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Company's wide range of solutions designed for wind turbines help equipment manufacturers & aftermarket service providers meet fast-growing demand
LANSDALE, Pa., April 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SKF, a leading global manufacturer of bearings, sealing solutions, lubrication management, condition monitoring systems, and services, offers an extensive range of collaborative, problem-solving solutions for wind turbine applications globally. As part of the company's commitment to environmental sustainability, SKF has invested for decades in developing solutions to establish wind energy as one of the foremost, viable and sustainable sources of electricity. Technology holds the key to achieving both reliability and sustainability, while increasing wind turbine availability, productivity and performance.
The wind energy sector in North America, and in the United States in particular, is experiencing unprecedented growth. The U.S. Department of Energy projects the amount of wind energy produced will almost double from 113 gigawatts (GW) today to 224 GW by 2030, with wind turbines present across 47 states, and currently close to 2,000 new wind turbines are being constructed each year.
With nearly 60,000 wind turbines currently in use in the United States, operators need their assets to remain operational for as long as possible, often in the most challenging conditions – extreme temperatures, offshore and remote locations. High cost of repairs and long lead times for replacement parts can combine to reduce the competitiveness of this clean, renewable energy source. That's why SKF is partnering with leaders in the wind industry to help minimize the levelized cost of energy by improving turbine designs, increasing reliability and maximizing performance and availability – all while reducing unplanned maintenance and repairs.
SKF solutions consist of an extensive range of products and solutions for wind turbine manufacturers, owner/operators and service providers, from the main shaft to the gearbox to the generator to pitch and yaw applications. SKF's global footprint is able to reliably meet customers' needs for parts, expertise and service. In North America, the company manufactures parts for wind turbines at three locations -- Flowery Branch, GA and Sumter, SC in the United States; and Monterrey in Mexico.
Research and development is a strategic differentiator for SKF and requires the large-size bearings used in wind turbines to be tested in the real-time conditions they experience in the field. SKF, unlike its competitors, has the capability to do this at the Sven Wingquist Test Center in Schweinfurt, Germany. The Center can currently test bearings up to 6-meter Outer Diameter, which can power turbines rated up to 14 MW.
In addition, SKF is collaborating with the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to study the performance of wind turbine drivetrains under a variety of conditions in order to gain insights into the possible causes of wind turbine bearing failures. The main purpose of this partnership is to investigate the failure modes of both gearbox and main shaft bearings, with the aim of developing new, improved designs for greater reliability. More recently, NREL published a report on our work together sharing real-time operational loading conditions in order to extend the life of gearbox bearings. The data was collected in an operational wind turbine through the Joint Industry Megawatt Scale Gearbox Field Tests.
Some of the specialized SKF products and services developed for use in the wind turbine industry include:
- High endurance slewing bearings for blades and nacelle
- NoWear coated main shaft bearings
- Main shaft seals to prevent premature failure
- Integrated outer ring (IOR) planetary bearings
- Black Oxide bearings for gearboxes, with case hardened steel in severe cases
- MRC hybrid ceramic bearings for generators
- INSOCOAT bearings for generators
- Remanufacturing services
- Spare Part Management services
- Automatic Lubrication Systems (ALS) for mainshafts, pitch and yaw, and generators
- Condition monitoring for the complete drivetrain
"SKF has partnered with leading manufacturers, owner/operators and service providers to help optimize turbine performance and reliability since the industry was established. Our solutions help safely and effectively lower total cost of ownership and increase performance for everything that rotates inside the wind turbine," said Kush Sodha, SKF's Wind Industry Manager. "SKF is dedicated to collaborating with industry partners to engineer solutions that help wind energy continue to be a clean, reliable, sustainable and cost-competitive alternative to traditional sources of energy."
Partnering to extend wind turbine service life
Remote condition monitoring is particularly suitable for the wind industry, as it allows turbine operators to assess the equipment while the turbine is producing energy. Gearboxes and main shaft bearings are critical components in wind turbines. Failure of these components can lead to lost revenue, high emergency repair costs and, ultimately, higher energy production costs.
In partnership with American Clean Power (ACP), SKF tackled two critical performance and reliability topics at the 2021 ACP Operations & Maintenance and Safety Virtual Summit. Service Optimization of the Wind Turbine Drivetrain through Digital Solutions focused on improving the cost of wind energy through digital solutions like condition monitoring and data analysis to make wind energy more competitive against fossil fuel energy. Premature Failures in Wind Turbine Main Shaft Bearings highlighted problem-solving upgrades designed to limit the risk of downtime and replacement, in addition to the importance of determining the root cause of bearing failures.
The ACP Operations & Maintenance and Safety Virtual Summit is where the industry connects to identify solutions in health and safety, operations and maintenance, workforce training and development, and quality assurance.
For more information on collaborative solutions for wind energy, please visit our wind energy microsite.
About SKF USA
SKF USA Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of SKF Group, a world leader in rolling bearings and related technologies including bearings, seals, lubricants, and condition monitoring systems.
Media Contact:
Terri O'Neill
Director, Portfolio and Industry Marketing
NAM.Media@skf.com
SKF's mission is to be the undisputed leader in the bearing business. We do this by offering solutions that reduce friction and CO2 emissions, whilst at the same time increasing machine uptime and performance. Our products and services around the rotating shaft, include bearings, seals, lubrication management, artificial intelligence, and wireless condition monitoring. SKF is represented in more than 130 countries and has around 17,000 distributor locations worldwide. Annual sales in 2021 were SEK 81 732 million and the number of employees was 42,602. www.skf.com
®SKF is a registered trademark of the SKF Group.
Additional Links
- US Department of Energy Wind Growth Map
- SKF Virtual Turbine App
- SKF Wind Capability Overview
- SKF and Colorado-based National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Partnership
- SKF and ZF Partnership
- SKF Improving Wind Turbine Monitoring
- SKF Wind Farm Management
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https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/05/skf-powers-clean-energy-sector-with-proven-collaborative-problem-solving-innovative-solutions-wind-energy-applications/
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25+ Year Industry Veteran Natalie Verrette Tapped to Lead Mission-Driven Lender
GILBERT, Ariz., April 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Champions Funding, a nationwide Non-QM & Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) wholesale mortgage lender launched in March 2022, has appointed Natalie Verrette as President and Chief Operating Officer. Verrette is charged with advancing its fundamental mission of expanding options to an underserved market through its flagship loan programs.
Verrette brings extensive experience growing all areas of mortgage production, operations, and fulfillment for large-scale mortgage lenders. She served as part of the management team at The Money Source, Inc. as EVP of Operations/Originations before taking on the role of Senior Vice President at AmeriSave Mortgage Corporation. Her acute understanding of market development, recruiting, strategic planning, industry partnerships, and communications will steer the new wholesale lender to its ambitious goals for top ranking in the Non-QM space founded by CEO Evan M. Stone and Chairwoman of the Board, Patty Arvielo of New American Funding. Verrette has shown her deep commitment to the mission of Champions Funding: to serve the underserved.
"I am honored and humbled to be named President and COO of Champions Funding and lead the team of Champions to give borrowers a new option that doesn't exist with agency loans," said Verrette. "We are uniquely poised to serve diverse customers through our CDFI certification and flagship programs."
Verrette continued, "Our goal is to make the process smooth for our valued broker partners regardless of their previous experience with Non-QM loans. We're committed to serving our partners and expanding equity in homeownership."
As a women-led organization combined with its unique CDFI designation by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Champions is uniquely positioned to fulfill its mission of serving the underserved by providing equity in homeownership through a partnership with the mortgage broker community.
ABOUT CHAMPIONS FUNDING LLC
Champions Funding, LLC is a nationwide, wholesale lender providing Non-QM loan options for mortgage brokers and their customers. As a CDFI lender, Champions empowers its Broker Partners to fulfill the dreams of their diverse homeowners as well as realize the mission of serving low-income and underserved communities. For more information about Non-QM mortgage lending, visit ChampsTPO.com.
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https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/05/start-up-non-qm-mortgage-lender-champions-funding-names-natalie-verrette-presidentchief-operating-officer/
| 2022-04-05T19:59:31
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RICHMOND, Calif., April 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The United Steelworkers (USW) said that striking members of Local 12-5 will rally for a fair contract at Gate 14 of the Chevron refinery on the evening of Thursday, April 7, 2022.
Union members will join community supporters, area labor leaders and other activists to spread the message that Chevron needs to negotiate in good faith for a fair contract so that workers can return to their rightful jobs.
Thursday's rally will also feature the USW "Batlight" projector and a strong and clear message for Chevron management.
About 500 members of USW Local 12-5 have been on strike against Chevron's unfair labor practices since March 21, 2022.
Chevron refused to return to the bargaining table, and workers chose to strike after rejecting the company's "last, best and final" contract ultimatum.
More information, contact: Tony Montana, 412-562-2592, tmontana@usw.org
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https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/05/striking-usw-oil-workers-will-spotlight-need-fair-contract-chevron-refinery/
| 2022-04-05T19:59:38
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Ohio outpaces national average in agricultural R&D investment, engineers and food specialists; Pandemic and war in Ukraine highlight the importance of Ohio's robust food industry
COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As the national supply chain and food industries continue to see increased strain, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian attack on Ukraine, new research released today finds that Ohio's food and agribusiness industry could be part of the solution.
Co-sponsored by the Center for Innovative Food Technology and JobsOhio, "Ohio's Food Industry," a series of four new white papers authored by TEConomy Partners, highlight that Ohio has been a leader in research and innovation in the food industry, which is a primary economic driver for the state. This enables the food industry to be adaptable, flexible, and nimble to overcome the challenges it faces.
Employing nearly 126,000 people across the state and investing over $100 million in food-related research and development (R&D), Ohio's food industry sectors include food and beverage machinery and packaging; food and beverage processing and manufacturing; and food and beverage wholesale and warehousing.
With a commitment to innovation, Ohio's food industry performs 43% more R&D than the national average, and hires more high-skill workers to advance the sector. For instance, Ohio's broad food packaging, processing, manufacturing, and distribution sector boasts 60% more engineers than the U.S. average, 40% more engineering technicians, and 38% more food scientists and technologists.
"Innovation is the key to avoiding a repeat of the bare shelves from the supply chain shortages we saw during the pandemic," said J.P. Nauseef, President and CEO of JobsOhio. "The reports show that Ohio is already out ahead, investing into the R&D needed and hiring more engineers and food scientists to accomplish tomorrow's technological advancements for our state's growing food and agribusiness."
As the report highlights, innovation in the food industry is not just a matter of economic importance, but also an issue that is critical for the longevity and security of the nation. With Ohio remaining a primary supporter of the national supply chain, Ohio is a net exporter of food industry products, processing, packaging, and equipment, where export sales totaled $42.2 billion in 2020. Additional findings from the report include:
- $114 million in food-related R&D expenditures
- 43% more food industry R&D than the nation
- 1,207 patent records, including 580 issued patents
- 60% more engineers than the U.S. average and 40% more engineering technicians, and
- 38% more food scientists and technologists than the U.S. average, with growth outpacing the nation.
The report notes that Ohio's end-to-end supply chain gives the state a distinct advantage in being part of the food system.
"Ohio is a major U.S. producer of corn, bean, and soft red winter wheat and home to a significant commodity processing sector," said Tim Derickson, JobsOhio's Senior Director of Food & Agribusiness. "Before we even imagined that there would be an attack on Ukraine - which has led to wheat shortages - we were using innovative programs, like H2Ohio, to encourage sustainable farming practices. This year alone, Ohio farmers increased by 20% the production of soft wheat, used for cookies and cakes."
The new research also finds that innovation in the food industry will further insulate the longevity and security of the state's supply chain. Researchers note that it is imperative that public policy be enacted, and public-private partnerships be developed that seek to strengthen the food industry sector to help ensure a sustainable future for Ohio. The four white papers cover:
- Why the Food Industry Matters: A report on the high value of the food and agribusiness industry as a key economic driver.
- State of the Industry: A critical review of the current and future realities of the industry.
- Disruptive Technologies: An informative report on the technologies transforming the food and agribusiness industry.
- Executive Summary: A high-level overview of Ohio's burgeoning food and agribusiness sector.
About JobsOhio:
JobsOhio is a private nonprofit economic development corporation designed to drive job creation and new capital investment in Ohio through business attraction, retention, and expansion. The organization also works to seed talent production in its targeted industries and to attract talent to Ohio through Find Your Ohio. JobsOhio works with six regional partners across Ohio: Dayton Development Coalition, Ohio Southeast Economic Development, One Columbus, REDI Cincinnati, Regional Growth Partnership and Team NEO. Learn more at www.jobsohio.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
About the Center for Innovative Food Technology
The Center for Innovative Food Technology is a developer and provider of technical innovations and solutions for the food processing, agribusiness and agricultural sectors.
About TEConomy Partners, LLC
TEConomy Partners, LLC, is a global leader in research, analysis, and strategy for innovation-driven economic development. TEConomy is experienced in developing innovation/entrepreneurial ecosystems, and has worked with numerous regions and states to develop strategic action plans to generate results. The experts at TEConomy also work with clients to assess scientific and technological core competencies and develop strategic roadmaps that leverage science and technology assets. TEConomy extensively practices economic analytics and applies this expertise to in-depth economic and functional impact analysis for government, higher education institutions, academic medical centers, industry associations, and other client groups.
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https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/05/study-ohios-food-industry-infrastructure-innovation-can-play-vital-role-national-supply-chain-food-shortage-issues/
| 2022-04-05T19:59:45
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Innovative client portals provide a single point of access for secure collaboration.
NEW YORK, April 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Summitas, an innovative platform for secure, online client portals for family offices, wealth advisors, and other client-facing businesses, has been named "Best Technology Platform for Family Offices" by Private Asset Management magazine (PAM) at the 2022 PAM Awards.
As the leading industry publication, PAM hosts the prestigious award ceremony to recognize the top advisors and service providers in wealth and private asset management, distinguishing those with particular merit and commitment to excellence and innovation. Selected by a panel of expert judges, nominees undergo an extensive review process.
"Summitas increases engagement and retention by providing a singular online presence for organizing, protecting, and sharing financial, legal, and collaborative information," said Dan Gregerson, Summitas Executive Chairman. "Summitas delivers branded portals that extend online identity through controlled access to sensitive material with point-and-click simplicity. We're delighted to have PAM and their panel of experts recognize us again this year."
Professionals and families need timely access to information from many sources. Summitas Platform® features a scalable, secure, and fault-tolerant engagement platform that hosts any of over 25 solution-specific apps. It was created as a vendor-neutral solution to address the exponential growth of specialized systems and granular services, increasing operational complexity in the Wealth Industry.
About Summitas
Summitas was founded in 2007 by a leading American family, Silicon Valley software entrepreneurs, and Wealth Industry veterans. Today, we serve many of the largest and best-known family offices, multi-family offices, RIAs, and law firms.
With offices in New York City and Charlotte, we've won awards in every category required to increase engagement for client-facing businesses. Our center of gravity is security. Our mission is to provide exceptional service and measurable value.
Please get in touch with us if you need to organize, protect, and share information—all from one place.
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https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/05/summitas-wins-private-asset-managements-2022-best-technology-platform-family-offices-award/
| 2022-04-05T19:59:52
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Engagement platforms provide a protected space for all client-related information.
NEW YORK, April 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Summitas delivers secure, online engagement platforms for family offices, wealth advisors, and other client-facing businesses. Summitas increases client communication, happiness, and retention. We are proud to announce that Summitas won the "Innovator of the Year" award from WealthBriefing at the WealthTech Americas Awards 2022.
Showcasing 'best of breed' in the Americas, the awards recognize outstanding organizations, grouped by specialty and geography, that the prestigious panel of an independent advisory board deemed to have 'demonstrated innovation and excellence during the last year.'
Each of these categories is highly contested with a small group of finalists and commended submissions chosen from a large pool of entrants before an ultimate winner is selected by the advisory board. It is this process that makes WealthBriefing awards so prized amongst winners, finalists, and commended alike.
"Summitas increases client engagement and retention by organizing, protecting, and sharing financial, legal, and collaborative information from any number of sources," said Dan Gregerson, Summitas Executive Chairman. "Summitas delivers branded engagement platforms that extend online identities through controlled access to sensitive material with point-and-click simplicity. We're delighted and humbled that WealthBriefing and their panel of experts have recognized us this year."
Clients need timely access to information from their families, advisors, lawyers, accountants, and other software solutions, e.g., portfolio management, custodians, reporting, and risk analysis. Summitas Platform® features a scalable, secure, and fault-tolerant engagement platform that hosts any of over 25 solution-specific apps and a variety of connectors to the outside world. It was created as a vendor-neutral solution to simplify complexity arising from the exponential growth of specialized systems and granular services in the Wealth Industry.
About Summitas
Summitas was founded in 2007 by a leading American family, Silicon Valley software entrepreneurs, and Wealth Industry veterans. Today, we serve many of the largest and best-known family offices, multi-family offices, RIAs, and law firms.
With offices in New York City and Charlotte, we've won awards in every category required to increase engagement for client-facing businesses. Our center of gravity is security. Our mission is to provide exceptional service and measurable value.
Please get in touch with us if you need to organize, protect, and share information—all from one place.
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SOURCE Summitas
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https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/05/summitas-wins-wealthtech-americas-2022-innovator-year-award/
| 2022-04-05T19:59:59
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https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/05/summitas-wins-wealthtech-americas-2022-innovator-year-award/
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- Hectre are bringing clever simplicity to the US orchard industry, delivering gains to fruit farmers
- The popular NZ fruit tech company were named winners in the global AgTech BreakThrough Awards and are now double finalists in another prestigious awards program
- Take a look under the hood of this Kiwi success story and find out what makes them shine
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, April 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- For many businesses, 2021 was a wild ride, but despite the challenges, some companies shone. Popular NZ fruit tech company Hectre (pronounced Hectare) was a definite sparkler, winning at the global AgTech BreakThrough Awards and gaining a reputation for best in class among the US apple growing industry.
It's time to take a look under the hood to discover how this innovative company, built with buckets of "Kiwi" work ethic and a huge passion to deliver "better", has gone on to become one of the most exciting agritech companies on the global stage.
Last week, and perhaps unsurprisingly, Hectre were named finalists in two categories at the prestigious NZ Hi-Tech Awards. How did they arrive at this point?
It all started with an apple. It was 2016 and Hectre was a team of three visionary co-founders, who upon learning of the daily struggles faced by apple growers, set out to find a better way. In consultation with a group of growers, they created the design for the Hectre Orchard Management App and importantly, growers backed them.
Simon Easton, co-owner of Wairepo Orchards, grows apples near Nelson, in NZ's South Island, and still remembers when one of the founders, Menilik Dyer, turned up at his orchard with a large notebook and asked, "As a grower, what is it that you need that we could help with?" Easton was sick to death of writing out bin tickets - the labels that must go with each full fruit bin detailing the immense amount of origin data that growers have to capture (it's even greater now).
Easton is a numbers man and is driven by continually improving the performance of his orchard. He wants to get his hands on data so he can hone in on what's working well and identify opportunities to perform even better. He's enjoyed seeing the journey of the Hectre app from those early days to where it is now. "Being able to get cost info out of Hectre is awesome. To know that picking cost me this amount and pruning cost me that amount...I just love all of that."
"We've always been keen to roll up our sleeves, get alongside growers and learn everything we can from them. I think they respect the fact that we genuinely value their insights, their skills and their extraordinary commitment to what has to be one of the hardest industries to be in. When you consider that fruit growers only get one chance each year to make money (after harvest), and the rest of the time they're slogging their guts out and pouring in funds. It takes bravery and an immense amount of care and hard work to survive and thrive. Our team is continually in awe of the growers we work with," says Hectre Co-founder and CEO, Matty Blomfield.
In the first few years, Hectre built out the Hectre Orchard Management App, an app that enables fruit growers to digitise their orchards, removing all the double and triple handling of paper they traditionally deal with and the wasted time that goes with it. Growers can manage all their labour through the app, including auto calculation of piece rates, plus integration with payroll programs. The ability to gain insights on the performance of pickers and fruit quality, delivers direct benefits as growers continue to battle the challenges rising from the pandemic and environmental factors.
Those early relationships formed with NZ fruit growers, led to invaluable introductions to growers in one of the world's apple growing meccas, Washington, USA. "I remember one of our first US trips. We had recognised how important it was to have boots on the ground. So, with no appointments in place, we booked a flight to the US and then glued ourselves to the phone, calling up every grower we could and telling them we'd be in their area next week and could we meet," reflects Blomfield.
The app now covers numerous fruit types such as apples, pears, high value cherries, kiwifruit and more. And the Hectre app is currently being used by fruit growers and packers in 11 countries, including US industry giants Washington Fruit & Produce and Borton Fruit.
"The platform and tools they've built support fruit growers of all sizes, from small family farms, to large integrated global fruit institutions. We believe Hectre's dedication to constant innovation provides a significant competitive advantage and aligns well with our own approach to business," says Byron Borton, Chief Visionary Officer at Borton Fruit.
Hectre's innovation approach has centred on what they term, "clever simplicity". Creating leading edge tech for fruit growers and packers, with user simplicity at the forefront. Kylie Hall, Marketing Manager at Hectre, says that focus on clever simplicity has created a unique market advantage and one Hectre has become known for. "We recognise that it's not enough to just create awesome technology. We've got to be fully focused on who will be using that tech and how we can make it as simple as possible. That way, users can learn quickly, and our customers can optimise their tech investment, gaining full benefit from their spend."
In Waterport, New York, Lamont Fruit Farms are using Hectre's Orchard Management App. CEO Jason Woodworth says the insights are excellent. "Hectre is now the tool we use to evaluate all of our blocks in the true sense of real time. You can track each and every project and monitor costs from the start of pruning until the end of harvest. The staff are fantastic with support and are always thinking forward."
Two years ago, Hectre launched Spectre for Apples, a computer vision AI app that helps fruit growers and packers assess the size of their fruit, from the very first pick. In an industry where size really does matter, it's a crucial piece of information, enabling improved decision-making regarding storage and packing, and empowering growers and packers to secure sales orders earlier than ever before.
Spectre works straight off an iPad or iPhone and serves up sizing information within seconds. Users simply take a photo on their iPad and Spectre will detect and size more than 100 pieces of fruit from the fruit bin. Mobile, fast and simple. "We've since developed Spectre models to meet the needs of citrus packers too and are working with pilot customers this US harvest for Spectre for Cherries," notes Hectre R&D Manager, Luke Butters. The pilot was quickly oversubscribed.
The upcoming US apple harvest will see yet another leading-edge innovation delivered by Hectre, this time focused on providing insights for huge US apple packhouses. It will be another world first piece of fruit tech, developed by a Kiwi company shining brightly. "We'll share more about that later," grins Butters.
Today, Hectre now has the collective talents of a team of 34, spread across NZ, the US and Vietnam. "Our tech is delivering huge benefits for both growers and packers, but it's our people that really make the difference. Our people uncover the needs. They build our tech. They help growers learn our tech and they support the success of our customers. Each of them is humble, caring, hard working and hugely supportive of each other. They are our secret ingredient, and we value them highly," adds Hall.
David Downs, Chair of the NZ Hi-Tech Trust which organises the NZ Hi-Tech Awards program, says the standard of entries continues to grow each year. "This year's finalists span the full spectrum of the hi-tech sector, and the level of innovative tech products and solutions continues to astound us all." Hectre has been named a finalist for both the Most Innovative Hi-Tech Agritech Solution and for Hi-Tech StartUp Company of the Year.
About Hectre
Hectre is an award winning startup empowering fruit growers and packers with the world's simplest to use orchard technologies. Originating in New Zealand, with teams in the US, NZ and Vietnam, Hectre creates simple to use, leading edge orchard management and mobile fruit sizing apps. With the Hectre app fruit growers can digitise their orchard management processes, saving time and money, and getting more of their fruit to market, enhancing their financial sustainability. Fruit packers can increase their early size sample rates by up to 3000%, gaining access to sizing data as soon as the fruit is picked, enabling better decision making, reduced costs and achieving greater sales. To learn more about Hectre, please visit www.hectre.com
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https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/05/take-look-under-hood-award-winning-fruit-tech-startup-hectre/
| 2022-04-05T20:00:05
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Community of Global 2000 companies, enterprise architects, cloud providers and thought leaders to gather at this live event
BOSTON, April 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ONUG, the voice of the Global 2000, today announced that Target will sponsor and deliver a keynote at its ONUG Spring 2022 event being held live at the Meadowlands Expo Center in Secaucus, New Jersey, as well as virtually, on April 27-28, 2022. ONUG Spring 2022 is a world-renowned live global event for cloud architects, IT professionals, designers, engineers, DevOps teams and C-level executives to learn about the tools and solutions to build, run and secure multi-cloud infrastructure in 2022 and beyond.
As an ONUG founding Board Member, Target will bring a focus to ONUG Spring that centers on expanding the choices and options of open solutions in today's enterprise cloud marketplace. The ONUG Community will focus on solutions that connect, secure, observe and automate application and data workloads distributed across multiple clouds.
Target's Pablo Espinosa, Vice President Network Engineering, along with George Tchaparian, CEO of the Open Compute Project (OCP) will be presenting a keynote titled Target's Cloud Independent Choices on April 28th at 12:30 PM ET. The keynote will be moderated by Cathy Horst Forsyth, CEO and Founder, Strongbow Consulting Group.
"I'm looking forward to participating in the ONUG Spring event and sharing more about Target's cloud journey. Open solutions have enabled Target developers to build excellent experiences for our digital guests while driving value and growth for our company," said Espinosa.
ONUG Spring will host 55 sessions led by more than 70 cloud and digital transformation thought leaders from some of the largest cloud consumer companies in the world. The event will include a unique attendee experience with interactive content, live show floor demonstrations of the Cloud Security Notification Framework (CSNF) and Orchestration and Automation Use Cases, vendor-neutral discussions, Q&As with global IT leaders and valuable in-person networking opportunities.
"Helping Cloud Professionals understand the building blocks needed to construct multi-cloud infrastructure is at the heart of ONUG Conferences" said Nick Lippis, co-founder and co-chair of ONUG. "Many of the participating ONUG Spring companies, along with Target and OCP, will be demonstrating the new on-prem infrastructure to enable multi-cloud," he said.
Attendees at ONUG Spring will hear from the enterprise IT vendor ecosystem and learn about key topics including, but not limited to, a model for open multi-cloud security notifications, Operationalizing DevSecOps in today's enterprise, shared risk management and security, evolving network ops through ML, operationalizing cloud security in the SOC, how networking is being integrated into the CI/CD pipeline, multi-cloud deployment techniques and more. View the complete agenda here.
ONUG welcomes all IT industry professionals to register for the Spring 2022 event. For more information or to register, visit https://onug.net/spring-2022. News media or analysts who wish to attend may request a press pass by contacting Joann Varello
For more information on ONUG, please visit www.onug.net.
About ONUG
ONUG is the only organization composed of senior-level IT executives from the Global 2000 that represents the interests and initiatives of the Enterprise Community. Through its global event series, working groups, training academies, and webinars, ONUG plays a central role in the creation of new and improved tools to develop, manage, and secure the digital enterprise. ONUG's peer permission structure fosters the exchange of information among the world's largest organizations as they build and secure the digital economy. The ONUG community is made up of IT leaders from Bank of America, Cigna, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, eBay, FedEx, Fidelity Investments, Gap Inc., GE, Intuit, JP Morgan Chase, Kaiser Permanente, the Lippis Report, Morgan Stanley, Pfizer, State Street Bank, TD Ameritrade, UBS, Oath, and hundreds more. For more on ONUG, go to www.onug.net or follow on Twitter @ONUG_.
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https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/05/target-deliver-keynote-onug-spring-2022-april-27-28-meadowlands-expo-center-new-jersey/
| 2022-04-05T20:00:11
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DALLAS, April 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (Nasdaq: TXN) will webcast its first quarter 2022 earnings conference call on Tuesday, April 26, at 3:30 p.m. Central time. Rafael Lizardi, senior vice president and chief financial officer, and Dave Pahl, vice president and head of Investor Relations, will discuss TI's financial results and answer questions from the investor audience.
You can access the audio webcast on the Investor Relations section of the company's website at www.ti.com/ir. An archived copy of the webcast will be available shortly after the call concludes.
Texas Instruments Incorporated (Nasdaq: TXN) is a global semiconductor company that designs, manufactures, tests and sells analog and embedded processing chips for markets such as industrial, automotive, personal electronics, communications equipment and enterprise systems. Our passion to create a better world by making electronics more affordable through semiconductors is alive today, as each generation of innovation builds upon the last to make our technology smaller, more efficient, more reliable and more affordable – making it possible for semiconductors to go into electronics everywhere. We think of this as Engineering Progress. It's what we do and have been doing for decades. Learn more at TI.com.
TXN-G
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https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/05/texas-instruments-webcast-q1-2022-earnings-conference-call/
| 2022-04-05T20:00:18
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SOLAR 2022: Energy Transition with Economic Justice
BOULDER, Colo., April 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Early bird rates on conference registration end April 18 to attend the ASES 51st annual National Solar Conference, SOLAR 2022. ASES is partnering with their New Mexico Chapter, the New Mexico Solar Energy Association (NMSEA), which is celebrating 50 years of achievements.
