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Heat Halfway Through Summer FILE - A woman cools off with an electric fan during on a sweltering hot day in Beirut, Lebanon, July 28, 2023. At about summer's halfway point, the record-breaking heat and weather extremes are both unprecedented and unsurprising, hellish yet boring in some ways, scientists say. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File) (Hassan Ammar/AP)
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https://www.wftv.com/news/local/heres-how-hot-extreme-summer-has-been-its-only-halfway-over/NVL4Q4G4PVE5PN73APL7OFG5JM/
| 2023-07-31T19:02:49
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#1 Lottery App's* New Feature Allows Users to Enter Exclusive Giveaways
NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Jackpocket, America's #1 lottery app*, is turning 10! To celebrate, Jackpocket is giving fans the chance to win an all-inclusive trip to attend the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada on Friday, September 22 and Saturday, September 23, 2023.
Jackpocket and iHeartRadio are teaming up to send one lucky winner and a guest to watch iconic performances at the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Festival at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The full lineup can be viewed here. The prize package includes:
- 2 VIP tickets to both nights of the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Festival
- 2 round-trip flights to Las Vegas, Nevada
- 2 nights' stay at New York-New York Hotel & Casino
- Ground transportation to and from Las Vegas airport
- $500 gift card for food, beverage, and other expenses
To enter, visit the Giveaways section of the app by tapping the Gold Ticket on the Jackpocket home screen and activate the iHeartRadio Vegas Getaway. This new app feature allows users to earn an entry for every $1 spent on Jackpocket lottery ticket orders—up to 100 entries per day. The number on the Gold Ticket counter is personalized to the user, showing them their total number of entries for all their activated Giveaways. No purchase is necessary to enter.
"It's amazing to see how much Jackpocket has grown and innovated over the past 10 years to bring lottery fans a convenient and accessible way to participate in their favorite games," said Peter Sullivan, Jackpocket founder and CEO. "Our new Giveaways feature lets Jackpocket users enter to win prizes and experiences like never before. Even if your Powerball ticket doesn't win a lottery prize, it could still win you a trip to Vegas, VIP sports tickets, and more. It's all part of our goal to give lottery fans the very best user experience possible."
The winner of the iHeartRadio Vegas Getaway will be randomly selected on or about August 31, 2023 and announced in September. For more information, including free entry methods and complete Official Rules, visit: https://jackpocket.com/sweepstakes/iheartradio-vegas-getaway/.
Founded in 2013, Jackpocket is the first-licensed lottery courier app in the United States. Now available in 17 states, Jackpocket provides an easy, secure way to order official state lottery tickets. Over $300 million in total lottery prizes have been won by Jackpocket users to date. In July, an Ohio Powerball winner became the 30th person to win a lottery prize worth $1 million or more using the Jackpocket app.
*According to data from AppFollow.
**ABBREVIATED RULES. No purchase necessary. A purchase does not increase your odds of winning. Must be 18+ (21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE) and physically present in AR, AZ, CO, ID, MA, MN, MT, NE, NH, NM, NJ, NY, OH, OR, TX, WV or D.C. to enter. Void where prohibited. Entries require a valid Jackpocket account and accounts are subject to the full terms of service at jackpocket.com/tos. Registering for a Jackpocket account is free. See Official Rules for details. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, residents of NY call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369); residents of MA call 1-800-327-5050; residents of OR call 1-877-MYLIMIT; all others, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
About Jackpocket
Jackpocket is on a mission to create a more convenient, fun, and responsible way to take part in the lottery. The first licensed third-party lottery courier app in the United States, Jackpocket provides an easy, secure way to order official state lottery tickets. Jackpocket is currently available in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington D.C., and West Virginia, and is expanding to many new markets. Download the app on iOS and Android or participate via desktop. Follow along on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Jackpocket
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https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/jackpocket-celebrates-10th-anniversary-with-giveaway-attend-2023-iheartradio-music-festival-las-vegas/
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Firefighter dies from injuries after crash with cow while responding to call, department says
Published: Jul. 31, 2023 at 1:48 PM CDT|Updated: 13 minutes ago
PLANO, Texas (KXII/Gray News) – A firefighter injured in the line of duty earlier this month died Sunday morning.
Volunteer firefighter Evan Brown was in a crash July 9 and had been in intensive care at Medical City Hospital in Plano, Texas.
According to the Honey Grove Fire Department, Brown was responding to another crash call when he hit a cow on the road in his personal vehicle.
His vehicle rolled, ejecting Brown and causing severe injuries.
The Honey Grove Fire Department is arranging for first responders to stand watch by Evan at the funeral home.
The department set up a GoFundMe to help Brown’s family with medical bills and funeral costs.
Copyright 2023 KXII via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.kbtx.com/2023/07/31/firefighter-dies-injuries-after-crash-with-cow-while-responding-call-department-says/
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Arkansas received a commitment Monday from defensive back Jeremy Cook after he attended the Hogwild Hangout recruiting event on Saturday.
"It was home, they made getting me there a priority to them,” Cook said. "They were the first to give me and opportunity and pushed the hardest for me. They made it easy on me to make a decision. It felt like I was with family up there, from players to coaches. Everything was very genuine."
Cook, 6-3, 185 pounds, chose the Razorbacks over Cincinnatti, Southern Miss, South Alabama and Alcorn State. He visited Fayetteville for a camp in June.
He missed about seven games as a junior, which limited his film and hurt his recruitment. Because of his limited play, he has not been rated by the four major recruiting services.
Cook was recruited by Arkansas co-defensive coordinator Marcus Woodson and special teams coordinator Scott Fountain. Both coaches visited his school during the spring evaluation period from April 15-May 31.
"Coach Fountain built the foundation, he really invested in me and seen something in to pull the trigger and allow me the opportunity to come play at Arkansas he was nothing but excited for me at the jump,” Cook said. "Coach Woodson also had pushed for me hard after he was able to evaluate me in person. He made it a priority to get me there, and showed nothing but love and great hospitality. Both coaches gave me a genuine connection not just for football but in life. They are great people.”
He is the 17th commitment in the Razorbacks' 2024 class. Cook is expected to play safety for Arkansas.
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Leading HBCU scholarship program to provide 132 incoming college freshmen $40,000 awards
WASHINGTON, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Representatives of The Future of STEM Scholars Initiative (FOSSI) today welcomed 132 new scholarship recipients from 26 states across the nation. The students will begin school at 26 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) this Fall and will major in more than a dozen science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. They join nearly 300 current FOSSI scholarship recipients.
Established in 2020 to help reduce financial barriers to higher education and enhance workforce diversity in the chemical sector, FOSSI provides $40,000 scholarships to students pursuing preferred STEM degrees. Scholarship recipients are individually matched with one of more than 70 corporate sponsors committed to helping them achieve their goals and receive skills training, mentorship, and internship opportunities. Notably, this robust support has led to an approximately 95% student retention rate since FOSSI welcomed its first class in 2021, with those scholars scheduled to graduate in 2025.
FOSSI has an ambitious goal of supporting 1,000 students through 2025 and has raised nearly $30 million to support 595 students to date.
Program leaders welcomed the new scholars during a virtual celebration featuring keynotes from Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC) and Dr. Dietra Trent, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through HBCUs.
FOSSI Advisory Board Chair Jim Fitterling, chair and chief executive officer of Dow, shared, "I am proud to welcome these 132 talented and ambitious scholars to the FOSSI family. From their academic performance to the contributions they have made to their schools and communities, these scholars have distinguished themselves as some of the best and brightest across the nation. We can't wait to see what they accomplish in their chosen fields."
Applications for the Fall of 2024 will open September 22, 2024. To learn more about FOSSI, visit www.FutureOfSTEMScholars.org.
About the Future of STEM Scholars Initiative
The Future of STEM Scholars Initiative was founded in 2020 by the American Chemistry Council, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), The Chemours Company, and the HBCU Week Foundation. FOSSI is a national chemical industry-wide program which provides scholarships to students pursuing degrees in relevant science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), helping to eliminate financial barriers for historically under-represented groups. Sponsored by chemical manufacturers and related industry stakeholders, FOSSI provides scholarship recipients $10,000 per year for four years and connects these students to leadership development, mentoring and internship opportunities at participating companies. Learn more at FutureofSTEMscholars.org.
View original content:
SOURCE American Chemistry Council
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https://www.1011now.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/future-stem-scholars-initiative-announces-2023-hbcu-scholarship-recipients/
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ORLANDO, Fla. — An Orlando man has won $1,000 a week for life in the CASH4LIFE Week game from the multi-state lottery drawing.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
Wilford Hancel of Orlando won the drawing on Tuesday, January 31, 2023.
Hancel chose to receive his winnings as one lump sum and will be taking home $1 million bucks.
Read: Man turns himself in after weekend shooting in east Orange County
Hancel purchased his winning CASH4LIFE ticket from 7-Eleven, at 1755 North Econlockhatchee Trail in Orlando.
The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning CASH4LIFE Draw game ticket.
Read: Pee-wee Herman actor Paul Reubens dies at 70
Since joining the multi-state CASH4LIFE Draw game in 2017, Florida has had more than 26.1 million winning tickets totaling more than $158.5 million in prizes. Additionally, the game has generated more than $154.25 million for Florida students and schools.
CASH4LIFE winning numbers are also available if you click here:
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2023 Cox Media Group
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CANTON, Ohio, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Liberty HealthShare® is blessed to be an exhibitor at the Assemblies of God 60th General Council to be held July 31 through August 4 in Columbus, Ohio.
Ministers, church delegates and college presidents from across the country are expected to attend the Pentecostal Christian church's biennial gathering to worship, vote in legislative sessions and attend workshops.
"We are excited to have the opportunity to take part in the Assemblies of God General Council and be in fellowship with people of faith, sharing information about the biblical values of our ministry and how Liberty HealthShare might help them choose more-affordable healthcare options," said Pastor Wes Humble, Liberty HealthShare's executive director of Ministry, Community Relations and Events.
Liberty HealthShare is a non-profit 501(c) (3) charitable Christian medical cost-sharing ministry focused on members helping each other in times of need. The faith-based program, which facilitates healthsharing for its members, is a caring community of health-conscious individuals and families who choose to support one another and agree to the Christian values of stewardship to make healthcare affordable for all.
As it is not insurance, Liberty HealthShare enrollment is available year-round with no requirement for special life events to qualify. For more information about its healthcare sharing programs visit libertyhealthshare.org or call (855) 585-4237.
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SOURCE Liberty HealthShare
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IS claims responsibility for deadly suicide bombing at rally that killed 54 in northwest Pakistan
KHAR, Pakistan (AP) — The Islamic State group on Monday claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing in Pakistan that killed at least 54 people including five children at a pro-Taliban cleric’s rally in one of the worst attacks in the country in recent years.
IS, known as the Islamic State in Khorasan Province, made the claim in a statement posted on its Amaq website. The statement said the attack was part of the group’s continuing war against forms of democracy it deems to be against Islam.
Hours earlier, hundreds of mourners in the northwestern town of Bajur carried caskets draped in colorful cloths to burial sites following the previous day’s attack at an election rally for a pro-Taliban cleric.
Officials said Sunday’s bombing killed 54 people, including at least five children, and wounded nearly 200.
The attack appeared to reflect divisions between Islamist groups, which have a strong presence in the district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan. It targeted the Jamiat Ulema Islam party, which has ties to the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban.
At least 1,000 people were crowded into a tent near a market for the rally ahead of fall elections, according to police.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.
Hundreds of mourners in northwestern Pakistan carried caskets draped in colorful cloths to burial sites in the hills Monday after a suicide bombing killed at least 54 people at an election rally for a pro-Taliban cleric.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for Sunday’s bombing in Bajur that killed at least five children and wounded nearly 200 people.
The attack appeared to reflect divisions between Islamist groups, which have a strong presence in the district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan. It targeted the Jamiat Ulema Islam party, which has ties to the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban.
At least 1,000 people, according to police, were crowded into a tent near a market for the rally ahead of fall elections.
“People were chanting God is Great as the leaders arrived,” said Khan Mohammad, a local resident who said he was standing outside the tent, “and that was when I heard the deafening sound of the bomb.”
Mohammad said he heard people crying for help, and minutes later ambulances arrived and began taking the wounded away.
Police said their initial investigation suggested that the Islamic State group’s regional affiliate, a rival of the Taliban, could be responsible, while a Pakistan security analyst pointed to breakaway factions of the Pakistani Taliban as possible suspects.
The Pakistani military spent years fighting the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, in Bajur before declaring the district clear of militants in 2016. But the Jamiat Ulema Islam party, headed by hard-line cleric and politician Fazlur Rehman, has remained a potent political force.
On Monday, police recorded statements from some of the wounded at a hospital in Khar, the district’s principal town.
The Islamic State in Khorasan Province, which police identified as a suspect in the attack, is based in neighboring Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province and is a rival of the Afghan Taliban and al-Qaida.
Pakistani security analyst Mahmood Shah 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.”
On Monday, female relatives and children wailed and beat their chests at family homes as the dead were taken for funerals, following local customs. Hundreds of men followed the caskets to mosques and open areas for special funeral prayers and then into the hills for burial.
As condolences continued to pour in from across the country, dozens of people who had lesser 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 some critically wounded people died in hospital, physician Gul Naseeb said.
Gul Akbar, the father of an 11-year-old boy who was wounded in the attack, told The Associated Press that his entire family was in a state of shock after hearing about the bombing Sunday. He said he first went to the scene of the attack, and later found his son Taslim Khan being treated in a hospital in Khar.
“What would I have done if he had also been martyred? Five children died in this barbaric attack, and we want to know what our children did wrong,” he said.
Rehman’s party is preparing to contest elections, which are expected in October or November. Abdul Rasheed, one of the party’s senior leaders, said the bombing was aimed at weakening the party but that “such attacks cannot deter our resolve.”
Rehman’s party is part of Prime Minister Shehbaz 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. Khan condemned the bombing Sunday, as did the U.S. and Russian embassies in Islamabad.
The Pakistani Taliban also distanced themselves from the bombing, saying that it was intended 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 Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng arrived in Islamabad, where he signed new agreements to boost trade and economic ties to mark a decade of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a sprawling package under which China has invested $10 billion in Pakistan over 10 years, according to Sharif.
“We will not tolerate any obstacles in the way of friendship with China,” Sharif said, as he stood next to He.
But the government canceled a cultural event that had been arranged in honor of He, according to Sharif, while the nation mourns.
Some Chinese nationals have also been targeted by militants in northwestern Pakistan and elsewhere.
Rehman, who has long supported Afghanistan’s Taliban government, survived at least two known bomb attacks in 2011 and 2014, when bombings damaged his car at rallies.
Sunday’s bombing was one of the worst in northwestern Pakistan in the last decade. In 2014, 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.
___
Associated Press writer Munir Ahmed contributed to this story from Islamabad.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Country singer Phil Vassar, with “special guest” Matt Stell, performing Oct. 13, and Morris Day and the Time, performing Oct. 14, kick off the concert lineup for the 83rd Arkansas State Fair, Oct. 13-22 at the State Fairgrounds in Little Rock.
The fair continues to offer free concerts with gate admission; advance premium concert seating is available for $20.
The rest of the Main Stage headliners announced are:
• Oct. 15: La Cultura Norteña with Enigmatico (Hispanic Concert Series)
• Oct. 16: Jettway Music School with Zac Dunlap Band
• Oct. 17: Faith and Family Night, featuring Crowder and Nick Hall
• Oct. 18: TBA
• Oct. 19: All-4-One
• Oct. 20: Uncle Kracker
• Oct 21: Night Ranger
• Oct. 22: La Fuerza Del Rio Conchos with La Tropa Del Norte (Hispanic Concert Series).
The fair will announce additional main stage acts and daily promotions in the upcoming weeks.
The fair is also launching a “Fair Frenzy” promotion Tuesday-Aug. 14 with discounts on advance gate admission, $5, and ride bands, $30. Visit www.ArkansasStateFair.com for more information.
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https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/jul/31/country-singer-phil-vassar-rb-group-morris-day-and-the-time-lead-state-fair-lineup/
| 2023-07-31T19:02:56
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Growing Mobile Storage Brand Looks to Build Off Impressive Start to 2023 with Continued National Expansion
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Go Mini's - the portable storage franchise that offers containers for moving, storage, renovation, and restoration needs - has seen consistent growth throughout the first half of 2023 as the brand looks to continue the momentum for the remainder of the year. With six new Go Mini's territories awarded in 2023 already, the brand looks to further expand and bring portable storage solution to communities across the nation. In the second half of the year, Go Mini's expects to sign more franchise deals, further expanding the brands footprint, as well as further execute and implement the brands new long distance moving service, Go MINI's Miles. In addition, the brand is looking to further invest in their growing franchisee network by expanding and investing in robust advertising strategies to increase consumer traffic.
"What we have accomplished as a brand up to this point has been remarkable," said Go Mini's CEO and President, Chris Walls. "The conceptualization and gradual implementation of Go MINI's Miles was a turning point for our brand this year as we aim to further expand throughout the nation and service more customers with their moving and portable storage needs. I am tremendously proud of everyone within our network for their commitment and determination to making Go Mini's a growing national brand that continues to get stronger."
To further its development and success into 2024, the brand is looking at new ways in which they can utilize the existing trucks and containers to innovate with the industry. With the addition of new and robust marketing strategies, Go Mini's looks to cement themselves as a leader within the moving and portable storage industry.
Go Mini's offers a complete support system for their franchisees who have everything they need to hit the ground running, including a proprietary operating system. Each territory is protected with no need for a warehouse or retail space due to the product's superior construction and durability in all outdoor conditions. The business model requires minimal staffing with a simple concept, and the corporate office works closely with owners to analyze and fully understand their market's potential to maximize profits. Go Mini's is one of the few franchised portable storage concepts where franchisees benefit from a scalable opportunity to operate as a locally owned company with deep ties to the communities they serve.
"Today, with the ever-changing housing market and continued economic uncertainty, portable storage services remain in-demand," continued Walls. "As the industry grows, Go Mini's has the necessary infrastructure and systems to keep pace and provide customers with the best experience possible. Our continued success is dependent on our franchisee's success, so we have created a business model that is designed to thrive in any market. We are looking forward to the second half of the year and hope to end just as successfully as we began."
Go Mini's currently has 114 locations throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico with additional available territories. For more information on franchising with Go Mini's, visit: https://www.gominisfranchise.com/
About Go Mini's:
Founded in 2002, Go Mini's® has become one of the fastest-growing portable storage and moving companies in North America with locations in 41 states in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In 2012, the brand converted into a franchise model and now has 114 locations within the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Go Mini's is proud to have been recognized by Franchise Business Review as a Top Franchise in 2017, as well as being ranked 16th by Entrepreneur Magazine in their list of 2017's Top New Franchises. Go Mini's Franchising LLC. was recently named a Top Franchise for 2023 by Franchise Business Review. Got a Project? Get a Mini. For more information, please go to https://www.gominis.com/.
Contact: Hunter Devereux, Franchise Elevator PR, (914) 486-0330, hdevereux@franchiseelevator.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Go Mini's
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https://www.1011now.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/go-minis-sees-impressive-growth-through-first-half-2023/
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PALM BAY, Fla. — A small plane made an emergency landing in a Palm Bay field on Monday.
Palm Bay Fire Rescue said the plan landed in a field off Center Lane Road and Hereford Lane around 11:30 a.m.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
Firefighters said the plane made the emergency landing due to engine failure.
Firefighters said no one was injured, and the FAA is investigating.
Read: Police kill man who shot at them, held relatives hostage during standoff at Palm Bay home
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2023 Cox Media Group
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NAPLES, Fla., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bramshill Investments, an award-winning alternative asset management firm, releases its Monthly Insights: A Closer Look at Office Commercial Real Estate & Investment Opportunities within Securitized Products.
Office properties in the U.S. Commercial Real Estate ("CRE") Market have been garnering much of the attention from the markets and media, especially after the fallout from the regional banking crisis that was largely stemmed earlier in 2023. We wanted to delve deeper into the subject to discuss our thoughts and the potential opportunities within the sector. To begin, we want to discuss the size of the sector and related sub sectors. Below is an overview of how the property types of the U.S. CRE market breaks down across the approximate $10.9 trillion market value. As shown below, Offices represent approximately one quarter of the market as of the end of 2022…
Click here to read the article.
Contact me today to learn more about our report. Bramshill's team of experts is available to answer your questions.
Media Contact:
Danielle Van Calcar
1-646-993-1648
danielle@bramshillinvestments.com
About Bramshill Investments
Bramshill Investments, LLC, is a fixed income investment manager with over $4.4 billion in assets under management (as of (6/30/2023) The firm was co-founded in 2012 by former GLG portfolio manager, Arthur DeGaetano. The team's core investment strategy has an established combined track record of over fourteen years with an absolute return objective that can be accessed through various vehicles. Bramshill also offers other alternative investment strategies. Bramshill is an investment adviser registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration as an investment advisor with the SEC does not imply a certain level of skill or training of Bramshill or its employees. References to awards should not be construed as testimonials for our advisory services. For more information, please visit: https://bramshillinvestments.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Bramshill Investments, LLC
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https://www.kbtx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/bramshill-investments-insights-closer-look-office-commercial-real-estate-amp-investment-opportunities-within-securitized-products/
| 2023-07-31T19:03:02
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LOS ANGELES — Paul Reubens, the actor and comedian whose character Pee-wee Herman became a cultural phenomenon through films and TV shows, has died. He was 70.
Reubens died Sunday night after a six-year struggle with cancer that he did not make public, his publicist said in a statement.
“Please accept my apology for not going public with what I’ve been facing the last six years,” Reubens said in a statement released Monday with the announcement of his death. “I have always felt a huge amount of love and respect from my friends, fans and supporters. I have loved you all so much and enjoyed making art for you.”
The character with his too-tight gray suit, white chunky loafers and red bow tie was best known for the film “Pee-wee's Big Adventure” and the television series “Pee-wee's Playhouse.”
The Pee-wee character would become a cultural constant for much of the 1980s, though an indecent exposure arrest in 1991 would send him into entertainment exile for years.
Herman created Pee-wee when he was part of the Los Angeles improv group The Groundlings in the late 1970s. The live “Pee-wee Herman Show” debuted at a Los Angeles theater in 1981 and was a success with both kids during matinees and adults at a midnight show.
The show closely resembled the format the Saturday morning TV “Pee-wee's Playhouse” would follow years later, with Herman living in a wild and wacky home with a series of stock-character visitors, including one, Captain Karl, played by the late “Saturday Night Live” star Phil Hartman. In the plot, Pee-wee secretly wishes to fly.
HBO would air the show as a special.
“Pee Wee got his wish to fly,” Steve Martin tweeted after his death. “Thanks Paul Reubens for the brilliant off the wall comedy.”
Reubens took Pee-wee to the big screen in 1985’s “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.” The film, in which Pee-wee’s cherished bike is stolen, was said to be loosely based on Vittorio De Sica’s Italian neo-realist classic, “The Bicycle Thief.” The film, directed by Tim Burton and co-written by Phil Hartman of “Saturday Night Live,” sent Pee-wee on a nationwide escapade. The movie was a success, grossing $40 million, and continued to spawn a cult following for its oddball whimsy.
A sequel followed three years later in the less well-received “Big Top Pee-wee,” in which Pee-wee seeks to join a circus. Reubens’ character wouldn’t get another movie starring role until 2016’s Pee-wee’s Big Holiday,” for Netflix. Judd Apatow produced Pee-wee’s big-screen revival.
His television series, “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” ran for five seasons, earned 22 Emmys and attracted not only children but adults to Saturday-morning TV.
Both silly and subversive and championing nonconformity, the Pee-wee universe was a trippy place, populated by things like a talking armchair and a friendly pterodactyl. The host, who is fond of secret words and loves fruit salad so much he once married it, is prone to lines like, “I know you are, but what am I?” and “Why don’t you take a picture; it’ll last longer?” The act was a hit because it worked on multiple levels, even though Reubens insists that wasn’t the plan.
“It’s for kids,” Reubens told The Associated Press in 2010. “People have tried to get me for years to go, ‘It wasn’t really for kids, right?’ Even the original show was for kids. I always censored myself to have it be kid-friendly.
“The whole thing has been just a gut feeling from the beginning," Reubens told the AP. "That’s all it ever is and I think always ever be. Much as people want me to dissect it and explain it, I can’t. One, I don’t know, and two, I don’t want to know, and three, I feel like I’ll hex myself if I know.”
Jimmy Kimmel posted on Instagram that “Paul Reubens was like no one else — a brilliant and original comedian who made kids and their parents laugh at the same time. He never forgot a birthday and shared his genuine delight for silliness with everyone he met."
Reubens' career was derailed when he was arrested for indecent exposure in an adult movie theater in Sarasota, Florida, where he grew up. He was handed a small fine but the damage to the character was incalculable.
He became the frequent butt of late-night talk show jokes and the perception of Reubens immediately changed.
“The moment that I realized my name was going to be said in the same sentence as children and sex, that’s really intense," Reubens told NBC in 2004. "That’s something I knew from that very moment, whatever happens past that point, something’s out there in the air that is really bad.”
Reubens said he got plenty of offers to work, but told the AP that most of them wanted to take "advantage of the luridness of my situation"," and he didn't want to do them.
“It just changed,” he said. "Everything changed.”
In 2001, Reubens was arrested and charged with misdemeanor possession of child pornography after police seized images from his computer and photography collection, but the allegation was reduced to an obscenity charge and he was given three years probation.
Born Paul Rubenfield in Peekskill, New York, Reubens, the eldest of three children, grew up primarily in Sarasota before going to Boston University and the California Institute of the Arts.
Reubens would also act as non-Pee-wee characters including in Burton’s 1992 movie “Batman Returns,” the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” film and a guest-star run on the TV series “Murphy Brown.”
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Award Recognizes Exemplary Commitment to Transportation Safety
BRUSLY, La., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM), a national organization whose members include the most senior fire officials in the United States, is delighted to honor ExxonMobil with the esteemed Norman Y. Mineta Excellence in Transportation Safety Award.
The ExxonMobil organization is recognized for having one of the safest years in Exxon Mobil Pipeline Company's (EMPCo) history and their industry-leading safety preparations for the upcoming buildout of a network of CO2 and H2 pipelines. By empowering personnel to identify and strengthen critical safeguards to mitigate risk in potential consequence areas, ExxonMobil takes on the challenge of emerging fuels pipelines and storage facilities while maintaining exceptional safety standards.
The Norman Y. Mineta Excellence in Transportation Safety Award is an honor awarded to individuals or organizations who have shown a significant and lasting contribution to product, material and human safety. Named after its first recipient, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta, the award recognizes achievements in transportation safety standards that exceed the minimum requirements.
"The way ExxonMobil engages with fire fighters is a great example of how companies and first responders should work together to yield the highest level of public safety and awareness," said Chief Butch Browning, NASFM Executive Director.
"It is an honor to receive this award on behalf of ExxonMobil. We are proud that our focus on safety and operational excellence is recognized by one of our most important stakeholders, first responders," said Steve Yatauro, ExxonMobil Pipeline Company President.
Since 2005, 11 organizations or individuals have received the Norman Y. Mineta Excellence in Transportation Safety Award. ExxonMobil's recognition marks the first award since Former NASFM Presidents and State Fire Marshal Bill Degnan in 2016.
The award was presented to EMPCo VP of Operations Saul Flota at the NASFM Annual Conference on July 31, 2023, in Wilmington, North Carolina.
For more information, visit the NASFM website at firemarshals.org.
About the National Association of State Fire Marshalls:
The principal membership of NASFM comprises the senior fire officials in the United States and their top deputies. The primary mission of NASFM is to protect human life, property and the environment from fire and related hazards. A secondary mission of NASFM is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of State Fire Marshals' operations.
CONTACT:
Philip Oakes
Chief of Operations and Training
phil@browning.red
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https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/nasfm-recognizes-exxonmobil-with-norman-y-mineta-excellence-transportation-safety-award/
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All sales help support Certified B Corp Best for the World™ company's effort to plant 4,000 avocado trees in El Salvador.
LOS ANGELES, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of National Avocado Day, Avocado Green — makers of certified organic and eco-luxury products — launched an epic sale, with up to $400 off mattresses, as well as savings on reclaimed wood bed frames, adjustable bed frames, organic certified linen sheets and pillows, certified organic towels, luxurious loungewear, and clean skin + body products.
As part of Avocado's Giving initiative, through which they donate 1% of all revenue to nonprofits through 1% For the Planet, all sales during the Avocado Day sale will support the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation's effort to plant 4,000 fruit trees in the central region of El Salvador.
For today only, customers can save up to $400 on Avocado's top-rated GOTS-certified organic Green and Vegan Mattress. Shoppers will also save 20% on all bedding, including Avocado's exceptionally soft, naturally breathable, GOTS-certified organic sheets, duvet covers, pillowcases, and protectors. Avocado's Supercharged Reishi Body Melt and Alpaca Sweater Collection are 30% off and their Fleece Lounge Collection and GOTS-certified (CU863637) Organic Cotton Collection — sustainable, cozy layering pieces — are 50% off.
Over the five years Avocado has supported the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation for National Avocado Day, they've planted more than 14,000 fruit trees together, primarily in Latin America, where demand for sustainable livelihoods for farmers and low-income households is greater than ever.
"Working with Avocado has been a joy, allowing our shared visions of a greener and fairer future to come to fruition," said Lizzy Rainey, Development Manager for FTPF. "Food-producing trees, including avocados, are a simple yet very effective way to address environmental, economic, and nutritional injustices all at once."
As a Climate Neutral Certified brand — and one of B Corp's "Best for the World™" brands — Avocado reduces its footprint, invests in climate change solutions to compensate for its cradle-to-consumer emissions, and advocates for legislation that will help mitigate the climate crisis.
From the beginning, Avocado just wanted a new kind of mattress. One that was greener — better for people and the planet — affordable, and comfortable. It was a simple idea rooted in a much bigger vision. Five years later, Avocado continues to expand — from bedding, to furniture, to their skin + bath collection, and their line of responsible loungewear. As the company grows, Avocado continues to redefine what it means to be a sustainable, ethical brand. The company is a Certified B Corporation, a Climate Neutral® Certified business, and a member of 1% For the Planet, remaining true to its original purpose: to be one of the most sustainable companies on Earth. Learn more at AvocadoGreen.com.
If you would like more information, please contact Jessica Hann at jessica@avocadomattress.com.
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https://www.1011now.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/happy-national-avocado-day-celebrate-with-avocado-greens-sitewide-sale/
| 2023-07-31T19:03:04
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Dreamtown: The Story of Adelanto is a true-story, Coen brothers-esque caper about a California desert town that tried to revive its economy by turning to legal cannabis sales.
Copyright 2023 Fresh Air
Dreamtown: The Story of Adelanto is a true-story, Coen brothers-esque caper about a California desert town that tried to revive its economy by turning to legal cannabis sales.
Copyright 2023 Fresh Air
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https://www.wqcs.org/2023-07-31/dreamtown-podcast-examines-how-legal-marijuana-transformed-one-small-town
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DALLAS, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin Hotels Dallas, the 260 room luxury lifestyle hotel located in the Dallas Design District, is proud to announce that it has been honored with the Equity Leadership award presented by D CEO at their annual Nonprofit & Corporate Citizenship award ceremony. The Equity Leadership award is given each year to a corporation in the Dallas community that supports efforts that advance diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Since the hotel opened in 2019, Virgin Hotels Dallas has supported local organizations that champion diversity and equity such as Cafe Momentum, Unlock Potential, and My Possibilities. Through these initiatives, the hotel has been able to provide mentorship and employment opportunities to justice-involved youth as well as adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
"It is an honor for Virgin Hotels Dallas to be recognized as a leader in diversity within the Dallas community," says Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Group. "Creating an inclusive environment where our guests and teammates always feel welcomed to be who they are has always been our priority at Virgin."
Looking ahead, Virgin Hotels Dallas is dedicated to continuing to evolve their diversity program with new partnerships, teammate training, and more. The Dallas Design District boutique hotel is committed to being Autism Double Checked by the end of 2024. According to the online autism training company, over 20 million people are parents to one or more children with autism. Due to the current landscape and lack of autism-friendly travel experiences, 87% of parents of autistic children currently do not travel or take family vacations. However, 93% of parents with autistic children said they would travel if autistic-friendly travel experiences were available.
With the certification, teammates at Virgin Hotels Dallas will undergo neurodiversity training and guests with special needs will receive a detailed visitors guide ahead of their stay that highlights potential sensory issues such as crowds, temperature, noise, body awareness and more.
In addition to the property's Autism Double Checked commitment, Virgin Hotels Dallas will also implement a new policy with Hidden Disabilities that will allow teammates and guests to wear a sunflower lanyard that indicates that they have a non-visible disability and may need more time, assistance, etc.
The brand's commitment to diversity goes beyond external partnerships. Internally, Virgin Hotels strives to hire individuals that are reflective of the world and encompass a variety of racial backgrounds, genders, etc. In an effort to be the most inclusive employer in the hotel industry, Virgin Hotels launched the J.E.D.I program which stands for justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. The idea behind this people-focused approach is to implement new guidelines for community partners, recruitment, and training in a phased approach. Currently, the brand is in its third phase which involves a complete demographic analysis to identify gaps in our workforce. Future phases will include J.E.D.I committees at each hotel, unconscious bias training, and more.
