms with inferior conditions. Some observers, however, say consumption of dog meat was already declining, with younger people staying away from it.
“Quite honestly, I’d like to quit my job (as a farmer) tomorrow. We can’t confidently tell our children that we’re raising dogs,” Son said. “When my friends called me, they said ‘Hey, are you still running a dog meat farm? Isn’t it illegal?’”
The number of farms across South Korea has dropped by half from a few years ago to about 3,000 to 4,000, and about 700,000 to 1 million dogs are slaughtered each year, a decline from several million 10 to 20 years ago, according to the dog farmers’ association. Some activists argue that the farmers’ estimates are an exaggeration meant to show their industry is too big to destroy.
In late 2021, South Korea launched a government-civilian task force to consider outlawing dog meat at the suggestion of then-President Moon Jae-in, a pet lover. The committee, whose members include farmers and animal rights activists, has met more than 20 times but hasn’t reached any agreement, apparently because of disputes over compensation issues.
Agriculture officials refused to disclose the discussions in the closed-door meetings. They said the government wants to end dog meat consumption based on a public consensus.
In April, first lady Kim Keon Hee, the wife of current President Yoon Suk Yeol, said in a meeting with activists that she hopes for an end to dog meat consumption. Famers responded with rallies and formal complaints against Kim for allegedly hurting their livelihoods.
Han, the lawmaker, said she “highly positively appraises” influential figures speaking out against dog meat consumption.
Han said her bill offers support programs for farmers who agree to close their farms. They would be entitled to money to dismantle their facilities, vocational training, employment assistance and other benefits, she said.
Ju Yeongbong, an official of the farmers’ association, said farmers want to continue for about 20 more years until older people, their main customers, die, allowing the industry to naturally disappear. Observers say most farmers are also in their 60s to 70s.
Borami Seo, a director of the South Korea office of the Humane Society International, said she opposes the continued killing of millions of dogs for such a prolonged period. “Letting this silent cruelty to (dogs) be committed in South Korea doesn’t make sense,” Seo said.
“(Dog meat consumption) is too anachronistic, has elements of cruelty to animals and hinders our national growth,” said Cheon JinKyung, head of Korea Animal Rights Advocates in Seoul. | https://wgntv.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/eat-my-food-dog-meat-farmers-in-s-korea-resist-push-to-ban-industry/ | 2023-07-31T13:39:10 | 1 | https://wgntv.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/eat-my-food-dog-meat-farmers-in-s-korea-resist-push-to-ban-industry/ |
New dispensary delivers on brand promise of product quality and variety with convenient locations
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE: TRUL) (OTCQX: TCNNF) ("Trulieve" or "the Company"), a leading and top-performing cannabis company in the United States, announced the relocation of a medical dispensary in Kissimmee, Fla. located at 2647 E. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy. The dispensary will be open 9AM – 8:30PM Monday through Saturday and 11AM – 8PM on Sunday.
"Trulieve is committed to offering our Florida patients a broad selection of convenient locations and top-quality products to choose from, while also providing for best-in-class customer service," said Trulieve's Chief Executive Officer Kim Rivers. "This new location delivers on that commitment and we will continue to seek new opportunities to better serve this community."
Trulieve invites the Kissimmee community to join in celebrating this new dispensary on Friday, August 4 with partner giveaways, music, food trucks, specials discounts and more, starting at 9 AM. Trulieve also offers statewide home delivery, convenient online ordering and in-store pickup. As always, all first-time guests are eligible for a 60% new customer discount at any Florida-based location.
Designed to meet every patient's needs, our portfolio of in-house brands includes Alchemy, Co2lors, Cultivar Collection, Modern Flower, Momenta, Muse, Roll One, Sweet Talk and Trekkers. Customers also have access to beloved brands such as Alien Labs, Bhang, Binske, Black Tuna, Blue River, Connected Cannabis, DeLisioso, Khalifa Kush, Love's Oven, Miami Mango, Old Hippie Stash, O.Pen, Seed Junky and Sunshine Cannabis, all available exclusively at Trulieve in Florida.
For more information, or to learn how to become a registered patient, please visit Trulieve.com and connect on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
About Trulieve
Trulieve is an industry leading, vertically integrated cannabis company and multi-state operator in the U.S., with established hubs in the Northeast, Southeast, and Southwest, anchored by leading market positions in Arizona, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Trulieve is poised for accelerated growth and expansion, building scale in retail and distribution in new and existing markets through its hub strategy. By providing innovative, high-quality products across its brand portfolio, Trulieve delivers optimal customer experiences and increases access to cannabis, helping patients and customers to live without limits. Trulieve is listed on the CSE under the symbol TRUL and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol TCNNF. For more information, please visit Trulieve.com.
Facebook: @Trulieve
Instagram: @Trulieve_
Twitter: @Trulieve
Investor Contact
Christine Hersey, Vice President of Investor Relations
+1 (424) 202-0210
Christine.Hersey@Trulieve.com
Media Contact
Teresa Coulter, VancoreJones Communications
+1 (407) 808-6139
TCoulter@vancorejones.com
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SOURCE Trulieve Cannabis Corp. | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/trulieve-opening-relocated-medical-marijuana-dispensary-kissimmee-florida/ | 2023-07-31T13:39:15 | 1 | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/trulieve-opening-relocated-medical-marijuana-dispensary-kissimmee-florida/ |
Walker Healthcare and Walker Healthcare IT rebrand as Walker Healthforce, revolutionizing the industry through expertise and innovation in healthcare nursing, IT and allied health solutions
BOSTON, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Walker Healthforce, the newly formed brand resulting from the integration of Walker Healthcare and Walker Healthcare IT, is excited to announce its debut as the leading provider of healthcare IT and clinical solutions. With end-to-end healthcare consulting services and a renewed vision, Walker Healthforce is set to redefine staffing and consulting solutions in the healthcare industry, offering unparalleled value to the workforce, healthcare payers, and clinical ecosystems.
Under the leadership of Founder and CEO Tifiany Walker, Walker Healthforce has dedicated nearly two decades to transforming healthcare through specialized services. The rebranding signifies the company's commitment to advancing the industry and providing comprehensive solutions that meet the evolving needs of its clients.
"We are delighted to introduce Walker Healthforce as the result of our years' of expertise in the healthcare domain," said Tifiany Walker. "Our unwavering focus on healthcare, combined with our investment in cutting-edge technology, top-tier talent, and robust infrastructure, positions us as the ultimate resource for hospital networks, healthcare organizations, nurses, IT professionals, and payer systems. We are proud to usher in a new era of innovation in healthcare solutions."
Walker Healthforce stands out by embracing the belief that specialists outperform generalists in the healthcare landscape. By merging the core competencies of IT, clinical expertise, and allied health services, the company offers a comprehensive suite of 360-degree solutions. The company's proprietary vetting-2-validation process yields the top 20%, ensuring that every client's needs are met, emphasizing a solutions-oriented mindset that sets Walker Healthforce apart.
The industry expertise of Walker Healthforce includes in-depth IT and clinical experience, catering to the requirements of Healthcare Payer and Provider organizations to address the challenges within healthcare today. A team of dedicated experts delivers customizable recruitment solutions with unrivaled timeliness and efficiency, providing immediate and lasting value-added results in areas such as Care Management, Case Management, Data Analytics, Utilization Review, and NCQA &/or HEDIS audits.
According to recent industry reports, healthcare staffing needs have become increasingly challenging, with demand consistently outpacing supply. The healthcare sector faces a shortage of skilled professionals across various disciplines, including physicians, nurses, and allied health workers. This trend is further compounded by the aging population, driving up the demand for healthcare services.
Additionally, the rapid advancement of technology in healthcare has created a demand for specialized IT professionals capable of effectively implementing and managing complex systems. These staffing challenges have significant implications for healthcare organizations, as they strive to maintain high-quality patient care and meet regulatory requirements. Walker Healthforce is leading the way in addressing the evolving staffing needs of the healthcare industry by providing tailored solutions and accessing top-tier talent.
The success of Walker Healthforce is rooted in its proven methodologies. The company's 10-Step vetting-2-validation process guarantees the selection of the most qualified candidates, resulting in an unmatched industry completion rate of 95%. Furthermore, Walker Healthforce proudly boasts a remarkable 94% Dun & Bradstreet score for customer satisfaction, support, and reliability, underscoring the trust clients place in the company's services. By attracting and nurturing exceptional talent, Walker Healthforce ensures the delivery of outstanding results to its valued clients.
With the rebranding to Walker Healthforce, the company paves the way for a future defined by innovative solutions, unrivaled expertise, and an unwavering commitment to the healthcare industry. To learn more about Walker Healthforce and its comprehensive offerings, please visit www.walkerhealthforce.com.
About Walker Healthforce
Walker Healthforce is a premier healthcare clinical solutions provider (formerly Walker Healthcare and Walker Healthcare IT). With a dedicated focus on healthcare, Walker Healthforce offers end-to-end healthcare solutions that combine IT, clinical expertise, and allied health services to address the unique challenges of the industry. By attracting top talent and leveraging cutting-edge technology, Walker Healthforce delivers extraordinary value to healthcare payers, providers and other audiences. For more information, visit www.walkerhealthforce.com.
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SOURCE Walker Healthforce | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/walker-healthforce-redefines-healthcare-staffing-consulting/ | 2023-07-31T13:39:16 | 1 | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/walker-healthforce-redefines-healthcare-staffing-consulting/ |
(CNN) — Former President Donald Trump’s political action committee, Save America, has spent more than $40 million on legal fees since the start of this year, a source familiar with the matter told CNN.
The PAC, which raises most of its funds through small-dollar donations from Trump’s supporters, is expected to report to the Federal Election Commission on Monday that it spent $40.2 million on legal costs in the first half of the year – more than double the amount the group spent on legal fees in all of 2022.
Save America spent over $16 million on legal costs in 2022, according to Federal Election Commission records. The political action committee must file its disclosure report covering the first six months of this year by the end of the day Monday.
The Washington Post first reported the PAC’s spending on legal costs.
Trump’s team argues that the considerable amount of money being spent on defending the former president and members of his inner circle is necessary as Trump’s legal troubles mount.
“In order to combat these heinous actions by Joe Biden’s cronies and to protect these innocent people from financial ruin and prevent their lives from being completely destroyed, the leadership PAC contributed to their legal fees to ensure they have representation against unlawful harassment,” Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung told CNN.
Trump’s team is also creating a legal defense fund to help offset some of the enormous bills incurred, two sources familiar with the planning told CNN on Sunday. The new fund, first reported by The New York Times, is expected to cover the bills of some of Trump’s current and former aides and employees who have been wrapped up in various investigations into the former president. It will be called the Patriot Legal Defense Fund Inc., according to the sources, and will be led by Trump associate and adviser Michael Glassner.
Special counsel Jack Smith brought new charges on Thursday against Trump, his aide Walt Nauta and a third defendant, Carlos De Oliveira, in the case alleging Trump mishandled classified documents after leaving the White House.
The charges included allegations that Trump and his employees attempted to delete Mar-a-Lago security footage sought by the grand jury. Both Nauta and De Oliveira are being represented by attorneys paid for by Trump’s operation.
The former president was also indicted by a Manhattan grand jury on more than 30 counts related to business fraud in March and faces potential charges in the special counsel’s January 6 grand jury investigation, as well as an investigation by the Fulton County District Attorney’s office in Georgia relating to claims of voter fraud after the 2020 election. Trump has expanded his legal team as his legal challenges grow.
This story has been updated with additional developments.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wxow.com/trump-leadership-pac-spends-more-than-40-million-on-legal-fees-amid-indictments/article_73e20860-d618-546c-bd99-ef69cd13856a.html | 2023-07-31T13:39:17 | 0 | https://www.wxow.com/trump-leadership-pac-spends-more-than-40-million-on-legal-fees-amid-indictments/article_73e20860-d618-546c-bd99-ef69cd13856a.html |
PRINCETON, N.J., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- WCG, the global leader in providing solutions that measurably improve the quality, efficiency, and safety of clinical research, today announces the appointment of Donna Snyder, MD, MBE, as Executive Physician. Dr. Snyder's extensive experience and leadership in clinical research, including over a decade with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), will increase WCG's expertise and capabilities to accelerate and advance clinical trials.
As Executive Physician, Dr. Snyder will play a pivotal role in collaborating with clients and stakeholders across WCG's business units. With her training in pediatrics, bioethics, and product and drug development, she brings invaluable expertise gained during her tenure with the FDA and as a practicing physician.
"We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Snyder to WCG," said Sam Srivastava, chief executive officer, WCG. "Dr. Snyder's expertise in drug development and ethical considerations will further strengthen the partnership and solutions WCG offers our clients to support their goals to be more efficient and effective throughout their trials. Her focus on patient-centric care and how it relates to enhanced clinical outcomes will undoubtedly benefit our clients and the patients they serve."
Dr. Snyder has earned widespread recognition as an expert in applying scientific and ethical regulations related to the inclusion of children in clinical research and the development of pediatric products. She has co-authored numerous books and publications, solidifying her position as a respected thought leader in her field. She holds a Master's in Bioethics (MBE) from the University of Pennsylvania, in addition to her MD and Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of Virginia. Furthermore, she completed a fellowship in General Academic Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University.
"I'm delighted to join the exceptionally talented, mission-driven team at WCG," remarked Dr. Snyder. "Additionally, the company's commitment to innovation in clinical research is inspiring. I look forward to playing a role in helping to accelerate clinical research for our clients, while upholding the ethical standards for which WCG is known."
About WCG
WCG is a global leader of solutions that measurably improve and accelerate clinical research. Biopharmaceutical and medical device companies, contract research organizations (CROs), research institutions, and sites partner with us for our unmatched expertise, data intelligence, and purpose-built technology to make informed decisions and optimize study outcomes, while maintaining the highest standards of human participant protection. WCG raises the bar by pioneering new concepts, reimagining processes, fostering compliance and safety, and empowering those who perform clinical trials to accelerate the delivery of medical therapies and devices that improve lives. For more information, please visit wcgclinical.com or follow us on Twitter @WCGClinical or LinkedIn.
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SOURCE WCG | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/wcg-welcomes-donna-snyder-md-mbe-executive-physician/ | 2023-07-31T13:39:19 | 1 | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/wcg-welcomes-donna-snyder-md-mbe-executive-physician/ |
Biden goes west to talk about his administration’s efforts to combat climate change
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will travel to Arizona, New Mexico and Utah next week and is expected to talk about his administration’s efforts to combat climate change as the region endures a brutally hot summer with soaring temperatures, the White House said Monday.
Biden is expected to discuss the Inflation Reduction Act, America’s most significant response to climate change, and the push toward more clean energy manufacturing. The act aims to spur clean energy on a scale that will bend the arc of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
July has been the hottest month ever recorded. Biden last week announced new steps to protect workers in extreme heat, including measures to improve weather forecasts and make drinking water more accessible.
Members of Biden’s administration also are fanning out over the next few weeks around the anniversary of the landmark climate change and health care legislation to extol the administration’s successes as the Democratic president seeks reelection in 2024.
Vice President Kamala Harris heads to Wisconsin this week with Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to talk about broadband infrastructure investments. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack goes to Oregon to highlight wildfire defense grants, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg will go to Illinois and Texas, and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona heads to Maryland to talk about career and technical education programs.
The Inflation Reduction Act included roughly $375 billion over a decade to combat climate change and capped the cost of a month’s supply of insulin at $35 for older Americans and other Medicare beneficiaries. It also helps an estimated 13 million Americans pay for health care insurance by extending subsidies provided during the coronavirus pandemic.
The measure is paid for by new taxes on large companies and stepped-up IRS enforcement of wealthy individuals and entities, with additional funds going to reduce the federal deficit.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kwch.com/2023/07/31/biden-goes-west-talk-about-his-administrations-efforts-combat-climate-change/ | 2023-07-31T13:39:22 | 1 | https://www.kwch.com/2023/07/31/biden-goes-west-talk-about-his-administrations-efforts-combat-climate-change/ |
Yellow is shutting down and headed for bankruptcy, the Teamsters Union says. Here’s what to know
NEW YORK (AP) — Trucking company Yellow Corp. has shut down operations and is headed for a bankruptcy filing, according to the Teamsters Union and multiple media reports.
After years of financial struggles, reports of Yellow preparing for bankruptcy emerged last week — as the Nashville, Tennessee-based trucker saw customers leave in large numbers. Yellow shut down operations on Sunday, according to the Wall Street Journal, following the layoffs of hundreds of nonunion employees on Friday.