The conference, taking place June 21-24 at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, will be a hybrid conference, with both online and in-person attendance options. The conference will feature a litany of workshops, tours and forums before and after the event.
If you are interested in arriving early, there will be a Women's PV Hands-On Workshop Monday through Friday, June 13-17, during which attendees will install a PV system at the Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) campus. On June 18 and 19, additional outdoor activities will include a hike and Climate Ride fundraiser/bike ride. There are spots available for all these activities and more - but space is limited - so be sure to register soon and receive significant early bird discounts!
To fulfill a commitment to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI), ASES is also offering a new JEDI Scholarship. This opportunity is available for young professionals to receive a complimentary registration to the conference. Application deadline is April 15.
Featured Speaker & Session Highlights:
- Tuesday, June 21 - Opening Reception featuring local poets Beata Tsosie Peña, Jimmy Santiago Baca and Hakim Bellamy plus a special presentation from Noam Chomsky
- Wednesday, June 22 - Governments' Role in the Renewable Energy Transformation featuring Michelle Lujan Grisham, New Mexico Governor, Martin Heinrich, United States Senator for New Mexico, Ron Darnell, Senior Vice President for Public Policy at PNM and Dave Renné, Past President of the International Solar Energy Society
- Thursday, June 23 - Ensuring a Just & Equitable Transformation featuring Shalanda Baker, Secretarial Advisor on Equity and Deputy Director for Energy Justice at the Department of Energy (DOE), Wahleah Johns, Director of the U.S. DOE Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs and Jonathan Nez, President of the Navajo Nation
- Friday, June 24 - Solar Design, Architecture and the Future of Solar Education featuring Ed Mazria, founder of Architecture 2030, Sandra Begay, Principal Member of the Technical Staff at Sandia National Laboratories, Dan Arvizu, New Mexico State University (NMSU) Chancellor and Gigi Goldman and Hal Aronson co-founders of We Share Solar
ASES is excited to host another hybrid solar conference, bringing together solar stakeholders from around the world. All of the sessions will be live-streamed for viewing in real-time, and available later in a recorded format. The technical sessions include tracks such as Energy Transformation, Economic Justice and Buildings Innovations. Additionally, the conference will feature NMSEA's 50th anniversary celebration event on June 23, a tour of local Albuquerque solar sites on June 25, NABCEP registered workshops June 23 and 24 and more.
Friday, June 24, will also feature a special Solar Fiesta event open to the public on the UNM campus. The Solar Fiesta will be from 9:00am-3:00pm MDT just outside the Student Union Building (SUB) in the Cornell Mall area of campus. The event will have vendors from around the Albuquerque area, EVs to check out, live music, solar cookers and more. The event will also have a Solar 101 Workshop inside the SUB for members of the public to learn more about solar energy. The online schedule for the conference, booking accommodations, and other details can be found at ases.org/conference.
Sponsorship opportunities are available until May 1, learn more and purchase sponsorships at ases.org/conference/sponsor. You can also partner with the conference by filling out an online form by May 15.
There will be a variety of networking opportunities available in this year's hybrid format for all attendees. Join ASES online and/or in-person in Albuquerque for the summer solstice at SOLAR 2022! Register online for the best rates by April 18.
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SOURCE American Solar Energy Society
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https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/05/theres-still-time-enjoy-early-bird-rates-ases-national-solar-conference/
| 2022-04-05T20:00:25
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Ownership housing is the best strategy to help low-income Californians escape poverty
SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- More middle-class Californians and the businesses that employ them cite a lack of homeownership opportunity as the primary reason for moving out of state. This creates a growing and troubling income and wealth inequality gap within the state. To help remedy this serious problem, a coalition of REALTORS®, homebuilders and affordable housing producers has asked in a letter to Legislative Budget Committee leaders to allocate a greater portion of the state's projected budget surplus to owner-occupied housing programs. The broad coalition includes Habitat for Humanity California (HHC), CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.), California Building Industry Association (CBIA), Casita Coalition, YIMBY, Housing Action Coalition, The Two Hundred, Greenbelt Alliance, California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce and Mighty Buildings.
"Until California truly prioritizes affordable homeownership, a generation of Californians will be effectively barred from one of the most reliable forms of wealth generation available: owning a home," said Assemblymember Tim Grayson (D-Concord). "We have the opportunity with this budget to support permanent housing solutions and invest in the future of first-time homebuyers, and I'm proud of the coalition we've built to help see these goals achieved."
State investment in affordable homeownership developments offers permanent housing solutions and a stronger return on investment because it is one-time project funding. The one-time investment achieves immediate and long-term goals by increasing the supply of permanently affordable housing stock and providing economic stability and financial independence for families through fixed, affordable mortgages and equity earning opportunities.
In contrast, if the State's investment remains primarily limited to rental housing programs with subsidies year after year, we fail to provide long-term stability or financial independence for families and individuals served. Rents rise year after year and renters are stretched and dependent on the subsidy without an opportunity to save and improve their situation.
"Californians, regardless of race, ethnicity or income status deserve equal access to the benefits that only come from owning a home," said CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® President Otto Catrina. "When Californians are willing to leave the state in search of an affordable home, political leaders need to reevaluate housing policies and prioritize affordable owner-occupied homes. People should be able to build equity for themselves instead of paying rent to a landlord. When you're living paycheck to paycheck, renting means you're always on the edge of homelessness."
In this year's proposed State Budget for 2022-23, only $69.56 million is allocated for homeownership programs, which is not even 3.5% of the funds allocated for deed restricted rental housing programs.
"When rents and home prices are increasing faster than wages, saving enough for a down payment is beyond reach for most Californians," said Debbie Arakel, Habitat for Humanity California. "To provide lower-income and families of color greater housing security, the state's housing programs must increase the stock of affordable owner-occupied homes. Not before the inventory increases will home prices stabilize to afford more Californians the benefits of homeownership."
Homeownership provides working families economic stability and strengthens underserved communities that have historically experienced low levels of homeownership. When the median home price in California is expected to surpass $830,000 in 2022, California's 2020 overall homeownership rate has declined to just 56%. Among the state's largest ethnic group, Latinos, it's 46% and only 37% of Black families own their home.
"Increasing homeownership is a must for leveling-out wealth and equity gaps in California," said Dan Dunmoyer, President and CEO of the California Building Industry Association. "Because homeownership is absolutely critical for generational wealth-building, the Governor and legislature should work together to allocate a greater share of the budget surplus to address inequities in homeownership by investing in owner-occupied homes."
In a letter to Budget Committee leaders, the coalition requests that the 2022-2023 State Budget increase funding for affordable homeownership opportunities for working Californians and specifically to allocate $400 million for programs funding the development of affordable deed restricted ownership housing, including a minimum of $200 million for the existing CalHome program, along with a cap increase up to $250,000/unit and up to 10 million/project and $200 million for the state's existing down payment assistance programs.
Leading the way…® in California real estate for more than 110 years, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (www.car.org) is one of the largest state trade organizations in the United States with more than 200,000 members dedicated to the advancement of professionalism in real estate. C.A.R. is headquartered in Los Angeles.
Habitat for Humanity California is a statewide coalition of independent Habitat affiliates that serve communities across California. Habitat affiliates develop and preserve affordable homes, bringing people together to build homes, communities, and hope. Habitat California advocates for affordable housing with specific focus on homeownership opportunities for families with limited incomes.
The California Building Industry Association is a statewide trade association based in Sacramento representing thousands of member companies including homebuilders, trade contractors, architects, engineers, designers, suppliers and industry professionals in the homebuilding, multi-family and mixed-use development markets.
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SOURCE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.)
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https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/05/true-equity-starts-with-homeownership-coalition-calls-increased-funding-construction-owner-occupied-homes-governors-may-revise-budget/
| 2022-04-05T20:00:32
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NEW YORK , April 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Comarch, a global software house delivering customer engagement and marketing solutions, was chosen by Universal Drugstore to launch their new Wellness Rewards loyalty program. Universal Drugstore, an international prescription service provider, is a leader in referring orders for prescription and non-prescription medications. Medimart, the parent company, is one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of medical supplies in Canada.
Universal Drugstore's Wellness Rewards loyalty program allows members to earn points with every purchase, which can be used to discount future orders. The program consists of basic, silver, and gold tiers, based on annual spend. Members who spend higher amounts are automatically moved into higher tiers. The silver and gold tiers allow customers to earn 2 and 3 times the amount of points, respectively.
"The Wellness Rewards program provides many new ways to connect with our customers, build lasting relationships, and thank them for their loyalty," says Jeff Uhl, president and CEO of Universal Drugstore.
The program utilizes Comarch's Loyalty Marketing Cloud (LMC), an all-in-one suite of business applications and professional services that helps organizations connect and engage with their customers. "The beauty of LMC is the ease of executing the strategic vision and the capability to build new functionalities based on future goals," said Bindu Gupta, Comarch Head of Loyalty Strategy Consulting.
Comarch was chosen to create Universal Drugstore's robust loyalty program due to its extensive experience developing loyalty-specific software and services. Universal Drugstore partnered with Comarch to determine the loyalty program strategy, design, user experience, and execution. Its goal was to create a loyalty program focused on rewarding customers for their continued trust.
About Comarch
Founded in 1993, Comarch has over 25 years of experience in designing, implementing, and integrating IT solutions for large enterprises in a variety of industries: airlines, travel companies, telecoms, financial institutions, as well as retail and consumer goods companies. Comarch's CRM & Marketing portfolio – which includes the award-winning Comarch Loyalty Management (CLM) system – is an advanced set of solutions dedicated to marketing processes and activities, building loyalty, and maximizing engagement. Comarch is a true end-to-end loyalty and engagement provider. Aside from best-in-class technology and product sets, Comarch also offers a full suite of managed services to guide customers throughout the entire loyalty program lifecycle. With thousands of successfully completed projects, 20 data center locations, and more than 6,500 employees in over 90 offices around the world, Comarch has the support and infrastructure necessary for high-volume rollouts.
Visit Comarch's official website to learn more: Comarch Customer Experience & Loyalty.
CONTACT: Francesca Ricotta, francesca.ricotta@comarch.com
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| 2022-04-05T20:00:38
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Four highly experienced executives have recently joined USMM as a new era in patient care begins
TROY, Mich., April 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Medical Management "USMM", a recognized leader in providing high-quality, compassionate healthcare within proven care models that support complex and fragile individuals in the home setting, has appointed four experienced industry professionals to its leadership team. Shelly Martin has joined as Chief Operating Officer, Kristin Darby as Chief Information Officer, Jim Lydiard as Chief Strategy Officer, and Jonathan A. Meyers, FSA, MAAA as USMM Chief Actuary.
"We are so pleased that top healthcare executives from around the country are joining our team at USMM. Our new executive leadership team will build upon the incredible foundation and legacy of USMM to create a new, transformational care experience for all our patients and their families. I couldn't be prouder of the energy, excitement, and experience that this new leadership team brings to USMM," said Adam Boehler, Executive Chairman of USMM and CEO of Rubicon Founders.
Shelly Martin has more than 25 years of experience in the healthcare community. Prior to USMM, Shelly was the President of Optum in Utah. Prior to joining Optum, she served as the Vice President of Operations for Healthcare Partners of Nevada, managing 32 primary clinics, and more than 100 providers and staff. Shelly holds multiple health care certifications, and is an active member of the American Association of Managed Care Nurses (AAMCN).
Kristin Darby is a trusted technology strategist with more than 25+ years in the field. Kristin comes to USMM from Envision Healthcare in Nashville, TN where she served as the Enterprise Chief Information Officer. Kristin also held CIO roles for the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Tenet Healthcare (Northeast and North Midwest Business Units), and the Risk Management Foundation of the Harvard Medical Institute (CRICO). She was also the Director of IT for Fresenius Medical Care North America. Kristin is an Independent Director with Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati where she serves on the Risk Committee and is Chair of the Business Operations Committee. Kristin has been honored with many awards, including CIO Hall of Fame in 2021.
Jim Lydiard most recently led Payer Contracting and National Accounts as the Strategy & Development Vice President at Strive Health; a tech-enabled, value based startup in the field of kidney care. Prior to his role at Strive health, Jim was the Staff Vice President at CareMore/Anthem. His industry contributions have been documented in Senior Housing News, McKnights, Milken Institute on Aging, National Investment Center (NIC), amongst others.
Jonathan A. Meyers FSA, MAAA has worked his entire 30 year career in the Managed Care industry. In his most recent role, Jonathan was Chief Actuary Officer for InnovaCare Health. His prior roles include running Government Programs Actuarial Services for Horizon BCBS of NJ, helping launch a successful ACO in NY, CFO and Chief Actuary of HealthCare Partners in NY (subsidiary of Heritage Medical Systems), Employee Benefits Consultant with key clients such as Northwell Health, Johnson and Johnson and International Paper, and various Actuarial rotations at United HealthCare. Jonathan is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and Member of the American Academy of Actuaries.
About USMM
U.S. Medical Management (USMM), along with its affiliated entities (Visiting Physicians Association, Pinnacle Senior Care, and Grace Hospice, among others) is a leading management services organization and provider of home based primary care services for complex/fragile patients. Based in Troy, Michigan, USMM operates Visiting Physician Association practices in 11 states, constituting a 200 + primary care provider group, providing continuity-based primary care under an integrated, physician-driven model which includes ancillary services such as home health, hospice, radiology, diagnostics, DME and laboratory. USMM also operates a multi-state Medicare Shared Savings Program ACO serving approximately 20,000 complex/fragile Medicare patients. In December 2021, Rubicon Founders acquired a majority stake in USMM.
For more information:
usmmllc.com
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| 2022-04-05T20:00:46
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4AIR Validates Verijet's Aircraft Charter Flights as Carbon-Neutral, Awarding a 4AIR Bronze Rating for Its Sustainability Efforts.
OPA-LOCKA, Fla., April 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Verijet partners with 4AIR, the first and only sustainability rating program dedicated to private aviation. Verijet received a 4AIR Bronze Rating in November 2021, affirming its commitment to the program. All Verijet flights are 100% carbon neutral today. Now you can Vjet guilt-free.
"Verijet is committed to reducing our carbon and noise footprint," said Richard Kane, CEO. "4AIR's validation of our efforts to offset already minimal carbon emissions provides further confidence in our actions, ensures the transparency of these steps, confirms the positive impact of our efforts, and underscores our ongoing commitment to sustainability."
Verijet's partnership with 4Air came amid the COP26 summit as national leaders set out ways to align in the fight against climate change. Verijet recognized the imperative need to act on its own. Heading into the resurgence of travel, Verijet sets the standard for sustainable aviation choice.
About Verijet
VERIJET is transforming short-haul, private jet travel. Efficient, point-to-point, direct routing to and from airports closer to you and your destination reduces ground and air travel. Industry leading, patented A.I. and software supports our booking, routing, and fleet logistics. Verijet provides on-demand service. Less hassle and more convenience – no crowds, no TSA lines, means less COVID exposure. Earth and neighborhood-friendly aircraft– low carbon emissions and low noise. Verijet has the call sign "Whisper Jet" its jets' exceptionally low noise footprint. The safest jet in the air today, awarded two collier trophies for safety. Vision Jets are equipped with emergency safe return automation and a whole aircraft parachute system (CAPS). All Verijet's pilots are ATP rated. In addition, Verijet pilots are rigorously trained and rated in the SF50 Vision Jet flight operations. VERIJET is now operating in the Southeastern and Western United States and the Caribbean. VERIJET invites you to Vjet to your next destination and experience the next generation of air travel mobility. To learn more, please go to www.verijet.com or call 833-VERIJET. You can follow VERIJET on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. @verijet
Media Contact: Allison Kane, Chief Experience Officer, PR, and Brand Development. Email: Allison@verijet.com or call 833-Verijet.
About 4AIR
4AIR is an industry pioneer offering sustainability solutions beyond simple carbon neutrality. Its industry-first framework seeks to address climate impacts of all types and provides a simplified and verifiable path for private aviation industry participants to achieve meaningful aircraft emissions counteraction and reduction.
The 4AIR framework offers a solution that makes it easy for private aviation users to pursue sustainability through access to carbon markets, use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), support for innovative technologies and other strategies. All carbon credits issued through 4AIR are quantified and verified through the most respected and international leading bodies that issue and register credits, including the American Carbon Registry, Climate Action Reserve, Verified Carbon Standard (VERRA), and The Gold Standard. Additionally, end-of-year audits are independently conducted by third parties. 4AIR also serves the working groups of the World Economic Forum's Clean Skies for Tomorrow Coalition. For more information, visit us at www.4air.aero.
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| 2022-04-05T20:00:52
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Destination Creating Children's Book, Business Pledge and Advisory Panel
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C., April 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Myrtle Beach and the communities along the 60 miles of coastline have been committed to creating an autism- and sensory-friendly destination since 2016. This year, Visit Myrtle Beach is making travel to The Beach even more accessible with the launch of several new initiatives. The expanded efforts include a children's book, an advisory panel led by experts as well as those with direct experience, and a sensory-friendly pledge for local businesses.
"In Myrtle Beach, we believe everyone belongs at The Beach – and we mean every body, every ability, every family, everyone. Even though we've been recognized as an autism-friendly destination for several years, we understand that we can and should do more to support accessible travel," said Stuart Butler, Chief Marketing Officer at Visit Myrtle Beach. "Families with children diagnosed with autism often feel vacations are out of their reach — and we want to change that. At Visit Myrtle Beach, we believe in the restorative and life-altering power of travel, so we are taking steps with these new initiatives to provide greater support and access to vacation experiences for all."
Though families often recognize and appreciate the value travel offers the entire family, many avoid traveling due to lack of services and added stress. According to a study by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) and the Family Travel Association, only 13 percent of autism families surveyed take vacations. However, 93 percent indicated they would be more inclined to travel if autism services were available.
Visit Myrtle Beach is expanding the services available to autism families as part of their ongoing work with the Champion Autism Network (CAN) and through a new partnership with TravelAbility. The programs being launched this spring include:
Sensory-friendly children's book
To encourage families with children on the autism spectrum to vacation together, Visit Myrtle Beach is partnering with beloved author and illustrator, Lynda Farrington Wilson, to develop a children's picture book. The book will be a fictional story that helps readers discover the joy and wonder in a family vacation despite the overlooked challenges of acclimating to new environment and experiences. The book is expected to be released later this year.
The Beach is for everyBODY: Sensory-Friendly Pledge
In partnership with CAN and TravelAbility, Visit Myrtle Beach has launched a sensory-friendly pledge for local businesses. By signing The Beach is for everyBODY: Sensory-Friendly Pledge, each organization, as part of the greater business community, will commit to welcoming guests with autism and other neurodiverse disabilities through tangible and meaningful actions designed to support locals and visitors.
"At TravelAbility, our mission is to make travel more accessible to those who face physical and mental challenges by working with destinations to establish both in-market and online resources for visitors," said Jake Steinman, Founder and CEO of TravelAbility. "We're proud to partner with Visit Myrtle Beach and Champion Autism Network as they continue to lead the tourism industry in this effort and expand their work with the Sensory-Friendly Pledge, so that travelers on the autism spectrum can feel supported throughout their travel planning and vacation experience."
As part of the pledge, businesses will work to provide an inclusive space for visitors of all abilities; practice patience and problem-solving in all situations; and cultivate an environment of acceptance and helpfulness. Pledge participants are also encouraged to join Grand Stand businesses and organizations in the CAN Card program and provide CAN autism training to all of their employees to offer guests more specialized service.
The CAN Card is a simple and meaningful way for guests to identify their family as one that includes someone with autism, without needing to say a word. Participating restaurants, hotels and venues have been trained in the needs of individuals on the autism spectrum and to provide a special or expedited service. CAN Cards are free for autism families and are available at Visit Myrtle Beach's two visitors centers, located in Myrtle Beach International Airport and 1200 North Oak Street in Myrtle Beach. For more on The Beach is for everyBODY: Sensory-Friendly Pledge and CAN Card partners in Myrtle Beach, go to visitmyrtlebeach.com/plan/autism-friendly-vacations/.
"Creating an environment where families impacted by autism feel supported and without judgment is the mission of CAN. Our partnership with Visit Myrtle Beach and the breadth of programs we've initiated are designed to create an inclusive community by building a network of autism champions," said Becky Large, Executive Director of the Champion Autism Network.
The Beach is for everyBODY: Sensory-Friendly Advisory Panel
To help guide future autism- and sensory-friendly programs and initiatives, Visit Myrtle Beach has also established a Sensory-Friendly Advisory Panel. The panel will include experts in the autism and sensory fields, and those with direct experience or an autism or related diagnosis. Members will help inform and improve Myrtle Beach's sensory-friendly programming by providing directional leadership and feedback on programs designed to increase the destination's accessibility. Visit Myrtle Beach is actively seeking members for the advisory panel and will begin hosting regular meetings this summer.
Travelers can also feel supported knowing Myrtle Beach has implemented a variety of community programs over the past six years in partnership with CAN beyond the CAN Card program, like Project Lifesaver, an effort to help protect visitors who may wanderoff, and The Myrtle Beach International Airport Quiet Room, which offers families a private space to soothe their child in the event of a sensory-overload situation.
For more information on Myrtle Beach's autism-friendly offerings and trip planning resources, please visit visitmyrtlebeach.com/plan/autism-friendly-vacations/.
About Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Myrtle Beach isn't just a beach. It's The Beach. Popularly known as the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach is one destination made up of 14 unique communities that stretch 60 miles along the northeast coast of South Carolina. Families, couples and those in search of a warm welcome will find more than just a day at The Beach when they come together to connect and enjoy vibrant entertainment and family attractions, including world-class golf, shopping and fresh coastal Carolina cuisine. Recognized as an autism-friendly destination since 2016, Myrtle Beach has established a number of programs and partnerships to create an inclusive destination for visitors of all abilities. From the moment you arrive, you'll find you belong at The Beach – Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. For additional information on tourism offerings in the Myrtle Beach area, visit www.visitmyrtlebeach.com or call (888) Myrtle-1.
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SOURCE Visit Myrtle Beach
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https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/05/visit-myrtle-beach-expands-autism-sensory-friendly-efforts-with-launch-new-programs/
| 2022-04-05T20:00:59
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Firm announces third fund at $460M dedicated to Seed and Series A investments
SAN FRANCISCO, April 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Base10 Partners, the world's largest Black-led venture capital fund, announces today that it has closed a new $460M fund for early stage investments—its largest fund to date. Base10 raised $760M in 2021, including the firm's now $300M growth stage fund, The Advancement Initiative, that donates 50% of carried interest to Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) to create student scholarships and support university endowments.
The firm has kept its focus on its original thesis around automation of the largest sectors of the Real Economy, keeping concentrated portfolios of about only 25 companies per fund in three to four core sectors that the firm considers "global megatrends." Since inception Base10 has invested more than 60% of its capital in just four trends: Food, Retail, Logistics and Global Fintech. Notable existing investments include Figma (Series E), Notion (that most recently raised at a $10B valuation), Handshake (Series F), Aurora Solar (that most recently raised $200M led by Coatue), Popmenu (that most recently raised a $65M Series C), Shelf (that raised a $52M Series B co-led by Insight Partners and Tiger Global), Nowports (most recently raised a $60M Series B), and Chili Piper (that raised a recent $33M Series B).
"Base10's strong reputation investing in the worldwide logistics industry, as well as in Latin America regionally, made them an obvious partner for us when we brought them on for our Series Seed back in 2019," said Alfonso de los Rios, co-founder and CEO of Nowports. "Ade and TJ's experience as founders themselves has made their support invaluable while we have navigated several new rounds of funding and accelerated growth. We're so excited to see Ade, TJ, and the Base10 team continue their firm's expansion."
"Despite it being heavily oversubscribed, we partnered with Base10 in our Series C round because we loved the Advancement Initiative's mission. Since then, we have been really impressed with the team and the resources that Base10 has put at our disposal: through various Base10 programs we are hiring several interns across our organization, and we have turned to Base10 for advice on important personnel matters," said Samuel Adeyemo, co-founder of Aurora Solar. "We are fortunate to count several of Silicon Valley's top tier VCs as investors, and Base10 is up there amongst them in terms of value provided."
While Base10 is minority-led, the firm does not operate minority-focused funds but rather just focuses on finding and investing in the best entrepreneurs all over the world solving problems for the 99%. The firm follows a data-driven approach to identifying the most interesting trends and companies through its Base11 proprietary software and publishes its work on its research portal. The portfolio reflects this global mindset: Although the firm is based in San Francisco, more than half of the portfolio is headquartered outside Silicon Valley and more than 60% of founders in the Base10 portfolio are minorities.
"Doing this job every day is a privilege and we are truly grateful for the continued trust our investors have placed in our growing team that allows us to keep working in what we love. It truly is a lot of fun!" said Ade Ajao, co-founder and Managing Partner of Base10. "We have the honor of working with the best founders in the world, solving problems that impact all of us at a time when we all really need it, and we wouldn't want to be doing anything else."
About Base10 Partners
Founded by Adeyemi Ajao and TJ Nahigian, Base10 is a San Francisco-based venture capital fund investing in founders that believe purpose is key profits and are automating sectors of the Real Economy, including transportation, healthcare, retail, logistics, and construction. The Advancement Initiative, Base10's growth-stage fund, donates 50% of profits as scholarships to Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Portfolio companies include Notion, Figma, FTX, Nubank, Nowports, KeepTruckin, Chili Piper, and Popmenu. Connect via base10.vc.
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SOURCE KCPR
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The Ukrainian Brand Continues to Support its Employees During Conflict
NEW YORK, April 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- XDar, a world-renowned Ukrainian vodka, has safely resumed production at its distillery in this time of unrest. Translated to "gift of grain," XDar was created to celebrate the special moments of life, inspiring warm memories in the company of your dearest ones, and is doing its best to live up to that claim in their business too. Celebrating their 20th anniversary this year is a bittersweet milestone for the brand.
When conflict broke out in mid-February, XDar was forced to halt vodka production but continued to pay employees. Their staff totals upwards of 4,400 some of whom are currently serving to protect their country in the Ukrainian army.
"The people at XDar are committed to their employees," said Natalya Kolosok of Liquorum Imports, Inc., the US importer of XDar. "They are some of the strongest people in the world. The employees, while grateful for the assistance, don't just want a check, they want purpose. They want to work, which is why, as safely as possible, XDar opened up their facility to resume production."
The modern, high-tech XDar Distillery was built in 2005 in Cherkassy region, where the largest supply of mineral and freshwater resources is concentrated. XDar has created more than 100 signature recipes of distilled beverages and continues to innovate past the 18 unique patents already in place. Prior to the invasion by Russian forces, the factory was capable of producing over 150 million bottles per year. In 2021, the brand sold upwards of 8 million cases worldwide.
Bayadera Group is one of the largest alcohol holding companies in Eastern Europe, with 30 distribution offices nationwide. Currently, the company exports brands such as XDar to 45 countries, and has officially donated more than $150,000 in support of Ukrainian troops.
XDar has also seen support from its partners in the US. Royal Wine Corp, distributor of XDar vodka in the New York and New Jersey markets, is donating all proceeds from sales during March to Ukrainian relief efforts, with more than $100,000 raised already.
"Knowing how much our simple gesture means to the Ukrainian people is very humbling," commented Mordy Herzog, CEO of Royal Wine Corp. "The drive and determination of the Ukrainian people in the face of adversity is truly amazing, and we look forward to raising awareness for this incredible company."
"The amount of support we've seen has been incredible," added Kolosok. "People want to do what they can to help, and the more vodka we sell, the more people we can bring back to work."
XDar is made from ecologically pure artesian well water and premium grain harvested from black soil, so there is no need for additional purification or artificial enrichment. The vodka rests for 24 hours to ensure the best spirit and water dissolution before being processed through eight meticulous filtration stages. ABV 40%. $16 on Drizly and shop.royalwinemerchants.com.
ABOUT XDAR
XDar symbolizes and maintains such age-old values as family, friends, relatives and national traditions. The product is created according to the classic technology of blending the finest alcohol and artesian water. Xdar Wheat Vodka is created with natural ingredients and according to the unique technology. Vodka is a chameleon and blends seamlessly with just about anything. This is no accident: While there are no universal rules for producing the spirit, the final product is supposed to be colorless, odorless and tasteless. With that said, vodka isn't completely neutral, and a number of distillers actually leave in a good amount of flavor. Made in accordance to the traditional Ukrainian recipe. It is based on artesian water and "Lux" class alcohol from the best wheat varieties. This vodka is created for those who appreciate real vodka taste.