"I am so proud of the team at Virgin Hotels Dallas for leading the charge in diversity within the Dallas community and hospitality industry as a whole," says James Bermingham, Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Hotels Collection. "Their efforts are a testament to the brand's purpose of 'everyone leaves feeling better'. We are so thankful to have an amazing team that prioritizes our dedication to being an inclusive and comfortable environment."
For more information on Virgin Hotels diversity & inclusivity commitment, visit https://virginhotels.com/diversity-and-inclusivity/.
About Virgin Hotels Dallas
Virgin Hotels Dallas is the second property from Virgin Hotels - the lifestyle hospitality brand that combines heartfelt service, straightforward value and a seamless, personalized hotel experience with the track record of innovation and smart disruption that Sir Richard Branson's global Virgin Group has pioneered for 50 years. The property intermixes a passion for food and beverage with music and culture that fuses with the local landscape, providing an inclusive environment for travelers and locals alike. Located in the Dallas Design District on 1445 Turtle Creek Blvd, the hotel features 260 Chambers (rooms) and two Penthouse Suites. Dining and drinking outlets include Commons Club the brand's flagship restaurant and bar, Funny Library Coffee Shop and The Pool Club. Reservations accepted and can be made directly on the hotel's website, www.virginhotels.com/dallas or by calling 469.359.7003.
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https://www.kbtx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/breaking-barriers-virgin-hotels-dallas-honored-diversity-efforts-amp-announces-new-inclusive-initiatives/
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DES MOINES, Iowa — (AP) — Another day, another billion dollar lottery jackpot.
At least, that's how it seems ahead of Tuesday night's Mega Millions drawing for an estimated $1.05 billion top prize.
It's a huge sum of money, but such giant jackpots have become far more common, with five prizes topping $1 billion since 2021 — and one jackpot reaching $2.04 billion in 2022.
The massive prizes are due in part to chance, but it's not all happenstance. Rising interest rates coupled with changes to the odds of winning are also big reasons the prizes grow so large.
HOW DO INTEREST RATES INCREASE JACKPOTS?
Nearly all jackpot winners opt for a lump sum payout, which for Tuesday night's drawing would be an estimated $527.9 million. The lump sum is the cash that a winner has actually won. The highlighted $1.05 billion prize is for a sole winner who is paid through an annuity, which is funded by that lump sum and will be doled out annually over 30 years.
That's where the higher interest rate becomes a factor, because the higher the interest rate, the larger the annuity can grow over three decades. The U.S. is in the midst of a remarkable run of interest rate increases, with the Federal Reserve raising a key rate 11 times in 17 months, and that higher rate enables a roughly $500 million lump sum prize to be advertised as a jackpot of about twice that size.
HOW DOES THE ANNUITY WORK?
A winner who chooses the annuity option would receive an initial payment and then 29 annual payments that rise by 5% each year. Opting for an annuity has some tax advantages, as less of the winnings would be taxed at the top federal income tax rate of 37%. It also could be an option for winners who don't trust themselves to manage so much money all at once.
If lottery winners die before 30 years, the future payments would go to their beneficiaries.
WHY DO WINNERS SNUB THE ANNUITY OPTION?
The annuities pay out big money, but not nearly as big as taking the lump sum.
For example, a sole winner of Tuesday night's Mega Millions could choose a lump sum of an estimated $527.9 million or an initial annuity payment of about $15.8 million. Of course, those annuity payments would continue for decades and gradually increase until the final check paid about $65.1 million, according to lottery officials.
In both cases, the winnings would be subject to federal taxes, and many states also tax lottery winnings.
Given all that, nearly all jackpot winners think they could make more money by investing the money themselves, or they simply want the biggest initial payout possible.
WHAT ABOUT THE ODDS OF WINNING?
That's another factor that has created so many huge prizes for those who match all six numbers.
In 2015, the Powerball odds were changed from 1 in 175.2 million to 1 in 292.2 million. Mega Millions took a similar action in 2019 by lengthening the game's odds from 1 in 258.9 million to 1 in 302.6 million.
For lottery officials, the hope was that by making it harder to win jackpots, the prizes would roll over for weeks and create truly massive pots of money that would in turn generate higher sales.
The result is that all of the billion dollar jackpots have come after the changes in the odds.
HOW LONG UNTIL THERE IS A WINNER?
Luck remains a big factor, as the odds of any ticket being a winner never changes. However, the more people who play Mega Millions, the more of the potential 302.6 million number combinations are covered.
For the last Mega Millions drawing on Friday night, 20.1% of possible number combinations were purchased. Typically, the larger the jackpot grows, the more people buy tickets and the more potential combinations are covered.
Tuesday night's drawing will be the 30th since the last jackpot winner. That is inching closer to the longest Mega Millions jackpot drought, which reached 37 drawings from Sept. 18, 2020, to Jan. 22, 2021.
The longest jackpot run was for a Powerball prize that stretched over 41 drawings and ended with a record $2.04 billion prize on Nov. 7, 2022.
___
The top federal tax bracket has been corrected to 37%.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Recognized for relentlessly pursuing innovative audience engagement solutions, Resulticks is now redefining the space with a laser focus on creating Connected Experiences for brands and their audiences through its flagship product RESUL.
Addressing this next leap in the product's evolution, Dakshen Ram, Co-Founder and Chief Product and Innovation Officer of Resulticks said, "RESUL began ten years ago as an omnichannel stack with the aim of moving clients steadily toward digital transformation. Now, recalibrating what audience engagement really means, we have created the definitive solution to deliver end-to-end Connected Experiences—real-time, contextual, everywhere, anytime, and across the phygital spectrum."
Connected Experiences reimagines how businesses can engage with their audiences. Brands will be able to leverage non-conventional channels for data consolidation and communications. The shift will also incorporate new channels of communication including IoT interfaces such as digital billboards, smart devices, and facial recognition devices, enabling organizations to facilitate customer engagement across the physical and digital landscape.
Operating at native latency, businesses will be able to deliver entirely hyper-personalized journeys at scale that are not only attributable but most importantly are limited only by end-point processing capabilities and speeds.
Ram also noted that there is a marked gap between what audiences expect in terms of real-time engagement and what is being served to them today. The interpretation of real-time often has been understandably subjective. "But from the audience's perspective," he said, "it's time to move the needle from real-time engagement to right-now engagement, which means effortlessly syncing with audiences traversing spaces, channels, devices, and IoT interfaces."
Commenting on edge computing and serverless infrastructure supported by the WebAssembly framework, Ram added, "Our next major release RESUL 5.5 slated for release in Q4 of 2023 as well as our work on a generative AI core will further equip brands to chart audience journeys leveraging the flexibility offered by technology rather than being bound by its limitations. This commitment to a connected experience framework is set to usher in, for brands, an era of audience engagement that is instant, creative, and attributable like never before."
About Resulticks
Resulticks is a global leader in real-time audience engagement solutions that deliver top-line growth for brands through connected experiences. Outcomes-focused and enabled by its proprietary cookie-independent identity resolution technology, Resulticks equips brands to make a transformational leap to true 360o customer engagement. With its AI-powered, audience-centric approach it is changing how brands worldwide reach, acquire, and retain satisfied customers. Resulticks Solution Inc. is headquartered in New York City.
Media Contact:
Name: Sneha Subramanian
Email: ssneha@resulticks.com
Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2165938/Connected_Experiences_PR_Banner.jpg
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2165967/RESULTICKS_Logo.jpg
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https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/resulticks-carves-out-new-niche-audience-engagement-connected-experiences-powered-by-resul/
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#1 Lottery App's* New Feature Allows Users to Enter Exclusive Giveaways
NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Jackpocket, America's #1 lottery app*, is turning 10! To celebrate, Jackpocket is giving fans the chance to win an all-inclusive trip to attend the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada on Friday, September 22 and Saturday, September 23, 2023.
Jackpocket and iHeartRadio are teaming up to send one lucky winner and a guest to watch iconic performances at the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Festival at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The full lineup can be viewed here. The prize package includes:
- 2 VIP tickets to both nights of the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Festival
- 2 round-trip flights to Las Vegas, Nevada
- 2 nights' stay at New York-New York Hotel & Casino
- Ground transportation to and from Las Vegas airport
- $500 gift card for food, beverage, and other expenses
To enter, visit the Giveaways section of the app by tapping the Gold Ticket on the Jackpocket home screen and activate the iHeartRadio Vegas Getaway. This new app feature allows users to earn an entry for every $1 spent on Jackpocket lottery ticket orders—up to 100 entries per day. The number on the Gold Ticket counter is personalized to the user, showing them their total number of entries for all their activated Giveaways. No purchase is necessary to enter.
"It's amazing to see how much Jackpocket has grown and innovated over the past 10 years to bring lottery fans a convenient and accessible way to participate in their favorite games," said Peter Sullivan, Jackpocket founder and CEO. "Our new Giveaways feature lets Jackpocket users enter to win prizes and experiences like never before. Even if your Powerball ticket doesn't win a lottery prize, it could still win you a trip to Vegas, VIP sports tickets, and more. It's all part of our goal to give lottery fans the very best user experience possible."
The winner of the iHeartRadio Vegas Getaway will be randomly selected on or about August 31, 2023 and announced in September. For more information, including free entry methods and complete Official Rules, visit: https://jackpocket.com/sweepstakes/iheartradio-vegas-getaway/.
Founded in 2013, Jackpocket is the first-licensed lottery courier app in the United States. Now available in 17 states, Jackpocket provides an easy, secure way to order official state lottery tickets. Over $300 million in total lottery prizes have been won by Jackpocket users to date. In July, an Ohio Powerball winner became the 30th person to win a lottery prize worth $1 million or more using the Jackpocket app.
*According to data from AppFollow.
**ABBREVIATED RULES. No purchase necessary. A purchase does not increase your odds of winning. Must be 18+ (21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE) and physically present in AR, AZ, CO, ID, MA, MN, MT, NE, NH, NM, NJ, NY, OH, OR, TX, WV or D.C. to enter. Void where prohibited. Entries require a valid Jackpocket account and accounts are subject to the full terms of service at jackpocket.com/tos. Registering for a Jackpocket account is free. See Official Rules for details. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, residents of NY call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369); residents of MA call 1-800-327-5050; residents of OR call 1-877-MYLIMIT; all others, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
About Jackpocket
Jackpocket is on a mission to create a more convenient, fun, and responsible way to take part in the lottery. The first licensed third-party lottery courier app in the United States, Jackpocket provides an easy, secure way to order official state lottery tickets. Jackpocket is currently available in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington D.C., and West Virginia, and is expanding to many new markets. Download the app on iOS and Android or participate via desktop. Follow along on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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https://www.1011now.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/jackpocket-celebrates-10th-anniversary-with-giveaway-attend-2023-iheartradio-music-festival-las-vegas/
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Monday July 31, 2023: Despite the rising level of the water in Lake Okeechobee, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continues hold firm on its rainy-season strategy of keeping the toxic algae laced Lake water bottled up, as best they can.
As of Sunday, the level of Lake Okeechobee stood at 15-feet and point-11 inches. Over the past two months, since June 1, just 16,400-acre feet of water has been released directly from Lake O west down the Caloosahatchee, and no water has been released east into the St. Lucie River since the start of the rainy season.
Lt. Col. Todd Polk is the Jacksonville District Deputy Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “Our current schedule we’re going to go ahead and keep the release schedule the same this week with the seven-day average at the W.P. Franklin Lock there on the west side of S-79 at 2,000 cubic feet. And east, at St. Lucie Lock and Dam at S-80 at zero cubic feet per second.”
However, he said some Lake water has been released east to support navigation along the C-44 Canal.
“We’re still seeing a good deal of algae throughout Lake Okeechobee and the canals," said Lt. Col. Polk, who re-iterated that the Corps is in " consistent and transparent communication with our partners at in the South Florida Water Management District and DEP. This allows them to understand the conditions in real time and to make the decisions on bloom treatment as necessary.”
The Lake level is nearly two feet higher than this time last year. And that’s just under a foot and a half short of the 16-and-a-half-foot level at which the Corps has said they’ll have to reconsider their current strategy.
“We’ll continue with our wet-season strategy to maintain beneficial releases out of the Lake for as long as possible," said Lt. Col. Polk.
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WASHINGTON, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States, announces the impending retirement of Chris Thompson as President and CEO, effective May 31, 2024. After a successful tenure of leading the organization, Thompson has decided to step down and pursue life beyond work.
During his time as President and CEO, Thompson has played a pivotal role in promoting the United States as a premier travel destination. Under his leadership, Brand USA has achieved remarkable milestones, including increased international visitation, and enhanced global awareness of the diverse offerings across the country.
Thompson's strategic vision and unwavering commitment to excellence have been instrumental in driving Brand USA's success. His dedication to fostering partnerships with industry stakeholders, government agencies, and international organizations has strengthened the organization's position as a global leader in destination marketing.
"It has been an incredible privilege to serve as President and CEO of Brand USA," said Thompson. "I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together, and I am confident that the organization will continue to thrive under new leadership."
The Brand USA Board of Directors expressed their gratitude to Thompson for his exceptional leadership and significant contributions to the organization. "Under Chris's strategic guidance, the Brand USA team has kept the USA the preferred travel destination in the world", stated Todd Davidson, Chair of the Brand USA Board and CEO of Travel Oregon. "Chris's integrity, tenacity, passion and belief in the power of the travel and tourism industry to bring prosperity to all Americans, fueled the advancement of the US travel and tourism industry and established an organizational foundation of innovation, resiliency and future-focused confidence. We all wish him the very best in his retirement."
The search for a new President and CEO is commencing, and Brand USA is committed to finding a successor who will build upon Thompson's legacy and continue to drive the organization forward. The Board of Directors will work closely with an executive search firm to identify a candidate with the necessary expertise, vision, and passion for promoting the United States as a global travel destination.
About Brand USA
Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States, was established by the Travel Promotion Act as the nation's first public-private partnership to promote the United States as a premier travel destination and to communicate U.S. travel policies and procedures to worldwide travelers. The organization's mission is to increase international visitation to the United States in order to fuel the U.S. economy and enhance the image of the United States worldwide. Formed as the Corporation for Travel Promotion in 2010, the public-private entity began operations in May 2011 and does business as Brand USA. According to studies by Oxford Economics, over the past ten years Brand USA's marketing initiatives have helped welcome 8 million incremental visitors to the United States, benefiting the U.S. economy with more than $58 billion in total economic impact and supporting, on average, more than 37,000 incremental jobs a year.
For industry or partner information about Brand USA, visit TheBrandUSA.com. To discover more about the USA and the boundless diversity of American travel experiences and authentic, rich culture, please visit Brand USA's consumer website VisitTheUSA.com and follow Visit The USA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Contact:
Colleen Mangone
Director, Public Affairs Communications
cmangone@thebrandusa.com
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Fantasy football analyst Matt Harmon hands out grades to every NFL team based on their fantasy juice for 2023. Check out the AFC South grades below — go here for his full AFC rundown.
Houston Texans: D+
The Texans finally have a real quarterback solution in town with C.J. Stroud. It's refreshing for a team that's been lost at sea for multiple seasons. Rookie quarterbacks may struggle to post above-average stats but he gives them a chance to actually evaluate their players.
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Dameon Pierce showed himself to be a strong rusher as a rookie. He wore down a bit but the presence of Devin Singletary will help matters while still giving Pierce enough leash to run the show. Nico Collins is the most interesting breakout bet on this offense. He has all the prototypical X-receiver traits and gets open with great flexibility on in-breaking routes. The rest of the receiver corps is mostly role players but Dalton Schultz at tight end should provide a nice safety blanket for Stroud.
Tennessee Titans: C+
The Titans' grade would have been even less favorable had they not signed DeAndre Hopkins. While he's not the player he was at his peak, Hopkins can still function as the top receiver on an offense, can get open short and has the same old vice-grip hands. The rest of the receivers are a huge question mark. Treylon Burks is a limited player but fits better as a No. 2 for now. Chigoziem Okonkwo has breakout potential at tight end after some flashes as a rookie. Neither is an established player and the rest of the roster doesn't offer much juice.
The main holdovers will reprise their same old roles in Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry. The Titans have obviously been actively looking for Tannehill's replacement but he remains a solid starting quarterback, albeit with durability concerns.
Henry is a tricky case. He’s at the axis of age and career workload where we worry about running backs. But he’s quite literally built different than any other back.
Overall, this offense is more interesting with Hopkins in the fold but the ceiling is still low unless Henry breaks the age model to a striking degree.
Indianapolis Colts: C+
Full disclosure: I am so high on the Colts skill position players as future bets. I could see them being in the B+ territory by next year but I wanted to remain realistic for now.
The receiver room is one of the most slept-on units in the NFL. Michael Pittman is a true No. 1 receiver and separates with ease on crucial short to intermediate routes. He just needs a quarterback to unlock him. Alec Pierce is a nice vertical option and rookie Josh Downs is a perfect fit between those two hulking wideouts in the slot.
Jonathan Taylor got banged up last year but is still a very effective runner and focal point of this attack. Unfortunately, he's now mired in a contract dispute; the Colts are reportedly considering him a candidate for the NFI list with a "back injury" — an injury Taylor himself is apparently surprised about. The recent Zack Mossinjury will undoubtedly make things even more spicy — fantasy managers have to watch this situation closely.
The tight end room is the only one I consider truly "light," but Jelani Woods is a massive athlete who can change that perspective.
It all comes down to Anthony Richardson. He is a rare athlete and can attack defenses in the vertical game. I think he will start all year but it may take time for him to get comfortable in the offense. He's in a position to succeed with this underrated set of skill-position players but an inexperienced rookie quarterback puts a ceiling on your grade.
Jacksonville Jaguars: B
The Jaguars are one of, if not the most, exciting up-and-coming unit in the NFL. It starts with Trevor Lawrence. He showed off top-10 quarterback ability in spurts last year and is ready to make the leap into the top tier of passers. Jacksonville beefed up the pass-catching corps with Christian Kirk, Zay Jones and Evan Engram last year; all quality players in the right roles. Now they'll add Calvin Ridley to the mix. It's been a minute since we've seen him but at his best he was a No. 1 wideout who could beat press and man coverage at a high rate. That's exactly what they needed.
The running game should be a heavy dose of Travis Etienne Jr. with a sprinkling of Tank Bigsby. Etienne may not be the pass catcher some fantasy folks forecasted but he's an explosive runner.
Jacksonville could be a top-five offense this year. The talent is there at every level.
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ROSEMONT, Ill., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS), the leading medical organization dedicated to advancing quality in vascular health care, has issued a response to a recent New York Times article detailing allegations of overuse of interventions to treat patients with peripheral vascular disease. SVS sent a strong message that it is inaccurate and a disservice to patients to paint all providers treating vascular patients with the same broad brush. There are important differences all patients and health reporters should know:
An estimated 10-12 million Americans have peripheral artery disease. Left untreated, vascular disease can affect quality of life and potentially threaten patients' limbs and lives — as can delayed care due to lack of education, financial barriers, or mistrust of qualified physicians. The actions of a few outliers, while important to address, must not tarnish the reputation of the 98% of physicians that are providing excellent patient care.
As in all professions, there are health care providers practicing outside the norms established by evidence-based guidelines. SVS is dedicated to addressing this issue through high quality science, education, and policy. The individuals described in the Times' investigation are not board-certified vascular surgeons or SVS members. Creating the impression that all providers of vascular care are the same is a disservice to patients seeking credible and reliable information to make good health care decisions.
Vascular surgeons are defined and certified by rigorous national standards ( ABMS ABS definition and ACGME specialties ) as the primary specialty trained to provide comprehensive care across the full spectrum of vascular disease states. While vascular care may often be team-based, vascular surgeons are irreplaceable on such teams because of their depth of understanding of the entire spectrum of vascular disease and its wide range of treatment options, including the full range of medical management, non-operative options, minimally invasive endovascular therapy (angioplasty, stents) and major surgical reconstructions.
SVS also emphasizes that while individual providers are responsible and accountable for the care of their patients, efforts to better align health and medico-economic policies to drive, reinforce, and incentivize appropriate care are long overdue.
"We stand against the inappropriate use of interventions and appreciate the Times' efforts to raise patient awareness, promote quality and advocate for safety in the delivery of vascular care," says Dr. Joseph Mills, SVS President. "The Society for Vascular Surgery's mission and code of ethics is rooted in prioritizing patient wellbeing, ensuring the best outcomes for those under our care. No procedure should be recommended or performed if not primarily and solely for a patient's benefit and best interests – period."
SVS members place a strong emphasis on medical therapy and lifestyle changes for patients. This approach aligns with the SVS mission to educate individuals to seek care early and prioritize lifestyle and nonsurgical interventions. Building trusting relationships between patients and their doctors, along with regular visits, plays a crucial role in achieving best outcomes.
SVS members prioritize adherence to best practices and evidence-based guidelines to ensure the delivery of optimal patient care. In fact, SVS established its Patient Safety Organization to monitor outcomes of patient care with Vascular Quality Initiative registries, and – in collaboration with the American College of Surgeons – recently launched its Vascular Verification Program, setting standards of quality across vascular care, regardless of site of service.
SVS agrees industry-wide reform is needed and urges action, with Dr. Mills saying: "It's incumbent upon the entire health care system to address underlying health care policy drivers contributing to inappropriate use."
The Society for Vascular Surgery always emphasizes quality and safety in patient care and is fully committed to tackling these issues and promoting best practices through scientific research, guidelines and patient registries.
About the Society for Vascular Surgery:
The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) seeks to advance excellence and innovation in vascular health through education, advocacy, research and public awareness. The organization was founded in 1946 and has a membership of more than 6,300. SVS membership is recognized in the vascular community as a mark of professional achievement.
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CANTON, Ohio, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Liberty HealthShare® is blessed to be an exhibitor at the Assemblies of God 60th General Council to be held July 31 through August 4 in Columbus, Ohio.
Ministers, church delegates and college presidents from across the country are expected to attend the Pentecostal Christian church's biennial gathering to worship, vote in legislative sessions and attend workshops.
"We are excited to have the opportunity to take part in the Assemblies of God General Council and be in fellowship with people of faith, sharing information about the biblical values of our ministry and how Liberty HealthShare might help them choose more-affordable healthcare options," said Pastor Wes Humble, Liberty HealthShare's executive director of Ministry, Community Relations and Events.
Liberty HealthShare is a non-profit 501(c) (3) charitable Christian medical cost-sharing ministry focused on members helping each other in times of need. The faith-based program, which facilitates healthsharing for its members, is a caring community of health-conscious individuals and families who choose to support one another and agree to the Christian values of stewardship to make healthcare affordable for all.
As it is not insurance, Liberty HealthShare enrollment is available year-round with no requirement for special life events to qualify. For more information about its healthcare sharing programs visit libertyhealthshare.org or call (855) 585-4237.
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LONDON, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CosmosAI, the global smart computing power network project, is making significant strides through negotiations to acquire prominent Nasdaq-listed companies. The discussions focus on acquiring platforms and businesses in diverse sectors like sports betting AI services, smart retail, and intelligent security solutions. These strategic acquisitions are set to accelerate CosmosAI's growth and provide capitalization opportunities for investors.
These ongoing negotiations emphasize CosmosAI's commitment to becoming a transformative force in smart computing networks. Leveraging the expertise and market presence of Nasdaq-listed companies, CosmosAI aims to drive innovation and expand its intelligent connectivity solutions.
In the sports betting AI services industry, the potential acquisition promises to enhance user experiences and streamline betting operations. A Nasdaq-listed sports betting platform would enable CosmosAI to offer cutting-edge solutions for sports enthusiasts and industry stakeholders.
Similarly, in the smart retail sector, the integration of smart computing power can revolutionize the shopping experience. By acquiring a Nasdaq-listed smart retail company, CosmosAI envisions driving advancements in personalized shopping, inventory management, and customer analytics.
Addressing the importance of security, CosmosAI recognizes smart computing's role in safeguarding individuals, businesses, and public spaces. The potential acquisition of a Nasdaq-listed intelligent security firm would enhance CosmosAI's ability to deliver cutting-edge solutions for video analytics, facial recognition, and smart surveillance.
Aligned with its vision of a smarter and connected society, CosmosAI accelerates its development with Nasdaq-listed companies' expertise and resources. Investors can expect enhanced value and returns as CosmosAI expands into new sectors and markets, unlocking significant shareholder value.
CosmosAI remains dedicated to realizing a future of intelligent connectivity and shaping a smart society. The potential acquisitions strengthen CosmosAI's market position and fulfill its mission of revolutionizing global computational resource sharing.
About CosmosAI:
CosmosAI is a global smart computing network project dedicated to building the future of intelligent connectivity. By integrating computing devices worldwide, CosmosAI provides strong and fair computing support for AI development, promoting digitization on a global scale. For more information, please visit the official website: https://ai-cosmo.com
Media Contact:
Nadine Hwu
Email: info@ai-cosmo.com
+1 (937) 551-5555
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2166180/CosmosAI.jpg
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PHOENIX — (AP) — A hellish and historic 31-day run of temperatures cracking 110 degrees (43 degrees Celsius) in Phoenix appeared headed for a welcome end on Monday, as monsoon rains moved through the region from Mexico.
The relief wasn't all that great — the day's highs were forecast near 108 degrees, or about 42 Celsius — and the heat was expected to rise past 110 again later in the week. But residents and visitors were taking what they could get.
"It's not going to last more than a couple of days, but I'm enjoying this break," said Christine Bertaux, 76, who was cooling off Monday at a downtown day center for older people who are homeless.
“It has been REALLY hot here!” said Jeffrey Sharpe, of Kenosha, Wisconsin, who was in town for a long weekend that on Monday included watching his son's poodles frolic in a grassy dog park. “But today it was about 85 degrees, more like Wisconsin."
High heat blasted much of the Southwest all through July, ranging from West Texas to eastern California. But Phoenix and its suburbs sweltered to new records, including three days where the high reached 119, and overnight lows stayed above 90 more than half the month. Concerts and other outdoor events were cancelled throughout the month because of the heat and busy parts of the city became ghost towns as people stayed indoors to avoid the heat.
Health officials have so far confirmed 25 heat-related deaths in Maricopa County, Arizona’s most populous and home to Phoenix, in July, although that number seems certain to rise. Another 249 deaths are under investigation for links to heat.
Rudy Soliz, who manages the center where Bertaux was cooling off, said those who visit to get a meal and cool off out of the sun “have been having a very hard time this summer.”
“Older people have a harder time with the heat, there are a lot of diabetics, people who take medicines,” he said.
“The heat has been pretty bad this summer. We’ve made at least five 911 calls from here this July for people who got heat stroke,” said Soliz. “They’ve found a couple of bodies around here this month but it’s not clear yet if they died from the heat.”
Although there is no excessive warning for city, the National Weather Service said Phoenix residents should take precautions to stay cool and safe from the heat.
“Even though it’s going to be cooler than it has been, it’s still going to be warmer than normal. And the heat definitely can still affect a large portion of the population,” said Matthew Hirsch, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Phoenix. “So we’re still urging people to take the necessary precautions, such as remaining hydrated and limiting outdoor activity.”
Phoenix’s previous record for days of 110 degrees or more was 18 straight, set in 1974, nearly two weeks shorter than the new record.
Hirsch said July 2023 was the city’s hottest month on record. The previous hottest month on record was August 2020.
And August could be even hotter than July, Hirsch said. He said there is a slightly higher chance of temperatures that are above normal in August and there's an equal chance for the region to get more or less rain than average.
R. Glenn Williamson, a businessman who was born in Canada but has lived in Phoenix for years, said he really noticed a temperature difference Monday morning as he washed his car in his driveway.
“Now we have to get rid of the humidity!” Williamson said. "But honestly, I’d rather have this heat than a Montreal winter.”
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Costley reported from New Orleans.
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Follow Drew Costley on Twitter: @drewcostley.
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Award Recognizes Exemplary Commitment to Transportation Safety
BRUSLY, La., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM), a national organization whose members include the most senior fire officials in the United States, is delighted to honor ExxonMobil with the esteemed Norman Y. Mineta Excellence in Transportation Safety Award.
The ExxonMobil organization is recognized for having one of the safest years in Exxon Mobil Pipeline Company's (EMPCo) history and their industry-leading safety preparations for the upcoming buildout of a network of CO2 and H2 pipelines. By empowering personnel to identify and strengthen critical safeguards to mitigate risk in potential consequence areas, ExxonMobil takes on the challenge of emerging fuels pipelines and storage facilities while maintaining exceptional safety standards.
The Norman Y. Mineta Excellence in Transportation Safety Award is an honor awarded to individuals or organizations who have shown a significant and lasting contribution to product, material and human safety. Named after its first recipient, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta, the award recognizes achievements in transportation safety standards that exceed the minimum requirements.
"The way ExxonMobil engages with fire fighters is a great example of how companies and first responders should work together to yield the highest level of public safety and awareness," said Chief Butch Browning, NASFM Executive Director.
"It is an honor to receive this award on behalf of ExxonMobil. We are proud that our focus on safety and operational excellence is recognized by one of our most important stakeholders, first responders," said Steve Yatauro, ExxonMobil Pipeline Company President.
Since 2005, 11 organizations or individuals have received the Norman Y. Mineta Excellence in Transportation Safety Award. ExxonMobil's recognition marks the first award since Former NASFM Presidents and State Fire Marshal Bill Degnan in 2016.
The award was presented to EMPCo VP of Operations Saul Flota at the NASFM Annual Conference on July 31, 2023, in Wilmington, North Carolina.
For more information, visit the NASFM website at firemarshals.org.
About the National Association of State Fire Marshalls:
The principal membership of NASFM comprises the senior fire officials in the United States and their top deputies. The primary mission of NASFM is to protect human life, property and the environment from fire and related hazards. A secondary mission of NASFM is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of State Fire Marshals' operations.
CONTACT:
Philip Oakes
Chief of Operations and Training
phil@browning.red
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NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Deerpath Capital Management, LP ("Deerpath"), one of the largest private credit managers in the U.S. lower-middle market, has announced the reset and upsize of Deerpath CLO 2020-1, a $403.3 million collateralized loan obligation (CLO).
The CLO was originally sized at $330 million and priced in March 2020. This upsize and repricing represents the eighth CLO issued by Deerpath since 2018 and brings the firm's total CLO assets under management to approximately $2.4 billion.
This is Deerpath's second CLO issuance in 2023, having closed Deerpath CLO 2023-1 at $504 million in March. Like all of the firm's existing CLOs, Deerpath CLO 2020-1 is secured by a portfolio of senior secured loans to middle market, private equity-backed companies, which have been primarily directly originated by the firm.
Deerpath sold securities rated from AAA through BBB- to third-party institutional investors, including insurance companies, pension funds, banks, and asset managers. Deerpath's managed funds purchased 100 percent of the subordinated notes issued by the CLO. The transaction is set to close on July 31, 2023 and the reinvestment period is four (4) years.
Derek Dubois, Managing Director and Treasurer said, "Deerpath has continued to access the CLO market during 2023, despite the ongoing volatility in the broader markets. This is our second CLO transaction of 2023. We are very excited to have locked in attractive long term portfolio financing for our fund investors."
GreensLedge Capital Markets LLC served as Lead Placement Agent, Structuring Agent and Bookrunner. NatWest Markets served as Co-Placement Agent.
About Deerpath Capital Management, LP
Founded in 2007, Deerpath Capital Management, LP is one of the largest providers of customized, cash-flow based senior debt financing to lower-middle market companies across diverse industries. The firm currently manages approximately $6 billion of assets under management. For more information, please visit www.deerpathcapital.com.
Media:
Aidan O'Connor
Prosek Partners (On behalf of Deerpath Capital)
(646) 818-9283
aoconnor@prosek.com
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The It List is Yahoo's weekly look at the best in pop culture, including movies, music, TV, streaming, games, books, podcasts and more. Here are our picks for July 31-Aug. 6, including the best deals we could find for each.
STREAM IT: Controversial YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul kicks off Season 3 of Untold
The Season 3 premiere of Netflix's anthology documentary series, Untold, passes the mic to Jake Paul to tell his true Hollywood story. After a turbulent childhood in Ohio, Paul and his brother, Logan, found an outlet for their antics on social media, which led them to fame and fortune in Los Angeles as the influencer era kicked off in earnest. But their careers careened off track following a serious case of sibling rivalry, accusations of sexual harassment and controversial content choices. At that point, Jake Paul entered the boxing ring... and he hasn't left. Paul speaks candidly about his various controversies as well as his outsized ego, which has made him a fighter that people enjoy rooting against. — Ethan Alter
Untold: Jake Paul the Problem Child premieres Tuesday, Aug. 1 on Netflix.
STREAM IT: Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty returns for another exhilarating run
The new season of one of HBO's most successful original sports dramas promises to keep the ball rolling, using the same formula that made the show's first season a slam dunk. The seven-episode Season 2 focuses on the intense NBA rivalry between the L.A. Lakers and Boston Celtics while revisiting basketball's greatest personal conflict in the 1980s. Reprising his role as Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Quincy Isaiah proclaims in the trailer that "Magic is back" and sends a warning to opponents. "You better watch out," Magic told reporters gathered around the locker room. After tasting his first championship at the conclusion of Season 1, Magic is hungry for more. Standing in the way is his hardwood nemesis Larry Bird. Sean Patrick Small is very convincing as Larry Legend, and he's got the chops to make the basketball scenes look real. He even mirrors Bird's signature chicken wing shooting form. Whether you're a basketball fan or not, Winning Time delivers plenty of commanding performances, especially John C. Reilly's fantastic portrayal of flamboyant Lakers owner Jerry Buss. Once you're part of the viewing team, you'll be hooked. — Joel Huerto
Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty Season 2 premieres Sunday, Aug. 6 at 9 p.m. on HBO and streaming on Max.