In an announcement early Monday, the Teamsters said that the union received legal notice confirming Yellow was ceasing operations and filing for bankruptcy.
“Today’s news is unfortunate but not surprising. Yellow has historically proven that it could not manage itself despite billions of dollars in worker concessions and hundreds of millions in bailout funding from the federal government,” Teamsters general president Sean O’Brien said in a statement. “This is a sad day for workers and the American freight industry.”
The Associated Press reached out to Yellow for comment on Monday. No bankruptcy filings had gone live as of the early morning.
The bankruptcy reports have renewed attention around Yellow’s ongoing negotiations with unionized workers, a $700 million pandemic-era loan from the government and other bills the trucker has racked up over time. Yellow, formerly known as YRC Worldwide Inc., is one of the nation’s largest less-than-truckload carriers. The company’s reported closure puts 30,000 jobs at risk.
Here’s what you need to know.
WHAT WOULD BANKRUPTCY MEAN FOR YELLOW?
According to Satish Jindel, president of transportation and logistics firm SJ Consulting, Yellow handled an average of 49,000 shipments per day in 2022. Last week, he estimated that number was down to between 10,000 and 15,000 daily shipments.
With customers leaving — as well reports of Yellow stopping freight pickups last week — bankruptcy would “be the end of Yellow,” Jindel told The Associated Press, noting increased risk for liquidation.
“The likelihood of them surviving and remaining solvent diminishes really by the day,” added Bruce Chan, a research director at investment banking firm Stifel.
Yellow declined to comment when contacted by The Associated Press on Friday. In a Wednesday statement to The Journal, the company said it was continuing “to prepare for a range of contingencies.” On Thursday, Yellow said it was in talks with multiple parties about selling its third-party logistics organization.
Even if Yellow was able to sell its logistics firm, it would “not generate a sufficient amount of cash to keep them operational on any sort of permanent basis,” Chan said. “Without a major equity injection, it would be very difficult for them to survive.”
HOW MUCH DEBT DOES YELLOW HAVE?
As of late March, Yellow had an outstanding debt of about $1.5 billion. Of that, $729.2 million was owed to the federal government.
In 2020, under the Trump administration, the Treasury Department granted the company a $700 million pandemic-era loan on national security grounds. Last month, a congressional probe concluded that the Treasury and Defense Departments “made missteps” in this decision — and noted that Yellow’s “precarious financial position at the time of the loan, and continued struggles, expose taxpayers to a significant risk of loss.”
The government loan is due in September 2024. As of March, Yellow had made $54.8 million in interest payments and repaid just $230 million of the principal owed, according to government documents.
Yellow’s current finances and prospect of bankruptcy “is probably two decades in the making,” Chan said, pointing to poor management and strategic decisions dating back to the early 2000s. “At this point, after each party has bailed them out so many times, there is a limited appetite to do that anymore.”
In May, Yellow reported a loss of $54.6 million, a decline of $1.06 per share, for its first quarter of 2023. Operating revenue was about $1.16 billion in the period.
A Wednesday investors note from financial service firm Stephens estimated that Yellow could be burning between $9 million and $10 million each day. Using a liquidity disclosure from earlier this month, Yellow had roughly $100 million in cash at the end of June, the note added — estimating that the company has been burning through increasing amounts of money through July.
“It is reasonable to believe that the Company could breach its $35 mil. liquidity requirement at any moment,” Stephens analyst Jack Atkins and associate Grant Smith wrote.
DID THE COMPANY JUST AVERT A STRIKE?
Last week’s reports of bankruptcy preparations arrived just days after a strike from the Teamsters, which represents Yellow’s 22,000 unionized workers, was averted.
A series of heated exchanges have built up between the Teamsters and Yellow, who sued the union in June after alleging it was “unjustifiably blocking” restructuring plans needed for the company’s survival. The Teamsters called the litigation “baseless” — with O’Brien pointing to Yellow’s “decades of gross mismanagement,” which included exhausting the $700 million federal loan.
On July 23, a pension fund agreed to extend health benefits for workers at two Yellow Corp. operating companies, averting a strike — and giving Yellow “30 days to pay its bills,” notably $50 million that Yellow failed to pay the Central States Health and Welfare Fund on July 15, the union said. While the strike didn’t occur, talks of a walkout may have caused some Yellow customers to pull back, Chan said.
“The financial struggles of Yellow are not related to the union and the contracts,” Jindel said, pointing to management’s responsibility around its services and prices. He added the union wages from Yellow are “lower than any competitor.”
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YELLOW WENT UNDER?
As Yellow customers take their shipments to other carriers, like FedEx or ABF Freight, prices will go up.
Yellow’s prices have historically been the cheapest compared to other carriers, Jindel said. “That’s why they obviously were not making money,” he added. “And while there is capacity with the other LTL carriers to handle the diversions from Yellow, it will come at a high price for (current shippers and customers) of Yellow.”
Chan adds that we’re in an interesting time for the LTL marketplace — noting that, if Yellow liquidates, “the freight would find a home” with other carriers, which may not have been true in recent years.
“It may take time, but there’s room for it to be absorbed,” he said.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kwch.com/2023/07/31/yellow-is-shutting-down-headed-bankruptcy-teamsters-union-says-heres-what-know/ | 2023-07-31T13:39:24 | 1 | https://www.kwch.com/2023/07/31/yellow-is-shutting-down-headed-bankruptcy-teamsters-union-says-heres-what-know/ |
(The Hill) — A popular narrative suggests young people are liberal and getting more liberal. Thus, social media buzzed when a chart surfaced in spring that seemed to suggest that 12th-grade boys had become overwhelmingly conservative.
As with many Reddit posts and viral tweets, the truth was more complicated. But the numbers do say this: Twelfth-grade boys are nearly twice as likely to identify as conservative versus liberal, according to a respected federal survey of American youth.
In annual surveys over the last three years, roughly one-quarter of high school seniors self-identified as conservative or “very conservative” on the Monitoring the Future survey, a scholarly endeavor that dates to the 1970s. Only 13 percent of boys identified as liberal or very liberal in those years.
The figures represent a striking shift in the political views of boys. As recently as the late 2000s, liberal boys occasionally outnumbered conservatives. Back in the Carter era, both boys and girls leaned liberal.
Nowadays, it is girls who are drifting to the left. The share of 12th-grade girls who identified as liberal rose from 19 percent in 2012 to 30 percent in 2022. Only 12 percent of girls identified as conservative in last year’s survey, administered by the University of Michigan.
Young women, too, are trending liberal. Women ages 18 to 29 are more likely to identify as liberal now than at any time in the past two decades, according to Gallup surveys. Young women are almost twice as likely as young men to claim the liberal tag, a widening gender gap in political beliefs.
The political leanings of young men have changed little over the past two decades, according to an analysis by the Survey Center on American Life. Last year, 43 percent of young men identified as moderate, 31 percent as conservative and 24 percent as liberal. Twenty years earlier, the numbers were more or less the same.
But the leftward drift of young women alone has sufficed to move the needle on young adults as a whole. Generation Z favors liberalism over conservatism by a 48-to-33 margin, according to NBC News polling from 2022. Ten years earlier, young adults split evenly between the two political camps.
The rightward drift of high school boys is comparatively subtle. Indeed, when it comes to politics, most boys seem reluctant to pick a side. In the 2022 Monitoring the Future survey, the largest group of senior boys, more than two-fifths, claimed no politics at all, answering the liberal-conservative question with “none of the above” or “I don’t know.” Nearly one-fifth identified as moderate. Only 36 percent selected liberal or conservative as an ideology, and only there did the trend emerge.
Jean Twenge, an author and professor of psychology at San Diego State University, presented the data in her new book, “Generations.” To spotlight the growing gender gap, she couched the numbers in a chart that split boys and girls along ideological lines, omitting moderates and the undecided.
“Among liberals, the future is female,” she wrote. “And among conservatives, the future is male.”
In April, someone posted Twenge’s chart to Reddit. The image also circulated widely on Twitter, the platform formerly known as X. Other researchers took note.
The chart gave the impression, at least on first glance, that two-thirds of 12th-grade boys were now conservative. In the small print beneath, Twenge noted that she had omitted moderates.
The full story is messier and murkier. High school seniors, boys and girls alike, are more likely to claim no political identity than to throw in with either liberals or conservatives.
Much has been written about the liberal drift of young women. The Donald Trump presidency mobilized millions of women, outraged over words and alleged deeds that, to Trump’s critics, suggested unrepentant misogyny. More women embraced liberal politics in response to the conservative drift of the U.S. Supreme Court, a movement emblemized by a 2022 ruling that struck down the constitutional right to abortion.
Less has been said about the politics of 12th-grade boys.
Trump himself may be a key to the conservative trend in that group. The 45th president energized male voters with his rhetoric: his “overt hypermasculinity,” as one NPR analysis put it, and his frequent use of language one might overhear in a high school cafeteria.
“Donald Trump talks like a high school student. Maybe there’s a connection there,” said Robert Palacios, 21, a student at the Catholic University of America and president of District of Columbia College Democrats.
“If you grew up playing video games that were not age-appropriate, and you were sitting in the [virtual] lobby, screaming at the mic, Trump was your president,” said Ethan Benn, also 21, a student at the George Washington University (GWU). “He really channeled that energy.”
More broadly, the conservative wing of the Republican party has made pointed appeals to disaffected men of all ages.
Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and other conservative beacons have derided “woke” ideology, accusing the left of overreach in seeking redress for injustices involving race, gender and sexual orientation.
Liberal politicians, of course, are just as eager to win the vote of young men. Yet, the progressive agenda seeks equality in gender and race, a platform that costs them some male support, especially among white people. In the 2020 election, Black and Hispanic men voted for Joe Biden at much higher rates than non-Hispanic white people, according to Pew Research data.
As one recent Politico article put it, Democrats have a masculinity problem.
“I believe that traditional notions of masculinity are much more accepted within conservativism,” while feminist values “are clearly one of the driving forces of liberalism,” said Delano Squires, a research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.
“I could see male and female students saying, ‘I’m choosing sides.’ Do you want matriarchy, or do you want patriarchy?”
Defenders of the patriarchy reach young men where they live, on social media and in gaming circles. Benn, the GWU student, notes a “sort of intersection of Internet culture and gaming culture with conservative politics” that draws some apolitical young men into conservatism.
Conservative icons Dennis Prager, Ben Shapiro and Steven Crowder boast millions of followers on YouTube, a platform whose ads and viewing suggestions make it easy for a young, male YouTuber “to get sucked into a very conservative sphere of politics and media,” Benn said.
“You could be watching a video about the latest Star Wars movie, and then the next video would be, ‘Here’s how women are ruining Star Wars,’” he said, referencing his own experience. “Even if you aren’t seeking it out, it will come and find you.”
That said, Benn doesn’t remember many of his high school friends talking much about politics.
Neither does Tyler Brown-Dewese, 20, a student at American University (AU).
Brown-Dewese identifies as a “Bill Clinton Democrat.” Back in high school, however, he was a conservative.
“I went to an all-boys Catholic school in New York, and so, a majority of us were Republicans,” he said. Classmates took their cues from parents, friends and social media sites such as Millennial Republicans. “That’s an Instagram page I still follow,” Brown-Dewese said.
But that is not to say he and his friends spent the lunch hour discussing politics. “A lot of them weren’t politically active,” he said. “They didn’t want to talk politics. But if you brought it up, they were going to defend Trump.”
Brown-Dewese’s own politics drifted left when he arrived at AU. “What changed me was, I go to the most liberal university,” he laughed. “Had I known that, I probably wouldn’t have gone.”
Though he is now a Democrat, Brown-Dewese doesn’t really like the word “liberal,” and he suspects other young men feel the same way. Generations of conservatives have equated liberalism with weakness.
Asked to estimate the quotient of liberal women at AU, he laughed again.
“Oh, my goodness. All of them?” | https://wgntv.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/high-school-boys-are-trending-conservative/ | 2023-07-31T13:39:24 | 0 | https://wgntv.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/high-school-boys-are-trending-conservative/ |
Expert shares advice for navigating dating and relationships in the digital age, from distractions to jealousy and more
NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dating.com – part of Dating Group, the company behind over 40 online dating sites – today released newly collected survey data that sheds light on the impact that social media has had on dating in recent years. According to the findings, it's going down in the DMs, with 47% of respondents admitting that their relationship began because their partner decided to shoot their shot in a private social media message. Additionally, 55% of men reported that they believe "sending likes" is an effective tactic to make a connection online that can move into real life.
Other key survey findings include:
- 58% of respondents shared that they have used a social networking site that is not primarily for dating (such as Instagram and LinkedIn) to find and meet new partners.
- 60% looked through their partner's social media apps without that person's knowledge.
- 40% felt their current significant other's social media profile was "an ick."
- 72% shared that social media has been a cause of conflict either in their current or previous relationship.
- 42% have experienced infidelity from a partner as a result of connections made through social media.
- 79% used social media to "hard launch," or announce, their relationship.
- 40% found out their current partner had been leaving "thirsty" comments under someone else's posts, before their relationship started.
- 50% admitted to fighting with their partner about still having an ex's photos visible on their Facebook or Instagram pages.
- 55% say their partner is often distracted by social media on their cell phone while they are trying to have a conversation with them.
"In some cases, social media sites can still be seen as the cause of conflict in relationships," said Maria Sullivan, Vice President and Dating Expert of Dating.com. "However, social media use should not consistently be a cause of stress in a healthy relationship. Instead, it should mostly be a fun way to connect with friends and family - and to show off your relationship, if that's your vibe - without creating worries about your partner making new romantic connections. It can even serve as another way to bond with your partner if you're using it to send funny memes or informational posts about your shared interests. Socials are often blamed as the root cause of conflict, however a person's overall behavior while they're in a committed relationship is what should be under the microscope. Whether they're using their social media profiles to creep on other prospects is only a reflection of what their true larger intentions are, on and off these platforms."
Maria's tips for preventing social media-related conflict in your relationship include:
- Communicate your concerns. What your partner doesn't know about, they can't fix. If you find that aspects of their social media activity (accounts they follow, posts they like, pages they view, etc.) are an issue, you should communicate those concerns to your significant other clearly. Whether they're too interested in sexy influencers, other men or women, or comedians with poor taste, secretly letting it bother you will likely lead to it becoming a bigger conflict, and you and your SO might both be surprised by how angry you are when it all comes to light.
- Leave old social media behavior behind. If you have a situation where you really trust your partner, but you uncovered their shady social media activity from the past, you should set new boundaries for them to adhere to from this point on. Ask them to please unfollow accounts that make you uncomfortable, to refrain from liking photos that are focused on physical appearance, and to delete any old thirsty comments they left under someone else's posts before your relationship started. Whether they acquiesce or resist will speak volumes about their intentions.
- Set boundaries. In order to prevent conflict, communicate with your partner to understand what does and does not work for both of you when it comes to social media usage. For example, if your partner is actively following their ex on social media and having conversations with them in the DMs, and if there is a boundary you want to set here, you should draw the line. And to be fair, both you and your significant other should be able to adhere to the same guidelines.
- Don't look too far into it. While there are many cases where social media interactions can be a cause for concern, it is important to recognize that sometimes it's just not that deep. If you think you have a real problem on your hands, bring it to your partner's attention before it gets worse. However, if you are simply bothered by small or harmless things - like your significant other following people of the opposite gender on social media - you might have to recognize that you are creating an issue where there isn't one. If your SO isn't using their socials to make new romantic connections, and is focusing on you IRL, then consider putting more weight into how their actions make you feel out in the real world.
To learn more and meet your match, please visit www.dating.com.
About Social Discovery Group: Social Discovery Group (formerly SDVentures) is a global tech company comprising over 40 brands, an investment fund, and a venture studio. It focuses on solving issues of loneliness, isolation, and disconnection through social discovery companies. With offices on five continents and a team of more than 700 professionals, the company serves 250+ million users across 100 countries. For more information, please visit www.socialdiscoverygroup.com.
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SOURCE Dating.com | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/likes-love-dating-era-social-media/ | 2023-07-31T13:39:24 | 0 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/likes-love-dating-era-social-media/ |
BEIJING, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- WiMi Hologram Cloud Inc. (NASDAQ: WIMI) ("WiMi" or the "Company"), a leading global Hologram Augmented Reality ("AR") Technology provider, today announced that an algorithm of nonlinear optical holography was developed. This is an algorithm that uses nonlinear optical effects to reconstruct a holographic image of an object. The laser beam is modulated using nonlinear optical materials to encode information about the object under test into an optical interference pattern, and then this interference pattern is recorded and processed using holography. In this process, the optical interference pattern has spatial and temporal features of high complexity, which can be used to realize nonlinear interactions between photons through the use of nonlinear optical effects (e.g., optical phase conjugation effects) to achieve the three-dimensional reconstruction of the object. It utilizes the nonlinear properties of light in optics to realize the processing and conversion of optical signals, and has the advantages of high resolution, no damage, and fast reconstruction.