Media Contact:
Tina Carletto
Vice President, KLG Public Relations
tina@klgpr.com
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SOURCE XDar
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Sponsored - The following content is created on behalf of Columbia Fireflies and does not reflect the opinions of Gray Media or its editorial staff. To learn more about Columbia Fireflies, visit https://www.firefliestickets.com/web/
Fireflies baseball is BACK and we’re just ONE DAY away from Opening Night! Join us this Friday through Sunday at Segra Park for an Opening Weekend that will be one for the record books. It’ll be a spectacular weekend welcoming back Fireflies baseball with not one BUT TWO post-game fireworks shows! Plus, kids can run the same bases as the Fireflies after the game on Sunday Funday. See the new squad for the first time and be a part of the Opening Weekend fun as we battle in-state rivals, the Augusta GreenJackets, an affiliate of the World Series Champion Atlanta Braves. Get the full breakdown of what is going on each game this weekend below:
Friday, April 8 at 7:05pm: Happy Opening Night, everyone!! Fireflies baseball is officially back in action this Friday night at Segra Park! Join us as we welcome back the guys and kick-off the 2022 campaign. You’ll want to make sure to stick around after the game for our first firework spectacular of the season! Gates open early at 5:30pm and a limited number of 2022 schedule posters will be available for those first through the gates. We can’t wait to welcome y’all back to the ballpark!
Saturday, April 9 at 6:05pm: Opening Weekend continues at Segra Park Saturday night. Break out your royal blue for this one and join us for a Royal Celebration where we celebrate our affiliation with the Kansas City Royals. Make sure to stick around after the game for another post-game fireworks spectacular! Gates open at 5:00pm.
Sunday, April 10 at 5:05pm: Happy Sunday Funday, everyone! Close out your weekend on a high note and join us at Segra Park for our Opening Weekend finale Sunday night. Make sure to bring the kids with you because it’s our first Sunday Funday of the season and all kids are invited to run the same bases as the Fireflies after the game. Gates open at 4:00pm on Sunday and you’ll want to get there early because two Fireflies players will be available for autographs pre-game from 4:00 – 4:15pm. Sunday’s game is presented by Winthrop University.
Tickets for Opening Weekend, and all 2022 Fireflies home games, are on sale now and can be purchased online at FirefliesTickets.com, by calling the Fireflies Box Office at 803-726-4487 or by visiting the Fireflies Box Office in-person at Segra Park. Individual game ticket prices range from $5 to $12 and premium seating options are available starting at $14 per person. All tickets will be sold on a first come first serve basis and are based upon availability. The Fireflies will return home for a six-game stretch against the Down East Wood Ducks April 19 – 24.
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WASHINGTON — The Biden administration plans to freeze federal student loan payments through Aug. 31, extending a moratorium that has allowed millions of Americans to postpone payments during the coronavirus pandemic, according to an administration official familiar with the White House's decision-making.
Student loan payments were scheduled to resume May 1 after being halted since early in the pandemic. But following calls from Democrats in Congress, the White House plans to give borrowers additional time to prepare for payments.
The action applies to more than 43 million Americans who owe a combined $1.6 trillion in student debt held by the federal government, according to the latest data from the Education Department. That includes more than 7 million borrowers who have defaulted on student loans, meaning they are at least 270 days late on payments.
Borrowers will not be asked to make payments until after Aug. 31, and interest rates are expected to remain at 0% during that period.
The extension was first reported Tuesday by Bloomberg.
Democrats on education panels in the House and Senate recently urged President Joe Biden to extend the moratorium through the end of the year, citing continued economic upheaval.
Sen. Patty Murray said more time is needed to help Americans prepare for repayment and to rethink the government’s existing system for repaying student debt.
“It is ruining lives and holding people back,” she said in a statement last month. “Borrowers are struggling with rising costs, struggling to get their feet back under them after public health and economic crises, and struggling with a broken student loan system — and all this is felt especially hard by borrowers of color.”
Murray called on the Biden administration to lift all borrowers out of default to provide a “fresh start” following the pandemic.
The decision is being made amid rising concern that large numbers of Americans would quickly fall behind if payments restarted in May.
In March, the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank warned that resuming loan payments could place a heavy burden on borrowers who faced financial hardship during the pandemic. It said the impact would be hardest on Black families, who are more likely to rely on student loans to pay for college.
“Serious delinquency rates for student debt could snap back from historic lows to their previous highs in which 10% or more of the debt was past due,” the bank said.
The Trump administration initially gave Americans the option to suspend loan payments in March 2020, and Congress made it automatic soon after. The pause was extended twice by the Trump administration and twice more under Biden.
It remains in question whether Biden will pursue widespread debt forgiveness to reduce the nation’s student debt. Some Democrats in Congress have pressed Biden to use executive action to cancel $50,000 for all student loan borrowers, saying it would jumpstart the economy and help Black Americans who on average face higher levels of student debt.
Last year, Biden asked the Education and Justice departments to review the legality of widespread debt cancellation, but no decision has been announced. Biden previously said he supports canceling up to $10,000, but he argued it should be done through congressional action.
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Binkley reported from Boston.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Biden administration plans to freeze federal student loan payments through Aug. 31, extending a moratorium that has allowed millions of Americans to postpone payments during the coronavirus pandemic, according to an administration official familiar with the White House's decision-making.
The video above is from a previous story.
Student loan payments were scheduled to resume May 1 after being halted since early in the pandemic. But following calls from Democrats in Congress, the White House plans to give borrowers additional time to prepare for payments.
The action applies to more than 43 million Americans who owe a combined $1.6 trillion in student debt held by the federal government, according to the latest data from the Education Department. That includes more than 7 million borrowers who have defaulted on student loans, meaning they are at least 270 days late on payments.
Borrowers will not be asked to make payments until after Aug. 31, and interest rates are expected to remain at 0% during that period.
The extension was first reported Tuesday by Bloomberg.
SEE RELATED STORY: 100K borrowers eligible for debt cancellation under new Biden student loan rules
Democrats on education panels in the House and Senate recently urged President Joe Biden to extend the moratorium through the end of the year, citing continued economic upheaval.
Sen. Patty Murray said more time is needed to help Americans prepare for repayment and to rethink the government's existing system for repaying student debt.
"It is ruining lives and holding people back," she said in a statement last month. "Borrowers are struggling with rising costs, struggling to get their feet back under them after public health and economic crises, and struggling with a broken student loan system - and all this is felt especially hard by borrowers of color."
Murray called on the Biden administration to lift all borrowers out of default to provide a "fresh start" following the pandemic.
The decision is being made amid rising concern that large numbers of Americans would quickly fall behind if payments restarted in May.
In March, the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank warned that resuming loan payments could place a heavy burden on borrowers who faced financial hardship during the pandemic. It said the impact would be hardest on Black families, who are more likely to rely on student loans to pay for college.
"Serious delinquency rates for student debt could snap back from historic lows to their previous highs in which 10% or more of the debt was past due," the bank said.
The Trump administration initially gave Americans the option to suspend loan payments in March 2020, and Congress made it automatic soon after. The pause was extended twice by the Trump administration and twice more under Biden.
It remains in question whether Biden will pursue widespread debt forgiveness to reduce the nation's student debt. Some Democrats in Congress have pressed Biden to use executive action to cancel $50,000 for all student loan borrowers, saying it would jumpstart the economy and help Black Americans who on average face higher levels of student debt.
Last year, Biden asked the Education and Justice departments to review the legality of widespread debt cancellation, but no decision has been announced. Biden previously said he supports canceling up to $10,000, but he argued it should be done through congressional action.
Student loan payments no longer scheduled to resume May 1 after Democrats push extension
STUDENT LOANS
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Adidas releases limited-edition Waffle House shoes
(Gray News) - Adidas is teaming up with Waffle House for a limited-edition golf shoe.
Waffle House, which has its headquarters in Georgia, is celebrating the kickoff of the 86th Masters Tournament in Augusta this Thursday with the release of the TOUR360 22 x Waffle House shoes.
The shoes are an off-white color similar to waffle batter and have a waffle pattern. The shoes have the Waffle House logo on the back of the ankle.
“Across our signature 3-Stripes, we included a checkered waffle pattern in dark brown as a nod to the legendary waffles being cooked just right,” an Adidas news release reads.
The shoes cost $200 for women’s sizes and $210 to men’s sizes. You can order them here on Adidas’ website starting April 7.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Biden orders push on long COVID, pandemic’s shadowy mystery
WASHINGTON (AP) — Confronting the pandemic’s lasting shadow, President Joe Biden on Tuesday is ordering a new national research push on long COVID, while also directing federal agencies to support patients dealing with the mysterious and debilitating condition.
The White House said Biden is assigning the Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate an urgent new initiative across federal agencies, building on research already under way at the National Institutes of Health.
Biden also directed federal agencies to support patients and doctors by providing science-based best practices for treating long COVID, maintaining access to insurance coverage, and protecting the rights of workers as they try to return to jobs while coping with the uncertainties of the malaise.
Long COVID is the catch-all term for a hydra-headed condition whose symptoms can include brain fog, recurring shortness of breath, pain and fatigue. It is roughly estimated to affect as many as 1 in 3 people who recover from COVID-19, although the severity and duration of symptoms vary. Despite intense investigation, the causes of long COVID are not yet well understood and treatment largely focuses on helping patients cope with their symptoms as they try to rebalance daily routines.
The White House also acknowledged that long COVID appears to be a disability, meaning that patients could be entitled to the protection of federal laws that prohibit discrimination on account of health conditions and seek to create pathways for leading productive lives.
“The administration recognizes that the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in new members of the disability community and has had a tremendous impact on people with disabilities,” said a White House statement.
Some independent experts praised the Biden administration for a comprehensive plan to meet an emerging need but noted the lack of timeline for delivering results.
“This is a very important move on the part of the Biden administration to acknowledge that long COVID is real, that it is a significant threat, and that much more needs to be done,” said Dr. Leana Wen, a former Baltimore health commissioner and commentator on the pandemic. “The emphasis on treatment for long COVID and the recognizing this could be a source of ongoing disability are long overdue.”
A prominent advocate for COVID patients sensed a breakthrough.
“This is the first effort that truly comports with the needs of people who are suffering,’’ said Diana Berrent, founder of Survivor Corps, a support group that connects patients with government and private researchers.
Advocates have been clamoring “for the government to create a command center for long COVID,” she added. “Up until now, that hasn’t existed.’’
“I see this as a global, comprehensive approach to an extremely thorny issue that has previously received a scattershot approach,” Berrent said.
Medical research thus far has led to theories about what causes long COVID, but no single root. One theory revolves around lingering infection or virus remnants that may trigger inflammation in the body. Another possibility involves autoimmune system responses that mistakenly attack normal cells. Researchers are also investigating the role of tiny clots.
The White House said Biden’s order will expand and build on a $1 billion research study already underway at NIH, called the RECOVER Initiative. One goal is to speed signing up 40,000 people with and without long COVID into the study. Around that effort, Health and Human Services will coordinate a government-wide research plan on long COVID.
Treatment is another major focus. An HHS unit called the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality will investigate best practices and get useful guidance to doctors, hospitals and patients. The Department of Veterans Affairs, which already has 18 facilities running long COVID programs, will serve as an incubator of ideas and strategies for dealing with the condition.
Finally, the administration said its plan will provide direct support for patients by safeguarding access to insurance coverage and extending the umbrella of civil rights protections to people with long COVID. In keeping with Biden’s focus on reducing racial and ethnic disparities in health care, part of the emphasis will be on minority communities that have borne a high toll from COVID-19.
Federal health programs, which can serve as a model for private insurance, will look for ways to make sure that treatments for long COVID are covered and paid for. “The administration is working to make long COVID care as accessible as possible,” said a White House overview of Biden’s plan.
___
AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Golf fans excited to see Tiger back in action at Masters
Golfers across Palm Beach County were reacting Tuesday to the news that Tiger Woods will be teeing it up at this weekend's Masters.
Woods, a Jupiter Island resident, has been at Augusta National for several days practicing and testing out his surgically repaired right leg.
His presence on the course has drawn a large crowd just days before the start of tournament play Thursday.
RELATED: Tiger Woods timeline: From last Masters win to planned Masters comeback
Out on the range at the John Prince Golf Learning Center near Lake Worth Beach on Tuesday, there seemed to be plenty of Woods fans excited about the announcement.
"It's great for golf. I'm thrilled," one local golfer said. "I just think it's the best thing for golf."
The return of Woods is no small accomplishment, mounting a comeback from a catastrophic crash more than a year ago and now aiming to play on golf's greatest stage.
Ken Kennerly, the executive director of the Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, said Woods is not coming back for any victory laps.
He's there to win and feed off the confidence he's gained from playing and practicing in Palm Beach County since his injury.
"I think what he took from practicing in Florida, and this is just an assumption now, I think what he took from practicing here, walking courses, albeit flat, he took that and said, 'Let's go up to Augusta and let's give it a whirl,'" Kennerly said.
Kennerly just returned from Augusta on Monday and said his insiders are telling him that Woods looks very good.
After Tuesday's announcement, golfing legend Jack Nicklaus posted on Instagram that he was "delighted" to hear that Woods is going to play this weekend.
Nicklaus said Woods' decision to play only reinforced the drive and work ethic that one of the game's greatest players has always possessed.
Scripps Only Content 2022
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LIVE: Damaging storms tear across South; 1 killed in Texas
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Violent storms killed one person in Texas on Tuesday as hail pelted communities and high winds knocked trees into power poles elsewhere in the South. Authorities issued a flurry of tornado warnings at the start of what could be two days of violent weather in the region.
In eastern Texas, W. M. Soloman, 71, died when storm winds toppled a tree onto Solomon’s home in Whitehouse, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) southeast of Dallas, Whitehouse Mayor James Wansley said. Officials said at least four homes in the area had trees fall on them.
More than 43,000 homes and businesses were without power Tuesday afternoon from eastern Texas to Georgia. No injuries were reported, but the National Weather Service said it was sending survey teams to examine potential tornado damage in Wetumpka, Alabama. Lightning struck a flea market in the north Alabama community of Lacey’s Spring, causing a fire that gutted the building, news outlets reported, and rising water in Mobile Bay covered part of a ramp on Interstate 10.
Fallen trees and limbs closed a stretch of highway for several hours in Newton County, Mississippi. As the line of storms pushed into Georgia, a large tree fell and crashed through the roof of Marie Jordan’s home in metro Atlanta, coming down in the living room, kitchen and garage.
“It just took everything,” Jordan told WSB-TV. “For years and years, I have watched that tree.”
Elsewhere in Texas, one person was injured when the storms swept through Johnson County, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) southwest of Dallas. Brittaney Deaton said she became trapped in an RV trailer behind her family’s home after the trailer flipped over. She said her stepfather got injured trying to free her.
“I was screaming on the phone. I couldn’t get out. I was terrified,” Deaton told KDFW-TV. “And I felt like I was just trapped, like it was going to roll with me in it. And I just thank God that I got out.”
Her mother, Amber Zeleny, said her husband suffered injuries to his nose, leg and ribs but that he was expected to recover.
Severe storms with powerful tornados are possible across a broad area stretching from southern Mississippi to the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina, the Storm Prediction Center said. The area most at risk includes more than 8 million people in the Alabama cities of Mobile and Montgomery; Tallahassee, Florida; and Columbus and Savannah in Georgia.
Isolated areas could receive as much as 5 inches (13 centimeters) of rain during the day Tuesday, increasing the risk of flash flooding and softening the ground so that even more trees could blow down, forecasters said.
The threat of damaging weather will move to the north on Wednesday, forecasters said, with severe storms possible across an area stretching from western Alabama to the western tip of the Carolinas. More than 10 million people in metro areas including Atlanta; Birmingham; and Chattanooga, Tennessee, will be at risk, the Storm Prediction Center said.
Springtime often brings strong storms to the Southeast, and the region has faced a barrage of weather recently that included a tornado last month in metro New Orleans, where one person died, and storms that killed at least two people in the Florida Panhandle last week.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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'Pray for Ukraine' event to be held in Boca Raton
Published: Apr. 5, 2022 at 3:01 PM EDT|Updated: 1 hours ago
A Boca Raton church is holding a public event dedicated to prayer for Ukraine.
The event is taking place Saturday, April 9 at Sanborn Square, 72 N Federal Hwy., at 4 p.m. in Boca Raton.
International Bible Church Pastor Daniel Naberezhny said the gathering is meant to unite the public's voices in support of Ukraine.
RELATED: Crisis in Ukraine hits home for Boca Raton pastor, wife
Naberezhny said they have arranged free parking with St. Gregory's Episcopal Church, located next to Sanborn Square.
St. Gregory's Episcopal Church is located at 100 NE Mizner Boulevard.
Saturday's event will be in Ukrainian, Russian and English.
Scripps Only Content 2022
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Study: Record number of road rage shootings happening in U.S., peaking during pandemic
(CNN) - A recent study found road rage shootings are on the rise in the U.S.
Everytown for Gun Safety and Support Fund, a gun-control advocacy group, found 44 people a month were killed or injured in road rage shootings last year, double the average reported in 2019.
And over the last three years, the numbers have increased, according to the advocacy group.
Overall, 728 road rage shootings happened in 2021, the highest number in the six years the group said it has recorded such incidents. And it amounts to someone getting injured or killed every 17 hours.
The group said it doesn’t know what’s causing the increase in road rage shootings, but the pandemic and its effects have brought all kinds of new stressors into people’s lives and worsened existing ones.
The study reports it gathered information from the gun violence archives database, a nonprofit database that gathers and verifies data from law enforcement and government, along with other sources.
Copyright 2022 via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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What kind of physical challenges will Tiger Woods face at The Masters?
It has been a long road to recovery for Tiger Woods, much of in private. He did, however, give us a glimpse of his work to get back on the course in November with a tweet that read "Making Progress."
Golfers are not allowed ride in carts along the course at Augusta National at The Masters, and that may present some challenges for Woods.
Woods said walking the course will be his biggest hurdle, so WPTV wanted to give you a different view of Augusta National.
According to Golf.com, walking 18 holes would be more than six miles, along with changes in terrain and elevation.
On the eighth hole alone, golfers climb more than 70 feet to the green.
WPTV spoke with a local sports medicine chiropractic physician who said there are a lot of muscle groups involved in walking on an incline, and there are many obstacles Woods may encounter on the course.
"If he's in a bunker somewhere and his leg is up on a high ledge and his club is down two feet, to be able to have that awareness and the receptors and nerve endings inside the foot and ankle to respond to imbalance like that, that's a challenge in and of itself," said Dr. David Rudnick with the Chiropractic and Sports Rehabilitation Institute in Palm Beach County. "Most people with a good leg can't do that."
Rudnick added that Woods is no stranger to injuries, so he knows how to battle back. You may remember he won the U.S. Open with a broken leg back in 2008.
The first round of The Masters is Thursday, and Woods tees off at around 10:30 a.m.
Scripps Only Content 2022
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INDIANAPOLIS — When former Mayor Bill Hudnut set out to remake Indianapolis as the “Amateur Sports Capitol of the World” more than 40 years ago, he sought to distance the city from its “India-no-place” reputation as just a high spot in a cornfield with a big auto race once a year.
When Hudnut’s successor, Mayor Stephen Goldsmith, greenlit Circle Centre, it sparked a downtown revitalization that led to the construction of a basketball fieldhouse, a new football stadium, a new baseball field, multiple convention center expansions and a skyline dotted with new hotels.
The City has determined that its time to update those 20th Century visions and commitments. It now wants to poise Indianapolis for growth by rethinking its municipal image and personality going forward.
The Department of Metropolitan Development has opened a process for consultants to lead communitywide conversations on the future development of Indianapolis while focusing on the neighborhoods that make up the City’s culture.
“From us being the Amateur Sports Capitol of the World, we have now adjusted to talking about what Indianapolis is when it grows up,” Lourenzo Giple, DMD deputy director of Planning, Preservation and Urban Design, said. “Indianapolis is made up of a whole lot of parts. How do we look at those parts and say, ‘How does it add up to the whole of what Indianapolis is?’.”
DMD said it expects the listening forums and process to spend 18 months discovering the cultural soul of the city.
“How do we identify and pinpoint the smaller pieces of things that we do well and have done well over the years?” Giple said he imagines the community will ask itself. “We have all of these pieces so as a city its saying, ‘Lets help it grow a little bit more and highlight it’.”
The Cultural Equity Plan will focus on neighborhood diversity, while the Regional Center Design Guidelines will examine the future of downtown and the contiguous Mile Square as well as a swath of the Near Northside.
“COVID has taught us a variety of things,” said Giple, reflecting on the business and visitor changes brought to the city’s core. “We need more people living downtown.”
DMD is currently hearing from developers on ideas to bring more residential units to the properties of the City Market, the City County Building and the Market East District while redeveloping the Market and the former City Hall.
A third consultant team is being sought to help update the Marion County Land Use Plan.
In the Norwood community, east of the recently opened Community Justice Center in Twin Aire, Brenda McAtee said neighbors have been inundated with proposals to buy their homes.
“We’re getting mega cards coming in, people calling,” she said. “Everybody was really upset that, ‘We’re getting ready to get pushed out,’ but I’m like, ‘No, we’re not gonna get pushed out’.”
McAtee said her neighbors fear the gentrification that has resulted in half-million dollar homes being built in the 16 Monon area or box-style homes going up next to traditional smaller houses in Fountain Square.
“If you come in and build a $200,000 or $300,000 home, with the homes here, it just wouldn’t fly,” McAtee said. “That’s not what we want in this neighborhood. We want each area home to fall right in with the new area homes that are being built, we don’t want our houses to stick out like a sore thumb and then we got new homes built in here because it would be a cookie cutter.”
Giple said as the city reimagines its image inclusive of individual neighborhood personalities, newcomers will need to be mindful of the community cultures they’re entering while longtime residents will have to be open to change.
“There needs to be a give and take. There needs to be some new blood coming in, but we ask specifically that the new blood that’s coming in respect what was there,” he said. “We have to understand that we have to retain the culture of a community as it is.”
The window for consultant contractors to submit their qualifications to bid on the DMD contracts is open for another month.
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| 2022-04-05T20:42:19
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INDIANAPOLIS — One person is in critical condition after a shooting on the near southeast side of Indianapolis, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
At about 1:40 p.m. Tuesday, police were called to the 1500 block of Harlan Street — a few blocks north of Keystone Avenue and Raymond Street.
Officers arrived to find a person suffering from at least one gunshot wound.
An investigation into the shooting is ongoing.
This is a developing story and will be updated once more information is available.
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| 2022-04-05T20:42:25
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INDIANAPOLIS — Students walking around the campus of University of Indianapolis say they feel a lot safer than they did a few months ago.
“It definitely does make me feel safer knowing that there’s more people out here looking out for us,” said UIndy freshman Ellie Lengerich. “And if something does happen they can catch it on camera.”
The security additions come after a 3-month campus safety analysis that followed a violent fall semester at UIndy.
“They put a bunch of new things in the parking lot so cars aren’t getting messed with anymore,” said UIndy freshman Abe Buescher.
The last few months of 2021 saw the on-campus killing of 26-year-old Dazmond Morgan, as well as the off-campus murder of UIndy football player Koebe Clopton. The semester also included an increase in burglaries, robberies and thefts.
“It’s a lot more lit in these common areas at night, so I feel pretty safe for myself,” said sophomore Edson Mhoanga.
The campus safety analysis was led by former Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Troy Riggs and included a top-to-bottom examination of safety and security at UIndy and the surrounding community.
Some of the recommendations from the study are already visible on campus. UIndy has more than doubled the number of security cameras to nearly 100, including multiple mobile camera units in parking lots.
Additional lighting has been installed between Cory Bretz, Central and Crowe Halls. UIndy is also in process of installing new lighting on the north side of Christel DeHaan and continuing to work with AES on lighting not managed by the University.
The gate on National Avenue is now closed nightly from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. with nighttime traffic reduced on campus.
UIndy also has plans to add more emergency call boxes around campus, and its new “Grady’s Safety Walk” dedicated phone line is now operational. Students and staff can call that number to request rides or escorts across campus.
UIndy has also hired two additional officers for its campus police department, with plans to hire two more.
“Our job as an institution is to make sure our policies and our protocols are all up to speed,” said UIndy President Robert Manuel.
Manuel said the study and recent enhancements are part of an ongoing process to evaluate safety and security at UIndy and the surrounding community. In addition to physical additions on campus, educational and informational programs and meetings are being held to enhance connections between students, staff and police.
“Any crime that happens on campus is heartbreaking, we’re a close community that cares about each other,” Manuel said. “We have to have a modern, comprehensive approach to public safety, and this was that opportunity.”
The next major move will be UIndy’s hiring of its first Director of Public Safety, a new position.
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| 2022-04-05T20:42:31
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GALENA, Mo. — A judge decided whether to dismiss the charges against three people who were charged after the deadly sinking of a Duck Boat in 2018.
The three people were operators of a duck boat that sank in stormy weather on Table Rock Lake. Kenneth Scott McKee, Curtis Lanham, and Charles Baltzell were facing several felony counts over the duck boat tragedy.
Tuesday, Judge Alan Blankenship dismissed all charges for each individual due to the court’s lack of evidence that the operators knowingly risked the lives of the passengers.
Both definitions of “reckless” and “knowingly” require the defendants have knowledge of the risk. This was the issue in this case. The risk was the effect of high winds on boat operations and passenger safety. According to court documents, the judge decided there is no evidence that the defendants were aware of high winds in advance of the storm.
The Coleman family of Indianapolis lost nine relatives in the tragedy.
The judge states whether boat’s operators could or should have known about the high winds by relying on other sources of weather information was not relevant to the charges.
Judge Blankenship released the following statement:
“This court feels great sadness for this needless loss of life and the impact on the victims’ family and friends. However, because the court does not find sufficient evidence to support the men’s rea or intent required for the charges at issue, as defined by Missouri law, the court dismisses each count against each defendant. The case is dismissed without prejudice.”
Among the deceased are nine family members from the Indianapolis area, including four children.
- 45-year-old Angela Coleman
- 1-year-old Arya Coleman
- 69-year-old Belinda Coleman
- 76-year-old Ervin Coleman
- 7-year-old Evan Coleman
- 40-year-old Glenn Coleman
- 70-year-old Horace Coleman
- 2-year-old Maxwelll Coleman
- 9-year-old Reece Coleman
The Colemans were on a family vacation when they boarded the amphibious tour boat that went down in about 40 feet of water during rough weather at Table Rock Lake.
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https://fox59.com/news/national-world/judge-dismisses-all-charges-against-the-three-duck-boat-operators/
| 2022-04-05T20:42:37
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Bamlet hurls a no-hitter for Hayfield
Published 9:24 am Tuesday, April 5, 2022
The Hayfield softball team beat Houston 15-1 on the road Tuesday.
Anna Bamlet tossed a no-hitter, while going two-for-three at the plate for the Vikings (1-1 overall).
Josanne Tempel stole four bases.
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https://www.austindailyherald.com/2022/04/bamlet-hurls-a-no-hitter-for-hayfield/
| 2022-04-05T20:42:40
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Blossoms fall to Loyola
Published 9:27 am Tuesday, April 5, 2022
The Blooming Prairie baseball team dropped its season opener when it lost to Mankato Loyola 13-1 in five innings Monday.
The Awesome Blossoms (0-1 overall) went hitless in the loss.
BP pitching: Micah Donalley (L) 2 IP, 4 H, 5 BB, 7 R, 4 ER; Jesse Cardenas, 1 2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 K; Lucas Schammel, 1/3 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 6 ER, 1 K
BP hitting: Carter Bishop, 0-for-1, BB; Schammel, 0-for-1, BB; Alex Lea, 0-for-2, R
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https://www.austindailyherald.com/2022/04/blossoms-fall-to-loyola/
| 2022-04-05T20:42:46
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Gloria M. Anderson, 69
Published 10:50 am Tuesday, April 5, 2022
Gloria M. Anderson, age 69, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Saturday, April 2, 2022, at Mayo Clinic Health System Austin. Gloria Marie Anderson was born March 2, 1953, in Austin, Minnesota, to Marvin and Dorothy (Lundenee) Anderson. She attended grade school in Austin. At the age of 16, Gloria started working at Cedar Valley in Austin on the cleaning crew. She retired in 2015 and was honored for her 46 years of employment. Gloria loved being outdoors, fishing, bowling, jigsaw puzzles, and dogs. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her. Special thanks to Cedar Valley Services, LIFE of Mower County, and Cenneidigh.
Survivors include her siblings, Ronald (Mary) Anderson of Austin, Minnesota, Marilyn Bublitz of Osage, Iowa, Paul (Sharon) Anderson of Springfield, Oregon, Dale Anderson of Austin, Minnesota, Marlene Tate of Austin, Minnesota, Roselle Anderson of Austin, Minnesota, John Anderson of Austin, Minnesota, Kristine (Douglas) Kastenschmidt of Fountain City, Wisconsin; many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Marvin and Dorothy L. Anderson; sister, Cecilia (Steven) Johnson; brother, Deverne Anderson; and nephew, Leo Bublitz.
A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 9, 2022, at Worlein Funeral Home Chapel in Austin. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in Grandview Cemetery, Austin. Services are prearranged and performed by Worlein Funeral Home of Austin. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.