STREAM IT: Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food wants to change the way you think about what you eat
In the vein of Super Size Me and other documentaries that take down the food industry, Poisoned digs into the government regulation — or lack of it — that results in 48 million people getting sick from a foodborne illness each year. Family members of some of the victims tell their affecting stories, while experts explain why it's vitally important for the government to take action to protect citizens from an industry that, like many others, appears to value profits above all. At one point, a voice disguised to protect an interviewee explains that, "Customers would really be shocked at some of the stories that we could tell them." — Raechal Shewfelt
Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food premieres Wednesday, Aug. 2 on Netflix.
WATCH IT: Physicist who worked with Oppenheimer, shared secrets with Soviets gets doc treatment in A Compassionate Spy
Watching Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, you get the feeling any of the countless atom bomb-developing scientists portrayed in the filmmaker's riveting dramatic thriller could be worthy of their own film. Case in point: Ted Hall is barely a footnote in it. With this week's A Compassionate Spy, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Steve James devotes a full doc to the physicist who, fearing a U.S. monopoly on nuclear weaponry, shared Manhattan Project intel with the Soviet Union. As IndieWire notes, James (Hoop Dreams, Life Itself) essentially poses the question: Is there such thing as a sympathetic cause for treason? Check out an exclusive clip from the film above. — Kevin Polowy
A Compassionate Spy opens in theaters (visit Fandango for showtimes and ticket information) and on video on demand Friday, Aug. 4.
WATCH IT: Former Mad Man Jon Hamm moves into a new Corner Office
Jon Hamm may not be a Sterling Cooper employee anymore, but he hasn't given up his Corner Office. The former Mad Men star headlines Joachim Back's Office Space-esque comedy as Orson, a sad-sack white collar employee for a personality-free conglomerate. While seeking a way to break up the day-to-day drudgery of office life, Orson happens upon a seemingly empty executive suite that becomes his secret hideout. But as he comes to learn, there may be no exit from TPS reports and forced birthday celebrations. This exclusive clip from the film finds Orson learning the ropes of his new gig, courtesy of his co-worker — and Community star — Danny Pudi. — E.A.
Corner Office premieres Friday, Aug. 4 in theaters (visit Fandango for showtimes and ticket information) and on most VOD and figital services.
WATCH IT: Randall Park's Shortcomings isn't your average anti rom-com
Randall Park adds "director" to his extensive resume — which also includes TV dad and Marvel Cinematic Universe scene stealer — with the Sundance-approved comedy Shortcomings, the story of a self-absorbed jerk and the girl he lets get away. With his filmmaking ambitions stymied, Ben (Justin H. Min), has been marking time as the manager of a failing movie theater. Meanwhile, his long-suffering girlfriend, Miko (Ally Maki), is fed up with his sullen attitude and wandering eye and decides to take their relationship to the next level... separately. Suddenly single, Ben throws himself into the dating pool only to discover that he's routinely getting tossed back. This exclusive clip from the film finds him spying on his ex and realizing there may not be a happily ever after in their future. — E.A.
Shortcomings premieres Friday, Aug. 4 in theaters; visit Fandango for showtimes and ticket information.
WATCH IT: Brother charts the diverging lives of two Toronto-based siblings
One of the most acclaimed discoveries at last year's Toronto International Film Festival, Canadian auteur Clement Virgo's latest film adapts David Chariandy's hit novel about two siblings whose lives take strikingly different paths. Raised in an immigrant family, Caribbean-born brothers Frances (Lamar Johnson) and Michael (Aaron Pierre) cling tight to each other during their childhoods, but are later pulled apart by external circumstances in their adopted home — circumstances that include criminal temptations. This exclusive clip from the film showcases the strong bond the brothers share before they're pulled apart. — E.A.
Brother premieres Friday, Aug. 4 in theaters; visit Fandango for showtimes and ticket information.
STREAM IT: Johnson is back for fresh episodes on Bounce
Bounce on back to Atlanta for the return of Bounce's breakout series, Johnson, which counts Cedric the Entertainer among its producing team. Season 3 kicks off Aug. 5 and features fresh stories about the show's central quartet of pals as the continue to navigate fatherhood, relationships and everything in between. D.L. Hughley is also back in his recurring role, and appears in this exclusive clip from the new season. — E.A.
Johnson Season 3 premieres Saturday, Aug. 5 on Bounce.
WATCH IT: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is a tubular time
Are we entering the golden age of animated action movies? Between Across the Spider-verse (not to mention Into the Spider-verse) and this week's Mutant Mayhem, a good case could be made. Like those Spidey movies, Mutant Mayhem is visually dazzling, hip, funny, thrilling — and all set to a kick-ass soundtrack (here with a half-dozen perfect '90s hip-hop needle drops). The filmmakers made some brilliant decisions in the latest try at a big-screen TMNT venture, from casting actual teenagers as the heroes in half-shells (and encouraging them to just riff at points) to reimagining April O'Neil as an awkward high schooler. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg leave their sharp comedic prints all over this one. — K.P.
Teenage Mutant Turtles: Mutant Mayhem opens in theaters Friday, Aug. 4; visit Fandango for showtimes and ticket information.
WATCH IT: DJs got us falling in love in Mixtape doc
Before TikTok, Bandcamp or Soundcloud, there were mixtapes — the primary method for aspiring and underground hip-hop artists to build a buzz, with DJs serving as tastemakers, trendsetters and ambassadors of the (sub)culture. In the new Def Jam Recordings documentary Mixtape, 2 Chainz, A$AP Rocky, DJ Khaled, DJ Whoo Kid, Fabolous, Fat Joe, Funkmaster Flex, the Game, KRS-One, Lil Wayne, Mark Ronson and even Mike Tyson and Tommy Hilfiger reflect on how the mixtape became a genre in and of itself and changed the rap game forever. — Lyndsey Parker
Mixtape premieres Tuesday, Aug. 2 on Paramount+.
STREAM IT: Like Big Little Lies? Try The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart.
Amazon's new, seven-episode series is based on a book of the same name that, like the hit HBO series, is based on a best-selling book by an Australian author, in this case Holly Ringland. Part of it is also set by the sea, and it's filled with an intense series of events. Alice Hart follows the title character (played, at different ages by Fear the Walking Dead's Alycia Debnam-Carey and teen Alyla Browne, of Nine Perfect Strangers, whose parents are killed in a mysterious fire when she's still a child. Alice goes to live with her grandmother (the always fantastic Sigourney Weaver) at a flower farm, where she learns about secrets in her ancestral past that continue to drive her as a young adult, when she suffers another crushing loss and then meets a dangerous man disguised as a charmer. Expect beautiful scenery in addition to all the drama. — R.S.
The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart premiers Friday, Aug. 4 on Prime Video.
HEAR IT: Quavo honors late bandmate Takeoff on grief-fueled Rocket Power
The second solo album by Migos co-founder Quavo arrives nine months after the shooting death of his bandmate and nephew, Takeoff. In a statement last month announcing the album, which is the follow-up to 2018's The Last Rocket, the rapper said: "This album is embodying all my emotions. Through the process of healing I've learned to turn tragedy into triumph. I had to dig deep into my purpose and find the power to keep striving. To my fans, thanks for being patient wit' me and supporting us. To my FAMILY, even when times get hard we know our MAIN mission is to keep the Rocket name ALIVE. TIL INFINITY." In an interview posted last week on his YouTube page, Quavo opened up further about the record's tragic inspiration, saying, "Rocket Power means a lot to me, it means everything to me. Just being fueled by my brother, Take, and just bottling all these emotions, all the pain, all the hard times, all the times I cried, all the times I made music just to pull up and try to play songs and he's not there. I'm just trying to get this fuel from my bro." —L.P.
Rocket Power by Quavo is available Friday, Aug. 4 to download/stream on Apple Music.
HEAR IT: Rick Springfield is Automatic for the people
The 23rd studio album by powerpop icon Rick Springfield comprises 20 tracks that he has described as being "stylistically somewhere between" his 1981 breakthrough WorkingClass Dog and 1985's experimental synthrock classic Tao. Springfield says he made the ambitious record — on which he handed all writing, production, guitar and keyboard duties – with a "goal" to create "solid three-minute tunes with the biggest hooks I could come up with." Considering that this is the man who wrote "Love Is Alright Tonite," "Love Somebody" and, of course, "Jessie's Girl," it's not surprising that he was totally up for the task. —L.P.
Automatic by Rick Springfield is available Friday, Aug. 4 to download/stream on Apple Music.
PLAY IT: Bring the screams home with you courtesy of Funko's Scream tabletop game
It's not your imagination... the call really is coming from inside the house. Scream franchise boogeyman, Ghostface, calls you directly courtesy of Funko Games's Scream: The Game, a fast-paced party game that'll have you looking in the dark corners of your home. Download the custom game app and you'll start hearing from Ghostface as you pass cards and navigate the board. Celebrity cameos not included. — E.A.
Scream: The Game is available now at most major retailers, including Amazon.
WATCH IT: Problemista pairs former SNL writer Julio Torres with a madcap Tilda Swinton
It's hard to transition from Saturday Night Live to movies. Many have tried, some of succeeded, others have failed. Julio Torres is following an unconventional path: Though he earned four Emmy nominations as part of its writing staff from 2016-2019, he wasn't on-camera. Yet Torres wrote, directed and stars in the new A24 comedy Problemista, playing an awkward wannabe toy designer from El Salvador who goes to desperate lengths to maintain an American work visa, mainly assisting a mercurial art critic played by Tilda Swinton. An amicable Torres proves he belongs onscreen in this whimsical tale, but the Wrecking Ball Swinton is damn-near Oscar-worthy. — K.P.
Problemista opens in theaters Friday, Aug. 4; visit Fandango for showtimes and ticket information.
HEAR IT: Mammoth WVH is unchained
Mammoth WVH initially began as the eponymous solo project of the late Eddie Van Halen's son, former teenage Van Halen replacement bass player and Twitter-troll destroyer Wolfgang Van Halen — with "Distance," a tribute single released the month after Eddie's 2020 death, and an acclaimed self-titled debut album recorded entirely by Wolfgang. (Wolfgang drew inspiration from Dave Grohl, who was the sole member of the Foo Fighters in that band's early post-Nirvana era.) But now Mammoth WVH is a full-fledged group, with a lineup that includes guitarists Frank Sidoris and Jon Jourdan, bassist Ronnie Ficarro and drummer Garrett Whitlock — and they're ready to unleash their sophomore album, Mammoth II, and embark on a tour with Metallica and Alter Bridge starting this week. — L.P.
Mammoth II by Mammoth WVH is available Friday, Aug. 4 to download/stream on Apple Music.
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NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Recognized for relentlessly pursuing innovative audience engagement solutions, Resulticks is now redefining the space with a laser focus on creating Connected Experiences for brands and their audiences through its flagship product RESUL.
Addressing this next leap in the product's evolution, Dakshen Ram, Co-Founder and Chief Product and Innovation Officer of Resulticks said, "RESUL began ten years ago as an omnichannel stack with the aim of moving clients steadily toward digital transformation. Now, recalibrating what audience engagement really means, we have created the definitive solution to deliver end-to-end Connected Experiences—real-time, contextual, everywhere, anytime, and across the phygital spectrum."
Connected Experiences reimagines how businesses can engage with their audiences. Brands will be able to leverage non-conventional channels for data consolidation and communications. The shift will also incorporate new channels of communication including IoT interfaces such as digital billboards, smart devices, and facial recognition devices, enabling organizations to facilitate customer engagement across the physical and digital landscape.
Operating at native latency, businesses will be able to deliver entirely hyper-personalized journeys at scale that are not only attributable but most importantly are limited only by end-point processing capabilities and speeds.
Ram also noted that there is a marked gap between what audiences expect in terms of real-time engagement and what is being served to them today. The interpretation of real-time often has been understandably subjective. "But from the audience's perspective," he said, "it's time to move the needle from real-time engagement to right-now engagement, which means effortlessly syncing with audiences traversing spaces, channels, devices, and IoT interfaces."
Commenting on edge computing and serverless infrastructure supported by the WebAssembly framework, Ram added, "Our next major release RESUL 5.5 slated for release in Q4 of 2023 as well as our work on a generative AI core will further equip brands to chart audience journeys leveraging the flexibility offered by technology rather than being bound by its limitations. This commitment to a connected experience framework is set to usher in, for brands, an era of audience engagement that is instant, creative, and attributable like never before."
About Resulticks
Resulticks is a global leader in real-time audience engagement solutions that deliver top-line growth for brands through connected experiences. Outcomes-focused and enabled by its proprietary cookie-independent identity resolution technology, Resulticks equips brands to make a transformational leap to true 360o customer engagement. With its AI-powered, audience-centric approach it is changing how brands worldwide reach, acquire, and retain satisfied customers. Resulticks Solution Inc. is headquartered in New York City.
Media Contact:
Name: Sneha Subramanian
Email: ssneha@resulticks.com
Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2165938/Connected_Experiences_PR_Banner.jpg
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Cannestra recognized again on the 100-person list, representing the most influential leaders of the corporate venture capital community
SOUTHFIELD, Mich., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Corporate Venturing (GCV), a prominent industry association, has named Tony Cannestra of DENSO to its 2023 Powerlist. Cannestra, who is the director of Corporate Ventures at the leading mobility supplier, has now earned the honor several times, reflecting his many contributions to the corporate venture capital community throughout his 20-plus year career.
GCV releases its powerlist annually to highlight 100 corporate venturing professionals who are, as the association says, "at the top of their profession," out of more than 6,000 corporate venturing units operating globally.
"While I'm grateful for the recognition, DENSO's corporate venturing success stems from the deep collaboration between our internal teams and portfolio companies," said Cannestra. "This approach is especially important as we prioritize early-stage startups. In our work together, we strive to quickly build trust, establish a shared vision and accelerate the development of technology that contributes to a green, safe and more seamless world."
Cannestra has led DENSO's Corporate Venture Capital team for nearly 10 years from the company's Silicon Valley Innovation Center in San Jose, California. During his tenure, he's led the acquisition of a startup and invested in over 25 more.
Though DENSO actively invests in many focus areas – including electrification, connectivity and robotics – Cannestra is particularly interested in the following categories: computer vision technologies, such as advanced radar and LiDAR; next-generation semiconductor technologies; additive manufacturing; and automotive cybersecurity.
He also serves as a board director for a number of DENSO portfolio companies, including Blaize, Canatu, Dellfer, MetaWave and Quadric.
If you want to learn more about DENSO's approach to corporate ventures, or how to get in touch with its team, go here.
For those interested in working at an innovation leader committed to bettering the world through in-house R&D and unique collaborations while offering fulfilling paths to success, visit densocareers.com.
GCV provides the global corporate venturing community and their ecosystem partners with the information, insights and access needed to drive impactful open innovation. Across its services – News & Analysis, Community & Events, and the GCV Institute – the association creates a network-rich environment for global innovation and capital to meet and thrive.
About DENSO
Globally headquartered in Kariya, Japan, DENSO is a $47.9 billion leading mobility supplier that develops advanced technology and components for nearly every vehicle make and model on the road today. With manufacturing at its core, DENSO invests in around 200 facilities worldwide to produce cutting-edge electrification, powertrain, thermal and mobility electronics products, among others, that change how the world moves. In developing such solutions, the company's 165,000 global employees pursue rewarding careers while paving the way to a mobility future that improves lives, eliminates traffic accidents and preserves the environment. DENSO spent around 9.0 percent of its global consolidated sales on research and development in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023. For more information about DENSO's operations worldwide, visit https://www.denso.com/global.
In North America, DENSO is headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, and employs 27,000+ engineers, researchers, and skilled workers across nearly 50 sites in the U.S, Canada and Mexico. In the United States alone, DENSO employs 17,500+ employees across 14 states (and the District of Columbia) at 41 sites. In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, DENSO in North America generated $11.3 billion in consolidated sales. DENSO is committed to advancing diversity and inclusion inside the company and beyond – a principle that brings together unique perspectives, bolsters innovation and pushes DENSO forward. To learn more about DENSO operations in the region and to review current career opportunities, please visit https://www.denso.com/us-ca/en/.
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ROSEMONT, Ill., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS), the leading medical organization dedicated to advancing quality in vascular health care, has issued a response to a recent New York Times article detailing allegations of overuse of interventions to treat patients with peripheral vascular disease. SVS sent a strong message that it is inaccurate and a disservice to patients to paint all providers treating vascular patients with the same broad brush. There are important differences all patients and health reporters should know:
An estimated 10-12 million Americans have peripheral artery disease. Left untreated, vascular disease can affect quality of life and potentially threaten patients' limbs and lives — as can delayed care due to lack of education, financial barriers, or mistrust of qualified physicians. The actions of a few outliers, while important to address, must not tarnish the reputation of the 98% of physicians that are providing excellent patient care.
As in all professions, there are health care providers practicing outside the norms established by evidence-based guidelines. SVS is dedicated to addressing this issue through high quality science, education, and policy. The individuals described in the Times' investigation are not board-certified vascular surgeons or SVS members. Creating the impression that all providers of vascular care are the same is a disservice to patients seeking credible and reliable information to make good health care decisions.
Vascular surgeons are defined and certified by rigorous national standards ( ABMS ABS definition and ACGME specialties ) as the primary specialty trained to provide comprehensive care across the full spectrum of vascular disease states. While vascular care may often be team-based, vascular surgeons are irreplaceable on such teams because of their depth of understanding of the entire spectrum of vascular disease and its wide range of treatment options, including the full range of medical management, non-operative options, minimally invasive endovascular therapy (angioplasty, stents) and major surgical reconstructions.
SVS also emphasizes that while individual providers are responsible and accountable for the care of their patients, efforts to better align health and medico-economic policies to drive, reinforce, and incentivize appropriate care are long overdue.
"We stand against the inappropriate use of interventions and appreciate the Times' efforts to raise patient awareness, promote quality and advocate for safety in the delivery of vascular care," says Dr. Joseph Mills, SVS President. "The Society for Vascular Surgery's mission and code of ethics is rooted in prioritizing patient wellbeing, ensuring the best outcomes for those under our care. No procedure should be recommended or performed if not primarily and solely for a patient's benefit and best interests – period."
SVS members place a strong emphasis on medical therapy and lifestyle changes for patients. This approach aligns with the SVS mission to educate individuals to seek care early and prioritize lifestyle and nonsurgical interventions. Building trusting relationships between patients and their doctors, along with regular visits, plays a crucial role in achieving best outcomes.
SVS members prioritize adherence to best practices and evidence-based guidelines to ensure the delivery of optimal patient care. In fact, SVS established its Patient Safety Organization to monitor outcomes of patient care with Vascular Quality Initiative registries, and – in collaboration with the American College of Surgeons – recently launched its Vascular Verification Program, setting standards of quality across vascular care, regardless of site of service.
SVS agrees industry-wide reform is needed and urges action, with Dr. Mills saying: "It's incumbent upon the entire health care system to address underlying health care policy drivers contributing to inappropriate use."
The Society for Vascular Surgery always emphasizes quality and safety in patient care and is fully committed to tackling these issues and promoting best practices through scientific research, guidelines and patient registries.
About the Society for Vascular Surgery:
The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) seeks to advance excellence and innovation in vascular health through education, advocacy, research and public awareness. The organization was founded in 1946 and has a membership of more than 6,300. SVS membership is recognized in the vascular community as a mark of professional achievement.
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The Indianapolis Colts' running back saga has taken yet another turn.
Backup running back Zack Moss sustained a broken arm at training camp Monday, NFL Network's Mike Garofolo reports. Colts insider Mike Chappell reports that Moss slammed his helmet to the ground after sustaining the injury during a morning practice and required help from the field from trainers. He's expected to be sidelined for six weeks, per the reports.
Moss' injury arrives as Colts starting running back Jonathan Taylor remains embroiled in a contract dispute. Taylor reportedly requested a trade during a meeting with team owner Jim Irsay last week. Irsay told NFL Network via text: "We're not trading Jonathan. ... end of discussion. Not now and not in October!"
An All-Pro and the NFL's rushing champion in 2021, Taylor is due $4.3 million on the final year of his four-year rookie contract this season. He's seeking an extension that would pay him considerably more annually. The Colts have declined to offer him an extension.
Meanwhile, Irsay's engaged in a social media dispute criticizing a campaign by top NFL running backs lamenting the position's lack of relative financial stability after Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard all failed to secure long-term contracts during the offseason.
NFL Running Back situation- We have negotiated a CBA,that took years of effort and hard work and compromise in good faith by both sides..to say now that a specific Player category wants another negotiation after the fact,is inappropriate. Some Agents are selling ‘bad faith’..
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) July 26, 2023
Taylor's agent responded to Irsay's tweet with one of his own declaring that Irsay is "not paying your top offensive player."
Bad faith is not paying your top offensive player https://t.co/ZYvrLhxygG
— malki kawa (@malkikawa) July 27, 2023
The conflict escalated over the weekend. Chappell reported that the Colts are considering placing Taylor on the non-football injury (NFI) list, a designation that would allow them to withhold his entire 2023 salary if he remained on the list through the season. Per the report, the designation would be related to a back injury Taylor sustained while working out in Arizona.
Taylor started training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, a designation that would not impact his pay. Taylor's recovering from offseason ankle surgery related to an injury sustained last season. If Taylor is deemed to have sustained an injury away from the team not related to football, the NFI designation could be in play. That would allow the Colts to withhold his salary for 2023 and toll the remaining $4.3 million of his contract to the 2024 season — the year that Taylor is seeking a pay increase.
Taylor denied Sunday night that he's experienced or reported any back pain.
1.) Never had a back pain.
— Jonathan Taylor (@JayT23) July 31, 2023
2.) Never reported back pain.
Not sure who “sources” are, but find new ones 🤔
As long as Taylor's sidelined, Moss projected as the Colts primary ball-carrier. The Colts obtained Moss in a midseason trade last year that sent then-backup running back Nyheim Hines to the Buffalo Bills. His injury projects to potentially sideline him through the start of the regular season. The Colts open their season on Sept. 10 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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Leading HBCU scholarship program to provide 132 incoming college freshmen $40,000 awards
WASHINGTON, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Representatives of The Future of STEM Scholars Initiative (FOSSI) today welcomed 132 new scholarship recipients from 26 states across the nation. The students will begin school at 26 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) this Fall and will major in more than a dozen science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. They join nearly 300 current FOSSI scholarship recipients.
Established in 2020 to help reduce financial barriers to higher education and enhance workforce diversity in the chemical sector, FOSSI provides $40,000 scholarships to students pursuing preferred STEM degrees. Scholarship recipients are individually matched with one of more than 70 corporate sponsors committed to helping them achieve their goals and receive skills training, mentorship, and internship opportunities. Notably, this robust support has led to an approximately 95% student retention rate since FOSSI welcomed its first class in 2021, with those scholars scheduled to graduate in 2025.
FOSSI has an ambitious goal of supporting 1,000 students through 2025 and has raised nearly $30 million to support 595 students to date.
Program leaders welcomed the new scholars during a virtual celebration featuring keynotes from Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC) and Dr. Dietra Trent, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through HBCUs.
FOSSI Advisory Board Chair Jim Fitterling, chair and chief executive officer of Dow, shared, "I am proud to welcome these 132 talented and ambitious scholars to the FOSSI family. From their academic performance to the contributions they have made to their schools and communities, these scholars have distinguished themselves as some of the best and brightest across the nation. We can't wait to see what they accomplish in their chosen fields."
Applications for the Fall of 2024 will open September 22, 2024. To learn more about FOSSI, visit www.FutureOfSTEMScholars.org.
About the Future of STEM Scholars Initiative
The Future of STEM Scholars Initiative was founded in 2020 by the American Chemistry Council, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), The Chemours Company, and the HBCU Week Foundation. FOSSI is a national chemical industry-wide program which provides scholarships to students pursuing degrees in relevant science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), helping to eliminate financial barriers for historically under-represented groups. Sponsored by chemical manufacturers and related industry stakeholders, FOSSI provides scholarship recipients $10,000 per year for four years and connects these students to leadership development, mentoring and internship opportunities at participating companies. Learn more at FutureofSTEMscholars.org.
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PITTSBURGH — (AP) — A jury is set to deliberate whether to impose the death penalty or a sentence of life in prison without parole on a truck driver who spewed antisemitic hate before fatally shooting 11 worshippers at a synagogue in the heart of Pittsburgh's Jewish community.
The same jurors who convicted 50-year-old Robert Bowers in June on 63 criminal counts listened to closing arguments Monday in the penalty phase of his federal trial, held nearly five years after the truck driver from suburban Baldwin perpetrated the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history.
Bowers defiled a place of worship when he entered the Tree of Life synagogue on Oct. 27, 2018, and opened fire with an AR-15 rifle, shooting everyone he could find in a mass murder clearly motivated by religious hatred, said U.S. Attorney Eric Olshan.
Bowers raved incessantly on social media about his hatred of Jewish people, using a slur for Jewish people some 400 times on a social media platform favored by the far right, the prosecutor reminded jurors.
“Do not be numb to it. Remember what it means. This defendant targeted people solely because of the faith that they chose,” Olshan said.
He added: "This is a case that calls for the most severe punishment under the law: the death penalty.”
The defense was expected to deliver its closing argument later Monday.
Bowers' attorneys have argued that he has schizophrenia, a serious brain disorder whose symptoms include delusions and hallucinations, and that Bowers attacked the synagogue out of a delusional belief that Jews were helping to bring about a genocide of white people by coming to the aid of refugees and immigrants.
In order to impose death, jurors must find that aggravating circumstances, which make the crime especially heinous, outweigh mitigating factors that could be seen as diminishing his culpability. Those aggravating circumstances could include the vulnerability of Bowers' elderly and disabled victims and his targeting of Jewish people.
Olshan, who began his presentation Monday by playing a composite of 911 calls made from inside the synagogue, said Bowers had taken “11 people, 11 full lives, 11 people who loved their families, 11 people who loved their friends, 11 people who were loved. ... How do you measure the impact of all of that loss?”
The prosecutor spoke about 75-year-old Joyce Fienberg's care for her family and 65-year-old Richard Gottfried's devotion to his faith. He said Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz, 66, had the ethos of a country doctor: “He loved delivering babies but he never delivered judgment.” David Rosenthal, 54, and Cecil Rosenthal, 59, intellectually disabled brothers, “loved life," Olshan said. "But maybe more than anything, they loved Tree of Life."
The other deceased victims were Rose Mallinger, 97; Bernice Simon, 84, and her husband, Sylvan Simon, 86; Dan Stein, 71; Melvin Wax, 87; and Irving Younger, 69.
The attack also wounded seven people, including five responding police officers. Bowers was shot three times before surrendering when he ran out of ammunition.
___
Rubinkam reported from northeastern Pennsylvania.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Growing Mobile Storage Brand Looks to Build Off Impressive Start to 2023 with Continued National Expansion
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Go Mini's - the portable storage franchise that offers containers for moving, storage, renovation, and restoration needs - has seen consistent growth throughout the first half of 2023 as the brand looks to continue the momentum for the remainder of the year. With six new Go Mini's territories awarded in 2023 already, the brand looks to further expand and bring portable storage solution to communities across the nation. In the second half of the year, Go Mini's expects to sign more franchise deals, further expanding the brands footprint, as well as further execute and implement the brands new long distance moving service, Go MINI's Miles. In addition, the brand is looking to further invest in their growing franchisee network by expanding and investing in robust advertising strategies to increase consumer traffic.
"What we have accomplished as a brand up to this point has been remarkable," said Go Mini's CEO and President, Chris Walls. "The conceptualization and gradual implementation of Go MINI's Miles was a turning point for our brand this year as we aim to further expand throughout the nation and service more customers with their moving and portable storage needs. I am tremendously proud of everyone within our network for their commitment and determination to making Go Mini's a growing national brand that continues to get stronger."
To further its development and success into 2024, the brand is looking at new ways in which they can utilize the existing trucks and containers to innovate with the industry. With the addition of new and robust marketing strategies, Go Mini's looks to cement themselves as a leader within the moving and portable storage industry.
Go Mini's offers a complete support system for their franchisees who have everything they need to hit the ground running, including a proprietary operating system. Each territory is protected with no need for a warehouse or retail space due to the product's superior construction and durability in all outdoor conditions. The business model requires minimal staffing with a simple concept, and the corporate office works closely with owners to analyze and fully understand their market's potential to maximize profits. Go Mini's is one of the few franchised portable storage concepts where franchisees benefit from a scalable opportunity to operate as a locally owned company with deep ties to the communities they serve.
"Today, with the ever-changing housing market and continued economic uncertainty, portable storage services remain in-demand," continued Walls. "As the industry grows, Go Mini's has the necessary infrastructure and systems to keep pace and provide customers with the best experience possible. Our continued success is dependent on our franchisee's success, so we have created a business model that is designed to thrive in any market. We are looking forward to the second half of the year and hope to end just as successfully as we began."
Go Mini's currently has 114 locations throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico with additional available territories. For more information on franchising with Go Mini's, visit: https://www.gominisfranchise.com/
About Go Mini's:
Founded in 2002, Go Mini's® has become one of the fastest-growing portable storage and moving companies in North America with locations in 41 states in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In 2012, the brand converted into a franchise model and now has 114 locations within the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Go Mini's is proud to have been recognized by Franchise Business Review as a Top Franchise in 2017, as well as being ranked 16th by Entrepreneur Magazine in their list of 2017's Top New Franchises. Go Mini's Franchising LLC. was recently named a Top Franchise for 2023 by Franchise Business Review. Got a Project? Get a Mini. For more information, please go to https://www.gominis.com/.
Contact: Hunter Devereux, Franchise Elevator PR, (914) 486-0330, hdevereux@franchiseelevator.com
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17-year-old American cyclist Magnus White died Saturday after he was struck by a vehicle on a training ride near his home in Boulder, Colorado, USA Cycling said in a statement Sunday.
He was scheduled to compete at the upcoming Junior Men’s Mountain Bike Cross-Country World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland on August 10, 2023.
"He was a rising star in the off-road cycling scene and his passion for cycling was evident through his racing and camaraderie with his teammates and local community," USA Cycling said.
It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share the news that 17-year-old Magnus White has passed away in a training accident.
— USA Cycling (@usacycling) July 30, 2023
Please read USA Cycling's statement in Memory of Magnus White: https://t.co/vZryL710K8 pic.twitter.com/q8CCkJnYdL
He was wearing a helmet as he rode south on the shoulder of Colorado State Highway 119 when a 23-year-old Colorado woman in a Toyota Matrix drove onto the shoulder from the right lane and hit him from behind, Colorado Highway Patrol told The New York Post. The impact reportedly threw White off the bike as the Toyota continued to move off the right side of the road and down an embankment before it was stopped by a fence, according to the report.
White died at the hospital. The driver was reportedly not injured.
The crash is still being investigated and authorities do not believe alcohol, drugs or speeding were involved, according to The Post.
Racing at the national level since he was a 10-year-old, White was already a decorated cyclist. He won the Junior 17-18 Cyclocross national championship in 2021 and went on to compete for the USA Cycling National Team for the European Cyclocross racing season. He was selected to represent the US again at the 2023 cyclocross World Championships in the Netherlands in February.
Mountain biking was a new avenue for White, around which he was set to center his entire summer.
White is survived by his brother, Eero, and his parents, Jill and Michael. A GoFundMe in his memory surpassed $80,000 on Monday.
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All sales help support Certified B Corp Best for the World™ company's effort to plant 4,000 avocado trees in El Salvador.
LOS ANGELES, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of National Avocado Day, Avocado Green — makers of certified organic and eco-luxury products — launched an epic sale, with up to $400 off mattresses, as well as savings on reclaimed wood bed frames, adjustable bed frames, organic certified linen sheets and pillows, certified organic towels, luxurious loungewear, and clean skin + body products.
As part of Avocado's Giving initiative, through which they donate 1% of all revenue to nonprofits through 1% For the Planet, all sales during the Avocado Day sale will support the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation's effort to plant 4,000 fruit trees in the central region of El Salvador.
For today only, customers can save up to $400 on Avocado's top-rated GOTS-certified organic Green and Vegan Mattress. Shoppers will also save 20% on all bedding, including Avocado's exceptionally soft, naturally breathable, GOTS-certified organic sheets, duvet covers, pillowcases, and protectors. Avocado's Supercharged Reishi Body Melt and Alpaca Sweater Collection are 30% off and their Fleece Lounge Collection and GOTS-certified (CU863637) Organic Cotton Collection — sustainable, cozy layering pieces — are 50% off.
Over the five years Avocado has supported the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation for National Avocado Day, they've planted more than 14,000 fruit trees together, primarily in Latin America, where demand for sustainable livelihoods for farmers and low-income households is greater than ever.
"Working with Avocado has been a joy, allowing our shared visions of a greener and fairer future to come to fruition," said Lizzy Rainey, Development Manager for FTPF. "Food-producing trees, including avocados, are a simple yet very effective way to address environmental, economic, and nutritional injustices all at once."
As a Climate Neutral Certified brand — and one of B Corp's "Best for the World™" brands — Avocado reduces its footprint, invests in climate change solutions to compensate for its cradle-to-consumer emissions, and advocates for legislation that will help mitigate the climate crisis.