This algorithm developed by WiMi is to use the characteristics of nonlinear optical materials to realize the self-modulation of light waves, self-frequency conversion and other processing, through holographic technology recorded light field information can provide richer optical information, to achieve better holographic image reconstruction effect. The laser beam and the reference beam are first constructed, and they are interfered with through the nonlinear crystal. In the interference region, the modulation of parameters such as refractive index, absorption, and refraction angle of the material that will be self-modulated is generated, and to obtain the hologram, the phase modulation of the signal beam is required. During the propagation of the laser wave in the material, the frequency of the wave changes due to the presence of nonlinear effects, forming a new non-planar wave called a differential frequency wave. The differential frequency wave is then recorded by holographic technology, and the corresponding data processing and reconstruction are carried out to obtain the hologram image of the original information. Finally, the desired image is obtained by processing the hologram.
Compared with traditional holographic algorithms, this technology can realize a variety of nonlinear optical effects, eliminate interference fringes and noise in traditional holographic technology, improve image clarity and signal-to-noise ratio, and obtain higher holographic imaging quality and resolution. It can also realize real-time imaging by adjusting the control factors such as laser power and material parameters, and can realize image modulation and enhancement by controlling different optical parameters, which improves the flexibility and applicability, and has higher practical value of application.
With the rapid development of computer technology and optical technology, WiMi's algorithm will also be continuously improved and enhanced, and its scope of application will be further expanded. It is foreseeable that the holographic algorithm will play an important role in the fields of medical imaging, education, entertainment, etc. At the same time, it will be one of the directions of future development of optical technology, which can provide important technical support for scientific research and industrial manufacturing.
About WIMI Hologram Cloud
WIMI Hologram Cloud, Inc. (NASDAQ:WIMI) is a holographic cloud comprehensive technical solution provider that focuses on professional areas including holographic AR automotive HUD software, 3D holographic pulse LiDAR, head-mounted light field holographic equipment, holographic semiconductor, holographic cloud software, holographic car navigation and others. Its services and holographic AR technologies include holographic AR automotive application, 3D holographic pulse LiDAR technology, holographic vision semiconductor technology, holographic software development, holographic AR advertising technology, holographic AR entertainment technology, holographic ARSDK payment, interactive holographic communication and other holographic AR technologies.
Safe Harbor Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from management in this press release and the Company's strategic and operational plans contain forward−looking statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward−looking statements in its periodic reports to the US Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on Forms 20−F and 6−K, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases, and other written materials, and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Several factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward−looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the Company's goals and strategies; the Company's future business development, financial condition, and results of operations; the expected growth of the AR holographic industry; and the Company's expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of its products and services.
Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's annual report on Form 20-F and the current report on Form 6-K and other documents filed with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement except as required under applicable laws.
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SOURCE WiMi Hologram Cloud Inc. | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/wimi-hologram-cloud-developed-algorithm-nonlinear-optical-holography/ | 2023-07-31T13:39:26 | 0 | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/wimi-hologram-cloud-developed-algorithm-nonlinear-optical-holography/ |
DENVER (AP) — As Denver neared triple-digit temperatures, Ben Gallegos sat shirtless on his porch swatting flies off his legs and spritzing himself with a misting fan to try to get through the heat. Gallegos, like many in the nation’s poorest neighborhoods, doesn’t have air conditioning.
The 68-year-old covers his windows with mattress foam to insulate against the heat and sleeps in the concrete basement. He knows high temperatures can cause heat stroke and death, and his lung condition makes him more susceptible. But the retired brick layer, who survives on about $1,000 a month largely from Social Security, says air conditioning is out of reach.
“Take me about 12 years to save up for something like that,” he said. “If it’s hard to breathe, I’ll get down to emergency.”
As climate change fans hotter and longer heat waves, breaking record temperatures across the U.S. and leaving dozens dead, the poorest Americans suffer the hottest days with the fewest defenses. Air conditioning, once a luxury, is now a matter of survival.
As Phoenix weathered its 27th consecutive day above 110 degrees (43 Celsius) Wednesday, the nine who died indoors didn’t have functioning air conditioning, or it was turned off. Last year, all 86 heat-related deaths indoors were in uncooled environments.
“To explain it fairly simply: Heat kills,” said Kristie Ebi, a University of Washington professor who researches heat and health. “Once the heat wave starts, mortality starts in about 24 hours.”
It’s the poorest and people of color, from Kansas City to Detroit to New York City and beyond, who are far more likely to face grueling heat without air conditioning, according to a Boston University analysis of 115 U.S. metros.
“The temperature differences … between lower-income neighborhoods, neighborhoods of color and their wealthier, whiter counterparts have pretty severe consequences,” said Cate Mingoya-LaFortune of Groundwork USA, an environmental justice organization. “There are these really big consequences like death. … But there’s also ambient misery.”
Some have window units that can offer respite, but “in the dead of heat, it don’t do nothing,” said Melody Clark, who stopped Friday to get food at a nonprofit in Kansas City, Kansas, as temperatures soared to 101, and high humidity made it feel like 109. When the central air conditioning at her rental house went on the fritz, her landlord installed a window unit. But it doesn’t do much during the day.
So the 45-year-old wets her hair, cooks outside on a propane grill and keeps the lights off indoors. She’s taken the bus to the library to cool off. At night she flips the box unit on, hauling her bed into the room where it’s located to sleep.
As far as her two teenagers, she said: “They aren’t little bitty. We aren’t dying in the heat. … They don’t complain.”
While billions in federal funding have been allocated to subsidize utility costs and the installation of cooling systems, experts say they often only support a fraction of the most vulnerable families and some still require prohibitive upfront costs. Installing a centralized heat pump system for heating and cooling can easily reach $25,000.
President Joe Biden announced steps on Thursday to defend against extreme heat, highlighting the expansion of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which funnels money through states to help poorer households pay utility bills.
While the program is critical, said Michelle Graff, who studies the subsidy at Cleveland State University, only about 16% of the nation’s eligible population is actually reached. Nearly half of states don’t offer the federal dollars for summer cooling.
“So people are engaging in coping mechanisms, like they’re turning on their air conditioners later and leaving their homes hotter,” Graff said.
While frigid temperatures and high heating bills birthed the term “heat or eat,” she said, “we can now transition to AC or eat, where people are going to have to make difficult decisions.”
As temperatures rise, so does the cost of cooling. And temperatures are already hotter in America’s low-income neighborhoods like Gallegos’ Denver suburb of Globeville, where people live along stretches of asphalt and concrete that hold heat like a cast-iron skillet. Surface temperatures there can be roughly 8 degrees hotter than in Denver’s wealthier neighborhoods, where a sea of vegetation cools the area, according to the environmental advocacy group American Forests.
This disparity plays out nationwide. Researchers at the University of San Diego analyzed 1,056 counties and in over 70%, the poorest areas and those with higher Black, Hispanic and Asian populations were significantly hotter.
About one in 10 U.S. households have no air conditioning, a disparity compounded for marginalized groups, according to a study by the Brookings Institution. Less than 4% of Detroit’s white households don’t have air conditioning; it’s 15% for Black households.
At noon on Friday, Katrice Sullivan sat on the porch of her rented house on Detroit’s westside. It was hot and muggy, but even steamier inside the house. Even if she had air conditioning, Sullivan said she’d choose her moments to run it to keep her electricity bill down.
The 37-year-old factory worker pours water on her head, freezes towels to put around her neck, and sits in her car with the air conditioner on. “Some people here spend every dollar for food, so air conditioning is something they can’t afford,” she said.
Shannon Lewis, 38, lived in her Detroit home for nearly 20 years without air conditioning. Lewis’s bedroom was the only place with a window unit, so she’d squeeze her teenager, 8-year-old and 3-year-old-twins into her queen-size bed to sleep, eat meals and watch television.
“So it was like cool in one room and a heat stroke in another,” Lewis said. For the first time, Lewis now has air conditioning through a local non-profit, she said. “We don’t have to sleep or eat in the same room, we are able to come out, sit at the dining room table, eat like a family.”
After at least 54 died during a 2021 heat wave, mostly elderly people without air conditioning, in the Portland area, Oregon passed a law prohibiting landlords from placing blanket bans on air conditioning units. By and large, however, states don’t have laws requiring landlords to provide cooling.
In the federal Inflation Reduction Act, billions were set aside for tax credits and rebates to help families install energy-efficient cooling systems, but some of those are yet to be available. For people like Gallegos, who doesn’t pay taxes, the available credits are worthless.
The law also offers rebates, the kind of state and federal point-of-sale discounts that Amanda Morian has looked into for her 640-square-foot home.
Morian, who has a 13-week-old baby susceptible to hot weather, is desperate to keep her house in Denver’s Globeville suburb cool. She bought thermal curtains, ceiling fans and runs a window unit. At night she tries to do skin-to-skin touch to regulate the baby’s body temperature. When the back door opens in the afternoon, she said, the indoor temperature jumps a degree.
“All of those are just to take the edge off, it’s not enough to actually make it cool. It’s enough to keep us from dying,” she said.
She got estimates from four different companies for installing a cooling system, but every project was between $20,000 and $25,000, she said. Even with subsidies she can’t afford it.
“I’m finding that you have to afford the project in the first place and then it’s like having a bonus coupon to take $5,000 off of the sticker price,” she said.
Lucy Molina, a single mom in Commerce City, one of Denver’s poorest areas, said her home has reached 107 degrees without air conditioning. Nearby, Molina’s two teenage children slurped popsicles to cool off, lingering in front of the open freezer.
For Molina, who bustled around her kitchen on a recent day when temperatures reached 99 degrees outdoors, it’s hard to see any path to a cooling respite.
“We’re just too poor,” she said. | https://wgntv.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/were-just-too-poor-record-heat-waves-reveal-plight-of-americans-without-air-conditioning/ | 2023-07-31T13:39:30 | 0 | https://wgntv.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/were-just-too-poor-record-heat-waves-reveal-plight-of-americans-without-air-conditioning/ |
SHELTON, Conn., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Logicbroker, a premier Supply Chain Experience Management (SCXM) eCommerce platform providing industry-leading drop ship, marketplace, and supply chain visibility solutions, is excited to announce that Matt Ramsbottom has joined the executive team as Chief Financial Officer.
Ramsbottom joins the Logicbroker executive team with over 14 years of experience scaling software companies through rapid expansion and driving significant ARR growth through organic and inorganic strategies.
"We are thrilled to welcome Matt to our team at Logicbroker," said the CEO of Logicbroker, Justin Hartanov. "His exceptional financial expertise and strategic vision will undoubtedly strengthen our position as an industry-leading supply chain experience platform. With Matt on board as our new CFO, we are confident in his ability to drive rapid financial growth and guide us through new avenues of success. Joining Logicbroker so close to one another, we are excited to seize the opportunities ahead and continue our commitment to delivering unparalleled white-glove service to our clients and partners."
As a technology partner for hundreds of enterprise retailers across the globe, Logicbroker is constantly working with our customers to improve core functions and increase their speed-to-market strategies, all while managing every evolving cost of operating as an API-driven Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) organization. Ramsbottom brings a proven track record in building the financial foundation of high-growth businesses, managing mergers and acquisitions, and executing financial strategies.
Under Ramsbottom's guidance, Logicbroker is poised to continue its surge as an industry leader and bolster its already proven drop ship and marketplace programs through increased hyper-growth strategies.
"I am honored and excited to join the remarkable team at Logicbroker as their new CFO," Ramsbottom said. "From my very first interactions with the company's leadership, I was deeply impressed by their unwavering dedication to innovation and customer-centricity. Being part of an industry-leading drop ship and marketplace eCommerce solution provider is an incredible opportunity, and I am eager to contribute my financial expertise and strategic insights to fuel the company's growth."
Join the Logicbroker team in providing a warm welcome for Ramsbottom as he comes into his own in his role as CFO and the team looks forward to working with him as we continue to scale our eCommerce solutions to meet the ever-changing eCommerce market.
To learn more about our comprehensive D2C and B2B drop ship, marketplace, and supply chain visibility offerings, please visit our website.
About Logicbroker
Logicbroker is the premier Supply Chain Experience Management (SCXM) eCommerce platform. Our unique B2B and D2C offerings give manufacturers and retailers a single source of truth for their supply chain, yielding real-time visibility and communications, higher compliance rates, lower transaction costs, and exceptional customer experiences. Through drop ship, marketplace, and supply chain visibility solutions, Logicbroker processes $6.3 billion in GMV each year and can help your organization achieve Supply Chain Excellence
Our integrated suite connects all participants of an organization's supply chain regardless of the type of business model: owned inventory, drop ship, or marketplace. We work with mid-market and Enterprise manufacturers and retailers across a number of verticals including Health & Wellness, Home Improvement, Consumer Electronics, Toys & Babies, and Consumer Packaged Goods and service brands such as Samsung, 1-800-Flowers, Victoria Secret, The Vitamin Shoppe, Walgreens, and RiteAid.
Media Contact:
Name: Becca McCarthy
Title: Director of Marketing
Email: bmccarthy@logicbroker.com
Phone: 203.751.1166
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SOURCE Logicbroker | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/logicbroker-appoints-matt-ramsbottom-chief-financial-officer-continuing-high-growth-initiative/ | 2023-07-31T13:39:31 | 1 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/logicbroker-appoints-matt-ramsbottom-chief-financial-officer-continuing-high-growth-initiative/ |
GUANGZHOU, China, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Against the backdrop of sustainable development around the globe, excellent ESG (environmental, social and governance) performance is a new measure for the quality and sustainable prospect of an enterprise. In the future, driven by the "dual carbon" strategic goal, ESG indicators will be new focus for domestic consumer goods companies.
Recently, the fast-growing beauty group YSG released its Environmental, Social and Governance Report of 2022 (hereinafter referred to as the ESG Report). This is the second consecutive year for the Company to release the ESG Report, which thoroughly demonstrates the actions and achievements of YSG in practicing the ESG framework in multiple dimensions in the past year.
YSG's good ESG performance has won the recognition of an authoritative third party institute— in December 2022, the world's largest index company, Morgan Stanley Capital International, MSCI, upgraded the rating of YSG to A, which is an internationally recognized leading level. The rating report shows that YSG is an industry leader in the management of packaging materials and wastes, and is committed to reducing the impact of packaging materials through green packaging, lightweight packaging and recycling, etc.
Expanding "Carbon Footprint" Assessment Category, Embarking on Sustainable Path of Beauty Products
Under the guidance of "dual carbon" national strategy, the beauty industry is actively participating in sustainable development and green growth. Domestic beauty enterprises rise to implement the ESG goals. With the long-term vision of "health and beauty explorer in the era of new technology", YSG has been adhering to low-carbon development, and has always been practicing its commitment to environmental friendliness.
Following Perfect Diary's core product "Rouge Intense Velet Slim Lipstick" launched in 2021, YSG has continued to expand the scope of categories covered by carbon footprint verification. The ESG report shows that in 2022, the Company conducted carbon footprint assessment on Perfect Diary's ace products, "Weightless Velvet Lip Stain" and "Translucent Blurring Loose Powder (Anti-dullness Version)". Through this process, YSG can ascertain the carbon emissions of products in the whole life cycle, identify the potential for emission reduction at each stage, and continue to upgrade its products in the future to reduce the impact on the environment.
In addition, YSG also focuses on issues such as suppliers' carbon emissions and energy management in order to realize low-carbon and sustainable development of the entire supply chain. The Company encourages suppliers to take the initiative to meet the challenge of carbon emission reduction and to seize the opportunity to set feasible and challenging carbon emission reduction goals, so as to work together with YSG to continuously reduce the total amount of carbon emissions of the supply chain. By the end of 2022, all seven core suppliers of YSG have implemented carbon emission management.
At the same time, the consumption of packaging materials, possible pollutions and other issues have drawn more concern; plastic reduction, lightweight packaging, recycling has become the direction advocated by the government and expected by consumers. In 2022, Yatsen's brands, including Perfect Diary, Pink Bear, and Little Ondine, adjusted the weight and size of their product cartons, switched from offset-printed cardboard boxes to watermarked ones, and adopted eco-friendly kraft paper materials, reducing paper consumption by 25%;at the same time, plastic films have been removed for all paper boxes, further reducing the use of plastic packaging materials. Galénic's plastic packaging in China is 100% replaced by degradable bio-based paper plastics. EVE LOM's product packaging achieved 100% recyclability (obtaining The Green Dot logo).