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https://www.austindailyherald.com/2022/04/gloria-m-anderson-69/
| 2022-04-05T20:42:52
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More Minnesota poultry flocks infected with bird flu
Published 8:25 am Tuesday, April 5, 2022
ST. PAUL — The bird flu is spreading to additional poultry flocks in Minnesota, according to the state Board of Animal Health.
The latest outbreak of avian influenza has now affected 13 flocks in the state, up from seven last Friday.
The newly reported cases all are in commercial turkey flocks — two in Kandiyohi County and one each in Becker, Dodge, Le Sueur and Stearns counties, Minnesota Public Radio News reported.
Previously, the bird flu was found in commercial flocks in Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Meeker, Morrison and Stearns counties, as well as backyard flocks in Mower and Stearns counties.
The affected flocks so far include more than 580,000 birds.
Birds in affected flocks are euthanized as part of efforts to keep the virus from spreading. The outbreak is s a serious threat to Minnesota’s turkey industry, with nearly 700 farms that raise about 40 million birds a year.
In 2015, 9 million birds in Minnesota were killed by the virus or euthanized to slow its spread.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said the avian influenza strain is a low risk to the public. No human cases of avian influenza have been detected in the U.S.
A U.S. Department of Agriculture team is helping Minnesota agencies respond to the current outbreak, including quarantining infected flocks, disease surveillance and coordinating logistics and finances.
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https://www.austindailyherald.com/2022/04/more-minnesota-poultry-flocks-infected-with-bird-flu/
| 2022-04-05T20:42:59
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ST. LOUIS (KTVI) – Major League Baseball star Albert Pujols and his wife, Deidre, will be getting a divorce after being married for over two decades.
Deidre Pujols announced that she was undergoing brain surgery last week for a tumor first discovered last fall. The surgery was on the same day that Albert Pujols made his spring training debut with the St. Louis Cardinals.
The first baseman told ESPN after he finished Wednesday’s game that he “would not be here” if the situation was life-threatening.
MVP Sports Group agent Dan Lozano released the below statement on behalf of Albert Pujols:
“I’ve been asked a lot of questions over the past few days regarding what’s been going on at home and sadly, after 22 years of marriage, I have made the decision to file for divorce from my wife, Deidre. I realize this is not the most opportune time with Opening Day approaching and other family events that have recently taken place. These situations are never easy and isn’t something that just happened overnight. As a devout Christian, this is an outcome that I never wanted to see happen. For many long days and nights, I prayed, asking the Lord for His guidance. I am thankful for the five beautiful children that we brought into this world and remain committed to raising them in a loving and safe environment. I ask that you please respect our privacy and the privacy of our five children during this time.”
Deidre Pujols has not yet spoken out about the divorce.
Albert Pujols will be in the starting lineup for the St. Louis Cardinals against the Pittsburgh Pirates when he begins his final big league season Thursday in what should be an emotional return to Busch Stadium.
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol announced Monday that Pujols, who signed a $2.5 million contract to return to the club where he became a star, will be the designated hitter for his 22nd consecutive opening day start.
Pujols played 11 seasons with the Cardinals before playing 11 seasons in Los Angeles – 10 for the Angels, and one for the Dodgers.
The 42-year-old Pujols and his close friend, Yadier Molina, already have said this will be their final big league season. That also could be the case for right-hander Adam Wainwright, who joined the other two in bringing World Series championships to St. Louis in 2006 and 2011.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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| 2022-04-05T20:46:40
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LAS VEGAS, Nevada (WJW) – Reality TV star Kourtney Kardashian and musician Travis Barker have said their “I dos.”
People reported that the pair got married in Las Vegas at 1:45 a.m. Monday, hours after Barker performed at the Grammys.
Their wedding was officiated by an Elvis impersonator at One Love Wedding Chapel. According to the owner, the ceremony lasted about 30 minutes.
According to TMZ, the first to report the news, the couple had a marriage license and presented it to the chapel’s owner.
TMZ also reported that the couple plans to have several ceremonies to celebrate their nuptials.
Barker proposed in October 2020. PEOPLE reported on the news of Kardashian and Barker’s relationship in January 2021. The pair had been “friends for a long time” until it “turned romantic,” reported People.
This will be the first marriage for Kardashian, 42, and the third for Barker, 46. Kardashian shares three children with ex-boyfriend Scott Disick.
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| 2022-04-05T20:46:46
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WEST LAFAYETTE — After a two year hiatus due to COVID-related restrictions, the popular Spring Fest returns to the Purdue University campus this weekend.
Spring Fest offers activities for children and adults of all ages, ranging from interactive stations, arts and crafts, a petting zoo, the always popular Bug Bowl, and much more!
On the latest episode of Full Steam Ahead: A Podcast About Purdue, FOX59’s Adam Bartels talks with Amy Winger, Events Coordinator from the College of Agriculture about the many different events, the importance of Spring Fest, and much more!
Follow the Full Steam Ahead podcast on Twitter, @fullsteampod, and subscribe to the podcast through your favorite app so new episodes go directly to your phone or tablet.
Watch the interview at the top of this article, and or listen to this episode below.
You can also listen to, subscribe, like, and/or comment on the podcasts on the following platforms
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| 2022-04-05T20:46:52
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CARMEL, Ind. — A Carmel resident was sentenced to two years in federal prison Tuesday after being accused of bank fraud offenses while working with an Indianapolis ad agency.
According to court documents, Jeffrey Gasior, 39, of Carmel, was hired by the company as vice president of digital, where he oversaw sales, analysis and strategy development for company clients. In this position, he also had access to company credit cards.
Gasior allegedly made and carried out a “complex scheme” to steal money from the company, receiving false payments between Oct. 2018 and Aug. 2019. To carry this out, he created false invoices and expense report that moved payments to supposed vendors into his personal bank account.
In total, court documents said Gasior diverted over $736,000 of company funds to himself and others.
“Local businesses are the backbone of our communities and our economy,” U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers said. “To satisfy his own greed, Mr. Gasior exploited the trust placed in him and his expertise by the victim company. His criminal conduct showed no regard for the company or its reputation. Anyone involved in committing such crimes must be held accountable. I commend the United States Secret Service, Indiana State Police, and the prosecution team for their hard work in bringing this offender to justice.”
The US Secret Service and Indiana State Police investigated the case.
“The Secret Service remains committed to pursuing those who abuse their position of authority to violate the public’s trust and defraud our community,” said USSS Acting Special Agent in Charge Andrew Campion. “Through the hard work and stalwart partnerships between the Secret Service, Indiana State Police and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Gasior will be held accountable for his criminal actions.”
As part of his sentence, Gasior must be supervised by the US Probation Office for 30 months following his release from prison, including 12 months of home detention. He was also ordered to pay $736,221.06 in restitution.
“Indiana State Police investigators work diligently every day, all across Indiana, and in close collaboration with its law enforcement partners, to help bring to justice those who seek to perpetuate the victimization of others for their own personal gain”, said ISP Superintendent Doug Carter.
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| 2022-04-05T20:46:58
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INDIANAPOLIS – An Indiana mother filed a tort claim against the Indiana Department of Child Services following the death of her son.
Hayley Kelly, the mother of Nakota Kelly, seeks damages for wrongful death and negligence, according to the tort claim.
Nakota died in July 2020 after going to his father’s house for the weekend. His father, Anthony Dibiah, is charged with murder. The boy’s remains have never been found.
According to the complaint, the 10-year-old boy was on a court-ordered visitation weekend with his father. Police were called to an address on West Lake South Drive for a welfare check on July 19.
Officers didn’t find the boy or his father. They did, however, discover enough evidence to convince them Nakota was dead, including “blood spatter, blood smears and brain matter” in a bathroom.
According to court documents, Dibiah called at least two people to inform them he’d killed his son. He was eventually arrested in Missouri. A jury trial is scheduled for May 23, according to online court records.
A case worker said, days before he was killed, Nakota expressed trepidation about visiting his father, telling his mother, “Oh, I’m dead. Don’t expect me to come home.” When his mother asked him about the comment, Nakota said his father had been angry at him for hanging up during a phone call.
“My dad is going to kill me,” the boy told his mother, according to court documents. Kelly informed DCS about her son’s comments and expressed her fears about the upcoming visit.
Kelly said DCS told her his weekend visit with his father would proceed as scheduled “because it was by Court Order,” according to the tort claim.
“Defendant DCS never mentioned or addressed the matter of Nakota’s fear or safety in the July 16, 2020, telephone call,” Kelly said.
Around 2 p.m. on July 19, Kelly received a text message from Dibiah that said, “Sometimes I hear voices. My son is in Heaven.” She immediately tried to report the text message to DCS, although she had to leave a voicemail instead. She received a call back the next day in which she informed the DCS employee that her son was dead.
Kelly said she made numerous child abuse complaints to DCS over the years prior to Nakota’s death “without receiving any meaningful response or assistance.” Kelly alleges the agency dismissed allegations of Nakota’s abuse at the hands of Dibiah, saying they were unsubstantiated.
In the tort claim, Kelly said she believed DCS failed to protect her son and breached in its duty of care. Had the agency taken action, she believes her son would still be alive, calling his death “both foreseeable and preventable.”
Kelly seeks damages for “loss of services, loss of love and companionship, funeral and burial expenses, costs associated with uninsured debts/expenses of the child, psychological and psychiatric counselling services, estate administration expenses and fees, attorney fees and for all other just and proper relief in the premises,” according to the tort claim.
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| 2022-04-05T20:47:04
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(The Hill) – Amazon is reportedly considering a program that would flag internal messages among employees that include certain words, some of which pertain to organized labor, according to internal company documents.
The documents, obtained by The Intercept, showed that Amazon’s program intends to block words such as “slave labor,” “prison,” “plantation” and “restrooms.” The plan follows reports that Amazon employees worked so hard that they had to urinate in plastic bottles instead of taking time to go to the restroom.
The “auto bad word monitor” reportedly blacklists profanities and inappropriate terms but also targets terms related to organized labor including “union,” “grievance,” “pay raise,” “compensation” and more.
“Our teams are always thinking about new ways to help employees engage with each other,” Amazon spokesperson Barbara Agrait told The Hill in a statement. “This particular program has not been approved yet and may change significantly or even never launch at all.”
The program has not yet launched and remains in the planning phase, but the plan for the it was reportedly concocted after a November 2021 meeting of Amazon executives looking to reduce employee attrition.
“If it does launch at some point down the road,” Agrait said, “there are no plans for many of the words you’re calling out to be screened. The only kinds of words that may be screened are ones that are offensive or harassing, which is intended to protect our team.”
The report comes just days after Amazon workers at a Staten Island, N.Y., fulfillment center made it the first company location to successfully unionize.
Amazon issued a statement saying it was “disappointed” in the election results.
“We’re disappointed with the outcome of the election in Staten Island because we believe having a direct relationship with the company is best for our employees,” the company said, adding that it may be “filing objections based on the inappropriate and undue influence by the [National Labor Relations Board].”
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https://fox59.com/news/national-world/amazon-eyeing-plan-to-ban-words-such-as-union-restrooms-and-slave-labor-from-internal-chat-app-report/
| 2022-04-05T20:47:10
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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — As mask mandates subside, health officials are seeing an increase in prolonged symptoms connected to the common cold and influenza.
Over the past two years, hospitals across the nation saw record lows in influenza cases. Health experts attribute the decrease in cases to better hygiene and people wearing masks.
However, now that COVID-19 cases have stabilized, many people are lessening up on their hand-washing routines.
“When we haven’t had these common cold viruses for a couple of years, our immunity is going to be down lower than it would be,” said Dr. Liam Sullivan with Spectrum Health. “Hence, the reason people might experience symptoms a little bit longer than what we typically expect them.”
The National Institutes of Health said symptoms of the flu and COVID-19 may present the same but are caused by different viruses.
“Distinguishing COVID from flu can be difficult because the symptoms overlap so much,” explained Dr. Brooke Bozick, an NIH expert on respiratory diseases.
Cough, fever, tiredness and muscle aches are common to both the flu and COVID-19, says Kristen Coleman, an assistant research professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Health. Symptoms specific to COVID-19 include the loss of taste or smell.
Common colds, meanwhile, tend to be milder with symptoms including a stuffy nose and sore throat. Fevers are more common with the flu.
Experts say testing is the best way to determine what you have. The viruses that cause colds, the flu and COVID-19 are spread the same way — through droplets from the nose and mouth of infected people. And they can all be spread before a person realizes they’re infected.
Spectrum Health reports that it is seeing patients who are fighting the cold and flu for up to a week.
“We rely on getting [exposure to the flu and cold] every so often, so it gives a little boost to our immune system,” Sullivan said. “That way when we do get them, the symptoms are limited to three or four days until you start to feel better.”
There is no cure for the common cold. Typical treatments include rest, fluids, and over-the-counter medicines.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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| 2022-04-05T20:47:16
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(The Hill) — High inflation and Russia’s war in Ukraine have led to skyrocketing gas prices across the U.S. The average price for a gallon of gas in the country as of Tuesday was $4.17, according to AAA.
To combat the high prices, Maryland and Georgia paused state gas taxes, while President Joe Biden announced he would release about 1 million barrels of oil from U.S. reserves each day for the next six months.
As of Tuesday, states with the highest gas prices are mainly concentrated in the upper east coast and the west coast, while Alaska and Hawaii also rank near the top.
Below are the five states that currently have the highest gas prices in the country, according to the latest data from AAA.
California
The average price per gallon of gas in California is $5.83, the highest in the U.S.
The state’s soaring gas prices are likely a result of high taxes and California’s reliance on in-state fuel lines or fuel shipments by boat or truck rather than inter-state pipelines, experts told The Hill.
Some of the highest gas prices in California are in the San Bernardino area, which is averaging about $5.91 for a gallon of gas, according to a chart from Gasbuddy.
Hawaii
Drivers in the pacific island state are paying an average of $5.22 for a gallon of gas.
The AAA Hawaii Weekend Gas Watch said the average per-gallon price is a record in the state. Analysts said Biden’s release of oil from the nation’s reserve likely won’t have much of an impact on the island nation’s oil supply, but could still help lower costs.
The island of Kauai has some of the highest prices in the state, with an average of $5.46 per gallon, per Gasbuddy.
Nevada
Average prices in Nevada are the third-highest in the country, reaching $5.17 for a gallon of gas as of Tuesday.
Around tourist-centric Las Vegas, gas prices have leaped to $5.31, according to Gasbuddy.
Average prices in the state have climbed a dollar from $4.17 in early March.
Alaska
Prices in Alaska have now reached $4.71 for a gallon of gas on average.
The highest prices in the state as of Tuesday were $4.83 per gallon in the borough of Valdez-Cordova, which is about 150 miles southeast of Anchorage.
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) has called on President Biden to produce more oil at home to offset the high gas prices, accusing Biden of “begging for oil from dictatorships such as Iran and Venezuela.”
“We can produce it at home with the highest of standards for environmental protection, if you will simply let us,” he said in a release in early March.
Washington
Washington state ranks fifth for the average price of a gallon of gas, at $4.70.
The Seattle area is reporting an average of $4.91 per gallon, the highest in the state, according to Gasbuddy.
Washington has one of the highest gas taxes in the state and, like California, has a more limited supply infrastructure. The state does not produce any of its own crude oil or natural gas.
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| 2022-04-05T20:47:23
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ARLINGTON, Va. (WGN) — Gerber has opened the call for entries for their 2022 photos search.
Applicants must be between 0 and 4 years old and have a playful smile that can light up a room. An irresistible giggle is strongly preferred, as well as an undeniably lovable personality — no corporate experience required.
Launched more than a decade ago, the program was inspired by countless photos sent by parents who see their little one in Gerber’s iconic logo.
For the program’s 12th anniversary, and to extend the brand’s purpose to do anything for baby, Gerber will make every entry count by contributing a matching monetary donation of the winning baby’s cash prize to support March of Dimes’ maternal and infant health programs.
Entries must be submitted between Monday, April 4, to Thursday, April 14, at 11:50 p.m. EDT. Parents or guardians are encouraged to submit the smiliest baby photos and favorite videos of their little ones’ giggles on Gerber’s submission portal for a chance to have their child serve as Chief Growing Officer and Gerber Spokesbaby of the year.
The prize package incudes being featured on Gerber’s social media channels and marketing campaigns throughout the year, $25,000 cash, and a selection of Gerber products to ensure baby has the best possible start in life.
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| 2022-04-05T20:47:29
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(NEXSTAR) — Ah-choo! Does spring have you sneezing, wheezing or congested? Where you live may be making your allergies worse.
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America recently ranked the 100 most-populated metropolitan areas on how challenging it is for seasonal allergy sufferers who live there. The foundation used 2019 U.S. Census Bureau data, pollen scores, over-the-counter allergy medicine sales and estimates of allergy-specific health care access.
AAFA’s 2022 Allergy Capitals list shows the states with the highest number of “challenging” seasonal allergy cities are Connecticut, Texas and New York — which have three cities each. Florida, Pennsylvania and South Carolina come in second with two cities each.
Find the full list below and decide if it’s time to move!
Most challenging cities
- Scranton, Pennsylvania
- Wichita, Kansas
- McAllen, Texas
- Richmond, Virginia
- San Antonio, Texas
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Hartford, Connecticut
- Buffalo, New York
- New Haven, Connecticut
- Albany, New York
- Bridgeport, Connecticut
- Springfield, Massachussetts
- Dayton, Ohio
- Columbia, South Carolina
- El Paso, Texas
- Syracuse, New York
- Des Moines, Iowa
- Miami, Florida
- Memphis, Tennessee
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Jacksonville, Florida
- Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Allentown, Pennsylvania
- Greenville, South Carolina
What’s the deal with Scranton? AAFA explains Scranton is the top seasonal allergy offender year-round, for both spring and fall allergies due to higher-than-average pollen levels and having fewer board-certified allergists/immunologists in the area.
‘Average’ seasonal allergy cities (26-75)
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Riverside, California
- Dallas, Texas
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- St. Louis, Missouri
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Greensboro, North Carolina
- Poughkeepsie, New York
- Houston, Texas
- Knoxville, Tennessee
- Toledo, Ohio
- Lakeland, Florida
- Daytona Beach, Florida
- Columbus, Ohio
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Orlando, Florida
- Sarasota, Florida
- Louisville, Kentucky
- Tuscon, Arizona
- Cape Coral, Florida
- Palm Bay, Florida
- Akron, Ohio
- Oxnard, California
- Little Rock, Arkansas
- Worcester, Massachusetts
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- Cleveland, Ohio
- Tampa, Florida
- Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Augusta, Georgia
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Birmingham, Alabama
- Nashville, Tennessee
- Jackson, Mississippi
- Rochester, New York
- Detroit, Michigan
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Los Angeles, California
- New York, New York
- Austin, Texas
- Chicago, Illinois
- Providence, Rhode Island
- Cincinnati, Ohio
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Kansas City, Missouri
- Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- Omaha, Nebraska
- Boston, Massachusetts
‘Better than average’ seasonal allergy cities (76-100)
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Spokane, Washington
- Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Baltimore, Maryland
- Ogden, Utah
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Boise, Idaho
- Bakersfield, California
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Stockton, California
- Madison, Wisconsin
- San Diego, California
- Washington, D.C.
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Fresno, California
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Provo, Utah
- Denver, Colorado
- Sacramento, California
- Portland, Oregon
- San Jose, California
- San Francisco, California
- Durham, North Carolina
- Seattle, Washington
California contains the most “better than average” seasonal allergy cities on the list. The AAFA notes pollen count estimates are “limited” in Alaska and Hawaii and aren’t included.
Pollen allergy (spring) season usually begins around early February and continues through early summer, depending where you live. But a study published in the Nature Communications academic journal last month indicates the season could become even longer due to climate change. Researchers estimate the season could begin up to 40 days earlier than it does now and pollen concentrations even higher — all contributing to worse allergy seasons overall.
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https://fox59.com/news/where-does-indiana-rank-when-it-comes-to-allergies/
| 2022-04-05T20:47:35
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INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Colts addressed depth in the secondary and boosted their special teams unit by signing Armani Watts.
Watts was a 4th-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs who appeared in 53 games with one start at safety in four seasons. He also appeared in nine postseason games, including Super Bowl LIV and Super Bowl LV.
The 5-11, 205 pounder collected 32 tackles, three tackles for loss and 2 sacks on defense, and was one of the Chiefs’ standout special teams players. Watts had 26 special teams tackles.
While being on the field for 282 defensive plays in his 53 regular-season games, Watts handled 997 snaps as a core special teams player.
Watts’ addition fills the void created when George Odum signed a free-agent contract with San Franisco. Odum was a reliable backup on defense but established himself as one the NFL’s top special teams players. He was first-team All-Pro in 2020.
Listen to the Colts Blue Zone Podcast for weekly coverage/analysis of the Indianapolis Colts.
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.
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| 2022-04-05T20:47:41
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A long stretch of dominantly gray weather has continued through the start of the first full week of April. After showers on Monday, a second round of rain fell through much of the late morning and afternoon today. While this may come as a concern with the Indians home opener scheduled for tonight, fear not! Rain is exiting early this evening and we may actually get into some clearing before the sun completely sets.
Despite the clearing outside this evening, it will not be long before clouds move back into the area. By sunrise on Wednesday we will be dealing with a completely overcast sky and downpours entering from the west. Rain will spread from west to east across the state through the morning and will continue until the early afternoon. Luckily, we will be able to enjoy sunny weather again by the mid afternoon, but be prepared for gusty wind. Highs temps will be in the upper 50s across the Hoosier State, but are going to drop quickly overnight.
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday we will be stuck under the influence of a closed off low pressure system. This means that the low has exited the mean flow and gets stuck meandering across the region for a few days. For that reason, our weather will not change much and will be much colder than average. Additionally, gray weather will stick around as well. Showers will be spotty through Thursday and we are likely to see some light snow at times on Friday. Things will begin to dry on Saturday, but real improvement will not come until the late weekend. Next week however, our weather will be very different and in a good way.
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NJ education officials, Rowan partnering to get more men of color in K-12 workforce
The New Jersey Department of Education and Rowan University on Tuesday announced an initiative called "Men of Color Hope Achievers," designed to recruit and retain male educators from minority or disadvantaged backgrounds in the state's K-12 workforce, possibly as early as this September.
A release from NJDOE said data provided by schools for the 2020-21 academic year indicated that 59% of the student population of the Garden State are children of color, while just 17% of teachers are people of color.
Gov. Phil Murphy's Fiscal Year 2022 budget allocated $550,000 to launch the first year of the two-year pilot program championed by state Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz, D-Essex, and Senate Majority Whip Troy Singleton, D-Burlington.
"Research shows that increasing the number of educators of color in our classrooms can have a positive impact on the academic success of all students," Ruiz and Singleton said in a joint statement. "For many students, seeing educators that look like them allows them to remain interested in learning and encouraged to consider teaching in the future."
Ruiz and Singleton's comments were echoed by Acting Commissioner of Education Angelica Allen-McMillan, who in the NJDOE release cited research demonstrating that students of color taught by at least one educator of color had higher test scores and graduation rates.
Rowan's recruitment target is 25 participants per year, who will be licensed to teach in school districts involved with the program. NJDOE said it will work with the university to establish a network of mentors for participants.
Patrick Lavery is a reporter and anchor for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at patrick.lavery@townsquaremedia.com
Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story.
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https://nj1015.com/nj-education-officials-rowan-partnering-to-get-more-men-of-color-in-k-12-workforce/
| 2022-04-05T20:56:41
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NJ lawmaker wants to stop weekly COVID testing for unvaccinated teachers
School teachers and support staff who aren't vaccinated against COVID-19 would no longer have to undergo weekly testing for the virus, under a proposed law introduced by a Republican state lawmaker.
Sen. Kristin Corrado, R-Passaic, said the COVID-19 public health emergency declared for New Jersey has been over for about a month now, but COVID testing of students, teachers, staff, bus drivers and other K-12 school employees continues on a weekly basis, due to an executive order of Gov. Phil Murphy's that is still in place.
"Not only does such a policy impose restrictions and undue burdens on educators, it undermines the guidelines of the CDC itself," Corrado said. "There is just no rational explanation for this policy whatsoever."
For the week ending March 26, COVID activity was considered moderate in most of the Garden State. Activity was recorded as low in Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties.
"As we have seen with omicron, COVID has become a relatively mild illness for most people, with symptoms similar to the common cold. This is true even for individuals who did not receive the vaccine," Corrado said. "It is time for Governor Murphy to follow the science and lift the testing requirement for teachers and staff immediately."
Murphy's office would not comment on the legislation. The New Jersey Education Association, the state's largest teachers union, says it supports public health measures that remain in place to protect students and staff as New Jersey continues to emerge from the pandemic.
"Any changes to those measures should be made in consultation with public health experts, should be based on public health data and should be focused on the health and safety of students and staff," NJEA said.
Dino Flammia is a reporter for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at dino.flammia@townsquaremedia.com
Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story.
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| 2022-04-05T20:56:47
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Senate Democrats have $350M plan to improve child care in NJ
TRENTON – A package of bills aimed at improving child care in New Jersey was announced by a group of lawmakers Tuesday and appears likely to be part of the discussion as the new state budget is negotiated.
The sponsors include Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz, D-Essex, her first major policy initiative since ascending to the second-highest position in the Senate. She said as a budget committee member – and “a loud one,” she joked – she hopes to see at least part of the plan enacted by June.
“This to me is a common-sense approach of where government should be stepping in and making sure that we get the greatest bang for our buck,” Ruiz said.
Ruiz said the whole package of bills would cost around $350 million and that work will have to be done to identify recurring revenues to pay for it. She likened it to the gradual expansion of universal preschool that started in 2015 and is still unfolding.
“And so, what I’m saying is we have to rewind, catch children much earlier,” she said.
The details
The bills haven’t been formally introduced yet, as the Senate is in its budget recess and doesn’t have another quorum call until May 9. But the package includes nine proposals:
S2475: The bill would establish the Department of Early Childhood to provide focused and integrated development of 0 to 5 care and education.
S2476: The bill would provide funding for the expansion of infant and toddler seats by 1,000, reimbursed at $22,000 per seat. The grant program would prioritize providers in communities identified as childcare deserts, areas with high percentage low-income families, as well as those that align their childcare center with high quality preschool.
S2477: The bill would require new preschool programs or seat expansions to use private providers for at least 50 percent of their preschool slots.
S2478: The bill would extend the enrollment-based payment model currently set to expire on June 30, 2022. The bill would extend the program for three years, with a report on the impact at the end of this year and the end of the three years.
S2479: The bill would provide tax incentives to employers who provide childcare in their facilities, reimburse parents for their childcare expenses or contract with private providers so their employees can enroll their children in those childcare programs.
S1099: The bill allows a gross income tax credit for a childcare staff members who have been employed by a childcare provider or worked as a registered family day care provider for a minimum of 1,260 hours for a six month period during the taxable year.
S2480: The bill would extend childcare subsidies to families earning up to 300% of the federal poverty line. Currently, families earning up to 250% FPL are eligible.
S2465: The bill would require the Department of Human Services to establish a quality-based reimbursement system for registered family day care providers participating in Grow NJ Kids.
SJR79: The resolution would designate the first full week of April as the “Week of the Young Child” in New Jersey to recognize the importance of high-quality early childhood education that is affordable and accessible.
Cecilia Zalkind, president and chief executive officer of Advocates for Children of New Jersey, said the proposals would help center-based and family childcare and expand opportunities for quality education programs for infants and toddlers.
Zalkind said federal recovery funds have been a useful stopgap during the pandemic but this goes further.
“They’ve helped, certainly, but they’ve addressed the immediate crisis,” she said. “They are not part of a long-term comprehensive solution, which is what this package of bills does.”
The package of bills was cast by supporters as an economic imperative and a way to get working parents, particularly women, back into the workforce.
“This wraparound package of bills that are going to help with the biggest crisis we have in the state of New Jersey right now – child care,” said Sen. Nilsa Cruz-Perez, D-Camden, who said there is a shortage of workers because of the lack of available child care.
“A comprehensive child care infrastructure will empower families to seek better job opportunities, pursue higher education and promote upward mobility,” said Mariekarl Vilceus-Talty, president and chief executive officer of the Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey
Meghan Tavormina, president of the New Jersey Association for the Education of Young Children Tavormina, said the state’s economy can’t thrive without an improved child-care system.
“We have seen it through the pandemic. We’ve seen it before the pandemic,” Tavormina said. “And we need to change it now.”
Michael Symons is the Statehouse bureau chief for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at michael.symons@townsquaremedia.com
Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story.
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https://nj1015.com/senate-democrats-have-350m-plan-to-improve-child-care-in-nj/
| 2022-04-05T20:56:53
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Teen steals purse, SUV from Lakewood, NJ banquet hall
LAKEWOOD —The father of a 14-year-old was issued a summons after his son stole an SUV from the parking lot of a catering hall Monday night.
A woman reported to police around midnight that her 2017 Toyota RAV 4 was missing from the Lake Terrace Catering Hall, according to police Lt. Greg Staffordsmith.
As officers responded, the Lakewood Civilian Safety Watch reported they had located the SUV about 5 miles away on Park Avenue.