From the beginning, Avocado just wanted a new kind of mattress. One that was greener — better for people and the planet — affordable, and comfortable. It was a simple idea rooted in a much bigger vision. Five years later, Avocado continues to expand — from bedding, to furniture, to their skin + bath collection, and their line of responsible loungewear. As the company grows, Avocado continues to redefine what it means to be a sustainable, ethical brand. The company is a Certified B Corporation, a Climate Neutral® Certified business, and a member of 1% For the Planet, remaining true to its original purpose: to be one of the most sustainable companies on Earth. Learn more at AvocadoGreen.com.
If you would like more information, please contact Jessica Hann at jessica@avocadomattress.com.
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| 2023-07-31T19:03:51
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Carlos De Oliveira, the property manager at Mar-a-Lago, made his first court appearance on Monday after being charged by the Justice Department in an alleged plot with Donald Trump and Walt Nauta, the former president's personal aide, to illegally keep classified documents at the Palm Beach, Fla., estate.
De Oliveira wascharged with four counts, including conspiracy to obstruct justice and lying to investigators.
Appearing in federal court in Miami, De Oliveira was informed of the charges against him but did not enter a plea because did not have a lawyer listed who is able to practice in Florida, where the case will be tried. He was released on a $100,000 bond pending trial and the arraignment was rescheduled for Aug. 10.
Chief Magistrate Judge Edwin Torres ordered De Oliveira to turn over his passport and said he cannot travel outside south Florida without permission.
[CNN: Mar-a-Lago property manager makes first court appearance in classified documents case]
De Oliveira was charged in a superceding indictment against Trump and Nauta, which was unsealed Thursday. It alleged that Trump tried to have security video deleted after the Justice Department sent a subpoena for the footage in June 2022. According to prosecutors, De Oliveira asked an information technology staffer how long the server retained footage and told the employee that “the boss” wanted it deleted.
More Trump indictments looming
The new charges come as Trump braces for indictments in two other cases stemming from his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
Last week, Trump said that he received a letter from special counsel Jack Smith informing him that he was a target of the Justice Department’s ongoing investigation into his efforts to hold onto power following his loss in the 2020 election, including his actions leading to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Trump is reportedly facingthree potential criminal charges: conspiracy to commit an offense against or defraud the United States; deprivation of rights; and witness tampering.
On Thursday, the former president’s lawyers met with prosecutors in Washington, D.C., while a grand jury was hearing evidence in the case. They were told that Trump should expect to be charged in the case but were not given any indication of when an indictment would be brought.
Barricades go up in Georgia
In Georgia, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has signaled that indictments are possible in the next few weeks as a grand jury convenes to consider possible charges against the former president and others who tried to persuade Georgia election officials to reverse Trump's narrow loss to President Biden in the state.
Biden carried Georgia by just 11,779 votes.
[AP: Trump could be indicted soon in Georgia. Here's a look at that investigation.]
Barricades were placed outside the Fulton County Courthouse in downtown Atlanta on Thursday ahead of possible charges against Trump and his associates.
Georgia judge skewers Trump
On Monday, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney said it's too soon for Trump or his allies to seek to prohibit state prosecutors from continuing to investigate him.
"[W]hile being the subject (or even target) of a highly publicized criminal investigation is likely an unwelcome and unpleasant experience, no court ever has held that that status alone provides a basis for the courts to interfere with or halt the investigation," McBurney wrote in anine-page ruling. "And for some, being the subject of a criminal investigation can, a la Rumpelstiltskin, be turned into golden political capital, making it seem more providential than problematic."
Trump is the prohibitive frontrunner in the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. And Trump's leadership PAC has already spent more than $40 million on his legal fees.
Trump’s ‘Big Lie’ suit against CNN dismissed
Meanwhile, a federal judge in Florida has dismissed Trump's defamation lawsuit against CNN. The suit had alleged that "the Big Lie" — the label given by the cable network to Trump's false claims of election fraud — was tantamount to comparing him to Adolf Hitler.
But U.S. District Judge Raag Singhal, who was appointed by Trump, disagreed.
“CNN’s use of the phrase ‘the Big Lie' in connection with Trump’s election challenges does not give rise to a plausible inference that Trump advocates the persecution and genocide of Jews or any other group of people,” Singhai wrote in his decision.
Moreover, the judge ruled that the references made by the network’s hosts were opinions and not factual statements, and therefore protected by the First Amendment.
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#1 Lottery App's* New Feature Allows Users to Enter Exclusive Giveaways
NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Jackpocket, America's #1 lottery app*, is turning 10! To celebrate, Jackpocket is giving fans the chance to win an all-inclusive trip to attend the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada on Friday, September 22 and Saturday, September 23, 2023.
Jackpocket and iHeartRadio are teaming up to send one lucky winner and a guest to watch iconic performances at the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Festival at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The full lineup can be viewed here. The prize package includes:
- 2 VIP tickets to both nights of the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Festival
- 2 round-trip flights to Las Vegas, Nevada
- 2 nights' stay at New York-New York Hotel & Casino
- Ground transportation to and from Las Vegas airport
- $500 gift card for food, beverage, and other expenses
To enter, visit the Giveaways section of the app by tapping the Gold Ticket on the Jackpocket home screen and activate the iHeartRadio Vegas Getaway. This new app feature allows users to earn an entry for every $1 spent on Jackpocket lottery ticket orders—up to 100 entries per day. The number on the Gold Ticket counter is personalized to the user, showing them their total number of entries for all their activated Giveaways. No purchase is necessary to enter.
"It's amazing to see how much Jackpocket has grown and innovated over the past 10 years to bring lottery fans a convenient and accessible way to participate in their favorite games," said Peter Sullivan, Jackpocket founder and CEO. "Our new Giveaways feature lets Jackpocket users enter to win prizes and experiences like never before. Even if your Powerball ticket doesn't win a lottery prize, it could still win you a trip to Vegas, VIP sports tickets, and more. It's all part of our goal to give lottery fans the very best user experience possible."
The winner of the iHeartRadio Vegas Getaway will be randomly selected on or about August 31, 2023 and announced in September. For more information, including free entry methods and complete Official Rules, visit: https://jackpocket.com/sweepstakes/iheartradio-vegas-getaway/.
Founded in 2013, Jackpocket is the first-licensed lottery courier app in the United States. Now available in 17 states, Jackpocket provides an easy, secure way to order official state lottery tickets. Over $300 million in total lottery prizes have been won by Jackpocket users to date. In July, an Ohio Powerball winner became the 30th person to win a lottery prize worth $1 million or more using the Jackpocket app.
*According to data from AppFollow.
**ABBREVIATED RULES. No purchase necessary. A purchase does not increase your odds of winning. Must be 18+ (21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE) and physically present in AR, AZ, CO, ID, MA, MN, MT, NE, NH, NM, NJ, NY, OH, OR, TX, WV or D.C. to enter. Void where prohibited. Entries require a valid Jackpocket account and accounts are subject to the full terms of service at jackpocket.com/tos. Registering for a Jackpocket account is free. See Official Rules for details. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, residents of NY call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369); residents of MA call 1-800-327-5050; residents of OR call 1-877-MYLIMIT; all others, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
About Jackpocket
Jackpocket is on a mission to create a more convenient, fun, and responsible way to take part in the lottery. The first licensed third-party lottery courier app in the United States, Jackpocket provides an easy, secure way to order official state lottery tickets. Jackpocket is currently available in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington D.C., and West Virginia, and is expanding to many new markets. Download the app on iOS and Android or participate via desktop. Follow along on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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More than a decade after an injury rendered him mostly immobile, a paralyzed man is using his mind to walk again, thanks to an innovative technology that connects his brain and his spinal cord.
Gert-Jan Oskam, a native of the Netherlands, was involved in a motorcycle crash 12 years ago when he was living in China, damaging his spinal cord in his neck. He was paralyzed from the hips down and partially paralyzed in his arms, according to an Al Jazeera report.
While Oskam is excited to walk again, he is just as thrilled to be able to stand and share a beer at a bar with friends: "This simple pleasure represents a significant change in my life," he said.
Oskam was treated at a hospital in Switzerland, but researchers in the U.S. are working on similar technology to help people with paralysis.
“Several research institutions, universities and private companies in the U.S. are conducting cutting-edge studies and clinical trials in this field of brain-spinal interface to develop solutions that can improve the quality of life for individuals with paralysis and other neurological conditions,” Shashank Agarwal, senior decision scientist at CVS Health, told Yahoo News.
These institutions include Johns Hopkins University; DARPA, a research agency under the Department of Defense; and BrainGate, a company that develops neurotechnologies, Agarwal said.
The researchers who helped Oskam published a study in May in the medical journal Nature, in which they described the implants that provided a "digital bridge" between Oskam's brain and his spinal cord, bypassing the injured sections.
"We've captured the thoughts of Gert-Jan, and translated these thoughts into a stimulation of the spinal cord to re-establish voluntary movement," Grégoire Courtine, a spinal cord specialist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) in Lausanne who was one of the lead researchers, said at a press briefing reported by the New York Times.
Jocelyne Bloch, a neuroscientist who placed the implant in Oskam, added at the press briefing, “It was quite science fiction in the beginning for me, but it became true today.”
What researchers in the U.S. are doing
“By establishing this digital bridge between the brain and the spinal cord, the brain-spinal interface allows individuals with paralysis to bypass the damaged or nonfunctioning neural pathways and regain control over their limbs,” Agarwal told Yahoo News.
One of the American companies Agarwal mentioned, BrainGate, is developing and testing medical devices aimed at restoring communication, mobility and independence to people affected by neurologic disease, paralysis or limb loss.
The company says on its website that early clinical research has shown that the technology provides intuitive control over advanced prosthetic limbs and provides people with paralysis with "easy control over powerful assistive movement and communication devices."
It further says BrainGate ultimately aims to “enable naturally-controlled movements of paralyzed limbs.”
A deeper dive into the technology
According to Agarwal, the brain-spinal interface (BSI) is the technology being deployed to help Oskam walk again through the “digital bridge.”
The BSI contains a brain-computer interface that establishes direct communication between the brain and an external device, in this case the spinal cord.
“In some cases, brain-spinal interfaces involve the implantation of microelectrode arrays or neural implants directly into the brain,” Agarwal said. “These implants are designed to detect and record neural activity from specific areas of the brain responsible for movement intention. They can pick up electrical signals from the brain’s motor cortex, where motor commands are generated.”
The neural signals are recorded, then decoded and translated into commands that can be understood by the spinal cord or motor neurons.
“Once the decoded neural signals are obtained, they are used to stimulate the spinal cord below the level of the injury,” Agarwal said. “Electrical impulses are delivered to specific regions of the spinal cord, activating motor neurons and neural circuits responsible for coordinating movement.”
According to the Times, the EPFL research enabled Oskam to stand, walk and ascend a steep ramp with only the assistance of a walker. Video captured the stunning feat. A year later, he has maintained these abilities and has shown breakthrough signs of neurological recovery, maneuvering with crutches even when the implant was turned off.
“I treat many patients with spinal cord injuries. The motor problems are only the [tip] of the iceberg,” Dr. Georgios Matis, a neurosurgeon at the University Hospital Cologne in Germany who specializes in functional neurosurgery, told Yahoo News via direct message.
“Such patients also have chronic pain, sensory problems and problems of the autonomic nervous system (blood pressure problems, bladder & bowel problems),” Matis said. “I would expect in the future that this digital bridge can help physicians treat many more problems of patients with [spinal cord injuries].”
Has this worked with anyone else?
“[Oskam] is a pioneer in the field. As far as I know, his team was the first and only with published results in such an esteemed journal,” Matis said.
Research regarding the connecting of the brain to the spinal cord can be attributed back to 2016, when a group of scientists led by Courtine restored a paralyzed monkey's ability to walk. Another test helped a man with a paralyzed hand regain control over it.
Then, in 2018, Courtine led a different group of scientists to help find a way to stimulate the brain through electrical-pulse generators, enabling partially paralyzed people to ride bicycles and walk.
Now, with the latest advancements, people are regaining the ability to walk, swim and cycle within a single day of treatment because of the brain stimulation and the device connecting the brain to the body.
What does the future hold for this technology?
Researchers in the U.S. and abroad are looking to strengthen the technology and enhance it to the point where patients are able to fully walk and maneuver through their thoughts.
On this point, Matis added: “This is the goal and I strongly believe we will achieve this goal in the next 10 to 20 years. It is about optimizing the algorithms we are using to: one, more accurately detect and translate the brain signals, and two, apply the right combination of root stimulation patterns so that the movement becomes more ‘natural.’ The role of intensive rehabilitation (which should last years) must be highlighted!”
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CANTON, Ohio, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Liberty HealthShare® is blessed to be an exhibitor at the Assemblies of God 60th General Council to be held July 31 through August 4 in Columbus, Ohio.
Ministers, church delegates and college presidents from across the country are expected to attend the Pentecostal Christian church's biennial gathering to worship, vote in legislative sessions and attend workshops.
"We are excited to have the opportunity to take part in the Assemblies of God General Council and be in fellowship with people of faith, sharing information about the biblical values of our ministry and how Liberty HealthShare might help them choose more-affordable healthcare options," said Pastor Wes Humble, Liberty HealthShare's executive director of Ministry, Community Relations and Events.
Liberty HealthShare is a non-profit 501(c) (3) charitable Christian medical cost-sharing ministry focused on members helping each other in times of need. The faith-based program, which facilitates healthsharing for its members, is a caring community of health-conscious individuals and families who choose to support one another and agree to the Christian values of stewardship to make healthcare affordable for all.
As it is not insurance, Liberty HealthShare enrollment is available year-round with no requirement for special life events to qualify. For more information about its healthcare sharing programs visit libertyhealthshare.org or call (855) 585-4237.
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| 2023-07-31T19:04:03
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MIAMI — (AP) — The property manager of Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate made his first court appearance on Monday on charges in the classified documents case against the former president but did not enter a plea because he has not found a Florida-based attorney to represent him.
Carlos De Oliveira is accused of scheming with Trump to try to delete security footage sought by investigators probing the former president's hoarding of classified documents at his Palm Beach club. De Oliveira was added last week to the indictment with Trump and the ex-president's valet, Walt Nauta, and faces charges including conspiracy to obstruct justice and lying to investigators.
De Oliveira, wearing a blue suit and tie, answered questions from a magistrate judge during a brief hearing in Miami federal court. He was ordered to turn over his passport and sign an agreement to pay $100,000 if he doesn’t return to court. He was represented by Washington, D.C.-based attorney John Irving, but under court rules he needs local counsel to proceed with his arraignment, which was scheduled for Aug. 10 in Fort Pierce.
Irving told reporters after the hearing that he looks forward to seeing what potential evidence the Justice Department has. He declined to comment about whether De Oliveira has been asked to testify against Trump.
De Oliveira's court appearance comes as Trump braces for possible charges stemming from investigations into his efforts to cling to power after he lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden.
Trump, the early front-runner in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, has been informed he's a target of special counsel Jack Smith's investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election, and Trump's lawyers met with Smith's team last week. A Georgia prosecutor is also expected to seek a grand jury indictment in the coming weeks in her investigation into efforts by Trump and his allies to subvert his election loss there.
Trump, who pleaded not guilty in June, has denied any wrongdoing. He posted on his Truth Social platform last week that the Mar-a-Lago security tapes were voluntarily handed over to investigators and that he was told the tapes were not "deleted in any way, shape or form."
Prosecutors have not alleged that security footage was actually deleted or kept from investigators.
Nauta has also pleaded not guilty. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon had previously scheduled the trial of Trump and Nauta to begin in May, and it's unclear whether the addition of De Oliveira to the case may impact the case's timeline.
The latest indictment, unsealed on Thursday, alleges that Trump tried to have security footage deleted after investigators visited in June 2022 to collect classified documents the former president took with him after he left the White House.
Trump was already facing dozens of felony counts — including willful retention of national defense information — stemming from allegations that he mishandled government secrets that as commander-in-chief he was entrusted to protect. Experts have said the new allegations bolster the special counsel's case and deepen the former president's legal jeopardy.
Video from Mar-a-Lago would ultimately become vital to the government's case because, prosecutors said, it shows Nauta moving boxes in and out of a storage room — an act alleged to have been done at Trump's direction and in effort to hide records not only only from investigators but also from Trump's own lawyers.
Days after the Justice Department sent a subpoena for video footage at Mar-a-Lago to the Trump Organization in June 2022, prosecutors say, De Oliveira asked an information technology staffer how long the server retained footage and told the employee “the boss” wanted it deleted. When the employee said he didn’t believe he was able to do that, De Oliveira insisted the “boss” wanted it done, asking, “What are we going to do?”
Shortly after the FBI searched Mar-a-Lago and found classified records in the storage room and Trump’s office, prosecutors say, Nauta called a Trump employee and said words to the effect of “someone just wants to make sure Carlos is good.” The indictment says the employee responded that De Oliveira was loyal and wouldn’t do anything to affect his relationship with Trump. That day, the indictment alleges, Trump called De Oliveira directly to say that he would get De Oliveira an attorney.
Prosecutors allege that De Oliveira later lied in interviews with investigators, falsely claiming that he hadn’t even seen boxes moved into Mar-a-Lago after Trump left the White House.
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Richer reported from Boston. Associated Press journalist Daniel Kozin in Miami contributed.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Award Recognizes Exemplary Commitment to Transportation Safety
BRUSLY, La., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM), a national organization whose members include the most senior fire officials in the United States, is delighted to honor ExxonMobil with the esteemed Norman Y. Mineta Excellence in Transportation Safety Award.
The ExxonMobil organization is recognized for having one of the safest years in Exxon Mobil Pipeline Company's (EMPCo) history and their industry-leading safety preparations for the upcoming buildout of a network of CO2 and H2 pipelines. By empowering personnel to identify and strengthen critical safeguards to mitigate risk in potential consequence areas, ExxonMobil takes on the challenge of emerging fuels pipelines and storage facilities while maintaining exceptional safety standards.
The Norman Y. Mineta Excellence in Transportation Safety Award is an honor awarded to individuals or organizations who have shown a significant and lasting contribution to product, material and human safety. Named after its first recipient, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta, the award recognizes achievements in transportation safety standards that exceed the minimum requirements.
"The way ExxonMobil engages with fire fighters is a great example of how companies and first responders should work together to yield the highest level of public safety and awareness," said Chief Butch Browning, NASFM Executive Director.
"It is an honor to receive this award on behalf of ExxonMobil. We are proud that our focus on safety and operational excellence is recognized by one of our most important stakeholders, first responders," said Steve Yatauro, ExxonMobil Pipeline Company President.
Since 2005, 11 organizations or individuals have received the Norman Y. Mineta Excellence in Transportation Safety Award. ExxonMobil's recognition marks the first award since Former NASFM Presidents and State Fire Marshal Bill Degnan in 2016.
The award was presented to EMPCo VP of Operations Saul Flota at the NASFM Annual Conference on July 31, 2023, in Wilmington, North Carolina.
For more information, visit the NASFM website at firemarshals.org.
About the National Association of State Fire Marshalls:
The principal membership of NASFM comprises the senior fire officials in the United States and their top deputies. The primary mission of NASFM is to protect human life, property and the environment from fire and related hazards. A secondary mission of NASFM is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of State Fire Marshals' operations.
CONTACT:
Philip Oakes
Chief of Operations and Training
phil@browning.red
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ROSEMONT, Ill., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS), the leading medical organization dedicated to advancing quality in vascular health care, has issued a response to a recent New York Times article detailing allegations of overuse of interventions to treat patients with peripheral vascular disease. SVS sent a strong message that it is inaccurate and a disservice to patients to paint all providers treating vascular patients with the same broad brush. There are important differences all patients and health reporters should know:
An estimated 10-12 million Americans have peripheral artery disease. Left untreated, vascular disease can affect quality of life and potentially threaten patients' limbs and lives — as can delayed care due to lack of education, financial barriers, or mistrust of qualified physicians. The actions of a few outliers, while important to address, must not tarnish the reputation of the 98% of physicians that are providing excellent patient care.
As in all professions, there are health care providers practicing outside the norms established by evidence-based guidelines. SVS is dedicated to addressing this issue through high quality science, education, and policy. The individuals described in the Times' investigation are not board-certified vascular surgeons or SVS members. Creating the impression that all providers of vascular care are the same is a disservice to patients seeking credible and reliable information to make good health care decisions.
Vascular surgeons are defined and certified by rigorous national standards ( ABMS ABS definition and ACGME specialties ) as the primary specialty trained to provide comprehensive care across the full spectrum of vascular disease states. While vascular care may often be team-based, vascular surgeons are irreplaceable on such teams because of their depth of understanding of the entire spectrum of vascular disease and its wide range of treatment options, including the full range of medical management, non-operative options, minimally invasive endovascular therapy (angioplasty, stents) and major surgical reconstructions.
SVS also emphasizes that while individual providers are responsible and accountable for the care of their patients, efforts to better align health and medico-economic policies to drive, reinforce, and incentivize appropriate care are long overdue.
"We stand against the inappropriate use of interventions and appreciate the Times' efforts to raise patient awareness, promote quality and advocate for safety in the delivery of vascular care," says Dr. Joseph Mills, SVS President. "The Society for Vascular Surgery's mission and code of ethics is rooted in prioritizing patient wellbeing, ensuring the best outcomes for those under our care. No procedure should be recommended or performed if not primarily and solely for a patient's benefit and best interests – period."
SVS members place a strong emphasis on medical therapy and lifestyle changes for patients. This approach aligns with the SVS mission to educate individuals to seek care early and prioritize lifestyle and nonsurgical interventions. Building trusting relationships between patients and their doctors, along with regular visits, plays a crucial role in achieving best outcomes.
SVS members prioritize adherence to best practices and evidence-based guidelines to ensure the delivery of optimal patient care. In fact, SVS established its Patient Safety Organization to monitor outcomes of patient care with Vascular Quality Initiative registries, and – in collaboration with the American College of Surgeons – recently launched its Vascular Verification Program, setting standards of quality across vascular care, regardless of site of service.
SVS agrees industry-wide reform is needed and urges action, with Dr. Mills saying: "It's incumbent upon the entire health care system to address underlying health care policy drivers contributing to inappropriate use."
The Society for Vascular Surgery always emphasizes quality and safety in patient care and is fully committed to tackling these issues and promoting best practices through scientific research, guidelines and patient registries.
About the Society for Vascular Surgery:
The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) seeks to advance excellence and innovation in vascular health through education, advocacy, research and public awareness. The organization was founded in 1946 and has a membership of more than 6,300. SVS membership is recognized in the vascular community as a mark of professional achievement.
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SOURCE Society for Vascular Surgery
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WASHINGTON — (AP) — Former President Donald Trump 's mounting legal woes are burning through cash, leading his campaign to request a refund from a supportive super PAC and launch a new legal defense fund to help cover costs.
His political action committee, Save America, is expected to disclose Monday that it spent more than $40 million on legal fees during the first half of the year for costs related to defending the former president, his aides and other allies, according to a person familiar with the filing who spoke on the condition of anonymity before the deadline. The number was first reported by The Washington Post.
At the same time, Trump's allies are creating a new legal defense fund that will help pay the soaring legal fees as Trump faces dozens of criminal charges stemming from indictments in New York and Florida, with more expected as soon as this week. The Patriot Legal Defense Fund, as it is called, is intended to raise money to defray costs for those “defending against legal actions arising from an individual or group’s participation in the political process,” according to a filing made last month with the IRS. The group will be run by Trump campaign senior advisers Susie Wiles and Michael Glassner.
“The weaponized Department of Justice and the deranged Jack Smith have targeted innocent Americans associated with President Trump," said Trump spokesman Steven Cheung. “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, a new legal defense fund will help pay for their legal fees." The fund was first reported by The New York Times.
Smith is the special counsel leading the federal investigations of Trump. His team has expressed interest in the payment of legal fees for Trump-aligned witnesses in the investigations and has sought information about it, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss ongoing criminal probes.
Trump's PAC has also requested that his super PAC, MAGA Inc., return some of the money that it transferred to seed the group to help cover costs. It is unclear whether money was actually transferred or how much.
A spokesman for the super PAC did not respond to a request for comment.
Trump launched his PAC, Save America, in the days after the 2020 election, which he lost to President Joe Biden. For weeks, the group bombarded supporters with a nonstop stream of text messages and emails that purported to raise money for an “election defense fund” that would be used to contest the election's outcome.
But the $170 million that the effort raised in less than a month was not used to contest the election, records show. Instead, it was used to pay down campaign debt and replenish the coffers of the Republican National Committee, with Trump also stockpiling another large chunk for his future political endeavors. Last year, the Justice Department issued a round of grand jury subpoenas that sought information about the political action committee’s fundraising practices.
Since then, Save America has served as a different sort of “defense fund,” covering the legal expenses for Trump operatives, allies and employees who have been ensnared in the Justice Department’s ongoing investigation.
Some of Save America's money has been used to boost other candidates, though it's a pittance compared to how much Trump has spent on ballooning legal costs.
As the 2022 midterm elections approached, Trump pledged to back congressional candidates loyal to him. But of the roughly $65 million earmarked by Save America for political spending, only a fraction — about $20 million — was used to back midterm candidates through campaign contributions or paid advertising.
Save America requested to claw back much of the money. And much of the remaining cash Save America had was dedicated to a different sort of “defense fund” — paying dozens of law firms to represent the former president and his aides.
“Forty-million dollars — I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Paul S. Ryan, a longtime campaign finance attorney in Washington, referring to the sum the group spent on legal fees this year. “There’s no legal issue. It’s really just a question for his donors: Do they want to be funding lawyers?”
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Colvin reported from New York.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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KHAR, Pakistan — (AP) — The Islamic State group on Monday claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing in Pakistan that killed at least 54 people including five children at a pro-Taliban cleric's rally in one of the worst attacks in the country in recent years.
IS, known as the Islamic State in Khorasan Province, made the claim in a statement posted on its Amaq website. The statement said the attack was part of the group's continuing war against forms of democracy it deems to be against Islam.
Hours earlier, hundreds of mourners in the northwestern town of Bajur carried caskets draped in colorful cloths to burial sites following the previous day’s attack at an election rally for a pro-Taliban cleric.
Officials said Sunday’s bombing killed 54 people, including at least five children, and wounded nearly 200.
The attack appeared to reflect divisions between Islamist groups, which have a strong presence in the district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan. It targeted the Jamiat Ulema Islam party, which has ties to the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban.
At least 1,000 people were crowded into a tent near a market for the rally ahead of fall elections, according to police.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.
Hundreds of mourners in northwestern Pakistan carried caskets draped in colorful cloths to burial sites in the hills Monday after a suicide bombing killed at least 54 people at an election rally for a pro-Taliban cleric.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for Sunday’s bombing in Bajur that killed at least five children and wounded nearly 200 people.
The attack appeared to reflect divisions between Islamist groups, which have a strong presence in the district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan. It targeted the Jamiat Ulema Islam party, which has ties to the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban.
At least 1,000 people, according to police, were crowded into a tent near a market for the rally ahead of fall elections.
“People were chanting God is Great as the leaders arrived,” said Khan Mohammad, a local resident who said he was standing outside the tent, “and that was when I heard the deafening sound of the bomb.”
Mohammad said he heard people crying for help, and minutes later ambulances arrived and began taking the wounded away.
Police said their initial investigation suggested that the Islamic State group’s regional affiliate, a rival of the Taliban, could be responsible, while a Pakistan security analyst pointed to breakaway factions of the Pakistani Taliban as possible suspects.
The Pakistani military spent years fighting the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, in Bajur before declaring the district clear of militants in 2016. But the Jamiat Ulema Islam party, headed by hard-line cleric and politician Fazlur Rehman, has remained a potent political force.
On Monday, police recorded statements from some of the wounded at a hospital in Khar, the district’s principal town.
The Islamic State in Khorasan Province, which police identified as a suspect in the attack, is based in neighboring Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province and is a rival of the Afghan Taliban and al-Qaida.
Pakistani security analyst Mahmood Shah 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.”
On Monday, female relatives and children wailed and beat their chests at family homes as the dead were taken for funerals, following local customs. Hundreds of men followed the caskets to mosques and open areas for special funeral prayers and then into the hills for burial.
As condolences continued to pour in from across the country, dozens of people who had lesser 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 some critically wounded people died in hospital, physician Gul Naseeb said.
Gul Akbar, the father of an 11-year-old boy who was wounded in the attack, told The Associated Press that his entire family was in a state of shock after hearing about the bombing Sunday. He said he first went to the scene of the attack, and later found his son Taslim Khan being treated in a hospital in Khar.
“What would I have done if he had also been martyred? Five children died in this barbaric attack, and we want to know what our children did wrong,” he said.
Rehman’s party is preparing to contest elections, which are expected in October or November. Abdul Rasheed, one of the party’s senior leaders, said the bombing was aimed at weakening the party but that “such attacks cannot deter our resolve.”
Rehman’s party is part of Prime Minister Shehbaz 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. Khan condemned the bombing Sunday, as did the U.S. and Russian embassies in Islamabad.
The Pakistani Taliban also distanced themselves from the bombing, saying that it was intended 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 Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng arrived in Islamabad, where he signed new agreements to boost trade and economic ties to mark a decade of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a sprawling package under which China has invested $10 billion in Pakistan over 10 years, according to Sharif.
“We will not tolerate any obstacles in the way of friendship with China,” Sharif said, as he stood next to He.
But the government canceled a cultural event that had been arranged in honor of He, according to Sharif, while the nation mourns.
Some Chinese nationals have also been targeted by militants in northwestern Pakistan and elsewhere.
Rehman, who has long supported Afghanistan’s Taliban government, survived at least two known bomb attacks in 2011 and 2014, when bombings damaged his car at rallies.
Sunday's bombing was one of the worst in northwestern Pakistan in the last decade. In 2014, 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.
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Associated Press writer Munir Ahmed contributed to this story from Islamabad.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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A New Hampshire nurse, who has reportedly been kidnapped in Haiti, has described Haitians as “resilient people” in a video about her work for a nonprofit Christian ministry in the country.
"They're full of joy, and life and love. I'm so blessed to know so many amazing Haitians," Alix Dorsainil says in a video on the website of the ministry she works for, El Roi Haiti.
Dorsainvil and her daughter were kidnapped Thursday, the organization said in a statement over the weekend. El Roi Haiti, which runs a school and ministry in Port au Prince, said the two were taken from campus. Dorsainvil is the wife of the program’s director, Sandro Dorsainvil.
That happened the same day that the U.S. State Department issued a “do not travel advisory” in the country and ordered nonemergency personnel to leave there amid growing security concerns.
“Alix is a deeply compassionate and loving person who considers Haiti her home and the Haitian people her friends and family,” El Roi president and co-founder Jason Brown said in the statement. “Alix has worked tirelessly as our school and community nurse to bring relief to those who are suffering as she loves and serves the people of Haiti in the name of Jesus.”
A State Department spokesperson said in a statement Saturday is it “aware of reports of the kidnapping of two U.S. citizens in Haiti,” adding, “We are in regular contact with Haitian authorities and will continue to work with them and our U.S. government interagency partners.”
The department has not issued any updates since then. Alix Dorainvil's father, Steven Comeau, reached in New Hampshire, said he could not talk.
Dorsainvil graduated from Regis College in Weston, Massachusetts, which has a program to support nursing education in Haiti. Before that, she went to Cornerstone Christian Academy in Ossipee, New Hampshire.
"Pray that God would keep her safe, be with her through this trial, and deliver her from her captors," the school posted on its Facebook page.
In its advisory Thursday, the State Department said that "kidnapping is widespread, and victims regularly include U.S. citizens."
It said kidnappings often involve ransom negotiations and U.S. citizen victims have been physically harmed.
Earlier this month, the National Human Rights Defense Network issued a report warning about an upsurge in killings and kidnappings and the U.N. Security Council met to discuss Haiti's worsening situation.
In December 2021, an unidentified person paid a ransom that freed three missionaries kidnapped by a gang in Haiti under an agreement that was supposed to have led to the release of all 15 remaining captives, t heir Ohio-based organization confirmed.
The person who made the payment was not affiliated with Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries, and the workers say they don’t know who the individual is or how much was paid to the gang, which initially demanded $1 million per person. Internal conflicts in the gang, they say, led it to renege on a pledge to release all the hostages, freeing just three of them instead on Dec. 5.
The accounts from former hostages and other Christian Aid Ministries staffers, in recent recorded talks to church groups and others, were the first public acknowledgement from the organization that ransom was paid at any point following the Oct. 16 kidnapping of 16 Americans and a Canadian affiliated with CAM.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — (AP) — Broncos wide receiver Tim Patrick was carted off the field Monday with a left leg injury almost a year after he tore his right ACL at training camp.
There was no immediate word on the nature or extent of Patrick's injury, but it appeared to be a serious setback for the 29-year-old who was embarking on a comeback after missing all of last season.
Patrick was participating in a 7-on-7 drill with the Broncos in full pads for the first time and his left leg buckled as he pushed off to run a route. He yelled out in pain and threw his helmet as coach Sean Payton, quarterback Russell Wilson and receiver Courtland Sutton were among the first to rush over to him.
He was helped onto a cart and taken inside the team's headquarters as the crowd of some 3,000 fans fell silent.
Patrick was the team's No. 1 receiver going into last season when he tore his right ACL in a noncontact drill on Aug. 2.
He was a projected starter again this summer even in a crowded wide receiver room that also features Jerry Jeudy, Sutton, rookie Marvin Mims Jr., Brandon Johnson, Marquez Callaway and Lil'Jordan Humphrey, among others.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
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PITTSFORD, N.Y. — (AP) — Of the thousands of emotions — trepidation among them — running through Damar Hamlin’s head Monday while he pulled on his pads for practice for the first time at training camp, the one that ultimately won out was joy.