Committed to Scientific Research and Innovation, Laying Solid Foundation for Brand R&D
In the past year, the cosmetic industry has been speeding into the era of detailed brand building with quality as the focus, and the attention paid to R&D by domestic beauty brands has risen significantly, as the beauty industry has entered a new stage of competing for "internal strength". According to the ESG report, YSG attaches great importance to product innovation and R&D, and has invested RMB 127 million in R&D in 2022, accounting for 3.4% of its total revenue. The R&D expense ratio continues to rank among the top in the world.
With the support of the Open Lab R&D system, YSG has formed cooperation with many renowned research institutions, universities and colleges and hospitals home and abroad, identifying, studying and transferring for commercial applications worldwide— all for quality beauty products. Multiple types of achievements of technology-supported cosmetics have been made. Perfect Diary cooperated with the Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology of Chinese Academy of Sciences and developed the SmartLOCK, which is used in the Translucent Blurring Loose Powder for its high efficiency in keeping look fresh with antioxidant capacity.
What is more noteworthy is that YSG understands that R&D innovation is the way to long-term development of an enterprise, drives category innovation, which in turn brings R&D breakthrough. In 2022 June, YSG R&D Center officially obtained the Laboratory Accreditation Certificate issued by China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS), which marks that the Center's product testing capabilities, equipment and devices have reached national approved standards. In November of the same year, the Company established the Sun Yat-sen University-Yatsen Group (YSG) Skin Health Precise Research Joint Laboratory,which has now built two major platforms, namely, the Chinese Skin Aging Research Platform for Chinese and the Bio-Fermentation Research Platform of Sun Yat-sen University.
Shouldering Public Welfare, Setting Benchmark for Sustainable Development
As young listed beauty enterprise, YSG spares no effort on public welfare while promoting its own development, deepening its enterprise and brand value. The Company explores actively the new path of beauty, aiming to discover female beauty, guard natural beauty and pass on the beauty of goodwill. The on-going "Create a beautiful life" and other training programs have witnessed YSG's endeavour in public welfare.
Since the establishment of the Company, YSG has been committed to involving more people to enjoy beauty as part of its corporate social responsibility practice. In 2020, YSG, with the goal of "helping women to discover and create beauty", joined hands with the China Women's Development Foundation to launch "Creating a beautiful life" public welfare training program. A total of RMB 2 million has been invested in the program in three years. As of March 2023, 5 training sessions have been completed, empowering 202 women to start their own business/employment in the field of beauty through the learning of beauty skills, quality enhancement, in-person visits and practice, industry exchanges, and mentor support.
At the same time, the Company is also expanding the depth and breadth of public welfare practices, actively contributing to social welfare such as education and research, child care, rural revitalization, public welfare for the disabled, shouldering a sense of social responsibility and mission, insisting on giving back real benefits to the society, and spreading the beauty of goodwill even farther.
Promoting high-quality development is the core in YSG's transformation process and the fundamental guideline for the Company's ESG practices. Mr. Huang Jinfeng, Founder, Chairman and CEO of YSG, said, "2022 is a year for YSG to deepen its transformation and reform in a comprehensive manner. Good ESG governance is an important driving force to promote the sustainable development of enterprises. In the future, YSG will focus on three aspects of optimization: continue to give full play to the value of ESG to create new momentum for development; continue to improve the green management to create sustainable products; and promote more public welfare programs to give full play to their own strengths and social influence, and actively give back to the society."
On the road of sustainable and high-quality development, YSG will continue to enhance its professional ability, improve itself through reformation, apply new technology and new thinking to the field of beauty, drive product upgrading with innovation, provide high-quality and innovative products to global consumers, and bring new vitality and confidence to the beauty industry.
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SOURCE Yatsen Global | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/ysg-releases-its-second-esg-report-setting-benchmark-industry/ | 2023-07-31T13:39:35 | 1 | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/ysg-releases-its-second-esg-report-setting-benchmark-industry/ |
(NEXSTAR) – When it comes to retirement, where you live can greatly affect just how golden your post-career years actually are.
A new study from Bankrate ranks all 50 U.S. states when it comes to affordability, overall well-being, healthcare quality/cost, weather and crime. With soaring inflation and a volatile stock market, affordability was given the most statistical weight, with the others decreasing respectively.
Iowa is the best state in which to retire, the study found, thanks to its affordability (3), quality/cost of health care (11) and crime (12).
“Choosing where to retire is deeply personal, but Iowa’s affordable cost of living, inexpensive but high-quality health care and low crime make it a compelling option for retirees looking to stretch their retirement income in this economy,” said Bankrate analyst Alex Gailey. “In our overall ranking, the best and worst states for retirees are split geographically. The Midwest and the South claim the top five states, while the Northeast and West claim the bottom five states, primarily because of the differences in cost of living.”
For some residents nearing retirement in Alaska – ranked 50 out of 50 – New York (49), California (48), Washington (47) and Massachusetts (46), a move toward the middle of the country could pay off, Bankrate’s findings suggest.
While all five of the least favorable states scored poorly when it came to affordability, Alaska also ranked last for weather and 49th for crime.
“For many Americans, a comfortable retirement may feel out of reach,” Gailey said. “After battling elevated inflation over the last two years, relocating to find cheaper housing or a lower cost of living may be a good alternative for retirees who have tighter budgets but want to retire comfortably. If you’re considering a late life move to lower your cost of living in retirement, our rankings provide some food for thought.”
The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) reports that an increasing number of retirees left their home state to find cheaper housing in 2022.
The annual study from Hire A Helper, an online moving-services marketplace, found that 12% of American retirees moved for that reason in 2022, the highest percentage since 2014.
“That kind of cost consciousness is something we haven’t seen at this level since 2014,” Miranda Marquit, chief data analyst at Hire A Helper, told AARP, citing Census data. | https://wgntv.com/news/these-are-the-5-worst-states-to-retire-in-study-finds/ | 2023-07-31T13:39:36 | 0 | https://wgntv.com/news/these-are-the-5-worst-states-to-retire-in-study-finds/ |
SHANGHAI, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- LovelyWholesale (LW or the company), the international quick-to-market online women's fashion brand, successfully concluded its customer visit in four cities in the United States this month. The visit lasted for one month. In total, 30 customers were visited in four cities, including New York City, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Miami.The visit represents not only LW's commitment to customer-centricity, but also an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of its customer base.
Celebrating its 12th anniversary this year, LovelyWholesale aims to thank all customers who accompanied LW's growth over the years and dedicates to delivering exceptional customer experiences. This visit is also the delivery of LW's value of "Customer Satisfaction". "Our customers told us that no brand has ever done such a thing before. LovelyWholesale is the first brand they have met face-to-face. What they felt the most is the sincerity of the company. The company is doing things on the customer satisfaction aspect. " Said Jovan Mo, head of marketing.
Over the past year, LovelyWholesale has made efforts in reducing the customer complaint rate and the return rate, shortening the package delivery time, and fabric upgrades. Within the past year, LovelyWholesale has achieved a 17% decrease in the return rate and a 13% decrease in customer complaints. These improvements are all due to LovelyWholesale's pursuit of better customer service and strict quality control.
"We have continuously raised our requirements for fabrics, aiming to provide our customers with higher quality and more comfortable fabrics without price raising. For some products, we even iterate them three or more times. For products that do not meet our expected quality, we would rather delay their launch day and cover the cost until they meet the standards," said Monica, the head of the design department. "We are pleased to see more and more customers spontaneously giving five-star rates and posting their photos as reviews on our website. Customers are more satisfied with our products than before."
"Looking back at the 12 years we have journeyed; we have faced numerous challenges. We have remained loyal to our company value and brand mission, which is customer satisfaction and letting customers can find any fashion trend they want at ultra-affordable prices," said Leon, CEO of LovelyWholesale. "In the past year, we have also been committed to expanding LovelyWholesale across multiple platforms. We have established partnerships with Amazon, Aliexpress, Temu, and Shein, opening LovelyWholesale stores on their platforms. This gives our consumers more shopping options and enables more customers to know us. LovelyWholesale's Temu shop has already become one of the top-selling women's fashion stores in the United States area. We look forward to better ongoing development of LovelyWholesale in the future and will continue to work hard for it."
About LovelyWholesale:
Founded in 2010, LovelyWholesale supplies more than 10 thousand types of fashionable clothing, shoes, sexy lingerie, and accessories. The company focuses on providing higher-quality products at competitive prices to customers all over the world. LovelyWholesale customers know they can trust us for everything they need from the latest trend-led pieces to celebrity inspired looks, to the everyday wardrobe staples and that ultimate party piece. LovelyWholesale expects every customer can find their loved style and enjoy shopping here.
LovelyWholesale has factories and warehouses all around the world. With the great advantage of fabric resources and hundreds of fashion buyers, LovelyWholesale can provide customers with the latest fashion trends and affordable prices for the first time. Over the past 12 years of operation, LovelyWholesale has become one of the most popular online fashion stores in North America.
To learn more about LovelyWholesale, follow us at lovelywholesale.com and instagram.com/lovelywholesale_online
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SOURCE Lovelywholesale | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/lovelywholesale-visits-30-customers-new-york-city-los-angeles-atlanta-miami-appreciate-12-years-they-have-been-with-company/ | 2023-07-31T13:39:37 | 0 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/lovelywholesale-visits-30-customers-new-york-city-los-angeles-atlanta-miami-appreciate-12-years-they-have-been-with-company/ |
CHICAGO Mostly sunny Monday and a bit warmer. Air quality in the Good category today. Winds: NNW/NNE 5-10 mph. High 83, mid 70s by the lake.
Tonight: Mostly clear skies tonight with dry and mild conditions. Winds: E/SE 5-10 mph. Lows in the mid 60s.
Tuesday Forecast: Mostly sunny start, increasing PM clouds. SE/E 5-10 mph. Highs in the mid 80s, upper 70s lakeside.
Extended outlook calls for mostly cloudy skies overnight and a chance of showers/t’storms overnight.
Partly sunny, warmer and muggier on Wednesday and Thursday with highs in the mid to upper 80s and a chance of showers/t’storms each day. Some lingering showers possible into Friday. Next weekend looking comfortable with again highs in the lower 80s and mostly sunny.
Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog | https://wgntv.com/weather/monday-forecast-temps-in-low-80s-with-mostly-sunny-conditions-2/ | 2023-07-31T13:39:42 | 1 | https://wgntv.com/weather/monday-forecast-temps-in-low-80s-with-mostly-sunny-conditions-2/ |
PARIS, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Yubo, the live social discovery app for Gen Z, has become a member of the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT) to support its mission to prevent terrorist and violent extremist exploitation online through research, technical collaboration, and knowledge sharing.
Through its membership, Yubo will leverage GIFCT's hash-sharing database to identify and remove content shared on Yubo that is associated with United Nations-designated terrorist entities, attacker manifestos, terrorist publications, and other violent extremist groups. GIFCT is an NGO designed to prevent terrorists and violent extremists from exploiting digital platforms.
Since 2017, GIFCT has run a safe and secure industry database of hashes – or "digital fingerprints'' – of known terrorist and violent extremist material, which GIFCT members have identified and removed from their platforms. With users in over 140 countries around the world, Yubo will play a key role in helping GIFCT further scale its international hash-sharing database.
"GIFCT's hash database provides Yubo with a powerful tool to further strengthen our multifaceted approach to content moderation and more effectively identify and eliminate violent extremist content at scale," said Yubo co-founder and CEO Sacha Lazimi. "We look forward to expanding our support of GIFCT through this initiative and working with other member organizations to leverage technology to combat terrorism and enhance safety for all, on- and offline."
GIFCT's hash-sharing database works first by enabling member companies, like Yubo, to identify and "hash" content, such as photos, videos, or PDFs, ensuring a privacy-by-design approach to recording content for reporting or removal without linking to any personally identifiable information. Hashes appear as digital signatures or numerical representations of the original content, which means they cannot be easily reverse engineered to recreate the content.
"The lifecycle of violent extremism is often extended through the dissemination of content online, and the support of member organizations like Yubo is crucial to breaking these cycles," said GIFCT Executive Director Naureen Chowdhury Frink. "We are grateful to our GIFCT member companies for their continued collaboration in our shared mission to prevent terrorists and violent extremists from exploiting digital platforms, and we welcome the important investments Yubo has made for the safety of its community."
Yubo's integration of the GIFCT hash-sharing database follows the platform's support of the Take It Down initiative by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in February. Take It Down is NCMEC's free online service that, like GIFCT, leverages a hash-sharing system to help minors remove their nudes from the internet and combat the online spread of child sexual exploitation.
ABOUT YUBO
Yubo is a live social discovery app making it easy for Gen Z to expand their social circles and hang out online with new friends from around the world. By eliminating likes and follows, we empower young people to show up as their true selves and connect as authentically as they would offline. Safety is a cornerstone of our platform, and we are proud to be the first social app in the world to introduce comprehensive user-age verification tools and real-time video and audio moderation for livestreams. Founded in France in 2015, Yubo is used in more than 140 countries by over 60 million users. Visit us at yubo.live to learn more and follow our journey.
ABOUT GIFCT
GIFCT is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and tech-led initiative with over 20 member tech companies offering unique settings for diverse stakeholders to identify and solve the most complex global challenges at the intersection of terrorism and technology. GIFCT's mission is to prevent terrorists and violent extremists from exploiting digital platforms through our vision of a world in which the technology sector marshals its collective creativity and capacity to render terrorists and violent extremists ineffective online. In every aspect of our work, we aim to be transparent, inclusive, and respectful of the fundamental and universal human rights that terrorists and violent extremists seek to undermine.
Media Contact:
Debora Lima, Yubo U.S. Media Director
debora@ext.yubo.live
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SOURCE Yubo | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/yubo-joins-gifct-combat-spread-violent-extremist-content-online/ | 2023-07-31T13:39:42 | 0 | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/yubo-joins-gifct-combat-spread-violent-extremist-content-online/ |
Customers dream of fast, flexible networking; Lumen now delivers in minutes
DENVER, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lumen Technologies (NYSE: LUMN) launched its flagship capability on its Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) platform today. It's the first important step toward the company's bold vision to disrupt the telecom industry. By offering customers radical flexibility in how they buy, use, and manage networking services, Lumen is cloudifying traditional telecom.
"We have been preparing for this moment for a long time, building a world-class telecom network with state-of-the-art fiber, broad coverage and unsurpassed route diversity and scalability," said Kate Johnson, Lumen CEO. "Lumen's Network-as-a-Service offering takes the next step to deliver on our customers' networking dreams: the ability to fire up any port, with any service, at any time. It's your network, your way."
The Lumen NaaS Vision
Lumen® Internet On-Demand is the first and flagship service added to the Lumen NaaS platform, starting with limited availability. Over time, Lumen NaaS will expand to include security services, such as DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service), SASE (Secure Access Service Edge), and Edge services. The platform's fully digital, consumption-based model will set a new standard for customer experience and expectations.
"Lumen is putting the customer at the center of our Network-as-a-Service platform, creating a cloud-like experience for buying, consuming, and managing our network services," said Andrew Dugan, Lumen CTO. "Businesses are looking for a dynamic, dedicated internet connection, but they want it from a reliable and flexible network. Unlike some Network-as-a-Service players, Lumen can deliver on this promise because we own and manage our network."
Delivering on the Customer Dream
"Lumen plays an important role in helping content providers move video content to AWS," said Evan Statton, Sr. Principal Architect in M&E at AWS. For example, Fox Sports was able to bring its live sports content to AWS by using an on-demand connection aligned with Lumen's Network-as-a-Service platform. We look forward to continued work with Lumen to help AWS customers achieve their live cloud production goals."
Customers win big with Lumen's NaaS experience. They will use a digital portal or APIs (Application Program Interface) to order Lumen Internet On-Demand and future services for instant internet connections to public data centers and port-enabled business locations. They can quickly assign an existing port at a new enterprise building, connecting them to Lumen's network. Once established, the digital experience begins, including:
- A dedicated connection to one of the largest, most connected and secure networks in the world
- Ability to scale capacity in minutes
- Internet speeds from 100 Mbps to 10 Gbps
- A consumption-based billing model; pay only for the time services are active, starting at hourly rates
- Real-time visibility into service performance and network usage
- Quick enablement of new capabilities
"Lumen has taken a pragmatic approach when it comes to understanding the evolving needs of the Network-as-a-Service market, in terms of matching user experience with capabilities offered," said Rohit Mehra, group vice president, Network and Telecommunications, IDC. "Using its high-capacity, global backbone network, Lumen Internet On-Demand delivers flexible network services for a customer-first approach. Lumen's commitment to providing an effortless operational experience holds promise for enterprises in terms of consuming, managing and upgrading their networks.