The Lakewood Scoop reported that witnesses said the teen stole a purse from the Hall and that the SUV had also sustained damage from a crash by the teen. A picture of the SUV shows damage to the bumper on the driver's side but it's not clear when the damage occurred.
Members of the Civilian Watch returned the teen and the SUV back to the hall where the owner of the SUV declined to press charges. Police issued a summons to the teen's father for his son being in violation of Lakewood's 10 p.m. curfew for teens under 17.
Dan Alexander is a reporter for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at dan.alexander@townsquaremedia.com
Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story.
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| 2022-04-05T20:56:59
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| 2022-04-05T21:33:04
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The Tree of Life sketch by British naturalist Charles Darwin is pictured in one of his notebooks which have been returned to the library after being reported missing, at the Cambridge University Library in Cambridge, Britain March 16, 2022. Picture taken March 16, 2022. To match story "BRITAIN-NOTEBOOKS/DARWIN" Stuart Roberts/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. MANDATORY CREDIT.
Librarian Jessica Gardner looks at the Tree of Life sketch by British naturalist Charles Darwin from one of his notebooks which have been returned to the library after being reported missing, at the Cambridge University Library in Cambridge, Britain March 14, 2022. To match story "BRITAIN-NOTEBOOKS/DARWIN" Stuart Roberts/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. MANDATORY CREDIT.
A notebook written by Charles Darwin is pictured after being returned to Cambridge University Library, Britain March 14, 2022. Picture taken March 14, 2022. Stuart Roberts/Cambridge University Library/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. MANDATORY CREDIT.
The Tree of Life sketch by British naturalist Charles Darwin is pictured in one of his notebooks which have been returned to the library after being reported missing, at the Cambridge University Library in Cambridge, Britain March 16, 2022. Picture taken March 16, 2022. To match story "BRITAIN-NOTEBOOKS/DARWIN" Stuart Roberts/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. MANDATORY CREDIT.
STUART ROBERTS
Librarian Jessica Gardner looks at the Tree of Life sketch by British naturalist Charles Darwin from one of his notebooks which have been returned to the library after being reported missing, at the Cambridge University Library in Cambridge, Britain March 14, 2022. To match story "BRITAIN-NOTEBOOKS/DARWIN" Stuart Roberts/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. MANDATORY CREDIT.
STUART ROBERTS
A notebook written by Charles Darwin is pictured after being returned to Cambridge University Library, Britain March 14, 2022. Picture taken March 14, 2022. Stuart Roberts/Cambridge University Library/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. MANDATORY CREDIT.
LONDON -- Two notebooks owned by British naturalist Charles Darwin, including one containing a sketch of his famous Tree of Life, have been returned to Cambridge University's library, more than 20 years after they were reported missing.
The notebooks were found in good condition on March 9 in a gift bag that was left on the floor of the library. The bag also contained a printed message saying: "Librarian Happy Easter X," the library said on Tuesday.
"They may be tiny, just the size of postcards, but the notebooks' impact on the history of science, and their importance to our world-class collections here, cannot be overstated," Jessica Gardner, the librarian of Cambridge University Library, said.
Darwin sketched his ideas about an evolutionary tree in 1837 after a trip around the world, more than two decades before he published a more fully developed tree of life in his book "On the Origin of Species," the library said.
The notebooks are known as the Transmutation Notebooks because Darwin theorized in them for the first time how species might "transmute" from ancestral to later forms, it said.
The notebooks were removed from a strong room to be photographed in late 2000 and they were reported as missing in January 2001. But it was only in 2020 that the library concluded they probably had been stolen rather than misplaced.
A police investigation into the disappearance of the notebooks is ongoing.
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| 2022-04-05T21:33:10
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PARIS -- A drawing by Michelangelo, discovered in 2019, will be offered for sale next month by Christie's and could fetch $33 million, the British auction house said on Tuesday.
The drawing, one of the few works of the Renaissance Italian artist in private hands, was sold in 1907 in Paris and billed as a work of the school of Michelangelo. It was largely forgotten until 2019, when a Christie's specialist recognized it as one of Michelangelo's own.
The drawing is thought to be one of the artist's early works, from around the end of the 15th century. It reproduces a shivering man depicted in a fresco, "Baptism of the Neophytes," by Masaccio. Two other people stand near him in the drawing.
"This drawing I think is one of the most exciting discoveries made in the field of Old Masters drawings in a long time," said Stijn Alsteens, Christie's international head of the department for Old Master drawings.
"It shows Michelangelo doing two things at the same time, looking back at artists that preceded him, in this particular case Masaccio, as well as looking forward to his own work and
the revolutionary aspect of it -- in particular the depiction of the human body which becomes such an important part both in the sculptures, I think of the David in Florence, or the many, many figures he painted in the Sistine Chapel," Alsteens added.
The work had been designated a French national treasure, which prevented it from being exported, but the French government recently removed the designation, allowing the drawing to be offered to collectors anywhere in the world, Christie's said.
The drawing is scheduled to be exhibited in Hong Kong and New York before it is auctioned in Paris on May 18.
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https://www.unionleader.com/news/back_page/rare-michelangelo-drawing-could-fetch-33m-at-auction/article_9bac5b69-1729-564e-b48b-9da60fa37030.html
| 2022-04-05T21:33:16
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Canada on Tuesday laid out details of a proposed legislation that would compel platforms like Facebook and Google to negotiate commercial deals and pay news publishers for their content, in a move similar to Australia's ground-breaking law passed last year.
"The news sector in Canada is in crisis," Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez said at a news conference, introducing the bill put forward by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government.
The "Online News Act," or House of Commons bill C-18, will require digital platforms that have a bargaining imbalance, measured by metrics like a firm's global revenue, with news businesses to make fair deals, that would then be assessed by a regulator.
If such deals do not meet a set of criteria detailed in the act, the platforms would have to go through mandatory bargaining and final offer arbitration processes overseen by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications regulator.
The law would work similarly to the one in Australia, which made it mandatory for Alphabet Inc.'s Google and Meta Platforms-owned Facebook to pay media companies for content on their platforms in reforms that have been heralded as a model for others to copy.
Canada's news media industry has pressed against Facebook and asked the government for more regulation of tech companies, to allow the industry to recoup financial losses it has suffered in the years that Facebook and Google have been steadily gaining greater market shares of advertising.
More than 450 news outlets in Canada have closed since 2008, including 64 closures in the last two years.
Facebook and Google have voluntarily agreed to invest around C$1 billion each, over three years, on journalism initiatives globally. Rodriguez said the government held discussions with both firms.
"They were open to regulations ... those conversations were very frank, honest and nice," he said.
Both Google and Facebook, in separate statements, said they were reviewing the proposed legislation and looked forward to working with the government.
The legislation would cover news businesses operating in Canada, including newspapers and news magazines with a digital presence, and allow them to bargain individually as well as in groups.
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https://www.unionleader.com/news/business/canada-introduces-legislation-to-compel-facebook-google-to-pay-for-news/article_e5d74c91-6bd3-55a9-9cf6-1d3490bd0a3c.html
| 2022-04-05T21:33:22
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https://www.unionleader.com/news/business/canada-introduces-legislation-to-compel-facebook-google-to-pay-for-news/article_e5d74c91-6bd3-55a9-9cf6-1d3490bd0a3c.html
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DETROIT -- General Motors and Honda Motor Co. said on Tuesday they will develop a series of lower-priced electric vehicles based on a new joint platform, producing potentially millions of cars from 2027 in a bid to beat Tesla in sales.
The announcement expands on plans for GM to begin building two electric SUVs for Honda starting in 2024 -- the Honda Prologue and an Acura model.
The automakers said the new deal is for "affordable" EVs, including compact crossover vehicles, built using GM's Ultium battery technology. The compact crossover is the biggest selling auto sector in the world with annual volumes of more than 13 million vehicles, the companies said.
The companies declined to say how much they are investing as part of the new collaboration.
GM Chief Executive Mary Barra said Tuesday at an Axios event the pricing will come in below the $30,000 price tag planned for the electric Chevrolet Equinox SUV. She said the new lower-priced vehicles would be "attainable EVs."
She said the new vehicle is part of GM's plan to surpass Tesla in EV sales.
"We have a very important goal... that by mid-decade, by 2025, we'll sell more EVs in the U.S. than anyone else and to do that, you need to have a portfolio of vehicles," Barra said, noting GM plans a wide range of small to large EVs. "We definitely can scale and can do it quickly."
The companies said they will also discuss future battery technology collaboration for electric vehicles in a push to drive down costs.
The deal is part of GM's push to achieve carbon neutrality in its global products and operations by 2040 and eliminate tailpipe emissions from light-duty vehicles in the United States by 2035.
Honda has said it aims to reach carbon neutrality on a global basis by 2050.
The Japanese carmaker owns a stake in GM's Cruise self-driving car subsidiary and the carmakers are co-developing the Cruise Origin autonomous EV. The companies also have a joint venture to develop and produce hydrogen fuel-cell systems at a plant in Brownstown, Mich.
"Honda and GM will build on our successful technology collaboration to help achieve a dramatic expansion in the sales of electric vehicles," Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe said.
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https://www.unionleader.com/news/business/gm-and-honda-to-produce-attainable-evs-in-bid-to-surpass-tesla-sales/article_7b0053cc-40fe-59ea-9543-e16a1db8ed34.html
| 2022-04-05T21:33:28
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Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio leaves the D.C. Central Detention Facility where he had been held since September 2021, in Washington on January 14, 2022. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo
WASHINGTON -- Enrique Tarrio, the former top leader of the right-wing group the Proud Boys, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to criminal charges accusing him of conspiring to block Congress from certifying President Joe Biden's 2020 election victory ahead of last year's attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Tarrio's attorney entered the not guilty plea on his behalf during a virtual hearing in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The judge also announced a postponement in the planned May 18 start to the trial.
Tarrio, 38, is one of the most high-profile of the more than 775 people criminally charged for their roles in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol by supporters of then-President Donald Trump on the day Congress convened to certify Biden's victory. Tarrio and five other members of the Proud Boys are charged with conspiring to block the certification.
Tarrio himself was not present at the time of the attack, unlike his co-defendants. Prosecutors said Tarrio still maintained an active leadership role behind the scenes.
Members of various right-wing organizations have been arrested in connection with the Capitol attack, also including the Oath Keepers militia and its leader Stewart Rhodes.
During Tuesday's hearing, U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly also said he will be granting a request by the government to postpone the trial date and added that he will release a written ruling later in the day.
Tarrio was added last month as a co-defendant in the case, and prosecutors also indicated there is still a chance they could file additional charges or charge more defendants.
With a packed trial schedule ahead for the court, both because of the number of cases and due to delays from the COVID-19 pandemic, Kelly said he will hold off on selecting a new date until attorneys in the case can confer with one another. He said he will schedule another court hearing for April 21 to hopefully finalize a new trial date.
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https://www.unionleader.com/news/courts/ex-proud-boys-leader-tarrio-pleads-not-guilty-to-charges-tied-to-u-s-capitol/article_27b05f7c-7ce1-5c96-a069-be9662ffb5d3.html
| 2022-04-05T21:33:35
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https://www.unionleader.com/news/crime/ivanka-trump-testifies-before-u-s-capitol-riot-committee/article_ce10bd56-2e3c-5a32-bd1b-43f14c4c6d9a.html
| 2022-04-05T21:33:41
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NASHUA -- Authorities are asking for the public's help as they investigate the 2017 death of a 4-month-old baby in Nashua.
Luna L. Champagne was taken from her parents' home on Feb. 16, 2017, to a local hospital, according to a statement issued by New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella. She was later transported to a Massachusetts hospital but died on Feb. 19, 2017.
An autopsy said she died from traumatic head injuries. At the time, her parents -- who are unnamed in a press statement -- were living at 70 Elm St., Apt. 2, in Nashua.
Formella spokesman Michael Garrity said authorities know the whereabouts of the parents but cannot comment on whether they are cooperating in the investigation. He said they are not releasing names or photographs at this time.
No one has been charged in the baby's death.
According to the statement, the Massachusetts Office of Chief Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy on the body four days after the death. The complete autopsy report was received in 2021, and it listed the death as a homicide.
"The exact circumstances surrounding Luna Champagne's death remain under investigation," the statement reads.
Garrity said delays are not uncommon in autopsy reports when victims die in other states. Speaking in generalities, he said other reasons can include COVID-19, the complexity of a case, the necessity of obtaining records and additional testing.
Anyone with information related to Luna's death can call the Nashua Police Crimeline at 603-589-1665.
Garrity said no public announcement was made about the death because it was not ruled a homicide until much later.
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https://www.unionleader.com/news/crime/nashua-police-ask-for-help-investigating-2017-death-of-nashua-baby/article_2ea6ab38-3383-5f5d-b45e-dee11eb77ed3.html
| 2022-04-05T21:33:44
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WASHINGTON -- Former President Barack Obama returned to the White House on Tuesday for the first time since leaving office in 2017 to tout the benefits of his signature health care law and bolster his friend and former governing partner, President Joe Biden.
Obama arrived in the East Room to robust cheers from the assembled crowd of Congress members and administration staffers, and remarked on the changes that had been made in the White House since he was last there -- notably the arrival of a cat.
"Bo and Sunny would have been very unhappy," he quipped, referring to his family's dogs.
Obama jokingly referred to Biden as "vice president" before correcting himself, inspiring a salute from Biden, then offered broad praise of the Affordable Care Act, whose passage he described as a "high point" of his time in office.
"If you can get millions of people health coverage and better protection, it is, to quote a famous American, a pretty ... big deal," Obama said to hoots of laughter from the crowd, referencing an off-color Biden remark picked up by a hot mic when the law was signed.
Biden, who hosted Obama for lunch, joked that the two men did not know who should sit where when they dined, and lauded Obama for his leadership on the health care law.
“The Affordable Care Act has been called a lot of things but Obamacare is the most fitting," Biden said.
While Obama remains a popular figure, Biden faces moribund public approval ratings thanks in part to high inflation and the lingering COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, Democrats face the risk of losing control of at least one, if not both, chambers of Congress in November, which would bring Biden's legislative agenda to a halt.
Biden unveiled a measure to fix an element of the health care law known as the "family glitch" that left family members of those with access to employer-provided health plans ineligible for certain subsidies.
He finished his remarks by saying, "Barack, I'm going to remind you: it's a hot mic."
Focusing on health care has helped Democrats politically in the past. Obamacare was the former president's top legislative accomplishment, and Republicans have repeatedly tried and failed to repeal it.
Obama and Biden became friends during Obama's time in office, meeting for lunch weekly. Their families became close and Obama spoke at the funeral of Biden's son, Beau.
"They are real friends, not just Washington friends, and so I'm sure they will talk about events in the world as well as their families and personal lives," White House spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters on Monday.
The White House said the proposed adjustment to the Affordable Care Act, put forward in a rule by the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service that must be finalized, would save hundreds of dollars a month for hundreds of thousands of families.
It said the "family glitch" affects some five million people and "has made it impossible for many families to use the premium tax credit to purchase an affordable, high-quality Marketplace plan."
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https://www.unionleader.com/news/health/obama-and-biden-reunite-at-white-house-to-tout-obamacare-new-provision/article_dd9d803c-8011-533a-8434-e310bd4a270c.html
| 2022-04-05T21:33:50
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Nina, 74, reacts as she walks past buildings that were destroyed by Russian shelling, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Borodyanka, in the Kyiv region, Ukraine, April 5, 2022. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a news conference after his talks with representatives of Arab League nations, in Moscow, Russia, April 4, 2022. Alexander Zemlianichenko/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
Nina, 74, reacts as she walks past buildings that were destroyed by Russian shelling, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Borodyanka, in the Kyiv region, Ukraine, April 5, 2022. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra
ZOHRA BENSEMRA
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a news conference after his talks with representatives of Arab League nations, in Moscow, Russia, April 4, 2022. Alexander Zemlianichenko/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
LONDON -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused the West on Tuesday of trying to derail negotiations between Russia and Ukraine by fueling "hysteria" over alleged war crimes by Moscow's forces.
Kyiv and the West say there is evidence -- including images and witness testimony gathered by Reuters and other media organizations -- that Russia committed war crimes in the Ukrainian town of Bucha. Moscow denies the charge and has called the allegations a "monstrous forgery."
Lavrov said, without providing evidence, that Moscow believed the accusations were timed to wreck the negotiating process after what he described as progress when Ukrainian and Russian representatives met in Turkey last week.
"We are inclined to think the reason is a desire to find a pretext to break off the negotiations that are being conducted," he said in a video issued by the Russian foreign ministry.
In a sign of the remaining gulf between the two sides after nearly six weeks of war, Lavrov said Moscow was still insisting on the demilitarization and "denazification" of Ukraine and protection for Russian-speakers there, but Kyiv was denying that these were real problems.
Ukraine and Western governments say these demands, presented by President Vladimir Putin at the start of Russia's invasion, were false pretexts for an illegal assault on a democratic country.
Lavrov said, again without providing evidence, that Ukraine had "tried to break off the negotiating process altogether" after Western media published the war crimes allegations.
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https://www.unionleader.com/news/military/lavrov-says-west-trying-to-sink-russia-ukraine-talks-with-war-crimes-hysteria/article_b2f50e5b-a0e2-5851-8a6a-9df82d745640.html
| 2022-04-05T21:33:56
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TUPELO • A pair of nonprofit organizations are looking for more volunteers ... both of the two- and four-legged variety.
Love on a Leash (LOAL) and Comfort Creatures of Northeast Mississippi (CCNEMS), in partnership with Unleashed and Awesome Dog Academy, will host its Spring Meet & Greet this Sunday, April 10, at Unleashed on 1948 Cliff Gookin Boulevard in Tupelo. Together, the groups help connect animals with people who could benefit from the kind of affection and support only they can provide.
Interested volunteers can stop by from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. for information about joining the organizations and to meet active therapy dogs and their owners. Temperament assessments will be available, and dog trainers will be on site. Fully vaccinated dogs are welcome. Door prizes and doggy bags will be handed out.
According to Jim Missett, chapter leader of LOAL, the goal of the event is drive participation in the organizations.
“We are low on operating teams,” Missett said. “We’re just trying to recruit new members.”
Founded in 2005, CCNEMS is a local volunteer group that provides support to the community through pet therapy. LOAL is a national volunteer organization that certifies therapy animals.
In Tupelo, the two organizations overlap, with most volunteers obtaining certification with LOAL. Currently, the team is all dogs, but cats and rabbits can also be certified to be therapy pets. Volunteers without pets can participate.
CCNEMS, LOAL and partner agencies are hosting Sunday’s event for any dog or pet owner who feels that they could be a good fit for volunteering.
“Anybody that wants to promote the benefit of the human-animal connection is welcome,” said Lisa Abstein, the founder of Comfort Creatures.
During COVID-19, CCEMS lost some teams naturally as dogs passed or members moved. Now, they have 20 volunteers, with 12 certified teams. The organization regularly serves seven sites, but its members hope to add more certified animals to the team as demand grows.
“We have hospitals and agencies wanting pet therapy, but we don’t have enough teams to provide that service in the community,” Abstein said.
Pet therapy teams visit throughout North Mississippi and as far as Meridian and Red Bay, Alabama. Teams usually visit hospitals, schools, medical clinics, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and special events.
Volunteers must obtain a control evaluation with a certified behaviorist, dog trainer, obedience instructor or American Kennel Club approved evaluator, complete ten supervised visits with a certified LOAL team, and submit visit evaluation and application forms. CCNEMS and LOAL do not provide training, and dogs must be able to follow simple commands. Some facilities may have their own additional requirements, including background checks.
During the pandemic, members hosted a lot of special events, including window visits for long term care facility residents. When a surge in case numbers came in summer 2021, CCNEMS therapy dogs visited the additional medical personnel that arrived.
Some teams visit weekly or two to three times a week. Most visits last an hour.
Abstein and Missett see the healing benefits of animal-assisted therapy in the lit up faces of the patients they visit, comforting pats and, sometimes, tears of joy.
“That just makes people’s day. That’s our pay ... getting to see other people happy because we showed up," Abstein said. "We’re not doing anything special, but our dogs are reaching out to people."
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https://www.djournal.com/news/local/pet-therapy-groups-seek-additional-volunteers/article_e91d17be-c0a8-5a21-89c9-1d23b49a6ca4.html
| 2022-04-05T21:37:43
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TUPELO • City officials will hold a meeting Thursday with all area neighborhood associations to introduce the administration and talk shop their shared goals.
Dubbed the "Team Tupelo Meeting," representatives from City Hall plan to speak with members of the city's various neighborhood associations from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Tupelo Police Department conference room. Development Services Director Tanner Newman said the meeting will give neighborhood association representatives a chance to meet and speak with new administration members, including Tupelo Police Chief John Quaka and newly sworn-in Fire Chief Kelly Elliott.
"Neighborhoods are the backbone of what makes Tupelo a great place to work, live and raise a family," Newman said. "A top priority of the administration is to strengthen neighborhood associations."
Speakers will include Quaka, Elliot, Newman, Mayor Todd Jordan, Neighborhood Liaison Danny Golding, Community Outreach Coordinator Marcus Gary, Sara Ekiss of Mississippi United to End Homelessness, City Planner Jenny Savely and Keep Tupelo Beautiful Representative Kathryn Rhea.
Newman said the discussion will focus on the administration's goals for the city and where neighborhood associations fall within that goal. There will also be an overview of all recognized neighborhood associations and their bylaws.
"We want to provide them with the resources that are available through the city and that might benefit them in any way," he said.
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https://www.djournal.com/news/local/tupelo-administration-neighbor-associations-will-meet-thursday/article_4581b44e-54b6-5727-962d-8e49d2ed4e91.html
| 2022-04-05T21:37:49
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JACKSON • The state Legislature has passed a bill that changes how naturalized citizens can register to vote in Mississippi.
Both chambers recently passed House Bill 1510, which allows Mississippi’s election management system to cross-reference voter registration information with state driver’s license systems at the Mississippi Department of Public Safety to see if a noncitizen is registering to vote.
“This is to make sure that anybody who registers to vote is a legal citizen,” Republican Rep. Brent Powell of Brandon previously said of the bill.
According to the legislation, if a person is flagged by the state system as potentially being a non-U.S. citizen, that person’s name will be checked with the federal immigration database.
If both the federal and state database flag the person who registered to vote as a noncitizen, county clerks will notify that person that have 30 days to submit proof of U.S. citizenship. If a person fails to submit proof by that deadline, their voter registration status will be marked as “pending” for the next federal election.
If a pending voter does not submit citizenship proof within the 30-day time frame and still attempts to vote, they will be forced to cast an affidavit ballot during the election. The flagged voter then has a five days to present citizenship information to their county clerk’s office for the affidavit vote to count.
Federal election lawsuit impetus the bill
An immigrant rights group in 2019 filed a lawsuit against Mississippi alleging the state’s voter registration requirements for naturalized citizens were more burdensome than those for U.S. citizens, according to the Associated Press.
A Jim Crow-era law enacted in 1924 requires naturalized citizens to show a certificate of naturalization or another proof of citizenship when they register to vote. Mississippi is the only state in the nation to require such a burden, the suit claimed.
Mississippi residents born in the U.S. must only check a box on a voter-registration form to say they are citizens.
Rob McDuff, an attorney with the Mississippi Center for Justice, is one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs. McDuff told the Daily Journal that if the legislation were to become law, it would settle the pending suit.
Democratic senators opposed the legislation
Still, several Democratic senators voted against the measure, including the vice chairman of the elections committee, Sen. David Blount, D-Jackson.
Blount told the Daily Journal that even though the legislation would resolve the suit, the bill still rests on the perception that undocumented immigrants are registering to vote in state elections, which he believes is fundamentally untrue.
“We need to make it easier to register to vote – not harder,” Blount said.
A similar law to the one legislators passed already exists in Ohio. That state's law allows officials to use its driver’s license database to compare voter registration information to prevent noncitizens from voting.
According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, the state discovered 13 examples of noncitizens who may have voted in the 2020 presidential election. There were six million people who voted in Ohio’s elections, meaning the suspected votes that were improperly cast account for around 0.00021% of the total votes.
"The bottom line is Ohioans should know that voter fraud is exceedingly rare," Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, a Republican, said at the time.
Now that both chambers of the Legislature have approved the bill, it now heads to Gov. Tate Reeves for consideration.
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https://www.djournal.com/news/state-news/legislature-reforms-voter-registration-laws-to-settle-federal-lawsuit/article_380dcc59-f8cb-5ab1-b9cc-c77311a5dec1.html
| 2022-04-05T21:37:57
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TODAY'S OBITUARIES
Joe Dalton Brock, Union County
Larry Coleman, Holly Springs
Nancy Dillon, Booneville
Elvis Hester, Holly Springs
Annie Mae Miller, Oxford
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MEMO
Joe Dalton Brock
UNION COUNTY - Joe Dalton Brock, 67, passed away on April 4, 2022, at Baptist Memorial Hospital of Memphis. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by New Albany Funeral and Cremation Care.
MEMO
Annie Mae Miller
OXFORD - Annie Mae Miller, 91, passed away on April 5, 2022, at her home in Oxford. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Serenity Barney Funeral Home of Oxford.
MEMO
Elvis Hester
HOLLY SPRINGS - Elvis Hester, 64, passed away on April 4, 2022, at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Serenity Autry Funeral Home of Holly Springs.
MEMO
Larry Coleman
HOLLY SPRINGS - Larry Coleman, 69, passed away on April 3, 2022, at his home in Holly Springs. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Serenity Autry Funeral Home of Holly Springs.
MEMO, MCMILLAN LOGO
Nancy Dillon
BOONEVILLE - Nancy Clarke Brewer Dillon, 82, died Friday, April 1, 2022. Born on June 28, 1939, she was the daughter of Edith Cunningham Brewer and William Clarke Brewer of Booneville, Mississippi. She was the granddaughter of Nancy Caroline Floyd Cunningham and James Andrew Cunningham, Sr. of Booneville and Eva Money Brewer and William Brewer of Black Hawk, Mississippi and Greenwood, Mississippi.
She graduated from Booneville High School in 1957 and from The University of Mississippi in 1961, where she was a member of Chi Omega Sorority. She attained her master's degree in 1967, and taught English at Northeast Mississippi Community College for 20 years and at Northwest Community College for six years. In 1986, she married George Larry Dillon of Booneville. In 1997, they embarked on a career in high tech product and marketing development and technical writing. In 2017, after George's death, Nancy returned to Booneville, where she lived the rest of her life.
She leaves first cousins, Camille Cunningham Galloway and Jim Cunningham of Booneville, Pam Cunningham Towery of Jonesboro, Arkansas, Carolyn Cunningham Tatum of Frederick, Maryland, and Hugh Middleton, Jr. of Elizabeth City, North Carolina, as well as, many other cousins and dear friends.
A Celebration of Life will be at 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, April 6, 2022, at McMillan Funeral Home. Visitation will be Wednesday from 12:00 noon until service time at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758541, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8541; Booneville Second Chance Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 1258, Booneville, MS 38829; and Sanctuary Hospice House, 5159 West Main Street, Tupelo, Mississippi 38803.
Condolences may be left at www.mcmillanfuneralhome.com.
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https://www.djournal.com/obituaries/obits-wednesday-april-6-2022/article_6a3e19b2-ca96-509b-a4d2-12434c602d09.html
| 2022-04-05T21:37:58
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https://www.djournal.com/obituaries/obits-wednesday-april-6-2022/article_6a3e19b2-ca96-509b-a4d2-12434c602d09.html
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According to Livestrong.com, there are nearly 5 million young people participating in gymnastics in the United States, and although only a handful ever make it to Olympic competition, their parents fork over enough cash on lessons, leotards, custom-embroidered gym bags, hair bows, grips — and other equipment my wife didn’t tell me about — to fund the entire Russian sports doping program.
Yes, all three of my daughters have participated in gymnastics at one time or another, and we gladly spent what it took to give them the opportunity to gain some balance, discipline, coordination and physical fitness (and look really cute) — while I numbed my buns in the waiting area eating Cheez-Its and playing Angry Birds on my phone.
I even tried my own Atari-joystick-calloused hand at gymnastics for a brief time as a youngster, but I gave it up after being traumatized by a disagreement I had with the pommel horse. I don’t remember exactly what happened, but I’m pretty sure it involved a combination of my fear of heights and an unintentional performance of the splits.
Although I once thought my days as a reluctant gymnastics-watcher were long since over, I recently found myself at the Texas Gymnastics Conference Championships to watch my eldest and most expensive daughter (now in college) compete with Texas A&M University Gymnastics. Yes, this is the same daughter who, through the years, has also taken us on exciting, wallet-wringing adventures with ballet, violin, horseback riding (western and English), tumbling, and drill team dance — to name a few.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m extremely proud of her for her hard work and for trying so many new things. I only wish I could cash-in on my finely-honed skill of sitting for up to eight hours straight while waiting to watch my child do something that lasts approximately three minutes. The sport could be called “Competitive Inactivity,” and prize money could be awarded according to the degree to which your rear end takes on the consistency of melted Silly Putty.