For everything the Buffalo Bills safety has overcome in seven months since going into cardiac arrest during a game and needing to be resuscitated on the field, Hamlin leaned on his faith in God and himself, along with the support from his family and teammates, to take another step toward resume his playing career.
“A super big hurdle as you can imagine. Like, I pretty much lost my life playing this sport,” Hamlin said at a news conference after practice.
“I made the choice to play. But I’m processing a thousand emotions. I’m not afraid to say that it crosses my mind of being a little scared here and there,” he added. “My faith is stronger than any fear. That’s what I want to preach up here. And that’s the message I want to spread on to the world that as long as your faith is stronger than your fear, you can get through anything.”
Though Hamlin was cleared to resume practicing in mid-April, he did so wearing a helmet and shorts with the rest of his teammates through their spring sessions and first four days of training camp, as mandated by NFL rules. The magnitude of the Bills' first day in pads wasn't lost on Hamlin, given it marked the first time he was in full uniform since collapsing on the field in Cincinnati on Jan. 2 after making what appeared to be a routine tackle of Bengals receiver Tee Higgins.
“Ah man, it feels amazing. It’s a roller coaster of emotions. I was kind of all over the place just being back for the first time,” Hamlin said. “Just trying to keep everything as normal as possible.”
The normality of football struck him about an hour into practice when Hamlin took the field for the first time during a team red-zone running drill in which tackling was still not allowed.
On his second play, Hamlin showed no hesitation when bursting toward Damien Harris and wrapping him up with both arms. A play later, running back James Cook broke a tackle before Hamlin joined a teammate in wrapping him up just before the goal line.
Hamlin’s biggest contact came on the final play of practice, when he avoided a block to work his way into the backfield and help a teammate stop tight end Quintin Morris for what would have been a loss.
“That first little moment of contact, that was just letting me know. I felt alive, man. I felt like I’m here,” Hamlin said with a wide grin. “So it felt good. It was just that moment of: ‘All right, let’s settle in and let’s just take one play at a time. Let’s just keep going.’”
Hamlin’s only lament was not having any balls thrown in his direction during team drills, though he laughed when saying that might not be a bad thing.
“When the ball’s not coming my way, that makes you think you’re doing your job right,” Hamlin said. “But, you know, I would love some more opportunities to make a big play and turn practice up a bit.”
The 25-year-old from the Pittsburgh area is entering his third NFL season. Selected by Buffalo in the sixth round of the 2021 draft out of Pitt, he opened last season as a backup before starting 13 games after Micah Hyde sustained a season-ending neck injury.
This year, Hamlin is competing with offseason free agent addition Taylor Rapp for a backup role behind Hyde and Jordan Poyer. As for Hamlin’s next hurdle, it’ll come Aug. 12, when the Bills open their preseason schedule at home against Indianapolis.
Rapp, who spent his first four NFL seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, might be new to Buffalo but is impressed with how Hamlin has handled himself.
“How far he’s come and what he’s able to come back from late last season and just seeing how he goes about himself and attacks the rehab at the facility is nothing short of inspiring,” Rapp said.
A day earlier, coach Sean McDermott said he was walking a fine line in treating Hamlin much like any other player, while keeping in mind what he’s gone through.
“I think awareness is important, right? You’ve got X amount of guys out here and then you have Damar in there as well and trying to make it as a normal as possible,” McDermott said. “We’re going to support him through this, and to this point he’s done a phenomenal job.”
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Sunny comes to the clinic six days a week to get her daily dose of the highly regulated opioid-treatment drug, though, she said, she’ll soon complete an orientation that will reduce the chore to three days a week. She’s struggled with addiction on and off throughout her life, and relapsed after fleeing domestic violence and ending up homeless.
“It’s so hopeless when you’re homeless,” said Sunny, who provided only her first name to Crosscut. “It doesn’t matter why you become homeless. Once you are, everybody treats you differently.”
Sunny has since moved off the street and is trying to work through the red tape to get her own affordable-housing unit. She said she knows medication is only part of the solution for her addiction, and that there are traumatic things from her past that she needs to deal with someday. “A lot of treatment centers treat the symptom, but don’t get at the root of why you’re using in the first place. You need counseling and therapy.”
She is one of countless people caught up in Seattle’s worsening addiction crisis — a crisis shared by the region, state and country. In 2022, 1,001 people in King County died of drug or alcohol overdose, according to data from King County’s Public Health Department. Of those deaths, 712 were attributed to fentanyl. Now, a little more than halfway through 2023, the county has already recorded 761 overdose deaths, 617 attributed to opioids.
Elected officials in Seattle are currently debating how to best deal with the crisis, or at least with its public face. City Councilmembers Sara Nelson and Alex Pedersen introduced legislation in June that would have put on Seattle’s books a new state drug law making possession and public use a gross misdemeanor. Doing so would have given the Seattle City Attorney Office authority to prosecute drug possession and use cases for the first time, rather than leaving them to the King County Prosecutor.
The bill narrowly failed. Supporters said arrests and jail are an important path to move people toward treatment. Detractors said jail is the wrong way to treat a public health issue. Though they disagreed on the approach, both sides said their goal was to get people with substance-use disorders into treatment.
But what exactly do we mean by treatment? What does it look like to try to access services in the Seattle area? Is jail actually an access point for help? What needs to change to ensure the treatment system meets the scale of the fentanyl crisis?
Crosscut spoke to drug treatment service providers, advocates, researchers and public health officials to help answer those questions.
What is drug treatment?
The drug treatment landscape in the Seattle area is vast, ranging from low-barrier harm-reduction work to lengthy residential inpatient treatment centers. The core of substance-use disorder treatment falls into three categories: medication-assisted treatment, outpatient treatment and inpatient treatment.
People find their way to treatment in a variety of ways: upon referral by an outreach worker, at the insistence of family or friends, through drug court or another diversion program, by emergency room referral or, as is often the case, of their own accord.
Harm-reduction work like needle exchanges, distribution of the overdose-prevention medication naloxone, mobile meal distribution and medical outreach are not considered forms of treatment per se, but they are an important frontline piece of the puzzle. They help keep people alive until they’re ready to seek more formal treatment options.
Experts say peer counseling and group talk sessions such as those provided by Recovery Café and Peer Seattle are another important, lower-barrier entry point to recovery. For someone experiencing substance-use disorder, a peer who’s been through similar traumas is often a more trustworthy source of help than more institutional options. Those providers also typically help refer clients to other more formal treatment methods.
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid substance-use disorders uses doses of synthetic opiates such as methadone and buprenorphine to stave off cravings and withdrawal symptoms. The goal is to stabilize people before they enter counseling to address the root causes of their substance-use disorder and provide tools to deal with addiction.
MAT tends to be relatively low-barrier, with most providers offering walk-up, same-day service without a referral. But MAT access is not without challenges. Clients must make it to the provider during business hours. Transportation can be a challenge for those relying on public transit. People must go through a lengthy intake process to start. Because distribution of the medication is highly regulated, clients must come six days a week to get their doses for at least the first six months — a logistical challenge for anyone, let alone someone in the throes of addiction.
On top of that, federal methadone regulations allow a maximum first dose of 30 mg, which doesn’t do much to ease withdrawal symptoms from heroin and does even less for a fentanyl user.
“One of the difficult parts for us is we’re asking people to take medication that will help them eventually, but [which] in the moment of most need is not going to do much to help,” said Sean Soth, Evergreen Treatment Services director of health innovation. “Some of the archaic rules are making it difficult by not reducing withdrawal symptoms or impacting craving in any major way with that little of a dose.”
MAT is just one step of the treatment process. Some MAT providers, such as Evergreen, also provide other services to aid with recovery: counseling, group talk sessions, even acupuncture to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and pain.
The next levels of drug treatment are outpatient, and intensive outpatient treatment followed by inpatient treatment. Outpatient treatment involves weekly therapy sessions with licensed professionals who provide one-on-one counseling. Treatment centers often offer relapse education and continuing care plans for clients to draw on once the treatment ends.
Intensive outpatient treatment entails longer therapy sessions three to five days a week, and often includes group therapy in addition to one-on-one sessions. Many outpatient providers require abstinence from substances to participate.
Inpatient treatment is a residential service in which clients stay onsite for a set period to detox. They also go through therapy and counseling.
Though the counseling and therapy provided through outpatient and inpatient treatment is seen by many as key to sustained recovery, both come with challenging barriers to access. Any client seeking treatment must first make an appointment for an in-depth assessment, a process that can take anywhere from 90 minutes to three hours.
That alone can be a challenge for someone “in various types of withdrawal or crises that make it difficult to sit through a two- to three-hour assessment or keep appointments,” said Mandy Owens, a clinical psychologist and professor at the University of Washington’s Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute.
On top of that, some experts say the assessment, which requires going over usage history, family history, past incarceration and other potentially traumatic subjects, can be damaging to someone in the vulnerable position of withdrawal.
“When somebody is using, it is not a good time to trigger their painful past,” said Karen Lizzy, a licensed mental health counselor and substance-use disorder professional with the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. Lizzy is a citizen of the Bay Mills Indian Community, a band of Ojibwe in Michigan.
“There’s buzz about trauma-informed care. But I say shame-informed care,” Lizzy said. “How are you not going to both trigger trauma and avoid hitting shame? It’s everywhere in our systems.”
Once someone makes it through the assessment process, there is often a waitlist to get into outpatient programs and almost always a waitlist to get into inpatient treatment, due in part to the industry’s high turnover and challenges retaining staff. It’s a problem found in nearly all corners of the human-services sector, where low pay and increasingly difficult work has led to widespread burnout.
The high turnover can also harm clients’ progress. Trust is a key element of recovery, but it’s hard to build with clients. “You have a person who’s developed some rapport with a staff member, and it’s extremely jarring for them to have a new staff person come in and take over,” said E.V. Velez, a recovery support coordinator with Snohomish Superior Court who’s worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
Inpatient treatment also suffers from a dearth of physical space. Because of budget cuts and other factors, King County has lost at least half its residential treatment beds since the 1990s, leaving about 260 remaining today.
These delays can result in missing somebody’s “window of willingness,” a term for the often-brief moments a person suffering from addiction decides they want to seek help.
“The window of willingness can close up and they’re using again. We lose people,” said Heather Venegas, King County Recovery Coalition director.
Does jail provide drug treatment?
The short answer is yes, people can access treatment in jail in King County. Those with substance-use disorders can begin or continue medication-assisted treatment for withdrawal symptoms while incarcerated.
Service providers such as Pioneer Human Services also contract with King County to provide treatments such as group therapy and counseling in jail. They also conduct assessments and make plans to help people access other services once they leave jail.
Service providers broadly agree that jail can help put people on a path to recovery — but also that it’s not an ideal setting.
“Can it help people recover? Of course,” said Owens. “I have heard many stories about how incarceration gave someone a break in substance use and allowed them to access services, and it was a turning point in their recovery journey.”
But Owens and many other experts Crosscut spoke to also said jail is a traumatic place that can exacerbate the root issues of someone’s substance-use disorder, and that the often-short stays don’t provide time to really make a difference.
Joe Miller, Pioneer Human Services’ director of transition services, is proud of the work the organization does with people experiencing substance-use disorder in jail, but acknowledges it can be a difficult environment for treatment.
“The setting can be quite challenging at times just from the human element,” said Miller. “Because they’re in jail, they don’t have the opportunity to go and create a broader network of positive influence. They have to have the ability to create it amongst themselves.”
“Carceral systems are created as systems of punishment,” said Brad Finegood, a strategic advisor for Public Health – Seattle King County who works on overdose prevention. “Punishment is not necessarily meant as a treatment option. We believe and know people heal in community. We want to provide as many options as possible to heal in community.”
How can the treatment system improve?
Everyone Crosscut spoke to for this article agreed that improving access to treatment by reducing wait times is a key step toward addressing the addiction crisis.
The forthcoming King County crisis care centers — funding for which was approved by voters in April — are meant to address some of the many access issues people currently face. The centers will be open 24/7 and allow drop-in assessments and referrals. They will also provide short-term beds where people can stay for up to 14 days before discharge or referral to other services.
The voter-approved property tax will pay for five centers around King County, including one specifically for youth. But, having been funded only this year, the centers are years from completion.
Another way to increase access is to bring treatment to people instead of requiring them to travel. Evergreen Treatment Services recently launched a mobile methadone clinic in Seattle. We Care Daily Clinics is another service provider operating a mobile opioid treatment clinic in Seattle that offers medication-assisted treatment as well as assessment and referrals.
Several providers and advocates say stigma around drug use and addiction is a huge challenge, both within the treatment system and in the public understanding of substance-use disorder.
“There’s still stigma around using, and an idea that you have a choice to do that,” said Lizzy of the Cowlitz Tribe health services. “Do I have any more or less of a choice that my brain says to kill myself by using [drugs] than if I said I was going to kill myself with a gun or knife? Why is that manipulative?”
“If treated, people recover, they live healthy lives,” said Finegood. “We need to continue to humanize the condition. We need to continue to work to allay stigma.”
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https://crosscut.com/news/2023/07/what-does-substance-use-treatment-seattle-actually-look
| 2023-07-31T19:04:39
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Bird, a military veteran who has worked in the federal government and as a business consultant, says the public health measures by Gov. Jay Inslee to curb COVID-19 during the pandemic sent him into politics. He won a seat on the Richland School Board in 2021 and is now being recalled because of pandemic-related actions he took while on that board.
“When Jay Inslee shut down our state, our schools, our businesses, our places of worship, that was the trigger for me to run for school board,” said Bird, 62.
Voters in the Richland School District will get to weigh in on some of Bird’s pandemic actions in the recall, which asserts, among other things, that Bird and two other board members violated the state Open Public Meetings Act. And supporters of the recall argue that the three board members used “poor judgment” when they voted in February 2022 to make masks optional in the schools while the state's indoor mask requirement was still in effect.
Opponents of the recall have called it frivolous, and Bird last week called the effort politically motivated. He disputed the claim that the Open Public Meetings Act was violated, and said he stood by his decision to make masks optional, saying he was “honoring my word to constituents” to take action.
Regardless of the outcome Tuesday – votes will be counted in the days after – Bird said he is committed to running for governor.
With the August top-two gubernatorial primary more than a year away, a pack of candidates are vying for campaign dollars, attention and votes. Among them are a pair of statewide elected Democrats, state Attorney General Bob Ferguson and Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz. State Sen. Mark Mullet, a more moderate Democrat from Issaquah, is also running.
Bird’s candidacy highlights divisions in Washington’s Republican party between the more traditional, moderate faction – which has allowed the GOP at times to win statewide office and capture a branch of the Legislature – and the harder-edged right-wing populist movement that grew during the Trump years. That clash was on display in 2020 as Loren Culp – a populist Republican who campaigned against, among other things, Inslee’s pandemic measures – advanced to challenge Inslee. The governor won his third term that fall 56.6% to 43.1%.
Earlier this month, former U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert, a former King County Sheriff who long represented the 8th Congressional District, jumped into the race, giving Republicans a more moderate option. Shortly after Reichert’s announcement, another moderate, Raul Garcia, switched from running for governor to a bid for U.S. Senate. U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell is running for re-election next year.
Bird appears ready to do battle with the more moderate camp, saying he was contacted by Republicans urging him to run for a different office – like lieutenant governor or state schools superintendent – to further clear the field for Reichert.
“That whole move was a clear example of the establishment swamp,” said Bird. He noted that some prominent Republican elected officials have come out in support of Reichert instead of embracing his candidacy. If he gets on the November 2024 ballot, Bird added, he would be the first Black Republican candidate for governor in state history.
If elected governor, Bird said he would work to repeal the law passed in 2021 – and loosened a bit this year – that restricts vehicle pursuits by law enforcement. He also wants to make sure communities are notified when the state is moving sex offenders into new facilities or group homes in their neighborhoods.
Bird said he also would use the governorship as a way to highlight county prosecutors who don’t perform to his view of the job.
“If a prosecutor is not prosecuting criminals ... well, then, the people deserve to know that,” he said. County prosecutors are elected by local voters and do not answer to the state executive branch.
Bird has collected endorsements from several county-level Republican organizations, as well as half a dozen county sheriffs. Among them is Klickitat County Sheriff Bob Songer, one of more than a dozen county sheriffs who declared they wouldn’t enforce a package of firearms regulations passed by Washington voters. Songer embodies the so-called “constitutional sheriff” movement, which posits, according to news reports, that county sheriffs have more authority than state and federal agents. Songer also declined to enforce public health restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bird also has the endorsement of Joe Kent, the Republican firebrand who ran last year for U.S. Congress in southwest Washington’s 3rd Congressional District. Kent lost narrowly to Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, and is running for a rematch next year.
State disclosure records show Bird has so far raised about $134,000. Reichert hadn’t yet reported any fundraising amounts as of late last week. His campaign is less than a month old.
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https://crosscut.com/politics/2023/07/wa-governor-candidate-semi-bird-set-school-board-recall-vote
| 2023-07-31T19:04:45
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Geraldine McKay Ion Nolin
Gerry passed away Thursday July 27th at Diamond Willow in Proctor. Mom was certain that she would live to 96 and did just that. She was born in October of 1926 in Gary Indiana, the first of three children born to Arnold and Velda Mckay. The new family returned to Minnesota and made their home in New Duluth. Gerry was a graduate of Denfeld High School and UMD. She enjoyed her career in Real Estate among her other interests including gardening and playing games, especially winning.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband and father of her four children Tom Ion, her second husband Don Nolin, her daughter Robin and her brother Earl.
She is survived by her sons, Arne (Nancy), Darrel (Lynn), and Brenda (Allan), her brother Gene of Belle Vista, Arkansas, five grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Gratitude is extended to the staff at Diamond Willow and the staff of Gentiva hospice for their care and assistance. No formal services will be held. Arrangements by Cremation Society of Minnesota
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https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/obituaries/obits/geraldine-mckay-ion-nolin-5d0135ff67a60618cb3bf3a9-64c7fb0f92d49e4652d06773
| 2023-07-31T19:05:14
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Thomas “Bud” McDonald
Thomas ‘Bud’ McDonald Jr., 97, died peacefully Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at Heritage Haven in Duluth.
Bud was born May 14,1926, to Thomas and Essie (Nelson) McDonald of Hermantown. He was one of the earlier graduates of the new Hermantown High School in 1944, where he excelled athletically. He then joined the Navy and spent the end of World War II in Japan. In August of 1949, at the age of 23, he married Lillian Hedlund of Munger. Together they raised five children and shared 67 loving years before Lillian’s death in 2017. Bud had a 30-year career as an engineer for the Burlington Northern Railroad that never got in the way of his countless entrepreneurial endeavors. He was a lifelong sports fan and if there’s no sports page in heaven, he may be back. Golf was his passion and, with the exception of about half of his shots, it’s a sport he enjoyed for over 60 years. He went out with the Twins in first place, but he had his doubts; a skeptic in a world that sometimes demands it.
Bud was preceded in death by his wife, Lillian, daughter Cathy and son Dennis; brothers Myron, Dan and John and sisters Mary Jane, Judy and Joyce. He is survived by daughters Colleen and Jamie McDonald of Titusville, FL; son, Gary McDonald (Barbara Holisky) of Portland, OR; sisters Joan, Jean and Jeanette; brother-in-law Duane; sister-in-law Lila Hedlund and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Bud’s family is grateful for the compassionate care and comfort that the staff at Heritage Haven and the Ecumen Hospice team gave him in his final months.
Celebration of Life - Monday, August 7, at the Cremation Society of Minnesota in Duluth. Visitation 2:00 pm; Memorial Service 3:00 pm, followed by a reception.
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https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/obituaries/obits/thomas-bud-mcdonald-5d0135ff67a60618cb3bf3a9-64c7df2f92d49e4652d005b0
| 2023-07-31T19:05:24
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LOS ANGELES — Paul Reubens, the actor and comedian whose character Pee-wee Herman became a cultural phenomenon through films and TV shows, has died.
Reubens died Sunday night after a six-year struggle with cancer that he did not make public, his publicist said in a statement.
“Please accept my apology for not going public with what I’ve been facing the last six years,” Reubens said in a statement released with the announcement of his death. “I have always felt a huge amount of love and respect from my friends, fans and supporters. I have loved you all so much and enjoyed making art for you.”
The character with his too-tight gray suit, white chunky loafers and red bow tie was best known for the film “Pee-wee's Big Adventure” and the TV series “Pee-wee's Playhouse.”
Herman created Pee-wee when he was part of the Los Angeles improv group The Groundlings in the late 1970s. The live “Pee-wee Herman Show” debuted at a Los Angeles theater in 1981 and was a success with both kids during matinees and adults at a midnight show. HBO would air the show as a special.
Reubens took Pee-wee to the big screen in 1985’s “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.” The film, in which Pee-wee’s cherished bike is stolen, was said to be loosely based on Vittorio De Sica’s Italian neo-realist classic, “The Bicycle Thief.” The film, directed by Tim Burton and co-written by Phil Hartman of “Saturday Night Live,” sent Pee-wee on a nationwide escapade. The movie was a success, grossing $40 million, and continued to spawn a cult following for its oddball whimsy.
A sequel followed three years later in the less well-received “Big Top Pee-wee,” in which Pee-wee seeks to join a circus. Reubens’ character wouldn’t get another movie starring role until 2016’s Pee-wee’s Big Holiday,” for Netflix. Judd Apatow produced Pee-wee’s big-screen revival.
His television series, “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” ran for five seasons, earned 22 Emmys and attracted not only children but adults to Saturday-morning TV.
Both silly and subversive and championing nonconformity, the Pee-wee universe was a trippy place, populated by things such as a talking armchair and a friendly pterodactyl. The host, who is fond of secret words and loves fruit salad so much he once married it, is prone to lines like, “I know you are, but what am I?” and “Why don’t you take a picture; it’ll last longer?” The act was a hit because it worked on multiple levels, even though Reubens insists that wasn’t the plan.
“It’s for kids,” Reubens told The Associated Press in 2010. “People have tried to get me for years to go, ‘It wasn’t really for kids, right?’ Even the original show was for kids. I always censored myself to have it be kid-friendly.
“The whole thing has been just a gut feeling from the beginning," Reubens told the AP. "That’s all it ever is and I think always ever be. Much as people want me to dissect it and explain it, I can’t. One, I don’t know, and two, I don’t want to know, and three, I feel like I’ll hex myself if I know.”
The actor's death was met with an immediate response from fans and fellow entertainers on social media.
"Paul Reubens was like no one else - a brilliant and original comedian who made kids and their parents laugh at the same time," wrote television host and comedian Jimmy Kimmel. "He never forgot a birthday and shared his genuine delight for silliness with everyone he met. My family and I will miss him."
"Love you so much, Paul," wrote actress Natasha Lyonne. "One in all time. Thank you for my career & your forever friendship all these years & for teaching us what a true original is."
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https://www.wthr.com/article/news/nation-world/pee-wee-herman-actor-paul-reubens-has-died/507-5aabe911-4a9a-428f-a97c-ff3099d3c5fc
| 2023-07-31T19:05:33
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CHICAGO -- At the corner of Devon and Milwaukee avenues in Chicago's Gladstone Park neighborhood, two giant hot dog statues stand upon a prairie-style building, beckoning diners to take a trip back in time.
Billed as the city's only true drive-in, Superdawg has been filling hungry bellies on-the-go for over 75 years.
"Very little has changed since 1948," said Scott Berman, son of Superdawg founders Maurie and Flaurie Berman. "It is a time capsule both in terms of our service and in terms of our building: same neon, same dogs on the roof, same ordering system, and same kind of friendly service."
Berman runs Superdawg along with his sister and brother-in-law, Lisa and Don Drucker.
The Druckers both say Superdawg Drive-In is still a must-see for tourists coming to the Windy City, many with luggage in tow from the airport.
"They come from all over the country and all over the world," Lisa said. "I like to call us a destination. There's no place like Superdawg."
"We're in a book called '1,000 Places To See Before You Die,'" said Don, noting other world wonders. "The Great Wall of China, the pyramids, and then there's Superdawg here in Chicago."
Maurie and Flaurie Berman began Superdawg Drive-In while Maurie was in college studying accounting, and Flaurie was teaching in Chicago Public Schools.
SEE ALSO: Ed Sheeran serves up hot dogs at The Weiner's Circle before Chicago show
What was originally intended to be a temporary restaurant turned into a 75-year run, with a second location on Milwaukee Avenue in Wheeling, Illinois, serving the same secret-recipe Superdawg hot dogs, proprietary toppings and crinkle-cut fries, all housed in signature take-home boxes.
"There's nothing like this anywhere in the world," Berman said.
"The concept always was to do it better and different than anyone else and make us stand out," Lisa said. "Some people are told that for the best hot dog in Chicago (or the world), you have to come to Superdawg."
On a tour of the drive-ins kitchen, Don Drucker pointed out many employees who've been working at the restaurant between 20 and 30 years.
He said what's next for Superdawg is more of the same.
"The future of Superdawg is bright," Don said. "Superdawg is always going to be here."
For more information and a detailed history of Superdawg Drive-In, visit superdawg.com.
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| 2023-07-31T19:05:33
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Our extremely expensive prison system’s cost to society could be greatly reduced by providing drug treatment programs for the estimated 65% of the prison population with drug issues, helping to educate the 31% of inmates who don’t have a high school education, addressing the estimated 15% to 20% of inmates who are mentally ill, and providing job and housing assistance upon inmates’ release — since, in Minnesota, 95% of those incarcerated are released but face a roughly 75% recidivism rate .
Just providing alcohol and drug rehabilitation in prison and outside of prison would save $30 billion, the Amethyst Recovery Center in Florida estimated in April.
As an example, it would only have cost $14.6 billion for prison drug treatment programs for 2007, according to the National Drug Intelligence Center, while it is estimated that the cost to society for drug-related crime was $113 billion that year .
Norway has a 20% recidivism rate, compared to the U.S. five-year average of 76.6%, in part because Norway gives inmates vocational training and ups their sentences by five years if they lack motivation.
The UK is spending $5 billion on both a crime crackdown and much better facilities for “education, skills, and addiction support,” with workshops and classrooms for employment post-prison, as the UK’s Ministry of Justice, Prison and Probation Service, and others reported in February 2022 .
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The Minnesota Rehabilitation and Reinvestment Act — passed this year to build on the success of the Challenge Incarceration Program, which reduced recidivism by 38% — aims to interrupt the cycle of violence by providing those incarcerated with individualized rehabilitation plans. Under the plans, early release can be earned at a 17% reduction in their sentence through educational, vo-tech, drug and alcohol, or mental health programs.
The Northeast Regional Corrections Center near Duluth has already pioneered individual case-worker plans to provide a vast amount of programming, in a farm setting, for those with substance abuse, domestic abuse, and mental health counseling needs. Clients can earn a GED or certificates in food protection management or meat processing, and they can also receive instruction in cooking, baking, mechanics, horticulture, and building and equipment maintenance.
John Legend, whose mother was incarcerated because of drug abuse, established his FreeAmerica campaign, which partners with New Profit to fund Unlocked Futures . It’s eight social-entrepreneur groups working to integrate incarcerated and formerly incarcerated and marginalized populations back into society with trauma, digital-skill, coding-skill, educational, and re-entry programming along with legal support.
Additionally exciting about Minnesota’s Rehabilitation and Reinvestment Act is its estimated savings of $4,000 per incarcerated person — which is to be reinvested equally: half back to the general fund and to victim restitution and the rest toward improving supervision, crime prevention, and community-intervention initiatives. I hope this helps develop programming as well for those incarcerated for the long term, which the act is not designed for in order to reduce violence.
Since the FDA approved (twice) the drug psilocybin in 2019, heralded as a “breakthrough” in LiveScience , Oregon and Colorado have legalized it for therapeutic purposes. A Johns Hopkins University study last year even found that positive effects of psilocybin could last for up to a year. Australia also just legalized psilocybin for depression and PTSD under psychiatric care.
Ibogaine is a West African psychedelic that has shown great efficacy in reducing opioid craving by re-regulating the neuro-transmitters, as the magazine Discover reported in July 2021.
Undoubtedly, those incarcerated with high rates of depression and PTSD could benefit someday from these psychoactive therapies.
John Munter of Warba, Minnesota, ran as a Democrat in 2022 to represent Minnesota's 8th Congressional District. He is a regular contributor to the News Tribune Opinion page.
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https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/local-view-new-meds-treatments-raise-optimism-for-helping-those-incarcerated
| 2023-07-31T19:05:34
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Lori Vallow Daybell, an Idaho mother and onetime beauty pageant contestant, was sentenced Monday to life in prison for killing her two children in a case that included a dark religious prophecy and claims that the victims were “zombies” possessed by evil forces.
“I mourn with all of you who mourn my children and Tammy,” Vallow Daybell told the court. “Jesus Christ knows the truth of what happened here.”
Fremont County Judge Steven Boyce pointed to that denial of guilt as a factor in Vallow Daybell’s sentence, which includes no possibility of parole. He said she could have pursued any number of better, legitimate options if she came to feel she could no longer care for her children.
Instead, he told her, “you chose the most evil and destructive path possible.”
A jury convicted Vallow Daybell in May of murdering her 7-year-old son J.J. Vallow and her daughter Tylee Ryan, who was days away from her 17th birthday, and of conspiring to kill her husband’s first wife, Tammy Daybell. Vallow Daybell was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder in her children’s deaths and of grand theft for continuing to collect Social Security money meant to be used for the children, after they were dead.
The children’s murders, and other suspicious deaths allegedly linked to Vallow Daybell, captured national attention because of Vallow Daybell’s bizarre religious motivations. Several books, a Lifetime movie and a Netflix documentary series attempt to tell the tale.
Prosecutors argued at trial that Vallow Daybell viewed the victims as obstacles to being with Chad Daybell and that she wanted their money, the Associated Press reported. To justify her actions, the prosecution said, Vallow Daybell used her “doomsday” religious beliefs, including that she was a goddess preparing for the end of the world.
Her defense attorneys countered that she was a loving mother who, despite her unusual ideology, was not involved in the killings.
Dressed in a striped orange-and-white jumpsuit Monday, Vallow Daybell stared down at the table where she sat — only occasionally glancing up to stare into space — as people affected by the killings shared what they had endured.
Samantha Gwilliam, Tammy Daybell’s sister, pushed back on Vallow Daybell’s reported belief that she and her husband had a special godlike status.
“You are not exalted beings, and your behavior makes you ineligible to be one,” Gwilliam told her, adding, “No angels are coming to rescue you.”
Daybell, who became Vallow Daybell’s fifth husband, has been implicated in all three killings and is scheduled to stand trial in April. Prosecutors in Vallow Daybell’s case said they would not speak to reporters after her sentencing, to protect Daybell’s right to a fair trial.
The police investigation began in the fall of 2019, when J.J.’s grandparents became worried after more than a month of being unable to talk with him. When police arrived at Vallow Daybell’s townhouse in Rexburg, Idaho, to conduct a wellness check, the boy wasn’t there. Vallow Daybell and Daybell told officers that J.J. was with a family friend in Arizona.
Their story, however, wasn’t true. Investigators returned to the townhouse with a search warrant the next day, but the couple was gone. Tylee was also missing, officials learned.
The couple had fled to Hawaii and gotten married. As officials tried to find their children, television station Fox 10 Phoenix published video of Vallow Daybell and Daybell tanning by a pool while police served them a court order demanding that they bring their children to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.
In June 2020, officials found the children’s remains buried on Daybell’s property in Rexburg. Duct tape had been used to bind J.J.’s wrists, and his body had been wrapped in black plastic. Burned bone fragments from Tylee were found in a pet cemetery near a fire pit.
Vallow Daybell and Daybell were charged in the children’s deaths in May 2021. They also were eventually charged in the 2019 death of Daybell’s first wife, Tammy Daybell. While she was initially believed to have died of natural causes, prosecutors said at trial that an autopsy after her body was exhumed indicated that she had been strangled “at the hands of another,” Salt Lake City-based television station KSL-TV reported.
Vallow Daybell has also been accused of being involved in two deaths in Arizona: She was indicted in 2021 on a charge of conspiracy to commit murder in the death of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow. Another indictment against her was unsealed in May on charges of conspiring to kill her niece’s husband.
The first known reports of Vallow Daybell’s end-times ideology came in January 2019, when Charles Vallow called police to say his wife’s beliefs were becoming darker. She believed she and Daybell, the author of apocalyptic novels, had been “directed to lead 144,000 people in preparing for the end of the world,” according to records from an investigation into Charles Vallow’s death, published by Salt Lake City-based television station KUTV.
Each person had either a “light” or a “dark” scale, Vallow Daybell and Daybell reportedly believed. Anyone who opposed their ideology had a dark scale, which meant they were linked to demonic spirits. The couple considered J.J., Tylee and Charles Vallow to have had dark scales.
Amber Ferguson, Andrea Salcedo and Brittany Shammas contributed to this report.
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| 2023-07-31T19:05:38
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SAN FRANCISCO -- The large and bright 'X' logo that sat on top of the San Francisco headquarters of the company formerly known as Twitter has now been taken down.
The video in the player above is from a previous report.
ABC7 went to the building Monday morning and the sign is no longer up.
The sign was installed Friday, and lasted three days before coming down. The city of San Francisco said that they were opening an investigation and complaint into permit requirements for the sign.