Aligning with Key Partners
Lumen NaaS will leverage a broad digital ecosystem of partners – including data center, cloud, technology, and managed service providers - to maximize impact and reach. Digital Realty is one of the first third-party data center providers to join the Lumen Network-as-a-Service Alliance Partner program. Joint customers can provision on-demand services using a digital portal or API in real-time and increase or decrease bandwidth as needed.
"We're delighted to be partnering with Lumen to redefine the enterprise digital transformation landscape," said Chris Sharp, CTO, Digital Realty. "Lumen's cutting-edge Network-as-a-Service solution combined with our global network of highly connected facilities and orchestration platform ServiceFabric™, empowers enterprises with on-demand, personalized experiences, revolutionizing the way networks are consumed and managed. This highlights our shared vision, as we unite to meet the evolving needs of our customers."
Lumen's new on-demand services will be updated and shared throughout the year. More information on Lumen Internet On-Demand can be found at https://www.lumen.com/en-us/networking/internet-on-demand.html.
About Lumen Technologies:
Lumen connects the world. We are dedicated to furthering human progress through technology by connecting people, data, and applications – quickly, securely, and effortlessly. Everything we do at Lumen takes advantage of our network strength. From metro connectivity to long-haul data transport to our edge cloud, security, and managed service capabilities, we meet our customers' needs today and as they build for tomorrow. For news and insights visit news.lumen.com, LinkedIn: /lumentechnologies, Twitter: @lumentechco, Facebook: /lumentechnologies, Instagram: @lumentechnologies, and YouTube: /lumentechnologies.
This release may include forward-looking statements (as defined by the federal securities laws), which are subject to the "safe harbor" protections thereunder. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and are based on current expectations only, are inherently speculative, and are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Actual events and results may differ materially from those anticipated, estimated, projected or implied by us in those statements. Factors that could affect actual results include, but are not limited to, each of the matters and risks referenced from time to time in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason, which speak only as of the date made.
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SOURCE Lumen Technologies | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/lumen-shakes-up-telecom-industry-with-network-as-a-service-offering/ | 2023-07-31T13:39:44 | 1 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/lumen-shakes-up-telecom-industry-with-network-as-a-service-offering/ |
Yellow is shutting down and headed for bankruptcy, the Teamsters Union says. Here’s what to know
NEW YORK (AP) — Trucking company Yellow Corp. has shut down operations and is headed for a bankruptcy filing, according to the Teamsters Union and multiple media reports.
After years of financial struggles, reports of Yellow preparing for bankruptcy emerged last week — as the Nashville, Tennessee-based trucker saw customers leave in large numbers. Yellow shut down operations on Sunday, according to the Wall Street Journal, following the layoffs of hundreds of nonunion employees on Friday.
In an announcement early Monday, the Teamsters said that the union received legal notice confirming Yellow was ceasing operations and filing for bankruptcy.
“Today’s news is unfortunate but not surprising. Yellow has historically proven that it could not manage itself despite billions of dollars in worker concessions and hundreds of millions in bailout funding from the federal government,” Teamsters general president Sean O’Brien said in a statement. “This is a sad day for workers and the American freight industry.”
The Associated Press reached out to Yellow for comment on Monday. No bankruptcy filings had gone live as of the early morning.
The bankruptcy reports have renewed attention around Yellow’s ongoing negotiations with unionized workers, a $700 million pandemic-era loan from the government and other bills the trucker has racked up over time. Yellow, formerly known as YRC Worldwide Inc., is one of the nation’s largest less-than-truckload carriers. The company’s reported closure puts 30,000 jobs at risk.
Here’s what you need to know.
WHAT WOULD BANKRUPTCY MEAN FOR YELLOW?
According to Satish Jindel, president of transportation and logistics firm SJ Consulting, Yellow handled an average of 49,000 shipments per day in 2022. Last week, he estimated that number was down to between 10,000 and 15,000 daily shipments.
With customers leaving — as well reports of Yellow stopping freight pickups last week — bankruptcy would “be the end of Yellow,” Jindel told The Associated Press, noting increased risk for liquidation.
“The likelihood of them surviving and remaining solvent diminishes really by the day,” added Bruce Chan, a research director at investment banking firm Stifel.
Yellow declined to comment when contacted by The Associated Press on Friday. In a Wednesday statement to The Journal, the company said it was continuing “to prepare for a range of contingencies.” On Thursday, Yellow said it was in talks with multiple parties about selling its third-party logistics organization.
Even if Yellow was able to sell its logistics firm, it would “not generate a sufficient amount of cash to keep them operational on any sort of permanent basis,” Chan said. “Without a major equity injection, it would be very difficult for them to survive.”
HOW MUCH DEBT DOES YELLOW HAVE?
As of late March, Yellow had an outstanding debt of about $1.5 billion. Of that, $729.2 million was owed to the federal government.
In 2020, under the Trump administration, the Treasury Department granted the company a $700 million pandemic-era loan on national security grounds. Last month, a congressional probe concluded that the Treasury and Defense Departments “made missteps” in this decision — and noted that Yellow’s “precarious financial position at the time of the loan, and continued struggles, expose taxpayers to a significant risk of loss.”
The government loan is due in September 2024. As of March, Yellow had made $54.8 million in interest payments and repaid just $230 million of the principal owed, according to government documents.
Yellow’s current finances and prospect of bankruptcy “is probably two decades in the making,” Chan said, pointing to poor management and strategic decisions dating back to the early 2000s. “At this point, after each party has bailed them out so many times, there is a limited appetite to do that anymore.”
In May, Yellow reported a loss of $54.6 million, a decline of $1.06 per share, for its first quarter of 2023. Operating revenue was about $1.16 billion in the period.
A Wednesday investors note from financial service firm Stephens estimated that Yellow could be burning between $9 million and $10 million each day. Using a liquidity disclosure from earlier this month, Yellow had roughly $100 million in cash at the end of June, the note added — estimating that the company has been burning through increasing amounts of money through July.
“It is reasonable to believe that the Company could breach its $35 mil. liquidity requirement at any moment,” Stephens analyst Jack Atkins and associate Grant Smith wrote.
DID THE COMPANY JUST AVERT A STRIKE?
Last week’s reports of bankruptcy preparations arrived just days after a strike from the Teamsters, which represents Yellow’s 22,000 unionized workers, was averted.
A series of heated exchanges have built up between the Teamsters and Yellow, who sued the union in June after alleging it was “unjustifiably blocking” restructuring plans needed for the company’s survival. The Teamsters called the litigation “baseless” — with O’Brien pointing to Yellow’s “decades of gross mismanagement,” which included exhausting the $700 million federal loan.
On July 23, a pension fund agreed to extend health benefits for workers at two Yellow Corp. operating companies, averting a strike — and giving Yellow “30 days to pay its bills,” notably $50 million that Yellow failed to pay the Central States Health and Welfare Fund on July 15, the union said. While the strike didn’t occur, talks of a walkout may have caused some Yellow customers to pull back, Chan said.
“The financial struggles of Yellow are not related to the union and the contracts,” Jindel said, pointing to management’s responsibility around its services and prices. He added the union wages from Yellow are “lower than any competitor.”
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YELLOW WENT UNDER?
As Yellow customers take their shipments to other carriers, like FedEx or ABF Freight, prices will go up.
Yellow’s prices have historically been the cheapest compared to other carriers, Jindel said. “That’s why they obviously were not making money,” he added. “And while there is capacity with the other LTL carriers to handle the diversions from Yellow, it will come at a high price for (current shippers and customers) of Yellow.”
Chan adds that we’re in an interesting time for the LTL marketplace — noting that, if Yellow liquidates, “the freight would find a home” with other carriers, which may not have been true in recent years.
“It may take time, but there’s room for it to be absorbed,” he said.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.ktre.com/2023/07/31/yellow-is-shutting-down-headed-bankruptcy-teamsters-union-says-heres-what-know/ | 2023-07-31T13:39:45 | 0 | https://www.ktre.com/2023/07/31/yellow-is-shutting-down-headed-bankruptcy-teamsters-union-says-heres-what-know/ |
LINCOLNTON, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A driver is wanted by Lincolnton Police after what they say “appears to be an intentional assault with a vehicle”.
Officers say the assault happened at the Walmart at 306 North Generals Boulevard around 1:17 p.m. on Sunday, July 30.
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Six migrant workers were hit by a vehicle and were taken to Atrium Health Lincolnton for non-life-threatening injuries, police said.
According to authorities, an older mid-size SUV with a luggage rack was caught on camera hitting the victims. The driver of the SUV is described as an older white man.
Police say they are investigating the “why” behind the assault.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Lincolnton Police Department at 704-736-8900. Detective M. Diallo is the lead detective in this case. | https://www.qcnews.com/crime-and-public-safety/man-wanted-by-police-after-intentionally-hitting-6-migrant-workers-with-car-in-lincolnton-pd/ | 2023-07-31T13:39:49 | 0 | https://www.qcnews.com/crime-and-public-safety/man-wanted-by-police-after-intentionally-hitting-6-migrant-workers-with-car-in-lincolnton-pd/ |
NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Glossier's vision is to change how the world sees beauty — and that means changing the industry itself. The Glossier Grant Program invests in Black beauty entrepreneurs to address legacies of inequity, exclusion, and barriers to fundraising. Since 2020, Glossier has given $1.4M to this program, partnered with 35+ founders leading 30+ innovative beauty brands in the US + UK, sharing grant funding, curated business programming, resources and time.
After months of review, including a final panel with Glossier's CMO, Kleo Mack, Chief Creative Officer, Marie Suter, and Into the Gloss Editorial Director, Ashley Weatherford, Glossier is pleased to share the 2023 Grantees which range from halal-certified skincare to feminine hygiene to wellness. These six visionary founders stood out amongst hundreds of talented applicants, building incredible brands, innovative products, and changing the future of beauty.
Glossier will spend the next four months in partnership with these founders, pairing them with a Glossier advisor for mentorship, giving access to business programming, and participating in 1:1 meetings with Glossier's CEO Kyle Leahy, experts across the company, grantee alumni, and even with Glossier's community of partners like Shopify and Google.
Here are the 2023 Glossier Grantees:
Founded by Jordan Karim, Flora & Noor is the only halal-certified skincare brand made and based in the US. It's an inclusive, vegan skincare brand for those who appreciate clean skincare, those needing to treat the skin concerns of melanin-rich skin, and those with chronic skin conditions starting with eczema and hyperpigmentation.
Founders OB/GYN Dr. Barb and ex-Pharmaceutical Sales Consultant, Kimba created Kushae with a mission to whip up effective yet gentle, pH-balanced and naturally-based feminine care products—created by women, for women.
Mela Vitamins is the world's first vitamin designed for melanated people. Melanin impacts the way bodies produce certain nutrients, which creates unique nutritional needs that other multivitamins don't prioritize. Founder Ashley Harmon was inspired to create the brand after her own health issues led her to learn that 80% of Black Americans are Vitamin D deficient.
Moodeaux believes self-expression is the best self-care. This fragrance brand was founded by Brianna Arps in 2021 to introduce a new standard: longer-lasting, skin-nurturing, earth-friendly blends that give subpar scents, questionable ingredients, and wasteful packaging the side eye.
Of Other Worlds is a different kind of beauty brand that doesn't make you choose between "clean" and clinical. Founder Simedar Jackson (they/them) became an esthetician to join the ranks of skincare professionals making treatments safe and effective for all skin tones, body types and genders.
Soss makes elevating grooming essentials for Black men. Founders Vernon Yancy and Jeremiah Regis translate love of self into uplifting and affirming grooming routines to help you embrace who you are, and welcome who you are growing to be.
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SOURCE Glossier | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/meet-grantees-glossiers-2023-grant-program-black-owned-beauty-businesses/ | 2023-07-31T13:39:50 | 0 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/meet-grantees-glossiers-2023-grant-program-black-owned-beauty-businesses/ |
The Industry's Only End-to-End Platform Will Help Businesses Streamline the Compliance Journey
TAMPA, Fla., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A-LIGN, the leading cybersecurity compliance solutions provider, announced today the groundbreaking news that its award-winning compliance automation platform, A-SCEND, will be available at no charge.
"We enable businesses to build trust with their customers – whether they are getting ready for their first audit or consolidating multiple audit frameworks. We are thrilled to enable more organizations to experience the power of compliance automation on our platform," said Giles House, Chief Marketing & Product Officer at A-LIGN. "A-SCEND is the only solution on the market backed by a team of experienced audit professionals that can provide end-to-end services to streamline the entire compliance lifecycle."
Businesses can now harness the power of A-SCEND's automation and audit-readiness capabilities to streamline their compliance efforts. With the platform, users can:
- Automate evidence collection for their audit with the click of a button by leveraging 90+ integrations
- Streamline policy management with industry-best-practice templates
- Complete a readiness assessment to find out how prepared they are for the next audit
- Receive a real-time health check of their compliance posture with the Compliance Hub, which tests controls against CIS benchmarks on a scheduled basis
This announcement comes at a time of remarkable growth for A-SCEND. The platform has been leveraged to collect over two million pieces of evidence for thousands of users, while achieving an 80+ NPS score. A-LIGN has made significant investments into the platform with notable SaaS industry veteran new hires including House as CMPO and Raya Cleary as VP Product.
To learn more about A-SCEND and get started today for free, visit https://www.a-lign.com/lp/a-scend-signup.
About A-LIGN
A-LIGN is the only end-to-end cybersecurity compliance solutions provider with readiness to report compliance automation software paired with professional audit services, trusted by more than 4,000 global organizations to help mitigate cybersecurity risks. A-LIGN uniquely delivers a single-provider holistic approach as a licensed CPA firm to SOC 1 and SOC 2 Audit services, accredited ISO 27001, ISO 27701 and ISO 22301 Certification Body, HITRUST CSF Assessor firm, accredited FedRAMP 3PAO, authorized CMMC C3PAO, PCI Qualified Security Assessor Company, and PCI SSC registered Secure Software Assessor Company. Working with growing businesses to global enterprises, A-LIGN's experts and its compliance automation platform, A-SCEND, are transforming the compliance experience.
CONTACT:
Abigail Rodrigues
abigail.rodrigues@a-lign.com
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SOURCE A-LIGN | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/a-lign-sets-new-standard-compliance-automation-with-free-access-a-scend-software/ | 2023-07-31T13:39:52 | 0 | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/a-lign-sets-new-standard-compliance-automation-with-free-access-a-scend-software/ |
Giants’ fans are exhaling following Saquon Barkley’s contract resolution last week. His presence in the New York backfield changes the outlook for this team beginning with their Week 1 tilt against the Dallas Cowboys.
Jay Croucher (@croucherJD) and Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) broke down what Barkley brings to the table and specifically looked at that Week 1 matchup on a recent episode of Bet the EDGE.
Dinsick believes Barkley’s mere presence on the roster substantially raises the talent level of an otherwise mediocre group.
“They (Giants) have a lot of guys that really just are low ceiling type of players in that room. Maybe the one exception is Darren Waller, but who knows if he can stay healthy. I think if you had taken him (Barkley) out of the picture then that group falls into like bottom five and all of a sudden, there’s a ton of pressure on this group as a unit.”
Read and Watch More: FMIA - Peter King’s Training Camp Tour Continues
The conversation continued with Dinsick breaking down what Barkley’s presence on the field means for New York.
“Barkley, to me at least, he’s kind of in like that 8-10 in terms of his value among running backs in the NFL....maybe a little bit higher, but his DNA is boom or bust and if you are a running back that has some potential to make game-breaking plays then the defense has to prepare for you a little bit differently. With him out there the Giants have a little bit more room to scheme Daniel Jones into some of the type of offense that we saw them be so successful in the playoffs against the Vikings last year. A lot of that space was created because the defense had to respect the fact that Saquon Barkley (@saquon) was capable of hitting a home run.”
What does Barkley’s presence on the field mean for bettors particularly as they examine Week 1 when the Giants host the Dallas Cowboys? Dinsick is looking at the Total.