My wife and I began the morning with a trip to Chick-fil-A for some “Lord’s carbs” to sustain us physically and spiritually throughout a long day in a gymnasium that smelled exactly like — you guessed it — a gymnasium. Once we were seated, I was amazed at the level of activity taking place throughout the facility, but I immediately identified the most important areas of the venue — namely the men’s room and concession stand.
The first few hours of the competition involved the men’s teams and featured incredibly chiseled athletes with muscles bulging even from their earlobes. Although I was impressed with their talent and athleticism, watching the men mainly made me want to do some sit-ups, so naturally I went to get a snack.
Amid the competitions taking place throughout the facility, I also noticed several gymnasts receiving warm-up massages, and I briefly considered swiping a “big and tall” leotard to see if I could get someone to work on my lumbar region. Luckily for my wife (and everyone else), my daughter’s floor-routine competition was just getting started.
My daughter, who inherited my nervous stomach, looked almost as nauseated as I was, but she did great and, as usual, made us proud. I’m not sure how many flips she did in that routine, but it was truly impressive — especially to a guy who never turned a flip that didn’t end with a belly flop off the high dive.
Once the competition was over, we took our college girl out to catch up over some Mexican food. The whole experience was a great reminder to appreciate the precious time I still have to sit and watch my kids do the things they love — especially when the day begins with Chick-fil-A and ends with tacos.
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https://www.djournal.com/opinion/columnists/can-you-do-the-splits/article_4cbc650a-a1f9-5c32-a53f-4a7ce1d2f60d.html
| 2022-04-05T21:37:58
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https://www.djournal.com/opinion/columnists/can-you-do-the-splits/article_4cbc650a-a1f9-5c32-a53f-4a7ce1d2f60d.html
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Baba’s Brew Founder Olga Sorzano Flew to Poland to Help Ukrainian Refugees. Here’s What It Was Like.
The Phoenixville-based kombucha brewer opens up about her volunteer experience on the Ukraine-Poland border last month.
Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine at the end of February, people and organizations around the world have been looking for and creating ways to help refugees. Locally, Philly chefs and bakers hosted fundraisers to donate financial aid, museums and historic sites raised funds, state police agencies sent body armor to Ukraine, and hundreds of volunteers packed and shipped boxes of personal supplies overseas — just to name a few. (Want to help from home? Here are some resources.)
Olga Sorzano, founder and owner of local kombucha company Baba’s Brew, decided she also wanted to make a positive impact. Following the lead of fellow chef Michael Strauss (owner of Mike’s BBQ in East Passyunk), Sorzano flew to Poland in mid-March to volunteer with World Central Kitchen, the meal-providing organization started by chef José Andrés in 2010 after a major earthquake hit Haiti.
Below, Sorzano shares her eight-day experience on the Poland-Ukraine border cooking food, serving people in need, and witnessing the ongoing impact of war.
Why did you want to volunteer?
I was born in Russia, in southern Siberia. One of my grandmothers was Ukrainian and the other was German, but my family ended up in southern Siberia because during World War II, the Russian government pretty much ordered all individuals of German descent to leave the country because they were afraid that those with German heritage would end up following Hitler. So, I’m pretty well aware of how the Russian government can just dictate what they want done to the people they disagree with.
When Russia invaded Ukraine, I was emotionally demolished. I felt so horrified and depressed for people who had been displaced and whose houses had been bombed. Despite the fact that I haven’t been living in Russia for 22 years (I moved to the United States in 2000), I still felt such guilt — and also disgusted over the fact — that the leader of the country I call motherland was doing such a despicable thing. I knew I needed to help out in any way I could, but didn’t know how at first.
So what did you do?
Well, I have two close friends who live in West Chester, but are from Ukraine, and I asked them what they thought I could do to support refugees. That led to Baba’s Brew running a fundraiser at the very beginning of March. We raised $12,000 in two weeks, and 100 percent of the proceeds went to United Help Ukraine.
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Then I found out through Facebook that Michael [Strauss] was in Poland helping with World Central Kitchen. It was the first time I realized it was possible to go over there. When I reached out to Michael saying I wanted to come, he told me that I’d need to register with World Central Kitchen, find lodging, and book my flight. He said another chef, Joncarl Lachman (owner of Winkel), was also interested in coming. Joncarl and I met the next day at noon, and by 6 p.m. we had both our flight and lodging booked. We flew to Poland five days later on Monday, March 14th and returned to the United States on Tuesday the 22nd.
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That came to fruition so quickly. Before heading over there, were you nervous? What was your emotional headspace?
When I first went to register on World Central Kitchen’s website, it didn’t show any availability for work. I was afraid that we’d put all our money and energy into getting there, only to find there was no work for us. But Michael [Strauss] assured us help was needed, so we trusted that. Also, the day before we flew out, I saw on the news that a military base about 70 miles away from where we’d be staying was bombed. That proximity was a bit nerve-racking and a cause for slight concern. Those concerns disappeared when we arrived at World Central Kitchen (which is located close to the Poland-Ukraine border crossing near Przemyśl) — we didn’t feel nervous or unsafe once we were there.
What was your day-to-day routine/schedule while there?
We would get to the kitchen by 8 a.m., and the mornings would be spent peeling potatoes. Potatoes are one of the most popular vegetables in Eastern Europe — they’re part of pretty much every entree and they’re often in soups and stews. We’d peel and chop about 750 pounds of potatoes every day. After that, it was apple time. Apples were made into applesauce and pureed for babies. It was chilling in a way — knowing we’re making food for babies during the war. We’d portion about 1,500 jars of applesauce and send it to those still living in Ukraine.
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Then, we’d have lunch, and after that, we’d be pulled in different directions depending on need. Tasks included cutting meat, prepping stews or sandwiches, and assisting with cooking rice or side dishes. One day, I helped out at a former Tesco supermarket, which had been set up as a humanitarian crisis center for refugees. They were hosting thousands of refugees. It was mind-blowing, seeing cot after cot after cot, and all these people not knowing what’s going to happen next for their lives. World Central Kitchen had set up a new sitting area and coffee/tea station there, and I spent about four hours serving warm drinks to displaced people.
Around 3 p.m., we would usually head out to the border, which was only a few minutes away. World Central Kitchen had set up several tents there to provide hot drinks and food to the people who had literally just arrived on buses from Kyiv. After spending all those evenings on the border, I met a lady from London who had a tent specifically for mothers and their babies. She had collected donated feminine and newborn products like tampons, pads, baby diapers, and had set up a nursing station and diaper-changing station. She needed to go back to London for a few days, and she asked me if I could help at the tent, which I did for two days. I figured my being able to speak Russian might help with communication since Russian and Ukrainian are pretty close languages. The women who passed the tent looked like they had just seen a miracle — just imagine traveling without being able to shower or change your underwear or change your baby’s diapers. Those items were flying off our tent’s shelves! They were free to take.
Watching the ongoing impact of war first-hand must have been surreal…
Yes, I saw and interacted with many people whose lives were upended. Many people only had one suitcase or a duffle bag with them — they had to leave their whole lives, all their memories, behind and only take the absolute essentials. Even though there was a sense of relief in escaping to a safe territory, many refugees told us that their husbands, brothers, and fathers were still in Ukraine fighting. They don’t know when their loved ones are going to join them. I also spoke to one woman who is a landlord and owns five apartments in Kyiv, and now she is homeless. And then there was another woman who was very fatigued, and ended up kind of collapsing near me. She was wearing a very heavy backpack, and told me she had been walking for five days. It was just heartbreaking. I knew it was going to be a really difficult trip, but the suffering, grief, and agony were palpable.
But seeing all the volunteers from everywhere around the world was very moving. There was a 72-year-old man from Texas working his butt off! Just seeing people volunteer and rise to the occasion was amazing. Also, Poland is an incredible country — Polish people opened their borders, doors, and hearts to all the refugees. I saw signs on multiple restaurants that said, “If you’re cold, hungry, or need to charge your phone, please come in,” written in Ukrainian. There were three buses running (at least in the area we were) that would take refugees to Luzerne, Amsterdam, and Milan for free. Coming back home helped put my life in perspective and my priorities in check. I’m lucky and privileged that I was able to go over there and help.
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What do you think people can do to help from their own homes?
I pretty much posted every day on social media to show what I was doing and what had happened that day, and people would comment things like, “You’re a hero!” or “Sending prayers,” which is great, but those refugees need something more than prayers. This is happening to real people in the world we’re all currently living in. If we can, we need to participate in any way possible.
Every donation counts — no amount is too small. Sending money is so, so helpful. I also think the United States can do better to open the country’s borders during this humanitarian crisis, even if it’s temporary. Many people I know have expressed that they have a spare room and would be willing to host a family in need.
Finally, we cannot forget that this is still going on. With all the bad things happening in the world, it’s easy to jump from news story to news story and sort of move on from them. But it’s important to see images and hear stories so we don’t forget or stop caring about this war and the people it’s impacting. We can’t let that happen.
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https://www.phillymag.com/be-well-philly/2022/04/05/olga-sorzano-ukraine-volunteer/
| 2022-04-05T21:38:28
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Kismet Bagels Snags Their Own Space In Fishtown
Plus, a fire at Sonny’s Cocktail Joint, great spring outdoor events, and more Philly restaurant news.
We’re switching up our approach to Philly restaurant news here at Foobooz. (Sorry that sentence rhymed, it was an accident.) Today you’ll see the artist formerly known as the Monday Round-Up Leftovers section. Which means this piece is full of Philly’s latest openings and closings, plus cool events happening around the city that your friends should know about.
Kismet Bagels to Open Their Fishtown Spot by the End of The Week
Back in December, I told you about local pop-up darling Kismet Bagels snagging their own brick-and-mortar location that would open at some point in the future. Well the time has finally come. Husband-and-wife team Alex and Jacob Cohen are looking to get their full-time space at 113 East Girard Avenue in Fishtown open by the end of this week, offering a brand new menu of bagels and bialys, sandwiches, and homemade latkes. The owners say they hope that their current Wednesday-through-Sunday schedule might one day include late-night weekend hours for the Fishtown bar crowds (they’re located right next to Johnny Brenda’s). Eating a drunken latke certainly seems like a winning idea to me, as does eating a pizza bagel (which the owners said might be a possibility). Here’s hoping that dream actually comes true.
Weekend Fire Closes Down Sonny’s Cocktail Joint…For Now
Sonny’s Cocktail Joint in Grad Hospital had a fire over the weekend in one of the apartments upstairs, and the bar suffered a significant amount of smoke and water damage. How significant? “Shit’s fucked,” according to the owners. The bar is now closed for the foreseeable future. And there appears to be no date at which shit will be un-fucked.
Sonny’s Cocktail Joint opened last August. It was a kind of companion bar to Wine Dive, since both spots are owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Chris Fetfatzes and Heather Annechiarico.
All of Sonny’s operations will soon move into a basement space below Wine Dive for a similar cocktail concept. The new space (currently called Rabbit) is said to be up and running in the next few weeks.
Spring Events Are Back at the Bourse
The Bourse is relaunching their outdoor events series. Starting on April 7th, they’ll have “Namaste and IPA” outdoor yoga and pilates classes featuring Thrive Yoga and Pilates, beer from Chatty Monks and mead from Upper Reach Meadery. Then, on Friday the 8th: The return of outdoor movie nights. The Bourse has a baseball theme this month, so look for Angels In The Outfield, A League Of Their Own, Rookie Of The Year and The Sandlot as the first four selections, each running Friday nights on the Fifth Street patio.
Additional details for all of the Bourse’s events can be found here. And if you’re looking for tickets for yoga or pilates, or movie night, make the appropriate clicks.
Meet Kensington’s Newest Restaurant
Up in Kensington, Cantina Martinez is now open under the El at 2800 D Street. And while this may be the first joint with chef Dionicio Jimenez’s name on the paperwork, it is far from his first restaurant.
Jimenez has spent decades in kitchens. He got his start bussing and bar-backing at a steakhouse in Mexico when he was 14, and worked his way up. Washing dishes got him into the kitchen, and that’s where he found a home. He came to Philly in ’98 and eventually worked on the line at places like ChinChin and Vetri. When he left Vetri, he opened the kitchen at Xochitl and then took over at El Rey.
Now he’s got his own thing: Cantina Martinez is the culmination of all that work and the menu looks fantastic. Expect chicken with three moles, goat braised with agave leaves and pickled cactus, pork shank adobo with masa dumplings and Sinaloa-style New York strip with nopales, avocado and huitlacoche. You can check it out for yourselves here.
Jimenez’s new spot is open for lunch and dinner. And you should absolutely check it out if you’re in the neighborhood.
Parks On Tap Is Back
You remember Parks On Tap, right? The wandering beer garden that used to show up at different city parks, making the whole city seem cool and beautiful all the time? Well, that’s slowly coming back. Step one is a throwback to the early days of the series, with a Parks Pop-Up happening now through April 10th outside the Fairmount Horticultural Center Arboretum. It’s being held in tandem with the Japan America Society’s Cherry Blossom Festival.
Craft Hall is handling the food, so look for soft pretzels with maple mustard, burrata and prosciutto, pulled pork sandwiches, salads and more. Mainstay is pouring the beer. And there will be themed cocktails and entertainment all weekend as well. You can check out the full schedule for the Cherry Blossom Festival here.
South Philly Flavors On The Avenue Is Back, Too
South Philly’s Flavors on the Avenue will be held this year on Sunday, April 24th from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and will stretch up and down East Passyunk from Broad to Dickinson streets. There will be dozens of the neighborhood’s favorite restaurants there, plus shopping, games for kids, live performances and more. You can get complete lists of everything that’s going down by checking out the website, but suffice it to say, this is going to be a big party. So plan accordingly.
Want to know even more about Philly’s April food events? You’re in luck.
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https://www.phillymag.com/foobooz/2022/04/05/kismet-bagels-fishtown/
| 2022-04-05T21:38:34
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Lisa Scottoline on Her Brand-New Novel, Her South Philly Roots, and Growing Up on Nancy Drew
Philly’s most prolific novelist ever just released her 34th work of fiction. She spends most of her life alone on a Chester County horse farm. And she couldn’t be happier.
Born and raised in South Philly and Delco and on the Main Line (a trifecta!), best-selling author Lisa Scottoline is back with yet another thriller, What Happened to the Bennetts. Here, she explains why she’s in a new prime of her life.
Hi, Lisa.
Hi! I’m so excited to be doing this, even though you once gave me a “Worst of Philly” award for my “Chick Wit” column in the Inquirer.
I swear: It wasn’t me. Blame one of my colleagues. I’m pretty sure I know which one.
Oh, I know. The funny thing was that when it came out, my dear mother, may she rest in peace, was visiting me. And I used to write about her a lot in my column. So I got a copy of the magazine, and it had its usual snark. I showed it to her, and she said, “Wait, they didn’t mention me?” [laughs] After that, I wrote some columns with my daughter, Francesca. So you’re lucky you did it before my daughter got involved, or I would have burned down somebody’s house.
I’m certainly glad that didn’t happen! How are you these days?
[Sighs] These are dark, dark times, my friend. You have kids, right?
Two teenagers.
Right. I can’t imagine being a kid today. So much to worry about. Russia/Ukraine. The virus. And all the other things kids already have to worry about.
What were you worried about as a teenager?
Ha! I had braces in high school, and that was the devastation of my life. I was the only one with buck teeth, and I wanted braces. So I got them. And then I was the only one with braces. It was awful.
It’s been a decade since I last interviewed you. What’s changed?
Well, Francesca lives in New York now. We went to see The Music Man there over Christmas. I tweeted something about it and was like, “Oh my God, Hugh Jackman retweeted me?! This is what my life is?”
And what is life now? Good?
I feel so lucky, so happy. I’m really loving this time in my life. I’m extremely, uh, a cappella, which is basically Italian for celibate. [laughs] I feel like now that my daughter is grown, this is my turn. I feel like I have a prime again. You shed the stuff that doesn’t matter and try to get what you want and make yourself happy. And now I can take risks that I would have never taken before.
Like what?
Well, last year, after 32 thrillers all set in Philadelphia, I published Eternal, my first piece of historical fiction. It’s set in Rome, and my next one, Sacred, will be set in Sicily, all about the birth of the Mafia in the 1800s. That will be in 2023. There was a lot of risk involved in switching from thrillers to historical fiction. You don’t know if your readers are going to come. And they’ve come, and I’m getting the best online ratings of my career.
Tell me you actually look at those.
Oh yeah. I go on Goodreads, Barnes & Noble and all the other sites and read what people say. I’m not going to pretend that I don’t care. I do. I’m real. You’re real, which is why you’re so good at what you do. And it feels real to care. That’s what I love about this city. Philly cares.
I wouldn’t normally go back to a subject like this, but you alluded to it when I interviewed you 10 years ago as well. This celibacy — have you, at age 66, given up on romance?
I haven’t, but I’m not doing anything to make it happen. I also fantasize about winning the lottery, but I don’t buy a ticket. It’s the magical thinking I tend to engage in. A lot of women — I’ll include me in that — have put other people first for a long time. And now I’m first. And I like doing things alone. I like going to the opera alone. When the Eagles won the Super Bowl, I really wanted to experience that myself, without interruption. So yeah, I can do anything I want now. I’m not going to listen to anybody, which probably makes women my age insufferable in some cases. We’re out of the crate, man. We’re going to pee all over the house. I probably shouldn’t say that. [laughs] But I’m talking to you from my hot pink office. Nobody can tell me I can’t make my office hot pink. I just bought a pink bookshelf for it, too.
Tell me about this house of yours.
It’s a big house. A horse farm in Chester County. I have horses and chickens. The cottage is from 1740. The main house is from 1810. It ends up being money pit-y. But I’m working from home. I never, ever go out. Sometimes I write from my pink office, sometimes from my sunroom. And there are two other rooms that I use for writing. There’s a lot of space. And it’s just me.
Sounds like a good place to be if you have to be quarantined.
You know, quarantine actually hasn’t been that much different from the way I live. And writing is a solitary act, for the most part. But I do miss the touring, seeing the people at the bookstores. I do get so much energy from that, but you can’t have everything, I guess.
But your brand-new book, What Happened to the Bennetts, just came out. I assume you’re doing a book tour for that, now that the worst seems to be over.
I’m not. Everyone is making their own choices. I’m making some conservative ones. So I’ll do virtual events. Last year, I did 60 virtual events in six months for Eternal. That’s a lot of events. And I really do stay in touch with my readers. I answer every email I can. I’m the only person who runs my social media. It’s all me.
It must get to be overwhelming keeping up with all those readers. I mean, 30 million books in print in more than 35 countries.
When you get a message from somebody who tells you that they are in chemo and that your book made them laugh or feel better, there’s no substitute for that. It’s the best. And I get those kinds of messages often.
Okay, so we got way ahead of ourselves here. Let’s back up and ask the oh-so-Philly question: What parish are you from?
[Laughs] We were very bad Catholics. For some time, St. Monica’s. At another time, Epiphany. My aunt, Rachel Guglielmo, had Ray’s Luncheonette at 9th and Wolf for decades. I grew up there, with pinball machines and fresh hoagies and cigarette smoke. You cannot ask for a better childhood. You know, in my first novel, I made a rookie mistake and put a pretend church at 9th and Wolf. People in Philly wrote me and were like, “There’s a luncheonette there, and this lady with no teeth came to the door!” I’m like, “That’s my aunt. Back the eff up.”
You obviously have a great admiration for Philly, but why set all of your thrillers here?
I love Philly in novels. It’s the authenticity of it. The grit. The real-dealness of it. This is a city without pretense.
I just recently rewatched Rocky, and I think that’s why that movie was so damn successful. It perfectly captured the grit and authenticity.
I just watched it, too! When he runs through the Italian Market, you just die.
Ah, South Philly. But you left.
We started life there and moved to Norwood, in Delaware County, when I was six, and then to Bala Cynwyd when I was 10. I’ve lived everywhere around Philly. My accent is earned. I say I don’t have one, but …
Oh, you definitely have one!
I’m adorable, Victor. Admit it. If you listen to my audiobooks, you will get a headache in 10 minutes from listening to this voice. You do know I’ve been divorced twice, right? That voice! Put that audiobook on in the car, and you’re done by the second exit of your trip.
You’re funny.
Stop!
All right, so you moved around a lot with your family, and unlike so many successful people, you stayed here. You stayed here for college, getting both your undergrad and law degrees from Penn. You stayed here for work, landing a litigation job at Dechert. And you just kept staying. Why?
I can’t imagine why anybody would ever leave Philadelphia. It’s the best place ever, and I think we’re getting a lot more respect from other cities than we used to. We won the Super Bowl! We have Gritty! It’s just great!
So why did you want to be a lawyer in the first place? Did your parents push you in that direction?
I watched Perry Mason on TV when I was a kid, and I knew I wanted to be a lawyer. I did not want to be Della Street, pouring his coffee. My parents never pushed me to do anything. It was perfect, unconditional love. They were worried that I was going to ruin my eyes because I read so much. I would bring home straight A’s, and they would say, “You need to go out and play more.”
Why did you give up on law? I really didn’t do it for long. Five years?
Francesca was born in ’86. I got divorced right after that. And I fell in love with this kid. Lawyer hours are really tough. They were telling women to “dress for success” and wear ties, and it felt like what I was supposed to be was a mom. So I just quit.
Sounds like you weren’t averse to taking risks back then, either.
I was broke. My back was against the wall, financially. And I started writing. Went five years with no health insurance. Nothing. But I got a break and got into paperback. For my first book, I was nominated for an award and lost. Second book, nominated and won, which led to hardcover. I had so much debt on credit cards.
Can you tell me what your first book deal was for?
Thirty-two thousand dollars. I’ve never told anybody that. I owed $29,000 in credit card debt, because I had been supporting myself on Visa at 21 percent. You can get money from the mob cheaper — and don’t ask me how I know that. [laughs] And I just kept writing, saying, “God, I hope this works.” One book a year. Then two. Then three. Wanna be a writer? Great. Write 24/7.
How did you land on mystery as your niche? Was it influenced by what you read as a child?
I started life on Nancy Drew. I know it sounds silly, but that was seminal for me. Let’s be real now. When I was a kid, there weren’t a lot of heroines. We all liked Nancy, in part because there wasn’t a lot else to like, but she also drove a roadster. She drove it. This girl, driving her little ass around, solving crimes. I really think it spoke to me. I collect those books with their blue covers to this day. There’s freedom and boldness and adventure and risk-taking.
Do you write daily?
At least 2,000 words in a day. The most important thing in the world is Dunkin’ Donuts coffee, extra cream, extra sugar. If I have that in the morning, I can write epics, man. What time is it now, four o’clock? I’m still going strong and will be until six, at least. It gives you superpower. And I just get writing. I don’t outline. I don’t know what the story is going to be until I get it down on paper. At the end, hopefully, I see I have a story. And then I’m the happiest person on the planet.
Is there some common theme in all your books, including the historical fiction?
Yes. In Hemingway, it’s hunting, fishing and shooting. For me, it’s family, justice and love. Soul. If you want to know me, read my novels. Setting, place and time are just silly things that don’t matter. Look for the soul.
It sounds like you’re back on the one-or-two-books-a-year path after you didn’t publish a thing in 2020, which was very unusual. What happened there?
I needed more time to work on Eternal. In the end, I could have done it in the regular amount of time, but it took me six months of being nervous, and I finally said: Be not afraid. I just had to go for it. Sheryl Sandberg, who everybody hates now — her book Lean In was important to me. She said women aren’t socialized to take risks. Women won’t say they’re scared. They’ll say they aren’t ready. And that’s what I was saying: I’m not scared to write this book; I’m just not ready. But then I realized what I was doing to myself. You need to get out of your own way. It’s like that Mindy Kaling book: At some point, why not me?
What has changed in your crime thrillers over the years?
The politics and changes in the administration of justice mean you have to be fresh and current, and your writing, even though it is fiction, has to be cognizant of that. Was it an accident that when Americans lost faith in the government after Watergate, the most popular fiction was The Godfather? There are these up-and-down ideas of crime and punishment. We’re rooting for Michael Corleone, this anti-hero. And something is happening now. I can tell you as a lady who writes books in the suburbs of Philadelphia, you cannot write the old story where Perry Mason law leads to justice and everybody behaves the way you’re supposed to. The ideas of law and justice in fiction have to mirror the culture back to itself in a way that’s realistic. It’s hard. We’ve lost confidence in these institutions that administer justice — the FBI, the DOJ, the court system. It’s stressful times. People are not sure justice gets done anymore. That’s bad for human beings. Human beings need to believe there’s a right and a wrong and that right will win. MLK said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice,” suggesting that in the end, the good guys will win. Eventually. But we’re less sure of that today than we used to be. Sorry, I’m very caffeinated.
No, I love it. My wife says to me all the time, well, you’re not boring. And you, Lisa, are certainly not that. And boring is the last thing you want in the person you’re interviewing, believe me.
Thank you.
So you write prolifically. You ride horses majestically.
I try.
But are there any talents we don’t know about? Secret stuff? In my fantasy, you’re a tournament-level Scrabble player.
I’m not bad at Scrabble, but I love, love needlepoint. I could show you lots of pictures of my needlepointed pillows. Lots. The pandemic left lots of time for needlepoint. And I grow vegetables, like every other Italian on the planet.
Your publicist at Penguin probably wants me to get something in here about What Happened to the Bennetts.
[Laughs]
Without spoilers, what is it we need to know?
I haven’t talked to anybody about it yet. A suburban family in Chester County are victims of a botched carjacking. They find themselves in witness protection. And it all goes horribly, horribly wrong.
Sounds dark. Good enough for me. I love dark crime shit.
Me too! Have you seen Gomorrah on HBO? So good!
I will add it to the list.
You’ll love it.
Speaking of TV, why isn’t there a Netflix series based on your books?
I do get approached, but nothing has come to fruition. I will say this: With my books, I have control. I have full cover approval. I even pick the typeface. So I’m not sure I would have much of a hand in the screen version. It’s too much. I like the fact that when I get off this call with you, I can putter around downstairs, make some pasta with broccoli rabe, and fart around with the dogs.
Sounds perfect.
It is.
Published as “On the Record: Lisa Scottoline” in the April 2022 issue of Philadelphia magazine.
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Just Listed: Eclectic Style Mashup in Mount Airy
One part Italianate, one part Arts and Crafts, one part Tudor, all simply elegant.
The block on which this West Mount Airy eclectic house for sale sits was developed in the first decade of the last century. The houses on this block just south of Allen Lane Regional Rail station alternate between Dutch Colonials and Italianate houses, which suggests to me that these were all conceived at once.
If so, then this probably isn’t the only house on the block Saier and Hahn designed in 1909. But if it isn’t, it remains an original blend of several different architectural styles.
The Italinate part is all on the outside — its broad, shallow-pitched roof, its stucco walls with brick accent corners and the brick arches on its wraparound front porch. Inside, it’s a different animal completely.
Were this house in England, its interior might be described as Edwardian, as he would have been on the throne in 1909. And it does have a certain muscular quality to its woodwork and trim, leavened with a touch of Arts and Crafts detailing and plenty of leaded stained glass.
Or, if the living room is any guide, one might call the space Tudor thanks to all those cross-timbers (and all that leaded stained glass). But again, the house’s inner Craftsman shows up in the Mercer tiles surrounding its fireplace.
The dining room epitomizes this house’s simple elegance. Note also how the contemporary dining table matches the color of the well-maintained hardwood floor. A butler’s pantry connects the dining room and the kitchen.
The eat-in kitchen looks a little dated but is in excellent condition, and save for the range, its appliances are all up to date, including the Bosch dishwasher.
It has butcher-block countertops, a Mexican tile floor, and a large pantry. You can use it as it is, or maybe upgrade it.
The bathroom on the second floor has already been updated in a retro-classic style. It has an unusual design and layout: You can enter it from both the primary bedroom and the hall, and it has a split design with a separate toilet closet, also accessible from either the hall or the bathroom via a pocket door.
The huge primary bedroom has large windows facing the street and a bay window facing the side. It also has plenty of room for a sitting area in the window bay. Its walk-in closet contains both the original built-in wall safe and a freestanding fireproof Sentry safe; both can be used to store your valuables.
Two more bedrooms, one currently set up as a home office, and a corridor leading to the back stairs down to the kitchen round out the second floor.
The third-floor front bedroom has original casement windows and is almost as large as the bedroom below it. The hall bath on this floor got redone sometime in the 1960s or 1970s, it appears.
Behind this house you will find a large, attractive brick patio. And its basement contains laundry facilities, storage space and a partly finished room in the middle. The middle room also has doors to the outside and a hardwood floor that just needs a little refinishing to sparkle again.
And you couldn’t ask for a more convenient location than this. Allen Lane Station sits on the next block north, and you’re just a block and a half from the heart of Mount Airy’s business district. Here you will find plenty of great places to shop, dine and hang out as well as the Sedgwick Theatre, home to Quintessence Theater Group, the only professional theater company in Northwest Philadelphia.