Residents in the area were also not pleased, as the sign pulsated light, illuminating the surrounding buildings.
This is a developing news story, the text below is from a previous report.
Elon Musk has angered some living near Twitter, or X headquarters. Friday night the company unveiled their new X logo on top of the building by turning the lights of that X on. In the process, those lights beamed right into nearby apartments.
Videos posted to social media show the pulsating X light which has become the talk of San Francisco's Mid-Market neighborhood.
"It is pretty annoying from my perspective," said Jessica Xu who lives across the street.
The X, which sits atop Twitter headquarters, signifies Twitters rebrand and name change to X. The light was said to be off Saturday night, but was on Friday night and some residents from the buildings across the street were not so happy about it.
VIDEO: 'X' logo installed atop Twitter building, spurring San Francisco to investigate permit violation
"I think it's way too bright! It was flashing directly into my apartment and just lit up my entire place," said Xu.
"Too bright yeah. I would say too bright," said Viet Huynh who lives across the street.
"From below, we were walking our dog and saw it and were like, oh wow what a spectacle and then we get upstairs and we see like the ramifications of it and it is so bright and ridiculous," said Jennifer Freeman.
Twitter, or X's Elon Musk posted video showing the X all lit up.
City officials say they've opened an investigation into the sign saying, "A building permit is required to make sure the sign is structurally sound and installed safely. Planning review and approval is also necessary for the installation of this sign. The City is opening a complaint and initiating an investigation."
MORE: 'The everything app': What Musk's rebranding of Twitter to X could mean for future of his companies
Sunday, the Twitter letters were completely removed from the sign, leaving just the X.
Tech analyst Rob Enderle of the Enderle Group says the change doesn't do any good for the social media platform.
"This is probably one of the worst times to do a brand change, a name change because they were having trouble retaining customers, and whenever you change the identity of a company you're going to lose a certain amount of customers as a result of the name change," said Enderle.
But Musk and X have their strong supporters even with this bright light.
"He's playing chess with City Hall. I love what he's doing. I think it's great, like I said he's a showman, he's going to turn the light down at night, it's going to be very subtle but everybody is talking San Francisco now. I love that!" said Dee Dee Damn.
MORE: Elon Musk says Twitter has 'negative cash flow' and 'heavy debt'
And while some say yes the light was bright Friday, they're just dealing with it.
"I got curtains, I got blackout curtains," said CJ Randolph.
For those that don't have the blackout curtains -
"We were in the living room and we could see it flashing from the bedroom and I was like, what is that and I was like, oh no it's that big X we saw outside," said Freeman.
Yes, the gig X, the one that everyone seemed to be taking pictures of on Sunday, wondering what will come next.
If you're on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live
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| 2023-07-31T19:05:40
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WASHINGTON — X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has threatened to sue a group of independent researchers whose research documented an increase in hate speech on the site since it was purchased last year by Elon Musk.
An attorney representing the social media site wrote to the Center for Countering Digital Hate on July 20 threatening legal action over the nonprofit's research into hate speech and content moderation. The letter alleged that CCDH's research publications seem intended “to harm Twitter’s business by driving advertisers away from the platform with incendiary claims.”
Musk is a self-professed free speech absolutist who has welcomed back white supremacists and election deniers to the platform, which he renamed X earlier this month. But the billionaire has at times proven sensitive about critical speech directed at him or his companies.
The center is a nonprofit with offices in the U.S. and United Kingdom. It regularly publishes reports on hate speech, extremism or harmful behavior on social media platforms like X, TikTok or Facebook.
The organization has published several reports critical of Musk's leadership, detailing an increase in anti-LGBTQ hate speech as well as climate misinformation since his purchase. The letter from X's attorney cited one specific report from June that found the platform failed to remove neo-Nazi and anti-LGBTQ content from verified users that violated the platform’s rules.
In the letter, attorney Alex Spiro questioned the expertise of the researchers and accused the center of trying to harm X's reputation. The letter also suggested, without evidence, that the center received funds from some of X's competitors, even though the center has also published critical reports about TikTok, Facebook and other large platforms.
“CCDH intends to harm Twitter’s business by driving advertisers away from the platform with incendiary claims,” Spiro wrote, using the platform's former name.
Imran Ahmed, the center’s founder and CEO, told the AP on Monday that his group has never received a similar response from any tech company, despite a history of studying the relationship between social media, hate speech and extremism. He said that typically, the targets of the center’s criticism have responded by defending their work or promising to address any problems that have been identified.
Ahmed said he worried X’s response to the center’s work could have a chilling effect if it frightens other researchers away from studying the platform. He said he also worried that other industries could take note of the strategy.
“This is an unprecedented escalation by a social media company against independent researchers. Musk has just declared open war,” Ahmed told the Associated Press. “If Musk succeeds in silencing us other researchers will be next in line.”
Messages left with Spiro and X were not immediately returned Monday.
It's not the first time that Musk has fired back at critics. Last year, he suspended the accounts of several journalists who covered his takeover of Twitter. Another user was permanently banned for using publicly available flight data to track Musk's private plane; Musk had initially pledged to keep the user on the platform but later changed his mind, citing his personal safety. He also threatened to sue the user.
He initially had promised that he would allow any speech on his platform that wasn't illegal. “I hope that even my worst critics remain on Twitter, because that is what free speech means,” Musk wrote in a tweet last year.
X's recent threat of a lawsuit prompted concern from U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who said the billionaire was trying to use the threat of legal action to punish a nonprofit group trying to hold a powerful social media platform accountable.
“Instead of attacking them, he should be attacking the increasingly disturbing content on Twitter,” Schiff said in a statement.
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https://www.wthr.com/article/news/nation-world/twitter-hateful-tweets-lawsuit-threat/507-b25464ce-7567-46d0-8321-1344184a78be
| 2023-07-31T19:05:40
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The U.S. Department of Energy is banning the sale of energy inefficient light bulbs beginning Aug. 1, 2023. Given that incandescent and halogen light bulbs are far less energy efficient than LED light bulbs, many people are treating this as a ban on incandescent and halogen bulbs.
Incandescent and halogen lights have a wire within the bulb that heats up and produces light, while LED bulbs do not.
But light bulbs aren’t just used in floor lamps and ceiling fans. People in various online communities have asked how the light bulb ban affects them — including a question about halogen headlights in a Ram trucks subreddit, multiple questions about heat lamps in communities for reptile pet owners and a question about how the law affects lava lamps.
THE QUESTION
Is the U.S. government banning all incandescent and halogen light bulbs?
THE SOURCES
THE ANSWER
No, the U.S. government is not banning all incandescent and halogen light bulbs.
WHAT WE FOUND
The new rule bans the manufacture and sale of inefficient “general service lamps,” which largely refers to the standard kinds of light bulbs you’d use to illuminate your home. Most incandescent and halogen light bulbs fail to meet these new energy efficiency standards, and are therefore banned by the rule.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has carved out exceptions for many different kinds of light bulbs in its ban on the manufacturing and sale of energy inefficient light bulbs.
“It does not ban the sale or manufacture of ALL incandescent bulbs, just those common household incandescent (and other) bulbs that are not energy-efficient,” the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says of the new ban. “Many bulbs, including specialty bulbs, three-way bulbs, chandelier bulbs, refrigerator bulbs, plant grow lights and others, are exempt from the law's requirements.”
The reason incandescent and halogen bulbs are less energy efficient than LED bulbs is because the incandescent and halogen bulbs create light by passing an electrical current through a tungsten filament, which also creates heat, General Electric says. The heat that’s released is usually wasted energy, although it can sometimes be useful for things like heat lamps.
The ban is a rule that has been in the making since 2007, when Congress passed and former President George W. Bush signed the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. The law required the Secretary of Energy to determine if there should be a rule with a “minimum standard of 45 lumens per watt for general service lamps.”
In Jan. 2017, the DOE adopted this rule, and planned to begin enforcing it in 2020. DOE withdrew this rule in Sept. 2019 and didn’t adopt it again until May 2022, regulations.gov says. Therefore, the enforcement date was moved to Aug. 1, 2023, a DOE document says.
According to the 2007 law, the rule only makes changes to the “Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles” within the U.S. code, meaning the ban does not apply to car lights, including headlights.
Additionally, the 2007 law required the rule to exempt a number of various bulbs from the ban. These include:
Appliance lamps (such as refrigerator lights)
Heat lamps, plant lights and bug lamps
Colored lights and black lights
Reflector lamps
Chandelier bulbs, Christmas lights and decorative bulbs of 40 watts or less
The EPA notes that the rule does not ban the use or purchase of incandescent or halogen lightbulbs, just the manufacture and sale of the bulbs. Therefore, individuals will not be penalized for continuing to use incandescent bulbs in their homes.
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https://www.wthr.com/article/news/verify/government-verify/incandescent-halogen-light-bulb-lamp-ban-phase-out/536-4cc9c8bb-bd10-4ca1-900e-e74df93f0ed8
| 2023-07-31T19:05:46
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https://www.wthr.com/article/news/verify/government-verify/incandescent-halogen-light-bulb-lamp-ban-phase-out/536-4cc9c8bb-bd10-4ca1-900e-e74df93f0ed8
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For the third year in a row, construction season began and no work started on a long-awaited rebuild of a winding, narrow road up to the Warm Springs Mesa.
Earlier this year, contractor M3 Companies sent a letter to the Ada County Highway District Commission saying it did not plan to go through with its plans to rebuild Starview Drive connecting Warm Springs Avenue to the Mesa due to the cooling real estate market. Instead, the developer asked for another one-year extension to complete the project in 2024.
“Homes are still selling in the neighborhood, but at a slower pace, and it is prudent to wait a year before the developing the last phase to allow more of the project to be built out,” M3 General Manager Mark Tate wrote to ACHD in March. “The project is still very desirable and by not pushing inventory too high too fast values are still being retained at a higher rate than most of the Treasure Valley.”
If approved, this would be the third extension granted to M3 on rebuilding Starview. The project, which entails widening the road, adding a bike lane and flattening its steep curves on the hillside, is required by ACHD before the developer can plat the final 49 lots of the Boulder Heights subdivision.
Many residents of the mesa have been expressing their dismay over M3’s delays on the project for years now. They say Starview should have been required to have been rebuilt long ago, closer to the beginning of the neighborhood’s development in 2000 instead of waiting until the very end. At Wednesday’s ACHD public hearing, they questioned M3’s commitment to the project and their decision to delay construction due to the real estate market, and therefore its own profits.
ACHD Commissioners did not make a final decision on whether to grant the extension Wednesday, but they directed staff to prepare a proposal for a new agreement with M3 that included milestones the developer would have to meet toward progress on the project in 2024 and fines for not making adequate progress.
The issue will be decided at the commission’s meeting in two weeks.
HOW DID WE GET HERE?Starview Drive is one of three major entrances up onto the Warm Springs Mesa.
Talks of requiring Starview to be improved have been ongoing since the neighborhood was first developed in 2000, but there was no specific requirement tying the road’s construction to a specific phase of developing the mesa until 2018. M3 and the Starview project first hit headlines in 2020 when the company proposed scaling back the required improvements due to concerns about the stability of the steep slope.
Tate’s pitch to change the design set off a flurry of opposition from residents of the Warm Springs Mesa, bringing them out in droves to a neighborhood meeting and to an ACHD public hearing on the idea. All five commissioners in the spring of 2021 voted to deny M3’s request and required them to be held to the original agreement if they were going to be allowed to finish developing Boulder Heights.
Tate returned to ACHD later and proposed a new design, which he said would be less impactful to the steep hillside because it would use long soil nails to hold the soil in place. This design took six months to approve and by the time the agency gave the green light to proceed in June 2022 it was too late to begin the project because the Boise School District did not want the Warm Springs and Starview intersection closed during the school year. This requires the project to begin in May, right after school gets out to be done on time. There was also a delay in obtaining the soil nails for the project due to construction supply chain issues.
Tate got the nails and signed a contract to begin the work this year, but opted to stop and wait for next year due to the market. He said it “really was just an economic decision” to delay the project another year.
“This last winter interest rates went up, things slowed down and we were not able to build the lots and develop the last phase because it’s tied to the Starview improvement and the builders were able to get out of their lot purchase contracts and they were not interested in taking more lots in 2023,” Tate told ACHD on Wednesday. “We knew we were not going to proceed with the last development phase. Since then the market has facilitated and things are still moving up on the hill and we have interest from builders again and have every intention of developing the last phase and developing Starview next spring.”
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COULD ACHD COMPLETE IT?Commissioners had lots of questions for staff on Wednesday as they mulled how to proceed.
M3 originally put down a $2.5 million surety bond as part of the project originally planned for this year, which is part of standard ACHD procedure and would allow the agency to pay for the project itself if the developer reneged. If the extension is approved, staff proposes upping the bond to $3.6 million to reflect the current price of the project, a 10% contingency and measures to plan for inflation.
The extension agreement would also come with the option for another year-long extension to take the project into 2025, but ACHD staffer Christy Little told the commissioners this would only be for weather delays.
This surety bond would allow ACHD to complete the project itself with the money put up by the developer, but it would require the project to be put on the agency’s five-year integrated work plan and go through the budgetary process. Little said integrating specific milestone dates into the agreement will help ACHD be able to step in if it appears M3 won’t be completing the project after all because if construction isn’t started by next May, then it most certainly won’t be completed in time to comply with the school calendar.
Tate told the commissioners that because the new bond is roughly $1 million more than what it will cost his company to build he has a financial incentive to complete the project no matter what so the full amount is returned.
“So regardless of whether the lots get built, we would build (Starview) regardless of it that last phase is going on,” he said.
Some members of the neighborhood have suggested upping the surety bond to more than 50% of the project cost, but Little said that would violate code. The surety must cover the real cost of the project plus a contingency.
‘MISTAKES WERE MADE 20 YEARS AGO’The commissioners were not jazzed about the idea of another years delay on the project.
Commissioner Dave McKinney said he gets the feeling M3 would like to get out of the requirement to build out the road.
“My concern is it gets built and done correctly,” he said. “From our standpoint as a highway district, we don’t look at it and say ‘well this needs to be done so long as the economy is good’. It sounds like that’s what the developer is counting on. That’s where my concern comes from. That’s why I’m worried that even if we grant this (extension), are we going to be in the same position next summer?”
Commissioner Jim Hansen asked if there were aspects of the project that could be started earlier and if the contractor planned to do day and night shifts to complete it. He was told that night work was not safe due to the steep hillside and curves on the project and grading could not start early due to concerns if it were left unfinished could destabilize the hillside so it needed to all be completed at once in a specific order.
“Mistakes were made 20 years ago and this should have been fixed a year after Windsong Drive was built and it wasn’t,” he said. “Something like this would never be built anywhere in the United States, but it’s stuck being the access point for the neighborhood.”
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https://www.idahopress.com/community/dev/achd-considering-a-third-extension-to-warm-springs-mesa-developer-for-rebuilding-starview-drive/article_d8851d92-2ce4-11ee-9179-db371fe492bc.html
| 2023-07-31T19:05:51
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https://www.idahopress.com/community/dev/achd-considering-a-third-extension-to-warm-springs-mesa-developer-for-rebuilding-starview-drive/article_d8851d92-2ce4-11ee-9179-db371fe492bc.html
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It’s been a rollercoaster ride for The Boardwalk, a mixed-use project on the banks of the Boise River in Garden City.
First, it was an apartment-hotel hybrid. Then the project changed to just apartments. An 18-story tower planned as part of the project was denied by the city council, then that decision was reversed. Now, part of the Boardwalk is rising above the greenbelt in Garden City.
The first two phases of the project include building The Boardwalk Apartments, which will total $80 million in value. All of the apartments are expected to be ready for residents to move in by the end of the year. Other projects separate from the apartments, like the commercial space and 18-story tower, are planned in additional phases scheduled to be completed over the next five to seven years.
After that, the developer, Vida Properties, says it will pivot to completing other buildings within its envisioned “district.” The company has been working with Erstad Architects and Andersen Construction on the project.
The Boardwalk is located at 521 East 41st Street. This part of Garden City has been rapidly redeveloping from mobile home parks providing affordable housing to vulnerable populations to high-rise, mixed-use buildings over the past decade.
“We’re looking to kind of reinvigorate this area for people to come and enjoy,” Talbott said.
BoiseDev got a tour of the construction site to learn more about the high-profile development’s progress.
HIGH DEMAND FOR BOARDWALK APARTMENTSThe south building of the apartments, which makes up phase one of the two-phase project, is completed and just a few units shy of being leased up, according to Vida Properties Director of Operations Nathan Talbott.
Phase two, which consists of the north and west buildings containing all of the amenities and retail space is set to be complete by the end of December. The completed complex will have an assortment of one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and studio apartments.
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When phase two is complete, the apartments will feature a tenant-exclusive rooftop with three hot tubs and multiple fire pits, a fitness center with an open-air patio for yoga, a game room, and a theater room. Studio apartments on the fourth floor of the west building will have private rooftops. Apartments on the fifth floor of the north building feature 650 square foot balconies.
TIMELINE ON TOWER UNKNOWNThe possibility of an 18-story tower far from downtown Boise raised eyebrows when it first went through the hearing process two years ago.
Construction hasn’t started on the tower and the Garden City Planning and Zoning Department says Vida Properties hasn’t filed a building permit for this part of the project yet. Talbott told BoiseDev the company’s plans for if it will be made up of apartments or condominiums, like originally proposed, is “fluid.”
Right now, the site is temporarily being used as a parking lot. Talbott said construction of the tower needs to be timed appropriately with the completion of other parking spaces for the project. He said starting the tower too early could lead to some tenants having a difficult time finding spaces to park and it could limit how much public parking is available in the area for visitors.
WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE GREENBELTTalbott said the vision for The Boardwalk is to be a destination site on the Greenbelt.
The portion of the project that faces the Greenbelt will be an open and public space featuring six commercial storefronts for local food and beverage companies. None of the spaces have been leased out so far. There will also be walk-up bars, sand pits, and tables and chairs for the public to use.
Vida Properties also donated 8 feet of space to widen the Greenbelt with concrete instead of asphalt in front of The Boardwalk. Talbott said a pier that goes out to the river is also in the works for the property.
Another project undertaken by the developer is a clean-up along the riverfront. Talbott said the company went in and removed dead cottonwoods and non-native plant species from the area between the Greenbelt and the river. He said the goal was to remove the hazard of dead trees falling, open up the view of the river, mitigate fire hazards, and discourage members of the homeless community from camping near the Boardwalk.
Talbott said Vida Properties is also looking to create a 501 C3 non-profit in an effort to remove the non-native plants from the entirety of the Garden City portion of the Boise River Greenbelt.
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https://www.idahopress.com/community/dev/first-phases-of-major-garden-city-apartment-project-nearly-all-leased-up-but-timeline-on/article_072b9bea-2c08-11ee-9483-7f11046e1bc5.html
| 2023-07-31T19:05:58
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https://www.idahopress.com/community/dev/first-phases-of-major-garden-city-apartment-project-nearly-all-leased-up-but-timeline-on/article_072b9bea-2c08-11ee-9483-7f11046e1bc5.html
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There is likely circulation of the West Nile virus “throughout Canyon County,” according to the county’s mosquito abatement district.
The virus has been detected in 21 mosquitos in 13 sites in Canyon County, according to a Thursday press release. The latest positive detections were made this week.
“Surveillance data suggests virus circulation throughout Canyon County,” Jim Lunders, Director of the Canyon County Mosquito Abatement District, said in the release. The district routinely monitors more than 100 locations in the county, the release said.
The following actions can be taken to reduce the risk of exposure to West Nile virus, which can cause head and body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, and in some cases, death:
Eliminate or treat all sources of standing water that can be a breeding ground for biting mosquitoes, such as flooded fields, birdbaths, wading and swimming pools not in use, clogged gutters, and old tires. If it holds water for seven days, it can produce mosquitoes.
Wear repellents while outdoors at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when in mosquito-infested areas.
Use mosquito repellents containing DEET, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, Picaridin or 2-undecanone, making sure to follow the directions on the container.
Make sure all screen doors and windows are in good repair and fit tightly.
Vaccinate horses for WNv, WEE, and other diseases.
Use EPA-registered residual insect sprays on horses, making sure to follow the directions on the container.
Have your livestock watering troughs stocked with mosquitofish for free by submitting a service request to the Canyon County Mosquito Abatement District.
Notify the District at 208-461-8633 if you have a site that is too large to be eliminated so it can be properly treated.
“With the increased risk of West Nile virus it is imperative the public help us reduce the mosquito population by eliminating larval habitat around their homes,” Lunders said.
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https://www.idahopress.com/emmett/news/west-nile-virus-believed-to-be-circulating-throughout-canyon-county/article_a2f4c1dc-2d66-11ee-93a7-03660ca1be85.html
| 2023-07-31T19:06:04
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https://www.idahopress.com/emmett/news/west-nile-virus-believed-to-be-circulating-throughout-canyon-county/article_a2f4c1dc-2d66-11ee-93a7-03660ca1be85.html
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Let’s make one thing clear: Idaho is the undisputed OG spud state, Idaho Capital Sun reporter Mia Maldonado writes.
And public officials say Idaho’s reputation as the potato state won’t fade — even if in June, the Oregon Legislature adopted a resolution to make the potato its state vegetable.
After the resolution passed, some Idahoans took to social media to share their response, including Idaho Gov. Brad Little, who said on Twitter that he would deploy the Big Idaho Potato Truck to “defend the honor” of Idaho potatoes.
Sam Eaton, the vice president of legal affairs at the Idaho Potato Commission, told the Idaho Capital Sun that the commission is determined to maintain Idaho’s world famous reputation for its quality potatoes.
“We’ve been tasked by Governor Little to defend our Famous Idaho Potatoes, and we take our responsibility seriously,” he said in an email. “In response to Oregon’s actions, we recently deployed our Big Idaho Potato Truck internationally into Canada to ensure Idaho remains world famous for its potatoes.”
Eaton said that “in all seriousness,” the Idaho Potato Commission partners with fellow potato-producing states, including Oregon, to advocate for the U.S. potato industry.
Read Maldonado's full story online here or find it in the Sunday/Monday edition of the Idaho Press.
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https://www.idahopress.com/eyeonboise/famous-oregon-potatoes-nah-idaho-stats-show-which-state-reigns-spud-supreme/article_3872a0cc-2fbe-11ee-9e2e-0f4fd799629c.html
| 2023-07-31T19:06:10
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https://www.idahopress.com/eyeonboise/famous-oregon-potatoes-nah-idaho-stats-show-which-state-reigns-spud-supreme/article_3872a0cc-2fbe-11ee-9e2e-0f4fd799629c.html
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https://www.idahopress.com/eyeonboise/rotten-foundation-how-a-small-group-of-homeowners-is-fighting-against-an-atypical-hoa/article_c2fe78ee-2fc1-11ee-b609-c7d9dc9c23bd.html
| 2023-07-31T19:06:16
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https://www.idahopress.com/eyeonboise/rotten-foundation-how-a-small-group-of-homeowners-is-fighting-against-an-atypical-hoa/article_c2fe78ee-2fc1-11ee-b609-c7d9dc9c23bd.html
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Firefighter dies from injuries after crash with cow while responding to call, department says
Published: Jul. 31, 2023 at 2:48 PM EDT|Updated: 17 minutes ago
PLANO, Texas (KXII/Gray News) – A firefighter injured in the line of duty earlier this month died Sunday morning.
Volunteer firefighter Evan Brown was in a crash July 9 and had been in intensive care at Medical City Hospital in Plano, Texas.
According to the Honey Grove Fire Department, Brown was responding to another crash call when he hit a cow on the road in his personal vehicle.
His vehicle rolled, ejecting Brown and causing severe injuries.
The Honey Grove Fire Department is arranging for first responders to stand watch by Evan at the funeral home.
The department set up a GoFundMe to help Brown’s family with medical bills and funeral costs.
Copyright 2023 KXII via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wkyt.com/2023/07/31/firefighter-dies-injuries-after-crash-with-cow-while-responding-call-department-says/
| 2023-07-31T19:06:17
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https://www.wkyt.com/2023/07/31/firefighter-dies-injuries-after-crash-with-cow-while-responding-call-department-says/
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Funnel cloud pops up in Central Kentucky without warning
MADISON COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT) - Over the weekend, an unusual cloud formation showed up, without warning, in Central Kentucky.
Eyes were mostly on Southern Kentucky this weekend as strong rains moved through the state, spawning a few severe thunderstorms. However, for those traveling along Route 25 in Madison County on Sunday, the sky showed something just as scary.
A funnel cloud was spotted rotating in the sky this weekend between Richmond and Berea but garnered no tornado watch or warning.
At 3:41 p.m., the radar indicated rotation from a storm cell that was passing over the region. Those from the area flooded social media, asking for additional information on the funnel cloud and the potential for damage.
“When you see one, that should right there be a warning; a tornado warning because something has been spotted,” said WKYT meteorologist Jim Caldwell. “It doesn’t take much for the tornado to connect with the ground, and then you run into a whole bunch of other problems like an actual tornado touchdown.”
A funnel cloud is exactly what it sounds like - a funnel-shaped cloud that extends from the base of a large cloud toward the ground without actually reaching the surface. It is once the cloud makes contact with the ground that issues can start for those within range.
“The difference between it and a tornado is that it’s not touching the ground. But, when you see it, that means something is developed, there is some spin there - and all it needs to do is just get a little closer to the ground, and then you have a full-blown tornado,” Caldwell said.
Things like storm spotting and radar analysis are meant to keep the public alert about events like the one this past weekend, especially when the National Weather Service does not issue warnings or weather radio alerts.
“It’s important. It’s important to watch these situations for us because it can show you that, in just seconds, even when all the ingredients don’t appear to be there, in seconds, the weather can change, in such short amount of time, and lead to real problems like this,” Caldwell said.
Copyright 2023 WKYT. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wkyt.com/2023/07/31/funnel-cloud-pops-up-central-kentucky-without-warning/
| 2023-07-31T19:06:18
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https://www.wkyt.com/2023/07/31/funnel-cloud-pops-up-central-kentucky-without-warning/
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IS claims responsibility for deadly suicide bombing at rally that killed 54 in northwest Pakistan
KHAR, Pakistan (AP) — The Islamic State group on Monday claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing in Pakistan that killed at least 54 people including five children at a pro-Taliban cleric’s rally in one of the worst attacks in the country in recent years.
IS, known as the Islamic State in Khorasan Province, made the claim in a statement posted on its Amaq website. The statement said the attack was part of the group’s continuing war against forms of democracy it deems to be against Islam.
Hours earlier, hundreds of mourners in the northwestern town of Bajur carried caskets draped in colorful cloths to burial sites following the previous day’s attack at an election rally for a pro-Taliban cleric.
Officials said Sunday’s bombing killed 54 people, including at least five children, and wounded nearly 200.
The attack appeared to reflect divisions between Islamist groups, which have a strong presence in the district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan. It targeted the Jamiat Ulema Islam party, which has ties to the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban.
At least 1,000 people were crowded into a tent near a market for the rally ahead of fall elections, according to police.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.
Hundreds of mourners in northwestern Pakistan carried caskets draped in colorful cloths to burial sites in the hills Monday after a suicide bombing killed at least 54 people at an election rally for a pro-Taliban cleric.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for Sunday’s bombing in Bajur that killed at least five children and wounded nearly 200 people.
The attack appeared to reflect divisions between Islamist groups, which have a strong presence in the district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan. It targeted the Jamiat Ulema Islam party, which has ties to the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban.
At least 1,000 people, according to police, were crowded into a tent near a market for the rally ahead of fall elections.
“People were chanting God is Great as the leaders arrived,” said Khan Mohammad, a local resident who said he was standing outside the tent, “and that was when I heard the deafening sound of the bomb.”
Mohammad said he heard people crying for help, and minutes later ambulances arrived and began taking the wounded away.
Police said their initial investigation suggested that the Islamic State group’s regional affiliate, a rival of the Taliban, could be responsible, while a Pakistan security analyst pointed to breakaway factions of the Pakistani Taliban as possible suspects.
The Pakistani military spent years fighting the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, in Bajur before declaring the district clear of militants in 2016. But the Jamiat Ulema Islam party, headed by hard-line cleric and politician Fazlur Rehman, has remained a potent political force.
On Monday, police recorded statements from some of the wounded at a hospital in Khar, the district’s principal town.
The Islamic State in Khorasan Province, which police identified as a suspect in the attack, is based in neighboring Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province and is a rival of the Afghan Taliban and al-Qaida.
Pakistani security analyst Mahmood Shah 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.”
On Monday, female relatives and children wailed and beat their chests at family homes as the dead were taken for funerals, following local customs. Hundreds of men followed the caskets to mosques and open areas for special funeral prayers and then into the hills for burial.
As condolences continued to pour in from across the country, dozens of people who had lesser 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 some critically wounded people died in hospital, physician Gul Naseeb said.
Gul Akbar, the father of an 11-year-old boy who was wounded in the attack, told The Associated Press that his entire family was in a state of shock after hearing about the bombing Sunday. He said he first went to the scene of the attack, and later found his son Taslim Khan being treated in a hospital in Khar.
“What would I have done if he had also been martyred? Five children died in this barbaric attack, and we want to know what our children did wrong,” he said.
Rehman’s party is preparing to contest elections, which are expected in October or November. Abdul Rasheed, one of the party’s senior leaders, said the bombing was aimed at weakening the party but that “such attacks cannot deter our resolve.”
Rehman’s party is part of Prime Minister Shehbaz 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. Khan condemned the bombing Sunday, as did the U.S. and Russian embassies in Islamabad.
The Pakistani Taliban also distanced themselves from the bombing, saying that it was intended 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 Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng arrived in Islamabad, where he signed new agreements to boost trade and economic ties to mark a decade of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a sprawling package under which China has invested $10 billion in Pakistan over 10 years, according to Sharif.
“We will not tolerate any obstacles in the way of friendship with China,” Sharif said, as he stood next to He.
But the government canceled a cultural event that had been arranged in honor of He, according to Sharif, while the nation mourns.
Some Chinese nationals have also been targeted by militants in northwestern Pakistan and elsewhere.
Rehman, who has long supported Afghanistan’s Taliban government, survived at least two known bomb attacks in 2011 and 2014, when bombings damaged his car at rallies.
Sunday’s bombing was one of the worst in northwestern Pakistan in the last decade. In 2014, 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.
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Associated Press writer Munir Ahmed contributed to this story from Islamabad.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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NAPLES, Fla., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bramshill Investments, an award-winning alternative asset management firm, releases its Monthly Insights: A Closer Look at Office Commercial Real Estate & Investment Opportunities within Securitized Products.
Office properties in the U.S. Commercial Real Estate ("CRE") Market have been garnering much of the attention from the markets and media, especially after the fallout from the regional banking crisis that was largely stemmed earlier in 2023. We wanted to delve deeper into the subject to discuss our thoughts and the potential opportunities within the sector. To begin, we want to discuss the size of the sector and related sub sectors. Below is an overview of how the property types of the U.S. CRE market breaks down across the approximate $10.9 trillion market value. As shown below, Offices represent approximately one quarter of the market as of the end of 2022…
Click here to read the article.
Contact me today to learn more about our report. Bramshill's team of experts is available to answer your questions.
Media Contact:
Danielle Van Calcar
1-646-993-1648
danielle@bramshillinvestments.com
About Bramshill Investments
Bramshill Investments, LLC, is a fixed income investment manager with over $4.4 billion in assets under management (as of (6/30/2023) The firm was co-founded in 2012 by former GLG portfolio manager, Arthur DeGaetano. The team's core investment strategy has an established combined track record of over fourteen years with an absolute return objective that can be accessed through various vehicles. Bramshill also offers other alternative investment strategies. Bramshill is an investment adviser registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration as an investment advisor with the SEC does not imply a certain level of skill or training of Bramshill or its employees. References to awards should not be construed as testimonials for our advisory services. For more information, please visit: https://bramshillinvestments.com.
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| 2023-07-31T19:06:22
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Officers with the Nampa Police Department quickly head to the entrance of Elevate Academy in Nampa during an active shooter training scenario on Wednesday.
Officers with the Nampa Police Department quickly head to the entrance of Elevate Academy in Nampa during an active shooter training scenario on Wednesday.
Just over two weeks after a video of a Meridian police officer repeatedly punching a suspect as he put him in handcuffs was posted on Twitter, the department announced the officer did not violate its use of force policy, Idaho Press reporter Carolyn Komatsoulis and I write.
This is not a unique outcome; between 2018 and 2022, the Meridian Police Department conducted 619 use of force investigations and three were found to be out of policy, results from a public records request show.
Nampa Police in that time frame conducted 208 use of force investigations and three were to be found outside the policy, records show.
Nampa’s use of force was 67% white suspects and 37% of the reports involved Hispanic people.
Meridian’s involved 73% against white people, and 14% were Hispanic and just under 6% were Black.
Use of force investigations are complicated, taking into account state and federal laws as well as department policies, and are often done internally in reports that aren’t subject to Idaho’s public records laws.
Low incidence of force being found out of policy can be attributed to proper training, but it could also indicate issues with how the policy is written, experts the Idaho Press spoke to say.
“It’s possible that it could be reflective of a well behaved police force. But then again, the policy looks like it’s very broad,” said Cody Jorgensen, Boise State University associate professor of criminal justice.
Force accounts for a low percentage of total police contacts, but high-profile cases of its use — such as the video of the Meridian police officer — often have implications for public trust and perceptions of community policing.