“If Barkley is out there and he’s healthy, then this is a pretty clear over team for me, because they’re going to give up points…if I was to make any bet on this news it would probably be over 46½ on Sunday Night Football Week 1…The Cowboys are going to get theirs in that game. The secondary for the Giants is far, far, far too weak to keep this Cowboys’ team in the low 20s…and now with their ability to answer particularly with their ability to create space, get some opportunities to go up against the one weakness in the Cowboys’ defense which is their off-ball linebacking corps. I think that does actually set up pretty well for this game to go OVER the 46½. I was ready to break hard UNDER if Barkley missed this game and now with him in the fold and 100% healthy, I think the look is OVER.”
Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season is just weeks away.
Enjoy the games and enjoy the sweat. | https://www.nbcsports.com/betting/nfl/news/betting-the-nfl-week-1-giants-vs-cowboys | 2023-07-31T13:39:53 | 1 | https://www.nbcsports.com/betting/nfl/news/betting-the-nfl-week-1-giants-vs-cowboys |
Stock market today: Wall Street ticks higher ahead of another packed week of corporate earnings
Jul 30, 2023, 9:39 PM | Updated: Jul 31, 2023, 5:24 am
(AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Wall Street pointed modestly higher early Monday as investors look ahead to another busy week of corporate earnings while digesting a mixed bag of economic data from abroad.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 each rose about 0.1% before the bell.
Shares were mixed in Europe after data released Monday showed Europe’s economy has grown modestly after months of stagnation.
The 20 countries that use the euro currency and their 346 million people saw 0.3% growth in the April-to-June period, compared with the first three months of the year, the EU statistics agency Eurostat said.
That’s a slight improvement over zero growth in the first quarter and a slight decline in fourth quarter of last year.
Germany’s DAX was up 0.1% while the CAC 40 in Paris gained 0.5% and Britain’s FTSE 100 was essentially unchanged.
Another heavy slate of corporate earnings will consume markets this week, with Pfizer, Starbucks, CVS Health, Amazon, Apple and Airbnb all releasing financial results in the coming days.
In Asia, most markets logged gains Monday on hopes for more stimulus from Beijing for the sluggish Chinese economy.
Worries over China’s slowdown have tempered optimism recently over the possibility that inflation is cooling enough to get the Federal Reserve to stop hiking interest rates.
Adding to pressure on the ruling Communist Party to reverse an economic slowdown, Chinese factory activity contracted in July as export orders shrank, a survey showed,
A purchasing managers’ index issued by the national statistics agency and an industry group improved to 49.3 from June’s 49 on a 100-point scale but was below the 50-point level that shows activity contracting.
“The PMI surveys suggest that China’s economic recovery continued to lose momentum in July,” Julian Evans-Pritchard of Capital Economics said in a commentary. “Looking forward, policy support is needed to prevent China’s economy from slipping into a recession, not least because external headwinds look set to persist for a while longer.”
The Hang Seng in Hong Kong rose 0.8% to 20,078.94, while the Shanghai Composite index advanced 0.5% to 3,291.04.
Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index closed 1.3% higher at 33,172.22. In Seoul, the Kospi climbed 0.9% to 2,632.58.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 edged 0.1% higher, to 7,410.40 and the SET in Bangkok was up 0.8%. The Sensex in India rose 0.4% to 66,419.66.
Wall Street closed out another winning week on Friday, as the S&P 500 rose 1%. The Dow added 0.5% and the Nasdaq climbed 1.9% as Big Tech stocks led the market.
If inflation is cooling enough to get the Federal Reserve to stop hiking interest rates, that might allow the economy to continue growing and avoid a long-predicted recession.
Though critics say the stock market’s rally may have gone too far, too fast, hopes for a halt to rate hikes helped technology stocks and others seen as big beneficiaries from easier rates to rally.
A report on Friday showed the inflation measure the Fed prefers to use slowed last month by a touch more than expected. Data also showed total compensation for workers rose less than expected during the spring. While that’s discouraging for workers, investors see it adding less upward pressure on inflation.
The hope among traders is that the slowdown in inflation means Wednesday’s hike to interest rates by the Federal Reserve will be the final one of this cycle. The federal funds rate has leaped to a level between 5.25% and 5.50%, up from virtually zero early last year. High interest rates work to lower inflation by slowing the entire economy and hurting prices for stocks and other investments.
In other trading Monday, U.S. benchmark crude oil gained 81 cents to $81.39 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It gained 49 cents to $80.58 on Friday.
Brent crude, the international standard, added 67 cents to $85.08 a barrel.
The U.S. dollar rose to 142.23 Japanese yen from Friday’s 141.01 yen. The euro was at $1.1026, up from $1.1019.
___
Kurtenbach reported from Bangkok; Ott reported from Silver Spring, Maryland.
AP Business Writer Joe McDonald in Beijing contributed. | https://mynorthwest.com/3915080/stock-market-today-european-shares-open-mixed-after-asia-rallies-on-hopes-for-chinese-stimulus/ | 2023-07-31T13:39:53 | 0 | https://mynorthwest.com/3915080/stock-market-today-european-shares-open-mixed-after-asia-rallies-on-hopes-for-chinese-stimulus/ |
ROXBORO, N.C. (WNCN) — Two Person County teenagers died in a crash near Roxboro that also injured three other teens early Saturday morning, officials said.
The single-car crash was reported just before 1:20 a.m. along Shiloh Church Road near Dorothy Brooks Lane, which is about three miles north of Roxboro, according to North Carolina State Highway Patrol Trooper Colby Rice.
The wreck happened when the 18-year-old driver of a 2008 Hyundai Sonata crossed left of the center line, ran off the road and then collided with a tree “at a high rate of speed,” according to a report filed by Rice.
The car was traveling at 75 mph just before the wreck, which is 30 mph above the posted limit of 45 mph along the stretch of two-lane road where the crash happened, troopers said.
Passengers Jordan Humphrey, 17, and Isaac Bowen, whose age was not known by officials, both of Roxboro died in the crash, according to Rice.
Two other passengers — a teenage girl and boy — were taken to Duke Hospital in Durham for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, the highway patrol said. The driver was also treated for injuries that are not considered to be life-threatening, according to Rice.
The highway patrol report said at least one of the teens in the crash was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the wreck but officials are not sure about other occupants.
Troopers said alcohol is suspected as a contributing factor in the wreck. No charges have been filed, but the highway patrol said troopers plan to meet with the district attorney to discuss potential charges. | https://www.qcnews.com/news/u-s/north-carolina/2-teens-killed-3-injured-in-person-county-crash-driver-was-speeding-at-75-mph-before-collision-with-tree-nc-troopers-say/ | 2023-07-31T13:39:55 | 1 | https://www.qcnews.com/news/u-s/north-carolina/2-teens-killed-3-injured-in-person-county-crash-driver-was-speeding-at-75-mph-before-collision-with-tree-nc-troopers-say/ |
Parties Interested in Joining the Case Can Contact Milberg Attorneys
SAN FRANCISCO, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- If a video advertisement autoplays for a bot on an unlisted webpage, does anyone hear it?
Apparently, they do—and Google "charges advertisers hefty amounts for the privilege of autoplaying their advertisements into the void," according to a putative class action filed by attorneys for Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman ("Milberg").
Google charges advertisers for proprietary "TrueView" video ads that appear on YouTube, apps, and websites. When a TrueView ad is served, users are asked with a visual prompt if they want to skip the ad after 5 seconds. Google policy states TrueView ads must be skippable, audible, and cannot be initiated by passive user scrolling.
Media buyers only pay for actual ad views—not impressions—Google promises. Google also tells advertisers TrueView ads will run on high-quality sites, before the page's main video content, with the audio on, and that advertisers will only pay for ads that are not skipped.
Milberg's lawsuit alleges, however, that Google broke these promises and, in the process, unlawfully enriched itself while robbing businesses of billions of dollars spent on digital ads.
"Many of the TrueView advertisements are, in fact, displayed as muted, auto-playing videos either 'out-stream' or obscured on independent sites," the lawsuit states.
Ads were played on sites with copyright violations, "made-for-advertising" sites, sites delisted for copyright and piracy violations, and were even served to Google's own web-crawling bots, the lawsuit also claims.
As evidence, the suit cites a report from Adalytics, an ad campaign analytics firm, suggesting that Google has violated its TrueView policies for years, serving ads on hundreds of thousands of low-quality websites and apps. For some brands, between 42 – 75% of TrueView ad spend was on video ads that did not meet Google's standards, Adalytics found, including ads not meeting Google's definitions of "in-stream."
The lead plaintiffs in the case, like many of the marketers who spoke to Adalytics, say they would not have purchased TrueView skippable in-stream video ads if they had known beforehand the true nature of Google's deceptive policies. They are seeking refunds from Google, in addition to punitive damages and attorneys' fees, for themselves and all advertisers who paid for TrueView in-stream advertisements.
Milberg, a national leader in class action litigation, is seeking clients who paid Google to run advertisements through the TrueView program and believe they were misled about the service.
Inquiries should be sent to Gary M. Klinger (gklinger@milberg.com / 866-252-0878).
About Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, PLLC:
For over 50 years, Milberg and its affiliates have been fighting to protect victims' rights and have recovered over $50 billion for clients. A pioneer in class action litigation, Milberg is widely recognized as a leader in defending the rights of victims of corporate wrongdoing.
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SOURCE Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman PLLC | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/milberg-lawsuit-accuses-google-misleading-trueview-advertisers/ | 2023-07-31T13:39:57 | 1 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/milberg-lawsuit-accuses-google-misleading-trueview-advertisers/ |
ALHAMBRA, Calif., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Apollo Medical Holdings, Inc. ("ApolloMed," and together with its subsidiaries and affiliated entities, the "Company") (NASDAQ: AMEH), a leading physician-centric, technology-powered healthcare company focused on enabling providers in the successful delivery of value-based care, today announced an agreement to partner with IntraCare, an operator of a value-based primary care provider network and primary care clinics located predominantly in Texas with a growing presence in Oklahoma.
Headquartered in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area of Texas, IntraCare is aligned with over 425 providers managing the care of over 40,000 members. Like ApolloMed, IntraCare is on a mission to build a thriving healthcare ecosystem that promotes successful, independent physicians, strengthens the patient-physician relationship, and improves patient satisfaction and healthcare outcomes through quality, compassionate coordinated care.
ApolloMed's partnership with IntraCare is poised to accelerate access to high-quality, value-based care for seniors in three areas. First, ApolloMed's ACO will partner with IntraCare's primary care providers as part of the ACO REACH program, an attribution-based risk-bearing model designed to advance health equity and bring the benefits of accountable care to Medicare beneficiaries in underserved communities. In addition, ApolloMed will deploy its value-based care platform as the exclusive care enablement partner for IntraCare providers participating in the ACO REACH program. Finally, to further IntraCare's mission and growth, ApolloMed will lend IntraCare a $25 million senior secured convertible promissory note maturing in 2028. Guggenheim Securities, LLC acted as financial advisor to IntraCare in connection with the transactions.
Brandon Sim, Co-CEO of ApolloMed, stated, "We have admired IntraCare's demonstrated track record of successfully empowering local independent primary care practices in Texas and Oklahoma, a strategy which is aligned with and complementary to our success in our core markets. With this partnership, we are excited to build upon IntraCare's momentum and partner with their providers in our ACO, continuing to scale our Care Partners business. We also look forward to bringing our Care Enablement platform to these providers and will work closely with IntraCare's leadership team in continuing to expand upon their historical success while exploring additional avenues for collaboration down the road."
Anwar Kazi, CEO of IntraCare, added, "We are thrilled to be partnering with ApolloMed, a company that is aligned with IntraCare in its mission of empowering providers in the successful delivery of value-based care. We believe that joining forces with ApolloMed will enable us to accelerate the growth of our business as we look to continue expanding our affiliate network and owned clinic footprint within our existing geographic presence in Texas and Oklahoma."
About Apollo Medical Holdings, Inc.
ApolloMed is a leading physician-centric, technology-powered, risk-bearing healthcare management company. Leveraging its proprietary end-to-end technology solutions, ApolloMed operates an integrated healthcare delivery platform that enables providers to successfully participate in value-based care arrangements, thus empowering them to deliver high quality care to patients in a cost-effective manner.
Headquartered in Alhambra, California, ApolloMed's subsidiaries and affiliates include management services organizations (MSOs), affiliated independent practice associations (IPAs), and entities participating in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Innovation Center (CMMI) innovation models. For more information, please visit www.apollomed.net.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, such as statements about the Company's operational focus and strategic growth plans and expectations regarding its ability to successfully partner with third parties. Forward-looking statements reflect current views with respect to future events and financial performance and therefore cannot be guaranteed. Such statements are based on the current expectations and certain assumptions of the Company's management, and some or all of such expectations and assumptions may not materialize or may vary significantly from actual results. Actual results may also vary materially from forward-looking statements due to risks, uncertainties and other factors, known and unknown, including the risk factors described from time to time in the Company's reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including without limitation the risk factors discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Investor Relations
(626) 943-6491
investors@apollomed.net
Carolyne Sohn, The Equity Group
(408) 538-4577
csohn@equityny.com
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SOURCE Apollo Medical Holdings, Inc. | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/apollo-medical-holdings-inc-announces-partnership-with-intracare-advance-value-based-care-texas-oklahoma/ | 2023-07-31T13:39:58 | 0 | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/apollo-medical-holdings-inc-announces-partnership-with-intracare-advance-value-based-care-texas-oklahoma/ |
The owner of Helping Hands for Furry Paws animal rescue in Butler County, Ohio, was issued an arrest warrant after a raid of her home led to the discovery of nearly 120 dogs, 30 of which were found dead in freezers on Friday.
The remaining 86 dogs were taken to the Animal Friends Humane Society of Butler County for evaluation and treatment.
Rescue owner Rhonda Murphy had been hospitalized and, at the time of publication, had not been taken into police custody.
Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones said the conditions were some of the worst ever seen by sheriff's deputies and dog warden investigators.
"Five sets of puppies. No food," Jones said. "This one was nursing other pups, and you can see ribs hanging out, so, pretty nasty stuff."
SEE MORE: Why are custody battles over pets on the rise?
The conditions at Helping Hands for Furry Paws were completely different from Cincinnati Animal Care. Volunteers spent Saturday afternoon beautifying the property as 40 to 50 employees, like Ray Anderson, work daily to care for roughly 8,000 animals who pass through their facility annually.
"A lot of folks, they don't know the difference between a shelter and a rescue," Anderson said.
He said rescues can range from large operations dealing with hundreds of animals to a single person housing a couple of dogs off the street, but a person attempting to surrender their pet may never know what they're dealing with if they don't do their due diligence.
"Go some place where you can actually see the living conditions of the animals," Anderson said. "If someone is telling you they'll meet you at the Ikea parking lot or some other public space versus seeing how the animal is living, that would be a red flag for me."
If a person can't make a trip to see a property with their own eyes, Anderson suggested doing thorough research online.
He said reputable rescues should be posting recent pictures or videos of multiple animals around their facility, and the same should be true for any rescue's social media presence.
"Really, that's the big thing," Anderson said, "transparency."
Anderson said amateur rescues that get out of control usually start with the good intentions of helping animals in need, but become too much to handle.
He said shelters exist to help people before it reaches that point, and suggested people reach out to their local shelter before it reaches the point of criminality.
This story was originally published by Sean DeLancey for Scripps News Cincinnati.
Trending stories at Scrippsnews.com | https://www.kbzk.com/animal-rescue-owner-charged-after-grisly-discovery | 2023-07-31T13:40:01 | 1 | https://www.kbzk.com/animal-rescue-owner-charged-after-grisly-discovery |
SMITHFIELD, N.C. (WNCN) – Authorities are searching for a hit-and-run suspect following a crash that injured seven motorcyclists in Johnston County near Smithfield Saturday night.
According to North Carolina State Highway Patrol, a large group of motorcyclists was driving westbound on U.S. 70 near the 338-mile marker around 10:15 p.m. when a black Ford Explorer switched lanes, hitting the motorcyclists at the front.
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The N.C. State Highway Patrol said this caused a chain reaction in which three other motorcyclists collided. The motorcyclists told state troopers that the Ford Explorer then sped away at a high speed into the city of Smithfield. One of the motorcyclists tried to follow the SUV, but eventually lost sight of the vehicle, officials say.
State troopers say five vehicles were involved in the crash, resulting in seven people being injured. Three of them were taken to WakeMed Raleigh, while two others were transported to WakeMed Cary, according to troopers.
Two of the motorcyclists suffered “serious injuries,” officials say.