If you’d like to know even more about this West Mount Airy eclectic house for sale and its neighborhood, just ask the listing agent — she grew up in this part of Mount Airy. But I can at least tell you that this is a very handsome house in one of the city’s coolest and boskiest neighborhoods.
THE FINE PRINT
BEDS: 5
BATHS: 2 full, 1 half
SQUARE FEET: 2,793
SALE PRICE: $575,000
7133 Cresheim Rd., Philadelphia, PA 19119 [Janet Ames | Keller Williams Main Line]
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Just Listed: Expanded Courtyard Trinity in Queen Village
Attention to quality, style and detail make this renovated trinity stand out from the crowd.
Ho-hum. Another Tuesday, another trinity on a gated courtyard lane in Queen Village.
But there’s nothing ho-hum about this Queen Village expanded courtyard trinity house for sale.
The owner who gave it a recent makeover redid it right, paying attention to quality, style and the details.
The renovation opened up the main floor, giving it a spacious (for a trinity) living room-dining area-kitchen combo.
A breakfast bar ties the two parts of the main floor together. The kitchen itself has plenty of cabinet space and up-to-date appliances, and a powder room on this floor accommodates your guests.
The side patio in this end-of-row unit has room enough for a grill.
The second floor is split between a small bedroom that would make a perfect home office and a bathroom with a full tile tub/shower enclosure.
The top-floor primary bedroom gets plenty of light through its large front windows.
And this trinity comes with great amenities all around it. Great restaurants abound all around you, and Fabric Row, Bainbridge Green and South Street all lie within a two-block radius. The Delaware riverfront is also close by, and a pleasant stroll down East Passyunk Avenue takes you to Cheesesteak Corner. You can also walk to the Italian Market and the supermarkets at Fifth and Pine or 10th and South in 15 minutes or less. Finally, Cianfrani Park in the next block west offers attractive green space.
By the way, the gated courtyard lane on which this Queen Village expanded courtyard trinity house for sale sits was created when part of the 500 block of South Fairhill Street was closed. The street still appears on maps, but in real life, it has ceased to exist. Instead, you get a little more peace and quiet, and no intruders or traffic.
That detail, I’m sure, you will greatly appreciate, too.
THE FINE PRINT
BEDS: 2
BATHS: 1 full, 1 half
SQUARE FEET: 1,224
SALE PRICE: $365,000
OTHER STUFF: This trinity also has an unfinished basement. A $120 quarterly homeowners association fee covers maintenance of the gated lane.
525 Fitzwater St. #2, Philadelphia, PA 19147 [Nancy Alperin | Maxwell Realty Co., Inc.]
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10 of Philly’s Best Spring Street Festivals to Add to Your Calendar
Get ready to stop traffic, eat your way through your neighborhood, and soak up the sunshine at these spring celebrations.
It’s getting warmer out, events are happening again, and we are entering peak festival season. Every weekend that it’s nice out, it seems some major Philly street will be shut down to traffic and full of people again. But how to choose? Will there be good eats? Almost definitely. Will there be good music? Of course! Will there be puppies? Sometimes!
Bookmark this page, because here are all the street fairs you won’t want to miss this spring. All events are free to attend (and pay-as-you-go for food and other goodies).
Furry Friends of Frankford Pet Festival
Whether you want to spoil your pets or want to find your fur-ever friend, this is the festival for you. Olde Kensington Boutique and Philadelphia Brewing Company are partnering with the PSPCA for a day of pet-themed games, pet vendors, a pet parade (3 p.m.) through the neighborhood, and adoptable pets. Then at 5 p.m., there will be a performance by “pet performers” in Philadelphia Brewing Company’s courtyard. Even better, anyone who adopts an animal at the festival also gets a free gift basket filled with products from the day’s vendors.
April 16th, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Philadelphia Brewing Company, 2440 Frankford Avenue.
Easter Promenade on South Street
Come dressed in your Sunday best and strut down South Street for the return of this Philly tradition after two years off. Meet Mr. and Mrs. Cottontail and their bunny friends for photos before making your way to Headhouse Square for best-dressed contests like best Easter bonnet, best dressed pet, and a category called “Best South Street Razzle Dazzle,” so bring it!
April 17th, 12:30 p.m., parade starts at 5th and South streets, Headhouse Square for best dressed contest.
Flavors on the Avenue
East Passyunk will bring out its best with five blocks of pay-as-you-go food, cocktails and craft beer, live music, sidewalk sales, and free family fun. Small plates will be specially priced between $3-$6, so you can try a little of everything. In addition, there will be craft vendors, live bands and entertainment throughout the festival, including kids’ activity zones up and down the street.
April 24th, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., East Passyunk Avenue from Broad to Dickinson streets.
Manayunk StrEAT Food Festival
Another April 24th food event for you in a different part of town! Over 50 food trucks and gourmet food vendors (including a farm stand) will shut down Main Street so you can eat your way through Manayunk. Vendors will be incorporating strawberries into their dishes for a springtime twist. In addition to the mobile food vendors, Manayunk restaurants and businesses will be offering specials, and festival-goers of all ages can enjoy live music at Green Lane, Cotton Street, and Shurs Lane.
April 24th, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Main Street, Manayunk.
Chestnut Hill Home and Garden Festival
From furniture to art, find unique and handmade home goods at this annual street fair. This year sees the addition of a Sustainability Hub, which features makers and organizations working for a more sustainable Philly including Farmer Jawn Philly and YaFavTrashman. In addition to the over 150 home and garden vendors lining the avenue, you’ll find delicious food, boutique shopping, and live music on two stages. Stagecrafters Theater will also hold performances and activities at 8130 Germantown Avenue, including circus arts, tarot card readings, and a Jack and the Beanstalk play for kids (hourly from 1-3 p.m.) Want more kids’ activities? Head to Jenks (8301 Germantown Avenue) for a Kid Zone with face painting, games, and crafts.
May 1st, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., 8000 to 8600 blocks of Germantown Avenue.
South Street Spring Festival
A giant, all-ages outdoor block party takes over South Street with food, live music, and artists selling their creations. In conjunction with the festival, Brauhaus Schmitz will host its annual Maifest, with German beers, music, dancers and a maypole. There will also be the Kids Zone with fun games and play areas for little ones, plus Atomic City will host Free Comic Book Day.
May 7th, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., South Street from 2nd to 8th streets.
Roxborough Spring Fest
From main stage acts to singer-songwriters to kids’ tunes, come to Roxborough to rock out all day. Head to Ridge Avenue for the main stage, plus food trucks and arts and craft vendors. You can also see classic cars courtesy of Roxborough Ridge Runners, singer-songwriters in Pocket Park, and kids’ music and storytelling in Gorgas Park.
May 7th, noon-5 p.m., Ridge Avenue from Lyceum Avenue to Fountain Street.
Kensington Derby & Arts Festival
And now for something completely different. After three years off, the Philadelphia Federal Credit Union Kensington Derby & Arts Festival is bringing back the craziest, muddiest festival in town. The centerpiece of this festival is the derby portion where teams drive their human-powered vehicles through a three-mile obstacle course that includes challenges like a mud pit — and spills do happen. Prizes are awarded for categories like Best Costume and Best Engineering. The festival also features over 100 local arts and food vendors.
May 14th, noon-6 p.m., Trenton Avenue from Frankford Avenue to Norris Street.
Hawthornes Beer, Booze and Bubbly Block Party
Formerly known as the IPA, Champagne and Rose Block Party, this block party — now in its 12th year — is still the spot for one of the best lineups of IPAs and food trucks galore. Plus this year, you can also sip cocktails from Sonny’s Cocktail Joint, wine and bubbles from Wine Dive, and margaritas from Tio Flores. Whatever you like to drink, there will be a lot of it. Live music and family fun round out the festivities.
May 14th, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., 11th and Fitzwater streets.
Italian Market Festival
After years off due to the pandemic, this festival is back and going to go all weekend. To paraphrase Stefon, this festival has everything: saints on parade, greased-pole climbers, every Italian delicacy possible, a half ball tournament, live entertainment, art vendors, and more. Now back to that greased pole: Albero della cuccagna (let’s be authentic here) is apparently a tradition where “teams compete in climbing to the top of a greased pole to reach prizes of meats, cheeses, gifts, and money.” So if you really want to get in the spirit — or if you’re just missing that post-Super Bowl delirium — sign up to climb a 30-foot pole greased with lard at the 9th and Montrose Piazza.
May 21st & 22nd, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., 9th Street from Wharton to Fitzwater streets.
And now for two more festivals whose details are yet to be fully released (but we will be on top of that!), just so you can save the dates:
Rittenhouse Row Spring Stroll
The erstwhile Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival is a “stroll” now and will take place around the Square. Not sure yet how a stroll differs from a festival, but we’re sure it will still showcase plenty of shopping, music, and delicious food and drinks as Rittenhouse businesses come out to play.
May 21st, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Rittenhouse Square.
Old City Eats Block Party
To celebrate the return of Old City Eats (returning every Thursday this summer), the district is throwing a block party with food, drinks, and live music. Old City Eats participants will also have food and drink specials at their restaurants. Details are still scant on this one, so stay tuned for more information as we get closer!
May 26th, 4-9 p.m., 2nd Street between Market and Chestnut streets.
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With little discussion and no debate, the Republican-controlled House voted 70-14 to send the bill to Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt, who has previously said he'd sign any anti-abortion bill that comes to his desk.
The bill is one of several anti-abortion measures still alive in Oklahoma's Legislature this year, part of a trend of GOP-led states passing aggressive anti-abortion legislation as the conservative U.S. Supreme Court is considering ratcheting back abortion rights that have been in place for nearly 50 years.
The Oklahoma bill, which passed the Senate last year, makes an exception only for an abortion performed to save the life of the mother, said GOP state Rep. Jim Olsen, of Roland, who sponsored the bill. Under the bill, a person convicted of performing an abortion would face up to 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.
"The penalties are for the doctor, not for the woman," Olsen said.
Similar anti-abortion bills approved by the Oklahoma Legislature in recent years have been stopped by the courts as unconstitutional.
The bill's passage came on the same day as more than 100 people attended a "Bans Off Oklahoma" rally outside the Capitol in support of abortion rights.
"These legislators have continued their relentless attacks on our freedoms," said Emily Wales, interim president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes. "These restrictions are not about improving the safety of the work that we do. They are about shaming and stigmatizing people who need and deserve abortion access."
Wales said Planned Parenthood's abortion clinic in Oklahoma has seen an 800% increase in the number of women from Texas after that state passed the most restrictive anti-abortion law in the U.S. in decades.
The Texas law that took effect last year bans abortion once cardiac activity is detected, usually around six weeks of pregnancy, without exceptions in cases of rape or incest.
Also Tuesday, the Oklahoma House adopted a resolution to recognize lives lost due to abortion and urge citizens to fly flags at half-staff on Jan. 22, the day the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion in its landmark 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade.
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CARY, N.C. (WTVD) -- Cary resident Ed Smith was out on his routine bike ride when all of a sudden, he heard a "pop" and felt a series of "stings" on his side, looking up to see a white Ford truck with its windows rolled down.
Smith told ABC11 that he was confused about exactly what had occurred until he returned home and notified authorities of the incident at his wife's behest.
Only then was he informed that his description of the event coincides with recent reportings of a viral TikTok challenge that involves shooting unsuspecting people on the streets with small gel orbs known as "Orbeez."
While Smith was relatively unharmed, asides from a couple of bruises sustained from the blows, he says "people just don't understand the ramifications of something like this" and warns that the situation "could have been much worse," alluding to the possibility of more severe accidents that could stem from such trends.
Cary cyclist struck by 'Orbeez' as part of viral TikTok challenge
By Tammy Nguyen
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SPRINGDALE, Ark. — Springdale families displaced by last week's tornado need our help.
5NEWS, First National Bank and iHeartRadio have partnered with the Red Cross to host a drive-thru donation event benefiting Springdale families impacted by the severe storm.
We encourage community members to stop by the First National Bank on Johnson Mill Boulevard, just off Exit 69 on I-49, to make a monetary donation. All the money raised will stay within the Northwest Arkansas community and benefit those impacted by the EF-3 tornado that ripped through the town.
The event starts at 6 a.m. Wednesday, April 6, lasting until 7 p.m.
The entire 5NEWS team will be at the site on Wednesday, including a few special guests.
You can also donate online. Please check back Wednesday for a direct link.
Below is a look at some of the damage from the storm.
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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas Health Secretary Dr. José Romero announced he is resigning from the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH).
Governor Asa Hutchinson made the announcement during a press conference Tuesday, April 5.
Dr. Romero previously served as Chief Medical Officer for the ADH and was appointed as the interim secretary of health by Gov. Hutchinson in May 2020 after former Secretary of Health Dr. Nate Smith accepted a position with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
He was given the health secretary position in August of 2020 as the nation was becoming plagued with COVID-19. He stood by the governor's side during daily press conferences regarding the virus and throughout the past two years.
"Any success that I've had, modicum of success I've had, in this position is really the result of the work of the governor, the staff and ADH and any missteps or failures are clearly on my shoulders," Dr. Romero said.
He went on to thank his chiefs of staff and other colleagues for their efforts in helping provide information to the governor during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We've all talked about the health care providers as being heroes, what's not said often enough is that the public health officials are also the heroes of this," Dr. Romero said. "They've given up their weekends, working continuously, given up their vacations, to sift and go through the data necessary to make decisions and without them we would've been in a very weak position."
He continued by saying all of the health department staff and personnel are truly heroes for their efforts during the pandemic. Dr. Romero thanked the public and those Arkansans who sent him letters and comments encouraging him during some of the darkest times of the pandemic.
May 6 will be Dr. Romero's last day serving the state of Arkansas. After that, he will be taking a job with the CDC in Atlanta.
“Whenever we have someone of such talent and experience and wisdom, that he’s looked at from a national perspective,” Gov. Hutchinson said.
The governor says Dr. Romero will serve our nation in a similar way that he has served our state for the past two years.
An interim secretary of health has not been named at this time.
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To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com.
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https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/health/dr-jos-romero-resigning-from-adh-taking-job-with-centers-for-disease-control/527-848fe08e-7dbb-4869-9798-ed493697b17a
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SPRINGDALE, Ark. — The Children's Safety Center (CSC) in Springdale is hosting an open house to give community members a walk-through experience of what the facility does to help children in our area.
The open house will be from 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, April 5, at the center located at 614 E. Emma Ave, STE 200, Springdale.
April is Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month. To celebrate 25 years, the center is opening its doors to give the community a personal and interactive tour of the facility and a chance to learn more about what CSC does to help children who are going through a difficult time.
The center says the tour will allow you to follow in the footsteps of a child as they navigate their way from telling to healing.
There will be refreshments and raffle options to win prizes during the event.
According to data from CSC, in 2021, the center saw almost 700 alleged child abuse victims, primarily from Washington County, and most of those were sexual abuse allegations. The center says this year that they are up to 24% over the number of children seen in 2021.
The center's mission is to empower children to overcome abuse and begin to trust, hope and heal from the trauma they have faced.
The CSC provides child advocacy, forensic interviewing, sexual assault examinations, mental health therapy and child abuse prevention training.
Each child that comes through the center leaves a permanent handprint on the wall to represent an emotional story of recovery. The handprint has become a symbol of the CSC's mission and since its opening in 1997, over 13,000 handprints have been placed on the center's walls.
DOWNLOAD THE 5NEWS APP
DOWNLOAD FOR IPHONE HERE | DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID HERE
HOW TO ADD THE 5NEWS APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KFSM in the Channel Store.
For Fire TV, search for "KFSM" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.
To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com.
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https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/childrens-safety-center-in-springdale-hosts-open-house/527-5fbdb884-8e99-418a-92c2-2ea3a587b94f
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OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Legislature passed a law Tuesday that makes performing an abortion in the state a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The governor is expected to sign the bill into law, and it would go into effect this summer.
Once in place, the law would have major regional impacts. More Texans have sought abortions in Oklahoma than in any other state since a Texas law banning abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy went into effect Sept. 1.
“Oklahoma is going from a state where we’ve been a haven for refugees who’ve needed support to a state that has chosen to make refugees of its own citizens,” said Emily Wales, the interim president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, which operates clinics in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri.
Oklahoma has been scrambling to keep up with the deluge of patients from Texas for more than seven months. The state’s four providers have extended hours, hired additional staff and worked long shifts to absorb more than 600 additional patients a month.
But now, these providers are facing the opposite problem: not a deluge, but a drought, as the state follows its neighbor’s lead in limiting abortion access.
Before the ban
On a recent Wednesday morning, the Trust Women abortion clinic in Oklahoma City got more than 200 phone calls in just two hours. People were calling, again and again, trying to get through to someone so they could book an appointment for an abortion several weeks out.
“There wasn’t anything special happening that Wednesday,” said communications director Zack Gingrich-Gaylord. “That has just been the case every day since Aug. 31.”
Oklahoma’s four abortion clinics — two in Tulsa and two in Oklahoma City — have absorbed more Texas patients than any other state. Nearly half of all Texans who got abortions out of state between September and December went to Oklahoma, according to a study from the Texas Policy Evaluation Project at the University of Texas at Austin.
Oklahoma’s population is a fraction of the size of Texas’, and the state has historically provided a fraction of the abortions — roughly 5,000 procedures in 2019, compared with more than 56,000 in Texas.
To accommodate more than 600 additional procedures a month, the Oklahoma clinics have had to scale up — and scale back. Trust Women has stopped providing other health care services to focus more fully on abortion care, doubling clinic days and adding half a dozen doctors between its two clinics.
The clinics are seeing more patients later in pregnancy because of weekslong waiting lists. And still, they’re having to turn a lot of patients away, creating a regional ripple effect as patients from Oklahoma are pushed into Kansas and Illinois.
“The capacity of these states is not enough for their own state, let alone to be able to absorb … Texas’s needs, even if you split them up,” Gingrich-Gaylord said. “And again, people shouldn’t have to leave their own communities for health care.”
At Planned Parenthood’s two Oklahoma clinics, Texas patients made up 60% of the caseload between September and January, compared with just 10% during that same period in 2020, according to a spokesperson.
Oklahoma’s existing abortion restrictions also made it a somewhat more convenient option for Texans seeking care. The state has a 72-hour waiting period, but unlike in neighboring Arkansas, the first visit does not need to be in person.
Fewer options for Texas women
If Oklahoma’s new abortion ban becomes law, Texans will have to either travel further or stay longer — or carry the pregnancy to term.
“It’s incredibly difficult for people to travel out of state [for an abortion] already,” said Cristina Parker with the Lilith Fund, a nonprofit that helps Texans pay for abortions. “Having anything happen in a neighboring state that would cut off that access even more just makes every single one of those barriers a little bit more intense.”
In the first few months of this year, about a third of the Lilith Fund’s clients went to Oklahoma for care.
“For someone who can’t just dip into a savings account, who can’t schedule paid time off, who has to find child care,” Parker said, “it’s not an option to go further, spend more and be away from home longer.”
The Oklahoma House of Representatives recently passed a bill that banned abortions by empowering private citizens to bring lawsuits against anyone who “aided or abetted” in an abortion. The bill is in front of the Senate and contained an emergency provision that allowed it to go into effect as soon as the governor signed it.
But in a surprise move Tuesday, the House passed a different bill, making it a felony for doctors to provide abortions. The bill already passed the Senate last year, and it now goes to Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt. According to the Associated Press, Stitt has said he will sign any anti-abortion bill that comes to his desk.
This story comes from our KHOU 11 News partners at The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans - and engages with them - about public policy, politics, government, and statewide issues.
Disclosure: Planned Parenthood and the University of Texas at Austin have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism.
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63-year-old dies after roommate pours hot cooking oil on her at assisted living center, police say
Published: Apr. 5, 2022 at 5:13 PM EDT|Updated: 50 minutes ago
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KMOV/Gray News) - A 65-year-old woman was taken into custody after pouring hot cooking oil over her roommate at an assisted living center, police said.
According to police, officers found 63-year-old Doren Davis severely burned inside the Smiley House in St. Louis on March 7.
Davis’ roommate poured hot cooking oil on her after a dispute over a personal matter, investigators said.
The 65-year-old was arrested and is being held at the Missouri Department of Corrections. Davis was hospitalized for her burns but later died.
Copyright 2022 KMOV via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-05T22:03:56
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Amber Alert issued for Ohio girl reportedly abducted by stepbrother
(Gray News) - An Amber Alert has been issued for a missing 12-year-old child reportedly abducted by her stepbrother.
The incident took place in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, on State Route 82 and Deer Creek Drive in the city of North Royalton.
Police say Tessa Kozelka left with her “boyfriend” Micey Stiver on Monday, April 4, at 2 a.m.
Tessa is described as a white female, standing 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighing about 100 pounds. She has hazel eyes and black hair.
She was last seen wearing a red hooded sweatshirt with black writing on it. She has a 50-cent piece size birthmark on her right leg.
Police say Micey Stiver, also her stepbrother, is a 23-year-old white male, standing 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 170 pounds. He has blue eyes and black hair.
They are reportedly driving in a gray 2012 Ford Focus with Ohio registration N697141.
Anyone with information should call 911 or 1-877-262-3764.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-05T22:04:04
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CEO of rental giant Hertz vows to fix false theft reports
NEW YORK (AP) — The new CEO of Hertz says he’s working to fix a glitch in the rental-car giant’s systems that has led to some of its customers being wrongly accused of stealing cars they had rented.
Stephen Scherr, who took over as CEO on Feb. 28, said the company has changed its practices to fix problems that have occurred when cars were reported stolen but the transaction was improperly recorded in Hertz’s system.
“This is among the first things that I have started to look to take care of and deal with in the first 30 days I’ve been at the company,” Scherr told CNBC on Monday. “It is not acceptable to Hertz to have any customer ... caught up in some of what has happened.”
Some Hertz customers have said they were arrested and jailed because the company accused them of stealing cars that they had paid to rent and in some cases had returned long before their arrest.
It’s not clear how many people are affected. More than 200 customers asked a federal judge in Delaware to Hertz to disclose records about erroneous theft reports, and the judge ruled in the renters’ favor in February.
Scherr said the false reports involve several hundred customers out of Hertz’s 15 million annual transactions, but lawyers for the customers say the number is more like 8,000.
“We have changed our policies to avoid the possibility of this happening again,” Scherr said. “No one customer should be put through that.”
Scherr said that in some cases, vehicles have been reported as stolen, the report was withdrawn when the vehicle was found, “but that rescission wasn’t recognized.”
The CEO of Hertz Global Holdings Inc. appeared on CNBC to tout a plan to buy up to 65,000 electric vehicles over five years. The Estero, Florida-based company filed for bankruptcy protection in 2020, as it struggled under heavy debt and a drop in travel caused by the pandemic. It operates Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty car-rental brands.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-05T22:04:11
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Georgia lawmakers push through election probe regulation
ATLANTA (AP) — A Georgia law enforcement agency would have the authority to initiate investigations of election crimes under the latest voting regulation approved by the Republican-controlled state Legislature after former President Donald Trump made repeated, false claims of widespread voter fraud.
Over the objections of Democrats, Republicans in the state House and Senate voted on Monday to give the Georgia Bureau of Investigation authority to start probes of alleged election wrongdoing without a request from an outside group. The alleged violation would have to be significant enough to create doubt about the outcome of an election, and the agency would have the power to issue subpoenas for election documents.
The secretary of state’s office is currently responsible for investigating alleged election violations. The GBI would provide an additional, separate layer of scrutiny.
The measure — passed on the last day of the session — still requires Republican Gov. Brian Kemp’s signature to become law. Katie Byrd, a spokeswoman for the governor, said Tuesday that Kemp’s office was reviewing all legislation passed by the General Assembly.
Democrats and voting rights advocates said the additional authority for the GBI would intimidate voters and election workers.
“It will not only be used against your voters, but could also be used against organizations and those county election board officials or their workers,” State Rep. Jasmine Clark, a Democrat from Lilburn, said on the House floor. “Again, they already have a hard enough time getting poll workers, and now you want to sic the GBI on them. What are we doing here?”
House Speaker David Ralston, a Republican from Blue Ridge, said the GBI authority was not a partisan reaction to the 2020 election.
“It was a good government measure to be sure that we have competent, professional, thorough investigators,” Ralston said, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “GBI is the best there is in the state.”
GOP officials have continued to try to satisfy the millions of voters in their party who believe Trump’s false claim that voter fraud cost him reelection in 2020. Lawmakers in Florida have also approved a police force to pursue election crimes, a proposal pushed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The Georgia measure comes a year after the state’s General Assembly rewrote election laws to reduce the time to request an absentee ballot, strip power from Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and severely roll back the pandemic-driven expansion of absentee ballot drop boxes. It was one of the first and highest-profile voting laws passed by Republican-controlled legislatures after Trump’s defeat.
Republicans said Georgia’s 2021 law was necessary to restore confidence in the state’s election system. Democrats decried it as an effort to block Democratic-leaning citizens from voting.
Georgia lawmakers this year also considered allowing people to inspect paper ballots after an election and imposing new chain-of-custody requirements for handling ballots, but those measures were vehemently opposed by some county election administrators and did not advance.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Higher risk of heart issues found after COVID compared to 2nd vaccine dose, CDC reports
(Gray News) - Researchers continue to look into life after COVID when it comes to heart issues following infection and recovery.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released a report on the increased risk for cardiac complications after SARS-CoV-2 infection and mRNA COVID-19 vaccination.
The report focuses on the ongoing risks and adverse health outcomes after a patient has gotten COVID. Findings also touched on the potential risk of heart issues after receiving an mRNA vaccine for the virus from Pfizer and Moderna.
According to the report, cardiac complications, “particularly myocarditis and pericarditis,” have been tied to the coronavirus and mRNA COVID vaccination.
However, findings from 40 health care systems that participated in the report from January 2021 to January 2022 showed that the risk for cardiac complications was significantly higher after the SARS-CoV-2 infection than after an mRNA COVID vaccination.
The report also states that male patients 12-17 years old had the highest risk of developing cardiac conditions after vaccination and infection:
“The incidence of cardiac outcomes after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination was highest for males aged 12–17 years after the second vaccine dose. However, within this demographic group, the risk for cardiac outcomes was 1.8–5.6 times as high after SARS-CoV-2 infection than after the second vaccine dose.”
According to the report, studies from Israel and the United Kingdom have found a higher risk for myocarditis after SARS-CoV-2 infection than after an mRNA COVID-19 vaccination.
Therefore, the CDC noted that the findings support the continued use of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines among all eligible persons.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/05/higher-risk-heart-issues-found-after-covid-compared-2nd-vaccine-dose-cdc-reports/
| 2022-04-05T22:04:24
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Sales Tax vote a possibility this year in Martin County
Growth is always a hot topic, and Martin County residents may be asked this year if they're willing to pay higher taxes in exchange for land conservation.
A stretch of Bridge Road east of Interstate 95 and west of U.S. 1 in Hobe Sound has stood virtually untouched for generations.
It is part of the Loxa-Lucie Headwaters, and environmentalists are hoping to create a natural corridor to connect the Loxahatchee and St. Lucie Rivers.
"It would also connect Jonathan Dickinson State Park with Atlantic Ridge State Park. That’s a little ambitious because there are a number of properties there, but that would be an incredible corridor," said Tony Zunino with Guardians of Martin County.
It would be one of four areas totaling 45,000 acres that the county may look to preserve.
Those parcels come at a price, an estimated $650 million to $750 million.
The Guardians of Martin County, a local environmental group, will conduct a survey over the next month or so to gauge voter interest for a sales tax increase on either the August, or more likely, November ballot.
"If the results are there’s an appetite for it, I’ll support it. If there’s not, I won’t," said Commissioner Harold Jenkins.
County commissioners discussed Tuesday the possibility of a half-cent sales tax over 10 years. It would generate about $21 million annually for the county and its municipalities.
"I have to stick with my belief that there are other ways for us to create the funding streams necessary for this program," said Commissioner Ed Ciampi.
Ciampi referred to a proposal to develop a nearly 1,500-acre parcel west of Hobe Sound with 300 multi-million-dollar homes that would provide enough tax revenue to fund this type of land acquisition.
"But I can’t support a half-cent sales tax," Ciampi said.
In 2006, a half-cent infrastructure sales tax passed and raised $ 26 million, which allowed the county to buy about 3,300 acres.
But the county’s last two efforts to raise the sales tax in 2014 and 2017 both failed, the latter by a huge majority.
The Guardians of Martin County hopes to buck that trend.
"It’s important to maintain the headwaters so water can get distributed to where it should be going," Zunino said.
Once the Guardians’ survey is complete, commissioners will look at the sales tax issue again in May or June.
Scripps Only Content 2022
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| 2022-04-05T22:04:31
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The Spot providing help for homeless young adults
The housing crisis and job loss during the pandemic have ripple effects affecting families, but also impacting the youth, who are old enough to be on their own, but at times end up homeless.
“I aged out of care at the age of 18 and I decided it would be a good idea to move back in with my mother, not a good idea."