Recent police shootings in the area, such as Payton Wasson in Boise, have increased calls for police accountability. However, uses of force that aren’t deadly may be less publicized but still impact community relations.
To understand these investigations and officers’ uses of force in the field, the Idaho Press spoke to the Nampa and Meridian police departments.
Read my and Komatoulis' full report online here or find it on the front page of the Sunday/Monday paper.
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https://www.idahopress.com/eyeonboise/treasure-valley-officers-rarely-found-to-violate-use-of-force-policies-an-in-depth-look/article_1cf99c4c-2fc3-11ee-b38c-f7d016d98b68.html
| 2023-07-31T19:06:22
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| 2023-07-31T19:06:29
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DALLAS, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin Hotels Dallas, the 260 room luxury lifestyle hotel located in the Dallas Design District, is proud to announce that it has been honored with the Equity Leadership award presented by D CEO at their annual Nonprofit & Corporate Citizenship award ceremony. The Equity Leadership award is given each year to a corporation in the Dallas community that supports efforts that advance diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Since the hotel opened in 2019, Virgin Hotels Dallas has supported local organizations that champion diversity and equity such as Cafe Momentum, Unlock Potential, and My Possibilities. Through these initiatives, the hotel has been able to provide mentorship and employment opportunities to justice-involved youth as well as adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
"It is an honor for Virgin Hotels Dallas to be recognized as a leader in diversity within the Dallas community," says Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Group. "Creating an inclusive environment where our guests and teammates always feel welcomed to be who they are has always been our priority at Virgin."
Looking ahead, Virgin Hotels Dallas is dedicated to continuing to evolve their diversity program with new partnerships, teammate training, and more. The Dallas Design District boutique hotel is committed to being Autism Double Checked by the end of 2024. According to the online autism training company, over 20 million people are parents to one or more children with autism. Due to the current landscape and lack of autism-friendly travel experiences, 87% of parents of autistic children currently do not travel or take family vacations. However, 93% of parents with autistic children said they would travel if autistic-friendly travel experiences were available.
With the certification, teammates at Virgin Hotels Dallas will undergo neurodiversity training and guests with special needs will receive a detailed visitors guide ahead of their stay that highlights potential sensory issues such as crowds, temperature, noise, body awareness and more.
In addition to the property's Autism Double Checked commitment, Virgin Hotels Dallas will also implement a new policy with Hidden Disabilities that will allow teammates and guests to wear a sunflower lanyard that indicates that they have a non-visible disability and may need more time, assistance, etc.
The brand's commitment to diversity goes beyond external partnerships. Internally, Virgin Hotels strives to hire individuals that are reflective of the world and encompass a variety of racial backgrounds, genders, etc. In an effort to be the most inclusive employer in the hotel industry, Virgin Hotels launched the J.E.D.I program which stands for justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. The idea behind this people-focused approach is to implement new guidelines for community partners, recruitment, and training in a phased approach. Currently, the brand is in its third phase which involves a complete demographic analysis to identify gaps in our workforce. Future phases will include J.E.D.I committees at each hotel, unconscious bias training, and more.
"I am so proud of the team at Virgin Hotels Dallas for leading the charge in diversity within the Dallas community and hospitality industry as a whole," says James Bermingham, Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Hotels Collection. "Their efforts are a testament to the brand's purpose of 'everyone leaves feeling better'. We are so thankful to have an amazing team that prioritizes our dedication to being an inclusive and comfortable environment."
For more information on Virgin Hotels diversity & inclusivity commitment, visit https://virginhotels.com/diversity-and-inclusivity/.
About Virgin Hotels Dallas
Virgin Hotels Dallas is the second property from Virgin Hotels - the lifestyle hospitality brand that combines heartfelt service, straightforward value and a seamless, personalized hotel experience with the track record of innovation and smart disruption that Sir Richard Branson's global Virgin Group has pioneered for 50 years. The property intermixes a passion for food and beverage with music and culture that fuses with the local landscape, providing an inclusive environment for travelers and locals alike. Located in the Dallas Design District on 1445 Turtle Creek Blvd, the hotel features 260 Chambers (rooms) and two Penthouse Suites. Dining and drinking outlets include Commons Club the brand's flagship restaurant and bar, Funny Library Coffee Shop and The Pool Club. Reservations accepted and can be made directly on the hotel's website, www.virginhotels.com/dallas or by calling 469.359.7003.
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| 2023-07-31T19:06:42
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BANGOR -- 14-year-old Olyvea Spade is reported missing.
According to the Bangor Police Department, they officially reported her missing on July 30th.
According to the family, she was last seen around 11:00 p.m. on Friday, July 28th.
Her family realized she was not home the next morning and contacted the police.
There is no known clothing description available.
Olyvea is 14-years-old, described as 5'6'' tall, weighs around 145 lbs., and has black hair with brown eyes, according to the Bangor Police Department official media release.
If anyone has seen, heard, or has any information on Olyvea, authorities ask that you contact Detective Andrea Gurecki by email at andrea.gurecki@bangormaine.gov
To contact the Bangor Police Department call (207) 947-7384.
To leave an anonymous tip call (207) 947-7382, extension 3.
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| 2023-07-31T19:06:44
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WASHINGTON, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States, announces the impending retirement of Chris Thompson as President and CEO, effective May 31, 2024. After a successful tenure of leading the organization, Thompson has decided to step down and pursue life beyond work.
During his time as President and CEO, Thompson has played a pivotal role in promoting the United States as a premier travel destination. Under his leadership, Brand USA has achieved remarkable milestones, including increased international visitation, and enhanced global awareness of the diverse offerings across the country.
Thompson's strategic vision and unwavering commitment to excellence have been instrumental in driving Brand USA's success. His dedication to fostering partnerships with industry stakeholders, government agencies, and international organizations has strengthened the organization's position as a global leader in destination marketing.
"It has been an incredible privilege to serve as President and CEO of Brand USA," said Thompson. "I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together, and I am confident that the organization will continue to thrive under new leadership."
The Brand USA Board of Directors expressed their gratitude to Thompson for his exceptional leadership and significant contributions to the organization. "Under Chris's strategic guidance, the Brand USA team has kept the USA the preferred travel destination in the world", stated Todd Davidson, Chair of the Brand USA Board and CEO of Travel Oregon. "Chris's integrity, tenacity, passion and belief in the power of the travel and tourism industry to bring prosperity to all Americans, fueled the advancement of the US travel and tourism industry and established an organizational foundation of innovation, resiliency and future-focused confidence. We all wish him the very best in his retirement."
The search for a new President and CEO is commencing, and Brand USA is committed to finding a successor who will build upon Thompson's legacy and continue to drive the organization forward. The Board of Directors will work closely with an executive search firm to identify a candidate with the necessary expertise, vision, and passion for promoting the United States as a global travel destination.
About Brand USA
Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States, was established by the Travel Promotion Act as the nation's first public-private partnership to promote the United States as a premier travel destination and to communicate U.S. travel policies and procedures to worldwide travelers. The organization's mission is to increase international visitation to the United States in order to fuel the U.S. economy and enhance the image of the United States worldwide. Formed as the Corporation for Travel Promotion in 2010, the public-private entity began operations in May 2011 and does business as Brand USA. According to studies by Oxford Economics, over the past ten years Brand USA's marketing initiatives have helped welcome 8 million incremental visitors to the United States, benefiting the U.S. economy with more than $58 billion in total economic impact and supporting, on average, more than 37,000 incremental jobs a year.
For industry or partner information about Brand USA, visit TheBrandUSA.com. To discover more about the USA and the boundless diversity of American travel experiences and authentic, rich culture, please visit Brand USA's consumer website VisitTheUSA.com and follow Visit The USA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Contact:
Colleen Mangone
Director, Public Affairs Communications
cmangone@thebrandusa.com
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| 2023-07-31T19:06:48
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STATEWIDE- If you've filled up your car lately you've probably noticed a big jump in what it cost.
According to GasBuddy's survey of more than 1,200 stations around the state, the price rose almost 12 cents a gallon in the last week.
The average price is now $3.75 a gallon.
That's more than 14 cents a gallon higher than a month ago but over 81 cents a gallon lower than a year ago.
Patrick De Haan, Head of Petroleum Analysis at GasBuddy, says " Gas prices suddenly soared over the last week due to heat- related refinery outages that impacted some of the largest refineries in the country."
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https://www.foxbangor.com/news/local/gas-prices-soar-upward/article_a68d03ec-2fc1-11ee-84e2-eb954689f705.html
| 2023-07-31T19:06:50
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LONDON, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CosmosAI, the global smart computing power network project, is making significant strides through negotiations to acquire prominent Nasdaq-listed companies. The discussions focus on acquiring platforms and businesses in diverse sectors like sports betting AI services, smart retail, and intelligent security solutions. These strategic acquisitions are set to accelerate CosmosAI's growth and provide capitalization opportunities for investors.
These ongoing negotiations emphasize CosmosAI's commitment to becoming a transformative force in smart computing networks. Leveraging the expertise and market presence of Nasdaq-listed companies, CosmosAI aims to drive innovation and expand its intelligent connectivity solutions.
In the sports betting AI services industry, the potential acquisition promises to enhance user experiences and streamline betting operations. A Nasdaq-listed sports betting platform would enable CosmosAI to offer cutting-edge solutions for sports enthusiasts and industry stakeholders.
Similarly, in the smart retail sector, the integration of smart computing power can revolutionize the shopping experience. By acquiring a Nasdaq-listed smart retail company, CosmosAI envisions driving advancements in personalized shopping, inventory management, and customer analytics.
Addressing the importance of security, CosmosAI recognizes smart computing's role in safeguarding individuals, businesses, and public spaces. The potential acquisition of a Nasdaq-listed intelligent security firm would enhance CosmosAI's ability to deliver cutting-edge solutions for video analytics, facial recognition, and smart surveillance.
Aligned with its vision of a smarter and connected society, CosmosAI accelerates its development with Nasdaq-listed companies' expertise and resources. Investors can expect enhanced value and returns as CosmosAI expands into new sectors and markets, unlocking significant shareholder value.
CosmosAI remains dedicated to realizing a future of intelligent connectivity and shaping a smart society. The potential acquisitions strengthen CosmosAI's market position and fulfill its mission of revolutionizing global computational resource sharing.
About CosmosAI:
CosmosAI is a global smart computing network project dedicated to building the future of intelligent connectivity. By integrating computing devices worldwide, CosmosAI provides strong and fair computing support for AI development, promoting digitization on a global scale. For more information, please visit the official website: https://ai-cosmo.com
Media Contact:
Nadine Hwu
Email: info@ai-cosmo.com
+1 (937) 551-5555
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| 2023-07-31T19:06:54
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NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Deerpath Capital Management, LP ("Deerpath"), one of the largest private credit managers in the U.S. lower-middle market, has announced the reset and upsize of Deerpath CLO 2020-1, a $403.3 million collateralized loan obligation (CLO).
The CLO was originally sized at $330 million and priced in March 2020. This upsize and repricing represents the eighth CLO issued by Deerpath since 2018 and brings the firm's total CLO assets under management to approximately $2.4 billion.
This is Deerpath's second CLO issuance in 2023, having closed Deerpath CLO 2023-1 at $504 million in March. Like all of the firm's existing CLOs, Deerpath CLO 2020-1 is secured by a portfolio of senior secured loans to middle market, private equity-backed companies, which have been primarily directly originated by the firm.
Deerpath sold securities rated from AAA through BBB- to third-party institutional investors, including insurance companies, pension funds, banks, and asset managers. Deerpath's managed funds purchased 100 percent of the subordinated notes issued by the CLO. The transaction is set to close on July 31, 2023 and the reinvestment period is four (4) years.
Derek Dubois, Managing Director and Treasurer said, "Deerpath has continued to access the CLO market during 2023, despite the ongoing volatility in the broader markets. This is our second CLO transaction of 2023. We are very excited to have locked in attractive long term portfolio financing for our fund investors."
GreensLedge Capital Markets LLC served as Lead Placement Agent, Structuring Agent and Bookrunner. NatWest Markets served as Co-Placement Agent.
About Deerpath Capital Management, LP
Founded in 2007, Deerpath Capital Management, LP is one of the largest providers of customized, cash-flow based senior debt financing to lower-middle market companies across diverse industries. The firm currently manages approximately $6 billion of assets under management. For more information, please visit www.deerpathcapital.com.
Media:
Aidan O'Connor
Prosek Partners (On behalf of Deerpath Capital)
(646) 818-9283
aoconnor@prosek.com
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SOURCE Deerpath Capital Management, LP
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https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/deerpath-capital-successfully-resets-2020-collateralized-loan-obligation/
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IS claims responsibility for deadly suicide bombing at rally that killed 54 in northwest Pakistan
KHAR, Pakistan (AP) — The Islamic State group on Monday claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing in Pakistan that killed at least 54 people including five children at a pro-Taliban cleric’s rally in one of the worst attacks in the country in recent years.
IS, known as the Islamic State in Khorasan Province, made the claim in a statement posted on its Amaq website. The statement said the attack was part of the group’s continuing war against forms of democracy it deems to be against Islam.
Hours earlier, hundreds of mourners in the northwestern town of Bajur carried caskets draped in colorful cloths to burial sites following the previous day’s attack at an election rally for a pro-Taliban cleric.
Officials said Sunday’s bombing killed 54 people, including at least five children, and wounded nearly 200.
The attack appeared to reflect divisions between Islamist groups, which have a strong presence in the district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan. It targeted the Jamiat Ulema Islam party, which has ties to the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban.
At least 1,000 people were crowded into a tent near a market for the rally ahead of fall elections, according to police.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.
Hundreds of mourners in northwestern Pakistan carried caskets draped in colorful cloths to burial sites in the hills Monday after a suicide bombing killed at least 54 people at an election rally for a pro-Taliban cleric.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for Sunday’s bombing in Bajur that killed at least five children and wounded nearly 200 people.
The attack appeared to reflect divisions between Islamist groups, which have a strong presence in the district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan. It targeted the Jamiat Ulema Islam party, which has ties to the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban.
At least 1,000 people, according to police, were crowded into a tent near a market for the rally ahead of fall elections.
“People were chanting God is Great as the leaders arrived,” said Khan Mohammad, a local resident who said he was standing outside the tent, “and that was when I heard the deafening sound of the bomb.”
Mohammad said he heard people crying for help, and minutes later ambulances arrived and began taking the wounded away.
Police said their initial investigation suggested that the Islamic State group’s regional affiliate, a rival of the Taliban, could be responsible, while a Pakistan security analyst pointed to breakaway factions of the Pakistani Taliban as possible suspects.
The Pakistani military spent years fighting the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, in Bajur before declaring the district clear of militants in 2016. But the Jamiat Ulema Islam party, headed by hard-line cleric and politician Fazlur Rehman, has remained a potent political force.
On Monday, police recorded statements from some of the wounded at a hospital in Khar, the district’s principal town.
The Islamic State in Khorasan Province, which police identified as a suspect in the attack, is based in neighboring Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province and is a rival of the Afghan Taliban and al-Qaida.
Pakistani security analyst Mahmood Shah 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.”
On Monday, female relatives and children wailed and beat their chests at family homes as the dead were taken for funerals, following local customs. Hundreds of men followed the caskets to mosques and open areas for special funeral prayers and then into the hills for burial.
As condolences continued to pour in from across the country, dozens of people who had lesser 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 some critically wounded people died in hospital, physician Gul Naseeb said.
Gul Akbar, the father of an 11-year-old boy who was wounded in the attack, told The Associated Press that his entire family was in a state of shock after hearing about the bombing Sunday. He said he first went to the scene of the attack, and later found his son Taslim Khan being treated in a hospital in Khar.
“What would I have done if he had also been martyred? Five children died in this barbaric attack, and we want to know what our children did wrong,” he said.
Rehman’s party is preparing to contest elections, which are expected in October or November. Abdul Rasheed, one of the party’s senior leaders, said the bombing was aimed at weakening the party but that “such attacks cannot deter our resolve.”
Rehman’s party is part of Prime Minister Shehbaz 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. Khan condemned the bombing Sunday, as did the U.S. and Russian embassies in Islamabad.
The Pakistani Taliban also distanced themselves from the bombing, saying that it was intended 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 Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng arrived in Islamabad, where he signed new agreements to boost trade and economic ties to mark a decade of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a sprawling package under which China has invested $10 billion in Pakistan over 10 years, according to Sharif.
“We will not tolerate any obstacles in the way of friendship with China,” Sharif said, as he stood next to He.
But the government canceled a cultural event that had been arranged in honor of He, according to Sharif, while the nation mourns.
Some Chinese nationals have also been targeted by militants in northwestern Pakistan and elsewhere.
Rehman, who has long supported Afghanistan’s Taliban government, survived at least two known bomb attacks in 2011 and 2014, when bombings damaged his car at rallies.
Sunday’s bombing was one of the worst in northwestern Pakistan in the last decade. In 2014, 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.
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Associated Press writer Munir Ahmed contributed to this story from Islamabad.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Cannestra recognized again on the 100-person list, representing the most influential leaders of the corporate venture capital community
SOUTHFIELD, Mich., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Corporate Venturing (GCV), a prominent industry association, has named Tony Cannestra of DENSO to its 2023 Powerlist. Cannestra, who is the director of Corporate Ventures at the leading mobility supplier, has now earned the honor several times, reflecting his many contributions to the corporate venture capital community throughout his 20-plus year career.
GCV releases its powerlist annually to highlight 100 corporate venturing professionals who are, as the association says, "at the top of their profession," out of more than 6,000 corporate venturing units operating globally.
"While I'm grateful for the recognition, DENSO's corporate venturing success stems from the deep collaboration between our internal teams and portfolio companies," said Cannestra. "This approach is especially important as we prioritize early-stage startups. In our work together, we strive to quickly build trust, establish a shared vision and accelerate the development of technology that contributes to a green, safe and more seamless world."
Cannestra has led DENSO's Corporate Venture Capital team for nearly 10 years from the company's Silicon Valley Innovation Center in San Jose, California. During his tenure, he's led the acquisition of a startup and invested in over 25 more.
Though DENSO actively invests in many focus areas – including electrification, connectivity and robotics – Cannestra is particularly interested in the following categories: computer vision technologies, such as advanced radar and LiDAR; next-generation semiconductor technologies; additive manufacturing; and automotive cybersecurity.
He also serves as a board director for a number of DENSO portfolio companies, including Blaize, Canatu, Dellfer, MetaWave and Quadric.
If you want to learn more about DENSO's approach to corporate ventures, or how to get in touch with its team, go here.
For those interested in working at an innovation leader committed to bettering the world through in-house R&D and unique collaborations while offering fulfilling paths to success, visit densocareers.com.
GCV provides the global corporate venturing community and their ecosystem partners with the information, insights and access needed to drive impactful open innovation. Across its services – News & Analysis, Community & Events, and the GCV Institute – the association creates a network-rich environment for global innovation and capital to meet and thrive.
About DENSO
Globally headquartered in Kariya, Japan, DENSO is a $47.9 billion leading mobility supplier that develops advanced technology and components for nearly every vehicle make and model on the road today. With manufacturing at its core, DENSO invests in around 200 facilities worldwide to produce cutting-edge electrification, powertrain, thermal and mobility electronics products, among others, that change how the world moves. In developing such solutions, the company's 165,000 global employees pursue rewarding careers while paving the way to a mobility future that improves lives, eliminates traffic accidents and preserves the environment. DENSO spent around 9.0 percent of its global consolidated sales on research and development in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023. For more information about DENSO's operations worldwide, visit https://www.denso.com/global.
In North America, DENSO is headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, and employs 27,000+ engineers, researchers, and skilled workers across nearly 50 sites in the U.S, Canada and Mexico. In the United States alone, DENSO employs 17,500+ employees across 14 states (and the District of Columbia) at 41 sites. In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, DENSO in North America generated $11.3 billion in consolidated sales. DENSO is committed to advancing diversity and inclusion inside the company and beyond – a principle that brings together unique perspectives, bolsters innovation and pushes DENSO forward. To learn more about DENSO operations in the region and to review current career opportunities, please visit https://www.denso.com/us-ca/en/.
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NAPLES, Fla., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bramshill Investments, an award-winning alternative asset management firm, releases its Monthly Insights: A Closer Look at Office Commercial Real Estate & Investment Opportunities within Securitized Products.
Office properties in the U.S. Commercial Real Estate ("CRE") Market have been garnering much of the attention from the markets and media, especially after the fallout from the regional banking crisis that was largely stemmed earlier in 2023. We wanted to delve deeper into the subject to discuss our thoughts and the potential opportunities within the sector. To begin, we want to discuss the size of the sector and related sub sectors. Below is an overview of how the property types of the U.S. CRE market breaks down across the approximate $10.9 trillion market value. As shown below, Offices represent approximately one quarter of the market as of the end of 2022…
Click here to read the article.
Contact me today to learn more about our report. Bramshill's team of experts is available to answer your questions.
Media Contact:
Danielle Van Calcar
1-646-993-1648
danielle@bramshillinvestments.com
About Bramshill Investments
Bramshill Investments, LLC, is a fixed income investment manager with over $4.4 billion in assets under management (as of (6/30/2023) The firm was co-founded in 2012 by former GLG portfolio manager, Arthur DeGaetano. The team's core investment strategy has an established combined track record of over fourteen years with an absolute return objective that can be accessed through various vehicles. Bramshill also offers other alternative investment strategies. Bramshill is an investment adviser registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration as an investment advisor with the SEC does not imply a certain level of skill or training of Bramshill or its employees. References to awards should not be construed as testimonials for our advisory services. For more information, please visit: https://bramshillinvestments.com.
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https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/bramshill-investments-insights-closer-look-office-commercial-real-estate-amp-investment-opportunities-within-securitized-products/
| 2023-07-31T19:07:10
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Leading HBCU scholarship program to provide 132 incoming college freshmen $40,000 awards
WASHINGTON, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Representatives of The Future of STEM Scholars Initiative (FOSSI) today welcomed 132 new scholarship recipients from 26 states across the nation. The students will begin school at 26 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) this Fall and will major in more than a dozen science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. They join nearly 300 current FOSSI scholarship recipients.
Established in 2020 to help reduce financial barriers to higher education and enhance workforce diversity in the chemical sector, FOSSI provides $40,000 scholarships to students pursuing preferred STEM degrees. Scholarship recipients are individually matched with one of more than 70 corporate sponsors committed to helping them achieve their goals and receive skills training, mentorship, and internship opportunities. Notably, this robust support has led to an approximately 95% student retention rate since FOSSI welcomed its first class in 2021, with those scholars scheduled to graduate in 2025.
FOSSI has an ambitious goal of supporting 1,000 students through 2025 and has raised nearly $30 million to support 595 students to date.
Program leaders welcomed the new scholars during a virtual celebration featuring keynotes from Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC) and Dr. Dietra Trent, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through HBCUs.
FOSSI Advisory Board Chair Jim Fitterling, chair and chief executive officer of Dow, shared, "I am proud to welcome these 132 talented and ambitious scholars to the FOSSI family. From their academic performance to the contributions they have made to their schools and communities, these scholars have distinguished themselves as some of the best and brightest across the nation. We can't wait to see what they accomplish in their chosen fields."
Applications for the Fall of 2024 will open September 22, 2024. To learn more about FOSSI, visit www.FutureOfSTEMScholars.org.
About the Future of STEM Scholars Initiative
The Future of STEM Scholars Initiative was founded in 2020 by the American Chemistry Council, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), The Chemours Company, and the HBCU Week Foundation. FOSSI is a national chemical industry-wide program which provides scholarships to students pursuing degrees in relevant science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), helping to eliminate financial barriers for historically under-represented groups. Sponsored by chemical manufacturers and related industry stakeholders, FOSSI provides scholarship recipients $10,000 per year for four years and connects these students to leadership development, mentoring and internship opportunities at participating companies. Learn more at FutureofSTEMscholars.org.
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SOURCE American Chemistry Council
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https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/future-stem-scholars-initiative-announces-2023-hbcu-scholarship-recipients/
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DALLAS, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin Hotels Dallas, the 260 room luxury lifestyle hotel located in the Dallas Design District, is proud to announce that it has been honored with the Equity Leadership award presented by D CEO at their annual Nonprofit & Corporate Citizenship award ceremony. The Equity Leadership award is given each year to a corporation in the Dallas community that supports efforts that advance diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Since the hotel opened in 2019, Virgin Hotels Dallas has supported local organizations that champion diversity and equity such as Cafe Momentum, Unlock Potential, and My Possibilities. Through these initiatives, the hotel has been able to provide mentorship and employment opportunities to justice-involved youth as well as adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
"It is an honor for Virgin Hotels Dallas to be recognized as a leader in diversity within the Dallas community," says Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Group. "Creating an inclusive environment where our guests and teammates always feel welcomed to be who they are has always been our priority at Virgin."
Looking ahead, Virgin Hotels Dallas is dedicated to continuing to evolve their diversity program with new partnerships, teammate training, and more. The Dallas Design District boutique hotel is committed to being Autism Double Checked by the end of 2024. According to the online autism training company, over 20 million people are parents to one or more children with autism. Due to the current landscape and lack of autism-friendly travel experiences, 87% of parents of autistic children currently do not travel or take family vacations. However, 93% of parents with autistic children said they would travel if autistic-friendly travel experiences were available.
With the certification, teammates at Virgin Hotels Dallas will undergo neurodiversity training and guests with special needs will receive a detailed visitors guide ahead of their stay that highlights potential sensory issues such as crowds, temperature, noise, body awareness and more.
In addition to the property's Autism Double Checked commitment, Virgin Hotels Dallas will also implement a new policy with Hidden Disabilities that will allow teammates and guests to wear a sunflower lanyard that indicates that they have a non-visible disability and may need more time, assistance, etc.
The brand's commitment to diversity goes beyond external partnerships. Internally, Virgin Hotels strives to hire individuals that are reflective of the world and encompass a variety of racial backgrounds, genders, etc. In an effort to be the most inclusive employer in the hotel industry, Virgin Hotels launched the J.E.D.I program which stands for justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. The idea behind this people-focused approach is to implement new guidelines for community partners, recruitment, and training in a phased approach. Currently, the brand is in its third phase which involves a complete demographic analysis to identify gaps in our workforce. Future phases will include J.E.D.I committees at each hotel, unconscious bias training, and more.
"I am so proud of the team at Virgin Hotels Dallas for leading the charge in diversity within the Dallas community and hospitality industry as a whole," says James Bermingham, Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Hotels Collection. "Their efforts are a testament to the brand's purpose of 'everyone leaves feeling better'. We are so thankful to have an amazing team that prioritizes our dedication to being an inclusive and comfortable environment."
For more information on Virgin Hotels diversity & inclusivity commitment, visit https://virginhotels.com/diversity-and-inclusivity/.
About Virgin Hotels Dallas
Virgin Hotels Dallas is the second property from Virgin Hotels - the lifestyle hospitality brand that combines heartfelt service, straightforward value and a seamless, personalized hotel experience with the track record of innovation and smart disruption that Sir Richard Branson's global Virgin Group has pioneered for 50 years. The property intermixes a passion for food and beverage with music and culture that fuses with the local landscape, providing an inclusive environment for travelers and locals alike. Located in the Dallas Design District on 1445 Turtle Creek Blvd, the hotel features 260 Chambers (rooms) and two Penthouse Suites. Dining and drinking outlets include Commons Club the brand's flagship restaurant and bar, Funny Library Coffee Shop and The Pool Club. Reservations accepted and can be made directly on the hotel's website, www.virginhotels.com/dallas or by calling 469.359.7003.
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Growing Mobile Storage Brand Looks to Build Off Impressive Start to 2023 with Continued National Expansion
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Go Mini's - the portable storage franchise that offers containers for moving, storage, renovation, and restoration needs - has seen consistent growth throughout the first half of 2023 as the brand looks to continue the momentum for the remainder of the year. With six new Go Mini's territories awarded in 2023 already, the brand looks to further expand and bring portable storage solution to communities across the nation. In the second half of the year, Go Mini's expects to sign more franchise deals, further expanding the brands footprint, as well as further execute and implement the brands new long distance moving service, Go MINI's Miles. In addition, the brand is looking to further invest in their growing franchisee network by expanding and investing in robust advertising strategies to increase consumer traffic.
"What we have accomplished as a brand up to this point has been remarkable," said Go Mini's CEO and President, Chris Walls. "The conceptualization and gradual implementation of Go MINI's Miles was a turning point for our brand this year as we aim to further expand throughout the nation and service more customers with their moving and portable storage needs. I am tremendously proud of everyone within our network for their commitment and determination to making Go Mini's a growing national brand that continues to get stronger."
To further its development and success into 2024, the brand is looking at new ways in which they can utilize the existing trucks and containers to innovate with the industry. With the addition of new and robust marketing strategies, Go Mini's looks to cement themselves as a leader within the moving and portable storage industry.
Go Mini's offers a complete support system for their franchisees who have everything they need to hit the ground running, including a proprietary operating system. Each territory is protected with no need for a warehouse or retail space due to the product's superior construction and durability in all outdoor conditions. The business model requires minimal staffing with a simple concept, and the corporate office works closely with owners to analyze and fully understand their market's potential to maximize profits. Go Mini's is one of the few franchised portable storage concepts where franchisees benefit from a scalable opportunity to operate as a locally owned company with deep ties to the communities they serve.
"Today, with the ever-changing housing market and continued economic uncertainty, portable storage services remain in-demand," continued Walls. "As the industry grows, Go Mini's has the necessary infrastructure and systems to keep pace and provide customers with the best experience possible. Our continued success is dependent on our franchisee's success, so we have created a business model that is designed to thrive in any market. We are looking forward to the second half of the year and hope to end just as successfully as we began."
Go Mini's currently has 114 locations throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico with additional available territories. For more information on franchising with Go Mini's, visit: https://www.gominisfranchise.com/
About Go Mini's:
Founded in 2002, Go Mini's® has become one of the fastest-growing portable storage and moving companies in North America with locations in 41 states in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In 2012, the brand converted into a franchise model and now has 114 locations within the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Go Mini's is proud to have been recognized by Franchise Business Review as a Top Franchise in 2017, as well as being ranked 16th by Entrepreneur Magazine in their list of 2017's Top New Franchises. Go Mini's Franchising LLC. was recently named a Top Franchise for 2023 by Franchise Business Review. Got a Project? Get a Mini. For more information, please go to https://www.gominis.com/.
Contact: Hunter Devereux, Franchise Elevator PR, (914) 486-0330, hdevereux@franchiseelevator.com
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WASHINGTON, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States, announces the impending retirement of Chris Thompson as President and CEO, effective May 31, 2024. After a successful tenure of leading the organization, Thompson has decided to step down and pursue life beyond work.
During his time as President and CEO, Thompson has played a pivotal role in promoting the United States as a premier travel destination. Under his leadership, Brand USA has achieved remarkable milestones, including increased international visitation, and enhanced global awareness of the diverse offerings across the country.
Thompson's strategic vision and unwavering commitment to excellence have been instrumental in driving Brand USA's success. His dedication to fostering partnerships with industry stakeholders, government agencies, and international organizations has strengthened the organization's position as a global leader in destination marketing.
"It has been an incredible privilege to serve as President and CEO of Brand USA," said Thompson. "I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together, and I am confident that the organization will continue to thrive under new leadership."
The Brand USA Board of Directors expressed their gratitude to Thompson for his exceptional leadership and significant contributions to the organization. "Under Chris's strategic guidance, the Brand USA team has kept the USA the preferred travel destination in the world", stated Todd Davidson, Chair of the Brand USA Board and CEO of Travel Oregon. "Chris's integrity, tenacity, passion and belief in the power of the travel and tourism industry to bring prosperity to all Americans, fueled the advancement of the US travel and tourism industry and established an organizational foundation of innovation, resiliency and future-focused confidence. We all wish him the very best in his retirement."
The search for a new President and CEO is commencing, and Brand USA is committed to finding a successor who will build upon Thompson's legacy and continue to drive the organization forward. The Board of Directors will work closely with an executive search firm to identify a candidate with the necessary expertise, vision, and passion for promoting the United States as a global travel destination.
About Brand USA
Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States, was established by the Travel Promotion Act as the nation's first public-private partnership to promote the United States as a premier travel destination and to communicate U.S. travel policies and procedures to worldwide travelers. The organization's mission is to increase international visitation to the United States in order to fuel the U.S. economy and enhance the image of the United States worldwide. Formed as the Corporation for Travel Promotion in 2010, the public-private entity began operations in May 2011 and does business as Brand USA. According to studies by Oxford Economics, over the past ten years Brand USA's marketing initiatives have helped welcome 8 million incremental visitors to the United States, benefiting the U.S. economy with more than $58 billion in total economic impact and supporting, on average, more than 37,000 incremental jobs a year.
For industry or partner information about Brand USA, visit TheBrandUSA.com. To discover more about the USA and the boundless diversity of American travel experiences and authentic, rich culture, please visit Brand USA's consumer website VisitTheUSA.com and follow Visit The USA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Contact:
Colleen Mangone
Director, Public Affairs Communications
cmangone@thebrandusa.com
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SOURCE Brand USA
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https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/chris-thompson-announces-retirement-president-ceo-brand-usa/
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All sales help support Certified B Corp Best for the World™ company's effort to plant 4,000 avocado trees in El Salvador.
LOS ANGELES, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of National Avocado Day, Avocado Green — makers of certified organic and eco-luxury products — launched an epic sale, with up to $400 off mattresses, as well as savings on reclaimed wood bed frames, adjustable bed frames, organic certified linen sheets and pillows, certified organic towels, luxurious loungewear, and clean skin + body products.