State troopers said the suspected vehicle, which they say should have rear damage, has not been found. | https://www.qcnews.com/news/u-s/north-carolina/7-motorcyclists-injured-after-suv-causes-hit-and-run-crash-in-johnston-county-nc-troopers-say/ | 2023-07-31T13:40:01 | 1 | https://www.qcnews.com/news/u-s/north-carolina/7-motorcyclists-injured-after-suv-causes-hit-and-run-crash-in-johnston-county-nc-troopers-say/ |
A look at the winners and losers after Sunday’s race at Richmond Raceway:
WINNERS
RFK Racing — Chris Buescher scored the team’s first victory of the season Sunday at Richmond and secured the first playoff spot for the organization since Brad Keselowski became a part owner before last season. Keselowski finished sixth at Richmond, marking the fourth time in the last 13 races both drivers finished in the top 10. With 14 races left this season, RFK Racing has more top fives, top 10s and stage wins than it did all of last season. Progress is being made.
Richard Childress Racing — Kyle Busch finished third and teammate Austin Dillon was ninth. That marks only the third time this season both drivers finished in the top 10. The other two times were at Fontana (Busch won, Dillon was ninth) and the Coca-Cola 600 (Busch was sixth, Dillon was ninth).
Stewart-Haas Racing — All four of its cars finished 11th or better: Ryan Preece was fifth, Aric Almirola was eighth, Kevin Harvick was 10th and Chase Briscoe was 11th. Preece’s result was his first top 10 of the season. Almirola had his first top 10 since the April Martinsville race.
LOSERS
Trackhouse Racing — Ross Chastain finished 24th and teammate Daniel Suarez placed 33rd Sunday. This marked the third time in the last five races that Trackhouse has failed to place a driver in the top 15. In the five races since Chastain won at Nashville, Trackhouse Racing has scored one top-10 finish (a runner-up result by Suarez at Atlanta).
Hendrick Motorsports — None of the team’s four cars finished in the top 10. Chase Elliott led the way, finishing 13th. Alex Bowman placed 18th, Kyle Larson was 19th and William Byron finished 21st. It marks the third time this season that has happened. Hendrick did not place a car in the top 10 at the dirt race at Bristol and the spring Atlanta race. That this happened at Richmond is surprising. Hendrick took the top two spots in the Richmond spring race and had three cars in the top 10 that day. On the plus side, Elliott moved to 40 points from the cutline with four races to go. | https://www.nbcsports.com/nascar/news/winners-losers-team-version-at-richmond | 2023-07-31T13:40:03 | 1 | https://www.nbcsports.com/nascar/news/winners-losers-team-version-at-richmond |
Proceeds to Continue Advancing Community Goals and Vital Life-Saving Initiatives for New Yorkers In Need
NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In just six months of sales, Housing Works Cannabis Co, a CAURD licensee and the first adult-use cannabis dispensary in the state of New York, has directed millions in cannabis proceeds toward some of New York City's most urgent community needs. As part of parent organization Housing Works, the dispensary's sales proceeds go directly to helping New Yorkers with healthcare, housing, job training, harm reduction, case management, advocacy for health equity and social justice initiatives, LGBTQ+ youth programs and sexual health services.
"Our goal, going back over 30 years ago through Housing Works, has been to empower New Yorkers through advocacy and bridge communities to life saving services," said Sasha Nutgent, Retail Manager at Housing Works Cannabis Co. "From the resources we've rolled out, to the brands we carefully select for our customers, everything we do here has a greater purpose and we're humbled to see the support our mission is receiving."
Sales & Consumer Trends
Within three hours of opening on Dec. 29, 2022, Housing Works Cannabis Co saw an estimated $40,000 in sales—amounting to over $1.6 million in the first month and an estimated $12 million in the first six months of operations. Conversion rates, sales and customer retention continue to be strong, with as many as 1,000 unique visitors on busy days.
Consumer trend insights from the Housing Works Cannabis Co team show that customers continue to make decisions based on potency, reflecting a need for more education on cannabis and its numerous uses. New Yorkers and tourists alike also tend to prefer sativa and sativa-leaning hybrid strains, with flower representing the top-selling product category. In addition, the team also found that those who come in seeking edibles typically look for products that promote sleep and mitigate anxiety.
Menu Expansion
More recently, the dispensary added 200 new products to its menu, bringing more options from queer-, BIPOC- and women-owned and led companies into the store for customers to discover. Housing Works Cannabis Co currently carries seven social equity brands, with more coming soon.
"One unforeseen challenge and a pain point for both retailers and customers has been product rollout," said Nutgent. "There have been major improvements with the state's product testing timeline, for example, but the feedback we still hear from some Black-owned brands is that there is not enough funding to get their products into the market."
Last month, Housing Works Cannabis Co introduced its first Black-owned brand, Brelixi—which is also woman- and queer-owned—onto its shelves. Other social equity brands include Fat Nell (women-led), The Weekenders (BIPOC-owned and -led), as well as Flamer and Drew Martin (queer-owned).
Delivery Service
With accessibility as another focal point for the nonprofit, Housing Works Cannabis Co also became the first legal cannabis delivery service to launch in the state. Handled fully in-house thanks to 30+ years of Housing Works' experience through its thrift furniture donation and pick-up program, deliveries currently account for about 5-7% of sales.
Spanning select ZIP codes in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, anyone over the age of 21+ with a valid ID can secure same-day and next-day delivery slots directly on Housing Works Cannabis Co's website.
"We've seen our delivery programs over the years forge meaningful and trusting relationships between our staff and thrift store patrons," said Charles King, CEO of Housing Works. "To see the same positive dynamic emerge between customers and budtenders reflects our roots in the city, our deep understanding of New York City culture and the community trust we continue to nurture."
For more information on Housing Works Cannabis Co, please visit: hwcannabis.co
About Housing Works Cannabis Co
Housing Works Cannabis Co is a recipient of New York State's CAURD social equity license initiative and the first legal cannabis dispensary to open in the state. Founded in 2022 as a bold new extension of Housing Works' established retail outlets—which include thrift store locations across the city and a bookstore in SoHo—proceeds from Housing Works Cannabis Co go directly to the nonprofit organization's mission to end social injustices through the provisioning of lifesaving services and relentless advocacy. For thirty years, Housing Works has provided housing, healthcare and other critical services to New Yorkers affected by AIDS, homelessness, substance abuse and criminal justice system involvement. The Housing Works Cannabis Co not only generates additional funding for these services, it does so while modeling the positive role cannabis can play in our communities. Learn more at hwcannabis.co
Media Contact:
Martha N. Marshall
Grasslands: A Journalism-Minded Agency
martha@mygrasslands.com
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SOURCE Housing Works | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/nonprofit-housing-works-cannabis-co-garners-12-million-sales-during-first-six-months-operation-new-york/ | 2023-07-31T13:40:04 | 1 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/nonprofit-housing-works-cannabis-co-garners-12-million-sales-during-first-six-months-operation-new-york/ |
The Official Committee of Talc Claimants Applauds Decision to Dismiss LTL Management Second Bankruptcy Attempt
NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Official Committee of Talc Claimants (the "Committee"), which has been tirelessly pursuing justice for its constituency of talc victims injury by Johnson & Johnson's ("J&J's") talc products, is pleased with the court's decision to dismiss the second bankruptcy attempt. We believe the decision of the Honorable Chief Judge Kaplan was thoughtful, well-reasoned, and well-supported by the facts and law. This outcome now frees tens of thousands of victims to seek their justice through the tort system and, either before juries of their peers or by settlement on terms acceptable to them. The Committee has consistently contended the tort system is the rightful place for these claims to be resolved. Today's ruling validates the Committee's belief that J&J manipulated the bankruptcy system by using the "Texas Two-Step" legal maneuver and wrongfully sought to manufacture financial distress in its "Legacy Talc Liabilities" (LTL) Management subsidiary, solely to carry out a bad faith bankruptcy case. The company will now face the full weight of its conduct in the appropriate judicial forums.
"This ruling sends a clear message: multibillion-dollar, wholly solvent companies like J&J should not be allowed to use and in fact abuse bankruptcy laws to avoid accountability," said Brown Rudnick's David Molton, one of the co-counsels representing the Committee. "We are reassured by the Bankruptcy Court's reaffirmation that it will not allow solvent corporations to abuse the system and impose coercive, low-value and cram-down solutions on nonconsenting claimants. Justice should and now will triumph over corporate greed and legal chicanery."
"The claimants have waited long enough. Untold numbers of cancer victims have died while Johnson & Johnson attempted to manipulate the bankruptcy system to limit its liabilities," added Molton. "Now victims and their families can seek justice through the tort system – by presenting their case before a jury of their peers in courts of their own choosing."
The TCC filed its motion to dismiss on April 24, 2023, alongside several other movants, including the Office of the United States Trustee, numerous State Attorneys General, and other plaintiff groups, who shared a vision for this outcome. Chief Judge Kaplan's Opinion can be viewed on the case docket, available at: https://document.epiq11.com/document/getdocumentbycode?docId=4202926&projectCode=LCN&source=DM
About The Official Committee of Talc Claimants
The Official Committee of Talc Claimants (TCC), appointed by the Office of the United States Trustee (UST), an arm of the US Department of Justice, represents and acts as a fiduciary for all mesothelioma and ovarian cancer victims, as well as all subrogation claimants who have claims based on or derivative to the victims' talcum powder claims. For more information about the TCC, please view our website at https://www.ltltalccommittee.org/
The TCC is advised by counsel, an investment banker, a financial advisor, and claims estimation experts well-versed in mass tort, asbestos, talc, bankruptcy, and victim advocacy. These entities include Genova Burns L.L.C., Brown Rudnick L.L.P., Otterbourg PC, Massey & Gail L.L.P., Miller Thomson L.L.P., MoloLamken L.L.P., Compass Lexecon, FTI Consulting, and Houlihan Lokey.
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SOURCE Ashcraft & Gerel | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/ashcraft-amp-gerel-llp-partners-michelle-parfitt-james-green-two-co-counsels-representing-committee-members-share-thoughts-expressed-by-tcc-committee-their-public-statement/ | 2023-07-31T13:40:05 | 1 | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/ashcraft-amp-gerel-llp-partners-michelle-parfitt-james-green-two-co-counsels-representing-committee-members-share-thoughts-expressed-by-tcc-committee-their-public-statement/ |
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Do you ever have those days in the middle of winter when your skin looks a little dry and weathered as if it needs a little plumping pick-me-up? This is exactly what happened to me last February after an unusually long bout of snow in my area. I walked into Sephora and asked the sales associate what I needed to manufacture some type of dewy glow. Without hesitation, she walked me over to Saie Glowy Super Gel Illuminator.
It comes in two sizes and shades, and after sampling it, I immediately went all in on the larger size in the Starglow shade. It was exactly what I was looking for. The liquid water-based luminizer gives you a radiant finish without making you look like a ’90s pop star with glitter specs stuck to your cheeks. It’s much more subtle than that.
It’s also created with good-for-the-skin ingredients like plant-based glycerin, which plumps up the skin, and rose hip seed oil and vitamin C to nourish and brighten, which I love. I cringe thinking about all the junk makeup I’ve used over the years, but now I’ve wised up and completely cleaned up my skincare and makeup regime. I try hard to only buy products that are deemed clean.
Currently, the 0.5-ounce size sells for $15.20 on Amazon, but the 1-ounce is a slightly better deal at $26.60-$28. It comes in two shades: Starglow and Sunglow. The Starglow is whiter while the slightly-more-expensive Sunglow has a golden brown tone.
Buy Saie Glowy Super Gel Lightweight Illuminator at Amazon for $28.
A few months after purchasing, while having wine with an old friend from high school, she leaned in and asked me what I was doing to make my skin look so good.
“How so?” I asked.
She said, “I know you are happy, but you’re practically glowing!” As any good friend would, I let her behind the Saie curtain and immediately texted her a link to the product so she could buy it later.
You can mix it with your face lotion or foundation, but I use it the most as a highlighter on my cheekbones. During the summer, I blend it into my body lotion to give my legs and collarbones a little shimmer on date nights. It’s lightweight and buildable. When I use it as a highlighter, I don’t even use a full pump. It’s more like a baby drop, so a large bottle will last you a very long time.
Not only is the Saie Glowy Super Gel Illuminator amazing 365 days a year, but it makes a great gift. My teenage daughter uses it too, and I’m thinking of gifting her a bottle for the new school year.
MORE: This eye cream for dark circles has nearly 17,000 5-star reviews on Amazon
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Check out Simplemost for additional stories. | https://www.kbzk.com/glowy-gel-luminizer-will-light-your-complexion | 2023-07-31T13:40:07 | 0 | https://www.kbzk.com/glowy-gel-luminizer-will-light-your-complexion |
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WNCN) — A man and his teen brother are now charged with murder in the broad-daylight shooting death Saturday of a Fayetteville man they knew, police said Sunday afternoon.
The incident was reported just before 11:50 a.m. as gunfire in the area of Stanberry Street at Primrose Drive, according to a news release from the Fayetteville Police Department.
Lorenzo Darnell McLaughlin Jr., 22, of Fayetteville was found with a gunshot wound at the scene in a neighborhood off Murchison Road a few blocks north of E.E. Smith High School.
He was taken to a nearby hospital where he died, police said.
Devonte Tyrell McClain, 20, and his brother, Adriane McClain, 18, both of Fayetteville are each charged with first-degree murder and felony conspiracy, police said.
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The brothers and McLaughlin communicated on social media before they drove to meet the victim who was shot while walking in the neighborhood, according to a Sunday news release.
They are both being held at the Cumberland County Detention Center under no bond. | https://www.qcnews.com/news/u-s/north-carolina/brothers-charged-with-murder-in-mans-shooting-death-in-fayetteville-neighborhood-police-say/ | 2023-07-31T13:40:07 | 1 | https://www.qcnews.com/news/u-s/north-carolina/brothers-charged-with-murder-in-mans-shooting-death-in-fayetteville-neighborhood-police-say/ |
LOS ANGELES, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- 9 Lives Interactive, formerly Rude Robot Studios, the developers behind the upcoming cats-and-mech multiplayer shooter, Nyan Heroes, are thrilled to announce their collaboration with Razer™, the leading lifestyle brand for gamers. Amid the gaming industry's transformational integration of gaming and Web3 technologies, this alliance signifies an innovative stride towards bridging this divide. Through their zVentures Web3 Incubator (ZW3I), Razer reiterates its dedication to blockchain adoption and commitment to providing diverse gaming experiences.
"Our collaboration with Razer is a major milestone in our journey," reveals Max Fu, CEO of Nyan Heroes. "With Razer by our side, we're emboldened to deliver gaming experiences that brim with joy and create lasting memories for our players."
Pre-alpha sign-ups are open, giving gamers an opportunity to experience the exciting adventure that awaits in the game. "We invite gamers to be part of the Nyan Heroes narrative as it evolves by joining us ahead of the official game release," says Fu.
Alongside this newfound collaboration with Razer, Nyan Heroes has embarked on a visual transformation. The rejuvenated graphics, underscored by joy, exploration, and camaraderie, encapsulate the spirit of the brand's refreshed gaming philosophy. The shift signals a departure from the traditional cyberpunk era, towards an enchanting, multiplayer adventure that beckons gamers worldwide to partake in the excitement.
Nyan Heroes' mission extends beyond gaming - they're committed to real-world change too. With a lofty goal to save one billion cats in real life, the company has already donated over $350,000 to animal welfare organizations, and they pledge to continue developing in-game features that enable players to participate in this impactful mission.
For more information or to sign up to playtest, visit nyanheroes.com or follow the developers on Twitter and Discord.
About Nyan Heroes
Nyan Heroes is a free-to-play hero shooter that combines fast-paced, competitive gameplay with a real-world impact. Developed by a remote team of seasoned game developers and powered by Unreal Engine 5 and blockchain technology, Nyan Heroes pays homage to cats and offers a AAA multiplayer experience with epic mech character classes, thrilling cat-like movement, and unique gameplay abilities.
The studio is committed to making a difference in saving one billion cats. $350K USD has already been donated to charitable organizations, including the Best Friends Animal Society. You can be a hero for cats everywhere and join the movement!
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SOURCE 9 Lives Interactive | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/nyan-heroes-razer-team-up-marking-an-exciting-new-chapter/ | 2023-07-31T13:40:10 | 0 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/nyan-heroes-razer-team-up-marking-an-exciting-new-chapter/ |
SINGAPORE, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Asia Innovations Group (ASIG) announced today that its Technology Center of Excellence (TCE) is now fully operational after five months of rigorous testing and development. The TCE's official launch marks a significant milestone in ASIG's ongoing AI development.