Nineteen-year-old Sophia Coffey says they were at risk of losing their home.
"I wasn't worried about school,” she said. “I was more worried about where I was going to get my next meal, where am I going to sleep tonight."
For two months, Coffey didn't have a place to call home. Then she found out about Vita Nova, which helps homeless youth.
"They started telling me OK, so we have all of these classes now you can do,” she said. “I started doing life skills training."
This haven for youth is called The Spot at Vita Nova.
"The Spot is our drop-in center for our homeless youth ages 18 through 25," said Robbrianna Johnson.
Johnson says they've seen an increase in homeless young adults, between 25 and 30 percent recently.
“For the last year, we served over 350 youth and this year alone we have served over 40 unduplicated youth," said Johnson.
Experts say a number of factors have contributed to the increase of homeless young adults.
"Their family member lost employment, they lost their housing, they are living in their car, and some family members cannot take on the load of another person."
Helping the youth find a place to stay.
However, there are resources.
"They can go to a shelter, they can be placed in a rapid re-housing program, transitional housing," said Johnson.
At The Spot, youth have access to computers for schoolwork and a music room. They can even wash their clothes at the facility.
"We keep laundry detergent on standby, so that's one thing they don't have to worry about, They can come wash, dry their clothes, or if they need new clothes, we have an employment closet that has casual clothing and interview type clothing that they are welcome to take from."
The Spot aims to reduce the number of homeless youth by providing a safe transition to independence for former foster care.
"The harder that we work, we try to circumvent it so that way our youth aren't going back on to the streets,” said Johnson, “but it's heartbreaking, we see a new youth every day."
The Spot also has supports groups for the teens to talk freely.
For more information about The Spot at Vita Nova, click here or call 561-689-0035.
Scripps Only Content 2022
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https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/05/spot-providing-help-homeless-young-adults/
| 2022-04-05T22:04:37
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Study: Lack of sleep may increase abdominal fat
(CNN) – If you’re losing sleep at night, you may be gaining belly fat.
That’s according to a new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Naima Covassin, a Mayo Clinic cardiovascular medicine researcher who led the study, said lack of sleep makes people snack more frequently, especially in the evenings.
“Insufficient sleep can influence our eating behavior, making us eat more and consume especially foods rich in carbohydrates and fat,” Covassin said.
The excess calorie intake can lead to weight gain.
Covassin said short sleep also seems to alter the hormones that regulate appetite, increasing the levels of the ones that make us hungry and decreasing the ones that make us feel full.
After two weeks of short sleep, the study’s participants noticed a difference, showing “not only an increase in body weight, but specifically an increase in belly fat,” Covassin said.
The increases were in both types of fat, subcutaneous and visceral. The latter is more dangerous.
Even a small increase in visceral fat over time can have a big impact on your health.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it can increase the risk for heart disease, stroke and other serious health conditions like diabetes.
For adults, at least seven hours of sleep each night is recommended.
“We hope that people will recognize the implications of insufficient sleep for weight management and for obesity risk, even for young, healthy, lean people,” Covassin said.
The researchers said they want to further study what may cause fat when there’s sleep loss, and whether those who have pre-existing risk factors, like those with diabetes, are at a higher risk of weight gain if they’re sleep deprived.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-05T22:04:44
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VIDEO: Robbers get away with car and wedding dress in violent carjacking
OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) – A violent robbery and carjacking was caught on camera in California.
The attack happened in Oakland in late March. The victim is fortunately ok, but very upset over what the thieves took.
The woman, who only wanted to be identified as Ms. Yu, says advocating for safety is practically part of her DNA.
“I have been volunteering in Oakland’s Chinatown since high school,” she said. “A lot of things we promote include safety.”
Yu’s dedication to safety makes what happened to her on March 27 even more terrifying.
After she parked and saw no one was around, Yu said she walked around to the passenger side of her car to get her purse.
That’s when she noticed something was wrong.
“I immediately closed the door and turned around and four or five guys approached me,” she said. “I immediately started running.”
Surveillance video from a nearby business shows one suspect catching up to her.
Yu said at least one person in the group had a gun.
“One guy grabbed my arms,” she said. “He took my keys from my hand and pushed me to the ground, and I hit my head.”
Within seconds, her black Honda Civic was gone.
“At that moment I was really scared and didn’t have time to react,” she said.
While Yu’s physical wounds were not serious, her heart was broken over the things she lost that were inside the trunk.
“Out of everything, the wedding dress was the one that I was sad about the most,” she said. “Because it does not belong to me.”
Just one day before the carjacking, Yu picked up her best friend’s dream wedding gown they had searched for months to find.
“It was really beautiful,” Yu said. “The perfect dress for her. The moment she tried it on, we all said ‘that’s the one.’”
Yu planned to store it at her home until her friend’s fall wedding, which had already been postponed because of the pandemic.
“She was like ‘Are you joking?,” Yu said.
While Yu takes some time off from work to mentally heal, she is speaking out on behalf of the community she calls home.
“Within the Asian community, a lot of people are afraid of reporting and to be on the news,” she said. “Kind of like giving courage to other people.”
Copyright 2022 KGO via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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What is Palm Beach County doing to prevent condo collapses?
Families who call an apartment complex home in North Miami Beach are devastated after being forced to pack up and move out.
City officials in North Miami Beach ordered residents of a five-story apartment building to evacuate after deeming the building "structurally unsound."
RELATED: Palm Beach County wants state to take lead on building inspection rules
Bayview 60 Homes is the second building ordered to evacuate in the city since the Surfside collapse last summer that killed 98 people.
The evacuation comes just weeks after House and Senate lawmakers failed to safety reforms that would have required inspections on older buildings among other things.
The stalled efforts at the state level have now caused Palm Beach County to revisit its plans to draft up its own condo safety legislation, according to Mayor Robert Weinroth.
"We are going to take a look at it, and certainly in the absence of state action, we are going to do something at the county [level]," Weinroth said.
He said staff is currently reviewing the failed proposals, Senate Bill 1702 and House Bill 1391, to serve as a potential blueprint.
"We'll look at the legislation that was filed in both the House and the Senate that they weren't able to come together and see what's the best parts of that we can use here in the county," Weinroth said.
County staff is also looking to learn from Boca Raton, which became the first municipality in the county to require inspections of older condominiums.
"We have a lot of tall condo buildings, particularly near the ocean, and thus salt water, so we knew we needed to have something like that in place, so we moved very, very quickly to make sure that we did," Boca Raton council member Andy Thomson said.
County officials said it should be done with the reviewing process in about a month and will report back to commissioners on how to make sure that another Surfside tragedy does not happen here.
Scripps Only Content 2022
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| 2022-04-05T22:04:59
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PORTLAND, Ore. — Investigators with Portland Fire and Rescue are seeking information about three fires in the Parkrose neighborhood of Northeast Portland Monday night and early Tuesday morning.
All occurred within just a few blocks.
The first fire broke out at 6:40 p.m. at a vacant house near Northeast 112th Avenue and Northeast Sandy Boulevard. Three hours later, at 9:40 p.m., there was a vehicle fire at the same location, according to Portland Fire.
At 3:20 Tuesday morning, firefighters responded to a fire in a vacant warehouse at Northeast 110th Avenue and Sandy Boulevard, just two blocks away.
The Portland Fire and Rescue Investigations Unit is asking the public to help them investigate the fires. Anyone who has information, photos or video of the fires is asked to call the fire investigations information line at 503-823-3473.
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https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/suspicious-fires-northeast-portland/283-f9a2ca8e-5d32-4786-8547-6702741577f8
| 2022-04-05T22:17:33
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Medical experts believe omicron subvariant BA.2 has some differences from the original version of omicron, including that it spreads faster.
BA.2 is the dominant strain of COVID-19 in the U.S. and many other parts of the world, beating out the original version of omicron. From March 27 through April 2, BA.2 accounted for about 72% of COVID-19 cases in the U.S., according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Amid claims that it is evading COVID-19 testing, BA.2 has earned itself the nickname “stealth” omicron. But some people on Twitter say that isn’t accurate, and COVID-19 tests can detect infections of the subvariant.
THE QUESTION
Can COVID-19 tests detect omicron subvariant BA.2?
THE SOURCES
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Matthew Binnicker, Ph.D., director of the Mayo Clinic’s Clinical Virology Laboratory
- Christopher Doern, Ph.D., associate professor of pathology and director of clinical microbiology at Virginia Commonwealth University
THE ANSWER
Yes, COVID-19 tests can detect omicron subvariant BA.2.
WHAT WE FOUND
BA.2 has been referred to as “stealth” omicron because it has “genetic mutations that could make it harder to distinguish from the delta variant using PCR tests” compared to the original version of omicron, the American Medical Association says.
But a spokesperson for the CDC says that nickname is a misnomer and “causes confusion,” adding that all tests – including at-home rapid and PCR tests – “do not have issues in detecting BA.2.”
Matthew Binnicker, Ph.D., a microbiologist who serves as director of the Mayo Clinic’s Clinical Virology Laboratory, agrees. He said rapid and PCR tests are still able to pick up BA.2, similar to the original version of omicron and prior COVID-19 variants.
So why did people initially refer to BA.2 as “stealth” omicron?
Some labs could recognize the original version of omicron as a different variant with a certain type of PCR test where one component would be negative but others would be positive. BA.2 doesn’t show those same results, Binnicker explained.
This partial failure, called S gene target failure or SGFT, differentiates omicron from many other variants. SGTF does not occur when testing for BA.2, the CDC spokesperson said.
There’s always the possibility of false negative results on rapid at-home tests. However, positive results on rapid tests are “very reliable” and should be treated as such, Christopher Doern, Ph.D., associate professor of pathology and director of clinical microbiology at Virginia Commonwealth University, said.
If you get a negative at-home COVID-19 test result, that doesn’t always rule out an infection, the CDC says. Some self-tests are designed to be used in a series, so people who test negative should consider repeating the test 24 to 48 hours later.
“Multiple negative tests increases the confidence that you are not infected with the virus that causes COVID-19,” the CDC writes on its website.
Some experts also recommend that people who have COVID-19 symptoms and test negative with an at-home test follow up with a PCR test since they may have received a false negative result.
More from VERIFY: No, there is not a new test to detect the omicron variant
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| 2022-04-05T22:17:40
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63-year-old dies after roommate pours hot cooking oil on her at assisted living center, police say
Published: Apr. 5, 2022 at 5:13 PM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KMOV/Gray News) - A 65-year-old woman was taken into custody after pouring hot cooking oil over her roommate at an assisted living center, police said.
According to police, officers found 63-year-old Doren Davis severely burned inside the Smiley House in St. Louis on March 7.
Davis’ roommate poured hot cooking oil on her after a dispute over a personal matter, investigators said.
The 65-year-old was arrested and is being held at the Missouri Department of Corrections. Davis was hospitalized for her burns but later died.
Copyright 2022 KMOV via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/05/63-year-old-dies-after-roommate-pours-hot-cooking-oil-her-assisted-living-center-police-say/
| 2022-04-05T22:35:44
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Adidas releases limited-edition Waffle House shoes
(Gray News) - Adidas is teaming up with Waffle House for a limited-edition golf shoe.
Waffle House, which has its headquarters in Georgia, is celebrating the kickoff of the 86th Masters Tournament in Augusta this Thursday with the release of the TOUR360 22 x Waffle House shoes.
The shoes are an off-white color similar to waffle batter and have a waffle pattern. The shoes have the Waffle House logo on the back of the ankle.
“Across our signature 3-Stripes, we included a checkered waffle pattern in dark brown as a nod to the legendary waffles being cooked just right,” an Adidas news release reads.
The shoes cost $200 for women’s sizes and $210 to men’s sizes. You can order them here on Adidas’ website starting April 7.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-05T22:35:51
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Amber Alert issued for Ohio girl reportedly abducted by stepbrother
(Gray News) - An Amber Alert has been issued for a missing 12-year-old child reportedly abducted by her stepbrother.
The incident took place in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, on State Route 82 and Deer Creek Drive in the city of North Royalton.
Police say Tessa Kozelka left with her “boyfriend” Micey Stiver on Monday, April 4, at 2 a.m.
Tessa is described as a white female, standing 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighing about 100 pounds. She has hazel eyes and black hair.
She was last seen wearing a red hooded sweatshirt with black writing on it. She has a 50-cent piece size birthmark on her right leg.
Police say Micey Stiver, also her stepbrother, is a 23-year-old white male, standing 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 170 pounds. He has blue eyes and black hair.
They are reportedly driving in a gray 2012 Ford Focus with Ohio registration N697141.
Anyone with information should call 911 or 1-877-262-3764.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-05T22:36:01
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CEO of rental giant Hertz vows to fix false theft reports
NEW YORK (AP) — The new CEO of Hertz says he’s working to fix a glitch in the rental-car giant’s systems that has led to some of its customers being wrongly accused of stealing cars they had rented.
Stephen Scherr, who took over as CEO on Feb. 28, said the company has changed its practices to fix problems that have occurred when cars were reported stolen but the transaction was improperly recorded in Hertz’s system.
“This is among the first things that I have started to look to take care of and deal with in the first 30 days I’ve been at the company,” Scherr told CNBC on Monday. “It is not acceptable to Hertz to have any customer ... caught up in some of what has happened.”
Some Hertz customers have said they were arrested and jailed because the company accused them of stealing cars that they had paid to rent and in some cases had returned long before their arrest.
It’s not clear how many people are affected. More than 200 customers asked a federal judge in Delaware to Hertz to disclose records about erroneous theft reports, and the judge ruled in the renters’ favor in February.
Scherr said the false reports involve several hundred customers out of Hertz’s 15 million annual transactions, but lawyers for the customers say the number is more like 8,000.
“We have changed our policies to avoid the possibility of this happening again,” Scherr said. “No one customer should be put through that.”
Scherr said that in some cases, vehicles have been reported as stolen, the report was withdrawn when the vehicle was found, “but that rescission wasn’t recognized.”
The CEO of Hertz Global Holdings Inc. appeared on CNBC to tout a plan to buy up to 65,000 electric vehicles over five years. The Estero, Florida-based company filed for bankruptcy protection in 2020, as it struggled under heavy debt and a drop in travel caused by the pandemic. It operates Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty car-rental brands.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-05T22:36:07
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Columbia City Council approves another $600K for waterpipe leak contractors
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - The Columbia City Council approved $600,000 to help Columbia Water Tuesday afternoon.
The money is going toward “indefinite delivery contracts” with three contractors to complete repairs for Columbia Water customers.
The contracts serve as “pots” of money for the companies to draw from for city work.
A WIS Investigation found the department was at least seven months behind on service requests as of mid-January because of short staffing.
The $600,000 will be split into $200,000 boosts for the three contractors.
The move was outlined in the city’s customer response plan to help with backlogs in service calls.
The total investment in the contractors, if approved, would be the following:
- Carolina Tap and Bore, Inc.: $1,700,000
- Lake Murray Utility Company, Inc.: $1,350,000
- G.H. Smith Construction, Inc.: $1,400,000
The money would come on top of a similar bump in December 2021.
Assistant City Manager Clint Shealy told WIS in March the goal was for the December money to last through the end of the 2022 fiscal year (June 30), but the city is aiming to move more quickly after winter 2022 added more leaks.
“The mayor challenged us, how can you do this quicker? So we worked with our internal procurement team and all the groups and we’re really utilizing those contractors more as extension of staff. We’ve worked the three out of the four almost out of funding so we’re going to be going back on April 5 and ask for more funding,” he said.
Shealy said moving forward the contractor work will be targeted at neighborhoods, to fix all the leaks in an area and address them as they arise.
“We’re not going to leave there until the leaks are fixed,” Shealy said.
In the March 31 WIS investigation, the 29203 zip code led all others in total service calls. A spokesperson for Columbia Water confirmed Carolina Tap and Bore and a fourth contractor, North American Pipeline Management (NAPM), have been specially targeted at the zip code.
WIS spoke with Dr. Constance Lorick-Walker about a leak at the intersection of Colonial Drive and Prescott road near a daycare on March 18 as part of that investigation. Columbia Water confirmed its a city project and Lorick-Walker said it’s been a recurring issue without substantial action.
“This water is polluted. It’s a danger to the children themselves, let alone adults, their parents. It’s an eyesore as well for our community, no one seems to care,” she said.
On April 4, it appeared the water had stopped flowing.
On April 5, a spokesperson for Columbia Water sent a WIS this update: Our folks were doing a trial run yesterday on the shutdown needed to make the repair. The goal is to have the repair completed by Friday.
The city council approved the funding without comment in its meeting.
Copyright 2022 WIS. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-05T22:36:19
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Georgia lawmakers push through election probe regulation
ATLANTA (AP) — A Georgia law enforcement agency would have the authority to initiate investigations of election crimes under the latest voting regulation approved by the Republican-controlled state Legislature after former President Donald Trump made repeated, false claims of widespread voter fraud.
Over the objections of Democrats, Republicans in the state House and Senate voted on Monday to give the Georgia Bureau of Investigation authority to start probes of alleged election wrongdoing without a request from an outside group. The alleged violation would have to be significant enough to create doubt about the outcome of an election, and the agency would have the power to issue subpoenas for election documents.
The secretary of state’s office is currently responsible for investigating alleged election violations. The GBI would provide an additional, separate layer of scrutiny.
The measure — passed on the last day of the session — still requires Republican Gov. Brian Kemp’s signature to become law. Katie Byrd, a spokeswoman for the governor, said Tuesday that Kemp’s office was reviewing all legislation passed by the General Assembly.
Democrats and voting rights advocates said the additional authority for the GBI would intimidate voters and election workers.
“It will not only be used against your voters, but could also be used against organizations and those county election board officials or their workers,” State Rep. Jasmine Clark, a Democrat from Lilburn, said on the House floor. “Again, they already have a hard enough time getting poll workers, and now you want to sic the GBI on them. What are we doing here?”
House Speaker David Ralston, a Republican from Blue Ridge, said the GBI authority was not a partisan reaction to the 2020 election.
“It was a good government measure to be sure that we have competent, professional, thorough investigators,” Ralston said, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “GBI is the best there is in the state.”
GOP officials have continued to try to satisfy the millions of voters in their party who believe Trump’s false claim that voter fraud cost him reelection in 2020. Lawmakers in Florida have also approved a police force to pursue election crimes, a proposal pushed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The Georgia measure comes a year after the state’s General Assembly rewrote election laws to reduce the time to request an absentee ballot, strip power from Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and severely roll back the pandemic-driven expansion of absentee ballot drop boxes. It was one of the first and highest-profile voting laws passed by Republican-controlled legislatures after Trump’s defeat.
Republicans said Georgia’s 2021 law was necessary to restore confidence in the state’s election system. Democrats decried it as an effort to block Democratic-leaning citizens from voting.
Georgia lawmakers this year also considered allowing people to inspect paper ballots after an election and imposing new chain-of-custody requirements for handling ballots, but those measures were vehemently opposed by some county election administrators and did not advance.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-05T22:36:25
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Higher risk of heart issues found after COVID compared to 2nd vaccine dose, CDC reports
(Gray News) - Researchers continue to look into life after COVID when it comes to heart issues following infection and recovery.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released a report on the increased risk for cardiac complications after SARS-CoV-2 infection and mRNA COVID-19 vaccination.
The report focuses on the ongoing risks and adverse health outcomes after a patient has gotten COVID. Findings also touched on the potential risk of heart issues after receiving an mRNA vaccine for the virus from Pfizer and Moderna.
According to the report, cardiac complications, “particularly myocarditis and pericarditis,” have been tied to the coronavirus and mRNA COVID vaccination.
However, findings from 40 health care systems that participated in the report from January 2021 to January 2022 showed that the risk for cardiac complications was significantly higher after the SARS-CoV-2 infection than after an mRNA COVID vaccination.
The report also states that male patients 12-17 years old had the highest risk of developing cardiac conditions after vaccination and infection:
“The incidence of cardiac outcomes after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination was highest for males aged 12–17 years after the second vaccine dose. However, within this demographic group, the risk for cardiac outcomes was 1.8–5.6 times as high after SARS-CoV-2 infection than after the second vaccine dose.”
According to the report, studies from Israel and the United Kingdom have found a higher risk for myocarditis after SARS-CoV-2 infection than after an mRNA COVID-19 vaccination.
Therefore, the CDC noted that the findings support the continued use of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines among all eligible persons.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/05/higher-risk-heart-issues-found-after-covid-compared-2nd-vaccine-dose-cdc-reports/
| 2022-04-05T22:36:31
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Its National Caramel Popcorn Day!
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - How many of you love caramel popcorn?
Wednesday is National Caramel Popcorn Day. Cromer’s on Main Street in Columbia showed WIS what goes into making one of America’s favorites snacks.
Its starts with Cromer’s famous popcorn. It’s cooked in a family recipe that includes a sweet-smelling caramel flavor. It’s something Marie Crowell has been stirring up for more than 35 years now.
“We use our regular popcorn and then we pour it into the pot,” Crowell said. “I try to make sure some of them aren’t on the paddles.”
While the popcorn is flavoring in the production room Charlotte Cromer-Turner is keeping the family’s peanut and popcorn flavors tradition going. She’s the last Cromer alive. Her grandfather Julian Cromer started the business in the 1930s selling peanuts and then popcorn covered in different flavors.
“One thing led to another and he finally went into a business on Main Street,” Cromer-Turner said. Meanwhile, Crowell says caramel is a top pick that takes about 15 minutes to make before it’s bagged up and shipped nationwide.
Copyright 2022 WIS. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-05T22:36:37
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Trial begins for ex-officer charged with storming Capitol
WASHINGTON (AP) — An off-duty police officer stormed the U.S. Capitol because he believed the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Donald Trump and he wanted to interfere with the certification of President Joe Biden’s electoral victory, a federal prosecutor said Tuesday at the start of the Virginia man’s trial.
But a defense attorney told jurors that former Rocky Mount, Virginia, police officer Thomas Robertson only went into the Capitol because he wanted to retrieve a fellow officer who had entered the building before him during the riot on Jan. 6, 2021.
Jacob Fracker, the other off-duty Rocky Mount police officer who entered the Capitol that day, could be a key witness for prosecutors at Robertson’s trial. Robertson was a mentor and a father figure to Fracker, attorneys said during their opening statements.
Two other Capitol riot defendants already have been tried on federal charges arising from the Jan. 6 siege. The first two trials both ended with convictions, although a judge acquitted one of those defendants of a disorderly conduct charge.
Another trial for a Capitol riot case started Tuesday. While jurors heard testimony for Robertson’s trial, U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden heard testimony without a jury for the case against Matthew Martin, who has worked for a government contractor at the National Laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico.
Martin, who is accused of remaining inside the Capitol for about 10 minutes, testified that he saw a police officer wave him into the building. He also said he followed the crowd into the building.
“I went with the flow,” said Martin, whose trial is scheduled to resume on Wednesday.
Fracker was set to be tried alongside Robertson this week, but he pleaded guilty last month to a riot-related conspiracy charge and agreed to cooperate with federal authorities.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Aloi said Robertson was armed with a large wooden stick and wearing a gas mask when he and Fracker joined the mob that overwhelmed police officers and breached the Capitol.
“His intent was to interfere with the election because it did not have the result that he wanted,” Aloi said.
Defense attorney Camille Wagner said Robertson, whom she called “T.J.,” knew that he had entered restricted areas of the Capitol where he wasn’t supposed to be on Jan. 6. But he isn’t accused of engaging in any violence or property destruction, she noted.
“All T.J. did was enter, retrieve, depart,” Wagner said.
Robertson used a large wooden stick to impede police officers who were trying to hold off the mob, according to prosecutors. Police body camera video captured his interaction with police.
Wagner said Robertson didn’t wield the stick as a weapon. She said the U.S. Army veteran was using it as a walking stick because he still has a limp from getting shot in the right thigh while working as a private contractor for the U.S. Defense Department in Afghanistan in 2011.
Robertson is charged with six counts, including obstruction of an official proceeding, civil disorder, entering and remaining in a restricted building while using a dangerous weapon and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building. Five of the counts relate to his actions on Jan. 6. The sixth stems from his alleged post-riot destruction of cellphones belonging to him and Fracker.
Fracker pleaded guilty to conspiring to obstruct an official proceeding, the joint session of Congress to certify the Electoral College vote.
Aloi said Fracker is ashamed of his conduct at the Capitol and is “not the same person today that he was on Jan. 6.”
Robertson and Fracker both served as police officers in Rocky Mount. The town, which is about 25 miles south of Roanoke and has roughly 5,000 residents, fired both of them after their arrests.
“He held a position of public trust,” Aloi said. “He broke that public trust when he participated in the attack at the Capitol.”
Robertson and Fracker drove with a neighbor to Washington on the morning of Jan. 6. Robertson brought three gas masks for them to use, according to prosecutors.
After listening to speeches near the Washington Monument, Fracker, Robertson and the neighbor walked toward the Capitol, donned the gas masks and joined the growing mob, prosecutors said. Robertson stopped to help his neighbor, who was having trouble breathing. Fracker broke off and entered the building before Robertson, but they reunited inside the Capitol.
Aloi showed jurors some of Robertson’s vitriolic posts on social media before and after the Capitol riot. In a Facebook post on Nov. 7, 2020, Robertson said “being disenfranchised by fraud is my hard line.”
“I’ve spent most of my adult life fighting a counter insurgency. (I’m) about to become part of one, and a very effective one,” he wrote.
Robertson was not “charged for his beliefs,” Aloi said.
“He was charged for his actions,” she told jurors.
Wagner said Robertson should be judged by his actions, not his words.
“We ask you to remember that actions speak louder than words,” she told jurors.
A Capitol police officer was the first witness to testify at Robertson’s trial. Capt. Ronald Ortega said the mob “severely outnumbered” officers who were trying to hold back the crowd.
“It just seemed unreal at the time,” Ortega said.
Robertson has been jailed since U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled in July that he violated the terms of his pretrial release by possessing firearms.
On March 8, a jury decided the first Capitol riot trial by convicting a Texas man, Guy Reffitt, of storming the Capitol with a holstered handgun. In the second trial, the same judge hearing testimony on Tuesday in Martin’s case convicted New Mexico county official Couy Griffin of illegally entering restricted U.S. Capitol grounds but acquitted him of engaging in disorderly conduct.
Reffitt and Griffin entered restricted areas outside the Capitol but not the building itself.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-05T22:36:46
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LIVE: Damaging storms tear across South; 1 killed in Texas
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Violent storms killed one person in Texas on Tuesday as hail pelted communities and high winds knocked trees into power poles elsewhere in the South. Authorities issued a flurry of tornado warnings at the start of what could be two days of violent weather in the region.
In eastern Texas, W. M. Soloman, 71, died when storm winds toppled a tree onto Solomon’s home in Whitehouse, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) southeast of Dallas, Whitehouse Mayor James Wansley said. Officials said at least four homes in the area had trees fall on them.
More than 43,000 homes and businesses were without power Tuesday afternoon from eastern Texas to Georgia. No injuries were reported, but the National Weather Service said it was sending survey teams to examine potential tornado damage in Wetumpka, Alabama. Lightning struck a flea market in the north Alabama community of Lacey’s Spring, causing a fire that gutted the building, news outlets reported, and rising water in Mobile Bay covered part of a ramp on Interstate 10.
Fallen trees and limbs closed a stretch of highway for several hours in Newton County, Mississippi. As the line of storms pushed into Georgia, a large tree fell and crashed through the roof of Marie Jordan’s home in metro Atlanta, coming down in the living room, kitchen and garage.
“It just took everything,” Jordan told WSB-TV. “For years and years, I have watched that tree.”
Elsewhere in Texas, one person was injured when the storms swept through Johnson County, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) southwest of Dallas. Brittaney Deaton said she became trapped in an RV trailer behind her family’s home after the trailer flipped over. She said her stepfather got injured trying to free her.
“I was screaming on the phone. I couldn’t get out. I was terrified,” Deaton told KDFW-TV. “And I felt like I was just trapped, like it was going to roll with me in it. And I just thank God that I got out.”
Her mother, Amber Zeleny, said her husband suffered injuries to his nose, leg and ribs but that he was expected to recover.
Severe storms with powerful tornados are possible across a broad area stretching from southern Mississippi to the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina, the Storm Prediction Center said. The area most at risk includes more than 8 million people in the Alabama cities of Mobile and Montgomery; Tallahassee, Florida; and Columbus and Savannah in Georgia.
Isolated areas could receive as much as 5 inches (13 centimeters) of rain during the day Tuesday, increasing the risk of flash flooding and softening the ground so that even more trees could blow down, forecasters said.
The threat of damaging weather will move to the north on Wednesday, forecasters said, with severe storms possible across an area stretching from western Alabama to the western tip of the Carolinas. More than 10 million people in metro areas including Atlanta; Birmingham; and Chattanooga, Tennessee, will be at risk, the Storm Prediction Center said.
Springtime often brings strong storms to the Southeast, and the region has faced a barrage of weather recently that included a tornado last month in metro New Orleans, where one person died, and storms that killed at least two people in the Florida Panhandle last week.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-05T22:36:54
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