As part of Avocado's Giving initiative, through which they donate 1% of all revenue to nonprofits through 1% For the Planet, all sales during the Avocado Day sale will support the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation's effort to plant 4,000 fruit trees in the central region of El Salvador.
For today only, customers can save up to $400 on Avocado's top-rated GOTS-certified organic Green and Vegan Mattress. Shoppers will also save 20% on all bedding, including Avocado's exceptionally soft, naturally breathable, GOTS-certified organic sheets, duvet covers, pillowcases, and protectors. Avocado's Supercharged Reishi Body Melt and Alpaca Sweater Collection are 30% off and their Fleece Lounge Collection and GOTS-certified (CU863637) Organic Cotton Collection — sustainable, cozy layering pieces — are 50% off.
Over the five years Avocado has supported the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation for National Avocado Day, they've planted more than 14,000 fruit trees together, primarily in Latin America, where demand for sustainable livelihoods for farmers and low-income households is greater than ever.
"Working with Avocado has been a joy, allowing our shared visions of a greener and fairer future to come to fruition," said Lizzy Rainey, Development Manager for FTPF. "Food-producing trees, including avocados, are a simple yet very effective way to address environmental, economic, and nutritional injustices all at once."
As a Climate Neutral Certified brand — and one of B Corp's "Best for the World™" brands — Avocado reduces its footprint, invests in climate change solutions to compensate for its cradle-to-consumer emissions, and advocates for legislation that will help mitigate the climate crisis.
From the beginning, Avocado just wanted a new kind of mattress. One that was greener — better for people and the planet — affordable, and comfortable. It was a simple idea rooted in a much bigger vision. Five years later, Avocado continues to expand — from bedding, to furniture, to their skin + bath collection, and their line of responsible loungewear. As the company grows, Avocado continues to redefine what it means to be a sustainable, ethical brand. The company is a Certified B Corporation, a Climate Neutral® Certified business, and a member of 1% For the Planet, remaining true to its original purpose: to be one of the most sustainable companies on Earth. Learn more at AvocadoGreen.com.
If you would like more information, please contact Jessica Hann at jessica@avocadomattress.com.
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SOURCE Avocado Green Mattress
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https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/happy-national-avocado-day-celebrate-with-avocado-greens-sitewide-sale/
| 2023-07-31T19:07:26
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United Way hands out 3,000 backpacks, school supplies to help Greenville County students
United Way of Greenville County handed out 3,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to students Saturday at its annual School Tools Day.
Families and students gathered at Staunton Bridge Community Center to receive free backpacks, school supplies and community resources.
“It’s truly inspiring to watch this community join together to serve our neighbors,” United Way of Greenville County President and CEO Meghan Barp said in a press release. “Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of our donors, volunteers and partners, thousands of students will start the school year with the tools they need to achieve their full potential.”
SC Tax Free Weekend is coming soon:Here's what to know and eligible items for purchase.
School Tools is a community initiative with a host of volunteers serving in the weeks leading up to the distribution day, according to the press release. United Way supporters pitched in to fund additional supplies, and local companies hosted their own donation drives.
United Way also provided free food from local food trucks, and health services from South Carolina DHEC and sponsored a fare-free day for the entire Greenlink bus network.
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https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/education/2023/07/31/united-way-gives-out-backpacks-supplies-to-help-greenville-students/70496911007/
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Is that a piccolo peeking out from behind the library check-out desk? Could that be a tenor tip-toeing through the turn-styles?
Classical orchestral music and opera programs for families have been popping up at local libraries this summer, performing free mini-concerts for audiences ranging in age from senior citizens to 2-year-olds in strollers equipped with sippy cups.
These concerts represent a departure from the libraries’ well-established reputation as hallowed halls of silence, where the only sound ever heard was the occasional snap of a page being turned.
At least two arts groups have brought classical orchestra music and operas to libraries this summer:
The Annapolis Opera is presenting 14 “Stories Through Music” concerts in Anne Arundel County libraries from late June through early August. The program, which is aimed at youngsters ages 6 to 10, explains the plots behind operas, biblical spirituals and art songs (a form of classical music composed for a singer and piano and often sung in German.)
“I’m a tenor,” Brandon Lockhart told a few dozen young audience members recently at the Michael E. Busch Annapolis Library. “In opera, tenors tend to be the lover boys and the good guys. We’re always trying to rescue somebody.”
Then Lockhart opened his mouth and belted out an aria from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “The Maple Flute” that demonstrated quite persuasively what a hero sounds like.
Meanwhile, children in Cecil and Frederick counties were learning how musical instruments can be played to mimic the chirps and growls and meows of different animals in Sergei Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf.”
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and its musicians’ foundation sent a woodwind quintet and the spoken word artist Wordsmith to perform the 45-minute comic kids’ classic as part of the symphony’s Music for Maryland summer tour, which will bring the BSO to every county in the state over three years.
Taking the concert out of the hall
On a recent late afternoon, a meeting room at the Elkton Branch Library filled with families eager to hear the story of how clever Peter defeated the Big Bad W with the help of some friends: a bird (the flute), a duck (the oboe), a cat (the clarinet) and his grumpy grandfather (a bassoon.)
As Beth Graham played the menacing strains of the wolf on her French horn, a young girl in the first row, her face alert and alive, turned to her friends and pulled her hands up to her shoulders, forming them into the shape of claws. Another girl in a pink shirt began to dance in the aisle.
Mazie Converse, 10, of Newark, Delaware, watched with rapt concentration as Marcia McHugh executed tricky trills on her flute.
“That’s really hard,” said Maisie, who has recently began taking flute lessons. “She’s really good.”
Brian Prechtl, the symphony’s interim director of education and community engagement, hopes to integrate more family-friendly activities into the summer tours in future years.
He said there’s a growing realization in the classical music field that concert halls — despite the pristine acoustics that showcase the deep and rich sound of an orchestra performing at its best — can actually be a barrier to attendance.
Instead of expecting audiences to take the time, effort and spend the money to visit symphony halls, Prechtl said there’s an increased emphasis on taking the orchestra to places where people naturally congregate: libraries or churches or high school auditoriums. Perhaps the acoustics can’t always compare. But the trade-off is worth it.
“People look at classical music as something that takes place over there,” Prechtl said, and gestured with his arm towards someplace far away and practically out of view.
“They look at classical music as something that is for someone else. But, we want to [reach] everyone. We’ve got to help people see that what we do can be a part of their daily lives.”
‘This is not your grandmother’s library’
But of all the possible places to hold a music concert, a library might be the most unexpected.
Everyone expects people to make noise in a high school gym, or a public park. But in a library, where the norm has always been hush-hush? Not so much.
So ingrained is this social rule that it was affectionately satirized in Meredith Wilson’s 1957 musical, “The Music Man.”
In one of the musical’s best-known songs, “Marian the Librarian,” the character of Professor Harold Hill jokes that he’ll forever be prevented from declaring his feelings to the woman he loves, because he must conduct his courtship inside her workplace.
“It’s a long-lost cause I can never win,” Hill sings, “For the civilized world accepts as unforgivable sin / Talking out loud with any librarian / Such as Marian.”
But those were the old days, according to Christine Feldmann, director of communications for the Busch Annapolis Library. She is quite sure that Harold Hill wouldn’t run into the same roadblocks in 2023.
“This is not your grandmother’s library,” she said. “You are encouraged to come to our library and to eat and drink at our library. You can even make joyful noises in our library.”
That’s good to know, since opera singers are famed for their ability to project their voices to the back row of a 2,500-seat concert hall without a microphone.
Dnazha Mason, 24, brought four children to the Annapolis opera concert, including her two-year-old daughter, Treasure Stevenson. Mason said she doesn’t know much about opera, but always thought it was beautiful. She wanted to expose the youngsters to something they didn’t encounter every day.
And indeed, Treasure, reclining in her stroller like a young queen, opened her mouth wide in a perfect oval just after Lockhart opened his mouth to propel Mozart’s music to the back of the room. When Lockhart closed his mouth, Treasure closed her mouth, too.
And when the song ended and Treasure’s brother and cousin began to clap, Treasure put down her bottle and clapped along with them.
One minute later, Treasure’s head lolled to one side and she was fast asleep.
“She was really engaged,” Mason said. “She hung in there for as long as she could.”
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https://www.capitalgazette.com/entertainment/bs-fe-classical-kids-libraries-20230731-ojezd4xi3ravdfgwhhz63fp43a-story.html
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LONDON, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CosmosAI, the global smart computing power network project, is making significant strides through negotiations to acquire prominent Nasdaq-listed companies. The discussions focus on acquiring platforms and businesses in diverse sectors like sports betting AI services, smart retail, and intelligent security solutions. These strategic acquisitions are set to accelerate CosmosAI's growth and provide capitalization opportunities for investors.
These ongoing negotiations emphasize CosmosAI's commitment to becoming a transformative force in smart computing networks. Leveraging the expertise and market presence of Nasdaq-listed companies, CosmosAI aims to drive innovation and expand its intelligent connectivity solutions.
In the sports betting AI services industry, the potential acquisition promises to enhance user experiences and streamline betting operations. A Nasdaq-listed sports betting platform would enable CosmosAI to offer cutting-edge solutions for sports enthusiasts and industry stakeholders.
Similarly, in the smart retail sector, the integration of smart computing power can revolutionize the shopping experience. By acquiring a Nasdaq-listed smart retail company, CosmosAI envisions driving advancements in personalized shopping, inventory management, and customer analytics.
Addressing the importance of security, CosmosAI recognizes smart computing's role in safeguarding individuals, businesses, and public spaces. The potential acquisition of a Nasdaq-listed intelligent security firm would enhance CosmosAI's ability to deliver cutting-edge solutions for video analytics, facial recognition, and smart surveillance.
Aligned with its vision of a smarter and connected society, CosmosAI accelerates its development with Nasdaq-listed companies' expertise and resources. Investors can expect enhanced value and returns as CosmosAI expands into new sectors and markets, unlocking significant shareholder value.
CosmosAI remains dedicated to realizing a future of intelligent connectivity and shaping a smart society. The potential acquisitions strengthen CosmosAI's market position and fulfill its mission of revolutionizing global computational resource sharing.
About CosmosAI:
CosmosAI is a global smart computing network project dedicated to building the future of intelligent connectivity. By integrating computing devices worldwide, CosmosAI provides strong and fair computing support for AI development, promoting digitization on a global scale. For more information, please visit the official website: https://ai-cosmo.com
Media Contact:
Nadine Hwu
Email: info@ai-cosmo.com
+1 (937) 551-5555
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2166180/CosmosAI.jpg
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#1 Lottery App's* New Feature Allows Users to Enter Exclusive Giveaways
NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Jackpocket, America's #1 lottery app*, is turning 10! To celebrate, Jackpocket is giving fans the chance to win an all-inclusive trip to attend the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada on Friday, September 22 and Saturday, September 23, 2023.
Jackpocket and iHeartRadio are teaming up to send one lucky winner and a guest to watch iconic performances at the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Festival at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The full lineup can be viewed here. The prize package includes:
- 2 VIP tickets to both nights of the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Festival
- 2 round-trip flights to Las Vegas, Nevada
- 2 nights' stay at New York-New York Hotel & Casino
- Ground transportation to and from Las Vegas airport
- $500 gift card for food, beverage, and other expenses
To enter, visit the Giveaways section of the app by tapping the Gold Ticket on the Jackpocket home screen and activate the iHeartRadio Vegas Getaway. This new app feature allows users to earn an entry for every $1 spent on Jackpocket lottery ticket orders—up to 100 entries per day. The number on the Gold Ticket counter is personalized to the user, showing them their total number of entries for all their activated Giveaways. No purchase is necessary to enter.
"It's amazing to see how much Jackpocket has grown and innovated over the past 10 years to bring lottery fans a convenient and accessible way to participate in their favorite games," said Peter Sullivan, Jackpocket founder and CEO. "Our new Giveaways feature lets Jackpocket users enter to win prizes and experiences like never before. Even if your Powerball ticket doesn't win a lottery prize, it could still win you a trip to Vegas, VIP sports tickets, and more. It's all part of our goal to give lottery fans the very best user experience possible."
The winner of the iHeartRadio Vegas Getaway will be randomly selected on or about August 31, 2023 and announced in September. For more information, including free entry methods and complete Official Rules, visit: https://jackpocket.com/sweepstakes/iheartradio-vegas-getaway/.
Founded in 2013, Jackpocket is the first-licensed lottery courier app in the United States. Now available in 17 states, Jackpocket provides an easy, secure way to order official state lottery tickets. Over $300 million in total lottery prizes have been won by Jackpocket users to date. In July, an Ohio Powerball winner became the 30th person to win a lottery prize worth $1 million or more using the Jackpocket app.
*According to data from AppFollow.
**ABBREVIATED RULES. No purchase necessary. A purchase does not increase your odds of winning. Must be 18+ (21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE) and physically present in AR, AZ, CO, ID, MA, MN, MT, NE, NH, NM, NJ, NY, OH, OR, TX, WV or D.C. to enter. Void where prohibited. Entries require a valid Jackpocket account and accounts are subject to the full terms of service at jackpocket.com/tos. Registering for a Jackpocket account is free. See Official Rules for details. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, residents of NY call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369); residents of MA call 1-800-327-5050; residents of OR call 1-877-MYLIMIT; all others, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
About Jackpocket
Jackpocket is on a mission to create a more convenient, fun, and responsible way to take part in the lottery. The first licensed third-party lottery courier app in the United States, Jackpocket provides an easy, secure way to order official state lottery tickets. Jackpocket is currently available in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington D.C., and West Virginia, and is expanding to many new markets. Download the app on iOS and Android or participate via desktop. Follow along on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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Alex Murdaugh accomplice Russell Laffitte to be sentenced; Feds seek at least 10 years
- On Nov. 22, former Hampton banker was convicted in federal court for his role in the Alex Murdaugh crime saga.
- Laffitte is set for sentencing at 10 a.m. Tuesday in federal court in Charleston.
- The federal government is seeking a prison sentence ranging from 9 to 11 years.
- Laffitte is asking the court for mercy, despite claims from prosecutors that he shows little remorse.
For years, Palmetto State Bank officer Russell Laffitte decided who in Hampton County was worthy of getting loans from his family's deep coffers, all the while making back-door deals with accused fraudster and convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh and helping himself to vulnerable people's money.
On Tuesday, Laffitte, the disgraced and convicted heir to the century-old Laffitte banking mini-empire, will face the federal government and be sentenced for his crimes. Federal prosecutors are seeking to give him at least a decade in federal prison for his financial transgressions.
But Laffitte, convicted on multiple federal crimes, is pleading with the court for a reduced sentence, despite the fact that prosecutors say he is showing no remorse for his actions.
Here is what you need to know ahead of Tuesday's sentencing hearing, which is set for 10 a.m. at the U. S. District Court House in Charleston.
Who is Russell Laffitte, and how is he connected to the Murdaugh crime saga?
Russell Laffitte, former Palmetto State Bank CEO, is a member of a South Carolina banking family that traces its roots back more than a century and owns banks in several S.C. Lowcountry counties.
In 2022, Laffitte was accused of bank fraud, conspiracy, and other crimes in connection with Alex Murdaugh's decade-long, multi-million financial crime spree. He was terminated from the bank in January of 2022 then charged with state and federal crimes later that year.
On Nov. 22, 2023, Laffitte was convicted on federal charges that included bank and wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit those frauds. His appeals have twice been denied.
What sentence is the federal government seeking for Russell Laffitte?
On July 27, federal prosecutors filed a 35-page sentencing memorandum requesting that Laffitte be sentenced to a term ranging from 108 to 135 months (9 years to 11.25 years). There is usually no option for parole or early release in federal prisons.
Here are some highlights from that extensive court filing:
- Laffitte repeatedly shows "a continued unwillingness to accept any responsibility for his actions or acknowledge the harm his actions have inflicted on the victims," say federal prosecutors.
- The federal government claims that Laffitte and "his coconspirator Alex Murdaugh were held responsible for at least $3,784,368.98 in loss" from victims, but Laffitte disputes those numbers.
- Laffitte and Murdaugh allegedly defrauded vulnerable people, including a "quadriplegic car accident victim livingin a nursing home," cites the court filing.
- Laffitte "used and abused his position of power and trust to exploit unusually vulnerable victims in a complex scheme of deception and concealment. And when faced with the inevitable discovery of his and Murdaugh’s scheme, the Defendant engaged in a desperate yet elaborate attempt to cover it up."
- Many of Murdaugh's thefts would not have been possible without Laffitte's assistance, say prosecutors. In fact, they go on to claim, Laffitte is the only person that could have stopped him.
- Laffitte allegedly lied under oath four times and refuses to take responsibility for his actions, states the sentencing memorandum.
What is Russell Laffitte's plan of defense?
Laffitte disputes the government's calculations of the financial extent of his crimes, as well as calculations for how much prison time he is entitled to.
On July 31, Laffitte's attorneys filed a motion with the federal courts seeking a "downward variance" in Laffitte's prison sentence and financial compensation to victims.
Follow the Greenville News/USA Today's coverage on this sentencing hearing Tuesday afternoon. Follow Michael DeWitt's reporting on the Murdaugh crime saga, and follow him on Facebook and Twitter at @mmdewittjr
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https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/south-carolina/2023/07/31/alex-murdaugh-saga-russell-laffitte-sentencing-updates-charleston-sc/70497613007/
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A former Baltimore County official convicted of stealing over $110,000 from a former county council member will serve six months in county jail after a judge sentenced him Monday afternoon.
William “Chris” McCollum, the former Baltimore County Deputy Economic Development Director, appeared in Baltimore County Circuit Court in Towson two months after pleading guilty to two counts of theft and perjury.
Judge Robert Cahill sentenced him to five years with all but six months suspended for both counts, which McCollum will serve concurrently. He is set to report to court on Sept. 18.
Cahill said the punishment would deter future potential offenders, and cited McCollum’s life “advantages” as factors for handing him a jail sentence.
“The next treasurer who decides to get sticky fingers ... will realize they’re going to jail, at least in this jurisdiction,” Cahill said.
“The judge imposed a sentence he thought was fair. Our client will make the best of it as he can,” said Andrew Graham, McCollum’s attorney.
McCollum declined to comment after the hearing on Monday.
State Prosecutor Charlton T. Howard charged McCollum in February with using his position as campaign treasurer to siphon over $140,000 from the Baltimore County Victory Slate and from a reelection campaign for former County Councilwoman Cathy Bevins, a Middle River Democrat.
McCollum said at his plea hearing that he had paid back $125,000 to both campaigns and asked to participate in a work release program while confined to home detention, according to Irwin.
Afternoon Update
Howard initially charged McCollum with theft, embezzlement and perjury for using funds from both Friends of Cathy Bevins and the Baltimore County Victory Slate to pay for steak dinners, credit card bills, and vacations to Iceland, Florida, and Puerto Rico.
Bevins gave a victim impact statement to the court on Monday, testifying that McCollum’s actions had shattered her trust in him.
“After 14 months, I sit here in disbelief. I have forgiven you,” she said to McCollum. “You have lost a true friend and confidant. You have lost and broken the trust of many, more than you’ll ever realize.”
“It’s been a long year,” she said after the hearing. “I’m confident in the judge’s judgment. [McCollum’s] life is crap now.”
Former County Executive Jim Smith founded the Victory slate as a finance vehicle to elect Democrats like current Council Chair Julian Jones Jr., County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. and House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones.
“We were glad to see justice served in this matter,” Olszewski said in a statement after McCollum’s sentencing.
The slate still listed McCollum as its treasurer as of Monday, and was cited by the State Board of Elections in June for not resubmitting amended campaign reports.
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| 2023-07-31T19:07:33
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NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Deerpath Capital Management, LP ("Deerpath"), one of the largest private credit managers in the U.S. lower-middle market, has announced the reset and upsize of Deerpath CLO 2020-1, a $403.3 million collateralized loan obligation (CLO).
The CLO was originally sized at $330 million and priced in March 2020. This upsize and repricing represents the eighth CLO issued by Deerpath since 2018 and brings the firm's total CLO assets under management to approximately $2.4 billion.
This is Deerpath's second CLO issuance in 2023, having closed Deerpath CLO 2023-1 at $504 million in March. Like all of the firm's existing CLOs, Deerpath CLO 2020-1 is secured by a portfolio of senior secured loans to middle market, private equity-backed companies, which have been primarily directly originated by the firm.
Deerpath sold securities rated from AAA through BBB- to third-party institutional investors, including insurance companies, pension funds, banks, and asset managers. Deerpath's managed funds purchased 100 percent of the subordinated notes issued by the CLO. The transaction is set to close on July 31, 2023 and the reinvestment period is four (4) years.
Derek Dubois, Managing Director and Treasurer said, "Deerpath has continued to access the CLO market during 2023, despite the ongoing volatility in the broader markets. This is our second CLO transaction of 2023. We are very excited to have locked in attractive long term portfolio financing for our fund investors."
GreensLedge Capital Markets LLC served as Lead Placement Agent, Structuring Agent and Bookrunner. NatWest Markets served as Co-Placement Agent.
About Deerpath Capital Management, LP
Founded in 2007, Deerpath Capital Management, LP is one of the largest providers of customized, cash-flow based senior debt financing to lower-middle market companies across diverse industries. The firm currently manages approximately $6 billion of assets under management. For more information, please visit www.deerpathcapital.com.
Media:
Aidan O'Connor
Prosek Partners (On behalf of Deerpath Capital)
(646) 818-9283
aoconnor@prosek.com
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| 2023-07-31T19:07:37
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CANTON, Ohio, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Liberty HealthShare® is blessed to be an exhibitor at the Assemblies of God 60th General Council to be held July 31 through August 4 in Columbus, Ohio.
Ministers, church delegates and college presidents from across the country are expected to attend the Pentecostal Christian church's biennial gathering to worship, vote in legislative sessions and attend workshops.
"We are excited to have the opportunity to take part in the Assemblies of God General Council and be in fellowship with people of faith, sharing information about the biblical values of our ministry and how Liberty HealthShare might help them choose more-affordable healthcare options," said Pastor Wes Humble, Liberty HealthShare's executive director of Ministry, Community Relations and Events.
Liberty HealthShare is a non-profit 501(c) (3) charitable Christian medical cost-sharing ministry focused on members helping each other in times of need. The faith-based program, which facilitates healthsharing for its members, is a caring community of health-conscious individuals and families who choose to support one another and agree to the Christian values of stewardship to make healthcare affordable for all.
As it is not insurance, Liberty HealthShare enrollment is available year-round with no requirement for special life events to qualify. For more information about its healthcare sharing programs visit libertyhealthshare.org or call (855) 585-4237.
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| 2023-07-31T19:07:38
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South Carolina football gets commitment from 2024 3-star WR Zy'marion Lang
Cardinal Mooney (Florida) wide receiver Zy'marion Lang, a three-star recruit in the Class of 2024, committed to South Carolina football, he announced in a ceremony on Sunday.
Lang committed to the Gamecocks over Kansas State, Pitt and South Florida. He officially visited South Carolina on June 23, according to 247Sports.
Lang is ranked the No. 78 wide receiver of the 2024 class, and the No. 76 player in the state of Florida, according to 247Sports. He caught 28 passes for 470 yards and five touchdowns last season, according to MaxPreps.
He is the 14th commitment in the Gamecocks' 2024 class and the second wide receiver commitment (Greenville High School's Mazeo Bennett).
South Carolina's 2024 class is ranked No. 24 overall in 247Sports' rankings and has more commitments from four-star prospects than three-star.
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https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/sports/college/usc/2023/07/30/zymarion-lang-commitment-south-carolina-football-recruiting/70494464007/
| 2023-07-31T19:07:39
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Cannestra recognized again on the 100-person list, representing the most influential leaders of the corporate venture capital community
SOUTHFIELD, Mich., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Corporate Venturing (GCV), a prominent industry association, has named Tony Cannestra of DENSO to its 2023 Powerlist. Cannestra, who is the director of Corporate Ventures at the leading mobility supplier, has now earned the honor several times, reflecting his many contributions to the corporate venture capital community throughout his 20-plus year career.
GCV releases its powerlist annually to highlight 100 corporate venturing professionals who are, as the association says, "at the top of their profession," out of more than 6,000 corporate venturing units operating globally.
"While I'm grateful for the recognition, DENSO's corporate venturing success stems from the deep collaboration between our internal teams and portfolio companies," said Cannestra. "This approach is especially important as we prioritize early-stage startups. In our work together, we strive to quickly build trust, establish a shared vision and accelerate the development of technology that contributes to a green, safe and more seamless world."
Cannestra has led DENSO's Corporate Venture Capital team for nearly 10 years from the company's Silicon Valley Innovation Center in San Jose, California. During his tenure, he's led the acquisition of a startup and invested in over 25 more.
Though DENSO actively invests in many focus areas – including electrification, connectivity and robotics – Cannestra is particularly interested in the following categories: computer vision technologies, such as advanced radar and LiDAR; next-generation semiconductor technologies; additive manufacturing; and automotive cybersecurity.
He also serves as a board director for a number of DENSO portfolio companies, including Blaize, Canatu, Dellfer, MetaWave and Quadric.
If you want to learn more about DENSO's approach to corporate ventures, or how to get in touch with its team, go here.
For those interested in working at an innovation leader committed to bettering the world through in-house R&D and unique collaborations while offering fulfilling paths to success, visit densocareers.com.
GCV provides the global corporate venturing community and their ecosystem partners with the information, insights and access needed to drive impactful open innovation. Across its services – News & Analysis, Community & Events, and the GCV Institute – the association creates a network-rich environment for global innovation and capital to meet and thrive.
About DENSO
Globally headquartered in Kariya, Japan, DENSO is a $47.9 billion leading mobility supplier that develops advanced technology and components for nearly every vehicle make and model on the road today. With manufacturing at its core, DENSO invests in around 200 facilities worldwide to produce cutting-edge electrification, powertrain, thermal and mobility electronics products, among others, that change how the world moves. In developing such solutions, the company's 165,000 global employees pursue rewarding careers while paving the way to a mobility future that improves lives, eliminates traffic accidents and preserves the environment. DENSO spent around 9.0 percent of its global consolidated sales on research and development in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023. For more information about DENSO's operations worldwide, visit https://www.denso.com/global.
In North America, DENSO is headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, and employs 27,000+ engineers, researchers, and skilled workers across nearly 50 sites in the U.S, Canada and Mexico. In the United States alone, DENSO employs 17,500+ employees across 14 states (and the District of Columbia) at 41 sites. In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, DENSO in North America generated $11.3 billion in consolidated sales. DENSO is committed to advancing diversity and inclusion inside the company and beyond – a principle that brings together unique perspectives, bolsters innovation and pushes DENSO forward. To learn more about DENSO operations in the region and to review current career opportunities, please visit https://www.denso.com/us-ca/en/.
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Award Recognizes Exemplary Commitment to Transportation Safety
BRUSLY, La., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM), a national organization whose members include the most senior fire officials in the United States, is delighted to honor ExxonMobil with the esteemed Norman Y. Mineta Excellence in Transportation Safety Award.
The ExxonMobil organization is recognized for having one of the safest years in Exxon Mobil Pipeline Company's (EMPCo) history and their industry-leading safety preparations for the upcoming buildout of a network of CO2 and H2 pipelines. By empowering personnel to identify and strengthen critical safeguards to mitigate risk in potential consequence areas, ExxonMobil takes on the challenge of emerging fuels pipelines and storage facilities while maintaining exceptional safety standards.
The Norman Y. Mineta Excellence in Transportation Safety Award is an honor awarded to individuals or organizations who have shown a significant and lasting contribution to product, material and human safety. Named after its first recipient, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta, the award recognizes achievements in transportation safety standards that exceed the minimum requirements.
"The way ExxonMobil engages with fire fighters is a great example of how companies and first responders should work together to yield the highest level of public safety and awareness," said Chief Butch Browning, NASFM Executive Director.
"It is an honor to receive this award on behalf of ExxonMobil. We are proud that our focus on safety and operational excellence is recognized by one of our most important stakeholders, first responders," said Steve Yatauro, ExxonMobil Pipeline Company President.
Since 2005, 11 organizations or individuals have received the Norman Y. Mineta Excellence in Transportation Safety Award. ExxonMobil's recognition marks the first award since Former NASFM Presidents and State Fire Marshal Bill Degnan in 2016.
The award was presented to EMPCo VP of Operations Saul Flota at the NASFM Annual Conference on July 31, 2023, in Wilmington, North Carolina.
For more information, visit the NASFM website at firemarshals.org.
About the National Association of State Fire Marshalls:
The principal membership of NASFM comprises the senior fire officials in the United States and their top deputies. The primary mission of NASFM is to protect human life, property and the environment from fire and related hazards. A secondary mission of NASFM is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of State Fire Marshals' operations.
CONTACT:
Philip Oakes
Chief of Operations and Training
phil@browning.red
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Leading HBCU scholarship program to provide 132 incoming college freshmen $40,000 awards
WASHINGTON, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Representatives of The Future of STEM Scholars Initiative (FOSSI) today welcomed 132 new scholarship recipients from 26 states across the nation. The students will begin school at 26 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) this Fall and will major in more than a dozen science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. They join nearly 300 current FOSSI scholarship recipients.
Established in 2020 to help reduce financial barriers to higher education and enhance workforce diversity in the chemical sector, FOSSI provides $40,000 scholarships to students pursuing preferred STEM degrees. Scholarship recipients are individually matched with one of more than 70 corporate sponsors committed to helping them achieve their goals and receive skills training, mentorship, and internship opportunities. Notably, this robust support has led to an approximately 95% student retention rate since FOSSI welcomed its first class in 2021, with those scholars scheduled to graduate in 2025.
FOSSI has an ambitious goal of supporting 1,000 students through 2025 and has raised nearly $30 million to support 595 students to date.
Program leaders welcomed the new scholars during a virtual celebration featuring keynotes from Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC) and Dr. Dietra Trent, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through HBCUs.
FOSSI Advisory Board Chair Jim Fitterling, chair and chief executive officer of Dow, shared, "I am proud to welcome these 132 talented and ambitious scholars to the FOSSI family. From their academic performance to the contributions they have made to their schools and communities, these scholars have distinguished themselves as some of the best and brightest across the nation. We can't wait to see what they accomplish in their chosen fields."
Applications for the Fall of 2024 will open September 22, 2024. To learn more about FOSSI, visit www.FutureOfSTEMScholars.org.
About the Future of STEM Scholars Initiative
The Future of STEM Scholars Initiative was founded in 2020 by the American Chemistry Council, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), The Chemours Company, and the HBCU Week Foundation. FOSSI is a national chemical industry-wide program which provides scholarships to students pursuing degrees in relevant science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), helping to eliminate financial barriers for historically under-represented groups. Sponsored by chemical manufacturers and related industry stakeholders, FOSSI provides scholarship recipients $10,000 per year for four years and connects these students to leadership development, mentoring and internship opportunities at participating companies. Learn more at FutureofSTEMscholars.org.
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NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Recognized for relentlessly pursuing innovative audience engagement solutions, Resulticks is now redefining the space with a laser focus on creating Connected Experiences for brands and their audiences through its flagship product RESUL.
Addressing this next leap in the product's evolution, Dakshen Ram, Co-Founder and Chief Product and Innovation Officer of Resulticks said, "RESUL began ten years ago as an omnichannel stack with the aim of moving clients steadily toward digital transformation. Now, recalibrating what audience engagement really means, we have created the definitive solution to deliver end-to-end Connected Experiences—real-time, contextual, everywhere, anytime, and across the phygital spectrum."
Connected Experiences reimagines how businesses can engage with their audiences. Brands will be able to leverage non-conventional channels for data consolidation and communications. The shift will also incorporate new channels of communication including IoT interfaces such as digital billboards, smart devices, and facial recognition devices, enabling organizations to facilitate customer engagement across the physical and digital landscape.
Operating at native latency, businesses will be able to deliver entirely hyper-personalized journeys at scale that are not only attributable but most importantly are limited only by end-point processing capabilities and speeds.
Ram also noted that there is a marked gap between what audiences expect in terms of real-time engagement and what is being served to them today. The interpretation of real-time often has been understandably subjective. "But from the audience's perspective," he said, "it's time to move the needle from real-time engagement to right-now engagement, which means effortlessly syncing with audiences traversing spaces, channels, devices, and IoT interfaces."
Commenting on edge computing and serverless infrastructure supported by the WebAssembly framework, Ram added, "Our next major release RESUL 5.5 slated for release in Q4 of 2023 as well as our work on a generative AI core will further equip brands to chart audience journeys leveraging the flexibility offered by technology rather than being bound by its limitations. This commitment to a connected experience framework is set to usher in, for brands, an era of audience engagement that is instant, creative, and attributable like never before."
About Resulticks
Resulticks is a global leader in real-time audience engagement solutions that deliver top-line growth for brands through connected experiences. Outcomes-focused and enabled by its proprietary cookie-independent identity resolution technology, Resulticks equips brands to make a transformational leap to true 360o customer engagement. With its AI-powered, audience-centric approach it is changing how brands worldwide reach, acquire, and retain satisfied customers. Resulticks Solution Inc. is headquartered in New York City.
Media Contact:
Name: Sneha Subramanian
Email: ssneha@resulticks.com
Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2165938/Connected_Experiences_PR_Banner.jpg
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2165967/RESULTICKS_Logo.jpg
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