The TCE is an AIGC-centric engineering shared services hub that unites a skilled team of technical specialists, product experts, project managers, and a Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) platform. Based on Ray Serve, MLflow, K8s and ASIG's self-built hybrid cloud, the MLOps platform has gathered an extensive assortment of both open-source and proprietary AI models, enabling engineers, product developers, and professionals in operations and marketing to seamlessly access the platform via API interfaces.
ASIG has been at the forefront of adopting AI and has heavily invested in AI technologies in recent years. By providing multimodal models and solutions for natural language processing and computer vision, the TCE has enabled ASIG to accelerate the development of AI technologies across a wide range of applications.
The TCE has strengthened ASIG's e-commerce capabilities by utilizing Stable Diffusion technology. With this technology, users can match clothes with models while streamlining image processing and reducing production costs. Even with granular features such as model head swapping and skin changing, AI image extraction is exceptionally fast, delivering 100 images in just five seconds. Additionally, SEO copywriting generates marketing content for 3C products by simply inputting keywords and SKU information, helping to reduce promotion costs, increase product exposure, and boost organic traffic.
The TCE has also enhanced Orbit, ASIG's new social discovery product, by incorporating large language models that enable users to engage in conversations and play games with Obi, an AI-powered chatbot. These models provide for other innovative features such as icebreaking during one-on-one chats between users, as well as an in-app text-to-image tool that allows users to produce captivating images that express their emotions, ideas, and thoughts in a creative and personalized fashion. In essence, these enhancements strengthen genuine connections and elevate the overall user experience on the platform.
"The TCE showcases our strong capabilities in AIGC application, as well as our unwavering commitment to create innovative, impactful products," said Ouyang Yun, Chairman and CEO of ASIG. "AI is not just a new technology, it has the power to better connect people and positively impact users worldwide."
Finally, the TCE increases ASIG's operational efficiency by providing AI-powered administrative and financial services internally. This strengthens the company's overall functionality and streamlines its processes.
About Asia Innovations Group
Asia Innovations Group (ASIG) is a global leader in the mobile social industry, serving over 700 million registered users in over 150 regions worldwide as of July 2023. With eighteen offices around the globe, ASIG leverages its proven record of innovation, cutting-edge technology, scalable infrastructure, and global insights with local expertise in emerging markets to deliver stakeholder value based on the most exciting trends and growth opportunities in the social marketplace. ASIG has built a comprehensive and diverse portfolio since its founding in 2013, including leading apps such as Uplive, the global live video platform; CuteU and Lamour, the dominant dating apps in emerging markets; as well as other fast-growing voice and game-based live social apps. ASIG continues to be focused on integrating emerging technologies, including the latest AI applications, into all of its products to achieve its mission of enriching people's lives through innovative and enjoyable social products that foster meaningful human connection.
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SOURCE Asia Innovations Group | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/asigs-technological-center-excellence-advances-ai-applications-with-unparalleled-innovation/ | 2023-07-31T13:40:11 | 0 | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/asigs-technological-center-excellence-advances-ai-applications-with-unparalleled-innovation/ |
It’s usually not a good thing when a team’s quarterback has to undergo a medical procedure early on in training camp. But this one doesn’t seem to be much of a concern for Indianapolis.
The Colts announced on Monday morning that Anthony Richardson had a nose procedure on Sunday to correct his nasal spectrum.
“He will miss practice today and depending on how he feels we expect him to return tomorrow,” the team said in a statement.
While it’s clear that Richardson — the No. 4 pick of this year’s draft — will be the team’s starter eventually, he has not yet been named QB1.
The Colts also have Gardner Minshew and Sam Ehlinger at the position. It’s likely that Minshew will take the bulk of the reps at Monday’s practice from behind center. | https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/anthony-richardson-had-nasal-procedure-is-expected-to-return-tuesday | 2023-07-31T13:40:13 | 1 | https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/anthony-richardson-had-nasal-procedure-is-expected-to-return-tuesday |
Many movie and TV productions are now on pause, with writers and actors on strike. So you may be wondering if it is still worth paying all that money for a half dozen streaming services or more.
The good news is that there is a growing list of streaming services out there with plenty of content that you can watch completely free.
Like many of us, Cara Nicolas feels she pays for too many TV streams.
"I think I have seven or eight streaming services now," she said. "I watch MAX and Hulu and sometimes Netflix. We have Disney Plus too."
But now, this young advertising executive wants to cut back because the writers' strike means fewer new shows. So she is checking out some free services that offer thousands of old movies and series.
Consumer Reports recently analyzed all the free streaming services available now and suggests you may want to take a look at:
- Amazon Freevee
- Crackle
- Pluto TV
- Tubi TV
- Roku channel
Click here to read the full report.
So what's the catch?
According to Consumer Reports, you won't find recently released films like Barbie or popular HBO shows, but you will get a decent variety for free. In exchange, you'll be watching more ads, according to Jim Willcox of Consumer Reports.
"You're even starting to see right now some companies promoting the fact that 'oh, we only have three ads per hour' or something like that," he said.
If you're thinking you really don't want to subscribe to another two, three, or four services, the reality is that you don't have to.
A lot of those free streaming services have a lot of the same content," Willcox said,
That means both free services, and the giants like Netflix and Hulu, have to differentiate their content while also offering affordable options.
"Clearly consumers are hitting a threshold in terms of how much money they're willing to pay each month," Willcox said.
Nicolas says those free services can keep you entertained, strike or no strike.
"There is never a shortage of content to watch," she said.
That way you don't waste your money.
__________________________
"Don't Waste Your Money" is a registered trademark of Scripps Media, Inc. ("Scripps").
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- Facebook:John Matarese Money
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- Twitter: @JohnMatarese
For more consumer news and money saving advice, go to www.dontwasteyourmoney.com | https://www.kbzk.com/money/consumer/dont-waste-your-money/watch-tv-free-with-these-no-charge-streaming-services | 2023-07-31T13:40:13 | 0 | https://www.kbzk.com/money/consumer/dont-waste-your-money/watch-tv-free-with-these-no-charge-streaming-services |
JACKSON COUNTY, N.C. (WSPA) — The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office said that a man is facing several charges after a domestic situation at a gas station.
According to deputies, the domestic incident occurred at Cherokee Quality Plus gas station in Whittier, North Carolina on Friday, July 26th.
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The Qualla Fire Department and first responders, Harris EMS, Cherokee Tribal EMS, and Police Department all responded and assisted during the incident.
Deputies said that Nicholas Dewayne Poston was charged with the following:
- assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill
- assault with a deadly weapon
- resisting a public officer
- second-degree trespass
- injury to real property
- aggressive driving
- failure to heed emergency lights
- fail to maintain lane
- failure to wear a seat belt and unsafe movement
Poston is currently in custody with no bond. | https://www.qcnews.com/news/u-s/north-carolina/jackson-county-man-facing-multiple-charges-after-domestic-incident/ | 2023-07-31T13:40:13 | 1 | https://www.qcnews.com/news/u-s/north-carolina/jackson-county-man-facing-multiple-charges-after-domestic-incident/ |
First new nuclear unit in three decades is now online, providing safe, reliable,emission-free energy for electric cooperative consumers
TUCKER, Ga., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Oglethorpe Power, on behalf of the Georgia electric cooperatives it serves, commended the safe and successful achievement of commercial operation for Plant Vogtle Unit 3, which marks a historic accomplishment for the energy industry, the state of Georgia and the entire nation. Now in service, the Unit is available for safe and reliable dispatch and will provide emission-free, baseload power for Georgians for the next 60 to 80 years.
"Nuclear energy is increasingly important to the clean energy transition, and Oglethorpe Power's significant ownership in the Vogtle construction project is a testament to the important investments we're making that drive us toward a cleaner and more sustainable energy future," said Oglethorpe Power President & CEO Mike Smith. "We understand the importance of keeping the lights on in a way that preserves both affordability and reliability – and we are proud that the clean energy generated by Unit 3 will help us deliver on that mission for years to come."
Nuclear power is a reliable, baseload energy resource. Unit 3 can generate emission-free electricity at full power 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
When Unit 4 enters service, emission-free nuclear energy will account for nearly half of the energy Oglethorpe Power generates for its member cooperatives and the 4.4 million Georgians they serve. The company's investment in the new nuclear units underscores its commitment to fuel diversity and price stability.
As one of the largest clean energy projects in the nation, Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 represent the first advanced commercial nuclear project in the United States in more than thirty years. Once Unit 4 reaches commercial operation, Plant Vogtle will become the largest producer of emission-free energy in the United States.
"Oglethorpe Power commends the efforts of the dedicated men and women who make up the Plant Vogtle workforce. With Unit 3 online and operating safely, homes and businesses across Georgia will be powered by reliable, emission-free nuclear energy for decades," added Smith. "Additionally, with the recent receipt of the 103(g) finding for Unit 4, the site has achieved another critical milestone toward loading fuel, which means we are one step closer to Unit 4 joining Unit 3 in safe commercial operation."
Learn more at opc.com/nuclear.
About Oglethorpe Power
Oglethorpe Power is one of the nation's largest power supply cooperatives with more than $16 billion in assets serving 38 Electric Membership Corporations which, collectively, provide electricity to approximately 4.4 million Georgia residents. A proponent of conscientious energy development and use, Oglethorpe Power balances reliable and affordable energy with environmental responsibility and has an outstanding record of regulatory compliance. Its diverse energy portfolio includes natural gas, nuclear, hydroelectric and coal generating plants with a combined capacity of more than 7,800 megawatts. Oglethorpe Power was established in 1974 and is owned by its 38 member systems. Its headquarters are in Tucker, Georgia, an Atlanta suburb. For more information, visit www.opc.com.
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SOURCE Oglethorpe Power Corporation | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/oglethorpe-power-celebrates-commercial-operation-plant-vogtle-unit-3/ | 2023-07-31T13:40:17 | 1 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/oglethorpe-power-celebrates-commercial-operation-plant-vogtle-unit-3/ |
50% Off Glasses Sitewide from July 31 to August 14 for All
DTC Vision Products Startup Helps You See Easy with a New Pair of High-Quality, Impact-Resistant, and Anti-Scratch Handcrafted Glasses
New York, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As the 2023 school year approaches, Hubble Contacts, the leading direct–to–consumer brand providing high-value and affordable daily contact lenses, eyeglasses, sunglasses, and other eye care accessories, is excited to announce the launch of its Back-to-School See Easy, See More campaign, celebrating the kickoff of the new school year.
Recognizing the immense dedication and effort put forth by teachers, Hubble Contacts wants to show appreciation and support for their essential role in shaping the future of our world.
Starting July 31, the first 100 teachers to submit a photo of their current teacher ID badge or LinkedIn profile URL to teachers@hubblecontacts.com will receive a promo code that can be redeemed for a free pair of high-quality, impact-resistant and anti-scratch handcrafted prescription glasses.
Teachers will receive a complimentary pair of Hubble's stylish, durable frames to help them see their students through the entire school year. This exclusive giveaway, valued between $78-$138, depending on the add-on features, will run for two weeks only or until supplies last.
Don't fret if you didn't get a pair of glasses in time, as Hubble Contacts has got everyone covered with a 50% off discount on all eyeglasses.
Hubble's handcrafted prescription eyeglasses start at just $78, making them an affordable and stylish choice for everyone. With features such as anti-reflective, anti-glare, anti-scratch, hydrophobic, and oleophobic coatings, along with optional add-ons like reader magnification and blue light filtering, Hubble's eyeglasses offer exceptional functionality and versatility.
Students, parents, or anyone looking for a new pair of glasses can use the promo code "BACKTOSCHOOL50" at checkout from July 31 through August 14 to take advantage of this offer.
"Back to school is the perfect time to invest in a new pair of eyeglasses. And at Hubble, we aim to make this buying experience as hassle-free and as affordable as possible for you," said Steve Druckman, CEO of Hubble Contacts. "This campaign is our way of showing our support in helping you cross a new pair of eyeglasses off your new school year checklist."
Hubble's frames are proudly designed in the U.S., meticulously crafted with premium materials, and come with a tri-fold Hubble frames case and microfiber lens cloth. The glasses feature impact-resistant lenses, durable barrel hinges, and padded temple tips, ensuring durability and comfort.
The See Easy, See More Back-to-School campaign will be promoted on Hubble Contacts website, Instagram, through email marketing and PR.
For more information, please visit Hubble Contacts' website at www.hubblecontacts.com or follow us on Instagram.
SEE EASY, SEE MORE BACK-TO-SCHOOL GIVEAWAY TERMS + CONDITIONS:
- Entries must be received by midnight Pacific Time on August 14, 2023 to be eligible.
- No purchase is necessary.
- Entrants must be teachers in the U.S.A. and at least 18 years old.
- One entry per person.
- Hubble employees and their family members are not eligible.
- Winners will be notified by email beginning July 31 through August 14, 2023, or until supplies last.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Hubble@lvpr.com
ABOUT HUBBLE CONTACTS:
Founded in 2016, Hubble Contacts is on a mission to create the easiest, most accessible, and most affordable contact lens and glasses buying experience in the world. Leveraging its vision care expertise and passion for customer service, Hubble offers high-quality, made-to-order daily wear contact lenses, eyeglasses, sunglasses, and other eye care accessories direct-to-consumers nationwide. To date, Hubble has sold over 400 million lenses.
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SOURCE Hubble Contacts | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/attention-teachers-hubble-contacts-is-giving-away-free-eyeglasses-educators-this-back-to-school-season/ | 2023-07-31T13:40:18 | 0 | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/attention-teachers-hubble-contacts-is-giving-away-free-eyeglasses-educators-this-back-to-school-season/ |
UPDATE 10:00 P.M. July 30, 2023
The evacuation order has been lifted and residents may return to their homes. According to Missoula County 911 Facebook post, there is still a local closure in place on Jade Lane west of Agate Drive.
With power and water still not completely restored, the Red Cross will keep the shelter at Cold Spring Elementary School available for tonight.
UPDATE: The Missoula County Sheriff's Office has now issued an Evacuation Order on their Facebook page, stating:
"Due to a fast moving fire near Mormon Creek Road, all areas north of Mormon Creek Road to Hwy 12 on the east side and all areas on the south side of Hwy 12 to Travelers Rest are under an 𝐄𝐕𝐀𝐂𝐔𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐄𝐑!!
You are ordered to leave the area immediately."
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BREAKING NEWS: A fire burning near a Lolo neighborhood has reached three structures, including homes.
The area impacted by the fire is along 12680 Triple L Ln, near Mormon Creek Road in west Lolo.
Crews were called to the scene quickly and eventually used aerial attacks to help contain the fire. Our KPAX reporter on scene also saw community members turning on sprinklers and filling up buckets to help their neighbors.
As of 7:00 PM, the fire looks to be contained, but the structures are still burning. Information on what started the fire has not been released yet.
Updates will be posted as they are received. | https://www.kbzk.com/news/fire-watch/fire-burning-near-lolo-neighborhood-reaches-homes-and-other-structures | 2023-07-31T13:40:19 | 1 | https://www.kbzk.com/news/fire-watch/fire-burning-near-lolo-neighborhood-reaches-homes-and-other-structures |
SALISBURY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — An investigation is underway after a person was struck and killed by a train, Salisbury Police confirmed on Monday.
Officers responded to calls regarding the incident around 8:30 p.m. Sunday, July 30, near Depot Street. An unidentified person was found suffering from injuries and was pronounced dead. An initial investigation revealed the person was struck by an Amtrak train.
It is unclear at this time how or why the person was on the tracks and this remains an active investigation.
The train began operating again around 12:30 a.m. on a three-hour and 30-minute delay. | https://www.qcnews.com/news/u-s/north-carolina/rowan-county/person-struck-and-killed-by-amtrak-train-pd/ | 2023-07-31T13:40:19 | 1 | https://www.qcnews.com/news/u-s/north-carolina/rowan-county/person-struck-and-killed-by-amtrak-train-pd/ |
After cornerback Jalen Ramsey had surgery to repair a torn meniscus, he posted a message to social media saying that “adversity is opportunity.”
One of Ramsey’s teammates feels a similar way about the cornerback’s absence. Cam Smith is one of the Dolphins corners in line for a bigger role with Ramsey out of the picture and the second-round pick said Sunday that he “was already planning on playing” before Ramsey got injured in training camp.
“It’s an opportunity,” Smith said, via Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post.
The Dolphins signed Eli Apple this weekend and he will join Smith, Kader Kohou, and others as the Dolphins rethink who they want playing alongside Xavien Howard in their secondary. | https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/cam-smith-jalen-ramsey-injury-is-an-opportunity-for-me | 2023-07-31T13:40:23 | 1 | https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/cam-smith-jalen-ramsey-injury-is-an-opportunity-for-me |